#endless game pv

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Happy with the staff content this year but am I the only one who is disappointed with the PV we got? It's basically a slideshow of art we've already seen, major downgrade from the year 1 PV that had literally all the events. There was a drop in quality of the anniversary PVs over the years and it really shows this year. Sorry if you find this too negative I don't mean to hate I just wish Twst would do better for it's ANNIVERSARY.

[For everyone's reference, here are the anniversary PVs in order of release: 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024]

Mmm, now that you mention it, I noticed this trend with the Halloween PVs 🤔 For year 1, there was a video that showed all members of the NRC casy, even those that did not receive cards at that time. There were then several short variants of the PV released for year 2/Endless Halloween Night (part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 4). Altogether, they feature all of the characters, including the students from year 1 but heavily shadowed and with glowing eyes to indicate ghostly possession. Even Glorious Masquerade features all of the students that get new cards for the event plus Rollo, although there are notably more still shots here. The Stage in Playful Land CM, by comparison, is significantly shorter and only shows us the three SSRs (Ace, Ortho, and Kalim) as well as the two new characters (Fellow and Gidel).

As this anon has said, the anniversary PVs have changed a lot over time too. The first one was the most animated and integrated several event outfits. The second one was also animated a fair amount, but you can tell corners were cut in some places where they transition to photographs/still images. This alone works thematically given that the player is a photographer, but you can still catch dips in quality when it comes to the art style. I remember finding Deuce running and the Kalim + Silver flying scene odd, as well as Jade and Trein's faces strange in general. Then the third PV rolls around and it only features the third years; the animation also seems to be much more sluggish (although this could be a stylistic choice; not sure). A friend actually recently pointed out to me that Lilia's pose looks like he was pulled straight from other assets; his artwork in the animation is almost the exact same as his smiling expression in the game. This year's is the most different (+ most static) and, like year 3's PV, only provides "new" content for a select few characters (the dorm leaders). They also reuse pre-existing illustrations already found in the game that don't seem to be picked for any particular reason (like, there are random Master Chef/Culinary Crucibles groovies in there). This direction, I'm guessing, is less costly and more efficient than making an entirely original animation, which is what was done in previous years. (Not that Disney or Aniplex is hurting for money to fund this, lol) Would I have preferred another PV in the style of year 1's? Yeah, for sure. I want to see other events and their outfits animated! Was what we got this year bad? Not necessarily; I think the production and editing was very technically impressive, but I'm still sad we didn't get anything substantially "new" to chew on (as someone who isn't a fan of most third years or the dorm leaders). Maybe it's just something we perceive as a deficit only because year 1 set the bar so high. It is what it is; whoever was in charge of the anniversary PV was probably doing the best they could with whatever budget they were given 😔 Let's hope that next year's will be a return to form, or that at least the money/effort is being redirected to other bigger projects (maybe the anime?).

[orangecatty-shiningnikki]

【 Shining Nikki TW+CN 】

4th Anniversary Shining Nikki Game 2023

【 Shining Nikki TW+CN 】

4th Anniversary Shining Nikki Game 2023

PV Plot. Hope of the Stars 1

The replacement of the era is like the profit and loss of the moon phase,

Transmutation and overlap in endless time.

The old gods are bound by the old order,

And the newborn light has gathered on Xingzhu.

.

[puckpocketed]

Hey 👋 do you have any thoughts on the Zegras trade rumours?? Ngl there a part of me that wants him traded to a team that would treat him better!!

come back with a warrant etc etc.

no seriously what is this lmaoooo are there no other ducks blogs to harass with questions…. 😭 godbles. thanks for thinking of me <3 don't know if you'll like this answer.

I don’t think he is untouchable at this point, and I don’t mind that. I do get the attachment and protectiveness some fans might feel over him i suppose! Like i wasn’t there for it but he was thee face of the franchise for a while there. I simply don’t have that same attachment. For me he’s just a guy who is fun to watch, and I’d watch him play on whatever team he’s on! I do genuinely get excited to see him play setup-man — even if Frankie the Volume Shooter Vatrano can’t finish on the EASIEST chances ever!! <3 Z at this point is looking like….not a franchise-altering star in the same vein as Leo Carlsson. Look me in the eye and say you’d build around Z over Carlsson. I wouldn’t. I don’t think any GM would. Makes sense he’s not as much of a lock for the future as he was maybe 2 years ago when he was literally their best prospect. the ducks have a better prospect pool and a guy who can actually be The Guy. Why wouldn’t z’s place be a bit less secure?

I still don’t think it happens. Regarding the rumours, at first I firmly believed they were complete fabrications that came out of the drysdale trade (silly spec articles were fun but had no substance to them) and lately I’ve interpreted the endless noise as 1) click bait during off-season, and 2) teams probably are at least asking and it's because the center market is so thin — we all saw the egregious contracts that were handed out at the start of free agency. He is cheap, young, is a proven NHLer w/ two 60+ point seasons under his belt, and every other center is locked down or very very expensive, and teams are likely scrambling. Idk… what GM worth anything would hang up the phone in this situation? I’m sure PV is listening, as is his JOB, I just don’t think they’re as desperate to offload zegras as everyone keeps saying. We know Z wasn’t actively being shopped at the deadline. PV himself said he wanted Z playing with them as of the ducks migration event in March (albeit, on the wing).

i think even if they really wanted to be rid of him, it would be really stupid of them to trade him for anything less than a 1:1 NHL-ready player. They need warm bodies who are actually NHL caliber. They want to come out of rebuild, they’ve said this coming season they want to compete, so more picks are useless. PV is looking for a RHD and/or top 6 winger, they emphasised how much they needed finishing because of how many 1 goal games they played last season, so he’d probably want someone like that back if he’s smart. And given zegras is currently at his lowest trade value coming off a season of injury + poor production, I really hesitate to say anyone would pay that price. For more complex trade analysis I think you’ll have to go elsewhere, I can’t speak in more detail about what the market looks like for teams in the east, who wants to move bodies and who really needs what Z brings. It’s a circular problem… I don’t think it happens unless the return is big, and the return probably won’t be big because he was injured and wasn’t playing too well because he hadn’t recovered fully when he was back. There’s wiggle room for a GM to do something horrendously stupid and give away the farm for him or for PV to sell him off for nothing… but I’m doubtful.

can’t agree with you on wanting Z out. Not gonna dig into the ‘theyre killing his whimsy’ idea other than to say i dont think it’s that deep, I’m not in his head, and body language reading is a pseudoscience. don't think the ducks are evil or that they're, idk, harming or ‘ruining’ him by making him do stuff like uhhh play more defensively responsible and sitting him for dumb penalties (be serious w me here… Unless you’re a truly gifted goal scorer who puts up insane points + have the perfect linemates to make up for your deficiencies, seems to me like everyone has to learn to play a little on the other side of the puck eventually) and I tortured myself by actually watching ducks games UNLIKE some of the nhl media who claim they know whats up so i feel like i can somewhat speak to this… zegras is a talented but flawed player who hasn’t learned to keep his cool and costs the team precious minutes of his ice time in the penalty box. his stupid penalties were disastrous for game momentum. I don’t particularly agree w the way his short leash was handled by Cronin; the benchings were certainly deserved, but the optics were handled poorly. However, given that they get along quite well (reportage from people who actually witness them interacting) and Cronin uses every opportunity to praise Z for his work ethic and intelligence (actual articles and interviews that are direct quotes and not speculation) I’m more willing to chalk it up to cronin’s growing pains as a first-time NHL coach. There seems to be this weird idea around the league that they’re at odds that I’ve heard on podcasts and in desk segments speculating on trade rumours and i am begging them to actually pay attention to what is being said. God. Anyway.

