#Merging Families 2024

[dc-merging-families-weekend]

IT IS TIME

Don't forget to post all your lovely day one Merging Families content today.

Ao3 collection below and tag us if you post on tumbler so exited.

Flashfam/Batfam Merging Families Weekend (Merging_Families_2024)

[seafoamreadings]

week of november 17th, 2024

these are written predominantly for the *rising* signs but they are also intuitively "channeled" enough that they should work for any dominant energy you have! (try your sun if you don't know rising, or more advanced readers can try moon, anywhere you have a stellium, etc and see what works best for you!)

aries: fiery hot sagittarius season is inbound. this is great news for your overall vibe and aura, but especially if you want to pursue any lofty academic, philosophical, or spiritual goals. heated debates and exercise both tend to do well in this atmosphere but, due to upcoming retrogrades, be cautious of injuries (physical or egoic!)

taurus: you are renowned for appreciation of true quality, so don't settle in material matters or in relationships. as the season shifts again the temptation or opportunity to merge households or resources may arise. carefully evaluate before jumping in.

gemini: with mercury and jupiter opposing each other in mutual reception you have access to ideas and resources that normally would not occur to you. make good use of them! meanwhile, the dawn of sagittarius season heralds relationship developments or the formation of new strong alliances.

cancerians: you've now seen pluto come and go from your 7th house a few times. this week, it does so for the last time in your lifetime. it's like a breath of fresh air for 7th house themes. but don't forget that pluto is always somewhere... now it is in your 8th, but it's pretty well suited here if you don't panic too much. indeed, this can bring you lots of financial fortune.

leo: this is the week wherein pluto moves into aquarius for the last time. it will remain there for a couple more decades. for a whole sign system, this is the 7th house. you're entering a long era of major change, which will sometimes make the word "uncomfortable" look pitifully inadequate, to your relationships with other people. first date small talk, for one example, may begin to seem painfully unbearable. of course, it goes way deeper than that. try not to despair, this is ultimately for good and many more pleasant things will exist alongside it over the years.

virgo: these are certainly mutable times and while you are definitely one of the mutable signs, you do get "indigestion" (probably literally...) from too much chaos. ceres this week is encouraging you to embrace change, but not without a good measure of self care. and that's not just bubble baths but also any doctor visits you've procrastinated, a good healthy diet (not deprivation but nutrition!), and plenty of exercise. stay home all you want, as long as it nourishes you.

libra: pluto in aquarius can actually be really good for you. yes, people make pluto out to be a big bad villain, and yes it does often come with some unpleasantness. but aquarius is your 5th house so this is, over the next many years, going to make harmonious aspects to your libra points. if you need to throw out a hobby or situationship and start fresh, that will be your cue.

scorpio: your ruling planet heads for aquarius this week for good. by good, i mean a couple solid decades. this is your fourth house, and dramatic changes at home may occur, especially early on in the process. alternatively or perhaps in tandem, you might also see that family skeletons in closets are unearthed so to speak, or you may discover interesting (?) new information regarding some ancestors.

sagittarius: your solar season arrives this week as pluto heads out of capricorn for a long, LONG time. you don't have to let pluto steal your thunder, but be patient with others as they may be having a harder time navigating this than you will. meanwhile a mercury-jupiter opposition also grants you eloquent speech, quick thought, and probably a healthy amount of money and good fortune.

capricorn: pluto out of your sign for the *rest of your life* probably feels like a great relief and if it doesn't just yet, it will before very long. of course, pluto never disappears from the sky, it just moves on. so he now affects your values and possessions. keep your self worth bolstered all up, and note that pluto has certain associations with vast wealth. to bring up a stereotype, that's very much your style. enjoy.

aquarius: you've had a couple of brief tastes of pluto in the early degrees of your sign, those were dress rehearsals and the real deal starts here in just a couple of days. while it's not *THE* age of aquarius, it's certainly putting you in a type of focus. the dissolution of the ego/identity can be harrowing and also beautiful. think in terms of butterfly metaphors for the next twenty or so years. sometimes you're goo in a chrysalis and that's okay.

pisces: while you've been hosting old saturn in your sign, you've had a little more contact with the so-called "real" world as other people experience it in its mundanity, or the illusion thereof. this week has a very surreal quality which is very much your speed. in a strange turn of events, your friends (even strangers...) may, for now, see you as the grounded one.

watch the transit posts in real time to have the best guide through your week. want a little more? have a look at my patreon or ko-fi.

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[eroselless]

PATO - SEVEN

[charles leclerc x reader, carlos sainz x reader]

MASTERLIST | PREVIOUS

warnings: angst

note: HI LOVES! I am so so sorry its taken me so long to get this out. I had some troubles with motivation and stupid writers block but as soon as I was able to get it going, I got it. Thank you all so much for you patience and continued support <3

BRAZIL, NOVEMBER 2024

The sun sets over the circuit, long shadows shifting under the dimming light, the sound of cars zooming past reverberating through the air. The crowd around the circuit erupts in cheers as the final lap begins, a new wave of excitement rolling through the sea of red Ferrari flags. The tension is palpable as each turn pushes the drivers to their limits.

You stand near the pit wall, Lucero perched on your hips. She plays with the strands of your hair, occasionally tugging at the earrings you forgot to take off that morning. Your heart races with the roar of the cars as you watch the screen in front of you. The mechanics and engineers around you shift nervously, their eyes glued to the screen tracking the final moments of the race. Carlos’s car is a bright red blur, expertly maneuvering the last few corners. He is leading, and he’s nearing the finish line.

"¡Vamos, Carlos!" a mechanic shouts, his voice lost in the cacophony of engines and the cheers of the crew. The tension in the pit lane merges with the anticipation on the track. You can all see it—victory is so close.

The radio crackles with team communications as Lucero squirms in your arms, fascinated by the spectacle, her eyes wide at the noise of cars zooming by, completely unaware of the significance of the moment.

“Baba,” she babbles as she hears his voice echo through the paddock, her small voice a little clearer than before. The word hits you like a warm wave—a mixture of joy and something you can’t quite place yet. She has taken to calling him that, not yet able to say papa, but now it falls from her lips with more confidence than it did a few days ago.

You watch as Carlos rounds the last corner, sending the Ferrari pit into an explosion of celebration. He crosses the finish line first, the checkered flag waving in the air like a beacon of victory. Your heart soars with emotion, your body buzzing with the shared joy of the crowd. The paddock becomes a flurry of activity—engineers, mechanics, and team members shouting, hugging, clapping, and celebrating. Lucero giggles in your arms, imitating the others as she claps along joyfully.

The team ushers you out to meet Carlos as he slows his car into parc fermé, coming to a complete stop. He pulls himself out with ease, pumping his arms up into the air as he stands triumphantly on his car. His arms are outstretched, as though he’s trying to absorb every bit of energy the crowd offers him. He did it. He’s a winner again. It wasn’t just a victory; it was a statement.

You see it in his eyes as he pulls off his helmet and turns toward you, his gaze locking on the crowd of Ferrari red waiting for him. He sprints toward the barricade, right to where you’re standing. The press swarms, photographers snapping photos as he closes the distance, but he doesn’t care. They can speculate all they want—about him, about you, about Lucero.

When he reaches you, he doesn’t hesitate. His hands cradle your cheeks as he lifts your face toward his, pressing his lips against yours in a kiss that is both celebratory and claiming. He breathes you in before pulling away, resting his forehead against yours. His skin is slightly damp against yours when he does. Lucero squeals in delight as he pulls both of you into an embrace, arms circling around you and Lucero in a tight, protective hold. The cameras flash around your small group, murmurs filtering through the crowd.

But in this moment, neither of you care about the spectacle. This is his little victory, with his little family.

"Mi amor," he whispers breathlessly, pulling away just enough to look into your eyes. There’s a softness there, a vulnerability you’ve come to cherish, and it overwhelms you. The heat of his affection feels as potent as the Brazilian sun beating down on you.

Lucero wiggles in your arms, laughing as Carlos takes her, holding her high in the air, earning another giggle. It sends butterflies fluttering in your stomach, your heart swelling with emotion once again.

The roar of engines continues as the other cars finish the race. Lando crosses the line in second, Charles bringing his car home shortly after in third. The podium is set—Carlos, Lando, and Charles. It would have been perfect if the tension just below the surface wasn’t beginning to ripple.

As Charles comes to a stop in parc fermé, his gaze finds you celebrating—Carlos all wrapped in your presence, arms around you, beaming at the baby girl in his arms. The sight pierces through him, an unexpected pang of something sharp and unsettling. Jealousy? Maybe. Or maybe it’s regret. What he could’ve had is playing out in front of him—the woman he once loved with his child, in the arms of another man, celebrating a win he had so badly yearned for. That could’ve been his, had things gone differently. If he had done things differently.

He removes his helmet once out of his car, his heart pounding with something other than the rush of the race. As he stands there for a second, he finds he can’t tear his eyes away from the small family huddled together, completely oblivious to the reporters and photographers circling them.

He watches as you beam up at Carlos, your eyes swelling with joyful tears as he continues holding Lucero. He recognizes the look on your face, a look he’d once seen directed at him, long ago. He catches Carlos’s eye across the paddock. There’s no smugness, no malice in his gaze, just a quiet acknowledgment. We’re here now, his eyes seem to say. This is how things are.

It feels more complicated for Charles. Is he envious of Carlos? Or is it seeing you again—the woman he had loved, maybe still loves, and the child that could’ve been a part of his life from the beginning? He can’t place it exactly, but the sight of Lucero babbling in Carlos’s arms twists something deep in his chest. Lucero looks so much like him—the same wispy golden-brown hair, the same blue-green eyes. She is a miniature version of him, yet she clings to Carlos like he’s her world.

