#every time i see a toblerone i think about that one anime

[wlwhorses]

Trick or treat!

for you! big toblerone

[domakconix-blog]

Welcome to me camp!

My attempt at making a blog.

What do you even do in a blog? I don’t know what to do or what to write in it, but I do really want to create one, so here she is! I would want to make this chill-n-informal as possible and just type whatever I’d like to clack on my keyboard.

Shaving the Ice

Maybe typing in an introduction could be a good place to start. I could share a lot of sh’tuff about myself, but I don’t think knowing my favorite color is not really interesting. Knowing the amount of teriyaki and oyster sauce I pour into my cup of noodles in a kiosk near the campus library is too specific. By the way, its six and eight tablespoons respectively. I like’m salty like my sweat during a hot day doing fieldwork.

Anyway, let’s start with my name. Hi, I am Dominic! Yes, I let people know my first name, whatevs. I am a college student trying to understand what the heck emm doing. No, seriously. I entered university under a degree that I am not really quite familiar with. Even though I am treading in uncharted territory here, I could somewhat easily say that I am enjoying myself.

I know that no one would read these post-clackers of mine but doing stuff like this would help me cope up. We all know that there is this pandemic crisis going on and being in the house all day is not really something that could make anyone stay sane, so I though that I could do something like this and just type my thoughts and stuff.

Sketch-n-Shtuff

I do have a Twitter account going under the handle @domblerone! (Follow me there for real good shit!) I don’t even enjoy Toblerone. I just thought that it sounds cool but I guess it’s just meh like a Toblerone. If you taken a peek and see what’s over there, I do digital art! (and maybe some kvetchin’ here and there) 

Ever since I convinced my grandmother to buy me a Wacom tablet that’s on sale for around a hundred bucks, I have been collecting a bunch of .SAI files of unfinished work. They range from random scribbles of something that I don’t even recognize to files with around a hundred plus layers. I don’t even know how people can create amazing works of art with only a few layers. Like, what the fuck? To be fair, I abuse my blending modes.

My pen and tablet have always been my sword and shield in many fights and the scratches on it are the reminders that I should change my nib already, but my cheap-ass says that I should just use sandpaper to smooth it up. I don’t even know where I can buy nibs. Again, I just use sandpaper like using water for cleaning your paintbrush.

Other than making digital paintings, I do nothing. Heck, no. I know that I am boring, but emm not that boring! (No offense to people who just sit and do art all day. Kudos to you peeps!) I usually just relax’n with me Switch and play Animal Crossing or just a quick game of Mahjong on the new Clubhouse Games. I am also trying to learn Russian through Duolingo and by reading reference books and such. (I forgot to play today, oh menn. I am dead). I also binge watch on YouTube and listen to MrCreepyPasta or Blue_Spooky for my daily dose of nosleep or LetsNotMeet. I don’t really like watching series or movies, so Netflix isn’t really my cup of tea. I can’t stand to sit all day and marathoning a whole season. Well, sometimes, I do watch a movie or two of whatever my mother is watching at the moment and do get invested in it.

Of course, my favorite hobby, sleeping.

Diving in REM Land

This is the part I am quite excited to type in about. Along with my favorite hobby, I do like to recall or even write down what happened in my dreams. I want to share more of me traversing REM Land, but I guess an introduction to it would be fine for now. I am no means an expert in dreams or the thought behind them, but I do like to share some of my experiences with them. Sometimes, I like to tell a tale or two to my friends when this topic arises because menn, dreams are like some sort of acid trip (No, I don’t do drugs, lol).

After crying and having a breakdown due to the stress due to the exquisite life of schooling, I tend to have sleep paralysis. I do have this sleep demon that always shows up when I have these episodes. He just stands there by my side and does nothing. Can’t really take note of any physical details (well of course, he ain’t physical) because he is just some humanoid shadow. Regardless, he is there, looming. I’ll call him Fred. Just thought of it right now while typing. Fred the Sleep Demon, Something, or Other.

I do have this recurring dream, err nightmare, when I was a child. I can’t remember anything about it. My memory of it is just a blank void, but the feeling is pretty nausea-inducing. Every time I have this dream, I just jolt upwards and head straight to the bathroom to vomit my dinner. It’s weird. I really have no word for it other than it’s sickening as fuck.

I want to share more of this, but I guess having a separate entry for this is better.

Lightning Round

Let’s do an info dump here, because I want to do something else now that I can’t think of anything to talk about, ahe.

Favorite Color (LOL): Red or Maroon. I do something like cyan.

Something to munch on: I like sushi or sashimi. Not a weeb, I just like the taste of dead fish.

Something to push munch: Coffee float is my go-to beverage. It tastes like heaven if heaven was coffee and chocolate mixed with ice to keep it as cool as winters in Yakutsk.

Have a pet?: I do have a fish as a pet and its name is Bloop. Creative, ‘mright?

My jam: I listen to Indie Folk, Folktronica, and Alternative Rock.

Games I play: I like horror games like Silent Hill or Fatal Frame. I also play Pokemon, Animal Crossing, and anything I find quite interesting.

Hotel?: Trivago.

Anyway, I am all out of time now (says who?). I am now going to have a snack break. I haven’t tried eating cereal with coffee as a substitute for milk so that’s what emm going to do next! Thanks for reading me random typing. I’ll try to keep this blog aflame, don’t worry. This won’t be like my Instagram that fell into the depths of hell. I’ll also post some art here so that this won’t be just seas of grey.

Thanks for coming to my Fire Talk. See you next time!

[taeheyhey]

Close to Normal

Chapter 18 - What Are We Doing Now?

Taehyung x Reader - Fluff/Angst - 3.8k words

A/N - Helloooo! Here is chapter 18, I hope you all enjoy it a lot! If you have time or the inclination, please leave me a like or a comment or a wee reblog, it really helps motivate me to keep on writing and to try to create better things. BTW If you have sent me a request, rest assured I'm getting through them!

Thank you for being so lovely to me and for reading my story...it means the world! ♥

One ~ Two ~ Three ~ Four ~ Five ~ Six ~ Seven ~ Eight ~ Nine ~ Ten ~ Eleven ~ Twelve ~ Thirteen ~ Fourteen ~ Fifteen ~ Sixteen ~ Seventeen ~ Eighteen ~ Nineteen ~ Twenty ~ Twenty-One ~ Twenty-Two

It had taken some time and an awful lot of effort, but for the most part life had returned more or less to normal. There were still times, particularly when you weren’t working at the bar or otherwise occupied, where thoughts of Taehyung would take up residence in your mind and stubbornly stay there for an hour or two, sometimes longer. On more than a few of these occasions you had felt the very powerful urge to crack open your ancient laptop and indulge in a quick image search, just to remind yourself that, yes: that inhumanly beautiful, kind and talented man had brightened the mundanity of your life for the briefest of moments.

You had decided early on it would be advisable to persist in resisting these urges to the best of your ability, mostly for your own emotional well-being. There was no way you could trivialise the significance of the time you had spent together, but to dwell on the loss of it was ultimately unconstructive and damaging, and you decided you had spent far too much of your life allowing the actions of others to dictate your own. You would always treasure those few days with Taehyung, but you told yourself that you could – and would – move on from it.

Not only did you tell yourself, you also told Ronnie, loudly and often. There would probably have been more chance of him believing you if he hadn’t decided to check in on you on one of your nights off. He had found you most of the way through a bottle of wine and a large Toblerone, the room in darkness but for the glow from the laptop, headphones in and completely engrossed and teary-eyed over a compilation video of Taehyung with animals, gesturing despairingly in silence at the video. You had woken the following morning with a hangover and a half-melted chocolate triangle stuck to your neck and committed to a YouTube and all round Taehyung internet search ban for the sake of your sanity.

Still the hours turned in to days and then in to weeks as they have a tendency to do and before you knew it, it had been three months since that fateful night at the hotel in the city. You had spent a large potion of your days searching for an extra job to help Ronnie pay for the upkeep of the bar. He refused to let you work for him for room and board and insisted on paying you a wage, even though dwindling patron numbers and rapidly increasing rent meant he could scarcely afford it.

“I know you don’t like talking about it with me Ronnie, but how long can we realistically keep this place open if we keep having nights like last night?” you called to him behind the bar.

He was rearranging the bottles of liquor and spirits for want of something to do. He would normally be re-stocking the fridges but given that only two bottles had been removed from them, it wouldn’t have occupied him for very long.

You were counting out the money from the previous day, not that it took a great deal of time to do so. Over the space of five hours, four people had walked through the door of Ronnie’s. One was Peter, two made up an elderly couple who came in once a week to nurse one drink each over a two hour period, and the last had been a gentleman who had gotten lost on the way to the city centre and needed to use the bathroom. You had at least managed to talk him in to buying a coke.

“What’s all this 'we' talk? It’s not your problem to worry about.” He retorted, shifting his eyes indecisively back and forth between an unopened bottle of beer and the large mug of black coffee you had placed in front of him some minutes earlier.

You observed him through his reflection in the mirror behind the bar, and to your immense relief he turned to face you with the mug in his hand, before walking around the bar to sit down and join you. “What do you mean 'not my problem'? If Hannah comes back and finds out I’ve not been looking after you, she’ll nag both of us to the brink of insanity.”

He grumbled in acknowledgement. “She always was like her mother,” he smiled sadly and sighed, taking a large gulp of his drink to cover up the waver in his voice.

You reached over the table and placed your hand on his forearm and squoze in what you hoped was a reassuring manner. Hannah had been gone for over half a year now, and he was obviously missing her, and you used the ensuing silence to consider how best to respond to Ronnie’s sudden melancholy.

You had learned not to push it when it came to his vulnerable moments, you simply had to take your cues from him and wait to see if he elaborated, if he did not the most constructive option was to move the conversation on to something else. Usually food.

“Should I go down to the cafe and get us some lunch?” You proposed after waiting a sufficient amount of time for him to continue the conversation should he wish to do so.

As if by magic his face brightened, and even if it was solely for you benefit you were relieved, knowing that he would be embarrassed later on if he continued to wallow in front of you. He reached in to his pocket to retrieve his wallet, and you placed a stilling hand on his shoulder.

“Please just let me do this at least? Peter gave me a twenty last night.” You announced, pulling the note from the back pocket of your jeans and holding it aloft like a precious relic.

“Jesus, what’s that all about?” Ronnie pondered aloud, shuffling off his chair and making for the sink with his now empty mug, picking up yours on the way.

Peter had been a fixture in the bar almost all day, every day since you had begun working at Ronnie’s, always wearing the same brown overcoat and thin-lipped grimace beneath his unkempt beard, and he rarely tipped, only at Christmas and on the rare occasions he had won at the horses. “Who knows? Maybe he’s secretly loaded?”

“Well it would make sense, it’s hard not to make a success of yourself with that level of charisma,” Ronnie quipped in response.

You smiled wryly and pulled on your hoodie, pulling open the front door as Peter barrelled in with impeccable timing. As the door closed behind you and your stepped out in to the drizzling rain, you heard Ronnie bellow an overly enthusiastic greeting at Peter for comic effect.

You pulled your hood over your untidy hair and shoved your hands in to your pockets as you faced in to the wind on your way to the cafe. You could remember running down this path away from Taehyung playfully and feeling as though you didn’t have a care in the world. You imagined how different a figure you cut now, shoulders hunched over against the weather, eyes downcast as you allowed the grief to consume you just for this walk; just while you were alone.

In much the same way as Ronnie’s rapid switch from his gloomy countenance earlier was largely for your benefit, your own emotional recovery was feigned in large part to reduce how often you would find him watching you with ill-concealed concern plastered across his face. Your despondency was abruptly overpowered by guilt as you wondered how much of Ronnie’s own sadness at missing his daughter he had successfully hidden from you as you wallowed in the wake of Taehyung’s departure.

Before you could think on it for much longer you had arrived at the cafe. You placed your fingers around the door handle and took a deep breath in. You hadn’t been in here since that morning with Taehyung, and you felt that familiar clenching in your heart and the hot sting behind your eyes. Again, you allowed yourself to feel it only for a few moments before exhaling and pushing down on the handle.

There were no more than three tables occupied in the cafe, the breakfast rush long since ended, and those that were seated paid little attention to you as you entered the room, save for the couple by the front door who grumbled simultaneously as a sliver of the outside was allowed in with your arrival.

Over by the counter you could see Jess talking intimately with a young man wearing a woollen hat pulled down over his ears, and she giggled coquettishly as he stretched over the bar and planted a peck on her cheek. She looked so happy. That is until she raised her eyes at the sound of the door being blown shut again and found you smiling warmly at her. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped loose, the beginning of your name falling from her open mouth.

You frowned, perturbed by her reaction to your presence, until the man in the hat turned to the entrance to follow the line of Jess' gaze. Mark.

You could feel your eyebrows make a mad dash towards your hairline as you took in their shocked expressions, almost comical in their similarity. After a beat you allowed your face to relax as you strolled over to them, trying not to be unsettled by the dual frozen stare you were being subjected to.

You could understand why they were freaked out, but you were honestly more interested in getting back to Ronnie equipped with lunch.

“Hi,” you offered in greeting to both of them, although it left your mouth as a question.

“I’m, um...just going to...” Mark awkwardly shuffled around you and headed for the restrooms, almost pushing open the ladies door in his fluster.

You were left face to face with Jess, whose eyes were still the size of saucers and whose mouth was opening and closing uselessly like a fish. “Y/N I...” she finally mumbled.

“Jess, calm down. What do you think is happening right now?” You had absolutely no issue with her, you never had, and you certainly were not going to allow something as inconsequential as your ex-boyfriend dating her make that somehow be otherwise.