On the flipside… he IS a driver of offence. The team just looks different when he’s playing vs when he’s out. They don’t have players who can do what he does. I want to believe that he is a highly valued member of the team purely based on how much he does for the team when he’s in. Is that too vibe check-y of a take? I swear there are stats and gameplay to back this up LMAO. Sorry to get overly sincere but… deep, deep down i just think he’s a special player. I knew fuck all about his personality when he first caught my eye. All i got was that he’s so, so fun to watch. Not for his individual highlight reel play necessarily (though that’s also fun), but as someone who manipulates defenders, as someone who has immaculate hands in tight spaces, his uncanny vision — for what he can do as a passing threat, the way he somehow always knows how to place a pass where it finds a linemate’s tape. And now he’s working to use that hockey brain and those fancy hands to defend, I just think that’s really cool. I believe in him. Barring catastrophe, I think he’s going to be so good. The way media paint him as one-dimensional/flashy but then turn around and say he’s a prime trade target for teams in need of a top 6 forward is insane to me. Which is it? Makes me a bit sad people aren’t giving Z credit for trying to learn + grow his game lmao (and uh a little insulted on his behalf i wont lie!!). Idk. Maybe I’m being too optimistic. I truly don’t care anymore. The rumours are just noise to me at this point, I’ve put enough thought into them to last a lifetime and I don’t have control over what happens in the end. No matter what, I just want him to do well <3

[yueasuka]

Whats the chance that PV Chat Noir do this for Bri's birthdayy? Endless! ❤️

--

Chat Noir is many things for her, he's her friend, her partner and she even think that he's a family now by how much he visited her house. He said he was just patrolling but he end up enjoying the dinner in the Dupain-Cheng's table like a house cat that she remembered her father always want to have. It was started once, twice and somehow through the months it become a routine, to the point that she must admit that it feels odd to not have him with them at dinner.

"Noir Dupain-Cheng," Bridgette remembered her father proudly said the future name of the bakery if he decided to marry her which fortunately, he refused. Her father seems to be disappointed but of course Thomas Dupain isn't one that would dwell on disappointment for long (now think again, neither do Chat Noir) and before long, we have gathered at the living room and play games together.

She likes to think that she's already get used to his anticts by now, both as her civilian self of when she suited up.

Boi... How wrong she was.

Because right at her seventeen birthday, he come to her house, screaming 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!' while wearing a high heels boots over a star fish costume and while that alone is already weird enough, the black belt wrapped around his hip(?) make it even weirder that everyone who saw it couldn't help but laugh.

"Can't be helped," Starfish-Noir whispered to her. "Plagg refused to let me suited up but I already promised that I'd come."

She blinked and her mouth was opened and closed repeatedly before realisation came. That was why he came so late, the party has been started for an hour before his arrival and to be honest, she was a bit disappointed when she thought he wouldn't come. He's usually punctual after all.

"So that's why..."

She muttered, relief clear on her tone as she looked up at Starfish-Noir with a small smile. His dedication deserve a lot of praise, really. Because while most people would opt out to not come, he still decided to come with his DIY costume. Although one question remain,

"Why starfish though? You're a cat, not a fish." She whispered back.

"Starfish isn't a fish, mind you." He said and for some reason she could imagined a pout on his face behind that stupid costume. "It's a last minute deal so I need to get what I can get from the store. You know, desperate time called for desperate measure?"

And her laugh erupted right at that moment, she didn't care if people looking at her weird because she had been holding it since his arrival! Fortunately it didn't take her long to finally regain her composure and she quickly hug Starfish-Noir.

"Thank you Chat Noir," she said as she buried her face into the costume. "For coming and being my friend."

"Anything for a friend." He said and she could feel his hand on top of her head, rubbing it to the point it make her ponytail askew. Not that she mind, not when he finally here on her special day.

[putufelisia]

[ Light and Night ] Lu Chen's Birthday 2023

"I'd like to live with You

In a small town.

In never-ending twilights

And the endless sounds of bells."

This is A PV of Evan's Birthday 2023.

Evan (陆沉) is a character from the game Light and Night by Aurora, Tencent Games Studio.

Evan is voiced by Liu Beichen.

[millermark112233]

Solar Energy Associations in Kalamazoo, MI: Powering a Reasonable Future!

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[thethera-rossa]

My 5x20 concert song list

1. truth

2. Kansha kangeki ame arashi

3. Happiness

4. Kotoba yori taisetsu na mono

5.Kaze no mukou e

6. Endless Game 

7. Fukkatsu LOVE

8.  Sakura

9.  Kokoro no sora

10.  I’ll be there

I could not vote officially so I made a thing 😁 I cant wait how many songs I have chosen would be used in con 😃

Here is my B-side list (I almost died during doing it)

1. Be with you

2. Tadaima

3. Ai no collection

4. Hana

5. Te agero

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

..."STAR-CROSSED LOVERS"??? YES.

Thank you so much @cheri-translates for translating Victor's SAND AND SEA DATE. You're an angel. 🥺🥺🥺

Now I'm gonna start blabbering since I've many feels about this date LOL~ 🙃

⚠️Warning: There are some spoilers regarding Victor storyline from the main story chapters that haven't been released in EN yet.

🌹

From "I won't save you a second time" [CH 1] to "I don’t need you to save me a second time." [The date in discussion]-- LOL as hilarious as this is, the irony.💯

Ngl this date felt like, the writers thinking since, under the context of the theme, the physical pain of time travel & crossing countless of dimensions & timelines is not possible-- let's just nearly kill him by spilling blood & dehydration but still we gotta nearly kill this man cause he wants to be in love.🙃

Idk why I'm getting so emotional LOL but there are so many call-backs I can remember on top of my head right now--

[The lines & moments from the date are indented & in bold letters.]

MC: "Victor, I’m helping you look for a water source. Let go!"

🌹 The sad broken cup scene from [CH 18-16], MC urging Victor to let go & him stubbornly refusing, until she gives in.

MC sacrificing herself to revive the river, part of it is to save Victor- other part of it is also for the greater good of the people in the city.

🌹 [CH 18-18] MC's monologue- "This time, put everything on my shoulder & let me be your hero one last time."

& sacrificing herself for the peace of the world even though it only made more chaos.

Victor releasing the hand that supported him at the edge & deciding to sacrifice himself with her. & the vow- "No matter what awaits you, I’ll be with you."

