#YOUR COVERS ARE SO GORGEOUS AND UNDERRATED HONESTLY!!! they deserve so much attention

[gaydexvocaloid]

OMG THESE ARE SO CUTE!!!!!!! AHHJHDHBEHHJHHD YOU DREW YUMA SO CUUTEEEE AHHHI LOVE THESE I LOVE THESEE EVERYONE ELSES ICONS U DREW ARE SO CUTE TOO!!! XINGCHENN 🥺🥺🥺 THANK YOU SM FOR DRAWING MY BOYYY <3333

I tried to draw all my mutuals!

I'm not the best at drawing, music, photography, and fashion are more were my art skills and passions lie, but I decided to pick up a pencil anyways to draw my followers @gaydexvocaloid, @lmbc-lemuria-butchcrybabyas, @livewellpsa, @astralfuchs, and @myloh-rebblogs as a way to thank them. I'm so grateful that there are people who want to listen to and see the stuff I make, and it means even more to me to have the privilege to see everyone else's creations and music covers and posts about the things they love, and to be a part of a community! Love y'all!

(P.S. DON'T use FreeConvert to change your photos' formats from raw or nef, it bakes a weird yellow tint into them. I recommend using something like CloudConvert.)

[that-gay-jedi]

'double agent vader series' ????? 🥵 i know the post implies it's unfinished but if you have a title or a link for it please share 😔

-> CLICKING THIS LINK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE <-

-> PODFIC VERSION <-

Okay so the 'bad' news about Double Agent Vader is it's only got canon ships. Any time I ever recommend a non-obikin fic, know that it's TOP TIER because I can't read them otherwise. It helped that a lot of it's gen or not very romance focused BUT it's also so, SO well written that I fucking enjoyed the bits of HanLeia in it, a ship which usually makes me throw up in my mouth.

Everyone loves Double Agent Vader because it's the origin of the Amavikka, the OG Tatooine slave culture which absolutely fucks, but honestly? Even as popular as it is, it's STILL MASSIVELY UNDERRATED bc there is so much else to like besides the gorgeous worldbuilding!!

People are sleeping on phenomenal characterization, immense narrative effectiveness (the painful parts are painful, the funny parts are funny, the hopeful parts are hopeful, etc) and the level of emotional nuance in complicated relationships.

It also masterfully fills in material previously untouched in the OT (it's largely focused on Anakin's relationship with Leia for example) without disrespecting or neglecting what canon focused on (contains my absolute FAVOURITE portrayal of Luke Skywalker HANDS DOWN).

Like okay. You know how I say the rebels remind me of the grassroots af local punks I got in with as a teen who helped me start to deprogram? That didn't start when I watched the OT. That started when I read Double Agent Vader.

Especially the fic "Empire Day" after which I was like "this author has DEFINITELY spent a shitload of time with some irl group analogous to the Rebellion" because I felt like I was back on the couch at one of the illegal squats laughing at the last political joke a friend of mine told me before fleeing town bc he'd become enough of a problem for local Nazis that he was legit gonna die if he stayed. They got right everything contemporary media tends to get wrong about it. I just.

Fwoo. Deep breath cause I realize I did not start at the beginning here AT ALL lmao.

The premise of Double Agent Vader is that about ~4 years after the events of RotS, Palpatine sends Vader to visit Tatooine as a punishment to remind him of his place. But instead it reminds him of his people. And he soon starts thinking of himself as Anakin again, in his head referring to Sidious as depur instead of master, and starts working for the Rebellion behind Palps' back, and. What if OT but Vader is a rebel spy? And his cover is so deep most of the rebels don't know. They don't even fucking know.

This is an author who understands Anakin so well. I can't say much more without spoiling it.

And like. Years before the Kenobi series came out (last individual fic in the unfinished series was completed in like 2017), this was THE story that gave Leia the attention she deserved.

I'd give a fuckin kidney for this series to have continued up to RotJ, which was probs the author's initial plan. As it stands, it goes up to shortly after the end of ESB.

[theirrationalzone]

My Top Ten Games of 2020

Let’s just address the giant elephant in the room from the offset: 2020 has been one giant mess of a year. Every event, every major moment this year just felt like the worst case scenario every time.

For a lot of us though, there was one saving grace: video games.

2020 has been a damn fine year for video games. From the return of certain classic franchises to some amazing new entries and experiences. Gaming really managed to thrive in a year where other entertainment mediums such as films and television struggled.

Let’s dive in and take a look at some of the games that made this year a lot more bearable:

10: Watch Dogs Legion

I’ve had a soft spot for Ubisoft’s hack ‘em up franchise for quite a while. I didn’t think the original was as disappointing as it was made out to be and I thought the second one was an underrated gem. When Legion was first announced, I liked a lot of what the game was setting out to do but I wasn’t ready to pull the trigger on getting it. I decided to give the game a chance in the end and I’m glad I did.

Legion might suffer from the same pitfalls that have plagued other Ubisoft enterprises, but the recruitment mechanic is one of the coolest systems I have seen in any game ever. The fact that you can recruit any NPC that you see on the streets of London and use their unique talents to complete your objectives is just an awesome thing in and of itself. Its depiction of London is also incredibly fun to explore and cause mayhem in. While I found the writing to be pretty subpar, the game quite buggy and the whole PS5 upgrade fiasco a farce, I still found Legion to be a fun open world experience overall.

9: Resident Evil 3

Resident Evil has been on a real hot streak as of late, hasn’t it? Ever since Capcom made a promise to its fans that the Resident Evil series would go back to what made it so popular in the first place, the series has gone from strength to strength. Last year saw the release of the RE2 Remake which was absolutely excellent in that it kept the spirit of the original while also taking a few liberties of its own. It was only a matter of time before RE3 got the same treatment and well... it did.

I’m just going to spit this out. It’s not as good as the RE2 Remake. It didn’t need to be though. I still think this is a good game that provides a satisfying and fun survival horror experience. It carries over a lot of the elements that made the RE2 Remake such an excellent game and in certain areas (especially the writing) it makes a few improvements. Plus the game looks absolutely stunning thanks to the RE Engine. It is quite short. It is missing quite a bit of content from the original game. It definitely isn’t as replayable as the RE2 Remake. I still had a blast with it though overall. If this really is a blip for the Resident Evil series, then it must be in a really good place right now.

8: Tell Me Why

Dontnod Entertainment have fast become one of my favourite developers in the industry right now. When I first played Life is Strange back in 2015, it felt like a revelation. It weaved a fantastic story with characters you genuinely cared for and took you to a place you never wanted to leave. I’ve enjoyed all of their other ventures since then such as the underrated (if quite janky) Vampyr and Life is Strange 2.