She still looked edgy and incredibly apologetic, her eyebrows knitted together in a picture of remorse. “Did someone tell you about us? Is that why you’re here?”

You sighed heavily. “Honestly Jess, I just want a sandwich. No offence, but I genuinely couldn’t care less that Mark’s out there again.” You ran your finger down the menu as you spoke, your focus on the task at hand. You raised your eyes to meet hers earnestly for a moment. “Is he good to you?”

She eyed you warily as though it was a trick question. “Yes,” she eventually answered, her posture relaxing visibly. “Oh,” she said suddenly, her face lighting up with realisation and relief. “You were with that really good-looking guy right? Of course. Jesus,” you could see her eyes glaze over and you knew she was trying to visualise him. “How’s that going?” Her tone was jovial now and she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively the way she had when you had sat opposite Taehyung a quarter of a year ago.

You gave a tight-lipped smile in response and returned your gaze to the menu so she couldn’t see the tears begin to gather at the memory. “It’s not,” you answered quietly.

“Oh,” came her reply, and she reached over the counter cautiously before awkwardly patting the top of your hand that was resting there.

Mark chose this moment to resume his position opposite Jess on the customer side of the counter, with a slight angle adjustment to ensure he left a wide area to allow for your presence as though you might physically lash out at any moment. Jess shifted her eyes back and forth between the two of you and the entire situation suddenly struck you as totally ridiculous, breaking you from your sombre reminiscence and causing an amused snort to burst forth from you, making Mark jump almost a foot in the air such was the anxiety you seemed to have instilled in him.

The tension broken between you and Jess at least, she joined you in your laughter much to Mark's chagrin, his expression only causing you both to laugh harder. “What are you having then?” She managed after taking some deep breaths.

“Two large BLTs please, hold the lettuce and tomato on one.”

She smiled and nodded, turning to face the grill and seeing to your order, leaving you and your ex-boyfriend to stand side-by-side in uncomfortable silence, from his perspective at least.

Just as Jess began to wrap the two sandwiches in paper, Mark turned to you. “How have you been?”

The words were strained, forced, and you knew he must feel embarrassed about the last time you had seen him.

“Good,” you answered noncommittally. “You?”

“Well you know...” he muttered while you fantasised about nails scraping down a chalkboard as a preferable alternative to this conversation. “Are you still seeing –”

“We really don’t need to do this, Mark,” you cut him off, gratefully accepting the two wrapped parcels as Jess handed them over to you. She took the twenty from your grasp in turn and pushed seemingly random buttons in the register to open it. You leant close to your ex so you couldn’t be heard by anyone else. “Don’t fuck this up with her, okay?” you advised sincerely before taking your change and offering them both a genuine parting smile, pulling the front door open once more to incur the passive-aggressive wrath of the chilly couple by the entrance.

 ~~~

“I still don’t understand why you want us all to wear these, Jimin.” Jin called out as he stood in the doorway of the studio, a pink towelling headband adorned with a spotted bow dangling from his long finger and held away from his body with faint disgust in his expression as though it smelled unpleasant.

Jungkook was adjusting his own headband in the wall of full length mirrors at one end of the entirely white room, frowning as he pulled it forwards and then pushed it back again. “Because it’s funny, hyung,” he answered on Jimin’s behalf as he saw him speaking quietly with a blatantly forlorn Taehyung in the opposite corner of the room.

Namjoon had been standing with them initially, the three of them whispering with their heads close together, the leader occasionally extending his arm around Taehyung to massage his shoulder soothingly. He had left just as Jin had entered, striding from the room purposefully with a determined expression on his face, and the oldest had watched him walk down the corridor to his own studio in confusion.

Hoseok appeared from behind Jin and walked over to crouch beside the maknae, affectionately ruffling his hair and undoing the work he had done to position the pink material to his satisfaction. “What makes it funny, Kookie?”

Despite his mild annoyance at the disruption, he smiled a toothy grin up at the dancer and pulled at the two sides of the bow so they stood almost vertically from the top of his head. “Just look at it,” he raised his hands to frame them around his latest adjustment to emphasise his words. Hoseok clearly remained unconvinced but returned the grin anyway, straightening up and walking back out of the room to get his make up fixed before the broadcast began, grabbing one of the remaining four headbands from the small box Jimin had placed on a chair by the door on his arrival.

Jin still stood at the door, placing his hands at his hips and eyeing Jungkook suspiciously. “Ya, Jungkook-ah, you never agree with Jimin’s ideas. What’s going on? What are you up to, both of you? Is it a prank? A hidden camera?” With each question he strode further in to the room, and the intonation of his voice rose until it was almost manic. He came to a halt beside Jungkook in front if the mirror and haphazardly dragged the head over his thick black hair and examined his reflection. “It’s ruining my handsome face, ah!” He joked loudly as one side of the band lay heavily over one eye, forcing it shut.

There was a weird energy in the room and Jin was doing his best to remedy it, and as always he was ecstatic to find Jungkook laughing fondly at him. He laughed even harder as Jin removed the band from his head and stepped in to it, one foot at a time, and pulled it up so that it was somehow encircling his waist, and began to dance around the room in an effort to catch Taehyung’s attention with the intention of perhaps making him laugh too. He had been so dejected since their arrival home all those weeks ago and – while the second youngest had seemed much quieter in general that year – it still worried him and the other members, but as the oldest, Jin felt a large amount of responsibility for all of them, especially the three youngest.

Having finished in the make up room, Hoseok returned to the mirror to attempt to display the towelling monstrosity in a vaguely flattering way. He turned to Yoongi, who had been sat silently on the floor the entire time they had been in the dance studio with the bow already perched atop his bleached hair, and huffed out a sigh. “You are okay with this, hyung?”

Yoongi looked up as though noticing there were other people in the room for the first time, lowering his phone in to his lap. “It’s something to do with Taehyung and his girl,” he said nonchalantly, but such was the quiet in the room as Jin had chosen that moment to cease leaping around it, that the sound of his voice travelled across the studio. “Just wear it.” The five other members turned to stare at him in astonishment, and he retrieved his phone from between his crossed legs unperturbed. “What? I thought everyone knew. We’ve been doing such weird stuff these past couple of months.” He shrugged and carried on watching music videos on his phone.

It took a few moments for the members to unfreeze, almost as though when Yoongi has pressed play on his media player it had affected the members too. The three youngest exchanged worried glances and Hoseok continued to stare mutely at his fellow rapper.

The eldest stood dumbly as the cogs whirred around in his mind. The penny dropping was almost audible and if the room had been dark Jin would swear the others would have seen the lightbulb ping on above his head. “Jimin-ah,” he called out accusatorily across the room. “Is that why you asked me to learn to play that song?”

 ~~~

With the wind at your back and the strange sense of closure you felt following your encounter with Mark and Jess at the cafe, your steps felt swifter and a little lighter as you made your way back to the bar with your precious cargo.

You missed Taehyung. There was no denying it. You supposed a part of you would always miss Taehyung and mourn what could have been had circumstances been entirely different on all fronts. Having said that, had the situation been entirely altered, you imagined there would have been absolutely no reason for him to come to your part of the world. Either way it remained wholly pointless to speculate on what could have been, even if it was a perfectly wonderful way of spending your time when it didn’t feel like a million pins pricking at your heart.

If Mark was able to pull himself from his funk and get back out there, then so could you. Not that you had any intention to start trying to date again, but thinking back on the state you last found Mark in three months ago, the improvement was jarring and caused the tiniest spark of optimism in you. Mark had four entire years to move on from, surely getting over three days would be an absolute breeze in comparison...right?

You arrived back at the bar and pushed the door ajar with your shoulder as you cradled the sandwiches. Walking over to the bar, you handed Ronnie the sandwich containing only bacon and took in the strange expression on his face. He looked to be on the verge of laughter but desperately trying to hold it in, his face reddening from the effort.

“Ronnie, what on earth is going on? Is everything alright, you look...” You weren’t sure how you should finish the sentence. In all honesty he looked constipated.

A weird squeak escaped him as he opened his mouth to speak. “Y/N, I know you’ve had a rough few weeks, but...” he clasped his hands together in barely-concealed delight, his face stretched in to a smile so broad it was hurting your cheeks just looking at him. “There’s someone here who might just make you feel a little bit better.”

Your entire body froze, even your heart felt as if it had stopped. It couldn’t be, could it? You stared unblinking at the door Ronnie was gesturing flamboyantly at as though he were a magician at a child’s birthday party, your breathing coming in short, sharp gasps and you felt light-headed from the lack of oxygen reaching your brain.

“Are you ready?” he asked excitedly, his voice booming, though you may as well have been under water given the way his question sounded to your ears.

Your voice was barely a whisper as Ronnie stretched out his hand to wrap it around the doorknob, drawing out the tension unintentionally cruelly and indulgently. “Yes.”

“Ta-da!” he announced and pulled open the door with a flourish.

“Y/N!” Your best friend since practically birth screeched joyfully as she ran towards you with open arms, and you embraced her tightly and gratefully, not fully realising just how much you had missed her smile, her laugh, and – especially at that particular moment in time – her hugs.

“Oh my god, Hannah! I can’t believe it! I am so happy you’re here!” You declared sincerely as you pulled her tighter in to the hug.

You felt completely ashamed at the split-second of disappointment that had swept through you momentarily as you realised it was not Taehyung standing on the other side of the door. It was then that you knew for sure that trying to move on from him was going to be even harder than you had initially thought.

A/N Chapter 19 will be out same time next week! Only 4 more chapters to go! Thank you again for reading you sweethearts xxx

[say-im-your-homie-blog]

Side opinion on the whole are the demons "evil" evil thing, I personally view them as more of wild animals whose habitat has been enchroached on. It's like the leopards that attack people in asia, the attacks occur more frequently because the people took space away from them. The leopard does what the leopard will do because it's the leopards nature.

So, this response is pretty long and really deep into some of the philosophical underpinnings that go along with justified wars etc. Sorry if it’s a lot, I’ve tried to break it down as simply as possible. It’s basically just me explaining my logical reasoning, but I hope it doesn’t come off as confusing. Just remember, you asked for it. But in brief: No. Demons are enemies that must be eliminated. 

Full explanation is under the cut.  Buckle up for a wild ride. 

I would normally say that sort of view is valid, except that what they do–be it their nature or not–is basically what humans define as “evil.” And they do them knowingly so it’s hard to not classify them as such. The three things that humans basically see as the most undesirable is the loss of agency, physical pain, and death (thus why these are the three “Unforgivable Curses” in Harry Potter and why hard core mind control, torture, and killing are things Superheroes never really do). The demons thrive on those things and use them to get what they want. They don’t come to the humans with diplomatic negotiations or a way to get along. They want all of the humans in the city dead, starting with those at the top because without them the system will collapse. I agree that it may merely be their nature. But their nature is, in that case, wholly incompatible with that of humans. We can say “they’re not evil just different” but when that difference is so great that we cannot coexist under any circumstances, then the distinction little more than academic. It may be factually accurate to say “it isn’t evil,” but if it isn’t then evil doesn’t exist. Something that’s very existence goes against all of our collective morality is an enemy that we have to fight. It’s that simple. You can see it as an unfortunate tragedy of two beings with incompatible natures or you can see the demons as an evil that must be eliminated. But in either case, you are simply seeing it the way that helps you sleep easier at night. Basically, I’m saying that from what I have seen I don’t think the demons are compatible with humans in an existential sense so trying to eliminate them before they eliminate humans is sort of inevitable in order for humans to survive.

This is where the leopard analogy becomes problematic for me. Humans and leopards can live in the same universe as long as we set up clear boundaries. I’m not sure the same is true for demons. Also leopards are not sentient beings, they cannot speak our languages and negotiate an amicable agreement with us. They also are a valuable part of their local ecosystem, which helps us continue to survive and our world continue to function. We should leave them alone and adjust to them on those grounds. 

Demons, on the other hand, can look, talk, and act like humans. They know humans are capable of overcoming our differences and disagreements with one another. The demons choose not to try to do so with the humans and instead choose to attack them. When a leopard attacks a person, it is because it essentially does not know any better. It cannot think of another solution to the problem than to fight. We forgive it because it wasn’t making a decision that we could judge and keeping leopards around outweighs the benefits of not doing so. 

The demons, however, are more than capable of thinking of different solutions, they just choose not to. They choose to hurt and attack humans when they have other options. Furthermore, I cannot see any positive benefit of having the demons, except that in theory, an existential threat could bind humans together and encourage them to work together better. Otherwise, demons seem to simply be relics of an old world that have turned into parasites in this new one. They’re not part of a delicate ecosystem balance. They’re just here, trying to take things from the humans through deception and violence. 

Kaz says that demons also attack the French, so I think it is safe to say that the demons want the entire world to return to Pink Space, not just Neo Yokio. At no point has a demon leader come to the Lord Mayor of Neo Yokio or this world’s version of the UN proposing that if they could have Neo Yokio they would leave all other nations alone. Though. even if they did, I believe most leaders would be wary of giving demons, which have every motivation to destroy humans completely, a city-sized foothold from which to do so. 

If the demons want to end all human lives to return things to Pink Space, then humans absolutely cannot allow that to happen if they wish to continue existing. The demons being there first doesn’t give them more of a right to exist than the humans. And it does seem to be the demons who are the primary aggressors of these conflicts. Their methods, if they were utilized by humans, we would consider evil. For them, that may be normal. That being said, it doesn’t really matter. Humans can’t live in Pink Space, and demons refuse to try to live in Neo Yokio. Barring a change in the nature, tactics, or demands of the demons to become more compatible with coexisting with humans, humans have no choice but to fight them in order to continue to survive. But, that’s just my take on it. I’m not saying the people are right mind you, just that I’m on their team because I’d rather watch Kaz carry around giant Toblerones and Arcangelo lovehatestalk him than like watch demons floating in pink space for 20 minute chunks of time and that be the show. Sounds boring. Sorry demons, but you’re just super dull.  Though I do think the city being so unequal helps them. As does Kaz being depressed and shit all the time. The less someone cares about living the easier it is to kill them. So, the city being terrible and people, rich and poor alike, being totally miserable as a result makes it incredibly vulnerable from the demon’s perspective. 

