#don’t keep your hopes up i will go right back to lego ninjago

[sea-jello]

it me fr

alternately:

[ivebeencursedbygays]

Kai: But when all hope seemed lost, I had an epiphany! 

Kai, earlier: I'm going to throw myself into the sea.

Zane: Kai, you can do anything! 

Kai: Anything? 

Zane: Anything! 

Kai, holding a torch: ANYTHING?!?! 

Zane: Wait, not that!

Cole: Guess who just found out the difference between wax paper and parchment paper the hard way? 

Nya: Wait, what’s the difference? 

Cole: One you can use in the oven safely, and the other you can also use in the oven... if the thing you are trying to make happens to be fire.

Kai: Time sensitive question how flirt boy. 

Pixal: Throw rocks at he. 

Cole: Hot Dogs. 

Morro: Kill him. 

Kai: Thanks guys.

Nya: Clownery. Tomfoolery. Absolute fuckery, I am going to revoke your life privileges.

Pixal: You use emojis like a straight person. 

Kai: That’s literally the worst thing anyone has ever said about me.

Kai: Hey, random question, what are your favorite flowers? 

Jay: Peonies, why? 

Kai: 

Jay: Were you going to get me flowers? 

Kai: 

Jay: 

Kai: ᶦᵗ’ˢ ᵃ ᵖᵒˢˢᶦᵇᶦˡᶦᵗʸ

Jay: Wow, that was quick thinking on that phony sacrifice stuff. 

Nya: Oh, that was all real. 

Jay: Wait, you were trying to help them kill us?! 

Nya: If I’m gonna be sacrificed, I’m gonna do it right.

*The gang is about to do something dangerous* 

Cole: Shouldn’t someone give a pep talk? 

Kai: Go ahead. 

Cole: Be careful. 

Cole: Don’t die. 

Pixal: *Holds back a laugh* 

Kai: Great. We’re all bloody inspired.

Jay: FIGHT ME, YOU NERD ASS SLUT! 

Cole: At least try to sound slightly more sophisticated when you threaten someone. 

Jay: Oh, I'm sorry. I should ask; dost thou want to engage in a duel, my good bitch? 

Cole: Somehow that's worse.

Kai: I can’t believe my birth certificate says F... 

Kai: ...How did I fail being born?

Cole: Look at me straight in the eyes and tell me the truth, Zane! 

Zane: You can’t expect me to look into your eyes and be straight.

Pixal: You were wise to seek help from the world's most deadly weapon. 

Pixal: It's me.

Cole, in a room with Jay, Kai, and Nya: It’s calm in here. 

Cole: It scares me…

Nya: Fight me! 

Kai, standing behind them and holding a knife: *mouths* Do not.

Zane: Nya got into a fight. 

Kai: That’s bad. 

Kai: 

Kai: Did she win?

Cole: Jay, I don’t think I can handle any more of your tomfuckery. 

Jay: Oh yeah? Well I can keep going until you’re all tomfuckered out!

Kai: Is that a gun?! 

Jay: It's not what it looks like! 

Kai: It looks like a gun! 

Jay: Okay, maybe it is what it looks like, but in my defense, it doesn't have anymore bullets, so I technically can't shoot it anymore. 

Kai: ...ANYMORE?!

Kai, to the Squad: I’d die for you. 

Jay: Then perish. 

Pixal: You will. 

Nya: Please don’t. 

Cole: Cool. 

Zane: I’d die for you first.

Nya: If you got arrested what would be the charges? 

Jay: Theft. 

Zane: Disturbing the peace. 

Cole: Aggravated assault. 

Kai: Arson. 

Pixal: All of the above. In that order, probably.

Nya: You know what I asked Santa for Christmas this year? 

Jay: If you say me, I swear I’ll— 

Nya: You? What? No, I asked him for that cool Ninjago Lego set we saw in Target!

Cole, texting Zane: Zane there’s a moth on the outside of the bathroom door can you get rid of it? 

Cole: Pls hurry because I’m going to cry 

Cole: Zane 

Cole: Zane 

Zane: Zane is dead. You’re next. Love, Moth.

Pixal: A sprite is anything not static. 

Jay: A sprite is a variable object, be it 2d or 3d. 

Cole: A sprite is a fucking soda. 

Cole: You god damn geekass bastards.

Kai: *sighs* I have no friends... 

Jay: 

Jay: *coughs* Bitch, what am I? A roach?!

Zane: *tapping fingers on table* 

Cole: *taps fingers back furiously* 

Jay: …What’s going on? 

Pixal: Morse code. They’re talking. 

Zane: -.-- ..- .-. / - …. . / -.-. ..- - . … - 

Cole: *slams hands on table* YOU TAKE THAT BACK!

Jay: *finds half a watermelon at Whole Foods* 

Jay, holding it up for everyone to see: LIES!

Kai: Don't break someone's heart, they only have one. 

Nya: Break one of their bones instead, they have 206 of them.

Kai, singing: I don’t want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need— 

Zane: A family. 

Cole: A better love life. 

Nya: Mental stability. 

Pixal: *clueless* Bagels?

Zane: Don't joke about murder. I was murdered once and it offends me.

Jay: I'm sorry. Please talk to me. 

Kai: 

Jay: Hello? World's most amazing person?? Sweet pea? Precious cinnamon roll that's too good for this world, too pure? 

Kai: 'Sorry' doesn't bring back my fucking M&Ms.

Nya: You think that’s cringe? Moms around the world wait 9 months just to end up naming their kid Jay. 

Jay: Hey, fuck you.

Jay: Of course I have a lot of pent-up rage, you fool! I've been the same height since I was twelve!

Pixal: Why is Kai crying? 

Zane: They saw a leaf on the sidewalk and- 

Kai: IT LOOKED SO CRUNCHY! 

Pixal: Please don’t say what I think you’re gonna say- 

Kai: AND WHEN I STEPPED ON IT THERE WAS NO CRUNCH! 

Pixal: NO, NOT THAT!

Zane: Hey, what have you two been up to? 

Nya: We were helping Kai write his vows, but he kicked us out because Cole was making inappropriate suggestions. 

Cole: How is “Jay, I love your sweet ass” inappropriate?

[mexcraziness]

My Two Cents on the Current State of the Ninjago Fandom

I normally don’t get into fandom discourse, and I know, I hope, this will blow over in a week like all the other messes did, but godDAMN it got ugly this time. I just wanted to make a quick short semi-rant post but it turned out I got a lot more to say.

Yall are really aspring to become the Junior Voltron Fandom, huh?

Pythor-whomstever, I don’t know you and I don’t care for you, but I want you, and everyone participating in this anti mess, to know: you had no right to make a fandom blacklist like that. You may think you’re doing the lord’s work because “ohohoh gotta weed out all the nasties” but in reality you’re only dividing an already fractured fandom even more.

You have the right to block, you have the right to ignore whatever and whoever makes you uncomfortable. Be my guest. And I don’t mean this just at Pythor, I mean this at everyone. 

But you do NOT have the right to put half the fandom on an open blocklist, essentially setting a witchhunt after people mindign their own business, SPECIALLY if you put people on it left and right on your whims. You’re going to add people who “are just generally creepy”. Really? Entering that vague slipperly slope there I see.

People, even non-shippers, are considering leaving the fandom because of this terror atmosphere you created. I hope you and everyone else who took a part in this are proud of yourselves. I hope you are proud, hope you’ll sleep well tonight, and god I HOPE, in the future, if you still remember, when you look back at this ugly mess you created you’ll drown in the shame, embarassment and cringe you deserve. 

Because shame on you. You don’t have the right to ruin REAL, LIVING people’s mood, whole day, even their week, over some stupid fictional plastic legos. Do you have any idea how many genuielly upset people I talked to today? You didn’t have the right to do that.

I’m always open to having a conversation about different opinions, I’m here to listen, but until you’re ready to have a normal conversation, until you learn to grow, and be better, stay in your fucking lane.

Fandom is supposed to be fun, a place where people with a common interest come together to create and talk about what they love. And if they don’t agree on something move on, don’t like don’t read, agree to disagree.

Live and Let Live.

Can’t we just go back to this simple principle?

As for those of you who aren’t taking a part in this anti mess, thank you, you’re the real MVPs, thank you for having the common sense to be reasonable about this. Keep it up.

Edit: I didn’t want to make this a personal callout, and it’s not, this is a general anti-callout, but if I’m not blocked already I’ll be blocked anyways so @pythor​​ please, do consider yourself personally called out. If you read this far, have a nice day.

And specifically to the people on the list, and the people negatively affected by this whole thing in any shape or form: You’ll get through this, the fandom will get through this, it’ll blow over, it always does. It’ll be alright, just keep being awesome until then!

[ninjakittenhaswords]

Found the Time

Author’s Note: Not really based on my Multiverse AU, but I had idea when I was talking with my friend.

Amanda belongs to @alena-1987

Phoenix and Dr. Kitty Saunders are mine while the other characters (don’t deserve to) belong to LEGO.

-

He hadn’t ever expected this outcome.

He been through this countless times but it always ends with the same result. He ripped open time, going in and out of existence before he finally found a way to come back, only to be thrown back into this blank lifeless void.

He was getting tired of it all. Losing hope at every nonexistent second he spent in the empty space. He forced himself to try one more time. He had to.. He at least had to try to go home... to spend whatever time he had left to make amends with his brethren and with their mother.

He ripped time once more, pulling the Time Windows to different timelines he usually looked through open for him to go through. One of them opened up and he was surprised to hear someone yelp and see someone land right in front of him.

“Ugh... Dad’s adventures were always in Ninjago. How come mine always starts with portals?” She grumbled, sitting up and rubbing her head. Her green eyes looked up to the armored man before her. “Oh hi!” She smiled while greeting him. He looked surprised and confused at her. “This never happened before.” He mumbled.

“Uh hello?” His tone remained confused. She began the conversation with such ease. He ended up telling her his story, or enough of it for her to not question further. Her face went from questioning to determination.

Something told him he should’ve just made her leave but... he liked the presence of another that was genuinely concerned for him and not someone who would deceive him like many others have.

“Come with me.” She kept at those words. He tried to refuse, to give her a reason to stop, but she was just as stubborn as his old friend was. He gave in, trying to not cry at her stubborn kindness and followed her into her timeline.

There was peace.. For once, the world he knew was at a calm and he didn’t have to throw himself back into a long forgotten war only to be forgotten again. He gripped her hand tightly trying to be certain that he was actually there and he wasn’t going to fade like so many times before. You couldn’t blame him, with him knowing that he didn’t belong to this timeline. He was a part of another... Plus this present was the future of his own, so it wouldn’t be surprising if time was going to spit him out just to keep it from tearing apart.

“I’m... Im really here.” He spoke so softly that his voice was almost recognizable. “I’m here... I’m here!” He let out a chuckle before sobbing broke through. “Yes you’re here.” She nodded and smiled. He wiped at his tears, messing up the green and black face paint, smearing it across his cheeks and nose.

“I’m going to help you get home.” Her words almost broke him. He had to lean on her for support while she led the way.

-

He was unsure what to make of their reactions, but it broke him a little more when he heard “who is he?” from the older time master. To think he was once so close to these two and yet he was forgotten about everywhere.

“His name is Phoenix and he needs a place to stay and I just happened to come this way.” The little girl said. She had an innocent air but with the way the gray haired man groaned, Phoenix could guess she’s done this before. “Amanda, you cannot just bring a stranger here without consequences.” Phoenix gave a pained grimace beneath his large green scarf and gripped on her hand a little more.

“He’s not a stranger. He’s a friend and I can’t exactly bring a grown man into my own house without my dads overreacting. He’s been through a lot and I don’t want them to overwhelm him.” She spoke back at him. The younger man with a dark mane nodded. “She has a point, brother.” Phoenix tensed up at the familiarity of the word. “We are not letting him stay.” Krux glared at Acronix. The younger twin let a grin spread on his face. “You said the same thing about Kitty.” Krux huffed. “This is a person. Not an animal.”

“Who’s Kitty?” Phoenix questioned with a cocked eyebrow. Acronix gasped in horror. “You haven’t met Kitty?!” Amanda let go of his hand just as Acronix took it. The guy let out a surprised “whoa!” Acronix ran with a head start with Krux following, “Acronix do NOT bring him in! Nooo-!” He got ignored with a door slammed in his face. Aggressive knocking sounded out before it was followed by the clinks of keys. Phoenix looked to Acronix who only shrugged at Krux’s antics. “He’ll be fine after looking through his keys for a while. Now Kitty time!”

Next thing he knew, he was surrounded by kittens while Acronix had set the main cat right in his lap. Amanda snuck in through the window to join in on petting the cats while Krux had unlocked the door. “You are in such deep sh-.” “Shh. Brother. It is Kitty time.” Acronix shushed him while Phoenix laid down, letting the small kittens crawled all over him.

“Grr...” Krux let out an annoyed sigh, “Fine. Just a few nights alright?” Acronix grinned. “Yay I have new friend to join the Kitty Club now.” Meanwhile Phoenix was still on the ground, now sitting a kitten up and playing with the little toe beans. “So this is bliss.” He muttered. Amanda gave a soft laugh while petting another small kitten on the head. “Yes it is.” The tabby calico mix mewed at him messing with the toe beans. A small smile grew on his face behind the overly large scarf.

-

Questions were unavoidable. He learned that many times over and over. Who was he? Where did he come from? How did he get here? He answered with, “I’m Phoenix. I clearly don’t live around here and I got pulled here from the void by a very persistent little girl.” They took the last answer very well. What the heck does this child do in her free time.

And then that one question got pulled up. Why was he wearing armor that looked like theirs? Seems like anywhere he went, that question always got repeated. “It’s... complicated.” He forced the answer out of himself. No matter how much he wanted to explain, he had to avoid this one. He couldn’t just tell why then and there. It’d confuse them. He knows it would.

Amanda could see the expression he made when the subject got pushed further and decided to stop it before it overwhelmed him into a breakdown. If he was anything like Krux breaking down then she wanted to avoid it if she could. “Well if the armor bothers you how about we get you some other things you can wear?”

“Hmm?” He looked puzzled for a moment. Amanda sighed, “Come on. Uncle Acronix and I were planning to spend time anyway.” The little girl pulled him up to his feet. “You’re heading out with him?” Krux asked, crossing his arms. Acronix rolled his eyes. “We’re going to be fine. It’s Amanda who’s taking us out.” The older looked over to Phoenix. “It’s not her I’m concerned about.” Acronix only chuckled. “You worry too much. You’re gonna end up adding more wrinkles to your face.” He poked his cheek, making Krux pull away at that with a huff. “We’ll be fine. Besides it’d be two against one. You know the odds would be on our side.”

Krux sighed. “Fine.” Amanda pulled Phoenix out the door. “Come on. Let’s go.” Acronix followed, looking back to Krux. “I’ll give a call if something happens, alright?” The older twin only looked away with a small hum.

“See ya, big bro.” Acronix called back to him, shutting the door.

-

The building was larger on the inside than it looked on the outside. ‘Guess this is the more advanced look to the usual marketplace.’ His eyes looked around to see people of all kinds walking around. Last he remembered being in a marketplace, it was mostly humans but now there was.. what was the word? Diversity.

There was a diversity of humans, some Serpentine and a few mechanical looking people called Nindroids were acting as security. A smaller Nindroid sat on a taller one’s shoulders. The taller one didn’t seem to mind. In fact it looked like he was used to it from the shorter.

Phoenix kept himself between the younger Time twin and Amanda, trying to avoid any stares. None of them were really turning an eye to him. In fact, it was as if the world had seen the worse than him. They didn’t understand that he could be terrible but he never wanted to go through another timeline and bring ruin to it like he did others. He pulled on his scarf slightly, fiddling with it between his fingers before he gripped on it tightly, making his knuckles turn white.

