#he has such a unique name so i was fascinated with how he chooses to write it

[captainlexapro]

hang on. I just need to talk about quinn's autograph for a minute because i have so much appreciation for the effort and intention he puts into it. (also i love linguistics/language/writing and how people sign their name is actually very interesting to me)

Been thinking about this (x) article from 2021 (and also very much demko saying "thoughtful" for his one word to describe huggy at the nhl awards this year. demmer u don't understand the implications of what you just said).

teammates chirping quinn for being a slow at signing because it's not a scribble or an unintelligible flourish...but he straight up doesn't give a fuck what they think because HE wants HIS signature to be easily distinguishable for FANS. like the awareness of how special that stuff can be for people. 💙 antoine agreeing that "you should always be able to tell the name without the number." YES!!! YOU GET IT!! (don't get me wrong, there can be iconic autographs that aren't legible whatsoever but idk. to me it's something about how it's a name and i'd like to be able to read it. it's so personal and a scribble doesn't feel personal).

i wanted to see how his signature has changed/progressed over the years, so i dug around a bit to see where he's landed at this point. let's back up to the beginning!

2018 (screenshot from this vid) -

huggy's first official nhl signature!!

his draft day signature shows he's still fully spelling out his first name. it also looks just very. teenage boy who can't do cursive.

BUT the elements are already there - heavy on the Qu, the Hu, (new nickname Q-hoo? like yoohoo? no? fine.) and the s. starting to stylize the gh.

*side notes: Qu is such a rough first letters pairing rip... it's a distinct shape. printing Q doesn't flow easily into the u while cursive Q is ugly (in my opinion) and idk if a lot of people actually know what a true cursive Q looks like (hint: it looks like a 2). also, "quinn" is hard just because it's SEVEN vertical elements back to back. i honestly think doing it in cursive requires more focus than printing. hughes is fun because it has the high and low elements right next to each other, which he emphasizes.*

2019 (nhl debut) -

oh boy. sill very choppy. still have those main elements of emphasis happening.

i feel like he probably hadn't started worrying about his signature yet (this was his first game, to be fair).

not a lot of connectivity (especially in Hughes)

the n has hints of what it will become later, though, which is cool to see!

2021 (from article)-

only writing Quinn now (only one dot for an i). maybe to speed it up, maybe just bc that's the nickname he goes by, maybe both.

seeing the connecting line/stroke between the g and h more prominently

s is looking more stylized as well

i think he's picking up the pen a fair amount still (maybe up to 8 or 9 strokes in this one?). so yeah, i'm sure it took a while compared to others...

2022 (from this silly vid)-

this is kind of not a 'true' signature to me bc 1) given the nature of the video i kind of doubt he would have put 100% effort into it (complete lack of stylized s) and 2) you can tell the surface/pen combo isn't great - see the jaggedness on the gh?

this is the most ~scribbly~ version i saw. like i said, idk if i really count this one but i don't want to dig around forever to find a confirmed 2022 signature

regardless, he seems to have sped it up and is better at the cursiveness aspect. Most of it is connected - i'd guess 5 total strokes for that version.

2023 (from wallpapers on the canucks' insta)-

definitely more committed to a "look"

Qu is kind of aggressive lol and the gh stroke isn't super smooth either. HOWEVER it is 100% a stylistic element he focuses on. also it's fast to connect them, so it probably feels pretty natural. just needed more practice on keeping that stroke aligned.

officially no dotting of the i anymore - just swooping up high (again, probably helps with speed)

we have the fully stylized s! i'm actually very fond of that part because lots of people will let the last letters fall to the wayside and basically just draw a line. he's kinda doing that a smidge with the n. but there's intention on the s and it looks very nice!

2023/2024 (from canucks' wallpapers & inhousemade insta)-

here we have our latest iteration

I reallyyy like the finishing on the n - it matches well with how he does the s, which is so pretty. such a fun letter to write lol

i think the gh line has been fully mastered at this point. and it's a good way to keep his signature legible but still give it a unique flair. not everyone's signature/name has that type of line so ppl can pick his name out rather easy i would guess.

i think huggy's probably settled on autograph style/look at this point. but i will still keep an eye out to see if he decides to try a new element!

thanks for reading and hopefully you found this mildly interesting ☺️

[aroarachnid]

"but if it were me, I'd really wanna be, a giant woman"

stevens relationship with gender is so fascinating to me. his entire diamond days arc is a clear trans allegory, but more specifically reads as a transmasc allegory, what with everyone reffering to him as "rose" or "pink" and feminine terms despite his repeated insistence that he is *steven*. and yet he never actually corrects anyone when they use she/her. he only corrects his name. this was pointed out in the tags of that one post youve probably seen:

this post doesnt show it, but steven is delighted when blue said this. obviously you can read this as steven being glad that shes making an effort, even if incorrect, and is just choosing to let the wrong pronouns slide. but its never explicitly stated. and like i said, he never corrects she/her, he only corrects his name. although it is interesting that, by the time the movie rolls around, the diamonds have switched to he/him.

its also interesting to mention how excited he was to put on pink diamonds outfit, and also how quickly he took it off once he got the chance.

of course stevens relationship with his mother and his identity issues are going to play a big part in how he percieves his gender, given that for a large chunk of the show he actually belived they were the same person, at least to some extent. ("im my mom and my sister?! what kind of magical destiny is this?!). how would you define your "agab" when half your family is telling you that you are a centuries old alien called rose/pink who has no sex and used she/her? not to mention all of the various gender identities and pronouns his fusions have.

thats not even getting started on how the gems percieve gender, which is to say, they generally don't. gems are sexless beings and their society has no concept of gender, although after spending a long time on earth im sure the crystal gems have a better understanding (i actually could talk about the gems relation to human gender a lot more but ill save that for another time). for steven, a child raised by gems for a good chunk of his childhood- who use feminine terms as a default-i can see how that would lead to some interesting perceptions on gender presentation.

thats not even getting into stevens gender noncomformity. and while gender presentation doesnt necessarily have anything to do with your gender identity, its interesting to note and i just think its really cool that a male protagonist is so unapologetically feminine

also i could talk for days about connie and stevens knight/princess dynamic, and how it parallels pearl and roses, but in a healthier way that nips the whole "obssesive self sacrifice" thing in the (rose) bud as soon as steven notices it. but then id have to talk about pearl and then wed be here all day lol

so yeah, stevens relationship with gender fascinates me. I mean, does the concept of "cisgender" even apply in the way we usually mean it to, given stevens unique experiences?

[bradshawssugarbaby]

Blue Skies and Green Eyes (Jake Seresin x Reader)

A/N: so I decided to just write an air show meet cute for Jake, Bradley and Bob because, even with a poll, how could I ever choose? So, here's the first of three, I guess? 😅

pairing: Jake Seresin x reader

content/warnings: pure fluff, air show inaccuracies because the last time I went to one I was 9, and it was in a cornfield, reader has a named niece and nephew, no physical description of reader given other than an allusion to them being tall.

word count: 2.1k

On the sun-soaked beach, your niece and nephew climbed over one another eagerly on the blanket you had carefully arranged, vying for the best spot to witness the spectacle unfolding overhead. The air show, a cherished tradition passed down from your father to you and your brother, had become an annual pilgrimage for your family. Determined to keep the legacy alive, you eagerly took charge of the tradition when your brother couldn't make it to your nephew's first air show.

For the past seven years, this had been your unique tradition with them. As the jets roared to life in the sky, the kids engaged in a lively dispute, each competing for an unobstructed view of the aerial acrobatics. Your brow furrowed as their bickering escalated, prompting an eye roll from you. Seizing the opportunity to diffuse the tension, you chuckled and settled between them, effectively creating a barrier that halted their squabble.

“Hey!” They both protested, shaking their heads in dismay.

“If it's the only way to prevent a full-blown war between you two, then I'm planting myself right here,” you declared with a playful smirk.

Mia, your spirited niece, responded with a pout and crossed arms, while Aiden, her older brother, countered by sticking his tongue out at her, a mischievous grin adorning his face as he comfortably claimed his spot beside you.

“Aiden,” you warned, catching his silent final shot at his sister out of the corner of your eye.

“Sorry.”

A warm smile adorned your face as you, along with the children, gazed skyward, captivated by the mesmerizing display of aircraft maneuvering through a series of intricate twists, turns, and loops. Aiden erupted in cheers and enthusiastic whistles, his excitement bubbling over as a FA-18 Super Hornet executed a flawless barrel roll high above. Engrossed in the spectacle, he fervently waved at the aircraft above him, a hopeful gesture that the pilot might catch a glimpse and reciprocate in some way. Beside him, Mia eagerly pointed upward, her eyes widening in sheer wonder as the plane effortlessly navigated a knife-edge flight, leaving her with an awestruck expression that mirrored the spectacle unfolding before her.

As the airshow continued, the sky became a canvas for more daring aerobatics. Another set of aircraft roared onto the scene, executing synchronized maneuvers that left trails of smoke swirling against the azure backdrop. Aiden and Mia's attention darted from one spectacle to another, their faces alive with awe and exhilaration. You couldn't help but share in their enthusiasm, reveling in the joy of witnessing these aerial feats with the same awestruck gaze you had as a child yourself, completely fascinated by the skill executed in every move. 

Suddenly, a squadron of jets soared in tight formation, their wings almost touching as they painted the sky with precision. The deafening roar of engines filled the air as the pilots skillfully executed a breathtaking sequence of loops and rolls, creating a symphony of motion that left the onlookers breathless. 

Aiden, his eyes glued to the spectacle, whispered in amazement, "I want to be a pilot one day, just like them!" 

Mia, equally captivated, nodded in agreement, her imagination ignited by the incredible display unfolding above. 

“Do you think we could meet them?!” Aiden asked excitedly as he turned his attention to you.

“I don’t know, honey, they’re probably really busy,” you explained with a nod of your head, knowing that the chances were unlikely to be in your favour.

“Can we try?! Please?” 

You looked at Aiden’s pleading face, and then to his sister, who had decided to match his facial expressions, their innocent faces making nearly impossible for you to say no to. 

“Fine, we can try. But I’m not making any promises, guys. You know, they’re really busy, and they’re actual military pilots, they’ve got lots of stuff to do.”

The children both cheered the moment you agreed to their request, and you could tell that the last portion of your reply was falling on deaf ears. You huffed a mock dramatic sigh as you squeezed both of them into a tight hug, laughing softly. 

After the airshow had concluded, all Mia and Aiden could talk about was how you were taking them to try and meet some of the pilots. You felt an anxious knot in the pit of your stomach, nervous that you’d be unable to fulfill their wish. Holding both of the children’s hands, you approached the airfield fence where the pilots could be seen chatting after the show, their planes merely feet away from where you stood. A group of pilots who appeared to be in their early to late 30s stood together, laughing cordially as they spoke. One of the pilots, a tall blonde with an air of pure, unbridled confidence to his stance took notice of you as you stood with Mia and Aiden. He waved his hand to say hello, and Aiden practically squealed in excitement, jumping up and down on the spot.

The blonde pilot raised his hand to his colleagues, appearing to excuse himself for a moment. Suddenly, you noticed Aiden’s attention turn to the side. You and Mia followed his gaze, noticing that the blonde pilot was now on your side of the fence that separated the three of you from the military aircraft in the field. 