Charles stands frozen for a moment, watching as Carlos hands Lucero back to you, kissing both of you before stepping into the arms of the team.

“Charles!” one of the mechanics calls, breaking him from his reverie. He tears his eyes away from the three of you, forcing a smile as he walks toward his team. They greet him with enthusiasm, engulfing him in a sea of high-fives and hugs. His mind is elsewhere, lost in images of what could’ve been.

As the celebrations continue, the podium ceremony looming closer, you can feel the tension between the two men simmering beneath the surface. You can feel Charles’s gaze on you, how it lingers. You can feel how Carlos instinctively leans toward you and Lucero whenever Charles comes near. Though you’ve agreed to prioritize Lucero’s well-being, how long would it take for these feelings to reach a boiling point and spill over?

Lucero tugs at your sleeve, bringing you back to the present. You look down at your daughter, who hasn’t even noticed the tension building around her. Children have a way of simplifying things that adults complicate. For Lucero, there is no battle for affection, no jealousy to sort through. She has you and Carlos. But you can’t help but feel the tightening coil in your chest. Charles has missed out on so much of Lucero’s first year, and now he’s trying to be present. But where does that leave Carlos, who has stepped into the role so seamlessly, becoming papa without hesitation?

Your thoughts are cut off by the announcer calling out Carlos' name. Lucero squeals once again as Carlos takes his spot on the top step, eyes closed and face angled up toward the sky. When he opens them again, they find yours, a bright sparkle shining in them. The crowd chants his name, and for a moment, everything feels right again.

But as Charles passes by on his way to the third step, his eyes find yours as well. There’s no hiding the emotions swirling in him—regret, longing, confusion. He quickly turns away, his jaw tightening as the champagne bottles are handed out. Oh, what he’d give to see you here, with your daughter, cheering his name instead.

*:・゚✧*:・゚✧

The crowd roars around you as the three men raise the bottles of champagne into the air. The spray from Carlos’s bottle catches the golden light of the setting sun, creating a shimmering halo as the liquid spray around him. Lando follows suit, laughing as he chases Carlos with a playful spray. Charles, though holding his bottle aloft, is quieter—less involved. The celebratory atmosphere to him felt muted, a blur of flashing lights and loud cheers. The taste of victory, third place, tastes bitter in his mouth. 

As the champagne spray over them as they bask in the moment, Lucero claps her little hands together, echoing the excitement of the crowd. Her calls for baba seem to cut through the air, rising over the noise of the crowd. Carlos’s face softens as he finds you in the crowd, finding her safely nestled in your arms. 

The men step away from the podium and Carlos makes his way down to you, wiping champagne from his brow. The crowd seems to part as he nears, giving you space. The noise seems to filter away as he pulls you into his arms again, earning a squeal from you as his soaked racing suit comes in contact with you. 

He reached out, gently stroking Lucero’s cheek, fingers lingering there for a moment. “You were cheering me on, weren’t you, mi pato?” he says softly, a boyish grin tugging at the corners of his lips. Lucero giggles, reaching up for him with both hands. It’s impossible not to melt at the sight of them together.

Her laughter continues to fill the air as Carlos is swept away into some post-race duties, interviews and such. You can see Charles from the corner of your eye, lingering in the background. His racesuit now hangs from his waist, the third place cap securely on his head. It is obvious–his reluctance to leave, his need for something unspoken. A deep breath escapes you as you realize there’s no way of avoiding this. 

He approaches you, voice soft and tentative as he calls out for you. You greet him shyly, not sure if you should hug him now. You stand there for a moment, letting the weight of everything between you settle in the air.

“You were great out there,” you finally say, your voice quiet, measured. “Lucero and I, we were both watching.” his eyes flicker to his daughter, expressing softening jut for a second. 

He steps a little closer, his eyes never leaving Lucero. “Does she…” He pauses, struggling to find the right words. “Does she know who I am?”

The question hangs in the air between you like a fragile thread. You glance at Lucero, who is babbling contentedly in your arms, oblivious to the tension around her. You swallow hard before answering.

“She’s still young, Charles. She doesn’t fully understand everything yet.”

He nods, but you can see the pain in his eyes. He steps closer still, his voice barely a whisper. “But she will, right? One day, she’ll know that… that I’m her father?”

The question sends a wave of emotion crashing over you. You hadn’t expected this conversation to happen here, now, in the midst of the celebrations. But you can’t avoid it any longer. You look up at him, your heart heavy with the weight of the truth.

“She’ll know,” you say, your voice cracking slightly. “But it’s… complicated.” he nods, eyes full of sadness and yearning. 

“I’m sorry I never told you,” you say gently. “I won’t keep her from you anymore but that doesn’t change everything we’ve been through.” You mean the arguments, the late nights you waited up for him. All the tears you shed for him and the heartbreak that came with boarding the fate train to Spain, you and Carlos. Charles knows this, a pain flickering in his chest as he nods sadly. 

“I get it,” he says. “But it still stings.” 

Your response is halted when Lucero reaches for Charles, babbling softly as she stretches her tiny arms toward him. His face softened immediately, and he stepped closer, gently taking her into his arms. 

You knew they looked alike but the similarities are so much more obvious now that she’s cradled in his arms. Her smile is timid as she plays with the decals of his fireproofs. Her eyes crinkle just like his, her hair reminiscent of his at the same age. 

“You two are almost like twins,” you say, a smile tugging at your lips as you watch them. A smile paints Charles’s lips, it's one that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. 

“Yeah,” he whispers, his gaze far away. “She does.” though there was so much of him that he saw in her, he could see you. In the way the baby scrunched her nose, in how her eyes lit up and how she laughed seemed to capture everyone’s attention. It was what made him fall in love with you in the first place. 

The tension between you hung in the air, unspoken words and unresolved feelings swirling around like the last remnants of a storm. Charles’s gaze flickers back to yours, and for a second, you see something in his eyes that makes your heart ache—regret, maybe. Or longing for something that was lost. But you had no desire to go back to that place, to that time when you were the one waiting for him to notice, to care for you.

He had Alexandra now. And you had Carlos.

Carlos reappears, a bright smile on his face as he joins the two of you. His hand slips around your waist, pulling you in for a tight hug. He lets go, a bittersweet smile as he sees Charles holding Lucero. 

“Looks like she’s making new friends,” Carlos said lightly, though there was a slight edge to his voice, his gaze lingering on Charles for a moment longer than necessary.

Charles gives him a tightlipped smile, handing Lucero back to you, nodding as he stepped back. “She’s incredible. You’re lucky.”

Carlos’s grip on you tightens just slightly, and you could feel the tension between the two men—the unspoken rivalry that neither of them wanted to acknowledge.

“We are,” Carlos says softly, his eyes filled with warmth as he looks at you and Lucero. “Very lucky.”

*:・゚✧*:・゚✧

The Ferrari Family Drama Deepens: Carlos Sainz and Y/N L/N Relationship Confirmed, Tensions With Charles Leclerc?

In the wake of the Brazilian Grand Prix, a new chapter in the unfolding drama within the Ferrari paddock has captivated fans and media alike. Speculation about the personal lives of drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc has reached a fever pitch, following a string of high-profile appearances involving a mystery woman—now identified as Y/N L/N—and a young child.

Y/N L/N, who had previously flown under the radar during her relationship with Leclerc, has now emerged in the public eye alongside Carlos Sainz. Their close interactions during the Grand Prix weekend, particularly after Sainz’s victory, left little doubt among observers that the two are romantically involved. In the celebratory moments after the race, Sainz was seen pulling L/N and the child—whose identity has yet to be confirmed—into a tight embrace, a gesture that all but confirmed their relationship status.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as heartwarming, with Sainz not only basking in the glory of his win but also sharing the moment with his newfound family. The child, speculated to be L/N’s daughter, appeared comfortable in Sainz’s arms, fueling rumors that he has taken on a fatherly role in her life. However, without any official word, questions surrounding the child’s identity remain unanswered, leaving room for continued speculation.

The plot thickened further when fans spotted L/N having a private conversation with Charles Leclerc, captured from a distance by photographers. The conversation appeared somber, with both parties showing visible signs of tension. Leclerc, who finished third in the race, was seen standing near L/N while the child stayed close, sparking curiosity about the nature of their exchange. Though no details have emerged about what was discussed, the history between L/N and Leclerc seems to weigh heavily on both.

The identity of the child—who, according to witnesses, shares striking features with both Leclerc and L/N—remains a mystery, adding to the intrigue surrounding the unfolding drama. 

The questions on everyone’s minds now are: how will this personal entanglement affect the drivers moving forward? And what does this mean for their upcoming races and the Ferrari team as a whole?

a/n: Hi friends! If you’ve gotten this far, thank you so much for reading! Any feedback, reblogs and likes are appreciated, they seriously keep me so motivated <3

tags: @kravitzwhore @janeh22 @apollosfavkiddo @leah-also-known-as-creatoronwp @tremendousstarlighttragedy @sltwins @bwormie @marshmummy @honethatty12 @staplerrrr @smithieandy @loloekie @musicheaux @jeondeluxe111 @dessxoxsworld @xoscar03 @emryb @yl90 @poppyflower-22 @a-distantdreamer @raynetargaryan @halleest @cosmoscoffeee @crying-in-fangirl @khaylin27

[captainsophiestark]

Vigilante Book Club Part 3

Jason Todd x Reader

Part 1 Part 2 - Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for Fictober, and for my personal fic writing challenge for 2024, Sophie's Year of Fic! Featuring a new fic being posted every Friday, all year long :)

Fandom: DC

Day Four Prompt: "No, we're not doing that."

