#Soma from the Well: Forge

[beevean]

🌻:> - curse-of-darkness

I really wish more people engaged with CoD in better faith, and didn't stop at the surface story about the cycle of revenge. I've been thinking recently about how much of a massive nerd Hector actually is lol

Same man! (ft. lil spidey)

But I'm talking about the game itself. Admittedly, most protagonists have a level of dorkiness to them: you have Alucard who is scared of elevators and throws peanuts into his mouth like a game, or Juste and his personal room, even Soma has his moments like using the Excalibur as a bludgeon. But Hector is just, I'm questioning how seriously he's taking his quest lol

He wastes time not only sitting on chair but judging them (the stump "is hard on the rear", no you don't say), he forges all manners of silly weapons by himself - he doesn't find them, he makes them! He has the idea! - some of his Devils are simply peak...

why is this thing the best weapon you can have against dracula.

But also in a more serious way, you have the Tiramisu fairy whose specialty is translating the inscriptions left by Sage Eneomaos, which hints at the fact that Hector enjoys studying and learning this kind of stuff. You know he's the kind of guy who in a college AU or whatnot he would gush about his major no matter who's listening lol.

And I don't know, I was just thinking about how fun it is to put the pieces together left by the game, even unintentionally. These games are fun to think about, I don't know what to tell you. And Hector is a well written, compelling character :P

oh and since you reminded me of this with your castlesibs tease: I'm not super fond of the idea that Hector's main weapon is the sword, because it doesn't help against the Edgy Alucard accusations lmao. I would either give him a rapier, which is still different from Alucard's sword, or assign him an axe, which would fit his more aggressive nature. Or, y'know.

Or if you want to get much more blatant... :P

(yes i know that these beeg weapons are the complete opposite of the rapier. both would go depending on the interpretation. i personally prefer the rapiers when it comes to playing lol)

all of this to say that I would like to imagine how Alucard and Hector would fight. Sure, Alucard would win, but they should have very different fighting styles, I think.

[elvenbeard]

2077, September

“I’m wondering if this is what Alt meant when she said Soulkiller would… kill my soul. Leave me nothing but a cluster of memories and thoughts… A blurry copy of myself, trapped in a body so adjusted to Johnny already that it would’ve been smarter to just – …”

Look at how far you've come. You're the King of the fucking Afterlife, a Night City legend... but as it is with Night City legends, they tend to die young.

Vince is 28 by mid-to-late 2077, every other person his age has so much to live for, to look forward to... yet his thoughts are still pre-occupied with the same problem they have been since April, just with a new twist: how the hell am I gonna survive my own body trying to kill me now?

He'd been told that Johnny would slowly wipe out his personality, his memories, his existence, but even with Johnny gone now, for good, an amicable separation in the end... Vince doesn't feel the same anymore. Is he even himself still? Or just a not-entirely-accurate copy of the Vince that once was? In the end, did he wipe himself out with the help of Alt and Soulkiller, without Johnny even having a fault in it so much?

Just like after Jackie's death, Vince cannot help but wonder: would it have been better the other way around? Should he have stayed back in Cyberspace, give Johnny a second chance, changed man that he was by then? But this body was Vince's, had always been, logically he knew it... But something was off, not quite the same anymore.

He has so much to fight for now, not even only abstract concepts like a good reputation or "being remembered" that he was so focused on at the start of all of this. In the chaos and hardship he found friends, love, forged connections he could have never dreamt of - in spite of and because of Johnny, and for that he's thankful.

He has so much to lose, more than ever. Giving up is not an option, has never been.

Vince through the years (8/9)

I mentioned many times before that I love the Sun ending cause it fits really well for Vince for many reasons. He's a good merc, but he'd make an even more amazing Fixer with his background, he's hella ambitious, smart, cunning, organised, and just.... hhhh everything!! But the Soulkiller thing still fucks me up so much everytime and the more I think about it. Anyone know the plot-twist of/played SOMA? Yeah... yeah. If you know, you know.

The one thing that always really bothered me about the Sun Ending though, is one of the last things he gets to say before the credits being "I have nothing left to lose" when... no, clearly not. We accept that the council has made a decision but it's a stupid decision! Blaming it on his nerves and not having a good time with Mr. B, distrusting his ass for good reasons, that he says that at that moment XD

That being said... I know everyone has a slightly differently timeline of events, and I wanted to share bits an pieces of mine in this context (still a wip more or less, but I have some set dates for certain events because I love angst).

Thursday, Nov. 5th 2076 -> meet Jackie at Lizzie's, booted from Arasaka

End of December -> First Gig with Jackie

[A lot of the early gigs for Regina and Wakako (but a few of the other Fixers, too), happen during the time of the 6-month-montage for my headcanon]

Sunday, April 4th 2077 -> "The Rescue"

Monday, April 5th 2077 -> "The Ride"

[preparations for the Konpeki Plaza heist in the following days - a bit more elaborate planning would be needed imo than what's shown in game, the Maelstrom meetup alone, esp. if you meet Meredith upfront, wouldn't be something Vince would do over the course of a fun afternoon]

Friday, April 16th 2077 -> Konpeki Plaza Heist, arrival at the hotel in the early afternoon

Saturday, April 17th -> V wakes up in the landfill in the evening

[stay at Vik's to recover - mostly from injuries sustained during the fights and the operation; since this is the future it would probably not be as long as we'd have to stay in hospital with today's medicine; I think V would also get more glimpses into Johnny's memories as he sleeps/dreams]

Tuesday, April 20th -> V is brought home and Johnny appears at night

Wednesday, April 21st -> Breakfast with Takemura xD

[over the course of the next few weeks everything up to "Play it Safe" happens, including the Hunt for Hellmann and the search for Evelyn and the Voodoo Boys; a lot of it is going on simultaneously, but helping Panam and going after Hellmann and such is something that would take at least 3-4 days with minimal travel inbetween - but V could for example talk to Mr. Hands while waiting for the Kang Tao AV to get the meetup with Brigitte scheduled and help Takemura while Evelyn is recovering, and so on.]

Mid-May 2077 -> Attack on the Parade in Japantown (the attack on the parade and the few quests that follow with Takemura's safehouse and V and Johnny escaping to the Motel etc. all happen over the course of 12ish hours in my head, cause it wouldn't make sense to trail off doing gigs or other stuff while Takemura and Hanako sit there and wait super on-edge XD)

Friday, May 14th -> Johnny's wild bender

Sunday, May 16th -> Ebunike & Oil Fields

Tuesday, May 18th -> Movie-Date with Rogue

Thursday, May 20th -> first meeting with Kerry😌

Tuesday, May 25th -> Samurai "Reunion" Concert

Thursday, May 27th -> Kerry has a gig for V

Tuesday, June 1st -> Dark Matter show with Us Cracks (and in the following days Blue Moon's stalker gig, before Boat Drinks)

Friday, June 4th -> Boat Drinks 🚤🔥

[a tiny little peace of mind pls before it all goes to shit XD]

Wednesday, June 9th -> Embers-Meetup with Hanako (headcanon time: I think, with how dangerous and secretive everything is with Hanako, they would agree on sth like her calling V with a date for the meetup at Embers at some point, when she feels it is safe. Maybe he'd still formally agree at some point "all right, starting now, feel free to call me anytime and I'll come, I'm ready"; so there is some plausible reason as to why "Meet Hanako at Embers" sits in your journal for around 20 gigs revolving around Johnny's past without consequences XD)

Thursday, June 10th -> V's 28th birthday, bc I love angst :D (as I said above, the meet at Embers would be something more or less spontaneous, and so he'd be like "aw shit, I wanted to spend my potential last birthday not thinking about the Arasakas' offer too much", not expecting he wouldn't really walk out of the restaurant on his own again. The attack on Arasaka Tower would happen the same night, after the meeting with Hanako, and so by the time midnight strikes and V walks into and out of Mikoshi, it would be his birthday in multiple ways, kinda. Cause ~symbolism~)

[time skip with very important things happening that explain how V got his mansion and became King of the Afterlife]

Thursday, September 2nd -> "Blaze of Glory" - Meetup with Mr. B at Afterlife (I put it in September because Alt's estimate for how long V has to live find a solution to his problem is around 6 months. So, by September half of that time is over, but V'd also have a very reasonable amount of time to plan the Crystal Palace Heist and make it a success, looking at how he managed to survive the main story events in a shorter timeframe. I think the outlook could definitely be seen as positive; also basing this a bit on what a femV romancing River says in the Sun Ending, that "months of prep" went into this "last gig". Also, the very prominent clothing ad "Focus on Winning this Fall" - "fall", as in, the season - visible at the start of the 6-month-montage also kinda makes me think the endings take place during Sep-Nov, cause we love foreshadowing in this house)

Saturday, September 4th -> First Chapter of "Love is Stored in the Olive Jar" XD and from then on we'll see o.o

Oookay.... that ended up being longer than I thought XD But yes... seing what V has accomplished in a relatively short amount of time (and I mean... about 1.5 months can definitely be "a few weeks, at most", if we look at Vik's original estimate of the situation) I think with twice as much time to plan *just one gig* (even though, admittedly, an insane one) his chances of it going right are good. Maybe not 100% according to plan, cause something always goes wrong, but yeah. Fully depends on everyone's V's of course, and whether at that point they *want to* continue fighting, have something to fight for and lose - Vince definitely does - but yeah. I choose to interpret the Sun ending as a positive outcome that gives V another shot at life xD Maybe not in the way he expected buuuut... 👀

Thanks for reading so far if you did, would love to hear different takes and how you'd space out the timeline of the main story for your V!

[hereforreadandwrite]

Chapter One

Masterlist

Little mús = Little mouse

The journey to England was long and arduous. You had never been confronted with the whims of the ocean and bad weather. The clan had to endure the rain, the icy wind, the storm and the raging ocean. For a first trip, it was hectic, but feeling the water and the wind warming up. When you first saw the lands of England, you were amazed. There was no nose, but plains of greenery as far as the eye could see. Dag was quick to make his voice heard, commenting that it was strange that Christians worship the cross that killed their Christ. For him, it was as if the Danes decided to worship the wolf who killed Odin. You shook your head slightly, deciding to ignore that idiot Dag, concentrating on all his new landscapes passing by until the ship arrived safely: Ragnarssons Encampment. But something was strange, the camp was strangely quiet and the few men there were dirty, badly dressed and they weren't from the North. Sigurd ordered to stop the boat, he wanted to continue on foot and present himself to them to verify if they were their friends or enemies that they were going to fight together. Well, not all of them, Sigurd ordered you to stay in the boat while they check and clean up the area. You obeyed and hid in the boat, watching your brothers and the crew alight to report to the Saxons. Unsurprisingly, the Saxons attacked the clan, which was forced to retaliate. The clearing of the camp was quick, the Saxons were no match for warriors from the North. Eivor came for you once the camp was cleared of any unwanted Saxons. The other two ships arrived in turn. With their arrival, the clan immediately got to work. Repairing the longhouse, removing the brigands' tents to prepare theirs. Weeks passed quickly, a new moon had arrived, before their new home was repaired and ready to welcome them. Your brothers had taken the time to build you a cabin, near the longhouse. Your new home was big enough for you. You had thanked them warmly, even though you had told them of your worries about living alone. It was stupid, you weren't a kid anymore, but you couldn't help but be scared. All of his changes made you dizzy. Sigurd and Eivor reassured you, saying that you could come and see them at any time of the day or night. A new life was beginning in Ravensthorpe. But things weren't that simple. A few days after the clan was installed, Sigurd and Eivor had to leave, each on their own, to forge alliances with other clans. Sigurd had left to join the Ragnarssons brothers and Eivor had gone to see the clan of a Jarl named Soma.

Eivor returned to Ravensthorpe for several weeks with the bracelet Soma had given him in appreciation for helping him. Apparently, he had helped the Jarl to return to his city and make a hard choice. He had just brought the good news. Now he had to go to Ledecestrescire, but he needed you. Sigurd had sent a letter, asking that you accompany Eivor, as he needed your archery skills. You were thrilled to join your brothers on this adventure.

"So sister? Do you like England?" asked Eivor as he rode his horse galloping through the fields of England.

"Yes, it's so different from Norway. The air is different, it's so warm, the landscape is so beautiful and colorful. There's so much to see. I wish Dǫglingr was here to see that. "

"I know (Y/N). I promise you that one day we will manage to bring him here."

"I hope."

The journey to Ledecestrescire was smooth until you and your brother arrived at a town called Repton. You left the horses in front of a church from which cries escaped. It was not reassuring. You looked at Eivor puzzled. The drengr tells you to stay behind him and let him talk. You were following Eivor in the Church which has been converted into a torture chamber. Lifeless bodies of Saxons hung above your heads, a man with a blindfold, soaked in blood, heated a sword, another was screaming, squirming, as he was in being lifted off the ground, feet up, head down. A third man was pulling a pulley to which the hanging Saxon was attached. The third man stopped, turning to the two newcomers.

"Who stands before Ivarr Ragnarsson? Are you Sigurd's drengr?" Ivarr asked, glaring at Eivor. "Aygor?"

"Eivor," Eivor replied, putting you behind him. "If you keep that up, you'll stain the floors."

"Eh! The place could use some color."

You couldn't help but wince when you saw all the blood. They were everywhere, the floor, the walls, the ceiling. Like your home, like tonight. You shook your head slightly, pushing his thoughts out of your mind. You didn't have to think about it. You were concentrating on Ivarr, studying his physique a little better. Half of his head was shaved, revealing his scar that crossed the left side of his face from the top of his head to his chin. Where had he got that scar? How did he get it?

"Who are they?" Eivor asked bringing you out of your thoughts.

"All spies," Ivarr replied, moving closer to the blind man to push him to the hanging Saxon. "Dressed to look the part of a peasant. Got feisty. Pitchfork. Form this rabid little one."

You felt your stomach turn as Ivarr guided him to point the sword at him begging.

"Was a time when you met and slew your enemy on the field before they could dream of things like sending spies."

Suddenly, Ivarr kicked the blind man's buttocks, startling him. In his surprise, he thrust the sword into the hanging man's side. You looked away from that scene. The man's cry echoed off the walls of the Church, the smell of blood made you want to vomit. It was horrible. But Sigurd would tell you that these were the consequences of the war.

"And now we shake hands and make deals," Eivor commented.

"Not my thing," Ivarr replied, stepping closer to the pleader.

"I figured."

"I love the whipped, weeping and reeking of piss."

Ivarr turned to the blind man, who was leading the pleader away. He shouted a "hey" startling the blind Saxon. You and Eivor watched the Ragnarsson move closer to his prisoner, grabbing his hand to put a coin in before gently patting his head, congratulating him on being a good boy. He then turned to beg him, telling him he was free and he could return to wreak havoc in the fields of Mercian. Ivarr moved closer to the pulley, grabbing his axe to slam him down on the rope. When she was cut off, the Saxon crashed hard to the ground. You were sure you heard his bones making a strange noise.

"I would have let him down easy," Eivor commented, looking at the inert Saxon.

"Hm," Ivarr breathes as he finishes getting dressed. "Follow me, I'll give you the tour."

Ivarr walked towards the exit of the Church, Eivor and you followed him through the small town.

"What do you call this place?" Eivor asked.

"I call it The Shithole. To the Mercians, it is Repton. Their most revered kings are buried below the church. Imagine their weeping when we drove them out!"

"You plunged your knife deep into the heart of this kingdom," you commented looking around.

"Hey, you have a language, little mús*. What's your name?"

"(Y/N)."

"Well (Y/N), you're right. We've got a number of Saxon nobles lined up with their lips puckered, ready to kiss or asses. The only holdout is King Burgred and his war-thegn, Leofrith. But my brother is brewing a plan to deal with them."

"I take it that's where we'll find our brother," Eivor said.

"Right. Talkers they are, Ubba and Sigurd. Might want to dig the wax from your ears."

The trio arrived in front of a tent from which a disgruntled voice was heard. What was happening? Ivarr mumbled something about a boring mercenary as he hurried into the tent. The dissatisfied person kills himself before leaving the situation visibly upset. Eivor nodded to you, urging you to follow him and stay close to him. He was the first to enter the tent, you followed him closely, hiding behind him. You were always uncomfortable around people you didn't know. You were relieved to see Sigurd and find that he was fine.

"Haggling over silver is a bad look for the son of Ragnar Lothbrok," Sigurd commented, glaring at Ubba. "But worry not, Ubba, I have the warriors you need."

"If this is one of them, my worries have vanished," Ubba commented before turning his attention back to you. "Who is this woman hiding behind your drengr?"

"Our sister, (Y/N)" Sigurd says smiling at you. "She doesn't look it, but she's my best archer."