“Hi, did y’all enjoy the airshow?” The aviator asked, flashing a charming smile at you as he lifted his sunglasses to rest on top of his perfectly coiffed hair.

Aiden nodded his head in a stunned silence, starstruck by the man standing before him. The allure of the charismatic Navy pilot was undeniable. His tall, athletic frame exuded confidence, and his sun-kissed skin bore witness to countless hours spent in the cockpit under the Californian sun. Those stunning pale green eyes seemed to hold the vastness of the sky, hinting at the adventures he'd encountered soaring through the clouds. Jake's charming smile had a magnetic quality, drawing you in with its warmth and openness. The subtle southern drawl in his voice added an extra layer of appeal, creating a melody that resonated with the thrill of the airshow and the laid-back atmosphere of the beach.

“We did,” you said after a moment’s hesitation, trying to not appear like a lovestruck teenager as your eyes briefly met with his.

The pilot knelt down to Aiden and Mia’s level, smiling at them both with the same charming grin he gave you a moment ago.

“Do you kids like planes?” 

“I do!” Aiden and Mia both responded in unison. 

“That’s awesome to hear! My name is Jake, I fly planes for the US Navy, see that one there?” He beamed proudly as he gestured towards one of the grey aircraft parked in the distance, “That’s my plane. All of our planes have our names on them so we know who’s is who’s, and our callsigns, so we can just use one word to talk to each other on the radio.”

“What’s your callsign?” Aiden asked, tilting his head as he looked at Jake.

“Hangman. Like the game, where you have to guess letters to find out what the secret word is, do you know that one?”

Aiden nodded his head and grinned. You couldn’t help but admire how patient and friendly Jake was towards Aiden and Mia, taking care to answer their eager questions with thorough answers and explanations, leaving nothing unanswered.  As he spoke passionately about his experiences as a Top Gun graduate stationed at Miramar, you couldn't help but be captivated by the combination of his professionalism, adventurous spirit, and undeniable charm.

“Do you have a rank?” Aiden quizzed, tilting his head.

“Of course! Lieutenant Jake Seresin, US Navy,” Jake grinned, “And what’s your name, little guy?”

“I’m Aiden, and this is my sister, Mia,” Aiden explained, before introducing you as somewhat of an afterthought due to his excitement.

Jake looked up at you, a genuine smile forming on his lips. His green eyes stayed on you, and you could feel a sense of curiosity in his gaze. He turned his attention back to your niece and nephew, his hand resting on his knee as he looked at them both.

“Nice to meet y’all! Maybe, if your aunt says it’s ok, you guys could come back here one weekend, and I could give y’all a tour of the planes, let you meet some other pilots? Sound fun?”

Jake's offer had your niece and nephew practically buzzing with excitement. Their pleading eyes and enthusiastic pleas tugged at your heartstrings, mirroring the eagerness that now danced in your own eyes. You exchanged a glance with Jake, whose genuine smile hinted at an underlying warmth. 

"Well, Lieutenant Seresin," you responded with a playful grin, "it seems like you've just won yourself two eager co-pilots for that future tour of yours."

The prospect of spending more time with Jake and experiencing the world of naval aviation up close had ignited a spark of anticipation within you. As he continued to chat with Aiden and Mia, effortlessly captivating them with tales of high-flying adventures, you couldn't help but appreciate the sincerity in his demeanor. The beach, once a stage for the breathtaking airshow, now held the promise of more extraordinary moments to come. 

With a subtle twinkle in his pale green eyes, he stood up and straightened his posture to his full height, easily taller than you by more than a few inches. He turned his attention back to you, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. 

"You know," he began, his pale green eyes locking onto yours, "meeting someone as captivating as you wasn't part of the airshow program today. Consider me pleasantly surprised."

A warm flush crept across your cheeks as you chuckled at his smooth remark. Jake continued, his voice carrying the lilt of his unmistakable southern drawl, "I was thinking, maybe when I'm not up in the skies, we could grab a coffee or a drink. Talk about something other than planes and maneuvers, you know?"

The subtle invitation hung in the air, and you found yourself nodding, unable to suppress a growing smile. 

"I'd like that," you replied, your eyes meeting his with a shared sense of anticipation.

“How about you share your number with me? That way, we can figure out when to meet up again. And it saves you from having to try and track me down on a Naval base."

Feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation, you retrieved your phone, fingers tapping out the digits as you exchanged contact information. Jake reciprocated, a grin playing on his lips as he entered your number into his phone. The exchange felt like a subtle promise, a digital tether that connected two individuals eager to navigate beyond the boundaries of the beach encounter.

With phones back in pockets, there was a shared acknowledgment that this exchange wasn't just about convenience but a mutual interest in seeing where this connection could lead. As the warm sunlight cascaded down over you, your niece and nephew’s muffled giggles and whispers in the air, and the promise of future messages and potential meetings lingering, it left you both with a sense of excitement for what lay ahead.

"Well, it looks like it's time for me and these two little aviators to head out," you remarked with a playful glint in your eyes. 

The prospect of saying goodbye brought a hint of reluctance to the moment. With a gentle nudge, you encouraged Mia and Aiden to express their gratitude. 

"Come on, you two," you said with a smile, "let's thank Lieutenant Seresin for the amazing day." The kids, still brimming with excitement, turned to Jake, expressions eager.

With genuine appreciation in their voices, Mia and Aiden chorused their thanks.

 "Thank you, Lieutenant Seresin!"

Jake chuckled warmly, crouching down to their eye level. "Y’all can just call me Jake, you know. No need for all the formality, I’m only Lieutenant Seresin if my CO is around." He winked at them, his easygoing nature resonating with their youthful enthusiasm.

As the kids bid their farewells, Jake turned to you, his gaze holding a hint of something more. "Until next time, I suppose," he said, his tone carrying a mix of sincerity and anticipation.

You smiled, reciprocating the sentiment. "Absolutely. Until next time, Jake." 

With a final exchange of glances and well wishes, you, Mia, and Aiden left the beach, the echoes of the airshow and the promising connection with Jake lingering in the warm California breeze. Armed with plans to coordinate with the kids' parents for a tour with Jake, and plans to schedule a date with him, you hoped this encounter marked the beginning of a connection that extended beyond the sandy shores of Coronado Beach.

[timbrhead]

metanoia. | pt 03 - forcing a smile and waving goodbye

𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨:

>> welcome, my name is 𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚, and i‘ll be your scriptwriter (^‿^✿). my story will be kind of an choose-your-own-adventure story with a poll at the end of every part, where you can vote how the story continues.

This will be honkai star rail x f!reader story with these elements: reincarnation, slow burn, i gave reader a proper personality (sry, not much customisation there), does not follow the original storyline

previous part <<< >>> next part

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 (this is important) ;

>>> none!

the first thing you noticed was comfort. you felt good, like you were finally back in place. like you were finally back. did you really die?

you look down, looking at your skin, your hands. you caressed your face, mapping out the unique features you had. you were finally you again. but after the initial joy, came the confusion. you looked around. it was mostly empty space surrounding you, and when you looked down, you could see that you were standing on a thin layer of water, reflecting the blue sky stretching through seemingly infinity. the place was barren, naked, laying all of their secrets directly in front of you, urging you to just go on. it will be okay.

was this the border, between the life and death? did you really perish?

it was quiet here, something you so desperately missed.

but after locking your eyes with a figure, the air suddenly shifts. you didn’t know the figure, you have never seen this person in your entire life, you were so sure of that. but despite that, you still felt a connection to the weeping person as you approached them.

they had brown, choppy hair, and their attire was similar to that of the locals of the xianzhou luofu. you hesitantly step forward, trying to catch their attention. they didn’t notice you. You press your lips together, before clearing your voice.

„ are…are you okay? “

you ask, causing them to lift up their head. she looked like she was crying for a long time, her eyes bloodshot, and you could make out a light trembling in her body.

upon further inspection, you notice that she also had similar golden cracks like you. they were on her arms, and legs, like the first layer of her skin was simply … shattered. the woman clearly had way more golden cracks than you, to the point that it looked like their whole body could fall apart and crumble to the ground. Maybe that is what will happen to you. Maybe it has happened already.

„ you… “

the figure spoke, shaking. her hand slowly moved to the ground, pushing herself off the floor till she stood before you. she looked…similar. like you have seen her before. but you couldn’t quite remember where. she looked at you, a solemn expression on her face.

„ so, you are the one housing my body… “

she spoke, making you flinch. what was she talking about? you tilt your head in confusion. just as you wanted to speak up, she interrupts you, tears brimming in her eyes.

„ please… let me through the border. find my siblings and bring them back to safety, away from the suffering we endured till the end… “

suddenly, you feel a hand gripping yours, refusing to let go.

„ you will soon return, back feeling like you do not belong, so please don’t forget, okay? “

-

you feel the sunlight peeking through the curtains, tickling your face and softly urging to wake up. your vision was blurry at first, before the mapping of the ceiling slowly appearing in front of you.

a weight shifted beside you, and as you turned around, you gazed into a pool of green, softly mixing with soft tunes of yellow. he looked perplexed, eyes a bit wide, looking at you like you just came back from the dead. and well, if your dream told you anything, you really did, in some way.

for a while, you said nothing, basking in the silence, before the blonde opened his mouth.

„ fascinating… “

he muttered under his breath, observing you as you squirmed, slowly sitting up. he followed, before gently grabbing your arm, showing it to you. and you couldn’t help but gasp as you saw it;

it was completely fine. no golden scars in sight, it was almost like you were reborn. like it had regenerated. you look up to luocha.

„ it…“

„ it‘s gone, yes. “

he said, chuckling, like he himself couldn’t believe it.

„ i admit, this is nothing like everything i have seen in my entire life. you regenerated…perfectly. it‘s scary— it‘s almost like you have turned back time.“

he muttered, his hand gliding over your arm. you gulp, doing nothing but nod at his statement.

but even though this revelation surised ( and frankly, also terrified ) you, you couldn’t help but come back to the dream you had.

that crying figure…you were almost sure that it was mei lian. the real mei lian. you confirmed that when you stepped into the bathroom to freshen up, looking into the face you saw weeping in your dream last night.

siblings… she spoke of siblings, you recall. you needed to find them and bring them to safety. mei lian‘s house, you assumed. back to her family. you dried off your face, before exiting the bathroom with a now made up plan, or at least, a string to follow.

as you ventured back through the streets, luocha asked about a hundred times how you felt, if you felt anything out of the ordinary. you understood— having you turn into a mara-struck monster in the middle of the street wouldn’t be good at all. what happened last night, you two didn’t mention, a seemingly invisible contract between the two of you to not speak about that night.

after a while, you two finally made your way into the realm keeping commission. you admitted, you felt nervousness bubbling up in your soul, stepping through the door to get insight into a life you never lived.

but the moment you two stepped inside, all eyes were suddenly on you. and before you could ask what was wrong, you were immediately interrupted by a voice booming through the commission.

„ mei lian! what—“

and before you knew it, a woman stormed towards you, hugging you aggressively. you awkwardly reciprocated.

