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mostlysignssomeportents · 11 months ago

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Francis Spufford’s “Cahokia Jazz”

Tomorrow (December 5), I'm at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC, with my new solarpunk novel The Lost Cause, which 350.org's Bill McKibben called "The first great YIMBY novel: perceptive, scientifically sound, and extraordinarily hopeful."

Francis Spufford's Cahokia Jazz is a fucking banger: it's a taut, unguessable whuddunit, painted in ultrablack noir, set in an alternate Jazz Age in a world where indigenous people never ceded most the west to the USA. It's got gorgeously described jazz music, a richly realized modern indigenous society, and a spectacular romance. It's amazing:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Cahokia-Jazz/Francis-Spufford/9781668025451

Cahokia is the capital city of Deseret, a majority Catholic, majority indigenous state at the western frontier of the USA. It swirls with industry, wealth, and racial politics, serving as both a refuge from Jim Crow and a hive of Klan activity. Joe Barrow is new in town, a veteran who survived the trenches of WWI and moved to Cahokia with his army buddy, Phineas Drummond, where they both quickly rose through the police ranks to become detectives.

We meet Joe and Phin on a frigid government building rooftop in the predawn night, attending a grisly murder. Someone has laid out a man across a skylight, cut his throat, split his chest open, and excised his heart. This Aztec-inspired killing points at Cahokian indigenous independence gangs, some of whom embrace an apocryphal tale of being descended from Mesoamerican conquerors in the distant past. That makes this more than a mere ugly killing – it's a political flashpoint.

The Klan insists that Cahokia's system of communal land ownership is a form of communism (Russia never ceded Alaska in this world, so the USSR is now extending tendrils across the Bering Strait). They also insist that Cahokians' reverence for the Sun and the Moon – indigenous royals who have formally ceded power to elected leaders – makes them a threat to democracy. Finally, the Cahokians' fusion of Catholocism with traditional faith makes the spritually suspect. A rooftop blood-sacrifice could cause simmering political tension to boil over, and for ever white oligarch drooling at the thought of enclosing the shared land of Deseret, there are a thousand useful idiots in white hoods.

Joe and Phin now have to solve the murder – before the city explodes. But Phin seems more interested in pinning the case on an Indian – any Indian – than he is on solving the murder. And Joe – an indigenous orphan who has neither the language nor the culture that the Cahokians expect him to have – is reappraising his long habit of deferring to Phin.

This is the setup for a delicious whodunnit with a large helping of what if…? but Spufford doesn't stop there. Joe, you see, is a jazz pianist, and his old bandmates are back in town, and one thing leads to another and before you know it he's sitting in with them at a speakeasy. This gives Spufford a chance to roll out some of the most evocative, delicious descriptions of jazz since Doctorow's Ragtime (no relation):

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/41529/ragtime-by-e-l-doctorow/9780812978186

It's not just the jazz. This is a book that fires on every cylinder: there's brilliant melee (and a major battle set-piece that's stunning), a love storyline, gunplay, and a murder mystery that kept me guessing right to the end. There's fakeouts and comeuppances, bravery and treachery, and above all, a sense of possibility.

Most of what I know about Cahokia – and the giant mounds it left behind near St Louis – I learned from David Graeber and David Wengrow's brilliant work of heterodox history, The Dawn of Everything:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/03/08/three-freedoms/#anti-fatalism

Graeber and Wengrow's project is to make us reassess the blank spaces in our historical record, the ways of living that we have merely guessed at, based on fragments and suppositions. They point out that these inferences are vastly overdetermined, and that there are many other guesses that fit the facts equally well, or even better. This is a powerful message, one that insists that history – and thus the future – is contingent and up for grabs. We don't have to live the way we do, and we haven't always lived this way. We might live differently in the future.

In evoking a teeming, indigenous metropolis, conjured out of minor historical divergences, Spufford follows Graeber and Wengrow in cracking apart inevitability and letting all the captive possibility flow out. The fact that he does this in a first rate novel makes the accomplishment doubly impressive – and enjoyable.

It's EFF's Power Up Your Donation Week: this week, donations to the Electronic Frontier Foundation are matched 1:1, meaning your money goes twice as far. I've worked with EFF for 22 years now and I have always been - and remain - a major donor, because I've seen firsthand how effective, responsible and brilliant this organization is. Please join me in helping EFF continue its work!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/04/cahokia/#the-sun-and-the-moon

#pluralistic #alternate history #science fiction #indigeneity #cahokia #frances spufford #books #reviews #gift guide #jazz #music

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dandylovesturtles · 6 months ago

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actually not that anyone asked, but here's my current ranking of Rise episodes, in descending order, also keep in mind these are just my feelings right now and I change my mind a lot lol

Turtle-Dega Nights: The Ballad of Rat Man

Evil League of Mutants

Insane in the Mama Train

The Clothes Don't Make The Turtle

Lair Games

Mystic Library

Snow Day

The Fast and Furriest

Late Fee

Hidden City Job

Pizza Puffs

Down with the Sickness

Portal Jacked!

