#WITH is plotting to restart a war between their two countries

[imliterallyjustsittinghere]

begging someone to write a lesbian fiona frost fic. preferably melinda desmond/fiona frost. i just think it has the potential to be really compelling

[shoukokunoaltairfans]

Battle of Pločnik ( Pantellaria ) ( 15/12/78 )

Balkans and Europe Geopolitics situation at the end of 78 CTR.

The Battle of Plocnik, also known as the Battle of Pantellaria Field, took place on 15 Cay, 78 CTR, in the village of Plonik, Balt region (now Serbia). The army of the Turkiye Stratocracy led by Tughril Mahmut Pasha, the masterpiece commander in the conquest of Sud Rumelia, defeated the Balt Rhein forces led by Theo Androch. This war became the beginning of the second Balt Rhein-Turkiye conflict and the beginning of the Stratocracy's conquest operations in Western Rumelia.

Background

The political and military progress of the Balt Rhein Empire suffered a setback in 77 CTR. After the neighboring state, the Turkiye Stratocracy carried out major reforms in the state, led by Zehir Zaganos. and was able to score a victory in the conquest of Sud, as well as repel the imperial invasion of Muchever in early 78 CTR. The ministers and dukes of the Empire saw that the time had come for a peace treaty. especially the faction of Minister Eisntein, who had seen signs of weakness in the country. although the pro-war faction of Prime Minister Virigillio Louis's faction denounced him as a fool and continued to push for war (believing their war would have the support of the Vatican Pope and the European Crusader alliance). King GoldeBalt XI, favoring peace, produced the Treaty of Florence, signed on 30 Lale, 78 CTR.

Teritory of Turkiye and Balt Rhein that is agreed upon Treaty of Florence.

Prime Minister Louis rejected this peace treaty and insisted on persuading both GoldeBalt and the ministers to cancel it. but he was unable to do anything. In particular, his influence in the Empire began to decline as a direct result of losing the war. He began to look for excuses and use his power in the state to start the war once again. Louis secretly invited Bey of  Karaman Karamanoglu Ibrahim II to a banquet and formed a secret alliance against Turkiye. The Emirate of Karaman was a Turkoman state in Anatolia that was also a bitter enemy of Turkiye.

Karaman State

Ibrahim II targeted the Zaganos Pasha army convoy, which was on its way back to Constantinople after the conquest of Trebizond. and devises a plan to kill him as per his deal with the Empire. However, this plan leaked into Zaganos' ears via his Goz Kulak. Swiftly, Zaganos accelerated his march and attacked the border town of Karaman, Ak Hisar, at the beginning of the month of Seker. This sudden attack terrified Ibrahim. Thinking that this time the Turkiye troops would conquer his country, coupled with the fact that the Balt Rhein reinforcements did not come, Ibrahim felt that he had been deceived and betrayed. decided to renew his peace treaty with Zaganos. Louis' plan to end the life of Zaganos failed.

After the incident, Zaganos Pasha accused Balt Rhein of plotting his assassination along with Bey Karaman. Even the imperial envoy appeared under the wrong circumstances; while Zaganos was in Akhisar, the empire demanded an increase in the amount of tribute that Turkiye paid for his territory in the Sud (according to the clauses of the Treaty of Florence) by 60,000 ducats from 30,000 ducats. Zaganos Pasha rejected the demands. Seeing that the Balt Rhein was playing around with the clauses of the Treaty of Florence, Zaganos decided to stop paying tribute. These two incidents have restarted tensions between the two countries.

In the political conditions of the palace of St. Michael himself, the minister Louis tried to gather his faction's supporters and get rid of any group that opposed his policies. He saw the Einstein faction as an obstacle to him realizing his cunning imperialist ambitions. Because of that, he conspired before King Goldebalt IX, laying down false evidence and suspicions that Einstein had committed corruption and even carrying out a coup d'état within the palace. It's a shame that GoldeBalt is an impressionable person and doesn't have a firm mind. He decided to hang Einstein and his family in the month of Biber, 78 CTR. Thus, Minister Louis became the absolute holder of state power, representing the king without any faction opposing him.

minister Einstein, from Anti War Faction, He was hanged by GoldeBalt in mid-78 CTR.

Zaganos Pasha continues to monitor the situation of the Balt Rhein based on the increasingly suspicious reports of his Goz Kulaks. The spy reports said Imperial envoys had spread throughout Europe. to form a new crusader movement against Turkiye. In the month of Ak Koyunlu, according to the latest reports from Goz Kulak, Balt Rhein troops began to mobilize from the capital as well as most of the Rhein and Balt provinces. This action clearly violated the Peace Treaty of Florence. and restarted the second round of the Balt-Rhein-Turkiye war.

Preparations

The Balt Rhein, in total, numbered 200,000 Soldiers. 50,000 of them were heavy cavalry troops under Hermaan, who was famous for being tough in Europe at that time. (According to Franz Babinger, the number is 40,000.) The Balt Rhein troops were mostly spearheaded and still used the Phalanx formation in their military. accompanied by a Pike and Shot formation. This troop is accompanied by 16–40 ballistas. The top commander in this force is Theo Androsch, a veteran commander who took part in the Turkiye invasion 15 years ago. Hermaan's cavalrymen were led by Siegfried Kaufmaann and Jacques Jourdainn. Andreas Palatine led the right-wing troops; the left-wing was led by Simon Dominis, and the artillery force (ballistae) was commanded by General Barrett.

Minister Louis hoped for reinforcements from Europe and the Pope. but apparently he was blind to the complicated political conditions there. The Habsburgs were in conflict with the Pope on religious and political issues, which led to war between the two. The Pope preferred that the crusader coalition be directed towards Germany rather than the Balkans. The 100-year war between England and France still hasn't died down. As for Hungary, being a neighboring country to the Balt Rhein, it was willing to send troops and supplies, but that never materialized. Gabor Agoston stated that Mathias Corvinus had a personal grudge against the Balt Rhein because of internal conflict problems that befell both of their troops during the first Crusader invasion of Sud in 77 CTR, which made him abandon the plan. Moldavia was busy at war with the Crimean Khan over Ochakov and Jedisan. and Poland was busy at war with the Despotate of Moscow. As a result, the Balt Rhein was literally forced to fight alone at the start of this conflict. However, some volunteers from Cyprus, Rhodes, and Genoa also sent aid to St. Michael in small numbers, which had no effect whatsoever. where they are just an army of adventurers trying to find money and loot.

deems that war cannot be avoided, and after receiving a fatwa from Molla Gurani, who decided to fight the Balt Rhein and invade the country because it always disturbs the country's sovereignty and threatens religion and the lives of Muslims, Turkiye makes combat preparations. Their troop numbers are around 150,000 Soldiers. 50,000 of them were cavalrymen from heavy classes such as sipahi and akinji (archer-class light cavalry troops). These troops were equipped with Matchlock musket armament, consisting of 15,000 Janissary Muzrak musketeers. led by Bayazit Pasha (Beylerbey Muzrak). and 350 Cannons. Tughril Mahmut Pasha was reappointed as commander of the main army. remembering the feat of victory he achieved in the Sud conquest operation. Karamanli Ishaq Pasha led the right flank troops, and Lala Syahin and Sahabettin Syahin led the left flank troops in two different formations.

The Turkish Matchlock musket, during the Balt Rhein-Türkiye war, was modified from the Tibetan Musket that had entered the muzrak in 75 CTR. This musket design was created by Muslihittin Reis and mass-produced by order of Zaganos Pasha in late 76 CTR.

Muzrak Janissary

there was no minor conflict on the border between the two countries until entering the month of Cay. on the 6th, the Balt Rhein in large numbers had left the capital. while Turkiye's troops left Istanbul 4 days later, following the routes of Edirne, Tarnovo and Hisar and then crossing the border. The Balt Rhein troops have arrived on the plains of Pantellaria adjacent to the village of Plocnik which will later become a battlefield. all the commanders in chief were gathered in the evening of the 12th. Jacques as commander in chief Hermann urged Androsch to first attack the Turkish troops before they got ready. however, Androsch thought otherwise by choosing the plains of Pantellaria as a suitable terrain for formulating formations and strategies. besides the Balt Rhein troops benefited that they were fighting on a field that was familiar to them.

Battlefield Location

On the 14th, the Balt Rhein troops encamped as planned at Plocnik while preparing to meet the enemy. Like the general arrangement of troops in that era, Androsch divided his army into three parts. right wing, left wing, and core troops led by himself. Androsch placed Hermann's Cavalry in the rear as an ambush in case the enemy attempted to flee. However, this plan was roundly rejected by the majority of the soldiers. Instead, they want to be placed in the front row, which will advance first to tear apart the formation of the Turkish troops. 40 ballistae were installed in the infantry rear formation in order to prevent the encirclement of the Turkish cavalry troops.

Turkish troops arrived at Plocnik in the early morning of the 15th. Mahmut Pasha arranged the Janissary troop formation in a crescent formation and joined all the army wings to the core troops. As for the cavalry troops, consisting of Akinji and Sipahi, they were at the forefront of welcoming the enemy's attack. Mahmut Pasha ordered the artillery to be placed in the center of the formation.

Battle

battle scheme of Pantellaria 15 Cay 78 CTR.

The Turkish troops only arrived in Pantellaria in the early hours of the 15th and were still organizing their battle preparations until midday. Jacques and Siegfried took advantage of this opportunity to launch a surprise attack. Without waiting for Androch's order, the Hermaan troops shouted "Deus Veult" and immediately started the battle. The Turkish troops were surprised by this sudden attack. Mahmut Pasha ordered the Sipahi and Akinji cavalry to block the Hermaan troops behind the core troop formation. However, the Sipahi cavalry were not as heavy and tough as the Hermaan troops. As a result, the Sipahi troops disintegrated, and many victims fell in the first attack.

Unable to resist the onslaught of the Hermaan Cavalry, Hasan Ulubat ordered the Sipahi troops to retreat while asking the Akinjis troops to shoot arrows. However, the thick armor protected Hermaan's entire army and did not cause any fatal injuries. Hermaan's troops were increasingly convinced that victory was in sight, and they continued to break through the Turkish army's center formation. Janisarry troops, accompanied by artillery troops, were ready to confront the enemy. Turkiye artillery troops fired simultaneously, followed by Musketeer troops from Janisarry Muzrak (Volley Fire). Hermaan's troop movement stopped, and this time it was the turn of the main troop from the Stratocracy janissaries (those holding the red banners) to launch a counterattack with pike and shot formations. Hermaan's troops try to keep advancing, but a barrage of artillery and musketeer attacks results in heavy casualties. In this battle, Jacques, one of the commanders of the Hermaan troops, died after being stabbed many times by hundreds of Janissary spearmen.

The Morality of Hermaan's Troops Weakens. and his attacks began to slack off. The Janissaries swiftly surrounded the Hermaan troops in wolf trap formations and surrounded them. At the same time, the cavalry led by Hasan Ulubat, who had retreated, regrouped their ranks and turned back to attack the Hermaan troops. Simon Dominis and Andreas began moving troops right and left to save Hermaan, but Sahabettin and Ishaq Pasha advanced with their 20,000 Janissaries and were able to repulse the Balt Rhein advance. Siegfried, who began to realize the precarious situation and Jacques' death, decided to withdraw his soldiers, and most of Hermaan fled into the middle of the forest.

Androsch decided to change his entire war strategy and take a defensive position against the next Turkish attack. The cavalry turned to the right and rear of the Balt Rhein. However, they were met by a fence of Balistae fire and pike and shot formation, temporarily driving them back. In order to tear apart the Balt Rhein mobile fortress formation, Artillery troops were positioned all over the flanks of the enemy troops and fired at them. causing the Phalanx's formation to break down and disintegrate. After a series of cannon fires, the janissaries immediately plunged into slaughtering the remaining Balt Rhein troops. The Balt-Rhein troops panicked and started to flee from the battlefield. with huge losses and casualties. The battle arc lasts 8 hours. After the battle, Mahmut Pasha encamped temporarily at Plocnik while sending out his small detachment of troops to capture scattered infantry, or hermaans.

Aftermath

The Balt Rhein were unable to put up any further resistance to the Turkiye after this war, preferring to take defensive positions by taking cover in their strongholds or engaging in guerrilla warfare, as Gralat and Lelederik had done in other engagements. This war became the Balt Rhein's biggest disastrous military defeat in their history, before the Battle of the Arch. For the first time, the Balt Rhein Troops were surprised by the superiority of the Turkiye cannon and firearms, which were used en masse in field battles. Cannons and muskets have been known in Europe for a long time. However, no one was able to surpass its use except for Turkiye at that time. This defeat, at the same time, showed the decline and weakness of the Empire in its truest sense. and the ineffectiveness of their strategy, especially the use of Phalanx and mobile fortress formations, which had actually been out of use in that era. because at that time the troops mobilization in fast and light motion got more priority.

The losses suffered by the Balt Rhein after the war were enormous. around 90,000 troops, including 20,000 Hermaan Cavalrymen. 14 commanders and 4 Counts, including Androsch and Jacques, died during the battle. Casualties for the Turkiye troops were relatively light. at least between 4000 and 7000 troops. There was no reported number of enemy troops taken prisoner after the battle. However, Turkiye troops were able to capture some stragglers among Hermaan troops who had fled in this battle.

15 days after the battle, on the 30th, Tughril Mahmut advanced to lay siege to Gol City, the old capital of the Balt Rhein Empire. without any obstacles standing in his way. Even though it is known as a big city, with its strong fortifications, the Turkiye troops were able to control it in just six hours. The fall of Gol City directly threatened the capital of St. Michael, which is only about 95 kilometers away. Gol's fall caused panic and commotion both in society and within the elite palace. Minister Louis, as the mastermind behind the outbreak of war, tried to gather the number of soldiers who remained and repeatedly sent ambassadors to Europe asking for help. However, there were no significant results.

the location of Gol City, the capital, as well as the embryo of the birth of the Balt Rhein Empire.

Stratocracy of Turkiye Teritorial after Battle of Pantellaria

[aworldforastage]

progress from the reading slump

just me rambling about the (danmei) titles I've been reading for the last few weeks while I'm trying to get out of my reading slump.

my "couple of pages every day" book: 九千岁 by 绣生 -- historical political intrigue with double rebirth, between a crown prince and a powerful (fake) eunuch

my "try a different media" audiodrama: 游龙随月 by Er Ya -- historical mystery action-adventure, between a war hero prince and a scholar/physician

my "try something different and random" book: 合意 by 楚寒衣青 -- modern romantic comedy with two CEO's

In my current mental state, these titles ended up in the perfectly awkward spot of "too good to be dropped outright" and "not interested enough to stay on my mind"

"read couple of pages every day": 九千岁 by 绣生

Synopsis: In the past life, the Crown Prince Yin Chengyu was deposed and exiled, but eventually returns to court and becomes the Emperor by making a deal with a powerful eunuch, Xue Shu. (Xue Shu is the gong, and a real eunuch in the first life.) They have a volatile relationship, and any genuine feelings they may have developed for each other cannot cut though their complicated power dynamic. YCY dies a few years into his reign due to ill health and overwork, and finds himself reborn as his younger self. He prevents XS from being castrated, but sneaks him into the palace as a fake eunuch and secretly helps him rise through the ranks. Eventually XS regains his memories of a previous life, and they work together to secure YCY's reign.

Current progress: 65% -- This novel has a lot of self-indulgent tropes. YCY, armed with the memories of a previous life, slowly but steadily takes down the people who wronged him in a past life. He swings between hot and cold while he tries to process his rage and feelings towards XS. As the party who had less power in the past life, it's comforting to see YCY getting the time and initiative to restart the relationship on his terms. YCY obviously wants to have a normal relationship with XS in this lifetime, and he can be downright ruthless in the way he flirts and teases the poor subordinate who isn't allowed to react. XS is just completely devoted to him; there isn't a rival in love for either of them across two lifetimes.

While their relationship arc is sweet, the story is just not that interesting or novel. We have seen all these tropes before, and even if I couldn't predict the exact ending, I feel like I can anticipate all the possibilities. There is a lot of substance in the political plot, as the Crown Prince travels all over the country to tackle serious cases of corruption, plague, bandit rebellion, foreign tribes, snow storms ... but every challenge feels like it's starting with a bang but ends with a whimper. Between YCY's knowledge of the future and the power he has consolidated in this lifetime, there is no real sense of suspense as he works through these "challenges". I don't find myself really "hooked" on this novel even though it sort of work as a comfort read.

"try other forms of media" : audiodrama of 游龙随月 by Er Ya

Synopsis: By the author of SCI Mystery Series, and with the same AD principal cast, this story is a historical-mystery-action-adventure, which I initially started in August. The Emperor's young uncle, Ninth Prince Zhao Pu, is a famous war hero and also famously dislikes defenseless scholars. He meets Gongsun Ce, an extremely smart scholar and physician, and becomes impressed by his skills and character (and beauty) as they travel to the capital together. As they deal with numerous cases ranging from scheming bandits to corrupt politicians, they are joined by Gongsun Ce's adopted son, a side CP of jianghu heroes, and other famous characters from the folktales of Justice Bao.

Current progress: 80% -- Both SCI and this series are technically fanfics based on the same cast of characters from a Hong Kong film, which in turn is based on Chinese history and folklore of Justice Bao. The author has written around 8 million words for these characters across three series/continuities, despite some controversy over the positioning of these stories as original fics vs fanfics (and as fanfics of the film vs historical domain characters) . The main couple in most of these series are actually the side CP in 游龙随月, so I plan to look into the other stories later.

