#and the way that their relationship develops over the course of the musical is great

[factual-flittermouse]

Being queer is seeing a post saying “Movie night! We’re watching Legally Blonde because we are secure in our masculinity” and realizing that you actually have fragile masculinity (likely tied to being queer and the stigmas that accompany that) and that your fragile masculinity is why you feel embarrassed to like a musical that’s so aggressively pink… or not, idk

[dr-spectre]

I saw this really great thread on twitter by Grungygrim and it definitely highlights my thoughts and frustrations with the story of these games and the Splatoon fandom as a whole. (be forewarned, i get really tilted in this blog post fyi.)

I made a blog post about 2 weeks ago where i said that i was happy that the narrative online that "Callie is an idiot who got kidnapped and then brainwashed/mind controlled against her consent" is going away. (Here's the link: https://www.tumblr.com/dr-spectre/749710338672525312/im-so-happy-that-the-narrative-online-that?source=share)

Unfortunately I'm gonna have to retract a lot of the stuff i said. I'm still seeing, TILL THIS DAY THAT NARRATIVE ONLINE! IM STILL SEEING SO MUCH MISINFORMATION AND IT MAKES ME REALLYYYY ANGRYYYY!!! As a big fan of Callie, people completely outright ignoring her character arc THAT WAS SET UP SINCE SPLATOON 1 BY THE WAY!!! and not even bothering to look at outside sources for more information and lore genuinely pisses me the fuck off to no end.

No, hypnosis is NOT MIND CONTROL/BRAINWASHING! I DONT WANNA KEEP REPEATING IT! YOU CAN LOOK IT UP! if a person is genuinely uncomfortable and doesn't wish to take the suggestions to heart while hypnotized, THEY WONT DO SO! THEY STILL HAVE CONTROL! Yes, Marie did say "kidnapped" in some of her dialogue, but from her perspective, OF COURSE SHE'S GONNA THINK CALLIE GOT KIDNAPPED! She's known to worry about Callie all the time and ruminate about her, of course she's gonna think of the worst case scenario, doesn't mean she's right though. Was Octavio still in the wrong for hypnotizing Callie in the first place and allowing her to bring out her darker traits more easily? YEAH! NO SHIT! HE'S A BAD DUDE! Not a totally evil person but he has made some awful decisions out of desperation for his people. Why do you think he was so quick to help out the New Squidbeak Splatoon in the finale of Splatoon 3? His people got turned into fluffy monsters by a giant bear, he's all about helping his people.

Hell look at how Callie acts while under the Hypnoshades, she decorates Octo Canyon and her peppy and energetic self is still in tact even during the final boss, she's just more mean and violent. Callie was in an emotional and mentally unwell situation due to her overworking herself and being incredibly lonely as her relationship with Marie was damaged overtime. Callie accepted the suggestions of DJ Octavio and heard him out, AS SAID BY HER FROM THE RELATIONSHIP CHART! She wasn't forced into anything. She didn't suffer "sexual abuse" from Octavio by being forced into skippy clothing as some psychos say online, if she didn't want to wear that outfit she wouldn't cause hypnosis is NOT MIND CONTROL!! I hate having to repeat this over and over again, i hate how the developers basically rushed and ruined this interesting villain arc with stupid shades, only to try and hastily fix it later with an obscure post about A GOD DAMN RELATIONSHIP CHART THAT PEOPLE EITHER DONT KNOW ABOUT OR DONT CARE TO LOOK AT BECAUSE THEY SEE SPLATOON AS SOMETHING FOR KIDS AND TO NOT GIVE ANY CARE TOWARDS!!!!!!!!

I made a god damn giant blog explaining Callie in Splatoon 2 because i felt so frustrated about how my favorite character in the series was being treated and i tried to salvage the story that the writers tried to make. The way that people made her situation worse by saying she got kidnapped and forcibly ""mind controlled/brainwashed"" actually gave me chest pain, thinking about that kind of scenario for Callie actually hurts me... Heck i cant even listen to the Splatoon 2 stage music or final boss music because hearing her reversed vocals makes me feel uncomfortable due to the misinformation online. I hated all the misinformation and i wanted it to stop. HELL EVEN IN GIANT TIMELINE VIDEOS WHERE PEOPLE DO TONS OF RESEARCH THEY STILL GET IT WRONG!! UGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! i guess it'll still be the common and popular notion that Callie is an idiot that got kidnapped and then ""mind controlled"" by some shades... oh well... ugh...

I'm sorry if I'm coming off as really angry, i am. It's just, my brain is really hyperfixated on this squid and she means a lot to me. Seeing the way the fandom as well as the writers treat her makes me really mad. I hope i can find some peeps who feel the same way as i do. Misinformation is so frustrating man... i dont even wanna get into the Octarians because that's a whole other can of worms... anyways im done ranting. have a good night or good morning wherever you live y'all.

[wegog]

Okay, I still think people don't speak enough about how Hades and Persephone's love story is great in Hades game(s).

The way you have to figure it out is like a puzzle. And together with Zagreus you change your opinion about the situation every time. The way Persephone talks about how Hades was always gentle with her and gave her the space she so lacked on Olympus. The fact that after many years, she can still talk about him so dreamily. But at the same time, she is resentful of the way the relationship between Hades and their son turned out. She does not believe that Hades' love could survive all the pain that permeated the last days of their marriage. Although in fact this love is stronger than death. What Hades had always feared was that Persephone had never truly chosen him.

And he always put her needs and desires above the selfishness that often accompanies such strong feelings. Hades was literally the perfect husband who deeply respected his queen and recognized her strength, allowing her to shed the nickname "Kore" forever. And in his desire to do everything as best as possible for his beloved, he only makes things worse, dooming them both (and their son) to suffering. In turn, Persephone leaves Hades not only because she thinks that their son is stillborn, but also because she is afraid of the war that could happen between the gods due to the difficult circumstances under which she ended up in the Underworld (I'm looking at you Zeus).

They are both ready to leave each other so that their loved one is happy, in order to improve things in their kingdom. But it's separation that makes them so wretched, harms their son and the entire Underworld! The fact that the developers decided to make Persephone the Goddess of Verdure and Grain (what means she's kind of the Goddess of what gives mortals food, in fact, the Goddess of the Life), and Hades, the God of the Dead, makes their story so beautifu! Just as many characters in the game cannot imagine them together, it is also obvious to us that they are inseparable from each other, like life and death.

And, of course, small details, like Persephone pored over his portraits even before they met like she was some kind of his fan, what is very funny and breaks the stereotypes.. And how she likes to joke at Hades goodhumouredly, despite the fact that she admires him. And how the Goddess will always point out to him what needs to be done to fix his work or/and his relationship with their son. The way at first Persephone says she and Hades have little in common, but immediately mentions something they share like the same taste in music. Or the fact that they are both insanely smart and seem to be both incredibly good at that boring paperwork (which is doubly funny considering how terrible Zagreus is at it).

No one seems to say it in the game, but despite their outward differences (yes, that frown socially awkward huge God that everyone should be afraid of and that radiant little Goddess with incredible powers of persuasion that everyone adore), in fact, they not just complement each other, but also very similar, but on a deeper level!

P.S. I also see similar dynamics in Zagreus and Thanatos. Like, yes, the God of Blood and Life is together with the personification of Death and so on and so on...

[mahuhumaling]

JATP Season 2 Wishlist

that i wrote in my notes app back in:

and realized i never posted it here? tbf i'm rarely on tumblr. but because i really miss them rn i want to share my ✨ brainrot ✨ that i had back when i thought they were getting a renewal.

Carrie Wilson

she was my biggest flaw in Season 1. I wish her "redemption arc" is fleshed out more in Season 2; give her either more context & backstory to validate her reason for unnecessarily antagonizing Julie, or screentime to properly address how she's just projecting an emotion completely different into bitterness and anger into Julie's recovery

show particularly her earlier dynamic w/ Flynn and Julie? Maybe as Flynn calls her out, we'd get flashback glimpses prior to Rose's death (maybe even Double Trouble temporarily being Triple Threat 👉🏽👈🏽)

for some reason i'm picturing a scene where she's in her dance studio (she has one in their mansion, of course) practicing some of her Dirty Candy routine when she keeps messing up and not in the right mindset to keep dancing. i feel like the best (maybe easiest but whatever) way to guide the audience into her artist mind is to make her be a perfectionist. in frustration, she blows up for a minute before slumping onto the ground and reminisces her fun times with Julie & Flynn

also when you have her develop, please don't make her lose her femininity and the bubblegum pop music, it's great

Old Songs Resurfacing

it'll prove how detailed & thorough you are as a screenwriter if you pay off the songs mentioned in Season 1 in passing to be actual songs in Season 2

Unreleased: Get Lost, Long Weekend, Crooked Teeth, My Name is Luke, and if that riff from the scene in EP. 5 that spurred on the Bobby reveal isn't from one of these songs, add that too

Demo Album: Late Last Night, Lakeside Reflection, In Your Starlight

Willex

imagine your queer couple gets to have their first kiss first than your het main couple, not only will that settle Madi & Charlie's statements about being uncomfortable in doing a kissing scene and maintaining the priority of Juke's emotional over physical relationship, it would also make an powerful statement

Reggie's Character Arc

i know that he initially had an arc that involved a romance with Flynn but because of the ages of who they casted, they scrapped it and didn't have time to rewrite the scripts for him as filming neared, so they have time to adapt to how jeremy portrayed him for season 2: a lovable dork who craves familial love

since there's a possibility that lifers can now see the boys, maybe some found family trope for Reggie and Ray Molina?

he has pretty much formed a parasocial relationship with him at this point

so why not instead of a love interest, Reggie can have his character arc develop & we see his family before thru flashbacks and paralleling those in the current times because he sees Ray as a father figure

picture this: it's raining, Bobby opens the garage door to the sound of knocking, the boys find Reggie soaking wet and out of breath when he tries to say he doesn't know where else to go then the boys immediately figure out another fight in the Peters household happened. Reggie tries to talk again when Alex (because even though they're the airhead-sarcastic duo, they know they love each other) runs up to hug him and tells the other he doesn't have to say anything

cut to a freshly showered Reggie, quietly watching tv with Bobby, Luke, and Alex in the garage, eating whatever

also a solo acoustic country song, pls. just to make him happy

The Aftermath of the Deaths

for both the boys and Rose

we get parallels about how Bobby dealt with trauma and grief to Julie

like, the reason why the clothes are still in there (are to have costume changes for the boys) is because Bobby immediately moved out of the house (therefore also the garage) and left the clothes there because he couldn't bear to burn it, or visit the boys' houses to break the news to their families and return the clothes, or donate it somewhere so he just...left it. it would make for a more solid reason (for costume changes) and an emotional context as to how Bobby really tried to forget them because it was "easier."

it would also make sense why Carrie and Julie ended up friends. Rose probably was there for Bobby when they discovered what happened at the alleyway, so they stayed friends over the years and had their respective families but still kept in touch, (bonus points if absolutely nothing romantic happened between them! yay to normalizing platonic male-female relationships) and why Rose would immediately think of Bobby's three late bandmates to send for Julie when she was on her deathbed

Bobby never really "moved on" (because grief is a really complex thing). it's showed that he has a therapist and everything, and this could definitely have some aftereffects on his daughter. Carrie growing up seeing her father be this amazing rockstar but a negligent father and only showing love in ways she doesn't need (like riches and fame and connections to the music industry) because he's actually a really lonely man on the inside and no one can see that except for Bobby's spouse and Carrie. it'd explain why Carrie is spoiled, and other negative character traits that Carrie has on the surface

it's even why Bobby changed his name to Trevor: 1) Bobby is so closely associated to Sunset Curve and it's an absolute pain to be reminded of that every day, 2) it's a stage name and artists really do get that

More Worldbuilding

they already had some pretty creative concepts/ideas in the first season, so why not expand/expound on them a bit more

the instruments are attached to their souls that's why the boys at first can only touch them, like how Willie's skateboard and helmet are attached to him

which is why when they attach themselves to the world of the present, they gather up energy and focus on touching tangible things like the picture frame

this may follow the logic toward the end where they are finally able to touch Julie because she has become attached to their souls. emotionally.

