#give me more complexity mwahahaha

[thebroccolination]

HI I DON’T THINK WIN GREW UP WEALTHY

He says in episode one that he got Wan’s hand-me-downs and then gave them all to View, and ever since I’ve suspected that either 1) his parents wanted to raise their kids with a manufactured sense of scarcity to avoid spoiling them or 2) the wealth is more recent.

I’m not sure how many hotels they have. In the novel they have at least two: the one they went to for the training camp and the one in Kanchanaburi. The series only refers to one, but it might be a translation thing.

Anyway, regardless, hotels are very much a New Money sort of thing. So when View hoped they’d go bankrupt to get their “old father” back, I leaned a lot harder toward the second option.

It’d make sense why Wan and Win are under so much more pressure. If their family was struggling with a fledgling company when Wan was a child, it’d mean he’s always had the burden of that company’s future on his shoulders. Meanwhile Win was probably given less pressure but also less attention while their family focused on the business and preparing Wan to take over that business. And it’d make sense why View’s never been harassed about what he’s going to do: everything is about the success of the resort(s), so he’s allowed to do what he wants as long as he doesn’t rock the boat or…

…interfere with the responsibilities of the eldest.

[depressed-teacup-inc]

A double review because at this point, the show is just repeating itself

Alright so miraculous again decided to air two episodes at once, which ok, annoying as fuck for someone that times and reviews them, but we survive either way. Let’s go!

Confrontation

Alright, I’m officially renaming “Lila episodes” into “Lila and Chloe episodes” because literally Chloe has become the new Lila! Literally nothing that they do makes sense or has any reason beyond “they’re evil and hate marinette mwahahaha” and just exist to make marinette look better in comparison

(In case you’re wondering why they’re still around and what’s the point of Chloe and Lila, it’s because the minute they’re actually complex/compelling characters or they’re gone, Marinette’s actions and behaviors become way more awful in hindsight, so the show keeps these two around to make Marinette either a martyr or a hero)

Also nothing in this episode makes sense and constantly contradicts itself?

Like the entire premise of the episode being the students getting assigned to terrible high schools, but they never wanted to do these sheets in the first place? The lucky charms are suddenly magical shields, but then why wasn’t this discovered before? You’re telling me no one thought to encourage petiole away from being akumatized? And also, Lila’s plan is so flimsy and held by the thread that the students will just assume marinette did this for… basically no reason because they’re graduating

Also I don’t care what the episode argues, Damocles, André and Bustier all were shit role models and support systems for the students, and were a big reason as to why students were angry and akumatized in the first place, but sure let’s just pretend they’re good last minute you guys!

Anyways this sucked, next episode

Collusion

So… Adrien has officially been character assassinated by the show to have no personality beyond being love interest!

This happened in the last episode too, but you see it here so much as well! Like literally every minute of Adrien’s screentime, and every time he talks is somehow connected to marinette! Literally his father is sending him away to a private school in London (which honestly at this point with what marinette did to him, take the chance and run baby) which is supposed to be his worst nightmare, and rather then think about his responsibility to Paris as Chat Noir or his friends that he will leave or his sense of autonomy, all he can think about is “I’ll be separated from marinette🥺”

HE LITERALLY SAID HE ISNT SURE OF ANYTHING ABOUT HIS LIFE OR WHO HE IS BUT ALL HE KNOWS IS THAT HES IN LOVE WITH THIS GIRL AND THATS THE ONE THINGS FOING IN HIS LIFE, LOOK AT WHAT THEYVE DONE TO MY BOYYYYYY!!!

And wasn’t perfect the very thing Adrien didn’t want to be perceived of that marinette constantly calls him? It’s giving putting someone on a pedestal and not seeing them for what they really are (the love square is literally high school sweethearts marrying tans divorcing in like 3 years)

Anyways, grieving Adrien’s personality aside, Chloe is demonized to the point of unrealistic, the one teacher who was actually being a decent teacher and not contributing to a system of corruption is now demonized out of nowhere too, Lila literally makes no sense (like that’s apparently not even her name? She goes by cerise in another school, and she has three moms WHAT THE FUCK EVEN IS THIS SHOW ANYMORE), Chloe is mayor now for some fucking reason (this is illegal), and André gets dumb redemption arc out of nowhere.

Mentioned I’m in the previous episodes too, but André is not a good person and the show keeps pretending he is? Like girl, man is confirmed to do corrupt horrific politician stuff, has had the chance to help and actually raise his daughter for years, but chose to neglect her after her mother abandoned her, and now pretends to be a good parent to a child that’s not even his own to feel better about himself, AND YET IM SUPPOSED TO THINK HES SYMPATHETIC AND GOOD? FUCK THAT!

Also real quick, what the fuck is up with the mayor controlling the school? Like initially I was think the reason Chloe has leverage in the school is that her dad, through big donations, basically controls the school board and who gets to do what, but it seems he’s just? Using his mayor powers? Like girl that’s not how being mayor works, you can’t just fire anyone like that, this is a very bad lesson in politics

But yeah. Both episodes awful.

The only good things I can take from here is that there’s finally a canonical lesbian couple that wasn’t constantly queerbated (I love Julerose, and don’t like Zoenette, but they’re both constantly vague and easily censored) and Juleka got some screen time.

(Also Luka and Adrien are officially in the “being Marinette’s love square character assassinated me till the point I have no personality outside of it” club)

Also if you’re wondering why I didn’t mention anything about the fights? They’re dumb, last like five minutes and take a back sit just to tell you how awful Lila and Chloe are.

[blackberry-gingham]

💖because I'm curious

🤗because I need some

✨because you deserve it, queen

Rnskdkdo gosh, I feel so special 😭💖💖 thank you so much for the ask!!! Sorry this is another long one lol, but I hope you enjoy, these were fun!

💖 What made you start writing?

Oh gosh, I've been writing since I was 13 I think lol, so a little hard to say 😂😂 I've always had a really strong imagination I suppose, so when I'd consume a new type of media or "fandom" I always wanted to do so much more with the characters then what little I was given on the TV screen, so I started writing my own adventures for them :D

And look at me now 😂👍🏻

🤗 Advice for new writers?

Well I did answer here technically lol, but I do love to pretend I'm all that when it comes to writing, so I can drop another tip 😂😂

I feel like maybe this kind of relates back to the original answer I gave? but typing out a characters inner thoughts can be just as important as writing out their dialogue, ESPECIALLY if you're dealing with a particularly complex, or even disturbed, character. Yes yes, it helps build atmosphere and prose in your writing, but more importantly it gives us as the reader a chance to relate to or at the very least, understand said character and their feelings/motivations

How much or how little you let us peer into a character's psyche depends on how much you want us to either hate or else emphasize with the character, after all. For example Sabretooth, when written to his fullest, is an extremely disturbed individual of course- he doesn't see people or lives, he sees objects to maim and destroy. Killing is fun for him, and the bloodier the better.

You could only frame his mindset about killing for fun and not seeing people as people to make us despise him- that way we feel our emotional investment is paid off if/when he is defeated later on. On the other hand, sabretooth kills and hates people (*cough*humans) because he was severely and horrifically abused, even tortured tbh, as a child so invoking information like that and certainly his own memories of those times could be used to make us feel sympathy for him instead, if that's what you wanted.

