#all that i am. / characteristics‚ jess.

[goldshadows]

what if jess handed out stickers like teachers do. for good behaviour or assignments

[patchedstars]

tags 2/?

[princessbrunette]

⊹ ᜊ(ᜊ ´ ˘)੭ ♡ … JUNO ♡

track ten of the short n’sweet series. pairing: linecook!jj x reader. based loosely on the song juno by sabrina carpenter. enjoy! ໒꒰՞ ܸ. .ܸ՞꒱ა

when jj comes home from his shift, you’re sat at the kitchen table wearing your little slip dress, a crease between your brows and a bunch of papers infront of you.

you barely even notice him come in, jumping slightly when he leans over and presses a kiss to your cheek in passing, still smelling like the stove at work. “howdy, baby.” he greets, characteristically chipper even when he’s probably exhausted.

“hi jayj.” stress tugs every chord in your voice, bringing your nail to your teeth to nibble on. you hated bringing up bills, especially when he’d just done a long day at work — it made you feel bad. however, you’d spent the evening going over your purchases and working out the split between the two of you. the papers had been on the table for three days now, and you needed his help in working it all out.

“you alright? ‘sound upset.” he converses as he places a grocery bag down on the counter, assumably having made a stop before he got home. he turns to you, hands on his hips giving you his full attention.

“y—yeah…it’s just…” you tilt your head sympathetically with a guilty expression as you look at him, as if to say ‘i’m sorry to bring this up’. you were always overly apologetic. “these bills have been sat here for three days and i really feel like we should handle them.”

he visibly relaxes as soon as he realises that’s the problem, waving you off and turning back to the counter to continue unpacking. “oh, don’t sweat — i covered them all this mornin’.”

“what?” you blink.

he glances at you over his shoulder, like it’s nothing. “my bad, forgot to mention— uh, yeah. made a lot of dough at work this month, been reeling in the tips. figured i’d just get ‘em done.”

you sigh, standing up. “jesse james i am sending you my side of the money right now—” you scramble for your phone and he laughs, turning round to grab your wrists gently.

“aint i supposed to look after you? this is what i wanted. trust me. all you gotta do is sit there and look pretty. let papa j handle the rest, alright?” he smiles, giving you a teasing little shake before patting your cheek and turning back to the counter. you were stunned, something primal and warm clawing its way out of the deep insides of your arousal. it may have seemed like nothing to him, but to you — well, you thought he deserved the world.

before you get to speak, or thank him. he’s back to chatting. “anyways, you eaten?”

“wh— no, not yet i was trying to get all these bills worked out and i forgot—”

“aw baby, you know how i feel ‘bout you not eating. luckily for you, ‘ya man’s a chef. si’ddown.”

“jj, don’t be silly you just got home and you paid the bills i should be making you din—”

“sit…your cute ass down.” he turns around, pointing a stick of celery at you threateningly. slowly, you lower yourself into the chair— bug eyed and in love. once you’re seated he smiles in satisfaction with a nod and turns back to his groceries, gathering the ingredients. “remember how you said last night that you were cravin’ spaghetti? well, i ran to the store after work and i’mma whip up the best spaghetti you’ve ever tried.”

“oh my god, jj. you’re too good to me.” you sigh, doe eyed. the relief of everything being taken off your shoulders was overwhelming, even if it was riding on a subtle pit of guilt. jj was always looking after everyone, even back in the days where he had nothing.

so, he makes you food whilst you sit at the table. he tells you about his day, you tell him about yours. he sits at your side, forks spaghetti into your mouth, tells you you’re pretty until you’re certain there’s red and pink lovehearts floating above your head. you had to repay him, and you knew a way mutually beneficial to the two of you.

when he’s washing up the dishes, which he insisted on doing — jj is borderline jumpscared by the clinking sound of you slinging something over his shoulder to dangle it infront of him.

“now where the hell did you get those?” he chuckles at the pink fuzzy handcuffs you’re showing off.

“nevermind where i got them. you’re coming with meeee.” you giggle, pressing yourself to his back, dotting kisses wherever you could reach. he slowly spins around with a smirk, eyeing your mischievous expression.

“a’ight i see what’s goin’ on… that time of the month already huh? you photosynthesising?”

“what?”

“y’know that time of the month where you get real horny?”

“ovulating?”

“yeah, that’s the one.”

“no…” you tilt your head, batting your lashes as you try to get a hold of his wrists, the blonde too busy cupping your cheeks with his damp hands. “well, maybe. but that’s not the point. you’ve been looking after me so well lately, i just wanna look after you.” you pout, and he blinks — raising his eyebrows as he grips the metal chains between his fingers.

“oh you— so i’m gonna be wearing these bad boys?” his voice lilts up in non-judgemental confusion.

“yep.” you beam. you couldn’t dominate a bag of flour, as jj so gracefully put once — but you figured atleast not letting him touch you could be fun.

jj returns your grin, always down for anything. “alrighty, take me away officer!” he offers his wrists proudly, letting you lead him to the bedroom.

twenty minutes later, and he’s now seeing the point of the handcuffs. had they not been there, he would have flipped you on your back by now — have your knees to your chest, taking over completely. but there you were, torturing him. your supple body straddles him, stark naked and glowing under the dim light of your bedroom, glossy walls swallowing him, choking his shaft as you grind like your life depends on it. your pretty moans are all he can hear as he tugs his wrists against their constraints, desperate to touch you.

“c’mon, lemme— god damn— lemme negotiate here. what can i do to… just lemme touch you mama c’mon.” he strains, eyes struggling not to roll back.

“want a baby jj. wanna fuck a baby out of you.” you blurt out in a whine, setting his senses on fire. you’d talked about it, sure — but dropping it at a time like this had his heart pounding and balls tightening. the possibility was suddenly very real.

“you— now? you want it now, sweetie?” his voice cracks, wet lips parted.

“mhm. please.” it was sweet, watching you bounce on his dick all desperate and submissive despite having him handcuffed to the headboard. his dick just did that to you.

“shit, well — ain’t no backin’ out now baby. whether you like it or not it’s comin’.” he squeezes his eyes shut, letting you work him over inside you. it’s not long before he’s releasing, hot sticky fluids filling you until it’s spilling out — the sound of you continuing to ride him creating a leud squelching sound that you dimmed your own depraved whimpers just to hear better.

you knew he’d take care of you once more once you got those cuffs off him, but for now you could revel in the feeling of what could potentially have just changed your lives forever.

[c0kitty]

NOW PLAYING ... NOBODY KNOWS ft. spider-women!ellie x reader

“…BUT NOBODY KNOWS MY LITTLE SECRET.”

(⭑) summary: r/reddit, when’s the best time to tell your girlfriend of three months, (who you are so desperately in love with) you are that "crazy" vigilante on the news, fighting crime in a spider-suit, and that you now shoot fucking webs out of your wrist. (⭑) content: wc 1.2k+ nerd!ellie. confessions. making out. comfort. spider-man!ellie. established relationship. suggestive. insecure!ellie. HEAVILY inspired from the roof-top scene in tasm bcs im obsessed. cursing.

you guys find yourself on the roof-top of dina’s-friend’s apartment, for a random party, celebrating god-knows what. it's slightly chilly, you stand next to ellie with her oversized jacket on you; despite ellie telling you numerous times it was going to be cold, she was not one to refuse you.

ellie wished she had her camera right now; outside’s a pretty scene with the many buildings scattered, the sky, gradually transitioning into yellow and pink hues, night unfolding, and you, looked so pretty by her side. 

the city below though remains bustling with constant movement, and ellie's mind is no different. because today was going to be the day —

ellie’s hazel-green eyes shift towards you, observing your soft expression, her heart ached with uncertainty as she wondered if you would hate her — hate her for lying, hate her for not being normal, hate her for having so much baggage. hate her for being spider-women. 

“you think dina and jesse are shagging?” you ask, randomly, breaking the comfortable silence. your hands moves to the railing, casually pushing yourself backwards on it.

