#if you liked twilight though that's cool i just didn't lol

[bokettochild]

Linked Universe Enterence p.3

Okay! So I have thoughts!!!!

First off, does anyone remember when JoJo shared those first snippets? How there was a fun little detail that suddenly disappeared when the comic actually became more than doodles?

Yeah, I'm talking about this guy

(Not the grouchy old man being offended, the owl LOL)

I know there's a chance I'm wrong, a big one at that, but I think it would be really cool if, if only for a short while, JoJo brought him back, even if it's just for this era of Hyrule. Let Time have his owl buddy!

Anyways, to the actual comic!

I noticed that the boys are all still together, so I'm guessing they're waiting until they come to a cross-roads to actually split up like Four advised last time. So we have that to look forwards to in the coming updates!

I love that she's really highlighting the similarities and differences in this arc, showing us who knows what and what they've done, but also the little things; both with owls and the antifairy!

I adore the Owlan reference/appearance!

And Time immediately agreeing about the "long, drawn out lectures part" made me laugh. (His expression, my Hylia!!!)

That is the face of a man who kept accidentally asking to "hear it again" and regrets it with every bone of his being LOL

It's good to see more call backs to the last comics too! Having Hyrule be wary of the statue because he remembers seeing it before, and Warriors agreeing, but also reminding that it didn't cause harm. The fact that Hyrule keeps his sword pointed at it though, wary, does say a lot about how cautious he's being all the same (Wild ought to take notes)

And of course this whole panel

Twilight's awkwardly trying to assure the rest without spilling the secret, Sky laughing and turning to look at Legend, and the fact that the vet is just so entirely done with even just the thought of being a rabbit. (I love his face, omgosh).

Te way I screamed "anti-fairy!" when I saw this, and then was so, so delighted that Legend and I had the same thought (I am unwell about this man).

I'm equally unwell about the fact that Legend just has to say "ouch" (which you only say at inconveniences and not real, actual hurts) and immediately everyone's turning, weapons out and ready to help him face...whatever. Like, he's fine, guys, but it's sweet you care (now Legend, please take note and realize you belong, you idiot)

Love that Time hears "fairy" and immediately is all ears. All the more so at the "anti" part. Man was raised by fairies and he absolutely doesn't like the idea of something that would hurt them.

Meanwhile Legend is just being freaking Haku (Spirited Away) over here!

Tell me you don't see it!!!!!!

Also, his casual use of magic to purify something, to just make it no longer a threat, rather than hurting it. That need to save EVERYONE is really showing through here, huh?

And immediately, everyone is shocked that he did that, but also what it means about fairies. About dark magic. But Time and Wars especially!

Gosh, just Legend's little worried face and Time's offense at the idea of fairies being corrupted and harmed. Shows a bit about them here too I think. Time is maybe slightly obsessed with fairies (reasonably so) and hates them being harmed, but he shows his worry on the matter in anger. legend, meanwhile, becomes more sombre, quieter: it bothers him too (maybe reminds him of a certain predecessor?)

Get this man a tiara, he's a freaking Disney Princess over here, good grief!!!! He's carrying fairy food on what? The slim chance he has time to stop and feed them? Honestly, i know he's probably as attached to fairies as Time (although with a healthier relationship with them), but this is just too cute. this man is going to be the death of me!!!

Anyways, here's the bonuses!!!!

SUN APPEARANCE!!!!!!!! We have a canon Sun appearance!!!!! Like, sure, sleepy student Sky, but it's SUN!!!!

This smile. Oh my gosh I adore him. He's just so glad he got to help the corrupted little one become normal again.

JoJo was having fun with Four I see LOL

Man really said "hang on, let me check my purse, I think I have snacks in here"

Freaking Mom Coded

[revalition]

OCT 20 - HALF LIGHT Let the body take control. Threaten people.

half light!! I really like this guy. had some fun with today's doodles

lots of commentary and quotes under the cut!

Half light name translations!!

suspicious, chiaroscuro, twilight, semi-darkness, dusk, instinct, dawn, primitive instinct

thought it was interesting that there's a mix in here of more literal half-light (dusk, dawn, etc.) and the fight/flight aspect (instinct, suspicion).

