#any part of china you can point to on a map has changed hands at least a dozen times over the course of at least 5000 years
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So an acquaintance of mine who is Korean and is an active member of an Evangelical Christian congregation just posted that he is very disappointed in Christians who support Israelâs apartheid state and their genocide of the Palestinians because they are purposely âblinded by false interpretations of Revelations and hold themselves separate from the line of Sarahâ
I really would not like to know more about the Bible than I was forced to learn in AP English Literature for the allusions and it is absolutely wild to me that we are talking about the genocide Israel is committing in any regard except in a secular humanist, international law violations kind of way. Like who the fuck cares about a story round-robinned a couple thousand years ago by a bunch of different authors whose prose is vastly inferior to its contemporaries (like Homerâs epics)??
#an ally is an ally I guess#but like#this ârevelationsâ and âline of Sarahâ discourse#makes me feel like Iâm gonna get a sales pitch for an essential oils MLM scam in the next sentence#jesus fucking christ in the most atheist way I can say it#I realize one of the reasons I am unsympathetic to Israel is because I fundamentally do not care about âholy landâ nonsense#this also makes me unsympathetic to Muslim and Christian appeals for or against Israel on religious grounds so at least Iâm fair#also as a Chinese person#and given Chinese history#I am incredibly unsympathetic to the âindigenousâ argument by both sides#what the fuck does indigeneity even mean#any part of china you can point to on a map has changed hands at least a dozen times over the course of at least 5000 years#and the entirety of the Middle East is the same#letâs focus on laws broken promises broken and extrajudicial execution of civilians#please and thank you
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Of Dragons and Love (RDR2 Fanfic, Arthur x F!Reader, 18+)
Summary: Arthur didn't want to come to Strawberry, didn't want to help a certain sniveling rat escape his cell. So he decides to explore the town instead and runs into a mysterious woman whom he can't let go.Â
Authorâs Notes: Iâm gonna take a moment and lean hard on my heritage to pull some inspiration from an old Cantonese opera. And we're gonna leave Micah in his cell because nuts to that guy. So pretend this takes place in chapter two when Arthur was supposed to go rescue him, but decided to do a side quest instead. This was written for the RDR Mini Bang! @rdrbigbang
Tags: Arthur x F!Reader, spoilers, Chinese mythology-inspired, alternate timeline, mild exophilia, insta-love, magic, smut, HEA
Word Count: 6,378
Accompanying Artwork: @danger-r-98-5 has made some wonderful art for this fic!
AO3 Link is here.
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Arthur stepped into the small town of Strawberry and immediately wanted to turn around. He could pretend Micah was dead. He could just bide his time and wait for him to hang.Â
As he rode through the small town, he passed the small jail and kept going to the visitor's center. Seeing the map of the nearby area tacked onto the wall next to the entrance, he hitched his horse and walked over to take a better look.Â
"Welcome to Strawberry, good sir!"Â
Arthur flicked a tired glance at the boisterous man before continuing his casual perusal of the map, waiting to see if he would leave. When the man remained beside him, he sighed, exasperated.Â
"Hullo," he said without looking at the other man.
"Are you here for business or pleasure?"Â
"Uh, just passin' through." It sure as hell wasn't for pleasure, and his business was his own.Â
"Ah, I see. Well, please keep us in mind if you ever want to spend a day relaxing in our lovely town. This hotel is the coziest in West Elizabeth," the man boasted, gesturing behind him. "And the scenic Mount Shann and Owanjila Dam aren't too far from here."
"Alright."
"And Big Valley, just past the mountains, is a beautiful place to hunt and camp."
"Uh huh."
When Arthur continued to look at the map without any further inclination towards interacting with him, the man gave up on his sales pitch. "Well, I'll be inside if you have any questions."
"Ayup."
Finally alone, Arthur focused on the path that would take him to Owanjila. He'd been meaning to do a bit of fishing and commune with nature. Seemed like as good a place as any.Â
Anything to postpone the reason he came here.
***
You weren't sure how you lived so long, not knowing what you were. You had been living with your mother for two decades, not knowing who your father was. Your mother didn't talk about him, and the one time you asked, she had simply said one thing.Â
"He disappeared."
You didn't know what that meant exactly, and she did not explain.Â
Until one day, on your twentieth birthday, he appeared. A large, scary looking man came to your door. Your mother paled and tried not to react, but when he held out a necklace and told her how sorry he was for leaving her alone, she broke down and cried.Â
You found out that when she was young, your mother lived in a small house by a waterfall that fed a large lake. There was a growing town not too far from there, where she worked as a waitress.
One day, on the other side of the lake, a group of Chinese workers made camp as they worked on the railway that was coming through town. They were not welcomed in the town by most people, but your mother took pity on them and sold them food and other groceries, for a delivery fee.Â
Somehow, your father had caught her eye, and they developed a secret relationship. When her parents discovered the love letter your father had written to your mother, she was kicked out of the house, without anything of hers to take with her. When your mother had gone to the camp to look for your father, it had been abandoned, the workers having left hours earlier to the next site.Â
Broken hearted, your mother had thrown the necklace he had gifted her into the lake and left town, moving to Strawberry and giving birth to you. You had grown up here, made friends, had a few short dalliances with boys here while you grew up.
Strawberry was a small town, but there was a creek running through it, and when you had free time, which was not often these days, you loved to follow the creek to a waterfall and watch the water. You always felt an affinity with the water, felt like it always pulled at your very soul. You had learned how to swim with ease; your mother had said you were like a fish.Â
Your father explained why he had left, and why he had finally come back.Â
"I am a Dragon," he had said. "Great-great grand-nephew of the Dragon King of the North Sea."
He was an immortal creature, drawn to the belief of his people in a foreign land, looking for something to comfort them while they worked in dangerous conditions to make money to send home to their families. He protected them, guided them, and thus, had to follow where they went. When the camp left suddenly, he had no time to say goodbye and was nearly dragged away, the pull of his peopleâs belief taking him with them.
But now he was free, his people having finished their jobs. They had dispersed, either leaving for China or moving to San Francisco, where other Dragon Gods held domain and took over the belief of his former followers. So he started looking for his long lost love, who still cared for him deep in her heart, and traced the thread of emotion leading back to her.
He promised to take care of you and your mother from now on, and he made good on his promise. For the past five years, he had worked alongside the two of you, making your small farm plot healthy and fertile.Â
It helped that he could make the sky rain whenever you needed it.Â
He had also trained you in your small powers. Because you had been untrained for so long, your powers were weak, but over time, and with practice, they grew steadily stronger. You could breathe underwater. You could swim faster than humanly possible. And while you couldn't transform into a dragon, your hair became teal and your skin could shift into a bluish-grey tint. It was a bit unsettling the first time you did it in the mirror.Â
But your most favorite power of all was the ability to shape nearby water to your will. At first, you could only move a small amount of water in a mug. But over time, you could move water in pitchers, basins, buckets, barrels, and even water troughs for animals.Â
At this point, if you entered a pond, you could easily create ripples and small waves just by focusing on your energy and sending it outwards from you.Â
Five years had passed since he had come back, and you had learned so much. Your life was so peaceful now that it came as no surprise when your parents announced that they wanted to move back to their hometown. Of course something had to change; that was the only constant in life, after all.
But you didnât want to leave. You loved Strawberry. This was your home.
Your father had let out a breath, then smiled, much to your surprise.
âOwanjila does not have a spirit to guard it, since itâs a new body of water. Perhaps⌠you can become its guardian.â
âBut Iâm half-human,â you had said.
âSo is Owanjila,â he said.
You nodded and smiled. Now you knew why he had been training you so hard all these years.
***
Arthur was pleasantly relaxed for the first time in a long time. He had spent all day fishing and gathering herbs after he set up a small campsite tucked away in the thicker part of the forest. It was quiet on this side of the lake, since all the travelers would go across the dam to take in the scenery. He was glad he picked a spot that was farthest from, for he didnât have the energy to even say hello.
With a couple of large fish, he made his way back to his campsite, cooked up a fine meal with his freshly picked herbs, and spent some time writing and drawing before looking up at the stars before he fell asleep, the campfire quietly dying as his snores melded with the rest of the night.
***
It had been three months since your parents had left you here. They had sold the small farm and used the money to help you fix up a small abandoned fishing cabin out here on the far side of the lake, where you could hunt and gather on your own, trading furs and fish in town. Ever since you had become the guardian, the fish had spawned much more frequently and grew faster than normal, keeping you well fed. You figured it was a side-effect of the lake having a guardian spirit now.
You looked at your hands; yesterday, you had tripped on a step as you walked back from town, getting some small cuts on the palms of your hands as they had scraped against the gravel. Today, they had healed so quickly that there were no scars; you had never healed so quickly before. You wondered if your powers were growing and had walked into town earlier today to send a letter to your folks, letting them know what had happened.
It was late; the moon was high in the sky, and as bright as the electric lights in St Denis. You were roused from your sleep by the pull of the moon, and knew that it was time.
You took off your clothes and set them on your front porch. Walking to the waterâs edge, you slipped into the water without a sound, the liquid embracing you as if you were an old friend.
âHello, Owanjila,â you whispered as you walked deeper and deeper until you were completely submerged. Then you transformed, your skin turning bluish-grey, your hair shifting to a beautiful teal, and your gills appearing near your collarbone. You kicked your legs and swam gracefully through the water, spinning and twirling as you joyfully moved through the water as easily as you could walk on land.
Once you reached the middle of the lake, you bolted upwards, your legs kicking in unison with such speed and power that you broke the surface easily, your body shooting into the air. You let out a whoop of excitement, for it was only during full moons that you could fly this high out of the water; you had certainly tried other times. For a moment, the starry sky and the bright moon seemed impossibly close, and you held out your hands as if you could gather them all up and hold them tight forever.
Flipping backwards, you extended your hands in front of you and dove back into the water with barely a splash.
***
âHuh, whuzzah,â Arthur muttered as he was jolted awake by the sound of someone yelling. Immediately on alert, Arthur reached for his pistol and carefully made his way out of the tent, looking around. Seeing nothing but trees and rocks after circling his campsite twice, he was about to go back into his tent.
Another yell echoed through the trees. It didnât sound like anyone in danger, more like⌠elation?Â
His curiosity piqued, he quietly made his way towards the lake, following the sounds of the water sloshing around as if someone was swimming. Coming to the shoreline, he saw the full moon, reflected in the water, with ripples circling from the center of the reflection.
Unable to stop himself, Arthur found a nearby rock and climbed it to better see the center of the lake. Squatting down, he peered out at the water.
Something shot out of the water at breakneck speed, surprising him enough that he fell onto his ass.
For a split second, he saw everything clearly.
He saw her nude form, water glistening off her skin, the moon bathing her in a silvery light. He saw the look of ecstasy on her face as she looked up at the moon.
He saw her eyes as they met his.
Arthurâs heart skipped a beat.
Then she was gone, diving back into the water like an arrow, hardly disturbing the surface.
Sitting up, he crawled to the edge of the rock and peered at the spot, waiting for her to return. Part of him wondered if he had imagined it, and part of him hoped she was real. He had felt like he had seen something so evanescently ephemeral that his heart fluttered like a child seeing fireworks. He wanted to experience that sparkling feeling again and again.Â
When his knees ached and his joints complained, he finally gave up, climbed off the rock, and returned to his tent. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but it didnât come quickly as his heart continued to race. When he finally managed to nod off, his dreams were filled with a mysterious woman with an expression so filled with euphoria that he could almost taste her joy.
***
You were mortified. A man was camping around your lake and you hadnât noticed? Granted, you were in town most of the day trying to sell some rabbit pelts, and then you had written your letter at the post office since you had run out of ink and bought some at the general store and didnât want to walk all the way back to your cabin.Â
But still, you hadnât noticed. You supposed it was because he had no ill intent. It wasnât that you could sense people, that wasnât how your power worked; it was more you could feel out harmful intentions. People who came and went on the dam were usually harmless tourists and you took no notice of them. But occasionally that greedy mayor would come up here and consider building some cheap cabins out on the lake as tourist traps, and you would cause the lake to be extra choppy that day, splashing water on him if you were nearby. It was usually enough to change his mind.
You stayed at the bottom of the lake, waiting long enough before you slowly swam up again, moving towards the edge of the lake before you poked your head up from the water.
He was gone.
You sighed in relief and swam back to your cabin, looking around once more before getting out and back onto your porch. Grabbing your clothes, you got inside and dried off, thinking of the manâs shocked expression.
But what came to your mind most of all was that in the moonlight, you had managed to make eye contact. In that moment, your heart had pounded like you had seen something beautiful.Â
Despite your embarrassment at being caught naked and in your half-dragon form, you wanted to see him in the daylight. You wanted to find out who he was, and why your heart had finally moved after all these years.
***
Arthur came out of his tent, bleary eyed as he yawned. He hadnât gotten a whole lot of sleep, but he was, for better or for worse, used to it. The sound of a crackling of a fire and the sight of a figure sitting with their back turned was also something he was used to.
Until he realized that the fire had gone out last night and he had come to this place alone. Reaching for his pistol, he stopped when he heard her speak.
âI mean you no harm.â
Arthur, suspicious, for people who had said that to him before often would turn around and shoot him, put a hand on his pistol, but left it in its holster. Coming out of his tent and rising to his full height, he walked around to face the woman at his campfire.
When she looked up at him, he felt like he was hit with an arrow.
Those same eyes from last night met his, and he felt like the whole world slowed and became silent. All he saw was her, and he didnât care about anything else.
***
His eyes were beautiful, like gemstones sparkling in the morning light. His hair was tousled from sleep, but it made you think of him in bed next to you. You swallowed. Why were you thinking of waking up next to him? You barely knew him!
But you couldnât ignore the heat in your veins as your eyes traveled down his body. His very tall, muscular body. Oh gods, you felt your heartbeat quicken as you suddenly had a mental image of him climbing over you, his naked body above yours, his big hands holding your hips as he thrustâ
âCan I help you, miss?â the man finally asked, his voice rough from sleep. His voice was like whiskey, flowing smoothly over your body and making you burn with need. He swallowed, and you watched his Adamâs apple bob up and down in his throat. Oh, to lick that sun-kissed skinâŚ
You shook your head, both in answer to him and to clear the lustful images from your head. âIâm alright, I just wanted to share your campfire.â
***
âOh?â Arthur asked, sitting down beside her to hide his bodyâs reaction to meeting her eyes. When he had met her gaze, he was hit hard with desire, the sudden image of her beneath him, legs spread, her expression of ecstasy for him and him alone.
For a brief moment, he wanted to take her, to guide her to the ground and thrust wildly inside of her like an animal.
But instead he reeled himself in; he wasnât that kind of man. He didnât even know why he had such a visceral reaction to her. All he knew was that she was sitting here with him now, and she was beautiful. When she turned away, he felt like he was suddenly lost, and wished for her to look at him once more with those mysterious eyes. He observed her as she poked the fire with a stick, wondering what she was thinking.
âSo, uh, you live around here?â he asked, berating himself immediately for such an awkward question.
âI do, just down the shoreline,â she replied.
âOh.â
She turned to meet his gaze, and he felt it once more. A pull, stronger than any he had ever known, as if she was hypnotizing him with just one look. Unable to stop himself, he leaned in closer, her lips beckoning him.
âWhat are you doing?â she asked curiously.
The spell broken, Arthur quickly leaned back and sputtered, âI, uh, I donât know, to be honest.â
The woman smiled at him, and he felt his entire world light up with fireworks.
âWhatâs your name?â
âArthur.â
âNice to meet you, Arthur.â
She told him her name, and he repeated it just so he could say it out loud. He loved the way her name rolled off his tongue. He had shivered with desire from the way she had said her name.Â
âSo you saw me last night,â she said after a few moments.
He smiled nervously as guilt wracked him. âUh, yup. Iâm sorry, I didnâ mean to peek.â
âItâs alright, I shouldâve been more careful,â she said, a wry grin on her face. âUsually no one camps here.â
Silence stretched between them as Arthur wondered what he should say, if anything.
She brought up her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. âAnd thereâs not much to look at anyway,â she said self-deprecatingly.
âYou were beautiful,â he blurted out suddenly. He couldnât believe sheâd think that. He wanted to burn the sight of her coming out of the water into his memories so heâd never forget.
She turned her head to look at him, and he felt the pull once more, but it was tinged with melancholy. It made his heart clench. He reached out and put an arm around her, pulling her into his chest, desperate to ease the pain. âYer beautiful,â he repeated.
***
Surrounded by warmth, you sank into his chest and breathed in his scent. His natural musk, layered with balsam and leather, was soothing to you, made you feel safe and protected. No other man had affected you like this. Was this how your parents had fallen for each other? Was it an instant attraction?
You had been taught to follow your instincts, and something about this man made you want to keep him forever. To hold him tight and never let him go.
So you reached back out to him, wrapping your arms around his broad torso. Looking up at him, meeting his surprised expression, you leaned forward and kissed him. His lips were chapped but pliable as you pushed forward, pressing your body against his.
You were met with a startled grunt. He let you go and backed away, like a shy lady from an all too amorous man.
âY-you barely know me,â he said, his voice dropping to a whisper.
âSorry,â you said, shrinking back on yourself. Maybe you misread him, maybe he was just saying you were beautiful to make you feel better. Maybe you were just lonely and wanted to connect with him, the first man who had made you feel something in years.
âLook,â he said, leaning forward again, âitâs not that I donât want to, I just think, well, maybe we git to know each other a bit more first before, uh, wellâŚâ He trailed off, gesturing blandly.
You laughed. Of course. He was shy. Standing up, you reached out to him. âWill you stay a while? My cabin is small but itâll protect you from the elements better than your tent. And itâll be warmer at night too.â
Arthur stared at your hand for a moment before standing up on his own. âAlright. Iâll pack up first.â
***
Arthur wasnât sure how he was convinced to stay in a cabin with a woman he hardly knew, but every time he met her eyes, everything else fell away and all he wanted was to be with her.Â
He wasnât sure how much time passed, maybe a few days, maybe weeks. But he had never been so content to just fish and hunt and spend time with his sweet lady. He learned about her parents, who had been small-time farmers near Strawberry before they moved to her motherâs hometown, leaving her to live on her own. When he had asked why, she had said it was because she loved it here and didnât want to leave.
He understood why; after the first few days of just roaming the land, living off its bounty, he was quite content to just stay and forget his troubles. She would go into town and sell his furs and pelts, and when he wasnât hunting, he would help upgrade her little cabin, fixing up small things here and there to make her more comfortable.
He had insisted on sleeping on his bedroll on the floor beside her bed, at least for now. He felt like he was working up the courage to bed her, even though she clearly had given him an open invitation to her bed.Â
Every night he thought about it.
And every night, he trudged to his bedroll and slept beside her bed like a faithful pet dog.
***
14 days had passed. The new moon would be out tonight, and you were itching to go for a swim.
But with Arthur here, you hesitated. He had seen you that first night, sure. But he hadnât seen you clearly. He hadnât seen your skin and hair color change, your gills at your collarbone, your preternaturally fast swimming.Â
As you stood at the end of your little fishing dock that was connected to the porch of your cabin, you sighed. Watching the setting sun streak its beautiful orange rays across the water, you internally debated if you should show him so you could freely act as the guardian once more. You had been feeling stifled as of late, only able to use your powers while he was out hunting, and only in secret in case he might come out of the forest at any given time.
âWhatâs the matter, darlinâ?â
You smiled. He had started calling you his darling or his sweetheart after a week of gentle caresses as he walked by, or even a casual kiss on the cheek as you went into town on an errand. No matter how much he said it, you melted every time. It was endearing and charming to you, even though they were simple words. The way he said them, the love and care he put into those pet names, was everything you wanted to hear.
Turning to Arthur, you saw that he was dressed in his usual blue shirt and black ranch pants, looking concerned. Seeing the care he had for your well-being made you come to a decision. He deserved the truth of you.
âI need to show you something.â
***
Arthur swallowed as his sweet lady began to disrobe right there on the dock. He was shocked to a standstill, unable to move as he saw every inch of beautiful skin exposed to his view. His pants grew tight, his throat dry, and his internal instinct to protect surged through him.
âDarlinâ, whatâre youâŚâÂ
He couldnât utter another sound as he watched her usual skin shimmer and then shift to a blue-grey tint. Her hair became teal colored, and slits appeared above her collarbone.
âGills,â she said as she pointed at them, shrugging shyly. âIâm a dragon spirit. Or half of one.â
Arthur could only nod in both shock and awe. He had suspected she was hiding something, but he would have never guessed it was something like this. He took in her form, human and yet not, familiar and yet bizarre. But still beautiful, wonderful, her.
âDo⌠do I disgust you?â
âNo!â Arthur said, quickly taking two steps to stand in front of her. âYer still the most beautiful creature Iâve ever seen.â
Seeing her smile shyly and look away, his need to assure her only grew stronger. âThat why you could swim so good?â he asked, reaching up to caress her neck, right above her gills.
She nodded again.
âWhatâd you mean by half?â he asked, curious.
âMy father, he was a dragon, the great-great grand nephew of the Dragon King of the North Sea.â
Arthur nodded. âOh. Okay then.â He didnât understand what that meant, but it sounded a bit important.
She tittered. âI donât really know how important that is either,â she said, answering the unspoken question. âBut I can swim real fast, breathe underwater, and I can control water a little bit,â she said, her excitement growing with each word. She turned to the water and put out her hand.
Ripples started to appear, and they grew into small waves, rolling across the surface of the lake.
She turned back to him, a happy glow to her eyes. âIâm so glad youâre not disgusted by me.â
âIâd never be,â he replied, pulling her into his arms. His gaze traveled along her face, admiring her hair color, her bluish-grey skin, and the gills at her neck, before looking at her smile, full of self-confidence. She was radiant and it made her all the more alluring.Â
âYouâre beautiful, no matter what.â
***
This time when you kissed Arthur, he kissed you back, unafraid, bold, confident. He quickly took over, his fingers gripping the back of your head as he pulled your body closer to his. You felt the rough fabric of his shirt sliding along your sensitive nipples and moaned softly.
He suddenly wrapped one arm around your waist and one around your ass before picking you up with ease.Â
âI need you darlinâ,â he murmured before turning from the dock and walking determinedly towards your cabin. He maneuvered you inside and shut the door, not wanting any interruptions. Laying you down on the bed, he stepped away to light the lantern before returning to you, taking off his hat and flinging it aside.
You shifted back to your human colors, your gills disappearing.
âYer magical,â Arthur whispered before resting his forehead against yours and closing his eyes, a wry grin on his face. You kissed him back, smiling in return, acknowledging his silly word choice and accepting his sentiment for what it was: a compliment. He shared your gaze for a few moments before kissing you back as he unbuttoned his shirt, leaving it open while he climbed over you. You could feel his impatience as he pressed his bare chest against yours, his kisses heating up and becoming demanding.
âArthur,â you breathed as he moved down to kiss your neck, his lips tracing lines where your gills had been.
âWhyâd I wait this long,â he muttered, mostly to himself, as he ran his fingers from your hip up your belly. His touch was feather-light, almost ticklish as he skimmed the underside of your breast before tracing circles around your areola.Â
You writhed, whimpering softly. He looked at you, keeping his gaze locked with yours as he leaned down and took your nipple into his mouth.Â
"Oh, yes," you moaned as his tongue played with you, distracting you just long enough for his other hand to caress the inside of your thighs. You parted your legs eagerly.Â
You felt Arthur smile against your skin before he switched to your other breast, giving you the same pleasure as his hand slid between your legs, his fingers exploring your slit.Â
"This honey fer me, darlin'?" he asked in a low, husky voice.Â
"All for you," you whispered.Â
He let out a soft growl of satisfaction before dipping a finger inside of you. Your hips lifted up towards his touch. Moving away from your breast, he kissed his way up your neck, to your cheeks, then to your lips once more. He took his time tasting you, his tongue languidly caressing yours as his fingers delved inside of you, his thumb brushing against your bud, each stroke driving you higher and higher towards your peak that was approaching rapidly.
You moaned his name, muffled as it was by his mouth on yours. He growled in return, pumping his fingers faster, his thumb stroking you with determination.
"Ah, ah, Arthur!" you cried out as you climaxed. As you felt the pleasure zip through your veins, you buzzed with power for a moment before it faded.Â
You didn't have time to think about it, for Arthur climbed off the bed and took off the rest of his clothes. He was such a big man, with muscles from hard work, scars from a rough life, and a dangerous grace to him. He had power and knew how to use it.Â
And right now, he wanted to make you release over and over again.Â
He climbed over you, just like in your fantasies, and spread your legs, wrapping them around his waist. Taking his hard length in his hand, he slid the tip around your entrance, slicking himself up as he watched you tremble beneath him.Â
"You sure 'bout this, darlin'?" he murmured, a slight tremor in his voice, as if he was holding back. He didn't stop sliding the head of his cock along your slit, up and down in a slow rhythm.Â
"Yes, yes please Arthur, just take me!" you begged. He was driving you mad with his gentle strokes. You lifted your hips up, causing the tip of him to slip inside.Â
"So needy, sweet girl," he crooned before he pushed forward, driving himself deeper inside of you.Â
You writhed and winced as your body stretched around his girth. He was sweating, holding himself steady as he waited for you to regain your breath before inching forward some more. Patiently, Arthur watched your every reaction, taking great care to control his movements until his hips finally came flush with yours.Â
He murmured your name, his lips brushing against yours before he kissed you. His hands cradled your face as he grinded against you, the heat of his body warming you up like a thick quilt. Deepening the kiss, he angled your head so he could devour you. A low moan escaped him as his hips shifted, building a steady rhythm of short thrusts.Â
"More, Arthur," you said when he finally let you take a breath.Â
"I'll give you whatever you need," he replied before lifting himself up, letting the cool air touch your body. He pulled his cock out almost all the way and waited for an eternal moment while he stared into your eyes, the lust blowing out his pupils.Â
Then he slammed back inside of you.
Your pleasure-filled yell was stopped short by Arthur's swift uptick in pace. He was hammering his cock inside of your tight, wet channel, and he couldn't get enough. Not saying a word, he only moaned and panted as he drove into you relentlessly, taking just a split second to adjust his angle before continuing.Â
"So good," he moaned before he got up onto his haunches, taking your hips in his big hands, his fingers digging into your flesh as he fucked you like a man possessed. He growled, a feral sound of pleasure, before he reached down and stroked your clit.Â
"Need⌠to⌠see⌠you⌠let goâŚ" he panted.Â
You tightened your legs around his waist, meeting his thrusts with your own enthusiastic motions, reaching for your breasts and playing with your nipples before him.Â
"Oh darlin', you look so pretty like that," he grit out, his face contorted in an effort to control his desires. He was so close. So very close.Â
"Give me everything!" you gasped, your body shaking, on the edge of a precipice so high that you almost felt fear.
