#a series that has become so special and important to me that i drew a celebration picture for the first time ever

[offlineblues]

VRAINS 1st episode anniversary is today‼️🏄‍♂️

[moonstrider9904]

Crosshair and his beloved Aurora Dawn, from my ongoing series Half-Moon Glow

Aurora is an incredibly skilled medic in the GAR. After having worked with the 212th with great success, Commander Cody himself recommends her as a medic to the unorthodox Clone Force 99. Shortly before her reassignment, Aurora meets the team's sniper, and the two embark in a very steamy yet very messy relationship. However, it isn't long before the two become inseparable, and even the stubborn and sarcastic Crosshair can't deny the intensity of his feelings for Aurora.

Here is another digital art piece by me, this time honoring one of my favorite self-insert OCs!! Aurora is meant to highlight the more soft-spoken parts of me, but she's one of those characters whose great strength manifests even in her gentleness.

I had a ton of fun practicing shading and drawing faces from a profile view, and the design of Aurora's outfit was pretty fun to do too. Notice how she has a bit of armor in her right forearm - without spoilers, it's given to her in a very important part of the story. I also included a breast pocket on her shirt, which actually has importance in the story. On her belt, she has the 99 symbol in the signature red color, highlighting that she is now part of Clone Force 99.

Last but not least, I'm fawning over the fact that I got to draw Crosshair, and oh my goodness, he looks stunning. I had to give him a lil stubble and I'll admit I drew the top half only in his black undershirt because I was a little too afraid of drawing his armor. I plan on going back and adding the rest of the armor, though I'll do that once I have a bit more practice. It just feels really special to draw this character who's meant so much to me with what is essentially a version of myself.

[hyeahgaku]

JUMP GIGA Winter 2023 Special Interview with Yūto Suzuki-sensei!!

First JUMP GIGA 2023 cover to commemorate SAKAMOTO DAYS reaching its 100th chapter milestone since its serialization!!

In-depth discussion with Suzuki-sensei about his life and work, so on and so forth!!

Please tell us the things that you paid particular attention to when drawing the cover illustration of this GIGA issue.

Suzuki-sensei: The chosen pose is stationary, but I also wanted it to look intricate so I made the silhouette not too thin! I wanted to draw attention to his eyes, so I placed the gun next to his face and chose a strong colour (to create contrast)! I drew the texture more firmly than usual to give off a more powerful effect! I wanted to highlight his skin complexion so I deliberately chose cold colours for his shirt, hair, etc. but later I thought it looked a bit dull so I added the red light for the barcode scanner as an accent colour.

—

A must-see exclusive interview for readers of SAKAMOTO DAYS, and aspiring manga artists!

Suzuki-sensei Profile

Birthday: July 6

Hobbies: Basketball

Special skill: Handicraft

Favourite manga: Hunter x Hunter (Note: This is additional, known info from the one-shot.)

First debuted in April 2019: Published Garaku (骸区) on Jump Plus.

September 2019: Published Locker Room (ロッカールーム) on Jump Plus. In November of the following year, it received a live-action drama.

December 2019: SAKAMOTO •坂本• (SAKAMOTO -サカモト-) was published on Jump GIGA 2020 Winter. (Note: FYI, this was kinda a prototype of SAKAMOTO DAYS.)

SAKAMOTO DAYS serialization commenced in Weekly Shonen Jump 2020, Issue No. 51. It has become a popular serialization today!!!

Suzuki-sensei, you were once featured in GIGA. Please tell us if you have any memories from that time.

Suzuki-sensei: There was that one time when I tried using Clip Studio Paint, I realized that there were many missing tones when I pasted the image. [Turns out that] I did not display the tone area. I remember the person-in-charge told me, “Full analog is better.”

—

Top Column: Suzuki-sensei published SAKAMOTO•坂本• (above photos) in Jump GIGA 2020 Winter after being published in Jump+ twice!! The main character Sakamoto, his family, Shin and other characters have appeared in the series since then. The concept of the story is the same as the serialization version, but there are several differences such as Sakamoto being a supermarket store clerk, and he [and Shin] even killed robbers, so it’s interesting to see the difference!!

*Shin’s comment: This version of Sakamoto-san is so cool~*

Please tell us what’s the biggest growth or change you’ve experienced between when you were drawing one-shots and now.

Suzuki-sensei: When I was drawing one-shots, my stance was that I would just draw whatever I thought was interesting, so the readers could see what I wanted them to see. But now, I always think about how I could entertain the readers, and how I could make everyone find [the story] interesting. As for [my] growth, I’ve been able to use Clip Studio Paint much better now.

Do you have any advice for the new and upcoming aspiring manga artists on how to create a good one-shot?

Suzuki-sensei: I think that “attention-grabbing” and “page-turning” are key elements in a one-shot! It is important to have this thought in mind while you’re drawing - “This one’s interesting!” - and whether you can really draw that or not. It’s also very important that the reader is able to get on board with the story just because it interests them. Readers will tend to notice if you are focused only on making everything nice and neat or if you’re just summarizing things up. After all, these elements are intended to reduce the “stress of reading.” It might sound weird to make [your story] more exciting just for the sake of attracting people to read, but I think that is one good tactic for competing in a one-shot contest!

*On the next page, we will learn more about Suzuki-sensei!*

Top Column: You can tell from reading Suzuki-sensei’s debut work Garaku, that he’s a mangaka who loves manga and movies! The carefully-drawn backgrounds and elaborate camera work are one of Suzuki-sensei’s strong points!

Please tell us how you became interested in drawing manga and how you chose to pursue this career.

Suzuki-sensei: I was worried about my future career path when I was graduating from my graduate school. But then I came across Katsuhiro Ōtomo-sensei’s manga, Dōmu, which helped develop my interest to become a manga artist.

Are there any other creators or works that you feel have influenced you as a writer?

Suzuki-sensei: I really like the manga written by Katsuhiro Ōtomo-sensei, Takehiko Inoue-sensei and Hiroya Oku-sensei. As for movies, I love the director Christopher Nolan.

I heard that you studied Japanese painting. Does the knowledge you acquired turn out to be of use when drawing your manga?

Suzuki-sensei: I think that it is mainly useful when it comes to composition and form. Japanese painting focuses on the concept of creating a beautiful arrangement of shapes within beautiful compositions, and I always keep that in mind with my work. In the near future, I wish to draw more Japanese-style illustrations.

Please tell us about your manga work process and the tools you use.

Suzuki-sensei: I use an analog pen for drawing the characters. The solid colours, sound effects, effect lines, and backgrounds are digitally drawn by my assistants. I use a Zebra hard G Pen for pen work and inking, and also a digital software, Clip Studio Paint!

Bottom Column: The Ferris wheel scene [Sakamoto vs Boiled], which ranked 3rd in the “Spread Campaign” poll, and the coloured single-page illustrations also portray the balance of the margins, cool silhouettes and compositions!

—

Top Column: The world of SAKAMOTO DAYS features characters with many gaps! From the strongest old man, Takamura, to the handsome but merciless Nagumo… The intense gaps are important to highlight the character’s individuality!

(T/n: “Gap” -also known as gap moe- refers to the contrast between one’s appearance and personality, or the difference between someone's actual personality and from first impression you had of them.)

How did you come up with the idea of a “retired assassin”?

Suzuki-sensei: First of all, I thought the idea of fat people being insanely strong is fascinating. So I asked myself, why are they fat? → Because they retired. Why? → Perhaps they got married or something? And that’s how I ended up making it.

Retired Sakamoto’s plump figure is cute, but it is an unusual character design for the protagonist of a shōnen manga. Please tell us the story behind this “fat assassin.”

Suzuki-sensei: I like characters with strong gaps, so I combined some elements from the two extreme opposites, such as the strongest old man and the strongest fat guy. And the result is that I found it more exciting to draw the strongest fat guy. Back then, I wanted to do a one-shot anyway, so I was focused on the story to make an impact. I truly never expected for it to get a serialization. I never modeled my character after anyone but later on when I learned about the movie “Enter the Fat Dragon”, I thought to myself that they are rather similar.

In SAKAMOTO DAYS, there seems to be many unique action ideas, such as Sakamoto repelled with a cough drop and fights inside the trains. How do you come up with such ideas?

Suzuki-sensei: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always dreamed of absurd action [sequences]. Even in movies, one could wonder how they'd never think about doing this kind of action sequence or direction, and they may even ask themselves, “Do battles even occur in a situation like that?!” I like the kind of direction which would take the audience by surprise!

Bottom Column: One of the major attractions of this work is the depiction of powerful battles! It’s because the locations are familiar to the readers, and the battles are realistic and powerful beyond one’s imagination. It’s important to narrow down the situation in order to bring out the intensity of the battles!

—

Many attractive side characters appear in your series, such as Shin and Lu. How did you come up with such characters?

Suzuki-sensei: Sakamoto is fat and a man of little words, so I figured he needed a handsome sidekick. During a conversation between the two of them, there was this stuff, “killing in [your] imagination.” I wished to portray that and that’s the reason why I made Shin a clairvoyant. He gets along well with the quiet Sakamoto and they surprisingly made a good team. As for Lu, I initially wanted to draw a battle with a Chinese assassin, and in the course of that, she would show up as a pitiable heroine. [I guess] in my case, I often have a “I want to draw this kind of development!” or “This is how I want the story to unfold!” goal in mind, so the characters are born in the process due to that.

*Lu’s comment: So that’s how I was born, huh~*

Among the characters in your work, is there any character that is particularly easy or the most difficult to draw?

Suzuki-sensei: I don’t have many characters that I find difficult to draw but there are times where they do look alike. So I tend to be careful with that. Gaku is a character that I can draw easily among all the characters. He is someone who doesn’t depend on others and pushes forward on his own path, and I admire people like that, so I enjoy drawing him.

*Gaku’s comment: Ahhh, I see.*

Please tell us your favourite scene from Volume 1 of the manga.

Suzuki-sensei: I like the scene where Shin jumps off the roller coaster in Volume 1. I drew it in such a way so that the readers would be able feel the floating feeling during that scene whilst they're reading. When I drew that scene, I thought to myself that I might be good with drawing action scenes! I remember getting a positive feeling [from it].

Bottom Column: A scene that captures the moment Shin jumped off from the roller coaster – from various camera [angles]! It is important to capture the cool moments in powerful action scenes, such as when Sakamoto tried to punch while disassembling a gun, or when Sakamoto approached the enemy from behind!!

—

Top Column: One of the charms of the work is that it will always make you laugh!! In order to make the reader want to meet the characters and experience their world, it is important to make the story “easy” to read! Despite being a world where assassins are rampant, it still seems like a fun world [to be in] and that’s the charm of this work!

Your one-shots Garaku and Locker Room both have a darker worldview, whereas your serialized SAKAMOTO DAYS is a shōnen manga with comedy and action elements. Is there a reason why you decided to go with this genre?

Suzuki-sensei: It’s easier to make a dark story if it’s a one-shot. But with serialization, I thought it might become potentially harder, so I decided to make the most stress-free manga that I could draw and read, and that’s how this kind of setting came about.

