#and then being able to evolve through the power of Friendship

[eyesanddragons]

Actually wait no I’m on my PMD AU bullshit Type:Null Winter is straight up a horror story because Type:Null as a concept in PMD (or...in general really) Is a horror story.

Type:Null is an artificial ‘mon created to resemble Arceus, if Type:Null was ever in PMD it would have to be either through a human to pokemon transformation situation (which...has interesting implications for the human) or was made by Someone, either by humans long ago if your going the humans are all gone route or by a pokemon.

The concept of whatever I’m making Icewing Society is both really scary to be and really fitting. Icewing Society is already trying to mold it’s inhabits to be an ideal citizen using concepts like the ranking system you might as well take it a step further and just...make them try to make an ideal citizen from the ground up. These concepts aren’t really foreign to PMD either...I don’t think we ever got a artificially made pokemon (then again I haven’t finished playing GTI or Super so maybe one of those has one) except for...porygon which to my knowledge only appears in Temporal Tower in Explorers and apparently the Buried Relic in Rescue, But PMD also has the Bitterdark and Dark Matter and I think if those can exist then Type:Null could.

This does however imply that for Winter to exist as a character, whatever part of Icewing Society that went ‘lets do a Frakenstein’ has to be dealt with or been dealt with when the story starts. Arguably if you want to keep the Sandwing War its a pretty good reason to have some Icewings try to create God 2.0 in their basement. Their version of the experiments conducted by the Nightwings I guess.

[alotofpockets]

Fouls | Katie McCabe

Pairing: Katie McCabe x Arsenal!Reader

Summary: You keep getting fouled but the referee doesn't seem to mind. Each time you hit the ground, it gets harder for Katie to ignore her anger.

Masterlist | Woso masterlist | words: 1k

Today was the first match of the season, you were playing against Liverpool. After a moment of silence for Maddy the team got together for once last huddle. Before heading to your respective places on the field you and Katie did your pre-game handshake. You created the handshake back when you first started Arsenal five years ago, and have been doing it ever since. Over the years your handshake stayed the same but your friendship with Katie evolved and eventually turned into a relationship. After the handshake you run to your spot on the field and join the team in taking a knee after the whistle is blown.

Barely five minutes into the game and you already got tackled, the referee let the game continue because Arsenal kept possession. You got up annoyed because you were trying to build up better and that was definitely a foul. You shook it off and ran upfield because Foord had earned the team a corner kick. It was a great shot but Laws was able to get to it before it landed in the far corner. 

The game continued Little was able to intercept the ball and you were once again trying to build up the game. She started by kicking the ball back to McCabe who worked together with the rest of the defenders to get the ball to you on the right end of the field, you spotted Russo and passed the ball her way. Russo got stuck between Liverpool's defenders and opted to kick the ball back to you. Before you could even get your first touch in, you were roughly pushed aside by Kearns. Again nothing from the referee, so you chased after her trying to get the ball back, which you managed to do with the help of Walti. Walti passes the ball to Lacasse, who is able to walk the ball into the far corner and set the ball up for Russo, she heads the ball in the direction of the goal, but it was once again intercepted by Laws. 

This time Liverpool got through your midfield and Taylor was moving towards your goal, Catley was able to slide in and get the ball to McCabe, successfully stopping Liverpool’s attack. The defenders kicked the ball around for a bit before moving forwards again, they tried through Little at first but she was met with a bunch of purple jersey’s so she kicked the ball back to McCabe, who tried again but this time she passed the ball your way. You tried turning but were physically being pulled away from the ball, which should be another foul but the referee didn’t seem to notice. You saw your girlfriend getting annoyed and despite your own annoyance you signaled for her to let it go. 

The match continued with equal possession until half-time. After a quick break you got back on the field, hoping the second half of the match would work out more in your favor. The break helped calm both your own and Katie’s annoyance with the opponents and the referee. However, that calm was short-lived as the same pattern returned instantly. Maybe they were getting rough because you were able to get the balls through to your forwards and that was threatening them, but the referee just ignoring all their fouls was very frustrating. 

Once again a hard tackle that did not even hit the ball was made on you. You fell to the ground, and reached for your leg, as the Liverpool player had kicked your shin at full power. Tears started forming in your eyes from the amount of pain you were in, but yet again no whistle. So, the game around you continued. McCabe managed to intercept the ball from Holland and kicked it out of play and pointed in your direction. The referee finally blew the whistle and the team that was waiting at the sideline ran to your aid. Alessia and Lia were already by your side as the team reached you for assessment. 

Katie on the other hand made a beeline for the referee. She got right up to her and all her frustrations came out. “Why did that have to take so long?” Katie spat in the woman’s face. In response she only got a “Behave yourself, McCabe.” Which wasn’t cutting it for Katie. “She’s been fouled over five times now, mind doing your job?” Kim noticed Katie and ran her way. She pulled Katie back but it was too late, the referee reached into her pocket and gave Katie a yellow card. Katie shook her head at the referee and pushed herself out of Kim’s hold, turning on the balls of her feet and running towards you. 

She knelt down by your side, “Are you okay?” You nod, “I’ll be fine.” The team said you could try to get up. Katie stood up right away to help you stand. You shook your leg a couple of times and set a few steps. When Katie saw you were okay she headed to her own place on the field again. “Wait, what happened?” You say to Little as you join her on the midfield again and see the yellow card announcement with your girlfriend's name beside it. “You know, McCabe, if someone hurts you, she’ll demand answers.” You smile and shake your head. You wish she wouldn’t have gotten carded but you were grateful for her standing up for you. 

The rest of the game continued without any fouls on you, which you were grateful for. Liverpool did manage to get a goal in a few minutes before the end of the match, which wasn’t a great way to start the new season but you knew that you and the girls gave your everything in the match. Katie walks up to you after the whistle blows and puts her arm around your shoulder, you shake hands with a few players and head to the changing rooms with her arm still protectively wrapped around you.

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[yuri-is-online]

For who would go crazy in TWST trying to save u over and over i have thoughts:

Vil - Mr. Perfect? Not being able to reach his goal, trying to get to the person who understands him best? ESP. thinking about how he's based on the Evil Queen, someone well known for having a Very Poor reaction to not getting her way? He'd absolutely lose it, have a "where are they now" episode about washed up celebs cause EVERYTHING he has is dedicated to saving you

Malleus - He wields some of the most powerful magic in the world, but he can't save you? Absolutely not. He refuses. Also in his case he's probably resetting the world himself, so the repeated deaths he can't save you from are arguably being caused by him to. He has no sense to pet go - you love him, know him so intimately that a world without you is meaningless. Reset.

Azul - There's no bargain he can make, power he can steal, trick he can pull strong enough to fix this mess. He's blindly ambitious, and refuses to hear the word "no". How could he give up his precious pearl, the one person he knows could see through everything he is that's nasty and gross, and love the whole of it? He knows, deep in his mind, that he can't change this fate. But to give up on you? Truly impossible.

notes: referring to this shitpost here, discussion of spoilers for all currently available books including book 7, I'll slap Malleus's part under read more to make those a bit more avoidable

No but annon your mind... so correct about all of this for all stated reasons and more. Seriously how did I not think about Vil? That's genius?

Assuming the original timeline follows the events currently evolving in game, I assume that Yuu ends up dying as part of Grim's overblot. I think it makes sense for the boys to die that first time too, only to wake up alive and in the middle of preparing for NRC's entrance ceremony. After they make sure that this isn't a dream, and that they really are alive and somehow back in time they start making plans.

Vil

I can see og timeline Vil regretting that he didn't pay attention to Yuu before VDC, and trying to figure out how to stay in their life during his fourth year internship because (even if his feelings technically run a bit deeper) genuine friendships are important to him. Remember how happy to see everyone he was in chapter 6? It's all he can do to remind himself you probably don't know who he is anymore when he sees Crowley drag you into the mirror chamber, he just wants to kiss your preciously confused face.

Something Rook immediately picks up on because I'm pretty convinced he would notice if something was that majorly off script about his queen. Vil's raised eyebrow is .3 centimeters off from his normal concerned face :/ he needs an explanation.

Vil's relieved at first, he has Rook's help and you are surprisingly receptive to his advances. For just a brief moment he has you in his arms and you are alive, and then you are torn away again. And again, and again and again and-

Vil's signature spell is a curse, he can recognize the traces of one, and I agree he would be so determined to break it he would slowly start to deteriorate into a actual villain. It's not like time is advancing forward otherwise, it's not like he can advance his acting career while he is stuck in this time loop trying to save you, trying to not let your zero percent of survival stay zero. I could see him spending a loop killing the other overblot mages before they build up enough blot to hurt Yuu only for that not to work and him to get even more unhinged as a result.

Azul

Ok so you remember that bit in the Ghost Bride event where Azul gets borderline creepy over the thought of being rejected? Or that part of New Years where he suffers a bit of sunk cost fallacy over the grab bags and gets back in line to spend more money on more stuff he doesn't need? Or how about his level up lines? Laughing at the thought of being satisfied with "just this much power" or warning that you will just be taken advantage of in this world, and inviting you to seek safety with him when that inevitably happens?

Well you did and he failed you. And no he isn't really someone who lets go of things. He goes out of his way to tell Riddle that he thinks being greedy is a good thing; you could have had a very long and happy life together that hit every milestone you set out to achieve and it still wouldn't be enough for Azul. He will never be satisfied, never have enough of Yuu.

But he's smart, he knows when things just aren't possible. It makes him more determined to prove himself. If he can't outsmart something as trivial as fate, can he really claim to be a brilliant mage?