Summary: Jason and his new SO have their official first date.

Word Count: 2,216

Category: Fluff

A/N: Shoutout to @v1ckycheesue for commenting about wanting to see the date! I wasn't sure I was going to come back to this idea, but something just popped into my head, so now we're here :) No promises, but there might also be a part 4 at some point on the horizon!

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

I stepped out of my building with a smile, waving as soon as I caught sight of Jason on his motorcycle, waiting for me right where he said he'd be. After months of friendship and forming a mini book club with the Red Hood, earlier this week, I'd learned his secret identity thanks to a phone call from one of his brothers. Thankfully, Jason didn't mind, and even better, it had led to Jason asking me out on a date. He'd had a bit of a family situation to attend to earlier, but tonight was the night, and having him meet me outside my apartment on his motorcycle was certainly a good start.

"Hey!" I called once I was close enough. "How did the family dinner disaster go?"

Jason scoffed and rolled his eyes. "It went great, once I got there and kicked everyone else out of the kitchen. Somewhere between five and ten of us regularly attending family events and somehow I'm still the only one who knows how to cook."

I grinned. "Well, from personal experience, I can attest that you are an excellent chef."

"Thanks, babe," he said, huffing a laugh as I finally reached him. He held out one arm for a hug, and I stepped into him, wrapping both my arms around his shoulders as he sat on his bike. He brought his other hand up to rest on my hip, giving it a light squeeze before moving me a step back from him. "You look great."

"Thanks! You do too. So... are you gonna tell me what we're doing tonight?"

"Not yet," he said with a grin. "I still want our first stop to be a surprise. But you do need one more thing before we go."

I raised an eyebrow as Jason turned around on the bike, digging into one of the side bags before turning back to me with a bright red helmet in hand.

"Here, let me help you get it on."

I smiled, Jason helping me pull the helmet down over my head before holding either side of it, giving it a little shake to make sure it fit snugly. He grabbed the part right in front of my mouth and ran his finger across it, giving me a satisfied smile.

"Looks good. Go ahead and hop on, and we can get out of here."

I climbed onto the back of the bike, wrapping my arms tightly around Jason's waist as he pulled his own red helmet on over his head. It wasn't the same as his Red Hood helmet, but it did look pretty similar. I grinned, even though Jason couldn't see me.

"You ready sweetheart?" he asked, his voice crackling over an in-helmet comms system. I nodded, then realized how unhelpful that was.

"Yeah, I'm ready. Although I do have a question."

"What's that?" Jason asked. He started the bike as he spoke, the engine roaring beneath us.

"As somebody trying to maintain a secret identity, don't you think it's a little conspicuous that you've got a motorcycle helmet the exact same color as your vigilatne helmet? And almost the same style?"

I heard Jason huff a laugh, and his response took a few moments to come through the radio. Part of that might've been Jason trying to focus while he merged with traffic, but he'd never be able to convince me that was the entire reason.

"Nobody's figured it out yet," he finally said. Now it was my turn to laugh.

"Well, there you go, I guess. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that nobody in Gotham suddenly becomes observant. You know, I could repaint your helmet in some sparkly colors for you, maybe put some stickers on it that say 'NOT Red Hood', help you keep your secret. We could make it a date night."

Jason snorted. "No, we're not doing that."

"Your loss babe."

I held tight to Jason as we swept through the city streets, looking over his shoulder and trying to figure out exactly where we were headed. I didn't put it together until we turned a corner and pulled into the parking lot for my absolute favorite bookstore in the city.

I gasped, and I heard Jason chuckle over the radio.

"I take it you're excited?"

"Jason, I got nothing but green flags from you from the moment you brought my favorite book back to me, but I cannot begin to tell you how amazing this surprise is. This is my dream date."

Jason chuckled again, pulling the bike into a spot near the front as he responded.

"I'm glad a bookstore date's as exciting to you as it is to me."

"Oh my god, you have no idea. You are actually a dream come true."

"Right back at you, sweetheart."

With that, he stepped off the bike and pulled his helmet off, taking mine from me a moment later when I did the same. I had a beaming smile on my face that I couldn't wipe off if I tried, and as soon as he saw it, Jason smiled too.

"Alright, I'll never be the one to put limits on getting books, but let me tell you what I was thinking for tonight," he said, taking my hand and helping me off the bike. We started walking to the front doors together, shoulder to shoulder and hands held tight. "I was thinking we each pick a book, ideally one the other person hasn't read before. Then we do an exchange and read the books the other person picked out for us."

Jason looked at me as we came to a stop just inside the bookstore, apparently waiting for my reaction. Like he hadn't just said something out of a romance novel.

I leaned up to kiss his cheek, squeezing his hand as I did. When I pulled back with a smile, Jason had one eyebrow raised.

"That sounds absolutely perfect," I said, and a minute later his face broke out in a wide grin.

"Okay, good. I'll go get your book, you go get mine. Whoever's done first finds the other."

"Deal. Let's do this."

Jason and I headed off in different directions, hunting through the bookstore for just the right book. A few weeks ago, he'd told me he'd never read Dracula, one of my favorite books and a classic that seemed right up his alley. We'd talked about reading it together for our informal book club, but we hadn't done it yet, and I couldn't think of a better book to get him for our date.

Unfortunately, we were in a bookstore, so I had to make a few detours on my way to my goal. I ended up with a small stack in my arms by the time I finally made it to Dracula, and I chewed my lip in thought as I stood betwen the stacks. What if he didn't have room for us to put these on the bike? What if we were going somewhere after this where the books would be a problem? I rarely managed to walk into a bookstore and walk out with nothing more than what I'd gone for, but maybe I could just take picture of the other titles with my phone-

"There you are."

I turned to see Jason behind me, a stack of books in his own arms. I grinned.

"I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who made a few pitstops on my way to the date book," I said. Jason scoffed.

"Of course not. I don't trust people who can easily avoid detours in bookstores."

"Neither do I. It's for sure a red flag."

"Well, I'm glad we both passed the test," he said, grinning again. "Now come on, you ready? I think it's time for the next part of our date."

"I'll follow you."

Jason and I checked out with both our stacks of books, which he carefully loaded into one of the bags on his motorcycle. It was a tight fit, but he managed to make everything work without any of the books being at risk of bent pages. The other bag remained conspicuously closed, and I raised an eyebrow at him as he helped me get my helmet on again.

"Is there a reason you didn't split the books between both bags?"

"Yeah."

"...And that reason would be?"

"A surprise." He grinned. "Come on, you'll know in a minute. It's not too far of a drive from here."

I climbed on the back of the bike behind Jason, holding onto him tight as we wound through the city streets. Before long, we were leaving the traffic behind, turning onto narrower and narrower tree-lined roads climbing up one of the mountains outside of the city.

"This is a pretty murder-y date spot, just so you know," I said over our comms. I felt Jason's chest rise and fall with a laugh under my hands the same time it came crackling over the radio.

"Are you trying to warn me about something, sweetheart?"

I shrugged. "I mean, you're the Red Hood. I think we're both probably pretty safe."

He huffed another laugh, taking one hand briefly off the handlebars to squeeze mine. I wrapped my arms around him a little tighter, and after a few more minutes of riding on darkened trails, we came out on top of one of the tallest hills. Jason parked the bike, then hopped off and offered a hand to help me. We both knew I didn't need it, but I took it anyway.

"Alright, this is one of my favorite spots in the whole city," Jason said, tucking both our helmets away before opening the tank bag that didn't have books in it. He pulled out a basket with one hand, then grabbed mine again with the other.

I followed him to the treeline, until we reached a ledge overlooking the city. I stopped short, letting out a little gasp. I'd never seen it from a vantage point like this before. All the lights sparkled like stars, while the forest around us was perfectly peaceful.

"Wow," I breathed. "Jay... this place is amazing."

"I know. And even better, none of my siblings know how to find it."

I laughed, watching as Jason took out a blanket and unfolded it, then started setting up the rest of an evening picnic.

"You know, I'd actually really like to meet your siblings."

"Oh don't worry, you will. They've been wondering for a while now who I've been meeting up with regularly. They're all nosy motherfuckers, they'll probably show up in disguise to crash our next date."

"...Is it weird that I'm kind of excited for that?"

"Yes. Extremely."

I just laughed again, moving to join Jason on the picnic blanket he'd set up for us. I sighed and leaned into him as he wrapped one arm around my shoulders.

"I have to say, this might be the best date I've ever been on. Buying each other books and a romantic picnic overlooking the city? That's impossible to beat," I said.

"That was my goal," he said, pulling me closer with a grin. "I'm glad I succeeded. Now come on, I don't want this food I packed going to waste."

Jason and I dug into the picnic, which was packed full of our favorite foods. We laughed and talked the night away, perfectly comfortable, just the two of us. It was technically our first date, but we'd been spending our nights together for long enough that a peaceful, romantic night together seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

"Jason, that was amazing," I sighed, leaning into him once we'd finished dinner. He leaned back on his hands, and I curled into his side.

"Yeah. It was. You know, I'm really glad that guy stole your favorite book."

"I guess that's one way to say you're glad you met me."

Jason grinned and leaned in to kiss my temple. "You get me."

I sighed, and the two of us just sat there together for a while, curled up on the blanket and looking out at the city. Finally, I sighed.

"So... what would you think if I proposed a finale for this date?"

"That depends. Is this a subtle way of telling me you're ready for the date to be over?"

