#first shirt review of 2024

[t-hirstreview]

[princemick]

THE KING’S HONOUR

16+, Released August 4 2024, 2h 11m, Action/Adventure/Romance/Comedy/Fantasy

Commander of the Kingsguard, Aonghus (Michael Schumacher) finds himself as Acting Regent when King Conall (Mika Häkkinen) falls to a curse in battle. Unable to search for a cure himself as the kingdom threatens to fall to outside threats and inner political schemes, he sends out his second in command, Fiachra (Lewis Hamilton) to find a way to save his king.

Where To Watch:

Rent The King’s Honour on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Once you get past the horrendously unrealistic costuming, The King’s Honour becomes an admittedly predictable, but humorous, effortless evening watch.

Read Critics Reviews.

Critics Reviews View All (132)

Damon Hill TOP CRITIC

Newsweek

There are worse crimes than fan service but at least do it with a bit more effort and skill than this. 

Rated 1.5/5 | Aug 2 2024 Full Review

Will Buxton TOP CRITIC

Common Sense Media

To save the king, you must first break the curse. A very compact and concise film, but weak on the soundtrack and dialogue. Too many unnecessary monologues.

Rated 3/5 | Aug 4 2024 Full Review

Jenson Button TOP CRITIC

Vogue

Knocked off half a star because no one took their shirts off. Unrealistic. Some of those shirts were far too flowy not to have an ‘accidental’ nip slip.

Rated 4.5/5 | Aug 6 2024 Full Review

Audience Reviews View All (1500+)

Alexanderrr

new comfort movie unlocked i think

Rated 4.5/5 | Aug 23 2024

Prost

My husband spent half our date night bitching abaout every single thing he hated about this film. He always fucks better when he is angry so thank you.

Rated 4/5 | Aug 19 2024

George Russell

Well, that was truly delightful! The cast has amazing chemistry. Both between the lead mains and all the side characters! This is a film that knows what it is (and is not ashamed about it!): a light-hearted film that never takes itself too seriously, but manages not to become a satirical parod…

Rated 5/5 | Sep 5 2024 Full Review

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The King’s Honour

16+ | Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Romance | Directed by Niki Lauda

This is a truly a soulless and uninspired chickenshit explotation of queerness and the use of fantastical elements in a desperate attempt to prop up a flailing script that falls flat. Calling this ‘magical realism’ is an insult to Gabriel García Márquez’s memory.

Every single element of this film is subpar at best, lacking in colour and substance and a solid foundation of existence. While one would think the landscape the film is shot in, the Scotland highlands, would improve the viewing, but somehow the cinematography is so terrible, it is just another way everything and everyone gets lost. It is a backdrop of breathtaking opportunity and they don’t simply drop the ball but not even bother to pick it up. There is little to no directional awareness in the camera work and the script and the honestly incoherent cinematic flow of this piece. There is not even a NOD to authenticity of any kind, even on a satirical level as that would require a modiqum of thought not seen here.

I could not call this a categorical fail at hubris because I truly can not fathom what Lauda was aiming for here in this production. If someone held a gun to by head and told me to guess the director of this film correctly, my husband would be receiving my life insurance payout in the morning. How the mighty have fallen.

Everyone is a take away from a cigarette break, a sudden career exit, or at some points, a cliff’s face. And in knowing this, it is the only way I feel even remotely connected to what I see on screen.

By ARYTON SENNA

Sort By (BEST)       COMMENTS

James Hunt | 3 days ago

I feel fucking exhausted just reading this review. Chill the fuck out and smell the flowers, mate.

Esteban | 5 days ago

Woah.

Sebastian Vettel | 1 week ago

Framing this and putting it up on my fridge. Thank you!

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POPULAR REVIEWS MORE

Review by oscar ★★★★★ ♡ 🗨21

loved it yeah. schumacher’s pussy was OUT OUT so you know. cheers. and i Respect häkkinen’s dedication to serving face even while comatose. but like. it wasn’t very realistic because how in the fuck did no one shove the guy coulthard plays off a tower he was soooo annoying. took me out of the movie a bit can’t lie

❤ 5,581 likes

Review by Mick ★★★ 🗨19

A very funny film! Makes me want to go to Scotland! And I’m not just saying that because my Dad’s in it haha. :) Not his best work though :( 

❤ 1,647 likes

Review by Alonso ★ 🗨14

Schumacher ran over my dog and didn’t even stop. If any of you even care.

❤ 1,400 likes

@hypersoft-fest Week 1 Collab with @milflewis: Movie review + Historical Regency and Magical Realism

[fluffywolverine]

percy jackson tv show airs tomorrow.

it's been 3,5 years since the announcement. 3,5 years of waiting. we were getting scraps of information - that it will be developed by disney+, who the showrunners will be.

2020 turned to 2021. still waiting.

then 2022 came. we saw percy for the first time and we loved him immidiately. then we got more and more. annabeth, grover, other campers. the gods.

we got the first teaser trailer. it showed us barely nothing, but we couldn't have been happier. it showed camp half-blood. it felt like home.

2022 turned to 2023. still waiting.

we got another teasers. a full trailer, which finally showed us more, which made the anticipation even more anxious. we had our doubts, but we were hopefull.

the release date dropped. we feared we'll have to wait till 2024, but it seemed like the christmas came early - quite literally, 20th december to be precise.

the actors strike was long, we were sad and angry we might not see our precious, wonderful actors promoting something they loved so much. but the studios bowed to the creators. actors won. we all won.

2023 almost came to an end. november, the last month ever without percy jackson tv show, ended. still waiting.

and then december started. we got posters, clips, photos. so much content we craved for when the only thing we had was an announcement. we were suddenly spoiled with so much content, that we weren't even able to see everything.

the nyc premiere took place. first reviews came. the critics approved it. the lucky fans, who saw the first episodes, loved it. we were ecstatic.

and suddenly it's december 19th. the wait is almost over.

percy jackson tv show airs tomorrow.

so prepare your camp half-blood t-shirts. wear your beat necklaces with pride. have some blue snacks. celebrate the way you want.

rejoice, demigods, this is our time. we made it.

[jokeroutsubs]

📝ENG Translation: Elle Men Special: A Fashion Odyssey with Kris Guštin

Article written by Ajda Gregorc, published in the November/December 2024 ELLE Slovenia Magazine. Print and digital versions of the magazine are available for purchase.

Scans and English translation by @kurooscoffee, review by @weolucbasu and a member of JokerOutSubs, proofread by IG GBoleyn123.

Full article translation, scans, and Spotify link are under the cut 👇

🎧 Article available in audio form on Spotify.

Elle Men Special: A Fashion Odyssey with Kris Guštin

With Kris Guštin, the music author and guitarist of Joker Out, we escaped to another side of music, and with that, to his other passion. We talked about style and everything connected to it. There will also be no shortage of this in the band's third album, titled 'Souvenir Pop', which is released on the 15th of November—one week after the issue of Elle you’re holding now. How perfectly synchronised we are!

PHOTOS URŠA PREMIK, STYLING ALENKA BIRK

At Ljubljana’s Moderna Café, on a fresh but lovely autumn Tuesday, when everyone’s still at work or in school, he arrives in a dark green jacket with a checkered pattern, awesome trousers, and her necklace. This time, the menu is not serving music and life, but matcha and "all things fashion." I’m in a regular trench coat and a white T-shirt, but luckily he doesn’t judge people by their style—instead, the style might be what piques his interest to converse, if it's good, of course. Besides, he's the one being interviewed. So, let’s begin! AJDA GREGORC

Interviewer: When did you first discover your personal style or the field of fashion? Was it in childhood or a bit later?

Kris: I roughly divide my life into two periods: before I first held a guitar, and after. When I really got into playing and ventured into music, my world opened up in all areas. Discovering fashion definitely falls into this second period, so the post-high school era. To be completely honest, my style in high school wasn’t something I’m particularly proud of today. (laughs) My girlfriend and I still have a photo of me wearing cargo pants and a black sweater, which is a proof she truly loves me, since that look was far from the best choice. (laughs)

When did it evolve from just a aesthetic impression to self-expression?

