#also I hate gilda sorry

[liabutterscotch]

[gingersnaptaff]

Hello, it's me. I am back again to bore you all to utter DEATH.

Okay, so I was doing some reading in my lil book nook and I came across this poem:

(Sorry it's sideways. I hate it too.)

It's Ode Five by Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd (who is awesome in his own right. Might do a post about him if anybody would like it.) Anyways, there are two (2) things that jumped out straight off that I have highlighted:

1. The reference to Ogrfan Fawr who is Gwenhwyfar's dad. It's super interesting to me that it reads a bit like Hywel (or whoever is narrating the poem) uses Ogrfan to imply that he's being kept apart from his lover. (Presumably the fair - pls remember Gwen is another word for fair, or white, in Welsh - shy girl lady he mentions in the second line.)

Who's got fair in their name? Gwenhwyfar. "Okay, Sarah," I imagine you're saying. "Cool stuff. But what the fuck does this have to do with a twelfth-century poet dude and a fictional queen?"

Ah, okay. WELL. LEMME REFER U TO GARWY HIR:

He's the father of Indeg who is one of Arthur's mistresses, AND lover of Creirwy, daughter of Cerridwen. Now, I find the author's insinuation that the poem is specifically about Garwy Hir to be a bit of a stretch, because why tf is Ogrfan mentioned in the same breath as Garwy? They have little connection to each other in all honesty. (And I have never heard of Ogrfan, Garwy, being Cerridwen being connected.)

Well, there's a Very Prominent Lad who is connected to both of those ladies.

ARTHUR!!!!!

Husband to Gwenhwyfar, lover of Indeg. The dumbass boi himself. (Respectfully. He is just... look, a lot of Welsh sources are mixed about him. Gildas has Proper Beef with Arthur cuz he killed his brother. Also, this is the same man who called Maelgwn Gwynedd, 'a sodomitical grape.' So. He's not fuckin about.)

It sounds like - to me - this Ode could be perceived as a quest - much like his quest to Annwfn (Not outside of Hywel's subject matter. Man LOVED to intertwine war and love. Read his Gorhoffedd. You'll see what I mean.) - that's been forgotten about over the intervening centuries. One that Arthur went on to get Gwenhwyfar from her father's hall. Perhaps this is also - maybe - a far older version of the Gwenhwyfar/Guinevere and Melwas/Melegaunt myth, but idk. I cannot say for certain.

Now. You can think that this is all a bit tenuous. It very much is, I grant you. In 'The Arthur of the Welsh,' O.J. Padel suggests that Hywel is imagining himself as a suitor for Gwenhwyfar's hand (entirely fair. Right there with you, fella. I too would want to be a suitor for Gwenhwyfar.) But I think it makes a little more sense for the Ode to be Arthur.

Also, yes, I admit the reference to Gwenhwyfar is an indirect one, and I am running on 12 cups of coffee, and this didn't go anywhere, but still. It's FUN.

Now, go read about Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd, pls!!!!! His dad, Owain Gwynedd, gets compared to Cai, Cynyr, Gwalchmai, and Dillus in an elegy by Cynddelw, while his court at Gwynedd is seen to be like Arthur's at Celli Wig. (Cynddelw did a praise poem about Hywel too, which also contains lots of Arthurian references.)

[officersnickers]

What do you think of season 2 of TPN? Personally, I think it's not that bad and I read the manga.

Let's make a list for this! 😎

Strong points of The Promised Neverland Season 2:

great opening

the first two and a half episodes were nicely done with cuts in the story I can accept due to the limits of the medium anime

Gilda getting at Emma‘s ass? hilarious

the hunting scene with Emma and Sonju was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life with wonderfully done, fluid animation and genius callbacks to S1

great visuals througout the whole season, ngl (e.g. Norman‘s speech in his coat? chef‘s kiss)

bebe Norman? Sign me the fuck up! also his downfall to madness in Ep.8 was a joy to watch

James animated! and coloured! moving and speaking and... dying?

no words:

ACTUALLY YES WORDS FUCK YEAH THEY LET ISABELLA LIVE THANK YOU THAT‘S ALL I EVER WANTED AND SURELY DIDN‘T SAVED THIS SEASONS ASS BUT MADE US ALL GO BONKERS AND THAT‘S MORE THAN I EXPECTED IT TO HAPPEN AT THIS POINT!!! 😍😍

sorry for the screaming. I will behave now

overall, they had clearly visions and ideas, even original ones I'd love to see Cloverworks develop even further and differ from the manga's original story

That being said, what didn‘t work (for me)?

With all the original ideas they had, they surely did nothing with them, sadly

the anime could have given us more time with the kids adapting to the demon world, Norman‘s time in Lambda, even them travelling with Mujika and Sonju, but noooo…

characters being flatened. Emma turned into a self-loathing mess, Ray‘s now not caring about anyone besides his family, and Norman… was pushed into our faces every few seconds because everyone missed him so much and couldn‘t function without him. Whack

these motherfuckes we spend way too much time with:

I hate them... so much 🤮

they put Emma back in a skirt. do I need to tell you more?

y‘know

why is Cislo white again?

framing the one black guy we got as the traitor (even if was for just one episode) wasn't the best move Cloverworks

HOT AIR BALLOONS?!?

WHAT IS THE NEW PROMISE?! THIS SERIES IS CALLED PROMISED NEVERLAND YOU HAVE TO TELL US ABOUT THE NEW PROMISE!!

A CLIPSHOW?! THAT'S WHAT WE GOT AT THE END?!?!

I will never recover from this:

Overall, that's just how I feel about this "adaptation":

But whoever had their fun and joy with S2 is so much stronger than I am and earns bothing but my respect. Just let me cry in no gay dads we never got to see for a while now, okay?

[about-faces]

In terms of blatant editorial injustice, are Inferno re: Madelyne Pryor and Emerald Twilight re: Hal Jordan basically inter-company equivalents?

I am sorry to admit that I know very little about the editorial fuckery behind poor Maddie's character arc. I have tried to catch up on X-Men from the Wein/Claremont issues onward, and recently even started working through New Mutants, but I always got derailed so I never even made it to Maddie's introduction (I don't think).

As for Hal, I certainly know a great deal about THAT whole situation, having grown up with it and following the whole debacle in the 90's. That situation was such a formative experience, shaping my views of editorial and fandom alike in ways (mostly negative) that still color my opinions of both.

When I do get around to Inferno, I imagine I will be pissed at the mishandling of Madelyne Pryor because mishandling and derailing characters is an incredibly sore spot for me even now. I still hate how Gilda Dent and Maxwell Lord are both irrevocably stained in the eyes of DC and fans alike, and now--after reading Wonder Woman from Perez onward--I'm pissed about how the same can be said for poor Vanessa Kapatelis.

Unlike Hal Jordan, these are all supporting characters, just like Maddie. And they always--always--get the raw end of the deal. They're pawns to be sacrificed to affect the main characters. They get twisted and discarded and no one gives them any thought because they don't matter as much as the protagonists.

While I still take what happened to Hal very personally, and while I also think Hal's never fully recovered (because of Johns' trying to retcon everything instead of actually embracing Hal as a flawed person), I can at least say the he managed to come back from the editorial fuckery, more or less.

But Gilda, Max, and Nessie won't. Not without a lot more work, care, and effort than most creators/editors are willing to give supporting characters. So on that basis, I'm gonna guess that Maddie likely got the more raw deal than Hal.

[stardust-in-my-mind-blog]

to father-in-law 9/7/23

You said something about having Ben train Fi to sing with his guitar. All three of the kids are able to sing this song together. They all did it at once one time and it sounded like an angel choir. (Link to Goodnight My Angel by Billy Joel.)

Music is a healing thing.

Theo might sing it for you a night he comes over!

This is also one of Theo's favorite songs.

I sing it in the shower every day as a prayer to my own well designed pantheon of divinity. But Venus loved war just as much as she loved beauty and peace. Your son has some outdated software in his subconscious that needs redirection when it comes to how you treat a woman you love and respect.

