#he's sad and also genuinely funny and optimistic

[thelastspeecher]

I just had my biannual "the Smallville version of Bart Allen is the only accurate representation of Bart Allen despite having severe limitations as to what aspects of his canonical backstory they could use" rant

and decided to look into whether he was on The Flash (2014) (which I stopped watching bc I went to grad school and Didn't Have Time and never got around to finishing but I really should at some point)

and he WAS

and just the short blurb on Wikipedia is making me dread that my "Smallville Bart is the only accurate Bart" opinion will remain unchanged when I finally get around to finishing The Flash (2014)

[honey-milk-depresso]

Jason, Tim and Dick with an s/o who’s completely the opposite of them??

Requests open until 1 Feb (GMT 8+)! Please read the rules on my pinned post (provided the navi post link to go to rules). Thank you!🩷

Batboys with an s/o completely opposite of them

Dick Grayson

Dick is a very extroverted, active and optimistic individual while you’re very introverted, lazy (let’s all be real here-) and… well, he calls you a realist (because he doesn’t wanna call you a pessimist-).

The two of you have a rather funny dynamic between the two of you: Dick’s always the one dragging you out because you need “sunlight”.

“Come on, s/o! Let’s take a stroll! Gotta get that vitamin D!”

“Dick… it’s 8pm.”

“…” “You get the point, come on now-”

He’s just concern for your health because he loves you and doesn’t want you to just laze at home all the time, you know? And isn’t it nice to take a stroll with your boyfriend?? Come on now-

Dick’s always the one to cheer you up when you’re grumpy or sad (or both), and you’re always there to ground him back to reality when needed and he appreciates that.

Another thing to note is that he actually has poor communication skills when it comes to the relationship, and always feels like he’s a burden to share his problems. You, on the other hand, aren’t afraid to speak your mind and put a lot of trust in him when it comes to communicating challenges within your relationship with Dick and you encouraging him to put trust in you because he will never burden you because you love him honestly makes him admire you, and also fall in love with you even more.

It’ll take some time, not because he doesn’t trust you, it’s just because there’s that lingering thought of not wishing to burden you and also because old habits die hard but… slowly he’ll get there, and that’ll be the one thing you guys can be similar in.

For now, he loves his potato couch cutie (just stroll with him every once in a while at least-) <3

Jason Todd

Has no idea how he even managed to get you, because you’re everything he’s not.

He’s always so emotional, impulsive and jealous, while you’re so calm, rational and trusting in him even when he knows he’s got so much sin in him that he’s not proud of committing, and knows he can’t be forgiven for them at times.

Yet… you never saw that in him. You’ve always thought he’s someone compassionate, loyal and caring, and you love him even at his worse. He’s never thought of himself like that after you told him so sincerely and gently that he almost broke down and cried. You love him so much as much as he loves you it makes him feel so warm and comforted. He just feels so lucky to have you.

He kinda wishes he’s like you, because he’d always think it’s better to be anyone else but you’d tell him otherwise. Besides, it’s always opposites that attract.

He loves you with every fibre of his being, you’re like a second chance given to him. Well, not that he sees you as a way to feel better but he genuinely believes you’re an angel sent to him. Literally. But seriously, he loves you and he’ll try to be a little bit more calmer than let his anger get the best of him. You always can calm him down anyways.

You always told him that his compassion for you touched you, and that his warmth and love is something you’ve never had before from anyone, you make him feel so special, you know that? <3

Tim Drake

Tim’s… all sorts of things. He’s ambivert, more introvert-leaning, but he’s also poor in time management due to his workaholic nature and rather reserved in temperament.

And you were a lot more responsible and better in time management because you ACTUALLY do set limits for yourself than just doing EVERYTHING in one goal. You weren’t a control-freak like him, rather taking things slowly. Just like him, you’re an ambivert but more extrovert-leaning and you had a tendency of getting lost in your emotions, just being more sensitive than him in general.

Every time you try to drag him to bed, shower, eat, just take care of himself he gets a bit pouty every time you do this but he’s touched. You had to open his eyes to let him see that timetables exist, and open up his heart to let him know it’s okay to take a break. Breaks even. He deserves breaks.

Tim is always there to calm you down. You just get so worried for him every time he goes out for patrol because anything could happen to him in Gotham. He reassured you, kissing your forehead softly while you patch him up with a little bit of tears glossing your eyes and tells you he’s okay. He’s never really had people care for him so much to the point they cry which was why when he got a few minor cuts on his arms and torso, he panicked when he saw you cry so much. He makes a mental note to make sure he doesn’t come home too injured, but at the same time you always tell him he shouldn’t hide his pain from you. You just want him safe.

You two just blend well together, and he always feels like he can come to you when he feels troubled. And you can always go to him for comfort.

Bonus: You dragging Tim by his feet to go to bed while his coffee-drunk ass is sighing in defeat and lets you drag him away but smiled tenderly despite being tired. Sigh, fine. He’ll sleep, just for you. <3

Reblogs help! ^^

[missaccuracy]

thoughts abt the recent atla comic ashes of the academy?

I'm gonna give quick thoughts based on the first impression, overall it was pretty mid for me. There was staff that I liked, but at the same time I think it's getting some valid critisizm.

On the positive side, I'm glad we got some more screen time for Mai, it's her solo comic, after all. I've seen an opinion that she was ooc for liking to be around kids and for all of the erasing of her imperialistic backstory (but that's not only Mai's problem, I'll get to that later). And while I'd agree that it's unusual to see her being warm around kids, I wouldn't say it's nessessary ooc, Mai was emotionally repressed her whole life, but when she got the chance, she showed her softer side and at the same time she has such a calm and intelligent aura to her and I liked her very much.

As for Azula, I'd completely lost my hope that they'd do anything interesting with her by the middle of the comic. I don't have a problem with her being a spoiled little brat, but I still hoped we'd get some interesting beats with kid Azula. As it is, we didn't get much interesting content on the dangerous ladies and anything particularly new about Azula, which is just boring.

I also wanted something differrent for Kiyi. She's almost pointless for the overall plot and I wanted for her to have a more meaningful role in the story. Instead, she's just kinda there and doesn't do anything important which is a shame to me.

Zuko doesn't have much screen time in this comic, but he's pretty much in character to me as well. What I thought was strange is Ursa and mainly how she wonders what went wrong with Azula instead of, you know, worrying about more important things, like Azula's current whereabouts? She's Azula's mother, why doesn't she bring up the subject of trying to find Azula?

And of course:

We shouldn't forget that Ursa had an off-screen anti-imperialist redemption to the point of her being sarcastic about the Fire Nation's traditions now.

This is a genuinely annoying problem that many other people have already pointed out. The narrative doesn't address characters who had an imperialistic past, like Ursa and Mai, for the sake of making them kinda "always good". It's pretty lame to sweep that under the rug and I see why so many fans are complaining about this. The main theme about the academy bringing out the worst in the students was also kinda perplexing. I think the comic tried to show that it enabled Azula's worst tendencies, but it really didn't show Azula's regression for the worse. It's not that Azula needed to be an angel at the beginning, no one argues that Azula wasn't prone to violence herself, but it still would've been better if Azula got from level 1 to level 2 in mischief and manipulation.

I'll have to add that Ty Lee's brief appearance was nice, she's her usual optimistic self. But I got sad when she didn't appear in the flashbacks, I hoped to see the whole trio together as kids.

Additionally, some panels that I liked:

I can feel Mai's awkwardness about the first time of being a teacher.

And this:

I laughed at this one. Azula's reaction to the knives flying straight towards her is genuinely funny. I like how in the comics Azula is completely unfased whenever some sharp objects are coming her way. She doesn't even remotely panic and just slightly moves her head to the side. Simply badass.

[late-tothe-party-07]

Some things I like about Lego Monkie Kid is that the comedy is actually funny and the dialogue sounds natural. After sitting through so many shows (mainly animated ones) that over-exaggerated emotion, ran predictable/common gags, etc, it was refreshing to see characters acting like actual people.

