#fourth's face is just sooooooooooo

[exclaims]

my fourth vision is insane

[qweengiba]

SOOOOOOOOOOO, the brainrot refuses to leave (thankyouverymuchADDforthat). So I tried to write..... something???? Please do correct me if I have done the Clones or the GAR any injustice.

When the explosive energy of the Catalyst had surrounded and consumed Shepard, their eyes were already closed. Their body was far too gone to feel the pain of being ripped into a million atoms as they finished the job that they had set out to finish. Yes, they would die again, but at least this time, Shepard could smile. No matter what happened next, the main threat was gone, and the fragile peace that they created between every species was not their duty to maintain.

It took several moments, though if they were seconds, minutes, or hours, they were untellable to Shepard. But it took them several moments to begin questioning their own situation. Was there actually an afterlife? Were they just just stuck floating in nothingness without sensation and feeling? Would they be forever alone? And what the fuck was that whistling sound?

That last question sent a shock through Shepard, one that made what should be a still heart into a racing beat that thrummed under their skin. Opening their eyes greeted them with an unfamiliar sightfar below them was what looked to be a war grounds on a planet that was very much not Earth. In just a single instance, several facts slotted themselves into Shepard's mind.

First of all was that they were free falling from a considerable distance from the ground.

Second was that their armor was somehow in one piece again, helmet and all. Every readout was positive for functions and objects in their kit, omnitools registered and non active, full omnigel and medigel, hell even full ration packets for after biotics use.

Third was that they felt no pain, and their helmet feedback wasn't screaming at them, so they were pretty sure there were no more injuries for them at this current moment. Which was facanatincing because taking a reaper beam to the face was a whole new pain that they were glad it was over, hopefully.

Fourth was that far below them was what appeared to be a rather nasty battle between white and brown bipedal beings with lights flying between the two groups unequal in number. Two clear lines against each other with the whites seeming to be losing ground and cover.

One deep breath, their ribs expanding with ease instead of the burning pain they can remember from only minutes before, and then Shepard was acting. They sparked up in blues and violets as they used their biotics to lighten the mass to help with deceleration as they spread their limbs apart as far as possible. To slow down their descent to gain a bit more time to think. The helmet hud was scanning the environment below and was throwing up multiple errors and failures. No information on location from the geographic landscape, no System Alliance or Council beacons to connect to in near by space, no real technology at all that their systems were recognized as friendly or known that could be possible connected to, the only actual usable information being that those in white were 78% chance of being organic while those in brown had a 99% chance of being synthetics. And that apparently the strange giant brown lumpy thing with a long barrel attached was most likely either a tank or heavy artillery. The barrel moved, first swinging to the side before what appeared to be minor adjustments for angles before it reared back, and a short red beam left the muzzle. And then what had been some gray jagged piece of ruin that had two whites behind it was gone in an explosion of fire, only smoke and strewn pieces left behind.

And then the barrel was moving once more.

Shepard is the first to admit they are an impulsive person who acts just as much as they think. They know their next action will be against the tank because past experiences have them leaning towards helping organics over synthetics, but also because they are a bit of a sucker for the underdog. They ponder only for a few seconds, which of their load out would be most useful to take down something so big from the air before a singular idea launched to the forefront. It was stupid, peak of reckless, several people Shepard personally knew would call it insane. Grunt and Jack would love it for how possibly destructive and flashy it would be. It was a good thing they had their helmet back because Shepard knew the grin on their face was absolutely feral like a krogan.

They activated their omnitool and quickly set their personal shields into overdrive. It would drain their charge harshly at first impact, but that was all they needed. A glance at one corner of the hud gave them an estimate on distance left till ground and it was in the number that Shepard had trained for biotic jumps, though that still involved a lot more deceleration than what was next. Another deep breath, and then they were flipping in the air before stabilizing in a standing position.

"Well, I have always wanted to be a meteorite." Their biotic signature was able to latch onto the large mass of metal and energy, allowing Shepard to use said biotics to pull their gravity to the tank while also increasing their mass. The entirety of their body was encased in a blue and violet electricity, with a blue vapor near their body. The several barriers they were wrapping about themselves only made the ethereal light show brighter.

________________________________________

Stat was hiding behind a large chunk of something made of duracret with two fellow vod while the rest of the company was spread thin behind poor cover. That left them all just pretty little targets for the very much not included in any intel, Armored Assault Tank that was currently treating this like some little shooting range game. He was sure that Captain Tyto was injured but alive from grumbling commands on holding the line and trying to stay alive for backup. But those were hard commands to follow when every time the main cannon from that AAT fired, there was a loud CRACK-pop over the coms as another few vod were sent marching on ahead. 27 vod haven't been heard from since the last shot, and Stat could only pray to little gods that if his cover is next to be hit that it would be fast and painless.

Pyew fzzzzzzzzzzzztfump BANG. CRACK-pop pop.

The blaster in Stat's hands was going to start to crack from how tightly he grips it as he refuses to look to his left to see two more gone. 29 now silent vod. The line crackles alive, and instead of the call off, it was a question.

“Does anyone else have eyes on the sky? Because what the kark is that a klik up from the AAT?”

That got Stat to turn from pressing his back against the cover to facing it and leaning back. Anything in the sky means they were all spotted no matter what, and anything on the separatists side was always bad news. But instead of the expected ship or droid, it was an electric explosion of blue and purple and every shade in-between. It hovered in the air for a single breath before rocketing down at the AAT like a comet, a trail of blue streaking behind. The muzzle of the tank was still lining up to fire when impact happened, the brown metal folding and cracking apart. Then it exploded gloriously that any vod who had made one would have been proud. The view obscured by smoke, dirt, and fire, even the droids just stared at the destruction.

“Did that really happen?”

“The scanner says the AAT is gone.”

“That wasn't a jedi, right? Like, I'm pretty sure their magic doesn't do that.”

“No lights as far as I'm aware.”

“Blasters up vod, just because the AAT is out of the way doesn't mean we are clear yet. Backup is still two hours out at the least, and I want all those damn clankers dealt with now.” Ah, good old Captain Tyto, keeping focus on the target as always.

Someone else was just laughing quietly with a pitch of hysteria, though they had quickly switched off their comm.

The rest of the comm channel filled with chatter as they began to easily pick off the standing clankers. The commander droid must have been in the tank for how simple it was to pick off droids, no tactics other than straight forward. The line advanced and it was becoming clear that the droids were distracted by whatever took down the AAT because what sounded similar to slugthrower was coming from the still smoking wreck that was also in a small, very newly formed crater.