Finale pt 4: Rise

Finale pt 2: Shreddy or Not

Many Unhappy Returns

Bug Busters

Shadow of Evil

Stuck on You

Finale pt 1: E-turtle Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Finale pt 3: Anatawa Hitorijanai

End Game

Man vs Sewer

The Purple Game

The Purple Jacket

The Mutant Menace

Hidden City's Most Wanted

The Longest Fight

Mascot Melee

Repo Mantis

Donnie vs Witch Town

Origami Tsunami

Mystic Mayhem

Bad Hair Day

Smart Lair

Ancient Art of Ninja Hide and Seek

One Man's Junk

Flushed, but Never Forgotten

Battle Nexus New York

Always be Brownies

Breaking Purple

Air Turtle

Todd Scouts

Minotaur Maze

Mrs. Cuddles

Repairin' the Baron

Goyles, Goyles, Goyles

Jupiter Jim Ahoy!

Operation: Normal

Sidekick Ahoy!

Fists of Furry

How to Make Enemies and Bend People to Your Will

Hot Soup: The Game

Shell in a Cell

Mind Meld

You Got Served

Warren and Hypno, Sittin in a Tree

Newsworthy

Raph's Ride-along

Sparring Partner

Hypno! Part Deux!

Donnie's Gifts

Pizza Pit

Mystery Meat

Cloak and Swaggart

War and Pizza

Al Be Back

Bullhop

Nothing but Truffle

I feel like you can see my bias against episodes that don't have the turtles as the main focus lol

#I'm like that with about everything I watch though #I'm not putting this shit in the main tag #I feel like the most controversial parts of this list are Donnie v Witch Town #and flushed but not forgotten

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randomrottmntscreenshots · 1 year ago

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Requests are closed for now.

🍕🐢 I try to answer all asks, but it can take up to several weeks. If you haven't received an answer, try resending it! 🐢🍕

Yo, I wanna start to properly tag screenshots with characters and episodes for archiving purposes (my beloved) but I don't always remember the episode and the screenshots on my computer no longer have the episode title in the name

Do you think you can help me by naming the episode in the comments/reblogs of the screenshots posted sometime?

EDIT: If I already attempted to tag an episode and couldn't remember the title, I will leave a #to tag

If you see I mistagged something, don't be afraid to let me know as well!

-----

TAGS (work in progress)

ROTTMNT GRAND TOURNAMENT (11/14)

MUTANT MAYHEM

CHARACTER TAGS:

Other major/minor characters follow suit and are tagged with their names

EPISODES:

The Movie

MISCELLANEOUS:

Background | The Lair | Video | GIF | Animatic

#txt

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silentangel00 · 11 months ago

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The Batman

(Reader Insert)

Chapter 6: Busted

Chapter 5: https://www.tumblr.com/silentangel00/736690947543416832/the-batman?source=share

Batman slowly comes to only seeing blurry faces as Y/N looks down at him in worry, shining a light in his eyes. Voices start to fade in as he notices the cops huddled around him.

"Who do you think he is under there?" One cop questions. Gordon holds him back slightly giving him a light warning to take it easy.

"What is that thing? Leather?" Another cop questions pushing in to get a better look at his mask. You huff out of frustration at the cops crowding around you, making it hard to give him a proper examination.

"Can you please give me some room to work here fellas!?" They ignore you though and continue to bicker amongst themselves.

"What's he got on his eyes?"

"Who cares? I just wanna see his face!"

"What are we doin' here? Let's just take it off" A cop pushes past you and reaches for Batman's mask. Your eyes widen and you yell at him to stop but Batman's hands are quick to reach up and grab the cop by the wrist. The room comes alive with officers yelling as Gordon and you push them back giving Batman room to rise off of the interrogation table. You push yourself between him and the cop who tried to unmask him as you press a hand to his chest trying to keep him from breaking the cop's arm. Instead, he lets go of the cop and pushes you behind him to protect you from the cops who decided to draw their guns on him.

"Relax, Goddamit!" Gordon yells at everyone at the room finally quiets.

