#The New Age of Heroes (Post-Incredibles 2 Verse) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tyrantisterror · 4 years ago

Text

THE A.T.O.M. CREATE A KAIJU CONTEST 3-D!!!

YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE SAFE! YOU THOUGHT THAT THE TIME OF MONSTERS WAS AT AN END! BUT YOU WERE WRONG, FOR NOW YOU MUST WITNESS…

THE A.T.O.M. CREATE A KAIJU CONTEST 3-D!!!

That’s right, it’s back! Celebrating the publication of The Atomic Time of Monsters Volume 2: Tyrantis Roams the Earth! (which in turn completes The Ballad of Tyrantis arc for this series), I’m holding another monster design jam. The third of such jams, in fact!

Like the first A.T.O.M. Create a Kaiju Contest, the aim of this contest is to create kaiju that would fit within the setting of my big kaiju story series, The Atomic Time of Monsters. Think of it as me letting you into my sandbox to play with my toys for a bit, or like you’re being put in the director’s chair of a new ATOM-verse kaiju movie. That means your entry does have to fit into ATOM’s world, which in turn means that yes, there are limitations to your creativity here. But limitations can be good sometimes - they can make us explore options we wouldn’t consider when given completely free rein to do what we want!

(also you don’t have to make a three dimensional image or anything, the title’s just a pun on how the third movie in a monster movie franchise will often be a 3-D film)

Read below the cut to learn the rules and whatnot:

THE RULES:

1. You are limited to one entry per person. Work hard and make your entry count!

2. Your kaiju must have some sort of description of its physical appearance and its personality - you can submit a drawing or a written description (or both!) for the physical appearance depending on what you’re most comfortable with. Using the same template/format as my official ATOM Kaiju Files (https://horrorflora.com/monster-menageries/atom-kaiju-files/) isn’t required, but it was cool when people did it in the last contest, so feel free to do so this time too!

3. The kaiju you create must specifically be created for this contest - no repurposing characters you made for other, wildly different stories. This is not “trick TT into drawing/canonizing my main OC” time.

4. The kaiju must fit the setting and aesthetics of ATOM. I’ll explain this in more detail down below.

5. The kaiju should add something meaningful to the world of ATOM. The more unique and interesting your kaiju is, the more likely you will win the contest.

6. Don’t make your kaiju too dependent on pre-existing ATOM characters - no “Tyrantis’s long lost evil brother who’s the strongest kaiju in the world.” These should be to Tyrantis’s story what War of the Gargantuas is to Godzilla’s movies – heroes (well, monsters) of another story in the same world.

THE REWARDS:

I will make pencil sketches of the top 5 entries in the contest.

I will then make fully rendered illustrations (lineart, colors, & shading) of the top three entries.

The winning entry will be made into a model ala the ones I’ve been making for ATOM’s core 50 monsters, which can then be shipped to the person who created it (should they be able to cover the shipping costs). That’s right, your kaiju could be brought to life in THREE GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOR DIMENSIONS! (Hey, we worked the gag title in to the prizes!)

THE DEADLINE: All entries must be submitted by July 3rd, 2021. You can submit it here on tumblr, via the horror flora e-mail, or any other channel you know how to reach me through. I’m in a lot of places.

THE GUIDELINES (TO HELP YOUR ENTRY FIT THE RULES AND WIN):

The smartest thing you could do if you want to win this contest is familiarize yourself with the world of ATOM by, y’know, reading all the material I’ve published on the subject. In addition to the many kaiju files that are free to read on horrorflora.com, there are now TWO, count ‘em, TWO novels in this series for you to peruse, both of which establish many of the rules of the setting as well as its general themes and tone! You can get them in either paperback or e-book formatting (I’d recommend the former over the latter since I lack the technology to make a really nice ebook, but if money is an object, the kindle version is only $1). Here’s the links again if you missed them:

Vol. 1: Tyrantis Walks Among Us!

Vol. 2: Tyrantis Roams the Earth!

However, since I know reading a bunch of stuff is, y’know, not something everyone is inclined to do, I’ll jot some good bullet points for you in an attempt to outline how ATOM works in a brief, easily digested way:

ATOM is an homage to the monster fiction of the 1950’s and 60’s (i.e. the Atomic Age), and is set in those two decades, albeit an alternate universe version of them where, y’know, monsters and space aliens exist. If you aren’t familiar with the monster fiction I’m referring to, there will be some reference material provided at the end of this post along with some recommendations for further research.

Kaiju/giant monsters in ATOM work under very specific rules. There’s a full description of those rules at this link, but here’s the jist:

ATOM Kaiju are created created by the radiation of a mineral called Yamaneon, which naturally converts harmful radiation into its own unique energy. In natural circumstances, it takes hundreds of years of exposure to Yamaneon radiation for a creature to become fully transform into a kaiju (luckily, Yamaneon radiation slows the aging process while speeding up the healing process). However, an explosive burst of energy - such as the geothermal and kinetic energy released by an earthquake, or the blast of a nuclear weapon - can speed up the process, turning a normal animal into a kaiju within a matter of seconds.

All ATOM kaiju can heal grievous wounds within minutes or even seconds, are supernaturally strong and durable, and can convert harmful radiation to harmless energy that they then feed off of. Kaiju do not have an equivalent of old age, and can theoretically live forever (though their violent lifestyle means that few do).

ATOM Kaiju generally don’t need to eat unless they are severely injured, getting most of the energy they need from solar or geothermal radiation - but many still have instincts that drive them to seek out food from time to time.

Most ATOM kaiju stand roughly 100 feet tall (depending on their body shape), i.e. smaller than the original 1954 Godzilla. There are exceptions to this rule - younger kaiju can be smaller, while exceedingly old kaiju can be significantly larger, but these are rare.

In general, ATOM kaiju are significantly more intelligent and emotionally complex than people expect animals to be, though most are incapable of speech or complex tool use. There’s a reason ATOM Kaiju Files have a “personality” section.

Most ATOM Kaiju are tooth and claw fighters - ranged weapons are a rarity in this setting.

While the terrestrial monsters in ATOM look strange, they are intended to fit within the taxonomy of animals in reality - reptiles, mammals, fish, arthropods, molluscs, etc.

ATOM’s mesozoic era was dominated by a fictional clade of crocodile-relatives called retrosaurs, which are based on the outdated paleoart that one would find in the 1950’s/60’s fiction - i.e. when dinosaurs were viewed as trail dragging lizards instead of strange birds. You can learn more about retrosaurs here (https://horrorflora.com/2016/11/15/atom-kaiju-file-bonus-a-guide-to-retrosaurs/).

Kaiju appear on every continent in ATOM, but certain areas tend to be dominated by different types.

North America is mainly besieged by retrosaur kaiju and giant arthropods.

East Asia is technically also mainly plagued by retrosaurs and big arthropods, though they tend to look more fantastical and mythic - and, often, oddly well suited to being portrayed by a person wearing a monster suit.

Russia is beset by prehistoric monsters that seem to come from the Cenozoic, particularly the Ice Age.

Western Europe is plagued by creatures that vaguely resemble creatures from myth, if they were also prehistoric. Dragon-y lizards, fiery birds, etc.

Towards the mid-way point of ATOM’s timeline, earth is invaded by a coalition of aliens from different solar systems called the Beyonder Alliance, and as a result a bunch of alien monsters can be found on earth.

Mars and Venus both host (or hosted in Mars’s case) animal life. The surviving Martians colonized Venus, and sent some of their kaiju guardians to earth to help us fend off the Beyonders (who are responsible for the destruction of Mars’s ecosystem). Martian and Venusian kaiju have specific anatomical quirks, which you can see by looking at these kaiju files:

Venusians:

https://horrorflora.com/2017/01/03/atom-kaiju-file-29-karamtor/

Martians:

https://horrorflora.com/2017/01/17/atom-kaiju-file-39-kemlasulla/

https://horrorflora.com/2017/01/17/atom-kaiju-file-40-podritak/

https://horrorflora.com/2017/01/17/atom-kaiju-file-41-sombarvot/

https://horrorflora.com/2017/01/17/atom-kaiju-file-38-ullawdra/

Giant robots exist in ATOM, but are big, bulky, and incredibly expensive. Fancy beam weapons also exist, but are similarly clunky - there are no sleek, elegant machines in ATOM.

Since the fiction ATOM takes inspiration from was made at a time when interplanetary travel was only just beginning to be possible, its scope is significantly smaller than modern sci-fi. Alternate universes/dimensions were pretty uncommon because the idea of alien planets still held a lot of wonder to it. So, as a general rule, don’t try to go farther than the one galaxy.

ATOM is a setting for stories that are focused on humanity learning to coexist with monsters, rather than humanity destroying them. A certain level of sympathy is put into almost every creature of its canon, even the ones that are meant to be villains.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Here is a playlist of 1950′s monster movie trailers.

Here is some reference material from various monster comics of the 50′s and 60′s.

Good movies to track down to understand ATOM’s inspiration and tone include Ghidorah the 3 Headed Monster, Son of Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters, Them!, The Black Scorpion, 20 Million Miles to Earth, Gamera, The Giant Claw, and The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra.

And here’s the intro cutscenes for all the different giant monsters in the PS2 videogame War of the Monsters.

#The Atomic Time of Monsters #The ATOM Create a Kaiju Contest 3D

55 notes · View notes

starkerintheparker · 5 years ago

Text

starker reclist - AUs

Hey guys! Welcome to the second part of my personal Starker reclist, dedicated to AUs. Last week I posted my canon-based recs, you can find them here.

I tried to incorporate as many tropes as I could, hoping everyone will find something special within their interests. There are a few a/b/o and underage fics, all properly tagged in case anyone wishes to avoid them. I also tried to highlight soulmate AUs because I reckon it’s a somewhat popular trope. Enjoy! ❤️

Last updated: April 25th, 2020. All new fics added will be marked with ***

• 007 AU by @darker-soft-starker (T, 4k, completed)

Summary: Undercover and bored at an art auction, Tony finds entertainment in Peter Parker.

Review: Look, I’m a simple woman. Daniel Craig has owned my ass ever since Casino Royale and I was reading 00Q and Hartwin before I even shipped Starker. Point is, I like spy movies, ok?! So naturally I couldn’t leave this fic out of my reclist. I you need further incentive, consider this quote: “What, a little late night espionage not romantic enough for you?” Peter retorts, whipping a pistol out from his jacket and aiming it at Tony’s chest.

• 3 Times I Told You I Loved You & 1 Time You Said It Back by @starkeristheendgame (E) background Peter/Steve, Peter/Bucky, Peter/Scott

Summary: Peter Parker confesses his love to Tony Stark three times. Once at ten, once at fifteen and once at twenty. Finally convinced that Tony will never love him back, Peter ventures out into a different path, desperate to find the love he seeks from someone else. But you know what they say about star-crossed lovers.

Review: This lovely fic holds a very special place in my heart. I’m so invested I decided to wait until it’s finished so I can read it all in one sitting. Peter’s longing and heartbreak hurt my poor soul but I trust Jensen to give me that promised Starker endgame - I know it will be glorious when it finally comes.

• A Night on the Town by @scarletmanuka1 (G, 2.3k, completed)

Summary: Nightclub AU. Years after the events of Endgame, Tony has hit rock bottom. The Snap left him crippled, Pepper has abandoned him and has taken Morgan with her, and he's feeling old and lonely. Peter arranges a night out at the nightclub that he works at to try and cheer Tony up.

Review: I love get together fics, especially if it involves oblivious!Tony getting his shit together and going after his man. Seeing him bitter and broken after Thanos was hard, but special kudos to IronBros moments because that friendship is true goals!

• Age of Adeline by @starkerforlife6969 (completed) background Harley/Peter, Bucky/Peter, Wade/Peter

Review: I’d never in a million years think about this movie as a Starker AU but gosh, this is everything I needed in my life and it completely devastated me but I loved every minute of it. As a devoted monoshipper, I was surprised to realize that I got emotionally involved with all pairings, even more so with Starker, which totally paid off. Gorgeous, powerful and heartfelt. God bless SFL.

• assume makes ass for u and me by @pretty-well-funded (M, 1.6k, completed) tw underage

Summary: In Tony’s defense, he was sure the kid was a rent boy.

Review: This 1.6k fic caught me completely off guard and now I’m crying because I need MORE. I love the premise, the dialogue is criminally good, their voices are amazing and I can’t get enough of cheeky!Peter charming Tony with his wit and filthy mind.

• Bamf!secretary Peter by @starkerforlife6969 (M, completed)

Review: Who could ever resist some corporate espionage drama with bamf!Peter leaving Tony speechless and horny? Not me. I’d read more 30k of this verse because competent, sassy Peter Parker is such a kink, omg.

• Biker!Tony by @starkerforlife6969 (T, completed) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Review: Same age AUs are not usually my thing but I can’t resist cute high school sweethearts written by this fandom goddess. Plus, protective!Tony calling Peter “doll” does things to my heart - and Peter’s.

• Breaking Character by @cagestark (E, 8.3k, completed)

Summary: Tony Stark, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, and spy for SHIELD. Working with another SHIELD spy, the infamous Spider, he will take down an infamous human trafficking ring in New York. But the act they have to put on will demand more from Tony than he ever thought he'd have to give. Not that he minds.

Review: The spy trope seriously needs more fic like this one, because I’ll have bamf!Peter lying back to save his country while Tony freaks out any day. Cage hits the perfect balance between plot building, fantastic sexual tension, clever dialogue and the hottest smut sequence. What a ride! (Pun intended).

• Curiosity Killed the Cat by @areluctantsblog (T, 1.5k, completed)

Summary: Peter has been modelling in an art school for years. He's used to strangers' eyes roaming his body - clothed or naked - and he knows that it's not him they are looking at. Not him who they are interested in. He's just a model, a tool for their work. And for a long time he doesn't notice the one pair of eyes that, despite seeing him but rarely, is looking right at him.

Review: Very soft and atmospheric, this fic left me in a bit of a daze and it took me a while to realize it was over. Great writing will do that to you.

• Detective!Tony, Graffiti Artist!Peter by @starkerforlife6969 (M, completed)

Review: Oh don’t mind me, just appreciating this author’s talent at writing from the filthiest smut to the softest “Tony saves Peter in all ways that matter” like this ficlet. We stan.

• Eat at Pete’s by feyrelay + glorious art by @peachbabypie (E)

Summary: Peter gives him an unimpressed look, “If you didn’t do your work, then you wouldn’t be able to earn my time though, would you?” Pfft. “Kid, I have more money than god. I can splurge on your delicious pancakes and attention, trust me,” Tony informs him loftily. Peter smiles that wicked, crooked little smile that's just for him. It's not even and perfect like his the-customer-is-always-right one that's more frequently on offer. “I didn’t say you couldn’t afford it. I said you wouldn’t have earned it.”

Review: How can we ever say no to dom!Peter putting Tony in his place and hopefully on his dick + Tony loving every second of it?? Their dynamics are fantastic and that TASTY COUNTER DIALOGUE KILLS ME. EVERY TIME. Check it out and come scream with me: sub!Tony rights :D

• Fire and Ice by LeafyGreenQueen773 (M, 3k, completed) Soulmate AU

Summary: AU where when someone writes on his or her skin, the same thing shows up on their soulmate in the same place as a Mark that fades away in a few hours.

Review: This was the first Starker soulmate fic I’ve read and it made my heart ache so soft and good. Lovely and bittersweet, quiet and painfully honest.

• Genius, Acrobat, Playboy, Philanthropist by @scarletmanuka1 (E, 28k, completed)

Summary: After Peter's aeriel acrobatics partner, Adrian Toomes is fired from The Avengers Circus Troupe for theft, he is shocked to discover that his replacement is non other than legendary performer, Tony Stark - the man that Peter had hero worshipped since he first learned how to tumble.

Review: After reading this fic I realized I need more Circus AUs in my life. I could read jealous idiots falling in love while doing beautiful acrobatics for the rest of my days. Original plot, nice character development and I really appreciated how the author inserted little canon things here and there.

