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keelywolfe · 4 years ago

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FIC: Just Swimmingly ch.9 (BAON)

Summary: The final chapter! Let's hope it lives up to the story name, shall we?

Tags: Spicyhoney, Established Relationships, Hurt/Comfort, Kidnapping

Part of the ‘by any other name’ series.

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Read it on AO3

Read it here!

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Edge knew that he wouldn’t be able to carry Stretch for long. They were barely down the hallway to the stairs when warning twinges started up in his leg, and he could only ignore it for so long before he setback his own recovery. He resented that lingering weakness, hated that someone had stolen, albeit temporarily, his ability to physically take his willing husband to wherever he wished to put him. Hated that Stretch no longer flung himself at Edge from their front porch, trusting that he would be caught.

A return to that would come, he reminded himself. For now, he simply had to get Stretch to the car. He wasn’t about to let him walk downstairs with the delicate bones of his feet exposed to the floor of that filthy, junk-strewn warehouse anymore than they already had and perhaps Stretch realized that as well. His protests were brief and faded quickly.

“babe, no, your leg!” Stretch made a weak attempt at squirming loose, “i can walk!”

“You are in your bare feet,” Edge said shortly, “there is angel knows what foulness on this floor, and I am not letting you go.”

“guess i can’t argue that," Stretch sighed. "okay, captain. make it quick.”

“You’ve never said that before,” Edge murmured and Stretch let out a startled laugh that was always lovely to hear, but especially tonight. He really was all right if he could laugh like that, deep and sweet and loud.

So, Edge carried on down the stairs, past the melting remains of some kind of chemical foam, and Stretch didn’t struggle, a wise choice considering it would probably have sent them both tumbling down. He simply sighed and wrapped his slim arms around Edge’s neck, his skull resting lightly against his shoulder.

He was exhausted, Edge realized belatedly, already mentally berating himself. Of course he was, it was past the point of being late and going more into early, and the only sleep Stretch had had tonight was deliberately induced unconsciousness.

Better not to think about that. Seeing Stretch awake and hearing his laughter already relieved some of the raw, achy heat in his soul, there was no point in agitating it again. Surreptitiously, Edge ducked his head enough to breathed in the sweet scent of his husband’s magic, letting it further ease the dimming clamor of his LV demanding retribution. Much as he hated admitting when his brother was right, it would be best to let the Embassy security teams handle the kidnappers. Not that Edge wouldn’t be intently watching the results, but Edge knew himself well enough that he couldn’t promise not to react with violence if he saw any of them in person.

They’d stolen from him. Not a possession, no, love was not something to be owned, but it could be given, along with his soul, and Edge had given his to the very person they’d tried to use as a mere tool to be bartered with and after, they would have surely discarded him as nothing more than a useless object, a means to an end.

There was only one punishment suitable for that and Edge did not trust himself not to mete it out.

Outside, the night air was cool, refreshing after the dusty warehouse, and there was a new vehicle amidst the Embassy cars. An ambulance, the lights swirling silently atop, and the back doors were open with a stretcher already on the pavement. When the attendants saw them, they started forward, and in his arms, Stretch tensed, shifting as if to crawl up and over him in a wild attempt at escape.

“no,” Stretch said shortly. “no, no, no, don’t let the damsel in distress pose fool you, i am fine. all i need is a stiff drink and some zzz’s, this is me not consenting to any medical treatment.”

“Love—” Edge began. Stretch swung around to look at him, the pale glare of his eye lights accusing, and he backtracked, choosing his words carefully, “You were drugged. Perhaps it would be best if you were checked out.”

That suggestion was met with fierce scorn as Stretch scoffed, "yeah, i was drugged and now i am wide awake. i can tell you my name, my address, and my shoe size, and whoever tries to get me into the back of that wah-wah-mobile is gonna know it, too, when i shove my foot up their ass.”

“kinky.” Edge whirled to see his brother’s smirking face as he strolled towards them. “wellie, well, well, went fishin’ and got a hellava catch, eh, boss?”

In his arms, Stretch stiffened so briefly, he might have imagined it. He blinked rapidly, once, twice, as if to clear his vision, then relaxed again, settling on a wheedle in Red’s direction, “fishing jokes are so cliché, cooking is better. i’m the best cupcake in the bakery, so let him wrap me up and take me home. come on, tell them i’m fine.”

Red scratched the back of his skull lazily, “dunno, honeybun, might need a tune-up and an oil change—”

“quit switching the metaphors!” Stretch let go of Edge long enough to flip a middle finger at him.

Red snorted, amused, “yeah, yeah, he can take you home. if,” Red stressed, “you take a mo’ to strip off the new gear those assholes gave you.”

“aw, gee, red,” Stretch batted a pair of imaginary eyelashes, “you’ve never asked me to strip before. i’m not even wearing a g-string, where will you stuff the dollars?”

“cute,” Red’s grin widened in a way that made Edge want to carry his husband far away. The way he bared his teeth venturing into the realm of amused cruelty, and the flick of his tongue absurdly lascivious, “it’s evidence and we need it. if you’d rather change up at the bone factory, bet the docs could take a chance to check you out—”

“no!” Stretch yelped, “no, no, fine. you have something for me to change into?”

“yep.” And Red pointed to the back of the ambulance. “in there.”

Stretch rolled his eye lights. “wow,” he said dryly, “that trap isn’t even subtle. you want i should strap myself into the stretcher, too? check my vitals, start an iv?”

“it’s the only place to change, so either trust that we’ll do a catch and release, or…” Red trailed off meaningfully.

Stretch heaved a sigh and started squirming in Edge’s arms, wincing at the gravel as he was carefully set on the pavement. “back to fishing, huh? fine, fine. but if it drives off in the hospital way when i climb in the back, I’m shortcutting at the first stoplight and then we can play tag across town.”

“I won’t let them take you anywhere you don’t want to go, love.” Edge signed a little ‘x’ over his chest. Stretch’s scrutinizing look shifted to a soft smile and even though he would have preferred a doctor checking him over, Edge wouldn’t do anything to break the trust shining in his eye lights, not for anything in the world.

“okay, babe,” Stretch said, “give me five.”

He climbed into the ambulance, pulling the rear doors shut behind him. After a few minutes of the vehicle shaking and muffled swearing coming through the door, Stretch remerged. The clothes weren’t his own, but they fit, soft pants and a neon-bright sweatshirt that Stretch could have chosen himself, a far contrast to the cheap, bland clothes their kidnappers forced on them. Edge suspected his brother’s hand in it and wondered with some resignation if Red sent someone to purchase them tonight or if he simply kept spare clothes for them all in the dingy hole in the Embassy basement that passed as his office, for just such an occasion.

Probably the latter, Red was never one who minded delegating, but some things required a personal touch.

With visible distaste, Stretch handed over a large brown paper sack to Red. “take ‘em,” he said flatly. “burn them, whatever. i never want to see them again.”

“fair enough,” Red handed the bag off to one of the Embassy security who was standing close by with a muttered order. “all right, newly engaged goes next.”

Their Human friends were standing close by, both silently watching the entertainment, which was fair after the recent show upstairs. With the spotlight turned his way, Jeff hastily nodded and Antwan carefully set him on his feet, his hands lingering and reluctant to let him go.

“You two can head on home,” Antwan said, “We’re taking one of the Embassy cars.”

“yeah, okay, sounds good.” But Stretch didn’t return to Edge. He went to Jeff, leaning down to pull him into a tight hug that was fiercely returned. “hey, we made it, and you even got a special prize to top it off. congrats, bro,” Stretch told him.

It was charming the way Jeff’s cheeks went visibly pink even in the harsh overhead lights of the parking lot, but if this horrible night could end for him on a smile, Edge thought it fitting. No one said a word until the friends ended their embrace, Jeff heading into the ambulance to change and Stretch returning to Edge’s side, if not his arms.

