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worldcakecakecake · 4 years ago

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Feliciano and the King of Hearts

Chosen by the gods as the Queen of Hearts from the moment of birth, we follow Feliciano’s story as he grows into royal life, learns to rule, go against age old customs, and his relationship with his husband to be, the King of Hearts.

Chapter 1 I Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5 I Chapter 6I Chapter 7 I Chapter 8 IChapter 9I Chapter 10I Chapter 11I Chapter 12 I Chapter 13 I Chapter 14 I Chapter 15 I Chapter 16 I Chapter 17 I Chapter 18 I Chapter 19I Chapter 20 I Chapter 21 I Chapter 22 I Chapter 23 I Chapter 24 I Chapter 25 I Chapter 26 I Chapter 27 I Chapter 28I Chapter 29 I Chapter 30 I Chapter 31 I Chapter 32 I Chapter 33 I Chapter 34 I Chapter 35 I Chapter 36 I Chapter 37I chapter 38 I Chapter 39 I Chapter 40 I Chapter 41 I Chapter 42 I Chapter 43 I Chapter 44 I Chapter 45 I Chapter 46I Chapter 47 I Chapter 48 I Chapter 49 I Chapter 50 I Chapter 51 I Chapter 52 I Chapter 53 I Chapter 54 I Chapter 55 I Chapter 56 I Chapter 57 I Chapter 58 I Chapter 59 I Chapter 60I Chapter 61 I Chapter 62 I Chapter 63 I Chapter 64 I Chapter 65 I Chapter 66 I Chapter 67 I Chapter 68 I Chapter 69 I Chapter 70 I Chapter 71 I Chapter 72 I Chapter 73 I Chapter 74 I Chapter 75 I Chapter 76 I Chapter 77 I Chapter 78 I Chapter 79

Yes, yes, yes! I know, it's extremely late! But you have to understand that I am going through A HELL LOT right now. I am working on an important qualification here in Berlin, so basically studying, plus working, plus German classes, and my school will force me into a volunteer program soon...so that’s more time out from writing. None the less, it does not mean that I will abandon any projects, just know that it could take some time. I wrote this chapter in three different locations since I was moving a lot these last few months :’D Another reason why it took so long. As always, all I ask for is patience, updates will come, I am determined to finish this, especially when we are so close!

But oh boy...chapter 80...sometimes I never thought this story would get so far...but here it is! Enjoy!

Chapter 80

All Ludwig needed was a simple day of resting and healing. Afterwards, he was heading out of his ward, tall, strong, fixing his hair and buttoning his jacket as the regular business of the day. Feliciano hadn’t stopped crying, constantly asking those around to remind him again that he was indeed…alive. He waited before the room, ready for the embrace that came, tight and loving as the one they had shared before the castle when Ludwig turned back. They would have stayed in this bliss forever, if it wasn’t for an annoyed cough and the applaud and giddiness of a child. Yet in their sway, they turned to spot Lovino, who shone with a gracious smile despite, the very one Augustino alighted the hall with as he was held at the hip.

“Reminder that there is still another 900 meter tall monster rampaging across Spades, soon to make entrance into Diamonds and well…we should be doing something about that.” He spoke the words with such normality as if he was talking about what he had for breakfast that morning.

“Where are we to meet?”

“The usual place, doofuses,” rolling his eyes and moving away. Augustino waved and the couple smiled at him as promise that they would follow.

They departed, but keeping yet a hold of their hands as they now met a hurried pace with the rest of those who quickened in the halls with the continuing business.

“All right, were back at this. What has happened?” Ludwig asked with the serious intent he wanted to stay dedicated to despite where he just came from.

Truly like he had never been gone.

Feliciano couldn’t help the sudden smile, the tightening of his hold, before he had to breathe it all out and bring forward the seriousness this matter still meant. “The Club kingdom is utterly destroyed, as well as much of the Southern Hearts and Spades kingdom. Khaos took the west to the Spades kingdom, while Destro went on to the east to the Hearts kingdom.” Feliciano was determined to keep this entity separate from Ludwig. “Many of the refugees are here in Hearts under our protection or in Diamonds under their crown.”

“What are we to do about the lost territories?”

“I have a plan that I prefer to discuss in the meeting with everybody.”

“Where is Khaos now and what is he doing?”

“The last messengers arrived this morning saying that Alfred is preparing himself to defend his capital. Arthur and Yao might leave to join depending on what we decide to do now.”

“And what are we deciding now?” Ludwig asked just as they arrived before the current meeting room.

“They’re waiting on us for that,” Feliciano said just as he pushed upon the doors to make their entrance. And to Ludwig’s big wonder, they all stood with brightening smile like stars, glimmering more with whistles and applauses, many with grins that Feliciano hadn’t seen in a while. Ludwig blushed and held ever tighter to Feliciano, showing a prideful smile that told Feliciano enough about how he was there and how it made him more than joyful.

“Enough of this! We have to act immediately!” Louis shouted, forcing guards to push the King and Queen in and slam the doors behind them, a sort of alarm that brought them back to the stage of it all.

“I’ll be honest…I never thought I would one day say this, but, Ludwig, Feliciano, we move at your command. What do we do?” Roderich stood, ready and surely with calls to initialize the use of his power.

Many in the room already adorned armors and shined with weapons, ready to head out that instant to act on a battle they believed now was truly for victory. And Feliciano thought it perfect and with a shared glance to Ludwig, he knew it was the same sentiment.

Feliciano took a deep breath, taking and leaving his hold with Ludwig’s hand to place them on the table, the simple gesture commanding and confident. Ludwig was rather startled at seeing it, but he was more than content, letting his husband take it all as he wished, trusting and knowing that all the power was in his hands.

“We are taking everything back. Elizabeta, Arthur, Lili!” All three turned simultaneously. “You are heading back to your kingdoms and you are going to restore everything.”

“Excuse me?” Elizabeta questioned, almost insulted.

“I don’t think you’ve read the recent reports, but they’re poisoned lands with nothing we can do to change it,” Arthur cleared with hurt.

“But we can change it!” Feliciano determined, a height in his voice that seemed like it had echoed all across the castle. He stood up yet again, starting simply with a breath, a meet in his magic to reach, to call. He glowed with marks, powerful and all felt inclined to bow. Yet they didn’t, frozen by the wonder.

Feliciano didn’t begin to glow in red, to their surprise, he glowed in green, completely taking him until a different voice called from his mouth. “Elizabeta Héderváry and Roderich Edelstein.” Potent and god-like. Both the Queen and Jack trembled at such a force. “My chosen. Come forward and you shall receive my blessing.”

This was not Feliciano…and Elizabeta and Roderich shook as they moved forward. Despite, they felt a great presence in this being, a refresh in their body that alighted and cleaned them of all kind of turmoil that had inhabited them for months. The closer they came, the more at ease they felt, with bravery to stand straight and unafraid before whoever currently took Feliciano’s body. Feliciano raised his palms to them, Roderich and Elizabeta knew by instinct to show their own palms, feeling a spike in their magic unlike anything. Not even the magic they felt in their crowning ceremony felt like this.

They were given a new source of energy, an unthinkable power that was not at all of their world…but had created it. It was then that the voice seemed to introduce itself with the power, making clear its name as all was left in their hands. With it, they were given knowledge of its use, like it had been a part of them from always.

When Feliciano moved back, they exhaled, at peace, smiling, the couple exchanging glances with enough understanding that was ready to act that instant. They gazed back to any Clubian soldiers in the room, and with a silent command, the soldiers knew to mobilize, all the Clubians in the room marching off, leaving the other inhabitants of the meeting lost and perplexed.

Feliciano reverted back to normal, lights dimming and standing with only his usual childish smile like he had been exchanging some innocent secret of youth. Ludwig still did not understand what was going on, but joined in that smile, still believing and trusting. But quickly he alighted again, this time in blue, a new voice, this of a woman, a call to Arthur and Yao that had them following as they had seen the Clubian royals. And there, as they went through their own exchange, did they understand their mission, the plan and how the future looked brighter. Like Roderich and Elizabeta, they nodded with a glance and all the Spadians left. Lili and Vash took their same responsibility as Feliciano alighted in yellow, taking their action like the rest with a simple leave.

Those who were left in the meeting room were yet dumbfounded.

“Uh…excuse me, but…what do we do?” Kiku brought to question.

“The same as everyone else. First, we heal our kingdoms, we rid of the poison, we bring our people back to their homes and to their normal lives, to their crops, their art, their families, their everyday lives that kept peace. We gather our surviving soldiers and at my command, we head and face Khaos.”

Simple, straightforward and leaving everyone without a dare to question further.

“Amore…how exactly do we do that?” Renata still found it unthinkable, to bring back their lands as they were before.

“Don’t worry. Remember, I have the hand of creation…also Nonna is going to help us,” with a comforting smile that twisted then to a powerful grin, with a sway and jump that was just…not Feliciano. His eyes turned to a crimson red, the purest form of their kingdom color, presenting clear who it was that spoke now.

“Nice to see you back, Ludwig dearie.” A woman’s voice, with a care that was familiar and belonging. Ludwig bowed, knowing who he was addressing and knowing well to show his respects. But she was gone in just the same twist, having Feliciano back to lead.

“Follow me, we act now.”

They were all out of the room that instant.

As commanded, they all took their trip to the poisoned lands of their respective kingdom. All had blackened, anything that once stood grounded down to the floor in a stench that wanted to rip at the pristine silks and metals of the royals’ dresses. Ellizabeta walked these lands with a head held up high, as if it was the garden it had been before. She was barefooted…but they shined in protection, everything under not giving her a cut or a bruise. The soldiers behind her were aghast, yet they dared to follow behind in wonder, their own armors shinning beautifully under whatever shine Elizabeta and Roderich gave them.

Elizabeta stopped to breathe it all…and she smiled, peace in her expression even as they stood before the most deteriorated her kingdom had been. To make things more confusing to the soldiers, Roderich took her side with the same ease, grasping her hand and smiling at her with bright confidence. They both gazed forward, closing their eyes and they began to glow in a rare transparency of colors, not green as they had expected.

Something expulsed from them as they breathed, the light around them spread, slow, gentile, but living and rapid. The soldiers grew in wonder as they saw that ground that the light reflected began to rumble with life, purifying the dirt and letting actual brown healthy earth appear. Such mundanity made some of them already laugh. But the excitement did not stop there , for in that earth, little sprouts of green, with small leaves, began to grow in an impressive rapidness, coating more and more until the land under them was as green as it was before.

To the soldiers, who had thought all their land lost without a way of returning, it was worth of celebration, some shouting, whistling or jumping. It was the perseverance that made Elizabeta and Roderich’s smiles grow wider. They shared a wink, which already made an agree, and so they breathed in much more, letting that light grow and grow, more of their nation green appearing in their land, bringing with them trees, stone…perhaps a twist of new that Roderich and Elizabeta created from their inner creativity.

A new flower, a new route, a new curve to old streams.

In Diamonds, Lili stood at the long shores of her kingdom. The sea had darkened, coating the shores in its misery, away from the beautiful golden it had kept for so long. Sure, her kingdom had not been destroyed as the others, but the royals knew well to fix and protect what they could.

She had been instructed…by Jabbar…Ace of Diamonds. She felt him still in the power that flowed in her blood, still teaching and lecturing every move, how each point of energy was supposed to be flowed and how to release it all to the image he made in her mind. Yes…she would create it, she would call for it.

She wrapped her arms around herself, with her breath, the winds around her became stronger, the waves began to pulse along with her heart and she opened her eyes. Like a breath, she could control how they moved, how they shone, beginning to give them back, slowly, their natural blue.

In Spades, Yao could finally get the ground to still, to stop the shakes it had taken, letting the crumble finally halt. Arthur stopped the storms, for the first time bringing this part of the kingdom the natural light of sun.

It was done simple, as easily as a snap or a step.

Arthur and Yao had put their hands upon the ground and in their spread, they brought back the deep blues of the tiles that had been there. One by one they came back, growing just like the dirt, the flowers and grass that laid between them, up to the trees, the houses that had been there, even whole mountains began to wake back to color. Yao intensified that spread, wanting to cover the whole valley. Arthur aided him, adding to the push that could extend to all the crevices, to every single wall, well and plaza that had made it once splendor.

None of the royals could only keep it to their place. They had to move, spread, fly in the process if they had to. Elizabeta swinging through thicket of vines, with each pull bringing back ancient large trees that covered well beneath them in green life. Lili skipped by the shores as she brought back its gold, adding shells and shine that made it all the more pristine. Arthur enjoyed shooting from the tall perks of mountains, running it all like an orchestra under his command. Feliciano, created music, he brought all the canvases he had ever made to life with the brush of his hand, mind and even his dancing steps as it stabled the ground, bringing back their famous pillars, architecture, sun kissed homes, their vines, their abundance of fruit and the colors that made Feliciano’s smile grow the more in its everlasting sunshine.

It was starting to look just like home again.

Ivan at one point had shed tears of relief, kneeling down to the ground to embrace the ground, with the greens he had never known he would have missed so much. Francis could now intensify the kingdom’s defense, a beautiful diamond wall shinning well, keeping the peace and life behind him. He let himself tower tall, like he himself was a shield that would be impenetrable to whatever Khaos would throw. Khaos wouldn’t stand a chance anymore, Francis smirked to himself. Alfred, atop one of the kingdom army dragons, actually cried as he began to lead people back to their homes. Many shouted in celebration, but others still paced with panic, those especially that currently still ran away from the threat of Khaos still in their lands, but now they actually seek refuge in their own kingdom, by a powerful king, queen and jack that healed their home with surely the help of Aces. It was just a miracle how the power, the control, seemed to move the very ground to their bidding.

Many families returned to their homes to find it standing just the way they had left it. Many wept, finding it hard to believe that everything was there…back.

And Ludwig, Ludwig rode on confidently on the back of a St. Mark, staring up to his husband, his beautiful, cheerful and powerful, daring, incredible husband, as he himself called upon vines and trees to arise from the ground, taller or just in their same glory with nothing to make different.

Finally, finally, Feliciano had let the harp free, letting it take its large length, only to play, from the melody, whole new colors coming, bringing back a symphony of red that all sang along with. The air arose with freshness that all wanted to doze with, lay in its rest, confident that they would be safe. Feliciano heard as laughter, cheers, celebration, joined this new music he made, and he would smile down to Ludwig, glad for the shine in his blue eyes and just the hope and restoration in the views between them.

Now this…was a world they could proudly show their children one day.

But as the royals of the four kingdoms completed their healing, they met at a point where the darkness was at its strongest, where a fury continued to rage and roars still echoed across all their near distances.

Khaos was still alive, still destroying, and they had all met where it was time to face him…and end him.

They had taken camp, proudly the flags and shields of all four kingdoms shinning together in the small rotunda where they all watched as he ravaged on in his inferno. All the soldiers that were in charge of holding him for now had been evacuated, only a powerful shield, with the help of all four kings, over Khaos’s sky as he slashed and scream without a single consciousness of intelligence. They wondered if he had seen how they led the remaining soldiers away, if he knew how powerful they were, how they have healed the world behind him, that Ludwig was back and Feliciano possessed the power of the alignment along with so much more.

His immense figure didn’t seem so powerful anymore. Kiku raised his hands and could squash him between the pinching of his fingers.

As if it was as simple as that, Feliciano couldn’t help the chuckle.

“What’s our strategy now?” Elizabeta asked with serious intent, a large and heavy sword in her hands that was utterly eager to begin cuts and slashes.

Feliciano sighed, in that deep breath bringing with him seriousness, shinning so much more mature than any had expected. There was a new amber in his eyes that made him so much older and braver, almost exactly like the images they had been taught to believe of Romulus.

“We take each a direction, you know what you have that is powerful, use it, at all the forces you can call on, weakling him, acting before any throw he can give. Now, whatever he attacks us with, is nothing.”

Another screech that had them all turning, yet they listened on. For once, with Khaos acting his vengeance behind them, they were not afraid.

“Diamonds, North, Spades, West, Clubs, South and Hearts, East. You have already been granted protection from the alignment power I will use. Do not be weary of it. No matter what happens, I won’t let anything happen to any of you.” Sure and a decree that was high. Feliciano didn’t have to say it for the rest to already know it.

Pookie, who had taken his large form, stood ready by Feliciano, with a stance that instantly reminded Feliciano on the grand images they made of his great grandparents riding these very creatures. He petted him lovingly, trying to see, to believe that he could make his own images worthy of being painted on the ceiling of churches.

“So…do we just start?” Vash was suddenly hesitant, after that show of strength, he started to shake.

“Scared?” Roderich teased even as he himself began to tremble, all slowly noticing it as well.

“I thought we were done with that,” Yao scolded.

“I’ve seen everything fail, everything crash down right before we believed, we had hoped and thought we could make a change… what if this is but another of that?” Vash went on.

The silence he brought made all explore these very words, a falling to them away from the power of gods they currently possessed.

“I…I fear the same things,” Ivan…the tallest and biggest of all, the one who they had though would smile his vengeance as he bloodied Khaos…trembled and kept a heavy grip on his staff.

“We haven’t even begun,” Ludwig tried to make them realize.

“The most important battle is yet to take place,” Lili joined her cousin.

“What will make this one stand out?” Alfred wondered.

“It will be the last,” Francis assured.

“I’m tired of having lasts,” Arthur complained.

“Francis is right though,” Feliciano interrupted, mighty and high to get them all to stop, to leave a silence to listen. “It will be the last…” he was sure this time, taking steps forward, all parting to give him a space they felt was too heavenly to touch. “Hear me…” he called out…not just to the royals, but all, absolutely all that were there. “…Hear me…hear me all this very instant!” He commanded with a piercing anger that left some trembling by Feliciano instead. “It is not only Kings, Queens and Jacks that stand here today! Look behind you!” He spread his arms to the still surving armies under them. “You have the entire might of all four kingdoms here! And do you want them to see this…scared and disgraceful leaders with nothing but the armors they created? No!” Shouted like he had been insulted. “No! They see what all our kingdoms represent. Power, Wisdom, Trust…and love…” Feliciano took this opportunity to gaze to all, their attention well taken, the words being well planted. “They will see what these very stances give, power granted and given by the Aces! They will see us fight, they will see us bring Khaos to his knees and then for sure our world will see that we are not a force to be fooled with!” Feliciano saw as the ground seemed to be raised under them, just with the strong belief in their eyes, standing tall to surely meet the fiery eyes of Khaos.

“The Aces have chosen us…we are the ones destined to make this battle, to make this war…and here, as it will be written about us…will we end this all.” With intent to kill, to finish. There was now no more space to doubt, to hold it, they all stood ready for that very finish. “My Clubians…My Spadians…My Diamonds…My Heartians…remember…we do this for glory.”

A sudden shrill, and yet no one flinched.

Some raised their weapons high.

“For honor,” Ludwig was relaxed, but just as potent as his husband.

“For riches!” Abasi shouted high somewhere in the crowd, getting many to join in his shout.

“For the gods!” Antonio bellowed from the perch of his animal, with him hundreds to join in flight.

“Yes…this…this is it,” Francis raised, along with the magnitude of this crowd that made him feel like the earth of the entire world was to trample over their foe now.

“The Aces are here! They are at our side!” Roderich knew as he joined in the array around him.

“For Clubs!” All the greens shouted as they made their movement to take their south, their colors and flags high.

“For Spades!” Arthur and Yao led to their west.

“Let’s bring this motherfucker down!” Alfred just had to add as he joined the flight with the dragons of their infantry.

“For Diamonds!” Lili, raising a hand full of bright and dangerous magic. To the surprise of many, she was the one that gave that loud shout that pushed the forces of her kingdom to the north.

Ludwig, Feliciano and Kiku stood yet, wondered like children over all the action that decorated even the skies. Khaos’s darkness was nothing compared to the festiveness of their colors as it began to tear about the void. Even so small, the Heartian royals felt taller than everything.

“For Hearts?” Kiku raised magic, Ludwig raised his sword, looking both to Feliciano for his own decree.

Feliciano breathed in and when his breath escaped, he turned with glowing marks, a golden halo coronated him, wings released, eyes a deep red, power beginning to ooze from him, and his two companions smiled as if they had always knew this as him.

“For Hearts!” And he raised the harp, growing large to the desired length and comfort of a bow, Pookie leaning ready for his seating and thus Feliciano took that perch, motioning for Kiku and Ludwig to join him as well. To Pookie, especially in this form, their weigh was nothing. He just as easily sprinted high, to join the rest of the force that created the population of both the earth and sky.

Feliciano lead them in their direction to the east, coming close to Khaos, who stood in his place surely wondering over all these pests that suddenly came, surrounding him well.

“Kiku…” Feliciano reminded and the jack of Hearts knew. He bowed in promise and suddenly took a jump out of the flying lion, landing elegantly on the perch of a red glass he created. He extended his arms full of magic, raining it down in a cleansing shower that began to deteriorate the swinging arms and pillars of darkness. Many Heartians came to his aid in intensifying it.

In each direction, the Jacks did the same, riding much of these dangerous arms that could make this more difficult. Before, just riding of one was a feat that had already killed many of their people. But now…many were rid in easy seconds, people glowing in happiness as there direction was clearer. Those in the ground could run or gallop on their animals free and without a single threat above them. Now, as these dark ribbons weakened, it was much easier to rid with the ease of their weapons or even their fists.

“Ludwig…” Feliciano called his husband’s attention back, who had been starring at their already beginning success proud.

Despite the wings, the halo, this new glow of marks, ethereal in gold truly like the grace of an Ace, Ludwig looked on to him like his adoring Feliciano, the friend he had since childhood and now his husband who was expectant to bring their first pair of children.

Ludwig nodded, although hesitant as he gathered slight bits of darkness from his power. It was the one thing that had ruined all, but Feliciano had gathered information from the eternal reserve that could help. Now, Ludwig was to test it for the first time. They had no time and place to practice. Yet Feliciano believed and Ludwig…didn’t feel it control him, overtake him. It was his free to do as he pleased. Yes…he could do this. He smiled and made his preparation to do his own jump, but not before leaning towards Feliciano and the Queen of Hearts let himself a freeing of his hands to take Ludwig to his embrace. Their lips came for one deep kiss, one magical and igniting. Ludwig felt himself lift from it, a power that helped him fall and take just the right aim even as he fell midair. He had it locked, just as the other King and Queens did their own. In a powerful slash, all their attacks met and crashed upon the shield that Khaos had been using the entire war. They had never known he had one, but now it was no matter, for they easily took it down. Khaos surely felt it for he stilled and looked upon himself as if he had been exposed. He was, clear, and already Feliciano knew the aim and where he needed to land it.

“Take me there,” he told Pookie, and the St. Mark nodded and hurried in his flight, a swirl all around the great beast that granted Feliciano the best view to watch all the horror. He smiled to know how much less darkness there was, spotting the natural blues and greens underneath that was beauty of Spades. Suddenly he felt a burning, intense even with his own Ace protection. In his distraction, he hadn’t noticed how Khaos came right to his presence, his monstrous eyes and mouth a pool that with ease he could fall into. Feliciano wouldn’t dare, and at Khaos’s sudden roar, he didn’t even flinch, he only sent him his own wrath with his stare, before pulling on Pookie’s large mane and flying them away from the throws Khaos tried to swing at Feliciano. He made his slides, with the help of the wind he called, Pookie’s speed and just how small they were, easy to find crevices to make their escape.

As Feliciano reached a good top with a good position, he raised his arms high, his fingertips glowing in light, in power that called and brought from all around as it met and Feliciano let it all rain at Khaos. He screeched horribly in pain, meteors and stars coming continuous. Khaos tried to smash some away, some successful in being thrown at Feliciano’s direction, but Pookie and him, went under or around them well.

That’s when Feliciano began to worry over his St. Mark, already parts of his fur burning from the attacks. “Pookie, let me deal with this now,” he told him and of course the animal refused. Feliciano sighed, expecting this kind of loyalty, but then it gave him an idea, knowing he could trust it. “Go get Ludwig! Bring him to me!” Pookie understood and flew in that direction, Feliciano letting himself fall in a backward flip, a graceful one that let him play momentarily with the wind, the float, the freedom, before his wings caught them and lifted him up. He copied what he had seen Pookie do, the action coming easy, naturally like it had always been a part of him. He couldn’t help his grin as he went forward with his route, charging something powerful in his hands, growing in an intricate and beautiful symbol that alighted with him well. Khaos saw it that instant and went quick for his aim. He bounced against it, the symbol Feliciano made growing at just his size, with a sharpness and cling that resonated across the whole land. His immense figure fell, and the soldiers underneath feared the worst, but Feliciano spread a shield above them, quick as he made his flight. He had to be quicker as Khaos tried to stand again, not caring over the people he would step on as he raised.

Feliciano continued with the lightning shields, intricate and beautiful, but this time Khaos was strong enough to stand against each shock, despite his roars of pain, intensifying as surely the stings got stronger. Feliciano abandoned the shield tactic and began to swing them as disks. Sometimes they were excellent and worked well to burn and tear apart at the target, other times, Khaos still swung on and Feliciano had to tactically avoid, under, over, breathing heavily as he quickened and forced to deal with the speed. For the first time, he took the harp, he prepared four arrows from the gold of his magic, powerful and with ease. He aimed and fired, the piercing one of deep lightning that alighted the sky like part of a storm. Some soldiers had to be moved away for caution as Feliciano intensified, as he kicked on with earthquakes in his force, fired arrows that made this storm bigger, called wind, power and light that exploded in burns that some couldn’t even look at, having to ground and stop whatever they have been doing.

To their success, more of Khaos broke, with crumbles and pieces literally falling, revealing a weak white that some could easily use to bring more damage.

Khaos was heaving, leaning, having to hold to the ground to give himself some stability.

