#big see award

[casualavocados]

Chen Yi & Ai Di + the respect they command leading Yiyun Meng: North Hall

Chen Bowen as CHEN YI & Chiang Tien as AI DI KISEKI: DEAR TO ME (2023)

[simplykorra]

sometimes the simple truth of being alive just...moves me

[zarla-s]

I was cleaning up some broken links on my old silly Pokemon fansite, the Neglected Pokemon Lovers Unite (NPLU), and I realized that it has now been open for 25 years. TWENTY. FIVE. YEARS. That is an ASTONISHING amount of time for a site to stay open! Even if the last substantial update was like back in 2009 lol. The world around it has changed so much, but I think it's still valuable as a time capsule of a certain time on the internet. I wrote up a new essay about it on the site and did some general clean-up here and there.

Anyway to that end, since so much of the fic and art there is so old, I decided to compare Radic's oldest form to his newest! Radic was always a human boy but I just couldn't draw humans at the time so I made him a furry lol. Eventually I figured it out.

I also thought it'd be a neat challenge to mimic my own style back when it was really wonky and bad. And it was! It was kind of fun actually. I don't have too many shots of Radic from back then (it was hard to get art on the internet in the late 90's-early 00's), but I do have a few - hugging Kitsune, two old kiribans if you want to compare. I had a lot more old shots of Parasects though to reference unsurprisingly, they were very triangular lol. I think I did a pretty good job of matching what my art used to look like. I had a clear see-through Gameboy back in the day if you can't tell what Radic is holding lol.

("Isn't Radic the faceless avatar of your gamer self as depicted in Handplates-" yes, but Pokemon!Radic is the only one that actually became his own character, all the rest are shells)

If you do go poking around the NPLU, please keep in mind that almost everything there is very old and most of the fic and art is pretty bad (and shockingly violent). Plz do not judge me! My younger self was a cringey weeb but she was trying very hard. :<

[patreon]

[lunabug2004]

You know, I've seen a lot of reactions as well as comments people have made about Moonlight Chicken, and one thing that always rubs me the wrong way is when people try to blame either Jim or Li Ming alone for their strained relationship throughout the series. I don't know why it's so hard for some people to see that both of them are in the right and in the wrong in multiple ways! They both needed to be better at respecting and communicating with one another! (The only thing I find unacceptable is when Jim yells at Li Ming when he finds out Li Ming is gay. I know that Jim was just worried, but that was wrong in so many ways, like I can't imagine the consequences it could've had if Li Ming wasn't so strong-minded. I also don't like the way Jim reacted after the bike crash but that's a little more understandable.)

But, back to the point, I mainly see people say that the way Li Ming talks to Jim is unacceptable, and while I do agree that the way he speaks to him is not good, it's usually because Jim is trying to get him to do something he doesn't want to do. And at times when Li Ming was obviously very stressed already. Plus, as many have said, and we've all been there, teens will be teens. And Li Ming is a teen in a not-so-favorable situation with trying to figure out his future, so I feel that's why is attitude is not the greatest. Now, I will admit that I am biased towards Li Ming bc he is my fav character (& Fourth one of my fav actors), but I'm also not trying to say that Li Ming is in the right either. He definitely should not have spent the night at Heart's without letting Jim know, and in general he could've been more understanding of where Jim was coming from during their fights, and tried to communicate better (as well as been more respectful). On the other hand, Jim should've respected Li Ming as a blooming adult instead of a child, as well as let him feel safe enough to communicate what he wanted. Respect is a two-way street, and when Li Ming felt Jim wasn't respecting his decisions, he started being less respectful towards Jim. The reason Li Ming didn't want to communicate his plans to Jim is because he didn't make him feel like he would be supported.

Anyways, I feel like I'm repeating myself now so I'll stop, but the fact that these characters are not so black and white is what makes Moonlight Chicken such a great, realistic, show.

[fat-fem-and-asian]

abbott elementary wins best ensemble at the screen actors guild awards

[camgoloud]

award for most devil’s sacrament moment of the year goes without a doubt to this morning when my coworker (delivering presentation) (screen projected onto wall in front of me and god and everyone) opened a new tab in google chrome and in the number one spot among the collection of icons for frequently visited websites was. the ao3 logo

[chrisbangs]

i finished thesis, won an award, and have graduated.. hello 👋🥸

[thegetdownrebooter]

ruining your own show because you were bitter about people shipping your self insert with a black woman is crazy.

[stillness138]

isn't it wild how you can play through an entire indie game in a single day and be left with a deeper, more profound experience, story, moral or question all wrapped in a more unique and impactful art style than many triple a games nowadays. for like 8 bucks.