Eivor smiled, leading you out of hiding to face Ubba and Ivarr. Your brother gave you a light pat on the back, making you straighten up. Why did you agree to come all the way here? You were better off at Ravensthorpe.

"You two have come at just the right time," Sigurd began, snapping you out of your thoughts. "Ubba and Ivarr here are hunting a king."

"And when we've caught him, we mean to crown another," Ubba explained, turning to a man approaching him. "Our dear Thegn Ceolwulf here."

"It's not a role I begged for, but it's what Mercia needs just now. A man to fairly rule both Saxons and Danes," Ceolwulf said.

"A puppet," you say, glaring Sigurd sternly.

"(Y/N)…"

"I am doing my part. I hope you have come to do yours. We are going to need all the help we can get for what comes nest."

"The king has refused our offers of peace," Ubba continued. "Ceolwulf means to change that. He'll be a new king for a new England."

"For now, Burged is holed up in his fortress at Tamworth, making a final stand," Sigurd continued.

"Another shithole, only further south," Ivarr commented.

"We've held a siege there for weeks, to no effect. So no more knocking. Now we beat the gate to splinters," Ubba continued. "If we take tamworth, remove Burgred, and crown Ceolwulf… come morning, this shire is ours. And Mercia soon after."

"Yes, remove. I cannot stress that enought," insisted Ceolwulf. "Burgred is not to be harmed. My legitimacy as king hangs on this one simple fact."

"You rob all the joy from war, Saxon," Ivarr replied, stepping away from the table to approach you and Eivor, glaring Ceolwulf sternly.

"Not every victory needs to be marked by the slaughter of a king."

"Ah! But it is much better," the Boneless replied.

"His request is fair, Ivarr. And we will honor it," Sigurd replied much to Ivarr's annoyance.

You no longer listened to what your brothers and the Ragnarsson brothers were saying. One word in particular was ringing in your mind. Slaughter. Your heart started beating at an amazing speed, your ears started ringing, your hands were shaking and you felt your stomach turn. No, now was not the time. You had to leave the tent without being noticed. The men were too focused on their hunt for the king to care about you. You slowly backed up to the exit of the tent without being noticed. Once outside, you clapped your hand over your mouth, starting to run to find a secluded spot. Once you were sure you were alone, you allowed your body to give up the contents of your stomach. You vomited the little food and bile before calming down. Why did that simple word put you in such a state? Sigurd and Eivor trusted you for this mission. You shouldn't let yourself go like that.

"Are you really a good archer, little mús?"

You turned to none other than Ivarr Ragnarsson. Of course, someone had to catch you throwing up your guts and it had to be a Ragnarsson. You used the back of your sleeve to wipe your mouth. You pulled yourself together, facing Ivarr who was closing in on you.

"You look more like a terrified little girl than a gifted archer whose prowess Sigurd kept praising," Ivarr commented, letting his carnivorous grin show. "Will you be able to hold out against our enemy or will you be busy throwing your guts out?"

"You don't know me, I'm able to stand against the enemy. If Sigurd praises my prowess, there's a reason," you say, straightening your back. "My brothers trust me and that's enough for me."

You walked past Ivarr, moving away from him to find Eivor and Sigurd. Ignoring the fact that Ivarr Ragnarsson was watching you walk away. He had noticed that you were uncomfortable in the Church. Was it the fact that he was torturing Saxons or the stress of the coming battle? Maybe both. Could he really trust you? After all, they were going to have to fight King Burgred. Were you going to crack in the middle of a fight? He was going to have to watch you closely, but first he had to get the son of the future king: Ceolbert. This kid needed to shed blood to assert himself and become a man. He arrived near his brother from Sigurd and his drengr, all were ready to leave, but someone was missing. Each mounted their horse and the party set off for King Burgred's abode, but Ivarr quickly noticed that someone was missing.

"Little mús went into hiding again to return his meal?" he asked, glaring at Sigurd.

"No, (Y/N) went ahead to check around and find his perch," replied Sigurd, smiling proudly and straightening his back.

"Who told you she didn't run away?"

"It's true that she seems quite… weak," Ubba commented.

"We know (Y/N) better than anyone," Eivor said, glaring sternly at the Ragnarsson brothers. "Our sister is trustworthy. I will not hesitate to entrust my life to her."

"Well said, Eivor," Sigurd replied. "Don't worry, (Y/N) is a talented archer. Odin granted her extraordinary vision."

"Extraordinary how much?" asked Ceolbert curiously.

"You'll see, Ceolbert. She doesn't look like it, but (Y/N) has saved our lives more than once," Eivor replied.

Ivarr couldn't help but groan when he heard that. There was no way you were as amazing as your brothers said you were. You looked like a mouse that was ready to flee at the slightest opportunity. How could he trust you for this mission?

The group arrived at the king's residence. Everyone was just waiting for orders from the Ragnarssons and Sigurd so they could invade the Tamworth. Unsurprisingly, you weren't at the makeshift camp. He was sure and certain that you had taken advantage of it to flee Mercia.

"Looks like your dearest sister ran away," Ivarr commented, glaring at Eivor and Sigurd who continued to smile.

"No, she's here. Closer than you think," Eivor replied, following Ubba to the gates of the fortress.

Ivarr rolled his eyes, growling in displeasure. He nodded to Ceolbert to follow him. Burgred stood at the top of the walkway, looking down on the Danes.

"Look at these pagan rats! Ravenous, unseemly beasts, teeming over holy ground!" Burgred exclaimed to Leofrith who looked uncertain.

"Have a care, lord. These pagan rats outnumber us."

"I can see that, fool!" Burgred muttered through his teeth. "What do we do about them!"

"I advise we strongly consider their demands, lord," advised Leofrith. "We won't survive a fight."

"Is that you, Leofrith?" Ivarr asked sarcastically. "How quickly you recover. I'm beginning to wonder if it is a man or a god beneath all that armor."

"A man of God stands before you, Ivarr," replied Leofrith emblemately? "Proud and resolute."

"That's Burgred war-thegn," Ubba explained, turning to Eivor and Sigurd. "Killed a dozen of our men in an amubush along the river Trent. It Ivarr's ax that stopped him."

"That is a poor description of a perfect thirty-yard toss," Ivarr said proudly.

"Enough jawing, heathens!" barked Burgred "Speak your piece."

"We've come for your crown, lord," Ubba replied calmly.

"With or without your head attached," Ivarr continued.

"I admire your ambition, Pagan," Burgred replied with a sneer. "But what you ask is impossible. No dane ever has or ever will occupy Mercia's sacred throne."

"Are you sure of that, King Burgred?" Eivor asked quite loudly. "Are you sure you want to see what will happen to your men posted on this walkway?"

Burgred only had time to reply to his surprise, and that of Leofrith, four of his men resures an arrow in the face or in their throat, killing them on the spot or leaving them to agony for long minutes. Ivarr watched this puzzled scene. Where did his arrows come from? The assault had not yet been launched. His attention fell on Sigurd and Eivor, the two brothers smiling enigmatically. Impossible, was it you? But where were you hiding? He didn't see you.

"Pagan dog! What have you done?!" shouted Burgred enraged. "Kill them all!"

"My king, may I suggest a more measured approach to this-"

"I grow weary of this palaver! You have trampled our lands, toppled our monuments. We've given you silver. Fed your people," Burgred shouted, spitting at the vikings' feet. "And yet in spile of all this, your encroachment on my kingdom continues. No more! We will die defending what is ours, whatever the cost. If you want my crown, Ubba Ragnarsson, you must pry it from the hands of my bloodless cor-"

Burgred had no time to finish his sentence when an arrow pierced the air, skimming his cheek and went to crash into the head of one of his soldiers, post a little further. A cry of terrifier escaped his lips as his war-thegn searched for the person who had just fired his arrows. You couldn't help but sigh seeing the two Saxons being so panicked. They reminded you of two hens running away from the farmer who was coming with an axe. When you were reunited with your brothers, Sigurd ordered you to go first so you could find a vantage point to clean up. Burgred was screaming so loud you could hear him from where you were hiding. You had found a tree with rather thick branches and dense foliage, you were perfectly concealed, sixty feet from Burgred's fortress. You were snapped out of your thoughts when you heard Synin croak. You watched the crow circling above the tree where you were perched. You nodded slightly, jumping off your branch to follow Burgred, or at least keep an eye on him. Ceolwulf didn't want him to die, which was stupid. Burgred was not going to be captured so easily. You fired new arrows, killing guards watching for reinforcements. You had to eliminate as many as possible to allow the others to enter. When the wall was clear, you climbed it arriving on the walkway which was now deserted. You looked around taking the opportunity to slip into Tamworth, hiding in the bushes. You could already wreak havoc with just a few arrow shots. You saw carts with jars filled with oil. All it needed was a small spark for it to explode. You prepared an arrow, aiming at one of the jars.

Burgred had better be well hidden.

You let go of your bowstring, letting your arrow slice through the air to smash into a jar that shattered into a thousand pieces. The oil was spreading on the ground, coming dangerously close to a fire. Alerted by the noise, Burgred's men approached the source of the noise. The oil came in contact with the flames, guiding them to the cart which exploded, sending oil and flames on the men who screamed and pain and tried to put out the flames, without much result. His screams were the signal for the drengrs of the Ragnarssons brothers who broke down the huge wooden door, invading the place. What little house there was was now on fire, the battle cries echoed, the sounds of swords clashing echoed through Tamworth. You took advantage of the chaos to come out of hiding, killing any archers you saw, allowing the drengrs to push the ram through Tamworth. You were surprised to see an axe pass a few centimeters from your face, going to plant itself in the head of a Saxon who collapsed. Your gaze rested on none other than Ivarr. This one had a smirk on his lips as he moved closer to you to take back his weapon, returning to fight without saying a word.

"Sister! Over here!" Eivor shouted.

You rushed past Eivor, covering his and Sigurd's rear, to Burgred's home, killing his two henchmen, thus taking control of Tamworth. Burgred had lost. Eivor and Ubba broke down the door, allowing the small group to enter the house which was strangely empty. This coward had managed to flee? Impossible. Ubba turned to one of his men, ordering them to take three men and search the area before turning to Eivor, asking him to search the area for what might help them find Burgred while he go tell Ceolwulf that they have found him a throne. Throne on which Ivarr had taken his place. He was really unabashed. Ubba and Sigurd left the house, Eivor began to search the premises, leaving you alone. You sighed leaning against a beam. How did Burgred get away without anyone seeing him? Come to think of it, his war-thegn was also absent. They had both fled? You were snapped out of your thoughts when you heard a snore. Your attention fell on Ivarr who had just fallen asleep. Seriously? Eivor returned, a letter in hand which he handed to Ivarr before realizing that the Boneless was sleeping. Your brother was looking at you, just as lost, when Ubba, Sigurd and Ceolwulf entered the room. Seeing his brother sleeping, Ubba sighed loudly.

"Your men have any luck?" Eivor asked, turning to Ubba.

"Nothing. You?"

"This," he said giving the letter to Ubba. "Do you know that symbol?"

Ubba took the letter, checking the symbol. His expression turned serious as he recognized the drawing. He explained that this symbol was the sign of Tonna. The mercenary had helped them. Apparently, she had made a deal with Burgred. She was able to sell him the secrets regarding Ceolwulf, Repton, plans of the Ragnarssons. It smelled bad.

"Why bother with all this pageantry?" Ivarr asked, getting everyone's attention. "Fashion a new crown and stick it on your melon. There you have it, you're the new king."

"That is not how it works," replied Ceolwulf. "Not in Mercia."

"We're wasting time," Eivor said. "Tonna is our only lead. We talk to her, find out what she knows."

"I would sooner launch my face into my ax than face her," replied Ivarr, upset at the thought of seeing this woman again.

"That might improve her impression of you," Ubba replied, glaring sternly at his brother who rolled his eyes as he left the throne he was sitting on.

"We have the same father. But his mother wa a sow."

"Leave right now," you say as you approach the group of men. "The longer we wait, the more secrets Tonna will be able to sell."

"You're right. Bring your patience, you'll need it," Ubba commented as he walked towards the exit, followed by the group.

"And your axe," Ivarr continued.

The journey to the Tonna camp was peaceful, it was strange. Eivor and Sigurd had gone to talk to Tonna, leaving you with Ivarr and Ubba. You sighed, sharpening the tips of your arrows and checking that they weren't cracked. You had no place to stand high, that's why your brothers ordered you to stay with the Ragnarssons brothers.

"It was impressive what you did to Burgred's men," Ubba said looking down at you. "I've never seen anyone shoot with such precision."

"Thank you," you say, putting away your arrows.

"Looks like this little mús hides her game well," Ivarr commented with a sneer. "That and return your meal."

"What's this about returning your meal?"

The trio's attention fell on Sigurd and Eivor, returning from Tonna's camp. You straightened up, hanging your bow on your back. You answered your brother's question by telling him it was just a moment of weakness. Preferring to talk about Tonna than what had happened in Repton. According to the statements of Tonna, Burgred would hide evening in Ledecestre or in Templebrough Fort. The group split into three. Sigurd and Ubba went to Templebrough Fort and Ivarr went to Ledecestre. But Ubba asked you and Eivor to accompany him as a friend. Being friends with Ivarr Ragnarsson? It seemed absurd. But did you really have a choice? From the look Sigurd was giving you, you didn't really have a choice. You nodded slightly, agreeing to follow Ivarr to Ledecestre.

"We're going to have fun, little mús," Ivarr commented as he mounted his horse.

A sigh escaped your lips as you mounted your horse, following Ivarr to your next destination. You couldn't help thinking that you should have stayed in Ravensthorpe.

A sane person knew he or she couldn't be friends with Ivarr Ragnarsson. He was a man who didn't care about other people, he only did what he liked and he didn't care about the consequences. Why did Sigurd ask you to follow him to Ledecestre? He had taken with him a young boy who seemed as uncomfortable as you. This one presented itself to you. Apparently his name was Ceolbert and was the son of Ceolwulf, the future king of Mercia. Why risk the life of such an important person? It was absurd. You were snapped out of your thoughts when Ivarr announced that you had arrived. The town was filled with men working and fighting for Burgred. Searching the city wasn't going to be easy. Ivarr's attention fell on a fairly high tower where you can go unnoticed. You looked at Ceolbert, asking him if he had climbed himself. The young Aetheling shook his head negatively saying that he had never tried to climb a tree. Ivarr chuckled, saying he'll learn, even if it means breaking his neck. Climbing the walls of the tower was simple, Ceolbert managed to reach the top, not without being out of breath.

"Are you doing well?" you asked, patting Ceolbert on the back.

"The twig is fine little mús. It'll give him some muscle to his arms," Ivarr commented casually. "So! Let's get down to business. There are two possible places where Burgred can hide: the bathhouse and that church. One of us is going to have to go there as a scout and find out where our very dear King Burgred."

"I'll go," Ceolbert said, drawing your attention and Ivarr's.

"Are you sure of yourself? It's taking a risk. At the slightest mistake, your head will fall," you said, staring at the young man.

"Yes, I know I can do it."

"Be our guest," Ivarr replied, leading the way. "Try not to get yourself killed. Otherwise I'll have to kill your father."

You winced when you heard Ivarr say that. How could he threaten this boy to kill his father with such nonchalance? You felt your hands shaking. You had to calm down. You watched Ceolbert descend from the tower and disappear into the city. You were now alone with Ivarr The Boneless. Why did Sigurd order you to follow him? You knew he hoped for an alliance with the Ragnarssons brothers, but why did you have to stay with a man like him. You knew his reputation, everyone knew Ivarr. People had given him the nickname Boneless because he moved in such a strange way that he looked like he had no bones in his legs. Which was quite strange. You got closer to the edge of the tower, close enough to assess what was going on in the city and you were far enough away that no one noticed you. There was a lot of comings and goings of soldiers as well as carts probably containing food and oil.

"Burgred must be around," Ivarr said, snapping you out of your thoughts. "With so many of his men coming. They are preparing for a war."

"We'll be in trouble if that happens."

"It will not arrive."

You looked at Ivarr out of the corner of your eye. Ever since you left Tonna's camp, you noticed he was upset. You looked at the puzzled Boneless as he crouched down, surveying the bathhouse, rubbing his hands nervously. Silence fell between you and Ivarr. You hoped Ceolbert would come back alive. You were snapped out of your thoughts when you heard someone coming to the top of the tower. Eivor had arrived. You stood up, brushing the dust off your pants as Ivarr told him he was coming at the right time, because otherwise you would have torn this town apart without him.

"What have you seen?" asked the drengr.

