#also yes I did take twice as long to watch the episode because I was searching for a wild Nico in the background

[pinkcori]

I love the Percy Jackson show so much. It legitimately brings so much joy into my life each week.

It feels like a GOOD adaptation. Obviously it was never gonna be 1:1 to the books but it has still managed to emulate the story I loved as a smol Cori so well that I feel nostalgic and get so genuinely happy whenever I watch a new episode. Legitimately there hasn’t been a change to the story that doesn’t pay off in some way. It always gives us MORE which is so so nice.

Everyone in this show is amazing and I’m so heckin grateful for each and every one of them for helping to bring this story to life. 😭

(Also it’s really fucking funny to watch new people get into the show. I feel like an old villain watching people simp over you know who, who’s gonna do you know what. BUT ITS HILARIOUS)

[s-wave-entertainment]

Okay I'm doing it I'm making that long-winded post about N-

Your honor, this boy never Actually Wanted to kill.

Now for most of you, I'm sure you already knew this. It's not all too hard to perceive, seeing as we've really only seen him in full blown kill mode twice, and there's a hypothesized good reason for the first and an ACTUAL good reason for the second. But I'm making this post anyway because this little murder robot has a heart core of gold, and he makes me so fucking sad sometimes so I just have to scream about it. MOVING ON:

Exhibit A: The Landing

Both times we see N in full blown (worker) kill mode* were in the pilot; once when he first landed back at the spire and attacked Uzi, and the other when he raided the bunker pursuing her. I'll refer to the first time here as "The Landing (TL)." In this sequence we watch him slam down onto the ship, finish off the oil in some poor sap's head, then attack Uzi as soon as he realizes she's there. What's my reasoning for this? Hunger.

N says, a little more than 3 minutes later, that he kills for one of two reasons:

1) If he doesn't, he dies.

2) It's his job, and he wants to be useful.

Now take this next take with a bit of salt, as it's completely headcanoned, but I personally think that N dislikes hunting as a whole. Despite his desire to be useful, it still means he has to kill - which I think if he CAN avoid at a given time, he will. Thus, in my opinion, N only hunts either when J forces him to, or when he knows he's at risk of overheating. Overheating does shit to robot brains, as we saw with Uzi in episode 4, so if N was out HUNTING - which he does when he's close to overheating - when TL occurred, it's only NATURAL that he sees a worker in his space and his first thought is "kill." He was ALREADY in hunting mode - I imagine it doesn't just "turn off" the second they satiate the initial urge. If it did, that wouldn't work too well for The Solver, now would it (yes I know that when the Earth AND the gala massacre occurred none of them had any jurisdiction over their bodies/actions, but the Solver openly admit to allowing them to keep their personalities, and knowing N I think the whole "killing for sport" thing doesn't work too well with his)?

So of course he attacks Uzi - he was likely still hungry, and hungry means risk for overheating, which can translate to death. I will admit, he did seem to toy with her just a little before going for the kill, but actually I think the whole "throwing her across the area with his tail" was more to disorient Uzi, as from the dodge he had just witnessed her perform could signify to him that she's more competent in a fight than the first appeared, even disarmed. Thus, the need to both injured and discombobulate her arose. I'll talk more about N's fighting style in the second incident here:

Exhibit B: The Bunker

Now the bunker has a different reason altogether: protection of his fellow squad mates. Don't believe me? I was hoping you'd say that:

He only goes AFTER Uzi after he realizes that she's made off with the weapon that took his head off. Yes, she missed and he was able to regenerate, but if Uzi had hit just a little bit lower, she would have hit his core - which would have permakilled him. Surely realizing this, he runs off and attacks the bunker with what given reason?

It wasn't about him. It was NEVER about him. It was about V. He wanted to keep HER safe, he wanted to make sure Uzi wouldn't shoot HER with that gun. Now, why all the unecessary carnage then? In THIS case, I think he defaulted to wanting to be useful and thus making all of the kills that he did. Though, it could also be argued just as fairly that he was consuming so much oil/matter to ensure that if she DID shoot him again, he would be able to get back up faster. The gun has a cool down, yes, but I don't know if he knew that. Or if he did, he couldn't have known that it only lasted for 30 minutes. Now about that fighting style I mentioned - this is why I think the reasoning here was purely for utility: N appears to have a very cut-and-run fighting style. If he has a choice, he doesn't prolong his kills - the first guy he stabs through the chest then immediately takes his head off, the second dies via missile, the third N just tackles and kills himself (we only hear the guy scream fir a second before N is seen drinking oil from his neck, which leads me to believe that the death was quick), and Braxton dies via super accurate cutting-you-in-half laser (which was probably meant for Uzi, but he couldn't see them when he fired as he was too busy drinking, so he probably just latched onto the voice that he heard and fired). All deaths which were extremely fast and without any toying, despite the multitude of weapons used. Now to me, this implies that he has a style, and he sticks with it. And that style is just to /get the damn thing over with./

And that's it! Those are the only times we see him in worker kill mode. Now we do see him switch into a "general" kill mode when he takes "Tessa's" head off, but it's pretty plainly obvious that that took every ounce of his mental strength to do. I mean shit, he basically collapsed as soon as it was over and didn't regulate until Uzi took his hand. Now I guess it could be argued that that was "his friend" so of course he's more hesitant to kill her, but I think part of the reason it was So Hard is because he ALREADY doesn't favor killing, and now he has to behead the only human who ever showed him any kindness. AND THEN IT WASN'T EVEN HER, SO-

And don't bring up the episode 8 fight - OBVIOUSLY he's gonna fight to kill, he's recovering the memory of everything this thing has done to him and now he has two new motivators: love, and WRATH. I make exception for that fight because quite frankly if he WASN'T fighting to kill at that point I would be worried. Though I do wanna bring up that he was very obviously conflicted about the whole thing. And before you argue:

Even against THE SOLVER ITSELF, he was still incredibly conflicted about killing. Again, that used to be his friend (and is wearing the SKIN OF THE ACTUAL HUMAN HE THOUGHT HE KILLED NOT EVEN A CANON 20 MINUTES AGO FOR THEM), but even still, my earlier point of "already doesn't favor killing, forced to kill" still stands.

In conclusion - your honor, N is a sweetheart. Always has been, despite everything he's been forced to do. And the amount of guilt he probably feels for the oil (and blood, now that he remembers that) on his hands is probably so, so much. Too much. Why do you think he copes with repression and positivity?

*"Worker Kill Mode" specified because I acknowledge that he kind of has two kill modes - one where he's in control and one where he's Not, as the Solver's puppet.

[aprillikesthings]

the problem when I watch literally any of She-Ra is the constant, constant urge to screenshot and yell about it. I suspect it's because that's what I did for my "every episode in order" one back in January-March, and then it just became a habit; but also the PROBLEM is that the show rewards rewatches, and I keep NOTICING shit, and I have a LOT OF FEELINGS and also sometimes shit is just FUNNY and then I want tO YELL ABOUT IT

Anyway this post brought to you by the moment in White Out when Adora says "Catra...*chuckles* ...she's mean," while "floppy" because she's smiling while she says it and also doesn't sound, uh, upset about it. She sounds the same way I would if I was drunk and talking how hot Catra is when she's a bitch lolol

But ALSO a bit before that Glimmer says "UGHHH Catra is the WORST" but when Catra starts fighting her she says, "Always great to see you, Sparkles, but we're a little busy here!" and yes she's being sarcastic but I'm just like aaahahaha the problem is that this show set up "fighting/taunting can also be flirting" and then had those two *also* do that.

I really wish I didn't get hungover the way I do now when I drink, or I'd think it would in fact be hilarious to get trashed and then record me talking about Catra. Tho the posts I make after edibles are bad enough!!

Anyway I am also just constantly rewinding and pausing the fucking show! Even without taking screenshots every episode takes twice as long to watch. The only time I don't do that is watching with other people!!

[ljblueteak]

Watching Chase (8x12), I'm thinking House and Chase can be quite similar when religious faith gets in their way. Generally, House isn't a fan of religion but will tolerate it unless it's throwing up a roadblock while Chase is much more respectful of religion and is, at times, actually religious. Except when religion is throwing up an obstacle he wishes it wouldn't.

He suspects Moira's becoming a nun for the wrong reasons in Chase and he feels a connection with her and wants to be with her. He winds up sounding a lot like House here:

Chase: What day did Jesus die? Moira: I know, one gospel says Passover; another says the day before. Chase: How many times did the cock crow before Peter's third denial? Once or twice? Moira: You can't argue away my faith. Chase: Why? Because it's so strong even plain contradictions…

Gave me flashbacks to House's "Would you pull an ass out of a pit on the Sabbath?" to Cole in 4x02, The Right Stuff and Wilson saying this about House in Private Lives (6x15) "He reads the Bible, he reads the Quran. He says he likes to know what mistakes people are making."

In Chase, House intervenes when Chase wants to try to convince Moira she didn't have a near-death experience of God:

Chase: She's throwing away her life because of blind faith. House: So are you! She's found something she wants to build her life around. It's a total illusion, but apparently she'll take a little ignorance with her bliss. And you want to take that away? Chase: How many times have you thrown the truth in people's faces? House: Because it's the truth, not because we're gonna live happily ever after. Either your relationship just blows up like every other non-magical romance, or she stays with you but blames you for stripping all the meaning out of her life.

But! It's also in Chase that House wonders whether Chase's own near-death experience means that he's becoming more religious and he is not supportive and happy about it because it might influence whether Chase comes back to the team and/or how he'll practice medicine. He says, "'Noradrenaline and near-death experiences.' Oh, dear. You saw God?" when he sees Chase is reading a study on near-death experiences and in the same episode, asks "You turning back to your long-abandoned faith in time of trouble?" in a way that, imo, implies mockery and arguing will result if Chase says yes.

House tells Chase, "God's loss, our gain" when Chase says God didn't talk to him while he was in seminary (House v. God, 2x19) and it seems like he doesn't realize that Chase still prays on his own (Forever) or that he's willing to pray with patients (Damned if You Do), or that even if he's not 100% positive there's a higher power out there, he'll talk to one like there's someone listening ("Sometimes I need to think there’s something out there paying attention. So when I can’t talk to anybody, I talk to God, and pretend somebody’s listening," 3x20, House Training). I think that's why he doesn't make fun of Chase for having been in seminary and is fine with the House v. God scoreboard. He's pretty sure Chase's faith is "long abandoned."

I'd say it's not, but not in a way that would get in House's way. As Chase says in Here Kitty (5x18), "I really believe that there are things that science can't understand. That there is a role for faith and prayer. But it's in the waiting room. Not the O.R."

Chase ultimately decides not to argue further with Moira and leaves her with, "I'm happy I knew you." But it was interesting to see how being genuinely interested in her (it's not just that he wants a relationship with her—he also seems to really think she's joining religious life for the wrong reason) shaped how he talked about religion and his own experiences with it. He doesn't want her to join, which is why he was talking up what a mistake it had been for him to be in seminary. And it was a mistake for him, but I don't think he'd necessarily have talked about it the same way to someone other than her. He doesn't talk about it quite the same way in Damned if You Do. For example, though he does say that he failed the test of faith, he's largely more supportive of it, even if he suggests that doing good in the world is more important than serving "Our Lord" in a monastery.

[spacenightwing]

Guys… I just have to… okay listen

I picked up the Lighting Thief while in was at a Target with my mom while I was in 8th grade. I hated reading. I hated it. I’d rather do a multiplication table test then partake in popcorn reading (if you know you know, and if you know how much I HATE math that means something).

I’m sitting here right now post-episode 8 (yes I did cry like a baby thank you for asking) watching the behind the scenes documentary A Hero’s Journey.

8th grade me could have NEVER imagined the journey PJO would take. Or the journey I would take in the years of The Lightning Thief to the Sun and the Star, all the way to a freaking faithful series adaptation.

PJO introduced me to fandom. I remember seeking out PJO fan fiction because The Lost Hero came out, there was no Percy, and it was going to be a year long wait to figure out where this “other camp” was. I remember finding every Viria fan art I could find. It’s not even funny how many times over I’ve watched the Viria “How Far We’ve Come” music art video since the drop of episode 1

PJO taught me to love reading. PJO lead me to Hunger Games, Legend and The Young Elites, Rot & Ruin, The Hate U Give, An Ember in the Ashes, Born A Crime, Island of Sea Women, Alex Rider, A Woman of No Importance, Skyhunter, Eragon, Barrackkn: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo”, The Sun is Also A Star, Revolution for Dummies, and so so so so many more. It’s because of PJO that I have flown on the backs of dragons, won and lost revolutions, been to the ends of Tartarus and Isihogo (Twice!), saw the world through a spy’s eyes, been the villain, been the hero, and lived more lives than one is allowed to live in one life.

That 8th grader in Target had no idea what she was getting herself into. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Thank you Uncle Rick. Thank you to the whole Disney+ Team that made this season reality.

Uncle Rick. Thank you for a million of your stories, and a million more that you opened up to me.

