#i’ve seen 4 musicals so far(AMAZING)

[fxmmeangel]

im literally going to the museum of sex tomorrow with bim,,,, very hot dyke coded of us if i do say so myself

[homestuckreplay]

fetch modi expansion pack: 'hungry hungry hippos' / 'twister' / 'magic: the gathering'

(page 770-778)

I’ve only known Jade for nineteen pages and already I am so struck by how she’s presented differently to the other characters. Here are the differences I’ve noticed so far:

Jade is asleep during her introduction.

Jade’s incorrect name is graded ‘?’ instead of ‘X’.

Jade is not in her room while being introduced, and we are not immediately given a list of her interests.

Jade may in fact have more than one room, as the garden atrium is referred to as hers (p.768).

Jade’s arms are already out, and do not have to be retrieved.

Jade correctly names herself, instead of allowing the player to do this. (Very transgender of her).

Jade has more than one shirt symbol – so far we’ve seen ‘atom’, ‘pumpkin’, ‘leaf’ and ‘Slimer (blue variant)’.

Jade plays more than one instrument, and possibly more than one mode of playing music (‘silly’ as well as ‘haunting’, perhaps).

Jade does not yet have a fetch modus assigned, and has multiple modi to choose from right away.

Jade seems to have a reasonably healthy relationship with her guardian, acknowledging both positives and negatives in her grandfather, instead of dramatically leaning in one direction.

Jade doesn’t appear to have any restrictions on her short term actions; p.777 suggests she’s free to move around both inside and outside the house, and isn’t in immediate danger.

Jade obeys the command to ‘squeal like a piglet and fertilize some plants’.

Some of these involve Jade having more than one of things the other characters had only one of. Could Jade have more than one family member? Perhaps a large family of which her grandfather is the patriarch, keeping control over the household but also keeping the family tight knit?

‘Things seem to appear and disappear around here all the time. Especially, to your unending chagrin, any sort of large orange gourd that might be lying around.’ (p.770) Somebody set WV’s appearifier coordinates to Jade’s location, and has been taking her things for a while. However, the appearifier is NOT also a deappearifier (only a dunce would think so) – there must also be a deappearifier keyed to her location. Could this be in the apple shaped bunker we saw in WV: Ascend? And do these being locked onto Jade’s location have anything to do with the frog tower?

It is hard to imagine how some of Jade’s fetch modi (p.772) would be used in practice, but they have amazing potential for minigames. I’d love some interactive panels where we help Jade grab things out of her sylladex.

Jade’s sleep schedule is so fucked. She just took a nap, but p.777 reveals that she hasn’t yet wished John a happy birthday. WV’s appearifier also proves that Jade is right back at 4:13pm John’s time. So she is going to take a SECOND nap in the next few hours. I hate taking naps and have never related to a character less. No wonder she has no time for flute practice.

I also realized from page 777 that these characters have only had four fingers this entire time. It’s not just Jade; we see it with Dave on p356-7, Rose on p.232, John as early as p.16 and even his fake arms on p.7.

> Jade: Consult purple reminder on thumb.

[nijigasakilove]

“Jellyfish can’t swim on their own”

A year on from the masterclass that was Oshi no Ko’s premiere, Doga Kobo are back with an ethereal and masterful premiere of their latest anime original. The best we’ve seen yet by far. Not only are the direction and production values the best of the season so far, but the character interactions, Yuri vibes and general message of pursuing your dreams and creative endeavours is so well done.

In just one episode, I feel like I’ve come to know Kano and Yoru so well, and you can feel that from the characters as well with how their relationship evolved over the course of the episode. This almost felt like one season worth of development in 25 minutes if that makes sense. Not in a bad sense, but the episode had a clear beginning middle and end and told a nice prologue esque story.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the similarities to this and Sorayori/ A place further than the universe. It’s clear the staff took some inspiration from that lovely series which I couldn’t be happier about since it’s amazing. The use of establishing shots, introspective monologue and clever use of motion just makes this show feel so lively.

It honestly feels like those anime music videos to songs like a “Colors” by Sawano or Shelter by Porter Robinson. I hope this isn’t just for the premiere and that the quality stays the same throughout. There’s people from SHAFT, Cloverworks and even trigger I saw listed in the credits so the talent is certainly there.

“If I’m around you, maybe I’ll be able to shine too” 😮‍💨 that last 4 minutes or so with Kano’s performance and the running scene was just special. If they keep this up, we got an all timer on our hands. Can’t wait to see where their relationship goes.

[raineon]

INTRODUCTION POST WOO-WOO!

HI! HEYA! WHATSUP!?

I’m Raineon, (pronounced “rainy-on” like an eeveelution) or just Rainy for short! I use she/her pronouns and just wanted to make… THE intro post.,,.

I’m an alien! I’m from what you earthlings call “The Sun”. I’ve always found it funny that earthlings never made it that far to give your solar system’s star a name, but we call it “Solaris”, so that makes me Solarian! :3

My species of people have a silly quirk that has to do with size. I’m usually around 3”-4” tall, but I can (and often do) grow myself to be about 6’. (I don’t usually go taller than that because it’s suuper tiring or it ends up hurting ;-;) so you’ll often find me in many different sizes! ^~^

I have an amazing robot partner named M4RC13! He’s my favorite guy in the whole world and I wouldn’t trade her for anything! :> As such I would like to ask that any comments, questions, etc. stay SFW.

I make music sometimes! Sometimes I make art… though I’m still learning! M4RC13 does all of the art for me… big shoutout to that robot. But any music I post is by me! (Or whoever I’m collaboration with…) I even have a project on the side going on… hehehe…

I’ve seen so many different kinds of life forms! I’ve learned a lot about many kinds of beings and befriended… Most of them! Hehe… um… what I’m trying to say is that this is a safe space for basically anyone who wants to engage! What’s considered “weird” or “cringe” on your planet is usually pretty normal around other parts of the universe. I love making friends with all kinds of people, so if you’re considered as someone who maybe doesn’t “fit in” with most people, I am here for you!

I’m pro:

LGBTQIA+, Transgender, Nonbinary, Furries, Neopronouns, Neogenders, Xenopronouns, and Xenogenders. Trans Rights, Black Lives Matter, Free Palestine, Congo, Haiti, and Sudan.

I’m anti:

Capitalism, Facism, Racism, Apartheid, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Homophobia, AI Art, MAPs, and RCTAs. (IF YOU ARE PRO ANY OF THESE DNI THIS IS NOT FOR YOU!!!)

ANYWAYS IM HAPPY TO GET THIS BLOG GOIN!!!!!!

[amazing-spider-man-book-club]

The Amazing Spider-Man #7

Published: December 1963

Containing: "The Return of The Vulture"

Synopsis: The Vulture returns with an augmented magnetic flying device immune to mechanical interference, and goes on a new series of heists as Peter has to deal with a sprained arm after blindly going into battle.

Read alongside us here:

@frankendykes-monster : This might be the lightest issue we've covered yet in terms of narrative depth. We have officially reached a point where a "standard" Spider-Man story that's easily recognizable regardless of date of origin or medium is born.

The Vulture is making his second and final stint as a solo villain in this run, and admittedly I might miss him. I think many adaptations miss something by not focusing on the fact that he's a machinist, probably a consequence of so many Spider-Man villains existing now that it's easy to shuffle around characterizations and motivations, not that this original incarnation of the character is three-dimensional or anything. I feel like this is one of the first major instances of "lost in translation" between Ditko and Lee because that's the only explanation I can muster up for me just not getting exactly how The Vulture's powers work. I assumed that the magnetic device is basically levitation and that the wings are for steering in mid-air, but the wings being gummed up at the end nullifies his ability to fly? Who knows. His hands being free and thus him being able to hold a gun is a chuckle worthy sight.

