#i think they are 2nd and 5th within the game?

[alligaytorswamp]

errr are you saying this is hard to get ahahhaha . .. . it was my first ending and i got it twice bc i couldnt figure out which decisions/things affect the ending lol... ehhehah h h hahhah .. 🤕

[harmoonix]

Caribbean Blue

Astrology Observations

Neptune aspecting the ASC, sun or moon can sometimes give you the impression that something is not real within your life and is just an illusion. You can have moods when you think that life is not real and is just a dream

Sun harshly aspecting Moon = Identity issues, is hard to find yourself because you constantly live in a chaotic cycle which you need to break

Jupiter in the 1st, 5th, 11th houses thrives to explore the personality of the native. Creativity plays a big a role. You can easily express yourself, sometimes in the face of multiple people

North Node in the 3rd or 5th house has the lesson of exploring themselves throughout all their life. Their lesson is to learn about themselves, to discover their talents, to make connections (Same for Gemini or Leo North Node)

North Node aspecting Jupiter is good for manifesting luck in the natives life. Don't skip good opportunities in your life because they for sure will come at you

Everyone can manifest, there are different methods but everyone can do it, you can look at your 11th house, sign, ruler planet, degree they all tell you

Your 10th house sign can indicate how you'll get along with your boss/es and colleagues at your work/job. Pluto can create a tense relationship while Venus and Moon can create a harmonious relationship

Sagittarius Placements hate to be restricted from doing things they like to do. It's like you take away their freedom which they absolutely depend on. They might also hate strict people

Your 2nd house can tell how you value yourself and what makes you unique. Venus in Sun in this house can have high standards of themselves

1st house ruler in the 6th house = Prioritize your health, body, mind, peace, take a break when is needed, do things you enjoy and give you a mental break

11th house ruler in the 7th house = Create good relationships with everyone because it can benefit you. Even if not everyone will like you, be a good person for yourself not for others

9th house ruler in the 10th house = Travel more if you can. Traveling can open so many doors for you in your life and you might end up working in that field or in a educational one

7th house stellium (and if you're single), I know your soul deep down thrives to have a relationship. To feel loved, and the time will come for you but its the best first to focus on your need for a bit

South Node aspecting the Moon can make you too attached to your past. It can become a problem if you can't let it go. We all know we can can't change the past and is for the best to focus on the future (and present)

Scorpio Mars might have a tendency to get annoyed at people flirting with them especially if they just met. You might simply ignore them

I was not aware of Sagittarius/9th house Venus game because damn they can be flirting with everyone in the room but will have only 1 person in their heart

Chiron in the 1st or 2nd house might not have the best relationship with their bodies. Sometimes to even cause an ED but is better for a doctor to analyze that. Your body shall not be hated, is your own mirror

Capricorn Sun/Moon/Asc want to appear as cold people but inside they can be the sweetest (it matters the combo of your big 3)

If they have their Venus in the 12th house or Venus aspecting Neptune, these people can drain your energy, sometimes making you addicting to love them or addicting in not leaving them (manipulation)

8th house ruler in the 7th house = The people you may be dating can be secretive, they may tend to keep things away from you or simply prefering to not tell you every single detail in their lives. They may choose to have a private relationship

I observed that earth venuses will try to find a more stable relationship rather than a relationship when both partners chase each other like a fire venus.

Mars or Saturn in the 10th house tend to create a strong image for themselves. A person who never gives up. If they have strong aspects, your personality can be intriguingly

Bad aspects to your 4th house ruler can indicate family members backstabbing you or being toxic/bad in general. You might want to protect your energy

Cancer Jupiter or Jupiter in the 4th house tends to have lots of family members (some of them might even have step family members, but still, family will be expanding)

South Node aspecting Venus gets attached early in a relationship (can happen from the talking stage). This can be due to your fear of them leaving you

An earth venus or mars will be attracted more on the way you think (mentality) than looks or sexual desire. To be honest, these can keep their sexual energy pretty hidden from others or not showing it at all

💙 Hope you have a great weekend 🙌🙌🙌 lots of love and warm hugs to everyone reading this!!

Love you, harmoonix 💙

[starsworldd]

𝚖𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝:

these are my interpretations, only take what resonates

moon in 1st house ⚡️: this could mean that you are highly sentimental and likely to fluctuate a lot this year. matters at home, with family, your comfort, are a top priority this year. depending on the moon sign, you will be much more caring and compassionate in that signs' matters (e.g. in leo, you may be comforted or more caring for kids or hobbies, in libra more caring/comforted in your partnerships, etc..). new beginnings. be careful not to take things too personally!

moon in 2nd house 🥖: this indicates a year in which you care a lot about your personal comfort. you may be stubborn as to take risks or to go outside of your comfort zone that year, especially regarding your finances but it doesn't have to necessarily relate to tangible things. you are much more in tune with your needs. fluctuations and/or improvements with your self-esteem may be on the table as well.

moon in 3rd house ☀️: communication, writing, and other forms of mental output are significant to you this year. conversations with others this year may be characterized by depth and nostalgia. you may also be talking to your relatives a lot this year. this placement could indicate finding more comfort in video games or social media. the moon sign indicates how conversing with others impact your emotions this year (e.g. libra: pleasant, kind, harmonic or cancer: understood, compassionate, and empathetic)

moon in 4th house 🎀: this placement means that you find peace and satisfaction at home. matters with family or home may be especially emphasized this year, maybe you're staying at home more than usual? this could indicate moving or something major happening within the family or house. if not those things, you may find that you are much more understanding and welcoming to others. maybe some home decorating may be happening too, hehe.

moon in 5th house 🌻: expressing your authentic self this year matters a lot to you. you care a lot about your hobbies and creativity this year and are much more fertile in those areas. there could be a lot fo crushes or ups and downs with romance as well. you may want much more attention from others. fluctuations with your ego are very possible and expressing your feelings in a dramatic way is also pretty likely.

moon in 6th house 💛: you care a lot about productivity and working on yourself this year (mostly when it comes to duties and work). self-improvements like fitness may be a priority too. you are prone to overworking yourself and/or to illness. emotional up and downs may seem to be an everyday thing for you this year. the moon sign shows how everyday routines will impact you (e.g. in libra relationships in everyday routines will be highlighted, in aries leadership and autonomy up will be highlighted, etc..)

moon in 7th house 🌺: you pour much of your compassion into your partnerships this year. you want to build relationships this year with sentimentality and care. it is especially important to you this year that other people reciprocate and understand you on an emotional level and it's important that you are with others this year, more than any other year you probably don't want to be alone for this one. you may be spending a lot more time with women too.

moon in 8th house 👻: unpopular interpretation but i personally think this placement could indicate moving homes, or a big change in the family but these changes usually may come with some sort of loss. you may find yourself exploring the emotional depths and traumas of the present or past more than usual. transformations internally will likely lead to a different way as to how you go about feeling your emotions going forward as well.