"No! I just had an idea I think you'll like, and I want to pull my weight a little on making this the most magical evening ever."

"Oh yeah?" Jason asked, sitting up and moving me with him. I turned to face him, a giant smile on my face as his hands wandered to my waist. "And what might that idea be?"

"I was thinking we could go back to my place..."

"I'm with you so far."

"And then I was thinking we could make some tea and curl up on the couch and read the books we got for each other."

Jason grinned, putting one hand at the nape of my neck and pulling me in for a kiss. I smiled into it, leaning forward and resting my hands on his chest as Jason deepened it. When he finally pulled back, I was breathing hard.

"That sounds fucking perfect. You're literally my dream date, let's go."

I laughed, especially as Jason packed up our picnic with record speed, then took my hand and nearly dragged me back towards the bike. The two of us laughed the whole ride to my apartment, only to cuddle close on the couch while we started reading hand-picked books together. It was definitely too early to call, but I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my nights just like this.

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989 @space-helen

DC Taglist: @gaychaosgremlin @v1ckycheesue @lavender-dinos

[destieltropecollection]

Destiel Trope Collection 2024 | Day 19: Two-Person Love Triangle

Mysterious You | @verobatto Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 2,003 Main Tags/Warnings: Teacher!Dean, teacher!Castiel, modern setting, coming out Summary: Based in the movie 'Love Simon', professor Dean Winchester wants to find out who the mysterious and charming man Angel is. Will he be able to know him in person?

Books, Pies, and Roommates | @seidenapfel Rating: Explicit Word Count: 27,731 Main Tags/Warnings: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Two Person Love Triangle, Idiots in Love, Professor Castiel (Supernatural), Professor Dean Winchester, Mechanic Dean Winchester, Bakery Shop Owner Gabriel (Supernatural), Friends to Lovers, blink and you miss a minor mention of Rowena MacLoad/Sam Winchester, Fluff and Humor, Fluff and Smut, Misunderstandings, Mutual Pining Summary: Everything seemed easy when Castiel landed a job in Lawrence as a literature professor at KU. He even found a place to stay with his cousin in Topeka. But the daily commute quickly gets on his nerves and he begins looking for a room in town. When he finally lucks out on a house, it comes with a catch. His mysterious landlord/housemate works and lives in Topeka during the week, and will only be at home for the weekend while Castiel is back at his cousin’s to honor a promise he made. When Dean walks into his favorite pie shop, the new sales assistant takes his breath away. Steve is gorgeous, and part of the owner’s family. Dean doesn’t even mind that he picks up Gabriel’s stupid moniker for him. After all, Deano has one syllable more, and Dean will do anything to hear Steve’s voice just a little bit longer. Though, as breathtaking Steve might be, he isn't Angel. If only Dean's book-loving best friend weren't a mystery in himself — a guy who Dean has only met online, but who has slowly taken his heart away. And it seems that Dean isn't alone in his feelings. When the lines blur and fantasies merge three guys into one, disappointment and heartbreak seem to be inevitable.

Dear Western Red Cedar #2409 | @mittensmorgul Rating: Mature Word Count: 63,433 Main Tags/Warnings: Two Person Love Triangle, Park Ranger Dean Winchester, Librarian Castiel (Supernatural), Writer Dean Winchester, idiots to lovers Summary: For a decade, Dean had been living his dream life in Montana as a national park ranger. When Sam and Eileen followed him there a few years later, he had no idea how to tell them about his side gig as the author of a wildly popular series of novels loosely based on his own experiences. Well, minus the monster hunting. He never expected them to become bestsellers—or potentially a tv series, if his agent could only convince him to out his real identity. While Dean's also writing his latest bestseller on a deadline, a misunderstanding and his own social ineptitude leave him completely cut off, aside from his new pen pal who Dean only knows as Bluebird. Cas had spent the last two years desperate to hold Dean’s attention. Right when he felt they might be getting somewhere, Dean was called away on an emergency. Of course he had to go and lament about his troubles to a random tree, thanks to a distracting plaque inviting the public to participate in a new town project. To his surprise, he seems to hit it off— completely anonymously of course— with Western Red Cedar #2409. Through a ridiculous series of coincidences, it could be the best thing that ever happened to either of them.

[pawborough]

July 2024 Check In

Hello, all!

Happy update day! Thank you for your support and patience while we work. This has been one of the busiest times for our team, and we’re making good progress. But it's challenging to share without sounding like a broken record. Lots of coding. Lots of numbers. Lots of items. So little time...!

But first, I must share solemn news. Our backdrop artist, Kzart, has passed away. He died of cardiac arrest just the day after our last update, where we previewed his wonderful work on the Cogwheel Outskirts.

This is a deep and mournful tragedy. Our heart goes out to his family, friends, and loved ones. Kzart was a welcome, cheerful, and bright part of the team, and the loss is devastating. May his memory be a blessing.

We are dedicating our work this month to his memory. We hope to ask your patience while we make decisions for future team members in the wake of his passing.  

To start off, here are some asset updates.

New Icons

We’ve been picking away at icons. Populating the site itself with estimates for cooking, crafting, dailies, site store, and guild play has been a behemoth of a task which has taken weeks of calculating out delicate numbers, drop rates, and seeding tactics. We have an insane amount of spreadsheets. I’m very proud of how much we’ve figured out.

Wild Boar, Bison Calf, Kid, Lamb, Blackbird, Red Squirrel and Brown Hare illustrated by Tybaxel and Remmie

The young animals will be available as plain food in Alpha and part of Beta, but are designed in preparation for our Farming and Husbandry mechanic, explained more in this update!

I’m dying to see the dye icons!

Illustration by Tybaxel

And lastly, we’ve started work on the stone assets!

Harvest Stone, Metropolis Stone, and Luna Stone by Hydde

Above you see the Harvest Stone, Metropolis Stone, and Luna Stone. Paw-carved by catfolk out of various precious stones and the elusive Prismaline—Mewmoia’s magical mineral and the origin of modern magical technology—these stones act as a magical catalyst for sorcerers performing transmutation.  

We also want to note: we see the discrepancy in the Harvest logo and its child assets. While we were working on the visual development, we found that the leaf was not only more recognizable as a symbol, but more reliably adaptable in different simplistic forms. We will be experimenting with replacing the vegetable in the Harvest logo with a leaf.

Recolorings

Recolors continue! This month, we have the Guard set.

Colors done by Emma

New Decor 

We have begun our work on decor!

Our goal is to have a substantial amount of decor befitting every type of backdrop we are starting with. Our first set we are tackling is the Summer Natural set. We have sets known as Sea Faring, City Clearing, Academic, and Winter Natural planned as a starting roster.

Florals by Giulia, lemonade by Jerso, butterlfies by Asp

And here it is put together!

NPC Sketches

Early last month, we shared a preview of the initial sketch for Wheatley and Crowley, the sitewide general store!

Initial feedback included a poor merge of cat-like anatomy and anthropomorphized character acting. We took this feedback, spent another day on visual development for NPCs, and updated our character design visual philosophy!

So, presenting…

And here is how they look on the website!

This sketch is still subject to change as we hash it out, line, and render it, but we’re excited to share what we’ve developed so far!

Wheatley and Crowley were the first NPCs ever developed during pre-production. 

(Just as the Bovine was the first Mystic breed ever developed, and Sugar was the first color palette ever designed!) 

So there is something a tad emotional about making it this far. Seeing them animated and on an actual game UI has been very rejuvenating. We’re nearing the end of this development hole!

So you want to form a team and join the Guild, huh? Meet Maven, your guildmaster. She’s rough, prickly, and can scare the faint of heart. Yet the Guild is dedicated to helping poor cats in need, in the wake of wastebeasts and outlaws terrorizing outskirt villages. You wonder who she is under that thorny exterior…

Maven is a primary character in the ongoing site plot. We have the technology for NPCs to emote during dialogue. Many story-focused NPCs will get this treatment. This means that Maven's expressions will change as you talk to her!

All NPC sketches by Hydde

Everyone knows Winnipeg, the longhair chef from Luna. Introducing his twin sister, Winnifred! Winnifred sells husbandry and farming supplies, including young animals and seeds.

(Note: all 3D assets used for render references are ours, minus the watering can! Credit to Toonz Media Group from Sketchfab.) 

So let’s talk about the farm mechanic!

In Development - Farming and Husbandry

See the initial UIs for our major in-development mechanic.

Plant seeds on plots of land in your camp. Certain plants will raise or lower your soil quality, which in turn will affect how many items these plants yield. It’s up to you as the player to grow a variety of different plants to diversify your soil and get the most yield.

Husbandry will feature the same concept, utilizing livestock as opposed to plants. Grow different animals over time and maintain grass density to get the best quantity of items!

Lastly, some folks were curious about incense, how it works, and its attainment method.

Incense will be craftable, and its ingredients will be farmed! Incense ingredient seeds will be scattered around the game, including as reward drops for gameplay. It will take intentional cultivation to attain an incense item.

Because we had a few users who were curious to the specific ingredients of every incense scent, here is each Borough:

Luna = Lavender and Jasmine Sol = Cinnamon and Fennel Abyssal = Lotus and Sakura  Zenith = Rosemary and Sage Harvest = Basil and Oregano  Cogwheel = Saffron and Turmeric  Metropolis = Patchouli and Vetiver

For testing until farming is implemented, items which would be farmed will be available to buy through Winnifred. 

Cooking and Crafting

Lastly, a peak at the UI for the cook and craft mechanic!