"Soldiers aplenty. Wagons going in and out," you say. "Burgred must be here."

"The bathhouse there, and that church, see? I sent a scout to check them both. Should be back at any moment now," Ivarr continued before looking at Eivor. "Did you see Ubba and Sigurd in Templebrough?"

"No. And If Burgred is hiding here, I won't have to."

"There is a lot we would not have to do if we sruck to killing kings. Thanks to my brother, now we are into making them."

"And that's a bad thing?" you asked perplexed.

"You, Sigurd and you Eivor… do you still get along well?" asked Ivarr

"Most of the time, yes," you replied, looking at Eivor.

"Yes."

"You're both still young. Wait until you're my age and you'll see," he said, moving closer to you and Eivor. "The closer we are, the more we see each other's flaws."

Silence settled again. Eivor took a better look around, looking for Ivarr's lightning that didn't return. It was over, either he was dead or he had fled. Eivor decided he was going to see the Boneless scout. Ivarr let him go, preferring to wait here for Ceolbert to return. Your brother gave you one last look, telling you to be careful before he jumped off the tower and landed in a wagon full of hay. You were alone again with Ivarr. But you noticed that he was starting to get impatient. You didn't have time to ask him anything but he pulled out a horn to blow into it. He launched the assault on the city.

"What are you doing?!" you exclaimed in surprise.

"I've had enough of waiting. I want to shed blood!" he said, smiling at you with his maniacal smile which announced nothing good, while he approached dangerously close to you, bringing his face closer to yours. "You can hide here like a coward if you want little mús. You seem to be good at it. After all, we each have our fights and it looks like you haven't won yours. As long as you refuse to win, you'll stay a scared little mouse."

After that, Ivarr came down from the tower, leaving you alone. You didn't know what to think. He was right, you were incapable of fighting. You were too scared, as soon as you saw blood or people being massacred, you couldn't help vomiting or rolling your eyes. Archery was easy. You were too far away to see the damage you were causing, which was easier for you, but being on the battlefield. No, you preferred not to think about it. Just thinking about it, your hands began to shake, your stomach twisted and your heart rate accelerated. You had to calm down. You sat on the ground, back against the low wall, curling up and clutching your bow as if your life depended on it. You were useless. You should never have come. You should have stayed in Ravensthorpe. You would have been discussed with Hytham to learn more about his culture or his knowledge or you would have walked around the camp to help with any task. You could even bear the presence of Randvi. You were abruptly snapped out of your thoughts when you felt a hand land on your shoulder. You jumped looking at Eivor startled. What was he doing there? He had, however, gone to look for Ceolbert.

"Sister…"

"What are you doing here? And Ceolbert?" you ask.

"He's in a safe place," he said pulling off his cloak which he was draping over your shoulders. "What happened?"

"I… I shouldn't have come," you say, your throat tight. "I can't fight Eivor."

"You don't have to fight (Y/N). Sigurd and I fight for you."

"That's exactly the problem…"

"Sister… we'll get out of here. You'll go back to Tamworth to wait for us and stay there until Ceolwulf's coronation. After that, I promise you we'll go home."

You nodded slightly before standing up. You noticed that night had fallen and the city was ransacked and was half burnt. How long was it to elapse? Did you lose consciousness? It was quite possible. Eivor helped you down from the tower before leading you to his horse. The Wolf-Kissed informed Ivarr and Ceolbert that he was bringing you back to Tamworth Fortress. You put the hood on your head, hiding under your brother's cloak so that no one sees you. You were pathetic. One of your brothers was a Jarl and the other a drengr and you didn't humiliate them by being in a state of constant panic. Eivor set off, taking you back to Tamworth.

[mass-convergence]

The Bonds We Forge, Chapter 3

Summary: 

Soma had always considered herself too preoccupied with Grantebridge to even consider a relationship with another. Romantic or otherwise. The arrival of a new blacksmith in her city has her questioning if she was really preoccupied or if it was something else.

Basically: Soma is an aroace lesbian and this is most definitely a fix-it fic.

Chapter 3: A celebration of Yule, a gift, and plans for the new year.

This Work be on AO3 feel free to leave Kudos + comments there

Fandoms: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Characters: Soma, Original Characters

Pairings: Soma x OC

---------

Yule was a magical and beautiful time in Grantebridge. 

Colorful decorations adorned the structures in town and everyone allowed themselves time to drink and be merry and forget their duties for over a week as they feasted. Everyone including Soma.

Soma enjoyed Yule as much as any Dane or Norseman would. She drank and feasted with the citizens of her city; enjoying the fruits of her laborious efforts to make Grantebridge into the prosperous city it was. 

And what a prosperous city it was. 

Bonfires burned in the middle of town, Gyda dutifully helping Helga and her father with carrying stacks of wood to the blazes to keep them burning. Jólablót, the final night of Yule and the night of the sacrifice, approached as the moon waxed to near fullness. 

Soma was standing by one of the bonfires, enjoying a quiet moment to herself before she was pulled away to help in more of the festivities (she supposed she never really got a break during Yule … but it was a welcome change in pace). A light snow had begun to fall over Grantebridge but that didn’t stop the preparations for the final feast of Yule. Drengrs hauled barrels of ale to the longhouse and farmers led livestock to the center of town to be sacrificed for the feast. 

“My eyes must be deceiving me, you’re actually not working for once.”

Soma turned to see Ratha walking up to her with a smile on her face and bundled up against the chill of the night in a dark blue wool cloak. Ratha had practically disappeared into her forge for the past week, rarely coming out except to spend a few hours at the longhouse before disappearing into her shop once again. It was honestly beginning to worry Soma.

She had asked Gyda, who was at least marginally more available when she wasn’t dutifully helping Ratha in the forge, what was going on. Gyda had shrugged, “We’re still pretty busy with repairing tools after the harvest season and Lif put in an order for nails and rivets.”

Lif had mentioned putting together a few more ships now that Grantebridge was growing - as well as a need to repair some of the older ones that were damaged. Still, he wouldn’t be working on them during Yule and spring (and the time for the farmers to actually need their tools) was still months away. Ratha could take a bit of a break. Of course there was the matter that Gyda was an abysmal liar. Soma noticed how the younger woman had never looked her in the eye when she provided those “explanations” as to Ratha’s sudden occupation.

Soma was about to march down to the shop herself and ask what was going on before Gyda had apparently been tasked with playing interference once more. She assured Soma: “Ratha will be there for the Yule feast, she’s just putting some finishing touches on - er - something”. 

With that, Gyda excused herself to help Helga with carrying stacks of wood.

A strange emotion took hold of Soma when she saw Ratha walking up the path, cheeks rosy with the cold and a lopsided grin brightening her features. It was a feeling of giddiness, of an excitement that one felt when seeing an old friend after a long while. She noticed with some satisfaction and pride that Ratha’s limp was improving.

Soma crossed her arms and grinned back, “Speak for yourself. I thought it would take Ragnarok for you to leave your forge.”

Ratha’s cheeks turned a brighter red for a moment as she rubbed the back of her head, “I apologize for my absence from the festivities. I forgot I am more of an armorer than a jeweler and this took me much longer than I’d care to admit.” 

Soma’s smile waned, now replaced with a curiosity as she saw Ratha reach into a pouch on her belt and withdraw a smaller pouch wrapped in cloth. Her hand shook slightly as she handed the item to Soma, “I had to ask for a little help from Gyda and Nok with this.”

Nok was one of the other smiths in Grantebridge, he specialized more in jewelry and trinkets than armor and weapons. Clearing her throat slightly, Ratha handed the pouch to Soma, “Think of this as a thanks … for everything.”

Soma took the proffered gift and unfolded the linen to reveal a pendant and a chain. It was forged of iron and inlaid with an intricate gold braid pattern. Two serpents curled around the perimeter of the circle and at the center of the pendant was a tree of life. 

“It’s beautiful,” Soma said with a wide smile as she traced the outline of the pendant with her thumb, “thank you.” 

They stood in comfortable silence, listening to the crackling of the fire and the bustle of people around them. Soma glanced at Ratha, noting that she was staring around her at the scenes around the town. She had a far away look in her eyes, a wistful and sad expression. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“This is the first Yule I’ve spent without…,” Ratha faltered and took a moment, clearing her throat, “It’s my first Yule here.”

“You miss them.”

“It’s strange,” Ratha said, “I don’t really remember much from before, well …” 

She lightly tapped her head.

“I know that I loved this time of year. I know that I loved spending time with my kin,” she stared off into the flames of the fire, “So I do miss them. Or rather I miss what I had with them.”

Soma felt her heart breaking at the sorrowful tone in Ratha’s voice, “Do you wish to search for them?” 

Ratha offered a shrug of her right shoulder, “I remember my childhood being rather harsh. I remember being taken in by my clan - and I remember we were a hard people. We believed in strength above all else and as much as I’d hate to admit it: they’d never accept me like this.�� 

“Anyway,” Ratha said as she stared after Gyda who was showing off her strength to an amused Helga by carrying far more wood than she probably should have (the stack she carried teetered precariously in her arms and blocked her view), “I have a good reason to stay.”

Soma smiled briefly at that, following Ratha’s gaze to the young couple. Gyda had stumbled, unable to see a rock in the road, and dropped the wood. She was red with embarrassment as she bent down to pick up the fallen logs and Helga put a hand to her mouth to hide her giggling. Ratha let out a snort and shook her head with a smile, “It’s nice for us to be able to take a break from the shop. We need to have Yule more often.”

“It only comes around once a year I’m afraid,” Soma said with a small smile, “You’ll have to find more reasons to take a break.”

“There aren’t too many I can give to justify me leaving my shop for any period of time,” Ratha sighed, “That is one thing I miss about raiding - you got to see the countryside a lot more.”

Soma’s eyes lit up with an idea.

“Come with me,” she said.

Ratha looked confused, “Come with you where?” 

“Oxenforda,” Soma said, “We are to open a trade route with them. What better way to show off the wares Grantebridge has to offer than to show them the woman who made them?”

Ratha worried at her lower lip, “There’s so much to do …”

“And you’re not the only smith in Grantebridge,” Soma reassured her, “They can do with your absence for a few weeks.”

“Says the woman who never seems to take time off,” Ratha countered with a smile. 

“Well this will be for the purposes of helping Grantebridge,” Soma said, “Though I’m sure we can take a couple of side trips to see the countryside.”

“You really don’t have to invite me; I wouldn’t want to interfere.”

Soma clapped a friendly hand on Ratha’s shoulder, “Ratha, I want you to come with me.”

The smile that crossed Ratha’s face was the biggest Soma had seen on her since she arrived at Grantebridge. Soma returned the smile and began to lead her up to the longhouse, “You’ve finished your work just in time for Jólablót. Forget about your troubles for the night, let us celebrate until the mead runs dry.”

Ratha looked up to the drengr still carrying barrels into the longhouse and she realized it was going to be a very very long feast. She looked forward to it.

-

The night had grown old and the full moon was sinking behind the horizon when Soma stepped over the sleeping bodies of her drunken clanmates. Her mind was fogged with mead but she managed to keep her balance as she navigated the obstacles in her path. She was proud to admit that no one celebrated Jólablót quite like her clan - she wasn’t kidding when she told Eivor that they threw the best feasts. Her eyes scanned the longhouse … her longhouse in the city she had worked so hard to raise from a backwater into a prosperous port. Her lips curled into a proud smile to see the fruits of her labor and the labor of the people who called it home.

Her eyes wandered to one of the darker corners of the longhouse where three women slept. Helga had curled up into Gyda’s side and Gyda’s arm was protectively draped over her back. In the corner beside them rested Ratha, her back against the wall so she was sitting up with her arms crossed and her chin tucked in apparent slumber. She stirred slightly and Soma caught the glint of candle light in her half opened eyes. Ratha tilted her head up slightly as if to affirm Gyda was still there before she noticed Soma’s presence. 

She gave her jarlskona a tired smile before relaxing back against the wall and letting her eyes slide shut once more.

[sweet-pinkitty]

100Koi+ 4th Anniversary Party Room (Part 1)

We are inviting 100Koi+ boyfriends to the room in the order in which the titles were released!!!

Titles 61 & Characters 396

This month marks the 4th anniversary🎂 Thank you always so much💕

To celebrate the 4th anniversary, I would like to invite them in 100 loves to this room! looking forward to…💕

💌 Invitation to party room

_

💟 Since 2007

Celebrity Darling

First of all, we invited these people!

Sho Kiriya | Hayato Shiratori | Haru Shindo | Shinnosuke Ichijo | Ryuji Soma | Lee Ha-Neul | Natsuki Orihara

_

💟 Since 2008

Diary of a Step-Sister

Saionji family members. The black tie suits you very well.

Masaki Saionji | Masaya Saionji | Yuji Saionji | Shuichi Saionji | Kaname Midou

_

💟 Since 2009

Class Trip Crush

Next is Aoharu's party.

Taketo Kanzaki | Yasuto Kanzaki | Kanji Okumiya | Homare Midorikawa | Nagisa Ichinose | Rintaro Ashiya | Hajime Shindo

_

Sakura Amidst Chaos

Timeless...!

Nobunaga Oda | Kenshin Uesugi | Ieyasu Tokugawa | Yukimura Sanada | Masamune Date | Mitsuhide Akechi | Kanetsugu Naoe | Saizou Kirigakure | Mitsunari Ishida | Kojuro Katakura | Kiyomasa Kato | Takeda Shingen | Hanzo Hattori

_

My Sweet Bodyguard

This is absolutely safe and feeling.

Subaru Ichiyanagi | Kaiji Akizuki | Sora Hirosue | Mizuki Fujisaki | Daichi Katsuragi | Hideki Ishigami | Seiji Goto | Toru Kurosawa | Kenta Makabe | Eiji Kiyosumi | Kyoya Hayase | Kei Koda

_

Kiss Me on Clover Hill

A sense of security like your parents' home.

Soichi Kiyota | Bunta Kurimaki | Yusuke Sakuraba | Chihiro Kikuhara | Shokichi Kuramoto | Kazuto Horai | Daisuke Asahina | Akio Tsubaki

_

💟 Since 2010

Pirates in Love: Captain's Cut

He is going to search for treasure.

Hayate | Shin | Soshi | Nagi | Towa | Captain Ryuga | Captain Roy | Leonardo

_

Office Secrets

Stepping on all the men who can!

Toranosuke Hajime | Ryoma Shirasagi | Shota Kurumi | Junya Sakurazawa | Koji Nagumo | Shingo Kai | Tamotsu Goda

_

Be My Princess

Prince, it's time for the party!

Wilfred A. Spencer | Joshua Lieben | Keith Alford | Roberto Button | Glenn J. Casiraghi | Edward Levaincois | Zain | Yakov Chernenkov

_

Dreamy Days in West Tokyo 

This month is surely a celebration in the shopping district!

Haruki Tanemura | Ryuzo Hatta | Ichigo Sato | Takeshi Yuno | Rihito Hatsune | Johji Chakura | Koh Uraga | Reiji Uraga

_

Metro PD: Close to You

Everyone you can rely on...!

Hiroshi Kirisawa | Kazusa Hanai | Yutaka Tennoji | Tadanobu Nomura | Shusuke Asano | Eiki Yachigusa | Katsuyuki Kyobashi | Ryohei Kimura | Masashi Himuro

_

Seduced in the Sleepless City

A super celebrity party!

Yuzuki Kitaoji | Ryoichi Hirose | Noel Aijima | Chihaya Koda | Mirai Kageyama | Satsuki Kitaoji | Hibiki Shiina | Atsushi Jinnai | Trevor Konno 

_

10 Days with My Devil

The devils are also available.

Kakeru Kamui | Satoru Kamagari | Shiki Kurobane | Haruhito Amano | Meguru Kamui | Rein Isaka | Tsubasa Shirai 

_

First Love Diaries

I'll take a group photo~

Nao Fujimori | Yuya Abe | Mahiro Nanase | Sota Yamamoto | Mitsuru Sanada | Masato Asakura

_

💟 Since 2011

Love Letter from Thief X

What is your target today...?

Takuto Hirukawa | Kenshi Inagaki | Hiro Sarashina | Riki Yanase | Atsumu Kashiwabara | Tatsuro Togoshi | Yuki Arisugawa | Hyosuke Kujo | Taiga Kujo 

_

Love&Job!オトナの事情

Invite these people today!

Shigure Hojo | Kanta Eguchi | Yuya Mitsui | Daisuke Kase | Saku Miyamoto

_

Exclusively Your: An Office Affair

Next, we invited these people!

Arata Osaka | Taizo Sawaki | Sojiro Mikumo | Eita Onuki | Kyo Aoyagi | Kyuto Takenouchi

_

タイムスリップ恋の奇跡

These people were invited today!

