#and also a lot of childhood nostalgia is involved

[navree]

I don’t know if it’s been asked before but why do you like Batman? What’s so special about him?

It's been talked about a bit by me just rambling, but never really explained in depth, and even then, I never mind repeating myself <3

So, a not insignificant part of it is that one of the first TV shows I ever remember watching, other than Redwall and Dragon Tales was the DCAU Justice League show, and I immediately fell in love with their version of Batman, especially how he was performed by the late, great Kevin Conroy. So I just started seeking out that version of Batman through the DCAU shows when I was really young, like, seven years old, and it just kinda imprinted itself on me, the way media often can when you're a young child. And I do maintain that, despite some flaws (like the Jason Todd-ification of Tim Drake for no reason, and the obsession with making Bruce and Barbara a couple, which just.....hurl) the DCAU characterization of Batman as a person and as a hero is is the gold standard. But I did start reading comics once I ran my way through all the shows, and that core love still remains.

Part of it is, again, he's Amélie's very first blorbo ever since the mid-2000s, but Bruce as a character is genuinely compelling. Bruce goes through an unimaginable trauma at a very young age, and rather than how most people would react, he chose to do something with it. Seriously, if you think about something like the death of Batman's parents happening in the real world and you just read about it on the news, that's horrific, and it makes sense that it's not only fucked Bruce up, but could have potentially resulted in him turning into a mess. And he is a mess, don't get me wrong, but he also chose to be more than that. He chose to create Batman, to try and help a city that was drowning and make it better. There's an element of choice to Batman's character and his arcs that I've always liked. He doesn't need to do anything that he's done. There's no outside force compelling him to try and create a better version of his city where no one has to experience the hurt that he went through. There's no external pressure demanding that he protect the world even in the face of odds that he cannot win just to keep innocent people safe. There's no ulterior motivator making him take in children who have nothing, children who need a home and a family and loving care, other than the fact that he wants to do right by them and he has an infinite capacity for love in his heart. Bruce has no responsibility to Gotham, the people of Gotham, to other heroes, to the world, to random kids he meets on an off chance. No one asked him to do anything he does, and he's under no obligation to do it or continue. Bruce could stop being Batman tomorrow and dismantle the entire operation and turn his entire family into civilians, and nobody would be able to say he can't do that because he had no duty to start it in the first place. But he did. He chose to do good, to turn his pain into a drive to try and make life better for people in his city, to take a drive that could become a very selfish motivator (for instance, devoting resources solely to finding Joe Chill) and using it for something purely selfless (putting his own self on the line, in all possible ways, just to make sure people can lead better lives and that no one ever experiences the pain that he has).

There is a fundamental goodness to Bruce Wayne's character that is incredibly compelling. Because it would be so easy for there not to be. And he's had a fair amount of writers who've forgotten that it's there (people who write abusive Bruce Wayne are never seeing heaven), but if he's got someone who understands the character, then yeah, he's good. He's selfless and he's kind and he's got a capacity for love and care that is astounding. He opens his heart to children he has no connection to purely just to give them a good home, he refuses to harden himself against letting people in even with the amount of times he's been hurt, he never stops trying to help people who are hurt or sick get better (as clearly seen in his neverending quest to try and help Harvey Dent be rehabilitated). He's a good person who chooses to keep that goodness and not let it slip away from him, no matter what, even when he would be well within his rights to. He never lets himself. I mean, God, Bruce Wayne is someone who will personally resuscitate a man he hates more than anything, a man who murdered his child, just so that his other son won't become a killer and have to live with that guilt (that's real fyi, Dick Grayson once beat the Joker to death after the Joker had taunted him with details of his murder of Jason Todd's, and Batman, along with possibly Robin, managed to revive him so that Dick wouldn't be guilty of murder). Bruce Wayne is someone who could have been fundamentally broken by the things that happened to him, if not the murder of his parents then certainly the murder of his child (and we know it did alter a lot of his personality, which makes sense, cuz his kid died), and no one would have really blamed him. He could have become cold and cruel and a killer, and he knows he has that capacity within him, but he actively chooses not to.

And he doesn't always do the right thing; trust me, if you're a fan of Jason Todd, you're well aware of the fact that Bruce doesn't always do the right thing. He falls short. Batman is only human, and he makes mistakes. He makes wrong and bad choices, he fucks up and needs to try and fix it, he fails to meet his own standards (I don't know how many times I need to say it, but for all intents and purposes, Batman has absolutely broken his no kill rule, going into his confrontation with the Joker in Batman #429 with the express intent to kill, refusing to save him when he can, and never expressing a moment of doubt or remorse when he's believed to be dead, is basically Batman breaking his no kill rule, the only reason it doesn't technically count is because the Joker is revealed to have survived, but he had intent and he never had any remorse or second guessing, it counts as breaking the rule). Bruce has fucked up, with rogues and cases, and with friends and family too, and he's had to live with those mistakes and, if he's got a good writer at least, try to rebuild from there and earn whatever redemption he needs to depending on how big the screwup (and how much the writer either thinks Bruce is an untouchable god/hates whoever he hurt, no I'm not bitter about Certain Storylines, why would I be bitter?).

Bruce Wayne is incredibly human, painfully human. He lives in this world of gods and monsters and there he is, a man with a plan. And it is enjoyable, from a character perspective, that this man who is nothing but human, entirely ordinary, is able to fight and talk and think circles around people who'd routinely be considered superior, who has this place as one of the most god-tier people in his universe entirely because he's earned it, because he's lived up to his potential and his reputation. But there's also something beautiful in that. Like yeah, Bruce is stupid levels of rich, but beyond that, there's really nothing outwardly special about him. He's just a man. But he becomes larger than life through his actions, the choices he makes, the fact that he be brought low as he could be, low as he'd have the right to be, by his circumstances. His goodness remains intrinsic to him, and he refuses to give it up, because it's the core aspect of his humanity, a humanity that he refuses to relinquish in the face of greater and mightier odds and unspeakable evils, and it speaks to an immense fortitude as well as just how good he is.

(and I know there are a lot of generally bad faith criticisms made about the concept of Batman, and what Bruce chooses to do but a) no he does not go around beating up pickpockets and the mentally ill, he either stops crime non-lethally and informs the cops or is specifically asked to intervene in something by the authorities, not to mention that the "mentally ill" people that are his rogues are also basically domestic terrorists who are often full murderers, sorry that my heart does not bleed for the fact that the Joker has some kind of disorder while Batman punches him in the nose, and b) the fact that the system Gotham has in place is made explicitly clear on numerous occasions to not be remotely adequate to deal with what they have to deal with, that a lot of the cops and politicians and people meant to protect citizens are either completely inept and terrible at their jobs or just straight up corrupt and actively making the situation worse, and I do find it amusing that a lot of the criticisms of Batman come from left wing Twitter activists who crow about the incoming revolution but then go catatonic at the idea that a fictional character has decided the system is too corrupt to work with and thus forcibly changes it from the outside, isn't that what y'all's fucking incoming commie revolution is meant to do? Just sayin. Also no, he's not a fascist, tf, words mean things.)

And from a character perspective, from my enjoyment of him as a part of a fiction and an overall puzzle piece in a greater story (cuz I always do try to separate liking a character as a person vs liking them as a character), I'm not immune to the fact that Bruce's complexities come from a good number of tragedies. He's not real, and it does add to interest in him as a narrative device that he deals with a lot and needs to react to it and overcome it (and he deals with a lot, I wrote a list and it's not even comprehensive I definitely left out a lot just out of pure forgetfulness). Watching Bruce as a character, already with all the traits I enjoy listed out above, deal with the things he has to deal with makes him not just a character to enjoy as person, but a character to enjoy as a character, as part of a larger story, as a significant part of what makes that story rich and compelling and routinely interesting even when it's been going on for close to a century. Plus, again, from a character perspective, he's got fascinating interpersonal relationships that are captivating as well and add to his own complexities, relationships not just in terms of romance, but with friends and allies and enemies and especially with family (I think it's kinda impossible to be a Batman fan and not have an insane number of thoughts about the relationship he has with at least ONE of his kids).