We surveyed the playability of the original grid system and weighed the pros and cons of managing a grid and memorizing recipes in a multiplayer resource game, and ultimately decided that our platform and format doesn’t quite suit the crafting grid playstyle.

Instead, recipes and blueprints are found, added to your collection, and able to be insta-made.

We found the act of users individually adding items from storage to be tedious, and ultimately our original format would end up with users researching recipes on wiki articles instead of engaging in explorative play. While other games have crafting loops which incentivize exploration, the petsite setup as we have built it simply does not accommodate it without serious overhaul. 

But we hoped to preserve some of that magic by including the “add ingredient” feature. Users will be able to discover new combinations by experimenting with add-ons. For example, a pizza recipe could become mushroom pizza by adding mushrooms!

Users may still end up just looking things up, but the mechanic itself is now not ultimately dependent on off-site research.

Peak at this mockup recipe!

We are currently experimenting with how to include the NPCs in this UI format. Fear not that you do not see Winnipeg here. He will be in the game!

This mechanic in general is what we are currently working on! Thanks for sticking by!

And that’s all we have for today. We know that a lot of users are holding out for Mystic breed updates in the demo, and we are working on those. But game playability is taking the highest place for us, as we want to get testing ASAP! So, we appreciate this patience. Moontails, and likely Thumpers, will be here for Beta, but our #1 focus this last month has been the sprint to the finish line for playability in both development and assets. The semi-quiet activity is because we're putting all our energy into this huge milestone. 

Which to mention!

Alpha acceptances have been sent out! If you have not yet, check your email!

We asked those who receive it to reply that they have. There is not a strict deadline on this reply, we simply want to ensure that those who received the email have seen it and are ready to volunteer. We will still be sending keys to everyone who received an email, minus those who are dropping out. If someone is MIA by the time people are registering accounts, we will consider reaching out to other potential testers.

Home stretch, everyone! It’s starting to come together just how much we’ve completed, and the application is beginning to feel real in a way it hasn’t previously. We’re all super antsy to buff it out and get people playing!

Thank you all!

To summarize: We shared icons, Guard set recoloring, decor assets, 3 new NPC sketches, the farm and husbandry mechanic, and the cook/craft functionality.

What to expect next month: Further asset and development updates. Check-ins for how Alpha will be going, timeline expectations in the wake, NPCs and lore. 

[demifiendrsa]

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance - Announce Trailer

Japanese version

Extended Cut

Extended Cut Japanese version

Special Program Spotlight

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store) on June 21, 2024 worldwide. Pre-orders will open on February 27, 2024.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an enhanced version of Shin Megami Tensei V, which originally launched for Nintendo Switch in November 2021.

Title logo

Key visual

Overview

The latest title in the series, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance allows players to enjoy the story of Shin Megami Tensei V in its entirety, with a new story path, untold in the original. Massively expanded with new areas, demons, and music, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance features more accessible gameplay, an improved battle system, new demon experiences, and greater field exploration. Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch family of systems (physical only), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC will begin on February 27, 2024. Details on digital pre-orders for Nintendo Switch will be announced at a later date. When a grisly murder scene in modern-day Tokyo blocks the protagonist’s walk home, an unplanned detour leaves him buried and unconscious. He finds himself in a wasteland ravaged by apocalypse now called Da’at. Before bloodthirsty demons can claim his life, a savior emerges, and they unite to become a mighty being, neither human nor demon: a Nahobino. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance delivers a full-fledged RPG that can be enjoyed by existing and new fans. At the start of the game, players will choose between two paths: the story told in Shin Megami Tensei V, the Canon of Creation, or the brand-new Canon of Vengeance. This dramatic new tale of revenge introduces brand-new characters, an enigmatic cohort of demons called the Qadištu, a new dungeon and map to explore. Additionally, the original Shin Megami Tensei V battle system, demon merging and field exploration have been evolved and expanded in this newest entry in the series.

Further details

■ What is Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance?

Released in 2021, ATLUS’s renowned RPG Shin Megami Tensei V has sold more than one million copies worldwide.

This highly acclaimed game has evolved in every aspect, including the system and scenario, and will be available on multiple modern platforms!

At the beginning of the story, the player is presented between two routes. The story told in Shin Megami Tensei V, the Canon of Creation, and a brand-new route, Canon of Vengeance, a dramatic tale of revenge by the fallen.

The Canon of Vengeance follows the scenario of SMTV, but changes drastically from the latter half of the game. The outcome will be completely different. Enjoy the two divergent stories to your heart’s content.

The battle system, demon fusion, and field exploration have also evolved in depth with the addition of new elements. We are excited to deliver a full-fledged RPG that can be enjoyed by those who have already played SMTV, as well as those who are playing this series for the first time.

■ Story

Thou shalt be God—.

When a grisly murder scence in modern-day Tokyo blocks our protagonist’s walk home, an unplanned detour leaves him buried and unconscious. He awakens in a New Tokyo, a wasteland ravaged by apocalypse now called Da’at – but before bloodthirsty demons can claim his live, a savior emerges, and the two of them unite to become a mighty being, neither human nor demon: a Nahobino.

Revenge Awaits—.

Demons attack humans and seek to create a world of chaos.

Bethel, an organization that seeks to protect God’s order.

Caught up in the conflict between the two, while exploring Da’at, the protagonist meets and starts traveling with Yoko Hiromine.

Using magic, Yoko and the main character stand together on the front line.

The Qadistu, four female Demons stand in their way. “Found it, the Key of Resurrection…” A member of the Qadistu, Lilith calls protagonist the Key of Resurrection, and herself The Oppressed.

What is their purpose? A tale of revenge by the oppressed begins.

■ The Oppressed: The Qadistu

In the Canon of Vengeance, four female demons appear in front of the protagonist. Another story of creation told by new Demons.

■ Characters

Lilith (voiced by Katelyn Gault in English, Atsuko Tanaka in Japanese)

“I am Lilith of the Qadištu The one to restore the world to what it ought to be.”

A woman who is said to have been Adam’s first wife in the Old Testament. Later left Garden of Eden and turned into a demon.

Leader of the Qadištu. In order to achieve an unidentified goal, she stands in front of the protagonist.

Protagonist / Nahobino

A high school senior living in Tokyo. On his way back from school, he is involved in a tunnel collapse and wanders into an apocalyptic version of Tokyo, Da’at. His hobby is reading.

The protagonist fuses with Aogami and becomes a “Nahobino,” using this power to fight back demons.

The decision-making during the Nahobino state lies with the protagonist, and Aogami guides him with his voice.

Aogami (voiced by Damian Mills in English, Toshiyuki Morikawa in Japanese)

“Regardless of what may happen, rest assured that I will always protect you.”

A mysterious man who appears before the protagonist, who is being attacked by a demon in Da’at.

By taking the protagonist’s hand, he transforms into a condemned being, the Nahobino.

He seemingly participated in the war 18 years ago, but his memory of it has slipped away.

Yoko Hiromine (voiced by Erin Yvette in English, Chiwa Saitou in Japanese)

“With no one to save them, in the back of their mind, the victim desires only one thing: revenge against the assailant.”

She is a senior in high school at St. Marina Academy. Cool and somewhat mysterious.

She meets and works with the protagonist in Da’at. She has always possessed mysterious powers and was once called a “saint”. At the academy, she has been recognized for her power and learned exorcism magic. She also participates in the battles.

■ Over 270 Demons

In addition to existing demons, this title features more than 270 demons, including new demons newly drawn by the character designer Masayuki Doi. Enjoy an incredible demon experience!

■ Includes Shin Megami Tensei V Downloadable Content Demons and Quests!

The demons and quests that were available with Shin Megami Tensei V are included in this title as standard features! Experienced players are encouraged to try their hand at these challenging quests.

“A Goddess in Training”

“The Rage of a Queen”

“The Doctor’s Last Wish”

“Return of the True Demon”

■ Evolution in Depth!

Every system of Shin Megami Tensei V has been brushed up in detail and new elements have been added, including field exploration, demon conversations, battles, growth elements, and new demon experiences! Of course, with multiple endings—this is truly the definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V.

Adding unique skills to all demons, new interactions with demons, and more… Many other new elements! Stay tuned for more information!

■ Additional Downloadable Content

Downloadable content featuring new demons will be distributed simultaneously on the release date.

Demon God Dagda from Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final and newly introduced is the demon Goddess Konohanasakuya, newly drawn by character designer Masayuki Doi!

Holy Will and Profane Dissent

When the protagonist goes to investigate a mysterious reaction, he meets Danu, the earth mother goddess, who claims to have come from a world that exists in another universe. Danu is apparently searching for his son, Dagda. The protagonist embarks on a search for Dagda with Danu. By completing the game, Dagda can be made an ally, and fusion will be unlocked.

Sakura Cinders of the East

Konohana Sakuya laments the turbulent world and searches for a hero who can pacify the world. She sees an image of a certain hero within the protagonist and challenges him. Winning the battle will allow you to make Konohana Sakuya your ally, and fusion will also be unlocked.

In addition, earning downloadable content that makes it easier to gain experience and in-game currency will be released at the same time.

[masoena]

MASTERPOST for Destined Across Worlds

This is the master post for a Supernatural, multi-artist fanart/fanfic collaboration that was posted from Sep. 1 to 13, 2024.

An action-packed unrelated Wincest AU fic, in which Sam is a bookstore owner and knows magic, Dean is a dragon shifter, and Ketch is an absolute asshole. And of course, both angst, hurt, comfort and bloody fights - but also love - ensue.

There were 9 people (7 artists, 1 beta and 1 writer) involved in making this happen from 7 different countries around the world. SPN Family coming together.