"You protecting this guy Jim?" Chief Bock questions pointedly, "He interfered in an active hostage situation! Colson's blood is on his hands!"

"Maybe it's on yours." Batman accuses narrowing his eyes at the Chief.

"What'd you say?!"

"He'd rather die than talk... What was he afraid of?... You?"

The Chief steps forward calmly but fuming as he gets in Batman's face. " You sonuvabitch! You have any idea what kinda trouble you're in?! You could be an accessory to MURDER!"

Suddenly another cop steps forward "Why are we playin' games here chief?" He grabs onto Batman's cowl yet again. This causes Batman to erupt and knock the cop back off balance. More cops launch themselves at Batman as the room goes crazy, you crawl up on the table trying to avoid getting hit as Batman has his way with them in a wild melee. Alarmed Gordon yet again tries to break it up.

"WOAH!-- Back off!-- BACK OFF!" Gordon yells doing everything he can to hold the crowd back.

"Great! Now I got you on assaulting an officer!" Chief Bock announces. Batman glowers at him.

"You got me on assaulting three..." He tries to step up to the Chief but Gordon quickly shoves him against the window surprisingly hard to stop him.

"Hey!-- Whats the matter with you?! This isn't the way to do this!" He chastises. Batman stops, shocked with his eyes flaring as their eyes lock. Gordon glares back in seriousness.

"You too now?" Batman says as he fills with contempt. Gordon keeps his dark eyes on Batman as he speaks to the Chief.

"Lemme handle this Chief... Gimme a minute."

"You gonna put yourself on the line for this scumbag Jim?"

"Just give me a minute and I'll get him to cooperate!"

The Chief stares for a second considering Gordon's request before he nods, "Ok, give him the room."

The cops begin to crowd out in displeasure as they leave the room. You slide off the table breathing heavily as you pat Gordon on the arm and he nods silently at you that he's alright. Batman watches as you leave the room and close the door behind you, watching as you walk into the crowd of cops and disappear.

He's violently interrupted from watching after you as Gordon gives him a slight shove.

"You listen to me!" and they face each other with angry expressions, "We gotta get you outta here..." Gordon utters lowly.

"That'll put a lotta heat on you," Batman responds in kind, making it look like an argument to the crowd of cops watching from the other side of the window.

"Well, you punched me in the face."

"Uh-huh," Batman nods liking this plan.

"Take this key," Gordon sneaks a key into his hands, "Through that door. Hallway to the stairs that go to the roof."

Batman's eyes clock the door, then turns to the silent room of cops as he hears a detective conferring with you. Struck by the realization that the detective talking to you is the same bouncer from the Iceberg that he got into a fight with the night before. His eyes narrow as he leans in to whisper to Gordon.

"Who's the mustache with the broken nose?"

Gordon looks into the crowd and then turns back, "That's Kenzie, he's in Narcotics."

"... he's one of the guys I got into it with at the Iceberg Lounge."

"... what are you saying? Kenzie moonlights for Penguin?"

"...Or he moonlights as a cop."

As soon as Kenzie notices Batman staring at him his face pales in alarm. Without warning Batman punches Gordon in the face causing Jim to fall to the ground as he makes a break for the stairwell. You exclaim as you shove your cup of coffee into Kenzie's hands and run into the room trying your best to keep your balance as cops push madly past you and down the hall after Batman. You crouch next to Jim who's still on the floor slumped against the wall.

"You ok?!" You ask worriedly checking him. He nods and briefly looks around before looking at you as you examine his face.

"You think that was believable enough?" He asks giving you a small smile. You pause and stare at him puzzled for a second before it clicks.

"Jesus Christ," You can't help but chuckle in disbelief, "You two are crazy."

You help Gordon up as you stand and make your way out of the interrogation room, "I'll be right back with an icepack."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's a little while later and Alfred is just now putting tea on the stove as he hears a knock at the door. He quickly walks over to the entrance and opens the door smiling as you lower your umbrella and turn to him.

"My darling girl!" He warmly says as he opens his arms for a hug not caring that you're a bit wet from the rain, "You can't imagine my surprise and absolute elation to hear from you tonight." He leads you into the living room next to a fireplace he already had lit for your arrival.

"It's so good to see you Alfred... It's been to long," You look down in guilt, "I'm sorry about that." You say with sadness. Alfred reaches over and shakes his head as he takes your hand into his.

"It's not your fault dear-- trust me, I'm aware..." He gives you an understanding smile and an intense feeling washes over you causing you to break down into tears. It's a feeling you haven't felt in way to long -- Comfort.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Concealed in an alley behind the Iceberg Lounge Gordon and Batman watch closely waiting for any activity.

