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justfangirlstuffs · 10 months ago

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So Much More

Adjustment periods can be difficult, job hunting even more so. But an unexpected visitor comes to provide a pleasant distraction. (Takes place after A Saltwater Room.) You x Sea Slug Moon

Wordcount: 2900

cw: slightly suggestive

Sea Slug AU belongs to @scarredlove

“Hello, sea star,” a voice spoke from your open bedroom window, causing you to nearly jump out of your skin.

You whipped around to see Moon climbing in through your window, his red eyes gleaming bright with delight and mischief. "Moon, you shouldn't be here," you muttered, hurriedly going to your bedroom door and closing it, locking it for good measure so no one came in unannounced. Your aunt said she'd be working late, and your cousin was staying the night elsewhere but... couldn't be too careful.

It had been several days since you'd been reunited with Moon and his siblings, Sun and Eclipse. Once you had believe them to be simple if not strange sea slugs that you had loved and lost years ago. Only to discover that in truth, they were some manner of mythical sea creature. Sea slugs, yet so much more than that. More than you could have ever guessed.

Honestly, you were still getting used to having them back in your life. It had been so long since you've seen them. They were so different, and you were different too. Time had chafed you, made you rough and tender around the edges. It didn't help that you were already going through an immense transition in your life. So suddenly having them back in your life... it was a lot.

"And yet, here I am," Moon giggled mischievously, leaning on the wall near the window.

The moonlight cast his shadow on the wall and reflected on his dazzling robes, the patterns of bio luminescence drawing your gaze with their mesmerizing beauty. His eyes were shining with amusement but he didn't look like he had any bad or malicious intentions.

His voice softened a margin. "Don't be mad... I just wanted to see you.”

The words cause an undeniable, split-second lift to your mood. When was the last time someone said those words to you? It felt like forever... "I'm not mad," you said quickly, wanting to reassure him in some form or fashion. You sat back down at your desk, with the newspaper classified ads spread out before you. "You guys just have a habit of showing up without warning. It can be..." What was a tactful way to put it? "...stressful."

The antennae on his hood twitched and drooped a bit. You didn't know it, but your words did make him feel a bit guilty. After all, he was known for sometimes being very intrusive and showing up unexpectedly, even when he's uninvited or at undesirable times. He took a step forward, leaning forward over your desk but not yet invading your personal space. Though by the look in his eyes it was on his mind.

"Well...we're family, right?" he said, as if that was enough of a justification for his actions. His head tilted to the side, his expression softening as his shoulders drooped a little. "Besides... aren't you happy to see me?"

You thought about that question. Which, yeah, wild that you even had to think about it. Most people would probably find it weird; shouldn't you be able to just.... know how you feel? Yet you had to pause, and reflect, and try and identify your mental state. And then you had to find the words to express it. It was like wading through static.

"I'm not unhappy," you said finally, looking at him sincerely. "And I'm not asking you to leave."

Moon was slightly taken back by your answer, but his eyes glimmered with amusement. "Well, that's a good start." He leaned a bit further on your desk, slowly closing the gap that was between you and him. "But you're not totally pleased by my presence either, are you? You're just tolerating it, is that right?" The corners of his lips curved upwards, as if he was daring you to try to lie.

"It's not that, it's just..." You bit your lip and glanced away from him, looking down at the multitude of jobs you'd either circled or crossed out. Such a simple task, yet for you it had been a monolith chore. "I just don't feel like I'm the greatest company right now."

He let his lips thin out, the smirk was replaced by concern. This wasn't the response he was hoping for. It might not be the worst that he could have heard, but it was not the best answer he could've gotten. His expression softened, his body became less imposing and he sat down on the bed beside your desk, gazing at you whilst taking care not to cross your personal space.

"Are you not feeling alright?" He asked earnestly, you could tell he was genuinely concerned for you and not just asking out of politeness.

Wasn't that a loaded question? But thankfully at least you had an immediate source of stress you could identify and voice.

"I need to find a job." You sighed, pinching bridge of your nose and squeezing your eyes shut for a moment. "I've been applying to various places but... I keep getting rejected."

It was tiring, and it was stressful, and it was such a soul sucking ordeal. Putting in the effort, waiting to hear back, only to be overlooked or declined. Not exactly a boon towards your self-esteem.

"Why do you need a job?" he asked curiously, head tilted to the side. He was still sitting near you, his legs crossed and hands resting in his lap. It was such an ordinary position but something about it made him seem even more approachable and calm. It was a stark contrast to his usual self that often seemed impish and playful.

"Because... I need to make money. I need to help out. I can't.... I can't be a waste of space." You voice broke over those last three words, like glass shattering against rocks. Tears burned your eyes as your anxiety swelled.

Moon's eyes widened in shock at your sudden breakdown, you looked... fragile and vulnerable, yet your words had an underlying tone of determination to them. You spoke as if you were ashamed and have to pay for simply existing in this world. His expression softened, he immediately reached out and grasped your hand. His skin was soft and cool, the texture far too smooth and alien to be human, yet it felt comforting.

"You're not a waste of space," he said in a quiet voice, his long fingers carefully lacing with yours. "Not to me. To me, you're... so much more than that."

Tears dripped down your face, and even though his words didn't completely calm your fears, they were until to keep you from getting pulled under by the riptide of anxiety. Moon's touch and genuine affection was like a life preserver keeping you afloat on rough waters. You were still getting tossed, but you weren't drowning.

"Thank you," you murmured, giving his hand a firm squeeze.

"Anytime," he answered, continuing to speak in that soft and gentle way. "And also..." He hesitated for a moment, but he looked at you. His gaze was sincere and genuine, like he wanted to say something but afraid of ruining the mood. "You can always come to me when you're feeling like this. I just... don't want you to be alone during these difficult times. Not again."

That managed to bring a small smile to your face, and you sniffled, wiping your tears with the sleeve of your jacket. "I'll keep that in mind, if I ever want to pal around with a troublemaker like you."

"Aww, troublemaker, huh?" He chuckled, a mischievous grin slowly spreading across his face as he squeezed your hand a bit. "A compliment from you? What a surprise. I feel honored."

A snort of mirth erupted from you and you had to grab some tissues to clear out your sinuses before you felt a little better. Moon shifted slightly in his seat, trying to get comfortable, though it's evident that all he wants to do is to get closer to you. He gave your hand a small tug, silently urging you to sit on the bed with him. You gave a heavy sigh but decided to let him pull you away from work to plop onto your mattress beside him.

"Wanna know a secret?" he asked, his antennae twitching restlessly.

"Oh, a secret?" you murmured, giving your voice an edge of conspiratorial playfulness. "Now I feel honored."

"It's about you." The glint in his eyes was impish and his smirk indicated that he was up to something. "But don't tell anyone, alright? Keep it between yourself and your old pal Moon."

"My lips are sealed." You drew your hand across your mouth like you were closing a zipper. "So, what's the secret?"

"The secret is..." He shifted his body closer to you - close but not too close- and you caught the scent of sea breeze and something sweet... like watermelons. His gaze sharpened on you, as if he was studying every small detail about your face.

His smile was still etched right across his features and you could practically feel his excitement building up. He took a deep breath as if he was about to tell you something that was forbidden. He whispered the words into your ear.

"You're beautiful." He had finally found a word that fit perfectly for what he wanted to say, and he just had to say it. His grin brightened up into a big smile, his gaze shifting from your eyes to your lips.

Your heart stuttered in your chest and suddenly heat was overwhelming your face like you'd just stepped out into the mid-afternoon sun. "O-Oh..."

Moon observed the effect his words had on you. Your blush, your fluttering heart beat, the way your breath seemed to come out all too lightly and quickly. He took note of all of them. His smile didn't falter, neither did his gaze. He took a risk, he was now closer to you, you could feel his robes brushing against your skin, gently caging you like the most lovely and velvety cage imaginable. His hand was still gripping yours as he stayed silent, letting the moment linger. He wanted you to experience it, to savor it and to feel it's warmth.

Your heart thumped loudly at the sudden proximity and you eased back just a little bit. Even after all these years, it seemed Moon was still a cuddly little guy... except he wasn't little anymore. And your perceptions of him were vastly different from how they were when you were younger.

"H-How have you been?" you asked. It was an attempt at regaining some control of the situation, yet it was also a question that had been on your mind every since you re-discovered them.

Despite the sudden change of subject Moon didn't seem to mind. He chuckled, his fingers still holding yours, his thumb tenderly brushing over your heated skin.

"I've been alright. Though..." His voice became quieter, and you had to concentrate a bit to hear it. "I've really missed you."

"I missed you too..."

A thousand apologies got stuck in your throat, choking off your next words. You'd had no idea that Moon and his brothers had been lingering so close to home. If you had, you would have come back sooner. Instead, you had stayed away, the bittersweet memories too painful to revisit. Yet another thing to pile onto your list of regrets.

He nodded and a brief flash of concern crossed his expression, as if he could sense the guilt in you. "You don't have to say it, I know." He smiled, a slight pity in it. This moment was no longer filled with light or laughter, it was heavy and full of regret.

"The past years... have definitely been hard on all of us," He finally said, breaking the silence that had settled between the two of you. "Especially to you."

You shook your head, already guilty that you'd managed to bring down a pleasant mood. "I'm fine. I've been... managing." That felt like such a lie. You didn't feel like you've been managing at all. "Really, I'm... I'm dealing with it. I'd much rather hear about you."

The fact that you tried to dismiss the conversation with a quick 'I'm fine...' made him feel even more pity for you. He noticed your reluctance to talk about it. You were still dealing with something and you weren't ready yet. You needed more time, and that was something he was aware of.

"Can I ask you something?" he asked, his voice softer, gentler than before. He looked at you, and you could see that he took your feelings more seriously.

"Of course," you said quickly, eager for a change of topic. Eager for something to distract you from the heavy weight that seemed to constantly be anchoring you.

He shifted his body again, his long legs now crossed over each other, his robes fanning out across the bed like a gleaming river or waterfall. His eyes scanned every part of your face as if searching for something. Finally, he took a deep breath, then spoke again.

"You know, I thought I'd find you so different. You had been gone for so long, I thought you were going to be..." He broke the silence again. "Different."

A burble of laughter erupted up. Though it was more of an expression of surprise than actual mirth. "You mean I'm not?"

"No... not really." He shifted once again, now leaning slightly closer, his eyebrows curling upwards with curiosity. "I think you're still you. I was expecting to see a complete stranger here. But you're still you. Everything that I remembered is still there. You're still adorable, you're still kind, and you're still so very warm." He smirked, his gaze was now intense as he stared at you closely. "Are you still ticklish, though?"

Your eyes widened and before you could react Moon pounced. You feel back on the bed, squirming as Moon began tickling you. "Moon! Moon! Stop! I can't... Noooooooo!" You screeched between fits of laughter as you kicked and squirmed.

Moon laughed, amused by the sight. He began to tickle you ruthlessly, his fingers quickly exploring every inch of your stomach, sides, and even underneath your arms. His laughter became so intense that he almost couldn't breathe. "I've missed doing this to you so much, little crab," he confessed between giggles. "And I missed the noises you make."

He eased up a bit and you had a moment to catch your breath, wheezing and giggling as you stare up at him. You were entirely sure what he meant. Was he referring to the times when you would take him out of his tank and let him crawl along your arms and neck? That had to be it.

"You are such a gremlin," you muttered, but the comment was said with affection. A lot had changed but... it seemed Moon wasn't all that different either.

"The cutest gremlin you'll ever meet," he replied, his voice dripping with mischief.

Moon leaned down towards your face, his hands still on your stomach as he gave you a big smile. He giggled with you, both of you were red in the face from laughing and from being tickled, and yet the two of you seemed so happy at that moment. He shifted slightly, trying to get a bit closer to you, his hands gently moving to your legs.

He leaned down, his face close to yours. "You know what I miss the most?"

The mood seemed to suddenly shift, and like the lurch of a car turning too quickly, you found yourself a little unsteady as you stared up at him. "Wh-what?" you spluttered out.

"Your scent," he said, his voice was very quiet and calm. He had moved even closer, he was breathing out in hot puffs on your face, and you could see his chest rising and falling. His gaze went down as he looked at you, his hands were still firmly on your legs, but he had made no sudden movements.

“Your taste.” Once again, one of his hands found yours, effortlessly threading them together as though that were their natural state. There was a calmness in the still, the air was heavier, a bit more intense, but not in a bad way. His voice was very soft and sincere, almost as if he was trying to tell you something.

"And your kisses," he finally said. This moment was finally ripe, it gave him the chance to see if you were still open to the idea. He was now even closer to you. His gaze pierced through yours, as if looking for an answer in them.

Staring up at him, you found yourself at a loss for words. He couldn't possibly mean what you were thinking, right? Sure, you used to kiss him. But he'd been just a little slug you could hold in the palm of your hand. But now he was... he was... what?

Before you could say or do anything, a stream of water shot across the room and hit Moon in the face, splashing against his cheek. You jumped as Moon hissed in surprise. The both of you looked around to see his brother, Sun, standing in your room with a squirt bottle in his hand and a far too wide smile on his face. To be continued...

#fnaf sundrop #fnaf moondrop #moon x y/n #moon x reader #sun x y/n #sun x reader #sea slug au #justfangirlwritings #not beta read so apologies for errors/typos

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obsidianbaby · 9 months ago

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STURNIOLO TRIPLETS AT HOGWARTS HEADCANONS

a/n - this is all my opinion!! I would love to hear what y'all think about this if you fuck with harry potter

this is an au where the plot of voldemort does not exist btw**

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NICK

probably balled his eyes out when the Hogwarts acceptance letter came (even though it was expected) mary lou definitely hung it up on the wall

definitely got into slytherin (he's so cunt and ambitions)

would be great friends with pansy, they would spend time people watching and making hilarious commentary

would think draco is the most insufferable loser to ever exist and would constantly laugh at him when he's being whiney and dramatic over something stupid

probably the photographer for the school

also at every hufflepuff and gryffindor quidditch game cheering for his brothers even if they're facing his own house

probably has his own side business making herbal salves, etc.

would fucking love astronomy and herbology

would threaten to cast a spell on Chris all the time that would silence him (wouldn't be surprising if he actually did)

constantly taking pictures of his friends and his brothers and making cute little photo albums to commemorate his experiences

definitely attaching cute lil trinkets and pins to his robes and his bags

CHRIS

got into gryffindor (no one's surprised)

expressed how proud he is of his brothers for the house they got into (even though he's really sad they aren't all going to room together)

sneaks out of his dorms occasionally to take turns sleeping in his brothers' dorms

100% on the quidditch team as a chaser

definitely hangouts with fred and george causing mayhem

has the girls at hogwarts wrapped around his fucking fingers but actively avoids any type of romantic situation

probably be a part of the dueling club

would love going to hogsmeade for shopping and for the pubs

would absolutely hex himself by accident, multiple times in fact

absolutely getting caught on many occasions sneaking into the kitchens for sweet treats

probably has a butterbeer addiction

would use any excuse he can to not wear his robes (they're too thick and heavy)

asks the most wild outlandish questions in class leaving the profs too stunned to speak

MATT

obviously in hufflepuff even though he was sure he'd get into gryffindor with chris

also on his house's quidditch team but as the keeper (we already know he has goalie skills)

when he isn't with his brothers or in class he spends his time reading with hermione at the library or with luna and neville at the lake journaling

if there was a hogwarts student paper he would definitely be in charge of the anonymous advice section

would spend his weekends trapping himself in his dorms until someone literally drags him away from his bed

would adore mythical creatures classes

his pet of choice is most definitely a cat

probably going to hagrids daily to help him with his animals and listen to his stories

closest to luna and neville because he will be content just sitting there listening to them ramble on about creatures and magical plants

best flyer (neck and neck with harry)

goes on late night broom rides with harry

you can probably find him at the top of the astronomy tower or at the edge of the black lake in the middle of the night just enjoying some peace and quiet

would get extremely homesick while at hogwarts and he counts down to post days so he can receive letters from his friends and family back home (even though he rarely writes them back)

__________________________________________

tell me some of your headcanons for the triplets at hogwarts!!

