#do people even know that a slow pacing is intentional for some genre vibes?

[scarefox]

Scroll through MDL page of a currently popular series, find at least 2 people in the first few comments who straight up insult actors appearances as ugly or body shame them in some way the moment they are not generic looking (or feminine men or even worse women...).

And then there are people on that page since ages who told me they never saw a bad comment ever... you are either part of the problem or blind if you don't see the toxicity of the userbase on there.

[selinakidreams]

hello hello hello ! this is my comfort piece for @doinmybesthere ‘s mental health awareness month collab! and I’d just like to say a huge thank you to emme for creating such a wonderful collab and thank you for letting me be apart of it.

paring: kirishima eijirou (I’m talking 7ft big strongman vibes) x empathic quirk f!reader (established relationship)

word count: 3.7k +

genre: hurt/comfort + fluff

warnings: mentions of anxiety & toxic friendships, instigating with means to harm- please let me know if I missed anything!!

a/n: this I think,, was the best way to approach what has tormented me for years. it was a reoccurring thing for me but I never handled it properly, and just this year, someone important taught me that I deserve more than what I’ve been putting myself through. so here it is! I also think that once my schedule clears up, I’m gonna make a sister piece to this but idk !! let me know if you guys would be interested in that!

++ the absolute biggest thank you to my betas/flow checkers @doinmybesthere @lady-bakuhoe @keishinslove BIG kith

pss. the first person who can guess my love language based off this fic wins a prize

Turning other’s confidence to despair, gloating to fear, persistence to tiredness, motivation into loss- but all you felt was drained. The overuse of your quirk left your head feeling full of cotton; Your chest heaving and vision slightly blurry. 

You arrived late to the fight because what started as a relaxing day off quickly turned into a rush to get to the streets. Thankfully Red Riot had been on the scene, waist-deep and stalling a full-fledged fight between two combat villains until backup came. 

His tired eyes met yours and you flashed him a hopeful smile until witnessing the villain get a short-termed upper hand. They landed a solid punch, which caused you to feel not only the repercussions of the shock-inducing impact but your building guilt of being a distraction.

Years of training reminded you not to let it get to your head, your hero instincts kicking in after emotionally experiencing that strike. Heart pumping with adrenaline, you began to focus your heart and mind, simultaneously tuning into what those around you were feeling, never forgetting to keep your eyes wide and alert. 

Confidence, eagerness, perseverance, exhaustion, determination. 

Taking a breath as you ease into a rhythm, you kept your sights on the two people who were attacking the boulder of a hero and finally, a steady grasp.

Quirk at work, the familiar mental image of loose strings flowing in the wind appeared, and you grabbed a hold of them, symbolizing that you had caught hold of their feelings and wasted no time on bending and contorting to your will. You watched as their actions became slower and less motivated, making it easier for Kirishima to handle. He must have realized what was happening, a new surge of elation pumped through him as he began to knock both of the villains down a peg. 

Seeing him fight had always been such a marvel to watch; it was so easy to be mesmerized by the sheer enthusiasm he had while trying to keep the balance and execute justice. Kirishima Eijirou was a hero in all senses of the word- and not just any hero, your hero- as cheesy as it sounded.

Secured under his weight and possibly unconscious, Red Riot looked around, a bit disheveled, until his gaze found yours. Expecting to be met with the warm sincere smile that always made your heart flutter, your heart sunk when you saw his eyes turn wide and frantic as he called out your hero name. 

On top of feeling a bit dizzy from honing into those particular subjects and manipulating two people at once, a wave of distress washed over you, adding to the unfavorable aftermath of pushing your quirk. 

You were quick to whip around, finding another villain was closing in closer than expected. You dropped all previous controls and focused solely on the person in front of you. 

“You had gotten better since the last time I saw you,” they sneered as they attempted to land a hard-hitting kick to your stomach. 

Missing by a hair, you pushed past the dreariness in your head and went straight into a defensive position.

The close-cut dodge wasn’t the only thing to throw you off; now you had realized why Kirishima looked at you like that; your traumatic past, the one you had divulged to him in the safety of your home, warbling with tears streaking your cheeks, was coming back to roughhouse with the intent of ending in a knockout. 

Fear twisted into gut-wrenching anxiety; the plummeting feeling hit the bottom of your stomach with a harsh thud.

In front of you stood the unmistakable frame of someone you had considered to be one of your closest friends for a time; someone that seemed so natural to be with, someone you divulged secrets and shared smiles with, someone that had made it seem like separation was not an option- now turned villain, sporting a suited evil smirk smeared on their face. 

It was hard not to let the tears collect on your waterline, thinking about the whirlwind of your relationship as your gaze met theirs for the first time in years. Months and months of triggered breakdowns, cold sweats from various nightmares, and countless tears have been shed as time progressed, the sinking feeling of long-lost fear that they had put you through now showing its ugly head; the thought you had convinced yourself for so long- that you ended up not even being worth their time starting to resurface. 

It had been hard to learn the lessons that were dealt and see the mistakes made on both parts- not just yours, to pick up all the shattered expectations of what a true friendship is, but you had. Now you were able to sort through the wrong sorts and had gotten emotionally and mentally stronger because of it; in many ways, the ending of the friendship helped you realize that there were ways you deserved to be treated, and like shit wasn’t one of them.

However, it almost seemed like all the progress you had made swirled down the drain now that they were in front of you. It was like you were experiencing the heartbreak of them ending the friendship all over again.

“Awww! The poor little hero is still heartbroken after I left her?” their tone patronizing as they jutted out their bottom lip to form an exaggerated pout. “Look at you! I can practically see the desperation on your face- desperate for me to come back? You’ve always been so fucking clingy. But you know, the news has you pinned as like... some kind of saint… no, no. You’re nothing but a selfish attention whore playing the good guy... so I just wanted to stop by and remind you of the truth.” they sneered, really aiming to trigger your trauma. 

You had opened up to them about all your fears; from the smallest to the all-consuming ones, so for them to be targeting you like this… they must have thought that you haven’t changed- and you fucking have. You worked damn hard to do so; You’ve grown and have started appreciating yourself more, started loving yourself more, started working on yourself more. The villain was only targeting your past worries, keyword, past.

Regardless, you were already feeling too much as is and the best thing you could do for yourself right now was to control yourself. 

The urge to take it personally was beyond tempting- to make them suffer as they had done to you, to watch them break right in front of you… But there was a specific way to handle this situation, one you’ve envisioned more than enough, the perfect high route. 

Quickly looking back to see how Kirishima was fairing, you were met with the rock hero in the process of cuffing the other two offenders, allowing you to feel a rush of relief. You turned around and mentally centered yourself. The convict seemed to put together what you were about to do, so without hesitation, they began charging only a second too late.

Taking a breath, the perfect feeling to muddle their prideful feeling down surged through you as you carefully knotted their violent stings together.

It was the feeling you faced when all was said and done after, the outcome you faced after you had gone through confronting all of the trauma that was built up by this person. 

All you felt was emptiness. 

When it hit them, you saw it in their eyes as they stopped in their tracks. No smugness, no pride, no cowardness. Nothing to egg them on and yet nothing to make them feel terrible. Blank. 

Before confusion slithered its way to their consciousness, you took the opportunity and roundhoused them- your efficient ankle sweep knocking their head to the floor, deeming them unconscious.

Crouching to the floor next to their body, you made sure they were breathing before cuffing them and standing back up, turning around you double-check on the scene behind you.

The police furthest from you were tucking the Red Riot’s villains in their cars while the others jogging towards you kept their eyes on the limp body behind you, Kirishima in tow. He looked incredibly tired but couldn’t seem to keep the smile off his face. He felt proud.

A weak smile graces your lips as you try to take a step, only to see your vision blur.

Great. 

The last thing you saw was the panicked look in his eyes as his pace quickened to a run in attempts to catch you. You faded out to the sound of an urgent call of your actual name before your body hit the ground with a thud. 

The next few hours came in slow-paced blinks. 

The first time you opened your eyes post-fight, your body felt heavy… but you were moving. It didn’t take long to realize that you were being carried by the muscular arms that you wake up to every morning. Slowly peeling your eyes open, the sight of his signature spikey red hair reminded you that what had just happened. Your boyfriend, the one who was on the scene with you, had witnessed you overcome one of the people that truly had left damage on you. He wasn’t looking at you, but staring straight ahead; by the way, his fingers curled around your bicep and thighs, it had been tough for him to watch everything that had gone down. 

You tried to call out his name, but it sounded stifled, sounding more like a broken whisper than anything. After another try, he seemed to have heard you, his ears perking up even though all the commotion- or maybe it was just ironic timing. When his red eyes caught the beaming smile you attempted to comfort him with, he tried to mimic it, only you could make out the way his bottom lip quiver. Your eyelids became unbearably heavy and for the second time, unconsciousness took its hold over you.

Blink.

The next time your eyes peeled open, you were being inspected by the all-to-familiar medical team. The inside of the ambulance was much brighter than it was outside, fluorescent lighting causing you to squint. Unnamable hands were touching your head and pulse points. When they noticed your eyes open, they tried to keep you awake as long as possible, the first step was sitting you up on the gurney. The first person you made eye contact with was your designated nurse- the one with the most comforting presence, was that part of her quirk? 

With a kind smile and knowing eyes, she jerked her head in the direction of the person she knew was first to come to mind. Following the movement, your gaze landed on Kirishima, who was standing off to the side and chewing on his nail, arms crossed against his chest. 

Had he already got checked out? Was he okay? 

When he noticed you were staring, he mustered up a small smile and in return, you slightly lifted both your hands to do a loose wave in attempts to warm up his smile. It worked.

“Okay c’mon, you know how these checkups go- you can go be with your boyfriend once we know you’re okay.” your nurse teased, knowing full well that a serious approach wasn’t going to work with you being this drowsy. 

You merely nodded in response, head and eyelids still heavy.

 The rest of the examination went by speedily, you being awake making everything go ten times smoother. After everything was checked and you were clear to go home, the nurses moved to talk to Kirishima as you moved to the edge of the ambulance, waiting for them to finish. 

“I’m so lucky that you’re not only my hero but also a registered caregiver. Well actually… both are pretty super...” You mumbled, trailing off with a lazy smile, lids finally starting to accept the losing battle of staying open. 

“Nooo, you’re lucky that it’s the overuse of your quirk that’s keeping you out of the hospital and not fatal injuries. It’s not manly to push yourself too hard.” he quipped back in a light playful tone; He didn’t miss how hard you were fighting to stay awake. “Baby, can you make it to the car or do you want me to carry you?” 

It was moments like this where you appreciated how comfortable Kirishima made you feel in your relationship; feeling no shame when you revert to a clingy pile of mush. Reaching out, you let your eyes close as you mimic grabby hands to your enormous boyfriend. 