(Every title and author is tagged below if you want to see more 🩵)

[vagueeyes]

So last summer, when listening to the in9 pods & commentaries, I twice picked Reece up on mentioning something about Hitchcock and the "bomb under the table", but I never looked up what that was.

Last week, I watched BECOMING HITCHCOCK: THE LEGACY OF BLACKMAIL where, at one point, the "bomb under the table" was mentioned, and I finally found out what it was (and later realized this was actually a very famous quote...I'm ashamed not to have known it despite being a Hitchcock fan!!):

The last bit of that video is interesting and wasn't something I found when initially googling the "bomb theory". Reece & Steve have talked about writing moments of tension and then letting the audience off the hook with a laugh - I believe this has been mentioned in the TLOG commentaries as well (one of the live shows?).

I racked my brain for quite some time on just where this was mentioned, and it finally clicked for me today that it was in the "Private View" commentary and the "Misdirection" BBC Sounds pod. (ofc it was when discussing the murder-mystery eps!!!)

Attempted to transcribe the commentary & pod because I don't want to forget this again (forgive the terrible punctuation):

PRIVATE VIEW commentary @ 20:27

Steve: We got to this point and we thought, "Right, rather than leave the unmasking of the killer right to the very end, which would be the obvious way of doing a twist ending, we'll reveal now", or coming up – Reece: Well, then it takes the heat off it being a massive reveal at the end, because if you're getting it, it's like, well, don't worry, we want you to know at this point. Steve: Well, the fewer people that are alive, the more you're likely to guess. Reece: Yes, and also it's nice that then the tables are turned as far as the audience knowing who the killer is, but the people that are innocent don't, and then you're ahead of them. Steve: Exactly, you can enjoy that. Reece: It's like the Hitchcock thing of telling people that there's a bomb under the table.

MISDIRECTION – Inside Inside No. 9 pod @ 01:32

Steve: So, this is the fourth episode, and it centers on magic, and it's fair to say you love magic. Reece: Yes, magic. Well, we always wanted to do one sort of in that world – or I did – but I think, actually, thinking about it, one of the things that got us through it was the idea of doing a Columbo episode, wasn't it? It was a murder where you knew the person had done it and it was how they got caught. That was an appealing set up. Steve: Very often with these episodes, we're kind of holding something back, and it was great, with this one, to begin with a big action set piece and kill off a character who you may have thought could've been going on to the end. Reece: Yes, and I remember in the edit, this was long, wasn't it? It was quite long, and there was suddenly a version where we thought you could cut the beginning off and start with Neville successful, then halfway through let the penny drop that he'd done this thing. (Steve: What, so cut me out of it entirely? Reece: No, you'd have been back in it as a reveal – Steve: What, as a flashback? Reece: – as to what happened. Well yeah, then you'd have been in a flashback rather than a – Steve: Mm, I wasn't party to that decision. Reece: No, no, you were.) Obviously, it was better the way it was because then you were watching, like the Hitchcock thing, isn't it, of the bomb under the table, where he says there's two people talking about baseball, and they're talking about baseball and then the whole thing blows up because there was a bomb under the table; but then if you show the bomb under the table and then see them talking about baseball – Steve: You've got the tension. Reece: – you've got the tension, and that's sort of what we went with.

[respectthepetty]

I know you've been getting a bunch of asks about your favourite qls, but I'm specifically curious about what your favourite *chaotic* qls are.

Off the top of my head, some chaotic qls I enjoyed were Chains of Heart (THE GLOVE DISCOURSE, THE SUBTITLES, etc) and Big Dragon (asshole4asshole? no. clown4clown), while also enjoying the way that the shows were shot.

@kayatoasted, I'm re-reading this ask to make sure I don't answer it with my favorite *trashy* qls, like Hit Bite Love and Together With Me.

You want *chaotic* and they had to be beautifully shot, so although I love the chaos known as Love Mechanics and Dangerous Romance, both had beautiful shots but weren't consistently beautifully shot.

And I had to have enjoyed not only how it was shot but the show itself, so shows like Vice Versa and Only Friends are out.

No, you want my favorite beautifully shot *chaotic* qls that stayed chaotic which significantly reduces the list, but I can give it to you!

My Favorite Beautifully Shot Chaotic BLs

given in no particular order, and much like this subject, this list is chaos

Dee Hup House - Yes, the entire house

I'm not coming for Director Tee or Cinematography Jim. Their shows are beautiful and more adult. I have loved every single one of them. But the endings . . . ? The endings wobble in Step by Step, Something in My Room, Hidden Agenda, and I Feel You Linger in the Air. Yes, I'm including the last one because Tee & Co seem to pick long ass novels that should be multiple seasons, yet a lot of nothing gets shoved into each over-an-hour-long episode, which causes chaos. Even Lovely Writer, which I love the ending, had a moment with the dad's reveal that didn't have time to get fleshed out. Look at Step by Step. We had an entire baby happen in three episodes when the side couple fizzled. I will watch every show from this company and gush about it, but I know it's going to be beautiful chaos.

Big Dragon - Duh!

I'm not going to defend this show. Y'all already know I love this show. It was beautiful. It was chaotic. It was the moment. Period.

Chains of Heart - It's a given

You mentioned it in your ask with reasons why: It was beauty. It was grace. Then, it kicked us in the face. The plot itself was hard to grasp, but the subs only made it worse! Who was who? Why were there so many Men in Black? How did they all fit into the plot? Why would Din volunteer for an entire face transplant only to reappear, never tell Ken it was actually him, then disappear again?! And yet the cinematography was selling this wonderful vision to me each and every episode. I hated it there, and I need more of it immediately. WHERE IS MY SPECIAL EPISODE?!

Not Me - Think about it

We all need to be very honest with ourselves, and really reflect on the premise of this show. Todd put Black in the hospital, proceeds to call his twin, White, to act as him. White says yes even though he has absolutely no idea about Black's life, but he gets a big ass tattoo and his ass kicked multiple times by Sean (because he can't fight). While that is happening, we have Yok chasing around a rouge artist who is actually a cop named Dan who killed [spoilers] dad and Gram is apparently straight the entire time. Then, Papang is in it. Oh, and let's not forget being held hostage in a black van that protestors beat on until the kidnappers, just, let, them, go. Sure, Jan. And I didn't even mention Sean's leap across buildings! It was a good show. It's in my tops. I love it. The rainbow flag scene is embedded in my heart with the other beautifully shot protest scenes. But it was chaos! Let's hold space for that truth.

609 Bedtime Story - Messed up TWICE!

I enjoyed this show until I didn't, and that was when we got TWO endings, yet neither made sense. The colors in the show were immaculate. The plot though? Chaos. One character was traveling back in time and the other was traveling forward, but they weren't even in the same dimension. Then, the sister could not take a fucking hint and ruined the central love story by being a dramatic heterosexual. The point of the time travel was useless because one of the characters still died, but it didn't matter since that character was still alive in the other dimension and . . . MAKE IT MAKE SENSE, MARY!

Cupid's Last Wish - It was the mom for me!

EarthMix have gotten Director Aof twice, so maybe this is why this series, which isn't Aof, feels like chaos. It has such amazingly gorgeous outdoor shots, that I wonder if Thailand's Ministry of Tourism sponsored some part of this show. The series is a great advertisement for Thailand's beautiful landscape and cuisine, but then we have that plot. Body-swapping isn't the issue, at least not for me. The issue is the timeline. For a man who wanted to get out of his sister's body as quickly as possible, Win was doing the most to hold up the process. Oh, AND THE DAMN MOTHER! She was the true villain of the show, which got glossed over in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment. I'll never get over that reveal even though the show wanted me to by the next scene. She really did that shit and kept it a whole ass secret until the very last damn moment. *looks into the distance at a baby cow* AHHHHHHH!

The Director Who Buys Me Dinner - In short

I'm going to quit picking on Thailand for two seconds to pick on Korea instead. Like all the others on this list, I like this show, and I've actually rewatched it a few times because I think it's pretty and it's so short. But there lies the problem - It's too short. The math was not mathing and the plot was not plotting. It skipped over information that was pivotal to the story. I still have no idea what that idol business was really about. From what the kind folks of Tumblr gathered, the idol was apparently supposed to get the guy in their past lives, but the other guy stole him and that's why he was crazy. How hard would that have been to explain to the audience? I did it in less than a sentence, but apparently the show spent its budget on lighting and not screenwriting or editing.

#1 - Mood Indigo - A masterpiece!

I wrote that these weren't ranked, yet here is number one in "My Favorite Beautifully Shot Chaotic BLs" list. The other shows on this list are child's play in comparison to the second installment that serves as the prequel in The Pornographer/The Novelist series. Regardless if it's a BL or not, leave it to Japan to offer me this deliciously beautiful chaos. Unlike all the other shows, the plot of this show is not what makes it chaotic, but . . . it is. It's not chaotic in the sense that it's disorganized or doesn't make sense. It makes perfect sense, and that's why it is chaos. It's supposed to be.

One character is depressed and has no fucks to give, so if something stirs an emotion in him, he does it without question (including giving the other character a bj in front of the older man who demanded it for another novel). Then, we have the other character who should be the more logical of the two, but somehow he is worse. I. Love. It. Everything that happens in this series makes everything we saw in the first season click into place including why these two toxic assholes are 1) toxic, 2) assholes, and 3) STILL FRIENDS!

God, they're awful.

I love them.

[dangerliesbeforeyou]

someone on twitter posted this chart that showed the average ratings for the inside no 9 episodes and i was FLABBERGASTED by the results of it... and like i didn't think my opinions on the eps were particularly Hot Takes but... now i'm not sure lol...

anyway prepare for a (very VERY long... i wrote over 4700 words what is WRONG with me lol?!?!) ranking list that no one asked for and no one wants lol

firstly check out the post i was talking about here (and potentially be equally as shocked at the results as i was lol)

ok so i will preface by saying i have seen most of the episodes twice, but some only the once atm... also, i kinda haphazardly put this list together so it's potentially subject to change lol

final thing is that i dont thing any of the episodes are BAD, even my least favourite are still good bits of telly, but ultimately i liked them less for whatever reason (which i'll go into because i love to ramble)...

i'll try not to do any spoilers in case anyone's reading this (lol) and hasn't seen the series (double lol)

also also we're going from my least to my most favourite because that builds suspense soooo.... here we go!

55) 1.4 Last Gasp

ok so i've not just put this one last because reece isn't in it lol (though that is part of the reason(ha) lmao). though i found the premise of this episode interesting, i think ultimately the characters and direction of the story felt a lot like something you would see in a sorta run-of-the-mill sitcom... which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just not really what i personally look for in an in9 ep lol...

54) 2.5 Nana's Party

another with a similar sorta vibe to the previous one, this is just slightly higher because i enjoyed the characters a bit more here lol... i think the 'twist' of this one was a little bit lame, though, if i'm being totally honest lol...

53) 5.3 Love's Great Adventure

i appreciated what this one was going for, and i think it built up the characters with each new day in a really believable way, but mostly i just found it Okay and not super memorable... i will say that i wish i could put this higher because the kid in this was genuinely adorable & his interactions with everyone were so sweet lol

52) 1.6 The Harrowing

a slightly disappointing episode for me, especially when the set up was SO good... and yes it was DEFINITELY let down by steve not being in it lol! i totally get why they wanted to try some eps without the both of them, but yeh it really felt like it was missing something for me...

the end was alright, but i kinda wish they'd gone further with it? i did enjoy the characters though and ofc helen mccrory is a goddamn LEDGE in it lol

51) 3.2 The Bill

this might be the first of my potentially Hot Takes(tm) lol... i thought it was just Fine lol... definitely some great interactions, and the premise is hilarious, but i wouldn't say it was one that stuck with me particularly? it kinda felt like a cut league of gentlemen gag which isn't a BAD thing, but because of that it didn't feel totally new/unique to in9... idk lol... great supporting cast, though, ofc!

50) 7.3 3 by 3

this one was definitely good fun, and lee mack is great in it, but it's not one i necessarily see myself watching again any time soon? i think part of this is because i didn't see this live, or witness all the Bus Episode(tm) fuckery so i think i am at a kinda disadvantage lol... but yeah mainly sad that neither steve nor reece are in it :(

49) 1.2 A Quiet Night In

another potentially Hot Take here lol... though i liked the whole idea of it being silent comedy, i think it was let down by a couple things. first, i kinda wish it had leaned more visually into the sorta slapstick/charlie chaplin era they were referencing (like i get they probably thought that it being in black and white would be a bit TOO on the nose, but idk... i kinda think it would've added to it? that might just be me though lol... i just like when things are in black and white lol)

honestly though? my main issue was the lame transphobic joke they made w/ oona chaplin's character lol... like even for 2014, the whole 'haha woman have penis = peak comedy' was a bit tired of a trope, coupled by what happens to her at the end of the episode? idk... rubbed me the wrong way and kinda stopped me from fully loving this episode lol

48) 5.1 The Referee's A Wanker (no i'm not censoring it like it does on the iplayer fuck that lol)

i'm kinda let down by being infinitely bored by anything football related with this one lol... like i liked some of the twists, and also the final twist (after my dad explained it to me because at first i was like huh what lol...), and the characters were fun, but yeh... not really much to say other than 'it was alright lol'

47) 4.5 And The Winner Is…

i actually did mostly enjoy this one lol! we're mostly getting to the ones now that i have minimal bad things to say about (which at number 47 out of 55 is p impressive lbr)

but yeh, the reveal of this was great, and i loved the individual characters (shout out to zoë wanamaker, she stole my heart lol <3) i suppose it's just kinda low because it wasn't that exciting lol? but yeh, a solid episode anyway lol

46) 8.5 Nine Lives Kat

i loved a lot about this one, the kinda russian doll style of reveals were really clever tbh! this is one that i've only seen once and i really do feel like i should watch this one again to get my full thoughts... so who knows, its ranking might change if i were to watch it again lol

also that kiss though 👀

45) 5.4 Misdirection

i loved the opening bit, plus the tension of this episode was fab! the twist was kinda predictable, which i don't consider a negative thing generally but it just means that it falls lower against episodes with more surprising twists lol... it's definitely one i wanna watch a few times since there's a lot of details you miss with just one!