MC's monologue: "It turns out that no matter what the ending is, he’s willing to be with me."

[CH 18-28] Victor deciding to use the sundial watch one last time despite knowing that'd kill him for sure & might lead the world to perish as well. Dummy & Selfish in that moment. His final vow before MC disappeared, "No matter where you are, I'll always find you."

[CH 19-6 Dream World Victor route]

MC: "What if this really is a dream. Then what?"

Victor: "Then I'll turn it into reality."

[CH 25 phone call- In the Hospital]

"No matter what you are facing in other space-times...Wait for me."

[CH 36-10, after Victor returns from his 10K years time travel]

Victor: I thought you are never going to be afraid again?

His warm breath moistens my eyes. I inhale through my sore nose. Resisting the urge to bury my face in his chest, I look up, staring straight into his eyes-

MC: I will never be afraid again. Because you really came back. Victor is standing here before me like a treasure once lost and now found. What do I have to be afraid of?

Victor is stunned for a moment. The corners of his lips loosens a bit, while the contours of his face softened a lot. He raises his hand to wipe the wetness from the corner of my eyes.

Victor: It seems that this dummy has grown up a lot during this period. Listen carefully, I will never return to a world where you are not.

[CH 37 PV line]

"Whatever choice you make, I'll always be here."

[CH 37 karma by-line]

"I will accompany you on the road leading to the future."--

Basically the eternal insistence of him having an internal MC GPS tracker LOL ALWAYS being by her side.

Kidnapping incident.

🌹...[CH 30-7 to 30-10] Agio Street underground gambling den mission- wants to say a hello.🙋‍♀️

Abandoning the honor & glory of leading a comfortable life as a feudal lord to restore the river & to find the fateful couple, probably hoping to find his love too, but won't admit cause even if it's AU, he be like- "I'm still Victor" LOL

[CH 11 karma by-line]

"I won't let go of you & the world."

The physically-mentally painful exhausting wait & time travelling of 10K years, walking through endless dimensions & timelines, only to start from the very beginning every single time- hoping to find a way to save the world & protect the girl-- wants to say a hello too 🙋‍♀️

MC's monologue: Still, I want to have one more look at Victor… before leaving.

🌹 This specifically reminded me of a [CH 37-5 Victor split route] monologue from MC--

"It didn't matter what was waiting for me. I would face it with my head held high. Even so, I still wanted one last second...just one second. Let me call his name one more time...let me take a good look at him...just one last time..."

Victor: In that case, stay here. Stay by my side.

🌹 He has said the same sentence in different ways under various circumstances but one I can remember right now,

[CH 24-12 Black Cabin reunion]-- "But right now...Just stay by my side."

MC noting down how she always finds herself in his arms whenever she's fainting or getting in trouble. How Victor has been quietly taking care of her & protecting her. How the person before her walks in steady steps with forceful heartbeats.

When she was in her most depressing state [CH 18], he was there like the steady pillar of support, helping her in every way he could. He was pretty much the glue that kept her in one piece.

Again, in winter world, he stood by her side even as a stranger.

Not just these two incident, throughout the entire game, especially in the latter part of the story, they work together like partners, she learns to trust him with pretty much everything & they work through everything they can together.

Those few mentions in the date-- could be referred to how Victor has always been the constant source of warmth, encouragement, strength, support, protection in her life. No matter what world or when, he never really changes. He is still the same man. & His constant state IS choosing MC every single time.

Victor lies on the sand quietly, and it’s as though everything has returned to the beginning when we first met.

🌹 Indication towards how their storyline ALWAYS goes back to square one or comes in a full circle-- from Victor saving her from the car crash as a kid [& this being repeated many times afterwards, even in winter world], to the lightning incident [MC jumping in front of Victor both as a child & an adult], to both being in coma for week, staying in the hospital & taking care the entire time [MC in CH 11, Victor in CH 32], to stabbing each other countless times. [CH 18, CH 36-- & every other times Victor has seen those incidents happening before his eyes while time traveling.] *que tears*

🌹▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️🌹

I could possibly make a full blown essay which I already kinda have out of some other specific call-backs I can remember right now. Specifically the theme of the date being star-crossed lovers-

Legend tells of two lovers. Because of the pressures of their nations, they could not be together, and decided to drown themselves in a river for love.

Because of this, the River Goddess was enraged, and she cursed the land nourished by the river which was under her control. Since that day, the Socya River gradually dried up.

The Goddess left an exhortation-when the fateful couple reappears on this land, the river will be surge once again...

& This perfectly echoes the canon theme of Victor x MC storyline--

🌹 As in, Victor being someone who, objectively speaking, seemingly has everything & yet sacrificing practically everything--

[giving up over-seas university offers, staying in the city instead of moving abroad even though his business could be expanded more, relentless search of 17 years, appointing private detective for 6 years, building up Souvenir etc.]

--- to find MC & then in the mission of keeping her safe, even at the cost of his own existence. Trying everything beyond his limits to prevent the destined deaths of MC he has foreseen- from happening & it being doomed to no end every single time.

🌹 Every single time he had to give up the ONE thing he wanted to protect the most or wanted the most.

🌹 Both of them being so willing to put each other in the front line just to give each other happiness.

🌹 Another running theme of their storyline-- both of them keep losing each other countless times & then find each other again.

• Victor losing MC as a kid, finding her as an adult. Victor nearly losing her in CH 10.

• MC losing Victor due to the time rift in CH 14 & finding a way to contact each other through the sundial watch.

• Victor losing MC in CH 18 first-hand. MC leaving Victor behind in CH 19- dream world.

• CH 24 Black Cabin reunion & CH 27 OG timeline reunion

• MC nearly losing Victor in CH 32, due to him going to coma

• MC losing Victor in CH 34 due to Victor going on the time-travel journey of 10K years

• Final reunion in CH 36 [Then we have the journey to S2. But that's a whole new discussion.]

🌹So...both of them being able to truly be with each other is actually-- defying fate & writing their own destiny. *SOBS*

🌹I wanna end my blabbering with two precious moments from [CH 36- Victor split route] that echoes this theme even more.

MC: "I've always chased after your silhouette and I was never afraid. Because I know you'll always be there waiting for me. Victor, if you really disappear... I will be with you, and we will both be forgotten by the world."

MC's monologue: "Victor, once we have crossed countless dimensions and futures, and returned to each other’s embrace. If everything has to disappear with time, as dust into the wind... Then, I'm glad that we have our final promise."

[She's referring to the promise she made of being forgotten by the world to be with him & the promise Victor made earlier to never leave her again.]

[welcometomy20s]

May 11, 2022

VOCALOID LEGENDS - 2012 Part 2

#95 - Invisible (kemu) [GUMI, Kagamine Rin]

Achievement Date: 12-05-08, Upload Date: 11-12-20

kemu enters and dominates the scene, and all of his songs are quite popular to this day, I believe. This is the hardest of kemu’s songs, and well, all of kemu’s songs are kind of like a bit chunni? It’s interesting to read the songs because the song just goes back and forth between GUMI and Rin (it’s oddly a common pair, actually). I believe kemu will just use GUMI solo for now on. Yeah, it’s certainly a song. 

