#b cure showdown

[precure-alphabet-showdown]

congrats to CURE BLACK for winning and becoming the ultimate B cure!

[dayables]

I think (after a lot of thinking) that my main issue with Marcella in Vengeful is the fact we don't really get to watch her struggle?

Marcella is on a rampage the entire time. Her plot for revenge against Marcus wraps up very quickly despite it being a perfectly compelling story on its own.

Partially because of her lack of compassion, we don't see her struggle with her EO power, seeming to come into it and accept it very naturally.

June and Jonathan don't have any conflicts with her. She's very intelligent so all her plans work without a hitch.

This isn't necessarily bad. The issue comes from the fact that she is a main character of Vengeful yet there is nothing besides rage (which after the quickly wrapped up revenge plot against Marcus is unfocused) to make you feel for her.

The issue isn't really having a larger cast or a prominent role but that nearly all her scenes are ultimately forgettable. Other characters who have less time dedicated to them/no POV (June, Rios, Dominic and Stell) manage to be more memorable.

[theyhavetakenovermylife]

I've been binging your x readers the past few days, and they're so well done!! If it's not much trouble, could you do a 2k3 Donnie x GN Reader during the Adventures in Turtlesitting/Good Genes arc? I've been turning the thought of (Y/N) witnessing his transformation and going "Like Hell I'm not gonna do something about this" and doing what they can to make a cure; even standing up to Bishop and Stockman. I'm a sucker for "You helped me, it's the least I could do to help you" stories. >u<

Secondary Mutation (Angst)

2003!Donatello x reader

A/N: Thank you so much! That’s so sweet of you to say💚 This arch goes over three episodes, but I’ve tried cut it down and make it more precise, making the main focus the showdown and all that at Area 51. Hope you enjoy💜

---------

Warning: Spelling (was a little tired towards the ending. Long day😅), Donnie with a secondary mutation, Bishop and Stockman being assholes, a little hostage situation like?

---------

You were there when it happened. You witnessed the whole thing as it unfolded. Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo and dropped you and a sick Donatello off at April’s place. It had been Leo’s idea, citing it would be good to keep both of you out of the sewers, while he and the other’s went on a hunt for Bishop’s mutants. You too thought it was a good idea, except it meant crashing April and Casey’s long awaited date night.

It had started out great. Or as great as it could. Your boyfriend was continuously sneezing and sniffling, bags running under his eyes, and shaking even when covered by several blankets. The poor guy was going through it.

But then the black out happened, leaving all of New York City in darkness. That was the last thing you needed, sitting with your shivering boyfriend’s head in your lap, trying to sooth him with your fingers tracing across his head. But nothing helped. Donnie felt horrible, and the darkness only made it worse for him.

As Casey went to look for a flashlight, Donnie started groaning out in pain, complaining that the cut on his leg was beginning to act up. He said it felt like it was burning, causing you even more worry than before. April wanted to help, but with her own boyfriend knocking things over in her room, as he looked for the flashlight, she had to leave to make sure he didn’t bring the whole apartment down over the shop. But that was when the trouble began.

Donnie groaning almost turned to screaming, his thigh convulsing. You were terrified, asking him if he was okay, begging him for an answer, but Donnie could not speak. The pain was too much for him. Then suddenly he let out an ear piercing scream, his thigh doubling in size. He sat up, hugging onto his legs, screaming and shaking as sweat ran down his face. His body started to grow, his belt, elbow pads and knee pads ribbing before he hurried up from the sofa, as if he frantically tried to find a solution on his own.

“Donnie?”, you asked terrified, trying to find him in the dark, grabbing your phone in your pocket.

“(Y/N)”, you heard Donnie’s strained voice call out from the corner of the room. You quickly turned on your phone's flashlight, pointing it in his direction. There he stood, double in size, red eyes, sweat dripping down his face with an expression of pain. “Help me”.

“Don?”, you asked in confusion, stepping closer to him. “What’s happening?”

“No!”, he exclaimed, just as April and Casey came back into the living room. “Stay back!”

“Don!”, they called out.

“No!”, Donnie yelled, before pushing past all of you, making a b-line directly for the door, breaking it off the hinges before he ran downstairs. “Get away from me!”

The next few hours were horrible. Finding Donnie had turned into a giant alligator-like creature in the basement, before you and your friends had to defend yourselves against your boyfriend. Casey even had to go as far as mashing him over the head with a vacuum. It was even more horrible knowing he had run off into the sewers, leaving you scared and worried while the guys looked for him.

All of this led you up to this point, you and your best friends seeking out Agent Bishop in order to find a cure for your horribly inflicted boyfriend. Seeing Donnie like this broke your heart. Tears rolled down your face as you watched him unconsciously float around in the round glass bubble. Somehow this was even worse than having watched him slam against the glass or the other containment unit, roaring like a wild beast, trying to claw at whatever he saw outside the glass. Even you. You almost broke down when he snapped against the glass, wanting to bite you.

You paced around Bishop’s lab, unable to sit still. Because if you sat down you would stare, and if you stare you would cry. And you did not want to cry, you wanted to act. You wanted to do something. You couldn’t just sit around and wait for his brothers to get whatever Bishop had asked of them. Especially not when Leatherhead and Splinter kept reading Donnie’s vitals, giving each other sad looks. You knew what they were saying. You could not hear it, but you knew it. Donnie’s time was running out. His second mutation was breaking down his body. And there was nothing you could do but wait. And you hated it. You felt like you were going mad. Time was ticking and you could do nothing but watch, feeling the need to scream and cry.

“Doctor Stockman”, Splinter said, turning to the walking brain on a stick that had been testing your patience ever since you got to Area 51. “Agent Bishop told us that you would administer the cure to Donatello”.

“To think that I’ve sunk so low”, Stockman spoke to no one but himself, testing out different liquids on a creature in a different bubble. “That my unparalleled genius, would be used to save the life of one of these freaks”. You bite the inside of your cheek, holding from the temptation of smashing the glass that harbored Stockman’s brain. "Unfathomable".

“Where’s the cure, Stockman?”, Leatherhead asked, doing his best to keep his tone civil. But Stockman ignored him, moving from one console to another, still talking to himself as he went.

“I’m pulled from sweet oblivion, for what?! This?!”

Getting tired of Stockman’s rambling, Leatherhead grabbed onto the walking stick, forcing him to face him. “Show us the cure, now!”

“Cure?”, Stockman asked. “You stupid animal! Agent Bishop lied. There is no cure”.

“What?!”, Splinter exclaimed, his eyes wide. You felt your own body going pale, stopping dead in your tracks. For a moment you stopped breathing. Leatherhead growled, anger bobbling inside of him.

“You inhuman, soulless, monster!”, Leatherhead yelled, slamming Stockman against the keyboard, before getting ready to punch the glass head himself.

“Leatherhead, please”, Splinter called out, putting a hand on the mutant’s shoulder. “I share your anger, but this will not help Donatello! We need solutions not vengeance”.

“According to me, that piece of gum needs a good chewing!”, you yelled, pointing at Stockman.

“You too, (Y/N)”, Splinter said. “Please, my child. For Donatello”.

“You’ll be wise to listen to your inlaw”, Bishop’s voice sounded as he walked into the lab. Leatherhead growled and you felt your fists tightened at the sight of his smug smile. Both you and Leatherhead started seeing red, your anger so great that not even Splinter could hold you back.

“I’ve waited a long time to do this”, Leatherhead said before grabbing Stockman by the metal throat. “Now you’ll know the meaning of pain!” He threw the lump of metal onto the ground, before making his way to the well dressed man. You wasted no time stomping your foot onto Stockman’s back, making him lay flat against the floor.

“Doctor Stockman is working on a cure”, Bishop calmly said. “He’s the best change Donatello has for survival”. You sucked a breath in, staring directly into Stockman’s lone eye. Leatherhead fought the urge not to jump on Bishop. “Harm me, and Stockman stops. And your friend has no chance!”

You reluctantly let Stockman go, just as Leatherhead decided to back away from Agent Bishop.

“Fine, for now villain”, the large mutant said, before turning to the robot human hybrid that had just managed to get off the floor. “Doctor Stockman, show me what you have so far”.

The scientist sighed, before moving to the console with Leatherhead and Master Splinter. You however went straight over to Bishop, anger still fuming off of you. “This better work, Bishop”, you growled. “Or else you’ll personally have to deal with me”.

Agent Bishop faked a kind smile. “Your care for your friends is admirable, Miss (L/N), especially your care for Donatello. Although, I’m right to assume that your care for the turtle goes above just that of friendships?”

“How I care for my friends is none of your business”, you calmly said, keeping your anger in check. “What is your business, is making sure Stockman succeeds”.

“If you say so, Miss. (L/N)”, Bishop said, before walking away, leaving you back alone in your anger and sadness. How you wished you could be hugging Donnie, just one more time.

—

Leatherhead and Stockman made great progress on the cure, with the first test subject being a success. Who would ever have thought that you would be happy with Stockman’s work, even if it actually had been Leatherhead that had done the most out of the two? But all that slight happiness disappeared the moment the Bishop opened his mouth.