Do you already have the ending of the story in mind, or have you not decided it yet?

Suzuki-sensei: Yes, I have already planned a definite conclusion in mind.

Finally, SAKAMOTO DAYS has reached its 100th chapter. Could you give a final message to our readers who are reading the story?

Suzuki-sensei: The series is only able to continue into a serialization all thanks to the readers! I cannot thank you enough. Thank you very much! I’m also very happy with the fan letters that I’ve received. Please keep sending them. Please continue to support SAKAMOTO DAYS!

*Sakamoto’s comment: Thanks for reading this far. I appreciate it.*

*Over 2.3 million copies sold!! Volumes 1 to 9 are on sale now!!*

fin.

[gluion]

1, 3, 12 and 24 for the ask game!! :p

hi bar ily ❤️‍🩹🥳

1. favorite fic you wrote this year

man… i will always always love of linked arms and bruised hearts :’)) i know that the writing style may be just average but i have such a personal connection to that story. maybe its because i definitely self projected but i will always love friendships!!! i feel that its become such an important and recurring theme in my fics, if i’ll be honest <3

another favorite of mine is familiarity (it’s all sticky) <3 definitely an idea ive had for a long time and i had lovely @wuahae betaread it :’)) its very personal to me… idk i like to think of it as a fic that commemorates not only how much i do l*ve that loser but also how much i love cat <3

idk if this is cheating but of guitar strings and peeled tangerines earns its spot too!! the outline i made since the second half of the year and ive really been hyped and happy writing it <3 i feel like its a reflection of the nooks and crannys of moni imo </3 so its crazy that it’ll be even more personal than of linked arms and bruised hearts

3. favorite line/scene you wrote this year

OH I DEFINITELY HAVE SO MUCH FAVORITE ONES 😭😭 and alot of them will be from of linked arms and bruised hearts im afraid… i have a bad habit of rereading my works to see what i can improve on or what couldve been changed but also its a way to reflect on my growth as a writer

first, we have the scenes where reader and jichang come back to cheongju for the holidays :’) i think its just sooo domestic imo and it really does have u reflect on what reader and jichang have <3 i personally love the scene where reader finds out jichang has been keeping clippings of their articles <3 it does smth to my lil heart <3

another one is of course the train ride back home… idk to me its just a very sentimental scene about the idea of home and how they find it in each other :’))) particularly these passages always do smth to me

another scene in particularly loved writing is the scene between kevin and reader where they talked about reader’s life… they were discussing editorship and possible topics for the opinion piece and i just thought that the whole reflection of it was beautiful :’)

now for of guitar strings and peeled tangerines… ugh so much to say… first off i loved writing the scene where reader comes back to town… its the whole progression of them getting off the station, meeting juhak again, arriving at their father’s restaurant, u know the vibes :’)) in between every passage, u really see how much grief and resentment they hold towards this town.

The waves are strong enough to tip your balance. You do everything to stand on your own feet. The image of Jacob you drew on the sand has been washed off—it’s your fault for drawing it too close to the shore. 

i know u particularly love this line and i think i do too now :’) smth i didnt know i would enjoy </3

another one i loved writing is the flashback… the first time we see how much peeled tangerines mean between the two… just so much astonishment joy and love <3

12. favorite character to write about this year

rah i think my favorite charas to write abt were definitely the friendgroup in of linked arms and bruised hearts! i also really loved writing moonbae and reader :’))) to me, they just have so much love for each other!!! it was just so nice to see them grow in my eyes as well

if were talking abt members tho, i did love writing about eric :’))) i know i couldnt give justice to the plot with my whack writing style but it was a treat to write abt that lil guy!

24. favorite fic you read this year

SO MUCH!!! WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN!!!

we have ofcourse gravity by @wuahae … still a banger i love her forever!

we also have the whole liu series by @sungbeam but special shoutout to off the record which brought me back to deobism and party people for being my comfort fic!! i also love beam’s night terrors… UGHHHHHEHEJS I HAVENT READ A FIC THt hits all the SPOTS I NEEDED DURING MY FINALS SEASON. genuinely saved me

i also LOVE plot twist by @sohnric :’))) IDKKKK I TOLD IT ALL IN MY REVIEW BUT WHEN I TELL U I FELT LIKE I WAS SPIRALING BACK INTO WHAT IT FIRST FELT LIKE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH KIM SUNWOO… IT WAS SRS TO ME!!

sorry for such a lengthy post <3 just so happy to have spent even just the second half of 2023 here on deobiblr

[historyhermann]

Otaku Elf Review

Otaku Elf, also known as Edomae Erufu, is a fantasy comedy anime. It is based on a seven-volume manga illustrated and written by Akihiko Higuchi. Directed by Takebumi Anzai, it is produced by C2C, a studio founded in April 2006. This post will have spoilers.

Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and Wayback Machine. This was the thirty-fourth article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on June 5, 2023.

This series focuses on a sixteen-year-old named Koito Koganei (voiced by Yuka Ozaki). She becomes a shrine maiden, known as miko, at a shrine in Takamini after the death of her grandfather. As a result, she becomes the caretaker of Eldarie "Elda" Irma Fanomene (voiced by Ami Koshimizu). Elda is an immortal and beautiful elf summoned from another world. Koito encounters challenges as Elda is an otaku and hikikomori/shut-in who fears going outside the shrine following an unpleasant interaction many years prior. Even so, she attempts to get Elda to enjoy life outside the shrine.

Originally, I had not been planning to write a review of this series because I'm already reviewing nine other series this season, either about magical girls (Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure and Tokyo Mew Mew New), legendary warriors (Unicorn Warriors: Eternal), VTubers (Kizuna no Allele), a yuri-themed cafe (Yuri Is My Job!), golf girls (Birdie Wing), idols (Oshi No Ko), or other subjects (Alice Gear Aegis Expansion and Skip and Loafer). One motivation for writing this review was because of Sailor Moon, which I'm currently watching, for the first time. It features Rei Hino as a shrine maiden, when she isn't Sailor Mars.

The animation style, comedy of an immortal elf being an otaku meeting a normal person, and the centrality of food, drew me in. The latter is primarily grounded in the cooking by Koyuzu (voiced by Hitomi Sekine), the younger sister of Koito. The same can be said for Koito and Elda's stories often becoming intertwined. Also, there are characters which are portrayed as "cute", like Koito's friend Koma Sakuraba (voiced by Haruka Aikawa).

I liked that every episode of Otaku Elf has some story about past Japanese culture, especially from the Edo period. Of course, Elda does all she can to impress Koito no matter what. This is despite the fact that although she has a laptop, she doesn't know how to use a cell phone. When she does use it, she texts so much that she angers the spirits! Elda does not know everything, however, and doesn't pretend she is all-knowing. She is wise, but not omniscient.

Yordeilla "Yord" Lila Fenomenea (voiced by Rie Kugimiya) and Himawari Kohinata (voiced by Teru Ikuta) are a good addition to the series. Yord is a dark-skinned elf, who is bad at directions, and has an absurd rivalry with Elda over an equivalent of tic-tac-toe. Dr. Akane Sasaki (voiced by Yumi Uchiyama) was similarly a positive character. In fact, she is shown in the seventh episode with Kadoi, getting drunk at a bar, with both of them as an interesting pair of characters together.

There is undeniable yuri subtext in this series, specifically between Koito and Elda, especially shown in the fifth episode. Otaku Elf has a degree of intimacy it can turn to and expand in each episode. As such, the series centers on the importance of spending time with others above everything else. In that way, Otaku Elf is special.

In marked contrast to Birdie Wing, the value of studying, and education as an extension, is emphasized through Koito's intense studying in the sixth episode. The importance of taking breaks and not over-extending oneself is an interrelated theme.

I like the slice-of-life nature of Otaku Elf. This makes it different from magic-themed series such as Healer Girl and Management of a Novice Alchemist. Similarly, it is nothing like recent slice-of-life anime. The latter includes Let's Make a Mug Too, The Aquatope on White Sand, Teasing Master Takagi-san, and Laid-Back Camp.

The series differs from YuruYuri, Gabriel DropOut, Is the Order a Rabbit?, Kin-iro Mosaic, Non Non Biyori, K-On!, and Azumanga Daioh, in the same genre. Elda is a living history resource, who is good at origami, but can have awful nightmares. There's occasional casual alcoholism. But, it isn't as present as it is in Bocchi the Rock!. The latter features a sick bassist named Kikuri Hiroi, who spends most of her money on booze.

The seventh Otaku Elf episode was one of the best in the entire series. It primarily focused on Koyuzu and her desire to spend more time with her sister, Koito. Some of the funniest sequences in the episode was when she charmed people in a wholesale market so she could get fish for free.

The latter episode was only rivaled by the eighth episode. It focuses on Elda meeting another elf, named Haira (voiced by Mamiko Noto). Some of the best parts were having the historical remembrance shown in anime style resembling wood block art.  The episode features another miko, named Komari, the same age as Koito. Haira is an elf with beauty only matched by Elda. She is older than Elda and Yolde, treating them as her younger sisters. The episode implied Elda is a lesbian, as she said she liked all the teahouse girls during the Edo period.

By the end of the episode, it is clear that the series is uncritical of the fact that Komari was a social influencer and that Haira was a gambler. Even though Komari was critical of Haira for gambling, she tells Koioto that if Haira is doing what she likes, it is ok. On the one hand, this makes sense as Komari had been with Haira since she was young, allowing her to take candid photographs.

On the other, Otaku Elf, by saying that Haira's desire to be a gambler is ok, implies it is a non-issue and downplays it as a problem. Most gambling is prohibited in Japan. There are exceptions for some motor sports and horse racing. The latter is something that Haira said she wanted to do during the episode.

There is an ample culture of gambling in the island nation. The island has a difficult relationship with it. There is inconsistency between reality and law. Some have pushed to completely legalize gambling across the island. Even so, some people, and groups, have objected to expanded gambling in Osaka. They have argued that crime and addiction (to gambling) will rise as a result. Those caught gambling illegally in Japan can face fines or jail time. This hasn't stopped gambling from becoming pervasive, nor the millions afflicted with gambling addiction. The series could have done a better job with this topic.

Despite the problematic approach to gambling, the series often highlights the importance of remembering the past and preserving it. In the ninth episode, Elda reads a manga that has been published for over 30 years. She reorganizes her room due to a ceiling leak (with the help of Koito) and finds an old videotape. Often series only focus on new technology. They act like anything deemed "analog" isn't worth bringing up. In some cases, there is a blend of the "old" and "new". In the case in Steven Universe, a videotape of the protagonist's mother (Rose Quartz) plays an important role in the series.

Similarly in Otaku Elf, Koito sees a videotape for the first time, and goes to her grandmother, who has an old Betamax player, excited to watch a tape of something recorded from before she was born. She learns that her mother, shown on the tape, was also a miko of Elda as well! In a typical scene, Elda embarrasses Koito. She thinks she will be picked up in a "bridal style" pose and runs away as a result. The latter is part of the ongoing yuri undertones of this series, even though Elda and Koito have more of a master-student relationship than anything that is romantic.

