#THIS IS PART 1

[mooneln0ne]

My super duper special comic for Halloween only called; Ace goes to Arby's

[themusicsweetly]

NEW / OLD photos of Caitriona + Sam from 2014 TCA era (part 1 | part 2)

[atlasmoonglade]

[lurkingsomewhereinsecretshanghai]

just something i made just now :3

Juliette :

Roma:

Benedikt:

Marshall:

Alisa:

[crowfromfoggyforest]

Rumple + text posts (plus Belle)

[natonship]

Quotes from our Danger Days DnD sessions

(aka me and my friends being hilariously in character)

__________

(Kobra orders the group to go back because Poison almost fucking died)

Cherri: That’s quitter-attitude, Kobra.

__________

Pony: Hey, how are you doing?

Cherri: Great, just found a corpse!

__________

Kobra: It's only a clown car when Ghoul's inside!

__________

Ghoul: I can cook!

Kobra: I think you've proven that you can't.

Ghoul: People change!

__________

Ghoul: Do birds light on fire naturally?

__________

Cherri about Ghoul: He's intelligent, he's just full of shit.

__________

Cherri: If we have any more family time, Ghoul might actually die.

Part 2:

[t-hirstreview]

[thankstothe]

[foxface001]

He was a Mama’s Boy. Change my mind.

[thatcryptidinthewoods]

Commander Kido is a Dad, actually.

Tumblr has once again tried to limit me with a 30-image cap and once again, I cannot be stopped. Full version can be found here.

Okay, so hear me out.

When Kido's first introduced, it's as this cold, distant leader who hates Neighbours and is running a strictly military operation.

But for someone who really hates Neighbours, he has a weird habit of taking in all these orphaned, homeless Neighbour kids. At first it appears like Yūma is the only exception, but then there's Hyuse, Yōtarō, his sister Ruka and Cronin.

There's other agents to think about too. There's a lot of characters in Border who, when you really think about it, would not normally be accepted into that kind of organisation. For example: • Taichi; he's incredibly clumsy, which causes him to break or knock over all sorts of things - people included. • Tsuji; he can't interact with women without having a mental breakdown, which is incredibly limiting on his ability to work with other agents. • Nasu; outside of the trion body, she's disabled and it's mentioned that her health is ailing. • Chika; despite her insane trion levels, she's incredibly inexperienced - having so much power yet not knowing how to wield it can be incredibly dangerous and destructive, it's a very high risk. • Osamu; the exact opposite of Chika, his trion levels are so low he's outclassed by pretty much every other agent in Border. • Kageura; he's incredibly easy to agitate and quick to respond with physical aggression. • Hatohara; she cannot shoot people, no matter how hard she tries, and if Border was any other organisation they wouldn't have spared her a single thought.

All of these are characters who would normally be considered "problems" or "not worth it". But in Border, they're not only openly accepted, but given the environment and tools they need in order to properly grow and develop their talents.

If Kido only cared about killing the Neighbours, Border wouldn't be like this. It wouldn't be filled to the brim with a bunch of teenagers who, in one way or another, would be considered the "outcasts".

Kido is cold and distant because he's the commander, the very top of Border, and his job is to put Border first. He's the one who has to make the ultimate decision to sacrifice the one for the many, so he needs that emotional detachment. But that doesn't mean he doesn't care, or that he isn't invested in this hoard of teens he's in charge of.

This is a core part of his character, and we see it in the way he interacts with the main cast.

When Osamu is first brought before the Border Executives, he's in trouble for going against Border's rules on C-Rank trigger usage. But the reason he broke those rules was because people were in danger, and the nearest qualified Border patrol was miles away. He acted to protect people.

While the other directors discuss and argue these points, Kido sits silently and listens. He doesn't say anything until every side has spoken their piece and all variables are on the table. He lets Kinuta and Netsuki point out all the issues and flaws and he lets Shinoda defend Osamu's decision. He waits.

And then, when he does speak, he starts by acknowledging Shinoda's point about the benefits of Osamu's willingness to act. He acknowledges that yes, that is absolutely a good trait to have, especially in terms of being an agent of Border.

