#ho boy i really went on a tangent here

[scamanderishredmayniac]

Sorry it took so long to do this. Anyways here goes nothing.

3 ships: oh boy this is hard, I’m not much of a shipper, it’s very rarely that I do. I tend to stick to cannon more, even in my writing. Although occasionally I’ll ship characters with OCs more than anything. Although there was a point after watching CoG, where I shipped (ok the NewTina fans are gonna flame me for this), Theseus witb Tina. 😁🙈 because in my head they just make a better match, and I did want NewLeta to be a thing. I just felt a connection between the two. But let’s be honest as much as I like the idea of Newt and Leta together, Imm acting sick of all JK’s characters falling for their best friends. It’s as though she has no imagination when it comes to love interests. Nearly every character in the Hp series ended up with someone from their friends circle, without really being adventurous and branching out and finding love in new places. You can have best friends or just friends from opposite gender, without falling in love with them you know.

I also shipped Attorny Whoo with Jin-ho, (I think that’s what his name was, can’t remember) but that became cannon, so can that really be classed as a ship?

I also kinda shipped Zukko with Kitara, I don’t know it just felt like one of those enemies to lovers kind of idea. I just liked the idea of him annoying her, and trying to win her heart Bollywood style. Like in Mr India or k3G, I’m trying to think of others, where it’s like “Tum? ya ha?” (Translation: you? Here?) Ha meh ya ha (yes I’m here) and then big grin 😁 and then later somehow he wins her over with something stupid. (Acting call me weird but that’s how I see in cannon Newt and Tina’s relationship starting with Newt being annoying to Tina, to then her thinking actually this idiots kind of cute). Oh sorry my thoughts went on a tangent and ran away with me.

First ship: Erm I actually don’t know. I might have shipped Snape and Lilly as well, because I liked Snilly better than Jilly. Ok only because I thought it was stupid she ends up with the guy she thought was a jerk. 🤷🏻‍♀️ just my thoughts. But that was short lived. I read loads of Snape & OC fanfic that I liked that better. Still don’t like jilly in cannon. Sorry.

Last song: Don’t know, can’t remember. I think it was a Bollywood song but can’t remember which one. Or it could have been a Dollywood song, 🤷🏻‍♀️ how could I have forgotten when it was only yesterday that I listened to music. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Currently reading: A song of ice and fire, book 1-4 of A game of thrones. So long man! Just finish already. Five thousand and fifty something pages. Oh man!

Craving: Nothing at the moment.

Oh man! It’s always hard to know who to tag. I don’t know, and anyone else who wants to play. Open tag!

Nine People You'd Like To Get To Know Better

thank you to @tadpal for the tag

3 ships: uhhhhhh dang i dont really ship so much just have opinions on what canon is doing soo uh gwynplaine+dea [the blueprint the icon the everything] higgs+zeetha [jock4jock] and how could i forget grimaud+milady everyone should ship grimmilady [it came to me in a dream and its such a concept]

first ship: ive been a consumer of media from a very young age and also have memory issues so i cant say for certain its the first but wesley+buttercup is a good bet

last song: desperate measures by marianas trench [ive been osscilating between pop punk and club bangerz to keep my energy up while sewing]

currently reading: technically nothing rn but ive been stopped halfway through the dracula caper for a while and i need to get back to it, also ive been flipping through vdb since my mom's reading it now

last movie: the second bourboulon trois mousquetaires! it was not good lol, and according to the rest of the watch group understanding french would not have helped me. lowkey i still hope they make a third one bc im soooo curious what the plan for this setup is

currently craving: a fanciful fruited beverage

tagging: @mothqueton @irianeth @caecilian-king @counterwiddershins @amypihcs @fwipination @gato1523 @earthly-apples @pilferingapples is that nine?? i think thats nine

[pangolin-404]

I really like seeing people interpret who turns into what post-ink. Shawn often ends up a Piper, Lacie ends up a Fisher or animatronic, and Grant ends up a Striker. Which is fascinating particularly on Grant's case because I have no idea where it came from. We only have two audio logs for him and one is literally just the sounds of him dying. He just happens to fit into the three musketeers slot alongside other the other studio staff that don't appear in-game.

The only info about him is in the employee handbook, which very few people really talk about, so it can't have that much information. He's one of the staff we know the least about.

Anyways I want to rant about my Grant because he's a disaster, so:

His crippling self doubt is one of the only things keeping him from quitting JDS. He snarks about Joey behind his back, mostly to himself when he thinks nobody's watching.

Drinks more coffee than Jack, which is a lot of coffee. His caffeine addiction doesn't help his self worth. He literally can't function without it, or he'll get splitting migraines worse than what he usually gets. He doesn't want to keep getting up to get more, so he stews in his own exhaustion after he downs a cup.

Sleep? He practically lives at the studio, and his apartment is honestly not that much better than his office. He commonly experiences all the fun side effects of sleep deprivation: Walls, floor, and ink seem to move and 'swim', hallucinates things in his peripherals, looses his balance easily, he can barely focus on whatever he's looking at

He works best and most efficiently when he's well rested and. Y'know, prepared for the day. So while usually he's very good at math and financing, over time he gets worse and worse and his mistakes pile up

Joey's spending, low pay, and willful ignorance of advice led to Accounting going empty. Grant is the only one left.

His workspace is a mess. You can barely see the floor under all the spilled ink, discarded papers, unfinished taxes and bills, apology letters never sent out to the employees, etc

He's introverted and constantly worries over what people think of him. He overthinks every little thing and worries he could be coming off as rude, disinterested, etc.. He never starts conversations and struggles to keep a conversation going.

He doesn't have any friends, and Jack is the one he's closest to, just because they see each other in the break room for coffee refills occasionally

Joey just. Doesn't get money. Taxes, bills, paychecks, it all kinda goes over his head and he's very blunt about not wanting to learn. He believes everything can be fine as long as you dream hard enough

Needless to say Grant loathes him

But he also wants to please him, so. He does his best. He cuts corners and tries to delay bills as much as he can, and his inability to fix everything leads to him constantly feeling inadequate.

Norman and Bertrum scrutinized him to the point of paranoia. Norman was just trying to figure him out and psychoanalyze him from a distance, and backed off after a while. Bertrum wanted to thump him over the head for Bendy Land's tiny budget. He never quite let it go.

Lets out stress by scribbling nonsense on the back of unimportant papers. He probably just draws repeating patterns like mandalas and stuff like that

He's got jittery hands from stress and coffee. His handwriting is shaky and practically unreadable if he doesn't concentrate on making it neat

Has probably drank ink on accident before. Gotten an ink well confused with his mug, y'know. Never noticed it, but it's happened more than once and probably contributed to him looking like a ghost.

Talks to himself. Especially closer to his end, he'll mumbled and rave to himself about Joey and his own flaws. He'll calculate things aloud to focus on what's actually in front of him.

After the Inkening™, which will be explored in the Money prompt for the Ink Demonth, he becomes skittish and distrustful

Long story short, he was practically dead when the ink claimed him. He's in a weird unique limbo that can be lumped with Lacie and Sammy as creatures that are neither searcher nor lost one. He can't hold himself together physically, but he's somewhat there mentally. He's probably been in the well a lot due to his fragility. Hell, scaring him badly enough could get the well to yoink him.

Ink Grant is...very good at hiding. And camouflage. To say the least.

He'll 'collect' things he comes across. Paper, mostly. Or glass. Sometimes whole wooden planks. Occasionally he'll pick up a plush or cog, but those are heavy and weirdly shaped and don't stick to him as well. Ha...ha ha h a. a shapeless sticky man

He doesn't interact with ANYONE. The transition between studio and hellscape was violent for him. He doesn't remember his co-workers much if at all. He flees or hides at the sight of searchers or the Butcher Gang.

Hearing his audio log played stresses him out to the point of becoming potentially violent. Any forceful reminder of who he once was leads to hostility

He still likes doing math as an ink creature! He tried redoing what old finances he could find, but he only succeeded in going off the deep end because his scrambled mind isn't the best at attempting to sort out Joey's finances.

The mad writing was post-ink(see point above)

He's essentially the Jack Fain of Heavenly Toys. Lurks between the walls and just exists in level S. Alice isn't aware of his existence. Nor is anyone else.

After a Certain Event™ that is basically my AU's chapter 4 ending, he is chased out of hiding and runs into Lacie. If he were human, the sight of her probably would've put him into cardiac arrest, so ink him doesn't react well to her either. Though that isn't set in stone because chapter 4 is when everything goes off the rails and subject to change

[youremyonlyhope]

War of the Sontarans

I literally just woke up from a nap and turned on my TV so I may have missed like 2 seconds of the episode while fumbling half-asleep with my remote.

Oooooooh. Howl’s floating castle? No but seriously, that floating house looks great. Nightingale?? We’re gonna meet Florence Nightingale? Ooof someone from the past knowing the name of the Sontaran is not great. I almost forgot about this throwback Sontaran design. Sontar-HA! Heyyyyyyy Greyworm! The floating diamond sounds familiar. Oooh no I couldn’t even admire the (I can’t remember what I was going to write here I got distracted) NO DAN DON’T YOU DARE GO GRANDFATHER EFFECT ON ME. OH NO NOT YAZ TOO. Awww I wanted to stay with this Mrs. Seacole and her British Hotel. Oh no the Tardis.  Oh thank god he’s just home. Please don’t let it be Angels or something about to pop up... OH SHOOT. CURFEW. HISTORY DID GET REWRITTTEN. I didn’t even get to comment on Yaz speculating that because they started turning blue and fading. Yeah a universal GPS would be nice. Oh it’s the 1820s guy. I still forgot to look up the script or summary of last episode to remember what his part of the episode was. And just like that, he’s gone again. I’m very confused by how he fits in. WWTDD. Cute. Ew, Sontarans that have always been here is so much worse than than just arriving in the 1800s. OH WOW. They really let the Sontarans take over Russia and China. Strax, is that you, sweetheart? Nope not Strax. Also no, I don’t know why I just called Strax sweetheart. My fingers wrote it before I could stop it. Also I’d never heard of Mary Seacole before but I love her. THE SHADOW PROCLAMATION. That hasn’t been name-dropped in a while. “The Doctor” *Gasps!* PRESIDENT? FORMER PRESIDENT? DOCTOR, WHEN WERE YOU PRESIDENT OF GALLIFREY? Did I know that already? When was this? Did I miss that in New Who or is it Old Who? Oooooh Doctor, I see your commander side coming out. Sontar-ho? That’s new. Also, I was wondering for second if he really WAS Strax and that this would be an explanation of how he ended up in Victoria times... then I remembered this is a Flux timeline so never mind. But that could have been fun. Oh wow, only been here 2 days in the present day, but forever in the past. Interesting. Hmm. I remember what I was gonna write earlier! I couldn’t even appreciate the elegant robes and make up before seeing some of them were burnt up. Time is evil? Huh? And I missed that last word, was it “seek its home”? Or its own? Eww the tongue. Flux strategy?? “And also, I wanted to ride a horse.” Understandable. Hey don’t point a gun at the future President of Earth and former President of Gallifrey!

Oooh calling her Doctress. Remember everyone being scared they’d change the Doctor’s name to Nurse because Missy chose Mistress over Master as a woman? Also, wow that was a sexist time in the fandom, they really collectively forgot that women can be Doctors and not only nurses, and that nurses can be men. Also, Master and Mistress are equal titles and only differ by gender so it makes sense that Missy could have either chosen to go by Mistress or just stuck with Master.

Oh boy I went on a tangent there.

Ew why are Blue and Grey Voldy here? Also, I think I should rename them to Purple and Blue in this lighting since that Grey now is much Bluer. Ok that’s not good Tempura command. Love it. I love that Dan doesn’t know the word temporal, but instantly recognizes Mary Seacole. “I’m gonna Wok right outta here.” Oh Dan... oh no... not the dad jokes... you’re not even a dad... Wait, is he a dad? I LOVE the trim on their coats. I hate them but I love the embellishment. I like the gold lipstick and veins up the face along with the gold eyeliner. Great design, I just can’t stand to look at them. Which I guess is the point. Very good job. YAY THE DOGGY’S BACK. I CAN’T REMEMBER YOUR NAME SORRY. “Soldiers pay the price for their commander’s mistakes.” Yep. “Gold star, and a sticker, for Ms. Seacole!” Yes! Well deserved. I did not like the dramatic music that played when the Doctor told the General to follow... Did not like that all. I’d just been thinking “Hmm... 20 minutes left. Maybe this plan will be one that works” and then that music played. These ships look like bigger versions of the transporter Mary had in Torchwood. That shot of them falling out the ship, hilarious. Ok. I cannot REALLY blame the commander guy for doing that, but yeah not great. “For your guilt you mean? Sometimes, men like you make me wonder why I bother with humanity.” You bother because of people like Mrs. Seacole. Oh the TARDIS is so sick. Oh shoot there isn’t time to find Yaz this episode... Ewwwww spider web things. Ok never mind, there’s enough time to find her, just not to save her. God I adore Grey/Blue Voldy’s coat so much. I don’t like Purple/Blue Voldy’s coat as much but it’s still nice. But Grey/Blue Voldy? That coat’s amazing. I honestly want to make it. It’d be a good opportunity to practice beading.

Ugh I guess I should call them by their actual names since this episode’s lighting made their colors look different. I don’t wanna though.

For anyone confused (including my future self since I’m sure if I reread this years from now I will be confused) Blue/formerly-Grey Voldy is Azure, and Purple/formerly-Blue Voldy is Swarm. Maybe I should go add this to my last episode’s post too.

Anyway, that was a fun episode! I gotta go read up on Mary Seacole now and ask why my education left her out (I assume because we’re American).

Oh shoot, while rereading I nearly forgot about Howl’s floating castle. I’m excited to see that again. Hopefully they go inside it.

[arreisstorm]

Ok, yes, I know this is late, but unfortunately I have this thing called college and between classes and work, I didn't have time to make a post right away 😔

Can I just start out by saying one thing?

Yoongi + MAX = a match made in heaven!

They compliment each other so well and Max's voice is so flawless and beautiful to hear!

Don't even get me started on the MV! Watching Max dancing with his pregnant wife, seeing the love they have for each other was so incredibly sweet! I'm so happy for them and their soon-to-be addition to the family!

And if you have an doubts about the absolute respect that Max has towards Yoongi, well, here's a fun little tidbit to put your mind at ease:

That's right, this is Max's personal album that he's been hard at work on for months, yet he was more than willing to hand over control to his bro Yoongi, not only allowing him to listen to the whole album ahead of time, but also letting him choose which song he wanted to feature on and add whatever he wanted to it. Do you realize how much trust you have to place into a person to be comfortable enough to do that? It definitely speaks volumes towards their friendship! I think the only moment that can top this is the fact that Max and Emily actually took the time to learn Korean so that they could renew their vowels by using Yoongi's verse. 😭😭😭

I don't know about you, but seeing that kind of commitment and how they used their display of love to completely destroy the preconceived idea that language barrier have to have limitations, well it was such a inspirational and heartwarming scene.

Yoongi's lyrics literally became a special love language for them I can't stop crying 😭😭😭😭

And speaking of his lyrics...Ho boy! Here's where the waterworks really let loose!

Did you see he included ARMY?

"u AR e MY light"

Yep, Min Yoongi did that 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

All throughout his part Max is singing to his wife, doing everything he can to let her know that she's basically the reason for his whole existence, but in Yoongi's verse he's singing that about us, to us.

"A ray of light that split my shadow

You, who turned my life that was once only dark upside down"

If you've been ARMY for awhile now, then you also know the kind of hardships that Yoongi had to face in his past, how he had a severe battle with depression and drinking, how he watched his one true friend turn into someone he could no longer recognize, how he received very little support when he began to pursue his dreams, and how alone he felt even with all the bright arena lights that were surrounding him.

