#gonna try and make one of these for all the shadows and then ost them all together

[grooviestsadpapaya]

First post of 2025 YEAH ok. Kinda a wip

[watchinglikeafangirl]

Only Friends or OnlyFans? (I swear they knew what they were doing when naming that show)

Because I was so mindblown, I went back to Only Friends and it truly is a very strong pilot episode. Especially the first scenes before the intro hits. It tells us everything we need to know about the characters and their dynamics.

But first, let's talk about the intro with the legendary OST. We see every character as themselves and every couple we're gonna follow throughout this show. And whilst every pairup is shown, the way they sit or the way light shines on them, already tells us a bit about what we can expect to happen later on. Sand leans down towards Ray as if they're gonna meet somewhere in the middle pretty soon. They change each other. Nick and Boston are very touchy and their faces are close. Nick is a bit brighter than Boston but not by much. They already are at a wavelength they know and like. And then there's Mew and Top on this sofa and Mew is very much in the spotlight. It hits his face directly and makes him look rather 2 dimensional while Top is in the shadows behind him - maybe even in Mew's shadow.

As I was scolling through Tumblr yesterday, many people said they expect Mew to turn out as a pretty badass and outsmarting person and after this rewatch I absolutely see something coming. He doesn't answer questions and is presented as socially smart but wait, I have to sort my thoughts and notes. It's a mess

Introduction

First of all, the first scenes are amazing. We are thrown right into a bar where the friends will gather again to go home. We meet Mew and Cheum and they are going to look for Ray and Boston. A random singer is shown but we don't know his name. Still, he's shown right in the beginning, he's gonna be important and then we cut to the bathroom where we meet Ray as a disshelfed drunk who fell asleep at the toilet. He's someone who knows how to hold his liquor but chooses to drink uncontrolably and he instantly mentions his father for no reason. It gives me daddy issues vibes but I could be wrong. Mew gets Ray before anything more can be said and the singer is left wondering what the heck that was about. Then we have Mew bumping into "the top tier" who immediately starts flirting. But Ray is not having it and protects Mew rather aggressivly which leaves me wondering if something is going on between Mew and Ray or if something once happened or if it's jealousy. The scene cuts and we see Boston flirting and trying to get a hook up but his friends arrive before anything happens and he drops his phone which is thankfully important later.

So, we're very quickly and effectively introduced to the four friends and two of their love interests. It's very intriguing and fast but things unfold later on and the little meetings and introductions of people make sense. Mew is pretty calm and laid back while Ray picks a fight as a compensation for his own issues. Sand, the singer, is feeling provocated by him and snaps while Top is the mysterious cool guy we all don't trust. And Boston is...yeah he's Boston and we don't get to know much about Cheum except she likes to dance.

Contrast

We are introduced to them partying but them standing in Ray's father's house after that humbles them a whole lot. Suddenly, they're just college students, they dream and they want to matter. They try to do something big and maybe bigger than they can handle while staying young and trying not to lose themselves in the process. The show draws this contrast very well. There are many small humbling moments when we see they're just going about their lives. It's nothing much but just lives as twenty year olds and sometimes they know what they want and who they are but in many moments they don't. Boston for example may find it fulfilling to fool around but we can see it's actually one of the only things that give him confidence. His confidence is wavering, just like Nick's. It can be let down very fast and boosted by small things. When they don't get what they want, it's irritating and it's a loss of control which shows Boston and Nick are both not that sure of themselves.

Growing up is learning that we can't always be in control of a situation but we can control ourselves and our actions. It's standing above things other people say about or to you and not waver everytime things don't go your way. Boston tries to control situations while Ray tries to figure out how to control himself but miserably fails. Since they go out partying every weekend, I'm 100% sure Ray knows when he has drunken enough but he feels so left out by himself that he can't control itand ends up half-passed out. I am sure he knew what he was doing when he sat in his car and he was grateful someone noticed. I think having the choice to drive the car even though he was that drunk, gave him some feeling of control again. Something he lost throughout the evening. I wouldn't say Sand makes him understand what it means to be in control of oneself but Sand is gonna be an important factor in Ray's journey of self-acceptance.

And Mew is an absolute riddle to me. The way he is presented differs a lot. When it's him and Top, it's all so calm and sweet and butterflies. But when they're not alone and when it's not his perspective alone, he hints he can "screen people" very quickly and doesn't answer after Ray asks if Top can be trusted. Something is definetly going on and Mew knows what Top's deal is. But the kitchen scene was so different. I wrote in my notes "Mew explains how he's gonna be too whipped after the sex while standing in the brightest light, having the heaviest filter on his face, looking very 2 dimensional...like a scene in a book and Top looks at him with stars in his eyes which I don't know if it's true feelings or what Mew wants him to look like." I've read a lot of posts saying Mew is probably gonna be the one stirring the drama and I totally see his potential in that matter but still, the scenes with Top alone are his perspective. He knows he shouldn't fall but does it anyway. He falls for Top's charms and sees more in the smiles than anyone else. All the other scenes with Top that aren't Mew's perspective are a lot different and a lot harsher in tone. I think at one point, Mew is gonna wake up from that dream of a lovely relationship and then turns 180 degrees to take shit down.

Character dynamics

There are these three people who seemingly don't know each other. Nick, Top and Sand are not part of the friend group but some seem to know each other. The dynamics or short gazes are kinda sus.

When Top takes the mic and makes this big guesture of asking Mew out, there is a very short moment when Sand looks very annoyed like he already knows what's coming. As if what Top is about to do "doesn't mean anything anyway", so...do they know each other?

Nick instantly corrected Boston when he called him "little bro" which indicates, he knows Boston. He knew who he was, he knew how old he is and later, he has a "naked" picture of Boston in his phone. How did he get that picture? Or did they hook up before and Boston just can't remember which would be painful to know but Nick seems to already like Boston... it's one of those "he fell first but he fell harder" stories.

The first scene, when Mew bumps into Top because Ray is not walking straight, Ray picks a fight as soon as Top begins to flirt. Does Ray know Top? Or did he at least hear from him? Or has it something to do with Mew? Ray is very protective of Mew which raises the question in me, if there were once feelings involved. Like was it once a one-sided crush or was it more than a crush and something actually happened between these two? They treat each other differently, there must be something in the past they share. Ray's rolling eyes at Top aren't just pure jealousy, it's something else as well, does he know Top?

Oh yes, of course, the legendary Top and Boston conversations at the side where Top is spilling lines that absolutely urk me and set off the alarms in my head. I love how Boston himself often has this facial expression of "what have I done" which makes me wonder how well top and he know each other. As far as I have seen, Top says something like "one time is enough for us", so they can't know each other that well. But the way they talk hints at some deeper history.

I am eager to know what is about to happen, how angsty and messy this will get and how these couples make their way. I secretly hope for two happy endings and one sad one where the couple doesn't stay together in the end because too much happened and they weren't right for each other after all. I would love that since the characters feel so real to me

[anime-grimmy-art]

Told you guys I’d ramble in due time.

I absolutely adore Bravely Default 2. It came at a really bad time cos I can’t waste 70 hours on a jrpg, but well, it’s too late to be concerned about that now. And as is tradition with me obsessing over a new game / show / whatever, you’ll basically find a fullblown review disguised as ramblings right under the cut. Be aware that I’m gonna talk about EVERYTHING, so spoilers are a given. Some maybe even for the previous Bravely Default games.

Also, if you wanna talk about this game in any capacity, hit me up, I’m DESPERATE to talk more about it.

Just for reference on how long this is gonna be, I made a voice recording while driving to remember all the points I wanna make, and that recording is almost 2 hours long. I did cut it down but still, this is gonna be a lot.

I’ll start off with the things that actually bugged me about the game, since there are only 3 things that really bothered me. First of, I really don’t like that you can name Seth. He has too much personality to be a self insert and player integration is not that big of a part in the game that this decision can be justified. It wouldn’t bother me that much if it didn’t leave a bad mark on the ending. First of all, we were robbed of Gloria desperately shouting for Seth, which makes the impact work less, and it’s just so prevalent that the name can’t be said because you have all the normal sound design going. If they’d just let the credits still play I wouldn’t have batted an eye, but because every other sound comes in it’s so obvious they’re just silently shouting in this scene, which makes it look silly. Like I said, this decision is more a detriment than an addition, and it’s a shame it casts a shadow on an otherwise heartfelt ending.

Speaking about lost potential, the other thing that really bothers me is the lost potential in certain plot points and character conclusions. I mainly mean Adam and Edna here. Both of them have been built up to be these formidable foes but they just, die. If it was just Adam I’d be fine with it, since you expect Edna to backstab him and be the actual big bad of the story, but I cannot fathom why they dropped Edna this HARD. If not Edna herself, I don’t understand why we don’t get more of a reaction from the Fairies and especially Adelle. I mean, Edna was her sole reason she left for her journey in the first place, then Edna dies and that’s it? No part where she grieves for a second? No concern from the others about Adelle? Mind you, I haven’t finished all the Sidequests, so maybe there actually is one in which this is addressed, but I think even just a Party Chat after Bad End 1 would have been sufficient to show how Adelle suddenly feels about the loss of Edna. It would have made Bad End 2 / The Secret Ending even more impactful, because, yeah, of course, you kinda know Adelle isn’t going to turn her back on fairy kind, but one of the reasons she doesn’t leave is because if Enda didn’t get a happy ending, then she shouldn’t either. It would have been amazing foreshadowing if she showed this sentiment before this scene happened. Other than that, it’s a shame that we know so little about Edna, or rather, how she became “bad”. I get she’s supposed to be corrupted by the Night’s Nexus, but how did it even come to this? It can’t have been a gradual thing, after all, Adelle says Edna was always good natured and then just disappeared one day. Really would have loved seeing more of that plot point.

Ok, last gripe I have, some choices in the soundtrack and sound design. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the OST, and I will get to that, but damn, whatever Revo used for the lead instrument in Wiswald hurts my ears. It’s a really good track, but I always have to turn down my volume because these high pitched sounds physically hurt. And for sound design. Dude, the Night’s Nexus is the least threatening, nightmare fueled abomination that ever existed. I get that its growl is kinda supposed to be layered with Edna’s or sth, but it, it just sounds silly. If they went the route of just swinging between different voices or began distorting it from phase to phase, it would have been fine. But the choice they made really made an otherwise creepy design just absolutely silly.

Ok, enough jammering, on to the good stuff. Like I said, there’s going to be a lot, so I’ll try to be brief in each aspect.

Gameplay

I honestly like the new battle mechanics more than the old ones. This individual, turn based system feels way more dynamic and it’s easier to strategies in battles. Because nothing made me more angry than setting up for a heal and the enemy suddenly being faster than me and killing my healer. Now it’s easier to plan ahead a bit.

I also found myself experimenting more with the jobs. Not sure what it really is, but none of the party members leaning more towards certain types of jobs and the job leveling being way faster probably helped.

And I know some people get up in arms because the boss sometimes can be a real pain in the ass (looking at you pope dude), I still found it very interesting getting around counters or even using these counters as a benefit. As an example, I made Adelle my main physical fighter and gave her lots of counter abilities to help her profit from being countered by enemies themselves. Now, she can attack enemies, get countered, automatically evade that counter and earn a BP at the same time. Made a lot of boss fights way easier and fun to exploit.

Music

Ok, I will try my best to be really, really brief, because in my recording this part takes up almost 40 minutes. Anyways, Revo might have just become one of my absolute favorite composers ever. I don’t know what kind of magic he used, but I initially wasn’t that impressed with the OST, but every time I listened to it, I just fell in love harder and harder. Before getting into specifics, I wanna highlight the two things that made me love this OST overall. First of all, this soundtrack almost seems like a refinement of BD’s. While losing some of that fairytale vibe, it sounds even more fantasy now. And in contrast to the original, this almost sounds more balanced? Like, BD’s OST felt high energy throughout, BD2’s on the other hand manages to find a good balance between high and low energy pieces. Like, the character themes or battle themes are absolute hype, but the overworld themes are a lot calmer and easier to listen to while exploring. Second big point that makes this soundtrack amazing is that Revo is an absolute god at using emotional progression/storytelling and leitmotifs in his songs. And heck, do I love myself my leitmotifs. You’ve got some obvious ones, like the final battle theme in which all the character themes and other leitmotifs are integrated. Then you got some maybe more subtle once, just like how the overworld themes are just the main theme, just a lot calmer and using the lead instruments of the towns of the areas.

But my absolute favourites gotta be the character themes and the main theme. I love how fitting the themes for the characters are and in general, each of them is such a bop. At first I prefered Elvis’, because I sure am a sucker for jazzy vibes, but over time Adelle’s became my fav. It’s just something about the trumpets, and how the theme almost sounds a bit melancholic and bittersweet, that drew me in. And considering her story, mostly her bad end, that the bittersweet tone really fits.

Then there’s the main theme. Just like BD’s it shouts “triumphant anthem” and it definitely gives you a very familiar vibe, but I’d argue it has even better emotional progression. Heck, the first time I heard the music start up in the reveal trailer, I didn’t have to look at the screen to know this is gonna be a BD game. Also, the credit song version had me weeping at the true end. I’m someone who’s very easily affected by music (if me shouting about soundtracks on this blog wasn’t proof enough) and just hearing that ending song, getting the after credits scene, just for the second credits to start as a freaking duet. Dude, at that point I just started sobbing, I’m not gonna lie. Just this little part showed how much Revo knows how to put emotion in a song and also write it in such a way that he can elicit strong, emotional reactions from you too. 

Story

People have been complaining how the story is too boring and kinda disappointing in comparison to the last one, but I just think the games tried to accomplish different things here. Since the BD series is a celebration of old, classic jrpgs, “cliche” storytelling is a given. Though, BD did throw a lot of meta stuff in there too. BD2 in contrast just feels like a direct execution of that initial idea. It feels familiar, it feels comfy and it feels safe. Except for the little things with the endings and then overwriting the Nexus’ “save file”, BD2 doesn’t really get that meta, which is totally fine. It doesn’t try to reinvent or innovate anything, it just wants to be a fantasy story, that might be cliche, but still fun and enjoyable in its own right.

I’d also argue that the pacing is a lot better than the old game, because with BD I sometimes found myself skipping through scenes to get on with the story. Not that this game didn’t have me rushing through stuff as well, but I found it kept my intrigue way better than the original.

Characters

Next to the music, this is the part that I absolutely love the most. While, yes, they did lose a lot of potential with some characters, mostly with the villains, the main cast is just so much fun. I love these 4 dorks so, so much.

I honestly can’t stand how much people compare them to the original cast. Yes, ofc, I’ve been doing my fair share of comparisons too, but calling these four a more boring version of BD’s party physically hurts me. Because except for some initial impressions, the Heroes of Light are completely different from our beloved Warriors of Light.

While yes, Seth and Gloria give off strong Tiz and Agnes vibes at first, they both grow into such different characters that they’re not really comparable. I think this shows with Adelle and Elvis even more. I do understand how people could compare Adelle and Edea, since they’re both the feisty girl type, but I can’t understand how people can see Ringabel and Elvis as the same character type. While those two are the “suave” party members, they act so differently from another. And that’s honestly apparent the first time you meet them. 

Anyways, I love these 4 so much.

We technically don’t know a lot about Seth at all, but they manage to pull so much out of just the fact that he’s a sailor, that it makes him really endearing, really fast.

I was kinda disinterested with Gloria at first, because again, the initial impression was Agnés2.0, but she grew on me a lot. Gloria is way more hard headed and honestly sassy in comparison to Agnés and I absolutely adore it.

Elvis. Elvis, my man. I love this fantasy scottosh wizard so, so much. He’s such a ridiculous character but so endearing at the same time. You got all this dorkiness, with him setting himself on fire as a student, him doing god knows what for a good drink or just laughing danger and prejudice in the face. But then you got his super empathetic and caring side. Mind you, most of his wise moments come from quoting Lady Emma, but still, as much as he’s hopeless with certain social situations, he’s actually still really good at reading the room and playing things smart. He’s a smart and powerful idiot, which makes him a danger to everyone and himself, and I love him for it. (I also can’t believe they called him Lesley I MEAN COME ON)

And then there’s Adelle. I liked her from the start, but I didn’t think she would stick out to me. I think now she’s my favourite character. Not even talking about all the stuff that happens in chapter 3 and onward, because these story threads are awesome in their own right, but there’s just something about her personality that’s interesting and appealing to me. Like I said, I’m not surprised people compare her to Edea, I did too at first, but while Edea walks very close to the line of a Tsundere, I was really surprised that Adelle is, well, not a Tsundere at all. Yeah, of course she’s putting Elvis down a lot, but that stems more from her preventing his ego from going to his head than her being all embarrassed. No, Adelle is actually really well adjusted when it comes to communication. While it’s hilarious that she and Elvis met with her chucking her shoes at him, the two just got along well right from the start. Adelle in general has this really open and helpful personality, but also doesn’t shy away from putting her foot down, even if that sometimes comes out as an embarrassed sputter. She’s also the mother hen of the group. She looks out for the other three and gets concerned about them real fast. 

I dunno, Adelle just really grew on me over the course of this game, and then her kinda being paired with Elvis too, as partners and as partners, makes me like her even more. Because as much as I like their personalities individually, I like their character dynamic even more. I honestly love the relationships between all four of them a lot. You really feel them grow closer as friends and all the little character sidequests just always made me really happy.

Conclusion

You might not believe me, but I really held back there. This could probably have been 3 times its length. As much as I love this game, it’s of course not perfect. It struggles and flails in some parts a lot and it certainly has some aspects that might turn people off. But for me, it was just a very familiar and comfy game that didn’t necessarily deliver anything new, but that told its story in such a way that it still got me excited to keep going. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and the conclusion of the story actually got me to cry. While not groundbreaking, this game is highly enjoyable and leaves you absolutely satisfied at the end.

Also, I would like to iterate that I am desperate to get more content about this game, so if you wanna chat about it, hit me up.

Anyways, anyone else felt like having a fever dream when everybody in chapter 2 started talking fantasy scottish? Cos I sure did.

[uwua3]

hello hello would it be okay to ask for some fluffy and romantic headcanons for tenma with a childhood s/o? they were both in the entertainment industry, but s/o is now playing music in a band (like bang dream!) thank you thank you!

hi anon~ of course!!! 🥺 i never actually got into rhythm beat games because i simply Lack The Talent to play them T___T please excuse me if i say anything wrong~

summary: tenma promised he’d perform with you at your first stadium show, but will he keep his word?

warnings: unhealthy/strict parents

author’s note: i incorporated So Much Stan Twt culture in this, i swear. please look forward to fanboy! tenma and this super cliché, cute headcanon with you as tenma’s first friend/crush!!! sunshine x sunflower couple rise up ♡ this may be slightly ooc + i used poppin’ party’s sunflower dreams lyrics towards the end!!!

word count: 6,795

music: sunflower dreams – poppin’ party

sunflower dreams!