Stat was the first one to make it to the edge of the crater, droids falling before anyone fires. A glance over showed physical damage with no burns so not anything plasma, but slugthrowers and like normally didn't have the power to punch clear holes through droid heads and chassis. Looking over the edge showed a being covered cacophony of those same blues and purples from the thing in the sky, the comet that saved them. Underneath the unknown power was a humanoid covered head to toe in black armor unlike any seen, what could possibly be classified as a rifle in their hands as they fire at the last droid on the other side of the crater they created. Surrounding them were the twisted remains of the AAT. An all-clear was called out on the comms, and a thorough sweep would have to happen, but most if not all the droids were dealt with. The light show that surrounded the being in black died down, leaving only a whisper of color that lingered around their body. The rifle they held was one not known by Stat, but they pointed it down instead up at them, which was a good sign. Stat holstered his blaster, his hands going up to be held in the air in front of himself with fingers spread wide to show nothing in his grip. A nice, mostly universal sign for non aggression for fellow sentiments, to which the being in black nodded their head and put away their own weapon. With a flick of his eyes in his hud, external comms turned on.

“Thank you for your help.” Maybe not the correct thing to say to an unknown on a battlefield, but kriff it all if Stat didn't thank the person who single handedly turned a slaughter into a battle. “As a member of the Grand Army of the Republic I request you to identify yourself…. Please.”

What sounded like a sigh came from the black armor as they shook their head while shoulders moved into a shrugging. Then a voice came from them, distorted by speakers but still clear and in a language unknown.

“Ey doont un derstan yew und eym gussin yew doont un derstan me eethr.”

[yukikogazingthestars]

Heyyy

It’s meee again

Sooooooooooo

Can you do myyybbb Morixreader when Mori lost Elise and y/n help him to find her and when she was on her way home someone attack her and mori helps her and after 3 days Mori contact Dazai bc he wanted to see y/n again and tell her that he is port mafia boss(strangers to lovers hehehehehehe)(y/n work for ada)(Dazai is her big brother hahaha again)?

Thank youuuu💜💜💜

Sorry Ashhh...It took so long since I suffered from Omicron and the recovery took really a long time .I hope you love the story❤️

It was a rainy day .The wind was really strong so that the umbrella was nearly torn off.

A young girl who was carrying a leather case while holding a umbrella walked quickly in the rain since she wanted to return to the office.

Suddenly, someone who was holding an old photo of a young,blonde girl rushed toward her .

" Miss,have you seen this girl.Her name is Elise.We're separated in the shopping district. "

The man with duty coat asked her.He was carrying all the shopping bags and umbrella with troubled face.

"No...but I can help you find her..Where was the last time she's with you?"

"I think..near the bouquet shop "

"Let's go there"

After searching for a while, they found the girl .She was staring the shortcakes in front of the shop.

"Elise chan!!! You made me worried..."

" I want to see Rintarou crying .Also,I want those cakes too!!"

Y/N learned the man's name was Rintarou .

"You're so mean Elise chan but I'll forgive you since you're so cute"

Elise smiled at Y/N and Y/M gave a smile back.The rain stopped and the sky began to clear.

"I have to excuse myself first as I'm on my way for a delivery"

" Thank you young lady."

"Thank you Onee San!!!"

Y/N waved her hands and left for her job.

After the delivery, it was 5pm and Y/N started to panic since she had spent so much time for a single job.

"Oiii Dazai San gonna scolded me for not finishing his errand!!!"

She quickly passed through the alley and suddenly heard a noise.

A group of thugs with 5 or 6 people blocked her way front and back.

"Isn't famous girl from Agency who punched our supervisor?"

" Sorry,I've cleaned so many criminals so I don't remember.Please make the way "

The man made his move and Y/N just grabbed his hand and broke it.

The yell was really loud and the thugs started to take out their knives.

The fight was really intense .She just smashed the thugs one by one but a hit got her arm and the bleeding was really terrible.

Only one opponent left but she couldn't even see him clearly.

(Maybe ..it's the end...)

Y/N closed her eyes and nothing happened even after a while.

She opened her eyes and saw the remaining thugs was lying on the ground with a scalpel stabbed in his belly.He's still alive but couldn't harm her anymore.

She looked at the other side and saw the neighborhood doctor with Elise chan.

" Are you okay? Miss, you're bleeding so much and the bruises ..

That's much .."

"I'm okay ,Rintarou San.Thanks for helping me.I must go now"

She grabbed her things on the ground and ran away. The doctor just watched her and suddenly he realized a business card on the ground.

He picked it up and he gave a smirk .

"Rintarou, can we see her agin?"

"Of course,the angel left a feather to track her."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It'd been 3 days after the incidents.Dazai's really worried about his apprentice who got her third ambush in 1 month.

"I told you to take care more Y/N chan.What if the stranger didn't help you? "

Kunikida yelled.

" We got their leader so there'll be no fourth time ."

Y/N gazed the outside and Dazai just plainly gazed the bandages on her arm.

Suddenly,his phone rang . He gave the detectives a mischievous smile and left the room.

A few minutes later ,Dazai came back with a serious face.

"Y/N chan..Who helped you that day?"

" A strange doctor with raven hair,unshaved face, I think he is in his mid age ..ahhh!There's also a young blonde girl with red dress"

All the detectives in agency gazed her with serious face.

"What the...Y/N chan!! You're really something"

Ranpo said.

"What..happened"

"You need to wait me outside .I gonna ask a permission from Shachou"

Before she knew what happened, she was in a car and dazai sat beside her.

"What happened,Dazai San"

" Nothing serious, the man you met that day is just Mori San ,Port Mafia's boss"

"Mori San....Mori Ougai!? That famous boss?"

Dazai gave his usual mischievous look and Y.N just sighed.

" I'm a problem magnet ."

"I knew that since the day I picked you"

They both giggled and the car stopped in front of the building.

"Go inside Y/N chan.I'm gonna wait here since Mori San just want to meet you"

" But ...I'm alone.."

" We have a condition .He won't harm you."

Y/N went into the building and she saw the doctor again but different version.

" Hello Doctor .We meet again "

He just smiled and his face showed how much he's happy to see her again.

"Y/N chan. Me and Elise chan really missed you a lot so that we've to ask your president and Dazai a little help"

Y/N nodded and Elise hugged her with her small hands.She hugged her back .

"What do you need from me? Mori San"

"I wonder if you want to join Port Mafia......"

Y/N saw the man in front of her was smiling and stretching his hand.

"Is that an order?"

"No,it's just an offer"

"If so, I have to decline that.."

Mori just laughed and Y/N gazed him back.Did she make him angry? He gonna kill her now?

"I also knew you would give that answer.But at least we can be friend for now ?"

"Of course ,we can.I also wanna be friend with you too.Thank you for saving me that day.Now I'll take my leave first."

Suddenly a warm hug embrace her and she was frozed from excitement and surprise.

"Friends give hug you know"

She hugged him back,gave a warm smile and left the building.

"Rintarou , you should make your move to get her.Girl like Y/N definitely have a lot of admirers."

"Don't worry,Elise chan.I've already made my plan and one day she'll be mine.We sti have a lot of time"

Y/N got in the car with a blush .Dazai started to teasing her.

" So,how did you feel after meeting with your secret admirer? "

" Dazai San!!!Don't ask me!!!! "

He just giggled.