“Hey... Hey man... Phoenix. Phoenix!” He heard Acronix’s voice break through his thoughts. He let out a small almost silent gasp when his train of thoughts were thrown off the railing. “You alright, man?” A hand firmly held his shoulder, as if he tried to keep the other grounded to reality. Phoenix glanced at his hand for a second and nodded. “I’m alright.”

“Ooh let’s try this place first! It’s not as crowded as the other places.” “Pfft. Not yet.” It seems like this will be quite a while.

What happened next was a mix of “try this” “no this” “let him pick” and a lot of clothing getting thrown at him by the more chaotic time master. He almost got buried by the multiple designer shirts and heavy multi pocket jeans. “You two please... Please stop. I’m stuck.” He managed to get his top half visible. “What’re you doing? Are you trying to throw the whole shelf on me?”

Amanda chuckled at him. “More like throw an entire wardrobe.” Acronix shrugged. “Ey, whichever it is. Go try it all on.” “You sure you’re not just grabbing things for yourself too?” Phoenix raised an eyebrow at him. “What? No. Nonono. Not at all.”

Phoenix rolled his eyes at that and mumbled. “You’re still as obvious as ever.” Acronix hummed. “Hmm? What was that?” The armored man got himself out of the pile. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” He huffed. “Just help me carry some of this you two.”

So basically a whole lot of it got subtracted and put up. Acronix was at first a little disappointed that he couldn’t get a few things but nonetheless still got to purchase something for himself.

Phoenix had let out a soft laugh at Acronix’s excitement. “Hey you actually laughed.” Amanda pointed out. He pulled his scarf up on his face, hiding himself. Acronix pulled on his scarf. “Oh get back out here. She means it’s nice that you’re letting loose.”

“Right?.. Shouldn’t we head back?” He questioned the two. “No way! I said were spending time together so we still have other things to do.”

“Well what did you have in mind?” Amanda gave a grin at them. “I know exactly what.”

-

“Absolutely not! I’ve been stuck in the void for a long time. I do NOT know any of this music.” Phoenix was quick to respond. Amanda, as he found out, was still as stubborn as her grandfather Ray. “Just do it. You need to have some fun.”

He gave her a serious look. “You will not make me.” Acronix grinned at this opportunity “You’re right. She won’t. I will.” He grabbed him by the shoulders. “Set everything down. We’re going up on stage!” Phoenix tried to keep his ground, but Acronix was still able to push him while Amanda took the bags off his arms. “Wait! no!”

“You’re going to do it!”

“Noooo-.” Acronix chuckled at him. “You sound a lot like Krux.” Phoenix froze a little at that. He ended up on stage anyhow. The small luxury he got is what he wasn’t alone and Amanda helped pick the song.

“I can’t do this. I mean how am I supposed to know when to start?” He whispered. “Stop being dramatic. You got this.” Acronix smiled at him. ‘Dear FSM. Don’t smile at me like that.’ He thought just as the music started. “Let’s go. We got some karaoke to do.”

Thankfully it started energetic, except with a piano contrasting to some of the music that he heard on the way here. “Goddammit Amanda. Did you have to pick this band? You know some of their music ain’t my style” Acronix stared at the so called cinnamon roll of the group, who only smiled and snickered up at them.

“It has to be this one.” Acronix hissed softly. “Oh well. Let’s do this. I call the first verse.” Phoenix smiled at his demeanor. He missed that so much.

“I'm sorry, mother, I'm sorry, I let you down / Well, these days I'm fine; no, these days I tend to lie / I'll take the Western train, just by the side of Amsterdam / Just by my left brain, just by the side of the Tin Man” His voice still had that roughness, but he really was trying to go along with the tune. The long haired man looked to the other.

It was Phoenix’s turn and boy to say he was nervous would be an understatement. “I'm sorry, brother, I'm sorry, I let you down / Well, these days you're fine; no, these days you tend to lie / You'll take the Western train, just by the side of Amsterdam / Just by your left brain, just by the side of the Tin Man”

“Your time will come / If you wait for it, if you wait for it / It's hard, believe me / I've tried, but I keep coming up short”

“I'm sorry, lover, I'm sorry I bring you down / Well, these days I try, and these days I tend to lie / Kinda thought it was a mystery, and then I thought it wasn't meant to be / You said yourself fantastically, "Congratulations, you are all alone!"” He kept up with the younger Time twin even though he faltered at the end.

“Your time will come / If you wait for it, if you wait for it / It's hard, believe me / I've tried / Your time will come / If you wait for it, if you wait for it / It's hard, believe me / I've tried!” Apparently Phoenix was able to hold the note better than Acronix did and honestly Amanda and the other time master were actually kinda impressed.

“But the rain won't fall for the both of us / The sun won't shine on the both of us / Believe me when I say / That I wouldn't have it any other way!” It was at that moment it happened.

It appeared that he got so lost in the moment that he ended up pulling his scarf right off. The younger Time Twin could actually see his face. He had the same skin tone and hair color. His face shape looked so identical to his and Krux’s. Heck, even his eyebrows and the creases were so alike to one another.

“Your time will come / If you wait for it, if you wait for it / It's hard, believe me / I've tried,” Phoenix smiled so broadly and by FSM, even the way he did it was too hauntingly alike to his own. “But I won't wait much longer / 'Cause these walls, they're crashing down / No, I won't wait much longer / 'Cause these walls, they're crashing down!”

“And I keep coming up short” It was at the last lyric that the other realized that Acronix was dazed at him. He was confused for a moment before he realized that he had pulled off his scarf. He pulled the fabric back on and dropped the mic, turning tail and running.

“Phoenix wait!” Amanda somehow got her leg hooked on the chair leg and tripped herself all over the bags. “You alright, Amanda?” Acronix stood still her side. “I’ll be fine. Go get him!”

He nodded and chased after him. “Come back here! You need to explain!” He screamed after him. “I can’t do that right now!” Phoenix turned his head and yelled back at him with the same exact amount of vigor as Acronix. The Time Twin skidded to a stop and let out. “Phoenix look out!”

“What-.” He turned his head back ahead and in a moment of stupidity, smacked head first into something wooden. “Gah!” He fell back and rubbed his forehead for a moment, feeling a little lightheaded. “Oh fu-.” He mumbled and felt himself beginning to faint. “Phoenix!” He could barely hear Acronix yell. His vision got fuzzy but he could see Acronix running fo his side. “A... Acronix...”

“It’ll be alright. You’ll be fine... Let’s just go home. Krux will know what to do. Amanda, we need help here!” Phoenix couldn’t catch the last bit, but he did manage to see Amanda running up to them. ‘Home...’

-

A groan sounded from him when he awoke. “Oh so now you wake up?” Krux crossed his arms at him. “After fifteen minutes of making Acronix freak out and Amanda worry, you now decide to wake up.” Phoenix covered his eyes, groaning in pain and annoyance. “Shut it, big bro. It’s not like I intended it to happen.”

“Excuse me?” Krux questioned. Phoenix felt himself suddenly pale when he realized that he let the words slip. His hand slid down from his eyes to his nose then his chin. He looked down, seeing his scarf wasn’t there. He supposed that the scarf would he off for his breathing but the more important thing was his- oh no.

He sat up quickly, regretting the action but not caring for his temporary blindness or the headache. Nothing was more important than his treasured object. “Where is it? Where is it?” He could hear it clicking so it wasn’t far, so maybe- “You looking for this?” The ebony haired man looked over to see the older man holding a gold watch with a matching clip attached to a red ribbon. “Give it!”

“Calm yourself. I hadn’t done anything to it.” Krux huffed. “Not like it would let me open it anyway.” He grumbled. Phoenix got up from his spot, stumbling a little on his feet and almost falling forward again. This time, instead of being inconsiderate like he could be, Krux got up in time to catch him. “Stop. You won’t exactly get better if you try to start walking now.”

Phoenix only sighed and held onto him. “Mmm... give me back my watch...” Krux raised an eyebrow. “Why should I? It looks a lot like mine.” The other dug his nails into his outer jacket. “Please... It’s important to me.” He spoke lowly, almost sounding pathetic. The older time master sighed. “Fine but only if you explain..” he looked at him up and down, noting the features, “this whole situation.”

Phoenix took his watch pendant back, clicking it back around his neck. “Huh?” Krux huffed at him, “Don’t give me that shit. I’ve dealt with enough of it throughout the years. Now explain yourself and don’t be vague like Wu.” The younger huffed back at him. “Fine, but don’t blame me when you get confused afterwards.”

So he ended up telling him his whole story. From the moment he lost his arm to being torn out of time, getting forgotten, going through multiple timelines, snatching his arm back from an old friend-now enemy, thrown back out of time again, and everything starts all over. Krux found he was right about being confused over the whole thing. It made too little sense and all the sense in the world, but then-

“Why didn’t you just say so at the beginning?” Krux crosses his arms. Phoenix was quick to mimic him. “And how was I supposed to say it? That there are three hands on the clock but the third hand broke off so the clock doesn’t work right anymore even after trying to put the hands back together?” He sat down with his head in his hands. Dear FSM he looked too much like him with that upset expression. Phoenix sighed softly. “I was stuck there for who knows how long anymore... I’ve had to watch you and Acronix fail every time. There was one time where you two actually took over Ninjago but neither of you were happy..”

He gripped on his pendant watch. Krux could see it glow in a rhythmic beat, almost like... a beating heart. “I.. I was going to try something different.. one more time. If I allowed the plan to go in motion, I could’ve used the Iron Doom to go back a little more.. to stop Chen from ever deceiving us and Clouse from using his spell... If I could’ve done that, I would’ve been there with you two... I could’ve gone home to our Ma and tell her we made it out okay and that Pa missed her so much.”

Acronix looked into the room at that. “Pa?” He questioned. “Yeah.. I saw him for a moment.. Looks like us but.. battered and older. Definitely could tell that he’s seen so much in his years... and still so sad that he can’t ever see Ma again.” The room felt all too gloomy. The third hand decided to change that. “So... how is she?” Krux went to answer. “I know she’s gone now but.. was she okay? At least in health? Anything?”

“Truth be told, she was sad too, but I at least made sure she was better in her later days when-.” Krux began and got interrupted once more, “you mastered your Saunders disguise.” Phoenix nodded and sighed. “Seems like tragedy likes to follow every villain around huh?”

Acronix huffed at them. “Enough sadness. I’m grabbing Kitty and their Minis!” He went out of the room and came back a few seconds later with the fluffy gray tabby cat. “Meow!” “Meow yourself! We need the sadness to leave and you’re always able to make it go away!” Phoenix chuckled at Acronix arguing with the cat. “Oh my god, you were the same way with Sandy.”

“You knew our first cat, Sandy?” Acronix perked up at that. “Of course I did. Fluffy tabby cat that always felt so sandy up in her fur no matter what you do. I wonder if Kitty responds the same way.” Phoenix patted his chest. “Come here, Kitty.” The tabby responded but setting their gloved paws on his chest and rubbing their face on his chin. Phoenix let out a happy gasp. “They do! Oh that’s so precious.”

Acronix chuckled at him. “Kitty likes you already.” “I guess they do.” Phoenix laid back with the cat settling on him. “You fool. You’re not going to be able to get up with the cat on you.” Krux warned him. “Then I’m stuck. That’s it. This is my fate.” He responded while petting the cat. “... You are so much more nicer here than any other timelines I tried to stay in.” He cooed at the kitty. “Acronix, did you forget the little fluffy bean babies?” Acronix responded with “No. They’re coming. Amanda’s getting them.” Amanda came on with kittens crawling over her back. “Help. They climb.”

Krux sighed at them. “Yes they do climb, Amanda. They’re assholes in training.” They mewled at him just suddenly grabbing them. “Don’t argue with your grandpa. I’m not in the mood.” “Mew~” “Do one good thing for me and just keep this one stuck with your parent.” Phoenix gasped. “No wait.” “You started this. You’re gonna remain stuck now.” Acronix smirked at Krux. “Don’t you mean you’re gonna remain stuck meow?” Krux turned his head at him with the most unamused face you’d ever see. “Do NOT ruin this.”

Phoenix chuckled at him with Acronix. “That’s it. I’m leaving.” Krux left. “Amanda you have to get home before Kai decides to come to the door.” The young brunette smiled. “Alright. I’m coming back tomorrow though.” He could hear Krux give an audible sigh, “Fine.”

Kitty remained seated on Phoenix, purring underneath his pets. “Yeah. You’re already fitting in nicely. Krux will probably keep you too.” He looked up to Acronix. “You think so?” “Probably because he doesn’t always want to hear me rant about Kitty at three in the morning.” Phoenix smiled. The younger Time twin smiled too, matching his. Phoenix let out a chuckle and, for once, he felt that maybe it was going to be a grand time... even if he forgot that the time was limited to him.

-

Part two - coming soon

You heard me. I had to split this into parts. Mostly because I need to relearn how to write the Twins and this is mostly an AU from my friend (I’m calling it Redeemed AU because well her OC has the ability of a cinnamon roll and is able to befriend just about any and everybody including the villains) and then I just stuck my OC right in there so this is gonna be a while.

[vo-kopen]

So um, remember how I said I wrote a Toxikita fanfic?

Well, here it is. It takes place four years after the final clash with the Ultra Agents, in a time when she is less villainess. She’s definitely not a superhero though, just a vigilante. And for reference I am not bitter that Lego only makes original villains and not their own superheroes. Like the original villains have such cool designs and they are always just fighting boring Agents. Yeah I know people are gonna be more interested in sets with big name superheroes like Batman, Iron Man, and Spider-Man, but then why make your own original villains at all? It’s just disappointing. I guess Ninjago sort of counts but like, not enough for me.

Anyway, this fanfic was difficult for me because Toxikita is not the typical character I wrote about. She’s not like other girls. Ha, can you imagine? But in all honesty I don’t often write for protagonists who are villains, or at least who are former villains. And her kind of grouchiness is something I don’t usually write for either. So hopefully I was able to balance her between being likable without verging into“Draco in Leather Pants.” Anyway I am going to put the link to the full story here, but the first scene is going to be behind the readmore below, because it will fit. Tagging @flipzmclego @jogress @muceybbds @thefingerfuckingfemalefury @ayellowbirds and @neshtasplace here’s hoping I didn’t totally botch her character.

…………

[[MORE]]

A lone minifigure walked the streets of Chood City, she was wearing a long cloak, the hood obscuring her face save for a few glimpses of green. She stepped across the sidewalk, a cracked and chewed up place, the surface uneven and faded in color. Her feet clicked across the ground as she walked, her head sweeping back and forth. She scowled under her hood at the clicking, it was completely out of rhythm, thanks to the lack of repairs to the street. She clutched her head to try blot out the annoying offbeat sound, tapping her head loudly with her hands, trying to keep herself calm with the better more musically sound noise.

But then even though her hands she felt a scream echo from a block away. The autistic minifigure sighed, and then she began to sprint across the rough unkept sidewalk. She clenched up at the clicking, but she did not stop running. As she ran her cloak was swept behind her, the hood pulling back to expose her bright green hair and her unnaturally lime green eyes. Her eyes lacked pupils and specks of green covered her body, her lips were a bright green, and she was wearing a shirt with a strange symbol on it, not unlike a fusion of a biohazard symbol and the skull and crossbones of a pirate. She wore a spiky collar, and dangling from her leg was several glass bottles full of a noxious green fluid.

The strange woman ducked into an alleyway, taking a shortcut through the city. As she excited she hugged the wall, peering around the edge to look for the source of the scream.

