#One Night in the Tropics review

[spryfilm]

DVD review: “One Night in the Tropics” (1940)

[oathkeeperoxas]

I watched and ranked every Tom Cruise movie so you don’t have to

Simple premise: 45 movies. One actor. Ranked from worst to best, on a sliding scale of -2 to 6 (scoring will make sense as you read).

Technical score is judged on how well the plot is constructed and how well the characters grow and serve their role in the narrative throughout the movie, as well as how well the narrative is written. Enjoyment score is judged on how much I liked the movie: no stars = didn’t like, 1 star = like, 2 star = really like. Bonus star is awarded at my discretion, for reasons such as costuming, soundtrack, particularly stand out acting, etc. Sexism modifier is a negative if women are treated badly, but can add an extra point if the movie gives women their rights. Overall score at the end determines where they sit in the rankings of this post, with movies having the same score in the order I liked them most.

Vanilla Sky (2001) – David Aames (Starring)

One sentence summary: A man’s reality begins to warp and he is forced to question what is real, and what isn’t.

Technical: -

Enjoyment: - 

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥💥

Overall: 💥💥

Review: This is a bad movie. Weird acting throughout. Nonsensical plot. Terrible treatment of the women. Definitely the worst movie Tom Cruise has starred in!

_

Tropic Thunder (2008) – Les Grossman (Supporting)

One sentence summary: Five actors who are filming a war movie are dropped into a real war zone completely unaware, and must use their wits to escape back to their movie set.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: -

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥💥

Overall: 💥

Review: LOTS of choices made in this movie! Very few of them good! Why was RDJ in blackface? Was I supposed to find this entertaining? Was any of this necessary? Doubtful. Jack Black and Jay Baruchel had great comedic presences, and honestly the acting and casting was spot on for what the movie wanted, which is why I gave it one technical star.

_

Endless Love (1981) – Billy (Cameo)

One sentence summary: A teenage romance goes wrong when a boyfriend burns down his girlfriend’s house in an attempt to win the approval of her parents.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: -

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥💥

Overall: 💥

Review: They made movies differently in the 80s, I think. The plot is insane, the main characters unrelatable – or maybe I’m just too long out of high school. In any case, this was Tom Cruise’s debut film, and he did it in booty shorts while advising his friend to pretend to set his girlfriend’s house on fire, leading to him actually setting his girlfriend’s house on fire, and it was the best part of this movie. What a way to start a career.

_

The Mummy (2017) – Sgt. Nick Morton (Starring)

One sentence summary: After disrupting a tomb, Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) must defeat The Mummy.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: -

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥💥

Overall: 💥

Review: Yeah… there’s a reason this movie is a meme. Cruise’s acting feels weak, the plot is verging on nonsensical, and the special effects made me laugh. A rare miss in Cruise’s later years of acting!

_

Mission: Impossible 2 (2002) – Ethan Hunt (Starring)

One sentence summary: Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) must stop a plague by teaming up with a thief who knows the man who intends to kick off the disaster.

Technical: -

Enjoyment: - 

Movie: ⭐

Sexism: 💥💥

Overall: 💥

Review: One star is discretionarily awarded because it’s set in Sydney and I recognise a lot of the locations they filmed in. Though I have no clue how Luther was getting internet connection on a sheep farm out somewhere in western NSW. Did they have satellite internet in 2002?

_

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) – Dr. William Harford (Starring)

One sentence summary: After his wife confesses to fantasising about cheating on him, Dr William Harford (Tom Cruise) toys with the idea of actually cheating on her, and has an insane night out in the process.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: -

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥💥

Overall: 💥

Review: Well SOMETHING happened in this movie. Hot tip, do not go into this one blind on Saturday movie night with your family in attendance. I think, personally, that Dr Hartford could have just sat down with his wife and asked her if she wanted to get into roleplay instead of doing all that. Also, did we really need to see Nicole Kidman pissing? I just really think that wasn’t necessary.

_

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) – Himself as Austin Powers (Cameo)

One sentence summary: Austin Powers must stop Dr. Evil from world domination by travelling back in time to 1975.

Technical: -

Enjoyment: - 

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥

Overall: 💥

Review: This is some blend of satire and crack, and I’m not really enjoying the flavour. Tom Cruise’s cameo is pretty funny, though.

_

War of the Worlds (2005) – Ray Ferrier (Starring)

One sentence summary: When aliens land and start destroying Earth, Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) must do all he can to keep his family alive.

Technical: -

Enjoyment: -

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥

Overall: 💥

Review: Well… this exists, I guess. Some of these old sci fi novels should not be made into movies. They were not meant for the big screen. Not even Tom Cruise can save this one.

_

All the Right Moves (1983) – Stefen Djordjevic (Starring)

One sentence summary: After a disagreement with a teacher, Stefen (Tom Cruise) thinks that he might never get to college and never leave his hometown.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: -

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥

Overall: 💥

Review: This sure exists. Very unmemorable, even while I was watching it. Generic in music, plot, character, and romance. Anticlimactic ending too!

_

The Color of Money (1986) – Vincent Lauria (Starring)

One sentence summary: Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) tries to make money by playing pool, but is too good at it for the betting scheme his mentor attempts to set up in order to get rich.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: -

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥

Overall: 💥

Review: I will admit I found this movie fairly uninteresting, though I enjoyed Tom Cruise’s wild haircut. Nothing but respect for Vincent’s “Vince” shirt, however.

_

Days of Thunder (1990) – Cole Trickle (Starring)

One sentence summary: A street racer is pulled onto the Nascar track, where his attitude gets him into trouble with his team, other drivers, and the woman he’s interested in.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥💥

Overall: ⭐ 

Review: Two sexism bangs for Nicole Kidman’s ‘romance’ scenes (girl why did you come back to do more movies with this man). The car racing is pretty cool though. I am partial to a good car race, I must admit.

_

Interview with the Vampire (1994) – Lestat de Lioncourt (Supporting)

One sentence summary: A vampire sits down with a reporter to tell the story of his life: one that starts with how he was turned into the vampire, and continues to the present day.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: -

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥

Overall: ⭐ 

Review: Lots of stuff going on in this movie. However, mostly I agree with the well known review that spawned a thousand memes: “Not gay enough.”

_

The Outsiders (1983) – Steve Randle  (Supporting)

One sentence summary: Two friends are caught up in the complicated politics between the “Socs” and “greasers” gangs; when one friend accidentally kills a rival, they go on the run from the police before returning home to face court, their family, and the opposing gang.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥

Overall: ⭐ 

Review: Patrick Swayze is kinda carrying this movie honestly. Though Tom Cruise’s denim on denim, wild accent, cake-stuffed-in-face beat ‘em up sure is a performance too. You can tell this is an old movie by how affectionate the boys were allowed to be with each other. Absolutely none of that around nowadays.

_

Mission: Impossible (1996) – Ethan Hunt (Starring)

One sentence summary: When his team of Impossible Mission Force agents are killed, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) must track down the person responsible. 

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: 💥💥

Overall: ⭐ 

Review: While there are many (many, many, many) liberties taken with reality in order for this movie to be made, it is iconic for a reason. That being said, the wild subplot of Ethan’s tutor trying to set Ethan up with his wife sure was something! Bonus points for starting such an iconic franchise and, of course, the spy movie scene of dropping from the ceiling and barely not hitting the floor.

_

Magnolia (1999) – Frank T.J. Mackey (Supporting)

One sentence summary: I don’t know how to summarise this movie. Taking suggestions from the audience.

Technical: ⭐⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: -

Sexism: 💥💥

Overall: ⭐

Review: I don’t know how to review this movie. Was NOT expecting the frogs, that came out of left field to be sure. I think Kubrick’s vision passed me over. Anyway, two sexism bangs for having Tom Cruise invent the incel motivational speaker 😭

_

Born on the Fourth of July (1989) – Ron Kovic (Starring)

One sentence summary: Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise) signs up to the Army, fights in the war, and deals with the repercussions when he comes home.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: 💥

Overall: ⭐⭐ 

Review: This movie suffers from the same problem that all movies which are ‘true stories’ have, which is that life rarely neatly fits into a narrative structure, but it manages fairly well anyway. Bonus points given for the BTS trivia that apparently Cruise asked to be injected with some drug that would temporarily paralyse him so he could experience what it was like to improve his acting??? Cruise’s insurance company wisely refused to let him do this.

_

Minority Report (2002) – John Anderton (Starring)

One sentence summary: In a future where murderers are arrested before they commit their crime, Chief John Anderton (Tom Cruise) is predicted to kill a man he’s never met – and must escape his own police force in order to prove his innocence.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: 💥

Overall: ⭐⭐ 

Review: I had to watch this about 10 times in high school so I was hesitant to come back to it now, but it’s an okay watch when I’m not discussing its contribution to dystopian literature.

_

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) – Ethan Hunt (Starring)

One sentence summary: On the hunt for the two parts of a key which will allow him to control a new AI threat, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) must sacrifice in order to save the world.

Technical: -

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: -

Sexism: ⭐

Overall: ⭐⭐

Review: Media very rarely gets plots around AI right, and this one unfortunately misses the mark. It asks no new or interesting questions about how AI is being used or will be used in our modern world, and seems to take a detour from previous Mission Impossible films in terms of tone and consistency of plot. However, Haley Atwell slaps absolute ass, and there are genuinely funny and enjoyable scenes scattered at random throughout the movie, so it definitely could be worse.

_

Legend (1985) – Jack (Starring)

One sentence summary: After a princess plunges her kingdom into endless winter, she must reverse the curse to save the land.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: -

Bonus: -

Sexism: ⭐

Overall: ⭐⭐

Review: A win for diversity! The princess almost ends the world, and also is allowed to save it! Special effects were pretty decent for the mid-80s, even if the plot was a bit basic. Seeing Tom Cruise go all Tarzan and also have a sword was very good, however.

_

Oblivion (2013) – Jack Harper (Starring)

One sentence summary: Jack Harper’s (Tom Cruise) mission in life is to protect the last of humanity – or so he thinks.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: -

Sexism: -

Overall: ⭐⭐

Review: Morgan Freeman steals the show here. I enjoyed the plot twist both at the middle and the end of the movie, and the ending scene wrapped everything up emotionally. 

_

American Made (2017) – Barry Seal (Starring)

One sentence summary: Barry Seal (Tom Cruise) works triple time for big money while dodging the law, taking aerial photos for the CIA, smuggling cocaine into the USA for the Medellín Cartel, and delivering guns to the Nicaraguan Contras based in Honduras.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: 💥

Overall: ⭐⭐ 

Review: A movie that’s “based on a true story” and which does it right. The informational sections were balanced neatly with the character development and exploration of what this amount of money might do to a family. 

_

Rock of Ages (2012) – Stacee Jaxx (Supporting)

One sentence summary: Two burgeoning singers meet at a rock bar, which needs to put on a hell of a show in order to avoid closing down.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: 💥

Overall:  ⭐⭐

Review: Extra points for the killer soundtrack. Otherwise, this movie is fairly unmemorable. Tom Cruise’s hairstyle sure was a choice though!

_

Taps (1983) – Capt. David Shawn (Supporting)

One sentence summary: When the students of a military boarding school hear that their school is to be shut down, they stage a protest that rapidly spirals out of hand.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: 💥

Overall: ⭐⭐ 

Review: It’s hard to have sexism in a movie where there are literally no women, so this one is getting a default 💥. Other than the fact that women don’t exist, this was a pretty good movie, with the extra star granted for the depth of character portrayed, Tom Cruise’s buzzcut, and the acting of all the younger kids on set. 

_

Rain Man (1988) – Charlie Babbitt (Starring)

One sentence summary: After his father dies, Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) discovers he has a brother after he inherits everything in his father’s will. 

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: 💥

Overall: ⭐⭐ 

Review: I really liked how this movie showed that despite how money-hungry Charlie Babbitt originally appears, he goes through an entire journey where he realises how important family is – no matter what form that takes. To see a main male character reflect and regret on his poor relationship with his father and also express the ups and downs of other emotions throughout this movie is refreshing, and Tom Cruise does an excellent job at portraying the journey taken. While it’s obvious he prefers action movies, I actually think Cruise’s true strength is in the dramas he does.

_

Top Gun (1986) – Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Starring)

One sentence summary: Pete Mitchell (Tom Cruise) attempts to prove that he’s the best Naval Aviator by winning the Top Gun trophy, and also by winning the heart of his teacher too.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: 💥💥

Overall: ⭐⭐

Review: Wow. There’s a LOT going on here. It’s impossible to discuss Top Gun without mentioning the blistering sexism that pervades this movie, but since it’s about the Navy in the 80s, no one should be surprised it’s there. However, it also manages to be one of the gayest movies of the decade. Contains multitudes! Bonus points for Val Kilmer’s amazing performance and the insane homoerotic tension that is as inextricable from this movie as the sexism is.

_

Valkyrie (2008) – Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Starring)

One sentence summary: Before D-Day, a plot to kill Hilter from within the German government unfolds.

Technical: ⭐⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: 💥

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐

Review: Full of tension and drama, this is a ‘based on a true story’ movie that’s done right (probably because liberties were no doubt taken). A different type of WWII movie, I definitely liked this one. Bonus star for the set and costuming, which were truly excellent.

_

Lions for Lambs (2007) – Senator Jasper Irving (Supporting)

One sentence summary: Over 90 minutes in real time, 2 marines defend a position in Afghanistan, a Senator is interviewed on a new military strategy, and a college student decides if he’s going to commit to his classes or not.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: -

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐

Review: I’m not American, and it’s not 2007 anymore, but this still hit really hard. Excellent use of the real time narrative to drive the story home deliver the message to the audience.

_

Cocktail (1988) – Brian Flanagan (Starring)

One sentence summary: While attending university, Brian Flanagan finds work as a bartender to pay the bills before he finds the way he’s going to get rich – and finds friendship and love along the way.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: -

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐

Review: This soundtrack slaps, it’s a cute romcom, and there are cool bartending tricks scattered throughout. It also deals with some more serious topics, but these add to the depth of character and the main relationship to bring extra flavour to the movie.

_

Losin' It (1983) – Woody (Starring)

One sentence summary: Four friends travel to Mexico in order to party hard and lose their virginity.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐⭐

Bonus: -

Sexism: -

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐

Review: The second half of the movie is far better than the first, with a spiralling series of events that had me laughing at every new development. Tom Cruise playing the straight laced kid was a genius decision, and I can see why he repeated this type of role a few times in future movies. 

_

Far and Away (1992) – Joseph Donelly (Starring)

One sentence summary: Irishman Joseph Donelly (Tom Cruise) joins forces with Shannon Christie (Nicole Kidman) to cross the sea to America, where they aspire to travel to Oklahoma in order to start a new life, where land is being given away for free.

Technical: ⭐

Enjoyment: ⭐

Bonus: ⭐

Sexism: ⭐

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: Very much the best of the movies that Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise collaborated on, I did enjoy this one from start to finish. The costumes are great, but the bonus points go to how bloody and beat up Tom Cruise consistently is in this movie. Yes, go and get back into that fighting ring again. It’s good for my health.

(continued in the next reblog because tumblr will only let me add 30 images per post)

[scotianostra]

Clifford Leonard Clark “Cliff” Hanley was born on October 28th 1922 in Glasgow.

Hanley was a journalist, novelist, playwright and broadcaster from Shettleston in the city’s East End, he was educated at Eastbank Academy.

His journalistic career began with a life of crime - reporting from the city courts for a local news agency. By the time he had graduated to the Daily Record, it was clear that he had an astonishingly versatile range. In particular, he loved the then hectic world of Glasgow show-business, reporting on the raft of theatres which still survived in the city in the 1960s.