"But, you should be more careful from now"

"I know I know"

[little-murmaider]

Nathan wrested the branch free from the yard wolf’s growling, slobbering mouth. Rearing back, he swung his arm out and released, sending the branch flying towards the woods in a slow-spinning arc. The whole pack chased after it as a yipping, singular, undulating mass. Nathan gave Skwisgaar’s hand a squeeze. ”This is nice,” he said. “We’re having a nice day.” Skwisgaar’s eyebrows creased with concern. “Dat’s de fourth times you saids dat, ams you not having a nice days?” ”Of course I’m having a nice day! That’s why I keep saying we’re having a nice day! Because it’s so nice!” ”Just a littles suspicious...” ”Hey.” He wrapped his arms around Skwisgaar’s waist and pulled him close. “Have I told you lately what an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime guitar talent you are?” Skwisgaar grinned. “You coulds stand to says it mores.” ”You’re also one of the top five hottest people on the planet.” ”Pfft. Only tops fives?” ”Top three! And not just the planet! In the universe! Of all time!” ”Mmmmmm alrights sport.” He curled into Nathan’s embrace, face disappearing into the crook of his neck. “Keeps it in your pants.” Nathan pressed his lips to Skwisgaar’s temple.  ”Hey.” ”Mm?” ”After we’re done here...” ”Mhm?” ”Maybe we could swing by the studio.” Skwisgaar shifted his weight, nuzzling against the underside of Nathan’s jaw. “Mmmmm whys?” ”I don’t know, no reason, but uhhhhhh maybe we can work on the album?” ”What you talking abouts? We finish de albums yesterday.” A long, long, long silence passed. ”Nathan.”  Skwisgaar unwound himself, his bemused expression hardening into icy malice, and stiffly rose to his full height. “We finish de albums yesterday.” Nathan held tight to Skwisgaar’s hips, thumbs fiddling with the studs of Skwisgaar’s belt. “Yeah. We did..............Before I deleted it.” ”Nathan—” ”Don’t be mad.” ”I re-re-re-re-re-records my parts ands Toki’s parts and Moidaface’s parts a millions billions times! Ands you wants me to does it agains!” ”It wasn’t right! Don’t you want the album to be right?” ”I wants de album to be dones.” Nathan crushed Skwisgaar to his body, petting him like he was trying to placate a hissing feral cat, and laid out his Get Out Of Trouble Free Card. “Babyyyyyyy.” Skwisgaar tried to suppress a delighted squirm and failed. “You don’ts get to baby mes right nows.” “Don’t be maaaaaaaad babyyyyyyyy...” “Eeyyyyuuuughhhhh...” It was Skwisgaar’s one weakness and the only weapon in Nathan’s arsenal, so Nathan kept repeating it, stroking Skwisgaar’s hair, rocking him in what he hoped was a soothing manner until Skwisgaar dropped his forehead into Nathan’s shoulder with a frustrated, defeated huff. The patter of paws and the chorus of syncopated panting altered them that the yard wolves had returned. Two of them gnawed at either end of the branch Nathan had tossed, trotting at the front of the pack in triumph. One wolf nudged her snout into Skwisgaar’s thigh, and he twisted his neck to face her. “Kills him,” he said.  The wolf cocked her head, flopped onto her back, and exposed her belly expectantly. “Useless,” Skwisgaar grumbled as he dropped to his knees to appease her.  Nathan stooped to meet him. “Sooooooooooo,” he said, pushed a sniffing wolf out of his ear. “You’re not mad right?” Skwisgaar rolled his eyes, tipped forward, and, more gently than Nathan deserved, kissed him. “You’re makings dis up to mes.” “Well, we’ll see how the new album sounds—” “You’re makings dis up to mes.”  “Okay, baby.”

[masterweaverx]

Running Ink

Chapter 4: Backup plans

“No.”

“What?”

“No.”

“Oh come on Spyke,” Yuu wheedled. “It’s not like I’m asking for anything permanent, we just need a fourth for one turf war caturday. You don’t have to do much, really, us three have got this down, you just need to--”

“Look, mate, I have wot ya might call some serias ob'gations these days.” The urchin glanced at her with a green eye. “And unlike some people, wot can dis'pear weeks on end and turn up right dandy, my ob'gations are the kind that can atch’ly end up tangled if not kept up day to day.”

“You’re just sitting here typing on a laptop,” Yuu said flatly.

“I am in the middle of org'n'zing a very important bis'ness transaction ‘tween the people wot have money and the people wot have gear.”

“But anybody can do that, right? I mean, it’s not like it’s illegal to go into a shop and buy things.”

Spyke gave Yuu a flat look. “Ya really don’t know wot I even do, do ya mate?”

“Okay, seriously,” Anh said flatly, “how the heck do you two know each other?”

“Spyke and I go waaaaaaay back. He was one of my first friends in the city you know. We swapped a couple favors, traded a few stories... hey Spyke, you remember what happened during the Pokemon Splatfest? You know, when that one jelly--”

“The one wot got sloshed and started screaming ‘bout the floor?”

“Yeah, that guy! Man, that was... actually pretty terrible. But what I was talking about was how he knocked over that crate--”

“Aaaaah, yessss. And it sprang open--”

“--and all the springs went rolling--”

“--right as Marie and Callie had swapped their verses for the song, yes.” Spyke shook his head. “And Callie started singing out spring puns.”

“Yeah, that was great. Man,” Yuu chuckled, “I was standing right at the best spot, I got to see Marie’s expression through the whole thing. At first, it was like ‘What the?’ then she was like ‘okay, real funny Callie’ and then, this look of horror came on her face when she realized she’d have to follow that up in less than a minute.” She smiled. “Man, I wish I’d snapped a pic of that.”

“What are they talking about?” Agent 8 murmured to Anh.

“Something that happened before my time,” Anh grumbled. “Look, you’re old friends, I get it. And I’m... actually kind of surprised at that, because... I mean, I get how you and the Squid Sisters got to know each other--”

“Wait.” Spyke gave Yuu a look. “Ya know the Squid Sisters, mate?”

“I, uh... did their grandpa a favor this one time... a lot of favors, really. And we sort of met up and chatted. We’re friends, yeah. Well, kind of, their lives got in the way, but... we talk sometimes.”

“Aaaaah. ‘Friends’ she says.”

Yuu sighed. “Alright, fine, don’t believe me. Seriously though... are you sure you’re not available for--?”

“Yes, I’m not 'vail'ble for turf war, that is a completely 'diculas idea.”

“Fine, fine, we’ll get out of your spines. Yeesh. Come on, guys.”

The other two followed her out of the cafe. Anh glanced back. “Seriously, though, was that your plan? Get the famous Spyke to play turf with us?”

“That was the backup plan. My first plan was to get Ostap to join up, but I haven’t got a text back. Probably in another Geek-Out Lockdown or whatever.”

“Ah.” Anh crossed her arms. “So tell me, do you have a plan C?”

“I will!” Yuu assured her. “I will, just give me a moment.”

“You have no idea what you’re doing, do you?”

