#and the fight strategy is. also not that fun when they just need to establish how extra super powerful the admirals and wb are

[dallasstarsdyke]

actually this is what kinda falling off of one piece does to a mf

[machinemonstrosity]

DO YOO TAKE ANNONS????v CAN I BE 🪼 ANON? I LOVE YOUR EEITING SONNUCH IN FREAMING IUT OH MY GOD

ahem

Ahem ahem

can I request pre sacrifice azure x reader fluff :3 in so greedy I requested another writer too.....scenario is up to you but if you need one, uhhh azure taking care of sick reader :3333

AS THE SPAWN INTENDED | azure x sick!reader

WARNINGS - NONE , fluff , established relationship , pre-stabbing azure , he/they used interchangeably for azure , reader is also a cultist

a/n - an anon after my own heart with a sea creature emoji........hoping i wrote azure correctly and that tumblr doesn't fail uploading this again :]

The Spawn didn't intend for this. Surely a nasty curse must have befallen you. A targeted attack whispered by blind fools trying to shun the divine truth.

There was an indescribable drowsiness radiating through your bones, your trembling body puppeteered into a sluggish stumble of a walk. Your nose became a leaky faucet, sniffling and sneezing every few shallow breaths. Feverish heat clung to you like a parasite, adding an invisible weight to your slumped shoulders.

While you had half a mind to hunt down and punish the unknown trickster you were convinced was to blame, you doubted you'd walk further than the sanctuary grounds without keeling over. Let alone give chase.

Cursed on the day of a sacrifice ritual. How fun.

Fighting to haul yourself out of bed, you haphazardly throw your robe over your head. Everyone in the sleeping quarters was already gone, the nearby clinking of pots and pans alerting you of breakfast. You hadn't gotten up too late, it seems.

Now all you needed to do was to hobble your way around and not cause too much suspicion.

The plan sounded easy enough; eat, attend to your morning duties, and slink back to bed when nobody was watching. Perhaps pray to The Spawn that you'd be well enough to take part in tonight's ceremony as well.

Not your best work in terms of a strategy conjured up on the spot, but time was ticking.

Shakily inhaling, you straighten your spine, stitching together your healthy facade. Ignoring how your head felt like it was being split in half, you trudged to the kitchen.

There are only so many times you're able to awkwardly clear your throat to stifle a cough during the morning sermon until it gets weird.

This was going to be very difficult, apparently.

Attempting to ignore the multiple heads shifting to your direction, you swore you bolted out of the room the moment the crowd was dismissed. Accidentally bumping into a handful of people on the way out, you hastily mumble a slew of broken apologies in the midst of tripping over your own feet.

You forgot to account for how pale your face was upon promptly flushing in humiliation.

The curse of sickness wasn’t uncommon in the family. You just weren't willing to make a potential laughing stock of yourself due to your absence during an esteemed event. Or worse — having your belief and devotion questioned.

Regardless, you had to keep pretending to be useful, no matter how unconvincing it looked.

Lost in thought as you limped away from the shared lodge, you failed to notice the gentle sway of flora brushing against your robe.

And the entire person you collided with.

“Aah — !”

A firm hand grasps your arm, saving you from your inattentive fall.

“Blessed day! Can I help you?”

Snapped out of your daze, you peek at the hatted figure currently holding you upright.

He smiles warmly, the itchy material of their fingerless gloves aggravating your skin. Their other arm hooks a wicker basket full of freshly picked flowers and an assortment of fruits, the tips of their fingers dirtied with soil and the occasional strand of grass.

If not for recognizing their voice, you'd have already excused yourself and fled.

“By The Spawn, what dreadful curse is this!? You look deathly!”

Azure.

Now your face was flushing for a completely different reason.

Averting your eyes, your own hands balled into nervous fists. You knew he saw right through you, yet you still found yourself mentally shaming the odds of your encounter. Azure was the last individual you needed hearing of your liability, and you waltzed right to him like an idiot.

Noticing the way you tensed, Azure's hold softens. They always caught onto your predicaments a little too quickly for your comfort.

“You're hiding your illness, aren't you?”

There goes your entire plan.

“... Maybe.”

You simply shrug, trying your hardest to act nonchalant about your aching body. A sneeze interrupts you.

Azure sighs.

“We must get you to bed. Right now.”

He began to walk before you could protest.

Of course, you put in your best effort to resist, even if it was futile.

Going so far as to tug and struggle in their hold, your feet slide along the floor as he starts dragging you back to the lodge. Their mannerisms remained gentle despite your struggling, soon finding yourself returning to the shared bedrooms among Azure's guidance.

Zigzagging across the sea of thin floor mattresses, you're expertly parked in front of a particularly decorated bed. An arrangement of exotic flowers are neatly aligned at the head of the bed, each pot carefully painted with love and care. The colorful sheets and comforters stick out like a sore thumb in comparison to the surrounding cluster of beige and gray.

Finally given a moment to speak, a confused grimace pricks at the corner of your lips.

“Your bed?”

“Of course my bed,” Azure laughs, “you must rest somewhere untainted by your sickness.”

“And you don't care if it passes to you?”

“What matters is you being cured first.”

“Bu —”

“Hush.”

Feeling their hand slide to the small of your back, you're ushered to lie down. You're draped in the warmth of the blanket as you're tucked in, a fleeting wave of cool air momentarily blessing your sweaty form.

The sudden heat afterward makes you groan, kicking one of your legs free in retaliation.

“You'll never get better if you don't keep yourself warm, my dear.” Azure comments, lifting the blanket back over your limb.

“Now, I'm going to get you some soup and crackers. And, please — do remain still. I'd rather not be running after my ill sweetheart.”

They kissed your forehead, turning away to fetch your remedies.

You swiftly discovered being bedridden sucked.

Your only solace would be lover, who went as far as spoon feeding you after you became too weak to hold your bowl. When you eventually pushed the dish away, they nodded understandably, sliding the dinnerware aside.

Opening their mouth to speak, you cut him off.

“Azure?”

“Hm?” He hums.

“May… may you lie with me?”

His giggle gave you their answer.

Scooting over, Azure curls up around you, legs tangled with yours and arms wrapped securely around your sides. They discard their hat, briefly running a hand through his tousled black hair. He grins seeing the adoration that filled your droopy, fatigued eyes.

“Your eyes are so beautiful,” they breathe, “I could never get tired of looking at them.”

Pulling you close, their face lands in your neck. Your pulse beats steadily against his upturned lips; a cherished sound he only wished they heard every night.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, he runs a line of soft kisses up your throat with a reverent sigh.

“Go to sleep, my love. May your curse be lifted by tomorrow.”

You don't respond, already fast asleep.

To Hell with the ceremony. Maybe The Spawn intended for this after all.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Jared Yates Sexton at Dispatches From A Collapsing State:

At the end of last week I released an episode of Audio From A Collapsing State talking about the emotional toll of the first few days of the Trump Administration. I think it was pretty obvious that it was designed to be a blitz of executive orders and action intended to assert power. Authoritarianism is weaponized abuse and as it is realized it communicates to the subject an inability to stop the will of the authoritarians and reinforces a sense of powerful isolation. Well. We made it through the first week. It was hard. It was painful. And I’m sure some of us are worse for wear.

I want to emphasize once more the need for self-care. Any attempt to organize and fight back begins with protecting yourself and ensuring you’re all right, energized, and prepared for the next onslaught. Talk to people you can trust. Establish actual reality outside of this nonsense they’re peddling. Remember to continue thinking about a better future. Limit the time authoritarians can affect you by logging off and sealing yourself off. And try and find things that bring you joy and, if possible, produce tangible artifacts that demonstrate how projects that take time and energy lead to things. Considering the toll, I do want to take a moment today to discuss something hopeful. That’s difficult, of course, when the President of the United States is joking about seeking a third term between cutting off federal funding, flagrantly violating the law multiple times, attacking the Constitution, attempting to expel transgender people from the military and culture writ large, and immigration raids are ongoing. I’m sure that paragraph alone was tiring, because of course it is. Never mind that it doesn’t even begin to cover the things that have happened in just the past couple of days. But that feeling, as powerful as it is, also leads us to the subject of hope. Because it is overwhelming, because it is exhausting, because it is chaotic and unarguably wrong, we are beginning to see signs that this will not continue on unabated and unopposed.

The Backlash

It’s necessary sometimes to put yourself in the shoes of the authoritarian. This helps in understanding key components of the ideology, but also in anticipating what directions they might go. I’ve been doing this for years now and I can admit it isn’t fun in any way, shape, or form. Regardless, it does pay dividends. When it comes to the implementation of authoritarianism, there are different strategies. You could roll it out slowly, which we have seen to some extent over the past few years. Then, there are moments in which things speed up. Sometimes this comes after an especially painful and motivating crisis, like the burning down of the Reichstag or a terrorist attack. In these situations, things change very quickly.

The emotional experience of authoritarianism riding on the back of a crisis is chaotic-making and, as we’ve seen in the 21st century, it can lead to insane scenarios like the bipartisan backing of the so-called War on Terror. But, presently, we’re in a different place. Donald Trump’s presidency already feels like it’s lasted several months. This is a result of a flurry of action that runs counter to how most administrations tend to ease into place and take a measured, careful approach. Instead, Trump is carrying out the agenda given to him by the think-tanks and institutes run by his billionaire benefactors, engaging in gleeful cruelty, destroying any government projects that don’t benefit the wealthy, and handing everything over to the oligarchs who have bought him.

This is a vulnerable period for authoritarianism as it is a stark departure from what we have seen in the past. The blitz was meant to push us kicking and screaming into a reality of their choosing, but the haphazardly aggressive nature of the push gifts us an incredible opportunity. If we can manage to get out of the dirt, dust ourselves off, and begin to look for openings, we might very well find purchase we thought, and that feels, nearly impossible.

[...]

I want to start here by saying I do not believe that the most diehard MAGA acolytes will suddenly realize they backed the wrong horse when the consequences of Trump’s action take form. That’s not how any of this works. They hold a religious dedication to him and are inundated constantly with enough of mis and disinformation and propaganda to override any cognitive dissonance. Economic troubles and even the eradication of programs that specifically affect them will be blamed on the “Deep State” or insidious conspiracy theories. That’s not what we’re talking about here. But Trump’s orders to pause federal funding, slash programs, and the general dysfunction and chaos leading to consequences (including his weekend spat with Colombia affecting prices) will change the paradigm with some. There are many individuals, from all walks of life, who are going to be negatively impacted. This includes the funding of studies, experimental drugs and treatments, any number of other downstream effects will touch people’s lives. Some people are going to die. And, when you add that to the upcoming trauma of seeing friends and neighbors and community members, including children, being rounded up by aggressive mobs of ICE officers, it will generate backlash.

For some, this will be stuff they read about on the news, but for so many people this is going to be lived experience that affects their daily lives. Federal employees are already feeling it and the people associated with their programs have had enough in the first week. Now, we’re getting into god knows how many ongoing programs that are going to be cut or decimated. This is going to exacerbate pressure in so many workplaces and communities, and the catharsis Trump is offering his dieheards - the pleasure of seeing “elites” and vulnerable communities inflicted with pain - will have no reward whatsoever for them. Instead, it will be real material conditions. Despite what Trump and the oligarchs behind him think, there are ripples from all of this. We’re likely to begin seeing labor strife, community uprisings, and a changing of the tide. The furious nature of it all, not to mention how dysfunctional and unprofessional Trump and his billionaires are, only makes mistakes more inevitable and for consequences to mount. The question now is how this will be answered. And authoritarians are quick to violence and suppression.

Jared Yates Sexton wrote a solid piece on how we fight MAGA authoritarianism.

[creative-kny-fics]

Got a great idea for a Ler Giyu Lee Tanjiro, when u r able to do it😊

HC: After the Soba Contest, Giyu decides to get a little 'revenge' on Tanjiro for following him around like a pesky puppy for three days and also (secretly) to have a bit of fun with his junior.

Poor Giyuu, he can't even eat anymore without hearing Tanjiro's 'Giyuu-San!' (NOT A SHIP!!!!)

Lee: Tanjiro Kamado

Ler: Giyuu Tomioka

Giyuu felt like a demon, not because he felt the need to eat human flesh or something, it was more because he now understood how it feels in a certain part to be stalked.