“saw dina sneakin’ out at 1 am, like she was a teenager. so, yeah, definitely.” 

also due to ellie’s super-senses, she had heard so many “private,” conversations with him and dina she wished to unhear.

you nod your head, turning your attention towards ellie. “so, why do you seem so te—”

“i need to say something,” 

you guys both interrupt each other, it elicits a small giggle from you. “okay... is this about before? is that the reason you’ve been so pissy tonight?” 

you were hinting about earlier. when someone had hit on you, even with you being on ellie's lap, her arms even wrapped at your waist. it irritated the hell out of ellie, leaving her to characteristically run her mouth at em'. 

you almost had to drag her away to stop the growing commotion.

ellie sports a slight pout at her pink-lips. “it’s not my fault men can’t get fucking context clues, it’s a wonder they survive. and i haven’t been “pissy” i—” you raise your eyebrows in response, conveying a silent ‘you sure?’ ellie stops talking, only rolling her eyes.

“okay, whatever, maybe i was but, it's not about that,” ellie wasn’t sure how to start this conversation without sounding crazy or scaring you.

“...i was bitten,” ellie says, bushy brows slightly furrowing.

your head tilts, “that’s a little ominous.” ellie rethinks; maybe that wasn’t a good way to start.

“nevermind. you know, when i was sick. that whole two weeks, couple months back.” you nod your head, “yeah, you said you were sick. projectile vomit and shit. couldn’t lift a finger because it was so bad.” damn, ellie forgot she said all that.

“yeah, um sorry. i lied about that.” before you could say anything, lips pulled into a frown, ellie blurts: “i’m spider-man,” finally with a breath. you’re staring at her, but she can’t decipher your expression. unconsciously, ellie bites at her bottom lip.

silence fills the moment, and ellie finds it unbearable; suddenly, in just a second, your face relaxes. “oh, wait. you’re fucking with me. els thought you were serious for a second.”

ellie was regretting playing pranks on you so much, “i’m not fucking with you,” ellie’s arm cross, unconsciously flexing in the process, but you only a grow smile on your lips, like this was some ongoing joke. “jesus, stop smiling — it’s not a joke y/n,”

“i’ve known you all my life ellie — i think i would know if you were fighting crimes with iron-man,” you ignore her, releasing the bar. “wait just w—”

“lets go els, please. it’s getting cold and i’m tired,” you say, making your move toward the door; but in a quick reaction, ellie’s translucent webs shoots out her wrist, spinning you around til’ you're close, her hands, now holding at your waist.

you’re staring at her, eyes widened comically, and your mouth parted, seemingly trying to process what just happened. ellie's attention was drawn to something else though; light in the distance, drunken footsteps heading their way. 

“you just fucking — shot webs out your hands, ellie! you’re sp—” 

ellie didn’t have much time to think it through, because as soon as the drunkards stumble in, ellie's lips, soft and sweet, press into yours.  “..shh,” ellie whispers, faint to your lips — trying to calm you down.

a small gasp leaves your mouth. but after a second, hearing the commotion behind you; you get the message, relaxing yourself into the kiss.

ellie's kisses are usually greedy, but tender, her hands would rummage your body confidently, possessively pulling you in. but this kiss, its … different. it’s tentative, hesitant, like she was afraid to push.

at that, you try to make her feel comfortable with a subtle touch beneath her loose black-shirt. your lips, coated in strawberry gloss, glides seamlessly over hers, giving her a little push; and it works.

ellie tongue pushes in hastily, its smooth tracing from your lips to your tongue. her moppy-brown hair tickling your chin as she eases in the kiss, embracing the subtle buzzing in her chest. 

you hear the people leave, and it’s silent now, besides the busy cars. “ellie… t–” 

“one more second,” she grumbles, you wanted to keep going, but you still had a lot to say — questions cycling. so you pull away, with a gentle smack of the lips.

she lets out a small groan in response; her cheeks dusted in pink and round eyes flutter open, looking at you in a wistful gaze.

“so… you’re spider-man. well, spider-woman,” you finally say, exhaling. ellie’s eyes shift to the floor. her hands drop from you, and instead, runs through her hair anxiously. “yeah. i know it’s fucked up, and weird. i should’ve told you, warned you, but i—”

you interrupt her depressive rambles, “no, ellie i mean it’s cool, you’re cool. it’s just, fuck.” you take a breath, throwing your hands up. “i was just surprised because you’re, like, nerdy and cute, and then … spiderman, you know?”

ellie’s eyes lifted to meet yours, “relieved” couldn’t fully capture how she felt, but all she could managed to say was: “oh, okay. that’s great, yeah.”

a silence falls between you two in response to ellie’s awkwardness, exchanging glances; both of you burst into a fit of giggles.

“i feel like i should feel offended though, ‘nerdy?’” you playfully nudge at her feet, “you know what i mean. passionate about space, introverted, so obsessed with your grades. it’s like a text-book definition,” ellie couldn’t really deny that, so she just playful rolls her eyes instead.

“...but you know what’s crazy, i had a small tiny crush on spider–man, well you, before we officially dated.” 

ellie’s lips curve into a smile, “so now you get the best of both worlds, huh.” ellie comes closer to you, hands finding their place to your body. "i bet you dreamed of both of us fighting over you, hm?”  

in the quietness that follows, your eyes drift away from ellie, intentionally avoiding her gaze. ellie could tell there was more story to your silence, “wait — did you have a wet dream about spider-man and m—” she begins, but you swiftly cover her mouth.

“...shut it,” you say beyond flustered, which only intensifies ellie's curiosity.

[spacemagicandlaserswords]

The Clone Wars 4.09 ‘Plan of Dissent’ Reaction Take 2

I think out of all of the episodes from the Umbara arc, this is my favourite. If it’s possible to have a favourite with everything that happens. There’s so much of the clones themselves in this episode. So much of their interactions and personalities and characteristics and lives.

Hello to Fives' very nice thighs and crotch. There’s just something about a clone lying on their back, legs splayed, knee bent, as they do mechanical work on the underneath of a ship. Insert your own references to the 2 nickels meme here. Also inserting the gif of Tech doing the exact same thing because I can.

There are definitely moments where Fives voice gets husky and it is very nice. I am not complaining at all.

Obi-Wan is looking rather boxy there

Krell completely changes when he’s talking to someone with equal or more power than him. Slimy bastard.

I know they mean arms as in weapons but every time they say ‘arm’ all can picture is crates full of actual arms.

That tiny head shake from Rex. He is so done.

Ugh that look up from Rex. Ugh.

Ahahahaha it definitely looks like Fives is about to burst into an earnest and deeply emotional ballad in the music video as part of his 90s boy band. So, the important questions are: Who are the rest of the members of this clone boy band? And what is their name? These things, I must know them.

Look at Rex’s big beautiful brown eyes there

Paused the episode only to realise Jesse has an exclamation mark on the front of his chest plate.

Tup waving his space screwdriver grabby thingy around to make his point. I think it’s a calliper? It looks similar to the one Tech has on his belt or in one of his 2000 pockets. Just noticed Tup has the same hairline as Tech too.

“I do think his desire for victory has blinded him to the fact that there are lives at stake. I’ve never seen a General with these kind of casualties.” – I love this moment from Jesse. Especially because he doesn’t go after Dogma, he just calmly but firmly points out what isn’t right about this situation. The adorable nose scrunch is also out in full force.

“I don’t have a better plan.” Rex, you always have a better plan

Fives: Why don’t we just do the same thing we did before!

Lmao Fives’ little chaos face as he explains his plan

Gif by @nickleister from this glorious post

REX THIGH

That ‘do it’ from Rex was very Palpatine of him

“Yeah, he wasn’t really flying. More like avoiding crashing.” Tup going for the jugular there

Omg that was not subtle at all. “What’s going on?” “Eh, nothing.” *awkward*

Oh, Rex and Fives are fighting. That line from Fives about them all being not just another number really hit home too.

I know this is supposed to be a serious moment and all that but omg Fives is built like an absolute unit. Boy is thicc.

Well this is going well. Fives, why are you standing underneath the fighter that Hardcase is barely able to control?

