#alex final wars 2: dark alex

[crusaderguy]

Fuck it.

[pers-books]

The Ninth Doctor meets River Song! 

Christopher Eccleston is joined by Alex Kingston in Star-Crossed, a brand-new box set of full-cast audio dramas from Big Finish Productions, due for release in May 2024. 

For the final release in the current series of The Ninth Doctor Adventures, the Time Lord with a war-torn past meets a very important woman from his future. 

Alex Kingston first played Professor River Song in Steven Moffat’s 2008 Doctor Who TV episode Silence in the Library, and since then the assassin-turned-archaeologist has met many incarnations of the Doctor – though not in the right order. 

It’s finally time for her to say “Hello, sweetie” to her husband’s ninth incarnation, as the two of them embark on three adventures together. They visit a planet in thrall to a dating app, an intergalactic bank with a catastrophic glitch, and a raging maelstrom. Fantastic! 

Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Star-Crossed is now available to pre-order for just £29.99 (collector’s edition CD box set + download) or £22.99 (download only), exclusively here. 

The three thrilling stories are: 

Swipe Right by John Dorney  Face of the Apocalypse by Lizzie Hopley  Archipelago by Tim Foley 

Christopher Eccleston said: "Returning to the world of the Doctor has been a great experience precisely because it has allowed me to re-explore my interpretation of the character and how he interacts with the many extraordinary beings he encounters along the way. Alex’s River was one such character and this was an interesting, challenging and enjoyable encounter for the Doctor too.” 

Alex Kingston said: “This is the first time that I’ve had an opportunity to work with Chris's Doctor. It’s a challenge for River to step into his interpretation and navigate it. He’s got a different energy to any of the other Doctors – she has to work harder to engage him, to get through to him, which is great fun.” 

Big Finish listeners can purchase Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Star-Crossed as part of a as part of a complete four-volume series bundle for just £108 (on collector’s edition CD box set + download) or £88 (download only). 

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release. 

Series 1-2 of The Ninth Doctor Adventures are still available to purchase as triple LP vinyl bundles – limited to a pressing of 1,000 per volume – for £140 per series. Collector's edition (CD box set + download) bundles are also available at £110 per series, as are digital download bundles, for just £96 per series.  

Please note: the vinyl editions do not include any behind-the-scenes extras. However, listeners purchasing vinyl LP editions will receive a download of the story automatically and be given access to the CD edits as a bonus download. Episodes will be edited specifically for the vinyl format, presented as 2 episodes, one on each side, each with opening and closing music. In addition, all pre-orders of the vinyls will also receive the behind the extras as a bonus download.

Please note that Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.

-- What an announcement - and on Alex's birthday, too!!! 💙😍💙

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

Crawling Back to You (Part 1) ~ Alex Mason x Helina "Bell" Soldatova

{Author's Note} Y'ALL I HAVE IDEAS AND MOTIVATION AGAIN!!! Summer school has started but it's way more relaxed so I don't feel so burnt out all the time now. I'm also less stressed about my brother, though things are still kind of up in the air. Anyway, I don't know how many parts this series will be but I promise it will end happily! Just wanted to write about Alex and Helina finding each other again after the events of Cold War, inspired by the wonderful drawing @alypink did for me🥹 Let me know what you think, especially if I didn’t get any of the characters right! Still getting used to some of their traits. I also tagged about as many of my moots as I could remember lol❤️ (let's hope the tag system actually works since it's been weird lately) {Tag List} @alypink @efingcod @welldonekhushi @walder-138 @imagoddamnonionmason @littlemissclandestine @mango-parfait @thedevillovesflowers @http-paprika @mctvsh @adlerboi @deadbranch @moosch @theqreatorsworld

>Part 1< | Part 2 (coming soon!)

‼️Content Warnings: swearing, violence, mentions of death‼️

Helina "Bell" Soldatova belongs to me!

~ ~ ~

The pain was blinding and she knew she wasn’t dead because she felt it so intensely. The bullet had carved a path of white fire along her temple, just missing her eye. It hadn’t penetrated her skull but the blood that poured from her head was enough to convince Adler that his shot had found its intended mark. 

Helina didn’t move, paralyzed by pain and too frightened to even breathe. She realized for the first time in her life that she didn’t want to die, a notion she was completely unfamiliar with as death had always been a lifelong friend. 

Adler gazed down at her with more remorse than she’d ever seen on his face, his features twisted into an expression of guilt. She didn’t even blink, hoping her stillness would convince him of her death. 

“I’m sorry, Bell,” he said softly, “But you’ve served your purpose.” 

He grabbed her wrists and began to drag her toward the cliff’s edge. She was too weak to fight back, too overcome with agony and heartache that she didn't try to free herself from his grasp. Images of Alex invaded her thoughts, the moment of their first kiss in a dark corner of the safe house playing over and over in her mind’s eye. Tears trailed down her cheeks as she remembered the last words he'd said to her, his feelings for her obvious in his tone and in the softness of his gaze. She just wished she could’ve told him that he was her first love, the only person she’d ever yearned for a domestic life with. 

Adler forced her over the cliff’s edge with a grunt but she barely felt the drop in her stomach as she plummeted toward the water below. She didn’t even feel the cold when she hit the waves. Its embrace was almost comforting, wrapping her up in the closest approximation of peace she’d ever known. Nothing was expected of her anymore, she belonged to no one but the sea. And the sea was more than happy to make her its own. 

The last breaths of air escaped her lungs as she let herself sink, unaware of the shadow that inched ever closer to her. Her final thoughts were of how beautiful the sunlight looked streaming through the water and what color Alex's eyes would be if the light were to hit them just right.

~ ~ ~

“Tell me what the fuck you did to her!” Mason screamed and slammed his fist into Adler’s face, knocking his glasses to the ground as his knuckles connected with a sickening crunch. “Where is she?!”

Adler stumbled but remained as stoic as ever, wincing slightly as he held the back of his hand to his bleeding nose. He could barely meet Mason’s gaze, knowing his answer would only hurt him more. 

“I shot her,” he stated. “She was a loose end. We couldn’t risk it.”

Mason inhaled sharply and swallowed a sob at the revelation. “Where’s her body?” he asked after a bout of tense silence, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotion. “At least let me bury her. She deserves that much.”

Adler knew there was no body to bury but decided not to reveal that fact. If Mason wanted to erect a gravesite for her, he’d let him do so. “On the cliff side, ‘round the back of the main island. That’s where it happened. You’ll know from the blood.” 

Mason’s expression soured further, twisting with a rage he’d rarely displayed before. He was about to hit Adler again when Woods stepped in, placing a gentle hand on his friend’s shoulder. 

“Come on, Mason. We’ll find her. He’s not worth any more of your grief,” he told him with a stony glare at the still-bleeding Adler. The pair stormed out, leaving Adler to pick up the pieces of his broken glasses and bruised dignity. 

[cambrioleur]

Random observations on this season (updating)

(SPOILERS, OBVIOUSLY)

Episode 1

I don't think we've ever seen Assane do a genuine fourth-wall break before

OK so Claire has a last name now

Assane really expected that he could just show up and Claire would just fall at his feet

I'm surprised Benjamin is just allowed to continue working at his shop

This feels better-edited than Parts 1 & 2

Name a more iconic duo than Belkacem and failing constantly (she really doesn't listen, does she)

Episode 2

Philippe Courbet sighting

NEVER invite Guédira to a funeral lmaooo

Hang on I'm just now realizing that Juliette is at this funeral, too (she's standing in the second row behind Benjamin and Claire and honestly doesn't seem too upset about Assane's "death")

I like how in the flashback Babakar tells Assane that he reminds him of his mother and then it turns out she was a criminal

This seems to be around the time of Raoul's birthday again; he really can't catch a break on that

Episode 3

New shipping war just dropped: Guédira/Belkacem vs Guédira/Fleur

That bit where Claire was outright begging Benjamin to tell her Assane was alive and he couldn't...that was sad

But then it was followed by Benjamin doing the "uhh my FRIEND just died" act with Belkacem which was funny

This gang of thugs is trying a little too hard tbh

Assane's disguise in this episode is fucking terrible lol

The basketball coach disguise, on the other hand, is the only time I've genuinely thought he wasn't recognizable

Episode 4

Ironically that coach persona is probably the best parenting Assane has ever done

Claire? Doing things that are vaguely cool?? That feels illegal. Also, she looked so proud of herself for swiping that book, lol

Betraying Benjamin was certainly...a choice on Assane's part ("everyone disliked that")

