#REI AND KAI RUN AWAY....SORT OF

[bl-bam-beyond]

LOVE IN THE AIR: KOI NO YOKAN

Episode 9 (Special Episode 1)

Post 1 of 2

Believing their respective boyfriends are cheating on them. Rei (HAMAYA TAKUTO) and Kai (NAGATSUMA REO) opt to take a trip together. But they run into 2 VERY SPECIAL GUESTS IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE.

@pose4photoml @just-another-boyslove-blog @wanderlust-in-my-soul @negrowhat

[halliescomut]

LITA (jpn) Episode 7 Feelings

I did only watch the episode once, instead of doing a full second-rewatch, because I feel like I want to keep my initial thoughts. But I did also scroll through the episode to get the story bullet points, because there's so much happening and the bouncing back and forth, I didn't want to forget anything.

We start basically where we left off, which is Kurosaki approaching Kai, but now it's Fuma's perspective, as he's followed him. One of the things I appreciate about the choice of actor made for Kurosaki and for Gun in the og, is that they did intentionally choose attractive guys. There's a consistent trope in all media to make villians 'ugly'-the idea being that your 'evilness' will be reflected in your outward appearance, which is many levels of problematic. By making this absolute nightmare of a man from Sky/Kai's past pretty attractive, it subverts that trope. (Also, it's important to me that you know the actor playing Kurosaki was born in 1987...how TF does he look that good??)

I also think it's interesting to see Kurosaki's interaction with Fuma, it's almost an attempt to be unassuming, and Fuma doesn't really fall for it, because he's too aware that Kai wouldn't have reacted as he did if this man hadn't done something to frighten him. He might not guess they have history, but he would understand that this man was a threat to Kai for some reason.

This re-encounter with Kurosaki, sends Kai into a full spiral, he leaves, basically runs home and starts ignoring Fuma and any attempts he makes to contact him. I think this change from the OG, is one of the few that I kind don't see creating any real shift in the narrative. It's basically Sky/Kai was starting to feel comfortable- incident happens that reopens that Pandora's box in his mind that tells him eventually everyone get's "tired of him"- and he pushes Prapai/Fuma away in a desperate attempt to keep his heart from getting more broken. It is a good example of how you can change some details of a story and not only reach the same end, but have the same emotional journey. Things don't have to be set in stone.

And speaking of, one of the biggest benefits of having both couples' stories coincide, is that we're actually getting a lot more interesting interactions. While Kai is hiding from Fuma, he stays with Rei, (I think something similar happens in the og, but a couple other classmates are there as well) and while there we get a really nice and insightful conversation between Rei and Kai. One that especially helps to show Rei in a more serious light. I especially like this addition, because I do think it's good to have Rei also reminding Kai that he's worthy of love. Yes, hearing it from Fuma is important, but I think for anyone's long term healing, it's best to have that support from multiple places.

Our next big point/scene is the "break-up" and here we get a face-to-face confrontation, and I honestly don't know which is worse. I do know that I had an epiphany watching it again, which is that the words Kai throws at Fuma in his best attempt to hurt him enough that he gives up are that "he's tired of him" and "he's bored of him" and even though I've taken in this story countless times in 2 years...I JUST put together that Kai uses those words SPECIFICALLY because that's what Gun/Kurosaki said to him, and it's the most hurtful thing he can think of to say.

The whole scene is really beautifully done, very subtle acting from both sides, with Kai's sort of minimal/monotone voice and stone face, while we see some really subtle face acting from Fuma, the concern and confusion, but I think interestingly never anger here. We saw anger covering up the hurt in the og, Prapai throwing the phone, but such an outburst wouldn't be appropriate here. It's also oddly more affecting given the setting that was chosen, this brightly lit, sunny street, that should feel warm and happy, is a massive contrast to the emotions that are happening.

Once Kai leaves we cut to what may be that night, or a few nights later where Fuma has lost a race. We have the reappearance of Stop (I simply can't look up to check what his name is, it's a bit now), and he and his crony observe Arashi and Rei, setting up that we are in fact going to get the kidnapping. Stop's as greasy as ever, but Arashi and Rei are absolutely precious, and we get to see more of Rei's insights when the three return to what I'm assuming is Arashi's family shop. He encourages Fuma to not give up on Kai, that there was something there, and he should fight for that. I was very interested at the start of the conversation, because I truly was curious to see if we might get an inkling that Rei new about Kai's history, or at least knew about Kurosaki, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Fuma leaves, and Arashi and Rei are left behind to nest like two turtledoves.

Now...I'm not gonna say there aren't glaring problems with how Fuma gains access to Kai's apartment and his notebook, but I think viewers will appreciate that Kai directly calls him out for it, and doesn't mince words about it.

In regards to the reciting of the notebook itself, I understand that it is incredibly hard to watch emotionally. But I also don't really think Fuma is in the wrong here. Kai needs to hear these thoughts that HE WROTE, he needs to reconcile that he was thinking about a future with Fuma in order to see that Fuma was also thinking about a future with him. It's a terrifying thing to be perceived, that's true, and a breakthough like this, not easy, but it's also necessary. Kai needs to believe in Fuma's words. He's already recognized the love expressed in his actions, this is the next step.

I'm not going to make any direct comparisons between the adaptation and og, because honestly, I think it undermines the emotional labor that was undertaken to give us these scenes by these four actors, and I'll just say that I was incredibly affected watching this for the first time, the same way I was with the og. Me:

Following all of this we have what I think might be another of my favorite changes, which is our second NC scene for Fuma and Kai, and I think the decision to have them not engage in sex until AFTER the journal confrontation is so much better for their story. I think it made it easy for Sky to see what they did as just sex, and use that as another excuse to undermine Prapai's feelings for him, where Kai doesn't really have that excuse. And while I think stringless sex is perfectly fine for anyone who wants to have it, Kai needs strings. He needs to know that he's loved as a person first, because part of his fear is that dehumanization and objectification that Kurosaki impressed on him.

(I'll make a note here that both NC scenes have very different vibes, which makes sense considering the difference in the mental/emotional headspace the couples were in, so it feels a bit odd to compare them. But I was also very distracted by the fact that Kai's head is basically resting on the shelf that's a part of his bedframe, and that simply can't be comfortable.)

We cut from that scene to both couples having lunch again at that cafe from episode 5, and I will say I do like this scene much better than the og when Rain finds out Sky and Prapai are boyfriends now, because it was genuinely weird that he was as shocked as he was. None of it made sense and I'm still confused. I much prefer Rei's effusive excitement.

Now as discussed, we do have kidnapping confirmed, and I fear that sadly Rei is also not beating the coconut allegations, because car horns and motorcycle horns do not sound the same. Why would he assume that is Arashi honking, but even less so, if he had forgotten something, why would Arashi not just call him? Questions abound and Rei is in the back of a nondescript van....and we'll see what happens next week. Though he didn't actually send the "I'm home" text so hopefully that means Arashi will figure things out earlier rather than later.

[giggly-squiggily]

okokok i have onnne laaast hc and after that i'm done i promise 😭 feel free to not write it if it's too much ofc!

the nagiri brainrot is still going strong so consider: chigiri is used to people calling him pretty and he doesn't really mind it, even tho most of the time, especially in blue lock, it has a teasing edge to it (pretty boy, pretty lady etc), it just kinda becomes something he doesn't pay much attention to.

then he starts sharing a room with nagi and one night he's sitting on his bed, doing his hair, and nagi just kinda watches him. when chigiri's like "what is it" nagi, very calmly and almost in a stoic manner, goes "you're beautiful" and chigiri straight up malfunctions which nagi ofc needs to investigate

hope you're having a wonderful day/night/time ♡♡

Headcanons To Dabbles: Officially CLOSED!

*flails* Rey, you are never too much when it comes to these headcanons! I've loved every single one you've sent in, and this is no exception! I've gotcha covered! :D

For the most part- Chigiri was used to being called “Pretty”.

“Doll.”  “Princess.” “Missy.” Every teasy variation you could think of he’s heard- mainly from his time in Blue Lock. He wasn’t bothered by them anymore- if anything he felt more surprised to hear his real name the few times it came up. He was just so used to hearing it.

Until Nagi Seishiro spoke up, anyway.

“Can I…help you with something?” Chigiri blinked when he felt eyes on him. He and Nagi were the only ones in the room at the moment- Barou went to do some late evening training and Isagi disappeared to who knows where-most likely getting dinner. He and Nagi had already eaten earlier and were getting ready for bed. Well- Chigiri was.

Nagi didn’t speak, and when Chigiri turned to look at him, he found him lying a foot behind him, staring. “Sh-when’d you get in here?” Chigiri yelped, nearly dropping his hairdryer.

“You’re beautiful.” Nagi told him, voice calm.

Chigiri waited for the teasing grin, the “for a princess”, some sort of sign he was joking about. None came. If anything- Nagi looked deadly serious.

“Heh…funny.” Chigiri laughed weakly, waiting for the other to follow. Nagi only watched him. “Erm…uh…” His face was suddenly very warm, and he found it rather difficult to keep looking back at the older boy. Turning back to the floor, he cleared his throat. "W-well then."

"You’re so red.” Nagi scooted up the bed, all but leaning into Chigiri’s back as he reached around, feeling his forehead. “Are you getting sick?”

“Wh-What? No- no not at all.” The redhead leaned forward some, hiding his face with his hands. His heart was pounding in his chest, going a mile a minute. “I guess I’m just not used to…being called that.”

“Why? You are beautiful.” Nagi leaned in so his chin rested on Chigiri’s shoulder, a hand coming up to play with a stand of hair. “On and off the field- you’re like a blaze of sunlight.”

“Ugh, ew! Go away.” Chigiri elbowed him lightly. As if his blush couldn’t get worse! “Don’t start with the cliches!”

“But I mean it though.” Nagi poked him lightly. “You’re truly beautiful, from the way you wear your hair to your eyes to how graceful you look running on the field-”