The yellow inkling glowered at her. “So I’m flexible. Not everybody needs every little detail planned out for them, you know.”

“Having some idea of what to do is usually better than just rushing in and getting splatted,” Agent 8 noted.

“Look, I’m the one that got us all into this, and I’m the one who has experience with the whole... team making... thing. So I’ll just figure this out, okay? Unless either of you knows somebody.”

Agent 8 rolled her eyes. “I do not.”

“Yeah, I was always a rando picker...” Anh frowned for a moment. “Although... actually, hold on. I might have an idea.”

Yuu tilted her head. “Really? This I’ve got to see. Lead the way.”

Yuu jumped when they entered the shop, glancing around wildly before, awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head as she noticed the bell above the door. Before either of the other two could so much as quirk an eyebrow, though, a warm voice warbled from the sea slug woman resting on the rug.

“Ah, hello again my little inkfish! And to you as well...” She peered at Yuu and agent 8. “Oh, my. You poor dears... Craymond, can you get the mullein and the amaranthus essences?”

“YES I CAN AND I AM GOING TO I WILL BE RIGHT BACK!” Something pale and spindly jumped from her head, rushing into the back chamber.

“Come on, then, come in my little inkfish.” The woman waved a hand at a small smattering of pillows. “You are perfectly safe here, I promise.”

“Uh... thanks?” Anh glanced at the other two, who seemed just as confused as she was, before shrugging it off and walking over to the cushions. “So... hey Flow, I don’t mean to bug you while you’re at work, but um... Have you ever, uh, played turf war or anything like that...?”

“Have I ever... Oh, my little inkfish!” The sea slug tittered, languidly slipping behind a small table with a pair of ottomans. “That takes me back... I used to play street turf all the time.”

“Wait, really?” Yuu gestured at her. “But you’re so... uh...”

Flow gave her a wry smile. “So...?”

“...sooooooooooo, uh... Yeah, I’m just going to say it, you look like a hippie flower child.”

“Yuu!” Anh snapped.

Flow gave her a wry smile. “Well, you wouldn’t be wrong.” She reached down and produced a long metal tube, a boxy canister mounted in the middle and matched on one end by a thick handle with a metal and hose attached. “Of course, just because I’m one thing doesn’t mean I’m only that.”

Yuu nodded. “Alright, fair enough. What, is that an E-liter?”

“Not just an E-liter, my little inkfish. This is a Krillshot.”

Anh shot up. “What? You have a Krillshot?”

“Mmm, yes. She’s the... thirty-seventh one made, I think.”

“Oh wow, that’s...” The girl approached reverently, her eyes roving over the weapon. “That’s incredible...” She reached out--and stopped, flinching her hand back. “I’m sorry, I--”

Flow chuckled indulgently, extending her arms. “It’s alright. You can hold her.”

“I... oh... wow.” Anh took a delicate grip of the gun, making sure she held it firmly before she lifted it from the sea slug’s grasp. “I’m just... wow. Where... where did you even get her...?”

“I’m a lit-tle bit older than I look,” Flow admitted wryly. “I played street turf back before there was even a league, you know. Used to crawl up to the highest perch I could find and rain down burst bombs on our unsuspecting foes. And, well, when I heard somebody was making a long-range weapon, I went right to the shop and asked for one.” Her eyes grew distant. “That designer was one handsome squid... his tentacles flowed like rivers--”

“I’m sorry, I get this is a cool gun and all,” Yuu interjected, “but... why are we treating it like a holy relic?”

“This... this is an E-liter Krillshot,” Anh managed, staring at Yuu in shock. “This is, literally, the first charger ever made for street turf. For nonviolent turf war. I mean, the Krillshot lawsuit is what convinced the league to open the doors for custom weapons. I am...” Her eyes roved across the barrel. “I’m holding a piece of history here.”

“She’s a great performer,” Flow added. “I can splat somebody at thirty-five feet with her.”

Anh’s beak dropped open in shock. “What? But even the 4k scope only goes to twenty-eight!”

“Regulations,” Flow explained simply. “This girl predates the league by a nice, oh.... five weeks?”

“OLDIE BUT A GOODIE!” proclaimed the pale thing scuttling in from the back room.

“There you are, Craymond!” The sea slug held out her arm, taking the small bowls of ground petals as he crawled up onto her head.

“Sooooo....” Yuu smiled. “What would you say to, I don’t know, joining us three for a casual game of turf war on caturday?”

“Oh, sorry dear. I’ve got a business to run these days.” Flow took the bowls, opened the lids, and pressed them together, shaking their contents. “Can’t leave the shop during business hours and, unfortunately enough, that puts me out of the running for the turf these days. But I can give you this.”

She put the lids back on the bowls and held them out, one to Yuu and one to agent 8. Both took them, somewhat hesitantly.

“...so, um...”

“Essence. You put it over a candle and let the smell fill your room. Don’t try to burn it directly though,” Flow admonished, “keep it in the bowl. There’s a shop that sells little cradles in the Reef if you need them.”

“Ah.” Yuu nodded vaguely. “Okay then.”

“IT’S VERY RELAXING!” Craymond shouted.

“...sure thing lil’ guy.” Yuu put her bowl in her pocket. “Me and Hai there will... totally do that sometime. Yeah.”

“And if you ever want to talk about anything, my little inkfish, my doors are always open.”

“Riiiiiiight.” Yuu glanced at Anh. “So... should we get moving?”

“Huh? Oh!” Anh handed the gun back to Flow. “Right. Right, sorry, we’ve got to... Really sorry, didn’t mean to be a bother--”

“It’s alright, little inkfish, it’s a slow day. Just...” Flow glanced at the other two. “Look after them, will you?”

“Uh... sure thing.” Anh nodded, walking toward the door. “Good seeing you again!”

The three of them stepped out into Inkopolis Square. Yuu threw up her hands. “Well, that was a bust.”

“I mean... I heard she used to play, but I didn’t know she had a Krillshot.”

“We still need a fourth. And unless 8 here has some mysterious blot friend up her sleeve, that means we might have to scrounge for a rando.”

Agent 8 rolled her eyes. Then, for a moment, she paused.

“....Actually...”

"Of course I’ll join on!”

“Absolutely not!”

“What?” The squid turned to look at the objector. “Why not, girl? I’m as good as any of you young’ns, and it’s just a game anyway.”

“A game based on the war you fought more than a century ago!”

“Marie’s right, gramps.” A black-tentacled inkling put her hand on her hip with a flat look. “If you start getting war flashbacks in the middle of a game, things could get bad, fast. Also, let’s be honest: You’re old. Ancient. You have literally lived through history and shaped it a bit.”

“What Callie is saying is that you are in no state to exert yourself, gramps. I mean... look at you.” The grey-tentacled inkling gestured at him. “You’ve got scalloping on your face.”

“Listen, young ladies, I might be old, I’m a lot tougher than I look. I can take a full blast to the face without getting splatted, and soldiers of the Squidbeak Splatoon never let each other down.”

