#as with all the comics i wish it was longer. the art is so beautiful and too easy to take in all at once😩

[bravenot]

happy birthday asexuals 💚🤍🩶🖤🩶🤍💜

[komaniyaexpress]

— is this .. me?! .. ♪

sagau — they find a piece of artwork made by the creator; of .. them.

— featuring furina, wanderer, freminet, and neuvillette .. ♪

cw. none wc. 200-400 ea.

furina

it goes without saying .. furina is ecstatic. i mean.. why wouldn’t she be? she wouldn’t make this known, however, because “of course you’re going to wish to capture my enthralling beauty on paper — it’s only fair when faced with such divine radiance!” inside.. she’s a mess. her widened eyes flit over every tiny detail, every little stroke of the pen or paintbrush. “enthralling beauty”, she says, “divine radiance”, she says — but is she truly talking about herself or the way you interpreted her? never in all the centuries she’d been alive would she admit this, but she couldn’t help but feel as if you had made her look much more ethereal than she truly was. she does make it known that she likes it, though. when you turn away from her and murmur something about how you’re not the most proud of this particular piece, she scoffs indignantly. “what? how— ugh, how could you ever say such a thing? do you dare question my judgement?!” she leans back against the couch, hardly able to focus on the taste of the small pastry half-eaten in her hand. she’s incredibly grateful it’s only you two alone, because she has an entirely embarrassing blush upon her face as she chews.

wanderer

“.. seriously?” he kind of just.. glares at it. i’m sorry, but i don’t really know what you were expecting. depending on the kind of mood he’s in, he’ll either simply cast it aside without a second glance or attempt to mockingly chew you out over it. it doesn’t matter whether he actually likes it or not; he is not going to let you live it down. he’s not amused, but i can’t really imagine him actually getting upset about it either. he’ll scoff, maybe roll his eyes if he’s feeling generous enough, then go about his day without another thought to it. even with his nonchalant, near-annoyed demeanor over the whole thing, when you’ve left and he’s alone — he looks for it again and stares at it like he didn’t get to before. as his eyes travel the lines that form a quite accurate depiction of his visage — implying you spent a lot of time looking at him — he can’t help but wonder why, of all people, you chose him as your muse. he does.. appreciate the sentiment, though, even if he’ll never voice it. he catches himself before he spirals. it doesn’t matter, he reminds himself. with a huff, he sets it down again and crosses his arms, trying to ignore the fact it does indeed make him feel.

freminet

if you were expecting anything other than freminet being an absolute mess.. you’d be sorely mistaken. of course, he’s not upset at all. he’s just.. very, very embarrassed. he loves your art, he does. he doesn’t want you to misconstrue this, and makes sure you know it’s not your problem, but his own. make sure to reassure him. the moment he lays his eyes upon it, it’s evident; his eyes widen almost comically, and, suddenly, he has the surely inexplicable urge to run for his life. that wouldn’t be fair to you, though, so he bites it back and forces himself to stay put. the gears whir in his mind like he’s a piece of the machinery he holds so dear. he doesn’t know how to thank you — should he thank you? he doesn’t know what to say at all, more like. he clears his throat, unable to get any words out; his mouth goes dry and his heart practically beats out of his chest, all the while he’s looking just as frozen in time as your rendition of him. he lets out an audible sigh of relief when you reassure him that he doesn’t need to speak. he can’t handle you when you stare at him like this, and asks if you’d be okay with him putting on his diving helmet. once you’ve given him your permission — which you reiterate he doesn’t need — he quickly places it over his head, letting out a soft sigh of relief when you can no longer see his face. his gaze doesn’t leave the art, not for a moment. he stands still and stares at it, unable to tear his eyes away from the lines that, somehow, paints a clear picture of.. him. that you made. he still does not make any move to talk, and he’s very glad that you’re so understanding. eventually, he murmurs an apology, and through the lump in his throat, reassures you that (if there was ever any doubt), he likes it.

neuvillette

it was raining. it had been raining all day. naturally, this worried you, and your first thought was to check up on neuvillette. exhausted yet unchanging, neuvillette sifted through his paperwork without taking a single break to rest. however, all things must, and eventually, his tire overcame him — letting out a sigh, he placed his palm upon his forehead and leaned into it, his eyes fluttering closed. it took him a moment to open them again, but when he finally did.. after such a long day, eyes sore with the strain of reading fine print jammed together so thickly the pages looked more inky than ivory, the last thing he expected was to see was a piece of blank paper on his desk. curious, he picks it up and flips it over, assuming it to be more writing on the other side — only to be met with.. himself, staring right back at him. the neuvillette now is slightly slouched over, eyes drooping with the weight of an unrelenting week. he’s unable to see his true reflection — in a mirror or water, not a near-perfect version of him on paper — so he couldn’t really tell, but even so, he can’t help but feel as if this version of him must appear much more composed. he pushes the thought away, stares at the piece a bit closer, and he eases a bit. not only was it a splendid break to the monotony of monochromatic paperwork, it was made by you. it’s now that you walk into the room. in a split second, you realize what he’s holding. you blink. he smiles, gentle and soft. the rain stops pouring.

[kitterkat100]

My thoughts on Dragon Age: The Veilguard

So, I finished datv yesterday and now have time to sit and think about it. Now, obviously this is just my subjective opinion, so take it with a grain of salt. I am going to start with the good and go into the bad and then finish with more good (that teacher training coming in). Also, I learned how to do a read more for this.

I am going to start with the combat. I have made another post about this, but that was like 3 hours into my first playthrough. Veilguard has the best combat in the series. Usually Dragon Age games have combat that is a slog to get through, so much so that many people in the fandom say they don't play the games for combat but for the story. I have never been a fan of the real-time with tactical pause, I find it a little boring. I am not a big fan of turn-based, to begin with ( that is one of the reasons I still have not finished Baulder's Gate). In the past, if I wanted to play a good story game with fun combat, I would play Mass Effect. But I have fun just fighting enemies, if DAI's combat was this fun I would replay it more often.

Next the art direction. Now, I am no artist and I know next to nothing about anything. But I really like the art. I think the environments are beautiful. I like the character models. I know people were complaining about the models having small heads in the lead-up to the release, but I think it was because the game doesn't use heroic proportions. And you don't notice in-game at all, at least I didn't. Also the brought back some reused assets from the Inquisition, and some of the paintings that have been around since Origins.

Okay the companions. I might write a longer post for each companion later on. I am going in alphabetical order.

Bellara: I romanced her, and I love her so much. She has some strong Tali vibes with a strong dose of ADHD. I am a little sad that we did not even kiss until after the final battle, but I just read that as her being ace or demi (like me!).

Davrin: He is such a bro. I love him and Assan so much. His banter with Emmrich is so funny. The ending to his story line is a little weak, but I will talk about that in his own post.

Emmrich: I think Emmrich is one of the best companions in the whole series, flat out. I love this man, he going to be my next romance (Female Qunari Grey Warden).

Harding: Harding is great. I really liked all of the Titan stuff in her storyline. I did get her killed, so I am not sure what her ending is like. I did think her romance with Taash was cute.

Lucanis: I'm going to say it. I think Lucanis is the weakest of the companions, I don't dislike him. I don't if I missed a lot of content because I saved Minrathous instead of Treviso or if it was because his writer got canned during development. And what he did have felt bare bones. I thought we would be dealing with Spite a lot more. I will say his recruitment mission is a blast.

Neve: I played a Shadow Dragon so my character had a lot of in common with Neve. I like her, but I don't have any strong feelings towards her one or another. Her romance with Lucanis is a thing that happens. I might change my mind when I get around to romancing her.

Taash: I am cis, so take this with a grain of salt. But I think their storyline about being non-binary was oddly paced. I did like everything past that, I think it was much better paced. I do like them a lot. Also, they are really cute with Harding. I do wish there was more of a reaction to me getting Harding killed on Tearstone Island, but that is a writing complaint.

Speaking of the writing. It is really a mixed bag. Some of it is great and then some of it was giving slop comics from the mid-00s. The first several hours are story slog, some of that is because of all the lore dumps, and some of it is because it is oddly paced. The writing gets progressively better throughout the game. From the point of no return to the credits it is the strongest writing, maybe not in the whole series but definitely since the last third of DAI. That after-credit scene was a choice. I will probably talk about that more after I figure out how I feel about it. I think Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nan are the strongest villains since Loghain, it really helps that they are present throughout the game. There are definitely moments where you feel that Rook is HR, but not a lot, but enough that I understand why that made it into some reviews. I don't think it is any more quippy or Marvel-like than any other Dragon Age game, "Swooping is bad" comes to mind.