Otaku Elf is much more than a series with endearing character dynamics. It has a protagonist (Elda) who deeply cares about the town she lives in, a neighborhood of Tokyo, I believe. Unlike some other anime this season, such as Alice Gear Aegis Expansion, there's no fan service. Nor are there any characters which are "one-off jokes". In fact, the series, in some ways, counts as an isekai. It has a "genuineness and pleasantness" which evades many anime these days.

The show's animation studio is known for producing over 16 series, including two I'm familiar with: Hitori Bocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu (based on a manga by Katsuwo who also wrote Mitsubishi Colors) and Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina. None of the story elements in either of those series are present in this series.

The voice cast of Otaku Elf is just as strong as the show's opening song. Ami Koshimizu, who voices Elda, also voices the caddy of Aoi in Birdie Wing (Amane Shinjо̄), Mizuki Nakahara in Lycoris Recoil, Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter in Sailor Moon Crystal, Shiori in Princess Connect! Re:Dive, Yang Xiao Long in RWBY: Ice Queendom, and Konomi Yurikawa in Yurikuma Arashi. Yuka Ozaki, the voice of Koito, has lent her voice as Asuka Toyama in BanG Dream!, while Hitomi Sekine, voice of Koyuzu, voiced characters in Teasing Master Takagi-san, Konosuba, and Ms. vampire who lives in my neighborhood.

Haruka Aikawa, the voice of Koma, previously voiced a character in Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie. Mamiko Noto, voice of Haira, voiced a supporting character named Kazuki Kosuda in B Gata H Kei - Yamada’s First Time, Hakko in Canaan, Elsa in Gunslinger Girl, Kanon's mother in Love Live! Superstar!!, Shimako Toudou in Maria Watches Over Us, Gin Todo in A Place Further Than the Universe, and Saki Arima in Your Lie in April, and many other roles.

All in all, Otaku Elf is highly relatable to the hundreds of thousands of shut-ins in Japan, which the government believes is a "new social issue", and those elsewhere in the world. It might even draw in an audience from anyone who is living at "home" with their parents, or others living a "hermit-like" existence, being social recluses from society.

In any case, I recommend this series highly. I hope that it receives a second season, even though that is unlikely considering the last nine series by the same studio have not been renewed. Often, companies try and limit corporate risk by planning out each season for only 11-13 episodes. If the show is a success, "additional seasons can be ordered" as noted by Justin Sevakis.

Otaku Elf is currently streaming on HIDIVE.

© 2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[etes-secrecy-post]

Hi, before I explain my post, I want to say something important.

• What you see my blog has become a major overhaul. And despite the changes, I decided that my 2nd account will be now my artwork blog with a secret twist.

⚠️NEW RULE! (W/ BIGGER TEXT!)⚠️

⚠️ SO PLEASE DO NOT SHARE MY 2nd ACCOUNT TO EVERYONE! THIS SECRECY BLOG OF MINE IS FOR CLOSES FRIENDS ONLY!⚠️

• AND FOR MY CLOSES FRIENDS, DON’T REBLOG IT. INSTEAD, JUST COPY MY LINK AND PASTE IT ON YOUR TUMBLR POST! JUST BE SURE THE IMAGE WILL BE REMOVED AND THE ONLY LEFT WAS THE TEXT.

⚠️ SHARING LINKS, LIKE POSTS, REBLOG POSTS, STEALING MY SNAPSHOT PHOTOS/RECORDED VIDEOS/ARTWORKS (a.k.a. ART THIEVES) OR PLAGIARIZING FROM UNKNOWN TUMBLR STRANGERS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE BLOCKED, RIGHT AWAY!⚠️

😡 WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT EVER LIKED & REBLOG MY SECRET POST! THIS IS FOR MY SECRET FRIENDS ONLY, NOT YOU! 😡

Okay? Capiche? Make sense? Good, now back to the post…↓

#Onthisday: Nov 19th, 2016

Title: Extreme Daphne Type Sthesia Excellia

I've seen a gameplay arcade of Extreme Gundam Type Sthesia Excellia from "Mobile Suit Gundam EXTREME VS Maxi Boost ON" (both 2016 arcade and the console PS4 exclusive), and It so awesome game that I've ever seen. Unfortunately, the Gundam Versus arcade game is exclusively to Japan. 🕹️🇯🇵 That is, until 2020 when Bandai Namco released the console port for the PS4 as an exclusive (both inside and outside Japan), but it can also run on Sony's next gen, the PS5 (with loading process was completely non-existed). 🙂

• Click here to watch a gameplay - [CLICK ME!]. 🖱️🖥️

• That's why, I drew Daphne with her new "Cuteness Mecha Armor", "Extreme Type Sthesia Excellia". 😁🐰🤖

Extreme Daphne Type Sthesia Excellia Came from the real: Extreme Gundam Type Sthesia Excellia [CLICK ME!].

Armament(s):

Beam Sabers • The unit's standard close combat weapon. This weapon is also used as throwable beam daggers.

Kreuz des Südens • The unit's standard long ranged armament. In its normal folded form, it functions like an ordinary high-powered beam rifle akin to a launcher weapon or can fire a large devastating beam. At full power, it unfolds to reveal several beam guns to expand its range.

Halbmond • Excellia's unique melee weapon that resembles a long beam sword. Rather than being stored physically on the machine, it is materialized from data out of thin air.

Sphere Bits • A set of sphere bits used to remotely attack any opponents. These are launched from the hand.

Shield Bits • A set of round shield bits located on the shoulders that can protect the Excellia or allies from enemy attacks.

Special Feature(s):

Link Rephaser • Invokes the power of the Dark Sthesias, allowing the use of one attack from each of the armor Extreme Rephaser variants. From the Tachyon, it brandishes the Halbmond and charges at the opponent. From Carnage, the Gundam fires a large orange beam of energy from both hands. Using Ignis, it fires three spheres of freezing energy in a fanning formation to immobilize enemies. Through the Mystic, it twirls the Halbmond above its head, creating a powerful whirlwind that sends enemy mobile suits flying into the air.

Milchstraße • This unit's Burst Attack, the head's hat-like visor locks into place as it fires a fanning radiating beam from the Kreuz des Südens in cross mode. Magic circles are also formed beneath its feet to form a potent barrier that protects it from all incoming attacks.

Daphne Synchron (Gumball OC) - owned by Estar99 (dA) Armor (Gundam EXA) - Gundam Series © Bandai Namco Filmworks, Inc. (SUNRISE), Sotsu

[takerfoxx]

I love that Sayaka got brought back in resonance days just to continue her trend of being the universe's chewtoy

Bring meguca is suffering actually statistical error, Sayaka Miki who is constantly miserable and never has a good day is an outlier adn shouldnt be counted

See, I'd agree with you, if suffering wasn't literally a feature of being meguca.

Exhibit A: Homura.

Exhibit B: Kyoko.

Exhibit C: Mami.

I could go on.

Actually, this does bring up an interesting point. One thing I've always found fascinating about PMMM is that right up to the point when Homura accidentally timelooped her crush into becoming the most important person in the universe, there was NOTHING special about any one of them. These girls are literally just a small handful out of millions, and their dreams, heartbreaks, suffering, and deaths are just business as usual for Kyubey, nothing more than a few more marks to be used up and discarded before moving onto the next ones.

But then he made the mistake of contracting a certain self-loathing gay Catholic teenager, thereby ensuring that the suffering would reach critical mass, resulting in a full system reboot.

But bringing things back to your original point, Sayaka's suffering is what drew me into the series in the first place, so of course I had to continue it!

[ronaldanthony4]

I’ve just finished another digital artwork, and I must say, this piece holds a special place in my heart. As I always do, I poured a part of myself into it, but this time, it wasn’t just an artistic effort—it was an act of devotion. With World Children’s Day just around the corner, I wanted to dedicate this week to celebrating children in art, and what better way to do so than by bringing to life a character from a series that has touched so many hearts? This is my fan art of Abigail, a spirited little girl from the hit Christian series, "The Chosen."

Let me tell you about Abigail. She’s not just a fictional character but a reflection of the innocence, curiosity, and unwavering faith we often associate with children. She appears in the third episode of the first season of "The Chosen", an episode aptly titled "Jesus Loves the Little Children." This episode tells the story of how Jesus befriended a group of children in Capernaum, including Abigail and her best friend, Joshua. It’s a touching narrative that shows Jesus not as a distant figure but as someone who welcomed, taught, and loved children deeply. That’s what inspired me to create this artwork—to celebrate that moment when faith, childhood, and divine love intersect.

Abigail is depicted here as a 9-year-old girl living in the Galilean city of Capernaum around 30 CE. In the series, she’s portrayed as a curious, intelligent child who asks endless questions—sometimes to the amusement and sometimes to the bewilderment of those around her. I tried to capture that playful yet thoughtful energy in her expression. Her eyes are wide and bright, filled with curiosity and a hint of mischief as if she’s just about to ask another question that no one’s quite ready for. I imagined her standing outside on a sunny day, perhaps on the outskirts of Capernaum, the same place where she first encountered Jesus.

Her outfit is simple yet meaningful. I based it on the tunic design seen in the live-action series, which reflects the modest clothing of the time. The tunic’s light-coloured fabric symbolises innocence and purity. I added a small detail which is also from the show, the doll she’s carrying in a belt tied around her waist. The doll represents the warmth and simplicity of childhood, a reminder that even in ancient times, children found ways to express themselves through play. The sash holding the doll is yellow, a colour of hope and light, which perfectly complements the calm tones of her outfit.

When designing her hair and complexion, I drew inspiration from a children’s book titled Jesus Loves the Little Children. This book, created by the same team behind The Chosen, reimagines Abigail in a way that’s visually more accessible to kids. Her rich brown hair flows loosely around her shoulders, with a few gentle curls that frame her face. Her skin, sun-kissed from days spent outdoors, reflects the warmth of the Mediterranean climate. I love how these features bring her character to life, grounding her in the world of ancient Galilee while still making her relatable to children today.

The background of the artwork was just as important to me as Abigail herself. I wanted to create a setting that felt authentic yet inviting, one that could transport viewers back to the time of Jesus. The path she’s standing on is earthy and uneven, surrounded by trees in full bloom, their branches reaching out like open arms. The sky above is a clear blue, dotted with soft clouds that seem to drift lazily by. This backdrop, though simple, is meant to evoke a sense of peace—a moment of stillness where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, much like Abigail’s encounter with Jesus.

As I worked on this piece, I couldn’t help but think about the upcoming animated series, The Chosen Adventures. This 14-episode spin-off is designed specifically for kids, extending the storytelling of The Chosen in a way that’s both entertaining and spiritually enriching. Abigail is one of the characters set to appear in this series, and I’m thrilled to see how her story will unfold. The creators have described it as "entertaining and transformative," and I believe that’s exactly what it will be. For children watching, it’s a chance to see themselves in the characters, to feel that connection to faith and history in a way that’s both fun and meaningful.

But let me rewind a bit and tell you about the context in which I created this artwork. This weekend has been anything but ordinary. There’s a typhoon approaching, and it’s predicted to make landfall in an area not far from where I live. The thought of power outages loomed large in my mind as I started this piece, and I knew I had to work quickly. It was a race against the clock, but also against nature itself. Every stroke of my digital brush felt like a small act of defiance, a way of saying, "Even in the face of uncertainty, beauty and faith will prevail."