On that scene Hanley was always more than a commentator and reviewer, his membership of Equity testifying to his skills on the speaking circuit, and to his talent as a lyricist. With the musician Ian Gourlay, he wrote some marvellously witty parodies of Scottish folk songs, substituting institutions like the Glasgow underground for Granny’s Hielan’ Hame.

Hanley’s hallmark was that brand of self-deprecating, but sharp, humour which ensures that no Glaswegian can entertain ideas above his station in the company of a fellow citizen.

Cliff Hanley’s childhood in Glasgow’s East End provided the material for his most celebrated novel, Dancing In The Street, a semi-autobiographical work which was much acclaimed on publication in the late 1950s. It is still considered one of the most engaging books about Glasgow, the grittier experiences always leavened and laced with Hanley’s irrepressible humour. Several other novels quickly followed to a similarly warm reception.

I know some of you will still be struggling to recall Hanley’s work, but he wrote the lyric for one of the most famous Scottish songs ever, putting the words to well known bagpipe tunes that we know as “Traditional” Hanley gave us the words to Scotland the Brave, which emerged as the de facto national anthem. It remained so for two decades before being supplanted by Flower Of Scotland, I still remember football matches where they played the tune at International matches as our national team anthem.

Of course, Cliff’s tongue-in-cheek verses were never designed for mass singing, as was evidenced by the confused expressions on the faces of the national soccer team when they struggled to get their bagpipes, heather and glens in the right order. But played at full tilt by a pipe band, the anthem struck the appropriate note of terror into the opposition.

For a while Hanley also worked in radio, but although he continued as a regular contributor, his career as a presenter was relatively short lived. In 1970, he was hired to work on Good Morning, Scotland, the flagship morning news programme, but fell foul of the accent police - at that time received pronunciation was still considered desirable. Thank god we still don’t adhere to the old rules, we would never have the likes of Lorraine Kelly, Dougie Henshall and Ken Stott using their own god given accents on TV

Hark when the night is falling

Hear! Hear the pipes are calling,

Loudly and proudly calling,

Down thro' the glen.

There where the hills are sleeping,

Now feel the blood a-leaping,

High as the spirits of the old Highland men.

Towering in gallant fame,

Scotland my mountain hame,

High may your proud standards gloriously wave,

Land of my high endeavour,

Land of the shining river,

Land of my heart for ever,

Scotland the brave.

High in the misty Highlands,

Out by the purple islands,

Brave are the hearts that beat

Beneath Scottish skies.

Wild are the winds to meet you,

Staunch are the friends that greet you,

Kind as the love that shines from fair maiden's eyes.

Towering in gallant fame,

Scotland my mountain hame,

High may your proud standards gloriously wave,

Land of my high endeavour,

Land of the shining river,

Land of my heart for ever,

Scotland the brave.

Far off in sunlit places,

Sad are the Scottish faces,

Yearning to feel the kiss

Of sweet Scottish rain.

Where tropic skies are beaming,

Love sets the heart a-dreaming,

Longing and dreaming for the homeland again.

Towering in gallant fame,

Scotland my mountain hame,

High may your proud standards gloriously wave,

Land of my high endeavour,

Land of the shining river,

Land of my heart for ever,

Scotland the brave.

[meltedbluecaterpillar]

Olfactophilia

QUARTET NIGHT - HE★VENS

TW FOR SEMI SUGGESTIVE CONTENT! These are my personal headcanons on what I think the idols would wear. You do not have to agree with me. I just dislike how Broccoli always gives their character merch scents like; apple or lavender. They are adult men in an entertainment industry. They usually get promotional items so I think that they have preferences... But I also have a thing for exploring the world around me with my nose first. I hope you enjoy.

Quick explanation; top notes, middle notes, and base notes are the length of how long the scent will last when applied. Top notes; 5 - 15 minutes / Middle notes; 1 hour / Base notes; Max of 6 hours

Otoya Ittoki

God of Fire by Stéphane Humbert Lucas Unisex Cologne Around 200 USD // 29,896 Yen

I chose this particular cologne based on my personal views and how I see Otoya Ittoki. Usually for character merch he has a very delicate and gentle smelling item (lavender usually) but I personally do not think it fits him. Especially now that he is a fiery adult! Do I think he would actually spend that much on cologne? Once... If he is planning to go on a special date or he has to go to a big fancy event he will have this prepared. God of Fire has the scent of smoke and embers. Imagine a wildfire that has reduced it's surroundings to ash. Otoya is a very free spirit and he is full of energy like a burning flame. He and I also share a star sign, so I know my Aries men the best. The top notes are mango, ginger, lemon and red berries (usually this is raspberries) which gives it an upper tropical and fruity smell. Middle notes; Coumarin (a grassy smell mixed with vanilla), jasmine and cedar. Making it very woodsy! And base notes have musk (this usually means fabric, soft and clean), amber, agarwood. The base notes are the raging, smoky flames that will reduce everything above to ash.

You won't be burned by Otoya, although he is much hotter than any sun...

Ren Jinguji

Triumph of Bacchus by Argos Masculine/Unisex Cologne Around 250 USD // 37,370 Yen

Ren usually will have citrus as his scent. Oranges... But I think that is overplayed. Allow me to entice you my little lost lambs!~! This cologne is designed to seduce. And Ren is also a nepobaby so I don't think he looks at prices very much? As long as it is something he truly wants. And what he wants is to charm you out of your clo- I mean... Take you on a date... And fun fact, Bacchus is one of the twelve Olympians and he is the god of wine making, fertility, ritual madness, theater, and 'religious ecstasy'. Catch my drift? The top notes are Rum, white peach, green apple and saffron which are nice and fruity!~! Middle notes are tonka bean, patchouli, jasmine and vetiver (it's a grassy smell with wood as well). This is where the more sexy aspect starts to really kick in especially when he hugs you tightly against his chest... The base notes are tobacco, vanilla, amber, sandalwood and musk. Tobacco (natural and unburned) is actually oddly sweet so it fits extremely well to me.

Don't lose your way little lamb, the big bad wolf might lure you in... Just kidding, it's only Ren...

Natsuki/Satsuki Shinomiya

Au Lait by Alkemia Unisex Perfume 20 USD // 2,990 Yen

Le Lion by Chanel Unisex Perfume Around 325 USD // 48,581 Yen

Natsuki is our double dipper because he is a very special case. His scent is... Pure yellow. But that reminds me of extra strength cleaner which is so horrific. I like these instead! The first one is something I think he would buy because it reminds him of bouncy fresh bread. He doesn't seem interested in prices or anything like that. Just if something is small and cute. Because it isn't a luxury brand... Fans would go insane knowing this is what he wears. It has only a few ingredients which aren't really categorized. But we have wild honey, hints of brown sugar, tonka beans and creamy milk. Some reviews say it really does smell like fresh buttery bread which I adore. The next one is technically Satsuki, but still Natsuki. But please interpret this however you want. I picked this particular fragrance for many reasons , but I won't bore you to death! Honestly... A fan probably bought this and sent it to the company PO box... The top notes are bergamot and lemon. Which is very acidic and citrusy, like a sudden jolt when you inhale. Crackle even. The middle notes are labdanum(woody smelling resin from a species of rockrose) and amber. This makes it have a very inviting and somewhat... Almost animalistic... In a good way. Kind of wild and a little... Dangerous. But it lingers around because if Natsuki is wearing it there's nothing to worry about... Right? The base notes are vanilla, patchouli, sandalwood, and musk. This is where that charm really shines through for me Natsuki wise. It's delicate and masculine, still inviting and strong just like he is.

Natsuki wishes he could hold you all the time... Satsuki has other intentions...

Cecil Aijima

Oro Verde by House of BŌ Unisex Perfume 175 USD // 26,159 Yen

Unfortunately Cecil is a victim of the green apple craze. I do not think green apple suits him at all it is such a childish thing. Something I would get at Claire's. So I choose this. Which is very simple but I also do not see Cecil as someone who would wear a lot of cologne? He doesn't want to rub stuff on his skin that isn't natural so he probably dabs this on his clothes or staff will ask to put it behind his ears/on his wrists. The top notes are bergamot, cannabis, mate- LOWER YOUR PITCHFORKS! Cannabis smell when it is unburned has an earthy scent to it. Somewhat sticky and almost like fresh cut grass. When it is burned that's when you get the skunk and garlic... Okay? Middle notes are basil, watermelon, and vetiver sables (earthy like rotten log smell). This with the light scent of lingering fruit really makes me smile it has a very fresh smell which I really like. Like the scent of your skin when you sunbathe. And finally the base notes are herbals and spices (I don't want to list off all of the plants). When they say spice that actually is in reference to black pepper! Which all together is so wonderful to smell. And Cecil is a prince so of course he smells good.

The fresh scent lingers on your clothes, just as Cecil had hoped!~!

Masato Hijirikawa

Quasar Ice by O Boticárioro Masculine Cologne 50 USD // 7,474 Yen

Of course our ice prince gets something ice themed. I did not want to give Masato something expensive like the others just because I don't think he is into luxury items. I am not suggesting the others are... I am implying that he doesn't think to hard about cologne. As long as it smells nice for a meeting he won't mind. The only issue is that this is an alcohol base so he would spray it gently... Leaving a nice fade out. No dousing... The top notes are ice (this is hard to explain but it is the molecule that allows you to smell cold air), lime, sage, and cardamom. So in other words... A store bought key lime pie! I wanted something sweet for Masato since I think he is a very sweet guy, even if he doesn't look like it. The middle notes are cedar, black pepper, bourbon geranium, and lavender. This will reminisce a nice winter walk though the forest! And the base notes are oakmoss, amber, sandalwood, and cashmere. So after your frozen pie and a chilly walk, it's like you've returned to a nice cozy cabin with him at the end of the night...

To think that even Masato could wear something so romantic...

Tokiya Ichinose

Midnight by Rawchemistry Masculine Cologne/Pheromones' 30 USD // 4,485 Yen

My original choice for Tokiya was something different. However I cannot find the original scent and nor do I think it truly fits the Tokiya that lives in my mind anymore. So, I chose this. It is also not an alcohol base which I think Tokiya would like because he is overly conscious and critical of everything he eats/wears/does. And this is technically pheromones. Not cologne. So there aren't really top, middle and base notes. Just an overall scent. And that would be; lavender, orange blossoms, patchouli and vanilla. And if you didn't know... All four of these are aphrodisiacs. The usual notes used in cologne are made in fact to attract. But these all together are made with the intent to seduce if that makes sense since there are no other ingredients to note. Is Tokiya a sexual character? No. But he is designed and written to have that form of charm without directly saying it. So that is also why I chose this. He is very confident with what he does as an idol. So... He wants you to understand that without him saying it...

Maybe there is some appeal to Tokiya after all... Just kidding...

Syo Kurusu

Sahara Rose Absolute by Habibi NY Unisex Perfume 135 USD // 20,180 Yen

So... Usually Syo will have a rose scented item. Which... I personally like a lot actually. He is a character designed to not fit into most traditionally masculine stereotypes while still being very masculine. So I chose this scent because it sort of replicates what I think his actual character scent actually is and what he would like to wear. Although I regret to inform the masses that he used to drown himself in Axe body spray... Thankfully he's grown now and he knows that shit was wack. The top notes are Turkish rose, geranium, jasmine and black currant. Very floral and very delicate which is so pleasant when it lingers. The middle notes are pink pepper, saffron, incense, and agar wood. These are spicy and semi-sweet, the balance between femininity and masculinity. The incense offering a powdery-ness that makes it not overwhelming. And finally the base notes are musk, sandalwood, vetiver, and amber. Very sensual at the end, and again not overpowering. I love the balance it has personally and this one was my 'absolute' favorite.

Even though Syo is so strong... He still leaves that rose colored hue behind...

[lisas-song]

FabFiveFeb - Scott

Author's note: Been a while since I've uploaded anything, so I hope the format is okay. Also, this may be the shortest fic I've ever written!

*******

Wake-Up Call

Scott Tracy woke slowly, letting his consciousness take its time coming back online. He vaguely remembered tumbling into his bed the night before, and a brief review of sore muscles and assorted bruises told him that staying there might be a good idea.

International Rescue had had a rough week. Back-to-back rescues had kept them running all over the globe, until Scott and Virgil had both maxxed out their flight hours, and Gordon was right behind them. No one argued when Grandma shut them down for 48 hours. Scott even allowed himself to be forced into postponing his usual early morning run.

Now, he lay on his side, watching the sunlight filter through the curtains from the balcony and wondered what had awakened him from his first lazy morning in far too long. The waves down on the beach and the various tropical birds that shared Tracy Island were too familiar to have roused him. He did have a vague sense that something was going on today that he should be remembering, but his brain wasn't fully in gear yet. A TI meeting? He didn't think so. There were reports to be complete for both the family businesses; but again, that was too commonplace to stand out.

He was just debating whether a shower might wake him up a bit when he heard it: soft footsteps, a rustling sound … someone was in his room, behind him, blocking the door. Instincts - learned at a time and place far behind and yet ever with him - had him freezing in place even as his brain protested that he was safe at home.

And then came the whispering.

"Shh!"

"You shh!"

"I'm not the one tripping over those flippers you call feet!"

Instantly, Scott knew exactly who was there, and exactly what was about to happen. He felt someone bump his mattress, and then they were right behind him. He readied himself as a voice hissed:

"On my count - five, four, thr-"

Taking full advantage of the element of surprise, Scott flung himself over with a roar, wrapping one arm around each of his startled, shrieking youngest brothers and dragging them onto the bed with him. There followed a minute or two of wrestling - and laughing - and then three Tracys lay breathless across Scott's mattress.

"See," Gordon huffed after a moment, "I knew you couldn't keep quiet."

"Me?!" Alan squawked indignantly.

"Guys," Scott interrupted before things could get out-of-hand again, "Maybe we should leave the stealthy stuff to Kayo, huh?"

"Fair," Gordon conceded as he sat up. "Now come on. John's down, and he's making pancakes."

"Yeah," Alan added. He scrambled to his feet and grabbed Scott by one arm, pulling him along. "Happy birthday, Scotty."

[archoneddzs15]

Sonic 30th Anniversary Symphony (2021) - My reaction 3 years later

I am going to admit one thing. I am a Sonic fan, and it has always been this way since 2006 when I got my hands on Sonic Advance 3 for my Game Boy Advance SP. At the time I was one year away from starting elementary school and my family was not well off at the time, so I had to make do with what I could play. Little did I know that my first encounter with the blue hedgehog would change my life forever as I know it today.

Then as I grew older I was able to get some extra games for the systems I did own, such as my childhood 32 bit console, the Sega Saturn. I got Sonic Jam which was my first gateway drug to the classic 16-bit Sonic games, and I even got to roam around in the Sonic World for a bit, doing tasks like collecting rings and such. The Sonic series has its ups and downs, sure, but there is one thing that the Sonic series never fails on, and it became even more apparent when I saw this comment on one particular live-stream where a music teacher was gob-smacked by how fuckin' awesome the Sonic Adventure 2 soundtrack was!

Anyway, this little long-winded intro out of the way, though it still rings true as the picture says. Let's get right into it. As a 30th anniversary birthday present to Sega's premier franchise Sonic the Hedgehog in 2021, Sega decided "Why not make it bigger and better?" They got some Czech Republic philharmonic orchestra to do the orchestrated medleys for many a Sonic game under the sun, all of which remain one of my favorites. Keep in mind, this Symphony came out before Sonic Frontiers and Superstars. Also, I am not the best in terms of being a music critic unlike the Anthony Fantano types so my reviews of them are going to be relatively brief.