“hey, honey bun.” Stretch paused, giving Red a questioning look, “i’ll have your cell phone back to you tomorrow.”

His face twitched but Stretch only nodded. He turned in a circle, his gaze searching, until it landed on Edge’s car parked on the far side of the lot. He started towards it and as slippers were included with his new wardrobe, Edge reluctantly allowed Stretch to walk on his own towards it.

Before he’d taken two steps, a small voice came from behind them. “Can I ride back with you two?”

Alone on the crumbling pavement, Blue stood there, his hands twisting together and his starry eye lights hesitant and hopeful. For the second time that night Edge cringed inwardly at not thinking of him.

“sure, bro,” Stretch said immediately. His eye lights flicked briefly to Edge to confirm, surprising him.

Of course he could come with them, why wouldn’t he…they needed to invite Blue over more often, Edge decided abruptly. They saw him often on movie nights and group events, and he knew that the Swap brothers had lunch together once a week, but he should spend more time with his brother, and with Edge.

Once, they’d been decently good friends, before his relationship with Stretch subtly cooled things between them. They could be friends again, better friends, if only one of them took the first step. Interesting how traumatic events could be a hell of an incentive.

“Of course,” Edge told him, and tried not to notice the sudden gratitude that filled Stretch’s face. He dug into his pocket for his keys and tossed them to Blue, who caught them with a jangle. “In fact, I’d prefer if you’d drive.”

Blue brightened visibly at the show of trust, darting over to the car. He held open the door as Stretch crawled into the back and didn’t so much as raise an eyebrow when Edge followed him.

“home, jeeves,” Stretch said. The last word broke on a deep yawn and he shifted to sprawl across the backseat, his skull in Edge’s lap.

“Seatbelt,” Edge chided.

“you put it on me,” Stretch grumbled. He didn’t move as Edge did, only settled in more comfortably once the belt was across him. He was asleep before they’d even left the parking lot, without so much as an ounce of deception in his long, slow breaths.

Cautiously, Edge settled his bare hands on him, choosing where to settle them with some care, one hand on his clothed side and the other on his skull with more palm than fingers. He wished for a pair of his gloves to keep the sharpened tips safely concealed. Earlier, he’d wanted his hands exposed and ready to be used, and now in the aftermath, he wanted them tucked away again, the same as he’d learned to conceal his other, more Underfell-ian tendencies. Only bringing them out when they were useful, like a set of heirloom dishes, then hiding them at the back of the hutch again to gather dust.

(don’t think of it that way, do not)

He resisted the urge to clench his hands, closed his sockets and tried to concentrate on the feel of warm bone under his bare hand. Stretch often carried spare gloves for him in his bag, never questioning Edge’s preference, never mocked or teased; he didn’t just accept that quirk, he embraced it and tried to help. If he were awake, he would have been pleased at the bare-handed touch, he would understand the significance of it and Edge focused on that.

It helped soothe some of his agitation and when Edge opened his sockets again, he was surprised to see the Embassy gates already looming ahead. “Drop us off, you can take my car home tonight.”

Blue nodded silently, his gaze focused intently on the road. There wasn’t even a teasing, if pointed, joke about Edge letting his car out of his sight. The car didn’t matter, all that was important was in his arms right now.

He pulled into their driveway and Blue held the door again as Edge carefully lifted Stretch into his arms. He paused long enough for Blue to press a gentle kiss to his brother’s skull, murmuring something Edge did not hear, then carried him inside as the car pulled out of the drive behind him. He hoped Papyrus was home, surely he was, and that he would know that Blue could use some friendly companionship after this night.

He would know, Edge decided firmly. This was Papyrus he was thinking of and it was likely he already had a pot of strong tea and some very interesting cookies ready to share, along with a blanket and some Mettaton reruns. Blue would be fine for tonight and tomorrow he could come over again, after they’d all had some necessary sleep.

He carried Stretch inside and settled him on the sofa. Upstairs would have been better, but he needed a moment for his leg to recover before taking him any further. Not that Stretch noticed, he only slept on, sleepily burrowing into the blanket Edge draped carefully over him.

Indecision seized Edge then. There were things that needed to be done, but leaving Stretch here alone made uneasiness stir in his soul. In the end, he checked the door and window locks to make sure they were secured and that their alarm system was on before he reluctantly went upstairs to run a bath and lay out pajamas. It would be testing Stretch’s ability to sleep through anything, but those Humans had touched him, laid their filthy hands on him. A quick wash would go a long way for both of them to get some decent rest.

He waited for the tub to fill with foamy bubbles, the unsubtle floral scent of lavender filling the room, before heading back downstairs. He halted on the landing, his soul seizing in his chest, to see that the sofa was empty, the blanket thrown carelessly back.

Edge closed his sockets and took a long, deep breath, settling his rattled nerves. Yes, Stretch was missing again, but this time, he suspected he knew exactly where he’d gone.

The sliding glass door was now unlocked, and Edge opened it to step out into the backyard. Dewy grass clung to his shoes as he walked and the horizon was overflowing with purples and pinks and deep orange, heralding the arrival of the sun.

The fence was standing open, confirming his suspicions, and Edge opened the coop door to find Stretch sitting on the floor, heedless of its less than sterile state. Nugget was in his lap, magnanimous surrendering her a scritches to her small, adopted duckling that was curled up on Stretch’s knee, mumbling out sleepy little quacks as it was gently stroked.

Stretch didn’t look up. “hey, babe,” he mumbled.

Edge sank down to sit next to them, pressing their sides together from shoulder to hip. “You could have warned me,” Edge said.

It was lightly said, but Stretch flinched, shifting to rest his head on Edge’s shoulder. “sorry, wasn’t thinking.”

“I’d say you’re still not,” Edge agreed. “are you even awake?”

“prolly not.”

They sat together in the dimly lit coop, the silence broken only by the faint sleeping rumbles from the chickens. Neither of them were prepared for Cheese to stir, going from sleeping to wide awake in an instant the moment they noticed the open door. With a riot of happy peeps, they hopped from Stretch’s knee, dodging Edge’s grab as they ran outside to plunge into the new pond, swimming circles in the clear water.

They followed them out, “No, not right now,” Edge began, preparing to wade in if necessary to secure their tiniest poultry companion.

“eh, let ‘em play," Stretch yawned. He sank down on the walkway they’d finished only the day before. “let them have some fun. may as well, i'm really tired, but i dunno if i can sleep yet."

Edge nodded and settled next to him again. The brickwork was hard beneath his tailbone and he made a mental note to have a bench of some sort installed. He should have thought of it before, Stretch enjoyed watching his pets, and both the patio and the porch swing were too far away for proper observation. Rather than allow Stretch to sit on the stones, he pulled his love into his lap, holding him close without impeding his view. "We can wait until you're ready."

"gonna have nightmares,” Stretch said abruptly. His voice was smaller and knowingly weary. "i was scared, you know, but andy was there, and he was scareder. his face was," Stretch gestured at his own face and shook his head. "i couldn't let him get hurt. i couldn’t."

It ached to hear that soft confession, though he’d known Stretch must have been frightened. He pushed the image of Stretch waking up terrified and surrounded by enemies out of his mind, saying firmly, "You didn't, you protected him."

"he wouldn't need protecting if he'd stayed in his seat on that bus all those months back,” Stretch said sourly and that was a notion that couldn’t wait for his therapist to address.

"Don't,” Edge told him softly, “Don't take on blame that isn't yours, you don’t deserve to carry their guilt."

"heh, yeah. you're one to talk."

“I know. So you can believe I know what I’m talking about.”

“don’t worry, babe, i know something about carrying guilt that ain’t yours, too.” Before Edge could question that, Stretch sighed heavily, confessing, "i knew one of the guys."