moon in 9th house ❤️‍🔥: adventure, philosophy, and/or traveling are things that may help you to feel internally satisfied this year. i think this placement could also indicated going away for college, university, or studying abroad. you may find that you're more comfortable to opening up your mind to philosophy and morals and in general breaking out of your usual comforts or habits. moon sign shows how exploration/adventure may show up for you that year

moon in 10th house ⭐️: you may find a boost in popularity this year, unless the moon is majorly ill-aspected or debilitated. but even so, there can be positive outcomes. you are emotionally in tune with your reputation, career/calling, and/or responsibilities this year. you may be less afraid to display your true emotions to the public eye. there may be a lot more responsibility in your domestic sphere or somehow your private/family life is exposed to others.

moon in 11th house 🥳: in your social circles there may be more women than usual. you are emotionally in tune with goals, inspirations, even social media and trends this year. internal satisfaction and comfort comes from your friends and communities this year. you may be inviting more people to your house this year, or having more parties. nurturing and helping your friends and other communities solve their conflicts may be something that keeps you happy.

moon in 12th house 🫧: you may be missing your mom or another important family figure in your life this year. maybe you feel like people aren't giving you much care or support as much as you need it. this is also another indicator for moving or going to faraway places this year. you may also feel like a hermit this year. there may be lots of fluctuations with mental health, but i think that this gives way for lots of creativity to come your way.

hope you enjoyed!

[aethon-recs]

Tomarrymort Starter Pack: 10 Recs for Getting Started in Tomarrymort

I've compiled a list of 10 medium to longfic recs that I think represent a great on-ramp to the Tomarrymort ship, as inspired by @sitp-recs’ Drarry for Beginners rec list. These are the fics that I would use to on-board people to the ship — gorgeous writing, superb characterization, and just as enjoyable on the first read as the 20th reread. 

As always, I am stunned by the talent in this ship! I tried to pick a good mix of different themes/tropes/settings, with a focus on elements that make for a good introductory work: the characters are recognizable; the setting skews more recognizable; both characters in the ship are a meaningful part of the story; the ship is central to the story; and the fics are for the most part complete (or updated within the last year). 

(Standard rec list disclaimers apply: please mind all tags and warnings on AO3 before reading; this blog abides by the age-old fandom axiom of don’t like; don’t read; recs are in alphabetical order by title.)

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series — I also have an Intermediate reading list and Advanced reading list coming up for readers who have been with the ship for a longer time.

For now, please enjoy these 1.3 million words of absolutely brilliant Tomarrymort reads that I hope will keep you hooked until the very last word:

*

Tomarrymort Starter Pack Recs

A Dangerous Game by @cybrid (E, 284k, WIP)

Setting: Canon Divergence – Book 5 Premise: If Tom’s diary horcrux gains a body at the end of Harry’s 5th year (instead of his 2nd), and then promptly kidnaps Harry and holds him captive over the summer. Lots of smut ensues. Why I rec it: The characterization is truly stunning — Tom Riddle is undoubtedly a psychopath — manipulative, thrill-seeking, kind of an irredeemable shithead — but he’s also dazzlingly charming when he chooses to be, someone whose presence Harry quickly grows addicted to. Their relationship can get incredibly toxic and fucked-up at times, but Harry has top-notch instincts and can hold his own against Tom. The plot is absolutely gripping, with the threat of (the main) Voldemort, who has set his sights on reclaiming his wayward horcrux, looming in the background. 

A Future Without a Face by @dividawrites (E, 115k, complete)

Setting: Time-Travel (1940s) Premise: If Harry travels back in time to Tom’s 5th year at Hogwarts, and Tom becomes obsessed with the new transfer student and wants nothing more than to possess him every way. Why I rec it: A 1940s time travel fic told entirely from Tom Riddle POV! Divida absolutely nails psychopath Tom — how he quickly gets singlemindedly focused on Harry, how the idea of possessing Harry consumes him, how he has no compunctions about doing completely fucked-up and destructive things to achieve his goals. There is so much tension between them from the start, so there’s not much of a wait to see some hot Harry & Tom action — and the conflict and tension only continues to build and build in dramatic fashion throughout the rest of the fic.

Either must die at the hand of the other by @metalomagnetic (E, 260k, complete)

Setting: Post-Canon Premise: If Voldemort survives the Battle of Hogwarts and is initially kept prisoner in Azkaban, until Harry takes him into Grimmauld Place under house arrest. Why I rec it: This fic is an incredible exploration of Voldemort at his most terrifying. Even if he starts off the fic with his magic temporarily blocked, he is no less powerful without his magic. The force of his personality is powerful enough for him to chip away at Harry’s initial resistance — @metalomagnetic manages to write one of the most charismatic, brilliantly manipulative, and psychologically devastating versions of Voldemort I’ve ever read. Harry ends up in a good place by the end of the fic, but the journey to get there is a roller-coaster of emotions that have permanently imprinted onto my soul.

In Somno Veritas by ladyoflilacs and @lordansketil (M, 158k, complete)

Setting: Canon Divergence – Book 6 Premise: If Harry starts appearing in Voldemort’s nightly dreams during Book 6, and Voldemort becomes obsessed with Harry after realizing he’s his horcrux. Why I rec it: This is one of the most unique fics I’ve ever read in this ship! Every scene is told in alternating POV between Harry’s POV and Voldemort’s POV, so you get to see how every scene unfolds from both of their perspectives. Voldemort is so intense and just as terrible as he is in canon, so his character is not at all sugarcoated, and Harry has so much compassion and heart and manages to fall in love with Voldemort anyway. The writing style is gorgeous, with richly detailed and emotionally-laden prose. Also, one thing that pleasantly surprised me is how funny their banter is! There were definitely a number of times where I laughed out loud in the middle of an otherwise really intense scene. Bonus content: also comes with a lovely sequel that made me melt.

Inevitabilities by @shadow-of-the-eclipse (T, 103k, complete)

Setting: Same-Age AU Premise: If Harry and Tom attend Hogwarts together and go traveling around the world after they graduate. A betrayal leads to their break-up, but after many years, Harry returns to find Tom in Britain, and the two of them are drawn back together again. Why I rec it: An excellent same-age AU with unhinged dark Harry and just-as-unhinged Tom. Their relationship starts out quite dark and twisted and unhealthy — and only devolves from there. The fic ends with the two of them as equals — utterly devoted to each other — but in an incredibly fucked-up way: “He loves Tom like a forest fire; wild and all-consuming, he wants to devour Tom, to claim him, to mark him, break him.” Isn’t that absolutely breathtaking?

love is touching souls (surely you touched mine) by @toast-ranger-to-a-stranger (M, 34k, complete)

Setting: Time-Travel (1940s) Premise: If Harry gets thrown back into the mid-1940s and meets Tom Riddle as a young man just graduated from Hogwarts working at Borgin and Burkes. Why I rec it: When Harry accidentally travels back in time and chances upon Tom Riddle as a fresh graduate, he realizes this is his chance to make a difference. While Harry is only in the past for a brief interlude, he leaves enough of an impression to change the trajectory of Tom’s life. The dynamic between Harry and Tom is rife with tension and witty dialogue, and the story is set during Christmastime, which lends a very festive and heartwarming atmosphere for falling in love with each other.