"me, who was just insignificant before meeting you

ay me, who was insignificant

before that, my life was just all

rushing to get through the day half-heartedly "

In "The Last", on his mixtape, Yoongi poured his heart out confessing how he once found himself on the brink of ending it all, the world and his own thoughts just felt too much to handle, but as heartbreaking as that song is to hear, in the ending verses he also mentioned how something eventually changed all of that and impacted his life for the better; he had finally found his source of strength, BTS and ARMY. It was his boys and this family who helped bring light to that darkness, who helped him understand his worth and that he is loved.

That why these last lines in his verse for "Blueberry Eyes" hits so much harder.

"u AR e MY light,

companions who are each other's support, each other's anchor"

For years now Min Yoongi has brought so many of us a sense of comfort and reassurance through his words and music, he's been a safe place for us to confide in and a shoulder to cry on. Just as ARMY has shown him love, Yoongi has returned those same feelings multiples times back to us. If you're ARMY then you know that BTS's journey has been anything but easy, they've had to fight hard for their success while facing so much hatred and prejudice along the way, but together they managed to overcome it all and prove the haters wrong. People wonder why we are so passion and "insane" all the time, well it's because of the belief we have in our boys, it's because we know what they have done for us and how much they mean to us, it's because of how proud we are of them. Like Yoongi said, ARMY and BTS, we are each other's support, each other's anchor. Even with all the fame and success we still continue to keep each other grounded, because, in the end, it's not about stats or records, as long as we are always there by each other's side, that will be enough.

Ok, sorry, I kind of went on a little tangent there, so to wrap this all up and end it with some more love for this beautiful friendship that Max and Yoongi share, I'll just leave you with this:

Max is a real one, one who ARMY love and know we can trust. That's a very rare find when it comes to BTS, because, like Max said, we're already aware of so many people using them for free publicity and popularity spikes, they could care less about the boys or their music, but this friendship, it's authentic, its blatantly obvious how much he cares.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[icannott]

Defendant (Bill Denbrough x Reader)

Requested: yep!! by anon “Hi, you're oneshots are adorable! May I please request a Bill Denbrough x reader where the reader is all affectionate and protective towards Bill and Bill gets all flustered and soft and just fluffy fluff yee? And can the reader kinda act a bit like Richie sorta??”

Pairing(s): Bill Denbrough x Reader, Richie x Eddie (Reddie)

Warning: none i think

a/n: please keep the requests coming y’all i love them

gif cred belongs to @gusdapperton​

You and Richie bicker constantly. No matter the topic, whether it be some new song that came out, ranging to something you did in class, you two could on for hours. 

This time around, it was about relationships. No one had any idea how it had started, they had just found you two fighting, your face absolutely glowing red and his adorned with an irked expression.

“How long has this been going?” Bev asked when her and Ben arrived at the scene, where Mike and Stan were sitting off to the side, seemingly unnoticed.

“They were fighting when he got here,” Mike said absently, eyes glued to your gesturing.

“When was that?” she asked. 

“Thirty minutes ago.”

Eddie arrived next, and rolled his eyes as Richie went on a tangent that made your face scrunch up in disapproval. You shook your head the entire time.

“I got my money on [name],” Stan said after hearing your surprising backlash. 

“How much?” Eddie asked.

“Twenty bucks,” he prodded.

Eddie considered. Then shrugged, nodded, and shook Stan’s hand.

“W-What’s worth t-twenty?” Bill aske’d as he finally approached. Then he addressed the bickering and sighed. “Never mind. What’s i-it about?”

“I think chemistry class?” Mike said, shaking his head.

“No, I thought it was about attention,” Ben said. “Like paying attention? Being attentive?”

They all shrugged.

“You know, this argument wouldn’t have started if you would just admit that I’m right!” Richie exclaimed. “I’m better!”

“Absolutely not!” you counter with a scoff. “Name one nice gesture! One!”

He sucked in breath, pondering.

“It shouldn’t take that long!” you laughed. “I can fire off easily! Movies, home, flowers, friends! It all matters!”

“Does it feel like they’re leaving words out?” Mike asked. They all nodded.

“I do other things!” Richie demanded.

“Oh, really? Name one!”

He hesitated.

“It shouldn’t be that difficult!” you laughed. “It’s not hard to admit! Just say I’m right, and we can forget this whole argument.”

“No! Because that’s not the truth!” he stomped. They flinched. “I’m a good boyfriend! And so is Eddie!”

Eddie flushed. Everyone gasped. You two payed no mind to them.

“And I never said you two weren’t!” you defended. “I just said you shouldn’t underestimate Bill as a boyfriend so quickly!”

“Wait what?” Bill stammered.

You immediately whipped to him, pointing. “You stay out of this, my sweet boy.” He flushed as you turned around and kept up your defending.

Eddie nudged Bill, snapping him out of his flustered state. He nodded to the bickering pair and Bill nodded. They moved toward the two of you and grabbed you both from behind, pulling you away from each other. 

Bill took your hand in his when you were far enough away to not need to be dragged. He laughed when you took a deep breath.

“Y-You don’t have to d-d-defend me a-all the time, you kn-know?” he hummed. “E-Especially to Richie.”

“I know,” you hummed, leaning against his shoulder. He kissed the top of your head. “I just couldn’t let him get away with that one.”

“Ho-How many t-ti-times have you said that b-before?”

“Please don’t remind me.”

He laughed again, making you smile. You would defend that boy til the end of time if that’s what it took.

[smutav]

Behind the scenes

Part ( 1 - 2 - 3 - here )

oh boy the characters!! Part 4!! the final one for the good at being bad collab assets We’re mostly going to focus on the building of the vagabond since with his hair he just has more bits to him ((if youve seen my character building streams this might be familiar))

so this is the buildup of the base sketches ((his face is still there the facepaint is on the overlay layer so it blocks it out mostly))

also here’s his shirt design w the original sketch without anything blocking it

there still tends to be slight differences when the build gets finished

granted I cant go in depth on all his bits since theres a lot

but since his bangs are chunky i had to build him an actual hairlins which is the first time i did this

((ignore that he got crooked I wound up playing while thinking of what i should focus on))

so normally i have hair layers on top of the base head but since its a tight bound ponytail I just have the back of the hair and then the green cuts out of the skull oh!! and its controlled by deformers

so the bottom moves where the hairline is and the top one can adjust the zone thats cut

now i’ve done a few jackets, mad kings whole upper body toppings are wild I dont even know if i fully get how it works anymore like here let me show you a spoiler of a thing im working on currently ((08/16/2020)) 

he going to be holding things this is VERY rough. so you see that arm?? thats half detached??

thats because of this motherfucker “oh tav why is it red?” well you see its disabled “well why would you do that is that the problem” oh ho ho,,,

if its on HE DONT HAVE AN UPPER ARM now why,,, why would that be?? well the collar cuts the sleeve right?? i guess?? i dont know why??

so this whole thing ((even tho most of it isnt visible)) is cutting the sleeve but verily!! we just need to make it so then it cuts from AFTER the collar is being cut

so thats the entire jacket,,, 

ah yes progress. honestly i’ll probably have some solution for this specific scenario and have this animation posted by the time this part comes out which is why i included the date.

so we’ve got a bunch of confusing cutters and such in the jackets and back to vagabond

his jacket is split left and right, the collar is a separate piece but they can both be effected by the same deformer ((which is something i learned from the fish

so the collar moves with the jacket woo!! an incredible win!!and if the top one stays straight normally it doesnt mess with lining up with the back collar too bad

this is our full lineup though

((yeah vagabonds posed from me playing shush)) now GAVINS arms i think are a bit long?? but its hard to tell because THE BOY DONT GOT LEGS

also i tried a similar collar trick, this cutter cuts the shirt but also can move the collar

with mixed results ((really i think if i add some deformers specifically for the tips of the collar but gavin will only deserve touch ups like this when he gets legs

also under the hood he has the same hairline cutter

and his bangs are in three parts for floof control also he’s the first character i rigged with an actual nose

and his shirt is very lumpy but its separate because its supposed to be tucked into his pants and those’ll be able to sit over. I set him up with like the intention of if need be i can give him legs

now Rimmy tim is very interesting since,,, ive rigged him before

there are some differences right off the back like colours and uh, fahc rimmy tims sunglasses are gradiented side to side?? I straight up forgot how to fix that and now i remember so maybe it’ll be added to the fix list

And tiny tim has the same style of jacket as mad king ((see that was a totally relevant tangent)) and big rims got the same style as vagabond

there used to be some fixes i needed to do with tiny tims hat but I actually went through a lot of my notes before moving because i had to start fresh with my stickies

the main issue is since tiny tim’s got just *the smallest* legs his boots cut into bending his leg too far and thats why im not sure i can use him as much its very limited mobility altho aesthetically those booooots *sob*

Thanks for reading this through though, its been fun to break down my processes and if you’d like to see more I could probably do breakdowns on some other projects/rigs in the future so let me know!!

now here’s the bonus i teased in the props part, originally i was intending to release this as a bonus context but i never got past the sketch stage

I had trouble figuring out a style for fahc since i hadnt drawn them much before so i doodled up a jeremy and rimmy tim filling the duffelbags im going to toss it under the cut because its slightly nsfw

yeah they got bags of dildos ((well over the legal limit)) it was needed for the plan of course this is a fahc heist after all

[steve0discusses]

Yugioh S4 Ep 4: Pegasus and His Unlimited Moxie

So, I’m finally back after that long--time--when I was sick, then busy, etc etc. Long story, I peaced out from social media for the large part, and my method for finding solace mostly involved watching so much  “big living in a tiny house.”

Those houses are so damn tiny.

And now I feel better, so lets get back to business.

Just FYI, this is a midweek post because this weekend I’ll be exploring a part of California I didn’t know existed before my friend was like “Napa’s booked, so we’re going South to do our wedding in the other wine country” and it’s like “the hell are you talking about other wine country?????”

So I might be driving to a large cardboard cutout of a winery, and me and 400 guests are going to just stand in front of it and pretend that it’s real for a couple days. This means that I will probably make only like maybe three updates this month and I’m just going to have to come to terms with that.

And in case you are wondering (you’re not) the bye bye bye mashup dance we’re doing for the wedding is going great. It’s really freakin great that the Seahawks decided to choose this week to steal our thunder, so now everyone at this wedding will think we’re just all really into Football. (I’m just telling you that because I feel a need to complain so thank you for listening.)

But anyway, it was a nice surprise amongst all this *stuff* I didn’t really want to do, that this particular episode of Yugioh is pretty great. Like...guys we get Pegasus, we get Kaiba having a meltdown, we get PEGASUS. Like I forgot how much I like Pegasus.

So first off, Yugi and friends decided to watch the news about the whole shpeal from last episode, probably because each and every one of them was certain they all shared the same collective fever dream.

Something to note about Yugioh is they use a lot of near future tech, and I don’t know how much of that sci-fi goes completely over the heads of kids nowadays since this has become so normal. But yo, people in 2002 were still using AOL.

A lot has changed in 10 years. Just let that sink in, babies in the back.

(read more under the cut)

Also, please turn your entire attention over to this

Man.

the weird orange cookie on this painting is what really gets to me. It looks like a handmade soap. Because in order to soothe my soul during this stressful month I also watched a lot of cold-process soap making videos.

*quickly looks up to see if there’s Yugioh Soap*

Yeah that doesn’t exist. Hey do you think that if I sent in a Yugioh soap design into Royalty Soaps she’d actually make it? I mean, she did Studio Ghibli. This is just Studio Ghibli but on fire and with terrible hair and actually very different.

(And yes, I did, just now, in fact, make a soap design that I’m absolutely mailing to Royalty Soaps. I’ll put it at the end. No idea what it should smell like, mostly because the last thing I want to do when watching Yugioh is think about how ANY of this smells.)

See, tangents like this are why I don’t have more time.

Anyway, Yugi recalls that he was supposed to *do a thing* but also recalls that he was given really no instructions at all.

When something absolutely wonderful happens.

Y’all I was like shouting at the screen “BE A TAPE BE A TAPE BE A TAPE” and lo and behold:

Dude. Pegasus is such freakin mastermind. Remember that this show started out with them streaming video on a computer, and what did he decide to do? He sent them a tape. Pegasus knows FULL WELL how much they want to see this tape but at the same time...don’t want to watch this tape, and what follows is everyone deciding if they should or should not open Pandora’s box. A Pandora’s box they opened once before and then murdered Grandpa entirely by accident.

I can’t believe they sat on this joke for four seasons. It’s such a freakin good joke.

So of course it’s the same kid who once decided it would be a great idea to put together a puzzle that came in a box that said “WARNING THIS GODAWFUL THING KILLS PEOPLE” who decided to just stick this in the VCR when everyone else was fighting and no one was looking.

And, this is not a joke, this is literally how Pegasus decided to open this tape by scolding him for not keeping in touch when Pegasus tried to kill them not once but multiple times back on murder island. Pegasus thinks this deserves him at least a Christmas card.

Something that’s also very Pegasus is that he um--doesn’t even bother wearing an eyepatch nowadays. He’s just got...one eye now...just an empty socket that he covers with bangs and is like “ya I dare you not look at it.”

And then on, this kid’s show, they basically go through the checklist of things that are “things a child abductor would ask you to do”

And that’s it. That’s the whole tape. It’s the end of the world and Pegasus wants to get one last good prank in before it all goes belly up.

And it worked really good on Joey. But unfortunately, did not seem to phase Yugi.

And then after this, the show gets very sidetracked by some side characters that are...they still exist.

First of all, how much did Weevil spend on a bug drone? Like...what’s this guy’s day job?

Second of all, Rex and Weevil live on some weird brain plane, where they’re pretty sure that the upper echelon of card people are all in love with eachother (which, I don’t blame them, I’ve seen tumblr, it does give that impression if you’ve never watched this show). What they don’t realize is how badly each of the upper echelon of card people want to murder the Hell out of eachother, wipe eachother’s brains, and blow eachother up on a 6000 ft tower on an abandoned island.

so I guess...Unfortunately...Rex and Weevil are...still with us. Their reasoning is kind of weird--they want super good cards--but like...what’s the point of having super good cards if you’re still Rex and Weevil? Rex is so bad at cards we didn’t even get to see him lose in S2.

Also, the biker gang is back, and I still don't know their font color because they’re in dim lighting in this scene so I’ll just use these temporary font colors for now.

So, having done his one last good Joke (and maybe the only good joke that Pegasus has ever made) Pegasus decided to sit and wait for someone to do a murder on him. I mean he’s not psychic anymore, but he’s figured he’s screwed enough people that this was how he was going to go out anyway.

Mai....Valentine....

So I guess she’s back for another season? It’s weird, she made one cameo and then that was it for this episode, but it was very clearly Mai Valentine. Bro brought up that they had to make her a villain again, because she’s literally their only girl villain and I was like “no that’s, not right they’ve got...” and then I kinda sat there for a couple of seconds and I realized “oh dude there’s only been one girl villain so far in all of Yugioh!” and he was like “YEP.”

Because both of us completely forgot about Rebecca until I wrote this in this post and he was double checking it just now. My apologies to the Rebecca stans.

And then Yugi decided to let us know something extremely disturbing about his curse. The showed played it off like this was a cute thing you would want to have happen. But no. No one would ever want this.

Ho boy! They share FEELINGS?

So like...

...bear with me here--when Yugi is scared, Pharaoh gets scared. When Yugi is tired, Pharaoh feels tired. When Yugi has a complete meltdown basically every single day, Pharaoh reaches for his Tums. So um...I have to ask the question...

So who’s dating Tea? Yes, I know the real answer is neither of them, but who is the one that keeps bringing forth this ship that this show is supposed to be shipping? Both of them??? I mean they have the same feelings, and before I was like, well, I’m sure Pharaoh just kinda turns around and watches brain TV when Yugi and Tea talk about...deadlifting, or whatever she’s into, but nah he’s like...he’s got the same feelings as Yugi.