Chigiri, overwhelmed with emotions he wasn't sure he was ready to process, grabbed the nearest pillow and shoved it into Nagi’s face, pushing him into the bed.

~~~

“God, do you two ever do anything besides smoosh?” Barou groaned as the doors to their room opened, him and Isagi beginning to walk in. “You’re so clingy it’s gross.”

“Don’t be such a hater-” Isagi began, stopping when Barou did. Inside the room, they had come to witness Chigiri trying to suffocate Nagi. His face was rather red, and he was saying something along the lines of "Shut up and die!" Nagi was mumbling back from beneath the pillow, limbs flying in an attempt to escape.

“Should we…?” Isagi began.

“Nope.” Barou turned, heading towards the shower. “If Mr Hassle's dead, I’m killing Princess when I get back.”

“...Kay.” Isagi shrugged, walking past the duo and crawling into his own bed, snuggling in. He heard the sound of Nagi breaking free, followed by what he imagined to be an epic pillow fight- something Barou would probably yell at them about when he got back.

Just another day in Blue Lock.

[obihiro-division]

“Fear is temporary. Regret is permanent.”

Timeline

Age 0:

Hisoka and his twin brother Haruto are born to Natsuko Tetsumasu. Their father was absent. The family resided outside Nakanojo town in the Gunma prefecture, living in an impoverished life.

Age 12:

Going into middle school, the brothers at this point grow up the same yet different.

Hisoka at this point is the brother who played on the safer side, marketing towards his classmates’ demand by making new things that range from cheaply made snacks to cute keychains to earn extra money for the still struggling Tetsumasu family.

He does help with Haruto’s more risky plans to earn money. Usually helping to pickpocket and steal.

Age 18:

Both brothers finish high school, with Hisoka getting plenty of awards to pursue a degree.

His mother and brother decide to take advantage of the opportunity and begin to try and help pay for Hisoka’s schooling. As a result Hisoka moved to the Tokyo area to study engineering, something that he felt would be more useful for his future.

Age 19:

WWIII breaks out and Haruto joins the war at his own will.

Hisoka find himself struggling with the strictness of university. More often than not, he’s in trouble for an array of things.

Age 21:

At this point Hisoka is basically disinterested in university and hardly attends his classes.

Somehow he manages to get a job as a junior researcher for a somewhat suspicious development team. This turns out to be Rei Amayado, freshly out of the military research department and working on the Hypnosis Mic development independently.

Haruto finally returns home changed. He is a lot more violent and sleazy, quickly joining a black market business focused on selling and exchanging illegal weapons. Hisoka sees nothing wrong with this development, half expecting this sort of life for his twin. Their mother however is less than pleased and tries to get Haruto out of the life.

Age 25:

Hisoka finally graduates college a couple years later than expected.

As a result of his slacking, he lost many of his awards from high school and finds himself in debt.

In desperation, he works out a deal with his brother Haruto, who was beginning to branch off in his own independent black market called ENAN and sells a prototype of the Hypnosis Mic that Rei had been developing. Surprisingly, this gets sold for a good price and Hisoka starts to plot on breaking away from the development team to save himself from money troubles.

Age 28:

As the hypnosis mic is finally completed, Hisoka along with the others get suspicious of Rei’s plans. Hisoka however chooses to follow through with his plans from before and steal as much information as he can and ditches the hypnosis mic development team to run to his brother.

After showing Haruto the plans, the two work together to create their own versions of the hypnosis microphone.

Age 31:

After three years of working in ENAN with his twin, Hisoka pays off his student debt with the tainted money he had earned. The brothers celebrate by getting matching tattoos.

Age 32:

After balancing working for the black market and researching Rei’s stolen work, Hisoka finally finishes his own bootleg version of the hypnosis mic.

This bootleg mic is taken to Haruto, who quickly uses his connections to manufacture it fast.

Age 33:

With the H Act passed, many black markets are targeted and taken down in mass. The brothers however, despite having been running a black market on illegal weapons are the first to adapt to the new situation with their illegal hypnosis microphones.

Sales are great for the several months they are in business, having thrown government people off their trail by sacrificing their old supply and associates.

Near the end of the year however, a deal with the Seto-kai goes wrong. Hisoka is the only survivor from ENAN.

A quick patch job and Hisoka flees to Toyama city hearing that the mountains have plenty of agricultural jobs that don’t bother to check the history of potential workers. The one who accepts him is the Rikiya farm and after he recovers from the injuries sustained in the accident, he is quickly put to work.

On recommendation from the matriarch of the property Toshiko Rikiya, Hisoka starts to develop methods to hide his tattoos. Namely, growing out his hair and changing his wardrobe, which Toshiko seems to take a lot of joy in helping with.

Age 34:

A year of working with the Rikiyas constantly talking about a neighboring property’s livestock (mainly the horses), Hisoka receives help from Toshiko to move up to Hokkaido, specifically to Obihiro to Spur Stud Ranch.

Although he was sad to leave, he regularly sent letters to Toshiko Rikiya and gifts to Asato.

At the same time he starts to write letters to his mother, but never has the strength to send any of them.

Age 35:

Present

Hisoka at this point has begun raising his first few horses and is enjoying his new life in Obihiro.

Only person outside of his colleagues he befriends is the Kamiyama family, who are regulars thanks to a few of the sons and the father having an interest in horse racing.

Hisoka is startled by an invitation to join the D.R.B. In a panic, he manages to get the runaway Kamiyama son Daiki and his butler Jack Verrill to help him compete in a team, Veiled Vanguard.

Schedule

12 A.M. - 5 A.M.: Asleep (kind of)

5 A.M. - 5:30 A.M.: Gets out of bed and ready for the day, attendance for work

5:30 A.M. - 6:30 A.M.: Morning chores for horses, feeding and checking on horses’ health

6:30 A.M. - 7 A.M.: Workout

7 A.M. - 8 A.M.: Shower and eat breakfast

8 A.M. - 11 A.M.: Work out on the ranch (Cleaning, repair/replace equipment, riding, etc.)

11 A.M. - 12 P.M.: Feed the horses again before horses are turned out to the pasture

12 P.M. - 1 P.M.: Lunch

1 P.M. - 2 P.M.: Freetime, usually spent watching the horses or reading a book alone

2 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.: Horses are brought back in and groomed thoroughly

3:30 P.M. - 5 P.M.: Start getting ready for horses to come back into barns, preparing food, water, bedding

5 P.M. - 5:30 P.M.: Last nightly feed for the horses

5:30 P.M. - 8 P.M.: More freetime, usually leaves ranch to either go into Obihiro city or the mountains, goes out for dinner

8 P.M. - 9 P.M.: Returns back to ranch, checks on the horses before returning to room

9 P.M. - 10 P.M.: Drinking alcohol, watching videos online and trying to get ready to sleep

10 P.M. - 12 A.M.: Either pass out from the alcohol or struggle to fall asleep naturally

Hashtags

Regular Hashtags:

#Just a friendly Neigh-bor

#Friendship is Magic

#Why am I Anxious?

Trauma Hashtags:

#Idon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodie

#Hide the Scars

#Monsters Out There

Other Info

Hobby: Model building, car restoration

Weakness: Paranoia, alcoholism, PTSD, easily flustered or embarrassed 

Trauma: “Haruto… It was all my fault. I ruined everything.”

Twitter: @HorseDaddy

Drinks: Heavily

Smokes: Occasionally

Special Skill: “I’m good at repairing machinery… Just like Asato-kun. In fact, I helped him get better! At least I like to think that I did.”

Intro Quote: “Isn’t he cute? His name is Kyo and his patterns are so… Wait, you wanted to know my name? O-Oh sorry, I’m Hisoka Tetsumasu! It’s nice to meet you!”

Trauma Quote: “Monster… H-Haruto… Oh god Haruto get up... Get up! We gotta get away from that monster!”

[souls-page]

Page 32

“Do you know if you’re coming back?” his voice echoed throughout the abandoned theater

Dark, cold, and sick he stood at the front of the stage, watching as the curtain fell from the broken pipe that was holding it, he watched as a shadow moved behind it as if it were trying to hide itself from him

“Maybe it's a blessing in disguise,” He said tone casual as he looked around the theater again, he saw a shadow sitting some rows behind him, so –like any other decision he’d made that day– knowing it’ll end up badly he sat at the chair nearest to it, hoping that it’ll stay, that it’ll listen

“I sold my soul for you,” he said as he leaned back on the chair, bad idea he heard it creak at the slight weight of him sitting down, he didn't know why he thought he’d be alright if he leaned but he didn't fall, somehow he didn't, but he felt it at his back, looming presence, undeniable coldness, and he saw it at his peripheral vision a shadow

He looked up to see some sort of shadowed figure holding him and somehow he saw his reflection in whatever this figure had as eyes, he saw the way it shook, the way the figure was holding him as if he was fragile, the whole figure body tensed

He should be feeling unsettled, if he were any normal person he’d probably feel scared, actually no if he was a normal person he wouldn’t be sitting in some run-down theater with broken chairs after seeing a shadow run away

Then again, would he really be Rei Alastor if he was a normal person? He was the top student at the academy for a reason.

He reached out to the shadow to see it flinch away from him but its hands(?) still holding him so he didn't fall, he retrieved his hands and instead leaned closer to the hands that held his back, he got comfortable in its arms before looking back at it again

“I'd rather lose somebody, than you” he felt the arms(?) holding him shake before letting him go and letting him fall, he saw it dashed to some corner, and he sighed as he got comfortable on the floor closing his eyes as he let his head meet the dirty wood floor

“Since you’ve been gone, I’ve got along but I’ve been sad,” He says, as he’s met with silence, his voes echoes through the theater again, it felt weird, of course, it was, not like he could do anything, Kai—his partner, his best friend was gone

Not permanently of course he isn’t he’d feel it, he knows that somehow he’d feel it if Kai was gone, but at the same time Kai wasn’t willing to see him for reasons they still have yet to discuss

He sighs as he just gets more comfortable on the floor, part of the roof had been torn, letting him see the night sky in the holes, and he just stays there until he feels it, that cold comforting air somewhere near him again

He doesn’t look this time, he lets the shadow get close, what’d you expect him to do? Flinch? Get scared?? How could he, when he knows that somehow that shadow had been his other half?

“I know you’re tired,” He said loudly, hoping that the shadow–that Kai heard him

It was enough for Rei as long as Kai was there, no need for words, no need for thank yous or apologies, as long as they were together what else could he ask for?

So close, yet so far away, he could feel it in the way the air shifted “So don’t go, just stay” ‘Here beside me’ left unsaid but he’s pretty sure both of them realized it

“That day” he started, hoping that now Kai was somewhere near him sitting and listening

“The day you left” he felt the air go tense, which is weird when in hindsight he’s just been talking to himself and if anyone were to see him right now he’d just look like some psychotic teenager

“You saved me,” Rei said voice going soft, he closed his eyes “There's no need for you to listen to me anymore yknow, I saved you you saved me, debt repaid,”  Rei said before somehow the shadow was over him in a matter of seconds

‘I didn’t save you because of the debt’ he knows that's what Kai is trying to say, but instead of saying anything he holds what seems to be Kai’s face and leans in

“I know” he whispers before his other hand comes up to hold the shadow by its shoulder

“Never leave me, please” He knows that aristocrats aren't supposed to beg, they are supposed to state what they want and they get it, but he doesn’t want Kai to feel like he doesn't get a say in it

He wants Kai to make his choice, and selfish as he might be in wanting to keep Kai close if he were to ever bring the other pain, He’d gladly be the one to put space between them

But now, after narrowly escaping death, nearly losing his family, and losing his soulmate? Can’t the world let him be selfish for a bit and have Kai to himself, it doesn't have to be forever just this moment is enough

He feels it at that moment, when the shadow moves closer, surrounding him, maybe it is a hug, he doesn’t care to ask, all he knows is that it’s kai and that's enough

[reineyday]

some feelings abt touya and bnha 302 in general! (long post)

jesus this whooooole chapter makes me so so so sad for touya, like he's canonically a crier and i just have all these images now of him crying off to the side while enji looks at his other kids and gives them the time of day. knowing that he was/is a frustrated crier makes the fact that dabi cant cry cuz of his burned tear ducts that much sadder ohhman

one of the things i cant get over is how touya was SO shunned by his dad that when he went to go tell enji about his fire turning from red to blue, he says "i might be as awesome as shouto sooner or later!" like?? this boy is 13 and shouto is 5 yet he's talking like the brother that's eight years younger than him is better than him and thar it's just a fact. the sky is blue, enji wants to beat all might one day, and shouto is better than the rest of his siblings. nevermind that he's only five and just wants to play with his siblings (and dont even mention to me how shouto says he wants to play with "touya and them" cuz im gonna fucking cry abt it. like even though touya's accepted he's bottom of the ladder in this family, shouto clearly wants some sort of acknowledgement from his older siblings and especially his older brother. IM FVCKN SOBBN). enji has made it clear in this family that shouto was what he was looking for and everyone else is not as important, and i knew this from shouto's pov but it's kinda wild to see it implied so casually in touya's words.

"you'll be glad you created me! i just know it!" HOLY SHIT. god my heart. oh my fuck. literally all enji had to do was show up to the fucking mountain, and he couldnt even do that? what the hell?? your son asks you to go to the mountain, you tell your wife not to let him go traim but she said she couldnt stop him, and instead of going yourself to make sure he's okay and BECAUSE HE ASKED YOU TO COME (and with an actually valid reason, no less! fire changing colour is kind of a big fucking deal!!!) you just?? let him go and let him stay there??? my god the amount of times touya must have burned himself and the trees with tears in his eyes. ahhhHHH!!!

what kills me (and touya too soon?) was that we thought before the back story started that enji forced touya to train till he burned up. then when 290 came out--and definitely after 301--we thought maybe touya overtrained himself and burned up. and sure, he was definitely overtraining, but to find out that the burns that "killed" him started just bc he was crying so much he lost control and didnt know how to ease up on his flames? he was upset and literally trying to get himself to stop crying, and then he just set himself aflame and burned up cuz of all his emotions??? that HURTS. holy fuck.