Betty Brant is thrust a bit more into the role of Peter's primary love interest of the run as of this issue, with the finale being a focus on them and their burgeoning taking-notice of one another. It feels natural as we're still in the very early stages (read: the talking stage). While the letters pages usually don't reveal anything of note that needs to be brought up here, I do find it funny that one reader asks that Peter have a proper girlfriend that's a bad bitch and up to date on the latest music trends. Give it a few years, Sidney, it's coming.

Probably the most notable thing about this issue is how much Ditko gives it his all in terms of fleshing out the environments, the fights across the skyline or inside the Daily Bugle make the similar brawl inside the high school from #4 look downright drab in comparison. There's a lot more time dedicated to onlookers unable to do anything in the face of costumed persons fighting in mid-air above them, it lends itself to a great realization of three-dimensional space even when page space only has room for the fight or the reaction to it. We finally find out that Peter lives in Forest Hills, in Queens, on Long Island, which furthers highlights how huge NYC is and how quaint it must be in some way to see Spider-Man and The Vulture fight above rooftops overhead.

@duel1971 : Fun! I think about half of my favorite Ditko art I’ve seen on this journey so far is contained in this one issue. Every panel shines with a brilliant grasp of anatomy, action, weight, proportion… it’s awesome. The Vulture is sort of a boring villain on paper, in my opinion, but his striking visual design and the incredible action sequences made me forget that entirely. We also get our best close-up yet of Spider-Man’s web shooter, showing off how nifty and clean its design is.

The best action set-piece in this story involves Peter fighting the Vulture in the Daily Bugle offices while the staff scrambles for cover and Jonah has a breakdown. If I’m not mistaken this is the first time a villain has come directly to JJJ’s office, making a somewhat historic precedent.

There’s not much to talk about here in terms of new story developments (other than Peter sharing a moment with Betty Brant) but the action and script are so tight and well-done that it’s hard to say anything negative about it. This issue to me feels like a well-earned victory lap after eight issues of consistent innovation.

[boysplanetrecaps]

Build Up Episode 0: Getting to Know the Boys Part 4: Team Unique

Hey, friends! This is the fourth and final post in my “episode zero” series of my MNET’s Build Up recaps. I’m giving you some basic background info on each of the boys, including where you may have seen them before, the group they’re in normally if applicable, and my opinion/analysis of their teaser performance. In the previous post, I covered Team Power. This will wrap things up with Team Unique. Woot!

Kang Hayoon

Hayoon is 20, and before this, he went on LOUD and Kookmin Singer. He may have met Jung Soomin (the kid from Chicago) on the show Loud, and he may have met Kwon Euibin on Kookmin Singer.

He was V07, and his teaser song is One and Only by Adele. He has a genuinely unique singing style that doesn’t at all match the way he dresses and looks. It’s a very specific vocal color that might not appeal to everyone -- deliberately somewhat nasal, but in a controlled way. It sounds retro-modern, the way that a lot of Western artists sing these days. He’s obviously a genuine talent, but I can almost feel his throat closing up as he sings. He needs a bit of training to really use that amazing instrument he has. I hope he gets it, and that it doesn’t destroy his natural color. 

Jeon Woong

Hair-stylist Unnies, what the fuck? Seriously.

Much better, thank you.

Woong is 26 years old, and was V11, performing Bad by Christopher. He sings the song almost exactly the way the original performer does, even down to the little purposeful vocal kicks. I would have liked to hear a bit more of his interpretation of the song instead of karaoke version. He uses falsetto to hit some of the high notes, but that’s ok, they’re very high notes and he sounds good. I like his singing in an instinctive way, but I’m not sure how well trained he is.  

Woong is in AB6IX, a four member group (used to be five) from Brandnew music. Like CIX, this is post-Wanna One group; Daehwi, a former member of Wanna One, is the center and face of AB6IX. Woong, meanwhile, is the main vocal. AB6IX started off doing pretty well, but one of their members, Youngmin, had a DUI arrest and had to leave the group in disgrace. It hurt the group pretty badly, and they haven’t really bounced back. Hopefully, going on this show will draw some good attention to the group, who I’ve always liked but thus far haven’t stanned. The song of theirs that I like best (of the ones I’ve heard -- there are lot of kpop songs, you guys, I don’t always keep up) is Close. 

And if you want to hear more of Woong’s voice, here’s his solo song, Moondance.  

Sunyoul

Sunyoul is 27 and a member of Up10tion. 

He has been on a few shows before this, including two reality shows devoted to trot, a uniquely Korean style of music, and a stint on King of Mask Singer in 2016 where he managed to convince everyone that he was a female trot singer. People were pretty surprised when they found out who he was! Seriously, check out his performance -- I don’t think I’d guess in a million years that this was a man.

For his teaser performance, he was V04, and did a song called Twenty Five Twenty One. He had some shaky moments, but showed his strong lower register and some serious vocal agility, moving from low to high notes almost effortlessly. I think he’s one to watch. 

Let me talk briefly about Up10tion. They debuted as a 10 member group in 2015, and didn’t really catch the world on fire. Several members went on ProduceX101 and two members did well enough that they basically started solo careers afterward instead of really bringing the fame home to the group. (I’m not criticizing them -- that was mismanagement on the agency’s part, not their fault.) Three members have left the group, and two members went on Boys Planet (Hwanhee and Xiao). Several members have left the agency, including Hwanhee and Sunyoul, and the future of Up10tion is really dubious at this point.  

Meanwhile, I’ve liked a few songs of Up10tion over the years, so it’s a bummer that they never really worked out. I think the first song of theirs that I liked was Blue Rose. Also, What if Love is great, especially the chorus, even if it sounds like they’re saying “ready for love” instead of “what if love”. In my opinion, a lot of Up10tion songs have weird intros and kind of mid verses and then awesome choruses held down by Hwanhee’s marquee vocals and Sunyoul’s sweet higher register. So if you listen to the first 30 seconds and you’re like “meh?” give the whole song a listen. Also, their song Spin Off was one of the best songs of 2021 and lives forever on my playlists. It’s one of those full-on kpop songs that isn’t really any genre, just sort of pop that makes you feel happy. 

Wumuti

Wumuti is 24 and is from China, though he’s actually an ethnic Uyghur, a Turkic ethnic group that is an officially recognized ethnic minority in China. If you read my Boys Planet recaps, you know that I have a soft spot for him. He just wants this so bad. Plus, and I don’t want to bum you out too much, but the Uyghurs are facing some pretty serious problems, including forced sterilization and labor camps and it’s really really bad. So I can’t help but always cheer for Wumuti, you know? 

He also seems like a really sweet, genuine, and hard working person. He seems pretty fluent in Korean and has been on all the Korean reality shows: Road to Star, The Dance & The Voice, Super Idol, Under Nineteen and Boys Planet. So this makes the third survival show in a row that Wumuti and Jay will be on together! (The other two were Under 19 and Boys Planet.)

Here’s one of my favorite Wumuti performances, gross lollipop aside. (He’s the one in the white hat.) Oh, now I miss Boys Planet!

Then there’s his cover of Antifragile, which he released shortly after getting kicked off Boys Planet. 

Ok, as for his teaser song, he was V12, performing Seven by Jungkook. He sounds fine, though I wouldn’t say at all his voice belongs in Unique. I think I’d call it Allround -- I couldn’t promise that I’d know his voice just from hearing it the way I would with, say, Hwanhee or Jay. Also, the rapping is a little cringe, but TBH it’s cringe even in the original version of the song. 