This episode is going to devastate the show's Tumblr fandom

Episode 5

Assane trolling the shit out of Guédira will never not be funny

These 1998 flashbacks are pretty dark actually

Honestly the way Claire got that reveal out of Benjamin was very well-played on her part

Guédira out here looking like present-day Ringo Starr with that disguise

Aww look at Assane playing the matchmaker for Guédira and Belkacem, heh heh

This is easily one of the funniest episodes

Except Benjamin is straight up not having a good time -- it looks like he got beaten up in prison

Episode 6

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not totally sure Benjamin knows that Assane betrayed him. It's possible he just thinks that he fucked up with the bracelet and then missed a cue in the maze

"Pasta with ketchup" jesus fucking christ Claire that sounds horrendous (although I'm guessing the only reason they did that was because of the ketchup-bottle reveal)

Assane really has Claire's number because he's now seduced her twice under two different identities

IDK whether or not Raoul has figured out that the coach is his dad but it's funny that he still seemed to be shipping it either way

It's nice that we get to see Claire's more playful side in this season, like her messing with Assane by acting really flirty with "Alex" after she realizes they're the same person

INCREDIBLE casting for the younger and older versions of Keller tbh; they easily look like they could be the same person

Episode 7

What a nice family reunion...it would be a shame if something happened to it...

The flashbacks are significantly darker than the present timeline this time around

Guédira finally got to arrest Assane, good for him!

The scene at the train station with the letter from Assane to Claire sort of reminds me of the ending to A Tale of Two Cities, which I had to read for AP prep a while back

Oh look, Hubert Pellegrini is back

So they're CLEARLY setting up another season with this ending

The choice of people to show on the montage there was interesting, lol

I could see a Juliette antagonist arc happening tbh

Maybe Assane's mom isn't all she seems either

And what about Benjamin? If he turns against Assane the viewers are going to lose their minds

[teamthunderdome]

TEAM THUNDERDOME.

TWO TEAMS ENTER. TUMBLR VOTES. ONE TEAM LEAVES. TRIAL BY COMBAT. TO THE DEATH. VICTORY OR SOVNGARDE.

The Rules:

Fights will occur over the course of ONE WEEK, quarter 1 begins JUNE 1ST, 2024 at 12:00 AM MIDNIGHT EDT (UTC-04:00).

Multiple fights happen across one week.

ONLY 3 to 4 team members per team. 2 is too few, 5 is almost cheating. If a team has more than 4 members, some will have to wait in the stands (looking at you, Scooby-Doo and Tally Hall).

Tumblr poll will determine the winner of an individual fight via emotional support and gracious cookie donations.

Majority Wins. Whether or not a team would canonically win or lose the fight does not matter, only the number of votes.

Single Elimination.

Outside of the rules listed above, anything goes. Reblog a fight to get your friends on your side.

Propaganda is fair game. If you know perhaps a little too much about one of the teams and want to explain why your team should win, please submit an in-depth propaganda post to the blog homepage.

Spread the word! Your favorite might win! (Or not! I just run this thing!)

Lasko Wind Machine

All 64 Teams Competing (In random order - will NOT reflect the final bracket):

Team WINCHESTER (Sam, Dean, Castiel, Crowley)

Team FORTRESS (Heavy, Medic, Engineer, Soldier)

Team AIONIOS (Noah, Lanz, Eunie, Riku)

Team GONDOR (Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf)

Team TWILIGHT (Jacob, Edward, Bella)

Team STAR WARS (Han, Luke, Leia, Chewbacca)

Team NARUTO (Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura)

Team SHREK (Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Puss In Boots) (As portrayed at the end of Shrek 2)

Team OF LIGHT (Jonathan Harker, Jack Seward, Quincey Morris, Abraham Van Helsing)

Team PERSONA (Makoto Yuki, Kotone Shiomi, Yu Narukami, Ren Mamamiya)

Team HOMESTUCK (John, Jade, Rose, Dave)

Team MUSKETEERS (Athos, Porthos, Aramis, D'Artagnan)

Team HERCULES (Hercules, Iolaus, Salmoneus, Autolycus) (The Legendary Journeys, Hercules as portrayed by Kevin Sorbo)

Team PUYO PUYO (Ringo, Arle, Amitie, Lemres)

Team BAKUGO (Bakugo, Mina, Denki, Eijirou)

Team WIGGLES (Jeff, Anthony, Murray, Greg) (as originally formed)

Team GRYFFINDOR (Harry, Ron, Hermione)

Team COOL RUNNINGS (Derice Bannock, Junior Bevil, Sanka Coffie, Yul Brenner)

Team AEGIS (Rex, Pyra, Mythra) (all other party members excluded due to Blades and their pesky "friendships" binding them to their users)

Team RHYTHM THIEF (Raphael, Fondue, Marie, Charlie) (what a cute doggy :3)

Team MYSTERY INC (Fred, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne) (sorry no pets allowed)

Team DEKU (Izuku, Tsuyu, Ochako, Shouto)

Team KRISPIES (Snap, Crackle, Pop)

Team ELITE BEAT (Agent Spin, Agent J, Agent Chieftain, Agent Starr)

Team JIGSAW (Kramer, Young, Hoffman, Gordon)

Team UMIZOOMI (Milli, Geo, Bot)

Team TRIFORCE (Link, Zelda, Groose) (Skyward Sword variants)

Team LAYTON (Layton, Luke, Emmy) (Pre-Azran Legacy)

Team SONIC (Sonic, Knuckles, Tails)

Team ASKR (Alfonse, Anna, Sharena)

Team TARDIS (The Doctor, Amy, Rory, River)

Team WOOHP (Sam, Alex, Clover)

Team KEYBLADE (Sora, Donald, Goofy)

Team 1908 THOMAS FLYER (Montague Roberts, George Schuster, Hans Hendrik Hansen, George MacAdam)

Team BIONIS (Shulk, Reyn, Dunban, Sharla)

Team DARK (Shadow, Rouge, Omega) (Ultimate Life Form status tenuous)

Team OOO (Finn, Jake, Princess Bubblegum, BMO)

Team TALLY HALL (Rob, Zubin, Andrew, Joe) (Ross excluded - he's just a drummer)

Team DOODLEBOPS (Deedee, Rooney, Moe)

Team SCIENCE (Gordon, Tommy, Bubby, Dr. Coomer)

Team POWERPUFF (Blossom, Buttercup, Bubbles)

Team INCONCEIVABLE (Inigo, Fezzik, Vizzini)

Team METROCITY (Megamind, Metro Man, Roxanne, Minion)

Team WONDER PETS (Linny, Tuck, Ming Ming)

Team REGULAR (Mordecai, Rigby, Muscle Man, Skips)

Team PILLAR MEN (Santana, Wham, ACDC, Kars) (Ultimate Life Form status tenuous)

Team BEATLES (John, Paul, George, Ringo)

Team SMILING FRIENDS (Pim, Charlie, Glep, Alan)

Team ROTTEN (Robbie, Tobby, Bobby, Flobby) (Ultimate Life Form status confirmed)

Team KRUSTY KRAB (SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs)

Team VOCALOID (Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Len, Kagamine Rin)

Team GARFIELD (Garfield, Jon, Odie, Liz)

Team POOH (Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Christopher Robin)

Team AVALANCHE (Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret)

Team LOONEY (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Michael Jordan)

Team GHOSTS (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, Clyde) (freshly dead)

Team ROCKMAN (Rock, Roll, Blues, Bass)

Team MARIO (Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi)

Team WRIGHT (Phoenix, Apollo, Athena, Trucy) (as seen in Dual Destinies)

Team SHERLOCK (Sherlock, John, Mycroft) (Brigandorf Crimplesnart's depiction of Sherlock)

Team MASH (Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, BJ Hunnicutt, Charles Emerson Winchester III)

Team RWBY (Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Blake)

Team CHANNEL 5 (Ulala, Space Michael, Jaguar, Pudding)

Team FANBOY (Fanboy, Chum Chum, Kyle)

GOOD LUCK!!!

(you're gonna need it)

[aeligsido]

[WM — September 2024] Prompt 2 — Hogsmeade.

Rating: G.

TW: mention of minor character death.

Characters: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Altair Lupin-Black (as a baby); mention of Alexander McKinnon (OC), Marlene McKinnon, James Potter, Harry Potter, Lily Evans Potter, Frank Longbottom, Alice Longbottom, Neville Longbottom.