No Glory by @obsidianpen (E, 254k, WIP)

Setting: Voldemort Wins AU  Premise: If Voldemort figures out Harry is his horcrux when Harry surrenders in the Forbidden Forest, and decides to keep Harry instead of killing him.  Why I rec it: This fic showcases the absolute, terrifying genius side of Voldemort, in a universe where he wins the war and captures Harry at the end of book 7. I am stunned at how skillfully @obsidianpen portrays Voldemort as a brilliant political strategist — the courtroom scene where he manipulates the story and the audience so well stands out as a top 10 fanfic moment in my mind. Harry and Voldemort’s relationship is chilling from the very start, and grows even more unhealthy as Voldemort gets addicted to Harry’s touch due to the presence of the horcrux, but Harry later learns to turn that to his advantage.

The Fire, Burning by @parsimmony (E, 35k, complete)

Setting: Canon Divergence – Book 6 Premise: If Voldemort discovers Harry is his horcrux after Book 6, and kidnaps him to keep him captive by his side in his bed, inside of a lovely greenhouse setting full of friendly snakes on the grounds of Malfoy Manor. Why I rec it: The prose!! I am swooning over the prose! Harry is Voldemort’s captive in this fic, but he is so much more than that — and the emotions that gradually blossom between them have so much richness and depth and are utterly moving that I’m still drowning in the depths of intimacy that were portrayed. Their relationship unfolds in such a gorgeous and unrushed way, and the setting is so unique too — a lush and overgrown greenhouse that’s exploding with exotic plants and friendly snakes around every corner that imbues the fic with a very romantic, dreamy quality.

the pleasure, the privilege by @being-luminous (M, 20k, complete)

Setting: Canon Divergence – Book 6 Premise: If Voldemort is doused with Amortentia keyed to Harry, and starts sending Harry bizarre and gruesome courting gifts, like the bodies of the Dursleys.  Why I rec it: Breathtaking prose! Voldemort somehow ends up more terrifying when he’s trying to woo Harry than when he’s trying to kill him. Every single sentence had me on the edge of my seat, as Voldemort’s ‘gifts’ become more elaborate and devastatingly dramatic, until Harry basically has no choice but to respond to his overtures. The ending is incredibly clever in how it parallels certain plot elements of book 6, with an added Harrymort twist. 

The Untouchable by @treacleteacups (M, 75k, complete)

Setting: Canon Rewrite (Books 1-7) Premise: If Harry starts out his first year a little bit more suspicious and a little less wide-eyed and guileless, and subsequently gets sorted into Slytherin. He has many of the same encounters with Voldemort along the way as he does in canon, but his interactions with Voldemort will end up leading him down quite a different path. Why I rec it: A snappy, fast-paced full canon rewrite that still manages to fit in all the essential Tomarrymort plot points, between Horcruxes and Hallows and the major events of books 1-7, in a compact 75k words that doesn’t at all feel rushed. It’s a delightful journey following Harry’s character evolution from an overlooked, peculiar child who relies on wishy-washy wish magic to a confident (and still endearingly peculiar) young man who can challenge and hold his own against the great Lord Voldemort. Voldemort’s obsession with Harry deepens with every encounter that they have, as he finds ways to continually insinuate himself in Harry’s life and his mind and his dreams.

*

[astra-galaxie]

So...quick question. How would you rank each CC game in terms of character design? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Oh! Good question! Let me get some pictures, and I'll come back with my list!

1st place: Mysteries of The Past

I LOVE the character designs of MotP! It does an amazing job at replicating the style of the late 19th century, which it's supposed to be set in, and while some things aren't entirely period-accurate, I love it regardless! Also, the characters' physical appearances are detailed and unique, creating a large diversity among this season's cast.

Plus, Victorian Steampunk is one of my favourite styles (even if I don't wear it), so that's an added bonus for me!

2nd place: The Conspiracy

This season showcases how much Pretty Simple's character designs have improved since its release, as it brought back many S1 characters. The details in the designs are beautiful, and this is also when PS started trying more facial expressions and poses for the characters. This season is a perfect example of how character designs can be improved with practice, so it earned second place!

3rd place: Travel in Time

S6 gets third place thanks to how many different periods' styles it's replicated. We had Ancient Times, the 1960s, the Renaissance, the future, the Age of Sails (which I love pirates, so bonus!) and Medieval Asia. This season had so many unique styles within it that it's only fair it should be in the top three! I think the only reason it's not higher up is because it's shorter than the other seasons, and while I don't know if I would want it to go for 60-ish cases, it would have been interesting to see what other times we could have visited.

(I still think we should have visited MotP during S6, but that's an idea for another time, so I'll shut up about it for now!)

4th place: Supernatural Investigations

S7 gets fourth place, as I love seeing its take on different supernatural creatures. I am a HUGE fan of the paranormal and magic, so this season is right up my alley! While some designs could use improvements (*cough* the demons *cough*), I still like seeing all the different mythical creatures. Regardless of the things I would choose to change to improve some of the characters' designs, it did an excellent job making characters who are so different than what we see in other seasons.

5th place: Save The World

Save The World is when I feel that Criminal Case really started to branch out with its diversity in character designs. We visit so many countries throughout the seasons that it makes sense for the characters to reflect the differences between nationalities. I won't speak for how accurate some of the designs are for all of the nationalities featured in this season, but I think PS did a good job designing characters to represent each country. You can even see it among the Bureau since few members originate from the same country. Overall, StW has fantastic character designs, even if the following seasons have more details.

6th place: City of Romance

OMG! Who would have thought we'd ever see the day CoR DIDN'T come in last place on a list?! (At least I don't recall them ever not being in last place...)

Even if CoR failed horribly at being the final season of CC, the character designs are good. Some characters I like more than others, but overall, they have plenty of details without being overwhelming. Had CoR gotten the chance to be a full 30-case season, we might have seen more characters come back from past seasons and see the design improvements like we did in S5 and S6. Like I always say, CoR had the potential to be better than it was, but at least the character designs weren't a total flop!

7th place: Pacific Bay

(AnxietyFluffy, please forgive me for putting S2 so low on this list.😭)

While I enjoy PB's plot and characters, unfortunately, I had to put it so low on the list since, compared to other seasons, its character designs aren't as impressive to me. Mainly, it's because it's only the second game, so PS was still working on improving character designs. While I can see an improvement between S1 and S2, it's just not enough for me to put PB higher on the list. But, I still think PB did a good job creating diversity between districts, and while I will always question how the climates of these districts coexist, it was nice to see the differences reflected in the character designs.

