#Strange Majik

[tokiro07]

hello! i've been on an ichi the witch kick lately (read: since it came out) and i've been enjoying your posts on the subject! so you seem to be a good person to ask: in ch 16, when the world hater majik summons the lancermen, i understand that the name comes from the furigana used with the kanji, but that's about as far as my understanding of japanese goes 😅 do you maybe know what the kanji themselves mean?

DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert in Japanese. I do not speak, read, or otherwise know Japanese, so my conclusions should be taken with a grain of salt

So the kanji in question are 轢変進軍

轢, reki or hiku, to run over

変, hen, strange/odd; the same as the kanji used in "warp out"

進軍, shingun, march

Reki can be used with 死 (shi, death) to mean "death by being run over," so we can take rekihen 轢変 to mean "warping by being run over"

By extension, adding shingun creates "the march that warps by running over"

Again, I'm not a translator or Japanese linguist, but for consistency with Adrienne Beck's translation, I think I'd translate it as "Warping Band" as a play on marching band. It doesn't quite convey the "death by running over" angle, but that's just a natural consequence of how much nuance you can cram into English vs Japanese

If anyone has a better translation, please feel free to share!

[atzfilm]

— 『 𝐖𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐋; 𝐨𝐭8 』 [survival guide]

How to survive an encounter with an Unseelie fae [fǣġe]:

Do not eat what they offer. Do not drink what they offer.

Majik always has a price, do not risk a deal. Do not ask for them to save a loved one. Do not ask for them to take your firstborn. Do not accept any offer they may give you.

Do not invite them into your home.

Faeries cannot lie. Due to this, they are eloquent with their words, Do not be fooled.

Do not summon an Unseelie.

If you see something strange, leave immediately. Four leaf clovers are a sign of a faerie near.

Do not celebrate with faeries. Under any circumstances.

Do not enter the forest at night.

If you are followed by a crow or raven, enter the nearest home and do not leave until it is gone. The Unseelie are following you.

Do not fall in love with a faerie, they will not love you the same.

[memorystormsanctuary]

Day 2~ New Worlds

Another day and we’re back at it again for @khoc-week​. Today I’m working with two prompts, one being the main prompt for the day, New Worlds, and the second from the alphabet list, Remember. As the incarnation of Light she has lived many lives in a constant cycle of reincarnation, and until around KH3 time she doesn’t remember any of them. I didn’t draw her new world forms, but I did include her with her dream eaters, the new worlds are covered more in the short story itself than the art.

The start of Kingdom Hearts 3 begins with Y taking her Mark of Mastery exam, hoping to gain the power needed to rescue Aqua, Terra, and Ventus. She faces several new worlds in their sleeping state. In this dream world learns more about herself and the past lives she’s lived. 

Y was always happy when new worlds required an outfit change to avoid standing out. It was something fun that with barely anything she would already know something about the new world. She loved the fins she gained in Atlantica, and the pirate themed  outfit for the Caribbean. Though she hadn’t been to Halloween Town since leaving the Organization she was excited at the prospect of what form she would take, since Sora was a vampire and X had turned into a werecat of sorts. Perhaps this world was in the same vein as Halloween Town. After all, she was painted like a skeleton.

Y was fairly sure it was some kind of paint anyways, most of her arms were covered in it. A surprising amount of detail was painted into the bones, Y was almost convinced she really was a skeleton. But her Komory Bat was still bumping into her arm, so it confirmed the flesh was still there. She just needed to seem like she wasn’t alive. Which made sense for what X had called the Land of the Dead.

Seeing the worlds she had faced in the Realm of Darkness was strange. And though they had returned them to the Light some were still caught in a limbo state. It offered more insight into the worlds than their shadows had.

“This place is even more heartbreaking now,” Y muttered to herself, standing in the piles of discarded belongings. It hadn’t made sense why so many things had been grouped together before. But knowing now, she wished she didn’t. “This is really all that’s left of them.”

The worst part of this world, Y had decided, was knowing when someone truly disappeared. Standing here she stood in all that was left of so many. Those that had been forgotten by everyone. Her heart ached looking at the broken toys and crafts. What had once been the most prized possessions of the forgotten.

All she could think of were the words Lea had said, a broad grin on his face. ‘In peoples memories he could live forever’. And maybe, with enough people he could last for a long time. After all, there were some here who had been residents for what must have felt like forever. Their families still spoke their names and told their stories. But even with all that forever, real forever, seemed like far too long. Eventually they would all fade.

Unless the one who remembered you would live forever.