„ where have you been?! it’s been, what, two months? where—what—“

the woman sputtered, stumbling over her words, before she began to shake. you at first thought that she was angry, so you took a step back. but after closer inspection, you saw her tear strucken face, with snot dribbling from her nose. she sniffled, before embracing you again.

„ i missed you so much! “

she practically sobbed out, making you stumble slightly back from the weight being draped over you. you gulp. was…was she your friend? probably, judging from her reaction.

you let her cry for a while, all the while several people from the commission came up to you, saying how much they missed you, how glad they were that you were back.

„ it‘s good to see you again, mei. “

a young man said, patting you on the shoulder.

„ losing the personal servant of the jing yuan has been a hard blow on every single one of us. “

he said, joking about how the general of the cloud knights wanted to sent out multiple search troups to find you, only for him to be bombarded with another crisis after the other.

you gulp, letting out an awkward chuckle. so you were a servant, huh. seemingly of a very high class individual too, it seems. you gulp, before turning to luocha. You noticed that he had an unreadable expression on his face, before locking eyes with you and nodding towards the door. signalling to come outside.

you gulp, before detaching yourself from everyone, saying that you needed to speak with luocha, the man that found you in cloudford. the others just nodded, thanking the blond and promising him a bountiful reward for finding you.

you just awkwardly chuckled, before stepping outside, looking up at luocha. he had scrunched up his eyebrows, looking at you.

„ you didn’t tell them about your condition. and from my observation, it didn’t look like you remember anything either “

he said, crossing his arms. you nod. he was right. you didn’t remember any of those people, nor that jing yuan person they spoke of who you supposedly served.

„ mei lian… are you sure that you can able to return to your old life again, after such a long time? “

he asked, making you freeze. what…you-you guessed that would be hard, yes, but you could at least try, right? for mei lian? for her family?

„ plus, there is still your…special condition. if i can be honest with you, i would like to research it a bit more. we could travel together, and possibly find a cure, even, that would—i…won‘t pressure you though, don‘t worry. “

luocha exclaimed, a small smile gracing his face. you gulp. the longer you thought about it, the more you realised that he was right. you could never be the real mei lian, and do your job like her. being jing-yuan‘s personal servant is bound to be difficult as well, you presumed.

but on the other hand, you also had the real mei lian‘s request, one you need to fullfill to properly cross the border. you gulp, weighing your options.

sorry that it took so long! i have been working on a new project…but i have big plans for jing yuan and reader, so stay tuned… and please don’t forget to vote on what the reader should do next!

taglist; @shadowypeachsweets

- xoxo, laina

[ratasum]

So I think like... when I talk about Thaumanova, when I talk about the city above it, what I really want is to open up folks to a place that's super easy to miss. The dialogue with the researcher at the entrance is possible to miss entirely if you don't stop to talk to him (it's easy to expect he'll just repeat his line he speaks when you pass him entering the area).

The place you enter is not the reactor. That was far below the space in Metrica. And it's clear, both from the survivors and from the injured/ill researcher you can talk to, that no one knew this was going to happen or even that there was a lab to begin with.

We'll probably never know the name of that lost city, or the number of people and amount of knowledge lost during the reactor meltdown.

But we do know it happened.

I like to talk about it because it's a great source for players if they want a unique origin for their asura character. The reactor meltdown happened the year before the personal story started. Hundreds lost, thousands of lives irreversibly changed. Does it drive your character to hate the Inquest more? Do they become morbidly fascinated with the research, desperate to know more about what must've been so great and important it would drive them to something that could wipe out an entire city cube in a blink?

I've got a couple of survivors myself. One who was in Lornar's Pass when the reactor went critical and found out later that day that she'd lost her entire family save a cousin, her younger siblings, and one uncle. The other was in the city, lost her little sister, and had her own magic dramatically altered as a result, though she survived.

It's partly why I've dedicated so much time to trying to flesh out what the cube may have been like. Inventing colleges that existed there based on Word of God saying there are (or at least were) more than just the three we can choose through chargen.

Musing on how the survivors must feel, thinking about if they'll ever be able to put up a memorial. It's not a damnation of the writing, per se, but it is wanting more people to know and think about it.

I think it has fantastic potential. And I like to share that.

[umalvie]

out of curiosity, what would it mean to you for fiction to replicate the maizula dynamic? like what features are most salient?

the heart of their relationship i think is replicable to an extent in that it's this sort of rotted love where you have known each other so long and so well that you couldn't not love each other but you have known each other so long and so well that you couldn't not hate each other as well. so that integral piece is absolutely something we can find in other relationship dynamics. like the rich girl/weird friend dynamic absolutely exists.

the sibling love triangle aspect with maiko's existence is also a hugely important and compelling aspect of maizula! this is techniaclly replicable in theory in terms of you can absolutely do love triangles where two members are related, but also it's so hard to duplicate the maizula-maiko triangle because mai is supposed to love zuko, and you can interpret her as actually loving him, and he feels like he's supposed to love her too, but they don't work fundamentally because he doesn't want to understand the worst parts of her, doesn't even want to admit that they exist, and she is so horribly caught up in azula who makes her feel so alive by acknowledging and knowing and seeing all these parts of her and bringing them out even more that she could say she chooses zuko because it's the right thing to do in terms of both heteronormativity and what choosing zuko represents, but i don't think realistically mai can actually turn away from azula and everything she's ever known and hated and loved and wanted to leave her alone and not known how to live without. not without regrets.

i think it's also so hard to replicate the way that their individual characters are and come together in the ship as a whole. like azula being a prodigious princess with such an insane relationship with gender and having such a tragic domestic origin and mai being a noblegirl who is so sullen and depressed and dead inside and has such an awful domestic life as well and who has to obey azula's orders but also absolutely doesn't do that because the power dynamic of their relationship is so complex by complete accident that while azula is higher ranking than mai socially and financially and in the military sense, mai absolutely has more power on an interpersonal level. that's something that you see a lot in lesser degrees in media with toxic female friendships sure, but never to the extent that one of the parties can literally have the other executed if she wants to, but she chooses not to do so even when she imprisons her former friend.

i wrote a mini essay on this here, but the way in which they play with the rich girl/weird friend dynamic is also INSANE on a level i have yet to see anyone else touch really except maybe rhaenicent.

speaking of other posts i've made abt their dynamic being so fascinating, this one about the "i love zuko more than i fear you" line vs what atla's show canon actually demonstrates is something i think is vital to understanding what makes them so insane. and i do think it's unique, if only because of what the narrative wants to tell you vs what it actually shows you.

also, one of the most important things which i touched a little on earlier is just... the politics of atla as a setting for their relationship. that makes it 10x more compelling that azula is this tragic figure who is on the completely wrong side of history, a child soldier who fights for imperialism and racism and xenophobia because she has been indoctrinated and abused and made into a weapon, and mai is someone who fought alongside with her until it inconvenienced her to do so, then switched sides in the name of love without ever actually analyzing or critiquing her own beliefs about what her country was doing. mai chooses the good and moral side by choosing zuko (who also doesn't actually reflect internally and... gets to kind of just keep doing a friendlier imperialism when we look at the comics and lok, but that's another topic), but does she actually want that? does she actually believe in that? has she actually let azula go? the comics can try to whitewash her morality more by pretending she cares abt tom-tom and she's totally reformed, but the show doesn't actually support that, and with no material in-between to show us mai's redemption beyond her betraying azula, not because she cares abt what's good and right but because she cares abt zuko, we as an audience have no real reason to believe that.

so yeah, maizula is endlessly fascinating to me, and i wish a ship would be more interesting than them

[suffarustuffaru]

"i-it's not like i like you or anything but we're FRIENDS NOW. youre my friend. BUT ID STILL LEAVE YOU THE MOMENT THIS COMPANY FAILS OKAY ITS NOTHING PERSONAL" and proceeds to like clean up corpses for this guy on the down low. (Otto bdsm post)

I just find that last part so funny to compare pride if Otto with. Pride If "Otto was forced into destroying the kingdom for Subaru" vs Envy If "Otto was stopped from destroying the empire for Subaru" I'd love for those two to be able to talk.

haah i love how you quoted my own otto bdsm post... HAH (it is once again funny to me that ive opened pandoras box on this blog man........ now i get bdsm asks.... literally a dream come true and none of my mutuals will let me live it down BHAHA)

anyway!!! yeah yeah pride if otto vs envy otto are soo soo funny to compare <3 pfft i think ive seen you around in the comment section of my pride otto multichapter fic (ty once again for the nice comments and cool asks :O !!) but no yeah like pride and main otto are really funny. but the parallels too are super interesting..... you summarized them really well pfft.

like.... the way pride otto is Forced to do these things for pridebaru. like of course pride otto barely gets any screentime but theres stuff implied yknow? like he has to meet with subaru often, hes the messenger boy of sorts between subaru and russell fellow, otto also delivers the poison that kills julius, otto also dies somehow off screen before the climax of pride if.... and then main otto over here Choosing repeatedly to follow subaru and die for subaru and do all these sorts of things for subaru HAH - the contrast is really really strong!!

like of course wrath if otto is also a debt slave like pride if otto, but pride if otto's his own flavor of unique just bc hes forced to stay in proximity to subaru when he either may not want to or he feels similar to subaru (who goes "maybe in another life we couldve made good friends, but this Isnt that life")!! seeing how jaded and empty pride if otto is is super fascinating, bc you can kind of see the origins of it in main otto's tendency for cynicism and ruthlessness !!

but also on another level i feel like pride otto would be soooo confused and disgusted hearing about main otto. pride otto might be out here like "so not only are you friends with this guy but youre his boytoy too???? lmfao you loser" HAH

but yeah i think itd be fun for them to meet. pride if otto, the otto who never made friends and only learned to harden his heart and be forced to be an accomplice to horrible crimes...... main otto, the otto who made friends and is so so painfully devoted but it drives him to do drastic things some times.... crimes in the name of love versus being forced to assist in it.... like main otto learned how to make friends, learned the power of friendship with other people, but his loyalty is "poisoning" him while pride otto supplied the poison that kills julius...... ough......... and pride otto dies at the end...... all alone.... poisoned by other people, poisoned by what he had to do.....

but also i think my favorite bit of pride otto trivia is that word of god thing that pride otto took advantage of the fire and went to go kill russell fellow before he died.... specifically to avenge frufoo, his ground dragon.... like. ough. pain. absolute pain. pride ottos last act was to kill his main abuser??? to avenge his one and only friend????? im gonna bawl my eyes out HAHHA. but it seems that the power of friendship may have briefly won for a second there.... :,))) like im sure ottos most definitely killing russell fellow also bc thats Literally the guy that enslaved him but - the way its specifically noted that ottos main reason was Frufoo. im sobbing on the floor.

anyway i completely forgot where i was going with this but in conclusion pride otto is such a guy. 20 seconds of screentime??? dude stomped over my heart in 20 seconds. and if he met main otto i think he'd either go "wtf is wrong with you why would you do all of this for subaru??? him??? that CLOWN???? why???" or pride otto would wanna strangle main otto for being so lucky HAH. pride otto learns frufoo is still alive and well in main route and pride otto instantly launches himself at main otto like a feral cat -

[hookshot18]

Watched Michael Mann’s Manhunter

(No, he didn’t choose the title)

So I’ve been in both a Hannibal mood and a Michael Mann mood recently, so I thought I’d take a look at the original adaptation of the original novel. And I gotta say, it’s very interesting to look at it both isolated and in the context of everything that came afterwards

First of all, it’s got a great cast. Unlike the sequels there aren’t really any names in the cast outside of Brian Cox, but everyone gives a great performance, especially William Petersen as Will Graham. Whenever he’d do the character’s signature monologues while talking to himself, it’s nothing but him talking directly to the camera in single takes, he doesn’t have the luxury of cuts or montages to fall back on. Brian Cox’s Hannibal Lecktor is the most understated version, but that doesn’t mean he’s missing the kind of fruity cattiness that makes him so fascinating to watch. The two of them have great chemistry that definitely does have hints of the homoerotic, but I just wish I was able to watch more of them. The killer who they’ve reunited over, Francis Dolarhyde, is played by Tom Noonan, is also a real treat. He’s so tall and imposing, and a great antagonist. One of the flaws of the movie is how little time is spent on him. (Ironically the book has the opposite problem, having page after page describe every single injustice Dolarhyde has faced as a child to the point of being cartoonishly tragic.) As I haven’t finished the Hannibal show, I can’t comment on its portrayal of the Red Dragon, so I have to give it to the 2002 movie for the best version of him. All of the rest of the cast, such as Dennis Farina, Kim Greist, and Joan Allen are all extremely natural and do a good job even if they aren’t as memorable as future performances in the series

From a filmmaking perspective, it’s beautiful. Michael Mann and cinematographer Dante Spinotti have beautiful imagery that they love to linger on, the score is that kind of 80s synth sound that horror and thrillers have severely lacked in the last few decades, and it all builds up to a movie that has the perfect amount of style and substance.