She could see armored cars parked outside of the homeless shelter, a place for minifigures who couldn’t afford bricks, had missing parts, or were too clumsy to build with them. She tightened, before sprinting forward towards the cars and the shelter.

With a touch she swept her hands against the armored cars, and from her hands cane a toxic fume that made their tires hiss and deflate. She did not stop, just running straight in.

She could see the police throwing the homeless minifigures to the ground, disassembling their wheelchairs and crutches, kicking the minifigures as they fell.

“Lousy parasites,” one of them spat, right before the green woman tapped his shoulder. He turned only for her to clutch his wrist in her hands. Immediately he tremble as poison spread through his body, before he collapsed to the ground.

“Its Toxikita!” A cop shouted, turning around and firing his gun wildly. She ducked behind the poisoned cop before lifting him up as a makeshift shield. She ran at the other cops, reaching for one of her glass bottles dangling on her side. She hurled it at the cops, unleashing a cloud of toxins.

The police began to gag and cough as she threw her ‘shield’ at another officer. The two of them fell in a heap, and she ran over, poisoning the one pinned by the poisoned cop.

More studs flew the air from their guns, and Toxikita ducked behind a pile of disassembled wheelchairs. She stretched, before reassembling some of the bricks, turning their wheels into a crude shield. Toxikita then sprinted at the police, slamming into them with her shield.

As they were staggered she clutched their sleeves, poisoning them too. They went limp, and soon the building was filled with the sound of moaning, from both cop and victims.

Toxikita then turned and ran towards some of the injured homeless and the volunteers at the shelter. She grabbed a glass vial and began to work with her power, concocting a paste. She then began to plaster it on their bruises, and they murmured at the touch, even as their yellow bodies began to mend.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t,” she muttered, looking away as her cheeks blushed green. She moved among the homeless victims, helping their bruises mend.

As they recovered she returned her crude shield to the pile of disassembled bricks, before she began to rebuild them into wheelchairs, crutches, and the like. She carried them over to the homeless and disabled, letting them settle back.

She suddenly heard a crack, darn it when they broke in they damaged the foundation. She walked out and began to strip down the armored cars, disassembling them into pillars, before planting them inside to secure the building.

Finally Toxikita was satisfied and pulled her cloak back over her face and clothes, before beginning to head back outside.

“Thank … thank you,” a woman called after her, shivering as she staggered on her crutches, her peg leg still a bit trembling, “it’s … it’s good to have a superhero looking after us.”

Toxikita sighed without turning back and stated, “I am not a superhero. Call me a vigilante if you won’t, but don’t kid yourself, I’m not like those kings.”

“Not … all of them are wealthy.”

“Maybe,” she dismissed, before walking away.

She stepped into the street, before walking back to the armored cars. With a twist she pulled off more of the bricks, before assembling them into a crude skateboard. She kicked off and rode across the street, her whole body shaking as the skateboard rattled against the rough ground. She tensed up at the noise, but at least it was better than the clicking.

“Me, a superhero?” She laughed bitterly at the thought, turning down another jagged street. Only this side of Chood City was this damaged, the richer parts of town were a lot better maintained, they got new fancy parts to replace the old, even though their oldest parts were only a few years old and still functioned perfectly. And they called their victim’s parasites?

The vigilante glared in frustration, before she sighed in an exhausted voice. Toxikita reached under her hood and began to tug at her rubbery green hair, flicking it began so it it would spring back into position. The autistic did this for a few minutes, using the sensation to calm herself down

She rolled down the street, kicking periodically to send herself moving forward. Finally she skidded to a halt in front of a sewer hole. She dug the skateboard into the lid, using the board to pry the hole open. The board didn’t even creak or crack, the police had a lot better pieces that the poor of Chood City. It made her want to drop a bomb of Pollutonium on their police station, ruin all of their bricks and force them to feel how the other half lived.

But Toxikita didn’t do stuff like that anymore. She hadn’t in about four years.

She descended into the sewer, the vigilante was immune to the noxious fumes and fluid that flowed here, and admittedly she liked the sensation of the goopy gunk rubbing against her, felt a bit like moisturizer oozing over her skin.

She chucked the skateboard into the gunk, at least she could ruin some of their bricks. Then she began to wade down the sewer, following the toxic burn marks she made made into the walls.

Finally she made it to her makeshift home, a small thing cobbled together out of bricks raided from the police and other bullies. She opened the door and walked in, before flopping down on her double p-decker couch. Admittedly she only used the bottom half to sleep and rest, the top she instead used as storage. She did not have the larger amount of space down there.

The autistic reached besides her couch, before scooping up some slime. She rubbed the goo against her face, smearing it in as she settled into her home. On the wall was a photo of Adam Acid and Retox from their wedding. Hopefully her old minions were doing well nowadays, it was dangerous for the three of them to interact much, especially since Toxikita was definitely the bigger target.

She pulled off her cloak and hood, before folding them nearly on her couch. Then she turned over onto her back, laying flat. She would need to hide for a bit, air until the heat died down. Then when the police began to recover, she would strike again…

[lovetheangelshadow]

N'Pressions: Lego Movie 2

I know this is rather late, but I have had my hands full for the past couple of months until I could finally get time around to sit down and write these. So I apologize in advance with my thoughts being rather late into the game when everyone else worth listening to has given their two cents.

I’m not going to lie. There was so much against this movie succeeding besides the weather. Not only did you have to contend with it being a sequel to a major hit films that had for good and bad made some influence in the animation genre; but it was also competing with Alita Battle Angel (a big James Cameron film) AND How to Train Your Dragon 3 (a much awaited ending to a long running DreamWorks franchise). Not to mention with the objective failure of the Ninjago movie obviously made both the studio execs and audiences wary. That being said, I don’t think it would have benefitted from holding off for much longer.

So the film takes place just after the first movie with the Duplo invaders. Emmet tries to make peaceful ties with them that end up blowing in his face and the invaders go after anything bright and colorful. Five years later we get a Mad Max inspired Apolcalypseburg and while everyone else has taken a darker outlook on life and appearance; Emmet remains the same albeit a little scratched up with fingerprints and some of the decals scraped (nice detail by the way). Emmet shows Lucy/Wildstyle a dream house he’s built for them that seemingly attracts the Systar System and they send General Sweet Mayhem. The citizens take shelter in Batman’s bunker but a mercy act from Emmet freeing a stuck star shaped missile lets Mayhem in and she kidnaps Lucy, Metalbeard, Benny, Batman and Unikitty to a matrimonial ceremony held by the queen of the Systar System. After being scolded by the citizens of Apolalypseburg for not being tough and too weak to be of any use (citizens are jerks no matter the story I swear), Emmet builds a rocket ship to save his friends.

In earnest, I give points for the Lego team choosing to go with what is essentially a space rescue story rather than another chosen one tale. If there is one real good quality I can give for all four of the lego movies is that each film has its own unique aesthetic that separates them. Like if you just gave a background shot or even a color palette, each movie has their own theme to them which is not really something you could say of a lot of other animated sequels like Kung Fu Panda, Toy Story, or Ice Age. And I really appreciate them for that. There is also a very noticeable animation upgrade from the pervious Lego Movie besides the obvious advances in animation technology. Like they are actually using other household materials to achieve effects as well such as UltraKatty’s tail turning into a bottle brush when she gets flustered and Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi’s throne room moat is silk curtains which you see later in Bianca’s bedroom. Not to mention the previously noted fingerprints and scratches.

So story wise, unfortunately the story is not as polished as the first movie. Like Good Cop/Bad Cop and President Business, two major characters of the first films, are practically shoved to the side for this one. I mean, Business is the allegory for Finn and Bianca’s father, so why is he practically so absent for five years after spending 8 and a half building this Lego World into his concept of absolute order and perfection? In essence his kids have pretty much destroyed what he’s built and he barely does anything about it? Granted I am not entirely sure what sort of purpose Business could serve especially with the tone and themes they were going for. Maybe like have his try to resolve things but continuously fail? Or…or maybe throw his hands up in defeat and hint that if they don’t do something to fix the issue Armomageddon will be coming down upon them. No one knows what he’s even talking about and just keep warring with the Duplo invasion. I dunno, maybe we’ll get more answers when the Blue Ray comes out with the commentary. As for GCBC, maybe be the ones telling off Emmet for his apparent weakness in kindness and tell him that he didn’t get to be Lord Business’ second by being soft hearted and overly optimistic.

That being said we also get a slew of new characters this time around: the totally not evil Watevra Wa’Nabi, General Mayhem, Ice Cream Cone, and Tumblr’s favorite Rex Dangervest. Seriously you can NOT tell me Lego didn’t know what they were doing when they made this guy. You KNOW how the internet gets over attractive cartoon characters! Admittedly Emmet doesn’t have the strongest personality and is kind of more of a vessel for Finn (and particularly the audience) but like the first movie he is surrounded by a large cast big personality characters that balances things out. Also like the first movie the antagonists (both Rex and Watevra) much like Business aren’t entirely in the wrong or right but instead are the extremes that sometimes in a way can become toxic if pushed too far. Business was the extreme of perfection and order, Watevera and the Systar system represented absolute optimism, and Rex was the symbol of toxic cynicism. Though I will give credit that both Watevra and Rex definitely feel like much more complex antagonists than Lord Business.

While Watevera genuinely wants peace between the Systar System and Apopalypseburg she isn’t above using force, coercion, or manipulation to get there. She basically offers gifts/bribes to bring the leaders to her side and toys with Batman’s insecurities to get him into marrying her. The entire film portrays her as a scheming, brainwashing, shape shifter whose end goal is the end. Though you cannot really blame her since it was suggested the Systar System has been trying for years but kept being pushed back because they were seen as an invasion. Also they’re terrible communicators. Also I have to give props for Animal Logic and them having to animate this gal and in Lego bricks no less. Like it’s not like a slime where you have plenty of freedom; each curve and twist is an actual Lego brick. That can NOT be easy to animate.

Rex on the other hand plays with Emmet’s anxieties of not being tough enough and essentially not being the person Lucy wants him to be. And you can’t completely blame this guy for lashing out at being stranded and forgotten. If there was one thing Emmet valued above anything even before the inciting incident of the first Lego Movie, was his friends. You saw his hurt when shown that the other construction workers didn’t even seem to care and just saw him as an average nobody. Heck, even with the party bus scene the others show a hint of concern that they hadn’t seen Lucy on the ship with them but when the llama driver cranks up the music they immediately forget about her. Not to mention with the time machine, he could have easily gone back to even before General Mayhem kidnapped his friends and prevented all this in the first place, but instead chose to save Emmet only and bring everyone else down to the same miserable state he’s in to feel the same hurt he went through for years. In a way he reminds me a lot of Lotso from Toy Story 3. Both were the favorite of a child and were lost by that same kid later to be replaced and forgotten. However I am a lot more sympathetic for Rex than Lotso though I haven’t put my finger on exactly why.

Another thing to note is that this film is also a musical and it has been quite a while since I’ve actually like really enjoyed an animated musical. Like the songs actually feel like they move the story forward instead of being there for just being there. There is one arguable exception, but it is still a fun song (Gotham City Guys if you must ask). Of course then there is the blatant Catchy Song that is such a laughable parody of itself and much like Everything is Awesome, its used as like a brainwashing song. Speaking of which, we get two versions of Everything is Awesome: the much more light hearted Tween Remix and somber/hopeful Everything is Not Awesome. My only gripe is that Rex did NOT get a song. Seriously guys, a reprisal of the last verse of Not Evil as he’s strapping Emmet to the eject chair would have been bloody perfect!

Though the movie is not as comedic as its processors Lego Movie and Lego Batman, I honestly still enjoyed myself. I think it is largely in part because I relate to the film a lot more than the first one since I have a sibling of my own and remember the cooperative and combative play session we had together as kids. Something I give credit for is that the film doesn’t really portray either the girl’s or boy’s way of playing the superior one. Honestly they don’t even really bring up gender roles or at least smack you in the face with it. And believe me I have seen the whole gender roles thing done so much worse. I could have done without that line from General Mayhem about Lucy doing all the hard work and Emmet getting the credit and I think having that in the trailer might have hurt things as well. I think it would have been better if Mayhem just said there is nothing special about Emmet and laughs that she’s supposed to take this guy seriously compared to others like Batman and Metalbeard once again driving in what would eventually lead to the creation of Rex. Still even with some of the plot issues, it still feels like a much more complete film then Ninjago and I hope that we can at least get the Billion Brick Race before they decide to just cut Lego off as a viable film universe. I’m Noctina Noir, and I’m one Nox of a Nobody.

[parachutingkitten]

Season 1 Analysis

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: I am going to be applying the concept of criticism to a TV show you presumably love and adore as much as I do. If you do not want your idea that the show is immaculate to be challanged, I would not advise reading past this point.

Mood for this season: Logic? Nahh...

I'm taking three film classes right now, I only rip it apart because I love it! (Sry, if I seem a little overly critical at times)

So, let's start with some background (you get to learn about me, yay! This is what you came here for. Right?). When the original series (seasons 1 and 2) came out in 2012, my little brother, at the age of six, was THE target audience for lego ninjas that you could battle and spin really really fast. I... am five years older than him. He collected sets, and he even bought me a spinner pack with the "girl character", the "blue one", and one of the skeletons so that I could play with him. To this day they are the only legos I own, but they sit in an altoids tin in my night stand. It was right before our family moved to Germany (we're a military family btw) that our parents purchased the disk episodes of seasons one and two. When you live in Europe, you tend to want to do a LOT of traveling. Every weekend, I kid you not, we went to another country. Which means road trips. And road trips mean movies. I would always let my brother choose what we watched, because he was the one who would get fussy and upset, so we watched a lot of Kung Fu Panda, and Madagascar, and a LOT of Cars (as in plural movies. I quote Cars 2, regularly), but the thing we watched most often was those niniago DVDs. Because you could just auto play those episodes one after another for a seemingly endless movie that would last until you arrived. So, I've seen these episodes a few times. Like, A LOT of times. Drilling these episodes into my mind over and over is what made me obsessed with it later (but we'll talk about that when we get to season 3).

Upon rewatching... they are exactly as I remember. There were no real surprises, so I don't feel like I have too much to say shock value wise, but that doesn't mean I don't have anything to say.

Plot

I've made a joke post about this before, but season one does fall into the treasure hunt formula. Find a fang blade. Lose it. Look for next one. Repeat for the next few episodes. Same thing can be said for the true potential. Find what holds them back emotionally, overcome it by the end of the episode to save the person/people you needed to fix your relationship with, glowing orb/pillar to make you certifiably awesome. For four. Episodes. Straight. Even if you space out the episodes where the ninja get their true potential, or when they find the fang blades, it would keep you on your toes a bit more. This being said... it does greatly help to give every episode a PLOT purpose. Every one of those "previously on ninjago" recaps was shoving a bunch of stuff in there. Most ninjago episodes do serve a purpose (except of course the atrocity that is the first half of season two - we WILL get to that next time) at least character development wise, but it is nice to have meaningful plot development too and keep a consistent pace throughout the season. This season certainly keeps up the pace. There is not an episode you can just miss. Even with the recap, you would still probably be confused. One thing that NO OTHER SEASON has over this one, hands down (aside from season 9 maybe, idk yet) is flow from season to season. Planning benefits this season GREATLY. It carries over things from the pilot, and sets up more to come in the next season. Watch them all together and it flows more naturally than any other season bookends. (Although I will say all the ninjago season transitions are smoother than any of Chima's [I will not touch that rabbit hole EVER again])

Characters

Character interaction is AMAZING this season. You really get to know the characters and feel all their growth equally. Every. One. Of. Them.

Think about it, Wu has an arc with his brother, Lloyd has an arc with the green ninja, Nya has an arc as samurai x, and it goes without saying that all of our regulars have an arc. And... that's about it. Those are all the characters. And I think that's why this season works so well.