44) 8.4 Love Is A Stranger

this one was probably the most black mirror-y feeling episode they've ever done (which is a compliment, btw, because i genuinely love black mirror lol) not just because of the technological elements, but also with the general tone and that twist! i actually kinda liked that steve and reece took more of a step back in this one, it let the other characters really shine imo!

43) 5.5 Thinking Out Loud

i feel kinda bad for putting this one so low since i think it's probably one of the most interesting both conceptually and stylistically, but... there are just so many good episodes what am i supposed to doooooooo?? (not much i can really say about this one without giving things away... i did really enjoy steve's american accent though lol!) 42) 7.4 Kid/Nap

i thought i was gonna kinda dislike this one when i started watching, the premise is pretty simple and i like the split screen stuff but was worried it was gonna come across as a bit gimmicky, but honestly? i had a lot of fun with it! some really brilliant twists and turns, and genuinely one of the funniest of the episodes imo! held together by the great performances and simple but effective story!

41) 8.6 The Last Weekend

this probably would have been higher if i had just based it on my first watch (which was before a certain other episode came out), but on second watch (and with the context of that other episode that has a similar sorta premise but, imo, done much better)

regardless, though, this is a pretty iconic and VERY memorable episode lol!

40) 1.5 The Understudy

ok so my very tiny complaint about this is i wish there were more of the surreal elements (kinda hard to describe but if you've seen the episode you know what i'm referring to lol)... anyway i generally really love things that are set around the theatre tbh and this one really highlights just how good they are as writers with a very limited setting and selection of characters!

but yeh... wish there were more of the surreal/strange moments if had dotted around!

39) 9.5 Curse Of The Ninth

i generally loved the spooky atmosphere of this one! another one that i feel i need to rewatch, i feel like the ending felt a bit abrupt on this one and i definitely kinda wish it had been slightly longer (just like an extra 5 minutes come ON lads) but overall i really liked it! it's my least favourite of series 9, which really shows how strong of a final series it was tbh lol!

38) 6.3 Lip Service

there's so much to like in this episode; great layers of comedy and tragedy, plus the twist really caught me off-guard lol! definitely one of the more complicated episodes (and yes, i also need to rewatch this one lol...) 37) 5.2 Death Be Not Proud

i first watched this one with literally no knowledge of psychoville, but even then i still enjoyed it (also jenna coleman!!! kinda wish we'd seen more of her since she kinda got overshadowed by the psychoville characters, but she's still great lol), though rewatching it once i had watched the other show definitely made a lot of the references make more sense lol

wish i could put it higher just because mr jelly!!!!! love that guy, but the overall story isn't the most interesting or unique compared to the others, but it's still great regardless lol

36) 9.4 Ctrl Alt Esc

another episode that has a similar concept to an episode i like more, which is sorta preventing this from being any higher, but regardless i adored the setting (i've never been to an escape room but i have a strong feeling i'd love them lol), and i think it did such a good job at making us understand the family dynamics really quickly and effectively! also one of steve's strongest performances, i gotta say! he plays these kinds of understated characters so well imo

35) 7.5 A Random Act Of Kindness

i really like the episodes of in9 that feel like almost love letters to a particular subject and how that relates to people and their relationships... curse of the ninth was about music and the act of creation, misdirection was magic and revenge, and this one is dedicated to science, regret and loss! i think i kinda wish it ended in a different way, but i don't think the ending took away any of the rest of my enjoyment of the episode lol

34) 6.6 Last Night Of The Proms

i was most shocked that based on the ratings this is apparently the least liked episode lol? it's arguably the most political of the in9 episodes so i don't know if that's why people are a bit torn about it? or the religious elements lol?

either way overall i really liked it! i think it did a good job of combining the absurd premise with the slight political commentary, plus i really enjoyed the characters (and loved the thick west country accents lol)

33) 2.6 Seance Time

there are so many great elements of this that i can't talk about cos i don't wanna give away any spoilers, but honestly this one has some great twists as well as some genuinely pretty intense moments! i can't explain it but i feel like this would be a really good episode for anyone who hasn't seen the show before to start with? i just feel like it has a perfect 'inside no 9' energy to it lol

32) 8.1 The Bones Of St Nicholas

this might be one of my favourite interpretations of a typical ghost story tbh! possibly genuinely one of the only episodes of the show that actually scared me a bit, ngl! the overall spooky atmosphere is just so great. plus simon callow!!!!!!!!

31) 6.1 Wuthering Heist

another of my potential Hot Takes since a lot of people didn't seem to like this one? i found it genuinely really funny, plus the whole commedia dell'arte + the breaking the fourth wall thing were such unique concepts to throw into one episode lol! i think maybe it's because there were so many slightly strange concepts that people felt it was a bit unfocused??? idk... the ending wasn't my favourite, but i just felt generally the episode felt like nothing i'd really seen before!

also gemma whelan (whose name i had to google oops... she's SUCH a familiar face to me but i don't think i ever learnt her name lol) was so good in this lol

30) 9.6 Plodding On

sorta hard to know where to put the finale tbh... i've only watched it the once through, so definitely need to watch it again at some point. at the same time it's basically a love letter to the rest of the show itself, so it's sorta difficult to judge based on its own merit lol...

that being said, i loved the drama and tension, plus all (well most, ahem) of the cameos from all the people who were in the show in the past were really lovely!

but yeh... definitely a weird one to try and rank... almost feel like i need to put it in it's own list pfft

29) 7.2 Mr King

one of the first truly Bat Shit episodes on my list so far lol! i love the setting and the kid actors in this were INCREDIBLE honestly! another one i don't wanna say much about it because it's kinda better to go in blind lol

only thing i'll say is: ok but whose dicks were those pictures of? they probably mentioned it in a behind the scenes episode or on twitter or smth but i've not seen anything and i'm kinda intrigued did they just.... find them online? did they ask staff? how does one find random pictures of penises(peni?) to use in your dark comedy show lol???

28) 9.1 Boo To A Goose

there's a lot to love about this episode, SO many absolutely incredible british actors (joel fry, susan wokoma, mark bonnar!!!!) plus drag queen steve!??! hELLO???? AND it's on a train!!!! the twist definitely felt reminiscent of a lot of other older horror media, but that didn't stop it being surprising or memorable!

27) 4.4 To Have And To Hold

1st thing: good for her.

2nd thing, this episode was SO good! i had no idea where it was gonna go with the story so the reveal was super shocking to me, plus nicola walker seriously KILLED with her performance ngl!

this is definitely a slow burn episode, so if at any point you're feeling like it's dragging i do implore you to stick with it!

26) 4.6 Tempting Fate

now, if we were ranking these on 'how cute reece looks' then this would be in the top 3 at least sorry not sorry... unfortunately we're NOT ranking them based on that criteria so it'll have to remain at 26th place lol

i really enjoyed the premise and characters of this one! i also especially liked how the hare from this episode is featured in every episode of the show which creates this really kinda insane idea that what if every single story is actually connected lol?!?!

25) 1.1 Sardines

i feel like i should put this one higher because it is pretty iconic first episode of the show, but there are just so many good episodes what am i supposed to DO?!!!!!!?!?

this is technically the episode i've seen the most, i believe, and i do still find so much to enjoy about it even though i've seen it like 3+ times at this point! so many great actors involved lol

side note, i had not actually heard of sardines as a game until i watched this and wasn't entirely sure if they'd just made it up pfft... anyway maybe it's just a northern thing or smth because i'm sure we didn't have this in the south pfft... just plain ol' hide and seek lol

24) 8.3 Paraskevidekatriaphobia

one of the most jarring twists (literally kinda feels like it comes out of nowhere, at least to me pfft), but i definitely still liked it! there was a nice bit of slapstick comedy in this which i appreciated! there were also a lot of superstitions in this that i wasn't familiar with (like the peacock feather one lol)

not really much else to say, it's just a really solid episode lol!

23) 7.1 Merrily Merrily

i did love that this one felt legit like a reunion between the (3) members of the league of gentlemen tbh they were obviously still playing characters, but their interactions just felt so natural and i really enjoyed it! plus diane motherfucking morgan is one of the funniest people alive i SWEAR to god lol! the pee scene made me cry with laughter ngl lol

i honestly think this one is kinda underrated? idk if it was because it was more emotional and character driven than some of the others? (which doesn't make sense since The most popular episode is an emotional, character driven one pfft... idk... people are strange)

22) 6.4 Hurry Up And Wait

so if we were ranking these based on 'how cute reece looks' then this would be RIGHT at the bottom because girl WHAT was that fucking wig?!?! thankfully we're NOT ranking it on that so this gets to be at 22nd lol

as said before, i really like films and shows that deal with theatre or actors, so it was really fun to see actors acting like complete divas lol i was a little worried that the mystery element was going to be another kinda lazy lame joke, but they actually went more of an interesting direction with it imo!

21) 2.3 The Trial Of Elizabeth Gadge

part of me kinda wished they'd done more historical episodes like this because I genuinely loved the setting! there's also a great load of humour in this one, which a pretty legendary couple of twists at the end that made me go like 'OHHHH!??!!' when i first watched it pfft

20) 3.4 Empty Orchestra

arguably the most wholesome episode of the entire show, and usually i wouldn't be a big fan of this kinda episode (like i said i didn't the bottom 2 eps because they felt too much like generic sitcoms lol), BUT there was something in the characters and the genuinely really uplifting and kinda sweet vibe of this one that i couldn't help but love lol!

it's also the closest we got to a musical episode which i'm STILL bummed we never got... like yeh i get logistically it's super hard to do but .... i wanted to hear them sing :((((((

19) 9.3 Mulberry Close

another case of 'there's another similar episode that i liked more' which is sorta why this isn't higher lol regardless, it's such a clever concept to be told entirely through the cctv footage, and the general story and collection of characters were super interesting! i haven't rewatched it yet so definitely need to give it another go lol!

18) 4.7 Dead Line

ok so i need y'all to know that i was watching this literally YEARS after the ep aired with me dad but we STILL got bamboozled by the show cutting out pfft... which might just be because we're dumb but i like to think it's also just because it's so well crafted! it is another one that you need to go in blind imo so please just check it out if you haven't!

recently watched a great video essay on yt where someone spoke about this episode (check it out here!)

17) 2.2 The 12 Days Of Christine

gasp 12 days of christine? not in the top 10???!?!

ok this is IS an amazing episode, and sheridan smith is honestly one of the most under-appreciated british actors imo

BUT idk i think on rewatch the impact of the twist had definitely lessened? like i remember coming up with all these theories on my first watch which were TOTALLY wrong lol... and yeh like there are definitely just other eps i like more... it's good! it's SO good! i still love it! i just... idk lol

16) 3.6 Private View

maybe it's the art nerd in me but i really did love this one lol! i liked the murder mystery vibe of this one with a group of people being invited to an mysterious location and as a viewer you spend the whole time desperately trying to figure out their connection lol!

i liked the small peter kay cameo, plus morgana robinson as a big brother celeb was so fucking funny lol! plus the twists were really mad and i loved them lol!

15) 2.1 La Couchette

very similar to the previous one, but i really did love the collection of kooky characters here lol plus as someone who has been in several hostels (not on a train, but hostels are hostels) i relate HEAVILY to being surrounded by just the strangest and loudest people you will ever meet pfft...

(shout out to the korean guy that came in at like 2am, showered (the shower was right next to the beds so we could hear everything) and he appeared to have everything he ever owned in paper bags which he rustled about for like 20 minutes... i really contemplated murder that night lemme tell you...)

uh anyway yeh this episode is great lol!

14) 6.2 Simon Says

we're onto my ultimate favourite episodes at this point btw lol

this episode is full of great twists and suspense, plus nick mohammed! i like the way they explored fandom culture in a way that didn't feel like it was being overtly mean to the idea of fandom itself (cough unlike sherlock cough and supernatural cough)!

also if we were ranking these episodes based on 'how cute steve looks' then this would be number 1 hands DOWN lol!