Finally, some random thoughts. I think this game really nailed the horror of the Blight, I can't get the image of Bellara wrapped in Blight tentacles during the final section out of my head.

I played a non-mage elf shadow dragon, and there was a lot of reactivity for the shadow dragon part, less the elf part. I know I missed a conversation with Tarquin about it, but still. It's like no one even noticed the pointy ears.

That's it for now. I might add more as think about it.

8/10, I had a blast.

[raycatzdraws]

I'm gonna put this here and then probably make it private but I want to say

There's discussion happening in the LU fandom so if you don't care for that scroll on:

But, I love creating with the LU fandom. I don't create in a void. My work is a conversation. I hope that it inspires you to create, to think, to chat with friends! Thank you to everyone who's shared their art and let me be a part of it, and to everyone who's played a part in mine!

to copy paste something I've said on my main:

isn’t it interesting that there’s Jojo’s LinkedUniverse and then also the LinkedUniverse fandom’s LinkedUniverse? That LU became a conduit through which to examine and compare and contrast Zelda games with this cast of characters as a base? That was their original intention and the fans went “heck yeah!” and ran with it? The LinkedUniverse fandom’s LinkedUniverse is a monster of the week story where everyone contributes, it has hundreds of authors and storytellers all working together and trading tales. It’s a scenario in which Jojo’s LinkedUniverse is both the source material and also just one instance in the larger weave. And the LinkedUniverse fandom’s LinkedUniverse lore deviates from (and is much deeper than imo) that of the original comic mainly because of that 1 person building a thing vs hundreds of people building a thing. And isn’t that so cool? But then also with the decline of the fandom I dunno I feel like the LinkedUniverse fandom’s LinkedUniverse has been dying. Updates would spawn a burst of creativity and multitudes of branching ideas and what-if scenarios explored through art and fic and discussion, building on it, adding it in to pre-existing stories. I feel that activity around updates has been ticking more towards exploring the comic within the context of the comic itself (or just reposting clips), and less within the fandom’s takes on it (not taking that step forward of “yes, and,” and “yes-anding” fanworks as well.) Or not updates in particular, but the state of the fandom is deviating from taking this base and running and sharing to something more controlled and wary? Isolated? The LinkedUniverse fandom is a phenomenon to me. And it’s not something I think should be replicated in regards to other LinkVerse comics but it’s also something beautiful and creative? Like, Jojo to a certain extent has or had lost control of the fandom’s versions of these characters. She made them and we respect her wishes for them but they no longer belong to her? The LU fandom’s LU is a collectively written LinkVerse and exploration of the loz games, using these characters and relationships as a base (which is why I think people mistag by accident so much.) Sure, you could use the characters directly from the games or make your own LinkVerse to explore the relationships between the loz games. However, within the context of the LU fandom, you get the advantage of the template already being there for the character’s personalities, meeting, secrets, and an open ended goal, and these things are understood by a large number of invested people, leading to this huge collaborative project. This is what’s so special about the LinkedUniverse fandom to me. Watching this thing be built and getting to be a contributing piece of it. Maybe it shouldn’t have happened. Like, if something like that were to happen to anything I’ve made I think that’d be really scary. But it’s also something incredible? It’s why I have a hard time accepting it when people say they hate the LU fandom. How could you hate the creativity? The shared stories? What’s been made? Isn’t it incredible? It’s another LinkVerse, in a way, one that belongs to many. I'm frustrated by the instances where people have tried to police the way the characters are written, both within the fandom and towards Jojo’s comic, and the issues in communication, and callout posts asjhfksdf Problems in reconciling the LU fandom’s LU, Jojo’s LU, other LinkVerses, and gen loz. But the phenomenon of the fandom itself, the shared collaborative LU fandom’s LinkedUniverse? I think it’s such a cool thing. I think it’s such a cool way to explore and examine the loz games and craft stories with so many other people. I really enjoy all the LinkVerses that are around now. I don’t think the fandom for LU is something that can be replicated. (or should?) (it’s both something odd and a loss of control for Jojo but also a conduit for an incredible amount of creativity and community.) It’s really interesting to me. It’s really interesting to witness. Or to have witnessed?

and now tired rambling, but,, aaa

What I love about the fandom is seeing ideas and headcanons and art and fic be shared and then built upon. The community projects! The LU Zine. The valentine's day cards! The artist and writer appreciation projects! The weekly polls and prompts from the main LU server! The master door post! Long haired Sky! Tick-tac-toe on Legend's forehead! Crop top Roolie! Cheer up buttercup! Seeing small headcanons being adopted into fanon lore and being able to watch that progression. Seeing these tropes develop and being a contributing part of it! It's something we're building together and watching that happen in real time is so special! Again, it's that 1 person building a thing vs hundreds of people building a thing that is so alluring to me.

The creators, and analysis folks, and people who leave comments and nice tags: I see you as my peers! I want to create with you! I'd love to participate in collabs and trades! I haven't been able to be involved as much as I want because of a lack of spoons. But, I admire so many of the people here. Thank you all so much for sharing what you've made! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it! Thank you for supporting me and my silly ideas for these characters! My art is a conversation and I approach what the LU fandom's made in the same way. It's not content to be consumed. It's an open hand. I'm so grateful to those who have taken it. You've inspired me to create. It's the greatest honor if I'm able to do the same for you. I want to keep making things with you guys.

(To anyone who's made fanart for fic and vice-versa, to anyone's who's seen a headcanon and let the poster know that it's changed how you view the characters, to anyone who's contributed game information to analysis, to those answering asks and doing requests? ya'll are the best keep it up!)

[allfortheslay25]

Please tell us your merman au world-building!!!!

I love your art man it’s fucking gorgeous to look at and that comic downright made my day <3 <3

I love talking about my world building so thank you 🙏

I write sirens and mermaids as two different but similar specifies in most of my worlds. Depending on which world ur looking at, these attributes can vary. But let’s look at the one for the AFTF au I made

Sirens are assumed to be evil, flesh eating, inhumane creatures. Most people and merfolk believe them to be unintelligent with just the need to kill

Mermaids are considered beautiful singing seducers who can grant you wishes

Most of this is true. However sirens do sing to lure humans to feast on but it’s only for the need to live and eat. Mermaids drown people for fun.

A sirens diet includes humans, large fish/sea creatures, and sometimes each other or merfolks. Sirens are somewhat naturally bewitching and beautiful. They have natural singing voices and can camouflage, make illusions over their bodies to lure prey, and shapeshift slightly (can change color, size, sex)

Mermaids eat normal sea life like fish, squid’s and even some ocean plant life. They don’t have natural singing voices (some mermaids cannot sing but can imitate the sounds of sea life) they tend to be natural beauties but not in a magically alluring way that sirens are

Sirens tend to be skinny, lean, and small. However not all of them are this way. There are few sirens who can have longer and thicker tails.

Their petiteness is usually to help them swim away fast. Being smaller than most of their prey they need to be able to get away quickly.

Mermaids tend to be thicker, broader, with larger tails. Some mermaids can be small and petite too.

Since they do not have sharp enough teeth or fangs, nature provided their heavy tails to defend themselves and to kill prey. The tails can crack open a head under water within seconds, all it takes is a flick of their tails.

Sirens have retractable claws on their usually bony webbed fingers. They can lengthen at amazing speeds and are used to kill prey

Mermaids have blunter nails since their appearances are very human. Their hands aren’t always webbed, some mermaids have webbed fingers some don’t

Sirens have gills in four sets of places; the neck and ribs. Being deeper sea creatures they require the extra gills to breathe.

Mermaids only have the two sets on their ribs. Mermaid gills close and seal when out of water. Mermaids can breathe above water so once their gills touch the air they seal so their noses can do all the breathing instead

Mermaids have normal human like teeth with slightly sharper canines. Otherwise their teeth are flat, meant to grind plants.

