#and I’m sick of static poses

[daveyfvckingjacobs]

I wanna draw more last binding stuff and am void of ideas so if anyone wants to send any my way hint hint

[angels-can-have-blogs]

workout tips (that really helped me lose 7kg/15pounds and tone my body) ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ

How to create a workout tailored for you (if you want to try working out without a video): making a workout is easy. You can go online (TikTok and Pinterest are my faves) and search for workout concerning your goal, or ask ChatGPT! ChatGPT can even personalise your workouts to help you hit a certain caloric goal and limitations! Try to fit in a short run/cool-down walk to burn more calorie. Make sure to make a stretching routine too! Pre-workout should be dynamic, and post-workout should be static.

Split your workouts: this basically means some days you work a certain body part on a certain day. For example, this is mine: Monday is leg, Tuesday is abs, Wednesday is abs and arm, Thursday is abs and legs, Friday is full-body, Saturday is cardio, Sunday is full-body

Make several workouts: this is so you won’t get bored that easily. Let’s say I wanna do cardio, but I’m sick of doing jumping jacks and jump roping, so I do another cardio workout like running or mountain climbers.

some workout and stretching examples that I made for myself and recommended workouts/youtubers:

Pre-workout: 1min leg swings per leg, 1min backward arm circles, 20sec lunge pulses per side, 30sec butt kicks, 30sec ankle rolls per foot

Post-workout: 30sec butterfly pulses, 30sec cat cow, 20sec downward dog, 30sec puppy pose, 1min toe touch

Abs n butt no.1: 1min plank, 15 squats, 30 donkey kicks per leg, 30 leg raises, 30 v in-and-out, 10 table top crunches, 20 bicycle crunches, 15 squats, 20 leg raises

Abs n butt no.2: 3*20 v in-and-out, 1min high plank, 2*15 squats, 2*30 donkey kicks, 2*20 bicycle crunches, 10 side planks with leg raises per leg

Full body n cardio: 30 jumping jacks, 10 plank crawl, 30 bird dog crunches, 3*10 v in-and-out, 50 backward arm circle per arm, 30 fire hydrants per leg, 2*10 squats, 2*15 jumping jacks

Cardio: 3*100 jumping jacks, 5*1min mountain climbers

Arm: 50 backward arm circles/20 backward arm circles with 1-2kg weights, 2*20 bicep curl with 1-2kg weights, 2*15 bicep curl with 1-2kg weights, 2*10 tricep curls with 1-2kg weights, 2*15 chest expansion with 1-2kg weights

Leg: (I do April Han’s skin leg workout or Jing Diet’s skin leg workout)

I love, love, love Shirlyn Kim, Nikola’s Pilates, AFIT and the Victoria Secret’s YouTube channel!

Stay safe and hydrate!! Tell me how it goes

ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ

[spoiler1001]

LOS Maria chapter 3

Alucard was alerted and drawn into a group of ghouls surrounding a camp. The whole area was swampy and muddied. The fence surrounding the tents was painted with mud and dirt, with speckles of old blood. Members of the brotherhood stood guard at the entrance of the camp. Sounds of movement and conversations were carried by air. Mud and rust coated the steel on the men and they were staring blankly ahead, through the monsters hiding in the woods.

It was a good way to get everyone killed. 

Alucard crouched down, feeling his wolf form crackle under his skin, prepared to jump out at a moment's notice. 

Fortunately for him, he did not need to make an appearance. 

A large gray-striped mountain cat, with static and lightning radiating from it jumped into the woods, pouncing into the bushes. Alucard watched it jump at the monsters before turning around and locking eyes with him. It made a loud growling roar, causing the ghouls to scatter into an open space, snapping the guards to attention. A large group of brotherhood members ran into the fray, slashing their swords so wildly that they were hitting each other more than the monster, yet the sheer numbers allowed them to kill the monster with their members being unscathed. 

The mountain cat stalked back into the camp with his ears angrily folded back against his head. The group of inexperienced fighters jumped and cheered as they celebrated the victory of them protecting their temporary home. 

“They’re getting desperate. We have less and less fresh corpses for them to consume as the days proceed.” A woman said stepping up, wiping red away from the corner of her mouth. She was covered with brown mud and dried blood. It was soaking through her bright green coat with gray cracked and scratched armor. Her pants were plain gray, with modest brown boots. Her shoulders were back in a confident pose, and every step was a graceful glide. Muscles were evident under her clothes, with battle evident on her face. 

“Lady Renard.” one of the members said in greeting, snapping still and in a saluting position, followed by the others. 

“I am more of a commander here, ‘Lady’ implies that I have a claim to land that consumption and familial debt ate away at.” The commander responded. Her voice was deep with a low rasp. 

The group had no response to that. 

“Just don’t fool around and help these poor souls.” The commander turned on her heels taking a couple steps before stopping. “Oh, and feel free to allow our visitor in.” she hid her smirk behind the back of her hand. 

Alucard sighed and stood to his real height, revealing himself to the guards. They yelped in surprise and pointed their spears and swords at him. 

“Stand down, If he wanted you dead, you would be.” The commander sighed through her nose and turned to face Alucard. “Follow me.” 

Alucard carefully stepped into camp, towering over every other soldier. The sounds of the pained and the dying were loud and near overwhelming. Grave diggers sat near a bonfire with exhaustion and tear streaks down their faces. 

“What has happened here?” Alucard asked. 

“Illness happened.” Commander Renard answered, her voice soft and pained. “Sudden too. One day an entire town was healthy, the next half of the town is drowning in blood and now we have more caretakers than ill.” 

“Curse?” Alucard asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“Could be, maybe. I don’t know.” Maria pinched the bridge of her nose. “These things pop up, it was what killed my parents.” 

“I’m sorry.” Alucard awkwardly replied. 

“You didn’t kill them, don’t apologize.” She responded.

“What of the brotherhood?”

The commander didn’t answer at first stopping in front of a tent in the middle of the camp. It had a wobbly table in the middle of the tent, covered in papers of maps, inventory, and names. 

“The brotherhood won’t respond to requests for new leadership, I’m only a placeholder. Our true commander died three days ago. Our men are falling sick.” The commander’s shoulder sagged. 

The information settled in the air. The commander slumped into a chair, making it sink into the ground by an inch.

“Why tell me this?” Alucard asked finally, looking around. 

“Because you're here? I know the kind of man you are, Alucard.” she dropped her hood exposing warm blue eyes.

“You don't know me.” Alucard found himself impulsively stating. 

“I know exactly who you are.” she countered. The sentence hung in the air for a moment before continuing. “Alucard, the grand hero that helps the Belmonts fight the dreaded Dracula.” 

“And here I am at a disadvantage with no real idea of who I am talking to,” Alucard responded with an even tone. 

“Easily rectified. I am Maria Renard, Last of the Renard family, temporary head of this brotherhood camp.” The commander, Maria answered with a slightly bitter grin. 

[lena-after-dark]

Pairing: Possessed!Josh Lambert x Reader

Prompt: Imagine Josh's obsession with you coming to a head after his possession.

Requested By: Anon

Warnings: Stalking. Kidnapping. Detainment. Possession.

He didn’t know what it was about you. Maybe it was the sound of your laugh or the way you told stories. He always knew you were around, even before he saw you. He could feel your presence in a room and would immediately feel a wave of comfort. From the moment he’d met you, Josh had been completely enamored by you. He wouldn’t admit it, of course, and tried to keep his feelings at bay, but you were always on his mind. 

Josh wanted to be around you any chance he could; he’d sit with you during lunch, and offer to stay late to grade papers with you so you wouldn’t be alone. It never seemed like enough for him, though. When your car suddenly died, he’d give you a ride to and from work. He’d always make sure that you made it inside - occasionally sitting outside for a while to watch your shadow move through the windows.

Sometimes he found himself following you when you left, curious about where you were headed. Before long, he knew your routine well. He knew which grocery store you preferred and the cafe you’d meet your friends at. He even learned about your friends - just to make sure they were the type of people worthy of your time, of course.

All of the information that Josh had learned about you came in very handy for Parker Crane, posing as his host to try to integrate into the living world. Josh’s… infatuation with you was something that struck Parker right away. He was going to live a normal life, he decided, in Josh’s body. But could he truly, with the gnawing feeling that he had to have you near him prodding at him? It nearly drowned out the voice of his mother. The two mixed together - her insistence mixed with Josh’s obsession couldn’t be ignored for long.

Parker- no, Josh. He was Josh now. Josh decided that he would start a new life with you. You two would be happy. He’d make sure of it. You’d come to love him and you’d be a family no matter what.

“Josh, are you alright? I’ve been trying to reach you for days now. You look sick. Is everything okay?:

“It is now. May I come in?”

You already trusted him enough to let him in your home well after dark, and you didn’t seem to mind the bag he had with him, either. Josh grew ever more certain of his plan as you embraced him in a hug. He couldn’t help it - he buried his head in your neck and inhaled, taking in your scent. You pulled away, giving him a quizzical look. He didn’t acknowledge it.

He’d been sick, he told you. Had to be hospitalized, but everything was fine now. He continued to comfort you while you spoke - and even more so as he wrapped a chemical soaked cloth around your mouth, holding it there until you were unconscious. He wrapped you up in a dark sheet and quickly brought you back to his mother’s home, undetected. He’d keep you in the basement until he could make the other preparations.

It was difficult to say how long you were down there. Josh would bring you sustenance and let you up to relieve yourself, but it was difficult to gauge even with that how time was passing. He was quite attentive for a kidnapper. He’d brush your hair and bring you fresh clothes (had he taken them from your house?) He even brought a radio down, played low, to keep you from the silence. At times it would turn to static and you could swear you heard your name from the other side.

When at last Josh was himself again and you were released, the things that had to be explained to you were incredible to hear. Even when you were shown photo and video evidence, it was a lot.

“So… it’s really you now?”

“That’s right. Y/N, I’m sorry. I don’t know how or why you got swept up into this. I hope… well, I hope you’re alright.”

He knew he’d have to give you space, and that your trust would return in time. Tucker and Specs were the ones to take you home while Josh worked to clean up the remnants of what Parker had done. He stood in the basement, the rope that had held you in place in his hands. He looked at that spot you’d been kept in for a while, then down to the restraints that held you. For a moment, a thought crossed through his mind.

But surely that was just the last pieces of Parker’s psyche within him. Wasn’t it?

Originally posted here.

Buy Me A Coffee?

[i-draws-dinosaurs]

Dreadnoughtus schrani, made and rendered in MagicaVoxel!

As I like to do, I was looking around for different art genres to try out when I came across voxel art and though oh sick I wanna make that. So, after some searching I found a lovely little program called MagicaVoxel! 

It’s totally free, open source, and I found the UI super easy and understandable to learn! And it also has an inbuilt rendering engine that you can use to make your builds look absolutely sick, there’s lighting and refraction and metallic reflections and just so much.

I did some messing around with landscaping that I’m not gonna show y’all cause they’re a mess, but this was my first proper finished piece that I made with it! Dreadnoughtus, based on Scott Hartman’s skeletal, standing near a little creek. The pose is very static and I’ve still got a lot to learn about shaping and design in this style but for a first attempt I think it looks rather lovely!

If you’ve ever wondered about giving voxel art a try, I’d absolutely recommend downloading MagicaVoxel and giving it a shot!

[hollowsart]

Spam of the ton & Friends

Info under cut cuz I have many thoughts:

Voice Box: Addisons have a special organ called a “Voice Box“ that is essentially their vocal chords. It differs a bit from more “natural“ vocal chords, it is most obvious in how they speak, almost coming off as though it were a speaker. Should one gets sick or be born “defective” the speech will sound “glitched“ and “corrupt“ with static garbling happening now and again. Uniquely, the voice box lets Addisons control their voices much more precisely than natural vocal chords, they can adjust their voices to fit any sort of sales pitch or style they need, but the voice that emits from them is personalized to the Addison themself. They cannot change that, though some have tried out of curiosity or to attempt playful mockery of another.