Fives: Hardcase, what are you doing?! Hardcase: If I knew, I wouldn’t be doing it! CACKLING

Who's the random clone helping out Fives and Hardcase? They’ve got different paint but I can’t tell who they are.

“Great, this can’t get much worse” Well now you’ve gone and jinxed it

Oh, so that’s where that shot of Fives standing there comes from. Who knew the absolute chaos that was going on behind as Fives stands there looking all gorgeous.

Fives: “Nothing’s out of control down here.” Hardcase: *actively destroying everything*

Omg the absolutely over the top agonised full eye and body roll that Fives gives while he draws out a long “Uh” to try and come up with a cover story for what they’re doing. 

That has got to be a homage or reference to Han Solo doing basically the same thing in A New Hope.

“That’s gonna leave a mark.” Hardcase, you just melted the door!

“No harm done.” Says Hardcase, standing amongst the ruin he has just created

Absolutely losing it at Hardcase’s cover story for what they were getting up to. To be fair to him, he actually sold it fairly well and it was a decently believable cover story to come up with on the spot. Fives, on the other hand, cannot lie to save himself. Rex is not falling for his bullshit one bit.

Aaaaaaaaaah Hardcase’s little wiggly sneaky fingers. You utterly adorable dork. He looks so pleased with his idea at the end too. It’s the best idea guys!

Hardcase is in. He wants chaos.

Anakin telling Fives that the trick to taking out a control ship is to hit the main reactor from the inside? Well that’s totally not going to come back and bite him in his shiny black asthmatic arse in approximately 20 cycles or so. 

Jesse and Hardcase’s doubtful scrunched up faces as the listen to Fives’ “plan” are utterly adorable

"I can’t help you, when you get caught." — That exchange between Fives and Rex definitely sounds like Rex has put up Fives’ crazy bullshit before. And you can tell how much Rex cares and knows this is the right thing to do yet he’s stuck and he can’t do anything to help them or protect them when the shit hits the fan.

If those fighters are supposed to be locked down, then why are they conveniently sitting outside?

I found this scene of Dogma and Tup in the barracks really uncomfortable. I’ve been trying to reserve judgement on Dogma and not be so harsh on him because I know what happens in the end and he seems like a fan favourite. But it really felt like he was bullying Tup into snitching on Fives, Jesse and Hardcase. I don’t know what Dogma and Tup’s connection to each other is. They seem fairly close so I’m going with close or best friends, if not batch mates. I know Dogma thinks he’s doing the right thing (I know, please don’t come at me) but it felt really uncomfortable watching him bully his best friend/batch mate and vod into doing what he wanted. I think I’m reacting to this so much because I relate to Tup so much. The constant anxious worry. Being bullied and peer pressured into doing things you don’t want to do (hello school trauma). Out of everything that has happened, and a lot of truly awful things happen in this arc, it felt like this was the worst thing Dogma did. Even if he didn’t mean it, that doesn’t excuse it. 

Paused the episode at the start of the next scene and Rex is standing there in the dark looking down at his datapad and fuck me is he a tall glass of water.

The look on Rex’s face when he sees Fives, Jesse and Hardcase fly off in the fighters! I mentioned this in my first reaction post but man, is that a multi-layered expression. Deep long suffering at putting up with their bullshit. Admiration and respect that the crazy bastards went and did it. Worry and concern about what they’re about to do and how they’re all going to deal with the fall out. And probably a bit of satisfaction and amusement that it’s going to piss off Krell.

“I’m just doing it for fun!” Hardcase knows what he’s about

Well that’s a shit fight

Is that a blimp?

Fives, telling Hardcase not to get an itchy trigger finger is like telling you not to be a chaotic little shit. Utterly pointless

Omg the supply ship is even sphere shaped, just with a giant rectangle in the middle. It’s just a B-grade Death Star.

“I’m sure the report will make your strategy more effective.” Rex you sly bastard

So I know everyone says clones can’t lie to save themselves but Rex was pretty damn believable right there, covering for Fives, Jesse and Hardcase. It didn’t feel like a cover story that was made up on the spot either, so Rex had to have come up with it already. He knew they were going to go off on their own hair brained mission, and, even though he was disagreeing with Fives, he still came up with a way to cover for them and protect them as best he could. So he’s bloody smart and cares deeply too. Ugh, I love him so much.

Rex running interference for Fives, Jesse and Hardcase

“Regarding, what?” CACKLING

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” asdf;lkj why are you so badass. Though it does feel sad that all of this has started to pit the clones against each other. And doesn’t that come back in an even worse way later on.

Oh look, it’s a trench run to a reactor! I wonder where we’ve seen this before!

That tactical droid didn’t consider Fives in his equations

Oh man as soon as Hardcase’s fighter got hit, that was the moment you knew he wasn’t coming back. 

That gesture Fives made to stop his fighter made him look like he was using the Force

Nooooo Hardcase what are you doing

“This is for the 501st. Don’t wait for me.” *sobs*

Hardcase calls Fives sir. Again, I am baffled as to what the rank system is here, though I’m assuming ARC Troopers are at least above standard clone troopers in some way?

“If I know Hardcase, we better leave.” That speaks to a lot of experience with Hardcase making things going boom

“Live to fight another day.” Dammit now I can’t see the screen through the tears. Hardcase had a little happy smile on his face too.

Guys, you only blew up half of it! Though I should imagine the rest of it went up too.

That smirk from Rex. He knew.

Very interesting that Tup’s here with Rex. I wonder if Rex took him aside after intercepting him and Dogma or if Tup came to Rex.

It’s a tiny moment but Fives jumps out of the fighter and there’s a shot of his feet and legs landing on the ground and his kama is swooshing around his legs looking all badass

Rex’s look of concern when he sees only Fives and Jesse. He knew.

Oh Hardcase

It’s an equally blink and you’ll miss it moment but this is where that gif of Rex glaring over his shoulder comes from. I think this is going to be like the “On your knees” moment for me. Definitely hot in isolation but now knowing that Fives and Jesse just told Rex and Tup that Hardcase died, it’s going to take me a while to separate what’s happening in the moment from the hot glare.

Rex trying to take the blame for Fives and Jesse and then Fives refusing to accept this and making sure Rex and Jesse don’t get hurt and the agonised way Rex says “Fives!” and Jesse’s worried expression the whole time and just aaaaaaaaaaah *pained noises*

“Oh, do you?” I hate Krell even more. Piss off you overblown bullfrog

Being executed for disobeying orders seems way too steep. I could understand being reprimanded but shooting someone because they didn’t do what they were told? At least Krell gets what’s coming from him in the end.

[fanfic-lover-girl]

The Real Yugioh Best Friend Characters

Like how Seto Kaiba was the rival prototype, Joey or Jonouchi was the best friend prototype character.

I have seen debates in yugioh gx and yugioh zexal spaces about who is the true rival character (Chazz vs Ryo and Kaito vs Shark). But you don't really see the same debates for the best friend characters. So I want to give my opinion.

First, what are my main characteristics of a BF character?

The protag's soulmate. Someone who shares a deep emotional and/or spiritual connection with the protag. Their stories intertwine.

Someone who is always on the front lines with the protag. Whether in the form of tag duelling, giving tough love encouragement or being a hope to the protag in low points. Brothers in arms.

Someone who is very protective of the protag and vice versa. A friendship where both are willing to die for each other.

Simple enough I hope.

Yugioh DM - Joey Wheeler / Jonouchi Katsuya

No explanation here. No one even comes close to Joey in OG Yugioh.

Yugioh GX - Jesse Anderson / Johan Andersen

Syrus / Sho is meant to be the best friend character to Judai. But he fails on many levels. He is more of a cheerleader type than a true best friend. Syrus hardly helps Judai in anything - in fact, Syrus abandoned Judai in his lowest moment in season 3 (don't care if he was influenced by the curse, the curse only exaggerated existing feelings). It becomes even more laughable when he and that dino guy fight over Judai in season 2. Judai can't count on Syrus when his back is against the wall and if Syrus was more like Joey, Judai would not feel so overwhelmed with everyone depending on him 100%. The exchange students were better friends to Judai in season 3 than Syrus.