My first contact with fashion as a form of art or expression was during our band's first music video or fashion shoot, when I realised that this is also something you need to consider as a musician. At first, it seemed to me like a fairly peripheral element, but as our career developed and we met new people who gave us more insight into this, I began to understand its significance, what I could personally gain from it, and what we as a band could gain. This quickly developed into standard practice. I was increasingly exposed to fashion; we had more and more costume rehearsals and stylings, and two years ago, we even got our first proper stylist. And then I really committed to it—at around nineteen or twenty. Before that, my philosophy was always to "just wear whatever I first find in the closet," but then I shifted to "I'll wear things that would make me stand out from others". But this process was a long one.

So, your style development with the band inspired your personal growth too? I’ve always wondered if a young person is compelled to mature in every area when so many 'big things' happen all at once, as they did for you.

Maybe you do "grow old" in terms of personality sooner. Yes, at first I wanted, and still want, to primarily express the difference or uniqueness that I feel inside myself through music, but then I discovered that this goes very much hand in hand with fashion, so I started looking for my expression there as well. Today, it's almost an equally important part of my day.

Which fashion ideas or directions attract you? You’ve probably encountered a lot of inspiration during your travels on tour, right?

Definitely, but speaking purely origin-wise, I think I’m just like any other rock musician—we draw from the rock aesthetic of the ’60s and ’70s, which was also very "in" when my fashion awareness was born. Back then, around 2016 to 2018, here were a lot of flamboyant shirts on the music scene, with a slight hippie influence, which was the starting point. Only later did I start getting interested in slightly more modern clothes. When I was younger, I found myself in street fashion, that sort of Eminem-esque, hip-hop vibe, so very baggy clothes, which I then began to reject when I made the shift toward the ’60s and a slightly psychedelic aesthetic. It makes perfect sense, as humans tend to jump between extremes. When I had worked through that style, I started discovering the aesthetics of the ’80s and late ’90s, which was also reflected in music at the time. The best example that comes to mind is Dua Lipa’s previous album, which was in the style of the “new ’80s,” and the fashion matched that as well. Today, the early 2000s style has come back, but I haven’t fully decided whether I like it or not. As a musician, I was, of course, initially inspired by other music groups. Arctic Monkeys were a big inspiration for us both musically and visually, as was the whole British rock scene, including bands like The Kooks and Oasis. That entire aesthetic has always been strongly present with us. I doubt there’s a single inspiration board at our shoots that doesn’t include a photo of one of those bands or, for instance, the Beatles. And that aesthetic has always been close to my heart, too.

Rockers have always been associated with more masculine fashion elements, while in recent years, many male musicians have been experimenting with more feminine style elements (for example, Harry Styles and Lenny Kravitz). David Bowie was already the one who back then started to blur these fashion boundaries. You, too, wear such pieces and dare to stand out with them.

It happened quite naturally, as the stylists we worked with always chose slightly more “unmanly” clothing for me. This doesn’t necessarily mean women’s clothing, but rather somewhat more androgynous pieces, which I quickly embraced. I found them interesting and appealing because there’s a lot of fresh expression in that style that I don’t find in traditional men’s clothing, though I don’t want to overdo it. I also started experimenting with them personally, choosing many more varied colours. For a while, I was very fond of pink, and lately, I’ve been playing around with orange. On the cover of the album 'Demoni', I wore an orange-pink sweater.

Are we, as an audience here, already mature enough for a musician to present his feminine side through fashion? Does that require courage?

It does, there will always be people who won’t understand you. But for me, when it comes to the stage or a shoot, I’ll wear anything, and if I feel good in it, I don’t worry about what someone thinks. When I walk around "in civilian clothes," however, especially in Ljubljana, I am still aware if I’m dressed somewhat "untraditionally." There’s a certain boundary that I still need to break within myself. On stage, it’s easier because it’s not necessarily a hundred percent my expression; I’m playing a certain character, but personally, sometimes I do need some courage to show up in a particular style. However, the awareness of being different is stronger in Ljubljana than in other parts of the Western world. For example, I never felt that way in London, but still, our capital isn’t the worst when it comes to this.

Speaking of influences, what about other artistic or cultural movements?

I love art deco, the aesthetics of the '20s and '30s, though it doesn’t influence my daily life. In terms of photography, Damon Baker’s black-and-white style is beautiful. The vintage camera aesthetic has recently won me over, which will also be reflected in our band. Musically, over the past year, I’ve been listening to old Italian chansons and older French music, chansons as well, so I’m clearly feeling very retro this year. (smile)

Will the third album visually stand out from the previous ones then?

Yes, it will be very different. In the last two, we used a lot of colours, but there won’t be as many in this one.

Style can be an excellent tool for expressing an artist's authenticity, but with increasing success, the artist can also become its slave; the line is thin. Do you ever feel the pressure of having to express your fashion style in your private life as well?

No, I’ve never felt like my style owns me; it’s always been the opposite. I’ve always felt like I want more, like I want to dress even better than the day before, especially when it comes to my music career. Perhaps style only hangs over my head a bit when I have no inspiration and would rather wear sweatpants on an ordinary, relaxed day. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but then I do think about what would happen if I ended up somewhere in the middle of the city dressed like that.

It seems that Joker Out has developed a distinct style despite outside influences.

Yes, today we are already very complete in our style. Others have definitely had an influence on us, and I think it’s great that each of them tried to express themselves through us – it was interesting to experience how Joker Out was seen by Ponorelli, and how Andraž Drobnič or Karlo Kirri did. Of course, there is a difference in this, but it also aligns with the development of our music and aesthetics, so all these influences are very welcome.

How much of your personal fashion identity is therefore reflected in Joker Out?

Maybe, as someone who is not an external observer, I can't answer that, but I can say that I was always one of the first to give feedback to the stylist when we were creating our outfits, approving moodboards, and so on. So, I have definitely shaped our style in a direction that suits me. On certain "blind stylings," when we just dressed up, I quickly threw something on myself and then helped look for pieces for the other band members.

What about this photoshoot, where Alenka Birk took over the styling? Did you let her take the lead with her tactics, or did you collaborate on fashion choices? How did the communication go?

I didn’t know Alenka, who, by the way, is an excellent stylist, before. She was recommended by Urša (the photographer, ed.). Later, she confided in me that she had also worked with my father. Alenka focuses on elegant men's fashion, which is a departure from this more fluid fashion; and this suited me because I had never really been photographed in a men's suit, jacket, and tie. I wanted to try something new. I hadn’t seen the outfits before the day of the photoshoot when we met in her small studio in the morning. There were nine of them in total, and we only swapped out a piece or two in at most three of the looks.

This is more of an exception than a rule in fashion photoshoots. Does that mean you felt good in them?

Yes. In some more so, obviously, but in others, you have to trust the people you're working with. When I first look in the mirror, I always keep in mind that if something isn't optimal, it doesn't mean it won’t work well on camera. Even if the pants are too short or creased, it's still worth photographing them, because the photo can be edited later, whereas on stage, it's a different story, and everything has to already be perfect in the mirror. Working with Alenka was very simple; we clicked really well, and I will definitely work with her again.

How linked are your confidence and the way you feel on stage with your styling?

Very connected. As a musician, you want to enjoy yourself as much as possible on stage, and the people who come to listen to you and pay for the ticket deserve to see you at your best, which means you have to feel good in every aspect.

You recently attended Ljubljana Fashion Week. Which of the local fashion designers do you like to follow?

As far as the Slovenian fashion scene is concerned, I’m still quite the beginner, so I only knew the designers we had worked with. This was my first time visiting the Fashion Week.

Which shows did you watch?

On the first day, all of them. I didn’t like everything, but what stuck in my mind was Sarivalenci¹ with their somewhat "country club", Lana Del Rey vibe, and golf moment. I also really enjoyed the Belgrade Fashion Week, as there was an obvious Balkan touch, which I would love to see more of in Slovenia.

¹Sarivalenci is a Slovene high fashion brand created by fashion designer Sari Valenci.