There's a lot that's been written about Batman that I don't like, I am not a fan of DC's insistence that Bruce is a shitty dad who routinely beats his children, and it does feel a lot of the time these days like Bruce is a character that I like more for his potential than the way he tends to be written. But I still love that potential, and the kind of character he can be in the hands of a competent writer (and given what a decentralized medium comics are when it comes to canons and characterizations, you have to allow for that kind of leeway in a way you can't with other forms of storytelling) is one that can be truly great. As a character, he's kind of everything you can want, flawed and imperfect and deeply human, but always trying, and with not just a rich interior but complex relationship dynamics that have helped shape who he is.

Ultimately, I think why I like Bruce is best summed up by something Amanda Waller said in the Justice League Unlimited episode Epilogue: I've never met anyone who cared as deeply about his fellow man as Bruce Wayne. And I love him for that.

[loveemagicpeace]

🦋🌊Astro Notes🍀

Mars in 12th house- you just like to do things alone. You don't need to invest your energy in others, and in fact you can really enjoy yourself. Your energy is at its best when you are doing something for your soul. Meditation, yoga, journaling, watching movies, singing, dancing, listening to music all fill your soul. You like to watch movies alone, this is one of the things that I have noticed in general, that you enjoy watching movies alone sometimes more than with others. Waiting in the car is also one of the things you like or just being in the car and listening to music and having fun with yourself. Many times you need your own space, which is only yours and does not include others. When you know how to direct your energy in a good direction, you can actually feel very good. I also think that people who have a 12th house in a fire sign are much more independent and know how to direct their Mars energy better than people who have this house in an air sign, because many times you need to involve other people.

Mars in fire signs-they will always want to have a response from people because it is very important to them. They like it when people react to things and actually do something. They hate when people are unresponsive. Let's say: mars in sagittarius in 12th house - you will want an emotional response from people and that they confess their feelings and what is on their soul without ego, and at the same time you like it when someone reacts without thinking but just surrenders to their emotions and the current situation.

Mars in earth sign-they like more mature responses and more stable. They expect you to understand them and to be able to approach the situation with stability. Many times their actions are very deliberate and more planned.

The position of the moon indicates where you feel most fulfilled and in what way. Moon in 7th house - you can feel fulfilled through friends, relationships. Many times when you are with other people you feel more fulfilled and full of energy than when you are alone.

People with moon in 1st house are very honest. To the point that they don’t have a feeling if they hurt someone. You are imaginative in the way you express yourself and intuitive about other people. Home and family mean a great deal to you, and you remember your childhood with nostalgia.

Saturn is also very important when it comes to commitment. According to the sign of Saturn, one can see how seriously a person approaches life and circumstances, how serious their commitments are. And also how seriously the person takes the relationship they are in and how much responsibility they show. Also the maturity of a person and how a person reaches maturity. For ex.: Sautun in Pisces- a person will always idealize relationships and may never be completely stable and serious when it comes to them. Saturn in Aries-you are stable when it comes to relationships. And very determined in what you want and can also be very persistent in what you want

Venus and Capricorn- like to build on a relationship and therefore slowly invest in the relationship itself. They can be very suspicious and dubious when it comes to relationships. Many times they have reservations and do not like to build something if they do not feel that the thing will be long-term. Many times they are rejected in love. Often also very lonely people. They look like they are fine, but many times they want love and someone who will take care of them. But most of the time they have a problem to express it.

Mercury and Pisces - have a passion for writing and creating. They like things that are dreamy and magical and that bring them fantasy. They feel best around people who have watery mercury because they feel the most understood

Moon conjuction Saturn- these people have a lot of responsibility when it comes to emotions, they can feel a lot of responsibility when it comes to the emotions of others. It is more difficult for them to express how they feel and they are afraid to express their emotions because they do not want people to reject them. When they feel something, they need time to process it.

Uranus in 1st house you have an inventive mind and may take up unusual interests or hobbies. Your life is often marked by sudden and unexpected beginnings. You have a high-strung personality and an independent way of looking at things. You can be strong- willed about getting your own way.

Pluto in 2nd house -You are adventurous about money and not afraid of taking risks. You like to diversify, and during your lifetime there may be several changes in your source of income. You tend to become obsessed with possessions and finances.

Neptune in 3rd house -Your mind is impressionable and imaginative, and you may have psychic feelings about other people. You have a deep need to learn about life and are attracted to occult studies. You like to daydream and fantasize.

Sun in 4th house - You take pride in your home and family; from the time you were young you had a deep need to establish roots. One or both of your parents was a dominant influence in your life; in some cases you had to struggle for independence. Condi- tions surrounding the end of your life promise to be fortunate.

Venus in 4th house- Your home is usually your showplace and you like to surround yourself with beautiful things. You tend to have happy memories of childhood and are probably attached to your mother. Circumstances at the end of your life promise to be peaceful. Even tho it is important to look at venus sign and aspects because sometimes venus here could indicate that you grew up in childhood with the mindset that you mean as much as you have money. Your parents can also make you feel that you are not worthy enough.

Mars in 4th house - You have a great desire to own your own home so that you can live independently. In your childhood you may have been in conflict with parents, especially your father. Your latter years promise to be active, and you are unlikely to be dependent on others for a place to live.

Moon in 7th house- Security is very important to you in marriage and relationships. Chances are you will marry a parental figure of some kind. Your spouse will probably be protective of you. You are likely to become popular with the public at some time in your life.

Mars in 8th house- You are passionate about life and have a strong sex drive. You are attracted to the occult, also to medicine and the healing arts. There may be conflicts in your family over wills or legacies. Good point: powerful and brilliant researcher. Bad point: need to protect yourself against financial loss because of an extravagant partner.

Every year you are different person and on the different path because of the annual profection year. For ex.: annual profection in your 3rd house- there will be a lot of short trips , lots of action, rapid changes. You think and ponder a lot. You figure out your own thinking and prefer to connect with like-minded people. 4th house - it brings stability and thinking in a more stable direction. You want to build something long-term and have a home with your partner. You prefer to spend time with people who are close to you. This house is the house of feeling, so you are starting to listen to your intuition more. 5th house- that's when you work more on your projects and start to be more visible and share your passion with others. You can succeed in something you've wanted for a long time. You focus more on your hobbies and your entertainment. At the same time, you can be more romantic and have the feeling that you and your partner are having more fun.

The fourth quarter of the horoscope consists of Houses Ten, Eleven, and Twelve. People with many planets in this quarter are the most independent and ambitious of all. They make their own way in life, and gain through their own efforts rather than those of other people. In early life they usually learn to depend on themselves; their self- sufficiency is likely to bring them success later in life.

The second quarter of the horoscope consists of Houses Four, Five, and Six. Those who have many planets in this quarter are relationship-oriented. They need com- panionship in their lives to feel satisfaction and harmony. In their early lives they usually develop an instinct for dealing successfully with other people; their associations are likely to bring them contentment later in their lives.

Part of fortune- (Also known by its Latin name, Pars Fortuna) A point in a horoscope, arrived at by the calculation of an ancient Arabic mathematical formula in which the longitude of the Ascendant is added to the longitude of the Moon, and the longitude of the Sun is subtracted from that sum. The Part of Fortune in a birth chart is still considered by modern astrologers to be indicative of ease and good fortune. The activities of the sign and house in which the Part of Fortune appears are those in which the native finds success.

🎸For personal readings u can sign up here: https://snipfeed.co/bekylibra 🎸

-Rebekah��🏼‍♀️⭐️🫧

[botanicalsword]

Moon signs ✧ how they behave

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>> Part II

Moon in Aries

They respond quickly and passionately to situations and want instant satisfaction. They like being the first to get involved in a situation. When they’re close to someone, they tend to be harsh and easily lose their temper with family members. Their impatience also shows up when it comes to money matters.

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Moon in Taurus

They are steady, practical, and don't get easily angry. They don't like change, need financial security, and can attract a lot of money and a comfortable life. They really enjoy living in a comfortable home, but they can become lazy once they're there. They don't often experience poor lifestyle. They know how to handle resources carefully and practically, therefore they can keep wealth for a long time.

