#We're being chased by a giant laser

[boyakishantriage]

"I hear you. But I'd like to reiterate. We didn't need it."

Was the first time I'd ever hear someone explain why we didn't need the shield generator. A massive magnetic spool that'd tank hits outside the ship.

"But what if-"

"The ship is literally part tungsten and titanium. I ain't no chemist, but that'll protect us from 80% of space debris."

"... what about the 20%?"

"You mean the giant asteroids, ship fire? We can avoid them. Swerve, fire out lasers at them. Y'know?"

Leaning against the small scout ship, amidst enemy territory. The Terran had practically suggested since we couldn't warp without being noticed, we fly straight towards the enemy's most focused centre.

THE MOTHERSHIP.

Standing at the bridge of the command ship for the Galvins, thin green like beings who held 4.5% of the Milky way galaxy. And increasing. Currently regrouping. His superiors' not doubt reorganising, planning and preparing for their expansion.

"Sir."

He turned to the captain, the logistics head's monitor showing an odd speck.

"Something's approaching."

"is it friendly?"

"We don't know. Currently it's just flying straight towards us... wait. It moved, it's flying towards the outer scout group."

"Send out order: raised shields, stay alert and man the guns."

"To who?"

"Everyone."

THE SHIP

"ARE YOU INSANE?"

"... Yes."

"... What?"

The unconscious pilot resting on her bunk, the private driving the ship with her crewmate's set up (why the Terrans bring driving components for various vehicles on their home planet for a video game on a space ship was beyond him).

She'd first steered the ship headfirst into the void, after modifying the engine she'd. Well, he wasn't sure. But she'd hopped out the ship, jumped into the controls and something had chased them all the way to here.

Guns were raised, shields glowing as they turned on, some ships continuing their patrols. Most however we're moving away, or into positions to strike.

"This is Sargent..."

"HI, I'M A TERRAN AND THIS IS A SUPRISE ATTACK. DON'T SHOOT OR YOU'LL FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DESTROY A LEVIATHAN's LUNCH."

She barked into the radio, one of the other Terrans froze.

"WAIT. ELLIE. YOU PISSED OFF A LEVIATHAN??"

Not looking from the controls, the radio began crackling with the Sargent's questions.

"I mean I don't know what else would be a big enough distraction for the. What were they called?"

"what's Leviathan?"

The large bear alien grunted. Captain glaring at the Terran.

"It's... uhh."

"Y'know dragons?"

Perked up the Terran, covering for her faltering friend.

"... the mythical beings, the ones that varied a lot?"

"So a Leviathan is basically like those Aincent dragons' grandparents. Y'know. Older dragons are generally stronger, these are basically the primal versions of dragons."

"I thought those were drakons?"

"I lied. Drakons are the bridge between Leviathan and dragon."

"..."

"TERRAN. YOU ARE ORDERED THE STOP OR WE WILL-"

The Terran flicked a switch, an angry scowling roar echoed out from the speakers.

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME A LIMP DANGER NOODLE YOU PATHETIC MORTAL-"

Flicking the switch off, the Terran began moving the ship away from something as she called the Sargent.

"Do you want me to direct it's anger at you? Shut up, when I shout fire y'all need to fire behind us with everything you got."

She turned the radio off, turning the captain mid twirl.

"They're gonna piss the Leviathan off, it's gonna go on a rampage and we're gonna go when it starts to get really chaotic."

"... miss Eleanor. Are all humans like this."

Markus spoke up.

"short answer is no. Eleanor is one of the few humans who's genuinely unique."

"Awww, markie. You're gonna make me blush. Anyways-"

She turned the engine off, firing the ship's flares as she grabbed the radio.

"FIRE."

Tentacles ripped out of reality, space opening into a door as something roared, swiping at the flares. The ship's glowed. Energy aiming towards behind the ship.

"Ait. Hold on, this'll get weird."

The ammunitions dropped, striking the Leviathan with the force to blow a planet to asteroids. The ship's engines awoke, masked by the roar of rage as the Sargent crackled through the radio.

"Is it dead?"

"GOOD LUCK SARGE."

Flicking my homemade jammer online, aiming the ship down into the ripped door, a being that could wrap around the keiber belt back home rushed out. Tentacles, blades, black fire, in general it'd take two more shots before it's probably return to the void.

But none of that was my problem, dropping down into the Void.

[vanosslirious]

BBS Dialogue Prompts #312

Vanoss Crew Dialogue Prompts & Sentence Starters: [ 8 ]

SMII7Y

How the fuck am I supposed to do this?

Wait, hold up, let me get this.

I fell off the roof.

I was so worried for a second.

Boy, am I glad you’re here.

What else is new around here?

I thought my prayers were answered.

What about the bedroom, any upgrades? 

Just as I suspected, it’s terrible.

How are they supposed to see me in the dark?

As long as there's not a giant roaring fire next to me, I'm going to be fine.

We literally have a camera.

What have I stumbled across?

This feels so eerie.

I feel like he targeted me, did you hear that?

You can stay here, I don't care.

Please, don’t tell me you don’t have what you think you have.

I love this, this is great.

Back to where I belong, fuck my life.

Slow down, damn.

KRYOZ

I have your problems.

It has to be done.

That's what happens when you get into my zone.

We're literally in a recession.

Wait, so did they make up for my back pay or what?

No, I can't buy anything, you bitch.

I don't have sound yet.

Shoutout to them though, they do good work.

I might say another thing here soon.

Are you spraying me, because I don't feel nothing.

VANOSSGAMING

Oh shit, that’s not the flint.

Oh, that’s convenient.

Are you going to throw a gravity grenade?

Oh, you think he’s good looking.

We’ll make a Tumblr!

I can’t wait, Mr. Googly eyes.

I’m sure he needs too.

I gave you a fucking chance!

Come here and find out.

I gave you a fucking chance when I asked you…

MOO

You mean A as in Available, because no one else is going to jump on that, I'm telling you that much.

It's fine, I'm used to it.

Yeah, that was the give away.