“He’s weakening!” Gilbert shouted, his tone and call one that could extend across the plain, some celebrating to it, but it made Khaos huff, a smoke coming out that poisoned once again. He used it to give him leverage, having to heave more and more until his weakening figure could hide in its grey. Feliciano was succumbed under it as well, but with his power, it was nothing. It didn’t sicken him or blinded him, but he couldn’t see all that well in this dusk. He could still keep his flight as he tried to strengthen his vision.

“Feliciano!” Came the call of his husband, his armor teared, cuts and his hair a mess, but to Feliciano he shined beautifully and with perfection. He dared to stand on Pookie as the St. Mark brought them close together. Ludwig showed hurry and preparation, a leaning towards him that didn’t care over the precipice under him.

“What do I have to do?” He already offered and Feliciano knew that whatever it was, he would fulfill instantaneous.

“I need you with me.” He offered his hands and Ludwig took them and let himself fall into his float, hold and security of staying midair in the midst of this blinding smoke.

Pookie followed behind as Feliciano rushed them trying to find any sign of the main body. “The blackness works like another shield. It also must be what helps him to get power. All we have to do now is finish getting rid of it and not give him the chance to regenerate. Once it’s crumbled, I can give a finishing blow that will end it all.”

They had a clear ending spoken, possible and sure. Ludwig nodded between all, finding no hardness even as the monster moved and awakened again, roaring and trying to swing at them between the now dimming smoke.

“Any ideas as to how exactly were going to do that?”

“With your help. With the dark magic inside you.”

Ludwig sighed but found it indeed the best idea.

“We have to get close.”

“All for you, liebe.” And there was no fear as they plunged closer, enough that they could touch or even walk upon, for it was slowly losing its burn and hurt. Feliciano had to let Ludwig go, using force and power to run across the body while Feliciano continued his flight, sending slashes, ribbons and symbols intense enough to crack. Ludwig gripped hard upon the body, identifying, taking and putting himself into the magic to disrupt, to break apart with ease. Khaos, noticing Ludwig’s presence, tried to once again tame him, spreading through his veins in darkness, but Ludwig learned well to fight against it, using his exercises from childhood to push back, ever stronger, with burn and shocking pain that had Khaos reverting back, disgusted and without any intention to try again. Ludwig smiled to himself when he noticed, finding himself the winner in this specific battle. His grin only grew larger when no matter how he dug, how he broke apart pieces of black with mere force, Khaos did nothing, only dealt with whatever state this caused as his main target became Feliciano.

As Ludwig plunged his own darkness into Khaos, even at the top reaches Feliciano flew upon, he could feel his magic working, tapping, using it and adding it to his own purpose. He enlarged the harp and placed one of its ends against the body. He changed it to the fierceness of a knife and let it carve aggravatingly as he flew on. Khaos roared and swung his arms and his whole body to try and rid of him as if he was a mere fly. Whatever reaches, Feliciano managed, even as he continued to move the harp across, cracking and disturbing. He would swing back with whatever part of him wasn’t focusing on flight or holding to the harp, with splashes like waves that extended across the valley in a beautiful gold that reigned to the rest of the soldiers in a wonderment that somehow took away horror from this. Or other times, in a large impress from the tiny figure Feliciano still presented himself as, he would punch with power, a force that shook the earth and pushed Khaos away in a tremble that some thought would blow up the monster finally. To their dismay, Khaos yet continued, if even slowed, if even as this cracking began to reach him all, breaking him and not seeming as intimidating as he had been the entire war.

As Feliciano tried to finish a last carving spin around the back of his neck, in his focus, he didn’t notice how Khaos shook, how he reached and swatted him away like an insect. He broke from his flight, falling down and landing harshly on the ground in a bang that made some think it had been a meteor.

“Feliciano!” Ludwig called from the standing he still took on Khaos, stopping his own work to make sure that his husband had survived.

Of course he did, only groaning as he tried to find his own sitting once again.

Once the dust settled and Ludwig could spot him, he sighed in relief, just in the distraction Khaos needed at him to plunge, Ludwig tripping not being able to keep his footing, falling but luckily taking a grasp that kept him hanging. Khaos continued his roars and swings hoping to have him, yet Ludwig always managed a holding that kept him still attached. He refused to let himself fall, not when they were so close…so close to finally ending it all. To make it work, he had to keep his place on Khaos’s body.

Feliciano felt his husbands’ distress, even as he arranged himself, bones, even the ones in the wings he currently possessed, cracking fearsome, symbols on his skin changing, working to get him back to the powerful Ace outlook. Quick he managed to stand, to stretch and roll until he was standing as proud and even menacing. He could feel his love in danger, lightening up a fury that charged within him, angering, angering and angering until he released it in a powerful swing of fire, grabbing, taking all of Khaos and slamming him hard against the ground in a thrust that shook the entire valley. All his people that fought had to lay down in reverence.

They had done their purpose…now it was Feliciano’s turn to make the last front.

Dark shards spread across, more white was seen, Khaos was finding it ever harder to stand, to make again his shield of darkness. In whatever attempt he could still manage, he tried to take Ludwig in his clutches. He thought he could threaten, he thought he could still have an upper hand by putting him at risk, but Feliciano didn’t let him, and neither did Ludwig as he bit, as he released and continued on with his own attack, leaving Khaos, even in his immense form, helpless.

Feliciano ran or sometimes flew as the obstacles came, all across the expanse, like a field all for himself to enjoy from and play in. He could already imagine taking this very field free from evil, beautiful Spadian flowers spreading, safe enough for even children to play. Feliciano was reminded of his own childhood with Ludwig doing the same things on the sunny hills of Italy that he had lived. He could imagine their own children laughing and running as they themselves had once.

For them, for that future, he practically shouted to himself as he continued his shredding all across the body, with ease avoiding fumes of darkness or whatever minuscule attack Khaos tried to send on him.

It was becoming less and less as Ludwig dealt with cutting off the parts that created attacks. Khaos couldn’t stand any longer, he could only manage a sitting by the time Feliciano reached the back of his neck. He didn’t even notice he was there. It was enough for Feliciano to take his harp and finish the last of the carving.

It was time.

Khaos swung at him weakly, Feliciano could avoid it with ease. All of the darkness in his body began to fall, more white appearing to the point that one could confuse him as a symbol of Pisa instead.

“Everyone move away!” He had called with Ace potency in his tone, all shaking as they obeyed, other royals mobilizing a quick escape from the area. Yet of all, Kiku was the only who stayed in his place, his gaze locked up on his Queen despite how he stood by the immensity of Khaos’s fallen hip. He could easily be caught in any wail Khaos tried, yet Kiku found it unfair to run away, especially when his King and Queen were still in this fray. He didn’t follow the crowds, he went the opposite direction, trying to meet Ludwig or Feliciano.

“Kiku! Kiku!” He heard Abasi shout after him, but he didn’t answer, in opposite, he moved faster. He began to reach places that had been emptied, or untouched because they were the most dangerous areas that were left for Feliciano to deal with, and he could tell, as he cough and began to feel stings even with the shields Feliciano had placed on them.

“Ludwig…Feliciano! Ludwig! Feliciano!” He called hoping to reach them. No one…everything was empty and desolate even with Khaos roaring and shaking still. He leaned in failure, in loneliness, thinking that everything will end like this for him in a desperate reach to be with his friends in this moment of need.

Something was coming near, warm, friendly, already a smile he could feel on his back. “Kiku!” Came that excitement that he knew well from his Queen. He smiled and fell into Feliciano’s arms as he swept him off with his speed and flight across the immensity. Despite how the marks glowed on his skin like rubies, the impotent halo, the red wine in his eyes and the great wings…Kiku saw Feliciano true, as any other day in the castle before everything.

“Feliciano, listen, I will not be moving away with the rest. You have to let me help you, and I won’t take any-”

“Ah, good! I actually need you right now.”

Kiku held himself for a moment in embarrassment. “What is it?” He instead went straight to his duty.

“First, we have to pick up Ludwig.” And finally his figure appeared in the distance, a debonair smile as he raised his hand in knowing, no fear at all despite actually standing on Khaos. Feliciano caught him just as some dimming darkness bubbled and exploded in their leave. The remains blended into white with the rest of the ruin Khaos was becoming.

Feliciano, with simple ease, carried both his King and Jack over the last of the terrain, using the ending elevation to raise him up and start escalating high in the air.

“This is it. I’ll be aiming him with the largest power in my possession. It’s one Augusta told me about, using the harp.” He suddenly stopped as he avoided a throw of darkness that Khaos tried to make.

As they continued, he was forced into a sweep that was not the best to be carrying Ludwig and Kiku in. He whistled and in no time came Pookie, offering a stead that Feliciano placed them all in perfect accord. The winged lion didn’t mind at all, he actually purred at knowing the aid he gave, continuing the heights Feliciano intended while successfully avoiding whatever Khaos managed in his last attempts.

“Then…it will finally be over?” Ludwig desperately hoped.

“Not quite. Khaos still possesses something important and we have to take it away before we destroy him.”

Kiku and Ludwig didn’t bother to question what. They just nodded and trusted whatever Feliciano planned. There was no time to hesitate or change especially when they were upon the final horizon.

Feliciano, to be ready, began a calling, a raise of magic from all across the globe, meeting upon him to create wonderful pillars of light, far, large, slowly encaging the area for what his Ace power planned.

“With me, you have to aim, and with me you have to fire a serene Teresa.”

It was a high protective spell to act against large threats. It was mostly used by guards or sorcerers that worked with fire or other sudden emergencies, to protect those they found in wreckages or trying to get out people that were stuck while fires, earthquakes or tsunamis rampaged. Simple, yet with the force they now had, it would be a shield perfect to protect exactly what Feliciano needed. Ludwig and Kiku already began to thread the spell in their palms as Feliciano made Pookie take a pause…finding just the right place. They turned to Khaos’s direction, and despite how he was weakening, his being was still an inferno that they felt coming close to burn them completely.

They weren’t bothered.

Ludwig and Kiku already took their aim as they gathered the magic needed, Ludwig including even some dark magic that could be of great use. Feliciano finally let his harp extend in size, just as these far off pillars shined more, moving at the raise of his arms like giant arrows that worked alone in their own bows of air. Their citizens trembled at their immensity, scared if they would even get out of this attack, if the shields Feliciano had placed on them would work. This seemed too large for them to even witness. And then they lowered, setting their target, the harp burning along with the formation that Feliciano created, his being glowing more in its fire and with his own gold. A gorgeous deep red arrow was formed, engraved with vines of gold that seemed to breathe to Ludwig and Kiku. They almost lost their focus because of it.

It was ready, the aim was set, just as Khaos erupted and tried to reach, tried to swat away Feliciano in his very last attempt. Feliciano only smiled, an intense glow in his eyes as he let go and fired, the arrow, along with the large ones all around him, aiming true at a center that obliterated, blew and exploded. Ludwig and Kiku joined in their own attack, embracing a center where surely laid what Feliciano wanted protected. Although their citizens were blinded in this immense show of power and light, the three Heartian royals saw as clearly as if they were in the purest of waters. Feliciano swam them through it with ease, using his power to protect them as they traversed this fire. His wings grew as extra shield, the gems and marks on his body glowing more to let them survive.

“Is he gone? Is he really gone?” Kiku had to question in the mist.

“Wait…” Feliciano told just as a shrill went throughout, chilling and horrifying, Ludwig and Kiku had to cover their ears from it and only Feliciano went through with it, having to maintain their safe within. He let his arms dance in a particular way that called creation, bringing to him any darkness and purifying it in gold and colors, flying off like petals to join the flourishing of this new field.

He continued this cleanse as he made Pookie ride them throughout, a downward glide that to Ludwig and Kiku seemed like hours. The closer they reached the ground, the more it cleared around them, the more natural blue sky they saw, the more they could breathe, their smile grew and they were confident that no harm as Khaos would ever come again.

Pookie landed on the ground, Ludwig and Kiku taking their descend with ease, walking now in the start of green grass, the dirt there with only but specks of darkness. Feliciano followed afterwards, still calling with him the remnants, spread across above them in damaged strings that they could think were just strange dark clouds. Feliciano called them all to him, piece by piece making each part disappear in glowing wind, the shrills getting lower and lower until they were only but a squeak in the palm of Feliciano’s hands.

Now, as everything around them cleared to the usual rushes of this field, the last bits of darkness were but the ones that swam around the small call, the small wave Feliciano kept of a single hand. Whatever last shout Khaos tried to make, it came out like a child’s cry. He tried to whip, but even if it did reach skin, it did nothing, not even redden or create the slightest cut. Ludwig and Kiku stared on stupefied, finding it hard to believe that what was left of Khaos was just these tiny specks that Feliciano kept twirling around.

“And…” a turn down, “…you are…” up, another spin, only but dust left… “…gone.”

And there was no more darkness, everything disappeared entirely. Now surrounding them was the natural blow of wind, cleaning the field and bringing the aroma of flowers that was meant.

It was silent, it was peaceful, Feliciano smiled in welcome to this new era, proper with this new sun that came.

Khaos was gone. It was over…it was finally over.

________________________________________________________

Only two more chapters to go ;)

#Feliciano and the King of Hearts #FATKOH #f&tkoh #gerita #gerita fanfiction #gerita fanfic #gerita fic

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spaceorphan18 · 4 years ago

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Blaine Solos Ranked

With the success of the Kurt Solos Ranked, I thought I’d see if I could do Blaine’s as well. Which has become an interesting and complicated endeavor.

First of all - there’s the whole issue of what constitutes as a solo -- especially when he often times has an entire back up group singing along with him. Things like the Warbler numbers I counted -- because he sings the lead in the song by himself. Not counted are group numbers where he is featured - such as Hey Jude and This Is the New Year. Mostly, I stuck to what Glee Wiki counts as a solo, so if you have issues, take it up with them.

Secondly, when ranking Kurt solos, I took a lot into account of how heavily the song ties Kurt’s story. While nearly all of Kurt’s solos tie in with his story, the Blaine solos don’t always do so. So, mostly this is just what I think of them.

Thirdly, the Blaine fans that I have met are, well, fairly passionate about his music, so I want to say this. There aren’t really any bad Blaine solos. Unlike Will and Tina, who were subjected to poor song choices, Blaine’s performances, across the board, are pretty stellar. So, I’d like to remind everyone that this list is pretty arbitrary and based on my subjective biases.

So going in - take the list as it is, just a fun look at how one person ranks the solos. :)

Btw - the trivia on Glee wiki says that Blaine sings 31 solos, but I only found 29 -- do they mean the two songs added to the Warblers CD? Or am I missing a couple??

29. I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You (Prom Queen)

Look at the list of Blaine solos, and arranging it to a list of things I like more than other things, this just kept sinking down and down. The biggest reason is that I just don’t like the song. Yup, that’s it. Nothing exciting about that really. But I suppose adding to that is the fact that this performance feels way more Darren than it does Blaine, and that the onscreen performance is mostly Finn and Jesse fighting over Rachel. As I said earlier, there’s nothing /bad/ about any of Blaine’s solo, I just like all the rest more.

28. Piano Man (Movin’ Out)

This is a perfectly fine albeit generic rendition of this number. So, here’s my thing about this one - when they did Piano Man in season one, not only did the song fit a bit more into context with Will and Bryan Ryan being somewhat washed up losers, there was a grittiness in not only the song but the visuals as well, and we get to do something that TV can do, which is transport us into the atmosphere of the song. By the time Blaine gets to do this number, all of that context and TV atmosphere has been kind of washed away. And this feels like a number that everyone would have fun singing at Darren’s piano bar because it’s a classic, and less because it has relevance to any of the story.

Look - a lot of these numbers are fun numbers just for the heck of it, but since they had already done this one, and since this is supposed to take place of the NYADA audition, I’m marking it down. You can do a lot with this song, and this performance, mostly, didn’t.

27. Everybody Wants to Rule the World

This is another one where I just am not a fan of the original song, and I don’t go back to listen to it very often. That said - it is super fun to see Blaine joining all the clubs and being super interactive in school, even if it’s tinged with the sadness that he and Kurt aren’t connecting much these days.

26. Bills, Bills, Bills (The Sue Sylvester Shuffle)

This one has grown on me over the years. It is a bit random - the Warblers’ singing an impromptu (and somewhat obligatory) Destiny’s Child song for the Superbowl episode. It has zero story resonance. But it is hilarious to see how much furniture Darren Blaine stands on during the number. If nothing else, the number is fun, and the Warblers look like they’re enjoying the hell out of doing it.

25. When I Get You Alone (Silly Love Songs)

This one, still, is one of the cringiest things they did on the show. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hilariously ridiculous, and Blaine singing to a dude in The Gap about sex toys is just, well, something memorable. It also is getting points for Kurt’s annoyed looks and Darren’s pink sunglasses. But overall, it still makes me uncomfortable to watch.

24. Fighter (Big Brother)

So, mostly, this just isn’t a song I like all that much. Vocally, Blaine sounds fine on it - and does a decent job with it. That said, I can’t take it as seriously as I’m supposed to. There’s something I find unintentionally hilarious about this little, teenage grandpa angsting over his brother. I know it’s got the infamous shower sequence in here - and I get it, I do. But the fact that I can’t keep from giggling through it is why it’s a bit lower than the rest.

23. Against All Odds (Guilty Pleasures)

First of all, I’ve always confused by the debate about this song. It’s clearly for Sam, because Blaine’s an intense guy with intense emotions, and any song he sings for a person he has feelings for is going to be intense. Go back and watch When I Get You Alone -- that was intense for a dude he got coffee with twice. I love Blaine (and Darren) with a piano and his voice, and this is one of the ones that was performed live, so that’s cool. Not my favorite Phil Collins’s number - so that’s mostly the reason for the position here. Also not the most visually engaging. But the song is performed well.

22. Hopelessly Devoted to You (The Role You Were Born to Play)

I’ve never realized just how many angsty Blaine songs he has in his canon. It’s kind of like the equivalent of Kurt crying through his solos. He does it well, and I don’t really have any faults for this one. It’s visually entertaining as well as sounding pretty good. But not a favorite song of mine, and therefore just gets notched a bit lower.

21. Last Friday Night (Pot o Gold)

I actually really like this song, even if I’ve probably heard it enough to be fine with not hearing it again for a long time. The performance is cute - there’s a nice high energy about it (with the exception of Santana’s dower expression during the whole thing because random season 3 conflict). However, this is kind of the height of whole Jukebox Blaine thing, where he’s trotted out to sing the hot new single of the summer, and then we just stash him away in the background to sit next to Kurt platonically until he’s needed again. I like the song and the performance, but am frustrated by the gratuitous context.

20. It's Not Unusual (The Purple Piano Project)

This one is flirty and high energy and Blaine looks super cute dancing on the stairs. I don’t really have any faults for this number. But I’m not particularly emotionally attached to it, either, so so in the middle it goes.

19. Hey, Soul Sister (Special Education)

I unabashedly love this song - even though I feel like I’m not supposed to since it was way, way over played when it was popular. But I do. The performance, however, isn’t the Warblers’ best -- across the board I feel like competition numbers rarely are -- and I’d argue it’s one of Blaine’s weaker vocal performances (sorry Darren), but it’s still fun, and the arrangements for the Warbler songs have always been pretty stellar.

18. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Michael)

While the song itself is a bit strange, and while I’ve never been a huge MJ fan (sorry my dudes), I think this number is a lot of fun. It’s visually pretty entertaining, and I love the second half where they bring in all of the different styles MJ had donned over the years. It’s vocally pretty stagnant, so Blaine doesn’t have to do much here, but it’s about the spectacle anyway - and I enjoy what they did with it.

17. Something’s Coming

It’s always nice to hear Blaine do a Broadway number to give us a break from the mostly pop music he sings. While not Blaine’s strongest number vocally (he struggles just a little more on the Broadway ones), I love that he brings the stage alive when it’s just him singing. He’s incredibly visually engaging, and what he may lack (a little) with the vocals he makes up in energy and enthusiasm, which is always a joy to watch. Plus, there’s something particularly more attractive about early season 3 Blaine (possibly the fluffier, less gelled hair) that adds a nice touch.

16. Not While I'm Around (Bash)

Interestingly, the studio version of this song has everyone on it, and I’m so glad they let Blaine sing it on his own - because I feel it’s much more impactful that way. Not only is this the only real insight we get into Blaine’s head during this episode, but it’s raw and emotional (in a good way), and that adds to story unfolding on our screen. This might be, perhaps, the shortest number on the list, but its impact is stronger than a lot of the other numbers on the list, which is why I enjoy it a lot more.

15. Beauty School Dropout (Glease)

My favorite Broadway number that Blaine does on the show. I kind of love that there’s a lot going on during this song. Not only is Blaine doing an amazing Teen Angel, there’s the moment in the middle Blaine sees Kurt, and the layered look on Blaine’s face as he tries to hold it together is pretty remarkable. It’s one of my favorite acting moments from Darren, and one of my favorite times the story of the characters is layered over a seemingly disconnected performance. Plus, Blaine sounds fantastic on this catchy little number.

14. Silly Love Songs (Silly Love Songs)

This is one of those charming Warbler numbers that doubles as an ending feature that actually gives relevance to the story of the episode. It’s cute and sweet and flirty and fun and everyone gets something interesting to do during it. I don’t have a lot of commentary to add about it - but it’s a classic for a reason, and because of that, it deserves a higher spot on the list.

13. You're My Best Friend (Puppet Master)

I’m not sure I fully understand the casts’ aversion to the puppets (though I’ll acknowledge that it’s probably weird to perform with a puppet of yourself). That said, this number is kinda cool visually, and a nice break from what can be tedious choir room songs at this point in the series. I also enjoy the song and think Blaine sounds nice on it. Plus - Blaine totally has a backup career in children’s programming if he ever desired. It is weird that Blaine’s singing to puppets in the first place, but I do adore this one.

12. Don't Stop Me Now (Diva)

I enjoy that Blaine’s version of being a diva is just adding a leather jacket and pants to a number he performs exactly the same otherwise. Again, not much to comment on here, but I love the song, and Blaine sounds great on it, and while it isn’t hugely impactful to his story, I like that it shows Blaine being the ambitious little go-getter that he is.

11. Misery (Original Song)

This is another one of those songs that I unironically love. It is the most upbeat song about being miserable that I’ve ever heard, and while a lot of this song has to do with Kurt and his own mental state, has there ever been a more perfect song for Blaine? (well, yes but I’d digress if I went on about that.) I love so much about this song, from the choreography to Blaine’s obliviousness with Kurt as the number progresses. It’s fun and energetic and the most entertaining a subject as misery can get.

10. Cough Syrup (On My Way)

This might be the most controversial pick on the list, since I know for a lot of Blaine fans, this is their favorite number. I think it validates what a lot of people had been thinking - that there’s a lot going on underneath the surface of an outwardly peppy and energetic Blaine Anderson. And, I do like this song, and find it haunting -- it’s much different than the songs Blaine usually sings. It’s more emotional and tortured, and it’s fascinating to watch him sing his way through it. That said, the actual performance of this I rarely ever watch. It’s laid over Karofsky’s suicide attempt, and I find that sequence incredibly difficult to watch. So, while I do think a lot of the praise this song gets is completely valid, I can’t claim that it’s my favorite. I’m giving it an obligatory spot at #10 because I do think it deserves to be acknowledged as one of Blaine’s best solos.

9. It's Not Alright but It's Okay (Dance With Somebody)

Funny enough, as just a song, this isn’t one of my favorites. But I love, love what this song does. Clearly, by now I’m sure you’ve figured out, I love performances that have a lot of layers to them - and this one definitely does. There’s a great duality going on here between the awkward sadness that Blaine actually sings in the choir room versus the controlled anger that Blaine displays during his own fantasy. (It’s also one half of a conversation with Kurt that gets resolved when Kurt sings I Have Nothing later on.) I love the complexity of emotion that goes on during this one, and it remains one of my favorite performances on the show.

8. My Dark Side (Dynamic Duets)

Yes, this song is amazing! Again, another one of those performances that has a ton packed in it -- that has the additional quality of sounding and looking fantastic. I love that this song is entirely about Blaine, and where he is in his life. We get more tortured Blaine, but this time it’s in a more upbeat, pop-y song that suits Blaine incredibly well. But mostly, I love his interaction with the Warblers during it, the choreography is brilliant as they slowly start to bring him back in as their leader - and that moment where he parts them and he walks down the center reclaiming his position. There’s a lot to unpack here, as it easily meshes with the themes of the episode - of dark vs light and of heroes not always being heroic (but worth it anyway). I love when there’s deeper symbolism in a performance, and this has a ton of that.

7. All of Me (The Untitled Rachel Berry Project)

Look, it’s probably no secret that I really love Blaine (and Darren) just sitting at a piano singing. And I really love this song in general, too. Blaine’s last solo on the show (unfortunately!) is as tortured as many of the others on this list, but the thing that stands out for me about this one is its simplicity. It’s just Blaine by himself, working out how he feels about his situation through song. It’s not really meant to be heard by Kurt (or anyone else) but it’s also a shame that so rarely Blaine gets to let his real emotions be on display, which he does here. The performance is also beautifully shot, and intentionally evocative of another infamous Blaine solo that’s a little higher on the list.

6. Raise Your Glass (Original Song)

This is quintessential Warblers, and quintessential performance Blaine. This song is amazing on its own, truly. But the Warblers bring so much warmth and joy to it -- it’s such an engaging and energetic song, I often listen to it as a pick me up. No - this isn’t essential to Blaine’s character story, but I think it represents all the fun and ridiculousness Blaine and the Warblers arc brought to the show.