But Border comes first, and part of that is maintaining unity. He can't support an agent going rogue because, while it might be for the right reasons, it could cause serious complications in the future.

Yet even so, he gives Osamu one last chance to fall back in line. He gives him an easy opening for staying in Border.

Osamu could've said that no, he wouldn't do it again, and he might've been let off the hook. But he doesn't, because he's honest, and Kido sees that.

Then Jin interferes, and he provides a reason for Osamu to stay that directly benefits Border.

How does Kido respond?

He agrees without hesitation. This way, Border is benefited and Osamu can still remain an agent. He doesn't need to choose between the one or the many anymore.

Then he learns that Osamu has contacted a Neighbour. Does he revoke Osamu's status as an agent? No. He doesn't even mention it, even though he literally just witnessed Osamu lie to a senior agent about his involvement with Neighbours.

What does he actually care about?

That there's an enemy running rogue in Mikado City. That the city and its civilians could be in danger.

Which leads us to how he reacts to Yūma.

Yūma is a Neighbour. That's all Kido knows about him at this point. Yūma is a Neighbour, the Neighbours hurt people and Border's job is to stop them. So Kido must ensure that this Neighbour doesn't hurt anyone either.

The very next thing he learns about the rogue Neighbour is that he has a black trigger. That whoever he is, he is twice as dangerous as a Neighbour is normally.

(Osamu, again, gets in trouble for withholding this information. And Kido, again, waits for everyone to say their piece about it before commenting - even though it would make more sense for him to punish Osamu on the spot.)

Jin suggests they make the Neighbour with the black trigger their ally.

There is merit to this, and Kido knows that - but he hasn't met Yūma like Osamu and Jin have, knows next to nothing about him except that he's one of their enemy and in possession of an incredibly dangerous weapon. So he chooses the good of the many.

Side note: at no point does Kido claim, or even imply, that Jin was wrong to believe they could make an alliance with the Neighbour. Kido recognises that Jin's suggestion is valid, it's just that his and Jin's priorities are different, so their decisions will ultimately be different as well.

Yet he still assigns Jin to catch the Neighbour, because Jin has Fujin - despite knowing full well that Jin is taking the opposite stance to him.

Kido isn't a fool. He is a very smart, perceptive man. He knows Jin's go-to tactic is abusing loopholes, the guy's whole shtick is literally bullshitting the rules. Which is why he's the least surprised when Jin pulls an Uno Reverse and claims he can't take the orders due to Border's chain of command.

Kido respects that Jin does not want to kill the Neighbour, and so he provides an opening for Jin to turn down the order without being disrespectful. In fact, Kido only becomes confused and surprised when Rindō changes the order. At no point does he take fault with any of the agents present.

Back to Yūma.

The third thing Kido learns about the black-trigger-wielding rogue Neighbour is that he is, allegedly, Yugo Kuga's son.

Now, he has more to think about. There's more variables to consider. If it is Yugo's son, then Kido has just initiated a manhunt against the kin of his old friend. But at the same time, it's also possible that the Neighbour is lying.

So things have become more complicated, and you can see it in his expression.

To add to this, Yugo is now apparently dead. So the black-trigger-wielding rogue Neighbour is also, if he is to be believed, an orphan.

In the span of a few minutes, the situation has taken a nosedive into very delicate territory. Kido, as the commander, must make the ultimate choice. And as is his job, he chooses to put Border first.

What follows is a mad scuffle between the different factions of Border as Tamakoma aims protect Yūma while Kido aims to collect his black trigger.

Remember, Kido does not know that the trigger is what's keeping Yūma alive. At this point in the story, this is a fact that only Yūma himself knows until he shares it with Jin and Replica tells Osamu. So Kido's goal is not necessarily to harm him, it's just to retrieve the trigger. Likewise, the order he gives the A-Rank agents is "to secure the black trigger currently at the Tamakoma Branch" and "you must secure this black trigger by any means". He gives no order regarding Yūma specifically.