You have four main characters, a handful of side characters, and they all get time and focus. Everyone has something to do during this season. As the season's go on and we accumulate more and more characters there's less screentime to go around, and the characters can suffer for it. There's a reason by season 6 they were literally REMOVING characters from the show. They don't have time to get distracted by Kai and his petty problems and drama this season, cuz Jay needs some focus for once, and we'd like to give him a little development gosh darn it! But I'm getting ahead of myself. This season works really well. Just because I feel like I should, I'm going to give you a breakdown on my feelings on new characters as they pop up or change dramatically, and because this is the first season, that means we get to do it for... all the characters! So here we go.

Nya

She's good this season. She's the most responsible in the group. The samurai x reveal was handled really well. Making all the ninja jealous of her really worked to give her credibility. She's just the right amount of strong and independent while still retaining her femininity. It goes WAY down hill when season 3 hits, but as for season 1 Nya I actually really enjoy her.

Wu

I mean... what are you going to say? He's Wu? Anyone have a problem with Wu? No? Good, moving on.

Kai

So... this is where my bias comes out. Quick piece of info, my elemental personality is water... so like the opposite of fire. I see a little bit of myself in each of the ninja... except Kai. And I think that's why he's my least favorite. Don't get me wrong! I don't hate Kai or anything! He's got some good lines (episode 5 comes to mind) he's adorkable enough. It's not hard to play or to write a hot head, but it's hard to play or write a hot head that I personally enjoy. I think what Kai is missing for me personally is the tripping over himself because of his attitude, and sarcasm. Sarcasm and sass. It's there, it's just not as prevalent as I personally would like it. He has a lot of opportunities and theoretical development, I'm not sure too many of them were taken advantage of fully, or maybe they just didn't read the way I personally can grasp it, but none of it felt very completed or meaningful. Like I said, I'm a water gal, so maybe I just can't relate and that's why it's not as powerful. I'd be interested to see your rankings of the ninja and how they line up with your own elemental personality. There's got to be a correlation there, right?

Conclusion, just not for me

Cole

Cole and Jay are tied for second favorite in general. It fluctuates from season to season depending on what's going on, but for season 1 Jay has Cole beat. I think the only reason just being screen time. Goodness knows Cole has been a bit neglected in that category, but hey. He's still really good for what he's got. I think in real life I probably act the most like Cole. I try to be serious, responsible and a leader and then I just get goofy sometimes. I love his true potential episode! It's funny, and heartwarming, and the only episode actually about him, so it's fun to see!

Conclusion, just needs more love

Jay

Jay is then, my second favorite for the season. He's funny. What else can I say? Personal opinion; Jay freakouts are the best this season. Especially at the climax. He just has that pure goofball-ness to him this season that makes his humor not annoying and actually relatable and funny. I also love his family to death! He loves them, he knows it, we know it, and the interactions between them are precious! It really is the way he plays off of other people that makes him enjoyable. He has a lot more dry humor here than other season, which I am partial to. I've got some kinks to work out with this one in later seasons but for now, he's good.

Conclusion, No, I'm the real Jay!

Zane

...My baby! Especially this season he is so innocent, loving, caring, and mysterious that I can't help but love the heck out of this guy! I am a sucker for a good mystery! He has this whole other world he's a part of with his "sixth sense" and falcon and running away at night. It's unique and special to him and it's really cool! Plus, there is SO much ATMOPHERE that comes with this guy and MAN I LOVE it! It's all just so beautiful. I love interactions between him and Jay, I love his mutual respect with Cole, I love EVERYTHING. This season and the next have the most growth for him, and it shows.

Conclusion, there's a reason we call him the pure one

Romance

Kinda adding this one last minute, but I think it needs to be here. All we got this season is Jay and Nya but BOY has their relationship changed! This is the single one thing that caught me off guard. I forgot what their relationship, especially before Jay's true potential, is like. Honestly, I love it! They're so awkward and clumsy around each other at first, and then grow into this understanding couple of one another. There's not too much emphasis on it, but it's sprinkled in everywhere. I like it! Maya approved!

Villians

The devourer arc is one of my favorites. Maybe it's the nostalgia tingles at work again, but the snakes are ninjago's quintessential villains. Nothing can ever hope to replace them. It feels natural in the plot, they have their own culture and beliefs, and their motivation makes sense. You have your legitimately scary villains and bumbling comic villians in perfect balance. Scales starting as second in command was an amazing call. It proves he has power he's earned, is not easily put down and sets up his lust for power to be explored later. Pythor. Oh man oh man Pythor. I am a sucker for ATMOSPHERE and his introduction is BEAUTIFUL. Utilizes the rule of 3s and completely subverts your expectations with that eerie empty tomb. I love it! So manipulative! So sly! They aren't my all time favorite villians, but they're certainly among the best the show has to offer.

Garmadon is also there. He's half good half bad... sorta. Idk. He's not especially interesting, at least compared to the snakes and what they're up to. Let's be honest, he's just waiting around to get awesome in season 2 ;) I do like when he comes in with all the skeletons like, "yeah, no one likes you. Screw snakes!" Only to walk that COMPLETELY back next season, but you know. Whatever.

Lloyd... should I put him here? He's enjoyably annoying for a little bit... and then just annoyingly annoying. It's not too bad. He has some redeeming moments. Once he's the green ninja and has some responsibility on his shoulders, he gets a lot better.

Climax

... I love it. I don't know what else to say. It's tense, it has proper build up, the threat is real, they get desperate, they come up with a creative solution, they work together, there are stakes, there's good action, good drama, good humor. I don't have any complaints. I can't touch this one. There are minor things, but I don't think they're worth bringing up. Go watch it. It's freaking awesome. Enough said.

Humor

Pretty good this season. There are a few eye roll lines, but that's in all the seasons. Things can get kinda stupid, but for the most part, especially some of the more subtle humor really works.

Favorite line of the season, Cole's "I don't like metaphors" episode 11 - All of Nothing. You're welcome.

Drama

Not overly saturated this season, which is kinda nice. I mean, there's always "drama" but as far as heavy stuff, we have Zane's whole crisis thing, and then the Garmadon family reunion. I'll get to how I feel about the Zane stuff down below. As for the Garmadon stuff... it's fine. Gets a lot better next season, but for now... fine.

Spotlight Episode

So for every season I'll choose one episode that stood out to me to either praise or criticize in detail. There are a lot of episodes that come to mind for season 1 for one reason or another. The one about the power of rumors (also known as the pink ninja episode), lloyd rescuing the team, Cole's true potential is a classic episode with a good mix of heart and comedy, and of course THE FINALE, but because I am biased, and because I am a sucker for personal drama, season one's spotlight episode is episode 7, Tick tock, Zane's true potential. This was by far the episode me and my brother watched together the most. Aside from the movie Cars, it's probably the one piece of media we have scene the most times together. The episode begins by establishing Wu leaving, the ninja are at a loss of what to do and then... THE FALCON. Best character this season! XD seriously, the falcon theme is one of, if not my favorite piece of music in the show. Certainly the most memorable. And most importantly it kicks in the ATMOSPHERE! Have I mentioned ATMOSPHERE?

ATMOSPHERE

I am a sucker for some good ATMOSPHERE (no, I will not stop spelling it in all caps), and BOY the falcon chase scene! Zane is slowly taken away from his team members in order to reflect upon himself, and as he runs through the snow by himself to follow this bird you can see his determination, curiosity, desperation, and just that Zane factor that makes you go "awww, my child! He must be protected!" (Even though, you know, he was built to protect and all that) but just AGHH! I can't put into words for beautiful this whole sequences is! Go watch it right now! Look at that beautiful Zane! Listen to that music! That FREAKING MUSIC AGGHHHHHH! I LOVE IT SO AGGRESSIVELY! LISTEN TO IT! LIKE SERIOUSLY, LISTEN, HERE'S THE LINK!

https://youtu.be/2p07cgwwYws

It makes my heart SO happy! Idk if I'm the only one who feels that way about this scene but oh... oh how it gets me. Every. Time. Michael Kramer and Jay Vincent are freAKING GODS!

Okay. I'm done with the falcon chase. Now onto, like... the part of the episode people care about. The tree house, again, an amazing location. Unique, and mysterious, and as soon as he walks in, you just get this sense of memory. The flash back is ADORABLE and the others finding him... I think this was handled pretty well. Their reactions seem genuine (I mean, I would want to get out of there as soon as humanly possible too XD) and you can feel the genuine concern from all of the ninja, trying to help their buddy out in their own ways.

Zane's true potential feels really earned, and his thing that holds him back was established as soon as the series began. He was different and weird and he didn't know where he came from. Coming to accept what he is, accepting his past and finding an identity of his own is what gives him the power to unlock it.

Now, just for fun and because I know I'm going to hear it in the comments like "why is Zane's discovery of identity more valid than anyone else's? What about Kai! His true potential is entirely based on finding his purpose!" And yes. Theoretical commentor you make a valid point, but I think the key difference is in the identity they find when they unlock it.

Zane accepts his personality, his past, and his robotic nature as himself and can be proud of who he is as his own person. The thing that held him back was vague and sort of indefinable, and what he became afterwards was concrete, solid, and dependable. That's why you feel like the character has gotten stronger.

Kai goes in the opposite direction. The thing that holds him back is that he wants to be the green ninja. That's solid and concrete. The problem then becomes that you know exactly how the potential will play out. He's going to face something, discover he's not the green ninja, and come to terms with it. And his ending identity is much more vague. His purpose is to protect the green ninja... okay, what does that mean? What kind of a person does that make you? He didn't change as a person, his views about a certain topic where changed. Those are two very different levels of progress.

And I know you can argue that it wasn't the green ninja thing he needed to get past, he needed to get past his pride and all that, but even if you make that argument that conclusion is harder to reach and less apparent than Zane's progress as a character. Zane's progress is entirely centered on him. Kai's progress will never be separated from Lloyd. Just watch the episode. It feels like a Lloyd episode. I remember thinking the first time I watched it when he came out of the volcano "wait... what was his true potential? Why is this happening?"

Anyway, that's my little soap box rant. I hope I didn't offend too many Kai fans. Again, it's probably just my water bias coming into play. I know there's a frame work in place for development of all these characters, and every single one of them gets an arc and theoretically everything should work out and make sense and work beautifully and perfectly, but sometimes when you step back and look at it, it's just a matter of "but does it work?" And maybe it's a matter of opinion, but Kai's potential didn't work for me.

I've been on this way to long. I'm stopping now.

Misc

I really like the suits this season. They're all unique and the masks... compliment the Lego head shape nicely? Does that make sense? It makes them look a bit cuter. Anyone else see that? Idk, maybe I'm just going crazy.

Watch this season thinking about how the snakes become good in season 3...

I want more of the Pink ninja.

I love scales and his slight incompetence. Not total, just slight.

This exchange:

Pythor: I hardly have any friends

Lloyd: Woah! I hardly have any friends too!

Pythor: You don't say!

All together I really like this season. Light hearted, funny, good action and characters. Not super compelling or anything, but it doesn't need to be. Second best season for nostalgia tingles in general, third best for me personally. Most of this is a matter of opinion, so don't fret too much over anything I say. I'd love to see your thoughts/rankings/comments/disagreements in the notes! That's the point of this thing!

If there are any aspects of the season I skipped, let me know, I'm not perfect.

Thanks for reading! And if you got this far... I don't know. Work the word saxophone into your comment. Bonus points if it makes sense!

-Maya (a.k.a. parachutingkitten)

[littlepryingpandorica]

Project Rebuild Chapter 11

EXT. NINJAGO CITY DOCKS - DAY

Lord Garmadon is defeated. His Shark Mech is a broken and smoking heap. Garmadon coughs as the smoke clears. He tries pressing buttons and pulling levers in his control panel but nothing works. The Shark Mech does not respond but it’s shields are still up and activated.

GARMADON: (cough) Jeez, where did that come from? I did not see that coming. (cough) Your missiles are very accurate, Green Ninja. Too bad for you, I upgraded all of my shields! (to himself) That's all I seem to have at the moment, just some upgraded shields.

Lloyd speaks with a forceful and bitter edge to his voice.

LLOYD: Face it, Garmadon. You will never take over Ninjago, so why don't you just give up and go away for good?

Garmadon lets out an exasperated sigh.

GARMADON: Look, it’s been a really rough day for me. I’ve had to face my disappointment of a son...

Lloyd visibly flinches at this.

GARMADON: You’ve foiled my plan to conquer Ninjago. And now you’ve trashed my Shark Mech.

Lloyd’s patience is wearing thin.

LLOYD: (SHOUTING) WILL YOU JUST LEAVE ALREADY?

GARMADON: Okay, okay.

Garmadon raises his arms in mock surrender.

GARMADON: But mark my words! One day, I will conquer Ninjago! Maybe not today but just you wait, Green Ninja!

Lloyd seethes in anger and lets the words slip.

LLOYD: Oh I’ll be waiting… Dad.

We go to a quick split screen shot reaction of all the other Ninja widening their eyes in realization. But they don’t say anything.

GARMADON: Sorry, what? What was that last thing you said?

Garmadon leans over towards Lloyd.

LLOYD: What?

Lloyd is defensive.

GARMADON: That last part, I didn’t catch it.

Lloyd feels trapped. He rambles very quickly and instinctively lashes out in frustration.

LLOYD: Whuh uh uh? I didn’t say anything. What do you mean? I said I’ll be waiting and then I stopped talking…

Lloyd’s voice then takes on a deliberately bitter and sarcastic edge.

LLOYD: Dad.

Lloyd takes off his mask in defiance. He has had enough of hiding. He is furious.

We quickly go back to the split screen shot reaction of all the other Ninja.

ALL THE NINJA: GASP!

GARMADON: Luh-loyd?

Lloyd reveals himself as the Green Ninja.

LLOYD: That’s right! I’m your son! The one you almost killed today!

Garmadon is momentarily stunned. His mind is blown.

GARMADON: Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa….. ????

Garmadon continues saying this in the background while the ninja are interacting.

We go back to the split screen shot. All the Ninja except Zane facepalm.

ZANE: Do not worry. My sensors detect no other life signs within hearing range.

OTHER NINJA: Phew!

ZANE: Oh wait, there’s one.

Zane points in a certain direction.

We zoom in on a close up shot of General # 7 to reveal she did not actually leave Garmadon but instead was camouflaged in place this whole time.

GENERAL # 7: What? Uhh, I heard nothing!

KAI: Got it!

Kai uses the Fire Mech to shoot a stream of fire at the Octopus Lady General # 7.

General # 7 jumps out of the Crab Crawler and runs around screaming while on fire. She then finally drops on the ground and rolls around before dying with X marks on her eyes.

ZANE: Takoyaki anyone?

COLE: Mmmm… cannibalism…

GARMADON (CONT’D): Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…..

LLOYD: (SHOUTING) GARMADON!

We go to a close up of Garmadon as he snaps out of his stunned trance-like state as though nothing had happened.

GARMADON: Anyway where were we?

Garmadon and Lloyd talk at the same time. Whenever Lloyd tries to say something, Garmadon doesn’t acknowledge it and keeps talking over his son.

LLOYD: Dad…

GARMADON: Ahhh, whaaaaatt?

LLOYD: Dad, please!

GARMADON: My own son is the Green Ninja?

LLOYD: Listen to me!

GARMADON: How could this have happened? You were supposed to be the Chosen One and rule Ninjago by my side as father and son!

In response, Lloyd angrily slams down on the “Happy Birthday to Me!” button again. The Green Dragon Mech begins to shoot out missiles.

NINJA COMPUTER: Right claw missile. Left claw missile...