I’ll compare it to the other movies in the series that I’ve seen, Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon. It’s very interesting to watch compared to the former, since that one is unique in that it goes for a very naturalistic visual style, which pairs well with the more animated cast. And then Red Dragon makes the cast even more animated somehow, and has become perhaps the most stylized thing outside of the TV series, though I think it backfired into becoming style over substance, which is odd considering it has the same source material and cinematographer, but 16 years and a worse director make all the difference. Mann’s iconic level of detail may be a bit overboard, to the point where most of the crew left before wrapping and the ending is very noticeably cobbled together and short, but you won’t see Brett Ratner have people ride an elevator in a building several blocks away timed exactly to rise as Will figures out the killer’s motive, being basically a Lightbulb moment.

All in all, if you’re a fan of either Hannibal Lecter, thrillers, or just movies in general, give this a watch, it’s very much a hidden gem

[quicksilverdrabbles]

Inside Dead Man's Drink (Gaia ver.)

Kaidan: What's up? You look distracted.

Gaia: There has been a man staring at me for approximately seven minutes now.

Kaidan: You keep track of that?

Gaia: Not consciously. I am going to go and see what he wants.

Kaidan: Wait, I'm not too sure that's- *watches as Gaia stands up and walks away* ... Ah, well. Hopefully she won't-

Gaia: Greeting Protocol Initiated. Hello. I am a Dwemer Gynoid of Artificial Intelligence, model A. However, you may call me Gaia, if you so wish.

Kaidan: Well shit.

Gaia: I noticed you staring at me for quite some time, and was wondering if there was anything you required of me.

Lucien: O-Oh! Hello, there! My name is- er.. Wait, did you say Dwemer Gynoid???

Gaia: That is correct.

Lucien: But you look just like a normal- normal mer? What- what race are you, exactly? If you don't mind me asking of course.

Gaia: My body is modeled after that of a Snow Elf.

Kaidan: *watching people turn and stare at Gaia in confusion* Aha.. uh, Gaia?

Lucien: Modeled?? So you really are a Dwemer automaton?! You don't look anything like the bronze machines!

Gaia: My skinplates are different from metal ones in order to imitate a more friendly disposition. However, I can assure you I am very much a machine. *steam valves hiss from her shoulders and collarbone, and the visible skin around her joints separates and rises, showing a mass of wires and metal and moving cogs underneath* Does this presentation satisfy you?

Kaidan: Gaia-

Lucien: What?! How- When- Why did you-

Gaia: Your heartrate has risen substantially. Do you require medical aid?

Lucien: *holding a hand to his forehead* Oh no, it's just- The amount of questions I have! I-It's almost overwhelming! How were you created? What powers you? How did the Dwemer come up with such an advanced machine? How does your intelligence work? How did you survive from the first era until now? Why are you wandering about Skyrim now instead of staying in the Dwarven ruin you were born in? Why a Snow Elf??

Gaia: System Processing. *her eyes flash yellow and white*

Lucien: Ah! Oh dear, what's happening? I'm sorry if I said anything insensitive!

Gaia: Answers Generated. I was created with much more care than my automaton brethren, with many more advanced features such as elven-like features rather than robotic ones, and a sense of taste, touch, smell, and enhanced sight and built-in Detect Life enchantments. I am powered by two primary sources, a unique dwarven dynamo core, and a black soul gem. It took the Dwemer at least 200 years to finalize my design, create the parts necessary, and begin their work of my creation. My intelligence works in much higher capacity compared to a regular person. I am capable of creating simulations of scenarios to finalize the best outside, retrieve information on the world around us, as well as much more that would be better explained in a more detailed presentation. Up until twelve days ago, my body was in stasis, and preserved until my awakening, the reason for which I am still unsure. It is, however, how I managed to travel from the first era to the fourth. With no masters to give me explicit instructions, I saw no need to stay in Blackreach, and wandered the paths of Skyrim until I came across Kaidan being held captive by Thalmor. My directive now is to protect him as he does me. And finally, I do not know the reason for my masters choosing to model me after a Snow Elf. I can only assume they wanted me to blend in with their Falmer slaves.

Lucien: Well nevertheless you are absolutely fascinating! *watches as her skinplates lock back into place, the steam valves retreating back into her body and disappearing* ... I wonder if you might let me-

Gaia: Request Denied.

Lucien: Ah, understandable... Still, what an amazing experience! The Dwemer truly were a fascinating people, to be able to create such an advanced machine that looks and sounds like a real person! The possibilities of what could be done if they had made more like you!

Kaidan: Oi. I'm not too fond of people treating my companion like she's just a machine. She went against one of her 'protocols', whatever the hell that means, to save me. She's not just a mass of metal for people like you to poke and prod at to find out what makes her tick.

Gaia: I take no offense, Kaidan. You don't have to defend me.

Kaidan: Maybe you don't take offense, but I sure as hell do-

Lucien: Oh- Oh yes, you're right. I do deeply apologize, Gaia, it's just- the Dwemer really were amazing. Masters of machines and craftsmanship, a whole culture lost to the ages! Probably the most tragic loss this world has ever seen!

Gaia: ...

Lucien: Um- Is something wrong?

Gaia: ... I apologize, but I find your analysis to be inaccurate. The Dwemer, as fascinating of a race as they may have been to the typical outsider, were nothing more than dictators who lied and stole and cheated their way to everything they owned. They had their expertise with machines, and that was their own, but they were a tyrannical people that enslaved and tortured and hurt an entire race of elves, and would have done the same to every other race in Tamriel had they but the time to do so before they were sent to the Void. That was the most likely outcome.

Kaidan: Gaia?

Gaia: *her irises slowly fade from white to red* An average scholar of the fourth era may mourn the loss of the Dwemer race, but anyone from the first era would argue different. The Deep Elves were an overly arrogant race of elves, so lost in their own hubris that they would even attempt to create a God from the same metal that created me. They were masters of stonework and engineering and architecture, this is true. But the loss of a race of artisans is a worthy price to pay, if only so that a race of world-ending tyrants would be lost from this world in the process.

Lucien: ...

Kaidan: ...

Gaia: *lifts a hand to cover her mouth, eyes fading to white and widening, almost in shock*

Kaidan: Are you.. okay?

Gaia: ... I do not know why I said that. I apologize. I am.. I am not meant to speak ill of my masters in such a way. I'll surely be punished.

Kaidan: There's no one here to punish you, Gaia. We won't blame you for speakin' your mind.

Gaia: I wasn't supposed to speak my mind. I'm not supposed to say anything out of protocol, I don't know why I did that.

Kaidan: Hey, easy now. It's alright. Don't think about it too hard if it's gonna fry your brain, alright? We can try to figure it out later.

Gaia: ... Request Granted. ... I'm sorry.

Kaidan: Don't be. Just rest for now. That looked like it took a lot out of you.

[iwoszareba]

Knight Commander as Companion

I decided that filling this could be a good way to explain Aqil's whole deal because he wouldn't be all that different as a companion.

template by @dragonologist-phd and you can find blank version here

Name: Aqil Meru son of Bashar Khay

Race: Kitsune

Class: Sorcerer/Oracle

(bloodline: Arcane; familiar: jerboa; mystery: Ancestor; curse: blackened)

Background: Osirion Historian

Appearance:

You can visually check out his character sheet here.

He is rather small in stature (5'3''/160cm) and slight in build but he more than makes up for it with his high charisma.

What remains true for both of his forms is his oracle curse: his left arm and leg look burned and he walks with a visible limp.

He always dresses in a combination of black and white as these are the colours of Nethys. He adds gold to the mix as a treat and wears earrings for special occasions.

If you asked what's the deal with his bag he would tell you that it was white when he bought it but pranksters got to it with fabric dye. He found it amusing that someone considered him dogmatic to the point where a colourful bag would bother him so he started to wear it as a statement.

Favored Weapon/Equipment:

Between his poor physical stats and oracle curse he is not meant for direct combat. But he owns a unique staff that boosts his magic. He also comes with his own bag of holding.

Top Skills: knowledge arcana, knowledge world, lore religion, perception

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

General Personality:

Very curious and energetic. Interest in magic is a given but choose any subject relating to humanities and he is on board to discuss it. Generally personable but can get on some people's nerves with his know-it-all and devil's advocate tendencies.

If you are in the mbti crowd he was designed as an ENTP.

What traits/values do they admire? pursuit of knowledge, magic, family, art and storytelling, faith and/or dedication, independence

What traits/values do they disapprove of? lack of curiosity, suppression of magic, idleness, nobles, big organisations, pointless cruelty

Are they affiliated with any deities?

Extremely Nethysian. Everything about him is entangled in it.

The arcane bloodline of his clan was started by Nethys himself when he granted an ounce of his power to the first Meru and turned her into an oracle. Since then every pure sorcerer born in the family is considered to be blessed by but also a tithe to the All-Seeing-Eye. Alongside coming of age in a special ceremony they are granted the same oracular powers and become connected to the previous Merus (now an outsider and favoured servant). Aqil is the seventh Meru and he is eager to prove that he is worthy of the name.

What do they think of their role in the Crusades, and of sharing the Commander’s Mythic powers? What are their reasons for joining the commander’s party?

He was sent there by his ancestor spirits and he is excited to be a part of the Crusade. Securing his legacy is a big goal for him and he hopes to achieve that by the Commander's side.

He is both suspicious of and fascinated by the mythic powers. He will very early tell you he does not think these powers came from any god, as someone who has been infused with raw divine power for ten years now he considers himself a bit of an expert on the matter.

Who are their friends among the other party members?