I don't know what we're doing, who we're doing it for, or why we're doing it.

Please don't die.

Okay, what atrocity am I being brought into?

I keep thinking that's like a duck quacking.

Yeah, I trust you…

Why did you do that?

I have twenty minutes.

H2ODELIRIOUS

Obviously, it’s a trap.

Oh, I think I’m good.

Well, I got two lives…

He’s telling the truth, I think.

That is really good, actually.

He's definitely not getting past that.

I wonder if we can break into people’s vehicles.

Maybe we can make our money this way.

I can’t believe I saw that.

I’m greedy tonight.

BRYCEGAMES

They sound close to me.

I can't tell you where he is.

They're trying to chase us.

Run towards me.

Why'd we get so much mail, all at the same time?

It is you with the ugly hat!

This is so difficult.

You shot a man grieving his dead wife.

Where did those bees come from?

Somehow, we all won, even though I died.

GRIZZY

We all froze each other at the worst times possible.

You deadass do not know how to shut the fuck up.

Yeah, I spent money already.

You gave that shit away so fast.

You learn by failing.

We're gonna figure this out once the smoke disappears.

So, I'm not gonna do that.

Oh, you hit that, oh shit.

He can literally see you.

They're still not hitting you.

BLARG

Don't look at what?

It's so fucking fast for no reason.

This is the only safe place in the kitchen, please help us.

This has never turned out bad for anybody ever.

I'm gonna land on him.

What if we just don't?

He's upset about something…

Wait, is this gonna be a laser, it's right next to me.

Hold on, let's commit a felony first.

I put it on myself!

[taiblogcomics]

She's Got the Bright Stuff

Hey there, terminal velocity. As usual, I got no preamble when the comic is good, or when we're in the middle of something that doesn't need setup. So let's just get into it~

Here's the cover:

It's our heroes! There's quite a contrast between their facial definition, eh? It's not as strong in the comic itself, the art is not quite as realistic for Rainbow Brite as the covers. There's a difference, sure, but they still look like they belong to the same property. Honestly, though, not my favourite cover of the ones we've seen so far. Last one was great! This one's just a couple of faces. I do like the move to warm colours for this one, though~

So let's see… Wisp, a youth from our world, encounters colour-stealing shadows and sets off her friend's security system to banish them. This also whisks her away to Rainbow Land, where all colour comes from. Teaming up with a sprite named Twinkle, she learns that the King of Shadows is trying to steal all colour everywhere, leading to never-ending misery. Wisp is their only hope, as Twinkle believes her to be the latest in a line of legendary warriors taking up the mantle of Rainbow Brite. And having just picked up a magical scepter and transformed, there may be some truth to this…

Her two tormentors, chief scientist Murky Dismal and his personal monster Lurky, are astonished by this transformation. Murky in particular has been fiddling with it for months and gotten no results. He sends Lurky to grab her, and she responds she'll defend herself from someone who wants to hurt her. Lurky replies that he's not going to hurt her, he's just going to grab her and throw her in a dungeon. And then his boss will poke her with needles or something, it's not his business. Ahh, to be the ignorant minion to a villianous boss~

Speaking of said villainous boss, Murky has grabbed a huge gun, and Wisp has to dive out of the way of his laserfire. She drops the scepter in the process, revealing a flaw in this magical transformation: if she lets go, she reverts to normal form. In a normal magical girl series, this would be great for quick-change secret identity stuff! But in the midst of combat, it can be a detriment. Thankfully, Murky's weapon also has a design flaw, in that it takes several minutes to charge between each laser blast. I guess it's a fair fight when everyone's weapon sucks!

Retrieving her weapon, Wisp--or should we call her Rainbow Brite in this form?--transforms again and unleashes a huge burst of light, blinding her two foes. She's no dummy, either, and runs out of the room while her enemies are incapacitated. Discretion is the better part of valour and all that! It's not a very big tower, after all, and she makes it outside--right as Twinkle, still being chased by the shadow hound, is barreling towards her. With little other choice, she swings the scepter and unleashes a powerful rainbow beam…

…And rather than hurt the hound, the magical rainbow energies dispel the shadows, returning it to the rainbow doggy it once was! Murky, whose vision has returned, is both astonished and offended. His boss, the King of Shadows, stole those colours fair and square! They're rightfully his, how dare this magical girl return them unauthorised! Little does he know, magical girls do everything unauthorised. His sight's returned, his gun's recharged, and most fortunate for him, the magic scepter has run out of energy. Wisp is a powerless little girl again.

Thankfully, she did just save a giant dog from an evil fate, and it's more than willing to attack the villains to defend her. Now they get to be chased. Once they're gone, Wisp has a little breakdown. Sure, Twinkle is all impressed with her, but all she did was steal a scepter and run away. She wasn't aware of how to turn the dog back, it was just luck it worked the way she hoped. And now the scepter is out of power, maybe even broken. Twinkle assures her that one does not become a hero overnight, and she's the best hope he has right now. They resolve to continue traveling together until (one way or the other) he finds the hero he needs. Or at least the one they deserve?

To that end, they gotta go on a journey. And they gotta head out fast! Wisp asks what's the rush, and Twinkle leads into it by asking that, even though the King of Shadows has been stealing colours, she's seen a few while here, right? Yeah, the stuff Murky was using to power his devices! That stuff was red, yeah? So the lands of the Red Mesas must still be free. So they gotta get there while they have the opportunity. And thus you get this reveal: the realms of the Rainbow Lands aren't just different areas, but different planets altogether.

"Planets", in fact, may be a bit generous a term. They're actually more like individual discs, flat planes of existence orbiting around each other. Yes, in the world of Rainbow Brite, they literally live on a flat earth. With all the implications thereof! Yep, to that end, they're waiting for Red Mesas to pass close enough where they will literally jump off the edge of their current location and hope to land on the passing planet. Normally, there'd be a rainbow bridge between each land, but it's not active at present. That damn Heimdall is slacking off again, I guess.