I think he was hoping to get people’s attention by singing a super popular song in English. His end game isn’t to make the top 4 of this show -- he wants to launch a solo career. I mean, that’s what I assume, anyway. I’m not sure if that will work out for him, but I hope it does. 

Lee Gwangseok, aka, Lee Kwangseok

Gwangseok is kind of a question mark overall -- I know nothing about him, not even his age. We actually learn on the first episode that he has no training at all and works as a model (!). So he has never been on any other show and he’s definitely not in an existing group. 

He’s V19 in the teaser song, showing off a unique, smokey, extremely thick kind of voice. I enjoy his performance, even though he’s singing a ballad, so that says a lot, though I know that some people may not personally like this distinctive style. I wouldn’t necessarily have guessed that he has no training. Maybe he just has good instincts, or maybe he had some light vocal training, like in high school chorus or something like that, because he can hit some fairly high notes in his chest voice. And some singers are charming without training -- Joni Mitchell comes to mind as someone like that. They sing the way they sing, and people can like it or not.

I’ll be really interested in see more of Gwangseok. I don’t know if he’s right for a vocal group based on harmonies, because his voice is so distinctive. However, he’s apparently quite handsome* and that combined with genuine vocal talent and his sort of self-effacing charm could give him a decent solo career.

*Those of you who regularly read my recaps know that I have no idea who is and who isn’t “handsome” or “pretty” in the kpop world. I often pick out the member who everyone thinks is the “ugly one” in a group and choose them as the one who’s best looking! So I have no idea. But the other guys on the show react in such a way as to indicate that he’s really handsome, and he works as a model, so I guess he’s handsome. 

Hong Sungwon

He’s a musical actor, and that’s about all I know. 

He was V21, doing Desperado by the Eagles. He sings it with a slight country twang, which is wild for a non-native speaker. (I assume he’s a non-native speaker? Maybe I’m wrong.) He has a rich, warm tone and impeccable pitch. I don’t love all his weird rhythmic choices in the song, but he’s trying to show that he’s fully singing live. It’s hard to critique a voice like this -- it’s just really good without necessarily really being all that unique. I like it a lot, don’t get me wrong. It’ll be nice to hear him sing more on this show. 

Neon

He’s listed as a solo singer, but I can’t figure out much more about him. There’s another Korean singer in this world named Neon Bunny (check out her song It’s You, one of my all-time favorites -- she’s not a kpop singer, she’s an indie artist and the song is amazing) and another Kpop performer named Neon who is a band called About U, so it’s hard to find out info about this particular guy with the same/similar name. I do know that he’s 28 years old -- that’s about it!

He was V33, doing Rush Hour by Crush. He has clean, nice vocals -- not particular unique, despite his category. He’s just really nice to listen to. Good pitch, good breath control, good power, all the good stuff. In fact, I think I would have put him in the Power category. You can see him in his silhouette performance standing quite a distance from the microphone, still singing loud enough to be heard clearly.  I’m looking forward to hearing more from him.

Kim Seohyung

Soehyung is a musical actor and has a similar singing style to Kim Seongjeong and Choi Haram. So it’s just not going to appeal to me, as much as I can respect his skill. His teaser song was V18, Me After You by Paul Kim. He did falter a little on one of the high notes, but I mean, it was just 90 seconds of singing one song, and mistakes happen. I think he belongs in the Power category, not the Unique category, but that’s just me.

A fan of his made this “Kim Seohyung cut” of episode 1 -- all 90 seconds that we got to see of him in episode one. MNET really doesn’t care much about Seohyung! 

Lee Hwanhee

Hwanhee is from Up10tion, but you might recall him from Boys Planet as the guy who ended up on General Gunwook’s team for Kill this Love. (Performance) You might also remember that he had to withdraw from the show midway due to his health issues. 

He is V38, performing Tomboy by G-Idle. He did the song justice, I thought, putting enough snap and sass into it. There were some backup prerecorded vocals that make it tough to tell how much he’s singing live. But I’ve heard enough of his vocals to know that he’s capable of some excellent singing.

I never got the sense that many of my 3-4 readers liked Hwanhee much, but I think he’s a really good vocalist. I like his distinctive, Baekhyun-esque vocal color, which adds nicely to Up10tion songs. However, he might be a tad outclassed by some of the other guys on this show, who have more training than he does. I think sometimes he wears out his voice and kind of runs out of steam while he sings. 

I think I would have put him in the Power category, but maybe I don’t really understand what the categories are about. 

Kwon Euibin

I can’t get over this official picture. Imagine being like, “Yes, this represents me. This is my brand. I’m going for that, like, pissed off substitute teacher vibe.” I mean. IDK.

He really likes beige sweaters over white shirts, I guess. 

Ok, so Euibin is only 25 years old, and my scouting tells me he’s a trainee going for the idol life. He went on two other shows: The Idol Band: Boy's Battle and Kookmin Singer. On the latter show, he may have met Kang Hayoon, the one who sang the Adele song for his intro clip.

He was V35, another fecking ballad, but his voice was unexpectedly sweet and pretty compared to his serious countenance.  He strained a little on some of the higher notes and the whole thing felt a little uneven, occasionally kind of shouty. It’s nice to listen to despite all that. I’m not quite sure what to make of him so far, so I’ll reserve judgment for now.  But again, not sure he’s “unique.”

Taewoo

Taewoo is 26 and my sleuthing tells me he’s a songwriter who appeared on a few other shows I haven’t heard of, Sing Again 2 and Vocal Play 2. 

He’s V28, Thought of You by John Park. I really like his voice. It’s slightly gravely, in a good way -- it has character. Finally, a unique singer who is actually unique. It’s hard to say how trained he is based on this clip but I know I want to hear more of him!

And that’s it! Gang, we did it. We made it through all 40! Now, I’ll move on to the recap at last. 

See you then and there! 

[finneas-therat]

As a lover of Mean Girls, I’d like to share my opinions on the 2024 remake because I’m bored.

I saw both the original movie and a recording of the Broadway musical about a month ago (although I have been rewatching the musical like 4 times just this week. I love that damn show). I saw the first half of the remake today, up until the talent show part.

From what I’ve seen so far, it’s good and has been fun to watch. However, it is definitely deserving of the criticism it has been getting. Here are some things I’ve noticed up to this point.

A Cautionary Tale was fun. I enjoy how they incorporated more modern technology into the movie. I also think the casting is great, and it’s cool seeing how different people take on a role. Especially this Janice. Definitely very different from the original one, but still did an excellent job.

They replaced Cady’s first song, I noticed. I don’t like the replacement that much, but the original wasn’t my favourite to begin with, so it’s not that bad of a change. Also is she fatherless now? Maybe he appears later in the movie, or there’ll be an explanation later on. But idk.

School sequence was decent. Ms. Norbury is one of my favourite characters, and that belief still rings true in this movie.

They removed Where Do You Belong :(. In fact, Damien’s character as a whole felt far different, which I’m not a fan of. The actor still did an amazing job, despite this!

Did most of Meet The Plastics also get removed? Damn. I thought that was like, one of the defining songs of the Broadway show. At least they kept Regina’s part, but still disappointing in my opinion.

Stupid with Love is.. bland. Boring. Ew. Originally it was so much fun and woah and yippee! I saw a YT short comparing the “I’m astounded and nonplussed” portion of the song in the original and new Mean Girls and there is such a difference T-T. Also I don’t like Aaron in this movie. He’s never been a character I liked, and this movie definitely didn’t help his case. I don’t really know why, though.

Apex Predator is actually kinda good. The song is spectacular in the original, so it would be incredibly hard to mess it up here. While the singing is not ideal (more the style of singing rather than the singers themselves, they are wonderful singers and very suitably cast for their roles), I loved the choreography.