With 游龙随月, I don't think the mystery aspect is handled effectively -- the audiodrama certainly feels like the action is being "told" rather than "shown". The relationship and characters that are cute at first got old really quickly. It often feels like the flirting gong and other characters who "sees through his true feelings" (including the kid) are pushing the tsudere-style shou into a relationship that he isn't ready for. And poor Xiao-Sizi, like so many kids in danmei, is reduced to a mascot to bring the couple together. I want to scream every time he is taught or rewarded for lying and other inappropriate behaviors just to bring the CP together. However, the production of AD is pretty good, and the chemistry of the side CP (voiced by the main CP in the AD's for SCI Mystery Series and Saye) is magnificent, so I still put it on when I have the time.

"try something random": 合意 by 楚寒衣青

Synopsis: This (relatively) short enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy starts with two CEO discovering their respective lovers are cheating with each other. However, Du Yanli comes through with his meticulously-managed image intact while Shan Yinsheng's emotional outburst ends up splashed across the tabloids. DYL signs strict contracts with his lovers to manage his relationships, so SYS asks to become a contracted lover to learn from his "excellent management of his personal life". While SYS's real goal is to ruffle DYL's impeccable feathers, he ends up falling in love for real. Meanwhile, DYL learns that his heart will not always stay within the bounds of his own contracts.

Current progress: 50% (but it's only 1/3 the length of the other two) -- The joy of this kind of romantic comedy is it's just so fun and free of tension. SYS thinks DYL is a high-strung and pretentious. DYL thinks SYS is an idiot for asking to become a contract lover. SYS wants DYL to fall in love with him to make a point, and then realizes he may have fallen for DYL for real. DYL thinks SYS is capricious and unreliable, but ... ends up chasing down pickpockets with him ob a bicycle during an island vacation??? I'm not sure what I was looking for in this novel, and I certainly didn't know what to expect, but it's been a fun ride so far.

[itsmaferart]

Twiyor parallelism 1 → Garden vs WISE

(Warning: Contains manga spoiler)

In my previous post do a couple of analysis of Twilight and Yor individually, detailing individual aspects of their personality and the conflict that raises each character in their background. Now, I want to develop an analysis that will be divided into several parts, about these characters at the point where they are similar and opposite to each other, and how their dynamics develop. I clarify, that this is based on the manga and my own point of view, being my own theories of what it means - but this can change, depending on the course that follows the manga that is in issue. That being said, let's get started!

Before being immersed in Twiyor. I will start by analyzing the respective organizations to which they both belong.

One of the oldest theory within the SxF fandom is the "battle between Twilight, the spy, and Thorn princess." The theory is based on Yor, who is someday assigned to Twilight, going to meet and have an epic battle, and Anya is the one who ends up stopping them, and that will end the story. "- In short, that's what the theory is based on. And most of the fandom is only debated by who would win the two. However, I think we really need to look at the probabilities of this happening:

What is the conflict?

Of course, part of the dynamics of the plot and subplots of the chapters is that the characters do not discover their identities, with Anya being the first to interfere to prevent this from happening. Since, this could lead to the Forger family disappearing.

That's right Anya!, frogs can separate your family!

However, the Spy x Family plot consists of two conflicts. The dichotomy between peace/war and truth/lie. On the one hand, the context of the plot speaks of two countries Westalis and Ostania, which live on the verge of restarting a war conflict. Peace is only transitory, a cover built so that from the shadow people affiliated with the government of that country (or another) plan the war.

Meanwhile, the relationship of the protagonists - Forger Family - and most of the characters around them, is based on lies and truths. Each character hides their true identity, having a double life that no one but them (and Anya) knows. But, on the other hand, each character has a truth that motivates to preserve lies. Although the methods are "selfish," the purpose of each character (except for some) is noble. It is at this point that both central conflicts have an impact on each other.

Certainly, Twilight and Yor are the main ones. Both have dangerous jobs to hide from the world through lies.

Now, when we look at their work I really question if: WISE and Garden are enemies? —It is really difficult to have any concrete basis on this subject, considering that we know very little about Jardin. But I going to build on what little we have so far—

WISE vs Garden

Franky tells Twilight that they suspect an informant was killed by one of Garden's killers. Surprisingly, Twilight looks surprised and asks if these weren't just an "urban legend"? And that half of his acts are mere rumors. Franky claims that everything is real, and that they "purge" the "traitors of the fatherland." Twilight quickly assumes that every government has unofficial "paramilitaries" who handle dirty work.

Which I miss a lot, implying that Twilight/WISE is not fully aware of Garden as we thought. They know their existence, but do not look too concerned as if they were not a "direct threat to them." Twilight himself reacts very calmly.

If we are guided by the Twilight and Yor ages, we know that both organizations surely existed long before they joined. So so far there may not have been a forceful encounter between them as to consider them enemies —unlike SSS who are clear enemy of Westalis' spies. If what Franky says is totally true: It implies that Garden has its own goal, which may or may not interfere with them. These killers are also military personnel who protect an ideal, in order to protect Ostania. And perhaps, they can "be against war."

In the Twilight backstory, we discovered that smear campaigns play an important role in the war, as the people of Westalis say that Ostania started the war, and vice versa. Franky again plays the role of "informant" for the viewer. Making clear, everything is actually the fault of the rulers, and the inhabitants of both countries end up suffering the consequences.

The director mentions that "People who see war as just another way to make a buck" ...Mentioning that it is a despicable act and that his country, Ostania, does not need this "type of people."

I wouldn't know if this is a thought of his own, or if this is the aim of Garden. But, considering that Yor also yearns for a "peaceful life," I will assume that this is something Garden practices as a doctrine.

The methods of the killers in the Garden may not be ethical, but we could say that they are those who think of fighting "fire against fire." Fighting the enemy with their same methods, so there are hitmen who only manage for money, while they for seemingly noble reasons.

In the same cruise bow there is an example of how the "black market" helped feed people who lost everything to war. The shopkeeper mentions that there is a family that worked hard to make the underworld run "honorably"

There is mention of a man who took over this organization. This man looks a lot like the same man who was in the Anya and Bond experiments. Coincidence? I do not believe it

It is here that I see a little difficult for Garden to assign Thron Princess to kill Twilight, as a casual plea, similar to her other victims. If that were the case, long ago this would have happened, and surely there would be a huge reward for the spy's head. Otherwise with the SSS, if you have been looking for it for some time.

Yuri mentions "someone who doesn't look his age." —Twilight lied about his age in the army, so they must have little information about him.

My impressions are:

Honestly, I doubt that at the current point WISE and Garden are really enemies, so I doubt that there is any interest in destroying each other, so I see it as very difficult for these two organizations to have any intention of crossing. Indirectly, I think both sides want to avoid war, either to "preserve peace" or to "protect their own ideals and interests."

So I don't see an interest in sending their deadliest weapons into combat → Since their interest is not to stop espionage or internal purging forces. Both organizations strive to maintain control

The only way I see this possible is for a very catastrophic event to occur, where one side is incriminating in the eyes of the other.

However, I do not rule out the possibility of a meeting: There is a possibility that WISE will be framed or harmed in an event, that the Ostanian intelligence forces will end up blaming as part of a plan. Forcing the SSS and Garden to take action

But will Twilight and Thorn Princess really be able to fight by discovering each other? After all that has happened.... The impact that the truth can have for them can be so difficult that I really doubt that they can assimilate it

But I will leave this for the next analysis. I hope you enjoyed it!

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What is your opinion?

You can read here the next part

[life-rewritten]

Giants of Thai BL AKA The MOST ANTICIPATED  THAI BL SHOWS FOR 2021

It's weird to think that the year 2020 has ended. This has been a journey in the past year, on the surface everywhere you looked it looked like there was no place to be happy and excited because of all the things that happened. It was suffocating at times, tiring at best, and it was just astonishing how many things could go wrong in only one year. That being said, one genre/demographic that grew even stronger this year, took some time to impress and improve on its tropes, its ideas and concepts and that's BL. Which also took some of us by surprise, for the ones who've been watching BL since the first oldies, to the new people who joined and also became in love with the genre and have stayed since then. BL has been an incredible, interesting journey, and I am so happy to say that it looks like 2021 isn't letting go of that energy. So to celebrate entering 2021, a year hopefully for a release from all the worries in 2020, a year to restart, refresh and keep getting better, here are the Giants of Thai Bl making their way in 2021. We have so many insane ones, from more mafia dramas to new unique non-university storylines, to og actors, and new powerful ones, to interesting pairings and new channels producing shows for 2021 to many many more countries joining the fight to be the top of our affections and energy. Thai BL is not going anywhere, and you know what that's perfectly fine with me.

GMMTV

I already did a whole squeal about the shows upcoming from GMMTV here: But after careful consideration here is my top 3 most anticipated: Enchante, Not Me, Bad Buddy. I know Enchante beat out ATOTS, but for me, I'm obsessed with the way the writer plans secrets and meta to unveil, and I keep repeating it's by Theory of Love director and production team. I'm so excited. I just hope they put in the same energy and effort they used in theory of love for this you have so many potential incredible actors that can take over this genre if you give them a good script and hard work. Hopefully, GMMTV intends to do so for not just their royal couple shows but also for rookie actors because Book and Force in this trailer? Looks fantastic.

Studio Wabi-sabi

When I hear about Studio Wabi-Sabi, you see two juxtaposed reactions from me, one you see anticipation and excitement from seeing my most loved actors off-screen; however, you also hear a groan from me. I'm sorry I didn't use to be this way, I used to be so ready to embrace every show directed and created by New Siwaj; in 2020, New was one of the directors I kept having headaches about because of all his shows in 2020? What exactly happened? Why did they flop so hard? Why was he so slow? I'm hoping that it's because he had too many projects to handle at the same time since fair enough LBC was filmed same time as GMMTV My gear and your gown and maybe that was too much to handle? But the reason why I like News choices usually are because they're emotional, impressive with their plot lines and have good character arcs and couples we end up falling in love with. He could be an iconic director because he has so much talent in his company, so I'm hoping he uses his lessons and grows and becomes better in 2021.  But Let's get to the shows announced so far for 2021 because they both have the potential to take over 2021. I said what I said.

Between Us

Genre:  Friends with benefits, Romance, Comedy, PTSD, Angst, 

Ahh, this is incredible. I'm so happy. Win and Team are from a great tv show already with Until We Meet Again and not going to lie, but seeing Buon as Win and Prem as Team? Perfection. Like guys I actually fell so hard for this couple despite their low screen time. Buon stole the scene each time he appeared, with his little smirks, and mischief, with flirty bad-boy energy and their relationship, was precisely what I live for passionate and full of chemistry. They're great, which is why it's so exciting to see that Between Us is getting its own show, the show based on these two love story in a parallel timeline to Until we meet again. I screamed. The book sounds interesting; we're getting some conversations about PTSD, some healing relationships, and angst and more passion.  I'm so excited about this since I first saw BuonPrem. I knew they were going to get known enough to bring their own show. And they deserve it, let's hope we get an interesting script that keeps us invested, enough opportunities for these two to have softer and profound moments whilst still holding on to their passion, and let the drama not be stale but addicting. Please New, don't let this show also be slow-paced, I'll lose it if another show is ruined by directing from you. 

Ratings: 4/5: BuonPrem, they leap off the screen, their chemistry is that great. From hearing about the plot I'm also excited to a more in-depth look into Team's insomnia and his past and psychological scars, and I'm hoping to see a deeper reason for why these two should be together.

Love Mechanics 2

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Angst, Drama, Friends with benefits, Unrequited love, 

That's the thing about Wabi-Sabi; they have amazing actors that steal our hearts away. This shows cast is no different, it's YinWar and it's a collab with Channel 3. Like What? It's everything. YinWar from Love Mechanics trended with millions of people obsessed and wanting the show to be extended and actually appropriately done. In came Channel 3 and we have this gem coming on April. No words. YinWar on screen is thrilling; War is just outstanding as Mark, his nuances, his glares, his looks of pain and longing, man I was absorbed into it. Although LM's writing is toxic and really left me feeling confused and uncomfortable with the details pushed aside, it was hard to ship VeeMark when Yin's character made terrible decisions and was awful even in the book. I'm the queen of analysing damaged flawed characters, and I don't run away from toxicity as long as there is a growth and change later on, as long as there's a good reason we needed to see that. For Vee's character, his actions were unnecessary for us to know about his character; they were just messy and upsetting. That's why I think seeing more depth for his actions and seeing Mark regress and also make mistakes like him will even out their relationship and make me feel more understanding about how these two flawed characters came to be and why they should be together.  Let's hope with funds from Channel 3, more effort and energy put into the show, it'll be great because with actors like War this show can be just as big as it was when it had errors. Maybe even better. 

Ratings 3.5/5 Love mechanics messy storyline makes me worried about this, but I think I might have a great time watching and analysing Mark's revenge after being heartbroken. The angst and drama of it all just sound interesting.

Channel 3

2020 brought a new surprise with Channel 3 deciding to invest in BLS. BLs have always been not on mainstream channels, so seeing Channel 3 in Thailand decide to make their own shows, a collab with other companies, and bring some directors and writers and actors known in the BL world already, shows they are serious. This may be because of the success of 2gether and other breakthroughs in 2019 taking over the scene. But I can see that Channel 3 did not come here to play, they are researching, looking for ways to make a great BL with the information provided on the past BLs and they want to make it big. And you know what with shows like GEN Y showing up last year, I want to believe that Channel 3 is a competition for GMMTV and others. They invest in funds and have longer minutes for their episodes, and they also pay attention to international fans by streaming on new places like Iquiyi and others. It's exciting. Channel 3 has already dipped their toes with Love Mechanics, and in 2021 they have even more shows to give us:

Teddy Bear Miracle

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Supernatural, Drama, Friends to Lovers, Fantasy,  Mystery, Lakorn

What a weird title for a show. What an odd premise. What a bizarre book. But you know what I'm so excited about this; this is meant to be a lakorn series that is BL. Like wow, it has a good cast, known faces in the Thai acting scene and a director/screenwriter who has won awards for his own script. That's even more exciting. But the best thing about this is that it's a fantasy and has supernatural themes, yep it's weird we're dealing with a magic system where teddy bears come to life, and other inanimate objects talk? But I'm so excited to see what this brings; we have a man transformed from a teddy bear with amnesia who's searching for his past and how he ended up as one and his owner who's not yet ready to let his comfort go. It's so interesting, with family history and drama and of course, a romance that will probably touch my heart. I'm excited for this zany, wacky and dramatic show. Normally, I shy away from the crazy because I don't like crack humour, and it just means a bunch of many irritating sound effects and editing choices. But I want to trust the whole team from Channel 3, from the behind the scenes the show looks great, the couple has chemistry, and I'm excited to delve into the mystery at play and see what this story is meant to become. So excited honestly.

Ratings: 4.1/5 The wacky magic system scares me not going to lie, but I have faith for some reason in Channel 3, so I think this might shock us all. I think we'll get good acting, and perhaps good directing too. The mystery might also make me want to analyse. We shall see.

Lovely Writer

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Angst, Drama, Acting/Writing Industry, Haters to Lovers,  

Did you say Kao and Up and P'Tee the director of TharnType the series? Sign me up I'm there; I've been screaming a bit since I heard about this series. From the first time, it was announced that Channel 3 was turning the book into a show, I was like this sounds unique again? And it has an interesting plot, I guess, and it's also going to have drama. I'm hopeful then. When I heard about the whole team and watched the trailer, I got into it even more. Lovely Writer sounds right up my alley, to be honest, we have this introverted writer who is determined to write a masterpiece and stop his company from making him produce BLs for the hype only for his next project to be a BL show which leads him to his new sneaky, sly, wolf in sheep's clothing roommate. Kao played his roommate from Until we meet again who won my heart as Korn and made me cry buckets. So, of course, I'm excited, Nubsib (Kao) may have some tricks up his sleeve to get next to Gene, but I think things will be more complicated than he thought, I'm ready to explore the world of the film industry and dating scandals that Gene and Sib will fall into the more they fall for each other. The angst and drama. Can't wait. Also, TharnType is one of my favourite series, and one of the reasons is because of Tee so... That's even more reason to see Gene and Sip's love story develop. Will it be as angsty, passionate and filled with plot twists? From what I hear maybe. 

Ratings: 4/5 I just think this is an excellent team for a BL backed by Channel 3 and also has an exciting plot filled with ups and downs. I'm excited to see what happens and from the behind the scenes they released in the new year I think it'll be right up my alley.

NADAO

It had to be mentioned that I'm still in shock that Nadao is investing more into BL's. I don't know why, it just feels too good to be true, after giving me show after show that's perfection and quality I'm starting to have high expectations and hope for more, despite my weary heart not wanting to trust that this is real. I'm dramatic, I know. Anyways Nadao has gifted me twice with two shows that have shocked me and made my jaw fall in awe. I'm just like wow, they really did that. Every single piece of work that comes from them is art. Every single script is exceptionally written. Every single show is acted beautifully, and every single director and producer makes me inspired by the way they create. This is when focusing on their BLs because Great Man Academy and I told sunset about you are masterpieces in their own way, they deserve to be praised and never forgotten. It's just incredible that with a company like Nadao, everything falls into place, even when we think it won't because of past experiences. Nadao has shown up and decided to create unique pieces each thoughtful. Deep and breathtaking. Why won't I be over the moon when 2021 announces that we're getting another part from them with I told sunset about you getting a sequel. You bet I haven't stopped screaming and looking at the time to hurry up, so we get to March 11. I'm serious.