When this fails, the executives start infighting. The situation is rapidly deteriorating and things are getting out of hand, so Kido must be the commander again and force things back into order. And of course, he must make a choice: if he lets the black trigger go, the situation will calm back down, but then Tamakoma will have two black triggers and Border will be at a political disadvantage.

So he chooses what will result in the best outcome for Border over Tamakoma. He once again chooses to sacrifice the few for the many.

But then Jin swoops in and presents him with an alternative. He offers Fujin in exchange for Yūma's admittance as a Border agent and, after some arguing, reveals that his enlistment will be a direct benefit for Border later down the line. So not only will Border get Fujin, but letting Yūma join now will reward them with a net positive in the future.

And with minimal hesitation, Kido agrees.

After this, the tension dissipates and the dust settles. Things return to normal.

In chapter 41, Kido finally gets to meet Yūma fact to face. For the first time, he gets to see Yugo's son, the kid who caused so much drama and infighting just a few weeks ago. And what does he see?

He sees a well-meaning, genuine kid who doesn't hesitate to help. Which is why he doesn't lie when he promises Replica that Yūma will be protected under Border.

Plus, a minor but important detail here is that Replica only asked for Kido to guarantee Yūma's safety ("I would like the Border Commander to guarantee Yūma's safety in exchange for this information") yet Kido specifies that so long as Yūma is a part of Border, he will guarantee both his safety and his rights. He made the decision on his own to protect Yūma's freedom and independence.

[retracexcviii]

Vanitas no carte Stage play comic translation (part 1)

Hi there. As I told you, I made the cleaning and edition of this comics Jun made last year.

The translations from japanese are all made by the hand of my dear J, you should go to show your gratitude here:

https://www.instagram.com/_jolene_c/

In case you need context: Last year, in January 2022, there were a event in Japan in which some actors represented Vanitas no carte first 18 chapters (until the end of Catacombs arc). It was a big event, worked well, Jun went there to see it and made all this comics representing moments of the stage play. Later in summer Jun wrote a AU so this actors could play it (that AU in which the main 8 characters traveled to the future and were dressed in modern clothes. You sure have seen those images already). And to finish, the stage play worked so well that it has had a repetition now in March 2023 and they have announcement that it will be a DVD/Blu ray release of this representation in September 2023.

[ryuzatodraws-archive]

Coffee,tea

[nia1sworld]

Just a little Gacha redesigns of my friends

@daveandbambifan0505

@artismeyou-45

@loki104-uwu

@demonangelgirl134

[garbria]

Helpless

For Febuwhump day 1

Cor punched the bag in a steady rhythm, wishing he could afford to pull his katana. Unfortunately, Clarus, and then Regis, had convinced him the level of destruction he was capable of would be ultimately unproductive. And taken out of his paycheck, though that threat was more effective during his pre-Marshal days.

Still, despite all their arguments to the contrary, he wished for the freedom to swing Kotetsu. The familiar patterns weren’t holding his attention without the edge of steel. The whirl of emotions churned in his chest unabated.

With a growl, he hit the bag one last time, ignoring the smattering of blood left on the bag. This wasn’t working. He knew better than try and spar in this mood. Clarus was too busy, as was Regis, and the only other person who could reliably handle him in this state was the reason he was in this state to begin with.

He stalked out of the gym, grabbed a light jacket from his locker, and snuck out one of the side entrances. Thankfully, he was a familiar enough presence that no one took note as he hit one of the jogging paths around the Citadel at a faster than usual jog. The fresh air and the impact of his feet on the pavement started to do what his previous workout had not.

He wasn’t that hotheaded kid who’d run off to fight the Blademaster anymore, no matter what Clarus insinuated. He’d grown into command, learned to pick his battles, and made a kind of peace with not being able to be everywhere he was needed. He would never quite be used to being helpless when his people were in the field, but he’d learned to cope.

None of that helped today.

He loved Nyx, he did. More than that, he respected him. He was the best in the glaive for a reason. He was swift, deadly, and more than capable of handling himself on the battlefield, even with his ridiculously noticeable battle dress. His lethal grace was one the first things that drew Cor to him. Then his sly sense of humor and genuine good heart finished capturing Cor’s heart.