Naturally, even an adventurous girl like Wisp has reservations about jumping 15 feet down to another planet, but the choice gets taken out of her hands when more shadow hounds come tearing out of the woods. No other choice, might as well jump! Wisp makes the leap, and only barely catches the edge of the Red Mesas, which is a desert planet. Twinkle is too small to pull her up, and she's struggling in the sand. Before she falls off and vanishes into space, a hand reaches down and pulls her up. A handsome young man in red trim introduces himself as he pulls her up. He's Red Flare, last free leader of the Color Guard. She's very glad to see him~

This is a fun and exciting issue! You get some magical girl action, some character development, and a very interesting look at the cosmology of this whole world. The adventure is well on its way now!

[market-spy]

Paws and Probes: Navigating the Global Veterinary Diagnostics Playground

Welcome, fellow animal enthusiasts and aspiring pet diagnosticians! Today, we embark on a journey into the heart of the Global Veterinary Diagnostics Market. Get ready for a ride filled with wagging tails, purring companions, and a sprinkle of diagnostic magic.

The Furry Facts: A Glimpse into Veterinary Diagnostics Wonderland

Imagine a market valued at a bark-worthy USD 6.56 billion in 2021, forecasted to leap to a jaw-dropping USD 17.07 billion by 2030. That's an 11.2% CAGR – faster than a cat chasing a laser pointer. What's driving this growth, you ask? The increasing prevalence of animal diseases and a surge in pet ownership. It's a diagnostic wonderland, and we're just scratching the surface.

Diagnostic Duet: Immunodiagnostic Tests and Molecular Marvels

In the world of veterinary diagnostics, it's all about finding the purr-fect test. Immunodiagnostic tests, like the ever-reliable ELISA, take the stage, detecting both infectious and non-infectious diseases. It's the Sherlock Holmes of the veterinary world, solving mysteries with enzyme-linked precision.

But wait, there's more! Enter molecular diagnostic tests, the superheroes armed with PCR technology. Their superpower? Detecting genetic and infectious diseases with unparalleled accuracy. Move over, Sherlock; the molecular marvels are stealing the spotlight.

Animal Kingdom: Livestock and Companion Creatures

The veterinary diagnostics arena is a bustling animal kingdom, with livestock and companion animals taking center stage. It's a Noah's Ark of diagnostic challenges, from farmyard friends to cuddly companions. Because let's face it, whether it's a moo or a meow, every creature deserves top-notch healthcare. For More Information: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/veterinary-diagnostics-market?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Aditya&utm_campaign=Aditya

Techno Tails: PCR, ELISA, and Diagnostic Dazzle

Behind the scenes, technology is weaving the magic of veterinary diagnostics. PCR, or Polymerase Chain Reaction, is the rockstar, stealing the show with its sensitivity in detecting nucleic acids. ELISA, the trusty sidekick, adds its flair to the diagnostic dance.

But wait, there's a whole tech ensemble! Microarrays, immunoassays, and diagnostic imaging technologies (X-ray, MRI, Ultrasound) are joining the party. It's like a diagnostic disco, where each technology gets its time in the spotlight.

Global Symphony: North America's Overture and Asia-Pacific's Crescendo

North America, with its advanced veterinary infrastructure and pet-loving populace, has been the overture to the veterinary diagnostics symphony. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific is tuning up for a crescendo, with rising disposable incomes and a growing awareness of pet health. It's a global symphony, with each region adding its unique notes.

Drivers and Detours: The Veterinary Diagnostics Rollercoaster

The veterinary diagnostics rollercoaster is powered by the increasing prevalence of animal diseases. Pet owners are investing in the well-being of their furry friends, contributing to the diagnostic bonanza. But beware – the high cost of advanced diagnostic technologies is the looming detour. It's like a veterinary thriller, with the heroes racing against the clock and budget constraints.

Competition Carnival: Who's Who in the Veterinary Diagnostics Circus

Step right up to the competition carnival, where industry giants like IDEXX Laboratories, Zoetis, and Thermo Fisher Scientific are the ringmasters. The recent acquisitions and partnerships are like daring circus acts, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. It's a circus of innovation, with each player bringing their unique tricks to the show.

Tech Trends and Tele-Vet: The Diagnostic Revolution Unleashed

Hold on to your stethoscopes – the diagnostic revolution is here! Advanced technologies like AI and machine learning are taking diagnostics to new heights. Point-of-care diagnostics are stealing the spotlight, allowing vets to perform tests right on the field. And who could forget the rise of telemedicine in veterinary care? It's like a diagnostic sci-fi, where technology and care converge.

Conclusion: A Paw-some Future Awaits

As we wrap up our journey through the Global Veterinary Diagnostics Playground, one thing is clear – it's not just about tests and technology; it's about the well-being of our animal companions. Here's to a future where veterinary diagnostics continue to evolve, keeping our furry friends healthy, happy, and ready for countless tail wags and purrs.

Remember, whether it's a majestic horse or a tiny hamster, every creature deserves the best in veterinary care. Cheers to the paws and probes that make it all possible!

About Us-

SkyQuest Technology Group is a Global Market Intelligence, Innovation Management & Commercialization organization that connects innovation to new markets, networks & collaborators for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Contact Us-

SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

1 Apache Way,

Westford,

Massachusetts 01886

USA (+1) 617–230–0741

Email- info@skyquestt.com

Website: https://www.skyquestt.com

[stevenuniverse-described]

Image Description: a tier-list of Steven Universe based off of how necessary Steven is to the plot.

Tier 1: Steven Is Directly The Focus of the Plot(his feelings, arc, etc): "Adventures in Light Distortion," "An Indirect Kiss," "A Single Pale Rose," "Bubbled," "Change Your Mind," "Cat Fingers," "Cheeseburger Backpack," "Familiar," "Full Disclosure," "Fusion Cuisine," "Future Vision," "Gemcation," "Gem Glow," "Gem Hunt," "I Am My Mom," "Joy Ride," "Jungle Moon," "Kevin Party," "Lion 3: Straight to Video," "Lion 4: Alternate Ending," "Mindful Education," "Rose's Room," "Steven Floats," "Steven's Birthday," "Steven's Lion," "Steven and the Steven," "Steven's Dream," "Storm in the Room," "The Trial," "Warp Tour," "Watermelon Steven," "Gem Drill."