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Moon in Gemini

They go through different emotions and feelings, can easily adapt and feel restless. They are curious about what others think and feel, and they can be easily influenced by things happening around them. They are always mentally and physically occupied.

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Moon in Cancer

They strongly and naturally desire comfort, closeness, and a feeling of safety and protection from the outside world and the people around them. They enjoy old furniture and antiques, and they have a sentimental connection to various old items. Their sense of security is tied to nostalgia, and they have a deep emotional attachment to old objects that cannot be easily broken.

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Moon in Leo

These individuals often have a high opinion of themselves and enjoy receiving attention and admiration from others. They strongly desire recognition, acknowledgment, and gratitude. They enjoy spending money to bring themselves happiness, rather than seeking praise from others. They have a strong sense of self-confidence and make bold and assertive investments.

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Moon in Virgo

People with this placement tend to be humble, gentle, and attentive to the needs of others, offering help when necessary. They are highly sensitive to criticism and have been suppressing their emotions for a long time. This makes it challenging for them to express their true feelings, as they try to conceal their inner vulnerability. Consequently, this can create emotional barriers in intimate relationships.

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Moon in Libra

They have a distaste for rough and impulsive behaviors. When the Moon is in this position, it signifies grace, social abilities, and a charismatic personality. They strongly dislike any kind of discord or disharmony. They are highly fearful of arguments and conflicts. They excel in finding compromises and setting aside their ego, but once a limit is crossed, there is no going back.

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Moon in Scorpio

They have a strong inclination to actively engage in current affairs and relationships. They approach life with enthusiasm and focus. They have experienced a childhood filled with intense emotions, which has led to the development of a heightened sixth sense. This allows them to directly perceive the thoughts of others. They possess a sense of ownership when it comes to emotions, although they do not seek to control others' actions. They possess the ability to sense whether or not someone is being deceptive towards them.

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Moon in Sagittarius

They are energetic, proactive, and open-minded individuals with a free-spirited nature. They genuinely interact with others, without hidden agendas, and strive to explore a wider world. Their priority is to find meaning and purpose in everything they undertake. While they may not have overly gentle, delicate, or empathetic personalities, they are also not socially awkward. They are very lucky and hold a strong belief that tomorrow will bring improvement, even when faced with setbacks.

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Moon in Capricorn

They highly regard rationality, desire respect, and exemplify self-discipline as role models. They find comfort in having a sense of control. During their youth, they lacked maternal affection, which has made them very conservative in managing their finances. They frequently felt that they didn't have enough money, so they are extremely cautious when it comes to spending. Their sense of security is derived from tangible savings and real estate.

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Moon in Aquarius

They are amiable and enjoy socializing, but they exhibit a sense of emotional detachment. They are emotionally independent, composed, and inclined to seek truth and make rational decisions. They can come across as emotionally cold and distant, which allows them to be self-reliant in their emotions. However, they may struggle to form deep emotional bonds with others naturally.

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Moon in Pisces

They are highly susceptible to external influences and may tend to see the world in an overly positive light. They possess a vivid imagination and a profound yearning for spirituality and romance. They dislike being confined or constrained. They have a strong sense of empathy and can be easily moved by emotions. They might also make impulsive investment decisions driven by their emotions. While they may not excel in practical service, they frequently offer emotional support and willingly lend an ear to others' worries.

>> qualities of partner that they are in search of

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>> Back to Masterlist ✧ Explicit Content

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[lady-of-endless]

haii ! Can i request hc with Giorno reuniting with childhood friend S/O after like two years of him becoming Don of Passione? You can imagine it however you want :3

(they lost contact after he joined the mafia btw)

Author's Note: FINALLY a Giorno request! And with a reunion trope, are you kidding me? This request was sent from heaven, thank you so much. Hope you'll enjoy it!

Don of Passione!Giorno x childhood friend! reader headcanons

- His life as Don of Passione is somber, black and white, because of all that happened and all that he has lost. That's until you step into the room, a pair of eyes from his past, someone that he hasn't lost it seems. You're both shocked to see each other, heart racing. Giorno gets up from his armchair immediately and steps closer not even knowing with what intention. He stopped himself before he would be too close cleared his throat and greeted you. He was still serious but his tone was softer than usual, because of his disbelief.

- After the initial shock, he still can't let himself be happy to see you again. If you visited him, without knowing it's him the Don, it means that you got involved with the mafia as well. And that concerns him. You don't get to join the mafia without something bad happening.

- Giorno knows it's not graceful to stare but he can't take his eyes off your face, as he wants to make a mental list of things that changed about you while you talk to him. Yes, you've changed a lot, but you look at him with the same sparkle in your eyes.

- Giorno thinks it's slightly amusing but incredible nonetheless how even if you looked so different now, he still felt the same as when you two were younger and you were his childhood crush. But is there still a connection there or are his lingering feelings tricking him?

- He finds himself wanting to embrace you after all those years but he refrains himself from doing that. Though, as he guides you around to show you the place, he takes your hand gracefully as a sign of good manners. You might not notice but he tends to hold your hand a little longer before letting it go.

- Giorno would minimize the story of how he joined the mafia and how he became Don of Passione when you ask him about it. Mainly because he wants to hear more about you but also because he is insecure about how you might see him after he tells you about everything. He doesn't want to change your view of him even if he knows it's inevitable as you both are different from the past versions.

- His wish is for you not to treat him differently now. Yes, after so many years and changes, you two are just a little bit more than strangers. But he wants to keep the warmth and joy he felt in the past when you two would meet and relish it as much as it's possible.

- Giorno never enjoyed thinking about the past but as you start recalling memories you both shared, he feels giving in to the sweetness of nostalgia.

- If you tell him that you're not surprised that he is a Don, he doesn't know how to take it. You add that he was always ambitious and that you always admired that in him and he might have to clear his throat in order not to blush.

- Giorno won't say it, worrying that it might scare you but he promises himself that you'll have the utmost protection from him and his men. Everyone will know your face and you'll be not just protected but respected as well.

- You two spend hours talking and catching up and with each glance and smile, the distance that set you two apart for years diminishes. Mista noticed it was getting late but as he approached the room, he saw through the cracked opened door how Giorno was smiling at you and how his eyes were finally shining again. He decided to leave you two without saying a word.

[cantsayidont]

August 1984. This won't change anyone's feelings about cult movie perennial THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI: ACROSS THE EIGHTH DIMENSION one way or the other, but if you're wondering what the hell the deal is supposed to be with Buckaroo Banzai and his team, the answer is, "It's an obvious pastiche of the pulp hero Doc Savage."

Launched in 1933, Doc Savage was one of the leading adventure heroes of the pulp magazines. Doc (whose full name was Clark Savage Jr.) was scientifically trained from childhood to the peak of human perfection, singularly adept in everything from mechanical engineering to medicine to martial arts. He had a secret headquarters called the Fortress of Solitude and a whole array of specially designed vehicles and equipment, but he was also a public figure, with offices in the Empire State Building. Doc had a team of eccentric, highly specialized aides — Monk Mayfair, Ham Brooks, Renny Renwick, Long Tom Roberts, and Johnny Littlejohn — who each had a particular skill and a couple of distinctive personality traits (for instance, Monk was a skilled industrial chemist, but also an "ape-like" brute with a ferocious temper). They were sometimes aided by Doc's cousin, Pat Savage, who was almost as capable as Doc, although he tried to keep her out of the fray because she was (gasp) a girl.

This was a fairly common pattern for pulp heroes. For instance, the pulp version of the Shadow (who was distinctly different from the radio incarnation) relied on a whole network of agents, some appearing only once or twice, some recurring across many of his published adventures. From a narrative standpoint, the agents and assistants had two principal purposes: The first was to offset the rather overpowered heroes — pulp heroes didn't necessarily have superhuman powers, but even those who didn't tended to be preternaturally skilled at nearly everything, so it was convenient to limit their direct involvement in an adventure to crucial moments, and let the assistants (who could be much more fallible) do much of the legwork. The second object was to beef up the characterization. Doc Savage was morally irreproachable as well as absurdly multi-talented, so there wasn't a lot to be done with him character-wise, while maintaining the mystique of a character like the Shadow required him to remain a fairly closed book.