Y took a few steps forward, carefully moving to step around her two bunny like dream eaters. The Me Me Bunny and Majik Lapin bounced to follow her movements as she tried to find some sort of logic to the rubble. Anything to tell her about the people who had once been here.

It was beginning to make sense, why X had always insisted on reciting the names in the keyblade graveyard. As his hand had brushed each key, he spoke their names into whatever echoing silence there was. Maybe he felt it was his responsibility as one who would see forever, to make sure their names did too. Or maybe it was the only way he could keep his friends from lives past with him. To make that forever a little less lonely.

A soft bump on her leg broke her train of thought. She smiled down at the Majik Lapin who had bumped her leg. She crouched down, placing her hand behind one of its ears.

“Sorry, just thinking,” Y said, forcing a smile and chuckle. The Me Me Bunny brushed her other hand, it was on instinct it came to rest in between its ears. All this thought of forever. She had seen what would count as forever, at least to those who hadn’t lived her lives. She could remember countless others who had been lost. “Who do you think will remember us?”

Who would remember those who live forever when the time finally comes?

We remember you. The soft voices in her mind chorused. She felt a bump on her shoulder, and with only a slight glance she could see the Komory Bat resting on her as if she were a perch.

“Thank you,” Y said softly. She titled her head to bump against the Spirit on her shoulder. The Spirits had been a comfort on what would have otherwise been a lonely exam. Being able to talk to anything made the thoughts seem smaller. “You know the last time I was here, there was this picture. It had all my friends from a long time ago in it. I didn’t remember them at the time. But I knew they were my friends just from the picture. It’s sad to think, because I didn’t remember their names they would have faded if they were here. At least if I was the only one who knew them.” She continued to brush her hand against the two dream eaters heads and nuzzle the Komory Bat with her head.

There were so many, all lost. Names ran through her mind one after the next each with only the faintest hint of a face before she moved on to the next person. One after the other. So many that maybe only she remembered.

“I don’t want them to be forgotten,” Y whispered. She pulled her hands back, resting over her heart. Their names a mantra in her thoughts, flashes of missions and games. Her friends. Her Dandelions. “Zia, Haku, Raito, Kirai, Jax, Annora, Skuld, Kariya, Saki, Anri.”

She listed their names, taking a pause to remember them as she did. The way Kariya had always had a sly grin and a smart word to pick a fight. They had met because of him picking a fight. And he was almost always with Zia, the stoic girl he could always be trusted to rile up. And Haku and Raito, the brothers forced to stand on opposing sides. Though it was always clear they were never into the fights of unions. Saki the bright girl who always guided her quiet friend, Anri who clung to her. They both could be trusted to listen whenever Kirai spoke though. Kirai their little wraith. The one who would always pull them from trouble before disappearing once again. Jax, the one who always had the answers until he didn’t. Annora the one who would never stop fighting their fate. And Skuld. A leader through and through.

“I miss them all.” Y whispered.

We’re here!

Kamiko remembers!

Missed you too!

Y gasped, looking up again at the three dream eaters with her. They all seemed to be bouncing happily, as if they hadn’t said anything strange at all. Her heart clenched as she looked at each in turn. Slowly piecing together what they meant. She had thought she knew their voices, though they were only echoes in her head.

“Wait,” Y said. Her eyes stopped on the Komory Bat. “Kariya?”

There it is. Somehow he still sounded so sly.

“Saki?” This time the Majik Lapin answered.

Here!

“Anri?”

We’re here. The Me Me Bunny repeated again.

Y felt her heart clench again, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at the dream eaters. Her friends. Still here. After all this time.

Part of her could only be confused. How had they gotten here, and in such a state? They were once wielders but now they were far from it. But the part of her heart that ached outweighed the confusion. She couldn’t help the way she reached for them, pulling them closer to her. She hadn’t had the time to process the missing pieces in her heart. They all felt like fresh wounds, raw and aching. The slightest thing filling her with pain once again. The heavy grief following her the more she remembered from her lives before. But now, there was something that filled the hole, even if just a little.

We’ll remember you. Anri’s soft voice said.

Maybe forever could be found in a dream.

“And I’ll remember you,” Y said. “I won’t ever let you fade.”

[doomedandstoned]

RUFF MAJIK’s ‘Elektrik Ram’ Full Review + Interview

~By Billy Goate~

Artwork by Anni Bouchner

'Elektrik Ram' (2023), the latest spin by RUFF MAJIK, is a quintessential rock 'n' roll album. The motley collection of tracks has an Adams Family feel, grabbing your attention straight away with the snaggle-toothed "Hillbilly Fight Song." A rude, jangly welcome to the world of rehab and mental health, when COVID-19 stalked the world, keeping us fearfully isolated in our desolate rooms, going out of our everloving minds.