My Phoebus is now Apollo.

And like Daphne I will make like a tree shake off the mantle of your name that I accepted like the rotting leaves of a dying tree.

I am Andromeda and Perseus is getting too damn close to the sun.

Pegasus has bucked off plenty of Princes.

Raja has eaten their underwear.

Aphrodite was born from the old man of the sea being made into a ennuch. Sea foam.

I'm thinking in mythology these days, Zeus.

I can be the headache you'll never forget.

Or your adoring daughter.

But like Diana I will turn men who scorn me into the stags their dogs devour.

I think I'm telling you this because I love you and your family.

But it hurts too much.

And I've been here too many times.

And part of me is dying.

And I have risen back from the dead far too many times to fear death.

My given name is Mckeag, our motto is to neither dread nor yearn for the final day.

That's not my name either.

I'm still looking for it.

I hate to use a story you trusted me with to... illustrate a negative thing.

That's my broken heart talking.

But you told me when you went deaf, you didn't learn how to read sign language. I can't begin to understand the grief that comes with losing your sense of hearing.

You value music so much.

You're rough, but you're a secret music box like me.

The mother in me, the gypsy in me, the woman who has been fucked by guys your age since I was three (literally and can recall each memory in cold detail, by the way.)

Shirley Temple syndrome.

But my hero was also Gilda.

Anyways, as a woman who has had to fight for every damn good thing in her life....

I heard the man that stands of law in the place of Father

"When I lost my hearing I chose to become blind."

"My wife and children learned a new language to keep me connected to the family, but I chose not to learn it for myself."

And it's a pattern I can't rise above in this relationship with your son.

I don't like bad boys.

And he will regret me forever.

Trust me, I already have one dude who did the same shit finally treating me with respect a decade after bearing his children.

They say Danae, my soul ancestor, was cast out to sea by her father who learned that her son would become more magnificent than he.

Fear of the gods.

But as humans, don't we wish that our legacy be more magnificent?

Maybe not. I don't know. I've always thought differently than everyone else.

And I've paid for it with a body broken by hands that never thought I had value.

So if this is our last convo bc I've been too disrespectful.

(which is valid. I've said nasty things and made even uglier metaphors.)

But I need to express to you everything I feel at this crossroads.

And I promise with all my heart and soul that I had to build myself...

that I will never speak against your family or the members of the name in a public way with this kind of reckless talk.

Even if I'm not under your banner, or your protective shade, I will respect you as Theo's grandfather.

I just think that's important to state things clearly before anything starts getting tense or emotional.

Again, sorry for the unpleasantness. I've been very angry for a few days now and managing it well... but my period is coming.

When I'm bleeding it's more difficult to channel my rage in a polite way and I wanted to express it before gasoline is poured on the fire. Maybe more than you want to know, but I like my sincerity to be detailed.

[fullscoreshenanigans]

#barely shipping- just kiddin' I'm all down for it #most of the popular ones but also some only *I* like hehe (via @officersnickers)

teasing but not even going to mention your rare pairs. ok 🚶‍♀️

I think I'm the only person who likes Barbara/Sonya (Barbonya? Sonyara?)

Everyone who ships one or more rare ships and none of the popular ones you are so powerful please reveal them to me through anon

#only popular ships I like from this list are Sonjika and Yuucas #Lesbella 50/50 idk (via @duckietine)

wildest thing about your tags is this is the first time I've ever seen the Sonjika portmanteau used. I've always seen the Japanese coupling naming convention for them, and then, on the opposite side of things, I've only ever seen Yuucas used for Yuugo and Lucas despite it sounding so close to mucus.

#Ray and Anna are SIBLINGS to me I actually hate the ship so much sorry

Not an uncommon sentiment at all in the active tumblr side of the fandom (though hate might be a bit strong for some people; indifferent? I only like a few very specific varieties of it which rarely ever crop up if it's being used as a background ship to prop up Noremma alongside Gildon as opposed to it being a fan's main focus, so that's led to my personal disdain for it/it being a red flag when it comes to my personal content enjoyment lol)

#Gilda and Don are one of my fav platonic duos they're bffs to me #I don't think queer platonic Rayemma counts in this context since this is about romantic ships... I'm an Emmay girly #also one-sided Norray headcanon is funny to me I loooove it I'm the ceo of that headcanon actually #NOT on Ray's side I'm not like other girls and hc that it's Norman who has a crush on him

Prolonged unrequited pining is 2sad5me but I'm not sure of all the specifics of your brand of one-sided Norray.

And Don is a defender of lesbians and biggest champion of Gildayshe. To me. <3

#I'm more of a rarepair person tbh... I think my fav romantic ship is Gildanna!!! I don't play about them don't even joke I #my other favs are Gildayshe Annat Cecikrone Olizackpepe (yes 3 of them though maybe I have a special fondness of Olizack) and Viogillian!!! #I like Gillian and Nigel's relationship in general too but idk if it counts really #I think Paula and Gillian are cute too! I think about them sometimes

Fellow Gildayshe, Cecilron, Natanna, and Olizack shipper 🤝(Pepe is a cool addition to the latter though I'm slightly biased toward Pepe/Sandy due to this post putting the idea in my head lol)

I was debating about putting Nigellian on there the list since it wasn't one of the options for this poll despite it probably being at least in the same ballpark of popularity as Gildemma and the pair getting their own section in the third light novel due to their popularity, but I also feel like I haven't seen it pop up anywhere near as much as the eight listed human ships on twitter. Tragic in that they're each my favorite to pair up with the other. </3

1.) *Yes, I have multiple ships I'm very fond of/passionate about, and at least one of them is one of the nine listed popular fandom ships 2.) **Yes, I have multiple ships I'm very fond of/passionate about, and none of them are one of the nine listed popular fandom ships 3.) ***Yes, I have one popular fandom ship I'm very fond of and a few I more casually ship 4.) ****Yes, I have one uncommon/rare ship I'm very fond of and a few I more casually ship 8.) *****Yes, but pretty casually/more as an afterthought, and none of the ones I ship casually are among the more popular fandom ships 9) ******No; I can see why people ship some characters romantically, but there are no ships that are appealing to me in this series

For the purposes of this poll, these are considered popular fandom ships:

Noremma (Norman x Emma)

Rayemma (Ray x Emma)

Norray (Norman x Ray)

Norrayemma (Norman x Ray x Emma)

Gildon (Gilda x Don)

Rayanna (Ray x Anna)

LesIsa/Lesbella (Leslie x Isabella)

Sonmuji (Sonju x Mujika)

Yuucas (Yuugo x Lucas)

[leporellian]

ok. rigoletto headcanons. here we go

i love rigoletto. both the opera and the character. here are some headcanons about both. source: i know everything

first off. i think rigoletto, gilda, and sparafucile are all autistic but in different directions

rigoletto and gilda are both very outwardly expressive autistics, both verbally and visibly. sparafucile meanwhile is not very expressive at all and is generally very quiet, and has maybe 4 facial expressions at most. (usually he looks... very focused but also vaguely confused.)

science is unsure if rigoletto and gilda are expressive bc of the autism or because they are italian. (sparafucile and maddalena meanwhile are french but we will get to them eventually.)

also i think rigoletto is trans. world's first jester with transmasc swag. transjester, if u will. 'why' again i just know everything

also i think rigoletto is 40, gilda is 15, and sparafucile and maddalena are both 38 (but distinctly have the energy of like.... ageless cartoon characters). i will mostly be writing these about those 4 because while i am aware i COULD make headcanons abt like. monterone or giovanna or whoever. i don't have the Autism focused on them atm. maybe later

in my mind, rigoletto was abandoned at an orphanage when he was a baby. nobody knew what his parents were like, or why they abandoned him

rigoletto himself has always suspected it was because of his kyphosis, but a very small part of him wonders if they did want him and just couldn't provide for a baby. (he isn't sure if this would be better or worse)

he grew up in an orphanage but was never adopted or even really taken into consideration to be adopted, mainly because- besides his disability- he always Did have a bit of anger about him and wasn't the easiest kid to get along with. eventually he aged out of the orphanage and ran off to start his own life; i imagine he did have a bit of a creative streak to him but he realized his options were limited as a disabled person back in Ye Olde Times, and that led him to be a jester