The same sequence of the missiles deploying plays out but now instead of focusing on the missiles, we see the baffled expressions of the other ninja. Their mechs shift around uneasily. The Quake Mech leans on the Ice Tank.

Explosion noises and Garmadon’s screams can be heard off screen.

After the explosions end, the smoke clears and this time, Lloyd is downright furious! He is breathing heavily. But Garmadon remains unharmed inside his shield bubble.

LLOYD: You’re always cutting me off! Always interrupting me! You never listen! Well, are you listening now, Dad? Do I have your attention?

Lloyd asserts his dominance while Garmadon speaks in a more submissive voice.

GARMADON: Oh I read you loud and clear, Luh-loyd.

LLOYD: I am not your Chosen One and I will never rule Ninjago by your side! I will never be like you, Garmadon! NEVER!

As Lloyd says this, the red in his eyes flashes very briefly and Garmadon sees this. Garmadon smiles and composes himself. He echoes his son’s words.

GARMADON: So be it. But if you ever find your inner darkness, then I’ll be waiting.

A couple of Flying Jelly Subs hover over the Shark Mech and attach their chain tentacles to it. They begin to lift it away.

Garmadon signals the Flying Jelly Subs and they turn to leave. But before they get very far, Lloyd shouts a final insult.

LLOYD: I wish you weren’t my father!

Garmadon pauses for a beat then signals the Jelly Subs to turn back and face Lloyd.

GARMADON: Then consider yourself henceforth unworthy of the name of Garmadon. From this moment on, I have no son.

Garmadon says each word clearly and carefully to cause as much calculated inner turmoil as possible.

Lloyd has a look of absolute hurt. All the other Ninja are shocked.

But Cole then narrows his eyes and pilots the Quake Mech over to Garmadon’s Shark Mech. The Quake Mech grabs Garmadon’s Shark Mech by the tail and yanks it away from the Jelly Subs.

GARMADON: Uh-oh!

With the lower torso wheel stable on the ground, the Quake Mech’s upper torso spins around, winds up for the pitch and hurls Garmadon’s Shark Mech far into the ocean.

The thugs in the Jelly Subs panic and quickly maneuver their Jelly Subs to chase after Garmadon.

The Quake Mech turns back to Lloyd.

COLE: Don’t listen to him, Lloyd. He doesn’t deserve you.

LLOYD: Thanks Cole!

Cole’s pupils widen to indicate he is touched and on the verge of happy tears at being thanked by Lloyd. But then, he does a double take after he realizes Lloyd may have accidentally revealed his secret identity

as well. Lloyd does not seem aware of this.

LLOYD: Well, that's our cue.

Lloyd presses a button on the control panel and the Green Dragon Mech releases a green flare from its mouth which makes a piercing noise. The green flare remains hovering in the air. This is the ALL CLEAR

signal.

EXT. THE BRIDGE - DAY

At The Bridge, the residents slowly come out of the Blast Shelter. Lil’ Nelson can be seen among them.

EXT. NINJAGO CITY - DAY

Throughout Ninjago City, the citizens begin to come out of their hiding places.

CITIZEN # 1: Ah, my ears have finally stopped ringing from all those explosions. I hope I didn’t miss anything.

CITIZEN # 2: What do we do now?

Suddenly, Lou of the Royal Blacksmiths singing group slides in. He picks up a Lego brick and starts singing diegetically to the tune of “We Built This City” by Starship, but with slightly altered lyrics.

[SONG: “We Built This City” by Starship - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfcAgnygeBI ]

LOU: We’ll rebuild this city! Rebuild this city on rock and roll!

The other members of the Royal Blacksmiths slide in and sing along.

ROYAL BLACKSMITHS: Rebuild this city! Rebuild this city on rock and roll!

All the Ninjago citizens break out in a spontaneous but seemingly-choreographed dance number. Like clockwork, they start rebuilding the ruins of Ninjago City. Everyone moves in synchronization to the beat of the song.

EXT. NINJAGO CITY DOCKS - DAY

The music continues playing but it is slightly muted.

NINJAGO CITIZENS: Say you don’t know me, or recognize my face...

All the ninja are restless and uneasy. They should be celebrating a victory but instead, they all look like they want to say something about Lloyd revealing himself in public.

Lloyd shrugs off their uneasiness. He is not in the mood right now.

LLOYD: We can talk about this later.

Lloyd pilots the Green Dragon Mech to fly off. The other Mechs reluctantly follow in silence.

[demonwriterx]

Lego Ninjago Movie Drabble #1 (bit of spoilers)

“Lloyd’s birthday”

Ninjago Fanfic

Lloyd Garmadon found himself in a famous sushi restaurant in Ninjago with his friends around him, his mom and a birthday cake in front of him. He was finally getting the birthday party he always wanted, with no one to spoil it for him just for being the son of Lord Garmadon.

“Here Birthday Boy!” Kai said loudly, elbowing Lloyd playfully in his side. He pushed the large red wrapped present in front of Lloyd. “Me and Nya got something for you.”

“Yeah!” Nya exclaimed. “I mean I was the one who found it, but you know-go on open it!”

Lloyd chuckled. “Alright, alright-” He ripped open the wrapping paper and tore open the box. Inside, he pulled out a video game. “Oh man! It’s the new racing game! Thanks Kai, thanks Nya, this is so awesome!”

“No problem!” Kai laughed before stuffing his face full of sushi. Lloyd chuckled and got a nudge from Cole who handed him a mix tape. “Here dude, I made you some tunes, old-school.”

“Whoa, sweet Cole…now I need to find tape player.”

“Ill hook you up bro.”

“Oh me next!” Jay said and pulled out a bag. “I hope you like it, but just in case you don’t, the receipt is in the bag.” He said softly, fiddling with his claw hands.

“Aw come on Jay.” Lloyd said with a smile. “I’ll like anything you guys give me.” He pulled out a green cap. “Sweet dude! Seriously I love it!” He put on the hat make Jay smile in relief. Lloyd turned to Zane, who was quietly sitting and observing with a permanent smile on his face.

“What about you Zane?” Lloyd asked.

“Oh, I didn’t get you any object Lloyd. Instead my gift is being here.”

“Of course it is, Zane.”

“Yes. I am a great friend.”

Lloyd smirked. “The best.”

Lloyd’s mother Koko gave her son a kiss on the cheek and slid another present across the table. “I got you something too sweetheart.”

“Ah mom, you didn’t need to get me anything.” Lloyd said, knowing how hard his mom works to save money for the two of them. Being a single mom and trying to provide for him, she works in three jobs. It’s hard work but she makes it work. “Hey, I saved up, just for this occasion. Go on, Birthday Boy!”

Lloyd ripped open his gift and saw a set of small keys with a green ornament attached to the key ring. He hummed and raised his brow. “Umm, is this new house keys? I love it, its cool.” He said not trying to hurt his mom’s feelings. She let out a scoff and slapped her son’s back.

“No silly! These are the keys to your new moped!”

Lloyd whirled at his mom. “No way! You mean you got me an actual moped?!”

She gave him a wink. “You deserve it, after all-you did save Ninjago!” Lloyd immediately gave him mom a hug.

“This is the best, mom, thanks!”

“So lucky bro!” Nya exclaimed. “Hey we should totally take it for a spin after dinner, I’ll teach you some of my sweet tricks.”

“Lets not get too excited now.” Koko said nervously, knowing Nya they might just crash his new moped. “We should get started on cutting his cake.” She said picking up a knife. Lloyd stopped her.

“Wait Mom, um…dad isn’t here yet.”

“Oh.” Koko eyes narrowed. “I told him to be here at six o'clock sharp and yet its…” she glanced at her wrist watch. “Wow! 8 o clock…typical.”

“I-I’m sure he’ll be here. After I saved him today, he said he really wanted to be here so maybe he’ll be here soon.”

“Hmmm-” Koko crossed her arms and glared at the cake. Lloyd pulled at his shirt collar by the heavy tension his mom was putting out. She still has mixed feelings of Garmadon coming back into their lives by being more active in his role as being Lloyd’s father. In truth, Lloyd believes that his mom is still disappointed in Garmadon for leaving them when he decided not to change his villainous ways. Now, it seems that it was too late for her.

“Hey Lloyd-” Kai said making his friend turn to him. He pointed to a plate full of sushi. “Can I have your dad’s food?”

“Dude, no.” Lloyd said, grabbing the plate and pulling it away from his hungry friend. “He’ll be here, I just don’t when.”

“Well wait no longer, Luh Loyd!” Announced a booming voice and everyone whirled to see Garmadon strolling in. Immediately, Koko glared at Garmadon who mistakenly took her harsh gaze as some sort of flirting.

“Hey Koko-butter! What’s up? Oh you into sushi now, that’s cool, I like sushi too.” He winked, making her groan and turn away. He took his seat besides Lloyd and gave him a playful noogie. “How’s my son doing? Now the party can really start!”

Lloyd pulled away and chuckled softly. “Yeah actually, it started like three hours ago…”

“Three hours?” Garmadon repeated, holding a blank face.

“Yeah, like we only have a half an hour left before the restaurant closes.” Lloyd slid the plate to his dad. “But we saved you a plate!”

“Oh I’m not hungry. I just ate.”

“Dibs!” Kai yelled, snatching the plate and immediately devouring it.

“What?” Lloyd gave his father a scowl. “Is that why you were late?”

“Yeah. I saw this sweet ramen shop on the way over here and I was like “oh man, I gotta try that!” And so I did and boy am I stuffed!” He said, patting his swollen stomach.

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope, Oh and I also got you this for your present. Catch!” He threw a set of keys at him which he caught easily. His dad smiled widely when Lloyd looked at the set of silver keys, with an ornament that looks like his dad’s face.

“Uh what’s this?”

“Your new keys for your new car. Duh.”

“What!” Lloyd shrieked, making his friends slam their hands on the table in surprise. Koko gasped softly and glared angrily at Garmadon, who took a slice of Lloyd’s cake.

“Yeah, I got my science nerds to build you one after I threatened them.” He took a bite out of his cake.

“B-but what about my moped?”

Garmadon spit out the cake, making everyone cringe in disgust. “What! Sell it! pssh, a car is way cooler and you can drive your little ninja-nerds around!”

Koko immediately stood up.

“Wow! Thanks dad! But-” Lloyd was cut off when his mother grabbed Garmadon’s helmet and dragged him aside. Lloyd sighed and lifted up the two keys in his hands.

——————————–

“Ow! Ow! Let go!” Garmadon protested and Koko obliged by throwing him against the wall. “Whoa babe! If you wanted to spar, can it wait after Luh Loyd’s party? I know how you get grabby.” He winked, giving her a smile. Koko shook her head and growled.

“You knew I was getting Lloyd a moped, and yet you come waltzing in and one up me by handing him keys to a brand new car?!”

Garmadon gave her a small frown. “Yeah? I mean it’s a bit of a no brainer. You buy your son a car and you get unconditional love after, it’s a win-win!”

Koko slammed her hand over her face. “Lloyd doesn’t need a car Garmadon! It’s too expensive!”

“And what do you expect me to do?” He said, trying to defend himself from her anger. “Just take it from him and say “sorry sport, your jealous mom said I can’t give you a car!” And I take the keys?!”

“I’m not jealous!”

“Koko…I know you’re jealous face when I see it. Can’t I give my son this one present! This super cool present which is the only present I have ever given him in sixteen years!” He shouted and punched the wall, breaking right through. He breathed slowly and sighed. “Since I never gave him his fifteen others…”

Koko’s glare slowly softened and gave him a sigh. She placed her hand on Garmadon’s arm, making him look up at her. “Garmadon, I’m sorry…you wanted to make up all those missed birthdays by giving a car to Lloyd…that was very sweet of you.” She admitted.

Garmadon snickered and brushed his hand across her cheek. “You know, the whole time you were talking…you had bits of rice on your face. That’s embarrassing.”

Koko rolled her eyes and slapped his hand away. She walked back to the table with Garmadon trailing behind. Lloyd ran up to them.

“Hey I actually made a decision!”

Koko placed her hand on Lloyd’s shoulder. “I understand if you don’t want the moped anymore…”

“What? No I’m keeping your present mom.”

“What?!” Garmadon shouted. “But what about the car?”

“Easy. Its for mom.” He placed the keys in her hand, making her blink. “I know you always take the commute to go to your three jobs and I know how tired you get when you come home late…” Koko felt her eyes water. “You deserve this mom, it’s more convenient for you than it is for me.”

Koko wiped her eyes and gave her son a tight hug. “I love you Lloyd.”

“Aw Mom. Its no big deal.”

“Hey mama’s boy!” Nya shouted, waving him down. “Time to eat cake, I can’t hold Kai back forever you know!”

“Oh right! Coming!” He pulled away from his mom and ran back to the table. Koko stared at the set of keys in her hand and couldn’t stop smiling. She blinked when Garmadon shuffled beside her.

“You have three jobs?” He asked, in a whisper.

“Yeah, well…being a single mom is hard.” She put the keys in her pocket. Garmadon frowned.

“I didn’t know. I’m…” he rubbed the back of his head, almost shamefully. “I’m sorry. I-if I knew that I would have…helped you out. You know?”

“I didn’t want to beg.”

“You really are still prideful.”

“I could handle myself and my son.”

“I know, but still…” he kicked a piece of trash aside. “It was selfish of me.”

“Well…you’re here now.” She said giving him a smile. Garmadon mirrored her.

“Anything you need! Rent, food, whatever! I got the cash, baby! Like literally I got a volcano full of gold!”

“Sure sure, now let’s go eat some cake or are you still stuffed?”

“I could eat!”

They both made their way to the table just in time to grab a slice before Kai could get to it.

[pokemon-ninjago-world]

Hello! It’s time for eevee!Lloyd’s introduction! (i’m really sorry it’s long and will mess your dashboard completely...) You can find the introductions of the other characters from <here>

Full name: Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon

Lloyd is 11 when the first season starts and he will turn 12 during it. Originally, I wanted him to be 7 and turn 8, but after fighting with the timeline of this world for ages, I realized that he must be older for my future purposes. (My headcanon of Lego Ninjago still is that the little guy is 7-8 in the first season though.) He is quite average size to an eevee of his age, about 125 cm. He is a shiny eevee, but not the color that shinies are in the Pokémon World. In PW all shiny eevees are grey, but in PNGo there are two possible colors: the ordinary grey, and then an auburn color. They both may have variation in hue, saturation, and brightness. These are called as ”silver shiny” and ”golden shiny”. Lloyd is a latter one, with glossy, blond fur. His eyes are dark like almost all eevees'. This is because they have a protective pigment on their cornea, that intensifies in bright light (… don't you look at me like that, I have studied biology and I like to use fancy terms!) and work like inborn sunglasses. You can see through this darkening color if an eevee has been in shadow and a light suddenly hits their eyes in the right angle. Lloyd's iris color is bright green, which is a rare eye color for an eevee, even though not an unusual one. However, his eyes turn red when he gets angry or if he's feeling malicious pleasure or plotting something nasty. This again, has nothing to do with biology and is purely based on magic, since red eyes are completely without pigment, like the ones that albinos have. (… What am I, your biology teacher? Uh, anyway,) Lloyd's green pigment doesn't just vanish away when he gets angry, but the hate kind of pours into his eyes, drowning out his eye color. It also shines through his cornea pigment faintly.

Lloyd is not as chubby as he should be for an eevee of his age. He is a bit too thin, but not unhealthily skinny. He is susceptible to sweets and treats, but otherwise he doesn’t eat much. He was left-handed before, but was then taught to be right-handed. He is digitigrade and quite in the middle of animal and human by his body. It’s easier for him to walk on all fours though, and he wears special sneakers that help him to keep his balance while walking upright. He likes all kinds of games: video games, ball games, board games, pretend… He even learnt to like fight games in school.