'Tanjiro, I agreed to let you win and you did... Why do you continue to follow me?' 'Oh, I would like to start training with you!'

'Well, that's impossible...', what a bad word you chose.

It wasn't because Giyuu didn't want to train Tanjiro or anything like that, it's just that hashira training already had an established order and Giyuu couldn't break it, not even if it was Tanjiro.

He tried to explain but Tanjiro continued to believe that the contest had been of no use and Giyuu had become discouraged from the idea of ​​training.

'Well, this is weird. It went from being sweet to scaring me...'

Hahahaha it seems like Tanjiro has continued his stalking of Giyuu, so how was he going to recover?

'Tanjiro, listen, I appreciate that you care about me, but I can't break the rules. The order of training is set and I can't just break it...'

'But you broke the rules when you saved me and Nezuko...', loophole

Giyuu tried to explain to Tanjiro, for the 15th time that day, that he couldn't train him unless he passed training with the other hashiras or had a specific order from Ubuyashiki that he must do so.

Also, he didn't want Tanjiro to get injured again, he had just recently had his cast removed and it was dangerous, he wouldn't expose him to another injury.

'Giyuu-San, but... You promised to train me...' 'I never said I wouldn't, but, seriously Tanjiro. Stop following me, I don't think I can even blink without feeling your bulging eyes staring at me...'

But that cycle continued for almost 3 days straight, it didn't bother him since Tanjiro didn't interrupt when he was asleep or when he was in the bathroom, but it didn't take away from how weird that looked and felt.

Finally, Giyuu agreed to train Tanjiro, of course, "train" in quotes.

'I'm so happy that I can start my training with you Giyuu-San! I will do everything you ask of me!'

'Well, grab your katana and get into fighting stance', hahahaha a classic!

Giyuu approached and took a good look if Tanjiro's posture was correct, there were still a few small details missing but nothing that Giyuu couldn't fix. He moved Tanjiro until he felt he had the proper posture, but something was missing, he wasn't doing the right breathing.

Giyuu smiled internally and placed his hand on Tanjiro's belly and instructed him to breathe, pinching him lightly when he breathed incorrectly. 'Gi-Giyuu-San... That tickles...'

'Really? I had no idea' 'Wait... This isn't the training I'm thinking of, is it?'

And that's one of the reasons why Giyuu doesn't use stupid strategies or games, he doesn't manage to carry them out because it's something, stupid, let's put it that way, to be able to come up with a good plan.

Well, that will be told in another fic, Giyuu had no choice but to admit that that was the reason and assured him that it would help him in his future training with the other hashiras.

'Gi-Gihiyuu-Sahahan!! I cahahahan't co-concehehehentrahehehete...!!'

'A shame, I don't think you want to disappoint the other hashiras, do you? Come on, don't put your hands so close to your torso, it seems like you're scared...', Tanjiro denied and quickly dropped his sword to the floor and his knees little by little gave way until they were almost next to his sword.

Giyuu tsked, but internally laughed, sat next to him and sat him on his lap while laughing and caressing his head (IT'S NOT SHIP YOU MOTHER-).

Tanjiro puffed out his cheeks as he covered his red face, this was silly, he had barely started training and he already felt like he had failed. 'Hahahaha calm down Tanjiro, you did your best... I guarantee that none of the hashiras will do that, I was just playing with you'

'I see Kanroji-San capable of doing it. Also Tokito-Kun, Uzui-San, Shinobu-San... Ugh... I need to practice my reactions better, if something like this happens to me in battle, I'll end up dead.'

'Hey, don't say that. You are a good swordsman. Well, how about we train seriously this time? No tickling, I swear'

But Tanjiro refused, if he wasn't able to handle his reactions with him, how would he with demons? Well, it's not like the demons have a BDA that focuses on it, but better safe than sorry.

Giyuu sighed and asked him exactly what he wanted, Tanjiro took a breath and raised his arms, needless to say that as soon as Giyuu reached out his fingers, Tanjiro's arms immediately lowered.

'Don't you dare tease me, you're just as ticklish as me, you could even put it worse...'

'Oooooh, I see... Are you provoking me? I'm not the one who usually falls for provocations but since it's you, I'll play along... Come here little one!!', Tanjiro squealed when Giyuu grabbed his wrists and put them on top of his head, he must have foreseen this.

Tanjiro laughed in anticipation and closed his eyes tightly when he saw how Giyuu smiled and moved his fingers slowly and approached him, but after calming down, he had the courage to stare at him and try to maintain eye contact with his fingers and control his reactions, but failed.

He hadn't even really done anything, Giyuu had just used his index finger to poke his armpit and laughed at Tanjiro's reaction, asking him if he was sure he wanted to continue and he nodded.

'Come on Tanjiro, really? It was just my index finger hahahaha. Be stronger, this is your second chance, if you fail again, you know what will happen...' 'I can handle it! I'm sure I can!'

'Fine, but I warned you...'

The procedure, and the result, was the same, Tanjiro couldn't help but squeeze his eyes shut and groan when he realized what he had done.

Giyuu couldn't contain his laughter and shrugged, I guess it couldn't be helped. 'Ooooh what a pity... It seems that now the tickling will be serious...'

'R-really...? Wait Giyuu-San! I-I change my mind!! AHAHAHAHAHA!! GI-GIHIHIYUHU-SAHAHAN!!'

'Yeah? What do you need?', Tanjiro shook his head as he pulled it back.

He had to be careful, what would happen if he accidentally headbutted Giyuu? I would never forgive him, even if it was by mistake, I would not forget it.

'I'm just using two fingers to dig into your armpits, wow, you really can't tolerate this, huh?'

'PLEHAHASEHE!! GIHIHIYUHU-SAHAHAN!! PLEEEEAAASE!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!'

'Please what? Please continue? Please stop? If you want something, say it completely, I'm not a fortune teller, Tanjiro'

Tanjiro let out the most embarrassing screech he would have made before, he would have covered his face if Giyuu didn't have his arms above his head, but it didn't last long.

Giyuu was "compassionate" and let go of Tanjiro's wrists to use both hands, one of them stayed in his armpit while the other went up and down from his hip to his armpits, sometimes squeezing his hips, going up to his neck, giving gentle squeezes to his sides or tummy or slid his finger into his navel.

'Look at you, is that really a lot? You're kicking in the air, who are you trying to hit?', Tanjiro huffed and started spinning around. 'Do you need a break?'

'YEHEHEHEHES!! JUHUHUHUST AHAHAHAHA GI-GIHIHIVE ME A FEHEHEHEHEW MHMHMH SEHEHECOHOHONDS!! PLEHAHASEHEHEHEHE'

'Okay, okay, breathe!'

Finally Giyuu stopped and Tanjiro gasped while still continuing to laugh.

Giyuu raised his head to put his haori under it, standing up and heading to the kitchen to bring Tanjiro a glass of water. 'Here, drink, maybe I went too far'

'I don't think so, I'm just too ticklish... And you're very good, now I understand why Shinazugawa and Obanai-San tried to stop me from telling you when they say something offensive to me'

'Well , I am just quite cautious and think my attacks well. I'm sorry I made you laugh so much, it sounded like I was torturing you...'

Tanjiro sat up and denied, he couldn't get mad at Giyuu, he was too nice to get mad at him.

He smiled and Giyuu smiled back, stroking his head and helping him up once he recovered.

'Well, what do you think if we train seriously this time? I promise you there won't be any tickling, if you're not so wrong!'

'I promise! I'm super excited to train with you! I will give my best effort!' 'I know you'll do it well, come on, be on your guard!'

[goatfactsofficial]

Unconquista: A Tale of Sephardic Conquest

A little while ago, I thought of firing up Crusader Kings 3 for another playthrough. It's been a little while since I've played. If you don't know, Crusader Kings 3 (CK3) is a grand strategy game about being a medieval lord and getting into Game of Thrones style escapades.

I have a fun tradition where I only play as Jewish rulers of one variety or another, and for this playthrough I decided I wanted to touch upon my Sephardi heritage and start in Iberia (Modern day Spain/Portugal.) The current goal is to see if I can hold on to power long enough to take the entire Iberian Peninsula under my control, and if I get there then maybe we'll go sack Rome for the Menorah and go re-establish the Kingdom of Israel. Here is my starting screen:

I've created a custom ruler and renamed the county I start with. My little head canon is that the Jewish population of this county got sick of pogroms and the war between the Christians and Muslims and have decided to seize control via a peasant's uprising. My ruler, Count Elazar is a pretty straightforward guy. He has decent stats in all aspects of ruling except for Intrigue, so I hope he doesn't get poisoned. I've taken the Generous and Just traits mostly to counteract the negatives of taking a martial focus for him, since I'm probably going to need to do a lot of fighting in the short term. However, I've also made him a Wise Man, a Theologian and a Gardener for the bonuses that'll give me to managing stress as well as helping to reap the benefits from religion.

Now this is fantastic, my wife (who was randomly generated) is a better strategist than I am! We love this representation of strong Jewish women. Anyway, I'm gonna get my inital affairs in order and then hit play. I'll post updates when major developments or funny shit occurs. (And I swear to Fucking G_d, if anyone tries to make this silly little historical fantasy into some political hill to die on I will block your ass so fast and send a dybbuk your way.)

[thescrapbookingscientist]

Bimonthly Media Roundup

Lots of media this month in an attempt to escape the horrors. Along with the things on this list I also caught up with several other webcomics, watched random episodes of Star Trek with my dad, watched last week tonight, am keeping up with some youtuber Danganronpa playthroughs, and have started watching Danny Motta's various commentary on FMA, OWL House, PMMM, ect.

- When the Third Wheel Strikes Back (Webcomic) - Caught up, I do definitely think the story is a lot better now that the characters are well established and the political drama is in full swing. Also love the poly trio we got going on here -MC who's aware he is in a love triangle but unaware he is the axis due to heteronormativity is admittedly a very funny dynamic, wish I saw it more.

- Genshin Impact (Video Games) - My great luck with 5 stars pulled through with my beloved Furina, giving me her on my 2nd try. Wrio however took a 50/50 failure then like 80 more pulls, thanks man. I did get a C6 Charlotte out it though, so excited to see how she'll play.

- 86 (Anime) - Very solid Sci-Fi anime about a fascist nation using its underclass as disposable soldiers against an AI controlled superior power. This is based on a novel series and does feature better writing than I'm used to in these kinds of shows, the upper-class utilizes the depressingly realistic techniques of controlling and lying in media, dehumanizing the underclass, and constantly deflecting responsibility to make themselves feel righteous and superior while the underclass has a healthy level of anger and mistrust towards even the nicer members of the upper class as while they realize they are not inherently evil, they are complicit in a system actively genocide the underclass and therefore any kindness not directly tied to policy changes feels patronizing at best. Good stuff. The 2 leads are complex and likable with a good slow burn dynamic between them, and it's nice to follow them individually as well as together. The rest of the cast is likable but fairly basic in their characterization and design, the show is certainly more interested in the leads emotional states as child soldiers and the wider politics of war, which to be fair is done pretty well. The animation, pacing, and writing is all good as well, the only times I could say I was bored was in the rare instances of extended robot fights - usually the strategy was interesting enough to make up for it but when it was just robots shooting at each-other I did check out. I don't have any major issues with the series, though I do have 3 nitpicks -1. Why are a couple people psychic, you didn't need to do that, 2. The child soldiers being desperate to fight as it's all they know is good but it's frustrating that the adults keep letting them, even the adults in power that state they don't want them to fight but are not utilizing that power to stop them, and 3. While I think the ending was a satisfying with an emotional high and pretty neat use of shifting aspect ratios to make pretty visuals, it was an arc ending not a series ending - it's very obvious there's far more of the story that would need to be adapted that the studio seems to have no plans to act on, meaning if you want a conclusion you'll have to read the light novels. Tentatively 8/0 though, I was quite impressed.