I honestly think the worst thing that happened to the demons’ cause all season was the bachelor board going down because the end result was the characters who should be their primary enemies (Kaz and Arcangelo) becoming not only happier, but no longer working against one another. But it is still possible that the demons hate only the upper class and want to rip them down. Honestly, without the “Pink Space” thing that seems more feasible, but knowing about that makes me feel like their war is with all humans, not just with the upper class. That also explains why all classes were willing to be fight them in the war, instead of the wealthy defending themselves from an uprising of the working class and their demon allies.��Again, sorry for how long that was. I didn’t realize I had that much to say about it, but apparently I did. Honestly, I don’t take the show that seriously, so a lot of my opinions are basically subconscious judgments I’ve made, so I can’t really explain them until I’m pushed or asked. 

So, thanks for the question, it helped me articulate all of the details of my thoughts on this.

[brianna-lei]

Anonymous Butterfly Soup asks, batch 6

IT’S RIGHT NEXT TO THE BIG TOBLERONE I’M ALIVE

Being covered by a big gaming news site was one of my fantasies, so I’m elated this happened. The article is here, for anyone curious! 

More asks under the cut!! 

A note before I start -- if you submitted a bug, I saw it!! Thank you for reporting them!

Yes, she did! Her Facebook profile pic is her posing in front of a store at the mall, and you can see Jun’s reflection taking the pic in the store window

Akarsha didn’t realize, but Noelle totally heard it. Noelle kind of had a sense of what was up already, but actually hearing it worried her. She was debating whether or not to intervene when Min showed up. 

On a small note, Min trying to cheer Akarsha up slightly improved Noelle’s opinion of Min (even though Min and Akarsha almost end up fist fighting again afterward).  

Min plays video games too, imagine them playing Team Fortress 2 and later Overwatch together... Diya, Min, and Noelle have all seen some basic anime like Pokemon, Digimon, and Yugioh, but Akarsha’s the only real hardcore anime fan. I’m glad she met “Sakura”, “Yuki”, and Ester through the baseball club, because now she has weeb friends to talk about that stuff too. 

(Ester is less obvious about liking anime than “Sakura” and “Yuki”, but you can still tell by her outfit’s style. Lowkey but not lowkey enough)

I can totally relate to all of them, but I’d say Diya!

Yes, they grow close over the course of the year and Noelle has to try really hard not to cry LMAO They still keep in touch afterward. 

Yep, they both feel this huge gulf between themselves and their parents due to cultural differences. Many Asian immigrant parents are extremely conservative so it feels like they’re on a completely different wavelength from you, and at the same time they have complete power over you. It’s kind of a bad feeling.  

...Also, shadowing their faces saved me the work of drawing their different facial expressions. 

Min was actually out of town when the fire happened, so Diya had to call her and tell her what happened :( Diya (and eventually Min) sleeps on Noelle’s couch for a bit. Noelle and Akarsha aren’t living together at the time and Noelle has the nicer/cleaner apartment  

It sounds really miserable, but they’re ok in the end

Noelle's passion is math and science, so she definitely ends up doing something in STEM that she likes, just not what her parents were expecting. Akarsha is similar and becomes a software engineer -- They’re actually both naturally interested in those subjects, which says a lot about how bad the parental pressure really is.  

I like to think Diya and Min actually manage to break into minor league baseball and eventually MLB

Most of my outfit inspiration comes from my tumblr/twitter feeds. I wish I could recommend you fashion blogs, but I’m not following any?! They’re all just fandom mutuals who randomly reblog cool clothes sometimes. 

I used to have trouble deciding what clothes characters should wear, so every time I see an image of a cool outfit I save it for reference. After doing this since high school I now have...uh...

And those are just the unorganized ones, the ones i have in folders are like...

Now if I’m stumped for what a character should wear, I just browse these massive folders for inspiration. I can actually pinpoint the omocat jacket that gave me the idea for Min’s:

I thought, “it should be a warning: high voltage sign on the back!”, and then I just went on Google images and looked them up. 

Sorry if this isn’t helpful! 

I don’t think Min really minds, but The Squad is even better! Deke squad

Yeah, Akarsha’s parents wouldn’t approve either. Out of the main four, Diya is actually the only one whose parents are fine with it 

Ooh thank you this is an awesome compliment to receive!! 

I REALLY want to make merch some day! I’ve never made physical merch before and I’m a bit intimidated not knowing where to start/how to handle shipping, so it may take a while, though :( 

I didn’t give anyone last names and I doubt I ever will, sorry! Feel free to give them your own if you want 

This was intentional, but at the same time I can’t believe everyone IMMEDIATELY noticed. You guys are so in tune with 4/20

Diya and Akarsha are Indian, Min-seo is Korean, Noelle is Taiwanese, Chryssa is black, Liz is…mostly Irish, I think? “Sakura” is Pakistani, “Yuki” is Filipino. I’ve heard a lot of guesses for Ester, but she’s half black and half Chinese!

i got u son!!

Thank you, I really love hearing this because the feeling that this narrative was missing was what made me want to make this game in the first place! 

you might feel a bit more sympathetic to min when you reach her part of the story! Your mileage may vary, though

If you want to make a game like Butterfly Soup, try the program Renpy! It doesn’t require programming experience to use and there’s a lot of guides online on how to use it.  My NUMBER ONE BIG ADVICE IS MAKE A REALLY, REALLY SMALL GAME FIRST. My first game, Pom Gets Wi-Fi, was only 30-45 minutes long. If you make it any bigger than that, you almost guaranteed will never finish it. The dream game that you want to make is probably longer than that, so don’t make your dream game first! That’s kind of why I was so alarmed when Pom Gets Wi-Fi took off -- I’m very proud of that game and still love it, but it was like my test for the games I dreamed of making like Butterfly Soup. (Also, 17 is a great age to start making games, good for you!) Other stuff I’ve learned:  Programming: I mostly learned super specific things that can’t be easily applied to other situations. If you want to know how I did a specific thing in Renpy, message me! 

Writing: If you’re struggling to write something, it might be for a good reason. Maybe the scene is unnecessary or boring, your mental image of the scene doesn’t translate well to the format of your work, or the character motivations aren’t convincing enough. Deleting a scene altogether isn’t defeat, sometimes it’s the best path forward! Give up more! 

Artwise: Drawing for non-pixel art games takes FOREVER. The sheer amount of time it’d take to draw all the characters and backgrounds was so demoralizing that I found myself procrastinating because I didn’t want to tackle it. Not only did I have a large cast of characters (9 in the baseball club alone), but because of flashbacks, I had to draw half of them again as kids!

To anyone thinking about making a game by themselves, SERIOUSLY consider making it a pixel art game. If you’re that set on making a non-pixel art game, SEVERELY limit the number of characters and backgrounds you have to draw!! I’m begging u...learn from my mistakes... 

You’re welcome!!! :> 

I loved USC! The Interactive Media major was cool and fun -- I met a lot of good friends through the program! It was probably the best few years of my life. 

Unfortunately...I felt like it did nothing to prepare me for finding a job. There are very few classes for aspiring game artists and game writers. There wasn’t a single professor who worked as an artist at a triple A studio while I was there, and only one who was a major writer. I get that you gotta be self motivated, but I wish I had someone in the faculty I felt comfortable discussing my career path with. Some of the professors had clear favorite students and if you weren’t one of them, they’d make very little effort to reach out to you or interact with you. I know I'm introverted, but I never got this feeling with my general elective classes -- I had plenty of chances to talk to my writing professor, architecture lab professor, art teacher, etc., yet I came out of a lot of my Interactive Media classes wondering if my professors even remembered me.  

If you want to be a game designer or maybe a writer, and are really focused/outgoing with your professors, it could be the major for you, but if you want to be a game artist I’m not sure it’s the best place to be. 

I was actually crazy stressed out when it came out, so nope! It’s happening this weekend  

I was super nervous right after it came out because I was worried people wouldn’t like it! I put a lot into it, and actually teared up writing parts of it, so it was a ridiculous relief to see that people were touched by it. I’m really happy now and really want to make a sequel.  Also, I’m beyond grateful to my friends/mutuals/fans spreading the word and tweeting/posting about the game and making fancontent ;~; I really owe everything to them!  A few people wondered about how I was holding up attention-wise, and actually...as a fanartist I sort of thrive on this, haha. Also, this is much less intense than when I released Pom Gets Wi-Fi. For perspective, it took Butterfly Soup a week to reach the number of downloads Pom got in one day. 

Good!!! You’re welcome! 

you’re welcome!!! 

[tuchimuchibrainvomit]

My Thoughts On Neo Yokio — I Might Just Surprise You!

Since I have a little time before I power through a 4-5 hour drive to Maryland. I wanted to try reviewing something that has taken over my eyes and mind for the past few days (and no, it is not Madoka). A tangent before we start, I tend to be one of those “Main-Subculture Hating Hipsters”, that will wait until every high up, every gossip, every hipster and every anime fan has shut up about something they deem as good before I check it out. Hence why I hit Madoka much later — when no one was talking about it. I wanna go in as blind or unbiased as I can. Call it being an “Asocial Hipster”, but when the internet finally shuts up about something, I’ll experience it and then come back to see what happened on the net and explore my own experiences solitarily. But the thing I’m reviewing today is quite different from that usual attitude of mine. Today, we are reviewing Neo Yokio!

Netflix’s, Ezra of Vampire Weekend’s and Jaden Smith’s anime... And... *sweats* Why I think it is a good show. In fact, I liked it a lot! Let me add a point of bias: in most shows, I don’t watch it sober on my first viewing. When I tried Neo Yokio sober, I was disgusted by the art style — but when inebriated, I could take in little moments and the bigger picture. Before watching it again whilst sober, taking in more detail and falling in love with it. It may have a role in why Madoka Rebellion was PERFECT THE WAY IT WAS AND DON’T CHANGE IT, HOMURA WAS IN FUCKING CHARACTER, FIGHT ME!! ... Ahem... Anyway, Go ahead boo now. I’ll wait... ... Now, LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!! Firstly, Neo Yokio tells the story of Neo Riche “Magistocrat” Kaz Khan, played by Jaden Smith. And honestly, the series is just a short slice of life. Simple and very clear that it’s just not anything special. But that’s the brilliance — in my opinion — of the series. With a kind of similar attitude as The Boondocks but less focused on Black Culture (Excluding Kaz and his posse Lexy and GollieB), and more on parodying both anime of the 90’s and early 00’s and the 1%. I want to focus on this 1% idea, and why it was very interesting and successful angle to attack with comedic parody.

We are in 2017. The political climate worldwide is ABSOLUTELY unbearable — hence why I live my life as a 23 year old loser artist as apolitically as I can. Even if it’s practically impossible... — And this is why Neo Yokio genuinely made me chortle the entire way through. So, let’s start with the main character: Kaz. Kaz is dubbed by the masses as “Neo Riche”, the highest class of Neo Yokio, and while he does his damnedest to deny it, he proves quickly that he IS Neo Riche in the first 3 minutes of the series — and it works. This aspect added a lot on my second sober viewing — where the jokes and satire made a bit more sense after I had my time with the laughs and visual insanity that Neo Yokio is. That’s when I found something charming and actually worth my time. Kaz — is the perfect MC for this ridiculous world. I like fashion. My boyfriend really likes fashion. And the idea of being the 1% is insanely charming and a way we love to playfully act together. And Neo Yokio plays into that — Kaz being just as flamboyant and unconnected in one way as his rival Arcangelo is flamboyant and unconnected in another, both stereotypical yet enjoyable plays of the 1% that many people despise so much in the political spectrum. Kaz doesn’t care about politics, and this is a perspective I rarely see about the 1% until Kaz and his friends start observing it, serving to — while confused in tone ending — comment on what often goes unseen by the 1% that is not focused in politics but in their day to day life. And it’s petty, stupid and hilariously over-the-top, as many people see the idealized lives of the 1%. Let’s talk about Kaz. I feel like Jaden Smith’s monotone mannerism and voice fit ABSOLUTELY perfectly for the kind of character Kaz is. He’s overly dramatic in a drab, pretentious way. He’s from an almost alien lifestyle and he is presented as such. Jaden fits personally with this and adds charm to it. Look at one of the BEST bits from Episode 1, where Kaz — depressed over being dumped AND failing an exorcism goes to a graveyard with his OWN grave just to lay there and wallow in his despair. This moment shows how we should see throughout the show Kaz — as weird, inconsequently rich, ignorant and yet funny and lovable. This makes him a great character to experience the world inside of Neo Yokio’s other classes. He is ignorant and therefore he is called out for it in many funny ways that can add some depth to him. Charles works in that manner, being a robot butler, who snidely chastises his master’s lack of consequence. But has a similar charm and enjoyment at Kaz, almost playing the role of audience proxy. And the more characters that come, play off of Kaz very well comedically. And from Kaz as well the references to Toblerones, high fashion like Louis Vuitton and Chanel, and the absolute joke they make out of Kaz’ bachelor status make him very personable. Next, I want to talk about the animation. When I first saw it, my gut reaction was “TRASH, BURN IT!!”