“Impressive, Mr. Leatherhead”, he said, pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. “And to think, I was going to dissect you”. Leatherhead growled. “What a waste that would have been. You’re even more brilliant than Doctor Stockman!”

“That doesn’t take much”, you mumbled, Splinter lifting a finger, telling you to behave. For the sake of Donnie.

“What?!”, Stockman questioned, not believing what Bishop had said.

“Then, it works?”, Splinter asked, watching as the test subject turned human again.

“Doctor, prepare an airborne version of the cure for the New York outbreak. As well as a sample for Donatello”, Bishop said, turning directly towards you and Splinter. “If his brothers fulfill their side of the agreement”.

“Don’t worry, Bishop”, you said, engaging in a stare down with the agent. “They will”.

“Brave of you to trust the life of your sweetheart with his brothers”, Bishop said. “Or maybe even foolish”.

“We trust them”, was the last thing you got to say, before there was news on a returning base helicopter. You sighed a breath of relief. They were back.

You went up to the main entrance, meeting the brothers as they came in. Bishop did not greet them, instead demanding that they handed over the item he was wanting. They looked to Master Splinter, waiting for his confirmation, before Mikey handed the stone over. The moment the stone was in Bishop’s hand, the alarm sounded, red lights shining all over the base.

“Base destruct sequence initiated”, sounded the alarm over your heads, making your ears ring.

“This base has been compromised by your presence”, Bishop said. “You have 15 minutes to collect your brother, and vacate the premises”. Then Bishop turned, smiling over his shoulder before he left. “Pleasure doing business with you”. You felt your fist clench.

It took you less than a minute to find Leatherhead. He was already working the cure on Donnie, leaving you all anxious in anticipation. Fog built up inside the machine, before the door finally opened, letting out a dazed and confused Donnie, rubbing his eyes as he took in his surroundings.

“Hey, guys”, he said tiredly. “What’s up?”

“Donnie!”, you yelled, running to him, throwing your arms around him before bringing him into a thigh hug. He wobbled slightly, leaning his weight on you as he found his footing.

“Hey, babe”, he smiled, still a little confused. “What’s going on? Where are we?”

“That’s a story for a different time”, Leo said. “Now we gotta go before this place blows up!”

He didn’t have to say that twice. Quickly you all ran outside, finding the chopper before taking off. You just managed to get up high enough, before the base blew up, sending red, orange and yellow light across the sky.

You all breathed a sigh of relief, happy to have Donnie back, safe and sound.

“Welcome back, my son”, Splinter said, taking a hold of Donnie’s hand.

“Thanks Sensei”, he smiled, still a little tired. “But I hope you guys didn’t go through too much trouble for me”.

The reaction on everybody’s faces spoke volumes. None of you had the guts to tell him, and neither should you.

You took Donnie’s hand in yours, smiling at him. “For you, nothing’s too much trouble”, you said, placing a kiss on his cheek. Donnie blushed slightly, not sure how to react in front of his family. But in all honesty, it did not matter much to him at the moment. He was just happy to be back to normal, feeling your hand in his once more.

[hubristicassholefight]

Swordswoman Showdown Quarterfinals

Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess) vs Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower (Bloodborne)

(Better here in a "preferred character" sense, not "who would win in a fight")

Propaganda below cut

Xena

Warrior Princess

She wields a sword and chakram. Just had to submit a biconic swordswoman.

i love her. she made me gay as a kid. Anyway, her weapon of choice is her sword, she is obviously very good with it

#unfortunately i have to choose and i have to choose xena#a) utena had no warcry. b) xena fought gods. c) xena has kickass goofy comic book combat which is my favorite

xena didn’t just fight gods. she fucked up a girl’s life so bad that she (calisto) devoted her entire being to destroying everything that xena loved that ended up with calisto becoming a god in order to destroy xena, which didnt work because xena entombed her in lava. and then when xena and gabrielle encountered calisto in the (christian) afterlife (different from the greek one which they also fought her in), calisto dragged gabrielle to hell so xena became an archangel in order to save gabrielle and then sacrificed herself in order to undo all the harm that she did in calisto’s life and then when not!jesus (played by timothy omundson) revives xena and gabrielle, calisto impregnates xena with the reincarnation of calisto’s soul in order to end the cycle of hate. xena doesnt just fight gods. she creates and destroys them

#this isnt even mentioning her fighting julius ceasar several times#telling brutus that caesar is not his friend#xena and gabrielle’s souls reincarnating across centuries in order to kick ass and fall in love all over again#or the time xena became a god but tbh that ep is kinda ‘uhhhhh…..’ even if they did hire a consultant for it

#I think everyone here knows to vote for Xena. I think a couple people here might have some propaganda for Xena saved already#everyone remember that Xena/Gabrielle is CANON and that's a pretty big deal also#(does anyone have that Xena Loves Trans People interview around because that would also make good propaganda)7:47 PM

Lady Maria

She has a double-bladed sword called Rakuyo that can split in two to be dual-wielded; She's haunting the narrative and the whole game foreshadows her existence

She wields the rakuyo, twin-bladed trick weapon that can transform into a matching katana and dagger, making it a versatile weapon; She one of the highest-ranked Hunters in the game, and fights like an experienced PVP opponent. During the boss fight against her, she stabs herself twice, first to bloody her blades and increase the range of her attacks, and the second time to cause her blades to emit flame when she strikes. Finally, she starts off the boss fight with this quote: "A corpse, should be left well alone. Oh, I know very well how the secrets beckon so sweetly. Only an honest death will cure you now. Liberate you from your wild curiosity."

She fights with a sick twin bladed sword which can split into two smaller swords, She was too hard and I couldn't beat her :'(

Duel wielding sword and dagger that combine as a twin blade; Best boss in the game. Also taller than your character by a full head. Her outfit is fashion as fuck as well.

[girlygirltournament]

(32 bracket base here by @mad-scientist-showdown)

This is the full 128 bracket!! Full list of matches under cut!!

Preliminary Polls

Round 1 Statistics

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6 (the finals!)

Directory

Bracket 1 - Side A

Mizuki Akiyama (Project SEKAI) Vs. Maria Campbell (My Next Life as a Villainess)

Flora (Winx Club) vs. Abby Sciuto (NCIS)

Mitsuba Sousuke (Toilet-bound Hanako-kun) vs. Forrest (Fire Emblem)

Enid Sinclair (Wednesday) vs. Pearl Houzuki (Splatoon)

Haley (Stardew Valley) vs. Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)

Veruca Salt (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / Willy Wonka) vs. Sonoko Suzuki (Detective Conan)

Cinderella (Cinderella) vs. Silena Beauregard (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

Kim Possible (Kim Possible) vs. Amy Rose (Sonic)

Bracket 1 - Side B

Sakura Chiyo (Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun) vs. Lydia Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

Caroline Forbes (The Vampire Diaries) vs. Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter (Sailor Moon)

Rosie Mayfield (Style Savvy) vs. London Tipton (Suite Life of Zack and Cody)

Momoi Satsuki (Kuroko's Basketball) vs. Tuesday Simmons (Carole and Tuesday)

Effie Trinket (The Hunger Games) vs. Stella (Winx Club)

Honey-Senpai (Ouran High School Host Club) vs. Victorique de Blois (Gosick)

Sakura Minamoto (Zombieland Saga) vs Madoka Kaname (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Cure Sparkle/Hiramitsu Hinata (Precure Pretty Cure) vs Lindsay (Total Drama)

Bracket 2 - Side A

Lola (Shark Tale) vs. Colette "Coco" (Thea Sisters)

Therese Wolf (Fable Comics) Vs. Orca/Dex @labor9 (Tumblr User)

Princess Ozma (Wizard of Oz) vs. Aelita Schaeffer (Code Lyoko)

Webby Vanderquack (Ducktales) vs. Hiyoko Tosaka (Hatoful Boyfriend)

Fernet (100% Orange Juice) vs. Donko (Taiko no Tatsujin)

Blythe Baxter (Littlest Pet Shop) vs. Shezow/ Guy Hamdon (Shezow)

Numbah 3 / Kuki Sanban (Codename: Kids Next Door) Vs. Ami Onuki (Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi)

Jessica Day (New Girl) vs. Caitlin Cooke (6Teen)

Bracket 2 - Side B

Shirou Fuji (Mizutama Honey Boy) vs. Kitty (BBC Ghosts)

Rainbow Brite (Rainbow Brite) vs. Zari (Duolingo)

Momoko Ryugasaki (Kamikaze Girls) vs. Peaches (Ice Age)

Barbie (Sandman) vs. Tilly (Rent a Bridesmaid by Jacqueline Wilson)

Sally (Ninjago) vs. Rainbow Dash (My Little Pony Generation 3)

Princess Pea (Super Why!) vs. Mai Oota / P-Chan (Gokinjo Monogatari/Neighborhood Story)

The Cat (Red Dwarf) Vs. Queen Red Riding Hood (The Land of Stories)

Arcee (Transformers Generation 1) vs. Gaby Solis (Desperate Housewives)

Bracket 3 - Side A

Cher Horowitz (Clueless) vs. Cornelia Hale (W.I.T.C.H)

Marianne Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility) vs. Clover (Totally Spies)

Perfuma (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) vs. Mabel Pines (Gravity Falls)

Lilligant (Pokémon) vs. Biscuit Krueger (Hunter x Hunter)

Allison Reynolds (The Foxhole Court: All For the Game) art by @detrinity vs. Isabella Garcia Shapiro (Phineas and Ferb)

Hello Kitty (Sanrio) Vs. Barbie (Mattel)

Mari Tsutsui (Rainbow Days/Nijiiro Days) vs. Ella (Total Drama)

Tahani Al Jamil (The Good Place) vs. Rosalina (Mario)

Bracket 3 - Side B

Elle Woods (Legally Blonde) Vs Daphne Blake (Scooby-Doo)

Ty Lee (Avatar: The Last Airbender) vs. Amulet Heart (Shugo Chara!)