#sturniolo #matt sturniolo #chris sturniolo #christopher sturniolo #matthew sturniolo #nick sturniolo #nicolas sturniolo #sturniolo triplets #hogwarts #harry potter #harry potter au #headcanon

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artemx746 · 6 months ago

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(Just copying this from my frustrated-with-the-pjo-fandom induced ramblings on the ta server + al lot more more shit than I expected to write)

I think the main pjo fandom has such a misunderstanding of why Alison might be bad for the show

It's not because she's a new character, I honestly think a new character could be good for the show, but it's because the pjo show team has already shown a fundamental misunderstanding of what pjato should be at its core (that being disability). Alison will most likely only prove what we already knew: that being the show not actually knowing what to do with pjo

Gonna be straight up here, I don't think any of these arguments against Alison are really about the fact she's a new character, season one had plenty of changes that a lot of people were fine with despite them not really making sense (why was Annabeth there for Luke's betrayal). They're because she's a new ta character and that'll either lead to the fandom confronting the fact that they've had a bias against the ta characters for literally no reason (Percy destroyed a bridge and blew up a boat, chb also had child soldiers) or their deep rooted sexism against barely morally gray women without stripping them of their agency.* The only fear I kinda get is that Alison will end up replacing one of the ta characters but unless you're a diehard Kelli fan I don't think there's really much to worry about, I'm not saying she'll replace Kelli as a Luke love interest but rather an 'evil bossy woman' type so they don't need to animate Kelli's hair.

The only thing I'm worried about is the lack of disability. I've rambled about this before on the ta server** but Alison is most likely going to be a child of a minor god, and while I do want more minor god kids, the minor god's kids represent a very important part of the disability metaphor, that being disability hierarchies specifically being detrimental against people with physical disabilities and people with stigmatised mental illnesses (npd bpd schizophrenia etc) . Alison has an open casting, and while that would usually be fine for any other character I doubt they'll cast someone with a physical disability and I highly doubt they'll cast someone with a stigmatised mental illness. So you either have: an abled bodied person acting like they have a disability OR a ruined metaphor and Ethan's eye was lost for nothing.

Ta server ramblings under the cut

*Me: considering how this fandom treats women I do not wanna see them if Alison is in the book. They can't handle Silena without stripping her down to "UwU poor manipulated girl" I do not wanna see them with Alison

making it out that Silena was just in love with Luke and he manipulated her is a) reaffirming the sexist stuff about aphrodite kids and b) robs Silena of her agency to make decisions that she ends up regretting

**Me: Honestly hate when people act like it was just Percy who got the minor gods cabins, buddy did the metaphor go over your That Much. The reason it had to be Percy was because he represents people who already have resources speaking out for those who don’t because they’re more respected. That applies to both Percy and Luke. Percy was not the reason for it it was Ethan,

There is a Reason why Ethan was the first named demigod child of a minor god and he had a physical disability, it has a mythic reason like all of the others but it is still a disability. Ethan represents the metaphor in the minor god demis, that being hierarchies in disabled communities

(this is another reason why I'm scared for Alison in s2 because she's probably going to be a child of a minor god)

what I'm really worried about is they either: make Alison physically disabled and kill her off (killing off all* your physically disabled characters rick how fun)

make her able bodied and the metaphor is lost unless they explicitly say she has another stigmatised mental disability which they will not

*I don't count the kid from toa since he's a background character mentoned once and hephaestus was pretty much disabled in the myths so not rick's

okay end of ramblings jesus christ

#pjo #percy jackon and the olympians #Alison pjo #can't wait for her to have a last name (I hope)#pjo tv show #pjo s2 #long post #just a little #silena beauregard #ethan nakamura #luke castellan #Kelli pjo #I can confirm I am the diehard Kelli fan and I will be devastated #also fun fact there's a non zero chance that Alison is named after 1 of Rick's students mentioned in the tlt acknowledgements #Said to be “Clear-eyed as Artemis” so I hope any Alison fans are ready for the possibility that she could join the hunters #isn't that fun (i am going to have an aneurysm if that happens)#ramblings

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centrally-unplanned · 11 months ago

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I was listening to this cast by The Weeb Crew, with SteveM as a guest, going through some other Evangelion video and dissecting the mythical memetic tropes it buys into. Which was a lot of fun, I recommend the cast, and the video they are critiquing is a bit of a grad-bag of zombie memes about Evangelion from the 2000's, which yeah have aged poorly.

One of the ones they get into is the idea that Evangelion's TV ending was "intensely unpopular", and Anno & crew were getting like bombarded with death threats and stuff. Which happened at some level sure, but certainly wasn't the median response. The video actually sites the "emails" shown on screen in End of Evangelion as evidence:

And like, bro those emails are fake! The staff wrote them for the movie, they didn't use real death threats or fan mail, that would be a huge legal liability. Not saying they are analytically useless or anything but, you know, you need to know that.

Anyway, SteveM mentions that of course there was pushback against Eva's ending, but actually the big wave wasn't interior to the fandom - instead it was sparked by Eva "going mainstream" discourse-wise. In particular a review essay by social critic Eiji Otuska (who is also a former lolicon creator ding ding ding) that was published after the finale aired sparked a widespread discussion in the media by other critics. He links to the essay in their discussion....except he doesn't. He thinks he did, and then when they look, its just someone else mentioning it in an article in 2003:

Bitter disputes broke out on online bulletin boards, with some critical of the producers for failing to provide a clear-cut end to the story, and others who praised the finish for being "typically Evangelion-like." But when commentator Eiji Otsuka sent a letter to the Yomiuri Shimbun, complaining about the end of the Evangelion series, the debate went nationwide. "The debate that erupted over the ending went way beyond our calculations," Gainax's Sato chuckles. "Anno probably knew what was going on. He realized that media other than anime had taken notice of Evangelion."

Which triggered in me the thought - why doesn't he have it? He references it in his own work after all. As you can guess, after some searching I am pretty sure I know why; no one has it. Its never been scanned or reprinted in an accessible format! It definitely is important in the history of Evangelion - I have seen this claim in other contexts, the essay that sparked a discourse, and you can find many works about Evangelion citing Otsuki (generally later works, like an article published in September of 1996 which you can buy) But what the article article said is only discernable via the clues dropped from second-hand accounts.

So can we find it?

First of all I need to figure out what is even being referenced. Searching through contemporary Japanese sources, I dug up an extremely handy find:

A somehow-still-existing 1997 fan page by a Japanese otaku (I'm giving you this stuff auto-translated btw, what would you do with a wall of kanji?) who extensively catalogued every media mention of Evangelion. I am sure they missed some, but they didn't miss a big one like the Otsuki letter - which we know from the above interview appeared in gigantic newspaper Yoimiuri Shimbun:

This gives us three candidates; given that we know it was written after the finale aired, and that was March 27th, 1996, our most likely candidate is the April 1st essay; I was able to find a secondary source mentioning the review was "immediately" after the finale, so I think that nails it.

Which alas does not bring up anything! Try as I might I cannot find any extant blog post, or scanned image, or long quoted form. But after trying the usual methods I did realize something - unlike my average document hunt, this is Yoimiuri Shimbum, a newspaper, a big newspaper. Which means they probably have their own archive, which I might be able to access. and low and behold, they do! And my university research services actually have an account!!

Incredibly blessed by this stroke of luck, I went digging for everything containing "Evangelion" and "Eiji Otsuka" in 1996, and found it:

And it's fucking blank. If the article is scanned or anything it will have that "Japanese Text" you see on the first result, or "Scanned Image" tag or something. I swear its like the only ones not scanned, all the random ads and list of best sellers are all there, but the entire cultural essays section is just an archival void. Shot in the skull right at the finish line.

Alas I am out of ideas of this one - its a newspaper, no one is selling this on Yahoo Auctions. Though hey, at least now we know the title:

"オウム」を超えるはずが... / It should surpass Aum...", 876 characters long.

"Aum" by the way is Aum Shinrikyo, the cult terrorist group that conducted the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack. Which you can imagine really took the chattering classes by storm; it was the culmination of a series of "extremist" actions that began in the 1980's that built up a narrative of societal decay and alarm. It really isn't surprising that Otsuka linked Evangelion to Aum Shinrikyo; the apocalyptic connections were obvious, there was even an episode of the show that had to be changed due to the attacks as the production team thought the events were too similar. And additionally, if this essay was gonna spark a "societal backlash", it has to say something controversial right? I have definitely seen other critics like Hiroki Azuma discussing Eva in relation to Aum as a "social phenomenon" - I am betting Otsuka is the source of that comparison being so ubiquitous.

From other sources like people on twitter and other articles, I can pick up a few other details on what it contained; apparently he referred to Evangelion's finale as a "self-help seminar" for otaku and lambasted the idea of airing one of those on TV. And from his other writings I think you can certainly piece it together - essentially seeing Evangelion's self-involvement and hyper-introspection as a product of the same societal malaise that birthed Aum Shinrikyo, while failing to deliver a solution that could "go beyond" that. Which, the shit you said about media in the 90's, I want a hit of what he's having! But while today its quite obvious that groups like Aum were, sure, saying something about society but turned out overwhelmingly to be fringe weirdos as opposed to canaries in the mental institute coal mine, at the time this was very much the zeitgeist.

Still, I don't really care all that much what it says - its an important artifact! It started the "Eva discourse boom" that broke out of otaku circles and launched Evangelion into a cross-societal phenomenon! We should have a record of it, it should be preserved. I will ruminate on it, and see if any other ideas pop up. And meanwhile if anyone out there happens to see what I missed definitely let me know.

#evangelion history #Ash anime deep dive bullshit #mini-essay

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year2000electronics · 1 year ago

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Ok so what’s shimmer relationship like with the main cast like in the brotherhood au?

RUBS HANDS TOGETHER EVILLY. I ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING I WROTE A WHILE BACK ABT SHIM AND THE BROTHERS. HEHEHEHEHEEEE

i havent gotten to the outcasts Yet but. one day. i'll put it below the cut!!

“You probably don’t remember me, but-”

That was the first thing Shimmer had decided to say to baby Branch- no, it was just Branch now, wasn’t it? No matter how hard she looked at him, she could still only see the hopeful, gleaming eyes and the sweet smile as that kid she had come to briefly know so many years ago. It was a tough habit to kick- and the other members of the village clearly had a leg up on her with that.

“No, I remember you!” He replied, swinging his hands back and forth as the two of them walked through the village together. “Johnny doesn’t talk about you anymore, not really, but I remember going over to your pod!”

Shimmer tried her best not to seem too desperate for knowledge. Johnny? Her Johnny? Well- formerly hers. Not anymore? She knew it, he hated her, dammit, why did she come here-

“Oh, yeah? That so?” She laughed quietly. “Gosh, you’d make a mess of the place… you were so cute.”

“Yeah…” Branch said, looking off to the side. He was clearly quite a bit surprised, hearing someone talk about him through their sole memories of him being a baby. “It’s… been a long time since then, though.”

“I know, I know,” Shimmer assured quickly. “You’re all grown up now. And it makes me feel… very old.” She gave a laugh to shrug it off, but… it was true. Staring her in the face was the very sobering realization that it had been nearly two decades… Two decades since she had seen any of these people. And yet, somehow, despite Branch going from a baby to an adult…

…It felt like he had changed the least.

“Well- you don’t look very old,” Branch chirped. “Not to me.”

Shimmer looked back at him with a sort of sad smile, combing her hair out of her face.

“...You’re sweet, kid,” She mumbled.

“No, really! You look Johnny’s age, and he’s not old, so… you’re not old either, right?” Branch grinned. He thought his logic was flawless, clearly.

Shimmer snorted. “Is that how you see it?”

“Yup.”

Shimmer laughed, and decided to leave it at that. Branch’s peculiar little sense of humor did amuse her, to be sure.

“So-” Shimmer asks after a bit of silence. “Do you mind if I ask you something, ah… a bit personal, kid?”

“Depends,” Branch said with a shrug. “What is it?”

“What was it like? Growing up here, I mean,” Shimmer asked.

Branch paused for a moment, to think about it. He looked up at the sky, down at the ground, every which way, except at her.

“Normal, I guess?” He shrugged. “We’re safe here, and I had my brothers. I don’t know what else a guy could want.”

Shimmer supposed she should have expected an answer like that. Of course Branch would see everything as deceptively normal. From the time she spent at the village, she didn’t exactly discover any blood sacrifices or chaos magic rituals happening behind closed doors or anything, and even though John and his brothers had morphed into slightly mythic figures, they weren’t referred to as His Holiness or anything.

“Guess so,” Shimmer replied. “I was just… gone for so long, I’ve been curious, I suppose. About all the changes.”

“There aren’t that many,” Branch mumbled.

“No?”

“No.”

That’s what Branch’s mouth said. But his eyes told a different story.

—----------------------

Shimmer sat down in Bruce’s pod, staring him down.

His hand automatically moved to grab some matchmaker’s tarot cards when Shimmer lowered it before he could.

He glanced up at her, confused.

“Don’t,” She grunted. “I’m not here for that. I don’t even want to know.” The sooner she could stop Bruce from doing the matchmaking thing, the better. There was a whole nest of hornets there- and whatever he said about her “potential prospects” would just remind her that a part of her never moved on from John Dory.

“Then-” Bruce furrowed his brow, leaning back. “What are you here for?”

Shimmer gave him a surprised glance. “For you. Is that so hard to believe?”

Bruce scoffed, leaning on one of his hands as he pressed his elbow onto the table. “Usually people come to the matchmaker’s pod because they want their match made, miss Shimmer. And yet, here you are, asking for me and not even wanting a match while you’re here! I think that makes you the strange one.”

Shimmer groaned. “Neither of us are strange, Bruce, don’t play this game with me-”

Bruce laughed. “Oh, man- I did miss this. How is it that I’m always able to get under your skin?”

“I don’t know, you little devil-” Shimmer snorted. She cleared her throat, combing some hair out of her face. “But- that’s the only part that feels like it hasn’t changed, after all this time. What’s someone like you doing with a job like… this?”

Bruce frowned. “Are you trying to imply this isn’t a real job? The village won’t like that.”

Shimmer furrowed her brow, putting a hand up. “That’s not what I said. I mean- this job feels so prestigious. And everyone I asked about you immediately followed ‘Bruce’ up with ‘The matchmaker’. Doesn’t that… bother you at all?”

“Would it really matter if it did?” Bruce said with a shrug.

“I mean-!” Shimmer gave an exasperated sigh. “I… I just want to understand. Everyone here is used to this, used to you all being leaders, I was just…” She shrugged. “I guess I was just hoping an old friend might be able to help me stop sticking out like a sore thumb.”

Bruce frowned, studying Shimmer’s face and body language. She seemed to be sincere, though her pride clearly held her back from just straight-up begging. And he did feel quite a bit bad for her… it was true that Bruce and Shimmer had been pretty close back when he was Spruce, and back when Shimmer was “JD’s girl”. They got on each others’ nerves endlessly, but that was almost part of the charm.

…He could use something like that again, perhaps. Nowadays, the only teasing he could get away with was either to Baby Branch or doing something so subtle to JD and Floyd that most other people shouldn’t be able to notice.

“...Being a matchmaker is fine,” Bruce began to speak. “I’m rarely ever wrong, I’ll have you know. People trust me, and I like that. It feels… good to be trusted, I guess.”