Each chapter features in-chapter art by a different artist, as listed below.

Chapter 1 - New World - Artist: MidnightSilver

Chapter 2 - Rediscovery - Artist: Diminuel

Chapter 3 - Everything and More - Artist: Freckles & Dimples

Chapter 4 - Merging Old and New - Artist: Tsukiyo-7

Chapter 5 - Wizard Boy and Pet Dragon - Artist: Deeranger

Chapter 6 - Levitate - Artist: Jayjay-thejet-plane

Chapter 7 - Conquer and Thrive - Artist: Girlsvmonsters

Special thanks to Jld71 (please check out her works on AO3 she writes and arts) for beta'ing this story, you are awesome!

Below is a small selection of the art that is yet to come or already posted as time moves on.

[fayevalcntine]

Anyway I've been kind of following the press releases for The Count of Monte Cristo (2024) (French) movie and some potential spoilers that I kind of want to air out:

The film seems to be marketed as "much darker" in terms of focusing on the revenge aspect, which I don't mind, but some other stuff give me pause as to how they're gonna handle The Count as a character because the way the actors talk about him, he almost sounds weirdly irredeemable, or rather just completely incapable of still loving and caring about people? Which is the exact opposite of how he behaves in the book..... he wants to be cold and completely detached but fails each time because he a) forms close connections with people like Haydée and Maximilien, even comes to deeply respect Albert despite trying to talk himself into not caring about the boy and b) is meant to question his own revenge plot because it inadvertently causes the death of an innocent child

Apparently Haydée is 'torn between her loyalty for the Count and the love of her life' with said love of her life being.....guess who? Albert de Morcerf. There's no mention of a court scene so far where she accuses Fernand of being a traitorous officer and murdering her father, instead Edmond apparently gets her to seduce Albert but then Haydée falls in love with him for real? I once wrote a post complaining about this type of idea I've seen others mention as a "potential fix" for the plot but taking aside my issue with Albert/Haydée as a pairing in any sense, in this context it's almost doubly bizarre and I feel like the writers took so many different elements from the book, namely Albert's blind trust and admiration towards the Count and the forbidden love story between Maximilien and Valentine, and decided to go for a much more digestible change for the story, I guess? The actress who plays Haydée also mentions that she wants to "break free from the Count's psychological grip", which..... you can say a lot of stuff about Edmond/Haydée as an overall dynamic, particularly in him inserting her in his plan for revenge, but the big thing noted in the book is that Haydée makes the decision herself to testify against Fernand, and even thinks that the Count will disapprove of her for this. He also does genuinely care for her and wanted her to inherit everything he owns should he die.... the whole point of him taking her in is that he wanted her to have the life she was entitled to before Fernand's actions stripped it away from her.

The film also seems to have merged several different characters related to Villefort into one, namely Benedetto/Andrea and Bertuccio, since Andrea (in the film) is also under the Count's wing and seems to accompany him as a possible servant in some scenes. This isn't a bad idea in theory, though I'm pretty sure that he ends up dying when he goes after Villefort at the court house, so I presume he's also supposed to represent Edouard's death? My main question is when this scene even happens in the film because apparently, there's a final sword fight (likely the one between Fernand and Edmond), so the death that makes Edmond question his entire plot isn't even at the end of his plan?

This brings me to my next point which is why are Fernand and Edmond even doing a sword duel in the first place.... apparently the film has Fernand come from a rich family already, and he's known and been friends with Edmond prior to his imprisonment, so w/e, classic trope of CoMC adaptations at this point. But the duel and Haydée's 'seduction' plot just makes me think that for all the apparent attempts at centering her as a character more, these writers took out a significant scene related to her character that means a lot FOR her, namely the court scene, and instead centered Edmond's feelings of betrayal towards Fernand. I know that this is likely to also focus a lot on Edmond's lost life with Mercedes, but Fernand isn't even such a significant focus of Edmond's ire in the book as much as the other two men are.

The movie doesn't seem to end with Mercedes and Edmond getting back together, which I at least appreciate if this Edmond is "much darker" than even in the book, but if he isn't with her or isn't dead by the end, what exactly is the point of him going off alone? I presume this is the ending if Haydée/Albert are supposed to represent Maximilien/Valentine and the Count "gives them support" for being together, but Edmond was pretty much contemplating suicide until Haydée stopped him in the book. The point is that his focus on avenging the past was his only assumed reason for living, but there's a chance for him to simply live on with those who genuinely care about him as he is now. Without him trying to make amends through Maximilien and Valentine and Haydée indicating she will only live if he lives, I can't really see the film making a good argument for why Edmond wouldn't contemplate suicide instead of living on.

Apparently Villefort has a Bonapartist sister (I presume this character is meant to replace his father in the film) whom I also think Edmond saves from a shipwreck that has been shown in the trailers. I've zero clue how this movie is going to fit a new character in this while doing all of this to the other more significant characters, but that seems to be a general trend with this scriptwriter duo.

Only minor positive thing so far is that Eugenie IS included for once, and they didn't omit her being a lesbian.

[dc-merging-families-weekend]

PROMPTS!!!

Prompt Voting is closed. We had so many great prompts y'all I'm glad you gave us so many great ideas. Sadly we honestly couldn't use them all but we've narrowed it down to the favorites. With all the extra ideas you gave us we decided to do the top four per day rather than the top three. So here they are your favorite Merging Families Prompts.

June 14th: SFW:

JL blindsided by Wedding Announcement

Speed Force Ships It

Touch Starved

Secret Relationships

June 15th: SFW:

Flashfamily Member/Civilian Bat or Hero Id/Civilian ID

Arranged Marriage

Soulmate/Soulmate Marks

Accidental Baby Acquisition

June 16th: SFW:

Cursed Gotham/Blessed Central

Family meets the JL

Id Shenanigans/Mistaken Id

Absentminded kiss in public is relationship reveal

[basu-shokikita]

Kloktober 2024 Day 17

Use the ghost of a dead character

This was actually the first entry I wrote for the event. It was like I got possessed by something. You could even say I was possessed by the ghost of someone. Just kidding.

Anyway, for day 17 you get more Toki trauma. Can be sort of read as a follow-up of yesterday's entry though it's not necessary to read that one beforehand.

Toki opened his eyes and he was in that goddamn basement again. He couldn’t count the days he had been stuck in there. At some point, they had started merging into each other. It was like it was one, huge, never-ending day. 

And he was chained, and he was bleeding. And his whole body hurt so much but Magnus’ words hurt even more.

“Nobody is coming for you. Nobody cares about you, Toki.”

“Dat amsnt true!” Toki protested and the glint of Magnus’ eyes was so scary that he could only look down. 

“Dethklok isn’t coming because they don’t love you, they never did. They just used you because it was convenient. You’re just like me, Toki.”

“No, dey ams my brothers! Dey loves me!”

“That’s what you’ve been telling yourself this whole time. That’s what you wanted to believe. But they’re selfish assholes that only think about themselves.”

“Noes!”

“Accept it, Toki! Nobody has ever wanted you, not even your parents! You’re gonna die alone…” Suddenly, the skin of Magnus’ face melted away, revealing the bones of his rotting skull. “You’re gonna die like me!”

“Noes! Noes!” Toki shut his eyes…

And opened them in his room. “Noes!” He screamed again, struggling with a chain that wasn’t there anymore.

“Toki!” Skwisgaar’s voice came into his auditory field and he was wrapped between slim yet firm arms. “Ams you okeys?”

He was gasping for air and he could feel his heart pounding on his ear. “It ams…he says…”

“Shhh…” Skwisgaar rubbed the side of his face against the top of Toki’s head. “It amsn’t real. Just a dumb, dildoes, nights mairs.”

Toki’s eyes welled with tears, well-aware that was only half of the truth. “He says dats to me…all de times…” He sniffed softly. “Whens I…”

“...Ja?”

“He says dats…nobodies loves me…” As he talked, the sob was creeping up his throat. “Dats I…woulds dies alones…dats you didnts…”

The grasp Skwisgaar had on him suddenly released and Toki looked up in fear, only to be faced with Skwisgaar’s deep blue eyes. “You ams not deres anymores. You ams here.” After a pause, he added. “Wif mes.”

Toki’s breath hitched, fighting the urge not to sob, but when Skwisgaar’s arms wrapped around his waist, his soft golden mane nuzzling against Toki’s jaw so gently, the tears started to flow. He gazed at his warmly-lit room, the plane model that he had been teaching Skwisgaar to build earlier, the guitar resting against his night stand. And the sob inside him started to soothe.

Skwisgaar pulled back a little and watched his face. He had that severe look in his face, the same one he directed to him when he didn’t practice, but instead he leaned in and kissed Toki’s forehead. So sweetly, that Toki could’ve started crying again. 

Or, he could cup Skwisgaar’s face and kiss him on the lips. So, that’s what he did. And when Skwisgaar kissed him back, he couldn’t help shedding one last tear. 

Except this one was of happiness.

“Thank yous.” He whispered against Skwisgaar’s mouth. 

“Pfft, this amsn’t no charities.” Skwisgaar said, with his usual arrogant tone, though when their eyes met, he smiled. “Feels bettors now?”

Toki nodded and nestled against him on the bed. They just stared at each other for a really long time.

It was hard to believe sometimes. Even though it’s what he had always wanted. Growing up in a loveless family made him feel like maybe he didn’t deserve any type of love. That even though he had done nothing wrong, maybe he shouldn’t have been born. That he’d die as lonely as he felt every single day he spent in that cold and cruel house. And so many things that happened to him after he escaped did nothing but reconfirm that fear. 

