#I'm not really anything cute like a goat sadly...

[thelostgirl21]

AND NOW HE'S THE FAMILY GOAT!!!

The capricorns

I found this interviews [x] and I couldn't help but make a stupid parallel 😅

[munchboxart]

I finished Mario & Luigi Brothership!!! I am writing this right after the credits, so I have no idea if there's post credits stuff.

Big warning, major spoilers, I will spit everything out!!!

Also, the only other M&L game I've finished was Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, so I can't say anything between those 2 games for experience.

Super long by the way, the game is like 40+ hours long.

So I will be going in order from story + characters, gameplay and then misc. if I have anything else to say.

STORY

I can't lie, the first half felt so fucking boring LMFAO. I think that was also an issue in Superstar Saga but I did pay more attention there (probably because it was the first M&L game I played). Man I'm sorry I do not gaf about "new world new characters" shit. Kirby did this too when they first went 3D and I couldn't care less I'm sorry, not. I do like the Extension Corps. though.

BUT THE SECOND HALF? IT HAD ME LIKE THIS

The first time I heard Bowser Jr.'s voice I started to lock in. LIKE DAMN? CHARACTERS I ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT?

I'm happy that they gave Bowser a more subdued role in the game since I heard he played more major parts in older games. I'm also happy that they're tagging along Bowser Jr. more in these stories!! I wish we got a little more but I'll happily eat the crumbs. I'm so happy they gave him a friend, albeit, a little bittersweet since he and everyone else from Mario world don't belong there :( I'm a little shocked that they didn't have a scene together in the end in the credits though? I figured they would've shown him and buddy saying goodbye, though I'm also happy with them showing Bowser saving 2 Goombas. He is that guy!!!

SORRY going back to Concordia, I'll be honest, I paid half attention in the first part of the story. I can't say I was too invested in any of the characters. Peach joining IDLE was cute. I did like the story in Rumbla island and the one with Chilliam and Burnadette, don't care much for the rest. Extension Corps. were fun, I definitely like all of the bosses from them. The Bowser arc was definitely one of my favorites, albiet, it felt... shoehorned in I can't lie. Bowser Jr.'s story makes sense in it but Bowser's story just felt really short compared to the rest, especially when collecting the bond tear things?

The Great Conductor is fucking awesome. I love that guy. Shamefully, when he did that quiz on if you know Luigi or Mario, I got all of the Luigi's right but every single Mario wrong 😔. Did not care about that fraud, only saw the goat in my eyes. I would love to have a giant plushie of the Great Conductor.

As for the Glohm part of the story. Since I didn't pay attention that much, Cozette being Zokket was a surprise to me LMFAO, HONESTLY, I CAN SEE HOW SOMEONE CAN SEE THE CONNECTION, but I didn't sadly. I'm a little sad that Zokket is a guy though, there are not a lot of fem villains in general so I don't really understand why they made him a guy aside from just making the twist harder to catch.

Anyways, let's talk about the big bad baddie, Reclusa. Oh my god, Nintendo loves their vague jester-esque characters LMFAOOOOOOO

Before I get to his character, can I think the puzzles dragged it way too long LMFAO. WHEN I SAW THE PUZZLE ROOM I GROANED SO LOUDLY. LIKE FIRST THE BONDS AND NOW THIS?

Anyways, Reclusa's motivation is very very interesting. At first the "everything's better in an isolated world!" thing doesn't make sense, especially since the TVs he forces onto people are just simulations of them with their friends and bonds, things he's trying to get away from. But it makes more sense as a selfish point of view, where HE wants to live alone. Also I remember hearing someone talk about how he also could kill everyone this way from starvation. Munch to think about.

I think I like Reclusa way more than Cackletta? A little more memorable I think but I think Cackletta's personality is a little better? At least along with Fawful. Also I think Reclusa has the better theme, phase 3 is pretty awesome.