Tell Me Why is another venture that fits the Dontnod MO: A grounded emotional story with slight supernatural elements, a degree of player choice and a setting that makes your jaw drop. The major difference here is the game’s attempt to portray a transgender character. That’s nothing new in and of itself. It’s more the fact that it attempts to accurately portray a transgender male character which is a bit of a rarity in all forms of media. Transgender portrayals (from what I’ve seen) tend to focus on male to female rather than female to male.

I’m in no position to comment on whether the portrayal is accurate or not, but I got the impression that Dontnod really went out of their way to get this right. Their FAQ explains that they worked with GLAAD and the voice actor to get it as right as they could. That alone deserves huge praise, but I also loved the Ronan Twins’ story as they dealt with their harsh past and the uncertain future. The game was a delight from beginning to end and it just looks absolutely gorgeous to boot. Dontnod have done it again.

7: Bugsnax

One of the early delights of the last generation was a little ditty known as Octodad: Dadliest Catch. It was a fun little physics based affair which cast you as a octopus masquerading as a human. The game had a terrific sense of humour and it was just bloody fun to play. Young Horses (the developer of the game) kinda went dark after that. They only really resurfaced to release two bonus levels for that game and then they just disappeared again. Now we know why that was the case...

Bugsnax retains some of the qualities that made Octodad such as a memorable game. A great sense of humour and a unique gameplay hook. You play as a reporter sent to the mysterious Snaktooth Island to interview an explorer called Elizabert Megafig who has discovered these unusual creatures known as Bugsnax. After crash landing onto the island, you discover that Elizabert and her significant other have gone missing. It’s up to you to find out what happened while also documenting and capturing Bugsnax for yourself. Capturing the Bugsnax is a big part of what makes this game such a delight to play. As you unlock more tools to play around with, you can come up with different strategies and methods to capture these weird snack based creatures. It’s pretty awesome. Throw in a lovable set of characters to interact with and a beautiful environment to explore, and you’ve got one of the most lovable games released this year.

6: Mafia: Definitive Edition

The last few years haven’t been too kind to the Mafia franchise in my eyes. I really wanted to like Mafia III when it came out back in 2016. It was a sequel I waited years for and it did have some good qualities such as an excellent story that dealt with some pretty heavy topics, solid gameplay mechanics and an amazing licensed soundtrack. Unfortunately the game had one of the most tedious and boring gameplay loops I think I’ve ever seen in an open world game. It just got so dull after the first couple of hours.

This year saw the announcement of the Mafia Trilogy which was to be a celebration of the entire franchise with a remake of the first game, a remaster of the second and a re-release of the third. Half of this was botched with the remaster of II being poorly put together and the re-release of III receiving a broken patch. Things were looking grim for the remake...

As you can see by it being in this list, we were proven wrong. Mafia: DE is a fantastic remake that pays good lip service to the original while also expanding on certain elements. The story which follows the rise and fall of cab driver turned wiseguy Tommy Angelo is more fleshed out with new sequences and character moments that weren’t in the original. Gameplay still retains the solid shooting and cover mechanics of Mafia III and the driving feels absolutely excellent especially when you put it in simulation mode. Lost Heaven is just gorgeous to behold as well with its bustling neighbourhoods and beautiful countryside. I hope this is the beginning of a redemption arc for Hangar 13 and the Mafia franchise. There is a lot of promise to build upon from here.

5: Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise

Anyone who knows me personally or has followed me on social media for a while knows that I’m a big fan of Deadly Premonition. The 2010 cult survival horror hit pretty much encapsulates why I love video games with its lovable hero, an eccentric cast of characters and surprisingly solid mechanics considering the budget it was made for. It was definitely more than the sum of its parts.

When I found out that a sequel was being made exclusively for the Nintendo Switch, my jaw hit the floor pretty hard. I thought any hopes for a sequel were dashed when SWERY left Access Games (the original dev), and yet here we are. A Blessing in Disguise is a brilliant sequel to the zany original. It captures everything that I loved about the original game to a T while also improving in certain aspects. The story is more ambitious this time with it being both prequel and sequel. A lot of the gameplay elements have been improved. The combat benefits from better aiming controls and an upgrade system for both York and his weapon. Getting from A to B is less wonky (and more fun) thanks to the addition of a skateboard rather than a car.

While I do still think the original is better due to the more creative side quests, the more challenging difficulty and the fact that it functions better from a technical perspective, I’m still a big fan of DP2 and it deserves your attention. Here’s hoping that it makes its way to other platforms in the future.

4: Ghost of Tsushima

This last generation has been good for Sony and its Worldwide Studios. In the last five years, they’ve managed to produce hit after hit after hit. A definite far cry from the first year of the PS4 where they produced some dire exclusives. Infamous Second Son was one of these. Sucker Punch’s first effort on the console was very pretty and a good technical showpiece for the console, but as a game, it was boring and dull. I couldn’t even muster the strength to finish it. The standalone expansion First Light was a huge improvement in my eyes. It cut out a lot of the fluff from Second Son. I knew then that Sucker Punch would eventually give us something amazing. They certainly did in the end...

Ghost of Tsushima is honestly one of the best exclusives that Sony has ever produced. Giving us a brutal tale in the vein of a Kurosawa flick where samurai Jin Sakai is forced to betray his code in order to drive out the Mongol force that has enslaved his homeland; we have a story that is genuinely gripping from beginning to end with an incredibly powerful final duel to boot. The combat is incredibly fun with a brilliant combat system that is easy to pick up but challenging to master. Duels especially show the combat system at its finest. Upgrading your abilities genuinely makes you feel incredibly powerful as you begin to decimate enemies left, right and center. Stealth is solid giving you plenty of tools at your disposal and certainly changes up the gameplay a fair bit. Did I mention that Tsushima Island is one of the most aesthetically pleasing locales in any game to date? Well I’m saying it now. It is one of the most beautiful locales in any game to date.

I’m very excited to see where this new IP goes in the future because this first entry is just incredible. A must buy if you own or plan on owning a PlayStation 4 or 5 in the near future.

3: Astro’s Playroom

Memorable pack-in exclusives are a bit of a rarity nowadays. The last one that sticks in my mind is Wii Sports, and that was a long time ago.

Astro’s Playroom serves as the pack-in title for the PlayStation 5 as it is pre-installed on all units. It’s also my favourite exclusive for the console so far. The main reason for this is that Astro’s Playroom evolves past being just a tech demo for the console and its fancy new controller. It actually is a fun little platformer in its own right. It offers something different with every level. In one level you can transform into a giant ball and attempt to navigate some pretty tight platforms, and in the next, you take control of a rocket ship and navigate through corridors while also avoiding bombs. There is great variety here and to be fair, it shows off the potential of the new DualSense controller fantastically.

Plus the game is just one giant love letter to the PlayStation brand and the games that made it what it is today. You’ll see references to obscure PlayStation paraphernalia such as the Multitap and UMD discs, and also games like Final Fantasy VII and Silent Hill. The final boss of the game in particular is one giant callback to something you might remember if you got a PlayStation 1 back in the day. I won’t say any more, but it made me yelp in joy when I saw it. If you plan on getting a PlayStation 5 in the future, make this the first game you play. You won’t regret it.