#96 - Megu Megu Endless Night (samfree) [GUMI]

Achievement Date: 12-05-09, Upload Date: 09-06-26

samfree’s Night series appears again, this time introducing GUMI. It’s not packed with odd references as Luka’s version, but the seductive techno is still there. The song features rock guitar because of course GUMI is more suited to rock, one of the reasons it’s still widely used today. And of course GUMI English is famous as well.

#97 - Time-Warped After Chopping My Stag Beetle (manbo-p) [GUMI]

Achievement Date: 12-05-12, Upload Date: 11-07-11

At least the title is accurate to the song itself. Yes, it really is about someone time-traveling with her pet stag beetle. How can someone think of this stuff? manbo-p’s odd asides are my favorite thing about their work, second to the oddly melancholic turn in their songs. Why do you have to add a spoon of darkness to things? Oh well.

#98 - Life-Cheating Game (kemu) [GUMI]

Achievement Date: 12-06-07 Upload Date: 12-02-08

Much more standard kemu song, probably what people think of when they think of a kemu song. Kind of reminds of more dramatic producers like KuroUsa-P, instead of going all out like Invisible or My Doppelganger or more emotional like Tower of Rubble. Okay, stop mentioning songs we’ll get to in the future, reviewer. 

#99 - Life Reset Button (kemu) [GUMI]

Achievement Date: 12-06-12, Upload Date: 11-11-07

Jin, kemu, and Neru are the three kings of this era and they all have a similar approach to genre, which is a very melodic fast rock song. I mean this is a very memorable melody, one of the more iconic ones. Also links to the previous song, I think?

#100 - Chain Link Girl (Noboru-P) [Hatsune Miku]

Achievement Date: 12-06-13, Upload Date: 09-10-26

We’re at 100, and this one is a good one. I always confuse Noboru with doriko, they sound the same, their PV looks the same… whatever. We have a dramatic song with a band arrangement with a heavy synth at times… well, yeah. The lyric goes from defeat to somewhat of a revenge, which I think are typical for these types of songs. 

#101 - Imagination Forest (Jin) [IA]

Achievement Date: 12-06-15 Upload Date: 12-02-01

Song is about a quarter medusa and a shy boy’s love story… (How do you even have a quarter medusa? Can you just… okay, I’m stopping here.) It’s a nice softer rock, which nicely fits IA’s bright voice, and her soft voice is actually very nice. 

#102 - Clockwork Pierrot (40mP) [Hatsune Miku]

Achievement Date: 12-06-15, Upload Date: 11-07-15

An absolute classic. 40mP’s trademark piano riff and band accompaniment is just great and the melody is one of the most memorable and impressive. There’s no frills about this song, everything is just concentrated and with enough variation. The lyric is actually a bit dark, being about I don’t know… bad romance, I think? I guess PV gives a hint.

#103 - Tokyo Teddy Bear (Neru) [Kagamine Rin]

Achievement Date: 12-06-20, Upload Date: 11-08-14

And Neru enters the scene. Perfect balance of melody and hard rock. Perhaps out of the three greats of early 2010’s, I think I like Neru the most. And I don’t think the lyrics are too chunni as people think. Although we have gone through a lot of chunni. 

#104 - Toeto (travolta) [Megurine Luka]

Achievement Date: 12-06-22, Upload Date: 09-02-17

This is a really sweet (well, bittersweet) Luka song, which is very much out of place for her, and I didn’t know travolta actually wrote a Luka song as well. Rich instrumentation, very different from the heavy synths of Kokoro. Yeah, this is really good.

#105 - Cutoff Line (40mP) [GUMI]

Achievement Date: 12-06-24, Upload Date: 11-02-26

I really like the drum arrangement for this song. Why are all 40mP songs about girls in defeat… There is a lot of SM nature for songs that do not fit SM at all. Well, the song itself is pretty straightforward as with all 40mP songs. Yeah, it’s good.

[orangecatty-shiningnikki]

【 Shining Nikki TW+CN 】

4th Anniversary Shining Nikki Game 2023

【 Shining Nikki TW+CN 】

4th Anniversary Shining Nikki Game 2023

PV……..

The pop-up book PV is officially released.

The lighthouse casts a blurred shadow in the night,

Watching the brave adventurer step into the forest full of fog and nightmare.

The lovely cloud train, the unicorn you met, the endless mysteries, and the mysterious space-time tunnel...

The story of fantasy adventure will start here.

.

[ikemenfangirl]

Japanese: Yume 100 Update

100 Sleeping Princes and the Kingdom of Dreams 6th Anniversary Special Site: https://www.yume-100.com/6th_anniversary

Part 1 Break the Shadow

Part 2 In the Daybreak

Part 3 The Endless Sky

Break the Shadow PV https://twitter.com/yume100prince/status/1360785840599822337 https://twitter.com/yume100prince/status/1360786088432967681

💎 New Character in Mar 1st

Yume100, Japanese puzzle RPG mobile games and anime 100 Sleeping Princes and the Kingdom of Dreams - 夢王国と眠れる100人の王子様 (JP) http://www.yume-100.co

[infernwetrust]

March Madness [Jim Mason x Xavier Plympton]

Summary: Xavier decided that for this year’s March Madness [College Basketball], he wants Jim’s attention more than ever. 

Warnings: smut, oral sex, mentions of drug use, drug use, apply more as you see fit. 

WC: 2.6k

A/N: Am I the only one who thinks aside from surfing that Jim would be really big into sports? Thanks for reading! -Juno

Jim sat on the couch, beer in his hand, jaw clenched as he tried to focus on the March Madness game in front of him. You see, March Madness was a special time for Jim. A recent college graduate two years year ago, he was a big fan of college basketball. His school, Duke, of which he was now a proud alumni, was playing Yale. Class of 2017, Jim was. Him and his college buddies got together every year , freshman through senior to watch the games. This was their first year apart. But, he couldn't keep focus when Xavier was desperately begging for his attention.

The two had been the best of friends growing up, having met online on some stupid 3D chatting game their freshman year of high school. They talked almost everyday, eventually getting each other's Skype information because they both wanted to put a face to who they were talking to everyday. And when Jim laid eyes on Xavier for the first time he couldn't help but tell him how cute he is and how he loves his blonde hair and his blue eyes. And quite the surprise for Jim, Xavier reacted the same way, but complimenting all of Jim's features head to toe as Xavier shy'd away from nothing. They left their 3D world for Skype, got each other's numbers and all the social media.