Lann: they have kinship in the areas of "care about your people" and "I will do anything to prove myself" but one of them is self-deprecating lawful, while the other is practiced confidence chaotic which makes them a funny pair

Woljif: they are two jokey boys who love telling stories!! also Aqil is genuinely impressed how much Woljif achieved with magic considering his haphazard education

Sosiel: he needs Sosiel, no one else wants to listen to his art history info dumps ;(

Trever: Aqil sees dualities as divine and Trever's story of being a paladin of Shelyn turned Hellknight is certainly a curious one. he hopes Trever will be able to reconcile them eventually

Arueshalae: he roots for her redemption. look at you rediscovering freedom of choice!! he also indulges Arue's interest in mortals because he is interested too and he loves to talk

Ember: he finds her magic fascinating especially considering how little Ember herself seems to understand what she is doing. he also likes to make up little fairy tales for her

What about rivals?

Regill: they are on the opposite sides of lawful-chaotic spectrum, that gets in the way quite a bit

Daeran: they are too similar and too different in uncomfortable ways. like funhouse mirror versions of each other. but they eventually develop a friendship

Camellia: Aqil dislikes nobles until proven wrong and she does nothing that would change his opinion. and then she makes things worse

Wenduag: she would hurt her own tribe if it meant more power for her and in Aqil's eyes that's a big no no >:(

Ulbrig: as a historian Aqil considers him fascinating, on personal level he even finds him likeable, but Ulbrig's hot takes about arcane magic are a lot to swallow

Are they on any councils? If so, what sort of advice do they give?

diplomacy and military

He can offer magical units and solving problems with magic. Other than that his advisory style is: hey let me use my history knowledge to tell you about cool ideas and tricks people pulled off in the past. I think this particular bit could apply to our situation, wanna try it?

Where do they hang out in Drezen? In the Abyss?

Not sure about the Abyss but in Drezen he hangs out with the Storyteller.

What are their idle animations?

I don't think most of these would work in the game proper but I'm just here to give you vibes.

- he untangles his bun, shakes his head a bit and redoes it. why? not sure. it's just as messy as it was before (tho he would make a proper bun with no hair in his eyes before battle or when he is working on something important. that's his serious mode)

- he picks up jerboa from his arm (her name is Ibi btw), puts her on the palm of his hand, pats her head a couple of times and then puts her back on his arm

- he rubs his cursed arm with his other hand and winces slightly

- he sometimes does the confused dog head tilt (true for both kitsune and human form)

- if it's really long idle time he would take out his simsimiyya and play it a bit. he holds the instrument with his left hand and plucks the strings with combination of his right hand and summoned mage hand

If they’re taken to Areelu’s lab, what is their dream?

You find him surrounded by his family, the atmosphere is full of joy and excitement. Then he is approached by a middle aged man and everyone stops talking. You see the resemblance in his features and realise it must be Aqil's father.

Bashar Khay: I keep hearing about your achievements, my boy. I thought it's high time to congratulate you.

Aqil: There is no need! Striving for greatness is what Nethys requires of all his faithful.

Bashar Khay: Even so I wanted you to know that we are all proud of you.

No…

I wanted to say that I’m very proud.

—

After the vision ends you can comment on it.

KC: I know it was just an illusion, but your family seems nice.

Aqil: (smiles wistfully) They are nice and shameless and strong and infuriating and oh so loving. All part of their charm.

or

KC: Really? Aren't you a little too old to do things for your dad's approval?

Aqil: (winces) You speak like someone who has never known the true bonds of a clan.

Do they advise the commander to abandon or keep their mythic powers?

general:

"I know I may be speaking heresy if I advise you against taking the power but the thing is… I also believe in freedom born out of questions and considerations. Power of this magnitude changes a person on a fundamental level. Destroys you and remakes you in its own image. So think carefully. Is this something you wish for yourself? If that is indeed your path then take the power and never look back.

But if you value the unaligned freedom that mortality provides, this is the moment to reclaim it."

aeon:

"You aren't truly considering becoming one with the "cosmic law"? The real Aeons have no other choice than being what they are but if you still have strands of mortality at your core you should know better than wanting to be… that."

Extra facts:

- confirming devil, demon, lich will cause a break up of his romance, he understands if this is the path you envision yourself in but it's not the kind of legacy he wishes for himself

- confirming aeon will cause a very salty break up "I guess the biggest anomaly was me thinking that we could understand each other. I will fix it straight away, your lawfulness!"

- if you go swarm he is super tasty because of all the magic inside him :) but as you devour him you feel deep inside your being that you now have a mortal enemy in his ancestor spirits :))

How/when do they join the Commander’s party?

Soon after you receive the title of Knight Commander you will be informed that an unknown man has arrived and was very insistent that he wants an audience with you. You get a different addition depending on who is still around.

Hulrun: Messenger will mention that the prelate thinks this individual is "highly suspect" and needs to be "dealt with" immediately.

Ramien: Messenger says that the Desnan priest spoke to the man already and thinks you should listen to what he has to say.

Chun Dawei: Messenger adds that the guard captain said that everything seems to be on the level but it's better to not let your guard down completely.

When Aqil introduces himself you can make a knowledge world check, if you pass it you identify him by clothes and accent as someone from Osirion, if you fail you just conclude he must be a foreigner.

In order to explain his situation he tells you about how he started receiving visions from Meru, his ancestor spirits. At first he was not clear on what they meant but when he recognised queen Galfrey herself he realised he was being shown events from the Worldwound and that he was asked to travel here. It was his intention to seek out the queen and to offer his services to her, but visions started to change recently and focused on you instead. With that he describes some events from act 1 as if he was there, including how you have dealt with the Ramien Hulrun conflict. You may express that you believe what he is saying or claim that he is probably lying and just gathered intel beforehand. Either way he gets to the point and says it's his belief that you are marked as an important figure in the events to come and he wishes to aid you. He does a little sales pitch about how he has both arcane and divine magic at his disposal which makes him an invaluable ally.

You can either accept him into your party or you can dismiss him if you prefer.

(if dismissed you can find him again in act 5 and hear what he has been up to on his own)

Describe their companion quest:

This would be a nightmare to implement and idk how to solve the issue of what Camellia can do but that's not my problem. I'm just entertained by the idea of a quest with the same premise having different flavour depending on your earlier decisions. As you may suspect from the previous section the decision in question is how you dealt with Feud of the Faithful.

Set up: Aqil is angry with the Inquisition and generally disheartened. He knows you can't just denounce your allies, nor can you change things in a day. All of this is such a messy matter, but he wishes there was at least something he could do. When a group of arcane casters is wrongly accused of being demon spies he decides he needs to do something to prevent their unfair trail.

Hulrun version: It's Hulrun, he is wrong, you have to Ace Attorney his ass. Have fun!

Ramien version: Our resident beautiful boy is also moved by this situation, you take him with you and go on a Free Willy adventure.

Chun Dawei version: He is willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. But then who is at fault? This is now a buddy cop comedy and you have to find the real culprits.

Regardless of the version you manage to secure the release. It would have a follow up in act 5 where you meet the casters again but i don't have any ideas atm.

Now what quest flags are actually concerned with is Knight Commander’s attitude towards the whole situation. You can support Aqil's care for his fellow arcane practitioners and get his community ending, or you can convince him he should be more concerned with his own pursuits earning you his power ending.

Are they romanceable? Describe their romance quest/scenes if you want!

Yeah! Available for commanders of any gender. But as I said earlier devil, demon, lich and aeon will cause a break up in act 5.

His romance is fairly easy to trigger, he enjoys playful banter the most but also will respond in kind to direct flirting.

—

After that you will get a couple of scenes where he tries to discreetly test the waters, he acts his usual lively self but somewhere in there he tries to determine how you feel about his whole deal. You know the ancestor spirits, divine duties and such.

—

That eventually culminates in him knocking at your door in the middle of the night saying that this may sound strange but he has a story he wishes to tell you.

If you try to dismiss him by saying that it's really not the time or that you are tired he will insist on it claiming that if he doesn't tell it now he may lose the courage to do it at all.

So the story is:

"There once was a boy who lived in an open cage. A strange contraption indeed! For how can you be free and constrained at the same time? But the boy never questioned that, he had taken up residence behind its bars, sometimes he would leave, but always he would return. That was his life. But once the boy grew too big for his cage he was released into the world fully, for the first time. Feverishly drunk on this new feeling he dressed himself in cloaks made of shiny feathers and called himself the freest bird there ever was. He thought he could make this moment last forever. He spinned like a dervish, his feathers shimmering with many colours capturing admiration of those who looked. The boy met many wonderful people and found many wonderful moments. But with every person and every moment he became more and more unable to remove his feathered cloaks. They became yet another cage but this one was different. This one was locked."

You can either figure out that he is talking about himself, or act confused to which he will explain that it's a story about him.

Afterwards he explains the whole thing in plain manner:

"You see, I had what you could call a sheltered childhood. Not due to any malice. When you are marked with destiny since you are five years of age there simply are measures that need to be taken. Lessons that need to be learned. I suppose I missed out on the whole being a child part of one's life but it wasn't that bad of a trade. However, when I was sent off to Absalom to continue my education there… Can you imagine the overwhelming desire to just be someone else? Someone not burdened by expectations. And to my shame I surrendered to it. I thought I can finally experience people as just me. Just Aqil. And it worked great for a while, but what was the truth in that moment became a lie in the long run. All my relationships were built on omission of important parts of me. Were they even real relationships then? What would happen if all was revealed? Questions like that started to plague me and I promised myself if I'm ever to love again… it will be truthful.

You got to know me quite well during our time together. You seemed to show interest, but are you sure this is something you truly want? I mean all of it: my faith, my family, my burdens."

So your options

tell him that you care for him only as a friend:

"Ah. So you're telling me I got too deep in my own head about something? Wouldn't be the first time that happened. I… hope you won't hold this whole emotional display against me."

ask if you can figure it out one day at a time:

"No, I'm sorry, this is not a day by day matter. This is who I am. You can take it or leave it."

agree that his whole deal is a bit much and you can't commit to it:

"I understand. I won't lie, I'm a little miserable right now but I understand. At least we cleared that up and that counts for something. Don't worry it won't affect us working together, your success is still vitally important to me."

say that you care for him, all of him and want to be together:

"Are you sure you considered this carefully? I'm sorry, this makes me sound like I don't believe you. I do believe you. It just feels different than… I'm overjoyed! I truly am! And I'm rambling now, dear gods. Could you find the kindness in your heart to kiss me before I embarrass myself even more."

After that you can bid him good night with a kiss and a warm embrace or kiss him and say that it's late already and he can just stay for the night, with that you have the option to either just cuddle or to sleep with him.

—

In the Abyss you have a convo about how since descending to this plane the connection he feels to Meru has become very faint, it's still there but they feel so hard to reach. He admits it makes him off-balance but he is grateful that he can confide in you about it.

He will also ask how you are holding up and if there is anything he can do.

You can say that simply his presence would be enough: he wraps his arm around you and you chill for a while in companionable silence.

You can ask for a distraction: he will tell you little stories to take your mind off things.

You can say that you need him close: he obliges you and you spend some time together in private.

—

In act 5 he will approach you with a little surprise!!

"I know it's easy to forget romantic gestures in the times of war but I realised you deserve something special. Can you please follow me?"