Marie crossed her arms, scowling down at the old inkling. “The answer is still no, gramps.”

“Hrmph.” The old squid leaned on his bamboozler as he shambled toward the hut. “You two never let me have any fun.”

“....So, that was captain Cuttlefish,” Yuu deadpanned. “Great idea, 8, I’m so impressed.”

“You asked if I knew anyone. I know him. And you and Anh... and Pearl and Marina, and that’s pretty much it.”

“This is not what I had in mind when I suggested a Squidbeak Splatoon gettogether,” Callie muttered.

“I didn’t plan for this either,” Anh pointed out. “Heck, this whole thing is Yuu’s crazy idea.”

“Hey, I just thought we could show off our skills in a socially acceptable way. I mean... come on. You’ve saved Inkopolis, I’ve saved Inkopolis, 8′s saved Inkopolis, and apparently, nobody cares? That’s just... wrong.”

“I didn’t save the city to get accolades,” Anh said flatly.

“I didn’t either! It’s just...” Yuu sighed. “That’s... besides the point. I don’t know, I just...”

“You decided to take up this challenge for your own ego, is that it?”

“If it were just for my own ego I wouldn’t have brought the two of you in!”

“Alright, enough!” Marie stepped between the inklings. “This was supposed to be a casual, friendly meetup. Just friends, relaxing. No need to get competitive about this.”

“Mmmm,” Callie mused, “I could bring up any number of splatfests...”

Marie rolled her eyes. “Takes one to know one. And besides, that was all for show.”

“Was it though?” Callie teased.

“...it was mostly for show,” Marie allowed. “My point is... we’re all friends.”

Yuu and Anh crossed their arms with a simultaneous huff, pointedly not looking at each other. Agent 8 gave Marie a flat, unamused look.

“...We’re all friends,” she repeated firmly. “Or we should be, anyway. So let’s just learn to get along. Alright?”

“Fine, whatever.” Yuu slumped against a wall. “What about you two? Either of you up for caturday?”

Callie sighed. “I would be, except I... I’m still trying to get over the, uh, thing with Octavio. Get my tentacles back under me after, you know, vanishing for a bit. What about you, Marie?”

Marie shrugged helplessly. “I’m actually scheduled to record a new song then...”

“Right.” Yuu began counting off on her fingers. “Ostap, Spyke, Anh’s strange sea slug friend, the captain, you two... that’s six. Pearl and Marina make seven and eight, if they’re not busy... and they probably will be, with Inkopolis news and all. Sheldon... way too busy with the NILS statue. I guess there’s Annie if I can even get a hold of her... and if she even cares to play...”

She looked at her opened hands and sighed.

“We could cancel,” Anh pointed out. “It’s just a game, I’m sure your old friends would understand.”

Yuu dropped her hands, focusing on her shoes quietly.

Anh opened her mouth, paused, and shut it. She turned to the Squid Sisters with a helpless expression, gesturing at the other inkling.

“... soldiers of the Squidbeak Splatoon never let each other down,” Callie murmured.

Marie gave her a long look. Then she sighed, turning back to the others. “This is just a casual game? You need a fourth, that’s it?”

“That’s it,” agent 8 confirmed.

“I... might know somebody,” Marie admitted. “A lot of free time on his tentacles, these days. Probably would love a chance to show off, but...”

She paused.

“...Just... how desperate are you?”

[aros001]

First time read through light novel vol. 11. Random thoughts.

I'm trying to think if there's been any noticeable pattern to what gets set as a Save Point for Subaru's Return By Death and thus maybe figure out if there's anything specifically that sets it off.

The first was after he met the sour faced fruit merchant, whom I believe was the first person he interacted with after being summoned to a new world

The second was in the mansion after he met Beatrice but before he met Rem and Ram.

Third was in the middle of the market with Rem, after he and Emilia had split ways (and I think after he and Crusch had their talk over drinks the prior night?)

Fourth was after the defeat of the White Whale, after the injured left and reinforcements arrived

Fifth was at Rem's bedside after she fell into a coma

And now, the sixth time, it's inside Echidna's tomb, after he passed the first of the three trials but Emilia has yet to.

I suppose it's certainly possible there were other events that got set as Save Points that we never got to see because Subaru didn't die until he'd set a new Save Point that overwrote it. The only real solid clue we have is what Echidna says:

“What it seeks is that your fate is not held captive to a dead end. The Authority is a means to that end and thinks nothing of the harm to anyone beyond you. Employing this power to save others is strictly your own doing, your own desire... The Witch of Envy has nothing to do with it.”

So perhaps the save points are set where and when Subaru would have the best chance of overcoming the obstacle that kills him, or more specifically the general event that does, since he's been killed in different ways and yet still returned to the same starting point. That would explain why we've yet to have a save point set while he's been travelling and thus would be unlikely to be able to change anything.

“Emilia-tan, it’s okay. When you send trouble my way, it’s not a bother. Helping you is what I want to do. More importantly, you didn’t hit anything when you fell down, right? If you did, I can give it a really gentle rub.”

“Mm. Seems like I hit my butt a bit when I went down. It feels a little numb...”

If I didn't know Emilia then that would have been a great attempt at flirting by her.

Well, I see why people like Otto so much now and way people were a bit sore on his parts in season 1 being cut short. Subaru could use all the friends he can get and Otto's a genuinely good and brave guy, going in to save Subaru like that even with Garfiel looking him.

“Hmm, you’re a pretty useful guy. I seriously don’t understand why you come off like such a flake.”

“Could you decide whether you want to praise me or insult me, and just pick one?!”

“Why are you such a flake? That’s, like, an incredible, unspeakable flaw for someone?”

“Why did you pick insults?!”

Especially when Subaru talks to Otto sometimes I feel like I can really see the big sister influence of Ram on him. He's starting to take after her well-meaning bullying.

Weird random thought, but given that Otto's blessing lets him "communicate" with all living creatures and help him achieve a mutual understanding with them, does that mean he could have potentially communicated with or at least understood the White Whale? Don't get me wrong, it wouldn't have helped him survive the encounter, but I am curious.

“ Barusu.”

“......What is it?”

“Could you...leave us alone for a little while?”

“—Sure.”

It was neither an order nor a demand from Ram. It was a simple request.

What does it say about how paranoid this series has made me that I was immediately worried Ram wanted to be alone with Rem so that she could kill her under orders from Roswaal or something like that? And given that we never see Rem after that, that insane theory still very well could be the case. Beatrice simply says that Subaru's reason for wanting to go back to that room is no more, implying Rem is dead, but she never specifically says that Elsa killed her. It just feels like another bit of suffering the series would toss on him like a wet mattress.

But regardless, definitely a tug at the heartstrings with the two sisters meeting again and us seeing even more how Ram has no memories of Rem, especially when she offers the idea of sacrificing Rem to Elsa "for Master Roswaal's sake", claiming it's what Rem herself would have said. After having such a breakdown after Rem died in one of the mansion arcs, it's rough to think that this is the same Ram, but it does make sense and isn't contrived. She doesn't know who Rem is anymore so it's not out of character. Though she might still have some instincts and deeply ingrained feelings that the archbishop of gluttony couldn't completely remove, given certain lines she says.