13) 1.3 Tom and Gerri

my highest rated series 1 epsiode! i'd actually forgotten about the twist of this one when i rewatched it recently, but i still really loved it tbh!

a great combination of horror with a really emotional through line, plus even at the end you're never really sure what is real or not lol...

12) 3.3 Riddle Of The Sphinx

this episode is SO fucked up and SO good lol!!! you never guess where the story is going next and it's just a wild experience lol! again, don't wanna say too much to give anything away but i will say i understand cryptic crosswords even LESS after watching this twice pfft...

11) 4.1 Zanzibar

if i had any skills i would write my review for this in imabic pentameter ... but alas i do not

this episode felt like such an amazing demonstration of reece and steve's writing prowess! it's funny, the story is absolutely mad with so many crazy twists, and a stellar cast! so worth a watch, especially if you like anything vaguely shakespearan and theatrical lol!

10) 6.5 How Do You Plead

another one where i had SO many theories of where the episode was going to go only to be completely wrong and the twist shook me and i LOVED it! there isn't really much to the story, but it's truly carried by the brilliant performances imo!

9) 3.1 The Devil Of Christmas

i've not really heard anyone talk about this episode much but i was so taken aback by how much i really loved it! jessica raine absolutely NAILS her performance as a 60s/70s actor, and the general film aesthetic and dialogue style is just perfect, and the reveals throughout the episode just add so SO much to the enjoyment of this!

i have a feeling this might actually go up in my rankings when i eventually rewatch it because there are just SO many interesting layers to it imo!

also i just realised i've included the two episodes derek jacobi was in back to back pfft.. wasn't on purpose but he is a legend lol!

8) 9.2 The Trolley Problem

highest rated 9th series episode woop woop!

i rewatched this one recently and realised it reminded me a lot of the story in Last Weekend, but just as i said in that review, i much preferred the way this story was handled to the other one!

(don't get me wrong, they're VERY different just... sorta similar vibes lol)

anyway this is a very dark episode, both physically (it's set at night and i can't see a THING) and conceptually, but the way this combined the psychology elements with comedy is truly masterful!

7) 5.6 The Stakeout

ok so Funny Story about this one

i'd been on a big binge of in9 episodes a few years back and i got to this one and was about half way through when i realised i needed to take a break lol it didn't help that the episode itself is pretty slow burn, especially after watching some of the others that are a lot more fast paced lol... so basically, i paused it with the intention of returning in a few days or so except... then several years go by and i STILL hadn't seen the end of it pfft

anyway, finally watched it this year and it instantly got transported into my top 10 because that twist was SO iconic lol! it's so simple of a concept (steve and reece spend the entire time yapping in a police car) but it's so cleverly written!

6) 8.2 Mother's Ruin

i was a little bit surprised that this one had a lower rating than the rest of series 8 tbh? anyway i LOVED this one lol! the incense line make me laugh every time i hear it, and in general i loved the relationship between the brothers and everything surrounding their mother!

also as someone who recently watched the film reece was in called 'the cottage' (which also starred andy serkis), i can't help but think it was at least somewhat of an inspiration for this episode lol (they may have talked about this already btw but idk)

5) 7.6 Wise Owl

oof... this episode made me go Oof about 500 times after i watched it

it's a good oof... but it is an oof lol

i haven't rewatched it yet and i'm kinda nervous about doing it cos it did sorta emotionally devastate me lol

4) 4.3 Once Removed

in terms of how this story is told, i'd honestly say it was my ultimate favourite inside no 9 format! it's not something i've ever really seen before and it felt so interesting and built the story in such a unique way! also shout out to monica dolan (whose name i forget EVERY time idk why) who is honestly one of the best british actors ever yes i know i've said that about everyone on this list but shhhhhhhhhhh lol

also absolutely loved all the andrew lloyd webber stuff (which isn't a spoiler btw lol...)

3) 2.4 Cold Comfort

another one where i mentioned before that in Mulberry Close there's another episode with the concept of the story being exclusively filmed through cctv footage (deadline also does it but shhh)! i love that concept, especially with the multiple screens where you're constantly aware of things happening in the other booths which just keeps you on edge!

the reveal is super chilling and though i haven't rewatched it yet, i am honestly really excited to because i feel there were SO many things i missed on my first watch!

2) 4.2 Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room

oof part TWO lol... another one i haven't rewatched because it made me cry and i need at least another few months to recover from the first watch pfft... it is still funny btw! i think a lot of people talk about episodes like this and how sad they are, but it has a lot of great comedy in it which is i think part of why the emotionality hits so hard!

side note, i keep accidentally calling this 'bernie CLIFFORD'S dressing room' and i have no idea why lol... i don't think there's anyone called bernie clifford lol??? help?????

1) 3.5 Diddle Diddle Dumpling

trying to figure out my favourite episode was kinda hard, and i think any one of my top 15 could ultimately take this place, but honestly? rewatching this one i just was so overwhelmed with how beautifully crafted this episode is!

it also features my favourite performance by reece... a amazing combination of subtle moments with the bigger explosions of emotion, you instantly feel so much for his character tbh!

the twist isn't necessarily as shocking or intense as others, but there's something so heartbreaking when you realise it that changes the entire feeling of the episode... also mathew baynton is briefly there which i enjoyed lol!

i'm so sorry this post was so long lmao i'm sure no one will have read this far but if you HAVE then THANK you <3 i really love this show can u tell? WHY did it take me so long to get into it smh smh smh smh

anyway if you have read this far then let me know what your favourites were or just if you have general thoughts on my general thoughts u know? idk basically my ask box is always open if anyone wants to ramble about this show or whatever else lol

[librathefangirl]

A Libra NNT Analysis: Meliodas' Demon Secret

Masterlist

Part 1: The Start of a Millennia Long Secret (pre-season 1)

Okay, time to finally get this started. And I want to do that by saying what I've said before, and probably will say again: The Seven Deadly Sins is an anime that needs to be watched (at least) twice. It's like Zaratras says:

Looking back, especially at the earlier seasons, so many things get another meaning when you know the whole story. Meliodas' demon secret is no different. The first time around you get to learn about it along with the characters. The second time around you can see the nuances of it, the symbolism and relation between it and the rest of the story. This is why I wanted to do this analysis series in the first place, to look at the earliest episodes with the perspective of knowing exactly who and what Meliodas is, and see how his demon secret is developed - or rather, how it's revealed. This means that yes, there will be angsty ramblings similar to my previous posts on the subject. I mean how could there not, because a) it's me (and if you know me, you know I love angst), and b) Meliodas really hid who he really was from the people closest to him for so long...

But! Before we get into how Meliodas' secret is revealed I want to take a look at how it was formed. Starting with the why.

Actually, first I'm gonna put a read-more because this got long :) Continue reading for: the reason behind Meliodas' secret, 3,000 years of history, the fall of Danafor, and the Seven Deadly Sins knows... what?

Meliodas' demon secret doesn't actually become a secret until after the end of the First Holy War. Before the end of the war, he has no reason to try to hide it. Everybody already knows what and who he is. For those who don't, well, they soon figure it out. He doesn't hide it; he openly uses his demonic powers and shows himself as a demon, because again, he has no reason not to, and he even admits to being a demon when asked about it. This, to me, is especially noteworthy since this is something we're shown repeatedly that he doesn't do after the end of the war.

After Meliodas and Elizabeth's confrontation with their parents, and the following death and cursing, Meliodas wakes up to a new Britannia. A demon-free Britannia. The war has by then ended, leaving the demons sealed away and the goddesses having lost their physical forms. A new era has started in Britannia. An era where the demons are becoming nothing more than a great evil sealed away by the goddesses. The more years that pass, the more solidified this view becomes. The humans who once had encountered demons, all die or are already dead. By the time of the first season, the demons are just monsters of myth. While there are still some people who know about demons, like Gerheade (who lived through the war) and Elaine, we're also shown that most people don't. They struggle with the idea that such beings even exist, or have a very limited knowledge of demons. We can probably also safely assume that nobody is exactly considering the possibility of a "good" demon. After all, that was already a foreign idea back before they were sealed.

So, given everything we know about this new Britannia and how it came to be, it makes sense why Meliodas would choose to hide the fact that he is a demon. He has no reason to believe anyone would accept this about him. While the world before was also filled with hate and fear towards demons, back then he at least had Elizabeth. And his entire race, even if they did hate him too (but not for being a demon). Now he is all alone, stuck trying (and failing) to protect Elizabeth in a world that doesn't understand demons. People knowing he is a demon would also make it a lot harder for him to live among the humans, which we know he has done repeatedly during his attempts to keep Elizabeth safe and in his search for a way to break the curse. So, yeah, it's easy to see why Meliodas' demon secret would come to be.

At the same time, I think it's really interesting to point out that while Meliodas does hide that he is a demon and won't even answer the question when directly asked about, he doesn't really lie about it either. He doesn't say he is a demon, but he also doesn't say he isn't a demon or that he is human.

We don't get to see lot of what happens to Meliodas over the 3,000 years between the start of the curse and his arrival in Liones. What we do see is Meliodas, repeatedly, living human lives with Elizabeth's numerous reincarnations. Because of this, the most significant moment we get during those years in regard to his demon secret is the fall of Danafor.

Danafor is an example of a human life we see Meliodas living with Elizabeth, or Liz in this case. From the flashbacks of his times there, provided by the druids' trial, and his interactions with Cain, it's safe to assume that the people of Danafor saw Meliodas as a fellow human - a stupidly overpowerful human perhaps, but a human nonetheless. When Cain learns that Meliodas is in fact Meliodas (and not his son) he is, understandably, shocked. After all, he clearly expected Meliodas to age like a human would and not still look as young. Danafor, or rather the fall of Danafor, marks the beginning of the unraveling of Meliodas' demon secret. This is the first time in who knows how long that Meliodas uses his demonic powers. It's also the first time he's faced with someone who knows who and what he really is (not counting Merlin and Elizabeth with her memories regained) with the appearance of Fraudrin. Even disregarding Fraudrin's future possession of Dreyfus, the events in Danafor (Meliodas' destruction of it and the Coffin of Eternal Darkness) have significant repercussions for Meliodas going forward.

After Danafor, Meliodas life becomes different. Back in Danafor, he was greatly respected as the leader of the Holy Knights. In Liones, he still has respect and status as the captain of the Seven Deadly Sins, but he (along with the other Sins) is also seen as a criminal and sinner. By then, rumors have also spread about what happened in Danafor and Meliodas' part in its destruction. We don't really know for sure what exactly those rumors entailed or how close to the truth they were (they most likely did not involve "demon" or "demonic powers"), they still told a story of Meliodas being the one, not only to destroy Danafor completely, but also kill its citizens.

So, from what we can see, Meliodas' arrival in Liones comes with a new life and a different role. While he is still mostly seen as human, he is also seen as more of a "monster" than before. Both Zaratras and Hendrickson admit to having sensed Meliodas' true identity during some of their earliest encounters with him.

That brings us to another interesting thing to look at before I get into analyzing the individual episodes: the extent of Meliodas' demon secret. Meliodas is generally seen as a human, but his secret isn't a complete secret. It's not a situation of nobody knows nothing, as seen above. Of course, how much is known depends on who's perspective we are talking about. So, since it's kind of important for these breakdowns, and it intrigues me to talk about, let's end this part with looking at what the fuck do each of the Seven Deadly Sins actually know about Meliodas in regards to his demon secret?

The most obvious (and also easiest) to start with is Merlin. She is the one who knows the most about Meliodas, seeing as she first met him 3,000 years ago before he even betrayed the demons. To her, there isn't really a "demon secret", only a secret he is keeping from everyone else. Merlin knows Meliodas is a demon. She knows what kind of demon he is and was, his past with the demons and Stigma, even about the curse at the hands of the Demon King and Supreme Deity and what it means for him.

I'm gonna try to do these in order of who knows most, so next up is Gowther, who - well, who the hell knows what he actually knows? But he is the one, next after Merlin, who is the most knowledgeable about Meliodas. Technically, he met Meliodas before even Merlin did, since he was (as his creator's proxy) in the Ten Commandments alongside him. It has also been revealed that the original Gowther was one of Meliodas best friends (Q245, Q&A Corner of chapter 234 in the manga). But Gowther also did erase his own memories prior to season 1, after Nadja's death. Despite this, Gowther is still shown to know more about Meliodas' secret than the others. When the group is first reunited with Gowther, he points out to Meliodas that none of them are of the same race, hinting that he knows Meliodas is not human. Though given his powers, to me at least, it's hard telling exactly how much Gowther knows about Meliodas.

Merlin and Gowther are more or less the only Sins with any real knowledge about Meliodas' secret, but that doesn't mean the others don't know anything. In fact, most of them have gotten some hint prior to the events of season 1, proving that Meliodas' demons secret isn't absolute. Among the remaining Sins, Escanor is the one with the biggest reason, I think, to suspect something. Escanor has, after all, seen Meliodas in his demon form. He might not know exactly what Meliodas is, but he should definitely suspect that Meliodas isn't human. The moment I'm talking about happens during the battle between Escanor and Meliodas, when Meliodas is trying to convince him to join the Seven Deadly Sins. During that battle, Meliodas easily defeats Escanor by releasing his Assault Mode. This means that Escanor saw him with his black eyes and demon mark. Like I said, Escanor probably didn't know what it meant at the time, seeing as he hadn't actually met another demon by then, but at the same time, it stands to reason, that Escanor shouldn't be seeing Meliodas as quite as human as the rest of Liones did.