🌻☀️ sumeragi tenma

you were born to be on stage

tenma remembered thinking that the first time he saw you singing into that off mic, absolutely living out your idol dreams in that music room with a guitar much too big for your tiny kid self

you and tenma were about eight years old, and that was the first time he had a crush on anyone before

it was elementary. tenma was already recognized country wide, he was the it child star of the decade, his fame catapulted him to great success early on with two acting parents in the entertainment business

but, why didn’t he have friends, then?

everyone he talked to as a child suddenly didn’t look at him the next day. every time tenma asked his parents, it was always the same answer: “they’ll do nothing for your career, focus on acting”

so when he found you sneaking into the music classroom and stealing one of the teacher’s guitars to use, strumming even if you didn’t know any notes, tenma hid behind the door as he listened

you had a voice made for stardom. you sang like you were performing for a stadium of thousands of fans, you did it confidently as if you’ve been in the industry for years, and you jumped around like this was the last song of your life

you loved music, and before you knew it, tenma became your first and biggest fan. he arrived at the same time everyday after school to sit outside the music practice room and hear you sing again

eight–year–old tenma didn’t know why he lied to his parents, claiming he was just catching up on schoolwork due to his acting career. his grades didn’t change, but it didn’t matter when he got to hide in the corner of the corridor and push his short frame to the ledge of the window to see you playing the guitar

one day, tenma was back again in his usual spot, standing on his tippy–toes to peek into the classroom as always, knowing he was in for a show for the next hour or so before his driver picked him up

it was supposed to be another regular one–man concert all for himself, where he applauded silently for the aspiring musician. but, as you were singing a song you had practiced for a while now, your eyes met his mid–strum of the guitar

you stumbled on your notes and fell silent, eyes wide at the bright orange hair that disappeared behind the wall instantly. before you could react, you heard the squeak of sneakers against the floor as a blur of the school uniform ran past the door and away into the hall

you recognized that face immediately, who wouldn’t? sumeragi tenma was the most popular elementary student ever in the district despite always being alone. you contemplatively stared at the spot where tenma hid, wondering how long he had always been there.

it was the next day and tenma was hesitant, nervousness taking over as his face flushed from yesterday’s events. he was so careless, he couldn’t believe he let himself be discovered like that! tenma rubbed his face, groaning with the stress of an adult as he stood at the entrance of the music hallway

it’s not like he could go anywhere else without getting in trouble, so here he was, returning to visit the school’s secret singer because he wanted to hear the music. but, he seemed like a stalker! tenma swore he just wanted to hear guitar (he pretended like you weren’t his first crush)

before tenma could become chicken and run away from the confrontation, he heard a few familiar notes before you began singing. the recognition kicked in as tenma creeped closer, poking his head around the open door frame with a curious look as you stood dancing around in the middle of the room, already smiling at him

you were singing the ost of the latest drama he was in!

did you learn it just for him? tenma was about to ask, but you ran over, not letting him get away this time as you tossed him a fake mic (which he embarrassingly almost didn’t catch)

were you asking for a duet? your guitar skills had gotten much better over time, in fact, little tenma couldn’t tell the difference between you and the professional who originally played it! tenma felt himself get into the music as you dragged him to the center, giving him an opening to join

tenma took it, and before you two knew it, there was no need to exchange any words as you two sang your heart out without any care in the world to the pop ost

for once in his life, tenma felt like this was what it was like having a friend! he always had those on screen, but this felt real. like, these were the childhood memories he always had to act out for the camera, just yelling lyrics loudly surrounded by instruments and a friend who learned his ost just to make him happy!

out of breath, tenma panted as you played the final notes, letting it hang in the air as the incoming warm air entered through the open windows. you two’s shadows struck final idol poses, like you were actually on stage

a moment of silence passed before you grinned, yelling a celebratory “yes!” as you held your hand out for a high five. tenma just weakly put his palm against yours, trying not to blush from the contact (was this what it was like, holding your hand?)

“dude, we need to start a band!” you exclaimed, not even looking tired as tenma wiped the sweat from his forehead with a grimance. maybe not the right decision if he didn’t have the stamina to be a chart–topping singer

“i... i don’t play any instruments—” tenma started shyly, wringing his hands together before you shook your head rapidly, putting your hands on your hips with an exasperated expression

“but we’re friends!” you insisted, not giving him time to answer as you threw him another water bottle (you had brought an extra, hoping tenma would come by again)

tenma stared at you, shocked as he gripped the water bottle between his small hands. friends? already? was... was this tenma’s first real friend? and his first band, apparently?

you rearranged your items, setting up your music sheets as you quickly glanced over the notes. you could sight read, and you learned it all by yourself, you were so talented, but you wanted to be friends with him?

when you lifted your head with a bright grin, passion within your eyes for music, tenma nodded with determination as he tightened his grip on the bottle. it was his first gift from his first friend

“yeah, we’re friends! let’s do it!” tenma said, watching as you cheered again and confidently high–fiving you this time (last second, you switched your hand to a fist and called it a ‘turkey’. whatever that was)

and that, was the start of the two–man duo band as tenma made his first friend (and crush)

you two grew up together, with tenma prospering in his fame as a multitalented child prodigy

despite his hard–earned popularity as an actor, tenma was never ever late to band practice! you two came to the unlocked music room every day after school, with props as microphones and animatedly daydreaming about stage costumes and the feeling of the lights upon your glowing faces

“do you ever dream about being on stage, ten?” you’d ask, gazing out at the sunset as you fiddled around with the drumsticks, attempting to pick up the beat as your eyes flickered from the orange sky to the worn down drums. tenma would just shrug, laying on the floor after a particularly hard song as he lazily strummed your favorite guitar

(this explained the callouses on your fingers despite being so young, you had rougher hands than him)

“i don’t know, i’m already on t.v.” tenma would justify, just staring at the ceiling as he’d watch the shadows of the trees outside against the surface. these were the moments he remembered the most, where you two took a break from the music and talked endlessly until it was time to go home

“i mean, it’s all scripted, right?” you asked, satisfied as you put your sticks down after finally acing that one technique you struggled with. tenma unstrapped the guitar and rolled to his side, propping his head up with his arm as he considered your question

“yeah... i guess it is.” tenma figured, about to go back to play with the strings before you landed next to him, facing him in the same position as you smiled

you always had that smile whenever you ranted about your ‘big break’, your rise to stardom and dreams to be the #1 global singer in the world (tenma never brought you down to earth, not even for a second)

“on t.v., you can just edit it out, right? but on stage, it’s all live. if i make a mistake, everyone knows.” you furrowed your eyebrows, looking too serious for a young child as you looked past him, as if you were imagining what could go wrong

before tenma could snap you out of it, your eyes landed back on him and you giggled, flopping onto your back as you put your arms across your chest

“that’s what’s so exciting about the stage, ten. every time i go out there, i’m always gonna do my best! i’m gonna be the best performer on the whole entire planet!” you suddenly jumped up, acting out your idol persona as you faked holding a mic, striking your iconic pose you had perfected over time

(tenma just stared up at you, wondering why you shined so much in the light. he wanted to see you under stage lights, though. if you glowed this much now, you would be blinding in front of a crowd)

“and you’ll be with me!” you pointed your invisible mic at tenma as he smiled, not considering any other future as he pushed himself up with his own mic

“i’ll be on stage with you forever!” tenma guarenteed, performing your complex secret handshake as you two made explosion sounds at the end, pretending to fall back from the boom

“come on, let’s practice for when our first show comes!” you ended break time as you took your guitar back. tenma kicked back on the keyboard, not knowing a thing about it but wanting to try his best for you

as you two rocked on, tenma knew you two had were beyond any battle of the bands competition. you two were unstoppable, you two would sell out arenas and pose for the papparazzi together, you two would perform together!

or at least, that’s what tenma thought before one day, his parents came to pick him up

when his famous, high–standard, professional parents arrived to surprise him, they didn’t expect to search the building with a teacher who had no idea she was tutoring him. when they heard the loud singing, all they had to do was coldly glare at their son to make tenma quiet down and obediently follow them to the car

“sumeragi tenma, we raised you better than this. we’ve given you the perfect life, how could you lie to us?!” tenma’s mother cursed, grabbing his hair once they were out of sight of any witnesses. tenma flinched as his parents dragged him to the car, looking back to see you had ran to the entrance with wide eyes

“wait!” you insisted, catching up with his parents with a stubborn expression, holding onto tenma’s blazer sleeve and staring tenma’s father right in his strict face (tenma wished he was as brave and cool as you)

“get off, kid.” tenma’s father spat out, trying to shake you off as tenma kept his head down, attempting not to cry as he bunched his hands into fists. he pretended like this was just some scene, he had to keep his emotions in check behind a mask. he was raised to act like the best son

“no! tenma’s my friend!” you declared and tenma whipped his head up, staring at you with a sad smile as his father scoffed, prying your tight fingers off tenma’s school uniform as you stumbled back. when you hit the ground and sat up, tenma almost escaped his parents’ clutches as he called your name, being shoved into the backseat against his will

“tenma’s not friends with nobodies.” tenma’s father laughed maliciously, slamming the door closed as the family car swerved out of the parking lot

as you put your hand down from blocking the dust, you helplessly watched as tenma performed his end of the secret handshake as he faded into the distance. you stood back up, brushed down your uniform, and made your way back to the music room with tears in your eyes

you were going to be the best lead singer in the world, and tenma was going to sit front row for every show. tenma was gonna be your friend forever

(even if he mysteriously transferred schools the next day)

you began auditions to be involved in the entertainment industry as well

you wanted to be famous just like tenma, if you had become as popular and talented, maybe his parents would let you keep seeing him

entering middle school, you dedicated all your time to improving as an artist outside of your academic studies and transforming the abandoned elementary music room into your practice area

you practiced everyday until your throat was sore, you snuck into the local theatre stage and pretended like it was your concert, you tried to master every instrument that was available to you (though, you never forgot about your original guitar) just to become famous

it wasn’t until you gained your second fan, that your band took off

it was midway through middle school, after countless failed auditions for entertainment companies, that you turned and saw someone hiding in the same spot tenma claimed all those years ago. you blinked, but instead of an orange hue, you found a future bandmate who was just as enthusiastic about music as you

slowly but surely, your band became special to five students as their bond strengthened the core of your group: NATSU-mmer!

(the name flowed naturally since your group’s energetic, poppy, bright music became your image and was a happiness boost for anyone who listened)

although you guys weren’t experienced, your crazy energy and unbreakable friendship sold you to the public as your online covers and self–composed tracks became viral hits over time

you were on guitar and vocals with the support of more guitar, drums, keyboard, and tambourine! as you five practiced until the end of the day, your dedication and passion to music shined as you became famous as the lead singer of NATSU-mmer!

as years passed, you kept tabs on tenma every now and then. you would binge every show he was on, even if he had a minor background role, and couldn’t believe this was the same boy who sang proudly in the afternoon sun like it was a spotlight

tenma was older now, but he still had the same arrogant smirk he wore when he got competitive about beating other bands or who could shriek the highest note. he still had the same orange hair you noticed that one day from behind the window and he still acted like he was the best (maybe, because he was to you)

although you always answered his name when asked who your favorite actor was, you never told anyone your history with him. it felt almost too personal to say anything, when your friendship with him was still close to your heart and would always be associated with those practices after school

you respected his privacy and let him be, knowing damn well you wouldn’t have made it this far without his absence pushing you to be the best possible

(when asked about why you began singing and becoming the leader of your band, you never mentioned the truth: how you wanted to become famous to be tenma’s friend again)

although you two were both now in the entertainment industry, you never reached out to him again because it felt like acting and music was in two different worlds. as tenma dominated the billboards and popularity ratings in magazines, you strummed your guitar and sang with all your heart to your fanbase on stage

you forgot about the promise you had with tenma, until it was time

NATSU-mmer was having its first stadium show as an anniversary gift to the fans, selling out within minutes as you were processing the news. your bandmates screamed around you, jumping up and down as they loudly discussed how this was an once–in–a–lifetime opportunity

you smiled, but you had a distant look in your eyes. you were remembering tenma, even though he hadn’t crossed your mind in months, with the pressure and business of rehearsals and concerts and all that

it was nearing summer, you two were on break again after tenma’s voice cracked from a tune. you did your best not to laugh as you two sat on the desks, staring out at the sunset nearing in silence, just the sound of you two’s slightly heavy breathing from the work out

“do you think we’ll ever become big, ten?” you asked innocently, always talking about your dreams together as if tenma wasn’t a renowned actor already. tenma didn’t answer right away, resting his face against the window pane on his folded arms as he blew a strand of hair out of his face

“i don’t know, my parents want me to become a famous actor.” tenma sighed and you laughed, nudging him slightly with your elbow

“you’re already famous, ten! that’s why i call you ten, because you’re a 10/10 in every review!” you brought up again as tenma laughed with you, finding the whole situation funny for no reason

“yeah, but an even bigger actor. i’m gonna win best lead actor in every country.” tenma huffed, puffing his chest out like he was those big hotshot teen “heart–throb” actors while flexing his non–existent muscles

“and i’m gonna win every music award show trophy!” you added and tenma nodded, like he was so sure these were your fates. like nothing could change, like it was a matter of fact

“you will...” tenma trailed off, suddenly thinking about something. before you could ask, he fully turned his body towards you as he grinned, holding his pinky out

“but really, once you get that stadium, imma be front row and center!” tenma promised and you looped your finger around his, believing in him 100%

“no, you’ll be backstage! or better yet, on stage with me!” you fantasized as you two dreamily imagined it, shaking your pinkies before letting go with a secret promise you could never break

“we should spit shake.” tenma spat in his hand as you shrieked, ranting about how gross he was as he chased after you like every annoying little boy did. your laughter faded in your memory as you remembered the promise you and tenma made that day

“ten, it’s my first stadium show.” you whispered under your breath, not noticing the sunset outside the practice room

tenma sometimes wondered what would’ve happened if he ended up in a band with you. by no means was he idol material, but at night, he liked to lay down and stare at the ceiling, in the same position whenever he needed to cool down after practice

he had forgotten your name at this point, overwhelmed and exhausted from his acting career and lack of childhood that he had to skip over. from the scarce memories of his youth, all he could distinguish between the blurs was your face grinning happily at him as you jumped in the air with your guitar

(and something about how rough your hands were against his own)

all tenma knew was that he wanted to be on stage with you, and his younger self would’ve done anything to do so

tenma continued acting, forgetting all about his dream to be in a two–man band with you and kept his roles to the camera, skyrocketing into fame faster than anyone before him and staying in the limelight

in a way, both of you had accomplished your dream, just not together

tenma had joined mankai company, to the shock of every media outlet ever. the starlet had overcome his fear of making mistakes, he remembered clearly before he went onto the theatre stage for water me! the first time, a young voice echoed in his ears

“that’s what’s so exciting about the stage, ten. every time i go out there, i’m always gonna do my best! i’m gonna be the best performer on the whole entire planet!”

tenma remembered seeing your face clearly for the first time in a while, remembering every detail of your childhood self as he bunched his two hands into fists, staring at the spotlight upon the stage with the same determination he had when you two became friends

“i’m going to do my best.” tenma said and the rest was left on the stage until closing night

adjusting to mankai was a process. growing up with no true friends, both in school and in the entertainment industry, had surprisingly taken a toll on his behavior without him realizing it. to mankai, he wasn’t the famous star tenma, he was just the really not–put–together teen who wanted to take care of his bonsai in peace

so this is what having friends is like, tenma once thought as he glanced upon the entourage. it was the last time he truly remembered your friendship before he moved on, hoping one day he’d see you someday again

it wasn’t until he happened upon kazunari and misumi’s hanging out session that he was struck with memory of your name

the two were excitedly talking to one another, kazunari rapidly tapping on his phone screen and holding it up to misumi’s attentive face. tenma was about to walk away from the everyday meet–up before kazunari hyped up some group, letting a music video blast from his speaker

over the exaggerated “wow~ that’s a triangle!”, tenma stopped dead in his tracks as he heard a strong, enthusiastic voice belt out a familiar lyric. tenma jumped over to kazunari on the sofa, grabbing both his shoulders with desperation. misumi even paused the video to stare at tenma with shock

“who’s singing this?!” tenma rushed out as kazunari just grinned, finding nothing wrong with being trampled by his troupe leader

“ah! tenten~ are you interested, too?! it’s NATSU-mmer, i was thinking to ask them to sing our next play theme!” kazunari joked before misumi tugged him out of tenma’s grip. as the two went back to watching, tenma repeated the band name multiple times before running to his room and slamming the door

“what the hell do you—” yuki started, looking up from his sewing machine before tenma threw himself onto his bed, fumbling for his phone as he began typing something. tenma paused, zooming in on a group photo before dropping his phone

“THAT’S MY FRIEND!” tenma yelled, swiping through the photos as he finally recognized your name. it was you, the guitarist soloist back in elementary who was his first friend. you had done it, you actually became a full blown band leader who was rising in popularity. he was right in not questioning your dreams

yuki leaned his chair back to sneak a glance at the screen, furrowing his eyebrows as he stared at tenma with disbelief

saying your name, yuki scoffed as he crossed his arms, “the lead vocal of NATSU-mmer, one of the most popular bands in japan right now, is your friend? yeah, right.”

tenma furiously shook his head, sitting up and launching into the full story he didn’t even know he remembered about how you were his bandmate in elementary. yuki barely listened, but got the gist of the tale as he pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh

“you’re telling me... you grew up with NATSU-mmer’s powerhouse vocalist... and you didn’t even know?!”

tenma sheepishly kicked at the floor, rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward laugh

“maybe?”

