#futuristic eagle

[babanoelshop]

(via "Cyber Hawk Majesty" Essential T-Shirt for Sale by mohamed Gamal)

[starblizzard247]

Headcannon

When a princess of Hyrule is born, their first name is automatically Zelda, however their middle name will be unique to them. When either a) they ascend the throne or b) there are no other living female members of the Hyrulean royal family, they will take on Zelda as their name. Otherwise they will be known by their middle name.

Some middle name headcannons (I haven’t figured out names for all of them yet):

Skyward Sword - Zelda Hyrule, since she’s the first

Ocarina of Time - Zelda Lyra Hyrule aka Sheik, since they use a lyre and bc OoT heavily features music

Wind Waker - Zelda Tetra Hyrule, nuff said (also I think her mom never got around to telling her her actual first name, which is why she doesn’t find out until in-game)

Spirit Tracks - Zelda Anima Hyrule, since “anima” means spirit in Latin (6 years of Latin coming in handy :D)

Twilight Princess - Zelda Tenebra Hyrule, since “tenebris” means darkness in Latin

Link Between Worlds - Zelda Hilda Hyrule, bc *parallels* (Hilda’s full name is Hilda Zelda Lorule coincidentally)

Hyrule Warriors - Zelda Atalanta Hyrule, after the Greek mythological figure Atalanta (because Atalanta has myths around running and in HW you run around maps a lot but also bc they’re both bad*ss)

Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom - Zelda Diantha Hyrule, since according to the Internet, “Diantha” means divine flower in Greek, which fits with her Silent Princess motif

Diantha’s Mother - Zelda Aquila Hyrule, since “aquila” means eagle in Latin, which is why she and Urbosa call Diantha “Little Bird”

10,000 years before Breath of the Wild - Zelda Mirae Hyrule, since “mirae” means future in Korean (bc obviously I’m gonna flaunt being bilingual from childhood), which goes with the futuristic Sheikah tech that originated from that time period (side note: I headcannon she’s Sonia’s granddaughter and she worked with the Sheikah to recreate Zonai tech after seeing malice beginning to leak out of dehydrated Ganondorf)

Sonia - Zelda Sonia Hyrule, self-explanatory (side note: I like to think that Hyrule fell into ruin sometime after the end of more traditional Zelda games and Sonia and Rauru reestablished the kingdom, and this new Hyrule is the one from BotW and TotK)

[visit-new-york]

Chrysler Building. A World of Art

Global Recognition: The Chrysler Building's fame extends well beyond New York City, earning it recognition and admiration on a global scale.

Architectural Dialogue: Architects and designers worldwide engage in a continuous dialogue with the Chrysler Building's design, drawing inspiration from its aesthetic richness.

Symbolic Birds: The majestic eagle gargoyles perched high on the Chrysler Building's crown, with wings outstretched, represent freedom and aspiration, a symbolic presence in the New York City skyline.

Futuristic Elements: The Art Deco design elements incorporated into the Chrysler Building were seen as futuristic during their time, reflecting the optimism and progress of the early 20th century.

Architectural Innovation: The Chrysler Building's setbacks and terraced crown represent a departure from traditional skyscraper design, embodying the spirit of innovation that defined the era.

Chrysler Building. Literary Legacy

Novel Inspirations: The Chrysler Building has often served as a backdrop in novels, becoming an integral part of the narratives and symbolizing the essence of New York City.

Film Fame: Its distinctive appearance has made the Chrysler Building a sought-after location for film and television productions, solidifying its role as an icon of popular culture.

Influential Design: The influence of the Chrysler Building's Art Deco style can be seen in the design of numerous buildings worldwide, showing its enduring impact on architecture.

Fashion Statements: Art Deco, epitomized by the Chrysler Building, has left an indelible mark on fashion, with its geometric patterns and sleek lines inspiring clothing and accessories.

Cultural Beacon: Beyond its architectural marvel, the Chrysler Building is a beacon of innovation, aspiration, and creativity that embodies the spirit of New York City's enduring cultural significance.

Chrysler Building. Preserving History

Ongoing Care: Diligent preservationists continue to protect the Chrysler Building's exquisite details and structural integrity, ensuring its heritage remains intact.

Art Deco Resurgence: The resurgence of interest in Art Deco design has brought renewed attention to the Chrysler Building's architectural significance, prompting preservation efforts.

Sustainability Commitment: Modernization initiatives have also included sustainability efforts, enhancing the building's energy efficiency and environmental impact.

Accessible Beauty: While primarily a commercial office building, the Chrysler Building's lobby remains accessible to the public, offering a glimpse into its Art Deco grandeur.

A Living Heritage: The Chrysler Building's legacy is not static but continues to evolve, adapting to changing needs while preserving the timeless essence of its design.

Chrysler Building. A Guiding Light

Beacon of Hope: The illuminated crown of the Chrysler Building stands as a symbol of hope and unity, often bathed in special colors to commemorate significant events or causes.

Cultural Connection: Its presence in the New York City skyline creates a cultural connection, a shared symbol that binds residents and visitors in a collective appreciation.

Historical Resilience: The Chrysler Building has weathered the tests of time, remaining steadfast through historical events and shifts in cultural preferences.

Artistic Expression: Countless artists have paid homage to the Chrysler Building in various forms of art, capturing its beauty and significance across generations.

Promise of Tomorrow: As the sun sets behind the Chrysler Building, its illuminated crown serves as a guiding light, reminding us that even in challenging times, a brighter future awaits on the horizon.

The Chrysler Building, with its enduring elegance and architectural marvel, continues to ignite the imagination and inspire. Its legacy transcends its steel and concrete structure, serving as a testament to human creativity, determination, and the indomitable spirit of New York City. In its gleaming spire and Art Deco opulence, we discover not just a building but a symbol of aspiration, a beacon of possibility, and a tribute to the heights that can be achieved through visionary ambition and unwavering dedication.

Previous page Chrysler Building Next page

[freak-phone]

made some quick introduction bios for my current favorite animals, my dnd guys. text transcript under the readmore! 

(^  art by @triptrippy​ hee hee)

Valdés

35

he/him

wizard (school of divination) & storm genasi

time period - late 1960s

formerly a human government researcher, currently a house player for a mob-run casino after a freak incident & drastic self-reinvention. obsessed with luck to counteract the curse he's been stricken with.

sensitive and friendly, but often tactless without meaning to be. neurotic and reactive.

Melvin

30

he/him

healer build rogue, half-elf

time period - victorian

an odd medical salesman and back-alley doctor and surgeon. has a bad reputation and is known as a last resort for people with no other options, but does clearly have a genuine (if macabre) interest in medicine.

calm, cheerful and polite, but unsettling. kind, but not warm.

Opal

20s

he & they are fine but doesn't really care

rogue, half-alien

time period - futuristic

formerly a gig worker from a dystopian hyper-capitalist future. lived most of his life without looking up from the rat race of trying to make ends meet, but was recently freed by developing space-travelling alien powers and newfound self confidence.

very skittish and not very smart or worldly, but earnest and determined.

Kalibri

23

he/him

bard, triton

time period - 1980s

a musician with severe self image issues. to escape the expectations of his stifled life as a politician's son and avoid an unwanted arranged marriage, he faked his own death and adopted a new life disguised as a human pursuing a music career. surprisingly driven, if a bit tunnel-visioned.

moody, catty, and a little self-centered. typical wannabe rockstar attitude.

Ragni

47

he/him

ranger, windwaker rito (bateleur eagle)

time period -   i dont know. legend of zelda

a disgraced rito exiled from their society. past transgressions have earned him a sort of boogeyman reputation that he seems to mostly embrace. currently a reclusive huntsman, being brought out of hiding by a calling from Hylia herself. also, the father of the current gerudo prince.

blunt and stubborn. doesn't care much what others think of him, but trying to learn patience and personability. yes he has a face but he hasn't taken his mask off yet :-]

[panvolkkaraczewski]

Journey through time and space in new sci-fi music video where  Prussian-inspired aesthetics meet futuristic soundscapes as gleaming industrial structures echo the grand architecture of old Berlin. Watch as our protagonists navigate a world where imperial eagles soar over neon-lit cityscapes.