As I worked, I found myself praying—not just for the safety of my community, but for everyone in the typhoon’s path. Something is humbling about creating art amid a storm, both literal and figurative. It reminded me of how Jesus calmed the storm for His disciples, and how His presence brought peace even in the most chaotic of moments. In a way, this artwork became my little act of faith, a reminder that even when the skies darken, there’s always light to be found.

One of the most moving aspects of The Chosen is its portrayal of Jesus as a teacher and friend, someone who meets people where they are and shows them the love of God in ways they can understand. This is especially evident in the episode featuring Abigail. When she and the other children discover Jesus’ camp on the outskirts of Capernaum, they’re hesitant at first but quickly drawn in by His kindness and warmth. He teaches them through parables and simple truths, showing that the Kingdom of God is not just for the wise and learned, but for everyone—including children.

Abigail, with her endless questions and boundless curiosity, embodies the spirit of a child seeking understanding. Watching her interact with Jesus is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. It’s a reminder of the simple, childlike faith that we’re all called to have—a faith that trusts, questions, and seeks without fear. That’s what I wanted to capture in this artwork: not just Abigail as a character, but the essence of what she represents. She’s a symbol of the openness and wonder that come with being a child, qualities that often get lost as we grow older.

As I put the finishing touches on the piece, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. I am grateful for the ability to create, for the inspiration that comes from stories like The Chosen, and for the opportunity to share my work with others. Art, for me, is more than just a hobby or a profession; it’s a way of connecting with something greater than myself. It’s a way of expressing my faith, my hopes, and my dreams in a form that others can see and feel. Through art, I can communicate emotions and experiences that words alone cannot capture. It allows me to tap into a universal language that transcends barriers and connects us all on a deeper level.

When the world celebrates Children’s Day on Wednesday, I may revisit the episode "Jesus Loves the Little Children." It’s a story that never fails to move me, and I hope this artwork captures even a fraction of its beauty and message. In the meantime, I’ll be praying for safety as the typhoon approaches, trusting that, like Abigail, we can all find moments of peace and light even amid life’s storms. As I work on this piece, I am reminded of the power of art to convey emotions and truths that.

In creating this piece, I’ve realised that art and faith are deeply intertwined. Both are acts of creation, ways of bringing something into the world that wasn’t there before. And both require a certain amount of trust—trust in the process, trust in the message, and trust in the One who inspires it all. Abigail, with her wide eyes and open heart, is a testament to that trust. She reminds us that faith is not just about knowing all the answers, but about being willing to ask the questions and follow where they lead.

So here it is—my fan art of Abigail, a little girl who reminds us of the power of curiosity, the beauty of innocence, and the boundless love of God. As the wind begins to pick up outside and the skies grow darker, I find comfort in her story, in the reminder that even amid uncertainty, we are never alone. And as I share this piece with you, I hope it brings a little light to your day, just as it has to mine. May we all be inspired by Abigail's spirit of curiosity and innocence, and may we remember that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope to hold onto.

[c0mradepete]

Vagina Obscura: Legitimation, Authority, and Authenticity in Sexual and Reproductive Health

Episode Transcript

About a month ago, I came across a brand new podcast series through Apple titled Unruly. American art influencer and writer Kimberly Drew serves as the host, and here is how she sums up the series at the beginning of each episode: “Where we take the quiet ways women’s bodies are commodified, defined, regulated and we name them – out loud. We wanna educate and support each other. Because your body is your business” (1:33). So far, Drew and her featured guests have covered topics such as social media, the beauty industry, fertility treatments, and menopause. Unruly has become one of my favorite podcasts so far, and while I would absolutely love to cover everything about the series, this blog post will strictly focus on “Episode 3: Body Language”. In this episode, Drew speaks with Rachel E. Gross, the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage”. In this book, Gross informs the audience about a growing movement to reclaim how women’s bodies are described within the medical industry. We shall be analyzing the episode’s content by using Craig Martin’s concepts of legitimation, authority, and authenticity from his book A Critical Introduction to the Study of Religion.de 3: Body Language”. In this episode, Drew speaks with Rachel E. Gross, the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage”. In this book, Gross informs the audience about a growing movement to reclaim how women’s bodies are described within the medical industry. We shall be analyzing the episode’s content by using Craig Martin’s concepts of legitimation, authority, and authenticity from his book A Critical Introduction to the Study of Religion.

In earlier chapters from A Critical Introduction to the Study of Religion, Martin informs his audience about how social reproduction, or conformity, takes place through socialization. In Chapter 7: “How Religion Works: Legitimation”, Martin expounds on the notion of conformity further by introducing us to the concept of legitimation. Martin writes, “What happens when ‘that’s just the way things are’ doesn’t suffice as an answer? What happens when individuals probe further and require further justifications? This is when societies turn to what scholars call ‘legitimation’” (103). Basically, people are more likely to participate in a social norm if there is a good enough reason, and people are also more likely to participate if there is a danger or consequence as a result of refusing to comply. So, where can we find legitimation within Drew and Gross’ exchange? At some point in the episode, Drew shifts the conversation towards the experience of intersex folks in America. According to Gross, after an intersex person is born, it is not unusual for a doctor to perform a surgery to make the child’s genitalia appear “normal”. It should be noted that these people do not get to consent to these operations when they take place. Based on Gross’ inputs, we can see that medical professionals legitimize these surgeries by claiming “‘there’s a natural state of being that’s having men and women’” (10:34). Although there is no real danger to living in a world where the gender binary does not exist, these doctors are quite insistent about keeping sex and gender strictly male and female, or man and woman. 

The next concept we will discuss is authority, and Martin has a lot to say about it as well as its various forms. The following statement from Chapter 8: “How Religion Works: Authority” stood out to me the most: “A second type of authority is linked to religious figures or social positions above one in a social hierarchy…For those who claim to be adherents to these traditions, the actions or commands of these authoritative figures have a special, important, or sacred status” (121). One example from Unruly comes to mind when I reflect on this. Firstly, Drew asks Gross how long the negative language surrounding women’s bodies has existed, and Gross dates this back all the way to Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician. According to Gross, he “did decide to name the genitals and he named them ancient Greek for ‘the part for which you should be ashamed…’” (18:18). Gross also briefly mentions that Hippocrates did not look at any actual female bodies; instead, he relied on whatever the midwives told him. Okay, so how does this affect us now? As more scientists and doctors began to research human anatomy, more shame-based terms were adopted. For instance, the French and German languages use words for “shame” to create a new word to describe a part of the female anatomy. For those who are unaware, Hippocrates is still relatively important when it comes to modern medicine; in fact, doctors swear to follow the Hippocratic Oath, a pledge to follow a specific code of ethical behavior. So, one could argue that since Hippocrates is a key figure in the history of medicine and healthcare, he holds credibility or authority over contemporary doctors. As a result of this status, many doctors continue to use language which does not feel inclusive for the majority of patients. 

Finally, in the ninth chapter of his book, Martin touches on authenticity. He refers to this concept as a rhetorical power play; in other words, claiming authenticity “sets up a binary opposition between ‘the real’ or authentic and ‘the unreal’ or inauthentic—between an ‘us’ and a ‘them’” (146). This explanation is arguably pretty straightforward, and similarly to legitimation, we can see this concept at play. Towards the end of this episode, Gross concludes her thoughts by offering some advice to the folks tuning in to Unruly. She says, “There is a dynamic that can happen in the doctor’s office that we are all susceptible to…where they’re sort of an authority figure and you’re sort of the patient and…it’s like frowned upon to ask too many questions or to bring in your own research” (25:20). Although Martin uses religious-oriented events or people to describe authenticity, we can clearly see some sort of divide between the patient and the doctor. This divide can occur for many reasons; for instance, some women may feel hesitant about vocalizing their concerns because they feel intellectually inferior to the doctor. Although these women know their own bodies better than anyone else and are totally capable of doing personal research, they may feel like they lack credibility in their opinion because they do not have a professional degree. Furthermore, America’s healthcare system is designed to be fast-paced and offer quick solutions. Some Americans are completely aware of this, and they may feel as though they will be an inconvenience or a burden if they decide to ask multiple follow-up questions or ask for an alternative solution to their ailment. Essentially, the system appears to discourage patients from “overstepping” their role and questioning what a doctor suggests initially. 

 If one were to parse through the other episodes of Unruly, one may find more examples of religious concepts. However, it is safe to say that Episode 3: “Body Language” shows how we can use religious concepts like legitimation, authority, and authenticity to critically analyze popular culture and social norms.

[naancypants]

I don't mean this to be rude, but what do you think are the moments of romantic buildup between Nancy and Ace in season 1? Because we are being told it was this slow burn relationship but from season 1 to season 2 I felt like Nancy's feelings for Ace came out of nowhere... like did she and Ace spend any significant time together bonding in season 1 or even season 2? I can't remember. All I remember is Nancy having unresolved feelings for Nick, and her weird reaction to finding out he was with George. It's like Nace went from 0 to 100 and I just want to understand where the feelings or bond even came from with them, because I don't feel their bond yet but during the season 2 finale, it was clear we are supposed to ship them. But I still feel like I'm waiting for them to do anything engaging together beyond just existing around the periphery of each other if that makes sense. I either missed the "buildup", or moment when everything changed between them, or Nace is retroactively being presented as Nancy's important romance now. Idk it feels off to me. I only watched the show once, but I feel like the story should be clear and I feel caught off guard with Nace.

Hi! This is fascinating to me because, like you, I don't mean to be rude, but I genuinely cannot imagine not picking up on the romantic buildup of Nancy and Ace 😄

The season 1 era of slowburn was about laying the foundation, developing their friendship, and establishing how their dynamic works. There wasn't anything inherently romantic except for some small moments of "???" chemistry that isn't there between other combinations of the Drew crew.

These small moments are what planted the early seeds - towards the end of s1, Nancy started to view Ace as this fascinating mystery of a human being (and we know that "girls love mystery"), but also as someone she can feel safe with ("If I find the words, I will share them with you") - at that point in the series this was a BIG DEAL!!! Even now Nancy isn't always one to wear her heart on her sleeve, but her natural inclination to open up with Ace specifically has been there & consistent since 1x18. This is a surprising phenomenon for Nancy, so in a way it draws her in - and it signals to the audience that there's something special about this person.

Season 2 is when the writers decided to lean into this relationship that many viewers (myself included) were already feeling the potential for. Season 2 regularly highlights Nancy's growing feelings for Ace, which picks up in episode 7 when he meets Amanda for the first time.

Even the season 2 premiere ended with Nancy and Ace having a raw heart-to-heart about Ace's fear of losing his crew, and more specifically, losing her - this was a way of setting the tone for their relationship moving forward. It's basically the writers saying "hey *wink wink* look how much they care about each other! *nudge nudge* keep that in your mind!" The vibe of this scene is very much not the vibe that would be presented if it were Nancy and George, or even Ace and Bess. With Nancy and Ace it's a little bit nervous, a little harder around the edges, because there's something underneath it that hasn't come to fruition yet.