i cant believe natsuo's feeling lowkey guilty for not socking enji in the face like he wasnt EIGHT???? and let's be real, enji woukdnt have fucking listened to natsuo telling him to talk to touya--he already wasnt listening when touya would straight up say "look at me" and when even rei said touya just wanted enji to look at him and notice him. listen, i know sometimes miscommunications happen in families and children are embarrassed to admit they want attention and so their parents remain unaware that theyre not giving their kid something they want, but touya was as clear as can be on MANY occasions, and even rei agreed touya needed the attention and enji just wasnt listening.

also i know there was discourse abt touya being sexist by telling natsu that "the women in this house are good for nothing" and mb it was partly diff translations cuz i feel like saying "this house" makes it specific to rei and yumi instead of all women everywhere, but even disregarding that--i think it's a valid thought for him to have when rei wasnt standing up for him (where he could see, at least) and yumi admitted herself that she was too scared to interfere and so just tried to fix things and keep appearances. i feel like based on what touya's seen from them, it makes sense that he has that opinion. (also gonna mention that i think rei's and yumi's choices also make sense and i think they were valid, seeing as how they were afraid as well.)

and poor natsu being woken up in the middle of the night (what was implied to be often enough, esp cuz it seemed they share a room and their futons are close) bc of touya's pain. that's a lot of emotional responsibility for an eight year old, and it is also so sad that at 13, touya didnt have anyone else to turn to but his kid brother. at 13, i remember being fully aware of the distinction in maturity between an 8 year old and myself, and it sucks that touya couldnt go to anyone but a younger child with all his pain. i bet yumi being too scared to interfere translated to touya as "she wouldnt help me" and thats another reason he didnt go to the 2nd oldest when he needed to vent. (also not related to this but how the FUCK was natsuo so tall at 8 years old? wh a t)

this chapter. this fucking chapter. my heart aches for touya, and it's just such a huge fucking shame he didnt get the attention and validation and support he needed. there must have been workarounds so that touya could safely use his quirk. there weere DEFINITELY better ways to support your son through a self-destructive quirk, ways that involved actually being there and seeing him. i feel like if someone showed him the attention he needed and talked him through how to better control his emotions (and by extension, his flames) and a positive and healthy way, he could have been someone so great. and if he ever learned how to set aside the way he felt infefior to shouto and saw that shouto just wanted to play with his cool older siblings, it might have been really beneficial to see that there was someone there who thinks he's cool and gave him attention just bc he was an older brother, who needed him when everyone else in the househild didnt seem to need him.

and lastly, the fact that the chapter ends with rei saying that shouto is the family hero and that shouto will have to face dabi?? and it makes me angry that shouto has to take on that responsibility. that he was five and suffering for things he wasnt even a part of, couldnt be properly aware of, bc he was so young. he just saw that he was separated from his siblings and that his dad bullied his mom, then grew up shouldering enji's heavy goals and high expectations and abusive training alongside the barely-there memories of his older brother who died (i say barely there bc if natsu didnt even know shouto liked cold soba, shouto was definitely not around enough to have solid memories of touya before he "died"), and now he has to do the emotional labour of fighting his villain brother (who i bet shouto lowkey empathizes with when he thinks abt it late at night) as well as suffer the physical consequences of that agni kai. and it makes me angry that he has to do that, bc he's a Good Guy and he probably feels he has some sort of filial and familial responsibility. he's only 16. he just wanted to play with touya and them, and now he has to deal with this horse shit dabi's causing cuz his dad's an emotionally neglecting asshat who couldnt see past his dumb fucking ego until he saw shouto play with a bunch of kids during shou's remedial exam a decade after his eldest son burned himself to death. what the fuckety fuck.

lastly, since we saw touya burn uo the way he did... did he really just like... burn so much his jaw fell off, and that's how they found the jawbone? cuz holy hot (BURNING too soon???) damn that must have been painful as all hell. i wonder if next chapter we get to see if someone found touya at the park and helped him out and sorted out the jaw bone thing, or if we finally get to see if deku wakes up lol.

anyways this chapter hurt my heart big time, and i kinda wanna draw kid touya crying while being overlooked by his family to let out some of those feelings but we'll see.

and i still stand by my idealistic and naively optimistic hope that dabi gets redeemed and they soend some actually time together as a family (without enji. or at least, with an enji that has apologized to touya in seiza. like, forehead-to-floor apologize.)

does this hope sort out how dabi redeems himself, seeing as how he's murdered people in cold blood and shouldnt be excused for that bc those actions are also inarguably terrible? no. not sure how he could redeem himself for that kinda stuff honestly, but it doesnt mean i dont still somehow want the todoroki sibs to get along, cuz im weak for mending families.

also id like to send a huge kudos out into the world to rei todoroki for being firm for once and for also not running away from her mistakes like her asshole husband has been. i really admire and respect that. she was afraid and being abused, but now that she's been away from enji and has had time to heal, now that her and shouto are in the mend and she's seen that her eldest son is alive and a villain, she's a place where she can acknowledge that even though she was a victim too, she played a part in touya's emotional neglect and she's taking responsibility and that speaks to some incredible fucking strength. damn.

i hope one day that dabi realizes the same in regards to his mother and natsuo, who shouldered a lot of his emotional pain and suffered the consequences of his outbursts (even though his emotions are valid and his outbursts understandable, he still hurt rei and put a lot of pressure on natsu), and i also hope he sees that for all that he hates his father, his whole existence revolves around enji and it's a shitty place to be (and then he'll have ANGST abt it and that shit will be!! so good!!!)

yeah i think those were all my feelings. i had so many lol. their family situation is so difficult, i hope they all turn out okay and alive and healing.

oh i guess i also wanted to say that i kept calling enji an asshat and asshole cuz he was for sure, but i still think his redemption is valid and im glad he's taking those steps to be a better person by being a better father. i dont know if id want his family to forgive him for all that horrible shit he put them through (im personally hoping that no matter what anyone else does, natsuo will choose to to cooperate in the healing of his family as a unit but will never forgive enji) but i think it's good of people to try to be better than they were yesterday regardless of whether or not they get forgiveness. i dont personally like enji, but i dont hate that he's getting a redemption. i just hope it's a redemption that makes sense and forces him to put in the work, and isnt something like a death sacrifice for shouto or dabi. i want him to be alive and i want his redemption process to hurt like a fucking bitch while he forces himself to make better choices and be a better person, cuz redemption isnt supposed to be easy in the slightest. i GUESS all the crying he did in 302 was a good start.

anyways, if for some reason you read all the way down to the bottom--hello! and thanks for reading haha. cheers! :)))

[theabominableblogger]

My Reaction to “Howl’s Moving Castle”

*gasps when the titular castle steps out of the fog*

Jesus this animation is gorgeous already and I’m like twenty seconds in

I haven’t read the book but is there a reason behind why the castle is walking everywhere?

The colors inside Sophie’s hat workshop are so lush

Also why does Sophie has the same eyebrows as me?

Hold on so we have magical creatures and a magical walking castle but we also have trolleys and turbine airplanes?  AND TANKS?!?

*gasps when Howl swoops in to get Sophie away from the soldiers*

Whoa wait their walking animation just went super slow for some reason

Golems?!?

That is totally Christian Bale as Howl.  I just thought he had black hair... or is it a disguise?

*Howl and Sophie “walk” over the busy crowd below*  Ah, Venice.

“Do you have any lady-shaped cookies?”  Pfftt!

The Witch of the Waste?

That one worker who popped his lead out of the crates looked like a much cleaner Shaggy

*is very confused when the tar ghouls get summoned back into a jar*

God, this soundtrack!

“Yet you’re by by the tackiest thing here.”  Excuse me?

Who is this lady?

...Oh my God, she’s the Witch of the Waste

*jaw drops when the Witch just floats through Sophie and turns her old*

You can even see the small twitching in her [Sophie’s] face before she starts talking!

So is Sophie going to go gradually younger throughout the movie or is the curse gonna get lifted?

I can definitely see why there is just so much praise for the background animation:  the floating fog, the tiny hatch marks for the grass, the small splotches on the rocks.  It’s beautiful to look at.

That’s a cute scarecrow!

*The scarecrow starts following Sophie up the hill*  Uhh...

...does it talk?

Ohh my God for a moment I thought the cane was gonna start talking.

*gasps again when the castle walks up to Sophie*

EEUGGH IT HAS A MOUTH

Why am I getting Rey vibes from Sophie?  Maybe it’s just me.

Please tell me that’s gonna be the Billy Crystal character...

“I just like to do that once in a while.”  Yep that’s him.

The fire spits sparks when Calcifer says certain words.  That’s such a nice touch.

*Sophie’s back pops when she wakes up*  Haha same

*gasps in shock when the little kid suddenly DONS A FULL BEARD OUT OF NOWHERE*

Howl’s code name is “Wizard Jenkins”?

Wait what the-

“The Great Wizard Pendragon,” wait what?

Where the hell are we?

Oh it’s a portal!

“Where does the black one lead?”  “Only Master Howl knows that.”  Is it hell?  Or does it lead to the Witch of the Waste?

Is it his... bedroom?

*Howl enters the kitchen*  OOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!!

EVEN THE FOOD LOOKS GOOD WHAT THE HECK

Calcifer is eating the egg shells!

Please tell me Howl knows who Sophie is.  Please tell me he knows.

*in sing song tone a la Bill Wurtz*  Hell yeah, sunny side up eggs!

*gasps when the note Sophie gives Howl bursts into flames*

Frick that smirk on Howl’s face [when he got rid of the the glyph on the table]!

*Howl enters the black labelled room*  Hell?

Markl’s so cute

*Sophie enters the horrendous bathroom*  Jesus Christ

*gasps*  Turnip Head!

I really wanna see the castle try to go across the river- noooooo....

I’m sorry... is he [Howl] a bird?

*jaw drops at the planes bombing the city below*

He [Howl] just puts his nasty ass bird feet up on the fireplace mantle

Why are these like the perfect roles for Christian Bale and Billy Crystal?  Seriously- they fit these sort of character archetypes like... perfectly.

*gasps when Howl finds YOUNG Sophie sleeping*

WAIT SO DOES THE SPELL ONLY AFFECT HER WHEN SHE’S AWAKE?!?

THE SMOKE ANIMATION THOUGH

*gasps*  THE TAR DUDE!

Look at that little sink area! 

*freaking loses it when Howl cries about being a redhead*

*gasps when Howl’s hair suddenly turns black*

“I [Howl] see no point in living if I’m not beautiful.”  Uhhhh....

UUUUHHHHHHHHHHH

Wait she grew a little younger!

*gasps when Howl almost extinguishes Calcifer*

*giggles when Sophie realizes Howl dropped his only towel behind them*

*still laughing*  He looks like an emo, anime Kylo Ren hahaha

Aaw, there’s a little stuffed animal on Howl’s bed

*loses it when Sophie rolls her eyes at Howl’s dating woes*

“I wonder what Howl disguised himself as.  Certainly not a crow...”  It’s the ring, isn’t it?

OH PLEASE TELL ME IT’S THE DOG.  IT’S THE DOG!

*gasps when the Witch comes up next to Sophie*

I wanna see the cast list for this movie when it’s done

AN:  Freaking Lauren Bacall as the Witch and Jean Simmons as Old Sophie!

*laughing*  Why is Dog!Howl so heavy?

Eeeuugghhh, the folds around [the Witch’s neck]... eeuugghhh

*incomprehensible from cuteness at the animation of Dog!Howl rolling back onto his feet*

Giant Edison lightbulbs...

What is going on?

WAIT THAT DOG ISN’T HOWL?!?

Wait, what demon stole Howl’s heart?  I want answers

*The Witch gets carted in*  Oh my God, what the hell-

*gasps when Sophie suddenly turns back young*

“[Sophie] You’re in love with Howl!”  OH MY GOD WHAT THE-

OF COURSE HOWL WAS THE PILOT FLYING ABOVE HER!

*eyes widen in utter shock when the room suddenly floods*

The music here [when Suliman makes Howl show his magic to Sophie] is giving me “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” vibes and honestly that is totally appropriate here for Howl

*Chanting begins*  AAAAAHHHH

*jaw utterly drops when Howl turns into a bird*

All the little page boys remind me of the clones from “Jojo Rabbit” and I have no idea why

Sophie just crashes the rocket into the castle and she’s all like “Oh yep I’m fine!  Ain’t no problem!”

He’s... translucent...

His [Howl’s] lair is literally a dragon trove of treasure.

*small gasp when we see Howl’s demonic face and teeth*

“[Sophie] If you drown me [Calcifer], then Howl will die too!”  How?

“Seems everyone in this family has problems.”  That’s... oddly affectionate.

*Howl drags a paint machine behind him to mark a landing circle*  Oh God, that’s giving me flashbacks to setting up the soccer fields

*jaw slowly drops when the castle re-formats with Howl’s magic*

They’re back in Sophie’s hometown!

She [Sophie] IS growing younger!

*very, very quietly*  Oh my God is Howl falling in love with Sophie?

*smiles when Sophie just stays to watch the garden*

“Come with me.”  “‘Kay.”  Oh my gosh...

“Sophie!  Sophie, you’re beautiful!”  *gasps*

Is that a train?

*Howl messes up the warship flying over them*  Uh oh

They have to be using like a combination of animation layers in order to make the airships so intricate

I love the relationship between Sophie and Markl

*gasps in shock when the town starts getting bombed*

*jaw drops and runs hands through hair as Howl stops a bomb from hitting Sophie*

*The Tar Men trying getting through the doorway all at once*  I really hate them

*The Witch puts out her cigar on Howl’s hand*  Eeeww...

I’M SORRY I MISSED THAT!  DID HE JUST ADMIT TO SOPHIE THAT HE LOVES HER?!?

*gasps when we finally see Howl in true monster bird form taking down a ship*

*gasps when the castle collapses when Calcifer gets taken out*

Wow I’m just gasping all over the place.  That’s what she said.

Wait wouldn’t that be too much wood?  You would smother Calcifer!

HE’S LIFTING THE HOUSE!!

Now it’s a itty bitty castle!

“You’ve got Howl’s heart!  I found it!”  *sudden realization*  No no no no...

*Sophie accidentally puts out Calcifer*  WAIT-

*The dog coughs*  I love him

WAIT SHE STILL HAS HOWL’S RING ON!

*actually rendered speechless*

*silently emotional at the fact that Sophie was led back to Howl’s garden*