Tsutomu Nagaoka | Kansuke Ichihara | Yukio Shiozawa | Atsuya Ogasawara | Michael (Angel) / Brutus (God)

_

キャンパス恋愛白書

Next is the handsome guys on campus...!

Shuhei Makita | Ryusei Aihara | Fuyuki Kamijo | Kosei Aihara | Makoto Lee | Kento Fujimura

_

My Forged Wedding

We had LI members come today! 

Yamato Kougami | Takamasa Saeki | Ren Shibasaki | Takao Maruyama | Yuta Kajima | Kunihiko Aikawa | Kyoichi Kunishiro | Haruka Utsunomiya | Akito Kakiuchi | Tamaki Kikushima

_

My Lady Juliet

Next, we invited these people! 

Keiji Fujieda | Haruto Miyake | Yoshiki Minagawa | Shotaro Uekusa | Hisashi Aoyama | Takahashi Motoki

_

In Your Arms Tonight 

These people were invited today...! 

Genji Higashiyama | Shohei Aiba | Kiyoto Makimura | Kippei Ebihara | Ritsu Moriyama | Koichi Natsukawa | Ginnosuke Oguri | Soji Higashiyama | Tsukasa Niregi

_

💟 Since 2012

同窓会は恋の始まり

Everyone who has flowers in their memories.

Ryuichi Atsumi | Yugo Nishiyama | Kanato Osumi | Narisuke Ito | Takamichi Inose | Mabuchi Itsuki | Tatsuya Kumagai

_

家政婦恋は契約から

The Kirihara family are all together!

Touya Kirihara | Ataru Kirihara | Iku Sakanoue | Gakuto Suzuki | Naotarou Yakumo

_

A Knight's Devotion 

There were also members of the Knights of the Kingdom...!

Lute | Haku | Ken | Shion | Gaia | Richard

_

Forget Me Not, My Love 

Everyone here also rushed in!

Sohei Otori | Umi Sakurai | Kosuke Hasumi | Kenshin Shiota | Tatsuki Nadabe | Yasufumi Nezu

_

恋の続きはハネムーンで

We invited them from the same elementary school!

Asato Takamiya | Seta Taisei | Gaku Yanagisawa | Tetsuya Yukishiro | Teduka Momoharu

_

Kiss of Revenge 

Everyone from Ebisu General Hospital also came! 

Issei Sezaki | Junpei Miyashita | Soichiro Irie | Kyosuke Narumi | Naoya Hasegawa

_

💟 Since 2013

Codaname: Cupid 

There were also elite spies called "General Affairs Department Section 3"!

Riku Shishizaki | Motoharu Kotani | Ichiya Kanokawa | Ryohei Okami | Yojiro Maki

_

Wanted: Romance Renegades

We invited all of you today...!

Takajo Mikiya | Masaki Yunosuke | Kurata Keigo | Ayano Shiji

_

Our Two Bedroom Story

Weekly four seasons and everyone at SIKI STYLE... Shikimen also came!

Minato Okouchi | Kaoru Kirishima | Shusei Hayakawa | Chiaki Yuasa | Akiyoshi Zaizen | Tsumugu Kido | Ayame Suo | Hinata Yayoi | Kagetora Oji

_

Kissed by the Baddest Bidder

There were some "Bad guys"!

Eisuke Ichinomiya | Soryu Oh | Mitsunari Baba | Ota Kisaki | Mamoru Kishi | Shuichi Hishikura | Luke Foster | Hikaru Aihara | Mad Hatter / Rhion Hatter

_

Serendipity Next Door

They also live in the same apartment...!

Masaomi Hibiya | Izumi Takasaki | Shinobu Narita | Jinpachi Yushima | Keiichi Tokiwa

_

➡️ Part 2

[empty-dream]

Just watched 91 Days

Yet another anime I watch because of the opening song.

A dude wants to get revenge on the mafia family who murdered his entire family 7 years ago by getting close to them and killing them one by one.

If only I didn't have a life to do I'd really binge this in one sitting lmao

I've known this anime exists for years but despite being interested I couldn't bring myself to watch it because I knew this kind of story has nothing but pain yet I'd still get attached somehow and I'd get hurt in the end as the result.

It turns out, this kind of story has nothing but pain yet I still get attached somehow and get hurt in the end as the result.

Your typical mafia gangster revenge criminal show, complete with the all possible cliches of its genre, except in anime format. Seriously, the atmosphere, the soundtrack, the settings, even the logo, all scream “MAFIA SHOW.” I feel like actually watching western gangster show instead of a Japanese anime.

Seriously tho who names the town "Lawless"? Why would any decent person live in a town named "Lawless"??

*Wheeze* I know this was out in 2016 but I can't ignore that one of the main casts looks and acts like FGO's Napoleon but his goddamn name is Nero lmaoo. Thank God he doesn't go umu umu on me.

For all their shortcomings, I like all the major characters. Except Don Orco, fuck that guy. But if you ask me who is my most favorite, surprisingly (or maybe not), it's Corteo. Dude just wants to study in school, not become a mafioso. He's like, normal, if a little bit too meek. I mean, helping your bff who comes back after 7 years with his vengeance but still questioning if it's really worth it is pretty much on the middle side. Not blindly loyal, not self-serving either. Also I can't believe he and FGO's Wodime share the same VA? He sounds so soft and nothing like the latter?? Soma Saito, the range you have...

What do you mean Nero is only 21?? And was only 14 by the time of the Lagusa murders?? He looks at least 25. I like how much of a jolly guy he is that sometimes I wonder how is he a mafia? At least until the second half, that is. "Avilio is like an empty shell. I will find him a reason to live." Wow dude. That's some heavy declaration.

Avilio is... Avilio. Your classic For-Vengeance! anti hero who becomes the very thing he despises but he most likely doesn't care either way.

See, why I was afraid to watch this anime is because I knew the protagonist will get close to the antagonist and they will forge an amazing bond. For the latter, it's genuine but for the former, it's fake. It's just a painful thing to watch when you know from both sides.

On the other side, I love how Corteo-Avilio relationship is portrayed, and unlike Avilio-Nero, I know it's sincere from the both of them and it's just sweet. Their faling out scene is one of my favs too because at that point, they both have had it and it's because they care about each other.

For Avilio, Corteo (and his beer recipe) is both the key to get anyone into his side and a target for the others, so losing him would endanger his revenge goal and whatever sanity he has left, while having him around would be risky and means more work, not to mention the questionings. Corteo himself is worried for Avilio, is jealous of his bond with Nero despite knowing it's fake, and to be fair Avilio involves him in his personal agenda under the pretext of "brotherhood" and is trying to wave everything with money. But it's clear that from the beginning to the end, they are loyal to each other.

Fango is batshit insane and while I love how Ep8 turns out, honestly he is entertaining lol.

Vanno is done so dirty even though I like him a lot.

I love how fucking wrecked Avilio looks after ep 10 and it just doesn't get better. He sure spirals down really fast it's quite eerie.

I did say I got attached and hurt but it wasn't as deep as I thought it'd be.  

They should probably dig more of the past of the central characters instead of simply mentioning it. Like say, they could have shown Avilio's life for the past 7 years or how Nero fared with the mafia life given that he wasn't that fond of it but still devoted himself to protect the family pride. Weird, because many other aspects of the casts' characterizations (hobbies, abilities, tendencies, relationships) are usually shown instead of told.

Well following the cliches of the genre, Fio the girl of the family is set up to marry the political rival and after her role is done, she is shipped away. She could have more to do with the plot than this. Even though I like her initiatives to get the brothers work together...

I love religious badass characters because of rule of cool. And in this setting, I can watch them recite prayers, sign cross, go to mass, and I can honestly say "What's all that for? Y'all just gonna commit atrocities again anyway." and I love the irony in it.

I'll never look at lasagna the same way again.

For the kind of revenge story that focuses on how ugly revenge is, I like this show's execution and exploration. There is nothing new, but it plays its cards nicely.

So I was listening to TK on Spotify and Signal is fucking amazing. Its popularity is directly behind the legendary Unravel and Katharsis, even. Then I found out it's actually the op song for this anime, which is what finally spurred me into watching it. The power of a song, indeed.

Tl;dr What do you mean it's been only 91 Days I thought it was an entire year?? They got done in by a guy they've known for just, like, a season??

[alexthegamingboy]

Toonami Weekly Recap 12/14/2019 (The Forge Edition, Week 6)

My Hero Academia Shie Hassaikai Arc Season 4 EP#69 (06) - An Unpleasant Talk: Sir Nighteye organizes a massive meeting with the pro heroes and minors to discuss the situation of the growing and threatening organization the Shie Hassaikai, led by Overhaul.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind EP#07 - Sex Pistols Appears, Part 1: Bucciarati's gang take some delight in trying to torture information out of Zucchero, but without success. Abbacchio then uses Moody Blues' replay to discover that Zucchero's partner is already waiting for their boat on the island of Capri. Giorno takes Mista on ahead to the island to find Zucchero's partner before their boat arrives. With help from Giorno, Mista uses the power of his Stand Sex Pistols, which creates six autonomous bullet-like beings that can redirect Mista's gunshots mid-flight, to locate Zucchero's partner, Sale. Sale escapes to a getaway truck, and Mista grabs on before it drives away.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba EP#09 - Temari Demon and Arrow Demon: Susamaru destroys Yushiro's Blood Demon Art and uses her temari to pummel the house, revealing that her and Yahaba are members of the Twelve Kizuki (Demon Moons), powerful generals that serve directly under Muzan. Tanjiro struggles to dodge all her temari, which swerve in physically impossible directions and are difficult to slash, until Yushiro helps him see the arrows that Yahaba is using to telekinetically control Susamaru's temari. Although Nezuko attacks Yahaba, the siblings are forced to change opponents, with Yushiro joining in to fight Susamaru using his Blood Demon Art of concealing objects. At first, Yahaba overpowers Tanjiro by altering his trajectory as he tries to get close, and Nezuko's leg is cut off by a temari. However, Tanjiro recalls his training and despite his fatigue, unleashes a combination of movements to move the arrows with touching them, managing to decapitate Yahaba.

One-Punch Man 2 EP#10 (22) - Justice Under Siege: Saitama loses to King multiple times in a video game. While taking a break, Saitama notices King's phone, in which King explains the phone is used to call for hero emergencies. Gyoro-Gyoro and Destrochloridum take control of an executive in the Hero Association, in which they negotiate for a future where monsters and humans coexist. Destrochloridum then kills an executive, revealing that they were lying and instead outlines their true plan to the Hero Association: for the heroes to assemble and face the entire Monster Association in an all out battle, before the vessel that Gyoro-Gyoro controls explodes. Destrochloridum grabs his pistols to attack the remaining executives but Superalloy Darkshine (S Class Rank 11) arrives and kills Destrochloridum after it fails to take control of him. Gyoro and Monster King Orochi hold a meeting for monsters to fight against the heroes, when Orochi notices Awakened Cockroach and eats him due to Awakened Cockroach losing to Genos earlier. Do-S is spared from Orochi when Gyoro Gyoro notes she has special abilities. Orochi asks Gyoro Gyoro where Gouketsu is, but Gyoro Gyoro finds out that Gouketsu was killed. Leaks that the Monster Association are going to war with the Hero Association reach the public and the monsters (who reside in the city) plan to go kill humans and join the association, but they are all slain by Saitama, who is late for garbage duty. Garou wakes up from Saitama's kick, and sees A Class Hero Death Gatling, but is too tired and goes to a shack to rest, with Death Gatling noticing him. Tareo and his friends find someone in their shack and force Tareo to get that person out. Garou and Tareo meet again, and Garou tells Tareo if he doesn't want anyone to bully him, he should get stronger. Genos gets upgrades from Dr. Kuseno to better handle villains. Death Gatling arrives with his crew (Stinger, Smile Man, Wildhorn, Chain Toad, Glasses, Gun Gun, and Shooter) to confront Garou. Garou notices the crew, and looks at Tareo's almanac briefly before facing off against the heroes. Loudly proclaiming that after defeating them, he will have beat 100 heroes, Garou lunges at the heroes but is knocked back and kept unsteady by the barrage of attacks, taking two poisoned arrows to the back. Noting their teamwork, Garou targets Glasses, the presumed weak link, only to learn that Glasses is ready and able to fight as well. The heroes give the weakening Garou one last chance to surrender.

Dr. Stone Village Origins Arc EP#16 - A Tale for the Ages: Ruri reveals that she learned of Senku's name through a tale passed down to her by her mother. The tale speaks of Senku's father, Byakuya, who became an astronaut after Senku made an electric suit to help him pass the swimming exam for JAXA. Five years after passing his exams, Byakuya travels to the International Space Station, alongside cosmonaut Shamil Volkov and American songstress Lillian Weinburg, joining fellow crew members Connie, Dalia, and Yakov. During their stay, Byakuya and the crew witness the phenomenon that turns everyone on Earth into stone, leaving them as the only six humans left.

Fire Force Netherworld Arc EP#19 - Into the Nether: Licht explains to Company 8 that he believes that the White-Clad are hiding in the Nether, a forbidden area of abandoned subway tunnels beneath the Tokyo Empire. The next day, the company enters the Nether, the place which is seen as a place of dread. As they walk into the darkness, they are enveloped in a mysterious fog and encounter impostors created by Yona and Mirage and become separated. Sho sends in Assault the Slaughterer, to eliminate Company 8, meanwhile Maki encounters Flail and a group of White-Clad alone. She defeats the White-Clad and faces Flail whom she attacks and defeats with her two fireballs, Splutter and Flare, which are encased in devices created by Vulcan which concentrates their power. Elsewhere in the tunnels, Assault finds Iris and Tamaki and attacks them with his flaming missiles. Tamaki withstands his attacks, and gets close enough to disable him when her uniform falls open. Before he can react, Iris pummels him to the ground with a metal pipe and they go in search of the others.

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma Totsuki Autumn Election Arc EP#22 - That Which Transcends the Norm": Miyoko scores 87 points with her pineapple cha-han, while Yuki gets 86 points for her wild game curry. Afterwards, the Aldini brothers face off against each other, with Isami presenting a curry calzone that scores 87 points while Takumi presents a curry pasta dish using tamari soy sauce and cheese filled pasta, and scores 90 points. Alice then presents her deconstructed curry dish that leaves the judges bewildered and amazed, earning 95 points and taking the lead. Finally, Megumi presents her dish, monkfish dobu-jiru, which emphasises the taste of her hometown, earning her 88 points and landing her a spot in the main tournament alongside Alice, Hisako, and Takumi.

Lupin the 3rd OVA: Is Lupin Still Burning?

Black Clover: Elf Tribe Reincarnation Arc EP#98 - The Sleeping Lion: The Crimson Lions are attacked by Randall, their elf possessed vice-captain, who overpowers them with wind magic. Leo realises that as they cannot see the air magic, he must sense the magic behind the air to avoid being injured and is able to briefly fight back. The remaining lions insist that he flee but Leo refuses and almost unlocks a new spell, but his unfamiliarity with the magic drains all his energy instantly. As Randall moves to kill Leo the entire base becomes engulfed in flames as Fuegoleon furiously awakens from his coma, his destroyed right arm replaced by one made of flames. He reveals he has been chosen as the new host of Salamander, the Spirit of Fire who once belonged to Fana. Furious that Salamander would choose a human royal as his host Randall attacks Fuegoleon, but is swiftly overpowered and restrained by Salamanders fire. Fuegoleon recalls that after Patry severed his arm and took his magic stone he left Fuegoleon alive, though Fuegoleon decides to keep this secret until he learns why. At the Golden Dawn headquarters, many Golden Dawn members are now possessed, including Langris, now possessed by Patry's cousin, Latry. Elsewhere Finral is forced to wake up from his coma by Yami violently kicking him out of bed. To save Langris, Finral decides to join the battle.

[fortegigasgospel]

Tell us more about Victor! :o

First off, how DARE!

I will start off with saying Victor Czarownica predates Castlevania the Animated Series on Netflix by many years, I am a big CV fan and Curse of Darkness is one of my favorite games in the series. He also started off as a self insert I will admit until playing him in DnD to playtest my Devil Forger class, some aspects of myself are obviously still noticeable in him as a result.

Victor Czarownica was born to a Devil Forger mother and a normal life father, he is the second son of the family who prior had 3 daughters who’s ancestory reach back to Hector and Julia (Isaac’s sister in the games). Hector’s and Julia’s family eventually broke into 3, the Laforeze family who stayed in Walicha and eventually became followers of the Dark Lord through out his revivals, a branch of the family who moved south to the middle east, and a branch that moved west to Poland and became the Czarownicas. The family keeps the tradition of Devil Forging and the “rule of two” for Forge Masters, the heads of the household, by passing Hector’s and Isaac’s forging coins to the next inheritors, whom the family get together to decide, though which is which has been forgotten through the ages.