Although the pulp heroes were a huge influence on early comic book superheroes like Superman and Batman, some of these conventions didn't translate well to other media: In a 13-page comic book story or half-hour radio episode, having too many characters was cumbersome (and expensive, where it meant hiring extra actors), and comic book readers normally expected to follow their four-color heroes quite closely, even before the breathless internal monologue became a genre staple. So, Superman inherited Doc Savage's Fortress of Solitude, but not his "Fabulous Five" assistants, while heroes like Batman and Captain America generally stuck with a single sidekick rather than a team of aides. Even the late Doc Savage pulp adventures (which ended in 1949) de-emphasized the assistants to keep the focus more on Doc himself. Ultimately, the pulp heroes didn't really have the right narrative center of gravity for visual media, which is why they've become relatively obscure, despite repeated revival attempts. The 1975 Doc Savage movie with Ron Ely, for instance, was a notorious commercial flop, and elements like Doc's childishly bickering assistants seemed odd and dated, even taking into account the film's nostalgia-bait '30s period setting.

What BUCKAROO BANZAI tried to do was to bring that old pulp hero formula into the modern era with a big infusion of '80s style and humor. Like Doc Savage, Buckaroo is a wildly gifted polymath (in the opening scenes, he rushes from performing brain surgery to test-driving his Jet Car through a mountain), so famous and important a personage that he puts the president of the United States on hold, and he surrounds himself with an array of brilliant, eccentric aides with silly nicknames who play in his rock band when they're not fighting crime or doing advanced scientific experiments.

Alas, judging by the poor box office returns, general audiences were no more amenable to the '80s version of this formula than they had been to DOC SAVAGE: MAN OF BRONZE nine years earlier, even with the 1984 film's extraordinary cast and memorably witty dialogue. Granted, even many of the movie's most diehard fans are baffled by the convoluted plot — a crucial expository scene where the leader of the Black Lectroids (Rosalind Cash) explains much of what's going on is nigh-incomprehensible without subtitles or closed captioning — but beyond that, THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI is essentially an extended riff on a particular slice of pop culture that had long since dropped out of the public consciousness, which is both part of its charm and also its commercial undoing, at least as mainstream entertainment.

(Also, if you're wondering, yes, the TOM STRONG series by Alan Moore and Chris Sprouse is also an obvious Doc Savage pastiche, although at least some of its plot and character concepts were probably retoolings of unused ideas from Moore's earlier Maximum Press/Awesome Comics SUPREME series, which was an extended pastiche of the pre-Crisis Superman.)

[coffeestainedcamera]

Wasn't going to see Deadpool 3 bc I'm not up to date on the MCU and don't care to be. But I was at the mall for roach traps bc my landlord sucks, so I wanted escapism. Going to this and getting some top-tier ramen after was some nice short-notice therapy.

Good news: if you were a y2k baby and X-Men were your childhood, it's nostalgic AF. The only modern thing you need to know is that there's a bunch of time-space cops and they had a guy go rogue and try to off a branching timeline. Bc no Wolverine = sorry why do y'all exist again? Sadly, no, Hugh Jackman did not get a musical theater sequence he deserves.

But in general, it really was a hit of nostalgia for me. Like, seeing Deadpool dancing to Bye Bye Bye just really hit both those y2k radio and the "sneakily rented DP 1 at 15" points. There is still a lot of juvenile R-rated humor like defiling a corpse and stabbing below the belt to bubblegum pop. I also may have hyena-laughed at the "Disney won't let us do the marching powder" scene.

Tbh I initially wasn't on board with massively blowing up the scale of the conflict from 1 and 2, but it somehow worked with Deadpool's character devolution/recovery. Like yeah, he resigns himself to being a bit character that just sells merch to teens and college kids with utterly rotten sense of humor. And being a used car salesman (truly the 2nd grossest job after working for my landlord). And that bombed interview in the beginning was painful to watch. But it was sweet to watch him realize that he can still help people, even if he's supposed to just be a murderous clown that's an HR nightmare. And awwww, he helped Logan realize that he can still get a 2nd chance, even if he's supposedly the worst Wolverine.

The direction is... well, it's no Leitch with Domino's finessing in 2. But it's still largely readable, obligatory CGI f-fest of the last half aside. And I was suitably disgusted by Emma Corrin's character and the literal picking of brains. Can Levy go study under Raimi and drop a horror movie? I'd watch it! Anyways, imo the most memorable scene was probably the Honda Odyssey fight (aka incredibly obvious subtext for needing to get a room that the entire room caught). But like, guys, a beige af minivan, really? But ya, somewhere, people are pulling up keyboards and AO3.

Anyways, gonna go relisten to the soundtrack now bc mannnnn, everyone involved with music supervision and clearance here deserves cold pillows and perfect-temp coffee for life. Btw the Stray Kids single only appeared in the background as instrumental (but well, they got to film an MV with Reynolds and Jackman and also got that MCU bag).

[thesweetestdevotion]

https://www.tumblr.com/thesweetestdevotion/761520975651241984/hi-can-you-do-a-reading-on-bts-jimin-as-a?source=share

Can u do one for jake too? Only if you like. Thank u

Hi!!

Enhypen Jake as a Boyfriend/Husband:

As a Boyfriend:

Dice: Scorpio, Mars, 11th House

Tarot: Page of Swords, Queen of Coins Reversed, The World, The Wheel of Fortune, Five of Swords Reversed, Two of Cups, Ten of Cups Reversed, Seven of Cups Reversed

This guy seems like he's not into deep commitments. He does like some aspects of relarionships especially when there is mental compatibility. I feel he does think about and enjoy the passionate and romantic aspects of connections, but when it comes to building a stable committed relationship i just don't see him wanting that at this moment. I think there is something here about his childhood and his upbringing that has contributed to his view on relationships. There is a dynamic that he seems fearful of repeating here which makes him prefer casual relationships over those deeper commitments. Hes also the type of guy to not be clear about his intentions from the get go. With his dice being 11th house and mars, i think he doesnt want to come off as the bad guy, and hes very closed off with the scorpio energy here, so he doesnt want to open up about his inhibitions on relationships. Hes afraid of public judgement about his past, especially related to his family, so he refuses to open up. He will let people show interest in him but is sort of ambivalent when it comes to defining the relationship. When his eventually partners express wanting to get serious hes ready to dipp (omg lol) I just keep hearing the song I'm like a bird by Nelly Furtado, give it a listen because it pretty much defines how he functions in relationships, or as a boyfriend. He's sort of focusing on reassesing his feelings towards his past, and he's not thinking about being a "boyfriend". He likes to flirt and have some casual involvements but never deeper than that. He would probably let it fizzle out at some point, cuz he also doesnt seem like the guy to initiate a break up. He probably wants to figure himself out, more than anything. But i see that his environment doesnt leave him space to do deep introspections like he would like. I just keep getting the feeling of people hounding him on why hes not in a relationship, and then there's another group of people wishing to be in relationship with him, and then theres another group of people that would probably be judgemental of his past, etc, etc.... Its very overstimulating right now in my head. I think he's a very desirable person, but all this attention on him isnt allowing him the space he needs to grow and heal, but he's working on it i feel. I do hope he finds a safe place to think and feel as he wishes.. he's not a bad person y'all!! just a regualr man in his early 20's heheh

As a Husband:

Dice: 7th House, Leo, Moon

Tarot: Three of Cups, Ace of Wands, Ace of Coins, King of Coins, Page of Cups Reversed, Four of Wands Reversed, The Magician Reversed, Five of Coins, The Tower, The Hanged Man, Six of Cups, Strength, Three of Wands

okay... i think if, at this moment in time, he hypothetically found himself in a marriage... this would actually help him!! LOL. He seems like a person that enjoys responsibilities, hes dedicated both to his craft and his money! And i think if he does find someone he would like to be in a relationship with, he would be dedicated to them too!! I do see that he definetly wouldnt be healed yet, and this woud affect the dynamics a lot. He's almost fearful of like... divorce?? not to be in his business but.. is he from a divorced family? he could be. I'm saying i do see those vibes here, but mostly he's afraid of some marrigage dynamic that he saw as a youth, and he doesnt want to repeat it! Six of cups, the moon, leo, all relate to children, nostalgia, our hometowns, our upbringings, so i feel his past would greatly affect the marriage. Though i feel he would have the space to grow and heal if he was in a marriage because he's like really self aware. He fully has the fortitude to get over his past and grow. It wouldnt be easy though, especially for his spouse hehe. He's the type to think the marriage will crumble at any moment, even for a little fight. He's kinda been through it if you ask me, poor dude. There would be a lot of ups and downs with him, but i do see that in the future he's bound for many changes and opportunities that would allow him to overcome his traumas. Wishing him the best, truly. (i just started singing the bride's march all of a sudden!! like i didnt even think about it hehe. it seems this guy's bound to find who he truly is through marriage, it feels like a telenovela lol so dramatic!)