Holly Munro (Lockwood and Co) art by @lucy-j-carlyle vs. Nikki (UP2U: World Traveller, Love Nikki, Shining Nikki)

Birdo (Mario) vs Lambdadelta (Umineko: When They Cry)

Smurfette (The Smurfs) vs. Regina George (Mean Girls)

Tsukimi Kurashita (Princess Jellyfish) vs. Todomatsu Matsuno (Osomatsu-san)

Blossom (The Powerpuff Girls) vs. Rarity (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)

My Melody (Sanrio) vs. Nui Harime (Kill La Kill)

Bracket 4 - Side A

Emily (Stardew Valley) vs. Mitsuri Kanroji (Demon Slayer)

Nana Komatsu (Nana) vs. Lucia Nanami (Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch)

Bugs Bunny (Looney Tunes) vs. Minako Aino/Sailor Venus (Sailor Moon)

Rose Lavillant (Miraculous Ladybug) vs. Marie (The Aristocats)

Glinda (The Wizard Of Oz) vs. Hilda Valentine Gonreil (Fire Emblem)

Ichigo Momomiya/Mew Ichigo (Tokyo Mew Mew) vs. Coco (Bluey)

Princess Peach (Mario) vs. Starfire (Teen Titans)

Draculaura (Monster High) vs. Charlotte La Bouff (Princess and the Frog)

Bracket 4 - Side B

Bee (Bee and Puppycat) vs. Natsuki (Doki Doki Literature Club)

Bubbles (The Powerpuff Girls) vs. Strawberry Shortcake (Strawberry Shortcake)

James (Pokémon) vs. Kurako/Kuranosuke Koibuchi (Princess Jellyfish)

Platinum the Trinity (BlazBlue) vs. Aoi Hyōdō (Maid-sama/Kaichou Wa Maid-Sama!)

Mad Mew Mew (Undertale) vs. Minnie Mouse (Disney)

Tsunoda (Aggretsuko) vs. Cure Coral/Sango Suzumura (Tropical Rouge Precure)

Daisy Duck (Disney) vs. Cure Flora/Haruka Haruno (Go Princess Precure)

Yukiko Kanzaki (Assassination Classroom) vs. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

[tsuki-sennin]

To the mountains! For Hero Training, assumedly! And Ageha focus~! This is great news for me but Tsubasa will be in terror.

How many episodes in are we? 11? Hm. Quite the milesttone.

-DON'T GRAB THE BORB HE'S NAPPING

-"Oh fuck you're Ageha!"

-The awkward preteen boy's worst nightmare. An affectionate college student cousin!

-"Shonen." Hey, at least it ain't that other sho word. That'd have been a massive red flag.

-So, Mashiron's surprised to see her... does this mean Ageha let herself in?

-The awkwardest pair!

-Oh my God, she's singing the theme. ...sort of.

-"We obey the speed limit~! And we make sure to use proper turn signals and understand the right of way~!"

-Sora's appropriately in awe of this rolling metal death trap.

-Really Ageha? A fucking Hummer? What do you even need it for? I realize you're training to be a daycare teacher, but like

-Do younguns really need such a big-ass car like this?

-Mount Raso!

-Rasogoro!

-Oh, he looks familiar.

-"Boy" she says. Is she Kratos?

-Ah speaking of whom, I've recently considered watching Stargate SG-1 for Christopher Judge.

-Do it for Ozone Baby.

-Sora-chan really wants to run up that mountain!

-Hey, Mashiro! You gotta take this chance! Your very own Brokeback Mountain remake!

-Carry the baby along~!

-"A true knight is never weighed down by his burdens!"

-Man, you know Tsubasa'd stand in the middle of a blizzard in those shorts and deny being cold.

-Tanuki!

-...Keiwa-kun...

-Tatatatatatatatatatatatatatata! Huwata!

-Athletanu Kiourse~!

-She been knew.

-Holy shit, this course!

-He did it!

-Beautiful yet hidden...

-That was an

-Oddly intense closeup.

-Ooooh, cable car.

-"Move along, boy!"

-Aaaaand he's had enough!

-Impersonating officials! Yet more to add to Kabaton's rapsheet!

-"Hey there, Tsubasa-kun! You remembered to pack some ice right? Mashiro's a little sore winded!"

-"EVERY MUSCLE IN MY BODY HAS FLAMING NEEDLES IN THEM"

-Awwwwww

-Well, he seems to feel a little more enlightened.

-"I MUST REACH THE MOUNTAIN TOP!"

-Intrepid mountaineer, Tsubasa Yuunagi!

-"Rainboooooow~!"

-Ohhhhhh, that's the wing! From Sora's old notebook!

-"You're a speedy son of a bitch, aren'tcha kiddo?"

-"Ranbooooooorg!"

-GIRL B OHJLKHG

-Battle time!

-"Oh wait, hang on, I gotta back up..."

-Smecked

-I'll give Kabaton this, those Ranborgs sure are fast.

-"LET GO, YOU SON OF A BITCH! ...Wait, no, no, no!"

-JANKEN

-GIRL WHAT

-Catch!

-"WOMAN, ARE YOU INSANE!?"

-"You went along with it, didn't you? :3"

-This is a level of embarassment Wing has never felt before in his entire life.

-Oh hello girls. I... almost forgot about you two!

-Double Cable Run~!

-PreCure Double Kick!

-Down he goes~!

-Oh damn, he went and done it.

-"Thanks to the boy~!"

-Well, that is quit the view.

-Rasogoro swag.

-Naptime

-Oh?

-OH FUCK THE BOSS

-This might be your last chance, buddy.

-Cure Yell! ...Hana, baby, did your model always look like that?

-Butterfly, I swear, you need to come in soon or I'm gonna shit

-A house

-DUEL

-The ultimate showdown! The battle that defines generations of martial arts! Cure Sky's Sky Land Divine Fist and Kabaton's... Hmm... Underg Style Sumo? Nah, that seems a bit too easy...

[adculinary24]

Research: Pork

Week 3

MENU

Amuse Bouche: Brioche, Lardo, Mostarda                    Appetizer: Bacon Cooking Experiment (with aioli)                      Entrée:  Braised Pork Cheeks or Braised Pork Belly, Celeriac Puree, Bitter Greens, Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Part 1 Introductions

Method of cooking/technique to discuss:

Braising, comparison of bacon cooking methods

Learning Objectives:

Understand the fundamental principles of cooking bacon.

Produce an advanced braised dish (pork belly or pork cheek).

Demonstrate proficiency in preparing an emulsified Sauce (Aioli), showcasing different consistency and flavor profiles of bacon.

Prior Knowledge:

Primary Ingredient of the week:

Braised Pork Cheeks or Braised Pork Belly

Bacon

Lardo

I have had pork cheeks and pork belly at the Korean BBQ. The pork belly is my favorite. I had it smoked with garlic and then grilled on the hot plate. It has a juicier and less salted taste than bacon from the store.

I previously cooked bacon in a frying pan on the stove until I found out about cooking it in the oven. It yields a very consistent product in the oven. I have only cooked it on a tray so that more of the fat drips off, but after seeing the picture in the lesson I may be interested in trying it on parchment. They water also drips off from the rack in the oven method, so on parchment it may be less dried out. I do much prefer it in the oven beyond the convenience of not needing to watch it or get splattered in grease; I think that the fat gets cooked more thoroughly.

Part 2 Background Information

Method:

Braising- According to MasterClass, “Braising is a combination-cooking method that starts with pan searing followed by slow cooking in a liquid—usually in a Dutch oven or a slow cooker—until ingredients become tender. A successful braise transforms both the ingredient being cooked and the cooking liquid itself into something harmonious.” The process is forgiving because it retains moisture and develops flavors easily with time. 