2: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2

Activision have been on a roll in the last few years with the revitalisation of some of their classic franchises. Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon for example have enjoyed newfound success thanks to the excellent N Sane Trilogy and Reignited Trilogy. When it was revealed earlier this year that Vicarious Visions and Beenox would be resurrecting the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise with a remake of Pro Skater 1 and 2, my heart skipped a good few beats.

The Pro Skater franchise means a lot to me personally as I have very fond memories of putting hours into 1 and 2 when I was a kid. Going through the Career mode with each skater, learning the gaps and getting used to doing manuals when they were introduced in 2, it’s all ingrained into me. I’m happy to say that this is probably the best remake I have ever played. It perfectly captures what made those first two entries so special. Each level is beautifully recreated with a ton of new details that serve to enhance these levels. The soundtrack includes all of your old favourites like Goldfinger’s Superman and Rage Against the Machine’s Guerilla Radio along with some fantastic new tracks like Less Than Jake’s Bomb Drop.

The gameplay definitely taps more into Pro Skater 3 and 4 territory with Reverts and Flatland tricks included. These tricks don’t feel out of place and the game does give you the option to play it legacy style if you want. It feels magnificent overall though. The physics are pitch perfect. Creating lines and large combos is still as addicting and rewarding as ever. Online leaderboards certainly tempt you to reach for the stars if you’ve got the ability. Career mode isn’t particularly long, but the pretty robust Create-a-Park editor and solid multiplayer suite should keep you coming back for more. I’ve already put dozens of hours into this and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon.

If my number 1 entry on this list didn’t exist, this would be my Game of the Year. As it stands though, this is a very close second.

1: Doom Eternal

How do you follow up one of the best first person shooters in recent memory? Basically turn everything up to eleven and then some. Doom (2016) was such an eye opener when it launched. It gave everything we could have ever wanted from a new Doom game: a whole planet full of demons to kill and some big guns to help them back to where they belong. It was awesome and an easy choice for my GOTY back in 2016.

I anticipated Doom Eternal with bated breath. The excitement was building but the nerves were building with it. How could it live up to the previous one? What if it makes the same mistakes as Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus? Thankfully my worries were unfounded as soon as I loaded up the game and was thrown straight into the fold with a Combat Shotgun and some entry level demons to destroy with it.

Doom Eternal is the FPS genre at its absolute finest. The levels are much bigger with more secrets to find and loads of demons to kill. Said demons are much more plentiful in their ranks and they move faster too. Fortunately enough, you have a huge arsenal to deal death to these demonic denizens from the depths of Hell such as the starter Combat Shotgun, the Plasma Rifle, the Ballista and even a giant sword known as the Crucible. Enemies now have weak points to exploit as well which can turn the tide of battle and it rewards accuracy. Before you know it, you’ll be entangled in a ballet of bullets, beams, blood and guts (HUGE guts mind you.) This game makes you feel like a hero at the end of every fight. It’s so satisfying.

Toss in a soundtrack that will get your blood pumping and your goosebumps raising along with environments that will make your TV or monitor look like a window to a scorched earth, and you have my Game of the Year for 2020. Well deserved for sure. I really need to get on that DLC.

To those of you who actually took the time to read all that, you have my heartfelt thanks. I really appreciate you reading this and I hope my choices made sense.

To those of you who just glanced at each entry and skimmed through the text, I don’t blame you for doing that. I still appreciate you taking a look anyway.

All that’s left for me to say is that I hope each and every one of you has a safe holiday season and I hope that the New Year will be better for all of us.

I’ll see you all in 2021. Stay safe and well, folks.

[babyi]

Sweetener: In Review

           Sweetener (Album):             8/10

I like it a lot. I have a lot of reasons why I like most of the songs. You’re never gonna like them all, and that’s okay too. But I like so many of them and I’m really relieved. It doesn’t change whether Ariana’s personality is any better but it matters that I actually like her music. It’s so funny to me that some people like DW better because for me, this album is far more up my street. I wish a lot of the songs had their beats like 20% more subtle as a review of the songs as a whole, and some of the more pharrell-y tracks are worse. But overall this isn’t a bad album attempt. I can see myself stanning this album and still listening to it in the future. And I’ve had several songs stuck in my head or on repeat, and that’s nice because I’ve actually wanted to listen to the album more and more the longer it;s been out. It may be as much of a grower as the singles but I do think it’s a good album and I’m proud of it.  

The track by track listing is below, the opinions inside are all my own, just a personal opinion. You are entitled to your own opinion whether you agree with me or not. 

1. Raindrops (An Angel Cried)           8/10

A gorgeous way to start the album, I really enjoy hearing just a pure acapella representation of Ariana’s voice to kick off the album. It’s clean and gorgeous, and it really gives you everything you need to know about Ariana’s talent - look no further than track. 1. However, this is Ariana’s 4th album and there are two covers on it which I think is a little stretched; at this point in her career Ariana should be defining sounds, not recycling them. I think that this acapella genius could have been better if it was an original. The cover is beautiful but, as with most of her career so far, Ariana is still relying on others to provide her with material to sing to, it’s time she stepped up artistically. 

2. Blazed            5/10

I don’t hate it, I know a lot of people hate Pharrell’s production and his parts of this song, but personally I don’t hate it at all. I think it’s a far more relaxed sound than a lot of this album’s other disasters like the sampling in TLIC or the yuh’s/sheeh’s in Sweetener etc. Blazed has a basic backing track which isn’t anything special but the melody of the singing is one of the most upbeat on the album and makes it special and stand out a bit from the overall ambiance of the rest of the album. The lyrics are a bit confused but it attempts to create an image of a new relationship, it also has some of the most underrated lyrics on the album with Pharrell’s line “your magnetic demeanor”. If this song was on a different album it could have been more of a filler track but it’s one of few tracks you could potentially dance to. However It is a wasted feature, the song isn’t so good as to forgive it for it’s basic sounds and taking up a slot on the album when this song could have happily been a soundtrack song for tv/film instead. 

3. The Light Is Coming           0/10

Trash. There is too much going on, the lyrics are a mess which should never have been aloud to make it to the studio floor. Nicki isn’t bad but it’s another of many wasted features: Ariana and Nicki have done better things together and this ain’t it. It was supposed to be some commentary on people with loud opinions and simultaneously about finding the light.... when in reality neither of these concepts came across and it was just a big messy trash pile of hot garbage. The beat is too heavy, nicki doesn’t say anything about the light, ariana isn’t giving any vocals, the lyrics are all over the place, and the sample in the background is distracting and ugly. 