Does that just...never bother them? Like...they never get jealous? Ever?

It’s so freakin weird.

This whole sequence was Yugi being like “You can’t keep a secret from me Pharaoh, I will instantly know since I can feel you lying to me” and it’s like hot damn that’s a big lore drop that they just hop and skip away from.

So the next day they go to the airport and just go unsupervised to a foreign country.

This makes complete sense on Gramps’ part, because he was exploring Egyptian caves most of his life, so in comparison, California is baby town and Yugi would be fine. Clearly Gramps doesn’t know enough about Oakland.

Then again, Grandpa spent a very long and mysterious time in the Middle East raiding so many tombs and stealing an entire artifact that contains the whole history of a lost age of Egypt and an actual Pharaoh’s soul so like...probably wouldn’t get you past TSA in 2002. He’d send off like every red flag warning in the airport.

Give me an Air Joey spinoff this instant, Yugioh, you cowards.

It’ll be just like Wings, except all the pilots are very bad at their job and haunted by multiple ghosts.

There’s a very long pissing segment where there was no piss, but Rex begging Weevil to let him piss in the airplane. It’s about as much as you can expect out of a Rex and Weevil segment. And like, basically at this point, Rex and Weevil are married, yet this ship is never, not once, ever surfaced in my feed of fanart I see out of y’all.

And I don't blame you.

Now, when we get to California, we find out that Croquet either went completely gray or was replaced with an identical twin and also...

GUYS IT’S MY HOMESLICE.

Which doesn’t really look like this, PS.

So bro has already told me that they’re going to San Fransisco next episode or so (OMG I’m so excited to talk about it), so this is absolutely supposed to be SFO in the show. (maaaybe Oakland Airport? But I super doubt it)

Most people outside of CA don’t know the vast scale of Bay Area and that the San Fransisco Airport is not very well named since it is...not close to San Fransisco at all.

So, I’m going to guess that the show thinks they landed directly in the heart of SF. With the way this vista looks, I think they basically just painted the view from north of Downtown. Which is especially fun because that is a pretty bougie community and the thought of having just a major airport smack in the middle of it makes my heart warm and fuzzy because they have voted out an affordable housing community SO many more times than is morally acceptable. Serves you right, here’s your international airport across the street.

But Bro has warned me ahead of time that this season makes absolutely no sense geography wise...and I’m pretty stoked for that.

And then, as if reading my mind, Tea removes Rex and Weevil from the show, yet again.

Incredible that they got through customs like that, but they did arrive on a private plane, and maybe customs are different for them? I...don’t think it would be, even for a private plane, everyone has to go through customs. But, it’s a kids show, so Rex and Weevil snuck into America in a luggage bag, just like how Fox News warned us about.

Then again, I imagine that the customs agent was like “yo there’s two human bodies stuffed in here!????” and was like “ohhhhh wait, it’s a Pegasus’ plane. That adds up. Ya.” and just let it through.

Time for a classic Kaiba meltdown sequence, where he puts on a show of being really competent but is in reality acting like a stack of screaming cats in a purple trench coat.

Mokuba just working overtime to keep this ship afloat because man.

And then this next part isn’t a joke I made up--Kaiba only took as long as it took to monologue for five seconds about his reputation before doing this:

It’s more than possible that the translators have no idea who Roland is, and unlike me, isn’t keeping tabs on Roland every second that green haired fourthKaiba is on screen.

So Pegasus decides to give Kaiba a call on his video phone--because again he only saves the Panasonic Camcorder for spooking Yugi.

Pegasus could have just *called* Yugi the entire time, lol.

Anyway, without the camcorder, Pegasus now has room to stretch out his legs and stick his feet directly in the screen like the end of the world wasn’t less than 2 days ago.

And the show isn’t telling us why or how this is happening after the whole Mai thing that happened. But it’s nice to know that even when Pegasus may be absolutely held up against his will, he still freakin slays.

Youknow, Pegasus does more in this one episode to remind me that “oh yeah, Pegasus was my favorite character this whole time” than anyone else and he did in like two calls, sitting in a chair behind his desk, just screwing with people to screw with them.

And what I enjoy about Pegasus is that, although he had his eyeball removed--he’s still a freakin asshole. He still super sucks. I had a lot of questions about “how much of Pegasus being the worst was the eyeball?” And apparently the answer was “VERY little, this guy is just the freakin worst. Didn’t need to be cursed at all.”

And so, Yugioh doesn’t really do transformation sequences--unless you count when Yugi sometimes goes “yugiohhhhhh” and then to everyone else looks virtually the same. Instead Yugioh does gear up sequences.

Where we find out that Seto promised Mokuba he wouldn’t play cards anymore until he was done building all those theme parks.

I guess it’s unfortunate for Mokuba that this whole Pegasus end of the world thing happened out of nowhere and also unfortunate for Mokuba that Kaiba can build card-themed theme parks Really Quickly. I think Mokuba was banking on it taking an entire lifetime to build a park but youknow, looking at how many sequels of Yugioh there are...eh, Mokuba should have instead dared Seto to give up dueling until he finished a single semester of public school. Then those cards would have stayed buried.

Hey um...did Kaiba add hip spikes on this purple coat since Season 2? I don’t remember him having those.

Good thing I write a blog and I can check. Time for some time travel to Season 2.

Ah, yes, the hip spikes were not there in Season 2. So, at some point in between then and now, Kaiba looked at this old ass coat hanging in his closet and was like “Not Enough Butt Spikes!” and just glued em on there.

But anyway, back to Season 4...

I’m pretty sure this is one of the doors from Evangelion.

And so, off they go, straight to their death, in the world’s most un-aerodynamic vehicle.

Really glad that Dragon Plane seems to have become a permanent character, as it would if you spent 10 million dollars building a dragon plane that can’t possibly fly using real world physics.

So, Yugi and Co are going to California, and Seto is going to Season One.

And I guess Bakura was like “Oi! Loves! Is every body ready for me to murder them?” and Gramps was like “sorry, they’re getting murdered by Pegasus today” and he was like “bloody hell, every time.”

Anyway, if you just got here, this is a link to read all these recaps from the beginning, in chrono order--it’s a lot of content, and I can’t believe I spent this much time doing this.

And because you’re curious, here’s the soap design that will get absolutely rejected by Royalty Soaps because they say they like to watch anime but they also pronounced “Ghibli” wrong like over 20 times on that one video so I have a strong feeling this is not their brand.

[prism-rush]

King of Prism Road to Shiny Seven Stars event 3 translation

Well Then, Let’s Creep the Night in Kyoto

Since this is the third event in the Road to SSS series, you may want to read the previous ones if you haven’t yet:

Road to SSS 1 Main Story Road to SSS 2 Main Story

Translator’s notes: Event synopsis: Kakeru has a new crush. But really though, even though Kakeru and Yukinojo headline for this event, it’s actually about a lot of characters. It touches upon Taiga’s relationship with Alexander, Leo’s insecurities, and it even has a long Shin/Louis tangent. If you feel like you have read the Shin/Louis part before, you probably have. I translated it immediately after it came out. (Which is also why the images are differently sized in just that part. I used to have a different method of resizing images...) I don’t remember posting much about the rest of this event when it was going on though, because I was busy or couldn’t figure out how to break it down or whatnot. (At the time, I had no idea things such as Shabadaba and the mysterious golden haired and silver haired boys which appear briefly would be important.....) So now I can finally make it up to you guys. This is what you missed!

(One day, in front of the entrance to Edel Rose...)

Shin: *yawn* ... For some reason I woke up before my alarm. I guess I’ll go running. 

...Huh? There’s something in the mailbox. A letter...? This is from Louis--

Yukinojo: Good morning, Shin. You’re up early this morning. 

Shin: Ah, Yukinojo-san! Good morning. Are you heading out already?

Yukinojo: Yes. I have a family matter to attend to. I’m going to stop by my parents’ house before heading to a performance at a theater in Kyoto. 

Shin: Kyoto!? Wow, that’s great! Take care then! 

Yukinojo: Thank you. Let everyone else know I said goodbye. 

Shin: No problem! (Yukinojo-san is always so busy...) Okay, time to get to running. 

(A few hours later)

Kazuki: Mornin’! Man I really had a blast with you guys at the Rainbow Hot Springs the other day.

Taiga: Kazuki-san!? Shouldn’t you be on the way to university.... !?

Kazuki: Hey, Taiga. I don’t have any classes until afternoon today. By the way, you guys, have you decided who you’re gonna pair with for the duo tournament?

Taiga: K-K-K-KAZUKI-SAN!!

Kazuki: Huh?

Taiga: (AH! It just slipped out!) 

Uh, um, I mean… n… not yet…

Kazuki: ??? What’s wrong Taiga? You’re face is like a ripe apple! 

Taiga: ……….. (I want to partner with Kazuk-san, but he’s probably gonna pair with Hiro-san and I don’t have the courage to ask him... What! No! I have plenty of that! That thing! Courage I mean!)

Leo: Um... not yet....

(I think I would be the happiest if I could get to pair with Yuki-sama, but... I haven’t seen him all morning. Come to think of it I haven’t seen Kakeru-kun either. I’d like to ask Shin as well, but... I haven’t been able to find him. And Taiga-kun... I’m sure he’s got someone else in mind.) ........*sigh*

Taiga: .............*sigh*

Kazuki: Hey hey hey now, what’s with this chorus of sighs. If there’s something on your minds I’m here to listen. So don’t look so glum, OK?

Leo: Kazuki-san....!

Taiga: Got it! Thank you!

Kazuki: Oh yeah I heard Minato’s gonna pair up with Kouji! Kouji told me about it. 

Leo: Huh!? Really!?

Minato: Yup! To think I’m going to be able to perform a show with Kouji... it’s like a dream! When I decided to just gather up my courage and ask him straight, he actually agreed...

 A flavor mariage with Kouji-san! I’m so excited!

Leo: Wow... wow wow....

Taiga: .............

Kazuki: Well I think that’s great! I think Kouji and Minato will make a perfect flavor combination! Yu, what about you?

Yu: Me?

Leo: *gasp* (Maybe I could form a duo with Yu...?)

Yu: I’m sure anyone would be grateful to pair with me, but when it all comes down to it I’m just not interested in the street-style! 

Leo: Huuh?

Yu: (There was a brief moment when I felt something with Hiro during the table tennis tournament at Five Star Hotel, but...) This is the age of rock! And I’m a rock song composer! I for live it! I breathe it!

Leo: Oh.... Yuki-sama, Shin-kun... Where are you!

Shin: Uh... umm... Well I’m right here. And Yukinojo-san is--

Leo: Shin-kun!? Where have you been!

Shin: O-Oh, I randomly woke up early so I went running. Then I got on a role and didn’t want to stop exercising so I came back to get a ball and went to go play some soccer. 

Leo: Oh, I see... I didn’t even notice you come back....

Kazuki: Oh ho! You’re really active this morning, Shin! That’s the spirit!  

Shin: Oh, Kazuki-san! Good morning! 

Kazuki: Yo! Mornin’! By the way, Shin. You were saying something about Yukinojo?

Shin: Oh yeah, that’s right. I saw him this morning. He said he’s going to Kyoto for his family. 

Leo: Kyoto!? Oh yeah, I think he did mention it earlier... He won’t be coming back tonight, then. 

Shin: I guess not? Sorry, Leo. I didn’t think to ask him how long he’d be gone for. 

Leo: No, no it’s not your fault. .....Um, Shin-kun......

Shin: ….Ah! Oh no, it’s already this late? I gotta go!

Leo: Huh?! Go where…

Shin: Sorry, there’s something I have to do! Kazuki-san, everyone, I’m heading out! See you later!!

Kazuki: Alright! Take care!

Leo: He only just got back but he’s gone already… Where is he off to in such a hurry?

Yu: Probably off to see his girlfriend.

Leo: ….?! S… Shin-kun… has a…. girlfriend?! B… but who…?!

Yu: Hm? Oh no, I was just kidding…

Leo: B… But he’s in senior high school now.

So, it’s probably only natural that he would…

Yu: Hey! Leo! Look, I didn’t mean it, OK? You can come back now!

Taiga: .............

…. U.. UM! K… K-K-Kazuki-san! Do you have…s… s… someone?!

Kazuki: Huh? What do you mean?

Taiga: I mean… A… Are you… with someone? Do you have a p-p-p-partner?

Kazuki: Partner?! Are you asking…

I…. I.. No I’m not dating anyone!

Taiga: *THUMP*

Minato: Kougami’s on the floor?!

Yu: ........ (Everyone’s so immature.)

Taiga: .....Ow.....

Minato: Are you OK? Here, let me give you a hand.

Taiga: ......kay... My bad..... (If I don’t get my act together soon I may not even make it into the duo tournament at all. At a time like this, there’s only one place to go.)

(A little earlier, at Tokyo station)

???: Oh ho ho! Well if it isn’t chan-Yuki!

Yukinojo: Kakeru? What are you doing here? And dressed to the nines... for work?

Kakeru: Yes indeed. I have sudden business to attend to in Kyoto. 

Heheh. I sure look sharp in a suit, don’t I?

Yukinojo: ...Heheh. Indeed you do. By the way, I’ll be heading to Kyoto too. 

Kakeru: No kidding? What time is your train? If you have some extra time, how about we get some tea?

Yukinojo: Let me see, my ticket is... ah, here it is. 

Kakeru: Lemme see ♪ ......Oh?

Yukinojo: Hm? What’s wrong?

Kakeru: This... is the exact same train I’m going to be on! And we’re even sitting right next to each other!?

Yukinojo: ....What? You’re right. But I guess....

Yukinojo & Kakeru: I guess it’s possible... / I guess such things can happen!

Kakeru: Ahah. Even our reaction is in sync. But this really is such a huge coincidence! 

Yukinojo: Indeed... it really is.

Kakeru: Well you know, I think everything happens for a reason. So, let’s use this fateful encounter as a chance to enjoy a trip to Kyoto together. 

Yukinojo: Yes. Surely things won’t ever get boring having you along. Sorry this is so sudden, but I’m looking forward to spending time with you. 

Kakeru: That’s my line ♪ Well, how about we start off by going ahead and getting lunchboxes to eat on the train. I’ll give you a special tour of the best eats at Tokyo station!

Yukinojo: That would be wonderful. And I’ll show you where to buy Japanese sweets. 

Kakeru: Yay! ☆ Well then let’s go! But man, it really took a whole chain of coincidences lining up for something like this to happen.

Yukinojo: You’re right. Perhaps all these coincidences had some kind of a purpose-- 

*grumble*

Yukinojo: ..........

Kakeru: .........

Kakeru: Heheh... I guess I’m hungry. 

Yukinojo: Okay. Let’s hurry to your favorite lunchbox shop.

Kakeru: Roger that! Let’s book it!

(Tokyo Station, lunchbox shop)

Kakeru: Oh boy! No matter when I come here there’s always people, people, and more people. 

Yukinojo: This place has lunches made with famous local delicacies from all over the country....

Kakeru: I know right? And they are all suuuuper delish!

Yukinojo: Hmm....

Kakeru: Ah-hah! ☆ Yuki-chan-sensei, such deep concentration! Now, I wonder which one I should get....

(At Edel Rose)

Minato: Sorry to keep you waiting! Lunch is here. Today I have made original-style, authentic carbonara pasta without heavy cream. Kouji taught me the recipe ♪

Kazuki: ....Woah, this is great! You’ve managed to copy Kouji’s recipe to a T!

Yu: *chew, chew* .....Delicious! Seconds, please!

Taiga: *chew, chew* ...... Mm. Seconds. 

Minato: Step right up. There’s more where that came from.

Leo: Wow wow... it’s so good ♡ (I wonder if Yuki-sama is enjoying his lunch right now too.)

(Tokyo station, lunchbox shop)

Yukinojo: Hmm....

Kakeru: Yuki-chan, I think it’s about time to make that decision! 