Additional Tags: everyone lives au; but without the trauma; Voldemort was defeated earlier au; background James Potter/Lily Evans Potter; growing up; they’re new parents!!; it's exciting and scary.

Summary: They’re late for their reunion at Hogsmeade.

Words count: 470.

A/N: Heya!! Idk what to say about this one — it didn’t really go the way I wanted, but oh well. Hope you like it!! 💕

@wolfstarmicrofic

Read on ao3.

-

“We’re going to be late,” frets Remus, putting more and more unnecessary items into the bag. Sirius watches him from the corner of his eyes, too busy strapping Altair into his baby carrier and against his chest. Their son lets out a small, sleepy coo, and his heart melts just a bit.

“Don’t stress that much, we’ll be fine,” he says, finally giving his whole attention to his husband now that their baby is ready. “I don’t think we’ll need the newspaper, love.”

Remus stops, looks at what he’s holding, and lets it go with a sigh. “I’m being stupid, aren’t I?”

“Just a bit anxious,” corrects Sirius, taking Remus' hand in his and dropping a kiss on it. “It’ll be okay.”

It’s their first time taking Altair out since he was born, at the beginning of May. It’s also the last time they’re visiting Hogsmeade while one of them is still at Hogwarts; Alex will be graduating soon, already. It feels like yesterday Marlene was introducing to them her round-cheeked, bright-eyed baby brother.

They almost didn't have this, either; everything went so fast, after their own graduation, what with the war raging on and them joining the Order. James and Lily’s wedding, and then they decided to go for it, too.

And then, like a sudden, single firework, Voldemort died, and it was all over. Well, no one was quite sure who had killed him — James would assure it was Frank, Frank would swear it was Lily, Lily would say it was Alice, and Alice would point at James, then they would assume the honor of being the Voldemort-killer, and then the debate would start anew — but the deed was done and the Dark Lord gone, which was ultimately what mattered.

Lily and Alice announced their pregnancies soon after, and after tracking Death Eaters and building their lives back up again — here they are, a little more free, a lot more happy, and surprisingly adults.

Sirius lets Remus do a last anxious check-up around their house before they both Apparate to Hogsmeade; the small village is as busy as ever, students roaming around with a delight born from the end-of-term season. They make a beeline for the Three Broomsticks, hand in hand, slaloming between kids looking weirdly way younger than them. Maybe it’s the effect of being parents.

James waves at them as soon as they enter; they’re the last ones, as expected from their late departure, but it doesn’t dim their friends' smiles nor greetings. Harry, from Peter’s lap, imitates his father gleefully. Neville catches on and raises his arms, too, almost hitting his own father in the process. There’s laughter and warmth and chaos, just like always with them.

Beside him, he feels Remus relaxes. Maybe Sirius does, too — he can’t help it.

It’s home, after all.

[knitmeapony]

All right guys, I want to rewatch a whole bunch of the 1990s TV sci-fi that was basically X-Files adjacent. So far here's my list:

(edit: reorg by subgenre)

Cyberpunk and conspiracy

VR.5

Dark Angel

Lone Gunmen

Tomorrow People

Now and Again *

Prey

Precog/time fuckery

Early edition

Time Trax

Sliders

Tru Calling

7 days *

Spaaaaaaaaace and exploration

Earth 2

Seaquest

First Wave *

Dark Skies *

Earth Final Conflict

DS9

ST Voy

Babylon 5

Space: above and Beyond

Farscape

Stargate SG1

Crime, law, and/or vengence

Millenium

The Pretender

Mann and Machine

The Crow Stairway to Heaven *

Brisco County Jr.

Alien Nation *

Dead At 21 *

Spoopy guys living lives

Eerie, Indiana

Highlander

The Sentinal

Outer limits

Animorphs

Alex Mack

Forever Knight

So Weird *

Feels like fantasy (i.e. Not Sci fi) the way Star Wars does for some reason

Buffy and Angel

Right time, wrong vibe

Red Dwarf

Blakes 7

Charmed

Roswell

Lois and Clark

Lexx

Right vibe, wrong time

Alias

Fringe

Cleopatra 2525

Smallville

Witchblade

Right Vibes and time, no sci-fi

La Femme Nikita

What shows am I missing? The less well-known the better.

[longhairedboybracket]

Long Haired Boy Bracket All Contestants

The polls will start this tuesday the 2nd

Bracket A

1 - Ling Yao Fullmetal Alchemist vs Will Turner Pirates of the Caribbean

2 - Chigiri Hyoma Blue Lock vs Kasanoda Ritsu OHSHC

3 - Squidward Tentacles Sponge Bob Square Pants vs Link Legend of Zelda

4 - Heimdall Mcu vs Enoch Drebber Ace Attorney

5 - Izuru Kamukura Danganronpa vs Silver Pokémon

6 - Wei Wuxian Mo Dao Zu Shi vs Hua Cheng Heaven's Official Blessing

7 - Wataru Hibiki Ensemble Stars vs Akoya Gero Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-Bu Love

8 - Su Honkai Impact 3rd vs Reyson Fire Emblem

9 - Vanitas Vanitas no Carte vs Athos 3 musketeers

10 - Destruction The Sandman vs Eliot Stardew Valley

11 - Neightan Rot Monster High vs Haruka Hashida Blue Period

12 - Kian Stone Just Roll With It, Show vs Aion Show By Rock

13 - Shulk Xenoblade vs Antonio Identity V

14 - Beelzebub Granblue Fantasy vs Kiun Noragami

15 - Alex Harvey-Iniguez Magical Warrior Diamond Heart vs Fabian Blush Blush

16 - Lord Cedric W.I.T.C.H vs Eithan Aurelius Cradle Series

Bracket B

1 - Korekiyo Shinguji Danganronpa vs Hong Lu Limbus Company

2 - Alucard Castlevania vs Finn The Human Adventure Time

3 - Sakurayashiki Kaoru "Cherry" Sk8 Infinity vs Rosado Fire Emblem

4 - Geralt Of Rivia The Witcher vs Elrond Lord Of The Rings

5 - Inigo Montoya The Princess Bride vs Fire Lord Zuko Avatar The Last Airbender/Avatar The Legend Of Korra

6 - Natural Harmonia Gropius "N" Pokémon vs Loki Mcu

7 - Samsom The Old Testament vs Aramis 3 musketeers

8 - Interdimensional Prince Monster Prom vs Furanui Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-Bu Happy Kiss

9 - Ichirota Kazemaru Inazuma Eleven vs Lucas Rune Factory 5

10 - Helia Winx Club vs Gunpowder Tim The Mechanisms

11 - Shinjiro Nozomi Entropic Float vs Dia Akedia Court of Darkness

12 - Jareth The Goblin King Labyrinth vs Br'aad Vengolor Just Roll With It

13 - Little Creek Spirit vs Bigby Wolf Fables

14 - Terry Bogard Fatal Fury vs Prince Phobos W.I.T.C.H

15 - Dyuradyura Show By Rock vs Noah Kawaii Mansion

16 - Howell Wizard Bee and Puppycat vs Zero Megaman

Bracket C

1 - Inuyasha Inuyasha vs Lucius Fire Emblem

2 - Legolas Lord of the Rings vs Greg Universe Steven Universe

3 - Melli Pokémon vs Shatterstar Marvel

4 - Klavier Gavin Ace Attorney vs Lan Wangji Mo Dao Zu Shi

5 - Chewbacca Star Wars vs Cousin it The Addams Family

6 - Captain Hook Peter Pan vs Edward Elric Fullmetal Alchemist

7 - Tarzan Tarzan vs Razor Genshin Impact

8 - Gerard Keay The Magnus Archives vs Deidara Naruto

9 - Yan Qing Fate Grand Order vs Porthos 3 musketeers

10 - Yue Cardcaptor Sakura vs Headmaster Precure

11 - Kurama Yu Yu Hakusho vs Gillion Tidestrider Just Roll With It

12 - Sitka Brother Bear vs Lord Cob Tales Of Earthsea

13 - Kidou Yuuto Inazuma Eleven Go vs Takumi Ichinose Nana

14 - Peter Cook W.I.T.C.H vs Alec Swordspoint

15 - Peking Duck Food Fantasy vs Karurusu Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-Bu Happy Kiss