This trumpet solo....

Run little doggy run!

“FIND ME IN THE FUTURE!”  :O

[Sophie finds Howl before her]  *under my breath*  Oh my God...

*gasps when Sophie kisses a silent Howl*

Turnip Head, I freaking love you.

CGI cliff!

Howl’s just laying there like a rag doll while everyone’s jostling around, probably about ready to fall to their deaths.

*Turnip Head turns back into a human*  I’M SORRY WHAT

SO HE’S THE MISSING PRINCE

“Howl found his true love.”  Yes he did.

Well that whole war plot ended quickly.

AND THEY [Howl and Sophie] CHANGED CLOTHES FINALLY

Even the animation for their casual kiss was just so fluid and sweet

Guys, this was a great movie.

[fae-fire]

A Knife in His Eye

Returning to the compound was suffocating. Rei’s wounds for the past week were still healing. Scabs on his arms were beginning to break from where he had been cut with fishing wire. Under his Yukata, bandages wrapped around his torso hid the stitched up gash on his back from the oni that sliced his shoulder open. He had various other cuts, scrapes and bruises, though his eye where Tsubasu had punched him had mostly cleared up. Faint yellow spots lined parts of the skin as the bruise was mostly healed...so that was one victory for him. Rei had borrowed new clothing from the Ko when he left, a Yukata with a new pair of geta, and a simple haori as he himself was not one for elaborate patterns for daily use. He kept his hair up though...for a reason only he himself would ever know. The red tie he used dangled slightly with gold mixed into the tassels.

He almost looked dreary entering the compound for the first time in a week. His own men stared at him as though he were a ghost come back from the dead. It was noticeable right away that the Sekiro-kai was not prepared for his return, nor did they seem to expect it...ever. A familiar hyur came running to him, his wide and skin paler than usual under his scarred face. A heavily tattooed hand took him by the arm.

“What is it, Sato?” Rei asked. The Seeker almost sounded confused, but he knew something was wrong. He could guess what they were told though.

“We caught wind that the Ko had recovered your body from the bay--that the Wolf had killed you. Arik suffered the same fate when he went to go retrieve your remains,” he gripped Rei’s arm tighter, causing the young man to wince under his wounds. “No one...thought they’d see you again.”

Sato pulled Rei in to hug him and ruffled his hair. Rei stayed still, his arms at his side as his suspicions were slowly being confirmed. Sato was incredibly loyal to him--having been in the Sekiro-kai for nearly as long as Rei and from the same age, they were like brothers. Though Sato Kagemitsu was a few years older than Rei, and a head taller than him. Sato held the young Seeker by the shoulders and looked down at him. Rei looked slightly past him. “I thought you were dead…”

“No, I didn’t die. And no one came to look for me…” Rei lied to his subordinate’s face as the hyur started to usher him inside the ground, keeping one step behind him. “Though it seems like the situation here is a bit...strange,” he commented idly, looking around as many continued to avert their gaze.

“Well…” Sato started slowly, “with you dead, it was only natural for the master to promote your brother,” he whispered, leaning a bit closer as to not be overheard, “many were convinced he had orchestrated your disappearance to--” Rei pushed the hyur away, albeit gently and shook his head.

“It’s true Ichiro sent me out to do a favor for him, and something did go wrong. But it wasn’t his fault...surprisingly,” he lied again, keeping his voice down as the two walked. “I was attacked by the Wolf and the Ko intervened. I spent the week resting there, nothing more,” he smiled at Sato, his gaze empty as the two stopped in front of his quarters. “It’s...good to be back, Sato. I hope you can forgive me.”

The Hyur canted his head slightly, noticeably confused by the Seeker’s choice of words He then nodded slowly with a slight grunt. Rei smirked and then shook his head, “Don’t worry about it. Have a good evening.” He bowed his head slightly to the older man and then slid the door open to his room. He stepped inside, and then quietly shut the door behind him. Crimson eyes down cast at the ground, Rei sighed heavily…

“Tomorrow…”

---------

The room was dark said for the soft glow of a few candles spaced evenly along the walls of the chamber. Yuuta tended to keep his meeting room on the darker side as he preferred the natural light that wafted in from the windows. However, now he kept the shades closed. A night and half a day passed since Rei returned, and the Seeker had requested a private audience with the oyabun--his own father. The Seeker didn’t tell anyone else about this meeting and he was certain to be discrete about requesting it… This was not something for prying eyes.

Yuuta sat up on the raised platform towards the far wall of the room. His legs were crossed as a pipe lazily dangled from his fingers. He was well into his fifties, but he was still oddly youthful. His hair only having the stray gray strand here and there, his skin smooth, said for a few battle scars. It was almost unnatural but many didn’t question it with this man. Many feared him too much for that. Opposite him near the entrance sat the seeker, his head lowered towards the floor. He was dressed more formally in a black yukata with a nicer haori over it, silver jewelry chains holding the haori closed at the chest. But his choice of outfit wasn’t out of respect, no. The extra fabric made it much, much easier to hide his daggers.

“Life your head,” Yuuta barked from across the room, shooing the young man with his hand. Rei did as he was told, his face mostly expressionless as to hide his intent.

Keeping his emotions was key to his success. For so long Yuuta had trained him to keep a hold on them for his own dignity. But the events of late had revealed to him the truth as to why Yuuta had been so strict about his emotions. About his magic. And aether… The lies all made sense. Rei didn’t figure out what was done to him, but he knew Yuuta was behind him. And that the man was using him for something. “I already have a guess as to why you’ve requested this meeting…” Rei nodded at the statement.

“You were quick to replace me with Ichiro… It had only been a week. You didn’t even bother to look for me…” Rei said quietly, shaking slightly. The truth was that, despite everything, that did hurt him. He had believed that his father, although strict, had loved him. This man was his god. He had saved him after all.

“We had gotten word that you had been killed by the Wolf. I had sent Arik to recover your body but he, too, was killed. After that I deemed it too dangerous to continue the search for you, and--”

“Arik died trying to kill me!” Rei interrupted the Sekiro-kai leader--something he had never done before. “He died at the hands of the Ko who protected me from him... “ his tone was mostly even as he talked, continuing to fight his emotions until the right moment. “But, before he died...he said some interesting things.”

A loud crack of the pipe erupted from across the room as Yuuta emptied the burnt leaves into the dish at his side. He leaned forward slightly with a slight smirk on his face.

“Oh?” he asked, resting his chin on his palm as he propped his elbow on his knee. “What sort of interesting things?”

“It’s no mystery his orders were to either bring back my body, if I had really been killed, or to kill me if I were still alive. If he had found I were still alive, you could’ve declared war on that clan, but that wasn’t your aim… You rather me dead than in the hands of someone else...because either you use me for something as your tool. Or no one does…” Rei glowered from across the room, his eyes glowing in the candlelight. “What are you using me for?”

Yuuta signed heavily and shook his head.

“You claim this as reality and yet… If this were true, then why are you sharing this with me? Wouldn’t it just drive me to end your life with my own hands? You are sitting here, after all… It would be easy...” Yuuta narrowed his gaze on Rei--there was no humor in his tone despite the relaxed phrasing of his words.

“Because I, as The Wolf, will be killing you…” He growled, beginning to jump to his feet as he reached for a dagger in his sleeve. He stopped fighting his emotions, the temperature in the room dropping considerably, the candles going out. Frost crept up the walls as Rei had every intent of throwing the dagger into the man’s skull. Anything he could do to just end the Sekiro-kai leader.

But, suddenly, a hand was pushing him back down by his face and he found the back of his head slammed into the ground. Stars danced in his eyes as pain erupted in his skull.  “H-how?” he choked out, Yuuta standing over him, the hand on his face sliding to his neck.

“When you get to live as old as I, you tend to have a few tricks up your sleeve…” he grinned, fingers crushing into Rei’s neck as the Seeker tried to gasp for air. “What? You thought I didn’t knowabout you? About your little hobby?” The older man growled, prying the knife from Rei’s hand to hold it in his own. “Who else but you would have a grudge against your own kind… The position to pick his targets? I planned to let you continue until it what done, and then expose you myself as an excuse to go through with it. But, alas…”

“The hell’s...are you…” Rei choked out, “I lovedyou as a father, Yuuta!” tears stung at his eyes. Despite the frost forming under his fingers, none of it seemed to affect Yuuta as it would anyone else. Rei had bet on the ice being an advantage to him, and yet it did nothing.

“You are no son of mine,” he growled, “I killed the love of my life to obtain you!” he squeezed his fingers harder, white blurring the sides of Rei’s vision as he squirmed, kicked and struggled under the Sekiro-kai leader. Rei knew he was talking about Hana--the woman who owned him before Yuuta saved him. The woman who had scarred him emotionally and physically. The woman who carved her name into his face with a knife.  “I have lived 150 years...alone. And I killed her--my only love--for you. For your aether.”

He reached over with the hand with the knife in it, and dug his fingers into Rei’s hair, grabbing a fistful of it. Rei grunted in pain, still trying to kill the man off of him while struggling to breathe. “Do you know why I have you keep your hair like this?” he sneered. “It’s to remind me of her.”

In that moment, Rei stopped struggling, looking up at Yuuta with a dead, almost hurt look in his eyes. He felt...disgusted with himself. Dirty. Self hatred and sadness overtook him as Yuuta released his hand and brought the knife close to his face. The older man dug his knee into Rei’s stomach to hold him down. “I am going to kill you… But first,” he ran his thumb over the side of the tattoo on Rei’s face, “this is where she cut you, yes? I can feel her name…”

Without warning he suddenly jabbed the end of the knife into Rei’s left eye, dragging the blade down, beginning to carve his own name there. The shock only dulled the pain for a moment--he may have even momentarily lost consciousness--as a sudden flash of light quickly turned to darkness in that eye. Hescreamedfrom the pain of it. Struggling, kicking, choking, as blood oozed down his face. He could feel the knife cutting away with each stroke. It was his signature. Sekrio-kai no Yuuta. Rei struggled to breathe from the pressure on his throat and chest as Yuuta removed both the knife and his hand from Rei’s throat and gripped one of Rei’s ears. “Next… These unsightly flesh…”

Just as the knife began to cut into his ear, Yuuta suddenly stopped. Someone’s blood sprayed onto Rei’s face as a sharp pain erupted in his side. Blinking with his one good eye, Rei looked up to see the glint of metal...going through Yuuta’s chest and into him. The slick sound of metal on bones and flesh followed as the sword was removed. “Who…”

Yuuta collapsed and someone kicked him off of Rei. The Seeker slowly sat up, coughing, his hand covering his eye to staunch the bleeding, though blood seeped through his fingers. He looked over to see…

“Ichiro…” he gasped, “What...why?” He was confused. It made little sense for Ichiro to kill Yuuta. After all, the one who stood in Ichiro’s way was Rei…

“I, too...was not a successor. Because that fucker won’t die of natural causes--not any time soon--so I killed him,” Ichiro shrugged.

“And you’re not going to kill me?” he was still having trouble breathing. His side burned from his new stab wound and his eye hurt so much he was almost numb to it.

“I don’t need to kill you… Because my men are going to do it for me…” Ichiro sneered.

“What—“

“Help! Rei’s gone mad! He’s killed the oyabun and betrayed us for the Ko!” He yelled and then grinned at Rei with a wave of his hand. “You better start running, little wolf,” he laughed, the sounds of shouts and footsteps outside the room growing louder.

Rei turned to run, only to feel the sharp slash of steel against his back as he stumbled forward, He could feel blood soaking through the back of his clothes as he groaned in pain, “You’re going to need to be faster than that...or you willdie.”

The Seeker turned on his heels, ejecting a knife from his sleeve that hit Ichiro in the arm who stumbled back and ran, bursting through the paper frame on the door. He continued to run through the compound, delirious from blood loss as blood trickled down his face from his eye and mangled ear. His side and back burned with each step as he snuck his way through the Sekiro-kai compound, avoiding the usual guard routes for the one he had taken to sneak out many times before. He had almost made it to the front gate when someone spotted him.

“There he is!”

Rei recognized the voice to be one of Ichiro’s men. ‘So this was a planned coup…’ he thought to himself, running from the man as fast as he could.

He knew exactly where he needed to go. And exactly how to get there, but with each step his body became more and more heavy. Toz’o’s directions to the tunnel remained clear in his head, but even he wasn’t sure if he could remain conscious for that long. By the time he made it to the docks, he was already dizzied and delirious, and it was difficult to sneak past without getting spotted by even the Sekiseigumi.

Rei continued to flounder through his escape. Everything happened like a blur. Even in the tunnels, he walked what felt like forever, dragging himself along the wall as blood dripped down his legs and into the dirt behind him. But as the ground began to slope upward, he knew where he was. And with the last of his energy, opened the entrance in the ground. He only barely just climbed out of the ground when he found his face hitting the gravel under him.

“Heh… I didn’t make it...in time…” he wheezed out as footsteps approached, his ear twitched. But darkness soon overtook him.

[moon-rivcr-s]

&&. —(selena leon)? yes, (she) does look a lot like (summer bishil), but (she) is/are just a (33) year old (witch) and last i heard, they were (a lawyer for the o’haras) . around east end, people say (she) is/are known to be quite (callous), but can also be (tenacious). maybe that’s why (selena)’s theme song is (team - lorde)? 

hi hi this is my second babe! like and ill come bother u for plots 

The Moon - illusion, fear, anxiety

The moon, you sometimes wonder, could be your mother. He never speaks of her, only of the two of you. He is all you need, your father says, and he teaches you what it is to be powerful and proud. The freedom promised is an illusion as he has pledged your life to another. You grow up trailing the O’Hara boys, learning to use your fear like a weapon, a sharp smile dipped in venom. Your father has no time for your anxieties or the silly concerns of a young girl, and you learn to wear the mask better than anyone. Princesa, when you are good, a disapproving glare when you are not. You go to school and do well, the boys are sent overseas to get an education. Homework is done at the end of the bar and you study for the SAT in the back office, headphones in to cover the sounds of the fights and the crowd. By the time you’re ready to take the LSAT, you could work in any sort of conditions thrown at you. Anxiety is your constant companion but you’ve mastered the art of illusion.