Parents were introduced over Skype, both sets being concerned to the lack of their sons appearance with the family and they all grew to love each other. When Xavier heard about Jim's parents divorce a few years later, he was there, throughout all the crying, throughout Jim's rampant drug use. No matter how gone he was, Jim made sure he saw Xavier's face before he passed out. He saved up enough money to finally visit PV by the end of his Junior year and that's when they started dating. When he met Jim's sister Medina, they instantly hit it off, becoming just as close. Xavier learned a lot about Jim as did Jim about Xavier. They knew what made each other tick, all the favorites, all the non-favorites, all the turn ons and turn offs, the allergies, you name it, they knew it. Despite the distance, as Jim decided Duke was the best for him, and Xavier decided that UCLA was the best for him, they made it work. The occasional campus visit every now and then was something they also did. And with a little bit of luck, they had their own little apart in the heat of downtown LA shortly after graduating college. Jim would do anything to stay the fuck away from PV and when Xavier came to him with the idea of getting their own place over FaceTime one night, how could Jim say no? At that point he didn't care what else everyone thought about it, aside from Medina who encouraged him to.

A few months after they had moved in together, Jim cut off all contact with his mother and father, blocking their numbers and everything else they could find him on and encouraged Xavier to do the same, especially when it came to his mother. Xavier really only kept in contact with his dad and step mother, not really wanting to talk about his biological mom for all the hell she put him through. The two found the most comfort in each other and that's all that mattered. They had their little groups of friends they made from college and they'd hang out every so often, but nothing compared to being at home, lost in each other.

Xavier, who was fresh out of the shower, walked into the living room, towel draped around his waist, taking a seat next to Jim on the couch, but laying his head in his lap and as he laid on his back on the couch, unlocking his phone and scrolling through his Instagram. His hair was still a little damp, leaving just a small pool on Jim's college sweats, but of course he didn't mind. Xavier had missed Jim who was gone all last month, visiting his sister Medina who had moved to New York City. Every march he would miss Jim too because that's all Jim focused on, was the basketball games. By the end of them he would be too tired. Quickies were the most Xav would get out of Jim.

Jim was already extremely attracted to his partner both physically and mentally. Any time Xavier was present in the room a fire burned within him. And now here he was across his lap, body glistening, the smell of Irish Spring and minty fresh tooth paste filled his nostrils. He inhaled sharply, using his free hand to place on Xavier's chest. He rubbed it up and down, knowing that drove him insane. Xavier chewed on his lip, pretending not to be affected by Jim's touch, but his chest was rising and falling faster. He chewed on his bottom lip, eyes still glued to his phone.

Physical contact was something that Jim needed and Xavier knew that. It made him always feel closer to X. If they sat together in public, they're knees were always touching, or Jim would casually place his hand on Xavier's thigh. At home it was always free reign. If Xavier was typing away on his computer at their kitchen island, Jim was there, arms wrapped around him as he rested his head against his back. If Jim sat watching tv like how he is now, Xavier was either next to him, knees touching, Jim's arm wrapped around his shoulder or completely laid out across his lap, asleep. They held hands all the time when they were out, not caring about the scrutinizing looks they'd receive from some people. Jim always stepped up when he had to and he wasn't afraid to get physical. Jim would remind them that's is 2019 and that he doesn't give a fuck what they think.

Despite his dominance in the bedroom, Jim loved being the little spoon. Most of the time he ended up completely on top of Xavier in his sleep, leading to a morning of lazy sex as the two dry hump each other, half asleep. Jim glanced down at Xavier, noticing his red eyes.

"High without me?" he asked, frowning a little bit. Xavier looked up at him, blue eyes surrounded by red streaks.

"I hung out with Chet and Ray today." he said. "You know what happens when we hang out. Plus I figured you would be smoking all while you were watching your games." Jim stayed silent, returning his eyes to the tv, taking a big sip from his beer. "I can always smoke again with you, baby."

"I don't want you to be too high."

"No such thing as too high as much as we smoke Jim." Xavier said, sitting up and looking at his boyfriend, shirtless, in sweats, hair a mess, staring at the tv. "Come on. Do you want to?" Jim turned his head to look over at Xavier who awaited his response. Smoking marijuana was something that had also brought the two closer together. It was more than just high sex. It was the interesting conversations or the ridiculous jokes. It was the endless amounts of cuddles and soft kisses as the two rode out their high, bodies floating as they sat or lay wherever.

"Yeah.." Jim mumbled at first, speaking louder. "What did we buy again?"

"Northern Lights or Mimosa Cookies."

"Northern Lights. You know I don't like Sativa before bed."

"I knooooow." Xavier sauntered out of the living room and down the hallway to their bedroom, quickly returning with his purple galaxy rolling tray and a container of weed. He plopped back down onto the couch, next to Jim. "Do you want to roll it?"

"No, you roll them better." They actually rolled them about the same. He just liked to watch Xavier roll. The way his fingers delicately broke down the cigarrillo, disposing of the tobacco in it. The way he licked the inside of the broken down wrap to get it moist enough for the weed to stick and for it to seal. Evenly packing it, he'd roll it between his fingers, bringing his teeth and lips ever so gently down on the wrap to pull it over itself. Tuck and roll. Tuck and roll. And then he'd dry it out a little bit with the flame from his disco lighter. And when he rolled joints, how he'd crumple the paper first before laying the weed down on it. How he'd roll it and tear the gum lining clean off with his teeth.

"Want the to do the honors?"

"You know it." Jim took the blunt out of Xavier's hand, putting it in between his lips, lighting it up and taking a deep inhale followed by a short exhale through his nose. As Jim loved to watch Xavier roll, Xavier loved to watch Jim smoke. He took a few more hits before passing the blunt to Xavier. They passed back and forth for about 30 minutes, really taking the time to let their new high set in.

"Care to go again?" Xavier asked, taking a huge swallow from his water bottle. "I wish there was smoking, but without the cotton mouth."

"No, I'm content." Jim answered. "And you and me both." He had cracked opened another beer from the cooler that he always kept next to him during game. Duke was up by 2, much to Jim's annoyance, but he was too stoned to get off the wall angry like he usually does about these games. He went to take a drink, missing his mouth by just an inch, pouring some of the contents on himself.

"High much?" Xavier questioned, raising his eyebrow and giving Jim a smirk.

"Maybe just a little bit." Jim responded, looking down at the mess he made, chuckling a little bit. "I'm gonna go get my towel."

"No, you don't have to do that."

"But I don't want to sit here getting sticky?"

"Who said anything about being sticky?" Jim, too high to catch on, shot Xavier a confused look, but that look quickly turned into pure lust when Xavier leaned over him, tongue slowly gliding across his chest, down to his stomach, leaving a few soft kisses behind too as he cleaned up the mess Jim made all over himself, but he didn't stop there. He reached between Jim's legs, grabbing a handful of him, semi-erect. "No underwear, Mr. Mason?"

"I'm in my own house, Mr. Plympton." Jim said, jaw clenched together, tight as Xavier just held onto him. Jim never wore underwear, underneath his shorts, sweats, or jeans whenever the two were home alone and Xavier knew that. He did it for reasons just like this, but never expected Xavier to be so forth coming during March Madness.

"Hmmmm." Xavier hummed as he began to rub Jim through his sweats. Jim let out a sigh of ecstasy as he threw his head back. He let his hands work their way into Xavier's hair, tugging at it a little.