Either way, it's all about getting your readers to feel- and no better way then to get your character to tell us what they're REALLY thinking by putting us in their heads 👍🏻

✨ Complement your own work, mwahahaha

Smskslsls another hard one 😭😂 Well a little secret of mine is that I will basically never write about a situation or story unless either I myself have experienced it, I witnessed someone in my personal life experience it, or I have taken the adequate time to become EXTREMELY familiar with the circumstances surrounding what I'm writing- simply bc I strive to write as realistic as possible for my readers

I guess I do like that a lot about my writing lol. Often times I'll read other fics, particularly reader inserts, and it just feels extremely obvious (to me at least) that the person writing it has never experienced, or at least never closely studied, the emotional situation they're writing about. It immediately triggers this very intense case of "real people do not and furthermore, would never, act this way in these circumstances" and pulls me out of the story you know?

So yeah, I'm proud that I pour out my heart and soul to try (with over all success, I'd dare say) my utmost to make sure my readers never get that jarring feeling while reading my work

[themurphyzone]

104 Words for 104 Days: Dynasty Part 1: Princess

AN: Takes place in Doof Dynasty time period. Artistic liberties have been taken, and by that I mean a LOT of artistic liberties have been taken. Also, I really wanted to write something with Isabella as the protagonist and this seemed like a good place to do it. Since this turned out much longer than I expected, I decided to just divide it into two parts.

Dynasty Part 2 Coming Soon!

“Sir! Our defenses have been compromised!” General Carl shouted, rushing into the royal palanquin and collapsing into a dead faint in front of Regent Monogram.

Princess Isabella moved her ink pot before Carl’s head could smash into it. Sensing that the calligraphy lesson was over, she carefully put the materials away while Monogram waved a jar of incense in Carl’s face.

“General, don’t faint until you’ve given us the necessary exposition first,” Monogram scolded. “And especially not in front of the Princess.”

Carl nodded weakly. “Of course, sir. My apologies, Princess.”

“Accepted,” Isabella said. “What’s this about our defenses being compromised? Surely Master Perry wouldn’t leave our country unprotected.”

“Princess, are you sure you want to hear about this?” Monogram coughed. “You’re not much more than a ceremonial figurehead until you’re of age. Until then, it’s perfectly acceptable if you want to lavish in luxury and leave the worrying to the professionals.”

Isabella fixed him with an icy glare. “Regent, I respect you and your administrative decisions. But I’ve fought Doofus Khan in a terracotta warrior before and if you’ll pardon my unprincess-like language, kicked his sorry butt back to the steppes of Mongolia. Those commoner boys fought for the Tri-Province Area and me when they were hardly trained, and I intend to do the same.”

“How old is she again?” Carl whispered to Monogram.

“Older than a child but younger than a teenager,” Monogram whispered back. “It’s the bow, I think. Throws everyone off.”

“Your report, General,” Isabella demanded.

Carl stood up and bowed his head. “The commoner boys who saved the Tri-Province Area were building the northern tower of the Great Wall near the Large Bamboo Forest of Largeness when Doofus Khan kidnapped them. Master Perry is currently training at the Loud Waterfall of Loudness, which is notoriously difficult for even the most fleetfooted messengers to access. Doofus Khan left this scroll, most likely to demoralize us before swooping in for his conquest.”

He handed the scroll to Monogram, who unfolded it and grimaced at the ink picture of Doofus Khan sticking his tongue out with a finger above his lip in an obvious mockery of his mustache.

“This means war,” Monogram huffed. “My mustache and beard combo is highly fashionable in this day and age.”

“There’s a message at the bottom,” Isabella said, placing her finger in the blank space to avoid smudging the ink.

Mwahahaha! If you want the boys back (lousy defense system by the way, do you guys really not have a militia?), send Princess Isabella to my Inescapable Fortress of Inescapableness! I wanted to call it the Inescapable Fortress of Doom, but my new scribe is defensive of his names. Just head due north. That’s all the directions I’m giving you. Don’t worry, you can’t miss it. Or do worry, cause I’ll be taking the Tri-Province Area soon enough! Have a bad day!

Wishing you all the misery in the world,

Doofus Khan

“Without Princess Isabella’s undeniable charm, our country will fall to ruin!” Monogram groaned. “We can’t abide by this fiend’s terms!”

“You aren’t stopping me,” Isabella declared. “I’m going to save my friends and the Tri-Province Area!”

“But-“

Isabella held up her hand to silence him. “I appreciate your concern. But I can take care of myself.”

“Very well,” Monogram sighed, the scroll dropping out of his hands with a dull thud.

Carl raised a hand sheepishly. “Sir, I believe I have the solution. Lady Firesong has trained a squad of preteen girls in the art of bodyguarding, self-defense, survival, pottery, gator wrestling, and decorative cupcake making. This would make for an excellent training exercise for the girls. I’ll send her a message after I’m finished fainting for the second time.”

Then he fainted again.

“I still think we’re doomed,” Monogram muttered.

o-o-o-o-o

The training complex wasn’t anything grand, especially compared to what Isabella was used to, but they had enough equipment that would make an entire Roman army jealous. Many silkworm cocoons lined each plant in the garden, and Isabella plucked one off the leaf out of curiosity, slipping it into her flowing sleeves while Monogram’s back was turned. He led them through a lantern-lit path until they reached an ancient portrait, which depicted an elderly woman in a flowing purple robe.

To Isabella’s surprise, the portrait bowed.

“I am Lady Firesong. Welcome, Princess Isabella. I’ve received word that you wish to perform a rescue mission. The girls who volunteered to accompany you are highly skilled in many areas. I hope you’ll find their company adequate,” the elderly woman rasped, then turned and clapped her hands. “Alright, girls! The Firesong anthem for the Princess, just like in rehearsal! One, two, three!”

Five girls in matching orange robes hurried into formation, singing the cutest song Isabella had ever heard in her life.

“-and it’s not too terribly long!” they chorused with a banner of the Tri-Province Area in the background.

Isabella applauded, much to the girls’ delight. Monogram didn’t look too impressed though. “Yes, yes, that was great. Princess, will you be okay?”

“Failure is not an option,” Isabella replied.

“Good,” Major Monogram said, reaching into his robe and pulling out a ribbon-tied scroll. “Deliver this scroll to Doofus Khan, will you? I, uh, have a very important message for him.”

“You can count on me!” Isabella exclaimed, taking the scroll.

Monogram nodded in approval and left, confused at the angry looks that were thrown his way when he still didn’t acknowledge their song.

“Well, it looks like my work here is done!” Lady Firesong exclaimed, settling back into her chair. “I am so glad I can rest here and let children handle matters of national security.”

o-o-o-o-o

Isabella’s clothing was custom-made by a tailor who exclusively served royalty, so creating her own Firesong robe was an entirely new experience for her. If Regent Monogram could see her filling baskets of cocoons, he would be horrified at the manual labor that a princess of her caliber certainly shouldn’t be doing.

But if a princess could operate a terracotta soldier, then she could easily create a robe out of raw silk. Besides, it was a great opportunity for learning about the other girls. She committed Gretchen, Holly, Katie, Ginger, Millie, and Adyson’s names to memory, only mixing them up twice when she was too busy taking the silk threads out of the boiling water.

“-and that’s why Lady Firesong trains us from birth. As a result, none of us really know who our parents are, but the rewards are worth it,” Gretchen explained as Isabella removed the finished robe from the loom. “I’ve always been told I’m more of a second in command type anyway.”

“Are you sure?” Isabella asked, stepping behind a bamboo screen to try on the robe. It was shorter than what she was used to, just barely reaching her knees, but much less restricting than her royal clothes. “I wouldn’t want to take your leader position just because I’m a princess.”

Gretchen smiled. “No, I can give orders, but I lack the charisma of a natural born leader. I should know. I’ve been trying for the Charisma Patch for years.”