Unlike Johan. Judai and Johan are soulmates from day 1. They are equals and they both have a lot of similarities and Johan inspires Judai. When Johan goes missing, Judai's world crumbles and Judai is a madman trying to save him. Not to mention the battle royal with Fujiwara was epic. I did not fully watch GX so I don't know all the Johan and Judai moments but I understand why people ship these two together.

Johan is Judai's true BF, not Syrus.

Yugioh 5Ds - Bruno

I have not fully watched 5Ds but I know the general plotlines. I don't have much of an opinion here. Crow Hogan is supposed to be the best friend and Jack the rival. But I am not impressed much by the Crow and Yusei friendship. Maybe it's because of Crow's late introduction in season 1 and how it felt like Crow and Yusei parted ways before the season began. When I think of Crow, I mainly think of his domestic spats with Jack.

Yusei and Bruno had an instant connection and it was so cute how Yusei was able to geek out with someone. Bruno's death scene still makes me cry on the inside man. Seeing Yusei cry at the end is gut-wrenching :'(

I wish Yusei had a BF like Joey. My main issue with 5Ds is that Yusei is always the one giving - like with Aki and Kiryu. And Yusei's season 1 friends were completely forgotten in favour of the Signers. Yusei deserved better.

Yugioh Zexal - Reginald Kastle / Ryoga Kamishiro

Bronk is supposed to be the BF character. However, like Syrus, Bronk fails to live up to the role for similar reasons. His connection with Yuma lacks any deep impact.

But Shark...Shark is the best. Can I just pause and gush about how much I adore Shark? This dude is one of the best characters in Zexal. Shark is both rival and best friend and I love it! He's like Joey in that he starts off as a bully but Yuma saves him through friendship and camaraderie. Like Yuma did not chase after anyone the way he chased after Shark :'). And my boy Shark is so protective of Yuma. He lost his soul against Kaito, trying to protect Yuma's key. He protected Yuma in the Faker and Mizael fight, getting seriously injured. Shark has Yuma's back people. And the way how Yuma and Shark give each other hope in their lowest moments...oh I love these two so much! And then when Shark is revealed to be Nasch, a Barian, the emotional rollercoaster these two go on. Shark was there at Yuma's side to face Don Thousand and being Yuma's last antagonist was so beautiful. Shark and Yuma are soulmates and Bronk can't even compete.

Shark is Yuma's true BF, not Bronk. And I would argue that Shark is Yuma's true rival, not Kaito. But let's not get into that.

Ultimately, Joey and Shark are my favourite best friend characters. Every guy needs a bro like Joey or Shark in their life. And Bruno actually died for Yusei. The friendships in Yugioh are amazing, so good.

[erika111111]

Some quick thoughts on the new trophies for the Until Dawn remake and how they seem to affect the game/characters...

I am infinitely devastated that "Don't Scare Jessica to Death" is no longer a trophy. Jess is one of my favorite characters and we're left thinking she's dead for half the game, to the point where the Butterfly Effect menu very excitedly states "Jessica was still alive!" I think Jess surviving and her end credits sequence where she just seems so broken and damaged is just so iconic and impactful, it deserves its own trophy. Plus the name is top tier.

On the bright side, I do love the new "Drag Me Through Hell" trophy. That chase scene is what made me like Mike cause it shows he really loved Jessica, and I also reallyyyy like the movie Drag Me to Hell. (I'm biased for it because it's one of the first movies I watched with my boyfriend.)

So the changes to the Chris shoots Ashley/Ashley doesn't let Chris in trophy line... I personally like the idea that Ashley purposefully lets Chris die, but I understand that's an unpopular opinion, so I guess that's why they changed it. It's no longer a "fatal grudge" she held against Chris, she just "hesitated and failed to let Chris inside in time." Though I am curious what's necessary in order to get that option now. Can you shoot Ashley anymore? Why did she hesitate if she doesn't have a grudge? Do you play as Ashley during that segment now and you need to go fast before Chris dies? It raises a lot of questions...

Same with the removal of the "Instant Inferno" trophy. A lot of people say it's out of character for Sam to immediately hit the switch and kill everybody so that could be why they got rid of it, but again, that raises questions. Can Sam not instantly hit the switch anymore? Or are you just not rewarded for it anymore? Because if you can't do it immediately anymore, that seriously sucks, because it takes away so much pressure and intensity from the ending.

I actually love that they changed the Emily/Ashley slap to "Talk to eM." Not only does it keep the original pun intact, they now based it off of one of my favorite movies of all-time, Talk to Me! Also the acknowledgement of the slap is great, I'm glad they noticed.

While I personally disliked the movie Cabin in the Woods, I actually headcanoned it as one of Josh's favorite movies, so I guess I'm glad it got a mention in "The Cabin in the Blackwoods."

"We Need to Talk About Josh" I hate this trophy I hate this trophy I hate this trophy I hate this trophy... Just let the Washingtons be tragic!!! Josh will never have a happy ending anyway!!! His sisters are DEAD

I know "American Survivor in Canada" will cause some controversy cause a lot of people headcanoned the Until Dawn cast as Canadian, but I guess this implies they're American but the Blackwood Mountains are in Canada?

And lastly, I love love LOVE "I Know What You Did Last Year." I remember reading another post on Tumblr where their dad described Until Dawn as "Wendigo knows what you did last summer" and I probably laughed for ten minutes straight, lol. It's such a matching horror movie for Until Dawn and I'm so glad it got a place in the game now.

As a whole, I'm super mixed. It kind of seems like they're trying to take out a lot of negative endings/negative characteristics of the characters, and that bums me out a lot. Of course haters complained about this stuff, but the true fans like the character flaws and how they're not just one-dimensional and boring.

[aishangotome]

Main Story Chapter 18-03: Among All of Nature (在萬物之中) | Light  and Night 光與夜之戀

Chapter 18-01

♡———♡

I've always wanted to understand my own talent. Logically, I should be eager to do so, but for some reason, I feel a little apprehensive.

Because of my talent, am I also being watched by invisible eyes like the people who were recorded?

You: Tangyuan, what about my name?

Jesse: It's not there.

Jesse seemed to have anticipated my concerns and answered quickly.

Jesse: And it's just similar, but not really that alike.

He paused, sat up, blinked his eyes slyly, and said in a small voice:

Jesse: Even if your name was really in there, I would have secretly deleted it.

You: If I remember correctly, you just joined the Lianshan Society for a day and you're already starting to break the rules.

Jesse: But I've known you for over ten years.

Jesse: I've done a lot of things for you in the past that were against the rules.

I looked at him seriously, and he looked at me seriously too. After a while, we both laughed.

You: What about your talent?

Jesse: The Xia family and the Lianshan Society have a relationship, so it's normal for it to be recorded. Don't worry.

Jesse didn't seem to be bothered by this at all. He seemed determined to follow his own ideas no matter who was watching him. I was also infected by this.

You: Tell me about it. I want to know more about them.

Maybe then, when the enemy attacks, I won't have to hide in the closet until the last minute, watching the people around me get hurt.

My gaze turned to Jesse's forehead, which was mostly covered by loose hair, but if I stared at it, I could still see a few intermittent, unhealed white marks.

Jesse: Cough, cough, don't stare at me, look at this.

He pulled out a small notebook from somewhere and unfolded it in front of me.

You: You even took notes?

Jesse: It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to things related to you.

Jesse: The database records a type of talent called perception talent, which is the ability to perceive certain things through contact.

Jesse: In a serial theft case four years ago, the perpetrator was able to know the internal structure by touching the safe and the surface of the keyhole.

Jesse: Also, a commercial fraud case twenty-one years ago.

Jesse: The Lianshan Society found that the complainant could sense whether the other party had malicious intent by shaking hands when signing the contract.

Jesse: But that's all, they can't see any images, and they don't know what the other party is thinking specifically.

This one seemed to be something my talent could do a little earlier.

Jesse: And then... that's it.

You: That's it?

Jesse: I guess it's because only cases with clear time, location, and people involved are entered into the database.