• Happy to Disappoint by @deaded-blush (M, 60k, completed) tw underage, domestic violence

Summary: Adrian Toomes is in quite deep with notorious mob boss Tony Stark. But when Tony comes to collect the debt owed, he's surprised to discover Toomes has an adoptive son. The chance meeting changes the direction of both their lives...

Review: Hands down one of the best Mafia!AUs I’ve ever seen. Read it all in one sitting and by the end I was SHOOKETH and utterly obsessed with this story. Nothing about it is okay so brace yourself for whump!Peter and lots of h/c. Bonus points for an incredibly satisfying ending that will make you gasp out loud.

• Hey Baby, Slip between my Beta-Pleats and get to know my Alpha-Helix? by @starkerforlife6969 and @darker-soft-starker (E, 37k, completed) A/B/O

Summary: Even though Tony can't tell the difference between Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo, Peter really has no other choice. His heat is around the corner, so even though he loathes the party-going, booze drinking, smug playboy know-it-all that is Tony Stark. He'll just have to do.

Review: I can’t believe life went on as we know it (or did it??) after these two geniuses wrote together. This is the Starker version of “enemies to lovers” we all wanted and deserve, where spoiled-bratty-posh princess Peter finds the perfect balance for his chaotic energy in goofy-unapologetic-charming playboy Tony. Their falling in love is just so tender, so genuine and so good, it’s impossible not to cheer for these two sweethearts through this delightful, carefully crafted story.

• If you let me by @css1992 (E, 12k, completed)

Summary: Peter had tried dating younger guys, but it just didn’t do it for him. They were often too eager, too fast, too rough. Just too young, in general. Not that older men couldn’t be too much, too, Peter learned it the hard way. The man looking back at him from across the room seemed like a good one. He knew he shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but he was gorgeous. Possibly the most handsome man Peter had ever seen in his short life.

Review: I remember the first time I read this fic it hit me in such a powerful way I cried a bit and was too overwhelmed to do words and tell the author just how much I loved it. But I never forgot this fic or the way it made me feel. It’s so evocative, so sexy, so raw, so heartbreaking, so sweet and so gentle. Great atmosphere, even greater characterization and some of the hottest smut I’ve ever read. Treat yourself and check this out right now.

• I’ll be Home by @starkerforlife6969 (M, completed) A/B/O

Summary: The story starts when Soldier Tony comes home for a few days, and is introduced to the love of his life.

Review: Will I ever stop reccing SFL’s works? Maybe, but today is not the day. This gorgeous, breathtaking fic attacked me in my own house during Christmas day and made me cry like a baby. I’m a sucker for reunion stories - the longing, the heartbreak, the power of endurance. This fic reminded me that no matter how long or difficult the journey, love will always find a way.

• Little Spider by @stfustucky (iwillpaintasongforlou) (E, 5k, completed)

Summary: Peter Parker is one of the country's best hitmen, known in the underworld as the Little Spider. He spends his days in the lap of luxury with his billionaire fiance Tony Stark, and his nights doing dirty work for various shady characters. Life is good, right up until someone puts out a hit on Tony and wants Peter to pull the trigger. It... might be time for them to have a talk.

Review: Omg this fic was so deliciously good in a totally surprising and sexy way. Bamf!Peter took my breath away with the perfect balance between his two personas. Tony getting off on that sheer power and confidence is a BIG MOOD and my second favorite thing in this fic. The first being the badass power couple they make.

• love somebody like you (E) by @intoxicatelou

Summary: five times Tony was Peter’s roommate and one time he was his soulmate instead.

Review: Who doesn’t love some forced proximity mixed with the unbeatable soulmate trope? This plot is the hottest take and my heart cannot handle young!Tony with his brilliant mind and sassy charm protecting and flirting with Peter, unfff feels everywhere *cries in Starker*

• Love Thy Neighbour by @darker-soft-starker (T, 2.3k, completed)

Summary: Tony's new neighbour is kinda weird.

Review: I know I keep saying that same age!AUs are not really my thing but I’m the softest bitch for feel-good, cozy domesticity, and I love how this charming story shows that ordinary life become magical when shared with someone special. I could babble all night about how eccentric and confident Peter seduces our man of science that for once has absolutely no idea of what’s going on - but you really should see it for yourself right now :)

• Mafia Boss!Tony Break Up Make Up by @starkerforlife6969 (E, completed)

Review: Man, this fic was so rude to my heart. The heartbreak, the rough sex, the guilt, the hopeful make up, the gorgeous ending. My body literally cannot take the stress, why are Mafia AUs so doomed and beautiful and more importantly, why is SFL so good at writing them???

• Microcosm Series by @bloomblood (M, 32k) tw underage

Summary: Tony and Peter become each other’s heroes after the Snap, saving themselves before they offer aid back to the world.

Review: I haven’t read many post-apocalyptic fics but this series’s raw atmosphere sucked me in. I adore the quiet intimacy, the slow and tentative healing, and all the silent and complex emotions underneath apparent simplicity. Big aesthetic mood, just as its lovely author.

• Musechaser by @nightskygardenia (M, 10.5k, completed)

Summary: Eighteen year old art student Peter Parker is desperately searching for his muse, someone who can bring his creative skills to the next level through inspiration. Lucky for him, his next class just so happens to feature a gorgeous model by the name of Tony Stark, a man Peter's convinced is his muse, to the point of staying after class to ask for private modeling sessions.

Review: Another big aesthetic mood, this fic paints a gorgeous imagery. I love the setting, the slow pace and the building anticipation until the sexual tension finally breaks. Peter is adorable and Tony exudes confidence; their voices are spot on and their chemistry is palpable and intense.

• My Best Friend’s Dad by @darker-soft-starker (M, 17.6k, completed)

Summary: Peter is home for the summer, back from his first year away at college. Having stayed over at Harley's house every weekend since they were fourteen, he never used to think much of his friend’s dad. A few years worth of college experience has Peter noticing Tony in a different way. This time, Tony notices him back.

Review: Turns out that Tony Stark being a dad and a daddy is too much for my body. I worship this fic. I wanna get married to it and have its babies. No words will ever make it justice *sobs* no but seriously, secret relationship is a perfect Starker trope and this one will take you to the edge of your seat until the very end. A+ characterization, lovely build up, infuriating cliffhangers and the wholesome happy ending we all deserve. This is the kind of fic that leaves you a bit depressed once it’s over, because you suddenly realize you’ll never read it for the first time ever again. So get to it and make sure to enjoy every second!

• One Call Away by @readysetstarker (E)

Summary: Tony didn’t need the phone sex gig. He was more than well off, his own sex life was in great shape, but damn, there was just something about listening to someone else get off to his voice.

Review: Omg who could ever resist sex hotline + daddy kink + identity porn? Dev is coming after our own hearts and bodies with this hot combo. I love the balance between their cute chemistry and the hot phone sex, plus the identity porn is deliciously fun. I was so happy to know this fic is getting longer than the author had previously anticipated because I’m definitely not ready to let it go.

• Open Road by @starkerflowers (E, 2.5k, completed)

Summary: It’s not love, but it’s good. TW: implied abuse (not between Tony/Peter); bruises/violence; panic attack.

Review: This refreshing not-quite-a-love-story will capture your heart, make it hurt, make it ache, make it hope and finally, make it heal. This fic is so gorgeously written I honestly cannot rec it enough. Yes, it’s dark and angsty, but it’s also gentle, hopeful and deeply evocative.

• Panty Raid by @starkerforlife6969 (M, completed) A/B/O

Summary: Imagine Tony being forced to do a panty raid as an initiation for his fraternity. So Tony, keeping up his playboy appearances, sneaks into the omega dorms. And he sees sweet innocent Peter who is so alarmed by the alphas raiding their dorm Tony can’t help but comfort him.

Review: Unf this fic is just too charming and cute, my heart cannot take it. Frat stories are so fun they make me forget my preference for age gaps and realize I could read more 50k of protective young!Tony any day, please and thank

• Pete’s Eats by @darker-soft-starker (T, 9.3k, completed)

Summary: Peter has a YouTube channel where he just drinks wine and teaches people how to cook things if they live in a mediocre apartment. While cooking and drinking he just talks about stuff like memes and school and, most importantly, his undying thirst for Tony Stark.

Review: This is legit the funniest shit I’ve ever read, everybody else can go home. I was already sold on Peter being a relatable thirsty dork, but Tony’s A+++ characterization (for a moment I thought it was RDJ on the big screen) and the identity porn side trope killed me for good. And what a way to go. I’m an angst hoe but I could read this forever and would be okay with it.

• pondus, pondera by spqr (M, 9.3k, completed) underage prostitution but not between P/T

Summary: Peter sells his virginity for $5,000 when he’s fifteen.

Review: Ugh I’m so weak for the angsty hooker trope, I just love the potential to simultaneously explore whump, mutual pining and gentle recovery. Trust spqr to deliver it all with a carefully crafted slow burn, god-tier characterization and a heartfelt and satisfying get together. This fic is a gem.

• Powerful by @cagestark (E, 4.6k, completed) SIM!Tony

Summary: After finding out about Peter's abusive ex, Tony privately vows revenge.

Review: This fic took my breath away and made me realize that dark!Tony with a soft spot for Peter is everything I need in my life. Precious Peter being empowered by a viciously protective Tony is now my absolute jam, and it was fascinating to see see their dynamics mutually feeding each other’s nature. This fic is gorgeous, sexy and liberating.

***Red Light District series by @starker-stories (17k, ongoing)

Summary: Everyone knows that Tony Stark is a playboy who has dozens of women passing through his life and through his bed. What everyone doesn't know is that Tony Stark is deeply closeted, longing for something he can't ever have -- a life and a love with another man.

Review: I’m completely in love with this series and not only because it explores the good old hooker trope which I’m very partial to. It’s so well written and atmospheric, if a tad bittersweet and heart-wrenching. Great narrative tension, Tony and Peter’s chemistry is insane, their voices and dialogue are amazing and the smut is looong and scorching hot *chef’s kiss*

• Samadhi by @starkercrossedlovers (E, completed)

Summay: Tony goes to yoga to try and deal with his anxiety and ends up falling for the instructor, one Peter Parker.

Review: Okay so yoga fics are among my guilty pleasures and I can’t get enough of feel-good fics like this one. Peter’s such a sweetheart, so thoughtful and amazing with Tony. I love it when they take care of each other and find solace together, this fic made me soft :’)

• Single dad baker!Peter and lawyer!Tony by @starkerforlife6969 (G, completed)

Review: I’m not usually a fluff girl but this fic is just too wholesome to go by unnoticed. Nothing hits my soft side harder than a cynical character reaching that turning point that makes them start to believe in love. Fuck yes, YOU SHOW THAT MAN SOME HAPPILY EVER AFTER PETE

• Soft Kitty by @ko-fiandfanfiction (E, 33k, completed)

Summary: Peter wasn’t wearing something Tony would call normal, not that there was anything inherently wrong with what he was wearing or anything. It just struck him as…different. To put it plainly. Tony is not sure what to make of this new development.

Review: For those of you who love some occasional feminization, this is the perfect treat. Soft, sexy and sweet, it combines top guilty, pining Tony with oblivious idiots in love, two of my favorite tropes. Amazing slow burn with glorious sexual tension, infuriating dancing around each other and a very satisfying get together. Bonus points for including the “Avengers living together in the Tower” trope, this is the 2012 team building fic we deserved.

• Solitaire by @darker-soft-starker (M, 29k, completed)

Summary: After a traumatic experience, Tony loses his marriage and his business empire in one fell swoop. At rock bottom, it takes real change to pick up the pieces, to dig himself out of the funk he's been living in. It's not pretty. Along the path of healing Tony meets a bright young man, Peter Parker, who makes the entire journey worth it.

Review: Oh man, this was a tough ride on the soul. Few things hurt me like reading whump!Tony but his healing journey is so beautiful it’s all worth it. Top notch characterization, amazing dialogue, FEELS EVERYWHERE, and a gorgeous portrayal of loneliness, friendship, hope and love.

• Someone Who Makes you Happy by tuesday (T, 6k, completed) Soulmate AU

Summary: Peter was born with several marks already marring his skin, including an interlocking AES over his heart. A scar-sharing soulmate AU.

Review: This fic is absolutely stunning and it makes my heart ache in all the right places. Great worldbuilding (I LOVE the scarring concept, so unique and fitting to these characters), A+++ Tony characterization (the wit and the self-hate are so spot on I could weep) and a journey full of longing, until they finally get to be on the same page.

• Splice by Mezzymet (E, 35k, completed) A/B/O

Summary: "He's not...." The doctors polite nature and disposition hadn't been able to mask the odd tone of his voice, like he had been reading someone's death certificate. Only Peter hadn't been on his death bed. "Peter isn't like the other kids.

Review: I keep coming back to this story because it’s such a fascinating and unique take on this trope. Very well thought and put together - the world building is fantastic, the sex sequences are breathtaking, and Tony’s gentle thoughtfulness makes me wanna cry.

• Stopover by @cagestark (E, 10k, completed)

Summary: A stopover is just a break in a journey. Tony is on the run from the organization he used to kill for, and when he stopped for gas and coffee in the small town of Stopover, IL, he had no plans to leave with anything more.

Review: *sigh* this is the mob boss!Tony fic I’ve waited for all my life. Even more impressive than the delicious smut checking all my kink boxes was the phenomenal build up, the overall urgent atmosphere that surrounds those “on the run”, combined with the gentle wonder of stealing a moment in time to find solace in the most unlikely place. Breathtakingly moving.

• Student Body President Election by @starkerforlife6969 (T, completed)

Summary: Tony and Peter are competing for Student Body President and a smear campaign takes things a little too far.

Review: GIMME ENEMIES TO LOVERS AND ALL THE HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA. This ficlet is so fun and adorable it will make your heart smile. Great plot idea and the usual bonus points for protective!Tony being a sweetheart. Will have more 30k, pls and thank.

• Such a Softer Sin by @css1992 (E, 18k, completed) background Peter/Norman

Summary: Tony is a self-made man. Peter is a sugar baby – someone else’s sugar baby.

Review: Another fantastic slow burn that hit me hard in the feels. I love it when fics explore the characters’ personal struggles before they get together, and while the Peter!whump destroyed my heart, Tony’s parallel journey of growth took my breath away. css1992’s talent took the good old sugar baby trope to a whole new epic level.

• Summer Daze by @darker-soft-starker (NR, 4.3k, completed)

Summary: Starker no-powers au where Peter watches construction worker Tony from his bedroom window as the older man works across the street.

Review: Ahh yes, the classic “food as metaphor for love” trope, my absolute jam. This fic is so adorable and endearing, pining!Peter in his wooing mission makes my heart ache and the sweet anticipation is so good. There’s something about this fic that gives me nostalgia; it’s as soft and warm as a summer breeze.

• Tamed by @cagestark (E, 8.3k, completed)

Review: It’s no wonder this is Cage’s most beloved fic. Bad boy!Tony being all soft for Peter is everything we deserve, not to mention a mesmerizing (and HOT AF) first time together. This fic shows how rich and captivating Cage’s writing is - she’s able to transform that old basic trope into something unique and heartfelt. If you need one more reason to read this, please consider: best first bj ever :)

• Teacher!Tony wrong number by @areluctantsblog (T) tw underage

Summary: Peter’s using a replacement phone and mistypes Ned’s number asking for help on a physics problem.

Review: I have such a soft spot for this fic! It was one of the first AUs I’ve ever read and I’m completely in love with their dynamics. Peter’s underage but this fic is carefully written and pretty tame, so I’d rec it to anyone looking for the good old “they probably shouldn’t, but then again nothing’s happening” trope.

• The Bleedover Effect by tuesday (T, 11k, completed) Soulmate AU

Summary: The first time Tony got punched in the face by nobody there, he had a lot of very complicated feelings about it that mostly boiled down to, "I deserve this." A pain-sharing soulmate AU.