He took out a tarot card from his deck, studying it. “I mean- I’m trusted for manners of romance, friendship, intimacy… But nobody is puttin’ pressure onto me to be a leader. In a way, I guess… I’ve got the best job in town.”

“Still,” Shimmer said quietly. “I wouldn’t mind hanging out with Bruce-the-man instead of Bruce-the-matchmaker. If you can bear taking some time off your busy schedule.”

Bruce tilted his head noncommittally. “I’ll think about it. Gotta keep up appearances, y’know. That’s a big part of everything.”

“I guess,” Shimmer half heartedly agreed. “Not that I’d know.”

“It’s good that you don’t,” Bruce replied, an oddly soft tone in his voice. So soft that Shimmer dare not toe the line and ask him to elaborate on that. Her absence of a question, though, left the two of them sitting in the candlelit room in silence.

“...So what’s the story behind the new name?” Shimmer asked to break it.

“Eh,” Bruce waved a hand casually. “I wanted a reinvention.”

Shimmer paused, mulling that over. “It suits you,” She said, finally.

“Thanks,” Bruce smirked. He held up a hand, tilting it towards her. Between his fingers was a tarot card.

“Hey! I thought I told you not to do the matchmaking thing!” Shimmer protested with a frown.

“Relax, miss Shimmer,” Bruce replied coyly. “This one’s just about your social standing.”

She took the card from him, studying it- oh. It was The Star.

“It means renewal,” Bruce said simply.

—--------------------------

“Morning, Floyd. I’d apologize for interrupting but I feel like that ship’s sailed already,” Shimmer grunted, going to sit on a mat near where Floyd was meditating.

He cracked an eye open, glancing over at her. “...Shimmer,” He said with a simple nod.

She began stretching her legs, grunting every so often- this type of stuff didn’t come as easy to her as she wanted it to.

“...Why did you come back?” Floyd asked bluntly. That made Shimmer stop in her tracks, glancing over at the younger troll with a befuddled look on her face.

Floyd put his hands up in a gesture of false surrender. “I don’t mean it like that! Don’t misunderstand! It’s just… one doesn’t just wander back into a place like this without reason.”

“Well- it’s home,” Shimmer admitted, bending down to touch her toes. “I was feeling… disoriented. Like I had lost myself. I didn’t know where else to go, so… I came back home.”

“Yeah, sure, but… you said it yourself. This place has changed. So, I guess, a better question would be… what made you stay?” Floyd asked as he bent himself into a different position. His tone was casual and calm, but there was a certain hunger in his eyes that let Shimmer know that he was very invested in this line of conversation.

Shimmer’s mouth went dry. That… that was a good question. Especially since Floyd was playing a bit of a dangerous game, where she would make a major social faux pas if she wasn’t careful- Floyd was implying that someone coming to the village and staying there was strange. Of course, it was a perfectly safe place, but Shimmer knew she and Floyd both could feel the gated-community vibe of the village where nobody ever comes in and nobody ever comes out. She counted herself damn lucky that they even let her in at all.

“...I suppose I’d say- it’s because some part of this place didn’t change,” Shimmer mumbled.

“Really?” Floyd asked, stretching one of his legs to the sky.

“Really. That’s what keeps me here… I think. It’s all very confusing, this new village stuff, but when I look at all my old friends here… I guess I can’t help but see the boys I used to know,” Shimmer bashfully said as if she was admitting a crime.

“So you really believe that…” Floyd said quietly. “And- is it the same with me?”

“Sure it is,” Shimmer said, rolling over to be on her stomach as she grabbed one of her legs. “You were always the one who sat in the back, weren’t you? Just… watching. Soaking it all in. I still see a lot of that in you today. With Branch and Bruce, too, the more I talk to them, the more I realize there��s still parts of you I’ve met before.”

She sighed. “Stupid, I know.”

“No, I don’t think it’s stupid at all…” Floyd replied. “I… I think it’s kinda nice, actually.”

He smiled, looking up at the roof of the large cave they called home. He let the moment sit for a bit.

“Sometimes… I don’t really feel like that boy anymore. I don’t feel like I was ever him at all. It’s… confusing, I guess,” Floyd said at last.

“Ugh, tell me about it-” Shimmer grunted, stretching out another one of her joints. “I was looking at an old poster of myself yesterday, and it was like- who WAS she?”

Floyd gave a gentle little laugh. “I guess we’re more alike than we thought, then. It’s… nice.”

“I don’t get to talk to people much about this stuff,” Floyd continued. “Me, Johnny and the others try to be strong… for the village. So- it just… doesn’t come up.”

Shimmer gave him a nervous glance. “I’m not stepping over a line, am I? You’d tell me if I broke some sort of village rule. You would. Right?”

“Calm down,” Floyd squeaked desperately. “You’re fine.”

Shimmer sighed. “Sorry… sorry. It’s just-”

“A lot, yeah,” Floyd finished. “That’s the village for you.”

—-------------------------

Shimmer was never sure if it was her place to mourn Clay or not. She had known him once, but at the same time, that was a long time ago. Was it illogical that she felt like she didn’t deserve to mourn him like his brothers did? Maybe. But she couldn’t change how she felt.

Still, that wouldn’t stop her from leaving some lily-of-the-valleys near his memorial spot every now and again.

“Sorry I missed you, Clay,” She murmured. “I would have liked to have gotten to know who you grew into.”

—---------------

Shimmer wasn’t looking forward to this. She wasn’t looking forward to any of this. In fact, she had taken extreme, deliberate steps to avoid this from happening.

But what she hadn’t accounted for was bumping into John Dory on his stupid shitty morning walk, DAMMIT-

He dusted himself off, clearly taking on a facial expression that was preparing for an apology, only for him to realize exactly who it was he had bumped into. Right- the troll he hadn’t talked to since he initially told the village to let her in.

Oh, yeah.

Also, his ex.

“...Shimmer,” He was the first one to cut through the silence as he looked up at her, adjusting his scarf. “You look… well.”

Shimmer scoffed, looking away. “You and I both know that’s a gross exaggeration.”

John frowned as she looked away. That caught her eye. She coughed, immediately trying to steer the ship of a conversation back on topic. Much as this was her old flame… this guy was also someone she clearly didn’t want to get on the bad side of. Best not to get… too testy.

“But- other than looking like I rolled out of bed basically every day, I’ve been-” She sighed. “Fine. How about… you? How- uh- how have you been?”

John Dory blinked once or twice, not expecting her to turn the question back on him. “Me? Oh, yes, I’ve been great, as usual. Never a bad day here in the village. Heh. You haven’t… been having any trouble, have you? I know the villagers can get a bit testy with… ‘new’ people.”

Shimmer shook her head no, folding her arms. “No, it’s been fine. Just… just fine.”

“Good… and you’ve been behaving too… right?” He said- although his tone was light as a feather, he knew the underlying meaning in what he said- here was a girl he had been close with before she disappeared- She could drag him back down to feeling mortality, be so casual with him in a way he hadn’t felt from anyone besides his brothers in years- and if she wanted to disprove his lie, he’d have to put whatever feelings he still had for her aside. For the sake of the village.

“You think so low of me, John,” Shimmer scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Yes, I’ve been behaving. I’m a guest here- guests follow the host’s policies, and they’re thankful. That’s how I was raised.”

“Good!” JD chirped. “I wasn’t too worried about that,” He lied. It slipped naturally off his tongue as smooth as butter.

Shimmer paused, looking him up and down some more. He looked at her looking at him, waiting to see her reaction and cautiously preparing for it.

“...It’s a bit of a different look for you, I’ll admit, but… I don’t hate it,” Shimmer spoke with a shrug. “The red looks nice.”

John laughed, flicking an earring. “Ahhh- thank you. It does, doesn’t it? I’ll admit, your look was a bit surprising, too. You’ve really changed, I almost didn’t-”

He paused, not wanting to finish the sentence… but Shimmer knew what he was going to say.

I almost didn’t recognize you.

She knew that’s what he wanted to say, because she thought it when she first saw him.

Jeez, what were they? They used to be a teen hot couple, the poster boy and poster girl for puppy-love… But here she was, a disgraced pop troll who couldn’t sing… and there he was. The hero and saviour of an entire village.

It was more obvious to her now than it was to her than that him even noticing her at all was… nothing but a stroke of luck. A fluke. There he was, brilliant, important, in control… And then there was her. A total mess. A flop. She felt like an intruder in the village, and now, being face-to-face with JD only made things worse. In every other brother, she saw that past part of them she once knew, but with John, she felt like she was only reminded of her own insecurities, her own failings.

She swerved past him, eyes firmly trained onto the ground.

“I’ll get out of your way, John,” She mumbled half-heartedly, trying to just put a miserable end to the conversation and stop her mind from attacking herself so loudly. But as soon as she started walking, she found herself unable to keep going. Locked around her arm was none other than JD’s hand. She glanced back, looking at him in confusion.

“Wait,” He started. “...Come over to my pod sometime. You, ah, need to update me more on how you’re settling in. Yes. As the village leader… it’s part of my responsibilities, y’know? So- don’t leave me hanging.”

Shimmer’s breath caught in her throat. She hated the idea of seeing him more, and yet, the fact that he had requested her presence specifically… It made her heart skip a beat.

“...Sure, yes,” She replied quietly.

She expected John to let her go at this point, but he kinda just kept staring at her in silence for a while. Somehow, she found herself staring back.

“...I’ve missed you,” He confessed with a breathy whisper.

Shimmer tried to muster back a reply, but words failed her. She tried again, and again-

“I didn’t even think that was possible,” She finally said back.

#mothra answers #trolls #brotherhood au #shimmer #DANCES.

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my-pjo-stuff · 6 months ago

Note

For the Great PJO Ask Analysis event: (ask no. 4)

You've got a topic in PJO you'd like for me to analyze?

The Americanisation of the Greek myths: Olympus being on top of the Empire State building, etc.

The demigod world and the mortal world being intergrated instead of separate.

Want to share YOUR analysis of stuff with me and my followers?

The Hunters of Artemis are a poor representation of women and don't do the original myths justice.

Want to hear my take or shares yours of different characters and aspects of the PJO universe?

The TV show is more accurate to the books: thoughts?

The Americanisation of the Greek myths: Olympus being on top of the Empire State building, etc.

I think I said it on here already, but tbh to me it's just a classic case of Rick only knowing America, so he sets all his action in America. Which, yeah I can get that. I'd probably do the same- but personally I'd still prefer it if the different pantheons (not just the greek ones) were spread out over the world more. To me it all just feels very small and cramped to have EVERYONE important- god AND myth- in America. I mean, stuff like gods should be world wide, right? Why are we all just hanging out in America? Having it all more spread out over the world could allows us to explore more locations. In the context of a children's book we can use it to introduce children to different cultures. Not to mention all the possibilities we can have for non-american demigods! A culture and system of a country can influence a child very much. What differences would there be between an American Demigod and let's say- a french one? It all just seams very wasted for me for the benefit of comfort in writting for Rick.

The demigod world and the mortal world being intergrated instead of separate.

I don't think you can really say that the demigod and mortal world are very integrated to be honest- yes demigods live in both worlds- but there is very little truly connecting the both. Mortals can't enter CHB. The mist keeps anything mythical hidden from mortals. Demigods can't usually share the truth of their heritage with friends due to fear of getting written off as crazy. It doesn't seem very integrated to me, it's more like....an open border.

Imagine it like two countries, one is the demigod/immortal world and the other one is the mortal one. Between them is a border demigods are free to cross as much or as little as they want. The two countries would still be separate, it'd just be easy to traverse between them for a certain group of people.

The Hunters of Artemis are a poor representation of women and don't do the original myths justice.

I mean I said often enough that I think they are creepy af and I honestly HATE pjo Artemis which is why I won't chew it all through AGAIN on here. So yeah, agree 100%. The TV show is more accurate to the books: thoughts?

Ehhhhh- more accurate than the movies? Certainly, but it still has some way to go. Like casting for example, personally I'd have preffered it if we kept all appearances to the books (black haired Percy, blonde Luke ect.) but I can live with that okay. I can also live with the changes the made to Luke in general- my main problem really stems from them missing the deadline of the quest and the way they did Hermes. That's mostly because both of these things just.......make the gods to nice. Like I genuinly do not think that book!Poseidon would have given up for Percy. And the whole Hermes thing looked to me like excuses. An integral part of these books is that Luke was genuinly right. The gods are just straight up selfish, and even evil at times. They use their children like pawns. They negelect them on purpose. Not because of some "rules" (looking at you, show!Hermes). I think the show lost that, which in my eyes is sort of a big problem. But I still hold up hopes for it to get fixed, and I do enjoy Luke.

#pjo #percy jackson #pjo artemis #anti pjo artemis #anti pjo hunters of artemis #pjo hermes #anti pjo hermes

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derekscorner · 9 months ago

Text

Fated Rantings: The Grandest of Orders Part 2

The Babylonia Front

For the first part I incoherently rambled about FGO and some Chaldean cast. There was no rhyme nor reason to it, I was trying to get my brain churning but more importantly they were things that I've wanted to say for a while.

I began this Fate journey with lore videos and FGO and for the near two years since I've slowly crawled through it as I watched other Fate series. I finished the initial Solomon arc about a month before I did the anime.

In other words I had lot to get out of my system and I didn't even touch on everything. FGO, the mobile game, is novel length in each singularity. There is too much to remember or squeeze into a blog post.

So I just got out of my system what still stands out to me...which was mostly Mash praise but enough of that! Let's talk about the actual anime~

The Age of Gods babyyyyy

I was actually very curious to watch this even though FGO's anime only covers singularities six, seven, and the finale against Goetia. Even then singularity six and Goetia are made into movies.

FGO's only real anime is the adaption of singularity seven the Babylonia Front. My curiosity for this story was only made stronger thanks to the mobile game itself.

It had unexpected highs and spectacle to it. Everything from seeing how Rin's personality can distort Ishtar into a jewel obsessed girl failure to seeing Gilgamesh while he was a live.

A demigod in the flesh, a Gilgamesh that was focused on being a king. Hell, we even got to see Merlin!

Merlin is usually locked in his tower but thanks to time paradox tom foolery he makes an appearance.

This era of Fate's world fascinates me because the gods still exist. Sadly, it's toward the end of their reign but the physical and metaphysical still interconnect.

This the era that the mages of the modern Fate world desperately cling to with their ways of secrecy and lineage. They can only hope to reach the root and obtain true magic, they can only hope to have magecraft as potent as Medea.

It is a truly fantastical setting and the kind I adore. It is probably the closest we'll ever get to seeing a truly magical place within Type-Moon.

The actual expanse that the age of gods covers is also quite long. The only thing I know of older than this age would be dragons. The pinnacle of evolution and mystery and beings that radiate magic just by breathing.

Type-Moons history is actually full of some crazy stuff. Dragons older than the gods who themselves had been shaping life since dinosaurs walked.

Machines from a dead universe whom the Atlanteans worshipped as gods and who eventually became the Olympian gods of Greece.

A white titan that slew gods left and right, the very being that set the age of gods towards its downfall. The same titan that killed Ares, took his sword, and uses it to this very day if summoned as a servant.

Things get wild and inconsistent with history. Either due to mage society hiding events or due to events seemingly having no evidence due to the age of gods ending which separates mankind from the reverse side of the world.

The metaphysical space where things like the Underworld, Heaven, or other such mythical places actually exist.

What about the Age of Man?

I gush over this because it not only shows the rich history in this world but it also really highlights how important Uruk is to the Age of Man and the planet's future.

Gilgamesh is a smug bastard but that confidence is not without merit. Even Romani, a man of the current day, is amazed by Gilgamesh's city planning and the sheer smooth machine that day to day life is in Uruk.