Heterochromia: Much like in our world, heterochromia isn’t too common, but it’s not something unheard of. However, unlike our world, Darkners have white pupils to help bring in more light from their eternally dark surroundings. This is quite beneficial, and the light produced from the neon signs and screens and such is a special kind of light that does them no harm should they look at it.

(I’m trying to google things but nothing is coming up about this so like.. just...... imagination?? magic?? let’s go with that for the eyes thing, I just think this is neat ok--)

Body: Addisons look an awful lot like mannequins. The default shape of their forms is quite standard, but can vary in shape and size, though not nearly as drastically as Spamton. Spamton’s case is uncommon, as is the opposite of that being if an Addison were to be quite tall rather than small/short. Where the similarities lie, the differences between them and actual mannequins is just as clear to tell. Addisons have moveable mouth parts and some joins that resemble a ball-jointed doll, however, their bodies are more “fleshy“ and warm than that of a cloth or plastic mannequin. Their bodies are made of both natural and “unnatural“ materials. The “unnatural“ materials we will call “mechatronics“ are mostly interior to their bodies and is more in tune with how they can move and speak rather than... well... some other things... that are more “fleshy“.

Additonally: Their bodies are very warm, touching them would feel like touching the screen of a CRT TV. You can feel a gentle static buzz. Their bodies are always some type of fun solid color, never are they ever white. White is.. well, it’s what is under their vibrant “casing“. The white body under the color is what helps them to reflect and almost glow like the neon signs they can produce with dark magic. Without their “casing“ they cannot “glow“ like they normally would, they cannot produce neon signs either, instead, they can only sadly reflect light, kind of like the moon to the sun. As well.. their bodies feel like silicon to the touch, texture-wise. One could almost liken them to a nutcracker if a nutcracker were exceptionally pose-able and flexible.

Fun Fact: They do not have bellybuttons, what looks to be one is nothing more than a simple indentation like what you would find on actual mannequins.

[supercorpkid]

Mind Controlled – The Series.

Part 2 – Pull the trigger.

Supercorp, Kara Danvers x Daughter!Reader, Lena Luthor x Daughter!Reader, Alex Danvers x Niece!Reader, Lex Luthor x Niece!Reader.

Word count: 2300.

Warning: Injuries, violence, pain, angst.

Previously on the series - part 1

You land on the same room, on the same building, waiting for Lex's voice to come out of the speaker with further instructions. You’re ready to do whatever he asks from you.

“You’re back, my bösewicht.” You hear his voice sometime later. “I presume you have done a good job leaving your mothers wrecked?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Such an obedient little monster. A Super with a Luthor’s brain. Why has no one thought about this before? Oh yes, I have. But they called me a mad man for it, and yet here you are.” And there you are. Standing still, staring at a wall, waiting for more orders. “In that stupid outfit, dear Lord, why would anyone be dressed in those stupid clothes?”

You look down on your super suit. You do look stupid. This stupid skirt, horrible boots, long sleeve shirt so tight if you were human, it would mark your skin. It makes you so sick you want to rip it off of your body.

“Nevertheless, with you playing pet for me, I can do whatever I want even still in jail.” The static comes again, but Lex doesn’t stop talking. “I should’ve known Lena would be greedy and want a smart and powerful kid. But I hadn’t had confirmation, that was until mother came here to visit and told me all about you. So impressed with her little granddaughter.” He lets out a chuckle. “I can’t imagine how infuriated she’ll be once she finds out it was her, who gave me the idea to mind control you.”

You think about Lillian, and how impressed she is with you. You give yourself a cocky smile. She should be impressed, you are impressive.

“Kryptonians might have strong minds, but Luthors? We’re unfortunately just humans. So my bright sister didn’t think that having a powerful kryptonian daughter with a susceptible mind wasn’t a good idea?” He scoffs. "Oh, Lena. You may try, but you will never be smart like me.”

There’s a loud breathing sound.

“That’s enough of chatting. I have better things for you to do, my bösewicht. You’ll break me out of jail when it’s time, but first-” There’s a wicked little pause. “Let’s destroy the Super name.”

Your body is suddenly filled with rage and wrath. You want to destroy everything. You want to drop a bomb in everyone’s head. You want to make them suffer.

“That’s it. Use your rage. Destroy National City, scare them, let them see you in your worst form. Let them fear the Supers, and then, come for me.”

“Yes, sir.”

You fly off the window, looking for a place to start. You want to cause damage, you want them to be scared of you, whoever they may be.

You start off by using your heat vision to draw the ‘House of El’ symbol in the middle of the park, so they know who’s responsible for all that it is coming their way. You watch the grass burning, the form coming along and your heart beats fast, enthusiastic.

You didn’t even start the destruction part yet, and this already feels fulfilling. You know exactly where to go next.

You fly to your training center and you look down. This stupid-ass place gives you no good memories at all. You got beat up, got yelled at, got annoyed every time your powers didn’t work like they were supposed to, got angry at people looking at you thinking you weren’t good enough. You remember their disapproving looks; you remember the tiniest of sighs you’ve heard.

Fuck them all.

Your heat vision hits the ground, and your heart gets heavy, but your powers never stop. You can almost taste the feeling of being a disappointment in your mouth. And it gets you incredibly proud of yourself. You want to disappoint them. Them being proud of you means nothing at all.

You look down on the entire place up in flames. This is the right thing. Destroying this place will send them a message. You are not their little pet anymore. They can’t keep you under a leash, pretending you’re not powerful and fucking special. You’re so fucking special, even Lex wants your powers.

It’s not long until Supergirl flies in front of you. You smirk at her looking down. There’s a powerful feeling cursing through your veins. You know she can see it too. Your hair blowing in the wind, your stupid super suit moving almost in slow motion, your eyes burning of rage with little flames dancing in the dark of your enlarged pupils.

“I believe you owe me an apology.” It’s the first thing you say, after unclenching your jaw. “You called me weak.” You spit, disgusted. “You were mistaken.”

“Deeply.” Kara agrees looking down, and you notice the cars from the DEO stopping, people getting out of them in desperation, trying to put out the fire. That makes you so happy. She looks back at you. “Is this what this whole thing is about? You’re trying to prove to me you’re strong, after all this time?”

“Trying?” You scoff, then your face goes back to a frown. “I don’t need to prove myself. Especially not to someone who uses her powers to stop bank robberies instead of having the world under her firm grip.”

“I know you’re not my daughter.” Kara comes a little bit closer; you don’t move. You’re not scared of her, but she should be scared of you. “Are you bizarro?”

“You’re too far consumed in this battle of ego to see right in front of you.” You tilt your head, letting a creepy smile dangle on your lips. “Don’t you recognize your little one, mommy?”

“If that’s the case, then I have to stop you either way, little one.” Kara does her whole superhero pose and you laugh at her.

“You can’t. You don’t have the stomach.” You look down to the ground and you see Lena there. “I see, you won’t be the one doing it. Clean hands, right? Let the Luthor hurt the Kryptonian. It’s the natural order of things.”

“I’m sorry, my love. It has to be done.” Supergirl flies towards you in one motion. You still try to fly away, but she is a little faster, so she grabs you easily. You push her, punch her, you even pull her hair, but she doesn’t let go.

She lands on the floor with you wrapped in her arms, and Lena comes closer. Kryptonite gun in hand. Soon, you’re surrounded by agents with their own guns. Supergirl lets you go, flying above you, but not leaving, in case you decide to make a run for it.

You look at Lena. Gun in hand. You listen to her heartbeat going crazy and you smile at her.

Let’s play, mom.

“Do it.” You dare. “I want to see you pull that trigger. I want to see you hurt your own daughter with Kryptonite.”

“I don’t want to do this, baby.” Lena assures you, taking a small step towards you. “I promise you, I’ll figure out what’s going on with you. You just have to come with me.”

“You’ve always known, haven’t you?” You lock eyes with watery green eyes behind the gun. “You’ve always known someday the Luthor genes would shine through. Because no matter how good the Super gene is, the Luthor one is worse. So, so bad. Rotten to the core. You’ve always known I wouldn’t be able to resist.”

“I’ve told you before. We are not Luthors. We are Luthor-Danvers, and that means something. Please, stand down. Let me look at you.”

“Tell me to stand down one more time and I’ll throw-” You look at one guy on your left and point at him. “That guy into space.”

“Baby.” It’s Lena’s last try, you can see it in her face. You can see the way her finger presses lightly at the trigger. You also hear how that makes everyone else do the exact same movement.

“I’m not going to run away. But I won’t surrender, either.” You defy her. “If you want me to go with you, then you have to do it. You have to pull the trigger and you have to live with the guilt all your life.”

“I’m sorry it has come to this, baby.” But her face doesn’t hold much sentiment, nor does she lower her weapon. “But you know I have to do this. You can’t go on pulling stunts like this. You can’t keep thinking there are no consequences to your actions.”

“You are not sorry.” You smirk. “Don’t try to play me for a fool, Lena.” It’s the way her name leaves your mouth that makes her flinch. “I know you’re dying to pull that trigger and be the one who tamed a Kryptonian once again. It’s what all Luthors want in the end.”

She pulls the trigger, making you fall on the floor in pain, after a blast of kryptonite hits your chest.

“You should be so satisfied now.” You whimper. Kryptonite filling your body. “You’ve used kryptonite on your wife, and now on your daughter. It’s a full circle, isn’t it?” You spit out your words.

Lena puts you in handcuffs that strip you off of your powers, and strokes your cheeks gently. Eyes full of tears and instant regret.

“I’m bringing you back, my baby. I promise you.” She whispers delicately, like she’s not even talking to you anymore, but maybe to the memory she has of you.

But the two agents that come from behind you don’t pick you up delicately. In fact, they seem very pissed at you, and you’re shoved into the back of a van where Alex is.

“Aunt Alex.” You start with your bitchy tone and Alex breathes deep.

“Listen kiddo, I’m not in the mood.” She shakes her head, upset. “You just caused us millions of dollars in damages, Kara is a wreck, and don’t even get me started on Lena.” Alex raises her eyes from her tablet. “I know you’re not yourself, that’s why I don’t give a fuck about this. You start talking? That gag goes in your mouth in a second. Don’t think you can play me like you did with your moms.”

“I think the story would be really different if Lena hadn’t cuffed me and stripped me off of my powers.” You raise an eyebrow, not breaking eye contact. “You’re scared of me too.”

“Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?” Alex smiles unbothered. “I’ve dealt with things much worse, and much scarier than you and your babyface.” She grabs the gag and looks at you. “Now shut it, or I’ll make you.”

You decide to shut up. Your quarrel isn’t with Alex and the last thing you want it’s to be shut up. The best course of action is going willingly, and working something up in the DEO, because you know for sure there is where they’re taking you.

It’s Alex who shoves you inside of a cell, when you get there. Locks the glass door, and turns on some red sun lamps. You bite your mouth at the idea of it. They are very scared of you; they keep finding ways to strip you off of your powers.

It takes a few minutes until you hear talking on the other side of the glass. You can’t see them, or hear them well enough, but there’s one voice that stands out. You bitch grin to yourself.

Let’s play, momma.

"Mommy” You use your best and sweetest voice. Kara comes closer to the glass cell, and you stare at her from the other side. You want to destroy this place brick by brick until there’s nothing left, but you know if you’re aggressive about it, they won’t let you out. “Please, let me out. Can you open the door, please?"

"Kid, I'm sorry but we have to understand what's-" Kara starts, but you interrupt her.

"I'm begging you, please, please mommy." You drop on your knees. Tears falling from your eyes, and that act allures a crowd. Lena and Alex soon join Kara on the other side.

"Baby, I'm sorry." Kara gasps, and you watch Lena’s hand squeezing her shoulder reassuring. “You know I want to-”

"You said you would protect me. This isn't protection.” Your tears stop falling, you’re angry again. The act isn’t working. You clench your fist, using all the strength you have, trying to focus so the anger doesn’t consume you. You feel the palms of your hands burning, with nails digging into your flesh. “Please, this isn’t fair. Mom, please, do something.”