Part 1: Countdown

The music playing during the first 15 minutes of countdown is nothing short of spectacular. The track list is as follows:

A New Journey - Sonic Unleashed

Comfort Zone (Main Menu) - Sonic Mania/Plus

Sonic Goes U.G. Mix - Sonic Gems Collection

Fist Bump (Piano Version - Theater Room) - Sonic Forces

Mission (theme of Sonic 3D Blast) - Sonic Generations

Tropical Resort (Area Theme) - Sonic Colours

Part 2: The Orchestra

The Philarmonic Orchestra masterfully conducted a beautiful rearrangement of almost every Sonic game's soundtrack out there. I say "almost every" because for the Orchestra portion it's missing Sonic CD, the GBA and DS Sonic games and Sonic Boom. But that's minor substitutions in favor of something a lot grander, and I appreciate it. I mean, they even represented games like Sonic Drift 2 and Tails Adventures! Even NiGHTS got a shoutout. How about that for cool?

Part 3: Tomoya Ohtani

Tomoya Ohtani Band. Oh man, what can I say? Well, they played three songs, so let's get right to it.

Reach for the Stars (Re-Colors)

The Re-Colors version of Reach for the Stars as found in Sonic Colours Ultimate, the remaster of the Nintendo Wii game now available on PS4/5, XBOX, Switch and PC. This song absolutely rocked the socks off when I first played the original game on the Wii, and this arrangement is even better still.

Speak with Your Heart (Original + Rainbow Mix)

Things go normal for the first few minutes of this song, which I like, and then Tomoya Ohtani drops a bombshell when it turns into the "Rainbow Mix" which has a trap beat type vibe to it. I love it!

Endless Possibility from Sonic Unleashed (vocals: Nathan Sharp)

Nathan Sharp is the guy who sings covers of Sonic songs under the best name you could ever give, "NateWantsToBattle" under his record label "Give Heart Records". Endless Possibility is a song that people have loved for years and years and years. It's a song which was originally performed by the same people that did the vocal intro for Phineas and Ferb. Nathan Sharp swoops in and delivers the BEST version of the song yet!

Part 4: Crush 40 (Jun Senoue & Johnny Gioeli)

Crush 40 is also a staple among Sonic fans. From hit songs like Open Your Heart, Live and Learn, Sonic Heroes, I Am... All of Me, and so on, their music has touched lives everywhere around the world. Fun fact, they used to be known as Sons of Angels for a short period of time, where some of their Sons of Angels-era songs were used in the Sega arcade game NASCAR Arcade. The songs in NASCAR Arcade would be released in the only music album to bear the Sons of Angels artist name, "Thrill of the Feel". Speaking of which, they sang six songs before adding two more after fans (this was in 2021 and we were still in lockdown so....) "demanded" more from them. Fun fact: Jun Senoue also did some songs for the Game no Kanzume "Sega Games Can" discs for the Sega Mega CD. Johnny Gioeli also provided vocals for another band under his wing called Hardline. The six initial songs are as follows, which all really will rock your sound system off.

Open Your Heart (Sonic Adventure)

Sonic Heroes

Green Light Ride (Team Sonic Racing)

Sonic Boom (Sonic CD) (Crush 40 VS Cash Cash version)

I Am... All of Me (Shadow the Hedgehog)

Knight of the Wind (Sonic and the Black Knight)

Part 5: The Grand Finale Songs

Whooo~!!! Here comes the big ones. Two legendary songs all from one game. All before ending it off with an orchestrated mix of "Friends" by Hyper Potions.

These two songs are all from one of the best Sonic games of all time, Sonic Adventure 2.

Escape from the City (vocals: Nathan Sharp)

No one in their right mind would want to tell you that this song from after Sonic jumps off the helicopter in a bid to escape GUN forces is not legendary.

Yet here is Escape from the City, one of the BEST Sonic songs. And, of course, another spotlight by the King of Sonic song covers, Nathan Sharp. The Philarmonic Orchestra also added to the grand vibe of the song by making it even better still.

Live and Learn

There's nothing I can say. One of the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) Sonic songs just got a whole lot better.

[ladyvictory22]

Falling into Temptation: IV: Discovery

"In the garden of Eden, where butterflies danced in the springtime of our souls, secrets become thorns, and sin, like an adulterer whispered in the confessional, now faces the inevitable revelation of hidden shadows."

Escaping now was something common in his days, leaving a little earlier, taking a late lunch at work. Christian could say that he spends a lot of time at Toto's apartment and although he would like to spend the nights there, they know that it is something they can't... not yet.

But there was something Christian could do when he couldn't stay, it was take Toto's shirts, he delicately chose the most common ones, Toto has always been bluish tones, so those are the ones that Christian chooses the most.

Toto rarely wears a dark tone, but when he wears them he looks beautiful, he looks like a beautiful sculpted prince and so unattainable, in fact, at this moment he looked like this, Christian looked at him spellbound, blue sneakers the same tone as the shirt, a white pants and a dark blue shirt that made his skin stand out and fit so well. Toto was standing reviewing some reports before giving the go-ahead to his work team, then they would go out, sometimes they liked to take walks in the park that was near Toto's apartment.

He doesn't know if he was looking at him too much, but Toto felt his gaze.

"What's going on?" He said still looking at the documents.

"Nothing, I'm just looking at you" he responded with his chin resting on his hand. "You look so good like this"

Toto made a half smile and looked up, Christian was on the couch with his usual pose of one leg resting on the other, they both smiled at each other, it felt domestic.

"Oh yeah?" Toto said, moving his attention away from the documents and approaching

"Yes, blue looks good on you... I like it" answered the youngest.

"I know, maybe because some of my shirts suddenly disappear" he said while facing the other.

Christian gave a small giggle and Toto smiled.

"I like it a lot," Christian whispered, knowing that he had a slight blush on his cheeks but he didn't care.

Then Toto put a knee next to the other's leg, almost making the gesture of sitting on him, placed a hand on his neck and placed his lips against Christian's.

Now it was so common for them to flirt with so few things, they loved to express their admiration for each other more in minimal things, in compliments.

When they separated they both smiled

"Brown" said Toto.

"what?" Christian asked.

"Brown is your color," continued Toto, "when you usually go riding andin the usa those tones in your clothes usually highlight your skin and your eyes, even when you go to the paddock and wear a brown jacket, due to its tone it can be combined with different palettes..." he left a small kiss again and then added " Although considering how you look with your Red Bull suit, blue and black also suit you well."

Christian felt himself blush and Toto laughed softly and left him another kiss, walking away from him and returning to the documents.

And Toto is like that, he pays attention to every detail, and is always in charge of praising every quality, aspect or whatever, ever since Christian shared stories about him, about his selfesteem, he seems to protect him.

~~~~

There are times when certain decisions that you don't want to make or are afraid to make are often ignored until there is nothing left to do.

It seems that both Christian and Toto were in that line, they knew that there was a decision to make but they ignored it, they focused on each other.

Although sometimes the conversation would arise, suddenly one of the two was impatient for a decision and then the other didn't know what to do. Sometimes Christian, sometimes Toto.

After a moment in silence, they both reconciled with a sweet hug, one of protection, sometimes they felt like the storm was coming at any moment.

~~~~

In fact the storm was only brewing as a natural disaster, like a tropical storm or hurricane. They hadn't noticed anything because the shadows hadn't come to life, they were just in the dark.

Geri remembers the first time she found a shirt that wasn't her husband's size in his closet. Of course it seemed strange to her, but the shirt was delicately kept at the back of everything, almost hidden.

She felt a strange current run through her body, but she shrugged it off, in the end she gave herself an excuse before asking her husband something.

The funny thing is, even on Grand Prix weekends, Christian had one of those shirts there. It seemed to be….usual.

~~~~

He generally wore those shirts to sleep, when his wife was not around or he simply wore them to work and put on a sweater over them.

He used to give Toto his shirts back when they spent the night, sometimes he chose to wear another shirt, sometimes he didn't.

~~~~

She didn't touch the shirts...not at first, she just knew she'd find a different one in the closet. As she well knows, fear screams and intuition whispers, she does not know in what tone her thought was speaking, she only knows that it was saying something, something that she was trying to ignore.

Sometimes the mind can be your biggest enemy and you have to fight with the thoughts it gives you because they are wrong, it's just fear speaking.

However, the setting and the actions staged, he was beginning to feel someone's shadow like the presence of a person and he did not like that.

~~~~

Not that it was common for Toto was in Brackley, because he alternated his days with Monaco. However, they both knew each other's free time.

As always, the meetings were similar to those in the paddock, meeting, talking, sleeping or simply suddenly there was a call with too much heat between them that made them want to eat each other fiercely.

On other occasions, that fire could appear in the middle of an outing.

They felt like teenagers, but it was so hot that they liked to do it from time to time and that was something they didn't expect.

When Christian first got into a Mercedes, a Mercedes driven by Toto Wolff.

And there Christian understood why that man was the personification of the brand whose Formula 1 team he owned, he saw him drive, with such class, elegance, he confirmed something that in a way he already knew, Toto is as Mercedes as Mercedes is Toto. ...and sometimes the gestures spoke so much for him, in the middle of the road a very territorial hand would rest on Christian's leg and look for his hand only to leave a small caress and then return to the helm.

Just that gesture, feeling the hand go down his leg, made Christian bite his lower lip subtly with a half smile... because Toto can sometimes be territorial and he likes it.

Then on one of those occasions, while they were on the road, Christian took Toto's hand and slowly held it on his leg, reaching further.

Toto smiled and kept his hand there willingly only moving it away when necessary, then the hand would return and sometimes go deeper. Christian closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The caresses became more insistent on the youngest's thighs, touching points that Toto already knew quite well... that he generally liked to bite and leave his mark there.

"Should I stop or do you want to get somewhere more private?" He said and his tone of voice sounded deeper.

Christian smiled, he already knew, Toto was impatient now.

"What does Mr. Mercedes decide?" He said looking at him hungrily.

He doesn't even know where they stopped the car, but they did. Toto turned off the road onto a path that led to some pretty earthly views.

That's the little he remembers, since from one moment to the next he was on Toto, with a hungry kiss, a war of tongues and a bite.

Soon after, Christian was rising and falling, moaning softly, while Toto's hands remained on his hips, squeezing hard.

If you had been told years ago that you would be in this situation, having sex in a Mercedes and even more so with whom, you would have laughed thinking that it was a silly and absurd idea.

But here he is, melting in Toto Wolff's arms, moaning his name on her trembling legs and wishing it would never end.

Arrive a point at which, Christian bit Toto's shoulder so hard that he left one of his marks.

After that first time, they did it a few more times, even on Grand Prix weekends... lending a car just for that.

~~~~~

She hadn't realized that her husband's shirts were disappearing until he sometimes looked for a specific shirt but didn't get upset if he couldn't find it.

Susie wasn't a controlling woman, it's not like she doesn't care what Toto does, it's more the trust placed in him.

However, in all the years dedicated to Formula One, at least once a piece of clothing could be forgotten, a sweater, a towel... but how often? That was... something peculiar.

At first she put it down to the mere stress of the season, the need to do his job well had prompted her husband to be more dedicated to the team, more so if that meant spending more time in Brackley.

The first few times she didn't feel anything, she is a woman who uses reasoning and logic to find an explanation for things easily.

Although I probably wouldn't find any explanation over time.

~~~~~

Christian liked that Toto marked him even if it was controlling his strength.

He did it, yes, he had the self-control not to bite and leave marks all over Christian's body because he knew it couldn't be done. However, there was one place where he couldn't help himself.

Toto loved to bite on his thighs, a path of kisses, hickeys and then bites that burn more when he is eating Christian and he simply wraps his legs around Toto's head.

Christian's way of marking used to be different, when Toto was already on him, everything was based on the scratches on the other's back and his usual bite on the shoulder.

~~~~

She noticed something unusual when she realized that the shirtsthey disappeared maybe on specific days... and also in specific colors.

Although there was one more curiosity, as well as the shirtsthey disappeared  appeared again and at least that gave Susie a rational explanation for Toto not looking for her clothes properly, although at the same time a strange explanation considering that her husband is quite tidy with his clothes.

Even when he is in Brackley she knows that all his clothes are meticulously chosen and organized, although sometimes it seems that he takes extra clothes on his trips.

Then perhaps in the distance of his thoughts the shadow of a person was forming in his mind, a thought that in any case becomes inevitable when strange actions begin to appear.

~~~~

The first time Toto saw Christian wearing one of his shirts was when he was entering the paddock, it was very early the fans weren't arriving yet so they could still move freely until there was an avalanche of people.

Toto, with his usual sunglasses, looked at him in the distance, lowered his glasses a little to check the color of the shirt, he had noticed that it was a little too big for him.

He felt satisfied, it was like a way of knowing that Christian is his, that he belongs to him and he liked the thought.

He approached, Christian was talking with other colleagues, they greeted each other normally, they knew how to act in those situations, but hints of flirtation always appeared.

"Blue looks good on you" Toto said smiling.

"Obviously, you know Red Bull has blue... but it is generally a neutral color and in different shades" mentioned the other

"You like using those shades, don't you?" Djjo

"Of course every time I have the opportunity I will do it, in fact I think I will buy another shirt soon" he said with a wink.

They both smiled, sometimes it was fun to know that they were playing on a fine line, because only they knew what they were talking about, what encrypted messages there were.

~~~~

Geri had not realized that Christian was wearing those shirts until one day she saw the closet again; she had already developed a paranoid habit of searching the closet.

Until one day he couldn't find the shirt or shirts, because suddenly they had started to vary between one or two.

And it was a different occasion, there was no sign of a shirt around and for a moment he felt relief.

She showed her mind that creating ideas or assumptions from something seen was not okay, even more so if she has never asked her husband anything.

But the strange chill would return to her when Christian returned from a grand prix, the shirt he was wearing was... one of those shirts.

She stood still with her arms crossed, watching as her husband greeted their children and pets, he approached her and left a kiss on her cheek, when Geri sought a kiss on her lips.

She felt him avoid her and the cherry on this dessert culminated, when she felt a different aroma on her husband, it was like the mixture of two perfumes, hers and someone else's.

She felt his hands cold and a tightness in her chest, she was breathing hard, because her mind was being invaded with assumptions that were probably taking the form of a person.

That's when she decided that she would touch one of those shirts sometime, that she would smell the aroma, although she didn't know exactly what use it would do other than just hurt her.

~~~~

Susie fueled her doubts when there was a blood stain on one of her husband's shirts, it was faint, it was on the shoulder of the shirt. It was strange because it's not like Toto would have had an accident... which she would know.

The thing is... those stains appeared on different shirts and they were always sometimes on the collar sometimes on the shoulder.

And there could be a million reasons why there's a stain there, but connecting Toto's unusual actions, it's inevitable to think about the presence of a third wheel in this situation.

~~~~

When thoughts take over you considerably, you begin to review the past, the present and the future...the how?, when?, and above all, something that Geri wondered was why?

She remembers seeing Christian quite stressed, there were nights when she heard him crying in the bathroom and she just didn't understand why.

Your husband was at a successful stage in his career so why this stress? Why that feeling that he was dying for something? In the present I already understood why, longing for someone you couldn't be with could be torture. But nowadays Geri could tell that Christian no longer longed for that person, rather he already had her.