Review: Tuesday truly is the queen of soulmate AUs, we have no other choice but STAN. First of all, I adore the concept here - being such a sucker for whump, this could easily become my favorite soulmate trope. As usual, her Tony voice is perfect and his devotion to Peter hits my fragile heart every time. Kudos for the soft and hopeful ending. The series has been discontinued but the sequels are very much worth the read, if you’re up for it :)

• The Catfish Chronicles by @stfustucky (iwillpaintasongforlou) (E, 32k, completed)

Summary: Peter creates a fake profile under the name “Benjamin” trying to catch his scumbag boyfriend cheating. Tony creates a Tinder profile for "Anthony" looking for love late in life. Funny how two geniuses who fight side by side every day can only manage to fall in love after they've accidentally catfished each other. This is... gonna get awkward.

Review: My identity porn thirst might be showing but who cares, I want these two idiots pining after each other in every possible way. This was such a fun and exciting ride! The suspense had me legit freaking out and their get together was lovely and wholesome. I particularly adored how thoughtful and sweet Tony was dealing with Peter’s insecurities, that was handled really well. A treat!

• The Concept of Domesticity by @peters-tofu (E) mpreg

Summary: Tony has accomplished nearly everything he's set out to do, now he wants something different. A family of his own? Sounds easy enough. But he's far too impatient for a relationship, so surrogacy it is. Meanwhile, twenty-two year old college student Peter Parker has just volunteered to be a bearer at an agency.

Review: Can’t say I’m a big fan of this trope but since every rule has its exception, here it is! The only Starker mpreg I’ve ever read is so so good and adorable I can’t help smiling every time I think about it. I just love their dynamics, the soft domesticity, the cute bantering, and the fact that Peter has one baby daddy all wrapped around his little finger but what else is new ;)

***The Date by Neuropsyche (E, 33k, completed)

Summary: Tony has a high society gala and he needs a date.

Review: My favorite fake dating AU so far, this fic is so sweet and wholesome. Confident!Peter is my jam and it was amazing to see their sassy bantering evolving into genuine affection towards each other, not to mention the delicious hot smut with dom!Tony :D

• The Final Heist by @starkerforlife6969 (G, 10k, completed)

Summary: Tony’s only got one more heist. He does this, he can be retired on an island in the Mediterranean in a month. All he needs is a world-class art forger. (White Collar inspired)

Review: Honestly, the amount of times I’ve mentioned SFL in this list is getting embarrassing. I must have done something really good in another life to get such a talented author writing something inspired by one of my favorite TV shows. I feel like this fic was personally crafted for me; it’s original, romantic, sexy, fun, clever and so very atmospheric. I’m a lucky hoe.

• The Heart Benefits of Exercise by @areluctantsblog (E, 14k, completed)

Summary: Personal Trainer Tony and Gym Newbie Peter. Peter can hardly keep it together watching Tony demonstrate different exercises and lift weights. Tony is very much aware of the effect he has on his trainee, and after a session, Peter begs to be shown a whole different array of exercises.

Review: This fic was a lovely surprise, very relatable and entertaining. Love myself an adorable Peter thirsting over Tony (can’t really judge lol), especially if it comes with a good amount of pining and hot, kinky smut :D

• Tipping the Scale by JayPendragon (E, 119k, completed)

Summary: Peter has a rhythm. A system. All runs like a well-oiled machine, engineering pun intended. Every wheel of his life is churning perfectly. He doesn’t expect Tony Stark of all people to throw a wrench in it.

Review: Hooker!AUs are my kryptonite, I’m so here for the “fuck first, talk later” and the general pining + misunderstandings + h/c combo this trope provides. This amazing longfic delivers it all with a well-paced, delicious slow burn told from Peter’s POV, which is always a delight to read and makes you fall even more in love with him. If you also enjoy this trope you’re in for a treat!

• To Catch a Spider by Thekeyandquill (E)

Summary: After the war, Peter Parker left his career as a spy behind to live a simple life in the south of France. But when someone frames him for the theft of plans for a new weapon, he must re-enter his old life and get close to the real thief's likely next target - one Tony Stark. A To Catch a Thief AU.

Review: TKAQ is so skilled their writing should be experienced like fine wine. Amazing research, top notch world building and characterization, and the loveliest atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re inside a movie. Clever, organic dialogue and a sexual tension so palpable you can almost taste it. This is a gem. Make sure to check their other works.

• Two White, Two Black, One Pink by @starkerforlife6969 (E) poly fic: Peter/Tony, Peter/Steve, Peter/Bucky, Peter/Strange Summary: Peter has three (maybe one day: four) men in his life who mean the world to him. Review: Ugh, this fic is pure bliss. It has legit ruined me for any and all other poly fics. Words just cannot describe how gorgeous, poetic and unique SFL’s writing is, or how deeply it has affected me. So if you enjoy Mafia AUs, poly fics and soft-but-also-bamf!Peter taking care of Tony AND being taken care of by the men he loves, give this a chance and experience transcending storytelling.

• Uranium Heart by spqr (M, 11k, completed) Soulmate AU Summary: It’s probably better, Peter thinks, that he doesn’t know who his soulmate is. He wouldn’t want to lie to them about Spider-Man, but he doesn’t think he’d be able to tell them the truth, either.

Review: Be still my heart. This is such a gorgeous fic! Not only it combines two major tropes in a coherent 11k story, but I also appreciate how spqr explores these characters and their dynamics in a very unique and realistic way. I strongly recommend checking their other works, especially Landslide.

• Waiting Game by @cagestark (E, 6k, completed)

Summary: Peter hasn't seen Tony in fifteen years. Not since he had their hasty marriage annulled, graduated college, and moved across the country. Their twenty year high school reunion will find them reunited. They've both changed, but one thing hasn’t. Hint: it's their feelings for each other.

Review: This fic literally made my heart BURST WITH FEELS: the whole build up and anticipation, the slow disclosure of their past, the first uncertain moments of their reunion. I also appreciate the powerful and moving message underneath it all, that true healing comes after we overcome our demons at our own pace. A masterpiece.

• Wooing Peter Parker by Neuropsyche (E, 62.5k, completed)

Summary: Tony and Rhodey dodge the press and sneak into the library where they meet Peter Parker - who immediately catches Tony's eye. But Peter isn't a one and done kind of guy and Tony's going to have to work for what he wants this time.

Review: This is the kind of fic that warms you all over and makes you smile non stop. It has so many elements I love in fic: cute flirting, clever banter, hot sex, soft domesticity, boys being reasonable and talking their problems out for a change. If you’re looking for something light, sweet and honest, this series is a must read!

#starker #reclist #peter parker x tony stark

350 notes · View notes

geekmedium · 4 years ago

Text

S-rank Fanfiction Recommendations

Because fanfictions can be a valid source of good stories if you’re willing to look for them.

1.) Stucco Hearts - A Percy Jackson soulmate au, but instead of the characters just falling in love, it explores every stage of their relationship as they grow from essentially awkward roommates to devoted lovers. Also uses the soulmate premise for some thoughtful worldbuilding and discourse on love.

2.) Nobody Dies - A Neon Genesis Evangelion story where the premise is, as the title suggests, one where Shinji’s mom, Yui Ikari, doesn’t die. But it’s so much more than that. If NGE proper is a Lovecraft story about humans dealing with an alien threat they don’t understand, Nobody Dies is Lovecraft Lite. The aliens are still a legitimate threat, but they are now a source of awesomeness instead of nightmare fuel. The characters while still having problems are relatively more stable, and much more competent as a result. Except Rei, who is more awesome because she is so much more unstable than canon. Honestly if I had to compare it to anything, I would say it reminds me heavily of The Vorkosigan Saga. It’s not exactly a comedy, but it has tons of funny moments and the characters can go from enjoying a school dance to fighting zombies in a chapter. And it has plenty of relationship drama that leads to incredible heartwarming moments. Highly recommend, though I will say the quality drops off around chapter 72 and the author isn’t writing more chapters so it’s incomplete. Still, if just for the first 60 chapters alone, you should give it a try.

3.) Advice and Trust - Another NGE story, this one more canon based. It’s basic premise is what if the story had happened exactly as before, until episode 15 when THAT scene is changed to Asuka and Shinji successfully getting together. The consequences as it turns out become huge. It’s an engaging story on its own, but what makes it 10x better is if you want a much more optimistic NGE where the heroes have way more success. Believe me, however, when I say it isn’t at all a fluff piece. New problems show up as well and the young lovers must rely and trust each other as they work to prevent the end of the world. Would gladly recommend this to fellow NGE fans, especially fellow Shinji/Asuka shippers.

4.) Perpendicular - A great Spider-Man romance story. Taking place ostensibly in the Andrew Garfield Spider-Man movie verse, the story came out before the second one and follows the planned but unused Mary Jane, thus giving it a feel removed from the movies. We follow MJ as she grows use to a post-college life of applying for acting gigs, all the while her best friend Gwen lives with her, along with Gwen’s annoying boyfriend Peter. I think I especially love the emotional complexity of this. MJ must slowly come to terms with her growing feelings for Peter, all the while wondering if she should settle with billionaire Harry Osborn who takes a liking to her. I should mention that this Mary Jane Watson is not like the one from 616 continuity, but she is still incredibly human and engaging to read about.

5.) Spidey’s got a Girlfriend - A fun story in the Marvel Adventures Spider-Man universe. It is about Peter finally hooking up with MJ and her coming to the Avengers’ mansion. Chaos and comedy ensue. It isn’t a super emotional or serious story, but it has the feel of a classic Spidey misadventure ala “The Commuter Cometh.”

6.) Webslinger - It only lasted for two chapters, but this is a Spectacular Spider-Man story that truly fits the name. Since it is only the beginning of the story, not an awful lot happens, but you can tell the author was trying to make a continuation of the series that fit the tone and style. I especially love the descriptive action. It can be very hard for prose to convey the kinetic dynamism of comics and comic shows, but I loved the clear descriptions of webslinging and fighting. You understood what was happening and could clearly imagine what poor Pete was going through. Small warning that it is rated T for a reason. There is a little bit of cursing and suggestive language.

7.) Super Stories of Samuel Hawkins - A series of Superboy stories meant to invoke the silver age style. If you like a more old fashioned super story where Clark can lift planets and adventure with the Legion, this is for you.

8.) Partners in Crime - A Batman/Catwoman story taking place in the DCAU. It goes over why these two love and want each other so much in a fairly quick read leading up to them establishing a new family. If you want a nicely paced story of how Selina goes from criminal to partner and co-leader of the batfamily, definitely recommend.

9.) Cat-Tales - Quite possibly the best Batman/Catwoman story I’ve ever read. I have a feeling whatever Tom King’s gonna try to do won’t even hold a candle to this. What I think sets it apart from other BatCat stories is it is less a sexy romp and more a character study of these very dysfunctional people, and shows how that dysfunction works to make a weirdly functional relationship. There’s no will they, won’t they plot and it tries to involve most of the Batman cast at some point, even giving them their own engaging subplots and relationship problems. But at its heart is a story that can make anyone a BatCat shipper.

10.) Endangered Species - Honestly my favorite story about the relationship between Black Canary and Green Arrow. It has them investigating an attack on Dinah’s mom that slowly reveals a much bigger scheme. It involves the two leads at their snarky, loving best. Equally devoted to and irritated by each other, you understand that under all the banter and annoyed glares is a special connection that makes them perfect for each other.

#fanfiction #recommend #Romance #S-rank #multiple IPs #listicle

10 notes · View notes

iwillgetridofyourangerforyou · 5 years ago

Text

The Good Doctor Kuseno

More questions than answers Possible Spoilers ahead!!

@gofancyninjaworld has a few excellent posts about this already please read them if you’re interested. These posts are well researched and provide a different perspective than my own. I recommend that everyone consume different perspectives to help inform and diversify their own. I also reference a few of them in my post here.

https://gofancyninjaworld.tumblr.com/post/612670463398772736/when-cancel-isnt-an-option

https://gofancyninjaworld.tumblr.com/post/612685729355759616/what-about-if-the-mad-cyborg-was-created-by

https://gofancyninjaworld.tumblr.com/post/190986677872/the-nysh-forward-the-following-meta-has-been

https://gofancyninjaworld.tumblr.com/post/187738207032/so-conflicts-of-interest-with-whowhat-else#notes

https://gofancyninjaworld.tumblr.com/post/184129389540/how-to-grow-old-and-stay-mad

What do we actually know about the good doctor?

As Fancy Ninja noted:

He claims to have been chasing ‘that cyborg’ for longer than Genos has been.

He used to be angry over some injustice.

He’s not afraid to take up arms in person.

He’s a skilled scientist/engineer, specifically he “likes to dabble with mechanical engineering”

He’s deeply invested in Genos. Seemingly in both the literal and figurative sense.

Additionally and significantly, He’s not a monster.

Why is 6 important? I mean, if Garou teaches us anything it’s that the lines between Human, hero, and monster are not as clear as we may have initially assumed. And yet, Monsters truly exist in this universe and their existence is significant. (It's also notable here that we have seen a few instances where monsters appeared as the humans they were before they consumed monster cells only to reveal their identity later, but for the moment this seems to be unlikely of Kuseno.) One of the possible interpretations of this fact is that despite his past anger and continued obsession with hunting this cyborg he still has something within him that keeps him human. I’m not sure exactly what that is in this case because if I’m honest, I’m not super certain what makes humanity human in general, in OPM or otherwise. Aside from that, we know fairly little about the good doctor. We know almost nothing about his past.

What he tells us:

“When I and Genos first met, we didn’t have a single ally. It was as if the pair of us were lost and alone fumbling in the darkness… I dived into research with all I could, trying to come up with some way to fight back at the forces of evil... and yet our troubles were just beginning, because me and my boy-”

vs THis:

What does Kuseno have to gain from all his tireless effort into Genos?

Despite my reservations about Dr. Kuseno I’d be remiss to fail to admire his work on Genos. Kuseno has done an incredible job with Genos’ upgrades. The aesthetic and humanizing touches he’s given Genos are so, and I cannot emphasize this enough, important. He has a human looking face and hair. Kuseno has even been aging Genos appropriately over time, he can even eat food normally. (And we all know he’s been keeping Geno damn hot in the process) The things that he’s done to humanize Genos is sincerely one of the most compelling arguments that Dr. Kuseno is a truly good bean. But he’s not off the hook yet.

When he says that seeing Genos reminded him of his youth when he was righteous and feared nothing always charging in without thought of consequences and I have to wonder, what consequences did Dr. Kuseno experience in his life that changed him? If he’s experienced so much in his life why is he still walking the path of vengeance and promoting that path for Genos? Even if he’s not promoting the path for Genos but merely ‘supporting’ Genos on his path wouldn’t you think someone who was so similar in their youth know better than to fuel a revenge mission? But I’m not particularly apt to believe Dr. Kuseno is merely going along with ‘pushy’ Genos. He definitely has his own motives here and we’re not very clear what those are yet. For this I recommend reading Ninja’s conflicts of interest post to get some different perspectives on his varied motives. One possibility is that he’s effectively living through Genos. There is a scene in Season 2 of the anime where Dr. Kuseno is standing in a beam of light talking about his quest for justice in his youth and Genos stands under Kuseno obscured in shadow. That image made me shudder. Now the care and attention Kuseno gives Genos feels much creepier, like a doll to be dressed up and played with. I hope that’s not the case.

Who is this Dr. Kuseno and what is his relationship with Genos? Fatherly? Or Patronizing? And what are the ethics and implications of allowing Genos such extreme body modifications.

I love a found family as much as the next person, but I find it slightly suspicious that a doctor that just happens to be an expert in cybernetics arrives in time to save Genos’ life after his village was destroyed by a CYBORG. So, we’ve learned that Kuseno was chasing the mad cyborg before Genos was so maybe that explains the convenient meeting but that makes me wonder, when and how did the Cyborg’s trail go so cold that neither Kuseno or Genos seem to know where it is at the moment (or maybe Kuseno knows something more about this and is hiding it from Genos)? We’ve also since learned that even though cybernetic components are relatively commonplace in this world modifications over 30% are extremely rare. ‘Enhancements’ as extensive as Genos’ are almost unheard of and extremely risky, including a risk of madness. How did Dr. Kuseno become such an excellent doctor of cybernetics? I couldn’t have just been overnight? Learning takes trial and error and mistakes. God knows Genos has given that man more than enough trial and error for a lifetime but what about before Genos?