What’s Wrong With Me was also great! Not the same vibe, but still brought along the message nicely. The thing with the music box was so cute <3. Rahh Gretchen will always be my favourite little bean. A criticism I have here is that Regina is honestly not as good as the original movie/musical. There, she was manipulative. She was condescending and sarcastic and passive aggressive to her friends, yet deceptive enough for them to remain with her, following her every command. Whereas in the 2024 remake, she’s just mean. She is just outright rude and calling her friends names out of nowhere. Which really doesn’t work as well. For example, in the Broadway show, Regina said “Gretchen, she gets it” before walking off. Also, it’s missing Gretchen’s iPhone analogy, which is unfortunate but doesn’t really affect much in the long run. However, in the new movie in the same scene, while I can’t remember the exact line, Regina calls Gretchen insults before asking her to find some shoes for Cady, which gives a really different feekng. Finally, while we’re on the topic of this song, Regina’s mother is great as usual!

Sexy was alright. Not the best, but not too bad. The use of the phone in the first part was cool, once again. I don’t know whether the pause in the middle of the song was something I liked or not. I prefer the old choreo, but this was pretty nice too. Not much more to say about it.

Someone Gets Hurt was great. Less upbeat and dramatic than the original, yet still effective. Once again, I really loved this song before, and they did it well in the new movie. The whole house party sequence was definitely a bit weak, but Someone Gets Hurt helped a lot. The part where Damien explains Janice’s tragic gay backstory™ was cool. I don’t know whether I like this as much as her Space Alien With Four Butts thing, but it works well. Also Pyro Lesbian is a fun title to have.

Revenge Party. Always a banger. Super fun scene to watch! I probably prefer this over the original, to be honest!

Anddd that’s the extent of what I watched! Overall, it’s been a great movie so far and I’m excited to watch more. The singing and choreography is very well done, although the original choreography will always be spectacular. Gretchen is as loveable as usual, and everyone is really well cast! Unfortunate how many songs are missing, but understandable.

I’m probably forgetting about a lot, but this is all of what I remember. I hope I’m not being too picky or whatever. I also haven’t read any other reviews (other than seeing the occasional video or whatever when the movie first released), so my opinions may not fit that of the majority. But I’m just a silly rat sharing his opinions :3.

[kats-kradle]

hi hello hiiii 🥰 so... you wrote ze besstttt works on bouc/poirot stuff on ao3 and i remember we KINDA discussed with you in the comments upcoming movie SO hence the question:

your thoughts on A Haunting in Venice 👀👀

also thanks once again for your amazing works!!! truly the blessing 🙏

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEkabsmabamsbsn thank you for your kind words😭😭😭💖💖💖

I think the movie has been out long enough that I don’t need to worry about spoilers but just in case SPOILERS FOR A HAUNTING IN VENICE FOLLOWING

Short answer: eh. It was okay.

Long answer: (and I am sorry for the almost 1,000 words of an essay this is. I am sorry).

It’s been a few months since I’ve seen it which I think will be a good indicator as to what stuck with me and what didn’t. I immensely enjoy the way that Kenneth Branagh plays Poirot, so I loved that ofc. I knew nothing about Agatha Christie until Murder on the Orient Express came out so he was my first Poirot and I’ll always have a special place for him in my heart. I do think he plays some aspects of the character better than David Suchet, but David Suchet is a far superior Poirot. Anyways.

I was pleased with the tone of it because it was advertised more as purely horror but Kenny boy toed the line between extra creepy mystery and horror very well. I was also very relieved that there weren’t quite as many flashing lights as in the trailer😂 And of course since it’s Kenneth Branagh, the cinematography was AMAZING. Lots of Dutch angles tho which was strange. I thought it was interesting how Kenny touched more on Poirot’s PTSD, and as an angst/whump lover, it was delicious. The music was amazing. The story… not so much. 

I think I’d have to watch it again to fully gather my thoughts on the story, but I went away with the impression that it moved too fast and was lacking a lot in certain areas. I didn’t see the twist coming at the end, but again, it was disappointing. Even my sister (who hasn’t read much Poirot) said that it didn’t seem very complex. And I love Kenneth Branagh but first and foremost Agatha is my girl. I have been known to reference her as my best friend at times. One of the things I enjoy most about Agatha Christie is that she puts like a minimum of 4 twists with the reveal, because she understood that once you reveal the killer, the story is over and most people will lose interest. And it tends to be underwhelming when the entire story has been building to a point that is over in three seconds. There were a few twists scattered through the movie, but ultimately if Kenny wanted to use a Christie book as source material, I think he should have stuck with her formula of hitting people with a bunch of twists at the end. 

I did like how he kept the supernatural aspect ambiguous. I would have been foaming at the mouth in rage if he tried to make ghosts a canon part of the HPCU (Hercule Poirot Cinematic Universe). I didn’t like Oliver at all in this, which is a shame because I love her in all the Poirot books she’s in. I can tell what parts Christie is venting about writing through her which is really entertaining to me. But the actress who played her in A Haunting in Venice was… irritating. She had a lot of exposition to deliver, and while the script was tipping on the edge of having the exposition be clunky, I think a better actress would have been able to salvage it. She was so wooden. It was irritating. 

For example, in Death on the Nile there’s this awkward introduction where Bouc is rattling off the names and motives of the wedding guests (which I have a problem with in itself. That movie is SO LONG and they introduce everyone in under 1 minute and then spend an hour getting to the murder part. Literally this clip is 53 seconds. Tom Bateman barely had time to breathe. Surely they could have introduced the characters in a better way with the HOUR of screen time they had before the murder). The scene is inherently clunky, and the writing is… not great. It sort of makes sense for Bouc to be telling Poirot who is who, but to give motives as well… not great. 

But even with the awkward dialogue, Tome Bateman delivers the lines so smoothly that you can almost look past the weird writing.

Speaking of my boy Bouc, I was very disappointed that he wasn’t mentioned at all in A Haunting in Venice. He was a vital part of the other two movies, and up until this point in the HPCU, he has been in every Poirot movie. It’s my opinion that if you 

1. Have a character appear in more than one movie 

2. Have established that character as a very good close friend of the main character, in fact, the only person the main character can trust 

3. You kill that character and show that his death had an impact on the main character 

You should mention it in the next movie. And especially since it’s implied that Poirot gave up detective work completely after Bouc’s death (probably even because of Bouc’s death) and this is the first murder case he’s been involved with since… I just think it was a missed opportunity to not even reference him in passing. And especially since the movie was playing into Poirot’s PTSD; surely this is a scenario that would at least make him briefly think of his close friend who he lost the last time he was in this situation.

I am approaching the movie from the point of view of a diehard Agatha Christie fan and someone who enjoys critiquing any movie I watch, so I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as I make it out to be.

All in all, I would rank the movies as: 

1. Murder in the Orient Express 

2. A Haunting in Venice 

3. Death on the Nile 

I have so many issues with Death on the Nile that pretty much anything is going to be better than that. I wrote a whole essay about it for my English class. 

Anyway if you made it this far congratulations😅😂😂 What were your thoughts about it?

[flickpulse]

It's that time of the year 🍂🎃 10 Halloween movies you can add to your watch list

Every year, my friend and I go through our list and add items from everywhere, from colleges to neighbor's buddies. And, it is that time of year again, but our list feels dry. What should we add or make sure we watch this year? This request came from one of our subscribers who truly enjoys the movie suggestions that we send out every week. It is important for us to address this matter and find a solution.

So, we have created a list of seven movies that you should add to your list to make this year's Halloween as good as the best ones.