5. Somewhere Only We Know (Born This Way)

There’s something hauntingly beautiful about this one. Blaine (and the Warblers) sound great on it, and it’s the beginning of Blaine having a tortured and emotional underbelly to his personality. But more so, this song is about endings, and this is a turning point in Kurt’s and Klaine’s story as we say goodbye to Dalton and move on with the rest of Kurt’s journey. And it’s a dialogue between Kurt and Blaine, despite the sea of people around them, things are changing between them for better and for worse and for... just growing up, and this song encapsulates that beautifully.

4. All You Need is Love (Love, Love, Love)

Not gonna lie, this one is 100% about the context within the show. When I first heard the song, when it was released before the episode, it was kinda like - cool, Darren’s singing a Beatles cover. But the actual performance, the fact that this is essentially a love letter to the Klaine story, makes it one of the most precious and romantic numbers in the entire show. Blaine pulls out all the stops for Kurt here, and I can never just watch the performance, but always continue on to the proposal as well. It’s a beautiful performance, and a beautiful moment for Klaine and an utter highlight for the show itself.

3. It’s Time (The New Rachel)

Perhaps a number I’ve seen more than any other, I just love this number so much. Yes, it’s a good song. Yes, Blaine sounds great on it. And yes, the choreography is a ton of fun. But it’s also Blaine, very much himself, torn between being a child and growing up. There’s an unspoken dialogue between Kurt and Blaine during this song, about moving on from being stuck, and while this number is very childlike in it’s choreography, the subject matter is a little more mature -- being about moving on from the places your feel safe and journeying out in the world to be the person you’re supposed to be. There’s also a duality here -- where Blaine is stuck in the childlike land of high school as Kurt moves on to college and New York. This is another turning point in their story (as is all the songs done on these steps for these two), and I absolutely love that. But, it shouldn’t be discounted that it is a really good song that Blaine sounds really good on -- which is why it makes it one of Blaine’s best solos.

2. Teenage Dream Acoustic (The Break Up)

I’m sure that no one is surprised this at the top of the list. But what I can’t stress enough is that this is, hands down, one of the best performances done on the show period. Katy Perry’s original version of Teenage Dream is a trashy, forgettable pop song. What Darren Criss did with it is nothing short of magical. But then to bring this arrangement and add in his most phenomenal acting performance, even if it did break all of our hearts. The thing I love especially about the show version (vs the studio version) is that we get to see Blaine slowly break down and become unraveled while singing it. The performer that Blaine is starts to break down and this performance becomes an utter mess -- which makes it all the more powerful, moving, and heartbreaking. I love everything that this number chooses to be -- from exposing Blaine’s character, to the breaking of the fairy tale romance that is Klaine, to letting it be an end of one thing while the beginning of another.

Meanwhile, on another note, I’ve heard Darren sing this enough in his own performances that I have somewhat disassociated this version with the Klaine break up - but that doesn’t make this arrangement less powerful. Darren took a somewhat throwaway song and made something uniquely beautiful with it -- and that’s incredibly special, too.

1. Teenage Dream (Never Been Kissed)

I’m sure you’re gasping with surprise. But, this is no. 1 for a reason. While I think the acoustic version is better sounding (there’s just a tad too much auto tune here for reasons I’m unsure about), this number is the epitome of all Blaine numbers. It’s his introduction to the show, and so much of Blaine’s character was cultivated out of this performance. On top of that -- this performance made Kurt alive again, and it’s the beginning of a wild and beautiful story that would be the Klaine love story. It also became a major hit for the show - thrusting the music of Glee to a height that it never really could match again.

The scene is iconic and classic. The song is iconic and classic. Everything that is Blaine and the Klaine love story is wrapped up in this one. And every time I come back to it, I can’t help but smile - which is why this one remains at the top spot for me.

#blaine anderson #that's how s.o. sees it #huh #i've learned a lot about myself doing this actually #and a bit about blaine too tbh

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ed-edward-blackbeard · 5 years ago

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Fanfic Author Meme. Keep Reading after question 2 for 3-50.

1. What was your first fic and could you stand to reread it today?

Jesus Lord, no. I’d die of secondhand embarrassment before I got halfway through it. It was never published online, thank Christ. It was called … ugh, I don’t remember what I called it, but it was a line from Edmund Spenser. (Don’t judge.) It was an OC female character and Autolycus, from Hercules and Xena, played by Bruce Campbell. It was… a SHAMBLES. Self-insert, wish-fulfillment of the worst kind. But, my friend Alicia read it at the time and she told me how great she thought it was, and I should keep at it. So, thank you, Edmund-Spenser-titled-fic.

2. What’s your most recent fic and how far do you think you’ve come?

It’s called “i commit sins every day but i never give my soul away”, and it’s on my AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/22951009. And I actually don’t have a unit of measurement for how much I’ve improved. But it’s also been… God, I’m 43 today, so it’s been 27 years I’ve been writing. Almost thirty years. Shit, I’m old.

3. In your opinion, what’s your best fic?

Oh, man. Tricky question. If by best you mean technically written, most enjoyable? I’d say maybe wasting the dawn. Definitely By Inches We Fall. But to be totally honest with you? I think my best fic, the one that got me, personally by the throat, shook me, and hasn’t let me go? Shoah. It’s one of my earlier fics, from the Sentinel fandom, but man. Writing this was rough. I did my research on concentration camps, and I couldn’t sleep right for weeks. Lisa and Patt were holding my hands over AIM practically every night when I was sobbing that I couldn’t finish it, that I couldn’t do it, that it was too much. (I’d have been about fucking seventeen, maybe nineteen, when I was writing it.) I bit off way more than I was prepared for, but I didn’t quit. And I’m proud, quite frankly, that I even finished the damn thing, but even this far removed from it, I still feel that gut-punch when I go back re-read it, which is why I don’t. And haven’t for a couple of years.

4. In your opinion and without looking at any numbers, what’s your most popular fic?

It’d probably be Consortio.

5. Is there any fic that makes you super happy to reread and remember you wrote that?

I actually feel that way about 99% of my stuff. Even some of the older stuff, I re-read it and I get really happy because not only do I see myself changing and maturing, I realize I was harder on myself than I should have been. I didn’t suck like I thought, and I get the warm fuzzies.

6. Is there any fic that makes you super embarrassed to reread and remember you wrote that?

Er, not really? I mean, there’s some cringey shit I wrote when I was like, twelve, but not even I know where those notebooks got off to.

7. What’s the fic you most want to continue (unfinished or no)?

By Inches We Fall. It’s my only Game of Thrones fic, and I feel like I really want to continue the story of Jamie and Brienne and their kids, and of Jaime being Hand to King Jon and Queen Sansa.

8. What’s the oldest (longest since last update) fic you most want to continue (unfinished or no)?

How Firm A Foundation. It’s a Deadwood fic, and I (many years ago, when Deadwood was actually on the air) actually sketched out how every chapter would go. There’s a few things I’d change today, if I started it again, just because I can plot better than I could ten years ago, but I think the thread of the story is gone forever.

9. Have you ever written for a fandom without watching/reading/playing the source material?

Yami No Matsuei. A friend of mine was actually heavily into YnM, and I wrote several stories for her. Later I’ve watched some of it, and I realize I did okay on my characterizations, but there’s always things I could have done better.

10. Have you ever written for a fandom without reading other fanfic for it?

Pretty much every fandom I have ever been in. I don’t read a lot of fanfic, because I’m afraid (almost paranoid, in fact) that I’ll internalize something I’ve read and later spout it out in my fic, and I don’t ever want to copy anyone, deliberately or otherwise.

11. Have you ever written a fic for a concept you know someone else has done before? How did it impact your writing process or feelings after posting?

I have, and I didn’t publish it for the reason above; I didn’t feel like my take on it was original enough to bother.

12. Have you ever written a fic and decided never to publish it? Why?

Lots of reasons, actually. Sometimes I write with the intention of not publishing, it’s something just for me. I’ve also written a few fics that I ended up absolutely hating, and they’ve never seen the light of day. I’ve also done some that I felt wasn’t original enough, or they were written about the trope du jour, and I had nothing else to offer that ten other people hadn’t already done.

13. What’s the biggest change between your style when you started in fandom and today?

Sentence style and structure. I used to do the whole, “He said.” “In reply, she said.” “The sky was blue when he rode in.” And then a few of my better friends (and betas) took me in hand and showed me how to mix it up, chop my comma addiction in half (seriously, I once had a single sentence run on for twelve lines.) and I feel like I get a better grip on characterization.

14. What’s the biggest change in your taste between when you started in fandom and today?

Sex. I used to write it in everything. And then the more I wrote, and the older I got, the less I wanted to write it (or read it, or talk about it.) So I’m a lot more comfortable writing non-sex stories than I used to be.

15. Have you ever purposefully written one fandom/fic idea over another because you knew it’d be more popular?

Of course. I think everyone has, at one point or another.

16. Have you ever stopped writing a fic/for a fandom because it wasn’t receiving enough attention?

Anything I’ve ever abandoned was lack of my own attention, not anything else. I’m kinda used to not getting a lot of attention.

17. In your opinion, what’s your most overrated fic?

What He Wants. It’s pretentious wankfic, for a pairing I don’t actually like all that much (Lucius/Harry), and I just feel like everyone loves it way more than it deserves.

18. What’s your most underrated fic?

I’m gonna pick on Shoah again, because I feel like it just doesn’t get enough love. I’m biased, because of how emotionally attached I am to the fic, but I feel like it’s ignored.

19. If you had to pick one fic/scene/chapter of your work to describe your entire portfolio to a stranger, which would you pick?

Wasting The Dawn. It’s a Magicians fic, and it showcases every character from the show, and I think I did a passable job of hitting every voice. So I’d be proud to show that one around.

20. Have/Would you ever rewrite a fic? If yes, would you take the original down?

Would I rewrite it? Sure. Would I take down the original? Um, that’s a little more difficult. On the one hand, I’m not really ashamed, as such, of anything that I did. But having two copies of things would get really complicated and onerous. I might actually start a second pseud, like maybe kelex-originals or something like that, and move the originals over to that, and leave the rewrites on my main, with a link to the original in the notes. Yeah, that’s probably what I’d do.

21. If someone starts kudosing and commenting your fics in a spree and has a few works of their own, would you go look through theirs?

HELL YES. Mostly because I’m always looking for shinies to read in fandoms I don’t write for. I also kind of like to read their stuff and get a feel for who they are and why they like what I’ve got. But mostly, I just love it and it makes me giggle watching someone go through my fics and like EEEE THERE YOU ARE AGAIN.

22. Has there ever been anyone who’s made you freak out because they read your work and followed/favorited/reviewed?

Fucking scads of people, actually.

23. What’s the nicest review you’ve ever gotten?

Oh man, I’ve got a fuckton of good ones. But the one that I always get a kick out of is on one of my Gotham fics, and the comment was along the lines of, the tag mentioned bed-sharing and they thought that was all it was going to be, but it was so much more and they got caught up in it and it was wonderful. And that’s my favorite (if not the nicest) because I love the fact that I was able to give someone something they enjoyed, even more because it was unexpected!

24. What’s the meanest review you’ve ever gotten? Do you think the reviewer intended it?

It was a review back in the days of OneList, and I was told that my pencils should be broken and my keyboard taken away because I was a terrible writer. And yes, I know they meant it.

25. What constructive criticism, however well-meaning, always makes you feel bad when you see it in a review?

It’s less a concrit and more a crit. But it’s always, “why did you do X? It was out of character!” and that makes me grit my teeth. Mostly because I feel like I’ve always explained, thoroughly, why I’ve done something (whether in dialog, in the writing itself, or heavily implied in monologues), and that question always makes me want to throttle someone because either they didn’t get it, or I didn’t.

26. What aspect of your writing do you most enjoy to see praised?

Humor. I’m a sarcastic bitch, and when it’s appropriate (and sometimes when it isn’t), I have funny characters or have characters deadpan things. And it delights the fuck out of me when someone highlights that as one of their favorite parts.

27. If you could only ever write crossovers or single-fandom fics ever again, which would you pick?

Single fandom fics. I’m not a fan of crossovers, though I’ve written them from time to time, and probably will again if I think it’s appropriate. I just prefer not to cross the streams, as it were.

28. if you could only ever write for a single crossover or a single fandom again, which would you pick?

Good Omens. Hands down. So. Many. AUs. So many ideas. So many delightful characters.

29. Does the division of your writing across fandoms line up with your reading? What’s the biggest discrepancy?

It does not. I read far, far less than I actually write.

30. Do you continue to write for a fandom after you’ve moved on or do you focus solely on the new one?

I usually focus on the new one, however, I’ve occasionally re-visited a fandom after I’ve left it, because inspiration hits me, or I’ve gotten back into it.

31. Who’s the one character you’ve just never managed to get perfectly right?

Margo Hanson, from the Magicians.

32. Who’s the one character who shines without you even trying?

There’s a few. Eliot Waugh, Lex Luthor, Jack O’Neill, the Doctor (9 & 10 mostly)

33. Is there any particular character whose scenes always wind up being longer/more frequent than you expected? Does the quality hold up?

Not really? Characters and scenes are as long as they need to be. I do think the quality holds up, though, because honestly, by the time they’re done, I’m done.

34. Was there any fic that you wrote that really surprised you in the fandom reaction? Was it just by the numbers or did they take it an entirely different way?

Not really, or if there was, I don’t remember it.

35. Have you ever written a ship into a fic without meaning to?

Yup. It snuck in there, especially in the background early on, and by the end I was like, what the fuck, I don’t even ship you, YOU DON’T EVEN GO HERE.

36. Have you ever sincerely written a ship you do not support into a fic?

Nope. If I don’t like a ship, I don’t write it.

37. Have you ever purposefully bashed a character/ship in a fic?

No. Not as a writer. But like, I have written a character saying “I don’t think X belongs with Y, they belong with me!” because that’s pretty much how the actual relationship went down. (Spike, Buffy, Riley most specifically.)

38. Have you ever purposefully written something you know your readers would find uncomfortable/would not enjoy? If yes, why?

Very, very, very many years ago. I wrote it just to see if I could. I could, I did, and I haven’t written it again.

39. Do you consider yourself to have a readership?

No.

40. Do you feel like you put out enough content?

I feel like I put out what I need to. Is it enough? idk.

41. If you cross-post your fics on multiple sites, do you have a favorite? Are there certain fics you would only post on certain site?

AO3 is, hands down, my favorite. For awhile, I was posting to WWOMB (Wonderful World of Make-Believe) but I’ve stopped there, sadly.

42. How many views has your most popular fic gotten?

Consortio is my most popular fic, and it’s gotten 21,658 hits. Although the fic is multi-chapter, so I don’t know how to break that down into individual hits. In fact, four of my five most popular are multi-chapters. The only single-chapter fic is What He Wants, clocking in at 6,743.

43. Your least popular?

The Rose and the Yew Tree, with 0 hits.

44. Do you follow/favorite/kudos/comment/review more stories than you have received?

Unfortunately, no.

45. If you had to call yourself an author of a single genre (besides fanfic) what label would you give yourself?

Pornography.

46. Do you consider yourself a diverse author?

Diverse as in fandoms? Yes. Diverse as in style? Not so much.

47. If someone you know in real life who isn’t involved in fandoms asked to read your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you recommend they read first?

I’ve done that before, and I’ve tailored it to the person and what I know they like. For example, my old boss got me hooked on La Femme Nikita (the Peta Wilson one), and so when she wanted to read my writing, I gave her my LFN fics to read.

48. Does anyone you know from outside of fandom know you write fanfic? Are they involved in the same fandom too?

Yes, and some of them.

49. Has anyone in your life ever read your fanfic just because you wrote it?

Yes.

50. Has writing fanfic had a significant impact on your life? Would you say it’s entirely positive?

It has had a very significant impact, and no, it hasn’t been at all positive. Some of my best moments, as well as my worst, are because of fanfic and fandom, but fanfic in particular. Fic’s brought me close to people, fic’s pushed me away from people, and it’s made people change the way they look at me.

#everything you ever wanted to know about me #but were afraid to ask #fanfic writers meme #askbox meme

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thewritewolf · 5 years ago

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Inseparable Chapter 31: Waiting on You

And so we finally reach the end of my story for Ladynoir July 2019, Inseparable. It’s been a ride and this story really made me think - not just about the relationship between Ladybug and Chat Noir, but about the miraculous and how they interact with each other. I hope you all enjoyed this, and I hope that you’ll keep an eye out for the smaller stories that I’ll be working on in the near future. Thanks for reading!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

@ladynoirjuly2019

Enjoy!

Read on Ao3

(Really hoping the Read More works since this is like a 3k long chapter)

The two of them exchanged a look before getting up, slowly and cautiously. It was late, past midnight and much later than they would expect any of their friends to drop by. Even assuming that they would appear without calling ahead first - both Adrien and Marinette lived busy lives, after all, and showing up unannounced was a good way to miss them entirely. So whoever was on the other side of that door knew they were there, despite how infrequently they were home or awake at this hour.

Adrien crept ahead of his lady as he approached the door. Names ticked through his head as he tried to puzzle out who it could be. Nino had a DJ gig today. Alya would be sleeping. None of his model coworkers knew where he lived, and neither did most of their friends from lycee. They hadn’t been in this apartment for that long - they had only entertained guests a couple times so far. Ready to pounce if this turned out bad, he opened the door.

Looking up at him, peaceful as ever, was none other than Master Fu. A dark green bag with faded yellow symbols hung from his shoulder.

“Greetings, young one.” He leaned to the side to look behind Adrien. “And hello to you as well, Marinette. I see the two of you have completed the final stage of your training.”

Marinette approached slowly. “How did you…?”

The old man smiled. “To those attuned to the flow of energy, it is clear as day. There is an unbreakable bond between the two of you.” His smile faded and his face became serious. “A bond that I am afraid I will have to test today.”

Pulling Marinette closer to him instinctively, Adrien eyed the old master suspiciously. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked and that’s one of the first things that you say?”

His hands rested on the gnarled old cane that he carried. “I understand your protectiveness, Adrien Agreste. But I promise you, this is for the good of all. Will you at least hear what I would ask of you?”

With a sigh, Adrien stood aside. “Okay, okay. I at least owe you that much.”

“At the very least,” Master Fu confirmed with a small smile.

While Adrien sat back down to where, just a few minutes ago, he’d been occupied with kissing his girlfriend, Marinette pulled a chair in front of the couch and took her spot next to Adrien. Master Fu nodded his thanks as he settled into the repositioned chair. To Adrien’s immense surprise, the guardian almost seemed… uncertain. Not as composed as he remembered from his earlier years.

Wayzz appeared from Fu’s hawaiian shirt and floated above the others. Tikki and Plagg rose to meet him and the three of them sailed towards the kitchen, no doubt looking to scrounge for some snacks. Adrien watched them before returning his attention to Fu.

“I know that you don’t like to make house calls unless you absolutely have to,” Marinette said, finally breaking the silence. “So I understand that whatever you are here for, you consider to be very important.” She wrung her hands from nerves and Adrien settled one hand over them. “But I get the feeling you don’t like what you’re going to ask.”

After a moment, Master Fu nodded slowly. “You are correct. I am here because of this,” he reached into his bag and pulled out an object that Adrien was all too familiar with - the Peacock miraculous.

It had been years since he had seen it last, but it had been seared into his memory as the end of his family, such that it was. From what Master Fu had told him, it was what had made his mother fall into a coma, and his father’s possession of it was a major reason Adrien had realized his father was Hawkmoth. But Adrien also remember that it was…

“You want us to fix it,” Adrien blurted out.

Fu’s eyes widened ever so slightly, but he nodded. “The creator of the miraculous is long gone. The secret knowledge and techniques of my order has been lost for over a century. The only power left in this world capable of restoring this miraculous is that of the Ladybug and Black Cat miraculous, working in tandem.”

Beside him, Marinette gasped. “You knew!” At Adrien’s confused look, she elaborated. “You knew that the Peacock was damaged from the beginning. All this time, I had wondered why you chose to send out the two miraculous that Hawkmoth had wanted but… it makes sense now. You needed us to fix the Peacock miraculous.”

“It was a gamble, but I had faith in the ones who I had chosen.” Master Fu’s eyes were resolute. “My faith was rewarded when you successfully returned the long missing miraculous. For that, I am grateful.” He bowed his head in respect. “I had resigned myself to wait for years for your powers to mature, but both of you became stronger far quicker than I had ever hoped. I simply wish that you had not been forced to access your abilities so prematurely.”

“But we were,” Adrien stated. “And now it sounds like you’re asking us to do it again.” His hand tightened around Marinette’s.

“I understand that you feel trepidation after what happened last time…”

“I nearly watched the love of my life die!” Adrien growled. “You honestly think that-”

“Adrien.” Her voice was calm, but stern. His anger that had been slowly building up evaporated in an instant as his attention turned back to her. “We have to help. It’s our duty.”

He cupped her cheek and through the mask of determination she wore he could see the fear buried deep in her eyes. “...Haven’t you given enough already?” His voice broke as he added, “I don’t want to lose you. Not again.”

“Chaton…” She kissed his nose and pulled him close. “We have to do this. It’s something only we can do.” His arms wrapped around her so he could hold her tight. He buried his face into her shoulder. “If it isn’t us, then someone even less prepared will try and fail. Right, Master Fu?”

“Indeed. It is rare to see a pair as inseparable as you two. That bond will be your weapon and your armor in this coming battle.” Adrien heard the chair squeak and the sound of something being placed on the table. “You know where I live. Take all the time you need.” His voice became distant. “Good luck, young ones.”

The door closed behind him. The apartment was silent for a few minutes as Tikki and Plagg floated over the damaged miraculous.

“Oh, poor Duusu… I can barely feel her presence. She must be so weak.” There was sadness in Tikki’s watery eyes. Plagg placed a comforting paw on her head.

“Don’t worry, Sugarcube. Won’t be too much longer before we’re one big happy family again…” he peered over his shoulder to Adrien, an uncharacteristic seriousness on his face. “...Right, kid?”

Adrien buried his face in his hands. “...Right, Plagg.”

Marinette’s hand rubbed circles on his back while her other one rested on his knee. She was quiet when she spoke. “I know you’re worried, mon chaton.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I am too.”

“I don’t know what we’re about to be getting ourselves into.” He returned her hug, holding her as tight as he could. “But I’m glad that it’s you that’s going to be by my side for this. For all of this. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better.”

Her smile was weak but radiant, like a glimpse of the sun seen in a rainstorm. “You took the words right out of my mouth.” Brushing aside the nascent tears, she stood up. “Are you ready to start?”

“You want to do this now?” Adrien rose as well, glancing between the kwamis and the broken miraculous.

“I’m afraid if I think about this too much then I’ll chicken out.”

A surprised laugh forced its way out of him. “That’s fair.” He turned to the kwami. “Do either of you need any recharging before we get started?”

“Kid, this goes against everything I stand for but... No, I’m full. Let’s do this.” Plagg narrowed his eyes and nodded at Adrien.

“I feel stronger than I have in generations.” Tikki swirled around Marinette’s head. “I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful chosen. Both of you are so brave.”

“So…” Adrien looked into the silvery metal of his ring. “How do we do this?”

“Traditionally, it starts with you transforming, ya dingus.” Plagg’s tail flicked back and forth irritatedly.

“Yes, Plagg, I managed to figure that part out on my own. But what about after that?”

Tikki floated into his field of view. “You have to remember, Adrien, that this isn’t a common event and we are always inside the miraculous when it happens. The only advice we can give you is to do the meditations as usual and just… focus your energy on Duusu’s miraculous. The rest should make itself clear.”

After a moment, Adrien nodded slowly. “Alright… let’s give this a shot then. Plagg, claws out!”

“Tikki, spots on!”

And just like that Chat Noir and Ladybug stood in the middle of their living room. It had been over a month since he’d gone through the familiar transformation and despite his fears, it felt like slipping into a favorite outfit.

“Are you ready to start?” Adrien asked.

Ladybug nodded and put a pillow on the ground next to the table where the miraculous sat. She handed one to Adrien and nodded towards the opposite end of the table. Once they were seated, they locked hands and Adrien was reminded of old timey seances. Who knows? Maybe this is where they got the idea from in the first place.

With a slight effort of will, he discarded his thoughts like he was shrugging off his jacket. His mind became unanchored and within moments he felt her presence beside him in a way that went beyond the physical. He didn’t have long to enjoy it, however, as he felt himself being pulled toward… something. The sensation of being moved was unlike anything he’d experienced yet during their meditation - he hadn’t even realized that was a thing that could happen.

But before he could make any sense of it, let alone figure out how to resist the pull, he felt himself collide with what he could only describe as a cloud that brushed painfully over his skin as he tore through it.

Wait.

Skin?

He opened his eyes and discovered that while he wasn’t outside his own body any more, he also wasn’t inside his apartment. He was laying on his back and staring up at the sky, which was fractal and reflective like lavender crystal. Large cracks broke up the patterns and from those cracks came red storm clouds that crackled with lightning as he struggled to get his bearings. Rolling over, he saw the ground was covered in a dull red dirt. As he stood up and looked to the horizon, he saw that same dirt spread out into infinity, utterly flat and barren. His ears perked up when he heard coughing and he whirled around toward the noise.

Ladybug was groaning as she sat up, her eyes widening as she took in her new surroundings. She gladly took the hand that he offered and they both stood in the open area, looking around.

“Any idea where we are, bugaboo?”

She was staring up at the clouds and crystal sky. “You ever wonder what the inside of a miraculous looks like?”

“I- You don’t really think…?” He frantically looked around at the desolation. His sympathy for the kwami increased - is this what they had to live in while waiting for new chosen?

“No… usually it is much more… pleasant.”

A tiny voice made both of them jump and they turned toward the source, already pulling out their weapons. Behind them floated a blue kwami with a large, beautiful tail that reminded him of a peacock.

“...Duusu?” Adrien whispered as he stepped closer. Getting a better look, he realized that there were darker patches all along her body, her eyes were sunken, and even her tail seemed ragged and torn. “What… happened to you?”