You are a fan of vintage clothes and second-hand shops. What do these pieces have for you that new ones don't?

Honestly, I don’t know if there’s an objective explanation why. I started getting into it because it was popular, and at the same time, it gives you the feeling of getting a more unique piece. At the same time, you're shopping sustainably and not contributing to the production of unnecessary new textiles on Earth, which is great, but I would be lying if I said that’s my main motivation. What I like the most is the experience of "flipping" through clothes, where each piece is different, like a treasure hunt, compared to regular stores where you "flip" through the same clothes in different sizes.

Did your mum, who comes from the Netherlands where people have been aware of this for many years, introduce you to this concept?

I wouldn’t say we talked much about it at home, but I literally lived it. This is probably true for Slovenians in general – almost all the clothes I had as a child were from older peers, or I would take something from my dad, too. When I was done with wearing the clothes, my brother would wear them too. Every piece of clothing that came into our house was passed around, which is a great practice, and it’s still like that today. My sister "stole" half of my sweaters, my mum sometimes takes something too, Maks borrows jackets from my dad, which I’ve also done myself. It's like we all share one big closet! (laughs)

So you have influenced each other’s style in your family, or rather, you still do so? Who has otherwise had the most influence on your style in the past, and who does today?

I don’t remember ever looking at my parents as role models in this regard, as I didn’t really think about it back then, but they definitely influenced me, at least subconsciously. When I see how my mom dresses today, I see parallels with my own style, so she probably did influence me, perhaps more than my dad. As for street style, which I mentioned at the beginning, it might have been inherited from my uncle, my aunt’s husband from the Netherlands, who wore loose sweaters and listened to hip hop. My mum also had an uncle from the Indonesian side of the family, whom I never met, but he was very eccentric. Some of his clothes made their way to us over the years, and when I looked at these pieces in the closet, I was fascinated by how they reflected his personality. Asian fashion became a bit closer to me because of this, and I might even explore it someday.

The heart necklace you wear all the time, even today, is from your girlfriend. Do you ever dress your girlfriend or does she dress you?

My girlfriend is very fashion-oriented and has played a big role in my fashion development. She has always encouraged me when I tried new clothes that, at the time, seemed more radical to me. In this way, she partially shaped me. We also really enjoy shopping together. She dresses me more often than I dress her, which means I ask her for opinion. There have also been times when we’ve dressed the same when it comes to basic pieces; we’ve never really styled each other, but there will probably be time for that in the future.

Where do you like to go for vintage pieces in Ljubljana? Did you find any gems while on tour across Europe?

Textile House Vintage Shop is, in my opinion, by far the best in Ljubljana. The next one is Humana on Stritarjeva street, where I find something every now and then. Abroad, we’ve visited many vintage shops in Dublin, Paris, and London. In the latter, I always go to Brick Lane, which is a street with vintage shops in the east side of central London, where the more hipster area starts. The downside is that it quickly becomes quite an expensive experience.

What kind of information can you deduce about a person based on what they’re wearing? Who, in your opinion, is truly well-dressed?

A person’s style is never a reason not to engage in conversation with them, but it is a very strong stimulator of my interest in that person. If I think someone is really well-dressed, I automatically assume they might think similarly to me and be interested in the same artistic, musical, or visual directions, so I’m more eager to talk to them. However, I’ve often met people who didn’t seem interestingly dressed, and later realised they were amazing people, even if they dressed completely casually.

Your audience expresses itself very differently in terms of fashion, as your parents also mentioned in a recent interview for Elle. How do you as a band perceive this?

Yes, what they meant was that it is no longer the case that you have to be "appropriately" dressed for a rock concert. When we observe the audience from the stage, I would say that the most typical thing for our time is that we are no longer genre-bound. Not just musically, but also in terms of fashion. 30 or 40 years ago, you would see people at a rock concert in leather jackets, black shoes, and jeans, and that was it. Today, you have flamboyant outfits with blue and green hair in one corner, gothic style in another, and of course, people in simple t-shirts and pants somewhere in the middle. And no one feels like they don’t belong; everyone sings our songs, and that’s really nice.

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❗Please do not repost without credit, and if you quote, please link back to this post!

[strongbabe2907]

Here’s a little review of Zepp Haneda - Dir en grey Who is this hell for tour 2024

In the morning i took a wrong train and almost ended in Yokohama, lmao. In the end i was there around 10:40 and we got the merch tickets.

After that we met up with a few people and had some food. The cafe/bar we went too was blasting Dir all day and played their pvs inside too, it was surreal but very cute.

Visnu brought the art books and it was so cool to see them irl before she put them in the gift box🥰 everyone worked so hard!! Go check out #SilverCoinProject if you haven’t! I’m not an artist i send in some pictures hehe. There’s also a picture in there of my gifts.. maybe i’ll post them later on social media now i have given them.

So we walked around a bit and went to the torii my friend recommended, but they were doing construction work right around it so it was a bit noisy.

When it was time for merch we found out todays sticker was Kaoru!! I hoped a shiny but unfortunately just normal ones. Still cute.

I bought more merch for friends and some standees, did some trading with other japanese fans and some gift exchange 🥰 honestly everyone has been so nice and sweet.

We god dinner before the show and i started to get nervous again.. we split up waiting because we had different numbers and i was very focused on the counting haha.

I had 235 for vip which got me… 6th row maybe? Second barrier in zepp. Which was.. i had hoped for a bit closer but it is what it is.

Again i was between Kaoru and Kyo and looked at them most. Shinya wore his white outfit, Die also wore a white outfit. I think Toshiya was all black? He wore the shorts with something on top and dramatic separate sleeves.

Kaoru looked amazing! He was in all black. Black dress shirt with big collar. Wearing a small, wide black tie. His waistcoat thing and trousers/shorts were the same texture/print. The waistcoat was much more wide/baggy and shorter in the front and longer in the back. I think it had 2 rows of 3 buttons on it. The shorts were just passed his knees and veryy wide with big pockets on the sides. He wore black leggings with them again. Black dr martens and i think socks?

His hair was pulled back in a little ponytail and he had two strands loose in the front. One behind his ear and one just loose. He had the usual make up, little fangs, eyeliner and dark shading especially around his head. He was the only one that didn’t change for the encore.

Kyo wore the same simple outfit. I still couldn’t make out the tat very well, but thought i could discern some points to it.. Visnu later mentioned she thinks it’s either like a little star or a cross?

He wore low black doc martens this time.

His voice was just 💯from the start. They seemed more energetic/relaxed than the first show (which was still really good btw). He did some dancing (god he’s so tiny..) and moved around and took his earpieces out to listen to the crowd sing/shout. Closer to the end he pointed at two people, one right ahead of me. I think one of them had made a tattoo like him and he was smiling? Cute.

Also HELLOOO obscure was so awesome. It was the more recent version which i personally prefer. It was so cool!! And i mentioned this on twitter already but Kaoru didnt do much wahwah but he did grunt along with tsumi no kisei and was doing tough guy act to the crowd and singing along with a song (sorry cant remember which) for a long but, it was really cute. They switched sides once i think. My friends said there was almost a twin towers collision but i didnt see.

After the last song (Eddie), Kyo did a big smile and said ‘bye bye’ and he was off.

Shinya’s drumstick landed right next to my foot but i was busy looking at Kaoru😭😂🙈(he was also throwing stuff). Then girl next to me notices a tiny but before me and bend down to grab it, but it was fine i mosty found it funny i missed it cos i was going 👁️ at Kao.

Everyone but Kyo also threw a tour towel.. maybe shinya didnt? Im not sure. Toshiya was smiling and put his face in it before tossing it in the crowd lol. Kaoru also threw it near the front and Die tied a knot in it again and pitched it to the back of the venue lol.

So good live! Girls around me were lively but i was standing at a bit of a dead area in the crowd?? I liked both citta and zepp even though the vibes were different. (Citta was def more intense)

After the show we got the vip bags! They’re very cute. And now i try and recover a little before heading to Kyoto.

[gormengeist]

THE REVIEWS ARE IN:

"I like your shirt." - man on the street

"This whips ass" - @txttletale

"These shirts fuck" - @ratwavegamehouse

AND MORE!