ITSAY PART 2

Genre: Romance,  Angst, Drama, University, Coming of age

And that's because of what ITSAY was to us in 2020. It was something that can't be explained concisely. It was everything. To hear that we're getting the second part of the story of Oh and Teh, I feel like I am already preparing my heart and mind for another invasion, last time I was a mess because of this show, I was all over the place because of this show, and I was incredibly happy for a moment because of this show. To relive that again would be everything. It's slightly worrying that Teh and Oh finally getting together and fighting through the odds to stay together will run into more obstacles. Are you kidding me? After all, we went through to see them together?? It makes me worried, I have this real distrust for sequels of BLs, and it hasn't changed despite 2020 producing some okay follow-ups. Sequels never meet the expectation set; sequels are always reduced in quality because the focus is now on popularity and fame, sequels lose their integrity of the characters we've come to know and love and sequels hurt. They make me sometimes give up on a show that is my love, and it hurts. It's a painful realisation that I can't take away or forget the sequel events, so these characters are now ruined infinitely for me—looking at Together with me next chapter. It's scary. But Nadao hasn't failed yet, I mean it when I say their scripts are like works of art, I mean it when I say you can tell they put blood, sweat and tears to create their shows, why would ITSAY part 2 be any different? These two shows I mentioned before are coming together because the director of GMA is joining the team of ITSAY to produce whilst Boss becomes the producer. As long as he's there, I'm fine, as long as we still get hard work, energy, effort and thought put into it. I'm fine. Because it translates on screen, I'll try to lower my expectations, but I can't wait to see BilkinPP as TehOh again. I can't wait to fall in love with the show all over again. Let's hope we all end up satisfied. 

Ratings: 4.5/5 The being a sequel is what's deducting the 0.5. I can't come here and be a fool; I must guard my heart against disappointment somewhat, despite failing already to do so.

Other Affiliates

We have our other shows. These were a pleasant surprise. With all the growth of new BLs, it's starting to get crowded and saturated, but as much as it's hard to see which shows stand out above all the noise,  some make you see it. These shows are the ones that stand out for me out of the rest in 2021. I don't know what companies they're from, all I know is the information given to me and past experiences.

KinnPorsche

Genre: Romance, Mafia, Angst, Drama, Friends to Lovers, Haters to Lovers, Bodyguard trope

AHHH. Can you hear me AHH. Okay, I'll calm down. But no really, KinnPorsche is finally preparing for filming and the cast has been set and I'm screaming. KinnPorsche was the book in 2020 that was announced as the most coveted; I remember so many fandoms wanted their actors to be chosen as the main cast. The reason? Because this is meant to be the first Mafia/Crime BL. Yes, you heard us, no more universities and engineers we're doing bodyguards and spoilt gangsters. I'm... But just knowing this, you just know that the show will also have angst, angst angstttt for days, drama, and a romance that probably involves haters to lovers, passion, and character development. We're coming in with guns blazing, with many side couples that look just as good and interesting, and many actors that look perfect for their roles. I cannot wait for KinnPorsche, especially when one of my favourite actors is going to be in it as a second lead Jeff Satur! Have you seen the posters, the character introduction, who they're casting for the rest of the show? This looks amazing, it seems well put together, and the whole team looks determined and ready to give us a great show. I'm honestly so excited, but I've also heard things about the book that I will have to wait for the show to be a judge of before saying. All I can say is quality of a show also includes the themes in the script, we're trying to evolve past the toxic plots and ideas in BL, so I'm hoping if there is any we cut it real quick and change that part. It's the producers and directors' choice to keep parts in that could be edited or removed. I haven't read the book, so I'm going to be wary about it for now, but from the whole cast, teasers, and posters I really think this show could be a favourite if appropriately handled. 

Ratings: 4?/5 The question mark is for the rumours I've heard about the book. I can't lie that I want this show to be great and become one of my all-time favourites but with angst and violent personalities and passion comes leeways to toxicity and more and that's just not cute or needed.

My Engineer Season 2

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Angst, Drama, Friends to Lovers, Haters to Lovers, Unrequited love,  University,

Okay, this is it, folks. My Engineer came in 2020 and knocked our socks off; it's the most underrated great show in 2020 (apart from why r u) in my opinion. It was brilliantly constructed with enough screen time and plot for every couple of the show. My Engineer is a great show; it didn't make it to my favourites because I had issues with the main couple, but it was my most enjoyed when it came to the side couples. Because we had KingRam, TharaFong, and MekBoss. (Sorry to BohnDuen Fans). These were some of the most exciting, heartfelt, loving couples in 2020, KingRam was just chef kiss. And to hear that we're getting a sequel based on them? Well you know what I did, I screamed. I loved both KingRam and TharaFrong they were done so well, acted so well, and they made me laugh and laugh and then squeal and blush. They were too cute. The ending of my engineer left both these couples on a cliff hanger; we had a depressing bro zone with TharaFong as Fong came to realise his feelings, we had a wait what moment with Ram telling King he wasn't drunk when the kiss happened which is essentially a 'we need to deal with this new situation' text. And it's got me so excited to see what happens next. The first part of this was excitement. The second part is sigh, sequels. I told you didn't sequels are just urgh. I couldn't stop my excitement about KingRam, and I went to read the novel, and I usually don't mind it, but I don't think if the sequel is based on their story that I'd like them in season 2. And that's ridiculous because they're finally the main couple of season 2, and TalayPerth is impressive to see on screen. Sigh. I wasn't happy when reading the book; there are specific actions and choices made that just shifts the dynamic of the first season into the opposite. And I'm not particularly excited to relive those moments. Let's just say I still have high hopes for My engineer mostly cause I don't know what's happening to the other couples; I really hope there's a change in the script, maybe more information, more reasons for the characters to act the way they do, more depth? Because I want to like this show, I want it successful, but I'm not a clown I can't pretend it will be if it's based on the books. We'll see if I'm proved wrong. I hope I am.

Ratings: 3.5- Why did I read the book why?? I should have come into it blind I would have given it a 5/5 just for KingRam. Sigh

Love Stage 

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Gender Bender, Friends to Lovers, Childhood friends,  

This was a shock. Thailand has started to remake mangas from Japan, and it's all the most loved ones. In 2021 we already have Antique Bakery being remade by GMMTV (Read my GMMTV Giants of 2021) and now we have Love Stage which is also getting a Japanese Movie remake out in 2021. It's a great manga, anime and it's going to be a fun show. I enjoyed the characters, and I liked the storyline. But what I'm the most excited about when it comes to this is Kaownah and Turbo finally, after years of waiting have a new series. YES. Kaownah plays Long in TharnType our villain, and he was incredible in that. I heard he and Turbo were meant to be in the show My Umbrella, but it was cancelled and forgotten which was disappointing. These two are so cute, they're known for their fanservice and their chemistry and friendship. And I like them a lot. I can't wait to see Love Stage. I think they'll kill it. Can't wait to hear more about it let's hope this time it sticks and comes through on our screens. 

Ratings: 4/5 It's a fun storyline, and it has an excellent acting couple. I'm excited.

If 2021 already sounded brilliant because of GMMTV 2021, 2021 sounds even more exciting with these new shows; there's so many coming out, so many breaking stereotypes, so many unique plotlines, and so many great actors showing up. It's going to be a great year. I'm just glad BLs are growing, things are changing slowly, things are starting to have meaning and improve, international fans are being listened to, LGBT voices is also being listened to, we are getting there, not yet there but closer, every single time someone makes a choice to create a great plot and story that is more than just two guys making out, a show filled with heart, messages and essential representation with the good actors that also want the shows to mean something or are willing to put their all in it, every time someone chooses to make a good BL, you're paving the way for change and for the meaning of BL to change as well, for it just to be seen as something more in media. And that's needed for so many people who want shows like this to be respected and created for voices that need to be heard and displayed. Let’s see more with excellent quality in 2021.

[miraculous-ninjabird]

Okay I got at least one person who wants it so here I go

This idea is heavy on the plasmashipping side. Kai and Jay are the main characters.

But basically.

There is a war that has been going between the not-yet-names bird people and the dragons for so long that nobody ever really remembers why it started in the first place. The reason it was continuing was because Garmadon, the king of the dragons, was evil and doing evil things.

Lloyd is obviously a prince. He also is the host for the legendary Jade Dragon Spirit, which in dragon lore is said to appear and find a host whenever it’s needed to defeat evil.

Kai and Nya’s parents worked as armorers for the king. Their weapons were well known for their quality and durability.

Their parents are captured during the war and subsequently go missing. This leaves Kai and Nya on their own for awhile but one day Kai gets caught trying to break into the palace. Garmadon recognizes that they are the kids of one of his once prized staff members and instead of punishing him, he decides to adopt Kai and Nya. So they live together with Lloyd in the palace.

Wu (a bird) is in charge of an elemental strike. He finds and trains people with elemental powers to become part of his elite team of warriors dedicated to ending the war as quickly as possible. Jay, Cole and Zane were part of this task force. They were part of a three person team and did ninja/spy stuff. Lots of infiltration and sabotage and espionage and stuff. They were very good at what they did, and had a direct effect on the end of the war.

Jay is half dragon but doesn’t know it.

Cole is half human.

So everything I have takes place after the war ends. Garmadon isn’t evil anymore, and as part of the peace treaty requests that they send a bird ambassador to the dragon kingdom as a show of good will between the two countries

Wu picks Jay to be the ambassador, and sends Cole and Zane with him since they don’t really have anything better to be doing since the war is over now.

Garmadon wants Jay and Kai to participate in a sacred dragon ritual that is the equivalent to marriage as part of the deal. They don’t know how they feel about this but never get that far because:

they accidentally uncover a plot by a cult called the sons of garmadon to restart the war and bring back the evil garmadon because they don’t like the way things are going in their county now and also they worshiped the evil garmadon.

Dun dun dun Jay+Lloyd get kidnapped. The dragons and the birds didn’t really get along that well but now! They join forces to find them and stop the bad guys.

And that’s all my notes from last night.

[calzonafan2014]

So...Emmerdale. Charity and Vanessa - can I just express how much their current storyline is the stuff of my childhood fantasies for my favorite couples? There is something about putting a fictional character at death’s door when you know you can save them with the stroke of a pen. I have always been drawn to this soapy melodrama. The pathos with the happy ending. The dream.

The dream that never, ever, ever happens for fictional lesbians. And yet, this feels like the direction the writers were intending to go. Let’s put Charity and Vanessa through this giant cancer story and let them come through it and earn their soapy wedding. (Note I didn’t say happy ending because it is a soap)

They have taken the bad girl character who has never been mum of the year, and made her authentically fight to be mum to Vanessa’s son Johnny. After selling two of her own kids, it seems like the initial plan was her to try to bribe his sperm donor into signing over his rights. What a crazy turn for her. And yet, it feels earned through dozens of small moments over the past two years.

Charity and Vanessa feel like they could earn a place alongside some of the soap super couples that dominated my early childhood, like Luke and Laura. There is an over-the-top qualify to their love story. The romantic pairing between two characters that shouldn’t work, and yet seem to somehow fit together like the missing pieces of a puzzle.

I love the fact that they actually, genuinely like each other. That they make each other laugh. That they can fight without digging the knife in and saying something truly harmful. I like that there is enough bite to them that they aren’t sappy with it. I like that other, straight characters, are jealous of what they have found with each other. Wow.

So or course, here comes a global pandemic to interrupt this fantastic storyline while the lesbian actress (who is my exact age!) is somehow pregnant in real life. Yay for her. Of course, but uh, I live in America. California actually. The state with the most generous maternity leave policy...which is three months with partial pay. Meanwhile, this stupid country we fought a war to leave, apparently said good riddance to bad rubbish (aka puritans) and offers a full year of paid maternity leave...alrighty.

Ever hear he phrase lesbians don’t get nice things? Sigh.

Now, personally, if I had my druthers, Emmerdale would decide to go full on fantasy world for the next year or so of enforced social distancing. Pair up the actors who are together in real life to get a few snogs in, and then do every wacky plot you’ve ever imsgined. At the end of it all, return to the soapy reality you left.

Now, I am not of the mind that we aren’t going to see Vanessa for the next year, but a whole lot is up in the air, and who knows what is going to happen.

But persinally, I am kind of hoping they figure out a way to postpone the cancer story, and it wouldn’t even be that hard.

Vanessa currently has no signs of cancer. Her chemo is belts and braces. Since the show is starting back up with lockdown episodes, it wouldn’t be crazy for Vanessa to have her chemo paused or shortened.

Whether we get to see it or not, Vanessa and Charity will be going through lockdown with two teenagers and two toddler and one bathroom. The last we are going to see of Vanessa is post first month of chemo, actually looking pretty good in the spoiler pictures.

if Vanessa were to go a few more weeks without chemo, having just done one month, she might begin to feel close to normal. Which would be a great relief as the job of taking care of four kids during lockdown would not be for the faint of heart. So she would be able to help Charity rather than be an extra person in need of taking care of.

I could definitely see Vanessa making a really bad decision not to restart chemo once it is offered back up. It feels like the decision a lot of moms might accidentally make for all sorts of reasons, some good and some bad and some simply human.

That said, the truth would eventually be found out but it wouldn’t have to happen anytime soon. And with covid and Vanessa needing to isolate longer than others, she could just be watching the kids during her maternity leave. Or take Sarah to visit Debbie or visit her own mum once there is no cancer needing to be discussed. Charity can search for Kirin and figure out how to be a pub owner during a pandemic. So maybe a scheme is coming. It wouldn’t even be crazy to have Charity and Vanessa having the occasional phone conversation or video chat...that is definitely one method to have some socially distanced intimacy after all. :)

Ultimately though, Emmerdale and Charity and Vanessa has given me a lovely escape over the past two months. So I very much thank them for it. But I still want to see their wedding. And hen parties. Ahh, to the fantasy future without covid.

[aph-oklahoma-46]

Transtalia Week 2020 Day 5

Day 5: Fantasy

@the-transtalia-blog This doesn’t actually focus a lot on the transness of any character, but Spain is a dick and does not respect Naduah

Comanche = Naduah/Nadie (genderfluid, she/her (primarily) and he/him) Cherokee = Onacona (cis man, until I change my mind) Oklahoma = Huutsuu (Emily’s given name) (cis girl) (only mentioned) @texass-shenanigans‘s Texas = Colonneh (Angel’s given name) (cis man) (only mentioned) Spain = Antonio (cis man/little bitch)

Akottusha Empire = Comanche and Cherokee’s empire Creboral Empire = Spain’s empire

If you wanna know more about this au, send an ask my way. There’s not a lot of detail here and it kinda jumps a lot.

TW: transphobia, including misgendering, but only described for the most part. Also murder/murder attempt/murder plot and death

Naduah sat straight up, one hand grasping her spear, the other resting on the arm of her throne. The door at the side of the dais opened and Onacona stepped up to his own throne beside her, raising a staff and straightening his robes.

“Cutting it a little close, Love,” Naduah quipped, grinning.

“Ah, well, Huutsuu was trying to negotiate her way out of a nap, I’m afraid.” He smiled over at her. “I think she takes after you, in that regard.”

“Hmph, I’ll have you know, I am an excellent negotiator.”

“Of course, Nadie.” Onacona leaned over to kiss her cheek.

The main doors to the throne hall opened and a page entered and bowed.

“Your majesties, Emperor Antonio of the Creboral Empire seeks an audience.”

Naduah nodded and Onacona spoke, “Bring him in.”

The page bowed again and stepped out. A few moments later, the doors opened wide, and a man and his guard strode in. The guard split off to either side of the aisle up to the throne, taking a stance next to the throne hall guards, while the man continued to march down the walkway to the thrones, head held high. When he reached the end of the carpeted path, feet away from the base of the dais, he looked up at the monarchs and spread his arms and grinned.

“Hola, my friends!” Antonio nodded to each ruler. Onacona nodded back. Naduah quirked a brow when his haze lingered longer than she liked. “I have truly looked forward to standing here today. I have come to discuss a, ah… a potential joint agreement between our nations; one that, hopefully, will be beneficial to both our interests.”

Naduah eyed the emperor as he spoke. His words were flowery and offered a prosperous agreement, but her attention was on his actions. She knew of this man and of the campaigns of his empire, and she did not trust his intentions.

Diplomacy, while important, was not her forte. It was her husband’s, which was why he was the High Diplomat of Akottusha, and not just the Chief Warrior's partner. He was a keen negotiator and had a knack for spotting the tells and nuances of a person’s body language and words, and he had repeatedly made great gains for their country. The realm of negotiation, trade, and diplomacy were absolutely his strong suit.

And the battlefield was Naduah's. She had a mind for strategy, and she had earned her throne through years of not just fighting battles, but through knowing which ones were worth waging. Her job as a leader of Akottusha was to assure the nation’s people were seen as citizens to be protected and not treated as assets to be exploited.

Part of this duty was being informed of the military movements of other nations, and Creboral had been preparing for something. It was not lost on Naduah that Antonio had saw fit to approach other nations before this and to threatened those who were unsatisfied with his words.

Onacona shook Naduah from her thoughts when he responded to Antonio’s offer.

“Well, while this is all very interesting, the Warrior and I should discuss this before further considerations. Thank you for your time, Emperor.”

“Of course. Buenos días, my king-” Antonio nodded to Onacona, “and to you, my queen.” He extended a hand to Naduah.

She looked down at it, before nodding to him and saying, “That is not necessary. And I understand this is your first foray into our politics, but if you wish to negotiate with the High Diplomat and High Warrior, we would ask that you address us properly.” She smiled, trying to look more friendly and less distrusting. “For future encounters.”

Antonio beamed, but it did not put her at ease.

“Of course. My apologies.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naduah watched Onacona and Colonneh ride out of the gates of castle and toward a neighboring kingdom. This would not be the first diplomatic mission that his son had attended, but it would be the first Colonneh helped lead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They couldn’t even bury their bodies.

News of the attack on the envoy reached Naduah as he was getting his daughters ready for lunch. Supposedly, bandits had struck during the night and burned the campsite down in a botched attempt to distract the guards. Neither his husband nor his son were identified, but the bodies that were recovered were beyond recognition.

Antonio had brought him the news. He had claimed to be on a trip through the countryside of the kingdom that neighbored Akottusha to the northeast. His party noticed smoke in the skies and rushed to see what was happening. Unfortunately, the Emperor had said, by the time they had arrived and the blaze had been put out, the High Diplomat and the prince had been lost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I assure you, my lady, the Creboral Empire is here to extend any aid you may need. And I am also here to offer comfort, my queen, in the tragic absence of your husband.”