Tier 2: Not About Steven But He is Important to the Flow of the Plot: "Ocean Gem," "Alone at Sea," "Arcade Mania," "Are You My Dad," "Barn Mates," "Beach Party," "Can't Go Back," "Catch and Release," "Hit the Diamond," "Chille Tid," "Coach Steven," "Crack the Whip," "Cry for Help," "Dewey Wins," "Escapism," "Future Boy Zoltron," "Frybo," "Gem Heist," "Giant Woman," "Keep Beach City Weird," "Jailbreak," "Keeping it Together," "Kiki's Pizza Delivery Service," "Onion Friend," "Lars' Head," "So Many Birthdays," "Lars and the Cool Kids," "Laser Light Cannon," "Legs From Here to Homeworld," "Love Letters," "Made of Honor," "Onion Trade," "Rocknaldo," "Rose's Scabbard," "Secret Team," "Sworn to the Sword," "The New Lars," "Tiger Millionaire," "Winter Forecast," "Marble Madness."

Tier 3: Steven Is Mostly a Minor Character in the Plot: "Space Race," "Restaurant Wars," "Back to the Barn," "Back to the Moon," "Beta," "Doug Out," "Friend Ship," "Gem Harvest," "Super Watermelon Island," "Historical Friction," "Off Colors," "Joking Victim," "Keystone Motel," "Lars of the Stars," "Maximum Capacity," "Nightmare Hospital," "On the Run," "Political Power," "Pool Hopping," "Raising the Barn," "Same Old World," "Shirt Club," "That Will Be All," "The Message," "The Good Lars."

Tier 4: Steven Literally Being Told a Story: "Buddy's Book," "Garnet's Universe," "Greg the Babysitter," "We Need to Talk," "Story for Steven," "The Answer," "The New Crystal Gems," "Three Gems and a Baby," "Your Mother and Mine."

Tier 5: Steven Is Just There Because He Has to Be: "Letters for Lars," "Room for Ruby," "Last One Out of Beach City," "Back to the Kindergarten," "Drop Beat Dad," "Horror Club," "Log Date 7 15 2," "Island Adventure," "It Could've Been Great," "Rising Tides; Chasing Skies," "Reformed," "Kindergarten Kid," "Message Recieved," "Now We're Only Falling Apart," "Mr. Greg," "Onion Gang," "Sadie's Song," "Sadie Killer," "Too Far," "The Big Show," "The Question," "Too Short To Ride."

End Description.]

Something slightly silly: Steven Universe episodes ranked by how much Steven has to be there.

I binged the whole show and this is based on the fact that Steven is always there in every episode but sometimes he is just there. I probably could have been even more cut throat honestly. Tumblr quality crunch might make it hard to read but whatever

[chronicallylatetotheparty]

Lucky Charm: Reflekdoll

Summary: Adrien struggles to adapt to his powers as Mister Bug while facing an old villain with a new trick. Will he be able to learn fast enough to save his partner?

----------------------------------

"Reflektas, start turning the rest of Paris into me!"

Adrien hid behind the overturned car as Reflekta's clones started attacking untransformed civilians. Apparently, Reflekdoll broadcast a signal that brainwashed any copies. "That's new."

"You are Chat Noir, correct?"

Turning, he spotted a red kwami holding a pair of earrings. "Yeah? And that over there is... Ladybug?" Adrien asked as someone who could only be his Lady launched herself at the giant sentimonster. The suit may have been different but the cat ears were a dead giveaway.

"There's been a little mix up with the Miraculous. I'm Tikki, pleased to meet you!" Tikki offered Adrien the earrings which he accepted.

"Well! Tikki, transforme-moi!"

-----------------

Marinette dodged blast after blast from Reflekdoll.

"Well, my Lady Noire, looks like you're playing the easy part today!"

Lady Noire looked over to see who could only be Chat Noir with her Miraculous. "Not so sure about that!" Placing herself in front of him Lady Noir whirled her staff as a shield, blocking Reflekdoll's beam. "Looks like we'll be taking on two opponents that amplify each other's powers!"

They jumped onto the top of a nearby stone pillar as Reflekdoll attacked again.

"Stay focused, Mister Bug!"

Mister Bug took his yo-yo out and whirled it like he'd seen Ladybug do countless times. "Just my luck. I'm gonna have to capture two akuma instead of one."

"No, one akuma and one amok," Lady Noire corrected.

Reflekta fired her beam into one of the ports onboard. The magic layered by Reflekdoll before it shot a concentrated beam. Mister Bug acted on instinct and tackled Lady Noire out of the way. They rolled to their feet and charged up Reflekdoll as Lady Noire explained what a sentimonster was.

"Would've been nice to know what the Peacock could do before their sentimonsters started showing up!" Mister Bug commented as he launched a kick at said sentimonster to little effect.

"It was on a need-to-know basis!" Lady Noire swung her staff into the sentimonster with similar results.

"I really need to talk with the Guardian about what he considers 'need-to-know'!" Mister Bug leapt back towards the ground with Lady Noire. "Okay, so we need to find Reflekta's akumatized object and the baby monster's amok."

Lady Noire deflected another beam from Reflekdoll. "Can you manage or should we switch back?"

"C'mon! I'm totally capable of doin' it!" Mister Bug smirked.

Lady Noire pulled him out of the way of Reflekdoll's beam and they ran towards the Eiffel Tower. "We need to figure out where the akuma and amok are!"

"Probably the same place as the last time we fought her. In her bracelet!"

They jumped onto the tower itself and used the iron structure to shield themselves. "Maybe. We're gonna have to check that!"

"If I could just get my hands on a mirror I'd be able to reflect her own beam back at her!"