(tenma yelped when yuki threw a pillow at his dumb face with perfect aim)

turns out, everyone in mankai had either known of NATSU-mmer or were huge fans, there was no in between. most of the high schoolers actively followed your band account across multiple platforms, gushing about your performances and how you were a fresh group that came from nothing

the university students knew an album or two, the adults mainly had an idea, and matsukawa even sang along to their songs this entire time! tenma was the last person to find out who your group even was (he was out of the loop all the time)

now that he knew, he was becoming aware of how prominent you had always been in his life. yuki took fashion inspiration from your stage outfits for the plays (they were as spectacular as he remembered imagining them), kazunari kept repeating your title tracks during breaks at practice to keep the mood up (tenma stopped telling him to turn it off), muku’s favorite anime he watched at night had an ost sang by you (tenma listened to it every night through the walls), misumi even pointed out the five people in your band formed a triangle when you all did a group photo (tenma guessed he was onto something, he noticed you were always at the center)

it was like you were still his friend, after all this time, still apart of his life despite the distance

because of this, tenma remained your biggest fan of all time. at first, he intended to follow your music casually, but after going down a rabbit hole of videos (such as interviews, streamed concerts/events, even fan–edited videos of your cute/funny moments or “meet NATSU-mmer” style of “crack edits”), tenma would consider himself a proud “sunflower”

(it was ironic that was your fanbase’s name, because he called you that after you got your first official guitar and you two painted sunflowers on the surface. in a way, he stayed in your life too, since you were both each other’s sunflower and sunshine)

tenma even made a stan twitter account for you! he made it with no intention to dm other sunflowers, but he turned on notifications for your band’s sns and replied to your posts with encouraging messages and reminders to take care of yourself

(he became known in the fandom as “ten”, the sunflower who was practically in love with you) (his icon was always you)

(tenma even bought merch with his own money. yes, he had a jersey with your birth year and last name, tenma admitted from his “early stan” days) (his home screen was a hq fansite picture of you holding a microphone towards the camera, as if you were still inviting him to sing along after all these years)

(he also somehow got roped into downloading your beat rhythm game, knowing you probably crushed all the levels as he struggled with beginner’s) (he got distracted by your voice singing in the background)

(one time, you had a live ig q&a and when you answered his question by saying his username “summerten”, he nearly fell over from excitement) (yuki had to kick him to shut tenma up with his internal freak–out)

tenma’s favorite thing to do as a stan was to watch your performances as if he was there. he had bought your group’s lightstick (a sunflower with spinning petals, how cute!), shaking it in front of his laptop screen and posting pictures with the “TT” sad emoticon

(summerten: TT just want to go to a concert so bad ~ 14 likes)

you were the same as you were before back in elementary. you still danced and sang with all the energy in the world, with uncontainable excitement to be doing what you love and your raw honest personality with your fans was admirable. you were open and the perfect idol since you were so passionate and uplifting with your self–produced/written music

you took the stage by storm, acting like it was your own and wildly playing your guitar like it was your last. you still had the same electric smile and sunny happiness, of course you had become famous for being in a band, you were born to be a star

present day, tenma was practicing his lines with the rest of the summer troupe before his phone buzzed in his pocket, making him automatically check it as summer snickered about his obsession with NATSU-mmer (only yuki really knew why as he refused to tell anybody else, just claiming it was teenage boy hormones)

tenma’s face paled and he looked like he was about to pass out. before anyone could ask, tenma sprinted out of the practice room with an urgent stride to his steps

everyone automatically followed him, yelling about how practice wasn’t over as tenma stumbled to his desk, opening his laptop with such determination it was admirable how one–minded he truly was

“why did you run like someone died?!” yuki whacked him over the head but tenma didn’t react, just logged into a ticketing website with intensity

“someone will die if i don’t get tickets to NATSU-mmer’s second anniversary stadium concert!” tenma insisted, memorizing what he was supposed to do as he sat down, biting his nails as he stared at his spot in the queue. oh god

understandably so, no one understood why tenma had to go to the concert so bad (“why doesn’t he just use his connections to get tickets?” “he really loves NATSU-mmer, huh...” “they do form a triangle!” “shut up”). yet, they resigned themselves to this predicament and let tenma end practice early, knowing pulling him away from his screen would make things way worse

sitting around him, the summer troupe kept light conversation as tenma tapped his foot against the floorboards, willing himself to stare straight ahead to react the fastest

i have to keep my promise, tenma thought as he impulsively bought five tickets without warning, all front row and didn’t wince at his bank balance

tenma promised he’d see you front row at your first stadium concert, and on god, he was going to keep it

when the troupe cheered and rambunctiously discussed tenma’s generousity to take them to the concert with him, yuki stood in the back with his arms crossed and eyes watching tenma carefully

“you hack... you still like them, don’t you?” yuki mumbled, not catching anyone’s attention. it didn’t take a genius to piece together the puzzle, he knew you were much more than just tenma’s first childhood friend, but he didn’t say anything else as tenma breathed a sigh of relief at the mercy of the ticket gods

(when tenma tweeted how he was going to the stadium show, his mutuals showered him in congratulations and your official account even liked it) (he keyboard–smashed like the fanboy he was)

while you were preparing for your opening stadium event for the first time in your professional career, tenma was planning the entire trip as best as he could

(yuki felt so bad for him and his very obvious crush that he made him a sunflower headband for the concert, it was so nice tenma almost went in for a hug before yuki smacked him)

the night of the stadium concert, you were sitting backstage dressed in your group’s common bright fun colors as you fiddled with your guitar, playing a tune you hadn’t remembered until recently. you thought of a little boy with orange hair and purple eyes as you stared off into the distance, just nonchalantly playing the song you two had wrote together back then

as you kept strumming, you imagined him sitting front row, cheering you on

(maybe, you shouldn’t have stalked his official sns accounts before going to sleep last night)

you knew it was last second. but for some reason, even if he never heard it, you had to honor your relationship with tenma

in a way, you would have never been here without his friendship, and you wanted to thank him even if he wouldn’t be there

it took a lot of convincing for your solo stage to be moved to last with no backing track whatsoever (your manager was suspicious of what you had up your sleeve, but you promised it wouldn’t hurt your group’s image), but you did it!

your group pestered you obnoxiously about the change, their sibling–esque bond with you as their “parent” making you laugh as you played it off like it was no big deal.

(as you opened a guitar case you hadn’t brought along in a long time, you smiled down at the worn sunflower–painted guitar)

this was your first stadium show and you could only dream of tenma being right beside you

summer troupe arrived at the stadium hours early, but there was already a long line with campers filling the streets (“why are people sleeping outside just to see some cute people?!” “stan culture, man...”)

tenma was excited in line, not even bothered by the length of the wait as he rambled about your group discography to the boys, subconsciously waving around his sign as he pushed up his sunglasses

(how no one recognized his bright orange hair was beyond anyone’s common sense)

when the group made it past security with a few mishaps (muku making himself look like he was highly suspicious by stuttering and kazunari having to come in to save the day with his social media presence) (misumi almost stripping down for no apparent reason) (yuki actually walked like a normal person with nothing to hide), tenma practically ran to his seat like he was a child again

“everyone say NATSU!” kazunari held his phone up for a group selfie, the five making a triangle as he posted it to his story, tagging it with the group hashtag and the location as always

your band member was scrolling through the hashtag with the group account, showing everyone fan pictures and providing over–the–top commentary, as you all sat in a circle waiting for the show to begin

“oh~ it’s that kazu guy! he usually posts stories with our songs!” your band member said, swiping to their most recent story and your eyes widened

was that a shock of orange hair?

you couldn’t have missed it. that had to be tenma, no other fan would just show up with sunglasses front row like he promised before

did he remember you? before you could react, everyone moved onto the next fan and complimented them endlessly, your mind still stuck on that orange hair

it couldn’t have been... but yet, you smiled

at least you could imagine singing to someone for your stage at the end

when the concert began with a strum of your guitar, tenma let out the most excited scream of all time as his voice was drowned out by the rest of the fans. summer troupe side–eyed him but ignored his frantic lightstick waving as they watched the five members of NATSU–mmer rise from the stage in their iconic poses (yours was the same from childhood)

“who’s ready to start this summer off right?!” you shouted into your mic, your voice vibrating the open stadium as the fans cheered in response. tenma was quiet this time, staring up at you with such admiration yuki had to shove him out of it (“don’t be so dumb right now, enjoy the show!” “shut up, i wasn’t staring!” “i didn’t say you were...”)

you guys opened with your debut song, going back to your humble beginnings in the elementary practice room as everyone danced the night away. everyone online was right; streams could never compare to the real thing. tenma didn’t care about being “cool” for once as he jumped up and down

(kazunari definitely got multiple videos of him singing every song word for word at the top of his lungs like his life depended on it) (there’s also a video of him crying to an emotional ballad song, just full sobbing as muku awkwardly patted his back while worriedly glancing at the camera)

(“it’s so sad...” tenma sniffled as yuki practically shoved his own hands into his mouth, trying not to laugh for once)

the event passed in a flash, your stamina crazy high as you didn’t even seem tired. you looked more alive than ever, especially when you began giving your final speech of the night as NATSU-mmer’s leader

“hi, sunflowers!” you giggled, the fans awww–ing in unison and tenma was staring at you like you were the sun. he was right, you were so bright under the spotlight, it was blinding

“thank you so much for coming to our first stadium show.” you bowed and tenma noticed your hand was shaking around the mic. he was worried, were you okay?

“actually, this is very special to me, not because it’s a stadium, but because you’re all here to share it with me~” you cutely said, laughing when everyone cooed. you kept going, all the attention on you as the background musicians began filing out backstage. murmurs filled the stadium, what was going on?

“but also... i made a promise back then, to my very first fan, band mate, and dear friend of mine, someone i’ll call sunshine for now.” you said and yuki’s head snapped to tenma, who was looking at you with a small smile

“he said he’d be front row when i had my stadium show, and...” you trailed off, turning to the summer’s troupe location as the group members excluding yuki and tenma excitedly talked amongst themselves (“oh my god, does NATSU-mmer recognize us?! let’s invite them to our opening night next month!”)

“he is.” you finished, smiling as the tears you kept in glistened under the light. tenma roughly wiped under his eyes, hoping no one noticed as he made eye contact with you for the first time in years

“this is for sunshine, the first song we ever wrote, called sunflower dreams.”

you stepped up and placed the mic on the stand decorated with vines and yellow petals, swinging your guitar around to the front as tenma recognized its sunflower pattern. he knew both your names was signed behind it

“hide all the feelings in your heart, someday the season will go on and change.” you sang, the whole stadium silent with the single spotlight on you. you stood center, like it was the elementary music room again

tenma held his breath, trying not to sing along to avoid the confused looks of his friends. he knew every word, even though it was unreleased. you two worked on the song so hard, it became the only song you two finished to completion

“as i looked at the sky, it was a faraway dream,” you opened your eyes and looked directly at him, like he was still the same shy kid who hid behind the wall just to hear you sing. for a moment, tenma went back to that time like it was just you two again

“we’ll reach that sky someday.” you smiled before you heard your own voice, remembering something about the promise: “no, you’ll be backstage! or better yet, on stage with me!”

without thinking, you quickly grabbed a microphone left on stage and turned it on, tossing it to tenma who didn’t drop it this time

sunmer troupe exchanged wild glances between each other as you went to their side of the stage, holding your hand out with a shaky smile

“you know the rest, right, ten?” you asked, afraid to move back before tenma nodded, not caring about hiding his identity as security let him through

although there were tens of thousands of people, tenma took your hand and felt like you two were back in school together, just practicing like always

(your hand was smoother, but you still had the same callouses from playing guitar)

you started strumming again and it didn’t take any effort before you two bounced off each other like before, singing sunflower dreams like it was just yesterday as fans made the connection sumeragi tenma was on stage

(“oh my god, tenten!!!” kazunari shrieked, recording despite his full phone storage. muku was sparkling, dreamily calling it a manga moment as misumi said something about you being one of tenma’s three happinesses. yuki just smiled, he knew it)

when you two ended the song with your (not so) secret handshake like no time has passed, you and tenma grinned as you two immediately hugged on stage

“ten, i knew you’d remember.” you whispered, and tenma just smiled even bigger as he ignored the crowd’s volume

“i knew you’d become a famous singer and win every single music award. you were born for the stage.” tenma said, and you were blinding under the spotlight

you two accomplished your dream for your childhood selves this time: performing on stage together

[wiltingpierrot]

Gem Glow: Part 2

Wilt: “So Steven plans to recreate the event which he believed made his gem glowed.”

Steven: “Amethyst, I think your arms are crossed.”

Amethyst: “Okay, your majesty.”

Spinel: “AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Sharpie: “You’re scaring me.”

Steven: “And Pearl, your foot was like this.”

Spinel: “Lucky bastard.”

Sharpie: “You’re disgusting, Spinel.”

Wilt: “I admire this kid’s ability to try and think around his problems, even if it’s not guaranteed to work.”

Sharpie: “Of course you would. You lack street smarts it’s embarrassing to be identified with you. Anyone that’s capable of basic logic and problem solving techniques would look incredibly smart to you.”

Wilt: “Did I… hurt you in some way to warrant this reaction?”

Sharpie: “You always hurt me, Wilt. You always hurt me.”

Steven: “Maybe I’m not a real Crystal Gem.”

Spinel: BWAAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA-“

Sharpie: “You too, Spinel.”

Pearl: “Don’t be silly, Steven. Of course you are.”

Amethyst: “And you’re fun to have around, even if your gem is useless!”

Spinel: “Of course Pearly knows what’s up.”

Amethyst: “I mean, you’re one of us, Steven. We’re not the Crystal Gems without you.”

Sharpie: “Are you gonna cry now, Wilt?”

Wilt: “I can’t. I wish I could. But I do remember crying every other episode when I started binge-watching this show around 2017.”

Wilt: “Awww, his happiness after all that declaration of the team not being complete without him summoned his shield, and of course by cartoon standards, mistaken Cookie Cats to be the source of his powers. But at least not for long.”

Sharpie: “Emotion based powers are so annoying.”

Wilt: “At least not for too long. Also this shot is beautiful.”

Steven: “Woah, what!? I get a shield?”

Wilt: “Yes. A defensive weapon. Still very capable of beating the crap out of roaches if you like. I personally love the Block Skill tree in Skyrim. Running through an army with my shield up is brokenly awesome. And if you have high enough stamina, you can actually kill low level mooks with just a shield bash.”

Spinel: “And Sharpie is still a sneak archer.”

Sharpie: “Shut it. It’s clean, efficient and effective. Why waste my energy when I can kill someone effortlessly from the shadows?”

Spinel: “For the challenge of course.”

Steven: “I summon my weapon by eating ice cream!”

Pearl: “What’s in these things?”

Spinel: “I have a personalized Cookie Cat recipe that you might like, Pearl.”

Sharpie: “No.”

Spinel: “The special ingredient is love.”

Sharpie: “NO.”

Wilt: “Oop, can’t forget those.”

Wilt: “This is precisely the part which made me continue to watch this show. The OST is just muah!”

Pearl: “Stay in the house, Steven!”

Wilt: “The piano, the feel, it’s just fantastic! The music is what makes this cartoon feel like home.”

Wilt: “And of course, being Steven, he wants to involve himself in some serious Gem ass-kicking business. He wants to prove he is ready to be a Crystal Gem like the rest of them. Like any kid, really.”

Sharpie: “They rush to be grown-ups. And someday wish they are children again.”

Spinel: “I rate this corrupted gem 9/10, what about you, Sharpie?”

Sharpie: “5/10.”

Sharpie: “Wow, oh come on, you guys. I’m sure you’re far more capable than this.”

Spinel: “Don’t you hate it when you’re only as strong as the plot allows you to be?”

Amethyst: “We could really use Steven’s shield right about now.”

Spinel: “What if, just what if, they’re doing this to test him? Like they pretend to be helpless to give him a chance?”

Sharpie: “Don’t give me false hope.”

Wilt: “YES. The music in this part is *chef’s kiss*”

Sharpie: “Jeez, if we stumbled into Beach City a few years earlier, I’d feel bad.”

“Uh oh.”

Pearl: “We need to save Steven!”

Amethyst: “Can we save ourselves first?”

Sharpie: “I change my mind, 8/10.”

Sharpie: “Oh come on, Garnet! You’re FAR more capable than this. That’s just ONE corrupted gem and you’re so much more!”

Spinel: “Awww, Sharpie is being supportive in her own, Sharpie way.”

Sharpie: “NO, it’s just I’m at disbelief that she’s capable of beating our asses around and yet this centipeedle is making her struggle. It’s… it’s embarrassing!”

Spinel: “Ahh I’ve long forgotten this emotion.”

Sharpie: “All he needed was a little push and that was the loss of a loved one.”

Wilt: “Ah, so simple appliances can work on corrupted gems?”

Sharpie: “On dumb gems like centipeedle, I guess.”

Spinel: “Think of the bills after this...”

Sharpie: “Ahh yes, the important lesson of sacrifice.”

Sharpie: “Faaaabulous.”

Spinel: “Wow. I don’t remember poofing a Corrupted Gem was that dramatic.”

Sharpie: “After poofing several hundred of them, it gets rather stale.”

Spinel: “WOAH!”

Sharpie: “What?”

Spinel: “All this time we just leave corrupted gems right where they poofed, instead of doing this. The diamonds never educated me about this.”

Sharpie: “Ah, right. This should explain why the longer we roam around Earth; the less and less we encounter these things. Also, yes. You’re made to be a dumbass so they didn’t bother.”

Spinel: “Awww, I ran out of playmates because of this... Humans are too fragile. Oh well.”

Amethyst: “Well, I guess your powers don’t come from ice cream.”

Pearl: “Of course they don’t come from ice cream.”

Pearl: “Don’t worry, Steven. I’m sure someday you’ll figure out how to activate your gem.”

Garnet: “Yes. In your own Steven-y way.”

Sharpie: “Tears, Wilt. Where are they?”

Wilt: “Uhhhhh......”

Sharpie: “You know what that means.”

Spinel: “Hey Sharpie, what if we’re in this scene right now?”

Sharpie: “Then this cartoon becomes M-rated for profanity, violence and gore in an instant. Now excuse me while I make this fucker cry.”

[the-rawr-ster]

Title: To Die In Your Arms

Chapter 3: Jean’s Mom

W/C: 2301

Warnings: Mentions of suicide, sickness, death , and poverty.

A/N: Send an ask to be added to tag list. Sorry it took me so long to update, but I’ll try to update more often.

You looked at the boy, confused. Nobody had ever shown you kindness before, granted he was not nice about it, but the fact remains that it was a kind and selfless act.

Stuffing his mouth with an omelet, he says “You snore and drool in your sleep.”

You had been drooling at the sight of it. It was a struggle to get food at this time. You hadn’t even finished the bread the boy had given to you. You had been trying to spare it so it would last you a week.

“You shouldn’t eat that in public,” you whisper. “People kill over that stuff.”

The boy rolled his eyes and reached to unbutton his bag. Letting out a grunt, the boy struggled to unlatch the bag. He pulled something out, wrapped in a hunter-green cloth.

“Really,” he huffed, ” ‘Cause I brought extras.”

Your eyes widened. Why would anyone do that for you? Why would a boy who didn’t know you do that?

“What is it,” you asked.

“Do you want it or not?”

“Y-you brought this for me?”

“Obviously.”

You snatched the green cloth from him before retreating to your corner. “T-thank you.”

“Yeah yeah, don’t mention it.”

As you scarfed down your meal, the boy made his way to the edge of the roof. The wind brushed through his light brown hair. He leaned over as he rested his hands on the ledge for support, scanning the street below. Nothing but a dead dog and trash had been at the bottom of the building.

“Why,” He turns to you. “Why were you going to jump?”

The answer was simple, there was nothing left here for you. Your parents were dead, and you had no friends. Nobody would have cared if you died. Nobody would shed a tear. Nobody would even recognize you because everyone you knew was dead. Even the kids you met on the boat were probably dead, Armin, Mikasa, and Eren. In fact, ost of Shigansia had probably died. You were probably the last survivor, but could you really call it surviving?

“I guess I should have asked why you chose not to jump.”

“I-” you stammered.

He leans back over the ledge. “You don’t have to tell me now. But eventually, you’ll have to know.”

“What’s your name?”

“Jean” he replied. “Jean Kirschtein.”