You heard it here first: GREED shirts are the sound of the summer. Cut off the sleeves, crop it, mix and match it, do whatever you have to do because it's summer 2024, the summer of the GRoutfit (GREED outfit).

[fruitcoops]

Thunder Road

Prompts E2: "Oh, Oops!" and A4: "Snowstorm" with genderbent PWHL Cubs for @oknutzy-week-2024's Day 3 :) Characters belong to @lumosinlove! Let's go lesbians let's go!

Light chatter passed back and forth across the lounge. Every once in a while, when someone was brave enough to cross the canyon with a smile and an introduction, the middle strengthened for as long as it took to make polite small talk before falling quiet again.

It was…tricky. Minnesota fought hard. Not dirty—it would almost be better if they did, then maybe the New York team wouldn’t still be smarting with their first clean loss of the season—but with teeth and claws undoubtedly out. Their captain had been brutal on the ice, polite and reserved off it; with Potter and Lupin at the wings, their line had consistently put New York through their paces.

Safe to say, Leo wasn’t looking forward to reviewing tape the next morning.

It wasn’t all bad, though. The bliss of professional hockey had yet to dim; Leo wasn’t sure it ever would. Some days, she still woke up thinking it was all a dream. That instead of packing her practice bag and greeting her new roommate, she’d spend the day scrolling LinkedIn’s barista section and signing up for local women’s rec leagues on the side.

Some days, all she could do was take her beautiful, beautiful sea-green jersey out and lay it on the bed beside her to remind herself it was real. Trace her name in bold white letters lining the back. Run her hands over her number, the same since she first put on a blocker and felt something inside her sing.

Representing New York in goal for the inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, we are proud to select Leo Knut…

Leo let out a shaky breath and stood.

Hi, you must be Leo. I’m Finn, Finn O’Hara. C’mon in, your room’s just down the hall.

Black and Lupin were on the opposite side of the room. Lupin’s faded red Wisconsin hoodie was pulled down over her hands while she lounged sideways on one of the many armchairs. Black looked as imposing as ever even in a simple Minnesota t-shirt, seated on the floor by the couch Potter claimed.

Hey, Knutty. Couldn’t sleep? Me neither. This game’s gonna be off the rails. Did you know I went to college with Tremblay? She’s killer. I brought cocoa, if you want some. Helps me calm down.

Finn was far away, chatting happily with one of Minnesota’s defensemen. Leo sort of wished she had gone with Finn in the first place, just so she wouldn’t be left to her own devices. These people were strangers to her in everything but newsprint.

Carefully, she balanced two lemonades in one hand and two cookies in the other. She could do this. She could be brave.

“H—”

Thunder rattled the windows of the lounge. The lights flickered—a wave of surprise rolled through the room, and Logan Tremblay jumped hard enough Leo nearly fumbled the lemonade right onto herself.

“Oh, oops!”

Green eyes stuck her in place. “Knut.”

Tremblay’s voice was smoother than it sounded in her interviews. Two thick braids crowned her head and ran down just past her shoulders.

Leo took a deep breath, and smiled. “Call me Leo.”

“Leo.” Softer, now, too. She was careful with Leo’s name. Lay-oh.

“Cookie?”

“Quoi?”

Leo held out her peace offering, placing her thumb over one of the cookies to reserve it for herself. The storm had hit them dead-on before they had been released to the bus and she had seen firsthand how hard Logan played. She couldn’t be the only one starving.

“Oh.” Tremblay sounded surprised. The side of her mouth pulled in a quick smile as she took the cookie from Leo’s palm, and widened when Leo nudged her other hand with the lemonade. “Merci, that’s very kind of you.”

“They said they’d have sandwiches soon, but I’m kind of dying here.”

Tremblay huffed a laugh. It was nearly silent, but honest. No wonder she and Finn had been friends. “Me, too. Something tells me DoorDash isn’t working top speed tonight.”

“Nah, probably not,” Leo agreed, grinning into her flimsy plastic cup. The room seemed easier now; the vise around her chest, looser.

“I’m Logan, by the way.” Tremblay shoved the last of her cookie into her mouth and dusted her hand off on her sweatpants.

“Nice to meet you.”

Her hand was coarse against Leo’s, callused and warm. Smaller than Leo’s own, but broad like the rest of her. Logan licked a few loose crumbs from the pad of her thumb and had just opened her mouth to speak when lightning flashed outside—a blur of red and gray barreled between them.

“Thirty-five minutes, and I don’t even get a hello?” Finn scolded through a blinding, brilliant smile. Her cheeks were flushed, though Leo hadn’t seen any alcohol about. She gave one of Logan’s braids a jaunty yank. “You dick.”

“I was busy,” Logan insisted without an ounce of real heat.

“Sulking, maybe.” Finn gave her an unreadable look, something playful and yet oddly intimate. Leo felt a little like she was intruding until Finn turned to her and beamed. “I see you’ve met my fabulous roommate.”

Logan blinked. “Oh?”

“You’re much better than she was,” Finn informed Leo in a stage-whisper. “No towels on the floor, a clean kitchen—oh, yeah, Tremzy, she knows how to cook.”

“I can cook,” Logan scoffed.

“That’s a lie and we both know it.” Finn slung an arm around her shoulders to tug the other braid. Logan pulled a face, but made no attempt to move. The arm stayed when Finn looked back up at Leo. “What was it you made the other day, Le? The beans and rice thing?”

“Jambalaya.” Her mother’s recipe, a fact Finn had loved. She liked it when Leo made food from home, even when the most mild spice level made her whole face turn red.

“It was so good. She shared some, I was so lucky.”

Leo felt her face heat and ducked her head. Finn was so free with compliments that it was starting to become a problem. She had told herself she’d be careful. This opportunity was too precious to risk—this team, this city, this game. There was already talk of expanding the league. Leo needed her contract to be first on the list with no complications holding her back.

That meant not noticing the fluff of auburn bedhead in the morning or sleepy brown eyes in the evening. It meant shrugging off compliments with placid smiles, no matter how much Finn’s earnest appreciation made her melt. Neither of them were guaranteed a spot in New York next year. One perfect season of one perfect roommate would be more than enough.

“Right, Le?”

“Hmm?” Leo felt her heart stutter. “Sorry, what?”

“You get big storms back home,” Finn repeated, unfazed.

“Oh, yeah, sure. Hurricanes, all that.” She winced internally and soothed the burn of awkwardness with the last swig of her drink.

“I don’t like them,” Logan said, waving a hand. One side of her nose wrinkled with displeasure. Leo wished she had left herself more lemonade. “The rain, fine, but the rest of it…blegh.”

“You should come back with us tonight,” Finn said suddenly.

“Quoi?”

“What?” Leo asked at the same time.

Finn was already nodding. “No, yeah, it’s perfect. The roads aren’t good, but we can take the subway back to Knutty and I’s place. We’ll drop you off at the hotel tomorrow morning.”

Logan shifted, the plastic cup crinkling in her hand. “I don’t know…”

“It’s late, Lo.” The nickname gave Leo pause. She saw Logan go still, too. Finn’s eyes had softened. “Come back with us. We’ll heat up some leftovers and fuckin’, I don’t know, watch a movie. It’ll be good to catch up.”

Logan’s gaze darted around the room, where the teams had slowly begun mingling. Lupin was telling some story about a roadie and a snowstorm and a cooler full of beer and sandwiches, a bit shy under half the room’s attention. Even Black seemed to be having a nice time listening to her.

“D’accord,” Logan said quietly. She gave another one of her small smiles to Finn and then, inexplicably, to Leo. “Alright, that sounds good. I’m hungry. I can sleep on your couch, or something.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Leo assured her.

--

Logan didn’t sleep on the couch.

When Leo woke the next morning, her first thought was not of problems or compliments or contracts. It was Logan’s loose, braid-crimped hair falling over the opposite end of the couch and the fit of a Mardi Gras 2011 shirt across her shoulders as makeshift pajamas. It was Finn playing music at the lowest setting and the soft spitting of the coffeepot. She would be wearing her glasses and the cotton shorts Leo just couldn’t handle, the ones she had thrown on last night while Leo cued the movie, red hair pulled back into a small ponytail at her nape.