As for the fight with Reclusa. Uhm, ok so I might have over-prepared LMFAO. PHASE 3 TOOK ME LIKE 3-4 TURNS. I had to be sure to have Waitaminnit (where it gives you an extra turn in a row), Bros. Boost, Item Share and Performance Bonus. I also made sure to get that Golden Grampy Turnip glove where it gives you like 30% pow and decreases speed or something. Reclusa's ball form gave me more trouble than phase 3 💀 it's a little sad. I wish he had more HP. But it was fun, Glohm forms of the Zok bosses definitely gave me a harder time when it was their turns too (I suck at dodging). I wanna try again to see his other moves.

OH ACTUALLY I just remembered, the looping Mushroom Kingdom goes hard. I think that's such a cool part of the story it's awesome. Plus it's the first and only part of the Mushroom Kingdom we get to see in 3D for M&L.

Overall, I think it was fun. A lot of slow times to be honest but there are some very good parts that make it worth while. My feelings toward it reminds me of how I felt with Kirby's Forgotten Land, but this one definitely went better for the story and some characters. Still foreign but not foreign enough that it becomes unrecognizable (compliment). Definitely won't replay it, though.

GAMEPLAY

It's fun, especially when you unlock all of the Bros. moves. I think it's extremely strange that Luigi's select button isn't B anymore when you pick his menu stuff. Although, him auto jumping makes sense in the 3d environment, would probably frustrate players if it wasn't auto. Although, I hate how he just jumps in place sometimes instead of moving forward. I love spamming jump while walking, especially one at a time per brother, so him jumping in place and lagging behind is annoying.

Also, Luigi's AI in the overworld is finicky but not bothersome most of the time, since there are very few times you'll be needing him alone. This was definitely the most frustrating part I had to experience. I took too long to pass the bomb but he wouldn't pick up another one (this happened 3 times because I am slow).

Also I love Luigi Logic. I forgot to mention this in the story part but one time I was so entranced by Luigi Logic that I didn't pay attention to a word he said. Haha Luigi you're so smart and funny twirls my hair /j

I love Bros. Attacks so much, definitely what makes M&L iconic. Although, the same issue I had in Superstars is in here too, where it takes forever to get the first/second bros. move. It makes the gameplay so boring. Although, I do think I prefer Superstar Saga's more? I like that they incorporated types way more, like what do you mean a fire only Max-Mix Vortex doesn't do more damage on the ice type Pipegunk? Whatever.

Plugs are cool I think, although I think it's kind of crazy that they give you 4-5 extensions at the end. The gloves and treasures are basically useless aside from like 2 treasures/gloves. Item Share is also busted, I was interchanging those on and off with other plugs when I needed a shroom. I wish changing plugs actually took a turn because of that? Sure I could make it harder for myself but whatever.

OH ALSO I DIDN'T BRING THIS UP EITHER IN THE STORY MODE, MY FAVORITE ENEMY ARE THE SHY GUYS. I love that their attacks are basically just Mario Party mini-games. Shy Guy Says!!!! It's so fucking awesome.

Misc.

Some out of order stuff that I think of.

I like that they're ragging on Luigi less, maybe it's because it's a new world so they don't know about Luigi much, but it's nice that they're treating him better.

I didn't mention this in the story section but I really like Reclusa's world in phase 2-3. Splatoon Side Order vibes much? Does a good job mixing in electricity and brain stuff I think, if that makes sense.

This made me laugh, I'm sorry.

I'm obsessed with this, THIS IS SO CUTE. THE LITTLE PAWS ON THE ARM REST, and Jr.'s spikes matching the ones on his head, while Bowser's matches his shell. I FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT THE ARMY CARING ABOUT BOWSER JR.'S FRIENDSHIP WITH BUDDY..... I wish they pushed it more but 😭😭😭I also wish they pushed Bowser trying to protect Jr. a bit more too. Like give me more content pleaseeee 😭😭😭😭😭

Uhmm music. I'll be so honest, I don't think the M&L series has had that much of interesting OSTs aside from a couple. I did mention this earlier but Reclusa's theme definitely is a big standout for me, since I never really liked all of the other final bosses themes. Speaking of which, I'm shocked Bowser and Zokket doesn't have a unique theme? The only ones that get a unique theme is the Extension Corps & Reclusa, which is... strange. Especially when Zokket was framed as the big baddie for most of the game.