Ninja noted that in all of the lab frames Dr. Kuseno stands a fair distance away from Genos. I immediately think of the anime Dororo from 2019 and the way Jukai handles Hyakkimaru, who is likely not less dangerous than Genos in context. Jukai is genuinely fatherly and close, only teaching Hyakkimaru to fight once it became clear the boy would not walk a different path. In the lab Kuseno is cold and distant and the atmosphere is draped in shadow. The contrast between Dr. Kuseno’s behavior toward Genos in public verses in the lab is notable. I don’t really know what specifically to note about it, except that it reinforces for me that the two men barely know each other, which is disturbing given that Genos has known Dr. Kuseno probably longer than he’s known anyone and Kuseno was effectively Genos’ guardian. How much does Genos really know about the man who holds his life in his hands if Genos didn’t even know Dr. Kuseno had a battle suit? What else is Kuseno hiding or omitting? At the same time Dr. Kuseno notes seeing a new side of Genos at Saitama’s apartment. Does Dr. Kuseno know Genos as well as he thinks he does when he says things like “you remind me of myself in my youth.” ?

Genos believes he isn’t good enough and never will be good enough. Intentionally or unintentionally Dr. Kuseno feeds into this insecurity. Does that mean he’s responsible for Genos’ insecurities? No. But it is a piece of the troubling looking puzzle connecting the two of them. Unfortunately, when Genos goes to see Kuseno it’s often in defeat so he didn’t get much meaningful encouragement from the doctor. Even in victory, after G4, Dr. Kuseno doesn’t give Genos much encouragement. “There are still areas where we can improve you” even after getting a completely new upgrade neither Dr. Kuseno nor Genos seem to be satisfied. We consistently see Kuseno chiding Genos for being reckless and begging him to be more careful and to stay alive at the very least. Perhaps Kuseno is more concerned about losing his investment than the psychological health of his charge? Kuseno is more of a scientist than anything else and it's difficult to fault him for his excellent skills but can you imagine how actually damaging it is for a growing human to literally be a never fished project in the eyes of the person who should be loving you unconditionally. We all need to grow and change constantly, but there is a difference between acknowledging a person’s strengths and weaknesses and only acknowledging (in any meaningful way) a person’s failures. It’s a habit Genos has made for himself but unfortunately, even if not intentionally, Dr. Kuseno may have helped build that habit. Ever since Genos’ family died everything in his life seems to be reinforcing the ‘not good enough’ narrative. Not good enough to save his family, not strong enough to protect anyone. Every victory is shallow and meaningless in his mind because his eyes were set only on the final goal of defeating Mad Cyborg. Which is, likely as not, unattainable.

Genos may see Saitama as his mentor but he is dependent on Kuseno for his growth making Kuseno far more practically his ‘mentor’. There is an important part of a typical hero’s journey story when a hero must move past the teaching of their mentor and grow on their own. This is a fundamentally important stage to help the hero see that they are ‘good enough’ they have the tools they need to succeed. Sometimes this transition is painful, think back to Iroh refusing to speak to Zuko while they were in the fire nation or when Jukai refused to help Hyakkimaru anymore. Both Zuko and Hyakkimaru were angry and devastated, but it was in the end a vital part of their progress. I fear a mentor who is either not willing or not able to allow them to surpass them.

Whether through compliance or malice the system created by the relationship between Genos and Dr. Kuseno is one where Genos relies heavily on Dr. Kuseno. If Genos is compromised he could put Dr. Kuseno at risk but the battle suit indicates that Dr. Kuseno may be more prepared to deal with risk than an average scientist. But if Dr. Kuseno is compromised that could put Genos in an early grave. Regardless of the scientists intentions Dr. Kuseno is holding Genos back. Since Genos’ latest upgrade in the anime we’ve learned that Genos used to have safety restrictions on his parts but when we first meet Genos he is about to self-destruct his own core. So what were the safety restrictions for? The practically seem more about preserving an investment than protecting the human being. Garou’s story seems to indicate there is an important part of the path for one to push their limiter is possibly to get to the brink of death itself (probably not the only way) but possibly Genos’ safety restrictions have been holding him well below his limiter for ages. Maybe he can’t break his limiter because of his cybernetic body but I honestly don’t think it’s so cut and dry. (Also I find it sad and notable that when Genos is about to self-destruct he apologizes to Dr. Kuseno for letting him down. Genos wants to live badly, but he’s so deeply self-destructive just the tip of the iceberg of emotional issues Genos is battling. When he apologizes to Dr. K, even though he’s the one who would lose his life! It’s like he’s so afraid of failing the Dr.’s expectations again he’d rather die.) Genos needs to be able to repair himself. I’m desperately afraid that the practicality of complete cybernetic repair will render Genos dependent on someone forever.

We already know that Genos would do anything to get stronger but what has ‘doing anything’ looked like for him? What does it mean for him? I don’t really know how you can take one look at this guy and deny he’s already made painful sacrifices to get stronger. It looks like he’s willing to sacrifice his dignity, youth, life, respect, independence, joy, all sensual pleasures, and much much more for his goal to be stronger. That goal servers a purpose and that purpose was given to him by Dr. Kuseno when his village was destroyed ‘defeat Mad Cyborg’. But what will his goal for ultimate strength be without the purpose that will almost definitely be taken away from him. Even if it isn’t and he accomplishes it what will he do then? Will the sacrifices be worth it in the end? Will he be able to rebuild a new purpose and a new life for himself?

#genos #opm #meta #one punch man #Forgive me I don't know how to make links look nice on tumblr rn #dr kuseno #kuseno #saitama #demon cyborg #cyborgs #How and why did he recognize the parts that Genos brought him #What does this mean?#��Somehow or other I ended up supporting Genos?#And yet Genos directly attributes his survival from the Mad Cyborg to the good doctor?#Before the doctor mentions that he’s been tracking the Mad Cyborg longer than Genos #and inquires how Genos’ search is going?#Is Dr. Kuseno is responsible for the creation of the Mad Cyborg?#Does Dr. Kuseno actively puts Genos at risk to gather useful data?#Was Mad Cyborg was destroyed already?#and does Kuseno know this?#Is he hiding that information from Genos to keep Genos hungry and desperate?#making him easier to manipulate.#If Dr. Kuseno and Bofoi are rivals and genos could be dangerously caught between them in the future?#I did a lot of research for this post because it’s a really dicy topic I have a lot of conflicting views about #I also have a bag full of internalized resentment I'm working through so please don’t look in there.#one punch man webcomic

56 notes · View notes

kirinda-ondo · 4 years ago

Text

Personal Astro Verse Part 2 - Main Characters

Atom/"Astro"

Atom is one of the world's most advanced robots, frequently referred to as "The Child of Science." He's packed to the brim with incredible abilities, both physical and mental, while also being kind, compassionate, and essentially human. He's considered practically perfect, making him the best candidate to bridge the gap between humans and robots.

...Once you get to know him, however, you'll find he's not much different from any other kid his age. He goes to school, plays games, and argues with his siblings just like the rest of us. In fact, he's kind of a huge nerd. He gets very excited about science (Which field? All of them) and can frequently be found at the Ministry of Science either helping Prof. Ochanomizu or the other scientists there. As a hobby, he's also quite fond of Entomology (the study of insects) and Malacology (the study of gastropods like snails, slugs, etc.) and has a fairly sizeable collection of various bugs and snails. Unfortunately, he doesn't have nearly as much time for hobbies as he'd like.

Having so much expected of him has made him into something of an overachiever with a perfectionist complex to boot. He tries to keep it all under wraps so as to avoid worrying anyone, but his tendency to completely stress out whenever failure becomes even a remote possibility, or his tendency to get overly wrapped up in his pet causes often betray that "I have everything under control" exterior he likes to push. While he means well, he tends to come off as being a little bossy because he feels like he's expected to always be the most mature person in the room, and generally acts as the straight man in contrast to his siblings. However, he's not completely above engaging in shenanigans with them or unleashing some Grade A Snark(TM).

Though he may not be as perfect as everyone seems to think, he's still a very kind, responsible, all around good kid with a strong sense of justice. He'll always stop to help someone in need, supports those he cares about, and stands by what he thinks is right, even if no one else agrees; which more than earns him his status as a hero.

Fun Fact: Once, a news headline referred to him as an "Astro Boy" in order to sound catchy and attention grabbing. He was confused at first, but everyone around him agreed that "Astro" sounded really cool, so the nickname stuck to the point where he tends to get called that more than his actual name. Many adults in his life still call him Atom, though.

Uran

Uran is Atom's little sister, built for him as a birthday present. However, she seems to make a point of defying all expectations such a description would create about her. Though she was built for him, she's very much her own person. Though she's a little girl, she's a huge powerhouse in her own right. Though she's cute, she's also a huge tomboy. She doesn't want to be put into a box.

The one thing she is most proud to be though is a little sister. It means she can get away with more mischief since she's young and cute. She also considers it her sworn duty as a little sister to do everything in her power to get on her older brothers' nerves. In fact, it's probably her favorite pasttime, next to Robotting (essentially robot wrestling), and she often combines the two to get surprise attacks in on her siblings when they least expect it. She gets many complaints that she doesn't act "ladylike" as a result, but all those do is make her rowdier out of spite.

She's incredibly honest with herself and others. She'll tell you exactly what she thinks, even if it sounds blunt (and most of the time, it is). If she feels like she's gone too far, she'll apologize, but usually she defends herself as calling it like it is. She may be blunt, but she's very perceptive, often noticing things about others that they've yet to notice about themselves. This gives her sort of a knack for dealing with animals, and also frequently makes her the voice of reason in emotional matters.

Though she may seem abrasive or bratty, she's by no means a bad kid. She does have a softer side and genuinely loves her brothers as much as she loves annoying them. Her emotional intelligence also makes her a good source of honest wisdom and support. Her heart is definitely in the right place at least (...for the most part).

Fun Fact: While she thought her Robotting career was over after her brief stint in the professional ring, the standards have since changed a bit to be less deadly (i.e., no more permanent destruction of robots who lose matches). There's even a junior Robotting league now, and she's basically the champion of her school's team.

Cobalt

Cobalt is the oldest, being a prototype of Atom. He's just as powerful, and the two could even be mistaken for one another at a glance, but that's where the similarities end. He lacks all of the special abilities and was initially deemed defective due to imperfections in his electronic brain and scrapped as a result. While Atom is essentially perfect, Cobalt is very, very flawed.

Despite all this, he's generally a pretty happy, goofy kid with his head frequently in the clouds (which is fitting given that he likes aviation and really wants to fly--). He's very optimistic and refuses to give up, even if it flies in the face of everything else, and is the type to find humor (however corny) in even the worst situations. He also has a lot of faith in people and is very trusting of everyone he meets, even if it's obvious he shouldn't be. This hasn't worked out for him yet, but he continues on anyway. At the very least, he gets along well with his siblings. He tries to be a responsible big brother, but he tends to get undermined a bit (either by others or himself) and winds up being a part of the shenanigans anyway.

While he is genuinely a pretty positive person, he's also got a cripplingly low self-esteem and an inferiority complex to boot. He genuinely believes he's stupid with no real strengths of his own. However, that’s hardly the case; he merely has some coordination, memory and focus issues. In fact, he's actually a very creative thinker, and while some of his thoughts may seem out there, he's very good at finding unconventional solutions to problems (which works well as he doesn't like to fight). But like most with low self-esteems, he doesn't give himself enough credit.

Though he's not always appreciated enough for it, he still continues to do his best to be kind and help people in need, never giving up hope that things will get better. His unyielding optimism is frequently a source of inspiration for his siblings, even if he doesn't realize it.

Fun Fact: Cobalt is my favorite and I’ve already written about him at great length, so if you want more Cobalt Facts then check out these posts

Chi-Tan

Chi-tan is basically Shrodinger's Super Robot Baby in that you have no idea if he still exists unless I decide to make him relevant for joke or plot purposes.

Where does he go when he’s not relevant?

Don’t worry about it.

He’s fine.

Probably.

#kateh rambles #personal astro verse

18 notes · View notes

shayde-n-friends · 5 years ago

Text

Reaper High - Next Gen: Children of Nomads and Royals

((After getting 2 Commissions of Ajax, and seeing lots of love being given to Jazz, I decided to just up and make a post about the many Next Generation characters that i’ve created over the years.

Ajax - Shayde and Vega’s youngest daughter. She is the only one of the children who was born with Natural Guardian powers, or at the very least, something akin to them. (Perhaps it was her golden chip? No one knows...not even Shayde’s Ghost.) At some point in her life, she acquired Roulette’s old sword; Worldline Zero. With it’s power, combined with her ability to create rifts in space inherited from Vexus, Ajax discovered that she was able to travel through time using the sword. She’s quite the troublemaker when she wants to be, but more often than not her heart is in the right place. When she makes a mistake, it weighs heavy on her, and goes to the greatest lengths to fix what she has broken.

Avior - Shayde and Vega’s only son and Prince of Cluster Prime, Avior dedicated himself at a young age to defending those who could not defend themselves, and giving people something to look up to when things are looking grim. He studied and trained under some of the greatest heroes he could think of: Saint-14, All-Might, Super-Man and Captain America to name a few...Although, despite his knightly philosophy and manners, he styles himself after Lord Saladin and The Iron Lords. Being about 8 feet fall, he sometimes intimidates the other students at Reaper High. That, and the fact that he has Vexus’ eyes, and teeth.

Weiss - The Elder Daughter of the Royals, and seemingly the most low key, all Weiss wants to do is learn the history of her two heritages. When she was young, Weiss was as happy-go-lucky as her mother. Growing up, she began to learn about Vexus’ crimes, and the banishment of her grandfather. Combined a less than positive school experience, this caused Weiss to become far more jaded. Like Roulette, Weiss has little time for bullies, blowhards but is far more likely to shut them up if they don’t have the smarts to do so themselves. She appears to be the most tame of her family, but deep inside, power greater than her sibling, parents and grandparents combine BURNS...

Morrigin - Daughter of Stake and Number 86, Morrigin is as tough as both her parents and then some. Growing up among Ex-Teens Next Door agents and Clones, Morrigin had no shortage of exposure to extended family, her cousins included. Training from both her mother and father have honed her into a disciplined fighter, and a capable leader, if not a little arrogant. Of course, with her parent’s combined strengths, she also shares their weaknesses, such as 86′s temper, and Stake’s crippling lack of fashion sense and dance talent.

Thomas - Against everyone’s expectations, Volker and Brit remained together after the Apocalypse, even more unexpected was the birth of their son, Thomas. His parents raised him to be a cat-burglar from an early age, though Volker did remind him that not everything should be stolen...just the stuff that people who already have a lot don’t use. At some point before attending Reaper High, Thomas acquired the means to train as a Titan Pilot, but didn’t get his hands on one until getting to the school...Stealthy, Agile, and well versed in assassin combat styles and gadgets, Thomas can easily slip away from any trouble he might find himself in.

Kaze - If Brit sticking around to raise her child was a surprise, than Misty raising her child with Dreamer was nothing short of a miracle. After they had amassed a small fortune from their Bounty and Treasure Hunting days, the two found a place to call home, and so the inquisitive Kaze was born. Of the Clones’ Children, she is the most in-tune with her heritage, having powers from her mother, as well as Combat skills passed down to her from both parents. She can speak fluent Mandolorian, and forged her own sword in the vein of Misty’s. Even more curious, is that Kaze appears to be able to use The Force, even though neither of her parents were able to...because of this, Kaze is exposed to dangers that others may not be.

Coyote - Nobody knows where Coyote truly came from. He appears to be a Yautja-Human hybrid, with some elements of what seems to be Crescentian DNA...He is apart of a new tribe of Yautja founded by Marsh after the end of the Apocalypse, protecting the vulnerable Cresentian populace from natural predators and hunters in exchange for bonding with members of the clan as partners on the hunt. Though Coyote has no Partner, he more than makes up for it with his cunning and prowess as a tracker, Capable of wrestling with beasts 3 times his size, and just as able to take them out. He doesn’t speak very often, which is why no one can seem to get a straight answer about his origins out of him...