By the time we get to 2x12 and 2x13, Nancy's feelings are starting to become clearer; subconsciously for her, but more obviously for viewers.

If you watched 2x13 without feeling the excruciatingly palpable Nancy/Ace angst dripping off the screen, then I truly don't know what to tell you 😅 the majority of that episode was dedicated to building tension between them, even going so far as to have Amanda - Ace's girlfriend! - point out that there's a "vibe" between him & Nancy.

I do recommend watching the show again with all of this in mind if you're struggling with it. Obviously I can't force you to see anything, but this is how their relationship reads to me as I'm sure was the writers' intention (seeing as where we are now). They do have a subtle buildup, but the best buildup is always subtle. Nancy/Ace is rooted in friendship and trust and knowing the other person inside & out, not necessarily in moments of physicality and heart eyes (although Nancy & Ace have those things as well, if you're looking). This is why Nancy's feelings for Ace are manifesting so differently than her feelings for Owen, or Gil, or Park, or even Nick - Ace is her best friend, her partner in crime. He is able to see through her and connect with her emotionally unlike anyone else can, and that's where her feelings developed from. It's softer, quieter, more vulnerable, and therefore scarier for her to act on. Nancy's dreamscape in 2x18 was her awakening to all that's been building in her subconscious over time, which as an audience, we got to see glimmers of throughout season 2.

[sc-aroshark]

I still remember the day I first watched Yugioh. My cousin and I were scrolling through shows on my TV and I saw Yugioh on the screen as we went around. I honestly can’t explain what drew me to it in that moment but I had that sense of deep curiosity about it. For years of my life I just threw it aside and thought of it as ridiculous while I watched Pokemon, but that one day I thought “I want to see what it’s really about.”

That would be the day that would change my life, even just a little bit. We giggled through episode 1 and watched episode 2 talking amongst ourselves saying “this is so ridiculous!!” And then watched episode 3 and then watched all of season 1. I still remember the very moment I thought to myself “wow I really love this show.”

I wasn’t able to finish duel monsters at the time for whatever reasons I had, but 4 years later I picked the show back up again, and then proceeded to watch nearly every single spin off until that point. Never did the math but I easily watched 1000 episodes in that moment in time. It’s quite literally taken over my life, for lack of a better phrase.

Takahashi singlehandedly created one of the most important franchises ever and changed how we played and viewed card games forever, on top of changing the landscape for shounen series going forward. The Yugioh franchise has become an indescribable success and created so many more stories to tell beyond just his original work.

He was a genius, both artistically and in writing, and one of the smartest game designers of our era.

To die in such a seemingly random and senseless way hurts us all, and at such a young age too no less. However, at that young age he accomplished more than any can even hope to dream of, and that just shows how deeply special he was. I wish nothing but the best to his family, this is hitting them harder than anyone else.

Rest In Peace Takahashi. We’ll all miss you.

[tempenensis]

Jujutsu Kaisen: Abyss of Math Course - part 1

The title already makes me shiver in fear.

This is the lesson-slash-interview with math professor that Takano-san (T-san) did. Hino-san (H-san) was actually his academic advisor when T-san was in university, while Sonoda-san (S-san) was his senior. This interview will be divided into four parts.

Jujutsu Kaisen have a lot maths?

T: Actually the two of you had checked the formula and wording during Jujutsu Kaisen vol. 14 and 15. Thank you for that!

H: No, no, that’s all because my daughter and son are big fans of Jujutsu Kaisen.

S: Me too. Thanks for letting me read it. It’s very interesting.

T: In Jujutsu Kaisen, “how do they fight under established constraint” is one of the fun of the battle. And due of it, math is considered. Then a question arised, “Akutami-sensei won’t actually explain the math of all jutsushiki, right?”, so I, Grade-2 master of Math, could not compete. This is the reason I thought to call the two of you, Special-grade masters of Math, to give an explanation.

H: I don’t think I can do such huge things (laugh). For example, Todo clapping his hands to swap places, and Awasaka’s ‘Abekobe’ are math, right?

S: Seems like you can express ‘Abekobe’ if you can use logarithm or negative function of differential well (Board 1).

H: As Awasaka said, if “the damage given” is input x and “the damage received” is output y, the larger the x is, then y becomes smaller. In reverse, the smaller the x is, the value of y becomes larger. However, by that definition, the rule is can only be applied in the specific domain. He is someone who has technique with such formula.

T: Actually, when they use cursed technique, you think the users have mathematical equations inside their mind, right?

S: Actually, our work involves modelling, so thinking about the math of a phenomenon is very fun

T: I’m glad you said so! In these 8 pages, we’ll talk a lot with Gojo Satoru in the center!

Board 1: In the specific domain (=the number range of input), monotone decrease function is applied, Awasaka's ability can be turned into a math formula!

Awasaka was the opponent who fought Itadori and Fushiguro. By using his "Abekobe" ability, the damage of strong attack becomes small, caused the two of them to struggle. After they saw through him that weak attack becomes huge damage, he lost to Itadori.

cont'd under the cut.

Complete consideration of Limitless cursed technique: Red, Blue

T: Well then, in the volume 15, I had considered that limitless cursed technique is something like the action of scaling, but I regretted that it might have more serious math. The image that Akutami-sensei hold is like the problem of “Achilles and the Turtle”. But I couldn’t write properly about the number sequence. The two of you have always been more knowledgeable on math than me.

S: In the first place, the techniques that Gojo usually use are three, right?

H: Yes, Cursed technique lapse, “Blue” and Cursed technique reversal, “Red”, and void formula “Purple”. First, let’s try to write the definition and assumption clearly. Describing it first is important after all. I drew it on the table (Board 2).

T: Limitless cursed technique is a cursed technique that uses infinity.

H: That is the engine, right?

S: By using that, “Blue” can attract, “Red” can repel, while “Purple” is the mix of two. Hearing only the words make them seem like a riddle.

H: Isn’t using this description already make sense? This seems like a job for researcher (laugh)

Limitless Cursed technique

He can make infinity in the space between him and his enemy, so the enemy who approaches him feels like they get further. As such, he does not let them touch him.

Approaching near becomes further away = they are stopped.

By applying this he is able to exert the power to attract, which is cursed technique lapse "Blue"

Furthermore, reversing the operation resulting in cursed technique reversal "Red".

Mixing the two resulted in void formula "Purple"

T: Akutami-sensei hold the idea of Achilles and the turtle. The time sequence is counted as infinity so they will never arrive.

H: This assumption is that, if you apply the process to reach, it has no end. Because time is a continuous thing, you can fit it into the frame of infinity, and if you apply that, there’s no end to it.

T: That’s right. If seen from 0.1 second window, one second has 10 frames. If seen from 0.01 second window, 100 frames. But in this case of 0.00000…01 second, if you add more 0 in between, you can increase the number of frames.

S: This, something approaching make it into convergent sequence, so there’s a point after all, to slow them down is the key, right? Saying it simply, if the convergence of convergent sequence can be slowed down, the convergent series of the situation is sorted, right? If you have a different sort of line…then you will get such formula (Board 2). The operation done using this sorting is “Blue”. In this sorting, extreme distance beyond N becomes larger than ɛ.

H: I see. So, it’s “Riemann series theorem”. If the subject (the person who receives jutsushiki) considers to converge the technique, it doesn’t look like convergent series (laugh).

S: Gojo is unpleasant guy (laugh)

T: Is that really a bad guy…

H: As an alternative, it seems fine to use the idea of strengthening the phase. Phase is, saying it simply, an established rule of what will happen if we include the two points in the same open set (group). Weak phase is the circumstance of “Together no matter what. You and me and everyone else are the same”, while strong phase is “Each point is separate, everyone is different.” The phase and distance “belong in the same group” in the assumption for scale. So, in theory, Gojo is able to control the weakness or strength of the phase.

T: This becomes difficult right away, but I’ll sort it a bit. So it seems that Gojo is able to tweak the concept of “near” and “far”. He can tweak the feeling of the enemy who thought “near!”. For example, if they are separated 1000 meters away, he can make them think “he’s near!”. In reverse, he can also control the phase to make the opponent think 1 m as “that’s far!”.

S: In the norm of finite dimensional space, the established phase is each other is equivalent, but for the time being, the details don’t matter. In the infinite dimension, that kind of things happen.

(to part 2)

[maverick-werewolf]

Modern Dragon Designs - Where they came from

Your regularly scheduled werewolf facts will return soon. For now, we provide this special, because you may not realize this, but I love dragons. There’s a reason one of my protagonists is basically obsessed with dragons.

Once upon a time, there was a movie - I don’t see anyone talk about it, I’m not even sure how many people are familiar with it...

It’s called Reign of Fire.

This movie shaped the modern Hollywoodian concept of dragons. Seriously, it did. Hear me out.

Released in 2002, Reign of Fire was a movie about - essentially - dragons as that age-old trope of “let’s take one monster and turn them into an overpopulated zombie plague so we can use them to tell a story about humans and make the monster just this brainless evil locust swarm backdrop.” This has happened to a lot of monsters by now.

But wait, these dragons aren’t like the dragons you might be used to: these dragons were completely redesigned from the ground up by the filmmaker(s) in order to make a more “realistic” and “animalistic” dragon that was acceptable by Hollywood, who generally views “dragon movies” (like so many other fantasy things...) as cheesy and silly. Market your movie as a film about dragons and you probably won’t get a deal. Well, turns out, coming up with your own gritty dragon designs worked!

Doesn’t this remind you of every other dragon you’ve seen in a movie for the last, you know, 18 years? Although it actually looks quite a bit cooler than those other ones that came after it

Please note that while I may sound sarcastic, jaded, and often maybe a bit scathing, I mean nothing against the creators of Reign of Fire or director Rob Bowman. I watched the movie in theaters when it released. I applaud Bowman for coming up with unique and interesting dragon designs, in order to have a different take on the creatures, so that they fit the story he wanted to tell, instead of doing what so many people do and completely co-opting concepts without trying to alter them to fit anything and... yeah... okay, I’m not going to talk about werewolf things in this post. Getting back on track:

What I don’t applaud is everyone ripping off Reign of Fire for their own dragons, doubly so because most of these people didn’t even take into account the reasons why it was designed that way. They should have left his dragons alone and come up with their own thing, but at least I guess Bowman can go down in history as the man who designed every Hollywood dragon for over a decade to come - with no signs of stopping - even down to the tail shape.

On Vice, you can find an article and interview with Rob Bowman, the director of Reign of Fire, discussing how he came up with this dragon design and how influential it has become. I highly recommend giving it a read.

Please note the Vice article is clearly written with the bias of someone who “can’t take dragons seriously,” so it’s also a good look at the Hollywood mindset about dragons and how much Hollywood treats fantasy in general like garbage (jerks).

It’s impossible to pretend this movie didn’t basically reshape modern dragons. Let’s get to the details...

Animalistic Design

Dragons in popular culture are generally - or at least they were generally - assumed to be powerful, intelligent creatures, often of a higher nature than humans and other mere mortals. They may be good or evil, but one can’t understate that traditional fantasy dragons are regal and majestic either way.