Sirens have at LEAST two rows of teeth. Their teeth are razor sharp and can be jagged like a sharks. Sirens can have up to 4 rows of teeth at max. After the first set, their teeth get smaller in their mouth

Their tongues can be forked, tendrils with suction cups, or just normal human looking.

More facts:

Sirens tend to make their scales sparkle to attract prey.

They mostly live in the dark and their eyes adjust depending on the light around.

Sometimes a Sirens sclera (white of the eyes) turn black. When this happens it heightens their sights to recognize heat signatures instead of images.

Sirens are intersex, born with either male or female reproductive organs. They tend to value reproduction since their species is prone to dying so easily.

Sirens can be clingy when they have children. They value being with their children more than hunting and will prioritize their young over anything. Sirens rely on a mate at this time to do all the hunting so they can stay with their child

When a siren reaches a certain age their mothers (not only female presenting) lose interest and abandon them

Sirens don’t always form pods and are usually solitary creatures. Pods are either formed by family, mates, or the strong

Mermaids are lazy. They spend all their time grooming themselves, playing, and sunbathing

They care too much about their looks

A mermaids tail can be decorated/decorative which a mermaid takes pride in. They use them to attract mates. A mermaid will beat a big sea creature to death to prove their hunting skills and groom their tail to show their allure

Mermaids mate for life. Sirens do not. They also don’t breed as often as sirens since they don’t die as easily

Mermaids mostly form pods. They value strength in numbers. There is a hierarchy system in their pods (sirens do not have a hierarchy system but they can if they choose to do so)

Mermaids are social creatures

Mermaids can mimic the voices of humans. Sometimes they mimic the voices of sailors loved ones so they can drown them. It’s like a game. Mermaids love games

Mermaids can partially control the ocean; create whirlpools and summon sea creatures. Some powerful mermaids can summon storms and cause tsunamis but it’s rare

Mermaids tend to be attracted to shiny things

If there are any follow up questions I’d love to answer !!!

[thatstoomanysausages]

So many goddamn babies‼️ (Tomodachi Life):

(Guys I think I’m a psychic or some kind of gifted creature because what do you mean a new life series has been my birthday (19/10) present two years in a row😍 (1st ep of Secret Life on 20th Oct, and newest life series ep on the 18th

NEVERMIND IT COMES OUT ON THE 19TH‼️‼️‼️ IM WINNING SO HARD RN YEAHHHHHHHHH)

Anyway

Bit of a short one, but…)

- NOT A FUCKINF DRILL

- JIMMY AND JOEL HAVE HAD THEIR CHILD

- ITS A BIY (mother fucker has a hell of a resting bitch face😭😭)

- LEWIS😭😭😭😭😭

- ANKTHWE CALL

- ANOTHER BABY

- WOAHHHH

- TWO IN ONE GO

- FROM PEARL AND REN THIS TIME

- A GURL

- GIRL

- SHES SO PRETTY LIKE HER BIG SISYER😭😭😭😭😭

- BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES GIVE HER SOME BROWN CONTACTS

- MILLIE😭😭😭😭

- SOBBINGGGGGGG

- GADDAMMNNNNN

- That was a rollercoaster🙂

- It’s been a couple weeks and now Millie is grown up😭

- BROTHER SHES GOT A COMICALLY LOW VOICE MAN

- LIKE CLINICALLY

- The slideshows of the kids growing up is so cute

- I was an absent father for the entire time

- Didn’t check in once

- She got the bowl cut as a kid😭 poor thing

- They end it with the fuckinf clip of the kid giggling. I’m so hormonal rn don’t even get me started

- Omg what a surprise🙂 guess who’s fighting😐

- Fucking Grian. Again.

- It’s with Joel

- TWO MONTHS

- Oop. I’ve been gone longer than a few weeks I guess😭😭

- Or I just didn’t visit him last time idk

- K they made up

- Poultry Man and Rendog friendship‼️‼️‼️

- I’ve been in London and shared a hotel room with my friend where I got fuck all sleep so Cleo’s new catchphrase is “cowabunga” when happy and I refuse to change it

- walked in on Grian making goo goo eyes at Scar😭 life imitates art ig

- the dreams these guys have are not verbally describable help I’m flinging a stickman hot guy around like crazy what

- “where have you been for three months” …good question😨

- I gave Hotguy car ears… he loves them

- just gave X a whole ass pineapple and he ate that mf whole🤨

- ETHO IS IN LOVE

- BIGB?????

- FUCK IT UP RAREPAIR

- yessss bitch wear a children’s bear t-shirt to your confession

- “I know more about you than you do, we should go out”

- …

- who’s gonna be surprised when I tell you it didn’t go well

- “I’m sorry” in a really echoed voice😨😭😭 PLEASEEEE

- damn they both went straight to sleep😭😭😭

- real

- wish that was me so bad rn

- I keep forgetting I put Martyn in a dress😭😭big ass ball gown

- never mind he wants to change

- yesssss a bikini

- he loves it😭😭😭😭😭

[silvermoon424]

My manga collection (October 2023)

I did a post detailing my manga collection back in 2021, but it's grown a lot since then so I figured I'd make a new post! It was also a good time to do so because we're repainting my room and while there's usually a ton of anime merch in front of the books on my shelves, now it's all been packed up. So there's a clear look at the books without me having to move anything, lol.

Anyway, without further adieu, here we go! My manga collection is largely shoujo (specifically magical girls) and horror manga.

Pet Shop of Horrors by Matsuri Akino

Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo by Matsuri Akino

The Clique by Yishan Li

Frozen II manga by Arina Tanemura

Dark Metro by Tokyo Calen and Yoshiken

Yokai Rental Shop by Shin Mashiba

Confidential Confessions by Reiko Momochi

Pichi Pichi Pitch (aka Mermaid Melody) by Michiko Yokote and Pink Hanamori

Magical Girl Site by Kentaro Sato

Reiko the Zombie Shop by Rei Mikamoto

Les Miserables (manga adaptation) by TszMei Lee

Nightmares for Sale by Kaoru Ohashi

Presents by Kanako Inuki

Mail by Housui Yamazaki

Dark Water by Meimu

Tale of a White Night by Tooko Miyagi

Goth by Otsuichi and Kendi Oiwa

Beautiful People by Mitsukazu Mihara

Attack on Titan: No Regrets by Gun Snark and Hikaru Suruga

In Clothes Called Fat by Moyoco Anno

A Girl on the Shore by Inio Asano

Bride of Deimos by Etsuko Ikeda and Yuuho Ashibe

Limit by Keiko Suenobu

Helter Skelter by Kyoko Okazaki

Dolls omnibus (in Japanese) by Yumiko Kawahara

Ibitsu by Haruto Ryo

A God Somewhere (Western comic) by John Arcudi and Peter Snejbjerg

Beauty (Western comic) by Hubert and Kerascoët

Ah! My Goddess by Kōsuke Fujishima

Only One Wish by Mia Ikumi

Higurashi When They Cry: Festival Accompanying Arc by Karin Suzuragi

Chronicles of the Grim Peddler by Lee Jeoun-A

PTSD Radio by Masaaki Nakayama

Elfen Lied by Lynn Okamoto

Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit by Motoro Mase

Happy Sugar Life by Tomiyaki Kagisora

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood by Hirohiko Araki

An Ojamajo Doremi artbook (in Japanese)

Mermaid Saga by Rumiko Takahashi

Dolls by Yumiko Kawahara

Maid-sama by Hiro Fujiwara

Franken Fran by Katsuhisa Kigitsu

Hell Girl by Miyuki Eto

Gurren Lagann by Kotaro Mori

Doll by Mitsukazu Mihara

Mantis Woman by Senno Knife

Various Sailor Moon artbooks from the anime, manga illustrations by Naoko Takeuchi, and fan artbooks

Sailor Moon Eternal Edition by Naoko Takeuchi

Sailor V Eternal Edition by Naoko Takeuchi

Puella Magi Madoka Magica by Hanokage

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story by Hanokage

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Wraith Arc by Hanokage

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Rebellion Story by Hanokage

Puella Magi Oriko Magica by Kuroe Mura

Puella Magi Oriko Magica: Sadness Prayer by Kuroe Mura

Puella Magi Tart Magica by Golden Pe Done

Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story by Fuji Fujino

Assorted PMMM and Magia Record artbooks

Pokemon Adventures (aka Pokemon Special) by Hidenori Kusaka and Mato/Satoshi Yamamoto. I own the complete set of the RBG, Yellow, GSC, FRLG, Emerald and HGSS arcs as well as a few volumes from the RS, DP, and Black/White arcs.