If he were to be honest, Toki wasn’t even sure anymore if Magnus had actually told him those things, or if it was just his deepest fears talking back to him while he was on the brink of death.  

He stretched his hand to stroke Skwisgaar’s cheek. And Skwisgaar leaned into the touch, like a cat welcoming his owner back home. “Whats you thinkingks?” He asked.

Toki smiled. “Nothings.”

It was really hard to believe sometimes. 

That he wasn’t alone anymore. 

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Prince Philips advice on cameras by u/rubythieves

Prince Philip’s advice on cameras Looking at the dreadful pictures of Meghan with the sick children, I’m reminded once again of this wonderful advice Prince Philip gave Catherine that Madame completely ignored:

— When Catherine Middleton came along as a potential bride for his grandson, the Duke of Edinburgh was, he told me, 'relieved to find her such a level-headed girl'. But he refused to take any credit for the successful way in which Catherine has merged into the Royal Family — becoming a star, but somehow managing not to behave like a celebrity.‘ If you believe the attention is for you personally,' he told me, 'you're going to end up in trouble. The attention is for your role, what you do, what you're supporting. 'It isn't for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. You are representing the Royal Family. That's all. 'Don't look at the camera. The Queen never looks at the camera. Never.' Look at who you're talking to. Look at what you've come to see. Diana looked at the camera. 'I have been on walkabout with the Duchess of Cambridge. And she never looks at the camera.

From ‘Philip: The Final Portrait’ by Gyles Brandreth

post link author: rubythieves submitted: April 05, 2024 at 10:35AM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[seafoamreadings]

week of november 10th, 2024

these are written predominantly for the *rising* signs but they are also intuitively "channeled" enough that they should work for any dominant energy you have! (try your sun if you don't know rising, or more advanced readers can try moon, anywhere you have a stellium, etc and see what works best for you!)

aries: significant nodal transits this week mean all you have to do is walk, and the path appears. the full moon this week also points to (likely positive?) developments around money and your deepest core values.

taurus: the full moon this week is the yearly full moon in your sign. it can be a highly emotional time and yet, the moon is so happy in your sign that it's hard for this to go badly for you. just make sure you're meeting all your needs as much as possible.

gemini: a full moon across your 6th/12th house axis this week pushes you to integrate the multiple parts of yourself that sometimes disagree with each other. sometimes as you go about the routines of daily life it's easy to forget that you even have some of these parts. quiet introspection, especially if you can actually have the moon in view as you do so, is likely to bring about fruitful results psychologically.

cancerians: while full moons may typically have you feeling moody and broody with lots of mood swings, this week's feature in taurus is likely fun and friendly. if you're up for socializing a bit it is a fantastic time to do so, and if not, at least send off a few texts to strengthen community bonds.

leo: if you've had any changes you'd like to make at home or to your more public-facing image, this can be a good time for it. just be cognizant of mercury and mars doing their impending retrograde things.

virgo: earth energy amplifies a bit with venus into capricorn plus a taurus full moon. this is good news for you, overall, especially if you're looking for fun or a new flirtation, or if you're trying to work out an academic plan or spiritual leveling up.

libra: while the vibes are not particularly libran, your ruling planet venus is quite busy all the same, and this is broadly beneficial to you, especially in your home life and/or if you want to reconcile with a family of origin or ancestry. meanwhile a merging of households or a sharing of resources or expansion of intimacy can also be a really good move now, being mindful of course about upcoming retrogrades and possible associated hiccups.

scorpio: creative pursuits or flirtations that seemed to fizzle out in the last few months (and similar endeavors) may pop back into existence this week. you get to choose what to actually follow through with, but if you've wanted a fun fling or artistic undertaking to come back and get a little more permanent, this is the time.

sagittarius: work you've done on your inner world, like shadow work or therapy or a dream journal, starts to pay off big time with this week's full moon, in such a way you can see benefits on the earthly plane. meanwhile a household problem may begin to resolve by the end of the week - rent issues, a roommate search, repairs, etc.

capricorn: venus moves into your sign to grace you with timeless elegance, attractiveness to money, and similar. if you're seeking a charming benefactor this may also come to you in the next few weeks.

aquarius: you can let this week's full moon act as a sort of bridge between your private and public life. of course, if you want to keep these compartmentalized you can, but if it helps you to live authentically to dissolve the boundaries or just make them a little less impermeable, this is a great time for it.

pisces: make new friends and build your close-knit community. it doesn't have to spontaneously appear over night or even in a week or a month. but it is built brick by brick. place a few tetris pieces about it this week.

watch the transit posts in real time to have the best guide through your week. want a little more? have a look at my patreon or ko-fi.

check out my etsy for a private reading or dm me to set up a reading through venmo, cashapp, or paypal.

[zahri-melitor]

Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths:

I finished working my way through this as an event, and I've got to say that DC can't decide what it wants to do with the Multiverse. We've just gone from restoring the 52 Earths (Mostly around Convergence/Multiversity) to discovering the Dark Multiverse (Dark Nights: Metal, 2017), to rebooting the Multiverse at the end of Dark Nights: Death Metal to form the Omniverse (2020), but also restrict things back to 52 Earths only, to rediscovering Infinite Earths in Dark Crisis (2022), to the conclusion of Absolute Power being "we have once again cut off the Multiverse, but now we're going hard for Elseworlds instead" (2024). Make up your minds! Do you want to use the multiverse or not??? Please stop switching it up every 2 years!

Okay that rant aside, this is yet another event that cares very deeply about plot points and characters from COIE that have barely been seen in the intervening 36 years (and generally only in other events that reference COIE heavily). I don't have any emotional attachment to Pariah and the Anti-Monitor.

Structurally, it was an interesting event, in that there were about 4.5 plots going on.

Plot 1: the Justice League get trapped on dreamstate Earths born out of their subconscious wishes. In terms of commentary, Barry trapping himself in a 1950s comic book, Clark wanting to raise Jon (on the farm, with literally no other heroes from the Superfamily around), and J'onn J'onzz creating a future where he's merged humans with cephalopods/octopus so that they're psychic were probably the most interesting of the lot. Barry proves once again he's disconnected from the present, Clark is obsessing over his loss of Jon's childhood at the expense of everyone else, and J'onn...is once again mourning the loss of his culture and looking for a way to feel less disconnected from Earth. Still not quite turning into the sands of Mars tho boyo. Blah blah the League are feeling they're not communicating properly, they need to take a break and focus on themselves.

Plot 1.5: The Flashfam go to extract Barry and work out WTF is going on because they're the most reliable multiverse jumpers, and the Lanterns recruit everyone as bodies are needed (as all the heavy hitters are as stated trapped in dreamstate Earths).

Plot 2: Jon Kent forms the most underskilled novice Justice League since the early 1990s that largely consists of the latest legacies of various families, getting some direction from Black Adam. Their collective experience as superheroes MIGHT total 20 years active, and if it makes that it's because Booster and Ted are supplying most of that experience.

I am underwhelmed by this team, to put it mildly. There's a lot of "I need to be Superman as my father isn't here!" from Jon, and a lot of boring "Damian grows up to be Batman" foreshadowing where Damian outright insults people a lot, and Yara looks confused and irritated over why she's hanging out with them both. Jackson's trying his hardest, bless his heart, but because nobody really cares much about the Aquas they get that bit of the plot out of the way early on. I'm not sold on what this lot were actually trying to accomplish, despite once again being presented at the future of the DCU.

Plot 3: Dick and the Titans realise they have to step up to actually take leadership, because as noted Jon Kent's Justice League is out there competing with Justice League: Task Force days of "there are four warm bodies here, and only half of them are under the age of 18, we're good to go right?" for level of threat defence. Also Slade's busy trying to kill both Dick and Gar because he can something something dark forces corrupting him mad about Grant's death for the 87th time blah.

Plot 4: Young Justice get kidnapped into a further separate reality to keep them out of the way while the two generations on either side of them try to step up to leadership, and have a bunch of angst about being left out/left behind (I am going to discuss this separately. Spoilers: I thought it was one of the most interesting parts of this event).

My general impression of the entire event was the intended purpose was to showcase both Dick and Jon's leadership abilities. I think it achieved this, but not necessarily in the hoped for way. Dick showcased once again why he is the centrally trusted character of the DCU and can convince everyone and anyone to follow him. Jon showcased that he is absolutely not a leader, he needs to stop thinking that he is required to fill Clark's shoes, and DC need to stop trying to make it happen.

The bit where I most started rolling my eyes is when they decided that Jon Kent, half-Kryptonian powered by sunlight, from a species famously incredibly vulnerable to magic, needed to lead the team going into the magical pure darkness/demon dimension that has no sunlight "because his connection to the sun protects him". Jon's biggest weakness not starting with K is magic. So let's put him in a dimension consisting of magic and have him have to survive off the power of his sunlight...which he immediately wastes and burns off a lot of power by trying to fly. Power that he can't recover, because he's in said dark demon dimension with no sunlight.

Jon, sweetheart, you are not the brightest bulb.

My second biggest eyeroll was meeting Red Canary, Sienna, who accomplished exactly nothing when she accidentally got caught up in Damian's strikeforce that otherwise consisted of "a teleporter for travel, Peegee for her experience with the Cosmic Tuning Fork, and Dr Light because Kimiyo is both COIE linked AND has strong light based powers to fix the situation". I am still unsure of what the point of Red Canary being there was, because she mostly just snarked with Damian and got into trouble. Even if she was intended to eventually be revealed to be Sin Lance with memory problems or something she was not a convincing character.