Logan’s ankles were warm on her own. The DVD case was still open on the table in front of them. Leo couldn’t recall falling asleep. But this—this seemed as real as plastic lettering that shone beneath her awed fingertips.

Leo closed her eyes and let drowsiness pull her under. She had no fear of waking again to an empty dream.

[louisupdates]

Louis Tomlinson expands the 28 clothing universe with a football-inspired collection

The Doncaster-born singer, Louis Tomlinson, continues to expand his horizons beyond music with a sophisticated football-inspired collection.

POR: ALEJANDRO CARRILLO JULY 29, 2024

Louis Tomlinson’s clothing brand, 28 Clothing, presents a new collection under the theme “Home and Away”, featuring a captivating color palette that includes enchanting lavender hues. The brand name is a tribute to Louis’ favorite number, 28, which he also has tattooed on his hand.

Furthermore, it nods to his hometown, Doncaster, by including a flower inspired by the White Rose of York in the logo, a symbol widely used in the region, including Louis’ beloved Doncaster.

The brand stands out for its production of unisex clothing, demonstrating the versatility of each piece. The new collection includes turtlenecks, sweaters, football shirts, sweatpants, and socks.

Third round of success

This is the brand’s third collection, and like the previous ones, it is expected to sell out quickly. In fact, the Lavender Ecru sweater is already sold out. The previous collection, launched in December 2023, was also a resounding success.

The brand’s off-pitch style guide continues to evolve, featuring half-zip jerseys with digitized graphics and the characteristic “OFFICIAL PROGRAMME” inscription. Elegant short coats and checkered sportswear sets inspired by referees effortlessly transition from city to pitch, while turtlenecks with the number “28” arrive in light blue tones.

Color-blocked t-shirts, paneled skirts, and nylon pants complete the range, anticipating the next collection with floral embroidered MA1 bomber jackets arriving later this year.

Prices range from £15 to £120.

About 28

Louis Tomlinson, the former One Direction member, took a big step into the fashion world with the launch of his own clothing brand, 28. This name is not a random choice but a tribute to his squad number at Doncaster Rovers, his local football team since childhood.

Louis’ passion for football is evident in every piece of the 28 collection. The first line, inspired by vintage style, evokes the nostalgia of 70s and 80s football matches. Checkered tracksuits, t-shirts with the text “Official Programme”, and lightweight hooded sweatshirts are some of the garments that make up this summer collection.

28 is not just a clothing brand but a way to connect with a community. Louis seeks to create a space where football and fashion lovers can feel identified. The brand reflects his own personality, combining his casual and relaxed style with a touch of sophistication.

28 is a brand that represents Louis Tomlinson’s passion for football and fashion. With a design inspired by vintage style and a message of community, 28 has become one of the most popular clothing brands of the moment.

We hope you enjoyed this article about 28, If you did, please share it with others. You might also be interested in reading our article about Diesel, or browsing other reviews in our Luster English section.

[risunsky]

2023 review

So, was it a good year ?

I think so, I've enjoyed challenging myself, I've tried Beksinski for a second time, Klimt twice, I've done a crossover hellraiser which I'm quite happy with… I made cement for the first time and it was great!

At the 2022 review I said I wanted to do more horror, so I went for gore with all my emaciated skeletons and I'm very happy with that.

September is my favorite of all.

Outside of my fanart world, my biggest freelance achievement has been completing a big comic commission on time and now that the book is out and I've had good feedback from both commissioners and readers I'm relieved and quite proud. It's been a stressful time so it's nice to see that it hasn't all been for nothing. So, even though I'll never stop considering myself as a learner and experimenting with new things, I think that this year I've finally managed to settle on a style, or a range of styles, that I like and that I think I'll stick with for a long time. I've been drawing for a very long time but this is the first year I've felt so strongly that I've found MY style. As for my universe, it seems that somewhere in the horror area of dark fantasy it is my home.

What's planned for 2024?

In terms of priorities, the gift commissions, yeah.... I'm soooo late. I've finished one, but two are still on hold, and have been for at least a year now. I'm terribly sorry about that, because I haven't been overwhelmed like that for a long time, and I intend to sort it out as soon as possible.

It should also be the year I finish the Goya remake. Ideally, I'd like to finish in February because that's my birthday month, or March because that's the anniversary of my discovery of Ghost.

For the rest, don't take it as a promise, because I tend to let myself be carried along by my desires and they are constantly changing. For example, I was planning great things with Nunussy but the poor thing was left on the side of the road. My interest in it just died. it seems that shipping characters and writing an alternative universe for them is not my thing. I have at least 3 shorts comics ideas, more or less ghost related but always mixed with something else. I really really want to work on it but it's a lot of work and this year I need money, like more than usual so I don't know... I also want to do Bloodborne fanart.

The fails

I haven't kept to my plan to draw the other characters in the Ghost lore, oopsy. I still haven't had the time to open any commissions, but last year was really special, working on a big contract that kept me busy for months and that was something new, it was stressful enough. 2024 should be different. I had to show a bit more of my traditional technique, let's say I do it with the Goya project, it's a semi-failure.

Not really a failure: I still haven't come up with a design for an official t-shirt. I think that's because I'm more of an illustrator than a designer and for a good design I need to find a special thing. It's not a big deal for me, just, if it happens it's cool, if not, well, not the end of the world.

To finish

I'd like to thank all those who follow me and who like and share my drawings, including those who remain silent in the shadows - I'm myself a lurker so I understand! Of course, a huge thank you to those who have supported me on ko-fi, it's the first time I've tried this system and I'm happy to have had some support pretty quickly!

my apologies if there are any English mistakes in this text, which is still too long

Have a great festive season!

[dribs-and-drabbles]

An alternative review of GMMTV Live 2024 part 2

A list of the shared items of clothing that appeared in the trailers, ranked according to the amount I squealed when I spotted it.

6. getricheasy sports shirt

The first of four from Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist, this had its first appearance in Only Friends and was used in the promotional material for The Outing but I didn't spot it in the show, so I'm happy to see it again. Who knows if it will be used in the actual show...that goes for any of these items incidentally.

5. Blue with yellow detail knitted vest

I've had a screenshot of this vest worn by Thor since I saw it as Wednesday Club aired. I swear I've seen it somewhere else before but can't remember. But hence why it immediately jumped out to me in Perfect 10 Liners.

4. Green sports jacket

On to the second of the four from Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist, and oh to be Poon and be able to wear the jacket that our King and Queen have worn -> first by Namtan in UMG and then Mix in his glorious cameo at the end of Only Friends. I predict we'll see this again a few more times.

3. Blue with brown edging shirt

I was happy to see this one, another in Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist, because I had kept it in my mind since seeing it in Only Friends - as another potential that might get worn again. It's subtle yet quite distinct...and very much in a similar vibe as many other shirts worn by Force (and shared with Sea, Ngern, and New amongst others).

2. Red, blue, and green striped t-shirt

I'm impressed with my brain for spotting this one, the last from Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist, because at first it just felt familiar, and I immediately thought of UMG but I thought it might just be because it's similar to a few stripy colour shirts that Nanon wore. But I had a look through my screenshots of the series and eventually found it all the way at the end...

1. Ink's mustard knitted vest!

This one I could not believe. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would see this iconic vest from Bad Buddy again. But here we are, on Mix no less in Ossan's Love. It's not something you'd expect to see on Mix...but then again I thought the costuming of the trailer looked a lot more 'quirky' than usual and very much fitting the kooky/slapstick vibe of the series. But honestly, this made my day.

[eddieredmayneargentinablog]

"Eddie Redmayne: ‘I won a prize for worst performance of the year’

The Oscar-winning star of ‘The Theory of Everything’, ‘Fantastic Beasts’ and (gulp) ‘The Danish Girl’ is playing a hitman-for-hire in his new TV adaptation of ‘The Day of the Jackal’. He speaks to Adam White about famous friends, weathering backlash, and why the acting industry is ‘deeply unhealthy’

Source: Independent, Saturday 02 November 2024.