Feeling your body grip him so tightly, Arthur let out a passionate shout before he spilled inside of you. His eyes were wild as he stared at you, his mouth open as he drew in breath after ragged breath. He moaned as he thrust one last time before crushing his hips to yours, keeping his shaft inside of you for as long as possible.Â
As he spent himself inside of you, you felt your core suddenly overflow with ecstasy, your body shuddering as you came around his thick cock. At the same time, your power unleashed, making your body glow a bluish hue.Â
"Darlin'!?" Arthur panicked, sounding winded, his brow creased with worry.Â
The power that had unlocked within you gave your vision a strange overlay of colors. And within the warm orange glow of Arthur was a black cloud in his chest. You reached out through the haze of your afterglow and pulled at it.Â
He gasped and coughed.Â
You pulled again. Now that you had touched it, you knew it was bad. It needed to get out of his system before it did permanent damage.Â
Arthur grasped his chest. "WhatâŚ" he trailed off as he coughed a few more times before you managed to heave out the black cloud from his lungs. You quickly quashed it in your hands.Â
Looking up at him, you put your hands on his cheeks and kissed him, pouring the last of the glowing power inside of him. On some instinctual level, you knew you had healed him of something. Whether it was an old lingering illness or a new one that was just about to form, it was now gone from his system.Â
When you finally pulled away, Arthur looked bewildered. For a few seconds, or a few minutes, you werenât sure how slow or fast time was flowing, the two of you could only stare at each other, lost in that foggy place between dreams and reality.
"What'd you pull outta me?" Arthur finally asked, still a little breathless.
"Something bad. An illness, I think,â you replied. You took a deep breath before squeezing his hand. âWhatever it was, it will no longer hurt you."Â
Arthur smiled and pressed his forehead against yours. "Thank you, sweetheart."
***
Arthur left a day later, telling you that he'd be back once he had taken care of some people.
You didn't see him for a long time.
Four months passed before you saw him again. He looked ragged, skinnier, as if he had been through hell and back. But when he saw you, he rushed over and fell into your arms, holding you tight as if you were the only real thing in his world.Â
***
He told you everything. He confessed that he had been the one to help that criminal escape and shot up the town. That he had been chased all over three states with his gang. That he had stolen money from several trains. That he had been on a ship that had sunk and was stranded on an island for days before finding a way back.Â
He told you about John. He told you about how he had helped him escape the Pinkertons, had ran with him all the way down the mountain before telling him where to meet his family. Then Arthur had set off, the long way around through the wilds of Ambarino so he could lose the men who were chasing him, just so he could get safely back to you.
You saw now that his eyes were unclouded, having seen his world for what it was. You saw pain and regret in his eyes, but you also saw understanding and a clarity that was not there before. He appeared to have finally found wisdom at a heavy price.
After he had told you everything, you cooked him a meal of steamed fish and herbs. He ate quietly, as if his confession had stolen all of his words from him.Â
He finished his meal and sat in silence for a few minutes before looking towards you. "I ain't a good manâ"Â
You shushed him. "You are more good than not, Arthur," you said. "We all make mistakes. You were just trying to do your best. That's all any of us can do."
Reaching for his hand across the table, you grasped it and pulled it to your chest, placing it over your heart. "Will you stay?"Â
Arthur smiled hesitantly. "You⌠still want me?"Â
You stood up and leaned across the table to kiss him. "I'll always want you, Arthur. I love you."
He kissed you back. When he looked at you, his gaze full of gratitude. "I love you too, my sweet darlin'. Thank you fer believin' in me."
--------------------
End Notes: I had to end it on a sappy note, of course. Hope you enjoyed that little romp with some folklore!Â
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Ryoga x reader- Always Welcome Here
(Reader is meant to be gender neutral)
You walked towards your home after a long day of school and band practice. The streets are still bustling in the Friday night sunset of Akihabara. A few dark clouds have set in above you, but you figure you'll make it home by then. It's a shame you forgot your umbrella. Passing by a park, you see someone laying on the ground. They appear to be unconscious. After your initial panic, you cautiously approach the body, and notice it's a young man around your age. He has a heavy looking backpack, and a yellow bandana around his head. He seemed to be muttering to himself.Â
"Damn you⌠need...food.."
"Hey, are you okay?" You asked. His tired eyes looked up to you, pleading.Â
"Can you give me some food? I'm so hungry." He mutters. You reach in your backpack, and grab a granola bar that you had been saving for the last part of your walk home.Â
"It's not much, but I hope it helps." The boy rolls over onto his back, and sits up with difficulty. He nearly swallows the bar whole before standing with a sigh.Â
"Thank you. That won't hold me for long though." He fretted, "I've gotta find Furinkan High school again."
"Ah, well, you're close, you're in Akihabara. Nerima isn't too far from here."
"Really? Thank you! Well, I'll be seeing ya." He went to wave you goodbye as he left in the opposite direction of Nerima.Â
"That's the wrong way!"
"Oh. Thanks." He turned and went the other way.Â
"I wasn't done yet!" You say as you feel a single raindrop on your cheek. The rain began to downpour in seconds as you both ran for the safety of the underside of a slide. You made it and let out a sigh of relief, but where was the boy? You peered out from under the slide, and he had vanished, but his clothes remained. You saw movement from under them, and a little black pig emerged. It wore the headband of the boy around its neck. You used your book bag as an umbrella and walked up to the scared little pig.Â
"Hey, did you just turn into a pig?" The pig stared at you wide eyed, and nodded in defeat. You sighed. "Alright, we're taking you back to my house. At least this way you can get some food." You picked up his clothes, and stuffed them in his bag. It was pretty light, but the umbrella⌠the umbrella had to weigh at least 10 Kilograms! (22 pounds) after adjusting to the shock of the weight, you begrudgingly lifted and opened it to use as a proper umbrella to walk the two of you back to your home.
You entered your house, and thankfully no one was home. Your father worked overseas, and your mother would be at work well past 8:30 as always. You grabbed a few towels and dried him off before yourself.Â
"Go ahead and wait here on the couch while I go change my clothes." You let him sit in the fluffy pink towel. You put on some sweatpants and a comfy T-shirt then put your clothes in the dryer. You could hardly believe it. A boy turning into a pig with water. The phone rang, and you hurried a shirt on before answering it.Â
"Hello, ____ residence."
"Hey, ____?" It was Mom, "I guess there's flooding over the tracks for the train home, so Kazato offered to put me up at her place for the night. I'm sorry I won't be home."
"It's okay, mom. I'll just see you tomorrow." You made yourself sound disappointed. This way your guest wouldn't receive any Berratement from your mom. You said goodnight to your mom and returned to the living room, sitting next to the little pig on the couch.Â
"So, you don't seem to be surprised you're a pig. Is there a way to change you back?" You asked. He nodded, and jumped from the couch, and began wandering from room to room; You followed in curiosity. Once he found the bathroom, he jumped onto the tub, and pointed his little hoof at the hot water switch.Â
"Is it hot water that turns you back?" He nodded furiously in response, "Alright. Let me get you some clothes first." You left him in the bathroom with the water running while you grabbed a blue T-shirt, and a pair of black loose-fitting basketball shorts. You hoped they would fit him. You walked back to the bathroom, and thankfully found him still as a pig, and the water level seemed high enough now. You shut off the water.
"I'll put your clothes in the wash so you'll have fresh clothes in the morning." He tilted his head, confused.Â
"It's supposed to rain all night. I'm not letting you walk all the way to Nerima in the rain. What if you turn into a pig again? Then what was the point of a bath? My Mom isn't gonna be home tonight, so I'm letting you stay." You turned and left to let him bathe in peace. You began making some food for when he returned.Â
It was about a half an hour before he emerged, still wearing his headband, but wearing the clothes you had retrieved for him.Â
"Thank you." Was the first thing he said as he leaned on the counter next to you, "I'm Ryoga, by the way. Ryoga Hibiki."
"____ ____. And it was no problem, really."
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions." He seemed embarrassed.Â
"Yeah, but, can I ask?"
"I suppose if I'm gonna be here all night, I might as well answer any questions you have." He said, picking up his chopsticks. "Let's wait until after we eat. I'm starved." You nodded in agreement, and you picked up the conversation while he helped you with the dishes.Â
"Well, how did you become a pig?" He answered with the story of how he was tailing a schoolmate named Ranma Saotome. A rude boy who went to train with his father in China, and he fell into a cursed pond where a pig had drowned. Now whenever he gets doused with cold water, he becomes a pig. He can be human again with warm water.Â
"If I hadn't seen if for myself, I never would have believed you." You nodded. Ryoga then went on to mention how many people who have come into contact with Ranma have ended up cursed in one of these pools in Japan. Ranma, his father, and two others have a similar curse of turning into something else via water.Â
"That's so strange."
"That Ranma," He growled, "I'll get my revenge someday." He balled his fists up towards his chest, as if restraining himself from punching the nearby wall.Â
"Can't you just go back to this Jusenkyo place and change back?"
"Getting there is a battle in itself. I'm, what my family calls, directionally challenged. I can even have a map in my hands and still get lost. Also, getting to China takes money, which I don't have." He grimaced.Â
"That's rough," You sighed, "but it makes sense why you didn't know where you were in the park earlier." Ryoga nodded and returned to the couch, placing the blanket you had set there prior over his legs. You sat next to him, turning on the TV. The two of you watched a few game shows, and anime that played on the TV, making small talk as things became relevant. A romantic scene came on at one point, and Ryoga seemed to be bothered by it. It was late before you decided to go to your own room to sleep. You waved Ryoga goodnight as he stretched out on the couch.Â
"I'll leave my door open, so let me know if you need anything." Ryoga nodded as he rolled over facing the back of the couch. You retreated to your room and crawled under the covers before falling asleep. The sound of the raindrops hitting harder and faster on the roof.Â
You awoke to a large crack of lightning and a crash nearby. You sat up in bed so quickly it made your head spin. Within seconds, Ryoga was in the doorway.Â
"_____, are you alright? I heard you scream!" He seemed just as startled as you were. You couldn't recall screaming, but it was probably inaudible over the blood rushing through your ears. You were tried to catch your breath before replying,Â
"Yeah, I-I just heard a loud crack of lightning. I think it struck something outside." You said getting out of bed and looking out the window. A street light had fallen on the garage of the house across the street. You looked to your alarm clock to see it dead. The power was out. It was unsettlingly dark in the house now, and it admittedly worried you.Â
"Now I'm really glad you aren't out there." You muttered to Ryoga. Another loud clap of thunder nearly shook the house, and you grasped Ryoga's arm. You normally loved thunderstorms, but when the thunder got too loud, you couldn't help but be a little nervous.
"Are you alright?" He asked, his voice was kinder than it had been.
"Yeah, just a little shaken from how close the lightning is."
"Let's sit in the living room for a bit and relax. Do you have any candles or flashlights?"Â
"Yeah, there's some in the bathroom." You led Ryoga through the house to the bathroom, and found the handle to the bathroom cupboard. You felt around, finding the candles your mother used for her relaxing baths, and a lighter. The two of you wandered back to the living room and you managed to light one of the candles, setting it on the table in front of the couch. You lit the other two and placed them near the hallway in case you needed to go down the hallway, and the other in the kitchen, still in view of the living room. You grabbed a couple of juice pouches from the fridge, but made a note not to open it from here onward. After some time of drinking and chatting, you finally felt the tension in your shoulders release.Â
"Are you planning on going back to bed?" Ryoga asked.Â
"Yeah, but I'm still kind of scared. If that pole had been striked at any other angle, it easily could have fallen on the house." You changed over to him, his face also showed a frown of worry.Â
"W-why don't I protect you thenâŚ" He trailed off. You felt your face heat up,Â
"How⌠how so?"Â
"You couldâŚ" His face matched yours in color, "stay on the couch with me."Â
"Um, do⌠you think we'd have more room in⌠m-my bed?" You were just as nervous about this.Â
"Oh, your right. But!" The two of you kept embarrassed eye contact with each other, and after the longest second of your life, you let out a breath, and relaxed yourself.Â
"There's more room there, and I'd feel safer there. Let me blow out these two candles, and we'll go to my room." You smiled. Ryoga grabbed the blanket he'd been using and stood by the hall while you blew out the other two candles. You took the remaining candle to light your way to your room. You set the candle on your desk away from any papers, and climbed into bed. Ryoga climbed in after you, and you were now laying between him and the wall. Your bed was a bit small for two people, but it was vastly better than what the couch would have offered. However, Ryoga still seemed uncomfortable. It looked like he would fall off of the bed at any moment.Â
"If you aren't comfortable, come closer." You said. You practically heard Ryoga swallow nervously before he inched closer to you. Soon the problem became obvious that Ryoga had nowhere to put his arms. He awkwardly had them folded over his chest, but didn't seem comfortable. You reached for his arm, and gently moved his hand to your side. His other arm went above your head like an extra pillow, and you made yourself comfortable by placing your head in his chest. His arms eventually relaxed and his top arm soon hugged your back. You tangled your legs in with his, and looked up to him in the dark.Â
"Better?" You whispered, you heard his breath hitch, before letting out an affirmative noise, "Good. Thanks Ryoga, good night." You snuggled into his chest again, and made the attempt to have your body sleep. As you left consciousness, you felt his hand leave your back to pet your hair.Â
The next morning, you woke up to the light coming through your window. The candle had put itself out, and Ryoga still held you.Â
"....AkaneâŚ" You heard his whisper in his sleep. You wondered who that was. Friend? Family? You'd have to ask when he woke up. You would normally get up and make breakfast, but you were so comfortable you decided to fall asleep again.Â
You awoke again to Ryoga shifting in the bed. You felt him get up from the bed.Â
"Good morning, Ryoga." You said, your eyes half open.Â
âMorning, ____.â he sounded well rested. You heard the bathroom door close and decided to slowly get up. You noticed your alarm clock's flashing numbers, meaning the lights we're back on. You made your way to the bathroom and heard the toilet flush upon your approach. After a few seconds, Ryoga left the bathroom, carrying his clothes from the dryer. You told him you were gonna make breakfast, and you went about your morning business. You remained in your pajamas since school had been cancelled, and made a quick breakfast for the two of you. You checked the contents of the fridge to see they had remained unscathed by the power outage. As you ate, you remembered Ryoga's muttering from earlier.Â
"Hey, Ryoga, you said a name in your sleep last night. Who's Akane?" Ryoga nearly choked on his food, taking a long drink of his juice before replying.Â
"Akane⌠she's. She's the woman IâŚ" He stared solemnly at his plate.Â
"You love her?" You tried to finish for him. You gave him the benefit of the doubt he wasn't a murderer.Â
"Yeah. I've been in love with her for a very long time now. But she's marrying Ranma, and he doesn't even like her!" His voice raised in volume, "I haven't been able to tell her how I feel and I can't even tell her I turn into a pig! I've spent so much time with her as her pet pig, but she doesn't even know!" Tears filled his eyes with anger.Â
"I'm sorry you're going through that. That sucks."
"Yeah, it doesâŚ" Ryoga sighed, calming down, "but I'll tell her one day. I'll save her from Ranma, and her and I'll make her so happy." He stabbed a piece of food and ate it angrily.
After the dishes were done, you found Ryoga on the couch rearranging his bag, adding the snacks you gave him for the road.Â
"Are you leaving right away?" You asked.Â
"In a little bit, yeah. I've gotta get to Nerima to take Akane back." You frowned at this. You'd really become fond of the man you found unconscious in the park and didn't really want him to leave. Once he was ready, you walked him to the street, and faced him in the direction of Nerima. He waved goodbye, and as he left, you stopped him.Â
"Ryoga," He turned to you. You kissed his cheek and gently took his hand, "I-if things don't work out, you know, with Akane, you're always welcome here. I'd be more than happy to have you." Your face heated up again, as Ryoga also seemed to pick up on what you were implying.Â
"Th-thank you!" He closed shut eyes, "I'll remember that! See you next time, ____!" He shouted as he ran past you in an embarrassed ferver.Â
"Wait! Ryoga! You're going the wrong⌠WayâŚ" You sighed. You chuckled knowing he'd be back someday.
#ryoga hibiki#ranma ½#ryoga x reader#p chan#i know the ranma fandom is scarce#but here ya go#ryoga is my boy
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How Disney/Lucasfilm failed Finn and John Boyega
A rant about my continued frustration on how Lucasfilm/Disney failed Finn and John Boyega
John Boyegaâs Finn was setup as the male lead and co-protagonist of the sequel trilogy. Thatâs not an opinion, thatâs not a headcanon, thatâs a literally fact. He was set up to be equal with Rey & Kyloâs foil and we all know why that changed.
John Boyega was cast as the male and co-protagonist of the sequel trilogy by JJ Abrams, who had to fight for John Boyega to be cast against the preferred (White) casting choices.
Originally Finn(Sam in the original treatment) was white
Majority from Okiroâs twitter thread exposing Lucasfilmâs hypocrisy when it comes to representation and black history
JJ Abrams told Finn he was the new star of Star Wars
In The Force Awakens. Finn was a Stormtrooper who defected. After witnessing the death of his friend Slip and seeing the innocents being killed, Finn made the decision to save Poe Dameron and leave The First Order. Finn only wanted to leave The FIrst Order and run away. But after meeting Poe and later Rey, Finn began to care for more than himself. Finn was mentored by Han Solo. For once, he had a father figure and a positive role model as opposed to people like Hux and Phasma. He learned to care for Rey and even love her. After Starkiller Base destroyed the Hosnian System, Finn realized running was pointless and knew he had to fight. Then Kylo Ren took Rey. Finn went to The Resistance using his time on Starkiller Base to shut down the shield generator and plant the explosives on the thermal oscillator. Finnâs main focus was rescuing Rey. After Kylo force pushes Rey into a tree, Finn faces Kylo Ren. Finn learns to overcome his fears of The First Order and faces the symbolic evil that was Kylo Ren. Although Finn does not win, he puts up a good fight and was put in a coma for daring to defy Kylo. Then they bait and switched us with Rey. Iâll let you read my rant on that.
Finn was the co-protagonist of The Force Awakens, this is evident of Finnâs actions saving everyone. Finn is the very reason why the Resistance is even alive. Finn breaks his life-long brainwashing, informs Rey and Han about the importance of BB-8 and helps out in getting BB-8 to the resistance and provides vital information that lead to the destruction of STB and gets nearly killed while helping to achieve this. If it were not for Finn saving Poe, BB-8 wouldâve been scrapped for parts and Rey never wouldâve left Jakku. The map would either be destroyed or be in the hands of The First Order. Starkiller Base wouldâve destroyed DâQar and Ach-To. He is the reason why Poe is still alive. He is the reason why BB-8 isnât parts and Rey left Jakku. Because of leaving Jakku, this is the sole reason why Han and Chewie were able to find the Falcon. And he is the reason why The Resistance was able to find out about Starkiller Baseâs weakness. he Helps out in sabotaging STB so that Poe, the very pilot he saved in the beginning can deliver the finishing blow to Starkiller Base and destroy it completely.
There are some missed opportunity in TFA, believe me I know as I feel JJ squandered the theme of Stormtroopers rising up against their oppressors and that crack about Finn being a janitor was so tone deaf and unnecessary.Â
Donât believe me that Finn was meant to be the co-protagonist of the Sequels? Look at the marketing?
Also. Just look at the hopeful optimism and representation FInn brought to black people.
Then the racist boycotting happened. The boycott was groups of bigots who wanted the ST to be boycotted. What was the response from Lucasfilm? Zero defense of John Boyega, but their actions were transparent when they shrunk Finn on the TFA poster for fucking Chinaâs sake, kept him off the TLJ teaser poster, and small on the official poster
Iâll let what Rian Johnson chose to do with Finn speak for itself. John Boyega has every right to hate what Rian did with his character.
By giving into the boycott and doing their best to erase and sideline John Boyega, Lucasfilm proved they would always cater to mob law if the mob was big enough. Do I have proof of this boycott against John Boyega? Yes, I do.
Also, popular Reylo blogger Jenny Nicholsonâs racism against John Boyega
Reminder that Jenny Nicholson blocked a whole fuckton of Black people who even gently criticized her about how she went after John Boyega
Did Lucasfilm after The Force Awakens try to support their Black lead in any way? No. In fact, they began to erase him harder than ever to the point Fans started a hashtag #WhereIsFinn because it was getting so bad. But Bryan Young, a Lucasfilm writer, sure loved to hate on Finn
Lucasfilm was so racist, the very concept of a Black man and a white woman getting together sent them into such a frenzy Lucasfilm had to have it removed from any EU material just to make sure they kept it nice and bigot friendly. Also itâs worth noting that Alan Dean Foster was ordered by Lucasfilm/Disney to scrap any hints of Finnrey romance from the TFA novel as he believed that was the direction of the Sequelsâ romance and coincidentally they did next to nothing with and we know it was racially motivated. "I expected to see that developed further in Episode VIII [The Last Jedi]," Foster said. "And zero happened with it. And we all know why zero happened with it â and there's no need to go into it in-depth â but that's, sadly, just the way things are."
It wasnât JJ Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan or Chris Terrio who were against Finnrey. It was Disney and Lucasfilm and RIan Johnson was more than happy to separate Rey and Finn 99% of the movie(he said and did enough things to prove that he didnât want the two characters even near each other)
Then John spoke about his frustration with how he was treated
People have tried to twist the narrative or put words in Boyega's mouths, but his GQ interview paints the picture rather clearly. He was sidelined due to his race after The Force Awakens when The Last Jedi came around with a "reordered character hierarchy" Lucasfilm's order btw
It resulted in Rey and Kylo Ren being featured prominently in both TLJ and TROS. It also resulted in Reylo being canon. Lucasfilm killed the Sequel trilogy, cause they couldnât bare the thought of a black man in the leading role and a interracial relationship.Â
If you look at TFA, youâll realize that Finn was built up to becoming a Jedi, Kyloâs foil and Reyâs equal. Because TLJ happened, Finnâs role was reduced to a side character and JJ could not make him as prominent as he originally wanted to. EIther studio interference or TLJ screwed everything up so bad that he had to work on it slowly and just hope that Disney + would have something for Finn.
At the start of the trilogy, we all thought people of color would have a prominent role in the new trilogy, there was a potential for the first interracial relationship in Star Wars and there was a potential for the first LGBT relationship in Star Wars. But no, itâs clear that both TLJ and TROS gave us the impression that only white people can be Jedi and only white people can have epic romances and save the galaxy, people of color can only have secondary roles. And the blink and you miss it kiss? Only white women, not two men of color who clearly love each other.
Finnâs best scenes were deleted.Â
Finn and the villager. it really shows why Finn chose to leave. Finnâs reasoning for leaving the First Order had nothing to do with being against violence, but a moral confliction of not wanting to hurt defenseless people. This villager wasnât a soldier, wasnât trying to hurt him. She was just a woman with her baby. This wasnât war, this was murder, and Finn refused to be a murderer.
TLJ alternate opening. Opens with Finn waking up. Small change, but it would show that Finn is still a prominent character.
BB-8 shows Finn Reyâs last moment with him. BB-8 tries to cheer Finn up, but to no avail until he shows him a recording of Rey from the end of The Force Awakens - the scene she says goodbye to an unconscious Finn and kisses him on the forehead before leaving to find Luke Skywalker.
Poe gives back his sewn up jacket to Finn. In this deleted scene, Poe fills in the gaps and tries to assuage Finn about his concerns, including Finn's mixed feelings about his relationship with the Resistance. Poe then gives back the jacket that was once his and became Finn's in The Force Awakens, showing Finn that he sewed it up. This scene doesn't necessarily push forward any plot development, but should've remained as great a moment between Finn and Poe. The two characters established a wonderful chemistry and bond in The Force Awakens, and with Finn off on Canto Bight for much of The Last Jedi, fans didn't get to see as much of their relationship as expected. It's nice to see that chemistry and bond again. Finn's question about winning is also interesting in highlighting the constant uphill battle of the Resistance. Even destroying the Starkiller Base, Rey defeating Kylo Ren, and blowing up a Dreadnought can still put the Resistance in the position of fleeing.Â
The elevator scene between Finn and an old Stormtrooper friend. A Stormtrooper voiced by Tom Hardy recognizes Finn and starts talking to him. Finn starts to draw his gun, thinking the Stormtrooper has recognized him as a traitor, but it turns out the Stormtrooper is just surprised to see that FN-2187 has become an officer. The scene may go on for a bit too long, but ultimately it should've stayed in. The scene in the elevator does a great job playing with the audience's emotions, as they're unsure whether the tension will rise to the breaking point of a fight or evolve into a humorous moment. It also shows Finn using restraint by not killing a fellow Stormtrooper, unlike the other two movies.
Phasmaâs alternate and BETTER death scene. WHY WAS THIS CUT????? No seriously, WHY WAS THIS FUCKING CUT????? I will never understand why this was deleted. Finn calls her out about her betrayal of lowering the shields and when this information is revealed, the Stormtroopers near her look suspicious and it looks as if they are going to turn on her. Phasma like the ultimate survivalist she is kills them with no hesitation. Finn cuts her hand off and blasts her into the abyss, giving Phasma a more deserving and better send off. Seriously, this is way better than their actual confrontation. Â What I really like about this scene is its direct connection to The Force Awakens plot point and that it acknowledges Phasma's survivalist attitude which was introduced into her novel. The Phasma novel and comic portrayed her not as a First Order loyalist, but as a ruthless warrior who did whatever it took to survive. She even went so far as hunting down and doing away with those within the First Order who had knowledge of what she did at the Starkiller Base lest the truth get out. Phasma was always about self-preservation, she wasn't about preserving the First Order, but that never comes across in The Force Awakens or The Last Jedi. It only comes across in this deleted scene where Phasma chooses to end her own Stormtroopers to save herself.
Something else that bothers me. Finnâs treatment in the expanded universe. Have you ever noticed that Poe and Kylo got all the big expanded universe material and Finn is always shoved into the background or not there at all? Even worse, every form of media portrays Finn as Poe's bumbling sidekick, which is even more apparent in TROS. They were more interested in having Poe and Finn being the Abbott and Costello of the ST instead of letting Finn going from Stormtrooper to Jedi and lead a Stormtrooper Rebellion.
In the journey to TROS, Finn is not featured in ANY of the novels or graphic novels for the Journey to TROS. When he was, he was used as Poeâs sidekick and not featured anywhere with Rey. Before the release of the movie, he is not featured whatsoever in any shape or form in marketing. We get to see him in two teasers but he says nothing. His new outfit looks awesome. Finn couldâve been used to rise as a Jedi with Rey and essentially be the Skywalkers that Rise and face Kylo and Palpatine together. If not that, Finn couldâve caused a Stormtrooper Rebellion that burns The First Order from the inside out. Instead of any of that, it Finn was given nothing for this movie. He doesnât even get to face Kylo Ren, their rivalry as foils was completely dropped. That is sad and heartbreaking.
Seriously, there is no novelizations or comics that expand on Finnâs time in The First Order. Sure, there is Before The Awakening. But consider this. Finn was their best Stormtrooper, so good that Hux considered him Captain material.
There is so much potential with Finn in the Expanded Universe. Apply all the posts Iâve linked and more.
The Poe Dameron comics were not about Poeâs life, they were about his personality, skills, character, and the Resistance. So I ask, why canât/couldnât the same have been done with Finn pre TFA? A comic series exploring his character while world building the First Order.
There is so much to tell. You could start with Finn vividly remembering his family and how he was abducted and recruited for the FN Corps.
You could even show the ruthlessness of The First Order by showing initiation for the FN Corps is only granted by forcing the children to kill each other in a Hunger Games/Battle Royale to see who the strongest and who deserves to be welcomed to the First Order. This would be in separate groups of the children who are abducted to determine who gets to be put in the FN Corps. We could see Phasma returning to the room, only to see a young Finn covered in blood and dried up tears. Phasma will only say âWelcome to The First Order, FN-2187.â
Wouldnât it be interesting to see how Finn, a brainwashed soldier broke free of his mental conditioning, learned the truth of the FO yet still tried to be a good soldier. It could flesh out his relationship with the squad he led, as well as Phasma and Hux.