“I’m Y/N.”

As the days passed, the sky cleared up. Jean had often brought you things you needed to survive. You guys talked about things you liked and wanted to do. You ran around like children do, chasing each other with sticks. He was starting to become a friend, but not just any friend, your best friend. Your only friend. But you had wondered if it would last forever.

“Hey, Jean,” you say, brushing your fingers through his hair, as he lies in your lap.

“Yes?”

“What’s your mom like?”

Jean paused before speaking. He spent most of his days with you, away from his family. He didn’t always get along with them. They would argue and fight all the time. Although, he was the one who did do most of the arguing.

He sighs. “ Let’s just say, she’s an old hag.”

“I’m serious.”

You looked up at the pitch-black sky. What was it like to have a mother? You had forgotten about yours. You couldn’t remember how she looked or what her laugh sounded like. You hadn’t even remembered what she did for a living. What kind of mother was she? Did she nag a lot? Was she home often? Did you guys fight a lot? You couldn’t remember, and every time you tried, you would get a sharp pain in your temple.

“Jean, I don’t remember her” you admitted.

“Who,” he snored.

You had been so in your head that you hadn’t even realized your friend had fallen asleep. You stared at him, your eyes analyzing all the little details in his face. The moonlight highlighted his cheekbones. His hair fell messily over his eyebrows. He looked so peaceful. He was always so tense, and angry. There was really no way to describe it.

“My mom. I don’t remember her. I don’t remember her face. I don’t remember her laugh. Her smile. The color of her eyes. The sound of her voice. I forgot everything.”

The tears began spilling out of your eyes again. It pained you, trying to remember them when you couldn’t. All you could remember was the sight of blood and the smell of rotten flesh. That was hard to forget. Death was hard to forget. The blue sky was slowly devoured by gray clouds, followed by rain engulfing your tears.

You shook Jean. “Wake up. It’s raining.”

Jean brushed you off, cursing under his breath. You sighed, lifting the boy’s head off of your lap. You lifted jean, wrapping his arm around your neck. You wobbled, trying to gain a better footing. You make your way down the stairs, holding onto the wall and rusted railing for support. The weight of your feet on the steps made a creak with each step.

When you reached the bottom step, you ran head first into an older man about a foot taller than you. You had fallen into your ass, your friend still sound asleep next to you. Next to the tall, droopy-eyed man stood a pretty girl that looked much younger than him. She had been surrounded by a kind aura, bright enough to outshine the sun.

“Watch where you’re going,” the old man scoffed.

The girl hit his shoulder. She smiled and turned to you. She held out her hand, waiting for you to take it. You looked up at her in awe. She was warm. You took her hand and stood up. She looked at you with kind eyes and looked at Jean.

“Hey, wait, I recognize the little shit” the old man said.

“Y-you do,” you asked.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Well, if that’s true, why don’t you carry him for this young cutie, Oluo?”

Oluo rolled his eyes and proceeded to lift the boy. Oluo had better things to do, but one tiny detour wouldn’t be too much of a hassle. At least, the young woman said.

“Wait, where are you taking him?”

“Home,” Oluo spat.

“Oluo, you don’t have to sound so rude you know?”

“Yeah yeah.”

“I don’t think we introduced ourselves,” the young girl said, “My name’s Petra, and this is my squad mate Oluo. We’re scouts.”

“Scout? So does that mean you’ve seen Titans too?”

Everything got quiet. You looked down at your shadow. Your feet following the shadows of the others.

“I- I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s fine. Yes, we’ve seen them. We’ve killed them as a matter of fact.”

You lifted your head back up in curiosity. Could humans really rise above and kill the monsters that lurked just beyond the wall? Could we really somehow eradicate all of them?

“Y/n, stop tickling me,” Jean mumbled.

Your soft giggle brought a smile upon Petra and Oluo’s face. Oluo scowled as soon as Petra pointed it out. Their laugh, their smile, the way they interacted with each other reminded you of your parents. Of course these two had been younger.

“Kid,” Oluo sighed, “Do you wanna be a scout?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because, you’ve got the look of someone that’s been through some deep shit. And we need more people.”

You’d never even thought of being in the military. All you ever had thought of was being a doctor. You wanted to be someone that could save and heal people. You wanted to be like Dr. Jaeger. You had admired him for a while.

-flashback-

“Doctor Jaeger!!!”

Grisha Jaeger looked up to see a man holding a young child in his arms. His eyes were red and his voice sounded shaky. The doctor stood up and rushed to the door, opening it to see a sickly child. They were shivering, sweat soaked the poor things clothing. Their silent wails startled the man.

“Come in, put her on the table,” he commanded.

Your father placed you on the mattress. It had a metal frame that had started rusting. The clinic smelled like death. There were men with new bandages on their heads. They had just come back from a mission outside the walls. Needless to say, many of them weren’t going to make it. However, Dr. Jaeger still took care of them. They were alone. Their families had long since passed on, and all of their friends were dead.

“Mr. y/f/l/n, I’ll need you to step out, I don’t need you to get sick too. You were lucky, this was my last bed,” the doctor walked to your bed, a tray of needles and other materials in his hand, “I’m gonna do my best to make sure you get all better, okay?”

You nodded, then looked at your father. He kissed your forehead, and said goodbye. His tears dropped off of his chin onto your forehead. You wished he could stay with you, hold your hand, and wipe your tears. Alas, you knew that could not happen.

“Okay, kiddo, show me where it hurts.”

You pointed to your head and ears. You had been hurting for several days, but in fear of causing your parents to close down the bakery, you held it inside. You held in the pain until you collapsed.

“Have you felt cold?”

You nodded.

“Okay. I need you to keep this on your forehead, while I look inside your ears.”

-four hours later-

“Hey, kid,” a man whispered, “How old are you?”

“I’m 8.”

The man looked down at a picture he was holding. The picture was falling apart. It had singed corners and it looked as though it was ripped in half.

“I have a son your age.”

“What’s his name?”

“His name is Marco. He’s got the biggest hazel colored eyes. He’s got kisses from the sun all over his face. That boy is the sweetest...brightest...and most warm smile I’ve ever seen.”

The man had been brought back from behind the walls. His legs had been crushed from being grabbed by a Titan. The damage was permanent, and the internal bleeding from the incident would eventually kill him.

“Do you know what you wanna be when you grow up?”

You had never really thought about it yet. You’d assumed you’d stay in your parents bakery forever. It was the only thing you’d ever known.

“No.” You looked down at your hands.

“Well, promise me, you won’t join the military,” he turned to you,” The only thing you’ll ever experience is death. Finish school, get married, and raise a family. Live.”

You didn’t respond. You could not understand what the man had been trying to say. I mean how could you? You’re only 8 years old. A future like that wasn’t really on your mind. Death wasn’t on your mind, it was the last thing on your mind.

“Okay y/n l/n, it’s time for another dose.”

-one day later-

The sound of raindrops violently beating on the window greeted you from your rest. It was the first time in a while that you had gotten a full night's sleep. You rubbed your eyes until the crust had fallen off. You turned to the bed of the man you had talked to. Dr. Jaeger was standing over it. His hands were intertwined with each other. The dead flowers in the vase on the sill had been replaced with new ones.

That’s when you knew. That’s when you knew you wanted to be a doctor.

-flash back is now over because I suck at transitioning-

“Look, you don’t have to be one now. But you should think about it when you’re of age,” he said.

Oluo stopped in front of a two story house. It looked well kept and had a sign on it that read Kierstein.

“Looks like we’re here.”

Oluo put Jean on the floor. He had been sleeping like a baby, you almost didn’t want to wake him up. He looked peaceful, until a snot bubble appeared. The sound of it popping jolted Jean awake.

“NO MOM DON’T LOOK AT MY SKETCHBOOK,” he yelled.

You had let out an obnoxious snort. Jean furrowed his eyebrows and turned his head. He wrapped his arms across his chest, huffing and puffing like a baby.

Oluo and Petra eventually had to leave. You watched them walk away, leaving you and Jean alone on the doorsteps. The laughter subsided.

“You know, making fun of people is rude,” Jean scolded, “Where are we anyways?”

“Jeanie, my sweetheart.”

A voluptuous woman with kind, green eyes, burts out the door, wrapping the boy in her arms.

“Where have you been, my boy?!!!”

That must be- wait, I recognize her. But where? Where do I know this woman from?

“Mom, please stop. You’re embarrassing me.”

Jean’s mom put him down with a pouty face. She’d only missed her son everyday. She didn’t know where he was going, or what he was doing.

“I’m sorry, I was just worried-,” she turned, spotting your figure in the corner of her eye, “Jean, you didn’t tell me you had yourself a little cutie.”

Jean turned to hide his tomato red face. “They’re just my friend.”

“I didn’t think you had any friends, but I’m glad you found one.”

“M-mom,” you stumbled back.

That’s when it hit you. The day of the attack, a woman had visited your mom's bakery before it happened. It hadn’t crossed your mind, you thought she’d have died. It didn’t make sense to you, but when does fate ever make sense?

“Oh, you poor thing, you’re that child of y/m/f/n, from Shiganshina. Why don’t you come inside with us?”

Synopsis: You didn’t realize how in love you were with Jean Kirschtein until he decided to join the Survey Corp.

Taglist: n/a

Chapter 2

Masterlist

Chapter 4

playlist

[houseisekai]

House Miisekai Prologue: The Adventure Begins!

House Miisekai Masterlist Here

====

Our story begins in the land of Miisekaitopia! (No, I couldn't think of a better name.)

It is a world where everyone from both storylines and unholy amounts of AU's can live in peace without worrying about wars breaking out every 4 seconds.

At least it was.

The darkness came without warning, a great and terrible shadow threatening all of Miisekaitopia! An unspeakably huge dick came and stole everyone's faces! Then, to add insult to injury, put those faces onto monsters across the land!

But, we shall follow the perspective of Sara Valestein, Instructor of Class VII and the original House Isekai...

Sara casually strolled through the hills, enjoying the sunlight and wind blowing gently across her.

(Sara) "...Goddess I am so bored."

She had been kicked out of yet another bar recently for drinking too much.

Again.

Left with nothing to do, she decided to take a trip to nowhere in particular, going wherever fate took her.

Sara continued muttering to herself, mocking the established "rules" for drinking in a tavern until she noticed something flying in the air.

(Sara) "Is...that a face?"

She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things, and saw the eyes slowly float over to a nearby butterfly.

(Sara) "Uh...?"

(Sara) "GAH!"

The horrific creature began floating faster towards Sara, which prompted her to run full speed ahead towards the closest town.

As she ran out of breath, she ran towards anyone would even take a minute to listen.

(Sara) "H-Hey, there's some freaky bug thing out there with a human face!"

BE-LOP!

Tiny lines of text ran down the guide's face.

It showed too many messages at once for her to properly read it, and the person remained completely still.

(Sara) "...Hello?"

(Everyone) "..."

(Sara) "...Right."

Sara moved to the next person she saw.

...

Sara saw a platypus with a name tag 'Perry' calmly sitting on the market stall.

(Sara) "Hello, anyone here?"

The platypus stared at her, not saying a word.

(Sara) "...What in the hell is with this town?"

Next try. That would probably work.

...

(Anakin) "What did we get ourselves into this time?"

(Obi-Wan) "I'm not sure but...I do not like this a single bit."

(Anakin) "At least you're in a taller body, my head barely reaches your stomach!"

(Obi-Wan) "It's not the first time."

(Sara) "Hey, excuse me ma'aaaaaaaaaa...What in the?"

(Anakin) "Listen lady, we got our own problems right now. We're not in the mood-"

(Obi-Wan) "What my young padawan means is that we unfortunately cannot spare any help if you need it ma'am."

(Sara) "...Evidently."

Sara nervously walked away from the two grown men in a child and woman's body.

(Sonia) "Did we get transported again?"

(Gundham) "By the works of dark magic, no doubt..."

(Sonia) "Oh, looks like there's someone over there. Hello ma'am, do you know where we are?"

(Sara) "Eh?...Huh. That's a good question. Where is this?"

(Sonia) "Oh well, I'm a bit more comfortable knowing that someone I like is with me here!"

(Gundham) "I...uh...er..."

(Sara) "That's cute. Ah, to be young again..."

Sara left the two to talk amongst themselves before finding the next...person?

It was an extremely fat rabbit that was grey and white.

(Sara) "What in the hell-"

BIG BIG CHUNGUS, BIG CHUNGUS, BIG-

(Sara) "Okay, screw that."

Sara finally saw the mayor and approached him, and when he turned she almost jumped.

It was a Piranha plant. She thought so anyway, it was covered in white polka dots and bright red.

(Plant) "Ah, welcome to the town miss?"

(Sara) "Uh, Sara. Sara Valestein. Listen, there's this weird face that attached itself to a butterfly outside your place! You're gonna do something right?"

(Plant) "Did...did you say a face float down? OH NO."

(Familiar Man's voice) "OH YES."

(Sara) ?

(Anakin) "Uh, master?"

(Obi-Wan) "I've got a bad feeling about this..."

The platypus, fat rabbit, and the discord notification looked up into the skies, getting increasingly alarmed.

(Gundham) "THIS DARKNESS...IT'S...IT'S OVERWHELMING!"

(Sonia) "His voice sounds grating like Souda's..."

(Plant) "COINS PRESERVE US! IT'S..."

[Imperial Will - Final Fantasy XIV OST]

(Dark Lord Chris) "KNEEL BEFORE YOUR GOD, AND OFFER YOUR FACES UNTO ME!"

(Sara) "...Faces? You mean like services or...?"

(Anakin) "Maybe that's metaphorical?"

(Obi-Wan) "I'm not sure I want to find out-"

(Chris) "NO, YOU REALLY DON'T. ALSO NO. I MEAN IT LITERALLY!"

Several faces began to fly off the townspeople.

First was the platypus's face, quickly followed by the discord notification and Anakin's.

(Obi-Wan) "ANAKIN!"

Then it was Sonia and the fat rabbit's faces that floated next to Chris.

(Gundham) "AAAAAAAGH!"

(Plant) "OH MY GOD, THIS IS HORRIBLE!"

(Sara) "Can someone tell me what the hell is happening?!-"

(Chris) "THESE NOW BELONG TO ME! NOW, GO TELL THE OTHERS WHAT YOU'VE SEEN HERE, FOR I WILL BE COMING FOR THEM NEXT!"

Chris flew off into the skies, the faces following closely behind.

(Sara) "What an asshole!"

(Plant) "ADVENTURER, PLEASE YOU HAVE TO HELP US!"

(Sara) "Right uh..."

Sara reached for her sword and pistol, which was nowhere to be found.

(Sara) "Well, that's just great..."

Obi-Wan struggled to walk over to here, still not accustomed to his body and looked at Sara.

(Obi-Wan) "Ma'am, I'm afraid I cannot go into battle myself to assist with this matter. And we don't appear to have our weapons either..."

(Sara) "So, what do you reckon I do? Ask nicely?"

...

(Sara) "Damn it."

OUTSIDE OF TOWN...

Chris was floating away from the town when Sara finally caught up to him.

(Sara) "HEY, JACKASS!"

(Chris) "...Oh, you mean me. I-I mean, OH, IS SOMEONE TRYING TO BE THE HERO NOW?"

(Sara) "Don't play smart with me you glasses wearing freak! Give back their faces!"

(Chris) "Or what? You're going to fight me?"

Sara cracked her knuckles.

(Chris) "...Oh shit. Uh, here have it."

The face slowly floated over to a slime, which reattached itself and began hopping towards Sara.

(Anakin's voice) "OH MAN, I THOUGHT THE KID BODY WAS BAD!"

(Chris) "Uh anyways, LATER!"

Chris quickly flew away from Sara, leaving her and Anakin's face on a slime.

(Sara) "Alright, LET'S GO!"

Sara drove her fist into the slime, which quickly bounced off.

(Sara) "...Oh right. It's a slime."

The slime retaliated by knocking Sara onto her back.

(Anakin's voice) "Sorry!"

(Sara) "Damn, my weapons aren't anywhere to be found either!

"I AM THOU...THOU ART I..."

(Sara) "Oh, what is it now-HURK?!"

Sara reached for her head as the voice boomed thunderously.

"THOU ART...Okay, no we're not rhyming. I'm your guardian spirit, Sara!"

(Sara) "Really now? And where were you during Erebonia?!"

"ANYWAYS, it seems you're in a bit of trouble! Do you need some help?"

(Sara) "It's either getting help or getting killed by a damn slime of all things, so...Yeah, sure."

"Good choice! Now, I bestow upon you the awesome power of the guardian!"

(Sara) "You're gonna explain later where I got this from, right?"

"That depends, do you want the plot to get moving? Our other posts are slowed down as it is, and this has gotten too meta in just the first few lines of this."

(Sara) "Ugh, fine."

Sara's outfit shined forth and became donned in armor, wielding a new sword.

(Sara) "Hey, you cheap bastard, where's my gun?!"

"This is a fantasy RPG, why would you get a gun? Just kill the damn slime already!"

(Anakin's voice) "WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?!"

(Sara) "Hold on, I'll getcha outta there, HIYA!"

[COOL QUIRK: WEAK POINT]

Sara took one swing of her sword and smacked the slime into the floor, it quickly disappearing.

Anakin's face floated off the slime and back to the town.

"That was..."

(Sara) "Really anti-climatic."

"You should uh...probably go back to the town and check up on Anakin."

INSIDE OF TOWN...

Anakin's face slowly floated back onto the child's body, making him trip over.

(Anakin) "AGH!"

(Obi-Wan) "So, how was it?"

(Anakin) "I was just put into a slime's body, how do you think I feel?!"

(Obi-Wan) "Same as usual, got it."

Obi-Wan turned to Sara, who now looked like a proper knight.

(Obi-Wan) "You have our thanks for helping us, Miss?"

(Sara) "Name's Sara."

(Anakin) "Thanks for helping me out there. What are you gonna do? We'd join you but our bodies would just get in the way."

(Sara) "I'm going to uh...Hey, what is the plan?"

"What do you think? You're the only hero in a fantasy land."

(Obi-Wan) "Is she alright?"

(Anakin) "Yeah, she started doing this earlier, no idea what's up with it."

(Sara) "Might as well go after the others, see what happens I guess. Anyways, I'll be back once I restored this town, until then!"

Sara held onto her sheathe and ran out of the town, those still faceless watching her leave.

(Gundham) "Please hurry. Sonia is...unsettling me."

(Plant) "Miss Valestein, you're our only hope...!"

(Anakin) "Think she'll be okay? That talking thing is really concerning me."

(Obi-Wan) "Probably...?"

[Chase Me - Faky]

(Sara) "Right so...do I just go forward?"

"Where did you see him fly off to?"

(Sara) "Was a lot more focused on trying NOT to get murdered by the slimes."

"It was just a slime, you've killed enemy mechs and demonic beasts like it was nothing!"

(Sara) "That's when I had my weapons and ARCUS unit!"

"..Still. Should've had no problem. I probably didn't even have to interfere."