I hate the "rhythm game" Dyode and the other one makes you play, THAT IS NOT A RHYTHM GAME, THAT IS A BABY'S FIRST MUSICAL TOY. I hate that it's not even that accurate to the song either so I sometimes get "Great" because the beat is weird!!!

Oh yeah, when I first fought a full set of Bowser's army, it just felt so right. This is Mario and Luigi!! It just reminds me so much of how I felt with Forgotten Land. Speaking of which, I'm seeing a correlation of games that started out as 2D, moving into 3D for the first time (for Mario & Luigi, it's more like a first time on a console) and the story being about going to another world. And if that becomes a trope (or already is), I hate it very much. Like why is the first thing you want to do when celebrating your game moving to another dimension, is to go to another world? It feels alienating. I want to see the original characters!! I don't care about tweedle dee and tweedle dumb in this new dimension we don't have any history with. At least M&L's wasn't that bad of a change.

I think that's all for now? I'll definitely talk more if I have any other thoughts. Not really much to talk about in-depth for. I don't regret playing it but I definitely wish there was less fluff in the gameplay (stuff that makes the game longer, like hunting for the bonds).

[gillianthecat]

I have Not been doing what I should have been doing this week, which is Not Great. BUT. I have been feeling the urge to watch BL again, so I been flittering around streaming services and binging some and dropping others. Here's the list of the 18, in the order I watched them, with brief thoughts on each. My rating (out of 10) are in [blue]. Feel free to ask me to say more about any of them!

Pit Babe (2 eps) [7]

Fun, enjoyed the tropiness of it, intrigued by Jeff/Alan, whatever secrets Charlie and Jeff are keeping, and that drifting competition which was hella sexy. I like my omegaverse fics "non traditional" so i appreciated that the first BL out there was alpha/alpha. I wasn't engaged enough to keep going, but would like eventually to pick it up again. One of the few shows I'm not filtering the tag for, so I'm enjoying other people's reactions and gifs.

My Personal Weatherman (finished) [8]

I wanted to love it more than I did, many aspects were wonderful, but the leads never felt like real characters to me, just seme/uke tropes fulfilling their roles. Actors very pretty though. I have a bunch of notes I may finish and post eventually.

Laws of Attraction (finished) [9]

10% of it was terrible, 10% was completely nonsensical (instagram live-ing your date while on the lam? really??), 10% was mediocre, 50% was good, and 20% was sublime. Film was phenomenal as the complicated lawyer with his thousands of smiles, and I now have a crush on him. I started watching a het lakorn for him afterwards (Lucky Star, free on Viki, very soap opera, he and his costar are great). I loved grandma and the batshit ex. I've already forgotten parts of the plot. Wish it could have been higher heat, the restrictions kinda fucked with Charn and Tinn's chemistry in the second half, after they got together, but Film made it work with his coy blushing maiden routine. And their chemistry pre-dating was fire. Second leads were cute and I do love me a pining bodyguard, but sadly the actors were kinda eh.

I Became the Main Role of a BL (1 ep) [9]

I am very excited about this, doing so many things well, balancing slapstick and humanity, all the little details are great. I like how the "real world" is still tropey and absurd but also noticibku more grounded than the "drama" world. I'm invested in the managers' stories. I have hopes for its sexiness, given how Aoyagi was touching Akufuji's arm in their rehearsal. Love love love Akufuji stanning.

Double Mints (finished) [5]

um. I didn't hate it. I didn't like it exactly, but there were some poignant moments. My first actually dark BL (I know Pornographer is classified as dark, but it didn't feel that way to me). Possibly there's some profundity in it, but it didn't grab me enough that I want to spend the time thinking about it. Also many plot things that didn't make sense to me. Perhaps just translation issues? Unlike the next on my list, this wasn't porn, it was a violent yakuza story. Not actually very explicit given that it's supposed to be high heat, with the significant exception of a rape scene.