Cor knew how skilled Nyx was. He’d seen him in action, sparred with him enough to know what a force he could be. He reminded himself of that every time Nyx went out into the field when Cor’s responsibilities kept him here in Insomnia. Nyx’s sense of duty rivaled his own, yet another reason he’d fallen so completely. So he’d come to terms with the risks inherent in Nyx’s job, more or less. Held tight to the knowledge of Nyx’s competence in the dark of the night, and breathed a sigh of relief every time he returned.

He’d thought he’d come to terms with it, anyway. Nothing had prepared him for the ransom video. Nyx had been gone longer than expected, but not quite long enough for concern. Until the plain brown envelope had been delivered to his desk. The courier service had been paid by anonymous money order, one not even Monica could track down. 

The video, despite the poor lighting, showed what was clearly Nyx, bloodied and dazed. The ransom demands had been a pull back of forces and the return of a few prisoners. The damn Niffs were officially claiming ignorance, but everyone knew that was a polite fiction. It was political now, and Regis had barred him from any discussions. 

His chest burned with anger and helplessness and a hundred other emotions he didn’t feel like naming. He wanted to yell and scream and destroy things. None of it would help.

His relationship with Nyx wasn’t supposed to put him in more danger. 

Intellectually, he knew why Regis and Clarus had locked him out of the planning. It didn’t make him feel any better. He wanted to do something, anything to help the man he’d grown to care so much for.

He found himself back at the Citadel with no memory of the intervening time. He wasn’t even winded, despite taking the whole path at more of run than a jog. He stared at the door and its electronic keypad, debating turning around and running the path again. His mind was still a jumble of anger and despair, but maybe another circuit would work better. 

His pocket buzzed, and he almost dropped his phone in his rush to dig it out of his pocket. He unlocked it to find a text from Clarus calling him to Regis’ office.

Finally. They’d found something he could do, some way he could actually help. 

Just hold on, Nyx. He was coming.

[bakerstreetdoctor]

„Demoticka, 2nd September 1714*

Serene Princess, most gracious dear sister!

My long-lasting neglect causes me that I don’t know how to start my letter or in what way I should dare bring forth any excuse. But all my hope rests on the everlasting benevolence of my most dearest sister, who always shows lenience towards my missteps, no matter how big they may be. It wasn’t for a lack of intention to pay my due respects; but different incidents during this time have always hindered me from realisation, so that my letters, which I often started, didn’t end up getting finished, in part because I’m a bad writer, so that the writing often went wrong and became so unreadable that it had to be rewritten time and time again and the opportunity to send them went by and they then laid here until they were so old in the meantime that they had to be completely changed. Moreover aren’t all opportunities for transport as safe as that I want to dare send my letter to my heart’s sister with them. Because I prefer to only send them with such people, that can deliver them personally, since otherwise they could easily fall into stranger’s hands, especially at sea. If I could finish my letters and transport them safely as often as my thoughts are with Mon Coeur, so not a day should go by in which my heart’s sister would not get my letters in heaps, so that Mon Coeur should not think of anything else but reading them; but for now it nearly always my intention just remains in the real of thought.

When Rank, who is in Kassel’s service, left here, I intended to give Mon Coeur my regards through him; but my letter didn’t get finished fast enough. I had at the time, when he left, a small fever for three weeks and as consequence of a special event laying in bed for a long time, so that it was even more uncomfortable to write in bed than it already was otherwise. I intended to send an express from here right after his departure, who should progress faster than him. But as the result of different incidents this remained undone, so that I didn’t get to realising my intentions. I had the intention to write Mon Coeur, as I had to, that the landgrave of Cassel and his hereditary prince had written to me regarding their known wish and requested that I should help them, to procure my dear sister’s agreement.+ I answered that I wish that their intentions see success and that I’ll gladly help, to petition the necessary authorities give their approval [this is a really rough translation I’m sorry lmao]. I hope to now soon hear that my sister will think to proclaim her resolution on this and that I’ll gain a brother-in-law.