You hear him sigh as he kneels in front of you, opening your eyes in time to catch his broad back muscles shifting, “c’mon love, you need to help me with this bit.”

You clumsily climb on his back and loosely wrap your arms around his neck, standing up with ease. He quickly adjusts you against him to get a better hold on your thighs. Once he begins walking, you let yourself subside back into unconsciousness.

Blink.

You were jolted awake when you felt yourself falling, only for your behind to hit a familiar cushiony surface. Oh right, the car. Before you could fade out once again, you heard Kirishima say something about going to grab the paperwork so the both of you can file your reports later when you wake up. The last thought you were able to think was something along the lines of how incredibly lucky you were to have someone love you so deeply.

Blink.

Waking up to the view of the city lights twinkling below your balcony and the energy of a healthy 8 hours of sleep, you stretch the rest of the drowsiness out of your body till you feel ready to accept the hefty amount of paperwork that’s waiting for you in the other room. 

The only light that illuminated your bedroom was the reflection of the living room lights on the hallway floors. Before getting up, you spared a glance at your nightstand, seeing a glass of water with a note underneath, as predicted; this happened more often than not after a battle. You reach out and take the glass in hand and take a steady sip before letting in more and more water, then reading the messy little note:

 in the livingroom <3 

You smiled at the little doodle he drew- two characters that seem a lot like the two of you, kissing, with a sparkly heart over their heads.

The need to recreate this drawing was growing at an incredible speed.

With newfound determination, you push yourself up from the bed and shuffle to the living room, squinting when the light becomes a little too harsh against your eyes.

Eyes fully closed when you get to the center of the living room, purposely facing the wrong way and trying to suppress a giggle, you try to use the most monotone voice you could muster.

“Kiri - where are you I can’t see.” 

“Your eyes are closed- babe, open your eyes.” 

“No it’s too bright but I saw this cute drawing on the nightstand done by this really talented artist and I must recreate it please recreate it with me.”

You heard a bit of shuffling before his voice came close to your left side.

“Was it a pretty manly drawing?” 

“I would like to think so.”

He was much closer at this point, shifted to somewhere close in front of you right before warm lips were on yours; as quick as the peck came, it was gone in a flash followed by the sound of him plopping down on the couch.

“Wait Eijirou-” you start to pout as you turn in the direction where the couch is, eyes now fully open and set on Kirishima until the shock of pain shot through your nerve endings. 

“Ah, shit! Fuck!…” you wince, lifting your leg to hug your newly stubbed toe.

Kirishima is back by your side in an instant, really trying to suppress his laugh but doing a terrible job.

“You’re such a jerk for laughing,” you pout, giving your best attempt of a proper shove… and he didn’t even budge. 

There was a moment of complete silence then the booming of your boyfriend’s boisterous laughs bouncing off the walls. Rolling your eyes, you limped over to the spot on the couch where he was previously sitting, and as the cushion beside you dips, you sigh. 

The sight in front of you was a disheveled mess. Scribbled on papers were thrown about- most were filled out but there were a few that were blank, pens and highlighters could be spotted under and over random reports.

“I did most of the reports… but I didn’t know if you wanted to fill out yours… because of who you were fighting.” he slowly stated, as if he were walking on eggshells. You could tell that he was holding back from hitting the main issue. 

Was this something you were ready to unbiasedly talk about? Kirishima knew most of the details, but he also realized that you probably wanted to talk about it more now that you’ve not only seen them after all this time but had to fight them. 

With another sigh, you let your head fall into your palms- your elbows digging into your thighs- and you roughly rub your eyes before coming up for a new breath of air. 

“My heart was pounding…” you started, attempting to prepare for the unwanted wave of grief, but as you trailed off, oddly enough, it never came. 

When reflecting on the fight, you remembered the range of emotions you felt, but now… you just felt… empty- which was ironic. No sadness, longing, anxiety… if anything, with your caring redhead staring at you with the roundest eyes, you felt at ease. 

“But honestly? I don’t really feel much right now. Like I can say that when looking back, I think I handled myself in the best way possible- they don’t deserve to have that satisfaction of creating a rise out of me, and quite frankly… I’m tired, Ei. I’m so tired of letting them have that hold on me. I don’t deserve that kind of pain. As much as I am a hero, I need to think about myself as a person and there’s only so much I can endure. My mental and emotional health comes first.” 

After saying all of that, there was a slight hint of relief that flooded your system; you already began to feel lighter.

“I’m so proud of you. I know that must have been really hard to face but you did it, and you were so good about it,” he whispered as he reached out for your thigh. 

Accepting his comfort, you sucked in another breath and smiled up at him. He held and returned your smile for a couple of seconds before slightly leaning in, his eyes flickering from your eyes to your lips. 

“Would it be alright if I.. kiss you?” it was such a heart-warming gesture, how he was making sure you weren’t pushing yourself. 

“More than alright,” you whisper, barely getting out the last word because of how quickly the gap between you two closed. The kiss was comfort in the rawest form; his pace was slow, his large hand cupping your jaw as his tongue invaded your mouth. You were following his pace, your eyes coming to a close, melting into a relaxed state for what seemed like the first time today. 

Keeping the kiss light, he pulled away shortly, but not before placing a lingering peck on your lips, then one on your forehead and whispering, “I made you a snack. You’re probably hungry right now so I prepared you a little something filling. And while you eat, I’m gonna run a bath with some Epsom salt and lavender oil, does that sound good?” 

Overwhelming gratitude washed over you. Words couldn’t possibly measure even the bare minimum of the love you have for Kirishima Eijirou, and yet you managed to string a soft, “You are the most wonderful person in the world, and I… Eijirou I love you so much.” 

His eyes became a little teary as he looked down at you, a wobbly smile in place before whispering a returning “I love you,” before heading into the bathroom to run the water in your massive tub. 

As the thundering sound of the water filling the tub echo through your apartment, you get up and rummage the fridge to find a plate of adorably cut red apples with a glob of peanut butter off to the side. 

“Baby do you want tea?” You call out just loud enough, “I’m gonna brew that green tea with the toasted rice!” 

He came into the kitchen looking big and confused, “what did you say, baby?”

“Green tea?”

“Oh yes, please,” he said, leaning in and planting a kiss to your temple before turning back to the bathroom. 

“Kiri? Can you put on the house shows on the tv? I forgot what channel they were on.”

You didn’t need to turn around to hear tv turn on; a shout of thanks was called out before you took a bite of your snack.

It felt all very domestic, something you never thought could happen to you. Your childhood was a montage of quirk abuse, being emotionally used, following the same types of toxic people, and never learning your lesson. It all flipped somewhere in your twenties- you began to realize the pattern after being shown the kindness the world could offer. No longer world you put up with bullshit like that. You knew better now and Eijirou always reminded you of that. 

You were halfway through one of your favorite flipping shows when Kirishima came in shirtless, letting you know the bath was ready, “Okay my love, it’s ready. Take your time, I‘ll be in the tub.”

You stripped on your way to the bathroom, leaving all your clothes on the bench in the bedroom before padding into the warm-tiled bathroom.

The view you stepped in on was delicious; your huge boyfriend taking up most of the tub, his head tilted back against the wall, eyes closed.

“Gee red, you’re so sexy.” you aimed to tease, but your words came out a bit strained. He chuckles before turning to face you and groaning your name, “hurry up and come in here.”

And it’s then when you’re submerged in all the heat and laying against your boyfriend’s warmth, do you remember that life is what you make it to be. Never accept anything less than the love and care you deserve.

Blink.

[detectivemarvelingcomics]

Could you do some hcs for dating the teen titans?

Yes I can!! I just got HBO Max so I’ve been binging both the animated and the live action series haha 😂 Thank you so much for being my first request!

Also I’m guessing you’re referring to the original teen titans, so if you want the new teen titans just shoot me another request!

Dating the Teen Titans Would Include...

No Specified AU

TW: Language

Genre: Fluff

[DC Masterlist]

Word Count: 2.0K (About 0.2K per Titan)

Dick Grayson

You must have an insane amount of patience, truly, to be able to date Dick Grayson

If the joke book he probably carries around isn’t enough, I would’ve been certain that the ego would drive you away but nope you’re still here

And that’s how you both knew that it was true fucking love you’re both inseparable and the Titans know it.

To put things simply... he loves you and the Titans fear you.

While you’re both somewhat easygoing and hospitable, one would do well not to piss off one or the other because you both come as a package deal and you can kick ass when necessary you just choose not to embarrass Dick like that because you could totally outmatch him.

Don’t ask him that though he’d insist that he’d win.

Best not bring up the first time you met or else the Titans would never let him live it down

But in all seriousness, I see the relationship as rather lighthearted and enjoyable, maybe a bit spontaneous too. Want to go to the beach? Done. Want to kick some ass in Gotham? For sure. It’s like a match made in heaven.

Not to mention that the Titans rather look up to you, which is a definite plus. Not just anyone can date the Dick Grayson.

Wally West

As opposed to popular opinion... I’d think that this is a rather slow relationship. 

Speedsters are more than just familiar with how life just flashes by so I think Wally would like to enjoy the relationship at a slower pace, he wants it to last as long as possible.

With that said, you’re both menaces. His speed combined with your cleverness? No one is safe and the Titans know it.

The best moment of your relationship, although this is debatable, was when you and Wally successfully turned the Titan tower into an all-out prank minefield. Trash cans were covered with plastic, buckets of water places on doorways, even wardrobes were switched.

And all done in ten seconds, impressive. Nothing quite like starting a war in the Tower then grabbing burgers after, right?

Kind of cheesy but I can see you both having frequent movie nights that differ in genre according to month. You both probably rotate on who chooses the movie too.

Overall I think you both have a lot of fun together, if I were to compare the “vibes” to something, I would say a summer relationship (that obviously lasts longer than just a summer) where everything is just living life as it goes

Nah because like I said before you guys don’t want to rush things, and you’re always there to remind Wally to just slow down every now and then.

I should probably mention that this is a competitive relationship too, before I go, not everything’s a competition but everything’s a competition, you know? It’s a shame that the Titans often get caught in the cross fire though-

Donna Troy

Oh this one’s fun. Donna’s new to this whole “rest of the world” stuff but luckily she has a wonderful partner who’s willing to teach her everything.

A lot of the relationship consists of you explaining things, but it’s kind of endearing despite Donna’s headstrong attitude towards anything

But Donna is also the kind to be open to learning new things, and you’re open to trying new things. It works like clockwork, you’re both young and willing.

Now these “things” can range from baking cookies to extreme mountain climbing so be prepared for anything in this relationship.

Overall I think the Titans see you both as a really cute relationship, one that anyone could be slightly envious of and one that they’re glad that exists

But despite this loving relationship I think you’d both be absolute machines in a battle, I think one thing that is important to Donna is ultimately respect for each other’s abilities, having grown up on Themyscira and all, and maybe that one battle where you absolutely demolished the enemy was when she really caught interest.