Jesse gently flicked the page, looking a little annoyed, his brows furrowed, and he suddenly looked much more mature.

You: You're so reliable, Tangyuan.

He froze for a few seconds, then suddenly lowered his head again, turning over a page, his ears twitching unnaturally.

Jesse: Are you listening to me carefully?

You: Yes, go ahead and continue.

Jesse: From what I've seen so far, the medium used by people with this talent is also fixed.

Jesse: For example, metal and the human body. If you don't touch a specific medium, you can't use your perception ability.

You: But I've touched a lot of objects and people, and I can feel emotions, even images and sounds.

Jesse paused. Unconsciously, he had already reached the last paragraph of the notebook.

Jesse: I don't know what the basis is either.

Jesse: The Lianshan Society believes that there is a peak for each type of talent, and they call this peak "the power of God."

The power of God, I froze, and the words from the blood clan letter I saw in Evan's study came to mind again.

You: What does the peak specifically refer to?

Jesse: The records are very vague. It refers to having no limitations and being able to form offensive and defensive means based on the characteristics of the talent.

You: Tangyuan, the day at your house, I used a baseball bat to injure Lu Ting.

You: But it wasn't a real "baseball bat."

You: I don't remember how it happened, I just know I was very emotional and swinging it around.

You: I didn't actually touch Lu Ting, but he was still injured.

Jesse: You mean, this is the offensive method of perception talent?

I nodded, there were more things that worried me.

You: I heard that the wound never healed. In the blood clan's records, this is something only a god can do.

Jesse must have heard about gods for the first time because he looked as confused as I did.

Unconsciously, the sun had already set in the west, and Jesse and I were still huddled on the floor, but our sitting posture was much more upright.

The power of God, is this just a set code name, or does God really exist in the world and have countless connections with me?

In the past few hours, we carefully recalled our previous experiences and found that this so-called offensive method is related to the intensity of my emotions.

Starting from being restrained by the spirit clan elder in the hospital, I had no power to resist until his act of extracting memories made me more and more angry. The situation was similar at Jesse's house last time.

Emotions overflowing into reality, maybe this is the annotation.

I clenched the chopsticks in my hand and took a deep breath.

You: I'm ready.

Jesse: Are you sure you want to try using it now?

You: Neither the Lianshan Society nor the blood clan records say that conducting power trials will bring bad results.

You: No matter who it belongs to, why it came to me, the person using it now is me.

You: Hmm... I want to control it better, maybe I can discover something in the process. Also...

Jesse looked at me, quietly listening to me analyze the reasons for wanting to test my talent so eagerly. The biggest one, I hesitated to say.

You: Also...

Jesse: Also, because I happen to be here.

Slender fingers wrapped around my hand holding the chopsticks, his palm dry and warm, absorbing the thin sweat from my fingers.

Jesse's tone was drawn out.

Jesse: I'll make you feel very safe, right?

Yes, this is the biggest reason.

He doesn't say many things, but he always understands me - whether it's the thirst for power or the fear of the unknown.

I closed my eyes, which had been a little sore since just now, and nodded seriously. Jesse's light laughter came, with a hint of satisfaction.

Jesse: Miss.

I opened my eyes, and Jesse motioned for me to open my other palm. He quickly drew something on it with his fingertips, like a pattern or a cursive word.

You: What is this?

Jesse: A spell, the last preparation. It will make you twice as effective and invulnerable to all poisons.

Such a powerful spell? I raised my palm to look, but nothing changed, and there was no special feeling.

You: Is this considered effective?

Jesse: Yes.

He curled my fingers back, making me hold the lingering itch in my palm.

Jesse: Whether you become stronger or not, whether the process is smooth or goes wrong.

He paused, as if seeing through my mind.

Jesse: Whether it's a god or not.

Jesse: You will always be you in my eyes, not another person.

These words were familiar, he had said them to me in that dim laboratory.

You: You said before that I was your amulet.

Jesse: So, I want to be your amulet too, can't I?

Jesse looked at me with a smile. Only this pair of green eyes in the world could hold so much warm light.

I closed my eyes. This shouldn't be necessary, but I wanted to concentrate better.

There must be all sorts of emotions deep inside me. I want to try to amplify them, bring them out, and see how this little wooden stick in my hand changes.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Many seconds passed, I tried to unravel the tangled mess of emotions, unraveling a little bit of happiness, a little bit of nervousness, a little bit of anticipation, but the familiar feeling of explosion still didn't come.

You: Does it really have to reach a certain degree?

You: Tangyuan, maybe if you didn't comfort me, my nervousness would have reached the critical point.

Jesse: It's all my fault? I think you're too tense.

A smiling voice came from my ear, and I felt a light touch on my knuckles. It turned out that Jesse had not let go of my hand.

Jesse: Have I told you about the time I learned to draw talismans?

You: No, I thought you were born knowing how to do it.

Jesse: It's not wrong to say that I was born with it. People with psychic talent can avoid a lot of rituals.

Jesse: But there is a new rule, the mind must be unified from beginning to end, without the slightest fluctuation, otherwise it is easy to attract wandering souls.

I remembered how Jesse drew talismans, it only took a few seconds.

You: You draw so fast, it shouldn't be difficult, right?

Jesse: It's very difficult, I couldn't do it at first, I thought I was very focused, but I didn't know what I was thinking.

Jesse: Master couldn't stand it anymore and told me not to waste time, I might as well draw something I wanted to draw more.

Although my eyes were still closed, my mind was no longer on digging into my own emotions.

You: Did you listen to your master?

Jesse: I could only try it, drawing randomly on the talisman paper. I didn't expect him to be right, the things I drew like this actually had an effect.

He didn't explain it clearly, which made me even more curious.

You: What did you draw randomly? What kind of effect did it have?

Jesse: It's a secret. Anyway...

Before I could object, Jesse coughed lightly, his tone already changed.

Jesse: In cultivation, sometimes following your heart can lead to success. I think this should apply to you too.

You: Your half-finished example is not convincing at all.

I complained, but I still listened to his words. But now my heart probably just wants to know what he drew randomly.

Just thinking about it, a warm current came from our overlapping hands, and flashes of light flashed before my eyes.

A tall and thin young man was lying on a wooden table, surrounded by many crumpled talismans, as if someone had angrily crumpled them, covered with symbols I couldn't understand.

He was holding a vermilion pen, still drawing something, his strokes light and slow, and it took a long time to finish.

At this moment, golden lines spread out from under his hand, and a familiar voice sounded in the room.

??: Tangyuan.

You: Isn't that my voice?!

The young Jesse in front of me was obviously startled, he stood up and looked around, but found nothing.

He suddenly reacted and eagerly grabbed the pen, as if he wanted to write another talisman. But until his knuckles were white, he did not put the pen down again.

The paper with the fading vermilion color slipped to the ground, and it turned out to be words on it.

Y/N, Amour.

The palm of my left hand seemed to be burning, Amour, the exact same handwriting had just been drawn there, every curve was the same.

A warmth that didn't belong to me surged into my heart, mixing with the one that belonged to me, colliding in my chest, unable to find an outlet.

I opened my eyes, and the chopsticks bent into an incredible arc, almost like a heart shape, then instantly collapsed, wood chips flying everywhere.

You: Tangyuan, be careful!

I didn't care about myself, I called Jesse first.

I tried to guide this thing, along my right arm, to my fingertips, and then up, and up again.

Jesse: That was close, it's a good thing I took protective measures.

Jesse exhaled and turned to look at me, and I also looked at him, dumbfounded. He smiled and reached out to brush the ashes off my head.

Jesse: What's wrong with you? Shouldn't you be happy that you succeeded?

You: This is... following my heart.

I can clearly perceive that a large part of what I used just now was Jesse's emotions. So I can use other people's emotions to attack.

Maybe it's a side effect, but that burning feeling is still in my chest. I opened my mouth, not knowing what to say yet, and silently repeated the word.

Jesse's eyes widened, rarely a little flustered.

You: What you wrote in my palm...

Jesse: It's just a random French word I learned!

You: Amour, love?

Jesse: ...... It's love. I must have just thought of it.