On his path to freedom from the clutches of chemical addiction, Johni Holiday encountered a host of strange, alluring, and belligerent characters. The songs act as "sketches of the many faces he saw inside the white walls of the hospital." No surprise, then, that the first one is brash and in your face. "Shut your mouth, you'll catch a fly," a most disagreeable fellow warns, insisting that you "sit down before you bleed." His vocals, cast in the tradition of Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses) and Dan McCafferty (Nazareth), snivel and snarl with the portrait of a man you better not cross.

"She's Still A Goth" is an effective, up-tempo ride through the night. In my recent interview with Johni Holiday (which follows below), I asked him if this was a person he met in his recovery. He said it was emblematic of his wife, who has been a continual support and encouragement during the long, slow road to wellness.

"Mourning Wood" slows the pace for a doleful, introspective mood. Things pick right back up, though, with the footloose "Rave to the Grave,". The Monster Mash vibe really pops alive, thanks to spooky touches from an '80s-style synth. I was ready for a beach party after this one. Ooo-weeee-ooo-ooooo.

The great thing about Ruff Majik is just how they joyfully borrow from different rock and metal traditions, stick 'em in a blender, and make due with the pieces, like a Salvador Dalí canvas. "Delirium Tremors" is such an example, a wide-ranging cartoonish soundscape that teeters on the edge of sanity (as we'd expect from someone going through actual DTs).

"Cement Brain" brings us back into the warm, swampy southern-stoner territory that Ruff Majik is known for, here utilizing a trip-hop beat that is so welcoming to the ears. The keyboard accents work quite well, but it's those gorgeous twin guitar harmonies that really get to me, especially following this impassioned plea: Please don't let me go back again. Don't let me fall off the fucking wagon.

Title track "Elektrik Ram" has one of those take the money and run kind of rhythms, not unlike "Dread Breath" from 'Tårn' (2019) -- one of my top Ruff Majik tracks. While the band provides an underlying sense of agitation, the lyrics are drenched in despair and regret:

I used to be a blue eyed boy I used to be so full of joy Now I'm a cog in the machine A random access memory Just a counterfeit of me And I've got nothing to give

A number of the tracks are prefaced by the sardonic wit of horror actor Vincent Price. This works especially well in the case of "Queen of the Gorgons," which plays out like an ultimate tribute to those classic monster movies. It's a great song, too -- one of the standouts of the album, joining "She's Still A Goth" (both inspired by Johni's wife and Ruff Majik album artist Anni Bouchner). Let's pause to respect that two of the record's most successful tracks were inspired by love.

"A Song About Drugs (with a Clever Title)" is a weird, quirky, lopsided march that one might expect to hear in some dimly lit cantina in a galaxy far, far away. The shortest of the 11 tracks, I'd love to hear Ruff Majik do more in this vein. Meanwhile, "Shangrilah Inc" is a soulful, slow blues number where Johni's grimacing vocals really show us what they can do. Lyrically, the song may be a dig at the commercial industry that's grown up around Mental Health.

The last track, "Chemically Humanized" is the longest and most remarkable track on the record, thoughtfully choreographed from beginning to end. There are some interesting literary references in the lyrics, as well. I tried to steal the Devil's note -- a reference to the dreaded tritone, once feared to drive people mad. I even borrowed David's chord, by contrast, draws upon the story of David in the Bible, whose harp playing was legendary for driving away King Saul's evil spirits. Our protagonist laments that none of these things -- not even a seance and crystal ball -- could relieve his tormented state. "I wish I was dead," he confesses, "I'm a ghost after all."

Quirky and enigmatic, Elektrik Ram showcases Ruff Majik at an exciting stage of creativity. Because of its thematic nature, the album begs to be considered not on the first track or even the singles, but as a collection united by an overarching theme.

Ruff Majik's new album is out now in digital and vinyl formats via Mongrel Records (get it here). Stick it on a playlist with Queens of the Stone Age, The Heavy Eyes, and The Tazers.

Give ear...