Naduah stiffened.

“I am not a queen, Antonio, and I am not  anyone’s lady. I am the Chief Warrior, and I am Onacona’s partner.” She stood and nodded to the guard, who began taking their usual stations at the entrances after the funerary ceremonies had concluded. “Thank you for your empire’s offer; my people will appreciate it. But I assure you, I am not in need of your comfort. Good evening.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was going to kill the bastard. Even if it took days, weeks, years, he was going to do it.

Not more than two weeks after the disappearance (the murder) of his husband and son, and Antonio had come to restart the failing negotiations, and the bastard had the gall to suggest they unite their empires through marriage. He had asked for Naduah’s hand, and still referred to him as the queen, his lady, etc.

That wasn’t why Naduah was angry.

Well, that didn’t help. No matter how many times Antonio was informed of which robes meant Naduah was masculine or feminine, he still clung to the feminine terms.

What really stirred Naduah’s distrust and dislike into hatred was Antonio’s reaction to Naduah’s refusal.

He’d threatened his daughters. He’d revealed what Naduah already suspected; the attack on Onacona and Colonneh's envoy was ordered by the emperor. And he had threatened war on his people.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Onacona had taught Naduah some things about diplomacy. Among them was the understanding that sometimes, in order to protect your people, you must take the bad deal presented, and then fight for changes later.

Naduah accepted Antonio’s hand.

She’d kill him later.

Besides, her informants had returned with good news. No need to make a day of celebration into a day of death.

[kaylewiswrites]

My Works in Progress

I have too many, but this is just a quick update on my various works so you can see what you might be interested in, and I can remember all of them. Let me know if you want to join any of the tag lists! 

Walk

My main WIP and what you’ll see most often, Walk is an action/adventure trilogy in a near dystopian future transformed by the accidental release of a ‘virus’ that grants superhuman abilities to certain members of the population. While hundreds are captured and contained, some manage to escape into the forest, where a chance encounter shows that the hate and mistreatment of the infected aren’t based in fear, but greed. A band of unlikely heroes must overcome their different backgrounds, world views, and senses of morality to work together and stop the mistreatment of those like them. 

Check it out if you’re into... Found family! Super powers! Dismantling systematic oppression! Strong female characters that have personalities! Morally gray characters! 

WIP Page | Excerpt |  Tag List: @aruzeus @madammuffins

Cold Bones Dance

Started as a Nano Project, now my favorite distraction. A magical realism novel where unsatisfied skeletons rise from the dead to complete their unfulfilled purpose-if the moth memory keepers can help them figure out what it is. Being a skeleton is never easy in the best of times, but when this one rises, the moths can’t even figure out his name, let alone his story. Pared with the prickliest moth of them all, the Skeleton must find a way to convince a grieving witch to use her powers to help him. Making his journey harder? A Holly Tree (Whose Name Is Death) won’t stop trying to tempt him back underground, and a stray dog who really, really wants to chew on his leg. 

Check it out if you’re into... Hopeful takes on grief! Slightly dark comedy! Slice of Life world building! Subtle magic! The calm use of passive voice! Small bay-side towns! 

I....have yet to make a WIP Page for this. But here’s the Tag, where there are some summaries and excerpts for it  | Tag list: @ren-c-leyn 

Knifepoint

I’m really not good at naming my action/adventures, am I? In this created world, three countries are constantly on the brink of war. While in a time of peace, everyone knows its only a matter of time before one country attacks. When three unintentional representatives from these countries collide (quite literally) and discover a plot to sow conflict and restart the centuries old war, the spy, the healer, and the blacksmith have to overcome their differences, prejudices, and language barriers to do what they know is right.  

Check it out if you’re into...Created countries that don’t count as fantasy because there’s no magic! Political intrigue! Linguistics! Enemies to found family to lovers! Romantic tension between two women sword fighting! 

WIP Page | Excerpt 

The Forgotten Grave Society

In a small town in a small state, on the first day of summer vacation, three girls find themselves in a graveyard. After discovering they all share the same pull towards the quite, peaceful place, they agree to meet there every day, to remember the long forgotten graves and learn about one another. But it turns out the graveyard holds a secret. Spend too much time with the dead, and you might just start to see them. An artist, an athlete, and a scientist must use their skills to save the ghosts-and themselves. 

Check it out if you’re into...Young girls with a variety of skills working together! Various theories of the afterlife! Lighthearted conversations about dead people! Some pleasantly creepy moments! Talks about the difficulty of navigating middle school! Ghosts! 

WIP Page | Excerpt | If you had asked to be tagged in this in the past, I’m sorry! I lost that tag list with my last notebook, let me know if you want back on. 

The House with Too Many Doors

Magic can only be found when someone makes such an impossible series of mistakes that it’s discovery become inevitable. Such is the luck of Avi, who gets lost in a forest and stumbles on a strange house: A tall skinny barn with 3 doors on each side. Avi soon learns from it’s inhabitant that each door opens up a completely different house, and one of them could release a danger that has been locked away for years. 

Check it out if you like...Middle grade magic! Creative use of architecture! Emotional health strategies! Gender neutral characters! Monster fighting! 

This one also lacks a WIP page. We’re getting there. In the meantime, have the tag. | Let me know if you want to join the tag list! 

God on a Blank Page 

Welcome to the distant future, where all information is taught through recorded lectures on headphones, writing is dead, and cathedrals were emptied to make room for the gods of the dominant polytheistic religion. When the sullen daydreamer is forced to go to temple with her family, she spends her time in the abandoned alcove of the blank-faced god, the god of nothing anyone can figure out. She assumes she’s safe there, to pursue her ‘what-ifs’ in peace, but when the god starts talking with her, she finds she has work to do. 

Check it out if you like...Southern Gothic Futurism! The rediscovery of creativity! Learning to think from other people’s points of view! Unreliable narrators! Cryptic whisper gods! 

What’s that? Another missing WIP page? I’ll get right on it, here’s the tag. | Be the first on the tag list, when a special prize! (the prize is a huge thank you in all caps)

I’m always open to questions, comments, or criticism, so stop by my ask page if you’d like. If you also want to check out the characters of (some) of these WIPs, my character page is here. 

[tessatechaitea]

Text Adventure Review: “Border Zone”

The main reason I'll probably need to pause the game is to masturbate when I meet the sexy double agent and type, "Fuck sexy double agent then fall asleep".

In the picture above, try not to read the three chapter titles because there's a spoiler in the third one that says "The Assassination." I'm going to forget that's a plot point and start playing "Chapter 1: The Train" because Marc Blank suggested that's what I do. CHAPTER ONE The protagonist (that's you! The person you play in the game! Or it's me! I'll probably go back and forth using first and second person pronouns so please don't be confused by my amateurish writing style) is just a regular non-spy person who does a little importing and exporting across the Iron Curtain. This game is from 1987 so nobody remembers what the Iron Curtain is anymore. It really wasn't that important anyway, at least not to those of us living on the Western side of it and never had to really think about its implications on the people trapped on the Eastern side of it. Am I supposed to have enough time and compassion to worry about the state of other peoples' worlds when I can barely keep my world from disintegrating?! If you want Levi's, people dumb enough to be born in countries annexed by the USSR after World War II, maybe you should have thought about that up in heaven when God was asking you what uterus you wanted your soul implanted in! Idiots. The train story begins, as all good espionage train stories do, with a probably dying secret agent breaking into your compartment to hand you the documents that will stop the assassination if only you can get them to another secret agent by responding to a coded phrase with a coded phrase of your own. I think I've practically got this part of the game won! Except I've forgotten both of the phrases already. I should probably restart and make a note of them, right? Okay, I've figured out what the secret agent will say to me and what I have to respond and I've even translated the sayings into Frobnian because I understand how Infocom games use their non-digital printed material as copy protection! Somebody without the phrase book that comes with the game wouldn't realize that the American agent is telling you the English codes but his contact is Frobnian! I'm so far ahead of Marc Blank right now he would say something like, "Whoa! That guy is super far ahead of me! And totally not a virgin." As an experienced business man who has dealt with border control for my entire business life (the fictional me in the game! What, you think I actually work for a living?!), I know that I can't just keister the document. The searches at the border are brutal. And I don't have a fake mustache so I'm flummoxed already. Plus the wounded agent left a big blood spatter on the floor of my cabin. So to even make it out off the train so I can meet my contact, I've got to clean up the blood and figure out what to do with the document. The blood was easy but to keep the document, I had to get caught a few times to figure out where the evil trench coat wearing man's interrogation weaknesses lay! Or lie (I knew I should have phrased that differently. Stupid lie/lay is worse than who/whom). Because apparently even if you flush the document down the toilet underneath a huge nervous stomach shit, the border patrol will dig it out and bust you. So I cleaned up the blood by doing all of the boring and inane steps like turning on the faucet and wetting the towel and turning off the faucet and scrubbing the floor and returning to the bathroom and flushing the towel. In Infocom games, it isn't enough to just tell the protagonist to clean up the blood and then, like a normal adult human being, the protagonist would think, "Oh yeah! I know how to do that! Let me get right to it!" I guess Infocom games are less about ordering some jerk around and more trying to pretend that you are that jerk and that that jerk is kind of stupid. After cleaning the blood, I had to figure out what to do with the document. No matter where I tried to hide it, border control sniffed it out and traced it back to me. So the only thing to do was to tear it up and shove it up my ass! I mean throw it out the window. But that meant I couldn't complete my mission which really wasn't my mission anyway and why did I care if some ambassador was assassinated?! I didn't ask for this responsibility! It's not my fault if somebody dies today. It's the fault of the clumsy American agent who got himself shot, stumbled upon a useless dolt to complete his mission, and then fell off the roof of the train! I should just throw the document out the window and get on with my life! And maybe I will! But before I did that — you know, just in case my conscience berates me continuously for the rest of my life — I figured I should probably keep some photographic evidence of the document. After doing so, I couldn't help worrying about how there was another picture left on the roll of film and I was probably going to have to completely restart this stupid game when I realized I needed to take one more picture before removing the film and hiding it up my ass from the border patrol. Stupid Infocom games always have me worried that I'm in a walking dead with a roll of film up my ass scenario! Being the super chill American businessman turned spy kind of Lothario I am, I totally and easily complete my new mission and probably fuck a hot double agent too! But not the young girl I handed the roll of film to! The double agent was probably older than that!

I know this screenshot is different from the previous screenshot! But the Apple IIe copy I found crashed when you examined your clothes or photographed the document. And the Commodore 64 version seems to think people who play Infocom games are already wasting their lives so why not make every move take an interminable amount of time. So I wound up playing the browser MS-DOS version on Archive.org.

For an Infocom game, that first chapter was simple! All you had to do was act like a boring idiot who totally wasn't involved in political espionage at all and you succeeded! I bet every nerd who tried their hand at this game beat Chapter One. But the next chapter will be different because the player takes on the part of the American spy! What greasy nerd knows how to act suave and sophisticated and super sexy? I mean aside from me! I was born to play this role! CHAPTER TWO You begin the story of the American Spy after he falls from the roof of the train. He claims he jumped for it but when I was the businessman, I know what I saw! I'm a clumsy oaf! I mean he's a clumsy oaf! No, wait. I guess I am the clumsy oaf! And I'm not clumsy at all! I totally jumped for it and looked hot doing it. Now I just have to survive the freezing weather and try to get past the border patrol or else I'll die out here in the ... BORDER ZONE! Hopefully I'll also get another chance to fight my rival Viper to the death! Ew, I'll show him! Or her! Or not! After playing this chapter for about ten minutes, I realize it does every single thing I don't like in text adventures: time limit, characters that go about their business while you're off in other areas, and a puzzle that relies on knowing so much about the timeline that you have to play the scenario dozens of times to work it all out. I feel like I've got the gist of what you have to do (although I'm probably wrong on one key point because I haven't played more than a handful of times) but I'm not sure I'm willing to keep at it. After you bail from the train, the border guards begin searching for you. So you've got some guys in a vehicle driving around and a pack of dogs (not to mention the searchlights and fences at the border) hunting you down. Early on, you have to get to a small house because it has a parka in it to keep you from freezing to death. You have to time this with when the guards arrive to talk to the owner so he's distracted while you sneak in the back. There might be more to do inside the shack other than gather up all the crap in the storage room but, as I mentioned, I haven't really explored the scenario yet in multiple ways. As a spy, you have an explosive pen on you. It has a timer which means I have to figure out how long to set the timer for and where to stick the pen to get something further in the story to happen. I feel like I have to stick it on the guard's automobile so that it explodes near the border, distracting the guards at the spotlights so I can make a run for the other side. Realizing that that might be the solution is what has really made me dread continuing with this game. Another puzzle is to get the dogs to stop following you. I'm fairly certain you do that just by putting on the work boots and trudging through the swamp a ways before leaving the swamp in a new location and leaving the boots behind. If there are any other puzzles (aside from staunching your bleeding gun shot wound), I haven't found them. I suppose the biggest one is sneaking about to get the pen on the guard's car and figuring out how long to set the timer for. Do I want to bother with that? I feel like that's the big puzzle that allowed Infocom to tack on hours and hours of gameplay to Border Zone. Because now I have to follow the car around to see where it goes and how long I'll need to set the timer for and where I'll need to be when the pen blows up. I have other things to do with my life, Marc Blank! I mean, they're not very important things. But they're things I'd rather be doing than messing around with the timer on my imaginary explosive pen! I'm not cut out to be a spy, especially when that spy has to know things he couldn't possibly know on the first playthrough of this game. Does Marc Blank know how real life works?! Oh, your argument is that this is a game and not real life and that maybe I should chill out about it?! Well if this game is a game and not real life, why the fuck does everything keep moving along even when I'm not entering any commands?! Who wants to play a text adventure like that?! Even Bioshock doesn't demand that kind of effort out of the player. Bioshock is the only other game I could come up with. It isn't even a fair comparison. If Border Zone were a first person shooter, I'd absolutely finish this chapter! I could see the guards moving and physically hide from them. I could observe how everything moves in the game by following them around. But in a text adventure, it's fucking impossible. Sure, the game tells me if the dogs are to the north or the west. But when I'm hiding behind the shack, it sure would be a lot easier to figure out what I'm doing if I could see the guards interacting with the owner of the shack and milling about searching the premises! I don't think my imagination is good enough to handle this bullshit tension. I'm so fucking stressed out right now!

Apparently you can get close to the border without doing any of the stuff I previously mentioned except stealing everything from the storage room.

It doesn't seem like I've done enough before getting to the border but I guess I should explore this area a little more before writing Marc Blank a letter about how terrible some of his decisions were early in his career. I suppose I need to use my explosive pen here to blow a hole through the fence which I won't be able to climb through because the guards will hear it. Unless I time the explosion to blow when both guards are at the same spot, killing them? Then can I rush through in the chaos?! Figuring out the answer to that means doing math, I bet! That's because you get a timer and a little ASCII display of the guards' motion as you watch them. This is way too hard! I miss the Infocom days when you could just type "kill thief with sword" and hope the random number generator gave you a good result. Once you get through the fence, you can climb up a guard tower where there's a bolted ladder leading up to a locked door with a guard inside. But even if you can hide on the metal bit bracing the ladder, knock on the door, and shove the stupid guard off of the tower, you still can't jump across the border from the top of the tower. You just wind up dead. Which is when I thought, "Hey! I need the exploding pen for this part! I bet I can just climb over the fence and save the explosives for this scene!" And I was almost completely and absolutely right except for a few small details which would have frustrated the fuck out of me if I hadn't gotten completely lucky on restarting Chapter Two to try out my new solutions. You see, there's a small shed in the forest near the shack. A small shed that is almost impossible to find due to my apathetic attitude toward mapping Border Zone and the way every location is described as "You move 100 yards north and find you're still in the snowy forest. What did you expect, jerk?!" Sure, the shed has been drawn on the map that came with the game so that people who actually purchased Border Zone would have explored long enough to find it. And I have access to that map because everything is free on the Internet. Right? Am I making a terrible assumption there? Um, anyway, when I restarted, due to not having mapped, I couldn't remember exactly how to get to the shack before the guards got there. While stumbling around lost, I found the shed with the rubber gloves and bolt-cutters inside. And like in most text adventure games that aren't Infocom, the main puzzle was simply finding the right items where they were hidden. Because as soon as I found the bolt-cutters, I knew I had this chapter beat. What I didn't know was that the border fence I'd previously blown up to get through was electrified! Luckily, I had found the rubber work gloves right there with the bolt-cutters. Marc Blank practically gave that puzzle's solution away for free! Idiot. He should have hid the gloves somewhere in the forest where you weren't ever clued in to dig in the snow. That's more like a proper 80s text adventure! Of course, that's not Infocom's way! Infocom wants you to succeed! They want you to realize you wasted the pen explosive and needed a new solution where you use the pen to blow up the tower so that it falls over the border fence with you inside of it! But at least in the actual solution, you still get to push that stupid Frobnian Nazi off of the tower. Eat snow, grumblebutt!

I'll accept my Champeen of Infocom crown now.

Chapter Three The first two chapters were way too easy for Infocom games so I'm really nervous about this third chapter. Have I just gotten more brilliant as I've grown older or did Marc Blank save all of his dreadful Infocom ingenuity for this final chapter?! Hopefully this chapter doesn't have dozens of NPCs whom I've got to track across multiple playthroughs just to figure out where I should be every minute of the scenario. I really do prefer text adventure games with static environments that simply react to the things I do. I'm already stressed out thinking about my race against the clock to save the ambassador! Remember when I didn't even care if the ambassador died during the first chapter?! Why am I suddenly invested in saving that asshole?!

In this chapter, I'm the sexy double agent!