It couldâve also showcased the brotherhood and friendship Finn had with  FN-2199 (âNinesâ), FN-2000 (âZeroesâ), and FN-2003 (âSlipâ).
The biggest thing it could do is finally show Finnâs skills as a soldier, his brains, while giving so much needed world building First Order. We could also finally show what itâs like as a FO stormtrooper from a sympathetic POV.
Through the avenue of a Finn comic series you could also flesh out Hux, Phasma, Nines, Zeroes, Slip, and even characters like Kylo and Snoke. It doesnât have to cover spoilers, just make the one note more dimensional while giving Finn so overdue respectful content
It could end with everyone asking Finn âwhat was the moment you decided to leaveâ which then we would see the TFA deleted scene of Finn in the villageÂ
It could end on Finn saying "I was raised to do one thing, I used to think Iâve got nothing to fight for, but now I have something worth fighting for.â
And afterwards. You could show Finn and Jannah working together to liberating the other Stormtroopers. The first person they rescue? Zeroes, FInnâs last surviving Squad Member and together they awaken and liberate their brothers and sisters and all the while Finn rises up and becomes a Jedi!
For those wondering what about Finn in TROS? Iâll let this video do all the talking
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Iâd also like to point out. Finnrey WAS going to happen in TROS. Hereâs confirmation by Jedipaxis, the main reddit leaker, who was right about everything before the films release, confirmed that Finnâs âi never told youâ line was supposed to have some payoff and it was going to end with finn and rey holding hands. could this pic have been of the alternate ending? then reshoots happened and we got the Reylo kiss
Iâm convinced that John Boyega was told by the higher ups to say Finn was meant to say he was âForce Sensitiveâ no one who is about to die would âalways want to tell youâ they were force sensitive.Â
Hell, even in the original Episode IX by Colin Trevorrow. Duel Of Fates. Finn was given the shaft again. For some unknown reason, Rey is paired with Poe, a character who barely interacts with Rey at all. Finn was given another sidequest to do. The only brightside for Finn is he participates in retaking Corruscant and a Stormtrooper Rebellion near the end.Â
Finn, who was once held in prominence as the co-protagonist alongside Rey. Was erased from how prominent he once was and reduced to a sidecharacter due to China and fanbacklash that there was going to be a black lead in Star Wars. Disney caved in to the racist backlash and caved into Chinaâs racist demands.Â
Finn deserved to be a main character alongside Rey, while Kylo Ren is their villain. He deserved a good character development, a great arc, an interesting backstory. he had the potential to become one of the most epic star wars characters. TLJ and TROS was an insult for him and he deserved better. nobody will EVER change my mind.
Finn shouldâve been a Stormtrooper turned Jedi who embraced the light, while Kylo Ren who was the Skywalker who rejected the light and embraced the dark. Rey shouldâve been Lukeâs daughter, while Finn is the Jedi who builds himself up from being a Stormtrooper from nowhere to Jedi and together Rey and Finn stop Kylo Ren and bring down The First Order and rebuild The Jedi!
Finn should have been a Stormtrooper turned Jedi. Â It doesnât matter that you think it tells a better story for him to not be a Jedi. âFinn being a hero who is not a Jedi is important.â Poe and Rose are great examples of ordinary heroes coming from nowhere. Rey was supposed to be a jedi related to Skywalker or Kenobi legacy while Finn was the perfect ânobody from nowhereâ that becomes a Jedi. And honestly, Black kids deserved to see themselves in the Black Jedi and black kids deserved to see themselves as one of the three protagonists of the trilogy.
Finn got no last name No theme Was sidelined in the trilogy Had his scenes cut Mocked by Lucasfilm employees Racially harassed by bigots and media outlets Disney used while staying silent and then Disney has the nerve to say they âstandâ with John Boyega during the BLM movement and celebrated Finn during black history month despite squandering him....
Finn deserved better, period!
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Literary vs Genre Fiction
The divide between literary and genre fiction is one of those topics that gets endlessly debated in writer circles. Youâll see it making the rounds on social media every time a book gets some buzz for busting out of its category. Youâll hear it in MFA programs across the country. But what even is literary fiction? How is it actually different from genre fiction? Is one better than the other? Why does anybody care?
A lot of smart people before me have thrown their hat in this particular ring, but Iâm going to try tackling this one anyway.Â
First Off: What Do We Mean When We Say âLiterary Fictionâ?Â
Defining the thing is almost the hardest part of this whole discussion, and that may be part of the reason why people argue so endlessly about the literary vs genre divide -- if you donât have a clear definition of the categories, that divide can be drawn up just about anywhere.Â
So before we dig into characteristics of literary fiction, letâs look at some clear examples. The Booker Prize is a literary award specifically given to works of literary fiction, so it stands to reason that winners of that award would be the best examples of the category, right? Here are some recent Booker Prize winners (as pulled from Powellâs bookstore):Â
Margaret Atwood - The Testaments The sequel to A Handmaid's Tale, told as testaments from three female narrators in Gilead, a dystopian setting where women have been stripped of their rights.
Bernardine Evaristo - Girl, Woman, Other Twelve central characters, mostly black British women, lead intersecting lives with struggles of identity, race, sexuality, class, etc.
Anna Burns - Milkman A girl identified as "middle sister" catches the unwanted attention of "the milkman," a local paramilitary, and has to deal with the threat of violence and spread of rumors.
George Saunders - Lincoln in the Bardo A father-and-son story about Abraham Lincoln and the 11-year-old son who died of illness in the midst of the civil war, leading to them both struggling in a type of purgatory.
Paul Beatty - The Sellout A satire about an isolated young man who ends up at a Supreme Court race trial after trying to reinstate slavery and segregate the local high school in an attempt to put his town back on the map.
One thing becomes immediately clear about literary fiction when skimming through the titles and summaries of these award-winning books: These novels are well-nigh impossible to summarize in a way that actually sounds enticing.Â
So okay. What are some genre fiction books, for comparison? There are genre fiction awards, like for example the Hugo award for Sci-Fi/Fantasy:Â
Mary Robinette Kowal - The Calculating Stars A cataclysmic meteor collision in 1952 causes an accelerated effort to colonize space, leading to a woman fighting to join the astronaut team in this alternate-history book.
N. K. Jemisin - The Stone Sky The third in a trilogy of post-apocalyptic novels about two women with the power to avert destruction of mankind.
Cixin Liu - The Three-Body Problem Against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project makes contact with aliens whose civilization is on the brink of destruction, leading them to plan a takeover of earth.
Thereâs also the Edgar Award, which is given to mystery fiction (itâs named after Edgar Allan Poe):Â
James A McLaughlin - Bearskin A man on the run takes a job as a park ranger, but runs the risk of being found by the men he's hiding from when he tries to expose some poachers.
Walter Mosley - Down the River Unto the Sea After spending a decade in prison for a crime he was framed for, former-detective King works as a private investigator whose investigation of his own frame-up leads him to cross paths of a journalist with a similar story.
Sujata Massey - Widows of Malabar Hill In 1920s India, Bombay's only female lawyer investigates a suspicious will on behalf of three Muslim widows, a case that takes a murderous turn.
These arenât the best summaries in the world, but there does seem to be a stronger sense of both plot and character in the story concepts. At least, when someone asks, âWhatâs that book youâre reading about?â the genre fiction ones will have a somewhat easier time explaining it.Â
So What REALLY Separates Literary From Genre Fiction?Â
There are a lot of battle lines drawn between genre and literary fiction. Iâve heard it argued that literary is about character while genre is about plot; that literary is about the quality of the prose while genre is about the story; that literary is about experimenting while genre is about adhering to formulas. That literary is about expanding horizons while genre is about escapism and comfort. That literary is about realism and genre fiction is about fabulism.Â
I think thereâs a nugget of truth in all of these, but Iâm not really happy with any of them.Â
So Iâm going to toss out my own hypothesis:Â I think the difference between literary and genre fiction is the way tropes are employed.Â
âOkay, great, but what are tropes?âÂ
Iâm so glad you asked. Fiction tropes are a type of shorthand. They are things that we the audience have seen before, so we know immediately what they mean. Tropes exist in characters, plot points, settings, concepts -- you name it. Hereâs a sampling of tropes you might be familiar with:Â
The tough lady-cop whose dad was a police officerÂ
Thanks to a mix-up, two people with hidden romantic feelings book the last available room at a hotel but thereâs only one bedÂ
A man goes on a quest for vengeance but destroys himself in the process
The wise old man who teaches the young hero valuable lessons but then dies before the pivotal battle
And so on, and so forth. Every genre has its own tropes -- a formula, if you will. In that sense, genre fiction is formulaic, but that doesnât make it easier to write; actually, a big part of the challenge is in giving fresh twists to familiar tropes. Readers of genre stories demand certain tropes; the author has to deliver on those demands in a fresh way.
By comparison, I would argue that literary fiction does not rely upon tropes. There certainly are tropes and conventions that emerge in literary fiction -- a middle-aged academic struggling through divorce, for example -- but these tropes are more often than not met with irritation, not delight. Readers of literary fiction are looking for fresh insights and innovations, not familiarity.Â
Tropes are powerful tools. They are the mythic seed of storytelling. They are the archetypes that pass down through generations. They are a sacred backbone of mythology and folklore. Genre fiction, at the end of the day, carries the torch for storytelling in a long and (ha, ha) storied tradition from our prehistoric days huddled around a campfire.Â
Literary fiction, on the other hand, eschews tropes -- with their agreed-upon meanings -- in favor of assigning fresh meanings to things. Literary fiction is chock full of metaphors, but itâs the author, not convention, that determines what those metaphors mean and how theyâre employed. Literary fiction reinvents the wheel. When it succeeds, it hits on depth and emotional resonance that can be life-changing for the reader. When it fails, it comes off like so much navel-gazing nonsense. So it goes.Â
Fiction Wars and Gatekeeping
The problem with the literary vs genre fiction divide is that it never stops with âThis is how these categories are defined.â The problem is that people will insist on ascribing moral significance and hierarchy to them.Â
Literary fiction is viewed as being smarter, deeper, more meaningful or more valuable than genre fiction. If a genre fiction story manages to break out and gain wider appeal, suddenly people will start ascribing to it literary attributes (whether or not the book and many others in the genre had them all along). And that is all a bunch of nonsense.Â
Itâs the exact same thing that happens in horror fiction -- when a horror story goes mainstream, suddenly it becomes a âpsychological thrillerâ or a âdark dramaâ or anything other than horror, because âhorrorâ is an inferior genre.Â
The fact of the matter is that literary fiction gets elevated over genre fiction for systemic reasons:Â
Most MFA programs focus on writing literary fiction, which means that a lot of lit-fic authors come out of those programs, which means that literary fiction is often the domain of upper-middle-class, frequently white, people who can afford to graduate from those programs
A focus on dense prose and âdifficultâ writing means lit-fic books must be analyzed and interpreted; itâs hard to read, making it exclusionist to people who lack formal educationÂ
Lit-fic dominates awards, gets pushed heavily onto book clubs, is talked about more often on daytime TV and so forth (because it is perceived as being better/more important, thus creating the ongoing cycle)
Basically, lit-fic gets held up as an example of Fine Culture. And any time something is designated as Fine Culture and High Art, it is subject to a completely arbitrary classist distinction meant primarily to keep out an undesirable element (women, BIPOC, poor people, you name it).Â
Thatâs not a problem endemic to lit-fic itself. Itâs really a problem of the culture surrounding it, and attempts to hold it to a higher esteem than genre work.Â
Cross-Pollination Is Inevitable and DesirableÂ
How do tropes get made?Â
Someone comes up with a new metaphor, concept, character, or idea that resonates so deeply that others who follow borrow that same thing and its meaning, and it gets repeated enough times that it becomes a stock trope.Â
In other words, every single piece of genre fiction exists because someone writing in some other established tradition decided to experiment and go off on a tangent to create something really fresh and new -- and knocked it so far out of the park that people were compelled to follow.Â
People like to pretend that the overlap and blurred lines between genre and literary fiction are somehow a new trend, but the fact is that this has been the trajectory of fiction-writing for the whole history of storytelling.Â
Literary agents have a term for this: Upmarket fiction. Books that âtranscendâ genre definitions to appeal to readers on either side of the aisle. And those are highly sought-after books, because they have the potential of bringing in double the readers.Â
So, snobby gatekeeping aside, is there any real reason to argue about the definition of literary vs genre fiction?Â
Iâd say...no. Not even a little bit. Iâve got a mix of both on my shelves. I incorporate a mix of both in my writing. And I donât see that changing any time soon.Â
A Final NoteÂ
I mentioned above that lit-fic tends to be written by people in MFA programs, and I wanted to touch on that again as an MFA drop-out and someone who was once warned by a teacher not to bring âany more of that genre nonsenseâ into the classroom.Â
I can understand, from a teaching perspective, why writerâs workshops would want to focus on lit-fic. From the perspective of learning how to write, forcing writers to derive stories from their experiences, to dig deep into themselves and ascribe unique meaning to things, to develop their own metaphors and hone their craft at the sentence level -- all of that makes a lot of sense. Banning genre tropes is a way to force writers to hone their craft without leaning on the work of generations of storytellers before them, and as a teaching tool I think thatâs actually really valuable.Â
But I think itâs pretty important that we keep that in context. The lit-fic focus in writing classes should be a teaching tool first and foremost. It should not be the end-all and be-all of writing classes.
This post topic was voted on by my Patreon subscribers. If you would like to vote for future posts and get early access to posts before they go live on tumblr, you can become a patron here:Â https://www.patreon.com/tlbodine
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Host, Interrupted - beta request
hey so, I'd like to a find a beta reader for my westworld, dolores/reader, wlw fic. It's been a million years since I've had a beta, but I really want one for this massive project. Let's see... you definitely need to be familiar with all three seasons of the show and comfortable reading heavyTM shit. I don't need much (if any) help with the plot. I need error fixes. I'm real chill to work with and I will happily assist you with any project of yours in return. My story is FINISHED. It's 170k words and the first work in a two-part series. Just to give you an idea of what my writing level is and what the story is about, here's the summary. The first chapter and trigger warnings for the entire story are under the cut. (Yes, my fic title is a play on the movie Girl, Interrupted. Yes, that is very much on purpose)
Non-con, suicide, death, murder, violence, gore, holy shit gore, depression, PTSD, self-harm, eating disorder, alcohol abuse, the works, itâs dark guys but *points at source material* *points at self*
Part I: The Devil is in the Details
 âDo you wake up as I do, having forgotten what it is that hurts or where, until you move? There is a second of consciousness that is clean again. A second that is you, without memory or experience, the animal warm and waking into a brand new world.â â Jeanette Winterson
 Chapter 1:
 You have the whole train car to yourself. The magnet rail moves at amazing speeds with the kind of grace that feels like you arenât going anywhere at all, but you are. Youâre going to Westworld, the crowning achievement of the tech colossus: Delos Incorporated. The park put them on the map, quite literally after they bought an island in the South China Sea. Some 500 square miles of it is reserved for Westworld alone, the rest is divided between the other parks. You forget how big they are, but none of them are as large as Westworld. No matter how large it is and easy to get lost in, you arenât going to up and forget why youâre here. You canât. If you could, youâd have no reason to be on this monorail at all, relaxed into the pristine white seats, sighing at the darkened window.
Minutes pass, and your consciousness has gone somewhere you donât have to think. A place where thereâs no boredom and no worry. You snap to attention when the window lights up to show the interior of the train station. A melody of notes plays from the speaker above your chair. The voice is soft, feminine.
âWelcome to Westworld. Live without limits.â
When the doors slide open, you curl your toes and try to wake them from their fuzzy sleep. Your first steps are tired, unbalanced, and you cover your mouth to hide a yawn. As you walk off the monorail, you glance around the station. Itâs just as bright as the train, and you pity the janitors for all the black scuffmarks they have to buff off the tile before you remember that the most tedious labor goes to the hosts.
The hosts â there are a dozen of them, evenly spaced out and waiting to help the guests. But thereâs no one else coming off the train, just you. Dressed up and impossibly still, the hosts donât even acknowledge you. Itâs like theyâre sleeping with their eyes open. Theyâre not here for you, but itâs weird that theyâre here at all. You scour the area for a safe space when you find your welcoming committee near an escalator.
The two men stay put, but the woman gives you an excited wave.
âHarper!â Your name echoes through the station and you wish she hadnât said it so loud. Still, you force a smile because this is a friend, and you are happy to see her. Youâre happy. Youâre happyâŚ
âHey, Elsie. How are you?â you ask as she crosses the floor to meet you. You barely have time to react before she wraps her arms around you. You canât get your arms to hug her back, and you tell yourself itâs because sheâs squeezing you too tight.
âIâm good, Iâm good! How are you? I feel like itâs been so long- but it hasnât. You lose track of time down here.â
Elsie is rambling, and you find it odd. Elsie isnât the wordy type. Sheâs crass, direct, and extremely insightful, but this Elsie is stumbling over herself to make small talk. In a rare display of assuredness, you pat her on the shoulder.
âIâm alright,â you lie. âI didnât think Iâd see you today, but Iâm glad youâre here.â
Elsie smiles bashfully, then turns as the others arrive. You recognize the pair sheâs with â Bernard Lowe and Robert Ford. One is Elsieâs boss, the other is family.
Bernard adjusts where his glasses sit on his nose before he welcomes you. âHello, Harper. I hope the ride wasnât unpleasant.â You shrug. It was nice to be alone after your parents insisted on dropping you off. You can understand their concerns, but youâre not a child. Havenât been one of those in a long time.
âI wish I could stay,â Robert suddenly interjects. Until this point, youâve avoided looking at him. Heâs an old man now, soon to face the trials of time that a mortal body canât win. You wonder why he hasnât died yet. A heart attack could do him in at any moment. Lucky bastard. âBut thereâs a project that requires my attention.â Go figure heâd leave at the first opportunity. He shouldnât have come at all, but you let him speak. âI merely want to impart upon you how wonderful it is that youâre here, Harper. Donât think of this place as a park or a game. It doesnât have to be that. Westworld,â he raises his arms, displaying the pearly gates to the kingdom behind him, âcan be whatever you need it to be. Here, you are awake in a dream.â
You manage a nod, and then his back is turned. His brown leather shoes clop across the floor as he disappears into a service exit between escalators. Seriously, why did he come at all if he was going to leave thirty seconds after seeing you? Maybe some things canât be mended despite what your mom said.
You, Elsie, and Bernard stew in the silence left by one of the original founders of the park. Dr. Ford is an enigmatic man at the best of times. At the worst, heâs driven by a singular focus to achieve ever loftier goals. His ambition cost him his family once. Really, itâs a miracle youâre here at all, but other, more important people in your life have forgiven him.
âCome on,â Elsie finally says. âLetâs get you ready for your stay.â
As you weave between the sentinel hosts, the three of you leave the train station behind. Bernard takes the time to remind you the rules of the park. He doesnât have to, you remember them.
âNow, the hosts canât hurt you. In fact, theyâll do everything they can to keep you from true physical harm.â It isnât the physical harm that concerns you about your stay here. âThe guns are coded to differentiate between human and host. Itâs going to hurt if you get shot-â
You clear your throat. âI remember, Mr. Lowe. The internship didnât end that long ago.â
âRight, right,â he confirms. He plucks his glasses from his face and cleans his lenses as you guys walk into a large closet. Closet isnât the right word. The place is more like a small storefront. Racks of clothes line the walls and accessories lay in display cases spread throughout. Everything is tailored to be exactly your size, but the collection isnât fine-tuned to your taste. If it was, the vibrant, lowcut saloon style dresses wouldnât be here. As you browse, aware Elsie is watching you choose, your mind travels back to the last time you were a part of Delos Destinations.
The internshipâŚ
The internship was a means to an end. Just this year, you worked with Behavior, you learned about host coding, and you met Elsie â who mentored you. For three months, you lived underground with the rest of the onsite staff. Everyday was a chore, but at the end of it your grandfather agreed to pay for your masterâs degree. Now, youâre back three months later. You arenât here to work, and you canât leave until your stay is over.
You select a pair of grey breeches and find a muddy red, button up shirt to go with it. For shoes, you pick the comfiest looking boots you see. Most of your internship was spent in the workshops, but for the next few weeks youâll be above ground, kicking around in the dust of the âOld Westâ as imagined by Delos. To hell with looks, you want to be comfortable. You imagine yourself not to care about your appearance, but you still pick out a belt with a holster that matches, and a leather jacket.
When you come upon a case full of guns, you hesitate. The selection of pistols is immaculate, like everything else youâve seen so far. Everything is so damn clean, and it irks you. The more Delos tries to sell itself as perfect, the more you want to make a mess of everything. You lift the glass cover and grab a silver revolver. Itâs heavier than you thought it would be, but it fits in your hand so well. Thatâs the thing about guns thatâs always bothered you. You shouldnât want to hurt people, and you donât â for the most part â but every gun youâve ever held feels like it was made for you.
Elsie and Bernard step out so you can change. When they return, Bernard is back on his tangent of explaining how this trip works. âNow, youâll start in the center of the park. Sweetwater. Things are tamer there, but there will be plenty to see and do.â
The behavior tech raises her hand to cut Bernard off. âI got it from here, Bernard. Iâll make sure sheâs good to go.â Bernard nods and wishes you well before he leaves. With that, Elsie takes a deep breath and adjusts your collar a little bit. âFinally, weâre alone.â You face warms, remembering your past with her. âI know how much you hate this place,â she states. âBut I really hope you find some peace here, Harper. Youâre gonna have the whole park basically to yourself, take advantage of it.â
You huff and take a step away from your friend. âThe perks of being Fordâs granddaughter,â you muse.
Elsie folds her arms over her chest. âYeah, and if our places were reversed, Iâd be taking that old man for everything heâs got.â
You let that statement hang, untouched. âHow is it I have the whole park to myself anyway?â
âBrass is going through their yearly audit, and they oh-so-graciously decided to give everyone a three-week vacation this time,â she mocks. âWeâre running on a skeleton crew right now, but then the rest of us get to take our vacation whenever we want. Iâm thinking Christmas or something else equally inconvenient for management. Maybe every Tuesday for the next 15 weeks. What do you think?â
âHm, one week for Christmas and ten weeks of Tuesdays.â
Elsie laughs. âOh, thatâs devious, Harper. Love the way you think.â
Sheâs always been a bit of a flirt with you, but under all her jokes and bravado, you know thereâs a brilliant but lonely woman beneath. Unfortunately for her, all you can be is a friend, and probably not even a good one at that. Like right now, how youâre not responding to her. What kind of friend just stands here in awkward silence like this? Where the hell is your mind today?
âI donât know what all youâre going through,â Elsie muses a moment later, âbut youâre not alone, okay? I made Bernard give me this assignment. He and Dr. Ford picked out a lot of the narratives and hosts youâll come across, but theyâre going to be too busy to watch you. Iâll be checking on you from time to time.â
Her sympathy doesnât feel fake, and that almost hurts. This is the time to push a smile, but you canât do it. âWhat hosts? What narratives?â
âI shouldnât be telling you, but itâs gonna start with a bounty hunter. Heâll take you out to hunt down some bandits. From there, youâll get the choice to side with the bandits and- and are you sure you want to know this? I feel like Iâm spoiling the biggest Hollywood blockbuster of the century.â
You huff out a laugh. You donât care about spoilers. âStay away from the bounty hunters and bandits,â you list. âGot it. Iâm just not interested in my grandfatherâs games.â
Elsie straightens her blazer. âYeah, but still try to enjoy some of it. Okay,â she tries to psyche you up. âYou ready?â
âI hope youâre getting a bonus for this.â
Her hand rests on your back as she guides you forward. âThe bonus is knowing Iâm helping a friend.â
Your stomach drops. This definitely hurts.
--
Youâre on another train. This time, the steel cage rocks beneath your feet and itâs not empty. Hosts are spread throughout the car, planted in their seats, or taking a drink at the bar. You donât talk to them; you donât even look at them. You know how real they seem, and despite what your grandfather has planned for you â youâre not interested in what Westworld can offer you. Youâve already got plans, big plans. Youâre going to hole up in the nearest tavern and self-medicate until your three weeks are up. You donât need Westworld to cure you of your ailments. Not that you arenât sick, you just donât think it can. Since a young age, the doctors said you had depression. Now that youâre older, 23, theyâre not satisfied with the easiest explanation. Now you have another disease.
In a world surrounded by screens and pixels, the experts needed a new term for the bleak existence suffered by the modern man. They call it âTech Fatigueâ but youâre pretty sure it was invented by the Delos marketing team. Medical professionals like to slap that diagnosis on anyone with a designer smart watch and dark rings under their eyes. Rich people â circling their second divorce and an equal number of midlife crises â seek out therapy inside one of the parks. Delos gives the doctors a fat kickback, and bam, the cycle is born. Tech companies like Delos make the problem, the solution, and profit off both. You donât know thatâs whatâs happening, but it wouldnât surprise you.
Itâs ironic, really. In order to get away from a world of tech, internet, and social media, youâre taking the first train to the most manufactured place on the planet. In the mile of dirt below you, thereâs a whole structure full of tablet-carrying technicians making sure the machines around you work flawlessly. Just because you canât see the wires, doesnât mean they donât exist.
You wish you didnât exist.
Suddenly, the train whistle screams. Youâve pulled up to the station in Sweetwater. As the locomotive comes to a halt, you get to your feet and grab your leather messenger bag. Nothing in that sack is yours. Except for the odd prescription, guests arenât allowed to bring personal items into the park. You donât have any medications because you quit all of those a while ago. Still, you need more than the clothes on your back.
You walk off the train between a flurry of host bodies. For the most part, none of them pay attention to you. They go about their loops, avoid you when you step into their path â all except for a man in a grey tweed frock. He tips his hat as he approaches you.
âMiss Harper? Iâm Teddy Flood. Your grandfather paid me to keep an eye on you.â
So it begins. You look him up and down more carefully. He looks like he was plucked right off the cover of an old-timey, cringe-laden romance novel set in the Wild West with his chiseled features. But his eyes are kind, and youâre not sure how to ditch him yet so you play along as best you can.
âThatâs me.â
âCan I take you somewhere? A hotel to find a room? Iâve got horses saddled for us if you-â
You hold up a hand. âOkay, I thought I could do this, but I canât. Just⌠go away. Or whatever it is you do when youâre not with a guest.â
He tilts his head. âIâm afraid I canât abide by that request, maâam. I was paid to keep you safe, and Iâm a man of my word.â
âOf course you are.â Your shoulders sag, weighed down by more than your luggage. âFine, but weâre not doing any of your⌠narratives.â You shouldâve asked Elsie for more details on what your grandfather and Bernard have planned for you so you could avoid it. During your internship, you worked in a different park. Park seven, the newest addition to six others. You donât know the storylines of Westworld past what you know about old American history. Admittedly, itâs not much.
With a sigh, you press forward and walk right into another cowboy. The stranger grunts and turns, hand hovering over the pistol on his hip. Teddy steps between you two. When the guy sees that his assailant is a woman with someone to defend her, his hostility fades.