What is braising? how to braise meats and vegetables - 2024. MasterClass. (n.d.-b). https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-braising-how-to-braise-meats-and-vegetables

Bacon Cooking Methods- “Bacon is a type of salt-cured pork made from various cuts, typically the belly or less fatty parts of the back.” According to the book excerpt on Canvas, a lot of the flavor comes from the nitrated pink salt used to cure the belly. More of what we think of bacon flavor comes from smoking the bacon. Different wood can give the meat different smoke flavors. We will try cooking the bacon in different ways to see what the results are. These ways include the following:

1. Microwave

2. Sheet Pan with Parchment

3. Sheet Pan with Rack

4. Cast Iron Skillet

5. Flat top

6. Grill

7. Non Stick Pan

8. Non Stick With Water

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, August 6). Bacon. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacon

Image link: https://www.thekitchn.com/skills-showdown-bacon-22956708 

Primary Ingredient:

Lardo-  Lardo is the fat from the back of a pig that has been salted/smoked and stored. It is made in two towns in Italy; a small village in the Aosta Valley produces “a fine flavor with a marked aroma of spices” and the village of Colonnata produces “milder and more delicate” lardo. 

Lardo is served sliced thinly. According to the producers in Colonnata the lardo should dissolve on your tongue and melt in your mouth. There should be no rancid fat flavor. Lardo beyond being eaten as is can also be incorporated in the cooking of meat such as veal to lend more flavor and richness.

Lardo. La Cucina Italiana. (n.d.). https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/glossary/lardo?refresh_ce=

Image link: https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/glossary/lardo

Bacon- As discussed earlier, bacon is made from the fat striated meat of the belly or back of a pig. We will be using it in the vinaigrette/salad as well as trying it with aioli. Bacon has an importance in american cuisine and has for a long time due to its stability at room temperature

Art link: https://lchenart.tumblr.com/post/183394755603/howls-moving-castle-eggs-and-bacon-direct 

Braised Pork Cheek/Belly- These follow the method of low and slow heat to soften the meat. Searing high heat before the low moist heat creates umami and flavor that infuses in the long process.

Image link: https://thewoksoflife.com/shanghai-style-braised-pork-belly/

Part 3 Recipe R&D

Chosen Recipes:

Mostarda-Ingredients: Pears, Apples, Cane Sugar, Lemon Juice, Mustard Seeds, Mustard Oil. The mostarda will take about an hour of cooking. The sugar will reduce into a thick mustard syrup that coats the fruit.

Bitter Greens- “Cook bitter greens with bacon or sausage, pump up the garlic, throw in something spicy, or add a sweet element, like roasted squash or dried fruit. Having a strong contrasting flavor will temper the bitterness and help balance the dish out since bitter greens can have a strong vegetal flavor in addition to bitterness.”

Gallary, C. (2019, May 2). 5 ways to tame bitter Greens. Kitchn. https://www.thekitchn.com/5-ways-to-tame-bitter-greens-214850

Warm Bacon Vinaigrette- I found a recipe that pours hot fat over a salad with the bacon vinaigrette on it. I think it will be interesting to see how the popping fat tames the bitter greens.

Provided Recipes:

Braised Pork Cheek- The pork is seared to have the Maillard reaction and gain flavor, then it is cooked for 2-3 hours to soften and cook the meat as well as render the fat. The juices coming off are strained and made into a sauce with some added butter. Rest, slice, sear and serve.

Aioli-The aioli relies on properties that the garlic and egg yolk have as well as the power of shearing from the robot coupe. Garlic and egg yolk both have enzymes that help to form an emulsion of oil and water. Whisking splits the oil into small drops that can be suspended in water.

Celeriac Puree- The celery root is boiled and then blended. This recipe says the root can be mashed or riced which I might try instead.

Part 4 Recipes

Chosen Recipes:

Mostarda

Bitter Greens and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Milton, T. (2023, March 14). Spring greens with hot bacon vinaigrette. Bon Appétit. https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/spring-greens-with-hot-bacon-vinaigrette 

Braised Pork Belly

Image link:

https://thewoksoflife.com/shanghai-style-braised-pork-belly/

Provided Recipes:

Braised Pork Cheek

Aioli

Pork Belly Rub

Celeriac Puree (Celery Root)

Plan of Work

1-115 discussion

1:15 bellies and cheeks in pastry ovens (half hotel pans for 2-3 hours)

Start mostarda, start aioli for bacon experiment

2:15 bacon experiment

2:35 evaluation of bacon cooking methods

3pm plates up for Amuse Bouche

3:30 cheeks and bellies out of oven, chill then sear

Celeriac puree, bitter greens, warm bacon vinaigrette

4:45 plate up

5pm cleanup

530 debrief

[greg-is-cool]

Here are some of my favourite songs! If anyone has recommendations of similar songs, amazing. There's a lot, so I will put more under the cut.

My heart goes (la di da) by Becky hill

The moss by Cosmo sheldraKe

Dropthebassonthestereo by CG5

Mexico by alestorm

My mind and me by Selena gomez

Destroid 8 annialate by excision

Final boss by nitro fun

Counting stars by one republic

Die young by Kesha

Cure for me by aurora (could totally be made into a homestucK animation)

Dandelions by Ruth b

Til it's over by Tristan

ThunderstrucK by two chellos

Join the riot by paddy and the rats

Vacation by dirty heads

The ultimate showdown by lemon demon

Supermodel by manosKin

Seasons of love by rosario dawson

QZKago requiem by t+pazolite

Into the unKnown by panic at the disco

I ain't worried by one rebublic

Heavy weight by Linsey stirling

Heart of a dancer by the happy fits

Gossip by manosKin

Girls / girls / boys by panic at the disco

The fine print by the stupendium

Faded by Alan walKer

All my fellas by frizK

[fixyourwritinghabits]

Five Core Scenes

Alright, y’all, I’m going to be reblogging plotting tools throughout most of October, but let’s do a stripped down, bare bones plot prep for anyone with just a vague idea. Let’s talk about the key parts of a plot outline, the Five Core Scenes.

Opening: This is your view of the world before you decide to toss your protagonist life upside down. Your goal is to establish two things:

Your protagonist’s life. If you follow any of the Hero’s Journey form of outlining, this is called the Ordinary World. If it’s contemporary, you’ll probably focus on what takes up the main character’s time - job, family, school, etc. If it’s fantasy, you’ll also be doing that, but establishing that he also flies a dragon to his 9-to-5. Basic stuff.

Your protagonist’s problem. Yes, you’re going to give the main character a problem before the book kicks off. You can make your plot revolve around a person who’s perfectly happy, but hell, we’re writers, we want our characters to suffer. If there’s something they want (a person, a thing, a life change) or don’t know they need, it’s good to start with it right off the bat.

Inciting Event: This can be tricky, but it’s basically The Point of No Return. Your character can’t go back to their old life, you blew it up. The door to the Ordinary World is closed. They witnessed a murder, got bit by a vampire, dumped by their boyfriend, etc. The character might think they can go back, but they can’t. This usually kicks off Act II.

Now, the middle is known as the dreaded slog, but I’m going to share a secrect: You want to split Act II into parts A and B, the middle split by...

False Victory/False Defeat: In the first half of Act II, your character is trying to solve their problem the wrong way. They may think the solution is to cooperate with the police, seek out a cure, try to win their boyfriend back, but they’re going to hit a wall, and hit it hard. In the False Victory turning point, your character thinks they’ve gotten what they want - only to realize it’s fixed nothing at all. In the False Defeat, all seems lost - but actually, they’ve found a new path. Either way, the second half of Act II will be doing things the Right Way - solving the murder themselves, embracing vampirism to find the douche to turned them, finally flirting back with that new neighbor, etc. There’s more urgency in your second half, because your character can know see the way to solve their problem - they just have to get there.

The Climax: No brainer, though you’re actually going to take a few steps back to the start of Act III to figure out how you get to the climax. If the climax is confronting the murderer, how did the protagonist figure out who that is? If it’s a showdown with the god of vampires, how do we track him down? You can write “big fight” at the start of your notes, but you’ll have an easier time actually writing it if you flesh out how it happened a bit more.

The Denouement: Yes, you need a denouement. Yes, it’s helpful to figure out how your story is resolved before you write The End. The whole point is the end of your story, the lesson you want to leave the readers, the emotion you want to have. Figuring this out first will make getting there a whole lot easier, trust me.

You are going to have plenty of important scenes in between, but pinning these down will make the rest a whole lot easier - and if you’re mostly a pantser, you can keep these big goals in mind as you write toward them.

[kryptoniancape]

So the Leah storyline finally comes to an end—not with a bang, but with a whimper.

What was the point of making this bitch Daryl’s girlfriend if that literally does nothing to service the story? The way he iced her so quickly just proved it meant nothing. I distinctly remember Kang telling Carylers to give this storyline a chance. What it actually amounted to was manufactured ship wars for clout. We knew this chick was never a threat to Caryl. We were asking for the bare minimum of literary payoff for the sake of Daryl’s story. That little showdown really could have been something, if you just imagine for one second Carol in Maggie’s place for that scene. Sigh.

*Can’t do a read more because I’m on mobile here but just bare with me.