The anime, more so than the game imo, really highlights how important Uruk is to the future. Humans have existed for a long time, probably longer than science claims in the Fate world. However, mankind's age didn't begin till here.

Modern society traces it's origin to Uruk as Gilgamesh ran it in his final chapter of the Epic of Gilgamesh. When he became a wise king he founded a society so fundamental to human life that the entire human race ran with it.

They made alterations, societies fell, they improved upon it, they keep changing based on the environment. Nothing made by man is perfect, even Uruk, but it's fundamental.

It's the last singularity but it's the only one that Solomon himself tampered with because he knows the age of man starts here.

The anime will make you feel that through Mash, Ana, and Fujimaru. The mobile game had you do missions with the same purpose in mind but that doesn't do as well as seeing it in motion I think.

Watching Ana say she hates humans only to become attached to an old woman running a flower shop, seeing Leonidas train soldiers, Ushiwakamaru and Benki coming home after a long day battling beats, everyone gathering at Chaldea's own embassy like it's a home, Gilgamesh stopping to learn a new game being played children, etc.

It is a lot of small things that add up. You gain a true grasp of how people lived in this city. You could make a whole spin off of Uruk and it's day to day events and I would watch it.

I want to drive home how much I enjoyed those little scenes. It not only fulfilled my world building itch but these moments of humanity at it's purest made the various dialogues between inhuman characters more interesting.

Ana & Merlin

The most standout to me is the scene of Ana and Merlin discussing what it means to be an inhuman surrounded by humans. Merlin actually has a few good scenes of this topic but this one is the best for giving you insight into the minds of them.

Sure, you also have servants but many of them were human once. Ana, Merlin, and even Gilgamesh were not and so their views on humanity is by far more intriguing.

For Merlin, emotions are a lie. He feeds on human dreams to have and comprehend emotions. He openly admits he likes humanity as a whole but not individuals.

Ana, beings the goddess who becomes Medusa, has hatred for man and god but she also can't help but love them. She's even fearful of that love in a sense.

You have to keep in mind that Medusa is a very old myth. The one you know of about Poseidon raping her and Athena cursing her is actually the most recent one despite being a couple thousand years old. Both in Fate and our world her myth goes back further than this with no clear point of origin.

Ancient Greece did not have a solidified religion. The city states had a shared origin and a shared pantheon but the stories about said pantheon could vary based on the city and the age of that myth. Assuming it was even put to written record in the first place.

Ana in Fate is a nod to this. She was originally some long lost earth goddess before becoming what she was. Her hatred of the gods is solely the fault of Olympus but her hatred for man is from perceived abandonment.

Between Heaven's Feel and FGO I've come to have a soft spot for Medus as a whole. Conflicting feelings aside, she didn't deserve it and knowing that her curse caused her to eat her sisters and become a monster is just tragic.

I'd love for them to do a game or show with Medusa as your main servant one day.

Abandoned Gods

The contradictory nature mentioned above in regards to Ana is shared with all the gods we meet in the anime as well. Even the beasts of humanity have this conflicted feeling albeit the things they're conflicted on differ.

Tiamat in particular having the worst case of it by far. She's become a beast of humanity but she's original a primordial goddess. A dragon from which the primordial sea sprang.

She's trying to destroy humanity to keep it, she doesn't want her "children" (aka all life) to abandon her again. Knowing that and her true fate within this universe makes it arguably more tragic than the mythology of her murder via Marduk.

And to give you context of that I need to elaborate a bit on the planet.

The planet itself is a sentient being and in a rough sense humanity is it's progeny. The end goal of human evolution, as seen by Gilgamesh via his clairvoyance, is leaving the planet for the stars.

This growing separation from nature and man is the reason that the Counterforce even exists. As humans grow they become more at odds with the planet thus the Earth has two predominant forces.

"Gaia" who is the planet's will and "Alaya" the collective will of man. However, there was only originally "Gaia" and as the planet took shape so too did beings to shape it.

The oldest I know of is Ea. Yes THE Ea from Mesopotamian mythology. Ea shaped the world only for Tiamat and her husband to come after and seed life into the world he shaped.

So yes, when Gilgamesh boasts that his sword split the heaven's and earth he's being literal. Gil's sword of rupture is quite literally Ea's "sword" he used in those early days of creation.

What makes this a tragedy is that Tiamat, Ea, and Abzu predate death. They cannot kill Tiamat in the anime because she does not know the concept of death. She is truly immortal.

When Tiamat and Abzu's job was done they were chucked back into the void. Tiamat has been in Imaginary Number Space this entire time. No, I'm not explaining Imaginary Number Space. It's a concept bordering on zero. (complicated)

In this sense, once Tiamat was dethroned by Marduk she was just left to her own devices in the void all alone and I find that incredibly fucked up.

That gives her no right to just wipe out all life but that level of used and abused is wrong.

I legitimately felt bad for Tiamat here because I knew this expanded backstory. She wants to cling to humans in an unhealthy way since she's now a beast but at her core that is because her love as a mother is boundless. A facet of her that is true in IRL myths as well, in our myths she killed her husband for her children's sake.

I also found the anime did the final exchange with Tiamat much better because it boils down to a normal man and the mother of life. She asks him what she did wrong but he can't answer that.

Fujimaru can't answer that for her, all he can do is thank her for bringing life to the planet and say goodbye. It's so sad....

The planet wasn't even kind to her here. I mentioned Gaia and Alaya earlier, well the Throne of Heroes is originally something they use. Alaya is also known as "the Counterforce".

Summoning heroes as servants is a human ritual but the basis for it is what Alaya does when the mankind or the planet is in danger. One of those core dangers are the beasts of humanity.

The whole reason Hassan appeared is because the conditions for that were right. Hassan was sent to that era as a Grand Assassin to instill the concept of death into Tiamat. The planet itself was making sure that she truly died here.

Other Goddesses

Now I gush about Tiamat due to some bias but truthfully this abandonment issue is felt by several other gods as well. Quetzalcoatl does not seem to peeved yet she also pushes for people to do their best. "If you want to survive show it to me" in a sense.

Ishtar and Ereshkigal are heavily influenced by Rin Tohsaka's personality so it's hard for me to say how much of what they say is their true feelings. Given how Ishtar is said to behave in Fate/Strange Fake I'd wager her true feelings aren't represented.

Ereshkigal however I think is. She states that she thinks it's okay for people to blame what they don't know on the gods but she only says this because she knows that the age of gods is ending.

Soon man will seek answers for their issues and not gods for comfort or scapegoats. She'll be abandoned and she's yet to even truly enjoy their presence.

I'll admit, I felt a bit of pity and attachment for Ereshkigal as well. She just wants out of the cosmic basement and it's so sad that she can't. She did not choose to be there and as a goddess of death humans have nothing but fear of her.

She cages souls for centuries for a semblance of companionship.

Out of all the silly things the game did to make servants faun over Fujimaru it was only Ereshkigal's scenes that I believed due to this. She, very badly, pretends to be Ishtar to have talks with Fujimaru.

They're cute in the anime but I liked the games version of these moments more since the conversations were more frequent and longer. I could easily believe that she's grown attached to him.

Hell, I even found it funny when Ishtar was asking Mash things about the MC due to how obvious Ereshkigal is about her feelings.

And while many a Fate fan will gush over that due to some...questionable self insert delusions I found it cute for her but endearing. She's never had a human not cower in fear of her let alone one talk to her normally.

She so desperately wants a friend that I hope she escaped her cosmic basement once Kur disappeared to the reverse side of the world.

She so desperately wanted love that I fully feel that her feelings as a goddess against humans made sense. If the gods era truly ends she may be forever alone.

Let's rapid fire shall we?

This too has gotten quite long but I don't have it in me to make a part three so I'll gush about smaller things I enjoyed.

Such as Ishtar. I thought I'd have a bigger segment on her but she's basically just Rin that flies. My biggest impression was;

"The fact that Ishtar can be bought off with jewelry is by far the funniest thing Rin did to her personality."

And that still stands. I loved her character to be blunt, she was entertaining and she had some amazing scenes. The animation of her shooting Venus as a noble phantasm is gorgeous.

I also love how both Ishtar and Ereshkigal suffer from Rin's "girl failure" moments. But, again, that's due to Rin. Rin's mentality is...well it is what it is but what it is is such a perfect match for Ishtar they meld in a good way.

You could say the same about Ereshkigal, I know, but Ishtar isn't trapped in a cosmic dungeon for eternity. That backstory gave Ereshkigal ever the slightest bit more uniqueness to her character.

Also, fun fact, this Ishtar couldn't find her bull of heaven because the real Ishtar summoned it. So in a weird way Fate/Strange Fake had an affect on the FGO timeline.

Quetzalcoatl my throttle

She was an amusing character. I found nothing too stand out but nothing offensive. She did however have some of the best fight chorography in the anime and her noble phantasm was hands down the best one.

She drops kicks with the force of the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs. Just put that into perspective, she is kicking with the force of a meteor. A meteor that wiped out most of the life on earth.

And before anyone asks, Quetzalcoatl is a woman because the Mesoamerican gods in Fate's lore were parasites that took on hosts. They were deified over time and this female form is simply Quetzalcoatl's latest host.

No, I will not comment on the voice. The poor accent is a part of the charm and I will die on that hill!

Hassan the Goat!

Between the sixth and seventh singularities in both game and anime form I have come to respect the beast that is Hassan I. This man is to be feared.

He made a primordial goddess aware of death. He even beheaded Ozymandias before he was even aware Hassan was in the room.

I also like that we got to see a grand servant being summoned in the intended way.

Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and Kingu

I won't make too long a segment on Gilgamesh since I'd really like to do a post on him one day. I haven't yet simply because I haven't seen his depiction in the Extra timeline and I'd love to see Strange Fake.

He's a complex character and the later entries seem to lessen the bastard you'll see in Fate/Stay Night to a degree.

But I will say that I enjoyed seeing him alive and as the wise king of Uruk. I was also impressed by the sheer magical power he had to summon several servants in a means closer to how they're meant to be summoned.

None of the man-made ritual used by a grail war or Chaldea.

The dynamic between Gil and Kingu was interesting though. Fuel for that eventual Gilgamesh post in the future.

Technically, Enkidu doesn't appear in this story however that bond he has with Gilgamesh is so profound that it affects Kingu and it's interesting to see how Gilgamesh treats Kingu due to it.

It is also through Kingu that we see how the citizens of Uruk felt about Enkidu. It really paints this beautiful relationship that's hidden just off screen. Still, Kingu was never truly his own being at the end.

That also goes to show just how powerful Enkidu's own persona was. Enkidu may have seen themselves as just a weapon and disputed it when told otherwise by others but that fact alone proves it to be true.

Enkidu was far more than a tool otherwise their influence wouldn't have been so great. Sadly, Kingu could only be more than a tool when fighting against Tiamat.

Siduri deserved better

That dynamic also made me curious about Siduri. When I was playing Samurai Remnant Gil says her name once and between the game and this anime I got a real glimpse of a person truly close to Gilgamesh.

He may deny that and Merlin isn't wrong when he says Gilgamesh only sees value in what humans make but there are exceptions to every rule.

He didn't necessarily value her as highly as Enkidu but I do believe that on some level Gilgamesh valued her as a person.

Her fate as a lahamu was just heartbreaking. I didn't even realize it when playing the game....

Conclusions and other things

All in all I really enjoyed the anime and the games story. Probably far more than I could squeeze into either of the two posts I made. I'm sure I'll be kicking myself for forgetting to add something later.

(like the passive aggressive banter between merlin and romani)

Get mad that I didn't elaborate on something as much as I had intended.

(such as Ushi and Benki)

Still, I'll stop here. I can't write anything else, my brains fried.

I loved this story and I'm sad so much of the anime will lose impact when the mobile game eventually shuts down. Bye for now~

========================

For my other experiences with Fate go here: https://derekscorner.tumblr.com/tagged/fated-rantings

#fgo #fated rantings #fate grand order #fate babylonia

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lukedanger · 6 months ago

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6, 9, 11, and 23 for the WOTR mechanics asks?

For Elaina:

6: What about their skills - what story is told by their skill and feat selection, or was it pure gameplay?

Between 14 INT, being human, and Fast Learner, Elaina had a full spread on Persuasion (her primary skill) and both Lore and Knowledge skills, with (Mythic) Skill Focus in Persuasion. She had a formal education in rhetoric, particularly as part of the Order of Heralds where she used it to challenge overzealous Inquisitors or to help get the minor orders working together. While not a full time scholar, she was extremely well read thanks to her upbringing and education at the abbey, which served to inform the rhetoric she used.

In terms of feats, Elaina going down Dazzling Display, Cornugon Smash, and Shatter Defenses was meant to build on her high CHA and Persuasion during combat. Story wise I see it as where she dips into the ‘Angel of Retribution’ branch of the Angel mythic path, putting the fear of Iomedae into those Abyssal bullies. The rest of her feat distribution I did not have a specific story behind, other than playing on her being in more of a supporting role such as Extend Spell to pair with the angel spellbook or Selective Channel later on to lean into Holy Champion maximizing CPE.

9: How does their Background choice reflect their character, and how does it play into their build?

Healer was more or less why Elaina’s archetype was Hospitaller instead of the standard Paladin or Divine Scion. Build wise, it was also so that she could add her INT bonus to Lore skills rather than using her average WIS. This being bundled under ‘Oblate’ also gave me the idea of her being raised at an Iomedean abbey.

11: How does their mythic path synergize with their build?

Angel naturally synced up well with being a paladin, as it gave Elaina a wider pool of defensive spells to cast on the party (particularly once the communal wards unlock), and Sword of Heaven stacks with Weapon Bond. By the end game, between both Elaina may not be using fancy techniques but when her sword connects it hits hard.

Bolt/Storm of Justice was flashy, devastating (especially with a maximize rod), and also just super fun to use, but ultimately didn’t really sync up with the way she fights.

23: What units did they pick in the Military Council (Infantry, Archers, Cavalry, Spellcasters, Grand Tier), and why?

Infantry - Conscripts. The idea was that they reflected the pragmatic reality of Mendev and the Fifth Crusade’s situation: this is an existential war that has gone on for nearly a century, and the rest of Avistan is (mostly) using the Crusades as a dumping ground for undesirables. Mendev can’t afford to turn those recruits away, especially now that they’re on the offensive and need more bodies to cover more ground.

Mechanically, they also are just absurdly over-tuned: four times the HP of Champions and twice that of Spearmen, only one less AC than Shieldbearers, and only a third/half the infirmary space of those two. For infantry they give really good bang for your finance points without instantly filling your infirmary when something glares angrily at them.

Archers - Marksmen. While conscripts were needed for numbers, with ranged troops vetting quality would pay more dividends as using warbows requires strength and training. Peasants with self-bows or slings would just not do the necessary damage to hurt demons past dretches or babaus. Besides, anyone who wanted to be an archer but couldn’t could be funneled into the infantry afterwards. Rangers were also a viable option, but those specialists were needed for scouting, screening, and skirmishing rather than pitched engagements. Thus, Marksmen.

If Odan had suggested crossbowmen instead of slingers (which would have actually fit the argument he presents), those probably would have been picked on similar grounds to Conscripts. Crossbows compensate for all the issues of using a warbow without training, even if they still need some.

Cavalry - Paladins. It’s not an Iomedean campaign without these righteous warriors and their sheer survivability. Their job of course was to directly engage the nastiest demons and keep them off of the bulk troops, being uniquely equipped for both jobs between Smite Evil and Lay on Hands.

Spellcasters - War Priests. Mechanically, spellcasting tanks that can also heal much like paladins, drawing damage towards a unit that can take it. Story wise, the idea was that they would support the bulk infantry and help them through alive with divine magic.

Also, it felt like a natural evolution of recruiting Priests as “mercenary” units in the first half of the game.