Hope y'all like it!! I liked him a lot!! even if he feels like kind of a mess to me lolll. xxx

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

i do think sometimes people think special interests are like. having an interest that is very big. and yes that is part of it. it’s the most obvious one to an outside observer. but, like, that in and of itself isn’t a special interest. neurotypical people can get incredibly into hobbies. and i think it’s important to keep in mind bc i've started seeing people go around saying really ableist shit about special interests again bc they view them as just very intense hobbies but like. they’re not.

autistic people do not choose their special interest, for one. like, i've seen a lot of disdain and downright hatred for people who have special interests in “childish” things going around and like… no, autistic people don’t have “childish” special interests because they refuse to learn media literacy or whatever. a lot of people's special interests come from their childhood- of course an eight year old isn’t going to be consuming media aimed at adults, and like, autistic children grow into autistic adults? they don’t just shed their special interests. special interests can change over time, absolutely, but they also sometimes, like… don’t? that’s not something an autistic person can control. and even if it’s something they got into later in life… it’s actually very normal for adults to like. not solely engage in “mature” things. like for one parents exist. and older siblings and cousins and just in general like. most adults have child relatives somewhere in the family tree and like, spend time with them? but even with that aside like, well adjusted adults don't aggressively reject anything they consider childish. adults have had nostalgia forever. adults have enjoyed animation and games and other “childish” things forever. who do you think makes kids content? passionate adults.

and i've also seen a lot of disdain for autistic people just having objectionable special interests and like. okay but they literally cannot control that you know that right. they can control the way they engage with it obviously this isn’t an excuse to like, be an asshole or a bigot, but also like… you can’t really consciously stop having special interests even if you don’t engage in it you’ll have thoughts on it and process things through the lens of it it’s not something consciously controllable. like do you think i'd choose to think about nothing but extremely dark psychological horror minecraft child abuse like no that’s fucking weird as shit. i actively dislike one of the two creators involved but i physically cannot stop thinking about his stupid roleplay i have tried to stop and it lead to me self harming bc i couldn’t and the thoughts distressed me very badly.

on that topic- yeah, trying to “break” a special interest not only doesn’t really work bc it’s not like. a hobby. it’s something we constantly think about and a way of making sense of the world. it’d be like trying to get rid of depression by never allowing yourself to think of sad things like that’s not how it works. it also can be fucking dangerous. coping mechanisms exist for a reason, and throwing them out with no replacement or actual help involved can fuck you up for life. you're likely to either have a complete breakdown or get infinitely more unhealthy coping mechanisms. and while special interests aren’t a one to one analogy to coping mechanisms they’re closer to that than a hobby let me tell you. i see so many posts telling autistic people that they have to “break” problematic or even just fucking “cringey” special interests and like. bro 99.99% of the time it is not worth self harming or being institutionalised over. because that’s like, what happens if you deny yourself access to a tool that allows you to access the world? like please stop so flippantly basically asking autistic people to risk extreme burnout at best bc like. the creator interacted with someone who turned out to be a terrible person ten years ago with no reasonable way of knowing that. like c’mon. y'all just wanna see autistic people suffer and are wrapping it up in progressive coatings like take a LOOK at yourself.

like, sorry. you think it’d be so easy for this website to not be ableist. but no you’re back to just spreading flagrant misinformation about autism to try and sound better about yourself. like, are there some shitty autistic people who use their autism to be bigots? yeah, duh. but using that as an excuse to mock autism as a whole is completely fucked up. we can’t win unless we fight against ALL bigotry, and that means while bigoted autistic people are acting unacceptably using ableism to combat them only helps perpetuate those systems of harm. call out the bigotry, not a person's existence. and for gods sake, stop treating “likes the owl house” as a moral failing equivalent to that like no media literacy isn’t dead bc autistic people are cringey you’re just looking for smart sounding ways to justify treating disabled people as if they’re degenerating humanity and like. treating disabled people as if they’re degenerating humanity has a history that’s pretty incompatible with like, anti fascism and fighting for equality.

[vixstarria]

✨Prepare for an unsolicited info dump✨

I was tagged by @herdarkestnightelegance - thanks!

Do you make your bed? Yes, always - I might leave other things lying around, but the bed is the no. 1 thing that always gets done - otherwise the bedroom looks too messy and irks me

Favorite number? I don't have a favourite number.

What’s your job? So... I work in a small law firm as the person who does everything but provide legal advice. Accounts, IT, HR, admin, random paralegal stuff - I'm your guy (gn). No one at work really knows exactly what it is I do, but they generally assume I'm always busy, which provides ample opportunity to shitpost on tumblr during work hours. E.g. right now. I love my job.

If you could go back to school would you? Absolutely not, I still have PTSD and recurring nightmares about school. I mean, I don't mind learning, per se, but I would strongly prefer it to be on my own terms, remote, and outside of a formal academic environment. And definitely not in the country I grew up and went to school in.

Can you parallel park? Strangely enough, yes. I do note that I do not have a license, however.

Do you think aliens are real? There has to be alien life of some kind out there, but it won't be little green men in blinking flying saucers. ...Although then again, hey, within the infinity of the universe, maybe there ARE little green men in saucers as well, somewhere, who knows?

Can you drive a manual car? Strictly within the confines of an empty parking lot - sure

What’s your guilty pleasure? Oh gosh, of what kind? Food - spicy ramen noodles with a bunch of stuff (mushrooms, egg, etc) thrown in. I love it, but I swear I immediately gain a kg any time I have a bowl. Music - early 2000's R&B, pop and nu metal. It's nostalgia, okay? Media - reality fashion shows that involve competitions, e.g. Project Runway, or ANTM. And cooking shows, but I don't feel guilty about those lol.

Tattoos? No, nothing's ever struck me as significant enough for me to want to have it on my skin permanently. If I had a weird scar I would cover it up with a tattoo, though.

Favorite color? Purple, especially lilac and lavender shades.

Favorite types of music? It fluctuates, but I've mostly been on an electronic / industrial binge lately.

Do you like puzzles? Puzzles often make me feel like an idiot, but if there is no timer, pressure or audience - sure. ...Or like, jigsaw puzzles? I fkn LOVE jigsaw puzzles.

Any phobias? Nope.

Favorite childhood sport? Bold of you to assume I participated in ANY sport as a child, much less had a favourite. Uh. Ice skating and rollerblading was fun, I guess. I sometimes contemplate getting rollerblades again, but then I also rather enjoy all my bones being intact. 🤔

Do you talk to yourself? All the time, although mostly in the form of muttered swears and various exclamations.

What movies do you adore? I'm going to pass on this one, or it might turn into a very long rant. To summarise: I like weird movies, horror and comedy horror. Some examples: Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, Army of Darkness.

Coffee or tea? Both. Start the day with coffee, then drink tea for the remainder. I'm very particular with my coffee though - every morning begins with a little ritual of grinding whole beans and preparing it with a french press.