Eddie Redmayne said (excerpts):

“Often something you’ve done is just a part of a much bigger discussion, and you try to make sense of it with the understanding and comprehension of any human being.”

"You answer, you trip over, you get quoted, get misquoted, It’s all par for the course. But the way I explain it to myself is I’m just a f***ing actor. I wasn’t bred to be a politician, or a great speaker, or a particularly articulate advocate. I will, of course, sputter my way through [advocacy] for the things that I care about... but I’m just an actor.”

“There have been many years when I’d watch The White Lotus and go, ‘Why do I never get those jobs and hang out on beautiful beaches?’,” Redmayne laughs. “So I wouldn’t want to say that was the reason for taking the job, but it was pretty high up there. I’ve spent years playing Elizabethans and Victorians, or people in the 1920s or 30s. This was the first contemporary thing I think I’ve done in years. And it was nice to be able to just whip on a pair of trousers and a shirt every day, versus lots of 26-piece tweed suits.”

"At the audition, I put on my best ‘space emperor with mummy issues’ voice, and that was what came out – it was definitely a big swing".

"There was a moment in the Jupiter Ascending script that described the character’s voice. It said that his throat had been ‘gnarled out’, or something like that. So at the audition I put on my best ‘space emperor with mummy issues’ voice, and that was what came out.” The Wachowskis let him keep it for filming. “I had the most wonderful time making that film, but it was definitely a big swing. I do hear that there are people who are into [my performance], which is nice. Though I’m also conscious I have a prize somewhere for giving the worst performance of the year.” He chuckles. (It was Worst Supporting Actor at the 2016 Golden Raspberry Awards, if you’re curious.)

Does he read his own reviews? “Oh, yeah, absolutely,” he replies, without hesitation. He only finds it difficult to read them if he’s in a play, where they can’t help but impact what he’s doing night after night. “TV and film, though, often it’s so long since you did the thing that there’s a level of detachment from it. But the interesting thing about them is that I’d say most actors are harsher critics of themselves than any critic can be. It’s rare that I’m sitting reading a bad review of one of my performances, going, ‘No! They got it wrong!’ I typically sit there going, ‘Oh, yeah, I saw that too.’”

"I’m certainly more critical of my own work than most critics, I would say. So the reason I do this job is to aspire to those glimmers of something that momentarily feels real. “It sounds f***ing pretentious, but there are those moments, and sometimes they last for under a second, where you’re completely free, and you’re playing against someone, and everything is alive, and momentarily you go somewhere else.”

As for what’s next, Redmayne is unsure. Fantastic Beasts is “over, as far as I’m concerned”, so his diary is currently open. But he’s excited for the future. “I love variety, and I love pushing myself, and I hope to continue doing that,” he says. “I’ll always take a big swing, and...”

Full interview here:

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (March 3-9, 2024)

Shin Ultraman took an eternity to reach home video, but Godzilla Minus One will proceed as a more reasonable pace (by Japanese standards). Toho will release roughly one billion different editions on May 1, with Amazon- and Godzilla Store-exclusive physical bonuses both on offer. Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color is included with some of the pricier versions, or you can buy it as a standalone Blu-ray or DVD.

The black-and-white version of Shin Godzilla, SHIN GODZILLA:ORTHOchromatic, also hits Japanese home video on May 1. Like Minus Color, no 4K edition, just Blu-ray and DVD. A handful of new bonus features about ORTHOchromatic are included.

As is standard for Toho, none of these releases will be English-friendly. But given the films' popularity (and the lack of any legal way to watch Minus One since it left theaters), expect bootlegs to circulate at light speed.

Unsurprisingly, Godzilla Minus One cleaned up at the Japanese Academy Awards, with eight victories out of eleven nominations: Picture of the Year, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Art Direction, and Best Lighting. That's one more than Shin Godzilla, and pretty much guarantees that the Toho Godzilla series will keep the prestige pictures coming. Strange times!

We'll see if Minus One can also capture Best Visual Effects at the American Academy Awards tonight. The Creator remains its biggest competition. The Gareth Edwards film is better-positioned by the usual metrics, with a second nomination for Best Sound and five wins at the Visual Effects Society Awards, but the enthusiasm gap for the films themselves may prove decisive. I'll be doing a much lengthier analysis during Wikizilla's Oscar stream tonight, which will start at about 6:00 PM ET, an hour before the ceremony begins.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire tickets may not be on sale yet, but Cinemark theaters have rolled out the above merch (much more efficiently than Target and Walmart have rolled out the toyline, if my local theater's any indication). I have a suspicion those plushies will be worth a mint a few years from now, small as they are; don't know about the other stuff. I bought the larger popcorn tin when I saw Dune: Part Two on Thursday. The promo image is deceptive, as the green area is transparent plastic and the Titan image is on the opposite wall of the tin, so that popcorn's either defying gravity or being held up by a hidden insert. There are Kong and Skar King variants as well, the latter revealing his height (318 feet). Poor Shimo; being the "secret" villain really narrows the amount of merch you get.

The other interesting GxK news this week (apart from the endless TV spot variants, which I'm not even trying to keep track of) is a collaboration with the American Red Cross, of all institutions. Donate blood, platelets, or AB Elite plasma from March 25 to April 7, get a free T-shirt. And for completion's sake, I'll mention the Roblox and Call of Duty cross-promos too.

Chibi Godzilla Raids Again, an unexpected delight last year, is getting a second season starting April 3. The official site revealed that Minilla is joining the cast, while those silhouettes to his right look like Titanosaurus (unjustly neglected in recent years), Gigan, and Gabara. Expect to follow the first season in being uploaded to the GODZILLA OFFICIAL by TOHO YouTube channel with English subtitles.

Here's another chance to watch Tsuburaya and Toei Animation's Kaiju Decode short, originally released in 2021. (It goes away at the end of the month, because every Japanese studio is apparently hellbent on making short films ephemeral, so download it now.) It's the basis for a recent mixed reality game for the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro, hence its return to the spotlight.

UniVersus, a collectable card game predicated on pitting characters from various franchises against each other, is going all in on Godzilla after offering a couple of Minus One cards through highly convoluted means last year. They're releasing a couple of Godzilla Challenger Series (preconstructed decks) on June 21, one based around Godzilla and Mothra, the other around King Ghidorah and Rodan, with Mechagodzilla thrown into the mix for both. I've never played this game in my life, but the prospect of a shiny Godzilla card with James Stokoe art is sort of tempting.

[feudalconnection]

The Nomination Period for the 1st Term 2024 Inuyasha Fandom Awards is now CLOSED!!

Hey everyone!

Below the cut you'll find a complete list of all of the Fanart nominations received for this term! You can also find it on Google Docs.

Click here for the complete list of Fanfiction nominations.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this term for taking the time to do so. We hope you enjoyed your experience! If you do not see your nomination, please reach out to us as soon as possible!

We strongly encourage that when you view a work of art or read a fanfiction, please reblog or leave a review to let the creators know how much their work and talent is appreciated!

As a reminder, we are giving 3 weeks time to enjoy all of the creations. The voting period will begin February 6th and end February 20th.

In order to be able to vote, you'll need to register so we can keep it all neat and clear. We will be posting the link to the voting form on the first day of the voting session.

Got a question? Check out our FAQ or send us an ask. You can also message one of the mods directly!

Thank you to everyone who nominated for making this 1st Term absolutely wonderful, and happy voting!