For instance, MK at the start of the show is clearly the optimistic, bright-eyed hero. The one that always tries to look at the bright side of things, lights up a room, and loves his friends. But LMK doesn't try to play off that too much. In the first seasons, MK also was seen getting genuinely freaked out, sad, worried, and got frustrated with people and himself. Tang saying he doesn't know how to help with the cloning problem comes to mind. A joke that was good and made even funnier with MK reacting realistically. Not even just "Sigh. Thanks anyway," but looking very close to screaming. Something I related to.

And LMK does this with all the characters. Tang also shouts at MK for forgetting certain powers. Mei is always a little peeved when MK hangs out with someone else. You can actually see them grow and show different sides to them, like Wukong struggling with being vulnerable but trying anyway, or Pigsy being a grumpy/gruff dude most days but also a huge mother hen that likes cooking shows.

There's clear relationship dynamics between all of them too. You can see the history.

It's a genuine shame more people haven't seen this show and witnessed the love and care that made it.

[thegunssawyerstole]

heres the long awaited top 10 kotlc characters list from 3 years ago, complete with commentary by current me!

10. Biana Vacker—

I wasn't a huge fan of her up until book three, when a lot of things changed. IDK why but she just got a lot of better then. She's a great character who can be independent and girly.

didnt bring up nf once fake biana fan

9. Dex Dizznee

Yes, Dex is only #9. The character everyone wants more of, is my #9. Here's the thing with Dex. He's a fun character who is vital to the plot in Everblaze and Unlocked. But that doesn't forgive him for Nightfall. Like- you cant crush on your cousin. They very well could be biological, but I'll get to that later. [ accidentally spoiling list intensifies ]

But aside from that, I really like his character. I think the way he hates Fitz in the start is funny and relat—, his interactions with Sophie and his siblings are very cute and wholesome, and his personality matches his ability really well. He kinda just reminds me of Varian from the Tangled series.

what the hell is this??

8. Fintan Pyren

Haha yep I just ranked the 2nd most active threat above Dex. I'm going to prison for this one. bEfore you leave your hate comments, hear me out.

Fintan is easily the most entertaining villain in KOTLC, while posing as an active threat. What more could I want in a villain? Plus Pintrest has decided that he is, in fact, a theatre kid. This is single-handedly the most accurate hc ever.

Also he reminds me so much of Jason Dean don't @ me.

and i would still rank fin above dex tbh

JASON DEAN? WHY WE CALLING JD HEATHERS BY HIS GOVERNMENT NAME

7. Edaline Ruewen

If you know me, you know I am very possibly the only person who thinks Grady and Edaline are massively underappreciated. Because they are. I have been advocating for a spin-off for these two because of the lack of page time they have.

With that said, OH MY GOSH I LOVE EDALINE. She is such a good mom. I think it's perfect how Shannon wrote her. Her chemistry with Grady invented wholesomeness. I said it. SOKEEFE WILL NEVER BE THIS GOOD-

This isn't the only instance where the incorrect quotes put a character so high on a list, trust me, but the incorrect quotes for her are so funny.

dude this is insane worl

6. Councillor Bronte

Bronte is my favorite Councillor. I said it. After flashback, I decided that Kenric isn't g o o d — Like why did u do that why-

But this isn't about him. This is about Bronte. I'm shocked I enjoy the adults as much as I do in this series. Councillor Bronte may be one of the funniest characters ever. I may actually like him more than Snape. I think I do tbh, because we don't learn 6 1/2 books in he's not awful!

ykw this is valid i still love bronte. such a hater in those early books

5. Linh Song

If everyone was like Linh, the world would be a happier place. UP UNTIL [ spoilers ] UNLOCKED WHEN THE CLIFFHANGER HIT HAHAHA NOPE-

But aside from that, Linh's great. Her and Tam are sibling goals. The way she stayed optimistic after Exillium makes her character even better, and her getting more worried after Tam joins the Neverseen all the more heartbreaking and understandable.

I love her chemistry with Marella, they're such a cute couple!

I'm just getting word they're not actually together. Uhhhhhh.

Overall, great character.

dont shoot me but i dont think shes in top 10 anymore

4. Iggy the Imp

[ laughter ] I CANT ACTUALLY BELIEVE I JUST RANKED IGGY OVER LINH-

Remember when I said that the incorrect quotes/tumbler fandom made characters better? Yeah I was talking about Iggy. The theories surrounding him are the funniest things ever. I haven't lost my mind haha, I'm just aware Iggy is amazing.

TOP THREE BABY!!! I think if you know me, you know which characters are in my top three.

what the hell me!!

3. Marella Redek

Where to start. She needs more page time. Honestly, she's so funny with being gossipy. Imagine if she met Dolores from Encanto.

I'm genuinely sad that she was written off for three/four books, even though when she came back in Nightfall, it was great to progress the plot. She's so well-written, and I can't wait for her to be relevant in book nine with Linh's plot.

2. Grady Ruewen

I'm not kidding guys, he's my second favorite. I especially love the fact Shannon gives him a huge part every three books just to write him off again! I'm not complaining, his character arcs in Everblaze and Nightfall were great and I totally cried lmao.

Exhibit A: WHOLESOMENESS WITH EDALINE MY HEART ALBFALDHALSHHDALDV.

Him and Edaline actually have the best dynamic in the book, IDC if you wanna fight.

Exhibit B: 'That boy.'

After Unlocked, I think he's gonna play a huge part in book nine. Particularly, with the Keefe stuff, since He was the last person Keefe saw before Keefe ran off. It's especially great, because we can infer that he was like Keefe. EDALINE WAS HIS SOPHEORHAPHDAHDKALAGD

Y'all underestimate how much I love this couple.

Plus he's such a good dad. I still won't forgive those monsters who think that Jolie is Glimmer.

dude i was in such denial he was fs my favorite i just didn't wanna admit it

1. Tam Song

TAM <333 oh gosh where to start. I have no words. His character arc is perfect. I am worried for the next book. I'm worried that we won't get back pre-neverseen tam. Let's talk about that?

This is mostly because of his character arc, his sibling relationship with Linh, and rivalry to friendship to, if Shannon is daring enough, love, with Keefe.

also valid still love tam but idk if hes top three

Yeah that's my list.

gosh i've been watching too much Schaffrillas Productions.

still tru

current top ten:

10. Umber

9. Vespera

8. Biana

7. Fitz

6. Tam

5. Bronte

4. Fintan

3. Marella

2. Edaline

1. Grady

[delusionalbitchinthehouse]

So, I saw the French production of Les Misérables at the Théâtre du Châtelet and oh my fucking godddd.

I loved it so much, I was pretty close to the stage so I had a great view (I was on a folding seat tho so my ass was KILLING me but it was worth it lmao)

The set was so rich and cleverly arranged, very detailed and dynamic, i really thought it was impressive (I had only seen in live the staged concert before that so it was a big jump in terms of staging), and the costumes were gorgeous, I would kill to get a more thorough look at them.

The actors were fantastic, Fantine got tears out of me almost immediately, Valjean seemed so gentle and lovely, Cosette and Marius were the cutest, Javert was so driven and intimidating, Enjolras was OOZING righteous fury and determination it was crazy, Gavroche was so funny and playful, Grantaire was more optimistic than he usually is but you get to see him gradually lose hope and that's heartbreaking, The Thénardiers were more sinister than usual though still pretty funny in an awful way if you know what I mean, and Eponine's feelings were so raw I loved it.

As a bilingual french girl, being able to compare the lyrics in the two languages was sooo interesting, and I do sometimes have issues with french songs but those were genuinely soo good, so yeah, loved it.

Extensive yapping below the cut, be warned :

Gavroche's death was AWFUL, he dragged himself all the way back while still trying to sing before collapsing, you could hear people gasping and sobbing

Some actors were entering from the back of the theater, and since I was at the end of the row they were literally right next to me, during the finale an actor was singing almost in my ear while waving his flag lmao, it was so cool

The Amis de L'ABC's death was as painful as ever, shout out to the guy playing Enjolras who had to stay hanging from one leg for at least a good minute, i wouldn't have wanted to be in his place lmao

Valjean actually lifting the cart was super cool btw, that's my favorite senior citizen with ungodly strenght right there

The prostitues being more solidary with Fantine than the factory women and trying to protect her from Javert was a nice touch i think

The audience couldn't help snorting when Eponine sang the french version of "little he knows little he sees" because she was saying something like "y comprend rien" in a tone that clearly read something like "is he fucking stupid wtf", even though it's actually pretty sad

When Valjean and Javert were fighting right after Fantine's death, the nuns were trying to stop them (and more specifically Javert because mf had a whole-ass rifle, man was NOT playing) from killing each other, so when Valjean knocked the gun out of Javert's hands one of the nun grabbed it, panicked, looked around and hid it under a patient's mattress lmao.