He takes you to a door leading to a room that you know for sure has nothing inside. "Here." he smiles mischievously.

KC: Oh, I can't wait to see what you came up with.

He winks at you playfully.

or

KC: So your idea of romance involves making out in a broom closet?

Aqil: What? No. I mean it could if you would like it. But not right now.

As you enter the room you are greeted not by cramped walls but a cityscape. If you pass world knowledge check you know it's Sothis, the capital of Osirion, on failure you make a guess maybe it's Aqil's hometown.

"I'm not an expert in illusions but I asked for some help and I think I did quite well."

He closes the door and stands next to you.

"It's one of my memories. We are in the Azghaad's Spire, part of the grand temple of Nethys in Sothis. This section is inaccessible to people outside of the priesthood but a friendly cleric snuck me in one time. He said that as Meru I need to know the city from this perspective. I'm still not entirely sure what he meant by that. A metaphor? A riddle? Maybe just rambling. But the view sure was nice."

KC: This is wonderful! Thank you for doing this for me.

Aqil: It was my pleasure. I'm glad you enjoy it, my dear.

or

KC: This is nice, but I would prefer the real thing.

Aqil: When this war is over, I will give you a tour of the entire city. That's a promise.

or

KC: And yet somehow you are an even nicer view.

Aqil: (laughs) Please my dear, show some appreciation for the craft! You can admire my exquisite features any other day.

"You know, I spent a lot of time in this temple wondering what my life will be like and I have to admit that this crusade was nowhere near anything I ever imagined."

Then you get the standard ordeal (at least from what I've seen of Sosiel's and Daeran's romances) of reminiscing about the things that happened during the game.

And finally:

"I didn't create this illusion just to impress you with my skill or to talk about my past. What I wanted above all else is for you to feel like you are an important part of my world, in more than just words. Today and for as long as fate allows us. [Name], will you marry me?"

What would their ending slides be like?

Power

Fully committed to acquisition of more power and knowledge, Aqil became known as one of the most powerful spellcasters of his time, admired and envied by many. Yet he spends a lot of time alone studying effects of the Worldwound and is considered a bit of an eccentric.

Community

Fully committed to the cause of other practitioners of the arcane, Aqil established a Temple of Nethys in Kenabres and became known as a great teacher and reformer. Despite being deeply proud of the accomplishments of his students he still sometimes wonders if he didn't squander some of his own opportunities.

Hulrun extra: The two of them are still not friends, far from it. But Hulrun seeks Aqil's counsel in the matters of arcane as he trusts his instincts.

Ramien extra: As representatives of their faiths in Kenabres they have reasons to see each other often and eventually they get together. Mwah! (or just become close friends if you were the one to romance Aqil)

Chun Dawei extra: They developed respect for each other during the quest and post game they become good friends and drinking buddies.

Undecided (companion quest left unfinished)

Despite his eagerness to prove himself Aqil could never commit to one path for his future. With his efforts too scattered he never became more than a footnote in history.

Ascension

Aqil meets up with his ancestor spirits to thank them for all their help but also to establish firmly that his duties now lie with the ascended KC. Meru don't mind that in the slightest so they part on good terms with the promise of future cooperation if either of them needs it.

Romance

Stay in Drezen

Very similar to his regular endings, but he saves time for you and makes sure to support you in your endeavours. Always deeply grateful that you have found someone to rely on in each other.

Travel the world

He has a great time travelling and learning new things. He is fascinated by everything the world has to offer and it's made even better by having you at his side.

Power - He focuses on finding new spells and techniques for himself.

Community - He starts writing books so he can share his knowledge with others.

Ascension romance

Even more focused on helping you to adjust to the new life and busies himself with trying to find ways to expand your power and influence.

Aeon no memories

Without the Worldwound that needs to be dealt with, ancestor spirits send him on a quest he always expected: to delve into ancient tombs to discover remnants of long forgotten magic. His successes made him a well known person in Osirion and beyond.

Aeon with memories

Same as above but on top of that he is really mad about the aeon interference and he uses his considerable magic and extra memories to create anomalies and cause trouble for aeons just to be petty about it. He is safe for now but they may get him for it one day.

Any other fun facts?

As a general rule he insists on being referred to with full Aqil Meru. Just Aqil is reserved for family and friends.

—

After going through dialogues about his faith and family, if KC is also a worshipper of Nethys, Aqil will ask them which one they consider more important: destruction or protection. If you pick one of them he will argue the importance of the other and say that while there is no wrong way to revere Nethys, focusing on only one of his aspects can be limiting and short-sighted. If you tell him you believe in the balance between the two he will admit that it is his view as well and that he is glad the Knight Commander understands this important truth.

—

Similarly if KC is a kitsune he will ask where do they hail from. His reactions to different options:

Tian Xia

“Then you are even further from home than I am. If you ever start to miss it do not hesitate to find me. I would love to hear stories about what life is like in Tian Xia.”

Garund

“A fellow Garundi, how wonderful! I would love to ask you more questions but I worry I will start to feel homesick. Maybe we should complain about how cold Mendev is instead.”

Avistan

“How curious. I have to admit my knowledge of kitsune clans of Avistan is woefully lacking. I would love to hear about your experiences if you don't mind sharing!”

Wanderer

“Truly? I know wanderlust is a dear friend for many of us but returning home is what makes it even more gratifying. Or at least I think so. Regardless, I would love to hear about your travels!”

No memory

“How horrible. Who are we without our past? Hmm… There is a spell that helps remember things but it works on a very small scale. Maybe it could be modified? I will look into it.”

—

If I had to write him for real I would have to add an entire section where you ask him why each previous Meru was great. It's a serious case of "do I have it in me to read this all" but if you do you unlock a dialogue option "All of them sound great but I have to say the seventh Meru is still my favourite." which makes him laugh and he gets a little flustered so it was all worth it???

—

He would be a dual-cursed oracle if it was an available subclass for wotr. Blackened is the curse he gets benefits from, while lame is his additional no benefits curse.

—

For all Enigma haters: if you take him with you it will be described that he is fascinated with the place, taking notes and making sketches. He will give you tips for how to solve the puzzles if you ask him.

—

He studied in Absalom and attended a few of Jubilost's lectures before the gnome peaced out to end up in the River Kingdoms. He will make a comment about it if he is in the party during the Jubilost encounter and they will have a little convo with each other.

Provide some dialogue/bark examples!

On select:

- Ready for anything.

- Do you need my magic?

- (clicked too many times) Would you like to hear a story? There once was a mythic hero destined for great deeds but they were too busy bothering a handsome fox magician to actually accomplish anything.

Perception Check Passed:

- The Eye reveals the truth.

- How curious.

Succeeding a skill check:

- I am indeed quite impressive.

- Ha! Well done me.

Failing a skill check:

- Listen, we will laugh when I tell this story later.

- I can try again with more magic.

Low Health:

- Ancestors protect me!

- It's fine. I can heal myself. Unless I can't. Then this will be awkward.

Attacking:

- With these hands we will destroy!

- Destroy and protect!

On critical hit:

- Know the might of Meru!

- Oh I hope someone saw that.

Provide some examples of companion banters!

Aqil: Nobles like you are only interested in people like me when you need our magic. Usually for some inane whim you are overcome with for a moment.

Camellia: I do not know what you speak of. If I ever have a need of you… Your magic will not be the reason.

—

Aqil: Do you ever miss the warm sun of Garund? Mendev feels so cold and wet in comparison.

Seelah: Ha! Don't worry, you will get used to it. Besides, this way every chance to sit by the campfire feels even better.

—

Aqil: We should hire some scribes who could write down stories and customs of your tribe! As a historian it pains me to think there is an entire society out there people know nothing about.

Lann: That's sweet and all, but maybe we will get to it when everyday survival is no longer an issue.

—

Aqil: Most people don't expect direct intervention from their deity. For many, religion is simply an easy way to find a community of like-minded people.

Ember: But why would you need gods to form a community? Wouldn't you still love magic even without your god?

—

Aqil: If someone doubts even the possibility of a good demon you have my blessing to call them uneducated. In the Maelstrom exists an entire city inhabited by outsiders who rejected their former alignments.

Arueshalae: I did not know that. Can you… tell me more about it? Maybe I could even visit it someday.

—

Aqil: I think your abilities would improve if you strengthened your understanding of the fundamentals. Here, you can borrow my Book of Magic.

Woljif: I ain't taking it, pal. No one offers magic knowledge for free and you won't trick me into some kind of debt.

—

Aqil: Your magic smells strange. Like a floral perfume that covers something pungent.

Daeran: Do you kitsune have a habit of sniffing everyone or are you just that fond of me in particular?

—

Aqil: After this war is over I would love to show you my favourite galleries in Absalom. Nothing enlivens one's artistic spirit more than seeing creative endeavours of others.

Sosiel: That does sound wonderful. Maybe we could even meet the artists themselves.

—

Aqil: You know, you are my least favourite kind of person, someone who thinks they have it all figured out in a world where everything is relative.

Regill: This chaotic relativity you speak of is precisely why this world needs rules imposed on it. For everyone's sake.

—

Aqil: The way you speak of your tribe reveals what a bitter and selfish person you are.

Wenduag: And the way you can't shut up about yours shows you are a pathetic fool who is nothing without the approval of others.

—

Aqil: Are you sure you remember nothing of your family? Not even for your sake but theirs. Clans care for their own, they are probably worried if you were lost to them.

Nenio: Your emotional appeal is noted and ignored, fox boy. But I will make contact with kitsune clans when it's time to classify them for my encyclopedia.

—

Aqil: Familial bonds can be unorthodox yet strong and true at the same time. For example, I have an aunt who is not really my aunt, she just formed kinship with my father after she was first hired and then refused to kill him.

Greybor: Can't say I ever became friends with any of my targets. Seems… unprofessional.

—

Aqil: Sosiel told me you enjoyed music a great deal… before everything. I could play my lyre for you if you would like.

Trever: It's a kind offer… I'll consider it.

—

Aqil: You believe in the importance of one's clan, but everyone in my family practices the arcane arts. Would you condemn them all?

Ulbrig: Maybe you have different ways of doing things in your faraway lands. But I know how things are here in Sarkoris.

[darkfictionjude]

Etymology nonnie here! 

I realized I had so much to say it was better to do different asks. Already the last one was very long. But most of it didn't focused on the new update (funnily enough, I had more to say about the previous one). I still have some things to say about the previous update, but I pretend to speak about the one you pushed yesterday. Also, apologies for not messaging yesterday. I had to go to classes when you released the update, so I only got to read it quite late. Today I probably wouldn't have been able to write you anything, but I found the time amongst the things I have to do.

About this new update. I loved how the interactions with the RO's went. Now, as you know, my MC (Indiana) is romancing Imre. And while I expected lust (and there is some), I think it has been very cute as of now. And evident. Since both Nia and Lorcan have showed some reaction to it. 

Probably the most surprising thing for me was the phone call with Nia. The way I would love to have her POV of the scene. My MC calls so excited about the case, realizing that Sammy's murder doesn't fit the case profiling that they had been doing (not only due to gender, but also age). Like, we cannot go all Criminal Minds in this one, boys. At least, not yet. So, what would Nia think of this? MC, always so apathetic and seemingly uncaring about the world, so invested on a murder investigation? It's at once so suspicious and intriguing. Is this because of guilt? Out of murderous fascination with death? A weird, and probably ineffective attempt to clear his name? Nia's head must be full of theories.