She didn't want to face it yet, because they were just vague thoughts, crazy ideas that came to her mind in trying to explain her husband's behavior.

~~~~~

Susie could say what, when your perspective changes that's when normal days become cloudy, rainy.

When doubt is planted, it is very difficult to root it out. What is even worse is when you cannot tell anyone about it, it is like a poison that begins to spread throughout your head.

Maybe Toto's behavior had changed a while ago and she hadn't realized it.

Like when she saw him drinking too much, he seemed lost in his mind. She remembers asking him what was happening, if perhaps it was because of some stress issue with Mercedes, although they were getting better every day, he had just looked up and those penetrating eyes seemed annoyed at having been interrupted.

However, he gently told her that nothing was wrong, taking another sip of his drink and returning his gaze to his computer.

She felt chills, Toto rarely had those kinds of looks.

At that time she took it as something due to stress, currently she no longer knows whether to take it that way.

~~~~

Christian's hand went up and down on Toto's back, they had reunited after a few days in which they had not been able to see each other, there were obstacles.

Bycoincidences, their wives had been present at the most recent Grands Prix, and for a change they had had a lot of work developing their cars.

it is Needless to say, when they met they couldn't keep their hands off each other, so much time in abstinence had consumed and irritated them.

They needed to see each other, even if it meant taking time for themselves, for their bubble, for their garden.

The garden was still in spring, they felt that they had everything under control, which is why they felt calm.

Christian raised his hand to her shoulder, feeling the mark of his most recent bite.

"Oops, I think I overdid it" he said, tapping lightly.

Toto sighed "You haven't cared about the previous times, my love."

Christian smiled "I hadn't imagined how deep they were."

"It's only been a few times..." Toto mentioned trying to sound like a complaint but he sounded pleased "although I prefer that you do it... because I don't care."would control"

"In what sense?" He said closing his eyes, because Toto began to leave kisses on his neck.

"Because it would mark you completely all over your body," he said, gently biting the minor's ear, making himsighed gently.

"Will you show me where?" askedleaving carried away by the sensation of the other's lips.

Toto positioned himself over him, kissed his lips, his neck, down to his chest then licked and sucked each of his nipples, making them rigid and continued going down slowly listening to how soft he was moaning.taking out the other.

~~~~

Sometimes we can make decisions that can take a very painful toll on us, even more so when you have suspicions about a threat stalking your relationship.

Geri one day decided to test her husband's behavior, she prepared a dinner, she dressed beautifully for him. I was planning a romantic evening.

~~~~~

When Christian arrived he found a very decorated dinner and his wife looked beautiful, in her white outfit with some gold accessories thatthey stood out.

Christian smiled kindly, "what's the reason for this?" He said looking at everything.

"I just wanted to surprise you, I think we need some time for ourselves" she said.

The dinner went well and despite things, Christian always talked about work and other things with Geri.

~~~~

For a moment she thought that everything was fine, the dinner was going normally and Christian seemed like the old Christian to her.

Talking about work, showing their affection for their pilots, they also talked about their children, about upcoming events.

Then just for a moment the doubts dissipated and she attributed all those thoughts to her husband's behavior coming from some stress.

And that those shirts were probably just new sizes that he was wearing, for a moment everything fit, everything had an explanation.

Just for a while.

~~~~~

Unfortunately that tranquility dissipated in the blink of an eye, Geri wanted to end the night in a more romantic way.

Christian no.

When they got to the room she pulled him and kissed him.

Christian took a long time to reciprocate, he froze since he hadn't done this with her in a while.

The last few times were when he was still dealing with his feelings with Toto over the winter break.

Christian kept his eyes open and felt them moisten, he felt his lips tremble as she had her eyes closed and continued the kiss.

~~~~

She felt that everything was fine, when she separated from him, she smiled softly and took his hand to guide him to the bed.

He smiled softly at her, followed her, sat him down on the bed and she climbed onto his lap.

~~~~

Christian didn't really know what he was doing and didn't know how to move, she started kissing his neck, he felt uncomfortable. He sighed more, however, it was not from pleasure, it was from anxiety.

"Geri..." he said softly.

She hummed, holding onto his neck.

"Geri...stop" he said taking his wife's arm.

~~~~

She pulled away and looked at him with confusion and fear deep inside.

"What's going on?" He asked, staying calm.

"I can't..." he said, looking nervous.

"Because?" She said and the thoughts came back...the tranquility of dinner was over.

He swallowed, licked his lips and said "I feel tired."

"But this might relax you..."she prompted and gave him another more eager kiss and tried to start unbuttoning his shirt.

~~~~

Christian began to feel desperate, even more so when he felt his wife's hands, eager to want something more.

"Geri" he said softly taking her hands.

She pushed Christian's hands away, she didn't let him touch her.

"Geri..." I repeat once again

"Geraldine" he said with a stronger tone of voice.

Then he took her by both arms and pulled her away from him.

She looked at him surprised.

"I don't want to" he said looking at her.

~~~~

She could tell that at that moment she saw him as a scared puppy, forced to do something he didn't want to do, then she took a good look at her husband's outfit and realized that he was wearing one of those shirts... and suddenly the fear went back.

He moved away and sat next to her on the bed, they stayed like that for a long time or maybe it was a short time, he doesn't know.

There was only their breathing... then she felt how he placed a hand on her leg and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice shaking, and he moved away from her.

She felt her eyes moisten, and when she closed her eyes, tears were running down her cheeks.

~~~~~

Geri wasn't the only one crying that night, Christian had gone to one of the guest rooms, locking himself in the bathroom andhad cried.

Yes, part of it was because he had rejected his wife and that in a way was a blow to him, because he was hurting her directly and now he really felt like he was doing it.

On the other hand, he felt uncomfortable, uncomfortable with her touching him, because his body was already accustomed to other hands, other lips, another force. His body only wanted Toto now.

~~~~

And if we talk about lack of privacy, Toto was not far behind in that situation. Yes, he looked at Susie with love, with affection.

Even though he knew he was disrespecting her, with what he was doing, with her heart belonging to someone else.

I tried to compensate for all that, spending time with her, talking to her, listening to her about things about work or things about her life.

It was an attempt to reward things they had been missing. He was making a transition from seeing his wife only as a friend, not as something more, something he once desired, loved and cared for.

Now he loves her, but not in the same way and he also takes care of her.

~~~~

Susie had noticed it of course, the lack of intimacy she attributed to stress, because for her everything fit even more with the rhythm that Mercedes was following, they had been poor as a team for a while. But after Lewis' first victory they had started to improve, they were back in the game.

She understood her husband and accompanied him, on the other hand she was also dealing with her job and the new category she managed, so everything was normal.

It was normal until the perspective of her thoughts changed, when she felt the figure of a third person. He began to notice more.

Toto avoided his kisses, and they were limited to his cheek or forehead.

The look of affection was there, but now there was a different atmosphere. And she refused to accept it... she refused to let those thoughts cross.

She always explained things to herself, she always looked in the mirror at home and told herself that it wasn't like that... those thoughts weren't like that.

~~~~

The first rejection he experiencedvividly It was at an event, it was a private family event.

For the ironies of life, it was a wedding. An event that should be about love and affection, happiness, the beginning of a happy story.

For her it had been a moment where somehow her world began to crack. In the romantic atmosphere, the music sounded faint, he had been away for a while, he was talking on the phone, and she looked at him in the background.

He usually didn't answer calls at events like this, unless it was an emergency or an important decision with his team.

But it didn't seem like a call of that kind, not when she saw him smile in a way... that he only did when he was flirting, when it was someone he was interested in, like when he once did it with her.

He shuddered and felt that the romantic atmosphere of a wedding contrasting with his situation made everything more suffocating.

But she had the courage to push her thoughts away, she got up from the table and went to look for him, he had just hung up.

"Hello" he said

"Hello," she said, "you took too long, something happened."

"No, nothing happened," he said softly.

Then she approached with the intention of seeking his lips, but he only limited himself to her cheek, gave her a half hug and told her "let's go back to the party."

She accompanied him but felt the rejection, it hurt her.

~~~~

Christian had left many messages, he hadn't wanted to call so as not to worry Toto, but he still did.

I wanted to see him in the morning, which they generally didn't do, but it seemed such an urgency that they did it.

When they met Toto became more worried, Christian's eyes were a little swollen... he had been crying.

"God... honey, what's wrong?" He said caressing her face.

Christian didn't say anything, he just looked at him, swallowed and just hugged Toto.

The Austrian put his arms around him and asked again "what's wrong? Tell me..."

"Last night... I rejected Geri" he whispered and you could feel the fear

Toto didn't say anything, he just sighed, he continued caressing Christian until he walked away.

"She prepared a dinner, an evening andintentfrom that something would happen later..." he said, looking down "I... I couldn't" he felt the tears coming back again... "it's not right."

"Shhh" Toto silence "will be resolved"

"And when?" He said, holding back tears, "we have postponed that decision for a long time."

"I know," said Toto. "Believe me, I realize the consequences too..."

"So?...what if he suspects or something and I..." he started to say but was interrupted

"It can be normal for couples to not have intimacy one day," Toto said... "although I'm not the best at explaining that."

Christian looked at him surprised.

"I haven't touched my wife in a while," Toto confessed, "I didn't want to say it because I didn't want to make you feel obligated to do the same..."

"I... I haven't touched Geri either, I didn't want to say it either..." Christian also confessed "I love you... my body no longer wants other hands or other lips"

Toto smiled kindly and gave her a soft kiss on the lips "I love you... I want nothing more than you."

After some time to calm down and try to think about how to solve this, they had another talk... affection towards them.

"I... you know I still love him, what happened yesterday reminded me of all the damage I'm doing to him... that if we continue to drag this out... it will end badly" said Christian "I didn't say anything about intimacy because it How do you still look at your wife."

"In the same way that you see yours," Toto replied, "I have affection and gratitude for it, yes, I am also aware of what I am doing... I am also aware of how long we have prolonged the clandestinity in ours."

"What will we do then?" Christian said.

"Wait for the right moment to fix this... and be able to dedicate time just to ourselves" Toto said, placing a kiss on the other's cheek, Christian nodded and just leaned against Toto.

So in theory the decision had been made, it was the two of them, and out of respect for them they had to try to distance themselves and wish them something better than them, two sinners who are deciding to sink into their own vice.

~~~~

The days after that, Geri felt like she had sunk into a very heavy fog. Feeling emotionally distant from Christian was very difficult to process.

Although everything seemed like it wasn't, Christian was far from her, he didn't get to sleep at night, apparently he had silently started using the guest room.

Then the clothes had started to move there, I couldn't see the shirts in the closet anymore, although I knew they were in the guest room. The uncertainty of touching and feeling the aroma was affecting him.

Intuition told him that something wasn't right, fear told him that if they checked it he would feel worse.

Then one day when Christian was away, she walked into the room, opened the closet and found one of the shirts there. Geri remembers staring at the shirt and deciding what to do.

Then he hesitated, took it, felt the fabric, and then felt the aroma, a very strong man's perfume, mixed slightly with Christian's perfume.

She felt a chill, quickly placed the shirt in the same place and ran out of the room, she felt overwhelmed.

His head was trying to process what was happening, thousands of thoughts were bombarding his head...he didn't know what to do.

~~~~~

The way to discover something is different but the pain is the same or worse.

Susie remembers exactly what it was like, she knew that, he had a separate apartment near Brackley, sometimes he stayed there when they argued or he just stayed there because it was closer to the company.

In those days this he stayed in the family home. Once again he was looking for one of his shirts, although he hadn't done that in a while.

Susie then looked over where Toto was, only with his pants on and his torso uncovered. Previously this would have been a beautiful sight for her, seeing her husband like this, but today it wasn't when strange suspicions were swirling around her head.

Then she saw the reason why there were sometimes stains on her husband's shirts, a nice mark was visible on her husband's shoulder and it seemed recent... then a chain of scratches were visible on his back.

He froze there recording the image in his head, his heart beat very hard and he just left in silence.

While the bathroom in her room was still frozen, she looked at herself and could feel that this time the cracks in her world were getting bigger.

And the question was running through his head "why?"

She didn't feel when tears began to fall on her cheeks, she just felt lost in her thoughts. I just felt like everything was ending.

~~~~~

And when everything seems cloudy, a raging storm arrives, sadness turns to resentment, pain turns to anger.

Geri didn't know who he was, he didn't know what he looked like. Or maybe if she had an idea, at least she was bigger than her husband. Even so, I didn't have much information, but I knew it was a man.

She then decided to take her own measures, some part of her told her that she could get her husband back and that she should try until the end.

This person had to be someone from the paddock, someone from her husband's team or from the company.

She decided that her plans were going to change, she was going to dedicate herself to accompanying and supporting her husband more often.

And I wasn't going to ask him.

~~~~~~

Susie on the other hand was in limbo, she didn't know who she was, she didn't have a clue of anything, but that wouldn't stop her from discovering.

Taking advantage of her work range, she decided to accompany her husband on upcoming races and also accompany him when he went to Brackley.

He had to be aware of everything, his agenda, what he does, who he talks to.

And I couldn't involve anyone, because it wasn't going to generate gossip, this was more of a white collar affair.

~~~~

Parallel to these declarations of war, both Christian and Toto had felt frustrated at not being able to meet.

Toto had canceled some meetings, telling Christian that unfortunately she was accompanying him.

Jealousy was present, not insecurity, it was jealousy, Christian was beginning to detest the other woman, seeing her close to Toto, stalking.

Even though Geri was doing the same thing with him, Christian had noticed, but he ignored it... he ignored it because he was more focused on his jealousy.

On the other hand, Toto felt considerably the same, he knows his wife very well, he knows how she has changed, more control, more attention, more invasion.

He was being patient but there was a whisper inside that told him something wasn't right, unusual behavior.

~~~~~~

One day they managed to escape, they took each other's lips with great passion and gave themselves to each other for a long time.

When they were both satisfied, Toto decided to break the silence of post-coital satisfaction.

"I've noticed strange behaviors," he said as he slowly caressed Christian's body.

"Me too..." Christian said.

"Do you think..." Toto whispered

"Let's hope not..." said Christian "we better not think about this now, it's been a chaotic few weeks... so far from you"

Toto smiled and nodded obediently, hugging Christian for the rest of the time they had left.

~~~~~

The day Geri realized the name and face of that person, it was not only because of the similarity of the shirts that Christian sometimes wore (now not so much due to her presence), it was also because of the perfume.

In the paddock she saw Toto Wolff passing by signing autographs, she thought about saying hello but seeing him busy made her back away.

It was there when the man had some people around him, when he smelled their scent.

Something broke inside her, she was shocked watching the man pass by and go to his motorhome.

Toto Wolff? Her husband's rival?

~~~~

Susie on the other hand was a pretty shocking revelation, she remembers when at an event, all the team representatives were there.

She was representing her own category, but she was also accompanying her husband. While Toto was talking with other colleagues, she saw Christian, he was talking with people on his team.

He saw something unusual, the shirt he was wearing was similar in color to what Toto usually wears.

That first time she thought her paranoia and anxiety were reaching a high point, from even thinking and doubting people who weren't even close to her husband. Or so she thought.

The same thing had happened to anyone who approached Toto, he doubted everyone, he even thought that his social circle was hiding things from him.

~~~~

Geri thought so too, she thought that Red Bull hid everything from her, but that wasn't the case. She began to closely monitor her husband's interactions.

Especially when Christian interacted with him, he didn't know if it was her or something else but he felt like there was a different atmosphere.

She watched everything, the touches, the looks, the smiles, it seemed like Christian's eyes were shining.