That was a chilling admission. "You did."

"yeah, he used to work at classic books,” Stretch said. He shifted in Edge’s arms, unconsciously pushing in closer. “had an issue with monsters, but i didn't think anything of it. lots of humans do. he never said anything out loud that i ever heard. last i knew, thomas said he quit. thomas was happier for it, he was about to fire the guy, anyway, him quitting made his life easier."

“Does my brother know this?”

“if he didn’t before, pretty sure he already does now, but i’ll tell him during my little interview tomorrow.” In his arms, Stretch shivered, bones briefly rattling. “when i saw him, saw into his—” Stretch stopped abruptly, “anyway. he’s not a nice guy, babe. not at all.”

“I see,” Edge said, slowly. There were depths in that obvious diverting should be explored, questions to ask, but that could wait for tomorrow. “Let’s go inside and get cleaned up, all right?”

“yeah, okay.” Stretch crawled out of his arms to the side of the pond and rather than fruitlessly chasing Cheese, he held out a hand. It took hardly more than a touch of blue magic to pull the little duckling close, their pitiful quacks as they were once more robbed of their watery freedom filling the air. “yeah, i know,” Stretch soothed, “tomorrow, okay? i’ll let you swim ‘till you’re sick of it, kiddo.”

He returned the duckling to Nugget, who unsympathetically tucked the peeping duckling beneath her, and when Stretch turned back to Edge, his gaze sharpened suddenly as he watched Edge climb to his feet. “where’s your cane?”

“I was getting it as we speak.”

“uh huh, from inside the house, it’s so useful in there. you,” Stretch jabbed a slender finger at him, “you’re going to use it all day tomorrow, right? no bitching, either.”

Edge didn’t bother pointing out that it was highly likely he wouldn’t be doing much walking at all tomorrow, certainly not out of their home. Tomorrow would be full of questioning and paperwork, so many things that would need to be done. But first, they needed to finish off the night before dawn took it.

“Of course,” he agreed. He allowed Stretch to pull an arm over his shoulders, ostensibly to help him inside, but it wasn’t his leg that needed Stretch’s assistance.

His soul pulsed in his chest softly, settling at the feel of Stretch close to him, leading them both into their house, and when they finally slept that night, it was on the sofa rather than their bed, both of them freshly washed and with a cooking show playing softly in the background.

Lying together, Edge was acting the part of smaller spoon to Stretch��s larger one, and if Stretch guessed the position was one that put Edge closer to the door, he didn’t say. His face was buried into the back of Edge’s neck, his breath damp and even. Edge drifted on the borders of sleep, listening more to that quiet breathing than whatever the chef on the screen was saying.

“I can’t lose you.” The words escaped him, said to no one at all, less a statement and more a vow, a promise offered in the early morning light. I can’t, he thought to himself as he drifted, barely hearing the sleepy murmur in return.

“you won’t, babe. ’m not goin’ anywhere.”

Soothed, Edge let sleep claim him, trusting that he was safely caught up in the embrace of both slumber and his love.

-finis

#spicyhoney #papcest #keelywolfe #underfell #underswap #underfell papyrus #underswap papyrus #by any other name

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feelssogoodinmyarms · 6 years ago

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Spring Awakening at U of A

Hey wueens so as you know i saw God’s show, Spring Awakening, at U of A last weekend. This is a long ass review so strap in.

The audience was like 90% elderly people

it was a preview maybe a senior center bought out the show

WENDLA ROSE OUT OF THE STAGE BEFORE MAMA WHO BORE ME IT WAS AMAZING

Wendla had amazing voice

Adult woman had awesome hair it was all done up in some intricate style with these curly tendrils in the front

the dresses!!! all the girls had the prettiest dresses it was so well costumed!!!

They did the handheld mics during the songs but they made it work it wasn’t that awkward

i tried to guess who was who with the girls and i got them right wow my mind

Moritz was very attractive and tall

His hair got taller as the show went on

We love evolution

Bitch of living was v angreyyy i approve

They kinda thrusted into the chairs we love metaphors

Moritz’s voice was fantastic

When Thea said he’s such a RADICAL everyone FALLS DOWN like it wasn’t just swooning it was very extra we love that

There was definitely something between Thea and Anna they were always holding hands and teasing each other it was so cute

The girls were on the steps during the Desdemona monologue ad wend and Ilse were leaning against each other like swaying idk it was cute

Thea and Anna also sang their my junk solos to each other

Hanschen continued to jerk it through Georg’s parts with Frauline gbh which is dedication and perseverance at it’s finest

Also Frauline G left before the last verse of my junk and she like blew Georg a kiss and it was funny you had to be there

Melchior and Moritz were pretty gay in Touch Me

They did the thing where Melchior moves Moritz’s hands down his body and my brain short circuited a little

They omitted the gay choreo with everyone else though which is sad

There was an understudy on for Otto and he killed his solo

Georg MURDERED ME with those riffs at the end WOW

Anna and Thea did some ballet looking stuff at the end of touch me it was really pretty

Melchior talked in a different voice around Wendla, kind of like someone who’s trying to sell you something

Melchior always initiated whether it was kissing, holding hands, etc.

so Martha!!!! Is!!! A powerhouse!!!!! she was so good in The Dark I Know Well like i got chills. her voice was amazing.

Thea, Anna, and Wendla watched Martha sing for a little bit (she was up with the orchestra)

Anna and Thea left (holding hands, may I add) but Wendla stayed for a little longer before walking off

Thea and Anna came and sang the last part of tdikw

Still holding hands

Wendla didn’t which ties into the whole “I’ve never been beaten before” thing

All the boys besides Melchior circled the girls during the end of the song

It was during the “I Passed” scene that I realize I know the guy who played Georg from high school. Congrats to him on getting the lead (he’s @its-webbin-time go follow him)

Martha handed Wendla the switch

It was not thin at all it looked like a baguette

Imagine being hit with something that thick yikes

Georg and Otto gave me chills with their little woyb reprise

Moritz did this anxious thing with his feet when he read the letter during And Then There Were None

He was so angry and frustrated I loved it

Mirror Blue Night was listed as “Mirror Blue Light” in the program for some reason

The consent in the hayloft scene was pretty dubious. I’m proud of the director for realizing Wedekind’s intent (I’ve known the director since I was 11. If you’re reading this, hi Hank!)

The wendla/melchior relationship was portrayed as romantic for the most part though

I didn’t see any nudity in “I Believe” but I talked to the director and apparently there was some ass but I didn’t see it from where I was

I wished Moritz’s hair was bigger in Don’t Do Sadness; it wasn’t as crazy as it could have been

They were facing toward the audience with the mic stands like in obc

Ilse didn’t like artists colony but kept trying to find something positive

When Ilse said “brush your hair and curl it” she reached out in front of her and Moritz reacted and like smiled it was cute

Moritz really wanted to go with her, I almost thought he would for a moment

He lit the letter on fire and waved it kinda slowly it was so pretty

I can’t remember if they do that in the obc I haven’t watched it in a while

I tensed up when Moritz put the gun in his mouth the actor was so good

Same hole in the stage they used for Moritz’s grave during left behind

Ilse left the bouquet of flowers she was carrying on stage after dds and everyone took a few and put them in grave during left behind it was a nice touch

Otto took off his glasses at Moritz’s grave

Ernst glared at Herr Stiefel when he went up to the grave

Totally fucked was HYPE HOOOOO

A good number of people left at intermission and there were two seats right up front. I should have gone down to them because the cast sang right to the people in the front row

I missed my chance to get close to the handsome and talented Jared as Georg and I will have to live with this regret all my life

Anna did a cartwheel

Hanschen started off the vineyard scene kinda arrogant and show-offish if that makes sense

But by the end it was so soft lemme tell you

Ernst had his knees hugged into his chest, like he was really shaken by what happened with Moritz

i’ve never seen him done like that but i liked it

After Hansi said why not? instead of kissing Ernst’s mouth he went for the cheek and like trailed down Ernst’s neck i DIED

AND AFTER THEY FINISHED SINGNG HANS GAVE HIM SWEET PECK ON THE MOUTH

thank you to Hank Stratton for giving the gays rights

When the doctor tells Frau Bergmann about Wendla’s pregnancy he mouthed “Wendla’s pregnant” and had this incredibly judgemental look on his face

Wendla screamed MAMA as the abortionist dragged her away and i felt it in my chest ugh

Mo and wend came back in white during those you’ve known and Moritz had the same lil crosses on his pants as he did on the school uniform

i appreciated the attention to detail

Also the cast sat around the stage on chairs or the floor watching most of the scenes

Looking at the program— Thea was the dance captain and Anna was the fight captain

So it was pretty fire I recommend seeing it if you’re in Tuscon, Arizona anytime soon. Here’s the stage:

(Note the scoldings written on the stage and the chairs on the cealing!!)