Then what about the talisman I saw? I really wanted to ask this, but Jesse gently covered my mouth.

The room was quiet. After a moment, he removed his hand and turned to sit facing the setting sun, as if he had exhausted a lot of energy, his hands supporting him on the floor.

Jesse: Give me a break, Miss.

Jesse: At least for now, don't ask any more questions, wait until later...

As he spoke, Jesse fell silent again. I crouched beside him, the golden-red light hitting his earlobes, making them look a little flushed.

He hadn't shown such a shy gesture for a long time since we reunited.

There was an inexplicable sense of loss, but no matter what he was going to say or not say, I decided to cherish this moment first.

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 18-05

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to buy me a coffee here! :)

[agbob-dollpants]

✨HOW TO PICK OUT THE PERFECT AG DOLL!✨

~AGBob’s ULTIMATE Guide~

Hello, everyone! I thought this would be a helpful post! If you are going to an AG store in person, and are trying to find a perfect doll with no defects, this is the post for you! This process can also work when choosing a used doll on a selling site like eBay or Mercari!

Since I live very close to an AG store, about half of my dolls were picked out in person at the store. These are all the things that I look at when choosing a new doll because I am VERY picky! Happy doll hunting! ✨

Wigs:

On the left is a truly me 92 doll with a lowly-placed wig. On the right is my 92, Delphinium James. This picture was taken at the AG Place Columbus in April 2022.

Though this isn’t something I look at too often, wig placement can vary between even two of the same exact doll! After a gentile push of the left doll’s wig, I realized that it was not glued onto her head all the way. This is a problem because her wig is probably more likely to come off without you wanting it to! Also, make sure the wig is exactly where you want it when picking out your doll!

Eyes:

Fortunately, AG does not have much of a problem with their eyes anymore, but if you are buying a used doll from the years 2017-2019, you could be getting a doll with the “new eyes!” Also, this could be likely when buying a “retired” truly me doll in the blue jacket outfit from a Canadian AG store!

Picture 1: On the left is a truly me 13 doll with the old eyes. On the right is a truly me 13 doll with the “new eyes.”

Picture 2: On the left is a truly me 39 doll with the “new eyes.” On the right is a truly me 39 doll from 2013, who had been displayed since the store first opened. Obviously, she has the old eyes. Both pictures were taken in 2018 in the AG Columbus store.

Though AG decided to get rid of this style of eyes in mid 2019, Here are the characteristics that define it:

-A different, less realistic, pinwheel pattern

-The ability to see the plastic in the back

-The weight on the back of the eye is so heavy that the dolls appear to be looking downwards

-The whites of the eyes are abnormally bright

-Sometimes, dolls with these eyes have weird looking eyebrows (ex: Josefina molds sometimes look “sad”)

Painted on Eyelashes:

This photo was posted by user @/amcangrl on Instagram. Pictured is one of the new truly me dolls with brown eyes, and it shows off her eyelashes. This picture was taken at the AG LA pop-up store in 2022.

There are a couple of problems with this doll, as well as MANY others in the AG store!

-The eyelashes do not fully go into the eye, so it doesn’t look realistic

-There is what appears to be a sticker around the eye that is a lighter color than the doll’s actual skin tone

-On this doll specially, you can easily see the screen printing that they used to put the eyelashes on the doll (especially on top!) *Not all dolls will have this, though, and it is most visible in Joss molds

Perfect dolls will have eyelashes that go all the way into the eye (usually the very last one won’t look like it does), the screen printing will not be visible, and try to pick out a doll that doesn’t seem to have two lighter colored skin-toned circles around the eyes. Removing the eyelashes yourself is also an option!

Symmetry:

Somewhere around 2022, AG purposely stopped using their tool that makes the dolls’ faces “100%” symmetrical. However, this problem has been seen even before then, since a lot of Jess mold dolls tend to have one eye that is larger than the other. In fact, one of my own Kanani Akina dolls has this problem!

Today, this problem is not limited to Jess molds, but it has become even harder to find the perfect Jess mold doll. Every single truly me 110 or 111 I see has one eye that’s bigger than the other! This defect is also not limited to just the dolls’ eyes, but it can also affect how certain facial features are placed, such as the eyebrows or painted on eyelashes. My 2017 truly me 67, Barbados, has one eyebrow that is spaced out further than the other, and I did not notice this when I bought her.

Lips and Teeth:

With the truly me rebrand in 2022, AG has gotten a lot better at painting the dolls lips a full, pink color. However, starting in about 2018, and continuing into 2022, a lot of the dolls had very pale lips. This can be an easy defect that might affect a used doll! In addition, there are also some problems with the teeth that you have to look at!

Picture 1: This is a truly me 78 doll from 2018. She has the “new eyes” and very pale lips that almost blend in with her skin! This picture was taken at AG Columbus in May 2022.

Picture 2: Shown is a Maritza Ochoa doll, and you can barely see her teeth! This picture was taken at AG Columbus in October 2021.

Even though a doll’s pale lips can easily be fixed, I most definitely prefer the full lips! Here are a couple problems that are associated with the doll’s teeth:

-You cannot see them from certain angles (Only occurs in Joss and later Marie-Grace molds like 115,116,117,and Kavi)

-The teeth can be unevenly placed

-The teeth can be crooked

This next picture is of another problem that can occur with a doll’s lips:

This picture is a VERY close up image on Blakely, my Blaire Wilson doll. She has interesting eyebrows, as well as the “new eyes” and something is wrong with her lips.

The problem with her lips is that they are not painted all the way! It looks like she should have more of a lip, but she doesn’t. In fact, it looks like she’s missing half of her lips! I’ve also seen a very small amount of AG Sonali mold dolls who have had their lips painted with the template of a classic mold! This problem is very very common, and it is almost unavoidable in modern dolls.

These are all the problems that can (most commonly) be spotted in new dolls. Now… it’s time to go over some problems/defects that can be present in a doll one may get used:

Body Cloth:

Just before Tenney and Logan were released in 2017, American Girl changed the body cloth that they used on their dolls. Instead of the premium quality that consumers were used to, the fabric they used became much more scratchy. Also, it felt a lot cheaper and it puckers a lot at the dolls’ neckline. This body fabric is found on every single doll with the “new eyes,” as well as some of their predecessors.

On the left is Elizabeth Cole, (≈2005) who has the old body cloth. On the right is truly me 24 Arlo Grunt, (2018) who has the new body cloth. (She also used to have the new eyes but they were replaced.)

*Note that Elizabeth’s body shape makes her taller than the average doll. (Dolls made from between 2024-2007 usually have this feature.)

*There is also something called the “Claudie body,” that all dolls from August 2022 to the present have. This is UNAVOIDABLE when picking out a brand new doll today, but their bodies are 0.5 of an inch slimmer than older dolls! This feature is called the “Claudie body” because Claudie Wells was the first doll to possess this difference.

Permanent Underwear:

Nicknamed “permapanties” by AG fans and collectors, American Girl announced towards the end of 2016 that they would be sewing the underwear onto all the bodies of dolls that came with removable underwear (not bloomers).

The dolls effected were every truly me doll who was available at the time, (13,16,19,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,31,33,35,39,40,42,44,47,49,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69) Tenney Grant, Z Yang, Gabriela McBride (I think), Maryellen Larkin, Melody Ellison, and Julie Albright. Some versions of these dolls from 2017 have a very skinny body with a gray band under the waist that says “American Girl” all the way around. The permanent underwear are a baby pink color.

Picture 1: Willow, truly me 40, in her permanent underwear facing frontwards.

Picture 2: Willow, truly me 40, in her permanent underwear facing backwards.

Things to Remember:

-You are ALLOWED to take the top off of a doll box while at the AG store! By all means, please do this when picking out dolls because it makes it so much easier to look at their features!

-By all means, HIDE THE GOOD DOLLS BEHIND THE LESS POPULAR ONES! When truly me 16 was still available, she was really unpopular leading up to her retirement, so I would always hide the best looking dolls behind all of the 16’s if I couldn’t get them the same day.🤭

-Go to a quiet area to pick out your doll where there is no one else around. Recently, I made the mistake of plopping down right in front of the Nicki and Isabel display to pick out my dolls and there was this girl and her mom behind me who started to get really annoyed with me just sitting there.