Marius deadass nearly knocked himself uncouncious against the wall of Valjean's property while climbing it, it was weirdly endearing to see and sooo in character

During Empty Chairs At Empty Tables (Seul Devant Ces Tables Vides), instead of the students coming back in the background to bring candles, their shadows were projected behind Marius and somehow it made me cry even harder (also it fitted the whole "phantom shadows on the floor" bit super well)

Javert's suicide had me clutching my pearls because I actually thought for a second he'd fall for real

During the wedding scene, Thénardier tried to make the orchestra play again because he interupted them, called "maestro", but it was a woman so she corrected him and the whole audience clapped for her for a good minute, you could see Thénardier's actor trying not to smile it was pretty cute

Grantaire was so playful and touchy with all the Amis it was adorable, he kept fucking around just for their amusement and urgh I love him so much you know ? Also he took such good care of Gav and crumbled when he died :(

Gavroche was soooo insolent, it took two people to drag him away from Javert when he was roasting him on the barricade (also right after Stars Gavroche said that Javert thought he was "le p'tit Jésus" lmaoo)

Enjolras tried to hug Grantaire after Gav's death but R flinched away </3

Also one of the students (idk which one it was, I think it might've been Courf or Joly but i'm not sure) noticed Eponine dying in Marius' arms and ran to get bandages but he was too late :(

When Enjolras asks all the women and fathers to leave, the scene where everyone was saying goodbye was heartbreaking, you didn't even needed to hear them talk, I really liked that they took the time to show that

I swear Enjolras had so much energy, man was RUNNING around to get his point across (My mom elbowed me so hard when he started singing, she knows what's up)

Cosette actually recognized Eponine, and for a second they just stared at each other like "oh, shit, I know you"

I know the students also being guests for the wedding is because they needed people to fill the roles but I like to think there's a symbolic behind it and they were there in spirit because I am in Denial tm

Also Grantaire doing everything and anything to catch Enjolras' attention during Red And Black !!!! Joking around, patting or downright grabbing his arm, bumping shoulders, constantly calling his name....my boys !!! I love them so much <3

[tabitha42]

The Wizard's Apprentice - Chapter 19

Saffron is just a lowly apprentice with barely a successful firebolt to her name. So what chance does she have with the arch mage she's slowly falling in love with?

Gale x Tav, slow burn, eventual smut

Chapter 1 Previous chapter Next chapter

The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and joy. Wine flowed, people danced, music and laughter filled the air. Karlach had convinced Wyll to join the party, at least for a bit, and the six of them were finally catching up on the day as the tieflings settled in. 

“Then suddenly, there were 6 of her!” Astarion recounted, throwing his usual dramatic flair on the story as he told it. “Of course, immediately I knew which was the real one.” “Did you?” Shadowheart challenged. “Funny how you shot all the others first, then.” “Well, I had to shoot them to get rid of them,” he said defensively. 

“I’m sure that’s the reason,” she said knowingly, looking into her cup of wine before taking a sip. 

“I don’t know how you’re drinking that swill,” Astarion murmured, looking at her glass. “Honestly, we rescue these tieflings and this is the thanks we get? Vinegar for wine?”

“Oh, did no one tell you where the good wine was?” she said, sounding… somewhat genuine as she looked over at him. 

“There’s good wine?” he asked, equal parts surprised and eager. 

“There is. Give me the hag’s bone charm and I’ll tell you where it is,” she said, a small smile playing on her lips. 

“Oh, I see. Forget it, it’s mine,” he snapped back, narrowing his eyes at her. Saff, Gale and Wyll had very quickly come to learn that the others were all trying to convince Astarion out of this charm he’d got off the hag. 

“If you insist,” she said calmly with a shrug, taking another deep gulp of wine. Astarion watched her, twitching slightly. 

“I still can’t believe you managed to defeat a hag,” Gale said, deciding to pull the conversation away from Astarion’s desperation for a good glass of wine. He didn’t see the problem, the wine wasn’t anything great but it wasn’t as bad as Astarion was making out. “They’re notoriously powerful.” 

“As are we,” Lae’zel said confidently. “I was disappointed to have missed the goblin fight, but the hag makes for a fine victory.” 

“I can’t say I’m sad to have missed fighting a hag,” Gale said with a small chuckle. “Though I might have been interested to see her magic. I wonder if she’d have been able to remove the tadpole if you’d let her try.” 

“Well she’s still there if you want to find out for yourself,” Astarion said, finally prying his thoughts away from the wine. “You will have to give her an eye, though.” 

“I’m quite content with my eyes the way they are, thank you very much. But that won’t stop me wondering.” 

“What happened to the girl?” Saff asked, leaning forward a bit. “What was her name? Mary something? You didn’t leave her with the hag, did you?”

“Mayrina. No, we didn’t, the hag told her the deal was off. Then the ungrateful little wretch said we’d ruined everything and ran away,” Astarion said, rolling his eyes. “We found her crying over her husband’s corpse. We also found a wand in the hag’s lair with his name on it. Well, she now has a zombie for a husband,” he said with a smirk, clearly feeling like they got back at her for being so ungrateful. 

“Poor girl…” Karlach murmured with a sad sigh, much less happy about the outcome of it all. 

“She made a deal with a hag and lived to tell the tale. You’ve given her more than most people would have got in her situation,” Wyll said. It was the first time he’d spoken in a while - he’d generally been quite quiet and reserved, but Saff couldn’t help but notice that one of the first times he speaks is to cheer up Karlach. It worked - Karlach managed a small smile. 

“Yeah, I guess so. I hope she gets back to Baldur’s Gate ok.” 

“Maybe we’ll be able to find her when we get there ourselves,” Wyll suggested optimistically, meeting her smile with a smile of his own. 

Meanwhile, Astarion had gone back to staring at Shadowheart’s wine glass and finally broke. 

“Oh gods, fine! I’ll give you the damn thing, but you have to give me the wine first,” he snapped, seemingly out of nowhere. Shadowheart was unsurprised though, and just smiled. 

“Very well, this way,” she said, standing up and leading him off. 

“Do you think she actually has a stash of good wine hidden away?” Gale wondered, starting to sound a bit tempted. Saff chuckled and shook her head. 

“I think she’s having him on,” she said, watching as the two disappeared off towards her tent. 

“She is,” Lae’zel said confidently. The others looked at her in surprise. “Mol has the good wine. She told me as much earlier.”

Gale chuckled softly. Of course Mol would say that. 

“Well then, I think we’d better pay Mol a visit,” he decided, standing up. 

Mol did, indeed, have some wine, and she was even willing to part with it for a small offering of coin. Whether or not it was actually any better than the rest of the wine was hard to say.

The group split up to mingle with the rest of the guests. Gale and Saff’s eyes were caught by a dancing spell across the camp, and made their way over to find Rolan performing illusions for his siblings. Sparkling lights shimmered in the air above them, glittering as they fluttered down to earth. It was a fairly basic spell, but beautiful nonetheless.

Gale and Saff joined Cal and Lia in applause, and soon were chatting to Rolan about his plans to further his wizarding powers once he got to Baldur’s Gate.

“Lorroakan?” Gale said in surprise when he heard the name of Rolan’s master-to-be. “I’ve heard of him. Word in Waterdeep is he’s a bit of a cad, but you say he’s an accomplished wizard?”

“Of course he is! The greatest spellcaster along the Sword Coast. As if I’d settle for a lessor mentor,” Rolan said confidently, almost offended by Gale’s comments. 

“Malitas says the same… he’s not a big fan of Lorroakan. Though I was surprised when he said that, I always thought Lorroakan was supposed to be incredibly powerful,” Saff commented.