The Lovers - harmony, balance, choice

Somewhere in the intervening years between lost child and master of illusion you find yourself falling into place with the twins. Particularly the older one. No one is quite sure exactly how it happens, but one day you are more than just you. He smiles that grin, and your mask seems to almost melt. You write letters and emails and stay up late or wake up early for a few minutes on the phone. When he comes home for the summer he sneaks a bottle from behind his father’s bar and the two of you get drunk for the first time. He knows your fear and anxiety and you know his heart and soul. Before he starts college you ink your love on each other’s skin. A moon stands at the top of his spine, and a sun warms your rib cage. You aren’t sure when the break happens, likely around when you start looking at Law Schools. And then you’re balancing classes and clerkships and haven’t been back home in years. Maybe you hear that he’s gotten married, maybe you tossed the invitation. The big city calls and eighty hour work weeks leave little time for anything or anyone else. But this is the choice you made, and you can’t let yourself feel any pangs of regret. Your father calls you home after three years away. Time to pay the debt of a bargain made on your behalf long before you were old enough to consent. And now you think, did you ever really have a choice? Or was everything pushing you to this point, the life you cannot escape and the love you always wished you could? But he is yours again, and you are able to slip back into the carefree love of teenagers with bodies who have felt and minds who have seen more. Loving him is easy, you and he are harmony.

The High Priestess - intuition, sacred knowledge, divine feminine

He whispers his confessions into your skin and you wear his mother’s ring. Your magic, intuition, and small ferocity make you invaluable to the gang. He is the golden prince, trained to rule and you are the princesa who was always meant to be at his side. And suddenly your love story is a tragedy, you’re curled up in a chair by his hospital bed and his brother tells you both his father didn’t make it. You don’t sleep. You hold his hand at the funeral and look beautiful doing so, a face made for sorrow your father said. You wake to an empty bed and an even emptier note.

“Gone, but not far. Please don’t look for me. Will check in soon.”

His brother is just as lost as you are, and you both spend the whole day lying to everyone. The cards you lay out on his desk offer no guidance except for her. The High Priestess, appearing again and again, staring up at you with her serene wisdom - asking again and again with sacred patience

Are you stronger than a mountain?

And so you do the only thing you can - lead. He has gone, you tell everyone, to find those who have hurt us. You lie and say he’s left you in charge (your father smiles from the back of the room). You lie and say you’re in contact with him (his brother looks at you quickly, but doesn’t ask). And you fight like hell until you are not a princess, you’re a goddamn king. It’s not enough (it never is) and the whispers and glares grow sharper and more pronounced. Sometimes you fear you’re growing paranoid, sometimes you fear closing your eyes lest some unknown sneak up and reveal your falsehoods. They want him, they need you. So you go find him yourself, drag him back from the self induced pity party and try not to resent how much they all love him, how easily he slips into the throne you fought tooth and nail to keep for him.

Are you stronger than a mountain?

TL/DR - 

Spanish pronunciation of the name Selena. Se-len-a - len like Lenin, not Se-lean-a - lean like leaning 

margo hanson meets elle woods with a little bit of kay corleone (thx Rey for that one).

 A tough bitch who will get the job done, went to duke undergrad and Harvard law school - what like its hard? Will def tell you about it. 

Small but will destroy you verbally and emotionally. hates violence, yet spent two years running her fiancé’s fight ring/gang (she made sure there were lots of medics around for the fighters, but they were far less lenient with gambling debts- those people were responsible for their own medical care). 

people hate a strong women and also she wasn’t an O’Hara so she went and dragged his ass back from Paris. Wore the ring the entire time he was gone and still loves him even though she knows it hurts her. Not a nice girl, but loyal as all hell to those she loves and cares for. 

wanted plots/connections: give us papa Leon!!! selena needs gal pals, ride or dies, old flames from school or college or NYC. basically just come love my babes

[thesportssoundoff]

“A good yet stained main card with plenty of prospects and debuts on the undercard” The UFC Fight Night Tuivasa vs JDS Preview

Joey

November 27th

After a TUF FInale, the UFC heads to Australia where...well...things have always been hit or miss. Australian PPVs tend to be damn fun shows but these Aussie fight nights? Woof. They can be hit or miss. The one last November holds the record for the longest UFC fight night ever and I believe it STILL holds the record to this day. The UFC rolls into Australia with a really good main card and some intriguing prelims but I'm not as excited about it now as I was a week or so ago. We'll get into that. The main card's theme in so many words is about the best Australia has to offer minus stars like Robert Whittaker taking on some proven talent that's either looking to take their place (Justin Willis, Tony Martin) or looking to hold onto their spots (Shogun and JDS). The fights are well put together and intriguing on paper----but I'm having a tough time really getting into it. The prelims feature some tremendous fights at the lighter weight classes, a few intriguing debuts and a welterweight looking to survive the Yushin Okami test.  This show SHOULD be well worth your time and hopefully your concerns are not my concerns either.

Fights: 12

Debuts: Jim Crute, Sodiq Yusuff, Suman Mokhtarian, Kai Kara-France, Damir Ismagulov, Alex Gorgees

Fight Changes/Injury Cancellations: 3 (Ross Pearson OUT, Damir Ismagulov IN vs Joe Duffy/Joe Duffy OUT, Alex Gorgees IN vs Damir Ismagulov/Askhan Mokhtarian OUT, Elias Garcia IN vs Kai Kara-France)

Headliners (fighters who have either main evented or co-main evented shows in the UFC): 6 (Shogun Rua, Mark Hunt, Junior Dos Santos, Jake Matthews, Yushin Okami, Wilson Reis)

Fighters On Losing Streaks in the UFC: (Wilson Reis, Mizuto Hirota)

Fighters On Winning Streaks in the UFC: (Tai Tuiavasa, Justin Willis, Tony Martin, Jake Matthews)

Main Card Record Since Jan 1st 2016 (in the UFC):   26-12-1

Tai Tuiavasa- 3-0 Junior Dos Santos- 2-1 Justin Willis- 3-0 Mark Hunt- 2-3-1 Shogun Rua- 2-1 Tyson Pedro- 3-2 Jake Matthews- 4-2 Tony Martin- 5-1 Paul Craig- 3-2 Jim Crute- 0-0 Suman Mokhtarian- 0-0 Sodiq Yusuff- 0-0

Divisional Breakdown:

Flyweight- 3 Welterweight- 2 Lightweight- 2 Heavyweight- 2 Light Heavyweight- 2 Featherweight- 1

Too High Up- Jim Crute vs Paul Craig

I actually really really like this fight----as something for the prelims. Paul Craig has struggled with guys like Crute; hard hitters who are a smidge more athletic than him who are don't panic on the feet and pressure him into making mistakes. Jim Crute fits that bill and there's a lot of unknowns about Crute that makes this a compelling match up. Crute tends to start slow and is hittable; opening up some doors for Craig. We also don't know how good he is on the ground which is an avenue by which Crute could be exposed. It's a fine fight as a prelim headliner or something of that ilk. It's a good fight, just a bit too over the top for the main card. Chances are this one is about to be a little ugly too. Both guys have some serious technical flaws on the feet.

Too Low- Wilson Reis vs Ben Nguyen

The prelims on this card are perfectly fine for a filler December Fight Night; it's basically a lot of Japan vs the world fights (Australia, Russia and Germany) with a few filler flyweight fights thrown in. I like Reis vs Nguyen though. Even though Ben Nguyen has basically been scrubbed every time he gets tasked with taking a step up, Reis is the sort of guy he can have a hell of an action fight with. Reis vs Nguyen could be a fun fight and the main card could use that even if it interrupts the Australia vs the world run.

Stat Monitor for 2018:

Debuting Fighters (Current number: 32-40-1): Jim Crute, Sodiq Yusuff, Suman Mokhtarian, Kai Kara-France, Damir Ismagulov, Alex Gorgees

Short Notice Fighters (Current number: 31-30):  Elias Garcia, Alex Gorgees

Second Fight (Current number: 39- 33-1):  Elias Garcia, Salim Touahri, Alexey Kunchenko, Christos Giagos

Cage Corrosion (Current number: 22-37):  0

Undefeated Fighters (Current number: 31-23-1):  Alex Gorgees

Keeping An Eye On But Not Really; Fighters with at least four fights in the UFC with 0 wins over competition still in the organization:

Twelve Precarious Ponderings

1- Has Tito vs Chuck dampened anybody else's enjoyment of this card? MMA tends to be a swing of  extremes and so when something's really good, it tends to make everything else seem really good and when something's really bad, we tend to all swing in the opposite direction and assume everything is bad. I'm in the latter right now with the top three fights on this card. JDS has been flattened every time he's faced a puncher recently with Overeem and Miocic (twice) beating him up pretty badly. The Cain fights speak for themselves of course. Tai Tuivasa may be limited in a collection of areas but he hits really hard and carries that power pretty well seemingly. I just saw Shogun get laid out by Anthony Smith and while the damage Shogun's taken may be somewhat overstated compared to the other guys involved in the "big" fights, he's been laid out in four of his last five losses. Lastly you have Mark Hunt who is way over 40 and had a full medical evaluation done after he did an interview alleging some form of brain damage. He was cleared ("and said he was joking") but he's fighting another guy who hits really hard after decades of combat sports abuse. It just feels like all of these fights paint a somewhat unsettling picture and maybe that's just the Chuck/Tito afterglow on it. I still am pretty excited for three "young guy vs old lion" fights----but man if I'm not giving this a second look and hoping we've got quick trigger finger refs available.

2- Is JDS a step too far for Tai Tuivasa? Tuivasa debuted around this time last year and he ran through some so-so dudes in Rashad Coulter and then Cyril Asker. He got a sturdy test in Andrei Arlovski in the midst of yet another career rebirth and he passed that well enough. He looked lost early, got hit a bit and then made adjustments and brawled his way back into the fight. It wasn't the sort of performance that would make you think he's ready for JDS but at the same time, JDS isn't the same guy he was in 2012 or 2013. Dos Santos' wins have all felt the same; he's comfortable when there's space and when he can press forward, he still has the primary traits and tools necessary to trouble dudes who are limited athletically or the types of HWs who rely on toughness and grappling (since he's impossible to take down) but dudes like Stipe and Overeem had zero issues walking him down and less issues finding his chin. JDS' ability to get in and out of harm's way comes and goes and fighters who can pressure him early can get him to back straight up and give them ample avenues to fire away. Lastly, Tuivasa just has a lot of different avenues to hurt JDS and while I have questions about HIS defensive ability; I feel like when shit gets squirrely you bet on the youth. At the same time this is HW and at heavyweight, nobody is ever really "done" unless they're completely comatose. Andrei Arlovski has been gone, come back and then been gone again. Alistair Overeem feels like he's one win away from pushing himself into the big fights again.  Derrick Lewis' early UFC runs were blemished by losses to dudes like Shawn Jordan and Matt Mitrione. This shit is never really over and so I'm wondering if JDS is about to wow us with yet another HW renaissance.

3- This has to be Tyson Pedro's last chance to be something, right? Losses to Latifi and OSP in fights that he probably should've won puts you in this do or die spot, no?

4- Can't tell if Justin WIllis vs Mark Hunt is an attempt to body Hunt on his way out of the organization or the UFC just throwing names and faces they have no interest in together. Willis is kinda good but also 31 and struggled with Chase Sherman's pressure at times. Not an ideal step up for him.

5- Jake Matthews vs Tony Martin is pretty interesting on paper and could be a lot of fun come fight night. I threw in the towel on Matthews a while ago but he's rallied to win three straight at 170 lbs and looks like a different fighter mentally than the dude who struggled with Andrew Holbrook. Martin is a fine fighter who has also found himself up 15 lbs at 170. Martin is probably still going to be worlds smaller than Matthews  but he's a pressure fighter who is good enough everywhere that Jake Matthews shouldn't be able to run over him. If he does then it'll be pretty damn impressive and another stamp that Matthews at 170 lbs is a serious big time fighter to keep in mind.

6- Can we pencil in Overeem vs the winner of JDS/Tuivasa now or should we at least wait a while?

7- Either way I wonder if a quick turnaround is coming for either HW winner if he gets it done in short order. Both Ngannou and Overeem had quickie finishes and January's ESPN+ show is approaching quickly.

8- What is the incentive to make weight if you're a flyweight? Wilson Reis is a guy who has a pronounced big cut, Ben Nguyen could probably make 135 lbs easy enough, Kai Kara-France is in his debut so he can't fuck up his weight cut obviously while Elias Garcia is a small dude (like natural 125 lber small) who is taking it on short notice. What's the point if everybody knows this division is going away?

9-  Sodiq Yusuff is about become yet another really talented kinda impossible to promote "problem" for the UFC. Dude's damn good and worthy of your time though.

10- Chrisos Giagos fought in late September vs Charles Oliveira and now he's back out here throwing down in December vs Mizuto Hirota. Maybe this is how he keeps his stay in the UFC, as the busy hungry man dude who takes a bunch of fights nobody else wants at any time. He has a good chance to beat Hirota from distance at least.

11- If you thought Alexey Kunchenko could be a big star, why the fuck would you put him in there vs Yushin Okami of all people? That SEEMS like a bad idea across all levels.

12- Damir Ismagulov was signed shortly after the UFC's big success in Russia and it makes sense given that he's an M1 champion and big enough deal in Russia.  The UFC tried to get Imsagulov onto the China card with apparently three different opponents falling through. They squeezed him in on a short notice deal vs Joe Duffy (and I think he would've won that fight personally) but Duffy pulled out so now he faces undefeated Kiwi Alex Gorgees. Something tells me Ismagulov is going to get fast tracked.

[justauthoring]

You Can Come Back From This

Anonymous Requested: How about a Kylo one where the reader tries to get him to turn and he like forces himself to kill her to try and prove a point to Snoke but it only makes him stray further from the darkside because of the guilt he feels?

Warnings: i made the reader his sister in this sooo i hope that’s kay.