âPardon me, maâam.â
Though everyone so far has a very natural Southern drawl, the âmaâamâ thing is weird. You try to smile in acceptance of his apology, but you know your lips arenât upturned. You used to be so much better at controlling your expression, your emotions, too. What happened to you?
Confrontation avoided, you continue into town. You almost ask Teddy where the hotel is, but as you become more aware of your surroundings, your question fades. The buildings on either of the dusty road arenât chic. They arenât glass and concrete monoliths reaching for the sky. In fact, most of them arenât even two-stories tall despite the false facade that rises up from the roof like an ornate parapet. Here, everything is made of wood and clay. Itâs painted in muted, earthy tones by hand, and itâs like stepping back in time. Horses of every color are hitched on posts outside, and now you kind of wonder where Teddy was going to take you on horseback. Youâve never ridden a horse before.
Theyâre not real horses, you remind yourself. Teddy isnât a real man. And nothing in Sweetwater is natural, except maybe for the flies buzzing around a pile of horse dung. Surely, your grandfather isnât crazy enough to have manufactured insects. Then again, the robotic horses are producing waste that truly, and disgustingly, smells like shit⌠so anything is possible.
You tell yourself that this whole experience is too much, and youâre going to find the nearest place you can have a drink before you have a panic attack. That place is the Mariposa Saloon. You push through the batwing doors, and Teddy catches them when they spring backwards as he follows you. You told yourself to be ready for the sensory overload youâd face inside, but youâre still slightly overwhelmed. Cigarette smoke wafts under your nose, people are muttering about their card game, glasses are clinking on the bar, and a piano is chiming away in the corner of the room without anyone sitting at the keys. Itâs a lot. You can understand how some people would feel alive in a place like this, but itâs not for you.
Still, you push yourself to the bar. Bottles of tawny brown, gold, and clear liquor are calling you forward. You set your hands on the black counter, but the man with the twisted handlebar moustache is serving someone else first. You donât know why youâre waiting. Youâre the only person here who thinks for themselves. You can be as rude as you want to be, and no one would remember it once they were reset. You wait anyway, and one of the brothel girls see it as an opening to take a chance.
The womanâs dress is a deep ocean blue, cut so high you can see the tops of her thighs and the intricate stockings she wears to cover the rest of her legs. You hope sheâs going for Teddy, but she stops beside you and grins.
âYouâre new.â She reaches up and slowly caresses your face. Between the lace of her fingerless gloves and the warmth of her hand, youâre surprised at how real it feels. âNot much of a rind on you. Iâll give you a discount.â
Turning away from her hand, you clear your throat. âThanks, but Iâm just here for a drink.â
The young woman doesnât seem too upset by your refusal. âWhat do you want to drink, darling?â She snaps her finger at the bartender. Throwing a towel over his shoulder, the man finally notices you.
You order a whiskey. When he asks you what kind, you fumble. Did they have different kinds of whiskey in the past? How are you supposed to know?
Teddy chuckles under his breath and answers for you. âRye. None of that corn homebrew you try to pass off as liquor.â
The saloon girl looks past you and at your tall, handsome company. âWise choice, Mr. Flood.â
He tips his hat, before glancing at you again. âNothing but the best for my friend.â
You scowl. âTeddy, we arenât friends. You donât even know me.â This is too strange. The bartender sets out two small glasses and fills both halfway. You canât pretend like this is normal when your normal is leaps and bounds different from the here and now. A drink at home meant serving yourself, and you poured your chilled, name brand whiskey to the top of your glass, then you drank it alone.
Teddy throws his shot back and swallows it all in one go. âI know you better than you think, and Iâd like to get to you know more than that.â
You shudder. Oh god, did your grandfather put him for you to⌠For you two to⌠You canât finish the thought. The idea of your grandfather interfering with your sex life is way more than you can handle. Before you even take your first sip, you smack your finger down on the counter â showing the bartender where he can put the whiskey when you demand it.
âLeave the bottle.â
The young woman beside you places a hand on your shoulder and you tense up as she whispers in your ear. âIâm here if you change your mind, beautiful. If Iâm not your type, and neither is he, look around. Find something that strikes your fancy.â
You grab the neck of the bottle and pour another shot. Westworld is not for you, youâve decided. Itâs only three weeks you remind yourself. The hat you picked out is making your forehead itch, so you take it off and set it on the bar. Then you hear a loud pop. An older cowboy pushes through the batwing doors, a wash of red blooms across his vest as he stumbles into the saloon.
âTheyâre here,â he coughs out. âHector⌠Escaton and his posse.â
More gunshots sound, and itâs like some miscreant lit firecrackers in the street. The saloon explodes with activity. Working girls scramble to hide behind tables. The bartender grabs a sawed-off shotgun. Teddy puts his hand on your shoulder and you jerk before he tells you to get somewhere safe or be prepared to use your weapon.
Itâs only three weeks.
#westworld#dolores abernathy#beta request#beta reader#help me help me dear god help me i don't even know what to tag this with#don't judge my writing by the request. i'm nervous y'all. read the summary and the 1st chap#thaaaaat's what you can expect and i'm genuinely proud of it but it has mistakes :( and it makes me sad i can't catch them all#anywayyyy#if you like my stories and you haven't seen westworld yet what are you waiting for?#git#<3
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Top 5 Patriots they should add to Dynasty Warriors
#1: Hu Ji: KOEI first added Hu Ji in their mobile game Dynasty Warriors Blast. As you can see from this picture, Hu Ji has one fatal flaw: He cannot read maps and is always getting lost. This is apparently why Jiang Wei lost at Duan Gu. Hu Ji was supposed to reinforce him, but got lost and ended up at Guan Du instead, or was it Wudu? Hu Ji canât even read whatever Sinitic language they used in this time period to be honest. His directionless is so bad that sometimes he ends up in other time periods, games and dimensions. Eventually heâll show up in the next Monster Rancher, Dead or Alive, Samurai Warriors, Nioh, and Ninja Gaiden. None of that will deter Hu Ji from trying to come to Shu-Hanâs aid eventually. After recruiting William Adams, Adolf Hitler, Cleopatra, Naoe Kanetsugu and Luigi over the course of his adventures, Hu Ji will finally make his appearance in a proper Dynasty Warriors game in a stunningly epic bravura moment. Except heâll still show up at the wrong battle, at the wrong part of the battlefield and possibly be fighting for the wrong side. But everybody will at least appreciate his very late entrance into the fray.
#2 Kong Rong: Kong Rong has never been added to Dynasty Warriors, which is stupid because he was clearly as important for Confucianism as Confucius himself. This is the reason why he was added to Total War Three Kingdoms. In TW3k he is the master of the Art of the Deal, a historical trait which he probably had, but which was sadly not recorded in the fake news media of the time. Kong Rong in Dynasty Warriors will be like a reverse Xu Shu. He wanted to join Liu Bei, but instead joined Cao Cao as a trojan horse, and from that point on he devoted the rest of his life to trolling Cao Cao so hard that it benefits Liu Bei. As a strategist, Kong Rong persistently gives the worst possible advice, aggravating Cao Cao to no end time after time until Cao Cao is forced to reluctantly execute him. Kong Rong gets the last laugh, though, as he contributed a significant amount to Cao Caoâs constant headaches and brain aneurysms which ultimately resulted in Cao Caoâs death.
However, if you go on the hypothetical path, Cao Cao spares Kong Rong and ends up winning Chi Bi because of it. It turns out the one time Cao Cao didnât listen to Kong Rong and instead killed him, he paid dearly for it. Kong Rong suggests building schools along the Yangzi so that the bandits Liu Bei and Sun Quan are impressed and submit to Cao Caoâs virtue. The plan is so mind numbingly moronic that it works. Cao Cao, if he spares Kong Rong, thus unites China very quickly. Kong Rong also had a brief stint as an independent warlord, where he is most known for being rescued by Taishi Ci and Liu Bei. As a descendant of Confucius he was just too big to fail, and had to be bailed out. What a great man.
#3 Lady Liu: Lady Liu is the ultimate Dragon Lady character they could add to Dynasty Warriors, unless they want to take a real leap by adding Jia Nanfeng (a character they did add to Dynasty Warriors Blast). Lady Liu was Yuan Shaoâs wife. Thatâs already funny. As goofy as Yuan Shao currently is, now imagine him with his better half stepping all over his balls. However, it only gets better. Lady Liu is most well known for vengefully killing his concubines. In the novel she intimidates and browbeats Yuan Shao, as he is dying, into making Yuan Shang the heir. In the novel, in fact, she practically takes over his faction as Yuan Shao is on his deathbed. Historically her role is a bit more obscure, though she still likely had a hand in the succession.
In short, Lady Liu would likely end up being an even more nefarious and domineering Zhang Chunhua, whipping her cucked husband into submission and probably going out of her way to try and assassinate all other female characters in every single stage. Female characters in Dynasty Warriors have tended to be hit or miss, so having one who has a major role in the story as a villain could be a nice change. Lady Liu also outlives Yuan Shao, and could probably serve as the faction leader of sorts until the Yuans are destroyed. Eventually she introduced Zhenji to Cao Pi, a marriage that worked out great with no problems whatsoever, resulting in the Yuan family winning in the end as Yuan Rui took the throne of Wei.
#4 Sun Hao: âREEEEEEE you canât just add Sun Hao! He was a horrible ruler who led to Wuâs downfall!!!!!!!!!â
Yeah, thatâs why KOEI should add him. Remember when people thought Liu Shan would be horrible, and then he ended up being one of the best characters? Well thereâs no reason lightning canât strike twice. Sun Hao was put on the throne precisely because the bigwigs in Wu thought he would be competent and Make Wu Great Again. Instead he apathetically had people killed and nonchalantly built up a huge harem for himself, all while yawning in boredom at the mundane task of ruling a kingdom, a task simply too easy and dull for a challenge seeker like Sun Hao. Just like Liu Shan is secretly a genius holding back his true power, Sun Hao can end up being a similar character who is ruthlessly callous and depraved precisely because he has no interest in being the figurehead of a failing empire. His true destiny is to eventually own Jia Chong in an epic rap battle.
#5 Cao Shuang: Cao Shuang has one of the best lines of any NPC ever in Dynasty Warriors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIDmbivlslg
âAll my drinking, hunting, carousing -- it is all for the future of Wei!â
With a raison dâetre like that, there isnât much question. He would be an extremely amusing foil character to Jin in the main plot. In a hypothetical, he could bungle everything so badly that he somehow confuses his adversaries, resulting in a win for Wei restoration. In the historical path, heâll be mostly a stepping stone, but a pretty important one for the Simas.
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The world building in âSeduce the Villainâs Fatherâ is TRASH and Erudian is an angel
I would like to start this post by apologizing to @vanillaamoursucrethings and @isekaithatplease for butting in on your conversation regarding the manhwa âSeduce the Villainâs Fatherâ. You were having a very wholesome, healthy discussion and I chose to make a different post so I wouldnât poison that with my angry rant. So feel free to ignore me. Btw, I havenât read the novel, so Iâm basing myself on the manhwa and on the spoilers on said post regarding the novel to write this.
This is the post: https://isekaithatplease.tumblr.com/post/631162614195634176/vanillaamoursucrethings-isekaithatplease
Anyone who knows me would be able to tell you that Iâm a HUGE fan of fantasy and that I have been addicted to isekai stories with female protagonists for the last few months. But I also graduated in International Relations, and suspension of disbelief has itâs limits. And chapter 4 of âSeduce the Villainâs Fatherâ blew up all of them.
 Like @vanillaamoursucrethings and @isekaithatpleaseâ pointed out in the other post, âSeduce the Villainâs Fatherâ is a pretty good story, with well written characters, cute romance, pretty art... but only IF YOU IGNORE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS BEFORE YENNI GETS TO BELGOAT. Iâm sorry, but had to go back and re-read that mess in order to write this, so forgive me if I sound a little angry. I havenât gotten this pissed off about an awful political setting since âThe Evil Lady Will Changeâ(ABSOLUTE GARBAGE).
So what is going on?
First of all, this is a map of the world of our story:
We got Azekien, Belgoat and this tiny thing in the middle is our MCâs kingdom, Lebovny. So Belgoat is supposed to be this all-powerfull empire who specializes in magic. But they didnât have any mana stones in their territory, which they need in order to âprotect the Yellow Sea and the borderâ (whatever that means). Azekien, another big kingdom, had A LOT of mana stones underneath their territory, so they agreed to mine them and sell to Belgoat. But since they didnât have a common border, they made a deal with tiny, insignificant Lebovny in order to use the Glucaman Road to do it. In return for the usage of the road, Lebovny would get some of the mana stones. And they called this alliance âThe Glucaman Tripartite Agreementâ.
I donât get why Lebovny would even want the mana stones, considering that they are shown to barely use magic, but back to the main point.
Everything was working fine until the king of Lebovny (Yenniâs father) got greedy and demanded 10% of the total of transactions being made between Azekien and Belgoat. And threatened to close off Glucaman Road if they refused - which of course they did.
So here is where my blood starts to boil. Not only Lebovny followed through the threat, but IT HAS BEEN 2 FUCKING YEARS! AND NOTHING HAPPENED!
NOTHING!
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!
And what is the excuse?
âOh, we signed a peace treaty! Belgoat wouldnât dare to break it!â
ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
You are telling me that this super powerful empire sat back and let this tiny little excuse of a kingdom get in between them and this super important resources FOR 2 ENTIRE FUCKING YEARS AND DID NOTHING?!
Oh! And it gets worse! After 2 years of standing still, Belgoat invades Lebovny, kidnaps a princess, and then WAITS ANOTHER 10 YEARS TO SOLVE THIS MESS!
If Erudian was half the ruthless ruler they say he is, he wouldnât have just kidnapped a princess and waited for Lebovnyâs king to get his shit together, oh no.
HE WOULD HAVE INVADED, KILLED EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF LEBOVNYâS ROYAL FAMILY AND ADDED LEBOVNY TO THE EMPIRE.
And no one would be able to blame him. Look! Now they have a border with Azekien! Yay! PROBLEM SOLVED.
Oh, thatâs too bloody? You want another solution? Sure!
Azekien and Belgoat could have refused to trade in any shape or form with Lebovny until the stupid king got his shit together. And threatened to do the same with any other kingdom who continued to trade with Lebovny.
Let all the merchant companies know that if they sell or buy anything from Lebovny they would be banned from the Belgoat Empire, Azekien and any allied kingdom. Close off the boarders completely.
I wouldnât give them 6 months. Even if the peasants could survive that, considering that they most likely produce all the food they consume, the nobles would NEVER accept it. Most luxury items, such as fancy fabrics and sugar are most likely imported. The nobility would trow a fit and pressure the king to back down.
PROBLEM SOLVED.
You might be wondering:
âBut what is so terrible about the peace treaty excuse?â
Iâll explain! Ok, so according to Yenni:
Belgoat is supposed to be THE MOST POWERFUL estate in this half of the continent. What does that mean? It means that there is no entity that can stop them if they ever decide to break the status quo. And if they canât receive any sort of punishment no matter what they do, what stops them from invading their neighbors or committing war crimes? Logistics and internal politics. Thatâs all.
THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND NOBODY WOULD BE ABLE TO STOP THEM.
Lets use a real life example, shall we?
Ok, so you know about the UN, right? Itâs the most important international organization we have. In order to be a part of the United Nations, a country needs to agree to respect the United Nations Charter. And one of the main points of that Charter, is to uphold and defend human rights. Who is a member of the UN? Well, most of the recognized countries in the world. That includes, of course, China and USA, the 2 most powerful and influential countries. They are also members of the UN Security Council - the highest stance of the organization.
So one would assume that since they are such a vital part of the organization, they would be the ones to uphold their beliefs the most, right? Wrong:
Know their names: Black people killed by the police in the US
Are ICE Detention Centers Concentration Camps? | BU Today
Does this looks like upholding and defending human rights to you? And donât even get me started on China!
Data leak reveals how China 'brainwashes' Uighurs in prison ...Â
World Report 2020: China's Global Threat to Human Rights ...Â
China is committing human rights abuses in Hong Kong ...Â
You got the idea. These are public knowledge. Is China and the US gonna be kicked out of the UN? No. Is the UN gonna end, now that one of their most vital principles was broken by itâs most important members? No. Are they gonna change the rules? No. Why? Because they are so powerful that they can do whatever they want and no country does a thing about because they fear the repercussions. The only one who can tell the US what to do is China and vice-versa. Does either of them care about human rights? No.
INTERNATIONAL TREATIES ARE FOR THE WEAK AND POOR. THE POWERFUL DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
Do you get it now why it sounds so goddamn stupid to me when I read that Belgoat just sat back and accepted not having access to a resource they need because of a âsmall and weakâ (Yenniâs worlds, not mine) kingdom? And waiting another 10 fucking years to finish it? Thatâs just pathetic.
Yenni was SO FUCKING LUCKY that not only her Kingdom got out of this mess with a slap on the hand, but that she was given her own palace AND allowed to roam free through the castle.
ERUDIAN IS THE PERSONIFICATION OF THE ANGEL OF MERCY.
And his officials probably think he is crazy. Who the fuck would let go of precious resources for 12 years?! Belgoatâs military must be very happy with their emperor for neglecting the security of their borders for so long.
Are we done? Nope.
Ok, so we all know that all these isekai stories donât give a flying fuck to historical accuracy. The outfits, the tools, the food... God, the outfits! We KNOW itâs wrong, but we let it slide because of suspension of disbelief and all that. BUT THERE ARE LIMITS!
I present to you Lebovnyâs architecture:
How the fuck do you expect me to believe that this is a palace in isekai-medieval-Europe?!
This is the kind of structure one would see in a mosque or in India. Itâs BIZARRE to see people walking through this scenario wearing isekai-medieval outfits. Why not go all out instead? Make your MC look like the people who built these structures! But nooooooo. She must be white and completely obliterate any chance Iâve ever had of believing this crap.
@vanillaamoursucrethingsâ please feel free to correct me. You said that Erudian is neither a good person nor a benevolent emperor. Is there something Iâm missing? Because other than the kidnapping I canât recall anything that could have earned him that reputation.
Anyway, thank you for reading this mess of a rant.
Oh, and if you ever read this, @vanillaamoursucrethingsâ eu admiro muito a sua paciĂŞncia de ainda jogar Amor Doce kkkkkkkkkk
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For langblr asks: 7, 10, 11, 18, and 49
Thanks!! This may get long, so I apologise in advance! Iâm learning German and Esperanto alongside Chinese, but since my German is fairly advanced and I donât really learn actively any more (I just read, listen to talks etc - mainly because I have no reason to actively speak German sadly) and my Esperanto is basic Iâll just talk about Chinese.Â
7 -Â What are some things that you learned about language learning that really improved your studying?Â
- Hands down learning about the role of attention in language learning. In an ideal situation, you are exposed to the target feature, then have your attention drawn to it/figure it out yourself, and are then exposed to it in natural language again. I think we all know the wild experience when you learn a word and then magically the universe provides it - and suddenly you know that word forever. I now like to think of word âlearningâ as incremental rather than binary: recognising a word in a familiar context, an unfamiliar context, and then finally using the word are all different levels of âknowingâ that word. What this means in practice is that I worry less about not being able to use all the vocabulary actively that I recognise passively, because I know once I do use it actively that item will be easier to access. So there are two things here: first of all, that I donât worry if Iâm watching or reading something and donât actively extract vocab from it, because I know that hearing it will make it easier to remember later on; and secondly, that if I âpay attentionâ to a word but donât âlearnâ it because I havenât seen it in context, that state of not knowing is temporary. The moment I see it in context - sometimes months later, when I had completely âforgottenâ that word - I know what it is. So I donât stress as much about not being able to remember words from flashcards or whatever, because I know that seeing/hearing them in context is what cements that word, not just repetition.Â
10 - What are some thing that you love about the language youâre learning?
Oh my goodness. So many things. I love characters; they used to absolutely drive me crazy, but the ability to read after so long being unable to read now just feels wonderfully exciting every single time. I love learning about different components and how they combine together. I love too that the idea of âthe wordâ is tied so intimately to characters: there are psycholinguistic experiments showing that Chinese native speakers learning English show interference effects when two words are presented in English that have the same component (not even whole character!) and it slows down decision making. I love the way that tone and intonation interact and I love seeing how far Iâve come from not understanding how I could express emotion at all. I love what Chinese shows about the power of the second language learner: itâs incredibly homophonous because of limited syllables even with tones, and itâs radical pro-drop, the more formal you are the shorter/more concise sentences tend to be, and when youâre in a different dialect/Chinese language even those useful initials or finals can change and still you know what is being said. Itâs incredible. I love the sound of <q> and <j> and <x> and especially the final <ing>.Â
The thing I love most about Chinese is its conciseness and elegance. I love learning about different systems of politeness and register and Literary Chinese is just so incredibly concise: if learning modern standard Mandarin is interesting, Literary Chinese is just...it blows my mind. Itâs very unique: and I donât mean this in the sense of âoh look how Exotic and Differentâ, I mean this typologically: itâs arguably the most analytical language in the world and is regularly used in linguistics papers to exemplify phenomena found in such highly analytical languages. I also think the encoding of order-based pragmatics into actual linguistic implicature is absolutely so cool.Â
I love the difference registers it has, and I love that it feels such a good language to moan about the bus being late in and also, you know, that kind of poetry which just takes your breath away. I love how the same sentence can be expressed in different registers and how grammar patterns from literary Chinese can be used in modern Chinese. I love how compounding and derivational morphology work in Chinese (itâs absolutely nuts?? and so versatile??) and I love how names carry so much meaning. I love it for its ambiguity and conciseness and completely *shrug* lack of need to express tense or person because you know, if you know you know.
And from a synestheteâs point of view, Chinese is beautiful too: itâs a crisp clear dawn-like language, cool and misty.Â
Finally, I love it for what it has taught me. Itâs the first tonal language Iâve ever learnt, and the learning curve has been huge. Parts of it have been massively frustrating (weâll get to that). I remember the week before I went to China for the first time hurriedly trying to learn some phrases, and I just couldnât get them to stick in my head. I think I practiced âgood morningâ about 10,000 times and I still couldn't say it right, or remember it. Languages were sort of my thing - I had taken my German GCSE early, done French and Spanish 0-GCSE in one year each, done three language A-levels (Spanish in five months because I dropped out of another A-level, self-taught German) as well as an extracurricular Latin GCSE. I was cocky!! And so not being able to do it was crushing at first and also just, what?? So learning Chinese has taught me patience, and itâs a useful bench-mark now if I ever feel like I canât do anything. Itâs taught me that you just need patience and determination, and that you'll get there in the end. Genuinely, thatâs the most useful lesson Iâve learnt in my short life.Â
11 - What are some things that you donât like / find frustrating about the language youâre learning?
Originally, I found both the pronunciation and characters immensely frustrating. I think Iâm over those hurdles, and now what annoys me most is the grammar - and if anyone says there is no grammar in Chinese I may just murder you. Chinese grammar is hard because, as Iâve talked about before, a lot of rests on sentence patterns and a lot of it seems to shift in ways that, say, Spanish grammar doesnât, depending on context, formality and so on. But the reason Chinese grammar is difficult is again because the categories it manipulates are ones that donât map perfectly onto what we think is being manipulated. So we build representations in our mind and try to learn structures without realising that a lot of it is patterns, not something set in stone. This includes phenomena like topic-marking, fronting, emphasis and so on. The most âgrammarâ-like of Chinese grammar actually is based in large parts in implicatures and the pragmatic-semantic interface, which is very hard to teach. This is why I think that input is especially crucial in Chinese.Â
Also, embedded wh-questions are hard.Â
As Iâm learning more, though, this is all gradually becoming less frustrating. I donât want to jinx anything and I still have a lot to learn, but Iâm feeling cautiously optimistic that the worst is behind me. Things are making a lot more sense now anyway!!!
18 - Have you had any conversations with natives of your target language/s? How did that go?
Haha, of course. I lived in China for six months and then visited again for two months. I also work as an English teacher online and have a lot of Chinese students. I also sometimes chat with other Chinese students in the German classes I was taking. Iâm really excited though to go back to China though now that Iâm a little bit better and see how I can improve from there!!! I feel like last time I wasnât really at a good enough level to improve quickly; I think this time would be really hard, but I can communicate well enough that I hope people wouldnât switch back to English.Â
One of the problems I have always had though has been that my pronunciation sounded better than my knowledge of the language - because of immersion. So people always assumed I understood way more than I actually did which was always terrible because I never knew wtf was going on.Â
One really really nice conversation I had recently: in my English class, a young girlâs mother asked if I could explain the present simple vs present continuous to her daughter...in Chinese. And regardless of what nonsense I said, the little girl understood! Ahhhh that warm glowy feeling of human connection and accomplishment.Â
49 - What are your language goals for 2021?
Since Iâm learning quite intensively at the moment, these goals will be appropriately intense. Gulp.Â
1) Pass HSK5 (March). This is my biggest goal, and the first time Iâve ever worked towards a language exam so Iâm a little nervous. I think itâs do-able (especially with the help of the course that Iâm taking, HSK Online), but still large enough to be scary.Â
2) Be able to write all words up to HSK5 by hand (July). I have a little more time for this one - normally I donât think handwriting is particularly important, but since Iâm going to be studying in a Chinese university next year with the dreaded ĺŹĺ I need to be able to do it. They sort you into groups depending on your exam results, and if I canât handwrite more than ć then Iâm not going to get very far. How do I plan on achieving this? Iâm planning maybe on buying a subscription to Skritter again and working through (I really like them), but most importantly, just handwriting freely in a notebook and building up the habit.Â
3) Be able to read at the same speed as the subtitles. I know, I know, most people can. But I canât lmao so let me practice.Â
4) Be in a good place to take HSK6 in early 2022. I donât actually know if Iâm going to take the HSK6 exam: maybe not. HSK5 is only important for me because I need it for a scholarship. But as random as some of the words are, itâs a very good benchmark and a useful list. Considering Iâll have from March until the end of the year, and from the end of June onwards Iâll be in a Mandarin-speaking environment (and be in a Chinese university from August/September) I think itâll set me up well. Itâs way too much to do by the end of the year though, so this goal is just to do as much as I can before 2022.Â
5) Read the first Harry Potter in Chinese. Guys, Iâm not looking to understand the descriptions of the moat or Hagridâs beard. But I want to be able to read the dialogue with ease, and be able to dip in and out of the book with ease.Â
6) Complete my literary Chinese textbook (mid-year).Â
7) Be able to watch shows like Streetdance of China without subs. I can watch some shows already without subs, but I often feel thatâs more to do with galaxy-brain thinking, âreading the roomâ and being lazy than actually understanding all the words. Despite shows like the Untamed having more âdifficultâ vocab, I find them a lot easier to understand than variety shows etc because the audio is extremely clear and not too fast. Watching Nirvana in Fire without subs will have to be a goal for 2022 lmao; no way will that happen by this time next year.Â
8) Learn the top 1000 traditional characters and practice reading traditional more. This is not as hard as it sounds: past about the top 500, many of them differ in very predictable ways.Â
And here are three long-term goals I have no time limits on:
1) Read MDZS and TGCF in Chinese. Ahhh. The dream.Â
2) Read lots of wuxia!!!!!!! All the wuxia!!!!!!!! Be able to read actual books, imagine.