Various Pokemon 4koma (in Japanese)

Pokemon: I Choose You by Ryo Takamisaki

Phantom Thief Pokemon 7 by Miho Asada

The Rise of Darkrai by Ryo Takamisaki

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Adventure by Shigekatsu Ihara

The Electric Tale of Pikachu by Toshihiro Ono

The Art of Pokemon Adventures by Satoshi Yamamoto (both English and Japanese versions)

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team by Makoto Mizobuchi

Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea by Makoto Mizobuchi

Various Junji Ito Manga:

Dissolving Classroom

Fragments of Horror

The Liminal Zone

Sensor

Black Paradox

Gyo

Uzumaki

Tomie

Deserter

Tombs

Lovesickness

Smashed

Shiver

Frankenstein

Remina

Venus in the Blind Spot

No Longer Human

Twisted Visions (artbook)

Uzumaki coloring book

Uzumaki (original printing) by Junji Ito

Museum of Terror by Junji Ito

Soichi by Junji Ito

The Drifting Classroom by Kazuo Umezu

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency by Hirohiko Araki

Orochi by Kazuo Umezu

Be Very Afraid of Kanoko Inuki! by Kanoko Inuki

Wonderland by Yugo Ishikawa

Shadows House by Somato

I Had That Sane Dream Again by Yoru Sumino

Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki

Nightmare Inspector by Shin Mashiba

The Ring by Misao Inagaki

Wonder House of Horrors by Miyako Cojima

Puella Magi Suzune Magica by GAN

Puella Magi Kazumi Magica by Masaki Hiramatsu and Takashi Tensugi

Magia Record: Another Story by U35

I also have some manga in storage like Inuyasha and Kitchen Princess, but that's about it!

[invisibletoothpasteman]

Batman Day Comic Recommendation List

In honour of this day, I've compiled a list of 9 batman, or batman adjacent comics that I think everyone should check out (specifically fans who aren't super familiar with the comics yet). They're my "Batman Necessities" so to speak:

Batman by Grant Morrison: While there are certain some interesting things in this book that aren't really my favourite (a consequence of Morrison writing it), overall it captures such, for lack of a better word, camp. It's has the kind of creativity that makes silver age comics so fun while still remaining modern and serious. There are some great stories, it introduces Damian, and overall is just such a compelling run. In the same vein we get to...

Batman and Robin by Grant Morrison: Ok yeah this pretty similar to the above but I had to include both. I actual prefer this short series to Morrison's run on the main Batman book. It features Dick Grayson as Batman and Damian Wayne as Robin and is a great role reversal of the traditional Batman and Robin. The two of them have such a great dynamic and it takes place during such an interesting time in the Batman mythos with Bruces "death" (which I'll admit I wished lasted for longer. Honestly, any book from this era is a blast because of the brief change in the status quo.

Batman Vol. 1 #408-416, #421-425: If you're new to comics don't be intimidated by all the numbers! Batman 408 introduces Jason Todd's Post Crisis backstory and then the issues roll right up to his death. It's a pretty self contained story, and super easy to fly through. I think these are some of the most painfully underrated batman issues. Speaking of Jason's death, my next recommendation is...

Death in the Family + A Lonely Place of Dying: I won't say much because these are just classics and probably the most impactful comics for the Batman mythos ever. Read them.

Batman: Year One: If you want a good ol' Bruce Wayne Batman comic, this is the one. Beautiful art, timeless story, what's not to enjoy? It's also very influential for other Batman media(like The Batman movie) so if you liked that and want a good entrance into comics, this is a great place to start. It's a contained story too, which is really nice if you don't want to have to piece together stuff you missed from other comics. Definitly my favourite Frank Miller Batman story.

Nightwing Vol. 4 #78-: Sure, it's not Batman, but like it or not, Dick Grayson will always be an essential Batman character. Tom Taylor's and Bruno Redondo's run is a big hit for a reason. It's simultaneously fun, heartfelt, and impactful and the writing and art work so well together. It's such a treat to read every month and while it starts great, I feel like as it goes along it starts ironing out and issues I had with it. Great if you want to get into something ongoing (or even if you don't, read it anyways)!

Scott Snyder's Batman (specifically Batman vol 2. #1-12): New 52 was a tumultuous time in DC comics. On the bright side we got the court of owls out of it! Another really good Bruce Wayne Batman story that doesn't need any outside knowledge. I'm in love with Greg Capullo's art, it suits the series so well. The court of owls is such an interesting addition to batman, and honestly it feels like it's a much older part of the batman mythos it was added so seamlessly. If you want a taste of just a solid, simply batman story, this is it.

Batman and Robin by Peter J. Tomasi: This is some of the best New 52 has to offer. I love how Tomasi writes Damian, and I'm a sucker for his dynamic with Bruce. It's a just gives off the best, action packed comic fun vibes. When it's written well it's written WELL and even when it's not quite as perfect it's still solid. Lots of sweet moments too, which I am such a sucker for. And finally we get to the last rec on my list...

Robin: Son of Batman by Gleason (especially issues 1-6): Ok, yes yes I know it's not really a batman book. But just like Nightwing, Robin is an essential part of Batman and how could I leave out my favourite comic ever. Seriously, this book fundamentally changed me when I first read it. Gleason writing, Gray's art, and Kalisz's colouring all combine and complement each other so well. Honestly it's such a joy to look at, and get's even better when you read it. They get Damian, and he shines in this book. The story is tight and impactful and after only 6 issues you'll have such a deep appreciation for the character (and feel like you've been punched in the gut). I recommend everyone take a little bit of time to sit down and give this a read.

And so concludes my great batman recommendation post! Honestly, there's so many more that could be on here that aren't that the best piece of advice I have is pick up any Batman comic that looks interesting to you and give it a go. In all his years, Batman has had such range in his books that there really is something for everyone. Please feel free to add any necessities of your own!

[bun-parade]

So I started playing What in Hell is Bad?

The men are hot as hell (pun shamelessly intended), and they're all so unhinged and horny, it's great. It's also HILARIOUS and has had me rolling around cackling. The art is beautiful. I actually wish the load times between scenes would take longer so I could read the cute little one shot chibi comics they show you. I love the voice acting and the MOANS oh my GOD the moans.

The game does have some bugs though. Like it'll randomly forget your gender for a few lines, or suddenly switch to Spanish for a line. I also don't really care for the combat system you have to deal with to keep reading the story. The translation can also be kind of choppy at times.

The sex scenes and the Secret Club where you can tease your demon until he cums make up for the bugs, for me at least.

[foricecream]

Short Thoughts: Scarlet Nexus

Electric combat, sci-fi nihilism, gorgeous art - more than enough for me to consider Scarlet Nexus a gem of the locked-path, mashing JRPG genre.

I can't name another game where the fighting is this repetitive and this fun. I fought the same enemies again and again in mildly different patterns and numbers, but the SAS system, different chains and attack patterns, and slamming G for armor shatter cutscenes were all so, so satisfying. It's this kind of combat that made it easy to come back even after a lot of time away, and made the characters even more endearing because of how you had to rely on them individually or in combination during fights.

The story was almost beautiful. They told such a hopeless story with wonderful art, animated comic cutscenes, and great voice acting. I have several complaints about how a few of the grandiose plots were tied off and some overly convenient resolutions to genuine sadness, but will save them for a time where I feel like playing through Kasane's path from the start.

Even I've only followed Yuito, I wanted to like how Kasane and their relationship was written so much more, but the gap between the amount of opening up she did vs. how baller of a concept she represented was a bit too much for me. I felt like the side characters had more character development through their bond episodes than Yuito and Kasane. Though I still loved those moments where it was just the two of them running through the wilderness. Something beautiful in such sad emptiness. I wish those lasted longer.

Games like these remind me of things I want, of dreams I want to realize. I'm on my way, still holding my dreams. It's getting harder, I'm growing up, but I still haven't given up on the most ridiculous things, even after the hardest year of my life. The last three years have been pretty terrible, but something Scarlet Nexus really pushes is the idea that you can be loved and protected by people who you can no longer be with. And I'm starting to feel that come through.