Or not. It could’ve also been when you mistakenly ran into one of the glass walls in the tower and she developed a crush over you while you mumbled a series of curses.

This relationship is strongly built on loyalty, so I think you both would be describes as a pair of ride-or-dies who typically tend to lean towards the latter, especially when trying the more extreme things that Donna asked you about.

But overall I think it’s a really sweet relationship with few bumps, they’re still there but I mean that you’re both good at working through them.

Victor Stone

I feel like this relationship is very classical high school romance, you know?

Like walking to class together, holding each other’s books, stuff like that.

But on the other hand I feel like you’re both a very fun couple to be around, like you know how when you’re with some couples it feels like you’re third wheeling? Not these two. You feel like you’re part of the crew

You guys probably switch between fun couple and parent couple every now and then, I can see the Titans relying on both of you a lot for different things.

You and Victor are definitely the type to play games to determine who buys food, like things as simple as rock-paper-scissors to things as complicated as 8-Ball, and so far you’ve been winning at a ratio of 3:1.

Definitely a very trusting relationship, I feel like you both reach that comfortable stage faster than most, but it feels right, you know? I think you’d both understand that relationships go both ways.

There are probably times where you’re both in a teasing mode too, I think, but they’re mostly light hearted pranks, definitely not anything in the realm of what Wally would do

I kinda want to say that you’re a very active couple in that you both like to go to the gym together and idk take hikes together but at the same time I also want to say that you’re both inclined to stay home and play video games so I guess it’s like a 50/50

I can also see Victor being the type to do small acts of generosity as opposed to like buying gifts to show his appreciation for you, like I feel like he’s more inclined to help you with small tasks when he knows you need it, you know? Overall very cute, hehe

Raven (Rachel Roth)

Now this one’s interesting, you and Raven are certainly an interesting duo, but the most interesting thing would likely be how you met. Let’s say it involved a blood sacrifice, a bat, and a very old bicycle.

No you weren’t trying to summon her someone else was you just ended up being at the wrong place at the wrong time anyway moving on

You’re both the perfect example of opposites attract for more reasons than just one. 

But what makes it better is that you’re always open and willing to learn and understand many of the things that Raven does and she appreciates it a lot

It goes both ways also! She’s always willing to do whatever you ask her to and you both end up having at least some fun even if it happens to be something she isn’t used to.

Random, but I think a favorite pass time for both of you is simply sitting in her room and reading books, weird, I know, but like there’s something inherently romantic about either of you excitedly showing the other a certain passage you both enjoyed or telling them about your book, it’s just so sweet.

She definitely has a personal bias towards you, obviously, Garfield can say a joke and she’d stare at him with a straight face but you could say the exact same joke probably right after him and she would crack a smile and she probably does that on purpose but it still feels nice

You also may or may not have caught on to her incantations and now you may or may not be able to perform these spells but you haven’t tried because you wouldn’t know how to but it’s just telling of how much time you spent together.

I only mention this because there was an event in which you corrected her incantation and suddenly hell fire appeared which she had to figure out how to get rid of and since then you both mutually agreed to both (a) not tell the Titans and (b) not say incantations out loud

Koriand’r (Starfire)

STOP YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTE anyway you’re definitely both kinds to see beauty in everything

Maybe this relationship is rather dangerous considering you’re both curious people and Kori happens to be able to shoot lasers out of her eyes so maybe you should both be just a little more careful

You’re both probably very doting on both each other and the rest of the Titans and although you’re both well intentioned it has become a case of “oh no there’s two of them” but in like a teasing way

I feel like Kori is very open to sharing a lot of aspects about her culture with you, and you have always found Tamaran culture to be beautiful so it fits

Likewise you share a lot of things about your culture too and you both bond over finding ways to combine them together to make a nice fusion of understandings and it’s all a sweet combination

See a big thing about this relationship if that you both put your everything into it, it is an equal push and equal pull kind of thing where you both love each other with everything that you have and it creates this unbreakable bond that even non-supers have come to acknowledge

Though this also results in the both of you frequently being in your own world even when others are around and that’s something you both promised to fix but yeah...

It’s coming around, don’t worry. You’re both making active efforts but sometimes it just slips your mind and whoops

Now this should go without saying but this trust often leads to powerful combinations when in missions, you’re both fiercely loyal to each other and this often plays in overall favor so all is well

Garfield Logan

This is a fun relationship, definitely, and one that’s also very fulfilling.

You’re both definitely an outdoorsy couple, things like hikes, nature walks (which I guess is also a hike but I’ve been told otherwise), trips to the zoo, etc. but this all just builds the relationship

Also a very sweet one! You both have an unlimited amount of energy and love that you’re often expending said energy volunteering somewhere and helping others out

But when it boils down you’re both also very touchy, I think, you both like being together at all times and cuddles are a frequent occurrence but at the will of the other Titans you both do this in privacy

I also feel like this sweetness can also “flip,” so to say. As in if someone messes with either of you in the relationship the other will come running regardless of whether or not they could do anything about it.

To put it short, you both have each other’s back all the time. Literally, like I said you’re both inseparable. 

Despite these I think the relationship would actually be rather lowkey, I don’t think he would be the type to constantly showcase the relationship. I think he’d mention it like once to get it out there but after that he wouldn’t flaunt you around.

I just think that Garfield, even with his usual out and about behavior, is rather modest when it comes to this topic because you’re more to him than just someone to show off, you’re someone who’s important to him and overall he just wants you to be comfortable

If there’s one flaw in this relationship it’s that when you have arguments it’s just horrible, but also rather comedic. Neither of you talk to the other but you both end up still being in the same room together subconsciously. It’s kind of awkward but the coincidences are what makes the other Titans laugh and honestly you both make up within, like, a day or something.

[ggukkiereads]

hi i'm just vv curious (it's a weird question 😅) sooo, do u have preferences when reading? like maybe you can be immersed in the story more if other character names used are korean (jihyo/taewoo) or american/english (jane/clint)??? and other stuffs

🌷 Hmm interesting question. I assume this question is for fanfics? On name choices? No thoughts, really. I just think they're names to indicate location of the story too. If the story is set in Korea, it's just right to see Korean-named characters. If it's in other location or even a different world (say Fantasy), then having non-korean names also fits the setting. Reader inserts vs named OC, I don't have preferences since I always think of the character as OC (not as 'myself' the reader). Same way how I treat books/novels, which are mostly named OCs (even if the pov is in 2nd or 1st like The Lovely Bones or The Catcher in the Rye).

I guess what's cringey for me is the use of 'oppa'? I get that in Korean context, it's meant to be used by a female for an older male (can be brother or non-related). But I've seen 'Oppa' used in some vids or posts that make me cringe (like the term is used to mean a hot, thirst-inducing male haha or dilf-y but make it slightly older brother vibes). So every time I see the term used in fics, I have to stop myself reacting 😬. But that's just me and my experience seeing how it's been used.

More thoughts about reading preferences under the cut (can't guarantee they're coherent lol)

I also like balance and progression? 'Balance' seems to be a favorite word in my life. Progression - a well developed plot/characters/relationships would be nice. Like don't just add smut as a resolution for the sake of having smut in the scene when the characters clearly have so many issues to resolve that moment. I'd also rather read a smutless fic if it doesn't really need one (sometimes it feels like the smut is forced to be included in the story because I understand a lot of people like smut). Or it's weird if it's hurt/comfort fic and we're in the middle of seeing their development then suddenly it's all smutty/kinky? I'd feel like smut was just forced in the story but end of day it's at the expense of the characters/relationship development. The momentum of healing suddenly feels disregarded too. I understand it must be difficult to develop the story while ensuring that the growth in the plot/characters/relationships is also at the right pace. So, it's not a deal breaker and I'd still read and find things I like/love about the fic.

I guess, same way with slow burn? Like I've read one slow burn that felt like it was so forced to be slow that at one point it almost felt so unnatural or intentional because I'm not seeing any growth in the characters or even the relationships (and the author actually received a lot of comments about this too). So, I call it gratuitous slow burn 😅. Well, I still read it because I still love the story but I had to agree that it felt forced at times to be that slow for the sake of torture lol. On the other hand, I think I posted a rambling about a slow burn fic I'm reading on ao3 where we're already at 260k words and the characters haven't even kissed 🤭. Now, that fic is just perfect 👌. Because the progress of the characters and relationships was just right. We really see character development and we know that once the OC achieved certain level of comfort/safety, things will unfold naturally. So, it doesn't matter to me (if it's really slooow or too angsty or too smutty) as long as there is balance in the story elements (again, it just throws me off a bit when: there's smut for the sake of just inserting it, or making it slow but it's not making sense anymore, or too fast just to race it to the happy ending finish line, or killing characters just to make it angsty even though it's not needed).

I also dislike romanticized concepts on topics which shouldn't be romanticized. I read any genre (even yandere, crime, thriller, infidelity themes), but the feeling I should have after reading should be scared or creeped out. Even with infidelity fics, I read because one, I like angst; second, I want to understand from the characters' pov. It shouldn't feel like 'ooh cheating looks fun' or 'oh he's so hot!' (even though he abused and killed some characters 😅).

I said a lot but honestly I still read even if there are snippets of these in the fic. First, these are just free stories that the author still painstakingly took time to plan, develop and write. Not easy, folks! Second, I feel like I'm being too harsh if I demand these personal 'preferences' of mine over something I'm not even paying for. The least I can do is to show appreciation or 'share' with others (because maybe it's not my cup of tea but it'll end up as someone's favorite.)

It also doesn't mean one can be harsh just because you purchased the book or commissioned it. End of day, let's choose to be kind and focus on good over bad.

If you've reached this part, thank you for reading these ramblings of mine 😂. I actually want to hear other's preferences too when it comes to reading. I know others are nitpicking on grammar or misspellings but I don't really mind these. I feel like people don't have time to edit and that's okay.

Anyway, thank you for this ask, anon. I actually enjoyed answering this. I feel like I put more thought into this vs my responses to my boss' questions about reports hahaha 😂🤣.

Sending you love and hugs wherever you are 🤗.

.

[cutegirlmayra]

So i saw your answer about sonamy ship, what made you on the inside feel like this is the ship that is meant for?

For further clarity, I asked @prettygoodsonicartist to elaborate :)

Reply from them: When you first saw the ship were you like *claps hands together* BOOM BEST SHIP! or just like meh it's a ship. Also I read your other sonamy posts and what is the game that gives the most sonamy vibe to you? Thank you for your time. I am a pretty big sonamy shipper so i was wondering why this ship and why do you support it? And how happy are you that sonamy is actually canon?