Lloyd is hasty, imaginative, and quick-tempered. He acts all mighty and is very precocious. He gets easily puffed up if he feels superiority over someone. However, he is actually just trying to hide his insecurity most of time. His inborn nature is timid, thoughtful, and playful. If he had the chance to live safe, normal family life, he would have grown into a polite and a bit shy kid, who still would be jolly and adventurous with the people he knows and trusts and sometimes become proud with his successions. However, destiny had another path for him.

His mother, Misako, left his husband and son when Lloyd was one year old. She was an archeologist and she had to go to explore Ninjago’s oldest secrets. It was vital, she said. So, the family fell apart already before the little boy could understand what happened. He lived with his father and uncle in his grandfather’s monastery. This would have been good enough, but as his dad was affected by a venom of a demon snake, his moral lessons were maybe not the best. He was always gentle with the boy and no physical punishment were ever used at him (not that there would have ever been a reason to), but he taught Lloyd that violence was acceptable, revenge was right and displaying negative emotions was a good way to get attention. Misako could have balanced this, but without her, Garmadon had to rise his son the way he saw best. Wu looked at this from aside. He didn’t want to interfere with his brother’s pedagogical methods, but when he felt like he had to correct the ways Garmadon had taught the boy, he tried to do it behind his back. They had arguments about Lloyds upbringing, but Wu was afraid of losing his brother and nephew, so he usually backed down so that they wouldn’t leave the monastery (the poor man was lonely).

When Lloyd had turned 3, his whole world was thrown upside down. He lost his father. He saw how a lightning struck him, and he fell into a ravine that had opened on the monastery’s yard. He couldn’t comprehend what had happened. All he could do was ask Wu where his dad had gone. He didn’t have a decent answer.

After that his uncle took care of him for a while. Wu was devastated, even though he tried not to show this to the boy. He was also restless, slept very little and prayed a lot. He had sent a word to Misako so she would return and take care of Lloyd because the man needed to do some important maneuvers now that the balance was in great danger and some alarming prophecies were seemingly becoming fulfilled. After a few months Misako came back. She was shocked and terrified, because she knew exactly what prophecy had just come true. However, Wu couldn’t stay put any longer. He made himself sit for one cup of tea so he could tell Misako what had happened and they could share comforting words, but then he dashed off. Lloyd didn’t remember his mother. Even if Wu had introduced her, the boy was a bit suspicious and very reserved with her as she took him with her and left the monastery again.

Misako couldn’t take Lloyd to her expeditions as they were dangerous and boring to a small kid like him. The work also demanded great precision so she could not have taken good care of him and he would have been in the way of the research. Therefore, she had to find a place where Lloyd could live and gain education while she was looking for answers from the ancestors. However, every day-care place, boarding school, and children’s home gave her all sorts of excuses of why they couldn’t take Lloyd in. First, she was surprised but compliant because she thought it was just a coincidence that this happened, but when door after door was closed before them, she started to feel like she was missing something. Finally, she got fed up with this and pressed for a proper reason from a childminder lady who led a big house. The answer made her fall silent in outrage: “Well, to be honest, I would be very surprised if you found a place that would accept that demon child anywhere near their children.” Garmadon’s notoriety had spread wide and rumors had cast an even darker shadow to him and his family. Misako of course argued this and tried to defend her son, but the lady was adamant. After this, Misako was a bit unmotivated to find a home for Lloyd and as expected, all the places she asked turned them down. One possibility was of course to leave him into a public children’s home, but that would have meant that she would have lost custody of him.

The last hope was Darkley’s School for Bad Boys. It was a boarding school for 7-15-year-old boys, and it had a bad reputation, but she couldn’t think of anything else. In this school she got quite an opposite reception. The headmaster was delighted and flattered that Misako asked a place for Lloyd from there. The boy was indeed quite young to be a pupil, but there was a day care system for teachers’ children in the school and many of them even slept in the school for some nights. So, it was settled. Lloyd would learn about life in that miserable place. And unfortunately, it taught him to form his nature towards aggressive and impulsive rather than cautious or polite. He learnt to harden his heart, drown out his timidity and be a loud, fierce character, who wouldn't flinch if he was attacked verbally or physically. He had already learnt from his father that revenge was always rightful and that violence was a very good answer in every situation. In school he had to put those lessons in practice. The only possible good thing about this was that he gained confidence and wasn’t so afraid of social situations anymore. Or rather, he might have still been afraid, but he learned to stand that fear and be confident regardless.

First years weren’t so bad. The other kids didn’t pay much attention to Lloyd, except for the first day, when everyone made fun of him and one kid put fire ants in his bed. They still played pranks on him sometimes, but most of time they ignored him. Yet he managed to befriend Brad, the one who put ants in his bed – or he could almost have called him a friend, at least in the scale of that school. The other kids weren’t yet close enough to start a fight with him and they didn’t consider him as a threat to their prevailing hierarchy (fighting was local form of playing and at the same time the kids were ranked among each other). But as he grew older and the kids got to know him and his background better he was sucked into the violent culture of Darkley.

The first real battle he was in was awful and he got trashed quite badly. Everyone laughed at him later and called him weakling, chicken, and whatnot. Brad, his almost-friend, told him what to do and how to take revenge. Lloyd hated it all at first. But as he found the cruel satisfaction of defeating someone and getting his revenge, he started to get a grasp of the lifestyle. Yet he never felt like he fit in. One essential lesson he learned in the school was to never show tears or fear. If he did, the danger increased radically. On the contrary, if he hid all his “weaknesses” he wasn’t targeted as easily. He had to wait until his roommates were all asleep to cry in peace and sometimes during daytime he escaped to some safe hiding place to regain his mental strength. Even though life in that building during all those long years made Lloyd really grow tougher and more careless, he was still sensitive, and very lonely under his made-up exterior. He hated everyone and everything in the school. He couldn’t see the twisted friendships and alliances between other pupils. For him they were all his and each other’s enemies and he felt alone, scared, and angry. All he wanted was to get away and find his father of whom he had blurry, but happy memories. He had never betrayed him or let him down, unlike the mother and uncle who had abandoned him.

The teachers were hopeful about the son of the famous Lord Garmadon, but they got to come to the realization that he wasn’t like they had thought he would be. This seemingly wasn’t his place. Lloyd rather avoided conflicts than searched for them. He didn’t advance in the hierarchy among the kids in the way they had expected. When he turned eleven, only few of his peers bowed before him, even if most of them didn’t practically walk over him either. They had hoped that at this point he would have showed signs of leadership and thirst for power. But the boy was just a grumpy, hasty, and goofy little thing, and they knew he couldn’t spend four more years in there. Not only for his sake, but they didn’t want to keep a pupil who didn’t have good enough potential. And so, he was expelled.

Lloyd didn’t want to go to his uncle nor his mother. He wanted to go and find his dad. The only thing that had given a glorious halo to the boy, a great reputation even before he started to fight for his honor, was a father whom everyone knew and whose name could silence a room full of noisy brats. He wanted to find him and to become like him. Respected and feared, strong and fearless. The problem was that the headmaster would call his mother to come and pick him up again. To avoid this, he called back to his mother as soon as he managed to sneak alone into the headmaster’s room so he could use his phone. He said that Wu had offered to come and take him to live in the monastery. Misako was relieved as she was in a difficult place and on the verge of very promising discovery. She trusted Lloyd to speak the truth so she never called Wu to check the information.

Lloyd packed his few belongings into a backpack and left. He said his mum was picking him up from the next village. He had no actual plan, but he was excited about his new freedom. Misako had left him some money and she and Wu regularly sent him money into the school. Now he could finally spend it on something! He came to the village and spent some money for food (basically sweets) and a bed. There was also a fancy-dress shop from which he bought a black cape. He also purchased some white textile color with which he painted ribs on his shirt (he had heard rumors about G’s appearance after his fall).

He went intuitively from village to town and to next village, searching for answers. He heard many stories about his father (well, the people who told him the stories kept in mind his young age and didn’t tell the goriest stories and smoothed out the edgiest parts). Most of them were not true, and he heard many mentions of his return. He had been seen here, he had been seen there. So, Lloyd thought he should just follow the flimsy tracks. But eventually he ran out of money. He got some food out of pity, when he asked, but he knew he’d have to get money. He sold almost everything he owned except for his clothes. He thought about stealing and tried it once, but it was too scary and he got a guard Houndour after him (it couldn’t catch him tho). He also tried to avoid police officers in general. He was afraid they would catch him and send into child welfare center.

He kept on wandering and subconsciously drew nearer to the Monastery of Spinjizu. He slept his nights outside, tried to hunt a little during the days, but couldn’t catch anything. Fortunately, it was berry time, so he could gather something from the wilderness. He was still awfully hungry and tried to come up with something to get more food. He had only a small trick box filled with rubber snakes with him and he knew it wouldn’t give him many meals. But then he got a grand idea. He was the son of the fearful Lord Garmadon! So, all he needed to do was scare people into giving their food for him. And the more sugar the food contained, the better.

This was a lot of text again, and you’d deserve a whole bunch of cookies if you made it this far~!

[victoriazanaademi]

Arranged Love with a Happy Ending (A Greencheeleader Omegaverse AU fanfic)

Ok so before we start I wanted to clear some things up. Yes, you read that correctly. This is a Omegaverse fanfic for the Lego Ninjago Movie and yes I know this is frowned upon by some but I have had this really good idea for an Omegaverse Greencheerleader fanfiction for quite some time and I apologize if this offends or upsets some people. It is not my intention to offend or upset people. I like writing because it heals me. I do not write to upset people nor hurt them. I want my writing to bring joy to people. Now that it is out of the way I shall put the fic under a read more so people don't have to scroll through it.

Garmadon...my dad is an old-fashioned dad when it comes to omegas. You know that omegas should have long girly hair and wear more feminine clothes. and all that stuff. I mean it is still common so I guess he isn’t that traditional. Of the ninja, I was the only omega. Cole and Jay were betas...Nya and Kai were alphas and Zane...well he doesn’t count since he is an android. But they all have supported me since I revealed myself as the Green Ninja and my newfound fame and me as an omega.

“Hey, Lloyd got any plans after school? I and the others were thinking to go to that new sushi place everyone keeps talking about on Snapchat” Jay asked as he held up his phone in front of my face. Lo and behold there was a picture from one of Jay’s many Snapchat friends of the new sushi joint. I sighed as I fiddled with my hair.

“I....I can’t I m sorry Jay” I replied. Kai groaned in frustration.

“Dude this is the third time this week you’ve canceled on us. What gives?” he said looking at me.

“...well you know my dad..he...uh..he has arranged an alpha for me. Mom tried to talk him out of it but you know him. The Great Garmadon wouldn’t listen to rhyme or reason” I said. The others looked at me like I had said the most offensive thing in the history of Earth.

“Dude h-he can't do that. There must be a law against it....isn’t there..." Nya said the last bit she trailed off into a murmur. Her expression said it all. She was terrified for my well being. Omegas who got married off usually got married off to old wrinkly guys that want nothing more than to pass their genes before they die.I fidgeted with my hair some more.

“Unfortunately there isn’t.....but I’ll be fine guys...really I will,” I said trying to reassure my friends. They looked at me with sad looks on their faces.

“Do you know who it is at least?”  Zane asked. I shook my head. “Well let us hope it isn’t some creepy old guy like most omegas end up with in  arranged marriage” Cole said. I swallowed what little saliva I had in my mouth when Cole said that.

Later that day I come home to see Chen’s parents. Chen sits on the chair looking awkwardly down at his lap as if he has been ordered to not speak if not spoken too.

“Ah Luh-Loyd just in time....we were waiting for you,” Dad said with a smile. I sighed as I joined him at the table. "Dad, why are Chen and his parents here?” I asked. 

“Well, Luh-Loyd Chen is the alpha I have arranged for you” dad replied, his smile growing impossibly bigger. Wait what??? I am forced to have this guy as my alpha are you kidding me?!?!?!? No way.

“Dad are you nuts he used to ridicule me...berate me...he even wrote a song mocking me,” I said trying to reason with dad. Mom looked at me. I knew she wanted to help but she couldn't. Dad dragged me off to my room to talk to me in private.

“Why are you being like this. He is a perfect alpha and I am sure he will make me and your mother beautiful grandkids" he said in a hushed whisper. I yanked my hand away from him and glared. I wanted to tell him how I felt but I couldn’t. I let out a shaky sigh.

“That’s my boy. Now let’s go back to them your mother and I are going out to talk about the wedding with Chen’s parents. Give you guys some time to bond and become alpha and omega” dad said. I could only nod as our parents got ready. Once they left I was alone with Chen. We exchanged awkward glances before I spoke up.

“I know you only like me now because I am the Green Ninja and I freaking hate my dad for and your parents for doing this to us” I said.

“That’s not true....I-I’ve always had a crush on you...but people ridiculed me for it because you were the son of Garmadon. I am sorry and I totally get it if you hate me now....I should’ve been more honest with my feelings from the beginning than resort to some petty bullying. Can you ever forgive me?” Chen said. 

I looked at him. Was he serious? I looked at him for any signs of ridicule but found none.

"I...I forgive you Chen.....I am not the one to hold grudges....mom always said to give people another chance” I said.

 Chen leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. I froze up where I sat before slowly kissing back. Letting Chen’s hand rest on my thigh.  We pulled away and looked eachother in the eye. 

"Lloyd Garmadon...please let me be your alpha...please let me show the world that you are mine and only mine” Chen whispered in my ear.

I nodded and bared my neck for him to place the bond bite mark. Chen leant in and bit down. When he was done he pulled away and smiled. Perhaps...an arranged marriage wasn’t so bad when it is with the right person. We spent the rest of the night talking, getting to know eachother. That was the night I fell in love with  Chen.

A few months later and it was time for us to get wed. Wow I’d never thought I’d live to see the day. Me, The Green Ninja, leader of the Secret Ninja Force is going to be married to the love of his life as corny and cheesy as it sounds.Nya entered the dressing room, dressed in a black dress with blue sequin stripes. I fiddled with the dress that my dad had insisted I should wear.

"Are you ready?” Nya asked. Now Nya and the others took their time to accept that Chen was my alpha but they were supportive nontheless.I nodded as I heard the music start. I grabbed the bouqet of flowers and left the dtressing room. My life was going to change for the better and I had my dad to thank for that.

-The End-

Epilouge: 11 years later

11 years had passed and Chen and I were as happy we could ever be. We even had a daughter named Jaycee who had picked up Chen’s intrest for cheerleading. Oh nad a 11 month son named Jayson.  Kia and the others came to visit when they could. Jaycee had invited some of her friends over to show Chen nad I a new cheer routine they have been practising.

“This is for my mama and papa for being super awesome. Ok 1 2 3. D-A-D he is rad and that’s not bad. P-A-P-A he is the Green Ninja and that’s also rad and not bad Go dad and papa! Go dad and papa" Jaycee had finished with a pose.

"Good Jaycee we’re very proud of you” I said clapping my hands. “Yeah at this rate you’ll be sure to win cheerleading national when you get older” Chen siad wrapping his around me.  I chuckled as I kissed Chen’s cheek before heading to the nursery to check on our son Jayson. He was sound asleep before I entered. His green eyes looked back at me as I picked him up.

"Are you hungry?” I cooed at him as I  prepared a bottle of milk. Jayson whimpered as I started feeding him. I smiled at him. These were the best moments of my life and I wouldn’t want to change it for anything in the world.

[aberrantchaser-blog]

The Lego Ninjago Movie Questions has spoilers.

Does anyone else feel Master Wu was sloppy with his lessons? Why didn’t he teach the ninja about their elemental powers earlier? or maybe they refused to learn?