16 - Blue Knight Tokyo Mew Mew vs Yakari Yakari

Bracket D

1 - Asakura Hao Shaman King vs Soren Fire Emblem

2 - Sesshomaru Inuyasha vs Christopher Yugioh Zexal

3 - Lord Farquaad Shrek vs Katsura Kotaro Gintama

4 - Jesus The Bible vs Sephiroth Final Fantasy VII

5 - Aoba Seragaki Dramatical Murder vs Basil Hawkins One Piece

6 - Kamui Gakupo Vocaloid vs Nahyuta Sahdmadhi Ace Attorney

7 - Jon Snow Game of Thrones vs Grusha Pokémon

8 - Terumi Furo "Aphorodi" Inazuma Eleven vs Joseph Identity V

9 - Nahobino Shin Megami Tensei vs Kite Hunter x Hunter

10 - Ogron Winx Club vs Niklaus Just Roll With It

11 - D'artagnian 3 musketeers vs Monmon Show by Rock

12 - Xie Lian Heaven's Official Blessing vs Olivier Vanitas no Carte

13 - Xiao Yin Dislyte vs Thane Bauer Watashi no Oshi Wa Akuyaku Reijou

14 - Toki Wartooth Metalocalypse vs Madmartigan Willow

15 - DJ Grooves A Hat In Time vs Jae-ha Akatsuki no Yona

16 - Nezumi No.6 vs Ashe Bradley Witch's Heart

[cherrybombfangirlwrites]

my writeblr (re)introduction

Hi, I'm Anna. I've been on the writeblr side of tumblr since June last year, and I figured- new year, about time for a new intro. I'll be doing new WIP and character intros as well very soon.

About the Author

20-something years old / She/Her / Aroace

A burntout gifted kid, (sorta late diagnosed) Autisic and ADHDer

my sideblog for nerdy and fangirly stuff (mainly about my ocs and fanfics about them) is @cherrybombfangirl that i'm currently trying to revive

Favorite Movies: Captain America: The Winter Soldier /// Wonder Woman (2017) /// Wonder Woman 1984 /// Lilo and Stitch /// The Amazing Spiderman 1 & 2 /// Black Widow /// Ghostbusters (the entire franchise, all of it) /// LEGO Batman /// Megamind /// Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy (what other two movies?) /// How to Train Your Dragon Trilogy /// The Nightmare Before Christmas /// Coraline /// Boxtrolls /// Enchanted /// The Little Mermaid /// Maleficent /// Princess Bride /// The Great Mouse Detective /// Anastasia /// Ocean's 8 /// Kung Fu Panda 1 & 2 /// Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves /// Dead Poet's Society /// Puss in Boots: The Last Wish /// Rogue One: A Star Wars Story /// Nimona ///

Favorite Books: Trollhunters /// Land of Stories /// Micheal Vey /// Percy Jackson series /// How to Train Your Dragon series /// Peter and the Starcatchers /// Cry of the Icemark /// Reflection by Elizabeth Lim /// The Unwanteds /// Alex and the Ironic Gentleman /// The Hunger Games Trilogy /// Mysterious Benedict Society /// Dealing with Dragons Series /// Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill /// Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Xhao ///

Favorite TV Shows: Tales of Arcadia: Trollhunters /// Tales of Arcadia: Wizards /// How to Train Your Dragon: Race to the Edge /// Supergirl /// Ninjago /// The Mandalorian /// Kenobi /// Lockwood and Co. /// A Series of Unfortunate Events /// The Dragon Prince /// She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (ND Stevenson’s Reboot) ///

I like to write big casts, with lots of diversity

My characters tend to be very aro/ace coded and adhd/autism coded because I like to project onto my characters a little bit too much

been dreaming up little worlds with little characters in my head since i was little, started writing fanfic at 12, and finally started to draft out my ideas last year

I love love love fantasy and sci-fi, especially the more high stuff, but i like low/urban fantasy and sci-fi. more realistic fiction isn't really my cup of tea, if there's no fantasy or sci-fi elements it doesn't do it for me

My WIPs

Fractured Stars Falling

Intro /// Playlist My dark fantasy, 9 book series of very queer retellings. Including people of color, mentally and physically disabled, and many flavors of queer representation. Themes include trauma and how we deal with it, and tropes include magic that can kill you, chaotic found family, and 'i would kill for you' romances. And it's possibly going to have a prequel series about my thousand year old wizard who is an AuDHDer and a burntout gifted kid and how she got to where she is in the series. Tags: #wip: fractured stars falling

The City is Ours

Intro /// Playlist My low fantasy, 5 book series about a bunch of chaotic teenage superheroes. More people of color, physically and mentally disabled, Jewish and Muslim, and lots of different queer representaion . Themes include forgiveness, are you the hero of the villain, and tropes include domesticity between the action, teenagers being teenagers, and the checkov's civilian. Tags: #wip: the city is ours

Galaxy Destroyer

Intro /// Playlist Previously known as Before the Stars Burn Out, this is my high sci-fi book series about a bunch of morally gray criminals and the "i tried to kill you" to found family pipeline. Like my other wips, lots of representation, including people of color, disabilites of both the physical and mental, and different kinds of queer representation. Themes include what really defines good vs bad, what to do when the system is broken and the two solutions you are presented with suck, and tropes include space criminals accidentally adopting a baby, humans being space orcs, and cool laser gun battles in space. Not sure if it's going to be a trilogy or duology yet. Tags: #wip: galaxy destroyer, wip: before the stars burn out (for older stuff)

unnamed witchy wip

Intro (coming soon) /// playlist (coming soon) a one-eyed (and it's actually disabling) aroace witch. her two familiars, a white cat and blue crow. on the run from a cult of witch hunters that are taking control of the realm by storm. she befriends an undercover witch hunter, no knowing his identity. the witch hunter has an arc with their faith crisis and getting a redemption arc where they end up saving their new friend the witch. Themes include the abuse of religion and finding friendship (but on a very personal level), and tropes include snarky familiars, very personal stakes for the characters, and platonic soulmates. Probably going to be a standalone. Tags: #unnamed witchy wip

unnamed historical fantasy vestal virgin wip

Intro (coming soon) /// playlist (coming soon) it's a baby wip that I don't much on yet. All I know is that it's going to be about one of the vestal virgins in Ancient Rome actually making contact with Vesta (the roman version of Hestia), they become besties and end up protecting each other both from the human and mythological. Also I'm going to get dragons in there somehow. much platonic soulmates <3. Probably going to be a standalone as well. Tags: #unnamed vestal virgin wip

edit: i removed taglists from this post because there is a tag limit, i have them saved somewhere else tho!

[booksandchainmail]

Hugo Award Nominees Thoughts

Best Novel:

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Translation State by Ann Leckie

Witch King by Martha Wells

Largely makes sense to me: Saint and Glory were my nominees as well, and probably the strongest on my short list. Witch and Translation were on my longlist, both good and unsurprising nominees. Adventures I haven't read but have heard good things about, I wasn't a fan of the author's early work so I hadn't picked it up but it sounds fun. Villain I don't know about but I'm willing to try.

I'm not surprised that my other nominees didn't make it: Chain-Gang All-Stars I think was billed more as literary fiction than sci-fi, He Who Drowned the World I thought might be on the list but I imagine missed the cut, and Furious Heaven was never going to make it (second book in a series, less-known author, lengthy military sci-fi)

Best Novella:

“Life Does Not Allow Us to Meet”, He Xi / 人生不相见, 何夕, translated by Alex Woodend

Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

Rose/House by Arkady Martine

“Seeds of Mercury”, Wang Jinkang / 水星播种, 王晋康, translated by Alex Woodend

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Thornhedge, Mammoths, and Mimicking were all on my longlist. Rose/House has been on my "want to read" list for a while, but is bafflingly unavailable at the library. Seeds and Life I don't know, but am excited for.

None of my nominees made it in, which I'm sad about. Keeper's Six, The Twice-Drowned Saint, The Narrow Road Between Desires, and Lost in a Moment and Found were all excellent. I nominated less than my total number of slots in an effort to avoid just filling my ballot with everything good that was eligible in a category I don't read much in.

Best Novelette, Best Short Story: I have read none of these, though many of the authors are familiar

Best Series:

The Final Architecture by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie

The Last Binding by Freya Marske

The Laundry Files by Charles Stross

October Daye by Seanan McGuire

The Universe of Xuya by Aliette de Bodard

Last Binding was one of my nominees, glad to see it made it. I'd completely forgotten that Imperial Radch would be eligible again, happy that others remembered. October Daye is a perennial favorite, though not a nominee of mine this year. Xuya is a personal pet-peeve: every book of it sounds amazing, and they never work for me, and I keep reading them and being frustrated. Architecture I haven't read, but I've loved everything of Tchaikovsky's I've read. Laundry I'm dubious about, given how hard I bounced of his other series.