3) Use Chinese for academic research on Chinese dialects and Tibetan languages. This is kind of...my career path...so!Â
Thanks for the ask!!Â
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Best Games to Play in 2021
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While 2020 was a landmark year for the gaming industry thanks to the release next-gen consoles and PC graphics cards, there are plenty of exciting new games coming in 2021. From highly-anticipated sequels like God of War: Ragnarok and Resident Evil Village to brand-new experiences such as Chorus and Deathloop, thereâs plenty to look forward to this year.
Weâve curated a list of the 2021 games weâre most excited about, including big AAA blockbusters as well as imaginative indie titles. Keep in mind that weâve only included games that at the very least have a vague â2021â release window attached, which is why weâre not including games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel, Elden Ring, or Final Fantasy XVI. Weâll of course update this article as new 2021 titles are announced.
Hereâs what you have to look forward to this year:
The Ascent
TBA | Neon Games | XSX, XBO, PC
The Ascent was originally planned as an Xbox Series X launch title before it slipped into 2021. A twin stick shooter at its core, The Ascent features a cover system as well as the ability to target high and low points on enemies, all in a destructible, open world cyberpunk setting. You can also fully customize your character with a variety augments.
Though Neon Games is a small studio, Epic Games was so impressed with early work on the title, that Neon was awarded a grant to help cover development costs. Weâre really looking forward to this smaller take on the cyberpunk genre.
Axiom Verge 2
TBA | Thomas Happ Games | Switch
Metroidvanias from indie developers are a dime a dozen nowadays, but the original Axiom Verge stood out thanks to its tight controls, varied weapons, and compelling story. Axiom Verge 2 looks to largely be more of the same, but with even better graphics and more complex enemy patterns. The game has been in development for the past four years, but should finally be out in early 2021.
Balan Wonderworld
March 26 | Balan Company and Arzest | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC, Switch
Balan Wonderworld is a modern take on classic platformers of the 32-bit era. You choose from one of two characters and explore a variety of worlds mixing reality and imagination, but the real hook is the 80 different costumes you can find that unlock new abilities for your characters.
The game was directed by Yuji Naka of Sonic the Hedgehog fame. Fans of the platformers of the early â90s donât want to miss this one.
Back 4 Blood
October 12 | Turtle Rock Studios | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC
Valve may not have been able to get its act together to make a new Left 4 Dead game, but the developer behind the best-selling franchise has a spiritual successor in the works. Just like in Left 4 Dead, youâll team up with three other players to take on waves of the undead in missions that change every time you play. There will also be a competitive 4v4 mode with one team taking the role of the zombies.
We went hands-on with the Back 4 Blood alpha, and so far, it does play a lot like Left 4 Dead with updated graphics, which isnât a bad thing at all if you miss the classic horde shooter. The card system, which bestows interesting perks (and buffs) to players and zombies, does add a bit of variety to the usual formula that make this one a sleeper hit in the streaming world.
Bravely Default II
February 26 | Claytechworks | Switch
The first two Bravely Default games released on the 3DS were typical fantasy RPGs bolstered by their unique risk-reward battle system. Players could use brave points to stack up attacks for big damage, or default to save them up and take less damage in a turn. It kept those games fresh, even if they sometimes dragged on for too long.
Bravely Default II brings the seriesâ unique combat exclusively to the Switch for the first time. And true to its Final Fantasy inspirations, the characters and story are completely original, so you donât need any familiarity with the earlier games.
Chivalry 2
June 8 | Torn Banner Studios | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC
Chivalry: Medieval Warfare was a huge multiplayer hit on the PC when it was released in 2012. Unfortunately, with lagging developer support, most of the community moved on to other games long ago.
Now, Torn Banner is hoping to bring players back with the sequel, which boasts next-gen graphics, improved combat, and massive 64-player battles. Needless to say, Chivalry 2 could be the next big thing in multiplayer. The game is currently in Closed Alpha, so you might be able to check it out before release if you sign up here.
Chorus
TBA | Fishlabs | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC, Stadia
Thereâs been a serious lack of good third-person space combat shooters in recent years, but Chorus looks to rectify that. In this single-player game, youâll play as Nara and her sentient ship Forsaken as they work together to track down the cult that created them in what Fishlabs is calling a âdark new universe.â It kind of looks like Goth Star Fox.
Unfortunately, we havenât really seen anything more from Chorus since it was announced last summer. Hopefully, the radio silence ends soon.
CrossfireX
TBA | Smilegate Entertainment and Remedy Entertainment | XSX, XBO
CrossFire is a hugely popular tactical first-person shooter in China and South Korea, even though itâs barely made a mark in the West. Fortunately, Microsoft is bringing an updated version of the shooter exclusively to its consoles in hopes that itâll catch on. Expect lots of tense, objective-based multiplayer action, and though the series isnât known for its single-player, weâre looking forward to what Remedy can do with this mode hot on the heels of the excellent Control.
Like several of the titles on this list, CrossfireX was planned as a launch title for the Series X, but was delayed into 2021 due to development issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Letâs hope we donât have to wait that much longer for this one.
Deathloop
May 21 | Arkane Studios | PS5, PC
What if you could combine the movie Groundhog Day with the Hitman series? Itâs likely that no one had actually asked that question before Deathloop. You play as Colt, an assassin stuck in a time loop on an island in the midst of a party that resets every day. You have to eliminate eight targets before midnight and avoid dying yourself, or youâll end up at the beginning of the loop again.
Deathloop also features a multiplayer component that allows players to jump into your game as an assassin named Julianna, who is tasked with taking Colt down before he can complete his mission. This PvP aspect should result in some very interesting playthroughs.
While Microsoft now owns Arkane as part of its purchase of ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks, donât expect Deathloop on the Xbox any time soon. Itâs still launching exclusively on the PS5 and PC.
Diablo 2: Resurrected
TBA | Vicarious Visions | XSX, PS5, XBO, PS4, PC, Switch
While Diablo IIIâs reputation has improved substantially since its controversial 2012 launch, thereâs still a vocal group of gamers who prefer the second game in Blizzardâs genre-defining action RPG series. Knowing how much this game means to a lot of people, Vicarious Visions has said itâs not out to reinvent the wheel for Resurrected. The updated 3D graphics will display in 4K, but you can switch back to the original graphics at any point with the press of a button.
And while there will be some quality of life improvements like a shared item stash and automatic gold pickup, donât expect any revolutionary changes that will spoil the original experience. This should be exactly what we need to tide us over until Diablo IV hits.
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny
June 29 | Nippon Ichi Software | Switch
After a couple of well-received remakes, the first new Disgaea title in more than five years should be out in 2021. This time around, the offbeat story focuses on Zed, a zombie who attempts to use something called âsuper reincarnationâ to stop the seemingly invincible God of Destruction who is slowly destroying all worlds.
While both the PlayStation 4 and Switch are dialed in for Japanese releases in January, so far only a Switch version has been announced for the West.
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance
June 22 | Tuque Games | XSX, PS5, XBO, PS4, PC
Baldurâs Gate isnât the only Dungeons & Dragons video game series back from the dead. The cooperative action-adventure series Dark Alliance once again allows players to journey into the world of the Forgotten Realms with up to three other friends online. And unlike Baldurâs Gate 3, Dark Alliance is releasing in completed form, so you can expect a full campaign right out of the box.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood
June 1 | ZeniMax Online Studios | XSX, PS5, XBO, PS4, PC, Stadia
Last yearâs Elder Scrolls Online expansion finally brought the world of Skyrim to the MMO, and ZeniMax is keeping the blasts from the past coming. This yearâs expansion, Blackwood, brings back elements from Oblivion, with a whole new campaign that sees you face off against Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon 800 years before the events of The Elder Scrolls IV. Itâs all part of the yearâs big Gates of Oblivion storyline.
The expansion adds the Blackwood region to the game, which includes the Imperial city of Leyawiin from Oblivion, and also finally brings a Companion system to the game. Recruit an NPC to fight by your side and explore the land of Tamriel.
Evil Dead: The Game
TBA | Boss Team Games and Saber Interactive | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC, Switch
The Evil Dead movies are considered all-time horror classics, but success has always eluded the franchise in the world of video games. But that could be about to change. Announced at The Game Awards, Evil Dead: The Game sees Ash and friends taking on waves of Deadites on several maps, including the iconic cabin in the woods. Gameplay appears to be similar to Saberâs previous adaptation, World War Z, which was a solid title that never quite seemed to find an audience.
Far Cry 6
TBA | Ubisoft | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC, Stadia, Luna
By now we all know what to expect from Far Cry: hop into a tropical paradise, blow up a bunch of outposts, and methodically take back the land from the big bad guy. After a detour into the American wilderness with Far Cry 5, the next entry in the series heads to Yara, a fictional Caribbean country heavily based on Cuba. And with Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian fame playing the big bad El Presidente, you know weâre in for some especially awesome villainy.
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
TBA | Square Enix | PS5, PS4, PC
After one of the worst MMORPG launches ever, itâs a miracle that Final Fantasy XIV is still around a decade later. Not only did Square Enix turn things around, this game is now regarded as one of the very best in the genre.
Endwalker, the gameâs fourth major expansion pack will conclude the story of the warring gods Hydaelyn and Zodiark, which has been running since the gameâs 2013 relaunch. This wonât be the end of the MMO, though. Square still says it has several years worth of stories to tell.
Along with the obligatory new zones and quests, Square has promised two new classes. The first one shown so far, the sage, is a healer who battles with floating swords.Â
Five Nights at Freddyâs: Security BreachÂ
TBA | Steel Wool Studios | PS5, PS4, PC
The Five Nights at Freddyâs series has been terrorizing gamers for more than a half decade now, and Steel Wool Studio is looking to up the scares with the power of next-generation graphics. We donât know how exactly the game will play yet, but the announcement video showcased a very cool looking shopping mall with an â80s motif. On the PS5 and PC, Security Breach will support real-time raytracing, so Freddy and the gang should look better than ever.
Ghosts ân Goblins Resurrection
February 25 | Capcom | Switch
After a lengthy absence, the crushingly difficult Ghosts ân Goblins series has been revived. Resurrection, which is a whole new installment and not just a remake, features the seriesâ classic 2D gameplay, with the knight Arthur fighting his way through hordes of monsters and environmental hazards. And of course, the new graphics look much better than the old NES and SNES games. Best (worst?) of all, this modern take is just as punishing as its predecessors so be prepared to die A LOT.
Ghostwire: TokyoÂ
TBA | Tango Gameworks | PS5, PC
Tango Gameworks has only released two titles to date: The Evil Within and its sequel. Anyone who played those games can tell you, the developers know horror. With a variety of deformed enemies and a mind-bending plot, The Evil Within titles are two of the scariest games of the last decade.
Ghostwire: Tokyo is a brand new IP that moves the action to the third-person. Instead of the typical firearms, youâll be dispatching ghosts with psychic powers. Expect an exceedingly creepy experience regardless.
God of War: RagnarokÂ
TBA | SIE Santa Monica Studio | PS5
Sony has said almost nothing about the next God of War game except that itâs coming next year. One thing we do know is that Ragnarok is the mythical battle leading to the death of the Norse gods. With Kratosâ history of deicide, it only makes sense that heâll be killing a whole lot of them in the next game. The previous title also hinted at a showdown with Thor, the god of thunder (no, not the Marvel guy), which should be pretty epic.
Guilty Gear Strive
June 11 | Arc System Works | PS5, PS4, PC
The latest in the long-running Guilty Gear franchise should be out early in 2021 with some interesting new fighters as well as exciting returning characters. There will be a dedicated dash button and a new feature will let opponents who are knocked into walls cling to them. If you can land enough attacks, you will break through the wall and initiate a stage transition.
Arc has promised âa completely new Guilty Gearâ with Strive. Weâre not sure about that, but the trailers showcasing the franchiseâs trademark mix of 2D and 3D graphics look better than ever.
Halo Infinite
Fall | 343 Industries | XSX, XBO, PC
After a disappointing reveal last July, Halo Infinite was bumped from the Series X launch to Fall 2021. The game has been described as both a sequel and a âspiritual rebootâ for the series, so it will be interesting to see how far 343 Industries handles Cortanaâs heel turn after the fan backlash Halo 5: Guardians received.
Many fans werenât happy to hear more microtransactions will be added to Infinite in the form of âcoatingsâ (shaders) that can be purchased to customize Spartans in multiplayer. It doesnât help that players have yet to even see any multiplayer gameplay from Infinite.
Hopefully, the delay will give 343 the time it needs to put out a game that lives up to the seriesâ reputation.
Hitman III
January 20 | IO Interactive | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC, Switch, Stadia
IOâs rebooted Hitman games are among the most underrated titles of the last few years, streamlining the seriesâ once finnicky systems and placing Agent 47 in huge sandbox levels with more ways than ever to eliminate his targets. If you own the previous two games, you can import maps and progress to take advantage of Hitman IIIâs improvements on any platform, but only the PS4 version will support the PSVR headset for the ultimate Hitman experience.
Horizon Forbidden WestÂ
TBA | Guerilla Games | PS5, PS4
Thanks to its unique post-post-apocalyptic setting and fluid gameplay, Horizon Zero Dawn was one of the best open world games of the previous generation. The sequel looks to out do the original with even more varied environments like deserts, beaches, and the ruins of San Francisco. And there will of course be more mechanized prehistoric beasts than ever before.
While Forbidden West is coming to the PS4 as well, the PS5âs DualSense controller should provide the definitive experience thanks to its haptic feedback. You should finally be able to feel what itâs like for Aloy to pull back on her iconic bow.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
July 16 | Nintendo | Switch
The Legend of Zelda series turned 35 this year and Nintendo is celebrating the milestone with an HD remaster of one of the most underrated installments in the long-running franchise. Skyward Sword takes things back all the way to the very beginning of the Zelda timeline, telling the story of how the mythical Master Sword was created. Along the way, players are in for a fun adventure including some interesting experiments with motion control.
While itâll likely never be as beloved as the games before it or Breath of the Wild, this Wii installment is still worth experiencing, especially if you missed it back in 2011.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
TBA | Travellerâs Tales | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC, Switch
There have been plenty of Lego Star Wars games, including one that already adapted the âcompleteâ saga, but this will be the first to feature the entire Sequel Trilogy. Even if youâve played through those other games, The Skywalker Saga will feature never-before-seen levels and gameplay.
Travellerâs Tales promises an absolutely massive game, too. Each of the nine films features five levels, and the movies can be played through in any order. Nearly 500 playable characters are expected to be included in the final game. Weâd love it if Mando and Grogu make the final cut, too.
Mario Golf: Super Rush
June 25 | Nintendo | Switch
Itâs been a while since Nintendo dropped a new Mario Golf game, but itâs finally happening on the Switch. While Super Rush offers up much of the same Mario Golf action you know and love, it does have an interesting new mode called Speed Golf, which pits competitors against each other as they race down the course in real time to see who scores first. It should add a bit of pep to the chill vibes of the series.
Mass Effect: Legendary EditionÂ
May 14 | BioWare | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC
Nearly a decade since its conclusion, the Mass Effect trilogy remains a favorite among many gamers. BioWare hasnât commented too much about what to expect from this remaster, but we know the visuals will be upgraded to 4K, and all of the excellent post-launch DLC will be included. The developer has also promised other upgrades to bring the titles up to modern standards, so maybe weâll see some changes to the first gameâs finicky combat. And if Bioware is feeling particularly ambitious, we might even get a few hints as to what they have planned for the upcoming sequel.
The Medium
January 28 | Bloober Team | XSX, PC
Originally announced way back in 2012 for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U, The Medium was shelved for years due to technological constraints before finally resurfacing in 2020. Gameplay focuses on a medium who can instantaneously travel between the real world and the spirit realm to solve puzzles, something that just wasnât possible until the current crop of consoles adopted solid state drives.
Bloober Team has quietly built a reputation for itself with excellent single-player horror games like Observer and Layers of Fear, and The Medium is their most ambitious game yet.
Monster Hunter Rise
March 26 | Capcom | Switch
The excellent Monster Hunter: World helped the series find a large audience in the West, although the gameâs more demanding performance requirements kept it off the Switch. Fortunately, Rise is built specifically for Nintendoâs portable-console hybrid. And rather than a watered down port of World, Capcom this is a full-featured sequel with a new, more vertical map and all 14 weapon types from Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Generations. If youâve been waiting to jump on the Monster Hunter craze on the Switch, now is the time!
New Pokemon Snap
April 30 | Nintendo | Switch
Nintendo is unleashing peak late â90s nostalgia with this revival of the Pokemon Snap series for the Switch. Wrapped in a modern package, New Pokemon Snap is more of the on-rails photography game you loved when you were a kid. The game features over 200 Pokemon to capture with your trusty camera, which you can upload online to share with other players. And true to the Instagram era, you can now touch up your pictures, adding blur and filters, adjusting the zoom, and more. This is a must-buy for Nintendo fans.
New World
August 31 | Amazon Games | PC
Amazon has had its sights set on the gaming world for quite some time, quietly pumping money into a number of projects, and New World could be its breakthrough hit. In this MMORPG set on an unnamed land in the Atlantic Ocean in the 1600s, youâll wield bows, hammers, hatchets, magical staffs, musket rifles, spears, and swords against a variety of fantastical creatures. There will also be plenty of opportunities to gather resources, craft and build settlements. Best of all, thereâs no monthly fee to play.
Launching a new IP is always difficult, and MMOs are a particularly difficult genre to break into, but if any company has the resources to succeed, itâs Amazon.Â
Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139âŚ
April 23 | Square Enix | PS4, XBO, PC
Before Nier: Automata was hailed as one of the best games of the last generation, there was simply Nier, a quirky, slightly janky action RPG that nevertheless found a devoted fanbase on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Square Enix has been cagey on exactly what improvements weâll see in Replicant, an updated version of the original, saying only that itâs somewhere between a remaster and a full remake.Â
The screenshots weâve seen so far look absolutely gorgeous, and the combat system will also be updated to more closely resemble Automataâs gameplay. Considering that Nierâs graphics and combat were criticized at the time, Replicant could end up being the definitive version of the experience.
Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection
June 10 | Team Ninja | XBO, PS4, Switch, PC
Before there was Dark Souls, masochists flocked to the Ninja Gaiden series, which basically wrote the book on punishing action games. If youâve been missing this franchise of late, Koei Tecmo is re-releasing three of the 3D installments in a sleek new collection for modern platforms. Included in the box are Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razorâs Edge, plus most of the downloadable content released for these games.
No More Heroes III
August 27 | Grasshopper Manufacture | Switch
Another game that was bumped into 2021 at the last minute, we actually havenât seen that much from this one, even though it should be out soon. Screenshots show Travis Touchdown wielding his trademark beam katana and performing pro wrestling moves on enemies. And everything looks much better on the Switch than the first two games originally released on the Wii.
As weâve all come to expect from Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture by now, the story sounds absolutely bonkers, involving a weird parody of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and aliens posing as superheroes who Travis must now defeat to save the world. It doesnât make a ton of sense, but No More Heroes fans wouldnât have it any other way.
The Outlast Trials
TBA | Red Barrels | PC
While The Outlast Trials will be the third game in the Outlast series, it wonât follow the plot of the previous games and instead will focus on the subjects of some sort of Cold War experiment. Those earlier games didnât feature any combat, instead forcing you to evade enemies to survive, and itâs a safe bet that The Outlast Trials will follow a similar gameplay structure. Itâll also feature four-player co-op, a first for the horror series. Knowing Red Barrels, you should expect something really scary.
Outriders
April 1 | People Can Fly | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC
Outriders combines the shooter and RPG genres in some unique and engaging ways. At the start of the game, youâll pick from one of four classes: the time manipulating Trickster, fire-controlling Pyromancer, the seismic-powered Devastator, or the Technomancer, each of whom has a full-featured skill tree. Some have compared the title to live service games like Destiny and The Division, but Outriders also has a style of its own, presenting itself as a grittier alternative to those games.
Persona 5 Strikers
February 23 | Omega Force and P-Studio | PS4, PC, Switch
Itâs a tradition at this point for Atlus to spin-off a Persona game into as many other titles as possible. Weâve already seen rhythm and dungeon crawler spin-offs of Persona 5 (and even a Super Smash Bros. cameo from Joker), but this is The Phantom Thievesâ first foray into the hack and slash genre. Gameplay is a mix of the usual Dynasty Warriors combo attacks, but there are also turn-based persona battles as well. And of course, expect plenty of Persona 5âs usual style and flare.Â
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
TBA | Sega | XSX, XBO, PC
Wait, didnât Phantasy Star Online 2 just come out? Well yes, but only in the West. Japan has been playing the game since 2012, which is why the MMORPG might feel a little dated. New Genesis is a half update-half sequel with updated combat, and for the first time in the series, open world areas. Itâs more like the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn update instead of a whole new game.��The best part is that youâll be able to transfer over your character from PSO 2 to New Genesis, and like its predecessor, it will be completely free-to-play.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake
TBA | Ubisoft | PS4, XBO, PC
The Sands of Time was arguably the best game of the PS2 era, which is why a remake is long overdue. Fan reception regarding the new art style has been mixed, though it certainly does look better than the original 2003 release. But how this remake plays remains to be seen.
While lauded for its tight platforming and time-bending mechanics, The Sands of Time always suffered from lackluster combat. Letâs hope Ubisoft has ironed out all of the kinks with this remake, though.
Originally planned for a January release, Ubisoft recently pushed the game back to March 18, so weâll have to wait just a little bit longer for the return of the Prince.
Psychonauts 2Â
TBA | Double Fine | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC
Fans have been waiting for a Psychonauts sequel for 15 years now. Fortunately, it looks like Double Fineâs follow up will finally see the light of day in 2021. The first game was praised for its varied levels and puzzles, and Psychonauts 2 will again see Raz delving into the psyches of other characters, with hilarious and frightening results. Raz wonât be completely alone for this journey as Double Fine has announced that he will be joined by a new glowing companion voiced by Jack Black. Â
Rainbow Six QuarantineÂ
TBA | Ubisoft | XSX, PS5, PS4, XBO, PC
Rainbow Six Siege is still one of the most popular multiplayer games on the market years after its release, which is why Ubisoft isnât looking to get in the way of its own success with Quarantine. While Siege focuses on PvP combat, Quarantine takes its inspiration from that gameâs popular limited time Outbreak mode. In this spin-off, teams of three work together to eliminate an alien threat controlled by the AI in dynamic missions. The game wonât be completely independent from Siege though, with at least some of its roster of operators also being playable in Quarantine.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
June 11 | Insomniac games | PS5
There hasnât been a bad Ratchet & Clank game yet, and Rift Apart seems poisted to continue that trend. The basic gameplay will be similar to the excellent 2016 reboot, but Insomniac is taking advantage of the power of the PS5âs SSD to introduce instant travel between completely different worlds. From what weâve seen in gameplay trailer so far, the mechanic is very impressive in action. Equally stunning are the gameâs visuals, which will support real-time raytracing and full 4K resolution.
Resident Evil VillageÂ
May 7 | Capcom | XSX, PS5, PC
Resident Evil Village is a direct sequel to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, but donât call it Resident Evil 8, as Capcom is emphatic that the focus will be on the mysterious occurrences in a European village and not the larger Resi universe. From the one trailer weâve seen, we know that Ethan Winters will be returning from the previous game, and this time around heâll be joined by series regular Chris Redfield.Â
Gameplay will again be in first-person, so you should notice quite a few similarities with Resi 7, but with improved graphics and much shorter load times since this will be one of the first major next-gen releases that wonât have a PS4 or Xbox One version.
Scorn
TBA | Ebb Software | XSX, PC
Scorn looks like an absolute nightmare, but in the best possible way. It is, after all, directly inspired by the art of H.R. Giger of Alien fame and Polish painter ZdzisĹaw BeksiĹski. In Scorn, you play as a skinless humanoid searching for answers in a horrific techno-organic open world. At the very least, it promises to be the most disturbing title of the year.
Shin Megami Tensei V
2021 | Atlus | Switch
While the Persona spin-off series gets most of the attention nowadays, the original Shin Megami Tensei franchise is still going strong, and the latest title in the long-running series should be out worldwide next year.
This is the first Shin Megami Tensei developed using the Unreal Engine 4, so it should look fantastic, but expect similar gameplay to previous titles, including turn-based combat and lots of negotiating with demons to try to get them to join your party.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowserâs Fury on Switch
February 12 | Nintendo | Switch
When it was released in 2013, Super Mario 3D World was easily one of the best Mario games in years, effortlessly combining the 3D movement of newer games in the series with the level design and multiple characters of the original NES games. You could play as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, or Rosalina, and they could each don catsuits that opened up all sorts of new platforming opportunities. But maybe 10 people played it because no one bought the Wii U.
Fortunately, the game received the re-release it deserved this year. Plus you get a whole new campaign called Bowserâs Fury, an interesting twist on the usual Mario level structure thatâs worth a playthrough.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
TBA | GSC Game World | XSX, PC
The original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games were praised for their horrifying atmosphere, survival horror gameplay, and unique setting in the radioactive Chernobyl zone. Even now, almost 14 years after its release, Shadow of Chernobyl holds up pretty well, even if the graphics are dated.
At this point, we know more about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2âs troubled development than the game itself. The title was first announced in 2010, cancelled in 2012, and then revived in 2018. The trailer released in 2020 looks promising though, and Microsoft has announced that the game will be available via Game Pass on release day.
Valheim
February 2 | Iron Gate AB
Valheim came out of nowhere to become one of the big success stories of 2021, selling more than a million copies less than three weeks after its early access release. If you arenât caught up on the latest Steam phenomenon, think of it as Minecraft mixed with Assassinâs Creed Valhalla. You and up to nine other friends are dropped off in the middle of a Viking afterlife to survive, craft, and battle mythical creatures.
Iron Gate AB has been vague about what exactly to expect from future updates, but the studio has teased future customization options for homes and ships, and eventually even a new biome to explore.Â
Warhammer 40,000: DarktideÂ
TBA | Fatshark | XSX, PC
Fatsharkâs previous Warhammer Vermintide games were among the best co-op titles of the last generation, featuring heart-pumping four-player multiplayer action against hordes of rat men. The latest installment, Darktide, has a lot in common with previous Vermintide games, except that the setting has moved to the sci-fi-heavy Warhammer 40,000 universe. Players will control members of the Inquisition, who are sent on a mission to exterminate a heretical cult known as The Admonition. The game will feature the same visceral melee combat as its predecessors, but this time all that killing is done for the glory of the God Emperor.Â
Wrath: Aeon of Ruin
TBA | KillPixel
First-person shooters have come a long way in the last couple of decades, but some times you just want to run and gun in a dark fantasy setting as quickly as possible. And remarkably few modern games provide that experience. Enter Wrath: Aeon of Ruin, a spiritual successor to Quake, Doom, and Hexen, built on the 25-year-old Quake Engine.
Wrath has been in Early Access since November 2019, and whatâs been released so far is very promising, looking and sounding like a lost PC shooter from the late â90s. The full game should be out later this year.Â
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An In-Depth Analysis of my Observations Playing CROSSBOW: Bloodnight
CROSSBOW: Bloodnight looks like shovelware, and I donât blame anyone for thinking that. Thereâs a lot missing from the game. Thereâs a typo in the launch announcement. However, the lack of standard triple A bloat means itâs rather easy to dissect the game. So Iâm going to break apart some of what happened to me as I was playing and started to question the quality of the game only to determine it was my own skill lessening my experience.