"Kenzie and the twins coming your way." Gordon radios over to Batman in a separate vehicle as he watches Penguin exit with Kenzie and the twins. Kenzie is holding two duffles which he stuffs into the back of a car. "Wonder whats in the bags... Do you wanna move in?"

Gordon waits tensely for Batman's answer with his walkie as he watches Penguin and Twins get into the vehicle.

"Let's follow," Batman replies.

They follow them through Gotham til they arrive to a lab warehouse. Gordon cautiously comes to a stop from a safe distance and radios Batman.

"They stopped on Waterfront Street -- The Pharmaceutical Labs..."

Batman looks down from the roof of the warehouse at the sign with disdain as his chest clenches in painful realization. 'Y/L/N Pharmaceutical Laboratories'

"I'm here..." He replies to Gordon as his brain thinks through a million things at once. He observes from a skylight as workers lead Penguin to a crew in surgical masks filling vials with chemicals by bubbling cookers and beakers. He watches as eye-droppers are screwed onto the vials. With displeasure, Batman whispers into his wrist, "They're making drops. This is a buy..."

"Looks like they got Maroni's operation up and running again."

"Or they never shut it down at all..."

"You saying the biggest drug bust in GCPD history was a fraud?"

Batman doesn't answer with his thoughts because his most prominent thoughts do not concern Maroni. He's heavy-hearted as all he can think about is you. Is she involved in this? Does she know about this? Is she working with the Penguin? Maybe I can't trust her after all...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alfred and you laughed as you caught up with one another, sharing stories of everything over the past decade. You sit relaxed, after asking Alfred for a bit of whisky with your tea, in the study as he sifts through that day's mail.

"My brother's face was absolutely priceless!" You say with a laugh as you shift to lay sideways, your legs falling over the armrest of the office chair. Alfred looks at you and chuckles as he continues to slice open mail.

"Your brother was always a... special boy," You roll your eyes and nod in agreement, Alfred pauses, "How is he doing? Last I heard he was..." Alfred trails off and you sigh.

"Last you heard was the last I heard as well... trust me," You look down into your cup sullenly and shake your head in disbelief, "Haven't heard from him or about him in years, I don't even know if he's alive. -- Even though he was a jerk and a... 'special boy' I still miss him and his craziness sometimes. I mean despite some of the messes he would get himself into, he was always there for me, even in my darkest times -- like when I broke up with my ex..."

"You had a boyfriend?" Alfred asks trying to change the subject to a hopefully lighter one. Little did he know.

"Yep, my one and only so far... we were high school sweethearts and then we graduated, talked about running away together, and then he..." You trailed off as the memories came flooding back. Maybe I should've stopped two cups ago. "Let's just say I had a quick learning experience about never really truly knowing someone..."

Alfred eye's you out of the corner of his eye as he pretends to read a letter, "So he put his hands on you." He said in a very straightforward manner. You sat up immediately eyes widening in shock at him.

"How did you...?" You stared at him for a moment and soon realized he wasn't going to offer to explain. You flopped back in the chair and sigh, "It was only once and that was enough for me." You then stand up immediately regretting getting up so quick as the world spins for a second, but eventually find your bearings and leave the room to grab a glass of water. Alfred sifts through more mail about to open another letter until he notices a bulging manila mailer. He picks it up curiously as he reads the scrawled letter on the front 'PERSONAL/CONFIDENTIAL -- FOR BRUCE WAYNES EYES ONLY'. Alfred opens it and pulls a green gift-wrapped box with a silver envelope taped to it out of the mailer. His eyes widen in shock as he discovers the envelope reads 'FOR THE BATMAN'.

You walk back in the room with a glass of water and make your way back the chair you were sitting on next to Alfred til the envelope in his hands catches your attention and you stop dead in your tracks. An awful feeling creeps into your gut as you slowly walk closer eyeing the Green package in his hands. He flips the envelope puzzled as he finds a 'Fireproof' label on the back. You see it as addressed to the Batman and fear immediately takes over your whole being as you run to knock the box out of Alfred's hands.

"Alfred!"

But he seems to have caught on as he glances in alarm at the gift-wrapped box spotting a red pulsing light glowing from within. He immediately throws it and dives to cover you as the package erupts. The force of the blast knocking you unconscious.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bruce gazes through the window of the ICU room at Alfred. Alfred's bandaged and still unconscious as he's breathing through an oxygen mask. Nurses bustle around his room attending to him as a doctor emerges and moves towards Bruce looking at him with a grave expression.