Yukinojo: Yes. Sorry for keeping you. I have narrowed it down to two selections, but the competition is steep...

Kakeru: ....Really?

Yukinojo: Hm?

Kakeru: Ah, it’s just that I’ve narrowed it down to two myself. By the way, the ones I’m considering are the light sushi lunchbox and the hearty beef lunchbox...

Yukinojo: What!? I was considering those exact two...

Kakeru: ...Ahah, I knew it! Something gave me that feeling. So how about we buy both and split them half and half? ♪

Yukinojo: Yes. What a great plan. 

Kakeru: Heyhey, do you think our level of synchronicity increased since that time we did karaoke together?

Yukinojo: It does seem that way. You know, I never noticed it before, but now that I think about it, we have always had somewhat similar taste haven’t we...

Kakeru: Heheh. You’re getting me all riled up ♪

Yukinojo: Riled up?

Kakeru: It’s just so neat discovering we have so many similarities all of a sudden. It’s like we’re two peas in a pod. For example, I think the best spot in Kyoto is Nanzen temple. What about you?

Yukinojo: I agree... gazing upon the canal really soothes my soul...

Kakeru: I know right!! It’s so relaxing... Oh, oh, and what else? You know what I love, that roasted green tea-flavored soft serve--

Yukinojo: Could you possible be referring to the small shop near Nishi Hongan Temple?

Kakeru: Ding ding ding! I knew you’d catch on ☆ That place isn’t even listed in any guidebooks! We really are tied by some kind of fate aren’t we ♪

Yukinojo: Indeed. Just talking about it really makes me want to go get some of that soft serve for old times sake...

Kakeru: Heyhey, do you also feel like this is the beginning of a new love story?

Yukinojo: About our love for soft serve? Yeah. I do. 

Kakeru: .......Well great ☆

Yukinojo: Kakeru?

Kakeru: ....Oh! I think we ought to start heading to the platform, don’t you think?

Yukinojo: Oh? Wow it’s already getting this late. 

(While Yukinojo and Kakeru began their journey to Kyoto, down by the river was...)

Shin: Hmm… I think it was around here, wasn’t it?

Louis: Hey.

Shin: Oh! There you are Louis! I’m so glad I was able to find you!

Louis: Eheh. Thanks for coming.

Shin: I was pretty surprised when I woke up and suddenly found a letter…

Since it said “I’ll be waiting for you where we first met” I figured I ought to come here.

Louis: You remembered. That makes me happy.

Shin: Louis…? This was really sudden! What happened? Is everything OK?

Louis: I’m fine. I just thought that…

I wanted to see your face again.

Shin: Really?

Louis: …Am I bothering you?

Shin: What! Of course not! I was just thinking I wanted to meet up with you too.

Louis: …Really? You… wanted to see me?

Shin: Yeah! I missed you! So as soon as I saw that letter I was really happy!

Louis: I see… I’m glad. So, shall we go for a walk? The weather is nice.

Shin: Of course! We might as well. Actually I’ve been exercising all morning.

Louis: You have?

Shin: Yeah. I went jogging because I woke up early, and then I even played some soccer!

Louis: I see. You’re so sporty.

Shin: Ehehe. You’re exaggerating. Oh! Look Louis! These flowers are so beautiful!

Louis: Yeah… they really are. …

…Hey Shin. Do you have a partner for the duo tournament?

Shin: Huh? Um no, not yet… When I think of “street style”, I think about super strong and cool guys like Kazuki-san and Taiga-kun… Oh yeah! And Alexander-kun from Schwarz Rose too! I don’t know if I can handle street style, or even a duo audition….

Louis: Eheh. Shin, you can do it. I know you can.

Shin: Really? Something about hearing you say that just gave me the confidence to start believing I can.

Louis: …Oh. I think I just saw a fish jump out of the water over there.

Shin: Really? Where where?

Louis: The water surface is shining…. It’s so beautiful. Being able to enjoy this scenery with you, Shin… I can’t think of anything better….

Shin: L… Louis… now you’re really exaggerating…

(…Huh? What is this feeling?)

Aah! I suddenly remembered!

Louis: …Shin?

Shin: (Before the Prism King Cup… Louis and I… )

(Meanwhile at Edel Rose)

Leo: Yuki-sama hasn’t returned my text messages.... I wanted to ask him about the duo tournament, but.... I guess he’s just too busy. (Minato-san said he’s going to pair with Kouji-san, and Kakeru-kun is busy with his job... Yu-kun doesn’t seem to be interested, and Shin-kun disappeared off somewhere....)

I guess maybe I should just give up on the duo tournament...

....YUKI-SAMaaAAA.....!!

(Back to the river)

Louis: …Shin? What’s wrong?

Shin: Yeah… Oh yeah! I think the two of us did a duo show together here one time!

Louis: …Wha.

Shin: Yeah!! But, it was just a dream I had…

Louis: ……. A dream……. …What kind of a dream was it?

Shin: Hmmm…. You know, it felt so real…. I was just riding my bike down this way. And you were here. And then…

You took me hand and invited me to do a show with you! It was really fun! But…

Then I was really… scared.

Louis: …Why?

Shin: Well. I noticed all of a sudden I couldn’t move. And then you… with a sword… right here…

You…. stabbed me from behind.

Louis: ……!

Shin: W… Well it was only a dream! I’m sorry, this suddenly got weird.

Louis: ….. ……..Hey Shin, do you remember anything else?

Shin: Anything else? Hmm… let me think… Oh! Now that you mention it! I think before you stabbed me, you told me something….?

Louis: *gasp*

Shin: You got up real close to me, and then…

Louis: A… And then?

Shin: Uhh… I feel like you did… something… But I don’t really remember!

Louis: ……….

Shin: Well, it was such a long time ago. I guess I forgot.

Louis: ……….

Well if you don’t remember, I guess I just have to make you remember.

Shin: What?! Um um, Louis?! You’re getting pretty close to me…?!

Louis: ………

Shin: Louis? W.. What’s going on…?!

Louis: ….Nevermind. Just kidding.

Shin: Huh? Huh?? (That scared me for a second…)

Louis: Ahaha. Sorry about that.

…But what I’m about to say next is serious.

Shin: …Huh?

Louis: Shin… Let’s be partners in the duo tournament!

Shin: Wha…. WHAAT?! Me! And you! Together?!

Louis: Sure. You said you don’t have a partner, right?

Shin: Well, um…

Louis: You don’t want to be my partner?

Shin: N-No no, it’s not that at all! I’d love to enter the tournament with you! But… 

Louis: But?

Shin: Um, well… I’m just worried that… since we’re from different organizations… do you think we can?

Louis: Well… I don’t know.

(Meanwhile, at Schwarz Rose)

Jin: Alexander Yamato. Regarding the street duo tournament that’s going to be held soon... I’ll be having you enter with Louis.

Alexander: HUH!? I came all the way up here just to hear you spew that senseless nonsense? I’ll enter by myself--

Jin: I do not repeat myself. This isn’t a request, it’s an order. 

Alexander: .....Gah......

Jin: ...Hmph. It seems you have understood. You are dismissed. 

Alexander: Ugh. 

(At the practice rink)

Alexander: (Enter the street duo tournament with Louis Kisaragi...)

Joji: Oh oh oh! If it isn’t the muscle meathead! You’re looking especially terrifying today ☆

Alexader: GR!

Joji: So scawwy! You could stick a whole deck of cards in between those forehead wrinkles! 

Alexander: Hmph...

Joji: Hey. Hold on. 

(While Yukinojo and Kakeru enthusiastically enjoyed their lunchboxes on the train.)

Kakeru: Delish! ♪ This sweet and sour beef just melts in your mouth! 

Yukinojo: *chew, chew* Indeed... it’s very tasty! And the wonderful, non-fishy aroma of this this pressed mackerel sushi is like a symphony my nostrils...

Kakeru: You don’t say!? Heyhey, isn’t about time we trade ♪

Yukinojo: Ah, you’re right. 

Kakeru: ....Hey, Yuki-chan.

Yukinojo: Hm? If it’s about the lunchbox, just give me one more bite...

Kakeru: Ahaha! No I’m not that impatient. 

I was just wondering what you were thinking... about the duo tournament. 

Yukinojo: Oh, that. Well I... I don’t really feel I’m cut out for the street style...

Kakeru: You’re really not interested at all?

Yukinojo: No, that’s not it. To be honest I am quite interested. But it’s just not an area where I have any expertise, so... it’s difficult to come to any sort of conclusion.

Kakeru: ....I see. But hey! You’re sure into hard rock kinda songs, aren’t you chan-Yuki? If you ask me, I totally think “street Yuki-sama” could be a thing ♪

Yukinojo: I... I already told you to lay off the “-sama” once before. But now that you have breached the subject, what were you thinking Kakeru? When we were at the hot springs you seemed to show a hint of resistance. 

Kakeru: Woah woah! No fair throwing the same question at me when you haven’t decided yourself, chan-Yuki! But, did it really seem that way?

Yukinojo: It’s also not very fair of you to hide your true intentions. 

Kakeru: *gulp* 

Oh you.... I can’t take such a straightforward, pure-hearted approach. It’s not allowed.

Yukinojo: *staaaaare*

Kakeru: C... cut it out already! Okay, I got it! I got it already! I’ll tell you! I was thinking the same thing as you, Yuki-chan. I’m definitely interested, but... Hey! I’m a gentleman after all. The street just isn’t my style y’know ☆

Yukinojo: Oh really? I think “street Kakeru-kun” could be a thing.

Kakeru: Wha... how-so!?

Yukinojo: Well you’re always trying to be cool.

Kakeru: That didn’t sound like a compliment!?

Yukinojo: No, it was. I find myself in awe at your inquisitive nature and drive to take action. You have really helped us out a lot at Edel Rose. 

Kakeru: O..Oh.... But hey hey! You just snuck in a Kakeru”-kun” didn’t you!

Yukinojo: ....Mm-hm. This beef lunchbox is quite delicious as well. 

Kakeru: Ah! You changed the subject already! 

-----♪

Yukinojo: Kakeru, your phone.

Kakeru: Grr.... Okay, okay. Take care. ...........Hm.

Yukinojo: A business call?

Kakeru: Ah, yeah. My evening dinner meeting was cancelled all of a sudden. Oh well, it can’t be helped--Oh! Yuki-chan! What are you up to for dinner?

Yukinojo: Hm? After the performance I plan to exchange pleasantries with my family friends, but after that I don’t have any particular plans. 

Kakeru: All right ♪ In that case, come eat with me! 

Yukinojo: Sure, sounds good. I’ll make a reservation at Kawadoko. 

Kakeru: Yaay! I knew I could could on you! Well then, when you’ve finished all your this and that, give me a ring!

Yukinojo: Understood. I’ll go ahead and make that reservation first thing--

Hm? 

Kakeru: What’s wrong?

Yukinojo: It’s... I.... I can’t find my phone. 

Kakeru: No way! Should I try and call it?

Yukinojo: Yes, sorry to be a bother.

Kakeru: No prob, no prob. ♪ ....Hmm. It doesn’t seem to be around here does it....?

Yukinojo: It seems I must have forgotten it at the dorm. I might forget my head if it wasn’t attached to me....

Kakeru: Don’t sweat it, that’s just another part of your charm. No worries, no worries. For now, I’ll just plan to wait outside the theater this afternoon. Surely I’ll run into you ♪

Yukinojo: That would be fine. Thank you. 

Kakeru: No trouble. Oh yeah, shall I tell the Edel Rose home team that you don’t have your phone?

Yukinojo: No, I have already informed Shin and Yamada-san that I would be in Kyoto at the theater. So it shouldn’t be a problem....  If anything comes up they should be able to contact me there.

Kakeru: Okay! Then I’ll reserve the restaurant tout suite! 

Yukinojo: Kakeru.... 

Kakeru: What’s this? Did I just melt your heart with my gentlemanly ways?

Yukinojo: Ah, indeed. Earlier I said you were always trying to be cool. So I think I’ll add trying to be suave as well.

Kakeru: ...Uh... thank you.

(Back at Edel Rose)

Leo: *staaaaaare* 

Grr......... 

Wah..... Yuki-sama...... 

(I texted him hours ago and there’s still no response.... There’s no way he couldn’t have seen it.... Yuki-sama.... This can only mean he doesn’t want to pair with me.... The more I think of it, I may be not worthy of being Yuki-sama’s partner anyway.... ) ....*sigh*....

*footsteps*

Leo: Ah.... that sounds like...! 

(Downstairs)

Leo: Shin-kun!!!

Shin: Woaaaaah!!! L-Leo-kun!? What’s going on! You seem so frantic! 

Leo: Shin-kun! Have you decided your partner for the duo tournament!? 

Shin: EEEK! (W-W-What do I do.... Could it be, did he hear what Louis and I were talking about...)

Leo: Shin-kun? Is something wrong?

Shin: NO um! Nothing.... 

Leo: .........  If it’s OK with you, would you enter the duo tournament with me!?

Shin: Huh!? .....Um........ Well I........... 

(What do I do now. It makes me happy to hear Leo-kun wants to pair with me, but...) Umm, ummm! 

Leo: Please I’m begging you! I’ll work really, really hard!

Shin: (WOOaaaAAAah!!! What do I do!?)

Leo: Are you still listening..... Shin-kun?

Shin: I AM!! 

Leo: *sniff* .... Shin-kun, you hate me don’t you.....

Shin: What!? No of course I don’t! (Aaahhhaaaahhhh what do I do! Leo-kun looks so sad! I have to find some way not to mention Louis, and to not hurt his feelings either.. ahh....) 

O-Oh yeah! Yes! On that day I have to go to... a memorial service! 

Leo: ...A memorial service?

Oh, I see... In that case there’s no use. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had something like that to do. I’m sorry for troubling you. 

Shin: N-No, it was no trouble! Don’t worry about me! Really! (Well now what do I do!? I just spit out a lie in the spur of the moment... I’m sorry, Leo-kun....! A-And now it’s only a matter of time before he finds out....!?) 

Leo: ....I’m going to keep looking for someone to pair with. Thank you for listening to me. 

Shin: O-Okay! You’re welcome. 

Leo: *gloom*

Shin: ..... He left. Aaah.... I’ve done something terrible.... *sigh* ... I’m really sorry Leo-kun.... 

(At the dance battle club, Nest of Dragon)

Taiga: ......I don’t even know if I have the strength to step into the ring here. 

???: I have no choice. Here goes.

Taiga: Huh? It’s you.... Alexander!

Alexander: Oh? Taiga Kougami....

Taiga: .....Why do you have to show up everywhere I go these days.....

Alexander: Hah. That’s my line. I think it’s a little early for a brat like you to be at a joint like this, no?

Taiga: WHAT!! What did you say!? Who are you calling a brat!?

 Alexander: ....Heh heh.... The person who is whining like one. ...... Hmph. Hey! How much longer are you going to follow me huh?!

Taiga: Oh shut up! You’re the one who’s following me!

(Inside)

Hiro: This place is....

Kouji: Hehe. It really seems to have piqued your interest. 

Hiro: Ahah, no way! Kouji, you’re kidding! Hey, Kazuki. I know Kouji could use some preparation for the street duo tournament, but why am I here too? I’m not entering, you know. 

Kouji: ...You heard him. Kazuki?

Kazuki: Oh just relax and enjoy it! It’s fun to check out some street battles every so often, isn’t it?

Hiro: ..........

Kazuki: Hiro, are you alright? You can leave early if you really don’t like it....

Hiro: No, I don’t mind. It’s not that I’m overly bothered, I just... 

Kouji: ....Heh.

Hiro: ...What. 

Kouji: Eheh, nothing. But anyway, this is really a collection of rough-looking fellows, I’d say. Just watching them really makes you feel the pressure.

Kazuki: I know, right? This tense atmosphere really makes you feel like the heat is on! 