This show is suffering from what I’ll henceforth call the 100 syndrome—They’re more concerned with making sure their final season sets up the future of the franchise than they are with giving cohesive payoff. I mean, not that it wasn’t cool, mind you, but if you have to insert a random plague of locusts to force subtext onto your storytelling, how impactful really is the story you’re telling?

What actually happened in these first two blocks? If this was the reason 100% of Caryl development had to be relegated to block C, why does it feel like almost nothing of real significance happened to justify that? lmao. So many storylines are still feeling like they only had their surface scratched. They have too many characters to service and they keep adding more, so obviously we were never getting CRM/the cure storyline in the main show, but the ante could seriously be upped by this point. With the exception of some key episodes, 11A and B have been slow as shit. It shouldn’t be feeling like the first two blocks were just one long trailer for part 3. I desperately want to be more emotionally invested by now, in all of the main characters’ stories, not just Caryl’s. Again, just imagine if the big gotcha was that CW were secretly rounding up sick and delinquent lower class citizens as test subjects for CRM. I guess that could still be the case, but with 8 episodes left, I highly doubt it.

Since 10C aired, my mind has been on meta brain to justify its existence, and the multitude of ways in which 11 could have gone down. Leah’s death is where I tap out of this game. I genuinely have no idea what the vehicle will be for Caryl’s story moving forward, which is kind of tantalizing. I prefer to be pleasantly surprised anyway, but when canon so far has ended up severely underwhelming in comparison to anything I’ve seen Carylers come up with, it’s hard not to seek out meaning in the shit they won’t address.

I’m still reserving final judgement until the series finale, and despite all this foolery am still largely excited for and confident 11C is going to be a critical jump in pacing and quality. I don’t see how it can’t be at this point.

[precure-alphabet-showdown]

B CURE SHOWDOWN, FINALE

Who's your favourite Cure starting with B?

[manwalksintobar]

D.O.A. //Tim Dlugos

“You knew who I was when I walked in the door. You thought that I was dead. Well, I am dead. A man can walk and talk and even breathe and still be dead.” Edmond O’Brien is perspiring and chewing up the scenery in my favorite film noir, D.O.A. I can’t stop watching, can’t stop relating. When I walked down Columbus to Endicott last night to pick up Tor’s new novel, I felt the eyes of every Puerto Rican teen, crackhead, yuppie couple focus on my cane and makeup. “You’re dead,” they seemed to say in chorus. Somewhere in a dark bar years ago, I picked up “luminous poisoning.” My eyes glowed as I sipped my drink. After that, there was no cure, no turning back. I had to find out what was gnawing at my gut. The hardest part’s not even the physical effects: stumbling like a drunk (Edmond O’Brien was one of Hollywood’s most active lushes) through Forties sets, alternating sweats and fevers, reptilian spots on face and scalp. It’s having to say goodbye like the scene where soundtrack violins go crazy as O’Brien gives his last embrace to his girlfriend-cum-Girl Friday, Paula, played by Pamela Britton. They’re filmdom’s least likely lovers—the squat and jowly alkie and the homely fundamentally talentless actress who would hit the height of her fame as the pillhead- acting landlady on My Favorite Martian fifteen years in the future. I don’t have fifteen years, and neither does Edmond O’Brien. He has just enough time to tell Paula how much he loves her, then to drive off in a convertible for the showdown with his killer. I’d like to have a showdown too, if I could figure out which pistol-packing brilliantined and ruthless villain in a hound’s-tooth overcoat took my life. Lust, addiction, being in the wrong place at the wrong time? That’s not the whole story. Absolute fidelity to the truth of what I felt, open to the moment, and in every case a kind of love: all of the above brought me to this tottering self-conscious state—pneumonia, emaciation, grisly cancer, no future, heart of gold, passionate engagement with a great B film, a glorious summer afternoon in which to pick up the ripest plum tomatoes of the year and prosciutto for the feast I’ll cook tonight for the man I love, phone calls from my friends and a walk to the park, ignoring stares, to clear my head. A day like any, like no other. Not so bad for the dead.                            

[arllenn]

Maribat au - big sis tomb raider mari

(Salt not Adrien friendly)

- the prelude -

• same as cannon only the temple is never brought back in feast, the building itself is brought back but the monks are gone Mari may be a powerful ladybug because she’s a true holder but they’ve been dead for a century and she has a cap on her powers because of her age (Chloé also only leaves for about a month or two)

•before fu goes bonk he actually teaches mari some shit abt the miraculous and the order. (The language, history and as much magic as he can)

•after she becomes the guardian she no longer has the time for class drama and resigns as class pres

•she can also train with past guardians and holders of any miraculous that she’s used (only ones that have died already so in this au not hippolyta or Alfred)

•she throws herself into finding out who hawkmoth is because now she has a secret order to rebuild and she’s done with not being able to cry

•she tells chat noir at their next battle to shape up after he almost gets her killed because stealing a kiss is more important than the battle at hand

•chat throws a fit and doesn’t show up for a while(how long is up to the writer)

• during all of this we still have lila and her classmates being dickheads so she has to deal with being all alone cause Adrien doesn’t have her back and she knows this because it’s been months and he hasn’t helped her once

•mari gets close to a previous ladybug who teaches her how to remain herself while putting up a front to intimidate the enemy (she uses this to appear disinterested in lila and her classmates effectively telling them fuck off idc what you think)

•after Lila says that marinette pushed her down the stairs again mari gets harmed in some way and decides to take tomoe up on her offer to learn fencing (as a result she and Kagami get closer)

•mari brings up wanting to be able to carry a self defense weapon on her person at all times but also doesn’t want to carry something like a taser or a knife so Kagami suggests war fans

•mari is like hell yea because a. She’s now closer to her culture and b. They look sick and she’s been wanting a style change for some time now

•Chloé is back at this point and sees what’s happening in the class and is like wtf

•while away she decided to improve herself so when she sees this she begrudgingly is like fuck it alliance

•mari and Chloé after an apology and a few tenative weeks become friends

•they have their style change together we now have techwear and occasional soft girl mari who constantly has a fan on her that matches with her outfit

•thanks to her training with the Tsurugis she now has an excuse for being so well versed in self defense

•she makes Chloé and Kagami permant holders and while Luka always has sass on him she only tells him to transform when she’s positive she needs him (watching your friends die time and time again and having the future of everything weigh on you being able to turn back time is stressful and she doesn’t want to fuck Luka up like fu fucked her up)

•at this point mari has also gotten closer to aurore who starts to run a blog once the ladyblog goes to shit and gets the turtle

•unlike the others she’s a hero whose focused on the citizens, she gets them to saftey and defends them if they get caught up in a battle rather than fighting Akumas directly

•chat noir hasn’t been present in any battles so they’re easier for mari and it reduces her stress over it

•they discover gabriel is hawkmoth (how it is is up to the writer)

•they have a showdown in which chat defends Gabriel because ‘he could never be hawkmoth what are you doing’

•because of this mari now has both the ladybug and the black cat miraculous on her during the fight with hawkmoth

•she ends up having to use both at the same time bacause training or not that power cap is a bitch when she’s fighting two people who don’t have it

•divine being mari because the two miraculous if not used to make a wish will just transfer the power it would take to make the wish into whoever combined them

•she beats hawkmoth and says fuck it hands him and Mayura over to the cops and peace’s out

•she doesn’t take back the miraculous from her team only Adrien gabe and nath

•she then chills out for the remainder of the school year and decides to visit the temple during the summer

•(wether she told her parents about everything or got disowned is up to you)

•by this point mari has made plenty of money as mdc and can afford to just fuck off to Tibet and rent an apartment for the summer

•(if she goes alone or with someone else is up to you)

•she spends the summer recovering all that she can from the temple (scrolls, additional miraculous, a grimoire that all guardians use)

•so by the time she returns to France for her senior year she’s got a good grip on magic and what she needs to do starting with recovering a box of miraculous that was apparently lost before the temple even fell

•she works with the others to pinpoint where they could be (museums, ruins, family heirlooms, buried under centuries of dirt, at a thrift or jewelry shop)

•eventually she ends up in Gotham for her senior trip

•where she gets caught up in a two face/scarecrow attack at Wayne enterprises (dick was leading the tour so he can’t get away to nightwing and Damien stuck around because it was either help with the tour or school and he fucking hates it there)

•she slips away and transforms (pleas e I’m begging for a costume change the onzie is hella ugly)

•comes back and kicks ass fixes the damage so no one needs the actual cure to fear toxin and peace’s out again

•she ends up doing it a few more times while she’s there somehow always around Damien/Robin (hes like 12-13)

•she nails him out of a bad joker situation (use your imagination) and he’s like yes my sister my hella suspicious sister I’ve adopted you now 😌

• so that’s how she ends up eating dinner in her ladybug get up with the Wayne’s

•she decides to go to college at gotham academy cause Gotham needs healing and there’s more than one miraculous in this town

•so now here she is tellin robin/Damien that she’ll be back in like a week or two because she needs to get everything in Paris sorted out before she chills here

