#all of humanity in 1:50:02

[asthevermincrawls]

I found out you can listen to the golden record for free online and now im Crying

[gottagobuycheese]

HEY! YOU!

You've probably heard by now, but from March 4th to 10th 2024, Help Gaza Children will be sending all their donations to families in northern Gaza, where food prices have skyrocketed even more than in the south. Their goal is $25K by the end of the week; at the time of writing this post, it's about halfway a quarter way there! (OG post about it) [EDIT: my mistake, I misinterpreted the numbers in the original post; evidently I cannot do arithmetic anymore]

This is their notion site, which has their donation link as well as additional info, their FAQ, important updates, and proof of purchases from donations they’ve gotten in the past. You can also donate directly to their paypal here.

As such, I'll be open for sketch commissions up from now (March 7th, 2024 ~02:20 PST) through March 10th in exchange for proof of donation to Help Gaza Children!

BASIC OVERVIEW:

Tier 1 - Basic head/bust sketch for $1-5 USD, +50% for basic color. Up to 3 characters.

Tier 2 - Basic screencap resketch for $5-15 USD, +50% for basic color.

Tier 3 - Posed sketch for $15-25 USD, 1-2 characters ONLY.

Tier 4 - Colored clean sketch: $25+ USD, 1-2 characters ONLY.

RULES:

Please provide a visual reference or detailed description of the character(s) you want drawn (and depending on the tier, a screencap or pose/expression you want to go with it)

DO'S: OCs, humans and human-like creatures, other creatures that don't have a lot of mechanical or anatomical detail (as in, I can TRY to do mecha stuff, but I think you and I will both be better of if I don't lol; can ask for further details)

DON'T'S: any NSFW stuff, real people currently alive (as in, historical figures in the setting of historical fiction may be okay, but other things may not be; can ask for further details)

If you've made your donation in a currency that is not USD, I'll give you something of equivalent value according to the tier based on whatever the conversion is at the time that I look it up. If one or both of our economies crashes spectacularly in between the time you send it and the time I look it up, I'm very sorry in advance

DISCLAIMER 1: I reserve the right to decline a commission for any reason; however, if this ends up being the case, I may reach out to you to see if we can come up with a middle ground that suits us both.

DISCLAIMER 2: I don't anticipate being able to do a lot of these, as I've got a full-time job that's in the ballpark ~80+ hours a week with really weird hours. That being said, depending on how far this goes, turnaround time will probably be ~2-3 months, give or take...something. I'll update you monthly until it's done.

FOR PERSONAL, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY!

If you're interested in nabbing a sketch from me in exchange for your donation, email a screenshot (devoid of any personal info please) of your donation receipt and details of your sketch request (e.g. reference, tier, etc.) to gottagobuycheese@gmail.com. For your donation to count for a sketch, it must be made after I wrote this post! (March 7, 2024 ~02:20 A.M. PST)

If you are NOT interested in nabbing a sketch from me, feel free to donate anyway!!

(And if you've got any questions about anything feel free to email, DM, or send an ask!)

[simply-whump]

Fangs of Fortune (大梦归离) - Whump List

Whumpee : Zhao Yuan Zhou played Neo Hou and Zhuo Yi Chen played by Tian Jia Rui

Synopsis : During the Zhenyuan era, due to the accidental death of the Bai Ze goddess, who governed the realms of humans and demons, the Bai Ze Order goes missing, leading to rampant demon beasts causing chaos and numerous bloody murders in the human world. At this time, the leader of all demons, "Zhu Yan," disguised as Zhao Yuan Zhou, volunteers to "surrender" and proposes to help the imperial court form a demon-hunting bureau to quell the chaos. (MDL)

Genres : Mystery, Romance, Wuxia, Fantasy

Warning! Possible spoilers below!

Zhao Yuan Zhou

Ep 1 : (11:00) Stabbed in the chest — (23:40) Stabs himself, coughing blood — (25:50) Lets himself get captured, hands chained — (35:50) Neck cut by a dagger, dizzy, drugged, passes out (very briefly)

Ep 2 : (07:00) Pretends to be unconscious on the ground — (08:00) Stabbed in the leg (semi-comedic)

Ep 3 : (19:20) Shot with an arrow in the leg (comedic)

Ep 4-5 : None

Ep 6 : (02:55) Coughing blood, concern for him — (17:15) Stabs himself, bleeding from the mouth — (40:35) Crying (single tear), passes out, concern for him — (41:50) Wakes up in bed, weak (might be pretending), concern for him

Ep 7 :  (40:10) Hand cut with a sword 

Ep 8-11 : None

Ep 12 : (23:10) Fighting, hit, spitting blood — (31:00) Infected by some “plague” 

Ep 13-14 : None

Ep 15 : (14:40) Suddenly in pain, concern for him

Ep 16 : (11:20) Malicious energy is getting absorbed by his body, loses control (for the whole episode)— (Flashback) (24:05) Uses a lot of power, spits blood, loses control — (31:40) Crying

Ep 17 : (02:35) Still controlled by the malicious energy, stabbed, collapses on his knees, crying, asking to be killed — (08:30) Regains control, realises what happened — (15:15) Crying — (19:30) Back full of scars — (22:45) Crying (really a heartbreaking episode)

Ep 18 : (34:35) Trapped in a cage that limits his magic

Ep 19 : (16:45) Crying — (29:00) Imprisoned 

Ep 21 : (07:40) Catches an magical arrow with his bare hand, losing his five senses, collapses, concern for him, losing control to the malicious energy 

Ep 22 : (07:25) Focusing to keep the malicious energy at bay, sweating — (14:55) Focusing to keep control — (22:25) Still trying to keep control — (25:45) Losing control

Ep 23 : (06:20) Controlled by malicious energy — (21:45) Stabbed — (24:50) Collapses on one knee, finally freed from the malicious energy, in pain 

Ep 24-25 : None

Ep 26 : (40:15) Goes against a strong magical power, struggling, freezing, frozen

Ep 27 : (01:45) Frozen

Ep 28 : (20:05) Ready to sacrifice himself, takes out his inner core, spitting blood, concern for him

Ep 29 : (18:45) In pain — (22:40) Uses magic that will greatly depletes his power and hurt him, spitting blood, passes out, concern for him, unconscious in bed, arm badly injured, looked after — (33:40) Stabbed, spitting blood, concern for him

Ep 30 : (06:35) Hit by magic, spitting blood — (39:30) Weak, stumbles, helped to walk

Ep 31 : None

Ep 32 : (07:05) Takes a big hit to protect Zhuo Yichen, burned very badly, gravely injured, passes out (It was a dream) — (12:45) Stops a blade with his bare hand — (32:40) Blasted by an explosion 

Ep 33 : (08:25) Unconscious, given power, wakes up

Ep 34 : (20:55) Crying, slapping himself — (27:10) Teary-eyed, stabbed, crying, collapses, bleeding from the mouth, dies in his loved one’s arms

Zhuo Yi Chen

Ep 1 : (23:30) Crying 

Ep 2-3 : None

Ep 4 : (09:45) Fighting, small cut on his shoulder — (15:05) Spitting blood, wound treated, wound healed — (25:20) Coughing, recovering — (28:55) Coughing — (31:15) Coughing

Ep 5 : (17:30) Crying

Ep 6 : (08:10) Hit by magic, vision blurry, passes out, falls into water, trapped in a dream, collapses on his knees

Ep 7-10 : None

Ep 11 : (33:35) Hit by darts, vision blurry, passes out — (36:40) Dragged unconscious — (40:55) Powdered drug throw at him, dizzy, collapses on one knee — (43:40) Stabbed by a magic dagger, in pain, stabbed again, in more and more pain, grabbed by the neck, magic used on him to control him

Ep 12 : (01:45) magic used on him to control him, breaks the control, kicked — (08:30) Weak, coughing — (10:55) Weak, mind control used on him again, collapses — (20:40) Mind controlled — (31:15) Infected by some “plague”, passes out

Ep 13 : (23:30) Still infected, almost collapses, caught

Ep 14-16 : None

Ep 17 : (2:25) Crying

Ep 18-21 : None

Ep 22 : (01:50) Vision blurry

Ep 23 : (22:10) Hit, spitting blood — (32:25) Choked — (35:00) Fighting, beaten up beautifully (hit, choked, kicked, stepped on), hit in the throat hard, bleeding from the mouth, passes out, concern for him (Gif Set)

Ep 24 : (03:55) Unconscious in bed, serious internal injuries, between life and death  — (Flashback) (15:20) Crying — (Present) (18:25) Wakes up, blood at his lips, concern for him, passes out again —(23:45) Strange magic enters his body that will turn him into a demon over time 

Ep 25 : (01:45) Agitated, wakes up, controlled by the power inside him, attacking his friends — (06:30) Found unconscious, tries to control his demonic power — (09:45) Dry heaving, concern for him — (13:25) Imprisoned, hands chained — (22:10) Spitting blood — (26:30) Crying, eggs thrown at him, ostracised, pushed into water, called a murderer (went from being admired to being hated by the people) — (30:30) Weak, coughing blood —(33:30) Stepped on, face grabbed 

Ep 26 : (36:45) Ready to sacrifice himself, freezing, frozen 

Ep 27 : (01:45) Frozen

Ep 28-29 : None

Ep 30 : (21:40) Crying

Ep 31 : (32:15) Passes out

Ep 32 : (07:05) Blasted by an explosion, on the ground — (32:40) Blasted by an explosion 

Ep 33 : (09:35) Neck grabbed, power given to him — (23:40) Choked

Ep 34 : (02:15) Shocked, crying — (21:55) Crying, depressed — (25:50) Crying, has to kill his dearest friend

>> Another Whump List with Tian Jia Rui

>> More Whump Lists

[melefim]

Dead Boy Detectives full soundtrack!

(Or at least all the ones I could find)

I’ve seen several soundtrack playlists floating around, but unfortunately a lot have other songs added or are missing some that were used in the show, so I went ahead and made my own!

Below the cut is a full listing of when each song was used during the show, timestamped as accurately as I could manage.

Please let me know if there are any songs I missed, and I’ll add them ASAP! Score will be added if/when it’s released. If anyone would be interested in separate posts for each episode, let me know and I’ll get right on it!

Enjoy!