"You know better than to distract me from one of the most important games in history, right?"

"Why do you have to allow yourself to get distracted? Just relax..." And that's how Xavier got most of what he wanted out of Jim. His voice was laced with his intoxication and need for Jim. It was low, seductive, persuasive, charming. "Just let me worry about you and you worry about Duke vs Yale, yeah?" Jim just simply nodded, as Xavier pulled his sweats down and watched as he cock sprung free, slapping against his stomach a few times before it finally settled. "Excited?"

"Mmmmph, suck me..." was all Jim managed to get out, his eyes darting back and forth between the TV and Xavier. Xavier giggled, giving Jim's beautiful pink tip a warm kiss as it laid against his stomach before fully taking Jim into his mouth, tongue swirling as he did.

"Fuck..." Jim sighed as he gently ran his hand through Xavier's hair, massaging his head as he did so. "You're so spoiled aren't you? Knowing that I can't resist you at all, no matter, fuck, hard I try." And Jim wasn't wrong. All Xavier had to do was send him a couple naughty word text messages and a simple picture and Jim, only sometimes, was out of his last class 10 minutes early, back in his dorm, and on Skype with him, getting off to the little show that Xavier put on for him.

"Mhmmm." was all Xavier said, mouth full of Jim. Jim shivered as the vibration rippled throughout his cock and body. In response, X picked up the pace, wet noises filling the room. It didn't take long for Jim to become a moaning mess from the warm wetness of Xavier around him. Pop. He popped Jim out of his mouth, doing that a few times because he knew it set Jim off.

"Fuck, you're so good." Jim said, basically out of breath. "So fucking good, so fucking pretty with my dick in your mouth." Xavier's bulge was aching against the couch, wanting to Jim to fill his other hole, but not here, he wanted Jim in the bedroom. After giving Jim a few more good pops he put him back in his mouth and all the way down his throat, holding Jim there and giving him the opportunity to take control and he did, gladly. Grabbing a fist full of X's hair once again he thrusted his hips upwards, breathing heavily as he did so.

"Want me to fuck your throat?" Jim asked. "Hmmm?" Xavier nodded around him, sneaking his hand under himself  just so he could rub at his aching hard on. He didn't have to tell Jim twice before he started thrusting in and out of his throat and Xavier took it like a champ. He gripped Jim's thighs, digging his nails into them as Jim sped up, his moans getting louder and louder by the minute. Using his other free hand, Xavier grabbed Jim by the throat, giving it a tight squeeze. He knew Jim loved to be choked the closer he got to his orgasm.

"Harder." Jim said. "Choke me harder." And so he did, the speed at which he fucked in and out of Xavier's throat, now relentless. "Ohhhhh... fuck... X...."

"Mmmmmmmmmm." Xavier hummed around his dick again. Not a single tear left his eye. Not a single gag left his throat. He was such a fucking pro.

"Fuck... Fuck... babe... Im gonna"

Jim let go, all the way let go , down Xavier's throat and he swallowed all of it, popping Jim out of his mouth as the final tease.

"God, I love you."

"I love you too, Jim." Xavier said, standing up with his towel still wrapped around his waist. Jim's eyes immediately found the bulge that was about to make his towel drop off his waist if it got any harder.

"You look like you need some help. Why didn't you let me take care of you too?"

"Your game, remember?" Xavier said, pointing to the TV, but Jim wasn't even paying attention to that. He stopped trying the moment Xavier started popping him in and out of his mouth.

"Honestly." Jim began. "Fuck this game right now."

"Whaaaaat? Jim Mason saying fuck March Madness while his school is absolutely dominating Yale right now?" Xavier questioned.

"Oh so you've got jokes?"

"But..." Xavier began, pulling his loosely wrapped towel from around his waist and letting it drop to the floor. He was leaking so much pre-cum and it made Jim so happy how horny he made him. "If you want this party continue... and you don't mind filling a second hole..." Xavier turned around so that his bare ass was on full display for a drooling Jim. "Then you know where to find me, Jim Mason."

Taglist: @jimmason @angelicmichael @whatcodysaid @theneverendinghunger

[properparadox]

Time Loop

Pernahkah kau merasakan suatu rentang waktu yang sama terus menerus? Mungkin, kau merasa tidur di tanggal 31, lalu bangun di tanggal 17. Atau, kau merasa tidur di malam hari tanggal 1, lalu di pagi harinya mendapati kau masih ada di tanggal 1? Kalau ya, mungkin kau sedang mengalami time loop.

Time loop adalah suatu plot cerita fiksi di mana karakter cerita terus menerus mengulang suatu rentang waktu yang sama. Dalam beberapa cerita, karakter cerita tidak menyadari kalau ia terjebak di time loop, dan apa yang ia lakukan adalah mengulangi hal-hal yang sama yang telah ia lakukan di loop sebelumnya. Kadang, si karakter menyadari ada sesuatu yang aneh, seperti perasaan deja vu, namun loop itu sudah nyaris berakhir ketika ia menyadari apa yang terjadi, dan ia terbangun untuk memulai loop berikutnya tanpa mengingat apa-apa. Biasanya, karakter cerita akan bisa keluar dari loop setelah melakukan suatu hal yang berbeda, atau dapat menyelesaikan suatu masalah tertentu. Atau, plot time loop ini digunakan untuk membandingkan hasil keluaran dari pilihan-pilihan berbeda yang diambil oleh karakter cerita.

Di film, plot seperti ini biasanya dikaitkan dengan film Groundhog Day (1993). Gue sendiri belum nonton film itu, tapi cerita-cerita time loop selalu menimbulkan impresi tersendiri buat gue. Sekarang, gue mau nulis beberapa kisah time loop yang udah gue tonton/baca.

1. Kagerou Days (lagu, novel, manga, anime (Mekakucity Actors), 2012-...)

Pengalaman pertama dengan time loop adalah ketika nonton PV dari lagu Kagerou Days. Lagu dan videonya bercerita tentang seorang anak laki-laki yang terus menerus mengulangi tanggal 14 Agustus, di mana ia melihat teman perempuannya yang sedang bermain dengannya mati. Ia menyadari apa yang terjadi, dan berusaha melakukan hal-hal berbeda untuk menyelamatkan temannya, namun tetap saja, temannya mati dengan cara yang berbeda-beda. Yang gue paling suka di sini adalah endingnya, di mana setelah mengulang hari yang sama selama puluhan tahun, si anak laki-laki menemukan cara untuk keluar dari time loop itu, atau setidaknya apa yang ia kira sebagai jalan keluarnya, meski pun ternyata ceritanya tidak berakhir begitu saja.

2. Run Lola Run (film, 1998)

Sedikit berbeda dengan Kagerou Days dan kisah-kisah lainnya di postingan ini, Run Lola Run hanya menampilkan 3 loop. Cerita dimulai ketika Lola ditelepon pacarnya, Manni, yang kehilangan uang sebanyak 100.000 Deutsche Mark, dan harus mendapatkan uang itu dalam 20 menit, atau ia akan dihabisi bosnya. Tiga loop yang diputar dalam film ini menceritakan usaha Lola untuk mendapatkan uang untuk menyelamatkan Manni. Setiap kali ia gagal, cerita akan kembali ke titik awal di mana Lola harus bergegas pergi dari rumahnya.