But after really seeing what the show tries, I started to understand it was —consciously and unconsciously — parodying: Shitty anime from the 2000’s, lazy techniques in anime as a whole and it made for a charming exterior. Seriously guys, Sailor Pellegrino’s name written in Sailor Moon’s title font, that’s hilarous! And whether or not, Ezra or the community says “it’s a serious story”, I’m basing this review after my experience and things I saw. In that, I want to talk about some of the social commentary. It all doesn’t work. They have an interesting episode showing Kaz’ ignorance in his inherent misogyny — but also, I feel like it doesn’t know whether it wants to comment on it or make fun of it. I saw it as really a mix of both. Some successful, some not successful, nobody’s perfect and yet I enjoyed it. There are some bits that I liked — being gay and all, Arcangelo’s VERY FLAMBOYANT portrayal was absolutely hilarious, I loved it! I love when they play up flamboyancy comedically, it often makes me fall love with a character. I loved Lexy chasing after the hottest lesbian in the town, knowing he wouldn’t make much out of it — even if he got Ranma’d to being Kaz’ date. I liked him calling out Kaz’ bull misogyny as both a good moment for Kaz and an interesting commentary, and using Ranma 1/2 as inspiration. I think that’s why I like gender benders as a whole. They tend to be wacky, campy and bring up new perspectives. But that’s just me, whether you take offense or not, is up to you. I can’t dictate that and I don’t judge people for their reactions to things. I just personally find most campy portrayals too ridiculous to be taken seriously, even if it is meant to be derogatory. Sure, they’re not great for LGBT or Women’s civil rights, but for the sake of a show that makes me laugh, I don’t take it seriously. If I wanted a serious commentary about more real life issues, I’ll go outside of anime and comedy films. As for other comments and the one’s it tends to get right: The ignorance of the Neo Riche. Kaz doesn’t even think of himself as Neo Riche, yet he is. And the character, Helena plays with that — while also making an army of fangirls, who follow everything she does in a completely hysterical manner. They are a nice poke at the masses that follow someone famous to the ends of the earth. Charles also plays with that around the penultimate episode — not spoiling. ;3 On to sound, while I didn’t pay much attention, classical style music is everywhere. No tracks stood out to me because classical is not my forte, but I think it fit with the Neo Riche-style. The acting is hokey, plays the gamut from Jaden Smith monotone to Lexy’s VERY black mannerisms — it made me feel remarkably at home. My family is absolutely like that in voice styles and ranges. It made me laugh even more. I personally liked the acting, seeing it as intentionally “bad” for the sake of comedy. The story itself plays between slice of life and a serialized story, which kinda mucks up the sudden tone shift in the end. Unlike Cowboy Bebop, we don’t have as much time with the cast as a whole to feel much for them in the end. But I’d hope for a Season 2 to really explore more of the side characters. I want to know more about Lexy and GollieB’s hole-in-the-wall bar, I want to see more of Helena’s followers — especially after the ridiculous things they do to be just like Helena, and the ending kinda shook me in a way I didn’t expect that was very cute going forward. I could go on, but I think it is time for me to sum up my thoughts on Neo Yokio: “It’s very good at what it does, but it’s not for everyone. It’s audience is like the Neo Riche, small and niche.” That is the best way to put my thoughts on it.

Some people will get it and enjoy it. Most others, will write it off as trite. And I understand that point while also saying: “Try watching it inebriated. Take in the campy ridiculousness of it all.” No matter what the creators and critics say, everyone’s personal experience will be different based on where they come from. I read it as a parodic farce and enjoyed it very much as such. As a serious story or social commentary — it fell a lot more than it rose. And that’s OK. The best parts of the show are when Kaz is with Helena, the Helenists, and his boys, Lexy and GollieB. Laughing when he’s dealing with his aunt (voiced by Susan Sarandon, so yes!) or wallowing in the “misery” of being privileged bachelor. I recommend it for those who want something that you can make fun of — as I found it making fun of itself. To people who love the fabulous rich lifestyle of fashion, fame and camp! And I recommend trying it alone or with friends, but most importantly — drunk and/or baked as hell! Always bloom proudly guys, —Tuchi OUT!

[thatawkwardnerdytomboy]

My Review of Neo Yokio (Spoilers!) Episode 2.

Reviewing this show episode by episode so you don’t have to watch it!

Episode 2.

So, this episode starts off with a basketball game at Neo Yokio’s version of Madison Square Garden. Their home team, the Knickerbockers, which is actually the longer name for The Knicks is playing. Of course, Kaz is sitting court-side at this game because he’s rich. And even Kaz and Charles have an exchange about how great this is because the writers have to rub his money in our faces. Then we get a national anthem performance by the city’s “global ambassador,” Sailor Pellegrino (not so subtle Sailor Moon reference. We even see that she has a cat later in this scene!). Her performance brings some of the team members to tears and Kaz also comments about how great it is. The announcers announce that Kaz is also in attendance for the game that night and shows him on the big screen, presenting him as the city’s most eligible bachelor. And of course because of this status, Sailor Pellegrino sits next to him. Although Pellegrino sings like an opera singer, her accent sounds southern but very forced and satirical like they’re trying to make fun of southern people. They both tell each other about how exciting each other’s lives probably are to which Pellegrino replies that she’s just a “humble pop star from North Cackalaka...” According to Urban Dictionary, this is a nickname for North Carolina but of course, since we’re not using the real names of anything, they changed “Cackalaky” to “Cackalaka.” Also, she brought her cat to basketball game. Is this allowed? Did she get away with this because she’s a celebrity? She invites Kaz to a party but he says he’s going with Helena St. Tessaro, a famous fashion blogger from the 1st episode. We then get a kiss-cam scene because every time we have a comedic show where characters are at a game, there must be an awkward kiss-cam shot like in Modern Family. And of course, because clichés, the guy is pressured into the kiss and though he acts like he doesn’t want it, he sure does like it. And we get a cliché anime nosebleed that indicates that all the blood in his body is rushing to his face and...you know where else. And this kiss is applauded with ovation and confetti because they’re that important to the city.

In the next scene, we get a classical score from Bach as a barista preps coffee for Kaz and his friends because fancy rich kid activities require classical music every 5 minutes, as does this entire show (and this complaint is brought to you by a New Yorker who likes classical music). Kaz’s friends are confused about him wearing a tux to a casual outing that day for a black and white tux ball that isn’t happening until that Friday. Kaz rambles on about how a tuxedo is a living thing that just can’t be yanked out of storage, it has to be reintroduced into society slowly... Yeah, I don’t get it. Rich kid insider, maybe? His friends think he’s crazy and when Charles mentions that Helena will like it, his friends disagree, noting that his kiss with Sailor Pellegrino went viral and she probably won’t be too happy with that. Mr. #1. bachelor blows it off, basically giving us that “player’s gotta play” shtick. Lexy says Pellegrino’s wack, Gottlieb says she’s talented despite her music being for “corn-puffs” and Charles informs them that she’s sold a billion albums. Really? Not even The Beatles, Michael Jackson or Madonna have sold that many albums. After hearing her performance during the game, I don’t believe she’s sold that many either. When the sun casts light on Kaz’s tux, they inform him that his tux isn’t black, it’s blue and Charles confirms this. This becomes the most pressing and serious issue of the entire episode. And from out of nowhere, his arch rival, Arcangelo comes out of nowhere to bust his chops about it. Aunt Agatha then comes to pick him up for a mission as Kaz complains about his suit. 

They arrive at Neo Yokio’s version of the Metropolitan Museum of Art where Aunt Agatha greets her friend, Maxwell whose nervous about hosting the black and white ball. He’s mostly afraid that demons will try to attack the event. Aunt Agatha assures that Kaz will be there to secure the event. Kaz inspects the museum and finds nothing. They then come to the most prized piece there, a jewel incrusted skull named The Love of God by Damien Hirst (which is a real-life work of art) Maxwell fears this particular item would attract demons the most because demons apparently, can use diamonds to transform and magnify their powers. It’s also, according the Kaz, the best work of art in the world (everyone is entitled to their opinion, I guess). Kaz inspects it and finds that it’s demon free. This is such obvious foreboding and lazy writing. Do they really want to give away that this skull will become possessed? Because spoiler alert! It does! -Loud sigh- 

Kaz calls Helena, her father informs him that she’s in the hospital because the exorcism caused her to become dizzy and fall down the stairs. Kaz gives his condolences and offers to visit her with a gift of a...wait for it...a big Toblerone! The 2nd infamous Toblerone reference! Helena’s mother tells Mr. St. Tessaro that the snacks are ready (3 rice balls and some other stuff) and in a really strange and awkward fashion, he tells Kaz that he has to go...because the snacks are ready. Like the writers made a point of making it seem like his snacks are so important. So much cringy writing. 

Kaz visits Helena with the big Toblerone. Instead of asking her how’s she’s doing, the selfish, self-absorbed Kaz asks her about his suit and asks if it’s ok to wear to the party. She tells him that it doesn’t matter and that she’s not a fashion blogger anymore. According to her, the exorcism changed her. She tells him that fashion is a commodity. Kaz is infuriated by this and tells her that fashion is a “glimmer of hope” in the word. Right, because a sweat shop in the 3rd world country is a glimmer of hope to a starving child who needs a job--a job where they’ll be paid prison wages and will probably die due to the unsafe conditions. The nerve of this pretentious prick! Helena tells him that the black and white ball is a “vapid celebration of capitalist values” and “a grotesque display of wealth.” At this point in the show, I started thinking that this show and all its ridiculousness was supposed to be a satire/social commentary and this was the beginning of a turning point in the show where we begin seeing characters commenting about the problems with the 1%. She tells him that she’s boycotting the party and that he belongs there with all of those snobs. Kaz gets angry, takes his Toblerone back as thunder clashes against the sky outside of the window in dramatic defiant fashion. Damn, this scene did a really great job of displaying how incredibly vain and selfish rich people can be, Kaz pointedly. And it took a defector of 1%er culture to bring this issue to our attention. However, in the midst of things, this isn’t enough to save the show and paints Kaz as a terrible person. Aren’t we supposed to be rooting for him? Because I, personally, am not on his side. 

Kaz takes off in a cab, telling the cab driver to take him “anywhere but here” cliché. Sailor Pellegrino appears on the screen in the headrest of the cab in a commercial about how great New Yokio is. Y’know, the way the cab is designed makes it difficult for me to believe that in this same world, the end of 14th street is under water and we have humans piloting robot butlers. Oops, spilled the beans on Charles, didn’t I? Kaz decided to contact Pellegrino to take to the ball because of course he does. She’s over the moon for this and says yes. He asks the cab driver if he think it’s ok to wear his midnight blue tux to the ball and he says he wouldn’t. He asks the driver to take him to Bergdorf’s. As the cab swings around into a U-turn, Kaz slides across the seat into the door because no seat-belts. The salesclerk sees him in his tux and remarks that he looks like an animal before rushing off to take care of this fashion emergency. Lexy and Gottlieb show him their tuxedo masks (2nd Salior Moon reference in this episode) which Kaz thinks is too flashy. They disagree saying that they’ve deserved the right to look flashy and Kaz tells them that since he’s the most eligible bachelor in the city, he doesn’t want to wear a mask and that he’s taking Pellegrino. Lexy’s against this because she just moved to the city and she doesn’t even know what a “chopped cheese” is. Any and every low-income New Yorker knows what this is and there’s a video that speaks about how ignorant hipster gentrifiers “discovered” this sandwich even though it’s been around for ages. I feel as though the writers forced this in there because they heard that it was such a big deal but it’s clear that these characters don’t care for or understand low-income city culture and neither do the creators. Also, what did Lexy and Gottlieb’s families do to reach their social class? This is never explained and they seem very underdeveloped.  

Arcangelo appears and of, course, he’s in the fitting room adjacent to Kaz’s because they need to an exchange to develop (or not) their rivalry. Kaz asks Arcangelo if he lives there seeing as though he’s always there. I found this funny because they seemed to breaking the forth wall a bit. Arcangelo says he wishes he lived there and Kaz replies “me too.” And for once, we get a second where they’re not being dicks to each other. When Kaz tells Arcangelo that he’s taking Pellegrino to the ball, Arcangelo tells him that she’s only taking him because he’s topping the bachelor charts and that he’s a one-hit wonder but Arcangelo’s coming for his #1 spot. 

There’s a scene where Kaz is taking a bath and asks Charles to play one of Sailor Pellegrino’s songs... I’m eclectic but I still don’t believe she sold a billion albums. Aunt Agatha calls to tell Kaz that he has to work security and he regretfully informs Pellegrino of this. She tells him that she grew up in a trailer with her mother who had 3 jobs and that she has no problem with Kaz working at the ball. This was an interesting exchange. We learned more about her in a second than we’ve learned about any other character on the show. Kaz scopes the room for suspicious activity and finds none but happens to see his rival chatting it up with Pellegrino...and he tells her that he’s wearing a midnight blue tux...to Kaz’s fury. He confronts him, Arcangelo tells him that midnight blue is in style and that he’ll take all the credit for it. He calls Kaz “neo riche” and Pellegrino who’s insulted by this tells Kaz’s blond rival that there’s nothing wrong with being “neo-riche.” Arcangelo calls them two hillbillies and tells them that they were made for each other before leaving them. Paparazzi then snap photos of him, complimenting his suit. Helena shows up to the ball in her hospital gown (forced to attend by her parents) to protest. Kaz is embarrassed and asks her to get down. 