Grand Tier - Dragonslayers. In this case, it was looking to ensure they had specialists who could bring down large demons that were being deployed increasingly often as they closed on Threshold, and to have them as instructors for training troops. The Knights of Ozem would fill many of these roles as well, but they both have their duties in Lastwall and by this point the demons’ undead forces like their ghouls have been eradicated.

[Link to Ask List]

#ask game #pathfinder wotr #wotr commander #oc: knight-commander elaina #thanks for asking!

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your-divine-ribs · 7 months ago

Text

Pure Part 5: Dream

Words: 3k

Pure Masterlist Main Masterlist

I'm falling... or floating... or something in between. Caught up in soft satin sheets that wrap themselves silkily around my limbs.

"You are the most beautiful and precious thing I have ever seen."

I turn my head to the source of the voice and I smile. He's beautiful. His eyes are so blue, not blue like the sky but blue like the ocean, the clearest aquamarine sun-dappled sea. It's soft and warm here under the sheets, naked limbs tangling and entwining. Soft lips whispering sweet praises, kissing, dragging over my skin, making me shiver. Strong, firm hands trace my waist, my stomach, my hips, my thighs. Pulling me closer, needy, bruising touches. Bodies sliding softly against each other. The kiss of skin on skin, featherlight, soothing caresses. I'm drowning in a sea of sensations and it's so blissful that I feel myself letting go... surrendering to Him...

My eyes flick open as I blink against the harshness of the early morning light and I sit bolt upright immediately. I clutch the duvet closely and protectively to my chest as my eyes dart wildly around. I'm in my bedroom at home, familiarity flooding all of my senses but that doesn't make me feel at ease. My mind is reeling, half of it caught up in the vividness of my sensual dream, the other half still dwelling in St Mary's church, vulnerable and frightened, pressed up against the altar by a demonic entity masquerading as a man.

I don't understand. The last thing I remember is Van's warm body pushed up flush against mine, his breath hot on my neck, his whispered words hypnotic and mesmerising in my ear. It was real... so fucking real, the memories sharp and vibrant. I can recall it all in high clarity vivid technicolour like I'm watching a HD movie in my head but how can it be? How can I remember it so vividly yet I don't remember getting home and getting into my own bed? I close my eyes and I can actually hear the deep timbre of his voice licking into my ears, I can feel the heat of his breath fanning over my skin and the cool softness of his touch on my cheek. Tiny hairs at the nape of my neck stiffen and goosebumps break out all over my body in response to the memory and I shiver.

If it did happen... how the fuck did I get back home? Did I manage to run away and I was so frightened and overwhelmed that my brain just blocked it all out? Or did Van make sure I got home safe? Maybe he walked me back...

What the hell Eve? He said he was a fucking demon... he's not going to be politely walking you back home and kissing you on the doorstep like a bloody first date is he? He's more likely to be ravishing you on the altar and then casting your soul into the fires of hell for all eternity!

I'd probably laugh at the absurdity of my thoughts if I wasn't so bewildered and confused.

Despite how real it all felt I'm starting to suspect that I may have dreamt some, if not all of it up. I mean it's just too crazy, too far-fetched, too fantastical to be real... isn't it? Even though I believe in God and heaven and hell and good and evil I don't believe that there are real life living and breathing demons walking the earth right now looking for souls... and silly bedroom entity-evoking rituals involving blood and candles and chants definitely don't work! It's probably all a product of my over-active imagination. When I was a little girl I used to dream up all sorts of weird and wonderful scenarios in my head as an escape from the mundane boredom of real life. Mythical creatures and faraway fantasy lands, hidden treasure and beautiful princes and princesses and brave heroic warriors. I could easily get lost in my own head and the intricacies of the convoluted stories I would concoct, I always had my head in the clouds. Just because I was an adult now it didn't mean that I'd forgotten how to dream.

I shift in bed, pulling my knees up and hugging them to my chest, letting my mind wander back to the beginning of the evening and slowly walking through the whole series of events, looking for some sort of anomaly where real life halted and my dream may have taken over. Freya and I getting ready and doing that silly finger-pricking thing with the candle... that was real enough. I glance over to my dressing table to see the candle exactly where we'd left it, Freya's lighter propped up on the little dish that it sits on. I pull down the duvet around my waist to reveal that I'm still wearing my baby pink sundress. So we definitely went out... not that I doubt that we did, it's the events that happened in and after the bar that I can't fully trust occurred. I'm starting to fret that maybe I got so drunk that I blacked out in the bar and Freya had to bundle me into a taxi and then tuck me into bed. And if my parents saw me in that state...

I groan out loud, drawing the bed-sheets aside to slide out of bed in search of my handbag and my phone to call Freya. That's when I notice the smoothness of my legs. There's no cuts or grazes and no dried blood, not even a tiny bruise to show the injuries I sustained when I fell outside the bar. I raise up my palms and they're the same as before, unblemished flesh with no broken skin. I extend my left leg completely out of bed and cautiously rotate my foot and there's no pain at all, not even a twinge even though I can distinctly remember the sharp pains that shot up my leg last night after I'd twisted my ankle on the loose paving stone. I'd barely been able to walk. I'm more confused than ever now. It's starting to look more and more like I never actually left the bar on my own. If that's the case then maybe I never even met Van, maybe I dreamed him up too. I should be feeling relieved but I can't help the little niggle of disappointment that lingers unwelcomely.

Oh shit...

From out of nowhere a frightening memory impinges on my thoughts and this one is too real to be disregarded as fantasy. I recall the disgusting creep who was trying to force me to drink the bitter-smelling drink that he'd bought me. How insistent and intimidating he'd been. What if I'd gone ahead and drank it after all and not remembered? I distinctly remember the feel of the cool glass touching my lips. What if that's what made me black-out? All the crazy shit that happened last night seemed to start from that point so it's definitely feasible. Cold dread coils in the pit of my belly as I try to dredge my thoughts but all I can remember is Van coming to my rescue.

A dark shadow flickering past my bedroom window catches my attention and I whip my head around to catch sight of a flurry of black feathers. Distracted, I jump up out of bed and make my way quickly over to the window. My curtains are only partially drawn so I can clearly see the window ledge beyond. I love birds and I've set up a little makeshift bird-table to try and tempt them to the ledge. It's certainly working today. Sitting there basking in the rays of the early morning sun is a rather majestical looking raven. He's gorgeous, his glossy plumage iridescent in the sunlight as he stretches out his wings and cocks his head, fixing me with a beady-eyed stare like he's not at all perturbed at being in such close quarters with a human. I'm just about to open up my window when there's a sharp rap on my bedroom door and without warning it pushes open and my mum bustles into the room holding the cordless handset of our landline.

"Morning Eve, Freya's on the phone for you," she announces and I'm just about to admonish her for walking in without waiting for a reply when I see her gaze falling behind me to the window and she's darting forward to tap harshly on my window pane, shooing the poor raven away.

"Mum... what are you doing? I like the birds visiting!" I snatch the phone out of her hand, annoyed.

Her face darkens in distaste. "Don't you know it's bad luck to cross paths with a raven? They're harbingers of death! You shouldn't be encouraging them."

"That's just a silly superstition!" I grumble, and she just shakes her head, turning to leave. My attention's now taken with speaking to my friend anyway, eager to try and piece together exactly what happened last night.

"Eve! Oh my god are you okay? What happened to you last night? Did you just take off and leave? I couldn't find you anywhere!"

Freya's voice comes shrill and frantic-sounding down the phone as soon as I utter a 'hello' and my sense of unease increases as it becomes plainly obvious that I didn't come home with her last night.

"I'm okay... really... I'm fine," I say as she witters on in the background, and I only get her to stop by repeating myself loud and clear. "I said I'm fine Freya!"

"But where the hell did you go? One minute you were chatting to some guy and the next you were gone! Completely disappeared! I tried calling you and it kept going to answerphone. That's when I noticed you'd left your bag and your jacket behind... I've got them by the way," she adds quickly, hardly pausing for a breath.

"I had to leave, some creepy guy was hitting on me and then another guy came over and he was just acting crazy weird..."

"But why didn't you come over to me?" She cuts me off, her voice high-pitched and upset. "What did you do? Just walk out? For God's sake Eve, you shouldn't be walking around the city at night on your own, especially not round there! It just proves how dangerous it is with what happened last night!"

I'm feeling stressed enough at the fact that my movements last night are still a mystery but her last line grabs my attention. "Why? What happened last night?" Freya goes quiet, a little gasp emanating down the line like she's struggling to suppress a sob. "What's up? Are you okay? You're not crying are you?"

There's a muffled sniffle before she speaks. "It was horrible. I know I shouldn't have been snooping but when I overhead mum and dad talking this morning I couldn't resist sneaking into dad's study... and I wasn't expecting it to be that bad."

"What are you taking about? What was horrible?" My insides are jangling with unease now. Freya's not easy to shock or upset. She goes through life with such a carefree and cavalier attitude that I know whatever's happened has got to be bad. Her dad's a detective inspector in the police force and she's been reprimanded many a time for rifling through files in his private study.

"Well, go on then... tell me," I urge when she's not forthcoming, instantly regretting it when she drops the bombshell that makes me feel like someone has just tipped a bucket of ice over me.

"It happened at the bar last night, the bar where we were. There was a murder. Fuck... I saw the crime scene photo, it was just lying there on dad's desk. The guy was mutilated, his eyes were gone, they'd been gouged out. His tongue'd been cut out too... and the state of his neck... oh my god it was horrific... the worst thing I've ever seen..."

Her words trail off into groans of disgust but I've stopped listening anyway. I'm in freefall, back pressed against my bedroom wall as I slowly slide down to the floor, one hand clapped firmly over my mouth to stem the muffled cries that are desperate to break free. I know instinctively without even asking for further information that I'm somehow indirectly involved with this grisly murder but I ask anyway, my intrigue overriding my better judgement.

"So... who was he?" I ask fearfully, pressing the phone harder against my ear. "The guy? The one who got killed?"

"I recognised him straight away!" She blurts. "He was there last night, standing by the bar right next to us. He was really tall... bloody massive... and nasty looking too. I can just remember him as he couldn't take his eyes off you, he was looking at you like he was some kind of pervert... and he was!"

She practically cries out the last line and before I can react to what she's saying she's continuing, every revelation making the dread that's churning inside my gut sink deeper and deeper.

"There was a file on him right there, he was already known to the police. Some girl was attacked at the bar just last week and he'd been called in for questioning. It was horrible, they found her out the back, half naked and barely conscious. She'd been drugged or something and she was so far gone she couldn't remember anything. He really messed her up."

"Shit... that's terrible," I mutter, shuddering as I try to comprehend that I could easily have been the subject of a police report this morning.

"Yeah, and it wasn't the first accusation either. There were more going back months but they just couldn't get anything to stick. The victims were always too out of it to identify him but he was always there at the scene. It must've been him, the sick bastard, I just know it. He was a fucking predator."

There's silence for a moment as Freya quietly fumes and I reach up to grasp my crucifix pendant. I'm chanting a silent prayer to God for sparing me even though an intrusive voice in my head is telling me that there's someone else I should be thanking. I can't allow myself to think like that though... to be grateful for his intervention. The fact remains that a man is still dead, brutally murdered in a despicable way and there's a very likely suspect. It doesn't matter what that awful man did, no one deserves such a hideous and painful death.

"I just can't stop thinking about how he could have attacked you," Freya sobs. "As soon as I found out what happened this morning I was so worried, I just automatically thought the worst. Thank god you're okay." She pauses, cautious-sounding. "You are okay aren't you? You've still not told me how you got home..."

I have no fucking idea...

I consider telling Freya. The words are there on the tip of my tongue but I just can't seem to get them out. And what would I say anyway?

Oh, well I was nearly the dead guy's next victim, but I got rescued... and my knight in shining armour actually turned out to be a demon! He followed me to the church and told me he'd come to take my soul!

Yeah, that would sound very plausible. I don't even believe it myself so why would anyone else?

"I just walked home, that's all. You looked so loved up I didn't want to disturb you and that place was freaking me out so much I just left. There's nothing more to tell. I know I shouldn't have done it but it doesn't matter now does it, ‘cause I'm fine."

Maybe if I keep saying 'I'm fine' enough times I might actually will it to be so.

Freya tuts loudly down the line. "Disturb me? That's ridiculous! Eve, you gotta promise me you'll never do anything like that again. We gotta look out for each other, okay? Sisters remember?"

Despite everything a small smile finds it's way to my lips. "Yeah, sisters," I murmur.

"Good." She sounds satisfied. "But I'm still coming to see you. You're working today aren't you?"

"Uh-huh, I'll be there. I'm working all day, gotta be there to open the store up at 9 as Jake's away today. I'll be on my own so the company'll be good."

I've been contemplating calling in sick but I hate letting my boss down and I figure the distraction will do me good anyway. My mind's still in turmoil and I know I'll only drive myself mad if I'm sitting around at home trying to make sense of the past twelve crazy hours. I'm just about to say goodbye and hang up but Freya starts speaking again, her tone pleading.

"Just don't tell your mum and dad anything... please. My dad would go ballistic if he knew we were at The Inferno. I thought I was fucked when they nearly caught me sneaking back in at 6am..."

So she did go home with Benji then.

"And it's not only that," she continues. "We'd be witnesses! They'll be wanting to speak to everyone who was at the bar last night. I can't face all that."

"But if it's a criminal investigation..." I start but she cuts me off sharply.

"The guy's dead Eve! It's over, he can't hurt any more girls. What's the use in us getting caught up in all that shit and getting into trouble? I don't actually care who did it anyway, I think whoever it was did the world a favour ridding it of that piece of shit!"

"Freya!" I cry. I know she's only saying what most people who hear about the case will think, but I can't be so blasé about the end to a human life, no matter how bad the sin. And it's not just the fact that he was murdered, it's the way that he was killed. Whoever did it wanted to make sure he suffered in agony until his last breath.

What sort of person would do something like that?

The fact that I already know chills me through and I know this is far from over.

#pure #van mccann fanfic #au fanfic #vanfic

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rich-apple · 4 months ago

Text

For The Mythical Maybe Trumpers Out There

October 14, 2024

There is an alleged mythical creature out there. We can call this mythical creature a "Maybe Trumper." So though I don't think this mythical creature exists, I'm writing this to them. "Never Trumpers" and "Trumpers" are welcome to read along, if only for shits and giggles.

Casting your November 2024 vote for Donald Trump is like letting out a silent fart in a crowded room. You may not mind it, but it's going to make it really bad for everyone else.

For those who are absolutely not voting for Trump, my bad news is that as crazy as it seems, Trumpers I somewhat know - actual people with functioning brains - are still going to vote for him. They are busy posting stupid misinformation memes on social media, or maybe simply making brief comments that indicate they are still in the Trump camp. Sure, lots of high ranking Republicans and generals are loudly proclaiming they won't vote for Trump, including many who worked for and with him. But people I know and am aware of? He hasn't lost any of them!

So… Vote! Uh, that is, if you're going to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

I would be curious to hear exactly what it is that Trumpers or Maybe Trumpers hear when he's on a stage at a podium. Broadcasting live on tv or the internet or if you're there in person, do you just turn your brain off and let him ramble on, saying stuff that makes no sense? Or so many things that are just outright lies? You'd vote for a guy like that?

Basically, if you remember back to when you were in school, you probably didn't like the spoiled rich kid in your class. That's who Trump is. Do you like bullies? That too is what Trump is? Braggarts? Again, Trump is.

He puts himself on a pedestal, repeats repeats repeats all these claims (genius, physical and mental fitness, that he alone can fix this or that), and it's like some dumb-ass tv commercial - brand name repeated over and over and that it is the best… And so it must permeate into many people's heads.