Kalau ada hal menarik lainnya dari film ini, adalah bagian 'Und dann' ('And then'). Pada scene di mana Lola sedang bergerak, sesekali kamera akan terfokus ke karakter lain, lalu muncul suara seperti shutter kamera, diikuti dengan tulisan 'Und dann' secara sekilas, kemudian menampilkan flash forward dari karakter tersebut, menampilkan apa yang terjadi pada karakter tersebut di masa depan. Di antara ketiga loop, karakter yang sama dapat memiliki masa depan yang berbeda-beda, seolah menunjukkan bahwa apa yang kita lakukan dapat mempengaruhi masa depan orang lain yang bahkan tidak berhubungan dengan kita secara langsung (please read more about 'butterfly effect').

3. All You Need is Kill (novel, manga) / Edge of Tomorrow (film)

Seorang tentara mendapati ia terus menerus mengulangi peperangan di mana ia telah mati sebelumnya. Setelah mengulang pertempuran yang sama terus menerus selama ratusan kali, Keiji Kiriya sudah hafal semua pergerakan lawan-lawannya, dan sedikit demi sedikit, ia mulai menemukan cara untuk keluar dari time loop. Ia lalu menyadari bahwa seorang pahlawan di peperangan itu, Rita Vrataski, alias Valkyrie, alias Full Metal Bitch, juga mengalami hal yang sama.

Kalau mungkin penonton film lebih mengenal sosok Tom Cruise dan Emily Blunt di Edge of Tomorrow, namun sejatinya film ini adalah adaptasi dari novel All You Need is Kill karya Hiroshi Sakurazaka. Di bukunya, si penulis mengaku bahwa inspirasi dari cerita ini adalah dari video game. Para pemain game mungkin mengerti bagaimana rasanya harus mengulang-ulang permainan dari satu save file yang sama ketika nyawa karakternya habis di tengah jalan.

4. "Endless Eight" - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya S2 (anime)

Saving the craziest for the last. Kayaknya udah beberapa kali akun ini nulis soal Haruhi Suzumiya, tapi belum pernah soal Endless Eight. Di dunia Haruhi Suzumiya, Endless Eight adalah salah satu plot cerita di mana Haruhi, Kyon, dan anggota SOS Brigade lainnya mengulang-ulang liburan musim panas selama belasan ribu kali sebelum akhirnya time loop itu berakhir. Kenapa namanya 'Eight'? Pertama, karena judul di bukunya seperti itu, dan kedua, dan ini yang sangat kontroversial, karena episode yang sama diulang-ulang sebanyak 8 kali dalam serial anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Yes, you read it right. Di Season 2 anime ini, ada 8 episode yang isinya hampir sama persis, masing-masing diberi judul Endless Eight I hingga Endless Eight VIII. Terang saja langkah ini menimbulkan keributan di antara fans seri ini, yang dipaksa menonton episode yang nyaris sama selama 2 bulan (asumsikan satu episode per minggu).

Namun tidak sedikit juga yang mengapresiasi kedelapan episode ini. Orang-orang ini umumnya berpendapat kalau cara seperti ini membuat penonton bisa memahami apa yang dirasakan salah satu karakter utama di cerita ini. Di antara anggota SOS Brigade yang mengalami time loop, Yuki Nagato adalah satu-satunya karakter yang menyadari dari awal hingga akhir bahwa mereka semua terjebak di time loop. Meskipun sedikit demi sedikit, karakter lain merasakan deja vu, pada akhirnya, hanya Nagato yang bisa menjelaskan apa yang terjadi. Dengan memaksa penonton menonton episode yang nyaris sama (ada beberapa detail yang berbeda), maka penonton bisa ikut merasakan apa yang dialami oleh Nagato, meskipun Nagato seharusnya adalah karakter yang tidak memiliki perasaan di cerita ini.

Di pengulangan episode ke-8, akhirnya Kyon berhasil menemukan cara untuk keluar dari time loop, dan mengakhiri dua minggu libur musim panas mereka yang ke-15.532 di tahun itu.

---

Di cerita-cerita ini, para karakter yang terjebak di time loop tidak menyadari bahwa mereka terjebak sampai sudah terlalu lama. Mungkin mereka merasakan deja vu, seolah-olah mereka telah melakukan hal yang sama sebelumnya. Jangan-jangan, ketika kita merasakan deja vu, kita juga sebenarnya sedang terjebak di suatu time loop?

[eludin-realm]

Christmas With New Friends Pt. 1 - Writing By Eludin Mun

Write date: Dec 25, 2019 Notes: Nothing sad/angsty here (except for maybe a few parts, but nothing too bad), just happy li’l fluff including DV and everyone else. With that being said, this takes place during some time in my work “The Quest”, where PV is kidnapped and held captive in Izheim, and thus DV goes out on a quest to save him. Along with Yang and others, he also comes across new friends: Niserie, Wulfric, Yusei, Aria, Ebany, Sector, Rento, and Octavia. And that’s pretty much it. Under the cut you’ll find it. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!:

The ground beneath Dark’s feet crunched as he carefully trudged through the endless blanket of fresh, crystalline-white snow. In his arms were a tall stack of various wrapped gifts, almost exceeding his height. His red eyes strayed for a moment to watch the dancing flakes in the air, before fixing their gaze back in front of him. A small smile slipped onto the bundled up dark-clad’s features as he continued on. He may not be spending Christmas at his home in Solerin of Aeredale at the palace with everyone, but he had friends in Traice helping him. And since it was Christmas, he decided he’d slip out one early morning to thank them for their assistance in his journey to save his brother. And that was just fine. As long as he had people to confide in and battle with, he felt at ease and safe for the most part. “That’s a lot of gifts you’ve got there, young man,” a passerby citizen noted. “Who for? Do you need help?” At the offer, Dark’s smile only grew. “No, I’m good. Thanks though. They’re for friends of mine.” “Mmm? How nice of you! I’m sure they will love them,” answered the citizen. “Well, be careful. Merry Christmas!” And with that, they headed on their way. Dark always loved how the people of Traice were with their hospitality - it made him feel much more secure in a country unknown to him. Everyone seemed so nice, and in times like these, it was something he needed. Something to lift his spirits. He continued down the snowy path until he stopped in front of a large, but cozy and inviting inn building that was several stories, and made out of half-timber. Not far from the building was a sign that read  “Round Warrior Inn”. This was the inn he and his friends were staying at. Carefully, the dark-clad freed an arm to twist the knob to the door and push it open, stepping in. His sneakers met the rug inside, to which he carefully cleaned the soles, and placed the wrapped gifts aside. Then, he took off his dark scarf and black jacket and hung them up, before gazing around the room. As always, the inn itself was well kept-and clean, as well as fancifully decorated! Pausing, his red eyes gazed to the ceiling. Another soft smile came upon DV’s features as he noticed the glowing gemstones set into the ceiling, keeping the room lit. It was one of his favourite parts of the inn, and likely a lot of other peoples’ too. “Hey, there he is,” a male voice caused Dark to gaze to his left. All of his party members were situated at a long table near the fireplace of the inn. It was Sector noticing his arrival! “Where were you?” “Sector, dude!” greeted DV. For some reason, he was always pumped to see him... maybe because he found him awesome as all get out. “I was just out taking in the winter scenery of Traice. And not only that, I’ve got some stuff.”  “You must be cold. We’ve got hot chocolate, and saved you a mug. It’s still warm! Want some?” offered Aria with a warm smile. “Why not?” responded the dark-clad, going to take a seat, pausing for a moment after doing so, the relaxing warmth from the fireplace radiating seemingly across the entire table. He gazed to his left and right to see who was next to him: Yusei to his left, and... “We were wondering where you were, you know,” a female voice piped up. His head swiveled to the right. Yang. “Sorry,” laughed the dark-clad. “I wanted it to be a surprise, so I kind of left earlier than usual. I didn’t mean to worry you guys.”  Yang reached for her boyfriend’s palm, and gave it a gentle grasp. “Well, you’re here, and that’s all that matters.” Yusei then proceeded to take his mug of hot chocolate and hold it up. “Merry Christmas. Cheers!” “Cheers,” everyone responded, clinking their mugs together. Dark took a sip of his beverage, humming contentedly at the taste of the hot chocolate. “Innkeeper knows their stuff!”   “Hey,” Niserie piped up a while after various chatter from the group, causing Dark to redirect his gaze toward her instead. “DV, I know you’re not home. And I’m sorry about that. But we’re going to spend here. Together. As friends. And make the best of it. I’m aware it’s not the same thing as being back home, but... We can try and be like family. And hopefully, us being here will maybe make you feel a little bit better.” Dark then smiled a little after Niserie finished, nodding his head. “Yeah. Right. Things may not be the best right now, but as long as I have you guys, it will all be alright in the end, despite the things I may go through, the things WE may go through. We’re gonna get my brother back no matter what it takes.” “Right,” Sector agreed. “We’ll be with you every step of the way.” The group then proceeded to go back to their hot chocolate, before Ebany gazed to the presents, surprised at how tall the stack was. “Um.. DV, these gifts... Those are all for us?” Rento butted in. “How did you afford all of that? You’re in a different country and we’re helping you out.” Dark stood up for a moment, and approached the stack, grinning almost ear-to-ear. “All of these is an individual present for everyone. And Rento... I have my ways. Remember? In the town square there’s a bulletin board for various jobs, like clearing out monster hordes, taking down a single monster for someone, finding an item, and so on... When you complete it, you get paid. And sometimes you can get items you can sell FOR currency. I’ve done some of these and got paid back as a result.” “Like in a video game!” Octavia said as a matter-of-factly, causing the group to bust into hearty laughter.  The dark-clad then proceeded to pick up gift by gift on the stack, and give them to their respective recipients.  “Okay. I’m giving you guys these as a way of gratitude for helpin’ me out. Plus, it’s Christmas. Ebany, why don’t you go first?” ”With pleasure,” she accepted before reaching for the gift. ~~~PT. 1 END~~

[collabkenya]

Home is Where the Heart Is

Sunday, June 9, 2019

35+ hours of travel, a few hours of mediocre sleep, eight additional checked baggage fees, one missing bag of safety glasses, seven $10 Dubai Shake Shack milkshakes, and thousands of replayed memories later, the team is back in the States.

We are grateful to have made it home safely, but sad that our days of sipping chai and playing endless games of basketball in Kenya are over (for the time being…). It feels like we have left our hearts in Kenya.

As Josh mentioned, the LLM kids and staff put together a farewell program for our final dinner together on Friday. They told us what a blessing we were to them through our projects and in spending time with the children, but I hope we made it clear how much of a blessing they were to us. We would not have been able to work with joy and endurance if it weren’t for their consistent smiles, words of encouragement, and wonderful examples of eagerness to serve. My introverted self never found it difficult to strike up a conversation with the Kenyans, and for some reason I always had just enough energy to play games or have my hair braided with the kids. Saying goodbye that night was harder than I ever imagined.

Staring out a window for hours at a time gives one time to think and reflect on the two weeks of work and exploring we just completed. Each member on our team is at different places in his/her life, whether it be after a few different careers, beginning one, studying for one, or figuring out the one God is calling her to. During our commute to our guesthouse from the LLM property one night, we discussed the difficulty of finding meaning in monotonous summer intern work, especially after working with a visionary organization like LLM in the Collaboratory for a year. It brings up the elusive issue of our individual purpose, which drives our motivation to do our work well and with joy. I pray that each member of our team goes into their next steps for the summer with the same drive and lightheartedness that we entered Ol Kalou, Kenya with, whether he/she sees the ultimate meaning of their work or not. Our purpose is ultimately to serve God and shed a light in every community whether it be in a neighborhood of Kenyan buildings or in a neighborhood of cubicles. Cliché, but so relevant.

I believe that I speak for all of us when I say that Kenya has truly changed us for the better, whether it be our first or second time interacting with the people here. We all have varying levels of confidence that we will return to Ol Kalou sometime in the future. As of now, the Land Development team will return next year to build a recreational field for LLM, provided they raise enough funds, but the Solar PV team will be moving on to another project for the ‘19-’20 academic year. Many of us would love to return at some point if God presented the opportunity, though!

Thank you again for all of your support and following us on this journey.

-Meghan Sampson, on behalf of the Solar PV and Land Development Teams

[pkjd]

A new PV and key visual for “Grimms Notes The Animation” has been released. Broadcast begins January 10th, 2019.

-Synopsis-

“Characters from classic fairy tales and stories, such as Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, and Cinderella, appear in the original game. The game takes place in a world created by a beings known as “Story Tellers.” At birth, all inhabitants of this world are bestowed with a “book of fate” where all their lives are written in advance. However, rogue Story Tellers known as Chaos Tellers are writing bad events into people’s books without them knowing. It is up to the holders of blank books of fate to seek out the Chaos Tellers and restore the world.”

-Staff-

Director: Seiki Sugawara

Script: Hiroshi Yamaguchi

Character Design: Kentarou Matsumoto

Sound Director: Fumiyuki Go

OP: Ayana Taketatsu「Innocent Notes」

ED: i☆Ris「Endless Notes」

Studio: Brain’s Base

-Cast-

Ekusu (CV: Ryota Ohsaka)

Reina (CV: Reina Ueda)

Shane (CV: Miyu Kubota)

Tao (CV: Takuya Eguchi)

Clovis (CV: Kengo Kawanishi)

Third (CV: Shiori Izawa)

Adah (CV: Yukiyo Fujii)

Fam (CV: Yuu Serizawa)

via: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/grimmsnotes/