“He is incredibly powerful. Whoever this Malitas is clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Rolan said dismissively. 

“He’s my master. He’s from Baldur’s Gate as well, and he does know what he’s talking about,” she replied rather defensively. Though given what Gale had said about him in the past, there was the slightest bit of uncertainty in her voice.

“Malitas? Never heard of him,” Rolan said with a shrug, as if that proved he wasn’t worth listening to by virtue of not being famous. 

“He likes to keep a low profile.”

“He does? Strange. Any wizard worth his salt should be proud of his skills.” 

Gale decided to intervene before an argument started. 

“Well, if Lorroakan is as powerful as you say, then I’d very much appreciate it if you could arrange an introduction should we reach the city.”

“Ah yes, a grand idea! I would be happy to. Then you can both see how powerful he is for yourselves.”

Conversation after that, luckily, was a bit more light-hearted. They discussed magic, their favourite spells, and swapped stories of the various disasters they’d each caused during their time spent learning their craft. 

Eventually they left to mingle with the others. As the night wore on the wine continued to flow, and soon Alfira had gained a small group of dancers in front of her as she played. Luckily either she hadn’t drunk as much as the rest of them, or if she had, she was much better at playing while drunk than anyone had any right to be. 

“Come on, let’s dance!” Karlach called to them as she went to the dancefloor herself. Her enthusiasm was infectious it seemed, as she managed to get Halsin and Astarion up there with her too, though the significant amounts of wine they’d both had probably helped. 

Saff’s face lit up and she looked to Gale. 

“Let’s go!” she said excitedly, but he shook his head. 

“You go dance. I am not one for dancing - especially not when I’ve had quite this much to drink,” he said with a laugh. Though there was an ache in his heart as he said that - in his youth, back at the academy, he was quite the dancer. His was a popular hand at the annual Blackstaff’s Ball. But in recent months, it was yet another thing he found he’d lost his love for. A melancholy mood came over him as he thought about it. 

“Aww, come on, please?” she begged, taking his arm and trying to pull him along, but he remained resolute. 

“Perhaps later. For now, I think I need to sit down. Besides, I’ve had you to myself all evening. The others deserve the pleasure of your company too.” She sighed and folded her arms. 

“Alright, later. I’ll hold you to that,” she said playfully, before joining Karlach and the others. 

Gale headed back to his tent and sat down on the blankets just outside the door. His shift in mood hung over him until he looked up to see the others and found a smile come to his lips as he saw Saff dancing, smiling widely as she lost herself in the music. He hadn’t realised how skilled a dancer she was and found himself mesmerised as he watched her, the elegant sway of her hips and flow of her arms, each twirl and movement flowing perfectly into the next. It was rude to stare, of course… but he couldn’t help himself now as he watched her dancing in the moonlight.

The songs flew by, until eventually it was just Saff and Karlach left out of their group. Astarion had retreated back to the wine and Halsin back to a quieter corner. Even Saff was beginning to tire, but Karlach looked like she could dance all night. 

“Ahh, Saff, I’m so happy!” she declared, holding her arms out wide and soaking in the atmosphere. “All these people, happy, because of us! It’s so good to be back here, in a place where good can still happen. Ten years… ten years I’ve been stuck in the Hells… but this… this is everything I dreamed of coming back to!” 

Saff could hear the emotion in her voice, even see tears forming in her eyes as she spoke. 

“Well… almost everything,” she said, lowering her arms and looking at Saff with a playful smile. “Now I just need to find a fire-retardant lover to get lost in all night.” She paused and glanced around with a cheeky grin. “Where’s Wyll?”

Saff couldn’t help but laugh.

“I feel, for his sake, I need to remind you he’s not fire-retardant,” she teased. 

“I know. Believe me, I know. Not a moment goes by where I don’t curse the world for it.”

“Maybe we need to find you guys a potion of fire resistance.” 

“You know, that might help,” she laughed, then went back to looking round. “Hang on - where is Wyll?” she asked, realising she couldn’t actually see him anywhere. Saff looked around too and realised he was nowhere to be seen. “Shit,” Karlach swore, suddenly feeling guilty. “I shouldn’t have left him…” 

Saff felt her heart sink too. Had Wyll really only been staying around cause Karlach had made him? 

“If he really doesn’t want to be here… then maybe it’s better to let that happen,” she said sadly. 

“Maybe… but just because he doesn’t want to be at the party, doesn’t mean he has to be on his own,” Karlach decided. “I’ll go find him.” 

“You sure? He wouldn’t want you to miss the party,” she said, knowing how much Karlach had been enjoying herself. 

“I’ve been partying all night. I’ve loved every moment of it, but right now… I want to be with him,” she said softly. The sincerity in her voice brought a smile to Saff’s lips. “Plus… I need to free you up to get someone else to dance with you,” she added playfully, throwing a glance in Gale’s direction.

“Pfft, I’ve tried. He won’t,” she said, shaking her head with a disappointed sigh. 

“Well you just haven’t tried hard enough! Plus, he’s had more to drink now,” she said with a grin. “Have a dance for me and Wyll. I’ll see you in the morning.”

With that she gave her a wave and headed off to find him. Saff sighed softly and glanced around. Shadowheart and Astarion were sat on a rock, sharing what was presumably the good wine, looking like they were judging everyone in the camp. They probably were. Lae’zel was talking to one of the tieflings, Halsin was talking to Zevlor, and Gale was by himself. Well, she decided, it was time to remedy that. 

He looked up at her and smiled as she approached. 

“Done dancing?” he asked as she sat next to him, lifting the bottle of wine that was sat next to him to offer her some. 

“For now,” she answered, holding out her glass. He poured the wine, giving her a generous portion. “Is this a different wine to before?” she asked, giving it a sniff. 

“Yes. I finished the other bottle,” he admitted. She chuckled softly and took a sip. “Where did Karlach go?” he asked, having clearly watched their conversation just now. 

“To go find Wyll.” 

He paused, frowned, then looked around, surprised to see that Wyll had, in fact, disappeared. 

“Huh… I didn’t even notice him leave.” He sighed softly and looked into his drink. “I hope he’s ok…” 

“I think Karlach’s going to make sure of that,” she said with a confident smile. 

“Heh, I hope you’re right. Hard to believe those two were enemies less than a tenday ago. They’ve become fast friends,” he said, and the way he said it implied he was well aware of the budding relationship between them. 

“They’re not the only ones,” Saff said, looking up at him. It wasn’t something she’d usually have the courage to say, but the copious amounts of alcohol were certainly helping in that regard. He looked at her in surprise at first, until a smile came to his lips. 

“No… I suppose they’re not,” he said softly. They held each other’s gaze for a long moment, before Gale spoke again.

“I never knew you were such a good dancer,” he complimented, lifting his glass to his lips and taking a sip.

“You think?” she asked, a slight blush on her cheeks as she looked at him. “Most definitely. Your dancing is like… poetry of the body. Beautiful, elegant… mesmerising, even…” he said softly. The blush on her cheeks deepened and she found herself almost too flustered to reply. 

“Well… next time, you’ll just have to join me,” she said, looking at him with a playful smile, hoping the blush wasn’t too obvious. 

“Hmm… you’re certainly tempting me to reconsider…” he mused, holding her gaze for a long moment… til he finally leant back a bit and lifted his cup to his mouth. “For now though, you look like you could do with a rest,” he said with a slight chuckle, which she had to agree with. 

The two of them sat quietly for a moment, enjoying the wine, the atmosphere, and each other’s company.

“Beautiful night, don’t you think?” Gale said after a while. “Nothing like a brush with death to make one appreciate the majesty of the celestial canvas.” 

“It’s stunning,” she agreed, following his gaze up to the stars. “I used to love stargazing back home when I was younger, in the orphanage. One of the books had all the constellations. I’d always try to find them, but I never could,” she admitted, chuckling slightly. He glanced down at her a moment, then back up at the sky. 

“Which ones did you look for?” he asked. 

“The Centaur. The Woman Warrior. The Huntsman,” she said, listing the first few that came to mind. 

Gale looked up, his eyes scanning the sky. He then raised his hand and pointed upwards. 

“See that line of stars there?” he asked, carefully tracing the line with his finger. 