Reign of Fire wanted to usurp the majestic, intelligent dragon image, creating a smaller, hunched, knuckle-dragging sort of dragon that looks more like an animal - like a pteranodon. This is because the dragons in Reign of Fire are not exceptionally intelligent, noble beings that speak and hoard gold and have the wisdom of the ages. They are brutal hunters that set things on fire and eat everything smaller than them. So this design choice was a conscious one and a smart one.

The dragons in Reign of Fire are meant to be more scientific, more plausible, and also simpler, in a manner of speaking. They are not colorful, magical, ancient fantasy dragons...

Trouble is, everyone took cues from this design for their talking wise noble fantasy dragons, and it... doesn’t really work, at least if you ask me.

The dragon design in Reign of Fire looks like an ancestral throwback, an evolutionary ancestor to the intelligent, talking fantasy dragon, although they are smaller. They’re hunched, they haven’t evolved forelegs independent of their wings... you get the idea. Take a look at the “proto-drakes” in World of Warcraft versus the ordinary drakes, which have tiny dangly T-rex forelegs that haven’t fully developed yet, so they walk like the Reign of Fire dragons.

A proto-drake in World of Warcraft - also say hi to my worgen warrior

So many things taking this design for their intelligent, “higher being” dragons seems kind of... odd to me, to say the least. Unfortunately, Hollywood decided that’s the only way moviegoers can “take dragons seriously,” so here we are.

“Wyvern” - Two Legs vs Four

Municipal arms of Stjørdal, Norway

In medieval heraldry, there came to be a creature called a wyvern. Now, the etymology on the term “wyvern” is a little shaky. It originally didn’t specifically refer to a “two-legged dragon.” It is thought to mean/be derived from words meaning anything ranging from “asp” to “light javelin,” and essentially boils down to a flying serpent. It is noteworthy, of course, that the word “dragon” basically just means “serpent” too.

In heraldry, though, “wyvern” came to refer to a two-legged dragon - at least, if you ask the English, Scottish, and Irish; elsewhere in Europe, they may not be so picky. And now, in modern pop culture (such as Dungeons and Dragons), we often use it in the same sense.

Wyverns weren’t really a “thing” in folklore, just as dragons in folklore didn’t look like our modern idea of a dragon. It’s debatable whether the father of our modern concept of dragons, Fafnir (from whom Tolkien drew inspiration for Smaug), even had wings at all; he was essentially a serpent, perhaps with legs. Point is, wyverns come from heraldry, especially the specificity of two legs versus four.

So now you know why you might see a lot of people (myself included) referring to this design as a “wyvern design” for a dragon.

Dull Coloration - Grey and Brown over Red, Blue, Green...

There’s something else - something very important - that Hollywood took from Reign of Fire... the concept that dragons aren’t pretty colors and are, in fact, various hues of grey and brown, and any more contrasting colors are just vague indications instead of bright red scales.

Now, Reign of Fire obviously did this because - again - they were going for the more animalistic, natural look as opposed to the mysterious majestic magical being look. Okay, that’s fine. But then Hollywood decided that fantasy, too, has to be devoid of dragons with bright colors.

The green dragon in Game of Thrones

There are countless examples of this in modern media. Any dragon that was previously brightly colored has been dulled pretty much to an extreme. Sometimes you might catch a fleeting glimpse of them looking like a brighter shade, but it was probably just a trick of the light. Why? Because all dragons are desaturated to the point of being almost indistinguishable by color.

The golden dragon in The Witcher Netflix series

This is also why you see so many mods on the Skyrim Nexus called things like “true red dragon.”

There are plenty more examples of this - I’m sure you can see the difference when you look at those dragons and other modern film dragons over, say, something like this...

Red dragon in D&D

And now we move on to...

The Fire Breathing - Chemicals, not Magic

Bowman insisted on ditching traditional fire breathing (you don't want the audience wondering whether the dragon's mouth is being burnt up with every flame) and again looked to the animal kingdom for inspiration. The king cobra, once again, was a great starting point. It doesn't spray fire, but it can spit its venom. Even more useful was the bombardier beetle, which shoots two chemicals from its abdomen that, once mixed, create a hot, burning spray. Bowman used these real-world examples to inspire his own dragons. They don't breathe fire exactly, but rather spit chemicals from two different sacks in their mouths that, when combined, ignite. "That's anatomy. That's already been designed, so we're going to draw from there," he said.

(quoted from the Vice article linked to earlier in this post)

The Hungarian Horntail in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - fire is streaming from two separate organs in the mouth, but they aren’t chemicals mixing together like in Reign of Fire...

The director of Reign of Fire wanted his dragons to be more natural in that they breathe fire through organic means, based on chemical reactions, instead of the usual dragon magic. But lots of people loved this “mouth flap”/”mouth organ” design with “streams” of fire coming from the mouth instead of fire flowing directly from the dragon’s throat, so now you see it pretty dang often.

Horns? Brow Ridges!

Another thing that is basically out now in dragon designs is the real horns of many traditional dragons, like Spyro, and like the dragons in Dungeons & Dragons used to have.

These days, it’s all about brow ridges and big spiny scales that aren’t separate horns, they’re just big pointed scales or piles of scales or bone ridges - and they aren’t a different color than the dragon’s scales, either, pretty often. And, in general, dragon’s horns have become much smaller and far more numerous, and more like spines/ridges, as opposed to the great, sweeping horns of classical dragons.

Firkraag, the red dragon, in the D&D video game Baldur’s Gate II, from 2000

Firkraag is a very traditional dragon. Now, while Dungeons & Dragons has generally kept more traditional dragons (yay!), they did fall into the brow ridge horn thing - although they, thankfully, didn’t make the horns smaller and subtler and more numerous little spikes, like so many other modern dragon designs. They also went with the brow ridge horns for tieflings (once humans with demon blood, then some weird thing in 4E, and now I think they’re humans with demon blood again), as opposed to the ordinary horns of the tieflings in previous editions of D&D.

Skyrim dragon head concept art

The Desolation of Smaug(’s design)

Here is... a big one. Here, we’ll talk some about the production of The Hobbit films over time, so we’re going behind the scenes.

Alright, so we all know Smaug, probably, by pop culture osmosis if nothing else. He is the quintessential dragon. He’s basically the founder of all Western dragon concepts: he’s big, he’s red, he hoards gold, he’s extremely intelligent and talks, etc. You get the picture. Every dragon that we have borrowed at least something from Smaug. And, in turn, he was inspired by Fafnir, the father of all our dragon concepts, from Norse mythology - but Tolkien took it all a step further and created the concept of dragons that we have today. Or, well, the not Reign of Fire ones. The fantasy ones.

A map drawn by Tolkien: notice the winged, four-legged Smaug over his mountain

During the first Hobbit movie, An Unexpected Journey, we see Smaug attack the Lonely Mountain...

In this clip, you can plainly see that Smaug has four legs. This was actually edited slightly for later editions of the movie, or so I’ve heard (I haven’t watched any later editions).

I can tell you for certain that when I saw the theatrical release, it was like this, too. It is apparent throughout the scene that Smaug has four legs and wings, separately. I know because I was paying very, very close attention, because I was going to be very upset if Hollywood turned Smaug into a wyvern.

Well, they did - later.

Smaug the wyvern looking like just another slightly different take on the bog-standard Hollywood dragon

Apparently, some studio exec decided that having a traditional fantasy dragon, even if this dragon happens to be frelling Smaug himself, would not be okay in this modern Hollywood world. So we ended up with a dull reddish spiney hunching knuckle-dragging wyvern with an angler mouth (I’m sorry; I really am sorry if you like the design, that’s totally fine, it’s a fine design, I am glad you enjoyed it, but Smaug shouldn’t have looked that way IMO and forgive me but I am still in pain over it) in place of a more traditional dragon that held more to things like, I dunno, how Tolkien himself drew Smaug. Smaug’s movie design flies right in the face of that and destroyed our chance to finally see a proper traditional dragon done justice on the big screen.

Tolkien’s art of Smaug - note the position of the forelegs, separate from the wings, like in the earlier map

This is all just one big example why we should be thankful that The Lord of the Rings films were all shot in one go, so no one could alter important things like the design of the fantasy genre’s father of all dragons, in the middle of production. Of course, the production on The Hobbit movies was a nightmare at best, as you can read about in assorted other articles, and Peter Jackson was very unhappy with what the studio had him do to the series. All of that is just another story, I suppose.

Dragons Redesigned by Reign of Fire: Example List

Now that we’ve gone over just a few of the talking points about Reign of Fire’s dragon designs (although I didn’t even get into the flat, spaded tail look in detail), here’s an undoubtedly incomplete list of several examples that have either entirely taken the design and/or were massively influenced by it...

(please note that not everything in this list held entirely to Reign of Fire’s design, obviously; some have the fire, some don’t; some have horns, some have head/brow ridges; but all of them are wyverns and most are darkly-colored)

Skyrim - Obvious influence with the general design, skin/scales and ridges design, as well as coloration; however, it is noteworthy that the Elder Scrolls has had dragons with no forelegs since at least 1998, in the game Redguard - though that dragon was also very brightly-colored (also of note: Peryite, while technically a Daedric prince and not a dragon, had four legs at least as far back as Daggerfall in 1996)

The Hobbit films, specifically The Desolation of Smaug onward - as mentioned before

Harry Potter movies - Wholesale. Two streams of fire from mouth flaps in Goblet of Fire, generally dull greyish and/or brownish colorations, no forelegs, short/simple horns that are mostly ridges...

Gods of Egypt - The giant fire-breathing cobras have the mouth flaps

Game of Thrones - This one’s pretty obvious too.

Disney’s Maleficent - In the new live action Disney movie(s), the dragon falls right into this design (though the fire doesn’t come from mouth flaps)

Netflix Witcher series - Villentretenmerth is very much a wyvern design and a dull shade, and he in fact has no horns at all, even though dragons weren’t portrayed this way in any previous Witcher adaptations

Stargate SG1 (season 10) - In the episode series “The Quest,” a dragon appears and... well, it looks just like all those other dragons, though the fire does come from its throat.

Beowulf (2008) - I try not to ever talk about or think about this film, but I have to just throw out there that the dragon is very much Reign of Fire, especially with that wyvern design.

Seventh Son - If you can call Malkin a dragon  - she was called one, I think - she definitely also has the same kind of dull-colored wyvern design.

Sucker Punch (movie)

Lots and lots of B-movies and direct to DVD/streaming films - Dawn of the Dragonslayer, Dragon (2006), Dragon Crusaders...

Something to note, also, is that cartoons, anime, and other non-film media is mostly - but not entirely - free from this influence. Cartoons especially are free from it, partially because they aren’t influenced by Hollywood producers who want “serious” and “realistic” dragons. Cartoons are allowed to have magical, colorful, four-legged dragons. Unfortunately, we are deprived of those in live action film and television, by and large.

There are still other exceptions - most notably things that were created before this influence, like Dragonheart and its spinoffs and sequels, which have thankfully kept their dragon designs consistent instead of erasing their forelegs.