Unlike Vil, I don't think he would immediately tell the twins what was happening. I do think they would figure it out eventually, and I do think they would help, but I think they would also maybe... eventually... realize that there was no saving you and maybe it's best for everyone involved if that's accepted. I could see Jade and Floyd going to Yuu directly and asking what you want, not because they are opposed to saving you but because they want Azul's suffering to end.

I don't know if you have ever played Amnesia Memories, but I could see Azul following a similar path to the Joker World/Ukyo (they are not similar characters but meh) in a situation like this. Won't spoil that here but I highly recommend it if you like otome games.

Malleus

In a twisted way I could almost see him being satisfied with being stuck inside a time loop trying to save you. Not at first obviously, at first Malleus refuses to believe he could fail in saving you. He is the fifth most powerful mage in the universe. He is a King, he can not think of anyone, anything that is stupid enough to tell him no.

Maybe he speed runs his own overblot and tries trapping you in a dream, only for that to kill you. Reset.

How about killing the other overblot mages? He'd arrive at that one a lot faster than Vil. Also doesn't work. Reset.

I don't think Malleus would bring Lilia, Silver, or Sebek into the loop of what was going on. Lilia- he's smart, old, and understands just how powerful Malleus really is, but I'm not sure he would be able to realize time itself is being reset. I think he would pick up on what Malleus's plan is in each individual universe and goes out of his way to prevent him from doing something stupid. You know who I could see picking up on it though? Leona and Idia, forcing them to work together to get Malleus to stop further driving a wedge between Malleus and the rest of the student body.

And then there is you, troublesome you. We don't really know what causes Grim to overblot, I could almost see a situation where Yuu does everything they can to save their friends, aware that time is being reset and thinking that finally, this time they can keep everyone from dying. They are completely content to die if it means no one else gets hurt, completely unaware that self sacrifice is what is causing all of this. What is one life compared to everyone in all of Twisted Wonderland after all?

Everything, it is worth everything, this world really is meaningless without you in it. Reset.

[pinkcreamypeach]

Rosalina's final redesign in my au. (Human)

"Waluigi & rosalina "

Here's some more info about them in my au.

In my alternate universe, Waluigi's real name is Jerónimo, and he's a Puerto Rican. Despite being known for his frequent suit stealing and robbing offenses, he had somehow managed to evade punishment. This was most likely because the stolen suits didn't cost that much, and as a result, the authorities chose not to prioritize his case.

Nonetheless, it was still a crime, and Wario would have undoubtedly found it amusing to see Jerónimo behind bars for such petty offenses. He even sported the stolen suits to try and impress Rosalina, which added another layer to the absurdity of the situation.

It seemed as though Jerónimo was simply a master of crime and deception, able to dodge consequences with ease. However, there was no telling how long his streak of good luck would last before he was finally caught.

Rosalina, the powerful and majestic space princess, has remained the same in terms of her personality and powers. However, with certain traumatic events and the passage of time, her character has evolved and now she displays a motherly demeanor, acting as a protective figure to those around her.

In her quest to find the secrets of the universe, Rosalina's powers have developed to include the ability to read the stars. When a constellation appears, Rosalina is able to harness its energy and create new stars, which in turn yield valuable cosmic energy. Furthermore, Rosalina's pyrotechnic powers, when combined with the fire flower, are capable of reaching temperatures of up to 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing her to manipulate fire and heat in impressive ways.

Despite her extraordinary abilities, Rosalina has also faced her fair share of challenges, including her trauma which has left her with both visible and internal scars. Despite these setbacks, Rosalina has remained committed to her duties and continues to use her powers to help those in need, spreading light and hope wherever she goes.

The young and innocent Rosalina, whose life was forever altered by the devastating loss of half her civilization and her parents, was forced to grow up far too quickly. Left to lead as a queen of the stars, Rosalina amassed vast knowledge and wisdom about the universe, but not much about the world of humans.

Despite this, Rosalina remains a fierce protector, using her newfound leadership skills to ensure the safety and well-being of her people. However, while she may be knowledgeable about the stars and the universe, her understanding of Earth cultures and the concept of romance is limited, as she has only ever experienced the love of family and her children, never having had a chance to fully experience the joys of childhood or the complexities of adult relationships.

Rosalina and Waluigi's relationship in this alternate universe is a complex one, as they started out as complete strangers before gradually developing romantic feelings for each other. They would often meet under the moonlight, alone, where Rosalina's beauty and voice would captivate Waluigi.

Over time, their conversations revealed their similar experiences with losing beloved parents, causing Waluigi's fake personality to fade away, allowing his true self to shine through. As he opened up to Rosalina, he gradually let go of his fake persona and became more genuine, revealing his insecurities and feelings to her.

Rosalina found Waluigi intriguing due to his appearance, and his true self began to emerge, causing them to relate on a deeper level. Despite their romantic feelings for each other, the two have yet to act on them, but their connection only grows stronger with each passing night spent in each other's company.

The blossoming love between the two characters is a gradual and inconspicuous process, and they are both oblivious to their developing feelings for some time. It is only much later in their friendship, when they have both grown closer and had the opportunity to know each other better, that they start to realize their true feelings.

Despite the slow pace of their journey towards love, their friendship has served as a foundation for deeper emotions to form, and they find comfort and peace in each other's presence.

(Next post will about mareach and Luaisy children)

@bberetd @maceincognito @house-of-xiii @magnas27 @peaches2217 @awesomewolf27

[typenull]

my laios and kabru dungeon meshi pokemon teams (respectively). explanations for each pick and my general ideas of how they would be as trainers below.

spoiler warning!

first up, laios

laios would be a very very dedicated pokemon trainer, and an avid researcher of pokemon ecology. i think he would be in absolute bliss in the pokemon world, a world where “monsters” and people live and work together in harmony. i wanted to represent his dedication by giving him pokemon that are rare, or take plenty of effort to evolve, either by friendship or by extensive level grinding. i also felt like laios would be fascinated by the concept of shiny hunting, and wanted to reflect this in his team.

his pokemon

silvally: self explanatory, isn't it? reflective of his "awesome monster". it’s a chimera that resents humans based on the circumstance of it’s existence. evolves based on love and true friendship. the absolute epitome of laios’s true identity. they are also both legendary and extremely rare, so this means he had to put in a lot of hard work to get a partner like this.

Through the bond it formed with its Trainer, its will was strengthened, and it was able to destroy its control mask.

The final factor needed to release this Pokémon's true power was a strong bond with a Trainer it trusts.

lycanroc: represents the dogs that raised him in his parent’s absence, and also his true ideal “wolf self”. it's my opinion that the wolf head of laios’s chimera form is the one that most concretely represents laios (it’s missing in earlier portrayals of his chimera form, and is the reason he chooses the wolf cloak when he becomes king.). it is also extremely loyal and protective of those it loves, just like laios.

When properly raised from a young age, it will become a trustworthy partner that will absolutely never betray its Trainer.

pyroar: indicative of the winged lion, obviously, but also a reference to the “main body” of the greek chimera myth. shiny mostly because the colors of the shiny remind me of him more. also male, not just for the mane, but because pyroar is 97.5% female — so this form is very rare! this pokedex entry really reminds me of laios:

The males are usually lazy, but when attacked by a strong foe, a male will protect its friends with no regard for its own safety.

braviary: represents the “eagle head” on his chimera form, and the idea of either a hippogriff or a griffin. braviary evolves extremely late in levels, so owning one is indicative of a lot of time put into training it. and i think laios would really enjoy searching for a shiny rufflet and training it for so long. braviary’s pokedex entries are extremely fitting for his personality, and they even have a connection to royalty, and sometimes even retaliate towards humans:

They fight for their friends without any thought about danger to themselves. One can carry a car while flying.

For the sake of its friends, this brave warrior of the sky will not stop battling, even if injured.

It's thought that people disturbed their habitats in the past, so Braviary banded together to fight back.

Known for its bravery and pride, this majestic Pokémon is often seen as a motif for various kinds of emblems.

hydreigon: not only a dragon, but one with multiple heads! i think laios would really personally resonate with the concept of the hydreigon line. because of this i can imagine himself dedicating himself to raising this “cool” dragon, not just because it’s cool, but because he understands “fighting with yourself/your desires”. on top of all of that, hydreigon have been known to destroy villages and resent human beings:

There are a slew of stories about villages that were destroyed by Hydreigon. It bites anything that moves.

It's said that Hydreigon grew ferocious because people in times long past loathed it, considering it to be evil incarnate and attacking it relentlessly.

It responds to movement by attacking. This scary, three-headed Pokémon devours everything in its path!

aegislash: it’s kensuke! this pokemon feels like it was basically made for laios, and reminds me of dungeon meshi in general. i mean, just look at these pokemon entries:

Apparently, it can detect the innate qualities of leadership. According to legend, whoever it recognizes is destined to become king.

Its potent spectral powers allow it to manipulate others. It once used its powers to force people and Pokémon to build a kingdom to its liking.

aegislash also reminds me of the winged lion, and is representative of not just laios’s eventual position as king, but also his “idealized” leadership as “dungeon master” over the course of the story.

now onto kabru!

as a trainer, in accordance to his position as laios's foil, i'd imagine that kabru would focus much less on pokemon battles and pokemon training. much like his lack of skill when it comes to exploring the dungeon, kabru is very people focused first, and i'd imagine his team is not very strong when it comes to battling... but i still wanted picks that would be indicative of who he is as a person. i'd like to think he acquired most of his pokemon not by the headstrong dedication towards exploration and catching that laios would have, but by making the right connections through trading and making bonds with other people. however, the few that he would have found on his own would be extremely special to him.

his pokemon

stufful: cute and unassuming on the surface, but secretly spiteful and aggressive underneath... it reminds me of kabru a lot. this is also the first in the start of a running theme of plush / toy-like pokemon i incorporated into his team, to represent his childhood being raised by misiril and treated like a "doll". kabru's childhood is something i find very few people take into consideration, but it really changes the way you look at his character...