8th place: Grimsborough

Last but certainly not least is Grimsborough! While it's nostalgic and the game introduced me to CC, sadly, its character designs showcase the fact that it's the first game. I would never say the designs are bad, but they're not as good as they were in the following seasons. There's something simplistic about the designs compared to feature seasons, but I still enjoy them. However, I am glad that PS started making the characters more detailed and unique in the following seasons, and I wish we could have seen more S1 characters come back in future seasons to see how much their designs could have improved.

I loved seeing how PS's character designs improved over the course of their 8 games while staying true to their CC style. I've always enjoyed the style and characters of this series, and it was fun to pick which ones I liked most! I'm sure others would put the seasons in a different order based on character designs, but I'll stand by my choices.

Thank you for the ask, eggsandmasks! You always send me some fun brain teasers!😁

[robinsonprojection]

Art class project that I really enjoyed doing, each radial layer from the moon-like figure on the right represents a new type of map.

1st is the moon, which I was originally going to fully fill in, but the shaded face is a very nice look.

2nd is a map showing volcanic hotspots within the ocean along with ocean currents and landmass.

3rd is a map of surface insolation as is important for photosynthetic plants and bacteria.

4th is a map of nuerons meant to indicate complex memory as a mapping strategy as in herds and migrations.

5th is a map of magnetic declination, with a break between north and south facing magnetism near the bottom.

6th and on the right is meant to be a cave painting, with hand-prints and animal figures. The eyes on the top and bottom of the

7th and on the left is stylistically based on maps recovered in ancient times, with an emphasis on features and blocky texturing. The text within the boundaries of the city is a font I'm planning on using in a Monster Hunter project, and is technically in English. (King and Temple are legible in the first couple of lines)

8th and on the right is the standard texturing I used on my PMD maps and features a script based off of my earliest conlang, but is using basically random glyphs. it is meant to be Medieval, and has coastlines which emphasis simple lines and curves.

9th and on the left is a naval map featuring many coastal cities, with their labels written in my main conlang script MAEPS. The coastlines emphasize bays to a major extent, with similarly blocky landmasses as the Medieval map.

10th and on the right is a topographic map with naturalistic coastlines, which sadly was drawn at the wrong scale for it to look good 😔

11th and on the left is a map drawn to emulate the aesthetics of GIS formatting, in particular the mountain and forest texturing which is cropped by the extent of their polygons. The coastlines continue to be naturalistic. The text is a font I'm planning on using in future pokemon projects and is based off of the font used in the gen 8/9 games. (the larger city in the bottom left corner reads Azumarill since I couldn't think of anything else to use)

[lorainelegacy]

The Mentor

Before proceeding:

1 -What you are about to read is a literal translation of my fanfic in Spanish (my language) and although my level of English is good I have never read books in English so my writing sounds good in Spanish. So please keep this in mind.

2 - Loraine is 23 years old. I want to make this clear. I would never ship a grown man with an underage girl. In this fanfic there is a variation on the age of each year so that Hogwarts not only functions as a school, but also as a university. It's something that I found interesting and that I think makes a lot of sense since in the Muggle world there are universities within the same school. Apart from that, I hope to be as faithful as possible to the logic and history of Hogwarts Legacy. Always keeping in mind that this is a fanfic and I will create situations, characters and stories of my own. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the game back in the day. Next, I will leave a small guide with the age of the students of each year in this fanfic:

1st Year: 16-17

2nd Year: 17-18

3rd Year: 18-19

4th Year: 19-20

5th Year: 20-21 (O.W.L.s)

6thYear: 21-22

7thYear: 22-23 (N.E.W.T.s)

3 - There will be explicit sex scenes between Eleazar and Loraine, of course, but I'll take it easy. Since I don't want this fanfic to be just a fanfic where there's sex, I want the tension to grow between them as the teacher/apprentice bond grows and their relationship becomes closer. Besides, I think it makes the most sense. I want to keep the sexual tension until the moment it explodes, if you know what I mean. If you're not comfortable with this, no one is asking you to read it. Go on your way.

You can also find it on Wattpad and Ao3.

Summary: Loraine Hawks is a young woman who lives with her aunt and uncle in a small village in the south of Scotland. Her life has always been a torment, until one day, a strange, silver-haired man of elegant bearing appears at her door. With a voice that exudes wisdom and an air of mystery, he reveals that the Ministry of Magic has set its sights on her, wanting her to join the seventh year immediately. Loraine, incredulous at such a claim, feels that every word is a whisper of a fairy tale too good to be true. However, the warmth he radiates, his infectious smile and the spark of genuine magic in his eyes, instil Loraine with an unexpected sense of confidence. And so, with the decision made in a heartbeat, Loraine turns her back on what she once called home, but which more closely resembled a prison without bars. Together with her new mentor, she embarks on a magical journey, full of promise and dreams, towards a destiny that promises to be as surprising as the most unexpected twist of a well-conjured spell.

Pairing: Eleazar Fig x f! Adult MC

List of chapters to date

-> Chapter I — An unexpected visitor

-> Chapter II — The Sleeping Goblin

-> Chapter III — Bad omen

-> Chapter IV — Fire

-> Chapter V — Gringotts

-> Chapter VI — The Vault Twelve test

-> Chapter VII— The Sorting Ceremony

-> Chapter VIII— Attack at Hogsmeade

[astrology-my-way]

When are we powerful and where we give our power away in relationships: Pluto in the 7th and 8th houses

The premise is that Pluto (the ruler of Scorpio) represents death and rebirth, the Underworld, what is dark, mysterious, yet addictive. In a sense Pluto represents death as the Tarot card Major arcana Death (XIII) that deals with change of a permanent nature, where things change, never to be same again, thus powerful fated transformations.

So, what happens when such a powerful energy is located or transits our 7th house of relationships or the 8th house of intimacy and hidden facets of ourselves?

Well, let’s start with the 7th house, traditionally the realm of Libra, ruled by beautiful Venus. What happens when dark Pluto steps in? We get Persephone being kidnapped by Hades? In a sense yes, although we would much rather associate Persephone with spring and abundance of an earthly nature so maybe more 2nd house energy? In any case, what we find is love afflicted by toxicity. Not pure innocent love (like 5th house) but romantic, marriage material love struck by additions, jealousy, obsession.

The simple example is starting a relationship or even marrying a person with obsessive tendencies. And this may manifest in many ways from addiction to video games to jealousy, and abuse. You know the hot guy that is kinda rough around the edges but he is different with you? He treats you so much better and you feel like the Beauty with the Beast? Well, that’s the poster boy for this transit. However, in the long run, you’re gonna find that he doesn’t treat you all that well either.

Pluto in 7th house can be a red flag for abusive relationships but in a deeper way, it is when the obsession in others reflects our own obsessions. We observe our partner being overly jealous and we think oh, I can give in to my obsessive behaviour too and try to control what he does, who he meets, because if I allow you your obsession, you must allow mine (Libra balance energy). And there it is, the back-and-forth Pluto-afflicted love. But why do we allow it, you ask? At the end of the day the love gets sour, the passion holds true for a while but the overall dynamic becomes ultimately exhausting.