Oh and the music was somehow both new and JRPG-classic. I'll recommend "Farewells." This soundtrack was different to me in that they fit the game really, really well, but don't feel as great listened to in isolation.

It's been a long time - I'm happy to be happy enough to play a game or watch a show to completion, and then full of healthy emotion enough to want to share my thoughts.

I hope you're doing well.

- For Ice Cream

[elvencantation]

blue's comic recs

@ori-flails inspired me to start making a list of these since ive been reading so many comics lately <3

self-hosted:

earthsong- my very first webcomic ever, sci-fi/fantasy? art style develops so much! the artist redid the first volume after finishing, so the second might be jarring cause its back to her older style

mias and elle- i love them so much. chaotic and fun fantasy romance

inverloch- like a fantasy epic. i miss it

ava’s demon- I HAVE BOTH VOLUMES AS PHYSICAL BOOKS I AM OBSESSED. SCIFI WITH THE MOST UNIQUE ART STYLE AND IVE ADORED WATCHING HER GROW AS AN ARTIST

spindrift- beautiful fantasy, abandoned but the art is to die for

phoenix requiem- same author as inverloch, steampunk ghost mystery?

gunnerkrigg court- magic school with lots of secrets! never finished this... in fact im pretty sure its still ongoing! a fun kinda steampunk fantasy story with lots of mythology and another one where ive loved watching the art style develop!

webtoons: (fantasy unless noted otherwise, usually transmigration, time travel or general revenge)

remarried empress

go away romeo

omniscient reader

marry my husband

my in laws are obsessed with me

i am the villain- one of my first ones!! gorgeous art and i love the characters so much

for my derelict favorite- love the mc. so satisfying and a cute slow burn

im the queen in this life- absolutely badass MC reliving her life, court intrigue and politics included

from a knight to a lady- i adore this one. literal reincarnation. enemies to lovers

wished you were dead- everyones miserable and there’s so many misunderstandings but its like a trainwreck i cant look away

perfect marriage revenge- so much drama, sort of marry my husband vibes

the reincarnation of countess diabolique- very short chapters but very pretty

obsidian bride- fantasy dating show! cute so far

i thought my time was up- god i love seeing the FL fluster the ML. cute cute but also some asshole family drama. fun and beautiful

her wish to be isekai’d- silly and fourth wall breaking but cute

as if love doesn’t exist- also sort of marry my husband vibes? with switched at birth added in

reporting for duty duchess

winter before spring- not fantasy at all, cute WLW!!!

i stole the first ranker’s soul- dungeon break video game system but this time with a female MC!!

i will live the life of a villainess- isekai’d MC AND ML???

baby tyrant- cute cute but the mc is stuck in her baby body for quite awhile so if that’s not ur thing keep scrolling

adopted by a murderous duke- just what it says on the box for now! a new one, as of updating this list

leveling up my husband to the max- got a lot of politics and a cute relationship. reincarnation

who stole the empress?

mythic item obtained- dungeons and monsters suddenly invade the real world kinda story, more based on the norse gods though than DND

my husband changes every night- oh it keeps getting better! don’t trust the title though. his hair color changes and that’s it, physically

the tyrant wants to be good- oh i love some good good time travel/reincarnation angst

every rose has a death flag- gotten a bit bored of this one but cute art

new webtoons ive gotten into!

adopted by a murderous duke’s family

paranoid mage

they wish to take away my child

the reason for the twin lady’s disguise

my villainous family won’t let me be

reincarnator

what the evil dragon lives for

the price is your everything

what melvin left behind

ten ways to get dumped by a tyrant

the gardener in a hunter world

the reborn young lord is an assasin

not your typical reincarnation story

onsaemiro: never changing

re:trailer trash

unnie, i like you!

the worst villainess

monster princess of the snowy mountain

to whom it no longer concerns

returned by the king

you can’t kill me

the one who parried death

even when im dead

changing the genre from angst to heartwarming

the villainess just wants to live in peace

i became a level 999 demon queen

reincarnated murim lord

regression of the close combat mage

absolute regression

hidden class gravity user

the villainous tyrant has returned

the regressor only protects me

oversummoned, overpowered, and over it

high school queen

duchess in ruins

at your mercy

the empress's two wolves

the flower that swallowed the beast

my child will have a different father

behind her highness's smile

amelia the level zero hero

the cup of vengeance is in your hands

do not hold onto the broken branch

webtoons that are whole ass novels in their own right: (AWAN)

castle swimmer - adorable fantasy mlm with amazing worldbuilding

suitor armor - this is starting to stress me out but i love all the characters so much aaaaa

morgana and oz - so cute so cute!

eternal nocturnal - amazing kinda urban fantasy romance

wintercicle

in the bleak midwinter - scifi soulmate kinda post-apocalyptic?

star children

lore olympus - if you don tknow what this is im surprised. greek mythology retelling with lots of trauma and fascinating storylines

blood reverie - so much happens in this one. theres a hot vampire ML tho

sable curse - i love this so much!! read like a legit fantasy novel

a spell for a smith - cute cute fluffy fantasy romance

PETS- sci-fi wlw slow burn

your throne- haven’t caught up with this yet but it’s a fascinating story with two female mcs who have some amazing character growth and are badasses in their own ways (also yes i ship them)

the touch of sunlight- a cute one shot story with like ten chapters

empyrea- might have been abandoned, gorgeous art style, steampunk mystery

made of stardust

the princess’s jewels- starts out as a beautiful reverse harem, then becomes badass

death head’s deal- episodic amazing. will make you cry

like wind on a dry branch- historical fantasy with a very very slow burn and an amazing side cast

new magical me

high spirits neoma

nevermore

cute episodic webtoons:

finding fiends- funny cryptid youtuber who's friends with mothman

grand ma- a new mythological creature each episode!

crow time- just cute things about crows, a few stories that last longer than one chapter

how to be a dragon- mostly one shots, like crow time

finished webtoons: (all AWAN)

muted- god this one’s a masterpiece, GL, maybe its time for my own reread i love this one sm

spells from hell- god i love this one!! kinda modern wuxia-esque. it is daily pass now for some reason but i highly recommend it

unholy blood- vampire mystery thriller with a dash of romance? its amazing

night owls and summer skies- wlw camp romance

shadow prophet- very weird but cool kinda dystopian sci-fi. unique and beautiful art style

siren’s lament- same creator as eaternal nocturnal, so gorgeous art obvi

always human- a cute scifi wlw story

tricked into becoming the heroines stepmother- cute transmigration with a side of romance

saving a mercenary unit from bankruptcy- more historical- and transmigration is a known phenomenon in this series!

eaternal nocturnal- oh my god its over what will i do now?? gorgeous modern fantasy romance

webtoons i’ve fallen behind on but are still amazing: (also all awan)

subzero

stray souls

the croaking

diamond dive

the sweetness of salt

covenant

found on mangahasu:

finished:

solo leveling- finished, the ultimate OP main character saves the world with amazing supporting cast, dungeon break system

monstrous duke- finished, AWAN, one of my favorites, i adore the MC's new family. strong enough to protect her from the monsters who birthed her

the admiral's monstrous wife- AWAN, kinda romance, a dash of best revenge is living well, and so much cool worldbuilding

angel of the golden aura- very cinderella, tropey evil sister in the most fun of ways (imho)

she no longer wields her sword- transmigrated into the body of another person in the same universe, kinda like into the light once again but less politics and more romance

I've Become A True Villainess- isekai, green hair mc!! very sweet and caring ML too i love their dynamic. fascinating world-building

no more nice sis- revenge that turns into cute romance and then fantasy???

still updating:

cheating men must die- THE BEST. every arc is another revenge transmigration story i. am. obsessed.

the beginning after the end- i feel like this might be abandoned? on hiatus? hasn’t been updated in forever but it’s basically a high fantasy novel. literal reincarnation. as in reborn into a rando in another universe. but with all memories intact. AWAN, also i love all the other charcters so much and the art is so pretty

who made me a princess- just finished, starts out rough character dynamic wise, has some really dramatic bits but it turns out really intricate and wholesome and i love it sm

master villainess the invincible- god i love this one i want it to update so baddddd. wuxia and there's a cute romance too!