Fun fact: The Kingdom of Prussia was a pioneer in compulsory education, introducing one of the world's first mandatory schooling systems in 1763. This focus on widespread education contributed to Prussia's rise as a European power in the 18th and 19th centuries.

[ceiling-karasu]

Watched Black Cat Detective and started thinking about Squirrel and Hedgehog as well.

It's been a few days so I have lots of thoughts and rambling. I'll start off by saying that since the main villain of Black Cat Detective is named the 'one eared mouse,' and we already have one of those in this fandom, I'll be calling him Lǎobǎn (no idea if there is already a fan nickname for this guy).

Putting these two together in a room would be fun, but I think Oegwipali is way smarter, to be honest, especially since he is a trained soldier. I'm not sure they would get along.

I would not do a Squirrel and Hedgehog and Black Cat Detective crossover in The Rod That Blocks the Lightning, though, since on is a North Korean cartoon and the other is strictly Chinese. I would be interested in doing a cross over in another, less serious, AU, though, since it is pretty similar with the violence and some other themes.

I watched the original series, then the reboot, and then the movie. Animation wise it does have that 'these kinds of thing happen in the first few episodes' issues, but it is only five episodes so they don't get ironed out. Still entertaining! It was pretty interesting, although I think the movie takes place in a different continuity. The series takes place in a forest with its own 'Forest Law,' and the movie is set in a massive futuristic city with space faring technology.

(I think the giant hairdrier is a leg section of what is a science museum of futuristic space vehicles).

It is about as violent as people say it is, especially for the time period and the fact that it was made for children. I thought it really could not be that bad, that the FH spike impalement scene was wild, but no, an eagle really does beat a bunch of children and eat one alive on screen. Said child is never seen again. The police even know what is going to happen.

Also, are the 'rats that eat cats' supposed to be vampires? Those are some wet slurping sounds, and then the talk of drinking blood later...

I really wish that had been expanded upon. It would make for a fun murder mystery AU.

Definitely a police propaganda cartoon, but maybe (maybe?) not as much racism as we previously thought. The cats in the first episode do not jump to the assumption that the mice stole all the food immediately, and actual detective work is shown throughout the series. I think I saw a mouse living in a village normally in a later episode, and the cats don't even blink an eye at her presence. But when they do figure out who committed the crimes, they do not hesitate to brutally beat the mice half to death and shoot limbs off, if not shoot them dead, with absolutely no mercy. They are overly enthusiastic in sprinting forwards with their batons to beat criminals unconscious in general. At one point there's a stun baton, and they deliberately use it in sensitive areas for extra effect.

Then again, later, a criminal elephant trying to murder a group of cops later is simply tranquilized, so make of that what you will. Although, honestly, the elephant is referred to as a citizen of the forest, and the mice are not. Which would actually rival Flower Hill's xenophobia on the matter, and they don't even have a war going on. Maybe. They have tanks in the forest in the reboot outro?

We noticed a weird issue with the clinking of shackles and chains on arrested prisoners being one of the loudest and crispest sounds in the audio.

There's also the fact that Black Cat will reveal to the public that a prisoner committed a terrible crime, but declare them innocent based on the fact that the crime was 'only in their nature' and they couldn't help it. Which is a very strange thing to say, feels weird, and also suggests that the mice trying to steal and kill everyone were making a choice which is why (according to whatever lesson is being taught here) they 'need' to be punished so brutally and killed without mercy (the elephant and company needed a mineral in the laterite bricks they were stealing, so they were 'only ' sentenced to heavy labor so to speak).

They start talking about using interpol to track down Lǎobǎn at one point.

Which means I think it would be pretty interesting if Lǎobǎn managed to escape to Flower Hill or something like that, and the cats were the Special Forces of the Rabbit Village police. Or the surviving mice could end up with the Weasel Unit and used a propaganda tools of 'this is why we hate Flower Hill, look what they did to your fellows' type thing.

Now as for the movie:

I'll be honest, there was no English release of the movie, so I watched it raw in Chinese while discussing it with rei-does-stuff and sah-headcanons. Maybe we can make a post of our live-blogging with each other later.

There's a Tumblr user named ernestelm who made a review on it, but it is one of those things where none of us would have bothered getting into Squirrel and Hedgehog if we listened without taking a look ourselves.

I'll have to rewatch the movie frame by frame with a deepl translator, but what I get is that a gorilla gets betrayed and floats off into space, and comes back with telekinesis and fireball magic he learned out there and wants revenge.

Either way, he needs some sort of special green star gravity device so he can kidnap people in a museum, and enlists the help of Lǎobǎn for some reason (in case he gets captured or because he might be a local?). Except a pig kid sees this all happening, and Black Cat realizes that this kid has seen too much, and takes him into police custody for his own safety. Amazingly, he tells the parents he has to take the kid with him, from what I can tell.

It makes sense that the police would have Black Cat take care of the kid, since he has apparently always had a way with children.

Side note: What is this character? We think it's a fennec fox? The ears don't look right enough to be a cat. I'm not even sure it's a living person, it might be a computer program. Black Cat sure does give commands into an electronic watch a lot.

ernestelm is completely right about the duck/goose, though. I watched one of the most entertaining animations I've ever seen with meteors damaging a prison complex for six minutes, and then got hit with THAT voice. Maybe he is actually useful, I don't know yet, I'll need the translator. Not one of the police officers hesitates to follow his orders and start a musical number, which turns out of be a legitimate distraction, which means the singing was police protocol intended to confuse a target. Everyone keeps forgetting he can fly at crucial moments?

And why do unimportant characters have a different animation style near the end?

(What is this? Why is it like this it looks like The Amazing World of Gumball?? Also reminds me of Pleasant Goat but these are not goats)

Black Cat Detective is just a slight bit expressionless as well. It would have been nice to see him actually in trouble or in distress like the original, instead of the calm to cocky attitude the whole time. Oh no, he's falling from very high up. Luckily the kid who hero worships the police enough to have studied their flying bikes, and whose father is a pilot, has been hanging around on said bike for just such an occasion. No peril at all.

The real question in the movie is this;

They just casually happen to have a containment unit for the gorilla? Are superpowers and magic just a thing in the Black Cat Detective movie universe, and common enough that they have protocols for this? So many questions.

The city, plus the casual power containment unit, reminds me of Loonatics Unleashed, honestly. Someone could easily make a crossover out of this.

Funny enough, the three of us found that this cat police officer looks a lot like Geumsaegi or Commander Darami.

There's always the idea that Black Cat Detective takes place in the same universe as Squirrel and Hedgehog. The amount of firepower these police officers have is far too much if they are not expecting a war to happen, even if they are referenced as a more elite unit. The implication is very interesting.

Now, if I get to writing the Clever Raccoon Dog PSA fun series, which I headcanon as taking place in Flower Hill because it might be canon (they are both SEK anyway), I would most definitely have the main characters visit and do a ride along with Black Cat Detective (preferably in the cartoon series universe. They are fine with criminals being beaten up, heck they do it themselves!) for a chapter or two. It sounds like it would be fun!

The other one would take place in the movie universe. Maybe a kind of Jimmy Olsen situation with a mouse reporter who keeps getting into trouble, and Black Cat or other people in the police force have to keep saving him. Although, we still have that pig kid who wants to be a police officer, if I understand correctly. It actually sounds better if I just used the pig child continuously getting into situations and needing to be rescued by the police, all the while trying to balance school into the equation. Maybe he becomes a young deputy.

[she-of-seidhr]

I have so many thoughts about The Rings of Power S2 SDCC trailer and some of the news that came out from the SDCC panel, but I am so unwell after watching it that I don't remember it all. Here's what I recall though:

The trailer is absolutely the best we've had of all their releases going back to S1. The difference is night and day. I like that this trailer has clear direction of what the general plot is going to be instead of just a bunch of clips that makes no sense whatsoever.

The Rhunic masks looked a bit futuristic to me. It reminded me of some background race in an MCU film, can't remember if it was in Thor 3 or Ant-Man 3, but yeah it looked a bit out of place and silly.

I really am quite puzzled at their insistence in dressing Gil-galad in gold hues when we have Pharazon and/or Sauron, or even the dwarves for that. I am hoping they are saving the silver and blues for the later seasons if we're not getting it now. That would look so striking since they went with the dark hair. Remember Thranduil's silk orange robe from The Hobbit? Now make it deep blue. Ah, a girl can dream.