More Creative Collaboration

i believe in the principle that when a story is finally released/published/told to the world, the world shares it. this is also visible in film/tv where when the scripts are finished and actors receive them, the story becomes part of theirs to work on. which means that they have some sort of autonomy over their characters' motivations, a chance to be heard of their ideas and pitches, and why some certain scenes wouldn't work, etc etc. it doesn't just become the director's story nor the screenwriters'.

the actors' ideas such as Perfect Harmony and their solos from Nothing to Lose are great because they let them in. they took risks, and it paid off incredibly well. more of that please. have them be a part of the writing process, (also the story), but never forget what made the music production great in the first place. be coherent and don't be like others that let too many hands work on one piece—it will lose its sound, its identity.

Julie Knowing

that Nick is possessed by Caleb. ohmygOD. hear me out.

the same S1 ending will play somewhere in 2x01, but it will be revealed that Julie was watching through the window the entire time and when she opens the door to receive the flowers, that last look she gives him is actually her scheming.

determined to get Nick back, imagine The Promised Neverland's level of mindgames Julie could play with Caleb because we already know our girl's smart

Free Willie Willie's Freedom

since the boys feel indebted to Willie's help, they insist on helping him too with getting rid of Caleb's stamp

maybe through his connection with Alex? or maybe Willie's family or friends who are still lifers (which is unlikely but either way). he needs to be saved !!

Song Sequences Ideas

juke counter melody duet like Rini's "Even When/The Best Part," Shane & Mitchie's "Wouldn't Change a Thing," or dodie & Jon Cozart's "a love song/a non love song"

emotional carrie ballad paired with lyrical hiphop choreo

willex song - i absolutely have no idea where this could go directionally but maybe alex on an acoustic guitar with a really soft sweet tune

reprises of S1 songs but in the complete opposite of their original style (the fandom's lonelier All Eyes on Me version, i see u)

nick guitar solo - just because Sacha actually plays, idk how it'd fit in to the plot yet but hey

Nothing to Lose (Reprise) - back in the '90s, a producer manipulates Bobby to sign a record deal to become a star but on one condition: disassociate himself with Sunset Curve, to which he first declines until he slowly gets persuaded. (sort of like Todrick Hall's So Lucky to Be You meets Lyn Lapid's Producer Man)

"So how about it, Bobby Shaw? Do we have a deal?"

"Trevor."

"I'm sorry?"

"Call me Trevor Wilson."

i'm pretty sure someone made an animatic with this idea too but i cannot for the life of me find it !!

7. Season 2 starts the same way as Season 1 does before the opening song plays

Black screen that reads a text "Hollywood 1995"

a pan down to the Orpheum's overhead sign that reads "SUNSET CURVE SOLD OUT"

cut to the interior with Rose finishing up her cleaning when a stage manager calls out: "Sunset Curve!" to which Bobby abruptly stops his pacing back and forth to look up. he and Rose look at each other. music swells until...

cut to him running onto the alleyway, "are they still not finished eating? those gluttons are dead to me i swear—" he cuts off his own words when he sees the boys getting dragged onto stretchers. but we, the audience, don't see it. just a close up of bobby as the ambulance lights reflects his face. rose comes up behind him, still clutching their t-shirt.

[i honestly have no idea if Bobby should get on stage because it just proves Luke's theory of The Orpheum's opening bands eventually becoming big & successful so it'll explain the Trevor Wilson fame even though at first he only did it for the boys, or if he shouldn't because according to the article Julie googled he ran away immediately after they were pronounced in the scene] but either way, this is how the opening starts.

then it progresses to Rose and Bobby respectively having children so they could parallel each other blah blah

8. Julie plays a simple song on the piano while the guys watch her in awe

Storytelling through Props

let's dive deep into Rose's luggage/suitcase and use the props to head for Julie's emotional attachment with them

they already did it with the wardrobe: Rose wears the black leather vest in the pilot while Julie wears the same thing in EP 6

add depth to the characters' relationships like us finding out Julie's multilayered necklace is actually a gift from Carrie or something

SOYON ANN YOU'RE A GIFT FROM GOD. Bobby's necklace is present in both young and old!him

**Rose in flashback scenes should be wearing clothes we've already seen Julie in Season 1 just for greater effect.

The Bobby Conflict

definitely needs to be brought up again by Season 2; they only discarded somewhere in the middle because more pressing matters like the boys' existence blipping away was pushed to the forefront of the story

however, The Bobby Conflict changes. it'll be cleared up that he was offered a record deal as a solo artist by a manipulative producer. and given that the poor boy is only 17 (too, maybe), he agrees. what he doesn't know is the contract's fine print: giving up Sunset Curve's royalties

that information clears it up to the audience and the band, so the conflict becomes this: Bobby's Survivor's Guilt. god wouldn't that be so good tackling that in a kids'/family show.

[ughgoaway]

I’m the anon who asked about requests earlier!!! Ik feeling uninspired/writers block is tough and never a great feeling but just know that myself and soooo many others will DEVOUR anything you write — even if you don’t love it lol.

I had a thought if teacher girly maybe when she’s pregnant or just after he’s born and her and Matty playing him Mattys music for the first time and him having a positive reaction. Maybe him smiling or laughing for the first time and Matty getting so excited (and maybe tearing up a bit lol). Little Annie is singing along of course. And it’s just all mush and fluff lol

ahh, you are very sweet, my love. writers block does suck, and I really hope I'll start feeling better about everything soon!! luckily, your idea was so cute that I was able to write a little bit!! It's not great, but I'm just glad it's something lol <3

also, this is one of my favourite things ever with babies, I love when they react to their parent's voices and start giggling and dancing!!

(p.s. All my baby development knowledge does come from Google, so take this with a grain of salt. Also, this is extremely sappy sorry lol)

✿❀✿✿❀✿✿❀✿✿❀✿✿❀✿✿❀✿✿❀✿✿❀✿

So, baby boy is generally a very smiley baby. He does kinda early at about 6 weeks. But when it comes to laughing, he's stubborn. You, matty, and the boys do everything to try and make him laugh, pulling faces, tickling him, laughing around him to try and get him to copy you. But still, he just smiles.

“Annie was such a giggly baby. Why are you so grumpy, hmm?” You hear Matty whisper to Arthur in his crib one night as he's putting him to bed, tickling his belly lightly in an attempt to even hear a tiny giggle. Still, he doesn't laugh, but he does give Matty that familiar gummy smile and starts pulling at his hair. which, in turn, makes matty laugh, freeing his hair from Arthur's grip and kissing him on the head before he leaves.

Eventually, you settle in bed, and Matty can’t help but bring it up, “it's been over 2 months since he smiled, and he still won't laugh. Annie used to giggle whenever she saw my face,” Matty said grumpily.

“Maybe you just had a funnier face back then,” you joke, but Matty doesn’t even really process it. He’s too deep in thought as he's flipping through the various baby books you bought. He wants to check if Arthur is just doing it out of spite or if you need to see someone.

“Matty, he’ll laugh soon, I promise. Just be patient, my love.” you pull the books out of his hands and settle yourself on top of him, not in that way (although Matty would love that) in the way you do when he's overthinking and just needs to feel something other than his own heartbeat pounding in his chest.

He sighs heavily and wraps his arms around your waist, pulling you both down until you're practically fully lying on top of him. In the early days of your relationship, you used to be worried you'd crush him when he asked you to do this. But after a lot of reassurance, you’ve just started letting yourself relax, knowing the pressure of your body on his is the easiest way to ground him.

/////

Matty tries to forget about it all for a few days, but you can tell he's still thinking about it. The only thing that gets his mind off it is going to the studio, something he’s not properly done since Arthur was born. You tell him over and over again to go and make music, but he is insistent on staying with his little family for as much time as he can before he’s whisked off on tour again. But after months of badgering, he crumbles and calls George for a little studio session.

“But promise me you’ll call me if you need me, yeah? I don't want you getting all stressed out, s’not good for you” Matty says for the thousandth time that morning. You give him a peck and assure him you'll call the second you need help before shoving his keys in his hand and waving him out of the door.

You, Annie, and Arthur decide to go on a walk whilst he is out. She stands on the back of the pram as you push, and Mayhem quite happily trots beside the three of you. It's a lovely day, so when you pass an ice cream van and Annie flashes you those eyes, you immediately crumble and buy yourself and her ice cream. You end up with three ice creams, though, as the man in the van insisted on making one for mayhem too. Free of charge, of course. 

Annie can't stop giggling as she watches Mayhem inhale the ice cream in about 2 bites, wagging his tail wildly the whole time. You send a video to Matty, making sure to show baby Arthur watching with a big smile, but still not laughing. You caption it, “Even mayhem can't make him laugh. He's definitely just being stubborn. sounds like his dad tbh”

Matty loves the video, showing it to George with a big smile on his face and sending a jokey message back about being hurt that you got ice cream without him. But it does reassure him a bit that he's not the reason Arthur's not laughing. The world just clearly isn't as funny to a 3-month-old.

Matty comes back a few hours later, walking into the house to see you and Annie colouring on the floor and Arthur having tummy time next to you, staring at the coloured pens with wide eyes. You can always tell the studio session went well when Matty comes in with an iPod.

He insists on downloading all the half-finished songs on there so he can come home and show you as soon as possible. He says the iPod adds nostalgia and that's why he can't just play it off of his phone, but you think he just likes the extra drama of setting the iPod up and connecting it to the speaker.

So when he comes home with that familiar pink iPod in his hands, both you and Annie perk up. “Daddy, can I plug it in pleaseeee?” Annie asks, fluttering her eyelashes in the way she knows will always make Matty do what she wants, he nods and passes it to her, settling next to you on the floor and pressing a kiss to your lips.

It's a bit more intense than you usually get at 3 pm on a Tuesday, but who are you to complain when your musician boyfriend comes home from the studio and kisses you in a way that makes your head spin? 

Your hand moves to his cheek as his settles behind your neck, pulling you in impossibly closer and using his tongue to trace the seam of your lips. Just as you open your mouth to welcome his tongue, Annie comes over and squishes herself between the two of you, holding the remote for the speaker in her hand with a cheeky grin on her face. Matty scoops up Arthur in his arms before he lets Annie press play, smiling down at him and letting Arthur’s hand surround his thumb.

Before long, Matty's voice starts coming out of the speakers, and you feel your muscles relax by themselves. It's a beautiful song, his soft vocals surrounded by a mix of acoustic guitar and piano.

The lyrics are repetitive, but not in the way pop songs on the radio have. It makes you feel familiar with the song like you've heard it a thousand times over, even if it was your first time listening to it. It felt like that same warm blanket you've loved all your life being laid over you one more time.

In typical 1975 fashion, the beat is addictive despite it being a slower track, and you can already see Annie swaying beside you and getting into the music.

Matty starts singing along without thinking, and soon enough, Annie joins in, too, their voices together making you grin immediately. But a new voice soon joins the medley, little Arthur giggling at his dad's voice and swaying.

You and Matty freeze as soon as you hear it, eyes meeting each other as Annie keeps singing and moving obliviously. Arthur stops when Matty does, but after you nod softly at Matty with a smile pulling at your lips, he starts singing again and right on cue, Arthur’s soft giggles start back up.

“Ohmygod” Matty whispers, his wet eyes swapping between you, Annie, and Arthur cradled in his arms. Annie quickly takes notice of the mood shift, looking concerned before you assured her that they were good tears.

“your brother is laughing sweetheart, go look!” you say, rushing her over to stand next to Matty. She scrambles up, moving as fast as her little legs can take her so she can stand by Arthur’s head.

You slide into the spot she left, leaning your head on Matty’s shoulder and watching as Arthur starts giggling and smiling as soon as Matty starts singing again.

Annie claps and starts laughing back, which only makes baby Arthur laugh more. Eventually, he’s laughing so hard his little eyes are screwed shut, and Matty is so excited he can't stop smiling and singing along to keep his laughter up.

You Facetime Denise immediately, and she's smiling and cooing down the phone at the three of you. At first, you only text the boys, but after many demands for a video, you end up just facetiming each of them and letting them watch Arthur's face light up.

George comments about how he must really be Matty’s son because they both love the sound of his voice, which earned him an eye roll from Matty and a laugh from you and Annie. After that, Arthur won't stop laughing. Everything is suddenly hilarious, and you and Matty couldn't be happier.