the villainess is a marionette- beautiful unique art style, transmigration, deliciously badass and manipulative MC

millionaire divorcee- lovely and sweet sort of ‘a life well lived is the best revenge’ kinda story. also so much pretty jewelry wow

untouchable lady- time travel squared, gorgeous art and wow so much angst it's delicious. last time i checked the translations weren't so good so im hoping its better now, ive been waiting to come back to this one

death is the only ending for the villainess- transmigration into a video game with, in my opinion, too many restrictions. svsss vibes in that way but its a fantasy AWAN romance video game

into the light once again- reincarnation, AWAN, wholesome and so damn pretty. i keep drooling over the intricate outfits

I will surrender my position as empress - remarried empress vibes. love it so satisfying

villainess’s stationary shop- cute and sweet and the MC gains a coterie of adorable children defenders, but yes also revenge

my unexpected marriage- kind of a “the best revenge is living well” story. very sweet very pretty unique art style. starts a bit dark

the perks of being an s class transmigrator- one of my faves! very fun video game mechanic and wonderful art and i love our mc. some great humor too

The Reincarnated Assassin Is A Genius Swordsman- actual reincarnation into another family, also i love the weird kinda sort of sidekick. evil? maybe? either way its funny

divorcee’s dessert cafe- another cute one

author of my own destiny- author falls into her own book!

vengeful weapon, tears of poison- kinda what it says on the box

how to live at the max level- OP MC falls into a video game but this time it’s a girl! fun and lighthearted

with vengeance, sincerely your broken saintess- lots of plots and intrigue in this one, i love it

the newbie is too strong- another dungeon break one, OP MC with adorable animal? monster? companions

the villainess turns the hourglass- both revenge is best served cold and the best revenge is living well

my farm by the palace- super sweet and wholesome i love it

the duchess’ fifty tea recipes- finished, super cute, transmigration addressed, romance?

the soulless duchess

all hail lady blanche- gets slow in the middle, then gets cool and starts kinda breaking the fourth wall. revenge and kinda video game dynamic

the doctor is out- forgot about this one, time travel, its cute!

villainess' reprisal boutique- revenge for her mother this time! mostly kinda fantasy royal school stuff, if that makes any sense

please marry me again- time travel, so fluffy and precious and satisfying

karina’s last days- AWAN, slow burn romance

the villainess’s daughter- reminds me a bit of monstrous duke

the princess in the attic- AWAN, revenge, oof this one is a bit dark but it’s got its light and i do love it

red hot revenge- lot of politics in this one! and some slow slow burn. abandoned cause it was stressing me out

solo max-level newbie- kinda like solo leveling, but more merciless MC and just as cool a supporting cast

self-made lady- fantasy transmigration with video game mechanics

carrier falcon princess- bit weird, i feel like it hasnt updated in awhile, but fascinating premise. MC spends a very large chunk of the story as a bird

another typical fantasy romance- just started this but i already love it!! most wholesome green flag forest power couple!

[nochd]

I have Thoughts about what the movies did with Denethor, but this scene is where they come closest to getting him right.

"What would you do in my service?" "I thought, sir, that you would tell me my duties." "I will, when I learn what you are fit for," said Denethor. "But that I shall learn soonest, maybe, if I keep you beside me. The esquire of my chamber has begged leave to go to the out-garrison, so you shall take his place for a while. You shall wait on me, bear errands, and talk to me, if war and council give me any leisure. Can you sing?" "Yes," said Pippin. "Well, yes, well enough for my own people. But we have no songs fit for great halls and evil times, lord. We seldom sing of anything more terrible than wind or rain. And most of my songs are about things that make us laugh; or about food and drink, of course." "And why should such songs be unfit for my halls, or for such hours as these? We who have lived long under the Shadow may surely listen to echoes from a land untroubled by it? Then we may feel that our vigil was not fruitless, though it may have been thankless." Pippin's heart sank. He did not relish the idea of singing any song of the Shire to the Lord of Minas Tirith, certainly not the comic ones that he knew best; they were too, well, rustic for such an occasion. He was however spared the ordeal for the present. He was not commanded to sing.

The context is different; at this point in the book Faramir has not yet come home to Minas Tirith, and Pippin has not met him nor seen how his father treats him. Pippin has sworn service to Denethor mainly in an attempt to repay the debt he feels he owes Boromir for dying trying to save him.

We don't get a song here in the book because the songs in the book, of which there are many more than in the films, serve a different purpose. Some critics of the book point out how the songs take us out of the plot and slow down the pace of the story; which is true, and on occasion they do go a bit longer than is really justified, but they don't do it for no reason.

In The Lord of the Rings, good is good because it values beauty and nature and life and art and poetry for their own sake, and evil is evil in large part because it sees no value in anything except as means to its own ends. The songs take us out of the plot because destroying Sauron is not the only thing that matters; nay, it matters at all only because the good things threatened by Sauron, which the songs celebrate, matter more. There are songs in Rivendell and Lothlorien because Elrond and Galadriel still value the good things; there are no songs in Minas Tirith because Denethor has forgotten them. Devaluing everything that is not useful for fighting Mordor, he has become a mirror image of Mordor itself.

...and now you might be able to guess some of my Thoughts about what the movies did to him, that I alluded to above... but moving on.

Then we may feel that our vigil was not fruitless, though it may have been thankless.

Insofar as he thinks of the outside world at all, Denethor's attitude towards it is resentment for its ingratitude. In his mind, Minas Tirith and its army is the only thing standing between Middle-Earth and total destruction, and the right order of things would be for the rest of the world to bow down in thanks for their service.

Then Faramir comes back. Again things are a bit different in the book. It starts with him reporting on the events of The Two Towers that he was involved in, as a captain to his commander. The fact that he let Frodo go instead of bringing him back to Minas Tirith becomes a point of contention.

"If what I have done displeases you, my father," said Faramir quietly, "I wish I had known your counsel before the burden of so weighty a judgement was thrust on me." "Would that have availed to change your judgement?" said Denethor. "You would still have done just so, I deem. I know you well. Ever your desire is to appear lordly and generous as a king of old, gracious, gentle. That may well befit one of high race, if he sits in power and peace. But in desperate hours gentleness may be repaid with death." "So be it," said Faramir. "So be it!" cried Denethor. "But not with your death only, Lord Faramir: with the death also of your father, and of all your people, whom it is your part to protect now that Boromir is gone." "Do you wish then," said Faramir, "that our places had been exchanged?" "Yes, I wish that indeed," said Denethor. "For Boromir was loyal to me and no wizard's pupil. He would have remembered his father's need, and would not have squandered what fortune gave. He would have brought me a mighty gift." For a moment Faramir's restraint gave way. "I would ask you, my father, to remember why it was that I, not he, was in Ithilien. On one occasion at least your counsel has prevailed, not long ago. It was the Lord of the City that gave the errand [which led to Boromir joining the Fellowship and ultimately to his death] to him." "Stir not the bitterness in the cup that I mixed for myself," said Denethor. "Have I not tasted it now many nights upon my tongue, foreboding that worse yet lay in the dregs? As now indeed I find..."

The idea of "I wish you had died instead of Boromir" is very subtextual here in the book, but it's there. A few pages later, in Denethor's war room, while talking strategy with other high-ranking military officers who don't appear in the film, we get the exchange

"Much must be risked in war," said Denethor. "Cair Andros is manned, and no more can be sent so far. But I will not yield the River and the Pelennor unfought -- not if there is a captain here who has still the courage to do his lord's will." Then all were silent. But at length Faramir said, "I do not oppose your will, sire. Since you are robbed of Boromir, I will go and do what I can in his stead -- if you command it." "I do so," said Denethor. "Then farewell!" said Faramir. "But if I should return, think better of me!" "That depends on the manner of your return," said Denethor.

Faramir, like Elrond and Galadriel, still values the good -- including treating innocent travellers with mercy -- for its own sake. There are lines he won't cross even to further the war effort. That is why Denethor despises him. Denethor as written by Tolkien is a masterpiece of subtle characterization; we are gradually shown, step by careful step, what is wrong with his priorities and why his pragmatism leads to disaster.

As I say, this scene in the film does him justice. I just wish the rest of it had as well.