- Hunter x Hunter (Anime) - Alright well another long anime down, honestly maybe we should just watch Case Closed before we run out of shows. Hunter Hunter was definitely good, each arc had a unique premise and structure with a good sense of escalation and a solid supporting cast, its got a decent sense of humor (especially with facial expressions and anti-climaxes), I really like Gon and Killuas little childhood puppy love thing they got going on and Killua in general, it has a couple well designed and respected racially diverse and trans characters which was nice, and overall it was just a very bingeable and fun show to watch with another person. I will say some of the arcs tended to drag a bit in the latter half, and while I think the power system is generally fine I didn't usually find the fights very interesting, the abilities being way better utilized when the characters are solving puzzles, getting around obstacles, or laying traps than in one on on combat. To be fair there's far more of the latter than the former though. In typical shounen fashion there's far more male than female characters though for the most part its surprisingly respectful, at least in having very little moments of fan service or implying that women can't be as competent or powerful as men. The trade off is an uncomfortable amount of adults making sexual advancements towards children being played off as jokes, including a whole ass adult woman going on a date with a grade schooler and never being demonized by the narrative for it. Bad. While it wasn't Made in Abyss season 2 levels of disgusting enough to make me stop watching, it did spoil an otherwise really good narrative (as well as character, Hisoka having the Sanji issue of being a really likable character outside of that one awful trait that kinda ruins it). Oh well, I'd still say it was overall well done with unique locations and obstacles with a good mix of satisfying predictability and surprising twists. Certainly one of the better Shounen.

- Hollow Knight (Video Game) - Was able to get past a part I was stuck at, though I'm still more lost than found in this world. I do love my new giant sword beetle dad though. Anyway still very adorable, pretty, and frustrating game.

- Arcane (TV) - Great fics and art, wish the fandom would stop arguing over dumb teen stuff but oh well.

- Dr Stone (Anime) - This has kinda been the season where my recurring response to every episode is just. Sure whatever, this may as well happen. I am still enjoying it, I like Senku and the absurd little contraptions they make but man is it ridiculous. Apparently this is the final season so I'm interested to see how the plot gets resolved. Is it aliens? Why not.

- Yellowjackets (TV) - Like with Season 1 I do feel like the present timeline story line is dragging in season 3 - There are interesting things happening but too few and far in between. Cutting back to the past is always refreshing though. Anyway the last shot of the last episode was insane, can't wait to see where this goes.

- The Apothecary Diaries (Anime) - 2nd season has been great so far as expected, though I do miss Jinshi a bit. I like that the show isn't primarily a romance and Maomao is free to do her own thing and have plots separate from him of course, but their dynamic is a lot of fun and serves as levity to the darker tone the solo Maomao stories seem to have. The anime is catching up top the manga faster than I expected it too, I wonder if it will start adapting straight from the light novels or just stop for awhile so the manga can catch up.

Listening To: Monster by Dodie, Clueless by Beach Bunny, Jericho by Iniko, EPIC album, Fox Hunt by Sierra Ferrell, A Little Bit Off by Five Finger Death Punch, Price of Perfection by Katherine Lynn-Rose, Fantastic, Rainbow Connection, and Stick Season by Reinaeiry, Do Everything Now by Saint Motel, Let Me Drown and Midnight Ride by Orville Peck, Family Line by Conan Gray, She Likes a Boy by Nxdia

[nicohickman]

Toothpaste Slogan Inspiration: 5 Examples That Stand Out

Do you believe a well-crafted slogan can truly set a brand apart in the competitive oral care market? Consider the impact of memorable phrases such as Colgate's "Cavity Protection Promise" and Crest's "Healthy Smile Guarantee" on customer trust. Effective slogans can indeed play a significant role in building brand loyalty. However, what makes a slogan truly stand out, and how can toothpaste brands leverage this powerful marketing tool to capture your attention? Let's explore five exemplary slogans that have achieved this and discover what makes them so effective.

Colgate's Cavity Protection Promise

One of the most recognizable promises in oral care is Colgate's "Cavity Protection Promise." When you're choosing a toothpaste, you want to know it's going to deliver on its claims - and Colgate's been saying it can prevent cavities for decades. This promise isn't just a claim; it's a promise that has been backed by science and trusted by millions. If you're looking to create a similar promise for your brand, consider using a slogan generator site like Slogan Generator Pro. This site creates unique, catchy slogans tailored to your needs, helping you effectively convey your message. With a promise like Colgate's, you can build trust with your customers and establish your brand as a leader in the oral care industry.

Crest's Healthy Smile Guarantee

As you aim for a healthy, vibrant smile, you're likely drawn to brands that not only promise results but also guarantee them. Crest's Healthy Smile Guarantee is a perfect example of this. By offering a satisfaction guarantee, Crest instills trust in its customers, making them more likely to choose their products. This approach is particularly effective as it addresses the concerns of customers who have tried various toothpastes without achieving the desired results. The guarantee also reflects Crest's confidence in their products, which can positively impact customer perception. By incorporating this strategy into your marketing approach, you can establish a strong connection with your customers and set your brand apart from competitors. Check out https://slogangeneratorpro.com/toothpaste for more information regarding toothpaste slogan.

Sensodyne's Rapid Relief Slogan

If you're among the millions struggling with tooth sensitivity, you're likely no stranger to the promise of rapid relief. Sensodyne's slogan effectively taps into this need, positioning itself as a go-to solution for sensitive teeth. "Relieve Tooth Sensitivity Rapidly" or "Get Rapid Relief" are simple yet powerful phrases that resonate with its target audience. By using words like "rapid" and "relieve," Sensodyne creates a sense of urgency, implying that its product can provide quick and effective results. This approach not only grabs attention but also instills trust in potential customers. As you consider your own toothpaste slogan, take a cue from Sensodyne's straightforward yet impactful approach.

Aquafresh's Kids Oral Health

Your child's healthy smile is a top priority, and when it comes to kids' oral health, you want the best. That's why Aquafresh's toothpaste is a top choice for many parents. Their slogan, "The cavity fighter for a healthy smile," effectively communicates their unique selling proposition. By positioning their product as a powerful tool in the fight against cavities, Aquafresh instills trust in parents who want to protect their child's teeth. By using a fun, colorful branding and a friendly mascot, Aquafresh also makes oral care engaging and accessible for kids. This winning combination has helped Aquafresh become a household name and a staple in many families' oral care routines.

Tom's Natural Toothpaste Approach

While many parents trust brands like Aquafresh to protect their child's teeth, you're looking for a more natural approach to oral care. Tom's of Maine offers a revitalizing alternative, with a focus on organic ingredients and sustainable practices. You can trust that their toothpaste is free from artificial sweeteners, colors, and preservatives. Tom's slogan "Nature. Inspired." reflects their commitment to using natural ingredients that work in harmony with your body.

Conclusion

You've seen how top toothpaste brands make their mark with memorable slogans. As the saying goes, "actions speak louder than words," but in this case, it's the words that drive action. Colgate, Crest, Sensodyne, Aquafresh, and Tom's of Maine show that a catchy phrase can be the key to releasing customer trust and loyalty. Now it's your turn - craft a slogan that resonates with your audience and sets your brand apart in the oral care industry.

[fatuismooches]

I DON'T REMEMBER IF I REPLIED OR NOT BUT HERES A REPLY ANW OMG U BREAK MY HEART SO WELL AAASHHA sorry if I've already said smth so this makes it a double reply ANW dottore angst gets me so hard but I don't hate myself that much so an accompanyinh fluff I'd like to add is like imagine reader is reallyyyy good at chess cus they're established as smart by being in the akademiya and now since you can't rlly do anth all day you challenge the clones to chess often so anw one day dot is just coming as you win a game against one of the clones for the third time in a row and you challenge him to a game and he's so convinced he'll win he deliberates going easy on you and- wait what the fuck why are you so good

also you are quickly becoming my fav creator to interact wit :( 💗

- 🌕

I HAD THE BIGGEST SMILE READING THIS IT'S SO CUTE- I NEED TO WRITE A LIL SOMETHING YOU'RE SO BIG BRAINED...!

Since your illness prevented you from training your body more than you like, you made your best effort to train your mind instead. You deemed your mind as very important, as the loneliness of it all often weighed down on you more than you liked. So you made sure to keep yourself occupied as much as you could, to try and prevent any negative thoughts from creeping up. And well, you found it to be quite rewarding. There was one time when the clones were struggling with an experiment for quite a while and were reluctant to inform Prime. So you asked them to let you take a look at the notes and everything along those lines. Admittedly, it reminded you of when you researched with your lover back at the Akademiya, so you accidentally got too into it, scribbling all of your thoughts and a possible answer to the problems. The clones were rather shocked when you turned out to be right.

But your favorite activity by far was chess. The brain teaser was highly favored by those at the Akademiya, and for good reason too. It was a great way to challenge yourself and get your mind working, and the best part? You could sit down comfortably and only move your hand, and enjoy the rather handsome view of a segment's face laced with confusion.

The clones were almost always happy to indulge your wishes, sometimes even fighting over who got to fulfill them. So after you absentmindedly mentioned wanting to play chess, the next day the game was set up in the lab, ready for use. Needless to say, you were quite elated. You had itched for the chance to play again. And of course, your only opponents were the multitude of your lovely segments.

The segments do love you. It is only natural that their creator’s love for you extends to them as well. So they gladly play along with your little game of chess, but they won’t do it too seriously; after all they wouldn’t want to hurt- wait, how did you already beat him?! For all of their wisdom and knowledge, they are baffled when they are taken out that quickly.

It eventually gets to the point where you have a little group of clones watching you battle another. It’s quite endearing to see them hover over you like that, trying to guess what move you’ll play next. But the true fun comes when Zandik appears. There are times where sometimes you do not see him for a few days, but that’s alright. The time spent afterwards always feels the best, and this is one such time. He is unaware of the little show you’ve been putting on, so you gleefully invite him to play you in a game of chess.

He accepts of course. Admittedly, it had been a while since he played, having only laid eyes on the chessboard in which the Gnoses were pieces. And of course, he has the same mentality as his clones - he’ll go easy on his darling, you’re his after all. He knows his genius is incomparable so- wait… you beat him? Since when did you become so good? You must tell him all the details now, he wants to know your thought process and the strategy’s name and how the other matches went and-

You shut him up with a kiss and invite him for some more chess games in your shared bedroom.

[mbti-notes]

hi i’m an istj. i fear the problem im going to describe is resolved by being more Te proactive and taking on more leader responsibilities and failing. just typing that out makes me feel burned out and miserable. anyway i get involved with groups that align with my values to get things done but it always feels like i somehow join things that aren’t as efficient as i’d want them to be or stagnate. at the same time that i have strong opinions about what to do i resent having to take on more responsibility to enact it. i want to be part of an established, moral, process/group but it seems like everything is in flux all the time. just making sure: is this Te-Ne dysfunction ?

Your question is about type development. An important aspect of type development is understanding the weaknesses and flaws of your type, in terms of the ways that your type tends to misuse functions. You seem to believe that your problem boils down to a simple lack of desire to lead in group situations (weak Te?), but it probably goes far deeper than that.

Si-Ne problems often manifest as a general aversion to change, specifically, unwillingness to change how one looks at a situation, which would then significantly alter one's approach to it. Imbalance between Si and Ne becomes a very unhealthy stubbornness when one is also prone to Si-Fi loop that thinks in terms of pure absolutes. In essence, you believe what you believe and you want what you want, and nothing and nobody can break through that mental wall. Perhaps not even you.

Auxiliary development is meant to help with Si extremes and Si-Fi loop stubbornness by making you care more about empirical facts (Te) than your frustration (Fi). It isn't always easy to develop the auxiliary function when you come to believe that it interferes with what makes Si feel most comfortable (e.g. "just typing that out makes me feel burned out and miserable"). If using the auxiliary function feels so "tiring", it doesn't mean that you should avoid using it. Quite the contrary. It's an indication that you haven't yet learned to use it properly, which means further development is necessary.

Te wants efficiency, that much is true. However, what separates immature Te from mature Te is how exactly one conceptualizes "efficiency". When Te is immature, one has a very rudimentary understanding of how to be efficient. For example, one is likely to believe that efficiency is achieved through assertiveness or even brute force, i.e., "making" things happen despite all the obstacles in the way. Is it any wonder that using Te feels tiring, then? You're essentially forcing yourself to swim against the current. Si doms are painfully aware that their energy is finite, so they quickly run out of steam.