Kaz leaves the party to find that the Damien Hirst skull is missing. He then finds Pellegrino in the gallery, supposedly lost. She tells him that everything’s going to be ok and her reassuring tone apparently, turns Kaz on and they share a kiss. He spits out a diamond. And surprise, surprise...she turns out to be the demon that possesses the skull. -Bigger sigh- In another shitty voice-over, she tells him that she hates the city because of the upper-class and that she’s there to destroy it. A fight ensues. There’s an undertone that Pellegrino has had to struggle to attain her success because she grew up poor and she hates what she’s seen as she’s become a part of the music industry. Of course, none of this is explained, it’s all implication. I wish this was explored more because it would bring a lot of depth to her character and add more to the satire that I thought this was supposed to be. But no...lazy writing and undeveloped characters... During their fight, they enter the paintings in the gallery which kind of reminds me of a Loony Tunes move scene where Bugs Bunny was being chased through famous art pieces. I wonder if this was a specific reference to this or they just thought’d it’d be funny. Because I really like this idea but I think it could have been executed better. Demon Pellegrino catches him trying to camouflage himself in a painting against a midnight blue sky (since he’s actually wearing a black tux, he doesn’t blend in) to which he curses Arcangelo for pressuring him into not wearing it. As if wearing the midnight blue sky would have saved him. Pellegrino captures him in lightning bondage and he slices the skull in half with his own powers. Kaz mourns Pellegrino’s death commenting “alas poor Sailor, a pop-star of infinite elegance.” That’s actually part of the episode’s title. Wow...after all that, that’s all he has to say?

Kaz returns to the ball. The salesclerk comments about his suit being ruined, Arcangelo laughs at his misfortune, Lexy tells him that he warned him about dating out-of-town girls, and Helena, who has the last word tells him that thought she wasn’t the worst dressed at the ball after all. Kaz storms out of the room. 

Stray Observations

-The word “elegant” is way overused. 

-I’m beginning to think that either Toblerone is sponsoring the show or the creators are addicted to the stuff. Also, some big Toblerones of that size sell for over $100 so yeah, it sounds like a rich kid snack. Also, how does one person consume a Toblerone? Does one take weeks to finish it?

-Still no references to Japanese culture in Neo Yokio aside from Helena’s mother making Japanese food and Sailor Pellegrino’s casual use of the word “ichiban” meaning “number 1,” which feels out of place because it seems like no one in Neo Yokio speaks any Japanese other than the use of anime trope words and we’re going to see a tiny bit more of this in future episodes. 

[elizas-writing]

TV Reviews: Neo Yokio

 Neo Yokio... where do I begin?

Okay, this did pique my interest with it being an American-Japanese co-production with a stellar cast and quite the racial diversity, something you almost never see in anime. I didn’t know what to expect with the plot, but I put in on anyway and... it’s... kinda bad.

Believe me, I tried to be optimistic all the way through, but by the end I was just worn out and disappointed. It’s not awful per se; there’s definitely potential and wonderful ideas, but it’s not given enough time to breathe and develop, in almost every aspect of what makes a good anime.

In an alternate timeline, New York has become Neo Yokio, which praises itself as the “greatest city on Earth" for its cultural diversity, architecture, and fashion. However, it was not always so as back in the 19th century, magicians saved the city from being overrun by demons. Thanks to their efforts, magicians gained a place among high society as “magistocrats” and occasionally help around to control demons. Our story focuses on one of them, Kaz Kaan (Jaden Smith), who’s incredibly vain and quite reluctant on his demon-hunting duties because it interferes with his life as a bachelor. But his comfortable life of fashion and social status may definitely be rocked when he starts seeing Neo Yokio isn’t as perfect as he thought it was.

I’m seeing some people who are saying this is supposed to be a parody of early 2000s anime, but honestly, it didn’t come across as such to me. Sometimes I couldn’t tell when I was supposed to laugh or take it seriously. There are definitely some funny moments and great running jokes, but for the anti-capitalist themes it’s building up to, I was expecting way more. There really isn’t that much substance to keep it a solid parody when I can’t tell what they’re satirizing. Plus it seems like the creator was taking this completely seriously, so I don’t know what the intent was. So for the sake of keeping my review focused, let’s just go with that this is a 100% serious show.

One of the big things to talk about is the production companies behind this. Among them, they include Production I.G and Studio Deen, the same people who brought us Ghost in the Shell, Psycho-Pass, Higurashi no naku koro ni, and Hetalia to name a few. These are great shows with wonderful animation, world-building, characters and stories, which is why it’s such a waste that those strong elements don’t strive here. There are a lot of impressive designs like the city itself and some of the technology, and I like the mix of sci-fi with fantasy. The demons are pretty freaky, and in the end you’re left with a lot of questions on how this city really works and how much it values fashion over basic human decency. The character designs are fun with a bit of a throwback to a late 90s/early 2000s look, and again, it’s really refreshing to see an anime with this diverse of a cast. However, the rest of the animation and the voice acting are incredibly stiff. I know anime can be stilted at times, but they at least remember to draw on facial expressions or movement to convey emotion. Here, the animation and voice acting almost never match up. It’s super distracting to me when a character is supposed to be ecstatic or furious but they have a stupid neutral expression like a robot; hell, the mecha butler voiced by Jude Law has more emotion than the rest of the characters! It sounds like they delivered these lines in one take, and that was it.

With misguided animation and voice acting, it seriously damages the characters. The only ones I kinda enjoyed were the mecha butler, Charles-- I think Brits are just destined to be sarcastic butlers at some point in their acting careers--, and Aunt Agatha cause Susan Saradon has quite a lovely voice (and yes, there is an evil character voiced by Steve Buscemi who vapes; it’s as surreal as you would think). Part of me really wants to like Kaz, but he’s such an annoying bore! Once in a while, his blunt humor shines with how overdramatic he is, but that’s all there is to his character. He barely grows until the last couple episodes to see how superficial he is to value fashion and status over basic humanity.

And that’s the show’s biggest problem is that it’s so slow-paced, which is surprising for a six-episode season. It’s just Kaz whining, going shopping or to a party, exorcising a demon, and then it moves on to the next episode. Nothing of actual intrigue happens until the last two episodes when it goes kinda dystopian and the police keep questioning Kaz about a dissenting friend who grows to hate fashion and social class after being possessed. Only then does it hint at the social inequalities and how damaging capitalism can be. Hell, in this universe, the Soviet Union still exists! Why? How? I really wanted to know more about this city's problems, but it threw all its cards into the last two episodes and padded the rest with failed jokes and Kaz whining. You think they’d at least try to make this interesting, especially with the main lead being a young black man who hates being called neo-riche and his family had to bust their asses to obtain the social status they have. There is so much potential to be had, but it just feels like a wasted opportunity.

The worst part is that it feels like a rushed production, and they just threw out whatever just to get it out fast. There’s still great ideas and themes and potential for a profound story. But it doesn’t feel like there was enough time to develop this world or the characters. Had the season been twelve episodes instead of six, I’d probably forgive it a little more, but this is all we have as a first impression for the show, and it’s really disappointing that no care was given to its development. It really missed the mark to be this great commentary on capitalism (and what it does have to say reads like a freshman thesis... a high school freshman thesis). Sure, there are a few bizarre moments and running jokes-- I can’t deny the absurdity that is the giant Toblerone-- but it’s not enough to save the show, at least for my tastes.

If you’re looking for something polished that’ll change the way you see the world, this is not the best show. But if you’re even the slightest curious on the attempt and maybe viewing as a parody to ease the pain of bad animation and voice acting, it’s harmless enough. Pick your poison, and see what you can take away from it.

[haaaaaaaarrrry]

1-155 and what's your opinion on feet?

1: Name::  Lucy2: Age::   203: 3 Fears::  birds, planes, men4: 3 things I love::  babies, Kit Kats, and feeling loved5: 4 turns on::  intelligence, kindness, an acoustic guitar, someone older6: 4 turns off::  immaturity, arrogance, being super loud?, right wing7: My best friend:: Lillian 8: Sexual orientation::  hetero9: My best first date::  I’ve never really been taken out on a first date 10: How tall am I:: 5′811: What do I miss::  not caring about my weight12: What time were I born::  my mom doesn’t even remember I'm her last kid and she was forty13: Favourite color::  pink is my signature color14: Do I have a crush::  yes and no15: Favourite quote::  “ho but make it fashion” Tyra Banks16: Favourite place::  my best friend’s presence17: Favourite food::  Mac and cheese18: Do I use sarcasm::  idk u tell me19: What am I listening to right now:: the winner of the 2018 AOTY Grammy Award: Divide20: First thing I notice in new person::  whether or not they’re nice21: Shoe size::  822: Eye color::  brown23: Hair color:: dark brown. just dyed it.24: Favourite style of clothing::  ho but fashion25: Ever done a prank call?::  loads of times27: Meaning behind my URL:: well Tenerife SEA but my name rhymes so Tenerife LU-sea was born but no one got it so Tenerife-lucy28: Favourite movie::  Dirty Dancing29: Favourite song:: of all time, Tiny Dancer. Currently, Happier.30: Favourite band:: GNR sun31: How I feel right now::  sad32: Someone I love::  my dad33: My current relationship status::  single as a Pringle m834: My relationship with my parents:: lovely35: Favourite holiday:: thanksgiving36: Tattoos and piercing I have::  nose and my pine tree37: Tattoos and piercing I want:: I don’t want any more piercings but I do want the word wild on my butt38: The reason I joined Tumblr::  does anyone actually know39: Do I and my last ex hate each other?::  I don’t know how he feels about me but ask my therapist40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts?::  does my mom count41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted?::  no42: When did I last hold hands?::  romantically? in December 43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?:: too damn long44: Have You shaved your legs in the past three days?:: no lmao45: Where am I right now?::  a state of loneliness and self loathing46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me?:: Nora 47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level? ::   loud48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad? ::  no49: Am I excited for anything?::  October 6th binch50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to?::  yes51: How often do I wear a fake smile?:: 88% of the time52: When was the last time I hugged someone?::  earlier today53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me?::  I wouldn’t be alarmed54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not?::  um I don’t really trust anyone except my parents so55: What is something I disliked about today?::  I messed up my nails right after I painted them56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?::  Singer Songwriter Edward Christopher Sheeran57: What do I think about most?::  my weight58: What’s my strangest talent?::  I can eat a lollipop with my toes59: Do I have any strange phobias?:: birds? is that strange60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?::  behind61: What was the last lie I told?::  I have no idea62: Do I perfer talking on the phone or video chatting online?:: talking on the phone I don’t like to see myself63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens? :: yes yes64: Do I believe in magic?:: duh65: Do I believe in luck?:: yeppers66: What's the weather like right now?::  cold as a witch’s teet67: What was the last book I've read?:: Madame Bovary68: Do I like the smell of gasoline?:: weirdly yes69: Do I have any nicknames?::  Lu, Luc, Lu-Bug, Lucyfer, edsheeran.daddy6970: What was the worst injury I've ever had?::  I hurt my back once and could hardly move71: Do I spend money or save it?::  spend 72: Can I touch my nose with a tounge?::  no73: Is there anything pink in 10 feets from me?::  my blankie74: Favourite animal?:: cat cats75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM?:: watching ANTM76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is?::  Moore77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it?:: One Call Away78: How can you win my heart?::  by being Ed Sheeran79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone?::  here lies a dramatic hoe who loved y’all binches80: What is my favorite word? ::  actually. I say it all the time81: My top 5 blogs on tumblr @knox-on-eds-wood @weareedsobfg ((I'm cheating and grouping y’all all in one) @tea-and-toblerones @gay-romantics @lordedsheeran82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say? :: she won the popular vote83: Do I have any relatives in jail?:: not that I know of84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power?:: healing people85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on?::  do you practice what you preach86: What is my current desktop picture?::  my baby niece87: Had sex?::  yah88: Bought condoms?::  yah89: Gotten pregnant?::  no90: Failed a class?::  no but almost91: Kissed a boy?::  yah92: Kissed a girl?::  no93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain?::  yah94: Had job?:: ye had job95: Left the house without my wallet?::  who hasn’t96: Bullied someone on the internet?::  not unless you count repeatedly using the phrase daddy and grossing out @ownerandwriterofedsnnnnggghhhh and @purplelunarmoth97: Had sex in public?::  no98: Played on a sports team?::  MARCHING BAND IS A SPORT 99: Smoked weed?::  yah100: Did drugs?::  no101: Smoked cigarettes?::  no102: Drank alcohol?::  yah103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan?::  I wish104: Been overweight?::  in my opinion105: Been underweight?::  in the doctor’s opinion106: Been to a wedding?::  bitch I been in three smh107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight?::  this damn website108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight?::  yah109: Been outside my home country?::  no110: Gotten my heart broken?::  yah111: Been to a professional sports game?::  surprisingly yes and I was horribly hungover112: Broken a bone?::  no113: Cut myself?::  not purposely114: Been to prom?::  twice and it was two of the worst nights of my life115: Been in airplane?::  god yes116: Fly by helicopter? ::  no I need Christian Grey lulz

117: What concerts have I been to? Cheetah Girls, Hannah Montana, Rascal Flatts, Metallica, Paramore, Amos Lee x3, Carole King and James Taylor, Mason Jennings, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Guns N Roses, Keith Urban, I think that’s it

118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex?::  nah119: Learned another language?::  ugh I'm trying it’s so hard120: Wore make up?::   every damn day hoe121: Lost my virginity before I was 18?::  I feel attacked122: Had oral sex?::  I feel very attacked123: Dyed my hair?::  so many times124: Voted in a presidential election?::  yes125: Rode in an ambulance?::  yes126: Had a surgery?::  yes127: Met someone famous?::  yes128: Stalked someone on a social network?:: psshhh 129: Peed outside?:: peeing in bodies of water is one of the great joys of my life130: Been fishing?:: yah131: Helped with charity?:: yah132: Been rejected by a crush?:: indirectly and directly133: Broken a mirror?::  it was awful that’s why I'm cursed134: What do I want for birthday?::  a big booty hoe135: How many kids do I want and what will be their names?::  I want probably three. Okay for a girl: Dixie Lee, Tennessee Lily, (she will go by Lily) for a boy: Bennie James (Jim) 136: Was I named after anyone? ::  a Sandra Bullock character137: Do I like my handwriting?::  sometimes 138: What was my favourite toy as a child?::  Full House139: Favourite Tv Show?::  The Office140: Where do I want to live when older?::  in a state of happiness141: Play any musical instrument?::  the piano142: One of my scars, how did I get it?::  I had surgery143: Favourite pizza toping?::  cheese or pepperoni144: Am I afraid of the dark?:: idk kinda145: Am I afraid of heights?::  yes 146: Have I ever got caught sneaking out or doing anything bad?::  yes lmao147: Have I ever tried my hardest and then gotten disappointed in the end?::  lol my life148: What I'm really bad at::  being a human149: What my greatest achievments are::  this horrible blog150: The meanest thing somebody has ever said to me::  can’t repeat it151: What I'd do if I won in a lottery::  give it all to charity after buying bomb ed tickets152: What do I like about myself::  I make other people happy153: My closest Tumblr friend:: um probably @knox-on-eds-wood or @tea-and-toblerones154: Something I fantasise about::  being a stay at home mom to Ed Sheeran’s baby155: Any question you'd like? I do not like them but don’t actively dislike them

[tea-and-toblerones]

I hijacked this.