The Flash storyline in and of itself was fun, but I'd actually already read it when I was reading through Adams' Flash run. It worked just fine in context of the event and it worked as a tie-in where you just skimmed over the event. Adams' Flash run is very entertaining.

As far as DC big summer events go, this one felt more about 'we want to reach these end conditions' (Justice League disbanded for a while, Justice Society of America back, Titans to step up as the headline team) than the actual content of the event itself. It was an event for the sake of having an event, you know?

I dunno. Maybe I would have cared more if I'd actually read COIE, but it felt derivative and like there was a lot of time wasting for the sake of referencing specific things that happened in COIE, whether or not they made sense for this storyline.

Oh and as a note, one other useful thing this event did do was specify that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is supposed to be in continuity for Kara, and basically contemporaneously too.

[satoshi-mochida]

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC - Gematsu

From Gematsu

ATLUS has announced Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store). It will launch on June 21 worldwide. Pre-orders will open on February 27.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an enhanced version of Shin Megami Tensei V, which originally launched for Switch in November 2021.

Here is an overview of the game, via ATLUS:

The latest title in the series, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance allows players to enjoy the story of Shin Megami Tensei V in its entirety, with a new story path, untold in the original. Massively expanded with new areas, demons, and music, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance features more accessible gameplay, an improved battle system, new demon experiences, and greater field exploration. Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch family of systems (physical only), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC will begin on February 27, 2024. Details on digital pre-orders for Nintendo Switch will be announced at a later date. When a grisly murder scene in modern-day Tokyo blocks the protagonist’s walk home, an unplanned detour leaves him buried and unconscious. He finds himself in a wasteland ravaged by apocalypse now called Da’at. Before bloodthirsty demons can claim his life, a savior emerges, and they unite to become a mighty being, neither human nor demon: a Nahobino. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance delivers a full-fledged RPG that can be enjoyed by existing and new fans. At the start of the game, players will choose between two paths: the story told in Shin Megami Tensei V, the Canon of Creation, or the brand-new Canon of Vengeance. This dramatic new tale of revenge introduces brand-new characters, an enigmatic cohort of demons called the Qadištu, a new dungeon and map to explore. Additionally, the original Shin Megami Tensei V battle system, demon merging and field exploration have been evolved and expanded in this newest entry in the series.

And here are further details:

■ What is Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance?

Released in 2021, ATLUS’s renowned RPG Shin Megami Tensei V has sold more than one million copies worldwide. This highly acclaimed game has evolved in every aspect, including the system and scenario, and will be available on multiple modern platforms! At the beginning of the story, the player is presented between two routes. The story told in Shin Megami Tensei V, the Canon of Creation, and a brand-new route, Canon of Vengeance, a dramatic tale of revenge by the fallen. The Canon of Vengeance follows the scenario of SMTV, but changes drastically from the latter half of the game. The outcome will be completely different. Enjoy the two divergent stories to your heart’s content. The battle system, demon fusion, and field exploration have also evolved in depth with the addition of new elements. We are excited to deliver a full-fledged RPG that can be enjoyed by those who have already played SMTV, as well as those who are playing this series for the first time.

■ Story

Thou shalt be God—. When a grisly murder scence in modern-day Tokyo blocks our protagonist’s walk home, an unplanned detour leaves him buried and unconscious. He awakens in a New Tokyo, a wasteland ravaged by apocalypse now called Da’at – but before bloodthirsty demons can claim his live, a savior emerges, and the two of them unite to become a mighty being, neither human nor demon: a Nahobino. Revenge Awaits—. Demons attack humans and seek to create a world of chaos. Bethel, an organization that seeks to protect God’s order. Caught up in the conflict between the two, while exploring Da’at, the protagonist meets and starts traveling with Yoko Hiromine. Using magic, Yoko and the main character stand together on the front line. The Qadistu, four female Demons stand in their way. “Found it, the Key of Resurrection…” A member of the Qadistu, Lilith calls protagonist the Key of Resurrection, and herself The Oppressed. What is their purpose? A tale of revenge by the oppressed begins.

■ The Oppressed: The Qadistu

In the Canon of Vengeance, four female demons appear in front of the protagonist. Another story of creation told by new Demons.

■ Characters

Lilith (voiced by Katelyn Gault in English)

“I am Lilith of the Qadištu The one to restore the world to what it ought to be.” A woman who is said to have been Adam’s first wife in the Old Testament. Later left Garden of Eden and turned into a demon. Leader of the Qadištu. In order to achieve an unidentified goal, she stands in front of the protagonist.

Protagonist / Nahobino

A high school senior living in Tokyo. On his way back from school, he is involved in a tunnel collapse and wanders into an apocalyptic version of Tokyo, Da’at. His hobby is reading. The protagonist fuses with Aogami and becomes a “Nahobino,” using this power to fight back demons. The decision-making during the Nahobino state lies with the protagonist, and Aogami guides him with his voice.

Aogami (voiced by Damian Mills in English)

“Regardless of what may happen, rest assured that I will always protect you.” A mysterious man who appears before the protagonist, who is being attacked by a demon in Da’at. By taking the protagonist’s hand, he transforms into a condemned being, the Nahobino. He seemingly participated in the war 18 years ago, but his memory of it has slipped away.

Yoko Hiromine (vocied by Erin Yvette in English)

“With no one to save them, in the back of their mind, the victim desires only one thing: revenge against the assailant.” She is a senior in high school at St. Marina Academy. Cool and somewhat mysterious. She meets and works with the protagonist in Da’at. She has always possessed mysterious powers and was once called a “saint”. At the academy, she has been recognized for her power and learned exorcism magic. She also participates in the battles.

■ Over 270 Demons

In addition to existing demons, this title features more than 270 demons, including new demons newly drawn by the character designer Masayuki Doi. Enjoy an incredible demon experience!

■ Includes Shin Megami Tensei V Downloadable Content Demons and Quests!

The demons and quests that were available with Shin Megami Tensei V are included in this title as standard features! Experienced players are encouraged to try their hand at these challenging quests.

A Goddess in Training

The Doctor’s Last Wish

The Rage of a Queen

Return of the True Demon

■ Evolution in Depth!

Every system of Shin Megami Tensei V has been brushed up in detail and new elements have been added, including field exploration, demon conversations, battles, growth elements, and new demon experiences! Of course, with multiple endings—this is truly the definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V. Adding unique skills to all demons, new interactions with demons, and more… Many other new elements! Stay tuned for more information!

■ Additional Downloadable Content

Downloadable content featuring new demons will be distributed simultaneously on the release date. Demon God Dagda from Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final and newly introduced is the demon Goddess Konohanasakuya, newly drawn by character designer Masayuki Doi!

Holy Will and Profane Dissent

When the protagonist goes to investigate a mysterious reaction, he meets Danu, the earth mother goddess, who claims to have come from a world that exists in another universe. Danu is apparently searching for his son, Dagda. The protagonist embarks on a search for Dagda with Danu. By completing the game, Dagda can be made an ally, and fusion will be unlocked.

Sakura Cinders of the East

Konohana Sakuya laments the turbulent world and searches for a hero who can pacify the world. She sees an image of a certain hero within the protagonist and challenges him. Winning the battle will allow you to make Konohana Sakuya your ally, and fusion will also be unlocked. In addition, earning downloadable content that makes it easier to gain experience and in-game currency will be released at the same time.

Watch the announcement trailer and a special program below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announce Trailer

English

Japanese

Special Program Spotlight

English

Japanese

[heckcareoxytwit]

A bittersweet brief reunion for the mutants and Krakoa

The large island appearing behind Pacific Krakoa is Atlantic Krakoa, coming from the White Hot Room. Doug had been hearing a distant call for weeks so he's there when Atlantic Krakoa appears. It has greatly evolved and Kafka, now an adult, walks down a flight of steps to meet with Doug Ramsey. It turns out that the mutants who were left behind in the White Hot Krakoa had managed to sustain themselves in fifteen years (in the dimension) and they have been able to build out Atlantic Krakoa in their ways. All because they were left alone and didn't have to fight for their lives. Kafka and the Atlantic Krakoa are here to merge with Pacific Krakoa. Doug helps reintroduce them since Atlantic Krakoa's language has evolved. However, Kafka tells him that they would stay for 24 hours so Doug notifies many of the X-Men so they can see Atlantic Krakoa. Emma, Jean, Cyclops, Exodus, Doug, and Kafka meet at the old Quiet Council chamber. Exodus is pleased to see Kafka is alive and well. What's more The Five (or rather the Four mutants with Hope Summers' spirit in the White Hot Room) had managed to bring back the 15 million deceased mutants from Genosha. Kafka mentioned that all they needed was to be left alone. They had a cradle, the Four, and Kafka says that Hope is somehow part of Krakoa the island and her presence allows for resurrection while in the White Hot Room. The reason why they are staying for 24 hours is to allow the Atlantic mutants to access gates to go wherever they want around the world, to either stay permanently or to see family members they haven't seen in a long time. They're free to choose whatever they want.

Unfortunately, Exodus becomes upset when he learns the two islands will be leaving and he starts a big fight in the Quiet Council chamber. Kafka felt that Exodus' tantrum and the adult mutants' incompetence is why they are leaving. Atlantic Krakoa knows true peace and they want no part of the chaotic living that is earth. As the X-Men try to take Exodus down, Apocalypse appears and ends the fight by beating the crap out of him. After Exodus' outburst, Kafka takes the X-Men and Apocalypse around the island on a tour and shows them the new statues made out of wood crafted by White Hot Room mutants.

X-Men #35 / Uncanny X-Men #700, 2024