(Sara) "Good goddess, am I going to be stuck with you? Actually WHO even are you?"

"The narrator! In a sense anyway."

(Sara) "What-"

And so begins the tale of Sara Valestein and her quest to defeat the Dark Lord Chris!

What friends will she encounter on the way?

How much of the meta can we break more than we have?

How many more jokes will the writer run into the ground as this series goes on?

FIND OUT NEXT TIME, ON HOUSE MIISEKAI!

(Sara) "...What?!"

STARRING:

And yours truly as the antagonist for this story!

Here's to some more god-awful written meme stories like this one, everyone!

[solalunar-eclipse]

Scars You Can’t See - Chapter 7

Chapter title: Exhaustion

Word count: about 3300 words

Author’s Note: Thank you all for being so patient with me during the months this fic was on hiatus...but thankfully, the wait is over! I hope you all enjoy!

No warnings for this chapter, though it is pretty dark.

First | Previous | Next

...

The team had been working nonstop through the past several days, spending hours upon hours at different libraries throughout Westopolis and the surrounding areas. They never used the same one twice, so they couldn’t be traced. Hopefully.

Loading the full video and an explanation onto the three different USB drives they had bought took up most of that time, since it required a lot of formatting and download time and they couldn’t stay in any one place for too long. Rouge was the most talented with technology from her hacking experience, but slow Internet connections were something even she couldn’t work around.

Shadow really wanted to be a major part of the process, but his struggles with the video itself had posed serious issues for his involvement. While he had eventually been able to view the other part of the film, he’d still had a strong reaction and then needed an hour to decompress afterwards, all while feeling frustrated at (in his words) his “lack of self-control”.

Rouge and Omega were strongly opposed to that wording, since it suggested that his trauma- because it was trauma, despite his arguments- was something that he could control.

In the end, Shadow was often forced to take a backseat during much of the work, or else his mental state would be a mess throughout the rest of the day. He still helped out in any way possible, though, even if it was something as simple as going out to buy food to keep Rouge’s strength up.

Today was the final day. Team Dark was fully prepared to make a post on three of their main social media pages, and all three envelopes with the USB drives inside had been mailed out (under the false cover of being simple job application letters). They were headed to three different media organizations, which- while not necessarily mainstream- were at least somewhat reputable and sympathetic to their current cause.

While it was still unlikely that the general public opinion would change after this information release, there would hopefully be enough supporters for this to mean something.

At exactly 12:00 p.m. on Oceanic Standard Time, ten days after Team Dark had stolen their original files and fled capture by G.U.N., the videos were released out into the world for everyone to see.

At 12:01 p.m., OST, as the team watched from a public computer, the Internet basically exploded.

All three of the team’s accounts were flooded within seconds, ablaze with accusations, conspiracy theories, and more. The best were the expressions of sympathy and support, though. Those boosted the general mood in the room while providing the three with enough bravery to actually write back to a few people.

There were a few particularly vocal supporters who the team members recognized right away… it seemed that the members of Team Sonic had grown tired of sitting around while their friends put their lives on the line and were now channeling all of their frustration into their keyboards. The team’s morale only rose higher. (However, considering the depths they had been in before, this mainly meant that they seemed almost normal again.)

Through it all, G.U.N. remained silent.

The team decided not to stay at the computer for long- the organization was always watching and probably had some of their best hackers on the case already. Shadow grabbed a couple of books before they left, but none of them really even had the energy to read at this point. They’d spent so many late nights going over and over the wording of everything they would say and every move that they would make, and the replies they’d given just now were carefully considered by all three of them as well.

As soon as they made it back to the hotel, Omega whipped out his charging cord and shoved it into an outlet, and Shadow fell face-down onto the bed. “Oh chaos. Oh chaos we’re really in it now, aren’t we.”

Rouge sighed, sinking into a chair and massaging her brow. “Yes, we are. It's worth it, though.”

“I know.” Shadow muttered into the bedspread. “It’s just…” he trailed off, uncertain as to how to express his thoughts.

“...exhausting.” Rouge finished his sentence for him. “It’s tiring to work so hard on something, all the time.”

The hedgehog pointed a gloved finger at her briefly, before letting his hand fall back onto the mattress. “That sums it up perfectly.”

They lay there for awhile, just allowing themselves to rest after the frenzy of the past few days.

Eventually, though, Shadow forced himself to sit up. “So what are we doing next?” he asked, a frown set low over his eyes.

Rouge got to her feet, exhaustion weighing down her movements. “I think we should probably take a couple of days before we do anything else, hon. That was a lot of work.”

“I know,” Shadow said quickly, looking down at the mint-green sheets of the bed. “I didn’t mean to suggest that you weren’t working hard, I just-”

“I didn’t think you were.” she said gently. “I know you want to stop them as soon as possible, and so do I. But...we’re not in any shape to do much like this- being tired always makes people sloppy.”

Rouge smirked faintly. “I learned that one the hard way.” she mused, recalling a particular heist that she’d tried to pull off after going 48 hours without sleep. It had not ended well, to say the least. 

“I’m gonna head down to that restaurant we looked at earlier. I need food.” the bat muttered quietly. Omega gave her a thumbs-up as she walked out the door.

Rouge wandered through the town, looking around. She saw so many different people, all of them going about their ordinary lives, and reminded herself that soon enough, the world would be just a little bit safer for them to enjoy. This raised her spirits, if only slightly. Just enough that she felt like being a little more friendly to the (likely overworked and underpaid) workers in the restaurant than usual.

In fact, she suspected that recently when she had gone out to eat, she’d come off as almost as sulky as Shadow- constant work and paranoia really took it out of a person. Today, though, her work was temporarily finished, and she could take a deep breath with, if not relaxation, then at least a certain amount of freedom.

Rouge got her food quickly, but with a (perhaps a little too) bright smile and a cheerful wave. 

She left a sizable tip in the glass jar out front, all the while trying to ignore a little voice inside her head that whispered you should give that money to others, you won’t be needing it for much longer…

The bat hated trying to imagine just what G.U.N. was capable of, as well as the potential consequences of their actions. That was exactly why she spent the rest of the day relaxing in her room with Shadow and Omega, mostly reading or playing board games with them. As nice as it was to be able to relax and not obsess over sentences and file formats, they all missed being able to go about their ordinary lives, instead of having to control their every move in order to stay alive. She could feel it in the atmosphere of the room. 

Out of nowhere, Rouge felt the sudden fervent hope that Shadow’s motorbike and Omega’s weapons collection would be okay. She had seen the occasional picture of Club Rouge during her time spent working, and it was all cordoned off and dark and sad...she had made a lot of fond memories there. 

Whether or not some of those memories were of kicking particularly irritating patrons to the curb when their behavior went too far was entirely nobody else’s business.

Rouge hoped for another day or two like this before they had to do any more work- they needed it if they were going to succeed. Shadow had dark rings under his eyes and this was Omega’s first day in over a week where he hadn’t gotten a “power low” warning. If they tried to pull off the kind of heist she had in mind like this, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

The next morning, however, it became clear that Team Dark wouldn’t get that kind of luxury until their work was completely finished.

Allowing herself one quick yawn as she strolled downstairs (given that her fangs could appear quite menacing to those without them), Rouge traced a familiar path to the hotel’s breakfast buffet, planning to fill the gaping void that was currently her stomach.

Her shoes clicked across the tiled floor, irritating her tired ears, and the too-bright lights didn’t do anything to help her overworked senses. She seriously considered just going back upstairs and hiding under the covers for another hour or two, but the smell of pancakes and ripe fruit dragged her over to the long table that held the complementary food from the hotel. 

Filling her paper plate, Rouge began to think again about G.U.N. and the various...unsavory tactics she’d seen them use over the years. Often enough, the soldiers in particular were not above frightening or intimidating those groups of people they saw as ‘threats’ while simultaneously politely cooperating with those that didn’t. While she did her best to distance herself from those kinds of people, filing a complaint would only get you a reprimand or even a hint that you might be fired. No real action was ever taken against those who had joined the force to hurt instead of protect.

She had seen, though, that the commander was definitely trying to make the organization a better place- the raid on Space Colony ARK had clearly left an impression- but that didn’t mean he was succeeding. Over fifty years of brutality, violence, machismo and deceit were not so easily rooted out, not even if the person trying to create change was at the very top. The bat had seen a few too many people being beaten mercilessly by a soldier long after they’d shouted their surrender to think that G.U.N. was all good. Indeed, fighting first and asking questions later was ingrained in the very foundation of the organization.

But whenever Rouge’s mind went down these pathways, there was one thought that always rose above the rest…

While she may have seen what they did, Shadow had lived it.

Rouge sighed, trying to control her violent emotions that always appeared regarding that particular event, and took another pancake. The poor hedgehog had dealt with so much already, and now this...she truly felt for him. They were constantly on the run, always trying to stay ahead of the entire military organization, and despite his status as the ‘Ultimate Lifeform’, she knew that he was struggling. Shadow would insist otherwise, of course, trying to carry the world on his shoulders as he so often did.

She knew better, though.

Rouge glanced upwards to get another look out the window, the general paranoia that came with being a spy too deeply ingrained in her body to ever fade. There were plenty of times when it was just a nuisance, if not embarrassing, but right now those reflexes came in handy.

That was when she saw the five G.U.N. agents talking to the receptionist out front.

She took a deep breath, standing very still at the table. Panic would not help her now. Rouge took two very deliberate, very slow steps to the side, obscuring herself behind a helpfully placed tiered food display. 

The bat caught a snippet of conversation. One of the agents was talking to the man at the front desk, asking, “Have you seen someone matching any of these three descriptions?”

The receptionist frowned, leaning in closer to study the photos, and Rouge decided it was about time to get out of there.

She put her plate down slowly, and then walked purposefully but calmly back to the stairs. Once she was sure that they couldn’t see her any longer, she beat her wings and began to fly up the stairwell as quickly as possible.

Once she got into their room, she slammed the door shut, catching Omega’s attention from where he had been constructing a paper-clip chain. Rouge allowed herself two deep breaths before rushing over to the bed and shaking Shadow’s shoulder with surprising gentleness.

“What do you want?” he mumbled, his eyes only half open.

The bat beat down another wave of nostalgia for relaxing weekend mornings (focus, Rouge, your lives depend on it!) and instead gave him a sad smile.

“They’ve found us.” she said, shattering her teammates’ relative peace in an instant.

Shadow practically catapulted himself out of bed. “G.U.N.? What? When?”

“Yes, five agents, and just now.” Rouge said, beginning to pack up their few belongings.

“What shall we do?” Omega asked, an almost staticky tone creeping into his voice. It had the effect of making him sound rather more dangerous than usual, which was probably intentional. “I would be happy to burn this building to the ground. Just say the word,” he said, revving up his flamethrower.

“No burning.” Rouge said, and it was evident just how used to Omega’s antics she was that this statement was delivered in a completely calm tone of voice. “Here’s what I’m thinking. We split up- there’s only so many of them there. We’ll get out of here any way we know how. Meet up at 9:30 outside that waterskiing shop. Got it?”

“Yes.” Omega and Shadow said simultaneously.

“Alright, good. Omega, take the suitcases. Let’s go.”

She threw herself out the window as Shadow teleported the robot down into a nearby alleyway before vanishing again. Her wings folded tightly against her back as she shot down the side of the building, her fingers nearly skimming across the steel and glass. Rouge forced herself to trust in her wings, snapping them out at the absolute last moment before she could hit the ground and hoping that nobody in any of the rooms had seen much more than a red-and-black blur.

She almost laughed to herself- that used to be Shadow.

Laughing wasn’t something any of them did much anymore.

She stalked through a dark alleyway before rushing down a couple of blocks, trying to get as far away from the hotel as she could on foot without being too suspicious. By now, G.U.N. would have realized that the team did not look like they used to, which would make it a lot more difficult to escape their notice.

Rouge spotted Shadow moving quickly several blocks down, and made an immediate left to stay away from him. There was still over an hour until their rendezvous time, and until then it was best to stay away from one another. A hedgehog and a bat together would only draw the organization’s attention. 

Rouge forced her legs to take one step in front of the other- she had to stay moving. The bat was...a little too used to pushing through exhaustion when simple survival was her only goal. Memories of having to hide after heists, constantly walking to nowhere just to stay away from the police surfaced vaguely in the back of her mind. Rouge was still tired from nights of obsessing and writing and rewriting with Shadow and Omega, and this new stressor wasn’t helping at all, forcing her back into the same introspective cloud that always surrounded her whenever important things started happening.

Yet at the same time, she couldn’t bring herself to feel afraid of what could happen should she get captured. It was almost as though she wasn’t truly awake. She was worried for the rest of the team, it was true, but they were all already in such deep trouble that it almost felt as though she’d maxed out on stress.

As she walked, Rouge wanted to feel something more, some sense of a higher purpose to keep her inspired…

...but when it got down to the basics, change wasn’t always glamorous court battles or powerful arguments delivered to roaring crowds. Sometimes you just had to keep pushing and pushing and pushing until finally someone took notice and listened to what you had to say. It was tiny steps, day by day, almost like trying to grind down a mountain with a single stone. Despite being part of the catalyst, she couldn’t see any of the effects from here.

Was anything even changing? Rouge didn’t know.

She shook her head, trying once again to bury these thoughts in the back of her mind. This was just like a mission. Do the task, then think about the bigger picture afterwards.

The bat briefly wondered if this mentality was why the organization had gone downhill before forcing herself to focus. Right now, she needed to use her instincts. That was all.

…

After an hour, during which she had to hide behind a dumpster (in other circumstances, she would have laughed and called it cliche) to evade G.U.N. pursuit, she met up with the other two at the waterskiing store. Thankfully, Omega had managed to acquire a new car- their old one would have to be left back at the hotel and become more collateral damage, as much as they all wished otherwise.

They’d really liked that car.

Rouge and Shadow piled in, and the bat could only feel relief that Omega didn’t really get tired like they did, so at least there was low danger of someone falling asleep at the wheel. 

“We’re in the final stages now,” Rouge said encouragingly, trying to keep up morale. “Just this last heist to get more dirt on G.U.N., and then we’re free to do as we please…”

Shadow sighed. “I hope.”

“Perhaps…” Omega said cautiously, “...G.U.N. will get so busy with lawsuits that they will cease pursuing us after that. Their public image is...somewhat important.”

He didn’t sound like he believed his own words, though.

Rouge, feeling tired, had to practically beat her nagging thoughts off with a stick by this point. What if they never stop, the voice whispered. What if they just keep coming and coming until you give up because you’re just so tired of running-

“Rouge.” Shadow said quietly. “Are you doing the overthinking thing again?”

“What, hon?” she asked, feeling underequipped to have any conversation, let alone one about herself.

“The thing.” Omega called from the front seat. “Where you insist upon shouldering all of the burden simply because you’re the self-appointed team leader. That is not allowed in this car. At all.”

The bat smiled faintly. Even after all this work and exhaustion, they were still worrying about her. That kind of thoughtfulness was enough to relax her a little, and she leaned on Shadow’s shoulder.

“Let’s talk about stupid stuff for a little while.” she said firmly. “We should talk about something like, like- when we went to that one restaurant and Shadow ate like three bowls of their five-alarm chili in twenty minutes and won that T-shirt.”

Shadow smirked briefly. “It didn’t hurt at all and Sonic and Knuckles yelled at me for being a cheater. Having specially bioengineered taste buds has its perks.”

They reminisced about the good times, all three trying to keep the mood light and not discuss the elephant in the room (or car, as it were)- which was of course when they might be able to do that sort of fun thing again.

And then they were on the highway, and headed to what was hopefully the last place G.U.N. would ever expect them to be.

Central City.

[inheritorofmemories-archive]

Let’s talk about The Old Guard’s OST

And I don’t mean the songs because I don't have that many opinions on them and I'm sure other people can talk about that better than me, but the music that was written for the movie by Volker Bertelmann and Dustin O’Halloran.

Note: I'm only gonna talk about the instruments, themes and parallels, not really about scales or that kind of more technical details, for the sake of saving time.

Okay so here's an analysis by me, a music nerd that can't help but overthink everything they like. Featuring lots of appreciation for minimalist music and cool symbolism.

Why is the Old Guard’s soundtrack so good and so fitting?

The whole thing is under read more because it’s long

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First, the composers.

I don’t know Bertelmann, but I’ve listened to some of O’Halloran’s work (he did The Hate U Give ost). He also worked with Johann Johannsson in the past a big name in the composer and movie soundtrack world (he did Mother!, Prisoners, Arrival amongst other).

O’Halloran cites Arvo Pärt as a big influence in his music. It’s almost all thanks to him and his work that the ambient and minimalist music was born, he’s a huge name. Minimalist and ambient are (to oversimplify it) simple tune, with as little notes as possible, little melody repeated over and over, soft percussion, it embodies the idea that “the less the better”.

What I’m trying to get at is, ambient and minimalist are now very related to the film soundtrack world because by essence ambient is making feel things with less, and that suits the need to uplift images with music that’s not overpowering. (Go listen to Max Richter’s work, he’s one of the first minimalist that was employed in the movie industry, and the Waltz with Bashir ost is amazing.)

Which takes me to this: The Old Guard’s ost doesn’t read like an usual action movie, or super hero movie ost because they used ambient instead of big brass and powerful electric sounds like you’re used to. And that’s what makes it so good for this film. 

.

So, let’s get to the actual ost. We’ll do it chronologically.

The ost has 24 tracks that amount to 46 min, for a 2 h movie that is in the norm. And the thing is, every instrument has a purpose, is assigned to someone or something and when you listen to it, you can understand that the composers tried to push along the director’s intention with the music.

The movie start with shells falling on the ground and Andy’s speech in complete silence, you’re thrown into the movie: it’s serious and it deals with the character’s emotional drive. Then, bam! “We were born alone” comes on and that solidify this idea.

The first track is The Old Guard, and it gives us a couple thing: the team’s music is composed of synthesizers, long notes held over some soft percussions. There’s piano in this track, and the piano=emotions, memory. But we figure that out later.

We find those elements again in the second track, Hotel. This time the synths are more present because Andy is watching the news and feeling bad about it. And the third one, A New Mission feature synth that are more agressive, since they’re on a mission, and what we assume are their peak coordination as a team. They’re as complementary as you can get for the South Sudan mission, that’s what this part show us.

One element that’s import to note: those three tracks all have choirs, faint in the first but in the third they peak, and you can actually hear them really well in the movie. Choirs are the marks of the Old Guard, of the team, and as soon as they dream of Nile, we won’t hear choirs anymore because the team isn’t complete, they need to find her.

This brings us to Nile. The end of Double Bubble and Nile tells us something else, Nile is the strings, and violon. When Andy leaves to get Nile, there’s string with her synth, because she’s her mission. We hear them when Nile speaks to the children in Afghanistan, and when she dies there’s strings and piano.

That’s when we understand that the piano is memory and emotions. There is piano mixed with heavier percussion for Quynh’s track The Iron Maiden, the memory and pain with a typical Old Guard’s instrument, and percussion are great to show the exhilaration of riding with Andy and the fear of being locked in the iron maiden.