“...It would seem that your skill at making tea has not improved in my absence.”

“My, even though pouring tea is my specialty. What an uncharming girl you are.”

“I do not need to be charming. Ram is plenty cute enough. Any more so and the world would be imperiled.”

“Truly, your tongue is as sharp as ever! Goodness...how very like you.”

Ah, I love a good back and forth bitch v. bitch dialogue. Seriously, like I said in my previous posts, I never disliked Ram in the anime but I definitely have gotten way more attached to her through these books. She is easily the funniest character thus far in the series and her bullying yet caring sisterly relationship with Subaru is very enjoyable.

I'm looking forward to (and hoping for) a lot more Beatrice scenes in the next volume. Stuff between her and Subaru is always great and it'll be nice to know exactly what her deal is.Especially as I remembered what Subaru had forgotten Roswaal had said to say to her, though obviously given the situation I can't blame him much for not thinking clearly. It was about to be the man's third time committing suicide and second time doing it in front of poor Beatrice.

You know, just when I'm wondering how Subaru's various lives and deaths can get any worse, he then watches a bunch of people he cares about whom are trying to protect him get slaughtered by a giant man-tiger, only for him to be later eaten alive by a f**king rabbit. I am going to reference that plot-point out of context sooooooooooo many times when talking to people about Re:Zero whom haven't seen it yet.

That was why Subaru thrust his hands onto the table, drawing near enough to the Witch’s face he could feel her breath, and made a firm declaration.

“If you need compensation, I’ll pay anything else. In return—”

Subaru, buddy, that is a bad thing to say to magical deal makers. You NEVER want to tell the other party they can have whatever they want without first confirming what specifically that is.

I cannot tell you how happy I was for Subaru that he was able to tell Echidna about RBD with (seemingly) no penalty. It's a very mature thing for the story to know that the thing Subaru needed and wanted more than anything was just someone to talk to about all the horrors he's been through, which is something not even Rem could offer him, though she and Emilia no doubt wanted to.

“I am sure that you, too, understood long ago. The power to rewind death... No, the power to deny you the peace of death, could only come from Envy.”

Also now pretty much exact confirmation that Satella is behind Subaru's RBD, though it is still technically speculation, even if it's coming from another witch. Though I am curious what Echidna means that such power could only come from envy. Given envy generally refers to feelings of discontent over what others possesses, I wonder if that means Satella can't die and thus won't let Subaru die either. Or if we're going with envy = jealousy, as is a pretty common mistake, that maybe a permanent death would take Subaru away from Satella and thus that's why she won't let him stay dead.

“Daphne cannot move freely, so Daphne made the Centipede Coffiiiin for thaaat. It moves from Daphne’s sweat and pee, very convenient, yeees?”

What is with these witches and their bodily fluids?!

“—? The bigger a creature is, the more people it can feed, riiight?”

“—Uh, wha?”

The thoroughly mystified look on Daphne’s face brought Subaru’s forceful, sharp recriminations to a halt. When, as her demeanor rendered his vigor fruitless, he murmured, Daphne inclined her head even farther as she said,

“The White Whale, it’s big, right? A lot of people could be satisfied from eating it.”

“What are you...”

“The Great Rabbit, weeell...they just multiply more and mooore. As long as it’s around, no one will go hungryyy. Isn’t that wooonderful?”

Hey, neat, I was right! ...Sort of. In my last post I theorized about how Daphne maybe created the three beasts to save the world from hunger and one of my guesses was to have them serve as food for others, though admittedly I thought that was less likely as even just the White Whale was way too strong to be hunted and eaten. The other theory was that she created the beasts to cull the world's population to more manageable numbers and thus less people would starve, which I don't think is the main point behind her animal logic survival of the fittest.

I'm going to be waiting for the other shoe to drop with Minerva whenever she next appears, because while she's a bit odd, especially with the whole "healing punches" thing, she doesn't have the same twisted feel to her as the rest of the witches. Typhon definitely, this sweet and innocent 10 year old ripping Subaru's arm off because it's how she can see if he's a bad guy or not and then breaking his knees to see if he has a guilty conscious. And Daphne, with her scarily basic views of hunger and eat or be eaten. All the witches have this subtle air of EXTREME danger behind them. Minera seems like she can be dangerous too but in a more obvious way, while with, say, Echidna, despite helping out Subaru so much it still feels like a really bad idea for him to let down his guard around her. It's like, the others feel like they come from horror stories while Minerva, like Subaru said, just feels like your typically tsundere from an action/comedy series.

And again, I love how this series handles the stuff surrounding the witches. It doesn't just feel like magic that does bad stuff, it feels like DARK magic. It's unnatural, like something that should not exist even in a world that has other magics in it. It's the difference between fantasy and supernatural. The rabbit(s) Daphne created. Omnivorous to the extreme and can self-multiply indefinitely. They eat everything, including themselves. It's messed up. It doesn't feel right.

“—I love you.”

Thus did the shadow whisper, infused with hot, passionate affection, enough to set the entire world aflame.

OHHHHHHHHHHH F**K.

That was such a good ending. Obviously I haven't read the next volume yet, so I could be wrong, but I'm assuming the implication here is that this was the penalty for Subaru talking about RBD so much with Echidna. He only thought there was no penalty because his soul was unaware of anything that was going on in the world outside the dream castle. If Satella was squeezing his heart he probably wouldn't have felt a thing, thus he had no warning it was still in effect. Given even just trying to say he can return by death causes the witch's scent to flare up to the point of monsters swarming to attack him, I can see how having a long chat about everything he's been through because of RBD would cause enough shadows to practically consume the sanctuary. Especially if one of the two theories I have is true, that either Satella likes it when Subaru acknowledges her and her "gift" to him and thus it's what draws her in closer, or Satella hates when Subaru tries to tell others about this thing that's just between them and thus the punishments.