Anyway, this is extremely soft and sappy, oops! <3

[physalian]

Physalian's Top 10 Narrative Pet Peeves

*For now*

In one way or another, these all boil down to “Author took a shortcut and I absolutely noticed”. In other words, most of these stem from Manufactured Sincerity.

All of these come with the caveat of *except when done well*. I’m ordering these from “I’m annoyed but I’ll get over it” to “Nope, DNF”. 

10. Sad times = Alcohol

Everyone drinks when they’re depressed apparently. Only women or fat men are allowed to eat away their sorrows with ice cream and guilty pleasures. No one’s allowed to go on a self-pity shopping spree. No one just goes to bed.

They drink. Or they go shoot something. Or punch a wall. It’s usually out of a flask or a crystal decanter. It’s usually whisky (specifically bourbon) or scotch, or something out of a brown paper bag.

Maybe this is my own bias as someone who does not drink, but writers, please come up with more diverse ways to show your character is mourning someone or something, beyond immediately heading straight for the alcohol. Not everyone likes liquor, not everyone owns a decanter set and crystal glasses.

Let them eat or shop or sleep or get high, or watch their favorite show or a really sad movie or listen to emotional music. Let them cry if they’re bad boys. Don’t make them punch walls.

9. Down time = Sexy Times

This applies of course only to narratives with implicit or explicit sex scenes and what I mean by down time is those situations where characters are either on the run or have some crucial deadline to meet, some race to win, what have you, and the second they get some time to breathe and have a heart to heart, they both let their guard down and ignore impending doom and sleep together.

If you’re in the real world and you are that stressed for any of the reasons above, you’re going to be constantly looking over your shoulder, worrying about what you’re going to do next, wondering if you should even stop to rest, not be dead on your feet but have enough energy to bang.

Obviously if it’s played for humor, that’s different, but in dramas, or especially in environments not suited for intimacy (looking at you fantasy and sci-fi) it just feels ridiculous and particularly gratuitous. Non-aces please tell me if this is a legit thing you would do, I sincerely want to know.

It also tends to happen with near strangers who’ve only known each other for several days, possibly weeks with little buildup, and they also tend to be at each other’s throats bickering incessantly. Save the sex for after you’ve won and can really dedicate all your attention to enjoying it.

8. Pointless Filler Pit Stops

Or ones that last way too long for no reason. I love filler, but only *productive* filler. It doesn’t have to service the plot, but it does have to develop at least one character, a relationship, the lore, somebody’s backstory, or be really funny and/or interesting to sit through.

Usually, it feels like it’s there to pad the run time or slow the pacing, but rarely does anything for the overall story. A fair bit of season one of ATLA is filler pit stops, but even when they go to all these random places for one-off adventures, the story is still showing us the world they live in, making it a teachable moment, introducing important characters, foreshadowing, or is just mighty entertaining to watch.

ATLA has only one pointless filler pit stop: the infamous Great Divide. It doesn’t positively develop any of the main trio, we never see these side characters again, Aang’s story is a complete lie so it doesn’t develop the lore or the world, and, most importantly, it’s just frustrating to watch. Your first job as a writer is to entertain, and this episode is annoying.

7. Fridged Character Motivation

I don’t mind the “fridged lady love” inherently. It’s a quick and dirty way to give your brooding hero backstory and everyone is familiar with it. I’m annoyed at how it’s the only nuance these characters tend to get, like this man’s dead wife/girlfriend/dog is his sole motivation for everything he does in life and all his goals.

I like broody badasses. I don’t like one-note broody badasses. His character existed before he met his dead love interest. Who was he back then? Does he have any friends who hate the man he’s become? Old mentors who’ve lost their faith in him?

This man’s arc is usually not even therapy-via-violence to get over his dead wife, it’s just a ham-fisted excuse to make him mean and short-tempered. Who is he, unrelated to this fridged character?

6. Dumbass Villains

The villain has captured the hero and friends and plans some dastardly torture to break their will. The villain has all their tools prepared and monologues about how easy it’s going to be, and the hero usually says something along the lines of “you can’t break me” or “I can take it,” whatever. And after several pages or minutes of screen time, the hero’s right, and then the villain breaks out plan B: The hero’s love interest, or their parents, who have just been waiting in the wings.

Why is this almost never plan A? The hero can always handle the pain, and always breaks down the second it’s someone else’s health on the line. Why doesn’t the villain, who’s always pissed at the lack of results, start with the proper motivation?

It’s either this or they wait until the perfect dramatic timing to reveal some skill or weapon or ultimatum after precious time has been lost, deadlines have been missed, and money has been burnt. Or they’re in the boss battle and they wait until the hero thinks they’ve won to pull out their secret weapon.

Unless you can give your villain a valid reason to not start with all the tools they have at their disposal, it might as well be a reverse deus ex machina. Even if it’s something as simple as Plan B hasn’t arrived on scene yet.

5. Everybody Has a Somebody

A topic I plan to expand on so I’ll keep it short here. Basically, the story wraps up and every eligible single character has a love interest they’re in varying stages of romance with. No one is spared, or they’re already dead. It’s a race to the finish line to give these characters significant others because that’s just what you do, it’s what audiences expect, there must be a romantic subplot.

Particularly annoyed when it’s an ensemble cast and the entire hero team only has relationships with other members of the hero team and no one outside this unit of 6-10 characters (*cough* Percy Jackson *cough*). No one is allowed to be single, or happy that they’re single. Everybody has somebody, no matter how well developed or plausible this relationship is.

4. Half-Baked Twist Villains

No one likes these characters and I’m not saying anything new here, and yet it still keeps happening. This one comes from just recently rewatching the abysmal Cars 2 (which is older, I know) and just trying to untangle this plot. This plot, that Pixar rinsed and repeated in Incredibles 2, and really thought no one would notice. This plot, where the villain creates a problem that doesn’t exist to make their own agenda look better, whether that’s malignant superheroes or green fuel.

Both try. Neither pretend the story is absent of a villain, unlike, say, Frozen. Both movies have a villain, they just have a hidden identity. The reveal just never hits as hard as the writers expect it to because, once again, they didn’t actually do the work to write a competent villain, they just slapped a “villain” sticker on their foreheads and called it a day. Why? Who cares.

3. Consequenceless Revivals

I love revivals, I love bringing characters back from the dead, love watching it, love writing it, love the drama.

Don’t love it when they’re suddenly back with no explanation or price to be paid. A character death should be a major event, and if you kill a character just to make your audience sad, then bring them back with zero effort, death begins to lose meaning in your world. CW shows are particularly terrible at this, specifically the TVD universe and Supernatural.

In the earlier seasons, when Sam or Dean died and came back, they still experienced character growth by dying and the experiences in hell, the PTSD inflicted, the new emotional battle scars. Even when Dean died a thousand times in the “Mystery Spot” episode, the point wasn’t “ha ha funny Dean dies again,” it was exercising Sam’s crippling codependency on his brother, as Gabriel says. There are consequences, either for the character’s psyche, or a cost for bringing them back to life.

2. Wimping Out on Promised Death

This decision makes me want to throw the book at the wall, or pause the movie and walk away. It’s the penultimate battle, the prophecy is upon us, a character or one of two characters must die to save the day, it cannot be impeded, avoided, or circumvented. We’ve known this is coming since the story began and are prepared for the tears and bloodshed.

Then the magical miracle springs out of nowhere and everyone gets to live. Kill them. Please. Even if it’s my favorite character, I’d rather cry over their death than be disappointed by plot convenience. If this is the tragic, fulfilling end to their arc, then that’s how I want it to end. Rarely do these characters get revived in a satisfying loophole everyone should have seen coming. I just feel manipulated.

1.  Forced Miscommunication

*Picture me walking a stadium hawking Pointless Drama like cotton candy and cans of beer* Cheap Drama! Anybody want some Cheap Drama? Cheap Drama!

In the real world, people make misassumptions all the time and many of us are conflict-averse. We avoid talking about our problems to those who’ve wronged us like we’re polarized magnets. Forced miscommunication doesn’t care about anxiety, which would be fascinating to explore as explicitly anxious characters suffering legit mental issues is under-utilized. No, these instances just have characters eavesdropping or snooping and, out of character, make all these outlandish assumptions, refuse to listen to explanations, and start a fight that lasts juuuuust long enough until it’s magically resolved without consequence.

It doesn’t do anything for the story. It exists independently of these characters’ relationship and has zero impact once it’s resolved. I am 100% down for a single miscommunication causing an emotional outburst so extreme that it has the offended party seriously considering the strengths of their relationship, but it never happens that way.

—

TL;DR: The existence of a trope does not do the job of writing a compelling story for you. If you can look at any one scene in your book and not explain why it matters, what impact it has on the plot, story, or characters, delete it or rewrite it so it does. Even if it only exists to be funny, there should still be something gained from the experience.

[make-friends-with-the-rats]

hi! sarah jacobs for the opinions thing??

herherherherher

How I feel about this character: Disney princess. The best girl in the entire world. She's sweet and kind but she will literally punch you in the face and I love her so much for that. I feel like Sarah is a person who actively chooses to be kind. She gives people the benefit of the doubt and tries to empathize and see things from other people's points of view because she's all about justice and ideals, but at the same time she doesn't tolerate any bullshit and will call you out if you're being irrational or selfish. She's very protective over the people she loves, and she's just as much as a 'walking mouth' as her brother if in a slightly different way. (It runs in the family.)

All the people I ship romantically with this character: Jack and Sarah! They're both dreamers and they're adorable, okay? If you tell me they aren't you're a liar. That said, Jack and Sarah always felt more like a first crush than an endgame ship to me. It's all sweet and flirty and they definitely love each other, but it might not be permanent, y'know? That's why I'll occasionally indulge in Spot and Sarah or Katherine and Sarah. But at the same time I feel an argument could be made for Sarah being aromantic/arospec...

My non-romantic OTP for this character: David and Sarah! (Sarah loves her weird-ass brother!) I also love the idea of Jack and Sarah being close outside of a romantic relationship. And of course the potential dynamics between Sarah and Spot and Sarah and Katherine are my favorites to explore.

My unpopular opinion about this character: Sarah Jacobs is actually a well developed character and was not included for compulsory heterosexuality. She might not feel well developed, but that's literally because most of her scenes were cut so we aren't given her full story on the screen, just bits and pieces.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: I wish that her scenes hadn't been cut. Literally every single scene that didn't make it into the movie from every single script. I want them. Put them back. Mr. Ortega look out because I am hunting you. I also wish we'd seen more of Sarah and her work sewing lace. Given the context of the time period/story, it is very possible that Sarah Jacobs worked for a lace factory: another area of industry that exploited child labor. I want to see Sarah mobilizing her fellow lace factory girls and taking them to newsies square at the end of the movie post Once and For All. I also wish she'd been included in the stage musical. We don't need a love triangle, but it would have been interesting to have Sarah (working class woman) as a contrast to Katherine (upper class woman.) They could have been great narratively. Also, let her be a socialist.

Thank you for the ask!

ask game

characters answered: David Jacobs, Jack Kelly, Blink and Skittery, Bumlets and Swifty

[imreallyloveleee]

Where do you think it all went wrong with Riverdale?

honestly, part of me is like, the show's over and nothing but fandom matters. so who cares?

the other part of me loves to complain about Riverdale and will continue to do so until the day I die in the parking lot of Michael's Diner in Montgomeryville, PA at the age of 86. so, long-winded answer under the cut

I'm tempted to say it's the s4 b*rchie kiss. It was so wildly out of character for both Betty and Archie that it's laughable. You know how you can tell when something is just blatantly OOC with no justification? They...don't justify it. They find ways to dance around any interaction that might offer clarification. They mute the reactions of the characters who should be devastated by it. And then they jump ahead 7 years so it's easier to just handwave it away as something that happened a long time ago.

but the thing is, I did keep watching after that. I thought: okay, at least we should get an exes-to-lovers arc out of this, which is one of my favorite tropes. there is no way they would spend 4 seasons developing Bughead as this loving, supportive, communicative, sexy, and almost-unbelievably-compatible couple just to tear them apart and never do anything with that dynamic again. maybe it'll be even sweeter seeing them come back together after so much hurt and longing.

boy was i wrong!!!!!!!!!

so, the episode that actually made me stop watching for good, with the exception of some standalones like The Jughead Paradox and the finale, was the s5 musical. that was when i realized that this team of writers was 100% willing, maybe even eager, to completely drop storylines they themselves had been building over the course of a season - do a 180 with all of the characterization and relationships - and then act as though the buildup they wrote never even happened.

in this case, i'm specifically talking about the Bughead reunion storyline they dropped in s5. i'm not going to pretend like it was a GREAT buildup - and it was mostly on Jughead's side, Betty's character in s5 was basically an emotionless misery bot that had sex sometimes - but it was there. Jughead told Tabitha he had unresolved feelings around Betty. that's followed by an entire episode that lays out Betty & Jug's time jump relationship, and how Jughead still believes she's the one who saves him from himself. they work on a case together, they start opening up to one another. Jughead's so worried about her he can't eat.

and then...you know what happens.