And the article about it in the paper:

#the saddest part is that i didnt know it was jared during bol or when he got those sweet sweet frauline gbh lips #spring awakening #moritz stiefel #sa #melchior gabor #wendla bergmann #hanschen rilow #ernst robel #ilse neumann #martha bessel #otto lammermeier #georg zirschnitz #thea #thea rilow #anna #anna wheelan #marianna wheelan #university of arizona #u of a

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commonalex · 6 years ago

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Savory

-Where to, bud?

-Fill it up.

-Ready for a trip, ain't it so, Nico?

One quick "shut your hole before I fuck it" finds its way before my teeth but fortunately I remind myself that whatever I do I can never escape the gas pumper's son urge to chat even if it takes me stealing the pump from the tank to shove it up his dirty ass mouth.

-Just for a dive, you know. The beach here got filled with tourists and the sun will set when I get to the next shore.

-You're living the life, Nico boy, no joke. Not like us, working and melting away from the sun like pigs in the midst of September. Fuck that shit, man.

-Aha, I see.

Just before I go inside to bake myself in my good ol' Fiat and get lost far far from his gossip hungry mouth, I remember that I have to rely on his ass. It's the third day that no one in the town can use the phone and no one cares enough to ask why. I give him my frequency where I'll listen on the radio just to notify Sofia if anything crazy happens to me. Not entirely sure if he heard or understood even half of what I just said but pretty confident that he purposely delays me to keep his creaking voice running, soloing to the point of laying a curse at "these damn phones and their government plants to make them mo-bi-le" and asking extremely not subtly about what is already news all over town.

-You're shiting me! Congrats, Nico boy! Wish your wife good luck with all those diapers coming. Finally you're to start a family yourself!

I don't know if he forgot my Tito for real or it's just him being a clown and at this point I barely care. Everyone has him as a dumb fuck either way. In fact I'm only doing a favor to his father that I haven't talked to him the way I should or biting his hands with my closing door.

It's over five o' clock and the road to the shore is nicely empty. My Fiat has a hard time having the sun whipping its ass as its swinging above the sea to my right. I dug up a radio station I recently lost with some old songs drowned in noise that I can't blast in the car with Sofia and the kid because the give them the headaches and food for nagging. Notes traveling around my seat really give me space and loose my hands from straggling my steering wheel and I'm checking cool as hell the back seat from the mirror to make sure I didn't forget my swimsuit or my surely expired sunscreen. I can barely see it beneath this sea of junk and empty water bottles from our last trip as a family. I can't recall when that was exactly, but it can't be that long if the back seat is completely filled with sand from Tito's feet cause "slippers pinch his toes". I swear to God I'll be damned if I ever understand this kid.

It must've taken a minute or so to catch the song change on the radio. And what a song if the synths and the drum machine can kick my head back to my soggy seat to return to my old job at that furniture store I was back in the day, just in time for Sofia to call me and tell me the waters broke. The road's zig zags around the hills wave goodbye and I push the gas along the straight line in front of me. The tar got sprayed gold and it tinkles my eyes along with the turquoise waves racing me all the way; absolutely nothing like back then when I was locked by my stress and my blood was boiling from agony. The car couldn't fit me (brand new at the moment, not a scratch, such a beauty) until the house and then back into traffic, dragging myself closer to insanity by Sofia's moaning that keep on ringing to my ears to this day. Us two running in the heatwave till the emergency room, scared that Tito might join us in the back seat. There's still the scratch I caused by storming the hospital. There's still the memory of me cursing the religion out of me when I saw that later.

"Nico, take me back".

"What are you talking about? We are here".

"I'm scared, Nico, Let's go home. Please".

"No reason for it, we talked this out a thousand time. That's the finish line".

"I don't want to lose him. I won't bear this crap again".

"It's all good, Sofia. I promise".

Maybe I didn't use these exact words that day. I don't even remember if half of what I was saying were making any sense but I do remember me screaming my lungs out to innocent doctors and nurses while she was sitting comfortably in her pain with a look in her eyes designed to send nothing but shivers down my spine. I made it by stealing a kiss on her salty cheek as I was trying to keep up with her stretcher just so we go in together and get out us three together.

The radio host squeezes his hoarse and monotonous voice right in the end of the song to announce the song's title and singer but I'm all out of brain to pay attention. My fingers feel numb around the steering wheel and the rest of me stands sweat dripping in his place, staring at the dirt road boiling behind me. It always happens to me. I could have Sofia right beside me telling me the name of the song and my head would instantly erase it from existence because the picture of me and her holding Tito like a hot bread bun back in the house hangs above my eyelids. Her crying only from joy and me smiling nervously all the time. Holding Sofia on one hand and Tito on the other on our broke couch we still have in the living room. All of the uncertainty, all of the doubt if I could manage to balance all for a little man that fits in my palms driving me nuts in the cutest way then and in the most worrying right now.

The gas pumper's son doesn't respond to my test signals and I lose my turn for the next shore. No biggie, I say to myself, I'll do an 180 and everything will be fine. The road however had other plans, cause I can't find it anywhere anymore, the sand covered it pretty easily. No tar on sight, no nothing. I pull my baked skull outside and take a peek of all those fixed pink waves of sand stretching to everything the sun touches. I'm surprised that Ostia is somehow still on my mirror but I can't figure out where exactly I got my dumb self on the map and the good ol' Fiat has stepped in the sand for good. I set the thin line of sea on my right as compass and turn the key full of hope. I get a couple of meters deeper but the wheels are screeching, digging their graves. I officially can't go neither ahead nor back home; especially after all the shit I left back there because I decided to go swimming. Sofia's not going to stop at my insensitivity this time, especially right after she found out she is pregnant. I don't know what to say to her. I don't know what she seeks from me. I don't know if she gets my situation at the moment by asking me to be more "open" to her without her understanding that this is the way to get everybody hurt. Her, Tito, even the gas pumper's son with the audacity to sell pure ass water for petrol.

There's not a single thing on me not covered in sand as I melt my palms away by pushing the car. I get it out of the holes just to drop it to another ten meters ahead. I keep on pushing so desperately my knees get buried and I can hardly curse my luck for putting me right here, right now or letting my strength fade away from my body- in general. I lash out like a spoiled little fuck at the doors and get one of them opening wide open with empty water bottles falling defeated. Not a single drop of water in them at all and nothing of real value in all this junk of the back seat but a backpack with boxers, t-shirts and shorts of all kinds. All bad, all old fashioned and all mine. I never was this farsighted or this lucky all my life. Never.

I set my self free from my shirt and pants and throw them back to dry whilst I try one of those old ass tees that fits like a glove if I stop breathing for the rest of the day. I look down to see if I put it the wrong way but it was ok, just not the right t-shirt cause it's the one with the blue stripes.