Victor was born in 1991, 8 years prior to Julius Belmont’s defeat of Dracula and banishing of the castle, and he is the 3rd oldest throughout the family. The war of 1999 was a big influence on him and made him want to become a Vampire Hunter. When he was 12 he began training with his battle type Innocent Devil  Bronisław. By age 16 Victor’s grandfather, and previous Forge Master passed away, the Laforeze family fought (non-violently) to get their second son , whom was 8 at the time, to become the new Forge Master to have both in their own family, but it was decided Victor would be the inheritor, as his brother did not want it and Victor was training extensively to handle the power he already had. This of course convinced Victor to take his forging more seriously, becoming a skilled forger and fighter. His mother, being a potion maker as well, being sure to teach him how to make potions (namely for healing injuries, mama gotta keep her boy safe somehow).

Victor’s father wants him to “get a real job” which caused him to cast his father’s name aside and take his mother’s name, Czarownica. He became rather known around his hometown for dealing with supernatural things and weirdness at night. He makes money from doing jobs for people and selling things he gets off creatures he slays in the black market, also trading for materials to make weapons he sells to other hunters and even Alucard’s organization. His goal in life is to own a shop where he sells decorative weapons.

-Below is his “game” related stuff, aka the events that would be the basis for one-

Victor later confronts the Laforeze family after believing that the older of the two sons had been attacking villages near their castle, but when he arrived he found the son dieing in the foyer, stabbed by his own brother and his inherited coins stolen. It was here Victor found out that he was always trying to impress his father, who favored his younger brother, and was actually a magnificent forger. Victor took this to heart and dedicated more to forging to become truly earn the title of “master” and went to confront the younger brother , after acquiring the “Dullahan” sword the older had made. During the confrontation against the now 12 year old boy Victor found out that his aunt had been manipulating him, because the Laforeze’s family secret was that he was actually born the day of Dracula’s death, not the day before, making him a Dark Lord Candidate, who’s powers were being awakened. The boy’s mind twisted from the years of being pampered into being the dark lord, the manipulation of his aunt, and belief that Victor had stolen the Forgemaster title from him. Victor attempted to make him realize the error of his way, only to find him too far, and regretfully killing him. He proceeded to confront the father, who regretted the fate of his sons, being too blind by desire for fame of raising the dark lord, he fought Victor to the death, only to be killed by his sister, whom was growing her own powers of forging and other dark powers to become the dark lord herself naturally, and was going to kill the boy and take his inherited power. This is “Victor’s regret” which fuels his desire to kill the dark lord candidates who fall to darkness.

Victor never meets Alucard, Soma, and company until possibly later on after the events of Dawn of Sorrow. He likely has confronted Graham before the events of Aria of Sorrow but possibly never directly.

[rosedalemike]

The Mood: Blog #11 “WTF is next, ROSEDALE?!”

     I've had so many random ideas for what this next blog should be about. I wanna try to stay on track with the story of Rosedale's farewell/next chapter as that seems to be the most common topic with the lovely Rosedaliens that have been coming out to shows.      But the truth is that I'm just as unsure as everyone else. I don't even have a clear vision of what I picture September looking like. I guess my plan in September is to plan what 2019 is going to look like. 2019 seems so much further than it actually is, I'm sure.      The only things I'm sure of are that I would like to: 1: be a helpful contribution to music scenes (artists, venues, promoters, fans etc.) using more than just my own voice. 2: keep making new music under a different name (using my voice ...maybe some features...maybe a band? Who knows. I'd love for someone else to decide that.) 3: continue to work with other artists on their art and ideas.      I know those are all vague ideas. And regarding the name delema; I have a giant draft email to myself (the most common email address in my inbox is rosedalebooking@gmail.com) that has a bunch of artist names and band names. Some are pretty good, some are not. 

Self-Lyric Party: 

" 'cause I live entirely for the self-satisfaction that I made this- I turn Whiter than a song in C as I watch the room empty No! Just press on, believe. My numbers are truly sad Tell me again; can I beat Quicksand? Yes I Can! " - Quicksand

    As I check back to my last blog (to see how I quote/credit a lyric party...to keep continuity) I noticed that google placed a Chipotle add on the right side of the blog page! This is likely because I searched Chipotle at least 10 times in this past week. And that is because there is new company in the new Rosedale crew already and Chipotle sometimes hooks up traveling musicians with free food. 

     Her name is Siena. We all know Bryan, right? (cousin, hockey guy, #1 merch dude/email address collector...) Siena is the female Bryan. But luckily, she's not my cousin. I mean it'd be awesome to have known her all my life (like I've known Bryan all my life,) but for "heart-crush" reasons, I'm really glad she's most definitely not my cousin. 

     I met Siena at our San Diego show in November 2017. I say "our" because she's in a band called Going Postal, and they played that Soma show too. Like many bands today, they'll admit that their future is a giant question mark. But unlike many bands today, they sound awesome! 

Check them out

.https://goingpostalca.bandcamp.com/releases

     I call Siena "S Money" because one of her friends she was facetiming called her that and I, too, wanted to sound gangsta- "DJ $ Money" to be exact. Siena is finishing her final online college classes while traveling around America with me and selling my merch. When she's not selling merch she's helping me move my insane amounts of gear. When she's not selling merch and moving my insane amounts of gear she's teaching me how to promote in a more professional manner by helping me post enticing social media posts/stories/streams more regularly/organically. 

     Siena is a very kind-hearted, helpful champion that is way too chill to be so attractive. I just may be the luckiest Tall Canadian with Way Too Much Gear to have her on tour with me. After this tour she's moving to LA to become a world famous movie star so I only have about a month more of her awesomeness. She likes animals a lot, especially animal memes/vines. Mostly cats and dogs. So share/send any good ones and I'll make sure she sees them. (I'm also currently tethering off her wifi hotspot because all of Ohio's wifi is down right now.)

      Now that I've made you feel warm with paragraphs of cute kittens and puppies and rock n' roll princesses and awesome music and free Chipotle and sharing wifi; I must reveal some bad news; MY BACK IS F**KED!!! I somehow slowly injured my lower back while walking down some rusty stairs at the wrestling ring venue in Benwood, WV last Tuesday. I was getting ready to catch a little light-up-with-movement Nerf football, moving no different than any human casually walking down a set of stairs- then all of a sudden I felt my back juice trickling into the lower center of my back.     Don't be alarmed, this is not a career ending injury or anything. This actually happens to me every two years or so. And this time is not nearly as bad as the last time (when I was filling in for my Dad in his Canadian Tire men's hockey league and I casually skated behind my net to find out how 3 weeks of near paralyzing lower back pain felt.)      It's funny; when people ask if I have tall people back problems and I'm not dealing with back problems at that given moment, I usually reply "nope". But as soon as I do experience my dual-annually (I made up that word...) back pain, I remember the last time I had severe back pain.       So anyway, I had to cancel two shows and I'm not happy about it. It's getting better. I'm three days without pain relief meds. Stretching a lot. Rubbing Tiger Balm and Icey Hot every few hours. Just taking it easy in Cincinnati until Atlanta's show on Tuesday. That show is gonna be really awesome and there’s no way I’m missing it.      I played drums for a band on Warped tour in Dallas too. That was pretty fun. I learned their songs in three days. They have a lot of air horns in their music so I went kind of overboard with the Roland Pad's air horn sample. (Maybe that's why they found a replacement drummer for Pittsburgh Warped.)      It was fun seeing the Warped Tour for the last year and getting to play on stage again. We also went to the Cincinnati Warped Tour and learned what heat stroke felt like.

     Enough updates on my odd summer. I'll wrap it up with some insightful life/music stuff as I'm hanging out with the infamous Alex Baker.  https://alexanderbaker.bandcamp.com/ First though, his dad told us one of the greatest dad joke of all time: 

DAD JOKE PARTY:

"I was trying to think of a good reason to go to Switzerland and then I realized the flag was a big plus." 

But for real; we were talking about how things would be so different if we had just been understanding with our ex-bandmates in the golden years. We were all young and surrounded by the odd discovery of egos driven by art/success.  Alex was in a band called Dewey Decibel  https://alexanderbaker.bandcamp.com/album/the-dusting-dewey-decibel They had a fun indie style with a really organic, interesting production. Dewey Decibel recorded their album in their house in Nashville. From the sounds of it, once they started getting attention from NPR and local radio stations things started getting to everyone's heads. 

     It's not uncommon for a band to get along really well when things are on the up then fall apart when the going gets tough. The more I see it the more I understand the damage it did to Rosedale.      But on the other end of that unfortunate reality is the fact that I never would have met Alex Baker if the Rockstar ego-turmoil didn't happen to Dewey Decibel and Rosedale. I probably wouldn't have met Siana (AKA DJ $ Money) either. I'm not preaching that everything happens for a reason. I'm just kinda preaching that if you take the inevitable destructive events in life and turn them into fuel to move on and stay positive, better relationships grow. And those relationships are better because you've grown and learned how to be a better person.       So, like I keep driving home in all of these "Farewell Blogs", I'm looking forward to where things go. I'm happy I've experienced all the curveballs along the way to teach me how to eventually hit some home runs. I feel like I'm on the right track with these new friends that I've only met through grinding past the hard times and pressing on for what I had my heart set on.       Do you ever think of how you came to know some of your best friends? Like what events led them/you there that day and how grateful you are for those events and the transparent friendships they created? I know facebook gives us the ol "5 years of friendship" tag or whatever. But sometimes I see those and think "ohhh if you only knew, facebook...me and Casey Phillips go WAY BACK!"      Anyway that's all for now. If you've been thinking of meeting me or Siena or Alex Baker the best way/time to do it is to come out to an event we're at and experience some in person hangouts. This will be the last few weeks of touring for quite some time for me so really try to highlight these dates and make a solid effort to come catch a show. I promise you will not regret it. 

UPCOMING SHOWS:  7/24 - Atlanta,GA @ The Masquerade  7/27 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jackrabbits 7/29 - St. Augustine, FL @ Sarbez 8/3 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Black Forge Coffee 8/4 - Niagara, NY @ Evening Star 8/7 - Brampton, ON @ Spot 1 8/10 - Charleston, WV @ The Empty Glass 8/11 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ TBA Then a bunch of East Coast tour dates.

[mass-convergence]

Randivor Prompts Fic

Prompt 1: Negotiation

Chapter 1: A Fowl Situation

AO3

Summary: Picture presented without further comment

Notes: Dedicated to the lovely folks at the ER Discord server! Please don't take this fic as any kind of manual or source on how geese act. This is definitely not how geese act. This fic is absolute crack.

--

Eivor leaned against the doorframe of the longhouse and stared down the gaggle of geese that had gathered at the docks. The normally busy and lively streets of Ravensthorpe were quieter than usual, most opting to stay in after the arrival of the geese flock that decided the waterfront was a perfect place to nest. She had been traveling around England for a while now, forging alliances with the surrounding shires and jarls. She had seen a lot of geese in her travels. She had never seen geese quite so … aggressive before.

They flew at anyone who got close to the docks, chasing them with loud discordant honks and nipping at the heads and necks of anyone foolhardy enough to continue into their territory. 

Eivor grunted in annoyance.

They were trespassing on her land, not the other way around!

Petra had snuck up to the docks with Eivor a few evenings ago to finally put an end to madness and bag themselves a few geese. That went about as well as poking a bear with a stick.

Eivor touched the bandage that covered her cheek, a wound that Randvi had so kindly cleaned and bandaged when she and Petra returned to the longhouse covered in feathers, twigs, mud, and a little bit of blood. Unfortunately most of that blood didn’t belong to the geese.

If she got a scar from this she would definitely lie about how she got it.

The worst part was that now Sýnin had gotten involved in this mess. Her raven had been harassing the geese flock all morning and somehow looping other local ravens into the aerial turf war. It was all quite maddening and not doing any good in de-escalating the precarious situation in Ravensthorpe. None of her warriors could even get to longship without invoking the wrath of about twenty avian foes.

The chaos was at a point that she had considered reaching out to Grantebridge for some assistance in chasing off the flock. Soma certainly wouldn’t mind helping out a friend even with a problem as ridiculous as this. Then again, Eivor wasn’t sure she’d ever live down the fact that she had to ask for outside assistance for a flock of geese.

How embarrassing for the jarlskona of Ravensthorpe, a woman who had faced literal armies and warriors twice her size, to sit cowering in her longhouse from a bird that was barely a tenth her size! She grit her teeth and glared at the flock, specifically the apparent ringleader of the gaggle - a large gray-feathered gander with a scar that ran over one of his eyes.

The previous night they had had a town meeting in the longhouse to discuss the situation that ended up giving Eivor a bigger headache than what she had before the meeting. People were angry and she couldn’t blame them. Randvi stood beside her, a firm and grounding presence as the townsfolk argued over what to do.

“We can’t just let them take over our docks for gods knows how long!” Gudmund argued, “We must take action!” 

“What do you think we’ve been doing this entire time?” Eivor retorted, “That flock has resisted every attempt of ours to clear it out.” 

“Perhaps more drastic action is necessary then,” Eydis said. 

“No!” a small cry came up from the corner of the room and Sylvi ran out from behind a few of those gathered there, “You can’t hurt them! They’re just nesting!” 

Viggo ran after his daughter, trying to pull her back, “Forgive me jarlskona, we didn’t know she had snuck out.” 

Sylvi stood her ground, balled her hands into fists, puffed her chest out, and stared up at Eivor, “You mustn’t hurt them!” 

Eivor sighed, looking between the young child and the adults gathered there, “I’ll make my decision tomorrow.”

-

Eivor felt two arms wrap around her waist and she smiled as Randvi rested her chin on her shoulder, “What are you thinking, my love?” 

Eivor leaned back slightly into Randvi’s embrace, “That I cannot allow myself to be bested by a flock of birds.” 

“They are pretty mean birds,” Randvi pointed out, “They had Gunnar running for his life yesterday afternoon.”

Eivor remembered that incident very well. The sight of the blacksmith protecting his head and neck with one hand while flailing violently at an aggressive goose would have been hilarious if it were not connected to the larger issue facing Ravensthorpe. She really should just go out there with several of her crew (all equipped with shields and helmets of course) and end the problem once and for all.

But the look on Sylvi’s face gave her pause.

The absolute anguish on her features as she pleaded for the geese’s lives.

Eivor wasn’t entirely sure she could face the young girl again if she went through with the more direct route. But it wasn’t like she could negotiate with a wild bird.

She and Sýnin had a bond forged by Odin. 

She had no such bond with a random goose.

But she had to try right? 

‘Maybe that goose hit me harder in the head than I thought.’

“Randvi … I may have an idea,” Eivor said, “I’ll need some supplies.”

And that was how Randvi found herself following Eivor out of the longhouse with a basket of vegetable peelings and grain, still not entirely sure what Eivor was up to. Eivor strode towards the docks, stopping just short of them when the gander hissed at her and approached her, wings raised. 

The gander charged at her but Eivor didn’t budge. 

Randvi thought of calling out to her partner but thought better of it. She trusted Eivor to know what she was doing, despite her confusion about what exactly Eivor was intending on doing. 

Overhead, Sýnin circled. 

Eivor reached into her pocket and withdrew a fist full of grain. She crouched and held out her hand towards the aggressive gander.

He stopped his charge and regarded her with its good eye. If Randvi didn’t know any better she’d say the bird was regarding Eivor with suspicion. It was as if he were sizing the jarlskona up in preparation for battle.

Eivor stayed silent and still, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down the back of her neck in the warmth of the late spring afternoon. The gander tilted its head and slowly waddled towards Eivor’s hand and the grain. Behind him, the rest of the flock watched; twenty pairs of beady black eyes stared at the two women impassively.

The gander cautiously pecked at Eivor’s hand, noisily gobbling up the proffered grain.

“You’ve taken over my docks for far too long,” Eivor said to the gander and he stopped eating, looking sharply back up at her.

“Honk,” the call was quiet; less aggressive and more inquisitive. 

“I’ll give you two options: you leave with your flock and nest elsewhere … or we make you leave,” Eivor said.

Randvi wasn’t quite sure what she found more shocking: Eivor trying diplomacy with a goose or the fact that the goose seemed to be responding.

The gander leaned back and ruffled his feathers, “Hoonk.” 

Eivor jerked her head back towards Randvi and the basket she was holding, a basket that she was becoming increasingly aware of its purpose, “If you leave now we’ll give you food.”