“I’ve been trying to hold on…” The kwami sniffled. “But they can slip in through the cracks. I don’t think I can make it much longer… Not before they push me out completely.”

“Who? Who are ‘they’?”

“The darkness that seeps in from beyond. They’re coming.” The kwami coughed and Ladybug lunged to catch her as she dropped like a stone. “Please… help.”

Lightning struck and instead of thunder reaching his ears, he instead heard roars like those of wild animals. He looked toward the noise and saw creatures made of a substance like a dark purple, liquid shadow. The analogy of wild animals was accurate, to a point. They ran on four legs, and there was a sense of claws and fangs, but that was where the similarities ended. Just as he was getting ready to fight, he felt Ladybug slip something into his pocket.

“Take care of Duusu. I don’t know if she can handle any more punishment.”

“As you wish, my lady.” He extended his baton into a staff and settled into a defensive stance. “How about I take the dozens on the left and you take the ones on the right?”

“Duusu has been at this for ages, chaton. Beating these things is only part of the problem.” She pointed toward the cracks in the crystal. “I think we need to do something about those if we’re going to make any kind of real progress.”

“I don’t know how to even start fixing that, but before we can try…” The monsters were almost upon them. “...Let’s drive these things back.”

It had been years since the two of them had a fight that pushed them to their limits. Adrien had been worried that they would be rusty after all that time, but they rose to the challenge. Never before had he ever felt so in sync with his lady - no matter how hard the monsters pressed, they couldn’t manage to break their flawless defense. Despite their horrific appearance, the shadow creatures were individually taken down easily. Maybe it was because they didn’t need to worry about an innocent person being inside, or maybe they had just gotten that much stronger over the years, but it felt incredibly easy to destroy them.

At least, the first few waves.

It quickly became clear that while they weren’t the most threatening on their own, they had numbers on their side and were slowly wearing them down. Hits began landing, sneaking their way through their defenses. Adrien began accumulating cuts. He could feel bruises forming on his skin. Growling, he pushed aside the pain and pressed on. In his focus, he began to hear a voice in the back of his head.

Grab that one throw it into that one keep Chat’s back clear how to deal with the crystal sky don’t know keep fighting have to keep fighting

He was surprised, but in recognizing the mental voice as belonging to his lady, he submerged himself entirely into the fight.

Before long, he felt her surprise as well and the voice in his mind became stronger, more coherent. Without the burden of words, their reactions become as quick as thought. They lost themselves to a zen state of fighting, sinking further than they ever had before into a trance-like state. He wasn’t sure when he became they, but before long they controlled both bodies with one mind.

Things became foggy after that point. The monsters kept pouring after them but they couldn’t make it within twenty meters before being erased like shadows by the sun. Their attention turned as one towards the crystal skies, the clouds evaporating as the crystal began regenerating. Their light became blinding and all that they remembered next was searing white light.

------------------

Marinette woke up in her apartment. Her back hurt as she pulled herself out of the awkward angle that she had been sleeping in, draped over the edge of the couch behind her. In front of her, Adrien had sprawled out on the floor. Her heart skipped a beat in panic and she stared breathlessly at him, fearing the worst. As she stared, however, she saw his chest rise and fall like she always did late at night. She crawled over to him and shook his shoulder, wincing at the sunlight streaming in through the windows.

It was at this point she realized she was no longer in her suit. That wasn’t too surprising - she could go long stretches of time these days transformed but after what they did-

Her eyes widened as she remembered what it was they had been trying to do. While Adrien groggily sat up, pawing at his eyes, Marinette turned her attention toward the miraculous sitting on the table.

Floating above it was a blue, smiling kwami. Adrien noticed her too.

“Hey, boss,” Adrien croaked with a smile. “Looks like we did it.”

He reached over to brush away the tears she didn’t realize she’d been shedding and she immediately launched herself into Adrien’s arms. Marinette’s heart was so full of joy it was close to bursting. They’d done it. Neither of them had gotten hurt, and they could go on with their lives unburdened by the past.

-----------------

Down below, in a place running on backup generators and reserve power, only a single light flickered above a sarcophagus of glass and metal and and doubtless a touch of magic.

Inside was a woman.

She opened her eyes.

#Miraculous Ladybug #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Adrien Agreste #Adrienette #Chat Noir #Ladybug #Ladynoir #Plagg #Tikki #Master Fu #Duusu #ml fanfiction #my writing #Inseparable

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freshlyjuicedbeetles · 6 years ago

Text

Severus Snape x Reader - Meeting with Umbridge

Modern Setting/ Order of the Phoenix

Established relationship

Female reader

Feel free to make requests and please leave feedback!

The Pink Tyrant had taken over Hogwarts.

Severus came home nearly every day for a year with new drama that Dolores Umbridge, some Ministry bureaucrat turned teacher had stirred up. She had a problem with sticking her nose where it was not wanted or needed. He admitted he was thankful that he no longer lived on campus anymore, thus granting him a reprieve from her antics. First, she completely overhauled the Defense Against the Dark Arts program for the worse, then the Ministry gave her more power to oversee the day to day operations and standards at Hogwarts, reporting back to the Minister. She unfairly limited the student’s activities outside of school, to the point their freedom and rights were being affected. She tried to fire professors she found unfit mainly Dumbledore, but others were in her sights. She even made a scene over firing the Divinations professor in front of the students. A line had been crossed, you don’t allow students to see that. Even Severus said it was hard to watch.

Umbridge’s personality was lacking too. She was fake; her fake cheerfulness, her fake attention-getting cough. Everyone wanted her gone. Towards the end of the year, she started meeting with the immediate family of anyone who worked at Hogwarts. She soon called for me.

“She wants to meet you,” Severus said, placing his dark leather satchel on a kitchen chair as he returned home. I gave it to him when we got married. He uses it to shuffle student work and his grade book to and from Hogwarts.

“Who? The cat lady?” I asked.

Severus’ eyebrow quirked, “That’s one descriptor. I had a few others in mind. She wants to have tea.”

“Tea?” I repeated, “What? So, she can poison me?”

“I wouldn’t drink it,” Severus said plainly.

From his satchel, Severus pulled a bright pink envelope. He held it as though it would burn him as he handed it to me. It was a formal invitation on personalized pink stationary, the paper was even perfumed with a sickly-sweet smell that made me cough.

“Well, I guess it’s my turn.”

I was nervous to meet this woman. I didn’t know what she’d say to me and I didn’t expect this meeting to be pleasant given everything I had heard. I put extra effort into my appearance, not just to look nice and professional, but I didn’t want to give her anything to use against me if she went low. I made sure my clothes were crisp, my hair was in place and checked my teeth several times before I apparated to Hogwarts.

The school was quiet for once. It was during class hours, but even then, Hogwarts still had an element of life before. Then, I saw the Educational Decrees haphazardly hung on the stone wall of the Entrance Hall. The amount coupled with no doubt Filch’s less than superb handiwork left me speechless. Did I really have to meet with this person?

The few students I saw in the hallways looked beaten into submission. They hung their heads, just trying to make it through the day. Their uniforms were immaculate, well past even military standards. Dumbledore never truly enforced the dress code.

I made my way to her office from memory. I took a breath before I knocked on the door. It opened on its own after a moment.

I was assaulted with a pink saturated room, the sound of meowing kittens and the overbearing smell of floral in the air. Everything was so over the top, I had to wonder if she genuinely enjoyed these things or if she was trying to make herself seem comforting and feminine while completely overdoing it. It was so overdone, it was creepy. The dozens of little kitten eyes staring at you didn’t help the aura, either.

“Ah, Mrs. Snape.” Umbridge stood as I entered.

‘Merlin, she really does look like a toad.’ I thought.

“Hello,” I replied, cordially. I tried to remain neutral about this woman until I met her. I knew that everything I had heard about Dolores Umbridge was shaded by anecdote from Severus, who can let his own biases get in the way. I was willing to hear what she had to say. There were some alarming changes she made, but I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Being a teacher was hard even when you had the proper education and experience, unlike in her case.

“Sit, sit, sit,” She fussed like a kindly grandmother, ready to plump up her grandchildren with sweets, ushering me into a pink upholstered chair in front of her desk.

“How do you take your tea, dear?”

“One sugar, please,” I requested.

The tea poured itself into two pale pink teacups and with a minor flick of her wand, the sugar was added. Even the sugar cubes were died pink.

“Why I must say, you’re actually quite pretty.” She said as she sat down with her tea. “I’m not quite sure who or what to expect,” She giggled at herself. The sound was like glass breaking. I repressed a grimace.

I wasn’t sure who she was backhandedly complimenting (insulting?), me or Severus.

“I’m a bit confused as to why I’m here. I’m not a teacher…” I said. “You’ve been calling on other spouses and family?”

“I just want to get to know my subordinates, that’s all.” She replied with a smile. From her desk, she produced a pink clipboard and parchment and daintily, dabbed her pink quill in ink.

“Am I a subordinate or is Severus?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She said nothing and scribbled in her notes. I felt like I, and thus, Severus was about to be analyzed.

“How long have you two been married?” Umbridge asked.

“Ten years in April,” I answered.

“And how did you meet?”

“As students here at Hogwarts. We dated briefly in our seventh year but broke up just before graduation.”

“And why is that?”

Umbridge was already poking too far but backing down would show weakness. I settled for a half-truth.

“We were kids, we drifted apart.” I shrugged. In truth, I couldn’t follow him down the dark path he was about to travel.

“This all about sizing up Severus and the rest of the staff isn’t? Like how orphanages do home visits to see what kind of environment they’re potentially sending a kid to. You don’t want your staff around any unsavory kind, do you? Well, here are some things about Severus Snape. He likes cold and dark places, he’s read every book imaginable and can’t rid of any. He has an irrational fear of elephants and he just can’t function if he doesn’t have his favorite quill and ink; Martin’s Quill in style 388, standard nib and Waterman’s ink in 00, Blackest Black, 25, red for grading.” I ranted. I knew how private Severus was and I didn’t like people trying to take that from him.

I expected reproach for my tone. Umbridge only gave a small, saccharine giggle, “Well, we all have our eccentricities!”

She took a sip of tea. “What is your blood status?”

I was taken aback, about how bluntly she asked that. Kids were more open about their blood status, but not mine and Severus’ generation. “Half-blood. About 53% magic quantum if you want to be specific.”

“And your House?”

“Slytherin.”

“Do you interact with muggles?”

“I know a couple.”

“Oh, you know a couple? How many?”

“Two, I guess.”

“How well?”

“Well enough that I spend a fair amount of time with them.”

“And how did you meet?”

“We grew up together in the same neighborhood and went to the same muggle school before I came to Hogwarts.”

“And do you engage in Muggle activity?”

I scoffed, “What’s muggle activity? Basic home utilities? The internet? Cell phones? Yes, I do. You do realize that we’re no different from Muggles, that we’re all humans, right?” I asked seriously.

Umbridge grimaced as she recorded her notes. She was trying to see how Muggle I was and how my Muggle dealings could affect Severus and in turn, the school which ultimately affected her.

“Look, before you cast your ire at me, remember that Severus was raised by a Muggle, too. I’ve read the rankings of Hogwarts. You have one master level teacher in this school and that’s him. Do you have any idea how hard those are to come by? How long he had to study? There’s only one other school that has a master level teacher and it’s in India somewhere. Parents want their children to be taught by master level teachers and Dumbledore. Now that he’s gone and if you cast Severus off because of your bias against my answers, Hogwarts will crumble. I love this school, but it can’t get by on reputation alone.

“Not only that but can you keep up with the traditions? Do you know where the school gets it’s Christmas and Halloween decorations? Did you know that each staff member has their own ornament on the Christmas tree? How are you going to manage Hell Week; the last week of school when the seventh years go nuts? What about Dumbledore’s tradition of letting everyone off on the first warm day of Spring?”

Umbridge sat quietly, listening to me with a smirk on her face. “Adorable,” She replied, as she slashed a check mark on her paper. “Unfortunately, Albus Dumbledore is mentally unstable.”

“Oh, he is not,” I groaned, “I’ll admit, he’s not perfect and I have my problems with him, too, but he’s wise, intelligent and he’s good with the kids. I don’t see anything wrong with him as Headmaster. And hey, I wasn’t the one who gave him the ghost peppers and illegal fireworks.” I replied, a bit defensively about the last part.

Umbridge jotted down a note on her parchment. “I see this is a controversial topic, let’s move on.”

“His parents, what are they like?”

“Severus’? Ask him.” I wasn’t going to tell her Severus’ and Eileen’s story of abuse at the hands of Tobias; how Tobias died of an aneurysm in his sleep when Severus was seventeen and Eileen hung herself in a dank mental ward a year later.

Umbridge was getting annoyed but tried to hide it.

“Do you and Snape plan on having children?”

“Who says we don’t have any already?” I countered.

I saw her grip on her quill tighten, but she relaxed, calming herself. “Since I see no other Snape on my rolls. I would assume any children you may have are young. Would they attend Hogwarts?”

“Honestly, no.”

“And why is that?”

“I don’t like your teaching methods,” I replied simply. “Even Muggles know that practicum experience is a better method than pure theory. I also don’t like how you made this grand institution into your personal prison. You have the Malfoy boy running around, essentially unlimited, turning in kids because they looked at him wrong. He’s one the last students around here that should be given any power. I wouldn’t trust him with a paperclip. You would know that if you paid attention.”

I leaned forward. Umbridge started to fume, her pink painted lips disappearing until a tight line. She didn’t like being questioned.

“Let me ask you about your qualifications to teach. Do you have any? I didn’t think sitting on Wizengamot was enough, personally, but hey, I could be wrong. Severus fell ass first into this job, but you can read his file and see that he all the certifications he is regulated by law to have for teaching. I’m sure the Prime Minister would be interested to hear that students aren’t getting the proper education due to an underqualified teacher. We may be separate from the Muggle British government, but we’re still ruled by the Queen. Same laws and such right? I bet even Fudge may be impeached for misusing his power.”

Umbridge shot up, frowning, her face beet red.

“You are a very rude woman, Mrs. Snape.”

I took this as my chance to leave and stood up, but not without the final word. “Yeah, well, I married Severus, didn’t I? What? Did you think I’d be a princess?”

I turned around just as I passed the threshold, “Oh, in case no one told you. This school has a way of spitting out those it doesn’t like. Ever wonder why the Defense post is always open?”

Umbridge sputtered, trying to ask what I meant, but I had already apparated home.

#severus snape #severus snape fanfiction #Pro Snape #snape x reader #snapefics

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noonmutter · 5 years ago

Note

*Grinch grin* Make me admit something... DO THEM ALL.

Pff like I haven’t had to do this rodeo before come at me scrub

1. Would you have sex with the last person you text messaged?

That’s either my realtor or my mom, so no.

2. You talked to an ex today, correct?

No? Why on earth would I?

3. Have you taken someones virginity?

Not to my knowledge.

4. Is trust a big issue for you?

Absolutely. Trust is the core of a relationship, without it you’re just acquaintances who maybe make eye contact sometimes.

5. Did you hang out with the person you like recently?

From the phrasing I assume this means “like-like” and since I live with my fiance, yes.

( I really did answer all of them at once but I’m not enough of a turd to fill everybody’s dashboard so the rest are behind the cut! )

6. What are you excited for?

Boring work stuff that makes little sense to anybody who doesn’t work with me but is going to be just as jazzed about it as I am because they’re FINALLY FIXING SOMETHING I SAID WAS A PROBLEM A YEAR AGO–AGAIN

7. What happened tonight?

Um… it’s four in the afternoon here.

8. Do you think it’s disgusting when girls get really wasted?

I think it’s disgusting when anybody gets wasted. You aren’t even conscious of whatever fun you might be having and you sure as shit aren’t tasting whatever you’re drinking anymore. Quit that.

9. Is confidence cute?

Only in the context of someone who’s about to get the living shit beaten/embarrassed out of them for being confident against all advice to the contrary (”He’s gonna go punch a tarrasque in the nads! How cute!”). Otherwise confidence is just a good thing and generally rad.

10. What is the last beverage you had?

I just finished my second coke of the day about ten seconds ago and am debating a third.

11. How many people of the opposite sex do you fully trust?

“Fully” is the operative word and that number is zero of any sex.

12. Do you own a pair of skinny jeans?

Probably. It’s hard not to get them when you’re at a certain size.

13. What are you gonna do Saturday night?

Work, go home, either raid or RP, and sleep. I do that basically every Saturday night.

14. What are you going to spend money on next?

Ideally a house that isn’t being sold by an idiot, but probably something less interesting like Starbucks.

15. Are you going out with the last person you kissed?

Hey @dwyndel would you consider what we’re doing “going out”?

16. Do you think you’ll change in the next 3 months?

I mean, I hope so? Growth is important.

17. Who do you feel most comfortable talking to about anything?

My fiance and my mom.

18. The last time you felt broken?

hahaha “last time”

19. Have you had sex today?

hahaha “today” I haven’t gotten laid in years. plural.

20. Are you starting to realize anything?

what the hell kinda question is this that’s not something you admit to, that’s a question that answers itself and the answer is either “no” because you aren’t or “yes” because the question made you realize it

21. Are you in a good mood?

Pretty good, yeah

22. Would you ever want to swim with sharks?

Yes but I’ll be peeing literally the entire time

23. Are your eyes the same color as your dad’s?

Probably. I got a lot of my looks from him, which aggravates the shit out of me since he’s a terrible person

24. What do you want right this second?

A nap

25. What would you say if the person you love/like kissed another girl/boy?

‘Can I watch’‘Were they hot’‘Do they like sharing’‘Your breath smells like infidelity’

26. Is your current hair color your natural hair color?

Yep, white streak included

27. Would you be able to date someone who doesn’t make you laugh?

Probably not, but there’s a huuuuuuge difference between “doesn’t make me laugh” and “does not have a compatible sense of humor with mine.” Some people just aren’t funny. Like me. I’m not funny at all. Jesus am I ever not funny. Wow.

28. What was the last thing that made you laugh?

A fucking Spanish Inquisition reference from Dan Avidan in Game Grumps that I’m still mad at myself for laughing at

29. Do you really, truly miss someone right now?

Eh, not really. I don’t have homesickness pangs or people-aren’t-here pangs unless I know I can’t get to them because they’re not in a place where I can go. Otherwise I’d be a sad puppy every time I went to work

30. Does everyone deserve a second chance?

No. Some people are not worth anyone’s time or effort and often they know it and abuse people’s willingness to forgive or try.

31. Honestly, do you hate the last boy you were talking to?

Hatred is hard to pull out of me unless you personally did something really offensive and permanent to me. I get tired of people but I very rarely hate them. The last “boy” (he is very much an adult, calling him “boy” is fuckin’ wierd) I talked to was my supervisor and I rather like Phill

32. Does the person you have feelings for right now, know you do?

I am engaged. You tell me.

33. Are you one of those people who never drinks soda?

Not only did I just say I’m contemplating a third Coke at 4 in the afternoon, I have a bucket to collect pull tabs in for the fiance to make chainmail out of

34. Listening to?

My coworkers chattering in the office around me. I could listen to music if I wanted, but the office headsets suck ass and can’t handle bass of any kind

35. Do you ever write in pencil anymore?

Not often. My handwriting is awful and I try not to write by hand at all, but if I do, it’ll probably be in pen

36. Do you know where the last person you kissed is?

Either at home or running errands

37. Do you believe in love at first sight?

Shit no

38. Who did you last call?

Not counting work calls, I try not to call people if I can possibly avoid it. Uhhhhhhh…probably my mom.

39. Who was the last person you danced with?

hahaha “dance”

40. Why did you kiss the last person you kissed?

Because she was there and smoochable

41. When was the last time you ate a cupcake?

Haven’t had cupcakes in a VERY long time, have had very good muffins from Costco this week though

42. Did you hug/kiss one of your parents today?

Nope, they live in Virginia and I don’t

43. Ever embarrass yourself in front of a crush?

Am I misunderstanding what you do to attract a mate?

44. Do you tan in the nude?

I don’t tan.

45. If you could, would you take back your last kiss?

Nope, that’s my smooch and I’m keeping it

46. Did you talk to someone until you fell asleep last night?

Sorta. RP is kinda like talking, right?

47. Who was the last person to call you?

Realtor.

48. Do you sing in the shower?

Not really. If anything I hum; being able to hear myself too well makes me get quieter

49. Do you dance in the car?

Drum stuff out, finger-piano on the steering wheel, occasionally headbang.

50. Ever used a bow and arrow?

Once, and I’d love to again. The first/last time I fired a bow I took ten shots and bullseyed six.

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?

College. Never doing that shit again.

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy?

That’s sort of the point of them. The question isn’t are they cheesy, it’s are they good.

53. Is Christmas stressful?

Of course it is. The only time it’s not is when you’re too young/old to have conscious thoughts, because even young children worry endlessly over what they’re getting or if they’re getting anything or what if santa thinks they were bad

54. Ever eat a pierogi?

I fucking love pierogi but I’ve only ever had the frozen ones from Mrs. T’s, Dwyn and I keep saying we should find time to make some and see how much better it is

55. Favorite type of fruit pie?

Don’t really do pies of any kind except for French Silk. Fruit pie filling is a wierd texture I don’t really enjoy

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

Architect and animator

57. Do you believe in ghosts?

Enough to be unsettled late at night by noises I can’t identify, not enough to be unwilling to sleep in an allegedly haunted house

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?

All day every day. No joke somedays I wonder if people who think they have psychic powers are just people with really persistent deja vu, it feels like magic

59. Take a vitamin daily?

vitamin coke or vitamin coffee

60. Wear slippers?

Technically the shoes I wore to work today could count as slippers. I call them my crazy-people shoes because they have no shoelaces and no fittings

61. Wear a bath robe?

only when it’s really cold in the house

62. What do you wear to bed?

Nothing

63. First concert?

Blind Guardian at the Pop’s in Chicago when I was 13. It was their first US tour and my parents are boss people who really wanted to humor their kid. People at the show realized this tiny barely-teenager in the back knew every word to every song and pulled me to the front, and there was no barrier between crowd and stage, so I got to lean on the stage and got smirked at by the guitarist. After the show I shook Hansi Kirsch’s hand and got my copy of Imaginations From The Other Side signed. Good times

64. Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?

Target

65. Nike or Adidas?

Neither, they’re both overpriced shit

66. Cheetos Or Fritos?

Cheetos

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?

Peanuts, although I’d rather have cashews

68. Favorite Taylor Swift song?

I don’t know any taylor swift songs nor do I care

69. Ever take dance lessons?

Nope

70. Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?

Hadn’t given that one any thought beyond helping her job hunt in the immediate sense. I can see her doing costuming on a professional level eventually, though

71. Can you curl your tongue?

I never know what people mean by this. I can make an “O” shape with my tongue but that’s it, I never figured out that clover shape

72. Ever won a spelling bee?

Multiple. I almost went national in …something-before-sixth-grade-because-I-remember-beating-sixth-graders but refused to go because I wanted to stop being stared at (seriously, I just didn’t want to go because I hated being on a stage). I’m sure that frustrated my mom

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

A few times, but not often

74. What is your favorite book?

One of the Discworld novels, but the answer is ever-changing because they’re all pretty goddamn great. Picking one out of a hat, Unseen Academicals is pretty rad just because it’s got such a great take on [thing that spoils the plot if I say it]

75. Do you study better with or without music?

I was not a studying kid, I was a “retains everything as long as nobody stops me from doodling while they’re teaching and it’s not about numbers” kid. Thinking about it I was probably doing some eidetic memorization tricks without realizing it, my fact retention is/was top notch when I cared

76. Regularly burn incense?

Nope, I have over 100 allergies and a lot of them are to plants so I’m not risking that bullshit

77. Ever been in love?

I am engaged to be married right now

78. Who would you like to see in concert?

Does Critical Role count?

79. What was the last concert you saw?

H…alestorm? I think? It’s actually been a while

80. Hot tea or cold tea?

Hot plz

81. Tea or coffee?

Tea if it’s just the drink itself, coffee if I can put a ton of shit in it so I can only barely taste the actual coffee

82. Favorite type of cookie?

Does Not Contain Raisins

83. Can you swim well?

I can swim, Iunno about well? I’ve never been in danger of drowning for lack of swimming ability, I guess

84. Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?

What an interesting question, it hadn’t occurred to me there are people who can’t until now

85. Are you patient?

When I choose to be

86. DJ or band, at a wedding?

If it’s affordable and the right band, band. Otherwise DJ and karaoke because HELL YEAH GET YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DRUNK AND LET THEM SING

87. Ever won a contest?

A smattering of spelling bees, a couple art contests, summer reading competitions. Nerd shit, yanno? Although I’ve won those water gun shooting gallery games at Six Flags every time there’s enough people to play, too

88. Ever have plastic surgery?

Nope

89. Which are better black or green olives?

Olives are gross

90. Opinions on sex before marriage?

It’s sex, who cares

91. Best room for a fireplace?

Living room and/or bedroom

92. Do you want to get married

I am engaged right now

@theengraver EAT ME

#prompty things #munday #theshadowborn

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thebritishblabbermouth · 6 years ago

Text

Jungkook Fanfiction- BTS Mafia AU- Part 2 (M)

Enjoy :))

@atricksterwithwings

‘’What an idiot. Sent his secretary... His beloved for a damned bag drop. And they say the man makes no mistakes.’’ Vermeer took a long drag from his pipe, letting the tobacco fill every cell in his body. The girl was half his size, why had he even bothered with the artillery? The task was simple; intercept the drop, kidnap the lovely prize and bring her to the den. The boss would use her effortlessly.

After all, she was the textbook tool for power play against the most feared man in all of Asia- the love of his goddamned life.

Jeon Jungkook would regret the day he denied the Russians their right into Korea.