Elektrik Ram by Ruff Majik

Interview with Johni Holiday from Ruff Majik

Follow The Band

Get Their Music

[lokistinywaist]

who's your top mains in Rivals

Tank -> Doctor Strange

DPS -> Namor, Majik, Squirrel Girl, Learning Moonknight

Support -> Loki, learning Adam Warlock

[quietbluejay]

Horus Rising 9

back over to Murder Torgaddon introduces himself to Tarvitz

lmao i forgot lucius got stuck in cement

"That's Captain Torgaddon to you" Tarvitz is just watching this like o_o he'd never seen anyone stand up to Eidolon like that before!

anyways this is a fun scene man i forgot how dislikeable Eidolon is in this book

Torgaddon continues to tear a strip off of him and wonder of wonders gets Eidolon to back down it's wild how much more likeable many of the EC became after they went Full Chaos well okay i'm mainly thinking Fulgrim and Eidolon Lucius was perfect before and is perfect after except his annoying respawn technique that doesn't show up in the Heresy anyways back to the scene Tarvitz is cheering for Torgaddon internally just punching the air

see what i mean absolutely nothing wrong with this man lucius has done nothing wrong in his life, ever

torgaddon walks away after a bit tarvitz figures it's because he's said enough infuriating things to Eidolon for now

torgaddon pushes a bit more, tarvitz still demurs, but eventually admits he thought it was a little reckless first Tarvitz has sth he wants Torgaddon to bear in mind

torgaddon brings up that they fought together at the beginning of the crusade the luna wolves regard the emperor's children as the best legion they served alongside

i guess they've just been focusing too much on that perfection thing lmao

Torgaddon: there's no purity in pride Tarvitz: my lord Eidolon knows this Torgaddon:…does he?

honestly the rest is a little repetitive it's more of torgaddon trying to get across the gravity of what eidolon did for incredibly stupid reasons

oh Eidolon claimed credit for taking down the trees one of the enlisted dudes speaks up despite Tarvitz and Lucius' attempts to silence him to tell Torgaddon that it was Tarvitz who did that

anyways they continue along and find more blood angels and army remains

back on the ship, loken is a little restless oh time to introduce qruze

you know the type back in his RCAF days...

yeah he's a real stock character haha yeah reading with the full knowledge that everyone involved in this is British is causing all sorts of stuff to pop out at me qruze bangs on in exactly the kind of way you'd expect

lmao loken manages to excuse himself and marr gives him a dirty look as he's stuck listening to the rambling stories of qruze oh let's hear about the Chronicles of Ursh

someone's having some fun here i see loken skipped ahead to try and find stuff about the imperium and managed to find some references to the thunder warriors and wanted to find out more lol but he figured he should read it properly in order incredible mood

lmao and then Loken runs into a strange phrase

things start to get a little warpy we got oneiromancers now

im sorry i can't take anything seriously that uses the term majiks it just makes me think of homestuck

yeah that'd make him take notice lol

by the end the hierophants are extinct loken completely lost track of time reading it this is a reference and an attack at me, personally, who lost track of time while doing this review he starts the next chapter but it skips over to talk about other things

loken goes and asks if there's news, there's none, then he looks through his locker of stuff and thinks about how little he actually owns it's all trophies that are worthless to anyone but loken

he thinks about that fight a bit "Loken almost wept in admiration of the opponent he had slain"

well there's one thing the data-slate with keeler's photos aww it's the most precious material gift he's ever gotten in his life he scrolls through the pictures again and then notices something… there's actually 2 files on the slate the other…is pictures of Jubal or well Samus

loken quickly gets out of his armour and puts on a brown robe okay i know why, he's going to see keeler but taken out of context it's like "i've seen horrifying images time to strip and put on my Monk Gear"

[halflingkima]

Recent Reads

I'm not usually one for monthly wrapups or whatever – if i think a book is good, i'll recommend it; if i think i a book is bad i'll yell about it. most of my reads are middling so it's unworth it. but february was a struggle month so i figured i'd commemorate what i did indeed read cuz it feels like a read nothing and that is false. i haven't done any Official Storygraph reviews yet so instead of forgetting the entire experience, i thought i'd document it here in the meantime.

What's Your Vibe by Kat Majik: Milo is demisexual and works in a sex shop; Stevie is bisexual, agoraphobic, and a sex shop customer; the two negotiate a relationship while feeling out the edges of their own identities.

Best book I read this year so far. Cute fluffy romance with a queer friends group and without shying from the scrutiny (including self-inflicted) that demisexual & bisexual people handle on the regular. as a demi bisexual semi-agoraphobic, this spoke to me. Also, iirc, there was no sex in this, which was so deeply refreshing. the inciting incident is that the demisexual character experiences immediate physical attraction and has a bit of a crisis. were this not written by a demisexual, the focus would be on milo exploring sexual experiences, but it simply was not. as a nearly 30yo virgin, reading a book featuring a 30yo virgin was, to be frank, healing.

this is also the book i made a vaguepost about while i was reading it cuz i am lowkey afraid the author may find me through such vagueposts.