🎥Promotional🎥:

“Psychobilly Bandits” by Alibi Music: Teaser trailer

“Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance: Full trailer

“Young and in Love” by Fast Forward Romance: Meet the Characters teaser

🔮The Case of Crystal Palace🔮:

“Doorman” by slowthai, Mura Masa: Hotel hallway chase scene. (2:33-2:47)

“Hang on to Yourself” by David Bowie: Prep for Crystal’s case. (11:59-12:30)

“Bad Feeling” by Cobra Man: What Crystal is listening to on her headphones in the subway before the David the Demon fight. (12:36-13:04)

“I’m Telling Your Mum” by Danny Farrant, Paul Rawson: Jenny’s introduction. (21:46-22:44)

“It’s Not Unusual” by Tom Jones: In the Malt shop after they find Esther’s house and after Crystal sees David the Demon. (26:42-27:38, 29:24-29:47)

“Bones of Rock” by The Boneless Ones: In the background during Crystal and Jenny’s talk in the alley. (34:03-35:07)

“Take the Rest of Me” by Brocklesby Crooke: Dandelion sprites- Crystal meeting Niko. (36:39-36:51)

“Deal Wiv It” by Mura Masa, slowthai (instrumental): Meeting David the Demon flashback. (38:36-39:10)

“So What?” by NOISY (instrumental): Planning Becky’s rescue in the butcher shop. (41:34-42:19)

“White Teeth” by The Screaming Gypsy Bandits: Record playing inside Esther’s house. (43:33-44:30)

“Surfing in the Sky” by The Vaccines: Fight in Esther’s front yard. (49:08-49:50)

“Missing” by slowthai (instrumental): Sending Becky home, heading back to the butcher shop. (51:23-52:34)

🌼The Case of the Dandelion Shrine🌼:

“Take the Rest of Me” by Brocklesby Crooke: Dandelion sprites- Niko faints outside the bathroom and attracts attention in the butcher shop. (12:48-12:52, 28:29-28:57)

“Natural Successor” by Pictish Trail: Turning Monty human. (47:22-49:16)

🪓The Case of the Devlin House🪓:

“Free Tonight” by Skymachine: Charles & Crystal walk into butcher shop, just a few bars on radio before anchor talks about the storm. (8:13-8:15)

“Oceans” by The Yada Yada Yadas: on radio after anchor talks about the storm while Charles and Crystal are asking Jenny about the Devlin murders. (8:21-8:50)

“Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes: Devlin house time loop, repeated multiple times. (First full loop 19:06-21:09. Loop repeats: 21:31-23:05, 23:36-24:38, 25:02-25:35, 26:52-27:17, 29:04-29:55, 30:22-31:24, 33:17-34:30, 34:34-35:35, 35:48-37:01, 37:18-38:55, 39:28-40:50. Final loop: 42:23-42:36)

🌊The Case of the Lighthouse Leapers🌊:

“RoMaNcE” by ShitKid: Jenny reading letter from her secret admirer, gets rent from the girls. (1:16-2:40)

“Fire Escape” by Nine One One: Jenny reading letter before finding the Night Nurse upstairs. (29:06-29:32)

“The Wellerman” (original music box version): Charles winds up music box, hits Night Nurse with it, kicks her into Angie. (43:07-43:49)

“Young Blood- White Sea Remix” by The Naked and Famous, White Sea: End of episode- Niko starts to read letters from mother, Charles and Crystal kiss, end credits. (48:22-50:59)

🐉The Case of the Two Dead Dragons 🐉:

“Thunder” by ZEE MACHINE: Interviewing students about Brad & Hunter. (14:24-15:11)

“Apocalypse” by Cigarettes After Sex: Jenny and Maxine mid-date. (26:54-28:04)

“Melting” by Kali Uchis: Jenny and Maxine late date until stalker reveal. (36:25-38:10)

“Disorder” by Joy Division: End credits. (49:49-50:41)

🍄The Case of the Creeping Forest🍄:

“Who’s Ur Girl?” By The Mysterines: Niko redecorates her room. (1:15-1:29)

“The Wellerman” (original Music box version): Sea calming music box, playing inside Angie. (13:45-14:07, 15:35-15:49)

“A.T.T.A.C.K” by Arre! Arre!: Niko tries to get Jenny to forgive her in the butcher shop. (20:49-21:57)

“Shakedown” by Infamous Stiffs: End credits. (51:17-52:11)

🕷️The Case of the Very Long Stairway🕷️:

“Under the Milky Way” by The Church: Charles’ memories of his death. (11:06-13:15)

“Dinner Jazz” by Tony Kinsey: Limbo/Hotel lobby in Hell. (17:27-18:27, 44:13-44:30)

“Revolution Action” by Atari Teenage Riot: David turns on lights and music in abandoned bowling alley. (30:20-30:48)

“Window Shopping” by Robert Foster: Gluttony/Café when exiting Hell. (43:13-43:35)

“Circle In The Sand” by Belinda Carlisle: Jenny singing in Crystal’s head while possessed. (31:43-33:50)

“Burning” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Monty flies away from rooftop, Esther works on her machine, Jenny sleeps while Niko looks at Cursed Magic 8 ball, Night Nurse knocks on supervisor’ door, Crystal eats first memory marble, end credits. (52:37-55:16)

🐍The Case of the Hungry Snake🐍 :

“Standing In The Way of Control” by Gossip: Crystal’s first memory marble. (1:18-2:04)

“I’m What You Want” by Walt Disco: Crystal Club fight memory. (8:35-8:48)

“When I’m Gone” by Ging: Crystal says goodbye and leaves the butcher shop. (16:18-18:13)

“Sleeping On Grassy Ground” by The Heavy Heavy: Charles and Edwin wake up in Esther’s house. (25:55-27:43)

“Who’s Sorry Now” by Connie Francis: Niko and Crystal break into Esther’s house. (30:35-31:17)

“Loss & Relax” by Black Belt Eagle Scout: Talking in Niko’s room. (40:44-42:59)

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

And if you like lists of things like I do, you can check out my other Dead Boy Detective ones here!

When Charles’ shirt color changes

George Rextrew’s Edwin comic inspo board

Moves, Incidents, and Cases masterlist

Swearing Stats Masterlist

First pass at finding where the songs in the score are used- full post with timestamps in progress.

[the-chessboard-is-personal]

people have hyped this up so much I'm scared (ii s2 post-s3 liveblog)

(/silly)

ahem. hi. post-watch Knight here, with a big tw: there is a suicide mention and intense death wishing at the end of this post. you can guess who it's directed towards but if you've already seen the episodes I don't think you'll get it wrong.

since there's only 3 episodes this one is going to work slightly differently, I'll have Big Text separating each of them and timestamp each different part of the liveblog. there will also be screenshots.

15:

(intro) wait Taco's trying to steal the win without even being a contestant? (4:48) "Don't Mention That Again" I've said it before it just feels like he speaks in capitalized words sometimes

(5:08) song?? THE SONG FUCKING SLAPS???

(8:02) hold on a moment I need to do someth[finds the song in isolation and adds it to the playlist Good Music]

(10:19) taco!! come on, bringing up beef at the show!

(12:48) "yes :)" oh what a bitch /affectionate

(15:49) tbh I agree with Knife here, if everyone respawns anyway, why is murder so bad? (<- building a death game in Minecraft)

(18:01) DAMNN holy shit, to think this isn't even canonically a scripted game, for Taco to say that?! aough

(19:45) HUH?? TACO CRACKED??? oh. OH she- she fucking died from stress- literally. oh shit. I- tbh I...can relate. I did that once. long story and I can't explain it here but.... holy shit.

(22:46) he's on a platform! MePad teleported him onto a platform!

(27:44) MePhone giving the "next time is the finale" speech rneanwhile there's two episode lef- oh shit

- after episode -

well that was a fucking cliffhanger. OH. MY. what!! WHAT!! COBS?? oh yeah also I don't hate Taco anymore. and the outro music slaps sdgkjhf

oh fuck I'm scared, onto the next episode!

16:

(1:00) HOKAY WELP RIGHT INTO ACTION. that was the same MePhone 3 from 4's memories wasn't it? were those other ones MePhone 2s??

(1:39) hough the parallels, I love this episode so far

(2:38) [his literal worst enemy is repeatedly trying to contact him directly] MePhone 4: [treats it like a minor annoyance]

oh also YIPPEE YINYANG IS THERE!!

(4:17) "are you offering?" lmao I wouldn't have even asked-

uhh

..? why is s3 so bad for Suitcase to hear about..?

(5:30) WHy is he HERE??

(7:28) what HEY IS PICKLE GONE FROM THE INTRO

(15:22) OH IT'S THE GUY. OH IT'S THE GUY o h OJ!! oagh but like. imagine that with humans. your friend starts panicking at something you can't hear or see, screams and then sUDDENLY THEIR FUCKING FACE IS GONE. that would be a neat analog horror actually

(18:32) he's just like me. he's just like me for real,, (<- also has trigger words)

(21:30) OH FUCK HE GOT NICKEL TOO

(23:42) wait- first Pickle then OJ, Nickel- no but OJ never got eliminated in s1. hm.

(25:30) wait- doesn't quite know what a frown looks like? d- does that rnean- wait wait nonono that was Cherry that yeeted Marshmallow-

(27:17) wait WAIT THIS HAPPENED WITH CABBY TOO DO NONE OF THEM HAVE PARENTS?? 27:27 no. nonon NO DON'T SAY IT DON'T YOU DARE DON';T YOU FCUKING DARE TELL ME [unpauses] AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAKDSGJFK AGDFJKHAT'S WHY FAN GHLITCHEDD ADJKGF JAHLOUIAHF OSJHLKF HLA

- after episode -

OH MY HOUSEMATE WAS RIGH T I'M GONNA BR EA K OHH WHAT THE HELLfuck

hokay. okay. okayokayokaoyuayojoaykokoykaoykaokaoauuauhghhh

I am sane. I am normal. that's how he knows things. I need a break- okay so after like an hour, onto the next ep! wait is this the finale-

17:

(1:39) WHA- oh I misheard Knife as Knight.

(2:10) NO NOT TEST TUBE! (3:50) oh they're all going to-

(5:14) NO DON'T YOU DARE

,..,,.,why them,.., b.. but,theyre my favorites,,.

(11:34) wait they need to get that wire out of MePhone. that would stop MePhone X, right? but he doesn't know that..shit

(13:08) yeaAHHWHAT- oh. oh what

(15:14) let me guess Paintbrush got X'd while Fan was rambling. oh nvm. OH THE OTHER EGG IS PART OF MEPHONE 4?? oh that almost made me cry too- welp there goes lightbulb

(17:47) HUH??????????????? TOILET?????? wh a t .the fuck

(21:17) "cause that was pretty reductive!" oh they addressed it!

(22:48) o h. wh- what the HELL IS COBS'S PROBLEM?? LIKE WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM DOES HE NOT THINK MEPHONE4 IS ACTUALLY SENTIENT OR SOMETHING? DOES HE LIKE TORTURING HIM? EVERYONE'S FUCKING DEAD

(25:40) ohh no.. Bow probably can't be X'd anyway, does she really have to do. that. to someone .....sighhh. if Apple's okay with that happening (somehow) I guess it's not as scary. I won't understand the opinion but I don't really need to tbh.