“Well, I can always teach you,” Isabella offered. “It takes skill, confidence, and taking advantage of our naturally cute dispositions, but I’m sure you’d be able to learn!”

“Thanks! So, what do you think of the uniform?” Gretchen asked.

Isabella pushed the screen aside, twirling in her Firesong robe. “It may look delicate, but it’s durable,” Isabella said. “Also, I never knew I pulled orange off this well. I’ll have to ask my tailor for more clothing in this shade.”

Gretchen nodded, then poked her head in the doorway. “Katie! Are the accessories ready yet?”

“Right here!” Katie shouted, hurrying into the room and handing an orange sash and hairbow to Isabella.

“These sashes are the most important part of the Firesong uniform,” Gretchen said, pointing to her own sash. Unlike Isabella’s, hers was decorated with several colorful patches. “They’re proof of our accomplishments and fairly useful in a fight. Plus, we pooled our silver pieces for a hairbow. We just thought it’d look good on you.”

“Aw, you girls didn’t have to go that far!” Isabella exclaimed as she put on the sash. She let Ginger tie the hairbow, since the girl seemed enthusiastic about touching her hair.

Now that she couldn’t be recognized as a royal, they were ready for action.

“Storm the base!” Adyson shouted.

“Bring lots and lots of weaponry!” Holly suggested, pounding her fist into her hands.

It seemed they didn’t have much of a head for strategy. But Isabella supposed that was what a leader was for.

“Our main objective is infiltrating Doofus Khan’s fortress and rescuing the boys so they can complete the Great Wall,” Isabella said, and silence fell instantly. “But we need to pack only necessary items because a giant desert lies to the north, and we’ll need to cross it in order to get there. In other words, no more than what a two-humped camel can carry.”

“Katie, fill the water flasks!” Gretchen barked. “Ginger and Adyson, grab the food! Make sure you include lots of ox jerky!”

Adyson groaned. “I really hate ox jerky...”

“It’s a start, but there’s a necessary stop we should take before heading north,” Isabella continued. “Master Perry is currently training at the Loud Waterfall of Loudness, so we’ll need to go there first and get his help. What do you girls think?”

“Let’s go!” Millie exclaimed. The other girls echoed her battle cry.

Ginger held up a lute. “I’m in charge of the travel music!”

The other girls glanced at her.

“What? Travel music and a montage are necessary items too!”

o-o-o-o-o

Ginger’s idea of travel music was playing ‘You Snuck Your Way Right into My Rice Paddy’ over and over again. Sure, everyone liked the song, but after two hundred repeats without taking requests from anyone else?

Not so much.

Everyone was relieved when the roar of the waterfall drowned out her lute. Unfortunately, it drowned out everything else too.

Relying on finger signals and other forms of non-verbal communication, they made their way through the lush undergrowth. Millie and Holly used sharp rocks to mark every tree they passed to make the return journey faster, Katie scouted ahead, and Gretchen and Ginger dragged Adyson between them, who was still recovering from a nasty fall in a ditch.

When they finally arrived at the riverbank, they found Master Perry meditating underneath a pounding waterfall.

“Master Perry! The Tri-Province Area is in trouble again!” Isabella shouted, but couldn’t make herself heard above the waterfall.  

Everyone except Adyson added their voices, shouting as loud as they could, but neither the platypus or panda were paying attention.

Isabella silenced them with a wave of her hand. It just wasn’t enough of a hook to nab Master Perry’s full attention. They needed something more.

Isabella inhaled and screeched in the deepest voice she could manage.

“YOUR FORMER STUDENTS ARE IMPRISONED IN DOOFUS KHAN’S FORTRESS!”

Master Perry’s eyes snapped open. He dove into the water, resurfacing with a topknot and traditional warrior’s outfit.

The group went back to the main road so they could talk without screaming over the waterfall. Adyson muttered something about salamanders, her head lolling against Gretchen’s shoulder as her sandals dragged against the leafy soil.

“How did you do that?” Holly demanded, her hair still frizzed from the waterfall.

“I’m excellent at breath control. Plus it’s great for scaring Regent Monogram,” Isabella said. She turned to Master Perry and bowed respectfully. “The Firesong Girls and I wish to accompany you to the fortress. It is my duty as a princess to protect my subjects, and I cannot do that from a palanquin. You’ve trained the boys well back when they rescued me from Doofus Khan’s evil clutches. I will repay the favor.”

Master Perry stared off into space, several vibrations rippling through the air.

“Is that an attack?” Gretchen asked. She pulled off her sash, looping it around her hand and twirling the other end in the air.

“Stand down,” Isabella ordered. “He’s having a flashback. Just wait it out.”

Gretchen reluctantly obeyed.

A few seconds later, the rippling dissipated and Master Perry bowed.

“He’s done, hopefully,” Isabella said. “Phineas mentioned he has a habit of doing this. So, guess we’re heading due north now. Do any of you know where we can rent some camels?”  

Master Perry gestured for everyone to follow him.

“Who’s ready for more travel music?” Ginger asked. She tuned her lute, smiling brightly as she strummed a chord.  

“NO!” Millie and Holly screamed.

“Hehe, the salamanders are doing opera,” Adyson giggled.

o-o-o-o-o

Turns out Master Perry knew a faster way to transport them to the fortress. One that involved a massive red dragon that resembled the ones at Chinese New Year (but since it’s China, they just call it New Year), but much larger, more metallic, and without relying on people’s feet for an energy source.

“Master Perry! So good to see ya! Finally come out of retirement, I see! ‘Bout time! Never approved of you giving up on saving China after one little incident,” a jovial woman exclaimed. “And you brought an entourage this time! Name’s Glenda, so don’t forget it! What brings you girls to the Dragon Train?”

“We’re going to Doofus Khan’s fortress to rescue our friends. But isn’t this a little advanced for 1542?” Isabella asked, pointing to the giant dragon that Glenda called a ‘train’.  

“Yes, yes it is,” Glenda said, her eyes widening. “Did you say Doofus Khan’s fortress, girlie? Don’t you know that place is inescapable? I deliver supplies there myself. Don’t look at me like that, a woman’s gotta make her living somehow.”

“It’s only inescapable because nobody’s ever tried it before. It’ll be completely escapable by the time we’re finished,” Isabella said.

Glenda slapped her knee and laughed. “I like your gumption, girlie! Climb aboard! It’ll take twenty minutes to get there, so just kick back and let the Dragon Train do the work.”

“Twenty minutes? That’s so fast! And I was planning on a day and a half’s hike,” Gretchen said.

“It’s coal-powered,” Glenda shrugged. “Convenient for us, but makes a heck of a mess in the air. Ah, well. Problem for a future century.”

“I’m game!” Adyson shouted, snapping out of her salamander delirium. “Never been on a train before, but who cares? Better than relying on ox jerky!”

“Man, I would’ve packed my mahjong board if I’d known we’d be taking a train,” Holly grumbled.

Isabella turned to the north, signaling Gretchen and Ginger to wave their fans behind her and produce a dramatic wind. “My name is Princess Isabella, and we’re going to defeat you once and for all, Doofus Khan! You won’t pillaging anything by the time we’re through with you!”

[peachyteabuck]

6 sentence wip challenge

I was tagged by @spacelabrathor , my fellow heathen 

Rules: share 6 sentences from a WIP and tag 6 others. I’m going to do about a paragraph bc i have a tendency to write garbage. and nothing makes garbage better than MORE GARBAGE (mwahahaha) (i am very tired and my brain is broken excuse whatever the fuCk i just typed)

1. 