4. R.E.M Wake Up            7/10

The first song we come to which is actually representative of the album vibe. It’s the definition of a slow jam and I fuck with it heavy. It really only has one soul concept ‘’you’re such a dream to me’’ and everything else is frills around it but it is really pretty. We get some harmonies and some cute verses courtesy of Beyonce of all people. It’s very inoffensive and cute, if I were to critique I would say, as usual for Pharrell’s whole vibe, the beat is a bit too heavy for the sweet, light, dreamy song. It’s worth noting that people find this song a bit boring, too. And it’s hard to completely forgive it for ‘’when I was sleep’’. But Ariana’s vocals and the overall almost r&b cloudlike vibe work well for Ariana. I can see why this one is her fave right now, and why she feels it sounds the most like her. 

5. God Is A Woman            9/10

This song could have it’s own review just by itself, so I’ll only focus on it as far of the album. This song is a bop, it’s controversial and it’s just about sex, but the sound is iconic. It has big sounds and big notes and big ideas. It fits well within the album and it is a very good single choice. it could do with less ‘yuh’s and better lyrical concepts - because for all the will in the world this song is not what empowerment is, no matter how much she wants it to be. However, with that known, as a sex song with an eye catching concept, it nails it and gives us some much needed vocals. 

6. Sweetener  Bop It             2/10

The biggest disappointment on the album. As the title song, it was always going to be much anticipated and have a lot of it’s shoulders. And when the first verse hits, I almost cried because it’s so good, beautiful, with such an amazing first verse lyrically and it was exactly what she said it was about - sweetening the situation. That verse is some of my favourite lyrics on the album. And then the chorus hits. And it’s trash from there. The bop it aesthetic is ugly to me and although you can warm to it and tolerate it, it could always have been so much better. It has all the ugly Pharrell ‘sheesh’ parts in the back which we could have done without, and I don’t think I need to talk more about the lyrics in the chorus. To me, this song is like trailmix: it has lovely, amazing parts but overall its ruined by the abundance of nasty other shit mixed in. 

7. Successful            6/10

I can both take this one and leave it. This song was part of the reason I took so long to review because I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. I quite like the melody/sound, but the lyrics are a ruiner. For others, they’re put off by the basic wii music beat in the back of it, and I don’t mind that so much, personally. However, the lyrics make me cringe a bit- I think the song was supposed to be an attempt at celebrating her journey and how far she’s come, and be an empowering song for herself and other women. However, it missed the mark just slightly and ends up sounding like she’s bragging about how successful she is, which is a shame because I like the concept a lot she just needed a better lyricist to smooth it. When I listen close enough to hear her pat herself on the back I can’t help but enjoy the song less, I don’t find a millionaire born into money and opportunity celebrating her fun cute life, relatable. I can’t ignore the existence of songs like IDC/YDKM and then Successful, but the lack of songs celebrating friends/family/fans or any type of humble thank you? This song, to me, feels like another addition in the line of songs which make her sound like a dick. And then there’s the sex aspect which is as unnecessary as me mentioning it in this review. But the beat is poppin and I can’t fault the vocals or choices made on the sound front. 

8. Everytime  Back To You            10/10

Amazing, stunning, phenomenal, genuis, iconic. I can’t get enough of this song I love it so much. It’s my favourite on the album and I ADORE the story it tells. The lyrics sing to me, the vocals and the pop feel of the whole song just really vibes with me. This pop-y slow jam reminds me of space and lavender, and a sincere pop song for Ariana. This song is everything that I enjoy in her music and I am so happy she put this on the album and let us hear it. I can’t even describe how much I like it honestly it’s just something that I need to listen to repeatedly for the rest of my life. 

9. Breathin’            10/10

My baby. This is a powerful song and I appreciate everything about it, I think the lyrics are necessary and the way the song is formulated with the long pauses and beat drops are genuis for the subject matter. It’s truly one of her better songs on her discography, one without the mention of sex and on a subject which can be so personal yet so easily relatable to so many people. This song deserves to be a single, it’s fan favourite and if Ariana and everyone on her team had any sense they would see the success of this song already and run with it, give it the day in the sun it deserves. It’s the pop equivalent of Get Well Soon, better articulated and with such clarity it just blows me away. 

10. No Tears Left To Cry            9/10

I still like it. When this one dropped I was nervous that I only liked it because it was new, but here we are with the whole album and I still think it’s one of the better songs on it. It bridges the gap well, between albums. It’s just an all-round good song. My least favourite parts are the ‘pickin it up’ parts but at this point it’s normal for me to hear that in the song. I also wish it hadn’t mentioned a boy at all, and I wish she hadn’t tried to say that the ‘boy’ was her gays at her shows because it reminds me of how lesbian-exclusionary she is with her lgbt advocacy. However, I do think it’s the perfect nod to Manchester. I would have hated a song dedicated to it, and the subtle hints about moving on are very classy. It’s a good, strong song, and it has longevity. 

11. Borderline            1/10

Nahhhhhh. I can barely pay attention during this song. It’s the last of the wasted features, and it is the most forgettable song on the album. I’m not even gonna spend a lot of time thinking about it. It’s very one dimensional sounding. The wifey type and ice cream parts are an odd mix and a lot of people find them cringy. Missy’s part is forgettable. Ariana will forget about it just as quickly as we will.  It just doesn’t do it for me at all. 

12. Better Off            9/10

Sweet. I have no problems with this song at all, it doesn’t call to me like some of the other songs but I like it a lot when it’s on. It’s very ethereal and very deep. it feels personal and the lyrics tell a story very well. It sounds like the rundown of a real relationship. My favourite line is ‘’i’d rather have your body than half of your heart’’ which sticks out to me in such a plesant way. The whole song is pleasant to listen to, which is a clever contrast to the painful subject matter: it’s like you’re being sung to sleep with a lullaby by a widow. And those surprise strings at the end are everything, they’re a huge throwback to her earlier music and sound gorgeous in this song. Just overall a lovely listen. 

13. Goodnight N’ Go            9/10

A cover, but I would never want this song not to exist. It’s an amazing take on the original and I like the twist of the beats in the first verse then diving into the well known chorus which sounds just so goddamn pretty. The song sounds like a beautiful swirl of classical vs modern versions of the song and Ariana does it so much justice. It’s stunning, I can’t really comment too much further on it because it’s not actually her song lol. I wish she had an original as gorgeous as this. 

14. Pete Davidson  Happy            7.5/10

I gotta say that I like it. I’m not keen on the ‘look at my mind’ section. But when the song gets good, it gets so good. It’s so cute and I’m so happy that she’s this happy. I wish the song was longer instead of an odd interlude near the end of the album. It would have been better as a full song, and it would have been better focusing on happiness. But it’s cute as hell, and I’m not objecting to it being on the album at all, it’s a nice little song. 