(sorry no more timestamps I watched the whole rest of it speechless)

- after episode -

I- wh-

h-

but- he-

h-

h-

he- but he just- there was no- winner- Cobs- what about MePhone 3GS?? what abou-

h. hold on

hold on I need to. make an editr ealquick. just

relworld cursor editor almost crashed trying to save this

[journeytothewestresearch]

WIP: Sun Wukong's Powers and Skills

I'm currently working on a comprehensive list of Sun Wukong's magic powers. Here is just a taste from chapters two to four.

Bold black = magic power Bold red = acquired non-magic skill Bold green = claimed magic power that is never actually demonstrated Bold orange = inborn talent?

Ch. 2

Early education #1: human skills - “[H]e began to learn from his [senior immortal] schoolmates the arts of language and etiquette” (與眾師兄學言語禮貌) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 116). - Note: We all know that Monkey failed his etiquette classes.

Early education #2: religious skills - “He discussed with them the scriptures and the doctrines; he practiced calligraphy and burned incense” (講經論道、習字焚香; i.e. ritual procedure) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 116).

Wukong’s knowledge of scripture and philosophy pops up a few times in the novel. For example, he subsequently becomes enraptured by Subodhi's lecture on the Dao and Chan (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 116).

Early education #3: gardening skills - “In more leisurely moments he would be … hoeing the garden, planting flowers or pruning trees” (閑時即...鋤園、養花修樹) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 116).

Immorality (1st category) [1] - This is achieved via oral formulas (口訣) and breathing exercises (自己調息) at prescribed times (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, pp. 120-121). - The stipulated Chinese hours are before zi (12:00-14:00) and after wu (12:00-02:00) (i.e. noon to midnight) (子前午後). However, historical real world practice is reversed: after zi and before wu (i.e. midnight to noon).

Adeptness (i.e. quick learning) - “But this Monkey King was someone who, knowing one thing, could understand a hundred!” (這猴王也是他一竅通時百竅通) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 122).

First learns the “Multitude of Terrestrial Killers” (地煞數; a.k.a. “72 changes,” 七十二般變化) - This requires oral formulas (口訣, a.k.a. “oral spells,” 咒語) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 122). - This sometimes requires a magic hand sign and a shake of the body (see below).

First attempt at “Cloud-Soaring” (騰雲) - Subodhi mockingly calls this “Cloud-Climbing” (爬雲) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 122).

First learns the “cloud somersault” (觔斗雲) - This requires a magic sign, an oral spell, a fist clinch, and a body shake (捻著訣，念動真言，攢緊了拳，將身一抖). It takes him 108,000 li (里) in a single leap (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 123). - 108,000 li = 33,554 mi or 54,000 km [2]

Multitude of Terrestrial Killers (i.e. 72 changes) - This requires a magic sign (捻著訣) and an oral spell (咒語). He transforms into a pine tree (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 124).

Cloud somersault - He flies from the Western Continent to Flower-Fruit Mountain (i.e. from one side of the world to the other) “in less than an hour” (消一個時辰) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 125).

First use of the “body beyond body” (身外身法; a.k.a. “magic of body division,” 分身法) (i.e. hair clones) - This requires chewing and a “change!” (變) command. Small clone monkeys are used to overwhelm and beat up a monster who is three zhang (三丈) (31.29 ft / 9.53 m) tall (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 128). [3] A passage explains: - “For you see, when someone acquires the body of an immortal, he can project his spirit, change his form, and perform all kinds of wonders [出神變化無方]. Since the Monkey King had become accomplished in the Way, every one of the eighty-four thousand hairs on his body could change into whatever shape or substance he desired” (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 128). - 原來人得仙體，出神變化無方。不知這猴王自從了道之後，身上有八萬四千毛羽，根根能變，應物隨心。

Cloud somersault - He flies 30 or 50 monkeys and property (pots, bowls, utensils, etc.) home from captivity to Flower-Fruit Mountain (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 129).

Ch. 3

Martial arts (武藝) - He “teach[es his monkeys] how to sharpen bamboos for making spears, file wood for making swords, arrange flags and banners, go on patrol, advance or retreat, and pitch camp” (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, pp. 131-132). - 教小猴砍竹為標，削木為刀，治旗幡，打哨子，一進一退，安營下寨  …

Cloud Somersault - He flies east from Flower-Fruit Mountain over “200 li of water in no time” (霎時間過了二百里水面) to the Eastern Continent (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 131).

Blows a mighty wind (陣風) - This requires a magic sign (捻起訣來), an oral spell (咒語), and taking a deep breath (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, pp. 131-132). A poem states that it puts the world into chaos: - Thick clouds in vast formation moved o'er the world; Black fog and dusky vapor darkened the Earth; Waves churned in seas and rivers, afrighting fishes and crabs; Boughs broke in mountain forests, wolves and tigers taking flight. Traders and merchants were gone from stores and shops. No single man was seen at sundry marts and malls. The king retreated to his chamber from the royal court. Officials, martial and civil, returned to their homes. This wind toppled Buddha's throne of a thousand years And shook to its foundations the Five-Phoenix Tower (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 132). - 炮雲起處蕩乾坤，黑霧陰霾大地昏。 江海波翻魚蟹怕，山林樹折虎狼奔。 諸般買賣無商旅，各樣生涯不見人。 殿上君王歸內院，階前文武轉衙門。 千秋寶座都吹倒，五鳳高樓幌動根。

Body beyond body (i.e. hair clones) - This requires chewing and a “change!” (變) command. The small clone monkeys carry an armory’s worth of weapons (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 132).

Magic of displacement (攝法) - This is a spell that carries the weapon-laden monkeys on wind (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 132).

Monkey claims to have a number of supernatural powers: - “I have the ability of seventy-two transformations. The cloud somersault has unlimited power. I am familiar with the magic of body concealment (身遯身, a.k.a. 隱身法) and the magic of displacement. I can find my way to Heaven or I can enter the Earth. I can walk past the sun and the moon without casting a shadow, and I can penetrate stone and metal without hindrance. Water cannot drown me, nor fire burn me” (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 133). - 我自聞道之後，有七十二般地煞變化之功，觔斗雲有莫大的神通；善能隱身遯身，起法攝法。上天有路，入地有門；步日月無影，入金石無礙；水不能溺，火不能焚。

Magic of water restriction (閉水法) - He travels to the Dragon Kingdom (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 133).

Super strength - He effortlessly toys with a 3,600 catty (斤) (4,682.61 lbs / 2,124 kg) battle fork and a 7,200 catty (9,365.23 lbs / 4,248 kg) halberd (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 134). [4] 

Super strength - He lifts the 13,500 catty (斤) (17,559.81 lbs / 7,965 kg) iron pillar in the dragon treasury (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 135).

Opens a waterway (開水道) - He uses the magic of water restriction to return to Flower-Fruit Mountain (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 137).

First use of the “Magic Method of Modeling Heaven on Earth” (法天像地的神通), a 10,000 zhang (萬丈) (104,300 ft / 31,800 m) tall giant form - This requires bending over and screaming “grow!” [長!]. This form has: - “[A] head like the Tai Mountain and a chest like a rugged peak, eyes like lightning and a mouth like a blood bowl, and teeth like swords and halberds” (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 138).  - 頭如泰山，腰如峻嶺，眼如閃電，口似血盆，牙如劍戟

Immorality (2nd category) - This is achieved by inking out his name from the ledgers of hell [生死簿子] (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 141).

Ch. 4

Cloud somersault - It is much faster than those of ordinary immortals (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 145).

Travel to heaven - Refer back to ch. 3-#6A (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 145).

First use of “three-headed and six-armed” (三頭六臂) war form - This requires a “change!” (變) command (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 155).

Staff multiplication - This is done millions of times over (以一化千千化萬) to face Nezha’s own countless weapons (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 156). - The multitude of armaments are said to “clash like horned-dragons flying in the air” (cf. Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 156).

Body beyond body (i.e. hair clones) - This requires a “change!” (變) command. Monkey creates an autonomous decoy to distract Nezha while he slips behind him to land a staff blow (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 156).

Immortality (3rd category) - This is achieved via heavenly imperial wine (御酒, a.k.a. “Immortal wine,” 仙酒 and “juices of jade,” 玉液瓊漿) (Wu & Yu, vol. 1, p. 159, 165, and 167). 

I'm currently on chapter 16, so it will take me a while to finish, especially since I'm simultaneously gathering info for several other articles, including mirrored essays for Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing.

Once I've gone through all 100 chapters, I will put each instance of a particular power into its own category (transformation, super strength, hair clones/tools, etc.) and then analyze everything as a whole. The Google Doc containing the list of powers will be attached to the analysis.

This project was partly inspired by a previous effort made by @the-monkey-ruler.

I'm open to feedback.

Notes:

1)  In place of using “layer” or “level,” I’m choosing to designate his various immortalities as “categories.” This is because a new layer of divine longevity or durability would surely be added for each immortal peach, elixir pill, or cup/jug of heavenly wine consumed. Hence, eating multiple peaches would be one category, eating multiple elixir pills would be one category, and so on and so forth.

2) It’s important to note that 108,000 li is a metaphor for instant enlightenment (see section III here). Therefore, power-scalers should not use any instance of this as a feat. 

3) One zhang (丈) comprises ten chi (尺, a.k.a. "Chinese feet"), and during the Ming Dynasty, one chi was roughly 12.3 in or 31.8 cm. This makes one zhang 10.43 ft or 3.18 m (Jiang, 2005, p. xxxi).  

4) During the Ming, one catty (jin, 斤) was 590 grams (Elvin, 2004, p. 491 n. 133).

Source:

Elvin, M. (2004). The Retreat of the Elephants: An Environmental History of China. New Haven (Conn.): Yale University Press.

Wu, C., & Yu, A. C. (2012). The Journey to the West (Vols. 1-4) (Rev. ed.). Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.

[tickledown]

History of the Angewomon and LadyDevimon relationship

This post provides a comprehensive overview of Angewomon and LadyDevimon's relationship from the Digimon franchise.

These two have had a long and complicated in-series relationship for more than 25 years! The early encounters that made their rivalry iconic consisted of stereotypical catfights, featuring slapping matches:

And hair-pulling:

LadyDevimon: <laughing> Never did like that bleached look! Angewomon: <screams in pain while swearing vengeance>

But the recent romantic developments in their relationship have also made them the most popular gay/yuri pairing in the series:

What happened along the way? Let's start with their first and most notorious encounter:

Battle 1: The catfight on Spiral Mountain (Digimon Adventure 01 Episode 50)

Outcome: LadyDevimon defeats Angewomon in their one-on-one duel, forcing Angewomon's allies to step in and save her.