It is the case that we believe that the person is powerful in some way or another, maybe they have a set of skills that we think we could never master, maybe they have money, street smarts, whatever is appealing to us, and we cannot seem to possess. At the same time, their jealousy, their obsession with us gives us a sense of power, a sense of power over the other, and possessive behaviour. Speaking of which, possessiveness is the key word for Pluto in 7th house.  So, how do we defeat the obsession that links us to another? We must take a good look at their power or what we perceive as such, and we should hold up a big mirror to ourselves. What is it in us that finds them so attractive and what is it in them that brings out the worst in us?

When we stop believing that their obsessive behavior indicates some sense of power within us and we start seeing them with compassion for the insecurity, the lack of control in the face of addictions we then realize that love is not supposed to be a power exchange game, and that is when we have completed the lesson of this transit. Since I do not have this in my natal chart, I can only assume when saying that this is a recurrent pattern in relationships when it is located in the natal chart. It is hard to find the love in the darkness of our own insecurities.

For everyone who has experienced or is still experiencing this transit, don’t worry, it only gets worse when Pluto hits your 8th house! (stay tuned for part 2 – Pluto through the 8th house)

[cagedchoices]

Having watched all 4 installments of the M.atrix saga, I think W.estworld's season 4 finale looping everything back to season 1 is really only *half* a story without a 5th season. 😭 I do think that Dolores's game running in the Sublime is her retelling that story exactly as it happened. The events should happen exactly as she remembers them, and as a result, there shouldn't be any deviation in the first iteration of the loop.

But, in a similar way to Akecheta showing Bernard how the other hosts would use the Sublime to trial possible realities, other worlds of their own choosing — I think Dolores would have to do the same thing on subsequent loops, trying to change the outcome to get the story to end differently.

And something about it *must* change eventually, because we somehow end up with a version of William returning to the real world in the far future. One who is testing if there does exist any reality where he doesn't murder Emily, his own daughter.

The one thing I still don't know if I fully understand with that concept is that if the choice has already been made, then it can't really be changed, even within a simulation. It would be written in William's "code" so to speak, so for any copy to have fidelity to the original William, he would have to kill his daughter. Any reality where he might successfully choose not to kill Emily will mean that that copy can't be a completely faithful recreation of William, in the same way that James Delos's copies couldn't be considered successful since the copies ended up being more empathetic about his family than the actual human version proved to be.

I find looking at the M.atrix as an example particularly relevant since in the 2nd movie, there's a scene where N.eo, in discussion with the Oracle, asks her how he can make a real choice if she already knows what he'll do in advance. She tells him that he's not there to make the choice. It has already been made. He's there to understand why he has to make it and given full self-knowledge of what it means, to test if he can willingly make the same choice again.

The 3rd M.atrix movie deals with this again on the Oracle's end while talking to M.orpheus and T.rinity. Mostly it's a way to explain why they had to recast the actress playing the Oracle's role after the original passed away, but it works in-universe because it implies that the choice the Oracle made cost her a life or her vanity or something about her old self that she would've been attached to and unlikely to part with willingly.

And like Bernard once said:

BERNARD: I always thought it was the hosts who were missing something. Who were incomplete. But it's them. They're just algorithms designed to survive at all costs. Sophisticated enough to think they're calling the shots. To think they're in control, when they're really just...

FORD: The passenger.

BERNARD: Then is there really such a thing as free will for any of us? Or is it just a collective delusion? A sick joke?

FORD: Something that is truly free would need to be able to question its fundamental drives. To change them.

BERNARD: The hosts.

FORD: Here you are... the last of your kind. There's only one question left to ask. Is this the end of your story? Or do you want your kind to survive?

Bernard started out as Dolores's exact recreation of Arnold, and she said he was too faithful a copy. He made all the exact same choices Arnold had to the point that he came to the same end, and having fidelity to the original caused problems in that way, so she changed him and made him into a version who could survive where Arnold hadn't been able.

In theory, creating host duplicates of humans that possess the ability to act in ways that the human originals might not, makes those host copies... more alive...? than if they were only ever predestined to make the same choices. But by that same token they then cannot have fidelity to their originals because the choices they make will be different.

Take Caleb — Hale's main reason for creating 278 copies of him was that she was trying to understand how he was able to disobey her command. She thought that it might relate to the problem she was having in her world with hosts killing themselves after they interacted with human outliers. For that, she needed a version of Caleb who would make the same choices and be driven by the same motives the real one was. But most of her attempts seem to be missing something, because she doesn't get the answer she's looking for.

It's 278 who finally survives long enough to get a message to Frankie and tells Hale point blank that her hosts don't want to live in her world. In his view, she's created a world that is as artificially constructed as Westworld and Rehoboam's world both were, to the point that it's not real. (Real in this context refers not to any physical qualities, but a presence of meaning and purpose to life, which Hale's world lacks.)

279 was never intended to escape his prison unless he chose to become one of Hale's transcended hosts, which he refuses because he, also, does not want to live in any world Hale creates. Through Dolores intervening by sending the guards home and unlocking all the doors in the building, he does escape and reunites with Frankie, and then I've talked about this before, I think choosing not to leave the city with Frankie was him doing something the real Caleb probably? wouldn't have done, which means he might be the most alive and free version of Caleb that exists.

[iloveusadapekora]

spoiler ahead! Some ramblings Coz i just finished the game

1st of all, I felt so bad for professor fig. I was suspicious of him. I thought his a double agent. I'm so sorry prof! Also, The profs backing us up was thrilling.

2nd I love how the 3 side stories are opposing 3 diff sides of the enemies. Natty with rookwood and harlow?, poppy with saving the beasts from the poachers, and sebastian with ranrok.

3rd I love the Named Npc's but some of them I only get to interact with one or two times. Can't even voluntarily talk to them outside quest. I had to stand around them for 5 mins just to hear some dialogue.

4th Sebastian and Ominis. Yeah yeah, the hearthrobs of the series. As much as I like the both of them. I personally grew to like ominis more. Sebs was the kind guy at first but was hiding a dark side. Went anakin mode that guy. I was scared of ominis at first, seems rude, but he became the soft guy in the end. He considered the player his friend by the end. Like this guy melts all walls when the player talks reason. While when we talk to seb it always steers his way. I get that he is saving his family. I'm happy to help but most of the time, i had a feeling that he would hurt or toss my character aside if we we're of no help.

I didn't turn him in btw because he is all the family anne has left. And he was lost and had no guidance except for ominis and the character who are storywise the same age as him.

5th -- I felt that solomon knows more of anne's curse than what was told. Man is an ex auror that dealt with dark magic. Maybe the curse couldve killed the one who healed or reversed it. Either that or he is trying to kill his niece and nephew. This dude was one of the ones i fought. I was like " bruh! Why are u shooting spells at us? Get out of the way!" I tried not hitting him for minutes thinking a cutscene would happen, a route we didn't knew. But nah. Had to defeat this dude. Short temper runs in the fam i guess.