Natasha sits in a large, golden throne with deep red velvet forming a plush seat and something to rest her back on. Dressed in her formal, silken gown, with her fire-red hair and makeup done to absolute perfection, she looks like the archetype one pictures when one hears the word “monarch.” A strict ruler, she mercilessly commands her army to take whatever land she so pleases. Sometimes she perceives these lands as possible threats, other times she’s just bored. Either way, she always gives direction that includes the plundering of riches and looting of treasures.

Today, that includes you.

Trapped in a cage with your arms and legs bound as to keep you on your back, you’re presented to her in the dirty clothes you were kidnapped in. The previous hour she had been attending a meeting about crop rotation, a horrendously boring subject that has Natasha’s eyes glazing over and back slumped. As the royal spots you, though, helpless and scared, she perks up.

2. 

Stark doesn’t give any indication that he heard, let alone cares, about your sarcastic comment. “I’m assuming that should put me back in good spirits with you and the rest of your crew?”

Odinson walks to your side, head hung in shame and hair tied in a tight bun.

You consider it, but you have to make sure the merchandise lives up to the box, so to speak. “Down,” you command. Immediately, he drops to his knees. “Oh, yes. This will do just fine.” The last two words are long, forgetting to finish them as your mind travels to all the things you could do with him.

3. 

Anyone who knew Lance Tucker when he was still competing knows that he’s a stuck-up asswipe of a gymnast, and he only got worse when he began coaching. A control freak with a God complex, the man will push any button to remain in charge of any and all situations that he is involved in. The man is focused on his fame (or, more accurately, the perception of fame) than anything else, especially the feelings of other people.

In short, he’s a total, utter dick.

God, you’re totally and completely in love with him.

4. 

That’s when you see another message from her.

I know you’re reading these, little one. Don’t run from Mommy.

You suck in a breath, unable to respond. It takes forever for you to craft a response.

Tell me more, Mommy. Please.

Natasha happily obliges.

You know what my absolute biggest fantasy is? Me and some other top just domming the hell out of you. Passing you around, leaving bruises all of your pretty little body.  You’d be so cute, just mewling and whining under us. Maybe we’d both fuck you at the same time, stretching your pretty little holes to the max.

This woman is about to be the death of you.

I’d love that, Mommy

After you see that message has been sent, you start to pack up your stuff. You text her you’re about to start your walk home, but before you can stash your phone in your backpack you see another text.

Don’t worry, Mommy’s got you. I’m right outside.

5. 

“When do you think we’ll actually get the cat?” Sam questions.

“Can we get one of those dumb orange boy cats?” Clint requests.

“Do you think the Hulk would like the kittens?” Bruce muses.

“I want a black one,” Bucky states plainly.

“He wasn’t scared of me!” Wanda exclaims.

It’s hard to parse apart their words, so you just tell them, “Relax, and do your best to convince Tony that we should get one,” and leave to go to do some work in your office. You get through about half your to-do list when you hear a hesitant knock on your door.

“Come in!” you call, not looking up until you hear the deep voice that always sends you into a frenzy.

“I was, uh, I was meeting with Stark and he, uh, he mentioned that you had a, uh...I believe he called it a ‘cat visit?’”

You nod, a little confused. “Yeah…”

“I need...I was wondering…” Thor pauses to collect his words.

6. 

Thor’s nervousness is replaced by confusion. “Ritual?”

You sigh happily, chest fluttering with excitement. “Yes, the ritual!” You squeal. “Every time a monarch is bred it requires a ritual so that the Gods protect the baby from harm.”

“What does the ritual entail?” he asks, tone a blend of genuine curiosity and possible fear.

“Guess you’ll have to find out,” you murmur, smirking.

Thor snorts. “You’re very bad at being coy, you know.”

You shrug, moving to turn off the light next to your bed. “But you’re the one bound and on my floor, so I feel it doesn’t matter.”

//

tagging: @noire-griot @ringpop-poppy @sweatybarnes @amcsummersgoddess @rogrsnbarnes @crypticavengers 

[theblackbooknerd]

Game Of Thrones: Season 7 episode 6 non spoiler review: Starkbowl, The blue eyed army, Jon Snow (King of my heart), A dragon or two, A tale of the hammerless Gendry, A love song for Tormund and me being absolutely done with Game of Thrones. Because I'm not ready to die and the show wants to kill me.

Note: Even though this is a non spoilery review, it may contain spoilers which will be noted/indicated before they are revealed. All thoughts are just my personal observations and opinions.

Firstly, let’s talk about Arya and Sansa- because that’s some BS right there and I can’t even; at first, I thought Arya and Sansa were playing littlefinger. But from this episode, I am now unsure. D&D, do you truly expect me to believe that these two sisters who haven’t seen each other in years, believed most of their family members to be dead and had no one and nowhere to call home would honestly be fighting like this? I can understand if there were only a slight atmosphere of distrust and/or caution- they didn’t get along even as children and of course now that they’re grown up they’d be trying to get a better feel of eachother, but all full blown bloody starkbowl is not what I had in mind. I mean [SPOILER] Arya (essentially) only threatened to kill Sansa [SPOILER] by saying she could wear her face (can you wear the face of someone living?). I mean maybe threatened is too harsh a word? But Arya’s intention in that scene was certainly to intimidate Sansa. It was working very well. But bravo to my Sansa (Queen of my heart and my Kings heart), for standing her ground. My point is, I find this very unrealistic and if it’s not a ploy planned by my Stark girls, I very well hope they band together in the end (which they will). I just want my baby’s to understand and recognise each others struggle and bloody love eachother.

Now let’s move on to the King of my heart: Jon “I am a King” Snow. Sigh. Jon oh Jon. Why oh why would you do that? No, seriously. I’m very very angry. I saw this coming of course ( I read the spoilers- shame on me). But I seriously can’t even comprehend what you think you’re doing. I WAS ROOTING FOR YOU, WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU. [MAJOR SPOILER] There was absolutely no need for you to “bend” the knee. She had promised to help you fight the white walkers. She was going to help you fight the blue eyed demons. Soooooooooooooo why did you do that. [Spoiler] My Queen- YOU ONLY KNOW ONE TRUE QUEEN IN THE NORTH WHO’S NAME IS STARK. Sigh. I don’t get where this sudden affection for Dani has come from. It was literally non existent before. It’s either due to his gratitude for her help. Orrrrrrrrr he’s playing the game. He’s killed the boy, recognised her great affection for him, and has decided to use it to his advantage. He’s killed the boy. Hopefully it’s that latter, but I can imagine it being a mix of both. Furthermore Jon Snow, I am very cross with you, but I love you and trust you enough to know that when we are at the end, your duty to the North, to your family, to your one true Queen Sansa Stark will override everything. Including Dani. You’re a man of your word Jon snow. A man of your word.