15. Get Well Soon            6/10

Powerful. This song might be the most important song she’s ever made, it’s definitely the most personal and I love it for that. Personally, I don’t have anxiety so I find it quite loud and confusing- which I know is the point of it and that’s amazing and clever and artistic which I’ve been waiting to see from her for such a long time. However, that doesn’t make it an easy listen for me, and it’s important but not one of my favourites. I appreciate everything that it is, but I don’t like all the song rapping, and I don’t like the different clashing styles. I like about half of it a lot and the other half just doesn’t appeal to me much. I like it more because I know how much it means to other people, and how accurate it is in describing what anxiety is for them - it’s a healing thing for them. And it has the extra silence in remembrance at the end which is also a powerful and important move to end the album with. Basically, I respect this song a lot. But I don’t put it on for nice listening. I love it for everything it stands for. 

[soundsof71]

1971: Christine McVie steps into the Fleetwood Mac spotlight on Future Games

Christine Perfect had been contributing to Fleetwood Mac even before she married the band’s bassist John McVie in 1968. By 1970, she even painted the cover of the band’s album Kiln House – but while you can hear clearly her background vocals, still no credit on the album sleeve.

This has always struck me as insane, btw. She was already one of the most highly regarded artists of the era, having won Melody Maker’s Female Vocalist of the Year in 1969 and 1970. How the hell do you not brag that you have HER on your record? Idiots. Well, they fixed it anyway, so 50 years later, I’m finally starting to let it go.

Her joining Fleetwood Mac as a full-fledged member wasn’t the only change in the band that year. The departure of founding guitarist Jeremy Spencer and his roots in Buddy Holly and 50s, and the addition of American guitarist Bob Welch, put a definitive end to the blues era of Fleetwood Mac, setting themselves firmly on a path of singer-songwriter-based sophisticated pop.

There’s a lot more than that going on here, mind you. It’s like the entire band has been liberated from the shackles of traditional music styles, and is flowing in sweetly energetic new directions. It’s a quintessentially 1971 album in its innocence, hopefulness, and embrace of eclecticism. Joy. You’re gonna smile the whole way through this.

This 1971 ad via superseventies nicely tells the tale: “Rich and subtle addictive sounds from a British group whose changes are always positive.” Amen.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I may be slightly overrating it because of my deep fondness for the vibe they’re putting out, but you know what? I think this is their 2nd-best record after 1975′s Fleetwood Mac (where a Christine McVie track, “Over My Head” was in fact their first breakthrough single). “Woman of 1000 Years” and the title track are melodic and complex enough to border on jazz-prog, but it happens that both of Christine’s songs here are among my all-time favorites of hers.

The first one, featured at the top of this essay, is the album’s second track, “Morning Rain.” It isn’t so much a showcase for Christine as a solo artist, so to speak, as much as it is a terrific band workout. That includes Christine, though, too, banging the shit outta the keys, a vastly underrated player.

I had no use for Fleetwood Mac as a blues band, but this? Oh my god, they are so freaking smooth here, it’s absolutely amazing. I love, love, love this, for a lot of the reasons I love The Yes Album which came out a couple of months earlier: melodic, elegant, with soaring choral harmonies, and song structures built to point to the future rather than the past.

After all, the album is called Future Games!

Christine’s second track is the album closer, “Show Me A Smile”. It’s a gorgeous ballad for a son (not hers – she famously has no kids) or nephew, or maybe writing in another woman’s voice for her son, that kind of thing. It’s not at all sappy, but quite heartfelt. You hope that the boy grew into a man who deserved a song this beautiful.

With her voice and keyboards winding around Danny Kirwan’s sinuous guitar, it’s one of my all-time favorite things she ever laid to wax. It’s also the beginning of Fleetwood Mac sounding like a California band. Maybe even, dare I say it, evoking a little bit of American Beauty-era Dead? (Released just the year before.) See what you think.

1971 was one of the all-time greatest years not just for music in general but for women in particular, with albums like Pearl, Tapestry, Blue, Carpenters, Fanny’s Charity Ball (the first all-women rock album to chart in the US; more here), two comeback albums from Barbra Streisand (both backed with Fanny), the first two albums from Carly Simon, the first two from Rita Coolidge,  Grammy-winning early career peaks from Aretha Franklin & Tina Turner, debut albums from Bonnie Raitt, Helen Reddy, and Olivia Newton-John, Sandy Denny’s debut as a solo artist, and so many more….but I don’t think one of them had a song as pretty as this one.

So if you ask me about the BEST albums of 1971, well, I can’t honestly say that this makes the list….but the fact that an album this special doesn’t quite make that cut is one of the reasons that 1971 is such an amazing year. This is without question one of the half-dozen or so of the year’s true hidden gems.

Welcome, then, to Future Games, my pick for Fleetwood Mac’s second-best record of all time. Start with the two songs from the woman born as Christine Perfect, but enjoy the whole thing as your entry into one of the most delightful and all-too-overlooked chapters in Fleetwood Mac’s legendary career.

This five album run starting here, leading up to those two kids from California joining the band a few years later, is very much worth your attention, if for nothing else, to recall, or maybe even learn for the first time, what a powerful force Christine McVie was, building on long suits of melody and sweetness to lay the foundation for Fleetwood Mac’s future.

[aplateoflasagna]

TREASURE's 1st concert TRACE

Just going to put down my thoughts because I have so many feelings about Treasure's first concert 🥲. I screen recorded the concert and rewatched it three times already 😭 (i also forgot to mute my desktop so me laughing, crying, clapping and saying 'cute' like a 100 times was also recorded lol)

They opened the show with JIKJIN, Boy and Going Crazy?? That's insane! I remember Jihoon saying that performing MMM after Boy during Teuday was too difficult and they'd never do that again but this seems worse??? such intense choreo for all 3 songs but honestly? still nailing it. They finally performed Going Crazy fully live! (i'm not counting Shoppee, i really think that was pre-recorded) And they wore such beautiful stage outfits for the opening! 💕 Hyunsuk, Mashiho, Junkyu and Yedam looked like actual princes. 🙈

Going Crazy EDM version??? Orange Dance version?? Darari rock version?? Who thought of this????--- Let me shake your hand cause it was brilliant🤝 (sadly they didn't perform Slowmotion, Everyday or Gonna Be Fine though 🥲)

Jinhwan and Donghyuk from IKON and Papa YG attended the concert! Imagine performing in front of the people that made you want to become an idol 🥲 (Yang Hyunsuk being there was such a surprise and I hope they made him proud 💎)

Hyunsuk: Doing the most as always 🔥He performed Good Boy with his whole chest + I swear he rapped like 3 solo songs with all the adlibbs he did throughout the concert 😂 I bet he was so tired but he kept giving 100% and he kept talking to make the concert go smoothly. Srsly Hyunsuks charisma on stage is unmatched! He is such a joy to watch and he obviously loves performing so much 💙 He truly deserves all the praise he gets!! Hyunsuk was born to be on stage and when they do a YG Family concert (which they will!! I can feel it!!) he will fit right in with the greatest in the industry 💎 YOU KNOW WHO I AM!!