The sexy double agent is also — and this is a huge spoiler for all you Infocom fanatics who just haven't, for some reason, gotten around to playing all of the Infocom games — Viper, the man in the trench coat trying to get the documents back from the importer/exporter in the first chapter! If that's the case, you'd think I could just go to a coffee shop and hang out for the rest of the game. If I'm trying to stop the people trying to stop the assassination, then can't I just stop trying to stop those people so they can stop the assassination?! Maybe if I just hit "z" and "enter" until this chapter ends, everything will work out for the best! Seventeen in-game minutes later, the ambassador has been shot and killed. What the fuck?! How incompetent are the American spies? I guess that's why I'm a double agent. Because I'm double the agent all of these other jerks are. I guess I need to get to work saving the day all by myself! If only that stupid American businessman had given me the documents, I could have saved the day myself. Except when I did get the documents in Chapter One, the game still ended with the ambassador getting assassinated. I should just get on with saving the day already. I bet when I'm done, I'll run into Topaz (that was my secret agent name in Chapter Two, apparently) and we'll share a deep, passionate kiss. I do run into Topaz chilling at a coffee shop exactly like I was planning to do!

I guess Topaz doesn't feel the same way that I feel about him.

Topaz is probably still important to the story, so I decide to leave him alone for now as I got about my double agent business of stopping the assassination that I put into place. It's actually not too hard to do if I don't mind sacrificing the rest of my double agent career. I meet my contact, learn the sniper's password, figure out what window he's sniping out of (by checking the apartment directory, you just have to find which eastern facing apartment is empty on the fifth floor (maybe other floors at time but it always seemed to be the fifth floor on my multiple restarts), and go shoot him in the back. But that puts a lot of suspicion on you and you wind up pushing papers in Siberia. Better to trick Topaz into stopping the assassination! I guess that's why you have to save his life in Chapter Two. To do that, you have to get him to chase you back to the sniper's nest without getting caught by him or the local police. At one point, you get to push over a hot dog vendor's cart so it really feels like you're in an action movie and also that you're a fucking prick. Once you lead Topaz back to the sniper, the difficult part was not also being killed by Topaz. After making him a huge hero, he kept shooting me in the face because he's a huge bastard whom I wish I never helped cross the border now! At first I thought, "Well, this is an Infocom game. It was bound to get difficult at some point! And I guess one or two moves away from completing the game is as good a time as any to get stuck." But then I thought, "Well, even though the sniper doesn't let me move or do anything, and the sniper's apartment is completely bare, maybe I can try to hide so Topaz doesn't fucking murder me when he kicks in the door?"

Oh fuck. Easy as that, was it?!

And with that final move to hide in plain sight, I fucking defeat Marc Blank! You stupid son of a bitch! You thought you were so clever, didn't you? "Oh, look at me! I'm an Infocom imp! I write the hardest text adventure games in the world and I only mattered for like four years in the mid to late eighties because I hitched my star to the most boring entertainment ever! Only stupid virgin assholes would keep playing the games I wrote, the dumb bastards!" Hey! Fuck you, Marc Blank! How did that Marc Blank imaginary soliloquy get away from me so badly?! Anyway, suck on this, Marc:

Seriously though. I can't believe I beat this game without any hints. I'm fucking chuffed.

SCORES Game Title: Not great since it basically drove me away from this game for years. I suppose if you're into espionage stories, it's a great title because it's so evocative of crossing a border! That's like the hardest challenge in the espionage genre! I think. I'm not a fan so what the fuck do I know? My favorite espionage movie is Run, Lola, Run. Does that count as espionage? I guess that's more heist fucks time travel while fingering romance's anus. Puzzles: As far as modern day Interactive Fiction "rules" go, the puzzles in Border Zone are terrible. Nearly all of them rely on playing through and losing dozens of times to see how the NPCs react to different situations. It's the only way to learn how they behave so you can act accordingly. But compared to a non-Infocom game, the puzzles were generally satisfying. Because of the way the game works, I'm not even sure some of the things I did were solutions to puzzles or just wasting my time. Did I have to go through the swamp to lose the dogs or could I have just done everything quicker? Were there alternate ways to solve puzzles or were things like the binoculars and the wood saw in Chapter Two just red herrings? Generally, once I saw the way the other characters reacted, it was long before I figured out how to thwart them. I believe Marc Blank was relying on some puzzles to be difficult due to the player losing track of the story. Like in Chapter One, you can get all the way to the end and still get caught when you try to pass the documents to your contact because you were wearing the stupid white carnation the entire time. But once you realize you seem to have done everything correctly and some guy on the platform is still following you, it's not hard to realize you need to not stand out and to keister that stupid flower until you actually need it. Gameplay: Fucking annoying. I hate adventure games where the story continues no matter what you do. I hate timed adventure games. Border Zone decided not only to use those two aspects I hate but to invent a third one that — Hey! Guess what?! — I hated even more: time passes even when you're not typing! Is there a word that means both "innovative" and "Goddamned fucking annoying as fuck"? Whatever it is, Marc Blank should copyright it. Graphics: Normally for a text adventure, I'd say none and be done with it. But this one did have graphics! It had a little ASCII bit to show two guards marching around the base of three towers! And it absolutely did nothing for me because the dumb guards barely even notice you when you cut through the fence silently instead of blowing a huge hole in it. Hell, even after blowing a hole in the fence, the idiots keep to their regular patrol only slightly more alert due to hearing an explosion. Concept: I think I more than adequately covered my apathy toward the concept. I will compliment Marc Blank for his work in making a game about a really stressful experience into a really stressful experience. Good job, jerk! Fun Time: I keep forgetting to track the amount of time it takes me to play these games. Maybe I'll get better at it eventually. But I think I spent maybe six hours (at most. I might even drop that to four or five) playing this game over the last week and a half? I did think about it more than that though. But not a lot more. And the third chapter which I thought would be dreadfully hard took the least amount of time of all. Probably not even an hour. The good news is that the amount of "fun time" I had with this game is equal to the amount of time I played it. That doesn't often happen. Usually the "fun time" gets expended quickly and I force myself to trudge through the rest of the game, adding the experience to the long list of things I'll regret when a doctor finally says to me, "You have three months to live due to your malignant finger cancer caused by typing."

[landenhqcf035-blog]

What's new in Grand Theft Auto Vice City

Last year, GTA III took the world with surprise. While the first two activity in the chain had a little, hard-core following, their simple 2D graphics and lack of a focused narrative structure limited their application. On the other hand, Grand Theft Auto 3 featured a massive, clockwork world which was really amazing to see, and it improved the predecessors' free-roaming, nonlinear target also created a much more compelling story in the process. Those improvements, coupled with amazing vehicle physics, a surprising total of diversity in the gameplay, with an excellent feel of approach, made GTA3 a fugitive hit and one of the few activity to remains received with both great and relaxed game players similar. But as good as Grand Theft Auto III is, another game in the series, GTA VC, improves on this. Vice City expands on the designs and views found in GTA 3, fixes several of the trivial issues in the last game, then puts lots of new powers and pieces to play with. All this comes together to create one of the most stylish and most enjoyable games ever released.

The new GTA game is set in a fictional take on Miami, Florida, known as Vice City. The season is 1986, and Tommy Vercetti has really been published from prison like organizing a 15-year stretch for the mob. The mob--more in particular, the Forelli family--appreciates Tommy's refusal to cry in exchange regarding a minor sentence, and so they throw him down to Vice City to found around new businesses. Tommy's first succession of commercial in Vice City is to report a large sum of cocaine to work with. Yet Tommy's first drug deal goes sour, leaving him without money, no cocaine, and no idea who wronged him. The mafia is, certainly, angry in the whole situation, and now Tommy has to make up to the loss before the gangsters fall from Liberty City to clean in the mess. As Tommy, you'll surprise the study, discover who ripped people away, take care of commerce, and established look with Vice City in the giant, great way. Oh, and you'll also take taxis, get involved in a turf war between the Cubans and also the Haitians, help a Scottish rock group named Love Fist, become a pizza delivery boy, smash up the local mall, demolish a shape to real estate values, catch up with a biker gang, run an adult film studio, remove a reservoir, and much, much more.

While Grand Theft Auto is definitely a violent, mature-themed series, it has always considered the violent crime with an total amount of tongue-in-cheek humor and fashion. Vice City is no exception, showing a exaggerated opinion on the 1980s that makes use of many the loud pop-culture stereotypes found in pictures with box in the few years. The drug-laced tale recalls such films like Scarface with television shows like Miami Vice. The comedy comes mainly from the radio, which really takes family the almost form-over-function mentality which many people associate with the '80s. Some of the game's major characters are a supply of comic relief, from the Jim Bakker-like Pastor Richards to the Steven Spielberg-like porn director Steve Scott. The playoffs large toss of appeals is bright and wonderful. For example, local drug kingpin Ricardo Diaz is always hilariously breaking great and cursing wildly when anyone happen to meet him. Ken Rosenberg is your own fidgety coke-fiend lawyer friend, and he finds you started in city by growing you connected with the city's major players. Lance Vance, appropriately voiced by Miami Vice alum Philip Michael Thomas, becomes the sidekick of types, as both of you chase vengeance to your own reasons. The Cuban gang contact, Umberto Robina, is regularly reminding people how much of the man he is, and most in the Cuban team members you'll run into are alike inclined.

Stylistically, the game near an appropriate portrayal of the average '80s crime saga. Like now Miami Vice, many of the spirits are wearing pastel goes with. The sport vehicles also install the payment, with a lot of basic sedans united at home with cars that air enough like Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Ferraris to deliver to the real point. Nothing on the cars are passed, of course, though in the wonderful touch, some of the cars are earlier models of vehicles to was found with GTA III. Supporters of the preceding game can certainly appreciate little stuff like this then the other occasional links for the humanity of GTA III, that really stop this modern Grand Theft Auto game feel like portion of a unified universe.

So famous as the game's demonstration and utilization of its supply data are, without a collection of gameplay improvements, this would hold remained little more than a mission pack with a touch-up job. But Rockstar North has surely been difficult at work in this region. The most obvious addition is the inclusion of various types of motorcycles among all the cars on the road. There's a decent variety of two-wheelers in the game, including mopeds, street bikes, dirt cycles, with large hogs. As you'd demand, the bikes feel a lot differently in one another. The standard street bike is a good mix of rush and maneuverability. The good choppers are harder to push, yet state ludicrous top speeds. You'll get tossed away from a bike in almost any collision, which costs a little of health or armor. That becomes them pretty much useless in a location that means dodging the police. But they're incredibly handy in any vision to wants fly, with since you can draw a lot of fancy tricks on them, they're also a lot of fun to drive around.

You'll also perform little race into Vice City. After moving through a number of key plot points, you'll available the western world half of Vice City, that is locked apart in the onset due to hurricane warnings. After that, you'll encounter vision to allowed anyone fly a jet about the city. You'll and get a number of different helicopters here and there. Travel around the city is very impressive, and it showcases the game's engine quite well--you could get for miles when you're ahead inside heavens. While some of the city's skyscrapers are far too high to get over, you can country the choppers by many in the playoffs buildings. Expect to find a few of the game's hidden items put left within these forms of difficult-to-reach areas.

Some new person actions have survived put into the game as well. Pressing L3 will join Tommy in a crouched view. This allows you remove cover behind things with picks up the shooting accuracy. You can and jump out of step vehicles, which useful for ditching cars or bikes into the ocean, breaking a burning vehicle, or just ramming empty cars into other vehicles for kicks. Like wrecking a motorcycle, bailing from a car causes some bodily harm. You can also enter certain buildings now. While the interior sites are little in amount and typically extraneous, they stare good and are used to effectively create a city that's even more realistic than GTAIII's Liberty City. You'll be able to go into the hotel then flow right upstairs to help ones bedroom. You can also insert a club, a reel club, the Vice City mall, and several other houses. There are load times associated with entering certain buildings, but they're pretty brief.

Many of the game's story missions are more interested than those associated with GTAIII. Grand Theft Auto III had plenty of missions where you necessary to make one thing or get somebody somewhere and then return for your reward. You might get those kinds of missions in Vice City, although the majority of the original game's missions are multiple-part event which require over just go starting top A to level B then to position A. Some pieces are clean extensions, like as maybe having to stay a respray shop after moving a job. However, other missions are more included also want the use of more-advanced tactics. For case, one mission wants you to place a bomb inside a mall of which occurs swarming with cops. To do so, you'll first need a barely heat chasing after you. You'll then advance the cops in a garage, where you'll ambush them with understand among the uniforms so you can pose as a cop, which makes getting into the roughly guarded mall possible. After you've taken concentration of thing on the mall, you'll then must escape and get all the way to the hideout.

The objective live well designed for the most part. The noticeably longer average mission length is great, still this could become a foundation of rare frustration, since failure in the mission means having to replay every aspect until you get it right. Moving back to a vision subject becomes easier than ever before, while. In GTAIII, you'd restart in a clinic or police station and be compelled to bargain a car with hightail that time for a quest area, which could take a while. Wearing Vice City, a cab appears near the respawn direct, and also, for a smaller price, it will guide people to the last mission briefing question you went to. Unfortunately, since you're generally going to want to grab some supports plus about armor before going back in most missions, you'll still need to drive over to the local Ammu-Nation first. That would have been there wonderful if you would have benefited from the taxis to address that measure from the process also. At any rate, while the game definitely takes their piece of tough missions, the average mission difficulty looks like a mark or two easier with Vice City than during Grand Theft Auto 3, and so people must have to do too many missions too often. Though, overall, Vice City's stage of effort is comparable to which on the preceding game, due to increased tenacity for the police in their endeavor to help spoil you.

Close to the amendment for the vision themselves, the playoffs mission building is very different from which from the earlier Grand Theft Auto games. With earlier installments, you were given a pretty clear-cut path to follow--you may also have many mission options by any given time, and you consistently understood exactly what to do then and also pro whom. In Vice City, you'll spend the first portion in the game undertaking objective for others, much like in GTA III. But when the city is yours, you'll be working for yourself, going with respect the defense racket in track and determining yourself as the town's new boss.

Eventually, you'll even be able to go out and get various properties, that begins happy new quest. For case, when you buy the taxi company, you'll open up a series of taxi-related missions that happen break from the surface vision which you can handle by entering any taxi. Once you've completed a property's missions, that property may launch make money for you. That reality means that money eventually turns into a nonissue--as it should be for any self-respecting crime lord--since the various properties will also have some funds for you. All you need to do is travel in to all of these and collect from time to time. There are several other properties to purchase, including the film business, the Malibu Beat, and a car dealership. All the secondary-mission types from GTA III have benefited, such as vigilante missions, taxi missions, fire truck missions, and ambulance missions. New to Vice City is the ability to do on the limited type of scooter and present pizza. Pizza is saved while in motion using the same mechanics you'd normally spent for drive-by shootings, only however you throw pizza pies on customers.

While the influence in Vice City remains generally just like that of GTAIII, the feeling of the game's various cars feels really different, because game's frequent driving sequences seem much more exciting and dangerous. Perhaps in part due to the difference of generation period, many the cars feel a lot looser traveling and often understand beat in quite a bit easier. That offers much of the game the kind of car-flipping, explosion-filled quality you'd expect coming from a episode of The A-Team. And once you factor in the new gift for you--or other in-game characters--to take out tires, handling becomes an even bigger issue. Vehicles with blown tires are really difficult to control, making car chases to very much tougher when you have a flat (or many). And as if cars weren't dangerous enough, a bike with a blown roll is almost useless, as it usually spins ready with places you in the handlebars whenever people try and achieve any serious speed. One of the tougher vision take anyone looking for a tandem with even tires back to a rider but while remaining pursued by angry thugs.

Cars break apart in an more spectacular fashion this time around. Along with holding away tires, you can smash up cars with your melee weapons now. Ride way up then giving in a car's hood with your baseball bat is usually a good way to urge the inhabitants to vacate the vehicle in a hurry. You can also burst out car windows and even hit people inside the car with your shots. That causes a huge difference when it comes to holding off cars, as you can now focus on the rolls to slow down the vehicle down and then remove the driver with a well-placed rifle shot.

As mentioned, the police have become a much more formidable risk than they were now GTA 3, especially since they have the ability to take away the rolls upon the getaway vehicle. Attempting to jump in a car and donate the area of an crime usually gives the cops ample time to take out one of the tires. On elevated levels of response, the police will set up spike strips to take off all the tires. Of course, they'll also established standard bars also make all the points the GTAIII cops did, including ignore most standard traffic violations. Though, with Vice City, mixing up a serious ruckus will get the rob plus the FBI by your case. Helicopters will also chase after you. Now around, SWAT teams may in fact rappel out of the helicopters, getting them more dangerous. If you can manage to download gta 5 apk get a clean aimed with a chopper's cockpit, though, you can consider one decrease with individual win. In the main level of law enforcement response, the throng once again rolls tanks onto the street, making your chance of survival slim. All this means that, as in GTA III, many encounters with the confidence with Vice City can be really exciting. But, one spot for the law record is the idea that the cops still do not deal with elevation changes particularly good. If you encounter a square shed and give the first or second floor, the police officer aren't intelligent enough to get their means up to face you. They'll still hold firing in your general direction, while there are several blocks and roofs among you then the detectives. But you'll encounter such a thing really rarely amidst many, many memorable with strong chases and shoot-outs.

While there are a lot more systems with Vice City, the free arsenal hasn't really changed that significantly overall. The most obvious additions are in the melee weapon department--or, rather, the hardware department. You can head to a hardware stock with grab a screwdriver, a split, a trusty baseball bat, or a machete. You'll also get additional melee weapons in different chunk on the city. Arriving at the greens, for example, is that simple find a golf club. You can as well perceive a chainsaw, which is famous in principle, but surprisingly unsatisfying in action. Systems are beaten up in another categories. Your basic attack rifle will be a Ruger, but later on you'll be able to acquire a M16. You can have one stick within both grade, so gather winning a good M16 will replace the Ruger, getting a golf club can restore the baseball bat, and so on. The number of weapons closely mirrors GTAIII's set, just now with more types of pistols, submachine guns, rifles, shotguns, sniper firearms, and flung explosives.