Top 10 Halloween Movie List

Halloween (1978): The original Halloween. The vibe of this movie will put anybody in the holiday mood. Well acted, well written... it's just a damn fine movie. My ringtone yr round is the music that Carpenter composed because it's so iconic.

Beetlejuice (1988): is one of my all-time favorite movies, and easily one of the funniest and most interesting visions of ghosts and the afterlife.

Get Out (2017): I absolutely adore Get Out. I’ve seen it multiple times and always notice something different. It’s such a good rewatch when you already know the plot

Trick 'r Treat (2007): is the ultimate Halloween movie. It embodies the holiday like no other movie I've ever seen, and it's just so much fun. Probably my favorite movie of all time.

Jaws (1975): in my opinion not only is it, my top horror movie but it's the greatest movie ever made. No other movie scared a complete audience like it did. Ppl were scared to go swimming all summer after this came out.. even in lakes. Sharks are beautiful creatures but Jaws for many years gave them a name as cold-blooded Killer.

Scream (franchise): 90's horror wasn't the greatest but then this came out. This cast worked perfectly with each other. I went to the theater 4 times to see this movie when I was a teenager.

The Devil's Rejects (2005): If you are an unapologetic Rob Zombie fan. You will adore this movie fr. Movies and Music. This I feel is his best movie. H1000C was good but this took it up another level. Made me fall in love with Spaulding.

Hellraiser (1987): Pinhead is my favorite of the modern-era monsters (Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, etc.). It was also kind of just a neat movie. Hellraiser 2 was also fun. Went into the lore of the Hell Realm and Leviathan.

Hellraiser (2022): This was an awesome update. I genuinely enjoyed it. And the take on Pinhead/the Priest was amazing and more book-accurate. They were played by a trans woman actress, but portrayed as completely androgynous. Even their voice was masculine and feminine overlayed each other. It had the right amount of body horror and gore without going too far.

Evil Dead 2 (1987): Evil Dead 1 is pure horror, while Evil Dead 2 is a horror comedy. I generally like Evil Dead 2 more, but the 1st is scarier.

I know I missed some Halloween movies here and there so let me know what I missed in the comments….

Get access to the best movie recommendations in 7 different genres with a similar movie section. Every Friday. For Free. Subscribe Here!

[nijigasakilove]

Finally tapped into Girls Band Cry, the first 3 episodes at least. I initially passed on it because of 3D, but all of my Twitter mutuals, YouTube subs and even people on here wanted me on this since it’s my “core” 😭 and I’m glad I listened to them, they’re so right. This is amazing.

The 3D is the best I’ve ever seen in an anime and what really makes it look good is the frame-rate being so smooth. The seiyuus are all new up and coming seiyuus so the characters sound authentic and raw unlike most anime. It really sells the relationship between the girls and helps you get immersed. Right now I’m loving the relationship between Nina, Momoka and Subaru and I know it’s gonna be even better once the other girls get involved.

Story wise there’s a lot of similarities between this and Yorukura and I don’t mind it at all since they’re both peak. Seeing girls go on these journeys of self discovery and using music as an outlet for emotional trauma will never get old. Inject it into my veins.

Most importantly, the music SLAPS and the performances are so good due to the high quality 3D art style. Can’t wait for all this music to drop on Apple Music. Awesome start so far, can’t wait to see where these next 4 eps go when I watch em later today.

Also, if you’re not subbed to my YouTube, go get on that: Elitealice

[anonymouswordspasms]

Ok so here we go writing it down to gather thoughts and because its a very slow day at work

Watched:

- Fourze (years ago tho, like legitimately years. I think… Ghost might have been the latest rider at that time? I know Build and Zi-O were def not out yet) (might rewatch)

- W (this was as amazing as advertised i have brain worms now) (also watched Fuuto Pi)

- Decade (adore Tsukasa, and am a sucker for OT4s)

Watching:

- OOOs (about 3/4 of the way through? Its fun so far and not dislikable at all, just not gon be my fave)

Watching?:

- Den-O (went through the free first two eps on Toei’s YT to see whats it about since Den O shows up so much and like. Is that Koji Yusa in the cast list? Its fun and Ryotaro’s a precious cinnamon roll but not fully hooked in yet.)

- Kiva (flipped through the first ep bc i saw Wataru and Otoya (kind of) in Decade and also bcos Kiva’s suit might be the sickest one i’ve seen. Almost too over the top for me and i was a distracted by other things so i couldn’t wrap my head around the double timeline thing too well. Otoya’s simpery endears though.)

- Ex-Aid (coworker showed me the first ep and though I wasn’t hooked i’ve been slowly softened up to it via fandom and i must admit that if they do have medical drama aspects in it, it would appeal.)

- Build (coworker (same one) showed ep 1 to me, and this one actually hooked me. Great interest in the premise, and the fandom content and music has endeared me greatly)

Interested to watch:

- Hibiki (design looks very very nice)

- Blade (caught a bit of whats it about in the fandom and it interests me)

- ZI O (Alright i’ll confess. Because Tsukasa will be there.)

I don’t think I want to watch anything from Showa yet, and I want to hold of on Reiwa till consume a good amount of Heisei first.

[walpywalpy]

I saw a post on twitter expressing that RWBY should have the characters talking about their feelings and letting their emotions out in the open. Some say it’s because of the large cast. Others say it’s because other characters interfere in these moments (especially Jaune in V9). I’m not here to argue against those points because I do agree, but rather I want to know why they just don’t. If it was because writing these scenes aren’t on of CRWBY’s strengths, I’d understand, but that isn’t the case because they can do it amazingly. My favorite RWBY scene is the one between Weiss and Yang. It’s heartfelt. It’s meaningful. The music is amazing. They CAN do it.

Out of all the points I’ve seen, the one saying RWBY’s enormous cast is holding this back is in my opinion the most correct. I don’t think characters like Jaune or the rest of team ORNJ are holding team RWBY back in terms of emotional discussion. At times, they even enhance it. But having the ace ops, Maria, Pietro, the happy huntresses, etc. do make it feel bloated. They should just be like the side cast of kids in ATLA, where we have fun with these characters but they never go far in writing. We don’t need emotion from them. We have our small group to focus on.

Why do I care so much?

Because I feel robbed when I was given crumbs of potential.

I hope V10 takes its time. The world is finally backing our main crew, which means they won’t have to fight alone. They can finally unwind and slow down. Maybe a bit of training with each other. It should be like Volume 5. Weird how I feel nostalgic for a volume that was trashed at the time of its release. There’s nothing wrong with slowing it down as long as it progresses the story. That’s why I loved Volume 4 and Volume 6. Slower compared to the larger catalog, but we progressed the stories of the cast and it slowed us down after a giant climax.

But yeah, I hope that V10 slows down a bit, at least for the first half, so we can get our team finally talking. Give us the girl talk I always wanted.

Anyways, that all I had to say. See ya.

[exceptionalzed]

Ranking all Dcoms I have Seen

Hello friends!!

I-I’m…. alive?

So sorry for the long hiatus but, well, you know how school is (it kinda sucks)

Anyway, I’ve decided to start branching out from pure Z-O-M-B-I-E-S content, so for the return, I’m going to be ranking all dcoms I have personally seen with a little snippet of my thoughts about them. Alright,

1. Zombies 3

Amazing, beautiful, absolutely perfect, un ironically hilarious, great songs, out of pocket story. I love it.

2. High School Musical 2

Same as previous, but more gay and slightly less interesting characters.

3. Descendants

Best descendants movie by far, but Mal and Evie > Mal and Ben for sure. Still, a good watch overall. A really interesting and dynamic main cast too.

4. Teen Beach Movie

Very funny, great music. The only reason it’s below Descendants is because I viscerally hate the two main characters.