Of course, why dragons are depicted as four-legged and winged in the first place - and when this depiction arose - is another topic entirely. I’m not going into that right now, seeing as how this post is already preposterously long.

Long story short, I was rewatching the movie Gods of Egypt and, when I saw the giant cobra monsters breathe fire, I was possessed to write this article. Because Reign of Fire’s influence is something I have always noticed ever since its release, and something my brother and I talk about a lot (and everyone who knows me has surely heard me talk about it, too) - because, frankly, it’s always bothered me. My favorite dragons are traditional dragons: four legs, bright colors, wings, horns, breathing fire, the works.

So, although the original creator of these design ideas did something cool and different because he wanted to do his own take on dragons, Hollywood decided that these design cues should be taken to dumb down all dragons forever, the same way that Hollywood has dumbed down so many monster designs so that the only acceptable ones just a bunch of near-replicas of each other, including werewolves.

I think it’s very sad that film producers think you can’t take something like dragons or werewolves seriously unless they are dull, nontraditional, and ugly. And I say ugly in the sense of these are not pretty, majestic fantasy designs - they are, many of them, intended to be ugly. Though I personally also hold the opinion that most of them are ugly regardless of if they are intended to be ugly.

So - now you know! If you haven’t seen Reign of Fire, go check it out to meet the father of modern dragon designs, from the color of their hides to the shape of their bodies, the smaller horns, and - sometimes - even their tails.

(Special thanks to everyone on my discord who helped me compile this list, as well as of course my brother and all our ranting at/with each other on this topic over many years)

If you like this post, maybe you’ll enjoy the rest of my blog, where I post a lot about folklore and all kinds of monsters (especially werewolves)!

Werewolf Facts --- Patreon

[samanthaswishes]

What I Love Most About Daisy Johnson

This is the only day where I struggled to come up with a fic idea for this week, so I decided to just share my own personal thoughts.

When I watched the pilot for the first time on January 1, 2020, I knew from the moment Daisy, then Skye, appeared on my screen that she would be one of my favorite characters in the show. Little did I know that she would soon become my favorite fictional character ever.

It was her line in the very next episode, "100 people with 1% of the solution, that'll get it done," that solidified her as my favorite character. I just knew that there was something special about her.

Now, outside of fanfiction, I feel like I struggle to come up with words, so I hope I do our girl justice as there just aren't enough words to describe my love for her. Here is what I love most about Daisy Johnson:

Her Charisma

This is seen more in season 1 than any other season, but the moment we meet Daisy, we can see just how much charisma and optimism she carried with her. This is what really drew me in during the first few episodes. She seemed to always look on the bright side when things were rough or just try to push through the best she can. Especially after discovering parts of her past, it's stunning just to see how someone who has gone through so much can continue to put a smile on her face. She sees the world in a different light than the rest of the team does, and she finds a way to pull each of them into a new way of understanding. It's certainly one of the reasons Coulson was drawn to her and recruited her. Unfortunately, we don't get a lot of this in later seasons. At least not in the same way it was in season 1.

Her Compassion

Despite growing up with very little, Daisy still carries with her so much compassion and empathy for people. She strives in showing people that she cares about them. She hardly ever thinks about herself before others. The people around her are her first priority. She makes it a point to get an understanding of what people are going through.

She's willing to listen. She's willing to comfort. She's willing to put aside her personal feelings when someone is feeling down or upset. She comforts Mike when he is unable to see his son. She sits with May in the cockpit because she has a better understanding of what she may have gone through even if she doesn't have all the details. She promises to look out for Robin when her father dies. She understands why Robbie has to do what he has to do because of the Ghost Rider. She doesn't force Mack to go through the portal because she sees how important Hope is to him despite knowing that she is just a piece of code in a simulation. She apologizes to Talbot even though she wasn't the one that shot him in the head. She does it because she understands what he is going through when he sees her and genuinely wants him to feel safe around her when he cannot see his wife and kid.

Her Flaws

Daisy isn't perfect. She's stubborn. She may act before thinking from time to time. She sometimes takes on more than she can handle. But that's just it. She's human. Her flaws are what make her human. However, it's not so much her flaws in general, but how she learns and grows from them. Out of all the characters, Daisy is most likely the one who has gone through the most development since the start of the series to the end.

Perfect characters are harder to relate to in my opinion. I found myself in some of Daisy's flaws (stubbornness being a big one for the both of us), and her growth through her flaws is what helped me through mine. Daisy is not one of those characters that other characters have to learn from her flaws in order to deal with her. Daisy actually learns and grows from her mistakes and tries and tries again to be the best version of herself.

Her Strength

As stated previously, Daisy has gone through a lot in her life. She grew up having very little and moving between foster homes and even after she aged out/escaped the system (I don't think it was ever discussed just what happened), she still struggled in life. However, she always managed to push through.

This is seen time and time again in the show. After every battle, after every conflict, Daisy pushes through and comes back stronger than before. Daisy has gone through so much hurt: Foster homes, Miles, Ward, after receiving her powers, her parents, Andrew/Lash, Hive, Lincoln, the Framework, being the believed reason for the end of the world, Fitz's break, Coulson, Sarge, Nathaniel Malick. This girl has just gone through so much, but she always has the courage to push through. She doesn't let these moments pull her down. She allows herself to embrace them and make her stronger. She is truly one of the strongest members on the team.

Her Self-Discovery

Season 2 may not be my favorite season, but it is the one that has a special place in my heart. Daisy's story of identity and self-discovery is one of my favorites from the show. Daisy went from knowing nothing about herself to discovering who she was always meant to be. She learns of her parents. She learns her name. She learns she is Chinese (which I think she definitely already knew, but to actually hear it from a parent is something empowering in my opinion). She learns of her inhuman heritage.

Her story of self-discovery is also very special to me because I am half-Asian myself. Though I am Filipino and she is Chinese, it is still so cool to see someone who is similar to me in a sense be on my TV screen and be such an empowering and inspiring character. Even to this day, I still struggle with my identity, and Daisy's story has really helped me through it.

[imagine-all-the-imagines]

Casey Novak x F!Reader - Reader is being “protected” by the mafia and when the SVU tries to get her to work with them, the mafia lashes out.

Warnings: Violence, Financial troubles, break ins, threats, blood.

I hope you enjoy!

That morning started like any other. You got up and started breakfast, only to be interrupted by the patter of little feet running towards you. You smiled and turned to see the smiling face of your two-year-old bounding at your legs. Crouching down, you caught the laughing child and spun her around before balancing her on your hip while you continued to scramble the eggs in the pan.

“What do you think, baby? Eggs and pancakes for breakfast?” You asked the little one in your arms.

The girl in your arms giggled again and nodded her head as you set to work getting breakfast finished. When everything was cooked, you set your daughter down in her chair and got the plates together. As you sat down by her and got ready to help her cut up her pancakes, there was a knock at the door. You kissed your daughter’s forehead and went to the door, checking the peephole before cautiously opening the door.

“Hello ma’am, my name is Olivia Benson and I’m with the Special Victims Unit. Were you aware that there’s been a series of break ins in your neighborhood?” The woman in front of you spoke with an official voice.

You were taken aback, “Break ins? Is everyone ok?”

The woman gave you a sympathetic look, “Unfortunately no, there have been a few attacks.”

Shock jolted through you. You had moved to the neighborhood for the safety that it provided. You hadn’t had the best of luck in your past, but this was supposed to be a fresh start.

“I’m sorry, I had no idea. I haven’t noticed anything unusual.” You managed to sputter out.

At that moment, your daughter let out a cry and you gave the officer a guilty look. “I’m so sorry, I have to get my daughter, you caught us in the middle of breakfast.”

Olivia gave you a nod, “That’s fine, go take care of her. But ma’am, if you think of anything, or see anything, please don’t hesitate to call,” she produced a business card and handed it to you.

You nodded and took the card, as you headed back into your house.

As you closed the door, you turned the card over in your hands before placing it on the table by the door and heading back to feed your daughter.

You had only just cut the pancake into a few more pieces when your phone pinged.

Boss: Who was that at your door?

Y/N: The cops, apparently there’s been some break ins around the neighborhood and a couple of people have been attacked. They were asking if I had seen anything.

Boss: I see. Have you seen anything?

You suddenly felt a pit in your stomach. Something didn’t feel right as you typed out your response.

Y/N: Honestly, no. I didn’t know that anything had been happening.

There was a long pause before your phone pinged again.

Boss: Good. I’m glad you haven’t had any issues.

Boss: I need you to come in for a meeting later today. 1:00, at the diner.

Y/N: I’ll see you there.

You turned back to your daughter and gave her a tight-lipped smile as you tried not to show her you were nervous. As you both finished breakfast, you got your daughter out of her chair and placed her in her playroom where she immediately went for the stuffed animals in the corner. While she created her own world with her stuffed animals, you sat in the rocking chair and tried not to think about what was to come that afternoon.

While you were trying not to think of your day, other thoughts started to intrude. Memories of how you met this man started to creep in.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

It was about three years ago; you had just been kicked out of your apartment due to not being able to pay your bills, and you were struggling. Your parents lived out of the country, and you couldn’t stay with them. Then you found out you were pregnant. That was your breaking point.

He found you when you came into a diner, looking for a cup of tea and maybe something to eat. You needed to warm up, the weather in New York could be unforgiving, and you had to keep yourself going, not just for yourself, but for the little bean growing inside you.

You had gone up to the counter and ordered, pulling out loose change and some crumpled bills to pay the waitress. You enjoyed the warmth of the diner as you waited for your food, unaware of the man in the corner booth watching you.

When your meal came out, you started eating. When you were about halfway done, you felt the presence of a someone sit next to you. You slowly looked up and saw that a man was looking down at you.

“Can I help you?” You asked as you wiped your mouth off with a napkin.

The man gave a short laugh, “Actually dear, I think it is I that can help you. You look like you’re in need of a place to stay, maybe a shower, and a few hot meals.”

You couldn’t deny that sounded nice, but you were hesitant. How could you trust this man, he could be trying to lure you away to cut you up and dump your remains in the river.

The man must have seen the hesitation in your face because he gave a boisterous laugh and smiled at you, “Trust me child, I mean you no harm, I just want to help you in these trying times.”

You rolled your eyes, “My momma always said, ‘Never trust anyone who says, “Trust me.”’ What makes you any different?”

The man looked you in the eye, suddenly very serious. “I never go back on my word. It’s very important to be a man of my word.”

You looked at him and you knew he was telling the truth. You were still hesitant, but you nodded. “I need help. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. I lost my apartment, which led to me losing my job. I didn’t have anywhere to go, so I’ve been living out of my car. And to top it all off I’m having a kid. I’ve been lucky enough to go to a free clinic to keep myself health, but I can’t do that forever.”

You found yourself telling this man everything. You couldn’t control it, it was basically word vomit, but when you were done, you looked up at him. He was nodding slightly and giving you a sympathetic look.

You suddenly didn’t have an appetite and pushed the plate away. The man reached into his pocket and pulled out money, putting it by your plate. He gently put his arm around you and led you out of the diner and into a very nice car that was waiting at the curb.