~~~~~~

It's too much To say that they felt watched, Toto felt his wife's eyes on him.

So he tried to be quite cautious with who he approached. For some reason Susie's behavior was becoming more and more invasive.

~~~~

On the other hand, Christian felt the same way, Geri had continued trying to create intimacy between them without any success. They had gotten into an argument because of that.

Her claiming what was happening to her, him simply attributing it to stress, only for her to respond that that was ridiculous.

Yes it was, Red Bull still had an advantage even though they had more competition, but there was stress, because intuition told him that something was going to happen.

~~~~~

The day Christian had suspicions was when Susie sat next to him in the Red Bull hospitality.

The woman lately was insistent on approaching and generating interaction with him, Christian could sense the hostility but tried to behave.

Then she approached him, telling him that she wanted to talk something about his category and taking advantage of the fact that he was one of the oldest Team Principals, she could help him.

He kind of took it as silly, since Toto was the second oldest TP, but Susie put it down to not raising conflict of interest stuff and stressed how much her husband cared for her.

Christian remembers gritting his teeth when he heard the woman say that, it was a time before free practice, he hadn't changed his clothes into his usual uniform, and he couldn't do much because she arrived quickly.

She began by explaining some rules, until the conversation took an unexpected turn.

"Nowadays you get along pretty well with my husband, right Christian?" She said with her chin resting on her hand.

Christian made a confused look. "Oh well, we've always gotten along well, I guess... the rivalry is something else," he responded, as he usually does in interviews with the questions they always ask him.

"So much so that he lends you his shirts?" She said, her gaze turning dark.

"Sorry?" Christian said surprised and with a hint of nervousness.

She laughed "nothing just joking... let's continue"

Christian felt strange, that behavior was strange, but he wouldn't do anything about it, not if it was just a casual comment. I just knew that I would be careful when wearing Toto's clothes.

~~~~

Susie knew what she was doing, it was a way of giving Christian signals that she knew and would make him understand that she would fight for her husband.

~~~~~

On the other hand, Geri never really sought contact with Toto. He simply watched and even though he tried to stain Christian's clothes, kiss him and leave footprints on him.

Something in her told her to stop.

It's not because he couldn't fight because he had the energy and felt strong. But he saw his children.

He reflected on his age and his life and really thought about how difficult this situation would be.

So instead of confronting her husband's lover, she preferred to confront him.

That day he decided that the children would not be home, he would wait until it was after work and then he would talk.

~~~~

When Christian arrived home that day, it was very quiet, everything seemed normal but there was a heavy atmosphere in the air, his children were not there, there was no noise.

"Geri?" He said into the air looking to the sides

"In the kitchen" he heard someone say.

"Where are the children?" He said as he approached the kitchen.

"They're with their grandparents," she said. "We need to talk."

And a shiver ran through Christian

~~~~

Geri takes a deep breath.

"We haven't been well for a long time... you know that" she said.

Christian nodded and looked down.

"I noticed your behavior, I noticed it for a long time and I thought it was due to stress" he paused and then added. "And I didn't want to believe what I was seeing... when you were wearing someone else's clothes that you long to be with."

Christian looked up and saw her, her eyes moistened.

"Geri..." Christian said trying to speak.

"Let me continue, you know I've been keeping this for a long time," she said, knowing she was beginning to cry. "I never dared touch those clothes until one day I did, I did and I smelled that person's aroma..."

Christian looked down again, his hands felt cold mixed with sweat.

"And I knew he was a man then... but I never imagined what a man he was" he said and sarcastically said "Maybe you have good taste in the masculine gender, but your preference isn't for him to be single, is it?"

Christian gulped and his eyes also moistened.

"Geri please..." he said again

"No, let me speak first" she was forceful "I tried to revive whatever was left between us, but I realized that it's not worth it. Not when I've already lost this battle, we're already old Christian, we have children and they They are my battle now."

They were both crying now, she looked at him while he just looked down being humiliated.

"I've lived long enough and experienced controversies to make a media show," she said. "I won't give you that pleasure."

There was silence again and this time Christian did dare to speak.

"Forgive me..." he said "I know that asking you that is very difficult... but I want you to know that... I regret not stopping this when I could..."

"Stop what? Our marriage or your clandestine relationship?" She asked and felt annoyed for a moment "No, it won't be easy for me to forgive you, but I'm not going to fight a losing battle Christian, although yes, you could at least for our marriage when things were moving forward for you."

She left the house after that talk, crying in her car and went to an apartment that a few months ago she had already bought and prepared for the day she had to do this.

~~~~

Christian remained static at his table, listened as the car left, and burst into tears. The storm that he didn't expect to come true was worse.

That same night he called Toto.

"She knows," Christian said, feeling like he didn't feel anything.

Toto didn't say anything, you could only hear his breathing, he was processing everything.

"I don't know if someone told him it was you or if he found out because he saw us, I don't know," he said desperately. "He just said that he suddenly knew about the shirts and knew it was you."

"Calm down" Toto said.

"How do you want me to calm down if we don't know how he found out it was you..." said Christian.

"Will she do something?" Toto said

"No...she said no" Christian mentioned

"Then we should take that..." Toto said cautiously "Do you want me to go get you? And let's go somewhere else... I can't hear you well."

"No, I'm not fine, but I don't want to, thank you," he said, sounding almost annoyed.

"Okay...you can call me whenever you want" said Toto.

Christian didn't respond and just hung up.

It was just the beginning of his problems.

~~~~~

He stayed away from Toto for weeks, when they spoke it was soft, it was just a how are you and a goodbye with a goodbye kiss.

Everything got worse at another event, Christian knew how distant he was from Toto and in a way of feeling it he put on one of his shirts, which he still had at home.

If she didn't get close to him, she at least wanted to have him symbolically.

What I didn't expect was for Susie to come over.

~~~~

She had seen it, it had been a long time since Christian had worn Toto shirts, even her husband checked himself differently, he spent a little more time at home.

She decided to walk over and check the other man's clothes.

"Hello Christian," she said with a smile full of hostility.

"Hello... Susie" he said somewhat awkwardly.

"And Geri? I thought I'd come with you?" She said

"He preferred to stay with the children," Christian mentioned cautiously.

"Oh wow and you decide today to be like a single man right?" She said trying to joke but they both felt the hostility.

"It's not like that," said Christian.

"Or maybe you have another partner... who provides you with clothes," Susie said cheekily.

"Sorry?" Toto said

"Well because you wear really nice shirts now," she said, pointing at Christian's clothes, "better than before when you wore those ugly browns."

And that "flattery" was mixed with contempt.

"Thank you" he simply said.

"Does Toto teach you how to dress?" She said

"As?" He responded feeling nervous.

"I say this because you look better now... it seems like you have influence from him" she said with a dark tone of voice. "Can he lend you his shirts?"

"What?... No..." Christian said, smiling nervously.

"You know he has changed a lot lately and I have seen that you are very close...." she said "You spend a lot of time together... do you like my husband? Does he lend you his clothes or do you try to imitate his clothes?"

"I...don't...know what you're talking about" Christian said feeling nervous.

"No, yes, you know." She said insistently, "That shirt you're wearing, Toto was looking for it a few days ago and he pretended to have lost it."

"Susie I really don't know what problems you have with Toto... but I can tell you that..." Christian was speaking when she interrupted him.

"Yes, you know what problems I have with Toto, because you are the problem," she said, annoyed, "Listen to me carefully, you are not going to take my husband away from me, because he wouldn't be with someone as hypocritical as you, so false, and my husband is blinded by who knows what have you influenced him"

She got up and walked away, not even letting Christian say anything to her.

The latter remained static in his seat, his heart was beating fast and he felt nervous.

The hurricane finally exploded, the garden was destroyed.

~~~~~

That day Toto called Christian insistently, but the calls were not answered.

Christian after that event had locked himself in his room, taking it as a refuge, he felt nervous. He felt like his world was breaking and he was afraid of Susie's actions.

Talking about this topic with Toto would, in his view, generate a worse conflict, which he did not want.

Christian sank into bed, curled up knowing the worst storm was coming.

~~~~~

Susie noticed, she saw Toto look insistently at his phone when they were talking.

She knows he called Christian but he didn't answer. Susie thought it was stupid and even thought Christian was a coward.

But for some reason, instead of feeling happy for having bullied that person, she felt strange... she didn't feel anything... especially since she was looking at Toto quite anxiously.

~~~~~

At the next grand prix, Geri decided to take the children, because they wanted to see their father.

And Susie came to say hello, they didn't really talk, she just asked him how everything was going, what was going on with Christian.

Although sometimes the questions seemed quite invasive.

~~~~

Toto, who had been trying unsuccessfully to contact Christian, had continued making calls.

One time he did respond saying that he needed more time, he didn't like this, on one of those occasions when he was writing a message to Christian, Susie spoke up.

"What are you doing?...you seem anxious" she said.

"Nothing, just checking some things" he responded.

"Checking some things or checking to see if anyone answers you?" She said.

"Checking some things," he repeated, sounding annoyed.

"Oh... I know, maybe Christian Horner doesn't answer you?" She said and smiled contemptuously at Toto's expression.

"No... I'm not talking to him," he said cautiously.

"Of course because he doesn't answer you"

"What do you have Susie?"

"Me?.. nothing... I'm just here looking at you desperate for him to answer you" she said crossing her arms. "It seems like he's a coward."

"What are you implying?" Toto changed his tone of voice.

"He hinted at the truth, he is a pathetic coward who only hides when he is discovered" she said.

"Susie..." Toto said.

"What? You thought I wouldn't notice... when the guy was walking around in your shirts?" She said looking at him with contempt.

Toto opened his eyes in surprise.

She started clapping "Bravo! Bravo!" She said sarcastically "you have involved with the most pathetic person in the paddock, congratulations Toto Wolff"

"Susie..." he said warningly, "what did you do?"

She laughed "nothing just in front, I told him what he deserves, which is a small thing..."

Toto looked at her and remained silent.

"You didn't do that," he said, thinking about how badly Christian could be suffering.

"Yes I did and that's why the coward doesn't answer you" she said sounding proud.

Toto didn't like it

"Don't tell him like that..." he said

"What?... I'll call that little shit whatever I want" she responded defensively.

"Shut up!" he raised his voice and she crossed her arms.challenging him "I don't recognize you..."

"Thank you and your new love..." she said with that last part, his voice breaking.

Toto takes a deep breath "Susie... can we..."

"We can't do anything!, or talk, or anything Toto... but just know that I will make his life impossible" she said.

"No... Susie that..." he tried to calm her down.

"Yes,he deserves it and so do you, I won't let you live in peace even as long as you live off this damn sport!" She said and left.

He didn't follow her, he just let her go.

~~~~

She was serious, she annoyed them... Christian sometimes watched as she hung out near Toto because she knew he was watching.

It was no longer a fight to get her husband back, it was a fight to annoy them... blinded by hate, by pain.

She once kissed Toto for a Mercedes victory, Christian passed by shortly after, he had seen them. When Toto pulled away from her awkwardly, he noticed and looked at her with annoyance. She do not cares.

~~~~~~

One day Toto came to look for Christian at his motorhome, he knocked on the door insistently.

"Christian... my love..." he said whispering "open please."

The other was inside, he was just listening, he didn't want to open... but Toto was insistent.

"What do you want?" Said

"Honey, we haven't talked..." said Toto

"We have nothing to talk about..." said Christian "Why don't you go with your wife?"

"Christian that... no" said Toto "I know she told you things"

"She told me?... she sends me messages all the time, photos of you with your son..." said Christian "making me show how guilty I am, but she leaves out that you are as guilty as I am"

"Christian..." I take his hand and try to pull him.

"Let go of me, you're also a damn culprit and you seem to be doing so well, she knows it and yet you don't do anything..." he says in protest

"Yes, I do know that I am guilty, if I have done things Christian, do you know how to be careful so that I can come see you and that she doesn't find out?" He responded "but please... let's not stand out..."

"I need time..." Christian said.

"I think I've given you enough time, trying to even keep an eye on you and what about me? I want to be with you and support each other" he responded with annoyance.

"Well I need more! And I'm not like you who can probably process this better than me" He insisted

"Okay..." Toto said and left.

~~~~~

That was their last argument, a couple of months passed and Toto no longer looked for him, it's not that he didn't want to, rather he took charge of fixing everything, he officially moved into his apartment again, now all his things were there, and from time to time from time to time his children's visits arrived according to the agreement he had with Susie.

Meanwhile, Christian, who lived alone in a large house, occasionally had his children, had agreed with Geri not to mention anything, to do everything in a friendly way.

~~~~

On the other hand, one day Susie found Geri in the paddock and then decided to talk.

"Are you coming to accompany Christian?" Said

"The children wanted to see him," she replied.

And Susie just for a moment misjudged Geri thinking the woman was naive.

"Do you know what your husband has been doing?" Susie said.

For her this was another blow that was needed.

"What does he do with your husband?" Geri answered and Susie froze "yes I know.."

"And...then you..." Susie said.

"Susie... I'm already an older woman, I was in a group of singers where before all eyes were on me and my companions, I know what a controversy it is... I'm too old for that" said Geri.

"But...what about what they did to you? What they did to us? Don't you want it back?" The other woman said surprised.

"Get back what? susie? Something we lost a long time ago?" Geri said seriously, "I passed honestly. I lost that battle and I didn't realize it."

And after a while... Susie cried the tears fell slowly

"But..." she said, "I don't know what made them connect..."

"Susie, there are things that we have no explanation for... it could be that they have connected with things that were not like that with us..." said Geri, taking Susie's hands "It's not that you forgive him... it's that you letting him go and love yourself"

"Why him, Geri?... haven't you asked yourself why?" Susie said.

Geri was crying now too.

"Believe me, yes," she said, "but maybe it was destiny, I don't know."

They continued talking, Susie continued wondering why Toto connected in that way with his biggest rival... but she knew it was an impossible question.

But somehow that conversation helped Susie to vent and, above all, learn to let go.

~~~~

It seemed that after a natural disaster, everything was settling in the garden.

Christian had finally started to regret his words. And I'm looking for Toto.

When Toto opened the door he was surprised.

"Hello..." Christian said "can I come in?"

Toto stepped aside, I let him in "you didn't warn"

"I didn't think you would answer me...." he said he remained silent and after a sigh "We can't continue like this, I know it's been difficult, we have temporarily hated each other, but we just can't"

"Christian," Toto said softly.

"Just tell me that... let's try, that so much pain caused will not be in vain... please" he said through tears.

"Oh darling... of course it won't be in vain" said Toto hugging him "I'm sorry for treating you badly in these months"

"No... you excuse me" Christian whispered.

Then Toto took Christian's face and allowed himself to do something that months ago, due to all this conflict, fear and fighting, he had refrained from doing, kissing Christian's lips again.

Before long, they were curled up in each other's arms and didn't need anything else.

"So you're alone at home" said Toto

"Yes... empty feels too big for one person." Christian said.

"We should do something?" Toto suggested "Do you want me to come stay with you for a few days?"

"I would love to," Christian smiled, "although I don't know if it will feel uncomfortable... well, I have my own room, I don't use the main one."

"I won't feel awkward if I can see you happy" he said and they kissed again.