5. Adventures in Babysitting

I actually liked the Disney remake, which I didn’t expect to. It may just be because I really like Sabrina Carpenter and Sofia Carson but who knows.

6. Princess Protection Program

Really liked this movie when I was a kid, although looking back I don’t really understand why. I wouldn’t want to watch it nowadays but I still think it’s good.

7. Cow Belles

Good movie, my mom and I watched it together a lot. Reminds me a bit too much of Liv and Maddie though.

8. Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas!

Honestly a comfort movie for me. It’s not exactly “good” in the slightest but I watched it a lot when I felt sick or anxious so whenever I watch it today it tends to make me feel safe. Also I really liked Good Luck Charlie.

9. High School Musical

I mean it’s alright. A little overrated considering there’s only like… 4(?) good characters.

10. Radio Rebel

Pretty funny at some parts but also just suuuupeer dumb. It’s fine.

11. 16 Wishes

Honestly everything Debby Ryan starred in kinda blurs together for me. Also this one apparently isn’t technically a dcom? It’s okay though.

12. Zombies 2

Good, but not Zombies at it’s best. That’s pretty much all.

13. Descendants 2

Okay descendants… you’re getting worse. You can stop here. The only thing I really remember liking about this movie is Mal and Evie’s relationship getting expanded upon.

14. Zombies

Yeah it’s okay. Not near as good as 2 and 3 but like, I’d watch it happily on my deathbed or whatever.

15. Descendants 3

Had one really good song with Mal and Hades and that’s about it.

16. Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie

Pretty good, actually. I really enjoy the Russo’s family dynamic so seeing them in stressful situations like this and how they responded was fun.

17. Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure

Worse than all the regular HSM movies, but it stars Sharpay so obviously it’s still alright.

18. Cloud 9

I think I remember liking this movie solely cause it had dogs in it.

19. Camp Rock

It’s… okay.

20. Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension

Yeah I didn’t like this movie. I mean, like I could watch it again and be pretty happy but I really just did not enjoy the plot. Reminds me of that one futuristic sci-fi Jessie episode but worse.

21. Frenemies

Uh… I think I liked this movie? I dunno it was okay.

22. How to Build a Better Boy

This movie creeped me out so much when I first watched it. Will never be watching it again. Had a nice song though.

23. Bad Hair Day

I don’t remember much about this movie other than that I didn’t hate it but like, I also reeeaaaally didn’t like it. So…

24. Zapped

This movie also creeped me out, less than How to Build a Better Boy did, but the plot of this one somehow was worse.

25. Teen Beach 2

Everything about this movie is good except for the ending. It’s like Bayonetta 3, amazing until the ending destroys every last bit of happiness your soul contained.

26. The Cheetah Girls 1, 2, and One World

I don’t actually know if these are good movies or not, I literally just don’t remember one single detail from these movies other than than that Raven-Symoné was in them (and don’t get me wrong, I love Raven-Symoné). I watched all of these movies one day when I was sick out of school and then never watched them again.

27. Invisible Sister

I think I fell asleep halfway through this one? I don’t know, but I’m not a huge fan of the two main actors either.

28. The Suite Life Movie

Literally so bad. Look, I’m not normally a fan of movie specials for shows, but this was the absolute worst. I wish I had never watched it.

29. Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam

Horrid. Horrid Acting. Horrid characters. Horrid Music. Horrid story. I hate it.

Anyway, there’s some stuff I would probably move around if I had seen more of these movies recently, but some I legit haven’t seen since elementary school.

[reallyunluckyrunaway]

10 Underrepresented Horror Movies to check out for Spooky Season. (List originally written in May of 2021):

1.) Happy Death Day

This movie is great if you want a (mostly) comedic movie with a horror edge to it.

Like I said, this is a horror comedy first and foremost, with a time-loop twist…

It’s fun, fast paced, and has a surprising amount of character development and conflict throughout.

2.) Get Out

Delightfully refreshing.

This movie mixes horror with meta humor and racial commentary. I thought it did a great job creating a feeling of unease throughout, and it managed to have a fleshed out and intriguing protagonist that you can really root for.

The music gave me Coraline-vibes for some reason— what with all the harp/string based instruments, and with the unsettling chanting throughout its soundtrack.

Overall, it’s a movie that mixes typical horror conventions with a couple of modern twists.

3.) Freaky

This movie isn’t without it’s faults, as the dialogue and the tropes are often very cliche…

Purposely so... But it was still a bit corny at points.

But it grew on me as it went on.

There was some great character acting, and much like Happy Death Day, it takes a familiar concept and adds a horror-style twist to it. (Which makes sense, considering they’re both directed by the same person.) This time, the gimmick is the tride and true, good ol' body swap.

There were a ton of classic slasher/ horror movie references and meta moments, and it was rich with humor. Plus there's a group of diverse leads that helm this movie… they bounce off each other well, and have a ton of chemistry together. It's just an all around fun, freeeaaaky, horror movie.

4.) Suspiria (1977)

Suspiria does a brilliant job obtaining an eerie and eye-catching atmosphere, with the use of primary/secondary colors and it’s haunting original soundtrack... It’s also the first (and only) Giallo film I’ve ever seen.

The plot is pretty straightforward. But the real artistry, is in the atmosphere it sets and in the strange surrealism and mysteries it presents.

It relies much more on supernatural thrills and horror than your typical Giallo film typically does. But it is certainly a welcome change here, it's a movie meant to be experienced. Using it's strange, uncanny nature to garner thrills in the audience, both sonically and visually.

5). Doctor Sleep

The sequel to the horror classic, The Shining.

As far as sequels go, I found this movie outstanding. They did a fantastic job recreating the iconic settings, and with the character casting. The villains were really unnerving. They presented a real danger to the heroes, (Rebecca Ferguson did a fantastic job in particular). The powers were dynamic and unique. And even though it ran at a fairly long runtime, it flew by very quickly.

6.) Halloween (1978)

John Carpenter and Debra Hall are masterful, as a directing and scoring team. The soundtrack is tense and iconic, and this is the horror movie that popularized the slasher. This movie had shockingly little-to-no gore, and mostly relied on building suspense instead. The way that this movie makes you search for Michael in the frame is amazing, and not something I've seen too often since.

7.) The Descent

(Probably?) The of the most well known horror spelunking movies…

This British-Australian movie stars an all female cast, and kicks some serious ass.

It had some serious build up, and some of the better executed jump scares I’ve seen in a horror movie.

There's themes about trauma, and not knowing who to trust. And what follows, is a story about a group of adrenaline junkies. that inadvertently get themselves lost in a cave.

Though it eventually veers into a creature feature.

The cast were convincing and distinctive as their respective characters, and the cave scenes were brilliantly claustrophobic.

The sets were impressive. The (original) ending is incredible… And the characters were capable, (and maybe just maybe,) equally as vicious as the cave dwellers.

(note: it is so important to watch this with the og ending!)

8.) The Lighthouse

This is one of the weirdest movies I’ve ever...experienced.

Shot in black and white, on Kodak Double-X 35mm footage, this movie really commits to the time period it’s set in.

Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe really bring their A+ game here, and really commit to portraying the compelling tale of strangers that slowly start to lose their sanity, while cut off from the rest of world.

The set design is immaculate and the aforementioned lighthouse is truly impressive in scope.

It feels like one big fever dream, and has the watcher yearning to know who’s actually telling the full truth. There’s a lot to unpack and analyze: from the painting inspired shots, (ie. Hypnosis.) and it's references to mythology, and even explores themes like sexuality, isolation, etc.…

It does a ton of interesting things visually, too.