The Shortest Distance is Round (Noir) (finished) [5]

I mean this is literally softcore porn with a weird dark plot around it. I think most of the actors are actual porn actors; I know the lead is. I could have thoughts on the story, but I feel like I'd need to know more about Japanese cinema to say anything meaningful. Just saying, the sexual harassment at the beginning is the tamest bit. Also a hilarious misdirect with the dead fish sleep kiss (at least for me who was going in blind). Some of the sex was hilarious (goat boy!) some of it was creepy and rapey, and some was genuinely hot.

Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss (3.5 eps) [7.5]

Fun and fluffy, like the premise, the seme character has charm, but soon lost interest in that level of slapstick and tropiness. May eventually finish.

Love Stage Japan 2018 (half an ep or so) [6]

Liked it more than the Thai version, which I saw a few episodes of. The set up makes more sense. Soon lost interest in that slapstick style. Wouldn't avoid it, but no current urge to return.

Utsukushii Kare 2 (My Beautiful Man 2) (finished) [9]

I love them so much! As the middle section, it didn't work as well on its own as season one (a hothouse masterpiece) or the movie (their blossoming), but it was an important bridge in their journey.

Utsukushii Kare Eternal (My Beautiful Man Eternal) (finished) [10]

So amazing. I wasn't sure that they could make a good ending of this story but they knocked it out of the park. Managed the tricky balancing act of having Hira and Koyoi grow up and learn to have a healthy relationship while still remaining their kinky weird selves. Echoed season one in so many beautiful and meaningful ways. I may eventually write more about it.

Long Time No See (movie) (finished) [7]

I didn't recognize the title so o started it without knowing anything about genre or plot. I wanted to like this much more than I did. Theoretically I am into all the elements. But somehow it didn't work for me. It felt hollow, or rather like the outline of a movie rather than the movie itself. Nothing really felt real to me. Perhaps just my mood, perhaps because I didn't recognize the name and so went in to it completely lost and confused. And the sex scenes all felt a little off, a little fake to me. Like the actors were kinda uncomfortable with it. It was very low budget for its concept, and I think needed to either be full kdrama length (maybe 8 full episodes) of get somehow even artier about it to be an atmospheric film. Which it should have been, and all indicators pointed to it, but somehow wasn't. I think I needed to know the characters better to care about. Which may or may not have required learning more about them; there are characters I've felt deeply that I knew very little about, but somehow not with these two. Also I couldn't get the sister's deal. It felt like she was hinting she knew the assassin secrets? But also not. Anyways, the leads were very pretty. And the shot of them stumbling out of the final fight was moving. I may write more later.

Dom (a Strongberry short) (dnf) [4]

Only 13 minutes long and I couldn't finish it, even with 1.5x speed in parts. Experimental little short about anthropomorphized condom boxes, and there's some sort of human plot about a virgin and his cheating boyfriend that I lost track of. It's not bad, just not what I was in the mood for.

Bake Me Please (like 10 minutes of ep 1) [5.5]

When I was talking about not being into cooking themed shows this is the kind of show I mean. It already had a bunch of tropes that are not for me, particularly random normal people treated like celebrities, and people on tumblr seem frustrated with it so it didn't feel worth pursuing.

Ossan's Love (2018 Japan) (2 of 7 eps) [8]

Seems very well constructed to be exactly what they wanted it to be. My enjoyment of that sort of slapstick and yelling style show depend on my mood, and I lost interest, but want to return eventually because it's a foundational show.

Love Mate (less than 1 ep) [7]

Some appealing elements, but got annoyed at the employee's negging and pushiness. I guess I'm too particular about realism, but in what company would it be acceptable to turn a meeting about their product into a psychoanalytical critique of why your boss can't love. Also I es confused by the bosses dating strategy. He just regularly meets up with men 1 time for awkward meals that he seems to hate and then doesn't even have sex with them? Or were we supposed to infer the sex was just censored out? Not the biggest deals but both together indicated that this show was going to play loose with logic in a way that would irritate me. And the seme was being a pushy ass.

Naked Dining (Zenra Meshi) (finished) [8.5]

Loved it overall, though had flaws. Loveblogged it so many thoughts in the tags.