However, Te isn't really about mustering up energy. This is not what makes TJs smart, strong, and formidable. Mature Te conceptualizes efficiency as reducing the amount of energy required whenever possible, which is why they have a lot of energy to take on very heavy workloads - some people call it "working smart". This is done through facing the empirical facts of a situation head on and learning to work closely with them, which makes it far easier to make them work in your favor.

Your problem requires a two pronged attack:

Are you able to change how you look at situations in order to improve your approach (to address Si-Ne imbalance)?

Are you able to face the empirical facts of the situation and work with them rather than against them (to develop better use of Te)?

Wanting to be part of a process/group that aligns with your values in order to enact some good in the world is an admirable thing to strive for. Presumably, the other people involved in the group have the same sense of mission, otherwise, they wouldn't have joined. However, what you fail to take into account is that people aren't generally single-minded.

Human beings are complex because they are motivated by a multitude of factors, whether they realize it or not. They are full of psychological conflicts, contradictory desires, irrational impulses, old baggage, and unconscious bad habits. And when you bring people together, all that stuff comes out and creates complicated entanglements. A "group" only becomes a "team" when it is able to overcome those psychological obstacles together, and it can be a very long process of learning how to maximize strengths and mitigate weaknesses in every individual member. That's why a lot of groups simply fall apart. While your intention to join the group seems simple and straightforward (because Si-Te is admirable in its ability to keep things simple and straightforward), other people's intentions might not be so simple. If you fail to take into account the irrational aspects of human nature, you will cause yourself needless suffering.

Your frustration with people is likely a manifestation of your unrealistic expectations of them. Perhaps you aren't able to understand people who don't resemble you, let alone work with them. And you will certainly be doomed to fail if the only way Te knows to deal with individual differences is to force everyone to become more like you. That's an impossible task, not because it requires the energy of a thousand suns as you assume, but because you're choosing to fight against reality. Mature Te would advise that you should first face down the empirical facts of how people operate if you hope to discover the most effective way to influence them. Your repeated experience of feeling disenchanted with groups tells you that you're missing an important piece of knowledge about groups and how they operate.

I'll give you a very simple example from my own life. I used to gather with a group of 30-50 people once a week to conduct planned discussions. The discussions never really started on time despite everyone being in their seats because people weren't focused enough at the start of the session. There was often whispering and sidetalking and such that would go on for about half an hour before the room felt settled and focused.

One method of addressing the problem arose organically. Whoever was the main speaker simply started shushing people and it became a thing. Sometimes, it would even escalate to calling people out, like a teacher scolding a student in a classroom. This definitely made the social atmosphere less inviting and more tense. Sure, people would shut up after being called out, but they became less focused due to seething with resentment. Power struggles aren't great for group morale, especially if it's supposed to be a group of equals coming together for a common cause.

It all sounds quite childish, but these kinds of judgments are useless. You can call people childish, inefficient, incompetent, etc etc, but it doesn't solve the problem. And, worse, being judgmental blocks you from understanding people better and working with them. Perhaps an ISTJ would see this as a "mess", an "inefficiency" that wastes time, and evidence of bad character when people break the rules.

However, if you change the way you look at the situation, you might not be so quick to make such judgments. Actually, it's kind of weird for a bunch of people who know each other well to enter a room and immediately sit down quietly. Humans have a natural tendency to socialize as a way to strengthen interpersonal bonds. Isn't group cohesiveness a good thing, since it encourages better cooperation? If you are able to see the benefits of their chatty behavior and how it contributes to group cohesiveness, then instead of fighting against it, you would think of ways to harness it.

The real problem wasn't inefficiency; inefficiency was merely the symptom. The more primary problem was that a lot of people joined the group not just to "get things done", but also to make friends. The structure of the event denied them from fulfilling that important need and then they were more likely to act out. This problem was discovered when people had a chance to talk about what was frustrating them, which meant that the group had to make space to conduct some uncomfortable conversations.

To address the problem, the group eventually decided that the first 15 minutes would be devoted to socializing and allowing people to catch up, with the explicit promise to get down to business when the time was up. Some people brought drinks, others brought snacks. Some even showed up early to have more time to socialize. It enlivened people and enriched their relationships. Being "officially" allowed to get the chattiness out of their system, they were better able to sit down and focus on the planned agenda. The meeting felt like fun rather than a chore. And if you're interested in a cause, don't you want to recruit more people to support it? Making things more fun is one good way to attract support. You can look at it as wasting 15 minutes OR you can look at it as a 15 minute investment.

Solutions to human problems require:

cognitive empathy: figuring out what's really going on inside people's heads (in Te terms it means working only with the empirical facts of the situation, rather than indulging negative Fi judgments)

strategy: taking the time to work with people and figuring out the best way to help them get over obstacles (in Te terms it means investing energy early and wisely to maximize your returns later, rather than putting effort into the wrong places or only stepping in to tackle mere symptoms of the problem)

creativity: harnessing natural human tendencies to produce something useful or worthwhile (in Te terms in means taking what's already there and transforming it into a NET positive, rather than getting too fixated on every little negative detail and losing sight of the bigger picture)

Te can be a great function for dealing with human problems as long as you overcome the immature aspects of it, such as impatience, bluntness, or inflexibility. Every person is unique, so every group is different. Let go of the idea that there is only one way to approach a problem/conflict and you will start to be more creative in your approach. By accepting the fact that things are always in flux and using empirical evidence to understand and predict how change works, TJs become much more effective and efficient at everything they do. When it comes to people, meeting someone different from you is an opportunity to learn how to deal with that kind of person. The more knowledge you have of human psychology under your belt, the better you get at dealing with people's weird or negative tendencies. If a strategy works, use it again. If it doesn't work, adjust it to fit their psychology better.

In your situation, you see the problem as people being inefficient, so your inclination is to step forward and do something to "make" them more efficient. Humans aren't built with the prime directive to be efficient. They're not machines. Their psychology is messy, so trying to force them to behave like a machine is to force them to go against their psychology. In other words, you're choosing the least efficient approach. The more efficient approach, though it requires more intelligent thinking on your part (you want to become more intelligent, right?), is to properly understand the more primary problem of what's really causing them to be so inefficient in the first place. That is the way to discover the right strategy. If you are able to target those obstacles at the very root, efficiency improves more naturally.

Oftentimes, working smart doesn't require you to step up and be THE leader for everyone. As an introvert, it's probably more comfortable for you to work behind the scenes to talk to people, get a better idea of what they need and/or what problems they're experiencing, and incrementally remove the obstacles that are preventing them from focusing on what they should be focused on. You can't fix everything all at once, so just do what you can to fix what you are able to fix at any given point in time. It's a process and some progress is better than no progress.

[quirkwizard]

In your opinion, which student of Class 1-A would be best suited if they had Twice's quirk Double as their quirk?

While I haven't done a topic like this before, I will admit the idea does intrigue me, especially when it comes to a Quirk as unique as "Double". Plus it could work as a fun example of “Double” being a hero Quirk. Before I begin, I want to say that "Double" would get a general buff by being a hero's Quirk. Given the popularity and disposition of most heroes, it would be easier to study them and get them to do hero work, even if they would be easily destroyed.

I had two in mind, and the first is Izuku. I picked him for two reasons. One is because of his supernatural ability to make friends and get people to listen to them. Which I know sounds like a joke, but would actually be really useful with a power where clashing personalities is one of the big drawbacks. Two is due to how well it combines with his natural intelligence, knowledge of other heroes, and quick thinking. Izuku is really good when it comes to thinking about how to use other people's powers, even if he only has a basic understanding of them. I could see him using that with his tactical abilities to make the heroes he would need. For example, he could come across someone who fires lasers. Izuku would then make Hagakures to block the laser and Aoyamas to counter the attack. Beyond that, given how hands on Izuku likes to be, you could use the doubles in more unique ways. I could see him implementing techniques similar to the various moves that Naruto does with his shadow clones. And considering how heroic and selfless Izuku is, I don't think he'll need to worry about any of his doubles trying to kill him.

The second I picked was Momo as "Double" slots in nicely to her established skills and abilities. Like Izuku, Momo would have a better time utilize her Quirk with great intelligence, being generally better at memorizing and understanding people she'd want to make copies of. If she can memorize items down to the atomic compositions, then memorizing the details and measurements of a person shouldn't be that difficult. It would also be a good expansion on her natural leadership abilities, making her capable of making a team of people whenever she wants them. And again, like Izuku, she could easily organize battle strategies and people to wherever they are needed, but it would go beyond just fights. By making doubles of herself, she can better manage and coordinate the people around her, even in large-scale battles or multiple problems at once. You could have one leading the rescue party, another helping the injured civilians, another trying to keep onlookers out of the battle, and a few more leading the teams that are fighting the villain. It would be a great expansion of her current skills.

[jayahult]

So I've been wasting my time on Terra Invicta lately. It's the first strategy game that's actually been a real challenge for me as of late even on normal difficulty - the AI is surprisingly vicious on a tactical and strategic level, in spite of some flaws (it doesn't seem to understand that point defense is not pointless defense, for example, instead launching a couple of extremely lightly armored and armed corvettes up against point defense arrays armed with mid-to-late-game lasers and coilguns).

It does also have a very neat tone to it - it's a classic alien invasion scenario, heavily inspired by War of the Worlds, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and no small amount of XCOM. The alien "tanks" are even tripods! It does a great job of conveying its ideas mostly through gameplay and simple descriptions as well - the initial ships that you can build are essentially tin-cans with repurposed naval guns, and your space assets run on what is essentially the same stuff as they might IRL, conventional fission reactors and solar panels. The game subscribes to the rule that there's no stealth in space, and so very early on you get a look at the alien bases and ships. They're using fully-fledged fusion reactors, lasers that you can't even think about making until several decades into the game, and plasma weapons and magnetic cannons that make titanium armor look like tissue paper. This "Oh shit," moment is mostly conveyed through pure mechanics and a simple event entitled in all capital letters: "THEY HAVE NOT COME IN PEACE." Another example of this is when they actually land on the planet. The game could have gone at length to say how quickly they land, how terrifying their forces are, but instead it's almost quiet. At the start of the game, the most powerful militaries in the world generally have a military technology score of 4 to 4.2. The aliens land, and have a technology score of 7. They take territory about twice as fast as any conventional human army you can field. When they take territory, it becomes part of the Alien Nation. Every nation has a set of core territories that it has claims on - for example, at the start of the game, Taiwan has a claim on the PRC and vice versa. When you check the Alien Nation's claims, it has a claim on every single province on Earth. it's such a simple detail, but it really brilliantly emphasizes how totally the aliens want to control the world.

It's also rather clever in the setup of its factions. Instead of playing as a nation, you play as the ostensible head of a faction leading a particular reaction to the invasion. On the anti-alien side, you have The Resistance, who want to kick the aliens out of the Solar System, and Humanity First, who say that it isn't enough and the aliens need to be killed to their last to secure the human race's safety. On the other side of things, we have the Protectorate, who want a conditional surrender to the aliens, and the Servants, who want an unconditional surrender to the aliens. In-between, we've got the Academy, who are an ideological core of scientists and researchers who figure that a lasting peace could be established between the aliens and humans while maintaining human sovereignty over Earth and the Solar System. Then there's Project Exodus, who are a bit of a wildcard - they think that fighting the aliens isn't a good idea, but sticking around isn't good either, and so they want to leave the Solar System. Since they're neutral and their victory condition isn't mutually exclusive with the other factions, they can actually end up being a big help to the player a lot of the time. Likewise, the Initiative heard about the alien invasion and said "This could do wonders for our aerospace stocks," and are basically just here to exploit the situation.

It's fun dynamic as well - since you're playing as an ideological faction, not a nation, you end up with these odd political bedfellows and when playing as an anti-alien faction it can get into some oddly optimistic territory where everyone starts putting aside their old differences to kick some alien ass. It's kind of cool to see the combined military forces of Russia, America and China beat back an alien invasion while being funded by a combination of the profits from multiple organized crime syndicates, gold mining on Mercury, and the gloriously powerful Kazakh rocket industry.