Samuel - It took Frida a long time to convince Russell to have a child, but the wait was well worth it. Russell made certain to be there during every step of Samuel’s life. As a result, the boy was spared from the parental issues that plauged his father. With his father’s training, and his mother’s inventive ingenuity, Samuel became a prodigy in combat and vigilante justice. Despite his mostly positive upbringing, he never found much reason to speak. As such, he tends to express himself through gestures and actions. He lacks his father’s temper, but has his dexterity and skill with weaponry. Samuel is more in tune with her mother, sharing her mechanical prowess...and her sense of humor.

Helena - Though some miracle of science and biology, Shard and Melody were able to have a child, a perfected techno-organic being known as Helena. Imbued with the powers of both her mother and father, Helena is a powerhouse of speed and power. The only issue being, she is incredibly shy. She has the ability to stop time, materialize armor for herself from thin air, transform into a mechanical beast like her parents, and move just as fast as Shard, if not faster. She’s fiercely loyal to those who she claims only “Tolerate” her as a friend, and doesn’t give herself as much credit as she deserves. The only time she’s been known to come out of her shell completely is when one of her friends are in danger, revealing that sometimes she can be just as cocky as her father. (...And that embarasses her to no end!)

Ragran & Selmaxen - At some point in RH History, Heater began a complex Relationship with a version of Hekapoo from another timeline or dimension. Which one? Nobody knows...what everyone does know is that after the apocalypse, Heater ran off with her for years, and came back with a pair of Twins: Two girls named Ragran and Selmaxen. Ragran shares her father’s vow of silence, while Selmaxen tends to chat up a storm. Both of the twins have the ability to use their mothers scissors, or duplicates from the looks of them, and have power to manipulate, control, and create fire, lava and obsidian thanks to their fathers supernatural exploits in Hell during the apocalypse. They aren’t dependent on one another, but when they team up to do much of anything, their synergy is unmatched.

((This is just too much fun to come up with and write about! Seeing RH Next Gen stuff makes my heart soar, and it saddens me that I fall into ruts so often that I’m starting to lose steam on this sort of thing. But i’ll keep trying to keep my motivation up, and so long as im motivated, i’ll keep writing stuff for RH!))

#Reaper High #Reaper High Next Gen #OCs

4 notes · View notes

entamewitchlulu · 5 years ago

Photo

so i did a reading challenge this year and i wanna talk about what i read

transcription under the cut

i did Popsugar 2019 and wanna talk about what i read: Book Reccs and Anti-Reccs

1.) Becoming a Movie in 2019: Umbrella Academy (vol 1) by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba

4/5. A fascinating take on superpowers, dysfunctional families, and the apocalypse. Can get pretty gory, confusing here and there and you have to pay close attention to panels for lore, but overall an entertaining romp.

2.) Makes you Feel Nostalgic: Circles in the Stream by Rachel Roberts

4/5. Middle grade novel about the magic of music, belief, and of course, friendship. Definitely written for kids, and has some unfortunately clumsy Native rep, but overall an absolute joy to dive into once again.

3.) Written by a Musician: Umbrella Academy (vol 2) by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba

4/5. Ramps up the confusion to ridiculous degrees with some absolutely bonkers, unexplained arcs, but still fun to watch this dysfunctional family do its dysfunctional thing.

4.) You Think Should be Turned into a movie: All That Glitters by Rachel Roberts

4/5. Continuation of Circles in the Stream, but with more unicorns, more rainbows, and more fae, which makes it automatically even better than the first.

5.) With At Least 1 Mil. Ratings on Goodreads: 1984 by George Orwell

1/5. I understand why it's important and all but wasn't prepared for some of the more graphic scenes and the overall hopelessness of the message. Would not recommend or read again.

6.) W/ a Plant in the title or cover: The secret of Dreadwillow carse by Brian farrey

5/5. A fantasy world where everyone is always happy, save for one girl and the princess, who set out to solve the mystery of their kingdom. Poignant and great for kids and adults.

7.) Reread of a favorite: Cry of the Wolf by Rachel Roberts

4/5. Yet another installment in the Avalon: Web of Magic series, which clearly I am obsessed with. Please just read them.

8.) About a Hobby: Welcome to the Writer's Life by Paulette Perhach

5/5. A welcome kick in the pants, chock full of great advice told without condescension, and full of hope and inspiration for writers both new and old.

9.) Meant to read in 2018: The Poet x by Elizabeth Acevedo

4/5. Absolutely beautiful coming of age novel told in verse. Do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook version.

10.) w/ "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title: Black Sugar by Miguel Bonnefoy

2/5. I think maybe I just don't understand this genre. Or maybe the translation was weird. I was confused.

11.) w/ An Item of Clothing or Accessory on the cover: Our dreams at Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani

4/5. It had a lot more slurs/homophobia than I was prepared for, but otherwise is a very touching, relatable collection of queer characters living in a heteronormative world.

12.) Inspired by Mythology or Folklore: Ravenous by MarcyKate Connolly

3/5. A girl goes on an impossible quest to save her brother from a child-eating witch. Really wanted to like it more because I loved the first one, Monstrous, but it dragged a little.

13.) Published Posthumously: The Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones

3/5. I adore Diana Wynne Jones, but this one was missing some of the magic of her other books. Not sure if it was because it had to be finished by someone else, or if I just grew out of her stories.

14.) Set in Space: Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

4/5. Powerfully written story of a girl straddling tradition and innovation, who wields power through mathematical magic, surviving on a spaceship alone with a dangerous alien occupation after everyone else has been killed.

15.) By 2 Female Authors: Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

2/5. Ostensibly a story about a revenge pact in a small island town, but leaves far too many dangling threads to attempt alluring you to the sequel.

16.) W/ A Title containing "salty," "bitter," "Sweet," or "Spicy": The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

3/5. It's okay but I literally just never know what anyone means at any time. Are they being reticent on purpose or do i just not understand communication

17.) Set in scandinavia: Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura

2/5. Technically and historically accurate and well made, but the story itself is not my cup of tea. Very gory.

18.) Takes Place in a Single Day: Long WAy Down by Jason Reynolds

4/5. A boy goes to avenge his murdered brother, but ghostly passengers join him on the elevator ride down. Stunning and powerful character-driven analysis.

19.) Debut Novel: Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

4/5. Charming and then surprisingly heart-breaking comic about Nimona, a shapeshifter who wants to become a villain's minion. Really love the villain/hero dynamic going on in the background, along with the dysfunctional found family.

20.) Published in 2019: The Book of Pride by Mason Funk

4/5. A collection of interviews with the movers, shakers, and pioneers of the queer and LGBTQ+ community. An absolutely essential work for community members and allies alike.

21.) Featuring an extinct/imaginary creature: Phoebe and her Unicorn by Dana Simpson

4/5. Incredibly charming, Calvin and Hobbes-esque collection of comics featuring the adventures of Phoebe and her unicorn best friend.

22.) Recced by a celebrity you admire: The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen

2/5. Recced by my fave author Brandon Sanderson. An unfortunately disappointing anthology proving that any story can be made uninteresting by telling the wrong section of it.

23.) With "Love" in the Title: Book Love by Debbie Tung

4/5. One of those relatable webcomics, only this one I felt super hard almost the entire time. Books are awesome and libraries rule.

24.) Featuring an amateur detective: Nancy Drew: Palace of Wisdom by Kelly Thompson

4/5. REALLY love this modern take on Nancy Drew, coming back home to her roots to solve a brand new mystery. Diverse cast and lovely artwork, though definitely more adult.

25.) About a family: Amulet by Kabu Kibuishi

4/5. Excellent, top tier graphic novel about a sister and brother who have to go rescue their mother with a mysterious magic stone. LOVE that the mom gets to be involved in the adventure for once.

26.) by an author from asia, Africa, or s. America: Girls' Last tour by Tsukumizu

4/5. Somehow both light-hearted and melancholy. Two girls travel about an empty, post-apocalyptic world, and muse about life and their next meal.

27.) w/ a Zodiac or astrology term in title: Drawing down the moon by margot adler

3/5. A good starting place for anyone interested in the Neo Pagan movement, but didn't really give me what I was personally looking for.

28.) you see someone reading in a tv show or movie: The Promised NEverland by Kaiu Shirai

4/5. I don't watch TV or movies where people read books so i think reading an adaptation of a TV series after watching the series counts. Anyway it was good but beware racist caricatures

29.) A retelling of a classic: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy by Rey Terciero

5/5. We can stop the Little Women reboots and retellings now, this is the only one we need. In fact, we can toss out the original too, this is the only one necessary.

30.) w/ a question in the title: So I'm a spider, so what? by Asahiro Kakashi

4/5. Cute art despite the subject matter, and a surprisingly enthralling take on the isekai genre. Love the doubling down on the video game skills.

31.) Set in a college or university campus: Moonstruck (vol 2) by Grace Ellis

2/5. An incredibly cute, beautiful, and fascinating world of modern magic and creatures, but unfortunately falls apart at the plot and pacing.

32.) About someone with a superpower: Moonstruck (vol 1) by Grace Ellis

4/5. Though nearly as messy plot-wise as its sequel, the first volume is overwhelmingly charming in a way that overpowers the more confusing plot elements.

33.) told from multiple povs: The Long way to a Small, Angry Planet by becky Chambers

4/5. Told almost in a serial format, like watching a miniseries, a group of found-family spaceship crew members make the long journey to their biggest job ever.

34.) Includes a wedding: We Set the dark on fire by Tehlor kay mejia

4/5. Timely and poignant, a girl tumbles into both love and resistance after becoming one of two wives to one of the most powerful men in the country.

35.) by an author w/ alliterative name: The only harmless great Thing by brooke bolander

3/5. Much deeper than I can currently comprehend. Beautifully written, but difficult to parse.

36.) A ghost story: Her body and other parties by Carmen Maria Machado

4/5. It counts because one of the stories in it has ghosts. A sometimes difficult collection of surrealist, feminist, queer short stories.

37.) W/ a 2 word title: Good omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

4/5. Charming, touching, and comical, probably the best take on the apocalypse to date. Also excellent ruminations on religion and purpose.

38.) based on a true story: The faithful Spy by John Hendrix

4/5. Brilliantly crafted graphic biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and his assistance in fighting back against Nazi Germany.

39.) Revolving around a puzzle or game: the Crossover by Kwame alexander

4/5. The verse didn't always hit right with me, but the story is a sweet, melancholy one about family, loss, and moving on.

40.) previous popsugar prompt (animal in title): The last unicorn by peter s. Beagle

5/5. Absolutely one of my all-time favorite books, it manages to perfectly combine anachronism and comedy with lyricism, melancholy, and ethereal beauty.

41.) Cli-fi: Tokyo Mew Mew by Mia ikumi and Reiko Yoshida

4/5. Shut up it counts

42.) Choose-your-own-adventure: My Lady's choosing by Kitty curran

3/5. Cute in concept, a bit underwhelming in execution. Honestly, just play an otome.

43.) "Own Voices": Home by Nnedi Okorafor

3/5. The storytelling style was definitely not my style; while the first book was slow, too, it felt more purposeful. I found my attention wandering during this installment.

44.) During the season it's set in: Pumpkinheads by rainbow rowell

3/5. Cute art, but precious little substance. The concept simply wasn't for me in the first place.

45.) LITRPG: My next life as a villainess: All routes lead to doom! by Hidaka nami

5/5. An absolute insta-fave! Charming art, endearing characters, an incredible premise, and so much sweet wholesome fluff it'll give you cavities.

46.) No chapters: The field guide to dumb birds of north america by matt kracht

3/5. It started out super strong, but the joke started to wear thin at a little past the halfway point.

47.) 2 books with the same title: Unfollow by Megan Phelps-Roger

4/5. A brave and enduring personal story of growing up in and eventually leaving the Westboro Baptist Church. Really called to me to act with grace and kindness even more in the future.

48.) 2 books with the same title: unfollow by rob williams and michael dowling

1/5. How many times do you think we can make Battle Royale again before someone notices

49.) That has inspired a common phrase or idiom: THe Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

4/5. Definitely good and deserves it's praise as something that pretty much revolutionized and created an entire demographic of literature.

50.) Set in an abbey, cloister, Monastery, convent, or vicarage: Murder at the vicarage by agatha christie

3/5. I just cannot. physically keep up with all of these characters or find the energy to read between the lines.

ok that's all i got, what did y'all read and like this year? (oh god it’s gonna be 2020)

#book reccs #lulu booktalks

15 notes · View notes

bitch-a-la-mode · 5 years ago

Text

Okay this is a hella long rant, but ive been thinking about posting this for a long time and well,,,, yea,,,

You know what the overall problem that Into the Spider Verse brought to light in relation to the overall superhero genre (and animation as a whole)? Grown ups are afraid to watch an animated superhero movie out of fear of being called a baby or a weeb or something so the MCU was basically like “let’s make this into a billion dollar industry by making these interconnected live action movies” and people of all ages ate that shit up. From the get-go, comics and superheroes belonged to kids. They were a kids thing. And if you read or watched that stuff as an adult you were made fun of. These live actions were a marketing ploy of the grandest scheme and we all fell for it.

There are so many amazing animated superhero movies, Made with a fraction of a live action budget and with ten times the heart. Yes we all know into the spider verse, but what about:

- Batman: under the red hood

- Batman: mask of the phantasm

- All star Superman

- Batman beyond: return of the joker

- Big hero 6 (y’all forgot about this)

- The LEGO Batman movie

- Wonder Woman (the 2009 animated movie)

- Justice league: gods and monsters

- Teen titans: trouble in Tokyo

- Justice league: flashpoint paradox

- The Incredibles 1 and 2 (yes I’m counting them)

- Planet hulk

- Reign of the supermen

And this isn’t even including some very iconic superhero animated series (*cough cough* teen titans). Some of these films are so iconic they literally changed comic book lore (I’m looking at you, under the red hood). DC comics has a whole, interconnected animated movie universe that no one talks about (and is direct to video/streaming).

Animators are great at what they do, and superheroes are a thing that should and deserve to get animated. You can use all the special effects you want, but it has been proven time and time again that superheroes generally look better animated. They do complicated things that can’t be captured behind a green screen, and deserve an artist’s hand. Even worse, the only animation people take seriously these days is CGI, because it looks the most “realistic”, aka the most like a live action, even though spider verse looked the least realistic and was the most visually appealing in my opinion. And even sometimes, we respect (or claim it acceptable to like) ridiculously “edgy” adult animation like South Park, family guy, or similar shows (y’all know the kinds im talking about).

However, this all goes back to two things: 1) the west has bullied adults into hating animated movies/shows because we equate them with being “childish” and 2) marvel and other industries practically egged this on so they can make these billion dollar movies and get even more billions back in revenue. The reasons spider verse is so highly regarded is because 1) Sony did SO MUCH to get that movie the credit it deserved, 2) people had been begging for a miles morales Spiderman movies for YEARS, 3) the creators held themselves up to such high standards (which can surely be about the whole diversity in media aspect and minority movies needing to be perfect, but lets ignore that for now, and 4) it was tied into the “highly regarded” MCU, so many fans looked beyond their prejudice and saw the movie, witnessing how phenomenal it was.

If we applied this to other animated superhero movies (or animated movies in general) then animation would get the respect it deserves. I feel like in this day and age, we only care about Disney’s most highly anticipated animated film of the year (which is almost always a Disney princess movie or a sequel to an older Disney animated movie). And even then, Disney has disrespected the art of animation by going and remaking their classics into live actions for various reasons. We can argue the legal implications of copyright, but the big thing is that those animated films were GOOD, and Disney thought it would be a good idea to squeeze more money out of people in addition to claiming “why watch the original, silly animated film when you can watch the real, serious, live action”.

Animators are not respected, and its sad to see because some of the most beautiful and memorable ideas were made through animation. And sometimes, people won’t respect animation as “art” because it doesn’t look “good”, even though their might be various reasons for that (such as budgeting since only mega corporations will kind of pay well for animation, awful scheduling because “draw fast so we can churn out this new product, and so many other factors). Look at stuff like avatar the last Airbender, cowboy bebop, carmen San Diego, and others. Amazing stories with phenomenal (or memorable) art. And sometimes, animation doesnt even have to be so amazingly well designed for it to be good. Shows like freaking bobs burgers, and kids shows like phineas and ferb have been heralded as amazing shows with great plots and yet the designs are simple, with a focus on other aspects like plot and characters (on another note, I think some voice actors are better than live action actors tbh).