Original Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Re_Zero/comments/hkbuss/novels_first_time_read_through_light_novel_vol_11/

[anthcnypascal-blog]

sooooooooooo hi! i’m caitlin or cait (yes two. hai). cst. i’m 24 and have no triggers as well as no real social life! i have a lot of titles like baker, prep cook, photographer’s assistant, and the magicians roadie(fun fact; I WAS ALMOST LEFT AT A GAS STATION BY A MAGICIAN AND A CLOWN). i have bright hair that i’m getting ready to change, tattoos, an industrial piercing, and just a pastel goth bean aesthetic going on. i’m also listening to the star wars movie soundtrack and i have a need to see last jedi again. i don’t ever get enough sleep and i once met a table with the side of my face. i’m just rambling now so let’s move on to this fine gentleman ~~~~~ the gif gives me life to be honest.

anthony pascal. actor. 38. doesn’t understand daddy. thinks he should’ve been sexiest man of the year. recently divorced. knows how to make a mean cup of tea. is the messiest person at sunrise tower. claims to have been in the same room as betty white.

on to the real stuff.

anthony or tony(only if you know him well enough) is first generation american. born in new york city his family moved to dallas, texas when he was three months old. always knew he wanted to be an actor. he was a theatre rat and still is, he will drop EVERYTHING to go see a play. moved to los angeles pretty much right after accepting his high school diploma. he got his start nineteen years ago on a hit crime show in a two episode story arc where he played the main teen suspect. the role opened several doors for him and while most of it was on t.v. he broke on to the silver screen when he was tweny-five. he met a model name teagan(fite me) and married her at twenty-eight and was cast as the leading man in a spy franchise at thirty(the fourth and rumored final installment of said franchise is set to release in february 2018 not yet rated). he also pops up in various other roles every now again and might be hosting snl soon. after nine years of marriage the pascal’s hit a rough patch that just couldn’t be saved with counseling, and depending on who you talk to the reason for divorce ranges from infidelity to drug addiction(none are true anthony get’s upset if it’s brought up as well). the divorce was finalized seven ago and he moved to the tower the next month. they never had kids and there was no ill will to one another just broken hearts at the sad realization they just couldn’t make it work. 

so anthony likes live theatre, music(he has a record player and his prized record collection), drinking(no tiptoeing around that), movies, reading, and he’s started to fancy himself an art guy now.

i’m literally the worst when it comes to throwing ideas out there about plots and i’m also literally just the worst. all i do is continuously scream or capslock at EVERYTHING. i’m going to go read all the other intros because yes. bye. also i’m sorry about the blog i’m still trying to figure out what the hell i want to do with it.

[floggingink]

Riverdale: Chapter One, The River’s Edge

the “WELCOME TO Riverdale / THE TOWN WITH PEP!” sign is so beautifully sad and simultaneously saturated and grimy, like high school

the cinematography of the Blossoms’ Fourth of July date is like……astounding……the tracking, the close-ups…..the vintage muscle car driving through the wet forest…..the perfect coil hidden in Cheryl’s hair…..her gloriously inappropriate heels…..

I love the trope when the lady is stepping out of the car and the shot is framed of the ground with the car door opening from above and into the shot comes POP. the woman’s shoe. and it’s always a sexy, sexy heel.

WHY are Jason and Cheryl Blossom going out on Sweetwater River for an early morning boat ride, like he is Ryan Gosling and she is Rachel McAdams and there are geese? WHY is Cheryl dressed like she’s going to the Derby? WHY are they holding hands? WHY do their lips look exactly the same?

Dilton Doiley is canonically an “amazing” dancer: the red lenses of Dilton’s birdwatching binoculars are much appreciated, in keeping with the insertion of red into strange places

anytime a person in pastels says “I wish X burns in hell,” watch that person wearing pastels closely

I’ve seen Brick like thirty times: Jughead is very Brick-ly lit. I don’t think he’s seen sunlight all summer. I think he steps outside to walk over to crime scenes and the clouds just come and he turns blue.

@jugheadjonas

is the Jughead writing in the diner in the future, like his narration? I hope it’s just real-time Jughead, who tromped over through the woods towards the commotion with his nice camera and instinctively was like, This is going to be epic, and went straight to his booth and opened a Doc.

GOD BLESS THAT BEANIE HE’S WEARING IT

it’s called a whoopie cap. I love Jughead Jones.

“new mystery” Veronica Lodge rolls her window down to look up at the apartment building and then….opens the door. you don’t need to roll down the window, just open the door, you have to go in anyway, my sweet. points for her quick teensy smile before following her mother in

it’s so we could see her eyebrows better, okay. everyone’s eyebrows are incredible, but Camila Mendes’ eyebrows are especially good

Betty’s little pink lacy bra is sooooooooooo sweeeeeeeeeet. she also has a lovely white antler necklace-holder on her lovely white vanity table

KJ Apa’s abs, check

Betty organized a book release party at her internship for Toni Morrison, her literary hero. Betty had an internship after her freshman year of high school where she organized a book release party for Toni Morrison, who is her literary hero. Betty could gut me with her white antler necklace-holder and I’d just be like, “Thank you for organizing a book release party for Toni Morrison, your literary hero”

the look on Archie’s face while he watches Betty talk about doing something that made her so happy, how easily he nods along with her, he’s sat at this diner many a night before listening to her talk about her literary hero (Toni Morrison)

“They weren’t poems. They were song lyrics” …..oh, Archie.

“Are you going to have Ms. Grundy tutor you?” Archie looks to the side. “Uh, I dunno…”

“You’re the only person I’m telling”

Betty is legit drinking a strawberry milkshake BETTY

Best costume bit: Veronica’s cape

Archie has no idea what In Cold Blood is about but he knows Veronica just made a wicked reference so he laughs. Betty has read all of Truman Capote’s work and read Too Brief a Treat and knows he was the inspiration for Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird, which she has also read, despite none of them being written by her literary hero, Toni Morrison

let me be clear on this: KJ Apa in a white Henley

Certified pedigree: Luke Perry of 1990’s 90210 as Fred Andrews, with a respectably manicured beard

Mädchen Amick, MÄDCHEN AMICK: “And stay. Focused.”

Betty has lots of little deer things around her room! and her lamps are long-stemmed tulips? Betty is a princess.

Betty takes Adderall.

Archie’s fifteen-year-old boy-handwriting is just as shitty as it should be

Reggie Mantle. “Bro. You taking some T? Ginseng?” REGGIE.

Veronica’s plaid first-day dress is not a dress but is in fact a matching skirt and blouse.

Fifth period is AP English: Veronica’s “the lost epilogue of Our Town” diss re: RHS, which Betty seems to quietly not appreciate. Josh Lyman also used an Our Town reference in a dig at the President for expecting Zoey and Charlie to “go out for malteds or something” on their first date. I might not be reading this play.

Sixth period is Intro to Film: Blue Jasmine is that Cate Blanchett movie where she’s broke that we didn’t watch because it’s by Woody Allen. Veronica makes a lot of references!

the 2001 Josie and the Pussycats movie was a masterpiece: Josie, Valerie, and Melody are not only wearing cat-ear headbands, but their hair has little puffs like cat ears

Josie is really, really done with people walking in on their rehearsals and she’s got a little speech planned for when it happens now, complete with hand gestures

the SHOT of VALERIE, BACKLIT, while Josie is educating Archie, her PROFILE, her CURLS, her little SMIRK, her little NOSE PIERCING, she too can gut me with Betty’s necklace-holder

she’s fantastic but again just inserting that shot of her watching and smiling while Josie off-screen is talking is like ingeniously cool

@kevinkeller

God bless Kevin for IMMEDIATELY “clarifying” the Betty-Archie situation instead of there being some stupid hijinks thing where Betty simmers next to a Veronica who can pretend not to notice her crush

God bless Veronica for IMMEDIATELY backing away from it and telling Betty to ask him out

Betty’s eyes are filled with tears of some sort while Cheryl is pontificating

What damn high school in America: would let Jughead sit with an open laptop at a school assembly?