My other nominees were the Craft series, which I'd love to see get more attention, Unconquerable Sun, which is my personal darling blorbo books that I desperately want people read and love, and Kushiel's Legacy, which was newly re-eligible thanks to the publication of a companion novel, and never got the critical sff attention it deserved.

Best Graphic Story, Best Related Work: haven't read any of these, but it looks like interesting nominees

Best Dramatic Presentations: I don't really care about these

Best Game or Interactive Work:

Alan Wake 2

Baldur’s Gate 3

Chants of Sennaar

DREDGE

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

New category! I don't know enough about games of 2023 to speak on these nominees, but it looks good at a glance? and it's clearly better than the steam awards at least

Best Editors, Zines, Artists, Writers, and Casts: I don't follow these fields enough to have opinions

Lodestar (not a Hugo):

Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark

Liberty’s Daughter by Naomi Kritzer

Promises Stronger than Darkness by Charlie Jane Anders

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose

Unraveller by Frances Hardinge

Shape was one of my nominees, one of my favorite books of the year all over. Very glad to see it here. Since it was published and marketed aimed at adults, even though it's about teenagers at magic school, I imagine we'll see a repeat of the Scholomance eligibility discourse. Booksellers was... fine? But nothing particularly noteworthy to me. Abeni and Liberty I don't know, but like the authors. Unraveller I don't know, but have heard good things about the author. Promises I am going to preemptively not read given how much I disliked (and DNFed) the first two.

I'm sad to see my other two nominees, The Shape of Drowning and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth not on here. Drowning reminded me very sharply of Diana Wynne Jones, and Spirit was one of my best books of the year, with an excellent narrative voice. Maybe teen horror isn't doing that strongly now?

Astounding (not a Hugo):

Moniquill Blackgoose (1st year of eligibility)

Sunyi Dean (2nd year of eligibility)

Ai Jiang (2nd year of eligibility)

Hannah Kaner (1st year of eligibility)

Em X. Liu (1st year of eligibility)

Xiran Jay Zhao (eligibility extended at request of Dell Magazines)

So can we just go ahead and call this one for Xiran Jay Zhao already? Even leaving aside that they are a strong nominee, I can't imagine voters not using this as a protest against last year's scandal. Of those I've read, Blackgoose is my favorite, and was one of my nominees. Kaner and Liu both had good first novels/ellas and are solid nominees, though not my picks. Dean and Jiang I don't know.

My other nominees were Isabel J. Kim, Maya Deane, Vajra Chandrasekera, and C. E. McGill.

Overall:

This is a very reassuring ballot, after last year. Nothing here is deeply surprising, nothing is deeply surprising to be missing. The announcement also included an explanation of nominees that declined (Martha Wells continues to be classy in declining further nominations for Murderbot) or were ineligible, and why.

I have ~15 fiction books to read for voting, which is very manageable. In particular, already having read 4/6 of the series is a major help.

[suvidrache]

Past‚ Present‚ & Future Character List

If the fandom or character does well, it will make a comeback and will be added to my permanent write list. More info here | Simple Version

* indicates a new fandom. | ☆ indicates a fandom I discontinued. | characters in bold are characters I discontinued. | no indicator is a current fandom I write for & have no intentions to discontinue.

* Ahiru No Sora - Chiaki, Fuwa, Kaname, Kenji, Momoharu, Shinichi, Tokina, Tokiwa, Yakuma, and Yukinara.

* Black Butler - Claude, Grelle, Sebastian, Undertaker, William (added to the list!)

Bleach - Äs Nödt, Byakuya Kuchiki, Gin Ichimaru, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Isshin Kurosaki, Izuru Kira, Jūshirō Ukitake, Kenpachi Zaraki, Kensei Muguruma, Kisuke Urahara, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Nnoitra Gilga, Renji Abarai, Shinji Hirako, Shūhei Hisagi, Shunsui Kyōraku, Sōsuke Aizen, Szayelaporro Granz, Ulquiorra Cifer, Uryu Ishida, Yasutora Sado, Yumichika Ayasegawa.

☆ Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Alejandro, Alex, John, Johnny, König, Phillip, Rodolfo, Simon. *Kyle

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness - Aki, Arrin, Asrif, Bale, Boar Clan Mage, Chelko, Dark, Detlan, Fin-Kedinn, Gaup, Hord, Iakim, Inuktiluk, Juksakai, Krukoslik, Kujai, Kyo, Maheegun, Narrander (The Walker), Orvo, Poi, Raut, Sialot, Tenris, Thiazzi, Thull, Tiu, Tseid, Yolun.

Devil May Cry - Dante, Nero, V, and Vergil.

Final Fantasy - Angeal Hewley, Cloud Strife, Genesis Rhapsodos, Gladiolus Amicitia, Ignis Scientia, Kadaj, Loz, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Prompto Argentum, Reno Sinclair, Rufus Shinra, Sephiroth, Vincent Valentine, Yazoo, Zack Fair.

* Food Wars! - Akira Hayama, Eishi Tsukasa, Isami Aldini, Satoshi Isshiki, Takumi Aldini, Terunori Kuga.

Grand Theft Auto V - Ron Jakowski, Trevor Philips, and Wade Hebert.

Gone - Albert Hillsborough, Alex Mayle, Antoine, Caine Soren, Charles "Orc" Merriman, Drake Merwin, Edilio Escobar, Elwood Booker, Hunter Lefkowitz, Lance, Tony "Cookie" Gilder, Toto, Turk, Tyler "Bug", Paint, Panda, Quinn Gaither, Roger, Zil Sperry.

Haikyuu - Atsumu Miya, Daichi Sawamura, Eita Semi, Kei Tsukishima, Keiji Akaashi, Keishin Ukai, Kenma Kozume, Kōshi Sugawara, Kōtarō Bokuto, Lev Haiba, Osamu Miya, Rintarō Suna, Ryūnosuke Tanaka, Satori Tendō, Shinsuke Kita, Tadashi Yamaguchi, Tetsurō Kuroo, Tobio Kageyama, Tōru Oikawa, Wakatoshi Ushijima, Yū Nishinoya.

☆ Halloween 1978 - Michael Myers

Hellboy - Abraham Sapien and Nuada Silverlance.

Hetalia Axis Powers - America, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kugelmugel, Ladonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Molossia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Prussia, Romania, Russia, Seborga, South Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

House of Wax - Bo, Lester, and Vincent. 

* Hunger Games - Darrius, Finnick Odair, Gale Hawthorne, Haymitch

* Hunter x Hunter - Chrollo, Hisoka, Illumi

* Jujutsu Kaisen - Choso, Geto, Nanami Kento.

Kuroko No Basket - Atsushi Murasakibara, Chihiro Mayuzumi, Daiki Aomine, Kazunari Takao, Kiyoshi Miyaji, Makoto Hanamiya, Reo Mibuchi, Shinji Koganei, Shintarō Midorima, Shoichi Imayoshi, Taiga Kagami, Tatsuya Himuro, Teppei Kiyoshi, Wei Liu.

Mortal Kombat - Baraka, Bi-Han, Dairou, Erron Black, Fujin, Hanzo Hasashi, Havik, Hotaru, Hsu Hao, Jarek, Johnny Cage, Kabal, Kano, Kenshi, Kobra, Kuai Liang, Kung Lao, Kurtis Stryker, Mavado, Quan Chi, Rain, Reiko, Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn, Taven, Tomas Vrbada. Onaga, Reptile, Goro, Kintaro.

— All Mortal Kombat characters will be written from MK 11 and the past. I will not be writing for the new game. — Smut for animals is *not* allowed

My Hero Academia - Dabi, Denki Kaminari, Eijiro Kirishima, Fumikage Tokoyami, Hanta Sero, Hitoshi Shinso, Hizashi Yamada, Izuku Midoriya, Kai Chisaki, Katsuki Bakugo, Keigo Takami, Mashirao Ojiro, Mezo Shoji, Mirio Togata, Neito Monoma, Shota Aizawa, Shoto Todoroki, Tamaki Amajiki, Tenya Iida, Tomura Shigaraki.