In Booker’s track when he talks about his children in the cave, They Grow Old, we also have a piano, because he’s remembering and also feeling grief and sorrow.

And in What If We Don’t Live Forever? when Andy is sitting in the car after Celeste took care of her wound, we hear piano again, because she’s reflecting on Lykon’s death and her own mortality.  But, interesting details, strings join at the end of the track. Has Nile started to influence her character? Who knows, but I’m saying it.

And we have the piano again when Nile drive away when Andy and Booker go to Copley’s, because she’s thinking of her family and feeling guilty about the man she killed and feeling overwhelmed over her new immortal identity.

Also, when Joe and Nicky are taken and there’s only three of them left driving to the mine, we have almost no percussion and very soft synth, because the team isn’t complete, so why would the Old Guard's signature music be?

We do, very quickly, get their music when Nile look at Copley’s board and understand the role Andy and the Old Guard had in humanity, track Montenegro.

Nile get her own song moment with “Going Down Fighting" as she go save the team, and when she frees them, We Won’t Give Up mixes synth with her strings.

And to keep on with the awesome symbolism, in The Old Guard Attack (that moment before the explosion where they take down like 10 mercenaries together) over the sounds we get for them from the first three track there’s strings, Nile’s instrument. The team added her to their music, she’s accepted just like she accepted them with Montenegro when she came back for them.  That’s what we call very cool composition people.

And remember what I said about the choirs being gone? How for the entire movie, after they dream of Nile and Andy yeet herself jump from the train they’re nowhere to be heard? At the end for You Are Going To Help Us, they’re back. Because Nile has chosen her way,  she’s an Old Guard now, she’s part of the family so she gets to have the Old Guard music too.

Just listen to The Old Guard and You Are Going to Help Us, the first and last track. They are very similar in melody and structure, but in the second one you get more prominent strings. Again, Nile’s instrument. Is it subtle enough yet?

I’ve skipped some tracks because once you expose the idea it gets repetitive to mention it from all tracks it appears in, but you get the idea.

Seriously if you have time try to give it a listen, it’s actually really nice. Tho, fair warning, I’m the kind of person that listen to movies and games soundtracks for fun all the time and geek out about ambient music, so...

.

And finally, to come back to what I said, and why this ost is so good, I need to talk about the whole atmosphere Gina Prince-Bythewood gave to the movie.

I talked a bit about it here (long post too, sorry), but the movie isn’t all big explosions and SFX and actions in your face. It’s gritty, dark, and incredibly realist. GPB said she used blood pocket for the Kill Floor scene (The Old Guard - How to Shoot a Shootout- Netflix, at about 3:30 she talks about it) because she needed the gore realism of blood spraying out of them. That’s why there’s no fancy light, neons and colors nor very symmetrical or intricate photography but washed out lights and very minimal outstanding feature and even coloring unless it’s to make a point (there’s a post about centering subject in the shot in The Old Guard going around, like Nile in the elevator at the end, very cool). It’s also why they used wide angle for the camera and the “shaky cam”, the camera that’s moving along the characters with lot of shakes because it’s on the cameraman’s shoulder (think documentaries and things like that, again, grounded and realistic film) and not smoothly like you would see in a Fincher movie for example.

It’s also why the most sober ost works so well. It’s not like John Wick with the guitars of Tyler Bates and Le Castle Vania electro, or the Avengers big brass and epic musics. Not, it’s soft, it’s barely noticeable and it only pushes for more emotions, it doesn’t artificially force any on you. The plot and actor’s acting do that for you.

That’s why I think the ost fit so well, no matter that some people think it’s boring or non existent. That’s the goal, to have a soundtrack that uplift without shadowing, something that's just as dark and neutral and gritty as the photography and themes of death, immortality, humanity, etc.

That being said, go listen to some ambient, it’s nice.

[starrymothwings]

OKAY so time for an actual review of Sonic Forces because i actually started and finished the game in one sitting

The Good:

1. I actually like the custom character?? I’ll talk more about this but I thought it was a cute and fun way of spicing up the series a bit. Like everyone loves Sonic and Co. but I’m always a sucker for games that let you make custom characters bc it’s a more personal way of connecting with the series. Not to mention, but it intorduced a new way of playing and it did it pretty well, considering that I actually preferred the Avatar stages due to the movement. Very easy to control which has been a major gripe with recent Sonic games

2. The music. I’m picky when it comes to game OSTs but there are more than a few songs I’m thinking about buying. The music in the Classic levels in particular are very nice

3. Infinite is a fun villain! He’s edgy to the max but those kinds of characters never really bothered me to be honest? I actually wish he had been the main villain rather than Eggman because that would’ve been a good way to flesh out a new character in an already short game.

The Bad:

1. The game itself is really short. There are about 30 main levels and almost all of them can be completed in a few minutes each. I’m a slow gamer so I’ll say the whole thing took me about 5-6 hours to beat it. And in those 5-6 hours, it felt like the game was trying to be two or three different games at once. I do understand it came out after Sonic Generations, and the Sonic franchise has revolved around the classic platformer level style. But—

—I wish there was more to the game. Rather than playing level after level, I wish there was some kind of overworld to interact with, even if it was just the resistance base. I mean, we have almost the entire SA2 cast there, wouldn’t it be cool to go around and talk to everyone occasionally? Like actually see how their reactions change to the events of the game as it goes on?? Plus, I would’ve liked it to be longer. I did get it on sale but the original price is around $40 right? Unless you plan to 100% the game then there really isn’t much content per dollar.

2. Sonic Generations did really well from what I remember, and this game came out right afterwards if memory serves me right? But unfortunately, I really don’t think Classic Sonic had a place in the game. He’s just kinda...Shoehorned in there. Like there’s no meaningful plot point surrounding him beyond the fact that he...Gave Tails hope, I guess? His levels are alright, not really my favorite despite the fact that I do the best on them. Easily the best music in the game. Unfortunately, I just think his addition weakens the game overall. Again, it’s one of the reasons why Sonic Forces feels like it was trying to be more than one game. Also, his controls could be better.

3. Speaking of Sonic...I understand that he’s y’know...Sonic, and this is a Sonic game, so people are expecting Sonic to be in it. But, and this could just be a problem caused by the game’s short length and pacing, I don’t think we should have gotten Sonic back so soon. I mean, the conflict in the beginning (and the reason for your Avatar to be there) is the fact that Sonic was captured, but you get him back in the fifth level, which is anywhere after 10-25 minutes of gameplay. Not a major gripe, but it does seem a bit silly. What I DO have a major gripe with though is the fact that Sonic controls like garbage. I did not look forward to the Modern Sonic levels because I knew I was going to get screwed over by bad controls. Like the countless times I fell off the running sections because the game decided it didn’t want me to stay in bounds anymore.

4. I wish there was a bigger connection between the Avatar and Infinite. Like, aside from the one fight between the two of them midway through, there’s really no interaction between them. It’s just that you have a game where the main unique feature is that you can customize an avatar character to use throughout, and then you have the villain that debuts in said game.

We know that the Rookie was able to join the resistance because Infinite spared them, so it wouldn’t be farfetched to say that he’s the Avatar’s nemesis, right? Again, I like Infinite, and I wish he was in the game more. Since the game is split between the Sonic levels and the Avatar levels, and the conflict is (essentially) split between Infinite and Eggman, I wish the Avatar levels were spent dealing with Infinite the majority of the time and Sonic with Eggman—Rather than Sonic...Pretty much doing everything? Nemesis against nemesis.

5. Where was Chaos? :) Where was my boy? (: Because you have him in the trailer, you have him in the cutscenes where all the villains are lined up, but you don’t even fight him in the game? At least not in any of the main levels. DX was my first Sonic game so I am admittedly a little biased, but again: where was my BOY, SEGA? :) I just want to talk

Overall:

Okay so, despite the fact that there are more bad points than good in this post, I actually really enjoyed the game! I can see why people might criticize the game, but as always my main factor of whether or not I like a game is if I have fun with it—and I did. The music was good, (most) of the levels were fun, I always enjoy a custom character, the new villain was entertaining. I had a good time. I do wish I had a longer time, and maybe a slightly different time, but a good time nonetheless.

Now I’m off to play the Shadow episode and see if I have anything new to say afterwards, and then I’m gonna make fanart of my avatar because this game forced me to make a sonic oc in this year 2020, said self-insert rights, and also cringe is dead

Come talk to me about this game and Sonic in general if you want! Also send me your avatars/sonic ocs bc I want to see them

[iicewitch]

✨ bleed magic

a playlist for @glitchedwitch​ link to playlist: here tracklist and favorite lyrics below:

1. poniko’s room [lights on] - yume nikki ost instrumental 2. distant past - everything everything Take me to the distant past, I want to go back Save me from the distant past, I wanna survive Canine fangs about my throat You're bleeding over Eden like a goat Tall blade dripping in every field I'm blooming like a fuming human shield 3. president heartbeat - everything everything Were you born in a cave now? Do you live in a cage now? If you burst into flame now Will they call you a human being? And your spine is a glass spire And your flesh is the concrete And your blood is the sewer And your skin is the city wall 4. orange caramel - catallena The small, dancing Catellena (Red Sun) Without knowing, I’m falling for you Chic and proud, Catallena (Red Sun) Jutti meri oye hoi hoi, I’m bewitched 5. wings - little mix Mama told me not to waste my life, She said spread your wings my little butterfly Don't let what they say keep you up at night And they can't detain you 'Cause wings are made to fly 6. eighth wonder - lemon demon Extra clever. Earthbound spirit. Ghost in the form, of a mongoose. And I have hands. And I have feet. I'll never die, I am a freak. Hello, I'm here, I'm living in the wall, I know I might be small, but I am a... Freak 7. the will of one - the protomen As I walk through the city streets These frightened people watching me pass There is an evil that holds them here Yet they won't try breaking its grasp But if I stay here with you Then I will leave them to their doom Do not say this is how it has to be You do no better than the fools of this burning city 8. father of death - the protomen What have I done? Though I did not pull the trigger, I built the gun That he holds in his hand Last night I dreamed I climbed to the top of a mountain of metal For miles I could see the destruction of man If the shadow blocks out the sun... there will be Light! If it stays 'till the sun is set... there will be Light! If the sun never shows its face again... there will be Light! No matter how dark the city gets... there will be... 9. i’m a hex girl - hex girls With this little cobweb potion You'll fall into dark devotion If you ever lose affection I can change your whole direction I'm a Hex Girl and I'm gonna put a spell on you I'm gonna put a spell on you 10. free - mother mother Love, let my anger Turn into peace Love, let the doves cry out in the streets Love, let the poison bleed out of me Love, let my love inside go free A bloody war Behind my eyes I come out right on the other side 11. the sticks - mother mother  I'll be gone for good Out there with the creatures in the woods And I'll be understood Make friends with the pagans in the nude I'll be no different Just a little less interested In all that new world shit 'Cause there ain't no new world in the sticks 12. infinitesimal - mother mother There's a million, billion, trillion stars but I'm down here low Fussin' over scars on my soul, on my soul, on my soul, on my soul On my soul, I am so infinitesimal, oh They say it started with a big bang But they say it was really just a small thing Strangely I'm feeling like a big bang 'Cause I've been making something out of nothing 13. burning pile - mother mother My mama, lonely maid Got her buns in the oven, and she never got laid My papa, renaissance man Sailed away and he never came back again All my troubles on a burning pile All lit up and I start to smile If I, catch fire then I change my aim Throw my troubles at the pearly gates 14. build god then we’ll talk - panic at the disco Raindrops on roses and girls in white dresses It's sleeping with roaches and taking best guesses At the shade of the sheets and before all the stains And a few more of your least favorite things 15. life is looking up - forgive durden Could this be the day I've waited for When all my hard work doesn't go ignored? Maybe she was right, the will realize I can change the world open us their eyes They know I am more than some eager blood Not some average bones, I believe in love I just want to prove I deserve this gift I will change the world, maybe this is it 16. bleed magic - idkhbtfm Crawling up your skin Potions pills and medicines To drain you And bleed your magic out 17. the oracles on the delphi express - the dear hunter You've been stuck in the middle of patience and animosity. With a lust for solidity, and a cryptic history, your luck's running thin. 18. chattering lack of common sense - GHOST Wait, what is going on here? I'm a little out of sorts I've been contemplating fallacies and things that scare me "Why not try to let go?" I've been feeling out of order I'm allowing change, so take a good look; This is me This is what I've come to be This is what I've come to be 19. daydream - j-hope  Wishing on a sky Wishing on a scar If there’s the sun I want to dream Wishing on a sky Wishing on a scar If there’s the moonlight I don’t want to wake up from it 20. witch flight - yume nikki OST instrumental 21. wiggle - cosmo sheldrake Hey ho, where did you go Did you wriggle or roll Did you giggle or grumble through Tom Thumb from where did you come Did you toggle or run Did you skip, trip, or stumble through 22. counting stars - one republic I’m old, but I'm not that old Young, but I'm not that bold And I don't think the world is sold I'm just doing what we're told Lately I been, I been losing sleep Dreaming about the things that we could be 23. urban caravan - fake type Because there’s a surely a bunch of fresh possibilities out there If I don’t try it out, ain’t that just a waste? In the end, it looks like the world is so wide that curiosity is inexhaustible There’s war songs but also songs of peace, The feelings remain just the same Keep your unwavering faith’s compass close to your heart 24. counting cards  - rainbow kitten surprise Jokes we tell to laugh, dear Laugh to hold back the pain Pain is in the mind, dear Stars are much the same Gone in the time it takes the light to reach In time you'll find We're blind to the things we don't believe Paint me red, paint me red Picture that, picture that Picture us and God shaking hands just because we can 25. god of marie - MASA This is our creed, aimed at a God that’s gone all floaty. We’re pure! We’re fans of Marie. We’re not doing anything wrong! Hm? Are you a fan of Marie, too? The stoned Reverend and his crazy worshippers Are surrounded by smoke in the cathedral The highest god has come down. We give thanks to ganja! 26. bad apple - nomico Will I exist in a place like this? Will I exist in a time like this? If someone like me can change, if I can change, will I turn white? Am I dreaming now? Or seeing nothing? My words are useless even if I speak I'm just tired of being sad, I should go on without feeling anything 27. my songs know what you did in the dark - fall out boy All the writers keep writing what they write Somewhere another pretty vein just dies I've got the scars from tomorrow and I wish you could see That you're the antidote to everything except for me 28. magia - kalafina If I can follow my path without wavering, I care not if my heart shatters. I wish I had a spell to stand against the sadness that's ever before my eyes Back when I loved books about wonderland where a captive sun shines, I believed the fairy tales that told me all my wishes would come true 29. immortals - fall out boy I'll be the watcher (watcher) of the eternal flame, I'll be the guard dog of all your fever dreams, Sometimes the only pay off for having any faith, Is when it's tested again and again everyday, 30. the last of the real ones - fall out boy 'Cause you're the last of a dying breed Write our names in the wet concrete I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me I'm here in search of your glory There's been a million before me 31. interweb - poppy And the world feels smaller When it's at my fingers So let's keep talking Tell me what day is it Can't turn it off yet, I'm wrapped up with it So let's keep talking Tell me what day is it I caught you in my interweb I caught you in my internet Well, maybe I'm a spider 32. armed and ready - casey lee williams Remember all too well My time of living hell The night my enemy would conquer But now I've been set free Lived through the tragedy You'll wish you'd killed me, now I'm stronger! Feel like I'm finally unbroken Oh, now I'm back from the dead Strength back, confidence growing Out of my way 'Cause I'm armed and ready (armed and ready) 33. red like roses part 2 - casey lee williams I couldn't take it, couldn't stand another minute Couldn't bear another day without you in it All of the joy that I had known for all my life Was stripped away from me the minute that you died I wanna tell you that you're all that ever mattered Want you to know that, for eternity, I'm shattered I tried so hard just to protect you, but I failed to And in a prison of abandonment I've jailed you 34. lapis lazuli - zach callison She wanted to leave this place And get herself back in space Lapis Lazuli You fled into the bottom of the sea Lapis Lazuli You were so mad but then you came around to me 35. unreasonable behavior - OFF ost instrumental 36. devil’s train - the lab rats Or I can be the bee in your bonnet, your best friend forever Two peas in a pod flockin' like birds of a feather And you never have a need to beg, work, or steal If all this sounds worth it then let's make a deal Sitting on the tracks waiting for the night train Looking down the road, ain't never gonna go back Listen for the whistle through the wind and raindrop Who's gonna ride the devil's train tonight? 37. the room where it happens - leslie odom jr No one really knows how the Parties get to yesssss (Parties get to yesssss) The pieces that are sacrificed in (Ev’ry game of chesssss) Ev’ry game of chesssss We just assume that it happens (Assume that it happens) But no one else is in (The room where it happens) The room where it happens We want our leaders to save the day— But we don’t get a say in what they trade away We dream of a brand new start— But we dream in the dark for the most part Dark as a tomb where it happens 38. the perfect fit - dresden dolls I used to be the bright one Smart as a whip Funny how you slip so far when Teachers don't keep track of it Can't you just fix it for me? It's gone berserk Fuck, I'll give you anything If you can make the damn thing work 39. million years - nico vega You better learn from a man who's afraid to dance With a witch like me, and a wicked trance, 'cause A spider bite is a natural wound, but a dagger in the back is a plastic tomb Ain't nobody knows the trouble I've seen, but they know the sound of their own damn scream, well Lady bug! Bring me news, or a soul so rich and a crystal pool Let it burn, let it burn, singing songs of truth 40. i want you - savage garden Anytime I need to see your face I just close my eyes And I am taken to a place Where your crystal mind and magenta feelings Take up shelter in the base of my spine 41. pursuing my true self - shihoko hirata Loading loading loading Quickly reaching maximum capacity Warning warning warning Gonna short circuit my identity We are living our lives Abound with so much information 42. backside of the tv - persona 4 ost Lost destiny Far outcry They hear you no more Numb feeling Whole dizziness Deep scars No pain No sanity Body aching Control your own fate Invisible Real enemy Bring your mind Deep Down A moment of truth, tell me what's really happening Their rhyme is nothing but you've got everything Bro, you've got everything but you don't know anything 43. rivers in the desert - shoji meguro A river in a dry land The last ace in a lost hand When the hope of new beginnings burned our feet Now we need it: A heartbeat for a tin man An oasis in a singed land Remind us what we're here for: Creating new life Creating rivers in the desert 44. again - yui I'm wanting to scream that we're living to make our wish come true can you hear it? We won't be able to take it safe, because we have no place to go back to I'm always grateful for your kindness, that's why I want to be strong I'll welcome friend or foe for the sake of moving forward You still have too long a life left to erase these feelings completely, don't you think? I want to redo the things I left undone, So let's go, one more time! 45. komm susser todd - arianne It all returns to nothing, it just keeps Tumbling down Tumbling down Tumbling down It all returns to nothing, I just keep Letting me down Letting me down Letting me down 46. the spider and the lamps - forgive durden I'm the Spider, Crawl inside her! They don't understand, This is their last chance, No more idle hands, I'll destroy the lamps, Then they'll know, Whose in control. 47. here comes a thought - estelle and aj michalka You're losing sight You're losing touch All these little things seem to matter so much That they confuse you That I might lose you And it was just a thought, just a thought, just a thought, just a thought, just a thought It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay We can watch, we can watch, we can watch, we can watch them go by From here, from here, from here 48. black paper moon - tommy heavenly6 Don't be scared of the pumpkin carriage the witch drew Cuz it can show in your eyes A symbol rises to the top on the card I dropped in the sweet crimson jam Your destiny - if you wish Any sort of world Can be yours 49. to zanarkand - ffx ost instrumental 50. poniko’s room [lights off] - yume nikki instrumental

[glasyasbutch]

playlist: nissy

link to playlist (on spotify)

1. We R Who We R by Kesha

It’s about damn time to live it up, I’m sick of being so serious, it’s making me delirious

listen. i could pull some shit out of my ass or I could say that i wanted the first words on this playlist to be HOT. AND. DANGEROUS.