You'll work your way upward from simple weapons up to deadlier versions. For example, the Tec-9 is a quality submachine gun, but later on you'll be able to accept a MP5K, that receives a considerably closer rate of fire. Later still, you'll be able to wield rocket launchers, a flamethrower, an M60 machine gun, or perhaps a Gatling gun. Different weapons have different weights, and your movement rate may suffering from the gun you're holding. Having a gun or a submachine gun lets you go on by whole speed. Busting exposed the shotgun or rifle prevents a person by sprinting, but you could go generally. And the severe weapons cause you to lumber around sluggishly. The aim system by GTAIII has been changed a bit for Vice City, making it easier to target opponents with honor the video camera by making too crazy when you're locked to a board.

Vice City and increases on Grand Theft Auto 3 graphically. The only difficulty with the graphics is the body rate's predisposition to bog down while you've catch a blunder of law enforcement swarming all about you, making flight to significantly harder. But thinking that problem is no worse in Vice City than it was in Grand Theft Auto III, and that the game looks a good bit better overall than GTA 3, it's not really a big deal. The entire aspect of the game is quite different from their predecessor overall, but technically, this new Grand Theft Auto game allows a much cleaner appearance. The character styles become superior looking, with the animation--some of it reused from GTA 3--looks great. Some of the highlights include jacking a motorcycle on the front, which lead to Tommy to execute a wing jump stop to taps the rider dust down the bike. Jack a bicycle on the quality, and misery deliver an elbow on the experience with the rider.

The pull distance is a lot farther away now about as well, meaning you can see a greater distance down the road than you might in GTA 3. This is even more noticeable when you're flying high above the city and can see most the way around to the different piece of it. But you'll even see as only run the street, especially when you give up a stir car watching it cruise off outside with its. Outside of in which, the playoffs textures are light with vibrant, properly reflecting what '80s-era Miami should look like. Nearby shops are laced with neon that glows nicely at night. You'll also notice bunches of immense little touches, such as the spark of sunshine down the panes of neighborhood cars.

GTA3's sound played a crucial role with adjusting the tone to the total game. The expression acting used throughout the history segments effectively shared the offense report, and the radio produced the soundtrack to go with the action. Vice City's sound is a dramatic advance in GTAIII's already amazing appears. The game's cast is top-notch. The main change in the state product lives to, unlike in GTA 3, the front integrity in Vice City speaks. Tommy Vercetti's state is given by Ray Liotta (Blow, Muppets Through Space), who does a great duty of earning the character to life. The rest of the voice talent--which includes Gary Busey, Dennis Hopper, David Paymer, Danny Trejo, Luis Guzman, Philip Michael Thomas, and retired adult film actress Jenna Jameson--also does a very good trade. The playoffs positive effects are top-notch. Everything from explosions to gunfire just sounds outstanding.

The radio stations in Vice City are incredibly well done. The '80s music entirely on the locations really helps agreed the tone for the overall game. You'll find tons of belts with designers, including Quiet Riot, Michael Jackson, David Lee Roth, Herbie Hancock, Judas Priest, and Frankie Goes

[daphenomenal-1]

Avengers Endgame vs Game of Thrones: How to Pay-Off Storytelling

Well, Game of Thrones is over. And as per usual, nobody is happy with how this story ended. Even the die-hard fans admit that this season was the worst season by a country mile for a myriad of reasons. Along with Game of Thrones, another franchise met its end in Avengers: Endgame. And judging by the response and how much money it made, people really like Endgame. So, as Thrones’ last episode aired, I thought it would be cool to analyze some of the arcs from both Endgame and Game of Thrones (and their biggest moment in each) and begin to piece together how to do a big pay-off for long term storytelling. (WARNING: SPOILERS FOR AVENGERS: ENDGAME)

Iron Man/Captain America vs Jon Snow/Daenerys Targaryen

I decided to lump these four into one category because, despite the response from people on social media, these pairs are the main heroes of their respective shows. Jon and Daenerys are the main heroes of Game of Thrones, while Tony Stark and Steve Rogers were the focal points of the MCU. And these characters had their stories wrap up in their respective final outings. However, only one of them was met with praise, while the other was met with scorn. Why?

In Game of Thrones, the show had basically set up for 7 seasons that Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, First of her Name - blah, blah, blah, you get the picture - was going to be the one to sit on the Iron Throne and rule over Westeros. And the showrunners, up until this point, did a decent job both setting up that and also alluding to her becoming the Mad Queen. However, due to the speed of this season, the pay off failed because there wasn’t really any build to her snap in episode 5, and her subsequent actions didn’t make her look any better. Nobody would want to support a person who would willing burn innocent people who are in her path. And her death, while feeling like it wasn’t earned, was really the only way this show was going to end. Jon, on the other hand, the guy who was supposed to be the most virtuous living person, who didn’t care about thrones and only cared about fighting the dead and defeating the Night King, came off as a bit of a ass that didn’t care about anyone except for himself and really nobody else. And his banishment to the North to be with the Wildlings was just not the ending that really paid off the character of the orphan Targaryen. Now, let’s look at Avengers: Endgame.

Tony Stark and Captain America have been set up to both give up and gain something towards the end of their respective runs. The giving up of one life and the gaining of a new one. And the reason that Endgame was so fulfilling in its pay off is because it called back to its roots from The Avengers. That argument between Tony and Cap from The Avengers served as the pay off for these two iconic heroes. Captain America - that one kid from Brooklyn that was only special thanks to the Super Soldier Serum - ended up being the only other one worthy to hold Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor. And at the end, he got to go back and have a life with the love of his life. And Tony Stark - the man who survived in a cave and built himself out, the man that wasn’t a hero and wasn’t pegged to make the sacrifice play to save other - ended up giving his life to save the universe. That’s why this worked and Thrones didn’t: the Russo brothers gave Tony and Steve the endings that these characters deserved. 

Thor vs Jamie Lannister

Both of these characters have one thing in common. A common theme: redemption. Redemption for their failings and an attempt to make things right. However, only one of them really fulfills that redemption arc. Thor, after the events of Avengers: Infinity War, is in a state of disarray. He couldn’t stop Thanos from wiping out half the universe, but now with one more chance to turn back what happened, he failed again. In his rage, he kills the Mad Titan. He goes through a state of depression, gaining a lot of weight and drinking his pain away. But in one of the most empowering scenes in Endgame, while conversing with Lady Frigga, Thor once again was able to call upon his trusty hammer. He was still worthy, even after failing over and over again. His redemption arc has reached its peak. 

Jamie’s story just...just fucking sucked. Jamie, someone who was so loyal to Cersei Lannister, opted to leave her and go to the North to face off against the dead. His story was setting up for what was going to be a good ending for his character: Jamie becoming the Queenslayer and kill Cersei Lannister. But no, he goes back to her and dies with her in his arms. He gets buried with Cersei, just like everyone didn’t want. It seemed like the character regressed so far back that it was nowhere near salvageable. 

Thanos vs Cersei Lannister

Every hero has his or her villain. Someone for the heroes to overcome, despite the challenge they present. The MCU’s version of this character get is the Mad Titan Thanos. And with Thrones, it’s the Queen Bitch of Westeros - Cersei Lannister. Their degrees of villainy are comparable in that these are villains that were both consistent in their intentions and are fairly consistent in ther convictions. I think there’s not much for me to complain about Cersei Lannister and Thanos.

Throughout the entire span of Game of Thrones, if there is one way to describe Cersei Lannister, it is this: she was a bad bitch. Like she was a real one. However, this show didn’t really give her the shine that she deserves. Yeah, she ordered the execution of Missandei. But there was still some untapped potential with how to take her character and how much of a good villain Cersei was. She was just evil. I don’t like that Cersei died in the arms of Jamie and was buried with him. I would have liked to see her get paid what she owed, but she was still a solid villain in her own right. 

Same with Thanos. I know people call him a “Mary Sue”, in that he’s overpowered for the sake of the plot and wins because plot reasons. But Mary Sue characters don’t get killed 15 minutes into their next appearance. What made Thanos interesting in Infinity War was that he was so indoctrinated by his conviction adn saw it through. For the first time in the MCU, the villain won. In Endgame, 2014 Thanos saw that he won. That his goal was complete and that his destiny is also to die after he balances the universe. But what makes him different here is that there is a level of pettiness to Thanos in Endgame that raises the stakes just a bit higher. Yes, future him balanced the universe. But those that survived - i.e.: the Avengers - became ungrateful. They did not see the good that his universal level balancing act did for this planet, so instead he will destroy this universe with the Infinity Stone collected from throughout the years and then restart the universe. And despite having victory in his grasp, he still falls to the Avengers. 

The Battle of Winterfell vs Avengers Assemble

To wrap this up, I could go on and on about other characters, but it is only right that I compare the two big battles of these franchises: the Long Night and the Battle on the Avengers Compound.

I remember watching the Battle at Winterfell and immediately, something felt off. Something wasn’t right. The battle started and it was barely lit, the action sequences were very shaky, so I could barely see the fighting. Even the cool moments like Lady Lyanna Mormont slaying the giant with her dying breath felt less impactful than her “King in the North” speech from season 6. The battle just felt lackluster. The end didn’t feel deserved and the White Walkers - what was being built up to be the biggest threat that the show has ever faced - ended up being nothing more than just another zombie horde like in The Walking Dead. And don’t get me started on the Night King.

The Battle on the Avengers Compound, on the other hand, had so much going on. There was the beginning, where the heroes are scattered as Hawkeye is trying to run away with the gauntlet. There was Thor, Captain America and Iron Man going toe-to-toe with Thanos. There was Captain America wielding Mjolnir and beating Thanos’s ass with it. All of it was culminating in a moment that can never be forgotten. When after standing in front of Thanos’s army, every single hero that was dusted in Infinity War came back and stood alongside Captain America. And then, after 22 movies and 11 years, Captain America - with the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe behind him - finally said one of the most iconic battle cries in comic book history:

That is how you pay-off long term storytelling. That is how you give your fans that have been following your franchise for over a decade pay off. Moments like this. Any genre franchise from here on out should learn from what the MCU did. And the battle was a visual marvel. It was lit in the best way, you could see the action, it was crisp, every hero got some form of spotlight throughout the entire battle and the way it ends feels right and perfectly encapsulates what this saga was about, or rather who this saga was about. At the end of the day, though, it needs to be said that this moment has been said to be one of the best fight scenes in movie history. 

Conclusion

This post was really long. Probably the longest post I’ve made and I probably did leave some things out about certain characters. Was this written because I really wanted to talk about Avengers Endgame again? Yes. Will people actually look at this? Probably not. Ultimately though, the moral of this is that Avengers Endgame did in 3 hours what Game of Thrones couldn’t do in 1 season. And it says a lot when a film that features a giant purple alien with 27 chins and heroes ranging from an old steroid ridden soldier from the 40s to an actual talking, gun-wielding raccoon told a more satisfying story than one of the most sound and cohesive shows on TV today. This year feels like the year of passing the torch for entertainment: the original 6 Avengers pass their torch to the new heroes, and Game of Thrones passed the torch for other shows to capture audiences like they did. However, one did it really well and the other didn’t.

Two great franchises. Two great sagas. And only one worked. That’s a damn shame.

(Also feel free to add anything I didn’t say, because there is a lot)

[troofless]

Under-appreciated light novels recommendation list, ranked in terms of PLEASE READ, to ehh, I’ll just put it in anyway:

Legend of Sun Knight (Completed Translation+Series): Set in a world of knights and magic, this series is golden comedy because the MC literally carries the plot. He’s smart, snarky and sleazy… but in a good way. I wrote about it here, but this series is for people who love comedy and political-castle-intrigue-level manipulation. ANYWAY PLEASE READ IT IT’S UP THERE ON MY TOP TEN BOOKS TO READ. No anime or manga translation. WHY.

Rakuin no Monshou (Completed Translation): For people who love the switching-the-royal-prince-with-a-body-double trope, political manoeuvring, military tactics, having the main character travel to different countries and exploring their governing system, and major character growth. No ecchi scenes, mentions of sex and rape (if any) are not elaborated on. Love between the MC and the female lead is more of a stranger to mutual respect to love, but since the female lead is literally 14-15 (they’re engaged to foster peace between two countries and not some lolicon thing), there are literally 0 sexy/blushy blushy/kissing/intimacy scenes between them. In the story their relationship feels less like a lovey dovey couple and more like the relationship between two generals that trust each other. This doesn’t have an anime or manga series after it. Why.

Only Sense Online (Ongoing Translation, Ongoing Series): Unlike the recent isekai and trapped-in-an-online-game-and-if-you-die-in-the-game-you-die-for-realsies trends that are going around right now, this is just a game where the MC has fun playing a normal VRMMO and makes new friends in it. …In fact, the MC isn’t an otaku or a game maniac, his sister and childhood friend are the ones crazy about levelling up and doing all the main subjugation-monster quests and everything, he’s more of the chill type who’d rather hang back and craft stuff to sell in his shop. He likes doing things at his own pace and learning how to craft new things in his own time. Instead of battling monsters and levelling up, he’s more likely to be seen harvesting items and mining rocks. Oh, and also at the start of the game he mis-clicked and is stuck in a female avatar, and combined with his mothering, take-care-of-everyone personality, everyone treats him like like a ‘nanny’ and is in awe of his ‘moe-ness’, even though he keeps insisting he’s a guy. One of the story’s underlying message is that different people have different ways of enjoying the same game, be it doing quests in a party, creating items to support players, roleplaying, and even PKing, and that’s okay because that’s what a game is for. No angst or permanent character deaths (it is a game after all), tis for warming your heart with the sheer sunny goodness that is the MC. No ecchi. Has an ongoing manga series, but no anime.

Hidan no Aria (Ongoing Translation, Completed Series): MC goes to a 'military’ school that trains students to be armed detectives, or as they say, ‘Butei’ (Busou Tantei). Think mercenaries. Female MC is a OP genius and major tsundere, only out-shadowed by our MC. MC considers himself weak, and because of his genes, his innate OP powers is only triggered when a certain condition is met: aka when he is sexually aroused. (Insert sexy times.) In this mode he doesn’t get flashy superpowers or anything (at least, by the world’s standard) — all it does it accelerate his brain’s thought process, but it gets so OP to the point where can deflect bullets with his own bullets and slice bullets in two with his knife. OP God Mode. This trigger also turns him into a major flirt and gigolo that can’t say no to a girl, which caused him to actively seek to avoid situations where he is in close contact with girls to prevent being triggered. Has a ‘harem’ of girls if you wanna call it that way, but even though the story is halfway translated as of now, it’s obvious he’s fallen for the main female lead. You’d only want to read this story to find out the next BS thing the MC does when he’s triggered, and it can only get higher and higher. Seriously, the moment where he catches a bullet in his teeth (way later in the story) gives you the best feeling ever. To put it in the Female MC’s words: "How about that rating, Kinji? Being classed by the world as a dangerous character who fights non-humans? Tell me how do you like that?” And his words: "–I’m a senior high school student. My grades are slightly below average, and I attend a violent school.”, and his monologue: [At least that was what I want to be. Honestly…] Had a 2011 anime and ongoing manga series, as well as a Yuri spinoff series (as per the usual anime law decreeing that all spinoffs have to have Yuri plot in them, see Soul Eater and Fate Prisma).

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (Completed Translation + Series): Idiots doing idiotic things in school. Interesting battle system, with loads of comedy. Loads. Of. Comedy. No ecchi scenes. Had an two-season anime series in 2010 and 2011, and a manga series.

Chrome Shelled Regios (Completed Translation + Series): Main character is OP but gets debuffed at the very start, tries to restart his life as a normal person but realises that his innate talent for fighting doesn’t allow him to. Has many female love interests but at the end MC only chooses one. ‘Magic’ system works a little differently from conventional sources, nearing more to martial arts style, and telekinesis-telepathy combination rather than enchanting-spell type. What else can I say other than the MC controls a weapon made of thousands of infinitely thin and sharp wires that he uses to slice bugs (the main enemy) up with... which is so badass. (Though his main weapon is a sword.) No ecchi scenes. The sideplot about ‘fate’ and the history of the setting gets a little confusing though. This had an anime, but since the director died right before the 2009 anime ended it’s unlikely that a second season will come out. It does have a manga side plot series that is completed and a great accompaniment to the main light novel.

CubexCursedxCurious (Completed Translation + Series): MC lives in a house that is apparently so holy that cursed weapons journey there to get purified and lift their cursed. Oh yeah, and some cursed weapons can turn into people too (Soul Eater style?). Wielding the weapons will obviously give you great power, but it also has serious drawbacks, e.g. A sword cursed to be able to slice through anything, drawback is that their owner will be consumed by bloodlust and is compelled to draw blood with that sword (in other words, the old regular cursed sword rule). MC is of course immune to curses (and so he can wield that sword) because he was born in that holy place. Female lead is originally a torture device made of 32 different torture tools, including Iron Maiden, Guillotine, Pendulum, etc. Literally the first scene is the female lead found naked (since her real form is a mcfreaking cube I would not be surprised) in the MC’s kitchen looking for food to eat so let there be a representative of the subsequent ecchi scenes to be found. The cursed tool system is cool, anyway. MC doesn’t end up with anyone is particular. Plus point: Not all female characters introduced are in love with the male MC. Just three (3) girls. Also, the second light novel doesn’t feature the ‘second’ heroine’s backstory arc like a lot of light novels do... but instead a couple of a girl and a genderfluid character. Cool stuff. Had a 2011 anime and (very behind) manga series.