I spent all morning eating my nails, watching the clock ticking. I couldn't wait and wished for something to happen to call this off. I called the shop to play it sick just so I could breathe in and breathe out my excitement without any distractions. I was looking at myself in the bathroom's mirror and practicing the "speech" I had written. I was getting mad, I was improvising and I was giving up all day without any hope. The sun dropped and Sofia came in late (and gorgeous) as always and kissed me besides the place where taxi drivers where fishing gullible tourists and judging the ugly blue stripped tee I chose to wear to play it like it was a date just like any other. Of course she got it figured out on her own and she tolerated me and this monstrosity until we hopped off the tram and sat on the worst set of pebbles we could possible sit, right before I interrupt her history of her fight with her mother to dig up the ring from the sand.

"Are you kidding? Because these stuff are quite laughing matter, you know".

"I know".

"Is it fake? The truth, Nico".

"Put it on and tell me".

"This better not be another unfunny crap from cause if it is, I'm telling you, I'm gone".

She did put it on, she did tell it was real and she did left with me to her place. I still remember her laugh every time the ring was slipping from her fingers. I still remember rivers of sweat washing me the next morning next to her as we were looking at the building outside glowing from the sunset. She was asking me if we could make it. I was cooling her down and telling her I would do my best for her, for us. That I would do what I had to do to not get stuck like our parents did. We would not spent all of our lives in an office but instead we would casually catch a ship or a plane and travel the world. She smirked all the way through and responded to me with "whenever it is, as long as a fan is hitting us" because the weather was just like now. Ten years ago, give or take.

Radio catches nothing but noise for a while now. I'm pressing the mic to call the gas pumper's son but still nothing on the other end. I should have known better than counting on a dumbass like him because I only hurt myself and I ultimately give up on trying to communicate to light a cig.

My head got so numb from all the thoughts running inside I can't enjoy the sun dropping behind me. All I needed right now was a dip, just to get away for a moment or two and figuring out the rest but I guess I had to have everything turn to shit. I'm searching the exact point where I actually fucked up everything but the sun touching the horizon made me realize I torture my mind in vain. Whatever got me where I am right now doesn't matter. I could try to find the words to express how I feel to Sofia, Tito or the baby and fail miserably each time because all they really need to hear from me is that "all will be fine". But that's not really the point. The point is that I sit in a fucking wreck of a car with half a packet of cigarettes and all of my stuff in the trunk, disconnected from everyone and everything, without any inconvenience whatsoever. Like things rolled out as I wanted them. Like I should follow this route from the start. Like I should never really reach the shore.

I was still a kid when father came with his "new" car, a stretched out Lada with the color of green vomit which in my eyes it always looked like a bin. My father had a really creepy love with that car to the point where he was telling me to not put the seatbelt on because I would "stretch" it. His obsession made me almost envy this awful bin, feeling joy when it was failing to start half the times. My father knew that and made me help him every single time, made me listen his cute words for this piece of junk that "tries to live, that poor thing" and the rest of his vocabulary which was limited to my ability to "hold the flashlight like a fag". However, his biggest hit should be the one where he was telling me again and again that "I'll only understand him when I get older but it will be too late".

The record continued to skip in my teens. It never became understandable as it became tedious and cliché. There was no meaning behind these words, they all came out like thick air from his mouth but still they made me feel like a piece of shit. Mom saw my relationship with him wearing off everytime we were fighting and she always would try to convince me to "take a step back", to "become a normal family again" and I'd always respond with something vague when I should lash out on her for taking the side of a grumpy old fuck instead of her son.

I reached a point where I was waiting for a cause to open my mouth against his ass but every time my mother prevented me right at the last second; except that noon of a September when her hand could never reach to pull my sleeve. She was in the kitchen preparing the fish for the ban and I was returning home filled to the top with happiness because after a summer buried in books and studying I finally passed my exams for the uni. I found my father, like every afternoon, bent over a bucket cleaning a rag he used for the car only in the yard. I was watching him from the porch with my palm hiding my sardonic laughter I had all morning. I was waiting him to screech with his almost girly voice to "pick up my legs and help, cause all I do is eat, shit, sleep", just to hit him with the news that I was going to be a radio operator.

"And? What do you want now? You want me to pay you just so you can play it sailor? Leave me the fuck alone".

I'd be lying if I said I know what he really said to me, but the truth is that I felt an accomplishment inside whatever he may screamed. What I was looking for was server exactly in front of me and I started shouting, he began to shake his hands up and down like he prepared to fly and my mother kept on throwing fish in the sizzling pan.

"Is it that difficult for you? It's not like you don't want to get rid of me at all times and shit, right?".

"Get the fuck inside and stay there. You came with a smirk like you won the lottery and now you dare to talk shit. But how can you understand about money and all that? You can't. Never could, never will, but don't you worry, you'll only understand me wh-".

"Ok, ok, when I get older and all that nonsense. You keep busting nuts all these year saying that, you never got bored of that?".

The last one must have hit him hard enough to bring him back, like really back. As if he was younger again and strong enough to hit a nineteen year old in the face easily. A nineteen year old that waited half his life to return the favor.

But I did not. The sick joy I was feeling before dissolved when I grasped his left arm from the elbow. I stared at the wrinkled skin in his palm with the spots and veins that looked like mountains on it. I had his pulse on my fingertips echoing quick but pathetic. I turned to look at him and I no longer saw an antisocial and absurd grumpy fuck that was struggling in every way to show his little value. I saw a fallen, perhaps emotionally wounded man without enough consciousness to prevent him from situations like this one where he stands helpless and pitiful in front of his own child.

I had no more anger in me. I only felt bad for the years of my life I lost taking this person seriously simply because it happened to be my father. That's why I left his hand and let him sink in his confusion, trying to find words that would provoke me. From what he said, I only kept the " I swear to God I'll be damned if I ever understand this kid" as I was packing up my stuff in two bags to catch a train that was already gone. Last time, I saw him in the car dragging clothes and shavers from the semi-open trunk of his car, while my mom was on the porch trying not to drown in her own tears. The house was reeking burnt fish when I lying my mom in bed, giving her a hug and a promise that I would never be like him.

It's been a long time since then, but not enough to stop thinking about it, it seems. I do not know whether or not I eventually kept my promise and at this point I really don't care. What's really important now is the way the wave is tinkling my legs and how the breeze makes my lungs bloom. That's why I let the water drift me deeper as I close my eyes and nose. I dive.

"Come on, Nico boy, do you copy? Where are you all day? Do you have this shit open or not? Your wife's here with the little one, come get them ".

"Nico, please, if you hear this come back, we're worried. We will do whatever we can. Whatever you need. Together".

"Dad; Dad are you there? Please respond, I miss you. "

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courage-a-word-of-justice · 6 years ago

Text

That’s a lotta debuts...

Rokuhoudou 12 (FINAL)

Ankoro mochi.

Temari seem to be round ball-like candies.

Youkan is a jelly-like sweet. Manjuu are sweet buns.

Kintsugi.

Tsundere grandpa strikes again, LOL. (There was another one in Saiki Kusuo, come to think of it…)

You can see some of the previous customers in these pans, like Isago.

I think tsundere grandpa said umai (“delicious”) after he was served the tea.

You can see…er, I forgot his name, but chicken tempura guy…dancing around in the background, LOL.

I feel sorry for Isago. He didn’t get much of a word in there…

Can we not with the shaky cam???

The framing of this show is exquisite. Just look at how Yakyou is backlit by the shop, showing how isolated he is in comparison to the warm Rokuhoudou Night inside.

Putting these two brothers side by side and back to back is really something special, symbollically. It shows how they’re equals.