You’ll never truly defeat Garmadon until you see things from a diff pov. You have the power to win the battle w/out fighting. When you start using your minds, you won’t need your mechs/machines. They could do that if you’ve taught them that Wu!

At the very least Nya thinks the SNF is useless w/out mechs, gee Wu, wonder why?!

Patience, courage, hard work, all skills of a true Ninja master. I’m really starting to think Wu didn’t teach them as much as he could/should have.

Begin training go back to basics. What are these basics?

When Lloyd says something along the lines of we can find the ultimate ultimate weapon by remembering what Master Wu taught us. I’m just left wondering what did Wu teach you, he only just told you about having elemental powers yesterday?! 

Speaking of Elemental Powers, I feel like the videogame did a slightly better job on making sure the player/viewer understood how Lloyd got to the conclusion he did.  As much as I appreciate the pun, & needing to look at the saying differently, ie literally & with a different spelling, the one used in the tagline that’s put on posters for this film, [so okay there was at least 1 thing that needed a different perspective to understand], I still feel like the unlocking of elemental powers could have flowed better, or come together more organically.

How good of a combatant are each individual ninja? I got the sense that they might not have been as good a hand to hand combatant as I’ve been lead to believe. 

Why did Koko let Lloyd go on believing Garamdon left them, instead of her leaving Garamdon behind to give Lloyd a good life?

Did anyone catch what Garmadon did in each attack? or what each General said before they were fired?

What did Wu mean when he said But you must promise to walk a different path. 1 that only the son of Garmadon can walk. No matter how hard it may be. Did he mean forgiveness, something else?

Is Lloyd  the only ninja w no combat applicable element?

You’re in the natural world now, elemental powers come from this lush, green world.  Green being a connector of the rest of elements due to possibly being their origin, really makes me think of Chi/Qi, especially atla/lok’s take on it. Is that what’s Lloyd’s power base is? Or should I consider his elemental ability to connect people emotionally, possibly via empathy?  

What were the other Ninja doing when Garmadon was putting Lloyd’s arm back on?

That’s not who I am Lloyd. People would never see me as a hero. [have u seen megamind?] 

If I couldn’t change then what makes you think I can change now?

I get that Lloyd & Garmadon patched up their relationship at the end, but does anyone else find themselves not quite believing in Garmadon’s probable change of heart? He went from wanting Lloyd to be his General #1, to now being okay with Lloyd being just his son. The beat didn’t quite land for me. Would someone mind explaining?

Anyone feel like doing an analysis on how Lloyd’s feelings towards his dad changes throughout the film?

When did Lloyd take Koko for granted? That beat doesn’t make sense to me.

What different perspective did any character gain?

So does Nya know what a cat is? she doesn’t recognize it as 1, when it destroys her mech, but then does recognize it’s a cat when she sees it again. Maybe she was just too shocked the 1st time around? 

Why is the mayor’s office so exposed to the open air?

Was the kid’s Lloyd minifigure that was missing it’s right arm made of wood?

bonus video game questions. in the videogame each character unlocks spinjitzu elements by finding inner balance/peace. Think something like this should have happened in the film.

What Wu was trying to teach us Invisible, 1 w elements, still pissed he either didn’t teach his students this, or maybe they refused to learn?

While it makes sense for Wu to catch them in the Destiny’s Bounty, I would have liked Lloyd’s Dragon Mech to be the 1 used, same as in the video game, could have used green as a symbol for renewed hope.

Considering the videogame & jr novelization share some lines, along with some elements/situations from DK’s Essential Guide, I’m left wondering how much each scriptwriter for each piece of media knew.

bonus questions on Found My Place - Oh, Hush! feat. Jeff Lewis (Official Lyric Video) PFQs2iHi3Ew

note anything after a 2 is my additions.

With our main man Lloyd. (* that’s me) double l-o-y-d. my dad is bad but ya we still family, ….

But just because you’re diff, doesn’t mean you’ll never make a difference. as long as you’re w good friends, you can save the world!

2 Shame the friends don’t have very clear personalities.

Cuz we got the power that we never knew we had.  

2 Thanks Wu for not telling the ninja about their elemental powers until very recently.    

With our main man Lloyd. (* that’s me) double l-o-y-d.  …. Gimme nunchucks quick.

2 No 1 in the team actually has nunchucks as a personal weapon.

Nya keeping everybody else in check, 2 if only they could expand on this somehow.

[yellowvan2-blog]

Get Real Time Weather In Osaka, Japan

Get Real Time Weather In Osaka, Japan

If your wedding day is fast approaching one of your concerns may be what the current weather in Osaka Japan is. Will your day be filled with sunshine or will the current weather in Osaka Japan conditions be soggy? If you find your current weather in Osaka Japan is going to be sunny and hot make sure that you're well hydrated for your big day. Make sure the current weather in Osaka Japan doesn't wreak havoc on your appearance and apply a moisturizer with sunscreen under your makeup. Don't forget your lips. If the days leading up to your wedding calls for a current weather in Osaka Japan forecast of sun make sure to use sun block each time you go out. Painful sunburns will spoil the mood. Make sure that you're smelling fresh for your wedding and apply a clear deodorant if you're going to be sweating in the current weather in Osaka, Japan conditions. If the current weather in Osaka Japan calls for perfect days and blue skies for your honeymoon you'll probably find yourself venturing out of your hotel room on a few occasions. Bring attire of a swimsuit, shorts, trunks, or cute sundresses. You may also want to invest in a couple of attractive hats to help protect yourself from the bright rays if the current weather in Osaka, Japan calls for it.

It was so serendipitous, I couldn’t have imagined the success we encountered in my wildest dreams. “The only reason Margo and Katee asked me to join is because I have a lot of friends who I could spread the word to. I wouldn’t brag about this if it weren’t my only skill. I can’t sing or even hold a tune, basic math makes me sweat, and I’d rather leap out a high window than DIY anything. But I like people and they seem to like me back. I also have a background in improv and stand up, so I guess that helped.

Being on stage is pretty easy for me. Co-directing means I can’t skip rehearsals whenever I’d rather be eating pasta in bed (that’s most Sunday nights honestly) but it’s been an amazing challenge and I’m glad I took it on in spite of the extra workload. YoYo (left) with other participants during a rehearsal for the upcoming The Vagina Monologues play in Osaka, Japan. “I didn’t know about The Vagina Monologues at all when I read the e-mail inviting me to join the group, I was just interested in acting in both English and Japanese. I was surprised to learn the contents.

More surprisingly, other ladies at the call for actors seemed very familiar with the show. They were from abroad, places like America and Europe. But few of my Japanese friends knew it except some theater people. “Sometimes the content made people embarrassed—we were even once rejected to use a venue because it was too sexy. But some were very open to it. Researching the show to better understand our cause, telling me they had a chat about it even I wasn’t there—some of my old friends were raising a topic that we had never talked about before. The Vagina Monologues (TVM) is a good starter to notice matters we are ignoring. “We still see many sad issues like DV, sexual harassment, and violation of one’s rights all over Japan. Seeing TVM might not be the most drastic solution, but I personally like the way we are bringing those issues up. We can do something. We can rise together. We can change the paradigm. And we suggest many ways to do so. It makes people feel positive, I hope. If people think it interesting or fun, they naturally spread it. This year’s performance is on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Pine Brooklyn in Osaka. See details here. To reserve tickets, email vdayosaka@gmail.com.

Pass the training and receive your Ninja License! You will be entitled to priority entry to LEGO® NINJAGO WORLD, due to open in July 2019! March 15-May 6, 2019 This spring, LEGOLAND® Japan turns two! A new 4D movie is released! Please come and visit Palace Cinema to check it out! Is a miniature version of ten of the most amazing locations in Japan, including Nagoya, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima. With over forty rides throughout the park there are plenty for all ages to have fun on. For older kids and adults, try the Dragon roller coaster in the Knight’s Kingdom.

For the little ones, try our mini rollercoaster Dragon’s Apprentice. If you’re in Pirate Shores come and try Anchor’s Away, a ride the whole family can enjoy. Where the fun begins! Come and take a tour of our Brick Factory and see how LEGO bricks are made. You’ll even receive a fresh brick straight off the production line as a souvenir of your visit to LEGOLAND Japan. After watching a road safety video, children aged 6-13 drive electric cars around a realistic course encountering traffic lights, roundabouts and other drivers. At the end, they all earn their very own LEGOLAND®Driving License. Rider must be 6 - 13 years of age.

Explore the world of Lego via our interactive park map! 7 days before your visit and save up to 10%! Choose either a Pirate, Kingdom, Adventure, LEGO NINJAGO or LEGO Friends themed rooms and see LEGO come to life as you walk through the corridors and enter your room! Plan your visit to Legoland Japan! Looking for a cool children's theme park? A theme park for kids is the best way to keep your family entertained for a whole day, that will also leave them so excited they’ll be talking about their amazing day all night long. Treat your family to the ultimate LEGO experience and come and stay in our amazingly unique and fun family hotel. From the moment you arrive you will begin your magical LEGO experience as the hotel itself is so colorful and has been created to look like it has been made out of giant LEGO bricks. Download the new LEGOLAND® JAPAN APP and get live ride times, show times and an interactive park map with directions. Park and attractions opening hours for 2018! How to find us. LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and Knob configurations, the Minifigure and LEGOLAND are trademarks of the LEGO Group.©2018 The LEGO Group. LEGOLAND is a part of Merlin Entertainments plc.

In the late 80s and early 90s, a small group of Japanese jeans fanatics in the city of Osaka went on a quest for the perfect jeans. Their pursuit for the best denim would eventually unleash a jeans boom that has thoroughly changed the global jeans market. Jeans are as American as you can get. But the jeans that American companies like Levi’s, Lee and Wrangler make today are far removed from those that American icons like James Dean and Elvis Presley wore. Production of raw, unwashed denim was discontinued in the US in the 1960s; the old looms and the skilled workers that produced it vanished soon after.

At some time in the late 1980s this was starting to bother two employees of Lapine, a small fashion store in Osaka. “I really liked Levi’s 501,” recalls Hidehiko Yamane, one of the two, now well known as the founder of EVISU. “But in the 1980s, jeans were changing. The quality of the sewing was going down, rivets were different, the material was not the same anymore, and they even used plastic buttons. “At the time, many Japanese bought vintage jeans from the US,” remembers Mikiharu Tsujita, the second employee, now owner of FULLCOUNT. “It was becoming more and more difficult to find them, and they were becoming expensive. Lapine’s owner, Saburo Fujimoto, initially went ahead with their plans, but when it became time to pay for a batch of denim, he balked.

But Yamane had already made the denim, and had also fallen deeply in love with the project itself. He decided that if Fujimoto wouldn’t, he’d do it himself. In February 1991 he quit his job. Two months later he started the company that would grow into EVISU. By 1992, Yamane had made hist first 300 pairs of jeans. Popular Japanese magazine mono happened upon them, liked what they saw, and introduced them on their pages. Soon, Yamane was assisted by Tsujita, and two former customers from Lapine, the Shiotani brothers. They didn’t stay very long. Tsujita started FULLCOUNT in 1992, while the Shiotani brothers started their own company, WAREHOUSE, in 1995. Each one following his own vision of what the perfect jeans should look like.

These three however were not the only ones in search of the holy grail of vintage jeans. In 1988, Kobe based fashion manufacturer World Co. had launched Denime under the leadership of Yoshiyuki Hayashi. Six years before that, Shigeharu Tagaki, possibly Japan’s top expert on vintage jeans, had founded STUDIO D’ARTISAN. Surprisingly, all these pioneers were located in the same region. STUDIO D’ARTISAN, EVISU, FULLCOUNT and WAREHOUSE in Osaka, Denime in Kobe, a city neighboring Osaka. This happened partly because they were all friends with the same passion for jeans. “We all knew each other,” says Hayashi. This could only have been possible in Osaka’s open culture. “People here don’t hide information,” says Hayashi with a broad grin. This closeness and open sharing created an intense rivalry. One other dominant aspect of Osaka culture played a major role.

“In Tokyo, team play is more important,” says Tsujita. “People follow strict rules. People in Osaka however, are more individualistic and proud. You even see this in baseball. When Tokyo players first play in Osaka, they are shocked how free and undisciplined teams are here. Osaka also fosters a strong respect for traditionally made products. “In Tokyo there is a greater focus on trends,” says Yamane. It didn’t hurt that Japanese textile giant Kurabo was based in Osaka, and that Hayashi was backed by another local fashion behemoth, World Co. “Because of World, Kurabo went through all the trouble to create vintage denim,” says Hayashi.

“They would have never done that for a small company. Making something that “nobody made” was far from an easy undertaking. “In the beginning, we were often told it was impossible,” says Yamane. We didn’t know how to make the selvedge denim, or how the sewing was done. The Osaka 5 give almost obsessive attention to these details. “Rivets should be made of copper so they eventually get a green-blue color,” says Yamane. “We usually use 6 different thicknesses for the threads used in sewing,” says Takeshi Kawata, chief designer of STUDIO D’ARTISAN. ”Because jeans shrink, we also calculate the needle width very carefully.

Showing a similar concern for the stitch, Yamane displays a pair of old faded EVISU jeans. The hemline’s fading is interrupted at regular intervals, creating a playful display. “That only happens when you use a chain stitch,” he explains proudly. The attention to detail extends to the type of cotton that each company insists on using. “For our best jeans, we only use Memphis cotton,” says STUDIO D’ARTISAN’s Kawata. FULLCOUNT’s Tsujita however, swears by Zimbabwe cotton. “It is handpicked, therefore much cleaner and whiter. Because only one crop per year is grown, the cotton grows much bigger. The pioneers’ great advantage in being able to recreate vintage denim has been old power looms that were collecting dust at small factories in nearby Okayama Prefecture.

The area had developed itself as a manufacturer of student uniforms, but with baby boomers grown up and families becoming smaller, business was bad. When they were approached to recreate vintage denim, they were both available and delighted. Since the five first pioneered vintage jeans, the market has greatly changed. The Japanese vintage jeans boom of the late 90s enticed a large number of companies to jump onto the bandwagon. When this boom started to fade, many Okayama factories started to create their own brands. The well-known brand Momotaro was for example begun by Collect, the textile mill that first worked with FULLCOUNT. Large companies have taken over two of the pioneers. STUDIO D’ARTISAN was purchased by an Okayama company, and Denime by entrepreneur Hitoshi Tsujimoto, who in the late 1980s developed his own vintage jeans line for his fashion retail chain Nylon.

Tsujimoto has cut out companies like Kurabo and Kaihara and contracts directly with dozens of small factories. This has allowed him to change the production process. “We make so much denim at one time that we can control the quality better while reducing the cost. Before I bought Denime, the company’s jeans sold for 35,000 yen (351 euro), now they’re 25,000 yen (250 euro). But it takes a lot of money.” With 16 companies in his portfolio, money however seems hardly a problem for this astute businessman. This gives the impression that from now on the focus will be on profits, no longer on the quest to create the perfect jeans. However, with Denime no longer in the hands of World, Hayashi has left the company. In 2010, he set up a new company, RESOLUTE. “My aim is to make a perfect replica of the Levi’s 501,” the 55-year old Hayashi says with fire in his eyes. Also read Jeans Revolution for some context about how unlikely Osaka was as the birthplace of the global jeans revolution. Buckets of stone balls at Oyama based Kouritsu. Detail of the hemline of used EVISU jeans. The fading is interrupted at regular intervals, creating a playful display. “That only happens when you use a chain stitch,” explains owner Yamane.