First thing you wanted to be growing up? One of my earliest memories is me wondering what I wanted to be when I grew up, and my little 4 or 5 year old brain thinking that my only options were teacher, doctor and cashier, for some reason, and being sad because I didn't want to be any of those. I don't think I ever wanted to be anything, as a child - I just wanted to read my books and play with my toys. In fact, I still feel that way. 😠

No pressure tagging (and sorry for any repeats): @spacebarbarianweird @thechaoticdruid @snowfolly @brabblesblog @confused-butter-toast @tragedybunny

[midnight-rice]

@lildoodlecat answering this on my sideblog so as not to confuse the tales fans on my main 😅

--

aaaaaa i'm being invited to go off about a random fixation???? thank youuuuu that's so sweet ;_;

OK SO i feel like I should preface by saying I'm probably not the prototypical fan of this show? I watched it more recently when I was older so my nostalgia isn't based off of childhood memories, I just found a really fun show during a kind of depressing time of my life (2020 lol need I say more?). Also a lot of the fans seem into the shipping scene which is fine i guess but i think they're all sleeping on the potential of the adorkable found family of superpowered teenagers who all live together unsupervised and don't even know each other's real names (seriously they're in costume 24/7 and call each other their work names 😂).

I'll guess I'll start this pitch by listing my favorite things about the show in descending order… which means starting with the animation of all things 😅 There are so many well-animated movies and shows out there but I have yet to encounter one so visually appealing to me personally than Teen Titans (2003). I'm a cartoonist at heart, I generally love exaggerated facial expressions for comedic purposes but Teen Titans really hits for me because it's deliberately styled after anime, with familiar visual language like the red blush lines of embarrassment or the large sweatdrop of anxiety. IIRC Teen Titans was produced by Warner Bros, aired on Cartoon Network, and largely outsourced the animation to Korea, but the homage to Japan is so strong that not only is there a variant of the opening theme performed in Japanese but also the one (1) movie they made is set in Tokyo.

But on top of the silliness of the visual gags the rest of the show is also super well animated, especially the fight scenes!!! Sure some sequences are a little stiff but you can tell that's because they were saving the budget for something like a 360 rotation of the entire group mid-battle (something that seriously impresses me in 2D animation) or a hand-to-hand death match that was almost certainly mo-capped of professional martial artists. Robin in particular is my favorite to watch because he is canonically skilled as an acrobat AND a martial artist and the animators Understood That!! The squash and stretch! The swipes! The smears! I'm swooning 😍 He is a skrunkly rubber band and I love him. (also random side note but i love how much their team's strategies involve yeeting each other at the enemy 😂 like "there is a problem, i'm gonna solve it by throwing my friends at it. i'm sure it's fine BeastBoy will probably turn into an elephant by the time he gets there and not go splat against the monster literally made of concrete")

Moving on from the gorgeous and creatively choreographed fight scenes, I'll try to capture the overall vibes I love about it the most. I'm someone who's always down for a story that's character-driven, balanced between comedy and angst, and above all is genuine and true to itself. In other words, I really respect the tone and way a show handles itself, and Teen Titans (2003) really delivers here. Some episodes are the wackiest nonsense you can imagine (every season has one episode I dub the "pink elephant episode" because its whole purpose is to flex the East coast animation influences in purely abstract sequences often accompanied by music). Some episodes are alarmingly dark and edgy (as an angst and whump lover, my favorite episode is S3 ep31 Haunted in which Robin has a mental breakdown and violent delusions so intense they're worried he's going to go into cardiac arrest… in a kid's show 😅) But what matters most is that both types of episodes are presented with as much gusto and geniuine effort as it is possible to cram into a 23 minute runtime.

They don't hold back with the visuals (so many unique POVs and I love the sponge-like texture in the backgrounds), or the acting (all of the voice actors are top-notch though I can't unhear Lloyd Irving as Robin 😅), or even the score (seriously this time around I was marveling at how well the music accents the emotions of the scene as well as the content, like supervillain Billy Numerous having a repeating banjo motif to represent his duplication powers and Southern US origins). I actually think the worst part of the show is the content itself 😅 this is where it becomes clear it's a kid's show, through cliched tropes, ham-fisted morals, and predictable dialogue, but as someone who's still obsessed with Tales of Graces you can probably guess that cliches aren't something that bother me too much, not when they're being performed with whole-pussy effort 😂

When I first watched the show I watched every episode (all 5 seasons, the movie, and even the lost episode) and made a list of ones that I felt like I enjoyed the most. That's what I've been using to guide my current rewatch, because there are episodes that are a little too childish or moralized or weird to me. If you want me to forward you the list I'd be happy to, but I will admit my selection is very biased toward my own tastes that you might not agree with, and that even my least favorite episodes still have decent entertainment value… with the exception of season 5 😅 idk if this is a controversial opinion in the fandom but I do not care for the last season of Teen Titans at all, you can skip it. I don't know the exact details but there were clearly some developmental and probably networking issues at this point in the series' life, and it shows in the drastic drop in quality (especially in the animation, going from glorious sakuga to powerpoint slides hurts my soul 😭). The content also suffers a bit, going from 4 seasons purely focused on the main 5 with some side characters along the way, to expanding those side characters into the main focus which, although I like them, means that none of the characters feel quite as developed since the focus is spread across too many.

Anyway I guess that's the gist of my pitch 😁 thanks for lending me a platform from which to yell from, I have no idea why I fell back into this fixation rn but it's twice as satisfying when I get to talk about it with a willing audience 💜 thanks Jay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chaika-jpeg-shitpost]

[encanto hate... sorry] just watched encanto and idk... in my opinion this movie was a massive waste of creation team's effort and time. it looks beautiful and has a kind message at its core, but the story felt superficial and rushed. everyone involved in its creation should've been working on something a lot better instead. also, i hated the pop sounding songs... "we don't talk about bruno" was good but the rest was impossible to listen to

another thing i got out of watching it is that characters like camilo and hanako from tbhk have a terrifyingly strong grip on people (including me) and i have to figure out the reason behind it. for now the only explanation i found is that sassy thirteen year old boys throw me back to my childhood years when i consantly fell for these type of characters and this nostalgia gets the better of me

[queen-scribbles]

"Aren't I lucky?"

17. Parents (post-WotR; Trinne/Lann)

Trinne often heard people bemoan their childhood home looking smaller when they returned to visit. Something about growing up and nostalgia coloring their memories. She had the opposite.

"Huh, it got bigger." She cocked her head, studying the façade of the Amell family estate.

"Bigger?" Lann echoed. Something flickered in his eyes that made her wonder if he was a flight risk. It had been enough talking him into this, she shouldn't have said anything.

"Yeah." Trinne leaned against his side as she pointed toward a section of the architecture. "There's a whole addition on the east wing- oh!" she gasped, grinning. "I wonder if that mean Sarro moved in... My initial bardic instructor," she explained when she caught his lost look. "She an' my folks really hit it off, and she doesn't have any family, so they told her she was welcome here if she ever needed to settle down."

"So they built her an addition?" Lann ran a look over the sprawling mansion. "Makes sense; they seem real short on space."

"Hey, I'm one of five, remember?" she laughed. "Mostly girls. It was smart to give us lots of space."

"Uh-huh." He still looked uncertain beyond the expected level of nerves. "How'd I let you talk me into this?" he muttered, running a hand down his face and swiping at the front of his loose shirt.

"I believe it involved a little of me playing dirty," Trinne said with a coy wink, before sobering and turning to take both his hands in hers. "But also the fact I've met your mother. Seeing as my parents live in Nerosyan, too, it seemed only fair you get to meet them while we're here."

"Yeah, but you'd already met my mom," Lann pointed out. "so visiting her was just... catching up and telling her I somehow convinced the most beautiful and amazing woman in Golarion to marry me. This is..." he darted a glance at the front gate, "you introducing your folks to your husband, the local cave monster."

His scaled hand twitched in her grasp, but she held firm as she countered, "Who happens to be the handsomest man on or beneath Golarion, aren't I lucky?"

"There's that bias of yours again. I think you got knocked in the head by demons one time too many, Commander," he joked, shuffling his feet.

"Oh, undoubtedly. Doesn't make me wrong. Look, Lann..." Trinne let go with one hand to instead cradle his jaw and make him look at her. "I can't promise how they'll initially react, true, or that you'll fit in here, and if you really don't wanna do this, we don't have to. But I promise, darling, they will love you when they know you."