"I swear this is for your own good." Lena takes a deep breath, not buying into what you’re saying. Great. You’re done faking either way.

“FUCK YOU! LET ME OUT OF THIS CELL!” You bang on the cell, screaming as loud as you can. You see your blood leaving hand-shaped marks on the glass. Your scream is loud, but the banging is louder.

“Baby, please, you have to calm down.” You hear Kara’s voice trying to sooth you. It gets you angrier.

"FUCK YOU TOO! LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT NOW!" They look at the blood splashed onto the glass. Your face is burning red, and Kara flinches at the sight of you. Lena doesn't, so you know your best shot is with your momma. "Kara, I swear if you don't open this cell right now, I will hate you until the day I die."

“That’s enough.” You hear Alex’s voice and the glass turns black. You can’t see them on the outside, and you know they can’t see inside either. You can’t hear their voices, so you suspect they’re not listening to your unrelenting yell anymore.

Fuck. You need a new escape plan.

[jesusology]

as much as i love Mikoto, theorizing what’s going on in his MV/what his crime is... it’s more difficult. but here we go, step-by-step! 

apologies in advance if this makes like. no sense at all 

to me, this environment looks sort of like an office. the couch looks hard and sturdy, hardly something someone would want to sit in at their own home... the walls are rather bleak and professional. 

i feel like the sky is meant to represent “freedom”, with the walls crumbling around him. perhaps Mikoto feels “trapped” in his job and he really wants to break free from all of it. it’s an unrealistic desire and he realizes as much.

a crescent moon - and i believe that a crescent moon shows up later, as well. it’s interesting that parts of his MV have this static effect like watching from a TV. could be that his brain feels like static or it could show how he believes this isn’t real. what he’s seeing can’t possibly be true, it isn’t him - so it’s like watching a TV show.

it’s interesting that he’s just standing out here, seemingly waiting for his “victim”. i say victim in quotations because i’m really not sure what is going on with this. 

hmmmmm. 

i feel like what he’s seeing here isn’t what actually happened. i feel like this could be a fantasy to him. a very dark fantasy that he doesn’t want to believe himself capable of in reality - but it’s something that lingers in his thoughts. 

i mean, i think he’s done something bad, no doubt. but i don’t think what’s depicted here could be considered what it is. 

i’m not going to entertain the DID theory here because i don’t think that’s what’s going on and i’m hoping that it’s not because it seems sort of like a tastelessly cliché theory and i want to have more faith in the leader writer. it very well could be what’s going on, but for this theory, i’m not going to further mention it

anyway, back on track here - this line could also make sense with dark fantasies. i feel like Mikoto is hiding his true self... especially when it comes to his job. there’s plenty of hinting that there’s more to Mikoto than what you see on the exterior. and what you see on his exterior is mostly an agreeable smile.

boy how are you laying your head up against that hard wood..... talk about waking up with neck pain 

is Mikoto into this sort of thing, like tarot cards? has he relied on them to sort of foresee his future because it seems to be very bleak? hmmmmm (take a drink everytime i just type “hmmmm”)

so like. here’s why the serial killer theory doesn’t hold up especially well to me personally: i’m not sure why he would kill someone and then throw their body in the dumpster as if he doesn’t want them to be found? this isn’t the case for all serial killers of course, but most of the time it seems like they want their “”work”” to be seen. for the attention of it and the sick perverse sexual thrill of it. but it doesn’t look that way from here with Mikoto? 

in fact, he doesn’t seem to feel anything. he has a blank, empty stare and yet again i feel like what he’s seeing isn’t the “truth” of what occurred. i think there’s so much more to what meets the eye here. 

maybe something happened in his job and - to him - it was essentially “taking out garbage”? like he killed someone regarding his work or FOR his work... 

“Take a good look at me Until you find me” could, yet again, depict how people see him from the outside but don’t ever get a glimpse of his actual thoughts nor what his personality really is. it’s like a performance, that sort of thing.

and since we get a good look at his shirt (which is apparently meant to depict the major arcana’s The Hanged Man) it seems to be in reverse position which would indicate something like “egotism, inability to change, missing an opportunity”.

god i love how he sings this part. AHEM so here is the Devil upright which means something like “bondage, enslavement, fear, feeling trapped, materialism, temptation”. again i return to work being his driving factor for whatever his crime may have been. he felt trapped in his job, he was lacking identity because of his job. 

i’m not sure if “accusations” being brought up here is regarding his interrogation in general and his denial or if this is something that happened to him outside of this prison? like was he being accused of something? does this tie into his current denial?

this line is interesting but i was also too distracted by how much i like this image. it’s just. it’s really good

again, is this about accusations? has he done something really wrong and it’s haunting him no matter where he’s going (whether this just be personal or about work). this line is just... a lot to think about here. would love some insight into this from anyone because it’s just really curious to me.

this entire sequence is so good. i like the sound of the bell (is it a bell? i think it’s a bell) each time we see the frame switch. he looks really listless here and i wouldn’t be surprised if this was him coming home from work. he seems drained and empty. his posture is hunched, his movement looks like it’s lacking any energy.

his place looks so plain and impersonal. the television static is an interesting touch in the bg. we can’t even see his face here, what his expression is. but just from body language alone (and the ominous bell noise) it’s obvious something is vaguely wrong.

he looks completely hopeless here. now, usually when i’m upset and i’m going toward my bed i’ll do that sort of pose too - with my knees on the floor and my arms hiding my face in the bed. so i’m guessing he’s upset here or just totally exhausted. maybe the bells are meant to be a “for whom the bell tolls” kind of thing. it signifies “death” and perhaps this is “death” of the “self”

going to have to separate this into two posts because i had a whole lot written here but it got deleted so! expect it soon! 

part 2

[honeeb33]

Guess who wrote something again LMFAOOO tommyinnit once again causes me nothing but pain.

So imagine everyone grieving for tommy and a few days later they get a buzz from their communicator [TommyInnit was killed by Dream]. 

They assume it's a delay. A glitch. What else could it be? Aside from a joke from the universe that wants to remind them of what they've lost. Until it happens again. And again. 

[TommyInnit was killed by Dream]

[TommyInnit was killed by Dream]

[TommyInnit was killed by Dream]

More and more and more and then they're all scrambling to the prison as their communicator continues to buzz.

Sam checks the camera (and normally others wouldn't be allowed in the security room but how could he say no to Tubbo and Ranboo after everything (they hadn't even needed to plead))and it's just like it was. 

Dream in the cell with Tommy's bloody, beaten body but it's different. 

Tommy is in a different position and there are so many more bruises than Sam remembers and he can only stare as Tubbo sobs and Ranboo gasps and he realises they had never seen the body. 

But what could he say to that? It didn't used to be this bad? Sure, that was the truth. But Dream couldn't have been beating up a dead body and those messages on the communicator could only mean one thing but it was impossible, surely.

Then Dream looks up at the camera and instead of the far-away look he had the first time Sam had seen him with Tommy's body, there is a triumph on his face. As though he had performed a trick and it had gone perfectly, as though he knew that they were in here, watching him.

"Hey Sam." He says and there is an insane look in his eye but his voice is the calmest that Sam has ever heard it in the last few months. 

The camera goes static and a fear floods Sam as he frantically tries to get it back online, hyper focuses on the buzzing noises coming from the monitor mixed in with the not so silent tears from the two boys standing in the room with him. It's only roughly thirty seconds of static before the camera turns back on, but so much can change in such little time.

Dream has moved. He is holding Tommy's body- no, not his body. He is holding Tommy. A tight grip on the front of his shirt lifts the bruised teenager of the ground and Sam expects no resistance from the supposed corpse. Instead there is a scuffle, if only for a moment, and it brings tears to Sam's eyes, this impossible sight.

Ranboo bursts into tears behind him. Sam can faintly hear sizzling from where the water meets the ender-boys face.

Tommy's eyes are no longer dull, they are shining and Sam wants to howl in pain at the pure fear that he can glimpse in them. The boy cowers in Dream's presence and Sam makes a move to run towards the prison cell, to for fucking ONCE forget all protocol and just get TommyInnit out of there.

"Don't move."

Dream snarls, as though he can see exactly what Sam is preparing to do. Sam is frozen. He's the warden. He's meant to hold the power.

But as Tommy squirms and whimpers and begs and he can do nothing but watch, he knows he no longer holds any kind of power.

"Please." Tommy whispers, the first words that Sam has heard since he died. His voice is broken and Sam's heart breaks in return, shattering into a million tiny pieces. "I don't want to go back. Don't make me. Please, Dream. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

He babbles now, begging, and Sam knows he would by crying if he had the tears. Yes, Tommy is alive, barely and dehydrated and broken, but alive and-

"Oh Tommy, you don't get a say in the matter." Dream coos, sickly sweet and he grabs the boy by the head and Sam can only watch as he- as Dream-

"Let's try this again. It's okay, Tom's. I'll bring you back, but you'll have to behave next time." 

Crack.

There's no one else there now. Not even time for Tommy to cry out. Just Dream, staring at the camera and Sam staring back through it.

He doesn't know where Tubbo and Ranboo have gone; whether they're still there and silent or whether they walked off before they could witness any of that horror. He can't bring himself to turn around and check.

There's a bloody mess on the wall and an even bloodier hole in Tommy's head. Dream clicks his tongue disdainfully and drops Tommy's corpse.

Again, Sam thinks, he drops the body again. But how many times had he done this? How many.

He didn't want to count the number of messages on the communicator.  It would have made him sick.

As though the laughter that quickly filled the air wasn't twisting his stomach, anyway.

"I'm a GOD, SAM!" Dream howls,  through his laughter, hands painted crimson with blood that didn't belong to him. "I'm fucking invincible! And I swear to everything you hold dear, I am going to ruin this stupid fucking server." 

His stiff pose softens and he reaches down and picks up the body below him, as though it weighs nothing. It probably doesn't. Tommy had been so light in life, after everything, death would have made him all the easier to pick up.

"And Tom's going to help me. Aren't you, buddy?"

Dream slides down the bloodied wall, cradling Tommy, the grip now gentle, with a hand running through the blond's hair. It makes Sam sick, the way Dream's smile turned soft, almost fond.

For a moment, Sam wants to pretend that Tommy was just sleeping, that Dream was the old version of himself, the one who cared for his friends and lightly teased the boy and not this broken, evil, cruel man who would end a boy's life again and again to serve his own purpose.

But the insanity in his eyes remains and a challenging look crosses his face as he stares up at the security camera and Sam fears for Tommy, perhaps more than he had ever done before. 

He couldn't escape Dream, even after death. None of them could. Sam could only mourn for the tragedy that was yet to end.

Tommy, Tommy, I'm so sorry.