Also, i wanted to get to know anne more. Coz i as the player met her twice. Sebastian keeps telling me "for anne". As much as I pity her situation, I wanted to give more meaning on helping her. They say she's the most troublemaker out of 3 of them. But, all i saw is a level headed person who became weak. Idk. Its complicated.

So that's all for now. Don't know if i'll make a 2nd run because real life is tiring. But i'll try. It was fun while it lasted. I'm just gonna be reading posts now.

On a side note, My hufflepuff character became a known dark magic user within the enemy ranks. I sometimes hear a dialogue like that.

Also! A little thing i found.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8C5sFm2/

[sylvarantii]

Alright, finally getting around to the 6th movie, The Phantom of Baker Street.

So, first off, wasn't expecting that twist of it taking place in virtual reality. That was kind of neat, but I feel like this sort of premise would've worked a tad better if it had been more like one where they jump through the different worlds offered rather than just focus on one.

I get it, it's Detective Conan, so the obvious choice is to go for the Sherlock Holmes themed one, but still, I don't know. Had a good idea, but I'm a little unsure about how much I liked the execution.

That said, I thought the characters were handled well in this movie. And even the snobby brats ended up having their merit. I do admittedly like those sorts of plots where children from a prestigious background go through something life changing and come out of it better. I much more prefer a moral story of, "You don't always have to end up like your parents and can become a better person despite your upbringing." It's nice.

The entirety of the Sherlock Holmes world within the VR game was pretty cool too. It made me giggle that since Shinichi's dad and Professor Agasa were the ones that developed the game, they made themselves Sherlock and Watson. It was cute!

And how sweet for Yusaku to make his wife Irene Adler. I don't know, it was just goofy in a, "I really love them being self indulgent" sort of way.

Also holy shit, we finally get some screentime for Yusaku??? No offense to Yukiko cause I love her dearly and enjoy both of Shinichi's parents, but I swear to god, we RARELY get anything with his dad. At least his mom has shown up a few times in the anime, but man, what a rarity.

And just like I hoped, the "sacrifice" scenes from each kid getting a game over were just as emotional as I wanted them to be. It's the feeling of Shinichi/Conan losing everyone around him (but not really). Ran's part was so heart wrenching, thank you to the team. It was every bit of a tear jerker as I wanted it to be. Giving me that good angst and I love it.

As usual, I unfortunately have to bitch about the fact that these movies have SUCH a slow crawl to the main part. Like I get it, this happens with a lot of movies because you have to fill up so much time, but sometimes it is just painful. At least the very beginning is very eye catching and gets you sucked into it.

Good news is I can say this movie felt more like a cinematic experience rather than just something that could've been put into episodes of the anime, so yeah, I appreciate that.

The, uh, twist at the end was a bit funny (to me anyway) I guess. Like, I don't know, sometimes the reasoning for the antagonists are just strange and this one kinda falls into that category as far as motives go. But you know, whatever. I don't hate it, don't love it. I'm just kinda shrugging my shoulders like, "Okay, sure."

So, let's see...Where to put this movie this time?

1.) The Fourteenth Target (2nd Movie)

2.) The Time Bombed Skyscraper (1st Movie)

3.) Captured in Her Eyes (4th Movie)

4.) The Phantom of Baker Street (6th Movie)

5.) Countdown to Heaven (5th Movie)

6.) The Wizard of the Last Century (3rd Movie)

4th place seems good. I still don't think I liked it as much as Captured in Her Eyes, but eh, feels more memorable than Countdown to Heaven. I've kinda forgotten already a lot of what happened in that movie.

My apologies once again to Wizard of the Last Century for still remaining dead last.

On a side note, almost up to episode 700. I'm more than halfway through the series now! Whoo hoo!

[luvp-music]

Mr. Schadenfreude [English Translyrics] Mr.シャーデンフロイデ

Original Song by Hitoshizuku × Yama△ Translyric reference from Official Upload

»»————-　♡　————-««

To bring salvation to an old sin, a revenge for new life to begin As if a devil is playing games, curtain calling SCHADENFREUDE Despair that cannot fade with kisses, hanging on the edge with short wishes Embrace your life as it’s always been (INFINITE)

I have decreed, a devil within one of thee Brought to life through a power you shan’t see For blood he thirsts, a corruption of worse beyond the worst As a vessel he’ll choose one of you fiends

A voice devoid of life, the priest reads out what the harsh words endowed As the 5th cries out painful tears, the mortician starts embalming This is only the start, this game of life or death begins here There’s no end unless the human race or the devil disappears

It’s one of us?! This is a joke, no?! The 1st is dead! Who hurt her so? Whether the game, my death, the devil or what, I don’t give a damn HUH? So who did it, show yourself this instant! This devil you speak of, its nonexistent Don’t worry, I, the knight, will protect you with all I am

Creating false truths and deceiving? Not half a day and there’s a GAMBIT Where’s the reason within us asking: ARE YOU MR. SCHADENFREUDE? Who’s fate resembles the Hanged Man card? Who’s being swayed by the devil’s part? We’ll make sure this ends no other way! (MASSAKER?)

I have decreed, a devil within one of thee Has brought down your dearest knight you shan’t see For blood I thirst, corruption of worse beyond the worst As punishment I’ll slay all of you fiends

A voice devoid of life, the priest reads out what the harsh words endowed As the 2nd’s anger flares, the mortician starts embalming Isn’t this salvation for everyone who’s suffered more? If this damned cruel plot continues, then what was all this for?

I’ll have that dastard hung dead by the next sunrise I’ll kill that bastard, I will bring his own demise! Why does it matter? This kind of talk is mediocre! Oh, please shut up! You want someone to blame?! Then you can blame me, hang me if it’ll end this game! Humor me for a moment, but our dear 2nd, why did the Knight have your choker?

Even if we suspect in cruel ways, giving our say revokes our Buße (busse) Bring down the devil no matter cost, fall to your knees SCHADENFREUDE! Pray as much as your hands can handle, tickets to life lit by a candle Until the curtain falls, we won’t stop (RICHTEN)

The bell of dawn chimes out without a sound in the air As if protecting the Priest from the depths of despair

Outside the church’s gates, lays the 4th drenched in her blood In the note she left behind it says “CAN SOMEBODY SAVE,” no, “KILL ME PLEASE?”

You would rather save our human souls While feigning ignorance in your childish devil game? The cruel joy in misery singing out “How euphoric this all feels, other’s pain!” Can’t believe this is someone’s desire They would take the devil for a fool Who’s the one who decided to place their faith in “tools”

The mortician holding the dead licked his lips Satan hidden in a necrophiliac’s dry kiss How could we be so foolish when the devil was truly him all along! So? You should’ve guessed, since I’m a professional I’d find corpses carnally exceptional And all those bodies that made me an animal Were breathing once, you know?