Ah, Dany. Now this episode, Dany’s character intrigued me immensely. I’m going to start with her wardrobe choice. When she went to help our gang, she transitioned back in to her lighter coloured clothing (to show that she’s actually doing something selfless for the first time in ages). But as soon as she gets back to the boat, she has changed back in to her darker attire (to represent the dark path she’s still walking on). Nothing in GOT is a coincidence, they’ve done this on purpose. To foreshadow. To mirror her actions. I repeat nothing is a coincidence. They even throw in the conversation with Tyrion. Tyrion’s begging her not to go- to do nothing. Not because he wants our blue-eyed demon fighting companions to die- oh no. He does it because he loves her and he’s scared and he doesn’t want to lose her. But Dani refuses. She has to go. She has to help them. Why is this conversation thrown in? I think it’s to give us hope. Last episode Tyrion and Vary’s are having that whole conversation where they are convincing themselves (mostly Tyrion) that what she did to the Tarly’s (my poor Dickon), was justified. When Tyrion says she isn’t her father, Vary’s replies she never will be with the correct consul. And here in episode 6, we perhaps see the earlier version of Dany. Helping people because she wants too, because she sees it as a duty, because it’s the right thing to do. Not the Dany we’ve been seeing recently: a Dani obsessed with the iron throne because she believes it’s her birth right (lol- R+L= J. Targbowl is really on the horizon). And it gives us hope. Perhaps she makes questionable decisions, but she is still good. Nope. As soon as we’re back on the boat, back in to her dark attire to represent her dark path. I mean think about it, [SPOILER], if they wanted to paint her as this truly good leader, why accept Jon bending the knee? If she had said no, I’ll help you either way, no my faith in her would’ve been fully restored. Because she’d be helping Jon not because she got something out of it, but because she recognises the threat the white walkers pose is too real to ignore. I have a love/hate relationship with Dany. I don’t hate Dany, I love her in the way that I love Cersei- not because she’s a good person, because she’s a complex one. When her and Tyrion discuss what happened with the Tarly’s, she calls it necessary. When Tyrion explains other ways they could’ve dealt with it- SHE DISREGARDS HIM. Sigh. There’s so much I could say about Dani but honestly, I’m just not bothered.

The blue eyed army- also known as the White walkers. This paragraph will include spoilers in essentially every sentence, so I suggest you just skip this one. Okayyyyyy- let’s talk about The King of the Blues- or the night King. Whatever. Same thing. This guy is BADASS OKAY. [SPOILERS FROM HERE UNTIL THE END OF THE WHITE WALKER PARAGRAPH] The way he killed Viserion on his first attempt? Yeahhhhhh byeeeeeee. Dude’s just too cool for school. He’s too cool for the North. He’s just cool in general to be honest. I really can’t wait until season 8 and the rest of the books to find out what the WW’s true purpose is. I’m really interested to find out. They really killed my baby Benjen. Who deserved so much more in life- YOU SEE JON. BENJEN DIDN’T DIE FOR YOU TO BEND THE FRICKING KNEE. YOU POMPUS SWINE. YOU ATTRACTIVE BEAST. YOU PANTY DROPPER. Sigh. Jon Snow, King of my heart- he knows nothing. But the White walkers are seriously such an interesting aspect of the show and now that they have a dragon on their side, it’s about to get very very interesting. The wall’s coming down. And the war’s about to begin.

Tormund and a splash of The Hound- I just love Tormund and thought it was wrong to write a review and not mention him. I love him and all the cute things he said about Brienne. And his observation of the Hound was bloody spot on (the hound is another interesting character). [Slight dialouge SPOILER]. “I don’t think you’re really mean, your eyes are sad.” [SPOILER] I just thank the God’s (the old God’s and the new), that they kept him alive as it was a very very close call.

The Hammerless Gendry- A tale: A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BLOODY GENDRY THE HAMMERLESS who indirectly saved our gang. Whom is already loyal to his future “brother” (mwahahaha) in-law and the KITN (forever and always) Jon snow. Who could’ve died but kept running. The true hero of this episode: THE HAMMERLESS GENDRY. [SPOILERS AHEAD BUT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE HIS HAMMER IS READ ON] Okay, so we’ve captured a WW, just another day in the North you know- no bigie and we’re ready to return to perhaps not the comfort of dragonstone (we are essentially bloody prisoners), but definitely as far away from the blue eyed ones as possible when we find ourselves surrounded by the army. YAY. Bloody brilliant. So what does Jon who knows nothing Snow do. We send our most capable rower- sorry- runner to run back to Dadvos (I do love Daddy Davos) and get a Raven to Dragonstone stat. At first, he refuses to leave bro in-law but Jon tells him he’s the only one who can do it. So he begins to run when The Hound stops him, says he’ll be faster without the hammer and so (hesitantly), Thor- I mean Gendry- entrusts the hammer with The Hound (guess he’s worthy). And that my friends, is how Gendry the Hammerless lost his hammer. And he’s a bloody hero for it. If Gendry didn’t get to Dadvos, Dani wouldn’t have known what was going on and therefore, they’d have been screwed. Gendry is the true hero.

My final thoughts: I enjoyed episode 6 thoroughly (apart from a few bits and bobs) and don’t know what I’m going to do next week when it all ends for maybe two years as opposed to one. It definitely gave me all the feels- I shouted, I jumped, I rolled my eyes, I almost cried (twice) and I got very very angry. I don’t understand where Jon and Dany popped out of but understand its necessity in the show in order to set up Targbowl, The (inevitable) Northern revolt and the fulfilment of Dany’s prophecies (three mounts you must ride… three fires you must light). I can tell Dany is smitten with Jon. Couldn’t say the same for Jon until this episode (poor Jorah). I’m happy the gang is safe for now. And I am impatiently awaiting the arrival of Sam and Gilly at Winterfell. Littlefinger death shall be immensely satisfying. Can’t wait for this foolish Starkbowl to end. The meeting at KL is going to be epic. Dany vs Cersei. Brienne and Jamie reunion. Euron shows his face maybe? A flipping R+L=J REVEAL WOULD BE GREAT. And yeah. I have too many feelings to type coherently, but overall, I quite enjoyed that episode.

I’m on book two of The Ice And Fire series: a clash of kings. And so far, I am enjoying them immensely.

[booksbroadwaybbc]

Lets Transform Ourselves (Week 1 Completed!) via /r/selfimprovement

Lets Transform Ourselves (Week 1 Completed!)

Background information:

I'm a 20 year old Middle-eastern guy who's very figgity, impulsive and really only thinks about the short term benefits of everything. I used to be addicted to Gaming, but ever since i became 18 years old i decided to leave that part of me behind. I live in a lower-class home, we live off of welfare and I've had the fortune of being born with an above average-IQ which has led to me being able to go to university with a loan.

Last year 2017 December 17th I quit university, broke up with my girlfriend (whom i lived with for 4 months), ditched all my junky friends and moved back to my hometown.

So this is what I'll be doing every single day.

Waking up in the morning at 7:30 AM

Meditate for 10 minutes

Practise a skill/craft in my case Programming for 2 hours

Walk for 2 hours per day

Do 50 Pushups + 180 Situps

Read a book (Currently : 4-Hour work week) for 2 Hours

Go cycling for 1 hour

Be hygienic

Eat clean and track the calories that i'm taking in

I've got some good news.I decided to create a subreddit purely dedicated on your daily goals and progression it's called"dailyprogression" And it was created for that sole purpose of sharing your goals and let others into your day to day routines.It'll also motivate, inspire and energize people to take action of their own.I'll be posting on /selfimprovement and on /dailyprogression from now on so it's going to be double.And On this reddit you can post pictures, links etc. which is going to be very handy for me since I do have pictures of my body and a whiteboard where you can see the actual progression.

Log of 11th of August 2018 - Current time 20:14 PM :

As I said yesterday I was going to add a few more habits to the list which were : waking up early(7:30 AM) and cycling for an hours worth.I'm very glad I did because I ended up waking at 7:30 AM as planned ! which is honestly mesmerizing, i didn't think it'd happen as i'm a very deep sleeper, but my sister got me to wake up by freaking throwing a bottle of water at me (Yes she is a psycho).

I did my little morning routine, you know the usual breakfast,brushing teeth,vshowering and then killing a mosquito .Super casual, only this time of course at 7:30 AM which is a bit different for me right now i'm still trying to get used to the fact that i'm going to bed way earlier (11:30 PM) and waking up at school-time for most children.But yeah after I did that i didn't start with anything, I had to check my E-commerce offers and reply some customer E-mails and boy did that take me some time. I was at it for 2 hours before i could start with the next thing on the list which is Meditation.