(in a modern au where things aren't As depressing (and, later on, gilda does not die because while i realize the story hinges on that its MY emotional support modern au and I get to choose how actually narratively sensical it is): rigoletto was also born and given up pretty early on, but instead he floundered in the foster system, handed over between households but never actually adopted. he aged out of the system, took a couple of gap years, and then went off to study politics- only to realize in the last year of his program that he Fucking Hated politics and would rather write comedy.)

i can't imagine him ever having had a wife, tbh. (i know it says that in the libretto but i know everything.) i imagine gilda was an accident baby created out of wedlock, and that rigoletto Had considered giving her up for adoption, but then realized like... he couldn't stand the idea of her going through the exact same cycle he did, and never being adopted, and becoming cynical and bitter like him. from the very start rigoletto's fear has been the idea of his daughter turning out just like him. and so he decided to raise her instead

(not helping the above is that i imagine gilda to be physically disabled as well- i draw her as having a missing arm since birth- so there's an additional 'fuck fuck fuck she can't turn out like me' there. anyway this makes the tragedy of the opera worse in some ways i think. :) )

gilda is an absolute horse girl i think

i'm biased bc i am, obviously, a warrior cats kid but in a modern au (or. an au where warrior cats is somehow existent in the 16th century.) gilda 100% had an insane warrior cats phase also.

in general i think gilda should be a little insane in the like. 'tells you gruesome facts out of nowhere just to make things interesting' way. like i'm sorry look at her dad she has Strange genes. also she deserves a personality

sparafucile and maddalena, meanwhile, are french (they're foreigners from burgundy, remember). they are twins- maddalena was born at around 11:40 on september 30, and sparafucile was born just after midnight on october 1. both siblings have been using this factoid to annoy each other as long as they've been aware of it.

they were born into poverty, with parents that were too occupied with other things at best and outright negligent at worst, and were often forced to fend for themselves.

sparafucile was born missing a leg, and was just... naturally very weak and sickly (ironically up until he was about twelve he was much shorter than maddalena even though as an adult he's taller than her). maddalena was always very protective of him when they were kids, and sparafucile never forgot that- which is much of why he's so protective of her in turn when they're adults.

neither really had the financial opportunity to make their situation much better- and when they did try they often ended up abused

sparafucile killed the first guy on accident. i don't know the specifics of it but it was definitely on accident. he realized that there was no way he was getting out of that scot-free bc. well. he is poor and nobody but his sister knows him. so he just sorta... stuck with it

also his special interest is knives so. not all bad? i guess? ?????

(if you were wondering: i think gilda's special interest is just... weird animal facts and rigoletto's is. actually i don't know what rigoletto's is. finding new ways to be rude to people, i guess.)

(he feels very bad that maddalena got involved with the whole thing. maddalena however... seems to enjoy it, somehow.)

in a modern au i think sparafucile would be a lawyer. idk he's got that sort of energy. maddalena... i could see her being a bartender or something. she would just love to have a job where she can talk people's ears off.

also i will say it. whatever was going on in that duet between rigoletto and sparafucile in act 1. it certainly was not entirely heterosexual.

anyway there are definitely things i am forgetting that i'll shoot myself in the foot for not including later but i'll add those. at some point. eventually

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

rating all the leading soprano (or in a couple cases, mezzo)/tenor duos in verdi’s 26 operas:

leonora/riccardo (oberto, conte di san bonifacio): riccardo is a dick and i’m so glad leonora and cuniza teamed up to shame him 0/10

giulietta/edoardo (un giorno di regno): they’re adorable as frick and they’re utter dumbasses. also giulietta definitely is wearing the pants in the relationship. 9/10

fenena/ismaele (nabucco): adorable. both gentle badasses. ismaele did make one Bad Decision but did save fenena in the process so yeah 9.5/10

giselda/oronte (i lombardi alla prima crociata): did nothing wrong ever except exist in a world where people are Racist TM. deserved so much better 10/10

elvira/ernani (ernani): dumbasses. hearts of gold. ernani needs to get his head out of his ass. 8/10

lucrezia/jacopo (i due foscari): THESE TWO ARE PERFECT AND DESERVED SO MUCH BETTER 10/10

giovanna/carlo (giovanna d’arco): why is this even a thing 0/10

alzira/zamoro (alzira): not a lot of strong opinions, zamoro falls into the trap of I Think Without Evidence My Girlfriend Is Cheating On Me but ends up murdering the colonialist bastard trying to force her into an arranged marriage, so that makes up for it. 6/10

odabella/foresto (attila): ODABELLA YOU CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER THAN HIM 0/10

macduff and the lady barely interact so no rating lmaooooooooo

amalia/carlo (i masnadieri): he litchrally murders her because…reasons??? 0/10

medora/corrado (il corsaro): most vanilla couple in all verdi 3/10

gulnara/corrado (il corsaro): this is more interesting than the other couple but it never actually happens 6.5/10???

lida/arrigo (la battaglia di legnano): i like the backstory i developed around this ship WAY more than the ship itself (and also they would probably have been better off in an OT3 with rolando). 1/10

luisa/rodolfo (luisa miller): starts off as the most adorable thing ever but RAPIDLY goes south in the WORST way possible 0/10

lina/stiffelio (stiffelio): “but she cheated on him” your honor i fuckin love these messed-up people just trying their best with a lot of awful shit and i fully believe everything works out for them in the end BECAUSE THEY LOVE EACH OTHER 9.5/10

gilda/the duke (rigoletto): NOPE NOPE NOPE DO I EVEN HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS -100000000/10

leonora/manrico (il trovatore): this ship is TRYING to be elvira/ernani but it isn’t sorry 3/10

violetta/alfredo (la traviata): i hate alfredo and what he did to violetta but i love violetta so much and i understand why she feels the way she does about him so 4/10

elena/arrigo (i vespri siciliani): look everyone loves a Murder Soprano Who Wants Love and her sweet tenor baby except when they have massive communication issues 8.5/10

maria-amelia/gabriele (simon boccanegra): the only reason i’m not giving this a 0/10 is because gabriele genuinely loves her and realizes He Fucked Up though i still don’t really like them 2/10

amelia/gustavo (un ballo in maschera): i have lots of feelings about them 8.5/10

amelia/gustavo/renato (un ballo in maschera): YES THIS OT3 IS ELITE 10/10

leonora/alvaro (la forza del destino): doesn’t have enough stage time to make a big call but they seem like they would’ve been a great couple if only leonora’s family wasn’t racist and alvaro wasn’t the plaything of fate…8/10

élisabeth/carlos (don carlos): incredibly cute in act i, obviously weird after that, but i love them both and i find their relationship extremely interesting 9/10 overall, 0/10 as an actual couple post act i

aida/radames (aida): the second most vanilla couple in verdi although i admire them both for just trying their best even though they’re both horrible at it 5/10

desdemona/otello (otello): basically the same for the same reasons as luisa/rodolfo 0/10

nannetta/fenton (falstaff): the most adorable young couple ever 10/10

[danny-chase]

wait selina had her own protege? Tell me more 🥺

[Image ID: A young girl (maybe like 13-15) with hazel (yellowish) eyes and short brown hair. She's wearing a lot of eye makeup, a little hat with cat ears, and goggles. She wears a tie, pink vest, and grey t-shirt with pawprints. End ID]

Batman (1940) #642

Kitrina Falcone - link to wiki

She was a Catwoman copy cat (haha sorry i couldn't help it) who grew up with her abusive uncle (Mario Falcone - he literally tries to kill her in the arc she's in, she calls him uncle - but others claim she's his little sister and she claims she's Carmine's daughter) and lived on the streets for a while. She looked up to Catwoman and imitated her, but Selina steals some of her maps (i think like blueprints for heists or smth idk) so she breaks in to Selina's house to steal them back.