Gure’s got his duck boat coat (happi…?) on.

Gure even has a duck boat shirt!

That one pose when Sui and Tokitaka declare Gure/Tsubaki’s combo to be like a festival…Tsubaki’s got no pupils for comedic effect there, ha.

Karamimochi.

“It goes down easy.”

Tsubaki…sensei? When did Gure start calling him that? Or is that just a joke name, like Gure does?

Haha, Isago’s face was scary.

Tsunozaki even got Yakyou some osechiryouri! That’s committal to the man!

Sui’s hanging with Kotsuru and her grandpa in the ED. Interesting.

There’s a little rubber duck on the table near Sui.

The lanterns say “Edo” on them.

Sui’s camera is a “Nion”, LOL.

Hey wait a second! This last shot of the guys looking at the night sky is what they normally show in the ED, but it’s in a different style and from the back.

Okay, that’s a wrap! I’d be glad to see another season of this just based on the warm and comfy atmosphere alone…

BnHA 51

Was it just me or was the taxi CGI?

Can we please get Mineta out of this show already???

They animated Mineta with such…er, gusto. Why???

Why is there a rabbit? More importantly, why are the girls wearing Iida’s glasses?

Meanwhile, Bakugo’s just going ZZZ…I think he has the best taste, simply because he chose to ignore the competition, haha. Update: I thought about it and Bakugo was being really nice this episode, surprisingly. Maybe he really is mellowing out!

I don’t really get Tsu’s popularity, but at least I understand her feelings of becoming anxious when everyone disobeyed her request.

Boueibu HK 12 (FINAL)

Sorry, I’m just really mad and disappointed at myself…so if I seem out of sorts and willing to laugh at everything, then that’s why.

“Bing”? Why “bing” and not “oof” or something else?

Uh, subbers? There’s no exclamaton mark on the ep title, y’know?

CGI arrows? Now there’s a usage of CGI I’ve never seen before…Update: They’re actually spears.

Wait, does that mean Zundar, Dadacha and Wombat come from Honyara Land too????

Uncle??? Oh great, more family business. *sigh*

Hey, this soldier-making machine is kind of like the mech…alright, I’ll stop with the comparisons to season 1. It’ll only make me feel bitter.

“You wanna step outside, huh?!” – Uh, Manza? You’re already outside…

“…they project a shadow behind them.”

I love how they’ve managed to retain Kamopapa’s uncertainty in the subs.

Hey, with all the best shows I’m able to see parallels to the themes in weird moments like this one. So seeing Ata relate to Furanui shows how there’s a parallel between Ata/Ryoma/Kyoutarou, Wao/Kamopapa/Karurusu and Kamopapa/Karurusu/Furanui, and I couldn’t see that in previous seasons (either that or it wasn’t there), meaning this show is thematically better than seasons 1 and 2.

Aw, brotherly love…

Admittedly, season 2’s Postcard Memories (that’s apparently what you call the style with a lot of streaks) are the best, so I can see why one measly eyecatch from season 3 can’t compare…this one doesn’t have any streaks on it anyways, so it’s not like it could.

“Stop ducking responsibility!” – Was that a pun on kamo? Or a typo?

Hey, just like season 1. Why is it that people believe upright stalks in tea give you good luck anyway?

Aw, I wanted them to keep tradition with this moment and have Taiju go, “I don’t know.” But no matter, keep watching.

Well, here’s the lyrics to Happy Ready?????! Sing along, friends!

It’s interesting that Ata/Taiju/Maasa’s swords have details on them that match their outfits.

*giggling at how stupid and silly it all is, plus how infectious the song is* But seriously guys, those wands aren’t microphones…

…*surveys the bath shot* Wait, where’s Ata??? Update: He comes in later.

So they’re going to stick with their guns and say that Kamopapa is a duck? I see, I see.

Wait, they flew to the school (in the OP)?! Has that ever happened in the previous episodes?

See, even if Happy Ready????? takes the stage, the OP is the best in the end! Hahaha…sorry, had to rub it in there.

That second-last sentence means something along the lines of “If we could meet again, I’d be happy.” That’s literally speaking, though. They probably stuck “are you happy?” into the ending just to piss people off, though, hahaha…or to admit they got caught up in all the catchiness of Happy Ready…

Anyways, that was (probably, LOL) a better ending than season 1 in regards to story and themes, so that’s just great! Happiness for everyone! See you again someday.

Island 1

I got so unsatisfied by how small the offerings were this season and needed something to keep my mind off a huge annoyance (one I can’t get rid of, you can see me being troubled by it in the Boueibu commentary above) that I know I’ll hate myself for watching this show, but…here we are.

Kid with amnesia. *sigh* Anime trope count: 1.

Robot dogs? That’s so early 2000s.

Ridiculous anime hair. Trope count: 2.

I knew that faceplant was coming because I read up on reviews before starting this (that’s specifically why I thought I was going to hate it), but on the other hand…thank goodness I didn’t have to see his (I already know his name’s Setsuna, so Setsuna’s) junk.

So if Marine Day (Umi no Hi) is celebrated on the 20th (see the calendar in the background of Karen to see what I’m talking about)…it must be July in universe. Just from a quick Google, it might be 2015 or it might be 1875 (see one of the Google results that says when the holiday began)…then again, Marine Day is celebrated on a Monday…

*raises arm to the sky to block sunshine* Trope count: 3. I need a bingo chart for these tropes, man.

This “outsiders must stay away” reminds me of Shiki, which is…uh, not the best comparison, considering what I’m comparing.

The one with the dandelion hair is…meant to be voiced by Hibiku Yamamura, right? I heard she was switched out because her company didn’t want her to voice the girl, which is the only reason I know this show in the first place.

What a lurid angle Karen’s been shot from…you can focus on her *erhem*(whispers “nonexistent balls”) from here.

“…you can punch or kick me to your heart’s content.” - Well, at least Karen avoids bringing up the trope count (by slapping Setsuna).

“…I’m off the hook.” – No need to spell it out, Mr Obvious. I’m grumpy here plus not really enjoying myself, so if you make any false moves you’re in for the drop.

Why are Setsuna’s eyes so small in comparison to everyone else’s anyway?

Well, the song finally got my attention. Congrats, you’ve just won my non-apathy, Island. (sarcastic)

“Cruzeiros” seem to be the currency on the island, huh? By the way, there’s a movie called The Island involving a gory staple gun scene. You might not want to refer to this show as The Island for that reason…

The bear slippers are an odd touch (aka an interesting detail), don’tcha think?

“You’re really rich.” – You don’t say, Mr Obvious?! (That’s strike two. You can do better than that, show!)

The way the mother converses is like the mother from Big Bang Theory, only with less talking…

His bed isn’t even springy, yet he bounces…? What?!

Why are all the main girls we’ve seen so far tsundere???? Why does she (Rinne) have a choker??? Most importantly, why am I using so many question marks???

Turtle apron…I’m not going to judge that, now, am I? It’s actually cute, in a vague sort of manner.

Ugh…tsundere acts are terrible when you’ve had to witness them thrice…

The monologuing…it’s losing me…but what’s a tachyon? Okay, here you go.

*falls over, starts having a nosebleed* That…was a comedy moment, right? Completely lost me…

How did Setsuna get back to Rinne’s house, anyway?

Uh, Rinne? Why aren’t you afraid of sexual predators? Are you really alone on Urashima?

Somehow I anticipated the last part of, “When the light touches me, I’ll die” before it occurred.

Rinne kinda looks like Menma when she’s just in a white dress. Update: I haven’t even watched AnoHana, by the way.

Anyways, that was boring. That’s a drop.

Hanebado 1

Another show I’m going to hate myself for…oh great.

Welp, I’ve read around about the shows on offer and this was one of the more favourable ones. I can see why, because aside from the boob jiggle and random slow mo, it was pretty well-animated.