Jughead is like physically uncomfortable with Cheryl saying she knows Jason wouldn’t want the school to spend the year mourning

Cheryl loves nothing in this episode so much as she loves speaking at a microphone to an audience. I think she killed Jason just so she could hold an assembly announcing at a microphone to the audience that he wouldn’t want the school to spend the year mourning

The female gaze: Archie walking home in “this heat,” using the tried-and-true all-American method of wiping your face off with your sweaty, dirt-tracked T-shirt

These students are legally children: …having said that, onscreen, the female in question gazing at him is his 30-something music teacher, sporting Lolita-worthy heart-shaped sunglasses (what a truly great beautifully-packaged pedophilic cinematic reference, no? ffffffffffff). the messy-teen-TV-show trope of student/teacher affairs is….complicated. they have very cathartic, very illegal sex in the back of her VW Bug

the title doesn’t come up until NOW. already there has been a murder and statutory rape.

did Miss Grundy give Archie leave to call her Geraldine or is that just his emotional trump card?

Fred’s “guy” is on paternity leave, which makes me feel good for whatever reason, I’m not going to unpack it

is Fred bitchy to tell Hermione he won’t hire her as an accountant because her name is too linked to her husband’s fraud? let us remember that Will Gardner hired Alicia Florrick as a lawyer despite her name being linked to her husband’s corruption

and prostitutes

the day after Archie told Betty he demoed his songs, he apparently felt confident enough to share them with Kevin. Kevin is also in the trust circle.

Kevin’s aggressively styled hair cracks me up.

Archie flees as Cheryl approaches

Lili Reinhart’s incredible, boiling “anddon’ttalkaboutArchie—” that gets cut off as Cheryl stops

Cheryl’s pins: the cherries!!!

“So? What are you three hens gossiping about? Archie’s Efron-esque emergence from the chrysalis of puberty?”

“Is being the gay best friend still a thing?”

Cheryl’s hair: Cheryl tucks her hair back around one shoulder while plugging herself as the cheertator

Cheryl’s non-assembly lip gloss is a nice dark neutral

Cheryl’s backpack

“too season-five-Betty-Draper” is a horrendous, phantasmagorical thing to say

were Miss Grundy’s sunglasses prescription? because she wears real glasses.

Gay?!: the kiss?! let me say this. I love it because Cheryl immediately calls it out, which promptly desexualizes it and makes it just a nice, slightly incongruous thing that happened between them. and the “just trust me” line must mean Veronica made a habit of kissing her girlfriends to get things.

You’re wearing lipstick? Right now?: Veronica’s red lip at the tryouts

“Thanks for asking.” Betty’s innate politeness in the face of her family’s monster is unbearably sad and lovely

Cheryl’s a psychopath: laying it out like a businesswoman to Betty’s potential friend that Polly is in a group home

Cheryl is literally sitting in a wooden armchair

Cheryl’s very interesting “Finally.”

Please protect Betty: her bloody palms

Veronica was rich: “Maybe I am that reckoning,” like she’s Selene

Summer + Blair = Veronica: “I’m ice.”

Archie wearing Jason’s number on varsity will surely only increase whatever animosity is between himself and Cheryl

Veronica “spoiled rich bitch ice princess” Lodge has been self-awarely self-absorbed but 95% the greatest friend ever, right away, and has not done a single bitchy thing yet

Fwoopy hair is the best hair: in an effort not to give every hair award to Jughead, I will force myself to branch out and recognize that particular kind of hair-fanning of a sweaty short cut’s bangs when you styled it this morning and it’s starting to uncoif and just float around as Archie’s pretty red hair after football practice does

Betty’s anxiety sabotaging her at the last moment and co-inviting Veronica to the semi-formal

Camila’s blinking when she says “What?” is Emmy-worthy

Veronica calling him Archikins, like she has in the comics for the past 100 years

did she have that blue headband on all day or was she just packing it in case she got a blue outfit later?

“What did you say to me?”

the ROCK on Hermione’s hand!

dads who call their sons “son” fatigue me

Betty’s pink dress with the little cutouts on the side!!!

God bless Moose: football star Moose Mason is shyly bisexual and has a huge dick.

he calls her Geraldine again

Cheryl’s sheaths: her dropped-strap red dress

Cheryl being confident enough (that microphone) to tell the world what song her parents were fucking to when she and Jason were conceived

I like a lot her saying “turtledoves” instead of “lovebirds”

Every triangle has three corners, every triangle has three sides: Seven minutes in heaven! Classic! The blue reflection of Archie’s phone in Veronica’s eyes! Archie’s Chucks! Veronica going for it in the privacy of the walk-in!

Reggie, thrilled Archie “nailed it”

“You shady bitch.”

Veronica is so good at seeing the big picture

WHOOP THERE’S THE DINER. Jughead did not even attempt to do the semi-formal.

Jughead eats: all Jughead visibly consumes in this episode is Pop’s coffee. is this even real? but on second viewing, I can almost see a Twin Peaks throwback to the first time Bobby Briggs is onscreen at the Double R Diner, dressed in a dark jacket with his dark hair swooshed back, drinking a cup of diner coffee served by Mädchen Amick.

Jughead doubts it: “…considering how he died? Probably not.”

@dailycwriverdale

this tiny exchange, Archie’s earnestness and Jughead’s smiley snideness, is like reeeeally good for me, how easily they can slip back into their old rhythm of best friends talking. comfort, riffing, KJ Apa doing these very sweet things with his brow and Cole Sprouse fidgeting around with his shoulders as he talks about the Aquaholics

…so it’s just like three lines, but Jughead was not in this episode very much

and Jughead knows at once what Archie is talking around, re: Jason “doing everything he wanted,” and gently goads him about becoming the popular varsity football god if that’s what Archie wants to talk about

I’m writing a scene where it’s gay.: “Would’ve gone a long way with me.”

I like that we’ve seen everyone’s houses: Veronica’s apartment, Archie’s suburban two-story with a porch, Cheryl’s mansion, Betty’s townhouse, the…diner.

Archie > Dawson: this is the FIRST EPISODE, where Archie is telling Betty no, not the fifth episode, where it would have been dragged out beyond endurance of him being too polite or scared to tell her he doesn’t feel the same way about her after saying “Uh yeah, sure” at the dance. TAKE NOTES.

however, Betty does not want another person telling her she’s perfect. perfection for her is exhausting. she just wants to eat and be a cheerleader

Gay.: “But if you were gay….what would you like to do?”

the Blossom corpse: Jason was NOT drowned but shot between the eyes, like Archie heard. Cheryl LIED to us, WITH her microphone.

“Damn good coffee”: oh lots and lots, the grungy “Welcome to Riverdale” sign with the two mountains in the background and the debilitatingly peppy font of PEP!; water corpses; plaid; people standing around by the water in nice clothes looking at the police bring up the body

“SOMEONE IS WATCHING, SOMEONE IS WATCHING”