At this point she was working for Penguin (she bombed a place it was a whole thing) - her map making skills are vital for taking down/locating Black Mask so she's vital (she's doing this for the bounty). And she and Selina get on and Selina gives her a costume and she becomes Catgirl.

[Image ID: Selina Kyle as Catwoman and Kitrina Falcone as Catgirl stand on a rooftop next to each other with the moon illuminating them. The Catgirl costume has a studded silver belt and collar, black claw-like gloves, black leggings, and a black tank. There are pink zagging stripes on the side of the torso and back of her calf that have silver behind them. She also wears pink ankle high converse with a purple cat icon patch on the side. She has a mini cowl with cat ears that are pink on the inside and pink scale-like bracelets/ruffles at the end of her gloves. Narration boxes (Dick): Or in this case, in the reflection I catch out of the corner of my eye - the swift and agile movement in the reflection of the windows across the street. Selina: He's gone, Catgirl. Kitrina: I want to follow him. I bet he has a cool hideout. Selina: No. You have much to learn... and lesson one starts tonight. End ID]

Batman (1940) #697

Idk if she has any appearances as Catgirl, but following her appearances listed in the wiki she lives with Selina for a while until Dick tries to talk her into going to boarding school (with Selina also on board) on orders from Bruce.

[Image ID: Dick and Kitrina argue on a rooftop, Dick as Batman and Kitrina in a white tank top and pink pajama pants. Narration box: I don't have much time to spare on a night like tonight. But Bruce wants Kitrina Falcone out of Gotham. I can't say I disagree. Dick: The Aldridge Boarding School for girls is one of the best in the country, Kitrina. It's everything you need. Kitrina: And nothing I want. Dick: You can't have what you want. I'm taking that away from you. Kitrina Why are you acting like such a dork? I've proven myself. I helped you. Are you forgetting all the - Dick: You're young enough... smart enough to have a normal life. And you're an opportunist... take the one I'm giving yo - Kitrina: No one gives me anything. I take. I have everything I need here. Support. Training. Selina (off panel): Listen to him, Kitrina. End ID]

Batman (1940) #710

Dick lecturing a kid about not being a child vigilante is just jdfklajdkfla hypocrite XD

Anyways from here on, she runs ahead on the case they're working on (i skimmed didn't actually read it) leaving him clues and such it's like the typical young vigilante storyline of being over confident. She gets in over her head, Dick catches up and bails her out - she runs (because this one actually has self preservation instincts unlike the 934758 other batfam characters). Dick gets shot in the head (again - but don't worry the cowl redistributed its impact *sigh* this man has so much head trauma, but comic book logic) by Harvey Dent's wife Gilda no less and wakes up later and finds this letter.

[Image ID: Dick looks down at a paper, bandages are wrapped around his forehead. He's drawn with blocky features there art style isn't doing him any favors. Dick: A letter from Kitrina Flacone. The note reads: Dear Batman, I am writing to keep you from worrying about what became of me. I wouldn't want you to think that "Catgirl" got in over her head. Or was kidnapped, or killed. They show the side of a travelling bus. Note: I'm leaving voluntarily. In fact, I'm going to try out that school you signed me up for. It's probably a dumb idea... but I'm a girl who likes challenges. Kitrina sits looking into the window, seeing her reflection as Catgirl, earbuds in her ears. Note: And putting up with a bunch of rich prissy debutantes will be a challenge. I'm sure I'll put a few of them on their rears by the time it's over. But the point I'm making is, don't count me out. I'll be back. And I will be bad-assed. - Sincerely, K End ID]

Batman (1940) #712

The arc itself is pretty dry and follows a pattern we've already seen from DC comics. Also she's like "I'll be back" and DC just went sike. So. Yeah. Reboot messed her stuff up. It's annoying to me that they made Lian Selina's new protégé or whatever when they already had this storyline right here, and to have Jade drop her off like that is ooc, especially because Roy was right there as well. And while Kitrina might not be for everyone personality wise, I personally would love to see her kick rich kids asses at boarding school. Or just have her train under Selina - because at the least she already grew up watching Selina and trying to emulate her, both in personality and in the skills she taught herself - so the connection for this character is already there - whereas "Shoes" just came out of nowhere.

Another thing I find kind of funny is the popularity of "Stray" fics, because she hits some of the same beats I've heard about (i haven't read any though this is second hand knowledge). To my understanding, when someone (Tim or Jason) is stray, they grow up on the streets trying to escape familial abuse (which she does) and eventually is taken in by Catwoman (which she is) and becomes her protégé (again which canonically happened to this character). Though she doesn't interact with her respective Robin (Damian at the time) too much which i think is also usually a part of said fics.

Anyways here's her being called a stray lakdfjaslfdj

[Image ID: Kitrina as Catgirl slams into a car, Riddler's daughter following after her. Riddler's daughter: I need to warn you. I hate cats. Kitrina is kicked through the cars windshield. Riddler's daughter: Especially strays. Kitrina: Oofh! End ID]

Batman (1940) #711

I have no idea if this is a coincidence or not - this character has very few appearances, which date back to the Dick!Bats era - so i assume most of this fandom doesn't actually know who she is, but it's possible one of the first "Stray" fics used her as inspiration.

Also she freaking bit Dick as Batman which i find hilarious - i know fandom makes a big thing about Damian being a biter but like:

[Image ID: Kitrina bites someone's gloved forearm - it's Dick as Batman but you can't tell from the panel, forcing him to drop a knife. There's a chomp sound effect. Kitrina: What're ya? Crazy?! You're not killing him! Dick: Umff!]

Batman (1940) #696

*CHOMP*

[whywoulditho]

fullscore trio? (anyone or all of them) + hayato and jin??

AHHH MY CHLIDREN I MISS THEM

long post

I won't say anything about their sexualities because they're children. I know they're teenagers in the finale arc but i never really thought about it so, i dont even have an answer for that

Emma:

Otp: Noremma. It's such a wholesome and healthy relationship I can cry

Brotp: her with Ray, Gilda, Don, Anna, Violet, Gillian and Oliver.

Notp: um, the pedo ones, you know? Apart from that I don't see a reason she can't be shipped with the other kids, they're all really cute

First headcanon that pops into my head: (spoilers) when they reuinited at the human world, she was curious about why they all had similar tattoos on their necks. They tried to explain i guess but she felt like she was being left out on something and you know how much she hates that. So she wanted to get a tattoo for herself too, Norman said that it wasn't necessary and their tattoos didn't have a nice meaning so she really doesn't need to do that but then Emma went to Ray and being the best bro that he is he took her to a tattoo shop with fake ids and she got a 63194 tattoo. Norman wasn't really surprised

Things that give me second hand embarrassment about this character: Honestly nothing. I love everything about her

Cinnamon roll or problematic fave? : CINNAMON ROLL <3

Norman:

Otp: Noremma

Brotp: Norray. And i really love their dynmaic. Also Vincent and him make an amazing duo too and i love them

Notp: pedo ships -because there are many-

First headcanon that pops into my head: Eating too much sweets gives him a stomach ache so he can't ever finish his desserts. Ray is happy about this

Things that give me second hand embarrassment about this character: His character development was great but that arc should've been longer and we should've seen more about Lambda

Cinnamon roll or problematic fave? : Cinnamon roll who happened to almost genocide a whole race oops

Ray:

Otp: None,, bc even tho i dont like talking about their sexualities, well, he's an aroace to me. Ray x Ayshe doesn't sound bad when Ayshe is also an aroace. They're living the qprs i always dreamed of lol

Brotp: Rayemma and Norray. Also him and Violet are besties

Notp: just the pedo ones

First headcanon that pops into my head: He cries in his sleep a lot. sorry :/

Things that give me second hand embarrassment about this character: (spoilers) how he was almost invisible in the last arc. when Isabella died, we needed to see more of how he felt about that. Also i really wanted to see the goodbye note he wrote to Isabella but i guess that'll remain to be another mystery ;-;

Cinnamon roll or problematic fave? : Cinnamon roll. So what if he's a bit suicidal and self sacrifical asf

Hayato:

Otp: None

Brotp: With Jin and Nigel

Notp: Anyone. He's 2, are you all insane

First headcanon: He cried when Norman and the others threw a birthday party for him

Second hand embarrassment: Nope

Cinnamon roll.