Me:

1. When I first saw Sonamy, I just thought it was cute. Amy was so forward that I felt that was kinda odd, and Sonic seemed to freak out a little too but he was never rude to her affections. In fact, it looked like he just submitted to them and then tried to get away. It seemed like a typical boy thing to me, when a girl flirts for them to rush off. I first saw Sonamy through Sonic X. I felt like I wanted to support Amy because her intentions weren’t bad, and Sonic didn’t seem too deterred from her either. So, after I watched the whole thing (very young, mind you) I saw so many times where Sonic valued Amy’s safety and happiness, even over his own, which made me think... maybe he does have a hidden feeling for her? There weren’t ‘fandoms’ at the time, so I just kept these cute thoughts to myself. But I was into other shows at the time as well, and my own OCs to really ‘ship’ but I did support her and their growing bond :) It took more time before I was like, “Woah, why aren’t they growing more together like in Sonic X?” When I played some games, I got even more curious. “What does the Japanese script say?” And the more I studied them, the more I realized how subtle their relationship actually was. We only see the surface level, of Amy’s doting nature and Sonic’s introverted aloofness... but when you really search for it, there’s a lot of feeling there... just private and between those two ^///^

2. Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed my Sonamy posts! I really like Unleashed because of the emotions you can see a lot better through the beautiful animation. You can tell Sonic really didn’t want Amy to run off, but Chip convinced him he was a hideous, scary monster and so he let her go, and it really hurt his pride to do so. I think there’s a side to Sonic that is shown wonderfully in this sequence with him and Amy that he really does value his time together with her and even some vulnerability when he won’t tell her it’s him who saved her. He doesn’t want her to pity him, he wants her to see him as her handsome hero, and I think that image bothered him. However, in the game, Amy continually reassures him. It’s so cute, she knows he doesn’t like the form, so she says she does prefer him as himself, knowing he feels that way too--but then beautifully reminds him that it’s not his looks she’s into, but his noble heart/free-spirited soul. I think that, during this game, the writers knew Sonic was struggling with his self-image and the darkness inside him, even submitting to fear at one point in the game. This game brought so much emotion out of Sonic, that he needed Amy’s words and presence to be there for him. That’s why I love that game and it’s powerful scenes of them! They seem cute and innocent on the outside, but Amy truly is a light in the darkness for Sonic. Always positive and supportive, which is what he really needed at the time.

3. I’m a big fan too! I’ve researched it so much, you know? It’s hard to hate something you understand. And though there are still many secrets SEGA keeps to themselves (much like Nintendo or other Japanese children’s games companies, their heroic men are usually hard to read sometimes... and they keep their ‘love lives’ private to the characters. XP Lame! lol They’re like celebrities, we want to know everything! haha) but that doesn’t mean they don’t leak out a cute insight or two. ;) I think this is the most time I’ve ever devoted to a ship, and that’s why it’s my number one, though I do have many ships xD I support them because, in the end, they have so much--AND I MEAN A WHOLE TON OF A LOT--of potential in how they can grow, have beautifully written and animated scenes together that really teach about good and healthy relationships between girls and boys, and also just their dynamic in general. Sonic has always been about ‘breaking stereotypes’ and ‘rebel generation’. I think Amy being so proactive in ‘chasing the boy’ is very different from the typical “The Flower doesn’t chase the Bee” standpoint. That’s what makes Amy’s core character about in Sonic’s universe, she’s not your typical ‘shy Japanese wise but strong woman figure’. She’s ‘outgoing Japanese girl who can be naive at times but her heart is her most powerful weapon, even if she does carry a huge hammer and is a ‘girl’ figure, not a woman just yet.’ I think this makes her so much more than what we usually see in video games, trying to make role models, but Sonic IS NOT A ROLE MODEL. He’s the outcast, the ‘in and out’ kinda hero. He doesn’t stick around for praise, or go rogue and turn anti-hero. (Though he apparently can and has sometimes.) He’s just the teenage rebel child that doesn’t live by the rules, but still does what’s right. (the bad boy that does good things lol Robin Hood and what not.) So I see Amy as fitting into the genre, and they specifically designed her to be all about Sonic, but to be different than the usual take on that ‘main heroine lead’ type of deal. And as her creator once said, “Isn’t that more interesting?” They purposefully made a ‘different’ kind of girl character than what was around at the time, because they wanted Amy to be interesting.

4. I personally don’t like saying, ‘It’s canon!’ because it’s not really canon until it happens. Sonic has yet to reveal his full feelings and confess them (either verbally or non-verbally) to Amy just yet. (I know the french scene says he did, but hear me out.) Sonic has hidden emotions regarding Amy, yes, that is true. However, they’re not a traditional couple. They are confirmed to go on dates, you can date people but not be in a committed relationship to them yet. I think they need time to develop and grow more. It IS CANON that Sonic has feelings for Amy, but it is NOT CANON that they are ‘together together’ yet. Still, the fact that they share feelings for each other is enough to grow excited about, but I honestly just can’t wait to see how they build to showing that more on the screen... so it can really be announced as “CANON!” lol

I hope that makes sense! Thanks for your questions ;)b To me, Sonic and Amy are growing towards Canon, it’s just a slow process, surprisingly, lol. Though, I think at their pace/in their case, it’s faster than the eye can see!

Honestly, these moments are too precious, how can you not see a future where they have one another and are together?

Let’s support them forever! And hopefully, give the couple a good rep and name so that we can see more of these adorable bonding moments and self-sacrificing scenes in the future! :’D Let’s get more emotional moments into Sonic The Hedgehog!

[arecomicsevengood]

TOP TEN OLDER MAINSTREAM COMICS I READ THIS YEAR

I kept track of all the comics I read this year, and not all of them were new. I have no idea who this will help or benefit but at least the circumstances of me only listing the completely arbitrary older work I read for the first time this year will deter anyone from arguing with me. However, for the sake of possibly being contentious, let me mention two comics that fall outside the top ten, because they’re bad:

Trencher by Keith Giffen. David King did a comic strip about Keith Giffen’s art style on this book in issue 2 of But Is It... Comic Aht that everybody loved, and made me be like, ok, I’ll check it out. But it’s basically just a retread of Lobo in terms of its tone and approach, but without Simon Bisley. I don’t really know why anyone wouldn’t think Bisley is the better cartoonist. Also, those comics are terrible. Thumbs down.

The Green Lantern by Grant Morrison, Liam Sharp, and Steve Oliff. I bought the first year of these comics for a dollar each off a dude doing a sidewalk sale. Found them sort of incoherent? I haven’t liked a new Grant Morrison comic in ages, with All-Star Superman being really the only outlier since like We3. This is clearly modeled off of European comics like Druillet or something, and would maybe benefit from being printed larger, I really dislike the modeled color too. But also it’s just aggressively fast-paced, with issues ending in ways that feel like cliffhangers but aren’t, and no real characters of interest.

As for the top ten list itself, for those who’ve looked at my Letterboxd page, slots 10-8 are approximately “3 stars,” 7-4 are 3 1/2 stars, slots 3 and 2 are 4 stars, with number one being a 4 1/2 star comic. The comics I’m listing on my “Best Of The Year” list that’ll run at the Comics Journal alongside a bunch of people are all 4 1/2 or 5 star comics. This is INSANELY NERDY and pedantic to note, and I eschew star ratings half the time anyway, because assignations of numeric value to art are absurd except within the specific framework of how strong a recommendation is, and on Letterboxd I feel like I’m speaking to a very small and self-selecting group of people whose tastes I generally know. (And I generally would not recommend joining Letterboxd to people!) But what I mean by all of this is just that there is a whole world of work I value more than this stuff, and I’ll recommend the truly outstanding shit to interested readers in good time.

10. Justice Society Of America by Len Strazewski and Mike Parobeck. Did some quarantine regressing and bought these comics, a few of which were some of the first comics I ever read, but I didn’t read the whole thing regularly as a kid. Parobeck’s a fun cartoonist, this stuff is readable. It’s faintly generic/baseline competent but there’s a cheap and readable quality to this stuff that modern comics lack. Interestingly, the letters column is made up of old people who remember the characters and feel like it’s marketed towards them, and since that wasn’t profitable, when the book was canceled, Parobeck went over to drawing The Batman Adventures, which was actively marketed towards kids. It’s funny that him and Ty Templeton were basically viewed as “normal” mainline DC Comics for a few years there and then became relegated to this specific subset of cartooning language, which everyone likes and thought was good but didn’t fit inside the corporate self-image, which has basically no aesthetic values.

9. The Shadow 18 & 19 by Andy Helfer and Kyle Baker. I’d been grabbing issues of this run of comics for years and am only now finishing it. Kyle Baker’s art is swell but Helfer writes a demanding script, these are slow reads that cause the eye to glaze over a bit.

8. The Jam 3-8 by Bernie Mireault. I made a post where I suggested Mireault’s The Jam might be one of the better Slave Labor comics. Probably not true but what I ended up getting are some colored reprints Tundra did, and some black and white issues published by Dark Horse after that. Mireault’s art style is kinda like Roger Langridge. After these, he did a crossover with Mike Allred’s Madman and then did a series of backups in those comics, it makes sense to group them together, along with Jay Stephens’ Atomic City Tales and Paul Grist’s Jack Staff, or Mike Mignola’s Hellboy, as this stream that runs parallel to Image Comics but is basically better, a little more readable, but still feeling closer to something commercial in intention as opposed to self-expression. Although it also IS self-expression, just the expression of a self that has internalized a lot of tropes and interests in superhero comics. If you have also read a lot of superhero comics, but also a lot of alternative comics, stuff like this basically reads like nothing. It’s comfort food on the same level of mashed potatoes: I love it when it’s well-done but there’s also a passable version that can be made when depressed and uninspired. But drawing like Roger Langridge is definitely not bad!

7. WildC.A.T.S by Alan Moore, Travis Charest, et al. I wrote a post about these comics a few months ago, but let me reiterate the salient points: There’s two collections, the first one is much better than the second, and the first is incredibly dumbed-down in its nineties Image Comics style but also feels like the best version of that possible, when Charest is doing art. Also, these collections are out of print now, a friend of mine pointed out maybe they can’t be reprinted because they involve characters owned by Todd McFarlane but Wildstorm is owned wholly by DC now.

6. Haywire by Michael Fleischer and Vince Giarrano. I made a post about this comic when I first read a few issues right around the time Michael Fleischer died a few years ago, but didn’t read all of it then. This feels way more deliberately structured than most action comics, with its limited cast and lack of ties to any broader universe, but it’s also dumb and sleazy and fast moving, and feels related to what were the popular movies of the day, splitting its influences evenly between erotic thrillers about yuppies and Stallone-starring action movies. The erotic thriller element is mostly just “a villain in bondage gear” which is sort of standard superhero comics bullshit but it’s also a little bit deeper than that. The first three issues, inked by Kyle Baker, look the best.