Hiro: Hm? ...Hey, guys...... Isn’t that Taiga?

Kouji: It is. And the boy he’s with... it’s Yamato-kun, right?

Alexander: Huuuaaah! 

Taiga: Huaaaaaah! 

Alexander: Headspin Levitation! 

Taiga:  Festival! Celebrate! Flowers for a Fortune Boy!

Street Dancer 1: W-What’s with those guys....!

Street Dancer 2: They are battling each other continuously while squashing other opponents at the same time...! This isn’t something you see every day! 

Street Dancer 3: Hah! This is great! Let them have at it until one of them falls!

Taiga: I’m not done yet! 

Alexander: You really think you have a chance against me?

Taiga: Just you wait and see! 

Alexander: (....To think I have to use this much of my strength against him.)

Taiga: (Alexander... is really strong. I want to get stronger!!) Hey! You guys over there! I’ll take all of you on at once!

Hiro: ....That’s amazing. No regular competitors stand a chance against them....

Kouji: It’s like they are second to none. There are two of them, though. 

Kazuki: ......... 

You know, Taiga and Alec make a good combo.

Kouji: Yeah, I think so too. If only they would get along. 

Hiro: True. Right now the source of their energy is their drive to defeat each other.

Taiga: *panting*

Alexander: *panting* ....I think I’ll let you off here, for now.....

Taiga: ....What. You’re just making an excuse to run away. 

Alexander: I’m showing mercy by giving you an opportunity to run away. Be grateful. 

Taiga: YOU....!! 

Hiro: Okay, okay, settle down you too. I know you’re having fun together and all, but let’s take a break for today. 

Kouji: Yes, yes. I bet you’re starting to get hungry aren’t you. 

Taiga: Wha.... Hiro-san and Kouji-san!? What are you two doing here....

Kazuki: I brought them. You guys were on fire as always! Today’s battle was the best! 

Alexander: KA-KAZUKI NISHINA! 

Kouji: You did a good job keeping each other on your toes. Rather than a battle it looked more like a synchronized show. 

Taiga: Synchronized!?

Alexander: Show!?

Kazuki: I thought so too! I could feel your passionate emotions clashing against each other very clearly. You guys would make a pretty good combo, y’know?

Taiga: Hey, not you too Kazuki-san!? No way in hell!!!

Kazuki: But you don’t have a duo partner yet, do you?

Taiga: W...Well I don’t but... I... I want to pair with y....

Kazuki: Who?

Taiga: ...A... Anyway! Even if you say so Kazuki-san, the chance of me making a good combination with Alexander is negative 1000%! We belong to different organizations, anyway....

Alexander: Hmph. For once we agree on something. 

Kazuki Nishina! Don’t make me laugh! ....Pffft. I don’t have time for this. I’m out. 

Kazuki: Hey, wait a sec! Alec! Haha, he’s straight to the point as always. 

Hiro: But we really had a good time watching you two battle, whether you agree on forming a combo or not. 

Taiga: Hiro-san..... thanks.....

Hiro: But of course, I for one would like to see you two form an overwhelmingly powerful duo. But even if you pair with someone from Edel Rose, I’m sure you’ll be able to show us a well coordinated duo show!

Kouji: Yes, yes. Before you know it the time you have spent with someone becomes a powerful bond. Your bond with Yamato-san is a bit different, but I think the two of you have the potential to push each other to your limits.

Taiga: ....A partner.... Hm.....

Kouji: Taiga, you seem really troubled. Well. No matter who you pair with, I think it will open up a new world for you. Don’t you think?

Taiga: A new... world....

Hiro: I agree. Competing as a duo is in itself a new challenge. 

Kouji: Perhaps the true appeal of the duo tournament is the chance to try out a new method of performing. 

Taiga: ....Yeah. Thanks. (I guess you could put it that way...)

Kazuki: I think it would be great if you could find a partner you are comfortable around, without needing to to overthink things.  

Hiro: Oh ho ho! I’m really looking forward to seeing who you end up pairing with, Taiga! 

Kouji: Me too. If we end up in the ring together, please go easy on me!

Kazuki: I have never had an official battle with you, Taiga. But if we ever do, I’m really looking forward to seeing how it’d go!

Taiga: (.....! Kazuki-san’s looking forward to battling me....!) ........ (Someone I can be comfortable around, huh....)

(Shijo, Kyoto)

Kakeru: Ah, there he is.

Yuki-chuwan! All finished for the day? ☆

Yukinojo: Ah, Kakeru. You too? I’m glad we could meet up at the same time. ...Well then, we have still got some time before our reservation. Shall we go kill time somewhere?

Kakeru: Ah, about that. There’s somewhere I’d like to go. 

Yukinojo: Oh?

Kakeru: I just heard from someone at the company... What was it called... I’ll look for it on the map. Hold on a sec.... Ah! Yes yes, it’s here! Shabadaba!

Yukinojo: ...? Sha... ba... daba...?? It has a very... unique... name....

Kakeru: Apparently this is a place where they do street-style prism shows! You know, like that “Nest of Dragon” place Taiga-kyun talks about! 

Yukinojo: Oh really. So there is a place like that in Kyoto too...

Kakeru: And there are some suuuuper tough prism stars there too!

Yukinojo: I see. So we’ll be checking out the competition. You really are interested in being in the duo tournament, aren’t you?

Kakeru: Maybe so. You’re about half right. But let’s not dwell too much on having a reason. We came all the way out to Kyoto after all, so why not check it out?

Yukinojo: Indeed. You have my attention. I’d like to see it as well. 

Kakeru: Alright, “competitor Yuki-chan”. You really are interested the duo tournament too, aren’t you?

Yukinojo: Heheh. You’re about half right. 

(Kyoto, Shabadaba in Ponto town)

Kakeru: Wooowee! This really is quite the collection of rock-hard street stars, isn’t it? 

It’s such a sausage festival too. I can’t see any beautiful mademoiselles anywhere. 

Yukinojo: Well, it is where all the street ruffians gather. By the way, Kakeru. What are we wearing?

Kakeru: I borrowed these from the theater. This hair, make-up, and color contact getup is pretty sweet, isn’t it?

Yukinojo: Yeah. Not bad. 

....But that wasn’t my concern.....

Kakeru: It’s difficult to blend in wearing casual clothes. Besides, since I came for work I only packed suits. 

Yukinojo: ....Oh yeah. I’d already forgotten that this meeting occurred by chance. 

Kakeru: Exactly. I don’t have the courage to go to a place like this in a three-piece suit. 

Yukinojo: Heheh. I wouldn’t either. Okay. Let’s see if we can find the strongest prism stars. 

Kakeru: Roger that. ☆ Hmm hmm I see. So this is what a place like this is like. Where are those two I’ve heard rumors about... Oh! 

Yukinojo: It looks like there are two people performing a show on center stage.

Kakeru: Hmm... So could it be, those two are...? 

Street Dancer 1: Hey, hey you guys. I haven’t seen you around here before. Ya new?

Kakeru: ...Wow. You could sail across the ocean with that hair. 

Street Dancer 2: Hm? Nah, I think I have seen these guys before... 

Street Dance 3: ....Ah! Aren’t these those guys from that Edel Rose place in Tokyo!

Street Dancer 4: HAH! What are a couple academy-style worms doing in a place like this?

Street Dancer 5: Whatever. You’ll get what’s coming to you either way. 

Kakeru: ............

Yukinojo: How did they recognize us.... I thought our disguises were flawless....

Kakeru: I guess there’s just no disguising our aura. I’m a lover, not a fighter though...

Yukinojo: Understood. But that aside, we shouldn’t do anything that could cause trouble for Edel Rose. 

Kakeru: I agree. .... This is gonna take some improv, but follow my lead, OK?

Yukinojo: Improv?

Kakeru: YES! I’m counting on you, “princess”!

Yukinojo: .......! 

....Understood. 

Kakeru: Whaaa? What’s an Edel Rose? Never heard of it. Have you, “Hana-chan”?

Yukinojo: ....Me neither. I have no idea what they’re talking about, “Juu-chan”.

Kakeru: The two of us are nothing but a humble street duo. We heard there were some pretty tough guys here so we came to see for ourselves!

???: Well, good ta have ya here.

Yukinojo & Kakeru: ....!?

???: You guys came to gawk at our shows huh? Do we look funny ta you? Well, this is a good opportunity. How ‘bout we have ourselves a little match? What d’ya say, Yubacchi?

Yubacchi: I see yer point, Hamocchi. These guys think they can just waltz in here like they own da place....

Hamocchi: It’s like they are expecting us ta bow to them like gods that flew down from Kiyomizu Temple....

Kakeru: (The number of weirdos keeps growing...!) 

Yuki.. *cough* I mean, Y...Yubacchi-san and Hamocchi-san, huh.... 

“Hana-chan” what do you think....

Yukinojo: It looks like we’ve got no choice. ...We’ve got to defeat them. 

(And so Yukinojo and Kakeru became caught up in an unexpected battle...)

Hamocchi: Let’s do this, Yubacchi! 

Yubacchi: Right with you, Hamocchi!

Yubacchi & Hamocchi: Last one! Will you be taking that meal to go...!

Audience: They nailed it! O-BANZAI’S finishing jump! No one can win against that! 

Kakeru: Woah, those guys are no small potatoes. Welp, we’re up next. 

Yukinojo: Yes. But since whoever fires up the crowd the most is the winner... We are at a great disadvantage being unknowns. 

Kakeru: You don’t say? But you’re already all fired up, aren’t you “Hana-chan”?

Yukinojo: Oh, I am, am I? For someone who is a lover, not a fighter, you sure look as though you are looking forward to this, “Juu-chan”.

Street Dancers: What’s with those guys! How can they dance like that right out of the gate!? 

Yubacchi: They’re in total sync... Those guys may be pretty tough after all. 

Hamocchi: Maybe so. But they ain’t nothing compared to us.... huh!?

Kakeru: And here’s the finale! 

GINZA No. 1 Glamorous Heaven! 

I’m about to put you under my spell! 

Yukinojo: This is it! Like roaring thunder! Kunitachiya Secret Move!

 Hidden Moonlit Heavenly Lightning!

Audience: Woah...! I’ve never seen a show like this! Juu-chan is so cool! Hana-chan is so beautiful!

Golden-haired boy: ....!

Silver-haired boy: .....!

Yukinojo: (So this is the street-style...? So this is a duo show....)

Kakeru: (The duo tournament... is really gonna be off the chain....)

Yukinojo & Kakeru: This is so fun!

 Yukinojo: I want to keep performing duo shows for as long as time allows! 

Kakeru: Ahah. When we run out of time, we can always find more. Let me ask you one again, about the duo tournament...

(And so night fell...)

Yukinojo: We’re home. 

Kakeru: We’re home. ....But aren’t all good little children supposed to be in bed by now?

Yukinojo: Indeed. It’s gotten very late so I imagine nobody’s still up--

*footsteps*

Leo: ....I knew it! Yuki-sama you’re back! And Kakeru! Welcome back! 

Yukinojo: Leo! You were still awake?

Kakeru: ....Leo-kyun, what’s wrong? Why are you still up at this hour?

Leo: It’s because I wanted to apologize to Yuki-sama....

Yukinojo: Apologize to me? I can’t imagine why...

Leo: I’m sorry for sending you so many texts....! I made you mad, didn’t I....?

Yukinojo: Texts....? 

I’m sorry. The truth is I forgot to bring my phone. 

Leo: ........Huh? So.... so the reason you never replied to me wasn’t because you were angry...?

Yukinojo: Of course I’m not angry. I’m sorry for worrying you. 

Leo: Oh, oh I see! Phew, that’s a relief....

Kakeru: ....I guess we should have gave you guys a heads up after all. But at least we got that all cleared up ♪

Leo: ...Ahem, Yuki-sama!

Yukinojo: What’s wrong? You look so serious all of a sudden. Did something else happen?

Leo: About the duo tournament.... Please be my partner! 

Yukinojo: ........What?

Kakeru: Huh.......

Yukinojo: Leo, about that....

Leo: .........?

Yukinojo: The truth is, I have already agreed to pair with Kakeru.

Leo: Whaaaaaaat!? (Oh nooooooo!!)

Kakeru: Ah. Well, if you two would rather be together, I wouldn’t want to stand in your way...

Leo: No, no that’s alright! I couldn’t bear to break you two apart if you already promised each other!

(But... what do I do now....)

(And so, on a bittersweet note, a new partnership was formed.)

(What will become of our stars who haven’t yet found partners...!?)

Continue to Road To SSS 4.

[bodytoflame-ao3]

move with the tide

me? following a prompt without going on a 3k word tangent? unlikely! here’s very domestic fem!percabeth and a proposal :^)

Read on AO3

don't be lonely

i'm right here by your side

hold on to me

you won't drown you will survive

tide ..//.. bearings

The crisp summer night comes in through the window. There's still a few boxes to unpack, but most of their things are fully settled in.

“I’m so happy you’re here.”

“I still don’t know how I did it.” Percy somehow managed to graduate a year early, luckily New Rome was pretty accommodating with the whole “I spent practically half my life saving the world” thing. Don’t get it wrong: she still worked her ass off. It was all worth it though, since it let them end up here; a stupid tiny apartment in Lower Manhattan that was theirs (at least as long as they paid their rent).

For as much as she hated being away from Percy so much the past three years, it was good to spend some time as her own person. Especially with how protective they’d both become. That didn’t mean she didn’t miss her — quite the opposite. Being away from Percy manifested in the nightmares slipping into her subconscious as she slept; the panic of her heart skipping a beat whenever she saw a girl with short black hair.

College was also their first real fight. It was one thing that Annabeth applied to NYU, but being accepted (as if she wouldn’t be) made it that much more real. It wasn’t an easy decision at all, but it was the closest thing she had to a childhood dream and she’d be damned if she didn’t follow through with it.

While NYU wasn’t as understanding of “I need to visit my demigod girlfriend because we both have severe trauma from that time we went through the underworld”, Percy was able to sneak away from New Rome for a bit without too much trouble, every once in a while. They never went more than a month without seeing each other — that was Percy’s promise to her.

She wouldn’t lie, it was hard. Really, really hard. They talked most nights, and when Percy came to visit, sometimes they did little more than hold each other. But it was good for her: she was learning how to lead a somewhat normal life. She knew she would always be able to find her way back to Percy. And they always had summer.

“The important part is you’re here,” Annabeth sighs, exhausted, melting into the couch. Her legs hook over the armrest and she lies her head in Percy’s lap, who twists a curl around her finger, just as tired.

Percy’s hand finds hers, interlocking their fingers like second-nature. “I am.”

“You always have been.” A beat. “You were there for me when my family wasn’t.”

“I told you, we’d make our own family. And we did. All of us.”

If camp was a family, Percy was home.

“Yeah. I guess I’m just… I’m just glad it’s you that’s here with me now.” She squeezes Percy’s hand. She’s gotten a little closer to her relatives over the years. The past was past, and there was nothing the Chase family wanted more than some peace. Even so, she often had trouble reconciling the events of her childhood with her emotions about it.

“Hey,” Percy tucks away the lone curl that’s fallen into her face. “Together, okay?”

“Mhm,” she hums, guiding Percy’s hand to fall across her waist, “together.”

Percy’s about to speak up, and say they should get some rest after all that heavy lifting, when Annabeth, almost nonchalantly, asks, “Do you want kids?” She doesn’t even look up.

“I…” The question throws Percy for a loop.

She’s rambling: “Because I do. Like, a lot. Not a lot of kids. One. Or two. But I do want…” She trails off, hoping she hasn’t scared Percy.

“I didn’t think you did.” Her response is quiet. She clarifies, “Uh, yeah. I do, but do you mean like… when?” She hasn’t really thought about it, but the moment Annabeth asks her, and the idea plays out in her mind, she knows she'd like nothing more.