[toastermin-it]

I saw an old ask where someone mentioned a head canon where Akira was raised by other Persona users and I’m like: Yes, all of the yess!!!! Cuz like… I’m obsessed with this one au I have that will never leave the confines of my mind where Joker had already awakened Arsene before he moved to Tokyo and was raised either by or alongside the other Wild Cards and trained with Igor and the Attendants of the Velvet Room (Primarily Lavenza, Justine, and Caroline) when he first awakened Arsene and stuff to control his powers because I’m also a glutton for aid where the thieves can use their elemental powers outside of the Metaverse and stuff and like… the the stuff with Yaldabaoth taking over the Velvet Room happens but Joker kinda knows going in that it’s all some sick game Yaldy is playing and he’s trying to get to the bottom of the Metaverse with Morgana to try and stop Yaldy and all the other WCs are kinda trapped too. So we end up having a much more experience Joker and Morgana that know a lot more about the inner working of the Metaverse, is fully aware of the threat Yaldy poses, and effectively have a reason to try and gather more persona users of differing arcanas and an even bigger need to keep his head down so as to not gain the attention of a imposter god who is actively hunting Persona users to manipulate or destroy

so, like, sorta like a ng+ au?

you'd think that if aki already knew about yaldy and had a persona beforehand, someone would be there to have taught him all of that. and for some reason that mentor came in the form of a talking not-cat, but akira doesn't have time to question his life choices.

and the part where he trains with the velvet attendants before the Room is taken over? perfection. imagine how over powered he can make his personas before 'igor' goes all "complete your rehabilitation, inmate."

with the other wildcards being with him, before he moves to tokyo they could always have a bit of familial sparring for whatever reason they wanted. the velvet room is a perfect spot.

if you look at it, with the wildcards being trapped too gives akira an even GREATER incentive to kick yaldy in its nonexistent teeth.

and im assuming yaldy knows about how much of a threat persona users are to it, which is why it targets them.

i am also a HUGE sucker for aus and fics in which the thieves and other persona-users are able to manipulate their elements a bit in the real world and are affected by them. i like to think that joker, though more curse-inclined due to arsene, can use the element of the persona he has equipped, though not as much as someone native to that element can.

like imagine when mona gets really mad, the air around him whirls and whips violently, like a tornado. yusuke complains when the water in the bath is hot NOT JUST because of goemon's backstory, but also because he's sensitive to temperature increases around him. on a windy day, a single gust of wind can knock ryuji clean over, or, when he gets excited, he accidentally shocks people when he touches them due to static.

i love persona aus, so if you want anyone to talk to about aus you find, my eyes are peeled 👀

[lifeofkaze]

An Art of Balance #5

A/N: That one was tough. I have never written something with so much physical action before, and I had to rewrite a huge chunk of it until I finally felt happy with it. Describing sports is really tough, as it turns out. Also, KC belongs to the wonderful @kc-needs-coffee who lets me to a little cameo once in a while 😊 Enjoy!

 Word Count: ~ 3.100 (oops)

______________________________________________________________ 

Chapter 5: Back Home

A persistent rumour among the students was that Professor Binns had altered the clock in his classroom, back when he had been still alive. It was said, he did so to allow him to delve more minutely into every little detail of his subject he wished his students to remember.

If he hadn’t known any better, Orion could have sworn it was true.

He absentmindedly ran his quill through his fingers, trying his best to take in Professor Binns’s droning voice in what was their last class of the day. Orion glanced around the classroom. He estimated about half of the students were daydreaming about the upcoming weekend. The other half was fast asleep.

His gaze wandered out of the window. He could just make out the Quidditch pitch up ahead in the distance. The banners on top of the stands were swaying in a gentle breeze. He could feel it lightly brush his face from where he sat near the open window. It brought with it the pleasant warmth of a late summer afternoon.

Orion shuffled in his seat. He could feel his entire body brim with energy. The restlessness he felt had been bubbling under his skin for the last few days. He was itching to get back on his broomstick and to feel the wind on his face as he sped through the air.

This was what he had missed most during the summer break. When not at Hogwarts, he had no access to a broomstick, let alone people to fly with. Although Orion prided himself on always being grateful for what the universe had chosen to bestow on him, he sometimes he couldn’t help feeling envious of people like Skye. They could practise what they loved to their heart’s content, whenever or wherever they wished to.

He could feel McNully nudging him into his side. “There are only 23 minutes and 35 seconds left to his torment. 30 seconds as we speak,” he whispered.

Orion tore his gaze from the silhouette of the Quidditch pitch and turned to better face him. “Excuse me?”

McNully pointed at his now worse for wear looking quill. “You have been running your hand over this quill fourteen times in the last twenty minutes. In the last 45 minutes you have been staring out of the window seven times, with an average duration of five minutes. You have not been able to play Quidditch for 76 days in a row. And to add a personal note, tapping your foot excessively like that gives off an impatient expression and is rather annoying as well.”

Orion only now noticed his foot was indeed lightly tapping against the leg of table. He stopped.

“Sometimes I find your habit of observing your surroundings as meticulously as you do worrying, my friend.”

McNully shrugged, a carefree grin showing on his face. “What do you expect? I’m a commentator. I observe things and I comment on them. That is what I do.”

Orion had to grin at that. “It is indeed.”

He propped his head onto his hand, staring at the clock mounted above Professor Binns’s head. “I wouldn’t call it impatient, though. More like eager. I can’t wait to get out of here.”

McNully had started doodling onto his parchment, drawing tiny snitches between his notes. “Call it what you want, it doesn’t change what it is.”

Orion contemplated his words. “I agree. The appearance of the shell cannot change the core of things.”

He could see the confusion forming on McNully’s face. “I’m about 34 % sure that is what I said.”

 Only a few hours later, Orion felt himself unable to wipe the grin off his face. He stood in the middle of his beloved Quidditch pitch, the sun warming the back of his yellow robes. The unmistakable smell of grass, wood warmed by the sunlight and broom wax made him feel almost intoxicated.

Most of his team had already taken to the sky. They were getting back into the swing of things, darting around the pitch, doing turns and dives. Even down here, the joy they radiated was contagious. Everyone was wild with excitement to finally be back.

“And here is Parkin with a triple backwards flip. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a move to be watched! But what is this? Parkin is challenged to a race around the pitch by Jameson! Which Chaser can push their Comet’s limits further? There is a 92,4 % chance we are going to find out!”

He stifled a laugh. Of course McNully was here to commentate on their first friendly of the season. Orion hadn’t been the only one antsy to get back to business.

His attention shifted to the group of tense looking students stood in front of him.

Orion had carefully selected a few Hufflepuffs that were known to be skilled flyers. Every one of them had the potential to fill the vacant spot on their House’s team. He had already been thoroughly testing them, before admitting them to a practise with the other players. They had all passed his balancing test. Now it was time for them to prove themselves in action.

When he saw the reserve players arriving on the field, he mounted his broomstick.

“Now, my friends, is the time. The quest to become one of the pillars the building that is the Hufflepuff team is built upon is almost complete for one of you. For our new Beater to be revealed, we will have to see how you fare in a real match situation.”

He raised his arm, calling his teammates down to his side. “We will divide into two teams and play for a bit before switching things up. Good luck to all of you.” He inclined his head towards the contestants, some of them looking positively sick with nerves. “May this division serve to bring us unison.”

He unlocked the trunk resting at his feet and watched first the Snitch and then the Bludgers shoot up into the air. Picking up the Quaffle, he pushed himself off the ground.

“Let’s play.”

 If returning to Hogwarts had him feel like being home, tearing up and down the pitch made Orion feel like he truly belonged here. In contrast to the hectic movements unfolding around him, playing Quidditch granted him unparalleled focus, similar to nothing else. All that mattered was the moment at present, nothing before, nothing after.

He had taken himself back from the game playing out in front of him to better watch the students competing for the open position. Jason Everett, a rather loud and braggy guy, was one of the competitors he had chosen. He was sharing the dorm with Orion and McNully and Orion had never been able to form a real connection with him. To his surprise, however, he was showing great promise.

He decided to take the challenge up a bit. Putting himself on the same team as Lizzie and Skye, he wanted Everett to compete against a full set of Chasers for the second half of the match.

It wasn’t until flying with Skye and Lizzie by his side that he fully realised how much he had missed this. He felt like sheer life was running through his veins.

Although they hadn’t seen each other since the end of last year, it took them only a few manoeuvres to regain the unmatched unison the Hufflepuff team had grown reputed for. They had managed to create a bond between the three of them that didn’t require any words.

He felt this connection especially with Lizzie, allowing them to move almost as one when attacking the opposite goalposts. Throwing the Quaffle back and forth between them, it was no easy feat to stop them from scoring.

With Skye, it was different.

They had played together even longer than he and Lizzie. If there was harmony with her, it was all friction with Skye. The two of them were entertaining completely different beliefs on what Quidditch stood for and how it should be approached. As a result, they regularly clashed, on the pitch and off.

Contrary to what most people would think, the tension between them had never worn him down. Like a static charge, the constant challenge Skye Parkin posed to him acted as an energiser. Discussing strategic matters with her had never failed to give Orion new perspectives outside of his own thinking patterns.

“Here is what we all have been waiting for, my honoured spectators. Now, we are getting serious!” McNully was giving it his all in the commentary box, clearly relishing the first friendly of his not-so-secret favourite team.

“Amari and Parkin are on the hunt for the Quaffle, Jameson’s broken out of formation. If I didn’t know better, I’d say we are about to see the Parkin’s family pinching signature move! Watch this! The Chaser is flanked by Amari and Parkin. This is not looking good, ladies and gentlemen, if I were in possession of that Quaffle I would seriously be worried right now. Oh, and there we have it! Jameson makes expert use of her Comet’s impressive speed and pulls up from underneath her opponent, forcing her to either let go of the Quaffle or her broomstick. Parkin relieves her of the Quaffle, using her broom’s patented Horton-Keitch Braking Charm to drift around, racing to the other side of the pitch, Jameson overtaking her and Amari close by her side.”

Lizzie was diverging from the path he and Skye flew on, preparing to round and get behind the other team’s attacking Chasers, allowing Skye to pass the Quaffle to her at the last moment. They had used this strategy numerous times and it had seldomly failed them.

“Parkin sets herself up to score. Or is she letting Jameson have the advantage? We might never find out as Everett, hot contestant for the vacant Beater position, aims his Bludger directly at Parkin. This might get ugly!”

McNully was right. Everett had hit his Bludger straight towards them. It rushed towards Skye at a fast pace. Orion shouted a warning, but she had already seen it coming. She waited for a moment, dodging the Bludger at the last second before passing the Quaffle on to Lizzie, who made short work of the Keeper.

“And Jameson scores! That’s ten points for her team and an impressive show of flying skills from Parkin if I may add.”

Orion nodded contentedly before turning around and chasing after the Quaffle again. Lizzie and Skye both didn’t seem to have lost their fire. They were in good form.

Despite himself, he liked the potential Everett was showing. He wasn’t nearly the Beater they had lost, but he had foundations they could build upon. When Lizzie had needed to fill in for Bean a seasons ago, he and McNully had made a more than capable Beater out of her in a shorter amount of time.

His mind was taken off his thoughts when he saw a yellow flash dart past him. It was their Seeker Lucy, who had spotted the Snitch hovering just underneath the railing of the Slytherin stand. The other Seeker had seen it as well and both were racing towards it.

“Both Seekers appear to have spotted the Golden Snitch. Catching it would reward their team with additional 150 points. We’re talking the winning catch of this game here! O’Connell utilises the advanced speed of her broom, but Miller has less ground to cover! Both are nearing the Snitch at high speed, if no one slows down, we had better alert Madam Pomfrey. But no, no! O’Connell takes the absolute last out of her broomstick. She secures the Snitch and her team’s victory!”

Orion saw Lucy raise her arm in triumph, the wings of the tiny golden ball beating frantically against her palm.

Everybody was steering their brooms towards the ground, clapping Lucy on the back. Orion landed beside her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“That was magnificent catch, Lucy, well done.” He turned towards the other players that had gathered around them and raised his voice. “Although Lucy secured the win for her team, all of us have won today. As we were competing against each other, we were competing against ourselves. Overcoming what’s inside us makes us stronger, and lets us grow closer as one team.”

“One team!” everybody shouted what had gradually become their motto, raising their broomsticks up in the air.

Orion turned towards the contestants. “Watching you play, I have been able to gain insight to the path that lies ahead of us. I will contemplate which one of you will get the chance to balance  our team. I will let you know my conclusion when it is time.”

“And that would be when?” Everett asked impatiently.

Orion tilted his head and smiled placidly. “The time has come when the time has come. And the time is not now.”

A mix of confusion and frustration on his face, Everett left them standing and headed for the changing rooms. Orion had seen this look countless times before. New players always needed time to grow accustomed to his ways.

He was already going over the contestants’ performances in his mind when McNully rolled onto the pitch and joined his side.