Now let's talk about Ban. The interesting thing about him is that while, out of the last three Sins, Ban is the one who knows the most about demons, he is also probably the last one who would (willingly) suspect Meliodas of being one - something that he shows later in the first season. Ban's knowledge of the demons comes from him encountering and fighting the Red Demon during its attack on the Fairy King's Forest. This means that his knowledge of the demons as a race is very limited compared to Merlin (though to be fair, most people's knowledge is limited compared to Merlin, especially about demons since, well, very few people seem to know what the demons really are anymore). The Red Demon is also a huge part of Ban's struggles with the idea of Meliodas being one, as he obviously can't let himself put Meliodas equal in any way to the monster who killed Elaine. Still, even if he doesn't want to, Ban has reason to suspect it even before season 1, given what happened with Meliodas' dragon handle. When Ban tried to take the dragon handle, Meliodas cuts him with black flames. This is also the one and only time something has managed to leave a permanent scar on Ban's body since becoming immortal. Both of these indicate, if nothing else, that Meliodas isn't as human as he first appears to be.

Between Diane and King it's a little hard to tell who knows most, because let's face it, neither has much knowledge about Meliodas' secret at this point. Though I would probably have to say Diane does - mostly because I've got an issue with King's knowledge, but more about that later, let's talk about Diane first. Diane doesn't have much knowledge about neither demons nor Meliodas' secret, but, like the others, she has some reason to suspect him not being human. Diane was there and saw Meliodas scar Ban, meaning she saw Meliodas with the black flames just as Ban did. Later, during the events of the Vaizel Fighting Festival, she also admits to having seen "that look" on Meliodas, referring to how he looked while defeating Ban. So, yeah, not much knowing but still some hints.

Now then, last but not least, King. Okay, to be fair, he is one of the Sins with the least knowledge about Meliodas' secret. He also, like Diane, lacks the knowledge of demons in general. He wasn't there during the Red Demon's attack in the Fairy King's Forest and has shown himself to not share Elaine's knowledge about demons, given his reaction to seeing the Red Demon's corpse. He even expresses shock that beings like the Red Demon have actually existed in Britannia. As for Meliodas' secret, when King first meet him in the manga, he literally calls him human. By the time of the first season, King is seemingly still holding this view, later expressing his surprise that Meliodas looks exactly the same despite 10 years having passed.

But I did say I had an issue with King's knowledge, didn't I? Well, unfortunately, I do. It comes with that first meeting between King and Meliodas. As much as I love it, it provides some... inconsistencies, especially in regard to the reveal of Meliodas' demon secret - and since that is what this post is about, it's only fair that we address it. Okay, so here's the thing. King was captured 200 years ago. In the manga page above (first panel, lower left corner) you can even see Helbram's dead body still lying on the ground, proving that it was 200 years ago. Now, Meliodas being there when King is arrested by unnamed knights 200 years before he and Merlin decide to form the Seven Deadly Sins, while a coincidence, is not that unimaginable. But King remembers that moment. He references it to Meliodas in the druids' cave and thinks back to it in the fight against Chandler, which means he clearly remembers the Meliodas 200 years ago as Meliodas and not just some random knight. But then when they are reunited after only 10 years he suddenly thinks it's weird that Meliodas remains unchanged? I just- that is what is happening, right?? Anyway, let's just... drop it for now.

Okay!

So what do we start of with when the fist season begins? Meliodas, who has kept the fact that he is a demon a secret for 3,000 years because Britannia is now "demon-free" and demons are seen as ancient evil monsters; Merlin, who knows everything; Gowther, who knows he is not human; and the rest of the Seven Deadly Sins, who still think of him as human(?). At the same time, the events of Danafor's destruction has set the wheels in motion regarding Meliodas' demon secret finally being revealed to everybody.

Coming soon - Part 2: Cracks in the Mask (season 1 part 1)

---

Taglist: @zorria

[quodekash]

FINAL PART OF THE EPISODE, LETS GOOOO

I LOVE HIM 😭

this entire situation is very not good

(I forgot to write down my thoughts lmao)

oh so he's gonna suffocate him? that makes sense actually, I thought he was gonna shoot him

anyway time for the perfectly timed rescue from kangsailom

HELL YEAH SAILOM

BRO JUST PUNCHED A GROWN MAN, IM PROUD OF HIM

no come on man

why

why can't we all just be happy

why the hell did kang throw himself between the gun and the guy

(did you just throw your hand BETWEEN the hammer and the phone?)

oh okay so its just an arm wound

he'll be fine, right?

just a lil graze wound?

also because of the light it looks like theres a guy in the blood lmao

Tony stark-ass man

gUYS

I get that you wanna be all noble and stuff but can we chill a little bit

maybe duck down instead? step to the left? run out the door and grab some authorities so that you're not facing against this deranged guy alone? just some food for thought

YES

YES

YES

HELL YES

oh wait no

oh no now he's gonna go to jail for gun possession

crap

OH WAIT BUT SAIFAH'S ALSO IN JAIL

THEY CAN BE JAIL BOYFRIENDS

we've got bathroom boyfriends (soundwin/guynawa), rooftop boyfriends (patpran and arguably guynawa too), pool boyfriends (tinngun) and now we can have jail boyfriends!

the four elements. bathroom, rooftop, jail, pool.

long ago the four nations lived together in harmony. then, everything changed when the jail nation attacked. only the avatar, master of all four boyfriends, could stop them. but when the world needed him most, he vanished.

a hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new avatar, a poolbender named palm. and although his poolbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. but I believe palm can save the world!

(I can't quite remember but I'm pretty sure palmnueng managed all four of those at some point. they definitely got beat up in a bathroom at some point or something like that, there was that pool scene from the very start of the series, they're kind of technically on the run from the police and stuff like the entire time which is close enough to jail, and they end up on the roof of that one building quite a few times. so yeah, I guess palmnueng are the ultimate boyfriends)

OH CRAP THATS RIGHT I WAS WATCHING THE EPISODE

obviously like, empathy, this completely sucks and they're absolutely gonna convict name because it'll be in some record somewhere that he worked for whatshisface, so theyll decide that name was either trying to take down his boss so he could have the power, or that he was still working for his boss but mis-aimed and was actually trying to shoot kang and sailom

but also... jail boyfriends

thats it? that's freaking it?

okay then bro, jeez

that was truly something

OHMYOHMYOHMYOHMYOHMY

GUI34ERIHSGDJOIPE4JRPIOSJGHJO4B3EHIRSDGHIRBEVHDFGHVE4RD

GO48ERIDHGJIVOUERUODGOHVE0IROUHSD0UGHOUIVO0ERHOUD0UHOUG0UVHOGEWHR80DSUHGUOV0U9EHRU-SHDG9U-VHE9U-RHIDS0Y9G9Y-UVWEHPIS-9UDGHP-UV9PEWUS9DPH-GUVPH 9-UEHSD9JGIHPVJ9EIHR9SDIG90JVIE

IM NOT BEING DELUSIONAL IT ACTUALLY IS COMING

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

AND IT'S INITIATED BY GUY????

AAAAA THIS IS AMAZING

I so hope they kiss twice there, that would be awesome, then I could put the patpran rooftop kiss soundtrack behind it like I did with soundwin

GUIERJDKFBGNOVIERLNDGOVJD NEXT WEEK IS THE FINAL EPISODE WHICH WILL BE EMOTIONAL AND ITLL ALSO BE A GRADUATION EPISODE WHICH WILL BE EVEN MORE EMOTIONAL, B U T GUYNAWA ARE FINALLY GONNA KISS SO THE PAIN WILL BE WORTH IT HOLY FRICK

I HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK NOW???? A WHOLE-ASS WEEK???? GEORJDSKGB HOW

[dude1818]

Anime Year in Review 2023

Last year I made a silly post ranking the three shows I happened to watch. This year, I got way more into anime (and manga), so let's do it properly this time

Revue Starlight* - Easy top star spot. This anime was flawless. I watched it twice this year and will be watching it again. The story, the animation, the music were all impeccable. The music, oh my god; I listen to the soundtrack every day. Some of my other favorites on this list I'd only recommend based on your personal tastes, but this show should be watched by everyone. (The sequel and spin-offs, not so much. They all use the revues in a way that completely undermines the premise of the main series)

Heavenly Delusion - So fucking good. Second on this list, but I think it's the best show that came out this year. Deeply traumatic, but in such a satisfying way. The horror elements were so brutal and so well done, and I love that the man-eating monsters were the least gruesome part of the show. If it wasn't for the stinker of the ice monster episode, I think this could've been my favorite anime

Call of the Night* - Adored this show. Yes it's a celebration of the hedonism of vampires, but it's so earnest and down-to-earth with it that it feels so good to watch that I did it twice (sub and dub). I also got into the manga, which is sadly wrapping up next month, but hopefully that prompts an announcement about season 2

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End - Super chill show, which is a great way to wind down the week. It's such a cool concept too, following the adventurer after the adventure is over. It's just a reflection on life and I love it

The Witch from Mercury (cour 2) - Given that I run a sideblog just for this show, it might be surprising that it's so low on my list, but the second cour was a lot weaker than the first. Not nearly enough of Suletta and Miorine interacting, and way too much chaff following Guel's B-plot. I've said it before, but I think the worst part of this Gundam show is that it's a Gundam show. A+ epilogue though, and Suletta is still my favorite character this year

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off - I enjoyed the original comic and the live action movie. I didn't realize this new adaption was really a sequel, but it ended up being a great way to bring the old story to the modern decade. (Two decades later isn't much, but it was very of-its-time)

Spy x Family (cour 2) - Very fun show. Following several viewpoint characters means the individual episodes might be hit-or-miss (as much as I love Anya, the episodes at the school are relatively bland), but the overall package was sweet and enjoyable

Nimona - Another comic I really enjoyed. The movie was strong, although it cut a lot of parts out that I thought were important to the original story

The Orbital Children - Directed by the same person who directed one of my long-time favorites (Dennou Coil), the first two acts of this really felt like a modern update. Stunning visuals, great sci-fi, thrilling adventure. Went totally off the deep in the third act, though

Joshiraku* - As the characters pointed out, adapting a manga that takes entirely inside the green room of a stand-up comedy club is an odd choice. It was off-the-charts hilarious, though. Considering some of the scripts were entirely pun-based, it must've been an immense amount of work to translate, but they absolutely pulled it off

Oshi no Ko - The only reason I watched this show was because the OP was such a banger. (Several fantastic anime songs by YOASOBI this year, and Idol is easily my favorite.) The first, feature-length episode was incredible and I literally cried at the end. If it was a stand-alone movie, it would be a couple of spots higher on this list. The rest of the show was fine, but not really what I was here for. I'll probably still watch season 2 though

Arknights: Prelude to Dawn* - I bounced off the gacha game immediately, but the worldbuilding and character designs seemed cool, so I wanted to give the anime adaptation a chance. The plot was very thin but serviceable enough. At least it looked nice to watch.

The Magical Revolution of ... - Not typing that whole thing out. It was a cute show. The yuri stuff was nice, but I wish for a show about a magical inventor, there was a non-zero amount of magical inventing shown on screen

* indicates the show aired prior to 2023

A lot of shows I really loved this year. Looking forward to next year, the anime I'm most hyped for is obviously Dungeon Meshi. It looks like it's going to be incredible. The second season of Arcane is also scheduled to come out late next year, which is also very exciting. Technically Frieren has a second cour in January, but they're airing both cours as basically a single 24-episode season, so that doesn't really count

For older shows I mean to catch up on, YouTube has recced me clips of probably every single joke from K-On!, and it's really grown on me. Definitely going to watch that soon. I'm also in the mood to watch Bocchi the Rock! again. I should also make myself watch the first couple episodes of PMMM. Nothing I've seen on Tumblr has grabbed me for that one, but it's right in the middle of some of the other shows I was gushing about here and it would be dumb not to try it

[9haharharley1]

CHRISTMAS PROMPTS!!! This happened to me recently so I'd like to see Pomp Pep of the "It's snowing!" Prompt cuz I feel like Danny would rarely see snow in person

I am so sorry this has taken so long! I'm pretty sure this isn't what you wanted, and I am ashamed to say that I really struggled with this prompt for some reason, especially since Danny canonically hates Christmas, and probably winter as a whole because of it. And he lives in the Midwest where it snows a decent amount, so he would actually see a fair bit of snow at least twice a year (there's plenty of snow on the ground in the Christmas episode and also he visits the Far Frozen a couple times in canon too). Basically, I struggled. Please take this schmoop in recompense!