Context: The Chosen Children arrive at Piedmon's palace on Spiral Mountain and face LadyDevimon, Piedmon's second-in-command. LadyDevimon's seductive looks and demeanor leave the boys ogling slack-jawed, but the girls are furious at LadyDevimon's mock flirtations and condesending tone.

LadyDevimon turns out to be a dominant foe, capable of simultaneously holding her own against Angewomon, AtlurKabuterimon, Andromon, Angemon, Birdramon, and Agumon. Angewomon turns out to be the only one who can graze LadyDevimon, and the focus of the battle shifts to a showdown between the two rivals.

LadyDevimon: <kicking Angewomon face-first into a cliff> Oops, sorry blondie! Angewomon: Grrrrr ... You dare!? <lunges at LadyDevimon>

Angewomon quickly finds herself outclassed by LadyDevimon's superior battle skills, despite the type advantage that Angewomon should theoretically enjoy over LadyDevimon. In melee, LadyDevimon lands a lot more solid hits, countering Angewomon's punches with martial arts moves like uppercuts, dropkicks, and haymakers.

At range, LadyDevimon is able to dance around Angewomon's Holy Arrows with ease, while Angewomon struggles to repel LadyDevimon's Darkness Wave and finds herself leaving some crucial openings.

AtlurKabutermion: <saving Angewomon> I've got you! Angewomon: Let me go! <kicking off him to launch herself at LadyDevimon> It's on now, bitch! *slap* LadyDevimon: What's it to you?! *slap*

AtlurKabutermion: <saving Angewomon again> Are you all right? Angewomon: Stop interfering! Get out of the way!

AtlurKabuterimon has to save Angewomon's life multiple times, but each time, Angewomon angrily snaps at him to not interfere with her battle with her rival. She does get to land the final hit, though.

Battle 2: The rematch in the human world, during the invasion of the Daemon Corp (Digimon Adventure 02 Episode 43)

Outcome: LadyDevimon overpowers Angewomon again.

LadyDevimon: You'd better stay out of it, blondie. Angewomon: Try to stop me, you witch!

LadyDevimon returns in Digimon Adventure 02, this time as a Daemon's lieutenant, and meets Angewomon again during the Daemon Corp's invasion of the human world. The old rivals immediately get into yet another hair-pulling, slapping catfight:

And end up in a fierce mid-air grapple:

LadyDevimon eventually overpowers Angewomon by twisting the angel's arms against her sides. However, reinforcement arrives just in time to save Angewomon before LadyDevimon can finish her off.

LadyDevimon: This getting boring! <teleports away> Chosen Digimon: Huh, where did she go?!

All in all, the Digimon series portrays LadyDevimon as slightly stronger and significantly faster than Angewomon.

The consistency with which LadyDevimon defeats Angewomon one-on-one is interesting as a part of a larger pattern in the Digimon series in which Fallen Angel Digimon are portrayed as significantly stronger, not only compared to other Digimon of their level, but also their angelic Vaccine-type counterparts who should enjoy a type advantage over them. We see a similar dynamic with Devimon and Skullsatamon, and "falling from grace" in the Digimon Universe probably entails a kind of a corrupting bargain for power.

At any rate, the Angewomon vs LadyDevimon catfights became an iconic element of the series, spawning countless reenactments and tributes. Here's their slapping match as portrayed in the video game Digimon Super Rumble:

And a fight from Digimon Linkzs:

Looks ... intimate.

Anyway, back to Digimon Adventure 02, where LadyDevimon is still at large in the human world.

Battle 3(ish): LadyDevimon vs Silphymon (Digimon Adventure 02 Episode 44)

Outcome: LadyDevimon defeats Silphymon after an intense aerial dogfight. But Miyako (!) saves the day by whacking LadyDevimon with a Skateboard

Context: After two consecutive one-on-one defeats at the hands of LadyDevimon, Angewomon finally has to swallow her pride and ask for help. Tailmon/Angewomon tells Hawkmon that even though she'd love to fight LadyDevimon herself, she doesn't have enough energy to Digivolve back into Perfect level (JP) and just not strong enough to handle LadyDevimon on her own (EN). So the two jogress-evolve into Sylphimon to face LadyDevimon.

Silphymon does fare better, and unlike Angewomon, seems able to match LadyDevimon's speed. Instead of a catfight, the two end up in a grueling aerial dogfight that lasts the better part of a day. However, the final energy beam battle between LadyDevimon's Darkness Wave and Silphymon's Top Gun ends in LadyDevimon's victory, sending Silphymon crashing into to earth. Fortunately, Miyako shows superhuman gall of directly attacking a Perfect level Digimon, providing just enough of a distraction for Silphymon to land the decisive blow.

Battle 4: The Slapping Match at the Pink Garden (Digimon Crusader)

Outcome: Unknown

The next official battle takes place in the somewhat obscure Digimon Crusader trading card video game. LadyDevimon has apparently eaten the cherry on Angewomon's parfait, and the enraged Angewomon lunges at LadyDevimon for another slapping match. Lilithmon tries to intervene, but the animosity between the two blows over into an all-out rumble among all the assembled female digimon. We don't get to see the final results of the battle, though.

Later works in the series, including Digimon Jintrix and Digimon New Century, continue portraying the two as archnemeses. However, the stories of their conflict usually have a comical edge which emphasizes their intensely personal, feminine rivalry and plays to gendered stereotypes and tropes (fights over desserts, banter about fashion and hairstyle, slapping, hair-pulling, etc.).

However, then comes Digimon World Re:digitize

Here, the two appear as allies for the first time, both as Digimon partners to a single human tamer, Mirei Mikagura.

LadyDevimon and Angewomon turn out to be an excellent team that punches way above their respective levels when they work together--capable of holding back BlackWarGreymon (X-Antibody) and outright defeating ChaosDukemon.

This display of teamwork got the fans excited and precipitated a lot more shipping, but the pivotal moment came in the sequel, Digimon Cyber Sleuth. There, the two get the jogress evolution form of Mastemon:

Catapulted by Angewomon and LadyDevimon's enormous popularity, Mastemon immediately becomes a fan-favorite in the series. In 2024 Digimon Con, she was ranked as the 3rd most popular Digimon overall, just behind Wargreymon and ahead of Agumon!

More importantly, the romantic contact and the kiss between the two that complete the jogress sequence elevated the relationship between Angewomon and LadyDevimon into the canon.

Subsequent works featuring Angewomon and LadyDevimon universally allow them to jogress into Mastemon, with their fusion dance featuring varying degrees of lesbian subtext.

Digimon Evolution and Digimon Super Rumble:

Digimon Card Game:

And that's not to mention the tens of thousands of fan works pairing Angewomon X LadyDevimon. The catfight/rivalry dynamic does persist, though, even when the two eventually cooperate/fuse together. Case in point, the two get into another tiff in Digimon ReArise over who gets to buy the last piece of dessert from Digitamon before it sells out:

Battle 5: The Brawl at Digitamon's Cake Shop (Digimon ReArise)

Outcome: LadyDevimon wins the in-game battle. Story-wise, all that happens is that Angewomon is down just long enough for LadyDevimon to race ahead to Digitamon's Cake Shop before Angewomon.

However, the two end up having to team up when a rampaging Darkdramon threatens to destroy the cake shop. Later, the two again jogress into Mastemon to save the Digital World from Lucemon and Millenniummon.

As a final thought: The evolution of the Angewomon/LadyDevimon relationship is interesting partly because it tracks the arc of various social norms re: gender in anime. Angewomon and LadyDevimon became extremely popular largely because they're Digimon with stunning designs that take the form of conventionally attractive women.

The series was always going to capitalize on their popularity/dynamic. In the early 2000s, this took the form of "catfights," because that stereotype were more commonplace and acceptable. These days, with queerness being much more visible and popularly portrayed, pairing the two together romantically became the go-to move. It speaks simultaneously to how much things have remained the same and how much they've progressed.

On a very shallow level, I think their character designs are awesome, especially in the contrast/symmetry between the two. So I'm glad their relationship remains a staple of the series, whatever form it takes.

[u5an5]

Of things obtained: Once Upon a Witchlight Ep. 3 | Let Them Eat Cake

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.

! Fair warning, this post contains SPOILERS. If you don't want to be spoiled, STOP READING !

.

Gricko

In possession from beginning:

Primal totems (gorilla, basilisk-esque creature; ep.1)

Alarm whistle (ep.1)

Glue dropper bottle

Eyedrops bottle

Items acquired:

Bag of 500 gold pieces (ep.1)

-3 for trying to make up making Red sad

Cloak of Displacement (ep.1)

1 ticket to Witchlight Carnival (ep.1) 5/8

Sycamore seed 4 (ep.2; +1d4 for ability check until dawn)

Clothes:

Comically too big cloth butterfly wings (ep.2; blue-red)

Really small Tentacle Chad T-shirt

Pacts/contracts:

Hootsie

Items acquired:

1 ticket to Witchlight Carnival (gained due Fey Pact; ep.2) 6/8

Clothes:

Cloth butterfly wings (pink; ep.2)

Pacts/contracts

Fey Pact 5: You must carry around a small pumpkin as though it were a precious egg (she holds it on her head). Once the Witchlight Monarch is crowned, all pacts made fade, and only then. (ep.2)

.

Gideon

In possession from beginning:

Items acquired:

3 letters from Mr. Roslov (ep.1)

1 ticket to Witchlight Carnival (ep.1) 5/8

Sycamore seed 5 (ep.2; +1d8 for ability check until next dawn)

x5 Magical Cupcakes for winning the Cake Eating Contest

Each cupcake works like an invisibility potion. You must consume the entire cupcake for it to work.

Clothes:

Comically too small cloth butterfly wings (ep.2; red with orange rinds)

Cake Chad T-shirt about six sizes too small

Pacts/contracts:

.

Kremy

Languages: Common, Draconic

In possession from beginning:

Tophat

Cane

2 gold pieces (ep.1)

at least 2 handkerchiefs

Items acquired:

1 ticket to Witchlight Carnival (ep.1; misplaced it)

1 ticket to Witchlight Carnival (gained due Fey Pact; ep.2) 5/8

Satchel with Carnival map and Three Rules of Feywild (ep.2)

Sycamore seed 1 (trait "I am easily amused" until dawn; ep.2)

Clothes:

Cloth butterfly wings (ep.2; purple)

Pacts/contracts:

Due possessing unspecified knowledge he didn't pay for when he "abandoned his station" has to deliver 100,000 gold pieces to Mr. Garou by the end of the month (in next 19 days) as recompensation. If he's no longer able to do so by dying, the rest of the Krew is obligated to pay it (ep.1)

Fey Pact 8: You must declare your love for unicorns at every opportunity. Once the Witchlight Monarch is crowned, all pacts made fade then, and only then (ep.2)

.