5. Dick Tracy by John Moore and Kyle Baker. These look even better! A little unclear which John Moore this is? There’s John Francis Moore, who worked with Howard Chaykin and was scripting TV around this time, but there’s another dude who was a cartoonist who did a miniseries for Piranha Press and then moved on to doing work for Disney on Darkwing Duck comics. Anyway, Kyle Baker colors these, they’re energetically cartooned, each issue is like 64 pages, with every page being close to a strip or scene in a movie. I’m impressed by them, and there’s a nice bulk that makes them a nice thing to keep a kid busy. (For the record, my favorite Kyle Baker solo comic is probably You Are Here.)

4. Chronos by John Francis Moore and Paul Guinan. I was moving on from DC comics by the late nineties, but Grant Morrison’s JLA was surely a positive influence on everyone, especially compared to the vibe there in the subsequent two decades. These are well-crafted. There’s a little stretch where it uses the whole “time-traveling protagonist” thing to do a run of issues which stand alone but fall in sequence too and it’s pretty smooth and smart. The art is strong enough to carry it, the sort of cartoony faces with detailed backgrounds it’s widely agreed works perfectly, but that you rarely see in mainstream comics. The coloring is done digitally, but not over-modeled enough to ruin it.

3. Martha Washington by Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons. A few miniseries, all of which sort of get weaker as they go, but all in one book it doesn’t feel like it’s becoming trash as it goes or anything. When Miller dumbed down his storytelling in the nineties it really was because he thought it made for better comics, the tension between his interest in manga and Gibbons’ British-comics classicism feels productive. I do kind of feel like the early computer coloring ruins this a little bit.

2. Xombi by John Rozum and JJ Birch. Got a handful of these on paper, read scans of the rest. This is pretty solid stuff, not really transcendent ever, but feels well-crafted on a month-in, month-out level. I read a handful of other Milestone comics, and a lot of them suffered from being so beholden to deadlines that there are fill-in issues constantly. This is the rare one that had the same creators for the entirety of its run. There was a revival with Frazer Irving art a decade ago but I prefer JJ Birch’s black line art with Noelle Giddings’ watercolors seen here. They’re doing an early Vertigo style “weirdness” but with a fun and goofy sense of humor about itself. I haven’t read Clive Barker but this feels pretty influenced by that as well. (The Deathwish miniseries is of roughly comparable quality. I read scans of the rest of that after I made my little post and, yeah, it does actually feel very personal for a genre work, and the JH Williams art with painted color is great.)

1. Tom Strong by Alan Moore, Chris Sprouse, etc. I got bored reading these as a teen but getting them all for cheap and reading them in a go was a pretty satisfying experience. It’s partly a speed-run through Moore’s coverage of the concept of a comic book multiverse seen in his Supreme run, minus the riffing on Mort Weisinger Superman comics, instead adding in a running theme of rehabilitating antagonists whose goals are different but aren’t necessarily evil. It’s more than just Moore in an optimistic or nostalgic mode, it also feels like he’s explaining his leftist morality to an audience that has internalized conflicts being resolved by violence as the genre standard.

[elenajohansenreads]

Books I Read in 2021

#64 - Skin Hunger, by Eli Lang

Mount TBR: 61/100

Rating: 2/5 stars

A slow-paced, somewhat meandering piece of introspective fiction that isn't really what it was marketed as--I was introduced to this title via a f/f romance rec list, and the blurb screams "romance" at the top of its lungs. But the romance is a subplot, and the main plot is...well, I'm not exactly sure, because there's not a lot of structure, and there's not a lot of closure. Things just happen, in an order that mostly makes sense chronologically and in real life, but don't really fit neatly into a plot.

Is there a genre for "coming of age but they're a confused adult rather than a confused teenager"?

I think this plot was trying to do too much, and thus accomplishing little of it well. Ava as a narrator was reasonably fleshed out as a successful musician who still somehow hasn't got herself figured out, but also she has, because she's bi and lives for her drum kit, but she doesn't think anyone outside of her band (and not even all of them) "get" her, and she's still chasing the approval of her parents, who don't seem likely for most of the story to give it to her. If the story is about acceptance, well, the ending is pretty weak, because her parents end up saying they're proud of her but I didn't really believe them, Ava just blows up at them a few times and they fold over. It came off as them (her mother especially) trying to make her happy by saying the right thing, because they usually manage to justify the way they raised her, and the way they didn't want her to be a musician because it was too hard a life, by saying "we just want you to be happy" while totally ignoring that being a musician makes her happy. It didn't feel cathartic when they gave in, only placating.

And the reason that I could write that mini book report about the parents' plot line is because that's most of the story. This isn't a romance. It has a romance in it. I'm trying hard to judge the book on its own merits and not the skewed expectations I went into it with--but I did want a romance, and I got a lackluster moody personal essay about how hard it is when people don't understand you. Which, you know, valid, even if that's a vibe we mostly attribute to teenagers--it's not like being a misunderstood adult would be any easier. But on the other hand, Ava comes off for most of the book as a whining disaster who has no idea what she wants or how to go about getting it (despite her obvious success in her career) and blunders from mistake to mistake without a lot of intention, but with a lot of regret. And it's just hard to feel a lot of sympathy for someone who's still acting like a wishy-washy teenager when they're, as Ava so often says about herself, "pushing thirty."

I don't think story knows what it wants to be, because Ava is trying to deal with a budding romance, an unrequited love for her best friend/bandmate, the lack of approval for her life from her parents, her grandmother's impending move to assisted living and a revelation about a long-held secret, and also her cousin is always around for some reason, but he's just a bland substitute for her actual best friend because her actual best friend is still across the country.

This story is so unfocused that I'm having a hard time wrangling my review of it into focus. There were parts of it I liked--the author did have a way of slowing down the pace and putting a lot of deep thoughts on the page, and sometimes those did resonate with me. But that just made it all the more jarring that in the rest of the book, all this craziness was going on in such a small space, and without a lot of direction.

[soocouldbemyonlystar]

Chaebols: Music Man (excerpt)

Genre: Fluff

Length: 1.8k

Pairing: Chanyeol x OC

Summary: Yeon-hee hates when her favorite customer is in a bad mood. But an attempt to cheer him up may turn her life upside down. 

(no copyright infringement intended)

“Yeon-hee, please. The band is going to be late. Just for a little while, just till they get here.” Ji Daewon begged hands folded together in front of him.

“I don’t know, oppa. You know I haven’t played my songs in front of a crowd in a long time.” Kim Yeon-hee shook her head. She moved around him to fill her drink orders.

“I know. Please, Yeon-hee, save me just this once.” Daewon swiveled back around to step in her way again, shaking his folded hands vigorously in her face, “Just thirty minutes. They said they are thirty minutes out.”

Yeon-hee sighed, noticing a customer walk in, one her usuals. “I have a customer, give me a minute to think about it.”

She took her tray of drinks out, a beer for glasses guy, soju for weird nose guy, a fruity thing to the flirty girl that annoyed the crap out of her, then she made her way to the music man. He had been a regular for a few months now, first coming with a group of friends for a bachelor party type celebration. She called him the music man because he continued to return, typically on the days they had live music, and sat alone, watching the show.

At first, he was lively and loud, easily making friends in the bar but after a few weeks he had become quiet. He seemed lost in his thoughts most of the time, and she had a feeling this was not his usual personality. She didn’t peg him for bipolar, he just had a lot on his mind. Music man didn’t look like he was happy.

She approached cautiously, “You look like you need something a little stronger than your usual beer. Scotch this round?”  

“Yeh,” he replied without even looking up at her.

Yep, he was having another bad night. It was a shame that his bright eyes were darkened by whatever issue had been plaguing him. He would perk up some when the music started. Only that wouldn’t be for another thirty minutes or so. He should be okay until then.

Yeon-hee grabbed his drink quickly, setting it down on her way to clean up a table in the back. She didn’t want to admit it, but she missed the kind smile the music man flashed around the place when he first came. His laugh was infectious and there wasn’t anyone who he wasn’t instantly friends with. Seeing him go from that to the silent, solemn man who sat there now, was dis-heartening.

She peered over her shoulder where he sat. Music man looked even more warry than normal. He stared into the distance, swirling the already half drank snifter on the table. She couldn’t stand it. Why his mood mattered was something Yeon-hee couldn’t explain, but if it was music he needed to cheer up, she would get it to him. She took her tray back to the kitchen, passing Daewon on the way.

“I’ll do it.” She told him before she grabbed the music man another scotch. Yeon-hee laughed at the scream of excitement Daewon barked, dropped the scotch off to the music man and made her way to the stage. The house instruments were already set up, and Yeon-hee ran a few practice bars to warm up her fingers and voice, then addressed the crowd.

“The Blue Lounge would like to welcome everyone here tonight.” She began. “Mercury is running just a little late. So, it will be my pleasure to entertain you until they arrive. I’m a little rusty, you guys, so take it easy on me. This first one is called Sing to Me.”        

Just how she had practiced a million times in this very spot, before the bar opened, she let her fingers lazily play over the keys. The song was slow, and sad, one that she had written when she left her parents in the states and moved to meet her mother’s family in South Korea. Her parents didn’t understand that she didn’t feel like herself there, with an American father and a Korean mother, she didn’t feel like she fit. Amanda Thompson, her American name, wasn’t real to her. Her mother’s family had been accepting, so she took her Korean name and her mother’s family name, Kim Yeon-hee, and left her old self behind. At that time, she had just wanted someone who understood her.

“Sing to me again.

Sing the words I cannot understand, but your meaning

is too clear. Your warm bourbon sound vibrates deep

into my black-hole heart, it pulls the ragged breath

from my chest and I am free again.”

Yeon-hee was in her element. She loved the stage and singing, making music all together. She loved her voice, raw but still smooth, and a little more sensual than she usually meant to be, but it mixed well with the type of music she made. Yeon-hee felt like she could finally speak when she was playing her music and singing her own songs. She was free, able to be who and what she was, not having to fit into the tidy molds society deemed were appropriate. When she performed she was a sun, burning hot, and lighting up.

Yeon-hee glanced up at the music man, curiosity becoming too much for her. She almost forgot the lyrics as she saw him. Yeon-hee had meant to cheer him up a little, but the look on his face was something more akin to fascination. He stared at her, intently, his eyes wide, and a ridiculously large smile on his face. They seemed to sparkle.

  Yeon-hee thought for a moment that it was what pure excitement looked like. She quickly shook that thought out of her head. Though she was proud of her music, she doubted it would cause him to grin like a child at Disney World. But still, the way he watched her was unnerving. A chill ran down her spine. She wasn’t scared, he didn’t give off that vibe, but she had a sinking feeling that she’d just gotten in over her head. That smile meant trouble for her.