Landing on the first level, Lady Noire turned to look at Mister Bug. "That's not how it works." She crossed her arms. "The Lucky Charm doesn't just give you what you want."

"You ever asked? Watch and learn!" Mister Bug grinned. "Lucky Charm!"

"A mirror!" Oh, Adrien was gonna lord this over her so much! 

"Beginners luck," Lady Noire declared. Chat Noir was gonna be insufferable about this she could feel it.

"You're just jealous of my mastery!" Mister Bug teased.

A loud banging interrupted them and they looked down to see Reflekdoll climbing the tower. Reflekta steering with one hand and shooting her much smaller lasers through the window eyes with the other.

Mister Bug held out his mirror and reflected one of them back at her. Bullseye!

Reflekdoll shot at them with its big beam.

 "Very effective, Mister Bug."

"Hey, it worked didn't it?"

Lady Noire sighed in exasperation. "May I remind you that the Lucky Charm doesn't just give you an object to defeat the villain with-"

"I thought that's exactly what it does?"

"You actually have to figure out exactly how to use it!" Lady Noire poked him in the forehead. "Using your head!"

Reflekdoll reached there level and started firing. Mister Bug jumping for cover while Lady Noire blocked its attack with her staff. "Since you wasted your Lucky Charm. I guess that means it's my turn, buggaboy! Watch and learn! Cataclysm!"

Lady Noire leapt at the sentimonster and-

Her body was pulled out of the way of Reflekdoll's beam just in time. Mister Bug unwinding his yo-yo none too gently. "What was that about using your head? May I remind you that Cataclysm needs a physical medium to work properly! If that sentimonster is made outa magic I doubt it'll do what you want!"

Lady Noire held the Cataclysm as close as she could without actually touching it. "Well, what do you suggest?"

Mister Bug pulled her out of the way of another beam. "Uh... I... Knock her back to ground level while I come up with something?" Adrien smiled with the most conviction he could muster.

Lady Noire groaned. "Think fast!" And rushed out. Dodging Reflekdoll's attack she extended her baton and struck the sentimonster with her full momentum. Reflekdoll crashing back down to earth.

Taking advantage of Lady Noire's distraction Mister Bug glanced around from his high vantage point. Trying to spot anything that would spark an epiphany like Ladybug. "Okay, I admit it!" he cried out, shoulders slumping, "Being Chat Noir is way more fun."

Lady Noire leapt around the sentimonster and struck at its body. The Black Cat giving her a bit more agility than she was used to. Very handy.

Mister Bug added a swing of his yo-yo to one of her attacks. Reflekdoll stumbling with their combined force.

Lady Noire landed beside him. "What have you got?"

"Ah," Mister Bug rubbed the back of his neck. "About that..."

She stared at him. "Seriously!?"

"Well, I'm sorry! Some of us are just slow learn-"

"LOOK OUT!"

Lady Noire didn't think. She just acted. Mister Bug was the only one who could purify the akuma and he needed to keep going. She pushed Mister Bug out of the way as one of Reflekta's clones attacked... Just as Reflekdoll fired its beam.

"My Lady!" Mister Bug cried out.

Lady Noire stood immobile as a Reflekta copy.

"Yes! Now get bug boy's Miraculous!" The original Reflekta ordered.

Springing to life, the Reflekta that used to be Lady Noire aimed her bracelet and fired.

Mister Bug whirled his yo-yo as a shield and leapt to the nearest roof.

"You won't get away from me!" Reflekta called after him as he fled for cover.

-----------------

Adrien leaned against the wall of his hiding place. Breathing deeply, heart hammering in his chest. "Okay. It's okay. Ladybug does this all the time! What would Ladybug do? What would Ladybug do?"

The Ladybug earrings beeped insistently.

"This is fine!" Adrien announced as he detransformed.

Tikki falling into Adrien's palms as he fell to his knees.

"This isn't fine! Tikki, I can't do this! I'm no Ladybug! We should've switched back when she said! I-" Adrien's chest constricted and he forced his breath to slow.

"She trusted you enough to keep going," Tikki said weakly.

Her state bringing Adrien out of his head. "You need food."

Tikki hovered closer to his face, looking him in the eye. "No two of my Ladybug's have ever been exactly alike. Some are slower learners than others. I trust you, too."

Adrien looked away, shoulders hunching. "But I messed up."

"Remember Stoneheart?" Tikki prompted. "Ma- Ladybug messed up too. But you still believed in her." She placed a paw on his cheek. "Believe in yourself now."

Adrien's gaze came back to her.

"Don't ask what Ladybug would do. Ask yourself: what would Adrien do?"

Steeling his resolve Adrien nodded, rising to his feet and cupping Tikki in his palms. "First things first," he inched closer to the alleyway's entrance. The overturned car with his stash of Camembert a short sprint away. "Let's get you recharged."

A gaggle of Reflekta clones chased a group of civilians past him. The people hit turning into more copies and standing still until the akuma villain's voice came booming over the city. The new clones springing to life so they could follow her orders.

They lit up in Adrien's mind and his head shot back to the sentimonster in the distance. Its beam lighting up too.

Adrien gazed down at Tikki and grinned. "I've got an idea."

-----------------

"Lucky Charm!"

A mirror fell into Mister Bug's hands. "Wow, twice in a row. Lucky me," Adrien deadpanned as he tied it to his arm like a shield using his yo-yo. The plan was a laughably simple two step process.

Step One: Get shot.

"Hey, Reflekta!" he hollered from a rooftop at convenient shooting hight. "Don't you know that pink frills are so last season?"

"Once I turn the whole world into Reflektas it'll be the only season!" She fired into Reflekdoll's port which concentrated her energy into a stronger blast.

Just as planned. Mister Bug braced his feet and held his Lucky Charm directly in front of him. "Here we go!"

The sentimonster fired.

Step Two: Shoot Reflekta with her own sentimonster's magic.

The beam reflected off Mister Bug's mirror and perfectly into the round eye windows. Blasting Reflekta dead center.