•(wether they know ladybug = marinette is up to you)

•she goes back to Paris to finish out the school year going back to Gotham on the weekends to heal it the best she can and hang out with her cool murder baby brother

•she gets along with Jason the best after Damien cause it’s fun to fuck shit up with someone who is just as chaotic as you but slightly adjacent

•no romantic parings with any of the batfam cause she sees them all as her family (if she has a romantic thing going on with someone it’s probably with Chloé cause I’m a hoe for Chloénette)

•eventually Damien has a really bad day and he calls her at what he’s to be 1 am because he almost killed someone again and he just wants to be distracted from it

•so mari takes him to some old ruins she was planing on going to

•que Damien coming into the dinning room the next day with a magic sword and looking surprisingly content

•now mari is just the cool tomb raider sister who will takes Damien ruins when he’s feeling down hands him some cookies and let him sleep over

•eventually she gets caught stealing from a museum and now Bruce is talking about what a bad influence she is on Damien and how she’s not allowed to see him anymore and she’s like 😦

•ends up explaining everything (if they didn’t know her identity before they know it now)

•and Bruce is like wow shit do you need a parental figure

•mari now has been officially adopted as a Wayne

And there it is tomb raider mari. Idk if people are interested i could write an actual fic or go into more detail on certain parts

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi I was wondering if you had any johnlock that centers around the pool scene! I love the work you out into your blog/recs! I wish i could find blogs like yours for good omens and doctor who tbh

Hi Lovely!!!!

Ah, thank you!! Sometimes they’re not really worked hard on unless I know I have to actually re-file a bunch of lists LOL. Like today’s for instance..... here’s everything I have tagged with the Pool Scene for you!! <3 And I’m sure there are blogs like that in the other fandoms :) <3 

Hope these help you find something you’re looking for!

TGG: POOL SCENE

The Moment When by drekadair (K, 509 w. || TGG Fic, Friendship, First Person POV Sherlock, Introspection, Worried Sherlock) – Sherlock sees John in the pool, and doubts. Set during the end of "The Great Game."

Five Seconds by xXLadyLovelaceXx (K+, 658 w. || Friendship, Introspection, TGG Pool Scene) – In the half-second before Sherlock shoots the jacket, John notices something.

Promises Kept by grannysknitting (K+, 844 w., 1 Ch. || John POV, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship / Pre-Slash, Sherlock’s Violin, Worried Sherlock, John Whump, Post-TGG) – When they were in hospital, Sherlock made a promise to himself. Now he's keeping it. Set after 'Polygamous Marriage' but before 'Back in the Saddle'

Burn Burn by Jenn1984 (K+, 925 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TGG, Angst, Worried / Panicked / Possessive Sherlock) – A week after the events of "The Great Game", Sherlock returns to 221B Baker Street to find it empty.

Wreckage and Rubble by grannysknitting (K+, 1,116 w. || Drama, H/C, Ambiguous Ending) – Lestrade's point of view when he's called to the wreckage of the pool. He doesn't want to deal with the wreckage that would occur if London's newest crime fighting duo are parted from each other.

Idiot by Anesthesiologist (T, 1,229 w., 1 Ch. || Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, TGG AU, BAMF John, Sherlock Whump, Inner Monologue, John Saves Sherlock, POV Sherlock) – What the heck happened? He remembered the pool and Moriarty, but then what? Had he been dying?

I Was Wrong by AllesandraQuartermaine (K, 1,496 w., 1 Ch. || TGG AU, Friendship, Hospitalization / Injury, John’s Self Esteem, Sleepy Sherlock) – Sherlock and John have a conversation a few days after the pool face off with Moriarty. And John hears something quite surprising.

Back in the Saddle by grannysknitting (M, 1,577 w., 1 Ch. || Post TGG AU, Donovan POV, Observation / Introspection, Protective Sherlock, Injured John, Case-ish Fic) – Their first return to solving crime after the pool and the explosion.

Coming Full Circle by KCS (K+, 2,358 w., 1 Ch. || Alternate TGG, Friendship, Drama, Violence/Death References, Drugging/Poisoning, Kidnapping, BAMF John, Moriarty POV, Introspection) – Moriarty had John for almost six hours between his abduction and the showdown at the pool - more than enough time to implement a Plan B for his escape should Sherlock call his bluff with the fake bomb vest.

It's All Fine by AkoyaMizuno (T, 2,459 w. || Post-TGG, Introspection, Mild Angst, Friendship) – Sherlock never asked what happened in the hours between John being kidnapped and the events at the pool. It occurs to him, days after the fact, that he probably should have.

All That I Have by the_arc5 (M, 3,721 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TGG Canon Divergence, Pining Sherlock, John Whump, Anxious / Worried Sherlock, Light Angst) – In the aftermath of the Great Game, Sherlock finds himself with a new weakness. John is both the cause and the cure.

Sink Like a Stone by pennydreadful (T, 4,348 w., 1 Ch. || Angst / Dark, Cuddling/Snuggling) – After defeating Moriarty at the pool, life isn't quite the same around 221B Baker Street...it's more peaceful. And stranger.

The Care and Keeping of Your Mad Genius by Janieshi (T, 4,553 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TGG, Friendship, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Light Humour/Teasing, Alternating POV, Cranky Sherlock) – If he hadn't been so focused on holding the bastard still, John would have laughed aloud. This maniac really thought John was the pet in this dynamic?

The Refining Fire by Arwen Jade Kenobi (T, 5,451 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TGG AU, Angst, Friendship, Alternating POV (Lestrade, Mycroft, Sherlock), Worried Sherlock, Hospital Recovery) – Fire can burn things to ashes, but it can also burn things together.

BANG by ElvendorkInfinity (T, 7,016 w., 3 Ch. || Post-TGG AU, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Worried / Scared Sherlock, Alternating POV, Whump, Hospital Recovery, Open Ending) – 'I should warn you,' Sherlock says, his voice steady and his eyes fixed on Moriarty. 'You are sadly misinformed.' And he fires. Prequel to M Is For Moriarty

The Hours Before Midnight by Lady Sam Mallory (T, 7,773 w., 1 Ch. || TGG Fic, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Torture / John Whump, Kidnapping, Drugging, Alternating POV, Worried / Protective Sherlock) – Moriarty doesn't play fair. John must deal with hours of torment from Moriarty before going to meet Sherlock at the Pool at the end of the Great Game and Sherlock must deal with the consequences of his boredom.

Victim, Bait, Hero, Friend by KimberlyTheOwl (T, 7,887 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TGG Epilogue, Angst, Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Introspection, Past Kidnapping / Torture / Implied Rape, Panic Attacks, Worried / Possessive Sherlock, Lestrade is a Good Friend) – Some insights into why John was perfectly willing to throw everything away for a chance to kill Moriarty at the pool. Trauma, ugliness, and finally healing. Some nice supporting work by Lestrade as well.

Hope for Heroes by Richefic (K+, 16,887 w., 5 Ch. || Post-TGG Fic, Introspection / Flashbacks, Friendship/Epic Bromance, Hurt/Comfort, Worried/Anxious Sherlock, Sherlock Admires John, BAMF John, John Deduces, Fancy Party, John’s Self Esteem, Domestics) – In the final moments of "The Great Game" Holmes hopes he will have the chance to tell his flatmate that he was wrong. Heroes do exist after all and the one in front of him is called Dr John Watson.

The Heart In The Whole by verityburns (E, 101,650 w., 21 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-TGG Canon Divergence, Drama & Angst, H/C, First Time, Blind Sherlock) – Events after ‘The Great Game’ leave Sherlock dependent on his best friend and colleague. But John has a secret of his own…

[fearsmagazine]

VARÈSE SARABANDE RECORDS  Announces RECORD STORE DAY 2021 Releases.

Varèse Sarabande Records will be releasing seven amazing soundtrack LPs on Record Store Day 2021’s newly announced release dates: The Matrix will be released as a deluxe 3-LP set, Village of the Damned will be released as a deluxe-edition double LP, The Iron Giant and The Goonies will get the picture disc treatment, and Shrek, Ghosts of Mars, and Aliens will be released as limited-edition color LPs. This annual celebration will be held through a series of Record Store Day drops, which will occur on June 12th and July 17th.

These seven Varèse Sarabande Records titles will be available on the dates listed below at thousands of independent record stores. For a list of participating stores and more information about these special LPs, visit RecordStoreDay.com.

*JUNE 12th: The Matrix, The Goonies, Village of the Damned, Shrek *JULY 17th: The Iron Giant, Ghosts of Mars, Aliens

THE MATRIX: The Complete Edition – Don Davis (3-LP Set) – *RELEASE DATE: JUNE 12th* The science-fiction masterpiece has captured the imagination of another generation with news of a new Matrix film in production. This deluxe 3-LP set is pressed on Glitter-Infused Green vinyl, expanded to 44 tracks, and housed in a stunning new art design. Also included are classic film stills and an exclusive new interview with composer Don Davis.