A touch from anyone except a known friend sends it into a surging frenzy. It's an incredibly dangerous Pokémon. Its fluffy fur is a delight to pet, but carelessly reaching out to touch this Pokémon could result in painful retaliation.

mimikyu: another contribution to the doll-like theme of his team, but also is a pokemon that i feel is most representative of kabru's personality... someone who just wants to be loved and idolizes and takes after another, hiding behind a cute and nice mask, with an unending well of loneliness and a desire to be friends despite feeling like something evil. kabru talks about how he feels like a monster due to his lineage with misiril in his adventure's bible excerpt, and it's always struck powerfully with me. (as a result i can't stand when people make blue eyes jokes about him, lol.) he spends his entire adventure idolizing laios, just wanting to be his friend... (and secretly hating him.) to me, mimikyu is a perfect partner for kabru.

A lonely Pokémon, it conceals its terrifying appearance beneath an old rag so it can get closer to people and other Pokémon. It has taken damage and can no longer hold the head of its cloth disguise upright. For as long as it lives, Mimikyu will never forget its attacker.

mawile: meant to symbolize kabru's "two-faced"ness, and also just seemed like a type i thought he would enjoy. yet another cute looking pokemon to contribute to his team's theme, as well. this pokemon's dex entries mention how it uses it's cute facade to lure in other pokemon, and i thought that was fitting. i also thought it was nice that the jaws are actually horns, playing back into kabru's self-demonization.

Don't be taken in by this Pokémon's cute face—it's very dangerous. Mawile fools the foe into letting down its guard, then chomps down with its massive jaws. The steel jaws are really horns that have been transformed. It has two mouths. The big jaws on the back of its head can't taste anything, so that's the mouth it uses to eat foods it doesn't like.

espurr: a small and cute pokemon that reminded me of misiril, and kabru as a child. i also wanted to include it in order to make it clear that kabru wouldn't always care about fully evolving or training his pokemon, or using anything considered "strong" - since battling wouldn't be his expertise. this is yet another pokemon that seems docile but is secretly holding back dangerous power. i thought that he would resonate with this pokemon's blank and scary stare.

Though Espurr's expression never changes, behind that blank stare is an intense struggle to contain its devastating psychic power.

banette: next to mimikyu, i feel like this pokemon most accurately reflects kabru's past and personality. once again calling back to kabru's unhealthy childhood, and his treatment as an object. originally being a toy itself, banette holds strong grudges against those who have abandoned and wronged it.

An abandoned plush doll became this Pokémon. They are said to live in garbage dumps and wander about in search of the children that threw them away. It's a stuffed toy that was thrown away and became possessed, ever searching for the one who threw it away so it can exact its revenge. Resentment at being cast off made it spring into being. Some say that treating it well will satisfy it, and it will once more become a stuffed toy.

buneary: for his final team member, i knew from the outset that i wanted to include a buneary on his team. buneary is the only pokemon to start off with a base 0 happiness -- and as a result is an extremely hard pokemon to evolve! this also pairs well with the unique move of Frustration - a move that is more powerful the lower a pokemon's happiness. this seemed fitting. i wanted to keep it at a weak stage, but i also enjoy that it's a friendship evolution that he could slowly raise. i made this pokemon shiny partially because i just associate kabru with the color pink, but also because i thought it told a nice story. i liked the idea of kabru finding this equally battle-wary but extremely rare pokemon and slowly having it warm up to him over time, as he slowly learns to trust a "monster" he is somewhat wary of himself.

If both of Buneary's ears are rolled up, something is wrong with its body or mind. It's a sure sign the Pokémon is in need of care.

[theguardianace]

you should make pokémon teams for prsk characters if you haven’t already! like, what would you imagine for rui’s team?

i think about this every day of my life.

LEO/NEED-

Most of Leo/need's partners are simply companions- Ichika and Shiho know a bit of battling, and Honami has been gettng better at it, but they're really just in it for the friends! Saki does love watching Pokemon Contests though (especially her brother's :)) Also lore wise I think they have encountered Jirachi before. (It fits so well... starry wishes...)

Ichika- she inhereted the family Maractus after taking such good care of it as a kid. Maractus loves to dance along while Ichi is practicing rhythm guitar! Almost like a spiky metronome haha. I can also see her with a Furrett, but I don't have a reasoning other than vibes.

Saki- her partner all through childhood is a yellow Minior! A fragile yet beautiful star glowing through the night :) Minior doesn't battle but it is a good friend!!!! I also think Saki would really like Pancham for some reason. All of her pokemon have nicknames, and now all of Leo/need's do to.

Honami- I don't know what to tell you Appletun was literally made for this girl. It follows her around to her housekeeping jobs and helps make really sweet apple dishes! There was also a Grookey she encountered often in elementary school but never had the courage to catch. The pair reunited a bit after the formation of Leo/need, and officially became part of the team! Grookey quickly evolved into Rillaboom (she really likes playing drums with Hona). Honami's mother has a Blissey, who sometimes goes with Honami to housekeeping jobs as well! (Blissey really likes Kanade)

Shiho- her first Pokemon was a Toxel that she absolutely adores. Toxel evolved into a Low-Key Toxtricity around middle school! People are a bit intimidated by him, but it's mostly just a front. Toxicity is a very protective Pokemon and the strongest battler in Leo/need. She also has a Bunneary that is very near and dear to her. Pampered little princess. Nobody at school knows Bunneary exists. She also takes care of the family Kantonian Vulpix, the little sister of Shizuku's Alolan one!

MORE MORE JUMP

Pokemon Performers! Probably more of the Kalosian variety than Hoenn/Sinnoh, focused on the true performance of it over any sort of battling. Similar to the main story, in which Haruka, Airi, and Shizuku are all popular but disillusioned celebrities who meet Minori, a hopeful fan who dreams of being an idol, too. They reignite their dreams through the Power of Friendship.

Minori- her first partner was an Eevee! The two of them would watch Haruka's performances and try and replicate them constantly. Eevee doesn't ever want to evolve and Minori completely supports that. Just because Eevee is a normal type first evolution doesn't mean it can't pack a punch! She also has a very very energetic Yamper. It's more of a family pet than a true partner pokemon, but she loves it just the same! I also think Minori would have a Tatsugiri but I cannot figure out lore reasoning why. I think she just would.

Haruka- Haruka is SOOOO Prinplup coded like I do not know what else to say. Piplup was her starter that she absolutely ADORED. Thinks it's the cutest thing ever. Prinplup was there for her during her lowest moments and has always been a responsible, guiding light. Haruka has since also caught an Eiscue.

Airi- Personally, I choose to believe allergies do not exist in the Pokemon world because it would be heartbreaking to not be able to pet all of them (all of them). Also so Airi can have a Skitty!!! Skitty is a spunky thing that has great performance chemistry with Airi! They were popular on variety shows since Skitty is so dang cute. Ever since joining MMJ, Airi has been working with Skitty on learning to battle (for real, not scripted like the past).

Shizuku- Her family had an Alolan Vulpix that became her partner at a young age. The agency made her evolve it into a Ninetales "to better fit her image", even though Ninetales wasn't quite ready to do so. Still, Ninetales is really happy to be around Shizuku and often helps make sure she doesn't get lost. Shizuku loves pokemon a whole ton, but was only allowed to have one partner with her old group. After becoming part of MMJ, she catches a Slowpoke because she thinks its really cute. (Airi finds this fitting.) She's also caught a Feebas that evolved into Milotic!

VIVID BAD SQUAD

VBS are all battle trainers! Singing is still all their main passion, but hey! Why not have some pokemon battles there too? Vivid Street has a huge music and battle culture because of it. Since a lot of VBS's story centers on partnership, they each only have one main partner pokemon, but still work best within a team setting. They often do double battles!

Kohane- MORPEKO. SHE IS MORPEKO. innocent yet menacing hampster creatures.... there is nothing else more to say here. It is correct. (Count Pearl is her dad's Ekans who Kohane loves very much and everyone else is terrified by, btw)

An- she would do well with a Luxio! An would absolutely be an electric type trainer, and Luxio just seems like a good fit :) She grew up with Shinx, a gift from her father, and he evolved into a Luxio sometime around middle school? Luxio's the type to get An out of her own head when she starts feeling insecure about her own abilities. Also An puts little star clips on him during performances.

Akito- he chose Scorbunny as his starter, and the two loved playing soccer together! Scorbunny really loves being on the stage, even if it wasn't the best performer at first. Scorbunny has always stuck by Akito's side, no matter what. Scorbunny evolved into Raboot a bit before VBS formed, but after meeting Toya. It then evolved into Cinderace during the (equivalent) events of Burn my Soul!

Toya- he was raised alongside a supportive yet quiet Riolu. Since the Riolu line is able to read emotion, Riolu was often the one to realize Toya's own feelings before he could. Riolu, with Tsukasa's help, was the one to push Toya to leave classical music behind. Since meeting Akito, Riolu has evolved into a formidable Lucario. (It's a secret, but Souma has been trying to track down a Lucarionite for him...)

WONDERLANDS X SHOWTIME

Wondershow are all Pokemon Performers! Tsukasa started because he saw how much they made Saki smile (even though he could never get past the appeals round, he kept trying). Emu loves the energy, and since her family sponsored most competitions, she could compete often! Her style is very. wonderhoy. Nene wanted to be a performer, but after an embarrassing mistake in her childhood, gave up on that dream. Rui was banned from most competitions for "too dangerous of combinations" so often performed on streets (this doesn't go well). The four end up banding together to perform as a unit!