(i'll also note here that there was random bts stuff that strongly indicated the musical ep storyline had a drastic last-minute rewrite: lili tweeted a blue dress, suggesting the song with that line was meant for her character; RAS said cole had to do last-minute recording sessions; supposedly crew members have confirmed this was the case, too. since none of it's 100% confirmed you can take it all with a grain of salt, but i believe it.)

it was so fucking insulting as a viewer to give my time and attention to a show made by people who would not only randomly drop the threads they set up, but torpedo them altogether, and then behave like the fans are the ones somehow at fault for expecting a story that actually follows through on its own emotional and plot beats. we're just shippers, so our opinions are dumb and biased! it's just a tv show, so who cares! get over it!

so, i stopped watching, because i knew they would continue to write without any thought or respect for their characters or their audience, and therefore inevitably write themselves into another corner. and, shocker, i was right. they did it again, whisking everyone away to the 1950s because actually resolving any of the scenarios they set up was ToO hArD. why bother when you could just make every single character Righteously Angry and Incurably Horny all the time, lecture the audience about social issues that have already been mainstream progressive for the last several decades, and call it a "love letter" to your fans?

[ladyvialana]

Fic: Turning Seasons

Dead Boy Detectives fic. Edwin & Charles. Gen

Summary: During the early days, it was the quiet moments together that allowed the boys to learn each other.

Notes: pre-canon, slice of life, developing relationship/friendship

Also on Ao3

It was a quiet evening at the agency. Outside, it rained. Rivulets of water ran down the window behind Edwin’s desk in ever changing paths. (Technically, the desk was both of theirs, but really, it was Edwin’s.)

The boys were seated comfortably, settling in for an easy night. As much as they enjoyed their work, cases were not an everyday occurrence, and they quickly learned to love the downtime between them. Games, chit-chat, music. Anything they could fill the time and space with they did. Learning about each other and their new vocation as time passed.

Tonight was Edwin’s choice – for music and activity. The boys had been paid for a previous case with a working (formerly cursed) gramophone and a box of 12-inch LPs. They’d been making their way through the various albums when they had a moment to spare. Edwin was pleased to find something he actually recognised among the brightly coloured covers. The first movement of Vivaldi’s Summer concerto played softly in the background as both Edwin and Charles focused on their work – Edwin curled up on the settee, surrounded by books, and Charles sprawled out on the floor of the cupboard sorting through their slowly growing arsenal to see what might be useful to store in their recently acquired inter-dimensional backpack.

While Charles frowned at various jars without proper labels, Edwin mumbled a spell under his breath. He flicked his right hand – the left holding a worn spell-book steady against his lap – and a white flash erupted from the open palm.

Charles yelped, tipping over a – thankfully, sealed – bottle of green something as he raised his hands to shield his eyes from the light so bright it washed all colour from their office.

Edwin, wincing himself from the sudden luminescence, quickly closed his hand with a deliberate flourish and shook his fist as though to extinguish the light trapped within. As quickly as the light arrived, it vanished, leaving both boys blinking at the instant return to evening dark.

“All good there, mate?” Charles called out, shuffling over to sit in the threshold of the cupboard. He was rubbing at his eyes, reacclimatising himself.

Edwin squeezed his eyes shut, face wrinkling with the force of the gesture, before opening them and blinking rapidly. “Ah, yes. Apologies. The description was rather lacking in specificity for that spell. It’s unfortunately not as useful as I had hoped it might be.”

“Not unless you’re looking to temporarily blind someone.”

Edwin hummed thoughtfully. Not actually a bad idea, that. He wrote something down in his ever-present notebook then tucked it away in his jacket pocket folded neatly next to him.

Ghosts didn’t feel warm or cold, not the way humans did, but the atmosphere of the evening was cosy. Inspired by Charles - who had long since divested himself of his layers of coats and jackets until he was only garbed in his polo shirt - Edwin had made himself comfortable by removing his bow tie and jacket. He hadn’t yet gone so far as to remove his vest or roll up his sleeves, but it was a sign of Charles’ influence that he did take some enjoyment in shedding his own layers.

Thoroughly distracted from their tasks now, both boys took a moment to look at each other and enjoy the silent company.

Charles, of course, was the one to break the momentary quiet.

“What’s so great about magic anyway?” He gestured to the piles of books on and around the couch.

Edwin glanced down at the book in his lap and closed it. He debated answering, but Charles was so open with his inquiry. Edwin thought he knew him well enough by now to know that Charles would not push if Edwin didn’t want to reply. But that very acceptance was what had him opening his mouth to give an honest answer.

“The boys who …” He cleared his throat, unable to look at Charles as he spoke, despite the trust he was offering. “Well, they had no idea what they were playing with when I died. I will not allow myself to fall victim to that same hubris.”

Charles nodded. Then snorted. “Mate, sounds a bit like hubris of your own, that.”

Edwin looked up from his lap to stare pointedly at Charles and his cheeky grin.

Charles was still smirking as he raised his hands defensively. “All I’m saying is, you don’t have to do it all on your own. ’Cause you’re not alone anymore now, yeah?”

Neither boy wanted to give in, but it was Edwin who broke their staring contest with a rueful sigh. “I did warn you I was not good with people. I fear in death that attribute of mine has only decayed further.”

“And I told you I was aces at it. Balance, yeah? I trust you to know what you’re doing, so trust me to have your back. Lighten the load.” He grabbed the seemingly empty backpack from the floor and waved it in Edwin’s direction. “Literally, even!”

It was a poor attempt at a joke, but it did lift the mood enough that Edwin managed a small laugh.

He was still smiling when he said, “I do, you know. Trust you.” He cleared his throat. Turned from Charles’ warm brown eyes to the bag he held to avoid the emotional atmosphere and changed the subject. “But that is not just a simple bag of tricks. If you intend to carry it, you will need to learn how to use it properly. We can’t always rely on luck and charm.”

“You mean you can’t always rely on luck and charm.” He said this with a cheeky grin and a wink. Edwin rolled his eyes, fondly. Charles knew him well enough now to know it was fond. He settled into a soft smile and an earnest stare. “I’ll put in the work,” he promised.

Edwin’s gaze was just as soft as he said, “Yes. You always do.”

The third movement of Summer ended and the gramophone played empty air. Edwin got up and turned the vinyl over. Charles straightened up the jars he disturbed when he startled earlier. They boys settled back into their study as Autumn began to play, the easy atmosphere enhanced by the warm glow of the old lamps in the corners and the quiet patter of rain on the window.

[hansolmates]

you good? | 04

banner by @theluttleprince

summary; hansol vernon chwe is crying at his doorstep like a taylor swift music video, and you’re for some reason there to help  pairing; hvc / reader (f) genre/warnings; neighbors to friends, friends to lovers!au, slice of life, fluff, angst, mentions of sex, tw—cheating, mentions of pregnancy related to cheating, profanity w/c; 1k a/n; thank you god of music [masterpost]

“It’s him, isn’t it,” Jihoon juts his petal pink lips towards the door next to yours, and you can’t help but slap him on his chest. “You have a crush on him?” 

“Had a crush, had,” you pout, pressing your back against the open door frame of your apartment. 

“Once a crush, always a crush,” he reaches over to wipe the sweat off your brow, flicking his thumb over your flushed cheek. “Was he the friend you had over for dinner the other day?” 

“What will it prove if I say yes?” 

“It’ll prove that I have competition,” he teases, pinching the apple of your cheek. 

“Stop it,” you whine, tugging at the waistband of his haphazardly reapplied sweatpants. They're barely hanging on his hips, as you two were rushing to reclothe due to future commitments. 

"What?" He laughs, "he seems like a nice guy. A little crazy for trying to move out at 5AM last week but I feel for him."

"I don't even know anything about him, at least not anymore," you frown. To be honest, you don't even know the aftermath of what went down with Vernon and Yoojung. You really want to, but you don't feel like you're on that level to ask any follow up questions. Which brings you to your next point, he's getting over a long term relationship that ended messy. There's no way you could entertain a crush while he's still crushed. 

"But you want to," Jihoon nudges you close, and pulls you into a hug, "no shame in that." 

Jihoon's grasp feels so familiar, your arms fitting in all the right spots and your head tucked snugly in his shoulder. You peruse the thought of pursuing your landlord, it would be so easy. You suppose, you're already compatible both physically and mentally. It's just the pesky issue of trying to develop feelings. 

The door next to yours opens and you squeal, pushing yourself away from the embrace. You pushed so hard, hard enough that if Jihoon didn't grab you by the arms you'd be knocking your back against the wall. 

"Oh, hi guys!" Vernon is tugging a gigantic garbage bag outside, one lanky leg propping the door up and the other leg stretching to get the trash bag out. 

"H-hi Vern!" 

You can feel Jihoon’s smug grin, knowing that you’re acutely aware of both boys staring between you like an Oreo sandwich. 

“You good?” Vernon asks, tilting his head between the two of you. 

“Ah, yeah. Just had to fix a leak,” Jihoon shrugs, and you want to choke at the way it’s so easy for him to lie, “but we’re all good now.” 

“Cool. Actually, now that you mention it,” Vernon tugs with all his might at the trash bag, and with a big ugh! It’s out the door and into the hallway, “I noticed that my shower faucet is a little loose and sometimes it causes more water to leak out? Everytime I try to tighten it I feel like I’m gonna break it.” 

“That’s ironic, her leak was also in the shower.” 

What the actual fuck? 

You turn away from both boys, stare at a speck at the ground so you don’t get caught. Jihoon really wants you to die, right here, right now. 

“I can take a look tomorrow, is two good?” 

“Sure—wait, AM or PM?” 

“You really want me to come in at 2AM?” 

“Op, my bad,” Vernon chuckles, “two’s good. Text me when you come down. Let me know if you want pizza or something. You good with pineapple?” 

“Pineapple’s great,” Jihoon agrees, “I’ll see you then.” 

“Thanks Landlordie, you’re the best!” 

While the two of them talk like long lost friends, you’re spiraling. Of course, there’s no way that Vernon could know the double entendre Jihoon is trying to pull. Yet, it starts to make you paranoid. Your back pinpricks, and you think back to not an hour ago when you two were in the shower. I mean, the shower is on the opposite side of the apartment, there’s no way he could have heard you, right? 

“Good night hyung,” Vernon’s voice breaks you away, and you notice that Jihoon is already down the hall, waving the both of you goodbye. “Good night neighbor,” Vernon says, quiet and reserved for you. 

You tack on a smile and watch as Vernon catches up to Jihoon to the trash room, dragging the trash bag with a sharp metal object peeking out of the corner. “Night,” you reply, waiting until both boys are out of the floor before going back into your apartment. 

Letting out a breath you didn’t know you were holding, leaning against the door and letting the cool surface calm you down. 

You are so confused.

[spicywhenspeaking]

If I'm There: Chapter Sixteen

read from part one here!

summary: Noah and Natalie meet in high school and developed a relationship through their love of music and art. Falling in love, innocent and young, they think nothing can keep them apart. However, sometimes in the pursuit of your dreams the things we love the most get left behind.

taglist : @lma1986 @cookiesupplier @notingridslurkaccount @blackveilomens @thisbicc @thebadchic @laurpartyprogram @jessitpwk

“Just hand me another one” my voice races out in a choked whisper. Maggie looks at me sympathetically and reluctantly hands one over. We’re in her bathroom because I didn’t want the trash in my house incase Kyle saw. “Nat, I don’t think this one will be any different. It’s been the same for two days.”