Jihoon: Jihoon singing those high notes for B.L.T. and It's Okay! I was so impressed! King behaviour 👑 Idk how he keeps getting better and better but he just does. He doesn't have a very unique voice like Junkyu or Mashi but he can belt high notes with the best of them. 🔥 + like, you really need some balls to cover Taeyang's part in Good Boy lol and he nailed it. I'm forever proud of Jihoon and I can't wait for how he'll impress us next time.

Yoshi: I remember Yoshi being so shy for Teuday but he was so full of confidence for TRACE 😭 When Teume clapped and were surprised by Yoshi's visual and he didn't know what was going on 🥰 deserved to go viral for that moment srsly. His rapping skills are sky high and I don't understand why he got overlooked before?? People finally seem to recognise his skill and give him the attention he deserves after JIKJIN came out. Like i obviously love all 3 guys but there is just something about his flow, his charisma etc Prince Yoshi!! 👑 Dark Horse Yoshi!! 🔥

Junkyu: ... I'm going to be honest, Junkyu completely blew me away. It's been so long since we heard him (confidently) sing live, I honestly thought he had developed a fear for singing live, that the pressure might have gotten to him or smth... But he did sooooo well and when they covered 'Really Really' I was just staring at the screen like 👀!! (also completely redeeming themselves for the kind-of-bad cover they did during debut days on KBS Cool FM/ they were nervous and unprepared I know). Also Junkyu looked gorgeous in the prince outfit!! 🥰 And he was absolutely adorable on stage! God, Kim Junkyu you are soooo effortlessly cute 🙈 I really couldn't stop looking at Junkyu throughout the entire concert because he looked so happy and confident and I love that for him!!

Mashiho: I've said it before and I'll say it again; Mashi was born to be on stage 🙌 Out of everyone, Mashiho stood out the most and reminded me why he was called 'Nations Center' during YGTB. He was the MVP for their 'Love Scenario' cover! Mashiho is truly Treasure's underrated ace. He can do it all! Sing, rap, dance, amazing stage presence etc. I need to see him as center more often 🙏The way he steals the show everytime they show him on screen. Also his hair! 😍The pink suits him so well!

Jaehyuk: I will never get tired of praising Jaehyuk ✨He's so humble and hardworking and always does his absolute best and what more can I ask for? He made a few mistakes on Teuday and as he himself said, he made a few mistakes on saturday aswell but that doesn't matter because sunday was perfect. 💕 Not a day goes by that I don't think about Jaehyuk and how lucky we are that Treasure has such a sweet guy as one of their members. He said that his nickname is 'Hardworking Genius Jaehyuk' and it fits him 100%. He acted like a natural on stage! All your hard work paid of Jaehyuk 💙 I'm so proud of him.

Asahi: Finally we heard him sing!!!! They turned his mic UP ⬆️. Sahi has such a beautiful voice but we barely hear it most times. What shocked me the most is that Asahi apparently only auditioned in 2018??? He was the last to join YG out of all the members apparently?? is that even possible? That means he was only at YG for a few months before participating in YGTB?? Also Asahi thanking his 'Mama + Papa' for their support 😭 Yes I did start crying. I know Kim Junkyu exists but Sahi was truly the cutest man alive at that moment (his shy smile!!!). He is also so handsome 💕 He's truly one of the most handsome people I've ever seen goddamn

Yedam: Yedam casually destroying his voice to give us Darari rock version 🤘I do feel like he's straining his voice too much?? or maybe it wasn't in perfect condition because they haven't had a break since January 🥲 When Yedam was performing Wayo and he let his head fall in his hands I started crying istg + He sang an unreleased english solo that he worked on for weeks in his studio before the concert 👑 But the lyrics though. Being unable to schoulder the pressure and needing people around you to help make things better. If this is autobioghraphic i hope Yedam finds support with his members, family and friends 💎 It must be incredibly difficult managing everyones expectations of you, maintaining that high standard for years and for more years to come. + Yedam crying at the end 😭 He couldn't really explain himself well but I think what he meant to say was that; Working so hard for so long, you start to forget what you're working towards. And finally remembering his goal at the concert. 🥲I've since then watched quite a few fancams of Yedam having an absolute blast (especially during the encore) and it made me so happy! Fighting Yedamie

Doyoung: Give Doyoung a center dance break and bigger parts in their songs!! 😭 I felt like i barely saw him during the concert :( but when they did show him on camera, he danced his heart out 💙 His facial expressions never fail and I'm happy he got such a big part for Love Scenario. We just all need more Doyoung in our lives ☀️ Have you seen the sun today? ☀️ :p

Haruto: Blond Ruto with a ponytail!!! Him going viral for both his looks and his raping skills 🥰 He was absolutely amazing during Bang Bang Bang and Really Really 🔥I can't wait to see him grow even more in his skills and stage presence! It's already sky high, how much further can he go???? Saw and heard it again that we will be totally ruined if Hajeongwoo ever becomes an actual unit lol though i highly anticipate HyunHaYo aswell :p

Jeongwoo: B.L.T. is such a difficult song to sing when you're the one doing all the high notes, but Jeongwoo killed that song!!! Especially because they performed that after 'Come to me' and 'U' 💀 I'm so proud of him. I have no idea how he kept being able to sing so well and hold his notes when he sings like half of this song srsly + his high note for Darari was perfection + him covering Yoon's parts in Really Really lives rent free in my mind. Super impressed with Jeongwoo 👑He succeeded my already very high expectations of him!

Junghwan: Hwanie did so well 🥰 No matter how old he gets or how mature he looks or how much time he spends at that YG gym, he will forever be Treasures precious maknae with a smile as bright as the sun! ☀️ I'm getting emotional just thinking about it haha Junghwan is always up for a challenge and him doing those high notes in Love Scenario was so good! Eventhough he has a deeper voice, he still pulled it of really well and it just reminded me of how far he's come 💕Watching his fancams, he had so much fun on stage

So, in conclusion, They all worked incredibly hard for this and I couldn't be more proud of them 🥲 Treasure had a packed schedule since January and so I can't imagine how difficult this must have been for them. Haruto said that they only slept a few hours a night so they could practice for the concert. Hyunsuk saying that literally all members cried when the concert was over and they went backstage 😭 The effort they put into this to make this memorable for Teume, I'll forever be grateful 🙏Treasure brings me so much joy. I feel so lucky getting to experience their journey with them and watching them grow to become even more amazing and dependable. Thank you Treasure

💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎

[its-love-u-asshole]

Fic Writers Week Day 3: Small But Mighty

Shine a spotlight on the new/underrated fics you’ve read or written.