He noticed you snuggle into the coat as you left the building, saw how you held onto the black duffel bag – as if your life depended on it. Vermeer smiled at the sight, the gold tooth embedded into his stained gums, glistening under the light of the falling sun.

It was show time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bile rose through the pit of his stomach and made his mouth rancorous with its taste. It was repulsive, what he had done, pathetic that he had slacked off to such great an extent. He had chosen to ignore the signs that lurked before him and now he suffered from the consequences.

The Russians had stayed silent for months, licking at their wounds like bruised kittens, unable to believe he had set fire to three of their Ammunition factories- in simple retaliation for the fact that they had demanded 41% shares in his East Asian Empire. And what for? Because they assumed he was too inept to lead his syndicate, and by far too immature to tie hands with the Americans without permission from the Soviets themselves.

Permission could go to hell.

Jeon Jungkook stood in solitude and guarded his territory with every breath he took, all the while making sure every decision lead to monetary advantage for Euphoria. Tying his hands with the Americans had led to a rise in opportunities, the west coast being the prime location for his business. California offered low cost marketing with prodigious returns in gambles, drugs and not to mention their seemingly non-existent immigration loop holes. Entering America had been the most prosperous movement of his career and the soviets couldn’t handle his flourishing gains.

But he knew they would strike back- had even loosened business in a few of his areas so that they could take the fall for him.

However nothing could have ever prepared him for this.

He saw your pale face on the monitor, the gag surrounding your mouth as you hung on the bar in the blackened room. Your hair fanned over your sweaty face and he could watch your lips tremble with fear.

Fuck

‘’What is it you want Anatoly…Neither of us have time for this shit.’’ He gritted the sentences through the phone and bit his tongue.

Vermeer had his eyes trained on your pale neck.

‘’Give me 30% and I’ll let this butterfly go.’’ Anatoly grinned as he watched Vermeer grip the skin on your nape, your head dipped backwards as the lack of air sent your brain into a frenzy. Jungkook watched your struggles against the cuffs on your wrists, uncontrollable tears streaming down your face, his own body tense with your muffled screams.

‘’You’re kidding me? There’s no way. Kill her. She means less to me than the trash on the road. Goodbye Anatoly. Go Screw yourself.’’ Jungkook muted the call in seconds, his hands racing as he saw Vermeer grip your throat once again. The camera placed inside the duffel bag was genius and Min Yoongi was immaculate in every task assigned. Like usual, no back drop had ever occurred without a video recording as proof. Jungkook had an approximate of 15 minutes before Anatoly took his words seriously, 15 minutes to find a solution to the problem and have you back in his arms- or at least inside his office.

‘’Yixing…I need a favour.’’ He said, clenching his phone so hard it might formed indents into his palm, heart rate accelerating by the minute.

‘’Jeon? All good? What is it you need?’’ The leader of White Jade spoke with great restraint. Jungkook had saved his triad from annihilation more than 3 years ago and he was yet to call in for his repayment.

‘’The Chinese- Russian branch in Guangzhou, Finish it.’’ Regardless of his hyperawareness and racing thoughts, Euphoria’s CEO stood calm and composed, the world blissfully unaware of the situation on the 77th floor.

‘’What? Why? It adds to 25% of my profit annually…do you have a particular reason?’’ Yixing chewed on his lip, unable to grasp the leader’s eccentric exigencies.

‘’I don’t necessarily think I need to give you an explanation Zhang…get it done, in the next 10 minutes. And expect to be the owner of Beijing by Friday.’’

The line dropped dead and Zhang Yixing had never gone to work faster.

Jungkook broke a sweat, the coolness of the high rise office did nothing to calm his fears. He knew Vermeer was sharpening his knife and he saw your eyes close with a kind of acceptance he had witnessed multiple times in his criminal career.

It happened almost instantaneously, Anatoly’s face paled and he swore belligerently. Yixing was a man of his words, the deed completed in no more than 5 minutes.

The site of the kidnapping had cleared in seconds, Vermeer left to handle the hostage on his own. Jungkook watched his men tear down the behemoth Russian with ease. He had boarded his own vehicle just moments after he witnessed Anatoly rush out of the room. It was imperative he see you for himself, to hold you in his arms and make sure you were alive.

He knew his heart wouldn’t stand another minute away from your own.

The shackles had just been removed from your fists, the ache in your arms dulling as you fell to the floor in a heap. But you didn’t feel the pain from the fall, for strong arms encased your lithe body into their own.

Jungkook.

You stared into his tenebrous eyes and witnessed an emotion you assumed he couldn’t feel.

Fear.

It was as clear as day, his ruthless stare turning soft as he stroked your gashed cheek with his thumb. His arm was wrapped around your waist, pulling you into his frame as his team swarmed around you, picking up the remnants of Anatoly’s organization. His palms entwined with your own and he walked you to into his Mercedes.

It was hard not to stare at him, hard to overlook the sensation of his supple skin against your own and impossible to ignore the butterflies in your stomach, even though your life had been threatened no more than 30 minutes ago.

His hand clasped yours until you stepped into his apartment, turning you to face his looming frame once again.

‘’They touched you.’’ He whispered, tucking your sweaty, dirty hair behind your ears- as if it were the most precious thing in the world. Your heart couldn’t help itself and it swelled at the slightest touch. ‘’How is it that everyone gets to touch you except me?’’ the comment was offensive, rude and completely inappropriate. But with the way Jeon Jungkook wrenched his eyes from your face only to rake them over your body, the anger and fear at its reddened state consuming him as he did, you knew he meant no harm.

You cupped his face in your hands and brought your chapped lips to rest over his. You didn’t need permission or apologies or intimidation.

You needed him.

He let you nip at his lower lip, let you cradle his cheeks with your soft hands, allowed you to express your aching need in the most natural of ways. The kiss was sloppy and unexperienced, his hands resting by his side- terrified to touch you, in fear that you’d walk away. Tears clouded his vision and his restrain loosened as you placed your hands onto his chest, clawing at his shirt with desperation- you had to touch him, to feel his heart beat against your palm.

The action sent him into a state of frenzy and he tightened his hold on your waist, pushing you onto the door. The force of his movements made you gasp, giving him the perfect opportunity to slip his tongue into your hot mouth. Your hands found themselves in his hair, tugging at his roots as he explored you raw.

It wasn’t gentle or kind, it was bruising, desperate and pure.

‘’Please Jungkook.’’ You whispered, trying your best to steady yourself against the lips that blazed a trail down your battered neck. It was as if he were trying to cover Vermeer’s dirty marks with his own.

The sound of his name made him halt his movements. Haands leaving your waist, eyes full of lust at the sight of your swollen lips.

‘’You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.’’ He snarled, pushing himself away from you.

It didn’t make any sense. There was no way you could’ve misjudged him, he wanted this just as much as you. You inched closer towards him, timid and nervous.

‘’If you think you can find a way into my pants and leave that fiancé of yours hanging, you’re dead wrong. Get out. I don’t deal with used property.’’ Jungkook turned on his heel and left you standing at the door, if only he had turned around- he would’ve seen the pain and hurt slice through your bleeding heart.

Part 1

Part 3

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crystalelemental · 6 years ago

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FE Fates Replay - Part 6

Okay...okay, I think I’m over Peri being here. Kinda. Not really, but enough to move on with our lives. God I hate her... Her levels have been better than some of my units with Aptitude! You couldn’t even just make her a bad unit?!

Ugh, whatever, chapter 12. The map itself is actually really cool. The idea is that there are a ton of jars lining the field, and they’re filled with poison or medicine. You can tell which is which when you hover over them. Attacking a medicine jar heals you or increases stats or something, for all units within a few spaces. Poison harms you, brings you down to half HP, or lowers stats, again, for all units with a few spaces. The concept of the map is to navigate through the maze by breaking the medicine pots strategically to make your way forward. I actually really like the concept of the map. I’m just...not entirely clear why this place, the most advanced medicinal center of the world, has a bunch of jars of poison laying out. Or the medicine, for that matter. You’d think they’d have a storage space for that shit, instead of leaving it lying around. Kinda strange, when you think about it.

Anyway, Ryoma is here, but you don’t have to fight him. You can either beat him, or escape within 16 turns. Failure to do so probably means Elise dies, since you can’t use her this chapter because of the illness. Saizo and Kagero are the mini-bosses, in a sense. They hover right near that nice dragon vein that shatters all the jars, and are paired up so they’re more defensive. Frankly, they seem kinda scary. High speed, high evasion, able to hit close or distant foes, and having an attack on them just negated if you miss too often? Pretty brutal. Or, well, it would’ve been, if Dragon Corrin wasn’t huge. She basically one-shot Saizo right away, and then massacred Kagero. It was not even fair, frankly. They didn’t deserve that hard an ass-whupping.

Now here’s where I want to note again: I am playing Casual. So at this point, I made a save, and did two different approaches. One was breaking all the jars instantly and seeing how that played out, and the other was leaving them. Leaving them lets you be a bit more precise in your movements, but I honestly found breaking them all immediately to be way more effective. A lot of enemies get hit with the poison, and since you’re causing the break, you can set up your units out of harm’s way. That said, this does immediately open up the path for like 10 ranged enemy units to swarm you, and most are ninjas so your defenses drop really fast. It’s surprisingly dangerous. I’m sure there’s a better way to handle this map, but we’re on a timer here so instead, Dragon Corrin is just going to bait all your fuckers out and take like no damage, then have everyone else run in and smash them to death. With that, all the remains is Ryoma. Who is also no match for Dragon Corrin’s hugeness. I paired her up with Nyx, and she deal something outrageous like 25 damage to Ryoma in that single hit, and took like 6. Being a dragon is kickass. Her dialogue with Ryoma is about the same as usual, but I did have Azura land the final blow, getting her unique dialogue with Ryoma as well. Honestly, it’s more of the “Ah, so you’ve betrayed us Azura!” stuff, and how I guess nobody from Nohr can be trusted.

Look...I get it. Nohr is the instigator in a war here. They are, by all accounts, the bad guys here. But my god if I’m not tired of having every single conversation with the Hoshidans turn into then yelling about all Nohrians being scum, and how being treacherous is just in their blood, yadda yadda. I know I shouldn’t conceptualize it this way, but my god do the Hoshidans come off as way more belligerent. Sure, we have the inside perspective of what the Nohrians in general are like, being inside the kingdom, but like...okay, imagine in Heroes, if everyone who met Laegjarn and Laevatein just kept shouting about how they’re horrible awful people and their whole kingdom is a bunch of back-stabbing sub-humans. That’s basically how Hoshido approaches Nohr, solely because the king is insane and evil. I get that they’re angry, and they’re right to be so, but their approach to people legitimately trying to act with a sense of decorum and decency is still to constantly call them scum and dismiss the whole kingdom. Seriously, fuck you guys.

After Ryoma gets fucking bodied, Elise is given the medicine and is back to full strength! From here we are given our next assignment. There’s another rebellion in Cheve, and we’re to put it down. Boy Garon, you’re sure doing a great job leading, what with the constant rebellions going on. So, off to Cheve it is, where we meet...oh god yes. It’s Takumi again. Oh man, I am going to kick his ass into the fucking dirt. He yells more stuff about Nohr being traitors and shoots Elise with an arrow, securing his death. The rebellion is all mad and shit, and Corrin gives another order to not kill anyone. Early on, we get two new characters, Benny and Charlotte. Benny doesn’t stand out much at all, so not much to report. Charlotte...is the only character whose outfit might be worse than Camilla’s. The win still goes to Camilla, because...my god, lady. But Charlotte is a front-line warrior, who’s barely wearing clothes. I think I’d be less pissed if her defense growth wasn’t so high. Look, this is a series with units in heavy armor and units in cloth armor. There’s meant to be a distinction in which stats are good. Her having great defense is not following the damned rules! Also I think the armor part above the cleavage pisses me off too. Like, if you’re going for the whole seductive appearance, go all out. That stupid little bit of armor ain’t doin’ shit anyway. That said though, her introduction is threatening to kill everyone for being too noisy at night, so like...I can relate. Might be another situation of “solid character, shitty costume.” But she sucks up to Corrin really hard, so she’s kind of all about the attention from others, and is a bit of a gold-digger in general. So we’ll see if that goes anywhere in supports.

Map itself isn’t that interesting, so once you win, Hans, of course, does his thing and starts killing everyone. “Uh, um...the king! Yeah, the king totally told me to do it, so you gotta follow my lead on this one!” Camilla apparently agrees and insists that there’s nothing we can do here. Listen...I’m pretty sure there’s a solid argument for not listening to the current commanding officer being a punishable offense. I get the king’s decree and all, but you know how Leo and the others constantly think around the problem and look like they’re obeying but don’t actually obey? Yeah. This is like...the easiest time to do that. Evacuate the townsfolk and sticking Camilla’s axe in the back of Hans’ skull, and call it a day. The village is gone, as far as the king knows, and Hans’ death was in battle. They don’t know the difference. “Oh, but Iago might be spying on them.” Bullshit. Iago could be doing a lot of things, but he only shows up to be slightly annoying. Besides, if he were really so vigilant, then Leo wouldn’t be able to pull of anything he’s pulled off in the game. We can’t throw out “Iago is watching” as a convenient catch-all for everyone, except for Leo because the plot needs to make us think that he’s the clever one so no one else is allowed to think around problems.

Chapter 14, the group arrives for some more rest in Cyrkensia, which mostly seems to be about a big theater. It’s a neutral territory, which I wasn’t aware existed in this conflict. Leo finally joins us and is around, I guess. Corrin attempts to confront Garon about the situation in Cheve, and he’s just like “Good job on killing all those innocents. I hear you even seemed to enjoy the work. That’s the kind of thing I expect of you.” Like, buddy. Guy. Are you an idiot? You know full damn well Hans was full of shit on that report, and by now you know that Corrin wasn’t going to go along with it either. Honestly, this is the biggest problem with Garon, he’s inconsistent. For such a merciless guy, he sure keeps giving Corrin a ton of second chances after she constantly and consistently defies him. Almost like...everyone’s kinda full of shit? And that Corrin can do whatever she wants because plot armor? Weird.

Azur-uh, the totally mysterious performer on stage, gosh-golly who could it be, attempts to sing this magic song that is too lit for the king to handle, so he has a combined orgasm/heart attack and nearly bites it. Iago, ever the clever advisor, is like “HOLY SHIT, THAT PERFORMER CAST A CURSE ON THE KING!” I...don’t think that’s particularly likely, guy. But no, everyone just goes along with that, as if it’s the obvious answer. So yeah, I guess that’s what we’re doing now. Catch the mysterious singer. Oh, wait, the Hoshidans are here. Better fight them first.

Keaton shows up, mostly because he has no sense of direction and kinda just bumblefucked his way here. He seems cool. Wolf man that collects bugs and shit. He’s alright. The map itself was pretty uninteresting. Mostly it’s just a lot of flying and ranged units on very narrow paths, so it’s kinda hard to defend everyone effectively when the enemy is so much less hindered by the terrain. Also there’s a cleric who uses the Freeze staff, and my god am I already getting tired of that one.

After the map, Garon commands you to kill all the performers in this neutral territory, because that’ll go over well on the global stage. Sure doubt that’ll set the neutral territories in motion against you. Corrin is mortified and does that arguing thing, and Leo gets to be the only smart one and takes her aside, and tells her that they’re going to follow orders by looking in really unlikely places so everyone can escape. See, this is what I’m talking about! Iago’s literally in this general area, and yet the plan is spelled out and carried out without a hitch! Why couldn’t anyone have figured this out back in Cheve?!

Chapter 15, this is another fun map. Corrin is still upset about all the needless killing lately, and sees Azura taking a walk as well. Thinking about how similar their situations are, she follows, and finds Azura sinking into a lake! Fearful that she’s drowning, Corrin chases Azura, and falls through the lake herself, into this mystery world full of weird soldiers that are apparently not able to feel any emotion at all and just seek to kill. Gunter shows up and is apparently alive and well here, so that’s cool. Really, there’s a lot I can recall that pisses me off about this hidden world, but that’s for a much later time when they try to explain shit. For now, just know that I hate this place.

The map itself is neat. The dragon vein splits your party into two copies, one in the north and one in the south. A unit and their copy share damage and stat changes, so anything that hurts one hurts the other. Also only the real Azura in the north can do the singing thing. It’s a neat concept, and having only three units to do it is an interesting limitation, but...one of them is Azura, who is very weak, and her copy can’t even provide multiple turns. And the other is Gunter, whose stats are not terrible but who comes with no preparation and the worst growths in the entire game for some reason. At least you get a bunch of stat upgrading items if you can clear it fully.

Now...this is where things get dumb. Azura informs you that you must jump off this cliff, and you’ll arrive at the bottomless pit that Gunter got kicked into. Why? Dunno, that’s just how they’re connected. Corrin asks why they can’t just go back through the water, and Azura informs her that only Azura and Corrin are able to do that, so Gunter would get left behind. Corrin asks the logical follow up of “Why the hell would that be the case?” but this question is ignored so that there’s more shit they can explain in the true route. I’d call this foreshadowing, but I think foreshadowing comes with a degree of subtlety. Azura jumps, and Corrin follows, with Gunter going last. Oh, I forgot something. Azura informs them that “time flows differently in this hidden world,” which is bullshit code for “we needed a way to get Corrin and Azura alone for this next scene, so Gunter not showing up immediately with them is because the flow of time is convoluted.” So begins the true contrivance train. Azura uses a magic crystal from the hidden world that can show you the truth of things. She uses this to show Corrin the truth of King Garon, that he is a weird goo monster! Literally, he’s made of goo. Callie didn’t believe me when I called him a goo monster, but she has since acknowledged this is the only explanation for him. What does this mean? No idea. Initially, I would’ve said he was killed and replaced by the thing, but Azura further explains that her performance in Cyrkensia (*gasp* It was her the whole time?!), was to restore Garon to his senses, implying that he’s still the same human, just corrupted into...whatever this is. Somehow. God, I hope they can explain how the fuck this happened, but I doubt they can. Azura explains that this song was the only way to restore him, and that it failing means there’s only one option - regicide. About time someone on this fucking team started talking any sense.

CONTRIVANCE TWO! Corrin says no one else would go along with this, and that they can’t tell the other siblings about this because, as Azura explained earlier, if you talk about the other world, you’re cursed and get drawn back in, never to leave. Because if you could just talk about the problem, then this entire plot, from start to fucking finish, would be resolved in the span of like 5 minutes. We needed a contrivance to say why they can’t just do that. But hey, you know, Awakening’s story just wasn’t that good, and we’re here to do a better job. They remember the Hoshidan throne, and that sitting upon it would restore someone’s true memories and shit, so their new plan is to gain Garon’s trust and have him sit atop that throne and be revealed as a good monster. So let’s just run with that.

Chapter 16, Xander finally joins us! He has a nice introduction with Corrin and Azura in particular, mentioning that when Azura came to Nohr, it was with Garon’s second wife, Arete. Now...I’m confused. So, diving into things from my last playthrough, Mikoto and Arete are siblings, from Valla. Arete had Azura before marrying Garon, so I’m assuming that Garon must’ve already had his four kids by the time she shows up, since none of the Nohrian siblings are apparently related. But Xander only mentions Camilla and “later, Leo” in his explanation of the other siblings liking her despite the masses not liking her. So...when were the kids born? Because in addition to this, apparently Elise has no memories of her father ever being a good person, which I believe happened shortly after Arete, who must’ve come in after Leo was born but maybe not before Elise? It’s so fucking confusing.

Anyway, we’re on the direct war-path with Hoshido. We’re told to go by sea, since they’d never expect a sea-based attack! Garon makes some comment about outsmarting them at every turn, and it’s like...guy, listen. I know you think this is super clever, but unless the Hoshidans are full-on dumbasses, they thought about the fact that the navy can get to them too. Iago also attempts to be a shit, by asking where Corrin and Azura went last night. Corrin, in the span of like two seconds, seems to have learned how to lie really well, and gives the story that they went out for a stroll, encountered some unknown soldiers, and killed them all. She even parrots Garon’s thing about rebellion and seeds and all that. Our girl is learning...

No sooner do you leave port than you are besieged by pirates. Yes, pirates have snuck aboard, and are taking all the gold you set off with! ...a few questions. (1) Why is this gold not in your pockets? (2) When you win, why is some of the money gone forever? You’re at sea, and there are no pirate vessels nearby. They all snuck aboard ahead of time, and have no exit point. So where the hell did the money go? This mechanic makes no sense. I will admit though, I do like the idea of balancing keeping your characters alive, and saving as much money as you can in this kind of route where funds are limited. It’s a cool idea, it just doesn’t make sense. You’ll also note that the goal is “beat the boss,” but the boss isn’t present. Part of your goal is to identify which Nohrian soldier is in disguise, and out them as the leader. Again, really cool idea, for a fairly nonsense map.

There isn’t a ton going on with the map outside of this, but you unmake the boss, Shura, and probably kick his ass really hard now that you have Xander. Shura talks a lot, but the only thing of value he says is that he’s the one who had kidnapped Azura as a baby, under orders from Yukimura, the tactician for Hoshido. Shura explains that he doesn’t really have allegiance to either nation, but wants to avenge the death of his clan. You are given the option to kill him or spare his life. I sincerely thought about killing him, just to know what happens, but I did let him live. Corrin thinks he deserves a break after all the shit that’s happened to him, so that’s fair I guess. With this, we press on toward Hoshido.

UGH. God, I knew the plot would take a downturn, and here we are. EVERYTHING about that hidden world, Valla, is just stupid beyond words. I hate its existence. Even just smaller things at this point bother me. There’s no reason Leo has to be the only one with an ounce of sense. Hell, he even states that all the siblings have become masters of seeming to obey while making judgment calls for the greater good, yet no one else is allowed to demonstrate this ability because then Leo loses his only characteristic so far, being clever. Honestly, the characters have been doing okay, but the plot’s holding them back. So next time, instead of plot, I’m going to be doing the supports. All of them. We gotta figure out who’s getting paired up with who, after all. So stay tuned for me going insane, because now I have to deal with Peri talking. God...if you’re listening...please...look down upon the development team for Three Houses. If they’re making another fucking character like Peri, where she’s just infantile and murder-happy, give them a sign that they need to knock that shit off.

#fire emblem fates replay #fire emblem fates #everything about valla's involvement is garbage

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shemakesmusic-uk · 3 years ago

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INTERVIEW: Elohim.

Los Angeles-based artist Elohim recently released her new EP Journey to the Center of Myself Vol.2.

Earlier this year, Elohim announced to the world her four-part Journey to the Center of Myself project, the first volume of which was revealed on June 25. The project came as a result of setting up a home studio during lockdown, which provided a creative period of inspiration reminiscent of her early years spent learning her craft; without rules, expectations, or schedules.

With multifarious production styles and a voice that lends itself as well to an EDM banger as it does a delicate piano ballad, the Elohim sound is hard to pin down. Journey to the Center of Myself Vol.1 was heralded by a variety of sounds, including Scandi-flavoured pop banger ‘Nice’, the chiming and ethereal melodies of ‘Creatures’ reminiscent of the likes of Purity Ring, and lead single ‘Strut ft. Big Freedia’ - a surefire cut for the catwalk.

Whilst Volume 1 is seen as the beginning of Elohim’s passage to self-discovery, Volume 2, shows Elohim searching for a state of optimum happiness; stepping into a self-made dream world to find the confidence to handle any situation.

We had a chat with Elohim all about the EP, the project as a whole, the struggles she has faced in the industry and more. Read the interview below.

Hi! How has this year been for you so far? You've been very busy!

“Hi!! It has been an interesting year for sure. Somewhat emerging out of isolation has been a lot more difficult mentally than I thought it would be. And it is ok to admit that. I felt a bit alone but the more I talked to people the more I realized I wasn't. I played my first show in a year and a half this year in Chicago. I headlined, I played Lollapalooza and I played Hard Summer. I've been creating and releasing music. I feel lucky every day for those opportunities but they don't always come easy.”

You've recently released your new EP Journey to the Center of Myself Vol.2 which is the second installment of a four part project. Tell us how more about how the project came about and what this volume is about in particular.

“Before Covid hit I was on my headline "Group Therapy" tour and I had planned to release my full length album around shows in summer 2020. Everything changed and I went back to the drawing board.. aka my bedroom.. and made a ton of new music. I already had the title for my album Journey to the Center of Myself, but once I decided to actually make four volumes the title took on a whole new meaning. I really feel like over the last year and a half I really got to the center of myself. It felt like my first years of creating and producing but with way more life experience, shows, and releases. It just felt free.. none of us knew what was going to happen or when isolation would end.”

Musically, how is the Journey to the Center of Myself project different (or similar) to your previous releases? Were there any musical influences or sounds that you were able to incorporate on this that you hadn’t previously?

“The process of making a lot of this music was some of the most freeing moments I've ever experienced. I had many instruments all set up and ready to record. I was able to jump from a drum kit to an acoustic piano to an analog synth seamlessly. I love creating like this. I love being able to jam and get as weird as I possibly feel I need to at that moment... or be able to sit down at the piano and write a ballad. No rules, just freedom.”

What was the most challenging part of creating Journey to the Center of Myself?

“Honestly the most challenging part was narrowing down the music into four different EPs. I created SO much music over the last year and a half. They all become my babies and they all are my favorite songs when I make them. So that was really the only challenging part.. having too much cool music... haha but in all seriousness it's actually such a blessing.”

What do you hope fans will take away from the project?

“I hope that in some way it makes the listener feel less alone in their own personal daily struggles. I want them to feel loved and appreciated. I make this music to give a magical, meaningful experience and everyone wants and needs something different and that is the beautiful thing about music. It can mean different emotions to everyone.”

And what can we expect from volumes 3 and 4?