But again, we dont respect this genre and this art the way that we should (at least in the west), and I think thats so sad. Yes there are people who respect it, but the overall consensus in mainstream American society (at least from what ive seen) is that animation is for kids, and nothing can ever be as good as something “real”, even though that marvel movie you just saw was once a comic, a drawing, an animation. But whatever.

16 notes · View notes

bestnoncannonship · 6 years ago

Text

Alright..I'mma get in on this VC fancasting debate.

As a director, I often have a LOT of opinions on people's casting decisions. A LOT. (Someday, I'll write a novella on Ken Brannaugh's casting.) So as I see a LOT of fancasts casts based on how people look and few based on whether or not the actor can likely handle the role, I'mma throw my hat in the ring. (Warning....the more I write the less technical and more shitposty this is gonna get!) So here you go! The Vampire Chronicles series if I got to cast and direct it!!

The Brat Prince:

Most importantly....we gotta get us a Lestat. And the choice is clear:

Evan Williams: this fabulous shitposting aesthetic trash is as close to the one and only Vampire Lestat as we are gonna get on this plane of existance. He is all charm and quite light in his loafers and a complete mess.......but most importantly, he has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is able to play a character that does inexplicable and morally reprehensible things while still being read as highly sympathetic, likable, and even a hero. That's what I worry about most with Lestat. He really is a very terrible person who doesn't learn or face too many consequences. And he has to be very very very sympathetic. Not just "Oh I Stan that villain" likeable.....but a true hero. And it takes a very. Special. Actor. To pull that shit off. And this is it. This is the guy. He was hired to play an Iago-esque gay villain type in Versailles, STOLE THE SHOW OUT FROM UNDER GEORGE BLAGDEN (no mean feat as Blaggy was giving a hell of a performance) and made his character a beloved icon. Yeah....I trust him to lead a show. I trust him to be Lestat.

Nicholas L'enfant:

Okay not gonna lie I struggled with this one. There was someone else I wanted to see in this role....but I decided he was better employed elsewhere. And this is who I ended up with:

Yep. George Blagden. See...in the grand scheme of things Nikki is a very low-screentime role that has a LOT of impact on the story. And who better to trust with low screentime that the god of grantaires, who took a few small shots and lines and GAVE US A FULLY CHARACTERIZED GRANTAIRE in the Les Mis film. He is very sweet faced, and easy to like, can make being an on screen depressive fascinating instead of dull and has proven time and time again that he is the master of the complete mental breakdown, complete with horrifying but tragic crazy eyes. Also.....he bears a strong enough physical resembles to.....

Louis!!!!:

Our beautiful depressed dark angel with a vampire eating disorder who has no self esteem and is still in love with his abuser needs nuance. He needs soul. And he needs a sweet and delicate beauty. And so:

Alexaner Vlahos!!! The soulful eyes!! The delicate bone structure!!! The slight tones of simmering resentment!!! The ability to play a character that could have become VERY one note VERY quickly with goregeous amounts of nuance and sympathy!!! Vlavla has quite the varied resume. Mordred. Phillipe. Romeo. Captain Hook. To put it lightly he has a LOT of range and the one through line is he is NEVER boring. He plays a lot of roles that could very quickly become boring and one note (Romeo? Captian snooze right there!). But every second he's on screen or stage he is so completely alive in whatever he is feeling. I TRUST him to keep the entirety of Louis's brooding nuanced and fascinating for an audience and to physically and facially convey Louis's very important internal monologue that we will not be able to hear because this version is going to be from Lestat's point of veiw. I toggled with the idea of making him Nikki for a while....but ended up with Louis for 2 reasons. 1) he doesn't need the scripted plot drama Nikki has written in to make a compelling character and 2) he and Williams share such beautiful chemistry. Whenever they're together, even off screen, their focus shifts so that they orbit each other like bianary stars and any director can see that that's something that should be explored and exploited to add demension to the Louis/Lestat relationship and justify why they keep coming back to each other.

(And so ends the Men of Versailles segment of my fancast. So sue me. There's some incredible actors there.)

Let's return with

Gabrielle De Lioncourt:

The incomparable Alex Kingston, lately of River Song fame, though I met her as Elizabeth Corday, and Doctor Corday is driving this casting choice. I wanted an actor who was an appropriate age to play Williams's mother cause we don't fuck with that women are "old" at 30 shit in this house. And she can carry off the kind of "I will not hesitate to kill a man" BDE that Gabrielle requires without trying, but she's also proven herself comfortable and competent with the level of CAMP that VC requires. I can see her easily showing up on set for a few scattered episodes, slipping easily into the verse, and nailing the kind of woman who can put Lestat in his place then run back off to the jungle. Also....that De Lioncourt hair!!!!!

Marius "Daddy" Romanus:

Yep. This fuck. I can hear it now.... "Why isn't he lessssaaaat??? He's so blonde and prettttyyyyy????" Well....mainly because....I ain't sure this lil fuck can run a show as a very despicable but likeable hero yet. He's admirable. A good actor. A great villain. But not a hero and not heroically likeable. Personally, I'm of the opinion that in 10 or 15 years he will have grown into the ability to play something as complex as Lestat with likability....but for now.....DAMN is he a creepy imperial thing. He's got that "My house, my rules" vibe down. He's preditory. He's distinguished. He is Marius. And he's go the best Roman coin profile I've ever seen.

Armand:

N/A

Ok. Controversial decision....but I want to see a complete unknown as Armand. Send casting out to cast a wide net, scour the world for the Botticelli death machine. But definitely don't pull him from the pool of already famous younguns. Because your Armand needs to be deep. Skilled. And primarily UNSPOILED by the school of child acting that is forced upon child actors. (I was a commercial kid and child stage actor. It was terrible.) Go out and get some twinky fresh faced raw talent so you get depth.

Claudia:

N/A

Big old ditto on what I said above about child actors. A nice doe eyed unknown, preferably without a stage mom.

AKASHA:

Yikes. So many amazing choices!!! How do you follow Aliyah??

With literal human perfection Gina Torres of course!!! Again....I wanted to go with an older woman. Someone who would be seen as an authority to all vampires. Someone god damnned goregeous. And someone who I find intimidating. Also, since I'm skewing a little tall with this cast (at least as TV actors go) I wanted someone who comfortably stands among and above most of them! She's a seasond tested actor, and certified badass. And we know she can steal a scene. Besides if she can look regal as a queen in that weirdass dress they gave her in the serenity movie she can pull off whatever monstrosity costumes comes up with to follow the Aliyah getup.

Khayman:

Don't @ me but....I have a LOT of feelings about Khayman. I love his particularly breed of immortal insanity. I love the way immortality drove him mad into a childlike enjoyment and curiosity. And I knew exactly who has to be casted to play that combination of intimidating ancient and innocent curiosity:

This is Howard Charles. He is capable of playing both an intimidating giant and a sweet soulful cinnamon roll at the same time. I cannot sing this man's praises enough. Am I scared of him? Do I want to hug him? Both? He's also one of the best scene SHARERS I've seen on screen in a long time and that's very important in a supporting role.

Maharet:

Just because Anne Rice doesn't know shit about Mesopotamia doesn't mean we have to follow her in that. I wanted to pull from Middle Eastern or Indian populations for her to best reflect the look of the region in a time that's roughly in line with the pre-dynastic Egyptian mish-mosh associated with Akasha.

So I'm gunning for Indira Varma. When I say this woman has timeless beauty.....I mean timeless. She's as prehistorically hot as she is today. And she's such a strong actress, I want to give her a role that isn't 50% sex scenes. She's got both the warmth and the commanding strength to play Maharet. I would ideally like to get a dancer to play Mekare....someone who can handle the physical interp of the role. Probably an Indian dancer to match Indira Varma.

David Talbot:

In the newly declared tradition of Doctors playing Talbot:

This is the only current Gif I could find of Sylvester McCoy. Known to many as the Seventh Doctor. And to many as Ratagast the Brown. He embodies that sort of huffy aging britishness that David projects, but has the over the top personality that can give us those hints of the vitality of David's youth. Basically I can see this man telling stories about hunting tigers in India. Then when he gets the hot young Raglan James Body:

Luke Pasqualino. Swarthy young troublemaker. But for all the youthful good looks, he proved that he was able to play grace and gravitas as D'artagnion in the final season of the BBC Musketeers. I'd love to give him a chance to explore that deeper part. I also trust his ability to match the energy of a cast, which he did repeatedly on musketeers, and portray both the impulsive self aggrandizing Lestat in the Raglan James body and to play the DarkAU Musketeer type that is Raglan James himself.

That's literally all the Gifs I can put in a post. I know I skipped Daniel......but that's because I have surprisingly few opinions on Daniel.......he's very much a vanilla audience connecting character. I'd almost like to see an unknown in that role....just to see what we a new face could make.

And thus ends my casting of the Vampire Chronicles!!

187 notes · View notes

xpenumbras · 5 years ago

Text

about/verses + rules for mobile

[i’ll try and keep this post updated when i edit the pages on my blog!]

name: violet helene parr

alias: penumbra

DOB: november 3rd, 1949

powers: forcefield generation, invisibility, super-strength (minor)

lgbt headcanon: bi trans girl

alignment: chaotic good

faceclaim: grace phipps

violet parr has spent a lifetime letting herself fade into the background, but both saving her father from a deserted island & the re-legalization of supers have given her a new attitude. her newfound confidence and self-expression can sometimes border on aggressive, but it’s simply because she feels invigorated that she’s finally free to be who she is – that is, the best super the world’s ever seen.

headstrong, stubborn, and passionate, violet is a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the battlefield. being raised and trained by two legendary supers (and being the eldest of three super siblings) has given her a serious edge in almost everything she does. she doesn’t let herself be vulnerable around many people; if you’re one of those few, she must really trust you.

her hatred for injustice informs many of her decisions. she will do whatever it takes to right wrongs, even if it means bending a few rules. she’s a huge fan of franz kafka.

she’s sarcastic and has a dry wit, but she’s not always above getting into childish arguments (mostly with her brother dash). she gets riled up fairly easily; it’s a byproduct of her being so fiercely driven. plus, she’s fourteen, and any teenager is prone to being temperamental.

she’s loyal to her family above all else. don’t mess with her or her loved ones – or do, and be prepared for the consequences.

verses (so far)

canon - takes place in 1965-ish after incredibles 2 & the adventures of violet and dash books. as the name states, it fits right into canon, but also includes my own worldbuilding headcanons (which will be explained if they ever come up).

hero - loosely in the canon verse, but 8 years in the future; in 1973, violet is 22 years old, just out of college, and doing hero work full-time. she partners up with dash often, since her parents are retired and jack-jack doesn’t do much hero work.

important notes from the mun

[ooc talk will be in brackets!]

mun is 18+ but will not be writing nsfw/smut

note that none of the verses have to take place in the incredibles universe. it’s just the different versions of violet i want to work with!

i’m 100% open to multifandom RPs as long as we can make them work. it doesn’t have to fit both muses’ canons exactly; the explanation can be something simple! i’m just here to have fun.

this is my first tumblr RP blog, so i’m still learning the ropes and wanted a simple blog to start out with. go easy on me!

rules

It’s a given, but I have the right to decide if I don’t want to RP with your muse.

Violet is roughly 14 years old in canon, so I will not do any NSFW/sex-related RP with her. No, not even if it’s a verse where she’s an adult.

My favorite Violet pairing is with Tony Rydinger, but I’m open to multifandom shipping if the muses have chemistry.

Any muses shipped with Violet should be about her age in their own canons. I will not ship her with aged-up versions of characters younger than 13, and I will not ship her with aged-down versions of characters older than 15 or 16. Shipping aged-up versions of characters that are also canonically about 13-16 with Violet’s Hero verse is fine; they just need to be the same age in canon, the same age in the verses used, and no NSFW.

I don’t really care about post formatting one way or the other. If you RP with just plain text and nothing else, that’s fine. If you RP with medieval letters and bordered icons with rainbow filters, that’s fine. Just don’t expect me to go out of my way to match your exact level of formatting; I care about content, not aesthetics.

I’m not really a fan of the pairing Willet, so I won’t RP it. However, I’d be happy to RP a platonic friendship with a Wilbur.

For now at least, I don’t want Violet to interact with any Syndromes/Buddy Pines.

I don’t mind if non-roleplay blogs follow this blog.

Be nice to me, and I’ll be nice to you.

Absolutely NO transphobia, homophobia, racism, misogyny, ableism, or any other kind of bigotry will be tolerated.

#notes #mobile about #off duty

1 note · View note

defineguilty · 6 years ago

Text

FULL CHARACTER INFO SHEET

BASIC INFORMATION

♛┋FULL NAME: Neal George Caffrey ♛┋NICKNAME(S): Do aliases count as nicknames? ♛┋OCCUPATION: FBI Consultant / Former Con-Artist ♛┋AGE: 32+ depending on verse ♛┋DATE OF BIRTH: March 21st ♛┋GENDER: cis male ♛┋PRONOUNS: he/him ♛┋ORIENTATION: bisexual biromantic ♛┋NATIONALITY: american ♛┋ETHNICITY: white ♛┋RELIGION: catholic, but not really practicing actively

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

♛┋FACE CLAIM: Matt Bomer ♛┋EYE COLOUR: blue ♛┋HAIR COLOUR: brown ♛┋DOMINANT HAND: right ♛┋HEIGHT: 5' 11½" // 182cm ♛┋BUILD: athletic ♛┋TATTOOS: none ♛┋SCARS: none to speak of ♛┋PIERCINGS: none ♛┋GLASSES: occasionally when undercover/under an alias, but he has perfect vision ♛┋STYLE: Sophisticated & elegant. He very rarely leaves the house without a suit, often accessorizing with a hat. Usually somewhat vintage, but styled on the modern side. The most casual he usually goes is suit pants with a T-shirt or sweater.

FAMILY

♛┋PARENT #1: James Bennett (father) ♛┋PARENT #2: Angela Caffrey-Bennett (mother) ♛┋SIBLING(S): n/a ♛┋CHILDREN: n/a ♛┋PET(S): n/a ♛┋RELATIONSHIP WITH PARENTS: Non-existent. His father was a corrupt cop who killed a fellow cop and was arrested for it. Until his 18th birthday, Neal was led to believe his dad was a hero who died on the job and knowing the truth about his definitely messed up his entire world view. Add to that the fact that James tried to use Neal to get off after running from authorities for a murder he did commit and Neal certainly has all of the daddy issues. His mother, Neal feels less strong dislike and anger for. She was never a very stable presence in his life and the arrest of his father didn’t exactly help her. Instability and substance abuse made her a rather unfit mother and even though Neal would never say she was bad to him, Ellen was always the only real mother-figure he had. He hasn’t talked to his mother since he was eighteen and she hasn’t reached out either. ♛┋RELATIONSHIP WITH SIBLING(S): n/a

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

♛┋HOMETOWN: St. Louis, Missouri ♛┋CURRENT: New York City, New York ♛┋LANGUAGE(S): English, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, French, German, conversational Italian & Swahili ♛┋SOCIAL CLASS: middle class ♛┋DEGREE: three MBAs and two doctorate degrees but... none of them legit. (in reality, Neal never graduated High School) ♛┋RAP SHEET? bond forgery (at least that’s the only thing they caught him on) ♛┋PRISON TIME? 4 years for bond forgery, another 4 years after breaking out of prison just before his sentence was up -- to be served as a consultant for the FBI

PSYCHOLOGY INFORMATION

♛┋JUNG TYPE: ESTP ♛┋ENNEATYPE: Type 3 -- The Achiever: Focused on the presentation of success, to attain validation & 7w8 ( Type 7 -- The Enthusiast: Pleasure seekers and planners, in search of distraction & Type 8 -- The Challenger: Taking charge, because they don't want to be controlled) ♛┋MORAL ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral / Chaotic Good ♛┋TEMPERAMENT: Sanguine ♛┋SCHEMA: Insufficient self-control (very strong). Other contenders include Unrelenting standards, Emotional inhibation, Abandonment and Entitlement hahaaa ♛┋INTELLIGENCE TYPE: Linguistic & Visual are at the same score. Interpersonal is second place. ♛┋NEUROTYPE: Neurotypical

PERSONALITY DETAILS

♛┋POSITIVE: charming, witty, inventive, creative, intelligent ♛┋NEGATIVE: sly, dishonest, distrusting, guarded, detached ♛┋DREAMS/AMBITIONS: Neal’s main goal is always a sense of fun and adventure. he doesn’t have a set end-goal either way -- not the white picket fence life, but also not the life of the fancy villa in some country that doesn’t extradite as some sort of crime lord. He likes the thrill of a con, so if he can make it happen, keeping that alive is what he cares about most. ♛┋FEARS: Among is main fears is definitely turning out like his father. Having idolized him for so many years before he knew who he really was and then seeing a few similarities between them after all really does scare him. He’s aware he’s far from the most honest person alive, but he likes to believe he would never turn to murder or betraying his own closest family and friends the way his father did.