Devil Daggers
Credit where itâs due, a lot of stuff in the game is a blatant ripoff of Devil Daggers. It will occasionally come up. If I say DD know Iâm referring to Devil Daggers. The developers have said publicly the game is intended for fans of DD, so theyâre not trying to hide it, and though the games are extremely similar, itâs still worth analyzing CB:Bn to see what they decided to keep, lose, or change. Originality is nice to have, but itâs not everything.
The Crossbow
Letâs start at the beginning. The crossbow is amazing. When sustaining fire the triple-chambered crossbow fires each chamber individually. When firing like a shotgun, they all fire at once. When firing the rocket, the center chamber pulls back further, and the prongs bend back considerably to emphasize the weight of the projectile. The appearance starts to resemble a modern-day compound crossbow, as though it is focusing the strength from other prongs into one. Your character also slows down: thematically this shows again the strain of this massive projectile, but practically it also helps you line up your shot better, since the rocket has more pinpoint accuracy and higher damage than the standard projectile and can therefore be used to fire at long distances. Something taken from DD is that the projectiles have a rather significant spread and a slow velocity, meaning that you can deal more consistent damage faster by being closer to your target, a dangerous but rewarding and skillful strategy. The crossbow also changes color as it upgrades, which you wonât miss due to the camera slow and bright glow, but itâs nice to see it on the crossbow itself as youâre playing. Itâs an easy signifier, but it also just looks nice and feels cool.
The Introduction
The first half minute of the game is slow. A single zombie (The Restless One) spawns, then a couple more. You then get the big tentacle monsters (The Tainted Ones) that spawn the bats (The Hungry Ones). Of the few comments Iâve seen in the game, one was a complaint about this intro being slow and uninteresting after the first few runs. After all, while it does a great job at slowly introducing elements to new players, you learn pretty quick, but it canât just be removed from the game because it would interfere with the time-attack scoring. I also disliked this part after my first few runs. However, I have come to love this part of the game. The end of a run can often feel dissatisfying, and most players will immediately want to try again. While most just want to rush to where they were at, the game forces you to wait, calm down, and get reacclimated. You also get to blow off some steam by obliterating the weak early enemies at almost no risk. Iâve also used this time to practice: learning exactly how long after the spawn animation takes until a demon is vulnerable, how close to the eye I have to shoot, rehearsing projectile timing, anything that I feel could use work.
The Spawning
This was one of the first issues I had with the game. I often died to demons spawning in behind me, or werewolves (The Feral Ones) using their long range dash to hit me from the other side of the map when I hadnât even seen them appear. Even with the big red circles that appear before they spawn, However, there were two things I learned in short order. The first is that each enemy has its own unique spawn sound, each one roughly as loud as its importance (I wouldnât even think the zombies had any if I didnât hear it isolated during the introduction). The howl of the werewolves is especially notable, which is good because their dash has incredible range. The second thing I came to realize is that the game was pushing me to look where I was going. Shooters are all about circle strafing and firing while walking backwards, but not CROSSBOW: Bloodnight. In this game, you have to fire forward. Where youâre looking. It is safer to run towards one of the stationary Tainted Ones to try and kill them while letting the zombies and bats chase you from behind. The Feral Ones will dash at you, but you can pay attention to the noises they make to try and dodge them, or just turn and look if you dare. Once again, the game offers you a choice: run away from enemies while shooting behind you and risk bumping into guys in front of you, or charge at foes head on (remember the primary fire is better at close ranges) and try and thin out the herd later.
The Dash
If you check out the reviews on Steam, the primary difference between CB:Bn and DD is that the former has a dash. Once again, It didnât really think of this while playing, and didnât really start using it until after my first dozen runs. I actually started using it almost jokingly in the introduction as a way to get from the first spawning zombie to the second. I started learning the exact distance of the dash and itâs timing. Eventually, I started using it in game. It has the same issue as above, where dashing into a crowd of enemies is just as common as dashing away from them, but if timed well and planned well it can be a literal lifesaver. If you can properly perform it, you can also dash into the Tainted One and fire off a one-shot kill into the eye with the shotgun.
The Special
The game has an ability it grants you once every 60 seconds roughly where , if you press Q, it will slow down time a bit and show you a giant line the width of a house directly in front of you. Your crossbow is also aimed up and glows with radiant light. If you pull the trigger, every enemy in the highlighted area will be skewered with a holy lance and get one-shot. Like the dash, I was unsure of how best to implement it, but I have three theories. The first use is as a emergency clear. If youâre panicked and want to just get rid of some enemies, you can hit this to get a little space. Itâs a nice way to bring the tension down if youâre starting to not enjoy it. The second option is as a time-saver. If you have multiple enemies you want dead, especially Tainted Ones whose weak points you canât reach, you can line them up to hit at least two and maybe more. This is a use of skill and lets you try and optimize your runs. Lastly you can just show off with it. Use it for some dumb reason because you feel like it. Whatever the reason, the fact that itâs on a cooldown encourages you to use it aggressively rather than save it for a powerful attack, since the sooner you use it the sooner you can start charging up the next one.
The Enemies
Iâm solidly impressed at the enemy variety. The Restless ones are bolt fodder, keeping you aware of your surroundings, but never dealing enough to kill you without you knowing it. The Tainted Ones are stationary to give you fixed goals, and they spawn bats to harass you but only until you give them a little attention. The werewolves are the first big threat: they do not exist to be killed, they exist to kill you. You must know where all of them are to stay safe. The Troubled Ones shoot shockwaves, and are the first true long-range foes. They force you to jump at the right time, forcing you to stay aware of your jumping, and punishing those relying too hard on bunny-hopping. Those are all of the enemies Iâve encountered for now, but they all come together in such exciting ways. Even the Tainted Ones themselves have neat interactions. Nearly all of them spawn at the edge of the map, making it harder to kill them form the other side and forcing you to get up close, but I also encountered one in the center of the map, whose positioning forced me into an awkward spot in order to get to its weak point.
The Map
Iâll be honest, I donât have much to say about the map. It is donut shaped: big circle with a spot in the center no-one can get through. I much prefer it to DD because it has some landmarks around it that help orient you, allowing you to more easily remember where enemies spawn and where you are in the moment. The hole in the center also give you just enough of a safe space that your circle strafing doesnât get weird with demons just sitting in the center getting constantly kited. I also expect a boss to spawn there at some point, making for a nice focal point.
The Setting
On a thematic level, the map is heavy with gothic arches and pointy spires. While I assumed this was an anachronistic stylistic choice, I did my research, and it turns out gothic architecture did in fact originate in the early 12th century, where the game is set. The opening text tells us that the game takes place close to 1193 AD, a time when the church outlawed the use of Crossbows against Christians. The game recontextualizes this as declaring the Crossbow as âungodlyâ and âdemonic,â which is a clever way of getting an excuse to use Crossbows against Demons. The crossbow in question, is mildly inaccurate not in terms of time but location. A triple-chambered repeating-crossbow seems far-fetched, but China had been using repeating crossbows (Cho ku nu) and triple-bed mounted naval crossbows for hundreds of years by this point in time. Firing multiple bolts simultaneously at the cost of reduced range and accuracy was actually a real tactic used at the time as well. The idea of either being hand-held requires some suspension of disbelief, as does the ammo storage, but thatâs well deserved for an arena shooter like this.
The Story
There isnât much of a story here, but itâs there if you look. As mentioned, the game declares the Crossbow ungodly, and implies that it is used in some form of demonic ritual. However, the glowing light implies otherwise. Each enemy is named after some form of torment: hungry, restless, troubled, tainted, etc., and with exception of the Restless Ones, each one releases a soul when slain that the player can âcollect.â This implies that these demons may be corrupted forms of humans that are being slain to release their tormented souls from some form of punishment and collecting them for some unknown reason. The fact that the zombies and the bats donât leave souls follows this logic, since the zombies seem more like animated lifeless corpses than living creatures, and the bats are, well, bats. They also spawn from the Tainted Ones, so they are kind of just extensions of that. The game also has achievements that I have yet to understand, and seem to imply I am either evil or not evil based on a statistic I have not found. It intrigues me, but I will have to keep playing I guess to find out what it means.
Minor things
Iâm ashamed to admit I didnât have anywhere else to put these so hereâs some other stuff I just want to throw in there.
The first upgrade you get is from killing a werewolf, after which another werewolf immediately spawns, letting you directly compare how long it took to kill the last one and how long it took to kill this one.
You can actually see the werewolves jumping in from outside the map before they spawn.
When youâre hit, the screen goes bloody like any other game, but thereâs already blood everywhere, so the game give you a scary tone that plays until you heal back up.
Conclusion
And thatâs all I can really say about the game. Iâm not here to convince you to buy CROSSBOW: Bloodnight, Iâm not here to convince you itâs good, Iâm not even trying to convince you to play it. I just wanted to talk about this. Iâm not even sure if itâs my favorite game of the year, if only because Hades is about the toughest competition it could have faces. So if itâs not my favorite, not the best, and arguably not worth your time, then what is CROSSBOW: Bloodnight?
My best answer? Itâs mine. This is a game I want to exist. This is a game practically built for me. I bought it, played it, I loved it, and I feel like Iâm the only one who has, and that makes me feel special. So maybe donât look too much into this review. Perhaps Iâm overblowing it because I feel personally attached to this game in a way I never have before. But hey, if youâve gotten all the way to the end, maybe you care about what I have to say. So hereâs the summary.
CROSSBOW: Bloodnight is a really cool video game, and I really like it.
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Speaking of a Book of Mormon movie, look what I just found in my notes! I only got as far as You and Me (But Mostly Me)... but I could keep going!
These were originally notes for something I was going to storyboard.
BOM THE MOVIE
Open on the actual book. Light shining on it, like a fairy tale. It opens to the nephites scene âI... am Jesus.â Itâs paper animation, like how South Park is.
...
âAll over the world!â Music... the book closes, and the front cover fades to the same front cover in Priceâs hands.
HELLO!
Start with shots of elder price straightening his tie, name tag, running a comb through his hair.
He steps up to the door with the book in his hand. We donât see his face yet.
Ding dong.
The door opens, and we now see his face for the first time, with a big grin, book in hand.
âHello. My name is Elder Price.â
Song continues and cuts to different Mormons at different doors. Each doorbell has a different color door, different comedic people answering.
Sometimes there will be split frames.
Doors will be slammed in faces.
One Mormon smiles as he is about to walk up to another door, while another Mormon is being chased into the street by a dog.
Elder Cunningham buzzes a whole apartment complex. The âhello would you like to change religionsâ is a frame we see of him shouting through a security camera.
âNOO, NO, Elder Cunninghamâ
Maybe is in Arnoldâs conscience? Idk.
...
âSo you wonât burn inââ One
Mormon has made a placement, but he watches angrily through the window as the person throws the book into their fireplace. âHE-HELLLOOâ
The book of... MOOOOOOORMOOOON
camera pans from one door to the whole neighborhood. Title sequence. The doorbell in the word Mormon becomes part of a real door, and someone presses it for the final ding dong. The title sequence fades away.
the final HELLOOOOO could be a split frame of them waving? Like how they were on the risers?
TWO BY TWO
Takes place in the missionary training center. Looks sort of like a classroom. Their instructor is on screen, not just a voice. The boys eagerly wait in their desks.
(OR we do a Charlie Brown thing, where the instructor is never fully shown)
We start in the hallway with the 3 boys. âDo you have any idea where theyâre sending you elder price?â
After âSOMETHING INCREDIBLEEEEâ they run into the classroom and take their seats. They tap their fingers and bounce their legs to the faint snare roll and âtck bum. bum. tck bum. bum.â
It lasts a bit longer than in the soundtrack. Some close ups on Cunningham taking out his gum or something.
âForm a line and wait til your name is called.â
They line up against the back wall.
Once the boys start getting paired up, they dance at the front of the room. âHOO-AH... (jump on desks. Knees are bent. quick jump.) HEY-YAH, (turn away,) SHOO-WAH (turn towards each other, excitedly) ZADAP-WOW!â Unfold legs jump off of desks, go side be side and do the âTWO BY TWOâ march.
.....
Kevin is in line towards the window. He stares at a religious painting on the wall.
âHeavenly Father, (then turns his attention out the window, the typical daydreaming face) where will I go on my mission?â In the windowâs reflection we see the other boys come into focus and repeat âon my mission...â Kevin wistfully leans against a map on the back wall. âWill it be China or olâ Mexico on my mission?â
San Fran by the bay... Australia where they say gâday... (he stares at the continents with romanticized wonderment)
...
âTo my favorite place....â Zoom in on Priceâs face. The background fades to black, spotlight on Price. He is so wishful it hurts. âORLANDOOOOâ zoom out to see his whole outstretched arm. Heâs in Orlando now. A background of sea world whirls past him, a dolphin jumps over his head, the background whirls to Disney world. âGOLFIIINGâ He hits a put put ball towards the camera. The ball is the transition back to the classroom setting.
âELDER PRICE!â
âYES SIR!â
...
â.....elder Cunningham!â
âTHATâS ME! THATâS ME!â Arnold pushes desks aside to scramble to the front of the room. The noise is horrific. âhellO!â
âYour mission location will be...â
Zoom in on elder Price again, black background like his fantasy. *crossed fingers, mouthing the words orlandoorlandoorlando
âUGANDA!â
Black background quickly comes back to normal classroom.
Horrible noise. Instead of from instruments skidding, it came from Elder Cunningham pushing another desk.
Their faces are priceless.
â...Oh boy! Like Lion King!"
...
Desk dancing, evolves into marching down the hallway while high-fifing, clapping, and dancing...
âCHRIIIIII-IIIIIIIST! Of Latter Day Saints.â
Theyâre outside at this point. Song ends abruptly and everything carries on as normal. Price walks to the bus stop, and elder Cunningham rushes to catch up to him.
Of course he annoys Kevin. We get a taste of what this relationship is going to be like. Kevin takes measures as to avoid him on the way home.
Time passes.
YOU AND ME (BUT MOSTLY ME)
This song obviously takes place in the airport. The music starts as theyâre standing in line to have their passports stamped.
âŚ
âYouâve done an awesome job, Kevin!â
The song pauses. Cut to the woman holding up the passport photo to his face, comparing the two. âKevin...â he sings again. Then speaks: âIâm Kevin Price, Iâm nineteen. Thatâs not the best photo of me, I sneezed and it was like five dollars to get it retaken, soâŚâ The woman stamps it. âThank you.â
Cut to the airport hallways.
âNow itâs our time to go outââ
Arnold is on one of those moving walkways and slides past Kevin as he sings âMY BEST FRIIIEENDâ
Kevin starts jogging to match Arnoldâs pace.
âAnd we can do it together, you and meââ
But it seems like Price thinks of it more as a race. He reaches the end of it just before Arnold does, and stands in front of it, his bag tripping Arnold as he gets off the walkway.
âBUT MOSTLY MEEEEE!â
Kevin happily skips towards a Kiosk. âYou and me but mostly meââ He snatches a newspaper, â...are gonna change the world forever.â He runs towards the wall, where thereâs an interactive screen. "Cuz I can do most anythingââ On the screen, thereâs a camera projecting whoever stands in front of it, so basically, thereâs a big Kevin on the wall. Cunningham enters the frame, farther away from the screen. âAnd I can stand next to you and watch!â Kevin messes around with filters on the screen, the first one being a hero, and the second one being a captain.
Cut to a restaurant theyâre eating at.
âEvery dinner needs a side dishââ
The server places a tiny mac n cheese or something Arnold ordered off of the kidâs menu on the table. âOn a slightly smaller plate!â
Theyâre gleefully zig-zagging through the stanchions as they get in line for security. âAnd now weâre seeing eye to eye! Itâs so great we can agree! That heavenly father has chosen you and meâ just mostly meâŚâ At this point Kevin has kicked off his shoes and placed his bag on the conveyer belt, then steps up to the metal detector. âSomething incredibleâŚâ As he passes through the detector doorframe, reality distorts into a fantasy spotlight again. âIâll do something incredibleeee! I wanna be the Mormon who changed all of man kindâŚâ Priceâs surroundings are black. The only things that remain are the metal detector, and Arnold, who sets the alarm off and is stopped in his tracks by the security guards. âMY BEST FRIEEEENDâ Kevin spins around and Arnold and the security are swept off screen. âIt's something Iâve foreseen: now that Iâm nineteen⌠Iâll do something INCREDIBLE, that BLOWWS GODâS FREAKIN MIIIIIIND!â
As he hits these notes, reality fades back in, and heâs standing on the rim of an airport fountain, sticking out above all of the other travelers. The camera swoops to a birdâs eye view of the airport as if Priceâs voice sent it launching up there.
Cut to the long set of stairs leading up to the door of the plane. The camera follows both boys as they race up the steps. âAnd as long as we stick togetherââ Cunningham is in front of him, but leans to the side to let Kevin through, âand I stay out of your way-OUT OF MY WAYâ
âŚ
âSo quit singing about it and do it, how ready and psyched are we?â Theyâre on the plane, pushing their way through the isle. They find their seats and settle in. They smush their faces against the tiny window. âLife is about to change for you,â they turn to look at each other, âand life is about to change for me.â Kevin buckles his seat belt, and Arnold struggles with his. âAnd life is about to change for you and meââ Kevin buckles it for him. âBut me mostlyâŚâ And tightens it.
He looks at Arnold compassionately. âAnd thereâs no limit to, what we can doâŚâ He places a hand on his shoulder. âMe and you.â Arnold smiles at him. Kevin turns his gaze. âBUT MOSTLYââ ALL of the passengers on the plane sigh/moan.
Cut to the outside of the plane, taking off.
âMEEEEEEEEEEE!â
It flies into the distance.
#the book of mormon#bom#tbom#broadway#book of mormon#elder cunningham#elder price#arnold cunningham#kevin price#andrew rannells#josh gad#long post
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1031
Do you usually take blame or blame others? Depends on the context, I guess? When things go wrong on a very deep and personal level between me and people I deeply care for, I usually try to find reasons to blame myself. But if itâs something superficial, like if someone messes up at work through no fault of my own, then Iâm able to point my finger to whoever fucked up.
Have you ever been to a McDonaldâs in another state? Iâve been to McDonaldâs in different provinces and also in different countries. The McDonaldâs we went to in Baguio was so surreal because we discovered that they were still using styrofoam containers that they had already phased out years ago everywhere else, and they also never changed the original spaghetti and chicken recipes I grew up with. It was such a blast from the past. As for other countries, Iâve tried out the McDonaldâs in Malaysia, Indonesia, and China and made sure to order items that we didnât have back home.
Have you ever seen 50 First Dates? Yeah, itâs one of my semi-guilty pleasures. Itâs such a cheesy movie, but idk the concept is unique and the supporting characters made the whole movie enjoyable for me.
Do you like or hate the smell of fish? The fishy smell at the market can be pretty strong and bleck, but generally I donât mind the smell of fish. I live in an archipelago, man. We live and breathe seafood. Idk anyone in real life who doesnât like fish.
Have you ever been to Sea World? No.
Do you know someone who suffers from short term memory loss? I donât think so, no.
Have you ever read any of John Greenâs books? Yeah, but the only one Iâve gotten to read in full was The Fault In Our Stars. I also got to start on The Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns, but because I only borrowed those copies from friends I never got to read either until the end. All were okay, but I donât find John Greenâs writing to be as great as it was once hyped up to be.
If so, which one is your favorite? I guess TFIOS, since thatâs the only one I got to read through to the end.
Are you a protective person? With my loved ones and pets, yes.
Have you ever experienced an earthquake? Yeah Iâve felt a lot but fortunately itâs never been a severe one. Just super brief earthquakes where the most that happened to me was a little swaying.
Would you rather go to a beach or city for a vacation? I love beaches, but a change in scenery would also be nice because I already go to beaches for vacations fairly often. City.
Does your license plate number contain the number 8? I never actually memorized my plate number LOOOOOOL I think so? Itâs either a 6 or 8.
Were you ever a ghost on Halloween? Nope.
Has someone ever held the door open for you? Yeah, security guards tend to do that for customers/guests. Sometimes, nice strangers that I enter a place with will do it for me too.
Are you a fan of penguins? I think fan is pushing it far lol. I like penguins, but Iâm not obsessed.
Have you ever stayed up all night on a school night? Just a handful of times, and it was always as part of a groupwork. Iâd never willingly go through an all-nighter for myself.
Whatâs your favorite brand of chips? Doritos or Pringles. We also have a local brand that makes these deeeeeelicious salted egg chips, but Iâve never actually taken note of what the brand is.
Has anyone ever sang to you? Not to me. But a lot of people have sung around me.
Are you a good painter? No. Thatâs why I opt for paint-by-number kits, because those come with a guide haha. I canât actually craft images by myself â that skill belongs to my sister who has an insane talent for painting.
Before buying a car, do you usually test drive it? Iâve never bought a car by myself; my dad takes care of the car purchases. I know he test-drove the Vitara, but idk about the other cars we have.
Have you ever written a poem and then read it aloud? Hmm, I donât write poems. I donât find the vast majority of them appealing, and only once in a while will there be a poem that is able to speak to me.
Do you like pineapple? Nope.
Have you ever met your favorite author? I donât have a favorite.
Do you look more like your mom or dad? Most comments point to my mom, but Iâll get the occasional remark that half of my face is my dadâs as well. Iâm a good mix of both.
Have you and your best friend ever liked the same person? This hasnât happened before.
When was the last time someone called you babe or baby? Maybe August? Iâm not too sure. Itâs been a few months.
Do you have an older brother? No. But Iâm super close with my eldest cousin on my momâs side and we grew up together and all that, and I pretty much consider him my older brother. Heâs definitely more a brother than a cousin to me, and it has always felt and been that way.
Are you a fan of art? Yes, especially paintings and dioramas.
Did you get your mom or dadâs eyes? My momâs, I think? I really donât know, Iâm bad at recognizing this kind of stuff. Youâd have to ask people who actually see me on a daily basis.
Have you ever seen the movie My Girl? Is this the one with the really sad scene of a boyâs funeral and the girlâs like, âHe canât see without his glassesâ? I havenât seen the movie, but Iâve heard about that scene a million times.
Do you watch Teen Wolf on MTV? Ugh, MTVâs teen shows are such a cringefest to me. I never followed it, but Iâve had to watch a few eps back in high school when my friends would watch it while we were at someoneâs place. Not my cup of tea.
When it was on, did you watch Cory In The House on Disney? I watched a few episodes, especially when it was still new. But we were also in the process of moving then and we didnât have cable for a few years in our new house, so I had to miss out most of it.
Do you have any blackheads? I donât.
Do you have any freckles? Nope.
Do you have a movie that you have to watch during the summer every year? No, but I have something similar. I like watching Love Actually at least once every year, during the Christmas season. I like watching Two for The Road once a year as well, regardless of the time of year.
Do you think that life isnât fair sometimes? I mean yeah. It doesnât revolve around me, so I know it wonât always be fair.
When was the last time someone bought you flowers? Valentineâs Day last year.
What was the last book you read? Midnight Sun. Havenât touched it since September, though.
How many books do you plan to read this summer? Itâs past summer, and I havenât been doing a lot of reading in general.
Does your house have a dishwasher? No, not a common appliance here.
Do you know anyone who has a flower tattoo? I probably do. But I havenât seen people outside of family for so long that I can barely remember who has which tattoos. Iâm pretty sure I know someone who has flowers.
Do you like the name Carter? It just reminds me of the underwear brand honestly, so not a fan.
Have you ever had a secret admirer? No. Should there be one, they shouldnât be having high hopes; I wouldnât be interested in the least.
How many different languages can you say goodbye in? Thereâs English, Filipino, Korean, Spanish, German, French, Japanese â 7.
Agree or disagree: You like Adam Sandler movies. Disagree for the most part, but 50 First Dates is cute.
--
Did the last type of shoes you wore have laces? Yups. I wore sneakers when I went out to get Starbucks last Friday evening.
How much money did you spend yesterday? The charging cable that I ordered arrived yesterday, so I had to shell out âą140 for that.
What genre is your favorite movie? Itâs a romcom/drama. My other favorite is a drama.
Are you texting anybody right now? Nope. Iâm all alone today, which is the way I want to be for this weekend.
Who was the last person you were in a car with? My parents.
Do you like the picture on your license/I.D. card? I really do, hahaha. I donât know why the people at the LTO gave me a pass, but I had been allowed to smile with my teeth. That helped make my license photo turn out super well and I no longer feel embarrassed whenever I have to take it out and present it somewhere.
Whatâs your favorite thing to snack on while watching a movie? Potato Corner fries. Canât be any other type of fries.
When was the last time somebody hit on you? July or August when this random guy slid into my PMs. I had never had so much fun blocking somebody so fast.
Was the last person you met a male or female? The last new person I met was male.
Which one of your friends do you feel most comfortable around? Angela or Andi.
Do you own a map of the world? I mean, I guess. I have a collection of the World Almanac for Kids books, and it had always included a world map in its Countries chapter every year.
Whatâs your favorite Thanksgiving food? We donât celebrate Thanksgiving.
Is the light on in the room youâre in? No, doesnât have to be as itâs bright out and I can see the sun from my window.
Who did you last spoon with? Gabie.
Are you currently watching TV? No.
Have you ever had surgery or stitches? Never. Hope Iâll never be needing one.
Do you own any clothing that has animal print? I have a tank top with cheetah print that I sometimes wear at home.
Does your family eat dinner together? Yes, every evening. We donât eat together when my dad is working abroad, but since he has stayed home for all of 2020 because of Covid, weâve gotten to eat together as a family all year.
Where do you work? Somewhere in Metro Manila; Iâm not giving the city away.
Are you in high school? I got out of there nearly five years ago.
Do you have a TV in your room? I used to, but not anymore.
Are any of your electronics charging right now? My phone and laptop both are.
What was the last video game you played? Mario Kart 8.
--
Are you hungry?: I can def go for a snack, or maybe even a full meal. Itâs taking everything in me not to order Popeyeâs or Army Navy from Grab rn.
What color is the chair youâre sitting on?: Iâm sitting up in bed; my sheets are blue with gold/yellow prints.
What did you buy last time you went to the store?: I got bottled coffee when I went to 7-Eleven a week ago.
Do you like salsa that has fruit in it?: ...Donât all types of salsa have fruit in them though? It would be brand-new knowledge to me if I was told not all salsas have fruit.
Have you ever opened up your computer to clean the fan on the inside?: No. Iâd rather have professionals do that.
Can you count in binary?: No, and I never even understood how it works.
Do you think stained glass windows are pretty?: No. Mostly because it reminds me of cathedrals.
Are you a chocoholic?: Nah. I like chocolate, but I can live without it.
Are you scared of snakes?: I mean if they were venomous or obviously wanted to eat me whole, of course. But Iâve also already held a couple of snakes before.
Have you had your wisdom teeth removed?: No.
Do you like hard or soft pretzels better?: Soft all the way. I find the hard ones too salty.
What was the last magazine or catalog you looked through?: I donât even remember. Maybe Tatler? My grandma has loads of those at her house.
When was the last time you wore a raincoat?: I donât think I have ever worn a raincoat.
Have you ever been carded when buying something?: Idk what that is but nothing out of the ordinary has ever happened to me whenever Iâve made a purchase, so Iâm gonna go ahead and say no.