I know this is a trailer so there's misdirection, but I wonder if that scene where Galadriel asks Elrond to promise he will not stop who I am assuming is Sauron is an indication that she's going to put up her sword (at least in S3 onwards) to do other things, bringing her closer to the Galadriel in the books in terms of character and also what we know she was doing during the Second Age. That will give Elrond and (as it should be honestly) Gil-galad the space to be the actual main protagonists along with the other prominent Second Age characters.

I wanted more of Cirdan instead of just a hand, and I got a different shot of his hand, this time going underwater. Exciting.

Entwives!!! I'm glad to see them featured, but I'm also terribly afraid they're going to show us how they were wiped out lost.

The Siege of Eregion looks fuckin' amazing. The shot of Sauron walking away with an explosion on the background? Sign me the fuck up.

Gil-galad's banners flying amidst the elven charge scene. Fuck me sideways.

Charlie Vickers was the best actor for me in S1, I have no doubts he will serve in S2. Owain Arthur, Charles Edwards, and Peter Mullan too.

I love Gil-galad to death but to be perfectly honest I kinda don't like how Benjamin Walker portrays him. That said, it definitely is also because of how he's being written. I imagine Gil-galad to still have warmth despite the burden of his position that has a 100% mortality rate.

Pharazon better not be fuckin' stabbin' that eagle.

Daniel Weyman's line delivery sounds so Ian McKellen, but I am still hoping he is a Blue Wizard. Then again, maybe he is just taking inspiration from the most iconic wizard portrayal we've ever had (that's not up for debate).

I know I said Robert Aramayo as Elrond is ok, but for some fuckin' reason I'm convinced that those curls is going to make him better in all aspects.

I love Elrond's hesitation about the Elven Rings because it deepens the mystery of just how much of everything we know so far has been by Sauron's design.

Really curious to see what Sam Hazeldine will bring to the Adar because he's got BIG shoes to fill. Joseph Mawle was born for that role. The subtleties and the quiet menace he brought to the Adar was just incredible.

Look, I like Tom Bombadil alright? But am I ever really hyped to see an adaptation of him onscreen? Not really.

Barrow-wights. Why, but yeah cool whatever.

I like that every ring has a different design and we're going to see all of them in their full glory.

Celeborn will show up, as he should. When and where, no idea but at least there's confirmation.

Glorfindel can show up. If I talk about this any more than I already have (although it's to my family members who don't give a single fuck about any of this), I would really start losing my shit.

Lloyd Owens who plays Elendil made some eyebrow-raising remarks in the SDCC panel in regards to Elendil and Miriel's relationship, so it has me worried about them going for a romantic route between the two. Theirs could be a story of friendship, loyalty, and steadfastness in the midst of all the unrest and danger, and it honestly cheapens the last scene they shared in S1, so I really hope they don't try any funny business with them.

Somebody did ask the showrunners if there's going to be LGBTQ+ representation which one of them answered along the lines of maybe we've already seen one. Is it really necessary? Is it really proper representation? Does it serve the story? There's so many additions to this series already that it's going to be one more thing that takes away from the lore characters who really should be the focus.

I know I'm still missing some shit, but yeah this list is long enough. Lots of good, maybe a little bad, but overall I feel good about this new season and I can genuinely say I'm excited again even after the meh that's S1. August 29 can't come soon enough!

[coff33andb00ks]

omg did you actually get into f1 because of insta reels bc i got into f1 because suddenly youtube shorts only showed me f1 meme videos im crying

YES I DID 😭😭😭

it was back in April? scrolling through minding my business and a reel of max playing with a kid (vladimir rys's daughter) popped up and a man being soft with a kid is my absolute kryptonite so of course I liked it (I was vaguely aware of his existence before due to the meme usage of the tutududu song) Then it was reel after reel of epic/funny moments (through goes Hamilton/just an inchident/iT's NeAr A fIsH/Skyfall edit/do you have pubes yet?/grosjean's wreck/hola todos-hello everyone *eagle screech wheezing*) and then the lando thirst edits hit and I watched some YouTube clips and was interested. So I decided to watch Miami??

And the cute guy with no pubes who hates fish won???

And here I am 🥹

it also hit at like the perfect time because I'd stepped away from a fandom due to growing toxicity and needed a new hyperfixation and honestly bless the algorithm for putting max verstappen in my reel lineup that day

EDIT: holy shit forgot to say that I absolutely fell in love with the racing aspect of it??? super fast futuristic cars going around and the tension when there's an overtake??? pure adrenaline 🤭

[all-action-all-picture]

1975 ad for Dinky Toys.

Model No. 739 - A6 M5 Zero Sen. More commonly known as the Zero. This particular model was introduced in 1943 as a placeholder until a more advanced model was ready. Delays with that led to it becoming the most common Zero variant used by the Japanese during the Second World War. Outclassed by the allied fighters by the end of the war.

Model No. 359 - Eagle Transporter from Gerry Anderson's Space 1999. Sort of a futuristic articulated lorry.

Model No. 662 - 88mm Gun (or Acht-Acht or the Eighty-Eight). Could be used as both anti-tank and anti-aircraft.

[shinobicyrus]

Old Bad Movies I Enjoyed Recently (And So Can You!)

TUFF TURF (1985) I am torn about Tuff Turf, because this short movie is confused in tone, bouncing between badly written romance, teen shenanigans like crashing the buffet tables of country clubs, rad rock concerts, and...oh... intimate partner violence and attempted murder. James Spader is a bicycle vigilante rocker who gets on the bad side of his new school's local bully/gang leader. Things do not improve when Spader also decides that he simply must charm said gang leader's girlfriend. What tension!

Honestly, the only reason this movie sticks with me is the presence of a young Robert Downey Jr, who is, I apologize to say, fucking hot. He plays the drums at a rock concert shirtless using handcuffs as belts for his leather pants. Look it up. Rather than the main romance, the more interesting chemistry is the friendship of RDJ's and Spader's characters (insert Ultron fanfic joke here), which borders on the intensely homoerotic. Really, Tuff Turf makes me yearn for a more interesting film that would have removed the "fighting over a girl" element of the story and just had RDJ and Spader as rad rocker/vigilante boyfriends partners.

IRON EAGLE (1986) This movie about fighter jets actually predates Top Gun by a few months - only instead of Tom Cruise and very heterosexual volleyball matches it's about a group of military brats living on a US Military base. The main character's dad is a pilot who was shot down over a non-specific (but definitely evil) Middle Eastern country, but since the mean adults don't want to do anything, it's up to the kids to steal an F-16 fighter jet and rescue him! This film is only the Purest 80s Reagan Americana where you get to see classic Teen Movie shenanigans evolve into "and then the main character committed war crimes."

A ridiculous, awful film. Did this movie change my life? Possibly.

AMERICA 3000 (1986) A strange, weird, absurd film set in the post apocalypse, where nuclear war has set humans back to the stone age and Amazon women rule over (mostly) intellectually inferior men. My friends and I couldn't decide whether the slang they invented and used copiously in this film was annoying or not. Hilariously, it being in the 80s, the dumbest thing about this whole film is that despite the tyrannical Amazons hating men and only reluctantly using them for breeding, this film also stubbornly refuses to acknowledge even a hint of the existence of homosexuality. Which is probably a blessing, to be honest.

I found it tolerably bizarre enough to watch. Once. Your results may vary.

HACKERS (1995) We now jump into the 90s, and have you heard of these new-fangled things called computers? Standing out as one of Angelie Jolie's earliest movies and a real breakout role for her (it's also where she meets her future ex-husband, Johnny Lee Miller - who most people on this site will recognize as Sherlock Holmes in Elementary). The movie is essentially about a group of high-school hackers with ridiculous handles who run afoul of a corporate conspiracy, are framed, and must dodge the Secret Service while trying to clear their names. But the plot doesn't really matter all that much. What makes this movie shine is the dialogue, the characters, the costumes, and the✨ vibes ✨. This movie is a cult classic for a reason, and the queer coding of all the hackers is undeniable to a modern audience.