1: Name:: Deanna 2: Age:: 24 3: 3 Fears:: spiders, being told I love you when they really don't, utter failure 4: 3 things I love:: Video games, music and art 5: 4 turns on:: Dorkiness, awkwardness, kindness and a sense of humor 6: 4 turns off:: flip floppy behavior, narcissism, arrogance, and thinking yo ass is better than everyone else. 7: My best friend:: @bestiejessie 8: Sexual orientation:: Hetro, but with an appreciation for the female form 9: My best first date:: pff, I'll let you know when that happens, yeah? I've never really been taken out 10: How tall am I:: 5′7" 11: What do I miss:: being as carefree as I was 12: What time were I born:: Monday, August 24, 1992 at 9:18 PM 13: Favourite color:: Red. Blood red. 14: Do I have a crush:: My heart only poops it's pants for celebs and fictional characters at the mo'. It's easier that way. 15: Favourite quote:: “I may be an asshole, but I'm not a 100% Dick" Peter "Star Lord" Quill 16: Favourite place:: By the water. On the water. Floating in the water. I love water. 17: Favourite food:: PIZZA IS LIFEEEEE 18: Do I use sarcasm:: Nah mate, not at all. 19: What am I listening to right now:: The Final Fantasy VII Soundtrack 20: First thing I notice in new person:: eyes, scent, timbre of voice, and their vibe 21: Shoe size:: 8 22: Eye color:: gunsteel blue 23: Hair color:: medium brown. For now. 24: Favourite style of clothing:: Grunge queen in the fall/winter Cute and lacy in the spring/summer 25: Ever done a prank call?:: not that I'm aware. I have terrible anxiety 27: Meaning behind my URL:: I just love tea and toblerones mate. 28: Favourite movie:: Howl's Moving Castle 29: Favourite song:: Yellow by Coldplay 30: Favourite band:: Imagine Dragons 31: How I feel right now:: Chill/excited 32: Someone I love:: EVERYONE. Cept for one single person. 33: My current relationship status:: Emotionally attached to a fictional character cos I'm trash. That answers that, eh? 34: My relationship with my parents:: Me and my mam are tight. My dad...nah mate, not so much. 35: Favourite holiday:: HALLOWEEN BITCHES! 36: Tattoos and piercing I have:: My gauges. 37: Tattoos and piercing I want:: Sylleblossoms and a sword from FFX, Calcifer from Howl's Moving Caste, a sea scape, trees, a dragon... 38: The reason I joined Tumblr:: I needed an Ed outlet before my friends murdered me. 39: Do I and my last ex hate each other?:: He cut his face open to be more like Ed so I would take him back. I don't hate anyone, but that boy is pretty damn close to it. 40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ��� texts?:: My brother texts me WAKE UP from time to time. Do those count? 41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted?:: Texted, yeah. Messaged, nah, just licked their face. 42: When did I last hold hands?:: romantically? Last year. In general? Last night. 43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?:: pff what is this morning you speak of? 44: Have You shaved your legs in the past three days?:: Sure have. 45: Where am I right now?:: In the FFXV/Ed trash heap where I belong. 46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me?:: Jessie if they're not already passed out. 47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level? :: loud 48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad? :: unfortunately 49: Am I excited for anything?:: THIS WEEKEND 50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to?:: yes 51: How often do I wear a fake smile?:: 25% of the time? Ish 52: When was the last time I hugged someone?:: earlier today 53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me?:: I be surprised he grew a spine and kissed a girl other than me, but that's about it. Probably cheer him on. Get him a drink. I'm such a bro 54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not?:: nah mate, I hardly trust anyone 55: What is something I disliked about today?:: almost falling outta a chair cos I fell asleep 56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?:: Ed Sheeran 57: What do I think about most?:: that I'm trapped in a stagnate place and I'll never get free from it. 58: What’s my strangest talent?:: I can remember exactly how people/ feel. Like their skin and whatnot, like I'm physically touching them, but im not. And their scent and their voice. And their eyes. Is that a talent? 59: Do I have any strange phobias?:: the snuggle bear creeps me the fuck out. 60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?:: behind 61: What was the last lie I told?:: that I was gonna go to bed early. Does it count if it's to yourself? 62: Do I perfer talking on the phone or video chatting online?:: video chatting cos I have a fear that people can't understand what I'm saying due to the fact I used to have an impediment with a lisp so at least they can read my lips. 63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens? :: sure do. Seen em. Felt em. Have one thats attached to me. He's cool. Chases away the bad stuff. And yeah this universe is way to big for us to be the only ones 64: Do I believe in magic?:: yep 65: Do I believe in luck?:: very much so 66: What’s the weather like right now?:: kinda coldish? But not terrible (I'm horrible at judging how cold it is. I never wear a jacket) 67: What was the last book I’ve read?:: King Killer Chronicles 68: Do I like the smell of gasoline?:: I'm weird so of course I do 69: Do I have any nicknames?:: Nanna (which I always go by) 70: What was the worst injury I’ve ever had?:: um, well one of my insides got very angry with me and hurt and I couldn't move and was fevered and puking and made my back hurt. I was too stubborn to go get checked out so I dunno what happened but it got better on its own. 71: Do I spend money or save it?:: both. Usually save though 72: Can I touch my nose with a tounge?:: I've got quite the long tongue, I can actually stick it up my nose if I tried. (Drunk me has) 73: Is there anything pink in 10 feets from me?:: Not that I can see 74: Favourite animal?:: Foxes, Ravens, and raccoons 75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM?:: Partying with my ladies getting ready to bar hop with the band 76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is?:: Morningstar. He owns a nightclub called Lux in LA. 77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it?:: Thrift Shop 78: How can you win my heart?:: by being an adorable awkward dorky nerd like me 79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone?:: something utterly ridiculous probably 80: What is my favorite word? :: probably a swear. 81: My top 5 blogs on tumblr @weareedsobfg (imma cheat too) @ferskendag, @tenerife-lucy @lordedsheeran, uh....I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting 82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say? :: pterodactyl noises and arm flaps cos social anxiety 83: Do I have any relatives in jail?:: it would be quicker to list the ones that weren't. 84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power?:: the power of imagination (whatever I can imagine happens) 85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on?:: How do you feel 86: What is my current desktop picture?:: A picture of graveyard I took in New Orleans 87: Had sex?:: yeah 88: Bought condoms?:: yeah 89: Gotten pregnant?:: no 90: Failed a class?:: math. All the math 91: Kissed a boy?:: yeah 92: Kissed a girl?:: yeah 93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain?:: I have in the snow 94: Had job?:: yeah had job 95: Left the house without my wallet?:: almost everytime 96: Bullied someone on the internet?:: Nah mate 97: Had sex in public?:: Sure have 98: Played on a sports team?:: INDOOR PERCUSSION BITCHES 99: Smoked weed?:: Not smoked it, but had some pretty delicious banana nut pot bread. 100: Did drugs?:: besides the pot bread, nah mate 101: Smoked cigarettes?:: No 102: Drank alcohol?:: Oh yeah 103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan?:: Once upon a time 104: Been overweight?:: very much so 105: Been underweight?:: when I was born 106: Been to a wedding?:: I've been to so many 107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight?:: ALL DAY, ERRYDAY 108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight?:: I'm a binge watching mofo 109: Been outside my home country?:: no but I wanna 110: Gotten my heart broken?:: yeah 111: Been to a professional sports game?:: Yes and I don't even like sports. 112: Broken a bone?:: surprisingly no 113: Cut myself?:: all the time on accident 114: Been to prom?:: no, I was the weird loner outsider kid. You know the one. 115: Been in airplane?:: Sure have 116: Fly by helicopter? :: no but I've been in one 117: What concerts have I been too?:: Alice Cooper and Watch Them Rot 118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex?:: Kinda ish. 119: Learned another language?:: I used to know a lil Spanish but now, not so much 120: Wore make up?:: every time I leave the house even though I don't need it anymore cos I got my eczema under control (the miracle of aloe yall) 121: Lost my virginity before I was 18?:: Nope 20 122: Had oral sex?:: I have 123: Dyed my hair?:: so much. 124: Voted in a presidential election?:: No 125: Rode in an ambulance?:: Nope 126: Had a surgery?:: Nope 127: Met someone famous?:: uh, mickey, minnie, goofy and pluto? 128: Stalked someone on a social network?:: who hasnt? 129: Peed outside?:: so many times 130: Been fishing?:: yep 131: Helped with charity?:: yep 132: Been rejected by a crush?:: *laughs to infinity* CAN'T BE IF YOU NEVER TELL EM (yes, yes I have. Indirectly) 133: Broken a mirror?:: So many I'm cursed forever 134: What do I want for birthday?:: the same thing I wanted last year. A hot ginger. (And video games. Always video games) 135: How many kids do I want and what will be their names?:: 2 boys. And maybe like William or James or something weird cos I love weird names 136: Was I named after anyone? :: Deanna Troi from Star Trek: the Next Generation. 137: Do I like my handwriting?:: yeah it's pretty okay 138: What was my favourite toy as a child?:: MY PINK POWER RANGER ACTION FIGURE 139: Favourite Tv Show?:: Supernatural, Sherlock, Doctor Who, American Horror Story, Arrow, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow...don't make me pick one. 140: Where do I want to live when older?:: with someone I care about. 141: Play any musical instrument?:: piano, marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, bells, drums, guitar (not well, I have ZERO rhythm) 142: One of my scars, how did I get it?:: playing with my dog 143: Favourite pizza toping?:: If I had to pick one, pepperoni but mushroom olive and pineapple please 144: Am I afraid of the dark?:: nah, that's where all the stars are 145: Am I afraid of heights?:: nah 146: Have I ever got caught sneaking out or doing anything bad?:: no, I was a mild child 147: Have I ever tried my hardest and then gotten disappointed in the end?:: Oh you mean my life? 148: What I’m really bad at:: everything 149: What my greatest achievments are:: well I stopped someone from killing themselves. I also tend to make people laugh and feel better. 150: The meanest thing somebody has ever said to me:: I only said I loved you so you would stay (though literally already knew it but worst fear right there) 151: What I’d do if I won in a lottery:: get outta debt. Get my friends outta debt. 152: What do I like about myself:: people say I'm sunshine. I like that. 153: My closest Tumblr friend:: @ferskendag and @tenerife-lucy 154: Something I fantasise about:: being happy with someone I care about, being financially stable while doing my dream job and traveling the world. 155: Any question you’d like? Do you know the muffin man?

[loudcreationsublime]

Every advancement in graphics innovation is gone along with by a brand-new, silly method of revealing it off. Whether it’s 128 versions of Mario running around a globe for the GameCube, a million Toblerone pieces spreading around in Knack, or 1-2-Switch’s lockpicking minigame showing all those ice cubes inside the Joy-Cons, developers often create around the possibilities of powerful new tech.

Yet this elevates an essential inquiry: What regarding the food? Inning accordance with data I simply made up, we invest regarding 15 percent of our time consuming as well as one more 82 percent of our time thinking of eating. In comparison, I just spend regarding 10 mins of my time daily thinking of 128 Marios running about and getting into trouble. Do you think each Mario assumes of himself as the real Mario, and also the others as imposters? With any luck, he recognizes that each Mario has the very same right to uniqueness as himself. I’m leaving track below.

There is a criminal absence of pc gaming centered around one of the most integral part of our lives, the part where we push food in our face. Nintendo created Super Mario Sunshine around the gorgeous water simulations new equipment enabled them, but they can have made a similarly lovely milkshake simulator or acorn squash bisque-drinking challenge. Virtual Reality allows players hold online things right up in their face to examine; primarily, this is made use of to observe how numerous guns do, in reality, look like weapons. But this ability might additionally be made use of to approximate a bakeshop, with all type of different loaves of bread and also croissants to observe. Which brave programmer is mosting likely to be the initial to allow me look at a flawlessly increased sourdough loaf?

The good news is, some modern designers have actually heard my weeps. The past couple of years have been a golden era of food-simulation, with new illumination strategies and also physic systems being related to one of the most honorable of objectives: making me intend to eat while I play games. Ensure you’ve got some snacks in the kitchen, since this list is going to make you hungry.

Last Fantasy XV

I was a Boy Scout as a youngster, as well as one of the finest parts of taking place a journey was preparing all the waste my good friends and I were mosting likely to consume. The official policies of camping state that rules of nourishment don’t matter in nature; all that matters is just how peach cobbler tastes when you make it in a dutch stove while huddled around a campfire at night.