The next song she played was a cover of a song that was popular at the moment. I was fast-paced and she was pleasantly pleased when people started to stand and dance. The last song was another original. A ballad, not a slow as the first song, but with a deeper meaning than the second. In all, she ended up playing six songs, and the music man never took his eyes off her. Finally, she saw the sign from Daewon that the band had arrived.

“Thank you,” she laughed as they applauded, “but your real entertainment is here. Give it up for Mercury!”

She clapped as she welcomed the band on stage and then returned behind the bar. She glanced back at the music man one last time, but his table was empty. Yeon-hee pouted, and she was very uncomfortable with the amount of disappointment she felt at his disappearance. As she rounded the corner of the bar a hand wrapped around her wrist. She tried jerked away, anyone who was a regular knew Yeon-hee didn’t put up with being grabbed, but there were still the newbies who didn’t know better. She had to put them in their place every once and a while, but before she could put the hurt on him, Yeon-hee recognized those eyes.

The music man lifted the corner of his lips in a crooked smile, as if he was waiting for her to attack him. She held her captured wrist in between them, her eyes narrowed, her skin burning where he touched her.

“I know you know better than to grab me.” She reminded him, referring to when he witnessed what happened to the last man who grabbed her a few weeks ago. The man had tried to press charges for assault against her, but the police laughed it off.

His smile widened as he gently released her wrist, “I know, but I need a pen.”

Yeon-hee eyed him suspiciously but took the few steps to the register and grabbed her pen, slapping it down on the bar in front of him. She didn’t know how it was possible, but his smile widened even more. With a roll of her eyes, she walked away to find Daewon.

That was a mistake.

“I need another favor.” Daewon told her. This time there were no whistles and bells, no complements. Yeon-hee knew that even though he said favor, she would have no choice in the matter. “I just got a call, I need to leave, and I don’t think I’ll be back before close. I need you to stay and manage the bar while I’m gone and close up.”

“Oppa,” she whined, “I’ve closed every day this week, you promised I could get off early tonight.”

“I know, but I need your help, cousin.” He shrugged, “I’ll give you an extra day off next week for it. Don’t forget the guy is bringing the cases of that new beer for us to try, I’ll have Kim Sunghyun come to bounce if you need him.”

Yeon-hee sighed. “Yeh,” she knew there was no point in arguing. He was dirty for pulling the cousin card.

The worst part about being on stage for Yeon-hee was stepping off it. All her other duties seemed so mundane compare to the rush of the stage. Even a small venue like The Blue Lounge didn’t lessen the exhilaration she experienced while playing her music. Her mother had been a piano prodigy studying in New York when she met Yeon-hee’s father, music was in her blood. She didn’t need to be a big star, as long as she could continue writing and singing, she was content.

Yeon-hee split her section between Kang Chun-ja and Jin Eun-hye and stayed behind the bar. The music man ordered a water instead of another scotch, and sat quietly at the end of the bar, seemingly disinterested in the band playing. Seemingly watching every move she made. For hours. She wanted to be annoyed, normally she would be, but the distant, sad look he had entered the bar with was long gone.

The guy with the cases of beer came at mid-night. A little late to be dropping off cases of beer, but it was the deal Daewon had made with the brewer and Yeon-hee wasn’t going to question. She motioned to Sunghyun to keep his attention up, pulled Chun-ja to the bar and started to the door that lead to the back of the bar. The music man was the last customer before the door, and his eyes were still on her.

Suddenly she had a bright idea. Sunghyun couldn’t leave the girls in the bar to unload, but that didn’t mean she had to do it on her own. And she could find out why the man kept staring at her. Yeon-hee stopped at the end of the bar and leaned over to speak to her stalker.

“Music man, you look like you have something to say to me.” She yelled over the music.

“Possibly,” he leaned into her to so that she could hear him better.

“Then follow me.” She shrugged and walked through the door to the storage area.

[happymetalgirl]

Andrew W.K. - You're Not Alone

Wow, I have needed this album for so long, and I think rock and metal need more of what Andrew W.K. puts forth on this new record. I wasn't too familiar with his stuff until now, but man I will definitely be looking deeper into his catalog. What carries this album isn't supreme instrumental virtuosity, a mind-blowingly avant garde sound, or even some visceral heaviness, but rather its attitude. Upon my first listen I thought it was straight cheesy and just well-intentioned positive rock music. And it is both of those things, but I've found myself coming back to it because it tackles and simplifies the big abstract problems everyone finds themselves faced with at some point, and it's not trying to be super deep or focused on itself with its inspiration. It's poetic in a more straightforward than unnecessarily cryptic manner. Andrew has a few short tracks with quick, uplifting speeches about enjoying life despite of and even because of its challenges, and they help keep the analogies on the songs tethered to his overall message of partying, which he defines as just doing the best you can with your own life and finding joy in the struggles it gives and being thankful for the opportunity to grow through them. It all sounds like a bunch of typical motivational speaker mumble jumble the way I'm putting it here in its abridged form, but music in general these days could use more of this life-affirming attitude, especially fringe genres and their communities like metal, which reaches pretty deeply into the darkest and most depressive recesses of the human psyche.

I know that often when inspired to create, myself and the other more formidable artists I look up to often draw from times of turmoil or observed negativity, not necessarily on some faux-artistic quest to find suffering to make our art better, but just out of pattern. This isn't a bad thing, as the art and its process is helpful and therapeutic for both the artist and the audience, but I know how easy it can be to get sucked into the rabbit hole of negativity for art's sake thinking it's for something good and later realizing the toll it can gradually take, which can be immense. I've caught myself slipping down this slope multiple times, not entirely as the result of artistic creation (other stresses definitely contribute to it), but enough to know I need to step back for a bit from making some things or even from just listening to certain things, and recuperate with something like this.

I know I went off on a bit of a tangent, but I think including a yin to the yang of depressive black metal and nihilistic death metal is a balance a lot of people need and don't give themselves, and I know I can fall into that group too. Music like this is important, and even though it's not hitting the same spots that music measured by other metrics does, it's merits often do have crossover appeal that make it possible to enjoy alongside the super dark shit out there. It should go without saying, but not all of music should be focused on just one style, emotion, genre, etc. Part of why I like Gojira so much and why I consider Magma one of, if not the, best albums this decade is how well the band and that album particularly work positive and negative into an interwoven structure. Magma came from and revelled in death, and yet it was so life-affirming at literally the same time. That doesn't mean this more positive kind of stuff gets a stamp of approval for just being there and possibly being rarer, but the same things that make me like a Leviathan project or a Cattle Decapitation project aren't what I should be looking for in an Andrew W.K. project. I'd argue that you shouldn't always really go into new music looking for something, but that's a whole other monster discussion. On to Andrew W.K.

You’re Not Alone starts (after its intro) with a majestic song that just simply says something that means so much to me, and definitely a lot of other people, "Music Is Worth Living For". A great way to start the album, it takes on very well the kind of power metal vibe that a lot of the rest of the album does later, except rather than talking about medieval swordfights and dragons and shit, Andrew makes a testament to the beauty of life for having something as wonderful as music, which has gotten me and many others through some of life's biggest roadblocks. It's so uplifting with the keys accenting the inspirational guitar riffing and Andrew's soaring singing of the title. And the fact that the music that Andrew says is worth living for includes the highs and the lows, the "Congratulations" and the "Entrails Ripped from a Virgin's Cunt" and the "Disposable Heroes", is so beautiful and cathartic. I love this song, it's definitely a favorite this year for me. The two tracks that follow it keep the energy high and the resilience strong as well, "Ever Again" finding Andrew pointing to his own improved outlook on life as an example of what he wants for all his listeners, with the next song, "I Don't Know Anything" contrasting it's predecessor with a rapid-paced admittance of his own inability to answer all life's questions even though he tries. The album's other highlights include the spoken interludes that help string the album together and that are actually pretty enjoyable and similarly inspiring messages from Andrew. The dude is a pretty good speaker; even with no instruments behind him his positive attitude is contagious.

"The Party Never Dies" sounds like it could fit straight on a power metal album, with minor lyrical alterations, but it captures the anthemic qualities of the style excellently. "Give up on You" doesn't exactly say anything super unique, but it's a nice ode to support and comraderie through difficult times. The song "Total Freedom" sounds like something that Dream Theater might have put on The Astonishing, but ultimately the directness and simplicity of the lyrics fit in with the song better than a lot of the corny moments on Dream Theater's last album.

"The Devil's on Your Side" was one that I didn't much care for at first, but it grew on me over a few listens and now I'm glad it's a part of the album. The album isn't immune to criticism though; as far as weak spots go, "Party Mindset" reminded me of some campy slow tempo party rock song from the Metalocalypse rock opera, but minus the humor, and "Break the Curse" got a little bogged down in the darker metaphorical lyrics for most of its length before its payoff.

The title track wraps the album's main theme up much like most of the other songs, so not very sonically unique, but it is worth paying attention to as a concise summarizing statement of Andrew's message on the album.

I'm glad I checked this album out; its place in the world of metal and music in general is often an underappreciated one, but for those open to something less sonically sadistic after being long submerged in the darkest depths of heavy, abrasive music, it will be a breath of fresh air sonically and emotionally. Andrew W.K. doesn't just take an amateurish happy approach to music, even though the album is intentionally overblown and cheesy. I talked a lot about the lyrics being pretty simplistic, but ultimately it's to the album's benefit. Andrew doesn't have to abuse a thesaurus to get his message across, and that's honestly more impressive than a wide vocabulary used haphazardly to try to come off as more artistic. You're Not Alone is authentic and it's clear both in the spoken moments when Andrew stops the music to speak hope to his listeners and when the music comes on again and reminds you that it's worth living for.

[miragablog]

Top 10 Mahou Shoujo Shows for Babies (Part 2)

Now let's move onto Majokko, or Witch Girl...

Mahoutsukai PreCure

Junior High student Mirai Asahina is your typical tween. Between spring break, She goes out and spots a mysterious object fall into the park close by. Inspecting the area Mirai bumps into a novice witch by the name of Riko.

Scouring the human world for a magical gem known as a Linkle Stone the duo are thrown into unwarranted conflict with the minions of a dark sorcerer.

 Ah Pretty Cure, the untamable cthulian beast that haunts my every nightmare.

Being WAY behind in the franchise myself, I can't honestly speak on how great this season is comparatively to others.

What I can say however is that, as far as Majokko Mahou Shoujo goes Mahoutsukai Precure is a fun entry into a rarely explored subgenre.

Watching Mirai and Riko’s friendship blossom and Mofurun just be- Mofurun is a pleasure enough but combined with cute, bright visuals and varied transformations I fell head over heels for Mahoutsukai.

Like everybody and their mother has said, Pretty Cure has some solid Sakuga and Mahoutsukai isn't missing out on any of it.

Say what you will about the toy hole Bandai has created for the franchise or its scattered quality since Futari Wa Pretty cure. I’ve really enjoyed what i’ve seen so far.