“Eventually?” Annabeth responds, a question asked just as the word escapes her throat. “I want a real house, not an apartment, and my degree, and a job, one that pays me more than minimum wage, and… I also think I have to marry you first.”

“Is that a proposal?” It doesn’t phase her. They’ve been dancing around it for a while, both waiting for the time to feel right.

“You wish. I’m gonna get you when you least expect it.” She reaches up and taps Percy’s nose.

“Not if I beat you to it.”

Percy’s smirk sets off something in her. “And I mean a proper proposal.” She sits up and swivels to face Percy, pointing a finger into her sternum; she means business. “With a ring, and some big romantic speech.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

Annabeth sees the mischievous look in her eyes the instant before she takes off running into their room. There’s a clamor of drawers being slung open on their tracks, and the shuffling of papers falling to the ground.

“The f— where did I—?” It sounds like she’s tearing the bedside table apart. She barrels down the hallway once she finds what she’s looking forward to, sliding into the plush carpet in front of the couch.

Her knees burn, and her heart pounds. She takes Annabeth’s hand, shaking her head, “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She didn’t expect this yet, but she can feel the adrenaline pumping through her body and she can’t stop now.

“Um. I can’t think of anyone else who’d put up with me for eternity.” She’s sitting on the floor. Shouldn’t she be on one knee or something? “We’re a team. Always have been. You are the toughest, smartest, most passionate person I know, and I admire everything you’ve become.” The words keep coming out. “Annabeth Chase, will you marry me?”

Annabeth’s voice stays low and quiet. “Percy, are you serious?” She’s afraid to move lest she breaks the spell that's keeping Percy looking into her eyes.

Percy shows her the ring in the palm of her hand, “Yeah, I… was waiting for the right moment and… you gave it to me.”

It’s classic — a simple gold band with a single, modest diamond in the middle — but undeniably beautiful.

“Holy shit.”

“So is that a…”

Annabeth leans down, grabbing her face and pulling her into a deep kiss. “Yes. Absolutely. Give me that ring, Seaweed Brain.” She lets Percy slide it onto her finger, admiring the way the stone shines back as the light from their lone lamp hits it. She laughs, “This doesn’t feel real.”

“Is this stupid?” Percy asks, dragging Annabeth off the couch and into her lap.

“We’ve done a lot of stupid things. This is most certainly not one of them.” She’s too engrossed in admiring the ring to even look up (or, less the ring itself, more what it signifies).

No one their age is getting married, not really. They’re all too focused on passing their classes. She really did want to marry Annabeth, but it nagged at the back of her mind. “But you don’t think we’re too young or—?”

She thinks back on the past few years. It isn’t like they’re exactly normal. That surely gives them the right to rush by traditional standards. “I think that stopped being relevant a long time ago.”

Annabeth’s right; it soothes her worries. “Good. Because I don’t want to wait.” She kisses Annabeth’s shoulder. She’d marry her tomorrow if she could.

“Do you know how excited your mom’s going to be?” Annabeth can’t even imagine what Sally’s reaction will be. She’s extremely in-tune to her daughter and— she probably already knows Percy was planning this, doesn’t she?

“Well, I told her I was thinking about… Yeah. She was thrilled.”

Of course. She should’ve seen it coming. That girl tells her mother everything. Poor Sally’s probably already heard enough of Percy’s troubles for several lifetimes. “What’s my mother going to think?” Annabeth laughs. So, your daughter is marrying the daughter of your sworn enemy! It sounds cheesy enough to be the setup to a 90's sitcom.

“I,” Percy starts, “I actually asked her for permission.” It was terrifying, but Annabeth doesn’t need to know that she almost cried right before she asked. “And she said if anyone deserved her daughter it was the girl who went through Tartarus for her.”

The words go right through to her heart. Both Percy’s, and her mother’s. “Oh. You really thought about this.”

It’s true. She’s been dreaming up the perfect proposal for months — which meant talking to Annabeth’s parents: her mom, her dad, even her stepmom; and talking to her own parents. It meant picking out the perfect ring and planning the perfect way to ask her, and practicing her speech in front of the mirror.

“I actually talked to your dad too.” Their relationship wasn’t perfect, nor would it ever be, but Percy thought he had the right to be asked for his only daughter’s hand.

It means a lot to her, the fact that Percy made the effort to talk to her father. It seems like a thing he would consider important — the whole traditional engagement deal (though they’re anything but) — and she’s trying to include him in her life. “Thank you.”

They’re still for a while, relishing in each other’s company. Percy tries to reconcile the past few minutes in her brain, but only comes up with her head spinning in a buzz. “I can’t believe I’m gonna marry you,” She murmurs against her neck.

“I thought of something.” Annabeth smiles, sidetracking the conversation for what she hopes is an amusing tangent.

“Yeah?”

“Maybe now you won’t have to angrily glare at as many boys. If they see this they might leave me alone.” She laughs, gesturing to the ring and thinking back on the times a very unlucky man dared to even glance her way, gods forbid try to buy her a drink or swing a sleazy arm around her shoulder.

“I don’t glare angri—”

Annabeth raises her eyebrows.

In her defense, there’s only so many _“hey, is your friend single”_s she can take, even after the word girlfriend’s been said at least once. It wasn’t her fault most men were imbeciles.

She tried to make it clear that Annabeth wasn’t just her ‘girlfriend’, for all the connotations of the word’s worth: A subtle trail traced up her spine; a hand in her pocket; an ironclad grip on her thigh, or one time, her butt (and she’s still not forgiven for how she made Annabeth blush); a swift motion pulling her onto her lap and into a kiss. And how could she forget the time she settled the score with one of Annabeth’s flirty classmates, spelling it out like she was talking to a child: “She’s my girlfriend. We are dating. Sometimes we even kiss.”

“So maybe I do.” Percy laughs.

People hit on Percy too (not at New Rome, no, they knew better), boys and girls — she’s reconciled with the fact that she gives off some kind of vibe (is it the haircut? it’s definitely the haircut). She‘s usually perfectly happy to let her actions show she’s spoken for; only rarely did Annabeth feel the need to intervene (and always, men, even though Percy joked she would be offended if they didn’t chase after her).

“You do what you have to,” she smiles. Annabeth was clingy too — it was hard not to be after everything — but not like that. It‘s in the way she looks at Percy with all the love the world could give, the trust in falling asleep on her shoulder in the library, the audacity to hold her hand every second she’s given the chance, and make people know she’s hers.

“And if they don’t take the hint?”

“Then you can tell them you’re my fiancée.” She emphasizes the new word, knowing it’ll drive Percy crazy. “I do think it says a lot more than ‘girlfriend’.”

Right. Girls had ‘girlfriends’, like guys had their ‘dudes’ and ‘bros’. Fiancée was decidedly unambiguous. “I like that idea.”

Annabeth stands up, grabbing Percy’s hands and pulling her to stand face to face. “You should call your mom. She’ll be upset if you wait until tomorrow to tell her.”

She’s absolutely right, and as they both predicted, she’s never been happier (perhaps even more so than her own wedding).

Once they finish talking to sally, Annabeth finds her way back into Percy’s arms, standing by the phone. Percy rests her head on Annabeth’s shoulder, her arms wrapped around her from behind. Annabeth doesn’t think she’s ever felt a peace quite like this in her entire life. There’s an inherent quiet against the bustling noise of the streets of Manhattan — it all fades into the sidelines for the sound of Percy’s breathing.

“I wish I could marry you right now.”

She turns to face her, Percy's arms still draped over her shoulders, and laughs, knowing she’ll hate the truth: “Weddings take planning. You’ve gotta give me at least a year.”

“So, next summer?”

“If you’re that desperate, yeah, sure, next summer,” she jokes, although she’d be hard-pressed to admit she feels the same. “I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume we’re having a beach wedding?”

“I was actually thinking,” she rolls a thumb across the bead on Annabeth’s necklace from the summer they met, “The lake. At camp?” We’ll be safe there, sticks in her mind, unspoken.

She can’t resist planting a kiss on Percy’s cheek. That’s pretty much her dream. “Keep going.”

“What do you mean?”

“Tell me more. You seem to have big plans.”

“The biggest. I learned from the best,” she smiles. “So… summer. Sunset. All of our friends are there. And our families. Your mom and my dad manage to set aside their differences for a few hours.”

She honestly couldn’t ask for anything better. “We have a giant chocolate cake.”

“With blue frosting.”

“Deal,” she obliges (who is she to say no?), “I’m wearing a gown… with flowers, and lace, all the way down to the floor and then some, and a deep neckline, so you’re staring at me all night, and—” She puts on a thinking face, ignoring Percy’s finger tracing a line down from her necklace. “Wait. Can we both wear a dress?”

“I don’t see why not?” Percy isn’t exactly one for formalwear; she rarely has the need to. The most she’s ever gotten dressed up in recent years was for her mom’s wedding — she wore a button up shirt with plain black pants and flats. While her closet’s split pretty evenly between men’s and women’s clothing, she can’t exactly see herself in a suit, and typical wedding dresses were so… much. But oh; can she imagine Annabeth in that dress. “I thought you hated dresses like that.”

She leans in close. “Oh, I think they’re gorgeous, I just hate it when boys stare. I love it when you do.”

Percy blushes; she should’ve seen that coming. “Ah.” She doesn’t think she’ll ever get over how much of a tease Annabeth can be.

“You‘re wearing a simple dress.”

“Good.”

“It’s plain, smooth satin, with a wide neck, and a low back, and don’t you dare say a word... You know I’m right.”

Percy isn’t the kind for such a stylized dress, but she imagines Annabeth’s hands on her former Achilles spot, pulling her into a kiss, and she’s instantly sold. Actually, scratch that, she’s pretty sure she’s going to lose her mind.

“Yeah,” Annabeth smirks, “I thought so.”

“I think my brain just short-circuited.”

She laughs. “So what’s next?”

“I graduate, and we get a plot of land in some stupid, nameless suburban town—”

“—And I draw up the plans and we build the damn house ourselves.” She quietly continues, “Then, maybe in a few years…”

Percy thinks for a bit. “I think I’d want to adopt. I mean if—” There’s no way in Hades she’d ever carry a child. The thought is terrifying and she’s almost positive Annabeth feels the same way. There’s too much to risk.

“—No. Yeah. I…” Annabeth is on the same page, for the most part, but there’s a little voice in the deepest part of her mind that yearns for little blonde curls or eyes like the ocean. A bold thought crosses her mind: she could ask Hera for the blessing of a child with parts of both of them. Stupid? Yes. She’d be crazy to say it didn’t intrigue her, though. She imagines muted green eyes, the sea cloaked in a storm, and it seems so right.

The rest of her thoughts are telling her she’d be insane to try to carry a child — what about monsters? What if she couldn’t protect them? Not many things scare her, but evidently, that‘s one of them. It sends her head into a tailspin. It’s a bridge she’ll have to cross when they get there, she supposes. For now… “The idea of giving a kid a family that loves them… a stable home that they wouldn’t otherwise have… that’s worth a lot.” She lets the silence hang over them for a minute, reflecting on where she thought she would be at this age. Dead, or worse. “I can’t say I know exactly what I want right now. All I hope is that I’m as good of a mom as Sally was to you. She clearly did something right.”

“You will.” Percy’s eyes light up, her voice so sure of the words she speaks. “And we’ll figure it out.”

She can’t resist cupping Percy’s face and pulling her into a deep kiss, holding onto her as if her life depends on it. Neither of them say a word — there’s no need. Everything they’re thinking has already been said before in a thousand different ways, and they both know it.

“Tell me more about our life, Annabeth.” Indulging this fantasy with her feels like a heavy, comforting warmth blanketing her soul.

“We have… two. A boy and girl. When they’re young, I tuck them in with bedtime stories of how a seaweed-brained hero saved the world.”

“What about the truth?” Percy cocks her head; shouldn’t they be aware of the chance of danger?

“When they’re old enough to keep it secret? Of course. And I want them to know they have biological parents somewhere out there. That’s important.”

Percy understands: she knows firsthand the importance of heritage. “Gods… this all just seems so…” she gestures vaguely.

“Domestic? It is.”

“I can’t believe you’ve turned me into a sap, Annabeth Chase.”

“Jackson-Chase,” she corrects. She could get used to that.

[20h27]

I was wondering what your thoughts are on the conversation Milan & Robbe had. My main issue with it is that the reference to gay pride and "being normal" was left out. It bothers me, especially since in the wake of the Belgian 2019 elections a number of right wing politicians stated that gay marriage and gay adoption aren't normal. And while you could argue this is true, we're not the majority, we all know that those politicians mean something else. But anyway: shoot! :-)

Hey anon.

First off, I want to say sorry for waiting nearly a week to respond to this, I kept drafting out a reply but it got rambly and there were a lot of tangents I kept going down but I am going to try and aim for simplicity here.

I actually soft quit Wtfock because I knew I could not engage with Robbe’s story in the pattern I believed it was heading in but I did catch up because I got some questions from other people. Ho, boy.

Obviously this is a little moot now that the pride speech did happen (and then that other thing happened which soured it a lot) but my main problem wasn’t that the clip was going to take the pride speech in a different direction. I know it’s so important but I also think different Isaks battle their internalised homophobia in different ways so when, say, Druck snapped back to the original version of that speech I was disappointed. My main problem is that I worry about the way Milan is being positioned this season because it’s literally night and day from the way he was positioned in season 2. I think the positioning of Milan in season 2 should have clued us in to how this season would go.

I also have very complicated thoughts on gay marriage because the way it has been brought to the forefront in this country is through the right trying to nullify gay rights movements into ceasing to exist. Which has also helped/propped up the rampant transphobia coming from all sides. This is where I started to get very lost in a whole long essay about Andrew Sullivan, homonationalism, transphobia in the gay community, Stonewall, the AIDS epidemic, radical movements becoming softened, re-narrativised and whitewashed and honestly anon it’s not what you were asking! However, if anyone is interested in how a very awful gay man built the populist case for gay marriage, I think two really great starting points are the “You’re Wrong About...” podcast on Stonewall for larger context and the “Bad Gays” podcast episode on Andrew Sullivan.

Lastly, I just want to say I really hate the way the term “normal” is used because it’s always a dog whistle horribleness and there is no uniform application of it! If we didn’t live in a heteronormative, homophobic society, who is to say that lgbt people would be the minority! No one ever posits that white men are a minority and therefore abnormal. But if you mention that to right wing idiots they will go down a eugenics route.

Sorry this went so far off the deep end but you should have seen my previous that also included a long tangent on Eskild’s kindness and how he saves Isak from a route of self-hatred Robbe has already gone down at this point.

[cupofsorrows]

HOWARD LOVECRAFT 4: CRAFT HARD WITH A VENGEANCE

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Time to continue this cursed journey, blighted not by eldritch forces but by sub-quality filmmaking. As you’ll recall (or not), LL Cool Craft and those other two dudes were on their way to beat themselves up a necromancer. Let’s see how well they’re doing:

PRETTY GOOD, IT DOESN’T SEEM.

Except wait, they actually do pretty well, because as we’ve already established knocking a shoggoth out through blunt force is both possible and fairly easy to do, and also because Dr. Armitage has the athleticism of a young Super Mario.

seen here bestowing an orb of discord on the enemy. yes i went back to the zenyatta joke.

Of course, they eventually get captured, and now it’s time for King Abby to reveal his evil plan...

“nah dude I already saw that movie, I know Thanos loses in the end.”

Suffice it to say that basically Abdul wants to “open the Gate of Dreams” because daily life has become soul-crushingly dull.

Like, I get it dude, I’ve worked retail too, but you don’t see me trying to destroy the universe. Anyways, the final journal is hidden behind a magic gateway that apparently only Howard can pass through:

All I can say is it’s a good thing this is an alternate re-imagining of Lovecraft’s life, and not the real version where he was heinously racist basically all the time.

Yes, Howard’s Dad, the animation’s terrible, but it’s looked like that all movie - I don’t understand why you’re just now reacting.