[darkcircles4lyfe]

retrospective & predictions

Since we're on a hiatus week (between 320 and 321) I feel like waxing poetic about the depth and growth of bkdk for a bit. Especially because it seems like we’re right on the edge of their biggest development yet, I’m getting the urge to lay all my perspectives and insights I’ve picked up from others out on the table. This is ultimately only my subjective interpretation of subtextual material in canon, though. If you’ve never quite understood what people see in their dynamic and you’re actually open to hearing me out, maybe from this you can at least see where we’re coming from. And if you don’t like my takes after all, well, we’ll see who’s right in the coming chapters, won’t we? What I have to say can be taken platonically or romantically; I appreciate both. 

putting it under the cut, since it’ll be long:

At the risk of projecting, I want to start by examining a couple things based partly on personal experience.

From many different directions, I often hear people expressing that Deku’s persistent attachment and admiration for Bakugou is baffling at best. Despite the bullying, despite Bakugou’s loud, rude, and uncompromising personality, he still puts effort into their relationship and frequently describes him as amazing. It seems like Deku himself is aware of this as he’s said things along the lines of how he’s difficult, BUT... etc. Although I don’t think it’s exactly that Deku finds Bakugou’s personality hard to be around, but that he’s deliberately expressing patience for Bakugou’s emotional turmoil. 

I have to say I know what this sort of patience is like, as I went through it with someone I love. I only chose to put up with their behavior because I decided the possibility of what our relationship could be was worth it. I wasn’t blind or submissive to how they treated me, and I wasn’t coerced. I simply expressed myself and established my boundaries while still allowing them the opportunity to join me in my world once they got over their own hangups. And guess what? It worked out in the end. That doesn’t mean there aren’t circumstances where it’s better to cut ties, but I want to stress that true reconciliation is possible sometimes. I used to worry that other people around me thought I was delusional for seeking it, but what really helped was my therapist reminding me that I’m smart and strong. So I think Deku deserves to feel the same. In a way this is his whole mission in life, his approach to being a hero as well as his personal relationships.

Let me also be clear though that I don’t mean Deku is only tolerating Bakugou’s personality, his mannerisms, the parts of him that will likely never change. I’m drawing a line between those things and his emotional state (they so rarely align anyway, but I’ll get to that later). In fact, I think Bakugou’s general attitude is part of what Deku admires. This is gonna be hard to explain without inserting personal experience too, sorry. As a writer myself I’ve noticed I’m drawn to writing characters that are brazen and bold and don't mind telling people off. Really it’s because I operate in the world in the polar opposite way. I try not to draw attention to myself, I’m quiet, and I’m a people-pleaser. People who project confidence, especially in an impolite sort of way, fascinate me. It’s good to take cultural context into account, too: I've heard people who’d know better than me that part of the reason Bakugou is the most popular character in the Japanese fandom is likely because he contradicts a lot of their social norms. His disregard is refreshing and cathartic. I can speculate that Deku has a similar point of view based on what he thinks but does not admit about Bakugou being his image of victory and how this sometimes makes him mimic Bakugou’s speech and mannerisms: 

There’s also the bit in this fight where Deku realizes he's the only one able to receive Bakugou’s emotions. This is because he’s the most intimately familiar with him and his situation, but I think there’s another layer. Deku, as we know, has a self-sacrificing tendency, and in the current chapters we’re seeing the worst side of that. But let’s also not forget that to an extent, it can be a positive trait: resilience. When it comes to Bakugou, he has an almost comical ability to dodge the potential fallout of his outbursts. The example we all jump to (and fight about..) is how in ch1, apart from the initial shock of Bakugou suggesting he jump off the roof, the most he reacts is to criticize him for saying such a ridiculous thing. However, I think their interaction post- sludge villain is a lot more interesting:

Note two things: 1, in his head, Deku is practically making fun of how Bakugou’s acting as he stomps away without waiting for a reply. It doesn’t faze him. 2, Deku thinks, optimistically, that he can now focus on a different career choice. This is astonishing really. Up to this point, none of Bakugou’s attempts to put him down have worked; he just kept pursuing his dream. The only reason Deku concedes in this moment it because for the first time, he has been shown that he really couldn't do anything in a fight against a villain. All Might told him he couldn't be a hero (although he’s literally about to take that back in the next few pages lol) and the other heroes at the scene gave him a lecture about it too. It was those experiences, and not Bakugou’s words, that truly affected him. And when All Might tells Deku he can be a hero after all, it’s not thinking of Bakugou’s bullying that makes him sob and fall to his knees, it’s the memory of his own mom never telling him those words he so desperately needed to hear. Having spent most of their lives together, Deku must have been aware all this time that Baukgou was influenced by larger societal forces rather than a core judgement, so he didn’t take it personally. He separated the person from the action, and because he’s resilient and patient, he is thus equipped to handle Bakugou’s emotions. It’s a testament to his maturity and emotional intelligence, really. 

But I can almost hear some of you saying, “that doesn’t mean Deku should have to be the bigger person here!” Correct! Just because Deku is perfectly alright bearing all of that, doesn’t mean atonement-era Bakugou sees it this way. We can track his awareness of Deku’s care and selflessness as follows-

The bridge scene, when they’re little kids: Bakugou conflates Deku’s heroism with pity, and subsequently thinks Deku is looking down on him because Bakugou’s own insecurity makes him defensive.

The Sludge Villain, and also Deku vs. Kacchan Part 1: Bakugou witnesses first-hand how easily Deku jumps to risk his own life, but still thinks he’s being looked down on. 

The Sports Festival: Bakugou fights Uraraka and recognizes her endurance strategy and refusal to give up as very Deku-like. He’s half right. He thinks Deku advised her in the fight, when in reality she just mimicked Deku because she admired him. I want to draw attention to his very sober comment about her not being frail. It’s a great endearment of Uraraka’s character and Bakugou’s respect for her when others didn’t take “fighting a girl” seriously, but it also reflects on his opinion of Deku. Deku isn’t weak either. He never was.

Deku vs. Kacchan Part 2: Deku finally corrects him about the whole looking-down-on-him thing, and Bakugou is informed that Deku’s selflessness is in fact the reason All Might chose him. Since Bakugou had been in search of what he himself was “doing wrong” for All Might to favor Deku over him, he now has to reconcile the fact that selflessness is a heroic trait, and moreover something he lacks. This is also possibly the first time Bakugou is able to see his past actions toward Deku as bullying since he previously thought it was more mutual. Additionally, Bakugou can now link Deku’s selfless behavior to what he perceived as pity/contempt, and realize that Deku has been giving him A LOT of grace. Maybe too much. Maybe more than Bakugou deserves, and definitely more than Deku should have to. Holy heck- now Bakugou has to figure out how to live up to all the faith that’s been placed in him. 

Subtextually, we can see Bakugou’s feelings about atonement reflected in the Todoroki family:

1, Shouto is another example of Deku growing a friendship using his selflessness (since their fight in the sports festival) and their relationship is being acknowledged here where it hasn’t been in Bakugou’s situation. Perhaps Bakugou is wishing it could be so simple for him, to be able to thank him for being his friend like that. Deku saying the pleasure is all his also probably calls to mind how a mere apology from Bakugou would probably be dismissed because that’s just the kind of accommodating person Deku is. Bakugou has to operate more quietly in order to actually make up for their past. I personally don’t interpret this scene as Bakugou being jealous of Deku and Shouto’s friendship, exactly, just the lack of emotional baggage. Side note, Deku and Fuyumi are kinda similar in their desire to repair relationships. I like that she’s the one to give him some credit. 

2, With the common terminology, this can be interpreted as Bakugou receiving a model for atonement, one that is about action, and nothing to do with receiving favor or forgiveness. It’s a sense of duty. 

Many of the above sentiments are repeated in the flashback conversation between All Might and Bakugou right before Bakugou’s sacrifice. 

Bakugou acknowledges his bullying and that it happened because of his own insecurities, but aside from that, it’s interesting he neither confirms nor denies All Might’s suggestion that he’s trying to atone, or that Deku doesn’t see it that way. All Might is a bit of an unreliable mentor sometimes, but I don’t think he’s misreading here. Rather, Bakugou is displaying his tendency to hold back when talking about things that would make him really emotional. Besides, admitting to what he’s doing kind of defeats the purpose. He isn’t seeking acknowledgement. All Might has gotten to the crux of the issue here when pointing out that Deku doesn’t recognize the atonement, likely because Deku doesn't think Bakugou even needs to atone. Am I reading into it too much to say Bakugou looks wistful at this? It’s kinda frustrating sometimes trying to interpret Bakugou’s actions because he’s so paradoxical. Loud and in your face, but also extremely reserved. Sometimes I feel like I’m grasping at thin air, but hey, being hard to figure out is part of his intrigue as a character. The simplest way to look at him is to assume that unless he’s really showing vulnerability, he’s probably deflecting and hiding something.

Speaking of Bakugou’s tendency to to hold back emotional stuff, there’s his apparent lack of issue with Deku calling him Kacchan. Maybe to begin with, in his warped perception of things where he thought they hated each other, Bakugou saw it as Deku’s way of getting back at him for calling him “useless,” and didn't dare give any indication that it actually bothered him. However... consider how betrayed Bakugou has appeared when he was noticeably thinking Deku was looking down on him- the bridge scene, and the beginning of their first year at UA when he thought Deku was hiding a quirk all along. He looks shocked and hurt. That kind of emotion couldn’t be invoked by someone Bakugou didn’t actually care about his relationship with. “Kacchan” comes from a long time ago, before their relationship was strained, so it’s connotations are pure. Maybe somewhere deep down, Bakugou has always been hoping that Deku’s continued use of the nickname was not simply a matter of habit or teasing, but a vestige of friendship they’re both clinging to, and Bakugou himself was too afraid to admit to himself that he felt this way about it, so he mostly ignored it. (These are not original thoughts I am having here lol, this is a common interpretation. I’m just laying everything out like I said.) 

And now we turn to the current situation. Personally, I’ve been looking frantically back and forth between them wondering who’s going to break down first (Deku vs. Kacchan Part 3, this time it’s just a fight to get the other person to cry? ha.) Both have looked like they’re approaching a breaking point for some time. Also, I’ve addressed this before, but I think it’s significant that Bakugou is no longer wearing his mask with his hero costume, in contrast to Deku recently donning his own. It feels symbolic of Bakugou about to be upfront about how he feels.

The question is, what is it going to take to get Deku to accept help? If you ask me, Deku has dug himself so deeply into the I’m-doing-this-for-everyone-else’s-safety-and-smiles hole, no common sense argument can possibly reach him. By the end of 320, Deku’s mask is off, and we can see how desperate he truly is. But he has not cried, yet. I predict we’re going to see a bit more of his defiance, this time on full display on his face as the remaining class members and his other friends take their turns. But then I think Bakugou has to be the one to break down so Deku can witness his actions having the opposite effect he intended. People have been pointing out that Deku is currently ignoring Bakugou, and oof, that’s gotta be intentional. Regardless of what Bakugou says, it’s going to be wrapped up not only in his understanding of Deku’s self-sacrifice, but also the betrayal Bakugou feels at being ignored/left behind that ironically echoes his previous perception of being looked down on, as well as a need to express how much he cares about Deku before it’s too late. He must show that the two of them are inseparable because they both act to save each other without thinking, and both feel like losing the other would be like dying themselves. All Might may have been right when he told them they could learn from each other after Deku vs. Kacchan Part 2, but he didn’t fully realize that idea by making sure they stuck by each other for support and balance. 

I can’t wait to see what it’ll be like when they do finally get to that point, totally in synch and in tune with each other. They’ll be a powerful force no one is quite prepared for. Who knows when that will be, or even which chapter will be their big showdown, but I know the day is coming.

To speculate even further, I think the 2nd user is going to be really important really soon. And no I don’t mean to suggest that the 2nd user is Bakugou. But I do think their resemblance is key. Okay this is gonna be convoluted...