Adrien held his position for a moment, peaking past his makeshift shield. Reflekta and Reflekdoll stood still. Waiting for orders from... themselves. The enhanced magic dependent on the sentimonster and by extension whoever was driving it.

"Yes!" Mister Bug raised both fists. "Now just a little pest control and we can all get on with our day!"

Finding and purifying the akuma and amok was easy when he wasn't being shot at. Grabbing Juleka as the sentimonster vanished and setting her down on the ground.

Adrien looked at Mister Bug's reflection in his mirror... "I've always wanted to do this." And tossed his Lucky Charm into the air. "Miraculous Mister Bug!"

As the ladybug's restored Paris he spotted a familiar black suit. Adrien ran for her.

"Mister Bug? What- OOF!" Lady Noire stumbled as her partner barreled into her and tried to squeeze all the air out of her lungs. Once she could breathe Marinette wrapped her arms around him and patted his back. "You did good, little bug."

Adrien just held her for a moment. She was okay. He'd saved her. She was okay.

Then his earrings beeped.

Breaking the hug, Mister Bug jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Ah, we should split."

"Yeah..." Lady Noire readied to extend her baton. "... I think I finally get why you're so protective."

Mister Bug smiled. "And I get why you're so focused all the time."

He offered a fist bump and she accepted. Both heroes leaping in opposite directions.

-----------------

"Tikki!" Marinette cradled her friend to her chest.

"Marinette!"

"I can't believe how much Chat trusts me... Knowing you might have to do that again? I don't think I could handle it."

"He's your Chat Noir for a reason, Marinette," Tikki agreed.

-----------------

"Fighting by yourself is horrible, Plagg! I don't know how Ladybug does it." Adrien held him tight. Deciding never to let his Miraculous out of his sight again.

"She's got you most of the time, doesn't she? You're supposed to support each other, ain't ya?"

"Yeah. You're right..."

-----------------

"... Well, one things for sure, Tikki." Marinette gazed off in the direction Plagg flew towards.

-----------------

"She definitely-"

-----------------

"He definitely-"

-----------------

"-got the short straw."

----------------------------------

Yes, this is technically the last prompt... But it's already written and I'm impatient.

@adrienaugust

[evergloffpress]

Bottle of Blog No.54

The Empire Strikes Back This Is Not or Rocking the Boat For Rock’s Sake

When Disney purchased Lucasfilm George Lucas was said to have presented his ideas for a sequel trilogy which we're promptly rejected. Perhaps the powers at Disney wanted to distance themselves from the creator of the Prequel trilogy and they're less than spectacular impact. Maybe the plots went against the ideas they had in mind. Whatever the reason could they of been any worse than what Rian Johnson presented us with Star Wars Episode 8: The Last Jedi?

Rian Johnson made a name for himself with his films Brick and Looper. Enough so that he caught Disney's attention to put him in charge of Episode 8. In 2019 after directing the Last Jedi Johnson released his latest movie entitled Knives out. A who-dun-it movie turned on it's head. It was a fresh and ingenious take on the traditional tropes of a murder mystery and it worked. Sometimes taking a long-standing paradigm and turning them inside out can work in a creative field where almost everything has been done a thousand times before. Though not always. Rocking the boat just to feel it rock does not consistently work. Case in point Star Wars : The Last Jedi.

I'm just going to go straight to all my issues with this movie. For they are legion. I won't be nitpicking either....O.K, one nitpick. The phrase ”punch it” is used too many times for my taste. Think it was used at least twice. It still got irksome.

My first gripe is why was Han Solo's death completely ignored? I understand the movie pretty much starts right after episode 7 ends and they were fairly occupied so a funeral might not of been on the agenda. Could of been in the novelization for all I know but I elected not to read it. But Han's passing should of at least been on their minds some considering who decided to off him. It should of been especially on Leia's. Speaking of Leia what the holy Hoth Hell has her brother Luke Skywalker been doing all this time in self-imposed exile aside from squeezing the udders of lactating sea monsters? Also, he’s supposed to be the last Jedi. Isn't he being a tad selfish to wallow in self-pity and let the galaxy fall into the First Order’s clutches? Goes against who we thought Luke was. Even of he does blame the Jedis for allowing to Sith and the Empire to rise to power why not use the tools you have at your disposal to do what you can against them? You don’t have to go around calling your self a Jedi Knight but if you want to just edit the ”sacred” texts so than any written bureaucracy that would keep you from doing the most good is expunged. He was the last Jedi who was going to stop him? Even Yoda who popped up later knew how restrictive they were. It made no sense.

Why wouldn't the resistance high command share their plans with Poe after Leia was blown out into space and did her magic dance back to the ship?

The remanmants of the Resistance were panicking so why not reassure everyone that there was a plan and share that plan? Instead, Poe and company cook up this silly scheme that made no sense which screwed up the original secret plan by looking for a slicer on the Canto Bight More on Canto Bight in a minute. So Finn and friends figure out that they are being tracked through hyperspace by a device they cant possibly know exists and deduce that said device has to be on the Supremacy which is Supreme Leader Snoke’s ship. Also why was the tracking device on Snoke’s ship? Why didn't General Hux have it on his ship? They then formulate a plan based on a hypothesis which is flimsy at best from their perspective. Yes they were right but they had little to nothing to go on. Which brings us to Canto Bight. The pointless side trip that caused more trouble than they were already in. It's like the director wanted to have a scene take place in a space casino but had no real reason to be in a space casino. Finn and Rose go to to Canto Bight and park on the beach which apparently is illegal. A naturally they get arrested and meet a sleazy hacker in the jail who could have broken out whenever he wanted to but waited till he had an audience to do it in front of. They then hop on giant rabbit horses and ride away to the outskirts of town to freedom and an awaiting ship.