If you would even consider voting for Trump, then chances are you're a Republican. But have you noticed how many prominent Republicans are supporting Harris, some just to not be supporting Trump? Likewise many who were a part of his White House, including some who didn't turn away from him until the very day he turned away from the truth, as it was presented to him from within his own team, that he indeed did lose the 2020 election.

Do you think the 2020 election was stolen and the populace (and the electoral college) actually voted Trump in? Well the first and foremost reason Don The Con started that was because he is a narcissist and would never admit that he lost. He set up the 2016 election to do the same thing, saying it would be rigged, etc. The 2020 election, the same. 2024? He's doing it again. His starting the denial that he lost in 2020 turned into a huge, ongoing moneymaker and incited an insurrection attempt on January 6th, 2021. But just his narcissism alone would be enough to keep him promoting the stolen election lie.

Now that lie and all the new ones aimed to get him elected again are still first about his ego and narcissism, and keeping him from facing punishment for crimes of which he's already been convicted, and those still being adjudicated, is either second or third. The other second or third reason he's continuing the lie is to get back into office and turn it into an authoritarian position so he can be like Putin, Kim Jong Un and other political strongmen he so admires.

Are you a Christian? Well then what the hell? Your guy Jesus ministered to poor slaves of the Roman Empire. He was about helping the poor and unfortunate. Trump doesn't have a Christian bone in his entire obese body. He'll hug the flag. He'll hold up the Bible. But he doesn't love this country or believe anything in the Bible. He's a narcissist who is only out for himself. And he plays that by saying anything he needs to whether it's an absolute lie or not. Every word out of his mouth adds up to "Trump is great."

I would really like people who know me and are considering voting for Donald Trump (or are absolutely going to) to read this and follow what I'm saying. Agree with or not, but just understand what I'm trying to say.

You may be a kind of reconnected friend from Facebook who I haven't been close to for many years, and then you probably already know that I'm fairly liberal, or in the vernacular of those who would possibly vote for Trump, a "Libtard." (I think that slang is kind of funny because it boldly bucks current thoughts on decency around words we shouldn't use, such as "retard," and at the same time seems to want to say liberals are stupid.)

My main point here does address the very thing that term underscores, and that is the division in our country today into the two distinct camps. Of course there are varying shades of either, but it sure seems one is either completely on one side, or completely on the other. And each side has its particular news stations, internet sites, radio and tv commentators who supply super positive feedback for their side. Idealogical Biofeedback, if you will.

From the liberal side we get a stereotype of the Trump voter as a barely middle-class man who will loudly exclaim that he hates Obamacare but loves his ACA (Affordable Care Act) insurance coverage. Or similarly, a woman wearing a t-shirt that states "He can grab my pussy anytime."

From the "extreme right" view (I say "extreme right" to distinguish what is now considered conservative from what old-school fiscal conservatives used to be) liberals are being portrayed as super sensitive, easily offended and caring too much what other people think. Perhaps that is what is intended when the word "woke" is used, rather than its real meaning according to Merriam Webster: aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).

So of course either stereotype does not allow either side to see each other clearly. People are individuals, each with particular views on this or that, and too many times I've found on social networking pages people telling me what I think and how wrong I am. Not because I said that was what I think, but because the stereotype of a liberal thinks such.

I know people who think quite the opposite of me in terms of Donald Trump, and no, they are not stupid and unthinking. I think they are wrong and they think I am wrong, but if you are one such friend, I'm hoping you can fill in some missing pieces for me.

First, I'll honestly tell you that I think there is some real propaganda that has gone on for many years now that led you to a world-view (maybe nation-view is more appropriate) where a "celebrity" like Trump can come along, check all the boxes for that nation-view, and seem like the perfect candidate. And when I say "check all the boxes" I don't mean to imply that you agree with all those boxes - everyone is unique - but still you see that nation-view as close enough to yours to consider voting for Trump.

Example: You may be someone who is very open and in favor of diversity and not at all prejudiced against other races or nationalities. But to support Trump don't you have to ignore it when he shows and says how he won't reject the support of a David Duke (KKK guy) or risk insulting white supremacists at the Charlottesville rally by concluding (after the violence tore the event apart) that there were good people on both sides?

So white supremacist racism might be a box Trump checks for some, but that's not a box you need to, or want to, have checked. More than likely, you don't see Trump as having a check in that racism box. But is it not true that people who would want that box checked would see it as checked, and those are votes he will most likely get? If you ignore that box, you're voting with them.

It's possible you take Trump at his word that he's not racist at all, or as he puts it, the most un-racist person who ever lived. (Or something like that. PS: His history and things that he says do check that (yes, racist) box for him.)

I cannot imagine people I know who might vote for Trump to blindly believe everything he says. If you like him you probably listen to him, and if you listen to him much at all you know that he says lots and lots of things, and in that much of what he says - especially at rallies - is said to get cheering reactions from the crowd. So yes, some things he says contradict other things he says (sometimes in nearly the same sentence) or things he has done. (PS: I'm sure those cheering crowds are his biggest reward from all of this.)

I get that if you don't listen to him speak for lengths of time and only hear sound-bites used by right-wing supportive media, the spoon-feeding of Trump can miss his less-than-logical statements. Or sometimes non-sensical. (What is it with his using the Hannibal Lector references? Is that a right-wing dog whistle of some kind? Code for something to Proud Boys or QAnon faithfuls?) Those various "news" presenters are editing along and often must say, "Oops, no not that one. Cognitive decline totally showing."

I do realize there's probably nothing I can write that will change anybody's mind. I think in 2016 Trump got a lot of people to vote for him because he was running against government, and many people who barely paid attention to politics got very interested.

My dislike of Trump goes back to the '70s, mainly because one of our housemates was from the east coast and paid lots of attention to the news and we were all such California surf-happy tree-huggers that this real estate developer in New York who played the celebrity card as "The Donald" who would be such a catch for women and kind of strutted like some kind of mogul was simply disgusting. Celebrity for celebrity's sake? Like Paris Hilton or something?

But when the unthinkable happened and he won the presidency in 2016, though I very much voted against him, I had an inkling of hope that he'd stop and say "Whoa" and realize how much he'd need to gather smart people (policy analyst professors?) because he now had a job very much not in his wheelhouse. To my mind, however, he just immediately did the opposite and jumped in with choices for the transition team that included those very much from deep in the "swamp" he so promised to drain. So I lost that tiny dribble of hope right away. And further and further along, he simply became the open door for the most extreme right wing policies.

Now remember, the main intended audience for what I'm writing here are people who have followed along as "conservative" beliefs and policies became more and more extreme. For instance, guns. I doubt any old conservatives where so fired-up (pun intended) about gun rights to the point of insisting the 2nd amendment meant that weapons of war such as assault rifles (i.e. AK47) could and should be owned by the citizenry.

Ironies? Commies. Pinkos. The people really buying into the extreme right wing rhetoric somehow equate liberals with communism. And yet Trump admires Putin, Kim Jong Un, and Xi Jinping. True, what he admires are autocracies and not really "communism."

My philosophy degree has to show a bit here. Though the U.S.S.R. had a "Communist Party," it was not really communism as a political system. Authoritarian, Autocracy… A severely split class society where people were either in the party and well off, or not in the party and standing in lines… But I digress.

Huge ironies can be found when it comes to Christianity. I do love the old bumper sticker that says "The Christian Right is Neither." There is a Christian Nationalist movement now that wants to tear down the constitutional barrier between religion and government. Perhaps the goal is to make our "Freedom of Religion" to be "Freedom to be whatever Christian Religion you want to be."

I was raised Lutheran and understand the tenants of Christianity as I learned them, and embrace the overall teachings about how to be a good person and be good to others. But around the time of Reagan when the right wing first started sidling up to the Christian Religion faction in general to gain their votes, the hypocrisy kind of turned "Christian" into a label it never was. "Reagan's Right" attacked welfare and helping those who either started at the bottom and could never climb up, or those who lost at the game of Musical Chairs that Capitalism kind of sets up.

Conservatism at that point was much more about fiscal conservatism, and helping the less fortunate in society was an expenditure. So while Reagan pointed at the man dropped off downtown wearing worn clothes by his wife in a fancy car, and then picked up later for them to count their booty, the huge majority of the down-and-out were turned against. And if you can't see that what I described isn't the exact opposite of what Jesus taught, then you (imho) are missing the basic premise of your own stated "religion."

Irony that is likely not exactly "irony" is how those who follow, like, and support Trump, are very likely the people I would think would hate him. People who hated the spoiled rich kid in school. People who respect someone making it on their own. People who are proud of real work. And yet there he is, the silver spooner who received $413 million from his dad over time that got him started and continually helped him along when he didn't immediately find success.

You Trumpers somehow are hypnotized by his gift of gab (always packaged in very angry and insulting tones, or pitifully rude attempts at satire) that you no doubt believe him in a debate when he boldly says he did not get that much money, but the research and gathered evidence is out there, even showing that much of it was from from his father via dubious companies set up to avoid inheritance tax, etc.

It is okay, right, that I call Trump supporters "Trumpers?" And I'm happy to label myself a "Never Trumper." Just for convenience's sake.

So if you are super rich, then it would make sense for you to vote for Trump. He'll lower your taxes. Yes, to the detriment of the more average income earners and lower income workers in terms of depriving all the country's social needs. (Yes, we are a Social Democracy, and if we aren't, then why/how do we have all the public services and infrastructure we depend on. Fire departments, law enforcement, justice infrastructure and physical infrastructure of our nation? This many people living together has to be a society.)

************

So yes, I am fairly liberal. But conservatives ("Conservatives Classic" and "Conservatives Trump Era") please don't ignore this. Especially if you know me from somewhere (distant past, social media), I hope you have read this. And to add just a spot of humor, I do think all these words can save our country.

Though I've of course failed at being succinct, here are a few targeted attempts to get through to particular groups. Like a fun little game, see if you relate to any!

Memo to working or retired, not-so-wealthy Conservatives planning on voting for Trump: You're being conned. There are so many of us who "the right" paint all the same, mostly as socialists or super sensitive wimps, but in reality there are many sensible honest people who, like me, really really scratch our heads and wonder how anybody can like Trump. He sure seems like a babbling fool who lies with just about every sentence he utters. And the anger and being a mean bully? How do you not see that?

Memo to Super Rich Conservatives planning on voting for Trump: I get it. It's money and you'll get to keep more of yours and policies will likely help you make even more. If you can vote for Trump and not feel an inkling of guilt, well then either you buy into everything else about Trump - mostly stated by him about himself - or you don't really care about the vast majority of Americans who are not super rich. Or the environment. (Extra note to Conservative Classics who don't buy into all the angry and cray-cray aspects of the rhetoric, policies and beliefs: yes you've lost your party. The GOP has abandoned all you thought they stood for, and they are embracing Trump because fear, anger and cray-cray works on most of their voters.)

Memo to "Christians" planning on voting for Trump: I put "Christians" in quotes because of the many flavors of religions purporting to be based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, it's almost a special subcategory - likely pulling together recruits from many denominations. What used to be "The Christian Right," mostly coming about in the Reagan era, now seems to be "Christian Nationalism." For "The Christian Right" there was a great bumper sticker. "The Christian Right Is Neither." Anyway, while we need a new bumper sticker, I can tell any "Christians" that by voting for Trump you are voting for someone who doesn't at all follow any of the teachings of Jesus Christ. So you are being conned, too. And if you belong to a church or group where anyone says that our country should abandon its separation of church and state principles, then you're hearing from those who are against a founding principle of our nation. So maybe a bumper sticker saying "Christian Nationalism Is Neither" would work too.

Memo to those who are angry about government (and yes, our government is inherently crooked - based on legalized bribery, otherwise known as lobbying) and to whom Trump's attitude of disdain for our government and constant expression of anger and hate appeals: Don't go there. Don't say "Yes he's an asshole, but who do you want as president? A nice person or an asshole who will kick other country's butts?" Don't see mean as good, or bullying for anything other than what it is. And please please please don't see any true humor in Trump's snideness or version of insult comedy. How he dismissively insults someone or something he knows the crowd also sees as a bad person or thing with his conceited, flippant style, couched in his overall attitude of egotistical narcissism, just really turns my stomach. You want real sarcasm? Read Mark Twain. You want real insult humor? Watch old Don Rickles bits. Good sarcasm or insult humor comes from love and admiration, not from hate and bitterness.

Memo to everybody: Trump is too fucking old. He is way too thin-skinned. His brain is kaput (cognitively speaking, but also poorly wired), and if he becomes president, Vance will probably take his place soon, and that guy is an ass-licking tool with barely 2 years in congress. Also, if you are someone who can help vote out the total conspiracy theorists who are just an embarrassment to our country, please do. (Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert, Asshole Jim Jordan, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tommy Tuber-vile, Matt Gaetz… and yes, Mitch McConnell too.)

Thank You

#kamala harris #antitrump

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grimm-rider · 10 months ago

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Entry 31

I informed the others about the message I’d received from A’pul’la. We decided, given how spent we were from today’s events, it would be wise to spend some time in the Möbius Chamber. Considering the time difference in the room, Aenland asked me how many uses of Miracle I could use daily—my answer was apparently enough for him, as he decided to go buy some diamonds to expend as spell components, and then asked me to use my power to enhance his abilities. Nestian spent most of his time in the room reading one of those magical tomes we’d picked up to enhance his own abilities, but when he overheard Aenland’s plan he got in on it as well, asking me to help enhance his endurance. So I had my hands full the entire time we were resting. Which was probably for the best—less time to dwell on things with Keisuke, or on what might happen soon, meeting with some mythic powered Pharasman.

Edeya vanished for a few days by our perspective—she’d just popped out for a few minutes to buy something from her point of view. When she came back I gave myself a reprieve from casting for a bit to chat with her. She noted that I looked pensive, so I asked her—given how much thought she’d clearly put into it in recent months—what her thoughts on redemption were. It’s not something I’d ever put much thought into. I don’t normally care for that sort of thing—everyone makes their own choices in the end, for good or for ill. But one thing I’ve come to realize recently is that those choices aren’t made in a vacuum. The people around you—or lack thereof—affect the choices you’ll make. Change the circumstances, and you might completely change the outcome for the same person.

At least…that seems to be how it worked out for me.

Anyways. I asked Edeya for her thoughts on redemption. On what conclusions she’d come to. And, most importantly, whether she thought someone with no memories of what they’d done could actually redeem themselves. For the first part, Edeya said that redemption was hard—especially now—but not impossible. The person just had to sincerely want it and take action towards being better. As for the second part…she said I would know better than she would. She told me the reason I felt so uncomfortable thinking about this is because I was stepping into a philosophical debate, and at the heart of it was: are you the same person if you come back with no memory of your previous self? I told her that I’d always considered myself to be the same person, memories or no. The Grimm Rider is just the choices I made in different circumstances—that’s still me, still someone I was entirely capable of being.

But I think Edeya hit closer to the target than I let on. When I write about my past self, I talk about the Grimm Rider like another person, even though that’s still all me. When I think about the Grimm Rider I can’t help but think of ‘him’ instead of ‘me’. The Grimm Rider is like a story to me, distant, barely real. But that was me, even if I don’t remember it, I did all the things the Grimm Rider did. I would be entirely capable of being him, and had things gone differently I could have been that same person all over again.

I told Edeya that I am simply me, regardless of the circumstances that might change what that means, and I do believe that. She said I had my answer, then. I suppose I do. If I believe that of myself, then that would logically carry to Keisuke as well if I went through with this.