If you’re into some sweet witchy goodness and looking for an accessible entry point into the Pretty Cure franchise, Mahoutsukai may just be the broom ride you need.

Kobato

 Kobato Hanato is a naive, young women with a wish to travel to a certain place.

Through helping others, Kobato must fill a magic jar with “konpeito” to see her goal come to fruition.

With the help of a talking stuffed dog named Ioryogi, Kobato can grant her wish, so long as she doesn't fall in love with somebody she heals, of course.

 I have to be really upfront here, this is the first title i’m revisiting out of the list. A show has not made me cry so early on since Skip Beat, and that's saying something.

 Kobato’s visuals are breathtaking, adapting Clamp’s wonderful character designs with a detailed level of care.

It's ridiculously rare to see a show so faithful to the source materials intent like this nowadays.

The soundtrack is this dangerous mixture of heart wrenching and nostalgic that just ruins your tear ducts.

One of the main perpetrators for this being Kobato’s character song, Ashita Kuru Hi or “The day that will come tomorrow”. Going right by Aozora and Tuxedo Mirage on the “cry like a little bitch” playlist I have tucked away.

 Genre-wise Kobato harkens back to the themes of early mahou shoujo, where magical girls were just young women with otherworldly powers.

There are no transformations, no magical weapons- just a weird girl and her surly companion, solving the mundane problems of broken people.

 Forewarning that the show is slow paced and if you wanting something with a little less emotional weight to it, this may not be a great fit.

However, If you’re looking to jump into a pool of your own tears while enjoying some fantastic old school Mahou shoujo, Kobato is the girl for you.

Ojamajo Doremi

 Doremi Harukaze is the “World’s Unluckiest Pretty Girl”. That’s at least what she believes. Fascinated with magic, she stumbles upon a mysterious shop run by a creepy lady, Majo Rika. Doremi being the smart cookie she is deduces that Rika is a witch that, due to a curse must keep her identity a secret. Promising secrecy, Doremi is in turn taken under the witch's wing as an apprentice and hijinx ensues.

When finding Ojamajo Doremi, I got the reminiscent feeling that I could've watched it on something like 4kidz, with a bowl of Cocoa Pebbles and my kitty in my lap before school.

Like a mixture between Tokyo Mew Mew and Digimon, I love the shows infectious energetic vibe.

While most works in the genre do deal with the maturation process of young girls, Ojamajo feels quite believable with how it presents its cast. Doremi acts like a curious third grader and the adults around her and her classmate all feel around their own age.

The strange part that makes Ojamajo Doremi is its unorthodox transformations, with the girls literally putting the witches clothes on and the power of their weapons being limited. I LOVE this aspect of the show as it lends to grounding the setting even further into a fantastical reality.

If you’re into cute kinetic comedy and watching some wacky little kids become witches then I highly recommend watching this adorable slice of Majokko.

Magical Angel Creamy Mami

 A up and coming Pop star in a milky galaxy, Yuu Morisawa is a sassy, fun loving girl with a pension for mischief; shirking responsibility to go play in the neighborhood.

However her cat like curiosity lead her to encounter extraterrestrial beings from beyond the cosmos, whom bestow upon her the power to transform into a teenager for a year.

With the help of her companions, Nega and Posi, Yuu can't just save the day but has to balance a life as an idol and actress!

 If you want something really different from typical Mahou Shoujo, I highly recommend Creamy Mami. Not only does it play with some light sci fi themes but presents beautiful pastel art and a energetic cast, brimming with strange characters.

It is still very much of its time, airing in the early 80’s but that doesn't hinder its beautiful charm.

 Aliens are rarely seen in a genre like Mahou Shoujo and having them utilized in such a quirky manner makes Creamy Mami stand out. Other than watching Madoka for the first time, This was the most recent instance of me feeling uneasy while watching a show in the genre.

 One thing that has Creamy Mami in my graces is its bubbly retropop aesthetic, invoked by a soundtrack chucked full of songs that can only make me want to go to a karaoke bar in Akihabara and dance the night away.

 Whether or not you're into the retro aesthetic, Creamy Mamis a cool, poppy experience for anyone with a sweet tooth for fun.

Show By Rock!

 Cyan has always regarded herself as a ordinary girl, despite her musical telent. Without the confidence to join a band, all her dreams seem for not. That is until shes transported to world of Midi City where everyday is a concert and everyone wants to be a pop star. Scouted by a ragtag recording company, Cyan is thrusted into the world of music and must fight evil with the power of song!

As one of Sanrio’s recent properties, Show by Rock surprised me and many others with its nutty, Jodie and the Pussycats take on Mahou Idol.

Music being a driving force in establishing critical moments for any show, it’s important for the image songs to stick out in show of this kind. And Boy oh boy do I love every sugary, Jpoppy moment of Plasmagica’s discography.

The property being based off a rhythm game lends its soundtrack to a diverse blend of Electronica, Pop, Visual Kei, Indie and Folk rock- I could keep going for FUCKING DAYS DUDE.

And I know what you're wondering, “But Mirage the show looks like it's mostly CG? Isn't that bad?”

CG is a tool that can enhance and lift up a adaptation, or bastardize the intent of a work and piss off its fanbase.

Yet Show by Rock sits at the lucky impasse of not being based on a prior written property but a video game, diverting any kind of expectations people have of the work.

That is not to say the CG is horrible however.

In fact I think Show By Rock presents one of the best exercises in overt 3d modelling currently standing, in an industry full of PS2 models and- (Abunai Sisters) What. What the fuck is that?

Then again im talking about BONES and when BONES picks up a property, it's bound to turn some heads.

( Also uh if you don't get down with this sweet lesbian subtext well uh im sorry man we cant mix. I mean there’s bad taste and then there's hedonism. )

JPOP, Fujoshi bait or hell even Hello Kitty- Show by Rock catches you off guard with its unorthodox presentation but eventually reels the audience in with the power of music.

Definitely worthy of your time and maybe a APK download. -\owo/-

------------------

And so I get to the bottom of my beginner recommendations. Next video is already in the works, gunning to be either a more Shoujo oriented analytical piece or a Mahou Shoujo history lesson ^o^. Thank you all for your patience on this. Life got in the way, as it does but with some new soundproofing and a recent switch to premier (after this vod) i'm looking to make the next video a tad more focused on one subject.

[inkshares]

Q&A with Space Tripping author Patrick Edwards, winner of the Nerdist Space Opera Contest

Patrick Edwards is the author of Space Tripping, one of the top three winners in last year’s Nerdist Space Opera Contest. His debut sci-fi comedy hits bookstores (real brick-and-mortar ones) March 7th. In the following Q&A, Patrick’s reveals the secrets to his creative method, his inspiration for writing the most hilarious and absurd sci-fi comedy this side of the universe, and his upcoming projects.

Patrick was born and raised in Chicago, went to Augustana College in IL, where he majored in business studies, with a minor in amateur libation studies (“mostly of the beer variety”). He currently lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Katie, and new baby, Gabriella Rose, who was born in the midst of the Nerdist Space Opera Contest.

Inkshares: To start, please describe your book in one haiku.

Patrick:

Surviving in space

Much easier when sober

But that's not much fun

Inkshares: OK, now let’s get serious: which Hogwarts house do you belong to?

Patrick: Hang on a sec. Let me finish this online quiz. Oh! Oh dear… It says Slytherin.

I’m going to try a different one… and here we go, clicking “submit” and...Hufflepuff?! What?! No, that can’t be right.

Let’s try one more. Okay, this one says I’m a Lumberjack from District 7… I don’t even think that’s the right literary universe.

I’m just going to create my own. I am a member of House… Chucklesworth.

Inkshares: That must be at Ilvermorny. At Hogwarts, I’d say you’re a SlytherPuff. Where were you when you thought of this book idea?

Patrick:  Physically? Planet Earth.

Mentally? Three glasses deep into a cheap bottle of wine.  

Inkshares: Would you tell us about your writing process? Are you the binge-writing type? Caffeine addict? Coffee shop writer?

Patrick:  Ha, calling it a "process" is giving me way too much credit. I'm an "anytime, anywhere" writer. Those picturesque writing scenarios where you have three hours to yourself, a quiet room, and a cup of coffee don't happen in my life. I realized early on that if I only write under "ideal" settings, I'd never finish the book. I probably wrote at least half of Space Tripping on my phone. I'd have fifteen or twenty minutes, and hammer out a few sentences in an email to myself. Later, I'd piece it all together and clean it up. It wasn't something that came naturally, but I was determined to finish the book, so I found a way.

Inkshares: How long did you work on this book from forming the idea to finishing the manuscript?

Patrick:  It was about fifteen months from the day I wrote the first line, to the day I wrote "The End" on my first draft. Funnily enough, I was on my honeymoon when I finished... but don't judge me! My wife likes to sleep in. I'm an early riser. So for once, I actually had a few of those mythical "picturesque writing scenarios" I mentioned in the previous question.

Inkshares: Do you believe in aliens?

Patrick: There's a conspicuous gentleman in a black suit and sunglasses looming over me, so let's just say that I don't not believe in aliens.

Inkshares: Writing is hard. Why do you do it? Is there a piece of literature that inspired you to become an author?

Patrick: It's so eye-rollingly cliché, but it just feels like what I'm supposed to be doing. Trust me, I want to punch myself in the face for that answer too. I've been interested in creative matters (art, writing, etc.) since childhood. I actually started college with the intention of majoring in art and literature. I even convinced one of my freshman professors to let me write a short story for my final essay instead of the research paper he'd assigned.

But somewhere along the line, I got it in my head that it'd be more reasonable and realistic to go into business. So, that's what I did. Then through most of my twenties, I never felt fully together. When I got back into writing... brace yourself for another lame cliché... it felt like I was myself again.

Regarding books that inspired me, anyone who's read Space Tripping could guess I'm big fan of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Additionally, I absolutely cherish Terry Pratchett's (R.I.P.) Discworld series. I love anything that dumps the tropes and clichés of an established genre into a sandbox and plays around with them in a humorous manner.

My biggest childhood influences were the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip —so much fun re-reading those as an adult and picking up the stuff I missed as a kid—and Bruce Coville's Aliens Ate My Homework series.

Inkshares: What was the first thing you ever wrote?

Patrick: In 5th Grade, I wrote a comic that was a shameless Wolverine knockoff. I'm pretty sure the hero's name was "Razor" and his nemesis was "Doomcla."

Inkshares: A little alien told me that you are an illustrator as well. How does your love for comics influence your writing?

Patrick: That little alien needs to keep his three mouths shut. But yes, I am a huge comics fan. Most of what I write starts with me visualizing the scene, as if it were a comic. Then I try to write out what I'm picturing. A lot of my ideas start as comics, but illustrating takes more time than I have these days.