Most fans speculating on Rey’s lineage thought she might have been related to Obi-Wan or the product of a nightstand by Luke or something. Instead Kylo simply states that she is a nobody. Came from nobodies and is no one special. Rather anti-climatic considering how adept she is at using the Force. Then there is how Supreme Leader Snoke was so easily done in. Sliced in tow. Though it did lead a sweet team up between Rey and Kylo versus Snoke’s royal guards. But who was Snoke? How did he come to be? He was presented as the big bad of the sequel trilogy and he is tossed aside just rattle the narrative’s cage. No pay off from his introduction what so ever.

Finally we have the battle of Crait. It's where the Resistance managed to escape to while being chased by the First Order. The needlessly secret plan made worse by Poe and pals poorly thought out plot to save the fleet made things significantly worse. The sleazy jacket Finn and Rose brought in betrayed them and showed General Huz the fugitives’ escape plan which resulted in forty demise of most of them. Poe really really messed up. Also why was Admiral Ackbar allowed to die like he was wearing a red short on Star Trek. He should of flown that cruiser at light speed through Snoke’s ship at light speed and not Laura Dern’s character. Ackbar should of gone out a hero not a long side a random tech officer on the bridge. So they get on the surface of Craite which was a rebel base years ago. At first glance it looks like the ice planet Hoth but it turns out to be a salt planet. That doesn't stop the bad guys from pulling out the New At- At walkers. Gorilla walkers seem to be more accurate. So all of a sudden it turns out to be a reverse Empire Strikes back. At- At attack near the end. Yoda appears to Luke after he did his less than enthusiastic training routine on Rey. Like ESB the main characters go their separate ways to achieve separate goals. A faux revelation with Rey and the whole gang getting together in the end after getting their behinds handed to them. The concept of the Death Star was used again only this time as a cannon on the field of battle. Why could it not just of been just a cannon? Why income the Death Star yet again? So with that in mind what does the Resistance send against said Death Star cannon? Poorly armed and maneuverable skippers that were already falling apart. Why not just chuck xorngogs at them. None the less Finn goes right at it in some idiotic suicide run. What did he think he was going to achieve? Rose then crashes her skipper into the side of Finn’s ship in an attempt to save his life. Again she crashed her speeding metallic vehicle into His soeeding metallic vehicle on the middle of a battlefield right in front of a super laser cannon in an attempt to save his life. Then the real froaning begins when Rose implies to Finn she had feelings for him. That's right talk about your feelings while you are injured in a warzone with thousands of guns pointed right at you. Makes all the sense in the world.

The crowning WTF ingredient in this fustercluck of a film is Luke’s cop-out appearance at the Battle of Craite. He Force projects himself on to the planet from his xave island hideaway. Says good bye to Leia and distracts Kylo Ren while what's left of the Resistance escapes out the back end of the Rebel base. The strain of Luke projecting himself from so far away was too much for him and he dies. Disappearing into the ether. Metalic arm and all. That makes no sense. What of made more sense if the metallic arm would of just clanked in to the ground. So with Han dead and now Luke dead we are thoroughly cheated out of having the original cast share the screen one more time.

So the director shook things about hoping to come up with something many fans would consider worthy of Star Wars. Alas, I feel he missed the mark in trying to come up with something different yet remain familiar. Which is clearly hard to do. It seems each creator wrote their cliffhangers without taking into consideration who would pick up the threads next. Disney should have spent a little more time creating a cohesive storyline than rushing in to recoup their investment. That way the next film does not waste time explaining what didn't make sense before. This franchise was a guaranteed cash cow so they could have bided their time and let the story ferment a little more.

So much of this movie was infuriating and nonsensical. I was questioning settings, dialogue, and motivations far too many times throughout the film to enjoy whatever parts I did like. Be all that as it may I really did like the porgs. See? It's not all hate and bile but it mostly is.

Oliver Evergloff March 21st,2020

[fly-pow-bye]

Powerpuff Girls 2016 - “Clawdad“

Written by: Jake Goldman, Haley Mancini

Written & Storyboarded by: Alicia Chan, Grace Kraft

Directed by: Nick Jennings, Bob Boyle

Advanced apology: this isn’t a Him episode.

If there’s one thing about this Season that’s an improvement over the first one, it’s the all colorful backgrounds of some of the episodes. It’s supposed to signify episodes where all of the girls have a major role. The first season would just give it a pink background. Because girls!

The bad news is that Splitsville is the only one that uses it well. The Last Donnycorn doesn't particularly focus on the girls at all, though they do have the best scenes, and the rainbow background doesn't fit this one, either. Sure, Bubbles and Blossom have seperate roles in the episode as well, something this reboot has trouble with, but the main focus is on Buttercup. Maybe they are trying to hide their favoritism of the rascally little green princess.

Once again, the Powerpuff Girls are going to do something mundane. This week, they go camping at the Utonium family cabin. The sign falls off as soon as the Professor shows up, subtlely foreshadowing the Professor's role in this episode. He seems to be the only one who calls himself a Utonium, at least in this reboot.

The cabin is right next to a giant lake. Buttercup wants to see all of the sea monsters, but the Professor assures her that there's no monsters in the lake. She gets a little disappointed.

Instead, the lake is the home of One Claw McCraw, a giant legendary crawdad. According to legends, he sold one of his claws to Poseidon for eternal glory. The Professor tried to catch him when he was a kid, but failed, as did everyone else who tried. I looked it up, crawdads only live for two years at most, so the legend must be true.

Buttercup immediately takes an interest in catching this one-armed crawdad, not necessarily because she enjoys seafood, but for the glory. Also, there’s a joke about avenging her father, which I only highlight because at least Buttercup sees Professor Utonium as her father. She jumps into a little boat, and Bubbles comes with her as her first mate.

Buttercup goes full Captain Ahab, talking about the seas and their roughness, toughness, and “druffness”. Bubbles isn’t taking it as seriously, even catching her Captain’s hat on the sole fishing pole they share. At least this isn’t the only difference between the two, which is an improvement from certain episodes.

The general conflict with this episode is that Bubbles only wants to catch him and then throw him back safely into the water. Buttercup isn't too pleased with that, as they need to catch the crawdad to get all of the fame, glory, and rock operas.