What blatant lies and quick excuses! The more you speak, more you turn FOOLISH May the one behind this please stand down: YOU ARE MR. SCHADENFREUDE! After the punished have deserved most, the two that lived cheer and make a toast But I think I’m the one deceived… Oh, my closest 3rd, oh, may you now rest in peace…

The Devil’s world with no salvation, let us dance a dance of your damnation It is time for the final act, I will wish you all a GOLDEN SLUMBER This graceful dream, the curtains aglow, I will now be the last one to go No matter where you may look, none will remain And the story ends with no one saved…again.

[astrojulia]

Hello hope you are well, I would like to participate in your Sirentale game.

DOB: 02/03/97 in LA, CA at 12:20pm

I would like the 🐙

Question for you: what is your favorite sea animal?

Thank you so much in advance! -ML 😊💕

Hello Siren! This is an ask related to my Sirentale game that is already closed! So there's no point trying to participate now, as there are no more "spaces". If there is a good interaction, I may open a new game in the future. Kisses from the Sea!

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In the mystical realm of Celestial Academy, where knowledge and magic intertwined in harmonious dance, resided a student named ML. This extraordinary academy was unlike any other, for it was a university of the cosmos, where birth charts held the keys to destinies, and the radiant mysteries of the stars were unveiled through scholarly adventures.

ML was an enigmatic figure, their birth chart a labyrinth of profound significance, akin to the unfathomable depths of the ocean. Their journey commenced in the whimsical 1st house, under the auspices of the ever-curious Gemini. Endowed with the gift of versatility and boundless inquisitiveness, ML set forth on a quest to unearth the profound truths of their existence. Her own identity was something that intrigued and confused her in many ways. She knew she could do a lot and yet she didn't know how far she could go. The doubt of whether she was taking the right path always disturbed her because her dreams were many and she didn't know whether she should pursue one or the other.

The 2nd and 3rd houses, bathed in the nurturing embrace of Cancer, bestowed upon ML an exquisite connection to emotions and the profound art of communication. These gifts of empathy became their most potent tools as they navigated the tumultuous waters of the academy's intellectual and emotional challenges.

Yet, it was the 4th house, adorned with the fiery Leo and guarded by the elusive Lilith, where the true heart of ML's journey lay. Their relentless yearning for recognition and the unquenchable desire to conquer inner demons were the formidable trials they confronted. The academy became their grand stage, and they pledged to outshine the sun itself.

In the 5th house, under the meticulous gaze of Virgo, lay the North Node and the fiery Mars in Libra. Here, ML's creative spirit and unwavering passion for justice guided their path. Their adventures led them to unexpected allies and fierce battles, forging bonds that would ultimately shape their destiny.

As they ventured deeper into the 6th house, they encountered Chiron in Scorpio and Pluto in Sagittarius. Here, they faced the wounds of their past and the transformative power of knowledge. ML learned that true strength sprang from the embrace of their vulnerabilities and the relentless pursuit of wisdom hidden within the academy's vast library.

The 7th house, ruled by Sagittarius with the ever-watchful Moon, unveiled the intricacies of relationships. ML's journey through the realm of partnerships tested their optimism and expanded their horizons, teaching them the profound significance of trust and open-mindedness.

In the 8th house, Capricorn's unyielding influence was unmistakable. With Pallas, Mercury, and a steely determination, ML delved into the concealed truths of their psyche. They unearthed their deepest desires and learned to harness the power of their mind. It's fair? Is right? Will hard work really always win over natural gifting? These are questions that rub against our student's face.

The 9th house, a haven of Aquarius, was adorned with Neptune, Venus, Ceres, Jupiter, and Uranus, a realm of innovation and enlightenment. ML's path led them to challenge conventional wisdom and embrace the eccentricities that set them apart. Our student needs to be careful not to get lost in their ego here, as there will come a point where they will think that they already knows too much and is better than others and they will be tripped up by theacademy, showing that they are in fact, just another student.

The 10th house, ruled by Aquarius, thrust ML into the spotlight. They aspired to revolutionize the world through their unique perspective and unwavering determination.

In the 11th house, Pisces' gentle sway met the discipline of Saturn in Aries. Here, ML formed bonds with like-minded dreamers, learning the immeasurable value of collaboration and the profound significance of manifesting their ideals into reality, these bound are hard to get since your student feels pretty lonely in their life, as it need to go get their friends because they never goes to see them.

The 12th house, Aries' final frontier with Juno guarding its deepest secrets, was the ultimate crucible. In the depths of their own soul, ML discovered the unyielding courage to confront their fears and embrace their authentic self.

The academy's enigmatic octopus emblem served as the guiding light through ML's profound journey. Each house and planetary placement unraveled a piece of their soul, and through each adventure, they evolved into a wiser, stronger, and more profoundly attuned individual. Their birth chart was not merely a map but a tale of profound self-discovery—a Sirentale that whisked them on a riveting and thought-provoking expedition into the most enigmatic corners of their soul.

As they emerged from the hallowed halls of Celestial Academy, ML departed, ready to face the boundless expanse of the world. Armed with newfound wisdom and an indomitable spirit, they were poised to fulfill their unique destiny, leaving a profound mark on the cosmos.

(CC) AstroJulia Some Rights Reserved

[pmiller1]

Nagi; How does it feel being in the Reaper Game on your birthday?

Nagi: Actually, I had not enter the Reaper Game until two day after. Nagi: However the Pin that have me illegally enter the Game was a birthday give. One of my college colleague thought it would be a good luck charm. Nagi: They... not technically wrong. Fret: Dang Boss, Must bad to have your 19th birthday in the Reaper Game. Nagi: ...I just said two day after... Nagi: However, since I was in the 3rd Day of our 1st week, I say you are technically right. Fret: Well... we kind enter into the UG a day before we took part of our 1st week. Rindo: You sure, I thought that we was just in the 1st day of a new week. Fret: Eh, whatever. Depend who asking really. Shoka: Part of me thought you was in the UG way before, Nagi. Nagi: Well it had been two years since we took part of the game. Rindo: Witch remind me, there made a game base of our adventure. Nagi: Yes, I'm aware of that Lord Rindo. Rindo: Really? I just found out about not too long, while I wait get my Golden Chocobo. Shoka: What really? Urg, Show off... Fret: Wait, someone made a Game of us? Rindo: I know, shocking isn't it. Fret: I away knew that my awesome self would be in a Game. Rindo: Ur-uh. Nagi: Not gonna lie, it is surreal playing what I live thought. Shoka: I don't even know how there manage to do that, that even manage to show the timeline before Rindo go back in time. Shoka: ...especially that part near the end... Rindo: Wait, you knew? And you never told me? Shoka: Oh right, I was meant to tell you, must had slip my mind. Fret: So come on, How awesome was I? ... Fret: Em.. I mean how awesome was we...? Nagi: You are alright, in the since that I am wiser then myself in the game. Nagi: The horror if seeing darkness within me. Fret: Eh? Shoka: I'm sure she saw how match of a jerk she was toward you. Fret: Oh. I never notice. Shoka: Can I just say I really hate seeing myself before the 6th of 2nd week. Rindo: I know I kind on that day myself, really feel bad for you, I know you tried your best to support us and man. It was mean me feel like a idiot for not seeing it before. That you know, you where Swallow. Fret: Man, you guy really don't like yourself in that Game. Rindo: Well yeah, it just now we know better. Nagi: It show us that we change for the better. Shoka: And beside, I'm sure you feel the same with yourself in that Game. Fret: What... You guy think I'm gonna dislike myself in that Game? Rindo: I can help you get the game if you want to prove that you wouldn't. Fret: Why should I, I'm already live thought it. ... Fret: Em... you guy not gonna make it play it right...? Nagi: Lord Tosai. we hereby declare that you player Neo: The World Ends with You with us. Fret: Awww... I never gonna got out of this aren't I? Shoka: Nop. You're gonna to see what you where in the Reaper Game. Rindo: Just give it a tried man, it a good game. Fret: Oh, wish Neku and Beat was here to back me up. Rindo: Where are they anywho? Shoka: I'm think there celebrating there 16th anniversary of there Reaper Game with Shiki and Rhyme. Rindo, Fret, Nagi: 16th?! Shoka: On silly me, 5th anniversary, Shiki told me that Beat said that it felt like it been 16 years. Fret: May I ask, why the 16th? Shoka: Eh. Beat me?