So the garden was starting to bloom after the hurricane.

~~~~~

Well, a new chapter, sorry if there are mistakes there, there are a lot of words and I really get lost in some things, I will try to fix some spelling errors👀

[s10127470]

The Best Thing About The Garfield Movie

So yeah, i just watched The Garfield Movie this past Friday night.

And all in honesty (and you're all probably gonna hate me for this).....I actually really like this film.

The story is solid (but I'll touch on that a little more when I get there).

The animation is really great. I'm always down for CGI animation actually being allowed to feel animated and this is the best the Garfield characters have looked in 3D.

It's basically night and day when you compare it to The Garfield Show and that CGI trilogy from the late 2000s.

Most of the characters are pretty solid and likeable.

My favorites were definitely Odie and Otto.

And the voice acting was actually really good all around.

Yes....even Chris Pratt as Garfield himself.

The movie's not perfect though.

A little bit of the humor can fall flat at times.

The villain is kind of weak despite being a classic, over-the-top villain.

Which is weird given the director's track record when it comes to villains.

And while Jon was fun to watch, he sadly wasn't around for much of the movie.

But all-in-all, I think this movie is a really good time and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who's a fan of Garfield.

However, if you've seen any of the reception towards the movie (largely from the critics), it hasn't been talked about in a very positive light.

With the biggest criticism being that the movie doesn't feel like Garfield.

Which to that I have to say....

BALDERDASH!

And I feel like the critics saying this are only familiar with the comics strips and not really anything else with the orange cat.

While yes, the movie doesn't quite feel like the comic strips, it does harken more to the adaptations, specifically the ones from his golden age during the 1980s.

The major criticism towards this movie is that it doesn't feel like Garfield, especially with the whole heist plot.

And while that may be the case when using the comics as a basis, but when looking at the adaptations, this actually isn't all that far off from what Garfield usually gets up to.

He's hanged with a tribe of tropical island natives inspired by 50s American culture while having to stop an erupting volcano.

He's had to escape a crew of ghostly pirates on Halloween night.

He's gone to Hollywood.

Yeah, Garfield has been going on exciting and wild adventures for a LONG time.

Hell, look at The Garfield Show.

The fourth season had several story arcs!

These included the likes of Garfield going to a school for witches, having to stop an army of alien robots from invading Earth, and going on an African safari and trying to save a pair of rare white lions from scheming poachers.

Also, that last arc I just mentioned was responsible for introducing us to the man....the myth....the legend himself....

This criticism has also been leveled towards the character of Garfield himself.

And I honestly feel like a lot of critics don't quite get the character of Garfield.

While yes, he's lazy, cynical, sarcastic, gluttonous and mocks just about everyone around him.

But that's not all his character is.

I can't believe I'm actually using him, but The Nostalgia Critic during his review of Garfield & Friends gave what honestly may be the best description of Garfield as a character.

That being while Garfield may enjoy being a lazy pessimistic, that's not what he's really like.

Although he's described as being lazy, Garfield is shown to be surprisingly more playful and energetic than you would think.

And on top of that, he'll usually go out of way to do stuff like creating huge ass sandwiches to eat for himself or think of unique and creative ways to mess with Odie, Jon and Nermal.

And despite the fact that he mocks damn near everyone around him (especially those close to him), he'll actually go out of his way to save them if they're in danger.

Basically, the best way to describe Garfield is that he's a character who ironically works hard to be lazy.

He won't exercise, but he'll dance and play.

He may be lazy, but he'll actually go the extra mile for something he wants.

He mocks people, but knows if they weren't there, life would be pretty boring for him.

And this part allows me to segway into what I think is the best part of The Garfield Movie: it's heart.

Yeah, The Garfield Movie has legitimately heartfelt moments where the characters get to reflect on their emotions towards those close to them.

Like Otto and his unwavering love for his Ethel and more specifically, Garfield and his estranged relationship with his father Vic.

Yes, I am a sucker for stuff like these.

Probably because I just appreciate just how sincere they come off as, and I appreciate them more because they're usually not ruined for a sake of mediocre joke.

But anyway, these moments really do favors the characters, especially Garfield himself.

One thing I really appreciate about his adaptations is how they make Garfield a little more multifaceted.

While he does still have his trademark traits and quirks, he's allowed to show other emotions as well.

He can be happy, sad, excitable, afraid, downtrodden, caring, angry.

Garfield is able to show that he isn't just lazy and cynical.

And although it was only shown in the beginning montage, I do appreciate that movie does show that Garfield does legitimately care for Jon and Odie, which is something that you rarely see in the comics and even a good chunk of the adaptations.

Once again, it kinda harkens back to the 80s adaptations, specifically the series of specials made between 1982 and 1991.

I guess to give you guys some examples.

In Garfield in the Rough, when the trio find themselves attacked by the panther that escaped from the local zoo, Garfield took shelter up in a tree while Odie and Jon were forced to take cover in the car. But that only got them so far as the panther was able to break the driver-side window. And when Garfield noticed this, he literally jumps from the tree, onto the panther's back, and proceeds to claw and scratch the big cat in a rage!

Yeah, Garfield literally fought a feral big cat for the safety of his owner and dog!

That takes fucking courage man!

Or how about in Here Comes Garfield, where Odie gets sent to the pound. And while Garfield was happy about that, he realized just how empty and boring life would be with Odie. And so, he decides to go rescue him, especially more so after finding out Odie was scheduled to get FUCKING EUTHANIZED!

Oh yeah! There was a Garfield adaptation where Odie almost got put down!

You realize how insane that sounds, right?

And despite his best attempts, Garfield ends up getting locked up with Odie.

And in the approaching hours to his demise, Garfield reminisces on the good times he's had with Odie (accompanied by an admittedly sad song).

And when it's finally time and Odie gets dragged off to meet his maker, Garfield actually starts shedding tears.

And finally there's Garfield On the Town, where Garfield gets lost in the big city. And during his journey, he stumbled upon his childhood home (an Italian restaurant that's now abandoned) and more importantly, was reunited with his estranged mother, who he hadn't seen since he was a kitten.

And during this special, we see a much more caring and gentler side of Garfield.

So yeah, that's all I have to see for all this.

Think I The Garfield Movie is pretty solid film overall and I can definitely tell that the people behind it really cared about Garfield and truly understood what makes him such a lovable character.

Unfortunately, I believe this film does have the issue of being obviously more geared towards the fans.

Which is not a bad thing.

But if the reception towards The Super Mario Bros. Movie taught anything, not everybody's gonna appreciate that.

But in all-in-all, I'm kinda glad this movie exists and I wouldn't mind rewatching every once in a while.

And I'm more glad that Mark Dindal has finally returned to directing animated films after not doing so in almost 20 years.

And while it may not be a good as Cats Don't Dance and especially the godsend that is The Emperor's New Groove, for a grand return to animated directing, this ain't half bad.

And even if you don't like this film, I think we can all agree on that it's leagues better than the last film Dindal was unfortunate enough to direct.

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: A sexy enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/grumpy romance from Amazon top 50 bestselling author Ava Hunter Ash Keller prefers to keep her heart colder than the morgue. Having sworn off love after a disastrous breakup, she’s learned to thrive in her new career as a death doula. When her millionaire client, Augustus Fox, asks her to accompany him on an all-expenses paid trip to mend family ties and fulfill last wishes, she agrees. There’s just one nail in her coffin. Nathaniel Whitford—her client’s absurdly gorgeous, grumpy doctor of a grandson—is along for the trip. A man who has hated her guts since she crashed his wedding years ago. It’ll be a miracle if she survives this vacation without being tossed into a volcano. Still, Ash refuses to let Nathaniel’s smug smirk and rippling pectorals take her focus away from her death doula-ing duties. She can survive two weeks in paradise with his offensively handsome face. But when falling coconuts and family drama threaten to derail the vacation, Ash and Nathaniel strike a deal: Bury their animosity and make the vacation perfect for Augustus. Soon, a tentative bond—and mutual attraction—forms between the unlikely pair. With every tropical misadventure and steamy late-night hookup, Ash realizes there’s more to Nathaniel than his barbed banter and uptight façade. Suddenly love seems more complicated than death. And as the trip comes to an end, Ash must decide whether she’ll keep her heart six feet under or risk it all…for better or hearse.

Review:

She's the vicious goth woman who destroyed his wedding all those years ago and is now working as his grandfather's death doula... and he's the grumpy doctor turned oil rig guy trapped with her for two weeks on his grandfather's wish for a family vacation... can they find a way to be near each other without ripping each other apart (or their clothes apart)? Ash Keller is a combat boot wearing, gothic outfits wearing, tattooed woman who used to make a job out of objecting at people's weddings (after finding her own fiancee in bed with another woman) but after breaking up Nathaniel Whitford's wedding, she leaves the job to become a death doula. Now years later she's happy as a death doula to her client Augustus Fox, a charming old man. When Augustus has her come with him to host a family vacation to get his family to spend some time with him before he passes the last person she expects to meet is the very same man who's wedding she destroyed. Nathanial Whitford is Agustus's grandson and a grumpy doctor who has hated Ash ever since she wrecked his wedding (despite him not cheating and her claiming he did). Now they're both trapped together on Augustus's trip and have to confront each other (and the crazy attraction that is growing between them). The ore Ash begins to learn about Nathaniel the more she is beginning to realize that she might have messed up and never really knew him at all... and that resisting the hot doctor will be harder than she could ever imagine. Nathaniel knows that he shouldn't be attracted to the slightly feral tattooed woman who works for his grandpa but he can't help but be charmed by their banter and look forward to seeing her... but an he convince her that he's in it for the long run and that he's willing to risk it all for her? This was an absolutely charming romance read and I adored it so much. I love Ash and Nathaniel's chemistry and they were adorable as a couple. I rarely get to see grumpy x grumpy couples and I absolutely loved them in this one. They were both so supportive and sweet, but had amazing banter too. This book just felt so warm and sweet and one I would absolutely recommend!!!

Release Date: October 3,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Valentine PR for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[jakesuit0]

Morituri Te Salutamus Review

“Morituri Te Salutamus” is one of two episode titles with non-English speaking words in it, and the only episode title with no English words in it. The Latin terminology translates to “We who are about to die, salute you”. Adventure Time season 3 episode 2: We Who Are About to Die, Salute You. That’d be quite the mouthful. The Latin translation fits the Roman theming in this one much better. There’s lots of bits of Latin throughout the episode, such as “eludere” (evasion) and “non pugnant, Flamma” (be not repugnant to him). I like when Adventure Time incorporates different cultures, such as Korean, to expand the world. I don’t think any episode commits to playing with a particular culture as much as this one.

Finn and Jake enter a Roman colosseum. It's up for debate if the arena is a few hundred years old and was merely inspired by ancient Rome, or if this is literally remnants of a colosseum from 3,000ish years ago. The gladiator ghosts are gay, and there is evidence suggesting homosexuality was more socially accepted in ancient Rome. Their names are even taken from Roman warriors from history and fiction. The magical element to the arena was definitely added post-Mushroom War, and the implication at the end is the ghosts had a similar story to Finn and Jake, meaning they weren’t humans from Rome (plus one of them has two heads).

I like how Finn and Jake are smart enough to immediately realize the place is a trap, but are confident enough to still take it on. They’ve clearly earned that confidence (with a strong helping of plot armor) as they succeed where all the gladiator ghosts failed. I like the Fight King, he has a cool design that adds to the episode’s atmosphere. He’s missing an arm, of course his right one. We can piece together the backstory of this place, but Fight King’s role and purpose remains pretty mysterious. It’s the second episode in a row with a king character, and it’s pretty consistent that rulers in Ooo are titled princess or king, rather than prince.

Finn and Jake fight the first pair of gladiator ghosts. The fights throughout this one are pretty fun and dynamic. Finn is strangely not using the Root Sword, but the Steel Sword for the first time. It’s a cool design, even with it weirdly resembling the Night Sword. I love the easy to miss detail that the injuries on each ghost matches the weapon used by the other. One of them refers to the other as their love. The crew were able to sneak in same-sex romance under Cartoon Network’s radar (confirmed canon by Andy Ristanio) and I don’t think it's a coincidence that Rebecca Sugar co-boarded this episode. Along with the Roman theming, my favorite part of the episode is all the hints given to the gladiators’ backstory (like them constantly apologizing to each other and begging for forgiveness). There’s enough pieces to figure out the history, the episode doesn’t need to make it explicit.

Finn and Jake have been quibbling over Jake’s non commitment to following through with Finn’s plans. Jake just wants to have fun, he doesn’t take the adventures as seriously as Finn. Jake lets Finn do all the work, so he can stay underground singing songs and execute his nonsensical plan of forming a molten hula hoop for morale. I like how passive their conflict is, they never actually get mad at each other, even with Finn’s deceit later on. Jake sings “On a Tropical Island”, another highlight of the episode. It’s hard to truly enjoy the song in the episode itself, as it's broken into four different scenes. But, it's great listening to the entire thing outside the context of the episode. It still stands as the best Jake song of the series. This is the song that people should be asking John DiMaggio to sing at every panel, not “Bacon Pancakes” every fucking time.

Finn is seemingly mind controlled by Fight King. Fight King has Finn fight Jake to the death, like he forced onto the gladiator couples. Add Finn stabbing the dummy Jake and trying to kill the real Jake onto the pile of Jake death foreshadowing. Jake’s confused reaction to his brother trying to kill him, in contrast to how easy going Finn was in his conflict with Jake, is heartbreaking. Finn tricks Fight King into giving him his sword, which seems to contain his soul. The sword’s rune reads “to fight is to live”, and apparently Fight King literally can’t live without it. Finn smashes it, killing Fight King and his power over the arena. Finn was faking being mind controlled. We saw Fight King’s sword magically alter Finn, so he must have just had the willpower to resist it. We’ll see another type of magic overcome Finn for real and cause him to act in a similar manner in Elements. The Gladiator Ghosts are a really tragic element of the story, so it’s nice to see them freed at the end, presumably going to a dead world. Missed opportunity to not have them cameo in “Together Again”. 

This one’s story isn’t anything special, but the Roman theming, backstory, and song elevates it up from just a solid entry to a really good one.

Grade: A-

[knickynoo]

Back to the Future: The Animated Series, s01ep06 "Go Fly a Kite" Review and Commentary

Link to previous episodes HERE

You know, I'm really having a blast writing up these posts. A big thank you to those of you who are reading these. Glad you're enjoying them.

In this episode: Electricity ceases to exist because Verne thinks he's adopted. Also, Marty is the Smart One for 2 and a half seconds.

We get a fun little surprise in this episode, which starts with a clip from the first BTTF film! It's a quick one, but we get to see the lightning striking the clock tower and Marty traveling back to 1985. Prior to this, we haven't gotten any footage from the movies woven into the episodes, so that's neat. Of course, its inclusion is due to electricity playing a big role in today's episode.

After the clip, we go to Real Doc in his lab, who continues to barely blink during these segments. If you've been keeping up with these posts, you're aware of my concern for Animated Series Real Doc. He's like Movie Doc but turned up 5 or 6 extra notches. There is a frantic, crazed air about him that isn't present in Movie Doc. A tangible sense of "some sort of fuse has blown in this man's brain" that I can't quite put my finger on, but it is there. Animated Series Real Doc is bananas.

I think—I think that Doc needs to go on a vacation. A nice, calm, relaxing vacation to a tropical island where he can sit on the beach and listen to seagulls and waves crashing. He needs to de-stress.