By now it’s time for the tables to turn yet again, through a series of actions I didn’t care enough to cap, and it looks like everyone’s about to escape...

BUT WAIT!

Nooooo Dr. Armitage! You were.......a character in this movie!

All four of them (they got Spot’s astral form in the crystal ball) escape through the portal, but Armitage is wounded in that special animation way where there’s no blood or even clothing damage but you have to hold your side and wince and you can’t walk for some reason. Is he going to make it?

Sorry, kid, but it looks like it’s his time to...return to the university? Um, OK. Oh, but first he can restore Spot to his bargain-bin aladdin-genie form.

Farewell, Doctor. This whole scene was very nearly pointless.

It’s all good, though, because the Three Amigos have a new destination!

This gives Paw Lovecraft plenty of time to ramble about how he came to write the journals (notice throughout how they can’t be arsed to give half of the things in this movie proper shadows but they do make sure to take the extra effort with the beads of sweat on his forehead):

Cool story bro, but I’m still a little unclear about NO NO WAIT I DIDN’T SAY FLASHBACK Aaah dammit, there he goes.

...

You could have given a thousand Lovecraft scholars an entire year to try to guess what might be in this movie and I don’t think a single one would have come up with “awkward Death Note homage”. My hat is off to you, movie. Bra-vo.

(i guess there’s a possibility it’s coincidental, but that’s even funnier because then that means two different people independently had the idea to animate somebody writing in a notebook but make it look as intense as possible, and they both came up with the exact same solution)

Now we’re finally introduced to Doctor West (voiced by Christopher Plummer), the mysterious colleague of Lovecraft Senior whom we’ve AAUUGH

my man I am so, so sorry.

...er, anyway, seems the two of them were working together when they made their big breakthrough. Here we see them as Lovecraft the Elder prepares to journey to either an alien planet or a particularly wild orgy.

...Adding “Stargate” to the list of things I wasn’t expecting this movie to rip off...

And now, at last, we learn why “Undersea Kingdom” was in this movie’s title.

I dunno, dude, it’s a kingdom and it’s undersea. Seems pretty straightforward to me.

Just then, however, Flashback Howard’s Dad is treated to a terrifying sight!

bigchungus.png

“Nice notebook, nerd! Yyyyyyoink!”

...And that’s the state of things now. That’s why DadCraft went nuts and that’s where the last journal is. He timed his flashback well, for they’ve just arrived at their destination:

Yeah, they probably shunned it because some crazy, Edgar Allan Poe-looking fucker was always up there running around and babbling in a nonsense language! I’d shun that place, too!

Underneath the hill is a secret base where Dad suits up to return to the Undersea Kingdom™ - Howard doesn’t need one, on account of the ‘turning into a fish’ thing.

see?

OK credit where credit is due, the actor playing this guy is really making an effort, and I actually sort of chuckled at this bit. His delivery is usually pretty goofy, but I think that’s the way to go here, and even if most of his lines are clunkers because, well, most of the script is clunky, there’s still an undeniable sort of heart behind it. Imdb says the actor’s name is Tyler Nicol, who doesn’t seem to have been in much, and probably can’t stand on the level of the big-name talents in this movie (though I def wouldn’t say they’re all at their best here), but I think he deserves some recognition for trying.

Tangent over, here comes the big fish dude again.

I think we can all guess what his name is...

...Munkus Q. Charliebears! ...Oh, yeah, or Dagon. That would’ve been my second guess.

But it’s OK, he’s on our side! In his minute or so of screen time Dagon manages to deliver probably the most useful exposition in the whole damn film, explaining that he took the journal to keep it safe and that he put up the magic gate that only plucky boy heroes can pass through, as well as laying out some background for Nyarlathotep and his motivation for being involved in this. It turns out that Nyarrblbarbagarbl wants to activate Cthulhu in accordance to the wishes of their mutual father, Azathoth. Now everybody’s hanging out in Dagon’s crib to get at the journal, so our pal Hovercraft had better get moving to get it before the bad guys do. This falls on him, because it was his dad who fucked everything up in the first place and now he’s too cuckoo to fix it himself.

You sure it’s that and not...you know. The racism?

Alright, so everybody up to speed? Everyone understand everything? No? Well too damn bad.

Disappointingly, “Y’ha” is not pronounced “Yeeha”.

(PRONUNCIATION GUIDE THUS FAR:

Tekeli-li - Tekah-leelee

Cthulhu - Kuh-too-loo (probably the way you’ve heard it elsewhere)

Shoggoth - Shuh-GOTH

Nyarlahotep - Nee-ar-LA-ho-tep

Innsmouth - The ‘mouth’ is pronounced that way (i.e. the orifice you eat with) instead of ‘muth’ which I had always assumed

R’lyeh - Ruh-LAY (this is the one I’m most calling bullshit on)

Howard - JEFF-ree

As the goodguys approach, the badguys sense their arrival:

“ ‘WhAt sHaLl i dO, blehhhhh I’m a Dumbass’ That’s what you sound like.”

LMAO YASSS DRAG HIS ASS

Then Howard et al show up on the scene, and it’s time for the Big Bad to make his debut.

OK I like this, I think it’s actually sort of eerie, but it’s too little too late at this point. Also, isn’t Azathoth supposed to be sort of mindless? Or have I gotten him confused with some other ineffable outer being?

I feel like I should say something about the sudden art shift, but I’m approaching the end of my patience and I just want this all to be over already.

Surprise, Mom is still a hostage! Her skin has definitely looked better, too.

LOOK OUT, WALLACE N. GROMIT IS OFF THE SHITS

You know what else he looks like to me? A cartoon mailman. Remove the mask and the hood, add the little mailman hat...do you see it?

Did I mention the trials? No? OK: there are trials.

The fate of the world before him, his family behind him, his meat enormous, Hocus Pocus Lovecraft can do nothing but move forward.

2 B CONTINUED

RIGHT NOW

[aleatoryalarmalligator]

My Life Story Part 10

In 6th grade I promised Sarah I would stop making a fool of myself since she felt it reflected badly on her. Instead of giving into the urge to sing or dance or say absurd things, I told her I would keep my mouth shut. I would also learn how to use a fork properly, since I guess I had been using one sort of like a caveman without realizing it. And maybe try to do something with my hair. This kind of became the beginning of a dynamic between us that hasn't entirely changed – though maybe it should. I always kind of feel like I am doing something inappropriately or disruptive in her presence even when i don’t think it consciously matters to her anymore, sometimes I really am, and Sarah addresses it and tries to fix me in a way. In a way, this was just kind of a mild way of saying that something about 'me' was wrong that needed perfecting. I ran with this idea and to this day I find myself very interested in personal improvements – though I still forget to brush my hair most of the time. We stopped taking our Pokemon merchandise to school with us everyday. I still was an avid gameboy color Pokemon Gold player with a level 100 Ho-Oh, and I still drew Alien Girls. But I just kept it on the down low. We were sixth graders after all, and we needed to start preparing for our junior high years.

My 6th grade teacher is one of the biggest douchebags I have ever known. He was a gym teacher for the whole school and he taught the 6th grade. He was basically a 24-7 insert stereotypically the most worst gym teacher stereotype you can possibly imagine. He was always calling the boys women. He was transphobic, homophobic, a fatshamer, a slutshamer. He was always talking about giving it '110%'. His favorite saying was 'YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE IT DRINK'. He was full of bullshit peptalks that there is not enough space in the universe for my eyes to roll back as far as they needed to. He wore awful polo shirts. He was just the worst. If you asked for help, and Mr. Webb was in a poor mood, he would scream at you and write you up.

He liked to send kids out to the hallway to chew them out. When they would come back in, their faces would be streaked with tears. He sent me in to the hallway once. I don't remember how it all started, but at some point, he said he didn't want to hear 'MY TWO CENTS WORTH' (another one of his favorite one liners) and he put his hand in my face. On instinct, I told him to get his hand out of my face defiantly. Everyone in class looked at me. They were all ready to see me get sent out to the hallway and to come back with tears in my eyes. Sure enough, I got sent to the hallway. He screamed at me a bit, threatened to give suspend me. I apologized, but I had become very adamant in my own mind about not crying. I didn't cry, and eventually I was sent back in the room. Everyone's eyes were on me. I just smiled like nothing had happened. I definitely can be a very emotional fool, but I don't like letting assholes get the best of me, at least not in person.

Then we had this student teacher named Mr. Wilcoxon. Mr. Wilcoxon had been tormented in high school I am sure of it, and I think he came back to the school to get back at all the students he felt had ruined his life. He was incredibly emotionally imbalanced. Looking back, I don't think he was actually a bad person, but he didn't seem emotionally up for the job. He was was short, balding and he twitched when he talked. He had a strange little mustache. This alone made him the subject of ridicule, and I am surprised that Mr. Webb didn't stuff him in a locker. Everything became personal with him. When the kids acted up, he would scream with tears in his eyes in a way that just influenced the more cruel jocks to laugh at him. He was always telling stories of self pity to the class. I can kind of sympathize with him now, and I am sure my class wasn't fun. He must have been going through a hard time. It's just that he was a horrible leader, and he was always looking to write people up before anyone had done anything wrong. Samantha, who was generally a straight A, and pretty serious student accidentally called him Mr. Wilcock one day instead of Mr. Wilcoxon and he flew into a rage and wrote her up even though it was an honest mistake. It was stuff like this that made him insufferably annoying. This made people want to rebel against him. Why did he constantly have to bring his personal life to the classroom of dumb kids? Why couldn't he have just taught us what we needed to know? I am an emotional person, but even I know  how to put on my terminator persona when it is needed for a job.

Third, there was Mr. Gilson who was our principal. Since Mr. Wilcoxon and Mr. Webb were  so horrified by the class I was in they would have Mr. Gilson come into the class and give us a good freak out once in awhile. He once broke one of those big steal school doors by slamming it. He would alarm us, and then be gone. Honestly, I don't remember him entirely, other than he was kind of like Mr. Webb but not as bad. I think his true passion was beekeeping or something like that. About once a month I had to go talk to him because I didn't do homework, and he would tell me what kind of bum I would grow up to be unless I looked into the mirror and decided to straighten up my life here today in this very office. The whole thing honestly stressed me out so badly that I could not even understand what he was saying. All I could hear was the mumbling of his words attempting to be cutting. I would just shut down. My stomach would hurt and I would feel trembly and want nothing more than to slither back behind a novel. I was always near tears when I left his office, but not because of my grades. It was just because I had to anticipate the event, and I had to look him in the eyes which was excruciating for me.

Fourth, my music teacher, Mrs. Gertie was a grandiose egotistical force within the school. She conducted all the plays in the school, and people in the community used to see her as a grand force of good for the community as a whole. She was in reality, a very mean woman and she hadn't grown up much in terms of maturity past high school herself. She judged girls for their looks. She was the worst person to get into trouble with, because she liked to use shame to get students to behave. If you had to pee during class, she would make you stand in front of the class and explain to them why you were failing them all. She was the only class that I ever actively cheated to pass. Samantha didn't like sharing her answers with me, but since Sarah always got her answers from Samantha, Sam felt mildly obligated to share her own. It wasn't that I had no understanding of notes and keys. But her teaching style incorporated fear of failure. Fear of failure is the worst way in which to approach the arts – especially in the beginning. She would also sometimes do this thing where she would turn off the lights and tell us that even though the school said she couldn't do this, she was going to do it anyway. Jesus Christ is the lord and savior of this earth, and if we didn't believe in him, we were going to HELL. She went on this religious tangent sometimes. It was incredibly dumb. There has never been a single moment in my life where I feared that was true, no matter how many times people told me.

So other than Mrs. Mathison, I mostly hated my teachers. They eventually sent me to special Ed for math, since I had fallen so far behind I might as well have been starting 5th instead of 6th. There was a student teacher who was teaching. She seemed nervous and a little bit snappy at first. She had blonde hair and she was heavy. Her name was Mrs. Umpenhour. At first I did not like her. There were only four of us to teach and the whole set up was awkward at first. But over time, I started actually really seeing her as a person and like her. She was only snappy because she was nervous and afraid we were judging her. One day I was doing my homework, and I noticed in another part of the room that she was eating a candy bar and crying. Another teacher asked her what was wrong, and basically Mrs. Umpenhour was crying because she was obese and she ate food that she shouldn't have that morning and her car kept breaking down. Her husband was away oversees in the military, and she was alone all the time and she just felt second rate because of her weight, and she just felt like she had no control over her own life.

It's not that I related to her exactly at the time – since even though I was kind of a fat girl, I actually kind of saw myself as more of an alien that just happened to be stuck in a Renee body for the time being. But this touch of realness from her made me realize that even though she was an adult she was very much vulnerable to the world all the same. I started respecting her in class more, and for what it was worth, between all five of us, I became the class leader. I went from having a 20% in Mathematics to having a grade of literally 112% or something like that – due to getting perfect scores on extra credit. I made sure to always do my homework, and I actually read through my entire math book and taught myself how to do all the equations. I really wanted her to feel like she was doing a good job. And when she lost 20 or 30 lbs, I made sure to compliment her. I encouraged the other students in my class to do the best they could. I found myself being a bit of a mascot for the class.

I was doing so well that they made me take an online math test to assess my math skills. Most of the questions I had to guess on since they were several grades above my understanding. But this is when I learned that I could do something extremely weird, and I haven't found anyone who knows what I am talking about or believes me quite. When I am taking a multiple choice quiz for something – usually math and I don't know the answer at all I have this bizarre method of seeking the answer.

I at first assess if I know the equation that leads me to the answer. I read all the multiple choice options. When I have come to the conclusion that I am not familiar with how to get the answer to the question, I stare at the whole question in such a way where I shift focus from the meaning of the words. I just study the chunk of writing as a whole. I personalize the question in a way, and I personalize the options. Generally speaking when I stare at the screen or paper long enough, one of the options starts seeming a slightly different shade than the rest of the options. The black seems blacker somehow, or the light around the paper seems lighter around the print. That is the one I decide to select as the answer. I do that every time I have a multiple choice question I don't know the answer to. I don't know why. It just feels right somehow. This whole revisioning thing also makes me feel extremely shaky and it makes my head hurt a little. And I am right far more often than not which is extremely mysterious. And honestly, I don't know why I have been able to do this on multiple choice tests. I feel like I am cheating somehow.

One theory that I have is that I am somehow subconsciously seeing an underlying pattern in the numbers that I am not consciously aware of. That is the theory I go by, since I would hesitate very strongly in calling myself a psychic. I feel like on some level, there must be a pattern that I am picking up, somehow. Whatever my brain is doing, I really don't know about the functioning. Part of doing it is turning off the part of my brain that thinks and going to this other intuitive side instead. I definitely don't suggest that people start taking their tests on intuition.

So somehow, after this test, I scored like a 12th grader would. I had been going over questions that I had absolutely no idea what they meant, with power symbols and other symbols that it would be several years before I would ever see for over an hour. I was just kind of meditating and feeling the answers out, and getting them all right. And because of my method of picking the right answer made me out to be some kind of math genius that I am not, they took me out of my beloved special ed class, the first class that I ever was excited to go to and didn't feel nervous in. They just assumed that I had been playing dumb the entire time, the charade was up and I got sent back to the main class. As soon as I was put into the class with screaming Mr. Webb, I instantly went back to failing math again. Mrs. Umpenhour ended up moving shortly after that anyway, and I never saw or heard from her again. I am not even spelling her name right so I could not search for her on Facebook if I wanted to.