Frost

In possession from beginning:

Backpack (ep.2)

Glue (totally not related to horses)

Glue antidote (got all used up to remove glue from Gricko)

Tambourine

Water skin

Items acquired:

Letter to Zybilna by Madrik Roslov (ep.1)

Bag of Beans (ep.1)

1 ticket to Witchlight Carnival (ep.1) 5/8

Sycamore seed 7 (ep.2; it turns into:)

1 gold piece

Dandelion (ep.2; reward for catching Red's interest; blown away while making a wish)

Clothes:

Cloth butterfly wings (ep.2; jade with yellow eyes)

Pacts/contracts:

. .

Krew (The Party)

In possession from beginning:

2 gold pieces (ep.1)

Items acquired:

5 gold pieces (ep.2; for street-performing)

Pacts/contracts:

With Madrik Roslov: In exchange for checking if Zybilna is alright, and if true, giving her the letter he wrote, Party will get what is left from his possessions once he passes away (ep.1)

With Diana Cloppington - In exchange for riddle concerning Prismeer, with knowledge and information she was able to store about current state of it in it, Party promises to, at least, attempt to help her return to human and be reunited with Sir Cloppington; Not really Fey Pact but on their rules (ep.2)

Altered states:

Twist of Fate curses:

(Gricko) 12 - You are physically incapable of looking anyone directly in the eyes [1:40:48 - 1:57:00]

73 - You gain the beauty of the gods as long as you view yourself in a mirror. If not your beauty will corrupt into necrotic eldrich horror (failed) [1:50:40 - 1:57:00]

(Frost) 84 - All water tastes oily, including your saliva [1:40:50 - 2:02:41]

(Kremy) 9 98? - You are insatiably hungry and you eat and drink messily and noisily [2:02:25 -

To-do list:

Get the 100,00 gold pieces by the end of the month (ep.1)

Find out why Madrik Roslovs patron, Zybilna, stopped answering his calls for 15 years so he can die in peace, knowing her fate (ep.1)

Get to the Witchlight Carnival before it ends and find the only available entrance to Prismeer, Zybilnas domain (ep.1)

Try to become Witchlight Monarch (ep.1)

Find out who was the man that cut off Lexi Pott's wings, why he did that and what happened with them (ep.1)

Find a way to reunite Diana Cloppington with her with her horse, Sir Cloppington and return them to their previous forms (ep.2)

.

Time

3rd day of Campaign, less than 7 hours till Coronation - same day, some time later

9th of the month (19 days until The Debt deadline)

Happiness Meter

+1 - Party absolutely smashing competition in Cake Eating Contest

Total money: 505 gold pieces

Random Info

Man whose name Lexi Pott's was unable to say was going to "wake her" and was very scared for Party meeting him. When they mentioned name Zybilna, she said they "already were too deep" (ep.1)

After Lexi Pott died, Party was surounded by Fairy Ring made up from mushrooms (ep.1)

.

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[lauralot89]

Harker & Dracula Pas De Deux

So in honor of today's daily entry, the infamous "I too can love" scene, I decided to take some time to gush about the equivalent moment in the Michael Pink Dracula ballet again. I'm linking a studio recording because I think it gives better close-ups of the dance, but if you want to see the actual stage performance, it's at at 30:20 here.

I know next to nothing of ballet terminology so going to try avoiding that as much as possible. Also not analyzing the dance itself as much as all the moments that feel like my heart is dying.

A couple of times (45s, 1:01) Dracula reaches out to touch Jonathan and then brings his hand to his own mouth, tasting him.

Every time Jonathan goes near the bed, the place where we hide from monsters, Dracula either gets on the bed itself or blocks him (the start of the dance, 3:25, 4:04, 4:26).

Dracula is continually grabbing Jonathan's throat and while he's doing that to hurt/terrorize/weaken/drag him around, it occurs to me that he's probably also feeling Jonathan's pulse each time (30s, 45s, 1:02, 2:00, 3:19, 4:14, 4:20).

Not entirely sure how to put this in words, but in both this and Dracula's later dances with Lucy, he doesn't interact with his partner as a partner. At 3:30, Jonathan lifts Dracula and it looks like the lifts I usually see in ballet: his hands are on Dracula's waist, he's holding him and supporting him with his hands. By contrast, when Dracula lifts Jonathan at 3:50, it's like he's not quite holding on and more using his wrists and arms to keep Jonathan in place. His dances with humans are full of moments like that, where he doesn't exactly hold on or taps them into place with his feet or pushes them out like he's spinning a top. He interacts as if they're objects.

Jonathan's movements become more coordinated with Dracula's overall as the dance goes on, but there are little moments throughout the whole thing where they're coordinated, like Jonathan is going in and out of his own consciousness. Even though they're completely in step with each other at the end, Jonathan is still screaming when Dracula goes to bite him, so I guess Dracula just thought it would entertaining to let him be aware of that.

In contrast, I'm pretty sure Lucy's dances are in step with Dracula at all times.

The first time Dracula takes Jonathan's hand at 1:26, he grabs Jonathan's wrist and Jonathan's hand is just limply dangling. The second time, at 3:04, Jonathan reaches up and holds on back.

At 2:15 I don't know what that movement is called but I think it's the equivalent of Dracula's lizard crawling but being done on a human body.

I love how at 2:40 Dracula just stands there and waits, because where else is Jonathan going to go?

Whatever that is that Dracula's doing at the start, it makes me think of a cat or a bird of prey preening around before it starts to strike.

Jonathan being shirtless as a highlight of both his humanity and vulnerability.

This has nothing to do with anything, I just thought it was cute: There's a guy in the background of the studio recording in a black tank top who I think must be Dracula's understudy because half the time Dracula moves the guy is subtly copying his motions.

In conclusion: Beautiful. Horrific. Erotic. Gay.

[zenzenzence]

Hi! A few months ago I discovered this video from September 28, 2023 for The Invisible Man and His Soon-To-Be Wife by Iwatobineko that includes a few of the scenes from the manga voice acted!

The video doesn't have an easy English translation available, so I decided to provide below. Please note, I used my manga copies as a reference, so apologies if there are any mistakes.

I hope this can get more people interested in the series! :D

Title: CV: Yuichiro Umehara & Hina Yomiya [Voice Comic] Invisible Man and Human Woman - The Two Who Will Become Husband and Wife

VIDEO DESCRIPTION:

A heartwarming and heart-pounding love comedy about a gentlemanly non-human and a blind woman that has received a huge response on social media. It's a 100% transparent love comedy that's so precious you can't breathe.

■CAST Tounome Akira: Umehara Yuichiro Yakou Shizuka: Yomiya Hina VOICEVOX: Shikoku Metan

■Introduction Even if you can't see, this excitement is proof that you're in love. Yakou, a gentle human woman, works at a detective agency run by a smart and kind "invisible man" called Tounome. His ability is perfect for detective work, but even if he disappears, the blind Yoka can mysteriously find his location. Attracted by her "invisible" charm, Tounome escorts her around again today…!?

SCENE 1: Timestamp 00:02 - 01:50

YAKOU: "Tounome-san..."

TOUNOME: "Can I sit next to you?"

YAKOU: "Sure, go ahead."

SFX: KEYBOARD CLICKS. PAPER FLIPS.

TOUNOME: "Hmm?"

TOUNOME: "How did you know it was me?"

YAKOU: "Huh?"

TOUNOME: "You can't see, right?"

YAKOU: "Yes, but I could smell you..."

YAKOU: "OH! It's not a bad smell or anything!

TOUNOME: "I have... a smell?"

YAKOU: "It's not like that! It's just since I'm blind, my hearing and smell are stronger!"

TOUNOME: "Hmm?"

SFX: SNIFF SNIFF.

TOUNOME: "Your sense of smell sure is better than mine. I can't smell myself."

YAKOU: "Yes! it's a perfectly good smell...!"

TOUNOME: "Ha ha."

TOUNOME: "I never knew I had my own distinct smell. Thank you."

TOUNOME: "......"

SFX: SHWF...

YAKOU: "?"

TOUNOME: "Yakou-san... Where am I now?

[LISTENING, SMELLING, HEARING]

YAKOU: "You're right here."

SXF: GRAB.

TOUNOME: "Heh."

TOUNOME: "Yakou-san, you might be the only person I know who can see me."

TOUNOME: "My heart skipped a beat."

YAKOU: "Skip...?"

TOUNOME: "........."

YAKOU: "......"

SFX: DUN

TOUNOME: "Would you like to get dinner with me later?"

SFX: DUN

YAKOU: "UH?! Sure!"

■ "An invisible man and a human woman who will soon become a couple."

SCENE 2: Timestamp 01:51 - 03:50

TOUNOME: "Do you have any preference? Western? Chinese? Japanese?"

YAKOU: "Anything's fine."

[YAKOU SHIZUKA]

TOUNOME: "Any allergies?"

YAKOU: "None."

[TOUNOME AKIRA]

TOUNOME: "Then..."

TOUNOME: "Is there somewhere in particular you want to go?"

YAKOU: "Uh... Um..."

YAKOU: "I rarely eat out, or rather there's only a handful of restaurants I can go to..."

YAKOU: "I'm happy to go anywhere you like!"

TOUNOME: "......"

TOUNOME: "That's good."

YAKOU: "Actually, there's a place I've been meaning to try."

YAKOU: "Great! Then... Let's go there!"

TOUNOME: "Okay, sounds like a plan."

YAKOU: "Phew."

TOUNOME: "Here, take my arm..."

SFX: SLIDE. GRIP.

TOUNOME: "Off we go."

YAKOU: Hm...?

YAKOU: His gait is uneven...

YAKOU: As if he's lost.

YAKOU: ACK!

YAKOU: Maybe he's still trying to decide on a restaurant? I was no help at all.

YAKOU: Ahhh! I'm sorry Tounome-san, I didn't mean to make it complicated.

TOUNOME: "Yakou-san...

TOUNOME: "Which direction smells more delicious?"

YAKOU: "Hm... This way."

TOUNOME: "Oh, good."

TOUNOME: "I've been nervous to go in, not knowing if you'd like it or not."

TOUNOME: "Glad to hear you do."

TOUNOME: "And thank you for helping me pick."

YAKOU: "Thank you for inviting me! I'm looking forward to dinner"

TOUNOME: "Me too."

■ A Vietnamese restaurant.

SCENE 3: Timestamp 03:51 - 06:20

TOUNOME: "Since it's the first time for both of us, I ordered the dinner course."

YAKOU: "Mm... I'm smelling things I've never smelled before."