Real Doc tells us about Benjamin Franklin inventing the lightning rod, and how he was actually present on the night Franklin did his kite experiment. This brings us into the cartoon portion of the episode.

Jules and Verne are playing some sort of high-tech board game, complete with little holograph versions of themselves traveling around the board. Jules wins, and we see a tally chart indicating he's won the game 35 times, while Verne has won only once. When Verne asks how Jules always manages to win, Jules replies, "Face it, Verne, you lack the basic intellectual skills one would naturally expect in a member of the Brown lineage." He goes on to say that Verne isn't good at science and that he doesn't resemble their mother or father. While he's piling on all these insults, Verne is hitting a punching bag that has a picture of Jules drawn on it.

Jules says the logical conclusion is that Verne is adopted. Clara calls the boys to come eat then, to which Jules turns to his brother and says, "Ah, that would be my biological mother. Would you care to join my family for dinner?" He is being terrible. Poor Vernie.

Jules goes on to point out that there's a mysterious lack of baby pictures of Verne. "For all we know, you might even be a Tannen," he says, which makes Verne storm out of the treehouse in his little motorized car.

Meanwhile, Doc is in his lab putting the finishing touches on a new invention. It's a contraption that's powered by a mini flux capacitor and allows him to take a photograph of any person throughout history just by inputting a few pieces of information. ??? I don't. I don't really understand how this would work or what the point is, but ok, Doc. Also, Einstein is wearing those gloves that give him human hands again.

I find this to be unsettling and unnecessary.

Doc is just about to test the device (having decided to take a picture of Benjamin Franklin) when Verne comes flying into the room, demanding to know if he's a Tannen or not. When he mentions not having any baby pictures, Doc then goes to type Verne's name and birthdate onto the screen but is interrupted by an alarm that signals it's time for dinner. (I like the idea of Clara activating a big blinking light and a siren to signal Doc to COME EAT. That sounds like something that would happen.)

Left alone in the lab, Verne sits on the device's keypad and activates it. Because Doc had previously typed in "Ben Franklin" and then followed it with Verne's name, the device combines the two pieces of information and prints out a photo of the two of them. The result is a picture of Benjamin Franklin holding Verne as a baby. Naturally, Verne assumes this means that Ben Franklin is his real father.

We briefly visit the Brown kitchen then, where Clara is serving dinner. She stops Doc before he can reach for the food, and is like, "Aren't we forgetting something?" (she wants him to wash his hands) and I must include Doc's full response because it is. Something.

"Yes, yes. I should launder the epidermal surface of my upper forelimbs' terminal components, utilizing a perfumed block of rendered animal fat." That is TWENTY-TWO words just to say, "Right, I should wash my hands." Doc is so extra.

Verne steals the DeLorean and travels to 1752 to meet his "real dad", and he manages to interrupt Ben Franklin's kite experiment. This then causes all lights and forms of electricity to go out in the present day since Franklin never made his discovery. Marty soon arrives at the Brown residence, having concluded that every single light going out in town must be Doc's fault somehow. Very good conclusion, Marty.

The family gets a video message from Verne—Doc has begun to convert some of the house to run on steam, which is how the video goes through—where he says goodbye to them and that he's off to be with his real father. Jules admits that he's to blame for putting the idea in Verne's head, and we learn Jules's full name as Clara angrily says it: Jules Eratosthenes Brown.

Doc laments that now Verne is lost in time with no way for them to know where he went, but Marty knows just what to do! He rewinds the video, enlarges the image, and zooms in to see the date and location programmed onto the time circuits. "Marty, you're a genius!" Doc exclaims, then grabbing Marty in a too-tight hug. (I am glad Marty's getting a moment to show his intelligence here because 1. he deserves some recognition and 2. he's been an utter bonehead thus far in this cartoon)

Marty, desperately attempting to escape Doc's affection.

Marty, Doc, and Einie take off for 1752, where they proceed to chase Verne all around. Eventually, Verne comes across a large building that has a clock tower, and he decides climbing up to the top will be a good place to hide from his "fake dad" (aka Doc).

Upon reaching the top, Verne accidentally knocks over some building materials on the roof, sending lots of bricks and pieces of metal crashing to the ground. When Doc sees the crash and resulting pile of rubble, he fears that Verne has also fallen and is buried beneath it. He starts shouting for people nearby to help, but they don't seem particularly eager.

"Don't you get it?! This is my little boy I'm talking about!" Doc says to them. "My son! My own flesh and blood! He might be hurt!"

It's all very sweet, and the words of love even reach their way all the way up to Vernie, who is listening from a ladder.

Listen. I have such a soft spot for Verne Brown. This cartoon overall is bonkers, but I really like his character a lot. He is so wildly different from the rest of the Brown family, but he and Doc have such a special bond that adds to this show. I love this scene and how he's instantly moved to tears at hearing how distraught Doc is.

Verne decides that anyone who loves him that much must be his real father, and he calls to Doc from the top of the clock tower. Unfortunately, he slips and ends up hanging off the building. Hmm...what other Brown has done this before?

Doc scrambles to the roof and takes Verne by the hand, but then Doc slips and they're both dangling from the clock. Marty and Einie arrive, and they come up with a plan to rescue Doc and Verne. I should clarify, actually, that it's Einstein who comes up with the plan. He barks, and Marty goes, "Great idea!" and runs to follow him. They fly the time train by just as Doc and Verne fall, catching them safely inside.

With that crisis averted, they now have to deal with the other one: Ben Franklin's lightning experiment being interrupted. Seeing as the sky is clear, they must "create" a storm of their own, which Doc does by creating a lot of smoke via the train, having Verne spray a hose out the window, simulating thunder by banging on a pot, and creating lighting with some sort of device that generates large amounts of static electricity. It makes Marty's hair look very silly.

He has to crank the machine while holding onto Doc, who is dangling out of the train (Doc has to aim where the bolt of lightning will go). That's right. Marty is supporting all of Doc's weight just by holding him with one hand. More evidence for my "Marty has superhuman strength" theory.

The plan is executed successfully, and we return to 1991, where all the lights turn back on. Unfortunately, Clara had to break apart and burn every chair in order to run the stove while the guys were gone, so they're all reduced to sitting around and eating on the floor.

We end the cartoon with this sweet family togetherness moment, and then we get back to Real Doc. *throws confetti*

The live-action segment begins with a lab full of Hawaiian shirts hanging on a clothesline because Doc evidently decided to do some laundry while the cartoon was happening, and he lost track of time. After getting himself back on track, he uses some socks to demonstrate static electricity. He's still not blinking.

After Bill Nye shows us a do-at-home experiment using socks and balloons, we return to Doc, who gives us perhaps the best example of static electricity because his hair looks like THIS

He goes on to tell us that he has to look his best for tonight because he's meeting Clara for dinner. Which is adorable. I love that they have special little date nights together. I wonder if Marty babysits Jules and Verne while Doc and Clara go out. I hope Doc didn't look in a mirror and met up with Clara at a nice restaurant looking like that.

Overall, I enjoyed this episode. It's definitely the most heartfelt one so far in the series, and I like that it really shows us a glimpse of what a loving, dedicated father Doc is. I do, however, feel like it's also the least funny episode so far—which makes sense given the plot, of course. But it didn't leave a lot of room for me to make funny commentary. :(

Join me next time as I skip episode 7 entirely and jump to 8 instead because episode 7 is so weird and bad that I don't want to put myself through having to write a post about it.

[kpoppharmacy]

~Album Review~

aespa - Armageddon - The 1st Album

10 songs, 30 minutes 57 seconds

Supernova

Armageddon

Set The Tone

Mine

Licorice

BAHAMA

Long Chat (#<3)

Prologue

Live My Life

Melody

Thoughts:

This is aespa's first FULL album, only mini albums prior. And, this is the first aespa album I am reviewing on my blog. I really am a big fan of aespa. I have never been a giant stan for this group, but I have been following them since pre-debut, and I love all of their title tracks. I am always tuning in and paying attention to aespa. Now, after this amazing release, I may stan this group. They are absolutely cemented as one of my favorite girl groups.

The opening tracks are their two title tracks. Supernova is an amazing opening track. It is quirky, poppy, hip-hoppy, and just overall a lot of fun. I love seeing them experimenting with song structure again, like with the dance break portion. The girls sound amazing, the vocals are A1 throughout the entire album. The Ah Oh Ay in the chorus is SO addicting. And, trust me, I heard that INCOMING! in the beginning, Dem Jointz... Overall, perfect aespa song. Oh wait, actually, Armageddon is the perfect aespa song. The genre of aespa I like more than fun and campy aespa, is dramatic and intense aespa. I love when they really bring out the futuristic, cyberpunk, apocalyptic vibe. Supernova felt maybe more alien inspired. This song is all apocalyptic intensity. It is also very mesmerizing, the Oh wayo wayo just brings me in. I can get lost in this song as easily my heart races to it. I do appreciate that they brought in some more gritty rap/hip-hop portions too. There are some differing opinions on the dance break, but I love it. These two tracks are, need I say it again, PERFECT.

Then, the next two tracks keep the energy up. Set the Tone is an edgy hip-hop track, with a bit of a pop vibe. It is a great song to follow up Armageddon, but they don't spoil their best b-sides quite yet at this point. Mine follow STT is great. Brings you right back to the gritty vibe. This song is cocky, and a bit sexy. It is also lowkey, not in your face, but confident nonetheless. They feature some amazing vocals here as well. I'm getting a 2000s edgy pop vibe from this song, like Rihanna could have released it. This is definitely a high point of the album.

Then the next 3 songs take us to a different vibe, but they continue driving the album forward and keeping the listeners interest. Licorice is where the vibe changes to something more bright. It is also an experimental song. It is a rock-rap song? There's a heavy guitar pushing the song forward the entire time. The lyrics and vocals make this song feel kind of cute too. Overall, this song is very enjoyable to me, and brings a lot of diversity to the album. Then, BAHAMA brings the summer vibe. I guess the album was released during the summer, after all. I still can't shake the feeling that this song is misplaced on this album. It is a great song, but this song has had an edgy, experimental vibe thus far. Genres featured have been hip-hop, rap, pop, and rock. But, then BAHAMA is a tropical beat song. It also begs the question, when would aespa be able to release this b-side? So, I guess it could slide. The girls like this song, so I just keep that in mind. Long Chat is a personal favorite. I am not too sure why, if it is because of the track video posted, or if the song is genuinely good. The bass and lyrics on this song are so quirky, and the song switches up from an almost R&B vibe right back into the quirkiness. Very experimental overall. I love that the song is just about friend's talking all night. Makes me want to send the girls memes and Facetime all night.

Then, the last three songs really bring the vibe down a few notches. Prologue is a pop song, with a sad vibe to it. In the chorus, the girls admit they are weirdos and they don't know what to do with their lives. I like the realness of this song. The message can be relatable. I do like this song, I think it adds to the album, truly. However, it just starts the part of the album that brings the vibe down for me.

LML sounds like a Disney song to me. It is a pop rock song. I could see aespa on Camp Rock playing this song, bending their knees during the chorus, and catching the eye of their love interest in the audience. However, the vocals really save this song for me. I think it sounds good, too. Just, after the intensity I experienced in this album, this song does not compare and can seem a bit weak in comparison. I do imagine this song would go hard live though. Then, the final song, Melody. Of course, it is a ballad. This is SM entertainment after all. The ballad is almost required at times. This is NOT the worst ballad I've heard in my life, however. It is actually quite nice. When I let the album play through, I do not skip this song. It is really pretty. The drums and strings are nice. I just really wish the album didn't end with this song. I wanted the album to leave me breathless. I wanted the final song to leave me wanting more, and also not knowing how to process.

Overall, this album is AMAZING. Definitely the best album I've heard this year. 0 skips. I would only change a few things. If it were my choice, I would take out the ballad and rearrange the songs where the album ended with Mine. I just really wished the ending was as intense as the beginning, and the re-listen experience was better. One of my favorite kpop albums ever, The Dream Chapter: Eternity, ends on a song that just leaves you breathless and unable to process. Makes me want to listen to the album over and over again, just to get to the end every time. I know it's about the journey, not the destination, but sometimes... it is about the destination. I am just being nitpicky though. This album is gold.

Rating: 9.5/10

[bristolianbackpacker]

Day 27 - Puerto Maldonado and Lake Sandoval

This hotel has been such a lifesaver for us! Jack is still in the depths of the symptoms when we wake up. We grab some brekkie and I pack up our stuff as we need to move to our next hotel today.

I get picked up at 12:45pm for the trip to the lake. It’s a 10min taxi, 40min boat ride, 1 hour hike to the lake. Marco is my guide again which is a relief. He greets me with his usual directness “Benjamin, vamos!!”. Nice to see you too Marco, yes I’m feeling better thanks for asking 😂

Along the hike Marco explains a bit about this area. About 80 years ago a family moved in around the lake. They were involved in timber trade and cleared the area of a lot of its most valuable trees. They also participated in collecting tropical fruits to sell, fishing and farming. This has left the area looking quite different to Chuncho - much less primary forest here due to the clearing. The secondary forest that remains can eventually return to primary forest now that it is protected but it will take a longgg time naturally. The only big trees that remain are figs as nobody wanted their softwood. It was only made a national reserve about 20 years ago and the family have been allowed to remain. They now all work in the tourism industry (the five children of the original parents that moved in each have their own lodge on the lake). It feels a bit like this family have managed to monopolise the lake.

Before we even get out of the creek in the canoe Marco spots a caiman. This one is a black caiman which grows much bigger than the white caiman we spotted the other day at Chunchos. It’s only a juvenile though so 60-70cm long. It takes me so long to even spot him despite Marcos detailed instructions on how to find him. They camouflage so well and don’t move a muscle.

The lake is huge and so beautiful. The main aim is to spot one of the giant river otters that live here but there are only 6 (one family) so it’s difficult.

We spot a bunch of different birds - the Squirrel Cuckoo, two Stinky Birds, a Snake Birds (with its wings open to dry out after fishing), a Ringed Kingfisher and an eagle that nearly caught another bird.

Marco spots a huge 4m caiman through his binoculars. He theorises that it might be hunting the baby otters. Interestingly, the otters are the apex predators on the lake and will kill the caimans so it tries to kill off the babies whilst it still can before it becomes the prey. Unfortunately no luck spotting the otters, but I spend quite a while just watching it through the binoculars - it moves so fast but stealthily.

Aguaje palm trees surround the lake, there are home to macaws so later on before we leave we see them all returning from their days activities to nest for the night.

Time to paddle back, it’s starting to get dark so we briskly walk back through the jungle to get to the boat.

Whilst I’ve been away Jack has moved our stuff to the next hotel so I meet him there. It’s another fancy place compared to where we’ve been - hopefully we will be feeling well enough to actually enjoy it. We have dinner at the hotel as it’s a little outside of town and we need something convenient. It’s a three course set menu that is vegetarian only but it gets good reviews so we go for it. The food is nice but again it’s all so salty.

[monkey-network]

Good Stuff: FLCL Grunge

or How Not to Grasp Why "Bottled Lightning" Exists

I'll preface this by saying that these recent "seasons" of Fooly Cooly have not ruined the original. That's like if you got a bottomless bag of tropical Skittles, every other minute you get a black Twizzler or flavorless candy corn piece thrown in that you aren't forced to eat but constantly get weirded out that they were in there in the first place. What is bad is that we're up to three sequels of FLCL & none of them even range to being on par with the original in terms of engaging memorability. I'm not the type to rag about X or Y being forgotten online days after it was just released, but it stings seeing a beloved anime have sequel series that everyone wants to forget because nobody asked for them. This isn't like Trigun Stampede where it got to have a newfound fanbase in spite of the backlash of diehards, we're on the 4th story and you might as well imagine the tumbleweeds. It doesn't help that the expectations didn't come with presentable execution... because Grunge was bad.