If I had to describe this movie… I’d probably look to how the director himself put it: “You know, does Prometheus ever encounter Proteus in any classical mythology? Not that I’m aware of, but maybe that’s happening in this movie. And so, therefore, Prometheus is taking on some of the heroes that wrestle with Proteus’s characteristics as well as his own.” —

9.) The Banana Splits Movie

Basically, it’s Five nights at Freddy’s meets the Banana Splits show. (A REAL 1960s children’s program that actually existed.)

It’s a crazy ass horror movie that takes real life kid show characters, and makes them the bad guys...

So, if you’ve ever watched a television show, and thought that there was something just... inherently creepy about it, than this one’s for you. (Especially if you’re into crazed-animal animatronics.) (I'm looking at you fnaf fans)...

It was insane, gory… and while it’s admittedly not the greatest horror movie in the world, it certainly ran with it’s ridiculous concept and knew exactly what it was going for. (Not to mention that it also has some pretty decent practical effects.)

10.) Carrie

Sooo seventies, and sooo awesome!

This movie is another horror classic based on Stephen King’s first published work.

It's definitely more of a slow burn, saving most (if not all) of the terror until the third act.

So, if prom night movies seem boring to you, Carrie is here to shake things up… And nothing spices up prom night quite like religious overbearing parents, pigs blood, psychopathic kids, and a telekinetic massacre… right?

[amorest-viesse]

[The Greatest Show With You] - Chloe SSR Card Story Translation

Ft. Arthur & Akira

A Push of Encouragement - Chapter One

[City of Circuses]

Street Musicians: Come one, come all, and take a gander at our show for our musical performance begins now!

Street Puppeteer: No, no, come this way to witness amazing feats of ventriloquy! Watch as this here puppet perfectly imitates the voice of any member of our audience!

Akira: Both acts seem really interesting… There sure are a lot of colorful characters in the City of Circuses.

Chloe: It’s impossible to decide where to go! There’s more than enough to keep you entertained for the entire day.

Arthur: Chloe. I’d like to thank you for taking us here once again. It’s been an absolutely incredible experience so far.

Chloe: I- It’s no big deal, but I’m glad you like it!

Chloe: …Huh? That street performer over there doesn’t seem to be attracting anyone.

Akira: You’re right… Everyone has a crowd around them except for him.

Street Performer: Come and witness a thrilling performance you can’t get anywhere else! You won’t regret it!

Onlooker: You see that guy over there? Lately, he’s had nothing but failed performance after failed performance, and it’s been a real bummer to watch.

Onlooker: He’s changed up his routine too, but I liked the old one better.

Chloe: …

Chloe: Hey, why don’t we check that guy out?

Arthur: That sounds good to me. He’s also piqued my curiosity, so shall we?

As we approached the street performer desperately trying to attract an audience, he gave us a look of surprise.

Street Performer: Are you, by any chance, here to see me? This is the first time I’ve seen your faces around here. Are you guys tourists?

Chloe: You’re spot on! If it’s alright with you Mister, could we watch your performance?

Street Performer: …O- of course! Prepare yourselves for an unforgettable display of the most thrilling feats!

Street Performer: For my first act, watch as I juggle these flaming torches! No where else will you find an act so bold and daring! Now! Let’s begin!

Arthur & Chloe & Akira: Oooh…!

The street performer set 4 large torches ablaze and began to juggle them, rhythmically tossing them into the air one by one. However—

[Fire Crackling]

Street Performer: Ow! Ack! Hot, hot, hot! My clothes! My clothes are on fire!

Arthur & Chloe & Akira: Huh!?

Chloe: This is bad! We have to put it out…!

Chloe: <Suispicibo Voitingoc>!

Arthur: <Pernoctant Nix Zo>!

Akira: Thank goodness, the fire’s out…!

Chloe: Are you alright!? You weren’t burned anywhere, were you?

Street Performer: Thanks to your quick actions, I’m perfectly fine…

Street Performer: U... Uwah… Wahhh…

Akira: (He’s… he’s crying!?)

Street Performer: Wahhh… Not only did I completely botch my performance, I even made the audience worry about me. I’m a failure of a street performer…

Chloe: D- don’t cry…! Your torch juggling was really cool!

Arthur: I agree. Besides, everyone experiences failure from time to time. I’m just glad you’re safe and sound.

Street Performer: Uu, thanks you guys… I’ve just been in a real slump lately, and people aren’t stopping by to watch. I have to find a way to start entertaining them again…

Chloe: I see. However, I can tell that you put in a lot of practice to get that last trick right. I’m sure you’ll nail it next time!

Street Performer: My good sir…! Wait a minute. If I can get some kind of warm encouragement like this…

Street Performer: …Of course! That’s it!

A Push of Encouragement - Chapter Two

Street Performer: What I need is a little push of encouragement from others…!

Chloe: What do you mean by that…?

Street Performer: Allow me to explain! Your kind words have given me the courage to face my adversities and rise from this slump once and for all!

Street Performer: I beg of you! Would you please do me the favor of watching over a few of my rehearsals?

Chloe: …Of course! If it helps, then I’d be more than happy to!

With all of us in agreement, the street performer thanked us profusely and led us to a square set aside for performance rehearsals.

Street Performer: Since I have several acts that change from day-to-day, I’ll be showing you some other tricks besides juggling. Now then, let us begin.

Arthur: Break a leg!

Chloe: You can do it!

Street Performer: Alright! First off, I will be demonstrating a contortionist act by fitting myself into this minuscule box. Here I go…!

Akira: (Wow, amazing! He’s actually folding himself up like an octopus…)

Street Performer: Ouch! Ow, ow ow! M- my leg is cramping…!

Chloe: Are you alright!?

♡♥♡

Arthur: The next act is attempting a handstand while balancing on a shaky beam…? It seems difficult, but I believe in you.

Street Performer: Oh, with encouragement like that, there’s no way I’ll fail…! Here I go!

[Slip]

Akira: W- watch out…!

[Crash!]

Street Performer: Ack!

♡♥♡

Chloe: C- can you really somersault over this pile of swords? I wanna cheer you on but…

Street Performer: This act is a vital part of my show! Now here I go…!

Street Performer: Ow! Ow, ow, ow!

Chloe: …! H- Hey, Mister? Why don’t we take a break?

We watched a whole series of performances, but in the end…

They only grew more and more dangerous, causing our concerns to outweigh our desire to cheer him on.

Street Performer: I- I’m okay! Let me try this one more time…!

The three of us could only stand in shock as the street performer rolled up his sleeve, ready to give it another go.

Akira: H- he’s still going? After getting all those burns and bruises…?

Arthur: Getting injured from time to time is probably a part of the job, but isn’t this going too far?

Chloe: Not to mention, he’s done nothing but struggle this entire time…

Arthur & Chloe & Akira: …

None of us could find the heart to keep cheering him on.

Street Performer: Huh? What’s going on, you guys? Why the long faces…

Street Performer: Ah. I guess you got fed up with me and my failures, huh…

Chloe: Oh, don’t think of it like that. We’re not fed up with you.

Chloe: You just seem like you’re really struggling, so we’re worried about you…

Street Performer: …I see. So that’s how you see me.

Street Performer: Well, I’m just an ordinary human y’know, so it’s not like I can use magic. I’m not a natural entertainer either, so if I don’t perform these kinds of crazy stunts, nobody even stops to give me a second glance.

Street Performer: However, sometimes, whenever I fumble a trick, I can get people to laugh. That’s why…

Chloe: You’ve been doing all of this on purpose?

Chloe: But, is hurting yourself for the sake of others really what makes you happy…?

A Push of Encouragement - Chapter Three

In response to Chloe’s question, a flicker of doubt flashed through the street performer’s eyes as he began to speak quietly.