The man’s name turned out to be David, and he explained that he was the leader of an underground organization. You later learned this was code for he the leader of the mafia in Manhattan, that fact should have scared you away, but you were being taken care of. You knew that there was illegal activity happening, but you had been promised that so long as you stayed quiet, you’d be taken care of. This meant that you had the best medical attention, you had been able to move into a house, and you were able to raise your beautiful daughter in peace.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

And now you were being called back in by The Boss.

As the meeting time drew closer, you called your daughter’s babysitter and got everything set up for her to come over to watch her while you stepped out.

The knock on your door startled you. There was still time before your meeting, so you knew it wasn’t your babysitter.

Opening your door, you saw the same detective as before, but this time she was joined by a tall, muscular man.

“Sorry ma’am, we were just in the neighborhood recanvasing, and we just wanted to see if you had remembered anything from the past few days.” The man spoke this time, and his voice was comforting, but there was a sense of urgency about it.

Dread hit you like a ton of bricks, and you shook your head quickly. “I’m sorry, I haven’t remembered anything.  Now, please, I have to get ready for a meeting.”

You backed away and shut the door in their faces, turning quickly and going to your daughter. You made sure that she had everything that she would need for her time with the babysitter.

Eventually it was time to go to the diner. You kissed your daughter’s face and said your goodbyes, pausing by the door and slipping the detectives card in your pocket before you headed to your car and left for the diner.

After a short drive, you arrived at the diner and pulled into the lot. Climbing out of your car, you headed inside. The diner was eerily quiet and almost completely empty, minus a few staff and David in the corner booth with a large henchman standing beside the booth. David gestured to the other side of the booth, and you slid in. Taking your place in front of him, you looked him in the eyes and tried to not let your fear be too apparent.

David nodded at you. “I wanted to talk to you about some things that are going on around you. As you are now aware, your neighborhood has become a bit of a hotbed for criminal activity. I want you to know that you are completely safe. No harm will come to you. Some of the boys are just tying up some loose ends, but again, you have nothing to worry about. But, understandably, we’d appreciate it if you could keep it hush hush, you understand right?”

You looked at the man in front of you and gulped, slowly nodding. “I understand. But, why are you telling me this? I didn’t know anything about it.”

David grinned at you, a grin that gave you the heebie jeebies, “Think of this as a test. If you keep the secret, everything will continue to be fine. If you squeal,” he paused, “well, hopefully, you don’t have to find out what happens if you squeal.”

You felt all the color drain out of your face and you nodded again. “Of course. I can keep the secret. My daughter and I, we owe you our lives.”

David gave you a short nod, “That’s what I hoped to hear. You can go but remember what I said.”

You gave David a weak smile and all but bolted out of the booth and out to your car. Frantically, you pulled out of the parking lot and headed to one of your favorite bars, needing a drink after what you had just gone through.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

As you sat at the bar, you looked at the drink in front of you, trying to process what you had just been told. It all was just too much, and you were having trouble processing it. One of your hands rested by the glass while the other fiddled with the detective’s card in your pocket. Knowing what you should do, you found yourself pulling out the card and studying the letters and numbers intently.

Finally, you built up the courage and pulled out your phone, stepping away from the bar you typed in the phone number. After a few moments on the phone, you nodded and headed back to the bar, paying for your drink and leaving the building.

When you arrived at the Manhattan SVU precinct, your eyes immediately found Olivia and you went over to her. She ushered you into a room with another woman sitting at the table.

“Hello, Y/N, my name is Casey, Olivia has already told me a bit about what is going on, but, I’d like to go over it again with you.”

You nodded and sat at the table with Olivia and Casey. Taking a deep breath before telling them everything. By the time you finished telling them what was happening, you were in tears.

Casey reached across the table and gave your hand a squeeze. “With your help, we’re going to catch these bastards, and they’re going to go away for a long time. Olivia and I have already talked about it, and you’ll be getting police protection until this is done.”

You gave her a slight smile and squeezed her hand slightly. “Thank you, I just want this to be over with.”

The two women walked with you to the entrance of the precinct and you thanked them both again.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The last thing you remembered after leaving the SVU was heading back to your apartment. You had been looking forward to seeing your daughter after being away from her all day. You had told the babysitter that you would be home late, but you assured her you would be able to cover her extra time. You opened the door to your house to see nothing but darkness. Calling out the babysitter’s and your daughter’s name with no answer. Grabbing your key and pulling out your phone, you started to dial Casey’s number, then it all went black.

When you awoke, you found yourself in a dark room with your hands and feet bound to a chair in the middle of a room. There was a table in front of you and a large man in an ill—fitting suit sitting across from you.

“So, Miss Y/L/N, my boss was under the impression that we had an understanding. You keep your mouth shut and we keep you and your daughter safe. Imagine how upset our boss was to find out that you were talking to that lady ADA. Tell me, what did you talk to her with?” The man in front of you let out a sickening grin.

“I promise,” you pleaded with the man, “I didn’t say anything about you, they were curious about a string of break ins. Nothing to do with your organization at all. Please, where is my daughter, she and her babysitter were gone. I need to know they’re safe, please.”

The man looked at you, unfazed, as your pleas fell on deaf ears.

“Believe me, miss. Everything will turn up the way it is supposed to be in the end. Just you wait.” The man got up from the table and walked out the door as you struggled against your bindings, pleading for your daughter and her babysitter.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

When Casey got the phone call from you, she was confused. You had just left the building and you couldn’t have made it very far, so why not just come back inside? She quickly understood why when she answered the phone. She heard you struggling in the background and immediately got Olivia.

The two women quickly rallied the troops and explained the situation. Thankfully, you had given them a list of places that David and his goons liked to do their business, so the team split up to check them all.

Casey followed Liv to her car and got in without saying a word. She needed to help find you. There was something about you that made Casey need to make sure you were ok.

As the Liv and Casey made it to the diner, Casey noticed a torn piece of fabric on a branch around the side of the building. Liv called in for backup and then followed the worn path to the back of the building where the door of a storm shelter sat, unlocked with a rock propping the door open.

Casey heard another car pull in and within moments, Elliot was there beside his partner. Olivia motioned for Casey to wait outside while they ventured into the shelter.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

You sat there in the chair, head lolling from the force of so many punches. You could feel the blood dripping from the multiple lacerations to your face. You were certain that your hand was broken, and the clothes you had been wearing were sliced and torn till there was nothing left.

You tried to tell the men that you hadn’t done anything wrong, that all you wanted was your daughter, but somehow, they knew. They had followed you to the bar and then when you went in to talk to Olivia and Casey. They told you that they had bugged your phone, so they heard everything when you had called to schedule a meeting with them.

As another painful round of punches hit your flesh, you swore that you could hear the sounds of someone entering the room before everything went dark.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

When you woke up, you were blinded by the brightness of the room that you were in. After a few moments, the sounds of the machines in the hospital became more apparent. Blinking your eyes, you looked around the room. You nearly burst into flames when you saw your precious child curled up in Casey's lap.

You cleared your throat and spoke quietly, “Sorry about her, she can nap anywhere.”

Casey looked startled and then smiled, “That’s perfectly fine, she didn’t want to leave her mother.”

You gave a small chuckle, “That sounds like my girl. Is she ok? They didn’t do anything, did they?”

Casey shook her head softly, “She’s fine, so is the babysitter. They had them locked in the utility closet upstairs.”

You breathed a sigh of relief, “And David?”

Casey gave you a bigger smile, “Locked up. He won’t be coming out for a long while. Even with all that money.”

You grinned, “Thank goodness, I’m glad I don’t have to look over my shoulder. We need to move forward instead of staying in the past.”

Casey reached over and grabbed your hand. “I think that sounds like a fantastic idea.”

And that’s how Olivia found the two of you when she came to check in on you, holding hands and whispering to each other. As Olivia slowly backed out of the room to avoid being noticed, a smile began to grow on her face. Who knows what will come of that, but Olivia sure wasn’t about to ruin a beautiful moment. 

[etes-secrecy-post]

Hi, before I explain my post, I want to say something important.

• What you see my blog has become a major overhaul. And despite the changes, I decided that my 2nd account will be now my artwork blog with a secret twist.

⚠️NEW RULE! (W/ BIGGER TEXT!)⚠️

⚠️ SO PLEASE DO NOT SHARE MY 2nd ACCOUNT TO EVERYONE! THIS SECRECY BLOG OF MINE IS FOR CLOSES FRIENDS ONLY!⚠️

• AND FOR MY CLOSES FRIENDS, DON’T REBLOG IT. INSTEAD, JUST COPY MY LINK AND PASTE IT ON YOUR TUMBLR POST! JUST BE SURE THE IMAGE WILL BE REMOVED AND THE ONLY LEFT WAS THE TEXT.

⚠️ SHARING LINKS, LIKE POSTS, REBLOG POSTS, STEALING MY SNAPSHOT PHOTOS/RECORDED VIDEOS/ARTWORKS (a.k.a. ART THIEVES) OR PLAGIARIZING FROM UNKNOWN TUMBLR STRANGERS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE BLOCKED, RIGHT AWAY!⚠️

😡 WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT EVER LIKED & REBLOG MY SECRET POST! THIS IS FOR MY SECRET FRIENDS ONLY, NOT YOU! 😡

Okay? Capiche? Make sense? Good, now back to the post…↓

#Onthisday: Nov 10th, 2017

Title: Cuteness Member - Crafty

Here's Buff-Scuba-Raccoon's (formerly named "EclipsetheDAD") HTF OC Crafty joins in. Well, I was gonna drew him in a Earth Federation "Cuteness Mecha Armor" but let's give the Zeon Federation chance to suit in for other members, such as this. Crafty's armor the "Juaggu", quite odd but it has power armaments that he need so don't let that fool. Also, since that armor is a amphibious type "Juaggu" armor can walk both ground and water. 🤿🤖🙂

Juaggu Crafty Came from the original: MSM-04G Juaggu [CLICK ME!]

Armament(s):

3-tube 320mm Rocket Launcher • As a mobile suit designed for mid-range fire support, the Juaggu was originally outfitted with an array of rocket launchers on each arm in place of manipulators. These 320mm rockets were designed with base bombardment in mind, as the Juaggu was intended for use underwater and in the dense jungle environments.

3-barrel Vulcan Cannon • In place of the rocket launchers, the Juaggu could also sport an array of vulcan cannons built into the same fixed 3-tube housings.

Mega Particle Cannon • Housed in the torso and alongside the Juaggu's snout, the unit's mega-particle cannons fire tightly-focused beams that are able to easily penetrate mobile suit armor. The cannon's appear to be fire-linked, as the Juaggu has been seen firing all four cannons at once, but one could assume that the cannons could be fired individually as well.

Special Equipment/Feature(s):

Optional Hand • The cannons of the Juaggu can also be swapped out for an optional manipulator hand to perform more delicate tasks and also potentially use melee weapons.

Crafty (HTF OC) - owned by Buff-Scuba-Raccoon (dA) Armor (Mobile Suit Gundam 0079) - Gundam series © Bandai Namco Filmworks, Inc. (SUNRISE), Sotsu