It's not a good movie, but its imperfections are what make it so strange, hilarious, and unique. I felt the oddest sense of nostalgia watching this movie, despite the fact that the bizarre pseudo-futuristic world it depicts never actually existed. It made such an impression that I instantly acquired a physical copy of Hackers after my first viewing of it. Hack the Planet!

Space Truckers (1996) To round us off we have Dennis Hopper starring in this film with surprisingly good production values (for the time) failing utterly at everything it attempts to do. Ostensibly about down-to-earth (ha) blue collar space truckers just trying to make an honest living hauling goods across a solar system being increasingly corporatized and hostile to independent workers.

Throw in an evil corporation, space pirates, and a plot to overthrow earth's government with night-unstoppable killer robots, and you have all the elements for what could be a decent movie, but none of them really mesh and are soured by some pretty uncomfortable "romance" elements that have not aged well.

It's a movie that fails in so many ways, but it is at least interesting in its attempt. The people who made Space Truckers took a risk, and in this age of constant sequels and reboots even a failure like this feels...refreshing.

[dont-hug-me-its-yuri]

Im running into the stage banging the floor demanding to know about the band au as you speak /hj

reveal yourself band au anon, I wish to know who you are cause you’ve allowed me to ramble

I haven’t figure it all out so this is kinda just spitballing ideas lol

Warning long ass post holy moly

So the band au is kinda written like Clone high, I treat it like one of those really serious romance dramas, except the band au is more just relationship focused instead of strictly romance, also there’s a lot of drama

I’ve come up with four main bands at the moment :3

The Grim Reapers - an underground goth band with Coffin as the bassist and Tissue box as the (main) vocalist, they’re most well known for their songs being about pretty grim subject matter, though they’re probably the least popular out the four main bands

Electric Current - A pop-punk family band with Electracey on the electric guitar, Elevator Speaker on the Bass guitar, Laptop on Drums, and Colin on vocals, they have a very futuristic theme and are by far the most popular band out of the four

Malcolm’s Angels - a band started by Shrignold the head of a love “organization” to help spread the gospel of Malcolm, their music is mostly folk type music, with Unicorn on the harp, Frog boy on the flute, Rabbit boy on the mandolin, and Shrignold on guitar and vocals, the other members of the “organization” are also there, to they just aren’t part of the band, but some of them are on the marketing team

Fly To The Stars - i also refer to them as “the rejects”, an obviously space themed rock band, with Gilbert on guitar, Solar system on the keyboard, Magnet on bass guitar, and Lamp as the lead guitarist

there’s also other characters that aren’t in bands but are still pretty important to the main story like

sketchbook - A young college student, currently studying art, she’s a big fan of Electric Current with her favorite member being Electracey, she’s also roomies with Tony

Tony “Anthony” Clock - An older college student studying history, roomies with Sketch and also a small solo music artist in his spare time (hehe)

saxophone - A music artists who’s songs are usually canoe related, has gained a small cult following due to this

Warren W. Eagle - Local homeless person, usually spotted around dumpsters, can play a pretty mean keyboard solo though

there’s more important characters but I these are the ones I’ve currently planned out (Saxophone isn’t really important though, I just found the concept I had for him funny)

and finally, some miscellaneous facts that I can’t fit anywhere else in this incoherent ramble

The two main locations are Clayhill and Mullhoven, though Mullhoven in this au has become a bigger city, well Clayhill has kept its gated community status

The main three do have a minor role in this au, with them being know as the “weird” residents in town, some situation always seems to be happening to them wether that be their house burning down or finding their pillowcases full of ham

Electracey and Sketchbook are both college age with them both being 17

Laptop on the other hand is a highschooler, being 15 years old

All the characters are humanoids, they basically have human proportion’s but still have some of their weird puppet feaures

Lesley is Electric Current’s manager, though it’s not her only job according to her, she won’t tell much about herself, she likes the game of mystery

Electracey’s name in this au is just Tracey, Laptop’s is Lapis, and Elevator Speakers is Alexa

Colin, Laptop, and Electracey are all siblings, Colin being oldest, Tracey being middle, and Laptop being youngest, well Elevator Speaker is their cousin

Tissue box is fine with her and Coffins band being pretty unknown, but Coffin wish’s they could be as popular as some of the others, and he will do anything to make that happen

Laptop is a big fan of Hatsune Miku and and makes references to her in some of Electric Currents songs when it’s her turn to write one

uh that’s it for now :3 *disappears in a cloud of misty smoke*

[moltz23]

The Achilles Heel of Fodlan's Most Fantastic Weapon - Analysis & Theory.

As a mere concept, futuristic missiles showing up from nowhere in a medieval-western fantasy setting like Fire Emblem makes for some pretty neat spectacle. In Three Houses, though? This unfortunately comes with some questions left unanswered, forcing people (like me) to come up and find answers of our own. So after considering what 3H tells the player about these fantastic weapons, as well of our current world’s (known) weapon development, I think I might have finally stumbled across why, as cool and seemingly overpowered the “Javelins of Light” appear to be, are ultimately highly impractical pieces of tech which should honestly get whoever worked on them fired.

I feel I must stress however, that at the end of the day, no matter how much in-game evidence I used to back things up, a portion of this analysis should fall into the theory spectrum. Also, I’m not a weapon/missile expert by trade, so there’s that.

So without further ado, here’s the introduction to our topic at hand:

What are the “Javelins of Light”?

Live footage of the things in action.

In Three Houses’ Fódlan, the “Javelins of Light” are “those who slither in the dark” ‘s trump card; highly destructive yet suggested to be impractical (more on this later) missile-shaped objects that fall from the sky and explode upon impact.

Lore-wise, the Javelins of Light - or Pillars of Light, as the Agarthan that wrote Romance of the World’s Perdition (found in the DLC Shadow Library) calls them - are mentioned to have been built by the civilization of Agartha over 1000 years before the main story, for the purpose of killing Sothis. And in spite of all the destruction and death caused, they weren’t enough to do the job, forcing Agartha’s survivors to flee and hide as Sothis erased their civilization from the map. Many centuries later - after Nemesis’ defeat, but before the War of the Eagle and Lion -, “those who slither in the dark'' attempted to use the javelins to blow up the Holy Tomb, but were redirected thanks to a spell Sothis had placed in the area which disrupted their trajectory, blowing up Ailell instead and turning it into Fodlan’s equivalent of Lethal Lava Land.

Afterwards, TWSITD refrained from using them ever again… For a few more centuries at least.

in the Verdant Wind & Silver Snow routes, the trump card returns once the story mission that takes place in the Empire’s Fort Merceus is beaten, blowing up the fortification to smithereens just as Byleth’s faction luckily avoids the danger by chasing the Death Knight (who was all to aware of what would happen, luring the gang on purpose). After Edelgard’s death, Hubert reveals post-mortem that he detected the exact moment when the sorcery triggering the missiles was used, and somehow used that to find the Agarthans headquarters, which he discloses in a letter. And once Shambhala is invaded and Thales (TWSITD’s boss) is defeated, as a last resort, the dude summons multiple missiles to destroy his enemies, but fails due to Rhea literally tanking some them for Byleth and his crew, causing Thales to die from random debris, and Rhea to be wounded lethally (whether she dies or not in SS depends on the player’s choices).

This shot will never not crack me up. Honestly.

In the Crimson Flower path, Thales - masquerading as Edelgard’s uncle, Lord Arundel - arranges a few javelins of light to drop on the Kingdom’s Arianrhod as revenge once he gets the confirmation from Edelgard that Cornelia’s death - in truth, Cleobulus and an Agarthan plant - was fully intentional, and the choice of words used (“I will be praying [...] that the Empire will not become another Arianrhod”) make clear his move was meant to be a deterrent against future backstabs. Given how Edelgard quickly covers up the event and later unleashes the Imperial army over the Agarthans sometime after dealing with Rhea and the Kingdom anyways, Thales’ gambit ultimately ends up being for naught.

Lastly, no javelins of light are ever used in the Azure Moon branch, though incidentally, it’s also the only non-Edelgard route which kills Arundel before Byleth’s chosen faction makes their way to Fort Merceus…

…Oh, and as far story-purpose goes, in Verdant Wind and Silver Snow, they’re used to having Byleth and co. go to Shambhala, while in Crimson Flower they’re used to explore further Edelgard’s relationship with the slitherers.