2. LIVE THE WEEKEND by Rhizza, GIRLI

Oh, what do you care who I’m kissing / Oh my god you’re suck a dickhead, can’t you let me live the weekend?

anthem for bi people who just want to be left alone to be horny. bonus points for the use of the word dickhead in the exact context nissy would use it. he’s a child like that.

3. Nails, Hips, Hair, Heels by Todrick Hall

Ass fat, lips real, full purse, big bills

I debated on adding this song for him, bc it’s not super his vibe. Like he’s not quite as ‘strut into the room and check to make sure everyone’s staring at me’ as Zier, and he’s not quite as effeminate as this song would make you think. but i do think this is the kind of carefree, self-loving atmosphere he tries to escape to when he’s not being trained on the social graces necessary in political meetings.

4. Fabulous from High School Musical 2 OST

I need something inspiring to help me get along / I need a little fabulous is that so wrong?

He’s a fucking spoiled ass rich bitch tho, no matter what, and he like. Wants His Stuff. And he wants it to be Nice.

5. Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper

I come home in the morning light, my mother says “when you gonna live your life right?” / Oh momma dear, we’re not the fortunate ones

Nissy’s had this exact conversation more times than he can count; getting yelled at after he’s sneaking back in his own bedroom window and makes a little too much noise. You’d think his parents remember a bit more about youth, having each had two of them. 

6. Blind Leading the Blind by Mumford & Sons

Running from the weight of ancient labels and leaving what identity there was / Well, my generation’s stuck in the mirror / “Forget about the poor, cause I don’t like the word”

Oh you thought it was gonna be all meme-y songs, huh? You thought I was gonna let you get a whole playlist without getting even a bit emo? Fools.

This song sticks out for me in a lot of ways. There’s a lot to be said about the classism inherent in the Den system (correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe consecution is exclusive to the Dens? People not born into them pick a Den when they go through the process?), and as much of a bastard as Nissy is, he realizes this and isn’t a huge fan of it. Especially when the den members keep getting reborn, he knows that the leadership of this country is getting really insular, really quick, and its. Not Good. So I suppose this song’s about his relationship with his identity as a Den member, and his attempt to sort of break the cycle, and to actually like. Know and understand the rest of the country he’s been raised to fight and die for. 

7. Heirloom by Sleeping at Last

It is the consequence of living in between the weight of family and the pull of gravity / You are so much more than your father’s son, you are so much more than wars you’ve won

Building off the last song, this one digs deeper to his problems with his family on a more personal level. He and Leth are easily the babies of the den, and grew up feeling like the one un-dried out tub of play-doh at preschool. Everyone around them trying to mold them into some pleasing shape. 

Leth did great! She became a skilled dunemancer, and she’s got the wit and cleverness to make her an asset to any political negotiation. And Nissy’s sort of just floundering around, trying to find somewhere to stand that’s not in someone’s shadow - including his own. He doesn’t particularly like being an echo knight. Kinda fucked up that his entire profession is based on staring his wasted potential in the face. He wants to be more than his den, more than his knighthood, and this song’s a full on tribute to that. 

8. My Life by Billy Joel

I don’t care what you say anymore, this is my life / Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone 

This song and the next one are basically there to describe Nissy’s breaking point at which he decided to leave home. This one’s more personal, his anger at his family and the way they constantly critiqued his every move, comparing him to his sister and his elders, asking why he refuses to measure up.

9. Not Gonna Take Me by BAILEN

You took my mother, you took my father, oh, but you’re not gonna take me

And this one’s more the anger he feels at the entire system. At the dens and the Luxon and the selectivism of consecution. He wants out (in principle. He’s still too much of a coward to walk out all by himself). I also like to think that the “she” in this song is Mavy. She certainly wasn’t the first or only person to cement in Nissy the idea that Kryn little fucked up maybe, but she was the one who convinced him to actually leave it behind.

10. Do What We Wanna Do by Zayde Wolf

We won’t stop now, we do what we wanna do, just like we wanted to

So this song fits more to Craving and Manic’s vibes, but I also think its trash music and neither of them deserve it, but Nissy himself is kinda trash so its ok for his playlist. Consider this the song that plays over the montage of him and Mavy running from the city and finding their way across the plains of Xhorhas to Uthodern.

11. Songs I Can’t Listen To by Neon Trees

And its all because of you, I’ve got a list of songs I can’t listen to / And it’s all because we’re through, I’ve got a list of songs I can’t listen to

Morgan sent me this and was like “its a breakup song but upbeat” and I vibed with it. It’s on here more because it slaps than because it’s extreme Nissy vibes. I do have it on here to mark his breakup with Mavy, and I do think that the focus being on the material things that are ruined for him because of memory, rather than like. Actually being sad. Is pretty accurate to how he’s handling being left.

12. Fight the Dragons from Big Fish OBC

So I fight the dragons, and I storm the castle, and I win a battle or two / Then comes the day, it’s time, I’m packing up and bringing all my stories home to you

This is a really sweet song about a dad trying to be a man his son can be proud of. And I’m fulling appropriating it to make it be a song about the grandiose lie that Nissy’s trying to put on when he does get home, where he’s gonna pretend that he was a totally valiant hero who killed a BUNCH of cool shit ALL BY HIMSELF so his family will be proud of him.

13. Grace Kelly by MIKA

I could be brown, I could be blue, I could violet sky / I could be hurtful, I could be purple, I could be anything you like / Gotta be green, gotta be mean, gotta be everything more / Why don’t you like me, why don’t you like me, walk out the door

MANDATORY MIKA KIN SONG! This was the first song I put on this playlist, actually. It perfectly sums up his vibes. Fairly righteous anger at not being loved without having to change everything about himself, but himself is simultaneously an absolute dipshit. 

[every1studio]

“wow” [stray kids]

genre: FLUFF + comedy + reverse harem 

ficstyle: #whatwouldtheydo/reactions + bulletpoints + storyline + LONG

prompt: based on this photo / how would Stray Kids check you out?

note: xxx hope you like this~

You took a deep breathe; here you are entering JYP Academy as a new transfer student. You were never big on finding love or developing crushes since your main focus was studying.. So the main idea was to focus on your studies.. but somehow 9 popular boys of the school were going to focus on you...

WOOJIN

he sees you walking in the hallways

most likely to the teacher’s office

but you were definitely lost

Woojin noticed you from the entrance of the school since he is the president of the student body

(are they new? they’re so good looking...)

he wasn’t following you... he’d tell himself

he was just walking in the “same” direction as you

you heard another set of footsteps and stopped

you turned to see who was behind you

Woojin did a terrible job at hiding himself

“can I help you?” your soft voice echoed

“uh.. I was wondering if you want help..”

“what?”

“I’m Woojin the president of the student body.. you look.. lost?”

you were trying to wrap your head around the fact that this boy was following you because you were..lost?

“uh yeah... trying to find the teacher’s office...”

he quietly slid into the shadows of the corner so you took it as he was going to show you where it was

Woojin starts walking towards the office as his face is beaming red

(THEIR EYES OH GOSH THEIR EYES ARE SO MESMERIZING!!!)

“he-here it is..” he announced softly

you looked at the sign that read “Teacher’s Office” and you turned to look at him

“thank-”

but he was gone

CHAN

you entered the teacher’s office 

and the first thing you saw...

was a young lad swirling his arms around in happiness

“congratulations on getting that scholarship, Chan~”

he stops to nod his head to bow as a thanks to his teacher

when he looks up, he sees you

“whoa..”

he didn’t mean to say that out loud

his teacher looks at what he’s looking at

“oh.. you must be y/n, the new student?”

you nodded

the teacher gestured you over 

Chan was watching your every movement

(yo... how can someone be this good looking...)

“Chan? Chan!”

he looks back at his teacher

everyone just caught him checking you out

“you have the same class as y/n.. would you please bring them to the homeroom? I need to pick up from prints..”

Chan nodded and showed you the way to the classroom

“here we are~”

MINHO (LEEKNOW)

...

silence filled the room as Chan opened the door for you

“this is y/n.. they’re the new student, let’s welcome them..”

the first person to welcome you was Minho

he had a smug look on his face 

as he eyed you up and down

(he looks like those typical bad boys..)

“aye shawty you’re quite a looker.. I’m Minho, wanna be my seatmate?”

(definitely a bad boy..)

“what makes you think I want to sit next to you?”

he smiled at your sassiness

“because I’m good looking? good looking people should sit by each other..”

you scoffed

“thanks, but I’ll pass on that offer..”

lots of girls in the class glared at you

in that small time frame, you realized that he was probably the school’s heartthrob and that he had a lot of fans/girls following him

“save that seat for someone who wants to sit there..” you mumbled 

Minho smirks at your comment, “it’s always open for you, sweetie~”

CHANGBIN

“Minho, leave em alone...”

you thought this other guy was another “bad boy” 

“sorry.. he doesn’t know when to stop...”

(Minho’s always like this... I hope he doesn’t scare them away or I won’t get a chance... they’re so pretty/handsome...)

you were surprised that he was so polite about it

he looked a little more reserved and dark 

but he was actually soft with his words and actions

“it’s okay..”

he smiles softly as the window’s curtains blows into the classroom

“I’m Changbin..”

you were slightly flustered by how cute he was

“n-nice to meet you...”

the wind blew in some flower petals into your hair

he reaches over

“excuse me..”

he carefully picks the petals out of your hair

Changbin realized how close he was to you

“if you ever need my help.. I’ll be in my seat...”

he says as he averts his attention away from you

“HYUNG!!”

HYUNJIN 

some guy entered the classroom

“HYUNG!!”

you turned to see a taller, full lips guy yell for his upperclassmen friends

he immediately stopped in his tracks

the first thing he noticed when he walked in was your backside

and when you turned away

the main OST from “My Love from Another Star” played in his head

(how can someone look so perfect?)

a smile crept onto his face 

as his hyungs would wave their hands in his face

“I mean.. we all know that the new student is a cutie but like Hyunjin, can you not?” Minho said from his seat as he leaned back into it

“Minho you should be the last person to say anything like that to y/n....” Chan announced

you just wanted to sit down

so you eyed around the class for an empty seat away from commotion

you walked towards the seat in the back near the windows

but one of the female classmates stuck her foot out 

you noticed it last minute so you tripped on it

Hyunjin grabbed your arm and pulled you back

you landed in his arms

your eyes widened as you fell into his chest

giving him full access of your deep eyes

he was mesmerized

“so-sorry...” he helps your straightened up

“it-it’s okay...” you mumbled out of embarrassment as you wanted into your seat

the bell rang for class to start and you were ready to get out of the spotlight and focus on school

JISUNG (HAN)

it was lunch time and he had to bring some handouts to his hyungs’ classroom

he walked past the windows of your class 

straight away he notices you

because you slid the door open to face him

causing him to drop the handouts

“oh my gosh!! I’m so sorry...”

you didn’t even look at him 

since you were busy picking up the handouts

he was just gaping at you 

(WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW VISUALS!! I STAN VISUALS!!)

then he realized that you did most of the work as he was just squatting there

he reaches out for the last couple of handouts 

on the very last one, both of your hands touch each other

“o-oh s-so-so-s-sorrry an-and th-than-thank you-”

he gets up and rushes into your class

you were just on your way to use the restroom as you hear the boy’s voice echo into the hallway

“WHO WAS THAT? THEY ARE SO..WOW! I ALMOST DIED WHEN I MADE EYE CONTACT WITH THEM!”

you were just blank faced the whole time

(man is this tiring or what...)

FELIX 

after you dried your hands, you exited the restroom

there were a flock of girls surrounding the guys restroom; waiting for someone

their neckties indicated that they were a grade below you 

“I SAW FELIX LEAVE OUT THE WINDOW OF THE BATHROOM SO THAT MEANS HE’S IN THE COURTYARD!!” someone called out to the group

at that moment, the flock of girls rushed to where the courtyard was

you heard a “pst” behind you

“pst.. are they gone?”

you turned to the guy’s restroom to see a blonde hair boy

you looked around again

then turned back to him and nodded

the boy sighs in relief

“thank you so much.. I didn’t even get to dry my hands...all the paper towel was gone and I couldn’t find paper towel with a flock of classmates..”

you looked at his hands that were dripping with the sink’s water

you reached into your pocket and took out your handkerchief

“I only use this when there’s no more paper towel.. you can use it..”

he finally takes the time to look at you

word has it; he heard about the new beauty of the school

he’s never seen you around and he knew that he would notice you somehow if you did 

“h-how am I gonna return it to you..”

you didn’t want to deal with his “classmates;” since they were a little obsessive over this guy

“you can keep it.. I can just get another one.. have a nice day..” 

you nodded as he nodded back

he runs his fingers over your embroidered name on your handkerchief

 “y/n, huh?” he smiles as he dries his hands with it 

SEUNGMIN

it was PE; another class was using the baseball field

your ears felt like they wanted to bleed due to the girls from the other class screeching over a homerun 

you looked over to see a reddish-hair boy running through all three bases and sliding onto home base

“Seungmin, he’s such a cutie~ and he’s really good at baseball~” 

you heard gossiping from your classmates 

your class was doing tennis; which held place in the courts next to the baseball field

you decided to by singles since you were the odd one out; without a partner

“I’ll be your partner~” Minho offered

“no thanks..” you said coldly but softly

you threw the ball onto the ground a couple of times

when you started playing, you gathered lots of attention from both classes

“oohhh~”

Hyunjin taps on Seungmin’s shoulder as they were taking a break

“have you seen them? the transfer student beauty.. I didn’t know they were athletic either...”

Seungmin looks over and sees you winning while playing against two people

“that must be hard...” Seungmin mumbles as he is intrigued with you

the way you played tennis made his heart flutter

(how can someone look so good sweating in PE...)

the person you were playing against swatted the ball overhead and out of bounds rolling into the baseball field

it stopped in front of Seungmin’s feet

he grabs it and jogs over the tennis court

the only thing that separated the field and the court was a thick net

you ran over to get the ball

“thanks,” you said as you brushed your hand over his to get the ball

you wiped your sweat before heading back to the game

he grabs his heart

(no.. thank you...)

JEONGIN (I.N)

it was the end of the day finally

you wanted to check out the clubs before heading home

even though you wanted to focus on your studies, your parents wanted you to have a high school experience

immediately after leaving your homeroom, you were bombarded with sport clubs

“you have a good built for basketball!”

“no! did you see them? they were made for tennis!!”

“I bet they’re secretly a volleyball player..”

you didn’t want to be physically exhausted since you were already mentally exhausted from school 

“I’ll think about it,” you mumbled, knowing that you won’t join the club at all

you started to walk around school; in hopes of finding a club that you liked

you passed a light rock band club 

“Jeongin.. you’re good at singing but... something feels empty.. maybe because our bassist already graduated..” you heard

you knocked the door of the club

“I heard.. you guys needed a bassist?”

Jeongin looked up to see someone so beautiful, he dropped the mic

causing feedback to stab everyone’s ears

“so-sorry!!”

he picks it up and dusts it off; trying not to smile stupidly in front of a beauty

there was the blonde guy you saw earlier at the drums, Chan, from your class, at the keyboard, the president of the student body with a mic/acoustic guitar and the clumsy guy that had the handouts at the electric guitar

“oh y/n! I thought you’d be more into sports..” Woojin said

Jeongin looks at Woojin

(he knows them?)

“let’s test how good you are at everything, huh? you have a bass?” Chan says without making eye contact with you

honestly no one was able to make eye contact with you; but they kept sneaking in looks at you

“I’m not good at everything... I just..like to experiment a lot so I try out everything I can get my hands on...” you softly spoke, “I didn’t bring my bass...”

Jeongin gets up and walks to the music room’s closet

he hands you a case

“it..it’s my dad’s bass...”

you looked down as you opened the case.. it was a beautiful Rickenbacker 4003w Walnut

you tuned it a little and started playing it a little

Jeongin was sending you heart eyes

(literal perfection) is what he kept on saying in his head as he admired you

“you’re in...” he says 

Honestly this school was a little hectic.. but hopefully.. you’ll be able to enjoy your school year at JYP Academy.

END + [MASTERLIST]

[rerwby]

Volume 5 OST

I don’t normally have such verbose opinions on the RVVBY music (it’s like writing a review for fiberglass insulation) I managed to sit down and listen to this album the whole way through. My feelings on these tracks feels like a culmination of all my feelings of previous RVVBY music. I won’t try to be lengthy about this but I got some solid thoughts.

First of all, can we just collectively agree to stop making every fucking RVVBY song put on Youtube use fan art? Like can we just get a solid fucking static picture of the volume cover art maybe? I’m sick of the mediocre ship art used for goddamn everything and it looks incredibly unprofessional. Also since these are RT fans you know they don’t give a flying fuck about credit.

The Triumph Not to kick this off on such an upbeat note but this is one of my favorite OP’s. Maybe my favorite. Maybe. I could not fully appreciate this song when the episodes were coming out because the opening itself was the biggest trashfire to come out of this show. Like, sorry I can’t get hyped up on 10 seconds of Ruby and Ren and Jaune sitting on a couch. Listening to it alone though? Big improvement.

Jeff Williams does this thing where he’s clearly way too proud of his proud choice and rhymes, and usually lines end with a big focus on stupid vernacular. Trust me, this will come up later. The Triumph manages to avoid that. This Will be the Day does as well because it’s a pretty hammy song with a better, more consistent tone. “Back to reality, back to the show” is an awful, terrible, horribly ironic line in the context of Volume 5, but it’s not as in your face as it could be, so it gets a pass from me. I also think “That’s when you learned you were messing with gods” is awesome, sorry. It could be more awesome if these characters like, seemed more like gods? And they don’t? So eh.

Then the second verse happens and it calls back to the first with “Yeah I’m a girl but I’m also a god” and I’m like, oh, so you’re just gonna- oh, okay then. Yeah let’s just beat the one good part like a dead horse, sure. That really ruins the song for me ngl.