Naruto - Asuma Sarutobi, Deidara, Gaara, Genma Shiranui, Hashirama Senju, Hidan, Iruka Umino, Itachi Uchiha, Jiraiya, Kabuto Yakushi, Kakashi Hatake, Kakuzu, Kankurō, Kisame Hoshigaki, Kushimaru Kuriarare, Madara Uchiha, Might Guy, Minato Namikaze, Nagato (Pain), Neji Hyūga, Obito Uchiha, Orochimaru, Rock Lee, Sai, Sasori, Shikamaru Nara, Tobi, Tobirama Senju, Yamato, Zetsu.

☆ Nightmare on Elm - Freddy Krueger

* Shatter Me - Brendan, Winston.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre - Alfredo Sawyer, Edward "Tex" Saywer, Robert "Chop Top" Sawyer, and Nubbins Sawyer.

☆ The Boy - Brahms Heelshire

Tokyo Ghoul - Kishou Arima, Nimura Furuta, Renji Yomo, Uta. 

Tokyo Revengers - Chifuyu Matsuno, Keisuke Baji, Ken "Draken' Ryuguji, Manjiro "Mikey" Sano, Mitsuya Takashi, Nahoya "Smiley" Kawata, Ran Haitani, Shuji Hanma, Souya "Angry" Kawata.

* Yuri On Ice - Chris, Otabek, Viktor, Yuri P.

[pod-together]

Filk Broken Telephone 2023

We highly recommend listening to these by starting with the first work in each chain and going in order!

Chain 1

[Filk] Exy Swing (All For The Game - Nora Sakavic) written and performed by Ceewelsh Summary: [Filk] Neil considers Riko

More Than a Dream [Filk] (天官赐福 - 墨香铜臭 | Tiān Guān Cì Fú - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù) written and performed by esbielle Summary: A song that could work as an epilogue for the whole novel.

[Pod_together Broken Telephone Filk 2023] This Bitter Earth (Burial Mounds Edition) (陈情令 | The Untamed (TV), 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, Original Work) written and performed by Mangacat Summary: "This Bitter Earth - Oh, how it stares at me" To the Tune of 'On the Nature of Daylight / This Bitter Earth'

[Filk] Not Your Grave (Supernatural (TV 2005)) written and performed by TheArcher Summary: Song from Castiel to Dean, telling him to survive, set to Such Great Heights.

Chain 2

[Filk] Dreams (Danny Phantom) written and performed by legonerd

[Filk] Ghosts (山河令 | Word of Honor (TV 2021)) written and performed by irrationalpie Summary: Wen Kexing sings about revenge (mostly). Set early in canon, when he's plotting to sow chaos and expose hypocrisy by getting the self-proclaimed heroes of the Five Lakes Alliance to kill each other infighting over the Glazed Armor

The Loric Who Remain [lyrics and audio] (The Lorien Legacies - Pittacus Lore) written and performed by farkenshnoffingottom Summary: John's POV from I Am Number Four, set to the tune of All Time Low's "The Reckless and the Brave"

As the tides wash away all hint of facade (Our Flag Means Death (TV)) written and performed by Elle_dubs Summary: Stede & Ed are feeling things ... differently at the end of Season 1.

Chain 3

The Night it calls my name (No Fandom) written and performed by Dr_Fumbles_McStupid Summary: a filk about vampires set to Ingrid Michaelson's the chain

[Filk] Gratitude (Thai Actor RPF) written and performed by Wereflamingo Summary: Joong is getting lost between fiction and reality. A filk to the tune of Dum Dum by Jeff Satur, written and recorded for Filk Broken Telephone 2023.

[filk] choosing time (The Ultimatum: Queer Love (TV)) written and performed by olive2read Summary: an ode to the messiest lesbians on reality tv

Poison & Win (?) (This is How You Lose the Time War - Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone) written by wilfriede0815, performed by SerenaEW and wilfriede0815 Summary: A filk about the poisoned final letter to Blue from Red.

(I Want To Be) Part of Your World (Red White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston) written and performed by bluegeekEM Summary: An Alex/Henry, enemies-to-lovers filk set to “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid.

Chain 4

The Night it calls my name (No Fandom) written and performed by Dr_Fumbles_McStupid Summary: a filk about vampires set to Ingrid Michaelson's the chain

[filk] In Whitby (Dracula & Related Fandoms, Dracula - Bram Stoker (Novel 1897)) written and performed by ArtemisTheHuntress Summary: A song about something haunting the idyllic seaside town of Whitby.

m (dragon) e (No Fandom) written and performed by minnabird Summary: Infinite Escher mirrors Reflect familiar eyes There is no monster, it's just my heart Dark night of the soul It's here -- A M◐◑N palace filk written and recorded for Pod_Together 2023, for narrative group 4

Whatever Mama Wants (Fandom - Fandom) written and performed by mahons_ondine Summary: A filk broken telephone production--a little villain song!

[Filk] This World is Mine! (Phantom: The American Musical Sensation - Yeston/Kopit, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra | Phantom of the Opera & Related Fandoms) written and performed by SerenaEW Summary: What if Carlotta strived for world domination? Crack-ish filk.

[nintendo-rpg-characters-2023]

Here is the List of Competing Characters!!

The bracket itself isn't finished yet but the competitors are finalized (See below cut).

The bracket will be done by the end of this week.

Also I may or may not start messing with the pictures starting round 2, but it's undecided at this point.

- Mod Sky

(Note: there are no teams, the way seat 30 is written is to make it clear that they are both the same character)

Competing Characters (in no specific order):

Mythra (Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

Edelgard (Fire Emblem Three Houses)

Kumatora (Mother 3)

Tony (Earthbound)

Vivian (Paper Mario TTYD)

Doopliss (Paper Mario TTYD)

Lucas (Mother 3)

Rex (Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

Morag (Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

Alcryst (Fire Emblem Engage)

Twerkey (Miitopia)

Ike (Fire Emblem Path of Radiance)

Prince Peasley (Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga)

Alex (Golden Sun)

Mimi (Super Paper Mario)

Geno (Super Mario RPG)

Eirika (Fire Emblem Sacred Stones)

Shulk (Xenoblade Chronicles 1)

Claude (Fire Emblem Three Houses)

Dubious Mayor Dudley (Miitopia)

Besmirched Nobleboy Sonny (Miitopia)

Antasma (Mario & Luigi Dream Team)

Lin (Xenoblade Chronicles X)

Ringabel (Bravely Default)

Cynthia (Pokemon Diamond/Pearl)

Finn (Fire Emblem Genealogy of the Holy War)

Eunie (Xenoblade Chronicles 3)

The Dark Lord (Miitopia)

Zeke (Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

Alvis/A (Xenoblade Chronicles 1)

Mr. L (Super Paper Mario)

Mallow (Super Mario RPG)

Knoll (Fire Emblem Sacred Stones)

Reyn (Xenoblade Chronicles 1)

Nina (GBA Mario Tennis)

Dreambert (Mario & Luigi Dream Team)

Espurr (Pokemon X/Y)

Lute (Fire Emblem Sacred Stones)

Elma (Xenoblade Chronicles X)

Lucina (Fire Emblem Awakening)

Riki (Xenoblade Chronicles 1)

Duster (Mother 3)

Hector (Fire Emblem the Blazing Blade)

Dimentio (Super Paper Mario)

N (Pokemon Black/White)

Euden (Dragalia Lost)

Bobby (Paper Mario the Origami King)

Bow (Paper Mario 64)

Lora (Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna)

Sena (Xenoblade Chronicles 3)

Porky (Earthbound)

Goombella (Paper Mario TTYD)

Great Sage (Miitopia)

Lillie (Pokemon Sun/Moon)

Felix (Golden Sun)

Fawful (Mario & Luigi Bowser’s Inside Story)

Dominic the Dragon (Miitopia)

Mr. Saturn (Earthbound)

Marth (Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon)

Count Bleck (Super Paper Mario)

Linhardt (Fire Emblem Three Houses)

Robin (Fire Emblem Awakening)

Buzz Buzz (Earthbound)

Kammy Koopa (Paper Mario TTYD)

[book--brackets]

Fourth Competition Masterpost

Preliminary Rounds

Poll 1: The Hobbit - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (here)

Poll 2: The Secret Garden - Graceling (here)

Poll 3: The Light in the Attic - The Phantom Tollbooth (here)

Poll 4: Lux - Abhorsen (here)

Poll 5: The Westing Game - The Witch of Blackbird Pond (here)

Poll 6: Books of Bayern - The Swiss Family Robinson (here)

Poll 7: The Indian in the Cupboard - Amulet (here)

Poll 8: The War That Saved My Life - The Trumpet of the Swan (here)

Poll 9: My Side of the Mountain - Nevermoor (here)