Other more well known ones:

Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku (Up to Date Translation, Ongoing Series): Think Battle Royale x Danganronpa x the Mahou Shoujo Trope. Lots of blood and death, so don’t bother if you don’t want to see your favourite character die/put through lots of angst and depression. Each Magical Girl has different superpowers and you’d only want to read it in hopes of seeing your favourite character live to the end/have a cool death scene/have cool action scenes in general. One of the underlying themes was that it’s not a given that powerful people will always win; the strong can be overthrown by the weak (I can think of at least two occasions), a person can win a killing game without any blood on their hands, and the magical government is pretty much corrupt. Had a recent 2016 anime series and a manga series.

Hyouka (Up to Date Translation and Series): Based on Agatha Christie stories, think mysteries but without any actual murder.

And then I’ll throw in a few English books to show that I have good taste in books:

Captive Prince by CS Pacat: Gayyyyy + lots of politics. THE ROMANCE THOUGH.... enemies to tentative friends to hostile ‘ah we’re supposed to be on opposing sides as enemies of each other’s nation’ to lovers YEAAHHHHHHH. Some parts are explicit, yeah.

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan: MC was dragged into a magical military academy in a magical land to be a child soldier, but instead of being typical Harry Potter he is snarky, sarcastic and actually raises valid questions like why the heck are they raising child soldiers??? Bisexual icon male MC who is also a pacifist I love him he must be protected

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: War story narrated by a spy who was caught by enemy soldiers and forced to reveal her state secrets in the form of written narrative. Mystery and unreliable narrator time! If you can survive the first few draggy chapters and then a little more the reveal is SO. REWARDING. Female MC.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett: I tried recommending this to my friend and sadly I realised that if you have no background knowledge on Christianity and what the apocalypse details you may not find this interesting. It’s a shame because it’s so funny. EDIT: I’m so glad it got a TV series??? That means more people will read the book, which is amazing, right??? 

The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope: Female MC and the story of her ancestor’s romances (think short story-style but all connected together). Straight romance. Female MC.

Any book by Brandon Sanderson: Yes. Just… yes.

Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn: A bastard girl stays in the castle with her royal relatives for the summer. (If you’re wondering there is discrimination against her as a commoner but overall she is loved by her family there.) Somehow the only page I have bookmarked in this book is the part near the end where the MC commits royal crimes, and is slapped by the king, giving the reader no small amount of satisfaction. Fantasy-style with small amount of political intrigue, female MC is a apprentice hedgewitch so she knows herbal knowledge (which is a prominent part of the book when she uses it?). Anyway, please read.

A Posse of Princesses by Sherwood Smith: Female princess MC is invited to a large one week (?) party with the other country’s princes and princesses to celebrate this big county’s prince’s great birthday or smth. Some political intrigue and also great plot twist. At the end of it I got really invested in the romance between the side characters bc they were really well developed lol..

The Queen’s Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner: The third book is my favourite book because I love the MC (Costis!!!!!), bless his innocent soul (COSTIS!!!!!!) caught up in the nefarious plots of the first book MC. Little romance and more of political plots.

Warriors by Erin Hunter: I had to include at least one joke book and this was it. Anyway this was the series I grew up reading, honestly the third series had the best MC in the blind, grumpy, no-nonsense healer who is so refreshingly different from a normal ‘hero archetype’ MC. (*whisper* You gotta talk about the furries, troof!) Oh. Oh yeah, they’re all cats.

[kazliin]

This one was definitely my favourite of all the fake fics for the Rivals series I came up with and so I couldn’t help but writing a bit more! 

Original post here 

Part 1 here

Disclaimer - this is a mock up of what one of the fics written by Viktuuri fans in the Rivals universe on the alternate AO3 might look like and therefore is a reflection of how fans see umfb!Yuuri and Viktor not as they actually are. Also again this is a quick fun piece of writing so please don’t take it seriously!

Every Pawn Can Become A Queen Snippets Part 2 of ?

Rating:  Explicit

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Category: M/M

Fandom: Figure Skating RPF

Relationships: Katsuki Yuuri/Viktor Nikiforov

Characters: Katsuki Yuuri, Viktor Nikiforov, Katsuki Mari, Phichit Chulanont, Christophe Giacometti, Yuri Plisetsky, Otabek Altin, Jean-Jacques Leroy, Georgi Popovich, Mila Babicheva, Other Character Tags To Be Added

Additional tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Arranged Marriage, Alternate Universe – Historical Fantasy, Alternate Universe – Royalty, Plotting, Assassination Attempts, Enemies to Lovers

Summary:

Yuuri is the Prince of an Empire, second in line for the throne and renown in battle, a formidable warrior who has been fighting for almost half his life against the neighbouring Empire and their barbaric ways. But after tragedy strikes both kingdoms, an uneasy peace must be formed between the two opposing sides, a peace that must be sealed with the strongest of bonds.

Charged with keeping the peace for the sake of his people, Yuuri is forced to leave his homeland forever and marry the only son and heir of the opposing kingdom, forging an alliance with marriage to protect the empire built on the backs and blood of his family and now ruled by his beloved sister. But Yuuri knows what the marriage truly is beneath the pretty words. A life-sentence, imprisoned forever under the rule of a man he hates and has faced on the battlefield countless time.

But the political machinations of the foreign court might prove to be an even deadlier battlefield than the one he just left and he must keep the peace between the two kingdoms to save the lives of millions, whatever the cost. And what’s more, his long-time enemy and new husband is not the man he believed him to be and his position as Prince Consort holds more power than he ever expected. For the one who holds the heart of the future king is the one who can control the kingdom.

Plot summary of events so far:

Yuuri and Viktor are both princes of enemy empires. Viktor is the firstborn and heir to the throne while Yuuri is the second child after his sister. Their countries have been at war almost their whole lives and Yuuri and Viktor are both the best warriors in their respective armies, having been trained to fight since they were children.

They first faced each other on the battlefield when Yuuri was sixteen during his first battle and Viktor was twenty. Viktor didn’t take Yuuri as a serious threat and played with him for a while rather than killing him straight away as a taunt, which gave Yuuri’s soldiers time to step in and take the eventual fatal blow instead. Horrified at the loss of his men and at how easily Viktor had beaten him, Yuuri devoted his life to fighting until he was a warrior to rival Viktor.

They met on the battlefield many times and Viktor learned that it had been a mistake not to kill Yuuri when he had the chance. At one point Yuuri managed to knock Viktor to the ground defenceless, which was when he gave Viktor the scar across his face that never properly healed. But one of Viktor’s other soldiers distracted Yuuri enough for Viktor to recover without being killed and neither of them ever managed to kill the other in battle no matter how many times they had fought.

Eventually an unexpected plague swept through both Viktor and Yuuri’s empires, killing Yuuri’s parents and a huge portion of their people and their armies. Both countries decided that, so weakened by the tragedy, neither of them could survive a continuation of the war with their population and resources so depleted so they mutually agreed to peace. The respective councils of the countries decided that to keep the peace it had to be sealed by marriage and since Viktor was an only child and Mari was next in line to lead, it had to be Yuuri who was married off as insurance and a peacekeeper.

Yuuri was sent off to Viktor’s country and married although he resented it and refused to conform to any of their expectations. Once he was there, he found out Viktor as a person was nothing like he expected and was actually very kind, which surprised him.

His main job while he was there was to make sure peace was kept but in private he and Mari also decided that the peace was fragile and he needed to make sure they had the best possible chance of winning if the war started again. Viktor’s empire and army was bigger than theirs and while they had still been holding their own in the war, it had begun to turn against them before the plague stopped everything.

To make sure they had the upper hand, Yuuri’s other job was to find out as much about the enemy country and plans as he could and report back to Mari in coded letters using a secret system only known in their royal family. Thinking he was doing what was best for his country, he told her about the ways in and out of the palace, its strengths and weaknesses, what rota the guards worked on, which courtiers could be persuaded to betray the royal family and for what price, anything that might give them the upper hand if war broke out again.

As the months went on, Yuuri took his job keeping the peace very seriously and it began to look like with his help it might actually hold and that it would never come to their desperate backup plan. He also began to find that he was falling for Viktor and they spent a lot of time together riding and hunting etc. At one point they were ambushed by bandits and Yuuri saved Viktor’s life. Viktor commented that if Yuuri had let him die he would be able to return home as there would be nothing to bind him there anymore but Yuuri realised that he couldn’t bring himself to let Viktor die and his first instinct had been to put himself in danger to save him. The trust between them began to grow and Yuuri stopped sending information back to Mari, confident that the peace would hold permanently as he and Viktor had actually grown to love each other and when Viktor became King he and Mari would keep the peace for Yuuri’s sake.

Eventually they started a romantic relationship and Yuuri completely fell in love. He and Viktor started sleeping together and spent all their time together. Viktor told him things he had never told anyone else before and showed Yuuri the secret passages in the castle that he used to play in as a child that lead onto his room and his parents room as a show of trust.

Unbeknownst to both of them, there was a plot to restart the war. The country that bordered the two empires wanted to take over land it believed was rightly theirs, part of which was owned by Viktor’s empire and part of which was owned by Yuuri’s. The Advisor to Viktor’s father was in on the plot with a group of nobles, as was a distant member of Yuuri’s family who was royalty and, although distant, next in line for the throne after Mari and Yuuri.

The plan was that a war between the countries would destabilize them and they would eventually wear each other into the ground. On Viktor’s side the Advisor was going to make sure that eventually Viktor died in battle (although he had been proving annoyingly hard to kill) so as not to be suspicious and the instability of the country devastated by years of war would eventually allow him to unseat the king and queen and let the council, of which he was the leader, take over running the country. On Yuuri’s side the relative would make sure both Yuuri and Mari died in the fighting which would leave him to take over the throne. The neighbouring country backed this coup and in return they would get to take back the lands they wanted from the weakened empires.

Unfortunately, the plague had gotten in the way of the plans as it stopped the war and Yuuri was sent to keep the peace. So they changed the plan to instead brand Yuuri as a traitor to force the war to resume. Yuuri’s relative suggested to Mari that Yuuri could be used as a spy to protect their countries if war ever broke out again which she agreed to, not knowing that he was a traitor. Once Yuuri was well enough established in the palace and Viktor had fallen for him, the two sets of traitors set up a trap for them all.

The relative sent assassins to the palace under the guise of being sent by Mari. Using the insider information from the Advisor, they used the secret corridors that Viktor had shown Yuuri to get access to the King and Queen’s chambers. The plan was to kill the King and Queen and make it clear that only someone who knew about the corridors could have sent the killers, killers who were obviously from Yuuri’s home country. Unfortunately for them, Viktor walked in on them in time to save his father but not his mother.

The Advisor advised the King to promise to let the assassins live if they revealed who sent them and they ‘confessed’ that it had been Mari using the information that Yuuri had sent her.

The Advisor also admitted that he had been suspicious of Yuuri ever since he came and had been keeping aside some of Yuuri’s letters to Mari that seemed strange. The assassins gave the information about the secret code the two had been using which allowed the letters to be revealed as Yuuri passing on information as a spy.

All those letters were old however but since the Advisor had conspired with Yuuri’s relative he knew the code and had learned Yuuri’s style well enough to fake some new letters. In the faked ones, he wrote that Yuuri had told Mari about the corridors and knew about the planned assassination attempt even though it was something that Yuuri had kept a secret because he had come to trust Viktor. He also wrote that one of Yuuri’s goals was to make sure that Viktor fell in love with him. That way, once the King and Queen were dead he would be the second most powerful person in the country and could manipulate Viktor into doing what he wanted.

This meant that it looked like Yuuri was involved in the plot to kill Viktor’s family and that he had been faking his feelings to manipulate Viktor. Because Yuuri actually had done some of the things he was accused of, when more evidence was brought forward it made him look guilty enough that the fake stuff was believed as well. He was arrested and while he had figured out that he was being framed to start the war again to destabilize the countries, and he knew who was the traitor on his side since there was only one person other than Mari who could have taught anyone how to read the letters, he had no proof of his own innocence. The king also wanted him dead because he thought Yuuri was responsible for the death of his wife and betraying his son. Viktor believed it too because it was too believable for him to deny.

The king decided to execute Yuuri which Yuuri knew would lead to Mari declaring war again. If she did, their empires couldn’t survive it and the traitors would have the perfect opportunity to make sure she and Viktor died in battle to take power. The Advisor could unseat the king, pretending that he was too devastated by the loss of his wife and son to be a good leader anymore and with both Yuuri and Mari gone their relative could have the throne.

Viktor was heartbroken by what happened and believed that Yuuri had been using him all along and that Yuuri was the reason his mother was now dead.

And that was where the last part I wrote ended (but in the fake fic that was chapter 10 of 15 so there was theoretically a lot more still to come)…

 Extract from chapter 11 of 15

The sound of the cell door creaking open alerted Yuuri to a presence seconds before the torchlight from the corridor spilled into the pitch blackness of the room, illuminating the figure standing in the doorway. As the light flickered over the figure’s face Yuuri felt a flood of relief rush through him and tried to stand only to be jerked back by the chains binding his wrists to the floor.

“Viktor.” he breathed in relief but the look on his husband’s face never changed from the cold, blank stare that had been firmly fixed in place from the moment he had entered the cell.

“Don’t you dare.” he said and for a second his voice cracked and Yuuri heard the vulnerability beneath it. “Don’t you dare use that name when you’ve been nothing but an enemy traitor all this time.”

Yuuri flinched back at the words because it had taken him so long for the hatred in his heart to fade into a gradual love and for his address to Viktor to reflect that, changing from a mocking ‘your highness’ and ‘my prince’ to the name he had grown to love so well.

“Viktor, please believe me.” he tried again but Viktor didn’t look any more convinced than he had in the throne room when Yuuri had pleaded his innocence and Yuuri could understand why. From the outside it looked like he was a traitor and a manipulator and he knew that he wouldn’t even be able to blame Viktor if he watched impassively as Yuuri was dragged to the execution block the next day.

“I love you.” he said instead because even if Viktor believed it was a lie he couldn’t go to his death without saying it one more time. “And please. Even if you don’t believe me, don’t let the war start again. Kill me if you have to, but promise me you will keep the peace no matter what.”

The rational part of Yuuri knew that it was futile but he couldn’t help but pray that even if he died Viktor would be able to convince Mari not to tear both their empires apart for revenge and let the real traitors become kings of the ashes. If the war resumed he knew the fate that awaited Viktor’s father, his own sister and Viktor himself and even if he was terrified of his own death, the thought of Viktor and his sister cold and pale on the bloody battlefield scared him far worse.

Instead of answering, Viktor approached him swiftly, face hard, and Yuuri flinched back. But instead of the blow that he had expected, Viktor instead grabbed his hands, pulling them forward so that the chains were taught and unlocking the metal cuffs encircling his wrists, allowing them to drop to the floor.

Yuuri looked up at him in shock but instead of speaking Viktor simply hauled him out of the cell and dragged him down the strangely deserted corridor, through the twisting maze of the palace dungeons and eventually out into the fresh open air. Waiting for him outside was a horse, saddled and bridled with saddlebags full of food and water strapped to its side. Yuuri turned back to Viktor and there was a pain and confliction in his blue eyes that was more heart-breaking than anything that Yuuri had ever seen there before.

“I can’t…” Viktor began but his voice choked and he cut himself off.

“I can’t watch you die.” he finally finished after a few seconds but when Yuuri tried to reach for him Viktor knocked the hand away angrily and his other hand moved to where Yuuri knew he kept a dagger concealed under his robes.

”Don’t touch me.” Viktor spat angrily. “You’re a traitor and a manipulator and I know that everything was a lie. But the gods have cursed me to love you anyway and I can’t bear to stand and watch the end that my father has planned for you. But I’ll never forgive you for what you’ve done.”

Yuuri could feel the pain tear through him, worse than any wound he had experienced before but there was nothing he could do to change what had already been done.

“There’s enough food and water here to get you across the border.” Viktor told him, motioning to the horse standing in front of them. “Run back to your sister, run away, I don’t care. But never come back here again. You have until first light until your escape is discovered and then every soldier and hound will be after your blood.”

“I’ll make this right.” Yuuri vowed, still wanting to reach out to Viktor but knowing that he would be struck down before he could. “I know you still don’t believe me Viktor but somehow I’ll make this right.”

“If you ever set one foot back in my country again, I’ll kill you myself.” Viktor promised him instead of acknowledging Yuuri’s words. “This is the only chance you will ever have to escape the consequences of your crimes. My love for you has made me weak enough to let you go but I won’t be merciful a second time.”

Fighting back the sting in his eyes Yuuri mounted the horse, throwing one last look at Viktor over his shoulder as he did so. The other man watched him impassively but Yuuri could see how his hands were balled so tightly into fists that his knuckles were white and he could sense the pain hidden under the surface, a perfect match to his own.

“Go.” Viktor said, looking at the skyline where the first hint of morning was just beginning to creep over the horizon. Yuuri had just enough time to make it to the border if he rode hard and fast but it would be very close and very dangerous. “Go and never come back.”

Yuuri turned away and kicked his heels into the horse’s flanks, jolting it into action and galloping away from the castle that had become his home, leaving Viktor as a single solitary figure disappearing into the distance behind him.

The pain still burned within him but he knew that he couldn’t let it overwhelm him. There was still so much he had to do. A plot to avert, traitors to uncover, amends to make. He didn’t know quite how yet but he was determined to reveal the full scope of just how much everything had been manipulated right from the very start and maybe then, once he knew the truth, Viktor might be able to find it in his heart to forgive him.

Yuuri rode hard and fast and didn’t let himself look back. He had a war to prevent.

[deactivatedashe-s]

My List of Stories

Secret: zero: 

Anthony Slaughter has been living alone on the side of a cliff he carved out, completely self-sufficient, for the past ten years. Before he knows it, he’s chasing a thief into an electric trap and is waking up to the world he never had the chance to learn from. The leader of the guild he fell into looks like someone from the past… No, he is that person. He needs to get out of here before they discover his secret.