“I really went deep and went to the center of me more so than I had before on volumes three and four. Three has some very dark, raw and real moments. I've told stories I've never told before on volume three, a side of me I've not shown. And as for volume four I self produced, wrote, created and sang in my bedroom during a global pandemic. The fourth installment is probably the most "me" music I've ever made. There are a lot of instrumental tracks. It is my calm, my peace, my love.”

You have collaborated with so many amazing artists over the years. Which has been your favourite so far and why?

“It is hard to say my favorite, but one of the most meaningful songs that came from a collaboration is ‘Love is Alive’ with Louis The Child. That whole day was really wild because we were both such new artists and had never met. But when we got in the room the flow was flawless. We danced around and made the song in a few hours! The most magical thing about music is that you create it out of thin air and then share it through the airwaves. Trips me out! Music is medicine.”

What struggles, if any, have you faced as an artist in the music business and how have you overcome them?

“There are constant struggles in music. Being an artist is really hard on the body, soul, and mind. It's a constant challenge to keep myself healthy while managing a music career. We want so much as humans, especially as artists living in a dream world in our brains all the time, that sometimes it is hard to enjoy what is right in front of us in the moment. I have to take time and look back on all I have done and how far I have come to really enjoy the present.”

If there was one thing you could change about the music world today, what would it be?

“More emphasis on art, less emphasis on plays, likes, and views.”

100% agree! Finally, what else is next for you? I expect you're excited to get back on stage? Any non-musical goals?

“Non musical is to keep discovering myself and transforming into the best version of me.. an ongoing goal and aspiration. I am really excited to start playing shows again, collaborating, and getting to hug humans. Really looking forward to sharing a side of me I've never shared before and cannot wait to put volumes three and four into the world.”

#interview #elohim #journey to the center of myself

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waywardstxne · 7 years ago

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✤ -HIT ME W UR BEST SHOT (4 Kalosian hot cross buns)

Neighbor Girl: 1:25 AM: Are you crazy?

1:27 AM: Absolutely.

Neighbor Girl: 1:40 AM: Whatever. See you in 20.

It was no wonder that the girl hadn’t stopped replying to him altogether by now, considering his habit of requesting her company at inopportune times that usually fell somewhere between twilight and four in the morning. Unlike Serena, who was a young and busy professional, he had fell to the wayside following a remarkable triumph over the temperate region’s league, unable to decide how to spend a copious amount of free time. In comparison he was, to put it bluntly, completely irresponsible compared to his rival, having such an innate fear of rules and conformity that he often took odd jobs here and there, whether it was working as a coquettish barista by day or masquerading as a brooding street musician by night. He’d had no desire to take on the full responsibility of a championship, wanting nothing to do with the publicity or logistics of the position. The trainer was still considerably young, and in some forefront of his chameleon soul he felt that the responsibility would only restrict his ability to do as he pleased, the boy becoming wildly bored with any inkling of routine. With all this taken into consideration, Calem operated on a completely different level than Serena, and yet somehow they managed to make their strange friendship work.

The night had been yet another where he had texted her out of the blue, so perturbed by the quiet of the evening that he just had to do something, no matter how impractical. That, and this particular night was especially opportune, as it boasted the beginnings of the year’s most brilliant presentation of natural beauty: the Aquanid meteor shower. It was something that he had always cursed himself for not witnessing, always finding himself preoccupied with something else or forgetting about it altogether until it was too late. But this year he was determined that things would play out differently, so around the peak viewing time he texted the girl, grinning in amusement at her typical reluctant response that was always polished with the perfect amount of annoyance.

It was approximately two in the morning by the time he had managed to climb on top of one of the clay rooftops littering the city of light, his silhouette dark against the faint blue of the horizon as he took a moment to take in the ethereal beauty from up above the streets. The myriad of endless lights, bright and mingling like fireflies, offered him a sort of inner tranquility that he couldn’t describe, the kind that rendered all of the chaos and anxiety within his soul moot. Smiling wistfully with a certain vulnerability that only emerged in solitude, he cautiously lowered himself into a sitting position upon the rooftop, allowing his considerably long legs to dangle over the side of the building into the void below.

Knowing that it would most likely be frigid at such heights, he had opted for a sensible but stylish ensemble: a navy blue wool cardigan fitted over a slate gray sweater, underneath which a white colored shirt complimented his thin yet lithe frame. Paired with dark denim and a brown dress boots, he was probably too dressed up for such an activity, save for the beanie that made a futile attempt to calm his unruly hair. Polished off with a subtle mist of a cologne crafted in Lumiose itself, it would be fairly easy for one to accuse him of trying to impress his star viewing partner, which of course he would have replied with an exaggerated, unconvincing laugh and incredulous scoff. However, sitting in the darkness allowed him to truly mull over what he had proposed, his eyes glancing down at a sack containing a bottle of Kalos produced cabernet and two cheap yet sturdy glasses. Staring at it for a moment, victim to his own paranoia in the silence, his lips pressed into a thin line, his brow furrowing as he almost considered dropping into an alleyway adjacent to the building. She wouldn’t misconstrue it all, would she? So what if it happened to be a stereotypically romantic venue and that he had snagged a bottle of wine on the way over? Friends drank wine while watching meteor showers all the time!

Rolling his eyes at his own uncertainty, he leaned back, his eyes cast towards the sky in case any blazing chunks of rock made themselves apparent. He had chosen the location strategically, selecting an old brick and mortar boutique that probably hadn’t seen business in at least fifty years. It was located on the ground level of a multi-story apartment building, one that was luckily equipped with an old fashioned fire escape that allowed for a straight shot to the roof. It was a bit obscure and difficult to locate in the darkness, but its location in an abandoned retail area in the outskirts of the city meant that the city lights did less to inhibit the interstellar show. As the minutes passed, he became a bit worried that the instructions were perhaps too unclear or reckless for her liking, the trainer knowing how practical she was in comparison to himself.

Reaching a hand into his pocket to retrieve his phone, he paused as the sound of an acute metallic clang penetrated the still of the night, the sound repeating in twos as if born from footsteps. Raising an eyebrow, he twisted from his spot on the ledge, his eyes narrowing in the murky atmosphere as an indiscernible figure sauntered towards him. Before he could decipher whether it was a human or a stray Pokemon, a clear, feminine voice rang through the night, the owner obvious by the reprimanding tone alone.

“First of all, this was the best…location…you could…chose?!” she huffed in between labored breaths, bending at the waist to gather her bearings as the dim, golden glow of streetlights below illuminated her intense, icy blue glare. “Do you know how hard it was to find this place? I wasn’t exactly intending to climb any buildings in this outfit, you know.”

“Always a pleasure to see you too, Serena,” he jested lightly, an amused smirk painting his features as she approached him, her petite yet slender form gaining clarity as she lingered a considerable foot or two from where he sat. When she remained stoic and stationary, her arms crossed tightly across her torso, he raised an eyebrow, shooting her a curious look.

“Well aren’t you going to sit and stay a while?” he insisted, to which the other gave a singular, vehement shake of her head, her body language guarded and wary. She remained standing, her cerulean gaze seeming to scan the city in a nondescript, erratic fashion.

“What, you afraid of heights or something?” The brunette gave a playful scoff, his eyes narrowing once again in an almost challenging manner as the devilish half smile lingered on his face. “I never knew you were such a chicken.”

That comment seemed to shake her from her cocoon, the blonde casting an irritable, burning look in his direction as her arms fell to her sides. “God, you’re such an ass! That’s not it at all. I was just…taking in the view, that’s all,” she mumbled unconvincingly, padding cautiously to the edge before lowering herself into a position that mimicked his own.

Once there, they sat in silence for a few long moments, Calem casting a sidelong glance in her direction as her attention seemed fixated on the sky. It had been a while since they had last seen each other due to their widely varying schedules, and no matter how many occasions they did spend together there was always some sort of stifling division between the two, a tension that did not exist between him and his other friends. His words always felt a bit more fumbling around her, his natural confidence faltering in a manner that was disguised by flirtatious quips and teasing remarks.

As she glanced back over at him, appearing confounded as to why he was staring, he quickly looked away, not realizing that he had drifted into an absentminded reverie.

“What?” she asked, her voice sharp and defensive, a bit of concern lingering beneath. Shrugging nonchalantly, he hardly had time to properly formulate a response before the words fell out of his mouth, hasty and inelegant.

“You look good,” he murmured, feeling a torrent of blood rush to head as if he had consumed the entirety of the unopened bottle of wine. He blinked in shock at the tenacity of his own statement, the surprise quickly dissipating into a self contented, smug smile. At his words, her visage automatically turned beet red as though a switch had flipped, her features screwed up in a mixture of disbelief, embarrassment, and anger as she hit his forearm.

“W-What? What are you talking about? Are you messing with me right now, because I am not in the mood, I just left from a long night in the studio and –”

Her rambling, incredulous words were cut short as he extended a peace offering in the form of a wine glass in her direction, the girl taking it with quiet reluctance as she watched him with marked wariness.

“C’mon neighbor girl, stop taking everything so seriously. Forget your job for one night, and enjoy what the world has to offer. You might miss something extraordinary with all that running around,” he insisted, twisting to retrieve the opened bottle. Removing the cork with a resounding pop, he met her gaze evenly, tilting the bottle so that the vermilion, aromatic liquid flowed steadily into the glass. “Say when.”

Serena watched him silently, her gaze meeting his own in silent opposition as the wine continued its descent into the glass. As the volume neared the top rim, he rolled his eyes as an exasperated gasp emanated from his lips, the teen drawing the bottle back so that the wine didn’t spill over and stain her mauve hued sweater dress.

“Wow, rude. Am I really that terrible to be around?” he asked in a falsely offended manner, his eyes focused on his own glass as he filled it halfway with the alcohol. That comment in particular seemed to draw some inkling of amusement in the girl, breaking through her circumspect barrier as a small twinge of a smile decorated her elegant features.

“Yes.”

With that, they sat there for a while, sipping at their respective beverages and exchanging their typical small talk, the topics ranging from what new designs Serena had managed to conjure up that week and what sort of classical melodies Calem had managed to twist into his own brooding tunes. As glasses were refilled and the bottle inadvertently emptied, the two gradually became more at ease with each other, the girl having even closed the cautious distance she had kept from her rival, the foot turning into a mere few inches.

With a sort of confidence that only subtle intoxication could provide, he peered down at her in silent reverence, dark eyes admiring the way that the silver light of the moon illuminated her gentle features. Ever since he had met her it was hard to dismiss her graceful, classic sort of beauty, the teen harboring a crush that he kept formidably repressed for the sake of their fervent rivalry. It seemed to only grow as they got older, the other always finding new ways to compliment her appearance with her growing career as the young man was left fumbling, trying to keep up with her effortless style.

He was shaken from his brief spell of infatuation as a small, excited gasp came from her lips, the blonde’s eyes sparkling vigorously as she prodded his shoulder. “I can’t believe it, I saw one! I never thought you’d be able to see them from the city,” she exclaimed, her energy quickly calming into a subdued state of wonderment as she looked back to the sky. “It was so beautiful…”

“What? Not fair, I haven’t seen one yet,” he huffed childishly, following her line of sight up to the darkest portion of the sky. Sure enough, within mere moments a dazzling, swift streak of light traced a blazing path across the sky, its trail followed by several more, all painting a brilliant image of indescribable natural beauty. Taken aback at the sight, he sat there in awe, the magical light reflected in both of their eyes as the phenomenon continued, the stars seeming to dance to a silent symphony. It was everything he had hoped for and more: the kind of humbling moment that made one forget themselves altogether, one where there were no deadlines to be met or explanations to be made. One in which the chaos of the world was deemed irrelevant, one during which not a single thought of tomorrow was entertained.

His heart twisted at the sight, a rare frown crossing his features as the stars continued their interstellar descent. Had things gone differently only a few months prior, all of this would have been gone. Vanquished. Obliterated. There would be no decrepit rooftop to serve as the ultimate makeshift theater, no rich taste of wine to greet the tongue, not even a world from which to view the galaxy.

“It could have all been gone,” he murmured quietly, his tone solemn and grave. “All of it. Everything. It’s…It’s fucked up, we almost all died. I can’t handle it sometimes… It keeps me awake at night all the time,” he admitted, raising his glass to take one last sip of the wine in a futile attempt to chase away the thought.

Serena looked at him with undisguised concern, her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to formulate some sort of comforting statement.

“You shouldn’t worry about that. You defeated them,” she stated plainly, always one for practicality.

The words seemed to strike a chord in him, the brunette turning to meet her gaze intensely. He was so tired of being labeled the unwitting hero, the underdog who had saved the world. In reality, he couldn’t have done it without the support of those behind him, the centerpiece of the group being none other than Serena. She was truly his rock, taking every loss graciously, teaching him techniques of battle that he had never considered before, and always encouraging the others in the group when he would revert into lapses of self doubt or irresponsibility. Had she not been there that day, navigating the dastardly, horrific lair alongside him, he wasn’t sure if he would have had the courage to go through with it all.

Struggling to find words, he looked away from her, releasing the weight of his inner turmoil with a single sigh.

“You’re always the know it all, but this time you’re wrong,” he stated bluntly, a part of his sober, guarded self screaming internally as if to warn him not to continue any further, should he regret it the next day.

Never one to listen well, he continued: “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Before the girl could object to his statement, his hand lifted from its place upon the concrete ledge as if propelled by its own autonomy, completely disregarding every blaring objection he would typically have about the idea. It lingered hesitantly in the still air for a moment before resting decisively on top of her own, the surface of his palm considerably clammy thanks to an exceptional case of nerves. At his touch, she snapped her head up to look at him, an astonished look taking over her features as her lips parted in preparation for an ardent protest. Upon realizing how serene he appeared, staring up at the stars with a quiet smile upon his face, her mouth closed, the blonde’s eyes staring down at her own shoes as her skin lit up in a solid bright scarlet.

Finding her reaction endearing, he appeared amused, making the bold decision to intertwine his fingers in the spaces between hers before closing the distance altogether with a definitive squeeze. She immediately tensed from head to toe, her own hand creating its fair amount of sweat, and for a few minutes they sat there in silence, neither of them daring to address what was happening. The wine eventually broke through her normal reservations, the blonde daring to rest her head on his shoulder, a small, secretive smile of her own appearing as she leaned her body into his. The action inspired a blush of his own, but he managed to keep his eyes focused on the sky, not wanting to seem more vulnerable than he had already revealed.

“Just so you know, tomorrow this didn’t happen.”

“Way ahead of you.”

There they sat for the remainder of the night, taking in the sight for all it offered all while indulging in a fluttering, comforting, dizzying feeling they would never admit by the light of day.

#kalosiantxt #say bye to your feels #drabble

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herselfportrait · 6 years ago

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INTERVIEW: ALEXANDER MILAS

(Written for Soundsphere Magazine)

In the boxing ring of journalism, Alexander Milas has more than a fair few champion title belts under his name - a little less heavyweight, a little more heavy metal. Embarking as a contributor to Kerrang!, the British oracle on all things hard rock, Milas interviewed a spectrum of the genre’s fabled heroes from Metallica and Slipknot to ‘The Prince of Darkness’ himself, Ozzy Osbourne. With his work across a smattering of publications, his career reached its apex when he became Metal Hammer’s Editor-in-Chief. Picking off the mammoth titles of GQ and Timeout, Milas has been crowned PPA Editor of Year during his decade at the iconic heavy metal music magazine. You might wonder where you could possibly go next, but Alexander Milas shows no signs of slowing down.

“So many people hate the way they’re going to spend their daytime,” Milas speaks, considering his departure from Metal Hammer. “Because I experienced that misery really early on, that has always motivated me to chase things that I’m passionate about. That hasn’t always helped my bank account, but it has always felt like I’ve never wasted my time. I had to think long and hard about what I wanted to do after writing for Metal Hammer. It led to me travelling around the world and meeting so many cool musicians and bands. I didn’t just want to take a desk job and kind of retire – I’m only 40 (which I know sounds like I’m older than time itself to most people), but I still feel like I have a lot ahead of me. I decided I was going to start something of my own and follow my instincts and resulted in Twin V.”

Twin V is a creative solutions company that has become Milas’ full-time occupation since 2017. The award-winning network of photographers, directors, social-media strategists, community managers, audio producers, and journalists, chaired and founded by Milas himself, have produced programmes for Iron Maiden; feature-length documentaries for Amon Amarth; and have even collaborated with the European Space Agency. “A lot of people think Twin V is to do with engines,” Milas laughs, “but the name was inspired by the legend that English archers and their longbows were so effective against mounted, heavily-armoured knights that they’d often have their first two, bowstring-drawing fingers chopped off when they were captured. Holding their two fingers up in the two-fingered salute became a common taunt. It has been a real ride, two years in, and it has been a lot of fun.”

Within two years, Twin V’s clients have been prestigious to say the least. Their work with the European Space Agency gave rise to Spacerocks: a celebration of space exploration and the art, music, and culture it inspires. In 2018, Twin V managed to secure Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May and ESA astronaut Tim Peake at Spacerocks’ panel show at the O2 in London. Speaking on Twin V’s rapid success, Milas is quick to say, “Your relationships are everything.” He continues, “If you ask yourself what a relationship is, it’s just trust. You’ve got to be relied on to do things, and I guess that’s where a lot of it came from. Some of the first people I worked with were people that I knew. Spacerocks, however, was very different. I felt like I had to get out of my own lane for a change, and I had a great opportunity to do that. James Isaacs was the extraordinary arts editor at Metal Hammer who is also a great creative; Todd O’Sullivan, the guy who produces The Golden Gun, it was made a lot easier because I’d had these great relationships with people I’d worked with for years. That’s the defining characteristic of everything successful that I have done: I have worked with great people. A lot of people make this happen, out front and behind the scenes. With Spacerocks, working with a European space agency, that’s a whole new set of relationships, which is of course very different from the music industry. You’d be surprised to know that a lot of people there really love music and art, and want to see it go forward.”

‘Successful’ isn’t quite the word Milas would use to describe himself. “Nothing I do feels successful at the time because I’m in the middle of it. I’m conscious that from the outside it looks like there’s a lot going on, but the truth is, like anybody, I’m still hungry and always looking for what’s next.” He reflects. “I think the worst thing you can ever do is coast on the inertia of past success. It’s done. It’s over. It’s all about what you’re doing right now and being in the moment. What I love about Twin V is that though it’s not always easy, it has given me a huge amount of freedom to literally create things. It’s a huge privilege. If I wake up in the morning and love what I’m doing, then I’m on the right path.”

There is a promise of more progress with Spacerocks for 2019; between that, and a number of hush-hush projects Milas wants to keep under wraps, he tells us that one project that is on the cusp of launching is World Metal Congress. The inspiration for his, he reveals, was an extension of his work at Metal Hammer. He flew to Mumbai, and other unlikely places across the world, and discovered incredible heavy metal music scenes. “It was just so energising to see so many people cooperating in that way, not only making amazing music, but really caring about metal.” He tells us. “Quite a lot of Metal Hammer’s coverage was about bands from further afield: Indonesia, Afghanistan, Syria – the list goes on. Once I left Metal Hammer, I didn’t want to just let that go. Working with an amazing team of people, we managed to organise a two-day event where we invite people from the industry – not just from the US or the UK – but the world. We’re talking musicians from as far away as Singapore, South Africa India, Lebanon. It’s really a global community. One thing that we hope to achieve is creating a forum for people to connect on a worldwide scale. There will be panels, bands playing, a couple of screenings, one of which is about the metal scene in Syria. Can you believe that exists?”

When we asked Alexander Milas to tell us what moment was the highlight of his career, it is quite an unlikely choice. “We got a bunch of metal-heads to write that metal was their religion on the UK census. That was brilliant – not because we beat the scientologists and the druids – but just because it pissed off a lot of people and stirred an incredible debate. I think I must have done 60 interviews around the world about that very thing. We’re having fun, but we were making a very serious point. There are a lot of people for whom heavy metal is more than a genre, it’s a lifestyle. People take it very seriously; it’s worth paying attention to. It felt like a middle finger up to all sorts of people, which I felt was in the spirt of metal.”

This shares a joint position of pride with creating Heavy Metal Truants, a charity he devised with Rob Smallwood, the manager of Iron Maiden. The now infamous charity cycle rides have generated more than £600,000 (not far at all from their goal of a very fitting £666,000) for children’s charities such as Nordoff Robbins, Teenage Cancer Trust, and Childline. “Gosh, that’s an ongoing joy,” Milas says.

The advice Alexander Milas has to offer applies not only to journalists, but to any creative. His pearls of wisdom are particularly valuable, after having worked in the industry for decades with people of all positions and walks of life – and, of course, having the honour of being top of the pile. “I feel unworthy to dispense advice really, because in many ways I’m still learning myself.” He confesses. “One thing that I have learned is that ‘it’ll do’ is not good enough – ever. You have to hold yourself to as a high a standard as possible at all times. It’s important to develop and cultivate your contacts. Don’t get over-ambitious; what you see as a photographer when looking at someone in the pit shooting a big band is someone holding a camera, but what you won’t see is how it took 25 years of experience to get there. Patience and humility to learn, enjoying the process, realising that you’re not going to get there today, but maybe tomorrow or the next day or the next day is a big part of it. I think, in a creative industry, you’re probably an idealist at some level because you’ve decided that you want to make the world better. Maybe you want to make it more visually appealing, maybe you want to share things that you are passionate about, so I think that this can lead to impatience. I am 42 years old, and I have never felt that I have reached a plateau that I am happy with. It’s not about reaching a plateau, it’s about asking yourself ‘Do I love what I am doing? Am I happy?’. If you’re waiting for some bright afternoon where everything falls into place, then you’re in the wrong industry. You’ve got to understand that there is always someone who’s going to be further along, and those are the people you can learn from. Let them be your guiding light. I’m very much on the same journey that anyone starting out is, except I’m probably just a little bit further ahead. The best advice I can give to any creative working in any field that is self-driven is to stay optimistic. It’s so easy to be beaten down by rejection, failure and competition. Every gets that way, including me, which is probably symptomatic of being a sensitive creative type. Tomorrow is always another day.”

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poppun-chan · 8 years ago

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The Year of Keroro Challenge Update 4 (Yes Sir)

Goodness, even though I mentioned looking forward to this one it took quite a while to write it (this has been a difficult week)in terms of watching I’m almost finished with the first season, actually, one strange thing I noticed was that the valentines episode actually lines up with valentines day. But before we get started Jlucy pointed out to me that the scene from episode 21 with the car is specifically a nod to “Castle of Caliostro” with the drivers being based on two of the main characters and the car being a nod to the Fiat from the movie. Actually I wonder if the writers for the dub had this in mind when they were writing; in the English version the driver mentions he was renting a car because he didn’t want to use his Fiat.

Either way I had planned to wait until there weren’t any text pieces to translate, but I have at least one more of these non-episode specific notes to do before we reach episode 65, so a bit on name origins (The ones for the Human characters will probably be less familiar, but still....)

Keroro-Kero, the noise a frog makes (I’ve always suspected this is actually a really common name)

Tamama-Otamajakushi, meaning tadpole (I really find myself wondering about his family background that his parents gave him a name that assumes he’s going to look like a child for a long time)

Giroro-Giro, the onomatopoeia for glaring at someone/something

Kururu-Kuru, it’s used as an onomatopoeia, a noun, and a verb, either way it refers to something twisting, spinning or turning (which is why his resonance creates a loop)

Dororo-It’s best known as a reference to the Osamu Tezuka manga Dororo, which takes place in the feudal era, it also works as a play on Doro-Doro which is the sound of something dripping

And the plan count:

Serious Plans: K66:16 D66:1 MMK:1 TMM:1

Funding Plans: K66:1

It’s a plan, I Swear!: K66:5 (I’m throwing the sports day mission in here too)

Oh look! Progress!: K66:3

And the marker board from episode 27:

Episode 22: Now first of all I’ve always enjoyed this episode, the absurdity, the cute break down Tamama has at the end, the completely impractical but still fun plan (actually I think Tamama only comes up with three plans over the course of the entire show and they’re all more or less the same basic concept). Plus the little stealth pun when Natsumi gets angry about the shower; she shouts “Kora!” which is an interjection that can be used as a reprimand, but it’s pronounced similarly to Cola.

Actually, speaking of this part I have to admit I sort of agree with Tamama’s point that Fuyuki could just serve that cake in the fridge instead of making dinner....Actually even the bit about accounting for nutritional balance could sort of be refuted; Baked goods often contain grains and eggs, not always dairy but ice cream and cheese cake covers that, his plan allowed tuna as an exception so that’s meat covered, plus many desserts are made with fruit and there are some made with vegetables (carrot cake, anything with pumpkin in it, corn cake), sure most people would probably either stop eating before this point or simply die trying, but theoretically it IS possible to get normal nutrients that way....Yes I’ve seriously thought about this; there are quite a few characters that can be explained this way.

Finally no discussion of this episode would be complete without bringing up the infamous letter, so I’m going to try and cover this in more depth since I have the luxury of making this a separate note. First of all, it’s written really oddly; everything except the word “leader” is written in katakana which you normally wouldn’t do (hiragana only is a different matter, but in modern times it’s considered a bit childish). One big issue with not using kanji is that it’s much harder to tell what you’re trying to say, plus katakana itself is a bit sticky since some of them strongly resemble each other or other kanji (one relevant to this is katakana ni resembling the kanji for two which is often pronounced the same way). The revealed part admittedly seems phrased a bit simply, but it says “Taichou wa Tamama ni” or “Tamama’s Leader” while the full message is “Taichou wa Keroro ni Makasetamama ni” or “Keroro will be left as the leader” I suppose the closest thing in English would be if the letters were a bit more spaced apart instead of grouped together

And fun fact; Etsuko Kozakura, the woman who provides Tamama’s voice, also did the voice of Puppetmon/Pinocchimon from the original Digimon series. I just thought I’d mention this since I noticed a few....similarities between their management styles (Though Tamama just imprisoned people who crossed him instead of....deleting them)....actually watching the episode and knowing this made me look into Digimon again, did you know one of the newer series has a Puppetmon who is one of the friend Digimon that shows up every now and then? Really. They have his nose grow when he lies (including to himself) and give him some really charming moments....and he shares his English voice with Keroro, hm.