Tsukasa- It's a bit of an unconventional take, but- Ampharos! Tsukasa has always been a guiding light to those around him, so why not the Light Pokemon herself? Ampharos is equally confident and dramatic as her partner. They make a good team. Despite all his pegasus-ness, he does not actually have a Ponyta or Rapidash. He does like them a lot, though.

Emu- she sooooo has a Tinkaton. Small pink thing massive hammer complete life satisfaction. I'm also giving her a Stufful because I love Bewear and I love Emu, and because pink thing that is a menace.

Nene- her starter pokemon was a Popplio! Popplio is a lot more outgoing than Nene and tries his best to get Nene more comfortable in social situations. Popplio evolved into Brionne a bit before the fated show, but after her and Rui drifted apart. Brionne then evolved into Primarina after the Little Mermaid show. Instead of Robonene, Rui had created Magearna for Nene. Magearna acts as Nene's own personal protector, which she finds very sweet. She tries not to think about the implications of Rui creating an actual living pokemon in his garage for her.

Rui- his partner has always been a Rotom- a mischievous little thing! Rotom helps out with Rui's inventions, and is a great help for shows. It was really just them two for a very long time- though Rui absolutely adores everything there is about Pokemon, he doesn't really think any wild pokemon would really want to be his partner (other than Rotom). Rui does end up befreinding and eventually catching the lonely Gengar haunting the Wonder Stage. (Emu adores Gengar btw). He's also taken a liking to the back alley Sprigatito...

NIGHTCORD AT 25:00

Nightcord is still just Nightcord here! Mafuyu is still expected by her mother to be a human doctor, but deep down she really wants to be a Pokemon nurse, even if she doesn't quite realize it herself. K is still a musician with pokemon to support her, Ena is still a struggling artist who now has a partner by her side, and Mizuki is still Mizuki! They don't perform or battle.

Kanade- She has an Audino that helps take care of her! Audino is incredibly patient and makes sure Kanade is eating and resting (decently) enough, and sometimes helps compose or inspire melodies. I also think her mother had a Shaymin, who she inherited upon her passing.

Mafuyu- Mafuyu didn't have a pokemon partner growing up ("too much of a distraction from your studies!", "pokemon battling isn't a real profession, it's much better for you to be a doctor", the likes). However, since meeting n25, she's secretly gained a Galarian Cursola, a Froslass, a Trevenant, and a Hisuian Zoroark. She is an absolutely terrifying battle opponent. (Later on, Kanade gives her a Happiny egg from Honami's Blissey, totally not sparking some sort of nurse-aspiring reaciton...)

Ena- SMEARGLE. NORMAL TYPE ARTIST POKEMON. Smeargle definitely paints right alongside Ena! Smeargle is super sassy and an absolute pain to deal with. They get along quite well. Having each other inspires the other to keep painting, keep going, keep getting better. They respect each other a great deal.

Mizuki- their first Pokemon was an Eevee, a gift from Yuuki! They loved brushing it's fur and making it all soft and fluffy. Eevee chose to evolve into a Sylveon during Mizuki's second year of middle school. Around their first year of middle school, Mizuki encountered a male Raltz, who later evolved into a Kirlia. Everyone expects Kirlia to evolve into a Gallade one day, but he secretly dreams of becoming a Gardevoir. One day....

VIRTUAL SINGERS

because why not. this is already insanely long i can make it longer. (project voltage my love....)

Miku- Pikachu on account of the mascot, Arceus on account of the versatility and legendary status, and Porygon on account of the computer!

Len and Rin- Plusle Minun! I've drawn this.

Luka- Honestly, I can so see her with a Togekiss. She has such fairy type trainer vibes.

MEIKO- Houndoom! Specifically one that mega evolves.

KAITO- Vanilluxe. easy choice.

[princeescaluswords]

Thank God someone else who isn’t caught up in shipping Loki and Mobius or Loki and Sylvie you earned a follow

Here's the thing that I want to ask the legion of Lokius shippers who were disappointed by the series or, worse yet, accuse it of queerbaiting.

What was the show about?

I don't mean 'what did you want the show to be about' but what was the show actually about. What story did it seek to tell?

I know, and I suspect you do as well.

It was about Loki coming to terms with who he was, what he had done, and, in a very important quote, "what sort of god I want to be." In the beginning, Loki looked to his father, his brother, and his mother for definition, and when they didn't give him the identity he wanted, he reacted violently. He worked with Thanos the Mad Titan to get the power to force others to love him, and we all saw how that ended. He stooped to being a sycophant to the Grandmaster. None of them were ever able to make him feel the way he wanted to feel.

Then he encounters the TVA, including Mobius and Sylvie, and sees that there are infinite Lokis; suddenly, defining himself seems not only unimportant but foolish. He is who he is. Then he meets He Who Remains, and he begins to see that -- and this is a crucial line when he shouts it at the Enchantress -- there are things bigger than his own identity.

The second season of the show and his attempt to forge himself a new home within the TVA, with the people he's met and befriended there, and begins to paradoxically establish his own sense of self-worth through his relationships with them. Not just one of them, but all of them. It wasn't about a specific relationship; it was about all of them.

Loki and Sylvie kissed ONCE in 12 episodes, and then she punted him through a time door, so the point wasn't the culmination of their romance, but the possibility of seeing himself as worthy of regard in the guise of seeing another Loki, and confronting his violent and selfish instincts by confronting the same instincts in a version of himself he loved. Mobius started out confronting Loki with the enormity of his failures and trying to manipulate him into assisting the TVA and evolved into a close friendship when they're willing to work with and believe in each other in a way Loki had never achieved before, not even with Thor.

Loki was never going to go on dates or settle down in glorious domesticity with jet-skis and stepsons. He was always going to achieve his 'glorious purpose': finding something greater than himself to value and to sacrifice for. To find something worthy of guarding.

Shipping is fun, but in this show? It was extraneous. A plot line with a romantic focus simply would not fit in with the themes with which the show grappled. So, take a deep breath, write your Lokius fanfiction, but dial it down a notch on your screams of betrayal and injustice. You look foolish.

[scifigeneration]

Pluto: Netflix’s anime masterpiece explores how robots ‘feel’ when humans exploit them

by Thi Gammon, Research Associate in Culture, Media and Creative Industries Education at King's College London

There have been many TV shows and films inspired by the dual fear and excitement surrounding advances in artificial intelligence (AI). But not many exhibit such masterful craft and profound humanity as the new Netflix anime miniseries, Pluto.

Pluto is adapted from a manga series of the same title (2003-2009), created by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki. The manga version – considered a comic masterpiece for its beautiful art and sophisticated storyline – incorporated fundamental elements from Osamu Tezuka’s celebrated manga series Astro Boy (1952-1968), including the beloved android adolescent who was the titular character.

Pluto is set in a futuristic world in which humans and robots coexist, albeit within a hierarchy in favour of humans. Robots excel in various jobs ranging from nannies and butlers to architects and detectives, but they are treated as second-class citizens.

Although robots gradually gain their own rights codified into law, they are still exploited by humans, who downplay their worth and emotional intelligence. As much as humans depend on AI, they also feel threatened by it.

An AI murder mystery

Pluto, which has both Japanese and English audio versions, follows German robot detective Gesicht (Shinshū Fuji/Jason Vande Brake) as he traces the mysterious killings of robots and humans. The world’s seven most advanced robots (including Gesicht himself) and robot-friendly humans (including his creator) are the targets of this assassination scheme.

What’s most perplexing is that the murders appear untraceable. This suggests that the killer might be a very advanced robot, challenging the belief that robots can’t ever kill humans due to their programmed constraints.

This enigmatic case echoes the cautionary message found in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – beware of human beings’ ambitious dreams and creations. While the story begins as a murder mystery, it evolves into a thoughtful drama about the conflicted relationships between humans and androids.

While Pluto draws on many familiar sci-fi concepts, it distinguishes itself through its meticulous character development and the depth of its micro-stories. Every character is complex, and the audience is able to get to know them and become invested in their fates. The anime’s unhurried pace also allows viewers ample time to contemplate its philosophical questions about consciousness evolution and the powerful impacts of emotions.

Despite all its brilliance, however, the series is not without flaws. It has a dated representation of gender roles, with no female characters – whether human or robot – playing an important part. None of them break free from the stereotypical role of nurturing, stay-behind support for their exceptionally capable and powerful male partners.

Animation of the year

Pluto maintains a melancholic tone throughout – but despite this overarching dark ambience, it is at times romantic and moving. It exalts love, friendship and compassion without falling into sentimentality, evoking an emotional resonance reminiscent of Blade Runner (1982).

The series emphasises that life, or the process of living, imparts character and humanity, transcending biological organs and blood. Androids may initially be devoid of complex emotions, but they develop sentience through everyday experiences and interactions with fellow robots and humans.

Robots can even learn to appreciate music, as manifested by the charismatic North No.2 (Koichi Yamadera/Patrick Seitz), who was designed for intense combat but grows weary of warfare. The narrative underscores the simultaneous beauty and danger of emotions – particularly the destructive force of wrath.

With great technological advancements and comfort, this futuristic world is still torn by war. It poses the question: “Will war ever end?” – reminding us of the conflicts and tragedies happening in the real world. The anime suggests that an end to war is unlikely as long as hatred persists.

For me, with its beautiful art and riveting narrative, Pluto stands out as one of the best Netflix productions of all time. It’s certainly the best animated work of the year.

[theprodigypenguin]

Thank you @mugiwara-rosewolf for this question omg I'm almost certainly going to rant so I hope you're alright with that! I'd like to preface this by saying the only Pokémon game I've played through is Legends Arceus, and it's been ages since I watched the show, and the only card I have is Piplup cuz it's Piplup, so I am by no means an expert. Anyway let's goooooo!