I’m finding fewer and fewer excuses not to go through with this. Part of me desperately wants to find a reason this is the wrong choice. Because then I wouldn’t have to give up the goals I’ve been reaching for from practically the very beginning. Mythic power, immortality. Safety from Pharasma’s grasp. Especially looking that in the face right now, knowing we’re about to be working with a Pharasman who could probably smite me with a thought…my every instinct screams to save myself, Keisuke be damned. And in my position, that’s certainly what he would do. I doubt it would even be a question.

I guess Nestian’s not entirely wrong about our differences.

I’m going to keep just going around in circles if I keep writing about it. I at least have a few more days to consider my options. Maybe more if we keep using Jadrenka’s nifty little time chamber.

Eventually we had to leave the chamber and return to our mission—only a few hours after we’d entered rather than days later. We made a beeline for the royal cemetery, with no Winter Witches or fungal monstrosities stopping us on the way. We should probably do something about Xanthadon sooner rather than later, with that rot encroaching on the city the way it is.

Not today, though.

We made it to the cemetery, where we saw a number of wraiths milling about, and two necromancers guarding the entrance to a grand mausoleum. They looked like chumps, as far as necromancers go, despite their ghostly apparitions.

We were prepared to strike—but someone else got there first. A dark streak fell from the sky like a bolt of dark lightning, landing before one of the wraiths. A scythe glinted in the dim light that shone through the clouds blanketing the sky. But the figure did not bring the blade down on the wraith. A second—much larger—streak fell from the sky, shaking the earth as it landed behind him. As the dust cleared, an enormous skeletal creature towered over the figure. It reached down, striking at the man—who I could now make out was a dusky purple tiefling with raven-like wings—but he barely flinched at the giant claws raking at him. Instead, he leapt into the air, using those wings that were clearly not just for decoration to fly straight up as he dragged the scythe along the creature’s midsection. He flipped in mid-air, then came hurtling back to the ground, before flaring his wings and landing safely.

Showoff.

The hulking creature’s bones crumbled in on themselves from the single slice, as effectively as if I’d used three Boneshatters on it at once.

In the back of my mind, I knew what this thing was, from some reading or encounter I’d had in my past. A tzittzimitl—an unimaginably powerful undead that can change positive energy to negative, shoot powerful eyebeams, and cause freezing eclipses. And this man had destroyed it with a single swing of his scythe.

I was getting another look at what Mythic Power was capable of.

There wasn’t time to gawk, though. Those other necromancers might have been c list at best, but they still had a bunch of wraiths surrounding us, and we had to deal with those to even get close to the crypt.

Even without some sort of mythic psychopomp-tiefling, we would have cleaned up the necromancers and their little spirits in no time. Really, is this the best Elvanna has in terms of necromantic power? Apparently I was the only actual talented magic user she had working for her, and with the Grimm Rider gone she has nothing but these bottom of the barrel flunkies.

Not that I’m complaining, of course. I’d just think the queen of a country could get some better help. Then again, we’ve probably killed most of her ‘better help’, and the rest probably don’t want to work for her because she’s a crazy bitch who’s trying to freeze the world.

All this is to say, we had no issues clearing out the necromancers and their pets. I definitely did not let on that I was, myself, a necromancer in front of the mythic demi-psychopomp who apparently works directly for Atropos. That’s in the strictly ‘need to know’ category, and for once my dear friends did not spill a secret within moments of meeting someone new—as much as I could tell Aenland desperately wanted to.

At the door of the crypt, Nestian resisted the urge to immediately knock at a closed door—only for this bird-man, who’d introduced himself as Corvus, to knock instead.

There was no response, and when Nestian and Corvus pushed the door of the mausoleum open we found the room beyond completely devoid of life. Which, I mean, it’s a crypt so I suppose that should be what one would expect to find. But given our luck usually there’s a monster crawling about, or a Winter Witch ambush, or something.

The others spotted a trap within an alcove with a door beyond it. Aenland shot an arrow into it, using his dispelling power to negate whatever magic was on it. Unfortunately, this seemed to set off some kind of alarm, because we immediately started hearing sounds coming from down below.

Then some woman dressed in strange clothes appeared, using what appeared to be Interplanetary Teleport—except whatever she had just done, it didn’t use magic. Only some sort of technology way beyond the scope of my knowledge.

The woman activated some sort of barrier around Corvus, then she disappeared with her mythic prisoner in tow.

So that was great. We come here to help stop a thing because a plant told us to, and some mythic asshole gets captured by an alien.

Sorry if I don’t sound like I was excited to go save a psychopomp-in-training from certain doom.

We ended up having to fight our way through a handful more enemies who ran up through the door that had been warded—but Talsune had been ready to strike anyone who entered, and between him and Aenland we made quick work of them.

We determined that we should head further into the catacombs. Even if the mythic psychopomp weren’t being held below, the enemies had clearly come up from there. And we still needed to stop the resurrection of a Crone Queen, with or without feather-boy’s help.

Down below we killed a skeletal dragon, then found ourselves in a chamber with a strange machine that was being tended to by more of those half-baked necromancers. And as luck would have it, the would-be psychopomp was hooked into the machine, being used as a power source or something.

We started killing the necromancers—and a ghost ship that had been placed within the underground reservoir of water around the catacombs. Well, I say water. Where the ghost ship touched, the water around it turned into blood. Honestly, pretty cool. If I had a place to keep a giant ship in Grimm Labyrinthus I’d have considered adding it to my collection. But as it was, it would just be a waste of my powers that could go towards more useful pets.

We’d fought through most of the necromancers when there was a horrible sound. It was like the machine was screaming. And then some big construct that had been wired to the machine stood, and the face of a Crone Queen appeared on the screen where its face should be. Not one we’d faced. This was Yelizaveta, who from what I gather had been destroyed some twenty years ago in the Veil of Frozen Tears, the same day Ilivorr had died.

She began attacking us, with a mix of her old Crone Queen magic and her new monstrous metal body.

And about that time, feathers decided to quit napping on the job and broke out of the machine. Not like we needed his help, we pretty much took care of the metal crone queen on our own.

After her destruction, some unusual letters came out of her, and vanished into a hole in the sky. I have…literally no idea what that could be.

Anyways, we parted ways with bird boy without any psychopomp related attempts to kill me, so that’s nice I guess.

Before resting, we decided to go to Baba Yaga and find out what we could about the strange hole in the sky we’d seen.

Baba Yaga was not willing to share that particular secret, but she said she was a fair Kindly Grandmother, so she would answer one other question, no matter what, without any subterfuge.

So we asked her about Tashanna. The queen who is absent, the only one we hadn’t faced as a Crone Queen.

Baba Yaga was extremely displeased that what we’d decided to ask was one of her greatest secrets. But a deal was a deal, and she wasn’t going to back out. So she told us the truth. The truth about Tashanna, and about irrisen as a whole.

Baba Yaga created Irrisen as an experiment. After seeing how things were where she was from, Earth, Russia, she wanted to create an experiment to see what it would take to cause a great rebellion that could topple a cruel and controlling empire. So she carved out a place for herself, killing and banishing the Mammoth Lords and anyone else to stood against her. And then she put her first daughter on the throne, and every hundred years she put a new daughter in the previous one’s place. And they were all icy and harsh rulers, all the better for Baba Yaga’s experiment.

But then there was Tashanna.

All of her other daughters had come quietly when their century of rule was over. They were either too afraid to stand up to her, or too ignorant to realize what Baba Yaga was doing to each queen who vanished into the Hut, never to be seen again.

Tashanna saw what her fate would be, and chose to defy it. She made a deal with a Demon Lord, and had an army of demons and frost giants to back her.

Her rebellion failed. Her entire branch of the bloodline was mercilessly killed by Baba Yaga in the Vale of Frozen Tears. Every follower she had—gone. But Tashanna did not share their fate. No, because Baba Yaga was impressed by what she had done. She had come the closest to making Baba Yaga’s experiment a success. And for that, she was not drained of her life like her sisters. She was left on an alien planet far from Golarian, to live out her life so long as she never returned.

So…that’s that. Irrisen has been nothing but a long game played by an immortal trickster.

I wasn’t terribly surprised myself. Not that I suspected something like this, but simply that it fit Baba Yaga to do so.

Aenland was pissed to learn about it. We talked. He wanted to remove Baba Yaga from power, and put Anastasia on the throne like we did. But he was afraid that if Baba Yaga was allowed to have any influence, she would simply twist Anastasia’s rule and keep her experiment running. But he also did not want to banish her from Irrisen or Golarian, just to have her subjugate some other people on some other world.

I normally wouldn’t care what happens to some other planet we’re never going to even be aware of. But Aenland cares. So I want to find a solution. I suggested he think over using his wish to somehow force Baba Yaga to leave forever, while also keeping her from using her powers to hurt others. I…don’t actually know the best wording for this wish, to make sure things go the way Aenland wants. I don’t think Baba Yaga is going to screw us over with our wishes, but I also could see this getting on her bad side. Still, it’s something for him to consider, especially since he doesn’t believe he needs a weapon from Baba Yaga anymore, and he doesn’t trust her to give him anything else he wants without twisting things.

Anyways, that’s a worry for another day.

We’re resting in the Mobius Chamber now. After, I think Aenland is finally ready for us to go deal with Xanthadon.

#pathfinder #reign of winter #journal entry

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erigold13261 · 2 years ago

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:3 I love your blog and your art so much!!! So if the NSR cast had fursona what would be? ( >:3 please do EX-Jay, and West too? *Pours 13 liters of love and appreciation over you*)

Thank you! And that depends. Are we talking about fursonas that FIT the characters, or fursonas that they would choose themselves? Because that could be very different depending on the characters. I'll try to give both but some characters I only have one idea for, or just a vague idea for one over the other.

I'm mainly just sticking to real animals. Not so much doing hybrids or mythical animals because I do not have any ideas for those. Because I think a lot of this cast would be some kind of dragon or something haha.

Also put below a read more since you basically want EVERYONE lol

Mayday: I can see her being either a canine or feline, something full of energy or life for what would represent her. But for one she would choose, I would say she'd be a Malayan Civet.

Zuke: For animals that represent him, probably something like a bull or a Malaysian Horned frog. But if he was going to choose a fursona he'd be an alligator, and he's make a point to let you know it's an alligator and not a crocodile.

DJSS: I feel like a sea turtle would best represent him, but if they were to choose one for themself I think he would choose a Goliath Heron as his animal.

Sayu: Sayu kinda already has two animals that represent mer (not counting the mermaid part) which would be a bunny and a cat. Bunny because ze was drawn as a bunny in mer concept art, and a cat because some of the people who work at Metronomik said Sayu's shadow puppet animal would have been a cat. I also think Sayu would choose a bunny as mer fursona. A very colorful and fluffy bunny.

For the rest of the Club I already had animals picked out for when I did a swap of them with 1010, so those I feel best represent them and what they would choose.

Aoi: He would be a wolf.

Haru: Sea is a fox.

Yua: She would be a dragonfly.

Renho: And Renho is a butterfly.

Remi: I can see Remi being represented by a red panda. He would choose a crab though. Or maybe it would be the other way around. Either way, red panda or crab is Remi.

Tila: She would definitely be picking an otter as her go to animal fursona. Though I can see her being represented by a Nightingale.

Dodo: He seems best represented by a Red-Crowned Crane, but would most likely choose a squid of some sort.

Sofa: I can see them being represented by a monkey of some sort, like a macaque monkey. But they would definitely choose a blobfish, but they would make it accurate to how a blobfish looks like under pressure, not the meme blobfish you see on the internet.

Yinu: She would be represented by a Cloudless sulphur butterfly or a honeybee. However, I see her choosing an axolotl as a fursona and she would make the "ears"/fins look like plants or flower petals.

Mama: I can see her being represented by a Red Adder snake. She seems like she would choose to be a Monarch Butterfly though.

Papa: He'd probably be represented by a Luna Moth. He would have chose a ladybug as a fursona if he was asked to choose when he was alive.

Neon J: Hmmm, maybe he would be represented by a Korean Crevice Salamander, but he would definitely chose a bat as his fursona. Actually maybe the other way around. Either one of these I feel fit Neon, though I think the bat represents him more, while he would actually choose a Korean Crevice Salamander. Yeah, that way works better.

Rin: I can see it choose a mountain goat as its fursona. I'm not sure on what would represent Rin though, I feel like a hairless cat would represent it really well lol.

Purl-hew: Purl is definitely represented by a chameleon as they try to mimic/mirror the people they are around as a form of masking. However, if asked Purl would funnily enough be a Blue Sea Dragon even though Purl hates the ocean so much. That animal is one of Purl's favorites (also what Purl was when swapped with the Mermaid Club).

Zimelu: I think she is best represented by a red betta fish. I can also see her choosing that as a fursona.

Haym: I had said that Haym would be a cat, but I honestly think I changed my mind on that. I think a Jindo dog would best represent Haym, but I can see him choosing something crazy, maybe even doing a hybrid. Hmmm... may he'd pick a kind of cat/reptile hybrid. Like mixing a banana snake (mainly tail and eyes, but some scales) with a Siberian musk deer (fangs and ears) and a leopard (mainly markings).

Eloni: I can see him being represented by the Alpine black swallowtail. But definitely some kind of bug she is choosing for herself, something more dangerous and cool looking. He'd either be a Triangle Crab Spider or a Wasp Spider just with the yellow coloring changes a bit more to green (Eloni loves spiders).

Dew: I don't think Dew would want a fursona at all, like he would definitely keep dodging the question. Though at some point he'd say something like a fur seal or a goral or something just so you leave him alone. I think an armadillo or a pangolin would be best to represent Dew though.

Maragold: They would choose a butterfly with rainbow crystal wings, or a butterfly with multiple sets of wings as a fursona. As long as the wings look pretty, and maybe like flower stained glass, they will be happy. Represented-wise, I don't know why but I can see them being represented by a Dodo bird (which I am now wondering why I didn't make that Dodo's represented animal lol).

Carna: Fae is definitely a racoon for represented animals. I can see faer choosing something really messed up like the fungus that turns ants into zombies. So fae would be an ant, but also looking very gross and dead, maybe even make some pastel gore on faer fursona suit if fae made one.

Eve: Similar thing with Sayu, people at Metronomik said Eve's shadow animals would be a peacock, platypus, or octopus (not canon) so those are the ones that represent her. And honestly, I can see her picking a peacock as her fursona, maybe even a peacock and octopus hybrid if Haym is helping her out.

Tatiana: Okay, I am going into the fantasy a lot with this one, but I just don't see any fursona that better represents Tatiana than a phoenix. She would probably pick that too, or just pick like a bear or something.

Kliff: He'd be represented by a red fox. Hmmm, what would he choose though... I can see him choosing a firehawk as a fursona.

DK West: We already know that West is represented by a bull, and honestly I can see him also choosing that as a fursona. Although, I can also see him choosing a water buffalo or an Asian elephant.

Mystery Man: I don't know what he'd choose, but I can see him as some kind of water snake. Like a snake that can travel on water, but it would probably also be one made out of water (like the pattern of it would look like water).

Cyril: He'd choose a vampire bat as his fursona (wonder if people will get what I am referencing here). As for one that represents him, I'd say a hedgehog would be best.

Noa: Maybe a boar for represented fursona. Though I can see him choosing a group of starling as his fursona (kinda like how those fish in Finding Nemo make faces and images, would be how Noa's fursona would work, so he doesn't have a fursuit but would get his fursona drawn/2D model or someting).

Asa: He is definitely represented by a weasel. He'd probably go for a slow worm/legless lizard though.

Rei: I feel like his representative animal would be the red deer. He'd probably choose a Western Taipan (I can see the tail or just some scales with creative liberty being put over the left eye like Rei likes to do with his hair).

Elivy (Goolings Singer): I don't know, I see his represented animal as a shrew. But I feel like he'd pick a barn owl for his fursona.