See how 2nd is the only one still standing? I think that’s symbolic of him withholding his quirk. Deku may not even know what it is at this point, let alone have unlocked it. Given that 2nd approves of Deku’s strategy at this point, it seems odd for him to withhold his quirk based on lack of faith. I think if his quirk was something that would help Deku in combat, he would have shown it to him already like the others did. So what if those gauntlets of his are support items that are meant to make up for his lack of a combat-oriented quirk, rather than to augment it? Mind you, I still have no idea what his mysterious power might be, but I’m dead set on it not being explosion-y. Regardless, I think 2nd looking like Bakugou is more about aiding some grand visual parallel, so! You know how 2nd and 3rd were probably intending to do away with Yoichi but 2nd changed his mind as soon as they made eye contact? This is really a long shot, but I wonder if 2nd’s quirk has something to do with that exchange. Maybe it’s something psychological, or some 6th sense about people he meets. So... in that way 2nd’s quirk could play a role in bkdk reaching a deeper understanding? Idk! But it could be significant at least that 2nd left Yoichi’s question about why he reached out to him unanswered. 

One more thing- while I was gathering screenshots I found this. I think “you’re the last one I’m telling” might be foreshadowing for Bakugou revealing his hero name to Deku and it being a Big Deal:

As for other lingering threads in the overall plot right now, such as the UA traitor, Stain, whatever Tsuyu is apparently about to do, All Might’s car maybe in the background of the last page of 320... man I have no idea. All I know is there’s literally 320 chapters’ worth of build-up to this confrontation that can’t be interrupted. 

See you next week <3

[immaturityofthomasastruc]

IOTA Reviews: Truth

Hey. Hey guys. Remember when I said I was feeling optimistic about this season? God, that was funny, wasn't it?

Let's just... Let's just get into the actual first episode of Miraculous Ladybug's fourth season: Truth.

We start off with Gabriel repairing the damaged Peacock Miraculous, which also restores Duusu's sanity, before he quickly gives it a test run by transforming with both it and the Butterfly Miraculous.

And good lord, the result looks atrocious. This is the design for the new and improved Hawkmoth? First off, the peacock feather eyepatch looks stupid. Is he trying to be the Phantom of the Opera? When Mayura had the same thing, it didn't completely cover her eye and matched her color scheme. It just doesn't match with this new design here. Other than the feather, the peacock aesthetic is barely visible here. The most we get is a peacock feather pattern on the back of his jacket. And then there's the popped collar and coattails, which only look more ridiculous than menacing. What made the original Hawkmoth design work was how sleek it was. It was simplistic, which reflected Gabriel's no-nonense personality. This just looks gaudy and unnecessary. How was this right after the amazing suit the animators gave Dragonbug?

So after Gabriel designs another stupid looking outfit, we cut to Marinette, who's still trying to figure out how the Miracle Ball works. She accidentally opens it, letting the Kwamis out, who wreak havoc on her room because Marinette suffering is going to be a big part of this episode. This just raises the question: Why can't Marinette simply order them back into the box like Su-Han did, or rather, is going to do? It's still not established what gives the Guardians authority over the Kwamis in the first place.

Two of the Kwamis accidentally start a video chat with her friends, leading to some more Unfunny Marinette Slapstick. But Alya thinks something's up with her friend.

Has Marinette even told Alya she's already in a relationship? Like, at all? It feels like all Alya is there for now is to remind the audience that Marinette and Adrien are “meant to be”, even if they're both in relationships right now. It's either that, or teasing Marinette over her crush and doing nothing to help her anxiety.

Marinette accidentally ends the call, before Luka calls to thank her for the pictures of Adrien one of the Kwamis accidentally sent him. Yeah, even though he barely appears in this episode (barring his scenes at Cat Noir), they're going to talk about Adrien a lot. Marinette continues to stammer around Luka (once again making fun of people who have speech issues), but Luka, being the ray of sunshine in any abysmal episode he's in, is completely understanding of it. He also sets up a pretty funny joke.

Apparently, Marinette missed her last date with Luka yesterday to see a movie that was re-released, Crocodile Heart, that was actually Jagged Stone's first movie. I wonder if it's connected to Crocodile Dundee.

While walking to the movie, Luka and Marinette play a game finishing the lyrics of a Jagged Stone song, establishing the former as a huge fan of the rock star. Before we can actually get an on-screen kiss for Lukanette, Mr. Pigeon attacks yet again, because I guess he's the first villain Hawkmoth wants to use in his new form.

Cat Noir sneaks up on Ladybug, causing her to accidentally throw him off a building before catching him, chastising him for the stupid jokes, yet Ladybug has to apologize for missing patrol with her partner, who casually acknowledges her new status as Guardian before the two go and fight Mr. Pigeon.

By the time they defeat him, the movie ends as Marinette gets back, disappointing Luka. We then get a montage of Marinette bailing on Luka multiple times to stop Akumas and Sentimonsters. To his credit, Luka is seriously torn up by all the times Marinette leaves him, showing he isn't just a calm soul.

After Marinette gets back, Luka takes her underneath a bridge to listen to the echoing sound of the water. Luka says that he never knew his father, and he would always go here to relax whenever he got stressed. He uses this to segue into asking Marinette where she constantly disappears to. He doesn't pressure her or anything like Alya, and he even says that if she still loves Adrien, he'll understand. He only asks for the truth. Unfortunately, Marinette can't tell him the truth, which just breaks the poor boy's heart.

Hawkmoth, now calling himself Shadowmoth, sends out an Akuma and an Amok for Luka at the same time, corrupting a guitar pick signed by Jagged Stone that Marinette gave him. And again, to Luka's credit, he fights back against Shadowmoth's influence at first, saying he trusts Marinette, but the temptation of knowing the truth is too good to pass up. He tells Marinette to run before being akumatized into Truth, assisted by the Sentimonster Pharro.

Truth's design is... pretty forgettable. The guitar pick being prominent around his neck is a nice touch, but it's just a generic black bodysuit with light blue highlights, and he has a third eye instead of a visible mouth. Pharro is also pretty boring, just a giant eye that freezes people in place so Truth can use his powers to make them tell the truth.

So Truth goes back to where everyone else was hanging out before he was akumatized and asks Alya to tell him the truth about Marinette.

Yeah, he's right, Alya. That's what you believe. We're supposed to treat Alya saying Marinette loves Adrien as an unbiased source. Truth asks Rose, Mylene, Tom, and Sabine what Marinette's secret is in this episode, and they all say she's in love with Adrien. That isn't actually the truth. It's like asking an atheist if there is a God. You know what they believe is the truth, but you don't know if that answer is actually the truth. Why not have them reveal other secrets about Marinette, giving the audience subtle character details? Like the writers could make someone say stuff like she still sleeps with a nightlight on, or that she secretly gets cookies from another bakery.

You know what also would have worked? Instead, have Truth catch Marinette before she transforms into Ladybug, ask who she actually loved, and then she'll blurt out Adrien's name, shocking both her and Luka. This could also make Ladybug's confidence in herself waver throughout the episode, wondering if she actually loved Luka at all. That would have been much better drama than what we're going to get instead.

Ladybug charges in to stop Truth, but is zapped by his truth ray, meaning she'll be forced to tell the truth when asked any question. Before she can admit her identity, Cat Noir saves her by retreating with her into the Seine, before reassuring Ladybug that he wouldn't force her to tell the truth by force. It's a nice bit that does show he respects Ladybug's secret, a far cry from his behavior in episodes like “Syren” and “Frozer”. Truth turns his attention to his mother Anarka, and asks who his father is.

Yes. Seriously. This is happening. Luka's father is actually Jagged Stone. I have... mixed feelings regarding this development, but my biggest question is, well... they're doing this now? They couldn't save this for another episode? I mean, was focusing on Luka and Marinette's relationship (something that had been established since Season 2) not good enough of a plot for the writers? Why shoehorn in this plot development? Why not save this part as a teaser for a future episode? You know, have Luka walk home, and remember what he made his mother say as Truth, setting up an episode focusing on his relationship with Jagged Stone.

But no! Instead, we're just supposed to go along with the plot taking a detour. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I don't want Jagged Stone to appear in this episode.

Truth heads over to the hotel where Jagged Stone lives and asks him if he's actually his father, the latter admitting that Anarka was right. Truth naturally isn't happy.

Well, to be fair, it's still a better title than his first drafts, like “It's Not My Fault the Condom Broke”, or “Up Yours, I'm Not Paying the Child Support, Bitch”.

Honestly, I can get what the writers are going for, and I like the idea of them trying to give some depth to a character who was mostly used for comic relief in earlier episodes. The problem is, as much as they want to portray Jagged as regretful for walking out on his family, it still doesn't excuse him for never even bothering to check in on his children and their mother while writing a song about it. He doesn't even bother to give some money to the person he knocked up.

I'm not saying a conflicted relationship like this can't work in animation (a decent example being Steven Universe slowly growing to resent his mother for her time as Pink Diamond and believing his birth was an excuse for her to avoid responsibility), but you need to put more emotion into this. I don't come from a broken home, but if it turned out my dad was, let's say, “Weird Al” Yankovic, even if I enjoy his music, I wouldn't be happy that he decided to come back now of all times without so much as a “hello”.

Truth goes to Marinette's house/bakery, and starts looking for Marinette's diary to find out her secrets. It's almost like the minor plotline that he has a deadbeat dad was only there to eat up airtime. Ladybug is still affected by Truth's powers, and not long after she summons her Lucky Charm, Cat Noir is zapped too, so he starts asking questions that basically amount to complimenting certain qualities he and Ladybug have. When Ladybug asks him what he thinks about her being Guardian, Cat Noir says nothing's changed between them. It's a nice strategy, very reminiscent of when they had to talk in rhyme when fighting Frightengale. I'm also glad they aren't trying to play up Cat Noir not feeling as important immediately now that his partner has access to top secret information.

Cat Noir Cataclysms Pharro, but rather than destroying the Sentimonster, it causes it to go out of control, accidentally paralyzing Truth with some manipulation from her and Cat Noir. Ladybug then de-evilizes both the Akuma and Amok, defeating Truth.

Marinette struggles to find the words to explain things to Luka, but he says that he'll be waiting for her when she's ready. While walking back to his houseboat, Luka runs into Jagged Stone, who promises to write a song together with him. Because I guess Shadowmoth was kind enough of him to not erase that part of his memory. And of course, Luka just accepts this despite the fact that Jagged was absent from his entire life.

So according to this show, you shouldn't bother to give mean people a second chance, but it's okay to give your deadbeat dad a second chance without harboring any negative feelings? I'm sorry, but I just don't see the point of shoving in this subplot if you're barely going to do anything with it before coming to a resolution. If there was more detail put into it, like if Luka just angrily lashed out at Jagged for abandoning his mom, I would have been more open to it. But in the end, this major character revelation is nothing more than filler the episode doesn't need.

We cut to what I'm surprised doesn't happen at the end of every episode given how much crap she gets, Marinette crying in her bed, saying it's too dangerous to have a boyfriend thanks to Shadowmoth. One of the Kwamis apparently doesn't know what crying is, so Marinette asks them to give her a hug, and the showrunners really need to find another song to play at the end, because the upbeat song playing doesn't go with Marinette crying at all. Imagine if this song played at the end of Deep Space Nine's “In the Pale Moonlight” when Captain Sisko confessed to basically being an accessory to the murder of an alien ambassador. It'd be tonally jarring, wouldn't it?

Even the ending image doesn't feature Luka and Marinette together. Instead, he's hugging it out with Deadbeat Stone like everything's okay.

So yeah, that's how the episode ends. In case you couldn't tell, I thought it was awful.

Remember in my New York Special review, where I theorized that Astruc rewrote it to focus more on Adrienette to stop people from shipping Lukanette? I have another theory that I also want to be taken with a grain of salt. I think this episode might have also been rewritten a little to follow up on that. I mean, why else would Astruc spend two seasons building up Luka's relationship with Marinette only to rip it away the episode after they officially get together? It would also explain why it feels like there's two separate episodes going on with how shoehorned in Jagged Stone is.

But other than that, this episode managed to screw up the one thing I was actually looking forward to about this season, seeing Marinette together with Luka. Even if they were going to break up, I was hoping there would at least be a character arc for Marinette where she realizes what she truly wants in a relationship isn't with Luka, leading into a relationship with Adrien where she feels more confident in herself. I was at least hoping their relationship would last more than A SINGLE EPISODE.