Jin:

Otp: None

Brotp: Hayato

Notp: Same as the upper

First headcanon: He seems to be the serious type but he blushes very easily. He likes wearing that face mask bc Cislo used to mock him and call him a tomato

Second hand embarrassment: nothing

Problematic Cinnamon Roll ndkekdlsld

[just-like-playing-tag]

Me???? Still not over that Apollo Ray AU in 2021?????? It's more likely than you think.

I jumped into the water and now I need to keep swimming

If you're new to the AU, you can check out this post where it's explained where the name comes from and this other post on what Apollo Ray differs from Minerva Norman.

Tonight, I'd like to expand the plotline that Apollo Ray would choose to imprison Emma and Norman to prevent them from getting in his way to demons' eradication. I know y'all might cringe at this but you have to understand, he's REALLY convinced it's for their best.

This is how I can imagine things to go: Ray kinda tricks them and traps them somewhere inside of the Paradise Hideout. Not really a prison, he'd probably just lock them in a room and be like “you just got back from a long, dangerous journey, why don't you take some rest? In the meantime, I've got some stuff to do at, let's say, the Royal Capital :)”

Sounds familiar?

Like mother like son

Very relevant detail is that the room MUST be without locks. Make it an electronic key or a biometric iris recognition lock or whatever. Ray knows Norman well enough and he's not falling to the magical hairpin trick lmao.

Now, I like to think Gilda would take sides with Ray. I've always thought about Ray and Gilda having a lot in common (often seeing the glass half empty, loving Emma unconditionally; furthermore, they were the only ones who agreed that escaping from Grace Field with everyone was unequivocally impossible). At some point, paralleling how Norman asked to talk with Gilda and Don, Ray asks for Gilda only to come into his study. They have a long talk, during which he persuades her to join him. On Ray's end, he needs somebody he trusts to stay in the Hideout while him and his squad go to their fun trip to the Royal Capital, to keep an eye on Emma and Norman and make sure they won't escape or try and go to the Seven Walls. Now, Gilda probably wouldn't look like his first choice, for she is endlessly loyal to Emma; however, Ray plans of making that very factor, her love and dedication for her friend, his trump card. By talking to Gilda and calmly describing their situation, he makes her understand how hopeless is the mission Emma is so desperate to fulfill; that no one ever came back from the Seven Walls, and they're most likely to die there. Moreover, Ray persuades Gilda to believe that his plan of demon eradication is without doubts the most certain route, that will surely lead to the safest future for her friends - even though they can't understand it yet. However, their safeness and happiness is above anything else, even their own temporary freedom- isn't it? They will understand, once everything is over, that him and Gilda were only acting for their best.

Although initially hesitant, as never in her life she had gone against Emma, Gilda ends up firmly accepting, for she's determined to do anything to save Emma's (and Norman's) life- including betraying her.

I don't think it shouldn't be too surprising to have Gilda accept Ray's plottings; already in the manga, she's shown as being maybe the most condescending to Norman's plan, since she believed it was the less dangerous route to secure Emma's safety- and, to her eyes, consequential happiness.

In this AU, Ray's using the very feelings of affection that build Gilda's loyalty to Emma to bring her to his side; he's persuading her that the mission Emma and Norman are trying to carry out is a suicidal one, and that if they let them go they will lose them forever- which is something he knows Gilda would do anything to not let happen.

I know it may seem like he's manipulating her to get what he wants, but I want to underline I don't think that'd be the case: by saying he's worried Emma and Norman are going to lose their lives going after the Seven Walls, he's putting genuine sentiments on the line, and he's as determined to prevent it from happening as Gilda is. In comparison, Norman has been way more dishonest when he spoke to Gilda and Don- as Gilda would have later learnt, he was never intentioned to spare Musica (thus having plainly lied to them).

On the contrary, Ray's intentions of simply wanting to protect Emma and Norman were sincere, and he was way more honest with Gilda with his plan, fully entrusting her with it.

On the other side, Don would obviously take sides Emma, which would eventually lead to a very cool conflict between Gilda and Don?? I'm certain Don would support Emma because he grew up to be very similar to her. Brings back to my mind this old old post I once made, which considers the events of chapters 138 and 139: Don shares Emma's point of view on many matters, so I'm confident he would be ready to support her. When you think about it, he was the fastest to take sides with her in canon too, probably second to Ray only; and when Ray's choice was likely driven by his undying loyalty to Emma, chances are that Don was supporting Emma not only because he believed in her, but also because he was the first one to truly believe in her ideals as well, the first to believe they would have really been able to find a solution that would have brought happiness for everyone.

Now Don openly supporting Emma would inevitably lead to him and Gilda clashing which I find being the absolute COOLEST thing. I mean I love them, and I love how they love each other; still the thought of them being compelled by the circumstances to collide intrigues me so much!!!! I think they'd have this extremely angsty confrontation that will eventually end with Don convincing Gilda that trusting Emma has took them so far, and that the best thing to do is give up and help him to free Emma and Norman (maybe Ray had entrusted her with the keys / password to open the room Emma and Norman were locked in?? Dunnot)

Besides, I think it would make a lot of sense taking the whole tpn plotline?? It would end up paralleling Gilda and Don's chapters in Grace Field in so many different ways. First of all, I have to say it would be very nice to have a new spotlight on Gilda: her role in the first arc was relevant indeed, with her and Don being the key to the success of the escape; however, she didn't really got to have enough space for character development. The moment when the trio revealed them the truth was more about Don, while Gilda had never doubted of their words in the first place; moreover, the space she had as a possible spy was mostly used to deceive the attention from the true spy, and the revelation that she was never intentioned to betray them was more of character development for Emma, who consolidated her will to trust and protect her family, than a growth of Gilda herself.

But now, for Gilda to take sides against her dear Emma, the person she's more loyal and devoted to, what a great potential for character development that has!!!!!!! I can imagine her, once she finally accepts to help Emma, to echo the words Emma once told her at Grace Field: “I'm sorry- to protect you, I was prepared to be hated by you; yet, I wasn't ready to believe in you!”

To sum up: the Apollo Ray AU is still my jam and Gilda and Don deserve way more space than what they were given in the manga. Also stan Gilda.

[butteerfly]

Argentine Oikawa dating you

headcanons 🦋

ok well after not having seen any hc of Argentine oikawa, I thought a lot about doing it, I hope you have fun reading this bc I love it.

warnings: everyone age up, mention of alcohol and drugs

when you started dating Oikawa you never thought he would be such a clingy boyfriend

He can't take his hands off you, he always wants to hug you, he always wants to kiss you, he always wants you on his lap.

And the most shocking part of this is that he doesn't even mind being in public or surrounded by his Japanese friends. (can you imagine shoyo seeing a pretty girl on oikawa? omg)

He laughs at your shyness because he used to be the same, but after so long in the South American country he got used to many things and this kind of physical contact is one of those things. (Of course, if you tell him that you are uncomfortable, he will not insist and he will not invade your personal space)

ok but listen to me, he would FORCE you to try Roberto's mother's empanadas (the club's janitor) because he says they are DELICIOUS and he doesn't lie.

and the Milanesas? God, you can't believe how much he loves them.

you once looked for a tutorial on YouTube (which was hard for you to understand because paulina cocina only speaks Spanish) because you wanted to surprise him with his favorite milanesas and when he discovered it he just couldn't stop telling you how much he loves you.

now let's talk about alcohol

his friends did it to him and now it's your turn because oh no, you are not going to escape

the first time he made you try fernet you almost threw up all your lunch because god that thing is disgusting 💀💀

BUT when he mixed that drink with coke, everything was a different story and there you understood perfectly what your boyfriend was trying to show you.