Panic floods my body, “it can’t be the same, they’re wrong. They have to be wrong. There’s no way this is happening right now” my breathing is short and hollow and my heart feels like it’s going to break out of my chest, “I can’t- I can’t do-do this right now” I rasp out and fold in on myself, crumpling onto the ground, suddenly lightheaded with the heaviness of reality. Maggie rushed to my side and starts rubbing my back. I try to match my breathing to the gentle up and down of her hand against my back. “Nat, it’s going to be okay.” Maggie tries to reassure me but I can hear the panic in her own voice. “Okay!? How is any of this okay?! What am I going to do?” I sob and Maggie wraps her arms around me. I bury my face into her shoulder and I start to shake as I begin to cry even harder. 

Maggie rubs my back until I calm down a bit. “Are you going to call him?” She asks quietly. Sniffling I go grab a tissue and splash some cold water on my face.  “I guess I have to, right? God…what am I going to say?” I pace the bathroom floor anxiously biting my fingernails.

“Oh hey Noah, I know we haven’t talked in three months since you left me, again, after drunkenly sleeping together but I’m pregnant!!…that’s INSANE Maggie!”

I can hear the frantic edge in my voice and I accidentally bite too far down on my nail “ow! Fuck! Okay maybe I don’t tell him? That’s not a terrible idea” I say to myself as I throw the tests on the counter into the trash can. 

“Well, that doesn’t seem like a great idea. You have time to figure things out! If you even want to go through with it.” Maggie says and her voice is gentle and comforting. “Like…get rid of it? I don’t know…I don’t know if I could. I just need to think. I need some time.” I wash my hands and stare at myself in the mirror. “I’ll call him I guess, he should know, even if we’re not together.” I say to my reflection and think “how the fuck is this my life.” 

Later that night I’m sitting in my room and reflecting on the past three months since the last time I saw Noah. I was different when he left this time. I didn’t fall into a pit of despair, I went out with Maggie and had a life. Don’t get me wrong, I was sad. But I was also mad. Furious. I was so mad at Noah for leaving and just forgetting me. Like I meant nothing to him. Kyle thankfully never brings it up, he was right after all. Noah just came into my life, dug and planted himself in my heart and then ripped it out and stomped on it..

Things at work and school were great. I’m passing everything with A’s and even made a 100 on my last Econ exam. At work Maggie and I are making amazing tips and we even got a raise. 

Life has been good, so of course the universe has to send me this atomic bomb. Looking down at my still flattish stomach I poke it “why are you doing this to me? Do you have any idea what this means for my life?” I ask the life growing inside me. Groaning, I roll over and grab my phone off the charger. “Just call and get it over with. Rip off the band aid” I say to myself and press the green call button on Noah’s contact page. 

Ring Ring Ring Ring 

*click* 

You must be a witch…he was just lamenting about you and here you are calling his phone 

I’m sorry? Who is this? This is Noah’s phone right?

Yeah, he’s a little busy right now. It’s Alex. Remember me?

Oh um yeah hi, listen I really need to talk to Noah.

 Like right now please, it’s pretty important.

god you're not pregnant are you? Ha!

…..

Oh my god. You’re not. Don’t tell me you’re pregnant. 

…it’s really none of your business. Can you just get Noah please. 

You’ll ruin his life you know? 

His whole career. He will throw it all away for you. 

Is that what you want?

no..I just..he should know. 

He doesn’t have to be involved but he deserves to know. 

Yeah, I know Noah enough to tell he’s not the kind of guy that wouldn’t be there. 

Just end it or keep it but unless you want him to throw everything he’s worked for away don’t tell him. I won’t tell him you called -

Wait- *click*

“That bitch!” I yell into the air. Fuck. I think about texting Nick. I have half the message typed out on my phone and Alex’s words echo in my mind. “You’ll ruin his life. You’ll ruin his career.” Noah would drop everything, but, would he just end up resenting me in the long run for pulling him away from his dreams? Would he resent this baby? I delete the text and throw my phone back down on the bed as hot tears stream down my face. 

“What am I going to do?” I say to myself. I need to come up with a plan. I stare at my ceiling for hours thinking. I can’t have a baby here. My crazy mom as a grandmother? Yeah right, and what then? I just hide being pregnant and then hide the baby? That’s insane. I would need to leave. “Ugh” I throw a pillow at my wall. What the fuck am I going to do?

Maggie didn’t know what to say, she doesn’t want me to leave but also understands why I might want to. I don’t know how to talk to Kyle about it. I don’t know if I want to tell him. Not yet at least. If I leave, do I need to tell anyone? That’s horrible, isn’t it?. 

I trudge through the next week of school and on Friday morning I walk into my guidance counselors office. I’ve been discussing all my after graduation plans with Mr. Montree since sophomore year. Without giving my situation away I ask him about the possibility of getting approved for early graduation. 

“Why so early hon? They’re isn’t much time left in the semester, you’re already halfway there” he tells me and his voice is sweet and smooth. My eyes dart back and forth scanning the pictures and certificates he has hung on the wall. “As soon as possible really, I know the semester is almost up, I just have some personal reasons for needing to graduate now.” I explained to him, I’ve mentioned to him the issues my mom has had so maybe he’ll just assume it has to do with her. Nodding his head he continues typing into the keyboard and checking over my files. “Well Natalie, you’re an incredibly gifted student, you have more than enough credits to graduate. You could have graduated last fall as a matter of fact. But, I want you to be sure of your decisions, this is a big thing. Graduation should be a celebration!” His smile is so warm and welcoming. “I’ve thought about it and what’s best for me is to graduate now. As much as I’d love to be a normal teenager, that’s just not in the cards for me right now.” He gives me a look that makes me nervous, like he knows exactly what I’m talking about but he doesn’t say anything, just smiles again and nods. “Very well hon, I can have the paperwork processed by the end of the day.” I thank him and walk out of the front office. I finish the rest of my day in the art room, gathering my works in progress and other finished pieces I had stored in the room and by the end of the day I’m officially a high school graduate. At least I have that, if nothing else. I unconsciously place my hand on my stomach, “I guess we have each other little one” I whisper to myself. 

Once I’m home I flop onto my bed and check my email. I have a couple responses from the listings I inquired about. The one I was hoping for responded saying she’d love to offer me the space. “Am I really doing this?” I ask myself. I should try to call Noah again. Taking out my phone I open his contact again and press the call button. 

*beep* *beep* “ we’re sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service.”

Alone then. I’m doing this alone. 

My plan is crazy, it’s reckless, it’s cowardly and it’s possible the only thing I can think to do that will save me from my own heartbreak. I have to leave. I’ll do whatever it takes to give this kid a better chance at happiness, I’ll be the mom I always wished for. I’ll figure out the Noah thing. There’s still time for all of those things to work themselves out. 

I take out my notebook and write a note to Kyle. 

Ky ,

I’m sorry to do this so suddenly. I know we’ve been getting closer and there’s nothing that makes me happier. But I need to leave. In time I will tell you everything. 

Love always, 

Natty

Unexpected tears fall onto the paper and I write one for Maggie as well. None for my Mom. None for my Dad. They haven’t cared about where I was in years, this will be no different. 

Printing out my ticket I finished packing my duffel and backpack with all of the things I could carry, my laptop, as many art supplies as I can fit and that box in the corner of my closet. I take it out and stare at it, I consider throwing it away and then I bury it at the bottom of my bag. I don’t know what will happen to the rest of the stuff in my room, they can throw it all away. I don’t care anymore. 

I take the bus to the Greyhound station and check in for my bus to Austin. Standing at the steps before entering, I pause and look back at the city where it all began. Where I met Noah and fell in love. Where he broke my heart and left me. I take the steps and find a seat towards the back. Ready to take on my new life and protect the new life growing inside me. 

A couple days later the bus is pulling to stop and I exit. Turing around and take in my new city, the air is hot and dry. I have a room rented with an old woman, Gwen, I found her on craigslist and she agreed to meet me at the station to give me a ride. Her grandaughter used to live with her and she wanted to rent out the room to someone for a little extra money. She seemed nice over the phone and I needed a place to stay fast that wasnt too expensive so I could keep looking for a place in the meantime. I didnt tell her I was pregnant, hopefully I’ll be out of her place before I’m showing too much. 

“Hi! Natalie right?” the woman, Gwen, greets me at the front of the station and offers a welcoming hug. “Yes, Hi, Gwen its so nice to meet you.” I say returning the hug. I am strangely emotional. Leaving the insanity that was my childhood home behind and coming to a big new city is already a lot. Add on top of that I’m sixteen weeks pregnant, according to the urgent care doctor I saw before I left, eighteen and dont have a job. That will need to change soon. “Well, I’m sure youre exhausted from that long trip. Lets head home and we will get you settled.” Gwen says and leads me to her car. 

A while later I’m resting in  my new room and I pull out my phone to turn it back on. I powered it off before leaving and have been to nervous until know to turn it on. I have missed texts and calls but I dont address them right now. First I call Kyle. The phone rings a few times before he answers. 

Nat! I’ve been calling and texting, what the hell did you do? You’re leaving school and running away? What the fuck!

I’m sorry Ky

Tears are filling my eyes.

I had to leave, I want to tell you. I cant right now.

Are you okay? What do you mean you cant tell me?

Kyles voice barks out. 

I’m okay Kyle and I didn't leave school. I got my degree, I graduated early so I could leave.

But why did you leave? What happened? Does this have to do with Noah? Are you with him?

It does have to do with him yes, but we aren't together. Kyle, I swear I am okay. I just need to deal this on my own, but I promise I’ll tell you everything soon.

Okay, okay. I’m just worried about you Nat. You’re the last person I’d think would ever run. Maggie wouldnt tell me anything. Does she know?

I know you’re worried Ky, I’m sorry for that. I had to leave, I just had to. Maggie knows but leave her alone, she's done more for me than you will ever know.

Kyle and I continue to talk and I make sure to let him know I’m getting a new number soon.

Weeks fly by and I settle in comfortably, I find a job at coffee shop and I really like it. My coworker Hailey is a few years older and really nice. We’ve become fast friends and she’s shown me around town. We’re hanging out at zilker park one saturday morning and something off is in the air and it hits me. The nausea takes me by surprise and next thing I know I’m leaning over a trash can hurling my guts out. Hailey is rubbing my back as I continue to barf up my breakfast. “Dang, gir! Are you okay? Are you getting sick?” she asks. I reach for my water from the bag I dropped next to me and she helps and hands it to me.

I swish the water in my mouth and spit it out. “I’m something all right.” I say to her and wipe the sweat thats gathering on my forehead. “I’m pregnant.” I tell her and at first she laughs, thinking I was joking and then pauses. “Oh shit, you’re serious.” I nod and we walk over to a bench to sit. “Yeah, i’m serious.” I say and lean my head back to try and ease the spinning in my head. “Is that why you left home? Got knocked up and ran away?” She asks and it doesn't feel like judgement, just genuine curiosity. “Tale as old as time. My boyfriend broke up with me and then we had drunk sex, he left, I found out I was pregnant and now here we are.”

The spinning in my head slows before she speaks again. “Shit, Natalie. You have a plan?” she asks the million dollar question, the one I’ve been asking myself everyday. “Um, well. Save up some more money, find a place to live and find a job I can do from home after I have the baby.” Haylie nods, “okay, I have some friends you should meet. You’re an artist right?” I nod, “My sister works at a female owned tattoo shop, they need a new apprentice, would you want me to mention you to her?” I think about it for a second, that could at least get my foot in the door for a possible career. “Yeah, why not!” I say and then we pick up our things and we walk back to the parking lot so she can give me a ride home. 

Three months later, June. 22 weeks along

“Well honey, I want you to be sure to call me and let me know how you're doing at least every couple weeks. I want to make sure you’re taking good care of yourself and that little angel you’re cooking in there” Gwen smiles at me as Haylie helps me finish cleaning the room I was renting in Gwen’s house. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me Gwen” I reply back as I finish folding the last of my clothes and pack them away. Living with Gwen these last few months has been great, of course I ended up telling her about the baby and she’s been surprisingly supportive, “you will have to be so strong for this child, but if you ever feel the weight of it all is too much you must have people to help you. Call on me when you ever need help” she told me and I don’t know if it was the hormones or just the fact that an older woman was treating me like the mother I’ve craved for so long but I just started sobbing. 