[littleragondin]

So I may have been slightly obsessing over “To sir with love”, as one does, and a thing that has been circling in my head for the last few days is the way Tian's confrontation with his mother at the start of episode 13 and his talk with Yang at the end of the same episode echo and oppose each other.

Madame Li comes to Tian when he is in love, hopeful, begging for a chance at happiness, and how does she respond? She crushes it, with the revelation about Jiu and Mr. Ma yes, but mostly with everything else. You will never know love, she says, except mine. That stifling love who wants him to be someone else, that chips at who he is again and again and again.

Then Yang finds his brother (heart)broken, and Tian holds him back to confess his love, again, now in despair and shame and self loathing. And Yang response to that is as it has always been, that his brother is wonderful just as he is. You deserve love he promises, and I love you I love you I love you. A love with no reservation and for all that Tian is, a love always there.

And they both love Tian, they are both afraid and worried for him, both are going to great lengths to protect him, at this point both believe that Jiu has lied to Tian and played him. And. Yet. His mother again puts the blame on him, on who he is, makes him guilty of his own betrayal. His brother reminds him that it's not true, that the betrayer is to blame, and that the fault never laid with him.

And so it's no surprise that Tian pushes away his mother and the prison her love has built around him, but seeks the comfort of his brother's love who has always celebrated who he is.

[softquietsteadylove]

Thena loves watching Gil and sprite interact with each other. Falling in love more and more with him. Write something for the actor au?

"Enjoying?"

Thena smiled as Sersi came up beside her, extending a glass of something more suited to her palette. Whatever it was it was more sweet than don perignon. "Thanks--everyone's having a lovely time."

Sersi often hosted in her expansive London penthouse after an awards ceremony. It was quite the place to be, and it excused her from having to go to a much riskier party just for the sake of networking and brushing elbows with the industry.

"Especially those two," Sersi tipped her glass in the direction of the outside patio, where plenty of people were enjoying the night air, but especially Gil and Sprite, roasting marshmallows over her fire pit.

Thena just laughed. Sprite was repeatedly trying to set hers aflame while Gil attempted to fend her off while also achieving a perfect golden brown for himself. "She really is just happy she got to come to one of these, finally."

As much as Sprite was not a people person, or interested in her sister's - or cousin's - level of fame, she had always wanted to see what happened at an afterparty. Thena had always insisted they were boring and drab, but Sprite wanted to see the boring and drabness for herself.

"I'm glad she's enjoying herself," Sersi joined in Thena's laughter as Sprite attempted to sabotage the both of them, pushing both their marshmallows closer to the flame. "Whose idea was this?"

"Gil's," Thena sighed, watching as the small game turned into an all out fencing match until Gil finally took both their marshmallows for himself as a way of ending things. Sprite looked appalled before he offered another, visibly telling her to keep it out of the fire. "I think she was actually a bit bored, lurking around on her phone. But he found them in your cupboard and took her out there."

"He has a way with her, doesn't he?"

Thena just nodded. She was sufficient enough at reading lips to tell that Sprite was demanding to know why she couldn't eat the charred marshmallow. Gil was explaining something about how it wasn't good for her. As her primary guardian, Thena had attempted to do that with many things, just to get a positively scathing remark in reply.

But Sprite yielded to Gilgamesh, rolling her eyes but roasting her marshmallow pleasantly, like a law abiding citizen, instead of a teen who wanted to wave around a flaming marshmallow in the middle of a party.

"He certainly does," Thena sighed again. Sprite did seem to enjoy the nicely toasted confection. She continued to watch them until Sersi cleared her throat deliberately. "Hm?"

Sersi merely gave her a look, her eyes bouncing between her and the two outside now staking multiple marshmallows per stick. Thena continued to stare at her expectantly until Sersi laughed. "I'll have to memorise this expression for my next role as a loving wife and mother."

Thena nearly choked on the sugary drink Sersi had brought her. She licked her lips, blaming her faint coughing on the heat suddenly in her cheeks. She set down the fancy stemless crystal flute. "I beg your pardon."

"Please," Sersi easily dodged her cousin's toothsome comment, though. "I know very well what that look means."

"I did not catch your baby fever, if that is to what you are referring," Thena attempted to hiss at her, but again, Sersi let it roll right off her. They had grown up together, after all; she was entirely too accustomed to it."

"I'm not saying you want a baby," Sersi shrugged, very deliberately leaving the rest of her accusation in tact. She took a sip of her own drink, so innocent and demure. "I'm saying you look at Gilgamesh and Sprite like you're imagining living in a three bedroom cottage on the seaside."

Thena sniffed, "I hate the sea, too humid."

"Ah, yes, of course, that's the problem," Sersi snickered.