He also showed you the mate and at first it was strange for you, mostly because it looked like weed 💀💀 he had to SWEAR to you that what you were drinking was not drug.

Once you went to Japan to celebrate the New Year and as a Christmas present he brought dulce de leche for everyone (he had a problem with customs and the airport for the amount 💀)

You didn't go for Christmas because he refused not to go to the family "reunion" of one of his friends ... when you arrived it was a big party full of food, drink and a big family

he made you dance "Rodrigo" and "Gilda" all night, you guys left the house at 6am and the party wasn't even over

ok it was ENOUGH with the food, let's talk about oikawa

He greatly appreciates that you decided to move in with him, even when everything is new and overwhelming, you accepted it without objection

Tooru likes to take you to Buenos Aires a lot and you hate him because it's a long trip from San Juan

sometimes he says "la concha de tu madre wifi de mierda tanto te ibas a cortar telecentro sos nefasto" AND YOU JUST- tooru are u okay? 💀

his new insults are strange

in fact his friends and teammates call him TOTO it's so hilarious, iwaizumi laughs a lot at that name

Oikawa is a very affectionate boyfriend and since he met you he never stopped dedicating soda stereo songs to you

once you looked for the translation of "Persiana Americana" and when you read "your clothes fall slowly, I am a spy, a spectator" "I know it excites you to think how far I'll go " you couldn't help but BLUSH

actually "La ciudad de la furia" is now your favorite song :)

yeah Tooru made you love old music

But that doesn't mean he doesn't turn Miranda up to the full volume he can when he wants to clean 🙄

he constantly says wos supremacy

his bio of his side on Twitter is stan wos or you will die, a whole drama queen

He doesn't know if he wants to take you on a honeymoon to Neuquén or to Brazil

He loves this new culture as much as he loves you and he appreciates that you want to share all these new experiences with him, holding his hand tight <3

🇦🇷 🇦🇷 🇦🇷

I did it too long and I probably bored you guys sorry 😭I'm also sorry for my mistakes, English is so complicated for me 🤧🤧

[chidoroki]

The Promised Neverland S2EP5

aka: (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

“Identity” will temporarily relieve some of the stress I’ve had the last couple hours because I have no doubt this episode is gonna bring it all back somehow.

I can’t believe we’re already getting a look at the demon villages.. this is way too soon.

And the four of them have their demon disguises.. which, of course, baffles me. It’s because of the research the GP kids had from their time at the hunting ground that made these disguises so convincing.. so how did our escapees manage to pull it off?

Also, high-key missing Zack and Violet right now. This is so upsetting.

The figure in the blue hood though.. it’s not one of our kids so who?

They’re really at the temple now.. do they know how significant this place is to the story or is this just a major plot convenience? Or are we gonna completely cut of The 7 Walls too?

It really is fucking 2047.. goddamn it.

Okay but the soundtrack is real nice right now, I’ll give them that. Again using the lullaby’s melody.

So you’re telling me the kids set up base in this temple. I’m impressed but also concerned as previously stated above.

Ahh Emma, you’re beautiful! I really didn’t think we would get to see you a little bit grown up like this so soon..

Yvette also has her goggles and Anna’s hair grew out again too.

Our girl is such a sweetheart but please don’t push yourself so much! Y’all can share food!

Emma looks so defeated, aww. (but then again, the anime didn’t make you do much in the span of a whole year now did they..)

“I’m starting to hate myself.” Aaaahhh stop, you’ll break my heart if you say such things!!

Of course Ray notices something is bothering her. Good boy!

Aww honey, I’d give you a hug right now if I could.

“I’m alive right now because I escaped with you.” AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! RAY!!! This is why he is best boy! He just put my heart back together with that one!

Thoma and Lani have demon disguises? So they’re going to head into demon towns too.. which completely ruins that one moment of theirs in ch130.

The bell rang? But everyone is here inside.. so I assume this isn’t good.

Oh is it that one old demon from ch103? The one that was sitting at the temple feeding birds?

Or maybe.. just a new demon completely. Why the kids are just standing around in the open like this though I have no idea! Unless this demon is blind perhaps?

They’re.. all familiar with this old demon too.

Emma has a heart of gold.

“At this rate, even this town will soon degenerate and become wild.” Oh so THIS is how they’re gonna find out the demon’s true nature?? No big chat with you know who much later?

The kids actually take the peaceful offerings that old demon left behind.. I know they need food but how rude.

“Even demons have families, too.” Ah, so this is what sparks Emma’s “I don’t want to kill them/No more fighting” mentality.. in this timeline anyways.

I’m surprised we’re getting a tiny glimpse of these random demon’s lives too.

Okay wait, this blue hooded figure has a group of four with them..

If this is a time skip.. why doesn’t Ray have his scarf?? First they deny us Emma’s iconic Goldy Pond outfit, and now my son’s scarf? Do they want me to cry myself to sleep every night or what?

Thoma, Lani.. what are you scheming?

Aah they got knocked over..

Oh shit! The demons noticed the shoes too!

Also, Ray’s theme “81194” kicked in! As did his and Emma’s protective instincts!

Who is this other character following them though?

Ayyy look at the duo on the rooftops!!

Look at these jumps!! I’m fairly impressed!

Gilda, uhh.. behind you?

Who is this blue hooded bastard though! And these other guys!

Oh.. uhhh, they got a knife and they certainly know how to use it.

“Emma.” ........................You know, there are times where I praise myself on recognizing voice actors.. but right now, I pray I’m completely wrong with this guess.

The duo’s reaction... oh my god.. no, stop. Shut the fuck up.

!!!!!!!!!!!! .... ???????????????????????

What? WHAT!!! HELLO??? EXCUSE ME??

NORMAN! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE!!

You are definitely NOT the white-haired boy I wanted to see this season! Fuck! I wanted Oliver, not you! You’re supposed to be “dead!”

Are Norman-stans even happy about this right now?? For real, I know people missed him but did ya really want to see him come back like this?

Oh my god.. the other four.. are they the really the Lambda crew? Wait, did we just witness Zazie kill demons?? That had to be him, he has the striped sleeves!

I... haha.. umm.. ???

.... How.

How did we get the see THEM and NOT YUUGO or the entire GOLDY POND RESISTANCE?? What the hell!

Does the Paradise hideout even exist in this timeline then?

I swear, if Ayshe gets cut as well, I’m gonna lose my goddamn mind. The same with The 7 Walls arc.

I.. can’t even function. Any hope I had about another season picking up where the main story left off just completely vanished.. fuck.

Next episode is going to be a recap apparently too.. why, I don’t know. Barely anything has happened this season with how quick they’re flying through literally everything.. so what?

Are they truly planning on finishing the story this season? I have so many questions and concerns but no energy to address them right now.

I know so many people complained about how the manga ended, but holy shit, I’ll take that over this clusterfuck any day.

Honestly, seeing Emma doubting herself (because it reminds me of ch109), Ray cheering her up, and the duo maneuvering through the demon town to lose their pursuers were the only highlights of the ep for me.

I’m sorry, I know this is probably the saltiest I’ve been after an episode, but for real.. the fuck is going on right now dude?

(I had an edit of Norman I was working on but there’s no sly humor to it anymore since he’s alive and well for everyone to see now. Damn it..)

[stray-tori]

TPN S02E09 - Initial Thoughts (anime-only)

[ Reaction video w/ captions/subs ] we collectively have a breakdown about the pen, please enjoy it pff-

.

... hmmm... yeah I... ain’t feeling it. I think my tpn feelings overall are carrying this more than anything pff. I didn’t hate it, it was just...... mediocre... like if this wasn’t tpn, I probably would have dropped it at this point.

BUT IT IS TPN SO LET��S GIVE SOME THOUGHTS.