The Implications Behind the Trump Card

First, let’s go over what the game suggests about the things which make them so damn impractical:

Two routes point out that the weapons can't be abused at their leisure. For what’s worth, TWSITD blows up Fort Merceus in Verdant Wind and Silver Snow only because they were confident Byleth and co. would be there, and not to mention, both Hubert and the Death Knight knowing it would happen all but states Byleth’s group was intended to be killed there).

The only other instances where the “pillars of light” are used rashly are either because: 1. Thales has been cornered and has nothing left to lose (VW/SS): and 2. Thales is visibly pissed over his “pawn” killing his spies like nothing, and is trying to exert some control over her (CF). This stands out a lot given the Agarthans have a serious problem of hubris clouding their judgment at times, so seeing them being so careful with their usage implies a lot of how much they value them.

Thales has exclusive access to them: He’s seen summoning them in Shambhala in the Verdant Wind and Silver Snow routes; in Crimson Flower, he alludes something will befall Arianrhod upon finding out the circumstances behind Cornelia’s death - which turn to be the his trump card-; and in Azure Moon… Thales dies before everyone goes to Fort Merceus, and no missiles ever rain over the location. Thus, it would be criminal to ignore him entirely for his analysis given how much the story points out all the “javelins” employed are due to his will.

Whatever happened with Ailell was an exception, not the rule: Ailell by the time the plot takes place is a living wasteland of lava due to the “javelins of light”, and yet, none of the missiles used in animated cutscenes or even described in person carry this much destructive potential. Meaning, either Ailell was a dormant volcano before missiles fell on it, or the specific “javelins” used were, simply put, “built different“ and are no longer an option.

How a ballistic missile works, courtesy of Wikipedia.

By now, it goes without saying that the biggest criticisms the “javelins of light” have as a plot device, is that their weaknesses are never openly addressed and just merely “suggested”, and that’s understandably an issue if one’s trying to convince beyond reasonable doubt that there’s a good reason why the slitherers use them so seldomly, and prefer to scheme and attempt to manipulate important people in Foldan instead.

So in the end, how do we prove these fantastic weapons have an achilles heel at all? Well, I think we can reach a highly likely (yet ultimately theoretical) answer to this dilemma… By answering yet another question:

What truly are the “Javelins of Light"?

I’ve seen many, many people call the “javelins of light" online as nukes or ballistic missiles/ICBMs. But given what in-game evidence we have, both proposals just can’t be true:

First, and as previously mentioned, none of the weapons deployed in the present ever reach a comparable amount of destruction to a nuke, and Aillel’s aftermath being such a peculiar case makes it more of an exception rather than the rule of thumb.

And second, none of the missiles are even seen being launched from the ground. In all cutscenes they appear, the first thing that pops up are purple rings, which are then followed by the “javelin” falling through the path those rings set for it. This happens even near Shambhala, where one would otherwise expect them to launch from the ground if we go by the assumption these are indeed ordinary ballistic missiles/ICBMs Hubert used to find Shambhala’s location through analyzing their trajectory…

How a ballistic missile works, courtesy of Wikipedia.

In turn and, by process of the elimination, this leaves us with one kind of missile that fits behavior of the Javelins of Light to a tee, which as of this post, is still just hypothetical.

The Kinetic / Orbital Missile.

The idea behind them is simple; have missiles fall from the sky anywhere you would ever want, and let the kinetic force - AKA, the fall - do most of the job. And not only that, these can be - design wise - as simple as a giant pillar as a result, leading many people to nickname this idea as “rods from god” due to the weapons being seemingly launched from the heavens themselves. Sounds familiar?

If all this sounds too good to be true, then that’s because it is. As stated before, the concept behind this type of missile is still - currently - just an idea due to the logistics behind them being nothing short of a nightmare. Most importantly for the topic at hand though, a key step in setting them up involves sending them to space first, so they may later be launched from a satellite or something floating in the atmosphere.

And it’s right here where 3H’s lore screws the Agarthans hard, as the only existing reports where there’s anything remotely hinting the missiles were launched from the ground at some point (knowingly, implied, or otherwise) comes from “Romance of the World’s Perdition”:

"The False God must be defeated before the world sinks into a watery grave. To this end, the children of men have erected pillars of light upon the land. Thinis, Malum, Septen, and Llium were utterly destroyed. Those lands have vanished from this world. Yet even still, the False God stands. And soon, a flood aptly named Despair will drown this world."

As a quick reminder, this book is pretty much a relic from the era the Agarthan civilization that existed over 1000 years before the main story, as all of the cities being blown up mentioned in the book no longer exist in Fodlan. The missiles clearly were once on land before, but not anymore, given how they always drop from the sky…

The Achilles Heel of the “Divine Retribution”

In the end, with all the evidence at our disposal, I believe it’s possible to identify - to a theoretical level at least - why the “Javelins of Light” aren’t truly a “press the button to win” for the Agarthans. This achilles heel is split into 3 key points:

Finite number: If TWSITD doesn’t have the means to send new “pillars” into space, then logic dictates they just simply have a very finite number of missiles they’re forced to work with, so it’s best to make every one of them count. After all, if they had found a solution to the javelin problem (which didn’t give away the location of their HQ so blatantly, like teleporting them through magic or something), chances are they would have already used it.

Thales: Besides being the one that calls the shots on the javelins used, people often forget that the dude at his core is a schemer, not a fighter. Unless you really force his hand/piss him off, he will give the missiles the most strategic use possible, and will refrain from abusing them if he sees value in other methods and ideas, such as in CF where he wants to keep his partnership with Edelgard and the Empire going post-war and even have her potentially conquer the world later (it never pans out, but it’s the thought that counts).

Garreg Mach/Holy Tomb has a jamming spell. Sothis did something to the area so it’s 100% invulnerable to missiles, thus forcing the Agarthans to come up with another way to get rid of the Church and Rhea. Incidentally, this is why Thales never uses the missiles during his final fights in both Scarlet Blaze and Azure Gleam routes from the Warriors: Three Hopes spinoff; because it would be a resounding failure.

Thales, probably having to remind his cronies every century or so why blowing up Fodlan up with missiles isn't an option.

So in Conclusion…?

Whatever FE game we get later down the line that puts similar emphasis to lore as 3H did really needs to be clear on why your antagonistic forces can’t brute-force their way into victory. Truth be told, It’s not a dealbreaker to me (more so once I figured all this out), but it definitely adds to the frustration and belief the Agarthans should not have been in Three Houses to begin with (which is easier said than done, but that’s a topic for another day…)

And like always, many thanks to those who have kept up with all this wall of text up until now! If I had to ask a question to y’all though, it would be something like: if you had the choice to change something about the “Javelins of Light”, what would it be?

[tigressaofkanjis]

Transformers: Lost World - All 20 Mountain Transformers

67. Starscream (Infiltrator) - Can be found in Basic, Wide Single Striped, and Tribal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Prime Sherbert (Red, Blue, and Yellow with Red Lights), Decadent Paradise (Burgundy, Slate Purple, and Silver with Red Lights) 

Regal Colors: Rhondochrosite (Magenta, Pink, and Pale Pink with Red Lights), Tropical Dusk (Burgundy, Amber, and Lavender with Red Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Grey, Red, Black and Blue with Red Lights; Peregrine Falcon), Shattered Glass (White, Red, Silver, and Dark Grey with Blue Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Nightscream (Black, Red, and Yellow with Red Lights), Golden Seeker (Gold, Copper, and Red with Red Lights) 

68. Thundercracker (Infiltrator) - Can be found in Basic, Narrow Double Striped, and Cheetah Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Futuristic (Blue, Grey, and Red with Red Lights), Dark Stone (Deep Blue, Black, and Slate with Red Lights) 

Regal Colors: Faded Dusk (Light Gray, Deep Blue and Orange with Orange Lights), 3D (Blue, Crimson, and Black with Red Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Dark Blue, White, Black, and Red with Red Lights; Cooper’s Hawk), Shattered Glass (Purple, Red, Green and Gold with Red Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Clear Blue (Light Blue, Blue, White, and Grey with Blue Lights), War Drone (Dark Yellow, Maroon, Dark Slate, and Silver with Red Lights) 