“Brilliant match! The way I see it, you and Gryffindor are pretty evenly matched this season. I announced them the day before yesterday. If you keep up the form and choose a capable second Beater, that is. I calculated the odds and I would say Jason Everett has the best chance of fitting in, he is fast and has suitable strength. His aim is not the best though, 31,6 % of his Bludgers missed their mark.”

McNully’s eyes lit up. “I know just which one of my playbooks he needs. He will never miss his target again.”

Orion quickly filtered the information his friend had been spewing at him. He was right. Everett was far from ideal, but which player was when they started out fresh? They were like rough diamonds, waiting to be cut and polished until ready to shine.

“Can a Bludger really miss its target, though? Or is it the Beater that misjudges the path the Bludger is meant to be taken?” he mused.

“Whatever it is, I am glad this particular Bludger’s path was not destined to end in Skye’s face.” Lizzie and Skye were approaching them, their brooms resting on their shoulders.

Skye scoffed at her words. “As if it could have hit me. I had things under control. It takes more than that to bring a Parkin down.”

Lizzie rolled her eyes. “He is no Erika Rath, for sure, but it was good enough for a beginner, I would wager.”

Skye’s face darkened. “Don’t remind me of her. It has been such a beautiful day so far.”

“You will have to deal with her rather sooner than later. Ravenclaw is set as your first match in two months’ time. And from what I have seen so far, their Beaters are still the best Hogwarts has to offer.” McNully’s voice had a dreamy touch to it, making Lizzie chuckle.

“We all know you particularly enjoy watching the Ravenclaw Beaters,” she teased with a sweet voice. “Give KC my love, next time you see her, will you?”

“I have no idea, what you are talking about.” His face was blushing a deep scarlet. “I am merely doing my job and keeping my statistics up to date. I’d better get going now.” McNully turned his wheelchair hastily and rolled off quickly.

Orion was giving the snickering girls by his side a scolding look. “You shouldn’t taunt him like that. Our hearts’ desires are out of our power to control.”

“Calm down, Orion, it’s just a bit of fun. He can take that.”

The sun had slowly started setting, the stands casting their elongated shadows across the field. Skye rubbed her neck. “Come on, Liz, let’s get changed and head back to the castle. I’m starving.”

Lizzie hesitated, glancing at Orion for a second. “Go ahead, I’ll be with you in a second.”

Staring at her friend in wonder, Skye shrugged. “Whatever. Make it quick, I won’t wait too long.”

After Skye had left, Orion and Lizzie were alone on the pitch. He watched her staring back at the castle for a moment, the sunlight catching in her golden-brown hair. She seemingly tried to collect herself. He couldn’t deny being curious about what was on her mind.

He smiled openly. “What can I help you with, Lizzie?”

For an instant, Lizzie seemed to look for a way to word her question. She didn’t look him in the eye.

“Uhm, you are quite good at Herbology, aren’t you?” she mumbled.

He raised his eyebrows. “Being in balance with oneself brings you closer to nature. If you listen closely, the plants can tell you what they need.”

She sighed. “I take that as a ‘yes’.” She ran her fingers over the smooth handle of her broomstick, still not looking at him, her shoulders unusually tense. “Would you mind helping me studying?”

He tried to hide his surprise. “You need a tutor? Professor Sprout regularly fills me in on the academic progress of our team’s members. She never mentioned you struggling.”

“I haven’t so far,” Lizzie replied quickly. “But I had a look at the curriculum for this year. It’s really tough, and I don’t want to mess up my O.W.L.s because of a plant biting my finger off.”

It still struck him as odd, but Lizzie was his friend. He wouldn’t let her down if she sought his help. “I’ll be glad to guide you through your curriculum, as long as you desire my help.”

Finally Lizzie met his eyes, obviously relieved. “Thank you, I appreciate this a lot.” She suddenly seemed to remember something. “Can my friend Rowan come, too?”

His surprise turned into confusion. “Rowan Khanna is struggling with a subject?”

“Well, she is a perfectionist.” Lizzie shifted her weight from one foot to the other. A strand of hair had come out of her ponytail and she impatiently tucked it behind her ear. She was radiating a nervous energy Orion had never seen on her before.

“Of course, bring her. I’ll talk to Professor Sprout about using the greenhouse and let you know the details, is that alright?”

All of a sudden, Lizzie seemed much calmer. She sighed with relief, a smile forming on her face. “Brilliant. See you in the Common Room.”

With that, she spun around and quickly left. Now alone on the pitch, Orion stared after her and wondered what in Godric’s name that had been about.

[genvy]

ok ok a playlist for david saw 0.5 (my girlboyfriend) OR OR hard mode, doug davis cooties 2014 (my wifey).

DAVID MY SAD WHORE FRIEND DAVID i can do that! i realize now after putting these songs together that i did kind of subconsciously fill in the gaps with mostly amanda and a touch of adam traits, but i feel like that's fine, it isn't like there's a TON to work with from saw 0.5

also i'm not a current expert so i won't try my hand at doug but i have been meaning to give cooties a rewatch! i haven't seen it since i was like 12 and my leighposter mutuals are convincing me

undress - pretty sick

find something out, a different sound the waste of life that i just haven't found i wish there had een someone else around he talks to me, he talks to me i swear there's nobody else who sees what i see the type of thing that you would start to need, baby ... never vulnerable and never stressed what a wasted life, i'm still obsessed gotta find somebody to undress and i'll be fine, just gonna waste my time and i know i asked for one more week and i'll be fine, he's gonna kill me next time i know he thinks that i'm so weak

radio friendly unit shifter - nirvana

i'm gonna do with what you think if you ever think at all bipolar opposites attract, all of a sudden, my water broke i love you for what i am not i do not want what i have got a blanket acne'ed with cigarette burns second-rate third degree burns what is wrong with me? what is wrong with me? what do i think i think?

necbromancer - eat babies? (love a song where the only version that's on youtube is just an unrelated series of total drama clips. very vintage very vibes love it)

hold up, ugh, i got no auxiliary i still don’t know what i want to do and it's killing me i'll draw my broadsword in begrudgement every time i do something, people judge it so fuck it, i’ll just do nothing at all! yeah, yeah, i'll just do nothing at all! so tiny tim told me he could suck his own dick which leaves me to pose the question "what have i accomplished?" kick, killer, dick, drills? i don't give a shit! so sit back and have a smoke with me we can learn something new, hopefully

crying clown - the wytches

for the static rustling, plug me in, the record spins and treat me like i wasn't someone that you knew annabelle, she reads my dreams surrounding me in casualties but i don't get mad cause i know it's what you do over-priced phonologies, brittle man, he dress like me like the pantomime, crying clown, cry for me whilst upside down salivating bloody mouth or passionately bloody mouth

[dontasktheradiodemon]

Snake Bite

Chat log: Alastor learns to dab, Sir Pentious bites Alastor, and a couple of lonely old villains reluctantly talk about feelings and friendship.

If the read more doesn't work for you and you've gotta see this WHOLE LONG CHAT LOG on your dash, 1) you're probably on mobile, and 2) I am very very sorry, it's tumblr's fault and I did what I could.

Sir Pentious

Pentious is waiting outside the Hotel in HIS realm, he's out back in the garden and pacing... well. As well as a snake can pace. He's occasionally slithering in a circle.

Alastor

Alastor's practically scrubbed his skin raw in the shower; he's brushed his teeth until he's numb to the taste of artificial mint; he's picked a bow tie out of the ones Angel gave him—one of the red-and-gold ones designated for "sparkly douchebags" with the matching rose-shaped pin; and he's left something like a will with Rosie, along with a note to put it into effect if she hasn't heard from him by Monday.

He doesn't know what to expect.

He knows biting is going to be involved. He knows Sir Pentious wanted him to clear his schedule, with no indication of how long he was supposed to clear it for. Everything else is a mystery. Interpreting Sir Pentious's words literally, he's going to get bitten, writhe around for a while in excruciating pain, and then go home.

But knowing Sir Pentious—knowing his own—it might be a plot to disable Alastor so Sir Pentious can gloat over him for an hour before taking off his head with an exterminator's blade. And knowing the population of Hell in general, it might all be a euphemism for something far more salacious that he was simply expected to assume. All he knows for sure is that Sir Pentious is going to be very close, and aside from that it's going to be very unpleasant.

He could have asked for clarification. But asking for clarification would imply that his answer would change depending on Sir Pentious's.

It won't.

So here he is. Painfully clean, absolutely clueless, braced for anything, looking around the lobby, and realizing he's actually braced himself for anything EXCEPT the possibility that he might be stood up completely.

A few minutes after one, he sends out a few shadows as espionage—to Sir Pentious's room, to the boiler room, to the hotel's public areas—and finally, relieved, heads to the garden. He wasn't expecting outside. Maybe Sir Pentious wants to show off his big victory over the great Radio Demon.

When Alastor finally sees him, by way of greeting he calls out, "So how DOES one perform a 'dab'?"

Sir Pentious

Pentious awaited him in the garden, merely to avoid the eyes of that Weird Cat and the others who hung around the Hotel. The outside was brighter, and provided much more ominous lighting. Upon seeing Alastor and hearing his voice, he perked up quite suddenly, hood raising.

The question gets a scoff out of him.

"THE DAB? YOU DON'T KNOW??? IT'SSS LIKE THISS!" Stretching one arm out to the right, he bends his left at the elbow, and dunks his head towards the bend in his arm, holding the pose for at least three seconds.

Alastor

"Like this?" He copies the gesture, a mirror image of Sir Pentious's. A new weapon in his arsenal. "Ha. Like Dracula trying to hide from the sun." He plays a sizzling bacon-in-a-frying-pan sound, like vampire skin burning in the day.

Sir Pentious

Pentious claps his hands together, clearly amused.

"YESSS, JUSSST LIKE THAT! THEY HATE THAT ONE THE MOSSSST."

Alastor

The applause sends a jolt through his chest that he studiously ignores. "I'll add it to my catalogue of torture techniques."

He'd stopped walking far enough away from Sir Pentious that they're out of arm's reach of each other but close enough that they can talk at a normal volume—he wants to get so much closer and stay so much farther away, and this is the point where the impulses barely balanced out. Doing his best not to sound as awkward as he feels, he says, "So, speaking of Dracula..." He spreads his arms: here I am, ready and willing. "Were you planning on having this bite out here? Fine weather for it."

Sir Pentious

Pentious eyes him--he's happy with this distance, too. Satisfied, though, he wants to get closer too... his fangs ache a little, watch the other spread his arms. Yes, they had agreed upon that... At the time, he really didn't think that Alastor would agree. And now here they were! His head darts around some, the cobra looking him over.

"YOU AREN'T GOING TO TRY TO SSSLITHER OUT OF THISSS, ARE YOU, DEEREST ALASTOR?"

Alastor

The jolt is replaced by something more like a knife at the punny term of endeerment. He thinks he kept his wince off his face, but he's not totally sure. He lets his arms drop. "If I was going to be a coward, I would have gotten it over with before agreeing to meet and wasting both our time. I even dressed up for the occasion." He tilts his head, calling attention to his new bow tie.

The trophy Sir Pentious is showing off in his own attire hasn't escaped his notice.

Sir Pentious

"AH, I NOTICED. SSO HAVE I."

He pulls on the bow-tie gift from Alastor, truly VERY smug about it.

"THEN HOLD SSSSTILL..." He moved closer, quite suddenly--the rapid and threatening striking of a snake, his tongue flicking as he was mere inches away from the other.

Alastor

Alastor's eyes widen, he leans back, and his hand flies halfway up to his throat; and then he freezes. Damn. So much for acting completely unflappable.

Sir Pentious would enjoy seeing him flinch, at least.

So. Outside it is. Sir Pentious is probably hoping half of Hell will hear him make the Radio Demon scream.