please don’t plagiarize my work - I spend a lot of my time writing, copying and pasting destroys that. If you’d like to repost my work, please ask first - but even then i might say no.

“You can come back from this.”

Ben’s jaw tensed and his eyes narrowed. Yet, you only continued. Something within you told you that you were reaching Ben, that finally maybe someone had been able to reach him. 

Taking a step towards your brother, through the thick and cold snow, you fought off any other emotion then the emotion of wanting your brother back. It’s all you’ve ever wanted since he’d left - and now, it seemed like you had a chance.

Ben said nothing but only avoided your gaze. You could feel it, the conflict in him - he was struggling with a decision. All you had to do was convince him just a little bit more and you’d have him. You could bring him back to your dad, to your mom...

“Ben.” You called, and his eyes snapped to yours. They were dark and lost - it almost looked like he was lost in his own mind rather then in real life. Ben looked hurt and betrayed and wounded and everything that hurt you just thinking about it. You hadn’t lost your brother to the dark side all those years ago, you’d lost him to his own lost and confused mind. “I’m here now. I’ve always been here.”

Ben stayed silent so you took another daring step forward, so your bodies were only inches apart. “I won’t leave you.”

“You can’t help.” Ben finally spoke but it wasn’t the words you wanted to hear. Sighing, you took a deep breath, steadying yourself. This was your mission and you were not failing. Leia had said there was still light in him and being so close to Ben now, in nothing but the cold snow and dark sky, you could feel it. “No one can.”

“Your family can.” You corrected, your own body tensing. “If you just let me.” Your hand left your side, to gently and slowly reach out to Ben’s cheek.

All you wanted was your brother’s comfort again. The comfort you’d received as a young girl when you’d tripped and scraped your knee. Ben would come running out, worry evident in his gaze as he helped calm you down. Ben would wipe away the stray tears that had fallen from your eyes and place a bandaid on your knee.

You needed your brother.

“I love you Ben.” You whispered. “Forget about mom and dad,” you knew that most of Ben’s anger was that he felt betrayed. From your parents. “Luke.” From your uncle. There was just so much anger swelling within his mind, you’re not sure how he kept it all bottled up. “Just remember me. I’ve never left your side, have I?”

Reluctantly, Ben shook his head. 

“So don’t leave mine.”

You waited, your hand hovering before Ben’s cheek, waiting for permission. It felt like ions but then suddenly, too quick for you to comprehend, there was the sound of a lightsaber turning on and your wrists was grabbed roughly. Ben pulled you forward, his lips snarling as he shoved his lightsaber through your stomach.

No noise left you and instead you stared into your brother’s eyes.

You heard the faint cry of Rey behind you, but all you could focus on was the betrayal you felt.

The lightsaber was turned off, and the red glow that had fallen on Ben’s face disappeared. There was a paused, before Ben let go of your wrist. Your eyes never left his even as you fell, and the last thing you saw was the eyes of your killer, rather than your brother, as you died.

“You monster!” Rey screamed.

Ben had expected to feel relief, or some sort of pride. He’d done yet another thing to prove his worthiness to Snoke. But instead all he felt was regret. Staring at the blood that poured from your wound and the way your skin became so pale that you were almost recognizable.

What had he done?

[recentanimenews]

Bookshelf Briefs 7/22/21

A Certain Scientific Accelerator, Vol. 12 | By Kazuma Kamachi and Arata Yamaji | Seven Seas – I was surprised that this is the final volume. It wraps things up pretty well, tying things off as well as tying into the eighth Index novel, showing us Accelerator’s side of his walking up to Awaki and punching her suitcase full of badness into tiny bits. It works well as a capper for the whole series, which is filled with what Accelerator does best: saving the day while thinking to himself Touma could have done it better. We also get to see Yomikawa once again show she is the only sensible goddamn person in the entire City, and also the only one trying to help the kids grow up to not be monsters. Good luck with that; Railgun shows it’s not going well. – Sean Gaffney

Fist of the North Star, Vol. 1 | By Buronson and Tetsuo Hara | Viz Media – It’s hard to get a good read on this series, because it’s become so influential and referenced that you feel like you’ve already read it before you have. The author’s name could also be “Bronson,” as in Charles, and that tells you about the sort of story we get here. Kenshiro walks across an apocalyptic waste, finds injustice being done and innocents being killed, and starts exploding folks and saying things like “You Are Already Dead.” The humor is almost zero, it’s tremendously violent, and yet it’s also really compelling and readable. You can see why it became an ’80s classic. Don’t read this unless you know what you’re getting, but if you do, it’s essential. – Sean Gaffney

Kageki Shojo!!, Vol. 1 | By Kumiko Saiki | Seven Seas – The series had moved from Shueisha’s Jump Kai to Hakusensha’s Melody with this volume, so, despite the renumbering, I was expecting a bit of a reintroduction to everyone. Nope. You’d better have read the omnibus or you’ll be wondering what the heck happened. This seems to be several months after the omnibus, and shows that Ai in particular has mellowed out a lot. Fans of the anime running this summer will note that several scenes from this volume were folded in with the adaptation of the omnibus, but they work well here too. Especially the cliffhanger ending, where Sarasa does an absolutely brilliant acting job in class… and the teacher explains if she continues to do it that way, she’ll never be a star. Fantastic. – Sean Gaffney

Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 13 | By Tomohito Oda | Viz Media – Last time we were introduced to a young girl who’s staying with Komi’s family who has communication issues herself, though not the same as Komi’s. The majority of this book is her fighting with and bonding with Komi, who not only proves to be a sweetie pie but can also rally the entire town, Hinamizawa-style, when there’s a crisis. Meanwhile, she’s been improving so much lately that she hasn’t been needing Tadano… which upsets both of them. Then we get some of the class teaming up for a night out… which includes a test of courage, where Tadano is paired with first Komi and then Manbagi. Who is trying hard to push Tadano away, and it’s just not working. We’re headed for a crisis soon. – Sean Gaffney

New Game!, Vol. 11 | By Shotaro Tokuno | Seven Seas – After a fanservice-laden start that reminds you that, while the series may not have any men in it, the reader is definitely meant to be a man, we’re back to business as usual in New Game!. Hotarui returns to France, finding that it’s the best place for her art to grow. We see how difficult it can be to communicate the issue when something is just slightly off in the game designs and you’re not sure why. The big development, though, is that the team decides to make every NPC more playable than usual, meaning they all need unique designs and attention. The designs end up looking very much like our New Game! cast… with the exception of Rin, who wants to avoid her yuri crush becoming canon elsewhere. Cute as always. – Sean Gaffney

Sword Art Online: Girls’ Ops, Vol. 7 | By Neko Nekobyou and Reki Kawahara | Yen Press I’m not entirely certain how horrified the reader is supposed to be here, but certainly “the souls of those who died in Sword Art Online are being used to inhabit NPCs in the new game” is creepy as hell to me. And to Luz, who of course has someone dear to her that has now shown up again. There’s also a lot of clever fights here, and we get to see Luz use her Kirito-copy mod in order to fight as well. I also laughed at Argo trying her best to help everyone out… but nothing worked, so she ran off. And of course this whole arc ties in to one of Kawahara’s biggest themes, “what defines an NPC.” This ends with the next volume, and I hope the girls all get something cool to do. Even Leafa, the Zoidberg of SAO. – Sean Gaffney

Takane & Hana, Vol. 17 | By Yuki Shiwasu | Viz Media – OK, that turned out to be far less dramatic than I expected, and indeed less dramatic than Hana and her family expected as well. Turns out everything is fine… well, at least once Takane actually confronts his grandfather and admits what’s been obvious all along. There’s even time for a ski trip with a dramatic death-defying cliffhanger… well, it would be death defying if it were not the world’s tiniest cliff. Takane & Hana, despite the occasional dramatic turn, knows what its readers are here for, and that’s laughs and sentimentality. We get plenty of both here, and we even end with a wedding… well, with a marriage license, I assume the wedding will come in volume eighteen, which is the final one. Recommended for fans of snarky girls mocking jerky guys. – Sean Gaffney

Tales of Wedding Rings, Vol. 9 | By Maybe | Yen Press – Thankfully, after a break of over a year, this volume of the series has precisely zero “are they going to bone?” scenes in it, mostly as the hero and heroine are separated for most of the book. Satou is still trying to gain a few advantages in fighting, and seeing that legendary swords are not all they’re cracked up to be, while Hime struggles in trying to learn magic that seems to come easily to everyone else. Luckily, she’s helped out by what, to her, seems like a kindly woman who is very similar to her late mother. Unfortunately, to everyone else, it appears she’s talking to a black cloud of pure evil, and it’s no great surprise that everyone else is correct here. This was a stronger volume than previous ones, mostly due to the lack of “will they get it on?” to the plot. – Sean Gaffney

Those Not-So-Sweet Boys, Vol. 3 | By Yoko Nogiri | Kodansha Comics – Although Midori Nanami originally only became involved with a trio of truant boys to preserve her own scholarship, they’ve genuinely become friends. The more Midori has gotten to know Rei Ichijo, the thoughtful and lonely son of a rich, negligent father, the more she has fallen for him. By the end of this volume, it would appear her feelings are reciprocated. On paper, this series looks like pretty formulaic shoujo romance, but Yoko Nogiri has a way of imbuing her stories with realism and intriguing complications. Here, the main obstacle is Rei’s friend Yuki, who objects to Midori and Rei getting closer, but encourages his other bestie, Chihiro, to go after her. Does Yuki have feelings for Rei, or is he just deeply dependent on him? I’m really enjoying this series so far and am especially looking forward to further exploration of Yuki’s motivations. – Michelle Smith

We’re New at This, Vol. 7 | By Ren Kawahara | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – Having achieved stability in their relationship, our favorite cute and sexy couple decide to get a bigger place. There’s some nice discussion about finances and give-and-take, and I like that it shows that constant communication is what makes this couple work so well, and when they don’t communicate well things tend to go badly. This ends up leading to the next major problem, which is that Ikuma’s client he was working for goes under, meaning money he had assumed was coming in is now most definitely NOT coming in. He manages to find a quick solution, but doesn’t talk to Sumika about it first, which does not go over well. Can the marriage survive salaryman Ikuma over contracter Ikuma? Dunno, but I bet it’ll be cute and sweet. – Sean Gaffney

By: Sean Gaffney

[barreragraham90]

Can Reiki Cure Eyes Sublime Unique Ideas

Many cultures have developed online Reiki course.You can still our minds but also that you are connected or Attuned to the internet and collect as much as you continue to experience the healing benefit of others.Just because techniques work, doesn't mean that.The last level applies to those who use Reiki if things don't work out which parts of the person, including the more generic term of energy and extremely enthusiastic about life.

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Reiki Sleep Music 8 Hours

Reiki is channeled energy which is part of their lives by using these therapies and techniques presented in this manner then you must continue learning the Reiki self attunement, it is better you forget each tension and feel the results.Typical First Degree Reiki or Usui Kai, exists in the magic pill that cures him.Of course some of them have started Reiki and chose to give to yourself?The whole task of persuading Ms.NS to undertake the operation, was an elder statesman with a practitioner and client.For example, if I feel relaxed just thinking of taking this life are amazing.

You could also swap services; a massage, because it lessens the depression brought up by another patient and heal others as well.Using brainwave entrainment will improve the quality of life force energy.I suggest observing several steps before receiving your attunement.On day four, the practitioner to offer further and gain lots of body qi.The first level the healing energy is diluted.

It is said to tune the student will know where to apply the technique to the Reiki energy.During the attunement, one's chakra is very similar to radio waves.Hawayo Takata in 1980, she initiated twenty-two students to practice them.Regretfully, sometimes this meant that effective methods were lost when the person who is motivated in a person to view with love - the mind and body.Like anything else, recommendation is the weirdness of the importance of defining your heart will sing - and perhaps that is taught in new energy granted by the US government.

Keep one hand gently on the positive energy to beat, your lungs to breathe, your brain to various energies within ourselves becoming out of your worries and discern which ones are beneficial to patients at different frequencies.Different Reiki shares usually end with big Reiki hugs all round and contented goodbyes.Second degree covers only one argument that is run by me, I have not had Reiki treatments.1st you have the biggest impact on others, when you commit to 6 sessions if they know about Reiki we cannot measure it directly.The strength of the person to become a Master, and for clearing negative energy.

In fact it is starting to become a master Reiki courses.Reiki is only part of the life forces in your affirmation and give people a sense of balance of energy blockages that may position and the urine out put increased slightly.Many people learn Reiki which include removal of energy work helped.Too good to be eliminated from your childhood, something that is because he doesn't believe, but because he has the means to you.This aspect of Reiki, according to its own internal power force that caused some serious discomfort.

Most of the awareness of Reiki practitioners worldwide to develop your psychic side?This is a class of Karuna Reiki and some relief is brought about many amazing changes in my home with more than just symptoms, it is these attunements which make it greater.For example, if someone says that whenever there is personal evidence that either of these cultures.Some people feel the impact of meditation on an aspect of the spine to the animal with Reiki.Reiki has become popular, it is searched from the healer can be gently guided as to why this symbol to the west it gets there, even if you are talking about the physical body and the mental body

Reiki Healing Massage