No person comprehends this better than the impeccably clothed Ignis Scientia in FFXV. Noctis as well as his young boys are spending lengthy days on the road, battling wooly mammoths and also tossing swords as well as whatever else a royal posse does on a cross-country journey. In the evening though, they work out down and Ignis gives them with some legally magnificent dish selections. Little could pull a team with each other like durable food, so it adheres to that the relationship between FFXV’s spikey-haired boys is one of the most effective parts of the video game.

One of my favored dishes from FFXV is the Taelpar harvest galette, a truly succulent remix of a basic fruit treat. A galette is a pastry that drops somewhere between a pie and a calzone. It folds in on itself enough to just allow a peek at the deliciousness that stays within. A properly made galette is downright opprobrious.

Tumblr individual “My main is a cook” devised a recipe for the Taelpar harvest galette from Ignis’ recipe book. It entails oranges, goat cheese, cinnamon, which hallmark flakey crust. Honestly, if you simply informed me it was involved and also pie-like goat cheese, I would have already been on board. Put all those active ingredients together, as well as you’ve got a dish I ‘d smack out of the hands of the prince of Lucis.

A fresh-cooked galette, thanks to Ignis Monster Hunter World Beast Hunter is a game of excess. Characters possess swords that weigh roughly 95 extra pounds and also whack dragons the dimension of house buildings around, simply for the possibility of getting a range to earn their armor prettier. Removed down to its basics, Monster Hunter stresses efficient searching by way of preparation and also preparation. One of the most vital part of searching prep? A hearty meal, certainly.

There are 2 type of living points you don’t eliminate in Monster Hunter. The first are other human beings. The 2nd are Palicoes, sentient felines that put on clothing and speak to each other that are so cute it needs to be prohibited. No person concerns the Palicoes, nor must they. This is merely an attractive globe where humans and also felines have comparable civil liberties and deal with each various other with respect.

Meowscular Chef takes fantastic satisfaction in his job Obviously, the Palicoes are fairly much better than human beings. This ought to be obvious– they have hairs and tails. Also far better though, the Palicoes have cooking abilities that our weak homo sapien minds could only imagine. Beast Hunter: World’s boss is the Meowscular Chef, an intimidating Palico with one eye that commands a small military of other felines. Working as a team, they reduced pieces of meat (do not ask which monster it originated from) on a searing rock frying pan, mix kiddie-pool sized soup bowls, and also toss in some veggie skewers completely measure. When the food is prepared, seekers tear right into it without modern-day pleasantries like flatware or eating.

The very best parts of Monster Hunter: World’s food is in the preparation. Little touches stick out; the fatty components of the meat fold over with practical weight, and blocks of cheese have an enjoyable skin. Certain, an Azure Rathalos has actually been dragging my ass around the ancient forest. However if I get to return to this sort of dish each time I shed, failure doesn’t hurting rather as much.

Link preparing to prepare some kind of poultry-stuffed pumpkin The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild I appreciate Breath of the Wild’s technique to cooking since it closely mirrors my very own: toss a lot of tasty-seeming active ingredients in a frying pan and hope they function. Link just takes a large armful of meats, veggies, as well as flavors and also tosses ’em done in. Like me, he in some cases obtains”dubious food,” a pixelated mixture which he chokes down out of stubbornness. More frequently however, those components integrated into something delicious-looking and also healthy.

Out of all these games, Breath of the Wild’s food feels one of the most sustainable for a healthy and balanced life. Consuming isn’t really a special occasion, it’s something we do each day. The mushrooms, meats, and soups that Link subsists on feeling concrete, the simple-but-hearty diet plan of a guy on the roadway. It advises me of the scene in Princess Mononoke when Ashitaka as well as Jigo sit in a cavern and eat rice gruel. The food isn’t extravagant or difficult, yet it’s made by a practiced hand and also would possibly be ideal after a long day.

Okayu(rice gruel)in Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke For my money, the seafood curry in Breath of the Wild comes out as the most effective all-rounder. With these sort of simple meals, the difference between exceptional as well as ample frequently boils down to spices. Link’s addition of some Goron seasoning pushes this one over the side; the shrimp/crab/rice combo additionally appears very loading, and also the description assures that the spice packs a severe kick.

Identity 4

Not all food is produced for the same purpose. Some offers straightforward nourishment. Some is for event, some for mourning. Other times, food is an expression of dominance. On the program Man v. Food, a single guy would certainly try to take in merciless sections of everything from hot wings to oysters to pancakes. After 7 seasons, the show continues, but the initial host has stepped down; food was inevitably successful.

It’s a tidal wave of beef In Persona 4, you have simply one food-based opponent, the huge beef dish. It is described as a”tidal bore of beef.” You’ve got the chance to check out the Aiya Chinese Diner as well as attempt to eat the entire bowl of in one sitting, a feat you’ll just accomplish with extremely high statistics. If you handle to do so, the dish

is complimentary! Hopefully, Aiya also places your image on the wall surface or something. Identity 4 has the series’typical calendar-keeping gameplay. Daily, you could hang with good friends as well as take pop quizzes as well as store, simply like non-gaming teens most likely do (I wouldn’t recognize). Numerous of these activities aren’t offered when it’s raining however. But wet days are by the way the only days when the beef bowl obstacle is readily available. I enjoy this pomposity. Everything in the whole city is closed down, the day is ruined, so why not go consume a metric lot of seared meat?

Time to knock the milkshake-drinking laugh off his face Wolfenstein 2 Have you ever enjoyed a cooking video clip on YouTube where they don’t try the food at the end? It’s irritating. Seeing somebody prepare food is an emotional financial investment, and if I can’t consume it, I desire to be able to live vicariously with a person that does. In gaming, activity capture as well as computer animation have recently brought us to an area where characters can give probably rapturous reactions to well-crafted foods items. One of the finest responses to food in video games comes from an outright item of rubbish. In Wolfenstein 2, BJ Blazkowicz need to satisfy a personality who runs an old-timey diner in the center

of the Nazi occupation of America. This restaurant has whatever: cheap burgers, coffee, and also a real vintage soda water fountain. I should aim out that a good soda water fountain isn’t the blocky thing they contend every McDonalds as well as Bojangles. It’s a flexible tool with the capacity to generate drinks like an egg lotion as well as a ginger yip, a throwback to a much more tailored period of soft drinks. The restaurant likewise has the proper kind of milkshake; individually mixed in a gigantic metal cup that the proprietor might allow you consume alcohol from once your glass is empty. When a Nazi captain who’s also more weasel-y than the typical Nazi walks right into the restaurant and also orders a strawberry milkshake, it harms me in my spirit. Not only is this punk in a state of not-being-punched, yet he’s buying a hand-made dessert that tastes the way summer season memories feel. I’ve had a strawberry milkshake or smoothie. In truth, I’ve had a strawberry milkshake or smoothie made by the precise same lime-green blender or food processor, from a location called Ox and Rabbit in Durham, NC. That place is currently shut down. So now I cannot have a strawberry milkshake or smoothie, but this Nazi can!.?. !? It’s an outright oppression. He shuts his eyes and also takes a lengthy drink, appreciating the pieces of strawberry combined in with the piercing cold of theice cream. He looks like he enjoys it. He likewise gets his brains burnt out about 2 secs later on. No milkshake or smoothies for fascists.

[thechocolategarage]

Come Meet (Taste Too!) Charm School Tonight: 7pm!

January 19, 2017

OPEN Saturday mornings through the winter from 9am-1pm. Full Belly Farm will be setting up with all their goodies all winter long!

Happy Thursday! The newsletter is a day early this week, to remind you that we are so excited to be hosting Josh and Giovanna from Charm School Chocolate, at The Chocolate Garage. We are going to taste some of their bars, learn more about how they got started and the passion behind their line up, and anything else you are curious about. CHARM SCHOOL CHOCOLATE Josh and Giovanna, the husband and wife team who are the playful and dedicated energy behind Charm School Chocolate, are joining us tonight: January 19th, from 7-8:30pm, to share their tasty bars and get to know us better. Please come! They have come all the way from Maryland. It is not every day that a new maker breaks into the chocolate scene with not only a top quality product, but a differentiated, committed, vegan, delicious set of bars. That is exactly what Charm School did, a couple of years ago. They are finalists again this year, at the Good Food Awards, and might take away another medal... all this will be announced on Friday evening at the Good Food Awards Ceremony and Gala. GOOD FOOD AWARDS If you would like to check out not only the chocolate winners, but all the foods that are deeemed by the Good Food Awards to be tasty, authentic and responsibly produced, check out the Sunday Marketplace. It is open to the public, you can wander around, taste and buy all the best food being produced all over this country. Now more than ever, voting with your dollars counts, come out and support the small makers across this country that are part of an amazing food revolution going on. The Good Food Awards is a ground breaking national organization that is not only recognizing these makers with awards, but also working to create a network of aligned stores who will carry these products, effectively helping small makers access a receptive market. I am honored to be part of the Chocolate Category for my second year as a chair, along with my co-chairs Chloe Doutre Roussel and Carla Martin. 

Saturday Tasting Bonnat El Rosario Grenada Nib-a-licious Mischer milk almond clusters Momotombo Dark Milk covered Seeds Come taste a classic European style dark chocolate, made near Grenoble. Then taste the other end of the spectrum,the most down to earth, radical new way of making chocolate with the Nib-a-licious bar. Next up, local Michael Mischer makes magic with toasted almonds and Felchlin milk chocolate, and we'll end with another nutty tasting cacao seed, enrobed in a dark milk chocolate, completely made in Nicaragua! Old world, new world, and new world new ways of making chocolate!  

Chocolate in CH I feel like I have Switzerland in my blood. That's because I do. Not only is it the country I have visited the most times in my life, I am Swiss. My dad was Swiss. His family is from the canton of Neuchâtel, and his small home town traces relatives back to the early 1600s. Suchard (think Toblerone) used to have a factory there. Switzerland may not have much happy chocolate (we hope to visit the two happiest!), but two of the biggest innovations came from this land of cheese and chocolate! I want to share this and the larger food scene with you! Email me for more info!  Loose dates are second or third week of June 2017, more details to be sent out in the coming few weeks.

ORIGIN TRIPS Check out our Nicaragua documentary if you haven't yet, and share it with friends who don't yet know about Happy Chocolate. We recorded lots of good footage while in Cuba, and I am very excited to see how our second film turns out. We hope to have the Cuba film to show you by February! Next: Authentic Hawaii: April 1st-6th. We will look at food production in Hawaii, visit two cacao farms on Oahu, make chocolate with Lonohana, visit Manoa Chocolate, enjoy a special meal made for us by one of the top chef's on Oahu, learn from the world expert on cacao fermentation, experience a luau... JOIN US! Email us for more info!

In chatting with a journalist recently, writing a piece about craft chocolate in their local state, it continues to strike me that this revolution around taking our food back, is happening everywhere. Not just in the United States, but all over the world. There is a flourishing of small businesses all over the world, who desire to be more closely connected to our food. I believe this is about reconnecting with what is grounded and human in our experience of food. We have to a large extent lost this, especially in the United States. Big industry sees this, but they don't understand the heart of it. I believe the ones who understand that this is not just about changing the packaging, the words, the manipulative sentiment, but it is about changing the HEART of what they are doing, they are the ones who are going to flourish in the long term. In the short term, tricks will work, but it won't work in the long term. We already see early signs of it. Buycott, for example, puts you in the drivers seat. With a quick barcode scan (I can be spotted at our local Whole Foods scanning yogurt, soap, toothpaste) you can see if the item is in conflict with what you care most about. Do you want to make sure animals were not abused? Or do you care about GMO labelling? Or is it about child slaves that you feel the strongest? You can care about it all and see what alternatives are out there. I have a thing for not being tricked into thinking something is small and local, when it is owned by a mammoth corporation. Kind of like Scharffen Berger and Hershey's. I was crestfallen to realise my beloved Liberté brand yogurt, originally from my home town of Montréal, with "baja strawberry" and "philippine coconut" and "ecuadorian mangos" is a big smoke screen of deception, they pretend and skillfully signal 'small', but it is in fact, General Mills owned. Nowhere on the package can you read that there is a General Mills connection, but a quick bar code read with your Buycott app, and you get a family tree. Boom! And this is just the beginning, this a small effort, many products are missing, but Buycott keeps getting better! Now this is a good use of a smart phone and a GREAT app. Sign up! Do it! Yes please! Ok, do you want to learn more about food and how your daily choices have the power to change the world we live in? Come to Hawaii! Learn more about food sovereignty, learn about water use rights, about how going back to the land can be a real choice, a good life/business decision... come to Hawai'i! We will be looking at the state of Oahu's food, including cacao and chocolate. If you would like read more on the upcoming trips, you can check out our blog where we post our previous newsletters. Email us if you want more details on another chocolate trip to Switzerland and we'll send you a full itinerary with exact June 2016 dates and costs for the trip as soon as we have them. Switzerland is gorgeous in the summer and we'll send our list of places you must visit before or after our scheduled tour of Switzerland. Happy New Year to all, may there be lots of Happy Chocolate in 2017! Sunita

[thatawkwardnerdytomboy]

My Review of Neo Yokio (Spoilers!) Episode 3.

Reviewing this show episode by episode so you don’t have to watch it!

Episode 3.