---

Vlad was fuming when they finally arrived back at his manor, exiting the ghost portal with his boots stomping on the floor. Danny followed soon after, equal parts amused and annoyed at his lover's short temper. He rolled his eyes as he landed, transforming back to a human and crossing his arms.

"Vlad, can we please just talk about this?" he huffed, somewhere between exasperating and pleading.

"There is nothing to talk about," Vlad growled back, and Danny knew he was full of shit because the old man had yet to change out of his ghost form and was instead attempting to distract himself by fiddling with ectoplasm samples.

"Uh-huh." Danny sighed. He dropped his arms, running a hand through his hair as the other was placed on his hip. "I don't get what you're so worked up about! It was just a stupid prank, and you know how they all are! Especially when Walker's there..." Danny grumbled because, of course, Walker had to be there to enforce the rules of Christmas tradition. "He watches everyone like some extra creepy hawk when it comes to the stupid mistletoe thing. It doesn't mean anything!"

"Certainly seems like it meant something," Vlad stated. He placed his samples back in their case with a little more force than the delicate test tunes should really take, turning back to Danny with glowing red eyes set in an accusing glare. "Which, by the way, you didn't tell me you were so chummy with the Master of All Time."

Danny frowned, a glare of his own leveled at Vlad. "Uh, I did tell you? Like, a few years ago?" He crossed his arms again. "Clockwork's just a good friend, I don't get why you're so"-

"Just a friend who kisses you at the first opportunity that presents itself?" Vlad sneered, cutting him off. "Oh, yes, such a wonderful friend! He was practically leering at you the whole time we were there!"

"He was not!" Danny shouted back. His own temper was rising quickly with the accusations.

Vlad was practically snarling now. "And you! You were so quick to fall into his arms when he grabbed you! You were practically swooning for him!"

Hurt and guilt were bubbling in an uncomfortable mixture in his stomach as Vlad shouted at him. And the night had started out so well! They had gone to the annual Christmas Truce party in the Ghost Zone, and all their enemies and frenemies gathered at Ember's Island in the Zone. She had collected a tolerable mix of classic and hard rock Christmas songs into one expansive playlist, and the drinks had been spiked with enough alcohol to loosen up even the most tense of ghosts (Danny and Walker). Vlad and Danny arrived together; they mingled, danced, and performed bad karaoke.

All in all, Danny had enjoyed himself immensely. The Truce parties were always more fun with Vlad, and ever since they got together, he actually looked forward to some Christmas-y celebration. Vlad didn't celebrate the same as his own family (which is to say he didn't fucking argue over pointless Santa shit and ruin the whole damn holiday), so Danny actually found himself appreciating the holiday a little more with each year they spent together.

Clockwork had even shown up, stopping in for his usual five minutes or so like he did every year to remind everyone he still existed and to steal some spiked eggnog. Danny always enjoyed seeing the old time keeper, and getting a chance to talk with him outside of his lair was a bonus.

Maybe it was his fault for not paying attention to where they were chatting. Maybe it was his fault for mentioning to Vlad a few years ago that he once harbored a small crush on the Time Keeper. Maybe it was his fault for drinking a little too much eggnog and letting random ghosts kiss his cheeks under the various mistletoe placed in all the doorways of Ember's lair. He'd taken advantage of it enough over the course of the night to kiss Vlad as much as the older ghost would allow, illiciting cat-calls from everyone around them to placate the man after each platonic smooch to the cheek. It was definitely not his fault when Walker had appeared over him as he was laughing with Clockwork, the stern ghost's arms crossed as he glared pointedly at them. Danny had gazed back up at him, confused and definitely drunk and uncomprehending until Walker's glowing eyes flicked up to the chunk of red green above them. Danny's face went red, and he laughed a little for forgetting the rules. He waved Walker off, turned to Clockwork to place a friendly kiss to his old friend's cheek, only to suddenly meet warm lips when Clockwork abruptly turned his head to kiss him for real.

Danny may have squeaked, and it may have come out as a bit of a moan, and the other ghosts in the room cat-called them and cheered, especially when Clockwork's arm went around Danny's waist to pull him closer. Clockwork kissed him like Vlad did, hungry and desperate, but he thankfully kept his tongue to himself - Danny absolutely would have moaned had he slipped in some tongue. His years old crush came rushing right to the front of his drunken brain, and he kissed back, Clockwork's lips firm against his own, his hand moving up to clutch a robe-clad shoulder. The old ghost was solid and strong against him, but not as warm as he was used to. Intelligent thought returned almost as soon as it left when Clockwork kissed him and Danny pushed the old ghost away, staring with widened eyes as Clockwork gazed back with that infuriatingly all-knowing smirk. He glanced over Danny's shoulder with that same smirk, glanced down at Danny. He then placed another quick kiss to Danny's lips, winked, and then was gone with a wave of his staff. Danny was left blinking in confusion, only jostled out of his thoughts by hands clapping his shoulders and teasing jeers going in one ear and out the other.

It wasn't until Kitty pulled him aside as he was looking around for Vlad in a confused daze to tell him the older halfa flew off in a rage that he sobered up almost instantly, calling out a quick good-bye to everyone to chase his lover back through the Ghost Zone with worry tearing him up from the inside out.

"Vlad, please..." Danny started, the fight already leaving him. He already hated the holiday enough, and to add another fight to his memories of it was quickly souring his mood, especially when it seemed he was only just starting to get over his issues with it, too. He wrapped his arms around himself. "I'm sorry, okay? It didn't mean anything!"

"How can I believe that?!" Vlad roared back. His fist banged on the table, and Danny jumped, taking a step back as the anger Vlad carefully hid these days came bubbling to the forefront. "Every year, you let them all grope at you and kiss you, and... and touch you! You let them do it! And tonight, you kiss them, and they kiss you, and you have the nerve to come over and kiss me like you're not all but flaunting yourself to them! And you just... let Clockwork have you like that?! He's allowed to kiss you in front of me, like I don't mean anything to you -"

"You mean everything to me!" Danny screamed. Vlad shut up, his jaw snapping closed with an audible click as his red eyes widened. There were tears in Danny's eyes, threatening to spill over, but he grit his teeth, glaring at Vlad and willing himself not to break over something like this. "You mean the world to me, Vlad," he stated again, calmer this time. His fists clenched at his sides. "Here I am, dumb and insecure and scared all the time, afraid you're gonna leave me because of some stupid thing I did because I couldn't bother to think for two seconds, and you're..." He took a shaky breath. "You're so smart... You're strong and handsome, and you have so much money, and you can have anyone you want! I barely passed high school without your help, and I'm not any of those things! I can hold my own in a fight, sure, but without my ghost half I'm a weak, insecure mess, and for some reason you still look twice at me!"

The tears spilled over, and Danny was quick to rub them away. Vlad stared back at him, his eyes wide. Danny couldn't look at him. "I don't know why Clockwork kissed me like that..." he murmured, changing to his ghost form. "But he knows things, especially things he shouldn't, and he never does anything without reason, so whatever his reason is, it must be good." He laughed bitterly, staring down at his white boots. "Or maybe he was just being selfish for once because he knows I'll never leave you..." He said it so quietly, he wasn't sure Vlad heard it, but at this point, he didn't care. Danny sighed. He glanced up at Vlad from under his bangs, his feeling dull and wet. "I'm not gonna fight with you about this. Come find me when you want to actually talk."

He floated up towards the ceiling, stopping only at the call of Vlad's quiet, "Daniel..." When he glanced back down, Vlad had a hand held out as if to catch his tail. Vlad visibly struggled for words. "It's cold out..." he finally muttered.

Danny stared back at him dully. Then he formed a ball of light blue energy in his hand, pulling directly from his core to aim a blast of ice at Vlad's feet, freezing the man to the floor. Vlad gasped, stumbling in place as he tried to regain his balance. "Thaw yourself out," Danny said, and he phased through the floor.

The manor was chilly as he floated up, and outside was just below freezing. It was dark, the sky completely shrouded in clouds. Danny flew to the roof, barely aware of the temperature as he sat, knees pulled to his chest and arms wrapped around them. He rested his head on them, gazing out over the countryside, the lights of Madison glowing under the overcast sky.

He didn't know how long he sat there. He didn't notice the temperature drop further or the winds pick up speed. He didn't notice the passing of time at all until warmth settled at his side, Danny shivering at the sudden temperature change. He turned his head just enough to watch Vlad make himself comfortable next to him, a veritable furnace of heat through his suit. Danny shivered again. He turned his gaze back to the distant city.

They were quiet as they sat there, the night even quieter around them. Danny refused to be the first to break it.

Eventually, Vlad sighed. "I'm sorry..." he muttered. He sounded broken, but Danny still didn't look at him. He pulled his legs closer to his chest. "I get... jealous..." There was a rustling as Vlad ran a hand through his hair.

Danny snorted. "You think?" he grumbled into his arms. "You're jealousy is legendary at this point."

"I know..." Vlad sighed again. "But I am sorry. I didn't mean to start a fight. But I can't stand watching you flirt with every ghost who gives you even a micron of attention!"

Danny rolled his eyes. "Then just say that!" he exclaimed. He lifted his head to level an icy glare at the older halfa. Vlad looked confused, and Danny almost wanted to laugh. "Just tell me you don't like if I'm doing something, and I'll stop! You don't have to sit there and suffer in silence if I'm going overboard being friendly with others until you can't hold in your anger anymore. You're the most jealous man I've ever met, but you need to realize that I'm not going anywhere."

Danny blew out a sharp breath. "I'm sorry about Clockwork. I only meant to kiss his cheek the same as anyone else. I was gonna come back and kiss you just like I had been, but I got caught up and confused in the moment." He leveled a teasing grin at Vlad. "He kisses almost like you do, you know."

Vlad bristled next to him, and Danny couldn't help but laugh. "I should certainly hope I kiss better than him."

Danny laughed again. "More satisfying at least," he teased. Vlad open his mouth to retort, glaring, but Danny leaned in, kissing him quiet. It was a soft kiss, sweet and as satisfying as he claimed - nothing like how Clockwork had kissed him earlier in the evening. He nibbled Vlad's lower lip, opening his mouth to brush their tongues together when Vlad asked for entrance. Warmth filled his belly, settling the sour feelings from earlier. Danny loved it.

He pulled away- not very far. Just enough to brush their noses together and breath warm puffs of air against each other's lips. Vlad rested their foreheads together, sighing. "Daniel..." he murmured, and emotion clawed up Danny's throat, words he had never spoken before resting on his tongue.

"I love you..." he murmured back, soft and sincere. He watched under lidded eyes as Vlad's own widened. He gave him a small grin. "I think we might be a few years overdue, but... I do. I love you, fruitloop."

He found himself suddenly in Vlad's lap, impossibly warm arms wrapped tight around his waist. Vlad buried his face in Danny's shoulder, his own shoulders shaking, and Danny wrapped his arms around them, holding the man close. "Never leave me..." Vlad muttered. "Don't leave me, never leave me, and I'll love you as long as you'll have me!" Vlad whispered those three little words over and over again, and Danny couldn't help but smile, burying his face in black hair as a giddying feeling erupted like butterflies in his belly.

"We need to work on your confessions..." he stated, nuzzling raven hair. Then he pulled away, forcing Vlad to lean back with gloved hands cupping his blue face. Danny smiled. "I love you. I'm not going anywhere."

Vlad barely managed to respond with an "I love you, too" before Danny was kissing him, hungry and sweet and loving and desperate and everything in between. Vlad moaned under him, and he didn't pull away until he felt drops of cold settle on his cheek. Their cheeks were flushed as they leaned back. Little white flakes stood out in Vlad's hair, quickly melting.

"It's snowing..." Danny mumbled. Then he was grinning, sticking out his tongue to catch one. When he glanced back down, Vlad was smiling, softer than he ever had before.

"I love you..." he murmured to the boy, and Danny's cheeks flushed further. "Merry Christmas, Daniel."

Danny kissed him again.

---

I haven't edited this, I just busted it out real quick, I'm so sorry!

[raging-violets]

The Artful Dodger: "Trust Me, I'm a Doctor" | SneedxOC

*I'm using this gif because I can't find one of Sneed not reacting to Lady Belle stalking him down, haha*

-

Summary: Rainsford Sneed and Molly Atwood have no ill will towards each other. None. They were just doing their jobs: serving and...doctoring. 

Set around Episode 4 with the “anesthesia” and Episode 6 with the “Pepper Jelly” 

Authored by: Rhuben

Original Character: Molly Atwood (*also stuck between the name Effie Atwood*)

- 

“Don’t move.” Rainsford Sneed barely turned to take stock of tools at his disposal when the woman’s hands flew up towards her face. “I said don’t move!” She dropped her hands again, tightly gripping the arms of her chair, shifting and rocking from side to side. “You’re acting like a bloody fish yourself, ma’am. It’s very unbecoming.” 

“You try having a hook stuck in your eye and not moving.” Both eyes firmly clamped shut, Sneed knew she was still trying to gauge just how much damage had been done. The fishing hook shifted and bobbed with each shift of her eyes. At least the bleeding stopped. “I can now surely understand why a fish wiggles so.” 