"We've sedated him, we just have to hope he stabilizes..."

Bruce nods, but it's not clear he's even heard what the doctor said as the doctor stares at him and continues gently.

"Is there anyone else to notify? Next of kin?"

Bruce turns to look at her disoriented, "No.... it's just me..."

The doctor nods and walks back into the room. Bruce stands looking through the window a moment longer before turning about to leave. He stops as his eyes land on you walking towards him with a bandage on your arm and head.

"Bruce?" You pause wide-eyed before you proceed to quickly walk up to him and embrace him in a tight hug. Bruce stiffens not reciprocating the hug and you pull away giving him a once over, "Are you ok? I have been worried out of my mind when I realized you were this psycho's next target!"

Bruce doesn't respond as he stares into her eyes trying to read any signs of dishonesty. "Why were you at the tower?" He asks eyes narrowing at her. She flinches at his tone, gruff and guarded.

"I called Alfred to catch up... He invited me over for tea." She chuckles wryly as her eyes drift to Alfred's form, tears start to prick at her eyes. Seeing him in this state was to much, "I owe him my life, he took the full brunt of the blast for me."

Bruce continues to gaze at her with uncertainty, but he can't waste another moment here, he has to much work to do and very little time. "I have to go." He says blankly and starts to walk away. You turn to him in disbelief and call out to him.

"Where?"

"Home," He says starting to feel irritated. Your presence was confusing him and he can't handle it right now.

"I don't think that's the safest place right now..." You say softly as you approach him, he suddenly turns toward you making you stop in slight surprise.

"How would you be so sure?" He stares at you accusingly. His aura was not friendly and it was confusing you where this hostility was coming from, but you try to shake it off.

"Listen, I know I haven't been around for... a very long time. So it's probably not my place to say this but I feel like you should stay here with Alfred. Be here for him when he wakes up."

Bruce takes very quick and long steps toward her, startling her as he now stands right in front of her, his voice low but stern, "You're right it's not your place anymore. You lost that privilege ten years ago. So don't think you can come here and pretend to be family again."

"What are you- All I want is for us to be friends again! Why is that so hard?"

"We've changed."

"We? WE? -- No you, have changed."

"Stay away from Alfred."

You pause in shock, "Bruce wha-"

"One of your labs gets busted for the production of Drops and on the same night you happen to be at the Riddler's next bombing location, is that a coincidence?"

You stop and stare in disbelief at Bruce. How did he know about the Drops bust? You had only just heard about it an hour ago, already resolved to make a visit to that lab as soon as they discharged you tomorrow morning.

"You think I planted that bomb in your home? That I'm working with that psycho?! That I intentionally want to hurt you and Alfred?!"

"I don't know what to believe," Bruce whispers out as he turns and walks away leaving you distraught as you fight back tears. Your head is pounding, you don't know if it's from your head injury or from being accused of wanting to murder the two people you would give your life for without hesitation. All you know is that that wasn't Bruce... You don't know who that is anymore...

#batman #batman 2022 #batman x reader #batman x y/n #bruce wayne #bruce wayne x reader #bruce wayne x y/n #reader insert #gotham #robert battinson

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turtlevariabilis · 8 months ago

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<- INDEX

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

-> Screenshots Season 1

Episode 1 Mystic Mayhem (part 1/2)

Episode 1 Mystic Mayhem (part 2/2)

Episode 2a Origami Tsunami

Episode 2b Donnie’s Gifts

Episode 3a War and Pizza

Episode 3b Newsworthy

Episode 4a Repo Mantis

Episode 4b Down with the Sickness

Episode 5a The Fast and the Furriest

Episode 5b Mascot Melee

Episode 6a Shell in a Cell

Episode 6b Minotaur Maze

Episode 7 Bug Busters (part 1/2)

Episode 7 Bug Busters (part 2/2)

Episode 8a The Longest Fight

Episode 8b Hypno! Part Deux!

Episode 9a The Gumbus

Episode 9b Mrs. Cuddles

Episode 10a Stuck on You

Episode 10b Al Be Back

Episode 11a The Purple Jacket

Episode 11b Pizza Pit

Episode 12a Smart Lair

Episode 12b Hot Soup: The Game

Episode 13 The Evil League of Mutants (part 1/2)

Episode 13 The Evil League of Mutants (part 2/2)

Episode 14a Late Fee

Episode 14b Bullhop

Episode 15a Mind Meld

Episode 15b Nothing But Truffle

Episode 16 Shadow of Evil

Episode 17a Portal Jacked!