My meditation session today was terrific as usual, I start of nagging at meditating because I don't wanna do nothing for 10 minutes (ironically enough) and end up really enjoying it and not regretting that nothingness.Most people are so busy every single day with getting shit done that they're not really living in the present.And that's exactly what meditation does to you, it puts you into the present and you'll be able to focus a lot better during the day.Today's meditation was a bit different than the other days (like every other day), I had to really let me thoughts go wild on me frequently and then coming back to the breath and counting it, usually you do this one time in a session.This time it was about 4 times where the speaker told me to just let me thoughts run wild, which is exactly what happened and I observed the thoughts.Observing thoughts is interesting, it's like listening to someone talk it'll help you gather information to work with.Anyways after that I just went right back to the computer (i'm a nerd) and started my programming session(haha).

So Programming is really a taboo nowadays, I've been called an IT nerd in the past and most girls really think it's awful that I do it.even my dentist looked at me very strangely when i told her I was programming and creating websites and so on.Maybe i should quit... Nah just kidding I love programming and i will never let this passion go mwahahaha :)So jokes aside my programming "session" was really really good, i learnt so many new things about the language "javascript" it's obviously not a real language but a programming language.It's used to make websites more interesting by adding better and more complex features to it.Today I learnt how to add variables to websites, which really all it is information packaged into a "box" and this box would be a word or something you could call "bacon" or "penis"(haha).All in all it went super great.

On to exercise ! this is my favourite part of the day as I get to listen music, walk into parks and into the city and be around people (well not really but you get what i mean).This was a definite game changer as i didn't feel any soreness during the walk only energy building up inside me waiting to burst out. During the walk I bought something, New headphones wooohooo !!!Cheap JBL headphones that look tiny in comparison to my head, but man are they better than the 2 year old earphones that I've been using.I managed to walk for about 1:45 Hours and wasn't really satisfied with the length of the walk, but it did flow my boat.

After the long walk i per usual went to the hall next to my room and started doing my daily pushups and situps.Man I'm getting REEALLY good at these, my little brother and his 7 year old friend recorded me doing some push-ups and you can see the video on /dailyprogression + pictures of my body progressing.I added a new exercise to my sit-ups which is the plank, you go into the pushup position but you put your arms close together and just stay there put, for about 30 seconds to a minute.You might think that it sounds simple, but oh my god is it fucking hard, you should try it right now.

Chest and Abs trained I decided to go cycling right away and just pump my energy level up to heights unheard of.I was biking about 35 KM/hr and my max speed was 40km/hr (professional cyclists bike this on an average basis).and gosh i felt like my body was in some kind of way orgasming, there was sweat dripping from my limbs and sweat everywhere on my back and arms, it felt soo amazing and I didn't wanna stop but I had to as my legs got really numb.Now it's about 17:00 PM and I start to read, but then i get distracted... and again.. and again...So i just go downstairs, have some diner with my family and try to do it again !But i kept getting distracted again... And I watched my first episode of dexter of the day (episode 1 of season 5) R.i.P Rita :(

But yeah I didn't read much, about 10 pages and then i stopped because i felt like i overworked myself...I'm starting to get circles around my eyes because of this hardwork and restlessness and I'm going to take a break from exercise tomorrow else my legs will litterly tear apart.I've been neglecting my little brother who wants my attention so i'll give some to him tomorrow and only do the necessary things to make my day.

And as always, thanks for reading please leave behind some feedback that'd do me well :)

Ps : tell me about your day, was it good, was it bad or just neutral :D

PSPS : I calculated the amount of calories I'd have to burn to reach the weight I desire.

Currently i weigh 179 LBS and I want to be around the 125 LBS range.I track my calories every single day and i take around 2000 kcal in consumption and with the exercise I do i burn about 1000 kcal.If i keep going this rate, i'll be 125 LBS in about 6 months.Burning 30.000 kcals a month and losing like 8 LBS per month, jesus christ that's a fuck ton but man this is going to be big. (or small since weight loss n all)

Submitted August 11, 2018 at 09:45PM by AttackPrince via reddit https://ift.tt/2ntArtd

[f4liveblogarchives]

Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #103

Mon April 2 2018 Note: The timecodes are kinda screwy on this one, since I had to move some stuff around to make conversations flow better. Just ignore it. [22:59:43] <Wackd> Alright so here we go. Bold first step into a post-Kirby world. [23:01:32] <Wackd> John Romita Sr. continuing the bold tradition of most facial expressions being completely fucking horrifying. I think Crystal's dislocated an eyeball.

[23:02:04] <MousaThe14> Wow... those are... definitely faces of surprise [23:02:27] <MousaThe14> That is Sue, right? She doesn’t... I dunno, I feel like she looks different [23:02:55] <Wackd> So, when last we left these guys, Magneto was trying to manipulate Namor into starting a war with the surface world. He was also covertly attacking NYC with Atlantean technology. [23:03:04] <maxwellelvis> The Fantastic Four have no noses. How do they smell? [23:03:35] <Wackd> Namor is not having any of this bullshit. [23:03:45] <Wackd> 1. He doesn't want any of his own people to die needlessly. [23:04:04] <Wackd> 2. He also doesn't want any of the surface dwellers to die needlessly. [23:04:14] <MousaThe14> He’s a grown up now [23:04:29] <MousaThe14> He Imperious Rexes responsibly [23:04:29] <Wackd> 3. It's starting to feel an awful lot like Magneto is calling the shots around here and you can imagine he's not thrilled about that. [23:04:37] <maxwellelvis> This represents a problem for Magneto, I expect, especially like that second point. [23:05:24] <Wackd> Meanwhile, in the Baxter, Reed is contacting the Pentagon, hoping to get a hold of the President to make sure he can keep him from doing anything rash. [23:05:49] <Wackd> And as we all know, if anyone behaves rationally and responsibly when he feels threatened, it's Richard Nixon. [23:06:41] <Wackd> BEN: "Nuts! The way our luck's been runnin' lately--he'll be out to lunch, and we'll end up with Spiro!" [23:06:44] <MousaThe14> Richard Nixon: a Man You Can Trust [23:06:58] <MousaThe14> ... Spiro? [23:07:03] <Wackd> Nixon's VP. [23:07:14] <Wackd> You might remember him being a headless body in Futurama. [23:07:40] <MousaThe14> Not even that [23:08:05] <MousaThe14> Kissinger is so much more famous I thought he was VP [23:08:06] <maxwellelvis> What exactly was Kissinger's position, again? [23:08:12] <maxwellelvis> Weird. [23:08:21] <Wackd> So, uh, naturally, the Pentagon isn't down with Plan "Sit Around And Wait for Reed Richards to Fix Everything". [23:08:39] <Wackd> Even though, traditionally, this is a pretty sound strategy! [23:08:48] <MousaThe14> Indeed [23:09:22] <Wackd> So Johnny has the brilliant idea to fly off and try to fight Namor off. [23:09:45] <MousaThe14> Ha ha ha, classic hot head Johnny [23:09:58] <MousaThe14> Brain the size of a walnut [23:10:33] <Wackd> Johnny normally has a way to fucking make his flames cool enough that he can carry his girlfriend around and stuff! It's bullshit, but it's CONSISTENT bullshit, there's LITERALLY nothing stopping Johnny from just leaving.