Street Performer: T- there was once a street performer I looked up to. He was just like me, an ordinary human who couldn’t use magic.

Street Performer: However, he could perform any trick with ease… The first time I saw him, I felt something stirring inside me, an unforgettable feeling that whispered, “That’s who I want to be.”

Street Performer: However, I simply didn’t have the talent that he did, and nobody ever came to see me. Desperate to attract attention… I turned to riskier and riskier stunts…

Street Performer: But even then, I still failed to achieve my dreams. What an idiot, right?

Chloe: … Hey, what kind of tricks did your idol perform? I’d like to hear about them.

Arthur: I love listening to exciting stories, so please, share with us.

Street Performer: He did all kinds of things. For example, he could juggle balls using one hand while putting on an elaborate puppet show with the other…

Street Performer: He could also throw knives with his eyes closed while hitting the mark each time… Every single one of his acts was simply incredible!

Chloe: He sounds like a real jack-of-all-trades…! You really look up to him, don’t you, Mister?

Street Performer: Yes, yes! Simply recalling his performances fills me with awe.

Chloe: Ahaha, that’s great! You seem like you’re really having fun now.

Street Performer: What?

Akira: I agree with Chloe. It felt like I was actually seeing these performances as you described them to us, and I could feel your excitement as well.

Arthur: It’s exactly as they say. All three of us are smiling now thanks to you.

Chloe: When I watched you struggle with your performances, it made me feel like I was struggling too.

Chloe: If you want others to enjoy themselves, then you have to be enjoying it first. Otherwise, no one is having fun.

Street Performer: I see…

Street Performer: Thank you. I understand what you guys mean now. I think it’s about time I return to my roots and start taking my dreams more seriously.

Chloe: …Exactly!

Chloe: <Suispicibo Voitingoc!>

Street Performer: These are… juggling balls? They match the patterns on your outfit too…

Chloe: I made them from the leftover scraps of fabric. They’re meant to be a keepsake from us, so you can remember our time together whenever you look at them.

Chloe: We’ll always be your fans!

Street Performer: Thank you…! It’s like always having you guys by my side to encourage me through each rehearsal!

Street Performer: …Once I become the world’s greatest street performer, you’ll come by and watch again, won’t you?

Arthur: Of course we will!

Chloe: I’m already looking forward to it!

I’ve Just Gotta! - Card Episode

[Manor Library]

Chloe: Hmm, the sleeves looked like this, and the hem had an elaborate pattern that looked like this…

[Sketching]

Akira: Good afternoon, Chloe. What are you sketching today?

Chloe: Master Sage! Remember when we went to the City of Circuses? Well, I was taking a lot of notes while I was there, and now I’m properly drawing out all the outfits I saw.

Akira: Now that you mention it, it did seem like you were furiously taking notes on something… I should’ve known you were looking at everyone’s outfits.

Chloe: Ehehe. There were a lot of street performers and circus troupes there, right?

Chloe: Not only did everyone have eye-catching performances, but their costumes were incredible too! I don’t want to forget a thing!

Chloe: Circus costumes have a lot of different functions, so it’s cool to see how each design accentuates that! Some of them are meant to accommodate various types of movements while others are there to make the wearer stand out!

Akira: Now that I think about it, I did see all types of designs out there… Is there one that left an impression on you, Chloe?

Chloe: Umm, maybe this huuuuge pair of pants?

Akira: Huge what?

Chloe: The street performer wearing them used stilts to make them seem taller. Here, it looked like this…

[Sketching]

Chloe: I was like “No way those are pants! I can fit my whole body in there!”

Chloe: It’d be a cool challenge to design something as big as that! I’ve just gotta try it someday.

Chloe: Ah! If you’re interested, I can make a pair for you.

Akira: Y- you will!? I don’t know if I’ll be able to wear it, but good luck…!

Chloe: Hooray~!

Akira: (I guess I should start learning how to walk on stilts…)

Home Screen Voice Line

“One day, it'd be fun to open my own shop, but I also want to keep traveling with Rustica. Additionally, I’d like to grow closer to everyone at the Manor and visit your world too! …There’s so many things I want to do, but I definitely consider that a good thing.”

[greenlikethesea]

thank you so much for the tag @flashyysins!!!

🎧🎵 when you get this, you have to put in 5 songs you actually listen to at the moment. Then tag 5-10 followers to do the same. 🎵🎧

okie dokieeeeee, here we GO!

1. The News - Paramore

with the exception of “ignorance” absolutely kicking “the only exception” in the teeth in terms of an introduction to the era, i tend to always like the second single paramore releases from an album more than the first. i liked “that’s what you get” more than “misery business,” i liked “still into you” more than i liked “now,” i liked “told you so” even more than i liked “hard times” -- and this time, i absolutely love “the news,” even though i adored “this is why”. this is classic Hayley Is Unhinged. the composition of this is taylor york at his most fractured and strange. zac clearly has influence on both the sound and aesthetics of this cycle. and this is, by far, the coolest video they’ve ever released. i have always thought that hayley was one of the most incisive and insightful lyricists of our generation, and this is her at her most cutting and cunning -- it couldn’t have come at a better time, when we’re all feeling hopeless and frustrated and manipulated by people with an agenda.

2. Trick it - TWICE

This was apparently one of my most listened to songs this year -- I just think it’s SO sonically interesting and a real master class in modern pop songwriting! i think all of the girls are at their best vocally and the composition, as well as the lyrics (penned by dahyun, who is one of my favorite lyricists in twice), really play to all of their strengths as performers. and that initial drop in the first chorus when that rollercoaster synth loop plays is just pure dopamine. i don’t think it’s the best song on the feel special album (that would be love foolish or loud, probably), but i think it’s a delightful b-side.

3. Hello Hello - Trixie Mattel

so ya boi absolutely loves the country stuff that trixie does -- i think out of her releases, one stone and barbara are my favorites -- but i’ve been absolutely loving this 60s beachy girl rock direction she’s been going in with her latest music. this song is so cute! it’s infectious and fun and great to dance to, and she has this real knack of capturing the thrill of the chase with a lot of her songwriting, that initial spark and running after that feeling instead of just letting it slip through your fingers. also this video is simultaneously the gayest thing i’ve ever seen and also, hello hello, this is my lesbian girlfriend, trixie mattel.

4. Substance - Demi Lovato

i listened to this song once and then kind of forgot about it, but i came back to it recently! i am so goddamn happy that demi is going back to her pop punk roots because i think this is really where she thrives, and what she’s mean to be doing! the lyrics of this song absolutely slap (don’t wanna end up in a casket/head full of maggots/body full of jackshit i get in abundance -- REAL AS HELL) and the composition of this song is all the best parts of 2000s emo rock. and also, the sentiment of this song is so fucking real, especially with what i’ve been going through in my dating life right now. the video is also a really interesting grown-up take on the la-la land video, paralleling it in really intriguing ways.

5. Ghost In The Machine - SZA, Phoebe Bridgers

a low key song to close this list out -- i have only started listening to sza’s new album today (i know, i know, but i got to it, okay?) and fuck, i’m so hooked on this song, it’s unreal. the composition is really haunting, and the lyrics feel like a reflection of what’s been going on in my head for the past several months. i don’t think anyone’s really making music like either of these artists right now, sza especially, and her frank addressing of her mental state, the way she’s calmly pleading with the listener to understand her -- it’s amazing.

tagging @sparklyslug @friendship-switchblades @compassionlotion @andropogonfalons @dallae @tayyloryork @quarrygraffiti @sea-heaux @sophrosyneadrift @marchionessofbones and whoever else wants to do this!