-Don’t stress yourself out! Sometimes picking out a doll actually brings me stress. That sounds really weird but, especially when there’s a lot of the same doll available, I feel the need to analyze every single one. These dolls should bring us joy! Remember to pick out a doll that makes YOU happy, regardless of what they look like.

~GOOD LUCK! 👍😊~

These are just the tips I use when buying my dolls. You do not have to follow everything that is listed here! These are just things that I look for when buying my own dolls because I’m very particular when it comes to the way they look. As much as I love these dolls, you’d think I hate them when it comes to me examining every little feature and critiquing them. 😭

[shivunin]

🌟OC Tag Game🌟

Thank you for the tag @brother-genitivi! This tag game is cool, but also a curse because I hate deciding between things lol

(Looking at this now that I am finished...I think a lot of these might be surprising, but there it is)

Favorite OC: Agggh :c It genuinely rotates and is largely determined by who I'm having the most fun writing at any given moment. If I really had to pick, it would have to be Araceli, one of my original work babies. She brings an "I'm off shift in ten minutes, do it yourself" vibe to the supernatural that I really dig.

Newest OC: Jesse, my Shepard. Technically she's older than all the others (I've been playing Mass Effect longer) but I've only very recently started to develop her into an actual character for writing. She's a cowgirl c:

Oldest OC: Not counting original stuff, it's Elowen Lavellan. I originally intended her to be my canon Inquisitor (and she's the impetus for me writing fic to post, actually!) and her playthrough is why I wrote Your Fate for Mine.

Meanest OC: Oooh so this is a really interesting question, bc Arianwen is definitely the most blunt (and she really doesn't care about people's feelings much), but Maria is actually more capable of saying really hurtful things because she understands people so much better. Wen will ignore someone crying over a dead loved one, but if pressed Maria will find the secret hurt you've been nursing for the last decade and jam her fingernails right into it.

Softest OC: Oooh hm. I think they all have a soft side, in their way, but I think Salshira craves softness the most. She doesn't really know how to articulate that until she knows she's wanted, though. She is an extremely caring friend, she just struggles with being open and vulnerable in return.

Most Aloof/Standoffish OC: Arianwen Tabris. Would rather sit in a tree than socialize. Would rather do most things that aren't socializing. Don't talk to her, she's busy (trying to train a squirrel to pick pockets)

Dumbest (affectionate) OC: Hmmm Wen isn't at all book-smart (can't imagine the alienage education system is worth much), but she's canny. Elowen is the most oblivious/least people-smart/most socially awkward. I wouldn't describe any of them as dumb (certainly not to their faces), but they all have the capacity to be idiots in love (a crucial characteristic to me).

Smartest OC: Oooh I think Emmaera. She's the most able to retain information and she likes understanding how/why things work. When she gets into a research hyperfixation, she stops noticing that time passes. Her infodumps are truly a sight to behold. (but I think Maria is a close second c: )

OC I'd Probably Be Friends With: Emma or Maria. Maria could befriend most people given the right circumstances (she's also hilarious) and Emma and I share an interest in understanding culture (and treasure hunts/hiding things for a joke). (I think I would get along with all of them okay, but those are my top two)

Tagging: @greypetrel @dungeons-and-dragon-age @gaysebastianvael and anyone else who wants in---I tried to pick people with several OCs (who hadn't been tagged yet), but reply with a 👀 or shoot me an ask and I will gladly tag you c:

[goldshadows]

[works-of-magic]

Mystery Dungeon - What's your favorite thing you've done in Pokemon IRL?

{ {{ ooc: Ahh, right out of the gate we're making me Think! I love so many things I've done here, okay. (I know I'm not running a High Stakes Blog here and the plots are small and short, but it's been a really fun playground to explore adult!Jess.

Maybe discovering other peoples' OCs? I love OCs, okay! I love learning about them! I love seeing them grow and learn and change! I love that every person's OC is a unique creation, subject exclusively to the writer's whims, and I love seeing every writer take canon in a different direction and putting their OC directly in the middle of all their headcanons. It's a beautiful thing, not only getting to custom-tailor the world your story takes place in, but the characters in it, too!

If that's too general, probably getting Jess to interact with other hex maniac! One of xir biggest motivating characteristics is that in xir canon, people treat ghost types with the same fear and superstition you see in the anime. (That lady at Maiden's Peak selling anti-ghost stickers, everyone being afraid of the ghost types at Lavender Tower, that "Help! I Turned Into a Gengar!" short having the kid terrified of the ghost pokemon at first, etc.)

It's been a source of conflict in xir life, and especially Mistress and Missie's life, so it's really nice to see xir find a niche and find people xe can get along with. Xe has friends in xir canon story notes, but it's neat to see xir not need to be guarded and cautious when talking to people, just because xe raises ghosts and knows people look down on xir for that.

I try to throw that bit of characterization in there every now and again, but Jess is a wee bit too much of an optimist to lament the treatment of ghost types much. At least publicly. It makes Jess happy to see others loving on them, and while I am a firm believer in the sanctity of Hurt/Comfort and Angst, it's nice to see xir relaxed and happy and having fun with other folks' OCs too.

[thestingerblog]

The Fast, The Furious, and The Crazy

by Aero S. 

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It’s not radical to say that the Fast and Furious lore has gotten a little convoluted throughout their 11 films, and no one notices this more than me, someone who has only seen the very first and the latest Fast and Furious movies. In the wake of Fast X’s release, I decided to not only watch it in the theater but also watch the first Fast and the Furious, so I could get a little more context as to who Dominic Toretto and his harpoon-wielding, car-driving, ass-kicking family really are.

The tenth installment of the franchise was crazy in its scale and stakes, but the first movie built an entire universe at a breakneck speed, and I feel the need to share with you how the first film plays out. Whether you’ve been watching the films since they came out or are just watching them for the first time like I am, this will serve as a good recap for the first movie (though it’s mostly just an opportunity for me to express my bewilderment).

The first movie shows the franchise’s – and the entire gang’s – humble beginnings. The Fast and the Furious opens with a car chase between a truck transporting Panasonic DVD players and a handful of souped-up sedans. These sedans, containing faceless individuals armed with harpoons, take over the truck. We are then introduced to the movie's main gang, all of whom are very superficial in characteristics. “The Family” are introduced as they beat up Brian, the undercover cop, before Dominic – or as those close to him call him, Dom – stops the kerfuffle and sends Brian away with a warning never to return to his establishment. There’s Vince, Dom’s childhood friend and Brian’s #1 hater; Letty, Dom’s girlfriend; and Jesse, the gang’s resident tech whiz who apparently cannot attend college because he has ADHD.

The rest of the film plays out like a police thriller with drag racing montages cut in between. Instead of heeding Dom’s advice after the fight in the deli, Brian shows up at a late-night drag racing event with his own car and a bet Dom can’t refuse: if Brian loses, Dom gets his car, but if he wins, he gets the gang’s respect, which is a big deal as Dom and Co. are treated like The Beatles of racing when they arrive to the venue. Brian loses but gains Dominic’s respect anyway after he saves him from getting arrested and sticking with him as they get ambushed by the movie’s Asian Gang (we’ll get to the gangs later). As a gesture of appreciation, Dom invites Brian to the drag race afterparty at his house, and a friendship is struck between them.

Brian, who is supposed to investigate the series of truck hijackings happening around LA,  uses his newly procured inside knowledge of the racing scene to sneak into the different gangs’ workshops – the first suspect Brian comes across is what I call the Latino gang (the drag racing scene is racially segregated in the F&F universe), who drive Honda Civics – the same cars used in the hijackings. From the very beginning, Vince, Brian’s #1 hater, catches Brian red-handed, and he and Dom hold him at gunpoint to ask if he’s a cop. After lying and saying no, Vince and Dom go with Brian to the Asian gang’s shop because they use the same tires as the hijackers. There, they find a bunch of DVD players pushed to the corner of the shop and a mechanic being tortured by Johnny Tran, the leader of the Asian gang. The police raid and arrest the Asian gang as a result, but everyone is let go when there’s not enough evidence to charge them with anything, just like Brian warned them. At this point, Brian secretly knows it’s Dom doing the hijackings, and his cop colleagues know it too, but he’s too afraid to admit it to himself because, frankly, he’s grown attached to Dom and his family of racers.