When You Get the Chance by Tom Ryan and Robin Stevenson: Cousins Mark and Talia – both gay – find themselves in Ontario on pride weekend and take a spontaneous road trip to Vancouver pride.

This was my zipbook for the month (if you're in california, ask me about libraries' zipbook programs!), and ngl, I regretted it a little bit. This was pitched to me as a cousin/bff road trip and that is absolutely not the story here. This is a family drama centering on the queer teens of the family. It was clearly a hand-off where one author wrote each pov. The plot is strange and pointless. It is absolutely not a road trip book. Nothing interesting happens, glad i got it thru the library instead of buying it myself.

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral: Teenage piano prodigy Glory has gone missing from inpatient care, where she was admitted after uncontrollably playing Chopin's Chopsticks.

this was in the free bins at work and i found it intriguing. it was published in 2013 which i think is its downfall. the format is cool and innovative. it's like a graphic novel, but using photography and mixed media (like newspaper articles & report cards). the beginning implies a sorta mystery/thriller/missing person story, but it's more of a (traditional, played-out) romeo & juliet deal. i think it could've been produced today and it would've been way more interesting and better executed, given the general popularity of and respect for graphic novels in general.

Paper Girls, Vol. 6 by Brian K. Vaughn: With the girls split across the timestream, they must survive, find their way back to each other, and return home in one piece.

I powered through this in january and i gotta say, it's nothing special. the timeline got predictably confusing, but the narrative doesn't do anything to help you with it. i was also disappointed in the ending even though it wasnt as hopeless as it couldve been. still disappointing in general. i've also seen this on "good sapphic rep" lists and i'm not sure i'd agree with that. ngl, i think i've already forgotten most of the series, let alone what happened in which volume.

A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy: Emmett wants a career as an openly gay country singer, and his first step is performing at a country superstar's amusement park; Luke was brought up hating country music, but his concerns over his mother's illness lead him to reluctantly take a job at the amusement park.

This was pleasantly better than i expected it to be. i thought it struck a perfect balance between pride & the gravitas of coming out, big dreams of stardom and small dreams of the future, young love and adult themes, and ultimately, realism & camp. there was a clear dolly parton insert character here, and yes, the characters meet her in person. but honestly, bc it's balanced with some southern-style casual homophobia, it didn't feel too outlandish for me. the fact that this book remained steadfastly YA while not shying from discussing things like terminal illness & coming out in the south really impressed me.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce: Alanna of Trebond steals her twin brother's knighthood commission, disguising her gender, and uses her powerful healing to help her fellow knight, the prince.

i started this series (of series) in junior high and never finished it cuz it wasn't published yet lol. i've always wanted to revisit it so i finally began again and i gotta say. i had thought i'd forgotten most of what happened but no; not much happens at all in this book. the prince got sick and i was like aw hell yeah the story's getting started and then it was over. that was the climax. thank goodness it's in audio now cuz idk if i'd have the patience to reread the series otherwise.

Tea Leaves by Jacob Budenz: A collection of queer short stories leaning into the witchy, the horror, and the speculative.

I was so hoping this one would be a success, but it fell apart pretty quickly for me. Mostly, the stories just drag on far too long. There are promising premises and the writing style isn't untenable, but almost every story needed a heavy editing hand.

The Lawrence Brown Affair by Cat Sebastian: An agoraphobic inventor hires a new secretary and finds himself falling in love, not least because this secretary helps him cultivate a relationship with his young son.

I found myself moderately invested in this one. i liked the couple, but wasnt rly invested in the characters on their own outside of the relationship. this also felt a little piecemeal plotwise. single dads are in my tropebox but that doesnt rly come up until 60%ish. so far, i've largely preferred sebastian's sedgewicks series over the turner series.

Mister Invincible: Local Hero by Pascal Jousselin: Mister Invincible is the only true comic book superhero – his powers allow him to use the format of comics themselves to save the day.

This was a very cute read! It read just like a sunday comics strip, like beadle bailey or garfield, but elevated to an deliberately meta level. I picked it from a branch of my library knwon for artsy books and this one fulfilled.

Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children #3) by Seanan McGuire: Everything has returned to normal at Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children after the twins escaped; until a dissolving girl falls from the sky, demanding to see her mother Sumi – who is a recently murdered teenager.