[23:11:16] <Wackd> ...wait, aren't Johnny and Reed's suits made of the same stuff? Unstable molecules! Even if Johnny didn't have his bullshit "cold fire" or whatever Reed would be fine! [23:11:24] <Wackd> Go make dumb decisions, Johnny! Be freeeeeeee [23:11:30] <maxwellelvis> Reed isn't wearing a mask. [23:11:44] <Wackd> ...uh, no, he isn't? [23:11:49] <Wackd> Is that...relevant somehow? [23:11:50] <maxwellelvis> Exactly. [23:12:00] <maxwellelvis> Meaning it isn't covered. [23:12:06] <maxwellelvis> Meaning it isn't fireproof. [23:12:13] <Wackd> But Reed isn't grabbing Johnny with his FACE. [23:12:21] <Wackd> He's using his ARMS. He's wearing GLOVES. [23:12:21] <maxwellelvis> But he can shoot flames [23:12:50] <Wackd> Yes but that's at will! Is Johnny afraid he's going to accidentally fire flames at Reed's face from like twenty feet away? [23:15:23] <MousaThe14> They’re made of the same stuff but they’re adapted differently [23:15:44] <MousaThe14> The unstable molecules are bonded to a specific type of structure based on prolonged exposure [23:15:45] <Wackd> I guess that's fair. My complaint about Johnny's bullshit cold fire stands, though. [23:16:02] <MousaThe14> Oh yeah, of course, cold fire is stupid [23:16:14] <Wackd> No, the fact that Johnny suddenly doesn't have it is stupid. [23:16:15] <MousaThe14> So are flame lassos, for the record [23:16:17] <Wackd> I mean yes, but. [23:16:23] <Wackd> You get my point. [23:16:27] <MousaThe14> Yes I do [23:16:40] <MousaThe14> Consistency is for other comic writers [23:18:30] <Wackd> So like as we edge into the end of the Stan Lee years, I want to note some improvements. Because the guy, rightly, gets a lot of shit for being sexist, but towards the end here we see him start to change a little. Like, the idea that Sue would 1. be useful in a fight and 2. isn't being kept out of danger but is given the option to join the fight later are both things we would've never seen in the early 60s.

[23:19:32] <Wackd> Is it still bullshit that Sue's the one being sent to deliver Franklin upstate, when Ben's an ace pilot and Johnny can friggin fly? Of course it is. But it's less bullshit than most of the indignity Sue's suffered. [23:20:24] <Wackd> And the fact that Crystal consistently kicks some serious ass without being condescended to (except that one time) counterbalances things a little. [23:22:17] <Wackd> OH C'MON, STAN, I WAS BEING NICE! WHY MUST YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME REGRET BEING NICE?

[23:22:51] <Wackd> This isn't me doing shtick for the record! I legit hadn't seen this panel when I gave Stan that pat on the back! [23:23:51] <Wackd> I mean okay fine, 1. he's claiming manning the comms is actually important and 2. Crystal's not buying it. NEVERTHELESS COME THE FUCK ON

[23:24:53] <Wackd> "I can see eternity and the end of all things, mommy"

[23:25:05] <Phantomwoman> why must you be like this Stan [23:25:20] <Phantomwoman> oh I blame the lack of colour in the irises [23:25:35] <Phantomwoman> also the fact they don't know how to draw children [23:25:49] <Wackd> He's got such DEFINED cheekbones. [23:25:52] <maxwellelvis> Wackd: "IT'S NOT PRETTY!" [23:26:18] <Wackd> Reed, off of Johnny/Ben banter: "Quit clowning, you two! This may be our most fateful mission!" [23:26:35] <Wackd> uh reed you literally once stopped the earth from being eaten by threatening to blow up the universe [23:26:38] <Wackd> but okay [23:27:13] <MousaThe14>  Reed has no sense of scale [23:28:10] <Wackd> So. Reed, Johnny, and Ben are heading towards Namor, and Magneto fires a missile at them without Namor's permission. [23:28:23] <MousaThe14> Which is strange for a scientist to not have [23:28:32] <Wackd> Namor flies out to stop the thing and Johnny assumes Namor must be GUIDING it, because okay. [23:28:48] <MousaThe14> Brain the size of a peanut [23:29:27] <Wackd> "I COMMAND YOU ALL...TO *DAB*! MWAHAHAHA!"

[23:29:57] <maxwellelvis> I think that's the Flop [23:30:12] <Wackd> So, Reed successfully counterfired the missile, but it knocked Namor out. [23:30:53] <maxwellelvis> Why do I get the feeling this is leading to more WaCkY mIsUnDeRsTaNdInGs? [23:31:02] <MousaThe14> My god, Magnetism being used for magneting things [23:31:28] <MousaThe14> Wacky misunderstandings are the bread and butter for soap operas aka Stan Style [23:31:49] <Wackd> "I cannot delay, Mrs. Harkness! I have to join my husband!" "Yes, dear, I know." "You--know?"

[23:33:15] <Wackd> "Yes, some day she will know. Know about the three-headed wolf that will devour the moon, and the rivers of blood, and the shattering of the Earth like a raw egg." "What was that, dear boy?" "Googoo gaga." [23:33:21] <MousaThe14> ....? Did she not know they were superheroes? [23:33:37] <Wackd> Yeah I mean I was assuming she was just watching the news. [23:33:45] <Wackd> But nah she's got, like, hidden knowledge I guess. [23:33:54] <maxwellelvis> She'd have to be PRETTY thick to not think that with their uniforms and Ben being a rockmonsterman [23:34:06] <maxwellelvis> I don't think Agatha has a television. [23:34:39] <Wackd> So Sue flies back to to the fight and NATURALLY MAGNETO IMMEDIATELY DESTROYS HER SHIP, KNOCKS HER OUT, AND HOLDS HER HOSTAGE. [23:34:40] <MousaThe14> It’s not fair for her to judge that he’s a superhero, for all she knew Ben could’ve just had a horrendously malforming skin condition [23:35:04] <MousaThe14> You can’t assume being hideously misshapen means you’re a superhero [23:35:12] <MousaThe14> ... God dammit Stan [23:35:17] <maxwellelvis> She's a 400 year old witch, I think she'd have some way of knowing who her new clients are. [23:35:19] <MousaThe14> You had Sue rush off to be a superhero [23:35:25] <MousaThe14> You were doing so well [23:35:31] <MousaThe14> For like ten second [23:35:31] <Wackd> I could've done the "Stan's improving!" shpiel so many other issues! When Sue erected that giant force field around the Latverian rebels! When Crystal kicked the ass of hundreds of killer robots single-handedly! [23:35:46] <Wackd> But NOOOOOOO I HAD to do it THIS ISSUE. [23:36:03] <Wackd> *siiiiiiiiiigh* [23:36:07] <MousaThe14> Old habits die hard [23:36:20] <Wackd> Oh and of course given that Stan's only doing the dialogue I gotta give John Romita Sr. some shit for this as well. [23:36:22] <MousaThe14> Progression isn’t s straight line, it’s usually a curvy zigzag [23:36:36] <Wackd> He decided not to draw Crystal into the fight scenes, he decided to draw Sue getting kidnapped. [23:36:46] <MousaThe14> Also true [23:37:10] <Wackd> At least when Kirby was around Stan had to jump through hoops to make his bullshit play. Randomly insert Reed ordering Sue to do the awesome shit she occasionally did. [23:37:25] <MousaThe14> The Marvel Method: “We’re ALL To Blame!” [23:38:13] <MousaThe14> Stan and Jack had that kind of relationship, John Sr’s here to work [23:39:18] <Wackd> Speaking of Kirby, Romita's been inserting some Kirbyisms into his art, mostly in the form of needlessly complex machinery. Here, I think, he demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of what Kirby dots are for.