Litheliun: 

This is why he didn’t want to travel past Earaat. Ziren and Riden have been travelling the continent together for a good portion of their life. All it takes is some poor management of a ship and suddenly Ziren is running across the world in order to reunite with the person who holds his greatest secret. Along the way, he runs into those who barely even seem to connect with his goal. Unfortunately, they all carry bits and pieces of a history that had been lost in time, a history that may relate to his grey-eyed partner a little too much.

Eternal: 

The sequel to Litheliun. Nearly 600 years after Ziren and Riden disappeared, life continues on. The people they left behind live their lives. However, they never did fully finish what they started. Leia returns to the scene larger and more powerful than ever. Phiran and the daughter of the queen regent, Melody, are forced to leave behind the invaded Capital of Oshiean and seek out the help of the Spirit Catalysts. Along the way, Phiran unearths facts about himself and others that were buried in time. Guilt, grief, and chaos reveal themselves in spades as they all wonder how it came to this. 

Millennium War: 

The prequel to Litheliun. Tens of thousands of years prior to the course of events that make up Era of Realisation is the true history behind the one known as Riden Olivyon. It all starts with the era known as the Millennium War. Reidoux Youthly lives a life of tragedy. Her life begins a secret. Too shortly into it, she’s already lost most of it. Emotions are detached and revenge consumes her. She’s destined to fail but not before she places a curse on the world that cursed her very existence by name.

Short Stories: 

This is literally just random instances in the lives of the Litheliun crew during, before, between, and after the events. It consists of a poetic summary of Reidoux’s PoV from beginning to end, the events leading up to Liluna and Chiron’s marriage, TJ and Diamante’s own love life, Ziren’s narration between Litheliun and Eternal, and more. 

re:Meetings: 

Day’s past is a mystery. He is an aberration. He leaves a vague impression of recognition on many of the people he comes across yet none actually can place it. His only clue is a small, irremovable band around his left wrist with a circular charm. When the independent group that had taken him in, Evani, is blackmailed into taking part in another war after their empire had fallen from the last one six years ago, Day decides to assist them in a plan to escape. Unfortunately, that entails befriending the king of the country that reduced them to a small village… Where is this melody coming from?

Meetings: 

The prequel to re:Meetings (ironically). Amale has been trying to protect itself from the Evanence Empire’s attempt at imperializing the peninsula for the past decade. On one side of the war, a young prince and his retainer fight for their country against all odds. On the other side, a noble lady sneaks her way into the army to assist her fiance. Somewhere in between, a boy assassin falls in love with an unfortunate bystander. None of them know that fate plans to tear them all apart.

Lock and Key: 

It was World War IV in 2107. It lasted for only seven days, but it was enough to send the world into watery apocalypse. The human population went from a striking 9.7 billion to just 2.3 billion. Magic. That was the cause. No one knows how it was discovered or why they just suddenly knew it. However, there’s a journal floating along the water that explains it all. It’s locked, but the search for the key has begun. Avery James knows more than anyone else on this watery abyss of a godforsaken planet. She’s determined to return the books to the hands of its rightful owner. 

Valentia: 

Riddle was a rescued slave that caters to the royal family. After years of being trapped in the dark, he finally has some semblance of a normal life. After being framed for a crime he didn’t commit and pinned to a wanted criminal with the ironic name of Rhyme, suddenly he wonders why he ever wanted a normal life. This is fun! While running across the dimensions, he meets invaluable friends and discovers secrets about himself and his past. Yet, he can’t shake the illogical phrase Rhyme whispered to him when they first met. “You’re a valiant knight, aren’t you?” Riddle didn’t even do anything when they met. 

Fantys Aurea: Academy: 

Skylar Davit is a villain. That’s a fact that will never change. It may have been pure chance that his school burnt down but transferring to the greatest hero academy in the country with his cousin and partner-in-crime was a decision that he doesn’t regret. His roommate may be a clusterfunk of saturated primary colours and white that suffers from casual existential despair and hyperactivity and his cousin might be insinuating something he doesn’t really get but he’s not planning on leaving… After all, too many of students and faculty here in Phantom Rhea Academy are too suspiciously related to what made him become the villain he is. 

Game of Chase: 

A spin-off of Fantys Aurea. The heist was supposed to be fun. Curse the spirits, Alice’s cold just had to destabilise her power, huh? Skylar and Sora somehow end up dimension hopping after an artefact of unimaginable power. Skylar just wants to go home already and take a break from Sora’s unending pining. Why should he care if some random dimension blows itself up? It’s not like they’re the one dimension hopping. Why does Sora need to have a hero-complex?!

Fantys Aurea: University:

A collection of short stories that occur after the events of Game of Chase and FA:Academy when Skylar decides to attend college as a Psychology Major. The others are self-sufficient or making their wages already. At least he's not alone... If only the personified definition of cheery despair would pay attention to him!

Godly Affairs: 

Meth is a god. That is a fact of the universe. What kind of god is he? Well, that’s the mystery. His mind is a blur, a jumble of colours like the empty pocket universe he’d been trapped in for aeons. He vaguely remembers the sound of playful laughter and the impression of metal working. Finally freed from his prison, he resides in the Aurea Pantheon’s other-world until he can assist him like the weapon of mass-destruction they believed he was before they discovered his amnesia. He wants to discover who he is but his only lead is the arcane god who resides in the Mirrored Forest.

Caelus: 

Caila’s country was falling apart from a civil war. Her servants had forced her to hide and before she knows it, she’s falling through space and time. Alex, Alice, Anthea, and Aias live in the heart of the Forbidden Forest, hidden. They’ve lived for centuries after having left their mark as the Heroes of Legend in the world of Caelus. They never expected visitors in the form of two escaped slaves, one a fae and the other a human from Earth?! All of them are speechless until Alice pipes in. “Welcome to Caelus, the world of stories, my Princess.” Now, their goal is to return Caila to Earth before it’s too late.

Ever After: 

The spin-off shorts of Caelus. Like the Litheliun Short Stories, these are narratives of the lives of the Caelus crew any point in their lives undocumented in the main story. It follows their lives before the prodigy twins created the interdimensional portal that drops Earth humans into Caelus and changed the destinies of everyone involved. It also narrates their lives afterwards.

Dragons: 

The first part occurs in their youth. A group of youths had ventured into the forbidden caves and soon found themselves whisked through the sky and surrounded by the dragons who live there. Out of the many children, only three found the courage to live amongst the dragons while the others dug deeper and created a civilisation for themselves within. The second part deals with the lives of those three children after discovering they had been brought to the future and that their dragons had returned to the past. They willing restart their lives, separated… Good thing dragons have a tendency to be immortal.

Falling in Wonder:

In a particular city forgotten by the outside world, there is a trio of heroes against outside forces, a trio known as Wonderland. What happens when a stranger from the outside shows up and begins to disrupt the daily lives of the citizens in Memory Coast? This person is different. He is different. He will begin something new.

Most of these stories are not available online. However, you can find the unfinished, original (and very cringe-worthy) drafts of Secret:zero, Litheliun: Short Stories, re:Meetings, Valentia (then named Never Give In), Secrets Behind Lock and Key (rewrite and original), Caelus, and Falling in Wonder on my Wattpad account here! The original draft of Litheliun is complete and currently in the process of being rewritten. If you’d like to read the first eleven chapters of the original draft, you can look through the early stages posts of @ahotcupoftea for those. For the entire draft, please message me. Actually, if you’d like to read any of the unpublished drafts for all or any of the stories I have, please message me and I wouldn’t mind sharing or posting them!

P.S. Secret:zero, like Lock and Key, is a rewrite of the story I titled Secret but with a different execution and narration. That one can be found on a much older and much more cringe-worth account from my middle school years. Secret has a similar plot line to Zero but the original took place in a werewolf universe under the PoV of Lucas (the leader) while Zero takes place in a fantasy-guild-esquire universe in the PoV of Anthony (the betrayer). Lock and Key (rewrite) can be considered the sequel to the original. The original has a set-up like a journal and is quite literally the journal that Avery looks for in the rewrite. However, the original sequel was meant to take the PoV of the author of the journals.

[libertariantaoist]

The House Intelligence Committee’s reenactment of the McCarthy hearings dramatized  Marx’s famous aphorism that history repeats itself, “the first time as tragedy,  the second as farce.” The only thing this circus was lacking was ringmaster  Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California”) rising to declare that “I have in my hands  a list!”

War was on the minds and lips of the Democrats. Rep. Denny Heck  (D-Washington) compared Hillary Clinton’s loss to the 9/11 attacks, because  the killing of over 2,000 people on American soil is just like the publication  of emails that exposed the corruption at the heart of Democratic party politics.  Oh, and “the attack didn’t end on Election Day” – because isn’t that a Russian  hiding under your bed?

If political humor, albeit unintentional, is your shtick, there was plenty  of that: my own favorite was Rep. Jackie Speier – from where else but California?  – likening Vladimir Putin to a  tarantula spider who has “ensnared in his web” a whole list of Trump supporters,  including Wilbur Ross, the Commerce Secretary, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.  Echoing a common phrase at the hearing, she declared that alleged Russian interference  in the 2016 presidential election was “an act of war,”  although she gave no hint as to when the shooting will start.

Rep. Andre Carson (D-Indiana) asked:  “Is an iron curtain descending across Europe?” Yes, the Russians are going  to rebuild the Berlin Wall – and make Angela Merkel pay for it. Of course, the  US-erected iron curtain of anti-Russian sanctions doesn’t come into it. Carson  also took up a favorite Democratic theme: the GOP platform had been “changed”  at the insistence of Trump supporters, a  falsehood that’s been debunked yet still persists. What happened was that  an attempt to insert a paragraph calling for sending “lethal weapons” to Ukraine  – which had never been in there in the first place – was defeated. But in the  War Party’s campaign of innuendo and fake news, facts don’t matter: what matters  is the effort to equate dissent from a foreign policy of perpetual aggression  with “treason.”

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) spent most of his time referring to the “dirty  dossier” published by BuzzFeed, which has long been discredited, and bringing  up the names of various Trump supporters, asking FBI Director Comey if they  were targets of the investigation into Russian influence on the elections –knowing  perfectly well that Comey would not and could not answer. The idea was simply  to bring up the names in a forum in which they couldn’t defend themselves: that’s  what the politics of innuendo is all about.

Aside from Schiff, the Speier-Carson-Castro trio, posing as defenders of our  national security, were among the shrillest in their insistence that the Trump  administration is a nest of Russian spies. Which is ironic, since the Daily  Caller recently reported  an odd coincidence:

“Brothers Abid, Imran, and Jamal Awan were barred from computer networks  at the House of Representatives Thursday, The Daily Caller News Foundation Investigative  Group has learned.

“Three members of the intelligence panel and five members of the House  Committee on Foreign Affairs were among the dozens of members who employed the  suspects on a shared basis. The two committees deal with many of the nation’s  most sensitive issues, information and documents, including those related to  the war on terrorism.”

Those three intelligence panel members are Speier, Castro, and Carson. Now  aren’t you reassured that our national security is in their capable hands?

These three were merely sideshows, however, because the head clown was undoubtedly  the ranking Democrat on the committee, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California). Schiff’s  opening statement  is a model of McCarthyite smear-mongering. His first target is Carter Page,  an oil company consultant tangentially associated with the Trump campaign, who  is attacked by Schiff for the “crime” of criticizing US foreign policy in a  speech delivered while on a trip to Russia. He then cites the unverified (and  largely nonsensical) “dossier” compiled by MI6 agent Christopher Steele, who  paid his informants for dirt on Trump, to the effect that Page had a secret  meeting with a Putin confidante. Page was supposedly rewarded financially in  a murky sale of the Russian gas giant Rosfnet: he was also supposedly offered  “documents” to be published by WikiLeaks, “which give the Russians deniability.”

Let’s stop here and ask a question: Why would the Russians offer Page “documents”  that portray Hillary Clinton in a unfavorable light – presumably the Podesta/DNC  emails – if WikiLeaks was going to publish them anyway? But logic has nothing  to do with Schiff’s conspiracy theory: the idea is to simply make “links” based  on a bought-and-paid-for  “dossier” and smear as many people associated with the Trump campaign as possible.

So what was the price of all this? What did the Russians want? According to  Schiff, a Trump foreign policy that “de-emphasizes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine  and instead focuses on criticizing NATO countries for not paying their fair  share.” As “proof” of this sinister plot Schiff notes that Page, Paul Manafort,  and other Trump supporters “attended the Republican convention” (!) in Cleveland  where Russian ambassador Sergey Kisylak was also present. Kisylak was there  along with 80 other ambassadors at an event dubbed “Global  Partners in Diplomacy.” Similar events, staged to acquaint foreign diplomats  with the American democratic process, have been staged since the 1980s. Clearly  a case of espionage.

Schiff then goes into the by now familiar trope about how the GOP platform  was “changed” to remove a section calling for the provision of “lethal defensive  weapons” to Ukraine, which would be “against Russian interests.” To begin with,  there was never any such provision in the platform, so it could not have been  “removed.”

Secondly, Schiff is betraying his own rather specialized interests here: on  July 18, 2013, a fundraiser  for Schiff’s reelection campaign was held at the home of Ukrainian arms  dealer Igor Pasternak in Washington, D.C. Price of admission: $2,500 a head,  and $1,000 for guests. Why is Pasternak such a fan of Schiff’s?

The answer may be found in a Washington Times story published in January,  headlined “Ukraine  Desperate for Surveillance Equipment in Stand Off With Russia,” which details  the efforts of the Ukrainian government to get around the Obama administration’s  reluctance to provide them with the “defensive weapons” Schiff is so eager to  shower them with. Yet the Times tells us that Pasternak has somehow managed  to get around the prohibition imposed by the administration, at least to a limited  extent:

“In the meantime, a private, State Department-approved transaction has a  Montebello, California, company, Worldwide Aeros, set to erect eight sensor-mounted  towers that would deliver immediate surveillance along the southeastern border  this winter.

“’This system will provide a much more robust capability to detect incursions  into their territory,’ said Drew Shoemaker, vice president of government relations  for Aeroscraft, a division of Worldwide. ‘It detects with the radar and then  confirms with the camera.’

“With a maximum range of 40 miles, the Elevated Early Warning System, he  said, ‘can look quite a distance into whatever territory they are looking at.  They can track movements of goods and services in and out of the rebel-held  territories. There’s still a large of amount of military equipment in there.’

“Ukraine eventually may opt for blimplike aerostats with even more powerful  ranges.

“Worldwide Aeros was founded by a Ukrainian-born engineer, Igor Pasternak,  who has won Pentagon contracts to develop different  sizes and shapes of airships.”

Follow the money. Pasternak is selling the Ukrainians military hardware, and  is doubtless eager to sell them more – paid for by US taxpayers, of course.  According to news reports, Pasternak is deeply  involved with the Ukrainian government’s military production, which is seeking  to eliminate its dependence on Soviet era military hardware:

“On Jan. 3 [2017], as part of a long-term plan to adopt NATO military standards,  Ukraine took a step toward ditching this Soviet military carryover.

“Ukroboronprom, Ukraine’s nationalized defense industry conglomerate, announced  a partnership agreement between the Ukrainian defense manufacturer Ukroboronservis  and the U.S. company Aeroscraft to produce in Ukraine a variant of the US M16  assault rifle.

“’The M16 project was conceived some time ago, as the Ukrainian armed forces,  border guards, and National Guard will with time switch to NATO standards,’  Aeroscraft founder and CEO Igor Pasternak said during a Jan. 3 press conference  in Kyiv.”

Pasternak raises thousands for Schiff, and Schiff raises millions for Pasternak.  It’s a sweet deal all around.

Schiff bloviates that his campaign to restart the cold war with Russia is an  ideological crusade: “We are involved in a new battle of ideas,” he avers. “Not  Communism versus capitalism, but authoritarianism versus democracy.” Yet this  is about capitalism – crony capitalism of the sort that enriches both  Schiff and Pasternak. As Major General Smedley Butler put it in 1935: “War  is a racket.” And Schiff is one of the biggest racketeers in Washington.

The cynical, absurd campaign to tar the Trump administration as a Russian plot  to take over America is based on nothing but lies, innuendo, political opportunism,  and naked greed. Trump famously pledged to “drain the swamp” that is Washington,  D.C., and it was inevitable that Schiff, one of the nastiest of the swamp creatures,  would arise from the muck screeching in protest.

Let him. He and his party are consigning themselves to the margins of American  politics. Their loony conspiracy theories are so far removed from the concerns  of ordinary Americans that the distance can only be measured in light years.  Polls show  that even the majority of Democrats don’t think Trump’s relations with the Russians  involved illegality: independents and Republicans disbelieve Schiff’s tales  of Russian plots by an overwhelming majority. No normal person cares about  Russia: but the Democratic activist base is very far from normal.

That doesn’t mean that this witch hunt isn’t dangerous: it is. The news that  the FBI is investigating  “far right” and “pro-Russian” web sites ought to send a chill up the spines  of civil libertarians, no matter what they think of Trump. And for those who  want to see a more peaceful foreign policy, the McCarthyite hysteria generated  by Schiff & Co. is bad news indeed. Jackie Speier, for example, has in the  past been a reliably pro-peace vote in Congress, but as the Democrats become  the party of born-again neoconservatism, at least in the foreign policy realm,  the pressure is on to toe the Russophobic party line.

At the dawn of the cold war, as McCarthyism was rising, the formerly “isolationist”  (i.e. anti-interventionist and anti-NATO) Republican party became the party  of warmongers: the alleged threat of a domestic “communist conspiracy” logically  translated into an international crusade to “roll back” communism by military  means. What we are witnessing today is a similar transformation of the Democrats.  Which is, as Trump would put it, sad!

Get ready for a massive attack on our civil liberties, as the FBI takes out  after “pro-Russian” “subversion,” and the Democrats (in alliance with John McCain  and Lindsey Graham) conduct their circus-like hearings throughout the year and  beyond. A more sickening display of ideological emptiness and brazen self-dealing  hasn’t been seen the 1950s.