My Ride (4 out of 10 eps) [7]

See today's liveblogging for my thoughts. I like many aspects, but lost interest after four eps. Didn't catch me up enough to want to binge it. I think I'm in an actor centric mode, and unfortunately none of the actors are that good in it.

Every Moment That I Think of You (finished) [8.5]

Randomly found on Gaga, 2 very short episodes from China 2021. Very appealing leads, censored, high school romance/intense friendship, partially through the pandemic. Fit a year's worth of story into 28 minutes. Surprisingly solid, though made me want to see the full length uncensored version of their love story, same actors. Ending confused me. Subtitles of voiceover implied that was their last night together but didn't say what happened, but nothing and was shown. Perhaps just a bad translation? Very low budget (sound mixing was amateur) but did a lot with what they had. Chaotic adolescent boy camera work and editing style, always moving, which fit story very well. Recommend if ok with censored stories.

[daisydevorak]

Thinking about which of the main 6 to give to my ocs because some were for fun but I'm slowly realizing they're perfect for each other. c:<

Don't mind me rambling dghdfhbcd

---

Like, it goes by saying that Daisy and Julian are the perfect pair; horny dom leaning woman that leans towards chaotic gremlin tendencies but is still the mom friend, paired with that tall mf horny disaster that needs to be sit down and leashed for his own good is just 😙👌but she'd also fit with Muriel because he needs someone just chaotic enough to give a little spice to his life and slowly help him out of his shell while being careful enough not to rush him. 😭

Then there's Bastien who gets Portia because she'd think it's way too cool of him to be an actual dragon, lots of running around with him in large fields and heartful giggles, but also she's a brick inside a velvet glove, has enough guts to tell him that it's not his fucking fault those people died but soft enough to comfort him afterwards. 🥺

And then Kayne and Lucio, who are more of a crack ship and some sort of an 'Enemies to Lovers' trope because the reason they're in Vesuvia is to get the Count's ass for the Devil, but the oh so sweet chaos those two can get in. Like, the both of them are horny fuckers, and the initial reason I shipped them together was to have Kayne bully the fuck out of the goat, but the short moments of softness there could possibly have if Lucio could pull his fingers out of his own ass and see that Kayne is but the result of their environment.

Obviously, Ethan gets Muriel because the poor farmer's brain short-circuited as soon as he saw that mountain of a man, but also who can resist a cute and soft freckled man that has a fucking baby cow as familiar? Honestly? And the both of them being hurt beans that could work on their own traumas together and help healing one another. 😭 Muriel not wanting people around and Ethan being a clingy bitch but also ready to do anything for him, golden retriever bf style.

This one might or might not surprise you but Mitch bring shipped with Nadia because she's the type to smother her lover with gifts and pretty clothes, and Mitch, being the twunk that he is, absolute-fucking-ly loves being pampered and dressed up like a doll. But also plot wise of his mc route, completely forgetting the fact that he was supposed to be there to assassinate her and falls in love with her instead is just 😩✨And he's a bratty bitch that needs to be put back in his place so which better dom he could ask for? >:3c

Sadly there's none for Asra because there's none of my brainchildren really vibing with their personality. 🤷‍♂️

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[animalsoffarmsanctuary]

Jordan: What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger

Jordan was let down by a whole lot of humans, but thankfully, our boy is learning to love again. Because remember: What doesn’t kill you definitely makes you stronger — and Jordan is living proof of that. 

Jordan’s early moments at our New York Shelter.

Jordan arrived at Farm Sanctuary after a pretty horrific visit to New York City.

His face covered in smelly nasal discharge, his ear wrapped to stop the bleeding, and recovering from the shock of his experience — Jordan on his way to safety.

Jordan was likely a child’s 4-H goat who was sold into the system; he was shaved like he was ready to be shown. What happened next was horrific.

Jordan was shipped to New York City — not to be shown, but to be slaughtered.

Thankfully, our pal Mike was able to pick up Jordan at the Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) and bring him to us so the healing could begin.

We are not sure why and we may never know, but Jordan had had the tip of his ear cut off — likely with shears or scissors.