“Where?” she asked, trying to follow where he was pointing. He glanced down again, then carefully leant down til his head was next to hers, adjusting where he was pointing to match her viewpoint. He moved his arm behind her slightly to rest his weight on. 

“There,” he whispered, tracing the outline of the constellation once more. “Can you see it?”

There was a pause, then he heard a small gasp. 

“Yes!” she whispered, elation in her voice. He smiled to himself, happy to hear her excitement. 

“That’s the Warrior Woman. And over here,” he started, moving his hand to another part of the sky, “rides the Centaur. Do you see him?” 

Another pause, followed by another squeal of delight. 

“I do!” She could hardly believe it. It had felt impossible to find them on her own, but now they were pointed out, she could see them clear as day. “They’re beautiful.” 

“They are, aren’t they?” he agreed, lowering his hand, but staying close to her. “They say in another thousand years he will complete his voyage across the sky and cross swords with the Woman Warrior again, as they did a hundred years ago. Do you know what happened then?” he asked, glancing to her. She shook her head. He looked back to the stars as he spoke. “It is a story of two lovers who sought the destruction of Waterdeep, and the heroes who defended the city. They say it was the hottest day of the year as a great female warrior and a heroic centaur engaged in an arm-wrestle in one of Waterdeep’s most famous taverns, Selûne's Smile, run by an avatar of the goddess herself. The cosmic alignment magnified the power of their contest, which mixed with latent magic amplified by the heat, to tear open a portal. Through that portal came the lovers Aviss and Fellandar, ancient enemies of the city, to wreak a path of destruction. Khelben Arunsun, the Lord Mage of Waterdeep, urged the warrior and the centaur to continue their contest to keep the portal open while the heroes Kyriani Agrivar and Onyx the Invincible pursued the lovers. Luna herself, Selûne's avatar, joined the fight, and with their strength combined they were able to banish the lovers back from whence they came, and the city was saved. The moral of the story is always check the constellations before starting an arm wrestle.” 

She laughed at what had sounded like such a serious story followed by such a nonsensical moral. 

“Did that really happen?” she asked, looking at him. 

“So they say,” he answered, looking back to meet her eyes again. He still hadn’t moved away from where he’d positioned himself earlier, and as they looked into each other’s eyes now, they were close enough to feel the other’s breath on their skin. 

“Wild things happen in Waterdeep, don’t they?” she said softly, almost a whisper.

“More than you could believe… you’ll have to come and see for yourself,” Gale replied. He knew he shouldn’t let himself give into this, but he found himself getting lost in her eyes…

“I’d like that…” she whispered, getting equally lost in his eyes, slowly starting to lean closer…

Above them, across the camp, Shadowheart and Astarion watched. 

“This has got to be it,” Astarion said, not taking his eyes off them as he sipped his wine. 

“It’s not going to happen,” Shadowheart said confidently, only half watching them as she drank. “10 gold says they’re sharing a tent by the end of the night.” 

“Ohh, you’re on.”

[ghostradiodylan]

I know there has been a lot of discussion about how the Quarry characters are described, but do you think they would describe themselves any differently?

I'm so sorry Kat, I wanted to take some time to think about this and then completely forgot it was in my ask box!

This is SUCH an interesting question with lots to consider. I think this depends somewhat on who they're describing themselves to, but let's imagine it's an honest self-assessment and not, like, trying to look good on a job cover letter or college entrance essay or something like that.

Jacob - This one's tough for me because Jacob seems to sometimes believe in his own hype, but he can also see himself as kind of a loser? Like, he prances up in his undies and tells everyone "I'm here to save you!" 😂 But he also mopes and cries and has a tough time even if we don't get the 'I'm not alive, I'm nothing' sad infected boy. I think Jacob sees himself as a leader even if others don't (and some do, I mean, look at Nick). I think he'd say he's brave (and he can be! he runs off in the dark after Abi screams, for example), optimistic, fun-loving, and loyal. He might not be aware of how impulsive his actions are, though he also might be after the extra night he orchestrated goes as badly as it does.

Emma - Emma causes a lot of strife for others in this game for someone who I genuinely think means well most of the time. She's trying to manipulate her friends in ways that she believes will be good for them, but not everyone welcomes her interventions. She has a flair for the dramatic and I feel like she knows that about herself and knows that she's performing a lot of the time. I think Emma would see herself as pragmatic, goal-oriented, charming, and entertaining.

Abi - Abi's a sweet, sensitive type and she seems to know herself pretty well. She's a rule-follower and a peacemaker and while she feels awkward sometimes, I think Abi has a way of putting others at ease. I think she'd describe herself as creative, empathetic, and conscientious, but she'd also admit to being a little timid and prone to over-thinking at times.

Ryan - Ryan also sees himself as a leader, even if he sometimes has trouble getting other people on board with that view. I don't think he sees himself as a brooding loaner, though he comes off that way, but he knows he's introverted and maybe he'd call himself introspective instead. Ryan would probably see himself as humble, dependable, strong-willed, and authentic. He knows he doesn't always come across as confident, but he does stick to his guns.

Kaitlyn - To me, Kaitlyn has the least emotional development of any of the characters, and while I love what we do see of her so much, I wish we saw more of what makes her tick. Kaitlyn's a badass and she knows it, but we see glimpses of a softer side to her with Abi and Dylan that imply she's got more depth to her than she lets on. I think she'd think of herself as self-assured, level-headed, sarcastic, and (sometimes brutally) honest.

Dylan - Dylan refers to his 'blasé' persona as a 'stylish nihilist' in the cut content, but I'm not sure he totally understands what that word means. Because while Dylan can be paranoid and even a little cynical, he's also incredibly hopeful and resilient over the course of the game. I think his self-description might change a lot depending on when you ask him and what path his character takes. But as far as his core personality, I think he'd see himself as intelligent, open-minded, funny (I don't think his humor is an act, I think he just plays up that side more when he's uncomfortable), and intuitive. He's also well aware of his own insecurities. Would he admit to being a hopeless romantic too? He'd probably prefer not to, but I think he knows.

Nick - We get so little of Nick, and what we do get can be tainted a bit by the way the werewolf infection affects him, but I think Nick is very candid about the fact that he can be a bit of a follower when he's around stronger personalities. He knows he has a lot of potential, but he's not sure what he wants to do in the future. I think he'd describe himself as respectful (and he is, until the whole infection thing happens), caring, and sociable, but also unfocused or maybe even directionless.

Laura - Laura's progression over the course of the game feels kind of like if Leslie Knope became a monster-hunting vigilante. Laura seems kind of type-A and perfectionistic, like she has a whole bunch of color-coded binders at home. But she also seems to think that just because she wants something to happen (like Max going to the same grad school as her, or them getting to come to camp a night early), that it will. I think she also knows herself pretty well. Laura would say she's self-assured, ambitious, steadfast, and resilient. She might not go so far as to say headstrong, but she probably knows.

Max - Lovable Max, so silly and so sweet, but he can be a touch gloomy and pessimistic too, especially when he's been kidnapped and is dealing with a mysterious supernatural infection (hard to blame him there). Max would describe himself as easygoing (pre-canon, at least), supportive, and friendly and I think he'd absolutely also cop to being sensitive and a bit meek. He does not mind being the 'malewife' to his 'girlboss' partner at all.

[noideawherethatcamefrom]

As a way of celebrating Pride Month I've decided to write posts about bisexual characters that are very dear to my heart. I have about 17 characters planned and I'll be working my way up to the ones who are truly inspirational to me. This is purely for my entertainment but you're more than welcome to hop on! We will start with...

Kikuta Masato

“Kikurin” from Love Shuffle

Kikuta Masato is a canonically bisexual member of the main cast of the Japanese romantic comedy TV series Love Shuffle. He’s a psychiatrist living on the highest floor of his apartment complex, neighbor to the other cast members. When they all get stuck in an elevator during a power outage and vent about their unsuccessful love lives, Kikurin proposes the game of Love Shuffle which has them switching partners every week until they find the right person.