Quida (Goolings Drummer): Hhmmm. She would pick the Ocellated lizard as her fursona. Either that or she would pick the Processionary Caterpillar, though I also see that as representing her.

Joust (Goolings Bassist): When I drew him I was basing his design off of a shark, and so that would be his represented animal. As for choosing, he might choose a striped hyena.

Martha: A wolf in sheep's clothing lol. That would be her representation (or even Kliff lol). But she would probably choose a Northern Red Salamander.

Aria: And finally, Aria. She would choose to be a firefly for her fursona. I feel like she would have a dove that represents her though.

#nsr #no straight roads #eritalks #noart #asks #i am not good at picking fursonas #i did my best #some of the representative ones #are probably not that good #but i did try my best #spent all day on this #looking up cool animals #it was worth it #:3

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void-dust-muffin · 2 years ago

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called out by @egg-exe to list my favorite character from 10 different fandoms.

I. Do not remember names. And I refuse to look anything up. we'll see how this goes.

1) Kal'Tsit from arknights. I've been low key obsessing over the game for a while now, and Kal is definitely one of the coolest characters. Storied past, cold demeanor belying genuine care and kindness for everyone under her, Mon3tr, the team that made her did a good job and she really just exemplifies the strength of the game in general. But I can talk to the moon and back about how stupid good the writing for arknights is, especially considering it's a gacha mobile game, so ill move on

2) Neopolitan from rwby. I fell in love with rwby's setting all the way back when I first watched it. Its unique mix of fantasy and technopunk drew me in and its character concepts have kept me there ever since. Neo probably the most. A mute character being the wisecracking villain's muscle and making her shorter than literally the rest of the cast? Peak. If only they made a character to go with the cool moves.

3) Princess Zelda in Breath of the Wild. Sweetheart's trying her best and facing frustration at every turn. Somebody hug her I'm begging you. (it's me, the sweetheart is her but also me)

4) Jafar Fire Emblem 7. Played the game years ago, loved his character design and his class(crits go brrrrr), but his story is the real selling point. The way he interacts with Nino is so sweet and I have such a soft spot for both of them(technically illegal two faves from one fandom oops).

I had the next one and then I lost it uhhhhh not the one I had but we'll go with

5) I was going to say a different character from portal but then I remembered the boy: Space Core.

6) Riza Hawkeye from Fullmetal Alchemist. Her relationship with the major is so heartfelt and the writer did them so well. If you've never watched it go and do that cuz it's just so well put together.

7) Padparadsha from Houseki no Kuni. God that manga is a train wreck. Phos you walking disaster. I love it. Anywho, pad is an interesting character in an already very interesting cast of characters. Their entire existence, teetering between waking and immobility is an exploration of how much of the gem is required for them to function. how much them can be removed before they just. cease.

8) Waymond from Everything Everywhere All At Once. First off, if you haven't watched the movie, go see it. Second, damn I didn't think anyone would actually read this far. Waymond is such a wholesome man he changes the way the woman going through the infinite possibilities of the multiverse thinks. He finds joy in everything he does and shares it with everyone around him. Not because he's ignorant of the struggles of life, because with happiness they become easier. And the man that played him is just as sweet. At the Oscar's when it was announced as best picture he went up on stage too and was hugging everyone. I would die for him.

9) Finn from the star wars sequel trilogy. As bad as they were, when the force awakens came out I remember seeing it and being excited to see what they would do with a stormtrooper main character. And then they didn't do anything, wasting all of his potential. But if there's one thing I learned from rwby, it's that someone else was just as disappointed and wrote a fanfiction exploring what canon didn't.

And now time for the niche reach.

10) Maven from the web novel Save the Demon King. Maven is the eponymous demon king, a near mythical figure in setting and the last demon alive. He is such a fun character in a fun setting that is very well written. I refuse to say more except for go read it. It's free on tapas and very good.

Honorable Mention:

I did think of Hades the game as a possible fandom but everyone in it is too good. I can't choose. the short list is half the hub area characters and at least three of the gods on top of that

fuckin hell theres an hour down the drain. gotta keep the chain going so uhhhhh @krindenium you're the only other human that I know on this site.

#muffins half baked takes #there goes my reblogs only streak lmao.#egg i expect the second half of your list at some point.#i didnt sit here thinking and typing for an hour because of you when you only did half the challenge

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wyrmfedgrave · 8 months ago

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Pics:

1 & 2. The works that we're dealing with here...

3. HPL's own autobiographical sketch.

4. Books using dramatic graphic arts to 'enhance' Howard's stories...

5. A great example of the inside!!

6 to 7. Various Lovecraft collections.

8. HPL's description of his visit to Quebec, Canada.

9 & 10. Howard story collections - based upon his created cities.

(DC comics should do this!

They have a plethora of mythical cities invented to 'challenge' their heroes...)

1915: HPL Output.

(From the United Amateur, March 1915 edition.)

Blarney Stone for (this) November & December is dedicated to its (writers) & wholly given over to their works.

In "The Christmas of Delsato's Maria," an Italian thief utilize(s) his question- able art to replace a loss in his family.

Suddenly, Lovecraft 'analyses' his own work...

"To General Villa" is a peculiar piece of verse written last summer (to) defy those who... charged it's author with pedantry (excessive concern with minor details) & pomposity (self important).

The changes of time & revolutions have rendered the last line... out of date.

Th(is) issue... concluded with... "Service With Love," (that) describe(s) the ideal spirit of brotherhood which should pervade amateur journalism.

(As to) the 2 blank pages (in) the back of the magazine, (we) wish... some talented Blarney had seen fit to adorn them with his work.

The (January) Brooklynite is of unusual merit, ...teeming with (well written) features & substantial character.

(The) essay on ghosts displays considerable literary knowledge, though the anecdote at the end is (too) ancient for (modern) use.

We... heard it... 10 years ago, (from) a Scotsman - (not) a negro preacher.

"Consolidation"... is a(n) example of (how) less dignified (NAPAs) cast... aspersions on the (USPS).

There is... irony in the spectacle of a... member of the... Gotham (NYC) ring, preaching... against the unenviable record of the United.

(Yet, Howard would later serve as President of the National...)

We wish... that (Mr. Stoddard) would give us... more of the serious fiction that he... write(s) so splendidly...

Miss Silverman's lines on (loud mouthed peace workers) are... scarcely... keen... (in) wit...

It is... well to "keep industry booming," but industry cannot take the place of (the) military... in protecting a nation against foreign aggression.

The Coyote for March is... a semi- professional leaflet...

(It's) leading feature is... entitled "What Gambling Did..."

We must protest against his taste in subject & technique.

His models are... not... classical & his ideas (on) probability are far from unexceptional.

(For whatever reason, HPL now goes into some detail on how to write!)

In developing (1's) narration, it is... best to discard... elaborate plots & thrilling climaxes...

Begin instead with (a) plain & simple description of actual events...

Avoid improbability by composing (your) earliest efforts in the 1st person.

(The writer) knows what he would do in certain circumstances, but... not always... what... others might do in similar cases...

Above all things... read classic fiction, abstain... from Wild West Weeklies & the (other pulps).

(If you) have a taste for excitement, (you) would probably thrive on Scott, Cooper or Poe...

Read the Leather Stocking Tales (for their) pioneers & frontier life...

Acquire a familiarity with the methods of the best authors & refine (your) imagination (on) their works - should (you) attempt... writing outside (your) own experience.

(You) will then... produce work of... quality...

(Now, back to the expected reviews.)

We are sorry to note the... paid advertising & subscription price...

Such things have no place in an... amateur (publication)...

The (July) Emissary is a National paper, but contains... works (from) several United members...

Though only 18 years of age, (the) editor/printer (is) of the highest grade.

"Ausonius, the Nature Lover"... is a... judicious appreciation of a later Latin poet.

(It) shows how a bard of the decaying Roman Empire approached the spirit of 'modern' (1915) romanticism.

(The) translated extracts are (well) phrased & his comments... exhibit... wide & careful scholarship.

"Lamb o' Mine"... is... the most attractive... verse in the magazine.

(Its) negro dialect is (unique).

The consoling spirit of the old "mammy"... radiates from (its) lines.

The Kansan for July reaches us at a late date.

(Its) Sunflower Club of Bazine makes its formal debut, being ushered into amateur society...

The(ir) editorial pages are brilliant in... justifying... the United's sunny spirit, (being) contrasted with the National's forbidding frigidity.

The (September/February issue of) The Olympian, ...defines its latest editorial policy & (it's) true attitude toward the United.

(It) reveal(s)... more strongly (its) prejudice against our association in favor of the National.

"Play Hour"... appears in a collection of short... pieces...

It is difficult... to imagine the dignified Zeus as the author...

The 2nd of these tuneful rhymes is... written in the 'simplified' spelling now popular among certain editors...

Closer inspection reveals... that the spelling is... made 'juvenile' to suit the subject.

After all, simple (English) & baby talk are... little removed from each other.

(The) September/November (issue of) Prometheus... lives up to its subtitle "A Magazine of Aspirations Dreamed Into Reality."

"Weaver of Dreams"... is a... well written short story... expressing a beautiful Christian philosophy.

(An) Oriental tale presents a... fable (from) old Moorish Spain, titled "Ali Ahmed & the Aqueduct."

Red Letter Days for October is... an informal... paper... representing the most... personal phase of amateur journalism...

We are sorry that (this journal) has adopted simplified spelling, but it is an evil in which (they are) by no means alone...

Stray Leaves for May/June is another paper which... arrived late...

The reference to anti-Suffrage & Suffrage as "2 vital questions" is (not) permissible, these are (actually) the 2 sides of... 1 question...

The January (issue of) Woodbee exhibits amateur journalism at its best.

"Spiritual Significance of the Stars"... (reveals) the inspiring influence of astronomical study on the cultivated intellect...

(This) leading feature... traces the slow unfolding of celestial knowledge.

(It) points out the... mental power which enables man to discern the vast universe.

And (also) comprehends the complex principles by which it is governed.

In the laws of the heavens (the writer) finds the prototype of all human law & the... perfect model for human institutions...

"We Are Builders All"... is a graceful allegory based on the Temple of Solomon...

(Its) editorials are brief.

In 1 of them, it is stated that the paper is submitted - without fear - to critics & Eddie Cole.

(Now,) in view of Mr. Cole's scholarly critical work, (Lovecraft) hopes that no reflection (is intended) against this journal's editor.

End.

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fearsmagazine · 1 year ago

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SATANIC HISPANICS - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Dread

SYNOPSIS: : A police raid on a house in El Paso reveals it is full of dead Latinos, except for one handcuffed survivor. Taking him to the station for questioning, he calls himself The Traveler, and he spins a tale where he claims the lands are full of magic. He talks about the horrors he’s encountered in his long time on this earth, about portals to other worlds, mythical creatures, demons and the undead. Stories that are based in Latin American legends. As they attempt to unravel any truth from his tales that could aid them, The Traveler warns them that time is ticking and they could all be dead soon if they don’t release him.

REVIEW: Filmmakers Mike Mendez and Alejandro Brugues team up with three other Latino filmmakers to deliver the first Latino horror anthology. SATANIC HISPANICS features five tales that reflect a broad spectrum of genre themes, all uniquely Latino. What Robert Rodriguez did for the action genre with “El Mariachi’ and the subsequent sequel “Desperado,” or the early films of Guillermo del Toro did for fantasy/horror films, Mendez and Brugues provide exclusive opportunity for these talent filmmakers, in front of and behind the camera, to bring their work to a wider audience.

All five stories are memorable cinematic experiences. I could dissect each of these tales individually, but that’s for another time. Each is distinctly Latino, either placing their spin on a traditional genre theme or crafting contemporary tales based on Latin myths and legends. Some are skilled dives into the darkest depths of the genre, some are punctuated with moments of dark comedy, others are over the top gory satire in a tradition of “Evil Dead Two.” Like any good genre tale, the stories span themes of social commentary and satire. All five stories are expertly crafted, from the plots to the dialogue, and will elicit a reaction from the viewer that goes from sheer terror to “WTF” as they run the emotional spectrum. The collection strikes a nice balance between Spanish language and English, and I was satisfied with the translation of the subtitles.

From the visual and special effects to the cinematography and editing, SATANIC HISPANICS features impressive production values. There is a similarity to the style of all five that allows them to feel as if they are all part of the same universe. They are adult grim and gory tales of terror that possess subtle individual touches of each filmmaker making for an engaging experience. There are excellent creature designs, my personal favorite is the final reveal of the being in “The Traveler.” Likewise, the music and score, from all the contributors, creates a wholly unforgettable soundtrack. These filmmakers transcend the mastery of their technical craft by capturing riveting performances from their actors.

SATANIC HISPANICS presents a wonderful cast. Efren Ramirez, who plays “The Traveler,” has appeared in numerous tv and film productions, and is probably best known as Pedro in “Napoleon Dynamite.” He delivers a strong, hypnotic performance that draws the viewer in and seamlessly transitions between tales. Hemky Madera is perfect as an aging vampire as he balances comedy and what feels like the drama of a telenovela. Jonah Ray Rodrigues, Christian Rodrigo, and Jacob Vargas are a priceless comedic trio caught up in this absurd horror romp. Each tale has exceptional performances that will linger with the viewer.

I often like to point out how a film based on a novel should inspire the viewer not familiar with the book to seek it out. SATANIC HISPANICS is a rare film where after viewing one should be inspired to seek out the other films of these filmmakers. I thoroughly enjoyed this thrilling scarefest, and would welcome another collection of tales. My only concern would be the frequency of future releases that could diminish the quality of the films and/or the unique viewing experience it presents. Just like the original “Creepshow,” SATANIC HISPANICS has all the qualities to become a horror cult classic.

CAST: Efren Ramirez, Greg Grunberg, Hemky Madera, Jonah Ray Rodrigues, Patricia Velásquez, Jacob Vargas, Ari Gallegos, Demian Salomon, Christian Rodrigo, and Michael C. Williams CREW: “The Traveler” - Director/Editor, Mike Mendez; Screenplay - Alejandro Mendez; Cinematographer, Jan Michael Losada; Visual Effects Supervisor, Jason R Miller. “Tambien Lo Vi” - Director/Screenplay, Demian Rugna; Cinematographer, Mariano Suarez; Editor, Leo Vitullo; Score, Pablo Isola; VFX, Demian Rugna “El Vampiro” - Director/Editor, Eduardo Sanchez; Screenplay, Adam Cesare; Cinematography, Joe Tyler; Score, Michael Weber, Special Effects Supervisor, Paul Brubacher “Nahaules” - Director/Editor, Gigi Saul Guerrero; Screenplay, Shadan Saul & Raynor Shima; Cinematographer, Luke Bramley; Score, Blake Matthew; VFX Supervisor, Freddy Chavez Olmos. “The Hammer of Zanzibar” - Director, Alejandro Brugues; Screenplay, Lino K. Villa; Editor, Mike Mendez; “Hammer of Zanzibar” song by Norman Cabrera Monsters; Score, Kyle Newmaster; SFX Supervisor, Vincent Guastini; Visual FX Supervisor, Jason R. Miller Producers - Patrick Ewald, Mike Mendez, & Alejandro Brugués; Post Production Supervisor - Joe Hui; VFX Supervisor - Jason R. Miller; Music Supervisor - Sean Fernald. OFFICIAL: satanichispanicsfilm.com FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: twitter.com/satanichisfilm TRAILER: SATANIC HISPANICS | Trailer RELEASE DATE: In Theaters September 14th, 2023

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

#film review #movie review #SatanicHispanicsFilm #SatanicHispanicsMovie #SatanicHispanicsInTheaters #mike mendez #Demian Rugna #eduardo sanchez #gigi saul guerrero #Alejandro Brugues #horror #latino #vampire #creature #spirits #joseph b mauceri #joseph mauceri

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