Yeeessss it’s rec time! I know there’s also the last day to rec fics in general, but I love the idea behind this day a lot too! There’s so many beautiful fics that I’ve read which don’t receive the amount of recognition/kudos that they deserve! I can’t wait to spread the word about them! Since this might be a longer post, I’m putting it under a read more! Enjoy <3

Also, I want to encourage people to try reading new fics as much as possible! While fic rec lists are a good source to start and get ideas about what to read, often times people rely on them too much, and then overlook newer fics which are just as amazing! So every once in a while, remember to check the ship tags on ao3 for newly posted works, that way you don’t miss any hidden gems! 

Alright, let’s get into it! 

in a flash (ao3) -- Kurotsuki, G

He sees a red beanie covering messy black hair, a soft and boyish smile lit up by the sunlight, and a gray cat.

Click.

Okay so this kurotsuki fic definitely needs twice as many kudos/comments, because the writing was downright phenomenal! It was so beautiful and made me feel warm inside all throughout reading it, I couldn’t get enough! The characterizations are excellent, and the whole mood of the fic is so cozy and wonderful. Please check it out if you love kurotsuki! Also make sure to follow @cawnvictofmurder on tumblr! 

a haunting in tokyo (ao3) -- Daisuga, G 

This wasn’t the first time Suga had claimed their apartment had been haunted. However, it was the first time he tried to do something about it. Daichi, as always, is nothing but supportive.

This fic was short, but unbelievably sweet! I loved the mix of domestic daisuga fluff with paranormal shenanigans lmao, it was just a super enjoyable fic which had me giggling constantly. I don’t read much daisuga, but it was definitely a treat, and I’d recommend the fic to all! Please also make sure to follow @bishounen-curious <3

Starved (ao3) -- Kurotsuki, T

Kei can’t make it this week. Next week, maybe, he’ll be here but Tetsurou is all out of patience.

Prompt: “I’m tired of being your secret.”

@ivyfics has too many amazing fics which deserve more attention, but this one I feel especially needs to be read. The writing and emotions are just...incredible, I reread this fic so much because I’m in awe of how well it’s written. It’s the perfect mix of angst and relationship development, and I super appreciate that it’s from Kuroo’s POV! Please check it out if you love kurotsuki! It’s worth the read (and reread lol) ^^ 

Where to Start (ao3) -- TeruShira, G

It's the second date Kenjirou has been on and he can feel Yuuji already figuring him out. He wants to be the boyfriend he wants Yuuji to have, but he doesn't know where to start.

Alright so this author in general just needs more love, yeah TeruShira (or any Shirabu ship really lol) is a rarepair, but gah trust me, after you read this fic you’ll be hopping onto the shipping train so damn fast. The characterizations are so realistic and interesting, and the interactions between the pair are so fun and touching. Please check this fic out, as well as all of SilverAmoebasquid‘s other works! 

A God for Every Season (ao3) -- Matsuhana, T

Mortals have all kinds of foolish tales, like how Hades and Persephone's annual reunion causes the seasons. Matsukawa knows better.

Alright, I don’t have time to get into this because for this fic, I can honestly write a 10 page essay about how much I love it. So lemme just say, the writing and the romance is top notch, like...wow, words cannot describe how beautiful the writing is. You seriously need to read it in order to understand. I also love mythology aus, and this delivered! The retelling of Hades/Persephone reuniting was so creative and enjoyable, I want to reread it all again just from typing this lol. @90stimkon did an incredible job with this fic and all their fics, so please check them all out! <3 

Waiting for Spring (ao3) -- Kurotsuki, NR

Kuroo had only ever been enamored with a person in his lifetime once. And then "The Dream" happened. Everyday, he dreamt of the neighborhood where he lived, and he always saw a stranger with short blond hair, a tall stature, and black-framed glasses in his dreams. He didn't know who he was, but he was determined to find out.

Kuroo had only ever been enamored with a person in his lifetime once. And then "The Dream" happened. That was the second time.

This fic isn’t exactly recent but I’ll never stop reccing it until it’s been read by everyone lmao I swear! It’s a bit on the angstier side, and there’s a warning for mental illness mentions, but it’s a gorgeous fic. It explores Tsukishima’s emotions and character so well, Kuroo’s too! The details about mental health and Kuroo’s feelings/situation are great, it’s definitely a dream fic which flows into reality so well! I loved the ending, I loved the whole fic, so please give it a shot! 

24 Hours (ao3) -- Iwaoi, E 

Iwaizumi, a special investigations agent, finds himself falling in love with someone who may already be dead.

@serviceace is an amazing writer, and this crime au has got me so hooked! If you like crime mysteries and detective!Iwaizumi, this is the fic for you! It’s ongoing, but each chapter is so interesting and fun to read, and the questions keep me on the edge of my seat! Please go read this fic if you’re a sucker for iwaoi and police aus, as I am ;) 

To The Skies (ao3) -- Kacchako, M 

It was supposed to be a typical evening for Bakugou Katsuki. A masquerade ball, a night of serving the royal family as he always did. But when the party goes horribly wrong it's up to servant boy Bakugou to rescue the princess, Uraraka Ochako. His rescue mission is about to change both of their lives completely, and eventually Uraraka will want to reclaim her throne.

Now, older, the two reunite, realizing their lives have gone in very different directions. Ochako, part of the Resistance against the horrible Academy, and Bakugou, a famed sky pirate, traveling the island clusters to find various bounties. Together, they fight to take back the home they once knew and loved.

Okay y’all, lemme tell you, if you love Kacchako, you need to read this! The idea is so damn original, and Rache’s writing is A++ as always. The world she builds and the character relationships that she crafts are so well done. This fic seriously deserves more attention, so please go read! <3 Also follow her writing blog on tumblr @emeraldwaves ! You won’t be disappointed! 

Tacky Shoes and Movie Tickets (ao3) -- Bokuaka, T

Akaashi deals with a lot of stupid people.

He isn't yet certain if Bokuto falls into that category.

In which Akaashi is the manager of a movie theater, Bokuto is the new hire at the shoe store downstairs, and the two of them get along much better than Akaashi could have anticipated.

Okay so I was super surprised that this fic didn’t have more kudos! It’s so light hearted and funny, not to mention perfectly sweet! It’s ongoing, but I can’t wait for more. @worthlesspride writes some of the best bokuaka out there, it’s so fluffy and heartwarming, not to mention the writing flows so well! Please read and support it! 

Alright, so I’m going to do some self promo because why not? This day is for fic writers too after all lmao. 

Perfectly Aligned (ao3) -- Kurotsuki, T

Kuroo didn’t know how he’d made it back here, standing beneath the glistening war machines known as Jaegers. He was the definite outsider, not just at the Shatterdome, but in this world. The world of Jaeger pilots had long since closed its door on him, and now here he was, knocking once again. However, maybe this time, he wouldn’t be alone.