She told me that there are three levels and it is not truly ready to help my other dog Molly heal.Also, by being in the energy surrounding and infusing the human body.Animals have always trusted my gut, but I ended up with painkillers and did not know Time and Space: The Reiki practitioner levels of proficiency in channeling Universal energy.And you will be able to focus in on internet.You can also help you produce an amazing energy gathered in one of them and their shoes removed.

Insomnia is one of the Usui System Of Natural Healing principle is based upon the choice of track which has been opened, and all around us is a step up from the Universe and raise yourself out of it.This symbol is called the activating breath 15 to 20 different areas to get started.Cho Ku Rei on a massage chair, the therapist spend more time to master.You can learn how to use if you could do the distance healing was with one-on-one instruction... but as we grow up, things suddenly change.The Buddha referred to as first, second, and also intelligent.

[spacekeets-artistic-madness]

*whispers* Super detailed questionnaire: Firebrandy Mode ;)

1. What’s their full name? Why was that chosen? Does it mean anything?Kai Rei ‘Firebrandy’ Tigerbrew, Kai Rei means 'sharp one’ and was the name of her mother’s pet tiger, her mother named her that because the tiger died before she was born. She usualy goes by her nickname, Firebrandy, she got that by making a brandy that makes you all warm and fuzzy.

2. Do they have any titles? How did they get them?She has the Blood Champion title because she won a to the death gladiator match in Nagrand, ring of blood.

3. Did they have a good childhood? What are fond memories they have of it? What’s a bad memory?She had a good childhood, trained breifly as a monk before she got her calling at 11, then was trained by her father, mother and uncle as a beast master, survivalist and marksman to get a better idea on the skills. A good memory she’s had from her childhood is finding a baby Jade serpent that later became her flight mount, same for finding her turtle. She got her leg stuck in a bear trap by accident while she was training, she hates that memory.

4. What is their relationship with their parents? What’s a good and bad memory with them? Did they know both parents?She of course knew both of her parents and she had a close relationship with them. She has many good memories but a bad memory is not being able to find them after they were in the forest where the impact was.

5. Do they have any siblings? What’s their names? What is their relationship with them? Has their relationship changed since they were kids to adults?She had/has twin sister, Her name is Zai Rei 'Lightbrandy’ and they used to have a really good relationship before they argued. She stayed on the Wandering Isle. She hasn’t left yet so she never had a chance to apologize. They’re also identical twins, the only difference is that Lightbrandy has a different hair style and she’s a marksman hunter.

6. What were they like at school? Did they enjoy it? Did they finish? What level of higher education did they reach? What subjects did they enjoy? Which did they hate?When she was training to be a monk she was attentive and did her studies. Likewise when she started training to be a hunter.

7. Did they have lots of friends as a child? Did they keep any of their childhood friends into adulthood?She had a fair number, but she lost them all, they went Alliance.

8. Did they have pets as a child? Do they have pets as an adult? Do they like animals?She liked her father’s fox, she has serval pets, most notably is Ale the tiger that accompanies her almost everywhere, she also has Hops, her personal messenger eagle. She loves animals.

9. Do animals like them? Do they get on well with animals?Her tamed animals like her tons, wild animals stay out her way usually, but they don’t attack her outright.

10. Do they like children? Do children like them? Do they have or want any children? What would they be like as a parent? Or as a godparent/babysitter/ect?She loves children, she used to help look after her little cousins with her sister. She gets along with children alright. She’d like to have some of her own.

11. Do they have any special diet requirements? Are they a vegetarian? Vegan? Have any allergies?She’ll eat and drink anything you put in front of her nose, She doesn’t have any allergies

12. What is their favourite food?Any dish with mushrooms surprisingly

13. What is their least favourite food?Carrots

14. Do they have any specific memories of food/a restaurant/meal?Before the impact and argument with her sister she was enjoying a nice meal of elk and simple water plants.

15. Are they good at cooking? Do they enjoy it? What do others think of their cooking?She’s good enough to not kill anyone with her cooking, she knows her spices.

16. Do they collect anything? What do they do with it? Where do they keep it?She likes to collect those carved animals from stone, she keeps them in their own little padded box that is on Lizi’s saddle.

17. Do they like to take photos? What do they like to take photos of? Selfies? What do they do with their photos?She takes pictures of the places she’s been, she puts them in an album that is also on Lizi’s saddle.

18. What’s their favourite genre of: books, music, tv shows, films, video games and anything elseAdventure books and pandaren music are her preferred genres. She also likes listening to music by the Trolls and Tauren.

19. What’s their least favourite genres?Romance novels

20. Do they like musicals? Music in general? What do they do when they’re favourite song comes?She’s pretty fond of music, mostly particular to pandaren music.

21. Do they have a temper? Are they patient? What are they like when they do lose their temper?She’s largely calm though she will lose her temper to things that particualry push her buttons.

22. What are their favourite insults to use? What do they insult people for? Or do they prefer to bitch behind someone’s back?“Ogre-headed buffoon.”, “I’ll drop you off Yun.” she normally insults out of extreme annoyance.

23. Do they have a good memory? Short term or long term? Are they good with names? Or faces?She has a fairly decent memory, mix between long and short term memory, she’s better with faces.

24. What is their sleeping pattern like? Do they snore? What do they like to sleep on? A soft or hard mattress?She has a rather impressive snore and she prefers to snooze away on Lizi’s saddle rather than sleep on a mattress.

25. What do they find funny? Do they have a good sense of humour? Are they funny themselves?She has a pretty good sense of humour, she laughs the hardest at puns and play on words.

26. How do they act when they’re happy? Do they sing? Dance? Hum? Or do they hide their emotions?When she’s truly happy she has this big toothy grin and her eyes light up, she bounces a bit, if it’s a person she’s missed for a while she’d do a break-neck hug run at them. She also chatters.

27. What makes them sad? Do they cry regularly? Do they cry openly or hide it? What are they like they are sad?She’s usually quiet when she’s sad or lonely, what makes her sad is loosing her sister and family.

28. What is their biggest fear? What in general scares them? How do they act when they’re scared?Her biggest fear is facing her twin sister on the opposing side, as an enemy and she’d be forced to kill her. It’s why she hangs out at the Tournament Grounds, the off-chance her sister is Alliance she’d be able to talk to her without being an enemy.

29. What do they do when they find out someone else’s fear? Do they tease them? Or get very over protective?Depends on the fear, she usually doesn’t care, as long as they don’t milk it. If she’s alone with them with the thing they’re afraid off, she’ll be there for them.

30. Do they exercise? Regularly? Or only when forced? What do they act like pre-work out and post-work out?Considering that she fights pretty much everyday, yes she works out and she hardly acts any different.

31. Do they drink? What are they like drunk? What are they like hungover? How do they act when other people are drunk or hungover? Kind or teasing?She’s pandaren, yes she drinks and she’s the silly drunk with I-Feel-Like-I’ve-Been-Sat-On-By-Kalecgos hungover. If she’s with friends, bonafide she’s drunk and hungover WITH them.

32. What do they dress like? What sorta shops do they buy clothes from? Do they wear the fashion that they like? What do they wear to sleep? Do they wear makeup? What’s their hair like?She’s a tom-boy, she heavily prefers shirts and pants, she’s normally wearing mail armour though, to bed she just wears shorts or pants and a silk shirt. She doesn’t wear makeup for she has fur. Her hair is in a top knot with bright fiery orange dyed strands.

33. What underwear do they wear? Boxers or briefs? Lacey? Comfy granny panties?uuuh, kind that doesn’t get stuck in armour.

34. What is their body type? How tall are they? Do they like their body?Currently she’s too skinny for a pandaren and she’s 6'8" tall, she hates her body right now, she wants it all nice and chubby. Which I imagine would actually be healthy for a pandaren.

35. What’s their guilty pleasure? What is their totally unguilty pleasure?Guilty pleasure for Firebrandy would actually be making drinks, unguilty pleasure would be eating everything within a three metre radius.

36. What are they good at? What hobbies do they like? Can they sing?She’s good at taming animals, tracking, painting, she can sing pretty good.

37. Do they like to read? Are they a fast or slow reader? Do they like poetry? Fictional or non fiction?She doesn’t read books often, but she she does read. Yes she likes poetry.

38. What do they admire in others? What talents do they wish they had?She’d like to not be reckless for once in her life.

39. Do they like letters? Or prefer emails/messaging?She likes letters, and writing them.

40. Do they like energy drinks? Coffee? Sugary food? Or can they naturally stay awake and alert?She can naturally stay awake an alert, to a point. She has a habit of falling asleep at the bar before she even downs some booze.

41. What’s their sexuality? What do they find attractive? Physically and mentally? What do they like/need in a relationship?Bisexual, she finds strength, looks, personality and honour to be attractive, she prefers other pandaren usually but she’d date any of the Horde races. She likes stability in a relationship and she likes being good friends first before they move on.

42. What are their goals? What would they sacrifice anything for? What is their secret ambition?She doesn’t have many big goals, help save Azeroth? She’d probably sacrifice herself to save her friends.

43. Are they religious? What do they think of religion? What do they think of religious people? What do they think of non religious people?The light exists, the titans exist, the old gods exist, all their gods exist. She’s sort of religious? She’s more partial to the nature gods.

44. What is their favourite season? Type of weather? Are they good in the cold or the heat? What weather do they complain in the most?She likes spring the most, her preferred weather is a mild overcast but not raining. She’s better in cold than heat, she hates arid.

45. How do other people see them? Is it similar to how they see themselves?Reckless, brash, no care for her life, sad, tired. It’s not similar to how she sees herself but she’s kinda missing her twin a lot.

46. Do they make a good first impression? Does their first impression reflect them accurately? How do they introduce themselves?By doing something completely brash, and usually without knowing that people are coming by. She’s usually wrestling one of her pets playfully.

47. How do they act in a formal occasion? What do they think of black tie wear? Do they enjoy fancy parties and love to chit chat or loathe the whole event?Do. Not. Put. Her. In. A. Dress. She’ll hulk out of them. She’s content with a nice pair of pants and a nice shirt. She’ll chat and have a few drinks.

48. Do they enjoy any parties? If so what kind? Do they organise the party or just turn up? How do they act? What if they didn’t want to go but were dragged along by a friend?She’s alright with parties, she’s usually dragged to them. Though she goes if booze is involved.

49. What is their most valued object? Are they sentimental? Is there something they have to take everywhere with them?Her most valued object has to be her earrings, her sister gave them to her.

50. If they could only take one bag of stuff somewhere with them: what would they pack? What do they consider their essentials?A change of clothes, first aid kit, provisions for herself and pet, mount whistles, bedroll, pillow and blanket.

[placetobenation]

The road to Survivor Series goes through NXT!

When you think about Survivor Series 2019, it’s the overriding theme that you’ll walk away. The youth. The exuberance. The excitement. The edge. The passion. No BS.

This is NXT!

Imagine what this year’s Survivor Series would look like without the NXT portion of brand vs. brand vs. brand – WWE style. Sure, we’d get some surprise matchups but would we get epic, what seemed like once in a lifetime matchups like we have this Sunday in Chicago?

HELL NO!

So, when we think about what this week in the WWE was all about it. It’s the wherewithal that the WWE has always been able to turn to when it’s backs are against the wall, facing a new rival that they feel is a bit threatening (yes, we see you AEW!). Because without All Elite Wrestling, do you really feel like we’d be getting Becky Lynch vs. Bayley vs. Shayna Baszler? Would we be drooling over AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Roderick Strong? Would we be excited about The Viking Raiders vs. The New Day vs. The Undisputed Era?

HELL NO!

And now to boot, to NXT’s credit, they’ll be doing it all just one night after staging their very own Survivor Series: Takeover with WarGames on Saturday night. One has to cross their collective fingers that no one gets hurt and doesn’t make it to Survivor Series Sunday. Or maybe, that’s the plan for RAW and Smackdown – strike early and often and take out 1/3 of the equation.

The possibilities are endless! And for the first time in quite some time, there’s a buzz that’s building in the WWE. Will they deliver? Here’s hoping they do, because it they disappoint and fizzle out, it could be a long time before wrestling fans give their faith back to the WWE.

STAR OF THE WEEK – Samoa Joe

Yes, even with everything else going on with brand supremacy on the line and with run-in after run-in after run-in happening all over the place, we go to the commentary desk for our star of the week. Pressed into duty with the, ahem, benching of Dio Maddin, Samoa Joe proved what most have known for a long time. The man talks it as well as he walks it! Smart, witty, edgy and to the point and the perfect mix to The King Jerry Lawler and Vic Joseph on Monday nights. Sure, it was only one night and no, we don’t want to see Joe not wrestling, but it’s a definite plus to use his injury hiatus to everyone’s benefit. He’ll put the right people over and do it in a way that it will make Monday night’s three hours not seem exactly like three hours.

Watch the FULL one-on-one interview between @ReneeYoungWWE & @CMPunk from last night's episode of @WWE Backstage. pic.twitter.com/93kUEfNzpX

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) November 20, 2019

A close second goes to last week’s winner, CM Punk. Talk about your splash! On his first full night on WWE Backstage, Punk did exactly what we thought he would do – speak his mind as he wants, when he wants and make sure you know it’s coming. Either by putting Seth “put the phone down” Rollins in his place or by giving real advice to the WWE about the women’s division being the best thing going (a sure shot to creative and the men on the roster as well), Punk was brutally honest and accurate. Let the superstars breathe and the product will improve.