We get another fantasy sequence of Buttercup catching the legendary crawdad, and getting the press involved. Oh, and she has giant muscles. That seems to be a thing in this reboot: give the Powerpuff Girls big ol' beefy arms. I feel that goes against the whole idea of the Powerpuff Girls, but hey, at least it's an overly idealized fantasy sequence this time. Emphasis on "this time."

I can’t help but notice that the crawdad in her fantasy sequence doesn’t look anything like the picture, which is the only hint Buttercup has to what it looks like, but rather what he actually looks like once we see him. The only exaggeration is that he’s bigger. I guess she’s suddenly getting prescience as her special power, as it certainly isn’t eye lasers.

Back to reality, we get this lovely bit of dialogue, just in case the motivations were not obvious enough.

Buttercup: Catching that endangered animal will definitely prove to the world that how cool I am! I'M THE BAD GIRL!

Bubbles: But catching the crawdad...that's so mean! I'M THE GOOD GIRL!

I might have added a few lines; it just wasn't blatant enough.

Speaking of bad girl, Princess shows up, complete with her rap cliche “crew”, in a solid gold boat. She aspires to catch the crawdad as well, and she also wants to catch it for the glory. She also blows a hole in the girls’ boat, showing that while Buttercup is the bad girl, Princess has to be the worse girl. She doesn’t even need to be here and just have Bubbles and Buttercup fighting over the crawdad, but she does give the episode the only bit of “superhero comedy” in the whole episode.

While all of that goes along, we get a B plot with Blossom and the bumbling father figure that she won’t even share her last name with! The general formula for these scenes: Blossom wants to follow her books. The Professor is too manly to follow rules. The Professor gets hurt. Blossom looks at her “father” with disgust. Lather, rinse, repeat. There's no need for a play by play, I would say I described all of their scenes pretty well. Wasn't that worth the rainbow background in the title card?

I can get that the Professor doesn’t have a lot of experience with the woods. He’s more about chemicals than wildlife study. Then again, his lines seem to indicate that he just wants to prove that he’s a manly forest man who needs no instructions. He can't just be Homer Simpson, he has to be Tim from Home Improvement, too. Just another day in the life of a Sitcom Dad.

Back on the boat, which was fixed with bubble gum, Buttercup is still desperately trying to catch that crawdad. She gets a bite, and I say to myself, "it's going to be a boot, it's going to be a boot", and sure enough, it's a boot. The only "clever" thing they do with that cliche is to...have Bubbles capture it with her cellphone and give Buttercup a weird face?

She gets worse and worse by the minute. She even goes as far as to try to steal one of Bubbles’ pigtails to use as bait, because the water is getting into her head. Also, SHE'S THE BAD GIRL.

As far as weird faces go, this episode has a lot of them. Sure, Buttercup is acting out of line in this episode, but a lot of these are done for no reason. I wouldn’t say any of them are as bad as the scenes in Sister Sitter or The Big Sleep, there’s no relatively bad animated scenes, but it’s overused here. It loses all of the effect of them being out of place, making them pointless at best.

Suddenly, Buttercup's fishing rod catches something. Buttercup and Bubbles start fighting over it, flinging the rod over, revealing that it indeed caught the giant crawdad...which is actually tiny. This is never brought up, as...

...it also lands right into Princess’ hands. We get a whole scene where they chase each other, trying to get that crawdad. This all ends with the crawdad pinching Princess in the nose, Buttercup immediately knocking them out with the only punch thrown in the entire scene, and Buttercup being the victor.

Buttercup starts gloating that she got the legendary crawdad, but she then suddenly realizes that Bubbles was right. No, really, she just gives up being a villain just because the episode wouldn't progress the way they would have wanted to otherwise.

Finally seeing the oppurtunity to become the new villain, Princess turns her boat into a giant robot. We get a Voltron parody, with each rap cliche saying a cliched rap line except for the tiger, who can only roar. Wow, an animal that can't talk in this reboot? No way!

They put the tiger as the second of the crew to appear. One would think that the "funny because it's different" joke should be the one placed last, but they had different plans.

Bubbles: Yeah, let's get him! (holds up golden spear) AAAAAAAAAAAAHH!

Princess: Go away, Bubbles! (launches Bubbles into stratosphere with ejection seat)

Wait, I thought Bubbles didn’t want to get the crawdad. The episode can not even be consistent with who should be the villain! I’ll take an episode with one pointless, terrible scene with Bubbles over an episode where Bubbles is terrible all the time, but I still don’t like or get it.

Of course, this giant robot gets treated like something Buttercup can’t handle at all. In the very last episode, she was beating up a monster the same size as this robot with no issue whatsoever. The power of lots of money, maybe?

Before a dreaded Robot Punch, Girl Down scene could happen, the Professor suddenly shows up covered in grass. Princess and her crew immediately think he’s Bigfoot. Just like that episode of the Simpsons! I know the Simpsons did everything, but still, that's too much to not be a coincidence. He gets chased off, and he apparently survives the ordeal. We don't see what happens; Princess just disappears.

In the end, Buttercup saves the crawdad, thanks to the Bumble Ex Machina. There’s only one thing to do now, as we make a cutaway from the titular Claw Dad to...

A pan over a burning fire. I’ll admit, that segway was a little clever.

They do reveal that One Claw McCraw was set free, cursed with the “glory” of eternal life instead of finally getting the ending he wished. Instead, he has to suffer, seeing all of his crawdad friends die over and over again. Why, Buttercup, why? Look, I’m squeezing as much water out of this stone as I can!

Does the title fit?

It’s a crawdad with one claw, therefore, Claw Dad. The claw doesn’t really factor into the plot besides giving the crawdad its specialty, but it’s better than Rainy Day in this regard.

How does it stack up?

This episode doesn’t do anything too wrong. It's just slightly better than Cheep Thrills; it tries to be cute, but it doesn't really entertain too well beyond that.

Next time, Reboot Jojo returns! Hooray, I say in monotone.

Next time, a birthday bash!

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