I've seen this one talked about mostly as the most disappointing of the series - it's fine, but ppl tend to agree its the weakest. after i tricked my own damn self into disappointment with the previous one, i found this a delight! i especially loved that we visited multiple worlds.

Rizzio by Denise Mina: On the evening of March 9th, 1566, a conspiracy to assassinate David Rizzio, private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots, took place.

I likely would not have been as disappointed had i known any specifics about this piece of history going in. i expected some espionage, a focus on rizzio as a main character. instead, he was dead by page 20, and the rest of the book sprawled on, debating how mary could keep her crown. had that been the book that was pitched to me, i likely wouldve still picked it up! but i wouldve had more accurate expectations.

Bloody Jack by LA Meyer: Orphan Mary Faber finds herself aboard a ship of Queen VIctoria's British navy, masquerading as a boy – Jacky.

I've been wanting to get through this series since junior high and after rereading this one... i remember exactly why i never did. its the driest piece of historical fiction wrapped in a difficult accent. most disappointing now is how tragically heterosexual it is. i dont need every genderbend story to be explicitly about transness but it does seem weird if its never addressed; and I'd also prefer if 15yos weren't swearing marriage vows ngl. I'm gonna read the second book, but i may throw in the towel after that.

[rich4a1]

Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #232

Making a Scene Presents Turn it up Gerry Casey Show #232 With is Guest Cassidy Paris Ben Reel  Inshallah Riley’s LA.Guns  Rewind 8 Cuerdas  Zancadillas The Red Red Pets  Down Down Mississippi Suite  Seven Flights Strange Majik  Dopamine The Obsessed  Realize A Dream Mindy Sins  The Lords Country ZZ Top  Thunderbird Cassidy Paris  Rock N’ Roll Hearts Cassidy Paris Here I Am Cassidy…

[aerroughneck]

:MAJIKAL:, [Beloved], [Pixel Doll], enLight, Ritual Event, V-Twins (Gothicat), Wasabi Blog: https://aerlinnielfantasy.blogspot.com/2023/10/strange-magic-gone-batty.html Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aerlinniel_vella/53235130210/in/dateposted/

[alastors-radioshow]

Yet again, the stag found himself to be.. Staring a little. Especially with having received that kiss on the back of his hand. He couldn't really fault the man for that gesture. He himself was guilty of it.

It was proper etiquette, as far as he was concerned. But he could not recall having ever received one such gesture before.

This man certainly was odd.

Intense, crimson eyes would watch him, carefully holding onto that cup of his, allowing himself smaller sips of the liquid it held. It stung. But it soothed at the same time. A strange notion.

"I appreciate your attempts, Signore. It is not the first time I have fallen.. Hmm.. Victim to this kind of majik."

Terzo was always hospitable to his guests.

Though he’s never had one so powerful, or unusual in the monastery before now.

He hummed softly to himself as he finished playing the tray of herbal tea, and light snacks.

He’d made honey chamomile with a splash of rose water, and little bite sized lemon rose shortbread cookies to match.

He had asked the kitchen to bake them, as though he loved sweets, he was awful in a kitchen beyond mixology.

Still softly humming, he balanced the tray, and headed to the guest room, his private room for his guests, and knocked.

“Alastor? I thought you might wish to share an evening cup of tea with me before bed?”

The man was met by silence for a good while. Then, what sounded like a faint cough. Muffled, as if a hand was tightly clasped over the mouth of the inhabitant. The man dwelling within the room had been suffering from this.. Condition. This malicious spell for close to six hours.

Already, he was counting the minutes. The seconds. His throat felt raw. Like he had swallowed glass.

Footsteps, finally. Slow. Uneven.

But the door was opened, the tall, crimson-clad overlord standing in the doorway. But something felt off. Something was wrong.

Every breath sounded ragged. His chest seemed to be heaving unnaturally. Even so, he motioned for the other to enter, silently.

Something was wrong.

Petals. Petals on the floor. Droplets of blood, if one were to look closely.

The crimson orbs said it all.

Something was wrong..!

[cm0999]

Strange Majik - Pull The Trigger (Acoustic)

[saotome-michi]

Some thoughts about Inu Oh (spoiler warning)

General Rating: 3/5

Inu Oh was a beautiful movie and I will say that overall, I enjoyed it and am glad that it was made. However, there were a few areas where it really fell short and made what could’ve been a fantastic film just alright to me.