Thena leaned off her marble kitchen island to glare at her more fully. "Shall I find your costar, Mister Whitman, and ask what he thinks of a seaside cottage?"

Sersi didn't rise to bait nearly as voraciously as Thena did, but she did flick her cousin's earring. "That is different."

"I do not see how," Thena growled at her, both women more invested in drinking away the other's teasing.

Sersi pursed her lips as she finished her champagne. "Dane and I know how the other feels."

That did make Thena pause. She furrowed her brows, "when did this happen?"

Sersi shrugged, looking down at her countertop and tracing her fingers along the ripples of marble. "We were at another party like this, we simply talked and talked and...somehow we ended up on the subject of what life we would lead if not for all this."

Thena admittedly listened with rapt attention.

"I always wanted to be a teacher," Sersi smiled at her own nostalgia. "He said he used to imagine the same thing. One thing led to another and I suppose... "

Thena raised a brow.

Sersi sighed, her shoulders dropping. "We agreed we can't right now. The medical show got picked up so we'll be on that until one of us gets fired or written off."

Thena looked down as well. She had to admit, Sersi wasn't nearly as timid as she could let herself appear to be when she was playing the darling of the United Kingdom.

"But perhaps in the future," she shrugged, feigned a smile. "We'll see."

Thena had to admit, Sersi had made more of a move for her future than she could remember making in a hell of a long time. She looked outside again, to where Sprite was teaching Gil how to make a s'more. "We work together too much. The risk is too high."

Sersi gave her a pointed look, "too high for your own happiness?"

Thena sighed again, watching Gil secretly blow on Sprite's marshmallow for her as she rooted in the graham cracker box. "I'm happy right where I am, Sersi."

"Admiring from afar?" Sersi felt the need to put a name to it as she too watched Sprite smash the melted marshmallow between two graham crackers and way too big a section of chocolate.

Thena also finished off her drink before pushing the glass to the side. "I think love is best from afar, like art, or stage makeup."

Sersi offered a mild laugh before bumping her shoulder against Thena's. "I never said anything about love, but I can see your point."

Thena whipped around, prepared to snarl at her needlessly nosy cousin. But all she saw was Sersi flitting over to Mister Whitman himself, the two of them smiling at each other like schoolchildren in puppy love. Thena rolled her eyes.

"Hey," Gil looked up, smiling at her as she ventured outside and over to them. "There you are."

"Here I am," she sufficed to say, eager to put her conversation with Sersi from her mind. "What are you up to?"

"S'mores!" Sprite sufficed with the single word, swinging her melting marshmallow in her sister's direction.

Thena nearly flinched but Gil caught it at a perfectly safe distance from her.

"Easy," he both chided and laughed off as he apprehended the offending confection.

"Dude," Sprite sighed, but accepted the pilfering, instead reaching for a new one.

"I do hope you're not eating yourself sick on those," Thena felt the need to add, only for her very lovely young lady of a sister to give her the finger for it. "Right."

"Here," Gil whispered, offering the toasty marshmallow from between his fingers.

Thena let him deposit it into her palm. She hated marshmallows, but she had to admit, it was cooked to perfection. "Hm, they taste better when they're toasted."

"You should try real, homemade marshmallow sometime," Gil chuckled as he reached to roast another one, either for her or for himself. "It's a totally different experience."

"Don't tell me you know how to make that too," Thena groaned. As if she needed another ridiculous reason to be infatuated with him.

"You can come over to my place and try it," he nudged her gently.

"Party at Gil's!"

"Sprite!" Thena hissed at her, catching the disgusting vision of her sister's completely full mouth. "Honestly!"

Sprite rolled her eyes but tossed another marshmallow at her.

Again, it didn't reach her, as Gil caught it in midair and added it to his roasting spit. Thena watched the confections achieve their perfectly golden state, using the excuse as a way to lean against him by the warmth of the fire.

[restinthewest]

Power is back on! Now we can enjoy the snow with all the comforts of civilization. My favorite thing is to see the porch lights of neighbors scattering the hillsides on a snowy evening.

[tcysoldier]

Charlotte Spencer at BAFTA Television Awards 2024 at The Royal Festival Hall in London 05-12-2024

[mangosteen]

i dont ever post about my life here anymore but i am going to bafta soon. which i am looking forward to

[kingofmyborrowedheart]

It really rubs me the wrong way that supposed fans have bought tickets to Chiefs games with the sole purpose of trying to see Taylor. She’s just trying to be a person and you’re turning her into a spectacle and the only time she is intending to be a spectacle is at her shows where she is actively trying to entertain the audience. Taylor attending a game, going to dinner with friends or going to the studio is not her trying to or wanting to be a spectacle, she’s just trying to go about her day like you or I would and she deserves to feel like she can do things without being turned into a spectacle.