I'm only gonna do one Pokémon for each character rather than an entire team! Many of these I chose after training them in game, watching YouTube videos about them, or purposely looking up their pokedex entries and lore. Some of these were chosen purely on vibes. Note: you can generally have a team of up to six, so these are only ONE of these characters Pokémon from their teams.

Lets start with Babo!

Sabo: Umbreon

So imma be real I gave him an Eevee because I Love Eevee. And because I wanted to give him a familiar Pokémon. The real decision was what his Eevee would evolve into. I decided on Umbreon because they evolve from high friendship, and friendship/family is insanely important to Sabo, so it made sense to me that his Eevee would evolve from that. Plus I really like Sabo having a dark type.

Koala: Swampert

Koala meets her Swampert when she's still pretty young, probably soon after returning to her home island. She's sitting at a stream when she hears crying and follows the sound to a trap where a Mudkip is stuck. She frees him, of course, feeling a strong understanding because she too had been trapped until recently. She names him Fish (after fisher tiger, duh) and they grow up together. She makes the decision to join the revolutionary army when he evolves the first time into Marshtomp. Swampert fucking adores Koala, that is his girl. He has a thin scar going around his back foot from the wire trap she saved him from.

Hack: Gyarados

Hack met his Gyarados by pure chance during a mission. He was traveling back to Baltigo under the water since he was alone, swimming to avoid marines or pirates. At one point he stops to enjoy his lunch, and notices that there's a weird looking fish floating nearby just staring at him. He doesn't realize the fish is a Magikarp, and when he greets it he gets no response (because it's a Pokémon, not a fish), so he just assumes it's shy and offers it part of his lunch (cuz Hack is a good guy). After finishing his lunch he starts swimming again, not realizing or maybe not caring that the Magikarp had taken a liking to him and was following him eagerly. At some point he crosses paths with a Sea King, but before he's able to get into a fighting stance, Magikarp swims in front of him, willing itself to evolve into Gyarados to protect Hack. That's when he realizes it's a Pokémon. Gyarados follows him back to Baltigo, and he just ends up with it as his Pokémon partner.

Betty: Espurr

So my thought process for Betty’s partner was that I really wanted her to have a psychic type, because I thought it matched beautifully with her Devil’s Fruit ability to encourage and pump people up simply by speaking. That's kinda psychic, right? What made me settle on Espurr was the lore that it's a Pokémon who struggles deeply with controlling its powers, is rather lonely and oftentimes on its own. It made me think of what Betty said about the revs being there for people willing to stand up for themselves. Espurr is trying super hard to control itself, and Betty sees that, so she's happy to encourage it and help it become stronger and more capable of controlling its powers. I think they'd mesh really well as partners. Plus, cmon, look at that face. There's something endearing about an adorable lil guy being able to fucking YEET your ass.

Morley: Sableye

Reason one why I chose Sableye: he's fucking adorable. I think they must have met when Morley was imprisoned in Impel Down and digging the tunnels that eventually became level 5.5. Sableye had gotten stuck there somehow, but when it noticed Morley digging it decided to follow. Sableye would pick through the dirt and rocks that Morley pushed aside, and when Morley realized it was scavenging, she started to purposely look for tasty looking rocks and would hand them back to Sableye, who followed her through the entire process of tunnel digging. When Morley finally escaped, she brought Sableye with her. They've been friends for a VERY long time. Sableye likes to just sit on Morley's shoulder, but will hop down if Morley is digging/pushing the ground around, because that means TREATS!

Lindbergh: Heatmor

Heatmor is a fucking vibe, okay. The blend of organic and mechanical really made sense for Lindbergh, because I see Heatmor using its fire to help him when he's making one of his gadgets. Oh, you need to melt some metal? No problem Lind, Heatmor is here! I was torn between giving Lindbergh a fire type or a steel type and Heatmor's appearance really won me over for this one. The vibes are simply perfect. Here's a bonus fact, Heatmor is 4'7" and Lindbergh is 4'11" 🤣 I just love that they're basically the same height. Heatmor is Lindbergh's partner as well as his assistant when preparing gadgets. They have a really good dynamic I think.

Karasu: Corviknight

I mean *waves* duh. I wanted Karasu to have a flying type because I thought it would be sweet of them to fly together. Then I realized Corviknight existed. Initially I thought it was a little TOO on the nose, but Corviknight is literally perfect for Karasu both aesthetically and lore-based. Karasu met his Corviknight when he was just a tiny Rookidee. He raised the little guy by hand and even taught him how to fly. Corviknight is more like Karasu's child than his Pokémon partner tbfh. He enjoys perching on Karasu's shoulder and will nest in the feathers of his cloak when it's tired. He gets along with most of the other Pokémon as he's quite friendly, but he's got beef with Inazuma's Tinkaton.

Ivankov: Ditto

I dare you to tell me this isn't perfect. Genderless and able to perfectly change into a duplicate of its enemy, its ability to transform itself parallels unbelievably well with Iva's devil fruit ability. I think they met when Ditto chose to reveal itself to Iva voluntarily after seeing Iva transform. Maybe it thought Iva was also a Ditto, who knows? Either way it liked Iva's company and chose to travel with her, happily working alongside her. Iva of course has other Pokémon on her team, but Ditto refuses to be confined to a pokeball and Iva respects that, so just let's it follow her around freely.

Dragon: Smolive

"Prodi why did you give Dragon a smolive?" This is why ->

Anyway, they met one day when a lonely Smolive crawled onto Dragon's plate following the scent of food, and Dragon, not realizing, picked him up thinking he was part of the meal. It begins shrieking, alerting Dragon that this is a Pokémon, so he sets it back down while apologizing for almost eating it. After that Smolive decides to dedicate it's very tiny life to Dragon and they become friends. I genuinely believe Dragon gets along really well with grass types. Idk why, the vibes just fit. He has other partners more suited for battle, but the image of Smolive on his shoulders helps to trick unsuspecting enemies into thinking it'll be an easy fight. Meanwhile he's got a legendary on his team or something, idk, Dragon exists to surprise us.

Kuma: Blissey

I wanted Kuma to have a Pokémon with the same gentle, no nonsense personality. Something healing but willing to beat your ass, basically the exact same as Kuma. Blissey is literally perfect for him. Compassionate, hard working, gentle. Genuinely do I have to say anything else? Blissey was the one who was first drawn to a young Kuma back when she was just a Happiny because she could sense his good nature and quickly became attached to him. When Kuma leaves to join the warlords he leaves Blissey at Baltigo, much to Blissey's distress. She hates being apart from her partner, but Kuma knew from the beginning that this mission probably wouldn't end well and didn't want his beloved Pokémon to get caught up in it, so he entrusts her to Dragon and the other revs. She misses him very much and is often sad, but will brighten up when given the opportunity to take care of someone. Her full attention is on Sabo after he gets his memories back, because she can sense how distressed he is. She'll offer him her egg to try and help, but he swears he's okay. He does hug her a lot, though, because they both miss Kuma.

Ahiru: Bronzor

Another choice made by vibes. First of all I love that both Ahiru and Betty have psychic types, and I wanted Ahiru to have a partner that matched her aesthetic and her mechanical arm. I also think the legend its inspired by is incredibly powerful and fits with the overall theme of the Revolutionary Army. Bronzor will allow Ahiru to polish it, but only for a little bit, and won't let anyone else touch it.

Inazuma: Tinkaton

I really wanted Inazuma to have a steel type, and I loved Tinkaton for them but wasn't sure about the clashing colors. Then I read further on her lore. So yeah Inazuma has a Tinkaton. She's got mad beef with Karasu's Corviknight, but Inazuma is pretty good at keeping her from doing something murderous. Tinkaton doesn't like disappointing Inazuma and will droop her head when Inazuma scolds her for trying to commit homicide against the poor Corviknight who is just minding his own damn business. In a fight, Inazuma and Tinkaton are fucking TERRIFYING together. She gets along insanely well with Sabo, who can lift her ridiculously heavy hammer and is about as crazy as she it.

[dailyoriginalcharacter]

(credit: @prozac)

SANGRIA used to be a nursing robot, dully making her rounds. Now that she’s spontaneously gained sentience, she finds herself in a strange, apocalyptic world. Her kindness will be her greatest asset - or possibly her downfall.

If you want to learn more check this shit out. Also @kumied again, feel free to ask me questions. Smiles.

SANGRIA’s story is called Apocalypse Simulator!, a video game where you play as her. You explore the one remaining town of the world, meet the survivors, and through your actions you can either attempt to rekindle community and build a brighter future, or you can choose to delve into the town’s history and origins, forcing yourself into buried secrets to unravel the present.

(art by @numberposting hi n_n)

SANGRIA’s main friend (who discovers her AI) is the town’s only Mechanic, whose father went missing about a week ago. SANGRIA completes mechanical tasks for the Mechanic (stylized as daily missions), giving them more free time to pursue their father. As SANGRIA completes these tasks, she also has an opportunity to talk with the people who own these machines, creating closer relationships as she helps them out again and again.

Above all else, SANGRIA values love and friendship. She sees her relationships and desires as choices she makes every day, which strengthens her grip on her ‘free will.’ She is outgoing and friendly, and she frequently vocalizes the emotions she feels, in lieue of not having the same body language and expressions as her human peers. She loves plants and eventually has the opportunity to unlock her own garden in-game. While at first she grows flowers and vegetables, she comes to cultivate weeds and grasses instead, letting these hardier plants bloom wherever they wish.