RELATIONSHIPS / SEX

♛┋RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Verse dependent ♛┋PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIPS: Several ambivalent on-off relationships (see Alex Hunter), plenty of casual affairs and only a few more serious relationships. The first big one being with Kate which, obviously, was something he was incredibly serious and passionate about. Also the only relationship to date he was so open about and had no shame admitting he’s deeply in love and would do anything for her. The only other (canon) relationship, although also without labels attached, was with Sara which remains his most healthy relationship, though it was foiled by circumstance and perhaps, just Neal’s inability of honesty at the time. ♛┋LEVEL OF SEXUAL EXPERIENCE: high ♛┋STORY OF FIRST KISS: Technically, it happened in the third grade after he drew a girl in his class a nice picture and they then proceeded to date for three weeks, which really just consisted of them holding hands twice, Neal drawing more pictures and that one first kiss at recess. Showed Brittney Nicole too -- his tooth gap clearly wasn’t that bad. ♛┋STORY OF FIRST TIME: Neal had just turned 17 and at the time, had his first more serious girlfriend. They’d been dating for a few months at the time and it happened after a night of plenty of shenanigans on a random Saturday. For Neal, sneaking out was never an issue anyway since parental supervision wasn’t exactly a thing, so no sneaking had to take place, and she’d told her parents she was staying at a friend’s place. Originally, they’d planned to just do whatever they felt like, something they both enjoyed very much (usually that meant Neal rigging the games at a local Arcade and winning her a bunch of stuffed animals or them hanging out at his favorite pool hall where he’d regularly earn a little extra by making some older guys who underestimated him play for money) but that night, they decided to up the stakes a little. They stopped by a second-hand store in town, bought complete outfits (suit and a cocktail dress, respectively) and then proceeded to drive to one of the fancier hotels in town. Somehow, they convinced the guy at the reception that they were relatives of the owner and should have been announced. They ended up getting one of the nicer rooms in the hotel for the night (and, for free!) and the exhilaration of the con pulled off well led to both of their first time.

VICES / HABITS

♛┋SMOKES? No (unless it’s part of a cover) ♛┋DRINKS? Yes, but preferably something respectable and only for taste and enjoyment, not specifically to get drunk ♛┋DOES DRUGS? No ♛┋IS VIOLENT? No ♛┋HAS AN ADDICTION? Well, technically he did say that a con is an addiction and that he hasn’t kicked it yet, so. That. ♛┋IS SELF-DESTRUCTIVE? Yes. I think while he comes off very confident and considers himself very confident too, there’s a couple things he just doesn’t believe will happen in his life for him. Among those are stable relationships, so he can sometimes subconsciously be destructive towards those and therefore proof his belief-system. ♛┋HABITS: He likes to have something to do with his hands, especially when he’s nervous. Be it throwing something and catching it again, or just twirling a pen between his fingers. ♛┋HOBBIES: Art, Reading, Cooking, Languages ♛┋OBSESSION(S): Depends on what’s currently important. Kate and the music box definitely developed into a sort of obsession at the time. I think in general, when intense things come up, especially when they threaten his loved ones, Neal has the tendency to get obsessive about them and let those things take over his life (or at least his private life) for the time being.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

♛┋HOUSE: Raveclaw, though a serious contestant for Slytherin ♛┋VICE: Pride ♛┋VIRTUE: Willingness to do almost everything to protect/help those he cares about ♛┋ELEMENT: Air ♛┋MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURE: Siren or Centaur ♛┋ANIMAL: Fox ♛┋WOULD SURVIVE POST-APOC? Probably not. He’s very smart and would probably find a way to survive for a little while by somehow securing food and the like, but he has practically no combat skills and the second he needs to fight for his life, he would die ♛┋SONG TO DESCRIBE THEM?: Alibis by Marianas Trench

DETAILS / QUIRKS

♛┋PET PEEVES: All of the pet peeves. For someone with an affinity for the illegal, a lot of little things really annoy him. Some examples: the toilet seat being left up, gum on the sidewalk, people eating very fragrant food in confined spaces just to name a few ♛┋NIGHT OWL OR EARLY BIRD?: Night owl ♛┋LIGHT OR HEAVY SLEEPER?: More on the heavy side ♛┋FAVORITE FOOD?: He couldn’t pick. But he does have a real soft spot for cheese. Also risotto. ♛┋LEAST FAVORITE FOOD?: Deviled ham ♛┋FAVORITE DRINK?: Red Wine ♛┋FAVORITE BOOK (GENRE)?: Non-fiction for genre. I don’t think he has a single favorite book though. ♛┋FAVORITE MOVIE?: He likes classic Hollywood movies, ngl. Sunset Boulevard is among one of his favorites. Romantic movies, in general. ♛┋LEAST FAVORITE MOVIE?: Anything super action-heavy or overly crude. ♛┋FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?: Not in jail is a great start. France, though, if he could have his choice. ♛┋COFFEE OR TEA?: Coffee. ♛┋FAVORITE COLOR?: Navy blue. ♛┋CUSSER? No. Shit is probably the worst thing he’ll say

#hi i was bored and wanted to do things #┊ ♔ to be an artist you must know who you are 【 CHARACTER STUDIES 】#long post

6 notes · View notes

tyrantisterror · 6 years ago

Text

REVENGE OF THE A.T.O.M. CREATE A KAIJU CONTEST!

Eons ago, when the earth was young, I held the first A.T.O.M. Create a Kaiju Contest, and creators like YOU populated my activity page with a legion of giant monsters! Now, years later, in celebration of publishing the first volume of The Atomic Time of Monsters, the contest calls to us once again, and it’s only grown bigger and spikier with age. If you wish to once more ravage the world with atomic titans of your own design, then please, read on after the cut to discover the rules of this thrilling kaiju role call!

Ok, for clarity’s sake I’ll drop the goofy melodramatic tone.

THE RULES:

1. This time around, you are limited to one entry per person. Last time we produced 60+ kaiju, which was awesome, but this time around I want to narrow the scope a little bit - especially if I end up doing something crazy and end up drawing them all like last time, since my carpal tunnel syndrome afflicted hand just can’t do what it did those years ago. Work hard and make your entry count!

2. Your kaiju must have some sort of description of its physical appearance and its personality - you can submit a drawing or a written description (or both!) for the physical appearance depending on what you’re most comfortable with. Using the ATOM kaiju file template isn’t required, but it was cool when people did it in the last contest, so feel free to do so this time too!

3. The kaiju you create must specifically be created for this contest - no repurposing characters you made for other, wildly different stories.

4. The kaiju must fit the setting and aesthetics of ATOM. I’ll explain this in more detail down below.

5. The kaiju should add something meaningful to the world of ATOM. What would be the point of having another fire-breathing t.rex monster? The more unique and interesting your kaiju is, the more likely you will win the contest.

6. The kaiju must be independent of the main plot of ATOM - not “Tyrantis’s long lost evil brother who’s the strongest kaiju in the world.” These should be to Tyrantis’s story what War of the Gargantuas is to Godzilla’s movies – heroes (well, monsters) of another story in the same world.

THE REWARDS:

I will make pencil sketches of the top 5 entries in the contest.

I will then make fully rendered illustrations (lineart, colors, & shading) of the top three entries.

THE DEADLINE: All entries must be submitted by August 9th, 2019. You can submit it here on tumblr, via the horror flora e-mail, or any other channel you know how to reach me through. I’m in a lot of places.

THE GUIDELINES (TO HELP YOUR ENTRY FIT THE RULES AND WIN)

The smartest thing you could do if you want to win this contest is familiarize yourself with the world of ATOM by, y’know, reading all the material I’ve published on the subject. In addition to the many kaiju files that are free to read on horrorflora.com, the first actual, factual novel in the series was published very recently (and, y’know, is the reason I’m holding this contest), which you can get from amazon in both paperback and/or kindle editions (I’d recommend the former over the latter since I lack the technology to make a really nice ebook, but if money is an object, the kindle version is only $1).

Kaiju/giant monsters in ATOM work under very specific rules. There’s a full description of those rules at this link, but here’s the jist:

Most ATOM Kaiju are tooth and claw fighters - ranged weapons are a rarity in this setting.

While the terrestrial monsters in ATOM look strange, they are intended to fit within the taxonomy of animals in reality - reptiles, mammals, fish, arthropods, molluscs, etc.

Kaiju appear on every continent in ATOM, but certain areas tend to be dominated by different types.

North America is mainly besieged by retrosaur kaiju and giant arthropods.

Russia is beset by prehistoric monsters that seem to come from the Cenozoic, particularly the Ice Age.

Western Europe is plagued by creatures that vaguely resemble creatures from myth, if they were also prehistoric. Dragon-y lizards, fiery birds, etc.

Venusians:

https://horrorflora.com/2017/01/03/atom-kaiju-file-29-karamtor/

Martians:

https://horrorflora.com/2017/01/17/atom-kaiju-file-39-kemlasulla/

https://horrorflora.com/2017/01/17/atom-kaiju-file-40-podritak/

https://horrorflora.com/2017/01/17/atom-kaiju-file-41-sombarvot/

https://horrorflora.com/2017/01/17/atom-kaiju-file-38-ullawdra/

Giant robots exist in ATOM, but are big, bulky, and incredibly expensive. Fancy beam weapons also exist, but are similarly clunky - there are no sleek, elegant machines in ATOM.

ATOM is a setting for stories that are focused on humanity learning to co-exist with monsters, rather than humanity destroying them. A certain level of sympathy is put into almost every creature of its canon, even the ones that are meant to be villains.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Here is a playlist of 1950′s monster movie trailers.

Here is some reference material from various monster comics of the 50′s and 60′s.

Video of retrosaurs in action.

Finally, here’s the page for the original ATOM Create a Kaiju Contest, which has even more reference material for you to peruse.

#Revenge of the ATOM Kaiju Contest #The Atomic Time of Monsters #kaiju

93 notes · View notes

maychorian · 7 years ago

Text

Weekly Voltron Fic Recs #51

Still not caught up. Here are about thirty new fics, I think. A lot of them are like popcorn: small, fluffy, and easy to chow down on, but some are much more meaty and intense.

Rules: You can find past weekly rec lists here, and non-list recs in my general fic rec tag. Also follow @maychorianrecs for individually tagged posts, the easier to search and reblog. This is stuff I like, and I have a huge bias toward Lance, hurt/comfort, and general fluff, in that order. Gen unless otherwise noted. Please comment on the fics if you read and enjoy them!

The Mane Event by BossToaster (ChaoticReactions) Words: 7,572 Author’s Summary: Shiro and Ryou are de-aged by Castle Malfunction ™. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a pride to keep the twins entertained. My Comments: Deaged fics always make me RIDICULOUSLY happy, and this is a two-for-one! Lance is also adorable in this one, finding a fun way to keep the twins entertained and comfy, and Allura gets in on the shenanigans in a very sweet and personal way, too. This fic is definitely a happy place.

Empty Night by BossToaster (ChaoticReactions) Words: 5,250 Author’s Summary: From the Chicago Yellow Pages: “Takashi Shirogane – Wizard Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or other Entertainment." When the Chicago Special Investigations Unit finds a murder victim surrounded by strange symbols and candles, there’s one person to consult. My Comments: I’m not familiar with The Dresden Files at all, but I understood this fusion AU perfectly well. Very cool and intriguing setting, and I loved the way all of the Voltron characters translated into the urban fantasy world. A surprise at the end particularly delighted me. I would happily read much, much more.

Cotton Guardian by VelkynKarma Words: 8,749 Author’s Summary: Lance and Hunk assist a little princess in finding her long-lost friend, but help doesn’t always come in the form anyone expects. My Comments: This is mostly adorable, with some mild spooky elements, more bittersweet and sad than scary. I love these two guys with kids, and Lance’s big brother instincts are particularly endearing here. The sense of something maybe being wrong slowly sneaks up on you, then really pounces at the end. Wonderful, heartwarming read.

Whisper in the Dark by VelkynKarma Words: 21,326 Author’s Summary: A month after the liberation of another planet, team Voltron is called back to investigate the disappearance of many of its newly freed citizens. It should be routine. It shouldn’t be a problem. But then the paladins of Voltron start disappearing, too. My Comments: Warning for some graphic depictions of violence and injury, as well as some moments of true, overwhelming horror that will grab you even through text. Holy CROW, this fic is magnificent. Keith is smart and strong and very determined to protect his teammates no matter what it takes, and the battle scene at the end is incredibly cinematic and thrilling. Really, really great read, perfect for Halloween, and I’m just sorry I’m reccing it two weeks late.

Break the Looking Glass by BossToaster (ChaoticReactions) Words: 4,586 Author’s Summary: Rumors of a new ghost abound at Hogwarts, and Shiro is pulled into a search by the members of his tutoring group. They might just get more than they bargained for. My Comments: Third-year Hufflepuff Shiro shepherding the first-year younger paladins is always such a delight to read, and this was a very fun spooky story set in that ‘verse. Shiro’s protectiveness is out in full force, and the younger kids’ curiosity and courage is also on display. Such a fun and entertaining read.

In My Eyes by BossToaster (ChaoticReactions) Words: 5,804 Author’s Summary: After a fight with the Galra, the Black Lion has to take control of Shiro for a longer period of time. Allura finds herself uncomfortable. My Comments: This is such a unique situation, and such an interesting interpersonal conflict between Allura and the Black Lion. Black is very concerned about taking care of Shiro and his team, and Allura has to draw on her skills as a diplomat to a surprising degree.

Take Me to the Space Hospital by isabeau25 Words: 2,069 Author’s Summary: Sven has been shot. Again. His team is not pleased with him. My Comments: This is adorable and hilarious. The alternate reality team is fantastic, and I want an epic fic with them building their own lions and learning to use them. Sven’s drugged cooing over the “baby Lance” he had to save made me grin every single time.

Mirror Image by VelkynKarma Words: 32,415 Author’s Summary: Part 1: The Kerberos mission was a success. So who is this scarred stranger in the mirror? Part 2: “I stole your life. But the least I can do is try to return it. And I will. I promise.” Part 3: Takashi has quite a lot to think about. My Comments: If you’re familiar with VelkynKarma’s work, you already know how good this is going to be (and you’ve probably already read it, tbh). If you aren’t familiar, though, let this story be your introduction, and then you can go devour everything else she’s ever written. This is her take on the Kuron theory, starting out with Shiro (original Shiro) trapped in a world that seems like a paradise to those of us who have watched the show, but which really, really isn’t. It’s such a cool use of this scenario, unique and entrancing and absolutely marvelous in every way. Thirty thousand words of fiction will pass by in the blink of an eye. I only WISH that canon was anything close to as magnificent as the stuff this writer puts out on a regular basis.

Days Unlike Any Other by Scrawlers Words: 8,629 Author’s Summary: From the beginning, Keith’s birthday was a little nebulous. But that didn’t stop him (or others) from recognizing it over the years all the same. My Comments: Really lovely look at several of Keith’s birthdays through the years. He went through a lot of hard times, but he also has a lot of people who love him.