Alastor completes the motion of his hand up to his throat, but only to undo his tie and fold down his high collar. When was the last time he'd been this close to Sir Pentious? Alastor can see individual scales on his face. He forces himself to make eye contact, offers a wan smile, and says, "Ready when you are."

Sir Pentious

He certainly does enjoy it.

His tongue flicks again, the appendage briefly touching the other's cheek. He didn't MEAN anything weird by it, but he certainly got a scent of him.

Pink hellish slitted eyes focused on the other, and he opened his mouth, baring those enormous fangs. Not yet dripping with venom, but oh the threat was there... Not allowing for anymore hesitation, he lunged--SINKING his fangs into Alastor's neck, deep and piercing.

Alastor

Alastor's eyes automatically squeeze shut as Sir Pentious licks him, his breath freezing. Before he has a chance to process the what the hell that means—

He gasps in sharply, a noisy crackling sound, as Sir Pentious's fangs sink in; but the gasp itself is buried under the sound of his voice stuttering across several stations, bursts of overlapping songs—a few incoherent notes of "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life" and " Snake Eyes" and "Black Snake Moan." The pain from the bite alone is excruciating. Focusing. Focusing him primarily on the fact that Sir Pentious's face is pressed between Alastor's shoulder and his throat.

Sir Pentious

Pentious didn't really know what to expect upon sinking his fangs in, but the radio sounds should have been first on his guess list. It was definitely jarring to hear them so close to his head. Pentious places his hands on both of Alastor's shoulders, now digging his claws into his suit. Just claw him up! Why not!!!

At this closeness, it was all too easy to hear that raspy, human like breathing that cobras made. Like he was going to devour the Radio Demon whole.

Alastor

If Sir Pentious wants to take a strip of Alastor's throat with him when he pulled back—hell, if he wants to take Alastor's whole shoulder—Alastor isn't going to complain. He has to bite his lower lip hard enough to make it bleed to fight the urge to bite Sir Pent back—he's RIGHT THERE, it would be SO EASY to taste his blood—but that would be the end of this trust exercise.

At times it's struck Alastor that Sir Pentious's hissing sounds more than passingly close to a radio's static—and that's even more evident now, hearing his breathing like a rush of wind over a microphone, blowing over his neck. Alastor tries to steady his stuttery station-jumping breath. He leans into the pain cutting up his shoulders and curls his claws into the fabric at the waist of Sir Pent's jacket.

Sir Pentious

He can taste Alastor's blood, and it fills him with madness.

Pentious draws back, blood coating his fangs, as he holds the other up.

"HHMMM.... YOU REALLY DIDN'T MOVE. HAD YOU TRIED, I WOULD HAVE INJECTED YOU WITH MY VENOM!!!"

... But also, the lack of trying to escape, of trying to turn this into some sick broadcast... It resonated with the inventor. Pentious looked over his former ally, and frustration filled his gaze. Frustration and longing.

"... Why couldn't you have ssstayed?"

Of course, this wasn't the same Alastor. Not his own, but... whatever. A moment of vulnerability, just one.

Alastor

Alastor leans longingly after the retreating fangs before catching himself and straightening back up.

At the question, for a moment, his smile almost cracks. His brows draw closer, the corner of his bloody mouth twitches. When he replies, the constant distortion overlaying his voice dies. He almost sounds like a person. "Because I'm a coward."

He didn't mean to say it. He would never have said it under any other circumstances, but he's dizzy and lightheaded and euphoric from the pain and the close contact, and sick guilt he's spent over half a century trying to suppress is buzzing in his chest—and he's said it now.

Sir Pentious

The admission causes Pentious' hood to flare out--whatever he was expecting to hear then, well, just as before, it completely caught him off guard. He couldn't take it at face value, he couldn't trust him. His hand immediate shoots to Alastor's neck, grabbing him and pulling him closer.

"ARE YOU MOCKING ME, ALASSTOR? TELLING ME WHAT YOU THINK I'D WANT TO HEAR??? YOU??? A COWARD??? YOU MUSSST THINK ME A FOOL!!!"

Not that it sounded any which way! But... Pentious was angry to hear it, all the same. It's like he wanted the other to deny it, he wanted him to make up some sort of joke and play him for a fool. He wanted an excuse to tear him apart--but hearing this vulnerability in return put a sense of mortality in him he hadn't known in so, so long.

He'd been betrayed by his only friend, after all, and the serpent struggled so much in trying to make any.

It had been years since then, but still... It hurt him in a way he hadn't thought possible for his old black heart.

Alastor

His hands immediately fly up to the hand around his neck, claws digging into the wrist, prepared to wrench it off—and then, just as abruptly, he forces himself to let go. No, damn it, he's not here to fight.

"You don't want to hear this! I don't think there's a single answer you'd trust out of me but whatever's the cruelest thing I could think of to say—no matter what the truth is." Wasn't that the point of this exercise? To get around the limitation of words, the fact that Sir Pentious couldn't trust and Alastor couldn't be trusted?

So much for that. Hadn't Alastor already known there were no such thing as second chances? Let him be torn apart, it would heal in a few days and he'd learn an important lesson.

Sir Pentious

"CAN YOU BLAME ME!?"

Pentious' voice cracks as he speaks, and he eyes where he'd bit him. He had to think of Valera's words... He seems lonely. She'd compared the two, made them sound so similar... Could trusting him really be a good idea?

... He really did enjoy that visit they had together, eating pasta bolognese and drinking brandy. It had been so... familiar. Pentious frowned, frustration and... distress pulling at every part of himself. His claws flexed, but he pulled them away from Alastor's neck... and he looked down, pulling at his hood like he were considering covering his face with them.

Alastor

"No! I can't!" His voice is thick, a feedback echo whining under his words. "You have EVERY REASON not to trust me! I'd sooner ask Saint Peter for a second chance than ask you." He flings a hand carelessly in the vague direction of Heaven.

And yet, for a moment he'd been stupid and let himself hope. He had to remind himself who he was here to help. "I'm not ASKING for a second chance. Just—don't fight me. And I won't have to fight you."

He feels colder without Sir Pentious within touching distance. He crosses his arms tightly, biting one corner of his mouth to make sure his smile is still up.

Sir Pentious

It stings.

Pentious knows how he's being difficult. His hands open and close, and he grits his teeth, eyes closed tightly. He wishes he could just... move past this and immediately either be fully friends or fully enemies. This was purgatory like no other.

Agreeing to anything felt like giving up and the snake wasn't good at that either.

He glares at Alastor, "DON'T GO ANYWHERE. LET ME THINK."

Alastor

What is there to think about? How hard is it to decide whether or not to keep starting one-sided fights with someone?

But he collects himself. He takes a deep breath, uncrosses his arms, smooths out his bangs, clasps his hands behind his back, corrects his posture, fixes his smile properly back in place, and tries to look past Sir Pentious's visible turmoil and at the garden. Lightly, he says, "I'm not leaving," and immediately regrets as he realizes how easily he could have followed it up with this time.

Sir Pentious

Sometimes he wants to just... grab him by the face and force that smile OFF. But he'll calm himself...

He can't have him as a rival, or as a nemesis. Their paths were too different, and not only that, they were from entirely different Hells!

So close, yet.... Pentious took a deep breath. You're not losing anything, man. You're not. Why was this so hard?

His gaze travels back to the bite, and he flicks his tongue.

"... WHEN WASS THE LASST TIME YOU ALLOWED YOURSSSELF TO BE ATTACKED LIKE THAT?"

Alastor

He blinks, taken aback by the question—and then has to stop and think.

He's always had an unusually casual relationship with pain—and that only increased after he died and no longer had to worry about any damage being permanent. Hell, he's voluntarily been skinned alive so that he could get his own hide tanned—but that wasn't being attacked, that was more like an extreme cosmetic surgery. He's let people who would otherwise never leave a scratch on him get in a stab wound—but that was so he could lure them in close enough to rip them apart. As a child he'd sometimes been too afraid to fight back—but that's very different from consenting to being attacked, isn't it?

"Never."

Will Sir Pentious even believe that? Probably not. Of course not. Alastor wonders why he bothered to ask.

Sir Pentious

He looks at him a long time... studying his expression. Looking for something to pick apart... but it was always that same damn face.

The hum of radio feedback if he stared too long.

Alastor

There isn't much to pick apart. He meets Sir Pentious's gaze when he feels that sharp stare on him, then almost immediately looks away.

He wants to ask whether he ought to be contributing something to the proceedings or if this thinking Sir Pentious is doing is still a solo endeavor, but he forces himself to swallow his nervous chatter and quietly start playing "Snake Eyes" again to fill the silence.

Sir Pentious

The tune is so jaunty, and Pentious twitches... but this was exactly like Alastor, too. You couldn't have a moment's silence with him... The snake groaned, covering his face. Alright. Alright.

".... ALASTOR."

Alastor

The music snaps off. "Sir Pentious?"

Sir Pentious

... You know, it was. Definitely surprising not to hear "Sir Harold". It takes him a moment.

He takes out a GUN, and aims it at Alastor.

"TELL ME AGAIN WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF THISS, AND I WILL NOT QUESSTION IT AGAIN. YOU HAVE MY WORD ON THE MATTER. DO YOU WANT TO BE MY ... FRIEND? OR DO YOU JUST WANT ME OUT OF YOUR HAIR?"

Alastor

Oh—oh, good god, he hadn't planned on being asked directly. (Or with a gun. But the gun was meaningless, the gun was for emphasis. The gun was an exclamation point.)

Being honest had been the biggest mistake of this conversation so far. The closer Alastor got to telling the truth, the less trustworthy he sounded, the less Sir Pentious was going to take what he said into account. The safe answer was "out of my hair." It was the answer that would make sure Sir Pentious was...

... gone, again. Gone and safe.

But, unless Alastor was completely wrong about everything he thought he knew about this Sir Pentious—

—it sounded like he was, impossibly, offering Alastor a second chance.

He croaked, "Friend."

And then, with the dam broken, more tumbled out: "I give you my word that's not what I came to ask for. I'm only here to try to get myself out of YOUR h—hood. But if— What I want— That's what I WANT."

Sir Pentious

Well, he was damned. Valera was right.

This Alastor, much like himself, was a lonely old man. He wanted to be his friend. The snake could only stare, his arm lowering, and with it the pistol too.

"... Really?" This wasn't a voice of accusation or vitriol, or demanding anything. Just, outright, innocent confusion.

Alastor

Alastor had been half expecting a bullet through his pretty new rose-shaped pin. He HADN'T been expecting that look. Perplexingly, it looked like a sort of expression that suggested that Sir Pentious might actually believe him.

A wild panicked voice in the back of his head tried to tell him to yell JUST KIDDING, drop Sir Pentious through a particularly painful portal, and bolt from the scene like a buck out of Hell.

It was the same panicked voice that had gotten him into this mess fifty-fucking-four years ago. He wasn't going to listen to it again.

He looked for something snappy to say, couldn't find anything, and said, "Yes. Really."

Sir Pentious

VALERA WAS RIGHT AAAAAHe put the weapon away, straightening his Alastor's bowtie, and gave a smile... although it was strained. Struggling. "... YOU REALLY ARE FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION, YOU KNOW. THISS COULD NEVER BE MY REALITY."

Alastor

Bow tie. Right, he should—Alastor straightened his collar back into place and retied his now slightly bloodstained bow. "Nor mine," he muttered, his smile sinking toward a grimace. He could have said the exact same words to his own Sir Pentious—but those words NEVER would have been trusted by someone who knew exactly what he'd done when he left. The only reason he'd gotten this far was because that not-knowing meant he could get the benefit of the doubt.

What could he do, then, but milk it for all it was worth as long as he could?

"I can't do anything about my duplicate in your universe. But any time you care to come to mine... well." Well. Friends.

Sir Pentious

Oh, damn. There was that warm feeling in his chest--it felt like he had internal bleeding. It ached and stung, and Pentious clutched his suit some to try to soothe the pain.

He was too expressive for his own food, clearing his throat.