The music. Yes, I know I'm in the minority but let me explain. When I heard that the movie was merging rock and Noh, I was really looking forward to traditional Japanese instruments playing rock arrangements. But instead, in most of the songs the electric guitar completely drowns out the sounds of the biwa and other traditional instruments, and it just sounds like western rock music. It was disappointing to hear, especially when there are so many great examples of music that combine trad. Japanese elements and rock, such as anything by the Wagakki Band, Escape by Mr. 3, and Change by Monkey Majik ft. Yoshida Brothers. In fact, just google “Shamisen Rock” or “Shamisen covers” on youtube and you’ll find plenty of great performances. My favorite music scene in the movie ended up being the one where Inu Oh and Tomona meet for the first time and improvise on the bridge, because that's the only scene where you can really hear the biwa.

The animation of the performance scenes was also a let-down, mainly due to how many recycled scenes there were. Perhaps this was due to COVID restrictions or budget cuts, but either way, it got very tiring very fast and gave the scenes a lifeless feel. Also, the animation did not seem to really synch to the rhythm of the music or the singing of the characters.

The writing, especially in the last third. Oh boy, where to even start. Ok, first off, it was really unclear that the head of the Hieza Troupe was Inu Oh’s father. I didn’t realize that that was the case until we were 2/3 into the film so that whole plotline came from left field. Here’s my main problem though: If Inu Oh’s father sacrificed lives to obtain untold stories of the Heike then why was it not mentioned beforehand that he’d been performing those untold stories? Instead, his troupe was portrayed as a traditional Sarugaku troupe, implying that they had only ever performed the stories that people already knew. The lack of set-up for this storyline dampened the emotional impact of the climax of the movie and also did a disservice to Inu Oh’s character.

On that note, I would've preferred more character exploration of Tomona and Inu Oh, especially how Inu Oh felt as his body changed. Did he like his new face? Did he miss his longer arm? Did he feel like performing with his new body was strange, more difficult, affected his creative expression and style? A lot more time could’ve been spent on those two and their bond tbh

The storyline of the cursed sword was completely dropped. The last we see of it, the samurai were taking it to presumably their leader. It would've been interesting if the sword got to the shogun and he'd suffered the curse as well (the actual shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu is recorded to have died of sudden illness at the age of 49, so I feel like that could've easily been weaved into the story).

This is a very minor point but I felt like Inu Oh's "final" face just looked... wrong. Disappointing, but also like it didn't fit the style of the film. The final scene where shogun commands Inu Oh to stop performing his songs is a serious and important scene, but I couldn't help but be distracted by how mismatched Inu Oh's face looked.

All complaints aside, I still enjoyed this film. The first third, from the beginning biwa narration about the Heike up to the point where Tomona and Inu Oh first meet, was probably my favorite part. I especially loved the scene where Tomona and his father take the samurai to the Kusanagi sword and are then cursed by it. It was beautifully animated and shocking to watch. The aesthetic of the film in general was on point. Matsumoto Taiyou’s rougher looking character designs paired with Yuasa Masaaki’s distinct erratic animation style is a well-known combination at this point, but that didn’t make it any less exciting to watch and it worked for this story. If it weren’t for the pitfalls listed above, this could’ve easily been one of the best movies of the year. 

[theinsanecrayonbox]

Arkady thoughts that live in my head constantly part 2

less...controversial? than part 1, because it’s all internally based not externally

so in Lives #1, we see Arkady after not seeing him since Wolverine #12. now what’s interesting to me is the facial hair

Wolverine #1:

Wolverine #12:

Lives #1:

he’s been getting scruffier...when usually in the past he didn’t have facial hair

i know once upon a time, i stated i headcanoned he didn’t grow hair, aside from his head, due to the albinism and the carbonadium poisoning...but since he’s not really albino (because he seems to have had a normal appearance before his execution/powers triggering), that leaves it to just the carbonadium poisoning and...yeah that kinda tracks with this.

because #12 and Lives panels are from AFTER he was given the C-synth, meaning he was no longer suffering constantly from radiation poisoning that made him need to rely on his death spores to fuel his healing factor to combat it.