Kikuta has a calm, collected, warm and optimistic demeanor. His apartment is filled with books and plants and he has a pet bird. He’s not afraid of trying bold, unconventional methods. Not only does he propose and organize the Love Shuffle game, he also invites his patient Kairi who suffers from schizophrenia and suicidal thoughts to join because he thinks it might help her mental state. During his first date with Mei he performs (fully consensual!) hypnotherapy on her. Despite his composed exterior we see him get passionate and even rough in bed with Reiko, much to her satisfaction.

But he also has a sad secret. He’s grieving the loss of his significant other. When Aiai hears his story and asks to be his girlfriend, offering to help fill the void in his heart, he declines her offer with a kind smile, advising her not to mistake pity for love. But a rumor spreads that someone who’s part of the game shares a striking similarity to Kikuta’s dead lover. Aiai and Usa go as far as to sneak into his apartment to find the photo of Kikurin and his dead boyfriend who strongly resembles their friend Ojiro. Kikuta catches them red-handed and even though the goofy duo are freaked out and shout “GAY!” when they see him, he patiently explains that he’s actually bi.

Unfortunately, the show treats Kikurin’s sexuality pretty awkwardly. It mostly serves as a plot device, the photo’s reveal being an episode’s cliffhanger. Aiai and Usa’s clumsy attempts at not outing their friend against his will are genuinely funny (flinching when hearing the word “bye”, etc.). I understand that their strong reactions are rooted in queerness still being a taboo in Japan in the late 2000s. What bothered me was the ominous aura of “Is Kikuta actually the villain?�� tied strongly to his sexuality. He’s shown looking at Ojiro in an almost predatory manner, hinting to the audience that he might try to take advantage of the other man, but he never does.

When Ojiro finds out about Kikuta’s late boyfriend, they have a heartfelt conversation about it. Ojiro offers Kikuta a few kind words that his dead boyfriend might’ve wanted him to hear which results in Kikuta bursting into tears and the two men hugging.

Overall, Love Shuffle is a hidden gem among J-Dramas, with a stellar cast of characters (Kikuta isn’t even my favorite one from the show!), unarming dorky humor and interesting exploration of topics such as relationships, depression, privilege. I remember watching the first episode with a friend. When the main characters, who at that point were strangers, got stuck in an elevator and debated peeing into paper cups while singing Dancing Queen my friend and I gave each other a knowing look. We were in for a ride. If you need some more convincing to watch it, you can read this spot-on review.

[system-of-a-feather]

I'm glad you're going hogwild on Bleach rn. It was also a major part of our childhood and development, and I feel like there's still a ton to get out of it, even from an older perspective. (Not trying to sound uppity or anything, I really love Bleach.)

What do you think about the idea of Ichigo as a CDD allegory? I don't think he was written with that in mind, but reading through the manga, there are a lot of scenes that make me go "hmMMMMMM."

(Never watched the anime, lol. Manga-only)

Funny you should ask that question. I have actually already made a very important post on the topic of Ichigo as a CDD allegory. /hj

Honestly though, I think its one of my favorite "not intentionally a CDD but very relatable as someone with a CDD". Like I'd have to get further into TYBW and later cause I know they expand and drop some lore secrets about the dynamic of the part (I was gonna edit that to be more accurate to the world context of Bleach but I felt that term is telling about how I feel about the allegory XD) that make up Ichigo's soul and shit.

I know a lot of what is revealed because as good as I obstained from a lot of spoilers, I actually heard a rumor that Hollow Ichigo isn't seen after the Aizen-Karakura town arc and I was so distraught at that that I let it be something I got spoiled on before it was announced that it would continue. At the time, I thought it upset me cause I thought the hollow stuff was cool, but that reasoning didn't really make sense to me because I was actually like *sad* in a "no thats not fair or right, hollow ichigo deserves to live too" which in hindsight, I realize was probably some not-entirely subconscious "no don't just delete and erase the existance of a part of yourself!!! You should make friends with them and make them your best ally!!! I want to see more HIchi and Ichigo interact ;w;"

and also

like

lowkey I had a Hollow Ichigo introject in my head that I didn't know about for the longest time so it was probably pretty personal

But personal shit aside, I honestly really do like it. I mean to some level - especially early in the series - its a lot of "oooooh spooky evil alter" vibes, but honest to god - and this is a controversial opinion - I think we need more nuanced "evil" alter representation rather than the elimination of the "evil alter" trope because shitty asshole alters exist and are actually common and I think its a lot more meaningful to show how two completely conflicting and otherwise aggressive towards eachother individuals can find a middle ground and empower eachother. Which is what Bleach does particularly with Ichigo and his hollow self and UNIRONICALLY the whole Bleach arc Ichigo has with his hollow self is incredibly similar to the "arc" that XIV and I had which, go figure. Me the Shounen Boy Optimist protagonist and a literal hollow ichigo introject had a similar arc to the Shounen Protagonist and Hollow ichigo. Do you see the shock in my voice?

Honestly if I have time and feel like it (unlikely since I don't often have time) I might put a longer opinion / discussion on it, but honestly, even outside of Ichigo, I think the way Bleach handles Zanpaktous and even stuff like Lillynette and Stark is just a really fun way to have a lot of plural / CDD adjacent themes and vibes without necessarily even being an allegory.

The idea of being able to have a manifestation of your soul and the power it has take a sentient form and the bonding, communication, and collaboration with said manifestation being the key to increased power and skill development is just??? The coolest thing?

Honestly I think Bleach has subconsciously informed a lot of how our system is structured and interacts in more ways than we are probably cognitively currently aware of and I think to some good level that whole just general vibe probably plays a role in it somewhere.

But man, I love this show. I honestly am genuinely thinking of returning to my natural autistic instincts and just chronically watching it whenever I dont have anything else to watch because I really DONT need to have a variety of shows to watch and honestly if something aint broke, why ever change it /hj

I can have a comfort anime smh

[rosewoodconch]

RWCH Readathon 2024: Day 10

Undercover Princess - Chapter 27

Im exhausted from work so these mught eb short and shitty

They really dont explain it properly

Ellies right about priscilla

I love the electrifyingness being brought up again

I wanna see jamie jump...

OH MY GOD WAIT THATS SO FUNNY

Im so sad for ellie. Her rumours are horrific and i wanna hug her

But on the other hand lottie has so many points

Like

Maybe trust is important

And he did save her

And also ellies reputation sucks, maybe his was the same

Like the assumptions

But love of your life is a bit far

Thats ellie. Not edmund

Jamie needs to calm down i swear he wasnt this intense before

But hes right obviously

She is putting ellie at risk

Like he didnt have to say shes childish and silly though

Cmon man thats awful

Yes ellie. Tell him

I really like how ellie handles this

She takes it seriously, and she tells lottie its okay to be optimistic, but she also tries to get through to lottie

Jamie cant shout at lottie

ROYAL ORDER

I love her

Shes so funny

But also oh my god imagine being at the whim of the royal orders of a 15 year old girl

Like genuinely

He needs so much therapy

Homework! Woah they really are students huh

American readers did they change that last bit from sleeping pills? What to?

One fown, two to go!

But really though they sprinkle in the seriousness of Jamies position but sont really address it until mucg later and its fum to reread knowing everyhting

[vacate-et-scire]

Hii, so this blue lock match-up event thing you’re doing sounds interesting so imma leave an ask… like you do. Okay. I’m going to try to be as detailed as possible.

Personality: I’m an Intj (so I’ve been typed) I’m not the best with the unexpected or things randomly changing out of nowhere. I like to know how everything is going to work out. I’m pretty good at predicting how things are going to go based on how things are. In my family I’m the middle child. So since my other siblings fight a lot I kind of have to be the bigger person and help them resolve it. I think I’m also pretty good at impressions, like changing my personality and voice. I think because of that I kind of forget how I’m supposed to act. And start thinking about which one am I… yeah I definitely got a problem. One of my siblings calls me a little like Deadpool. Hopefully she’s wrong. Some people tell me that my personality is pretty unpredictable. Since I could be perfectly fine one moment and then super angry the next. Like a ticking time bomb. I’ve also been called a sociopath… But I’m pretty sure that was just a lie. I’m also told I’m pretty helpful, responsible, and a hard worker when I want to be. I’m also pretty optimistic. Not in a happy go lucky cheery way. Just optimistic.. I’m also good at negotiating and convincing people. And very good at spotting lies and fakes. When I have a crush… I’m a little obsessive. Like all I think of is the at person and in my eyes they have no faults at all. And I want to know everything about them…but like without having to talk to them. But it’s also hard for me to get a crush and I usually fall out of it even faster. Actually I act kind of obsessive whenever I like anything. But then I loose interest and start hating it. Also I’m kind of a loner. And sometimes I say I’ll do something just because it makes someone else sad. And then I laugh at them. I’m also not a hugger. Well I gotten better about that but still. I don’t really like hugs all that much. I won’t complain if I get a hug I’ll just be kind of awkward. Oh also I like to argue. About anything. I like proving I’m right.