TOUNOME: "It's an adventure, huh?"

YAKOU: "It is, isn't it?!"

TOUNOME: "That's a fresh spring roll. (With shrimp, cucumber, and cilantro)."

YAKOU: "Oh...is that...an hearb? What an odd flavor!"

TOUNOME: "That's cilantro."

YAKOU: "Teehee!"

YAKOU: "This is a first for me, getting food with someone from work."

TOUNOME: "Is that right?"

YAKOU: "So, I was pretty excited..."

TOUNOME: "My heart skipped a beat."

TOUNOME: "Would you like to get dinner with me later?"

YAKOU: "Ah."

YAKOU: I was so excited about the prospect of going somewhere new, I didn't even consider what it meant.

YAKOU: Isn't this...what you'd call a date?

YAKOU: But he didn't say it was a date, so maybe it isn't?

TOUNOME: "Yakou-san..."

YAKOU: "Huh?!"

TOUNOME: "This is really good. I'll put it on a small plate at, uh, twelve o'clock."

YAKOU: "Ohh, thanks."

YAKOU: "......"

TOUNOME: "?"

TOUNOME: "Is something wrong?"

YAKOU: Well, to start...

YAKOU: My back is tripping with sweat.

YAKOU: "No, it's just I've never gone out like this with a man."

YAKOU: "It kind of feels like a date... Doesn't it?

TOUNOME: "It is a date."

YAKOU: "eep!"

TOUNOME: "Does that make you nervous?"

YAKOU: "Yes, well...a little bit..."

YAKOU: "Gosh...this is embarrassing..."

TOUNOME: "Yakou-san, may I..."

TOUNOME: "borrow your hand for a moment?"

SFX: CLATTER

TOUNOME: "Because I'm invisible... typically no one can tell..."

TOUNOME: "But with your sense of touch, you might be able to."

YAKOU: "?"

TOUNOME: "I don't want you to think that you're the only one..."

SFX: BA-DUM BA-DUM BA-DUM BA-DUM BA-DUM BA-DUM BA-DUM BA-DUM BA-DUM BA-DUM

TOUNOME: "who's nervous."

YAKOU: "!"

YAKOU: "Your heart is racing!"

TOUNOME: "Don't blow my cover now."

BACKGROUND CHARACTER: The invisible man has a heart...?

■ After that, they received a round of silent thumbs-up.

SCENE 4: Timestamp 06:21 - 11:01

TOUNOME: "This place was great, wasn't it? I'm glad it suited us both."

YAKOU: "Y-Yes, I thought the same!"

TOUNOME: "Shall I take your hand? Let me walk you to the station."

YAKOU: "!"

SFX: SWSH

YAKOU: Uugh... My heart is still fluttering...

SFX: PINCH

Both: "......"

TOUNOME: "Wouldn't it be safer to hold on tight?"

YAKOU: "Oh, don't worry! I have my white cane! I can manage!"

TOUNOME: "Well...if you say so..."

YAKOU: "ACK!"

YAKOU: His voice went all flat...

YAKOU: "Ah! I didn't mean..."

YAKOU: "I'm not...trying to...keep my distance...!"

YAKOU: "You see...it's quite..."

TOUNOME: "It's quite..."

TOUNOME: "The opposite?"

YAKOU: "Ngh... Tounome-san, are you laughing at me?!"

TOUNOME: "Huh? You can tell?"

YAKOU: "Well, you're doing a poor job hiding it!"

SFX: SST

TOUNOME: "I'm not hiding it at all. I want you to see the real me."

YAKOU: "Eh...?"

YAKOU: For a second, it felt like the distance between us disappeared...?

SFX: SWSH

TOUNOME: "In fact I'm so giddy I feel like skipping. What do you think? Should we skip?"

YAKOU: "I-I'd rather not. No skipping, please!"

TOUNOME: "Then I must resist the urge. I promise to be an exemplary escort the rest of the way."

YAKOU: "!"

SFX: CLASP. SQUEEZE.

YAKOU: "Okay..."

[AT HOME]

YAKOU: KYAAAA... AHHHHH!

YAKOU: "Dinner with..."

YAKOU: "Tounome-san was so niiiice!"

SFX: POMF. POMF. POMF.

NOTIFICATION: "Your bath is ready"

YAKOU: "......"

YAKOU: "Time for a bath, huh...?"

[THE NEXT DAY]

YAKOU: "......"

YAKOU: Tounome-san... Hmm...

YAKOU: He struck me as a pleasant man during the conversation at my interview but...

YAKOU: It was his gentle and measured voice...

YAKOU: The rustling of his clothes...

YAKOU: His foot steps...

YAKOU: The way he opened and closed the door...

YAKOU: That spoke even more to his grace and character.

YAKOU: He seems like... a wonderful guy...!

YAKOU: Slow down! You went out with him once, that's it!

YAKOU: No one said a word about dating!

YAKOU: Don't get ahead of yourself! Relax!

YAKOU: "......"

YAKOU: I wonder... what he really thinks of me...

[TOUNOME: "I want you to see the real me."]

YAKOU: What did he mean by that? He is the invisible man...

YAKOU: So others can't see him.

YAKOU: What is it like to be invisible to sighted creatures?

YAKOU: Maybe...

YAKOU: "Tounome-san... Do you ever wish others could see you?"

TOUNOME: "See me...?"

TOUNOME: "......"

TOUNOME: "Hmm..."

TOUNOME: "No... I don't."

TOUNOME: "It's who I am."

TOUNOME: "Yakou-san, do you wish you could see me...?"

YAKOU: Hmm...

YAKOU: He doesn't mind being invisible...

YAKOU: "I can tell... What kind of person you are..."

YAKOU: "That's all I need."

YAKOU: I'm kind of relieved.

TOUNOME: "Ha ha! That's good, otherwise we'd be in trouble."

YAKOU: "!"

YAKOU: "I'd say so...!"

■ Seems like they took an important step in understanding each other.

HERE'S A SNEAK PEAK AT WHAT'S TO COME!

SCENE 4: Timestamp 11:02 - 13:28

YAKOU: "Tounome-san... I would've noticed."

TOUNOME: "Yakou...san."

YAKOU: "You always have such a calm and grounded air about you... So it's easy to tell when something's off."

YAKOU: "During the interview, you kindly worked with me to define my position at the office..."

YAKOU: "And gradually increased my responsibilities after I started. And it wasn't just me. You showed the same trust and respect to everyone."

YAKOU: "You inspire me to be a better version of myself."

(Unvoiced – Yakou: I'm a big girl! Jarashi: Yes, you are.)

YAKOU: "And... I'd really miss you if you were gone. There's only one Tounome-san."

YAKOU: "I'd look for you everywhere."

TOUNOME: "........."

TOUNOME: "Yakou-san..."

TOUNOME: "Will you be my girlfriend?"

YAKOU: "Eh?"

YAKOU: "Huuuh?!"

TOUNOME: "Uh... Is that an 'I shudder at the thought' look?"

YAKOU: "Huuuh?!"

TOUNOME: "Uh... Is that an 'I shudder at the thought' look?"

YAKOU: "N-No, it's not that I don't want to...!"

TOUNOME: "No?"

TOUNOME: "I'd love... to keep spending time with you."

TOUNOME: "Do you not feel the same?"

YAKOU: "Uhn... Ah... I just..."

YAKOU: "If I say yes right now...what are...what are your intentions for the rest of the night?"

TOUNOME: "......"

TOUNOME: "GOSH, NO!"

SFX: WOOSH. WOOSH.

TOUNOME: "NOT THAT!"

TOUNOME: "Tonight, I plan to get you home and go straight back to my place.

YAKOU: "Tonight...?"

TOUNOME: "Yakou-san, who do you take me for?"

TOUNOME: "I give up..."

SFX: PULL.

YAKOU: "!!"

TOUNOME: "Is it... that you're waiting for me to take the first step?"

YAKOU: "eek!"

TOUNOME: "What's wrong? You sound like a scared manga character."

YAKOU: "I wasn't readyyy."

TOUNOME: "Okay. Right. Right"

TOUNOME: "SIgh..."

SFX: SQUEEZE.

TOUNOME: "I really like you."

YAKOU: "eeek!"

TOUNOME: "I'm getting mixed signals."

YAKOU: *yelps, but hugs him back.*

■ After that, Yakou exploded with excuses.

SCENE 5: Timestamp 13:29 - 15:24

TOUNOME: "Blaming wrongdoings on the invisible folk is a talk as old as time."

TOUNOME: "So, you can imagine how happy it made me... to help our client clear her name."

SFX: BIRDS CHIRPING.

TOUNOME: "I was truly relieved."

YAKOU: "......"

TOUNOME: "Anyway, we're here now..."

SFX: SCOOP. POMF.

YAKOU: "A-Akira-san?!"

YAKOU: "!!"

SFX: BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP BDMP

YAKOU: "His heart is beating so fast!"

TOUNOME: "You don't like this?"

SFX: BDMP BDMP BDMP

YAKOU: "No... I do."

YAKOU: "Ah! You just laughed, didn't you? I felt your body shake a little."

TOUNOME: "Heh."

SFX: SHFF

TOUNOME: "You always know how I feel."

SFX: SWFF

YAKOU: "Huh?"

TOUNOME: "It means so much to me."

TOUNOME: "Please, never stop blowing my cover..."

SFX: RUSTLING LEAVES. SWF.

YAKOU: "..."

YAKOU: "Um... Was that...?"

TOUNOME: "A kiss? Yes."

YAKOU: Direct.

YAKOU: AAAAAAAH!

YAKOU: His lips were so soft and warm.

TOUNOME: "Should I not have?"

YAKOU: "It's not that... But... But..."

YAKOU: EEEE!

TOUNOME: "Ha ha... Shall we get going?"

SFX: SWUF

YAKOU: "Oh... Um..."

SFX: SQUEEZE

YAKOU: "Can we stay like this...a little longer?

SFX: B-DMP B-DMP"

TOUNOME: "Can I kiss you again?"

YAKOU: "Wha? Well... Um... I'm not opposed to it..."

TOUNOME: "Ha ha! Is that so?"

YAKOU: "It's not that... But... But..."

■ They kissed three times.

The relationship between the two is heartwarming and heart pounding.

TOUNOME: Thank you for watching the video.

YAKOU: Please check out the summary section if you're interested in the rest.

[windsweptinred]

10 Characters/10 Fandoms /10 Tags

Thank you for the tag @two-hands-toward-the-sun, this took me on a deep delve of my fandom past! Time to roll out my gaggle of glorious bastards again...