Episode 23: And it’s the clone episode! I have to confess, the bit about the clones not having a star always makes me wish there was a video of the original Keroro singing the song from the Sneetches, the one where the starred Sneetches are roasting marshmallows....I know it’s a strange association to make, but....Come to think of it, I don’t think this was a manga chapter, I’m not completely sure and I know most of the season one episodes were based on the manga, but I know a few stories were anime exclusive and I believe this was the first one, either way it’s hilarious to see Keroro being the responsible one and getting annoyed by the behaviour of his own clones (still, at least there was an easily visible way of telling them apart, which is better than what happened with Pinkie Pie, some people still theorise that they kept the wrong Pinkie).

Now for a bit of a sticky area, especially since I’ve been putting up with my grandfather’s preoccupation with this particular time for most of my life, but I noticed something a bit odd. Even now, a lot of people seem to be weirded out by the “clone salute”, but they actually switched two of the syllables in the Aliens’ name for Earth because the original term from the manga was associated with the Sino-Japanese wars (I’m not sure which, there’s two major ones and a bunch of smaller conflicts, but the second big one was during the world war) and was banned from television. I’d be curious to find out what it is that makes one war reference more acceptable than another (maybe because calling Earth “Pokopen” alludes to much longer standing conflict with a specific country? I have to admit I always wondered if the best way of handling “touchy terms” would be to find a positive, unrelated use for them so they take on a new meaning and the old one eventually falls out of use; you often hear about the power of words, but it’s actually their meanings that have effect rather than the words themselves)

Episode 24: Oh dear it’s 556, I have to admit I’ve never liked this guy (though I will admit, I like the instrumental version of his song on the Christmas album) I know for a lot of people felt the same way with Joriri eventually replacing him, but it didn’t work the same way for me.

Actually, one thing I love about this episode is how when Keroro wonders about the emotions he’s feeling watching 556 fighting “monsters” they immediately cut to Tamama; it’s almost as if the cinematography is saying “Let’s ask your resident expert, shall we?”

Actually I recently looked at the Japanese version of the full character page again, I think there’s one surprising one on there; I know 556 and Labbie are references to Space Sheriff Gaven and a character named Annie from Space Sheriff Shaider, but the character page lists their relationship as Gukyou-Kenmai or “Goofy Older Brother, Wise Younger Sister” which was the original title for a T.V. series called “Otoko wa Tsurai yo” or “It’s tough to be a man” which later became a huge film series of the same title (Often called “Tora-san” after the main character, Torajirou), spanning 48 installments and nearly three decades (only ending when the actor playing Torajiro died). The films followed a similar formula of Torajirou the traveling salesman going home to his sister’s family, walking out after getting into an argument and meeting a distressed young woman in the next town he goes to and offering to let her stay at the family’s sweet shop if she needs it. Eventually this happens and he falls in love with her, but in trying to win her over indavertantly ends up setting her up with another man and ending up disappointed, but putting on a brave face and wishing her the best before journeying to another town in hopes of getting over her and eventually becoming somebody his family can be proud of.

The first movie was actually made to please fans of the original show who were upset that Torajirou died of a snakebite in the final episode, it also took quite a bit of convincing from the director to get the first movie made. Incidentally, the working title for the original show came from the final caption in another piece Torajiro’s actor played in

Episode 25: And here we have a Nishizawa family quarrel....which is appearently not considered complete unless enough money is spent that you could buy a small town and heavy weapons are nearly used (that’s the second time Keroro’s nearly let to Earth be destroyed only to be stopped at the last moment by the realisation that Earth is the official “Gunpla Planet”). Still there are some nice little moments (though I wonder if they ever did make that video, as long as they cut out the bits where they start to lose it could work)

Episode 26: Sports Day fun times ♪ Actually, has anyone ever noticed that whenever a show wants to slow down a sports day they usually target the scavenger hunt? Though now that I think about it, the cruel irony of all this is if they hadn’t tried to help, Aki probably would have made it in time to run in the race (or at least, the combined effect of accidentally speeding up the 100 meter dash and ruining some of the manuscripts). Though I do admit that I miss the parts from the manga where Momoka is running a race and the newspaper article at the end “Freak in tights crashes sports fest” I find it strangely hilarious the way they worded it. Also it’s amazing the things that become relevant later on, let’s see who remembers what I’m talking about.

Episode 27: First of all, I love the way Keroro offhandedly compares renewing interest in the invasion to reviving the dead (He already knows it’s a lost cause), it’s especially interesting considering they come across the remnants of a failed invasion later on. Actually I sort of want to see a spin off about those past invaders; not necessarily a big, dramatic, action-y thing mind you, honestly I expect it would be more or less the same thing as with Keroro but in ancient times, perhaps with the human characters being the ancestors of the current ones.

Also they use the pun of kaeru meaning both “frog” and “to return” quite a lot in the series. Though I have to admit I can relate to Keroro’s feelings a bit here; all of the women in my family have been quite formidable, especially for their time, and my mother is crusading to change the child welfare system in Canada (even though she’s never been in it) and doing all of these things for political change and I sometimes feel I can’t really measure up to that, even though I don’t plan on going into a related field. Plus because of her work I’m a bit burnt out on people issues, I focus more on environmental ones.

Episode 28: This one was a bit tricky, though I always thought the effect of the cold weather on the Keronians sounded more like windburn than all out frostbite. As for the second part this officially marked the beginning of the odd sort of dynamic of Mois & Kururu, I don’t remember how much it was explored in the show apart from her sometimes being who they went with when they needed a girl to associate with Kururu, though I remember a few moments from the manga that built on it, such as the “Angol Stone” chapter.

#keroro gunso #sgt frog #Year of Keroro Challenge

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crackmadhi · 5 years ago

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Technicians, Magicians and Princesses make the Best Sisters

Saturday, 17 March 2029

“Klavier, would you be so kind a get the panda?”, Nahyuta asked the rock star as he put down the plate with pancakes on the table.

Klavier obliged and went into Simon's room. He found the man laying on his back under about four different kinds of blankets. He attempted to go over to him and remove them with a quick movement, as the tall man sat up himself and eyed the rock star suspiciously.

“Never try to wake me up like this again”, Simon stated coldly as he stood up and stretched his arms.

"You're no fun", Klavier pouted and followed Simon into the kitchen.

As they came to the table Simon was rather surprised to see what the monk had managed to make out of the few things that had been left in his fridge.

“The eggs yolk should still be liquid. If you want it well-done, I'll cook it some more, but now sit down and take some pancakes”, the monk ordered him to sit down.

Surprised, but definitely smiling, the man sat down and took a pancake out of the plate while amusedly shaking his head. Discreetly he watched Klavier doing the same with a lot more yawning. Nahyuta on the other hand was quite lively, as he energetically started to cut his fried eggs. He was definitely a morning person and somebody who loved to eat.

A brief laugh escaped Simon's lips and earned him a pointed look from Nahyuta. The man rose his eyebrows and then asked him: “What's funny?”

Simon shook his head and took honey from the middle of the table.

“Nothing. Only that there's somebody here, who's even less of a morning person than I am.”

Softly Simon pointed with the knife in his hand to Klavier's direction, who had almost dropped a piece of sugar into the marmalade glass. Nahyuta only raised his eyebrows at the sight of this and did not even bother to comment on Simon’s observation. Klavier’s clumsiness in the morning spoke for itself.

The conversation died down after that for a bit. The three men simply ate in silence and just enjoyed their own company. They all also had their own little sorrows and problems that occupied their minds and kept them from talking anymore.

Well, until Klavier’s sleepy switch suddenly switched and he straight out asked the samurai: “How did you get us into your bed, anyway? I don’t remember how we got there at all.”

“You can’t recall that”, Simon responded flatly, “because you were asleep. Neither of you reacted when I picked you up and carried you into my room. You both slept like stones.”

“What?”, the blond asked unbelievingly.

“Don’t act so surprised”, Simon mumbled and handed the monk the soy sauce he had pointed at. “Neither of you is really heavy and I’m by all means anything but weak. As you may recall I was able to break my shackles. And I could do it again, if I was required to do so.”

“Well”, Nahyuta interfered while holding his hand in front of his mouth and then swallowed the food he had just been chewing, “it’s still quite troublesome to lift people our height. I’m six feet tall and Klavier is probably about the same. And I honestly can’t believe that you could have broken your shackles. They are made out steel and are able to hold back guys that are twice as wide as you. You’re just bluffing.”

Simon laid his fork down and mildly annoyed stared at the monk, while Klavier observed both of them curiously. In a way he found it amusing to see Simon so pissed and Nahyuta being so unreasonably bold.

“I could lift you and this chair without breaking a sweat, feather weight. And I have no need of bluffing about these things. Klavier saw me breaking them and your brother can tell you the same. I did break my shackles and I do not care for your baseless assumptions.”

Nahyuta’s eyes had widen slightly by that statement and he searched for confirmation in Klavier. The blond nodded agreeing with Simon’s word and gave the monk a sympathising smile. As Nahyuta then violently turned back in Simon’s direction in utter disbelief Klavier almost started laughing out loud. He had even more difficulties to contain himself, as he looked at Simon’s less than under impressed expression while he was demonstratively sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“Seriously? You are not shitting me right now?”, the monk said slowly realizing that Simon in fact might be telling the truth.

Now Simon actually started to chuckle. Seeing the man like this was just too amusing. He straightened up in his chair and then quickly stood up. Swiftly he stepped over to Nahyuta, carefully but quickly pulled back his chair and lifted the man up, just as he had done it the other night.

Nahyuta did not react at all out of shock, but only stared at him in bewilderment. The man had not been bluffing. He actually was able to pick him up easily and hold him simply in bridal style. And suddenly it dawned the man how they must look like right now and felt the blood rushing into his face.

Deliberately, Nahyuta put his hand on his collar bone and turned his face away from Simon’s chest. Slightly faltering but still composed enough he raised his voice and told the samurai with the shit-eating grin on his mouth: “I see… You have proven your point and elaborated why I’m wrong. Would you now please let me down? I do not appreciate being hold like a damsel in distress.”

Carefully the samurai let Nahyuta down. While he was at it, he explained: “Actually I haven’t really proven my point. You are indeed very light, and I think most people would be able to pick you up. To prove my point, I’d have to also pick up the chair and probably put a 25 pounds weight on it. And even then, it would not be that impressive.”

Huffily Nahyuta straightened the wrinkles in the foolish sweatpants and mumbled offended: “I’m not a lightweight. 149 pounds are perfectly fine for a guy my height and frame. You have no idea.”

“How much do you weight?! I’m barely 2 inches taller than you and am almost 60 pounds heavier! Are you eating enough?”, Simon asked Nahyuta with big eyes.

Surprised Nahyuta met Simon’s gaze and found real concern in the samurai’s eyes. Oh my, the man somehow reminded him of his always troubled mother. That was a bit unsettling.

“Cool down Simon. His weight’s fine. And you should not take yourself as a standard for weight. You are a huge guy with a lot of muscles and are like three times as broad as he is. And anyway, it’s a bad idea to compare weight. It’s really unhealthy”, Klavier interfered coolly.

The other two gave him a suspicious look. That tone definitely intended something more than Klavier had just said. Silently both men decided to let it drop. It might be a better idea not compare weight in front of Klavier again. It seemed to make him uncomfortable.

So Nahyuta went back at his place on the table and waited with speaking until Simon had sat down as well. When the tall man finally had settled down again, Nahyuta offhandedly told him: “I eat regularly an enough. I’m just constantly on the move and I rarely got the time to eat long dinners. And if it wasn’t for that I probably would be rather chubby. I put on weight pretty fast.”

As Nahyuta said that last sentence, he made a sour face.

Simon barked a laugh and Klavier knitted his eyebrows together in doubt. A chubby Nahyuta did not sound very likely. Both of them could hardly believe that he could be something else than a thin leech but how were they supposed to talk back? Neither of them knew if Nahyuta had indeed once been a bit fatter than today.

“Well, I don’t know if that’s true, but I’ll have to take your word for it”, Simon said amused and took the soy sauce. “Anyway, it would probably look nice on you. I mean, you manage to look kinda cute in my old clothes, so a few pounds more can’t possibly hurt you that much.”

Flabbergast Nahyuta stared at the samurai. This was the very last thing he had expected to hear from him. No, this kind of compliment, form a man who had despised him only a day earlier, this was not something Nahyuta had expected in his day.

He was so taken aback that he did not even manage to say something as Simon stood up and went into his room to let his hawk inside, who had been crying vehemently.

With Simon gone Klavier pulled on the monks t-shirt and told him quietly: “He’s saying such things often. It comes very unexpected at first, but you’ll get used to it. It’s actually really nice to get compliments from him. He always means what he says there.”

“Life’s too short to not say what you mean. It’s worse to regret saying nothing than saying the wrong thing. It’s what my sister preached all day long and by now I have to admit she’s not completely wrong with that statement”, Simon said as he came back to the table.

Finally, Nahyuta had got his composure back and observed how the tall man sat back down. His tone was different than before. It was just a small difference in his voice, but he could definitely spot the change, even though he could not say what it was about. Curiously he watched the samurai continuing eating calmly.

His left hand was shaking a little and he did not look up to them, even though he clearly knew that Nahyuta and Klavier were watching him.

“It slipped my mind that you had an older sister. What was her name again? Something with A wasn’t it?”, Nahyuta inquired while waving around with his fork and watching the ceiling.

“Aura” Simon’s answer was quick. The grip around the fork became tighter. “She’s-“

“I’m aware. You do not need to inform me. I had the chance to look at the records of the retrial of UR-1, when I came to the States.”

Nahyuta had saved Simon from talking about his sister’s crime. He did not want to torture the samurai with the story. There was no need for more cruelty.

Meanwhile Simon had turned away from the other men. He felt the stinging pain in his lungs and had no intention to show them this. Slowly he then closed his eyes and counted to ten. It was not the most efficient way to deal with this but the subtlest, and around these four keen eyes he needed to be as subtle as possible.

As soon as he could, he turned back to the others and continued eating pretending as if nothing had happened at all. Playing it down had always worked best for him. In a way. Somehow.

When Nahyuta cleared his throat Simon simply glanced at him. The monk took it as a permission to speak and said: “I did not want to touch a nerve, Simon. Excuse my intrusiveness.”

Simon smirked at him. Neither Klavier nor Nahyuta could determine if it was an honest one or one that was there to make them feel better. Anyway, the samurai licked his lips and told the monk nonchalantly: “Look, actually I don’t mind talking about her. I just hate it that she sacrificed so much for me. I did not ask for it and she endangered herself and others with her actions. … Why did you even read my case file? It shouldn’t be too interesting for you.”

“For one I was interested in the case and the international spy, and other than that I wanted to learn about the circumstances in which Clay died. I did not know the man, but he was close to Apollo and I wanted to understand his pain as good as I could. I talked with him about it, but he was never really ready to talk about the incident itself. And… I had the urge to learn more without bothering Apollo any longer. Then I remembered the case file and read it after asking him if he was fine with it. That’s why I know about your sister. I did not stalk you or look up your past more than that. Same goes for Klavier, if you were worried about it”, Nahyuta explained and shot Simon a cautious look.

Simon just shrugged and said to him: “Glad to know that you’re not a stalker. And if that’s the only thing you read about Aura, then you probably have a horrible impression of her.”

“I can’t say that she appeared very friendly in the files. Would that be different normally?”

Simon chuckled and shook his head. Nahyuta recognized a small glint of amusement in the other’s eyes and understood that this time the samurai’s cheer was sincere.

“Nah, she’s horrible all the time. Snarky and standoffish. And an annoyingly smart robotic nerd. And arguing with her is real pain in the ass. She’s way too stubborn, that’s why she never stopped trying to talk me out of it. And as I did not give in, she took a different route. An extreme one, but that had to be expected. She never was one to half ass things.”

He sighed and shot both men a short look before taking another bite of his pancake. Neither of them felt entitled to say something. Nahyuta remained silent, because he believed that he had no right to say something, since he did not know Simon well enough and Klavier held back because he did not know what to say to Simon’s situation. It had never crossed the rock star’s mind that Simon was thinking about his sister’s choices. He had never realized that it might bother him, even if it actually was a rather obvious thought.

Eventually Nahyuta cleared his throat and slowly laid his fork and knife down. He still was unsure if it was appropriate for him to voice his thoughts, but he felt the need to say them, nevertheless. Patiently, he waited for Simon to look at him and as the black-haired finally met his gaze, Nahyuta graced him with a smile and said: “You don’t flatter her a lot with your words, reverse panda. But your tone tells a different story. You are missing the woman, aren’t you? There is no shame in longing for your family. I can understand that very well myself.”

Simon only hinted a smile and brushed it off right away.

“She’s the only blood family I have left. And I – I owe her a lot. I was able to become a prosecutor because of her. And she did a lot of other things she never had to do… It was way more than you can ask of a sibling. Way more than you could ask of a parent even. And still… She just did it. What doesn’t mean that she’s a good person. Because she’s not. But she gave up a lot for me and taught me plenty things. She cared about me, even when I had stopped to care. And I appreciate it. And yes, I miss her. Often. But I know that she’ll come back, so there is no need for me to brood about it anymore. I’ll get to see her again, and that is more than I ever could have hoped for”, Simon explained his eyes filled with determination and his back being straight and strong.

For a moment Nahyuta forgot that he was in the states, sitting on a wooden chair in the living room of an apartment from a man he barely knew. He only saw this human being sitting in front of him with so many emotion’s hiding behind his eyes and a strange, gentle passion buzzing in his words. He reminded him of something. A flash of green eyes and the tone of unruliness resonated in his ears.

A nostalgic smile stole its way on Nahyuta’s lips and the man muttered still lost in his memories: “How could she not try and save this potential? I would - I have done the same… I would always do it again.”

Surprised both Simon and Klavier looked at the monk and quickly exchanged a look. Where had that been coming from?

“Pardon?”, Simon asked gently and nudged Nahyuta to the side.

The man flinched a little but quickly composed himself. He realized that his thoughts must have drifted off and that he might have actually said what had been going on in his mind. Well, it had happened, but it was not too bad. He had not said a thing he’d be ashamed of.

“Oh, I just thought loudly. I can understand your sister’s choice quite well. You must be truly important to her, judging your words. And because of that she would have wanted to keep you as safe as possible. Protect you as well as she could. And so, she took the only way she could think off. You might think of it as extreme and maybe even foolish, but I’d go just as far to protect my family. Because I know how horrible it is to lose a brother. And I do anything to stop that from happening again. I won’t let him get hurt anymore.”

With the last phrase Nahyuta had shot Klavier a meaningful look. Nobody was allowed to hurt Apollo, no matter how kind or good they normally were. If the rock star just dared to make his brother cry, Klavier would suffer the consequences.

The blond gulped quite stressed, and Simon had a flash back to the trial he had seen Nahyuta fighting in. The man was truly intimidating, despite his regal behaviour and innocent face. He admittedly like that spunk.

He grinned and told the monk while shaking his head: “Rayfa and Justice must be glad to call you their brother, then. You went far to keep your sister safe and do a lot now to give Justice the recognition he deserves. You should be a really proud brother.”

With that Simon stood up and put his empty play to the sink. He went back and started to take the empty plates of the table and quietly noted that Nahyuta had eaten half of the pancakes himself. This guy truly loved it to eat.

At once Nahyuta stood right next behind him with his empty glass and the raspberry jam, which he put back in the fridge.

“Just put it down here, I’ll wash it-“

“You won’t do the dishes on your own this time”, Nahyuta stated with tone that did not accept any further arguments.

Defeated Simon gave in and said Nahyuta to grab a towel to dry the cutlery he had washed. Klavier ended up helping as well, as he put away the stuff Nahyuta had dried and it was rather crowded in Simon’s small kitchen.

Simon got the feeling that he would not get rid of this foolish monk and loud rock star anytime soon. And somehow, he was not as annoyed by it as he wanted to be.

Link There are several more chapters to this.

#ace attorney #ferienreblog

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dmaaweightloss-blog · 6 years ago

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Orlistat for weight loss: How can it take away fat fast?

Reproduce from:

https://www.phcoker.com/orlistat-for-weight-loss-take-away/

What is Orlistat?

No matter how many weight loss products have failed, Orlistat will prove to be a new dawn for you. If you’ve been wondering what orlistat is, today you’ll get to know more about it.Orlistat is an over the counter best weight loss drug that assists people tolose weight fast. Want some evidence? Studies done have shown that once you use Orlistat,your body will lose more weight than when dieting alone. If you’re still skeptical on whether to take Orlistat, I will tell you more about the Orlistat benefits, Orlistat results and where to buy Orlistat and you’ll wish you knew about it earlier. Once you’ve known about this miracle drug, you will understand that it is a staple medication in your weight loss journey.

Chemical structure

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Also, studies done show that once you take Orlistat, visceral fat reduces significantly. The advantage of this is that it decreases the risk of suffering from stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.

How should I take Orlistat?

Orlistat Dosage

To get the best out of this drug, you have to adhere to the right Orlistat dosage. Coming in capsule form, you can always pop one and take three times a day. To achieve the desired Orlistat results, you need to take it immediately after a meal that contains fats or a maximum of one hour after. In case you consume a meal that does not contain any fat, you are advised to skip your dose. Also if you skip a meal, you should miss the dose too.

Despite being a weight loss supplement, you don’t have to eat greasy burgers all the time. Eating foods with excess fats may make you undergo uncomfortable digestive side effects. If you want to experience the Orlistat benefits, you should consume low-fat dairy products and lean cuts of meats. Generally, a meal that has more than 30% of fats is a no-go zone. For instance, if you take 1000 calories per day, not more than 330 of them should be in the form of fats.

To be sure that you are on the right path, keep track of all the fats you take in every meal. How do you do this? Ensure that you read the labels on all the food items you consume. By paying attention to the number of servings you take, you can easily calculate the amount of fats you’ll take. If interested in coming up with a healthy dieting plan, a dietician, nutritional counselor or doctor could help you.

Another thing that you need to note is that the fat-blocking properties of this drug make your body unable to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins. To prevent your body from having a deficiency in vitamins, take daily multivitamins that have K, E, D, A, and beta-carotene while on treatment with this drug. To know the best type of multivitamins to take, you should consider talking to your doctor. However, you should not take Orlistat and these vitamins at the same time. Take the vitamins two or more hours before taking the medication.

What happens if you miss a dose?

Avoid missing a dose. You should not, however, worry if it happens; take it soonest possible. If its past one hour since you ate food, avoid taking the missed dose and take the next as scheduled. Never get tempted to take extra medicine with the aim of making up for a missed dose. You might end up poisoning yourself.

Sometimes you might find out that you crave eating vegetable or fruits only. There is no concern in enjoying this fatless meal; all you have to do is to miss the Orlistat dose after the meal.

What happens if I overdose?

A higher Orlistat dosage does not give you additional benefit. Instead, it could wreak havoc on your body. In case you take more than the recommended dose, you are likely to experience the usual gastrointestinal-related effects. They are inconstinence in feces, oily feces, abdominal distress, gas, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. The side effects might be severe if you ate a high-fat meal and took an Orlistat overdose.

If this happens, you ought to bring it to the doctor’s attention or call a poison helpline.

What to avoid while taking Orlistat?

Once you are on Orlistat treatment, you need to avoid taking a few things. The first is a very high-fat meal. The reason for avoiding this is because it could lead to unpleasant side effects on your intestines and stomach. It doesn’t mean that you avoid consuming any fats; here are tips on how you can reduce the amount of fat you consume:

You can choose to use a lower-fat cook-in sauce that has less than 5 grams of fat per 100 grams of sauce.

Go for low-fat spreads, reduced-fat cheeses, low-calorie yogurts, and low-fat dairy foods, e.g., skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.

Avoid adding fat when cooking; instead, you could microwave, bake, poach or grill.

Avoid consuming chicken skin and the crackling on pork. You could instead go for lean cuts of meat and remove any visible fat.

Choose a low-fat spread instead of regular/butter spreads.

Cyclosporine should also not be taken together with Orlistat. If you need to take it, it should be three hours before or after taking Orlistat.

Also, Levothyroxine (such as Synthroid) should be avoided while on this medication. You can take it four or more hours before and after taking Orlistat.

Is Orlistat right for me?

Being a weight loss supplement, it will work for you if you are aiming at losing weight. Dieting and exercise may seem futile, but a weight management program that involves the use of Orlistat is the real deal. If you use Orlistat, it doesn’t mean that you have to sit down and wait for the results. Following a healthy lifestyle that involves eating healthy and having regular exercise will help you lose weight fast.

Is it right for you to takeOrlistat? It is the best weight loss drug but how do you know that it is time for you to lose weight. Once you understand how to check whether you are overweight, you can know when to take a step in losing weight. While the perfect way to tell if you are overweight is by seeing the doctor, a few indicators could help you tell if you’ve crossed the line. The first thing that could give you a wakeup call is a high BMI. The BMI number indicated shows the weight of your body tissue per meter squared or height. In a snap, you can be able to check your height and weight to determine whether your body mass index (BMI) is okay. If your BMI is 18.5-24.9, it is considered to be normal while that of 25-29.9 indicates that you are overweight.