69. Skywarp (Scout) - Can be found in Basic, Ocelot, and Chevron Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Charoite (Purple, Black, and Deep Grey with Red Lights), Amethyst (Indigo, Gray, and Silver with Red Lights) 

Regal Colors: Imperial (Silver, Gold, and Purple with Purple Lights), Lavender Field (Lavender, Grey, and Green with Red Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Purple, White, Silver, and Lavender with Purple Lights; Harpy Eagle), Shattered Glass (Blue, Silver, Black, and Indigo with Blue Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Cowardly Clone (White, Purple, Black, and Pink with Red Lights), Battleworthy (Pink, Black, and Gold with Red Lights) 

70. Soundwave (Gatherer) - Can be found in Basic, Narrow Single Striped, and Triangular Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Showtime (Blue, Crimson, and Gold with Red Lights), Mosaic (Dark Blue, White, and Yellow with Red Lights) 

Regal Colors: Midnight (Dark Blue, Dark Purple, and Slate Purple with Purple Lights), Gothic Luxury (Black, Gold, and Crimson with Red Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Gold, White, Blue, and Crimson; Long-Eared Bat), Shattered Glass (White, Cerulean, and Green with Green Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Electromagnetic (Silver, Purple, Blue, and Teal with Red Lights), Talon Hunter (Slate, Blue, Brown, and Yellow with Yellow Lights) 

71. Brawn (Wrecker) - Can be found in Basic, Tobiano, and Tiger Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Prairie (Yellow, Camo Green, and Silver with Blue Lights), Zultanite (Camo Green, Windsor Tan, and Grey with Blue Lights) 

Regal Colors: Smoking Embers (Grey, Gold, and Orange with Orange Lights), Old Shed (Green, Dark Brown, and Black with Blue Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Brown, Tan, Green, and Grey with Green Lights; Musk Ox), Shattered Glass (Dark Green, Neon Green, Gold, and Silver with Orange Lights) 

Legendary Colors: X (Silver, Dark Green, Mint, and Red with Green Lights), Indestructible (Silver, Copper, Gold, and Green with Blue Lights) 

72. Yoketron (Healer) - Can be found in Basic, Tribal, and Saddled Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Hibiscus Trionum (White, Black, and Gold with Blue Lights), Monochrome (White, Black, and Grey with Blue Lights) 

Regal Colors: Howlite (White and Grey with Blue Lights), Lavish (Slate Gray, Burgundy, and Gold with Yellow Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Gold, White, Black, Yellow; Therizinosaurus), Shattered Glass (Black, Pale Gold, and Purple with Red Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Circuit-Su (White, Blue, Teal and Baby Blue with Blue Lights), Metallikato (Gold, Silver, and Orange with Yellow Lights) 

73. Warpath (Wrecker) - Can be found in Basic, Hexagonal, and Flames Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Harlequin (Red, Black, and White with White Lights), Ornament (Red, Silver, and Gold with Blue Lights) 

Regal Colors: Black Citrine (Black, Yellow, and Orange with Red Lights), Smelting Rock (Amber, Black, and Grey with Orange Lights)  

Rare Colors: Beast (Crimson, Deep Green, Black, and Yellow; Alligator), Shattered Glass (Blue, Dark Blue, and Black with Purple Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Battle Tank (Camo Green, Dark Grey, and Red with Blue Lights), Bunker Buster (Brown, Red, Orange, and Green with Green Lights) 

74. Hook (Healer) - Can be found in Basic, Mackerel, and Wide Single Striped Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Masquerade (Vivid Purple, Neon Green, and Dark Grey with Red Lights), Leather Coat (Windsor Tan, Neon Yellow, and Dark Grey with Yellow Lights) 

Regal Colors: Old Shed (Green, Dark Brown, and Black with Green Lights), Desert Bloom (Tan, Purple, and Yellow with Red Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Black, Green, Grey, and Purple with Green Lights), Shattered Glass (Red, White, Grey, and Silver with Blue Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Dark Servant (Black, Dark Purple, and Orange with Orange Lights), Construction (Yellow, Indigo, Orange and Black with Red Lights) 

75. Nightbird (Infiltrator) - Can be found in Basic, Tiger, and Tribal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Poison Haze (Grey, Black, and Indigo with Yellow Lights), Dark Butterfly (Black, Indigo, Gold, and Light Grey with Purple Lights) 

Regal Colors: Raven Flock (Grey, Black, and Slate with Blue Lights), Azurite (Deep Blue, Copper and Black with Red Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Dark Grey, Silver, Purple, and Copper with Yellow Lights; Osprey), Shattered Glass (Red, Teal, and Copper with Blue Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Mercenary Motive (Purple, Lavender, Black, and Silver with White Lights), Metal Ninja (Copper, Gold, Black, and Purple with Red Lights) 

76. Jetfire (Gatherer) - Can be found in Basic, Flames, and Leopard Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Flag (White, Deep Blue, and Crimson with Blue Lights), Candlelight (Orange, Black, and Yellow with Yellow Lights) 

Regal Colors: Tiger’s Eye (Orange, Black, and Crimson with Red Lights), Shaded Canyon (Copper, Purple, and Black with Blue Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Light Orange, White, Brown, and Red with Red Lights; Atlas Moth), Shattered Glass (Black, Purple, Neon Green, and Silver with Green Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Sky Shadow (Tan, Black, Burgundy, and Yellow with Yellow Lights), Cross Faction (Black, Silver, Copper, and Gold with Red Lights) 

77. Jetstorm (Miner) - Can be found in Basic, Flames, and Mackerel Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Seaboard (White, Cool Black, and Navy Blue with Blue Lights), Dark Stone (Deep Blue, Black, and Slate with Blue Lights) 

Regal Colors: Smoking Embers (Grey, Gold, and Orange with Orange Lights), Royal Blue (Blue, Gold, and Teal with Blue Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Dark Blue, Teal, and Orange with Orange Lights; Dragonfly), Shattered Glass (Black, Green, Silver and Red with Red Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Baja Blaster (Black, Teal, and Orange with Blue Lights), Aquaspeeder (Teal, Red, Yellow, and Dark Blue with Pink Lights) 

78. Skyquake (Combatant) - Can be found in Basic, Narrow Double Striped, and Tiger Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Zultanite (Camo Green, Windsor Tan, and Grey with Red Lights), Komodo (Green, Orange, and Deep Grey with Red Lights) 

Regal Colors: Wire Jacket (White, Red, Green, and Black with Red Lights), Ammolite (Green, Yellow, and Red with Red Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Green, Dark Green, Red and Gold with Red Lights; Quetzalcoatlus), Shattered Glass (Orange, Gold, Dark Brown, and Silver with Blue Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Megavisor (Dark Teal, Orange, and Pink with Yellow Lights), Undead (Dark Brown, Grey, Dark Grey, and Brown with Purple Lights) 

79. Dreadwing (Combatant) - Can be found in Basic, Wide Single Striped, and Tiger Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Spatial Wonder (Blue, Gold, and Silver with Red Lights), Cobalt Aura (Dark Blue, Gold, and Purple with Red Lights) 

Regal Colors: 3D (Blue, Crimson, and Black with Red Lights), Purple Starling (Purple, Teal, and Silver with Red Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Light Blue, Dark Blue, Gold, and White with Orange Lights; Quetzalcoatlus), Shattered Glass (Red, Purple, Black and Orange with Blue Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Mirage’s Bane (Silver, Dark Grey, Pink, and Blue with Red Lights), Stealth Assault (Indigo, Teal, Black, and Orange with Red Lights) 

80. Ratchet (Healer) - Can be found in Basic, Tobiano, and Triangular Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Medic (Red and White with Blue Lights), Cards (White, Red, and Black with Blue Lights) 

Regal Colors: Crystal Spessartine (Orange, Burgundy, and White with Blue Lights), Vanadinite (White, Red, and Orange with Blue Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Orange, Black, White, and Red with White Lights; Red Panda), Shattered Glass (White, Purple, and Teal with Red Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Emergency (Neon Yellow, White, and Red with Blue Lights), Night Ops (Black, Neon Yellow, White, and Green with Green Lights) 

81. Lockdown (Infiltrator) - Can be found in Basic, Chevron, and Ocelot Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Night Vision (Black, Deep Green, and Neon Green with Red Lights), Raven Flock (Grey, Black, and Slate with Green Lights) 