"Promise, huh?" Lann sighed and bit his lip. "How're you so sure?"

"You make me happy," she said simply, pushing up on her toes to steal a quick kiss. "Plus you have a wonderful sense of humor, you're a deadeye shot with a bow--which is really hot--you're good with kids, you've saved my life so many times I've lost count, soon-to-be leader of your people" --her hand slid down to his chest, where the scar of Savamelekh's sting lingered-- "but above all, you make me happy. That's always been what they want most for us; to find what makes us happy and do it." She grinned. "In my case it's a who, not a what."

He chuckled, some of the nerves fading. "I appreciate the out, Trinne, but I want to do this." His fingers carded through her hair and tipped her chin up to steal another kiss as he teased, "They can't be worse than demons."

She laughed. "The only danger you're in from my parents is overfeeding and being forced to sit and listen to baby stories about me."

"Baby stories, huh?" Lann grinned. He turned his hand in hers to interlace their fingers. "Considering what you've gotten out of my mom, maybe this won't be so bad..."

Trinne lightly slapped his chest and rolled her eyes. "And maybe I'm going to regret it. Come on, before I change my mind."

She tugged him into motion, heading across the street to the now-open gates and the family who waited within.

[a30somethingslookatpopculture]

Top 10 Movies that *Feel* Like Summer

(I only included films that I have seen or personally feel capture that summer feeling).

Stand By Me

The boys spend their summer day going on an adventure. Along the way, they connect on a deeper level. Sure, they’re on the hunt for a body, but it’s the perfect encapsulation of childhood and those summer memories with your friends. The Oregon backdrop really creates the mood; with beautiful mountain scapes, lots of sunshine, woodland areas and swamps, etc. It’s also a beautifully written (and even more beautifully acted) film. When I think of summer as a young teen, I think of this film. 

2. Friday The 13th / Sleepaway Camp (You could also put Fear Street Part 2 here as well)

I’m putting these two together since they are virtually the same thing. Both films take place at a summer camp. And of course, involve good, wholesome Slasher fun! They have beautiful lakeside views, summer camp activities, the whole shebang! We’ve all (or most of us) been to summer camp. So I think there’s something to relate to in these films, and admire. So what if a few teenagers get their comeuppance in the process. 

3. American Pie 2

The central plot of this film is a huge blowout party by the beach. The gang orchestrates a big bash to close out summer. It’s Stiffler and the gang, so of course chaos ensues. This one’s a lot of laughs! 

4. The Sandlot

  I really see this one and Stand By Me as sort of the same kind of thing. Both even share a scene where the kids have to escape a guard dog. But at their core, both are the epitome of hanging with your friends and getting into all sorts of fun during summer break. This one is just set in the summer of 1962, and with a baseball backdrop. 

5. Jaws

This one literally happens around the 4th of July weekend. It’s at the beach and is filled with holiday festivities. It’s about as summer a movie as it can get! Oh, and it has sharks, so that’s cool! 

6. Grease

“Summer lovin had me a blast”. It’s right there in the song. Danny and Sandy meet on the beach and fall in love. Neither realize that they’ll end up at the same school. The movie comes full circle when it ends at the end of the school year and it’s summer again. To cap things off, there’s a big carnival with all the summer vibes! 

7. The Parent Trap

Another summer camp movie. Gosh, there’s so many. But this is a nice family-friendly one. Twins Hallie and Annie are both sent to the same summer camp, where they discover that they were separated at birth. Of course, there's the usual summer camp stuff in this one. But there’s also some great scenes later on where the whole family goes on a camping trip, and the twins totally torture their soon to be stepmom with pranks. It’s hilarious and worth the watch for that alone! 

8. National Lampoon’s Vacation

This one is a bit of nostalgia from the days of going on family vacations during the summer. The Griswold’s take a cross-country road trip to Walley World, a California amusement park. In true Griswold family fashion, they run into a lot of mishaps along the way. These are so entertaining! This film is complete with stopping at a campground for the night, skinny dipping, a visit to the Grand Canyon, and eventually making it to the amusement park. Which is quite the misadventure in and of itself. 

9. Dirty Dancing

It’s the summer of 1963, and Baby is vacationing at an upscale resort with her family. She falls in love with dance instructor Johnny Castle. Throughout the film we see the two of them grow closer together as he teaches her a routine for the upcoming end of summer shindig. This one isn't as summer filled as some of the others on this list, but it definitely takes place during that time and has  great lakeside views as well, 

10. I Know What You Did Last Summer 

Summer is literally in the name. This is another one that takes place on (and around) July 4th. On July 4, 1996, Julie James and her friends take a drive to the beach. They hit someone on the drive and dump the body to cover it up. Fast forward a year later, Julie is back from college for the summer when she and her friends begin receiving letters saying, "I know what you did last summer!" From there, someone in a rain slicker and a hook for a hand starts stalking and killing the characters off one by one. An integral part of this film is the 4th of July celebrations in the town. A Parade. A pageant. The seaside scapes! This (and Jaws) are July 4th MUST WATCHES for me every year! 

[clockworkouroboros]

with the news coming out about mattel wanting to use the barbie movie as a launchpad for its own cinematic universe of various franchises, can i just say that the rest of it seems likely to flop? no one gives a shit about a hot wheels movie. barbie has a very very precedented background in movies—part of the reason this movie has been so hyped is because so many people grew up watching the animated barbie movies, myself included. it’s as much a nostalgia bait as it is anything else.

A whole lot of people have recognized the Barbie movie as a shameless corporate cash grab. But there’s also a passion project in there for like everyone involved, and Mattel kept their hands off the actual creation of the movie. People seem to be jumping between two extremes—“the Barbie movie is literally flawless and is a huge middle finger to everyone who hates fun and if you don’t like it you’re part of the problem” and “the Barbie movie is a hideous corporate grab for attention and money and if you even entertain the idea of the movie you’re contributing to the late stage capitalistic hellscape.”

I’m sick of seeing Barbiecore and fuckin Barbie frozen yogurt advertised but I still want to see the movie. I can recognize that Gerwig and Robbie and Gosling all put a lot of themselves into this movie. I can recognize that they made a point to include a huge and diverse cast of characters, including bipoc and gay and trans actors. the fact that so many people want to see the movie is partly good advertising and partly because so many people already grew up with barbie as a major fixture in their childhood, including in the form of movies. those people could not give less of a shit about a rock em sock em robots movie

[yukirayu]

Cherry Blossoms: Their Connection to a Forsaken Name and to a Treasured Person

There's yet another significant little detail in Taku's route that I had noticed and wish to point out as coherently as I can. And yes, it involves yet again the final scene from Taku’s route, but damn if it wasn’t so layered with meaning.

To start, there’s the fact that Towa's real name is Haruto Sakuragi. His last name, Sakuragi (桜木), translates to "cherry blossom tree", which is a common motif in almost every Japanese work. 

Cherry blossoms carry plenty of symbolisms. One mainly being the impermanence of human life since cherry blossoms bloom only for a short while every year. Cherry blossoms also tend to bloom specifically around the time winter ends and spring begins. 

As such, the flowers can also symbolize the end of one life and the beginning of another. The cycle of death and rebirth - but even that symbolism is also synonymous with the concept of change itself. Nothing stays as is forever, hence everyone longs for what was. 

A longing for the past, or the wistfulness one feels when they remember the past, is usually defined by the word "nostalgia", which is also the title of Taku's chapter.

But back to the previously mentioned symbolisms. Again, cherry blossoms represent change and mortality. 

If there's one thing that has been haunting Towa for the longest time as a result of his torturous past, it’s stagnation. For years, he had drifted by life whilst in a near-endless state where he stands in the middle of complete apathy and self-destructive desire. 

For all those years, not much had changed for him. While he has gone through some highs and lows (e.g. losing his right eye), his life has been stagnant because he hasn't taken one step to healing from his trauma. He did lose his hot-blooded edges, which technically counts as an improvement, but it doesn’t necessarily push him any closer towards finding closure or recovery. 