When Liven arrived here, I had the intention to send him straight back in accordance with Mon Coeur’s order. The matter however dragged on, so that he hasn’t left until now. He had always been ill here for a while, but is now doing better and will leave soon. I’ve been very joyed by Liven’s arrival; since I not only received Mon Coeur’s most dearest letter through him, but also was verbally informed of Mon Coeur’s preferable wellbeing, although at the same time I grudgingly also heard of the woes, which Mon Coeur was feeling over the demand that the Council made and that Her Majesty the Queen has agreed to, that Mon Coeur was supposed to attend the meetings of the Council.# Mon Coeur can surely imagine, that I can’t find that, what’s regarding MonCoeur, anything but good, and that I gladly saw that Mon Coeur gave her agreement and wants to take on these efforts. I am sure it will be useful for the accomplishments of many things, especially if the Council is through this encouraged to to work more cautiously than it has happened for a few years now.

The times however have been difficult and after the picture the Council painted it was impossible to achieve more. I can however assure Mon Coeur that the times have become much harder by the neglectful and damaging ventures of the Council and much has been neglected to matter how much they try to excuse it.& But under the name of Council I don’t pronounce all members of the Council guilty, because some have done all they could in their power. But with others there’s reason to be dissatisfied, who above all others according to the nature of of the matters, to find ways around them and promote the realisation of the ventures [also a really rough translation, sorry].

I’ve told Liven some things, which he can repeat to the Council. Mostly this is about Horn; because I know him and know that he’s hardworking, when he puts in effort. He should be most used to following orders and making this or that happen, especially regarding the military. But for a few years now I’ve found his eagerness small; in no way did he out efforts into achieving something. I’ve seen from his own letters he wrote to me, that his only concern is to pass on all responsibility without taking care that all will be executed as would be necessary for the common good. He has also written to me that he spent the last summer and this summer as well nearly always in the countryside, which is absolutely not permissible when everything is looking badly. He, who was a soldier and possesses strength enough, has to be at work on the daily before anyone else. That’s why he is the chancellery-president and as such should take on the matters of government even more and should always be present. Furthermore he is the Governor for the Duke, whom he shouldn’t neglect as well. I’m writing Mon Coeur in confidence everything that comes to mind and I ask, that Mon Coeur won’t take it badly that I’m so extensive.

Mon Coeur wrote me that Horn would like to be president of the Court of Appeal. Since I have aforementioned against him, I’d rather the position of president be vacant for a time until I see clearly who will be the most capable for it. Cronhjelm, who has also applied, would surely be usable; however I also have some smaller matter against him and would like that he first pay more attention towards the public good than his private matters. Furthermore he didn’t achieve much in the commission he had in the last year for the fleet, and didn’t follow his orders in the way he had to understand them. That can all be improved however.

With this opportunity several different letters are going to the Council and answers to its letters. I have tried to indicate to Mon Coeur in this letter of mine what the letters that are leaving from are containing. Since I’ve difficulties with writing and Mon Coeur will see everything in the Council, I ask Mon Coeur don’t blame me that I don’t write about everything. I hope, Mon Coeur will find it good, what I wrote to the Senate on the matter of Mon Coeur’s presence in the senate, as well that I didn’t write to Mon Coeur in the same letter as the senate. Because Mon Coeur and the senate can’t be understood as something belonging together, as well as Mon Coeur can’t be seen as a member of the Senate, but as one who in the same way as me is above the Council and supervises the businesses and ventures which have been entrusted to the Council, so that Mon Coeur supervises at home over that which is supposed to be carried out in the same way I announce it to them during my absence in my letters from here. Concluding from that, regarding the exchange of letters between me and the Council, Mon Coeur and me can’t be seen as something else but a single person who is in two places at once, and equally the Senate forms a particular person or a College. My letters to the Council can therefore not be addressed to my sister at the same time; because that would be the same as if I were writing to the Council and myself at the same time. Furthermore I’m often of a completely different opinion than the Senate and can therefore all the less write in the same letter to Mon Coeur, as both, who are one, can only have one will too; but the matter with the Senate is a complete different one.€