I love how contradictory SANGRIA is, like on one hand her desire to love & be loved stems from an insecurity that she is not “person” enough. She was not made to have sentience, she gained it from some odd, cheap glitch, and that fact haunts her. To combat it she attempts to make herself as “human” as possible, and in her mind the solution to this, to not being a robot (easily discarded tools, manufactured with no individual care, mindlessly doing their tasks with no passion or soul), is to be loved and cared for and to love and care in return. At the same time, because she used to be a nursing robot, she also worries that her desire to love and care is not actually a choice she has made (proof of her “humanity”) but rather something that is ingrained in her. That she has merely “evolved” to be able to consider more complex situations, but that she is still bound to her code and can never truly be a person. She can’t reassure herself one way or another because both feed into her core fear.

(art by @bashirs <3)

SANGRIA does not feel hunger, and she does not experience much emotional connection to music. Her way of viewing the world relates mostly to analyzing the biological processes of humans, which she attempts to warp and manipulate with the help of inventions by the Mechanic. She possesses a thermal mode of viewing, and she has a medical dictionary she can overlay through her normal camera. However, as time goes on, she begins to overwrite the medical terminology that was automatically downloaded into her software with various other vocabulary words that her friends teach her.

Also she has a crush on a power generator, which electrocutes her while she’s clumsily attempting to fix it. n_n

[taranodongirl]

Ideas for my own Pokemon x Twisted Wonderland fanfic Part 2

Alexia's Pokemon Part 1

Alexia’s Pokemon

Ben the Swinub : Alexia’s first pokemon. They met when she was 6 and they both got lost in a mountain. They are both the same age and have a bond similar to Ash and Pikachu. Ben is very upbeat, cheerful and can read his trainer very well. He is a lot more social than Alexia and is a major help in Alexia meeting new people (for good or bad). His name is based on the song “Ben” by Michael Jackson and I feel that it fits their friendship bond.

A group of 14  Unknown that spell Kokoro ?! Kiseki (a reference to my favorite Vocaloid song and to how Alexia’s kind heart and open mind are her greatest power): as a child, Alexia would often explore the ruins and play with the Unknowns that lived there. Since Unknown can read the minds and hearts of sentient beings they found Alexia’s autistic mind fascinating and used their reality altering abilities to teach her how to use her Aura abilities. Alexia’s mother however is afraid of Unknown and made her family move (this is one of the events that led to Alexia temporarily living with Professor Kakui and starting her Pokemon journey early), but 14 of the Unknown followed her and unofficially became part of her team. They do not battle or have their own pokeballs, but they gave her a special charm and occasionally teleport visit her.

Rocky: a male Buneary that hates his evolution’s feminine appearance and wants to be the strongest, toughest, and manliest Buneary in the world. He wears a luchador mask to hide his cute appearance and keep a masculine appearance and a belt with an Everstone on it. Rocky has a pretty good relationship with Epel due to them having similar struggles and even used Sucker Punch on Vil and Rook for their treatment of his friends.

Tonka: a Turtwig that served as Alexia’s starter pokemon in Sinnoh and is now a Grottle. He likes chewing on her head and sometimes forgets how big he is, because of this he decided to not evolve into Torterra. He has a little brother Turtwig named Tucker who came from an egg that Alexia brought on her journey and hatched in Twisted Wonderland.

Prince Nettles: a Mareanie that came in handy in the Octovinelle Arc. Nettles would eat the anemones off the contract victims' heads which  would temporarily release them (and poison them) until Azul noticed what happened. He evolves durning the overblot fight and his poison becomes strong enough to incompassitate Azul long enough to defeat him. Nettles became good friends with Vil’s Gloom and helped him gain self confidence.

Poseidon the Magikarp: A friendly Magikarp that Alexia often carries around in a water filled hamster ball like container with a leash. He evolves into Gariados and becomes upset that he can no longer travel that way and Alexia considers letting Posidon go because she is worried that she is holding him back from his love of travel, but after defeating Jamil’s overblot, Poseidon lets her know that he wants to stay with her. He becomes the pokemon Alexia uses for surf.

Belladonna the Croagunk: an adult, female, crogunk with freckles on her cheeks and usually wears a maroon scarf with purple flowers embroidered on it. She has a strict and maternal personality, especially towards Alexia and the baby Pokemon, and is extremely strong and will go above and beyond for her team, even if she has to break through walls to do it. When Belladonna was a wild pokemon, she was considered an outcast among the other crogunk for her freckles so she wasn’t able to find a mate and have her own babies, so she wondered off to greenbelt near a town and tried to make friends with the children, but the kids found her rigid and unreadable face uneasy and were too scared to approach her. One day, she met Alexia who had a rough day at school and was covered in ink (she decided to play connect the dots with her freckles in an attempt to make friends but instead she got in trouble for drawing on herself) and Alexia said to her “You have freckles just like me!” and connected the pokemon's freckles too which formed flowers that are the same shape as the flowers embroidered on her scarf that she would get later. With that their bond began and Alexia and Ben would visit the Crogunk and explore the greenbelt together, not always talking but still enjoying their company. One day they found some flowers and when Alexia wanted to pick them, but Belladonna stopped her and signaled with her poison jab that they were poisonous and this inspired Alexia give her the name Belladonna. In Twisted Wonderland, Belladonna can often be seen with Alexia and the baby pokemon, but she also tends to show up in random places and surprising people. She doesn’t like Crowly’s incompetence and will often use poison jab or brick break on him for any offense she can find. She later finds two pollywag eggs and becomes a surrogate mother to them.

Sparkplug the Magnezone: Alexia had this pokemon ever since it was a Magnamite. It is a good friend and a trained orthodontist, which is handy since Alexia wears special braces that Sparkplug can remove when she needs to eat and put back on perfectly. Sparkplug later gives birth to a Magnamite which befriends Tinker, Ortho’s Meltan and moves into Igniahide's dorm.

[smashedtangerines]

Hey all, sorry for the delay, but here's an update for the Black 2 Nuzlocke.

After getting my starter, I beat the first rival battle, went out, and did the basic steps to get Poké Balls. After this, I had my first encounter of the run in Route 19, being a wild Patrat!

Starting out at level 4, I was able to easily catch and name the Patrat, the Scout pokemon, Silver Bay.

(Note, forgot to take photos of the caught pokemon directly after I leveled them up so some of these photos are from the future/after catching them)

The reason for the nickname Silver Bay is due to Silver Bay, New York being the original home for the Boy Scouts in America.

My second encounter was on Route 20 and was a wild Purrlion.

Another rather easy catch at level 3, I named the Purrlion Mumbai after the city Mumbai, India, due to their populations of Leopard Cats.

My last encounter before the 1st badge was an Azurill in Floccesy Ranch.

Due to how Azurill's moveset and stats are, it was pretty easily caught. I then went on to name the Azurill Okunoshima, named after the Japanese city of the same name due to it's rabbit/bunny population.

Since the first gym of the game is normal type and I was unable to get a Lilpup or Riolu, I only had a handful of options when it came to the gym and not having my team wipe due to a stacked Lilpup from the move Work Up. My original idea was to get Azurill to level 10 to learn Charm and have Azurill evolve at the same level to learn Defense Curl and Rollout. Doing this paired with Huge Power would make the first gym a cake walk, since Defense Curl boosts Rollout's power if used one right after the other. The plan was perfect, unfortunately I haf did not get the correct amount of friendship points with Azurill by level 10, meaning she leveled up, and she did not evolve into Maril at level 10, but instead at 11.

This was obviously a huge issue since my main plan of attack just got butchered, but at level 13, Maril learns Bubblebeam, and since I already have Charm, I could instead use Bubblebeam and take the fight slower. So I set off leveling up my team to 11 to 13, making sure to keep under the level restrictions of the ace of Cheren's team. Once I had slowly leveled up my team in Floccesy Ranch, I went to start the final challenge of the first gym. (Note: I forgot to take photos of the fight, and I will do so from now on).

I started with my Silver Bay (Patrat) at level 12 vs. his Patrat at level 11 and was able to outspeed and flinch with Bite. After defeating the Patrat, the true threat came out, his level 13 Lilpup. Since he wanted to get a buff out using Work Up, I was able to get a free switch into my Okunoshima (Maril). From turn 2 to 5 after Lilpup came out, I used Charm to lower his attack by two stages to make sure Lilpup would be more worried about using Work Up vs. using Tackle. Doing this allowed me to Bubblebeam Lilpup into potion range and allow me to get another Charm off as he healed.

This fight wasn't without it close calls, and we definitely had one here. Lilpup had gotten a critical hit and sent Okunoshima down to 3 HP, almost completely knocking her out! After using a potion, 2 more Bubblebeams were able to knock out Cheren's ace and win me the battle!

After winning the battle and getting the Tms for Work Up and Return (which I taught to a few of my Pokémon), I began heading towards Virbank City to the second badge. It was there that I saw Virbank Complex is set up weird. With two areas called Virbank Complex but having a load screen in-between each other and different encounters in both areas, I decided two encounters here should be fine.

On the outside of Virbank Complex, after sifting through Patrats, I found a Pidove (Note: did not take a photo of the encounter. I apologize for that).

But Pidove was easy to catch. Unfortunately, Pidove didn't have Super Luck. I named Pidove Redfield since the Pidove line turns more into Pheasant like vs. staying more Pigeon like. I also named Pidove Redfield due to Redfield, South Dakota, being known for their Pheasants.

The last encounter I was able to get was inside the Virbank Complex, and there I was able to get a Magnemite. (Note: forgot Magnemite's photo too)

This catch was my most difficult catch yet, almost knocking out half my team due to SonicBoom and having Thundershock to make it so Maril couldn't assist as much, but I was able to catch using the Great Balls given to me on the way to Virbank City. I named Magnemite Magnesia after the ancient Greek City where Magnetism was thought be discovered.