I don’t think any movie will make me feel the same ethereal sense of otherworldly sorrow and disembodied awe as that scene in Lord of the Rings where the loyal son is sent off into a doomed battle to please his vindictive father while Pippin sings a mourning song of his people

I was like 12 and high off this shit

[backofbeyondcomic2024]

I miss waking up early in the morning and walking to this gorgeous park in Australia. I miss people walking up to me and asking how I am doing as a hello, the genuine warmth I felt from both the Sun and from people I've only met once and I fear I will never meet again. I miss being free to be myself, no questions asked, just a bit of snarky humor thrown my way and gentle acceptance from those I encountered.

I miss going to Australia Zoo. And the Koala Sanctuary. And getting lost all the damn time, because I couldn't take my meds and travel sickness meds at the same time...lol. I hate getting lost here in SoCal, it's a matter of life and death. But in Aus, it was all part of the adventure. In Australia, I felt for a brief moment like I was living. It was surreal.

It's funny. I brought my Darren Hayes pony to his home months ago, and now, I am fully entrenched in his book, Unlovable. And I've loved Savage Garden since the mid to late 90s, and now I see Darren for who he is in full, his facets beautiful despite the darkness he endured, and damn. (A review on said book is forthcoming, as it is it resonates so strongly with me that I'm not quite finished with it...but I will finish it, because Darren? You can write. Please keep going, please don't stop being a voice for people like me.)

I sit here in my dark apartment with my beloved cat and I collapse inside. I'm burnt out. I've been teaching for over a decade--nearly two!--and my heart is no longer invested in the people and places it used to be.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a paleontologist. I was privileged to be given that chance. But I also wanted to be a musician, an artist, a writer. I loved playing the violin, I was good at it. I was given a scholarship to college for it. I turned it down and I think, all these years later, I made the wrong choice.

Some mornings I cry walking to the bus stop or waiting for my ride to/from work, wishing it was the violin case in my hand instead of my rolling backpack handle. I want to sneak my art supplies to work and just draw all day while my students discuss their assignments, but then, that's unprofessional and besides, my free time doesn't exist when I am at work. And my heart aches for being a kid again, free to create despite the chaos around me at home and at school and at work...

I wanted to be a creative writer. I dabble in fiction, in fan fics. I'm self published, with Iara's Crossing, a book I started as a kid. But my heart yearns for another path, while being myself in the country I live in is as dangerous as hell. Christ, what is this, 1984? Fahrenheit 451? Handmaid's Tale?

Anyway. I promised myself I would try not to become a complete misanthrope. I'm doing my best to be better inside, damnit!

At any rate, I ache to return to Australia again someday. I wish I had the courage that Darren did, to tell his story in full, with brutal detail and beautiful unmatched prose.

In the meantime, my goofy comics and fan fics will have to do, to fill this void.

Until the next post,

~DLP

[cherrrydragon]

hiya pooks, i wanted to get to know you more so i have a couple fun questions for you that include my personal answers! (i’m an oversharer)

1) fav media of spider-man?

i looooooove ultimate spider-man. i think it’s so over hated because the kids who watched spectacular grew up and were upset the next spider-man show was a kids show and not an adult show made for them. the fact that there just so much room for cameos from all other marvel media really helped me build a love for marvel as a whole. i wouldn’t know half as much marvel lore or characters without it since i never read the comics. (too poor to continuously buy growing up + can’t read comic panels over screen cause bleh. i think it was our first time meeting miles on screen too, which was awesome!)

it showed me who spider-man was at his core, a good person. and that’s what stood out to me. it also showed me that spider-man was super funny and always had a ‘quip’ lol. bonus points for ps4 spidey for being the first game i played of him and into the spider-verse for literally changing animation for the whole world. straight up best movie ever made.

2) fav media of dc?

gotta be the 2022 batman for me. i was so happy they finally got him right on the big screen! it took so long for people to realize that batman is only fear to his enemies, but hope to the people. they also count have picked a better catwoman! and the fact that the riddler is just some guy? mwah, perfection, amazing, incredible!

side rant; everytime i see someone mention how they thiugtt he robert patterson didn’t play a good bruce i wanna scream. how are we lacking so much media literacy nowadays that we can no longer recognize this is before he gets his whole playboy persona. he doenst even have financial stability! he’s literally just learning who he is. there’s deadass a whole scene dedicated to him trying to go into the club as batman and getting turned away vs being welcomed in as bruce and realizing bruce wayne has actual value to fighting crime.

3) fav non live action character?

sam anderson’s nova is so fun! he’s such a sweetiepie. i know earlier i said i don’t read the comics, but i do listen to them. i really wish they would put him in as teen trying his best with the guardians of the galaxy <3

klarion the witch boy is so silly (especially in young justice. his va is perfect for him.) he literally just terrorizes people for funsies. gotta love the lord of chaos and his cat.

hi hi! i just wanna preface this by saying a lot of media im a fan of i havent actually watch/read/played just because i cant truly sit down and consume content like i used to when i was younger. literally yesterday i watched the second deadpool movie after like, maybe 2 years since watching the first one (and i probably wouldnt have watched it if the new dp and wolverine movie didnt come out LOL) so i can't really answer these as efficiently as id like but ill try my best

fav media of spider-man?

before it would've been mcu spiderman simply because i havent watched the raimi or amazing spiderman ones, but now without a doubt i can say the spiderverse movies are my fav ones! all movies are pieces of art, but the spiderverse movies are truly by and for art kids. the animation and art is beautiful and i think the way it so artistically connects all things spider-man is really cool.

2. fav media of dc?

so... the last time i watched any dc media was when i was way younger LOL. i distinctly remember watching dc super hero girls, justice league unlimited, the flash (tv) and i think arrow (tv)? but like i said, i was young and don't remember much. ive seen from numerous people that the dc timeline is kind of a mess and that + the fact that there's so much content is what's keeping me from consuming it now. on the topic of batman 2022 there's literally nothing stopping me from watching it but i havent LOL i just cant sit down and watch it. i think the brainrot got to me rip.

i think what stops me from consuming content is the fact that i become a fan of it without actually participating. i read so much fanfic that i learn the plot of things through there, and because i already know what happens i dont desire to spend time and take it in. i might be cooked ngl. but anyway, no official favorite dc media from me

3. fav non live action character?

dude theres like way to many to name but one that comes to mind immediately is black cat (i dont think she's been in any live action from marvel yet?) something about those cat burglars man... LOL. i know this doesn't really count but i really like her portrayal in "Dark Matter" by mysterycyclone on ao3 (and amazing peter parker in gotham fic, highly recommend) i truly love the idea of the thief becoming friends with their crimestopper, because like catwoman, they aren't really hurting anybody (at least, from what ive seen)

as for dc... like i said i have not consumed enough media to pick LOL my bad 💔

[nella09archive]

Marriage. 33

Chapter 33: family outings

It’s Gohan’s 2nd birthday, and Goku suggested that we go on a picnic. How he had found a very nice spot, that he wanted to take us. On top of that, today is a beautiful day, why waste it. As I start getting the picnic food ready, Goku catches up with Gohan. Goku always makes the days he’s back full of family time. And he gets so excited hearing everything Gohan has done since he been gone.

Soon we get on nimbus and head to the location. It’s a beautiful meadow looking over a river, that leads to a waterfall, and the view off the cliff is so breath taking. “It’s so beautiful Goku.”

I can’t help but to hug him. He hugs back. “I knew you would like it.” Then Gohan joins the hug, and we soon laughing on our backs. After we ate and watched the wonderful sunset, we decide to stay longer, and watch the stars.

Gohan spots a shooting star. “I wish I grow up to be as strong as mommy and daddy!” Goku looks so happy to hear that. I’m happy too, but I’m also very scared.

…

I can’t believe mommy let me stay up past my bedtime. This birthday is just so awesome. Oh, look! A shooting star. Better hurry and make a wish. “I wish I grow up to be as strong as mommy and daddy!” My parents looks so happy with my wish. But I can also tell mommy doesn’t look fully happy at that. I wonder why.

…

My little man wants to grow up to be as strong as me and Chichi. That makes me so happy. But I know Chichi is probably scared. “If you want to grow big and strong, you have to work extra hard at everything you do. But first you have to listen to mommy. Mommy knows what’s best, and she’ll show you the best way to be strong.”

“But that’s books.”

“But books can teach you a lot of things. If you want to be strong, you need to know a lot of things.” I could see Chichi smiling at that.

“He’s right Gohan.” We then hold onto Gohan’s hands.