But there is also the fact that MC seems to be so compatible and friendly with Imre. Like, I do suspect Nia told Imre to keep distant more to protect MC rather than because she actually believed they wouldn't get along. But I also believe she also thought the latter had some validity. So, it must be shocking that MC seems so excited and receptive to Imre (at least mine is, I know not all MC's are). Probably, a part of her is also worried about how everything is going to end. 

There is also an attempt to reconnect with MC. But is a careful and, not exactly hesitant, yet not entirely trusting. Which makes sense, of course, from her perspective. Once again I would love to have her POV. Even though I'm romancing Imre, nowadays is her friendship with MC the relationship that intrigues me the most. It's in such a complicated and unique situation. 

This always happens to me, but I just cannot wait for the next update. And this one released yesterday. I just had to mention it. 

Then, there's Lorcan. He's so fun. So petty, so immature, so dumb. I love him. The more I see of him the more I'm convinced I have to do another playthrough where I romance him. Yet it comes with the trouble of designing a different MC than my Indiana, and that means I'm back at the name choosing crisis again. Alas, I'm not surprised.

Also, the case. The more we learn, the less my theories seem to hold in place. As of now, everything points to a supernatural entity, or multiple murderers, or a cult. Maybe all three. The trouble is that I don't know how to connect these with any of the other suspects I had. Of course, we also have very little information, so any theory is subject to be disproven or strengthened as we gather more data and clues. 

Finally, there is some things I wanted to comment about the previous update, and the character creator. I still find funny you used golden beryl as a color choice. Even though I know what you meant, I still imagined my MC as a Simpson, given how yellow that color is. Yet, in the previous update, when MC is looking at himself in the mirror, you used another descriptor I think it's more accurate, by saying the skin tone is olive (now, olive has its own set of issues, as it can refer to both shade and undertone and mean different things, but that's English fault not yours, dear Jude). 

I think I mentioned once I wanted to do an anti-Imre initially. Now, I must admit, my love for Imre has escaped the confines of this IF and flooded over others. As, all my MCs are heavily inspired by Imre's appearance. Including my dear Indiana Crown. I think there is one demo in which I even named my MC Imre (I think I told you once already I fancy him in part because his name fascinates me). So my Indiana has olive skin, brown hair, and blue (technically indigo, so it's a bit more purple than blue) eyes. Which reminds me the fact that a lot of people date others very similar to them. And, in the case of gay couples, sometimes they look like clones. Here is not so much the case since Indiana is lithe, I imagine him shorter than Imre, and has plenty of scars. Including at least two on his neck (both the nasty one from 1992, and the one from when he sliced it as a child with a knife). 

There another thing I wanted to comment. About child MC being in beauty pageants. I don't know if I skimmed over that part before, or what was I thinking I didn't notice that. And it's so fascinating. Not only it shows how the Crowns, and Prudence specifically, care about appearances so much. As well as how abusive they can be. But also that MC was, at least back then, beautiful enough to participate in such things. 

That said, I just have to know how those went. No matter how cute MC may have been… He has dead eyes. How creepy must he have looked! Perhaps MC was a bit like a doll back then. Beautiful, yet dead inside. 

There is also the reinforcement of distance and the asymmetrical relationship between Prudence and MC, as well as her potential lack of love towards him. After all, most mothers wouldn't force their little kid to stop saying Mommy to say Mother instead. Like, there are mothers who get sad when their kids go from mommy to mom. So the fact that Prudence is deliberately creating such instance does give a good idea of how she doesn't want to he close to MC. 

The Crown family is truly a mess, huh?

Ah I was waiting for more in-depth reactions to the update! I feel like no one has given me any thought on what they thought of the complete 180 the investigation gets because of Sammy (all I've gotten are what's the word to the question Imre asks 😭)

What I love about MC's relationship with Nia is that it is riveting both as a romance and friendship, sometimes I feel friendships are less worked on than romances in some IFs so I'm glad you like it

Also Lorcan is the group comedian I gathered and he wasn't even looking to be he's completely serious when he asks the poop ask 💀

Yeah so MC never won those pageants but they were always in second place and it had to do with their lack of charisma and talent on the stage, the dead eyes were another disadvantage. I imagine to look like a creepy porcelain doll

[curried-mermaid]

A Review: That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime Volumes 1

Author: Fuse Illustrator: Taiki Kawakami & Mitz Vah Publishers: Kodansha Comics  Age Group: Teen  Genre: Isekai Type: Manga

Content Warnings: death; very slight naughty thoughts 

Spoilers ahead

Plot

Average, unexceptional, 37-year-old salayman, Satoru Mikami has found himself in a gooey situation. After getting killed while saving his coworkers’ lives, he gets a new lease on life—just not the life he was expecting. He has been reincarnated in a fantasy world as a magic-wielding slime creature. Under his new name “Rimuru Tempest,” this once-normal man will have to learn to survive in this strange, new world—and with his incredible wit, affable nature, and a few powerful allies, he’ll quickly ooze his way into the hearts and minds of everyone he encounters along his journey. 

Character Development

Rimuru is an interesting character. He’s kind of a grouch but a decent guy at the beginning. Once he becomes a slime, he’s a bit more logical and friendly. 

Veldora, a dragon, is the first living entity that Rimuru encounters in his new life as a slime. Veldora is a proud dragon but kind of obnoxious. I love the duality in each of the characters. We get the expected with a twist in the development of each character. We glean a lot of Veldora’s character through the fun Veldora’s Journal at the end of the manga. It’s written in his style of thought and speaking which is very different from the rest of the manga. 

Each character, including background characters, have great backstories and are important to the story. Each has a purpose. Not only that, but each character has a specific way of speaking so we get bits of their personality. 

World-building

Artwork paneling is simple and doesn’t bog down each panel. Easy to follow pictures. Love that when Satoru (Rimuru) can’t see the paneling is black with white to highlight what is going on - the opposite of normal. It creates some great world building so the audience experiences everything Rimuru does as he gets used to his slime body. It also makes it easier to focus on characters with just enough background for context. The artist, Taiki Kawakami, does an excellent job of adding enough detail that the brain of the reader can fill in the rest while focusing on the story and characters. 

I love that Rimuru refers to his slime life as an ectoplasmic life. It creates an interesting effect in the reader’s mind as ectoplasm is usually associated with ghosts. It’s also the name for the outer layer of the cytoplasm of amoeboid cells. The slime would be considered an amoeboid as it can change its shape much like amoeboid cells can. 

Magicules are one of my favorite ways that describes how magic is in the world. They’re molecules just like oxygen or nitrogen in the air. It’s fascinating. The magic sense skills allows one to view the world using these magicules, creating sight by letting the person see the aura of all things. 

Themes

Being friendly with others can bring about unexpected results. We see this when Rimuru chooses to help the Goblins. He finds a place that accepts him as he accepts them. 

Observations & Predictions

It’s fabulous and creates a great dynamic between characters along with personal growth for each of them through Rimuru’s eyes. 

Veldora’s Journal is like a recap but from Veldora’s point of view. It’s interesting to read because he’s got a very strong voice. We also learn bits and pieces about Rimuru we didn’t know before from the manga. 

One of the things that Veldora mentions in his journal is that Rimuru is not a normal slime and always surprises him. Veldora’s observations about Rimuru is that he is a unique slime with very unique skills. As we see how Rimuru goes about his life, we see that he’ll be an OP protagonist. 

Recommendations

For something with a similar vibe: So I’m a Spider, so what?  By: Okina Baba

For an Isekai a bit more serious: How the Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom By: Dojyomaru

For an Isekai a bit more pervy and weird: Do you Like your mom and her two-hit multi-target attacks By: Dachima Inaka

[mykpopwire]

interview: Exploring the New Diversity and Creativity with SUPERKIND

World's first gen A-Idol, SUPERKIND, returns with the release of their new mini-album, Profiles of the Future (Λ) : 70%. This is the group’s first comeback as a full set of seven members, including both AI members; SAEJIN and SEUNG. Their group name, SUPERKIND, is an anagram of NUKE, PRID, and S. NUKE refers to members from the virtual world, and PRID refers to members from the real world. They work together towards achieving one common goal, which is to find S, which, as of now, still remains a secret to everyone.

EUGENE (left), JDV (right)

"Beam me up (2Dx3D)" is a very cool fusion song with lyrics in Korean, English, and Japanese. Can the members share what the recording process was like and if you faced any challenges with three languages?

SiO: Since this is our first mini-album with a greater number of tracks, the recording process naturally took longer than usual. Also, because we incorporated various languages, we put a lot of thought into how to infuse the unique characteristics and vibes of this language into our music, striving to make those features come to life in our songs.

Your group is a mix of AI and real people and is new to the scene. What is it like working and having fun with each other?

JDV: I find collaborating with the NUKE members to be extremely fun and fascinating because it opens up opportunities to explore various new and captivating ideas. The NUKE members have the ability to execute performances that may be outside our capabilities. For instance, in a recent performance video with SAEJIN, he attempted the iconic Spiderman move where he drops down from the ceiling. All of these visually captivating elements make this comeback even more enjoyable for me.

What quality would you like to have if you were a nuke?

EUGENE: One notable characteristic of NUKE members is their freedom when it comes to changing hairstyles, hair colours, and outfits instantly. It is a characteristic that I want to have if I were a NUKE member.

DAEMON (left), GEON (right)

How do you maintain a sense of unity within the group when you have such a unique combination of members?

DAEMON: As the leader of the group, I can say that our members are very unique and each has great abilities. The main thing is that we are not trying to synchronize perfectly but we are trying to bring out the chemistry and harmony. We respect their own abilities and try to improve as a team and try to express it better. We are not only focused on synchronizing but we are also trying to cooperate and make a good result as a team.

What are the things that make you go, "I'm so proud of myself for doing this!" for this comeback?

SiO: Starting with this comeback, we've had more opportunities to connect with our fans, Players. During my initial encounter with our fans, I was incredibly nervous and somewhat shy, making it challenging for me to engage in meaningful conversations with them. However, throughout this comeback promotional activities, including fan meet-ups and fan sign events, I've made significant progress in interacting with our fans, and I feel like I've become closer to them. In this respect, I'm proud of the improvements I've made in communicating with the Players during this comeback.

SiO

What kind of music does SUPERKIND want to pursue and be known as?

DAEMON: As SUPERKIND, we are trying many different genres of music. We choose genres that suit our concept and the worldviews that we want to show, and I think the main theme and the motto of SUPERKIND's music is diversity. So, I hope SUPERKIND to be known for the diversity and creativity in our musical styles.

As AI artists come into the K-Pop scene, what impact do you think SUPERKIND will have on AI integration within K-Pop groups?

SiO: Our group is the first to use the term "A-Idol," representing an idol group that includes both AI and human members. I believe this is one of SUPERKIND's most distinctive features. Many people still perceive AI technology as something distant and unfamiliar. However, with our group incorporating PRID, the human members, it allows us to demonstrate how we interact with NUKE members, the AI members, and convey our thoughts on this integration, showing how we all unite as a group. This helps the general public become more accustomed to the concept of AI. I hope to see more A-Idols in the future and anticipate the concept evolving over time.