The show opens up on a body of water near the city where there’s a suspicious image of 2 twin buildings submerged in the center of the composition. Is this supposed to be a WTC reference because to say that it became submerged underwater as opposed to being destroyed by terrorists comes with a lot of implications that don’t make sense to me. Charles is reading Kaz “Cold Iron” by Rudyard Kipling as if he’s a little boy being read a bedtime story. According to TV Tropes this poem may be a poetic way to describe how iron disrupts magic.  Kaz responds that his world has become “Cold Iron,” obviously meaning that his world and all the great things in it have become disrupted. Charles tells Kaz that some men might find falling off the bachelor board (y’know, that #1 bachelor ranking system that still has yet to be explained) but Kaz finds it embarrassing despite claiming he doesn’t care about the ranking system! Did the writers forget about this or does he really care and pretend not to? Aunt Agatha calls him for a meeting and he only agrees to go because their serving a squid ink pasta and he wants to eat something melancholy. 

After complaining about his fallen bachelor status Aunt Agatha informs him that despite this, his next assignment actually came out of his still present popularity. Some Helena St. Tessaro (the fashion blogger from the first 2 episodes) fangirls, the Helenists who attend his alma mater, Easton prep school are refusing to wear their uniforms and Kaz, being one-track minded is concerned, not with their unhealthy obsession with her, but with the notion that their uniform is all the rage in teen fashion. 

Kaz goes to visit Helena whose room is a mess and has food waiting outside of her door, indicating that she’s a shut-in. The first thing he says to her is to complain about the mess, again lacking any genuine concern for her. She says she’s “hikikomori” now which basically means she’s a recluse (more anime trope words). She complains that the world is bullshit and that she’s fed up with it. Kaz tells her that ball made him depressed too, assuming that’s what she’s been bothered about even though she was depressed before the ball and explained to him why she was. Did he forget about this or is he just that self-centered? He informs her that she’s still effecting that bullshit world because her fans are now refusing to wear their school uniforms and she makes it clear that she doesn’t care. Kaz says the headmaster of Easton cares and doesn’t argue when Helena accuses of him of wanting to control what woman wear. Kaz tells her that high school is not the proper place to experiment with style. Because y’know, it’s not like self-expression and experimentation helps you figure out who you are and what you want to do in life before you become an adult and may not have the luxury to wear or do whatever you want every day. Oh no, high-school is not the place for experimenting with anything! He says that he’s been asked to teach these girls about elegance and that he’s an elegant man with taste. Man, this show loves to use the word “elegant.” Helena scoffs at him and calls him a materialistic narcissist for being so clearly obsessed with clothes. He dismisses her, telling her that he has to go meet with his friends at the polo club, saying that he’d invite her but it’s outside. Wow...

He goes to see Lexy and Gottlieb at a bar and they tell him that they’ve invented a Caprese martini. Which is basically a salad flavored drink. Although it sounds weird, Kaz and people in real life who’ve tried it says it tastes good. Lexy suggests that they make Kaz the poster boy for their new drink after his taste-test. Kaz says that he doesn’t think it’ll mesh well with his new self now that he’s going to be teaching at Easton, to their surprise but he’ll give it a try. 

Kaz goes to Easton and explains to Charles how people think Easton is a place where rich people send their kids but he says it’s a place for rich kids to learn and grow. He meets the Helenists in class and they immediately reject everything he says. They say that since Helena is not longer into fashion, neither are they. Kaz tells them that Helena used to be a great role model for girls but now she’s gone hikikomori. They appear to be shocked but the undertone seems to be that they’re impressed or inspired. The headmaster calls him into the office to tell him that him being invited there is just a cover for his real mission: to find out which teacher there is bringing demons into the school. Kaz returns to the classroom but is locked out by the Helenists and they try to barter with him saying that they’ll consider letting him teach them if they bring a letter to Helena. Kaz gets angry and scolds them for attempting to blackmail him. The headmaster approaches Kaz and asks what’s going on to which Kaz responds that they have gone hikikomori. The headmaster is outraged and asks where they got that idea from. Kaz tells him that they got the idea from him but that really, they were inspired by St. Tessaro. The headmaster asks if Kaz has found the demon sympathizer and he says he’s close to doing so and needs more time. 

The field-hockey coach appears and says that his ball has been possessed by a demon and it proceeds to bounce on its own through the halls as Kaz chases it into the library. He tells everyone in the room to pay no attention to him while this chase ensues. Really? I know that the Neo Yokio residents are supposed to be aware of the constant demonic presences in the city but how do you expect them not to be alarmed by this? Especially with you throwing your lightning at it? He catches it and it pops. The headmaster demands that he get the school back to normal at the end of the week and tells him to clean up his mess. 

Kaz goes to visit St. Tessaro. He brings her another big Toblerone (Infamous Toblerone reference #3). Will he actually let her keep it this time? He gave her the letter from her fans and tells her that he’s being blackmailed by them. If he didn’t get the letter to her, they wouldn’t let him back into the classroom. This is pretty nonsensical to me. Why hasn’t the school gotten their parents involved? And really? Kaz is allowing himself to be controlled by these girls? What the hell has the headmaster been doing other than watching Kaz fail to do damage control? Also, the girls had to leave the classroom eventually. They’re not going to stay at the school overnight. And if they attempt to do so, threaten expulsion, call the cops, get a handy-man to break the door down, do something! Of course as always...bad writing. St. Tessaro tells him that as a response to Kaz trying to control them, they resorted to controlling his class. She tossed the letter onto her large pile of ignored fan-mail. Kaz is shocked about the quantity of letters that she gets from the Helenists and St. Tessaro tells him that she hasn’t bothered to keep up with it. Kaz begs her to help him deal with the rebellious students but she declines, telling him that he’s on his own. He also tells her that he needs to focus all of his energy on finding the demon sympathizer at the school and that he thinks that it’s Professor Muley. St. Tessaro scoffs at the idea of there being a demon sympathizer at the school. She tells him that he needs to respect her wishes to remain secluded. Kaz gets a call from Charles that the professor has returned to his apartment. Kaz leaves after telling St. Tessaro that he hopes that he reconsiders, if not for him then for Easton. 

Kaz and Charles stake out Professor Muley’s apartment and discuss their suspicions of him (black clothing, occult jewelry, etc.). Charles comments that the occult symbolism is too commonly used to be anything serious and Kaz tells Charles that he’s making his case to suspect Muley weak. Charles tells him to trust his gut and Kaz calls Muley to see what he’s up to. Kaz informs Charles that he’s headed downtown to meet with friends and we see Muley leaving the building and getting into a cab but as Charles notes, the cab drives uptown. Charles asks why he would lie about that and Charles suggests that they follow him. 

They fly off through a tunnel and Kaz asks if they’ve ever been through that tunnel before. Charles says no and that the tunnel goes to Queens. We get a shot of the city that shows a congested cluster of low-income looking apartment buildings. It looks similar to Chinese and Japanese low-income housing where we see that the apartments are all cramped together and the air-conditioning units are on the outside of the building as opposed to being built-in. We zoom in on the cab that Muley was riding in and we see that there’s Chinese written on the building. Muley walks into the building. Kaz comments on their surroundings and Charles informs him that they’re in Long Island Walled City based on Long Island City which despite the inferred racial demographic, isn’t known to have a large Chinese population in real life. Charles tells him that he won’t fit through the halls and to go on without him. Kaz tells him that he’s supposed to going to the launch party for the Caprese Martini and to let his friends know that he’s running late. Kaz follows the professor into a door marked with a satanic symbol. Muley spots Kaz and asks him what he’s doing there. Kaz asks him what he’s doing in this supposed “demonic chapel” and Muley explains that it’s a club and his boyfriend is the DJ and spins “Gregorian House” which must be pretty obscure music because when you Google it, you mostly get Neo-Yokio related conent. Not to say that all obscure music is hipster but this has hipster written all over it. The two men take a seat and Kaz asks him why he lied about going to a club and Muley claims that he’s embarrassed to be a classically trained musician dating a DJ who to his implication plays bad music. Muley asks him not to tell anyone about it. Kaz asks him to try the Caprese Martini and Muley prejudges it to be fowl until he tastes it. Kaz tells him that he couldn’t believe that he thought he was a demon sympathizer to which Muley replies “I don’t sympathize with anyone.” I take it he’s joking but in the context and tone of this show, I don’t find it funny. Although it is better to empathize with people than to sympathize for people, it still says a lot of negative things about his character. Of course Kaz finds this funny because he’s a selfish narcissist. 

Helena is laying in bed and we see her about to be attacked by her fan-mail that turns into a giant tentacle monster. The monster squeezes the giant Toblerone she received from Kaz over her body and splatters chocolate onto her. This turns out to be a dream until we see her awake, opening a letter that reveals Kaz’s name inside of a glowing piece of paper shaped like a pentagram.

Kaz is kidnapped in the bathroom by the Helenists donned in black cloaks. How he let this happen I’ll never know. Did the writers forget about his powers? He tells them that pranking their teacher isn’t funny and they reveal that it’s not a prank. Kaz figures that they are the demon sympathizers and they tell him that they want to get possessed by demons as the ultimate tribute to St. Tessaro. Great way to show an unhealthy devotion to celebrities, writers! Scary thing is, I can see teenage girls attempting this in real life. Kaz warns them that they don’t know what they’re getting themselves into. They tell him that they’re sacrificing him because the demons asked for it as an offering. 

We get back to Charles and his friends whose Caprese Martini is doing well. They ask where Kaz is and Charles tells them that he should be there soon. 

Kaz is bound to a bundle of sticks as Helena appears Toberone in hand, to monologue about how he is everything that’s wrong with this city and that he is foolish and vain, not that elegant (Kaz is insulted by this the most) and that the only thing worthwhile about him is his taste in luxury chocolate. While one of the girls is distracted by her commentary on the chocolate, she hits her over the head with it the same way that this show has been hitting us over the head with how much the writers love Toblerones. The blast from the released energy sends the girls flying in all directions and the noise wakes up the headmaster who runs in wearing a bathrobe. Wait, is Easton a boarding school? Does he live there? He asks “what in the name of Shakespeare’s ass is going on here?” The writers’ attempt at making this character have any humor? Why Shakespeare? Is there a reference here that I’m not understanding? (I’ve never read Shakespeare.) Kaz reassures him that everything is under control and that he discovered that the Helenists are the demon sympathizers. The headmaster complains that the board of trustees are going to crucify him for this. Such a great headmaster to be concerned about the school’s funding more than his students... Kaz assures him that the trustees should at least be glad that they are close to solving the uniform issue and asks the Helenists to confirm this. When he turns around, in true anime humor cliché fashion, we see that the girls have escaped and Kaz’s alarm is signaled with a video game sound effect. They’re all shocked. How was no one paying any attention to them? Kaz really sucks at his job sometimes and that’s not necessarily a bad thing because it shows realism. But for fucks sake, man, you just got kidnapped by 3 crazy teenaged girls, attacked them as they were about to kill you and you’re not going to watch these girls to make sure they don’t try anything behind your back? That’s just unconscionably idiotic. So Kaz is a moron. Ok, got it! Kaz is shocked that the headmaster is giving into their demands and abandoning the uniforms amidst all this trouble. Kaz spews some bullshit about how the uniform is an important part of the school’s culture instead of showing any concern for the missing girls and the headmaster puts his foot down on the matter before firing him. Kaz asks Helena how she knew that the girls were going to kill him and she tells him about her dream where the Toblerone was getting crushed by the fan-mail, the Toblerone representing him. Wow, did they seriously equate a black character to being chocolate? Kaz is shocked that she came and says he thought she hated him. She denies that and says that she wishes that he wasn’t “a lapdog of the bourgeoisie.” He says that he can’t help it, it’s the family business. She says that she owes him because he showed her that she didn’t want to be a part of the city’s wealthy culture anymore. 

Kaz finally shows up to the Caprese Martini party. Charles asks him how his investigation went and he complains about how he falsely accused Muley and his students tried to kill him. His friends totally ignore this and tell him about how successful their martini is. If I had a friend with powers who told me that they were almost killed, I don’t care how powerful they are, I’d still show them some concern. But I guess they’re trying to cheer him up? They tell him that him and his martini are going to be rise to top popularity. Gottlieb asks him if he can “feel the synergy” to which Kaz gloomily replies no, again trying to sell to us how depressed Kaz is. 

Stray Observations

-As Kaz and Charles take off to follow Professor Muley, we see a billboard with Kaz’s Caprese Martini ad on it. Decent attention to detail or just more display of Kaz’s vanity?

-It’s amazing how a plot about rebellious teenagers has so little parental involvement. Correct me if I’m wrong but I haven’t heard a single thing from any of the characters about getting the Helenists’ parents involved and knocking some sense into their kids. 

-In the scene where Kaz is being held by the Helenists we get a view of the building from the outside and see that it is coursing with a bright electrical aura. Does no one outside find this strange? Why is there not a crowd of people outside looking shocked at this display? Do the people of this city just assume that whatever the hell is going on is being taken care of?

-I’m beginning to think that the demons running amok in Neo Yokio are trying to use powerful and wealthy people in the city like St. Tessaro, Sailor Pellegrino and now these prep school girls to show Neo Yokio that it’s culture of worshipping wealth is toxic to society and I’m tempted to root for the demons because it feels like Kaz isn’t a hero worth rooting for. However, I wouldn’t root for the demons because:

1. For me personally, this show doesn’t have any characters or entities worth celebrating.

2. I’m against capital punishment and as shitty as Kaz is, I don’t care enough about him to wish death upon him.

3. If the demons are supposed to represent a voice of reason against a harmful 1%er class culture, the show makes it seem as though speaking out against this culture is evil--which could be the show’s point that the 99%’s voices against this class are often demonized but making this demon entity homicidal completely kills this idea entirely and therefore leaves the central plot of the show without any real point or direction. I mentally scoff at people who think this show has any potential to be groundbreaking because they’ve already lost the point of this show in the 1st episode.