…

I could tell daddy only said that to make mommy happy. I want to be the kind of strong like daddy is. I want to be able to move mountains, and stop bad guys like my comic books. Mommy doesn’t like when daddy tells me stuff about his training. I want to know. Why does mommy tell him no?

As daddy tucks me to bed, I should ask him. “Daddy?” He looks at me. “Can you show me some martial arts.” He smiles really quick, but then it goes away, and he tells me that he can’t. He says it’ll make mommy mad. “But daddy! Please! I won’t tell mommy. Just show me a little. Please!” I get out of bed and hug him.

He sets me on his lap. “How about I take you camping with me.” I look at him confused. “I could show you what books can’t. Well, not the ones you have.” But that’s not martial arts. I feel slightly disappointed. “What you think is martial arts is the fighting part.” I look at him surprised. Wait! Can he read minds or something? “Or something.” He winks. I giggle. Daddy is so funny.

“Ok. Me want to go camping.”

“Now I have to tell mommy. Wish me luck.” Good luck daddy.

…

“Come on Chichi, just one camping trip.” She has her back to me. “We could go a day or two after the full moon.” After Chichi told me how I act weird during the full moon, we agreed to all go to bed early. Unless the full moon lands on our anniversary, then Gohan goes to her dad’s.

“That’s not the point Goku.”

“Then what is?” I pin her under me. She’s pouting and looking away. “You know you look sexy when you have that face.”

“Shut up.” There’s that smile. I then kiss her neck. She bites her lip. Only down side with Gohan home, is that I can’t hear Chichi. But it’s ok, since I know I still make her feel good. I toy with her breast before I make my way lower.

“I love you so much, my perfect Chichi.” I kiss just below her bellybutton. “You’re my perfect little wife.” I slowly remove her panties. “So, what do you say? Let me take Gohan camping for a few days.” I lick the inside of her right thigh. “I’ll reach out to you with updates on what we do.” I lick the inside of the left. “You smell so good. I really miss you.” With that I take a few licks of my favorite meal.

“Ok, ok. Gohan can go camping. But remember, updates every day.” With that I dig in.

…

Sometimes I hate when Goku does that. He would tease me to get what he wants. It’s even worse when it has to do with Gohan. When it comes to Gohan, he’ll pull every trick up his sleeve to get me to say yes. But that body of his is just so irresistible, that saying no is impossible. The way he’s moving in me, hitting the right spot every time. The way his fingers are working to where I see stars. We have to bite each other, just to keep our pleasure from being heard.

After reaching another climax, do I beg we call it a night. But my not so sweet husband has other plans. “When was that hot mouth of yours had a workout.” He says has he kiss me. Before I could say anything, he’s on his knees, waiting for me. It has been too long since I’ve tasted him. I don’t give him a chance to grab my face. Last time I was too slow, in taking him in, he was a little too impatient, and I was force up too quickly. He apologizes, but he did that more than once, so I try to be faster. Even though he does mean he’s sorry, but during the moment he loves it. And secretly, I love it too.

…

Mommy and daddy look way too happy this morning. Sometimes I would notice sometimes mommy would start walking funny, after her and daddy have adult talk in their bedroom. It’s weird. Grownups are weird.

…

As me and Gohan pack up for our camping trip, Chichi reminds us about everything Gohan needs. How he needs his allergy medicine, and not to stay up so late. She also make sure we have everything. She’s worries so much; I just love her. One last farewell, and we’re off. We take nimbus to drop us off at a random location.

We have fun exploring. I even teach him about certain plants that are ok, and those that are not ok. He got excited seeing how I caught fish. He even wanted to try, but was really scared. “It’s ok Gohan, maybe next time.” He was then so excited as we watched the stars.

“Daddy?”

“Yes Gohan.”

“Why you so strong? How did you get so strong?”

“Well, Gohan, I guess I was always strong. That what my grandpa used to say, but I didn’t believe him. How I got so strong, is by lots of training.”

“Why do you train?”

“I at first I used to train because it was fun. Then I trained to fight in a thing call the world martial arts tournament, sadly those ended when I fought a person named junior. Now I train to protect you and mommy.”

“So cool. What was the tournaments like? Who’s junior? What you mean by protect me and mommy?”

“You have a lot of questions today. What’s the matter Gohan?”

“I never get to ask while we’re with mommy. I get curious about what you do. And whenever you come home, I want to ask so badly, but mommy gets mad when I do. So, me asking now, since mommy not here.” I sit up, and reach out for my son. I place him in my lap, and we spent the night of me answering all his questions. When he finally fell asleep is when I reach out to Chichi.

How was your day? Did Gohan have fun? Why you took so long to answer? Calm down, Chichi. He had so much fun. He was chasing butterflies, and he asked me to teach him how to fish. He finally fell asleep. Chichi? Yes, Goku. Remind me again why I can’t teach him, at least, a little martial art. Goku, we talked about this. Please, drop the subject. Ok, I’m sorry. Love you Chichi. Love you, too, Goku. Good night. Good night.

…

The next daddy wanted to show me some fun stuff. He wanted to teach me something called ki. And he made me promise that I can’t tell mommy. Oh, this is probably a martial arts thingy, and mommy would be mad. So, me promised daddy I wouldn’t tell. He then did something and there was a glowing ball in front of him. I tried to do the same thing, but was so hard.

“Gohan, just relax. You’ll get it.” So, I tried again, and this time I got it. It was so fun. It did leave me a bit hungry, and I was reminded about the fish daddy was making. He said no food till after lesson. This was way more fun than any lessons mommy makes me do. He then went in explaining what it is. After another successful try, it was breakfast time. I’m so happy daddy took me camping.

“Daddy. Can we go camping every year?” He smiled and agreed. That made me so happy.

…

When my boys finally returned home, I was so happy. 5 days without my baby was so long, even that was too long away from Goku. When they came in view of the front yard, I couldn’t stop myself running up to them. My baby jumping into my arms, and I hugged him so tightly. Then Goku joined the hug, and spun us around. I was so happy that my boys were home. While Gohan told me stories of his trip, I was making a big dinner to celebrate them coming home. As I did so, Goku went to town to get a few supplies that I was running low on.

When he got back, we ate like a family. I then gave my boys a good bath, Gohan liked that. And then we all fell asleep together. I wanted to smother my boys, and that’s exactly what I did. Even they smothered me. It took two days before I let Gohan sleep in his room again. And when I did, I was smothered with love by my husband. “5 days are way too long, Goku. You’re not allowed to be gone for that long, ever again.” I laughed between kisses.

“So, next time you’re coming.” He said while kissing my neck. I agreed and loved me the whole night. The next day, was full with family fun.

[ilikereadingactually]

Two Graves

Two Graves Volume 1: Wish You Were Here by Genevieve Valentine, art by Ming Doyle and Annie Wu

it's been a while since i picked up a legit comic tpb, and this one was a good time! mysterious, beautifully drawn, and in places non-chronological, which is always great. it's got a quiet feeling to it; there are little bursts of conflict and action, but it's more about the two main characters, what's happening to them, and the ways they play off each other. it's artistically really quiet too, a lot of interesting "camera" angles and beautiful colors, stunning landscapes, subtle facial expressions and body language. It all has a certain stillness to it, which i thought was really lovely for a comic about death on multiple levels, though that same quality did make the few action scenes feel a little stifled and stiff to me.

but i don't think this story is really about the action, or at least not in this volume! it's about Emilia, an almost-dead (or perhaps extra-dead) young woman grieving her mother and determined to get her mother's ashes to the Atlantic, and about death in the form of a man whose face and head are veiled in smoke, who delayed taking Emilia and now may have delayed too long. the slow reveal of what's actually happening between them, both emotionally and metaphysically, is really compelling; i'll be looking forward to the next volume to see what happens next.

the deets

how i read it: an e-galley from NetGalley. this one was a little hard to read on a phone, to be honest, so it took me longer than it might have otherwise, but i was interested enough in the story to keep coming back to it!

try this if you: are into Persephone retellings, love a story that's about the journey, delight in main characters who bicker and banter and don't get along but also are into each other.

maybe skip this if: you need to avoid stories involving a lot of death, including a suicide attempt.

some panels i really liked: the "you're not special" energy of this really sent me

pub date: September 19, 2023!