TRACK LISTINGS

Side A 1. “Logos / The Matrix Main Title” 2. “Trinity Infinity” 3. “Neo Con Brio” 4. “Follow The White Rabbit” 5. “Neo On The Edge” 6. “Through The Surveillance Monitor” 7. “Unable To Speak” 8. “Bait And Switch”

Side B 1. “Switched For Life” 2. “Switched At Birth” 3. “Switches Brew” 4. “Cold Hearted Switch” 5. “Nascent Nauseous Neo” 6. “A Morpheus Movement” 7. “Bow Whisk Orchestra”

Side C 1. “Domo Showdown” 2. “Switch Or Break Show” 3. “Shake, Borrow, Switch” 4. “Switch Works Her Boa” 5. “Bring Me Dinner” 6. “The System” 7. “Freeze Face” 8. “Switch Woks Her Boar” 9. “Cypher Cybernetic” 10. “Ignorance Is Bliss / Cyber Cyphernetic” 11. “See Who?” 12. “Switch Out”

Side D 1. “Boon Spy” 3. “Oracle Cookies” 4. “Threat Mix” 5. “Exit Mr. Hat” 6. “On Your Knees, Switch”

Side E 1. “Mix The Art” 2. “Whoa, Switch Brokers” 3. “The Cure” 4. “It’s The Smell” 5. “The Lobby” 6. “No More Spoons” 7. “Dodge This” 8. “Fast Learning” 9. “Ontological Shock”

Side F 1. “That’s Gotta Hurt” 2. “Surprise” 3. “He’s The One Alright”

THE GOONIES – David Grusin (Picture Disc) – *RELEASE DATE: JUNE 12TH* In celebration of the 35th anniversary of The Goonies, the beloved soundtrack by Dave Grusin will be released on an LP picture disc for the first time ever! The special release features the album cover on side A and the infamous One-Eyed Willie on side B. The track listing to this abbreviated single-disc version of the original score was personally selected and assembled by Grusin himself.

TRACK LISTINGS

Side A 1. “Fratelli Chase” 2. “Cellar And Sloth” 3. “The Goondocks (Goonies Theme)” 4. “The ‘It,’ Fifty Dollar Bills And A Stiff” 5. “Pee Break And Kissing Tunnel” 6. “Skull And Signature” 7. “Plumbing” 8. “Restaurant Trash” 9. “Boulders, Bats And A Blender”

Side B 1. “They’re Here And Skull Cave Chase” 2. “Playing The Bones” 3. “Mikey’s Vision” 4. “Triple Stones And A Ball” 5. “Wishing Well And The Fratellis Find Coin” 6. “Mama & Sloth” 7. “One Eyed Willie” 8. “No Firme And Pirate Ship”

VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED: The Deluxe Edition – John Carpenter & Dave Davies (2-LP Set) – *RELEASE DATE: JUNE 12TH* The Deluxe Edition for Village of the Damned presents the full score as heard in the film for the first time, a far more complete presentation than the 1995 Original Soundtrack which was not only truncated but made of an entirely separate mix that wasn’t featured in the film. The set does, however, include the track “Midwich Shuffle,” a fun number which was created specifically for the 1995 soundtrack, despite never actually appearing in the film. Interest in John Carpenter’s original film scores has never been higher, and his collaboration with Dave Davies of the Kinks is a one-of-a-kind moment in cinematic music history. The album includes all-new original art direction with new notes and classic film stills and comes pressed on Orange Haze vinyl.

TRACK LISTINGS

Side A 1. “Angel Of Death / Midwich Sleeps / Daybreak” 2. “The Fair (Extended Version)” 3. “Gas Station / Asleep” 4. “Awaken / The Funeral” 5. “Welcome Home, Ben (Extended Version)” 6. “Big Meeting / The Decision” 7. “The Same Dream”

Side B 1. “Baptism (Extended Version)” 2. “Baby Mara” 3. “Children’s Theme / Dilemma” 4. “The Parents Arrive” 5. “Children’s Carol (Instrumental)”

Side C 1. “Loss / Carol Of The Damned” 2. “Carlton” 3. “Ben’s Death / Ultimatum” 4. “Burning Desire (Extended Version)”

Side D 1. “Last Kiss / The Bomb” 2. “The Brick Wall (Extended Version)” 3. “March Of The Children (End Credits)” 4. “Midwich Shuffle”

SHREK – Harry Gregson-Williams & John Powell (Limited-Edition Color LP) – *RELEASE DATE: JUNE 12TH* Shrek is the second most successful animated franchise in history and celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021. Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell are two of the most prominent composers working on animated features today, and they joined forces to create a score that is still as fun and memorable as it was when it was first released. The LP will be released on Neon Green vinyl, making it a standout addition to any record lover’s collection.

TRACK LISTINGS

Side A 1.  “Fairytale” 2.  “Ogre Hunters / Fairytale Deathcamp” 3.  “Donkey Meets Shrek” 4.  “Eating Alone” 5.  “Uninvited Guests” 6.  “March Of Farquuad” 7.  “The Perfect King” 8.  “Welcome To Duloc” 9.  “Tournament Speech” 10. “What Kind Of Quest” 11. “Dragon! / Fiona Awakens” 12. “One Of A Kind Knight” 13. “Saving Donkey’s Ass” 14. “Escape From The Dragon”

Side B 1.  “Helmet Hair” 2.  “Delivery Boy / Shrek / Making Camp” 3.  “Friends Journey To Duloc” 4.  “Starry Night” 5.  “Singing Princess” 6.  “Better Out Than In / Sunflower / I’ll Tell Him” 7.  “Merry Men” 8.  “Fiona Kicks Ass” 9.  “Fiona’s Secret” 10. “Why Wait To Be Wed / You Thought Wrong” 11. “Ride The Dragon” 12. “I Object” 13. “Transformation / The End”

THE IRON GIANT – Michael Kamen (Picture Disc) – *RELEASE DATE: JULY 17TH* This first-ever picture disc of this heartwarming 1999 animated film celebrates The Robot, his best friend, Hogarth, and a cast of characters. The music is by Academy Award®-nominated composer Michael Kamen (Lethal Weapon, Die Hard), who was well-known for his work with Eric Clapton, Metallica and Pink Floyd, in addition to his brilliant theatrical scores.

TRACK LISTINGS

Side A 1. “The Eye Of The Storm” 2. “Hogarth Hughes” 3. “Into The Forest” 4. “The Giant Wakes” 5. “Come And Get It” 6. “Cat And Mouse” 7. “Train Wreck” 8. “You Can Fix Yourself?” 9. “Hand Underfoot” 10. “Bedtime Stories” 11. “We Gotta Hide” 12. “His Name Is Dean” 13. “Eating Art” 14. “Space Car” 15. “Souls Don’t Die”

Side B 1. “Contest Of Wills” 2. “The Army Arrives” 3. “Annie And Dean” 4. “He’s A Weapon” 5. “The Giant Discovered” 6. “Trance-Former” 7. “No Following” 8. “The Last Giant Piece”

GHOSTS OF MARS – John Carpenter (Limited-Edition Color LP) – *RELEASE DATE: JULY 17TH* In celebration of Ghosts of Mars’ 20th anniversary, the epic soundtrack will be released on “Red Planet” vinyl. John Carpenter recruited an unbelievable cast of musicians to record the soundtrack to this sci-fi horror film, starring Ice Cube and Natasha Henstridge. Among the featured players are GRAMMY®-winning musician Steve Vai, most of the heavy metal band Anthrax (including Scott Ian), Elliot Eason of the rock band The Cars, Buckethead of Guns N’ Roses, and Robin Finck of Nine Inch Nails and Guns N’ Roses. This soundtrack is apocalyptic and an important mark in John Carpenter’s unparalleled career as a director and composer.

TRACK LISTINGS

Side A 1. “Ghosts Of Mars” 2. “Love Siege” 3. “Fight Train” 4. “Visions Of Earth” 5. “Kick Ass”

Side B 1. “Slashing Void” 2. “Power Station” 3. “Can't Let You Go” 4. “Dismemberment Blues” 5. “Fightin’ Mad” 6. “Pam Grier’s Head” 7. “Ghost Poppin’”

ALIENS: 35th Anniversary Edition – James Horner (Limited-Edition Color LP) – *RELEASE DATE: JULY 17TH* Aliens is regarded as one of the greatest science fiction franchises of all-time. In honor of its 35th anniversary, the long out-of-print original soundtrack gets a fresh reboot on Acid-Blood Yellow-Green vinyl.  The soundtrack is scored by the great Academy Award®-winning composer James Horner (Titanic, Avatar, Beautiful Mind). The LP features the original Sigourney Weaver key art and original film stills.