Episode 17b Warren & Hypno, Sitting in a Tree

Episode 18a Operation: Normal

Episode 18b Sparring Partner

Episode 19a You Got Served

Episode 19b How to Make Enemies and Bend People to Your Will

Episode 20a Mystic Library

Episode 20b The Purple Game

Episode 21a Man Vs. Sewer

Episode 21b The Mutant Menace

Episode 22a Turtle-dega Nights: The Ballad of Rat Man

Episode 22b The Ancient Art of Ninja Hide and Seek

Episode 23a One Man’s Junk

Episode 23b Snow Day

Episode 24a Cloak and Swaggart

Episode 24b Jupiter Jim Ahoy!

Episode 25 Insane in the Mama Train (part 1/2)

Episode 25 Insane in the Mama Train (part 2/2)

Episode 26 End Game (part 1/2)

Episode 26 End Game (part 2/2)

-> Screenshots Season 2

-> Screenshots The movie

If you encounter any URL issues, please let me know through private message.

#tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt #rise of tmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt season 1 #rottmnt screenshot

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vincentvega0721 · 4 months ago

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GRIFTER / WILD C.A.T.s

Grifter (Cole Cash) is a superhero appearing in books published by Wildstorm Productions and DC Comics. Created by artist Jim Lee and writer Brandon Choi, he first appeared in WildC.A.T.s #1 (August 1992), as a member of that titular superhero team, during the period when Wildstorm and its properties were owned by Jim Lee.[1] In that incarnation, Grifter is a former government operative and member of the military unit Team 7 and the espionage agency International Operations.

In 1999, Lee sold Wildstorm to DC Comics, and ownership of all Wildstorm characters, including Grifter, transferred to DC Comics. His backstory and continuity remained the same however, until DC's 2011 relaunch of their entire comics line, The New 52, which rebooted the continuity for most of its characters. Since then, the character has starred in his own DC series, and has also made appearances in numerous other DC titles, such as Voodoo, Legion Lost, Team 7, Animal Man and Deathstroke.

The character has been voiced by Colin O'Meara in Wild C.A.T.s, and Danny Jacobs in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.

Alter ego

Cole Cash

Team affiliations

WildC.A.T.s

Team 7

The Authority

International Operations

Notable aliases

Deadeye

Abilities

Highly skilled martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant

Expert marksman and melee fighter

Psionics (usually either dormant or passive)

Telekinesis

Telepathy

Accelerated healing factor

Espionage mastery

Extended longevity

WildStorm (Image Comics, later DC Comics)

First appearance

WildC.A.T.s #1 (August 1992)

Created by

Jim Lee

Brandon Choi

#wild cats #grifter #cole cash #wildstorm #image comics #dc comics #jim lee #gifs

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jimhenson-themuppetmaster · 2 years ago

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Kermit the Frog, also known as the Singing Swamp King, is a character from Jim Henson's The Muppets and a Melee Guardian of the Mirrorverse.

Kermit was added to the game along with Raya for the 2.1 Game Update on October 25 2022, and became available to unlock on November 7 2022, though his event quest, "Ballad of the Swamp King", would not begin until the 21st.

#jim henson #the muppets #kermit the frog #game #information #mirrorverse #disney #gif

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lavasick · 5 months ago

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🌺 ︰ # ALEKI LAFAELE CHARACTER INSPIRATIONS.

explanations under the cut.

bolin, from the legend of korra. more brawny than they are brainy, both bolin and aleki also have the ability to manipulate lava, as well as transforming rocks and the earth into something more fluid and molten for their own disposal.

dante pertuz, from marvel comics. dante is another character who can create volcanoes from the ground that can project lava. but an ability that i can see aleki developing in the future is something similar to dante's volcanic form, which turns his skin into flaming, molten rock. aleki is very much a melee fighter so being able to transform himself into something similar will definitely help his survivability.

natalie scatorccio, from yellowjackets. just like natalie, aleki is very reactive and sensitive. they also struggle with impulsivity, more likely to act first and deal with the repercussions and all the contemplation later. and while they are very upfront with their observations, they find it very difficult to deal with their deeper emotions and trauma without making a joke out of them or trivializing their own experiences.

ian gallagher, from shameless. both ian and aleki are very spontaneous people, rarely ever thinking about the dangers when they put themselves in certain situations. they're also very caring about the people around them and likes to dedicate themselves to moral causes. both of these characters also hate conformity and so stubborn with their own beliefs, finding compromise to be very difficult to the point that point they're more likely to turn people off than mobilize them.