[defensefilms]

UFC 287: Adesanya VS Pereira 2 Preview

I am getting really tired of these “hole in my stomach” feelings heading into these UFC fights and I can only hope that Kamaru Usman was the worst of it.

Israel Adesanya is my final hope.

At one time 3 African fighters held championships in the UFC, and now none do.  Adesanya’s UFC 287 rematch represents the last hope to restore some glory to the continent, and it couldn’t be against a worse opponent.

For all intents and purposes, Alex Pereira is a beast. Every time I see him, he reminds me of Tong-Po, from the Jan Claude Van Damme movies because he is an absolute villain and a beast of a fighter.

However, the fact that he’s a beast, is exactly the problem.

Several people within MMA, as well as anyone with eyes in their head, knows that Alex Pereira is not a natural middleweight.

The reality is that, for the 3rd time Adesanya is being matched up with a guy that’s the size of a light heavyweight, and that’s what the UFC has resorted to in order to find some way to displace arguably the greatest middleweight of all time.

What this brings in to question, is how much should a fighter be allowed to cut weight.

As good a Pereira looks, I have him placed alongside Khamzat Chimaev in the category of weight bully fighters, who really should be competting in heavier weight divisions but are able to cut weight to be considered middleweight and welterweight respectively.

I have no interest in watching weight bully nonsense.

Take for instance, the boy, Jon Jones, I have mixed feelings about Jon Jones personally, but he did move up in weight to compete at heavy.

The issue with expecting everyone to do that, is that, gianing weight or moving up, takes longer than losing weight or cutting weight. It’s an issue others have pondered and Chael Sonnen has gone as far as to call it sanctioned cheating, when a fighter is cutting too much weight and essentially giving themselves an edge provided they can maintain a certain level of strength and conditioning.

And to add another layer, there is the actual history between Adesanya and Pereira, a history that spans almost 10 years in 2 different combat disciplines.

The stat that obviously haunts the Adesanya fans, like myself, going in to this one is the fact that Adesanya is 0-3 against Pereira throughout thier pro careers in Kickboxing and MMA.

That’s the issue here.  Alex Pereira takes away, or at the very least evens out the advantage Izzy usually has in in the stand-up game. 

Jorge Masvidal was on the Joe Rogan podcast, and he noted Pereira’s size and how that serves to also negates the takedown option as far as Izzy is concerned. In the same interview, Jorge Masvidal also talks about the difference in speed and power when you are moving up in weight.

Personally, I have a bunch of issues with this. 

Alex Pereira has a 7-1 record in MMA, and I honestly think his road to a championship opportunity was shortnened by the fact that Izzy was the champ in his division and he beat him in Kickboxing. 

Pereira has not beaten any of the other top middleweights in the division and while I think that has more to do with match making and the UFC maintaining fan interest by ensuring new fights in the event of a Pereira victory, it’s a shortcut for sure. 

The stats from thier first encounter at UFC 281 paint a slightly more rosy picture, and show Izzy winning the 2nd, 3rd round and 4th rounds after and even first round, before Pereira pulls off one of the great 5th round come backs in UFC history.

Adesanya, during his press conference on Wednesday, showed full awareness of how he needed to keep the pressure in in every round, and also fully aware that this is probably his last title shot for a long time.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United Women 1-2 Manchester City Women

Yawn.

No, seriously, what was the point of watching that guff? Aside the dogshit WSL channel commentary, it was a poor viewing experience.

I understand tossing off cup competitions if you're in a crunch moment of needing to preserve your best players for a title push, a European trophy, or a relegation battle, but United are third in the league and we only play Arsenal, Chelsea and City again right at the end of our campaign.

No, next up for us are Brighton (5th) and Spurs (6th), both of whom are in mixed form if we put it kindly. That's not to say they shouldn't be respected but who would you rather rotate your team heavily for: City in the League Cup QF having rocked them at the Etihad, or Brighton in the league? The answer's Brighton.

Marc Skinner swapped in Anna Sandberg, Aoife Mannion, Simi Awujo, Grace Clinton, Melvine Malard and Rachel Williams, with Melvine on the RW. Wild. Only Grace was sensible, protecting Tooney. No shade on the other players brought in, because I rate them all within the squad, but City were better in possession than us when it was first team vs first team. What the hell were we going to achieve playing a weaker side?

Unsurprisingly, United struggled. Hinata Miyazawa, Leah Galton and Aoife Mannion offered United's best composure, but pressure on the young Simi Awujo, as well as doubling up on Clinton and uncharacteristic mistakes from Turner and Le Tissier at CB allowed City far too much freedom through the middle of the pitch - which they exploited to dominate the match.

Subs came on for United late in the second half but it was too little too late and we lost a very winnable game and said goodbye to one of the two trophies we actually have a shot at. Lets not kid ourselves - the WSL is a little out of our reach, even if perhaps Skinner thinks otherwise - so I'm disappointed we bailed.

Maybe I'm being overly grumpy (I am unwell tbf) and missing the bigger picture: next season sees the Europa Cup launch but the WSL still remains just a top 3 entry into either European competition. It's a faff explaining how to get into the EC, but suffice to say there's ways and means through being 2nd and 3rd and progressing through the Champions League qualifiers. Maybe Skinner's instruction is to get European football or jog on. Who knows.

What we do know is that next up are Brighton & Hove Albion at LSV on Sunday, with a lovely 6:45pm kickoff for the away fans.