Best Action/Adventure

“Versus the Demon Lord” by @amara-sessh

“Fighting some demons at night” by @marycrispies

“Tethered” by @rinshairandthoughts

Best AU/AR

“Untitled” by @florsdellunalluna

“Sense and Sensibility” by @kalcia

“Kagome the Princess of the Wolf Tribe” by @dudiinx

“Sailor Moon Crossover” by @valgreys

“Moonlight” by @dudiinx

“Untitled” by @hycopank

Best Canon Universe

“Naraku” by @lady-lin

“Keep You Safe” by @nartistadigital

“Cuddlebugs” by @feudalobo

“Casa” by @pachworldx-1

“Untitled” by @fishybehavior

Best Angst

“Untitled” by @liquidashesart

“Spirit Run” by @classysassy9791

“distance makes the heart grow fonder” by @elevenharbor

“Cupid in love” by @pachworldx-1

Best Dark

“Nextlahualtin” by @moonkissedart / MoonKissedA (AO3)

“I just want your heart” by @akulols

“Inuspiration” by @stardust414

Best Humor/Parody

“Zoomies” by @purpledemonart

“Finish him” by @generalmoony

“Untitled” by @tiroma-art

“Izayoi’s Expressions” by @tmetta

“Fish Eye Lens SessNara” by @devilatelier

“Untitled” by @mama-ino

“All Dressed Up” (art in story) by @rinafananditshows

“Get Along Shirt” by @jane-imes

Best Kiss

“Beast in the Basement” by @kalcia

“Moonlight” by @dudiinx

“Untitled” by @dekirufran

“Fireworks” by @xtaisanax

“Untitled” by @inumysuzue

Best Character

“Shippo” by @nartistadigital

“Blue Moon” by @len-barboza

“Inuyasha” by @stoneofmaya (X, formerly Twitter)

“琥珀. Kohaku.” by @toutousai

“Kagome Stained Glass” by @razdazberry

“Kouga” by @gantzfelt (X, formerly Twitter)

“InuKimi” by @anime093se

“Waiting for Him” by @alicepupurred

“Nighttime Ride” by @classysassy9791

“Untitled” by @justafewsmallsteps

Best Duo/Pairing

“KogKag romantic blizzard” by @razdazberry

“Sango and Kagome” by @fuko-sshi

“Mommy and Daughter Time” by @katballesteros

“Miroku & Sango” by @xmonday-mintx

“Destiny in their veins” by @alicepupurred

“Here’s my girls” by @justafewsmallsteps

“KaguKik” by @moonnueart

Best Doujinshi

“distance makes the heart grow fonder” by @elevenharbor

“A pupper tryin to be like her dad” by @briizer

“Family” by @heavenin--hell

“Way of the House-Demon” by @lucymorningstar257

“InuKag Week Day 6: Courting” by @jess-oui

Best Redraw

“I Understand” by @len-barboza

“Manga Redraw” by @heavenin--hell

“they were the blueprint” by @badanaday

“Inktober” by @tealybopper

“Inuyasha & Kagome redraw” by @midiatamente

Best NSFW

“Dearest” by @xtaisanax

“Red #40” by @brain-rot-hour / GoblinOnAHorse (AO3)

“Deck the Balls” by @brain-rot-hour / GoblinOnAHorse (AO3)

“Inuyasha dragon au (second picture)” by @moonkissedart / MoonKissedA (AO3)

“Fun at Sea” by @spiralofdragon

“Happy Valentine’s Day” by @jane-imes

Best InuKag Romance

“Eternal Gift” by @clearwillow / BrigidTheFae (AO3)

“Untitled” by @dellmain

“Domestic” by @rubbesart

“Untitled” by @shizuki502

“Untitled” by @actiasz

Best SessKag Romance

“the night before Christmas and there was only one bed” by @stardust414

“Untitled” by @stellesappho

“Sesskag Festival Day 1 - Rejuvenate” by @julytheartist

“Tokyo Tower” by @julytheartist

“Thy Mate” by EnchantedInk_AG (AO3)

“Sesshoumaru. I love you” by @inumysuzue

“Untitled” by @kiliinstinct

Best Romance

“kohaku & rin - they're cute together” by @elevenharbor

“KogKag romantic blizzard” by @razdazberry

“Falling for You” by @eliza-faust-diary

“KagSan” by @moonnueart

Best Group Depiction

“Overcoming the past” by @valgreys

“Baby Inu with his parents” by @eliza-faust-diary

“Un moment de tranquilitat a l'època Sengoku” by @mmezo

“inuyasha! 🌙” by @eggramenart

Best Fluff

“the night before Christmas and there was only one bed” by @stardust414

“Starry Night” by @katballesteros

“Baby Inu with his parents” by @eliza-faust-diary

“SessKag as Kids” by @ivii20

“chibi” by @ivii20

Best Overall

“His hair makes me so happy” by @devilatelier

“Kagome Stained Glass” by @razdazberry

“Thy Mate” by EnchantedInk_AG (AO3)

“Untitled” by @lilacfoxarts

“dancing in the moonlight” by @masitadibujante

“Nighttime Ride” by @classysassy9791

[tacoma-narrows]

Art Fight 2024 - In Review

I saw some other people doing this and it seemed like a fun idea to gather all of the stats n stuff into one place!

Attacks Made: 57 (17 of those being friendly fires) My all time record! Defenses Received: 58 Mass Attack Inclusions: 5 Total Points Earned: 1889 Longest Revenge Chain: Level 6 with @macaronichewtoyz!

Every year, I feel like one or two of my characters get a ton of attacks over the rest of them, and this year was no different! It probably comes as no shock but this year's Art Fight winners in terms of attacks received are Seabreeze and Luau! They both got 11 pieces! Though to be fair most of those were of the two of them together lol. If you count one piece I drew with Luau in it, that bumps her up to 12, but I was mainly counting pieces I got from other people here ^^

Here's my full Art Fight OC roster, ranked by how many pieces they each got! If an OC has (+1) next to their number, that means that I drew them as part of an attack rather than getting something from someone else :]

Luau: 11 (+1) Seabreeze: 11 PBnJ: 9 (+1) Rhazz: 8 Soda: 7 Tarmac: 5 Shep: 5 Firecracker: 4 Doppler: 4 Astro: 3 (+1) Starburst: 3 Eejanaika: 2 Agouti: 2 Spatter: 1 (+1) Wilkołak: 1 Rye: 1 Pumpernickel: 1 Moxie: 1 Isaac: 0 Pebble: 0

Then just for fun, here are each year's standout OCs: 2024: Luau and Seabreeze (11 attacks each) 2023: Wilkołak (6 attacks) 2022: Starburst and Moxie (4 attacks each) 2021: Pebble (4 attacks) 2020: PBnJ (12 attacks) 2019: Doppler (7 attacks)

First Attack: Beautiful Mystery! of Choco for MacaroniChewtoyz!

Final Attack: Hit the Power Chords! for KittenPlush!

Highest Point Value/Most Characters in 1 Attack: Hold Your Breath a Little Longer, Let's Go Dancing Underwater! with 10 characters, netting 361 points!

Favorite Attack: Stay Punk Forever! for MacaroniChewtoyz!

Thank you everyone for a fantastic Art Fight and for all the amazing pieces I got of my characters this year!! This year's OC art shirt is gonna go hard hehe. I had an absolute blast with it this year!! Like I said, this was far and away my most productive AF ever, and probably would have been even more so had I not lost the last week of the month to my friend visiting (not that I would have changed that for the world though <3). Hope you all enjoyed the firefight too! Here's to next year!

[jandjsalmon]

2024 FRC - July 🍁

Hello everyone! I hope you have been enjoying your summer! I've never been so grateful for a/c in my life because it's been super warm and lovely here. We finally got the gang back together for a family photo and in a completely unplanned but super fun way - they all showed up in band shirts - the *same* band shirts. I think that illustrates some pretty good parenting there I think. 😏

Anyway, I am just about finished with the @fanfic-reading-challenge I have two number tasks (12mill and 15 mill) that I haven't cracked yet and then there are five tasks that I can't complete until December. But other than those, I can read whatever I want now. I'm excited to go back and reread old favourites.  If you have a favourite fic that you think I’d like - please let me know!