Another good way of knowing whether you are overweight is by measuring your waist circumference. A waist circumference that is higher than 35 inches in women or 40 inches in men is termed unhealthy. The reason is that once you have excessive belly fat; there is a lot of fat surrounding your vital organs hence increasing the risk of suffering from metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The visceral fat also produces toxins that negatively affect your body functions. An example of these chemicals is cytokines which could lead to cardiovascular diseases. Surprisingly, all you need is a tape measure, and you can always do it yourself. You might be tempted to suck in your tummy, but this will only give you inaccurate results.

Having a BMI of over 25 and a waistline that is above 40 inches for a man or 35 inches for a woman shouldn’t make you feel low. The good news is that once you use orlistat, check your diet and start exercising you will shed the extra pounds sooner than you think. And the sooner you will begin, the better it will be for you. The Orlistat results start kicking in as soon as you start the medication.

What are the benefits of using Orlistat?

In the past, the route to weight loss has been cutting on the calories you take. They would switch that burger for some fruit salad, grab a lemon instead of a cake and this would promise them a decrease in pounds. Nowadays, you don’t have to miss taking your favorite cookie, what’s important is ensuring that you do not take it in excess and at the same time take orlistat.

Being a weight loss supplement, it will not suppress your appetite but will only reduce the absorption of unhealthy fats. Rather than changing the amount of food that you eat, it changes the amount that the body takes in. Once there is the prevention of a quarter of the fat consumed, the body will be forced to utilize the stored fats to acquire energy for its daily activities.

Combined with an exercise regimen and a healthy diet, this drug will help you lose weight to assist you to reach your body goal.

Not only does your confidence go a notch higher but your self-esteem improves significantly. People will no longer keep staring at you because of the saggy fats; more compliments will now come your way.

Losing weight is the best thing you could do to your body. It prevents you from regular hospital visits since it reduces the risk of getting quite some diseases including:

Gastric reflux symptoms

Knee problems that are related to excess weight

Arthritis symptoms

A weak bladder (especially in women)

Some types of cancers

Kidney disease

High blood pressure

Type 2 diabetes and complications associated with it

Heart disease

It will make you more energetic and mobile. Once you’ve lost weight, you carry less weight hence there is less strain on the joints and muscles. You will be more energetic to undertake your activities and back, leg, knee and foot pains will be a thing of the past. What’s more is that any inch lost around your belly reduces the pressure on your back by a hundred pounds. Bending will not be an uphill task anymore; you can do it easily without straining.

You’ll notice some improvement in your breathing and sleep. Better sleep will help you have more energy all day. Generally, Orlistat is right for your overall health.

What are the side effects of taking Orlistat?

It is normal to notice side effects of Orlistat once you use it. You may experience some of the side effects or not just like after taking any other medication. Most of the effects that come with the use of Orlistat are related to the way it functions in your digestive system. They are usually mild and regularly occur when you start the treatment. They also happen after you’ve taken a high-fat meal. Luckily, the majority of them go away as the treatment continues and after following the right diet.

The most frequent side effects that affect more than one person in every ten people are:

Headache-If your head pains, there are ways that you could reduce it. It includes taking meds that relieve pain. Also, you could try taking ginger tea or caffeine. Massaging your head and practicing relaxation could help you ease the pain. Another way that you could deal with a headache is by using a hot compress or heating pad to lessen the pain.

Abdominal pain/discomfort- Abdominal pain should not worry you. In case it is affecting your daily activities you may opt to place a heated wheat bag or a hot water bottle on your abdomen. Also, you could soak yourself in a warm bath. If this doesn’t seem to work, try drinking clear fluids, e.g., water.

Increased need to visit the loo- If you find yourself defecating more than you usually do, ensure that you do not ignore the urge to do so. Ignoring the call will only worsen the symptoms. It should not cause alarm but if it persists, seek the attention of a doctor.

Oily discharge- Once you are on Orlistat treatment, you may notice that you are staining your undergarments or having a feeling that the area around your anus is damp. To prevent getting embarrassed, you could wear dark pants and carry an extra pair of clothes when out of the house.

Fatty stools-Having a fatty stool means that the body didn’t digest the fat and instead eliminated it. By avoiding foods that are very fatty, you can prevent your body from excreting the much fat.

Mild skin rash- Everyone loves having clear skin, but if a skin rash develops, here are ideas to ward it off. The first is cleaning your skin with a mild soap without scrubbing it. Scrubbing and using scratchy materials may do more harm than good. If you feel any itch or pain, you could place a wet cloth on the rash. An over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream would also help you.

Back pain- Here are ideas on how to alleviate back pain; apply heat or ice on parts of your back that are paining, take painkillers such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. Exercising can also help reduce pain but if it gets out of hand, seek medical attention.

Having flu symptoms, sore throat, chills, and fever. You may consider staying warm to prevent them from getting severe, and if you experience any pain, you can buy over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen.

Cold symptoms such as a cough, sneezing, and stuffy nose- Cold symptoms may sometimes be associated with the use ofAs uncomfortable as it might make you, here are the hacks to dealing with the feeling. Soothe your throat, gets lots of rest and drink a lot of fluids to prevent yourself from getting dehydrated. You can also use nose drops to assist in relieving nasal congestion. Seek the attention of a doctor if the cold symptoms affect your daily activities.

Problems with the gums or teeth- To deal with this problem you need to brush your teeth regularly, massage your gum line and use mouthwash often. You can make your mouthwash at home by mixing a quarter teaspoon of baking soda, an eighth teaspoon salt and a cup of warm water.

Rectal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain- Drink lots of clear fluid to avoid dehydration-avoid alcohol or caffeine. Try eating probiotics but if this doesn’t help you, seek the attention of a health provider.

If you go through any of these side effects, you should treat it as an emergency and call the doctor immediately. They are;

Extreme stomach pain that doesn’t go away.

Hives or excessive itching

Difficulty swallowing

Difficulty breathing

What is the difference between Orlistat, Sibutramine, and Lorcaserin?

Item compared

Orlistat (96829-58-2)

Sibutramine (84485-00-7)

Lorcaserin(846589-98-8)

Mode of action

How does Orlistat work? Orlistat works through the prevention of fat intake in the body. Consequently, the body uses up the stored fat hence causing the loss of weight.Lorcaserin works by making one feel fuller thus reduces the amount of food one takes. It does this by stimulating the Serotonin 2C receptors.Sibutramine works by changing the way the neurotransmitters in the brain work. It inhibits their reuptake hence altering the way the body maintains weight.

Side effects on body

Orlistat cause side effects that mostly affect the digestive system e.g., loose stool, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting.For Lorcaserin, it causes; lymphocypenia, euphoria, decreased haemoglobin and a headache. Sibutramine causes anxiety, chest pain, rash, acne, abdominal pain, dry mouth, headache and inability to sleep.Sibutramine can reduce ones weight by 4.2% in a period of one year while Orlistat can reduce it by 5% while Lorcaserin reduces it by 5-10 % in twelve months.

Are there any drugs that affect the Orlistat results?

Here is a list of medications that interact with Orlistat.

Abacavir

Abacavir/dolutegravir/lamuvidine (Triumec)

Abacavir/ lamivudine/ zidovudine (Trizivir)

Abacavir/ lamivudine (Epzicom)

Acetohexamide (Dymelor)

Acarbose (Precose)

Albiglutide (Tanzeum)

Adefovir (Hepsera)

Alogliptin (Nepsina)

Alendronate/ cholecalciferol (Fosamax Plus D)

Amiodarone (Pacerone, Nexterone, Cordarone IV, Cordarone)

Alogliptin/ pioglitazone (Oseni)

Alogliptin/ metformin (Kazano)

Atazanavir / cobicistat (Evotaz)

Atazanavir (Reyataz)

Anisindione (Mirandon)

Amprenavir (Agenerase)

Bupropion / naltrexone (Contrave)

Brentuximab (Adcetris)

Boceprevir (Victrelis)

Black cohosh (Menopause Support)

Bictegravir / emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide (Biktarvy)

Bedaquiline (Sirturo)

Bupropion /naltrexone (Contrave)

Brentuximab (Adcetris)

Boceprevir (Victrelis)

Black cohosh ( Menopause Support)

Bictegravir /emtricitabine / tenofovir /alafenamide (Biktarvy)

Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral)

Cobicistat/emtricitabine/ darunavir / tenofovir alafenamide (Symtuza)

Cobicistat / darunavir (Prezcobix)

Clofarabine (Clolar)

Cholecalciferol/ lactobacillus reuteri (BioGaia Pro Tectis)

Cholecalciferol / iron polysaccharide (NovaFerrum 125)

Cholecalciferol / genistein / zinc glycinate (Fosteum, VP-GSTN, Fosteum Plus)

Cholecalciferol, zinc chelazome / genistein

Cholecalciferol / folic acid

Cholecalciferol (Decara, Replesta, Vitamin D3, D3)

Chlorpropamide ( Diabinise)

Cannabidiol (Epidiolex)

Canagliflozin / metformin (Invokamet XR, Invokamet)

Canagliflozin (Invokana)

Vitamin d / calcium

Calcitriol ( Calderol, Rayaldee)

Exenatide ( Bydureon BCise, Byetta, Bydureon)

Etravirine (Intelence)

Ertugliflozin / sitagliptin (Steglujan)

Ertugliflozin / metformin (Segluromet)

Ertugliflozin (Steglatro)

Ergocalciferol ( Calcidol, Calciferol, Drisdol, Vitamin D2)

Epirubicin (Pharmorubicin RDF, Pharmorubicin PFS, Ellence)

Entecavir (Baraclude)

Tenofovir, neelfinavir, emtricitabine

Metformin, empagliflozin

Elvitegravir

Efavirenz

Fosamprenavir

Glycerol phenylbutyrate ( Ravicti)

Glyburide / metformin ( Glucovance)

Glyburide ( Glycron, Glynase PresTab, Glynase, Micronase, Diabeta)

Glipizide / metformin ( Metaglip)

Glimepiride (Amaryl)

Interferon beta-1b ( Extavia, Betaseron)

Interferon beta-1a (Avonex Pen, Avonex Prefilled Syringe, Rebif Rebidose, Rebif, Avonex)

Insulin zinc extended ( Humilin U)

Insulin zinc (Iletin II Lente Pork, Iletin Lente, Novolin L, Lente Iletin II, Humulin L)

Insulin regular

Insulin lispro

Insulin Protamine

Insulin Isophane

Insulin inhalation, rapid acting

Insulin glulisine

Insulin glargine / lixisenatide

Insulin detemir

Insulin degludec / liraglutide

Insulin aspart

Insulin aspart protamine

Insulin

Indinavir ( Crixivan)

Idelalisib ( Zydelig)

Lopinavir / ritonavir (Kaletra)

Lomitapide ( Juxtapid)

Lixisenatide ( Adlyxin)

Liraglutide ( Saxenda, Victoza)

Liotrix ( Thyrolar 3, 2, ½, ¼, 1)

Liothyronine ( Triostat, Cytomel)

Linagliptin

Levothyroxine

Leflunomide

Lamotrigine

Lamuvudine

Nevirapine ( Viramune)

Nelfinavir ( Viracept)

Nateglinide (Starlix)

Naltrexone / oxycodone ( Troxyca ER)

Naltrexone ( Depade, Revia, Vivitrol)

Multivitamin prenatal

Multivitamin with minerals

Multivitamin with iron and fluoride

Morphine / naltrexone

Mipomersen ( Kynamro)

Miglitol (Glyset)

Methotrexate

Metformin

Zidovudine ( Retrovir)

Zalcitabine (Hivid)

Walfarin ( Jantoven, Coumadin)

Vitamin e

Vitamin a

Valproic acid

Ubiquinone / Vitamin e

Troglitazone (Rezulin)

Trabectedin ( Yondelis)

Tolbutamide ( Orinase, Tol-Tab)

Tolazamide ( Tolinase)

Tipranavir (Aptivus)

Thyroid desiccated

Thioguanine ( Tabloid)

Teriflunomide ( Aubagio)

Telbivudine ( Tyzeka)

Telaprevir ( Incivek)

Stavudine ( Zerit XR, Zerit)

Sitagliptin ( Januvia)

Simvastatin / sitagliptin ( Juvisync)

Semaglutide (Ozempic)

Important info

mations

about Orlistat

Before taking Orlistat, there are important details you need to know about it.

The first is that you should not use this drug if you are allergic to it. Also if you have chronic malabsorption (it is the inability to absorb food and nutrients correctly) or any gallbladder problems.

You should tell your doctor all the information about your health. It includes discussing with him about the diseases you have suffered from in the past and any medication that you are on. A physician should know if you’ve suffered from liver disease, eating disorder, type 1 or 2 diabetes, pancreatitis, gallstones or underactive thyroid. In case you are using any other weight loss medication, you should not hesitate to tell the doctor.

Anybody who is younger than eighteen years old should not use Orlistat. Whether prescribed or over the counter, you should seek the doctor’s advice if you are below 18.

Orlistat should only be taken by one who is recommended to take. The reason for it is because it might react to them especially if they have an eating disorder. How do you avoid this? Keep it far from the reach of others.

To achieve the best Orlistat results you should not use this drug alone. It should be part of your weight loss program and should be combined with exercise and diet. To maintain your health while still taking this medication, ensure that in every meal that you consume you take carbohydrates, protein, and fat distributed evenly. Additionally, follow your diet and exercise strictly.

Avoid taking a diet that is too fatty because once you take them together with Orlistat, you may end up having unpleasant side effects on your intestines and stomach.

Any pregnant or breastfeeding mother should never take Orlistat. The reason for this is because it could be passed to the unborn or suckling baby. Ensure that you take a pregnancy test before you decide to use Orlistat. If you get pregnant while taking this drug, talk to your health provider. Be extra careful while taking contraceptives as this medication may make them less effective.

Wrap up

Orlistat is the ultimate solution to your weight loss ordeal. The Orlistat results have proved to help you lose more than one lb in a week; this is healthy weight loss. Furthermore, it helps you maintain your weight so you will not look good today and have all your weight back after a few days. Check your diet and eat healthily. You don’t have to munch chips and a bar of chocolate at the same time. You can always store some for the next day. Exercise will help fasten the process, and the easiest way you can do it is at the gym. Having a personal trainer will help keep you on your toes. He will also advise you which the ideal workouts for your body type are. It could either be biking, weights or cardio. If you are not a fan of the gym, biking or running could also work for you.

Orlistat is an FDA approved weight loss drug which is widely known for its effectiveness. The Orlistat reviews speak volumes about it with the majority of the people using it losing more than 5% of their total weight in a year. Its benefits have gone beyond losing pounds since it also reduces the risk of getting life-threatening conditions like blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

You might be wondering where to buy Orlistat to experience the magic it does on your weight. At Phcoker.com, we sell Orlistat whose purity is not compromised. The Orlistat price is affordable, and we can guarantee you that you will get value for every buck you spend. Placing an order with us doesn’t take much of your time, all you got to do is fill in your details, questionnaire and wait for the approval of your order. Once you’ve made the payment, we will dispatch the drug, and you can be sure that it won’t take long to get to your location.

Losing weight fast doesn’t have to be complicated. Buy Orlistat today, pop the pills at the comfort of your home and watch your weight reduce significantly.

Reference

Fat digestion and absorption, edited by Armand B. Christophe, Stephanie R. De Vriese, Stephanie DeVriese, page 426- 437.

Progress in Obesity Research: 9, edited by Geraldo Madeiros-Neto, Alfredo Halpern, Claude Bouchard, page 1046.

Obesity and Weight Management in Primary Care-By Colin Waine, Nick Bosanquet, page 68-71.

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placetobenation · 6 years ago

Link

“He made the tag! The GWWE made the tag and now the Tag Team Project is running wild on wrestling apathy and sloth all across the Place to Be Nation!” – Read in Good Ol’ J.R.’s voice

Last year, Place To Be Nation (PTBN) conducted their Greatest WWE Wrestler Ever (GWWE) project, leading to many of us discovering tons of new wrestling to enjoy, thanks in large part to recommendations from other participants. To continue the momentum from the GWWE, PTBN is running a new project voting on the 100 Greatest WWE Tag Teams, and you can join the discussion on the Facebook group here.

Keeping with the spirit of collaboration from GWWE, I decided to write about some of the teams I’m watching as I do my homework to make my GWWE Tag Team list. I’ll pick at least half a dozen teams from different eras each week (and future lists will look at older teams, I promise). The tag team list is completely subjective, so without the NJPW guidelines, I had to decide what to consider for criteria, and to include in this column. I am looking at match quality (how does the team work together and execute basic tag team wrestling, which will show up in nearly every match), top-tier matches, longevity (measured by # of matches) and combined days of tag team reigns. If I think a team has a particularly strong intangible (like Demolition or the New Age Outlaws being super over or New Day’s character work) I’ll call that out too. I use Wrestlingdata for the match stats with Cagematch as a back-up if I can’t find what I need. I’m also less interested in exact totals than in giving a general picture of longevity and title reigns. You can determine your own criteria, but I thought you might be interested to see the stats.

I’ll try to do one of these regularly, BUT I need your help. If I missed a match you think voters should watch, let me know, preferably on the Facebook page, but comments after the article will work too. If there’s a team you want to see me talk about let me know and I’ll add them to the list and try to get to them. I’m trying to include a mix of the major teams, short-term teams and teams I love and dislike each week. I’ll add the range I expect a team to appear on my list, but keep in mind that’s very flexible, especially during these early columns. Let’s get started:

Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch

Years Teamed in WWE: 1983-1985

Total Matches: 148

Combined Days of Tag Title Reigns: 279

Match Suggestions: vs. Terry Daniels & Sgt. Slaughter (7/23/84 MSG), vs. Bob Backlund & Brian Blair (July 1984 Philly)

Thoughts: I’m not sure they’re really a hidden gem, since both guys have always been considered great workers, but I was unfamiliar with their team and they’ve greatly exceeded my expectations. Murdoch and Adonis both bump and stooge like crazy, making their opponents look good, but also cut off the ring and cheat like nuts to draw heat. The Slaughter & Daniels and Backlund & Blair matches can both be found on the Facebook page, along with some other matches. Their title win over the Soul Patrol is on the Johnson & Atlas entry and clipped versions of their loss to the US Express are on the network and elsewhere. I wish they’d stayed longer and had more matches in general, and more with the US Express and eventually British Bulldogs, specifically. But their match quality speaks for itself, and a 279-day title reign is nothing to sneeze at. It’s still early but the North-South Connection has been the “discovery team” from the pre-WrestleMania-era for me to date.

Placement Range: I think they’ll make my top 35 or 40 and have upside potential. It’s hard to see them moving much higher than 25 as other teams have a deeper resume, but I love what I’ve seen from Adonis and Murdoch.

Dream Team

Years Teamed in WWE: 1985-1987

Total Matches: 261

Combined Days of Tag Title Reigns: 226

Match Suggestions: vs. Tito Santana & Ricky Steamboat (4/21/85 Maple Leaf Garden), vs. British Bulldogs 2/3 falls (SNME aired 10/4/86), vs. British Bulldogs (WM 2), vs. Islanders (12/6/86 Boston Garden)

Thoughts: I think the Dream Team is one of the more underrated teams in WWF history and potentially in this project. People tend to shit on them a bit because they don’t like Beefcake, and while a lot of Beefer’s later stuff leaves a lot to be desired, he was fine when teaming with Hammer. Certainly, the best matches of his career came as part of the Dream Team. That match against Santana & Steamboat is terrific, and they had some of the Bulldogs’ best WWF matches. I wish there was more footage of their matches with the US Express, as I saw a house show match that was quite good, but I fear may have been lost to the sands of time or WWE’s Sword of Vengeance on YouTube. Still, there’s a lot of good Dream Team stuff out there. Hammer’s a fantastic worker, always getting great heat on any babyface team worth a damn, and Beefcake seemed game to try and keep up. Their longevity is a bit light compared to the elite teams, but they have a very strong catalog of top matches.

Placement Range: They could end up in the mid-to-late teens on my list, and I’d be really surprised if they fall outside my top 30 or 35. I may be a bit higher than most on them, but they are the common denominator in so many of the great matches of the early Golden Age of Tag Teams in the mid-80s.

Headshrinkers

Years Teamed in WWE: 1992-1994

Total Matches: 307

Combined Days of Tag Title Reigns: 124

Match Suggestions: vs. Steiner Brothers (WM IX), w/ Bigelow vs. Smoking Gunns & Tatanka (SummerSlam ’93), vs. Quebecers (5/2/94 Raw)

Thoughts: Love me some Headshrinkers. They’ve got a great power game (and it’s always fun seeing them squash jobbers dead) and incredible agility for their size. And with the combined brainpower of Afa and Capt. Lou Albano, I’m shocked they didn’t hold the titles for years. But like so many of us, they fell victim to the temptation of raw poultry. Still, they managed to have some really good matches. The Steiners WrestleMania match is probably their best one, but I like the six-man at SS ’93 and the title win from the Quebecers on Raw. There are plenty of offerings of them destroying jobbers on the network, as well.

Placement Range: They feel like a top-half type of team, but it’s still early and that may depend a bit what other teams impress me. Still 40-65 range seems about right.

Steve Austin & Triple H

Years Teamed in WWE: 1996, 2000-2002

Total Matches: 16

Combined Days of Tag Title Reigns: 22

Match Suggestions: vs. Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho (5/21/01 Raw), w/ Stephanie McMahon vs. Hardy Boyz & Lita (4/9/01 Raw)

Thoughts: The Two-Man Power Trip had a good Raw match with Stephanie against the Hardys and Lita and a pretty lousy PPV main event against the Undertaker and Kane. But who the hell am I kidding? They’re in the discussion for one reason and it’s the Raw tag team match against Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit that still stands as one of the best tag matches ever on Raw. While that match is outstanding, I think it does benefit a bit from the fans’ relief at the time of seeing new blood in the main event (after the matches with Taker and Kane from that time, who can blame them). The match also grew in legend a bit, since it’s the match where Triple H tore his quad for the first time (and props to him for toughing it out until the finish in that one). My gut tells me that match puts them in the upper-midcard of short-term teams, behind the SmackDown Six teams of Edge & Mysterio and Angle & Benoit, Benoit & Jericho (they were in the same match and have other stuff), Shawn Michaels & Diesel, Mr. T & Hulk Hogan and maybe Michaels & Austin, but ahead of most other short-term teams. Also, the years teamed is a bit misleading as they teamed together for one-off shots in 1996, 2000 and 2002, but the bulk of their work came during that 2001 run.

Placement Range: A definite maybe. Seriously, this will depend on how many short-term teams with great or historic matches I include. They’ll be in the back quarter of the list, or just miss the cut, depending on how things shake out.

Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman

Years Teamed in WWE: 2002-2004

Total Matches: 24

Combined Days of Tag Title Reigns: 0

Match Suggestions: vs. TWGTT (Vengeance ’03), vs. TWGTT (8/14/03 SD)

Thoughts: Kidman and Rey are a tremendous high-speed, high-energy, high-flying tag team. Their match at Vengeance ’03 is their best match (and maybe TWGTT’s but I hope to talk about them in a later article), and the two teams had matches on SD on 3/13/03 (#186) and 8/14/02 (#208). Kidman and Rey took on the Conquistadors on episode #204 of SD and Matt Hardy and Shannon Moore on episode #205, if you’re a completest. Still, 24 matches isn’t much to go on, with no title reign to boost things up. As good as the Vengeance match is, it’s not an iconic all-timer nor particularly historically significant, so I can’t see this team getting near the top of the short-term teams. I did enjoy watching their matches, though.

Placement Range: On the outside looking in. 100 spots is a lot, so I won’t completely rule them out, but I don’t see them making my list.

New Day

Years Teamed in WWE: 2014-2018

Total Matches: 595 (as of 6/11/18)

Combined Days of Tag Title Reigns: 586

Match Suggestions: vs. Usos (SummerSlam ’17), vs. Usos (Battleground ’17), vs. Usos (Hell in a Cell ’17), vs. Kidd & Cesaro (Payback ’15), vs. Kidd & Cesaro (Extreme Rules ’15) vs. Kidd & Cesaro (4/30/15 SD)

Bonus Intangibles: Perhaps the best character work of any team in WWE history. They’ve certainly been called upon to fill more non-wrestling segments than most teams.

Thoughts: Don’t you dare be sour… yadda, yadda, yadda…and FEEL the power! I rarely “get” the New Day’s shtick (and if anybody gets the deal with the f’n pancakes, by all means enlighten me). But I can’t discount the fact that they’ve done more character work, more skits and promos and been asked to fill more TV and PPV segments than maybe any tag team in history. These segments are hit or miss, but with more hits than misses and some fans completely eat up their characters. And you’ve got to give them points for originality, as there has never been a team with characters like New Day. They’ve been doing it for a long time, too, as their 595 matches to date puts them within a few matches of the Hardy Boyz and behind only the Usos, Hart Foundation and Dudley Boys of the teams I’ve tracked so far. They have the longest tag title reign recognized by the WWE. You can’t fault their matches either, as they have good matches with nearly everyone, and have shown strong versatility working as heels and babyfaces. Their top-end matches stack up well with virtually anyone, particularly their epic feud with the Usos last year. I also really liked their matches with Kidd & Cesaro. The two-out-of-three falls match at Payback was probably the best, but I liked random matches from Main Event between the two teams, as well. I can’t remember seeing any New Day matches that I thought were bad.

Placement Range: Easy top five for me. Honestly, I don’t know what more you could want out of a team. They’ve got the longevity, the long title reign, the classic feud and matches and great character work. Any criteria that don’t place the New Day high would seem pretty booty to me.

That wraps up part one of the House Afire series. I enjoyed giving you a peek into how I’m working through this process. Hopefully, you found something of value, but if I didn’t entertain, disappoint or enrage you, we’ll try again soon. Remember, if you want to add to the discussion, agree or disagree with my takes on these teams, or just join in on the fun of the tag team project, join the Facebook group.

#IFTTT #Place to Be Nation

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