Just a good ol’ Pacific Rim AU. I really loved playing with this universe, and tbh it’s probably some of my best writing?? It didn’t get much attention because I posted it during a busy exchange week, but I’m definitely proud of it and hope more people can read it! 

Ceaseless (ao3) -- Kiyoyachi, E

The life of an assassin isn't an easy one. Devoid of morals and full of the criminal underworld's grime , it's a job Kiyoko has always been weirdly perfect at. She's long stopped thinking about why, but just because she kills without remorse, doesn't mean she doesn't have her own attachments.

I’m including this one because f/f ships do not get nearly enough attention as they should. I live for f/f content, and I hope I can read a lot more in the future and introduce ppl to it through fics like this! This fic did not get many kudos, but I think it was actually pretty good writing/smut, so please give it a try if you like kiyoyachi! 

Let My Love (ao3) -- Kurotsuki, T

For Kuroo, finding love was all about patience. He had no problem with waiting for the right person to come along, no matter how many awkward dinners or weddings he had to endure as a single man until they did. Regardless, meeting Tsukishima was something he’d never been prepared for. The feelings were overwhelming and intoxicating, ones he was sure he’d do anything for. However, it seemed his endless waiting wasn’t over.

While this fic isn’t short on kudos, I feel like it gets overlooked when compared to my siren au for kurotsuki. While this fic is a bit angstier than Slipping Underneath, it’s one of my most favorite that I’ve ever written. Writing slow burn is a challenge, but I think so far I’m doing well lol?? I love writing this fic, so if you want, I hope you can also enjoy reading it! <3

I Search Through the Crowd (ao3) -- Iwaoi, T 

It wasn't uncommon to believe in reincarnation, most people did, but it wasn't some flippant thing. Only people with the strongest of bonds were reincarnated, or so legend put it. Hajime could be dense sometimes, but he didn't miss the meaning Tooru was trying to convey.

"I'll find you."

Lastly, this was my first iwaoi fic, and I was really proud of it even though it didn’t get much attention. It was a struggle to write, but overall, I’m super happy with the result, so I hope you guys can get the chance to read it! I hope I get to write even more iwaoi in the future too! 

[gengarnips-fr]

Drunk Lair Review: Kael

definitely almost spelled that kale, so thanks for participating! :D Let’s hop right into this, I know I kept my fans waiting ;) @fr20866 its your time to shine!!!

Okay, I want you to know, that I was sincerely stumped by your lair. I was seriously wondering if my internet was shitting out on me. But no, a SIGNIFICANT PORTION of your lair is dressed in the goddamn invisible cloaks and it fucked me up. Jeeeeeezuzzuuz. and based on my understanding (please correct me if im wrong) everyone labeled Rock is kind of a filler space. Like you like the V shape pattern you’ve got going on so you have these dragons called Rock to fill in your lair space. That is so creative and I’m very into that!!! That said, I’m gonna grade your Non-Rocks :D and also is everyone a gen one? Because that’s POWERFUL. 

First off, I rather enjoy Meleo! The Abyss Skink color gene combo just gets me right. you know what i mean? that shit gets me RIGHT. I LIVE FOR THAT SHIT. I love his bio art! How neat is that! and he’s even got stats, which as a DND player, I can always appreciate! And the little bit of lore you have in his bio hints at an ability to change color at will! Can I just SAY HOW AMAZING THAT IS JEEEEEZ I want more of him. Make him important!!! All of your dragons are soo cool and im so into whatever aesthetic you’re cultivating! I want more!!! Tell me about how he uses and abuses his color change abilities. Tell me about how he hides in the darkness or blends in with the earth rocks. I WANT IT ALLLLLL.

Next I’ve chosen Sethen, who can I just say is one of the brightest, cutest boys ive ever seen. Like what a fucking peach. I feel like hes the dude that takes you out on a museum date and buys you ice cream. Never done anything wrong in his life. Look at his bio art!!! A GOOD AND PURE BOY and I will take nothing less! I also really adore his minimal apparel. I can definitely appreciate when apparel doesn’t cover the whole dragon but rather accentuates its features. I mean I cant relate but you pulled it off so well (I love apparel so much I just want dragons head to toe covered, help me)! Also this bitch is fucking stacked like hes a colosseum lvl 25 get #rekt. You don’t have lore for him yet, but I really just envision him as a cute little man (maybe some sort of historian? Lore keeper? I cant shake the nerd from my mind) who serves his clan somehow. Don’t let me influence your decisions tho ;P 

Omg next is Ark, who is by far one of my faves. I look at him and I just feel the Paladin mojo emanate from his form. I feel POWERFUL when I look at him. He could definitely hold his own in a fight and honestly? Id let him save me from a fire. And I don’t say that about a lot of dragons ;) He’s also super old (love itttttt) at a hot and spicy 4 years and I love that. I’m trying to spoil some of my older dragons too. I want them to feel all the love. Stern, conscientious, loyal. YESSSSSS I feel it!!! And im sorry, but im such a lore slut for complicated backstories involving secret trysts with hidden eggs. A lot of my dragons have weird complicated headcannons like this because I LOVE IT. Also his colors are awesome but that’s a given. And I love his bio header. Okay I need to move on before I drool 

Wow, I love Numedha. Like, love love. I love her. She’s so badass. I can tell on ONE glimpse that she knows what she’s about and I adore it. I LOVE HER CHARACTER ART IN HER BIO OK THAT’S GOALS and im definitely not biased towards red dragons, no way, shape or FORM I swear. And her stats are so fitting omfg. I just love a rebel without (maybe with) a cause and I want her to have a bad attitude, just middle fingers out, fuck the cops, fuck the rules, cause same. God. Any character that can make me feel like this deserves all the love and attention I have. ESPECIALLY LADIES. We don’t see enough ladies that can hold their own in combat or story telling. But I guess that’s a rant for a later date lmao. Anyway, her aesthetic is my aesthetic and I love her to bits! 

Last but certainly NOT LEAST is Tyrane. I, personally, would love if Tyrane just came in a ran my clan for a while. This girl is hella organized, just based on first impression. Her little bio says shes sarcastic and shit, and I adore it. LOVE IT. Gooooood character. Also AMAZING GENES can we just discuss the power of skink/alloy. It’s underrated. Two of my fave genes for sure. Like, not to be weird, but I’m pretty sure Tyrane owns my ass in some way shape or form. She found it at an auction and bought it for cheap. SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING MY DUDE. Everyone, please go look at her. She is absolutely gorgeous and if you want to see an excellent execution of purple/pink go LOOK AT HER BODY. 

Also at the end of the day please make an RPG with these dragons as the main characters. Or something. Give me a story because I love all of your dragons so far and I would die to see them all in action. And maybe an explanation for the Rock trend???? It’s amazing, and leaves me in confusion, so you know its modern art. That’s iconic. Thank you so much for your time and I hope this was at least a little entertaining. I loved looking at your lair!

-DeadValkyrie