The gander looked past Eivor and to Randvi. He began to waddle towards her and she quickly set down the basket. Eivor stood up and followed him and stood by Randvi as it rifled through the offerings in the basket as if inspecting them. 

“Well this is certainly a … creative way to solve our goose problem,” Randvi muttered to Eivor.

“I figured this was the best way to resolve this without any more bloodshed … on both sides,” Eivor murmured back. 

The gander, seemingly satisfied with the bribe, stepped away and with final look at Eivor and Randvi, waddled back towards his compatriots at the docks. For about ten minutes there was a meeting of sorts between the members of the gaggle. All was quiet save for the soft honking at the end of the dock. 

Finally the meeting adjourned and the gander looked back at Eivor, letting out a loud honk. Eivor braced herself for the attack but it never came, the geese just … sat there. They looked expectantly at Eivor and more specifically, the basket by her feet. 

“Are you sure you trust them?” Randvi asked. 

“I don’t know if I have any other choice,” Eivor said with a shrug.

Eivor picked up the basket and slowly walked forward. A warning hiss from the gander let her know when she had walked far enough onto the dock and she set down the basket and backed away slowly. The gaggle made quick work of the vegetable scraps and grain in the basket and, one by one, began to take off. The gander left last, dipping his head towards Eivor and with a loud honk he took to the skies following the flock further down the river.

Eivor and Randvi waited several tense moments as the honks became quieter and quieter. Finally they were left in silence and Eivor heaved a sigh of relief, the tension melting from her shoulders. Gudrun cautiously approached the docks with her husband, keeping a wary eye to the skies, “Did they really leave?” 

“It seems that way,” Eivor said. 

There was a lot of work to be done at the docks to repair it from the damage the geese had done during their stay - not even mentioning the pile of bird shit that needed to be scrubbed from the wood of the dock and the longship. At least though, the work could be done in peace. A few weeks ago, Eivor would have considered it silly to have a feast celebrating the exodus of a flock of geese. But after the ordeal Ravensthorpe had just gone through, she practically ordered a night of revelry that no one argued against. 

Sylvi had approached Eivor at the feast, wrapping her arms around Eivor’s waist in a tight hug, “Thank you!” 

The fires burned low and those still gathered in the longhouse were passed out from the copious mead they had consumed. All except Eivor and Randvi.

Randvi pulled Eivor in for a hug and a kiss that quickly deepened. When they broke for air, Randvi said lowly, “Everyone else has expressed their gratitude but I don’t believe I’ve properly thanked my silver-tongued goose whisperer.”

Eivor chuckled, “And what did you have in mind, søta?” 

Randvi pulled Eivor towards the bedroom with a smile that made her insides melt, “I have a few ideas…”

And what wonderful ideas they were.

-

A few weeks later Ravensthorpe got a visit. 

Eivor and Randvi stood at the docks as Soma hopped off the prow of her longship and onto the pier. She greeted Eivor warmly with a smile and a hug, “I was intending to visit sooner but we’ve run into a bit of a problem with a flock of geese at our port.”

Randvi had to cough to hide her laugh.

Eivor kept a better poker face but the corner of her mouth twitched, “We’ve had our own issues here. Come friend,” she slung an arm around Soma’s shoulders and began walking towards the longhouse, “I think I can help you with your goose problem.”

[ladystylestores]

The Indian revolutionary who fought to overthrow British rule while living in Japan

The bomb was meant to kill him, but instead it peppered Hardinge’s back with shrapnel, killed his attendant and cast a shadow over a day that was meant to mark the transition of India’s capital to Delhi from Kolkata.

The mastermind of the attack was Rash Behari Bose, a 26-year-old Bengali revolutionary who initially posed as a British loyalist while secretly working to overthrow colonial rule.

The attack failed, but it gave Bose the opportunity to show the hundreds of people in attendance — and the world — that some Indians were prepared to expel the British by force.

After the failed assassination attempt, Bose’s five comrades were captured and took the stand in the Delhi Conspiracy trial, with one imprisoned for life and four others executed.

With a bounty on his head, Bose managed to flee India in 1915 to Japan, where he became a significant activist, reportedly introduced one of the country’s most popular curries and laid the foundations for the Indian National Army.

Today, the names of prominent Indian freedom fighters such as Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru have found their place in world history, but few have heard of Rash Behari Bose.

Yet in Japan his story has become something of a legend.

Foundings of rebellion

Bose was born in a village in northeastern Bengal in 1886 and grew up amid the severe famines that struck India during British rule.

The country’s colonial leaders had started to commercialize farming, collecting land revenue and encouraging the export of “cash crops” that contributed to severe food shortages when other harvests failed.

At the time, the average life expectancy for ordinary Indians was about 25 years compared to 44 in the United Kingdom.

The disparities nurtured a nationalist movement which led to the formation of the Indian National Congress, a party for Indians interested in reform and greater political autonomy.

Bose also wanted a greater say in his own future and was prepared to take up arms to get it, according to Elizabeth Eston and Lexi Kawabe, the authors of “Rash Behari Bose: The father of the Indian National Army.”

After leaving school, he made unsuccessful attempts to join the Indian Army before landing a clerk’s job with the Forest Research Institute at Dehradun, in the northern state of Uttarakhand.

Bose had wanted a role that would allow him to give the impression of being a loyal British subject while he worked on dismantling British rule from the inside, according to Eston and Kawabe.

With the Forest Research Institute he was able to travel around India and used the opportunity to secretly forge anti-colonial revolutionary networks, they wrote.

For several years, India’s colonial rulers didn’t suspect a thing.

Bengali fury

Bose was still in his teens in 1905 when the British partitioned Bengal into two new provinces, supposedly for administrative reasons, though it appeared to be split along religious lines.

Like other Bengali Hindu nationalists, Bose was incensed.

Bengal had been a key location for India’s anti-British opposition and Bengali Hindus saw the partition as a way for the British to weaken their power base. The move was largely supported by Muslims.

Nationalist protests erupted across Bengal. The non-violent camp sought to undermine British rule through economic boycotts, while a more ruthless cohort attempted to assassinate British officials, according to Joseph McQuade, author of “The New Asia of Rash Behari Bose: India, Japan, and the Limits of the International, 1912-1945.”

Bose fell into the latter camp. His attempted assassination of Hardinge triggered a massive manhunt, but his previous efforts to ingratiate himself with the British elite served him well, according to Eston and Kawabe.

He managed to stay under the radar until his links to the independence movement were revealed in 1913 by a police raid on a comrade, they wrote.

Investigators seized a briefcase he’d left at the property — his cover was blown.

The Lahore plot

Bose was on the run when he organized one of his most audacious plans.

After the assassination attempt against Lord Hardinge, Bose became well known among revolutionary circles in India. With the British distracted by World War I, he planned to spark a mutiny similar to the uprising of 1857 — when Indian soldiers serving under British rulers had rebelled, McQuade wrote.

Indian revolutionaries from America, Canada and Germany made their way to India in 1914 and contacted several army units across India and even in Singapore, with each agreeing to defect once called upon. The date for the start of the rebellion was set for February 21, 1915, in Lahore.

But as spies infiltrated the movement, the British started disarming Indian soldiers, wrote Eston and Kawabe.

Undeterred, Bose moved the start of the rebellion to February 19 — but the simultaneous plot was suppressed by counter-intelligence operations that saw many revolutionaries executed, imprisoned and exiled.

With the authorities on his heels and a bounty on his head, Bose decided he was no longer safe in India.

Disguising himself as a relative of the poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Bose set sail for Japan from the Port of Kolkata on May 12, 1915.

He never went back.

Looking to Japan

As a British ally, Japan may seem like an odd safe haven for a Bengali freedom fighter fleeing British retribution.

But Japan had a long history of pro-Indian sentiment, dating back to India’s exportation of Buddhism to Japan via the Korean peninsula in the 6th century.

Centuries later, many freedom fighters were starting to look east.

Japan’s rapid industrialization and victory in 1905 over Russia in the Russo-Japanese war altered the balance of power in Asia and fueled nationalist movements in India and the Middle East, according to McQuade.

The unexpected rise of an Asian nation gave freedom fighters like Bose hope. They thought Japan, with the rest of Asia, would be able to challenge Western hegemony.

Western powers such as Britain, France and Portugal had gained control of vast swathes of territory across Asia and Africa while building up their empires as early as the 15th century.

Under the guise of trade missions, they exploited the natural resources found across those territories and sought to “bring civilization” to the people there. Between 1765 and 1938, Britain is estimated to have drained nearly $45 trillion from India in unfair trade and tax, according to economist Utsa Patnaik.

Even though Japan was a British ally between 1902 to 1923, it had kept its doors open to revolutionaries who wanted to end British rule in India.

At the time, Japan was emerging as a center for Pan Asianist ideology. The Pan Asianists wanted to rectify what they saw as an unjust international system. Some wanted to articulate the experiences of non-Western people. Others wanted to establish Japan’s leadership in Asia by pushing Western powers from the region.

Dodging British authorities

In Japan, Bose laid low.

The British embassy had hired a private Japanese detective agency to track him down, according to Eston and Kawabe.

He aimed to go to Shanghai to gather weapons to send back to revolutionaries in India, but in the meantime he hid in a house in Tokyo’s Azabu district. There, he discreetly met with Sun Yat-sen, the head of the revolutionary army of China, wrote Eston and Kawabe.

Sun was in exile in Tokyo after a failed armed uprising against the Qing government and wanted to rouse support from Japan for an armed revolution in China.

Sun introduced Bose to Mitsuru Toyama, an influential figure among Japanese political circles and the leader of Pan-Asianist group Gen’yosha, which was later deemed an ultra-nationalist organization and closed down by the American occupying forces after Japan’s defeat in World War II.

Toyama knew just the place to shelter Bose, Eston and Kawabe said.

The “Nakamuraya Salon,” as it was known among Tokyo locals and intelligentsia, was a bakery and cafe located in the bustling Shinjuku district.

Owners Aizo and Kokko Soma were a Christian couple with a deep interest in the arts, literature and other cultures. Toyama convinced them to shelter Bose from the British authorities in a small guesthouse in their backyard. He stayed there for four months and in subsequent years moved multiple times to avoid detection.

In 1918, to protect him from capture, Toyama encouraged Bose to marry Soma’s eldest daughter Toshiko.

According to Eston and Kawabe, the marriage was devised to ease Bose’s integration into Japanese society so he could keep fighting for Indian independence. It also made it easier for Bose to become a Japanese citizen in 1923.

The couple had two children before disaster struck.

The dream of a new world order

Toshiko died from pneumonia in 1925. She was 27 years old.

Bose threw himself into the independence movement to overcome his grief.

Eager to build cultural ties between Japan and India, he established and ran numerous associations such as the Indo-Japanese Friends Society and a hostel called “Villa Asians” for Asian students studying in Tokyo, which he managed until 1941, according to Eri Hotta, in “Pan-Asianism and Japan’s War 1931-1945.”

He published widely on India’s past, promoted ties between India and Japan, and seized every chance to advocate for a Pan-Asian union to strengthen the region.

Bose was becoming bolder with his public profile and was regularly featured in Japanese newspapers.

When Bose came to Japan, only educated Japanese knew about India, which back then was known as “Tenjiku,” meaning “land of heavens” in Japanese. People dubbed Bose “tenrai,” which means heavenly being, according to Kawabe.

All the while, the British kept an eye on him.

Fearful of his influence on a younger generation of Indians, the colonial British government made it difficult for Indian students to travel to Japan in the 1930s, according to McQuade.

They had good reason to be suspicious.

‘India’s cry’

In 1931, Bose organized the first Indian Independence League in Japan, which aimed to attain the “independence of India by all possible means,” according to a declassified CIA document.

He enlisted Indian students to help and V. C Lingam, a student from Singapore — then Malaya — who chose to study in Japan, recounts traveling to Vietnam, Bangkok and Singapore to recruit locals for the organization for the independence from British colonial rule, according to the Japan Times.

“The league became bigger, and Bose became leader of the movement throughout East Asia,” Lingam told the Japan Times in 2007.

Two years later, Bose received funding to publish a journal called “The New Asia,” which was distributed in English and Japanese.

Though that journal was banned in India and didn’t mention Japanese aggression in China, Bose “urged the Japanese government to cooperate with the United States, China, and the Soviet Union in a move to eliminate British colonial control in Asia,” according to Cemil Aydin, a historian at the University of North Carolina-Chapel.

For Bose, Britain was the ultimate enemy — and a US-Japan conflict would only play in the country’s favor.

In the lead up to World War II, relations between England and Japan had soured considerably. By 1933, Japan had quit the League of Nations, the international diplomatic group set up after World War I to find peaceful resolutions.

The strained relations removed any incentive for the Japanese government to limit Bose’s political activities, according to McQuade.

In 1938, after Bose published “Indo no sakebi” (India’s cry) — which strongly denounced British rule in India — British authorities classified him as a Japanese agent intent on spreading terrorist propaganda.

By then, there was no way Japan was handing him over.

Trouble on the horizon

Japan was hit especially hard by the Great Depression of the 1930s as agricultural and textile prices fell.

Amid the economic downturn, some radicalized Pan-Asianists gained control of Japanese politics, and the idea that Japan could solve its economic problems through military conquests gradually gained currency.

During World War II, India’s independence was an integral part of the Japanese military government’s Pan-Asianist program. For example, in 1941 Major Iwaichi Fujiwara had established Fujiwara Kikan, a Japanese intelligence operations unit tasked with supporting independence movements in British India, Malaya and Netherlands East Indies.

But as Japan launched its ruthless campaign across the Asia-Pacific during Word War II, many prominent Indian freedom fighters like Ananda Mohan Sahay and Raja Mahendra Pratdap grew wary of the country and its colonization of the rest of Asia.

Bose, on the other hand, never spoke up — even after the country invaded China and the Korean peninsula, according to Takeshi Nakajima, author of “Bose of Nakamuraya: An Indian Revolutionary in Japan.”

“Though Bose felt conflicted by the gap between what Japan said it wanted to achieve for Asia and the reality, his friendships with the Japanese and citizenship made it impossible for him to dissent,” Nakajima said.

It wasn’t long before other Indians began to see him as a Japanese puppet and a collaborator with Japan’s militarist regime, argues Eri Hotta in her paper “Rash Behari Bose and his Japanese supporters.”

Regardless of how others viewed him, Bose was convinced the Japanese military could be used to liberate India. He kept up his efforts to mobilize supporters in Japan and across southeast Asia.

On February 15, 1942, British commanders in Singapore surrendered the British Empire’s forces, numbering more than 120,000 in Malaysia and Singapore, to the Japanese, in what became known as the largest military capitulation in British history.

It coincided with Japan’s campaign to persuade Indian prisoners of war in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore to fight alongside the Japanese for the liberation of India. After the battle over Singapore, Fujiwara asked Indian military officer Mohan Singh to form an Indian army from the captured Indian soldiers there.

In June of that same year, Bose chaired the Indian Independence Conference in Bangkok, sponsored by Japan. There, he was appointed to lead the Indian National Army (INA) and the tens of thousands of Indian prisoners Singh had recruited to fight alongside the Japanese. They planned to conquer the British in India.

It was Bose’s most high-profile role and one that seemed destined to ensure his name entered Indian folklore.

But it was not to be.

Today, another man named Bose is much more closely associated with the INA than Rash Behari.

Subhas Chandra Bose, a better-known nationalist in India, took over in 1943, after tensions arose between Singh and Behari Bose. Chandra Bose steadily built the Indian National Army’s ranks, convincing a greater number of Indian prisoners of war to fight for independence, according to the CIA document.

As Chandra Bose became a popular figure in Japan, Behari Bose’s health and presence at the forefront of the Indian independence movement started to fade.

Behari Bose died in 1945 just before India gained independence from British rule in 1947 — a victory he’d worked his whole life to achieve.

In India, there is now a tourism center dedicated to him in his birthplace. And in Japan, his legacy is immortalized in a well-loved curry dish at Nakamuraya, which Behari Bose is said to have popularized during his decades-long struggle for Indian independence.

Behari Bose laid the foundations of the Indian Independence League and the Indian National Army, according to Eston and Kawabe.

Right until the end, he stood by his conviction to change the status quo. And to this day, he remains one of India’s unsung freedom fighters.

CNN’s Yoko Wakatsuki contributed to this report from Tokyo. Edited by Hilary Whiteman and Jenni Marsh.

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[bthenoise]

Anti-Flag And Stray From The Path Announce Massive Co-Headlining Tour With The White Noise And Sharptooth

Just in case you were wondering when the perfect anti-trump tour was going to be announced -- you know, a tour where you could go to find unity and strength with fellow showgoers but also release massive amounts of aggression -- well, today is that day.