TRACK LISTINGS

Side A 1. “Main Title” 2. “Going After Newt” 3. “Sub-Level 3” 4. “Ripley’s Rescue” 5. “Atmosphere Station”

Side B 1. “Futile Escape” 2. “Dark Discovery” 3. “Bishop’s Countdown” 4. “Resolution And Hyperspace”

ABOUT VARÈSE SARABANDE RECORDS

Founded in 1978, Varèse Sarabande is the most prolific producer of film music in the world, releasing the highest quality soundtracks from the world’s greatest composers. From current box office hits and top television series to the classics of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Varèse Sarabande’s catalog includes albums from practically every composer in every era, covering all of film history; from Bernard Herrmann, Alex North and Jerry Goldsmith to Alexandre Desplat, Michael Giacchino and Brian Tyler. Varèse Sarabande is a part of Concord.

Follow:  twitter.com/varesesarabande

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Listen:  open.spotify.com/user/varesesarabanderecords

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Buy:  varesesarabande.com

[venus-says]

Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star Episodes 38-49 + Movie

So this is what I've been missing for all these years???

It has taken me 10 years of being a Precure fan for me to finally watch Splash Star from beginning to end, and I feel like a fool becAUSE I'VE BEEN MISSING SO MUCH, HOW COULD'VE I SPENT TEN YEARS WITHOUT WATCHING THIS??????? This series is so good, THIS ENDING IS SO GOOD!!!!!!! I've finished watching it yesterday and I'm still in awe. Gosh, I love this show.

But before I can talk about the ending, allow me to dedicate a small paragraph to comment on the movie. Originally I thought about making a separate post for the movie, but I don't have much to say about it so I'm adding this extra portion here (thank god I watched the movie before this was posted so I can add this beforehand). This movie is very lackluster, I got excited from the first scenes, watching it in HD and not DVD quality really brings way much more life to the screen and I was pretty impressed, but then Saki and Mai started to fight before their performance and all the joy went down because it immediately started to feel like Friends of the Snow Sky but worse because Saki and Mai were never this "hostile" against each other before so their fight doesn't seem true to their characters especially considering what originated this argument to begin with.

The movie exclusive characters are good, sadly they don't get that much time on screen and they also don't get a lot to do so they're not used to their full potential and they end up being just flat. In fact, I believe this is a good way to describe this movie, interesting concepts that aren't used fully because they wanna focus on this fight that makes no sense and that is something they've already done before. I don't know if this has to do with the weird duration of the movie, it's not even one hour long, or if it's just the script that is weak, but I really didn't enjoy this movie all that much. 😕

But now let's talk about the good stuff, let's talk about the ending of the season.

I have so many feels I don't even know where to begin with. Well to begin with, in the title of this post it says this is a review of episodes 38 to 49 but that's actually a lie since episodes 38 and 39 are just fillers that don't add much so I have nothing to comment on. But from episode 40 onward the show picks itself up and it just goes all out to wrap up this story in a very beautiful, exciting, and emotional way.

I admit I was a bit afraid of how this final stretch would go when I saw that the final Dark Fall general was defeated in episode 40, but they managed to wrap up this ending in a very clever way. Bringing back the defeated generals at first felt like a cheap way to do it, but the fact that the villains weren't back for just a single episode and considering there was no monster of the week, all the fights were against the generals themselves, it really enhanced the experience, it was like in the Mega Man games where you'll fight all the Robot Masters again in one of the Wily stages. It was also great that they came back WAY STRONGER and the girls really had to give their best to win those fights, I especially like that they lost right away when the villains came back because it's not always that we see precure losing so it was great to see just how much more difficult it would be for them to win in the end.

The final twist of Gohyan being the actual final villain wasn't all that much surprising, I mean he's the character who's always plotting something I knew he would betray Akudaikan at some point, and in normal circumstances, I'd wouldn't be pleased with this fake-out, but because Gohyan is a character we've seen since the beginning and he has been active, either plotting against his comrades or actually going against the precure, it worked. I kinda wish they had kept him in his "elderly" form, I think he works better that way, but seeing how great the action was for that final fight I'm more than okay with it.

If I had to say one thing that I completely disliked about this ending it's that, aside of the Christmas episode that once again had the pink try to deal with her feelings for a guy who doesn't look at them on a romantic way, having a four-part ending didn't really feel necessary. I think they could've made it in a way where episodes 46, 47, and 48, where focused in the actual fight, like episode 46 is the raid at Dark Fall, the fight against Akudaikan goes from Part B of 46 and Part A of 47, and then the final battle against Gohyan goes from Part B of 47 and lasts the entirety of episode 48, and then we have episode 49 focused for the aftermath and the epilogue. But that's just a minor thing because they hit the nail in the head in the important stuff so it's all good.

And speaking of action, THEY NAILED IT IN THIS PORTION OF THE STORY. I complained a lot about hoe the fights during the season weren't as good as they could've been, but if they were saving so much just so this ending could be so action-heavy and look so damn good as it was I feel like it was a good trade. Of course, the repeated shots of Bright and (especially) Windy using her powers are still here, but it's incorporated a lot better here and they do some actual creative stuff with it.

But the greatest thing of this finale was seeing Michiru and Kaoru finally being back, again I was reluctant about bringing them back so soon, but they knew what they're doing and they managed to do so much with them in this short amount of time. And I think it only works so well because they did an excellent job with them in their first arc so we as an audience can feel for them and we can also share the feelings Saki and Mai were having because we care about these characters just as much as they do. And I also like that they were brought back and they served a purpose, they weren't just extensions of Saki and Mai, they had their own concerns, they had their own issues so it wasn't like they were there to do just a single thing and they were able to conclude their arcs in a very satisfactory way. They've become really complex characters and I was always excited about seeing them on screen because I knew something great would come out of it every time, that being either them in their fighting scenes or while they were doing mundane stuff like Michiru enjoying helping at Pan Paka Pan or Kaoru spending time with Minori. Kaoru and Michiru's story was everything Kiriya's story wanted to be and more and this is definitely one of the strongest points of this show.

Our protagonists were probably the less worked during this arc, they sort of became an entity rather than two distinctive characters, but it somehow works? I think that because Saki ad Mai are such a great duo, they have so much chemistry, and the show seems to balance pretty well the spotlight they give to each girl, that deciding to focus more on these two as a duo rather than individually doesn't backfire. Their arc is more about solidifying their friendship more and more each time and spreading that out to Kaoru and Michiru, and they do a pretty good job at that. I feel like a lot of people don't have high opinions on them because of that, but I honestly didn't leave the show with the feeling that something was missing in regards to this matter so as far as I'm concerned they're great characters.

Before I wrap up I wanna talk about the ending in specific. It was the perfect pay off that this show needed. After everything Saki, Mai, Kaoru, and Michiru had gone through seeing they fight the big final boss together on an amazing showdown was incredibly awesome, when they lost their powers and the remaining of the spirits still living on Earth gathered together to bring not just Bloom and Egret but also Bright and Windy personified in Kaoru and Michiru felt rewarding as hell. It's pretty sad Kaoru and Michiru aren't considered official Cures because this final battle wouldn't have been the same without them.

If you read my Kamen Rider reviews you know I don't like it when characters come back from the dead immediately after they die. That wasn't the case here, in fact actually cried during that scene. We've said goodbye to them once and it hurt, seeing that they would go disappear again was like having my chest crushed, especially after everything that went down during this final arc and their speech in the fight about not giving up on the future they want to build with Saki and Mai. I knew precure is a kids show so they wouldn't kill them, but I expected they would go back to the Fountain of the Sky to live with Moop and Food there, but the show allowed the girls to stay with their friends in the Land of Greenery and that made me feel all fuzzy and warm inside.

And that montage at the end, with the four together, Kaoru joining Mai in the Art Club so she can learn how to draw so she can spend more time with Minori, Saki teaching Michiru how to bake, gosh, very few things made me as happy as that little montage did. Even seeing that Flappy finally confessed to Choppy and now they're officially a couple I believe was very endearing to see. And this is pretty much why I wanted the epilogue to be it's own separated episode because these are all things I'd love to watch as they were happening. It was still good, don't get me wrong, I have the dumbest smile in my face from just remembering it, but I wish we had more, GIVE ME AN OVA TOEI!!!!!

I'm not sure if I said everything I had to say, a lot of what I enjoyed from Splash Star was how the show touched me with emotional moments centered around characters I've grown to love throughout these 49 episodes and sadly my vocabulary isn't so vast so I can put out all these feelings here without sounding more repetitive than I already do. Splash Star is a really wonderful season, it had a slow start but as soon as they found their identity they really shined brightly, this season definitely shouldn't be so overlooked. So if you never watched it, give it a chance, and if you have watched it already, please do it again, appreciate the show for what it is and spread the love that this season and its characters deserve.

Three seasons of Precure down, thirteen more to go. Thank you so much for reading this far, please share the love for Splash Star in the comments. I'll see you soon for Yes! Pretty Cure 5!

P.S.: I was revising the post and I realized I didn't mention Kintolesky and Shitataare became a couple in the Christmas episode and it makes me really sad that these villains came back to being dust because I'd love to see this relationship. XD Again, GIVE ME AN OVA TOEI (and come up with a dumb excuse for why they're alive like humans and tell us how they've become regulars at Pan Paka Pan and how Kintolesky and Saki's father became the bestest friends ever).