"DON'T SSOUND LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO TAKE YOUR LEAVE, ALASTOR. I TOLD YOU TO TAKE THE DAY OFF, AND YOU'RE GOING TO!"

Alastor

"Am I!" His face lit up. "Why? Are we finally going to get to thar part you promised where I'm crying like a baby from pain?"

Sir Pentious

"WHY DO YOU SSOUND SSO EXCITED?"

"YOU WANT THAT?"

Alastor

"Well, you were so graphic about it, you got my hopes up! I set aside the rest of the week to recover and everything." He paused just long enough to get Sir Pentious time to process that. "KIDDING! No, what did you have planned?"

Sir Pentious

.......... NOW HE'S ADVANCING ON ALASTOR, hood raised and eyes glowing red. That menacing long grin.

"OH, NO, ALASTOR, YOU WERE SSSSO EXCITED. I INSSSISSST!"

Alastor

For a moment, he stares at Sir Pentious, eyes wide. Somewhere beneath his usual static, S.O.S. beeps in Morse.

Then he flatly asks, "Do we have to?" But he's reaching for his bow tie again. One final test would be fair, wouldn't it? Alastor deserves at least that much.

Sir Pentious

Oh no. He looks conflicted!!! This man just told him he wanted to be friends!

",,, ALASTOR! YOU CAME HERE WANTING TO BE BITTEN AND POISONED AND NOW YOU DON'T WANT IT BUT ALSO DO?? BE CLEAR, BE CONSISE!!

Alastor

"I was joking about the poison part!" No more masochistic humor in THIS universe. "It sounds a little bit extreme for my idea of a fun afternoon. I was willing to do it to prove my, ah... sentiments—but if we're PAST that, I'd just as happily move on to something less excruciating."

Sir Pentious

He HUFFS. His fangs ache, wanting to bite into something again, but also... He looks strained.

".... SS... SSSSINCE YOU'RE HERE.... DO YOU WANT TO... COME INSIDE???"

Alastor

Is Sir Pentious disappointed? Alastor eyes him carefully a moment, then says, "Sure." After another pause, even more carefully, he asks, "Are you opposed to letting me see what you've been up to in that boiler room of yours?"

Sir Pentious

Little does Alastor know, Penny is suffering from a dizziness spell. It was a side effect of using his fangs like that, even if he didn't use his venom. He had a lot of physicality issues.

Pentious slithered towards the front entrance, "AH, MY RAIL GUN? SURE, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN TAKE IT FROM ME."

Alastor

"Wouldn't dream of it!" Rail gun! Alastor followed after Sir Pentious, just short of skipping in delight. "What would I do with it, anyway—try to carry it around on my shoulder like a bazooka? Ha! No, no—I just want to see what kind of damage it can do."

Then they went inside to play with dangerous toys, the end.

[nyarisu]

Rammstein: Paris liveblogging

This live is so fancy! My god, the intro is so dramatic, and the guys haven’t even appeared XD there are even alarm sounds!

Their entrance is *chef’s fingers kiss* and Ollie being the high fantasy dark elf we all asspire to be XD Say what you will about the spasmic editing, this was very nicely filmed!

I love the array of microphones on Till’s coat.

Asdghjl the flags being set into place and then Ollie with the flame! It’s all so badass! Also Schneider is hot XD

Sonne

Oooh they’re starting with this one! Also one of the few times he’s counting.

The instrumental at the beginning is always giving me shivers, it’s so powerfull

And I love the static editing

I can say whatever I want about this song being over mentioned by everyone... but the true is it’s amazing!

Don’t punch yourself, dumb baby.

THE FIRE!!!

Lol @ Richard being a sea urchin XD

The ending was fantastic<3 very dramatic!

Wollt ihr das Bett in Flammen sehen

Aasdfghjkl THAT SHOT OF SCHNEIDER!!!

The doom guy sounds are killing me I love them and the fireworks collars are amazing. I love this song so much!

Schneider throwing the drummstick in the air ♡

„AAAAAAA AAAAA” silly editing of Till every time AAAA BUT FUNNY NONETHELESS

„RAMMSTEIN!”

I love the gloves!

This song always gets me so pumeped up! And the editing makes it even more dramatic and full o energy!

The fire works at the end!

Keine Lust

Unfortunately, I sometimes vibe with this song T_T

It has such a powerful beginning it must be wonderful to hear it live.

Wanna see me fangirl again about Schneider spinning the stick midair and then catching it again?

Flake loks weird and I wouldn’t trust him.

Richard’s „nein, Ich habe keine Lust”

Dear lord Till has wonderfull eyes.

Wtf was with that tongue, Jonas??

Very nice Schnooter shots!

Oh, Ollie is hoodless now. A bit better, I think.

Paul being badass with his guitar.

Till bby who hurt you like this?

(fortunately for me ich habe some Lust hence me doing this liveblog)

Sehnsucht

Let’s geT NOSTALGIC BITCHES

I love that chanting so much!

Did he just made a cross sign??

Till is doing some hammering and Flake is just vibing XD

The chanting! The fire! The atmpshere!! I love everything about this song live

If he doesn’t hit his forhead.... oh, he actually didn’t...

Asche zu Asche

Nice trio in the front~

I swear to god Richard is always sexy on the mic during this song and he’s probably doing it on purpose! And the way he gestures!!

Lol I was wondering when Till will start acting like a slut XD

The keyboards are amazing before the last chorus.

Yesssh microhpones on fire!1

Feuer frei

Ugh that tongue edit again... leave Till’s tongue alone, Jonas!

Auch, that hurt.

BANG BANG

Flake, chase that nonsense right away XD

Leave his eye alone too!

That Schneider smirk when Till came with the mask. I love the masks!

IMAGINE BEING THERE and seeing this asdfghjkl the ultimate Rammstein experience.

Mutter

Some green lightng oh no that’s Mutter better be prepared to have my heart broken. The saddest song to ever sad you have no idea what it does to me.

Richard playing there, he’s really feeling the song.

The guitar solo is amazing!

Till was suffering there and I was shamelessly admiring Schneider behind him XD

God his eyes

The spark shower, if that doesn’t beak your heart even further... (but very nice arms >w>)

*sighs* that was fantastic~

Mein Teil

Wow I can’t belive he even added sound effects to the title melting away gross :))))

I’m getting goosebumps because of the insrtumental, it’s that awesome!

I love the moves schenider has in the background. And everytime he strikes the air with his fist.

Flake popping out of the couldron kils me everytime XD

Too much blood editing.

„da aAS IS MEIN TEIL!”

Schneider is being once again sexy in the back.

Till has funny dance moves but i love his serious face

And Flake being like no thank you I’m not buying anythingXD

Let’s START THE FLAKE COOKING

„you over there, give me your fire throwing thingy” jaaaaaaaa

There is no concert without Fklake’s spastic dance moves XD

Du riechst so gut

The bow!!

„der Wahnsinn” dear lord Richard you’re killing me.

The first time I saw Paul and Till doing that I almost had a heart attack I really thought they were gonna smash their heads together XD I see them doing it for shits and giggles.

I love the synchronised head baniging (more like bodybanging)

Yes, guitars on fire! Congrats on throwing that now jump after it :)))))

I just want to kiss Till’s mouth.

Links 2 3 4

Schneider stop being sexy!

I love the guys’ entrance for this song.

Till being all business. Onwards, my mighty stallion XD

The last chorus was very nice and full of energy (thanks editing).

Du hast

Ugh to those lightnings but otherwise is fantastic.

Do you think they ever get sick of playing it? I never expected this to be Richard’s fav song to play live....

That RZK ass XD

The fire!

Oh the keyboard must be divine live~

It must be really impressing to have a full hall singing just for you.

And then my favourite part! All that thing wiht shooting fire that comes back and then the whole stage exploding! Definitely my favourite R+ effect. Really nice image

Haifish

This gave me goosebumps again

„Sechs Herzen, die brennen” *choking* thanks for the feels-

Flake is really brave for doing that boat thingy. I could never.

Lol those dance moves, unexpected butf unny as usual.

Till clapping for Flake XDDD silly

I like the pose he aodopted while waiting for the song to move on.

Buck dich intro

This gets it’s own section because I love the instrumental so much!! Or remix, whatever you wanna cal it. It’s fantastic<3

And Richard enjoying every eye on him :D Nice ass anyway.

Weird over editing I don’t understand but whatever, we’re ignoring that.

Woo woo machine XD

Asdhjkl the BRIDGE IS COMING DOWN

THEY ARE COMING SDFGHJKLSCJHNV EJUSCD

Hello Frau Schneider and her puppies #till lehman is a sub

One of my favourite Till looks.

Of course he must be humping something or someone XD

Schneider x Rchard banter is the best. And then bodilly dragging Till onto the stage<3 I HAVE LOTS OF FEELINGS ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING OK??

Look at him being a good puppy RHI WHERE IS YOUR FIC??

Buck dich

Honestly now what is better that a shirtless Till with a colar?

The most syncopated instrumental ever. They are fucking crazy (I love them).

I was reminded of this fic XDD

Wow imagine being there and seeing Buck dich for the first time that is wild

„why are you wet?” „eh, I was too close to the stage” (part 1)

„NOCH EINMAL!!!”

The whole ending with Till and Schneider was hilarious XDDD

Man gegen man

Let’s go with that gay song! XD

Dumb editing but I’m focusing on Flake dancing beside Till.

He has an amazing back<3

I love how he goes crazy during the solo.

Wow Jonas went full with the editing for a few seconds didn’t he?

Also Till did something very sexy with that watter bottle.

Ohne dich

Time to have no feels again

I want that collar too.

Paulchard vibing together’

The hall looks amazin with all those little light on!

Dear lord Schneider looks fantastic.

Paul being cute again XD

Asdfghjkl Till crossing that bridge gave me a nose bleed tbh

Mein Herz brennt

My favorurite instrumental ever! And the one who convinced me to listen to this band.

A little sad they put on shirts again but hey, at least RZK took his off XD

The glowing heart is a loved effect but I preffer the current one to this, the timing is better now.

Amerika

Live is the only way I’m not skipping this song. The last time I listened to it is probably the last time I watched this very live XD

Are they actually whistling?

Why do they all look so good?

Flake, what are you doing? :)))

Ich will

Richard’s arms lookin fine and Till is being a slutt with the microphone again XD

Was that chick shirtles? XDD

Nice firework at the end.

Engel

So... is this whistling real or?

Those wings... in Till’s defence, I thing the floating wings are much more spectacular and much easier for his back too.

Pew!

Why!! Why do you edit those things?? They are gonna give me nightmares!

But whatever the wings on fire are cool.

Really Jonas this is not an anime stop enlarging eyes.

Pussy

Another badass entrance, considering the song XD

„Er könnte etwas größer sein” will always kill me :)))

Oh, your eyes are so pretty~

Poor mic stand.

The dick canon! To be in the first few rows... XDD „why are you wet?” „eh, I was too close to the stage” (part 2)

I love how wide Till’s back is<3

„let’s do it QUICK” peak slutiness from Herr Lindemann :)))))

I love how they all gathered around Schneider.

It impresses me so much everytime they kneel for their audience<3

Looking very nice there, Ollie!

I thought Schneider was gonna do a backflip with how he streched XDDD oh, hello Richard~

Fruhling in Paris

Till has very nice legs.

Not saying anything about him floating off like a damn fairy :)))))

I love evey time one of the others is singling along (this time: Schneider)

And Flake just ran off XD

Conclusions:

Tbh when I’m lacking motivation I really should watch this live it gives so much energy!

The Amerika / Engel whistling question still stands.

2 hours of nothing but Rammstein. I approve

[werezmastarbucks]

tapes

tape 17/23

word count: 894

tapes masterlist

TAPE SEVENTEEN

“Buckle u-up” we can hear. Well. That’s something new. It’s a street! There’s a row of houses on the side, and we can hear the camera girl breathe. The sunset sky is in the shot.