Just announced this morning, political punks Anti-Flag and hardcore movers and shakers Stray From The Path will be teaming up for the Silence = Violence Tour.

The co-headlining trek will kick off January 16th in Detroit and feature support from fellow disruptive noisemakers The White Noise and Sharptooth.

When asked about the upcoming tour and why it’s so important for these four bands to come together on the same bill, Anti-Flag shared a very important message saying:     

The mission of the Trump regime has been clear from day one, the normalization of bigotry. Dangerous rhetoric has become dangerous policy that has put countless in harm's way. It is the responsibility of all to be on the side of the marginalized and scapegoated and that is the goal of the aim of the Silence=Violence Tour.

No longer can we allow people to sit on the sidelines in the fight for social and economic justice. Inaction makes you complicit. If oppressed people demanding space and dignity in our society is what is making you uncomfortable, perhaps it is because you are a bigot or fascist? We must spread empathy, not apathy. Our aim is to do that at every show we play across the US.

Our society can maintain a status quo of violence and hatred, go back to masking that same hatred and violence in neoliberal wrapping paper, or forge a new society that is inclusive, egalitarian and just for all. It is our optimistic view, even in these dark times, that the latter is within reach.

Each band on this tour is predicated upon an ethic of caring about more than just themselves. To carve out a few hours in a day, in each city, where we can be comfortable in our own skin… free from racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, bigotry of any kind… this is not an opportunity that any of us tread upon lightly. We’re excited to throw these small celebrations of unity in hopes that it can leave all that attend with a sense of community and organization that will help fuel our collective ability to create positive change and leave things better than we found them.”

Tickets for this powerful, can’t miss tour go on sale tomorrow and can be found here. In the meantime, make sure to pre-order Anti-Flag’s forthcoming album Amercian Fall and pick up a copy of Stray From The Path’s Only Death Is Real here. For tour dates and locations, see below. 

READ MORE: POLITICS 101 WITH ANTI-FLAG - A DISCUSSION ON OUR NATION’S FUTURE AND MEDIA BETRAYAL

Tour Dates:

01/16 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick 01/17 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge 01/18 Minneapolis, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall 01/19 Lawrence, KS – The Granada 01/20 Denver, CO – The Summit 01/21 Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall 01/23 Boise, ID – Knitting Factory 01/24 Seattle, WA – El Corazon 01/25 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater 01/26 San Francisco, CA – Slim’s 01/27 Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room 01/28 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour 01/30 San Diego, CA – Soma 01/31 Phoenix, AZ – Club Red 02/02 Austin, TX – Mohawk 02/03 Houston, TX – Walters 02/04 Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar & Grill 02/06 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade 02/07 Nashville, TN – Exit/In 02/08 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop 02/09 Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls 02/10 Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall 02/11 New York, NY – Highline Ballroom  

[philosophicalparadox]

Kuroshitsuji propmts/headcannons

I never have time for fanfics anymore, so I decided to list my dust bunnies here in the hopes someone else can use them more efficiently than I:

Headcannons: (there’s a LOT)

1. Edward is a closet gay (I stand by this one aggressively)

2. William smokes when he’s upset (it suits him)

3. Claude is afraid of aggressive women (female spiders eat males; it makes sense he’d be wary of an aggressive demoness) 

4. Snake is part demon himself, but does not know it. (He does know Sebastian is a demon though)

5. Grell cries when she/he’s really mad. 

6. Undertaker is actually one of Ciel’s (well, our Ciel’s) Godfather and assisted Claudia in raising Vincent, who was fatherless, until he was four or five, whereupon Claudia decided it was best to rear the child herself and/or remarried. 

7. Sebastian purposefully gives his master nightmares sometimes as punishment or when his soul is “souring” from one thing or the next (happiness, probably)

8. Undertaker is well known among demons in London, though obviously not all know his name. They know what he looks like, though, and go out of their way to stay out of his unless they genuinely have business with him. 

9. Pertaining to the above, Undertaker has no qualms doing business with demons and can be a valuable source of ‘otherworldly” things that he pawns off them for personal use or research.

10. (I am full of Undertaker hc’s) Undertaker’s books in his shop are not all “books” in the standard sense; some are cinematic records he’s stolen. Others are grimoires he’s also stolen or pawned off demons, for research purposes. 

11. Lau knows Sebastian is a demon (or at least inhuman) and so does Tanaka. 

12. Lucifer is Sebastian’s father. He has many siblings. 

13. Going along with that, it’s a personal favorite HC of mine that Sebastian and Claude are actually half brothers, or at the very least cousins, and that Hannah is actually Sebastian’s niece. (via different blood relation) As for the triplets...well, Claude did say they were “poorly bred”, so it’s hard to say.

14. Demons rarely sleep in the human world because they lose their ability to put up a human facade when they’re unconscious. 

15. The primary means by which demons extract a human’s soul is through ingesting their blood, which is the “currency of the soul” in any event. This satisfies their biological need for sustenance as well as their hunger for souls. 

16. Not all demons eat souls; some feed on flesh and bones instead. The two kinds are at odds with each other because soul-eaters are spritiually and magically more gifted, while flesh-eaters are stronger physically and  will themselves consume soul-eaters when given half a chance. 

17. There are demons which exist solely to eat other demons. They are called “devourers”

18. Reapers are, in fact, edible to demons, since they still possess their “human” souls -- however, they are VERY distasteful. 

19. Humans are just as cruel to demons as demons are to them. 

20. The amount of emotions a demon is able to feel, biologically, is determined by their elemental type, in which air is the most frigid and psychopathic, followed by earth, fire, and water has the most human-like emotions. Other sub-types like shadow, rot, (earth types) lightning, ash, (fire) phantom/projecting/possessing (air), etc. have some variation. It is possible for a demon to acquire different elemental bases, and with them a varied range of emotional capacity. (For instance, Sebby is likely air, fire and shadow. He’s got a right nasty temper if and when it goes off and can manipulate fire at will, but he’s still pretty cold)

 now for some fic PROMPTS:

1. Edward is a tourtured soul who attracts the unwanted attention of a demon that subsequently tries to possess him. The results are disastrous and the only person who can actually save him from killing himself (or having the demon kill him rather) is Grell. (NOT intended to be a ship fic!)

2. Elizabeth is pregnant with a child that isn’t Ciel’s. To save him from ruin, Undertaker takes the child and rears it as his own - but Ciel is already attached. Seeing it as a threat to their contract, Sebastian acts out against the helpless child, shattering his master’s delicate perception of himself and coming face to face with the scary side of Undertaker - with far more even odds...So he believes, anyway. 

3. “Are you a man, or a monster?” 

4. A murder spree leads to Lau being framed...or is he?

5. Lau makes a deal with a devilish stranger from out of town. Too bad the price to be paid isn’t in his own blood - but prince Soma’s. 

6. Ciel is found in an alleyway after being separated from Sebastian with puncture wounds in his neck and most of his blood missing. The demon takes him to the Undertaker, not knowing where else to go at the time, and has to make an unusually difficult decision: leave him to recover knowing there’s a chance he won’t, or end their contract there? And what, exactly, drained his blood without touching his soul?

7. A necromancer is loose in London, and William is left with no other choice than to ask Sebastian for help, because alas, reapers are the living dead themselves. Which means that, no, they aren’t immune to necromancy. 

8. Sebastian is sick with a parasite that leaves him in the tenuous care of Undertaker, who cautions Ciel that demons lose their human forms when sleeping or unconscious. Ciel doesn’t listen and finds out why humans aren’t supposed to see a demon’s true form. 

9. A strange, young demon shows up at the manor unexpectedly. He is very confused and doesn’t understand where he is. Sebastian suggests taking the fledgling in -- unbeknownst to Ciel, the demon is Sebastian’s son. 

10. Ciel finds an abandoned child in the wood. After bringing her in, Sebastian begins to act strange around her - for she is actually a Cambion, a hybrid forged between a fallen angel and a human.As fallen angels preceed demons, she has an unusual ability to manipulate the butler. 

12. Ciel accidentally kills a cat. He is then haunted by it, Edgar Allan Poe style. (His story “the black cat” may be a good reference for that one)

WELL, that was a long post. Sorry about that. :) 

Feel free to use the prompts, but ASK PERMISSION to use the HC’s if you are intending to use MORE THAN ONE. 

Thank you. :3 

[alexthegamingboy]

Toonami Weekly Recap 12/07/2019 (The Forge Edition, Week 5)

My Hero Academia Shie Hassaikai Arc Season 4 EP#68 (05) - Let's Go, Gutsy Red Riot: Eijiro and pro hero Fat Gum do battle with criminals while on patrol. However, the villains utilize drugs that can stop and boost Quirks and gain the upper hand. Eijiro must go beyond his limits to stop them.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind EP#06 - Moody Blues' Counterattack: A flashback details Abbacchio's past. He was once an honest police officer, but he began accepting bribes from a thug who then killed his partner, ending his police career. He later joined Passione after being approached by Bucciarati. Back in the present, Abbacchio uses his Stand Moody Blues to replay the last five minutes of Narancia's actions. Abbacchio and Bucciarati deduce that the enemy Stand, Soft Machine, has the power to deflate opponents like balloons and pull them into small spaces. Abbacchio suspects that there is one more mystery behind Soft Machine's power, and allows himself to be captured as well, leaving Bucciarati a trail of blood showing where the Stand user is hiding. Bucciarati floods the yacht and causes it to sink, forcing the Stand user, Mario Zucchero, to emerge. Zucchero is revealed to have been hiding inside a second yacht which he had deflated with his power and laid over the first. Bucciarati incapacitates Zucchero by unzipping his head from his body, rescuing the others in the process.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba EP#08 - The Smell of Enchanting Blood: The newly-turned demon goes on a rampage, forcing Tanjiro to subdue him and giving Muzan the opportunity to slip away, although not before hearing Tanjiro vow to find him again. Police arrive and attempt to pull Tanjiro off, but he is helped by a nearby demon, Tamayo, and her companion Yushiro. While she is a demon, Tamayo is also a doctor and hence believes in the sanctity of human life. She gives the siblings refuge in her house, hidden from prying eyes by Yushiro's Blood Demon Art, and explains how as every demon contains Muzan's blood, their whereabouts and movements can be tracked by him: should they mention him to anyone, their cells will be destroyed — this is called "the Kibutsuji curse". Tamayo reveals how after 200 years of relentless research, she has finally managed to undo Kibutsuji's curse on her and gain the ability to turn humans into demons, although this procedure is only performed on patients that are nearing the end of their lives and choose that path, Yushiro being one of them. She has also tweaked her and Yushiro's body so that they need to survive only with a little amount of human blood, purchased as blood transfusions. Tanjiro agrees to work with Tamayo to develop a cure for Nezuko, promising to let her study his sister's blood and bring blood from powerful demons related closely to Muzan for her research. Meanwhile, Muzan sends two demons, Susamaru with temari balls, and Yahaba with eyes with arrows for pupils on his palms, to find and kill Tanjiro.

One-Punch Man 2 EP#09 (21) - The Troubles of the Strongest: Bakuzan recognizes Saitama as the one who defeated him, but Saitama kills Bakuzan in one punch. Saitama formally introduces himself to Suiryu as a hero and explains that he joined the martial arts tournament to find the hero hunter (Garou) as well as experience martial arts. Saitama plans to leave but Suiryu begs Saitama to not to because Gouketsu is out there, but Saitama ignores him. Suiryu hears multiple blows and crashes, and thinks Saitama is killed when Gouketsu's decapitated head lands in front of him. Saitama returns and asks Suiryu to not tell anyone what happened, and Suiryu asks if he could become a hero. Saitama agrees, since a nobody like himself can become a hero but when Suriyu asks to be Saitama's disciple, Saitama declines. Puri Puri Prisoner manages to defeat a demon-level monster called Free Hugger by hugging it so tightly that it explodes. Puri Puri Prisoner receives a call that his cell mates were captured by monsters. While walking after talking to C Class Water Gun, Saitama has an existential crisis by reflecting that his experience with martial arts and in the Hero Association has still left him bored. King meets up with Saitama and tries to explain that Saitama was so focused on being the strongest hero, he lost track of himself and should aim to be the best hero. Saitama declines, saying that it sounds boring but just when he gives up hope King offers to play against Saitama using only two fingers, rekindling Saitama's drive. Garou is defeated by Watchdog Man due to the unpredictable fighting style of Watchdog Man (his fighting style is more based on that of a wild beast, which Garou has no counter for) but is filled with adrenaline on what he can learn. Garou sees King, and is about to hit him when Saitama kicks Garou into a concrete wall. Saitama mentions that there are news of a hero hunter, and can't wait to meet him. Genos is taken in for repairs to Dr. Kuseno, and Sonic is training when he is attacked by two very powerful ninja warriors named Gale Wind and Hellfire Flame, who offer Sonic monster cells to become stronger. Sonic plans to eat the monster cells, but due to him cooking the monster cells he doesn't undergo transformation and has diarrhea instead. S Class Hero Rank 8 Zombieman sees Martial Gorilla, and is about to follow him when Armored Gorilla encounters Martial Gorilla. Armored Gorilla knocks Martial Gorilla unconscious, and Zombieman decides to follow Armored Gorilla instead. Bang and Bomb talk about Garou, and a monster infiltrates a member of the Hero Association to give them a message.

Dr. Stone Village Games Arc EP#15 -The Culmination of Two Million Years: As a result of Chrome passing out before the final match, Senku is declared as Ruri's husband but immediately divorces her once he gets the alcohol he needs. After working over the night, the gang finally complete their sulfa drug and give it to Ruri. With Ruri's illness revealed to be pneumonia, the sulfa drugs proves to be effective and Ruri makes a full recovery. As thanks, Senku is declared the new chief of the village, which is revealed to be named Ishigami Village, after which Ruri reveals that she knew of Senku beforehand.

Fire Force EP#18 - The Secrets of Pyrokinesis: Karim and Konro visit Company 8's firehouse to share information with Obi and Hibana about the Knights of the Ashen Flame whome they call White-Clad. Meanwhile, Victor Licht encounters Joker while gathering evidence from around Vulcan's workshop following the fight against Sho, and they discuss Shinra's fire powers. Licht discloses to Company 8 the clues he found to White-Clad's possible location but Hibana is still wary of his true intentions. Meanwhile, Shinmon Benimaru begins training Shinra and Arthur, and puts them through rigorous training to improve their raw combat skills. Following advice from Licht and Benimaru, Shinra begins to efficiently control his flying abilities and develops hand signs, which can focus his blasts into a fast, concentrated burst.

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma Totsuki Autumn Election Arc EP#21 - That Which Is Known Yet Unknown: Soma awakens from his nap when he senses that his spice and vegetable infused rice is cooked to perfection. Meanwhile, Megumi brings out a monkfish for her dish, having learnt how to butcher it in order to help her family. With the cooking period over, the judging soon begins with a harsh panel of judges giving most of the students low scores. In Group B, Nao Sadatsuka, a somewhat creepy girl with an obsession with Erina, presents an extremely pungent laksa dish made using kusaya that secretly carries a delicious flavor under its strong odor, scoring 84 points as a result. Meanwhile, Erina's secretary and childhood friend Hisako Arato, who Nao has a rivalry with, presents a mutton curry made using medicinal cuisine which undoes the curse-like effects of Nao's curry, scoring 92 points.

Lupin the 3rd Part 5 Enzo Bron Arc Finale EP#24 - Viva Lupin III: When Enzo refuses to take down Lupin's PeopleLog posts, the United States and its allies launch an all-out attack on Shake Handz to prevent a worldwide political crisis. Calling on the aid of his old friends Rebecca Rosselini and Diana Archer, Lupin storms the Shake Handz headquarters to save Fujiko and Ami. Enzo is taken completely by surprise, shaking his faith in his creation. Lupin gives Fujiko his long over-due answer concerning their relationship, saying that he loves her and takes off his own mask. The four of them escape the collapsing building, during which Enzo renews his family bond with Ami. The series concludes with the world returning to normal, and Lupin's fame boosted by his recent exploits. Albert flees with Enzo's assistant Ling to exploit PeopleLog's capacities for his own purposes, while Ami and Enzo are sheltered by Zenigata, who gladly continues his never ending chase of Lupin and his gang.