The big event of the Fast and Furious universe is called the Race Wars, which is absolutely hilarious when you remember that the race of their members distinguishes the gangs in this movie. Among the many races in the event, the one between Johnny Tran and Jesse is the most important, as it results in Jesse losing and having to drive away without so much as a goodbye to The Family. The Race Wars also sets up the movie's climax, as Dom and the rest suspiciously leave in the middle of the night. Brian suspects they’re going to hijack another truck, and by this point, truckers along the West Coast have started to arm themselves in case they get ambushed by car ninjas, so he tails Dom’s convoy to save them. The film ends not after this car chase but another one between the Asian gang and Brian after Johnny shoots Jesse in a drive-by.

If this seems convoluted already, keep in mind that everything that has just been described happens in the first of a ten-movie franchise, excluding spinoffs. Even though the amount of information they managed to cram into one movie is admittedly impressive, I was still left with one crucial question: why don’t the police arrest Dominic and his gang during any circumstance other than post-drag race? The film establishes that Dominic’s family runs a deli named Toretto’s, which Dom and the rest of his gang frequent. It also establishes that the police are so familiar with Dom’s face that they could point him out in the middle of a dark street. If they’re so eager to arrest him, they could have simply arrested him when he isn’t in or about to be in a supercar. Whatever the answers to these questions may be, I think most people are grateful not to have them – otherwise, none of the other films would have existed, and action films may not have technologically advanced at the pace they did due in part to this franchise.

[hesmiledlikeaweatherman]

Hey there, I’d really love to tag you for these questions to writers, because I love your stories.

Here we go, seven questions:

3. What are some tropes or details that you think are very characteristic of your fics?

5. What do you wish someone would ask you about [‘Sorry I didn’t know I had to stay the same’]? Answer it now!

10. How do you decide what to write?

11. Are you partial to a certain character/pairing? If so, what do you like about that character/pair?

16. What’s an AU you would love to read?

22. Who is your favorite character in [‘Sorry I didn’t know I had to stay the same’] and why?

46. Do you prefer writing on your phone or on a computer (or something else)? Do you think where you write affects the way you write?

Please take your time, and if you’re busy that’s okay too, of course! Please just know I love your writing and I’m always delighted when I get an AOO notification for your works.

3. What are some tropes or details that you think are very characteristic of your fics?

Absolutely having minor characters as the main character -- I have very few fics where a main (or even major) character is the main. I just find so much more to play with when a character isn't in the spotlight all the time.

5. What do you wish someone would ask you about [‘Sorry I didn’t know I had to stay the same’]? Answer it now!

I wish someone would ask me what certain characters have going on. I have a few things floating around for most of them, and don't know if they'll all make it into the main fic.

One character for example -- Karui. I've been brainstorming when she'll eventually pop up, but there's a lot going on with her. She's the token trans girl of the group, she and Omoi are in a band, and I can't wait to eventually introduce her.

10. How do you decide what to write?

Sometimes I roll a dice on a list of prompts. Sometimes I just have an idea. And sometimes I cry and words just kinda happen.

11. Are you partial to a certain character/pairing? If so, what do you like about that character/pair?

Hartley Rathaway and James Jesse is still my ride or die, but I'm moving into other fandom spaces so I have some for each fandom. For Naruto I would probably go with KanKiba.

16. What’s an AU you would love to read?

I am always weak for a de-ageing/fix-it fic.

22. Who is your favorite character in [‘Sorry I didn’t know I had to stay the same’] and why?

I was originally going to say Kankurou, but I think it might actually be Baki? He didn't ask to be a Dad, he just kinda fell into it, and he's trying his best to not further traumatise the kids.

46. Do you prefer writing on your phone or on a computer (or something else)? Do you think where you write affects the way you write?

On my computer, purely for the formatting options. I think I get my best work done outside on my grandparents' big table.

Thank you for asking me <3 I had a lot of fun with these

[devilsgatewayhq]

LOTUS HURSTON, our GRETA ONIEGOU, is looking for their EX FIANCE. THIS CONNECTION IS OPEN.

Character Name

UTP

Character Age

35-50

Character FC

Jake McDorman, Glen Powell, Octavio Pisano, Jesse Metclafe, Alexander Skarsgard, Steven Yuen, Barry Sloane, Alex Garcia, UTP.

Gang Affiliation

UTP, I have no preference.. there would just have to be a reason why they spent enough time in Las Vegas to get engaged.

Relationship to Character

Ex-fiance.

Summary of Character

I feel like her fiance has a couple key characteristics that I think are needed to be with someone like Lotus.. but other than that you have free range to create this character however you want. I was thinking they would be someone who is very confident, cocky, and all around very charming. Someone who presents themselves as wealthy but that is something that isn't necessary but Lotus is a rich girl at heart... and is spoiled. Their job and everything is up to you. I think it would be needed for them to have either a job that was in Las Vegas or caused them to travel. Other than that... you're totally free to do whatever you want.

Desired Plot

Lotus' fiance who brought her here from Vegas. I imagine that they are older than Lotus and maybe not exactly what the other was expecting. In my mind they probably met at a casino or they could've been a business partner with her her? I am open to plot how they go together and what works best for you. But, I would have liked to see them get together kind of fast.. a whirlwind romance of sorts. How long they were together and how it ended is something we can plot later.

If you are interested in taking up this connection, please send us a message and we'll connect you to the writer!

[yokefellows]

Overlooked and Unappreciated

Today’s Saying

Do you ever feel overlooked by the world? Take heart — we are handpicked by God.

Today’s Scripture

“After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22 (NIV)

Today’s Sermonette

A little glance into David’s life. Despite his tendency to sin, his lack of position in his own family and how others viewed him, David had the sweet reassurance of God. And that was enough.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

To his older brothers, David was young — possibly even a pest. To his father, Jesse, he was just another son. To onlookers, he was a mere shepherd boy.

But to God, David was the one destined to be king of Israel. And not just any king. He was from the bloodline from which Jesus would come.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Even the way David was anointed to be the future king is a telling story.

In 1 Samuel 16, God revealed to Samuel that He had rejected Saul as king and chosen one of Jesse's sons to be the replacement.

Think of the list of qualifications that must have run through Samuel's mind for such a position: tall, smart, articulate, brave, groomed, well-mannered, a natural-born leader.

Samuel saw some of these characteristics in Eliab, David's brother.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV).

Samuel had Jesse line up all of his sons. All of them were to be considered. Yet, Jesse didn’t call David in from tending sheep. Was this an oversight? An assumption? A judgment call? A deliberate choice?

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Samuel passed on each of Jesse’s sons and then asked, “… Are these all the sons you have?”

I imagine Jesse with a quizzical expression replying,“There is still the youngest … he is tending the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:11a-b, NIV).

Surely one who spends his time taking care of animals is not the one to take care of a nation.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

As soon as Samuel saw David, he knew he’d found the one. David was anointed to become king. But he was not immediately ushered to the throne. It would be many years before David was recognized by the world.

So, where did he go after being anointed as king? To a refining school? A government academy? Military training? Nope. He went back out to the fields and continued to shepherd his flock.

A king-to-be doing lowly tasks. A future king whose character was refined in the fields of everyday life to prepare him for his calling.

There is character building. There is attitude shaping. There is soul defining. All of which must take place for us to become what God intends.

Do you ever feel overlooked by the world? Take heart — we are handpicked by God.

We aren’t just doing tasks. We are building a legacy. We are shaping God’s Kingdom.

Today’s Supplication

Father, I’m grateful that even when I feel overlooked, I can rest in the fact I am handpicked by You. Help me see purpose in even the most mundane moments today. And help me live my life for an audience of One. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.