What’s up with the extra-long ribbon in that girl’s hair, though?

Random yuri moment (on the paper, mentioning the “queen” of something)…? Not what I’m here for, but okay…

Short-haired girl seems to be way too angry. Why so serious?

I don’t have that much badminton knowledge, but I do know YONEX (see bag) is a real badminton brand.

Urgh…those panty shots, boob jiggles etc. are really making me regret watching this. However, there’s a real dynamism to this OP’s visuals that really sparks my interest, which is really saying something.

Apparently “hane” is what you call the shuttlecock in Japanese (aside from the more obvious “shuttle”). Makes sense, as “hane” can also mean “wing”.

“Bad” as in short for “badminton”. Not actually “bad”, y’know?

Strangely, they sexualise Aragaki the least. As if she’s the manliest in the bunch. That’s already true without saying that though, since she’s got the short hair and savagery more typical of a man.

There’s a box where the tilde should be, LOL.

They pretty much make the girls think about either boys or the sport. Can’t girls have more objectives than that? Diversity, people, diversity.

Can we not with the butt shot? Seriously, you can tell this was made by a man with a passion for badminton.

Why don’t we see these girls’ faces? *makes face of confusion*

Seriously??? This is what passes as comedy this season??? “Mistaken for perv”??? Ick.

Huh. For once, Aragaki speaks some sense. Considering what’s been bringing me down since before I watched Island, I completely get that feel, Aragaki. Maybe I’ll watch your show, then, if you can tell me how to feel again.

What’s with these feet shots, though? They’re almost as weird as the fanservice ones…

Hmm…the palpable tension…Alright, this gets another episode. If the fanservice is intolerable, I’m outta here.

Angolmois 1

I read some good stuff about this on ANN. This should be great!

I think I’ll end up liking this OP…and everything else about this show. Just look at that animation!

Wadatsumi…isn’t there a manga named after him? Update: Yes, there is!

Is it just me, or does the show look a bit…grainy?

Teruhi seems kind of like a siren for some reason…hmm…should I be suspicious of her?

Ryuugyuu Palace = Palace of the Dragon King.

ANN (I think it was) said Goryeo = Korea. Not sure which Korea, but…maybe at this stage, it was one unified Korea.

Whoa! Teruhi’s got some sadism behind that smirk…! Wouldn’t want to die by her hand, for sure.

The thing is…I wouldn’t normally support anything involving Mongolians, because most of my expertise comes from China/Japan (both forces who traditionally aren’t that happy with Mongolia…then again, they aren’t very happy with each other, either). However, I can see myself getting behind this for sure now that Teruhi’s shown her hand.

Tsushima Island.

Basically, Kuchii is the equivalent of an Australian convict…just with less water between his homeland and his new land.

Everything in this show looks like a Postcard Memory, geez.

I can see the little night vision boy being like a wakizashi in Touken Ranbu, i.e. a fast one who leads the pack.

Oh dear…just when I was enjoying the show, Teruhi gets captured. Dang. Just what I was waiting for (sarcastic).

Wait, a blonde blue-eyed person using the Gikei style? Wuh? Must be a missionary or someone related to one. Maybe he’s Dutch…?

Is that Gon-oh, never mind. It was Kuchii.

“A message from the ones watching Goryeo.”

At least Kano’s treated like a non-damsel in distress!

Why do I think these Mongolian ships are CGI? I’m not sure myself…

Hey, this title card reminds me of Nobunaga no Shinobi! In fact, the two are pretty similar, it’s just the war that’s different.

Despite my slight misgivings, this is a strong contender for best of the season already! Phew…it could even take out Hinamatsuri…and that’s an interesting prospect, huh? Especially because I don’t have a winter show to take that spot.

Angels of Death 1

I checked up what satsuriku means and apparently it means “slaughter”. So yeah, that’s a perfect translation…not to mention I haven’t read ahead on this show, so anything for it is a surprise.

I thought the OP was going to happen after that titlecard, but nope. Just an OST track…

Why would anyone talk to a typewriter? Sure, it responds to your voice, but…eh, I guess anything happens in a horror show.

Geez, those wall effects are realistic. Just like I’d expect from a game adaption. Now if only I had an adaption of Alice Mare, which I’ve played before…

The effects on the walls remind me of Despera promotion, actually…

Should horror shows and other media teach a consumer the value of life? Or the horrors of humanity? Who knows, maybe both…?

Like dude, don’t wonder if there’s an elevator when there’s a sign right in front of you saying “elevator passage”!

So, uh…what happened to the bird, Rachel?

Wellllllllll…that’s not sketchy at all. Your doctor saying he’s actually your doctor, that is.

I wonder if Rachel’s sewing up of the bird represents her insanity…or her humanity…

(Trigger warning…?) Why does the doctor’s words seem so much…like a paedophile’s?

CGI door…geesh. Why is it I get the feeling Rachel’s being dragged along on a plotline she can’t deviate from?

What’s with this awkward pinning position? Sometimes it’s meant to be sexy, sometimes it’s meant to be horrific, but this…with the doctor’s tongue hanging out, it looks kind of dumb and takes you out of the show.

Aw, c’mon. The slicing of the head was enough, you didn’t need to add blood rain to it…

“I’m a grown-ass man, you know.” – For some reason, I found that line funny.

That’s a lot of blood splattered on the walls…maybe too much for a human…? I’m not a medical specialist, don’t ask me.

Hmm…I don’t know about this one yet. In mystery terms, it’s better than Island – it does pull twists off very well, simply because I can’t really see them coming. However, as a horror, there are a few eyebrow raises involved. It’s good enough to keep for now, but it’s probably going to get lost in the rabble later on.

Harukana Receive 1

Ooh no, I’m going to hate myself for this…I’m only watching this for my resolutions and the fact all the good stuff debuts late! You understand???

Is it just me, or are all the shows getting English titles on their titlecards from day 1 these days? It was the same with Satsuriku no Tenshi…

I’m already zoning out of this episode a tonne, and that’s just the plane zooming overhead to establish the setting!

I don’t get the green edge of Haruka’s eyes (note I read up on this show with the ANN preview guide beforehand). I mean, why is it green???

Wait, in the airport it’s only women. C’mon, that’s just unrealistic. Not to mention there’s a bit of emphasis on how Haruka’s…tatas…move, which is vaguely annoying.

Sorry, but there are some reallllllly ugly CGI cars in the background that distract me a lot. It’s pulling me out of the show.

All the girls so far have had green-edged eyes, but this one’s got red…

Oof…that sun…that sand…I can smell the beach already. At least that’s a pro of this show.

And…boob jiggles. One last strike and I’m kickin’ you out, show!

Why are all anime turtles called Kamekichi? I mean, Touken Ranbu’s Urashima’s turtle is also called Kamekichi…

Narumi (red-edge) actually has purple eye edges. My bad.

I thought the ball was going to hit Haruka, just for comedy. At least I was wrong…

There’s something really CGI and round about the ball. There was this beach volleyball game I remember seeing someone play, and the ball looked exactly like that.

There’s something vaguely annoying about Haruka’s enthusiasm. For the show, it’s nice for the sake of moving plot (and “plot”)…but I find it a bit grating.

Narumi reminds me of Ahagon (Umiko) in New Game.

Why do I feel like I’ve heard the “we don’t need aces” spiel before? (Not just because I read about it a few days ago, too.)

Geesh, more boob jiggle.

Is it just me, or do Kanata and Narumi look similar when there’s a closeup on them?

Oh yeah, protip. Mikasa is an actual provider of volleyballs. Not just an Attack on Titan reference.

They were clearly trying to go for comedy with the lines and stuff. I learnt from Acchi Kocchi that if I’m not impressed with a comedic moment time and time again, it’s likely the show will fail on me.