I'm honestly just waiting for Uzumaki at this point

It's ironic that while my reviews are about animated media, I don't really discuss the animation given my minimal expertise; I'm more of an emotional critic than a technical one. FLCL Grunge is the exception because it feels like a mess. It's like an enhanced PS1 game that looks graphically better than Berserk 2016 but has that same quality of stiff, choppy action and inconsistent blending of 2D imagery. You just wonder why this couldn't just be 2D? You would believe the CG studio responsible had this as their first-ever credit, but it's not as Montblanc's actual first feature had somehow better animation than this, and that was back in 2012. So either it was rushed or Production IG had no clue what they were going for. Worst aspect just has to be the rock humans because they can be so awkward to see and oh yeah, close but different topic.

Why are there Thing people?

Fooly Cooly I don't think anybody was ever in it for the lore. It was a miniseries where the pieces you could put together offered some sense while having open-ended questions. Even though the OG was far more grounded despite itself, I'm not against having aliens in these sequels because I'm all for things getting weird to spice up the purposeful mundanity. My only issue is the rock people are all we really have in this story when there could exist other species. It's a symptom of a larger problem these sequels have where things exist with none of the deserved flesh. Most enjoyed the OG more for the personal journey, not really piecing everything involving Medical Mechanica. With this, it just feels like they're trying to get Matpat's attention with all the stuff Haruko does with very surface-level backstories regarding the main characters. You know as much about what happened to Rockies as you do anything about Shin or Orinoko, which heavily pales in comparison to the previous three MCs. All this wrapped in an undercooked 3 episodes that is, and I'm not kidding...

Just a worse take of The Simpsons "Trilogy of Error"

One of my favorite story tropes is when everything takes place in one day, bonus points for interconnecting multiple stories into one. They do that here like in The Simpsons episode where everyone's involved in one crazy night. The problem again stems from that I barely care about the MCs enough and while there exists setup, you only get to know so much before it's over. It took episode 3 for me to give somewhat a fuck and even then they had to rush the climax all for a shitty reveal that it was a prequel this whole time. Giving Progressive its credit, at least we got time to grasp the characters. Any interconnected throughline is all for the climax which misses the point of the story structure. In the end, it felt like nothing. Whether it's a positive or not that it was only three episodes is debatable, but man...

Haruko was still hot. Take your pennies for a nickel

Making this review wasn't so much about disliking Grunge as it was about saying the original Fooly Cooly wasn't a fluke. To say that is like saying the unique animation structure of Into the Spiderverse was a fluke that couldn't be utilized well anywhere else post-release. I don't hate Grunge or think it's the worst anime ever, but this didn't subside the disenfranchisement that stemmed from an OVA that could work as an anthology. Something is only lightning in a bottle when you otherwise don't paint forgettable story elements with average to subpar imagery and have The Pillows carry every scene with their music. If this wasn't FLCL, it was a pretty underwhelming anime. As it is, it's another sequel that mistakes having ambition and familiarity for being engaging and resonating.

2 Out Of 5; An Erectile Dysfunctional Season

[goldenfreddys]

september ‘04, cont.— ninety years without slumbering

While Jeremy had been too shaken in the morning to fully form a first impression of the daytime security guard, Mike Schmidt, he now had his bearings enough to know that they probably wouldn’t get along. He absently picked at the edge of the fresh nicotine patch on his wrist with his thumb.

“We’re here, babe.” Nadia reminded him.

“... Do you think it’s too early?”

“Dunno. I think that guy might be waiting to let you in… Or rob you? Not sure.”

She gestured to a figure by the entrance of the pizzeria. It was Mike, he assumed. He tried not to seem too nervous as he squeezed Nadia’s hand goodbye and got out of the passenger seat.

There was a weird smell as Jeremy approached the other guard, kind of like someone sprayed a “tropical” scented air freshener on a dead animal.

“You’re late.”

Jeremy checked his watch, “I’m fifteen minutes early.”

“Try to make it twenty.”

The way Mike postured himself felt familiar in a way he couldn’t place. He vaguely reminded him of a pre-teen boy trying to act tough on the playground. Maybe even one specific pre-teen boy, though he couldn't be bothered to fully recall it.

The main room was half-lit when they entered, which was thankfully enough light to navigate by. It was strange to think that he used to hang out here, albeit over a decade and a few thousand dollars of renovations ago. He wondered if any of his old drawings made the cut— “Bonnie on a Desert Island Submitting to Cannibalistic Desire” by S.J. Fitzgerald, crayon on lined paper. Probably not, considering all the drawings plastering the hallway seemed relatively new and that particular piece was confiscated by a psychiatrist shortly after. Bummer.

“Listen, I’m not trying to be hard on you, but there's things you need to understand. The night shift isn't for the faint of heart, and it pays like shit.” Mike muttered as they entered the office, “If you make it through this week, I might be able to switch you over to days, but I'm not making any promises yet.”

“Wasn't my first choice, either. I wanted to be a sales associate at Hot Topic.”

He sighed. At least at the mall, he could tell himself he was carving his own path in life. He was sure Freddy’s was a pure nepotism hire.

The phone began ringing not long after they settled into the office. It was a beige landline with a regular numerical keypad, which meant it was a bit dated, but not ancient. Jeremy remembered the hiring manager had called him the other night to give some brief information on the job.

“Uh, hello? He-”

He flinched as the call suddenly dropped. Mike had reached over and pressed down on the switch.

“You don’t need him,” Mike stated with disdain.

Jeremy nodded. He wasn’t sure he needed Mike, either, unless there were several other pages of the job responsibilities booklet he hadn’t been given.

“Alright, let me think… First off, the Freddy head. You’re gonna need to put that on if any of the bots get in the office, n’ leave it on ‘til they leave. Doesn’t work on Foxy, and I assume it won’t work on the Puppet, either. You can get Foxy to fuck off by flashing your light at him a bit. The Puppet doesn’t leave the prize corner until it’s quiet, so you can keep the music box wound up. There’s a button on the monitor for you to do it remotely.” Mike demonstrated by flipping to the prize counter camera and holding down the spacebar on the clunky mechanical keyboard to wind up the box, “The hallway’s gonna be a main point of entrance for a lot of the animatronics, but keep an eye on the vents too. I got Chucky to put some cams down there, n’ you can light ‘em up with the keypad to check. Got all that?”

Jeremy paused, “... Not really. First off, why are the robots coming to the office? And why would that be a problem?”

Mike seemed so flabbergasted that he immediately started to second guess whether or not those were, indeed, valid questions to be asking. He began to review what a security guard was in his head before Mike spoke again.

“Because they want to kill you.”

He sounded stern and urgent in a way that tended to easily bypass Jeremy’s critical thinking skills. He mulled over the possibility for a moment.

“... Like, actually? Or are you messing with me?”

With a huff, Mike handed him the empty bear head and gestured for him to put it on. It smelled like an unwashed gym jersey. Jeremy held it in his hands, then looked up at Mike with his most powerful pathetic expression. It was a pure, unadulterated, ‘you wouldn’t do this to me on my birthday, would you?’ kind of look that sometimes disarmed people enough to admit they were just teasing him.

“Hey, hey- we do not have time for that, buddy. Just put it on, ‘kay? I'll explain later, I promise.”

Whatever comfort Jeremy could've derived from knowing his psychic attack had succeeded was immediately cancelled out by the conclusion that Mike was, in fact, sincere. With that, he relented and put on the bear head.

Mike reached down to one of the desk drawers and pulled out a similar hollowed-out animatronic head, though he couldn't quite make out what it was meant to be. He could see the other guard flicking between a couple different camera views on the monitor, checking the vents, then shining the flashlight down the hall. Suddenly, Mike went still and held his finger up, as if to shush him, before pulling on the orange costume head.

Heavy footsteps entered through the hallway, loud and laborious. The footsteps lurched to a stop in front of the desk, accompanied by the unmistakable creak of rusted metal. Jeremy slowly turned his head towards the source of the noise.

It took him a moment within the visual limitations of the rank-smelling bear head to piece together what he was looking at; two vibrant red pinpricks from a backdrop of darkness, fraying wires reaching down towards a jutting row of blunt teeth. The lights flickered overhead. Clearly, the desert island he had condemned Bonnie to many years ago had done a number on the poor thing, he thought.

Bonnie subtly hunched to glare a bit more pointedly toward Jeremy, and before he could think to stop himself, he whispered an apology. The damaged animatronic went still. After a long pause, Bonnie drew back and shambled out of the office again.

Once the rabbit was gone, Mike took off his mask and quickly paged between the cameras on the monitor again, this time stopping to rewind the music box at the prize corner.

“... You can take it off, now. But stay alert.”

Jeremy took a deep breath of fresh air once the Freddy head was off. The strong adrenaline rush still coursed through him as he tried to get his bearings.

Finally, the orange Foxy head Mike had been wearing was in proper view. Things were starting to click together in his head.

“... Michael? I thought your last name started with an A. Michael Ahh-something.”

“Do I know you?”

“Not really. I-I mean…” He paused, realizing he’d messed up, “No? No. Not at all, is what I meant.”

“Sure, that's not ominous.”

Just like that, the subject was dropped– for now. For good, if he was lucky.

Though the circumstances were nerve-wracking, Mike settled into a kind of rhythm as the night went on, as though the whole song and dance was second nature. Left vent, right vent, hall. Prize corner, party room, parts & service, and so on. Mask on. Wait. And off. He interjected, sparingly, when he noticed Jeremy’s attention was wavering by describing various aspects of the security system and building layout.

“Don’t vents usually have grates?” Jeremy asked.

“Yeah.”

“... Why are they so big and close to the floor?”

Mike repeated, “Yeah.”

There were a few more visitations throughout the night. Notably, the half-destroyed Toy Foxy, which Mike referred to as “Mangle”. It crackled with distorted static from within the vent for a minute or so, before skittering down to Kid’s Cove again. There was also a robot modelled after a small boy brandishing balloons, which Jeremy hadn’t realized was even capable of moving until he noticed him missing from the Game Area. At that point in the night, it felt like some sort of unnecessary slight to have given the gift of autonomy to what could’ve easily been a gumball machine instead.

The six o’clock chime almost caught Jeremy off guard when it finally rang. Not because it hadn't felt like he’d just spent a six-hour shift ambiently fearing for his life without so much as a bathroom break, but because it actually ended instead of persisting like an eternal nightmare.

He slumped forward on the desk and groaned loudly as soon as he got confirmation that it was now safe to do so.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. As far as I’m concerned, you handled that all like a champ.” Mike gave his shoulder a light squeeze, which he considered a thousand leagues too fond for the amount of time they'd known each other. Nonetheless, he could let it slide for the moment.

[bltngames]

Returning to Donkey Kong Country Returns

I am subjecting myself to Donkey Kong Country Returns again. This game and I have a bit of history.

I'd played Returns on real hardware near when it came out originally, and I sort of hated it. The game felt prohibitively sluggish to me. Some of that is due to Donkey Kong himself, which is made to feel big and heavy like a 300lb gorilla ought to. But some of that was also just, like, a strange problem with input latency. The game did not feel responsive, like I'd push the jump button and it'd take a frame or two for Donkey Kong to actually jump. This made platforming very difficult. Never figured out if I imagined it or if it was a real problem.

Though, for the record, playing Rayman Origins on that same Wii also felt sluggish in the same way as DKCR, leading me to believe it might have been a hardware problem, and not just my imagination. Either way, DKCR made me so mad I didn't even finish the second world, to my memory.

Tropical Freeze, the sequel to DKCR comes, and I receive it for review on TSSZ. I expected to savage that game's controls because of the way I felt with DKCR. Instead, I fall in love with it. Whatever problems I had with the Wii game don't exist in Tropical Freeze. It controls well and plays great. An awesome game.

Which makes me wonder: If everybody else loved DKCR, could it really just a hardware problem for me? Could I play DKCR somewhere else and have a better experience? Eventually, Nintendo ran a program where you got a free 3DS game as some kind of reward for a thing they're doing; like, if you buy a certain amount of games in a short length of time you'd get a free game? I forget. Point is, for my free game, I picked the 3DS port of Donkey Kong Country Returns.

And yet, the latency problem persisted even there. The game just felt sluggish and unresponsive and hard to control in a way I didn't enjoy. I guess it probably felt better than it did on the Wii, but not much. I played through over half the game on the 3DS, getting up to the dinosaur/cliff world, but struggled to muster up the energy to finish the rest of the game.

Which brings us here. I don't know why, but I booted DKCR in Dolphin up a couple nights ago and actually spent kind of a long time setting up the controls so that it felt comfortable. It's worth mentioning that when I played DKCR on real hardware back in 2014, I did so with the Gecko Cheat Code to enable Classic Controller Pro support because I refused to waggle. DKCR's waggle was maybe one of the most egregious "this really should have been a button" things ever, to me. Something Tropical Freeze fixed and was much better for!

Obviously the Classic Controller support isn't needed on Dolphin, so I just set controller binds so that the R trigger grabs things and the L trigger waggles. Setting up the latter was a little tricky, because DKCR actually looks for you waggling both the remote and nunchuk at the same time in order to register a proper ground pound. An easy problem to solve once you realize what it wants, but it took close to an hour to find that answer.

And it feels... better? Actually? More responsive than it did on real hardware. Which makes me wonder if the Classic Controller code was the source of the dreaded latency -- but then, that wouldn't explain Rayman Origins or the 3DS version of DKCR.

But I also discovered some of these Gecko cheats just don't work, which could explain the problems I had with the original version. I guess I'll never know for sure.

I've turned on a few cheats here -- Diddy has infinite glide now, for instance, making him feel more like Dixie does in Tropical Freeze. And the clock is stopped during bonus rooms, because those never needed time pressure. But originally, I had more cheat codes turned on -- namely one which did remap waggle actions to the remote's B trigger. But turning that cheat just broke many other elements of control, like completely disabling Diddy's hover entirely.

Thus, I was forced to figure out how to properly bind waggle to my Dualshock 4's trigger. Ultimately, no sweat.

But I still don't know if I'll finish it. Even with the controls feeling "right," the game teeters on the edge of feeling ever so slightly unfriendly. Not much, but the game is weirdly adversarial, like it's trying to trick me into hurting myself. It's a hard thing to describe, and I don't even think everybody picks up on it, but there's a vibe with some retro games where it feels like you're fighting against the game designer themselves, you know?

Games are never just "difficult" or "challenging." There are different flavors these things come in. The way Dark Souls is hard isn't the same way that a shooter like Raiden IV is hard.

In the modern context, DKCR feels closer to something like Kaizo Mario or I Wanna Be The Guy, I guess. Games where you can feel an omnipresent creator watching you play, and they're deliberately trying to trip you up, as if they're shouting "YOU FELL FOR MY TRAP, LOSER!" and laughing at you.

There was a time early in the NES and SNES era where this kind of difficulty was a lot more common, especially in budget or licensed platformers. It's a level beyond the so-called "Nintendo Hard", where some clueless level designer is lost in the wild west of early game development and thinks this is what people want. Obviously games like Kaizo Mario and IWBTG are exaggerated forms of that, but it was definitely a style of game you encountered a lot back in the era.

I never got that vibe from the original Donkey Kong Country games, but DKCR has just a teeny tiny itty bitty sliver of that feel. You reach the third form of the first boss and it's like, "Really? Isn't this a little bit too much for the first boss?"

Who knows if I'll stick with it, but I've already played three sessions already, so it wasn't some kind of one-and-done sort of deal.

I'm surprised how nice it looks in Dolphin even just at 720p. It wouldn't take much work to put this out on the Switch; just clean up some of the GUI. It scales to higher resolutions remarkably well.