Clothing/Style/Appearance : Plain black or gray hoodies and jeans. I also wear graphic tees. And some shirts that are like black with white collars (kind of like Wednesday.) My nails are acrylics, almond shape, maroon with like a white bow on the ring finger and a gold glitter dot in the middle. My hair is done in either a ponytail or double dutch braids. I also have silver hoop earrings. My eyelashes are pretty long. And that’s all I’m going to say about my physical appearance.

Interests: I like reading. My favourite season is winter. I like rain and snow (separately not together.) Going to the movie theatre or libraries. I like listening music; Sabrina carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Ariana grande, etc. I also like knowing about other peoples interests and opinions. They might be wrong. But still. I’d listen. More or less. For my future I’ve either thought about either becoming a lawyer or maybe an engineer or architect. I’m not the best in soccer but if I ever went up against the supposed match-up in soccer and lost I’d kind of be angry despite it being expected. Honestly I think team sports are not for me because if I mess up it takes a toll on everyone but if I mess up by myself I’m the only one who has to live with the consequences. Oh I also like watching people fight. Like boxing or UFC.

My type: Someone around my age. Not a cheater (otoya, aiku.) Not annoying (igarashi.) Doesn’t show kindness for the sake of being kind, but genuinely. Not two-faced (looking at you Isagi.) Confident and intelligent and won’t cry or take it too seriously if I accidentally insult him. Likes to spend time together and won’t judge me. Pretty eyes. Nice hair. Not an annoying voice. Doesn’t like sitting around and doing nothing. Not pushy. Funny. At least taller than me. Confident enough in his abilities he doesn’t need to say it or have others say it. As smart or smarter than me. So then if I ever need help with anything I just ask him. Not very much into PDA. Doesn’t tease or at least not that much (it kind of annoys me.) Maybe not a feminine looking character either. (Chigiri and Hiori.) Because the more like a girl a boy looks the more I start to think it’s very likely he’s gay. No offence. No hate to chigiri. He’s cool and all but yeah.

I think this is pretty much my entire personality. I might have missed some things but whatever. I’m excited to see who you pair me with (based on my impossible personality and standards.) Good luck. And byee. 👋

Your Blue Lock Matchup: Reo Mikage

Reo is an excellent match for your complex personality and high standards. His mix of intelligence, confidence, and ambition aligns with your expectations while also being someone who can keep up with your strong-willed and sometimes unpredictable nature.

Reo is exceptionally smart, whether it’s on the soccer field or in life. He’s strategic, driven, and resourceful—exactly the kind of person you’d respect and rely on when needed. His confidence isn’t boastful; it’s quiet and self-assured. You’ll never find him doubting his abilities or needing validation, which makes him a great balance for your own sharp mind.

When you argue, Reo won’t flinch. He’d find your love for debate entertaining and would happily engage without taking things personally. He’d challenge you back, but only when it’s fun—if you get overly annoyed, he’s smart enough to know when to let it go.

Your dislike for excessive PDA and your awkwardness with hugs are no problem for Reo. He’d respect your boundaries, showing his affection subtly—like sending you a playlist of songs that remind him of you, remembering the little things you love, or brushing your hand as you walk together. He’s thoughtful in a way that feels natural, not overwhelming.

Reo is someone who knows when to relax and when to get serious. He’d enjoy spending time with you, whether it’s watching a boxing match or wandering through the library. He’s not pushy, so if you want alone time, he’ll understand. But when you’re together, he’ll make sure the time is engaging and meaningful.

Reo’s kindness isn’t shallow or performative—he’s genuine and selective about where he invests his energy. He’s not the type to let insults faze him; he’d probably laugh and call you out for being “such a brat” before moving on like nothing happened.

Reo’s charm, wit, and adaptability make him the perfect foil to your unpredictable personality. You’d both keep each other on your toes—him navigating your ticking time bomb energy, and you marveling at how he always seems to have things under control. He’d value your sharp insights, and you’d admire his resourcefulness. Together, you’d be an unstoppable duo: clever, dynamic, and endlessly interesting.

Reo’s occasional teasing might annoy you, especially since he’d find your reactions entertaining. However, he’d know when to stop before it becomes genuinely upsetting. Additionally, his ambition and drive might sometimes clash with your preference for knowing how everything will play out. Still, with your shared intelligence, you’d find ways to navigate these differences easily.

[enbyleighlines]

Leigh plays Tellius prt 6

It's time for the 4-part exp extravaganza that is Day Breaks!

I love how they imply that Soren's heritage gave him pro navigation abilities. Sure, Micaiah gets to see the future, read minds, and heal mortal wounds, but hey! At least Soren doesn't have to worry about getting lost.

I present this without comment.

I'm kind of sad that this forbidden bird magic never gets brought up again. All we know is that it's a song called the Dirge of Ruin. I imagine it's like a magic nuke of some sort? But sadly, we shall never know for sure.

This was the SECOND TIME I had to restart because of Ilyana. And look, I'm not foolish enough to rely on Shade, but twice I accidentally left Ilyana in the danger zone, and both times I was like well maybe she'll be okay. Shade has to trigger sometimes, right?

The answer is no. It never triggers. Shame on me for hoping.

I know what Ike means, but out of context, this line is so funny.

Also, for those of you who are wondering, this is Ike's reaction every time someone tries to set him up on a date.

Is this an unpopular opinion? Maybe it is. But I genuinely love Boyd's stupid Viking helmet and high fur collar. Also that custom-made axe? I named it Throwd.

That was a low blow, Boyd. I love how unamused Mist looks. She already knows he's about to say some dumb shit. I love Boyd, but he does have terminal foot-in-mouth disease, and he 100% deserved the smiting he got from Mist here.

Ike's growing exasperation with Oliver during this scene is so damn funny. I wish I had gotten the satisfaction of killing him, but unfortunately, Janaff swooped in to land the finishing blow before I could even get most of my units over the middle swamp.

I love Ike's genuine wonder during this scene. It's a nice callback to the base conversation with Devdan, where Devdan lectures Ike about slowing down to appreciate the simple pleasures of life, so that he doesn't get burnt out before the war even begins. Ike is a character who ultimately fights for the world and the people in it, because he genuinely cares. He's far from naive or optimistic, but his capacity for love, admiration, and respect for life is so wholesome. The horrors of war and the loss of his father initially makes this difficult for him, as he loses sight of anything but revenge, but Ike's journey is about ultimately remaining true to his character, even as he grows and matures.

I love how Sanaki phrases this: "You will resign yourself." It's clear to her that this is the last thing Ike wants, and doesn't bother to convince him that it's an honor.

Oh, Ike. Even as he resigns himself to receiving peerage, he cannot help but make his disdain for nobility crystal clear. This is another aspect of Ike I love so much. He absolutely despises the upper class, and he does not once try to hide it.

And that's the end of Day Breaks! I managed to get most of my A-team into second tier. I'll probably include an update of everybody's stats in the next post, since this is the halfway point of the game, and I want to get a sense of how close I am to achieving the goals that I set in the beginning.

[fear-tear]

Ten years ago, a not so funny story about me joining a Sonic Community for the first time

I should have known it wasn't a good idea.

Picture this: a "naive" young man who watched every Sonic game and every cutscene on youtube, a young man who enjoyed everything he saw, who didn't know about the people working behind it, who never saw the drastic change in character between Sonic and the Black Knight and Sonic Colors.

Ten years ago, Sonic Lost World came out.