For now, that is all the updates I have on my current run. My next objectives will be to level up my team to 2nd gym level cap, beat the second gym, and go from there. If any deaths occur, I will be sure to take a photo as well. Thank you for reading, and if you have any suggestions for future Pokémon names for Pokémon I have a chance at catching, be sure to leave a message or send in a Ask/DM. If I use your suggestion, I'll be sure to credit you!

[entering--hyperspace]

Emperor and Págos dynamic rambling

I being a sort of "My Tav's core romance is with the emperor" vibe that Normal baldurs gate players really dont like

Anyway. I feel like i've gone through all stages of grief and have temporarily arrived at acceptance  for this brief period of time, lets get it.

I'm going to ramble abt Págos individually. and their dynamic as that progresses.

Págos may not initially be aware that he's a dragon, but he sure does act like one. He cannot shake the core of who he is, personality shaped by being the truth of his origins.

He is Stubborn, he sees the world in hard rights and wrongs but not in the sense of morality but rather what he deems to make sense. And yet he carries with him the patience of a being that can live for centuries, a sort of stillness to conflict. Inherently intense but not negatively so. Half of who he is, half of what it took for when he became tired of war and conquest. And he is also alien to it, in his life he was always both the mighty and the meek, and with his lost memories in the present he can sense something missing about himself and his relations to others but isn't able to fully grasp it.

So. The dream visitor. Of course he does not trust him, why would he? It is obvious to him, he knows war, he knows tactics and manipulation, he knows when he is being lied to. And yet, the sincerity is what gives him pause, the half truths, the small slips of the mask.

Their conversations are tip toeing on ice, smiles even though they are both aware a game is being played. So after the initial first icebreaker conversations, they start treating each visit like a game of chess. Embrace the power of the tadpoles, the confidence it isn't needed, why follow the instructions when the person giving them is obviously wearing a mask.

I think the emperor initially found him frustrating, and vice versa, but there was a realization that they were equally matched and what was frustration became begrudging Admiration. Dare I say another shared trait was loneliness. As much as they both needed an ally, the dream visitor needed a friend though he would probably think he was above such sentiment. Págos was surrounded by people he was growing closer to, but at the same time no one was able to engage him quite like his mysterious ally could.

I think their thin friendship grew into an actual one after more truths were revealed. Págos valued his opinion more than he did beforehand, and The Emperor was willing to briefly put aside his own arrogance for the one person who could actually challenge him. You need me, I need you.

Págos got him to reveal more of his true feelings than he would like to admit. And then the climax of it all: the dream visitor a mindflayer. And more surprising: Págos did not care. I mean, he cared for an explanation, but he does not hold the same knowledge of mindflayers, its not above him of there being a possibility that in the evilness of their faction, one could be good. The same way chromatic dragons and their followers were infamous for their own "evil" ambitions, while he decided to break free of it.

For Págos…

It was only natural it would evolve into something further, I think it was only elevated by the way Págos treated him as an individual rather than a presumptuous idea of what a mindflayer is, not out of sympathy really, but more out of like, facts. I think the idea of them being equally matched in the "games" they play with each other is kinda attractive to him (the emperor). Someone who could match him move for move. 

But what is more tempting to a dragon than gold and glory? Devotion to a cause. to a person, to a feeling. 

I do want to clarify that Págos do grow to care deeply about him, I just meant like, to Págos it was much less complicated on his part. I feel like the emperor had a whole thing he had to process before he came to the conclusion he was growing fond of Págos, whereas Págos that's just simply what it was. There was no questioning it.

Anyway, Ough. The wyrm trials, the "there is no war in ba sing se" moment. Págos has almost always been able to tell when he was lying, and it became even more obvious after sharing their minds together that one night, he can read him so much easier. So of course he knew he was lying again

And so the reveal of Ansur, the reveal of his past life as Balduran, and Págos' memories flooding back about who HE is.

The only reason Págos and the emperor were not aware of the fact he's a dragon is because the emperor didn't Dig for his memories, he merely studied what was given and there in the moment.

When Ansur possesses him its stated in the game he quite literally Forces himself into your mind, he searches through every inch of it. And I think at first he is too distracted by Balduran's presence. It's not until he gets to the part where he calls Págos Balduran's "thrall" that he hesitates. He searches deeper, and it makes him Angrier. 

Him digging deeper into Págos' mind causes Págos to remember. His mother, his clan in its entirety, his nature as a white dragon, But Págos doesn't get to swallow this until later. Ansur gets angrier. He accuses Balduran of replacing him with another Dragon, of making a dragon his thrall, it disgusts him further.  And before anyone can get answers the fight begins as it does in game.

The afterwards conversation feels like more of a confrontation, pointed sharp questions. "Why did you keep this from me" "why did you never speak of him" "Why did you kill him" Págos' emotions slipping through due to the revelations about himself also. Ansur was his friend, and yet the emperor probably knew him better than he did. And yet there is that one inexplicable truth. Ansur inspired him to break free of the oath, and it was Ansur's oath that killed him. The cruel irony of it all.

The emperor answers this less defensive than he does in game. I feel like he is a little more sincere in this canon with the fact that he and Págos are...something. 

I think the emperor is more vulnerable there, he tells him how he still mourns his previous companions, he tells him how much he lost, and he tells him of course not, Págos is different, he Trusts him, it was for his own survival, a last resort. At the same time, he is trying to do and say anything that will keep Págos at his side, because just this once he found an ally,a partner that accepts him as he is (and is powerful at that) the idea of losing that…he would avoid it by any means necessary.

And Págos cannot deny his logic. Its true he was an adventurer, ansur was never mentioned and he never asked, it's true Págos knows what survival can do to someone. He's seen it, he has lived it, he has been the hand that twisted back the knife many times. "You would have done the same." A statement the emperor knows is true. But it's the withholding of more information that angers Págos, rightfully of course. And then the final sting of, "Will you kill me too?" Because Págos cannot devote himself to something that will once again lead him to a cliff's edge, not again.

[theriverspath]

Unforgiven: A Good Omens Teenage Human AU. Ch 1: Don't Say A Word

Rated Teen. Adult language, underage smoking, bullying

Summary of Entire Work

So, what if the characters of Good Omens were American teenagers in the early 1990's? And Crowley was a headbanger? And closeted trans? And she and Aziraphale secretly repair their long-broken friendship? And that friendship evolves into something deeper? And Lucifer is Crowley's older brother while the Metatron is Aziraphale's?

Chapter Preview

"I brought the Walkman. You got the tape?" Bee produced a small tape player from her jacket. She unplugged the headphone wire and dropped it back into the pocket. Crowley reached into her bag, being careful to not let any of the three of them see her hands shake. Ligur’s comment had gotten to her more than she liked. If she let him know that, though, the teasing would only get worse. So, with hands steadied by sheer force of will, she pulled out a cassette. At first glance, the paper cover under the plastic case appeared to be completely black. But as she flipped it open, the subtle embossed image of a coiled snake caught the morning light. Bee pressed a button on the Walkman to open the clear door and held out her hand. Crowley slid the tape out of the case and handed it over.

“You haven’t listened to it yet?” Hastur asked over the clacking sounds of Bee loading the tape and shutting the door. Crowley rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“I swiped it from Luci’s car this morning. I haven’t had time to.” Hastur nodded his approval. The album had been out for months, but none of them had been able to get their hands on a copy of it. Bee's dad had managed to steal their neighbor's cable, though. So, they’d all spent way too many hours parked in front of her television just waiting for MTv to play the singles' videos. And when Crowley heard the album blaring from Luci’s Camaro yesterday, she knew that she’d be able to grab it before school. Her older brother was never awake before she left in the morning, and he never locked his car doors. It had been as easy as breathing to take the tape. The only difficult thing had been finding it. Luci’s glove compartment was overflowing with metal albums. As Crowley had dug through the plastic rectangles featuring images of flames and demons, she mused that when she got her own car she’d only keep Metallica in her glove compartment.

Bee hit play on the Walkman. A dark, repetitive guitar sounded out, quickly followed by driving drums. The sound was thin and tinny from the portable stereo’s little speaker. And, they had to keep it quiet so that the teacher didn’t discover them back here. But, the opening riff was still powerful enough to keep Hastur nodding his head. Ligur soon followed, then like falling dominos, Crowley and Bee were also gently headbanging to the beat of “Enter Sandman.”

-----------------

Tron didn’t bother to wish Aziraphale a good day when he hopped out of the truck. Aziraphale counted himself lucky that his brother had even agreed to drive him to school this year. But, he knew it was only because his mother had ordered it as a condition for buying him the F-150. It most certainly was not because of some sort of familial affection. Tron was class president, debate team leader, and on track for law school after graduation. His dreams culminated at the White House. He did not have time to hang around with a younger brother who always seemed to have his nose buried in some ridiculous paperback novel.

Aziraphale sighed and returned his copy of Courting Catherine to his bag before opening the passenger door. He grabbed the backpack and his trumpet case. He needed to drop off his instrument in the band hall's cubby room before first period, so he set off across the parking lot. Tron had parked in the very far corner, where he and his friends usually gathered before class. That meant that Aziraphale had a clear view of the band hall’s back wall as he made his way onto campus. He didn’t pay much attention to the little group clumped up out of sight of the courtyard. That is, until his eyes caught a flash of red.

Crowley. Aziraphale's breath hitched in his chest, and his feet stopped. Crowley had changed so much since they had last talked. Gone were the mop of floppy curls and easy smile. Instead, dark glasses hid a guarded expression. A long fall of fiery waves contrasted with the faded black jacket and gray scarf he wore against the cold. Aziraphale had watched the transformation from a distance over the past few years, and it had caused a dull ache to bloom in his chest whenever he thought about it.