Do you eat meat?: Yep.
Corn and mashed potatoes, or beans and rice?: Both pairings arenât really a part of our cuisine, so neither sound appealing to be honest. As someone who thrives on rice, I hate the idea of eating beans with it; so I would go with corn and mashed potatoes even though Iâm having a hard time imagining how it would work.
Can you sleep with the light on?: I probably can, but it would take me a lot longer to fall asleep.
Whatâs your operating system of choice?: Mac/iOS.
Have you ever broken a bone?: Never.
Do you have a favorite highlighter color?: I donât have a favorite color to use, but I prefer pastel shades in general over neon.
Do you have a flashlight?: My phone has a built-in flashlight, but we also keep a couple of emergency flashlights at home in case of blackouts.
Do you like watermelon?: I like some watermelon-flavored stuff like candies, but Iâm not fond of the fruit.
âŚHoneydew?: Hahahahahaha. BoJack Horseman, anyone? Anyway, Iâve never had honeydew and probably wouldnât like it considering my established opinion on fruits.
Can you shoot a gun?: Iâve never tried, so Iâll say no. Iâve always been meaning to go to a shooting range though; I feel like itâll be such a cool experience.
Do you like salad?: Not for the most part. The only kind I enjoy is spicy tuna salad, which only has lettuce in it alongside tuna sashimi and spicy mayonnaise.
When was the last time you smashed your finger?: I donât know if I ever have? This doesnât ring a bell to me.
What color is your computer?: Silver/gray.
Have you ever made ice cream in chemistry class?: No, my chemistry classes in high school and college were never that fun.
Has anyone ever walked in on you while you were on the toilet?: Sure.
What color hair do you have?: Black.
Do you use the microwave often?: I wouldnât say so; just a couple of times a month.
Are you good at spelling?: Sure, Iâd claim that. Thank the movie Akeelah and the Bee; that movie made me super passionate about spelling and dictionaries for a time. I can still feel its effects today because Iâm still very much particular about spelling more so than any other kind of writing/language mechanic.
Have you ever petted a donkey?: Iâve never even seen one before :o but Iâd love to have the chance to pet one, heh. It would make me so happy.
When was the last time you went to the doctorâs for a physical?: 2016.
Do you like a lot of ice in your drinks?: Sure.
Have you ever painted a room? Never have, but would like to give it a try.
#survey#surveys#multiple ones again so feel free to chop up#might make this a thing just because#we'll see!#but i most likely will
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Heartlines, a Kingdom Hearts fanfic, chapter 22--Forget Me Not
Twelve years ago, Xemnas betrayed the royal court of Radiant Garden to his father, Xehanort. Prince Ienzo flees to another city and begins university in the aftermath, hoping the anonymity will protect him from eager eyes with ill intent. The darkness spilling across the country, as well as an individual from his past, cut short Ienzo's new beginning and bring new conflicts to light. Strained between the desires of his magic and his heart, Ienzo's choice will change him forever.
Modern Fantasy AU, Soulmates, Zemyx. Updates Fridays until it's done. Normal updates will resume 10/16.
Chapter summary:Â An unexpected ally helps Ienzo leave the castle.
Read it on FF.net/on AO3
---
The press conference was easier than Ienzo thought it would be; that, or heâd completely dissociated. Either way, he said all the right things, beat for beat. The smile on Xehanortâs face seemed very genuine.
He could not stop vomiting for the rest of the day.
Heâd tried to subtly weave in his own messages for his family, but it was hard to tell how much would be edited out before it was formally released. He was aware he was going from something like an urban legend to quite literally a traitor. Heâd deliberately likened the situation to the theater in his speech, that they âall had their own parts to playâ in order for the country to move forward. Would Even pick up on the hint?
Lydia was unusually stony towards him for the rest of the day. Heâd been too convincing. Finally, just after dinner, he reached out to touch her elbow as she took his (still quite full) tray. âTrust me,â he said softly. âThat wasnât me.â
She pushed her glasses up her nose.
âI have a plan.â
The look in her eye softened. âOf course, your highness,â she said. âOf course.â
Ienzo did not pay any attention to the news; it made him feel too sick. He had to focus instead on the thought of his daughter, on Demyx, on getting down into the lab. It would be endgame soon. He just had to let them know before it was too late.
This morning there was a note tucked under his breakfast tray. The china was different than usual, hyacinths painted around the rim; the note was a scrambled mess. Ienzo picked up the hint and undid the substitution cipher quickly--
Little stunt of yours might have been too successful. Rioting in the streets. International specialists are all claiming you have stockholm syndrome, or youâre a fake. But the outcry is real, and we might be able to use it to our advantage.
Couple people owe me a favor⌠might be able to get you out for a few hours. In case you want to clear your name to the most important.
Scribbled below that was a set of numbers that Ienzo had a hard time decoding until he realized they were coordinates. He pulled out an old map of the city, wrote down the rough placement. The clothing heâd been given was a little too nice and noticeable for this sudden idea.
When she came back for the tray, Lydia again had a bundle of laundry. âThis is lovely china,â he said. âI didnât know we had it.â
âRemy thought you might like it,â she said.
Ah. So the chef was in on it too. âSend him my thanks, as always.â He paused.
âOf course, your highness.â
âCall me Ienzo.â
She smiled a little, and nodded. She left him alone again, so rather than stew in the guilt of his own betrayal (despite it having a larger purpose), he decided to put his clean things away. But something was new. A black sweater. Boots. A jacket with a long hood.
It seemed all he had to do was wait.
Xehanort called him in to discuss their âmedia strategy.â Despite his darkness being the worldâs worst secret, he hoped to announce, at some point, what they had been up to in his experiments. As sweetly as possible, Ienzo asked, âsince the public would soon know anyway,â if he might have some more insight into all this.
âI suppose it is time,â the old man conceded. âOne of the only good things that fool Even instilled in you was a love of science.â
âYes,â he said pleasantly, though his heart was thumping hard.
âBut before that. Iâm not sure if youâve read much of the news lately--Xemnas, remind me to start sending Zexion the papers every morning--but there has been a⌠response , to yesterdayâs press conference.â
Ienzo wondered if he was imagining the slight tightness in Xemnasâs jaw as being ordered about so. âA good one, I hope?â
âWell, for the most part. Though some of the⌠independents claim Iâm brainwashing you.â
Ienzo forced himself to smile. âCanât I simply issue a statement stating the opposite?â
âYou could,â the youngest son said boredly. âBut they all have in their minds this image of an innocent child who doesnât know any better. Theyâd think you were told to do that.â
â...Perhaps that is apt.â
Young Xehanort smiled widely. âDonât you feel like weâre taking a step in the right direction? Weâll all be better off for it, Iâm sure.â
Ienzo swallowed. â...Quite.â
âThe best thing to do would be to get you in front of more people. So you can prove itâs not all an act.â His gold eyes glinted. âWhat is it you said-- âwe all have our parts to playâ? Or something like that?â
He felt a stab of fear. âIâm sure you are right.â
With lunch was another note, this time decoded with the primroses on the plate. Meet me in the library alcove 8:15. You know the one.
He assumed it was Braig sending these notes; who else would it be? Ienzo waited for the time to pass, pacing back and forth until his legs ached. He might get to see his daughter, his family again. His heart beat slickly and he was sweating so much in anticipation he had to reapply deodorant. He got dressed in the clothing heâd been given, and when it was about eight that evening, he slipped out the door without another word. He was so anxious he was dizzy. What if he were caught? All this work wouldâve been for nothing. He shouldnât take this risk, he should just try to ride it out until his plan had been carried in full--
But if something happened to him, and he wouldâve never gotten to say goodbye?
It hurt too much to miss them.
Ienzo darted almost silently through the hallways. At least he had his magic back in full use, could disguise himself if need be--but the hallways were cleared of their usual guard. He paused. Was this a trap? Or had this been laid out for him? He could no longer tell, and the hesitation sparked his anxiety further.
The library, too, was completely empty of people. Ienzo felt a though he couldnât process anything he was seeing anymore, so focused on that moment of reunion--
â...There you are.â
The voice was not one he expected to hear. Ienzo stopped dead in his tracks. In the shadows, dressed similarly in black, was Xemnas. âThis⌠I thoughtâŚâ All he could think to stammer in this moment of vulnerability was âthis isnât what it looks like.â So much for brilliance.
Xemnas cocked his head. âYou can let the mask fall, Ienzo. Itâs alright.â
He felt he could not catch his breath. It had been a long while since his last panic attack, but it was immediately familiar.
Xemnas placed both of his hands on Ienzoâs shoulders. âTake a breath, little one. It was I who left the notes for you.â
âA trap, then.â
He sighed. âNo trap.â He looked over his shoulders. âCome. Weâll be late.â He guided Ienzo towards the door.
âI donât--understand--â
âI can see why youâd have trouble,â Xemnas said. âWhy should you trust me at all when--â
âYouâre the one who put us in this situation in the first place.â
He nodded sadly. âBut thirteen years is a long time to think. To change.â  A pause. âYouâve seen how my father treats me. How he⌠doesnât even see me. Heâd rather humor my brothers their crimes against humanity, their pets. Forgetting all the while⌠who gave this to them in the first place.â
âSo youâre doing it out of bitterness?â Ienzo asked sourly.
âThat was how it started.â He let out a breath, his stoic expression cracking for just a moment. âTheyâre all willfully in denial. But the repercussions of this will be many and far-reaching.â
âThe darkness?â
âKingdom Hearts. Now come . We donât have time for chit-chat.â
Ienzo followed. Xemnas took him deeper and deeper into the bowels of the castle, through dank musty passages which were doubtlessly no longer up to code; through the laundry, again oddly empty; down a dozen flights of stairs until finally there was just sky, and sea, and a narrow rocky staircase leading to an old service dock. A wooden rowboat bobbed slightly in the winter surf, and Ienzo shivered. A small hooded figure was waiting for them. âSheâll take you where you need to go,â Xemnas told Ienzo. âChange of guard is at midnight. Youâd best be back by then.â
âLike Cinderella,â Ienzo muttered, and he heard a small, feminine laugh from the hooded figure. âXemnas. We need to--â
âThe time for talking is later. Go. â
Ienzo climbed into the small rowboat. It felt odd to entrust his fate to a child. âCould I help you row?â he asked.
âI like doing it,â she said. âI hardly ever get out on the sea.â She was powerful for her size; she didnât even sound breathless.
âWhatâs your name?â
âXion.â
âShion? Like the flower?â
She laughed a little. âWith an X. Like âsh.â Though I guess Lord Xemnas found it funny. He loves puns.â
â...An X.â Ienzo swallowed. âXemnas gave you your alias?â
âXemnas gave me my name .â Her next stroke seemed particularly violent. âItâs, uh, a long story.â
Ienzo looked at her again. Hard to tell exactly with the poor lighting and her hood, but she couldnât be older than fourteen. âI understand if you donât want to tell me.â
âNo, itâs okay. He told me to start speaking out more, so.â A sigh. âI was a failed experiment. He⌠saved me from⌠euthanasia.â
âAn⌠experiment?â
A pause. âFirst prototype in an attempt to⌠make Keyblades.â
It took Ienzo a long moment to put the pieces together. âYouâre a--â
âReplica. Yep! Not human.â A wry laugh.
If Ienzo saw Even, he could at least tell him that his research had created sentience. âBut you seem so normal,â Ienzo said, in an attempt to comfort the girl.
âI had too much⌠free will.â She pulled the small boat up to a dock and grabbed a length of rope. Effortlessly, she hopped out and tied it to a pole. She offered Ienzo her small hand, and when he took it, he was surprised at the strength he felt when she heaved him up. âIâll wait for you here.â
Ienzo strained to remember his coordinates. âYouâll be alright, by yourself?â
âHeartless donât care much for me,â she said, with a shrug. âIâll just hang out and enjoy the moon on the water. Just⌠donât be too late, okay? He was really nervous about doing this.â
Ienzo took a breath. âIâll try.â
Ienzo could barely take in the streets of Radiant Garden. His heart was beating so hard all he could hear was the fluid whooshing in his ears, and he was dizzy. Amalia. Amalia. Amalia.
He found himself in a maze of abandoned buildings, searching for the telltale signs of wards. After what felt like much too long, he was in front of an old apartment building. His hands shook as he opened them wide enough to get through.
The reaction was immediate. A large dog--no, a wolf --bounded down the stairs, teeth bared, snarling, only to see him.
For a long while he and Isa just stared at each other. âI canâŚâ Ienzoâs mouth was so dry. âI can explain everything. Please just let me see my daughter.â
Isa approached him slowly. Ienzo did not know what to make of the wolfâs body language. Why wasnât he transforming back into a human? He paced around Ienzo slowly, sniffing him. He mustâve passed snuff enough, because Isa just bounded back up the stairs.
Ienzo followed. His knees felt like jelly and he found himself glad heâd been unable to eat dinner, because otherwise he wouldâve gotten sick. He couldnât recall ever feeling so nervous, though these were the most important people in his life. Why wouldnât they trust him?
The wolf waited by a door on the fourth floor. Tremblingly, Ienzo reached for the knob, only for it to open. âEven,â he said numbly.
The man seemed not to know what to make of him; heâd gone very pale.
âEven. I promise I have a plan. I promise. Itâs not--I would never --â
For a long moment he just stared at him. Then, after much too long, he drew Ienzo into his arms, and Ienzo could not help but sag into the embrace, all of his months of fear and loneliness and acting hitting him at once. Heâd never truly noticed how comforting another personâs touch could be, their smell. He breathed in Evenâs detergent and shaving cream and tried not to outright sob.
Another voice, behind Even-- âwho is it?â
âYour son.â
Ienzo was loath to let go, but he did at last. Ansem was standing there, looking just as stricken as Even had. âFather. Please. Iâm not--IâŚâ
But all Ansem did was reach past Even to embrace him as well. âI know,â he said. âI never doubted you for a moment.â
For just a second, Evenâs expression belied the opposite. âIâll tell you everything--I only have a few hours--I--â His head was spinning. âWhere are they?â
âDemyx was trying to get the baby down. Iâm sure heâs still in there.â Ienzo started towards the door, but Even stopped him. âLet me get them.â
For a tremulous moment, it was just Ienzo, Ansem, and the wolf, who watched Ienzo warily with those wide gold eyes. âAh--Isaâs human form is waylaid during the full moon,â Ansem said haltingly.
â...I see.â He swallowed. âI had to⌠I had to act that way to earn his trust, father, I didnât want --â
âI know.â
âDo you? Even looked like heâd--â
âIen...zo?â
Ienzo felt his heart surge, tears prickling in his eyes. He didnât recognize Demyx, not immediately, though not necessarily due to the new hair and the glasses. His eyes were sadder, flatter, his posture more defeated. Heâd lost weight; they all had. âIâm sorry,â he said. âIâm soâŚâ
He stumbled over his words for a moment. âI guess Xigbar⌠told you we were here.â
âActually⌠someone else helped me get out. Someone really unexpected.â He took another small step forward; Demyx flinched. âIâll tell you, itâs just that I need to--I need to see her.â
âRight⌠um⌠our room is through here.â
Ienzo didnât know what heâd expected--not the crying, emotionally charged kissing of movies, for sure--but not this strange distance between them. He followed Demyx through the small apartment to a bedroom at the back that faced the sea. A small lantern with warm light was still on.
âShe likes seeing the water,â Demyx said, leaning over a makeshift bassinet. Ienzo strained to see. He hefted her up, his back still to Ienzo. She snuffled indignantly. âI know, Li-li, but itâs important.â
She looked nothing like the squish-faced four-week old Ienzo had last seen. She blinked sleepily, her blue-green eyes slowly coming into focus. âSheâs so big,â Ienzo whispered.
âSeven kilos. Even thinks sheâs going to be taller, like me.â
âSheâs got your nose.â
âOh--you think?â
âHer hair is so long.â The tears pricked again.
âAlmost time for a cut, I think.â
âCould I--â He reached out towards the baby--she pressed her face against Demyxâs shoulder.
âIâm just not sure if she--â
âPlease.â
â--Remembers you, Ienzo. She was only a month old.â
âBut she⌠she has to.â He was aware he was only a few hairs away from losing his composure, all of this becoming too much. âSheâŚâ He swallowed, feeling the lump. âLet me try.â
After a long moment, Demyx finally brought her over to Ienzo; she began to struggle and cry. âItâs alright, sweetie,â Demyx said to her. âItâs alright.â
And Amalia slid into his arms. She was so much heavier than he remembered, and he nearly stumbled under the weight. She cried louder and thrashed against him, him, a stranger .
âItâs okay,â Demyx said over and over again. âItâs your daddy, Li-li. He wonât hurt you.â
Ienzo tried to give her a kiss, but she squirmed in his grip, to the point where Demyx reached out in case she fell.
âMaybe I should--â
âNo,â Ienzo said. âNo. She has to get to know me.â He reached out with his magic, blinking away the tears, finding her field at last, and something seemed to click; she stopped trying to struggle out of his arms. Feeling her energy almost eased that awful hole he felt in his being.
The baby, if anything, cried louder, not out of fear as before, but anger . Betrayal.
âI know,â Ienzo found himself repeating. âI know. I didnât want to leave you. Iâm sorry.â He tried to bounce her a little, but the hurt was felt deeply. He kissed her wet, hot little cheeks. âIâm sorry.â He couldnât help but cry too.
Demyx reached forward to stroke her hair. This seemed to calm her somewhat, until finally she sagged weakly against Ienzo, her cries more like gasps. Ienzo sat down on the small, lumpy bed.
âI didnât want to,â Ienzo whispered.
âI know.â He sat in a small chair and rested his head against his hand. âSo⌠are you, likeâŚâ
âIâm earning their trust so I can mine information to pass along to the resistance.â He cleared his throat. âIâm hoping that⌠eventually, I canâŚâ
âHow long is eventually?â
âI donât know, Demyx. Iâm making a lot of progress.â
âWeeks? Months?â
He looked down at his baby.
âBecause--I donât know. Showing up out of the blue is just going to confuse her.â
âThis has hurt me too, every day Iâm not with her I swear I--â
âWeâve been running, Ienzo. Weâve been running for six months. And all of a sudden you show up on the news saying youâre with him? â
âI need to earn his trust. Itâs the only way this whole gambit will work.â
Demyx raised an eyebrow. Ienzo did not like how defensive he seemed.
âPeople are already rioting. International leaders are voicing their outrage,â Ienzo said.
âYeah, because youâre making yourself look like a traitor.â
âBecause I am a poor, poor abuse victim on state media, saying what Iâm told to say or else. â He held Amalia closer, breathing in that sweet scent of hers.
âAnd what will that accomplish?â
â...Iâm going to turn the tide.â He swallowed. âAnd stage a coup.â
#heartlines#ienzo#demyx#zemyx#xemnas#master xehanort#young xehanort#child oc - amalia#even (kingdom hearts)#isa (kingdom hearts)#ansem the wise
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d100 Adventure Beginnings
Feeling anxious, indoors because of the Covid-19 quarantine, I adapted an idea from Khairani Barokka and asked Twitter to give me emojis.
Iâd turn these emoji into oddities, instigations, opening to adventure.
Guess I wanted to travel? In my head, far afield. It took the weekend, but it made me happy. There were many, many typos, but I visited a hundred different microcosms, with a hundred different persons.
Original thread begins HERE; tweets in the thread were tagged / attributed.
+
d100 ADVENTURE BEGINNINGS
1. đĽ The sandwich comes to you via delivery. You unwrap the foil as the quadrotor buzzes away. There's something in your sandwich, between tempe patties -an oil-stained slip of card. "Come alone," it says. There is a street address. ~
2. [Photograph of a vine tendril] Watering the garden, you see your morning glory stir.
Its tendrils uncoil. Its vines unclench, recede. Knot in on themselves, twine into thin limbs.
They let go of your fence. They have a face. Flower eyes: two purple trumpet blossoms. They offer a hand to shake.
~
3. [Italian flag] Morning ritual: put coffee on, wash face, check phone. Twitter takes a half-hour.
You smell burning. Coffee! Your moka pot is now sooty, long past hissing. A man stands next to it, made of steam.
"Salve," the steam ghost says, tipping his steam cap.
~
4. đŻď¸ A warm night. The air is still. The candle flickers in your partner's face. She is checking her wallet. Slips it in her pocket as the candle dies.
"Ah!" she says, in darkness. "So over this power cut."
Time to get more candles.
~
5. đ§ This is a *great* spot to get a flat: Lonely road, no streetlights, trees knitting their branches overhead. You shiver. You hate that you shiver. You're an adult. You make noise to assert this. The jack clunks on the ground. "Darling?" somebody whispers.
~
6. đŚ "Make way for Lady Lerna!" cries the page, swinging his censer. Behind him a dozen men bear a gilded litter.
Laughter. Ringed fingers part the curtains. A powdered dowager wearing a cartwheel ruff of peacock eyes peers out. She holds her nose.
You hate her.
~
7. đˇ Suckling pig. Its split-jaw-ed head faces you. You have never been more aware of an animal corpse.
Goldteeth Liu sips his cognac and asks: "Hey boy, why you not eating? My food not good enough for you is it?
"You feel sweat on your chest, where the wire is.
~
8. đť An ordinary corridor. Sconces, faded wallpaper, a painting.
"Behind the painting," a voice says.
A button behind the painting. Press it. The wall goes click. A crack appears.
"Now can I go?"
You unspool your spell, and the spirit leaves for her afterlife.
~
9. đ˛ The dice land. "Nine! Woo!" She moves her token, counting every space with a smack.
"What's with you?" they ask her.
"What you mean?" she giggles. She never did know how to play it cool. But she doesn't have to. Under the table, she puts her feet in your lap.
~
10. 𦷠When you took this assignment, they gave you two false molars:
The one in your right cheek is a transmitter -- a signal for Ops to start the evacuation; The one in your left is a cyanide pill, in case of capture.
Or was it the other way around?
Shit.
~
11. đ From heaven a serpentine form, golden and gleaming. Growling like thunder ground out of the earth.
Descending, approaching --
But getting no bigger? Is it shrinking?
It is in front of you, now. It is as big as your forearm -- no, your finger.
"Bite me," it squeaks.
~
12. đ The curfew has gone on for months. You have survived through food shortages, power cuts, rumours of civil unrest.
But now you are in trouble. Now, you enter your second trimester. Now, you crave.
Gardenia white bread.
You will brave cordons to get it.
~
13. đ§ââď¸ You are hurrying to your car when somebody calls: "Girl? Girl!"
The voice comes from a red altar under a tree, past the kerb. From a songkok-ed uncle, as tall as your calves.
"Got food ah girl?" the roadside god says. "Two weeks already uncle hasn't eaten."
~Â
14. đ Someone has been pasting googly eyes on your stuff:
Your mailbox in the lobby; The telephone pole in front of your parking spot; The flower pot on the balcony.
Creepy. "It's not me!" your housemate says.
This morning, you find googly eyes on your forehead.
~
15. đ The padlock on your front door is broken.
The door swings open onto an empty living room. On the floor: rectangles of dust, where your shelves and cabinets once stood.
As well as a shred of newsprint. "Take this, Mat!" it says.
Your name's not Mat.
~Â
16. đď¸ Pa played the lottery on his birthday. Always with the same numbers: 1406, 2902. Ma's birthday. Yours.
Pa died last week. Yesterday was his birthday. You bought his numbers from the ticket counter.
Today you check the results: "First jackpot: 1406 2902."
~
17. đŚ Dusting Dr Khoo's shelves, you accidentally knock over a novelty Tyrannosaurus piggy bank.
It shatters on the parquet floor.
There are ceramic shards, change -- and a passport with Dr Khoo's photo. Under a different name. In Cyrillic script.
Uh oh.Â
~
18. đł Eggs in your cast-iron pan -- the last three eggs you have.
Ina: "What are we going to do for protein, now?"
Gan: "We can search the shophouses in town. Or hope to catch a lizard?"
Ina makes a face. You shrug. With your cast-iron pan, you can cook anything.
~
19. đť Knock before you enter a hotel room for the first time. Say: "I'm coming in, okay?" Let its other occupants vacate.
But:You bustled in, dropped the card in its holder, threw your suitcase in the closet, dumped yourself on the bed.
So, now:
Don't look up.Â
~
20. đââď¸ From you balcony, you watch your neighbour in the community playground. She is a dancer. She plays music on portable speakers. She practices pirouettes.
You wish you could work up the courage to talk to her.
She looks up, sees you watching, and waves.
~
21. đď¸ "The key will open any lock," the goblin said.
The key feels heavy in your hand. Plain and iron. But when you bring it near the queen's jewellery box it shifts: turns silver and intricate.
A skeleton key!
"The key only works once," the goblin said.
~
22. đĽ You don't like the protesters. So naive. And look at how they've spray-painted the street! Anarchists.
The cops charge with riot shields. They are beating protesters --
What are you doing?
You are recording this on your phone.
A cop points his baton at you.
~
23. 𼳠On your birthday you are surprised at the door. Balloons, food, music to dance to. A party! Laughing, you thank you friends.
"Thank Brian!"
"Brian?" you ask.
"Your cousin Brian?" they say. They point. He smiles and waves back. You don't recognise him.
~
24. đ¤Śââď¸ Your headache gets worse. On day three your vision blurs; you collapse in your bathroom.
You wake to familiar voice: "Hey."
It is your voice. "Don't panic," your doppelganger says. "You're okay." She dried you off, put you in bed. She will not harm you.
~
25. đł You tried to steal from the Pasha. He is magnanimous, and decided not to behead you. Instead, you will serve him.
You will journey into the wastes. You will brave the fire. You will acquire the Phoenix's egg. The Pasha is a gourmand. He wishes to eat it.
~Â
26. đ "Finding the Perihelion Squid is not a problem," your captain says. "It glows in the water."
Sunset. A ray catches your captain's arm and belly, throwing the sucker-shaped burn marks there into textured relief.
"The problem is fighting it," your captain says.
~
27. đŚ You stop at the lights. You look at your phone.
Somebody bonks your side-view mirror. "Oi!" you say -- but more people are rushing past. The drivers of the cars in front of you. What are they running from?
Across the intersection, a stampede of water buffalo.
~
28. â˘ď¸ "Breath Easy," the billboard says. A beach panorama, with a white family in the foreground: father, mother, daughter -- all three in pastel shirts. Eyes shut, chins up, smiling.
"VitaOX, premium bottled air," the billboard says. "A Sinochem-McDonald's company."
~
29. 𦥠The Colossal Ground Sloth is a geographic enormity.
See that hill, blocking our view of the rising sun? That's not a hill. That's a sloth. It sits, seemingly smiling, covered in trees. When it shudders the birds take flight.
Look: it opens its lake-like eyes.
~
30. đ˝ When the Statue vanishes, America freaks. Who's to blame? Terrorists? SJWs?
Then it turns out the Statue is also missing from all visual media: T-shirts, postcards, patriotic paraphernalia.
The White House settles on its favourite scapegoat -- China.
~
31. 𧊠The map to the Treasure of Sagely Fu is borne on the back of the Divine Tortoise:
Its scutes represent the 38 provinces of the Empire. Its coloration represents the hills and valleys. When Sagely Fu fought the Tortoise, he kicked a chip-mark into its shell.