With the bandages off, we debrided the tissue and cleaned off his ear; the entire tip had been cut off, most likely with scissors. 

He also had two knife wounds that went all the way down to the bone.  

Quick sutures were removed from his knife wounds, which were already very infected and needed to drain in order for our boy to heal.  

He was terrified. And he was sick. The stress, the transport into and out of the city, the injuries, and everything this boy went through had left him weak, tired, sick with pneumonia, and in need of care. 

Jordan was exhausted and had been through so much, but so much more was brewing just under the surface.  

But whoever did this did not count on our boy having a strong will to live; his survival instincts kicked in just enough to get him away from his captors.

Manager Jill Tedeschi giving this new boy all the comfort he needs to know he is finally safe and very loved. 

Of course, escaping meant being loose in New York City, but thankfully someone kind found him and called the Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC). They swooped in to rescue this boy and then called us.

Jill and I come to help Mike unload Jordan.

And our friend Mike Stura offered to pick him up and bring him to us, so we could quickly start providing the care he needed to heal.

Handled with care: Mike Stura brings Jordan to our Melrose Small Animal Hospital. 

With lots of soaking, cleaning, and topical treatments, his ear and leg started to heal. Sadly, though, there was a lot more going on with our very cute but clearly too lethargic boy.

Getting weighed for his treatments, a still very scared Jordan looks out the window into the lobby of the hospital. 

Goats Jordan’s age are usually very active and energetic, but Jordan arrived anemic — not just from the blood loss due to his injuries, but also because he had very serious parasite issues.

Jordan gets to take his first walk outside after his arrival to the sanctuary. 

His anemia was so severe that he required a transfusion, and one of our strongest goat boys, Peanut, went with him and donated the blood he needed to survive.

Jordan eating leaves and enjoying being the browser he needed to be at the time. With an inability to fight off very resistant and deadly parasites, eating off the ground was the best thing he could do. 

But he continued to be unable to fight off any parasites and was considered a “poor doer,” which means our boy had a weak immune system and was in for a whole lot of health issues. These goats often get very resistant parasites (parasites that do not die with conventional treatments because they are immune to them), which caused him to continue to need transfusions and continue to be anemic.

All the pastures where Jordan lived could not have been used by other goats with resistant parasites, since he would easily be reinfected. That limited where he could live. 

So for years he lived with his best friend, a sheep girl named Mandy who arrived shortly after he did. Mandy, too, had escaped a live market, but she was much healthier, and her immune system much stronger, than her new goat friend’s.  

Mandy arrives, looking like a stuffed animal. She, too, was an escapee from an NYC live market. 

She did not have parasites and seemed completely able to resist the ones that he was shedding, so the two were a perfect fit. And as Jordan aged, he became stronger, and we found different treatment options to keep him parasite-free.

When Jordan first arrived, we did not know that he would have such difficulty fighting off parasites — but thankfully as he grew, his immune system grew stronger. 

So after years of building up our boy’s immune system and getting those parasites under control, he was not only better, but he was even able to join a larger herd of ruminants and not have to worry about being infested with those parasites again. Since goats are much more prone and have a more difficult time fighting off these worms, we moved Jordan and Mandy to the sheep barn.

“Well well well, Roger." Jordan meeting the baby Roger when he first joined the herd, making sure he is aware of who is the king of the goats. 

And to know Jordan is to love him. He has become one of the friendliest goats we’ve ever had living in the sheep flock. He’s rough with other goats, but he really loves his people. He is particular, however, and in a crowd, he will find the person that he wants and go to them, usually staying with them until they leave him.

Good try, Rog — but no one can mess with Jordan. 

And though he and Mandy are still the best of friends, Jordan just recently (it took a few years) figured out that he is in fact a goat. And with that awareness comes a new love interest! Meet her in Part 2 of Jordan’s story.

Jordan loves all the humans he meets now. And he lives happily with sheep, his first loves, and goats — which he finally figured out he was. 

Because, like all the animals who come to each of our shelters, no matter how horrific their life has been, they learn to love again — and Jordan has done that like no other!

Our boy is all smiles and his story continues as his lives and loves the Farm Sanctuary life.