So, if you're reading this and you're an illustrator, hit me up. Let's make something weird and cool.

Inkshares: What advice would you give to writers trying to hit a funding goal on Inkshares?

Patrick: It is not a passive endeavor. You are going to have to work as hard, if not harder, than you worked on the actual book. Slick cover art and a gripping synopsis won't cut it. You need to get out there and spread the word. It's like having another job.

Inkshares: What do you hope readers take away from your book?

Patrick: A stomachache from laughing too much. Seriously. I'm not looking to achieve any literary breakthroughs here. I just like writing things that make people smile.

Inkshares: What are you reading right now?

Patrick: The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, because he has a great first name. And I guess it's also because, you know, he's an exceptional writer... or whatever.

Inkshares: If your story was made into a TV show or movie, who would be cast to play Chuck and Jopp?

Patrick: While they'd each bring a distinctly different vibe to Chuck, my first thoughts went to either Elijah Wood or Dave Franco. I'd also be interested to see what Riz Ahmed from HBO's The Night Of could do in the role.

For Jopp, my first choice would be Kevin Hart. Though I could also see Adam Devine from Workaholics play him as well.

Inkshares: Was there a particular moment or event that was harder to write than the rest of the story?

Patrick: Action sequences. They were definitely the hardest. There's a lot of moving parts to a big fight or chase scene. You want to clearly describe what is happening without writing so much text that it slows down the pace of the scene. It was a tricky balance to find.

Inkshares: What surprised you about the publishing process?

Patrick: The amount of time and number of steps involved. Space Tripping’s publishing date is March 7th. The Space Opera contest ended last year on March 14th, and I already had a finished manuscript at that point. I found it to be a pleasant surprise. It was comforting to see how much professionalism and effort Inkshares puts into the process.

(So...uh... when do I get my fifty bucks for that shameless promotion?)

Inkshares: Haha you can take that up with the boss. What would you like to say to your Inkshares backers?

Patrick: Thank you. A million times, thank you.

Also, your next round of drinks is on me.

Inkshares: Would you like to tell us about any upcoming projects?

Patrick: Well, of course I'm working on a Space Tripping sequel, but we have quite a while until that could conceivably be released. There are a number of events/conventions later this year that I'll be attending, some in a professional capacity, some as simply a fan. If you want updates on all that, by all means, feel free to follow me on Twitter @RamblingWaffle, or check out my sites: ramblingwaffle.com & spacetrippingbook.com

And before you ask, that Twitter handle has a long and uninteresting back story. Please trust me, it is not worth the time it takes to explain it. Ok, fine, you twisted my arm. Here's the story:

So there I was, trapped in the Syrup Swamps of the Lost Peninsula. I had a half-drunk bottle of maple rum in one hand, and the ancient book of Blessed Recipes in the other. The Great Pancake loomed over me... his rows of teeth glistening in the early morning light. I knew if I didn't stop him here and now, he would consume every innocent resident of the nearby village, Breakfast Bluffs. So, without a moment's hesitation, I took a swig of rum, held the sacred book high, and-

Oh, would you look at the time? I gotta run. We'll have to finish this story later.

A big thanks to Patrick Edwards for putting up with these hard-hitting questions! Interested in his work? Space Tripping is available March 7th.

To pre-order, visit: https://www.inkshares.com/books/space-tripping, or find a paperback copy anywhere books are sold.

[staceylebel-blog]

La La Land - Movie Review

Musicals have been around since the mid 18th century, when brilliant John Gay wrote the first masterpiece mixing song with dialogue, The Beggar’s Opera. Though this sparked hundreds, even thousands of following lyric-filled stories, it can easily be said that not any of them were quite like Damien Chazelle’s La La Land. Although it not being the masterpiece many viewers have deemed it to be, this romantic, euphonious movie was definitely a pleasing ride to experience for any lover of musicals. In addition, considering this specific genre has noticeably died down throughout today’s society, La La Land easily manages to breathe life into it once more. Lead by two, wonderful, dream-filled characters whom were cast by well-loved and admittedly talented actors, this movie is very hard to dislike.

Immediately as the film starts, we see the Summit and Cinemascope logos, which are edited to look somewhat old-fashioned, quickly setting the expected—and definitely well brought out—tone of the oncoming motion picture. Following that, we open into a scene portraying a traffic jam—something that abruptly turns into a Broadway-like music number filled with people who we sadly don’t get to see again later on. Filmed as a one shot, this creative, extremely fun-to-watch number concludes with our two, main character’s first meeting. Surprisingly, it is not remotely a positive one. Hence, as Mia (Emma Stone), a simple barista who dreams of one day becoming a famous actress, flips through the pages for her upcoming audition happening later in the day, she doesn’t notice when the cars in front of her begin moving again. Behind her, of all people, is Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a disagreeable jazz pianist, who honks his vintage car impatiently as he cuts in front of her.

Albeit Sebastian’s being not exceptionally likable during the first dozen minutes of La La Land, that impression is quickly changed as Chazelle manages to weave two very interesting and highly lovable characters. Unlike the insta-love vibes the trailer might have thrown around, their romance thankfully starts out being the opposite, in a way—though their feelings for each other are apparent from the start, they actually do not start dating until later on in the film. From there, the two proceed to help each other discover the courage within themselves to pursue and, hopefully, find success in their lives’ dreams.

Firstly, let’s quickly point out that, from the viewing, it is evident Stone and Gosling are professional actors, and not singers. However, that does not mean their voices were horrible—not at all. It was quite the opposite actually. In fact, the strange uniqueness of their voices, both sung together and as individuals, seemed simply perfect for their roles, in every single way. Thus, the strange, almost casual tone of their lyrics somehow managed to fit incredibly well with the scene. Also, as seen with all of their others works, they managed to melt into these roles incredibly well, serving to enhance the greatness of the film and the extraordinary casting decisions made by threefold.

To continue, the general feel of La La Land was definitely one of the most amazing parts of the movie, aside from the actual story, of course. As was slightly mentioned beforehand, considering this was set in modern-day Los Angeles, the retro style of it stood out in every which way—from editing, to physical detail, to music—only serving to make the narrative that much more magical.

Moreover, Sebastian was often seen wearing these simple, yet elegant suits which, firstly, reflected his love-for-pure-jazz personality and, secondly, suited the style considering men mostly wore these types of attire during the 20th century. In contrast, Mia was gifted with dozens of beautifully coloured dresses, skirts, and shirts that admittedly probably were not of vintage origin, but made it feel so.

As for the general set design, most scenes were also filmed in quite remote, olden areas and houses throughout Los Angeles. For instance, when Sebastian suddenly shows up at the coffee shop where Mia is employed, they decide to take a stroll around the area once she finishes work. There, Emma Stone’s character is quick to point out that two famous movie stars, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, looked out from a window in the building across her workplace in Casablanca. This hints again at how truly classical the location is, and helps implant a bit more character and history into the story. Another example hinting at this is of the jazz venues we see over and over again throughout the movie. Back in the 1900’s, this genre of music was very popular unlike how it is today, therefore seeing them so often throughout La La Land serves to not only to show Sebastian’s passion for the genre, but brings us “back in time.”

In addition, the shots Chazelle chose for every one of the scenes were absolutely exceptional, and very well-done. Hence, during Mia’s auditions, we always see rather mid or close-up shots of her, which grandly helps show off how she truly is ardent about what she wants. To add, in nearly every scene, the camera is placed to reveal just the perfect amount of scenery, making it so you’re nearly never mixed on what exactly the director wants you to look at.

In contrast, there are a few scenes where more or less shots could have been included. Taking Mia’s auditions again as an example, during the first one we see on screen, the camera doesn’t even move an inch to show anything other than the main character and, only barely, the assistant wanting to get in the room to deliver a sandwich to her boss. Instead, the director could have inserted another shot of the person giving the audition to make it feel a bit less claustrophobic. Apart from that, though some other shots were quite risky, and some a little awkward, they were altogether nicely put and offered even more extremely creative aspects to the film. Every transition moved smoothly together with the pace of the film—when things were slow, transitions followed in tow, shifting like mist in the air, and when the scene was more upbeat, the cuts were more abrupt, hurried.

Regrettably, though La La Land was indeed a brilliant movie to view, and the editing was done with great success, the pace of the story did feel slightly rushed at times. Namely, it felt as if there was so much to recount that a two-hour time frame just did not do it justice. The first half of the film goes by comfortably, as if there is all the time in the world to tell what needs to be told. However, as soon at our two, main character’s kiss for the first time, it seems as if everything just zips into fast forward—we hardly even get to see all of what they experience together! Though Chazelle shows us small bits of it, it is quickly replaced by the most important things in order to quickly steer the story to its end. Which admittedly is a good thing, considering these usually “boring” scenes are what makes certain movies feel so unnecessarily dragged out, albeit in other times, they are needed to get viewers to feel more as if they know the characters, and are actually part of their lives.

Hence, we were introduced to several characters in the beginning of the film—Mia’s roommates and boyfriend, and Sebastian’s sister being the most important ones—those of which we didn’t really see much of during the remainder of the story. Which felt a little odd, in all honesty—it was as if they’d vanished and completely handed the stage over to the two lead roles! Not to mention the fact that the fun, ever so cheerful bursts of song we’d been gifted in the beginning seemed to slowly disappear as the film rolled on.

Moreover, a lot more background to the characters, save for the slight glimpses we got of them throughout La La Land, would have greatly helped viewers further their immersion in the story. However, as was mentioned beforehand, there was already so much to recount and in so little time, therefore it would have been a hassle trying to fit even more into the frame. Even so, slight alterations would have been divine.

Finally, without spoiling the ending for those who yet haven’t yet gotten to experience this motion picture, the final, dozen minutes of La La Land, specifically the moments filmed in the epilogue, were slightly confusing. Hence, again, it did not help whatsoever that it all felt a tad bit rushed, considering we didn’t exactly get the chance to witness how everything played out prior to the sudden, five-year time jump thrust into the story. There is also a scene put in place where the characters are reminiscing about certain aspects of their lives, though from the way it was filmed, the fact that they were only day dreaming wasn’t played out very clearly. Perhaps that was intentional, but it could have been perfectly fine without, in all honesty.

In the end, despite the things it lacked, it can easily be seen that La La Land will continue to live on in the cinematography world—maybe even long enough to become a future classic! With its intriguing plot, combined with its slight humor, as well as the magical aspect of catchy tunes that will be stuck in your head for days on end spread throughout, this film is a must-watch for every romance and musical lover in the world. From cheer, to anger, to heartbreak, to truly heartwarming moment, this movie has it all. On top of that even, individuals of all ages could easily find joy in watching this. So rent out a copy of this online, or from your local store, zap yourself up a delicious bowl of popcorn, huddle up with a few of your closest friends if you desire, and ready yourselves for an unforgettable show.

★★★★★★★✩✩✩