Haylie offered to let me move into her house with her, it’s pretty spacious. Her dad owns it and lets her stay in it for free, pretty good deal if you ask me.  He’s charging me next to nothing and that’s great since I’m taking more hours apprenticing at the shop Haylie set me up with. Haylie doesn’t want him to charge me anything but I didn’t allow that. We’ve become fast friends in these last months. So much of our lives parallel each other’s. She’s super creative, a writer, and she’s working on a book about a magical fae world. It’s amazing and I’ve been inspired to draw again because of it. Her mom is also an alcoholic and took a lot of the attention away from her growing up.

Her dad’s trying to make up for it now, showering her with money and gifts. We differ a little bit there, my dad didn’t notice for weeks I was gone and then practically strangled the information out of Kyle. He got my number called to check in, rather furiously and I was able to diffuse him slightly. Of course keeping out the pregnancy part, he would flip and probably hunt Noah down for sport. 

Apprenticing has also been going great. Haylie’s sister, Rachel, let me start on a trial basis and I ended up getting along with all of them so well they offered me the spot permanently. Anna, the owner, opened the shop with the intention of creating a safe environment for women to get tattooed. I think she also took a little pity on me, she also had a kid when she was a teenager. She told me that after the baby is born I can bring them in until I figure out daycare. 

Maggie and I talk almost everyday and I constantly send her updates about the baby. She still hasn’t told Kyle but he’s apparently going by the coffee shop a lot to see her. At first it was to ask about me but now it sounds like he’s just liking her company. I’m not 100% sure how I feel about it but they seem happy as friends and that’s good I guess. Kyle needs a good friend. 

July. 27 weeks along

I’ve told Haylie all about Noah so when she finds out his band will be in town for a show she’s telling me I have to try again to see him. “You’re saying he doesn’t know and from everything you’ve told me he sounds like an idiot that thought he was doing what he thought was best for you. He’s obviousl still in love with you. You should try, just once more” she implores and I begrudgingly agree. “I’ll go, just to see if we can talk but this is going to be a shock, he could be pissed.” Haylie rolls her eyes, “if he’s pissed at you, lll punch his face in, deal?” I laugh and accept her terms. 

Later that night we’re in a smoke filled venue full of rowdy drunk people and I’m ready to leave. Haylie helps me navigate towards a safe corner while we wait for the music to begin. I wish I was here for any other reason, just to see an old friend, or just seeing a random band play. Not to see Noah, for the first time in months, pregnate and surprising him at his show. This is crazy, “We should leave,” I say in a panic and move to stand up and just then they call for his band to go on I feel every bone in my body buckle, every nerve on edge. I’m frozen and then they start playing and everything around me is blown away, like dusk. Through the smoke filled room my eyes are glued onto Noah and his voice as they sing new songs I haven’t heard before. For a second I could swear our eyes met. 

The set is over before I know it and Haylie is eyeing me cautiously as I just sit there, stuck in my seat for several minuets. “Well, he’s done. Are you going to go find him?” She asks. I’m thrown back into my body and notice tears have fallen, “god, I’m so sick of crying!” I exclaim as I stand up to try and find where the green room is and wipe my face clean. I notice the manager of the band they’re touring with standing outside a door with an “employees only” sign.

“Hey! Kevin right? I’m a friend of Nicholas and Noah’s, could I just sneak back there to see them really quick?” I ask in the sweetest voice I can muster. He looks me up and down, notices my stomach and I can see wheels turning in my eyes.“Hi….. yeah, Noah’s a little busy right now. But I’m sure He’ll be ready for round two as soon as he’s finished up” he says and then has the audacity to wink at me. Fucking slime ball.

Does Noah really have some girl back there? That’s why he wanted to break up? So he could just be free to sleep with whoever he wanted to while he was on the road.

I’m frozen in place, I don’t even say anything to Kevin I just turn and rush out of the venue with Haylie calling after me. She reaches me outside and I just bury my head into her shoulder as sobs take over me. I’ve been crying a lot lately. These last few weeks my emotions are all over the place and seeing Noah sing, hearing he’s just fucking any other girl that comes around. It’s to much for me. 

September 17, 2013

“Give me my phone! Please I need to call Kyle. I can’t believe this is happening!” I cry as another contraction hits and I crumble over in pain. Haylie was with me at home when my water broke and rushed me to the hospital. I’m just waiting now, only 5 centimeters dilated and the contractions are killing me. “You want to call him right now?” She asks as she hands me my phone.. “Yes, I need him to know. Incase- incase anything happens” I dial his number and try to breathe through the pain. 

ring ring ring

“Hey Nat! What’s up?”

“Uuuuhhhg fuuck! This fucking hurts Haylie. What the FUCK!”

I take a deep breath again,

“Kyle, there’s something I need to tell you” 

“Nat? Are you okay? why does it sound like you’re in pain” 

“I am, fuck. I am in so much pain right now. That’s why I called.”

“Natty?? Are you okay?? What happened?” 

“Ky, don’t be mad. Please.”

“Mad? Why would I be mad?”

“I'm having a baby”

“You’re pregnant?! You never even mentioned you were seeing someone” 

“No- no Kyle. You don’t understand. I'm having a baby. Like right now.”

“owwwwee Fuck!”

He’s quiet for a long time and I try to keep my heartbeat down and focus on my breathing like my doctor said. 

“You’re having a baby? Right now?”

“Yes, Ky. I’m having a baby. Right now” 

“Whos baby Natalie.”

“He doesn’t know, I’ve tried to tell him Ky, I just- it’s just not going to work out. It’s fine. I’ll be okay. But I wanted my brother to know he’s about to be an Un-FUCK!”

I cry as the next contractions hits even faster than before. 

“That’s 5 minutes!” Haylie calls out, “we need the doctor! He said that means the baby is coming!” She scrambles and runs out of the room hollering for a doctor. 

“Kyle- Kyle I have to go. The baby is coming. Come visit soon please. Bring Maggie. I love you” 

“Wait Natalie, don’t hang up! w-wait. Does Maggie know?!”

“I have to go!” 

*click*

After three hours of pushing and crying and screaming I’m holding my daughter in my arms. “Will you take a picture of us?” I ask Haylie and she grabs my polaroid from the bag I packed for the hospital. I look down at the sweet baby, wrapped tightly in a soft pink blanket and I kiss her head. “My sweet Erin, I will always be there for you, no matter what.” I kiss her forehead and then hug her softly against my chest as Haylie snaps a picture. “So cute” she comments as she shakes the film and hands it to me. “Shes the most precious thing, I can’t believe I’m a mom.” my voice shakes a little at the end and Haylie shootches me over in the bed and sits next to me, pulling me into her and wrapping Erin and I close. “You’ll be the best mom ever, and I’ll be auntie Hales. I’m with ya for it all.” I lean into her and sigh, “Thank you for everything Haylie, I think she’s got a shot at a pretty good life.” I say and we both look down at her sleeping face, “I’m going to write Noah, one last try can’t hurt right? I don’t want him to miss her life, look at her, she’s everything.” 

I sent the letter. Weeks went by and I heard nothing. Everything I have left is for my daughter now.

I have to let him go.

Meanwhile………

NOAH POV

“What do you mean you’re going to use it? It’s our song, you can’t just use it.” I seethe at Alex, the snake in disguise as it would seem. “Oh but don’t you see Noah? I can” she taunts. “You signed the contract to join our label, that means that your intellectual property belongs to the label. Songs, demos, art, merch….the label owns it and you get a percentage. Y’all signed the papers…maybe you should have read it.”

I stand up and slam my hands on the table “that’s bullshit Alex! I didn’t sign anything that would have allowed that!”

I argue with her and she tuts and Julius, our drummer, interjects “yeah, I signed that.” I turn to him dumbfounded. “What the fuck? Why would you sign that shit without us dude? That’s not how the band fucking works.” I say and hit Nicholas across the chest, “dude are you going to say anything?” I ask him exasperated.

“The contract? It’s only for Iron Vendetta right?” Nicholas asks Alex and she shrugs, “yeah” she huffs out annoyed. Nicholas stands up and adjusts his jacket, “then I fucking quit. And so does Noah” he adds and I can’t help but nod slowly. “Yeah, fuck this shit Alex. I’d rather start all over again than be attached to you and your shitty label!” Alex laughs, “you’re both replaceable, just because you quit doesn’t mean Iron Vendetta is done.”

I took at Mikey and Julius, “keep the band. I don’t really care, if this is what y’all want then have at it. I'm not about to be owned by some soul sucking bitch.” Nicholas and I gather the rest of our stuff and leave the studio.

“What the fuck are we going to do now?” I ask Nicholas as we walk aimlessly towards my car. “You could try to get your life together? You’ve been fucking miserable lately and I know it’s because you miss Natalie and you know you made a mistake.” My head falls into my hands and I let out a loud groan, “uuuuhhg I know Nick, okay. I know, but I fucked it all up. She doesn’t want to talk to me. I can’t even call her, I tried. She changed her number” I grumble out and he nods. “We could just head home while we figure everything out? You can talk to her in person instead?” It’s a good idea. We can crash at Nick's parents house while we put together something new, something even better than Iron Vendetta. Hopefully something with a better name. 

The drive home is quick and I think Nick was happy to have some down time while we figured out our next moves. He said that he’s heard about some guys he thinks we would work well with. I let him take the lead with that for now, I only have on thing on my mind. I want to see Natalie and try to win her back. I drive to her house, stopping to grab some flowers before, thats what guys are always doing in those cheesy romance movies.

Driving up to her house I’m nervous, I hope she will just talk to me and let me do everything I can to win her back but when I pull up to park theres a “for sale” sign in the front yard with a giant “sold” sticker stuck to it. “What the fuck,” I whisper to myself as I step out of the car and walk closer to the house. The windows are open and I see the house is empty inside. I can’t believe they sold their house.

Maybe she’s at work so next I head to the coffee shop. I take a moment to prepare myself before I open the door and when I do I recognize two faces. I see Maggie, Natalies best friend and I see Hunter, the guy she was dancing with at the New Years Eve party. Maggie looks up and when she see’s me a panic look crosses her eyes. “Noah..you shouldnt be here.” she says and I’m confused. “What?” I ask and walk towards the order counter. “You should leave, Kyle is on his way over now and he will absolutely freak if he sees you.” she warns and I roll my eyes. “Kyle isn’t who I’m worried about. Where is Natalie?” I ask as I hear the door jingle signaling someone else entering the cafe. Maggies eyes dart away so I ask again, “Maggie, just please tell me. Where is Natalie?” 

A dark laugh sneaks in from behind before saying, “are you fucking serious with this shit God? Are you testing me?” I turn around to see Kyle as just arrived and I couldn’t have worse timing. “She’s gone. Asshole. G-O-N-E.”

What. “Gone? What do you mean gone? Where did she go?” I ask, turning between Kyle and Maggie while Hunter just laughs and walks away muttering something about taking his break. “I mean, you fucking prick, is that after you ripped my sisters heart out and stomped on it she graduated in the middle of the semester, dropped everything and left.” Kyles voice is full of venom and I flinch at his tone. “Where did she go?” I ask cautiously. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” his voices slices and he erases the distance between us with a few steps. “I should beat the shit out of you.” Kyle says and Maggie rounds the counter and stands between us. “Stop Kyle, she wouldn’t want you to do this right now,” she addresses kyle first and then turns to me. “You should just leave Noah, I think you’ve dont enough damage for one life time,” her voice isnt even mean or angry when she says it, just disappointed.

“Please, I love her. I just want to talk to her.” the words leave my mouth and they’re still for a moment until I feel a solid weight hitting my chin and I fall back on my ass. “Do not ever claim to love my sister again. Just forget about her, shes doing her best to forget about you.” I hold my chin as it throbs in pain and Maggie just looks at me like I’m a sad, pathetic lost soul. “Just go Noah. She’s gone and she’s not coming back.” 

I walk back out of the coffee shop, defeated and alone. She’s gone. The girl I love is gone and her brother just punched me in the face. 

Stumbling throught the next couple weeks I feed my depression with 40’s, beer and vodka. One morning Nick comes into his room and dumps a bucket of ice water on my face and I gasp awake. “What the fuck!” I yelp as my eyes spring open.

“Get up Noah” Nicholas says and rips the blankets on the ground. “There are a couple guys coming to practice today. So pull yourself together and get ready.” 

I wipe the water from my face and finish stumbling out of bed, trying ot shake the hangover from my head. I walk towards the bathroom to shower off. I turn on the hot water and let it wash away the pain and sadness that has been eating away at me.