“but wait KP, what about in Weapon X-Force, he didn’t need to rely on the C-synth there because he was magically resurrected!” right voice i imagine to argue with myself. but might i remind that it seems like the Island of Stupid Saga is moving in real time (or close to it), whereas weapon X-Force’s time scale probably wasn’t. BUT it could also be that Majik’s magic only stabilized him from not dying/being able to live with the radiation poisoning, not eliminating it. idk, that’s not the current incarnation of him anymore, so it’s kinda moot.

and looking at Beast’s order form memo for Arkady’s resurrection, it does say that the C-synth was still intended to negate the carbonadium poisoning. (but strangely that it still requires his healing factor to fuel his immune system?? um...that doesn’t track...he was Immunol issued due to the radiation poisoning...whatever).

so yeah, it looks like giving him what he needed to survive has actually helped him heal. he can now grow facial hair.

that or, the more realistic choice; artists just don’t know any better, especially since they keep waffling over his eyes being red or white

[daily-coloring]

Best of 2020 - Remixes

01.   Krust – Negative Returns – Four Tet Remix

02.   Gus Gus – Lifetime – Raxon Remix

03.   Alanis Morissette – Smiling – Lauren Faith Remix

04.   Rone – Room with a View – Plaid Remix

05.   David Bowie – Fun – Dillinja Remix

06.   These New Puritans – Beyond Black Suns – Scintii Remix

07.   MJ Cole – Sonoran – DJ Stenfeld Remix

08.   Goldie – Prism – Dom & Roland Remix

09.   Bros – Are You Mine? – D_Light Version

10.   Rosalia – A Pale – Gesaffelstein Remix

11.   Blaue Blume – Loveable – Trentemoller Remix

12.   Sam Smith – To Die For – Olafur Arnalds Remix

13.   Declan McKenna – Beautiful Faces – Skream Remix

14.   Gorillaz – Strange Timez – Robert Smith Aurora Remix

15.   DJ Shadow featuring De La Soul – Rocket Fuel – Ten Ven Remix

16.   C.M. – Dream Universe – Hola Estrella Edit

17.   Chaney – Little Bit More – Elliot Adamson Remix

18.   These New Puritans – Where the Trees are on Fire – Maenad Veyl Remix

19.   Le Croque – Melancholia – Themba’s Herd Remix

20.   Beyond Therapy featuring Angie Stone – Higher – Rave Mix

21.   The Drums – Nadia – Porches’ You Have Lost Control Remix

22.   Bent – Friends – Ashley Beedle’s NSW Vocal Club Mix

23.   Sub Focus + Wilkinson – Just Hold On – Eli Brown Remix

24.   Aime Simone – In This Dark Time – Extrawelt Remix

25.   MJ Cole – Sonoran – Sasha Remix

26.   Jessie Ware – Save A Kiss – Totally Enourmous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix

27.   Der Dritte Raum – Hale Bopp – The Oddness Rework

28.   Joris Voorn featuring Haelos – Messiah – J. Majik Remix

29.   Conjure One featuring Sinead O’Connor – Tears from the Moon – Billy Gillies Remix

30.   Dua Lipa – Physical – Erika De Casier Remix

31.   Declan McKenna – The Key to Life on Earth – TSHA Remix

32.   John Tejada – Moving 999s – Plaid Remix

33.   Eli Brown – Killer – Audio Slave’s Attack Ships on Fire Remix

34.   Joywave – Coming Apart – Now, Now Remix

35.   For Those I Love – I Have A Love – Overmono Remix

36.   Zhala – Holes – Planningtorock Remix

37.   Working Men’s Club – Valleys – Graham Massey Remix

38.   Elkka – Every Body is Welcome – Violet’s it’s a gay club Remix

39.   Walt Disco – Cut Your Hair – Wuh Oh Remix

40.   Tina Turner – Goldeneye – Sander Version

41.    Franky Wah featuring Jessie Ware – Time After Time – Elliot Adamson Remix

42.   Neneh Cherry – Buddy X – Honey Dijon Remix

43.   Earth Trax – I’m Not Afraid – Ejeca Remix

44.   Bronson – Know Me – Cassian Remix

45.   Why Don’t We – Adrenaline – James Hype Remix

46.   Pye Corner Audio – Resist – John Talabot Remix

47.   Yeah But No – Run Run Run – Mollono Bass Remix

48.   Mercer – Lemonade – The Magician Italo’ 85’ Remix

49.   Charles Webster featuring Ingrid Chavez – The Spell – Burial Remix

50.   Metronomy – The Light – Rostam Remix

If you would like to listen those, here is a playlist for you.

[tj-black-blog]

Thanos. Best of the Best of the Underground hip hop

[mostcertainlynotcis]

Do you...watch marvel 😳 if so, fave character? Least fave? Why? Fave romantic relationship? Fave platonic relationship?

I haven't seen a lot, but!

Doctor Strange, because he's smart and had a really nice character arc and also hnNgg majik

I don't really have a least favorite character or a favorite romantic relationship

However, my favorite platonic relationship is Tony and Peter!