In fact, remember that tweet Astruc made soon after the New York Special, defending Marinette and Adrien essentially cheating on Luka and Kagami respectively?

What exactly was so complicated about Season 4 when you're immediately going to break up a couple you spent two seasons building up? Astruc's predictions are about as accurate as Uri Geller.

And then there's the fact that all everyone talks about this episode is Adrien. Marinette's wall is covered with pictures of him, Alya thinks her friend's abnormal behavior is because Adrien's in the room with her, Luka somehow knows Marinette loves Adrien and is actually cool with it, and everyone else thinks that it's her biggest secret. How convenient is it that all of this happens when barring his scenes as Cat Noir, Adrien doesn't appear in this episode barring a five second cameo?

When I was writing this episode, I saw a tweet Astruc made addressing a question someone posed, asking why Adrien didn't get as much screentime in the recent Shanghai Special. He said that “history does not revolve around him”.

For the love of God, writers, just give Marinette a plotline that doesn't revolve around her feelings for Adrien for once. People already started to get sick of it halfway through last season. Either have her confess and make the Love Square canon, or stop letting it dominate the main story for once. Why can't the writers just let her move on from Adrien for more than a single episode? Give her a goddamn break already.

I once again have to ask: what was the point of building up a relationship between Luka and Marinette since Season 2, if you're just going to break them up the second they get together? Why make a big deal about Marinette's conflicted feelings for both Adrien and Luka if you're just going to ignore her feelings for the latter in favor of the former? And remember, chronologically, this was right after the end of Chloe's “damnation arc”, another plotline that had been built up since Season 2 only to be aborted in favor of “sUbVeRtInG tHe AuDiEnCe'S eXpEcTaTiOnS”. It feels like the writers are trying to punish people for getting emotionally invested in any storyline that doesn't relate to the holy pairing that is the Love Square.

This episode is just frustrating to watch. Part of me knew Marinette and Luka were going to break up, but I didn't think it would be this bad, and it would be so soon. I'm glad they're on somewhat good terms, and I liked the buildup to Luka realizing Marinette might not trust him, but the timing of this episode is what baffles me the most. Is it any wonder I think Astruc may have rewritten this episode?

If any Lukanette shippers need to recover, I'd recommend checking out @mc-lukanette​. They have some wholesome one-shots and fix-it fics for some of the weaker episodes of the series. In fact, she already wrote a fix-it to this abysmal episode that’s so much better than what we got.

[blubberquark]

Losing is Fun

When VVVVVV and Super Meat Boy came out in 2010, they were radical departures from established concepts of game difficulty. Games used to have autosave or save slots, but also lives and health, so that when you overwrote your save in a low-health state you could paint yourself into a corner. Other games had regenerating health, or let you restart over and over from the last checkpoint.

Instead, VVVVVV and Super Meat Boy both had a binary state of life or death. Every hazard was lethal. In VVVVVV, the landscape was riddled with autosave checkpoints. Super Meat Boy was difficult, but levels were short. Restarting was instantaneous. There was no "Game Over" screen, no death animation that could not be skipped, just getting back into the action instantly with a single button press. Most importantly, unlike Super Mario World, neither game has a penalty for dying 50 times in a row.

Super Meat Boy could have been different, with lives and mushrooms and coins, and when you are low on of lives, you might be tempted to go back to the equivalent of "Donut Plains" to farm some 1UP mushrooms. But Super Meat Boy was innovating on Super Mario World by being easier in one way and much, much more difficult in another. There is a very different concept of difficulty, failure, and losing.

Instead of being “easier”, these games took the sting out of failure states, and got the player back into the game quickly.

When I am making a game, I try to focus the difficulty into the game's core gameplay, and in the core loop. If it's a puzzle game, I want the puzzles to be difficult and engaging, not the stuff around it, and I don't want the player to be able to grind his way through the meat of the game by spending effort on all the other parts. That means I'd rather make a boss fight just a little more forgiving by default than give the player the option to grind. I’d rather make platforming easier in order to put emphasis on puzzles.

In my experience, about nine times out of ten, when you identify a difficult section in the game during playtesting, it needs to be dealt with for players of all skill levels. The solution is rarely to just give the player “more health” to tank the hits. It’s usually better to more clearly telegraph what is required to overcome the challenge, to put the required tutorialisation earlier in the game, or to re-design the level/boss/timings/attacks for all skill levels. During playtests, I have often observed players struggle and fail at a certain point because they tried the wrong strategy over and over convinced that they could win by executing their flawed strategy perfectly rather than thinking of an alternative.

Some games can't have difficulty settings. I can think of some persuasive games, for example Depression Quest, Dys4ia, and You Have To Burn The Rope, whose central idea would be undermined by difficulty settings. I can also think of un-gamey interactive experiences such as Proteus, The Stanley Parable, Mountain, or Windosill, where difficulty is just not applicable.

In cases in which difficulty is applicable, there is rarely only one way to implement it. The Curse of Monkey Island had a "regular" mode and a "harder mode" with more puzzles, but no "easy mode". The different difficulty settings in Mobility change the game's goals and platforming mechanics. The difficulty settings in VVVVVV slow down the game by up to 40%. You could give characters more health, more lives, drop more loot, change the sizes of hitboxes, remove obstacles from levels, let the player jump farther, or make the enemy AI stupid.

More drastic interventions like increased jump distance can turn easy mode in a completely different game, such that getting better at easy mode won't help with normal mode. With increased jump distance in a platformer, solutions that work in hard mode might not even work in easy mode either.

Other games have a different focus. Nuclear Throne is a coffebreak action roguelike-like about dying and retrying. If there was an "easy mode" and a save/reload function, players might be tempted to crank the difficulty so low they can beat the game in one run. This is clearly not what the designers intended. Vlambeer's next game Luftrausers was even more explicitly focused on dying and retrying.

Reasoning like “so that players of all skill levels can complete the game like the designer intended“ implies that the designer intended the player to beat the game in the first place. Saying “all games should have difficulty settings“ is an expression of a certain expectation of what games “should“ be, and definitely incompatible with moral objections to the term “walking simulator“.

Ending a run of Papers, Please in starvation and poverty is just as “valid“ as doing your duty for Arstozka, just as valid as getting caught helping dissidents, just as valid as buying fake documents and fleeing. Still, it’s conceivable that such a game could have difficulty settings - but it doesn’t need to.

Balance your game so that the difficulty lies in the core gameplay, not in minigames, movement, or ancillary mechanics. Limit the downsides of failing minigames.

Re-work situations that are too difficult, rather than giving the player “more health“. Make it easier to dodge or seek cover rather than tank hits. Make sure the player knows which parts are supposed to be difficult, and what is impossible. Tell the player the information necessary to beat the next challenge - unless the challenge is a riddle. These changes often solve the same problem that difficulty levels would solve. Corollary: Remove grinding and resource hoarding when possible.

If applicable, rethink your failure states, implied failure states, save system, penalties for losing, ease of restarting, distance from save points, and permanent progression.

When your players lose too often, make losing fun!

[kaizokuou-ni-naru]

The Voyage So Far: Paramount War (Part One)

east blue (1 | 2) || alabasta (1 | 2) || skypiea || water 7 || enies lobby || thriller bark || paramount war (1 | 2) || fishman island || punk hazard || dressrosa (1 | 2) || whole cake island || wano (1 | 2)

the introduction of the celestial dragons really is just so brutally effective. this is the first time we see them, and before they even show up on page they immediately establish themselves as both absolutely powerful and absolutely despicable. everyone is watching them commit atrocities in broad daylight, and nobody dares say a word. 

i mentioned it back in the enies lobby post, i think, with spandam, but oda is very, very good at creating villains who it just feels so good and so deeply satisfying to see them get annihilated, and the celestial dragons are maybe the crowning example of it. 

i really like how none of the strawhats are really intimidated or impressed at all by the celestial dragons, in sharp contrast to how everyone else responds to them. some of that is ignorance, but you can’t tell me zoro would have acted any differently in this scene had he known charloss was a member of the world’s ruling class. all the power the celestial dragons have comes from fear; of course their greatest weakness is someone who just doesn’t care. 

obviously this moment is just excellent, no qualifiers needed, but one thing i really love about it is how all the bad shit that results from this does not detract from the sheer satisfaction of what happens at the auction house at all. like, even though this leads directly to the strawhats getting crushed by the pacifista and kizaru and scattered by kuma, i’ve never once caught myself thinking luffy shouldn’t have done this. 

i’m a huge fan of how rayleigh introduces himself. he knocks out the whole action house with conqueror’s haki, but luffy is completely unaffected, and the two of them just watch each other down the aisle for a moment as everyone else collapses around them. 

i don’t know that i’ll ever get over the fact that oda created and designed the supernovas as he was writing sabaody. they’re all such distinct and memorable characters, and almost all of them have fit neatly into the post-timeskip story one way or another. they really feel like a part of the world that was always meant to be there. 

i think the way roger as a character is handled is very, very cool, because we don’t really meet him as a person- when we first learn of him, on the very first page, he’s a myth, a story, a framing device. which is fitting, because that’s all the characters know him as. the rest of the world doesn’t know what roger was like as a person or why he did what he did, and so neither do our main characters and neither do we. 

and then we learn, slowly, by following in roger’s steps and meeting the characters who did know him, like rayleigh and whitebeard and garp. and through their testimony and memories, over the course of the story, roger goes from being a faceless myth to being a proper character.

i think this panel, where luffy says he just wants to be the freest person on the seas, might be my favorite luffy panel. if nothing else, it’s definitely one of the ones i think about the most in terms of his characterization. luffy’s been defining himself by his dream since the very start of the story- he’s the man who’s going to be king of the pirates! but it’s only here that we learn what that goal actually means to him, and what he actually really wants. he just wants to be free. 

the tone shift of sabaody really is impeccable. because up until a certain point, everything seems pretty par for the course. the strawhats make some new friends, get into trouble for their sakes, get into a hard fight where they all have to work together but eventually scrape out a win. 

but then kizaru shows up, and another pacifista, and kuma himself, and for the first time in the story luffy says this is a fight they can’t win- 

and then zoro disappears, and all of the audience’s expectations for how this is going to play out get thrown completely out the window. 

it’s not that we haven’t seen luffy upset before this- his fight with usopp in water 7 and merry’s funeral are the two obvious examples that come to mind- but we’ve never, to this point, seen him as crushed as he is at the end of sabaody. it really drives the abrupt tone shift of sabaody home, because we’re used to seeing luffy be generally cheerful, and if not that, at stubbornly determined to power through. but here, he’s just wrecked- and the paramount war saga is just getting started. 

every time i see hancock i’m reminded what a lesbian i am.

i’m talking a lot about character introductions this post, but a lot of really good characters get introduced in the first half of this saga, from the supernovas to rayleigh to jinbe. on that note, i really like hancock’s introduction, for reasons similar to what i said about roger earlier. she’s introduced as a cartoonishly evil one-dimensional bitch, and she leans hard into that characterization for the first half or so of amazon lily.

and then luffy narrowly keeps her and her sisters’ worst fear from being realized, and her facade starts to slip, and we get to know her as- still kind of a bitch, but also a deeply traumatized person who has very valid reasons for being the way she is, and someone who is overall a lot more complicated than she appears at first glance. 

one of my favorite things about luffy is his ability to always, always defy expectations. hancock is dead certain he’ll take her offer of a ship and abandon marguerite and the others, but he doesn’t even hesitate before doing the exact opposite. luffy is always turning people’s worlds upside down.

i have a friend who coined the term “conflict of interest arc” to refer to the arcs where a crewmate is forced to choose between the crew and some obligation or baggage from their past- arlong park for nami, whole cake island for sanji, etc. 

marineford is luffy’s conflict of interest arc- he has to make the choice, here, to prioritize saving ace over reuniting with his crew. where it differs from all other such arcs, then, is that nobody else can come to back him up. he’s well and truly on his own. 

i love how thoroughly expectations get turned on their head with jinbe. for the longest time, all we know about him is that he’s a shichibukai and arlong’s former captain, so given what arlong was like and what the shichibukai encountered thus far have been like, it’s a fair guess to assume he’s pretty awful.

and then we meet him, and he’s ace’s friend, sitting bloody and beaten in the deepest dungeons of impel down for refusing to fight in an unjust war.