“Kai Parker skateboarding master class, tape one”, Ruby says. She films the boy riding a board in front of her; she has to jog a little to keep up with him.

“Slow down, let me first take a shot of you”.

He stops and catches his board, turning to the camera. Kai is wearing his blue t-shirt with a rainbow on it. He smiles charismatically at the camera.

Ruby lets out a laugh.

“Kai, this shirt”.

“Get out”, he giggles kindly, striking a pose.

“This is Kai Parker. I’m in Portland, Oregon, it’s the thirteenth of July…”

“Half way through the summer holidays”, Ruby adds, shaking the camera to change the angle.

“Don’t care about the holidays. I don’t go to school”.

“Ah, I forgot”, Ruby sneers, “you’re blessed”.

Kai looks at her face – it’s very obvious, and how interesting how much is going on behind the camera. The way Malachai looks at Ruby tells us all we need to know.

“And I’m going to do sick flips for you”.

“What’s on the menu, Kai?”

“You’ll see”.

He sprints away and jumps on his board. Malachai’s always good at what he starts doing. For several minutes he does all kinds of jumps, from simple ollie to a more sophisticated fakie metro flip. It’s a nice tape. There’s no screaming, yelling, slapping, hand tying. Can you feel the freshness of the air in the street? It’s almost evening, and the sky is becoming coral, lilac and pink. Malachai Parker shows off his skateboard skills, and he never falls once. He looks happy when he looks up, but there’s still that old wicked flickering in his dark eyes, charming as hell. Maybe that’s just the way he is. Ruby cheers for him every time his board hits the ground, and Kai throws his hands up, makes a face.

“Dude, you’re on fire today”, the girl concludes.

He laughs, steps on the edge of the board, and it jumps up obediently into his hand.

“Come, give it to me”, he walks up to Ruby, and as he approaches, he covers the setting sun.

“Why?”

“I’m gonna film you”.

Ruby tries to avoid his hand, but he grabs the camera. A second – a the whole world flips, and Ruby is in the shot. She has awesome glowing skin, and her ginger hair is tied back into a bun. Her green eyes are smiling as she covers her face with small palms.

“Don’t film me”.

“Why not?” Kai knows why but asks anyway. He’s a wicked boy.

“I’m shy and ugly”.

He giggles.

“Ruby Summers, you silly doll. You’re definitely prettier than my bastard sister. Second part of our skate movie next August”.

Her laughter makes her bend in half, and they walk towards one of the houses. Kai drops the board on the ground, and the girl picks it up, tries to balance herself.

“It’s right now!”

“Don’t embarrass yourself”.

She pushes with one foot, and the board rolls, Ruby struggles to keep balance, and Kai films her, static.

“Don’t fall”, he warns her softly, and Ruby Summers falls immediately. They both laugh.

“Aren’t I a witch coven leader”.

“Shut up, Malachai!”

 Later they sit on the ground. Their knees can be seen in the shot. The rest of the street is empty.

“What are you thinking about?” Ruby asks. Her slender fingers tug on the zip of her hoodie.

“Skating”.

“What are you dreaming about?”

He sniffs, turns his head to her.

“World domination. And a cheese sandwich”.

Ruby chuckles and outstretches her legs. They’re silent for some time, then we can see Kai’s shoulder closing to her, and there’s a sound like he’s kissing her. I mean, I can tell you, he’s kissing her.

“Are your folks any better?” she asks like nothing happened.

“Fine”, he replies dismissively.

She sighs.

“Are you going to come through with your plan to run away?”

“Uh-huh”.

“Where are you gonna go?”

“California”.

She whistles quietly, and Kai hums.

“That’s far away from home”.

“That’s the point, Ruby”.

She shakes her hair, looks in the sky, all the while tapping her fingers on her lap. She bends one knee and looks at it, touches the fresh scratch, wipes the blood with her finger and examines it.

“Sometimes I wonder if my mum’s gonna notice when I disappear”.

“When?”

“I have the feeling, Malachai, the gut feeling, you know, what my gran was talking about”.

“Like foreseeing?”

“Uh-huh”.

“Is it like prediction of your death or something? Do you know who’s going to kill you?”

She snaps her head to him.

“I’m for real”.

“Me too, I’m just asking”.

She keeps silent for some time.

“There’s a lot of water there. I don’t know, maybe we’ll just go on vacation”.

“Wow, you’re a prophet”, Kai ponders gravely. He puts his hand on Ruby’s scratched knee, we can see his slim long fingers created for all kinds of exquisite magical passes. He whispers, and her scratch heals under his touch. Ruby wheezes dramatically.

“Healed! Aren’t you using it up on me?”

“That’s not a lot of magic”.

There’s the sound of kissing again. Teenagers, am I right?

[magioftheseas]

How would you rank the sdr2 girls from worst to best written?

That’s pretty hard considering there are like...different kinds of bad writing, from functional bad to offensive bad. But, then again, there’s both of that in sdr2. Also all but one of the girls who die only die in like... Chapters 2-3, the first half of the game, which come to think of it, is extremely fucking weird. Shouldn’t it be more spaced out...?

There’s also just that there are certain things that annoy me more than others, and I’ll maybe try to make note of that? Idk how solid this list is, but... Well, whatever.

Note: I’m only taking sdr2 proper into account.

Decent All Things Considered Tier

Mahiru - Probably the least amount of sexism in her character, with pretty defined flaws that contributed in her dying (her short temper and narrow-mindedness). Guess you could call them...fatal flaws. Hahahaaaa. Ah. Anyway, she was also fairly involved with story events before her death and her personality was pretty consistent. While there are still some issues and inherent sexism in her personality, at least she...still has...one? A nuanced one, at that? She’s not a shallow character, at least. Still, her “be a man shit” is annoying but I’ll take that over the other crap we have in this game.

Sonia - Generally involved and usually palpable in terms of handling. The sexist shit is more Souda’s fault than hers, so I don’t feel like knocking off points for it. The only issue is that she’s lacks big character moments and is overall a static character. She does get more fed up with Souda’s harassment though, which is something, even if nothing comes from it. Bah. Also the romantic subplot with Gundam is fine. It’s probably the most fine a romantic anything has ever been in this franchise. But because she lacks anything super profound, I can’t put her above Koizumi despite liking her more and her...surviving to the end.

There’s At Least Something Here But URGHHHHHHHH Tier

Mikan - Y’know I was pretty resistant to the idea of putting her at third because of her...everything. But, like, even so... I wouldn’t call her inconsistent, I wouldn’t call her shallow, and I think she’s fleshed out a decent amount. It’s just her...everything. Anyway, I’ve gone on length as to why I love Mikan’s writing on paper, supremely tacky and gross execution of her character aside. She’s probably the best example of a deconstruction in sdr2, being a ugu doormat with like, AAAAAAAALL the actual baggage and shittiness that kind of person would have. Mikan’s personality of being emotionally manipulative with a huge victim complex while also being incredibly resentful of those around her (for good reason) is still SUPER fascinating. There’s layers to how she even exploits herself for sympathy points as well as attention. But...y’know... Still inherently pretty gross and not handled deftly by someone who truly understands what a fucked up mentality that is. She’s definitely not palpable...but I guess the actual nuances of her personality make up for it in terms of...whether or not I think she’s at least well-written. Would have less qualms putting her this high if the characters actually learned shit from her.

Hiyoko - WE COULD’VE HAD IT AAAAAAAAAAALL. I love Hiyoko. She’s my other favorite sdr2 girl with Sonia. Bully girls often get a bad rap, but they can be interesting, and Hiyoko’s a particularly stand-out example. She’s not manipulative. She’s in fact, really soft-hearted and sensitive, and she hates those aspects of her, so she targets people specifically for having those traits. She’s insecure! And it makes her shitty! I stan! That she cares for Koizumi for actually reaching out to her is super important. She could’ve been one of the best if not the best...but then Kodaka had her killed for bullshit reasons and had to throw in a dumbass quirk about her not being able to dress herself to justify her bullshit death down the line, so any profound development she could’ve had is just...unceremoniously thrown out the window. It’s really so tragic. Hiyoko deserved so much better.

Peko - What’s worse, a terrible trope that’s fleshed out or a good trope that’s grossly wasted? Tough call, and this is what I ended up with. Still not sure if I made the right decision. Anyway, Peko’s entire character is based on the incredibly sexist trope of Girl Exists For Dude. Thankfully, she makes her own decisions and she’s presented as very woefully unaware of how Kuzuryuu actually feels. Her existing for Kuzuryuu’s sake to the point of happily sacrificing herself is, y’know, a flaw. That gets her killed. So I can pretend that Kodaka is saying it’s a bad thing that she’s like this. He’s probably not, given how Peko’s never really given a reason to live outside of Kuzuryuu, bUT I CAN PRETEND. Although I will say that as annoying as her canonically having romantic feelings for Kuzuryuu is, it’s still incredibly fucking funny seeing Hinata get crushed and rejected.

Just Not Good Tier

Ibuki - I sincerely had no idea where to put her at first. Ibuki’s writing is...fickle, due to primarily being comic relief so more often than not her dialogue and writing is more...jokes...than facets of a personality. And what personality is showcased has little variety. She definitely has those layers but they’re few and far between in the main storyline. And there’s stuff in her FTEs (her strong belief in individuality) that I don’t think comes up. Not to mention there’s completely untapped stuff such as how lonely she must be due to her band splitting, and... Really, she’s just the most wasted of the characters in term of how little she contributes beyond jokes. And sdr2′s sense of humor is pretty fucking shit, so I’m not a fan of a lot of the jokes, either. Ibuki is pretty...ahem, pardon the pun. Pretty one-note. The most offensive part of her character is probably from her attraction to women being portrayed really creepily, which I definitely super hate, but it’s only like...a few lines of dialogue and...I know for a fact how much worse it could’ve been. It could’ve been so, so, so much worse.

Chiaki - Could she have gone above Ibuki? Probably. I mean, her writing *is* more consistent and varied (even if she only has like, two more facets of a personality) buuuuuut. Kodaka literally said she’s his ideal girlfriend. And that grossness *does* seep into her writing to the point where it’s pungent. The fact that she’s idealized and that even her potentially off-putting traits are either meant to be endearing or desirable is... Ew. Pretty ew. But, with all that, she’s bland in what the narrative allows her to offer. Having her be the most moralistic of the cast also makes her pretty annoying when she starts preaching about trust, doubt, hope, killing is wrong, and then she makes excuses as to why she can’t be bothered to be involved with the plot a la Chapter 3 where she doesn’t do shit about the sick kids. She’s seriously more of a mouthpiece than a character and those can be fine...but maybe not so much in sdr2, and definitely not at the expense of other characters developing through learning this shit themselves instead of her having to tell them. The inherent gross sexism that she’s supposed to be Kodaka’s Ultimate Girlfriend sure doesn’t help.

Akane - I honestly feel kinda bad putting her at the bottom but...jeez, the more I think about it, the more Akane’s character really sucks ass. Like, she’s really shallow and uninspired. Even her damn “talent pose” is derivative of Sakura’s just with less ferocity and a panty shot. And as offensive as Nanami’s concept is, at least it can go unnoticed by the player. Akane being Boobs and Food girl is constantly shoved in your face. And the fact she has a history of sexual abuse really, REALLY makes it worse. At least with Mikan, there’s layers. With Akane, there ain’t. She’s just portrayed as too dumb to know any better. Urghhhhh. But what about her personality? Shallow. What about her arc? Frustratingly non-existent. She doesn’t learn a fucking thing despite her flaws actually making her a damn liability. Her...backstory? Well, abuse aside, it’s...weird. Her backstory is about struggling to survive. When...in the main story she's too stupid to live despite being a survivor. So, I don’t think it clicks, much less informs/fleshes out her character beyond giving us a reason for why she’s so sexualized and obsessed with food and...yeah, no thanks. Akane’s writing is the worst, both on the outset and in what little nuance we have.