This was a year where I also did something kind of awful. I was sitting in class one day. I reached into the very back of the desk storage, and I found this little metal Navy clock on a chain. I assumed it was a knick knack nobody would miss. I didn't even really like it that much myself, or get the significance of it being something from the actual navy, but I took it anyway because I didn't own very many items at home, and I had a weird thing about random found objects as keepsakes. Later, a boy in my class named Seth told Mr. Webb that he couldn't find his special watch anywhere. His dad had given it to him before abandoning him, so it kind of meant everything to Seth. His mother had a new boyfriend every week, and she practiced black magic openly. She also had eight children. This made her and her family kind of oddities in town. So I imagine Seth's life was probably kind of hard. Seth was eventually in tears. Mr. Webb was out for blood. Everything built up so much so fast that I was too afraid to give the watch back. I would have given the cursed item back, but doing so meant that they would punish me as a thief for stealing and the whole class would see me that way. I was too nervous to go up and give it back. And because I didn't give it back right away, I would have been punished for having not said anything immediately if I had tried later. I think my guilt was obvious, because Mr. Webb specifically targeted me when he talked to the class about the pocket watch. They knew I was the last person who had been sitting in the place Seth would have most likely left it.

Seth was also a bully to me after school. He would ride his bike around me when I went out for walks, throw rocks at me and call me names every time he saw me, in a nonflirting fashion. He was one of those bullies who actually is insecure and cries very easily. It's not that I had wanted to punish him for this, but it made it doubly hard for me to admit that I had taken the watch on a whole new perspective. Would this situation have made it worse for me? All day, I just felt this guilt pain in my chest and the thing burned in my pocket.

I went home, and I hid it in a box, and I didn't get it out until I was an 8th grader and Seth had moved away. My future friend Katie loved the watch, and so I gave it to her, glad to be rid of the cursed item, a medal that was won because of bravery – but in my case, won out of deceit and cowardice.  

If you want to read my life story so far, here are the previous parts.

PART 9 - http://tinyurl.com/yc2t6vfw  

PART 8 - http://tinyurl.com/ybl37utq

PART 7 - http://tinyurl.com/ybvo283g

PART 6 - http://tinyurl.com/kbc9dwu

PART 5 - http://tinyurl.com/msnz4am

PART 4 - http://tinyurl.com/k9x8esg

PART 3 - http://tinyurl.com/mwp9atx

PART 2 - http://tinyurl.com/lbt6xq2

PART 1 - http://tinyurl.com/l8xbvg8

[firebirdsdaughter]

Oh, yeah!...

... How could I forget!

I’ve got my tea... (well, not that tea, not yet)... Time to rewatch the Zi-O 22 raw for rambles!

In no order:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I really don’t care, Kuro Woz.

In other news, Shiro Woz was actually weirdly tolerable this episode. I fully expect him to go back to being a manipulative bastard next week, though.

Oh god, I guess I have to get used to the guy, since we’re apparently keeping him. I still say bring back Woz.5. I loved him.

Even the suit actor is doing the head tilt.

I am now significantly more concerned about that shot in the opening of Sougo walking away from the other two...

When is Trinity coming out, again? The boys will have to be getting along by then...

Now, see, they’re alone, so Geiz is like ‘okay, I can admit to having feelings again.’

Well, I guess that question got answered by the end of the episode.

I think Junichiro wanted Sougo to deliver something, but Sougo got stuck in the mirror world (also some angel put the thing about Geiz freaking out when Sougo got pulled into the window on the TV Tropes Heartwarming page for Zi-O and I thank them so very, very much), so now he’s trying to get Geiz and Tsukuyomi to do it.

Geiz was gonna straight up henshin right in front of Junichiro if an enemy came out of the mirror, oh my god. XD

EVERYONE’S EXPRESSIONS IN THIS SCENE.

I just love how Geiz goes from ‘ready to fight it’ to ‘WTF?’ to ‘Oh yeah, he’s here’ to pretty much just checking out of the whole situation over the course of a minute or so.

Seriously, Gaku’s expressions in this scene were golden. Shirei’s, too.

I think that’s her name. I’m slowly learning their names but names are hard.

Geiz is like ‘you’re an idiot, fine, I’ll explain.’ I guess the reason is that their Rider Kicks have slightly different effects. I didn’t even think of that. Interesting.

Tsukuyomi is so frustrated by Geiz’s lack of self preservation and that is very valid of her.

Hm... Okay, so having given it some thought, I think part of Sougo’s muted reactions are that he’s one of those people who projects a cheery exterior all the time and bottles stuff up. So, like, when his ‘negative’ (so to speak--like sadness, pain, anger, all that stuff) emotions show even a little bit, it’s like the tip of the iceberg. Which isn’t healthy, but it’s a possible explanation. I still wish they had made him react even a little more at the end, but that’s just my opinion.

Geiz just freaking teleported to the door there.

Geiz feels bad bc he actually considered going through with Shiro Woz’s idea. And he probably feels bad about feeling bad about that, bc he’s a soldier, and soldiers are supposed to complete their mission no matter the cost.

I guess she’s looking at Sougo, but it feels like she’s looking right at me, and even though she’s pretty and I love her, that sort of thing always makes me uncomfortable. I can’t look real people in the eye, stop trying to make me look tv characters in the eye!

Aw! There’s something twistedly heartwarming about Mirror¡Sougo tormenting Sougo about his relationship w/ Geiz. Good drama.

Also, I remain alone on the casual SouGeiz raft and it is still funny. XD

Sou Okuno remains much too cute for me to be frightened of him in any capacity.

I really wanna know what that line said. Something about Geiz and Puma Zi-O, but I don’t know.

Well, Sougo just died. (by which I mean, he fell over)

WAGA KYUURANGERS.

Shiro Woz being suspiciously tolerable. I’m sure he’ll be back to his usual manipulative jackass self next ep.

Aw! Tsukuyomi is breaking out the Hawk Droid now!

I keep getting this incredibly in depth Chinese State Farm ad and it’s hilarious.

Shiro Woz is dead now, too.

Honestly, he’s on the right track.

Yes, he is technically Kamen Rider Ryuki. By which we mean, he was Kamen Rider Ryuki, but then time got totally rewritten so that he wasn’t. Twice!

Not that I think he enjoyed it that much the first time... At leats he met Ron, though. Man, this is making me want to go back and watch Ryuki proper.

Lessons for the Mirror World: Don’t talk to your Mirror Self, it’s a bad idea. Also something about accepting yourself.

He looks different w/ short hair and older, but every now and then, he turns his head or makes a particular face, and it’s like ‘yeah, that’s him, that’s the boy.’

Shiro Woz died again.

I’m just gonna start assuming that Rider and Sentai weapons magically go back to their pocket dimension as soon s they’re thrown offscreen (thinks of all those times in Ex-Aid where you could literally hear them hitting the ground somewhere).

WAGA KYUURANGERS.

And thar he go. Goddamnit, Geiz.

Kudos to Okuno for pulling off as truly adorable and hilarious confused Mirror¡Sougo face for this whole scene. He’s just like ‘wth, dude?’

See, this is part of why I think Sougo’s the ‘hide all my ‘negative’ emotions’ kinda person. Bc he’s like ‘I’m really scared’ but he’s never shown it. Which isn’t healthy, sweetie, please talk to someone. Who... Isn’t your Mirror World self.

If they do do ‘balance of light and dark’ thing for Zi-O, I really hope they do a thing about Geiz and Tsukuyomi being his sort of ‘main anchors’ for the ‘light’ part. If that makes any sense.

Me when someone falls over in Toku ‘Whelp, he’s dead.’ Me when someone actually dies in Toku ‘Nah, he’s fine.’

WAGA KYUURANGERS.

Man, though, I hope they don’t remember the entirety of the time reset. Bc he’d have to remember dying, and she’d have to remember him dying in her arms. And they’re EIGHTEEN.

Shiro Woz.exe has stopped working.

Also, in that overhead shot, you can totally see Another Ryuga standing next to the tree before he respawns. XD ^^

Or maybe that’s a crew member. Either way. ^^ XD

Still wish they coulda given him more of a reaction, but I can justify it. He prefers to keep things in, and he probably guessed what the situation would be when he got there and was mentally preparing the whole way. Still wish we coulda had a small ‘mentally prepared but not quite ready for the real thing’ moment. I guess he does seem a little perturbed, but... Nrgh.

Spent several minutes rewatching this part, partially for angst lover reasons, and partially bc I was trying to see if I could see Gaku still breathing even though he’s playing dead. I actually didn’t notice any moments, but maybe someone else did.

God, I hope he didn’t hold his breath that whole time. Though who knows. Maybe he has the breath holding skills of an olympic swimmer.

I accidentally paused on a shot of Kuro Woz while Shiro Woz was flying into the scene to grab him and it looked kinda hilarious.

Keisuke be like ‘Hello, my suit actor!’ ^^ Poor boy over here talking to himself.

So what is going to happen w/ these two? Will the Wozes fuse? Will there be a third, true Woz? Will he not be a manipulative jerk-face? The questions are numerous.

Also, what’s the history between him and Geiz? I care more about it bc of Geiz than bc of Woz.

But also... Woz Fight!

CUTE. Makes one remember all the hijinks that went on at the office.

See? That’s Sougo reacting to something. :/

Now the other two are worried though, bc that’s a Puma Zi-O power. God, please, please don’t break up the Zi-Ot3. I’m putting my faith in you, dude who wrote Ninninger! I mean, you gave us Kinji and the Igasakis! (crap, that was the family name, right?) Admittedly, slightly lower stakes, but I’m counting on yooooooooouuuuuuu! *continues howling off into the distance for no reason*

But Geiz is straight up like ‘it’s my fault,’ the poor baby. Like. He’s not even blaming Sougo. He seems to be saying that he caused Sougo to make that choice. Bc the online translator says something like ‘led him’ to that ‘path’? Then gain, the online image translator also like to periodically translates things as ‘it’s all about sex’ and for the life of it cannot decide on what ‘Ouma Zi-O’ translate as. My favourite remains ‘the ostrich.’

Tsukuyomi apparently makes a note that one isn’t supposed to ‘play with time or someone’s life’ and now I’m like... About... Two or three of Sougou’s ‘steps’ towards becoming Puma Zi-O were bc he was trying to save Geiz? What if... What if the reason he became Puma Zi-O was that breaking the ‘rules’ of time does mess w/ your head and he kept using to to try and save Geiz from himself, or something... Like, wasn’t there some other time travel thing about the universe really trying to kill someone and someone else trying to prevent it? Like, coming back to my ‘die to prevent Puma Zi-O’ thing. If it’s something like that... Like, what if it seems like in the end that most sure way to prevent Puma Zi-O w/out killing Sougo is just letting Geiz die? I mean. He’d accept it in a heartbeat, I’m pretty sure, but if it does come to that, I’d prefer they found a third miracle option.

Of course, she could actually be saying something else entirely and I just went off on an aimless tangent.

But Geiz’s face during this talk... Like, I definitely think he's upset bc at this point he doesn’t want to kill Sougo at all anymore, and he also now feels like he’s responsible for destroying the future on one hand and starting the process that turned adorable little Sougo into Puma Zi-O on the other. My poor baby.

Also Tsukuyomi is talking directly at me again, and it is still making me uncomfortable!

And now they both stand there and look kinda sad.

Where the hell are they, anyway? Why’d they come back out here?

Shut up Kuro Woz, I don’t care.

Also, hi Kikai! ^^

And now for a completely clashing goofy promo!

I am still nervous, and the tea and shirts are ready to go, but one of the preview images looked like the boys having a normal conversation, so I’m still hedging my bets. Do right by me, Ninninger man! Not that I have anything to offer if you don’t, but, you know....

Okay, maybe I’ll buy something.

That’s all folks! Virtual lemon meringue pie for anyone who read all that nonsense. Or whatever type of pie you like. If you don’t like pie, cookies or cake or anything is fine.

Still hoping for good friendship drama. Love the Zi-Ot3, suspicious of how tolerable Shiro Woz was this ep. Suppose I’ll have to get used to him, since we're apparently keeping him. Now instilled w/ a desire to rewatch Ryuki.

Tea and shirts remain on standby.

[rockingthegraveyard]

A-E-I-O-U! ♡

A - Ships that you currently like a lot. (They don’t have to be OTPs because not everyone has OTPs.) Friendships, pairings, threesomes, etc. are allowed.

Ace and Marco have my heart and soul at the moment.  Sabo and Ace too, though I prefer them more platonic. (I do most ships honestly)  Though I am digging Marco, Ace and Sabo too.  I adore Rouge and Roger a lot too.  

E - Have you added anything cracky/hilarious to your fandom? If so, what?

Always?? But hell if I can ever remember them when asked.  They’re usually sudden thoughts that I post here as soon as they come to fruition.

I - Has Tumblr caused you to stop liking any fandoms, if so, which and why?

I can’t think of any that it’s stopped me from liking them. There have been a few it stopped me from even entering.  And it did cause me to eject myself from the Naruto fandom for a while.

I try to keep my blog relatively negative free, I’m pretty selective of who I follow but at one point even the people I follow were being really negative.  A lot of them for justified reasons but it became to much that I just didn’t find joy in it anymore. But I’m sure I’ll come back around to it eventually.

O - Choose a song at random. Which ship or character does it remind you of?

OH HO Anon!  This is what I love the most.

Skeletons On Parade - Ludo

Ah I love this song, it so fun.  Every time I listen to it I think of Thriller Bark.  I only wish someone would make an amv someday using it and that arc, it just fits so well!!

U - Three favorite characters from three different fandoms, and why they’re your favorites.

Oh dip this one is hard, Just three??

Portgas D. Ace - One Piece

I loved Ace the moment he came on screen (I watched before I read).  Probably because I am just naturally drawn to fire based characters for some unknown reason.  But the more we delved into Ace the more I loved him.  He was strong and kind, cocky but polite.  But then you delved deeper and you find that he’s cocky attitude hid his insecurities, you find that though he’s grown, he was still angry it was just buried.  He was sad and he felt so insignificant compared to his immortalized father to the point he doubted he had any worth.  Yet, among all that he learned to be happy too, that he was loved and he loved deeply in return.  And then he died and I was like, fuck op for, like, four years.

Caesar Salazar - Generator Rex

My number one problematic fav.  This kid did everything wrong with the best intentions.  He is a humors character who made you laugh and it was all to distract you from how deep into everything he was in.  From the very beginning, Caesar had an agenda.  The past five years were five minutes for him. In seconds he was thrown into a dystopian world where his parents were long gone, the co-workers he could trust were scattered, jaded or dead and the only family he had left didn’t even know who he was.  So Caesar worked.  He threw himself into things because he knew the world was broken and he played a direct part in it but he knew his brother could help fix everything.  He thought that he could do everything on his own and so he kept it all locked up, played the part of rambling, scattered brain scientist who would build insane machines that wanted to kill him in the end.  And he kept screwing up time and time again because of it.  Until the last second he had fought to do everything on his own and he succeeded but he greatly damaged his relations because of it.

Son Gohan - Dragon Ball Z 

I grew up with this boy!  My favorite of this series since I can remember. He was sweet and kind and loving and much stronger then most character of the show and not just physically.  Gohan was a child thrown in the shit hole of a situation of violence and death.  He didn’t want to hurt anyone, he was scared and he felt alone but he fought.  He fought because he knew that if he didn’t then people would get hurt, people would die.  So this small boy grew up fighting not because he wanted to, not because he found joy in it as most figure in his life but because he needed to in order to protect the people he loved and everyone else.  It’s why I get so upset when people hate on Gohan for growing up to become the way he is.  He grew up and pursued a higher education, he read, he studied, he worked hard at home and in school because liked it.  So when people call him weak, a loser, lame and stupid I can’t help but wonder why.  They say it because Gohan isn’t like his father.  Gohan doesn’t enjoy fighting the way Goku does.  So when he’s not forced to, he doesn’t train to be better then everyone else because that’s not something he strives for.  With all the death and violence he was faced as a child he could have easily grown up to be the way Vegeta was but he remained soft and kind-hearted.  He grew up fighting his whole life, why can’t people be happy when he doesn’t have to!

Sorry I went on a small tangent a the end there.  Thank you very much!!!