1. Ken Ichijouji - Digimon 02

Babies first blorbo. Puppy kicking, whip weilding antagonist who giveth not a shiteth. With a soul as black as his gloriously groomed locks. Who, by the power of love is transformed into the soggiest little puddle of twink you ever did see. Tragic backstory ✔️ A smorgasbord of issues ✔️ A realtionship with their rival/best friend so obbsessive, you're going to have a harder time proving this ship isn't a thing than it is. ✔️ Ken Ichijouji came with everything a young, naive millennial needed to make their first glorious steps into the world of fandom.

2. Ryou Bakura/Yami Bakura/Theif King Bakura - (Same body, they count as one!) Yu-Gi-Oh

Ryou Bakura - Adorable British cupcake with the soul of a traumatised lovecraftian cultist. Staring into the abyss while having afternoon tea. Gothic horror in a cream knit.

Yami Bakura - Actual murder floof, the walking personification of a horror podcast. In his wake trails body gore, supernatural mystery and gay subtext. Part demon, part Egyptian theif, 100% bringing sexy back. (bonus points: Florence)

Thief King Bakura - Traumatic back story maketh homicidal rogue. Wears red, has a social circle made up of ghosts and snake monsters... Is this not prime husband material?

3. Starscream - Transformers

Darling little duplicitous second in command of the Decepticons. Not just any 'Little Shit', THE 'Little Shit'. Simulatiously the dumbest and cleverest bot in any room. And that, my friends, takes a particular breed of talent. Negative traits, scheming, petty, fabulous. Postive traits, scheming, petty, fabulous. Repetitive attempts to off Megatron, play of either the power or fore variety. Not sure which, could be both.

4. Darth Maul/ General Armitage Hux- Star Wars

I will not and cannot choose a favourite between them. Instead, watch with wonder and awe as I neatly compress them into the same blurb...

Sad meow meow with self-worth issues does galactic war crimes to prove 'daddy' wrong. What do you mean my fixation with thwarting my archnemeis can't be classed as a hobby/career goal/life ambition? My voice can launch a thousand ships... Different circumstances, same truth. Such a pathetic little sausage, you'll want to sit them down and feed them soup. But they know atleast 101 ways to kill you with the spoon... So best not risk it.

5. Crowley - Supernatural

The diabolical king of cunt serving. Me and my athletic calves are doing this right thing for all wrong reasons...And you can't prove other wise! Alignment: Risk it for a biscuit. Four step program to deal with all life's problems: 1: flirt at it, 2: shout at it, 3: throw (please pick your chosen Winchester or, if pushed, tailor) at it. 4:... Yell bollocks and follow with a whiskey chaser.

6. Desire/Destiny of the Endless - The Sandman

Again, not picking. Desire, my darling little hell kitten. Destiny, my inglorious bastard in brown...

This is my world, you MFs all just live in it!

My emotions... Which I do not have, are the route cause of everyone else's problems.

Ah humanity, the dust bunnies upon which I sneeze.

Even in a glorified bathrobe, I'm still better then you, and you know it.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Dream of the Endless is a f*cking dumb ass.

7. Remy Lebeau (Gambit) - Xmen, Marvel Comics

Marvel looked at their collection of motley mutant misfits. And realised they had a morally dubious, disaster bi shaped hole to fill... And there Remy Lebeau has been for for 30 slutty, slutty years and counting. Sex in fushia pink spandex. Single handily keeping thievery in Americas top 50 kinks. Slowly exhausting the world's supply of playing cards... Must be considered a traitor to the cause atleast once a decade to keep his street cred. Must be considered a secret Summers brother atleast once a decade to keep his ego in check.

8. Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow) - Batman (DC)

Scythe wielding, reigning and defending Trick or treat world champion since 1941. The physical attributes of a Giacometti sculpture with the rustic aesthetic of the folk horror genre. Grumpy old man syndrome dialed up to eleven. Pets: Craw the crow, Nightmare the raven... Edward Nygma. Built a life manifesto based on a gothic novel... Oh captain, my captain.

9. Alfie Solomons - Peaky Blinders

All hail the great arisen god of Margate. Who looked upon Tommy Shelby and called him smol. Weilds tomfuckery like a pepper spray straight up the jacksie. Views betrayal as a bonding exercise. Somewhere in his words are the the meaning of life. Still awaiting the lab results as to whether this man is the anthropomorphic personification of chaotic neutral. Not even part of the egg and spoon race. Will still manage to win with a watermelon and a novelty spork.

10. Elias Bouchard - The Magnus Archives

(art by @felix-krain and @caligosatchel)

Cluedo character brought to life by malevolent eldritch entity for sexy end of the world shinnanigans. I suspect either Proffesor Plum or Reverend Green, professional opinions vary. Maintains the inability to move more than one square at a time when enacting nefarious schemes. Still has a preference for homicide by kitchenware. Comes with all the British, arch dilf energy of an Agatha Cristie villain. Taking the horrors from the hands of privileged elite and unleashing them on unsuspecting white collar workers. Eye, chin and tits first.

Whelp, that's my ten fictional characters/fandoms. Men folk (and Desire) addition. When I say I like them on the morally grey dulux colour chart. I'm not exaggerating. 😅

I'm tagging, at your pleasure @mashumaru @aisalynn @bobbole @tickldpnk8 @writing-for-life @marvagon @missingrache @rriavian @jazzy-a and @ibrithir-was-here

[lola-legendary]

Octopath Musical Concept

@beantothemax @throne-anguis

4 sections, each contains 1 of everyone’s chapters. 57 songs total.

Explanation:

Track Number: Character chapter belongs to | Name of Song (Where it’s played)

long post under cut

Section 1

01: Ophilia | Flamesgrace’s Cleric (Ophilia’s Song)

02: Cyrus | Mysterious Beneath (Dungeons)

03: Tressa | Let’s Find Treasure! (Tressa’s Song)

04: Olberic | Unbending Blade (Olberic’s Song)

05: Primrose | Dancer, Dancer (Primrose’s Song)

06: Alfyn | Got Your Back (Alfyn’s Song)

07: Therion | Stay Wary (Danger approaching motif)

08: H’annit | IT’S A FREAKING CAT (H’annit’s Song)

Section 2

09: Therion | Noblecourt…? (… Noblecourt.)

10: Therion | Batty Scholars (No Offense, Cyrus) (Orlick Battle)

11: Alfyn | Hurt, then Heal (Olberic - Alfyn conversation)

12: Alfyn | Sometimes It’s Better This Way (after Vanessa is defeated)

13: H’annit | Picking Up the Scent (Stoneguard)

14: H’annit | Master! (Finding Z’aanta)

15: Ophilia | Child (Meeting Emil)

16: Ophilia | Dog. (Fighting the wolf)

17: Tressa | Capitalism!!! (Tressa, Quarrycrest)

18: Tressa | Damnit, Morlock! (Battling Morlock)

19: Cyrus | Odette (Meeting Odette) [this is an Odette solo by the way. I have no idea which one of the travelers named this.]

20: Cyrus | Oh, No, Anything But The Weird Blood Sacrifices! (Fighting Gideon?)

21: Olberic | Friends, I Suppose (Meeting Ned and Cecily)

22: Olberic | And I Your Shield (Tournament)

23: Primrose | Old Acquaintance (Meeting Arianna)

24: Primrose | Left Wing (Killing Rufus)

Section 3

25: H’annit | The Seer (Meeting Susanna)

26: H’annit | DRAGON! (Fighting the dragon)

27: Primrose | Deja Vu (Noblecourt, again)

28: Primrose | Clipped Wings (Killing Albus)

29: Ophilia | No Harm (Before boss battle)

30: Ophilia | Scholar and Cleric (After Mystery Man and Shady Figure are defeated)

31: Cyrus | Fallen Down (Kidnapping) [This “song” is more of a script with music, but it counts]

32: Cyrus | Therese (Lucia’s location revelation)

33: Olberic | To What End (Party Banter)

34: Olberic | Unbending, not Unbreaking (Battle against Erhardt)

35: Therion | Don’t Be a Fool (Battle against Gareth)

36: Therion | Memories (Sharing backstory/Therion's Song)

37: Alfyn | Miguel (Battling Miguel)

38: Alfyn | Doubt (Party Banter)

39: Tressa | Edbart's Shield (Banter with Cyrus and Olberic)

40: Tressa | My Treasure (Party Banter)

Section 4

41: Therion | Hideaway (Approaching and entering Northreach)

42: Therion | Darius (Battling Darius) [everyone gets to take a chance to diss him]

43: Ophilia | Dread (Entering Wispermill)

44: Ophilia | No Longer Human (Battling Mattias)

45: Tressa | Esmeralda (Battling Esmeralda)

46: Tressa | My Treasure (Reprise) (The auction)

47: Primrose | Play the Part (Entering Everhold)

48: Primrose | Puppets (Battling Simeon)

49: H'annit | Petrified (Battling Redeye)

50: H'annit | Family (Party Banter)

51: Olberic | Monster (Battling Werner)

52: Olberic | My Purpose (Battling Werner) [Follows previous song directly]

Bonus Track: Cyrus | We Care About You (Party Banter) [Only observed live]

53: Alfyn | Never Give Up (Alfyn regains confidence in his abilities and purpose)

54: Alfyn | Big Birb (Battling Eagle)

55: Cyrus | Love (Before Lucia Battle) [It's basically a love song from Lucia to Cyrus, who is very confused about what the fuck is happening and why this creepy woman is confessing to him]

56: Cyrus | How To Go On From Here (Decoding the Mural/Cyrus' Song) [This is Cyrus' ONLY song. The only song that he has notes to his words.]

Epilogue

57: All | Going Back To Life (Everyone goes home and continues what they were doing a changed person)

Bonus Track 2: Cyrus | Galdera (Performed offstage) [Cyrus reads into the microphone. No singing involved.]

Bonus Track 3: All | Last Goodbye (Credits)

whew. That was tiring.

[simply-whump]

Legend of Shen li (与凤行) - Whump List

Whumpee : Xing Zhi played by Lin Geng Xin

Synopsis : Shen Li is ordered by the Immortal Lord to fulfil an alliance marriage to a member of the Divine Clan. This concerns the peace of both realms, who have been at war for a long time. She refuses and while the guards give chase, she is wounded and falls into the mortal realm. Xing Yun is an aloof, lonesome man who helps treat her injuries. This peculiar human enjoys pranking her and loves hiding secrets. Through their time together, Shen Li begins to understand just how frail mortals are, and to repay his kindness, she decides to protect her sickly saviour. (MDL)

Genres : Romance, Wuxia, Fantasy, Historical

Warning! Possible spoilers below!