Wait, these girls are cousins, right? This is edging into yuri right here…eesh.

There’s something oddly realistic about the sand. I’m not sure whether to be happy about that or not.

What was up with the slow-mo??? Urgh, it frustrated me!

Actually, Narumi is kind of like Hifumi from New Game as well…quiet and unable to stop others from pushing her around most of the time.

Chanpuru.

Nothing came up on Google about inamuduchi. Update: Oh, it was because I typed its name wrong. Fixed it!

Rasmus…Faber? The guy who attracted me to Asterisk War??? He’s here??? That’s it! That’s the last straw! Every show he’s assigned to is terrible for me, and this is no exception!

(Trigger warning) Lemme guess…Kanata’s parents died and so she couldn’t play anymore.

Turns out Mikasa (the volleyball guys I was talking about earlier) helped out with this show too. No wonder it seems true to life…but that Kamekichi joke was terrible. Terrible, I tell you.

See? I did hate myself for that! Urgh!

Update: That was Haruka’s mother??? I thought that was her older sister???

Chio’s School Road 1

Why…do I get such a bad feeling about this show???

Tsuugakuro literally means “commute to school road”, so thank goodness I don’t have to deal with that mouthful.

What’s with the boob jiggle this season??? That’s why I passed on this show initially! Also, are those really bad graphics…intentional?

Alright, because this OP ends with a man’s fly being down, I’m going to stop it right there. I could do without that in my life…

…Alright, Plyasm talked me into properly watching this one. If I hate it again, it’s his fault.

…(exasperated tone) Dude. I like the gamer girl trope, but not the boob jiggle. The heck am I meant to think???

As much as I can relate to not wanting to be pointed out in order to not stand out, I feel like that’s just there to make an objective of the endgame. I don’t know why I think that, I just do.

The kitty is very fluffy at least.

How is Chio not slipping as she runs across the rooftops???

For a second, I thought the bird was trembling in mid-air! That’s just impossible…y’know?

Huh? I don’t get the yellow monkey joke…and that’s not a name pun either. It’s just a random statement made from exaggeration with no basis in the language! My enemy when it comes to jokes!

Okay, when even side characters have bouncing balloons under their shirts, I. Just. Don’t. Get it.

Panty shots…the only thing worse than boob shots.

Assassins don’t help people, though…

The reaction faces…aren’t even as good as Mahou Shoujo Ore’s, c’mon. They’re just…kinda there. They aren’t even memeable.

Samejima Gakuen…enjo kousai (compensated dating)…? *giggles a bit properly for the first time this episode*

Is it just me, or do the teacher’s eyes not match? One’s blue and the other’s…brown? I don’t know.

It’s the start of the second segment in the first episode…and I can see this premise wearing thin already…

Why do the little men on the crossing signals have hats, anyway?

*sigh* Another panty shot…

I think the spinning made me dizzy…it was probably done like this to maximise laughter, but it sure didn’t make me laugh.

Ouch, wouldn’t want to be on the end of that kendo practice sword…and he hasn’t even hit anyone with it…

I thought…she was going to say “thank you”…that would’ve at least gone for the feels. I just feel vaguely disappointed, y’know?

With that, it’s another drop…but I can’t really complain to Ply either because I didn’t entirely hate it, either…Maybe if I understood the gaming references I could understand it better, but it’s a flop nonetheless.

Music Girls 1

Oh dear…as soon as I went in, I immediately got a feeling of “I will suffer from this, won’t I?”

Girl, c’mon. You’re at least 2 years too old to be playing with dolls.

Wait, are we welcoming Japan or are we being welcomed to Japan? Dangit, English!

Kotoko looks like obvious comic relief, you can tell from the face alone.

Roro looks like she’s 10! Heck, what is her deal?

I feel like all of the show’s production budget went into animating that one sequence with the cows. That was just an imagination sequence, people!

Wow, suddenly you’ve caught my attention, show. Just by having the pigtailed girl’s hair go up when she was surprised.

Hey. Wasn’t Mr Ikehashi suffering from salt in the eyes? Shouldn’t he have cried it out more than that? Why didn’t anyone clean up the salt afterwards? It’s questions like these you need to answer, show.

The background characters in this show look terrible, by the way.

*sees a loving pan of the girl (Hanako), starting from her boobs and stopping near her mouth* Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…I’m really regretting the decision to watch this now.

Why is it that the shows this season look so good, but they’re so trash under the surface, trying to break through??? (referencing a Coldplay song)

Didn’t you guys notice the name “King Records” in the opening credits? When that plane was there? Okay, well, now you know. “Pine Records” isn’t the most blatant of shout-outs, but the spirit of it is still kind of there.

You don’t get the candy-stripes of the girls’ outfits in this show? I don’t, either.

Hey…you’re kidding, right? 2D animation! Not even Idolish7 did that to the max! You really have my interest now!

That girl’s counting in English wasn’t bad. At least not enough to require subbing.

This eyecatch…makes this girl look like an extreme loli…

“That’s why you know the steps.”

I can see the blueprints for the shipping now – Uori x Kiri…(sarcastic)

Wait, so when did Hanako listen to On Stage Life anyway???

Why do they colour the whole girl in with luminscent blush? It’s kind of weird…

Why haven’t Hanako’s parents actually gone looking for her???...Oh, spoke too soon.

CITIZEN clocks are an actual thing, haha.

How does Ikehashi know Sachi???

Oh dear…well, at least her singing was enough to surprise me.

Have you noticed most of the Music Girls’ fans are male??? No, all of them are! Aside from Hanako, that is.

I just know I’m not going to memorise these girls’ names at all…

Okay, if this doesn’t have a card game to go with it sooner or later…then you can have as many digital cookies as you want.

Strangely…I had a much better impression of this than I thought I would. It’s better than some of the other shows simply by being mostly devoid of fanservice, anyway, although there is a loli in there…I think her name was Roro.

Cells at Work! 1

Yay, finally something I was looking forward to! It’s been a few years since I did biology classes, but I’ll give it a shot!

Ohmygosh, LOL. I still remember that dendrites look like trees…or aliens.

Aren’t white blood cells a little bit yellow due to the plasma they have…?

“Another blunder!” doesn’t quite equal “Machigaemashita!”, but it does work in context.

I never thought I’d say this…but I can see why Red Blood Cell is considered moe. Endearing, but not too annoying! Plus just a hint of cute.

Oh yeah…platelets. I forgot about those guys.

The Helper T Cell looks like Kazuma from Noragami! Wahaha!

To quote Web MD: “The spleen also helps fight certain kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis.” That’s why the killer T cells are being threatened with being chucked into the spleen.

Thank goodness they explain all this stuff, like hemolysis. I’d probably be lost otherwise…I probably did learn it all those years ago though.

Capillaries are meant to be small veins, right? No wonder RBC is getting all confused…there must be tonnes of them in a body.

Huh? *has to suppress laughter* Even RBCs have senpais, LOL!

That RBC doodle on the door is so cute~!

Why does this pneumococcus keep announcing what he’s going to do anyway? He keeps losing the element of surprise, man.

Mucosa. Also apparently called “mucous membrane”, which is a term I’m a lot more familiar with.

The pneumococcus was CGI in his bubble for a second there…

Oh, it’s been a while since I saw the term “eosinophil”. Apparently, it’s a kind of WBC.

Oh…dear. I think I remember reading once that your average sneeze is 2G (as in, this G). So if you ever thought your sneeze was powerful, now you know. *cue The More You Know GIF*

I think I ship it already, the unrequited love of a WBC and an RBC. Also, WBC is probably going to be bae of the season, even though he’s…well, a WBC. And a muscleman.

I’m not quite sure what gas the RBC has in the ED, but I think it might be CO2…

Ooh, definite keeper!

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