Black Clover: Elf Tribe Reincarnation Arc EP#97 - Overwhelming Disadvantage: Yami's attack cuts Charlottes in half, damaging the buildings but saving the city. Charlotte retreats with Marx and Owen. The damage to the city breaks open the magical prison and Gueldre Poizot escapes along with Revchi Salik, the disgraced magic knight who once tried to steal Yuno's Grimoire. An elf possessed knight attacks, forcing them to work together. They manage to bind his magic with Revchi's magic binding chains and then escape. The elf possessing Luck almost kills Noelle and Kirsch as their defence is ineffective against Luck's new power. Rhya wishes he could believe Asta’s words of peace, but having once believed the same of Tetia's brother he decides he cannot trust Asta. Rill, now possessed by an elf named Lira, joins the fight. Zora traps the two, allowing Asta to attack and cut Lira's chest, but it has no effect and Rill remains possessed. Rhya explains that as the reincarnation spell is complete and their souls have taken over the human bodies there is no longer a spell to nullify, so Asta's swords are ineffective. Three more possessed Royal Knights appear so Mereoleona forces Asta and Zora to escape while she remains behind to try kill all the possessed knights. Back in the capital her brother, Fuegoleon, almost wakes up again.

[fragmentedhuntress-a-blog]

❦ for Karel

Realizations of the Heart ➳ Accepting     @financialassault

Placed on Third Unit first and foremost upon arriving in the Far East Branch, Karel was one of the first people Blaire got to know. Of course it was a rough start, butting heads for varying reasons. Karel is a difficult person to get along with in general while Blaire was still struggling with grief and depression, making her all the more difficult to get along with on top of her moodiness. As such it wasn’t uncommon for the two to snit at each other, baleful looks tossed at one another.

Overtime as they worked together on missions with the rest of Third they begrudgingly got along well enough on the field to perform their missions well. Of course this wasn’t without snide comments being passed between the comm channels during them. It did not help that they both seemed to want to outshine the other to begin with. It wasn’t until Blaire had begun to even out, her grief lessening and her mood improving when others did not follow the same pattern of mean-spirited behavior she’d come to expect of people in a whole that any change occurred between them.

As such, when Blaire’s comments became less hostile it seemed to allow for that change. She took more of an active interest in things outside her bubble, including Karel’s pursuit of money and glory, giving a spring board to start the two to actually talking to one another rather than bickering. From there an unexpected partnership began to bloom. Karel saw opportunity with another partner to help tackle more difficult missions (even if it meant splitting the reward further if Shun was already coming along) and Blaire had found herself comfortable with the boys of Third and saw no reason not to help. As such, it was a friendship that was eventually forged through months of combat against their shared enemy. Over time Blaire grew very close to all of Third Unit, actively seeking their company during free time she had to spare.

It would eventually grind to a tentative halt when Blaire was transferred to First Unit and her schedule became hectic and made it difficult to hang out with anyone outside of First Unit for a long while. Perhaps Karel was stung by this, but for a long while neither sought the other out either for company or missions. Such as it remained for several months, only passing comments in the lobby or down the hallways servicing as their interaction.

Not until Blaire actively took to seeking out Karel (among the rest of Third) and began to run missions in her free time with him again did anything develop further. So, it was that their friendship picked back up where they’d left off, as if the months of scant conversation had been only a few days. It would be during a mission when a fair few Kongou had ganged up against them, battering Karel around before they could gain control of the mission that Blaire began to really wonder how much she cared for him despite her smart ass comments on the situation. 

Once again, however, she would find herself seeking Third Unit out more often as those on First Unit began to pull away. Personal lives and jobs came first, leaving Blaire to seek companionship elsewhere, and finding it in Karel, Gina and Shun. Blaire can’t begin to point where exactly she started feeling more strongly for Karel, nor when the flirting began between the pair. Their jerkish comments gaining softer undertones, and the brief touches beginning would make it obvious from anyone on the outside looking in how they felt.

It wouldn’t be until Soma and Ila ( @p53biasfactor ) pointed it out to her as to how Karel felt for her that Blaire really stopped to try to sort out her own feelings on the matter.

“This feelings nonsense makes my head hurt, honestly…” It also left her a little frightened with the intensity of how she was beginning to feel for Karel.

[yazzydream]

ANIMATION DOCUMENTARIES - a Compilation (1/2)

I’ve been meaning to remake my masterpost on animation documentaries for a while. (Especially since amazon no longer allows us to edit our older listmanias.) I love watching stuff like this, so I figure others would as well! I direct linked as many titles as I could to streams, free or otherwise. Feel free to add to this! (Also, quick prelude since you’re gonna hear it a lot: Any time a Disney documentary says Snow White was the first ever animated feature film is a dirty filthy lie.)

Animation Industry

Anime: Drawing a Revolution (2007)

Between Frames: The Art of Brazilian Animation (2013; website)

The CalArts Story (1964)

[NHK Close-up Gendai] No.3620 逆襲なるか　日本アニメ　～海外輸出・新戦略の行方～ (”The Counterattack of Japanese Anime ~Overseas Export - New Strategy~”) (2015; website)

[NHK Close-up Gendai] No.3171 アニメを旅する若者たち　“聖地巡礼”の舞台裏 (”Young People Traveling for Anime ‘Pilgrimage to the Sacred Place’”) (2012; website)

[NHK Close-up Gendai Plus] ２兆円↑アニメ産業　加速する“ブラック労働” (”2 Trillion Yen ↑ Accelerating Animation Industry ‘Black Labor’”) (2017; website; NHK on how shitty overworked animator wages are.)

Computer Dreams (1988; this is more a showcase of early cgi than a documentary, but it’s interesting to see anyway.)

Creature Designers - The Frankenstein Complex (2016; DVD)

Drawn for Glory: Animation's Triumph at the Oscars (2008; DVD)

Forging the Frame: The Roots of Animation, 1900-1920 (2007; DVD)

Forging the Frame: The Roots of Animation, 1921-1930

Hollywood’s Greatest Trick (2016; website; about the terrible VFX business model.)

I Know That Voice (2013; DVD, website)

Imagine Series 2 Episode 5, “From Pencils to Pixels” (2003; BBC One)

Magia Russica (2004; website; on Soviet Russian animation)

New-generation animators (2016; website)

Weightless Life - Dialogue With Disney (2006; on Russian animation)

Studios

A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman (2015)

Fleischer Studios -

The Evolution of Animation: The History of the Fleischer Studios (2007; DVD)

First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series (2009; DVD)

Max Fleischer and the New York Style (2007)

Out of the Inkwell: The Fleischer Story (2008)

Hanna-Barbera’s 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration (1989)

Life After Pi (2014; website; about the collapse of VFX studio Rhythm & Hues.)

Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the impossible (2010)

The Magic of Filmation

Pixar -

Pixar: 25 Magic Moments (2011; by BBC Three)

The Pixar Story (2007, DVD; website)

Walt Disney Studios

Dream On Silly Dreamer (2005; DVD)

From Fantasia to Fantasyland (1978)

The Illusion of Life (1981)

Walt Disney Treasures - Behind the Scenes at the Walt Disney Studio (DVD; A collection of old behind-the-scenes docs and telecasts.)

Walt Disney Treasures - Your Host, Walt Disney (DVD; collection of Walt Disney Presents/The Wonderful World of Color)

Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009; DVD; website)

Warner Bros. -

[Camera Three] The Boys Termite Terrace (1975; DVD)

Irreverent Imagination: The Golden Age of the Looney Tunes (2003; DVD) 

Unsung Maestros: A Directors Tribute (2007; DVD) 

Anime Studios

Behind The Scenes! Kyoto Animation Making of Kanon

Ghibli: The Miyazaki Temple (2005)

Inside Toei Animation (2008)

Kingdom of Dreams & Madness (2013; DVD; on Studio Ghibli.)

The Story Behind Banjo (2009; DVD; on creating Don Bluth Productions.)

Animators/Artists/Voice Actors Included a few comic artists who’s works are also widely known through animation.

Al Hirschfeld - The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story (1996; DVD; website)

Ami Ankilewitz - 39 Pounds of Love (2005; DVD)

Art Babbit - Animating Art (1988)

Art Chokey - Gumby Dharma (2006)

Bill Pylmpton - Adventures in Plymptoons! (2011; DVD)

Blinky Bill - Blinky and Me (2011; DVD; website)

Bob Clampett - The Man from Wackyland: The Art of Bob Clampett (2004; DVD)

Bob Godfrey - The Craftsmen - Bob Godfrey (1971)

Bruce Bickford - Monster Road (2004; DVD; website)

Charles Schulz -

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1963; DVD)

[Biography] Charles Schulz: A Charlie Brown Life

Good Grief, Charlie Brown: A Tribute to Charles Schulz (2000)

[American Masters] Good Ol’ Charles Schulz (2007; website)

Chuck Jones -

Chuck Amuck: The Movie (1991; DVD)

Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation (2000; DVD)

Chuck Jones: Memories of Childhood (2009)

Heart and Soul: The Timeless Art of Chuck Jones (2007; DVD)

Eyvind Earle - My Life Eyvind Earle (DVD; autobiographical doc.)

Floyd Norman - Floyd Norman: An Animated Life (2016; website)

Frank Tashlin - Tish Tash: The Animated World of Frank Tashlin (2005; DVD)

Frank Thomas & Ollie Johnston - Frank and Ollie (1995; DVD)

Frank Thomas -  Growing Up with Nine Old Men (2013; DVD)

Friz Freleng -

Freleng: Frame by Frame (1994; DVD)

Friz on Film (2006; DVD)

Fujiko Fujio - [NHK The Professionals] Episode 214, “プロフェッショナル ザ・レジェンド 僕は、のび太そのものだった” (”The Legend I Was Nobita Itself”) (2013)

Genndy Tartakovsky - Genndy's Scrapbook: The Story of Genndy Tartakovsky (2005; DVD)

George Pal - Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal (1985; DVD)

Gerry & Sylvia Anderson - Filmed in Supermarionation (2014; DVD; website)

Hayao Miyazaki -

Journey of the Heart (1998)

[NHK Documentary] Owaranai Hito: Miyazaki Hayao (“Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki”) (EN) (2016; website)

[NHK The Professionals] Special, “「風立ちぬ」1000日の記録” (“Windless” A Record of 1000 Days) (2013)

[NHK The Professionals] Special, “引退宣言 知られざる物語” (Retirement Announcement Unknown Story) (2013)

John Lasseter - A Day In The Life of John Lasseter (2011)

LeSean Thomas - Seoul Sessions (2012)

Lotte Reiniger -

John Isaacs The Art of Lotte Reiniger (1970)

Lotte Reiniger: Homage to the Inventor of the Silhouette Film (1999)

Lou Scheimer - Animation Maverick: The Lou Scheimer Story (2008)

Mary Blair - The Art of Mary Blair (2005)

Mel Blanc - Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices (2008; DVD)

Naoki Urasawa - [NHK The Professionals] Episode 38, “心のままに、荒野を行け” (Go To the Wilderness With Your Heart) (2007)

Norman McLean - McLaren’s Negatives (2006)

Osamu Tezuka -

The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga (2009; DVD)

Osamu Tezuka Documentary: The Godfather Of Manga

Pablo Ferro - Pablo (2012; DVD)

Peter Ellenshaw - Ellenshaw Under Glass

Quirino Cristiani - The Mystery of the First Animated Movies (2007; website)

Ralph Bakshi -

Forging Through the Darkness (2001; DVD)

Wizards: Ralph Bakshi - The Wizard of Animation (2004)

Ray Harryhausen -

The Harryhausen Chronicles (1998; DVD)

Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (2011; DVD)

Richard Williams -

Richard WIlliams & The Thief Who Never Gave Up (1982)

I Drew Roger Rabbit (1988)

Persistence of Vision (2012; DVD; website)

Robert McKimson - Drawn to Life: The Art of Robert McKimson (2007; DVD)

Ryan Larkin - Ryan (2004; DVD)

Scott T. Petersen - Scott Petersen: Drawn To Animate (2013)

Takehiko Inoue - [NHK The Professionals] Episode 126, “ 闘いの螺旋、いまだ終わらず” (The Battle Spiral, It Has Not Ended Yet) (2009)

Takashi Yanase - 

[NHK Close-up Gendai] No.3423 アンパンマンに託した夢　～人間・やなせたかし～ (”The Dream I Entrusted to Anpanman ~Human Takashi Yanase~) (2013; website)

[NHK 知るを楽しむ] 人生の歩き方” - 「正義の味方はカッコ悪い！」やなせたかし (”How to Walk Life” - “The Ally of Justice is Uncool!” Takashi Yanase)

Tex Avery -

Tex Avery, the King of Cartoons (1988)

King Size Comedy: Tex Avery and the Looney Toons Revolution (2012)

Toshio Suzuki - [NHK The Professionals] Episode 10, 自分は信じない 人を信じる (”I Trust People Who Do Not Trust Me”) (2006)

Ub Iwerks - The Hand Behind The Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story (1999; DVD)

Tyrus Wong - Tyrus Wong, Brushstrokes in Hollywood (website)

Walt Disney -

[American Experience] Walt Disney (2015; DVD; website; take with a pinch of salt and maybe check out this post.)

Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow: The Futurism of Walt Disney (2016)

Secret Lives Walt Disney (1995; It’s suuper fucked up, but it’s interesting to compare other docs on Walt.)

Walt & El Grupo (2008; DVD; website)

Walt - The Man Behind the Myth (2011; DVD)

Walt Disney (2016; by BBC Two)

Winsor McCay - Remembering Winsor McCay (1974; DVD)

Yoji Kuri - Here We Go with Yoji Kuri! (2008)

Disney Family Album (1984-1986) Doc series on various Disney animators, actors, etc.

No. 1 Clarence "Ducky" Nash

No. 2 Ward Kimball

No. 3 Sherman Brothers

No. 4 Jim Macdonald

No. 5 Milt Kahl

No. 6 Ken Anderson

No. 7 Disneyland Designers

No. 8 Eric Larson

No. 9 Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw

No. 10 Woolie Reitherman

No. 11 Frank Thomas

No. 12 Voice Actors

No. 13 WED Imagineers

No. 14 Golden Horseshoe Revue

No. 15 Ollie Johnston

No. 16 Annette Funicello

No. 17 Marc Davis

No. 18 The Milottes and the Beebes

No. 19 Fess Parker/Buddy Ebsen

No. 20 The Storymen

JUMP Ryu! (ジャンプ流！) (2016; website) A DVD/magazine series that interviews Shonen Jump mangakas and shows their drawing process.

Vol. 1 Akira Toriyama (DVD; Dragon Ball)

Vol. 2 Masashi Kishimoto (DVD; Naruto)

Vol. 3. Eiichiro Oda (DVD; One Piece)

Vol. 4 Tite Kubo (DVD; Bleach)

Vol. 5 Tadatoshi Fujimaki (DVD; Kuroko no Basuke)

Vol. 6 Yusei Matsui (DVD; Assassination Classroom)

Vol. 7 Kōhei Horikoshi (DVD; My Hero Academia)

Vol. 8 Kazuki Takahashi (DVD; Yu-Gi-Oh!)

Vol. 9 Haruichi Furudate (DVD; Haikyu!!)

Vol. 10 Shun Saeki (DVD; Shokugeki no Soma)

Vol. 11 Kentaro Yabuki (DVD; Black Cat, To Love-Ru)

Vol. 12 Nobuhiro Watsuki (Rurouni Kenshin)

Vol. 13 Naoshi Komi (DVD; Nisekoi)

Vol. 14 Masanori Morita (DVD; Rokudenashi Blues)

Vol. 15 Yusuke Murata (DVD; aka ONE artist of One-Punch Man)

Vol. 16 Shimabukuro Years (Toriko)

Vol. 17 Masakazu Katsura (DVD; Video Girl Ai)

Vol. 18 Osamu Akimoto (Kochikame)

Vol. 19 Takeshi Obata (DVD; Death Note)

Vol. 20 Kyosuke Usuta (DVD; Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar)

Vol. 21 Yoshihiro Togashi (Hunter X Hunter)

Vol. 22 Hiroyuki Asada (DVD; Tegami Bachi)

Vol. 23 Sorachi Hideaki (Gintama)

Vol. 24 Kazue Kato (Ao no Exorcist)

Vol. 25 Hirohiko Araki (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Musicians

Raymond Scott - Deconstructing Dad (2010; DVD; website)

Robert & Richard Sherman - The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story (2009; DVD; website)

Saori Yuki - [NHK Close-up Gendai] No.3162 世界を魅了する日本の歌謡曲　～由紀さおり　ヒットの秘密～ (”Popular Japanese Songs That Fascinate the World ~Saori Yuki’s Hit Secret~”) (2012; website)

Treg Brown - Crash! Bang! Boom!: The Wild Sounds of Treg Brown (2004; DVD)

(Continue to Part 2)