It also manages to avoid the formulaic trend of post-second verse slow sappy breakdown. Time to Say Goodbye and Let’s Just Live do that and it gets old after a while. If you’re gonna give me hype music then stick with it. Not that Let’s Just Live really hypes you up.

Overall it’s like a 7/10 for me because it has a good pace and it doesn’t scream “look at how clever I am!” at every turn.

Ignite The song I was most excited for and the most disappointed by. I wrote about it here and I’ll try not to do anything more than summarize what I said there.

It’s obnoxious and the lyrics are way too dumb. Not funny dumb, not hammy dumb, nope, just dumb. It’s not even in the style of Yang’s usual dumbness, which by all accounts should now be under Armed and Ready’s foot since that is now the prime Yang theme. The major problem is how obvious these issues are. Like you can’t not hear how bad the writing is.

Then Lamar comes in, and I usually enjoy him since, like I said above, he brings with him some hammy, corny lyrics that manage to be fun. But he’s phoning it in here. He’s mumbling and tripping over his own words. God I didn’t even understand what mumbling truly sounded like until I heard that verse.

4/10 and I hate to write that on a Yang theme but this song is everything wrong with these soundtracks.

Path to Isolation Which brings us to my favorite annual game of “Count How Many Times a Weiss Song Uses the Word ‘Mirror.’” Spoilers: it’s a handful.

It’s fine. Weiss songs have always been fine. The worst thing I can say about them is that you have to dredge through their slow-ass, repetitive openings to get to the good part. 5/10

All Things Must Die aka “Slow And Brooding Villain Song That Turns Into a Rock Anthem #5″ aka “Sacrifice And Divide Did It Better But Even They Were Only So Good” aka “We’re Not Even Going For A Subtle Title Here.”

I don’t even know whose perspective this is sung from anymore. Like Cinder is our designated villain song candidate but she has like no autonomy this volume so that falls flat, meanwhile Salem still has no clear motivation. Hazel and Adam might be the most developed(?) bad guys this volume but this song has nothing to do with them. 4/10

This Time (From Shadows Part II) I’m writing about this one before Smile for a reason.

A song called From Shadows Part II deserves better, lol. Also given the fan art uses on the version I found posted, this is a Blake+Sun song? I don’t know. It starts with the beautiful piano solo from the original which was godlike and relaxing and also dramatic.

Lyrics are just shitty but in a shocking twist they’re hard to hear other than THIS TIIIIME in the chorus which...I’m fine with. I’m legit convinced that the fewer lyrics you can make out in these songs, the better. This all sounds rather nice and has a good flow to it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s kinda just trash. Absolute filler. Fluff. Churned-out melodrama to keep the White Fang kindle going.

Also I guess in hindsight it’s weird to have Jeff singing here since this song is supposed to represent Blake moving on with new resolve. Like before it was clearly Blake and Adam singing, but now it’s Blake and...Sun? Adam again? Like some non-canon reformed Adam? Idk. At least it’s tonally a good contrast to Part I. It’s easy to listen to the song without focusing on the lyrics which is rather soothing, but it’s still nonsense. 5/10

Smile (From Shadows Part 0)

No yeah I made that part up, but I think this song is a better From Shadows Part 0 than This Time is a Part II. I’m dead serious. They gave us an Ilia song and made it more interesting than her character is in volume 5, if not extremely on the nose.

Because my god, it’s on the nose. It’s just Ilia’s backstory about blending in to avoid all the pain your oppressors brought you and biding your time until you can rip the smiles off their faces...oh I don’t think that’s how Ilia’s backstory went. This is much darker. Very Count of Monte Crisco and dare I say actually interesting. It makes Ilia sound way more compelling than Blake while also making her out as a foil to her. Except I don’t know why the fucking hell the character presented in Smile would ever join the White Fang, especially under Adam’s authority, and then follow him so blindly. But I guess as of last volume’s OST we should be use to that disconnect between show plot and music lore.

7/10 for being accidentally interesting.

All That Matters

It’s....fine? Fine-ish. Obligatory slow and sappy song because ofc. Casey at least sounds like she’s in her comfort zone. It just doesn’t mean much to me.I guess it’s the theme of the girls being back together but I have my own issues with that, which is mainly that three of them were already reunited halfway into Volume 5 and it was only Blake’s arrival that really pushed them into sappy territory.

5/10 it’s not bombastically terrible enough to merit a lower score and not interesting enough to be higher.

I’m Her Daughter After All - RVVBY Volume 5 Official Score

I don’t know why this song is here because it’s an actual non-lyrical official part of the soundtrack, which is mind-blowing. You’d think Jeff was contractually obligated to have his blood’s voices dip their toes in every track.

It’s a nice medley of Yang’s themes, namely I Burn and Armed and Ready. It also makes you appreciate how Yang’s musical themes have actually evolved, unlike those of the other characters. Why do we have this Western thing going on? Qrow had it too in Bad Luck Charm. I don’t mind it since I think it’s kinda neat, but 6/10 for being a random score track.

Mayday! Lancers! - RVVBY Volume 5 Official Sc- wait

They did the score thing again. I don’t know why. I also forgot the Lancer scene actually happened in Volume 5 until I heard this. Like, Weiss did so little in Volume 4 that I’m attributing stuff that happened in V5 to last volume.

It’s fine? It’s nice to have a non-lyrical Weiss song, actually. 5/10

Armed and Ready ie The Appeal Of The Original Was Lost On Us

This song did not need a remix lol. Armed and Ready is actually damn good, is a great proper evolution of Yang’s theme that successfully moves her out of the shadow of I Burn, and was a really, really good climax to her recovery arc. This turns it into a dance remix, which ironically is the exact sort of thing the original moved her character away from. 4/10

Gold (Acoustic)

As I listened to this I realized it wasn’t just the original vocals played over an acoustic cover; Casey actually re-recorded the song. That’s blowing it out of the park for a RVVBY remix. Also it’s like, good.

I always liked Gold for whatever reason. I just thought it was uplifting and it did the nice thing where the lyrics are simple and flow well. The loud instrumentals had me unsure if it made for a good complement to the lyrics or if it was just a bad choice. This just sounds wonderful. Most importantly, it makes you really appreciate Casey’s singing talent. More than anything, she sounds absolutely comfortable singing this song. No stressed notes, no weird word choices, no ham. This is just a nice song and it’s my favorite on this album. 8/10

Let’s Just Live (Remix) “The Obligatory OP Remix Oh God Triumph Is Gonna Get This Treatment Next Year

It doesn’t go above my expectations but I like the new instrumentals. Reminds me of Stickerbrush Symphony. I think it’s much more fitting than in the original and is a true improvement on it. 6/10

The final issue I have with this album is this, and it involves some statistics. This is a 12-song album. That isn’t strange. But here are some numbers for you:

Ruby Songs: 0 Weiss Songs: 2 Blake Songs: 1 (2 if you count Smile) Yang Songs: 4 Remixes: 3 Scores(?): 2

Just to put that in front of you. Remixes comprise 1/4th of the album, glorified scores are 1/6th, and Yang received 4 whole slots (one-third of the album!) while Ruby, the protagonist, got absolutely none. Nothing in this album is about just Ruby, and I think she kind of deserves that. I mean she did nothing this volume so whatever, but we didn’t even get Glorious Score Track Of Jaune Healing Weiss so that’s super strange. They didn’t even shaft her in lieu of anyone, she was just left out.

[gxlden-phoenyx]

RWBY Volume 5 OST Prompts

The Path to Isolation:

“In it’s place there’s nothing, just an endless empty void...”

“The Path to isolation is littered with the dreams that lay destroyed.”

“The cold, seems to grow in my soul it’s consuming me.”

“Confused, like I’m losing myself in the storm...”

“Can’t find myself when I’m constantly forced to conform!”

“Enemies surround me, but the worst appear as friends.”

“Everything is breaking, right before my eyes.”

“Looking in the mirror, I see someone that I don’t recognize.”

“The joy that my heart used to know is eluding me...”

“Everything my mind wants, in conflict with my heart.”

“Every day I’m falling more apart.”

“Who is staring back at me?”

“A stranger to my heart has filled my mind...”

“Who am I?”

Smile:

“You’ve done no misdeed.”

“You’re as perfect as the wind and sky.”

“But we have a chance to make it right.”

“This is what you’ll do.”

“Show them how you smile.”

“It’s only for a while.”

“Take what you need.”

“Leave them to bleed.”

“Let them know bitter while your revenge is sweet.”

“Keep the secret, pretending you’re just like them.”

“Play their game now, do what it takes to win.”

“Steal it back, all they keep from you.”

“They refuse to look beyond your skin.”

“You’ll gain from their malice but your heart will know when the time is right to end the lie.”

“You’ll know what to do.”

“You might think, maybe they’re changing.”

“You’ll pray that their hatred is waning.”

“You’ll be glad you’re not their kind.”

Ignite:

“Hello there, my enemy.”

“Welcome to my punching spree.”

“This is where I lay waste and you go home bleeding.”

“Should have stayed out of the fray.”

“Now you’re heading for a beating.”

“Didn’t mother warn you? Now she’s gonna mourn you.”

“Being damaged’s how you’ll end this day.”

“You’re a big mess.”

“I gotta tell you, I’m on fire today!”

“Some lessons are just hard to learn.”

“But just as light conquers dark, there’s a beauty that’s greater than pure symmetry can contain.”

“Let’s start the game!”

“Usually I devastate, this time might annihilate.”

“Any minute now you’re gonna rue our meeting!”

“Messing with my family, means that soon your history.”

“The moments of your life are fleeting.”

“Lookin’ pretty tattered.”

“Your blood has really splattered.”

“Wont be long until I end this game.”

“You’re looking toothless.”

“i’m feeling ruthless.”

“Watch me burn as you go down in flames.”

“Play both sides.”

“Any remarkable heart has gone through the hardship and shame.”

“That’s just so lame!”

“I dominate and desecrate, leave you in a foul state!”

“I put you in the trash with that nonsense you perpetuate.”

“Why’d you get me riled up? Can’t you see I’m wild bruh?”

“Bet you’ll understand when I’m pissin’ on your ashes, huh?”

“I told you, I’m torturous.”

“When you feel the force of this blast, you’ll crash like a cardiac explosion, bitch!”

“Try to get away... But there’s no escaping Alcatraz!”

“Look what you made me do!”

“Told you, I would slaughter you.”

“Fools you lose.”

“Ever, you’ll never contend. I win!”

“Now I gotta ask; Do you REALLY wanna piece of me?!”

“Hope you’re ready for the pain.”

“Suffer, when I hit your brain.”

“Fool you shouldn’t stare into these eyes of fire.”

“You’re going to regret this little fight!”

“You don’t wanna mess with me, I’m something higher.”

“Anguish, you’ll know from your miserable plight.”

“Soon you’ll bemoan your mistake of a life.”

“You’ll watch yourself suffer.”

“You’ll watch me ignite!”

Triumph:

“Back to the show.”

“Backed to the wall and there’s nowhere to go...”

“Helpless and doomed, and there’s no way to win...”

“Lost and forlorn impossible odds.”

“That’s when you’ll learn you’ve been messing with gods.”

“Send in your Grimm, tear off my limb.”

“Strike me with bolts of lightning.”

“I wont die!”

“All we need’s a miracle.”

“We’re going up, we’ll never be denied!”

“Can’t wish away the dismal days...”

“Can’t bring back what is gone.”

“Won’t waste more tears on yesteryears.”

“Instead we’ll carry on!”

“We’ll win, we’re sure we will endure!”

“Though our goal is far...”

“We’ll be the ones to touch the sun!”

“The Triumph will be ours!”

“Nowhere to run now, no time to grieve.”

“Die or believe.”

“This is the moment, this is the day, this is the place and we came here to slay.”

“Yeah, I’m a girl. But I’m also a gun!”

“Fast and I’m deadly, you’ll never outrun.”

“Strike down my friends, I’ll never bend.”

“Right to the end, I’m fighting!”

“We’ll never stop.”

“We’re heading towards the sky!”

“It’s not destiny, it would be a grave mistake to think so.”

“Every choice is ours and ours alone!”

“This hasn’t all been mapped by fate.”

“This is the future we create!”

All things must die:

“Step by step you crawl closer to your ruin...”

“Life is just a journey, your’s is near it’s end.”

“This is the end, here’s where you’ll die!”

“No one will miss you, when you’re finally gone.”

“At your conclusion, sing your swan song.”

“Just close your eyes.”

“Don’t fear demise.”

“All things must die...”

“Just pray for mercy at your time of death.”

“Be glad you existed, enjoy your last breath.”

“Rest now, subside.”

“It’s time to accept, to abide.”

“Admit that the hour’s arrived.”

“It’s time to be one with the sky.”

“Surrender your pride.”

“Let death be your guide.”

All That Matters:

“Never thought you’d stay forever.”

“Never asked you to commit your life.”

“But I can tell you in my heart, I never thought you’d up and leave me...”

“And now your standing here with that look in your eyes. The look that makes me hope I’ll just believe your lies.”

“You’re lost, you’re found, you’re hard to pin down...”

“I’ll never know if you’ll come through.”

“Thought that I could pull you from the shadows.”

“I’ll risk it once again to have you near my side.”

“Another chance to let you just destroy my pride.”

“I feel like I’m running out of energy, while you’re taking everything in strides.”

“Its sad but its true, that the one thing I can count on is that I can’t count on you...”

This Time:

“Friends listen closely, and I won’t say this twice!”

“Hope’s running out and we haven’t much time!”

“Please understand that the life we once planned on is over.”

“Now is the time you must fight for your lives.”

“The battle is on, you’re already inside.”

“Don’t turn back now. There’s nowhere to hide.”

“Here. Now, is all that we’ve got.”

“Ready or not, there’s a war to be fought.”

“Only one way through.”

“This time, the way’s of the past we’ll get over.”

“We’ll climb, enlighten a new state of mind!”

“I’ll stand with you shoulder to shoulder!”

“Rise up from Shadows and into the light!”

“We’ll stand undivided our futures aligned!”

“This warning is dire, my words you must hear!”

“Our downfall is near.”

“I still believe that the peace we’ll achieve’s growing closer.”

“First blood must spill like the wine at a feast.”

“The calm only comes once the carnage has ceased.”

“Fight or die, there’ll be no release.”

“No way to avoid the warfare.”

“No way to escape this strife...”

“Hear now, listen to me!”

“This time retreat spells our final defeat!”

“We must win our life!”

“It’s time, the world sees what we’re made of!”

“It’s time, we change the spite to love.”

“The past is gone and soon behind us.”

“We will restore.”

“We will win this war!”

[lord-pigeon]

Views on Episode 1 of Golden Kamuy

Alright might as well talk about it cause good lord am I disappointed but not surprised.

As with all things, let’s talk about the good.

The adaption, for the most part, is very faithful. They didn’t add anything and they didn’t take away too much. I for one, like manga-faithful adaptions.

Asirpa is very well modeled and I’d say prettier than in the manga. She remains on model for the most part as well, though that one is a debatable positive.

The soundtrack, from what I can hear, is fantastic. It has the folkish feel and not at all modern-sounding. It sounds like they use wooden instruments in the orchestration, but that could just be a synthesizer’s fanciness. But nonetheless, it’s gonna be a fantastic OST if this is any indicator.

The inclusion of other characters and other character traits (such as the eyes, for those that are caught up and everyone’s favorite old coot) of later characters is a nice touch. Doesn’t make things seem as surprising when they do show up due to connections and makes manga readers go “Oooh”. A nice touch.

Backgrounds are still gorgeous and look like Bob Ross did them. Quality, given how pretty the manga was.

Hoo boy, now the bad.

Let’s get the elephant out of the room.The fucking bear(s). Oh good lord. I might be a bit bias because I just got out of the second to past season with Houseki no Kuni’s CGI but it’s terrible. When I mean terrible, it’s not terrible in the mechanical sense. If those things were in a game like Rust or something, they’d be very impressive with the detail work and realistic movements. However, this is an anime where you have painted backgrounds and 2D characters. Realism is going to stick out like a sore thumb no matter what and make the show look janky and terrible (not to mention the model don’t mesh with the background because at one point it’s paw was floating on top of the ground). It also ruins immersion, which is critical to any sort of entertainment media. If you’re laughing at what is supposed to be a significant threat (especially given the role bears play in later parts of the manga and how they rip off people’s faces), it ruins the whole experience. Hyperrealism is not doing the show any favors. Hyperrealism in any anime is a bad idea unless you’re trying to go for a comedy or gross factor like Flapjack or Popteamepic or something.

In the vein of bad CGI, the fire and Repun. Now the fire could have been a stylistic choice to make the bear not stick out as much, but every time it came up the eye is just going to be naturally drawn to it. As all things that obviously do not fit in the genre it’s in. Adding to this is Repun. At first, Repun was pretty okay until he started to fight the bear. The obvious CGI was obvious and many parts it was clear Repun’s jaw wasn’t connected to the bear’s arm. Personally, I’d take Repun’s pretty decent CGI for the bears rather than whatever the hell they took instead. It might have looked funny, but it meshed far better with the character design and overall feel of the show than the bears did. No idea why they didn’t have a similar style for the bears, I assume there wasn’t a model available.

Animation. Now, again, I have bias because Trigger/Gainax has spoiled me but I can still tell janky things when I see them. You know the studio is either on a budget or rushing or both when you have still images with a few layered moving parts. Nobody moving while someone is talking is pretty bad when the only instance of animation is the mouth. Especially when I can individually pick out each frame that is unique to make that animation possible. I’m used to doing that in the big influx of 2000s era Golden-age anime, not many in the 2010s. Of course, there are other anime I can do this with but again, those are the SAO clones that are obvious cash grabs. Now this animation problem wouldn’t be an issue if it wasn’t nearly every scene that had it. If there was no action, it was these few frame talking instances. Sugimoto and Asirpa and the drunk criminal were very animated in close ups, but otherwise, not so much.

Adding to the animation side, the Asirpa floating hand when she reached for Repun and her being Exit-Stage-Left cane’d by the bear weren’t good.

This next point is very personal but the gore. Golden Kamuy stuck out to me back in the day because of its gore. People got beheaded, shot, gouged, stabbed, you name it. Kamuy handles it in a very unique way too, pretty much a hit and run style of shock. Not to mention the realism given the author’s attention to detail. So I was excited to see the realistic gore since it’s so rare in anime nowadays. Instead, I get...Kool-Aid blood and a surprising lack of organs. Nothing drives me battier in edgy anime than the Kool-Aid blood like oh my god. It not only breaks immersion but it’s ugly and sticks out. Like it’s obviously fake. Golden Kamuy shows the harshness of living in a unforgiving landscape like Hokkaido, shadowing things out or Kool-Aid blooding things only dampens that effect. Of course, this could change in the Blu-Ray but I doubt it’d fix everything.

In conclusion:

I’m still going to watch it.