“Yes, I can only imagine the pain you’re in ma’am,” Sneed replied, “but unless you wish to lose sight in your eye entirely, which, I do insist would be a shame, I must ask that you try to stay still.” 

Squinting open her good eye, Molly Atwood managed to give Sneed her best attempt at a glare. He noticed the green flecks in her hazel eyes with the light of the sun cast across her face. Yes, it would be a shame... Clearing his throat, he quickly stepped away from her, giving a wide berth to look over exactly what tools he needed. He had to be professional.  

“You’re not going to take me into the theater, then?” Molly asked from behind him. Sneed glanced at her over his shoulder. She seemed to be relaxed now If only for a moment. 

“This will only take a few moments,” he said, starting to roll up his shirt sleeves. “The drunkards wouldn’t take too kindly to such an easy foray, I’d imagine.” He sighed. “Don’t think they’d believe it to be a good show.” 

“Yes, I suppose we mustn’t deprive them of excellent entertainment.” 

He took her sarcasm in stride. It was that kind of entertainment that would help get him into the professor’s position. God willing. Still, there was a thrill to surgery. Some might call it barbaric. But he enjoyed it. And those that came out to watch his prowess as a surgeon, when he won the coin toss, enjoyed it, too. 

“You don’t need Hetty?” she asked. “Are you sure you can do this?” 

Pressing his lips together, Sneed grabbed the glass bottle sitting on his workstation, pointed the nozzle at her face, and squeezed his finger around the trigger. Twice.  

For both questions. 

A squeak of surprise came from Molly as she jerked in her seat, face now wet. “What on Earth was that?” 

Letting out a long sigh through his nose, Sneed set down the perfume bottle. A little harder than he needed to, he supposed. But if it worked... His gaze shifted through the window and towards the theater where Jack and Lady Belle were pacing back and forth across the room, deep in discussion. Belle’s head buried deep in the book, index finger gliding across the pages. If they said it worked... 

“It’ll help,” he said quietly. “Does it sting?” 

“Is it supposed to?” Molly asked in alarm, her grip tightening on the rests of the chair she was in. “If my face falls off, Rainsford Sneed...” 

His lips twitched upwards into a hint of a smile. One he quickly erased from his visage. Besides, it was another empty threat, he was sure. She had yet to see his demise after all this time. In fact, he had gotten quite used to these words from her. Only she normally had a sharp knife on her, not the stink of fish, as he usually found her in the middle of assisting preparing a meal for the Govenor and his fellowship. Or another task which Lady Jane Fox had asked of her. 

“So, how did this happen?” he asked. 

“I told you; I was fishing. I caught one. I got startled by a commotion. I jerked back on the line and...” She made an odd squishing sound with her mouth, lazily indicating her eye.  

“You can remove it, can’t you?” 

“Yes, I believe I can.” 

“Will I lose my eye?” 

“I hope not.” 

“Yeah, me too.” After all, how could she fulfill her dream of sailing the open seas without sight? “I do trust you.” 

Sneed gave a sharp shake of his head. How would he fulfill his dream of becoming Head Surgeon if he didn’t concentrate? Sailing the seas was no life for a lady, but just the same, he still had to do his job. He stretched his hands, and his fingers before picking up a scalpel, hovering it over her face. 

“I do mean it this time, don’t move,” he said. Molly’s chest hitched with the deep breath she took in. And held. Sneed carefully pressed the tip to his scalpel to her eyelid, pressing until it sank into her skin. Through it. He tossed it aside, where it landed with clatter on his table, using his other hand to carefully push the sharp end of the hook out through the newly created hole. Then he grasped his bolt cutters, snipped off the end of the hook, and pulled it back out of the original site of injury. “Got it.” 

“Fantastic.” 

Sneed sprayed more of the antiseptic and grabbed a piece of cloth to carefully dab at the remaining moisture and blood. 

“What are the fish for?” 

“To eat, of course.” 

“Molly.” 

“Rainsford.” She copied his tone. Equal mix frustration and amusement. Glad someone found this to be funny. 

“The Govenor and Lady Jane are not one to ask for fish for supper unless they are hosting,” Sneed explained starting to stitch up her eyelid. “And I do not believe catching them would be a task Lady Jane would bestow upon you.” He gave a sharp tug on the thread in his hand, smiling ruefully at the sharp gasp of pain from his patient. “You are selling them, I suppose. The fish. Why?” 

Molly was silent for a moment. “Everyone wishes for fortune, wouldn’t you say?” she asked. 

“I suppose so,” he agreed. Setting down the thread he leaned over her, grasping her chin in between his fingers, turning her head this way and that. “Now, slowly, open your eyes.” He watched as she did so, her hazel eyes fixing on him immediately despite the puffiness of one of her eyes. Silence filled the space as they looked at each other before Sneed found himself pushing himself away from her with swiftness. He cleared his throat, clasping his hands behind his back as he calmed himself. “What can you see?” 

She smiled.  “You.” 

- 

“Good evening,” Molly quickly stopped what she was doing to grasp the folds of her dress in a courtesy as Sneed stepped into the warm kitchen. “You’re back on your two feet, Rainsford!” 

“Glad that you can even see me at all,” Sneed responded with a tight nod of his head. He gazed around the bustling space, absentmindedly repeatedly smoothing his hand down the front of his shirt. “I suppose everything is healing well.” 

“Suppose,” Molly replied. She lifted her hand and gingerly pressed her eyelid. The swelling had gone down immensely. No lasting issues seem to be apparent other than a particularly rough feeling when he blinked. Even that was dissipating with time. “Suppose you are as well?” Her gaze flittered from his lips to his leg. “That is why you came in? To check on your patient?” 

“Yes, of course.” Sneed rapidly nodded his head before taking another step closer to her. He looked around once more and seeming to be appeased with the fact that no one else was paying attention to him, he stepped closer to her and lowered his voice. “It is not just that. I wished to know what was to be served tonight at supper?” 

Molly’s eyebrows came towards each other as she put down the knife she was about to press into the lump of bread dough before her. Then she turned towards him, eyes twinkling with recognition. She felt a smile come to her face as he watched Sneed shift uncomfortably from foot to foot. 

Rainsford Sneed. Recognized surgeon. Nervous. 

Interesting. 

“Nothing with pepper, I assure you,” she replied. She blinked rapidly, startled at the loud “Sssshh” he hissed in her face, looking around. Rolling her eyes, Molly lowered her voice. “There is no pepper in tonight’s meal. Promise.” She then widened her eyes innocently. “Should I ask that it no longer be served to you?” She placed a hand upon her hip. “I’ll make sure Fanny is aware.” She couldn’t stop the frostiness that suddenly coated her words when she added, “Or is it Lady Belle you’d wish to know this about you?” 

He seemed to stiffen; his eyes boring into her. Yes, she was aware of Lady Fanny’s infatuation. And the proposal. And the reason for the duel leading to Sneed’s injured leg. And the Pepper Jelly. Fanny was all atwitter about the whole thing; finding no listening ear in her own sister. Not that Molly was mad. It was actually quite funny. In an annoying kind of way. 

“No, I don’t suppose...they’d need...to know,” he finished quietly. 

“Suppose not.” 

“Though, should you ever want to be tempted again to try...” Molly reached for the small clay bowl in front of her. “I suggest you protect yourself, eh.” 

She dipped her fingers into what looked like some sort of clear jam and spread it across her fingers. Then, she took his chin with one hand, and started to slowly smear the cool jam over his lips. “To save you from another stay in bed, of course.” 

Upon releasing him, Sneed pressed his now shiny lips together. He silently blinked in response to Molly’s smile of mirth as she turned back to preparing that night’s meal. It took a moment for her to realize he was still standing there, just watching her. Still blinking. She jumped slightly at the revelation before relaxing into a playful smile. 

“What?” she asked him over her shoulder. He had his hands up to his lips. “You don’t trust me, Dr Sneed?” 

“What is this?” he finally asked, venturing a swipe of his tongue over his lips. 

“Animal fat.” One side of Molly’s mouth briefly lifted at the alarmed look on Sneed’s face. “You eat the rest of the animal, don’t you?” She had seen it numerous times when he was extended the invitation to sit with the Governor. “We put it on our hands sometimes. Helps from getting any of the spices under our nails. Hurts like the devil, sometimes, doesn’t it?” 

“Our guest will be arriving soon. Girls, I need you out front.” Lady Jane’s voice was carried from the front of the estate. 

“Well, alright, yes, thank you,” Sneed said with a quick nod of his head. “For the tip.” 

“You’re welcome, Dr. Sneed.” Molly cleared her throat. She rolled her shoulders back, tipping her chin upwards. She did not wish for Lady Jane to find her falling behind in her work. Not on a day so important to Fanny. Only a simple glance across the table as she helped serve dinner would give away her proclivity of “Oh, Dr. Sneed?” 

“Yes?” Sneed asked, spinning on the ball of his foot in the doorway. 

“Glad to see you, too.” 

Sneed bent forward in a short, quick bow, his lips lifting into a prideful smile. He mimed a quick tipping of his hat before leaving the kitchen. Laughing quietly through her nose, Molly shook her head, before getting back to the task at hand. 

-

Tag List: @ocappreciationtag @foxesandmagic @witchofinterest @ochub @darknightfrombeyond. If anyone else wishes to be added to the tag list for The Artful Dodger and my OC (who I still can't decide on the name of), let me know!

[panda-puma]

Coming from an exclusively manga reader, what is it about the One Piece anime that makes it such a bad adaptation?

Hello! ^^ Sorry for taking a while to answer.

I explained some of it in this other ask: here to the post

But there's a lot more changes in the Anime that really matter in how a character is portrayed. I'll explain the 3 i can think of right now without thinking too much (and without any particular order). I'd love to get into more detail for each one, but tumblr posts have limits on images, so i'd have to do a post for each one ^^u

(Also, again: you can like the Anime. As I said before, I've watched the entire Anime 3 times this last year. But you can enjoy something and still know it's flawed. Very flawed, even.)

(SPOILERS AHEAD for Sabaody, Post-Alabasta and Separation Arc).

Let's start with Sabaody, when Kuma is poofing everyone. Specifically Franky-Nami-Chopper-Robin's poof. (Chapter 513 in the Manga, Episode 405 in the Anime) In the Manga (6 pages):

All the action is very fast. Franky tries to attack Kuma and gets poofed right away, without even noticing that Luffy punched Kuma and got rejected. Nami is terrified of what's happening and asks Luffy for help before being poofed. Robin is mostly worried about Luffy and his mental state, trying to maintain him out of harm, and she runs when she has to, because she is used to running and surviving. Luffy is running and punching non stop, getting up instantly when he falls down, not losing a single second to try to save everyone... Until there's no one else to save.

Now let's look at the Anime: First, Franky gets to attack Kuma fully before Luffy even gets close to them. Luffy attacks twice and gets rejected. Franky worries about Luffy, distracting himself from Kuma and that's why he gets poofed.

Then we get Nami, with a bit of slow motion to intensify the feeling.

But then Luffy stops fighting to catch his breath, looking at the floor.

We get a flashback of Nami asking for help, something that happened right before the intermission. But this is not the way to repeat this information. Don't make Luffy stop to catch his breath. It is the opposite of his whole personality.

He then reacts to the flashback and starts running towards Kuma to punch him, but Kuma teleports and Luffy falls. Again: long recovery time for Luffy because he fell to the floor. Chopper gets poofed and then Luffy just... stops. He looks while Kuma gets closer and closer to Robin, and begs. After that he starts running towards Robin to help. I get that they want to get more screen time, but why changing his personality? Why would Luffy beg an enemy to stop when he can still do something about it?

And then we get the same scene as with Nami: Robin is helplessly waiting for Kuma to poof her. Not running away, just frozen in fear. Why?

They literally treated Nami and Robin as if they were the same person. They changed Robin's personality just for drama.

Is it intense? Yes. But you can not do that sacrificing characters personalities and traits. That is not a good adaptation.

--- Going way back to Post Alabasta: Chopper and trusting Robin.

In the Manga (Chapter 218), from the moment Luffy says Robin is a good person, he believes it and proceeds to trust Robin.

The only one not convinced is Zoro (who doesn't fully trust her until Water 7), because he is very protective of the crew.

And then we directly start the Jaya Arc.

In the Anime (episode 130-131), in Episode 130 they kind of made a good adaptation of Chapter 218. But then in Episode 131 (which is filler, but of course not everyone knows it), mixed with all the nonsense they did, they also made Chopper not trust Robin, not caring for Luffy's words.

This just goes against everything Chopper and Luffy's relationship is. It's just annoying.

Also we don't start Jaya Arc until episode 144. 13 Episodes of fillers, of nothing relevant, but as I said... anime watcher don't normally know what is filler and what isn't. And these episodes show changes in the characters personalities and One Piece story that are terrible.

---

Jumping to Post-War Arc and Cover Stories (Straw Hat's Separation Serial)

And lastly (because I can't put more images in this post xD) I'll be centering specifically on Sanji's Separation Arc part, even tho all of them are very changed.