Poll 10: The Penderwicks - The Last Apprentice (here)

Poll 11: American Girl - Beyonders (here)

Poll 12: The Missing - A Mango Shaped Space (here)

Poll 13: Serafina - The Candymakers (here)

Poll 14: Things Not Seen - Ida B (here)

Poll 15: The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Blue Bear - Greenglass House (here)

Poll 16: Tuesdays at the Castle - Malory Towers (here)

Poll 17: The Littles - Ivy & Bean (here)

Poll 18: Flat Stanley - Silverwing (here)

Poll 19: The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles - Adventurers Wanted (here)

Poll 20: Applewhites - Red Planet (here)

Poll 21: The Secret Seven - Igraine the Brave (here)

Poll 22: My Teacher Is an Alien - Hitty, Her First Hundred Years (here)

Poll 23: George's Secret Key to the Universe - Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat (here)

Poll 24: Dragonbreath - Larklight (here)

Poll 25: La Quête d'Ewilan - The Forbidden Library (here)

Poll 26: Casson Family - Les Chevaliers d'Emeraude (here)

Poll 27: Regarding the... - MacDonald Hall (here)

Poll 28: The Candy Shop War - Time Hunters (here)

Poll 29: The Guardian Herd - Earthaven (here)

Poll 30: Edgar and Ellen - Ten Kids, No Pets (here)

Poll 31: Magic Puppy - The Strictest School in the World (here)

Poll 32: The Country Child - Cat School or Goyangi Hakyo (here)

Round 1

Poll 1: The Hobbit vs King of the Wind (here)

Poll 2: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH vs Animal Ark (here)

Poll 3: Nevermoor vs Upside-Down Magic (here)

Poll 4: Kingdom Keepers vs The Icemark Chronicles (here)

Poll 5: Ever vs Flat Stanley (here)

Poll 6: American Girl vs My Teacher Is an Alien (here)

Poll 7: Alex Rider vs Fairy Wings (here)

Poll 8: A Little Princess vs Ten Kids, No Pets (here)

Poll 9: Little House vs A Snicker of Magic (here)

Poll 10: The Immortals Quartet vs Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey (here)

Poll 11: Encyclopedia Brown vs Igraine the Brave (here)

Poll 12: Tuesdays at the Castle vs The Hardy Boys (here)

Poll 13: Running Out of Time vs Ever After High (here)

Poll 14: The Dark Is Rising vs Leviathan (here)

Poll 15: Septimus Heap by The Puppy Place (here)

Poll 16: Six of Crows vs Magic Puppy (here)

Round 2

Poll 1: The Hobbit vs Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (here)

Poll 2: Nevermoor vs Kingdom Keepers (here)

Poll 3: Ever vs American Girl (here)

Poll 4: Alex Rider vs A Little Princess (here)

Poll 5: Little House vs The Immortals Quartet (here)

Poll 6: The Hardy Boys vs Encyclopedia Brown (here)

Poll 7: Ever After High vs Leviathan (here)

Poll 8: Septimus Heap vs Six of Crows (here)

Round 3

Poll 1: The Hobbit vs Nevermoor (here)

Poll 2: American Girl vs A Little Princess (here)

Poll 3: The Immortals Quartet vs Encyclopedia Brown (here)

Poll 4: Ever After High vs Six of Crows (here)

Round 4 (semifinals)

Poll 1: The Hobbit vs American Girl (here)

Poll 2: The Immortals Quartet by Six of Crows (here)

Round 5 (finals)

The Hobbit vs Six of Crows (here)

[tilbageidanmark]

Movies I watched this week (#186):

“How can Zuckemborg let this happen?…”

Thelma (2024) is a lightly-paced, adorable comedy about a strong-willed 93-year-old June Squibb, who's scammed of some money, and is determined to get it back. I loved it because she reminds me of my own independent mother (94), and because we need more non-condensending movies about really old people. Also starring very old Shaft (Richard Roundtree) in his final role, very old Alex deLarge with an oxygen tank, and as 'Winston', the very same guy from 'Focus Group'. 9/10.

🍿

Last week I discovered British auteur Terence Davies, and saw 5 of his movies. Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) is the first feature he directed, another period piece based on his own tortured youth in poor working class Liverpool of the 1950's. With abusive father Peter Postlethwaite, his traumatic memories remain bearable only when he reflects on the other members of his family. They only survive because they can sing. Unvarnished pub-life, where the rituals of drinking, and carrying on together transcend. No wonder the British film critics hold this film is such high esteem.

🍿

2 by Yugoslav Zvonimir Berković:

🍿 My apartment (1963), a young girl narrates her impressions of moving into a new apartment. A lovely snapshot of post-war realism.

🍿 Rondo was decidedly not what you would expect from socialist entertainment of that time. A psychological play of ménage à trois between a sculpturer, his wife, and a judge who starts as a chess partner to the man, becomes a friend of the two, and then seduces the woman. It was interesting, but eventually became unfocused. The actress, Milena Dravić, was one of these pretty European divas from the 1960's. 5/10.

🍿

My 17th & 18th by Agnès Varda, both about Parisian streets:

🍿 Varda made Daguerréotypes in 1976, when she had to stay at home with her baby. So she shot around the street where she lived, 90 meters on each side. It's basically the life of the little stores, and the customers who visit them. The local boulangerie, plumber, hardware store, butcher, accordion repairman, the small grocery, perfume maker and barber. Also, a driving instructor and a magician who dropped by for a show. Absolutely beautiful.

🍿 L'opéra-mouffe (Or as it was called in English Diary of a pregnant woman), one of her own favourite films, is a wordless, impressionistic poem about the Rue Mouffetard street market. What a great photographer eye she had! Lovely visuals with lovely-as-always score by Georges Delerue. Perfect! 9/10. [*Female Director*]

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Three ages (1923), the first feature Buster Keaton wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. A 3 part anthology about love, repeating the same story during the "stone age", Roman times, and at present. The Stone age predate The Flintstones aesthetics. Includes some great, classic gags.

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2 Nordic Noir (both from 1949):

🍿 Another classic Danish Noir from their most prolific period of the 40's and 50's, John and Irene is about a pair of small time ballroom dancers who travel all across Scandinavia, struggling to make a living. The woman, Bodil Kjer, is tired of their hardship, the man is naive and tries his best. Her unhappiness, and yes, nagging, driving over the edge. It's dark and tragic, dealing with powerlessness in a slightly different way.

🍿The debut film by Edith Carlmar, Death Is a Caress was the first Norwegian film directed by a woman. It used the same framing devise of flashback confession, and told again of an obsessive, ill-suited love affair. This time between a young auto mechanic and an older wealthy femme fatale. But it was weak and completely unconvincing. [*Female Director*]

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Watching John Wick (after reading this fluff piece on GQ about the saintly Keanu Reeves). They killed his dog, so he seeks revenge on the evil Russians, check. I am not the target audience for this type of action flicks. But it's filled with nothing but male cinematic cliches: The Mustangs always revs, Whiskey for breakfast, it always rain during funerals, and the video game-action, wow, the action... 2/10.

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2 shorts about pussies:

🍿 Pussy (2016) is a line-drawn animated short about a woman who relaxes alone at home, decides to smoke some pot and play with herself in the bath. Delightfully funny first film for a young Polish maker. Sweetest NSFW film of the week! [*Female Director*].

🍿 Pussy's Breakfast, a fantastic 1905 film about a girl and her cat eating breakfast, enhanced and colorized version. 9/10.

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3 horrifying documentaries:

🍿 "Why have you avoided confronting your family past?"

I've been obsessively thinking about the Nazi "Final Solution" for 50+ years, so I've come to despised most movies about the holocaust. 'The Zone of interest' was different, because it tackled the subject soberly, with unsentimental brutally. Now comes the new documentary The Commandant's Shadow, which is like a companion piece to 'Zone', tackling the same topic, Rudolf Höss’ family life. But it approaches it from a different angle: The generational trauma suffered (only partially by his son who's 87 now) but mostly by his grandson. And it contrasts that with a parallel story about a Jewish survivor, now 98, and her adult daughter. Together, these four deal with the burden of knowledge, shared guilt over unspeakable horror that was not of their doing, but which cannot be diluted even after 80 years. It features (new-to-me) footage from inside the camp, including many of the selection. Harrowing and hard. 9/10. [*Female Director*]. [Screenshot Above].

🍿 Retribution, "Investigating Trump, Project 2025 and the future of the United States". A scary Australian doc. which was released just after the assassination attack on Trump, so it's very current. They interview both critics as well as some of the proud architects of Project 2025. Absorbing, alarming and well-done. 8/10.