Regal Colors: Moonlit Ocean (Dark Blue, Black and White with White Lights), Poltergeist (Black, Purple, and Grey with Purple Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Black, Green, Grey, and Red with Red Lights; Hybrid Baryonyx), Shattered Glass (Cerulean, Crimson, Black, and White with Blue Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Blazing Wheels (Black, Gold, Yellow, and Red with Red Lights), Bandit (Black, Blue, Teal, and Red with Red Lights) 

82. Fixit (Healer) - Can be found in Basic, Saddled, and Hexagonal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Oriole (Orange, Amber, and Black with Blue Lights), Medic (Red and White with Blue Lights) 

Regal Colors: Bumblebee Jasper (Yellow, Black, and Blue with Blue Lights), Sunstone (Orange and White with Orange Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Tan, Orange, and Brown with Yellow Lights; Chinchilla), Shattered Glass (Light Blue, Grey, and Yellow with Red Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Cool Caretaker (Teal, Black, and Silver with Blue Lights), Rescue Patrol (White, Red, Black, and Cerulean with Blue Lights) 

83. Wheelie (Miner) - Can be found in Basic, Narrow Sports Striped, and Tobiano Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Inferno (Tangerine, Light Orange, and Black with Red Lights), Dragon’s Breath (Dark Brown, Orange, and Grey with Blue Lights) 

Regal Colors: Futuristic (Blue, Grey, and Red with Red Lights), Magical Betta (White, Blue, and Maroon with Red Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Orange, Grey, Maroon, and Burgundy with Green Lights; Ferret), Shattered Glass (Lavender, Slate, and Black with Red Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Wild Life (Yellow, Orange, and Teal, with Yellow Lights), Young Warrior (Red, Orange, Yellow, and Amber with Blue Lights) 

84. Thunderblast (Combatant) - Can be found in Basic, Tiger, and Cheetah Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Imperial (Silver, Gold, and Purple with Purple Lights), Decorum (Silver, Copper, and Indigo with Purple Lights) 

Regal Colors: Gabbro Merlinite (Indigo, Black, and Silver with Purple Lights), Morning Glory (Purple, Lavender, and Black with Purple Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Dark Purple, Indigo, and Grey with Red Lights; Whale Shark), Shattered Glass (White, Pink, and Lavender with Blue Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Another Life (Brown, Orange, and Silver with Red Lights), Cybertronian Leader (Gold, Black, Copper, and Lavender with Purple Lights) 

85. Optimus Prime (Leader) - Can be found in Basic, Flames, and Tribal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Prime Sherbert (Red, Blue, and Yellow with Blue Lights), Crimson Rosella (Red, Blue, and Black with Blue Lights) 

Regal Colors: Wildfire (Amber, Red, and Dark Grey with Yellow Lights), Ornament (Red, Silver, and Gold with Blue Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Deep Grey, Red, Blue, and Silver; Silverback Gorilla), Shattered Glass (Purple, Dark Blue, Green and Black with Red Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Dark Guard (Black, Gold, Silver, and Blue with Blue Lights), Battle Core (White, Gold, and Silver with Blue Lights) 

86. Megatron (Leader) - Can be found in Basic, Tiger, and Chevron Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Warlord (Silver, Deep Grey, Black, and Crimson with Red Lights), Iris Diamond (Silver and Violet with Red Lights) 

Regal Colors: Treasure Ore (Silver, Gold, and Copper with Red Lights), Dragonborn (Red, Orange, and Yellow with Red Lights) 

Rare Colors: Beast (Purple, Camo Green, Copper, and Black with Red Lights; Tyrannosaurus), Shattered Glass (White, Black, Blue, and Red with Blue Lights) 

Legendary Colors: Shadow Blade (Black, Purple, and Lavender with Purple Lights), Sharkticon (Brown, Pink, Light Blue, and Purple with Green Lights) 

[divinationtools]

Pluto enters Aquarius

Sunday 21th January 2024

A transformative era begins as Pluto enters Aquarius, inspiring revolutionary change and intellectual exploration. Advice: Embrace new ideologies, break free from limitations, and embrace personal reinvention. Activities: Engage in futuristic studies, question societal norms, or seek innovative solutions to global issues.

Yoga: The Eagle Pose (Garudasana) mirrors Aquarius' transformative energy. Cross one leg over the other, entwine arms together, and bend knees. Embody adaptability, aiming for clarity amidst Pluto's transformative shift into Aquarius' innovative space.

[fictionadventurer]

Imaginary Book Recs Cover Thoughts: Round One

Two Passengers on the Last Train by A.G. Benedict: Obscure English literary fiction from the 1920s. I read it as a Gutenberg ebook, but the original cover was one of those clothbound classics with silhouette images. Any modern-day reprints are by very small publishing houses that provide minimal, low-budget covers using old illustrations (something like this version of Manalive.)

Song of the Seafolk by Marjorie A. Penrose: American children's fantasy from 1954, with illustrated cover typical of the era. Has had rerelease covers in subsequent decades (including one very nice painted cover from the '90s).

Bright Folly by Glorya M. Hayers: 1930s comedy mystery. Most representative cover is the mass-market paperback that looks like the more cartoony covers of Wimsey novels (like the editions that contain this version of Gaudy Night), though with a bit more of a sunny Wodehouse twist.

On Eternity's Doorstep by Willa Aldecott: Classic autobiographical novel about WWI nursing. Several rereleases over the years, all involving variations of historical photographs or historical-nursing-items on a colored background. (The Hiding Place keeps coming to mind as a cover comp, except with more sepia-toned photos and gentle browns and neutrals as background colors.)

The Queens of Wintermoon by Jessica Wagner: 1980s (or '90s, I can't remember) adult fantasy with an illustrated cover. A 2010s attempt to repackage it as a YA series split the book into four covers that each featured the heraldic symbol of the House of each of the four sisters (Raven, Eagle, Falcon, and Firebird) on a different jewel-toned background (probably blue, green, orange or red, and violet or black).

Caroline by Maria Layton: 1820s classic novel. Anything that's been done for an Austen book is applicable here.

The Lands of Dorothon series by Barbara Lamley: Off-brand versions of Narnia.

The Autumn Queen’s Promise by Rose Rennow: 1990s children's historical fantasy. Illustrated cover that combines the fantastical autumn colors of An Enchantment of Ravens with the more straightforward historical imagery of a book like The Sign of the Beaver or The Witch of Blackbird Pond.)

Island in the Stars by Carolyn Taylor Harris: 1970s children's science fantasy, with the period-accurate slightly wonky cartoony style.

The Camille series by Annette Nowell: Anne of Green Gables covers but with more exotic settings as the background. Both Camille in the Alps and Camille in the Andes involve her climbing mountains in intrepid Edwardian girl-reporter wear.

The Lakeshore Plan by Louise Zajac: Something between Swallows and Amazons and The Penderwicks. Could go full-on painted summer scenery, but simple drawings and/or silhouettes are also valid options.

Ever Miss Eliza by Charlotte Koning: 1940s slice-of-life light fiction. Honestly, I just picture the cover of D.E. Stevenson's Charlotte Fairlie, except the illustration is a woman in front of a rural schoolbuilding.

The Ocean’s Revenge by Edward G. Whitmore: 1940s pulp fiction in all its glory. Cover features a striking painting of a futuristic submarine in the grasp of a huge squid-creature.

The Book of All Days by Harriet Street: Painting of a little girl peering at an old-fashioned book.

The Guardian of the Nest by Aurelia T. Noah: 1960s children's fantasy. Probably a cloth-bound cover with the images (fairy tale carved right into the cover the way they are in some old books.

The Thief’s Debut by M.J. Ponders: Very recent indie-published fairy tale retelling that is unfortunately saddled with the genre-typical "girl in a sparkly prom dress" cover that probably involves her wearing a mask and standing in front of a vaguely Venetian-looking building. In a better world, it would get a digital-painted cover more along the lines of The Electrical Menagerie, (though the subject matter would be something between The Princess Bride and The Lies of Locke Lamora).

The Interdimensional Book Carrier by Martin Kaspar: Modern-day bestseller. Cover comps coming to mind are The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

It's time to do something very important that we've been putting of for a while.

We're going to buy the FALN pants from Cuno.