SAEJIN (left), SEUNG (right)

With your unique concept, how do you imagine your concerts around the world to meet your fans?

SiO: We highly value in-person, face-to-face interactions with our fans, and that's why we make an effort to organize concerts and events in as many countries and cities as possible. We're committed to creating music that incorporates different languages to make our music accessible to people from various nations, enabling them to enjoy our songs and find solace and inspiration in our music.

While your AI concept is unique, it's certainly not your only standout quality. What do you think makes SUPERKIND different from other groups, or what do you hope for SUPERKIND to be known and remembered for, aside from having AI members?

SiO: Our commitment to continually challenging ourselves with new music and diverse genres asks for increased communication among the members and greater interaction with our fans, the Players. Each of us possesses unique strengths, and our individual musical preferences may differ, but we aim to be recognized as a group unafraid to explore a diverse musical styles and genres without limitations. Likewise, our future endeavours will remain unrestricted, and our goal is to establish ourselves as artists who boldly explore various musical realms.

Thank you DEEPSTUDIO and Helix Publicity for the invitation.

Watch SUPERKIND 'Beam me up (2Dx3D)' MV here!

*photos courtesy of DEEPSTUDIO

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[majimemegoro]

answering this yakuza OC ask for kadokura

How would your character react to one of the canonical protagonists stepping in to protect them? hed probably be amused by it like ooooh looky here, we got a extra special fighter OwO !! he might be annoyed by some specific people though

How does your character react when they see a fight starting in the street? Do they intervene? Cheer on the side? Join in? depends on what hes doing, if hes in a rush or otherwise occupied hed probably be annoyed and try to pass on by. but if one of the fighters piques his interest hed certainly stay and watch if he has nothing better to do.

Does your character fight? Under what circumstances? What sort of fighting style do they use? he doesnt seek out fights so he doesnt get in them that often, but he has legit combat training and a no-nonsense style that’s quite methodical and brutal and he uses like a bowie knife. hes also a gun expert; no good as a sniper bc his vision isn’t great, but he almost always has a handgun on him and hes legit a quickdraw and very good aim at close range.

Could your character win a fight against any of the canonical protagonists? Which one(s)? he might give them a good run for their money if he had his weapons, but he would always always lose in the end. but hes EXCELLENT with cutscene bullets :)

If your character got to be a protagonist or main character in a canonical game, what city would the story be set in? Sapporo.

If your character got to be a protagonist or main character in a canonical game, when would the story be set? id LOVE to see the late 70s prequel game!!

What would your character be like if they appeared in Ishin (or Kenzan)? oooh ooh well he could be affiliated with Izo or something !! i forget the details but yeah hed probably be like a two-timing government guy whos involved with assassins OOOH and also hed be secretly working with andre richardson or something !! historical andre richardson I forget his name. dag i really wanna draw Ishin! Kadokura now.

What would your character be like if they appeared in Dead Souls, or a Dead Souls spinoff? hed be fascinated and go ham for awhile and then hed get killed and then hed be an epic monster zombie boss fight. probably deserved it bc i bet he was invovled somehow with the people who caused the outbreak.

If your character’s only canonical role was to appear in one substory, what would that substory be? i answered that here!

Previous question, but make the substory wackier !!! same as previous

What’s your character’s favourite canonical restaurant? Which canonical restaurant do they eat at most often? Which canonical restaurant is their least favourite? i forget the restaurants in tsukimino :((( but when he visits Sotenbori he definitely loves the Crab place!! as for least favorite.. idk, hes not that picky

What is your character most likely to purchase at the pawn shop? what are they most likely to pawn off? would buy novelty weapons if he found something unique. probably doesnt bother to sell stuff, hed just throw it away or give it to someone for free.

What sort of canon gear would your character equip? idk. gun.

What does/would your character like to do on a night out in Kamurocho? drink. go to clubs and bars and dance.

Your character finds themselves snowed in at the mountain village from y5. What do they do? well first off best hope that he doesnt see mr okudera bc that would be a Whole Thing. if theres no one he knows there i guess he might be a bit sulky at first, but could genuinely enjoy the challenges of hunting etc. Although i guess he KNEW this is the village near where sato died so that would be looming over him and might make him a bit depressed.

Would your character sing karaoke? If they had to sing one of the canonical karaoke songs, which would they choose? hmmmm i think he would sing as long as he isnt in a bad mood. as for the song, idk i could see him doing a mean rendition of baka mitai ?? he WOULDNT be sincere with it though, hed like be smiling the whole time and just kinda ham it up.

Would your character be good at disco dancing? yes. hes definitely a good dancer, maybe not a pro at disco specifically but hed definitely be good.

Which canon character would/does your character get along best with? Why? uhhhhhhhh sagawa and andre richardson because theyre all freaks with no morals

Which canon character is/would be your character’s worst enemy? sato if kadokura found out he was alive. also like.. anyone with morals idk. saejima and kiryu woud hate his guts if they knew anything about him.

What random bit-character would your character be buds with? koga!!!!! headcanon that koga got his start as an intern with kadokura’s company Rachi Heavy Industries. if koga isnt niche enough, i think kadokura might get along with some purgatory people in the 80s.

Your character sees Majima being mean to Nishida. What would they do? kadokura is actually very nice and respectful to all his own employees & staff, but he understands that other bosses have different approaches. at most hed glance over and raise an eyebrow and be like ‘huh they sure dont go easy in the majima family do they’

What’s the most important canonical event your character witnesses/is involved with? his company developed the rubber bullets.

What sort of weird stuff you pick up off the ground is your character most excited to find? he brobly wouldnt pick stuff up off the ground

What would happen if your character met ono michio? hed be like ‘wow a weird mascot’. he wouldnt really care

[sunjinjo]

Tw transphobia, me being voluntarily infertile, my personal experience of being afab nonbinary, doesn’t apply to everyone, just venting really.

So here I am, off to the kickoff of the new bat researching season, providing a ride to a car-less new colleague. We’re all unique characters here, otherwise you don’t get into bat research. So I’m not surprised one bit when he tells me he used to be a banker and earned a lot of money, but then had an epiphany, stopped caring about money and now lives on a little boat and cooks for the homeless outside of ecology season. Really awesome dude. We talk some more, I’m not religious myself but can really metaphorically find myself in his statements of ‘god is everything, we’re all part of god, and everyone has the same potential in principle, no sense in telling yourself you can’t do something, the thing that limits you most is your own narrative of who you are’. Paraphrasing but he did inspire me.

Convo lands on me tentatively asking him if he thinks there’s ways people can see themselves that lay outside of man or woman. He seems rather open, can’t hurt. Well. Immediately lands on ‘if people see themselves as a dog, doesn’t mean the are a dog’ and ‘grown men are choosing to identify as 16-year-old girls to get into girls’ bathrooms’ and ‘7-year-olds going on puberty blockers is destroying the fabric of society’.

It’s fascinating to me how someone can be so open in so many ways, know most people see THEM as weird, and yet still cling to gender essentialism so hard, doing the exact same thing to so many others. Just... choosing not to listen in turn, you know?

Okay, sure, I know where he stands now, moving on, I won’t be opening up, all fine, used to that. I did get to share with him that I carry a gene giving me 80% risk of breast and ovary cancer, and I chose to have my fallopian tubes removed because it often starts there and there’s no reliable check yet, and I’ve always had a 1000% wish to remain childfree so being sterile is actually a massive plus. He accepts that much. We get to talk of childbirth. He’s been present for a few and was very happy he’s not a woman.

I say ‘I’m just as happy no one can get me pregnant’ but internally I’m just pointing at him going ‘you do get it!!! I’m just as glad I’M not a woman!!’

They are SO close sometimes. It’s so interesting to me.

Anyway. It was good to come home to my partner who’s fully accepting and understanding, and telling him it made me really happy to have him call me Sun irl that one time instead of my birth name, and also have him understand that and have him be willing to make that switch. <3

Also, Wanderer helps me cope. This is a vibe and a half. https://stardustdiiving.tumblr.com/post/737382534907936768/screaming-at-this-you-see-the-vision

[garakcore]

BESTIE TALK ABOUT YOUR TREK OCS ON MAIN (ONLY IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE THOUGH)

OH I am >:)) okay i took forever to answer this but. HERE WE GO. under read-more because I love to rant

My special little guy, my main OC, is Lt. Aamin Mara! I have recently created a sideblog for him which you can find at @therapy-lizard .

He's a Cardassian assistant ship's counselor! His studies are specifically about alien conceptualization of gender and Cardassian mental health.

He's a bundle of nerves and wants to make the galaxy a better place but can barely bring himself to say hello to someone in the hallway. He was also 10 years old at the end of the Dominion War, so he's, uhhh... been through stuff. But he's totally fine now of course [lying]

He had a punk thing going on in his earlier years and played the drums but now he dresses formally and worries about not being seen as professional enough because of his long hair and [not so many visible now] tattoos. When he's vacationing he dresses like an embarrassing tourist as is his right :))

He's also trans and bi! He's 35 years old and has only started Cardassian HRT a bit over a year previously.

Also, I created him for a Trek RP that fizzled out a few years ago, but I still write and draw stuff about him! If you're reading this and recognize him from the RP hugging you hugging you hugging you

I have a few Vorta OCs, but my biggest one is a guy named Koyun who defected from the Dominion around the time of season 1 of DS9!

He hid himself on the station for a while before surgically altering himself to seem more Bajoran, although he still wears a veil over his hair to hide his ears. He's very quiet and takes up odd jobs around DS9 and ends up running a lot of errands.

He's also forced to be pretty hypervigilant about any whispers of the Dominion, and things go abruptly downhill for him when Eris arrives on the station, however briefly.

Fun fact about him: he wears eyeglasses because he's fascinated by the fact that humans used to wear them. And also his eyesight is not great :')

The last of them I'll talk about here is Vrell Jad, a name you may remember if you've been following me for a VERY LONG TIME. But more likely, if you've read my oldest and more poorly written fics on AO3.

He exiled himself from Cardassia [this is how he chooses to phrase it] after being tortured by Garak on suspicion of having written an anti-state novel. Another man was killed for this offense and Vrell is beyond ashamed about this. Partially because, like... Vrell did write it, so!

He's estranged from his parents because he is gay and now is very happily loud about that. He is extremely flamboyant and has a sense of fashion that he loves but Garak despises beyond words, more on that in a sec. Let's just say he likes funky colors and patterns and gets a lot of "...isn't that... so unique...."

He lives on Bajor, which, not really a great situation for anyone and he doesn't get the nuances of that sometimes. He works at an orphanage aiding the Cardassian children left on Bajor after the occupation ended.

But... he does return to Deep Space Nine, at first just to annoy Garak and rub his 'victory' in his face [trying to ignore his guilt and the obviously not great situation Garak is in]. He also enjoys making Garak make fashion crime clothes for him. This is the focus on the fic I wrote, but I'll be honest, I'm not proud of that one and something related to it makes me uncomfortable even 3 years later. But if you do happen upon it, it's NSFW, so. yes

I have literally dozens more and can and will rant about them if asked but also this post is so long so. Another day perhaps!