🍿 People You May Know (2020) is about Cambridge Analytical, and the misinformation warfare conducted by the ultra-right with the help of Big Data. How the The Council for National Policy and others brainwash and radicalize evangelical Christians, in order to merge State and Church. It's highly disturbing and mostly-known information, but it was done in a sloppy, amateurish way.

I must stop watching documentaries about religion - It does nothing but aggravate me!

(These last two were found on a list by Mara Einstein, a professor of media studies with a specialty in religion and cults. She recommends the documentary 'Bad Faith' as the best documentary on the subject. Having seen it recently, I agree.)

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3 more by Russian Aleksandr Petrov:

🍿 Petrov is a Russian animator who employs pastel oil paints on individual glass plates, a tedious process which causes his films to look dreamlike and surrealistic. He usually tells stories with old-fashioned agrarian themes, like classic Russian literature. I previously saw his Oscar winner 'The old man and the sea'.

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man is based on a Dostoevsky story, and is narrated by Alexander Kaidanovsky ("Stalker"). A suicidal man finds a reason to carry on after meeting a little girl. Fantastic hallucinations. 8/10.

🍿 My love, a romantic story about a boy and two young girls, done in the same dreamy style. It was released by Ghibli Studio, as they expanded their world-cinema offerings.

🍿 The cow (1989) is a symbolic little story about a village boy and his cow. Nominated for an Oscar.

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A bunch more short films:

🍿 Larisa is a tribute to filmmaker Larisa Shepitko, made in 1980, a year after she died in a car accident at the age of 40. It's my first film by her husband, Elem Klimov. (I know! I couldn't make myself watch his 'Come and see', but now I'll see that, as well as her 'The Ascent')

🍿 Students at an Hungarian film school were shown a black & white photo of three peasant women standing all looking outside the frame, and were told to write a short story about it. Wind ("Szél", 1996) is the award-winning, stunning result.

🍿 In All the World's Memory (1956) Alain Resnais explored the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the enormous depository of everything that was ever published in France, as well as extensive collections of manuscripts, artworks, and priceless historical artifacts. As a record, it's rudimentary, and at 21 min. too short. But now I want to see a newer, better film about the topic. This National Library must be one of the greatest institutions in the world.

🍿 The French An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge won the 1963 Oscars. It is based on the Civil War writer Ambrose Bierce's story. A man is about to be hanged from a bridge, and his life flashes in front of his eyes before his neck breaks.

🍿 The Life and Death of 9413, a Hollywood Extra was a renowned avant-garde short from 1928, one of the few experimental silent film to receive general distribution. It was famously made for a total of $97 in German Expressionistic style, and was the first film shot by Gregg Toland.

🍿 "...It was time for secret games and conspiracies. The workers were ready to rebel. They had learnt a new word... Exploitation. Strangely enough, the three leaders of this underground movement went missing over a year. Rajan Shreshta, Narbu Lama, Charmie Gurung..."

Six Strands is a poetic Bengali story about mysterious, lonely lady who produces the most expensive Darjeeling tea in the world. It opens like a loving, magical nature documentary, but turns into a subtle, symbolic political manifesto. 8/10. Now I must see his award-winning feature 'Court'!

🍿 Outside in, a personal diary by an Irish filmmaker about the surreal experience of living in New York during Covid, when the the city was shut down and the streets were empty. Well done. 7/10.

🍿 A supercut of movie scenes that feature eggs, from a YouTuber named Patrick Tommaso. The list is here. Now I want eggs.

🍿 Stanley Pickle, a strange British short, with even stranger pixilation-type animation, about an automated boy who lives in the middle of nowhere. [*Female Director*]

(I also dreamt that I was running a marathon carrying two heavy backpacks, and that it was like watching myself actually doing it in a movie, but it was very difficult, and fortunately after a long while, I woke up…)

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"Haben sie Homer und Peter mit Chevron pump?"

Because of this clip, I watched my first few episodes of Family guy, pulled randomly out of a list. S2E3, S4E1, S9E7, S11E4, S13E1, S17E11 .. I could easily add some more. Seth MacFarlane must be a fun guy to hang around and crack jokes with. Lots of gross-inappropriate sex and drugs jokes. I'm not too familiar with much Adult Animation otherwise.

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(My complete movie list is here).

[spaceratprodigy]

OC Questionnaire

Thank you for the tags @bleumanouche @darkfire1177 @hibernationsuit 💖💕

👇🖤 Faith and Iris Fun Facts! 🖤👇

Name:

❤ - Faith Hawthorne (abandoned her Earth last name in an attempt to detach herself from her former life)

💜 - Iris (never gave her a last name tbh)

Nickname(s):

❤ - Faith: Captain, Cap, Boss

💜 - Iris: Pip, Sunshine, Charmer

Gender:

❤ - Faith: cis woman but fluid in how she likes to present herself

💜 - Iris: cis woman (and currently on her journey of self discovery regarding how she likes to present herself)

Star Sign:

❤ - Faith: Leo

💜 - Iris: n/a (her birthday is undecided at the moment and I can't go by when I created her bc most of y'all don't know just how long she's actually been around [since I was a kid tbh she was kinda sorta technically my Very First lone wanderer])

Height:

❤ - Faith: around 5' 6" methinks

💜 - Iris: oughhh I am genuinely inconsistent with her when I'm drawing bc I can never decide What I Actually Want buuuut lmao let's ballpark somewhere around 5' 8" give or take I'm so bad at this

Orientation:

❤ - Faith: bisexual

💜 - Iris: bisexual + poly

Nationality:

❤ - Faith: American (but has immediate family from Puerto Rico)

💜 - Iris: American (undecided where her family comes from)

Favorite Fruit:

❤ - Faith: cherries, watermelon

💜 - Iris: blueberries, apples, oranges

Favorite Season:

❤ - Faith: spring and fall (she loves the gentle warmth, sunshine, and blooming flowers of spring but really loves the coziness and the colors of fall)

💜 - Iris: fall and winter (she really favors the colder weather and the darkness that swallows up everything)

Favorite Flower:

❤ - Faith: peonies, spider lillies, sunflowers, roses

💜 - Iris: irises, hydrangeas, hyacinths, lily of the valley

Favorite Scent:

❤ - Faith: vanilla and sweet bakery smells, old books and paper smells, a nice cologne, the smell of the forest when she would go hiking on Earth, gasoline

💜 - Iris: gentle floral scents, wood and sawdust, the smells of spices and nice hearty soups cooking, petrichor

Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate:

❤ - Faith: Tea

💜 - Iris: Coffee

Average Hours of Sleep:

❤ - Faith: very little generally, she can wake up early at the same time every day without fail bc of her body's weird internal clock but she struggles with insomnia + nightmares and is often Very Exhausted

💜 - Iris: ough my girl pushes herself way too hard and doesn't have a healthy sleep schedule and will honestly keep going until she just crashes for HOURS in a deep sleep and it worries her companions (for her safety especially but also bc they know she talks in her sleep and she also has nightmares frequently)

Dog or Cat Person:

❤ - Faith: both!

💜 - Iris: dogs preferably!

Dream Trip:

❤ - Faith: anywhere she could see the stars or get lost in the woods

💜 - Iris: if she could, everywhere tbh! Iris is adventurous and loves traveling but pre-war she did dream of going on a road trip across the country

Favorite Fictional Character:

❤ - Faith: if the poster above her bunk wasn't proof enough, she has a fondness for Archibald Excelsior (HOWEVER my one half-joking half-serious answer is Inigo Montoya bc I mean c'mon)

💜 - Iris: nowadays she absolutely adores The Silver Shroud!

Number of Blankets They Sleep With:

❤ - Faith: 2 usually! The one that used to belong to Alex Hawthorne and one that she "borrowed" from Max (i.e. his blanket he covered her up with during one of her bad insomnia nights when she had finally fallen asleep and she never returned it [she doesn't want to admit it helps her fall asleep better bc it smells like him and it makes her feel safe and calm])

💜 - Iris: it depends honestly! I would say usually 1 or 2 but it depends a lot on the weather, if she's sleeping at home base or out on the road making camp, depends who all she's sleeping with that night

Random Fact:

❤ - Faith: studied electrical engineering and mechanical engineering in college

💜 - Iris: I've been exploring the idea of Nicky being the one to give Iris her current haircut

open tag to anyone who wants to jump in!