~
32. đ The Heart Of Ice is a crystalline fortress, so high above the sea that the sky is twilight and the air freezes you solid.
There rules the Queen, a goddess of pure and alien elements. If you can make Her shed a tear she will grant you your heart's desire.
~
33. đź The pontianak is a monster -- born when a pregnant woman dies, wronged.
Seeking vengeance, she hunts men. She takes the form of a comely woman. One of her signs is the fragrance of frangipani blossoms.
"Hey," says the bar hostess. She smells of night flowers.
~
34. đŚ "My foxies," the witch says. "My vulpies."
In her hut are bones, bones, bones. Piled in a bucket. Mounted on display stands. Sniffing your ankle -- fox skeletons, moving as they did in life.
"Can you do cats?" you ask, nodding to the bundle in your arms.
~
35. 𼞠The search parties assemble quietly. A trekker is lost on the mountain. Nobody is happy.
"I told him," one of the guides whisper. "I told him. Don't take anything, I said. You don't know whose things you're taking. But I saw him slip a stone into his pocket."
~Â
36. đŹ The pool is still. Park management turns this fountain off at 10pm.
You like walking here, at night. You like the granite dolphins, mid-jump, frozen in time. You toss a coin into the fountain for luck. Clink.
There is a splash. A flash of motion. A fin.
~Â
37. đ In the book you find a letter, in delicate cursive:
"Dear Emily, Bought this book for your birthday. Which is also Valentine's Day. I will never be able to tell you that I love you. So I will never give this book to you. Sara."
Sara is your mother's name.
~
38. đ˛ A postcard of evergreens. A landscape you've only seen in photos.
You stash it in a notebook, stuff that in your bag.
"Over here," Michelle says. She grins, shimmies out of a space between leaning shelves. A box of double-A batteries. Meaning: jackpot.
~
39. 𼥠You bike to the pick-up.
It's a commissary in the middle of an industrial park. The guy at the counter says nothing. Just looks you up and down. He licks his lips.
"What's in this?" you ask, pointing at the takeaway pack.
"Meat," he says. He licks his lips.
~
40. đ The airships of Vo Langka are fish-shaped.
Carp and arowana are most common -- but advances in aeronautics have made wing-form (ie: stingray-like) aircraft possible.
You are a pilot. Today you will test the first ever flying machine made in imitation of a bird.
~
41. đ The boar charges your golf cart. The caddy veers onto the green.
Gunshots!
Your bodyguards down the beast. It came from the forest behind the golf course -- the one you've earmarked for clearing.
It's not the only forest creature that wants to murder you.Â
~
42. âťď¸ Your body slides into the furnace.
Your husband will pick through the ash and bones. Tomorrow he'll take a boat, sail a kilometre out, empty your urn in the sea.
The day after, silver pomfrets will school in a person's shape, and you will see the ocean.
~
43. ⨠It's a clear night. "Honey?" you call. "Come see!"
She whines -- you are tearing her from her work, she says. You insist. You point up.
Orion and the Dipper, the soft shine of the sickle moon.
"Wanna go for a walk?" you ask. She slips her arm into yours.
~
44. âď¸ The auto-pen you own is old. Picks up too much background chatter. The newer pens have noise-cancelling wards.
See? You've stopped dictating, but the pen is still writing:
"NO AH NO IT MOTHER PLEASE IT HURTS MAKE IT STOP"
Hell's not a good muse.
~Â
45. đ The transitcraft trembles as it descends on its pillar of plasma.
"Sorry you didn't make it," the pilot says. "Cosmofleet is not for everyone." He's trying to be kind. This does not help.
He leaves you on the pad. Here you are, with packed bags, back home.
~
46. 𤍠The librarian drags you under the counter, pale with terror.
You hear the tread of the logovore. The meaning-eater. Books impaled on its spines -- leeched of their ink, their substance, going see-through, disappearing.
It does that to humans, too.
~
47. đĽ You spit the fish cake out. From surprise, really. Because it is candy.
A confection of flour, sugar, pink food colouring, floating next to beef slices, on the oily surface of the noodles you ordered.
The kitchen makes you a new bowl. The chef is baffled.
~
48. đ°ď¸ Satellites no longer obey us.
Meteorology reverts to fortune-telling. Intelligence becomes earth-bound. Defense satellites play games of laser tag.
Broadcasting ends -- well, not really. When you turn on your TV it tells you: CALL YOUR MOTHER SHE MISSES YOU.
~
49. đż Where you buried your cat, something is already growing:
A fresh stem of basil, putting out its mild scent; its green, convex leaves.You pluck a leaf, put it in your mouth. Your cat jumps into your lap. You feel her scrape your finger with her tongue.Â
~
50. đ¸ The Weed Toad sprouts spiky fur filled with chlorophyll. Basically: it's a frog with grass on its back. It can be a pest.
When you step into your garden something squeaks.The toad jumps away, incensed. Its siblings hop off, too. Your whole lawn, leaving you.Â
~
51. đž Pixel Goblins are voxeloids, walking about in waking life. Refugees from a reality whose servers shut down two years ago.
They eat electricity. They line the sidewalk. "Hungry," the Pixel Goblin says. She looks at your phone, hopeful.
You have 11% battery left.Â
~
52. â´ď¸ "I am chaos!" the boy shrieks. "A conduit of magick!"
You can hear that hard "k" from here. Baldie in an Invisibles tee and factory-distressed jeans, thinks he knows magic? Please.
Then he pisses on your headstone. Which is rude. So you possess him.
~
53. đŁ Footprints, made with oil. They cut across the driveway, onto the grass, leaving rainbow sludge on some clovers. They turn the corner of your house.
You turn the corner, too.
In front of you, the prints have stopped, side by side. Their toes now face you.
~
54. đˇ In the middle of his emergency pandemic address, during a live broadcast, on national television --
The Prime Minister oinks.
He blinks. Clears his throat, looks at the teleprompter -- and oink-oink-oinks.
The PM's eyes blink tears. Then the broadcast cuts out.Â
~
55. đ Can we trust the moon?
See its phases -- the way it goes from a bright circle, wanes into a crescent, shuts completely, then opens again, waxing half into full --
Like a creature blinking: slowly, ever so slowly.
The moon has not looked directly at us. Yet.Â
~
56. đş You tuck a hibiscus in her hair. "It's pretty!" you say, before she reacts. "Plus it's patriotic."
She rolls her eyes.
Day after the party she wants to meet you. That makes you happy. She's not happy. The flower's driven a root into flesh, behind her ear.
~
57. đ This bowl of noodles, made from soup powder, desiccated ramen, the last remaining tomato in the fridge, one overcooked egg --Â
It's the most delicious thing you've ever tasted.
This shouldn't be possible. You cry. You'll never have anything this good again.
~
58. 𼌠"This," Mother says. "This needs to be half-size."
You know this moment. The kitchen was never your thing. You made an excuse and left to play videogames in your room. Two days later Mother died. Car accident.
This time you stay. You cut the floret in two.Â
~
59. đľ The Blood Prickle's blossom is prized by cities that border the Pebble Sea. Dried, smoked, its fume delivers accurate prophecies.
The Blood Prickle only blossoms when watered by the viscera of living creatures. You lead your herd of sheep into the desert.
~
60. đ¸ď¸ The bungalow is covered in gossamer, like a suitcase shrink-wrapped at the airport. Shreds stick to you, glue.
"Go away!" the bungalow's owner says. You see her eight eyes peer at you from a window.
"Babe, please," you say.
"Stop stalking me!" she shouts.Â
~
61. đź The ghost bear waddles across the plaza and through a wall.
They felled a forest to build this strip mall. But they did not exorcise its ghost. Ghost vines hang from the ceiling. Ghost trees fill changing rooms. In the car park a ghost brook babbles, incoherently.
~
62. đŻď¸ You blow out the candle. "Happy birthday!"
Your friends have grey hair. Others dance to Kelly's playlist. Something in your brain snaps -- you do not know how old you are.
There is only one candle on the cake. It tells you: you are however old you want to be.Â
~
63. đĽ At the bottom of an empty paint bucket in your backyard shed, you discover a giant millipede, dark red, curled into a spiral.
You name her Millie. Obviously.
You boyfriend is disgusted. Slightly jealous of the attention you allot her. He was always insecure.
~
64. đĄ The city is a shadow. Office towers in shards. Hypermalls with their skybridges broken. Collapsed nightclubs.
In the midst of all this, on an overgrown street, incongruously -- the smell of boiling soup. Fry-oil. Fish balls. A lok lok truck, greasy and pristine.
~
65. ⨠The light in her eyes die when you tell her to leave.
You lose your job at the production house. Once again, you are a freelancer. Interviewers pooh-pooh your portfolio.
You will learn how to draw again. Your muse was a crutch. You must do this on your own.
~
66. đŽ Everything is as kitschy as you expect. Fake-velvet curtains and tablecloth. A set of tarot cards from Etsy. Even a crystal ball!
But when the fortune-teller looks up and sees you, she says: "No no, out."
What?
"You. No. Get out," she says, afraid.Â
~
67. 𼾠Ten laps in the pool. Then you pant to the sauna.
Stones sizzle as you open the door. Somebody is here, already. You take the opposite bench. He has an athlete's thighs. Sweat on his obliques make them look oiled.
He looks you up and down. Smirks. Judges.
~
68. đ¨ď¸ In the kitchen Khan grunts. Khan being Khan, you think.
Sylvia comes in. She makes an oinking sound.
He grunts. She oinks again. Hoot-hoot. He hisses in reply. It appears to be a conversation.
Sylvia sees you staring. Waves a hand in your face, asks: "Moo?"Â
~
69. đš "They are going to hate me," she says, frowning around her tusks."
They are going to love you," you say.
In her nervousness she walks up to the microphone, no intro, just launches right into it. Her poem is electric. She is electric. And she is yours.
~
70. âď¸ Guards, gyrocopter patrols -- Coilhaus Atomworksâs compound is well-protected. Which is as you expected.
You didn't expect the hex-wards in the inner compound. When you set foot on the manager's balcony, the teak floor shrieks: INTRUDER INTRUDER INTRUDER HERE!Â
~
71. đ The Bum Under The Overpass jumps out. You yelp.
"Flee, peasant!" he growls. He reeks. He has a bin lid for a buckler, a brolly for a sword. "I shall shield ye against yon creature!"
You peer into the dark under the overpass -- and notice the hulking shadow there.
~
72. đ The captain wears a cutesy plastic skull on a silver chain. You don't think it fits with her camo grease, her fatigues.
"My daughter made this," she says.
You nod. You miss your son, too. All this -- the pay you earn, burning villages -- you do for your children.Â
~
73. 𦧠"Orangutan Kong". Some sort of gangster moniker?
No. Kong is actually an orangutan. He escaped from the Zoo, and started working in Goldtooth Tat's crew. As comic relief. Everybody who laughed at him is dead now.
If you want to work for him you should know.Â
~
74. đ§ The robot ploughs through Market Street. Tiles scatter like confetti; cars are stomped flat. Pressure in your ears -- a thunder clap! The police van up the road explodes.
"There!" your partner shouts, pointing. A brain in a glowing jar, in the robot's belly.Â
~
75. đ You grew up here.The broom, the hair -- the chairs, Naugahyde over industrial frames. The mirrors, angled slightly, either side leading into infinity. The sink where Uncle Kuppu rinsed his razors and shaving brush.
Uncle Kuppu's gone. This place is yours, now.Â
~
76. âď¸ The alchemist stumbles backwards, knocks over a beaker.
"My formula," he whispers. "You're an assassin from the Bankersâ Guild? You can't have me turning lead to gold."
You shake your head. "No. I work with the Silversmiths' Guild. I'm here to protect you."Â
~
77. đ It is the fourth victim he has brought home.
They are always young, with tattoos. He restrains them, strangles them by the neck on the floor of his bathroom.
You watch, through your telescope. You should report him. But you like to watch them struggle.Â
~
78. âŠď¸ The way to Grand Andropolis is lined with 417 red gates -- each one for a glorious victory the Imperial Legions have won over lesser races.
Gate 412 marks the time they slaughtered your parents. You touch it, and swear quietly: you will burn Grand Andropolis.Â
~
79. đť The men at the big table drink beer, munch kuaci, laugh.
A woman with sunglasses arrives. The restaurant people tell her: "Kitchen closed already. Drinks?"
Just kuaci, she says.
She watches the men. When she bites the seeds open, you see long canines.
~
80. đ¤ You've never considered yourself technosexual. You thought robots cold. Then you met MARY-K8.
Her bright crystal optic sensors. Her omni-articulated limbs. Her way with words:
"HEY HUMAN USER," she synthesises. "HEART-UNIT NOT FOUND. PERHAPS YOU HAVE IT?"
~Â
81. đŚ "The job is a museum," your master sighs. "Museum's are the worst."
You ask him why.
"We are exorcists, dumb-dumb! You know how many things the damn spirit can hide in? Can throw at us?"
When you master sees the T-rex skeleton in the atrium, he sighs again.Â
~
82. đ Treaties signed between the Yun Empress and the Princes of Elemental Wood have resulted in the Type-4 Rhizomic Footsoldier --
A stiff, lanky construct; needing only sun and soil; grown in vast groves; with souls of bamboo and therefore without mercy ...
~
83. đ§ââď¸ Each year, the mer send an emissary to bargain with the dry world.
The tide swells, then withdraws just as quick, leaving a carriage of driftwood and flowering coral --
"Dammit!" a voice says. Rattling, from within. "Door's stuck!" A sigh. "Some help, please?"Â
~
84. đ§ "You're always going on about life hacks. So here," Mark says.
His gift is a book. "Telekinesis In 100 Days", its title says.
Mark smirks. "Enjoy!"
You'll show the bastard! It's just day 13. Already you can toss 50-cent coins with a lift of your eyebrow.Â
~
85. đŻ The footmen blow their horns. The herald crows: "The Tyrant and Lady van Sur!"
They descend the stairs. The man frail, tubes stuck up his nose; the woman in silk, her wig so heavy it is held up by grav-suspensors --
One push of your remote, and the suspensors fail.
~
86. 𼜠You jolt awake. Ice is pressed to your ankle -- no, chilled skin. A toenail. Feet.
"Jesus. Your feet."
His apology is a snorted murmur. He curls further, pressing into the heat of your belly. His hair tussled, smelling of lavender.
What's his name? Can you remember?
~
87. đŞ The heavy door is shut. Padlocked. Your lock sprite shakes her head. "Mechanism's rusted solid."
Your spell-dwarf grumbles. "Lead brackets, see? Shock hex won't work."
"Lemme try," your slip-spirit squeaks. Flattens itself, slips under.
Doesn't came back.Â
~
88. đľ The Saguaro Sea is a vast tangle of sole-cutting rock, thorny brush, towering cacti broad as hillforts.
Here is found the Weeping Roc -- whose cry is a woman wailing; who steals children to feed its blind, featherless chicks.Children like your six-year-old.Â
~
89. đ Flamenco star Magritte Tanaka's talent is such that people say it is more than just grace and training.
They say she made a bargain. When she dances a devil helps her; plays her like a puppet on strings.
Truth is he forces her. She never wanted to dance.
~
90. đ¸ You stole the keytar of synth legend Razzak Luminem from the Museum of Sidereal Art last month.
Tonight you host its auction. Many have shown up: demon worshipers; glamrock stars; violist perverts; members of the Critics' Cartel -- troublemakers.
Watch yourself.Â
~
91. đââď¸ To fear the sky falling is silly --
Except in Fading Dassho, whose most dilapidated districts sit twilit under an obsolete stellar shield, its support struts increasingly ancient and tottery. A shutter collapsed, just last week -- shattering six thousand souls.Â
~
92. đ¤ We sent unmanned drones through the Hell-portal; we assumed exposure to Ultimate Evil would be bad for the human psyche.
All moot, it turned out. Because drones are robots -- and, you know, that cliche about robots turning bad, turning KILL ALL HUMANS?
Well.Â
~
93. đď¸ A manor-turned-hotel, on a cliff, with a history of homicide? TrueCrimeFest 2018's organisers could not resist.
Three days of signings, panels, cosplay -- and a podcaster found garroted in her room.
Horrible! Horrible. (But, really: Best. TrueCrimeFest. Ever.)Â
~
94. 𤪠The Rictus Worm causes paralysis. Distorts the muscles of the face.
Your eyes pop, your tongue hangs lolling. You speak drool and sputters. You try the chirurgeon. He thinks you are fooling. Kicks you out.
The Rictus Worm is rare. You feel it in your nape.
~
95. đ One by one the stars disappear. Without their light -- were they ever there?Constellations vanish, nebulae fade. The moon hangs alone in the night sky.
Only our sun and its huddling planets remain. An isolated, solipsistic, self-obsessed apocalypse.Â
~
96. đ¤ She welcomes you with open arms. "Happy you're home, Ah Boy," she says, kissing you, Tears on her cheek transferring to yours.
She is your mother; she calls you Ah Boy. Return appropriate amounts of affection. Your mission depends on how well you fool this woman.Â
~
97. đ
ąď¸ The mark is made in red ink. The letter "B". Not so bad, outsiders might think --but yours is an euphemistic society.
This is the Competency Test, through which all citizens are streamed. An "A" means you get to stay above-ground. A "B" sends you Below.Â
~
98. đĄ Anna gets into the pod before you. The ferris wheel begins to turn.
Travelling carnivals! Holdovers from a previous world, now surmounted by app-stores. You don't get the appeal. It's not even ironic --
High up, in the pod, Anna kisses you.
Now you get it.Â
~
99. âď¸ You still remember your wonder --
A bright blue star, trailing a bright line, bisecting the sky. Staring at it would spoil your eyes, they said.
In your cockpit, as the countdown begins, you think: now you will be a bright blue star. There will be a young girl on the ground, watching.
~Â
100. đĽ When you halve the avocado you don't find a seed. You find a tiny baby.
It is curled up foetal. It is the colour of mahogany. It fusses slightly -- then starts into a full-blown caterwaul; big droplets of blood well from where your rough knifework has nicked it.
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[Source to Anthony Kwan to the photograph taken above]
Right now, Hong Kongers are protesting against Chinaâs attempts to pass the Extradition laws in Hong Kong, which will potentially give China the power to âextradite political opponents without local legislative oversightâ outside of their immediate domain (mainland China). [Source, The Washington Post]
That means China will be able to entrench and rid of Hong Kong politicians, protesters, and activists who are against Chinaâs political invasion. China will be able to dismantle Hong Kongâs political independence more easily for if the Extradition laws are passed, Hong Kong would be forced to hand over such individuals (more or less deemed âenemies of the stateâ by Chinaâs government) to China and be punished by Chinaâs terms without any say by Hong Kongâs jurisdiction.Â
I have decided not to put the more graphic images and videos on to this post because I understand not everyone is able to stomach blood or want to reblog an âunpretty post.â But please give me a bit more of your time if you would like to gain something out of reading this as it appears everyone nowadays likes to be cratered to and have a gain in everything.
Here are links to articles that give a great overview of the stakes and what is going on.
The Washington Post:Â 1Â 2Â The Guardian:Â 1 Bloomberg News: 1 CNN:Â x Hong Kong Watch @ twitter.
CBSN has a great news video that gives you a sense of what is going on:
youtube
In light of this issue, Iâll be the first one to say, I am guilty of turning a blind eye to international issues occurring in the world, but this time...I felt something slap me in the face.
I was first made aware of this issue by watching my friend post videos onto her instastory, and Iâm just laying in my bed watching videos and seeing images of protesters getting bloodied by riot SWAT sent to dissipate peaceful protesters. They were exhausted, but not from getting beaten up, tear gassed, and being threatened by the SWAT -- they were exhausted because no matter how much they tried to reason with people behind the plastic wall, they were unheard.Â
Hong Kong wants to keep their civil freedoms and they know that China will take them away. As someone, myself, who has visited Mainland China will tell you, the censorship over there is not to be trifled with. You canât access Tumblr, Google, Google Maps (any apps that run on Googleâs interface), Facebook, Youtube without a good and reliable VPN. China does this to make it easier to control over the people they govern and feed them the information they want to. China will ban keywords and phases from web searches if they find it necessary. For example, they recently banned Winnie-the-pooh from web searches because a comparative meme was undermining Xi Jinpingâs image (Chinaâs President). Laughable as that may sound, it goes to show how far Chinaâs government will go in order to maintain their image, their dominance, and their power over people.
Videos of violence subjected upon Hong Kong protesters are numerous, but what hit home to me was when one mom finally stood up against a throng of SWAT, just her in this dark grey and yellow mist from all the gas that had been released....just her crying in the middle of the empty road and torn.....and screaming and pleading to the SWAT to stop. She was so emotionally broken down, but she was still trying to get some sense into the SWAT. [video with translations] And I cannot stop my tears from rolling down my face every time I watch it. And itâs not because I understand Cantonese that makes it more heart wrenching, itâs because I too have been in a similar state like hers when Iâve been so emotionally drained in an argument that all I have left is the volume of my voice -- yelling in frustration because reason and words no longer reaches the other side. It must have been even more taxing on her throat considering how hazy the air is from gas, how dried out it must be. How much strength and anguish must one feel to stand up to yell despite your safety, to stand up against something you know is wrong and get shot point blank. Rubber bullets or not, the protesters have done nothing to deserve that sort of treatment.
I could not ignore her pleads. She knocked sense into me, those kids she mentioned, I could have been one of them. I cried. I cried because a part of me felt like she was defending me too. She isnât anyone special, guys. She could be anyone we know right now defending for civil rights and defending you because she cares. Perhaps I am readily rallied to the cause in understanding how important that part of the world is to me, and I admit my own hypocrisy. Iâve ignored other causes before, and âohâ at things....but I can now see how these issues can hit closer to home than you would like to think.
Hong Kong is an example that your liberties can be compromised anywhere in the world even in first-world nations.
What you must understand is.... Although Hong Kong is not a nation, it has had itâs own government and laws that make it possible for them to govern themselves and keep their own civil liberties, which is a stark contrast from how China governs their nation, which has heavy censorship and will take necessary action to maintain a firm grip and control over its people. China had already started to overstepped the political boundaries before the Extradition Laws, but now theyâre at a huge turning point.
Let me put things into perspective, if you live somewhere largely metropolitan or a place that has democracy, imagine everything around your city or town is not a democracy and is threatening to take away your civil liberties with a law that will cut through your government proceedings. And so you attempt to overturn this with all the power you still retain, but your city is now under martial law. That is essentially what Hong Kong is like right now.
Hong Kong is a very metropolitan place like New York City, and in some ways even more metropolitan and stream lined than the Big Apple (I can say this cause Iâve visited Hong Kong, and live in NYC). Hong Kong also has many businesses and a strong presence in the global market. But now imagine this liberal and booming spot like New York City being swallowed up by a communist nation, who could fathom such thing? But it is very real and happening right now. It is almost too surreal, right? But Big Brother is watching.
To go back to what I promised you earlier, what do you have to gain from reading what is going on?Â
The answer is:Â R E S I S T A N C E
We may not be able to fly to Hong Kong and join them in their fight, but I donât want innocent people to keep getting hurt without being heard. China has a media black out on the issue within their nation because they donât want their own people to turn against them, and if they could, they would have wanted to black out media internationally.Â
In addition to hurting protesters:
Yes, theyâre arresting protesters in hospitals.
And China is going to great lengths to do this because passing the Extradition Laws will be very beneficial.Â
In educating yourself in the issue, you have become more aware and less likely to turn away from a future issue that is similar. I understand that it is incredibly emotionally taxing to emphasize with a cause that is quickly becoming violent, but you do yourself a personal favor in resisting evils rampant in society and in the world.
When thereâs a bully in school and you see them hurting someone smaller than them, but that smaller person keeps getting up over and over again to get beaten down. Wouldnât you want that smaller person to win for sticking up for themselves?
But all right, letâs say you too are weaker than that bully and you canât help the victim, what can you do?
You enlist help from other people. You tell other people about what is going on. You rally help from other people. Even if that bullyâs parent is the principal for that school and is a complete tyrant, who can defend the tyrant from the scorn and criticism from everyone around them?Â
Chinaâs government is that bully. Itâs wrong to act that way and they know it and they want you to remain ignorant of it and turn a blind eye. They want you, the international viewer, to look away from theyâre doing and what business they have with their own people. They donât want you to judge to them. They donât want your opinion. They donât want you to intervene in what theyâre building up to. And Chinaâs government is not an evil entity per say, but their intentions have definitely hurt people and continually oppressed them. The evil Iâm referring to specifically is what is latent within the intention of said oppression and the result from it -- that terrible core infesting within the intention.Â
Hereâs what I want you to take away from reading this far: I want you to become someone more aware of what is going on and be in on the resistance. You may not think you play a role, but pressure from a mass of people, even a silent one, can be a true presence and menace to a regime that is trying to scramble to rise as a superpower in the world. I want that bully, that system to feel the pressure of the world staring at it and feel that pressure pressed on them, applied onto them with a even firmer stance than their own, to halt its control and pressure them to change.Â
But even more so....I donât want the protestersâ cries to go unheard. They are fighting and the worst thing that could happen to them now is not being jailed, but to be jailed or killed without any one knowing why because no one gave a damn. That would be the greatest dishonor to what they are trying to accomplish.
It is because we are privileged enough to sit here comfortably behind a screen that we should give a damn. Because we are privileged to live in a nation that still allows us to have the freedom of speech that we must see to it that these protesters are heard and acknowledged in their attempts to keep the same rights we simply just have.Â
I know that I do not have a very large following, but I cannot sit around and do nothing about it. With the little influence that I have, I hope to spread this news to at least 10 people and then that ten can spread to 2 or 5 or another 10, but to remain silent would definitely be the wrong choice.
So, Iâm not writing this as to plead, but for you to take one step back to look at the larger picture and then take one step forward towards a collective path for peace and civil rights for all. Just knowing what they stand for is already a big step forward. Because one day when youâre in pain youâll want someone to be there to help as well. If youâre fighting for a good cause, you would want someone to hear you too because that would mean your efforts were acknowledged.
And Hong Kong isnât the only one being targeted by Chinaâs government, thereâs still Taiwan which is another state/nation that has been trying to keep Chinaâs government away from taking its political Independence. China also monitors ethnic minorities within mainland China in order to keep order and the status quo in check. Thereâs a lot at stake for millions of people and weâre not completely isolated from their issue. Because again...China is a rising superpower and they have some skeletons in their closet that they donât want outsiders to dish out and criticize them for.
Finally, I will end with this post with a video from laowhy86, an American Youtuber who lives in China whose sentiments are similar to my own. He elaborates more on why the protest is crucial and how scary the situation is by discussing the Tienanmen Square incident:
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Feel free to comment, add links to the post that could help others understand more of what is going on, like, and reblog.
Or you can reblog this post that is more pleasant to look at if you donât want this hefty post on your blog.
Thank you for your time, I hope you have gained some more sympathy and empathy....and hope in this world because I have so much respect for the Hong Kong protesters. I certainly feel more grateful for the rights I have while others struggle to keep theirs.
Edit: I added this video from serpentza who elaborates more on the implications and how surreal it is for a place like Hong Kong, one of the most influential economic hubs in the world, is being taken and wither away by Chinaâs Government:
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#su talks#hong kong extradition law#hong kong#hong kong protests#hongkongxextradiationlaws#extradition laws#civil rights#civil liberties#i stand with hong kong
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