.

. Random thoughts I don’t want to re-arrange

when Emma was like “share your pain with us!!”, I liked how Norman turned to Ray like “Ray. help. tell her I’m right” kind of like Ray did in s1 pfff-

Norman cried the words he didn’t allow himself to say in s1 :( I’M EMOTIONAL. it might not be the icing on the cake execution wise but GOD MY HEART. And knowing he’s going to die to it’s just- (well not if the pen has something to say about it but more about that later)

where- wheres my trio hug :((( RAY HUG THE CHILD NOW

it’s interesting that while Emma got the entire emotional speech spotlight, only Ray got a reaction shot to “I won’t live long”?? equivalent.... exchange...?

I thought Norman had a seizure when he broke down in front of Emma and Ray and I kinda wish he had because while it’s good to have him say it outright (a win for communicationnn), imagine THE ANGST. “I want to live with yo- *coughs up fountains of blood*”.

So. yknow that hideout Cislo or Vincent referenced when talking to Emma and Ray. Yknow where Norman hid the children they stole from farms, making it look like demons did it? ... w-what about them? will we see them? Are they getting left behind? it would have worked for Norman’s plan, since all they had to do was stay put and wait for demons to be yeeted. But now... he’d have to take them all too. But... I doubt we’re gonna introduce a bunch of new designs and characters? Or are we? Who knows. I don’t. I have unreasonably amount of protecc feelings for those children I’ve never even seen haha- WHERE ARE THEY. I mean... the plan rn is to immediately use the gate right? or is the plan to eradicte the GF farm staff and higher ups? I guess if thats the plan it might work. Or I guess the plan is to save Phil for now???

the idea of Sonju just... slicing his arm and throwing it at demons in a loop sounds so funny to me please someone make that.

I liked that Mujika turned to the lambda kids after giving a cup to the demon children but then we didn’t see their reaction or anything and then it cuts to the temple??? that was weird. was there sth missing there? confusion.

I also like Isabella remarking "[a radio] was supposed to be there" regarding the shelter, because it further heavily implies they know of the shelters and just let them be. Which further confirms that they should have just reframed the shelter and had the kids escape from it quickly but oH WELL.

I really liked demon Emma apologizing and Norman's reaction to that. it was a sweet little moment and like, the realization of apologizing for something that she didn't do but is aware of and all that. Cycle of hatred and all that shiz hell ye. Ik the anime won't rly delve into that but I kind of relish in the angst potential of the village - sure it was undone but some were still eaten and died and transforming people back won't bring those back. So, that’s some hella terrifying implications for families; and I'm assuming Norman is aware of those so. guilt time! not that he wasn't aware it was bad but yeah- I teared up at that moment :<<

I feel like this season really does its best when it’s doing the whole two worlds/species angle. Mujika and Sonju, the village, demon and human Emma... all that stuff.

I wish we had gotten more time (god this is really the season’s downfall) thought to see Vylk talk to the GF kids more often. it’s implied he told them not to hang out there before but I would have liked to have him show up a few more times before that but yeah. Runtime very RIP.

I also feel like CW is bending over backwards to put cliffhangers at the end of episodes. that was already a problem in s1 when they had Phil come in when Don and Gilda were in Isabella's room. it was obvious it'd be a copout but they still did it. I'm just wondering why we had to have Vincent disagree with the group to this extend (and if the shock value might play a part in that). we have 2 more episodes, why are they introducing more plot threads? Just streamline it you dofuses. I just don't know what good can come of it unless it's like an ultra big brain move to help them?? (and then we're back with the forcing cliffhangers thing) - if it's actual conflict, this'll just make things more confusing and clustered, and we don't have time for that right now imo. But who knows maybe it plays into something I just don't understand yet and it'll work out somehow

.

. Animation flow kinda dead.

I felt like this episode was kind of... awkwardly executed whenever something that was a slightly dynamic movement happened?

The whole bit while Emma is walking up to Norman could have been better, but it’s passable, except that a lot is spelled out for us.

But then she takes his hand really weirdly in a far away shot with bad inbetween timing?? what is that haha-

Or him collapsing is cut really weirdly. you barely really see it, you just kinda piece it together from Emma’s reaction and her catching him.

Most facial expressions are good though, which is arguably the more important part in this scene. I feel like a better execution just would have elevated it even more.

The only one I felt was really awkward in its entirety is Barbara’s scene with the children demons. I felt like that was in particular kind of stiff and the cut between the child and her was too sudden and felt jarring. TPN anime doesn’t really do that sort of stuff a lot, so imo it’s kind of “??” when they do it. With Norman it was too, but that at least had a good transition over to it (with bg and fg panning) and nice animation. Barbara’s just kind of switched. Tbh don’t switch it out, and as the child screams, switch over to her facial expression as her own voice fades into the scream? I think that would have done it too and also be low effort.

I think it’s moreso the flow of the shots than the actual shots though? it’s a bit too fast paced and sometimes missing inbetweens (like the wild demon eating sonju’s hand is literally just 2 frames) - it’s very weird. It’s jarring, but I can’t really explain why.

I’m sorry for the staff, I’m sure the production hasn’t been easy. maybe with the bluray release we’ll get some updated animations/inbetweens.

Some appreciation though:

as mentioned, most of the facial expressions, even if the body language was a bit stiff.

the cut from the trio talking to the eye-transition of the demon and the following breath animation looked nice. Also his arm regenerating!

Sonju smirking as he cuts his arm off, what a bastard

they didn’t have to show Vylk’s arm regenerating casually while they’re talking but they did.

.

. the lambda crew

If only I cared about you guys. Hahhh it’s just... introducing characters so close to the end is just. A mess. A recipe for disaster.

Where has the anime’s “show off the younger kids” angle gone? I thought they were always pretty good at that. but they haven’t really contributed anything since the whole tidbit about the older children always eating less for them. And even then it was just Lani and Thoma.

Potentially, what segments we saw in the shelter will come back for the GF raid thematically but I’m just... EH?

.

. the cure pen

at this point, just stick a syringe part at the end of the stick and just inject it and it’s gonna solve everything probably.

I just don’t understand why that needed to happen. Assuming they go to the human world, it’d be perfectly acceptable for me for medicine to be so advanced that it’d be able to like, lessen their symptoms and significantly improve their lifespan.

Don’t just... REMOVE their struggles. It’s okay to not be normal and cured. it’s okay for their lives to be impacted by it going forward. In fact, I’d much prefer that.

(added in later) OH wait they literally spell out why the cure being in the pen is meaningful - because it opens up a path where they can live through not having annihilated all the demons - it's essentially the moral "reward" for not killing them. Since they probably wouldn't have gotten it if they did that. I still think it wasn't needed and the blueprint on its own would suffice for another pen-convinience moment but I kind of get what they're going for, I just don't think it's worth it . In their case, going to the human world (while they don't know it) means having more medical expertise at their disposal which they can then use to survive. UNLESS they're actually not welcome over there and have to hide or something, in that case... that might be hard, true. I guess I'll come back to think about this once it's over. For now, it feels kind of unearned and it wouldn’t even have to be this way in my eyes which makes it somewhat worse.

But good, let’s say in-universe you need it NOW, then at least don’t put??? the medicine??? recipe??? INTO the hologram.

What if they just checked the GF blueprint and Norman goes “hey, Vincent... do you think this [database/archive room] could have some data on our experiments?” - Norman said he tried to develop a drug to help them but the supporters who had that data were purged. but... they had Smee to help them too. But SOMEHOW, a dude from 15 years ago just HAS the cure??? (at least let Norman develop it himself and have the data be just THE DATA and not the recipe).

It might still check out somewhat??

15+ years ago, James Ratri was assumingly still the gatekeeper since the switch to Peter seems somewhat recent considering his big "era of James has ended" speech.

I guess the implication is that just like Smee => Krone => Norman, a supporter all that time ago gave random person the pen when they escaped.