Regarding the suggestion from the Council that the young Duke wants to be declared of age, I have answered that this would something to wish for, and that it could be very helpful for his land, if he could be become of age the sooner the better. But that he could come into possession of his lands earlier through that, doesn’t seem likely. Far more as a consequence of this other difficulties could arise from unreasonable claims from the enemies; they could against the promise that he gain possessions in his lands demand that he leave Sweden, what would dare too much for both the person of the Duke and the interest of Sweden. Denmark as well as Prussia would wish to get him into their hands. The Holstein minister§ has sought here as well in Sweden to get him. But I have answered, as well as this happened in Sweden, that this can’t be done. It’s sure than one has cause to mistrust the sincerity of the first Holstein minister as well of several others; because they are full of shady tricks and seldom keep to the straight road. But it’s very difficult to publicly accuse them before one has thorough knowledge and better proof. Rather one has to let everything go until the Duke, when he’s of age, may examine everything himself. In the meantime no one can part the interests of Sweden and Holstein, even if the Holstein minister might be maliciously minded towards Sweden. There is no doubt about the Administrator’s good attitude towards Sweden.

Mon Coeur has made the greatest efforts to write so many and long letters in ciphers and especially in chancellery ciphers, which are so difficult. I barely get to write without ciphers, which had actually been my intention; but I am sure that this letter will get through well.$”

*Yes, this is nearly 2 years after the last letter I translated, and I didn’t skip any in-between. For example the Ottomans kicked out Karl from Bender in the so called Kalabalik (there’s a wikipedia article on it), insane shit, basically 40 of Karl’s guys holed up in his house against thousands of Tartars and jannissaries. I think they held out for roughly 8 hours until the roof was on fire and they decided to break through to the chancellery building, but as they stormed out, Karl at their head, he tripped over his spurs, one of his soldiers even threw himself on him to keep him somewhat safer, but the Ottoman soldiers took him prisoner then. He ended up staying in Demotika/Timurtash for quite a while, during which he was laid up in bed for 11 months, Hatton says probably due to a broken ankle and malaria, but honestly, that doesn’t really cover the entire 11 months. Maybe he was taking a severe depression nap.

+This is about the Prince Friedrich of Hessen-Kassel wanting to marry Ulrika btw

#”Already in November of 1713 had Princess Ulrike Eleonore started to attend meetings of the council on their request. She said in a letter, she had sent with Liewen, that she had “objected to the utmost”. Since she hadn’t received any answer to her preceeding letters to Karl and the Queen Dowager had given her permission, she therefore hoped that Karl wouldn’t take her actions ungraciously”

&”This very strict verdict on the Swedish Council can generally be seen as an expression of anger by Karl XII. that the council, which had been working which had been working under the highest foreign and inner pressures, hadn’t earlier and with more success sent a relief army to Pomerania, as had been ordered by the king repeatedly. The princess, who could observe the actions of the Council up close, judged the matter differently, as it’s seen from her answer: “Nothing can recover the work, but the own esteemed presence of Y. Maj., which can test the sad state best; because the quality of which can’t be imagined from far away, but only when one is present. I don’t deny what Y. Maj. deemed to mention that it looks as if times have gotten harder, because at the time no better arrangements were made. But that is now done, and what’s done can’t be changed anymore. But I don’t believe that the Council can be blamed for this through their negligence, because I’ve been witness to this ever since I’ve been part of it, that they’ve done everything that could be done as loyal men and subjects. And if God wants to punish, noone can safe themselves from it. The Highest give, that one just finds a way out to save what’s left.”

€I’M SO UNWELL ABOUT THIS HELP. I just wish that Karl would understand that Ulrika was not groomed in the same way as him for the responsibilities of the crown :(

§Goertz my darling <3 Ohhh just you wait Karl, in just a couple of months he’s gonna be soooo ride or die for you (literally), and you’ll put the future of your kingdom in his hands <3

$I guess this explains why this letter is so excessively long lmao

[friendsdontlieokay]

Long nights, daydreams, sugar and smoke rings, I've been a fool

But strawberries and cigarettes always taste like you

Headlights on me, racing to 60, I've been a fool

But strawberries and cigarettes always taste like

Blue eyes, black jeans

Part 2: