#but i kinda love that aspect. i turn into a ravenous beast every time i eat an egg sammy

[mars-ipan]

just absolutely demolished the fuck out of an incredible egg sandwich. world is good

[glowstickia]

TOP FIVE nostalgic cartoons (90s-2000s)

GOOOOOSH So, I grew up watching a shit ton of cartoons. Mostly thanks to watching stuff at my grandparents cause they had cable and then when we moved out Mom also like...had ‘special channels’ n stuff from a different company which was honestly really nice so I got to watch some absolute gems.

1. Danny Phantom (2004 - 2007)

I was 9 about to turn 10 in a few days when Mom agreed to let me stay up and watch the Kid’s Choice Awards back in 2004. That night man...I watched the premiere of Danny Phantom and oh my god it changed my life. It felt like it was a birthday present to me (wasn’t but I was like 9 lol), and I just immediately fell in love. I heard the OG theme song and will say I got upset that the song changed upon the reruns and I had never heard it again. Granted, I ended up liking the song everyone knows and loves, but will say I was majorly confused after that haha. While the show definitely has some...issues, this cartoon in particular sparked the love of paranormal/supernatural and got me into fanfiction as well as writing haha. It was the first fandom I also sorta got into as well :3

2. Rugrats (1991 - 2004)

To this day I still remember coming home from half day kindergarten and sitting down at my grandparents to get a snack, nap, and either be picked up by Mom or get to studying (by reading aloud to Grandma with Nancy Drew books). While there Rugrats was on and every time up until I deemed it way too childish, I’d play again with the theme song. Right before Tommy would squirt milk at the screen I’d duck n cover behind a chair, the coffee table, couch, whatever was in the living room and feel all high and mighty cause “Ha, you missed again Tommy Pickles.” Cause I had it in my head that if I was out in the open, I’d get hit by the milk and ‘lose’ the game XD Tiny me had fun.

3. American Dragon: Jake Long (2005 - 2007)

I did not know I loved modern fantasy or that it was even a genre until later down the line, but my god that’s what this cartoon is. AND BOY HOWDY. I ALSO REALLY ADORE DRAGONS!!! I love the whole aspect of like mythical creatures are underground and in hiding and my god I’ve read some good ass crossover fic with this show and Danny Phantom. I know folks hate the whole style and design change that happened from season 1 to 2, will say season 2 is still fucking good and brings up some fun stuff (like how Dragons can PUNCH GHOSTS haha love that) ALSO I do love that they changed Jake’s dragon design. Don’t get me wrong, I love both designs for different reasons plus...I just love dragons man... And goddamn I’m pretty sure my humor stems from this show and Danny Phantom lolololol God Trixie and Spud were the fuckin best. Love them.

4. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 - 2008)

Holy shit, I still cannot believe that there is like...a resurgence of Avatar as of late and I am LOVING LIFE. I remember when it was coming out and I’d just watch the story unfold and root for Aang and had fuckin no idea what each episode would unfold. I’ve re-watched it over and over however many times, but like was unable to do so in order mostly cause didn’t have option for DVDs (and I’d still love to own it...someday). The story and the heart of this show just sends me and I am so happy I can like watch it again thanks to Netflix like shit I’ve missed it and I ADORE the HELL out of all the analysis stuff that’s coming through now that did not exist while the show was coming out. Feels good.

Also fun fact: Voice actors for Zuko & Katara are same as Jake & Rose from American Dragon. So have fun with that :3

5. Teen Titans (2003 - 2006)

God, soon as I typed that I just...heard the theme song sakdhfdsfh. It’s kinda weird that its like... I do enjoy super heroes but to an extent. Fully blame Danny Phantom and god their crossover fics are aplenty. What I loved about TT is like they’re just a group of friends who’ve become a family and work super goddamn well together. They still argue with each other and they’re vastly different from each other but the story and the chemistry these characters share in the show is so damn beautiful... Give me found family tropes. They are my life blood. Also my fav was Raven cause she’s spooky and I cannot stress enough how much paranormal shit I love. Also her and Robin’s friendship sends me as does Cyborg’s & Starfire’s sweet sweet friendship. Beast Boy is a major goof and I love how much lil brother energy he radiates. QAQ goddamn it I’m crying now.

I have many other cartoon shows that I absolutely resonate with and are highly nostalgic for me, cause goddamn I watched soooooo many growing up. But alas 5 limit haha

[top five time]

[crystalelemental]

Oh man.  GamePress apparently updated the offensive tier list to be AR exclusive, and boy have there been some changes.  You know I have opinions on this one.

Okay let’s start with the obvious part: how in the hell is any Legendary hero considered above Tier 2?  Like, are we not factoring in score?  Or are we only accounting for if they score well?  Because realistically, half the time, a legendary hero is an active detriment to the scoring.  Also it turns out this isn’t just offense, but both offense AND defense, since Mirabilis is Tier 1.  So that’s gonna be...honestly, a bit confusing.  I’m sure some people can tell which is which, but I’m willing to bet others aren’t clear.

Let’s start with the biggest changes at the top.  Eliwood and Brave Roy are now Tier 1, likely because Galeforce.  Nothing else is different that I can tell.  Maybe some demotion?  But nothing substantial.  Lysithea is finally recognized as Tier 1, and I’m certain it’s because of her power on AR-D.  Girl is obscene.  Otherwise, Fallen Julia is the only other T1 Red Mage, and damn good on her.  Idunn demoted, but honestly, fair.  AR is not for her.  Armor units are not hard to handle, and are pretty bad on offense.  Especially with Thrasir existing, armor dragons just have a rough go.  Spring Idunn and Tibarn alone are T1.  What I do find interesting is that Dancer Micaiah didn’t maintain.  I guess the Hardy Bearing effect isn’t as impressive anymore.  Also Karla stayed T2, that’s...astonishing, actually.  Duo Byleth is also T2, which kinda makes sense.  Defense can’t make use of her Duo skill, and her bulk is pathetic, so any typical ranged defense unit can handle her.  On offense, it’s going to be tough.  Desperation effect is good, but conditional on having a fast team, not to mention Galeforce sets can require the foe to retaliate, like with Eliwood/Brave Roy.  So I can’t say I’m surprised she’s not on top.

Lance seems to just be B!Lucina, Duo Ephraim, and Trio Palla.  Which is fair.  Blue mages, though?  Damn is this crowded.  L!Azura and Peony, because obscene dancers.  Ophelia, because bitch.  Duo Alphonse, because immortality.  Brunnya, because honestly Fimbulvetr is perfect for this game mode, and she’s got the infantry status and abilities to do whatever she wants.  And L!Julia.  I’m willing to bet she’s more AR-D focused.  Rafiel and L!Chrom are also T1, of course.  I think what really surprises me is that Reinhardt is T2.  Is anyone else surprised about this?  I guess he’s not the most threatening thing in the world anymore, but still.  Actually wait, what’s REALLY neat is that Naga is T3.  So clearly scoring considerations are not paramount.

Axes have V!Duo Alm, Annette, L!Edelgard, and B!Ike.  Because of course.  All of them are ridiculous.  Mages have L!Celica, Thrasir, and Fallen Lyon, with beasts/dragons having Reyson.  Which, again, makes sense.  I’m glad Surtr demoted to T2.  I really don’t think of him as the most threatening aspect of AR anymore, even on dedicated stall, so this feels overdue.  Yune’s also T2, which..okay, fair.  While I think she’s great, she’s a ranged flying unit who plays defense, and her debuff game is crippled severely by Eir’s bonuses.  It’s super weird that F!Kana demoted, though.  She was T1 before, and that was entirely based on AR potential, so...okay.  Guess the meta has shifted hard enough against her.  Also, big shoutouts to Julia for maintaining T2 status.  That’s my girl.

Bows have L!Alm, L!Leif, V!Faye, and Duo Marth.  I can’t speak for Duo Marth, I don’t have him, but I feel like the fact I’ve never faced one means he’s at least not good on AR-D.  I can vouch for V!Faye, though, holy shit.  In fact can we establish Tier 0 for the primordial beings that break the world over their knees?  Anyway, Bernadetta and B!Lyn are T2, and I’m betting that’s for hit-and-run offense teams.  Also Norne’s T2 now, which is super correct.  I’ve felt this for a while, and the forum backs me up pretty hard on it: Norne’s the best common archer by a mile.  But of course, you all know what I’m going to say.  There is no way Faye is T3.  I have played her ranged defense game long enough to know that she is really strong at it.  While some threats like Lysithea can blow past her, and Thrasir isn’t always one-shot with my current supports, she is very capable of performing better than T3.  Also, poor Clarisse.  Finally gets a kickass refine that’s just not particularly great for AR, and instead of climbing the ranks of the offensive tier list, they change the conditions on her.  Girl can’t catch a break.

Dagger/Mage combos have, of course, Bramimond, Leila, Eir, and Duo Micaiah.  Absolutely no surprises here.  What is surprising, maybe just to me, is that Winter Cecilia is down to T3.  She was considered T2 for a long while, and I’d guessed that was based on AR potential.  I guess Duo Micaiah is causing substantial problems for armors across the board?  But man, Larum is T2.  LARUM.  Larum sucks, what could she possibly be doing that’s useful?

Dragons/Beasts have Fallen Female Corrin, Leanne, Mila, and Velouria.  I love everything about this.  Leanne makes sense for Defense teams, Velouria is a great Galeforcer, Mila is probably the best Light mythic for supertank strategies, and Fallen Female Corrin makes me happy because Fallen Male Corrin is only T2.  Get fucked, loser.  Your higher BST does nothing for your shit ass.  I do think there’s an argument for Caineghis in T1 for an offensive supertank, but honestly, he struggles.  To a degree I’d say he’s worse than Faye.  We don’t have any beast Mythics, and the only offensive dragon is Mila.  His DC is conditional on transforming, and he’s an armor unit.  He can’t run Null C-Disrupt, or Null Follow-Up like she can, so there are defense teams that can beat him by exploiting this.  I feel like Faye’s a lot better, but hey, what do I know.

And finally, staves.  Bridal Fjorm is the only one in T1.  Brave Veronica actually dropped, which is funny because she was T1 before solely on AR.  She doesn’t place in Arena.  I guess the meta has shifted away from Brave Veronica lately.  I haven’t been scared of one in a long time.  And hey, Maribelle is T2 as well, and Forrest got pushed up to T3!  Unfortunately, Brave Camilla was reduced to T3, so she’s still below B!Veronica.  Which in this game mode I guess is fair.

Now for the opposite end of the spectrum.  There are now 6 tiers, which I like.  I feel the subdivisions are appropriate, we have enough units that categorization was tough.  T4 for lances and swords was like 60 units before, I’m glad it got cleaned up a bit.  For red stuff, Alfonse remains at the bottom, but is no longer alone.  NY!Camilla, Chrom, V!Conrad, Beach Fiora, Hinata, and NY!Hrid are also down there.  Haha, Hrid, get fucked you loser.  That’s for January 2019, you fuck.  Mages here include Canas, Julius (ouch), Leo, Beach Leo, Raigh, and Beach Lorenz.  No surprises.  There are no dragons, daggers, or bows for red down here, the lowest they go is T4.  Hysterically, every form of red Tiki is in T4.  Also, maybe this is me not understanding something, but NY!Anna and NY!Eir in T4 surprises me.  I thought their weapons were considered great team support.  Are their stats just not optimized for it? 

T6 lances are many.  Too many, I’m not listing all of that.  What I will say is, tell my Forma Finn running on the double cav Galeforce defense team that he’s T6.  Considering I only lost two matches at all last season, and only 38 Lift, I’d say he’s doing alright.  But there are probably better options out there, I’m just working with what I have.  Mages are just Oliver and M!Robin.  Man, I hope M!Robin goes up with the resplendent.  Leave Oliver to die.  No dragons, bows, or daggers, they’re all up in T4 where...where...no.  No, there’s no way.  Lilith has warp abilities from anywhere.  NAESALA is considered T4, despite being paired with Tibarn for some of the nastiest offensive AR-D strategies out there.  Mordecai has the Smite thing.  I don’t agree with this at all.  And Ninian is T3?  Even though she’s one of the top picks for Infantry Pulse AR-D dancers?  I know Nils exists and is better in every way pretty much, but that’s a bit much to me.  I think the blue dragon/beast section is the most ridiculous by far.

There are also a lot of axes down in T6, but I agree with all of them.  The green mages make me sad, though.  Picnic Leo, Cecilia, and Female Robin.  I do think F!Robin has a lot of utility within the game, but...honestly they’re super right, she cannot possibly compete in AR.  Defense teams have no use for her, and offensive teams using her as a support are a bad idea with Panic Manor around.  Mostly Cecilia makes my heart hurt.  Come on, IS.  Null C-Disrupt Raven Tome when?  As with the other tiers, all dragons, bows, and daggers of this color are higher ranked.  That said, L!Lyn in T5.  Get fucked.  There’s also...absolutely nothing controversial about their T4 picks.  Green’s pretty well sorted, good job team.

The only colorless option with units in T6 are healers, where we have Azama, Mist, Wrys, Sakura, and Lissa.  Nothing controversial here.  In fact, nothing controversial in T5, either.  What is sad but super true, is that F!Grima’s here.  All the other colorless beasts and dragons are clustered in T1 and T2, but she’s down in T5.  Expiration refine when?  Felicia and Jaffar are the lowest ranked daggers, to no one’s surprise.  None of the bows are shocking either, except I’m kinda surprised Niles isn’t at least a little higher.  I feel like his massive Res must account for something when attempting to tank out the many ranged magic threats on AR-D, right?

Overall, I...actually agree with the majority of this.  It’s a solid tierlist for Aether Raids.  There are some things I don’t entirely agree with, but would have trouble arguing in their favor in the current meta.  Like Micaiah.  As we move entirely away from armor units, Micaiah becomes less and less significant.  I do think the blue dragon/beast section could take some revisiting, given that goddamn Naesala is down in T4, but one area that seems off isn’t bad when you have so much to organize.  I like it.  Definitely a lot better than the previous list, because at least now we’re specialized.  Before, there was always an argument that a certain unit was better or worse based on performance in a specific area.  But here, it’s more stable.  I’m not sure if there’s intent to make an Arena one, or if that’s even necessary since scoring is a lot more specific for Arena, but we’ll see.

[sammiesinverno]

Congo I

Sammies Inverno: Congo I

In his dreams Sammy’s mom and dad came to him. His father was puffing a big pipe and his mother was looking at him in concern over the edge of her olive water glass. They said nothing but the disappointment was clear in their lives. His dad ashed by tapping the side of his pipe. “You know that Doctor Phil took your other kidney like the last time?” Hanging his head real sad he nodded. “I know. I hope he didn’t take to many of them.”

Sammy awoke in a bathtub packed with ice. He felt a fresh scar on his side. Looking around he saw he was in a big, scary, dark, mean looking tree place. From the tub he could see no way away from the place Doctor Phil had left him.

“Oh no, I am very afraid of all these woods!” It was hard to admit fear without any beer. But he did and maybe pee a bit. The was forest tough, wide, and serious, Just thinking about it made him wish for his normal underpass where he could be safe.

Bitter as bad candy corns, permanent dead sleep is little more; The good neat things he found there, Ask Sammy and he will tell you of all the cool things he saw.

Sammy had no clue how he got here let alone if he could or would want to get back here, At the moment, he was too full of very sleepy blood loss How ever he had gotten here the ways back to his nice warm underpass and it’s dog meat were gone.

Looking up he was clearly at the bottom of a big tall lots of rocks, much bigger than a hill, He was at the place where maybe a valley ended, All this worry was hurting his heart meat and also the stitches in his side,

Looking up he was clearly at the bottom of a big tall lots of rocks, much bigger than a hill,

He was at the place where maybe a valley ended,

All this worry was hurting his heart meat and also the stitches in his side,

Upward he looked, and he saw all the big wideness of the rocks,

The grey night sun’s rays was up there on the top of the rocks but not down here,

Which was not good because that light showed all the ways out of this big scary.

Eventuially it was less spooky

That in his heart meat’s shallow puddle he hid

During the dark time, which he had passed covered in his own pee juices for warmth.

And even as he, who, with non-trusty breaths,

like some guy yelling to a boat on the shore, like that time he got drunk in a rowboat,

Made him look at the place around him’s danger;

Sammy could feel his soul trying to get out of its work shift in making him live,

Turned itself around and looked at the clearing

and knew that nobody left Doctor Phil’s killing forest alive.

Sammy passed out and when he came to he felt like he had much more energy and blood inside him,

He got out and walked through the trees to a desert,

The ground sloped and the best, sturdiest, safest ground was lower.

Almost where his walking had started,

A big mean Golden Retreiver that was skinny from all it’s starving but real fast,

It’s fur had fallen away and it’s skin had big red blotches on it making it extra scary!

But it didn’t bite off his face,

No, it just kinda got in his way a lot,

so much that he had to walk and way and try to keep coming back.

The time was the beginning of the morning,  And up the sun was mounting with those stars  That with him were, what time the Love Divine At first in motion set those beauteous things;  So were to me occasion of good hope,  The variegated skin of that wild beast, The hour of time, and the delicious season;  But not so much, that did not give me fear  A lion's aspect which appeared to me. He seemed as if against me he were coming  With head uplifted, and with ravenous hunger,  So that it seemed the air was afraid of him; And a she-wolf, that with all hungerings  Seemed to be laden in her meagreness,  And many folk has caused to live forlorn! She brought upon me so much heaviness,  With the affright that from her aspect came,  That I the hope relinquished of the height. And as he is who willingly acquires,  And the time comes that causes him to lose,  Who weeps in all his thoughts and is despondent, E'en such made me that beast withouten peace,  Which, coming on against me by degrees  Thrust me back thither where the sun is silent. While I was rushing downward to the lowland,  Before mine eyes did one present himself,  Who seemed from long-continued silence hoarse. When I beheld him in the desert vast,  "Have pity on me," unto him I cried,  "Whiche'er thou art, or shade or real man!" He answered me: "Not man; man once I was,  And both my parents were of Lombardy,  And Mantuans by country both of them. 'Sub Julio' was I born, though it was late,  And lived at Rome under the good Augustus,  During the time of false and lying gods. A poet was I, and I sang that just  Son of Anchises, who came forth from Troy,  After that Ilion the superb was burned. But thou, why goest thou back to such annoyance?  Why climb'st thou not the Mount Delectable,  Which is the source and cause of every joy?" "Now, art thou that Virgilius and that fountain  Which spreads abroad so wide a river of speech?"  I made response to him with bashful forehead. "O, of the other poets honour and light,  Avail me the long study and great love  That have impelled me to explore thy volume! Thou art my master, and my author thou,  Thou art alone the one from whom I took  The beautiful style that has done honour to me. Behold the beast, for which I have turned back;  Do thou protect me from her, famous Sage,  For she doth make my veins and pulses tremble." "Thee it behoves to take another road,"  Responded he, when he beheld me weeping,  "If from this savage place thou wouldst escape; Because this beast, at which thou criest out,  Suffers not any one to pass her way,  But so doth harass him, that she destroys him; And has a nature so malign and ruthless,  That never doth she glut her greedy will,  And after food is hungrier than before. Many the animals with whom she weds,  And more they shall be still, until the Greyhound  Comes, who shall make her perish in her pain. He shall not feed on either earth or pelf,  But upon wisdom, and on love and virtue;  'Twixt Feltro and Feltro shall his nation be; Of that low Italy shall he be the saviour,  On whose account the maid Camilla died,  Euryalus, Turnus, Nisus, of their wounds; Through every city shall he hunt her down,  Until he shall have driven her back to Hell,  There from whence envy first did let her loose. Therefore I think and judge it for thy best  Thou follow me, and I will be thy guide,  And lead thee hence through the eternal place, Where thou shalt hear the desperate lamentations,  Shalt see the ancient spirits disconsolate,  Who cry out each one for the second death; And thou shalt see those who contented are  Within the fire, because they hope to come,  Whene'er it may be, to the blessed people; To whom, then, if thou wishest to ascend,  A soul shall be for that than I more worthy;  With her at my departure I will leave thee; Because that Emperor, who reigns above,  In that I was rebellious to his law,  Wills that through me none come into his city. He governs everywhere, and there he reigns;  There is his city and his lofty throne;  O happy he whom thereto he elects!" And I to him: "Poet, I thee entreat,  By that same God whom thou didst never know,  So that I may escape this woe and worse, Thou wouldst conduct me there where thou hast said,  That I may see the portal of Saint Peter,  And those thou makest so disconsolate." Then he moved on, and I behind him followed.