When Vylk found him, he also had just the data medium of the pen (not the entire pen), so maybe the farm thought they eliminated it and that’s why they didn’t change their methods to not work with those drugs anymore? It's still a bit curious that their experimentation hasn't changed at all in 15 years but maybe that's because they keep killing the smart people instead of making them scientists to research for them :D

Somewhere since those 15 years, Smee gave Krone the pen (probably a few years before she got to GF?), which means that at that point the gate the keyword "future" sent them to, was still in tact when Smee gave Krone the pen. Maybe WM wasn't discovered yet at that point?

then WM got discovered, James was chased. He made that phonecall update and was probably eventually killed, along with the human location (and likely bunkers since they knew a radio was supposed to be there, begs the question why they didn't remove it) being discovered (the one with the future keyword) and the gate there being destroyed.

The problem is just that it can make sense when you think about it for way too long and assume things in good-faith, but it still feels unearned.

Maybe I would care more or this would feel a little more earned if we knew ANYTHING about that person? They seemed fairly young, so it’s probably not Minerva/James Ratri. The “hope” talk reminded me of the book in the shelter, but I’m not sure if that checks out either? The cookies were rotten but not completely. I know cookies hold out relatively long, but would they rly not be completely rotten after 15 years? I MEAN. Maybe not. Who knows. I tried to google it but didn’t find anything. 

But anyway. That tidbit is going into my “shelter kids OC project” I guess.

But even if the worldbuilding makes sense, I think the data set in itself makes little sense?? How did they find that pen part? Did a supporter give it to them? Why do they have the cure? Clearly their group of escapees wasn’t doing too hot (#help) and they seemed relatively young too so they probably couldn’t have worked in the farm.

Were the shelter escapees lambda escapees? but if that was the case, wouldn’t the WM group have secured the cure information more properly than in just one pen (maybe it was and those were just destroyed, to be fair) - it’s just WEIRD to put the cure for Lambda experiments on the same blueprint as the GF layout??? that makes so little sense.

Plus, why would you send them to GF, when it’s so secured and all that, and not just send them to the human support place our GF kids were sent with the “future” keyword, which had a gate. Maybe it didn’t exist 15 years ago (that the humans had control over it, that is), but even then it seems weird to me to imply to send them to GF instead of one of the other gates that existed. I mean. The “future” location’s gate wasn’t destroyed when Krone got the pen right?

I’m guessing maybe it was meant as help for escaping? But then again, why the cure? I guess if they met lambda experiments? I’m just confused.

Also: do we just accept that the layout of GUARDS and SECURITY MEASURES has not changed in 15 years???

.

*sigh* welp. Still looking forward to seeing some stuff with Isabella hopefully. Time... is not on their side and it shows. Neither run-time wise nor production wise.

[billblok]

      In the dusty village of Griffonstone-- or at least what was left of Griffonstone-- Gallus did not have many friends. As a matter of fact he didn't have any friends to speak of. That was the way of Griffonstone after all; you were only as valuable as the bits you had to your name, and only as so far as a means to acquire value. Things like that do not make it easy for an adolescent griffon, especially one as broke as poor Gallus. And of course, let's not forget his natural plumage somewhat closely matching the wonderbolt uniform made him an easy target for mockery and bullying by other griffons who either did not know or care that their ruined country was by no means an enemy of Equestria. To top it all off his own family thought he was a burden and a responsibility forced upon them that they'd rather do without. No griffon would ever care about him.     Or at least that was what he was convinced of until after an exceptionally bad day he turned in desperation to his big sister Gabby. He ranted, raved and screamed all his frustrations at her, talking about how he hated Grandpa Gruff's lack of sympathy for him or the rest of the family, how he hated Gilda not stopping and even joining in on the bullying he got and just how sick he was of her babying him all the time. He was expecting her to snap back and make him stay outside overnight-- it's what Gilda would have done anyway. And yet through his long winded fit Gabby never interrupted him or yelled back, she just sat and listened intently. When Gallus ran out of breath and things to say, his big sister just smiled and pulled him close and tucking his head underneath her chin. When she reached around his back with one arm, Gallus was confused. "What're you doing?" he asked.

    "Aw c'mon Gallus, don't tell me you've never heard of a hug!" She answered with a cheery laugh. "I wanted to be nice to you because I know just how mean everyone else is, but I'm sorry for babying you. are you gonna be okay?"    Sniffling and still confused by the affection, Gallus half-heartedly wrapped his arms around her to return the gesture. "You... just wanted to be nice to me? Why didn't I know about this sooner?"

    Gabby didn't bother answering the question right away, at least not until she knew he didn't want to let go yet. "I dunno Gallus, I thought it was obvious? You're much more important to me than some stupid gold coins."

   -----

    The picture took me about three hours. The little story for it took me two. Gah, this is what happens when you've got youtube on the other monitor grabbing your attention.

     Also this takes into account a head-canon of mine that Gabby, Gilda, Gallus and Grandpa Gruff are all related. make of that as you will.

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

Since I've gotten quite a lot of milage off stealing your opera production game, I'll ask about Rigoletto, Der Rosenkavalier, and Eugene Onegin!

I’ve already done Onegin. :)

Rigoletto:

First, Rigoletto is one of those operas that I feel like would benefit from a more intimate, almost chamber-opera style take. You can still have some glitz and glamor for that first party scene, but for the rest of the opera, I’d go dark, muted, rundown, even crumbling; and I’d make it more of a small-scale affair.

The Duke is all gaudiness, no substance, just over-the-top, tacky, dripping-with-jewels-and gold style. No one else is dressed like this.

Rigoletto and Gilda. MY HEART, Rigoletto and Gilda. They deserve better, but I digress. Rigoletto absolutely has to be played as a dad who’s just trying to do what’s best for his daughter, even though he has no clue that it’s actually the worst he can do for his daughter. Gilda loves her dad, but she’s no wilting flower- she needs to be bold, curious, and fierce. They have to play off each other really well, like “I’m trying to do what’s best for you!” “Well, this isn’t what’s best for me!” and so on.

There’s a lot of subversion going on in this opera, and I would try to reflect that. The big one I can think of right now is the ending: audiences would most likely have expected a “the Duke gets punished” ending, but he walks away scot-free. I’d have him stroll across the back of the stage while singing that last “La donna e mobile” reprise to further emphasize both this and the injustice of him not being punished.

Really, the whole thing should be gritty and dark, not just the set. This is a dark, gritty opera, almost verismo but not quite. It’s such a timeless opera that I don’t think the setting really matters much at all. Just get the right mood and focus on really telling the story, and it’ll be great.

Der Rosenkavalier:

This is not an opera I know super-in-depth, but here we go anyway. :)

I think this opera is, first and foremost, about time/age. This is the Marschallin’s primary concern, and the opera has a pretty big generational divide- the Marschallin, Ochs, and von Faninal belong to an old generation of arranged marriages and stuffy ceremonies and whatnot; Octavian and Sophie, to a young generation of idealism and love and freedom to choose; although they start trapped by the old generation, they break free. As a result, I’d set the opera in a time and place where some major societal changes are either happening or have just happened, and where people are resisting change accordingly. The 1920s sounds appealing in this respect, although that’s just an idea.

Also, sorry everyone who hated the Decker Traviata (which I didn’t hate), but for the first and last scenes, I’d have a huge clock onstage, and (not in the Decker) also a huge mirror, to emphasize the Marschallin’s struggle with her getting older.

Costumes: GIVE ME ALL THE PRETTY, BRIGHTLY-COLORED COSTUMES. Also, the Marschallin and Sophie should wear identical costumes in the final scene.

Another thing I’d focus on is that ultimately, this opera is most definitely not men’s world (you can pry Octavian being genderfluid from my cold, dead hands): it’s ultimately the ladies and Octavian who stop the arranged marriage, expose Ochs for the lecherous bastard he is, and pave the way for a new world and a new generation. The most powerful figure in the opera is a woman, don’t forget that either.

That’s all for right now. :)