That was the first time I ever saw Sonic showing emotions. Look at him, look at the poor hedgehog in the darkest moment of his life:

This scene right here actually made me cry. Like a freaking baby.

I was caught in a Sonic hyperfixation so severe I HAD to share my thoughts with someone else. What better place than a Sonic dedicated forum, right?

...yeah.

It was an Italian forum, so everything I'm about to quote is translated by myself the best I can.

So, I joined in for about a single day, and there was a thread named "(THE CHARACTER) Sonic the Hedgehog", and the opening post saying "What do you think about this character? What do you like or dislike about him?"

Many users said their own opinion, so I decided to share my pure genuine feelings with them. Here is my poem (a bit cringe nowadays, but I was absolutely sincere):

Only a month ago, for me Sonic was "simply" a great friend to spend time with, a hero moved by a beautiful mindset, to admire and to take example from.

But, you see, to this day I always looked at Sonic through the eyes of his friends. I put myself in the shoes of Tails, Blase, Chip. Shahra, in all those who met him and thanks to him they change their view on life for the better.

But Sonic, by himself, how is he exactly? What is in his mind? What does he do when he's all alone, in desperate situations? Does he still play the part of the brave and optimistic hero, to the point of being close to perfection?

NO.

Take his friends from him. Take his world from him. Take his reason for keep on fighting evil, take everything he LIVES FOR.

And you'll find out that Sonic is just a normal person. A person capable of experiencing human feelings. A person capable of being SAD.

I don't remember the last time I projected myself into a character like I'm doing with Sonic. I felt his loneliness, I felt his desperate desire to have someone to talk to, I cried for him.

And I realized that Sonic is, excuse me for repeating myself, a very normal person.

A person like us.

A special person.

...so. After I poured my heart and soul into this declaration of Sonic-ness, I expected at best a reply saying "nice post, it's obvious you adore Sonic!" or something like that.

But, no.

The reply I got was a flat, detatching reality check from none other than THE ADMINISTRATOR of the forum. Here it is:

If youn like the "human" side of Sonic, then forget about the videogames and go read the comics... The best of Sonic's personality is right there. SEGA has no idea how to use Sonic as a character... He almost feels nothing!

In the comic, you can see him cry, get angry, go nuts, and be an asshole.

At the end of the day, Sonic's reaction in Lost World, was already seen years ago in the Archie comics^^

Wow. What a way to welcome a newcomer in your community.

I could have accepted the suggestion better if they said "I suggest you to also check the comics", but to tell me to completely "forgot about the videogames" was kinda distasteful...

[you-can-be-what-you-want-to-be]

Alright then smarty pants what kind of weird niche of characters do YOU love?

Oh far weirder

fucked up guys with bats see

1 the batter from off

2 little slugger

3 any angery woman

any coward character (dustfinger, Douglas Effiel, ect)

sentient landscapes. Is it a town, a spaceship ai, and haunted house? Does not matter I love them

this is less of a love more of an annoyance of tropes but hate the whole thing with parasite characters that want a body being treated as evil. Bestie you want your body too?

anyone who is at least a little unsettling or outright creepy but in a fun happy autistic way (RAT ARCHIVE 81 MY BELOVED, L death note, mob psycho sometimes, mister teatime from discworld)

Class clown with bpd or something similar and trauma, makes references to voices in head (Hawkeye, Eiffel again, sometimes Juno Steele but he isn’t intentionally funny enough for this maybe)

any mute character I almost always fall in love with immediately no questions asked. Love me a mute character

NARRATIVES. The thing controlling them or people who are in them and know it. Narrator from Stanley parable, sans undertale, David Ward of Eskew, literally if you break that fourth wall and make it a little sad I WILL go feral.

give that bad boy parentification issues. Not parental abuse, parentification. (Martin Blackwood, Dean Winchester, ect)

Bad ass pushover who grows out of being a push over (David 7, Guillermo de la Cruz, Martin again-)

Any baby monster. No I don’t just mean Frankensteins where he legit did very little wrong and just needed love though he is included, I’m talking I watched Vivarium and saw that little coocoonest child destroy those peoples lives as part of a long chain of doing that and went “well maybe raise him better”. This also applies to species that are grown but are new to humanity and commit atrocious by accident.

characters who have so much love in them. Not necessarily babyish optimistic characters, but characters that will stop on a walk to check out the plant coming out of it and tells people openly that they love them and that’s their whole thing. Thinking Nona the ninth and Hawkeye Pierce again. Also Henry Oak Garcia

Any character that’s chill with death. Not suicidal, they just genuinely do not mind dying and see it as a very natural, easy, if not upsetting part of life when it happens to them ((still are against other people dying they are simply not scared of doing so (do not get me started on the graveyard book do not I am loosing my mind) thinking of Nona again also leave me alone))

my interests are very very specific but also I am very basic and will automatically eat this out of the palm of your hand if given to me

[complexhaystack]

Just started getting into Ted Lasso and couldn't quite stop till I finished S2 hurhur. What a lovely wholesome show with healthy masculinity, healthy femininity, healthy relationships - romantic and platonic, healthy ways of speaking about mental health, and healthy ways of coping with life. There are some painful moments for sure, but the characters are able to show us how it is possible to move through that pain with grace and with support, when one alone is not enough.

Some highlights I really enjoyed:

- Ted winning over practically every hard person he meets, with superhuman patience, kindness and grace

- Ted running away from his mental health but eventually working through it and developing a strong trust in his therapist

- Sharon being a fabulous therapist and still growing more fabulous after her stint with them. Her stoicism was very funny tbh. Oh oh I also am so glad they didn't make it into a romantic relationship between Ted and her - I think this show does male-female friendships splendidly. Hate it when shows perpetuate the "men and women can't be just friends" myth.

- Rebecca learning to stand up for her actual needs, not from spite nor from fear. And her transformation from antagonist to friend in S1.

- Keeley growing into her own amazing girl boss, and being one of the best friend shaped people one could ask for

- The notion of a male support group, the Diamond Dogs - beyond having support in a socially sanctioned team (like the soccer team)

- Beard being quietly supportive (and hilarious) and 100% behind Ted

- Roy Kent being a perpetual grouch with a heart of gold, knowing how to treat his team, his mentor, and his lady right (despite all the f bombs in between)

- Jamie's vulnerability when confronted with his douchebag father and the beautiful hug between two rivals. Also loved that he matured enough to be able to apologise genuinely several times.

- Sam being an outstanding gem of a human being, so optimistic and wise indeed

- The bartender Mae being a cool supportive gal with excellent common sense

- Higgins being so warm to his friends and so loving of his wife and family, and hosting the soccer team every year to give them a taste of home away from home

- Roy and Keeley's relationship, a beacon of healthiness (but please please don't break up in S3 for the sake of "growth" T_T - they do look like potentially on that path sometimes don't they T_T)

- The soccer team having hilarious and varied personalities and talents. Loved how Isaac does great haircuts. Hey actually, I like that many of the dudes in this show have their own talents beyond their profession. Higgins plays cello, Beard plays chess and dances like a cool maniac, Ted bakes incredible biscuits, Roy seems to do household chores really well!! How wonderful to be secure in one's masculinity and develop wholly as a person.

- I was rooting for Nate in S1 but they really made him horrible in S2 huh :(( S2 Nate puts S1 Nate in a particular light - his cruelty, insecurity and emptiness in full display :( I hope we see some proper redemption in S3 if Ted decides to forgive him, which I'm sure he will... I'm a bit sad that the POC in the diamond dogs became the "villain" because ultimately this is still a rather "white" show

- Rebecca declaring she hated her father and also having a fun time with her buddies at her awful dad's funeral

- Rupert Giles - er I mean Anthony Head playing Rupert Mannion - is so slitheringly vicious, it's delightful to see Head playing this character. I mean, from the kind, thoughtful and wise Giles to the strict, rigid King Uther to this snake of a Mannion, man he's really a good actor.

- Actually everyone in the show are fabulous actors. I'm so so glad Jason Sudeikis is getting the recognition he deserves - always really enjoyed his sketches on SNL, now his dramatic acting chops also come to play.

Lovely, lovely show. Shall probably start S3 shortly!!!