The degree of how much he heals (or reforms his trauma yet also essentially regresses in a certain route) depends on who is his chosen love interest. Towa’s healing is most apparent in Fujieda's route, naturally, but he still goes through a significant amount of healing in Taku's route. 

Yes, he never confronts his mother's ghost nor does he ever know more about his past. At least, he doesn’t know anything else besides the vague hint Taku gives him about how his childhood wasn’t all that great. 

Even then, Towa still finds love with someone who unconditionally cherishes him even after seeing him mostly at his worst. Because of this, in time, he no longer feels inclined towards violence and pain and debauchery. 

Given what he had been through and what it had done to him, that's already a lot. So this development encapsulates the symbolism of change. 

But then, there is also the symbolism of mortality. And it's in this symbolism, plus another, where his mother plays a greater influence. 

Putting aside the fact that Towa's apathy has him not care about whether he'd die today or not, mortality usually refers to death. 

Here's where Maya enters the picture, as the flowers can also be connected to her as well, given that she shares a similar situation with her son about using a different name instead of her real name: Yuma Sakuragi. 

Maya is already long dead. But as the final route reveals, she has yet to truly be gone. At least… not as long as there is the chance of her "resurrecting" through her son. While roses are Maya's main flower motif, cherry blossoms can also reflect her nature in some ways. 

Cherry blossoms are often associated with gentleness and feminine beauty, both of which capture Maya…

Or how she appears on the outside, at least. 

In the end, like a thorned rose, Maya’s crimes paint her as anything but sweet and kind, and her fair looks mask a remorseless monster.

And like how cherry blossoms do not live for long, Maya's life was cut short via an accidental but nevertheless karmic end. 

Even then, she sought to not truly "die", hoping that Towa would (willingly) take after her and continue where she left off. This way, she would "defy" death and be “reborn” through him, an extension of her. 

She, a harbinger of corruption and death, sought a twisted form of immortality. 

Because of everything Maya had done, Towa would rather never be associated with anything reminding him of her, such as his true name. Fujieda’s drama CD even has him expressing disinterest towards the idea of adopting even just his legal surname.

He also remarked in the last track that he no longer likes the color red because it was the color Maya liked to wear the most. Not to mention, it was also the color of the room that was his hell. 

Thus, it should have also been easy for Towa to associate cherry blossoms with the one person he both fears and detests, and thus feel uneasy around those flowers. 

It isn't the case in canon, however. Though it still doesn’t downplay the significance of the presence of cherry blossoms in the background of Taku’s Euphoria ending. Sure, they definitely help paint a romantic image, but I don't think that's all there is to it.

Cherry blossoms still have a connection to a past, or an identity, that he would rather not remember or reclaim, but that is overshadowed by its more positive symbolism that plays a great role in Towa’s story. 

Towa is an artist and his synesthesia causes him to see many colors at once, yet his life is ironically dreary and dark and cold (winter). 

But all that slowly fades away when Towa accepts and reciprocates someone’s warmth and love. 

He changes, and - especially on the day that he and Taku finally reunite - his life markedly becomes softer and brighter and warmer (spring). It's why he no longer does his work as 'euphoria', why the others can notice a positive shift in his demeanor.

Whenever Taku is beside him in bed, Towa is no longer haunted by nightmares of his childhood. Then there’s the cherry blossoms gracing the scenery when he sees the man and how they coincidentally represent how his life had changed for the better.

And it’s all thanks to a man that had cared for him since childhood. This fact alone overshadows how those same ephemeral flowers can also remind him of a name that’s yet another connection to a horrifying figure of his life. 

That’s how important Taku had become to him. 

Comment: Speaking of Towa and Maya’s surname, there is a post that goes into more detail about its meaning, since I just summed up the information in my post, but credits to said post for helping inspire the idea. I was rewatching the good ending (of course I was) and then I suddenly remembered this post… then it all clicked. 

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

✧ ━━ 𝐄𝐆𝐆'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐒

Tagged by: @mxlevolence ( mmmwah! thank you! ♥

Tagging: @agonizedembrace, @aquatic-hybrid, @thegoldentigress, @songofsilentechoes, @hemoplagued, @pitgritted, @tealbeats, @hallowedhem, @burntscars, @johnnysslaughter, @manufactoredxbyxdesign, @bamsidsuperbitch

Comfort food(s): Fresh baked bread and any/all soups ( you guys have no idea how excited I am to shift into soup season ), stew is also something that's comforting to me since my Nan used to make it for me whenever she visited! And naturally with my ancestry ━

Comfort drink(s): Mate, my childhood bestfriend's mom used to get this ready for us all the time, and it quickly became something I've associated with that warm fuzzy memory! Honestly probably anything I can put in boiling water to make it taste different ꉂ (´∀｀)ʱªʱªʱª ! Oh yeah - Coquito 100% Nothing like sipping that while writing on the porch with the snow falling, a blanket on my lap, and my dog being dumb

Comfort movie(s): Fantasia! I used to watch this movie with my Nan almost everyday when she would visit me, it was always one of my favorite things to do even if I was afraid of Chernabog. It's ridiculous how deeply I've memorized it, I could probably lay here with my eyes shut and watch it in my brain without missing any sections („ಡωಡ„) NATURALLY Peter Jackson's EXTENDED LOTR Trilogy BABYYYY - I cry about 10 times each movie but Frodo is a massive role model for me and I love him a lot! When I found out that I share the same MBTI as him I was like ╭( ๐_๐)╮and then I cried. Don't get me started, I won't stop - this is for your own good. Hercules is another big one, it's just such an easy watch and it makes me happy. I have watched it an embarrassingly amount of times with @magicshadowkitten

Comfort show(s): I didn't really watch TV as a youngin, but I was able to finally get into shows during college - D. Gray Man is one of my favorites! JJBA too - I have a lot of good memories with my friends from both of these! @bells-of-black-sunday showed me Over the Garden Wall and it quickly rooted itself as one of my favorites, its the ✨whimsy✨

Comfort clothing: I really adore feminine, flowy dresses/skirts, and coordinating outfits before hand. I never really had the opportunity growing up to explore a lot of fashion, and I have found out that I absolutely adore looking like a lil fairy, so I never really learned how to put together outfits on the fly. So! I actually have outfits preplanned with accessories, shoes, and bags too because if I don't I won't know what to do. ⁽⁽ଘ( ˊωˋ )ଓ⁾⁾ Its kind of embarrassing but I've accepted it as part of my neurodivergency; its also a lot easier for me to shop for an outfit vs items that can mis and match into various ones. I also work from home so, if I can dress up I will! It makes me feel pretty

Comfort song(s): Wahh!! I listen to so many songs and my music taste is all over the place!!! If I had to pick a few off the top of my head:

Nights in White Satin - The Moody Blues ━━ This song is actually one of my favorites but the reason why doesn't involve me at all? When I first heard it I was in the car driving with my mom, and she got so giddy and explained that this was the song playing when she met her ( still! ) best friend at a bar almost 25 years ago. My mom and her started singing it together and honestly that story just ? effected me so much? Whenever I'm in a pub or bar and it comes on I call my mom and tell her its playing and we sing it together too! ╰(⸝⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝⸝)╯ Entire LOTR OST ━━ I need not explain, ya'll understand. Pretty Much Anything by Pink Floyd

Comfort book(s): Lord of the Rings Trilogy & The Hobbit ━ J. R. R. Tolkien The Divine Comedy ━ Dante Alighieri ( nostalgia ) ━━ I don't really read comforting books so I don't feel like I can continue the list as the books I read have existential content that is not at all comforting! I tend to read stories like Blood Meridian or No Longer Human, and I tend to not revisit them quickly because of the content (ಥ﹏ಥ) because even if I enjoy them I'm a big baby

Comfort game(s): League of Legends ( don't judge me i play with friends and dont flame ) : tbh this is the only game I actually play the rest I mostly just watch playthroughs of because again the content I like to watch is existential as well and I am a very easily frightened person! So ━ I really liked watching my best friend play Resident Evil! I also watched @bells-of-black-sunday play Bugsnax and it is SUCH a cute game, it has amazing characters and a really interesting plotline - !