bon-chan is really one of the greatest examples of one piece’s stubborn refusal to treat any character as disposable, and oda’s endless ability to find new and interesting ways to fit them into the story. in pretty much any other manga, it would be all but guaranteed that we wouldn’t see a character like bon-chan again after the conclusion of the alabasta saga. here, luffy straight up would not have made it to marineford without him. this is true for mr. 3 too- who would’ve thought his ability to duplicate keys out of wax, established and promptly forgotten some three hundred chapters ago, would be the thing that let luffy free ace on the scaffold?

magellan is a good antagonist. i’m not saying i like him- i don’t particularly- but he’s a great antagonist for a couple reasons, and one of them is that his powers are terrifying. magellan is essentially what might be called in video game terminology an advancing wall of doom- the only viable strategy for dealing with him is to run.

i had more i wanted to say here but it literally kept turning into a rant about one piece’s take on morality no matter how many times i tried to keep it short, so i’ll settle for just saying that magellan is an antagonist but not a villain and i think that’s interesting. 

the absolutely ridiculous, eclectic mix of people that luffy winds up gathering to escape impel down is possibly my favorite part of the whole arc. i just think it’s so fun and so characteristic of him that even when separated from his crew, he winds up attracting the weirdest, most powerful bunch of people around to break out of prison with. 

the relationship between luffy and blackbeard is a really interesting one. it’s been plenty clear for some time that blackbeard is almost certainly going to be luffy’s final opponent to become pirate king, and yet they’ve been mostly running on parallel paths through the world, only occasionally coinciding (such as here and in jaya) and generally seeming pretty unconcerned with each other. it’s a really cool way to handle the built to an eventual showdown, and i really like it. 

this is one of my favorite spreads just for sheer smile factor. i love it so much. i think we should get to see jinbe’s whale shark buddies more often, it’s a crime we haven’t seen them since this. 

[my-writings-and-musings]

Hey, if you're still doing those angsty oxygen scenarios, could you do one with Rumble? I know he's not a lost light bot but it would mean a lot to me

He means a lot to me too, anon. Plus as I see it, being a Lost Light bot is a state of mind.

Here's all my previous posts with this popular prompt!

Part One: Here!

Part Two: Here!

Part Three: Here!

Part Four: Here!

Part Five: Here!

Part Six: Here!

Part Seven: You are Here!

Part Eight! Here!

Part Nine: Here!

Part Ten: Here!

Part Eleven: Here!

Part Twelve: Here!

Rumble

·The story of how you both ended up on the Lost Light is a long and rather ridiculous one, but thankfully you're both quite happy now with the way things have turned out. Hanging out and playing video games is one of the more calm and non-destructive things you two do around the ship, and it's an activity he adores having someone to share with, as not too many bots share the hobby. Being absolutely tiny by Cybertronian standards but huge compared to you, he typically encourages you to sit on his lap while you game together, something he claims is only done to ensure you both can see. Being a good sport, you agree so he can keep protecting his reputation as a tough bot who never cuddles anyone, and also because you know he's secretly in need of said cuddles despite his claims otherwise. You're well in to a rather relaxed gaming session when an emergency communication pings both of you.

·Quite open about how annoyed he is, the feeling only grows when the line is barely audible, static blurring all but every other word of what sounds like a rather urgent message. Though he does try to ask for a repeat of what's said, when the feed simply dies he's quite tempted to just ignore it and keep playing games. Admittedly that sounds good to you too, but being on a gigantic alien vessel makes you far less comfortable at the prospect of things being uncertain, as what's minor to the bots can be quite dangerous for you. Initially your gentle insistence on seeing what might be going on only gets an exaggerated groan regarding how it's probably nothing and that the two of you are having fun so who cares? The pouting is something you're rather accustomed to, so you follow a strategy of gentle pushing to get him moving, which results in him growing ever more dramatic until he's lying back on his second hand couch as if getting up would be physically painful.

·A gentle kiss on his nose finally melts away his immature resistance, but only after he blushes like a lamppost and huffs to try and pretend he's not doing it because you've convinced him or anything. With one last sorrowful look at his console, he hefts you into his shoulder and moves out, not willing to wait on your tiny human legs. Though he's obviously grumpy there's still care and consideration in how he walks with you, as he's never going to risk dropping your squishy human self if he can help it.

·Repeated attempts to comm anyone for some information turn up nothing but static, and that leaves both of you quite confused, with the minibot commenting on how odd it is that no one is answering. Being near the living quarters at this time of day means there's no one around to ask, so he hurries along whilst looking for a signal, reasoning that the two of you should head to the bridge or somewhere equally important to look for answers. Knowing he has way more experience in this than you do, you happily let him take the lead, smiling softly at how your agreement makes him puff up with pride. Being a mini has made him rather unaccustomed to any kind of leadership, so even the simplest praise or deference always means the world to him.

·His ego boost is quite rudely interrupted by a sudden tremor through the ship, though he's hardly knocked off balance for long due to his unique skills. Keeping his footing solid and you secure on his shoulders, he immediately asks if you're okay once the floor steadies beneath him, knowing that it was just a little shake but worried nonetheless. You assure him that you're fine, which convinces him to hold you a little less tightly. Looking up into his visor, you're concerned to see his usual calm replaced with a much more serious expression. It's one you know to only expect when things are about to get bad. As he starts walking again, he explains that, as an expert on seismic things, he knows that the ship has just been snagged. Having an internal sensory system specifically designed to detect these things also makes him certain of the exact size of the enemy and where it hit; and what he detected isn't good.

·Despite being less than half his height, Rumble is your immediate worry as he goes on to explain more of the situation, talking more to cut through the quiet to calm his nerves. You know that you're not built for alien robot battles, but quite frankly, neither is he. Not on his own at least. Though he'll surely deny it now, he's confided in you that without his brother or a bigger bot to sync up with... fighting anything but other minis is a lot harder. Knowing that makes you press him gently on a plan; where should the two of you go to be safe?

·As expected he's immediately adamant that he's fine, but his attitude to you is another story, as is obvious by how he shifts you completely into his arms and holds you tightly. With a promise that he won't let anything touch you, he surprises you with a completely unrestrained sense of protective drive, something quite out of character for a bot that usually struggles with deep feelings. Knowing that ships always have extra guards stationed at key locations, he decides to hurry his way to the medical bay, secretly hoping not to encounter any enemies on the way. Not that he's embarrassed to be a mini or anything, but in moments like these he really wishes he could be big and strong for your sake... Pushing those thoughts deep down, he hurries along and tries to focus on how cool he looks carrying you to safety. Maybe after all this is over he'll be able to tell some awesome stories about rescuing you.

·Seeing you get a little sleepy absolutely baffles him, and he gives you a little tap to wake you up with a tease about taking poorly timed naps. Not having realized you were nodding off, you rub at your eyes in confusion, suddenly aware of sleepiness that certainly wasn't present earlier. At your continued and obvious exhaustion he's quite worried. Had he better practice at driving with an occupant he'd have given you a ride to save time, but even at the best of times previous attempts at that were disasters, so in your current state you'd probably end up getting seriously hurt... It's yet another thing to regret as he holds you closer and hurries along, secretly trying to establish communication so he can hopefully get some answers. The lack of success makes him more worried with every passing minute.

·Though Rumble is no stranger to cuddling behind closed doors and carrying you to show off his strength, this is the first time he's held you like this in public for so long, and it feels very nice. You know he's worried about you, but it's getting harder to focus on staying awake and comforting him with his arms keeping you so secure, and his little spark humming so warm and strong right next to you. Only his gentle pleading for you to keep your eyes open prevents you from nodding off, mostly because his voice is so sad as he does so, and you can't handle seeing that sweet face grow any more worried. Clearly it must be bad if he's openly showing his softer side. You're aided in staying awake by a rather unexpected visitor nearly stepping on the minibot as he enters a hallway, and in the panicked blur that follows your mind is just sharp enough to catch the towering form of a very unfriendly alien before you're laid on the ground and Rumble charges forth in a preemptive strike.

·Though he's every bit as fearless as he usually is in appearance, in his spark he's absolutely terrified as he breaks out his piledrivers, the lack of his brother or Soundwave leaving him with a sense of total helplessness that he has to force down for your sake. The alien is a kind he doesn't recognize, but it's big and clearly hates bots by the way it strikes to kill. Using his tiny size to his advantage, he hammers the legs that are too slow to kick him away in time, striking with a level of force that strains his shock absorbers to a painful limit. The hulking alien collapses as its means of support are demolished in a messy and agonizing attack, but the mini takes no chances, hopping up to the head and delivering a blow capable of creating an earthquake all on its own. He's left panting from the exertion but grateful to have proved himself. Sore from the strain, he hurries back over to you and can't help but ask if you saw what he just did?

·Tiny jubilation is crushed when he hears your weak reply. Even though you're smiling at his victory, you're obviously barely holding on, and that means whatever invisible malady is afflicting you is growing more severe. Scooping you up in bloodied servos, he tries to keep the tears welling in his visor from falling, though admittedly he's not sure why since his image matters very little in the face of losing you. Thinking fast, he breaks open a vent cover and makes use of the claustrophobic shortcut to hurry to the medical bay, ignoring his own overworked body's protests to save you at any cost. Not knowing what the problem could be, he's still tearing himself apart inside over every tiny delay that could now result in the difference between life and death. If only he hadn't hesitated to stop gaming, or had been paying enough attention to avoid that alien... How like him, to prove unworthy of something by ruining it.

·You'd been physically incapable of staying awake as he'd closed in on the part of the ship where help would hopefully be found. Though you had tried so hard and been so heartbroken by his struggles, exhaustion unlike anything had ultimately forced you to rest, with his protective grip on you making it hard to worry as you slipped under. Tears had started to fall without restraint the moment you went quiet. It had made quite a scene when he'd burst into the medical bay, ploughing through a vent cover and startling multiple bots on guard as he yelled for someone to help you, nearly getting shot until he was recognized with you in his arms. Nearby medics had been quick to explain the breakdown of the atmospheric generators and the loss of oxygen, but he brushes all that aside with a single question; will you be okay?!

·Every bot present is immensely surprised by his demeanor. He's known as a troublemaker and a prankster, so even with your relationship to him being taken into consideration, his agony over your condition is not something they could have ever predicted. The loyalty to you is unshakable and obvious even after you receive the care you need, as he refuses medical attention for himself and doesn't care in the slightest when the alien ambush is declared defeated. Not even the prospect of free drinks at Swerve's to celebrate can make him leave you for a second. All he wants is for you to wake up, and to hopefully not be mad once you wake up and learn what happened, which he believes he made worse by being irresponsible and wasting time... Though it isn't allowed, he crawls into your berth with you to snuggle when no one is present.

·You awaken to a much clearer head and the warmth of a bigger body huddled closely around you, and as soon as you open your eyes a familiar frame welcomes you back to consciousness. Whispering a greeting, you're shocked when the mini suddenly clings to you and begins pleading for your forgiveness while also recounting what happened to make you "sick", confusing you beyond all belief at first. Why would the bot you remembered saving you need to apologize? It's only by listening that you realize his misplaced blame is likely motivated by fear, as his hot tears pattering against the berth suggest a bot recently scared out of his wits. The poor mini is blaming himself for his lack of action, in full belief he could have moved faster and should have the moment something was wrong, and sounding quite convinced of his role in your injurey before you shush him as gently but audibly as you can.

·Wiping away heavy tears on his cheeks, you speak clearly through the oxygen mask still secured to your face, reassuring him that he did nothing wrong and had no reason to believe things would play out as they did. When he tries to miserably reply that he's still should have jumped at the first sign of trouble, you remind him that he jumped into action when it counted, taking down an enemy several times his size without anything but his own fists as weapons. Perking up to hear you remember his burst of bravery, he asks a little more confidently if you recall how he punched the alien so hard the hallway shook from the force, and you smile while you assure him that you saw every heroic moment. Hearing himself be referred to as a hero seems to reassure him in ways he didn't know he needed, and the rush of his own gratitude is enough that he hugs you tight without a hint of bashful hesitation. Just being here and safe with you makes it hard to be worried about anything at all.