Breathe by YukiSetsu Words: 3,987 Author’s Summary: What started off as a small mission ends up with Lance trapped in a cave and fighting for his life. Keith’s the only one there, and he has to move fast to get help. My Comments: Great little action and rescue fic with Keith being a good support to trapped and terrified Lance.

Three Days by panaili Words: 7,201 Author’s Summary: He couldn’t move. Something else was moving him.So you’ve figured it out? There was a voice in his head. It was silky smooth, so gentle he hadn’t noticed it at first, but now that Lance figured it out, it felt like thousands of insects swarming along the crevices of his brain. He wanted to shudder, shout, scream, but his body stayed calm as it examined itself. This is my body now, the voice whispered. My Comments: Lance gets controlled by a parasitic mind worm, and it’s absolutely harrowing. You should definitely mind the tags on this one, and watch out for graphic images of violence and sexual assault. It’s very well-done and very well-written, and I was riveted the entire way through.

the prices we pay by prettyshiroic (AnalystProductions) Words: 3,086 Author’s Summary: “I need to take the Marmora ship.” It’s a request, disguised by the sharp imperative Keith laces most of his speech with. Like his blade, every word twists to his whim, with clear precision and direction. But not without the intensity of his emotions on the very tip. Still, Keith does his best to suppress what he can because this is serious and not about him. Kolivan knows that Keith knows that. Keith always has seemed to understand the importance of the mission far too well for someone so young. He also seems to translate that into being expendable if the risks were worth the sacrifice. But the blade of Marmora does not take risks or chances. My Comments: Great Kolivan and Keith moments in that pivotal time of decision at the end of Season Four.

Big words for someone in pink tights by doc3 Words: 7,523 Author’s Summary: The Rangers rush to Zarkon’s base after hearing it might contain hints about their missing teammate’s whereabouts. Things don’t go well for them. My Comments: I’m only peripherally aware of Power Rangers, so I probably missed some of the references in this fusion AU, but I thoroughly enjoyed the action, humor, and teamwork. Very fun fic.

Turning the tide by Anae Words: 5,165 Author’s Summary: “I brought you here to tell you this: sometimes what we are searching for does not exist. We may sacrifice for it, even bleed for it, but it was never meant to be ours.” ― Esther Dalseno, DrownPart of story of a boy who found family among the stars, feelings of a lost soul who gave up his family for their sake. Aka S4E1 meta and a little more. My Comments: Another good take on Keith in Season Four.

Holidays by bookwormgir1LH Words: 1,022 Author’s Summary: Once again, Coran is baffled by a strange Earth tradition. But it turns out Christmas is a lot of fun, in a weird kind of way. [Prompt 24: holidays] My Comments: This is so unbelievably adorable and sweet. I love platonic kisses, and I love the focus on Coran.

Let it go by MarcellaEReeves Words: 1,927 Author’s Summary: The first time had been an accident. Over breakfast they’d been sitting, a group of strangers and aliens, in a castle, on a planet on the other side of the universe. They’d been sitting as Shiro (THE Takashi Shirogane no less! His hero, risen from the dead! Lance had to pinch himself) strolled in, cheerfully wishing them good morning as he assembled a plate of food goo and humming a tune as he did so. An annoying tune, and it irritated Lance that now his own thoughts couldn’t be left alone without someone mirroring them. It wasn’t until Pidge spoke that Lance realised the oddness, an expression over his -her- face, like she’d seen a ghost. ‘Shiro…?’ Their leader turned, questioning look covering his face. Even Keith seemed to be horrified, and a bitter stroke flicked through Lance at the thought that perhaps he’d missed some vital clue. ‘How do you know that song? You weren’t on Earth when Frozen was released…’ – Where Lance and the other Paladins discover that after forming Voltron, every persistent thought they were thinking prior gets lodged in all of their heads for the next week, and Lance finds out Shiro and Keith aren’t as cool as he first thought. My Comments: Fun take on a concept I enjoy: the paladins sharing a psychic link when formed as Voltron that affects them afterward.

Warm Things by The_Sickfic_Sideblog Words: 1,165 Author’s Summary: Keith has a cold, so Pidge warms him up. My Comments: Cute little sickfic with Pidge being sweet.

Paragon by fansofcollisions Words: 1,848 Author’s Summary: One, Allura. She’s got the experience and the head for battle, a proven leader. Good choice. Two, Pidge. She’s bright, crafty, strategic. She knows how to win a fight without taking a hit. Good choice. Three, Hunk. He’s steadfast, and he’s strong like Shiro. He looks out for his team. Good choice. Four, Keith. He’s a pain, but he’s what Shiro would have wanted. Good choice. Five. Lance. He’s…He just wants it so bad. — The Black Lion makes its decision. My Comments: Really interesting Black Lion POV, and an alternate take on that switch.

Maybe in a Different When by KatherineKatie Words: 2,245 Author’s Summary: “Life isn’t gonna get easier for you. You’re gonna have to fight tooth and nail to make your way to where I am now. But I promise you, no matter how much you’re gonna suffer, how much you’ll want to quit, how much you just want to disappear, because Mom and Dad aren’t around–” he couldn’t help but wince at the gasps he heard around him, “–it’s worth it. Because it led you to these people, and I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world. Your Shiro is waiting for you, and you should find him, on your own merits.” Child version of Keith gets sent forward in time to meet his future family. Normal Keith can’t understand why past him seems to hate his guts. My Comments: This is painful, but very well-written. Small Keith really has it rough, and it’s lovely to see him bond with the paladins, including himself. Sometimes self-care is the hardest.

How Keith Got His Birthday by kitty_kozume Words: 1,356 Author’s Summary: Shiro is surprised when he finds out Keith doesn’t know his actual birth date. My Comments: This is so sweet. Pre-series fluff with Shiro giving Keith a heartfelt and thoughtful present.

The Naming of Cats Is a Difficult Matter by the_original_n_chan Words: 2,096 Author’s Summary: …especially when the cat has ideas of its own. My Comments: This is so cute and funny. Green has very strange ideas of what constitutes a good name, and Pidge is suitably amused and horrified.

Better To Burn Than To Fade Away by this_book_has_been_loved Words: 2,153 Author’s Summary: In which Keith feels like an outsider in his own home Part 1 takes place towards the beginning of s4e05; after the plan has been formed but before it’s been set in action Part 2 takes place after the end of s4e06 My Comments: Keith has a delayed reaction to almost dying. Fortunately, Matt and the team are there to hold him together.

Little More Than A Head Cold by FadingCrystalVoid for Langsty-mc-langstface (On tumblr) Words: 1,820 Author’s Summary: Langsty-mc-langstface (tumblr) Prompt: Lance loses his voice after a shooting match with Keith.At first everyone jokes about how nice it is to finally get some peace and quiet. However as time passes everyone starts to get jumpy and snapping at each other for no reason. It’s when Coran asks about Lance do they finally put the pieces together. They rush off to find him only to find Lance passed out in his room with a raging fever. It turns out that losing his voice wasn’t because he had been shouting but instead that little head cold he had ignored had developed into something much worse. My Comments: Nice little sickfic featuring Lance.

Thicker than Blood by SunBinamra Words: 3,827 Author’s Summary: “Wait, girls lay eggs?!” “No, Keith, they don’t.” Or Pidge grows up, Lance and Hunk win “best brothers of the year” award, and Shiro gets to give The Talk to two horrified Alteans and one confused Earthling. Oneshot My Comments: This is hilarious and sweet. Love Hunk and Lance doting over Pidge while Shiro very awkwardly explains human biology to a confused audience, haha. Everyone is wonderful.

The Dreams In Which I’m Dying by Cocopops1995 Words: 1,332 Author’s Summary: Keith has a nightmare after the evenst of s04e06. Hunk helps him through it. My Comments: Hunk is so good. Hunk is the best. Why doesn’t every fic in this fandom feature Hunk prominently? I demand an explanation.

The Colour of Magic by itsthevoid Words: 4,507 Author’s Summary: Keith has always been able to see magic, but it took him a while to meet others that could too.Or: AU where quintessence behaves more like magic, and only the paladins of Voltron can see it. My Comments: I love the worldbuilding and imagery in this one, how the quintessence manifests differently for each person and the things it can do. I would be happy to read more with this concept.

Outside In by prettyshiroic (AnalystProductions) Words: 4,347 Author’s Summary: The mission is simple, until it’s not. It’s simple until the pod Keith and Pidge are in malfunctions. It’s going well until Keith insists they land to check out the problem before it gets worse or they try to push it too hard in hyperspeed. It stops being simple when they land in the lush forests of Roesan and the entire communication system goes down. Next goes the fuel. Really - there’s only so much a stellar pilot and a genius tech wizard can do together. – If Keith’s honesty is blunt, then Pidge’s honesty is brutal. Whilst Keith doesn’t sugarcoat and strives to be direct and to the point, Pidge adapts that ability into something deeply empirical. My Comments: Keith and Pidge bonding is great. She has a such a great way of seeing things and helping him view a new perspective.

Shifting Cycles by The_Sickfic_Sideblog Words: 1,102 Author’s Summary: Keith is a bit ahead of schedule, but his friends pull through for him. My Comments: Being a werewolf is tough, especially when transformation hits hard and early, but Keith has a lot of people who care about him.

may you be blessed by hanbunnotsuki Words: 1,516 Author’s Summary: Keith finds that a birthday party might not be as bad as he would think. Not when you have your friends with you. My Comments: Cute bonding fic. Keith deserves all the good things.

iridescent by bobtheacorn Words: 1,748 Author’s Summary: “How much longer are we gonna be here?” Lance asks, making an effort to sound mildly interested and not like he’s whining. He stops himself again from grabbing at the collar he can’t fan to cool himself off. “No more than a varga, I suppose,” Allura says distractedly, looking up. Her brow creases. “Are you alright? You look flushed.” “Fine, but there might not be anything left of me in this suit after an hour.” // Lance and Allura make a supply run to an alien planet. My Comments: Aw, what sweet bonding with Lance and Allura. I’m glad they got to experience something like rain together.

#weekly voltron fic recs #fic rec #voltron legendary defender #vldgen

75 notes · View notes

elephant-in-the-pride-parade · 7 years ago

Text

Don’t Like, Don’t Read, A-hole.

I’m Continuing my Tradition of responding to guest reviews here (since Fanfiction.net does not give one that option). However, unlike other time’s I’ve posted a response here, I’m not going to address this reviewer directly, as they’ve lost my respect and thus that courtesy. New Fanfiction Authors out there, if you get this kind of shit in your inboxes, know that it’s NOT in ANYWAY what we mean by constructive criticism and you should not pay it any mind while you’re feeling unsure about your writing.

Fair Warning: This has a few instances of heavily misogynist language in it.

Review Of Chapter 2: The Wizard in White

“From: Hmm (Guest) Hmm:This story was interesting to a point,… up until this chapter. This chapter honestly really annoyed me, and the pacing of the story is also a key factor. You’ve literally done nothing but make Voldemort seem more powerful than he is, and give him victory over victory.”

The above paragraph is really the only one here with any meaningful information in it. However, by not following through with suggestions/specifics, this person has really failed to transform this into constructive criticism. They also haven’t been specific about what about the pacing is throwing them off. The victory after victory part is also confusing form me, as the writer, because this is a review of Chapter 2, when the conflict of the story is still being established. I will grant that I have so far struggled immensely with the pacing of book 6 and so I was very irritated that they could not articulate what, specifically, was “annoying” about that. (Annoying is also a clue that this critique involves the reader’s personal preference and thus I automatically give it less credibility). The enjoyment of writing may be subjective, but the practice of it really can be objective. Like any argument, you have to have evidence to prove what is and isn’t working on a structural and narrative level…

“Yet the Senshi and the HP world just keep losing out. At this point in time, I’ve already given up trying to find out who Harry was in his “star seed” (a term you used ONCE, then never again). At this point, it feels like the HP cast is just there for you to use and abuse however you want.”

This part again made no sense to me as the writer of the story. 1st of all, both the senshi and the HP characters scored big wins in the previous story. It is only chapter 2 of the sequel (set in book six which was also an incredibly dark point in the war with Voldemort in canon and in no way ended on a positive note). So this person has not in anyway managed to prove their statement. Their annoyance over Harry’s “star seed” is confusing but understandable, as they seem to assume that a star seed makes someone automatically special. This shows that they either only watched the SM Anime, or didn’t read the SM Manga carefully (everyone - even animals - have star seeds in the sailor moon universe). What I can take from it is perhaps that i need to scale back on the tidbits of world integration I throw into my crossover, but that’s really all.

Also: “It feels like the HP cast is just there for you to use and abuse” Well… yeah. From other crossovers I’ve read, it is hard to strike a balance of attention between two universes and I am not even trying to do that here. I’m well versed in both universes, but I have much more concrete ideas for the senshi. the HP characters and world, for me, are much more flexible and I love exploring what they could be. It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (again, reviewer preference. If anyone ever says this to you in a review, take it with a heavy dose of skepticism).

Harry’s more of a b*** in this story than he was in cannon, and let’s not forget that Neville and Luna has gotten more stage time than anyone!

The b*** part is where I lost the last shred of respect for this person. (and I was already really irritated with this review). 1st of all: that word is not cool. And this has officially crossed the line from harsh review into hate review. 2nd of all. Harry Potter age 15-16 is a jerk. He has good reason to be and he has a good heart, but any reading of the text more than proves he has some really asshole moments. There’s also the fact that the HP books were written from Harry’s perspective, they’re obviously going to favor him. It’s important to consider that in any story where he isn’t the POV character. 3rd of all. It is totally absolutely okay to give more attention to the canon side characters than the canon main. It’s a mainstay of fanfiction. Harry Potter is not entitled to being the hero or the center of attention. While, yes, I am struggling to juggle the 43 odd characters in book six, it’s still inappropriate to gripe about which characters I choose to make the main cast. Maybe I have important reasons for needing to give Neville and Luna more attention (anyone reader who wasn’t obsessed with glorifying Harry Potter might even read that as foreshadowing).

I’m also really annoyed that you pussified Pluto to this extent,… You’ve made her almost completely a POS character with s*** skills that can be circumvented with “wix” magic easier than most.

Again with the swearing and misogynist language - here I have got to say that if I had read this review on one of my stories before I was a college and grad student and before I’d really learned about what misogynist language is and how it functions… I might have read this and quit writing the story all together. I might even have deleted it. I might have given up writing about Pluto all together. And because Pluto is and always has been the senshi I love and identify with most, this review might even have caused me real emotional hurt, by presuming to invalidate my own understanding and personal identification with the character. Since I’m an old, tea-drinking, academic snob now all it does is piss me off and make me label this reviewer as ignorant, misogynistic and lacking in basic human decency. (And that’s all from the use of the word “Pussified.” I haven’t even gotten to POS and S*** yet).

They could have said this in a way that made me listen and said something insightful but they didn’t. So I can’t use this to improve my writing of the character at all. What this reader also misunderstands here is that powerlessness is part of Pluto’s character arc. Because as convenient as it was for me to kneecap her time powers, it also allowed me the opportunity to explore how being a normal, befuddled human in a stressful situation could help her grow as a character. Pluto has 3 main things that she struggles with in the series: How much she should or shouldn’t interfere with time, her desire to connect with and be close to her fellow senshi, and largely under the surface but no doubt a factor is her exploration of her own humanity outside of being a Time Guardian.

So bearing those in mind, it is very interesting on a character level, to explore how she’ll react to failure, to powerlessness, to being as unsure and confused as any of the other people around her. How does a hero react when they lose their powers? What do they learn from it? How does it affect them when they regain those abilities? It isn’t every reader’s cup of tea, true, but there’s no reason to send hateful messages over that. (Don’t like, Don’t read I mean really).

So in summary: this reviewer pissed me off. I want to post this here so that newer authors can read it and know that it is bullshit and their writing and their ideas are beautiful and worth it no matter what haters on the internet try to tell them.

#reviews #harry potter fanfiction #fanfiction review #haters gon' hate #fanfiction problems #fanfiction review problems #fanfiction writing #fanfiction writing problems #writer problems #tw: misogyny #tw: swearing #fanfiction reviews #teitpp #theelephantintheprideparade

7 notes · View notes