I have to figure out how to get over Natalie and move forward. “Who are the guys you invited.” I ask from the shower. “A guy named Nick Folio on drumbs and this swedish guy, Joakim on guitar. Hes a little older, but he’s played in a band before.” 

Alright, I guess my fresh start begins now.

and that is the end of part one besties !! I hope you enjoyed and I am sorry for the delay in the last update!

Part II will kick off in the new year!

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[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group F Round 4: A Place Further than the Universe vs Megalo Box

#F1: A Place Further than the Universe (Sora yori mo Tooi Basho)

High school girls go to Antarctica

#F4: Megalo Box

Young boxer in futuristic Japan fights in tournament

Details and poll under the cut!

#F1: A Place Further than the Universe (Sora yori mo Tooi Basho)

Summary:

Filled with an overwhelming sense of wonder for the world around her, Mari Tamaki has always dreamt of what lies beyond the reaches of the universe. However, despite harboring such large aspirations on the inside, her fear of the unknown and anxiety over her own possible limitations have always held her back from chasing them. But now, in her second year of high school, Mari is more determined than ever to not let any more of her youth go to waste. Still, her fear continues to prevent her from taking that ambitious step forward—that is, until she has a chance encounter with a girl who has grand dreams of her own.

Spurred by her mother's disappearance, Shirase Kobuchizawa has been working hard to fund her trip to Antarctica. Despite facing doubt and ridicule from virtually everyone, Shirase is determined to embark on this expedition to search for her mother in a place further than the universe itself. Inspired by Shirase's resolve, Mari jumps at the chance to join her. Soon, their efforts attract the attention of the bubbly Hinata Miyake, who is eager to stand out, and Yuzuki Shiraishi, a polite girl from a high class background. Together, they set sail toward the frozen south.

Sora yori mo Tooi Basho follows the captivating journey of four spirited girls, all in search of something great.

Propaganda 1:

This show literally changed my life I’m not even kidding. It’s messages about living your life to the fullest and finding, creating, and maintaining important friendships in your life literally got me to pick myself up and actually start living my life. All of its main characters are all incredibly memorable, and they all bounce off of each other very well. It’s fun and cute as hell, but also a really powerful story about dealing with grief and moving on. The final three episodes of the show are an emotional gut-punch, but they leave you with a sense of bittersweet fulfillment and a drive to get out in the world and have your own adventure.

Propaganda 2:

Let’s start with the fact that this is Madhouse doing a (relatively) grounded coming of age story about high school girls - the show looks gorgeous, of course. The music’s solid as well. (I still regularly listen to the ending.) But what really shines is the writing and characterization.

The pacing on this is perfect. For a show that spends half its runtime getting to Antarctica, you never feel like the time should be allotted differently or that you’re missing out on hijinks. Episode 12 is a particular standout, with tension building up until it explodes, and then goes still for the true emotional climax of the show. The four main girls all feel like believable teens, and seeing their relationship develop over the course of the series and watching them come into their own is well-done. The way it handles Shirase and her emotions, and how this complicates her relationships with them all is a particular standout. This may not be eligible in that it’s one of those anime people who watch A LOT of anime will recommend highly—it was on Crunchyroll and IGN’s best anime of the 2010s lists and on several “best of” lists for 2018. But it never quite took off the way it truly deserves, so I’m submitting it. It’s getting an English dub soon, though, and I really hope that gives it a resurgence of popularity. The girls are alright.

(Admin: Propaganda has been edited slightly to remove spoilers)

Trigger Warnings: Death via freezing

#F4: Megalo Box

Summary:

Follows the story of a young man that only goes by his ring name “Junk Dog”, set in the late 21st century. People live in a large metropolis, those without citizenship forced in slums called the Restricted Area. Junk Dog fights in fixed matches in the Restricted Area in a sport called Megalo Box, which is boxing augmented by metal exoskeletons.

One day, Junk Dog almost crashes into the CEO of the Shirato Company on his motorcycle, and he tries to pick a fight with her guard, Yuri. Yuri ends up fighting Junk Dog in a match, beating him and challenging him to fight him in a tournament called Megalonia. Forging an ID and taking the name Joe with help from his coach, the young fighter only has 3 months to win enough matches to rank high enough to get into the tournament and face Yuri. Not just for his pride, but also because of threats from the mafia, who wants money from Joe and his coach that they don’t have.

Propaganda:

Megalo Box is a series that got some recognition during the Crunchyroll Awards. It even aired on Adult swim’s late night anime block, even gaining a second season. But it seems like after the initial season, all interest of the show evaporated. It’s rarely talked about in fandom spaces or in anime video essays.

Which is a shame! It's a solid watch. The music is stellar. The characters are enjoyable, even if the plot of the main character Joe being a massive underdog that claws his way through a boxing tournament is a little predictable. But to be fair, this show was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the boxing manga Ashita no Joe.

Still, the anime keeps things fresh. It has added political commentary about class and race dynamics. Joe is brown-skinned, looks mixed, and is an undocumented citizen in the city he lives in. He has to fight in illegal fixed Megalo Box matches in the slums in order to make ends meet. Even that provides little protection, as he and his coach Ganbu get threatened by the mob for more money that they can’t produce. It also touches upon how children are abandoned and abused by the system with Sachio.

Joe is the ultimate underdog story. He ends up going by “Gearless Joe” because he fights his matches without wearing any Gear—aka the metal exoskeletons use in Megalo Box. He’s essentially boxing old-school style against others an unfair advantage with tools that augment their punches and movements. Joe did this in the first place because he was too poor to buy a new Gear, his old one falling apart, so he felt he was better off training and using his natural body in matches.

The second season also explores Joe's struggles with depression and drug addiction as he trains another Megalo Boxer, which is interesting and adds another layer to him.

Plus, the show also has racial diversity in the side characters. The English dub cast voice actors of the same ethnicities for Pepe, Chief, and Maria. Also, Kaiji Tang voices Joe, the lead.

Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse, Graphic Depictions of Cruelty/Violence/Gore.

The anime is about boxing, so characters get beaten up quite a bit (even in fantastical ways). However, there’s also some other violence threats (like Joe’s coach Nanbu getting his eye cut and threatened to earn money by the mafia). Also, a kid named Sachio joins the group to help Joe and gets beaten by thugs and threatened a few times through the series.

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how it’s presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form with your revisions, and I’ll consider adapting those changes.

New: Starting round 5, screenshots will be included in the poll post. You can submit screenshots through the form linked above, or through here, via ask or dm.

Guidelines in submitting screenshots:

No NSFW or spoilery images.

Pick some good images please. Don’t send any blurry or pixelated ones.

You may send up to 9 screenshots, but not all may be used.

[steddiebang]

Steddie Bigbang Weekly Round-up: October 8 - October 14

patron saint of lost causes (October 8) Author: genesisofrhythm (@ruthofrhythm) / Artist: Alex Callahan (@getlostlosingsleep) “Of course I know who you are, King Steve,” Eddie sneered, jumping out of his van and approaching him.

Steve rolled his eyes. “Former King Steve, if you will, kind peasant. I’m more of a knight these days.”

After Steve fails senior year, he’s forced to return to Hawkins High as a super senior in a last ditch attempt at graduating. The year picks up when he develops a crush on Eddie Munson but unfortunately for him, a bad first encounter leaves them at odds. Eddie is impossible to avoid now that the kids have all joined Hellfire so Steve just hopes he can get over this stupid crush before it becomes exceedingly obvious.

Or: The only thing worse than having to repeat 12th grade was falling in love with someone who hated you.

i sing the blues and you swallow them too (October 9) Author: @notesappwitch (tumblr) / NotesAppWitch (ao3) / Artist: @cuips-not-cute (tumblr) Eddie and his bandmates have been traveling from town to town, tavern to tavern, trying to make ends meet for who knows how long. Travelling and playing music for mostly uncaring people isn’t the way any of them want to live, but it’s their lot in life.

Nothing about Hawkins is different from any other town they’ve been to, except one very handsome lord who keeps making eyes at Eddie across the tavern, and also the giant monster that’s apparently plaguing the village and ripping holes in their dimension and doing its best to kill them and everyone else.

Luckily for Eddie, the very handsome lord also has a slew of teenage adventurers, an ex with great aim, and a best friend that can turn into a wolf. There’s never an easy way into the (literal) lap of luxury, but despite it all, Eddie will get himself there one way or another, and maybe awaken something about himself in the process.

today is a new day to find you (October 12) Author: formosus_iniquis / formosusiniquis / Artist: sammichesnstuff /  sammichtastic / Artist: milkychai / milkychai Eddie is having the worst day known to man. It might qualify as a catastrophic event. Missing homework, lunch spilled on the cafeteria floor, broken strings at band practice, and that’s not even touching Steve Harrington.

Steve Harrington who keeps talking to him like they’re friends. Steve Harrington who has become a new person overnight. Steve Harrington who keeps making hypotheticals about time loops. Steve Harrington who is somehow the best and worst part of his day.

Tell Me Then Would You Lend A Hand (October 13) Author: funeralbeldam / Artist: rrrrraatt An exploration of Steve’s trauma. How it affects his everyday life, opens him up to Vecna, and sends him on a path of self discovery as the world is ending. His relationships with his friends - most notably one Eddie Munson - and how he views his own self worth. How one man will tear down Steve’s curtain to reveal the truth inside, through the power of music. Who says metalheads and jocks -turning-punks can’t get along?

First Face That I Saw (October 13) Author: Eddywow Eddie was used to seeing sad people. Sad families, sad parents, loved ones torn up over the ever-moving cycle of life.

Lost in Me, Lost in You (October 13) Author: hfcsteddie (twitter) / hfcsteddie (tumblr) / clinicofart (ao3) Author: tsmkeelerx (twitter) / steddieasxshegoes (tumblr) / tsmkeeler (ao3) / Artist: pinklunamoth (twitter) / Artist: goingsteddi3 (twitter) / goingsteddi3 (tumblr) It was the summer of 2019. Steve Harrington was being pawned off at summer camp instead of fending for himself. On the first day, he befriends a quiet musician who also happens to be his roommate. He’s not like Steve’s other friends. He’s… different. It’s different. It was a breath of fresh air from the life he left behind in Hawkins. But as the summer rolls on, Steve and Eddie grow closer. The distance that threatens their friendship becomes too much for their summer to handle. A few years after graduation, a promise tethers them back to that same summer camp that that brought them together in the first place. Is this a second chance at friendship or something more?

scheming on a thing (October 14) Author: greatunionic (ao3 / tumblr) / Artist: daysarestranger / singinginmay It’s 1994, and Eddie’s been a guest of Uncle Sam at Pelican Bay since it opened in ‘89, when his public defender stopped defending and he resigned himself to the sixth to life bag the Spring Break of ‘86 had left him holding. Sure, the series of frantic transfers that made Wayne and the party lose track of him (and cost him his unlikely prison penpal, Steve Harrington) truly were a bummer, but life’s actually not too bad, in the long run: he’d got three hots and a cot, ya know, and sometimes a few of the other inmates actually believe him when he tells them he’s innocent. Still — the new lawyer and paralegal shaped suspiciously like one Erica Sinclair is starting to give him pause, and make him wonder if the story’s not quite over yet…

Or: a story about seven letters, the worst love song ever written, and a heist.

The Last Song (October 14) Author: @henderdads / Artist: @hextotal Eddie Munson and his brother, Dustin, are sent off to Hawkins, a small coastal town in Georgia, to spend their summer with their uncle. Thanks to a church fire and sea turtles, Eddie reconnects with his uncle Wayne and falls in love with the local heartthrob, Steve Harrington. He rediscovers his love for music as hardships are placed before him and through all of it, learns to be a little bit kinder and love a little bit harder. 

9 upcoming projects to be posted next week (Oct 15 - 21).

*To keep up with all the Steddie Bigbang 2023 posting, be sure to follow us @steddiebang or track tags #steddiebang23 masterposts, #steddiebang23 project promo, or #steddiebang23 upcoming projects.