We’re finally leaving Kyoto (reluctantly) and headed towards Osaka. Quick side note for Kyoto, as mentioned in my previous blog post, there are way too many locations in Kyoto to cover. So I’ve not actually included everything in these blog posts. If you want the complete itinerary, click here. With that out of the way, let’s have a look at Osaka. We arrived in the evening. After checking in to the hostel and leaving our luggage, we headed towards Dotonbori (about 900m away from our hostel). We’ve spent the remaining of the day exploring Dotonbori. The neon signs filled up the street with life, something we don’t see in Kyoto. We tried out these grilled giant scallops and the famous takoyaki. Next morning, we headed towards Kobe but I’ll write about Kobe in a different post. So I’ll be focusing on Osaka alone for this post. We headed towards Osaka Castle. Famous for being impenetrable during Sengoku era. Even though it was pretty much destroyed multiple times and rebuilt, it’s still massive. Inside, you’ll find a lot of replica/authentic relics that emphasizes the civil war. Pigeon man just outside the castle.

Osaka is located on the Osaka Bay between the island of Honsu and the island of Tsugoku. Osaka is the third largest city in Japan. The city has a spectacular aquarium, several museums such as the National Art Museum and several ancient sights such as Osaka castle. The centre of Osaka can be divided into two parts: Minami and Kita. Minami is famous for its shopping facilities and for going out. Osaka has a moderate sea climate. A sea climate has fewer differences in temperature than a land climate. However, summers are warm and humid. Blorg.org and precipitation figures are high and constant all year round.

Especially summers may give you a clammy feel. Skies are almost always overcast here. Winters are mild and subzero temperatures are uncommon. Because of the supply of warm air there is a risk of tropical storms in Osaka. The figures below are based on long term weather and climate records. Climate figures are very useful but don’t present a general impression of the climate and the eventual weather circumstances within a certain period. The figures don’t always reflect the chance of wintry weather, extreme heat or hurricanes. The information at this site was carefully composed from climate data collected by meteorological services, meteorological offices, climate experts and other sources. “More climate info” is based on statistics, climate data and personal experience. No rights can be derived from this site. Weather has no memory and gives no guaranties. Nothing is as changeable and unpredictable as the weather. The authors of this site feel in no way responsible for any damages caused by misinterpretation or other circumstances that may influence your holiday or trip to a certain destination. We provide information, it’s up to the reader to use it to it’s benefit.

Osaka Castle, which around a million people visit per a year, is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Osaka. In the castle you can enjoy the exhibitions about the history of Osaka. They are explained using videos, models and so on. In Osaka Castle area, there is the Osaka castle park where you can enjoy lunch, seeing the castle. Also this park is popular spot for cherry blossoms. Check this park, if you visit Osaka in spring. Personally, Dotonbori is the best place to describe “What is Osaka”. Osaka was flourished as the center for delicious foods. You will find Dotonbori street full of interesting advatisements for restaurants.

It is good place to taste Osaka cuisine; Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, Kushikatsu and so on. Tsutenkaku, which is located near Dotonbori, is the landmark of Osaka. Tsutenkaku is 100m high and used as the observation tower. The official mascot character is “Billiken” and it is known as “the god for happiness”. Abeno Harukas is a complex program skyscraper constructed in Abeno-ku, Osaka and the highest building in Japan at 300 meter hight (at the present of 2015). You can directly access there from Kintetsu Abeno Station. Not only you enjoy shopping or eating, but also you see the amazing view of Osaka from the observatory named “Harukas 300” located on the 58 to 60 floor.

Universal Studios Japan is the most popular theme park in Osaka. There are many attractions focus on the world on movies. Particularly, at Harry Potter section, which was opened in 2015 everyone from adults to children enjoy the atmosphere of Hogwarts. The best drink there is “Butter beer” from “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”. Kaiyukan is the popular spot among tourists, families and couples. Kaiyukan display around 620 species of marine animals mainly from the pacific ocean areas. The most popular marine animal is Whale Shark. You will be surprised at its size and cuteness. Without eating Okonomiyaki, you cannot enjoy your travel in Osaka. Okonomiyaki is the best food to present Osaka cuisine.

There are thousands of Okonomiyaki restaurants and they have their special Okonomiyaki recipes. You must find your favorite Okonomiyaki restaurants. Grand Front Osaka opened in 2013, is the huge complex building which create the new cityscape of central Osaka. There are around 260 shops and restaurants, hotels, show rooms, offices, creation spaces and so on in the four connected tour buildings. You can easily access there from Osaka station. Umeda Sky Building is the spectacular building which have the floating garden observatory platform on the top. From the platform, you can see the amazing scenery of central Osaka and the scenery was chosen as one of the 100 sunset views in Japan. On the underground of this building there are many restaurants where you can taste Japanese cuisine such as Okonomiyaki. Ticket counter is on 39th floor. The feature of HEP FIVE is the red ferris wheel on the building.

There are entertainment place named “JOYPOLICE” as well as shops or restaurants in the facility. How about getting on the ferris wheel at the end of your Osaka travel? You must enjoy a romantic moment with Osaka night view. Takoyaki is as popular as Okonomiyaki as the Osaka cuisine. You can enjoy the contrast; the outside is very crispy but the inside is soft. In your travel in Osaka you must try this local food; Takoyaki. Tennoji Zoo, which opened in 1915, is the third oldest zoo in Japan. Around 900 animals from 200 species can be seen there. At the feeding time, you can see penguins, elephants and polar bears are fed. The national museum of art in Osaka collects and displays masterworks of modern art. Popular artists exhibitions are sometimes held in temporary exhibitions areas. The exterior design represents the development of modern arts using bamboo.

Namba parks, which is located in near Namba station, is the giant shopping mall. Many various trees are planted on the building. You can enjoy shopping with lots of nature and you must forget you are in the center of an urban city. Suntory Yamazaki Whisky is very popular as Japanese whisky all over the world. This whisky factory is located in Osaka because of the source of clean water. In the factory you can taste different kinds of Yamazaki Whisky as well as seeing how Yamazaki Whisky is made. Fees for factory tour:1000yen (Reservation needed. Mino park is the natural park located in the north of Osaka.

[captainignatiuspigheart]

Another week, another near-sun tan. This week I’ve seen a friend in person (what the actual fuck?) and found a new direction for exercise. That sounds pretty good, right? It was extremely disconcerting to meet up with a person in real life – I’ve begun to feel a little like all my friends who have long assured me that they’ve met their best friends purely online – but three hours sitting in the local park in a government-approved triangle was lovely. I’ve been seeing others largely as things to be avoided as they blunder towards me, breathing heavily with no sense of physical distance. Apart from the postman and chin tilts to neighbours it’s the most human experience I’ve had of late. I also attended a properly fun Zoom birthday party too (thanks Mr Ben!), so clearly we’re getting used to these things.

Heading out in the direction of Dovecote Lane park eventually sent me that way on my bike too. I’ve found exercise really hard for the last couple of months. I’ve always relied on cycling to work (and the swim at the halfway point) for a few miles in each direction to keep me fit without feeling like I was doing exercise, and it’s been pretty good for keeping me fit and able to eat and drink what I like. Well fuck you very much lockdown, that’s been properly trashed. Cycling in an aimless circle round university park or Beeston has been quite cack, and while jogging on the spot clearly burns calories it’s too tedious. So I’ve started cycling out to Attenborough Nature Reserve. It’s not especially far, but I’ve rarely explored round there, so I’m enjoying heading off down a road with no clue where it goes. It’s not made me late for work… yet. Even when I didn’t sleep at all on Thursday night I got up and went for an explore before work. Must be good!

In between late night walks around Beeston, drinking too much and watching TV, we’ve continued our slow build of the LEGO Brick Bank. It’s quite lovely.

I’ve also finally returned to LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga on our Wii. I’m up to 30-something per cent and enjoying it enormously. I have discovered though that our TV really can’t handle proper dark contrast on a sunny day, so I’m dying a lot by falling off edges I can’t see. There have been a few levels where I’ve had to stand right in front of the TV (in sport mode), and just hoped I’d find the exit to a room. Still, I’ve got Indy and General Grievous to hop around and smash stuff, so I’m happy.

Oh yeah, and another bootleg Mando arrived this week – with shiny beskar armour! Baby Yoda will have his Mister Shiny Helmet. Nicely, he comes with a screwdriver accessory which I assume is supposed to be the tracking fob. There is something in me compelling me to acquire more of these guys… I’ve also just got the Armourer, but pics of her will have to wait till I’ve crafted a custom cloak. What is wrong with me…?

  Watching: Hollywood

OK, so this should have been in last week’s post, but I’d forgotten that we’d watched it. That’s no indication of how good it is, everything belongs to the neverwhen at the moment. Plus we caned through it in three nights. This is a very strange show, offering us an alternate Hollywood of the 1950s in which the reviled minorities of the day can actually get a foothold in the industry. The show nails the golden era vibe, from movie producer boardrooms to the grim/delightful gas station gigolos. Over the first couple of episodes the show draws together the flailing careers of half a dozen interesting and purposely diverse young Hollywood hopefuls and then sets them together in a movie, despite, or perhaps because of, their race, gender and sexuality – all things that would have killed their careers in real Hollywood. It’s a very pleasing show; the acting is great, from the keen Jack Castello moonlighting as an escort from the aforementioned gas station (it and its owner, Ernie West, are an absolute highlight), aspiring black actor Camille, Archie the black and gay screenwriter who finds himself in a relationship with Rock Hudson (also a delight, and terrible actor in a fantastic screentest montage), and the awesome double act of Hollywood execs Dick Samuels and Ellen Kincaid, plus the quite distressing sleazy and manipulative agent Henry, played with soiled glee by Jim Parsons. 

It’s really good fun, and a moving story – each success feels wonderful, and Hollywood getting behind this gang is immensely satisfying, as is the acceptance and coming out of various characters at all levels of the business. For me, it remained jarring however, for just how unreal the situation is compared to Hollywood of the ’50s – it never escaped its own unlikeliness. Most certainly worth a watch.

Doing: We Are What We Overcome – Live Specials

We’re continuing to livestream every other Monday on Facebook, this time on trying to be aware of our mental health states, as well as that of others. I feel like we’re getting better at this live babbling thing. It feels less awkward now. We’ll be streaming to Facebook next on Monday 1 June, and you can watch em all right here.

Reading: The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton

I’ve been through another couple of weeks of struggling to read properly, or at least as quickly as I enjoy. After discarding half a dozen books less than one chapter in, I finally prised open my book cupboard and pulled out the first pretty thing I could find. It was this! A pleasing and sharply written story of a boy traumatised into silence by an event in his childhood (which is only fully revealed toward the end, and works very nicely),  a lad who discovers he has two talents, drawing and lock picking…  We’re given two main story threads to skip between: his life as the lock artist led by a series of pagers offering jobs that he responds to, and how he got into all this trouble in the first place. They’re both peculiarly endearing, and that’s partly down to the charming internal monologue which carries through all of his interactions, since he does indeed remain mute throughout. He’s funny, and sweet, enough of an outsider through his selective mutism to have a cynical eye, and yet through his silence other people just trust him. Including proper big bad criminal types. It all ends rather badly, but we’re told that from the beginning. His lengthy infatuation and distance romance via comic book pages that he and his sort-of girlfriend exchange is genuinely delightful. This is fast-paced and fun, with a harsh shade of real darkness in both his past and future.

Reading: Transformers vol. 1: The World in Your Eyes

This was a hard read for me. I’m a huge fan of IDW’s previous Transformers continuity, which ran for an extraordinary thirteen years (a feat that I don’t think any other Western comic series, still less one based on a toy line, has achieved), taking us from the brutal finale of the Autobot-Decepticon war through to peace time, with wonderful characters, alternating humour with dark political wranglings. This new reboot has quite a lot to live up to… 

We’re taken millions of years back to Cybertron pre-war, introducing us to the sights through the eyes of newly forged Rubble, who’s being shown round by Bumblebee. Of course, it’s the worst possible time to show a new kid round, as the tensions between the establishment and Megatron’s “Ascenticons” are just now bleeding over into violence. It’s a lovely Cybertron, one we’ve only glimpsed before in flashbacks (or, memorably, time travel), and it’s a thriving world with vast architecture, travel and commerce. A successful world, which for what feels like the first time, has organic alien races living alongside the Transformers. It’s sad to think it’ll all be ripped apart soon…

It’s a very pretty comic, but is incredibly slow moving, even for the first chapter introducing a rebooted world. I suspect I’m finding it hard going from the well-established characters of the last continuity to seeing them all reshuffled and now filling different roles. It’s a cool era to set the story in though, and I think it’s got promise.

Building: LEGO Ninjago 70736 Attack of the Morro Dragon

I love Ninjago’s dragons and the insane aesthics the range has pursued down the years, giving us both traditionalish ninjas and dragons, but also Mad Max dieselpunk, enormous mechs, and more recently Tron-style arcade stuff. Bonkers. Oh, and also the stunning Ninjago City builds and the even wilder designs from The LEGO Ninjago Movie.

This set’s a little older, and like most of the Ninjago line I only pick them up when they’re quite severely discounted. Obviously it was the glow in the dark colours that appealed to me most of all, and those lovely wings. It’s a satisfying assembly, with a mini temple build, sky bikes (or something, I don’t really follow the stories), a couple of ninjas and three more of these evil ninjas with transparent legs and heads. Oh, and two ghosts. I’ve already put them somewhere but it’s the dragon I was interested in.

This is actually a smaller set than I thought it was, and comes together very quickly indeed. Despite being larger, and having more pieces than Master Wu’s dragon (a fantastic LEGO set), it’s a shorter build all round. The construction is like many of the others, a combination of big crunchy joints and the little Mixels ones for legs, wings and tail. I always enjoy the design of the dragon head itself, which gives the beastie a lot of character. The chin horn is oddly satisfying! All the glow in the dark pieces give the dragon its lovely roiling curves, but leave it sadly inflexible. It’s a dragon I’d love to coil around a building, but that’s gonna take a severe re-engineering of its body. It’s rather striking, and I imagine this one will remain constructed for quite a while, at least until I want to plunder its glowing parts.

And just because I liked it…

Watching: Never Have I Ever 

We watched this in a single night… I’m always thrilled to stumble across shows with under half-hour episode lengths at present. This is a pretty straightforward US highschool outsider tale, from the somewhat unusual perspective of an Indian-American family. That’s a pretty familiar trope in UK TV, and was very welcome in the even-more-familiar US high school setting. I’m not sure that there’s anything exceptional here, but it’s warmly told, with a number of fun and occasionally over the top performances, all solidly conforming to our expectations of a high school drama. I had some trouble figuring out how old the characters were supposed to be as it’s the usual casting combo of girls who must be in their twenties, but look about 14, and guys who are plainly in their mid-thirties. No wonder kids are so confused these days etc. As usual it’s the vibe between the BFFs that makes this fun to watch, particularly drama-queen Ramona Wong (wonderfully and worryingly odd in the lamentably cancelled Santa Clarita Diet). As filled with diversity and coming out stories as you could hope for, this is plenty of fun, if not especially memorable. Oh yeah, and it’s narrated by John McEnroe. Yes, the tennis player. 

Doing: MissImp’s Virtual Improv Drop-In – “Specific and True” with Terje Brevick

Continuing our mission to bring you improv from everywhere, this week’s episode features Norwegian improviser, Terje Brevick, with fun games and a good reminder of the value of details and honesty in improv.

Last Week – a really busy week! Featuring another mental health livestream, books: The Lock Artist & Transformers vol 1, TV: Hollywood & Never Have I Ever, LEGO: Morro dragon and MORE. Sleep now please. #books #tv #lego #stuff https://wp.me/pbprdx-8EZ Another week, another near-sun tan. This week I’ve seen a friend in person (what the actual fuck?) and found a new direction for exercise.