CUNO - "Cuno's like Cuno's dad -- Cuno doesn't give a fuck about anything."

3. "I want to buy the FALN pants."

CUNO - "Here, pig. We FALN now. Performance buddies." Cuno unzips his jacket again and pulls the pants out of the plastic wrapping.

Item gained: FALN "Modular" Track Pants

CUNO - "Cuno can already see you soaring through the air like a fucking eagle." He looks at you with pride. "Pig's in Cuno's debt now. Money-debt."

Task complete: Buy FALN pants from Cuno

+10 XP

FALN "MODULAR" TRACK PANTS

+1 Savoir Faire: Spacious crotch/liquid fit -1 Physical Instrument: Performance-unlimited

Entry level FALN Modular track pants, meant to get the urban athele started down the FALN-path. Labels say Hydrophobic 100%, SymanTec, and FALN Mirova Lab, creating an air of pseudoscientific mystery around these pants. They feel rubbery and futuristic to touch.

🎵 The Field Autopsy

THE HANGED MAN - The man is decomposing visibly now. Every hour he looks less like a creature and more like a pile of intestines...

KIM KITSURAGI - The lieutenant adjusts his glasses and takes a deep breath.

2. "Let's bag him. Take him away." (The lieutenant takes the body away -- you work alone for the rest of the day.)

KIM KITSURAGI - "All right." He takes out a shiny black body bag and starts pulling the plastic over the dead man's face.

Task complete: Send victim's body to processing

+30 XP

Level up!

KIM KITSURAGI - "I will need a little help carrying him -- you take the hands, I'll take the legs."

Bag the corpse and drag it to the motor carriage. [Leave.]

Kim is gone.

We *did* want to talk to Klaasje without Kim here, but she's turned in for the night, so that will have to wait.

🎵 Instrument of Surrender

SHIVERS - All around you, rain falls on the great city of Revachol. Rain drips from the eaves and floods the gutters, washing the filth away.

The spring thaw must be here. The snow is melting...

What am I doing?

SHIVERS - Looking up at the sky, cold water dripping from your hair.

What do I see?

Shake the shivers off. [Discard thought.]

SHIVERS - Grey sky like great battleships, clouds colliding with one another. Rain falls down on the world.

How does it feel?

SHIVERS - Humid. Your coat shields you from the rain while the city shivers around you.

What is in the west?

What's in the east?

What's in the north?

What's in the south?

"Motherfucker." [Finish thought.]

SHIVERS - Sheets of rain over the water. A flight of stairs leading into the ocean. Wave after wave washing the coast of Martinaise, with its motorboats and gently swaying reeds.

The ruins of a half-sunken seafort crumble on an inlet. Beyond the Bay of Revachol, ghosts rise into the sky.

Who are you, ghosts?

What is down the shore?

Run your fingers through your dampened hair.

SHIVERS - The skyscrapers of La Delta, the financial district. Faint golden light seeps from the office windows.

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - Will you ever go there?

Will I?

Let go of the feeling.

SHIVERS - No. You are just one of the hundreds of thousands who watch them rise across the bay from Martinaise every day.

2. What is down the shore?

SHIVERS - Urban coastline, rain dripping off eternite-covered roofs. Cinder blocks left over from half-finished construction. A defunct research and development building once seized by revolutionaries. An old wooden church stands on stilts above the water.

And beyond that?

SHIVERS - Coal City, end of all lines.

3. Run your fingers through your dampened hair.

SHIVERS - Your hair is an oily mess flecked with ash from neighbouring coal plants. Smoke stacks rise somewhere in the distance.

🎵 Red Rock Riviera

2. What's in the east?

SHIVERS - The great gates of the industrial harbour are locked. A chill runs down your back. You shudder like an animal trying to shake water from its hide.

Clench your teeth to stop shuddering.

Shake your shoulders again.

SHIVERS - Behind the gates -- heaps of supply crates. Red and blue metal shipping containers slick with rain. The Greater Revachol Industrial Harbour is an artificial mountain range. Immense wealth resides within, and immeasurable poverty in its shadow.

And beyond that?

And before that?

SHIVERS - You -- on the Martinaise plaza. A small dot looking up at the sky. Droplets form on your eyelashes.

And beyond that?

SHIVERS - La Drisienne, King Dris's Passenger Harbour. Cruise ships flanked by dock arms. Cranes watching over the mouth of the river distributary.

What is across from the distributary?

SHIVERS - Couron, the lower middle class. Distributary after distributary cuts the city blocks in half. Seven-story buildings trail off into the rain.

What is beyond the Couron?

SHIVERS - A silvery curtain of rain over the houses. The class divide.

2. Shake your shoulders again.

SHIVERS - You shudder, looking down at your feet. Dirty rainwater runs veins into the plaza snow.

You realize you have no shoes on. Your feet are red with cold.

This is incorrect. This dialogue wasn't programmed to account for wearing anything other than the green snakeskin shoes Harry had on him at the start of the game.

3. What's in the north?

SHIVERS - Capeside apartments -- tower blocks crowd one another, 4.46 mm bullets still lodged in their war-torn stone walls.

Hallways collapsed from the mortar hits of a war that was lost long ago. Clotheslines go to waste in the rain. Radios play.

And closer to here?

SHIVERS - A yard. Rain falls onto the roof of a woodshed. The lingering odour of decomposition mixes with that of damp soil.

4. What's in the south?

SHIVERS - A traffic jam. Rain thrumming on the roofs of motor vehicles. Inside, drivers watch water streaming down their windshields. The statue of a king shudders, he too is cold. The canal bridge has been raised.

What's on the other side?

SHIVERS - The road ascends; a raised motorway loops above the ghetto. Beneath its concrete columns -- a sea of rooftops, woodwork, and tar stretches northward. Four-story buildings as far as the rain can fall. The snows melt in Jamrock.

Where the hood, where the hood, where the hood at?

Why am I not there?

Shudder, look further...

SHIVERS -

HAVE A BROTHER IN THE CUT. WHERE THE WOOD AT?

2. Why am I not there?

SHIVERS - To be in Martinaise, where no one goes. At the run-off point of a long-forgotten canal, in the whitest part of town. In the shadow of the day the Revolution failed.

White is the color of communism in Elysium, remember.

What am I doing here?

SHIVERS - Standing in the rain, looking north, where Jamrock Rock City stretches inland.

3. Shudder, look further...

SHIVERS - In the rain-swept distance above the rooftops of Jamrock, a re-purposed silk mill stands perched above the motorway exit. Precinct 41 hunches in the rain.

+5 XP

MACK TORSON - "Wonder if Vic's found his long lost boyfriend yet." He looks over at Chester McLaine and breaks into a laugh at his own joke. The rain falls outside.

CHESTER MCLAINE - "Mack, they're *hetero-sexual life partners*. It's not like that," his partner smirks. "But yeah. There's trouble in paradise for that duo, Tequila Sunset has..." The sound of the rain grows so loud it drowns out his voice.

SHIVERS - Your vision blurs. You wipe your face with your hand. The rain stings your eyes, making you look up and blink.

5. What's above?

SHIVERS - Coalition aerostatics hang like apparitions under the cloud cover. Way up there -- where rain forms -- rotors flutter silently. Your sight clears.

6. What's below?

SHIVERS - Collapsed storm drains. Old sewage systems flooded with rainwater. Hidden weapon caches from the Revolution. Doors leading down to Le Royaume -- the catacombs to which, for three centuries, they delivered the blue-blooded dead.

7. "Motherfucker." [Finish thought.]

SHIVERS - These spring thaw will not last. The winter will return to Revachol.

+5 XP

No point staying out any later without Kim here. Let's turn in for the night.

Seems the walker was either very confused or drunk out of his mind.

SHACK DOOR - It's getting cold this late in the night. Time to call it a day.

Enter the shack.

Not yet. [Leave.]

🎵 Coastal Shack

SHIVERS - A brisk coastal wind still howls against the window of the shack. Occasionally the waves crawl in under the foundation, producing a low hum...

Listen.

Shake it off. [Discard thought.]

SHIVERS - The room feels muffled, like you pulled your hat over your ears. Outside, it is cold and windy, but you're inside, and it feels safe and warm.

SHIVERS -

WHAT IS THIS PLACE TO YOU?