[thelensofyashunews]

Mach-Hommy Explores Diasporic Duality on New Album #RICHAXXHAITIAN

Mach-Hommy–the acclaimed and prolific artist who keeps his government name unpublished, maintains no social media presence, and covers his face with a bandana of the Haitian flag–releases #RICHAXXHAITIAN, his first solo studio album since 2021, out now on all platforms. Released in time for Haitian Flag Day (May 18th), #RICHAXXHAITIAN channels the troubled political evolution of Haiti, as well as its rich cultural inheritance. Galvanized by the country's turbulent past, Mach-Hommy presents a beacon towards a better future.

#RICHAXXHAITIAN is the fourth album in a tetralogy of albums that examine Mach-Hommy's relationship with his homeland and provide a wide-ranging account of how its issues intersect with problems facing the world at large. While the first album in the series, H.B.O. (Haitian Body Odor), reclaimed an ugly stereotype, and his two acclaimed 2021 albums, Pray For Haiti and Balens Cho (Hot Candles), chronicled hardship and recovery, #RICHAXXHAITIAN is a small musical panacea for his homeland amidst poverty and political strife, combating the public's negative images of Haiti by focusing on the greatness and prosperity of the country's diaspora. Over the course of the album, Mach-Hommy emphasizes the country's potential, strategizing ways that his troubled homeland could become an exemplar of Black cultural and economic excellence.

#RICHAXXHAITIAN draws from a variety of musical styles, welcoming producers like Grammy-winning producer Conductor Williams, along with Multi-Grammy-winning producer KAYTRANADA, Grammy-nominated producer Quelle Chris, longtime associate Sadhu Gold, and others, to indulge their most creative impulses. The album progresses from vintage samples from the pre-rock era to futuristic electronic, jazz, and soul music, sketching a potential path for Haiti to evolve from developing nation to Afro-Futurist paradise.

Last week's single, "#RICHAXXHAITIAN," a collaboration with KAYTRANADA and L.A. legend 03 Greedo, exemplifies Mach in the latter mode, using a house-inflected instrumental and an interpolation of Afrobeat legend Odion Iruoje's "Ikebe" to provide a luxurious platform for both emcees to flex their hard-earned wealth. Focus track "COPY COLD," produced by Quelle Chris, draws from the other end of the spectrum. The song features a guest verse from Black Thought, who has long praised Mach-Hommy and called him one of his favorite emcees, as both emcees unfurl some of their densest verses to date. Originally recorded as a demo during a difficult period of Mach's life, nearly ten years ago, Mach was inspired to dust off the old tape with the hopes of collaborating with an emcee of Black Thought's caliber on the track. Over Quelle Chris's rippling piano instrumental, the two rappers beat against the current mode of label-driven rap beef, instead elevating the art of the emcee with kindred spirit collaboration.

03 Greedo and Black Thought lead a long list of collaborators that make #RICHAXXHAITIAN one of Mach-Hommy's most ambitious albums to date. Mach connects with R&B/jazz luminary HEPHZIBAH on "SONJE," an Afro-Futurist and psychedelic highlight that approaches the dissonant highs of 70s jazz fusion. Buffalo-based activist/singer/songwriter Drea D'Nur graces "POLITickle" with her luminous vocals, putting a button on a song that directly comments on how global capitalism tramples culture and fosters poverty. Mach rolls out the red carpet for Roc Marciano on the brief, but brilliant "ANTONOMASIA," as the two underground heroes trade verses over big band jazz samples and tribal drums. Mach feels right at home when rapping with frequent collaborators like Your Old Droog, Tha God Fahim, and Big Cheeko, providing a familiar anchor for longtime fans and ice cold bars for anyone who might not be familiar with their chemistry.

Born in Newark and raised in Port-Au-Prince amongst the elders of his culture, Mach-Hommy has always strongly identified with his home country's struggle, and his people's resilience. Haiti was the world's first Black republic formed as the result of a successful slave revolt. The Caribbean nation's very existence was a thumb in the nose of white supremacy, heralding the gleaming potential of Black self-government in the new world. Of course, the colonial powers could not let this stand: shortly after Haiti won independence, its former colonial overlord France levied a punitive tax, designed to cripple the young nation's economy and prevent it from growing into a power in the Caribbean. Still, despite the various man-made and natural disasters that have plagued the island nation over the centuries, the people of Haiti have grown strong, developing an influential cultural tradition and a vibrant diaspora, of which Mach-Hommy is a proud member. 

Attempting to transform our modern dystopia into a utopia using only his rhymes and force of will, Mach-Hommy invites us all, from his most loyal investors to his freshest fans, to imagine a brand new world. With #RICHAXXHAITIAN, that seemingly impossible dream creeps ever closer.

“I’ve always wanted to rep for Haiti and the cultural and intellectual richness we’ve provided the world,” Mach-Hommy says. “From our musical styles like kontradans  that have influenced world music, our natural resources which provide so much raw  material for so many important advancements in technology, our thinkers that  pioneered philosophical movements and Black pride, and our spiritual leaders who  kept the religious traditions of Guinea alive and intact, the religious traditions of Ayiti….” 

Buy #RICHAXXHATIAN on vinyl, CD, and cassette at Zotanica

[chocolatte-and-despair]

Ooh, can I ask for some headcanons for Hiyoko Saionji, Ibuki Mioda, & Sayaka Maizono (/Sonia Nevermind) My lesbian heart just love love LOVES them ❤️❤️

Sayaka Maizona

Sayaka loved her groupmates, but there was one specific groupmate that she loved a little bit differently than others. That groupmate was you. You were one of the new members, and you were brash, and childish, but that was part of your charm.

Many fans had dubbed you as a tsundere, and Sayaka couldn't agree more, often times teasing you lovingly about it. She just loved how flustered and puffy eyed you got whenever you were embarrassed or teary.

How did Sayaka's feelings develop? Well, it just happened naturally. Being friendly and determined to achieve her goals, when you joined her group, she did not give up on you even if you were rude and often times liked to isolate yourself.

Through her determination, she figured out that you put up that cold front because of personal fears. And soon enough, she learned to read you like a book.

Maybe it was the fact that she was the only one to understand you in such a way made her so obsessive over you. I mean, you had nobody but her, she had to give you all her time, no?

After she got kidnapped and brought in this insane game, she didn't want to hurt anyone, but seeing the video of you being touched by someone else, and kissed forcefully, made her realize that if she didn't get out and save you, you will be forever lost.

She would do anything for you, even kill.

Hiyoko Saionji

Hiyoko always disliked men. She never felt comfortable around them, and hated when men would become her managers. But when you came into her life and started to manage all of her performances, and finances, stuff started to become a little bit better.

The two of you were a little apart in age, but that was alright for her. She'll be an adult in a few months! She didn't mind. But you did. It infuriated Hiyoko how you never reciprocated her advances, even if she made it very clear that she was serious about you.

It was because she looked so childish? She usually didn't hate her body, finding it a good tool to manipulate adults, but in this moment, she truly wished she was more mature to be able to attract you.

Hiyoko always had a spoiled nature and haughty attitude, so it was no surprise that whenever she noticed that you started to get along with someone that was not her, she would start harassing that person.

The only exception was any member of her family, but it didn't mean she wouldn't curse their name in that moment, before she would calm down.

How did the ultimate despair trick Hiyoko into despair? Of course, she promised Hiyoko you and complete ownership over you. Everything else is history, especially now that you are her perfect doll.

Sitting still, looking pretty, and without the ability to leave her anymore.

Ibuki Mioda

Ibuki was a genius of a kind. But with most geniuses, it's hard to realize their beauty, for it's unique and different from what you are used to. But you were different.

You were a loner at her school, usually staying away from most on your own accord, only having one or two friends you occasionally spoke to, but primarily, you spent time alone.

On one of your travels through your old school, you heard music coming from a room and went to check it out.

The music you heard was experimental and not many could appreciate it in it's raw form, but you were in awe. You didn't shy away from telling her that you loved her music. You even asked how you could support her or hear more of her music.

Ibuki always knew that she was a great musician, but with this new adventure into finding a new style for her, it was hard when nobody could appreciate her. But finally, she found someone who did.

You were her first fan. Her first manager. Her first friend who understood her music. And most importantly, you were her first love.

Ibuki didn't hide her feelings for you, and you didn't hide your dislike for committed relationships, be it platonic or romantic. You didn't even consider her a friend on an official level. But that was okay, she was determined to make you a part of her journey.

She was nothing but persistent. Following you around, creating opportunities where you two could be together. And besides, even if she didn't do any of that, her music always brought you back in her arms.

She was content for now. But for how much longer would she be?

[flowersandbirdsflyingfree]

With TF2 being a main focus again, I’ve decided to at least write my self-shipping stuff for fun for myself!

Although Excavator will likely star in future writing and/or comics, I have to admit I have more fun just slapping myself next to Medic because that is self-love to me. So the lines may blur a bit

Edelweiß (TF2 Storyline)

How did this happen? Excavator wasn’t sure herself. Seeing as Medic threw his hippocratic oath out the window, he isn’t the most reassuring. Yet they developed a close-bonded friendship with each other.

Excavator is the one who usually throws Medic a bone the most on the battlefield (and sometimes literally too). She’s fended him from near death experience many times. Her help extends in her free time to care for the baby baboon nursery and some voluntary projects.

Archimedes has taken a liking to the digging woman. She shares her sunflower seeds with him. There isn’t a day she doesn’t ask for him when seeing Medic.

It wasn’t until Archimedes had heard Ex open up about her feelings for Medic. Medic was intelligent, charismatic, energetic, surprisingly patient with her, incredibly dreamy… Archimedes spoiled this secret to the doctor!

At first, he thought it was endearing she found someone like him to be gush worthy. He might’ve playfully flirted with her in amusement to surprise her. But it’s not long until he realizes he felt the same way.

Excavator is his best friend. Ex always put him first and supported his dreams. But he also felt his efforts to protect her were fulfilled with being taken for granted. She was very sweet yet a force to be reckoned with. So much that factored in his deep-rooted affection for her. A grounding force for his racing mind.

Medic and Heavy already dated in the past, so he was worried of ruining another work relationship becoming awkward. He took the risk anyways, and luckily for him, everything turned out far better than expected.

Edelweiß (Modern AU)

Medic has cheated the devil before, so he WILL do it again! He not only lives in the same modern day as me, but he doesn’t look like he aged at all. Nothing genetic rewiring and black magic can’t fix! Doing so has allowed him to sneak into being a doctor again in a new state. He carries out his medical mysteries at home which may or may not include copious amounts of stealing for materials and tools.

We bump into each other in the middle of a HomeGoods. Although he got in to escape the cops in the evening, I’m just looking for a lamp to put in my new apartment since I just moved into town. We feel drawn to each other and exchange numbers. It’s not long at all until we become great friends.

It wasn’t long until I found out his dirty little secret in his… medical interests. However! I promised him I’d tell nobody about it. But in exchange, he found that I would have to help him as his partner in crime

Of course, feelings manifested regardless and the two of us became the world’s most unhinged power couple (well, second most compared to Zhanna and Soldier)

Now time for fun mushy stuff!

We definitely enjoy just sitting beside each other and reading our books. Usually we pick out our own separate novels. But we do like to occasionally read the same book together before bed. This will vary from a picture book to huge medical textbooks

Our main ship song is Here Is The House by Depeche Mode. Runner ups include Edelweiß (yes The Sound of Music one), Who Knows What Love Is by Strawberry Switchblade and My Heart Goes Bang (Take Me To The Doctor) by Dead or Alive

We pretty much bounce off each other’s playfulness. If you stood in another room all you’d hear is endless giggling and maniacal laughter. His energetic, kooky nature is one of my favorite things about him

Medic does enjoy teasing me for his amusement. Something about seeing me so shocked or horrified over his dark jokes or some sort of medical rambling is adorable. It's never anything mean thankfully, just lighthearted banter

I do have to chase after him sometimes if he's accidently caused anything life threatening.

We do work together. Enjoying one another's presence is a big thing for us. There are two desks down in the lab extension to our home. One for his studies and another for me to craft nearby him.

I'm genuinely surprised just how much of a hidden romantic he is. He never fails to surprise me with roses and never turns down the chance to cuddle at all. He's old fashioned but never fails to make me smile.

We both have a shared past trauma about dating partners. We used it as strength to be better people for ourselves and each other. There's at least an understanding of what we don't want to ever put each other through knowing the feeling of abuse. With my more complex childhood things however, he's not at all bitter about it.

Nothing's better than falling for your super best friend <3