Xing Zhi / Xing Yun

Ep 1 : (13:40) Coughing, feet got numb — (26:43) Coughing up blood

Ep 2 : None

Ep 3 : (11:22) Falls into the water, saved (comedic) — (19:10) Kicked to the ground, manhandled — (23:13) Thrown to the ground, whimpering, exaggeration his injuries (comedic) — (26:10) Pretends to have a headache (Comedic) — (31:20) Wearing a sling

Ep 4 : (15:45) Splashed with hot tea, at sword point, in pain

Ep 5 : (28:24) Hand slightly injured — (32:12) Coughing after inhaling some weird smoke, nauseous (comedic)

Ep 6 : (08:00) Coughing, hand injury became worse, unwell, on one knee, pretends he’s alright — (17:05) Coughing, coughing up blood, injury discovered, concern for him — (19:00) Unwell, injury superficially treated — (27:23) Weak, starting to get healed with magic, interrupted — (33:03) Taken hostage, at sword point, protected, coughing, dying

Ep 7 : (02:25) Saved with magic

Ep 8-9 : None

Ep 10 : (26:04) Magical injury on his arm

Ep 11 : (10:09) Overexerted himself, coughing, stumbling

Ep 12-22 : None

Ep 23 : (34:15) Learns that someone he cares about has died, shocked, lashing out 

Ep 24 : (04:45) Using a lot of power for something he shouldn’t do, struggling, struck by lightning multiple times, keeps going (my man is freezing a whole ocean, grabbing lightning by hand then freezing the lightning and the sky itself, all for a woman), bleeding, walking unsteadily — (15:55) Spitting blood, collapses to his knees, concern for him — (17:58) Tries to get up but collapses, passes out — (18:51) Unconscious in bed 

Ep 25 : (22:26) Still unconscious, wakes up

Ep 26-27: None

Ep 28 : (10:21) Wound on his back shown, treated with magic 

Ep 29: None

Ep 30 : (25:35) Bleeding, concern for him — (31:00) Old injury flaring up

Ep 31 : (35:50) Hit again on his injury

Ep 32 : (16:27) Using a lot of power, coughing up blood, visibly in pain — (22:22) Spitting blood, concern for him

Ep 33 : (Flashback) (04:48) Stepping on glass shards, drunk

Ep 34-35 : None

Ep 36 : (09:07) Using a lot of power, bleeding — (32:10) Using a lot of power, blood at his lips, back cut — (35:30) Fighting, shoulder cut, spitting blood — (36:37) On one knee looking pretty roughed up, concern for him

Ep 37 : (04:30) Using himself as a shield and using his powers while heavily injured — (15:35) Walking unsteadily, heavily injured, bleeding, collapses to his knees, coughing blood, using a lot of power, struggling, exhausted — (32:51) Thrown to the side 

Ep 38 : (02:25) Injured and exhausted, spitting blood, stumbling, concern for him, collapses into his loved one arms, dying, more blood coughing and collapsing, crying, dies — (30:30) Comes back to life

Ep 39 : (06:06) Cold (comedic)

>> More Whump Lists

[fetznerdeathrecords]

Becursed - The Seers Dream

Black/Death/Doom Metal from Bornholm, Denmark

8 New songs, with tales of death darkness eternal winter, and the end of all humans! Fenrir is free from his chains, Asgaard lies in ruin and valhalla burns! The gods are dead, and the giants bring RAGNAROK to middle earth! Prepare for the end, prepare for your doom!!!

1. The Clash of Gods and Giants 05:50 2. Army of Jotunheim 05:52 3. Fimbulwinter 05:09 4. The Last Clan 04:42 5. Surtr and Sinmara 05:44 6. The Seers Dream 02:48 7. The Halls of Helheim 06:01 8. The Last Day of Ragnarok 06:51

Release date: November 25th, 2024

@becursed.dk

[contentment-of-cats]

Washington Post:

Scientists found a major clue why 4 of 5 autoimmune patients are women By Mark Johnson and Sabrina Malhi February 1, 2024 at 11:02 a.m. EST

An international team led by scientists at Stanford University has discovered a probable explanation for a decades-old biological mystery: why vastly more women than men suffer from autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Women account for about 80 percent of the people afflicted with autoimmune diseases, a collection of more than 100 ailments that burden a combined 50 million Americans, according to the nonprofit Autoimmune Association. In simple terms, these illnesses manipulate the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissue.

In a paper published Thursday in the journal Cell, researchers present new evidence that a molecule called Xist — pronounced like the word “exist” and found only in women — is a major culprit in these diseases.

Better understanding of this molecule could lead to new tests that catch autoimmune diseases sooner and, in the longer term, to new and more effective treatments, researchers said.

Women typically have two X chromosomes, while men usually have an X and a Y. Chromosomes are tight bundles of genetic material that carry instructions for making proteins. Xist plays a crucial role by inactivating one of the X chromosomes in women, averting what would otherwise be a disastrous overproduction of proteins.

However, the research team found that in the process Xist also generates strange molecular complexes linked to many autoimmune diseases.

Although scientists conducted much of their work in mice, they made an intriguing discovery involving human patients: The Xist complexes ― long strands of RNA entangled with DNA and proteins ― trigger a chemical response in people that is a hallmark of autoimmune diseases.

Discovery of the role played by the Xist molecule does not explain how men get these diseases, or why a few autoimmune diseases, such as Type 1 diabetes, have a higher incidence among men.

“Clearly there’s got to be more, because one-tenth of lupus patients are men,” said David Karp, chief of the division of rheumatic diseases at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “So it’s not the only answer, but it’s a very interesting piece of the puzzle.”

A tale of two X’s

An illustration shows one of the two X chromosomes typically found in women being disabled to ensure the right levels of protein production. (Emily Moskal/Stanford Medicine) Autoimmune diseases have long proved difficult to address. Treatments are limited, and many of the diseases are chronic, requiring lifelong management. Most have no cure, leaving millions of Americans hoping that science will eventually offer better explanations for these ailments.

Stephanie Buxhoeveden was 25 when she began experiencing vision problems in her left eye and found herself unable to hold a syringe in her left hand — a critical tool for her nursing job. The reason: multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.

“I was overwhelmed and scared because I knew there was no cure,” the Virginia resident said. “All of these things that I had laid out, planned and worked really hard for all of a sudden were completely up in the air and no longer guaranteed.”

Previous theories had suggested that the gender imbalance in these diseases might be caused by the main female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, or by the mere presence of a second X chromosome.

A tantalizing clue stemmed from men who have two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome, a rare condition called Klinefelter syndrome. These men run a much higher risk of suffering from autoimmune diseases, suggesting that the number of X chromosomes plays an important role.

Howard Y. Chang, senior author on the Cell paper and professor of dermatology and genetics at Stanford, said he began thinking about the ideas that led to the new discovery when he identified more than 100 proteins that either bind directly to Xist or to other proteins that bind to Xist. Looking at those collaborator proteins, he noticed that many had been linked to autoimmune diseases.

Chang and his team engineered male mice that produced Xist to test whether males that made the molecule would also have higher rates of autoimmune diseases.

Since Xist by itself is not sufficient to cause an autoimmune disease, the scientists used an environmental trigger to induce a lupus-like disease in these mice. They observed that male mice then produced Xist at levels close to those of regular female mice, and well above those of regular male mice.

In humans, genetics and environmental factors, such as a viral or bacterial infection, can also help trigger autoimmune diseases.

The scientists obtained serums from human patients with dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness and skin rash. Serum is the part of the blood that contains antibodies that fight disease. They found that in these patients, Xist complexes produce what are called autoantibodies. Instead of defending the body from invaders, as an antibody would, the autoantibody targets features of the body.

Inactivation of the second X chromosome remains an important process “that you don’t necessarily want to get rid of or tinker with too much,” said Karp of UT Southwestern.

“But this work takes it in a totally different direction, and says that the mechanism that is needed to turn off the second X chromosome, that mechanism in itself might be responsible for generating autoimmunity,” Karp said.

A better understanding of the mechanisms in these diseases would be significant if researchers can use it to develop new diagnostic tools, he added: “We are still using laboratory tests that were developed in the 1940s and ’50s and ’60s because they were easy to do, and they detected the most robust autoimmune responses.”

A long road to new treatments

Jeffrey A. Sparks, an associate physician and director of immuno-oncology and autoimmunity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital who was not involved in the study, said that it will be interesting to see how the treatment options available now might fit into this newfound mechanism.

“The sky’s the limit here,” Sparks said, adding, “I think once you understand the fundamental mechanisms, you could think about developing therapies, early detection and preventions.”

Major advances in treatment, though, may be years away, according to Keith B. Elkon, an adjunct professor of immunology and associate director at the Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Diseases at the University of Washington.

Still, he said, scientific breakthroughs in the past 20 years have prolonged the lives of many people with autoimmune conditions.

“In 1950, if you’ve got a diagnosis of lupus, it would have been as bad as getting a diagnosis of cancer,” Elkon said. “But over the last 15, 20 years there’ve been really striking breakthroughs in understanding disease. It’s at the cusp of now being manageable.”

Buxhoeveden, who is now 36 and a PhD candidate in nursing, is using immunosuppressants to manage her MS. She said she was encouraged by the fact that “we’ve made progress like this study to better understand what it is that triggers it.”

[theconsequencesofgrowingupfast]

I didn’t think I’d fall in love again, at least not for a while. I expected to be (Happy Valentines Day, 2:50). We started off at a crawl, we piqued each others interest but we needed to gauge a bit more. We shared stories of our past and present, we walked a lot, like a lot. We talked about our mutual love and respect for music. We love the same genres but in different ways, she likes the brighter more vibrant sounds while I gravitate towards the darker, earthier tones. We grew closer because of this. So close my own insecurities started to well up, I felt attached to her. I became protective and jealous. I started to really care about her in a rare way. We continued to take things close up until recently. We shared a movie, a kiss, and more. We shared our thoughts. We let everything spill out. She told me she loved me and (Ivy 0:02). I told her I loved her. I told her how I hid my feelings and a bit of myself, she told me she did the same. We went back and forth all night about how we’d felt and what was to come. We were sure, we were sure we were there, and would stay there for as long as we cared for one another. Now (IFHY 0:16), maybe those number are a bit inflated for me but they’re close. I told my mom about her. I told her about what we have in common, how we differ, and how we plan to keep going. I told my mom about how she’s helped me grow. If we don’t make it, it will hurt, but it won’t devastate like others have. I appreciate her for showing me how to properly communicate and care for a person. I appreciate her for showing me what I love in a human, what I love in her. Going into this new section of adult hood or grown-hood as I call it, my emotions have taken a seat. I handle shit. I get things taken care of. I know now (Solid Plan 1:11). She’s a part of that now, she doesn’t become an active player until later but she has a part in it. Until that time comes though, I’ll let my emotions stand up when it comes to her.

I love you Maya.