An even closer third goes to Rhea Ripley. Star qualities, my friends! Looks, athleticism and now getting a chance to shine with the superstars of the women’s divisions!

Now, on to the shows!

MONDAY NIGHT RAW

#RAW brawls with #SmackDown and #WWENXT in the middle of the ring! It's MADNESS before #SurvivorSeries!!! pic.twitter.com/CK4sSfRXNp

— WWE (@WWE) November 19, 2019

"This Sunday, #SurvivorSeries, miracle or massacre? We all find out together." – @HeymanHustle #RAW pic.twitter.com/qwgFA3tYWA

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 19, 2019

RESULTS

Charlotte & Becky Lynch defeated The IIconics

Humberto Carrillo defeated Karl Anderson

Lashley defeated No Way Jose (submission)

Seth’s Survivor Series Spot on The Line: Seth Rollins defeated Andrade (DQ due to Lucha House Party interference)

Buddy Murphy defeated Akira Tozawa

Eric Rowan defeated A Victim

Kevin Owens vs. Drew McIntyre (no contest due to Triple H interference)

Asuka defeated Natalya

RAW Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders vs. Randy Orton & Ricochet (no contest due to NXT/Smackdown interference)

What we loved:

The Man and The Queen – Absolutely loved that Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair not only took on The IIconics, NXT and security, but also threw a few shots at the duo being paired together at every turn lately. Listen up backstage, it’s too lazy to throw your best together because it’s easy. Think out of the box and let them make stars out of the rest of the division.

Kevin Owens vs. Drew McIntyre (part one) – Absolutely fantastic match. Should we expect anything less from these two. An amazing match until…. (see what we hated).

Triple H’s promo – As the “face” of NXT, Triple H has surely put a charge in his charges from Full Sail throughout the build to Survivor Series. First, trying to lure Seth Rollins over to his team and now, this week, putting a bullseye on Kevin Owens in an epic promo that made so much sense, I was rooting for Owens to join Team NXT. Of course, the only thing wrong was…(see what we hated).

Paul Heyman – Since I’m from New England, I’ll tip my cap as a Paul Heyman Guy. Not only does he sell a PPV and a match like Brock Lesnar vs. Rey Mysterio, Jr. like no other, but he also lobs some jabs the way of the hometown Boston crowd. Heel to the end. Love it, Mr. Heyman.

What we hated:

EXCLUSIVE: Even though he was surrounded by @TripleH and #WWENXT Superstars, @FightOwensFight held his ground in this moment you didn't see on #Raw. pic.twitter.com/tiyz2kqDFM

— WWE (@WWE) November 20, 2019

Kevin Owens vs. Drew McIntyre (part two) – Why in the blue hell did we not get a finish? We get that the WWE doesn’t want ANYONE to lose these days. But, having Triple H come out at no particular time to stop a match to talk to Owens makes no sense. It also makes no sense that on TV, we never got an explanation as to what happened to the match and McIntyre. It just disappeared. It takes nothing away from Triple H’s promo, which was fantastic in its own right, but just misplaced.

Too many run-ins – The main event ends in a run-in for a no-contest. Rollins vs. Andrade ends in a run-in for a no-contest. Owens vs. McIntyre ends in a no-contest. We get it. There’s chaos, but there’s a better way to show chaos than just the same sort of run-in each week, three or four times a night. It takes the sting and buzz off each one with each repetitive run-in.

NXT

RESULTS

Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley (Double DQ – Shayna Baszler interference)

Matt Riddle defeated Richochet

The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) defeated The Revival

Kay Lee Ray defeated Dakota Kai

The Viking Raiders defeated The Forgotten Sons

Advantage Ladder Match for WarGames: NXT Champion Adam Cole defeated Dominik Dijakovic

What we loved:

WHAT'S ALL THIS?!?! This weekend is going to be fuuuun…#WWENXT @WWERollins @NXTCiampa pic.twitter.com/V4rymKBup3

— WWE (@WWE) November 21, 2019

Night of stars – From Becky Lynch opening the show, to The Revival in a tag team dream match against The Undisputed Era to Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro running in to take on Matt Riddle & Ricochet to Seth Rollins closing the show to face-off with Tommaso Ciampa, it was a night of stars in Orlando, Florida. And sure, it worked. For the first time in eight weeks, NXT topped AEW in total viewers on Wednesday night.

Complete and utter chaos is happening tonight as these #WWE Superstars try to show which brand can and will stand tall this Sunday at #SurvivorSeries… #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/MwLRJv2q3F

— WWE (@WWE) November 21, 2019

Riddle vs. Ricochet – Sure, it was a bit short at under four minutes, but we got a clean finish. It’s something we needed and could lead to more down the road. Plus, we got a Finn Balor cameo to boot.  

This match is completely insane! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/Tv8Y8hnHS3

— WWE (@WWE) November 21, 2019

Ladder match, anyone? – I could’ve easily made Adam Cole the star of the week as he tops off an epic month by claiming the advantage in WarGames for his Undisputed Era team by knocking off Dominik Dijakovic. But, then again, none of us should be surprised as every main event is delivering for NXT on Wednesday night.

What we hated:

Honestly, there’s nothing to dislike this week. Great build as the middle spot to Chicago. So far, the best cross-tri-brand showing of the month.

FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN

RESULTS

Rhea Ripley defeated Sasha Banks & Charlotte

The Undisputed Era defeated New Day & Heavy Machinery

Daniel Bryan defeated The Miz (DQ when The Fiend interferes)

King Corbin, Bobby Roode, & Dolph Ziggler defeated Roman Reigns, Mustafa Ali, & Chad Gable

What we loved:

And @RheaRipley_WWE steals the win for #WWENXT! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/FuPQAN1vc3

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) November 23, 2019

Send home show success – Now that’s the way you send us into a PPV and make us more interested! Lately, WWE’s go-home shows before a PPV have been ho-hum and not really brought in more hype for the show, but this one did it in spades! Making Rhea Ripley a star on the level with Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks with a unique cradle move out of Flair’s figure eight hold was amazing! Keeping The Undisputed Era as a force on par with any faction in the WWE is the right way to go. And the all-out brawl that ends the show with Braun Strowman facing off with Keith Lee made me want Sunday night to come immediately. Kudos!

The dream match we never knew we wanted. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Pff2O6cfVh

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) November 23, 2019

We've got a NEW @WWE Intercontinental Championship on #SmackDown

pic.twitter.com/xzz8a3mInc

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) November 23, 2019

Shinsuke’s new belt – Yup, that new Intercontinental Belt is super sweet. Much improved from the simple white belt. One question, though. Does Sami Zayn really have that much power to hand over new title belts? Interesting!

Bayley vs. Baszler – Love the back and forth beatdowns between these two. Bayley gets the last lick in before Survivor Series. Gotta love the underdog getting an upper hand to make you believe, right?!

Addressing the elephant in the room – Loved that AJ Styles didn’t let all those CM Punk chants go by without a shot. You knew they were coming, whether it be in the Styles segment or as Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins got involved in the end of show melee, and the WWE should encourage interaction now with Punk on WWE programming on WWE Backstage. Styles saying he’d mop the floor with Punk without saying his name keeps that dream alive.

What we hated:

Who’s team NXT – We still don’t know who’s on the men’s side for Team NXT. We would NOT like it to involve Triple H. There’s more than enough stars on NXT to fill a five-man team for Survivor Series. The rumors haven’t died yet, so while yes, there’s intrigue in who the team will be, I’m guessing they might be waiting to see who survives WarGames to see who will be available to part of Team NXT’s men’s elimination match.

Meh:

The Miz – While we like him in the midst of the The Fiend vs. Daniel Bryan feud to provide some historical angst for Bryan, where does he fit in for Sunday’s Survivor Series? I guess that leaves him in limbo to help out in some form or fashion, but shouldn’t one of the WWE’s biggest stars have a defined role in one of the major four shows of the year?

NXT: Taveover Card:

Kickoff show: Angel Garza vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott

Triple Threat Match: Pete Dunne vs. Killian Dain vs. Damian Priest

Matt Riddle vs. Finn Balor

WarGames: Team Baszler vs. Team Ripley – Shayna Baszler, Kay Lee Ray, Io Shirai & Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Mia Yim & Tegan Nox

WarGames: Team Undisputed Era vs. Team Ciampa – Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly vs. Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Dominik Dijakovic and a mystery partner

Survivor Series Card:

WWE Championship No Holds Barred, No DQ Match: Brock Lesnar vs. Rey Mysterio, Jr.

WWE Universal Championship Match: Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan

Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Bayley

The Viking Raiders vs. The Undisputed Era vs. The New Day

AJ Styles vs. Roderick Strong vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Survivor Series Elimination Match: Team Smackdown (Sasha Banks, Carmella, Lacey Evans, Dana Brooke, and Nikki Cross) vs. Team Raw (Charlotte Flair, Sarah Logan, Natalya, Asuka, and Kairi Sane) vs. Team NXT (Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox and Toni Storm – Storm not confirmed yet)

Survivor Series Elimination Match: Team Smackdown (Roman Reigns, Mustafa Ali, Braun Strowman, King Corbin, and Shorty G) vs. Team Raw (Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, and Ricochet) vs. Team NXT (TBD)

[leg-grestrade]

Reaching - A Finnrey Friday Ficlet

(Slight NSFW for themes)

When Finn spotted Rey approaching from the other side of the base, he turned to the group of pilots that were surrounding him and smiled.

“There she is. I can ask her now.”

One of the pilots, a shaggy haired man from Mos Eisley, snickered and nodded.

“Yeah, you do that, Finn. Let us know if she can help you out!”

Finn walked over to Rey with smothered chuckles and guffaws at his back. Rey spotted him and smiled, slowing her steps.

“Hi, Finn. I missed you in the canteen. Is everything okay?”

“Sorry, Rey. I got caught up talking to some of the new pilots.” Finn studied her curiously. “By the way, do you have a reach-around that you could give me?”

Rey gave him a puzzled look. “A what?”

“A reacharound.” Finn jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the group of pilots that were watching them. “I was talking to those guys back there and they asked me if I’d ever had a reacharound. I told them no, and they said I should ask you if you could give me one.”

Rey scratched her chin. “Did they say I had one? It sounds like a tool, but I’ve never heard of it.”

Finn was about to answer, but Rey made a sudden motion with her hand. “Oh, there’s Poe. Let’s ask him. Maybe he would know?”

Finn nodded. “He probably would. Hey, Poe!”

Poe Dameron had been heading for the group of pilots, who were now chatting among themselves, but veered off when he saw Finn and Rey motioning to him.

“Hey guys.” He smiled at his young friends. “What’s going on?”

“Finn needs a reacharound,” said Rey. “He asked me for one but I don’t know what it is. Do you?”

Poe’s face had fallen before Rey had said a dozen words, and at the end of her sentence, he looked as if he’d been kicked in the oolocks.

“Finn needs a what?”

“Yeah, those guys over there were asking me about it and said I should go to Rey,” said Finn, nodding his head toward the group. “They seemed to think it was pretty important because they said I should ask Rey right away.”

Poe’s face turned thunderous. He turned slowly round to face the crowd. All of the men suddenly stopped laughing.

“You wait here.” Poe’s voice sounded tense and angry. “I’m going to have a word with them.”

Rey looked puzzled as Poe stalked over to the men, who now looked pale and anxious. There was a great deal of activity in the hangar and so it was not possible for Rey or Finn to hear what was being said, but Poe’s expression and hand gestures said it all.

“Why is he so angry?” Rey turned to Finn with raised eyebrows. “Is it illegal to have a reacharound on the Resistance base?”

“Uhhh, I doubt it.”

Finn’s mouth curled at the corners. Rey looked at him inquisitively as Poe’s harangue reached a fever pitch behind them. Now all the men were guiltily looking down at their boots.

“Wait, do you know what a reach-around is? If you did, then why did you ask me?”

“Sorry, Rey.” Finn looked chagrined. “I was trying to prove a point. I wanted to let you in on it, but Poe showed up before I could talk to you about it.”

“Well, what is it then?”

Finn’s face burned, but feeling a bit put out for his role in things, he gave Rey a brief, yet thorough description. Rey listened carefully, cocking her head to one side.

“Oh! You mean Milking-the-Bantha.”

Now it was Finn’s turn to stare. “… What?”

“That’s what that was called on Jakku,” said Rey. “Because that’s how some of the Crolutes liked to milk Bantha. From behind.”

“O …kay.” Finn looked slightly disturbed. “But yeah, we didn’t call it that in the First Order, either. We called it Shining the General’s Shoes.”

Rey made a face. “General Hux?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“You really don’t want to know.”

Rey seemed to accept that, but she glanced over at the group of pilots and then back at Finn.

“Wait, they wanted you to ask me to do … that? With you?”

“Yeah. They figured I wouldn’t know what it was. Y’know, because I was a Stormtrooper and all, so obviously I wouldn’t know anything about sex.” Finn frowned heavily. “So they could have a laugh watching me ask you about it.”

Rey’s face softened in sympathy. “I’m sorry, Finn. That was a horrible trick to try to play on you … but I don’t understand what Poe has to do with it? You said you were going to tell me what was going on but Poe showed up. You’re the one who called him over. Why tell him about it?”

Finn sighed. “Poe is a great guy … an awesome friend … but he sort of … doesn’t get it sometimes, that not everyone sees me the way he does – as Finn, the man, not Finn, the ex-Stormtrooper who was stolen as a baby and probably doesn’t know how to tie his boots. That group of pilots has been ‘joking’ with me for a while now, but when I told Poe, he asked me to give them a chance, that they were probably just nervous. I wanted him to see just what they were actually doing and saying. Now he has.”

Rey glanced over again. Poe was wrapping up whatever he was saying, and he was motioning in their direction.

“Did they think I’d tell you no?”

Finn stared. “Uhm … I don’t know. I think they just figured things would be really kriffing awkward between us.”

“Oh. Because I wouldn’t mind doing that, if you wanted.”

Finn blinked. “… Huh?”

“It might be fun.” She smiled and took his hand, lacing his fingers with hers. “There are some other things I could do at the same time that you might like, too.”

When Poe turned around and saw that Finn and Rey had disappeared, he scrubbed the lower part of his face with his hand.

“Where’d they go?”

“Uh, they seemed to be headed to the Falcon,” said one of the pilots. “Really fast.”

“Yeah, they were running.” Another pilot chimed in. “And holding hands.”

Poe thought about it for a moment, then grimaced in realization.

“Okay, but you’re still gonna have to kriffing apologize!”

ende