zuko, from the last airbender. expressive, aggressive, and explosive when angered. and well, both of them are fire boys. while they won't freely tell you about their negative emotions, you can certainly see it in their faces. they're transparent even without saying anything. both of them are also reactive which can cause conflict with other people, but they also tend to experience melancholy whenever they are alone, thus, sometimes even preferring a fight than just not having anyone around them. zuko and aleki are also the type to come off as superficially arrogant despite having low self-esteem.

jim hawkins, from treasure planet. tenacious, stubborn, and not easily influenced. but both of these characters also struggle with their worth, often looking for tangible or empirical evidence of their success or worth to everyone. both are also the type to complain about people staying to their rigid ideals when they don't meet his own, despite being just as stubborn. they both feel most frustrated whenever they feel inefficient or unhelpful to the bigger picture of things, but tend to compartmentalize those feelings instead of talking about them.

#🌋 ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎›‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎aleki lafaele ⁝ character development.#conquerhqprompts

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bl-bam-beyond · 1 year ago

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Spotlight Series:

A Classic in Gay Films

Title: BOYS IN THE BAND

Year: 1970

Written by: Mart Crowley

Directed by: William Friedkin

Adapted from play of same name.

This film is based on a Off Broadway play, it is among the early major American Motion Pictures to revolve around gay characters. It is cited as a milestone in the history of queer cinema.

Starring: Kenneth Nelson, Leonard Frey, Cliff Gorman, Laurence Luckinbill, Frederick Combs, Keith Prentice, Robert LaTourneaux, Rueben Greene and Peter White.

This spawned a 2020 remake available on Netflix. The 1970 version is available on Showtime.

Premise: Not for the weak of heart. There is a lot in this film. About friends coming together for their friend's birthday party. Set mainly in an apartment. It spirals into a clash. So many triggers including violence (nothing major but a fight ensues) homophobia, depression, alcoholism, racism, suicidal talk, prostitution, infidelity and a whole lot of self loathing.

Harold is the birthday boy and is so down on himself but at the same time he's fierce. Michael is quick witted potty mouth and gets worse when he drinks as spews hateful speech. Donald is fairly laid back and a kind person but still sees a therapist. Emory is an effeminate man and a little bit racist. Bernard is the only black character and the brunt of racism by Emory and Michael. Larry is a handsome fella and self proclaimed slut. Hank is a married man that left his wife and children to be with Larry yet Larry is an unapologetic cheater and Alan is Michael straight college friend (whom Michael believes is a closeted homosexual) and rounding out the party is Cowboy, who is a street hustler purchased by Emory for Harold.

Alan is an uninvited guest that starts the horrific trouble as he attacks the effeminate Emory and using gay slurs. Sending Michael back to drinking and becoming quite malicious to his friends.

Though the triggers are serious, there is a bit of humor and even after the melee and Michael's viciousness his friends seem not to blame him.

Though not a pretty story it has some fantastic performances. And in the history of gay cinema. This is a classic. I did watch the remake on Netflix which includes Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer and Zachary Quinto among others.

@pose4photoml

#THE SPOTLIGHT SERIES #BL-BAM-BEYOND FAMILY OF BLOGS #1970 GAY FILM #BOYS IN THE BAND #BASED ON 1968 OFF BROADWAY PLAY #CLASSIC #NOW TO REWATCH THE REMAKE #My GIFS #MYGIFSET #MY-GIF-EDIT

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thecreaturecodex · 2 years ago

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Mind Flayer, Ulitharid

[The ulitharid was one of the first monsters written by James Jacobs to get published; it first appeared in Dungeon Magazine when he was a teenager. That original 2e ulitharid has a particularly nasty trick that has been abandoned by later versions--victims of its mind blast are also feebleminded. That's a little too mean for me, but I did take inspiration from it for a lesser version. I'm planning on giving full on feeblemind to the elder brain, though.

The idea of an ulitharid as an immature female mind flayer is, as far as I know, unique to me. I was inspired by the Volo's Guide to Monsters 5e take that makes ulitharids the psychic hubs of a full-on hivemind, and when they die, they become "seeder brains" for a composite elder brain. I'm not making the elder brain a full composite monster, but I liked linking the ulitharid more closely to the elder brain.

Again, see my article about mind flayers in general for information about the subtype and some of their unique abilities]

Mind Flayer, Ulitharid CR 11 LE Aberration This purple-skinned humanoid is tall and lean, concealing much of its form with robes and cloaks. It has six tentacles growing from its face, two of which are especially long and flexible.