In the Manga, (Chapter 523 and Covers of Chapter 543 and 544) we see Sanji running away, insisting that he doesn't have a maiden's heart like them, then being captured and dressed against his will.

Why did he let them dress him? Because he didn't fight back when they captured him. He just can't attack them, as they have maiden's hearts, which means they are women.

And then, when he receives notice of what happened to Luffy, he takes off everything they put on him and begs Ivankov for more information and/or a ship (Chapter 593). When he receives the secret message from Luffy (3D2Y) (Chapter 594-595) he changes his objective: stealing the 99 Vital Recipes of the 99 New Kama Karate Masters that are in the Island.

Emphasis on STEALING. Why? Because Sanji won't attack them or harm them, as they have hearts of maidens. He would never attack a woman, no matter how unattractive or ugly she is for him.

He is never shown attacking them in the manga.

What does the Anime do with all of this? (Episodes: 419, 454, 510-514)

These episodes are a train wreck.

We start with Sanji following and flirting with a random woman. Then he notices "it's not a lady" and starts trying to escape.

We also have a random new character called Caroline, who is the substitute Queen of Kamabakka. Sanji challenges her to a duel so she gives him a boat to leave.

To fight, Sanji gets dressed in the "traditional battle outfit" of the island, and he even tho he fights to kill at first, he is too worried of not having his panties seen to fight properly.

And in the end he "loses sight of who he really is" and ends up dressing like the girls voluntarily.

Then Ivankov comes back with news (in his woman form) and Sanji tries to fight his attraction to her "knowing what she really is" and that he likes real women. Again... the anime decides to make Sanji very transphobic. I'm not saying he doesn't have faults, but not to this degree of making no sense as a character.

Anyway, when he changes his objective from escaping the island to learning the 99 recipes, he... fights for them. He also fights with all his might.

This is not the first time Sanji's character is completely destroyed in the Anime. It also won't be the last one.

--

And this is just another tiny list of the things the Anime changes that make the characters literally other people to me.

Sadly i can't fit more things in this post, like the Long Ring Long Island Arc, where Luffy accepts Foxy's Davy Back Fight twice because "it was fun". Or Zoro being bullied by a random lady in Water 7 to be a baby sitter...

It may not be important to someone else, but for me this type of things are crucial to the characters ^^U and if you change all the "little things", you lose what really makes them who they are

Thank you for reading so much and I hope it made sense! :Du (sorry for the broken english, not my native language)

[firstofthenewguard]

Blood of Zeus Season 2 thoughts (There's alot of them)

I watched Blood of Zeus when it first came out in 2020 and the pandemic kept us trapped in our caves. I really liked the first season, mainly because it’s one of the few media outlets for Greek Mythology that isn’t wildly inaccurate, awkward, or just plain bad. It also set up a lot of interesting possible plotlines, and when the trailer for season 2 came out last month my hopes for those stories could not have been higher. I watched season 2 twice and… I have some notes (unfortunately)

First of All things I liked:

The entirety of episode 3

Hades and Persephone NOT being villains

Hades and Persephone being the only successful and functional couple in this show

The look of Hades’ Palace

ZAGREUS AND MELINOE!

The fact that Typhon is on a “He-who-shall-not-be-named” level and this time it actually has consequences

Other gods actually getting lines instead of just being backround characters on Olympus!

Hades using shadow teleportation, and using his bident like Mjolnir, only cooler

Other races in Hellas being acknowledged

More monsters; the Hydra being an ocean species is a very interesting take

Seraphim getting more development

Gaia and Hecate looked amazing

Problems with the Season:

Okay, a gripe I had with season 2 was Hades motive, and let me be clear I love the idea of Hades wanting to ascend the throne so Persephone wouldn't have to leave for 6 months, but to have him hate being in the Underworld seems like a stretch. In the myths, Hades knew the responsibility of ruling the dead and he did it with pride. It would have made more sense to have him hate being alone in the Underworld. They could've tied into the fact that Hades was the first to be swallowed by Kronos and was in his stomach alone for who knows how long.

Along with that, the season felt disjointed, like they were focusing on the wrong things, at the wrong time, for WAY too long. There were just some scenes that took up big chunks of the episodes and they didn't need to be that long, especially scenes with Heron. I know he's "The Main Character" but if you're going to make him that then please try to make his writing interesting enough for that much time to be devoted to his plot. I know that he's lost so much but his writing honestly felt clunky, it felt like he needed different scenes to make his choices more believeable. His dialouge also seemed stiff and I don't think his voice actor helped either.

We could've had a scene where Hades is talking to or doing something with Zag and/or Meli, showing how he's a better dad than Zeus, but we never got that.

If your going to give Hera a redemption arc GIVE HER A SCENE/EPISODE WHERE SHE CHANGES! Instead, the second she shows back up she's already redeemed? Really?

So, The Demon problem is just over? I don't remember them burning the giant flesh, and on that note where did Seraphim and the Demons move the giant flesh?

Ok, let me get this straight, they could've imprisioned the Giants' bodies in Tartarus the whole time?!

Also the giant problem felt like it was resolved way too early.

They didn't really focus on the open throne idea, yes the 3 trials were to decide the next king, but they needed scenes showing who the other Olympians thought should be in charge, show that scene about Ares rallying others to his side, maybe apollo did the same, or there could’ve still some loyal to Hera.

Minor: I loved Hestia but she looked WAY too young

Minor: Why are Horses just always the ones pulling the Gods' chariots, that's boring! I know most divine chariots are pulled horses in the myths, but for the love of mike be creative!

Minor: The giants guarding the hidden realm looked way to human.

Minor: They kept using the forest backround when they were in Tartarus, isn't the whole place on fire? I wanted to see some lava.

Minor: The other races that showed up for the funeral should've had varying respones to Zeus' death, like Hephaestus said.

The whole Eluesian Stone plotline seemed rushed and felt like it just came out of knowhere. The show said that Zeus drawing the stone from 3 others was how he became ruler of the Heavens, but wasn't the reason in season 1 being because he married Hera who was already queen of the Heavens?

Evios and Kofi didn't really get enough scenes for their characters to really do anything.

Alexia had the same problem she kind of just went along with Heron's whole thing this season, she didn't really do much except (sorta) talk to him.

They really should've brought all of Zeus' misdeeds to the trial, Prometheus especially.

[otomehoneyybearr]

　　　Act 12

Episode 6: Secret Base

Working w/ Maybelle Lace

Note: As you read, you will see that some sentences highlighted in a different color, this is what they indicate. Pink: Flashback Blue: Characters are acting

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Zen: Welcome.

Izumi: Sorry to bother you after closing.

Syu: Don't worry about it. It happens all the time.

Reni: I'd be too concerned over people watching over us if it was during business hours.

Zen: Since when did my restaurant become a secret base for old men?

Zen: I heard you’re a curry fan, unlike Yukio.

Izumi: Wait, you’re also going to serve food?

Zen: Green curry. It's a special menu item.

Izumi: Wow, thank you!

Izumi: Thank you for the food. It was very delicious.

Izumi: By the way, what spice mixture did you—

Zen: I'll tell you later.

Izumi: Thank you!

Reni: Now, let's get down to business.

Reni: I had kept quiet until now because of who the other party was and I didn't want you to get involved in it, but I can no longer keep using that as an excuse.

Izumi: ...

Reni: It was Keiju Amadate who instigated Kusumi Ikaruga to plagiarize twice and drove Tachibana out of the theater world.

Izumi: …!

Reni: As you know, he is a board member and the chairman of the Hyakka Theater Company on top of having a tremendous influence in the theater world.

Izumi: Why would Amadate...?

Syu: I was told that he was looking for Hakkaku's scripts. I don't know if this is true or not.

Izumi: Hakkaku's...

Reni: The attempt to cause a plagiarism scandal with the God Troupe and Mankai Company's act off was probably aimed for that purpose as well.

Izumi: So, Amadate was also the reason that some of my troupe members were attacked before the act off...?

Reni: Yes. Though it ended in failure.

Izumi: Then that means the scandalous spread of Banri fighting through a video recording of that attack was also under Amadate's order...

Reni: Mankai Company is coming close to getting the Fleur Award again, so they're putting out all the stops to seriously crush it.

Reni: Tachibana also knows that Amadate is the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. That is why, he didn't say anything to keep you out of it.

Reni: That's why, I don't feel comfortable asking you to do this...

Izumi: I will do whatever it takes to protect the theater company. If there is anything I can do, please let me know.

Izumi: The new Mankai Company is being targeted right now. They are not unrelated.

Syu: I found someone who could provide me with the data we need to corner Amadate, but they designated you as the receiver.

Reni: Of course, we will be there with you. We will do our utmost to avoid any danger.

Izumi: I’ll go. Please let me do this.

Izumi: I felt bad for relying so much on Reni about matters concerning Dad.

Izumi: I'd be glad if there's something I can do to help.

Reni: I appreciate you saying so.

Izumi: I saw Dad in person the other day, and he’s still fully devoted to acting.

Izumi: He is still the same dad that I respected even back then, but he still misses you all in the first gen.

Izumi: I want him to come back to Japan soon and see everyone again. I want him to be able to perform theater wherever he wants to.

Izumi: Besides, I think my mom has a lot of things she would like to say directly to him.

Reni: I suppose so. I'm surprised they never got divorced.

Izumi: Me too.

Syu: The problem is where to deliver the data.

Syu: We have to receive the data from the provider within the next few days before the board meeting to indict Amadate.

Izumi: Who is the person providing the data?

Reni: Although he goes under a pseudonym called K, he seems to be a central figure of Hyakka Theater Company. It seems like he and Amadate have been friends for a long time.

Syu: Lately, Amadate's subordinates have been watching the places where Reiji and I go through.

Syu: If they detect the transfer and steal the data back, it'll all be over. We have to be careful.

Reni: If the delivery is discovered, K's safety may be in jeopardy. They want to avoid that risk.

Izumi: So that means I need a place where I can contact K without Amadate finding out about it...

Izumi: But if Reni or Syu were to do something strange, they'll be found out...

Izumi: Can't we meet at this restaurant?

Syu: It's not unnatural for us to come and go outside of business hours, but I think it'd be difficult for K.

Zen: Even if you visit as a customer during business hours, your meeting will be discovered.

Izumi: A place where everyone can go in and out without suspicion, but where outsiders can also be seen... That'll be difficult to find.

Izumi: By the way, when’s your next board meeting, Reni?

Reni: It will be held at night in five days' time.

Izumi: (In five days... that'll be the day of the performance. I got it!)

Izumi: How about inviting this person to the performance? I'm pretty sure that K is also involved in theater.

Izumi: During the performance, only people who are on our attendee list can enter the Mankai Theater, and it's a place everyone can gather together naturally.

Izumi: Even if it's just to hand the data over, there's the pretext that they just attended a show, so it shouldn't seem unnatural...

Syu: I see. That's a good idea.

Reni: It'll also be convenient as the Board of Directors will meet immediately afterwards. That way there will be little risk of the data being taken away after the handover occurs before the board meeting.

Izumi: The question is if K will accept the performance invitation...

Izumi: It WOULD be unnatural to invite someone to the performance without knowing their identity or if they plan on using a fake name...

Izumi: Oh!

Reni: What is it?

Izumi: ——I'll give him a call!

Banri: ‘Sup.

Zen: You here for a part-time job?

Banri: Nope.

Izumi: Banri, do you have Kabuto's contact information?

Banri: Yeah. He pushed it onto me at the last session of the workshop.

Syu: I guess he liked you.

Banri: If you think so.

Izumi: There’s something I really need to talk to Kabuto about. Could you give him a call?

Banri: ...Sure, but right now?

Zen: You don’t seem too fond of the idea.

Banri: I don't think he’ll have anything nice to say.

Kabuto: "...Yeah?"

Banri: This is Settsu.

Kabuto: "Perfect timing. There's a role I'd like you to play in a performance six months from now."

Banri: That ain’t happenin’!

Banri: The general director of our theater company has something she really wants to talk to you about.

Kabuto: "...Hm?"

Banri: Izumi.

Izumi: Hello, I asked for a call with you. My name is Izumi Tachibana and I'm the president and general director of Mankai Company.

Izumi: Is this Kabuto Amadate?

Kabuto: "Yeah, that's me."

Izumi: "I apologize for the last minute notice, but I would like to invite you to the upcoming performance of our newest work in five days..."

Izumi: And to have a brief chat in the theater afterwards.

Izumi: ...We will pick up your items at that time.

Kabuto: "...I see. You’ve put some thought into this."

Izumi: (As expected, Kabuto is...)

Izumi: I apologize. I only ended up inviting you to just the second part of the performance...

Kabuto: "I've watched the first part of the performance from the stream, so it's fine."

Izumi: Oh, really? Thank you very much.

Izumi: The show starts at 2 p.m. Just give us your name at the entrance and you will be admitted.

Kabuto: "I look forward to talking with you."

Izumi: Likewise.

Izumi: Thanks, Banri. Kabuto will be coming to the performance.

Banri: Huh?! You serious?!

Zen: We'll also be there, by the way.

Banri: That's totally gonna bother me during the performance.

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