[23:39:29] <MousaThe14> They were loathsome besties, their greatest enemy, wouldn’t make comics any other way, until they did decide to make comics any other way because it turned out the other guy was a pain in the patella [23:40:01] <maxwellelvis> Romita had worked with Stan in the past, too. [23:40:07] <maxwellelvis> For several years at this point. [23:40:09] <Wackd> Like, I feel like Ben making a whirlpool with raw strength isn't really a Kirby dot kinda situation? But eh. I dunno if Kirby himself was ever that specific about it, so. [23:40:14] <MousaThe14> ... Can Ben do that? [23:40:30] <MousaThe14> I mean technically he can because he’s doing it not but uh [23:40:31] <Wackd> Ben can do whatever honestly. Any caps on his strength have always been kinda bullshit. [23:40:35] <maxwellelvis> Romita had had a long run on Spider-Man, I think it was still ongoing when he was drawing this? [23:40:54] <maxwellelvis> I thought the only cap on his strength was "Not as strong as the Hulk" [23:41:05] <Wackd> Yeah but that's, like. [23:41:07] <Wackd> Infinity minus one. [23:41:26] <MousaThe14> Maybe it’s because I’m me but I always feel like there’s gotta be an upper limit just based on what or who you are [23:41:28] <maxwellelvis> But to balance that out, he's faster, smarter, and more skilled. [23:41:47] <Wackd> Honestly, the fact that the Hulk is always having pissing matches with THOR is a good illustration of what kind of hole the Four have left in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. [23:42:22] <maxwellelvis> Well, that's actually been a thing in Marvel since LONG before the MCU was even a twinkle in Avi Arad's eye. [23:42:32] <Wackd> Sure, but, like. [23:42:40] <Wackd> The BIG contest has always been between Ben and Hulk. [23:42:42] <Wackd> We all know this. [23:42:51] <MousaThe14> Oh yeah obviously [23:43:07] <Wackd> Like, for Ben it's PERSONAL. [23:43:28] <MousaThe14> Hulk is the closest thing to a human man that Ben can punch. [23:43:34] <Wackd> So he loses pretty handily. [23:43:39] <MousaThe14> They have to escalate Hulk to get on Thor’s level [23:44:16] <Wackd> Yeah no the thing about Thor vs Hulk is that it's always been kinda dumb. Hulk has incredible strength but he's still just a mortal. [23:44:27] <Wackd> Whereas Ben and Hulk, in theory, always have a level playing field. [23:44:32] <MousaThe14> Exactly [23:45:06] <maxwellelvis> That's why they always have something about Hulk, like how his strength rises as he gets angrier, and his inhumanly fast healing. [23:45:32] <maxwellelvis> Also Ben can't do that superjump the Hulk can do. [23:43:24] <Wackd> So, Namor/Thing fight. Here's a clever thing I never woulda considered: water pressure's not great for Ben! [23:44:56] <Wackd> So Namor leaves Ben to drown so he can go back to his ship, which Magneto has hijacked. [23:44:11] <MousaThe14> Yeah fair enough, Underwater is underwater no matter why you’re made of [23:45:10] <Wackd> But before Namor can act on that, Johnny's on his tail. [23:45:35] <MousaThe14> Leave to drown but also even if Namor was inclined to save him, what was he going to do, drag Ben to shore? [23:45:52] <Wackd> Or to, y'know. [23:45:52] <maxwellelvis> There's a part in the Two-In-One Annual where Ben grumbles about this. [23:45:57] <Wackd> The ship Reed and Johnny are flying around in. [23:46:05] <Wackd> That'd be good. [23:46:23] <Wackd> Ben maybe you shoulda thought of this before you wisecracked underwater.

[23:46:27] <MousaThe14> I guess I’m underestimating Namor’s lifting power [23:46:57] <Wackd> Namor apparently just kind of assumes Ben can breath underwater, since he's superhuman. [23:47:21] <MousaThe14> I can sort of buy that if one assumes Ben is rock all the way through [23:47:30] <Wackd> ...it's kind of weird that Reed, when stretched, has seemingly infinite tensile strength. Like, I just thought of this. That's weird, right? [23:47:44] <MousaThe14> And what would Namor about Ben’s biology? [23:47:49] <Wackd> Like, he's not a shapeshifter, he's just got kind of a rubbery thing going on. [23:47:50] <MousaThe14> It is weird [23:48:13] <Wackd> If he can haul Ben's entire weight up from under god knows how much water pressure...is...is Reed STRONGER THAN BEN? [23:48:19] <MousaThe14> Yeah? I always thought it was unusual, I had always thought Reed shouldn’t be, you know, like Plastic Man [23:48:38] <MousaThe14> Technically, yes he would be [23:48:55] <MousaThe14> I mean, he’s not tearing or straining at all [23:49:18] <MousaThe14> Which is weird considering there’s supposed to be a “Reed losing his powers” subplot going on long term [23:49:30] <maxwellelvis> There is? [23:49:43] <Wackd> Not during these issues, surely? [23:49:57] <Wackd> I would've noticed! I'm pretty attentive in these specific circumstances! [23:50:18] <MousaThe14> Maybe I’m too early, but I know that there’s supposed to be, like, occasional instances where Reed starts having trouble with his abilities [23:50:32] <Wackd> He shouldn't worry about it. Four out of five men-- [23:50:41] <MousaThe14_> Heheheheheh [23:50:44] <Wackd> --have trouble getting soft. [23:51:27] <MousaThe14> In a way, yes, he sort of gets stiff and stuff, I think it’s implied to be aging [23:51:42] <MousaThe14> But I guess that starts in the next author’s time [23:51:44] <maxwellelvis> Poor Stretch Armstrong [23:51:52] <MousaThe14_> Roy Thomas, right? [23:52:04] <Wackd> We're not on Thomas for another...year, I think? [23:49:30] <Wackd> So Reed, Johnny, and Ben manage to restrain Namor, but release him when they find out Magneto's involved. [23:51:47] <Wackd> "How did THAT happen?" "Bad writing? Off-panel plot contrivance? Rampant sexism that will go unaddressed in the industry and indeed all of society for decades to come?"

[23:52:04] <MousaThe14> Lady who now? [23:52:15] <Wackd> Namor's on-again-off-again betrothed. [23:52:29] <maxwellelvis> Dorma, Namor's beloved who, I think the last time we saw her, tried to murder Sue out of jealousy? [23:52:30] <MousaThe14> She’s.... blue. [23:52:30] <Wackd> She's got a habit of leaving him or starting coups when she thinks he's going soft. [23:52:40] <maxwellelvis> All Atlanteans are blue. [23:52:43] <Wackd> Yeah most Atlanteans are. Namor's half-human is all. [23:52:44] <maxwellelvis> They're fish people. [23:52:45] <MousaThe14> Well at least she’s ambitious [23:52:49] <Wackd> Namor McKenzie. [23:52:54] <MousaThe14> Heheheheh [23:53:15] <MousaThe14> Still can’t believe he’s McKenzie. So unexpected [23:53:46] <MousaThe14> But yeah, I suppose having a GF that keeps you on your toes is something a hard head like Namor needs [23:53:50] <maxwellelvis> His father was, I think, a sea captain, who wound up falling in love with Namor's mother when she tried to infiltrate his ship or something. [23:54:25] <MousaThe14_> I mean, come on, tell me he isn’t the sort that needs his SO to betray him on occasion just to keep the job and relationship interesting [23:53:39] <Wackd> So, Reed and Namor need to decide what to do, and that's our cliffhanger. [23:54:21] <Wackd> Stop treating women like the possessions of their husbands, Johnny. Especially your sister. Gross.