Ulitharids are sometimes called “illithid nobles” by outsiders. They are ennobled not by rank, but by birth; each ulitharid is a juvenile elder brain, and will metamorphose into a new elder brain if they survive long enough. Ulitharid births are rare—only one in every twenty-five mind flayer tadpoles are ulitharids. Few ulitharids live alone; they are found almost always in mind flayer colonies. There, they lead the activities of circles, commune with the elder brain, and direct scouting expeditions to find new victims and resources. Most ulitharids will participate in the activities of multiple creeds, the better to have a broad perspective of philosophy and tools for acquiring power. When they near the end of their two hundred and fifty year lifespans, they leave the colony and travel to a safe location with a handful of illithids. Once in their new homes, they metamorphose into an elder brain and found a new colony.

An ulitharid acts much like an illithid in combat, but is more dangerous and capable in melee. Their longest tentacles can stretch to great lengths, pulling victims close enough to grab and tear away at their brains. The mind blast of an ulitharid has lingering consequences, leaving their enemies in a fugue state long enough to prevent them from fighting back effectively. Perhaps their most dangerous spell-like ability is their ability to project themselves and their allies into the Astral Plane. A fight with an ulitharid, unless it is within the colony to which it belongs, is usually with an astral form, giving the ulitharid the ability to test out tactics without danger of permanent harm, and leaving them free to plot revenge if defeated.

Ulitharids are larger than illithids, standing an average of 7 feet tall and being more muscular.

Ulitharid CR 11 XP 12,800 LE Medium aberration (mind flayer) Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect magic, low-light vision, Perception +20 Defense AC 25, touch 14, flat-footed 21 (+4 Dex, +3 natural, +2 armor, +6 shield) hp 126 (12d8+72) Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +13; +4 vs. emotions SR 26 Defensive Abilities affectless; Weakness light blindness, sun sickness Offense Speed 30 ft. Melee 2 slams +12 (1d8+4 plus pull), tentacles +10 (4d4+2 plus grab) or masterwork heavy mace +13/+8 (1d8+6), 2 slams +10 (1d8+2 plus pull), tentacles +10 (4d4+2) Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. for slam) Special Attacks mind blast, pith (tentacles), pull (slam, 5 ft.) Spell-like Abilities CL 12th, concentration +18 (+22 casting defensively) Constant—detect magic, mental barrier II At will—charm monster (DC 20), detect thoughts (DC 18), dimension door, levitate, mind thrust III (DC 19), suggestion (DC 19) 3/day—confusion (DC 20), dominate person (DC 21), fly, plane shift (DC 21), telekinesis (DC 21) 1/day—astral projection, feeblemind (DC 21), scrying (DC 20), true seeing Statistics Str 18, Dex 18, Con 22, Int 23, Wis 21, Cha 23 Base Atk +8; CMB +12 (+16 grapple); CMD 30 Feats Combat Casting,Combat Reflexes, Defensive Combat Training, Improved Initiative, Magical Aptitude, Multiattack Skills Bluff +18, Diplomacy +18, Fly +19, Intimidate +21, Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, planes) +21, Perception +20, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +25, Stealth +19, Use Magic Device +22; Racial Modifiers +4 Knowledge (all) Languages Aklo, Common, Elven, Qualith, Undercommon, telepathy 200 ft. SQ endless knowledge Ecology Environment underground Organization solitary, circle (1 plus 5-12 illithids) or colony (1-20 plus 10 illithids per ulitharid plus 1 elder brain) Treasure double standard (masterwork heavy mace, masterwork leather armor, other treasure) Special Abilities Endless Knowledge (Ex) All Knowledge skills are class skills for an ulitharid. Mind Blast (Su) As a standard action, an ulitharid can create a 60 foot cone of mental energy. All creatures in the area must succeed a DC 22 Will save or be stunned for 3d4 rounds. A creature that is stunned may attempt to recover from this condition as a full-round action with an additional DC 22 Will save. A creature that fails its save cannot use its skill ranks, spells, activated feats and abilities for 1 minute after recovering from the stunning effect, as per the mental block spell. A creature suffering from a mental block can remove it if it succeeds a DC 22 Will save on its turn as a swift action. Mind flayers are immune to the effects of a mind blast. An ulitharid can use a mind blast at will, but must wait 1d4 rounds between uses. This is a mind-influencing effect, and the save DC is Charisma based. Tentacles (Ex) An ulitharid’s long tentacles are treated as slam attacks, and its four smaller tentacles attack as a single secondary natural weapon.

#ulitharid #illithid #mind flayer #lords of madness #tentacles #pathfinder 1e #D&D

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