As for my monthly recs for you - I hope you'll give these ones a chance. Read and review - tell the authors how awesome they are.

my heart, oh my heart by @auspicious-goblin (Carmy/Claire - T 1/1) - I don't read a ton of 'The Bear' fanfiction (mostly because I don't ship the predominant ship) but once and a while something just jumps out at you and this is one of those stories. It's actually less shippy and more about trauma and identifying self-sabotage (which is seriously what the show is about to me). The characters are written SO well - and the ending feels really earned. It's not a long fic, but it's one I've thought about a lot since reading it. I highly recommend.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Leprechaun by @he-aint-heavy-hes-my-leprechaun (Sweeney/Laura - T 7/7) - There are several post-S2 fics in the American Gods fandom... but none of the others have a super fun fake-marriage trope and characters written so in character that you'd think you're watching the show. This is a delight.

Harvest to Home by @writeradamanteve (Bughead - E 13/13) - If you've been around here for a while, you've probably already read this fic (maybe multiple times) - but this was our first taste of this amazing author's talent and it was SUCH an awesome time to be in fandom. This is completely AU - set on a farm in UpstateNY - and you'll fall in love with every single character. Even Cheryl. SO SO good. I was so happy to reread this one this month.

Sending love to all of you - hope you have a wonderful August. 🌞

[turneradora]

'RIVALS

‘Lots and lots of sex': Dame Jilly Cooper on her show Rivals

"Would you like a large drink?"

A visit to Dame Jilly Cooper’s house in the Cotswolds is everything you would hope it would be.

It's just after midday, as displayed on the numerous clocks on the packed walls of her hall and living rooms. Almost every surface inch is taken up with art, family photos, framed cartoons or sporting memorabilia - including, rather unexpectedly, a signed Emile Heskey Liverpool shirt.

Despite the relatively early hour, the writer of some of the best-selling novels of the 1980s is keen to share the contents of her drinks cabinet.

She believes in providing old-school hospitality at the former 14th Century monks' dormitory she has called home for more than 40 years, and where she lived with her husband Leo until his death in 2013.

Earlier, on the way into her village, we drove past a jodhpur-clad gent on a horse, who gave us a roguish, charming smile. He could have ridden straight off the pages of one of her Rutshire Chronicles books.

Her so-called "bonkbusters" - a term Dame Jilly does not like - were set in the world of the horse-owning, bed-swapping, countryside-residing upper classes.

"Low morals and high fences" is how she rather perfectly sums up the books. With their mix of sex and scandal, they were publishing sensations.

The second of the books, 1988's Rivals, has just been adapted into an eight-part Disney+ series with an all-star cast including Aidan Turner, David Tennant, Danny Dyer, Victoria Smurfit and Emily Atack.

Dame Jilly served as an executive producer, which is why we have been invited to pay her a visit, although she does not want to claim credit for what she describes as an "absolutely wonderful" adaptation.

"How much of a say did I have? Not much," she laughs, explaining that her grandson Jago was a runner on the production, so when she went visited the set, she was better known as "Jago's granny".

She suggested some changes, though.

"I did occasionally say, 'No, I don't think they should be jumping on each other quite so early in the story' and things like that."

'Sex, drinking and parties'

Set in the world of 1980s TV, Dame Jilly is relieved that the most outlandish sensibilities and plotlines of Rivals have not been toned down for a more sensitive 2024 audience.

In the first episode, before even the opening credits, a pair of fully exposed male buttocks are on display during a "mile-high" sex scene on Concorde.

"That was not in the book," she nods approvingly.

"It’s fun. It’s quite naughty too." She pauses, before adding: "There is a lot of sex. In one episode they have every member of the cast coupled and fornicating for the next 20 minutes and all of that."

Dame Jilly sounds rather shocked by what she saw. "Well, 87 is very old and you do forget about sex," she offers by way of explanation.

When I ask her what in life makes her blush, she gives a rather surprising answer. "Books I wrote in the old days. Because I'm amazed at some of the things I wrote about. They are quite strong."

It turns out that she is currently in the middle of re-reading Rivals to swot up ahead of more interviews about the show.

"Lots and lots and lots of sex," is her review.

"The 80s really were the most fun time," she muses.

"Masses of sex, masses of drinking, masses of parties. The younger generation all wish they had been born then."

However, she's quick to point out that one of the most non-MeToo-friendly aspects of the TV series, when an uninvited bum grope is used as a replacement for a chat-up line, wasn't in the print version.

There are many aspects of the 1980s for which she is nostalgic, in particular what she perceives as a major change in the dynamics of relationships.

"I think women are much tougher, much stronger and much more forthright. And I think men are much, much less macho. I mean, macho has gone. You are not allowed to be macho.

"Women are stronger and men are weaker, therefore there is not so much sexual desire between them," is her summation.

She also believes there is another contributing factor to a decline in modern love lives.

"Everybody jogs. They get up in the morning, they jog all around the countryside for hours. They do exercises. That’s what they do now. They don't have sex any more. They are far too tired to have sex now. Jogging is bad for people's love life. Ruinous."

Back in the 1980s, the idea of Jilly Cooper teaming up with Disney would have seemed as likely as Rivals being chosen for Jackanory.

There is no doubt that she's thrilled by the collaboration.

"I loved Disney as a child. Passionately. Dumbo, Bambi."

There are many aspects of the 1980s for which she is nostalgic, in particular what she perceives as a major change in the dynamics of relationships.

"I think women are much tougher, much stronger and much more forthright. And I think men are much, much less macho. I mean, macho has gone. You are not allowed to be macho.

"Women are stronger and men are weaker, therefore there is not so much sexual desire between them," is her summation.

She also believes there is another contributing factor to a decline in modern love lives.

"Everybody jogs. They get up in the morning, they jog all around the countryside for hours. They do exercises. That’s what they do now. They don't have sex any more. They are far too tired to have sex now. Jogging is bad for people's love life. Ruinous."

Back in the 1980s, the idea of Jilly Cooper teaming up with Disney would have seemed as likely as Rivals being chosen for Jackanory.

There is no doubt that she's thrilled by the collaboration.

"I loved Disney as a child. Passionately. Dumbo, Bambi."

In previous adaptations of her work, Dame Jilly was not happy with the casting of "the handsomest man in England" Rupert Campbell-Black, the fictional former Olympian and future Conservative MP, notorious for his conquests in the boardroom and the bedroom.

This time, the part has gone to the English actor Alex Hassell, who starred in His Dark Materials. In Rivals, he is seen without any material at all, courtesy of a nude tennis scene.

"They interviewed 600 people for that one," reveals Dame Jilly, who was delighted with the final choice, despite some obvious differences to her literary creation.

"He's very handsome. Rupert's blond-haired and blue-eyed in the book, but he's become dark and dark-eyed. But he’s very sexy."

Further details about her main character are explained during a walk with Dame Jilly through her large garden, as she points out the view over a valley, which inspired the literary location of his mansion.

She also guides us to small two-storey outbuilding, gently announcing: "I wrote Rivals in there. Above a room with all the garden tools. It was very quiet."

The only hard part about interviewing Dame Jilly is trying to stop her continually asking her own questions, such is her enthusiasm and interest in every aspect of life.

She reveals that until Rivals she had never heard of Danny Dyer ("he's lovely, quite shy"), the aspect of modern life which most frustrates her is inheritance tax, and she is not a fan of the concept of internet dating ("awful").

She also enjoyed looking back at a busy year, which has included having a damehood bestowed on her by King Charles.

It turns out he used the occasion to pass on some betting tips. "He laughed and said, 'By the way, if you are going to Ascot, we’ve got some rather good horses'."

There was also an invitation to Downing Street by the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who had revealed himself to be a fan of her books. "He was lovely," she enthuses.

"The King. A prime minister. I’ve got about a bit," she giggles. "There was me saying I never meet men any more."

One thing she will not be doing is writing anymore Rutshire Chronicles: "No, I think Rupert’s old enough now."

However, this TV version of Rivals, only goes up to halfway through the novel, so if successful, the plan would be more seasons.

"I hope so, yes," she beams. "That would keep us all very happy for the next few years."

We are invited to take a seat at the kitchen table, followed by an offer of cakes and more suggestions of stiff drinks.

When I ask if a cup of tea could be an alternative, a look combining disappointment, disapproval and pity comes over her face.

Once again, modern man has let Dame Jilly Cooper down.

Rivals is on Disney+ from 18 October.