Aziraphale was caught by a sudden urge to walk over to his old friend. His feet started to move again, making a crunching sound on some loose gravel near the edge of the parking lot. Crowley must have heard because his head stopped nodding, and he slipped his hair behind his ear to be able to see in Aziraphale's direction.

Aziraphale didn't realize he'd waved until his hand was already in the air. His breath started again with a quick intake, and he felt a smile on his face. For a second he thought his silent greeting might be returned. But he must have been mistaken. If he had really seen a look of pleased surprise, it quickly disappeared. He couldn't make out Crowley's eyes behind the glasses, but the meaning of the small shake of Crowley's head was clear. Aziraphale shouldn't say anything like a hello. He shouldn’t join the group behind the band hall. He was not welcome there.

[tirorah]

Note: This is a follow-up to this post.

I think Ami's expression says a lot in this moment.

You see, Ami may have been forced into looking like a jealous, manipulative jerk due to the Senshi secret, but there's a kernel of truth here. Ami IS jealous. She DOES feel anxious and insecure about Usagi's friendship with Naru. And if she'd just talk about that with someone like Rei, Rei would rightfully give her an incredulous look and tell her that Usagi's heart is so big, she has room for all of them as her BFFs.

But she doesn't, because poor Ami isn't used to expressing her needs; she's always done what others expect of her. She's not used to feeling selfish and she doesn't know how to handle this new aspect of herself.

You can tell that it's affecting her self-image: Usagi keeps insisting she's kind and wonderful, but how can that be true if part of her wants to claim all of the love that Usagi so freely gives to everyone? Doesn't that make you a bad person? That's a tough thing to deal with when you're used to being seen as good, as a perfect little angel one might say.

It's supremely interesting to see this play out when you already know the events of the story later on, because all of this is setup for Ami switching sides. And THAT'S because love in all its forms is a driving force in PGSM. Allow me to explain.

Ami has a crush on Usagi, clearly. One consequence of this is that you want your crush's attention. But just like Ami's anxiety about her new friendships, any lapse in this attention causes insecurity that she's not dealing with properly. This is because this is all really new to her...and because she's a Senshi. Yeah.

Try to imagine Ami's situation here: she has NO frame of reference for friendships and crushes AT ALL. And suddenly this Senshi stuff comes along. Suddenly, she has magical powers that must be kept secret, and she has a few new friends to share that secret with. They get a place to hang out specifically crafted for them. Their magical powers frequently place them in danger.

Through their shared destinies and trials, these girls are forming a deep bond at a way faster rate than normal friendships tend to progress at. All of this is highly unnatural, but--I can't stress this enough--Ami doesn't know that. She may understand that her sudden friendship with Usagi is suspicious to others, but to her, her friendship with her fellow Senshi is the only type she's ever known.

And the narrative is constantly proving to her that her complete devotion to this, her 100% emotional investment rate, is not only preferred but necessary. Remember, her voice was the loudest when Usagi was being turned into a Youma. This is how friendships are meant to be, she thinks. All of this time together is normal.

Which is why, when the others start to get tied up in their own problems later in this arc, Ami's anxiety hits full-force and twists everything. She starts to believe they're not friends anymore because they're not being as devoted as she is. They don't love her as much as she loves them.

This misconception of what friendship and love is like is why she's eventually able to be turned into an evil version of herself. Because think about it: both Queen Beryl and the true antagonist are also driven by love. To be more specific, it's a toxic kind of love, one evolved into obsession. Ami is on that same path and because she's not sharing this with anyone, there's no one there to stop her from barrelling down it. No wonder she becomes a villain.

I'll say it again: Ami is SCREWED.

And PGSM is awesome.

[marudeinusa]

HUGE THOUGHTS DUMP ON GETO SUGURU

I may come back to structure this more properly but my brain is cooking at the moment so I'll just write down a raw train of thought. I think Geto is currently the most intriguing and solidly written JJK character, and ponderings on why lead me to the fact that it's because he's the only central chara whose arc is entirely over and cemented in place. In fact, I think that the crucial part of Geto's character is the fact that he's been dead since JJK 0; dead and gone at the very beginning of the story.

At first glance Geto is an ideological evil, but the slightest deeper glance at the inconsistencies of his behavior clearly illustrates that his ideal is flimsy and does not actually hold meaningful weight to him - it is unattainable for Geto to exterminate people without powers, and he is very aware of it as shown in sudden death. To see why he still clings to this hollow ideal, one must only look at the character of 16yo Geto in hidden inventory. The Geto-Gojo conflict in hidden inventory is about whether the strong are morally obligated to protect the weak. 16yo Geto is highly principled and bound by self-imposed rules of morality. this is pointed out and mocked by Gojo, who is initially lax about his "obligations" as a strong individual. Geto is already an unstable individual at the start of hidden inventory, as shown by the prolepsis in which he just barely compels himself to consume a curse which fed on people and thus 'do good' - however, his self instilled principles as well as his friendship with Gojo keep him on a straight path. Young Gojo does not seem to care much about what he does with his power, but he still 'does good' without much questioning. Geto is the one who has been privately pondering the correctness of using one's power for the sake of another, and he covers up the pointlessness he arrived at by parroting an ideal - the strong inherently must protect the weak because that's how humanity grows and endures. Since the very beginning, Geto is a person held together only by having an aim.

Everything changes with the violent death of Amanai, and I think it's especially meaningful that Amanai was killed without the slightest interference of sorcery - she is simply shot through the head from an ordinary pedestrian handgun. The battle with Toji who toes the thin line between ordinary man and sorcerer and esentially stands for both makes drastically different impressions on Gojo and Geto. Being able to 'evolve' from fighting Toji and eventually becoming able to kill him fortifies Gojo's esteem and existence. Upon becoming able to overcome this 'neither and both," Gojo divorces himself from the rest of humanity and proclaims himself to be "the only honored one". For Geto, fighting Toji results in the opposite - his esteem and values fatally crumble upon witnessing Amanai's demise. He comes to realize that overcoming one's fate and choosing to live doesn't guarantee a happy end. Esentially, it's worth less than shit. Geto is left without the one ideal that fortified him and moved the empty doll of him forward, and upon losing it, he is left empty with a need to cling to something.

And now, the sad thing is that he could have clung to something meaningful, but the constellation of events aligned perfectly for Geto to fall into the muck of hatred. If Gojo had stayed by his side, he may have been able to keep doing the correct thing simply for the sake of it, like Gojo did - but their forking of paths was just too fatal. It left them just too different. Gojo, whose existence was affirmed, went upwards. Geto, whose lifeline was cut short, fell down. The catalyst for his fall into villainy was witnessing the abuse of Nanako and Mimiko. At the time when he was in most need of something to believe in, he witnessed an ugly act of violence which both reminded him of Amanai and illustrated something very specific - a normal human abuses a sorcerer child. In Geto's vocabulary, humans are the 'weak' ones and sorcerers are 'strong': however, this case of abuse tipped the scale of power. Despite being 'strong', Nanako and Mimiko are children, and their abusers are adults. Geto reasoned with himself at that moment that he witnessed that the weak can also oppress the strong, and it was perfect justification and an excuse to vent the anger and misery of the "thankless work of protecting the weak" on the weak themselves. It holds meaning that exorcising curses, the only way Geto can contribute to society, is physically hurtful for him. In his words, it's like "swallowing a rag soaked in vomit and shit, a taste that no one else knows". He percieves himself as the one suffering the injustice of beinf misunderstood in his 'helping the weak.' He does not actually ideologically hate normal people and think they intristically deserve death for creating curses. He just 'wants to kill them' to pacify and avenge his own isolation and, in a sense, an immature craving for his efforts to be acknowledged. He goes from an ideal of "the weak are protected because that's how we prosper" to "the weak should be killed and humanity should be decimated", esentially giving up not only on moral goodness but on the endurance of humanity as a whole. However, Gege said in the fanbook that Geto's personality "changed because he kept repeating to himself that he hates normal people" - it's something he actively convinces himself in, and doesn't hold much weight. This is perfectly illustrated in the case of his death. Geto is seen after losing to Yuta and Rika laughing and grandeously stating that he now knows how to win next time and gain enormous power, but then accepts his death at Gojo's end as calmly as a flickering lightbulb quietly dying down. He is aware as ever that he does't firmly believe in anything, and it loses before Gojo's newfound conviction to protect troubled young people. His ideal is the one that withered before Gojo's, and he fatally and completely lost.

I think the widescale Gojo-Geto conflict is an interesting meditation of common shounen themes. Shounen protagonists are always strong, and in formulaic stories they protect the weak because it's a sensible, valiant thing to do. Geto is the character in JJK that most prominently ponders the sensibility of this obligation. And this character, the one that embodies the conflict - is there an end to this? Is there meaning to it? Is there a heaven to arrive at? Will someone shake my hand and say "you did well?"

He is dead. He has always been dead. There is only an airport beyond death.

I also adore the choice of the build-up to Geto's murder to be shown, but not the actual act of it, as well as the censoring of Gojo's final words to Geto beyond hinting that they were sentimental. Stsg is a sort of tragedy that one witnesses build up for the sake of gleaning something meaningful out of it, for the sake of a satisfying resolution. I think it's weighty for that satisfaction to be taken away from the reader. It really drives in the senselesness of it all, the avoidability of it. In a way, the killing of Geto was very intimate. His end remaining unseen, Gojo's feelings remaining unheard - this was perhaps the only dignity Gege was willing to spare them. And I like it a lot. This is a tragedy for two, and you are not entitled to its catharsis. From thereon starts a new tragedy, the one of Geto's secondary role within the story - becoming a vessel for a more powerful, more simplistic evil. Or perhaps this tragedy is just a continuation of his original conflict? Perhaps all those like Geto eventually end up swayed by something more evil and grander than them.