I do think his name works best in english. But I like the french version Clair-obscur too. that's the one that translates to chiaroscuro, but clair = clear and obscur = obscure for context... I want to say it's less direct than the others, but I speak french and I don't speak the other languages so if there's any double meanings there I would miss them sadly. localization is so cool...

quotes!

this guyyy

I wish I could tell if he's even being sarcastic or not. I want to say yes, cause he does have a sense of humour

see, see? (points happily)

sorry half light I don't remember you being the lie detector skill??? why's he being such a brat

hehehe half light loves telling anyone to fuck off -- even your own skills

nooooo half light! of course he would jump all over a conspiracy theory

this is during the tribunal -- my first playthrough my odds of success got worse and worse as I avoided throwing the bomb and half light was absolutely right. (though the second time around I got the difficulty down a bit cause my harry wasn't dumb as bricks and actually had some stuff to stay to improve things)

thank goodness for the calm skills that balance some of these idiots out...

he's so over the top. my poor high strung guy...

APOCALYPSE COP HALF LIGHT my most beloved. he knows greek! it's okay if it's a coping mechanism harry, you gotta do what you have to to survive...

he gets *so* pissy when he's told no haha

this one is big but you have to read it!! half light losing it for absolutely no reason! logic's information hoarding reflex! (understandable) volition, volition my most beloved looking out for half light <3 he gets overstimulated okay

he just wants to swear okay?

this is delightful hehe

volition fighting for his life to stop this guy from exploding constantly

one second later him being calm about it

wow that's... super embarassing

this guy creeping you out and then getting upset when you act on it

half light at high levels makes me sad :( poor guy...

okay my dude

half light unlocking the fuck off dialogue option!

unbelievable! someone password protecting their data???? the horrors

re: the leopard bodysuit. electrochemistry is sooo unconcerned

poor half light...

hehehe

hghk he's so... like that. all the time.

that's all for half light!! my first playthrough had pretty high half light and he was kind of a lot? I actually didn't like him much at first, he was a lot (the first time I played my anxiety disorder was also unmanaged and I wasn't too fond of harry's anxiety embodied lol). but he totally ended up growing on me <3 he's great. I really missed him and his unhinged comments in my low fys second playthrough.

[moonstrider9904]

That Old Song

Pairing: Crosshair x Female Reader

Summary: After pining after him for months, you get the chance to see Crosshair one more time before he ships out with his squad to Kaller.

Tags: SFW. Kissy-kiss, pre-relationship, general softness, implied tragic romance

Word count: 1693 words

Read on AO3 | My one-shot masterlist

This one was inspired by That Old Song from the Slime Rancher soundtrack because it gives me tragic romance vibes and even though I always wanna give Crosshair a happy ending, I really felt inspired to explore the more tragic side of canon because we all know what happens to him by this point (and season 3's not even over lol Lord help us)

The sky turned purple as the sun on Anaxes began to set. The warm toned twilight would always bring a sense of foreboding with it, but you were used to it. The hangar on Anaxes was not a front line, but it was still a warzone, and war didn't discriminate. It took away, it destroyed, it forced goodbyes, but like the stars that were rising in the ever-darkening sky, there were always gleams of hope that traced finer, beautiful shapes if you knew how to look for them.

He was such a glimmer, at least to you.

You hadn't stepped a foot inside the base since the Havoc Marauder landed. Though repairs and refueling were insistently handled by the team's own engineer, you had the honor of being the only mechanic around whom Tech would even allow to set a finger on the hull of the modified Omicron-class attack shuttle. While he was off running diagnostics and the rest of the squad loaded up on rations, you were finishing up putting away the supplies you'd needed for a standard oil change. You caught the scent of the oil coming from your gloves, which you carefully removed to reveal your hands, the skin on them soft and surprisingly well taken care of despite your profession. At that moment, you could hear the subtle pacing behind you, and a gentle smile formed on your lips. You'd had so many encounters with them that, while short, had already allowed you to recognize how each of the defective clones walked - you'd gotten the chance to know such a detail from many clone battalions, but you didn't enjoy knowing any of them as much as you did for Clone Force 99.

The steps approaching you were light as a feather resulting in lifelong training for stealth, and long resulting in a tall silhouette. Carefully paced one after the other, you knew he was already smirking at the sight of you. It was simply who he was.

You turned around and your eyes landed on the silver hair and the deep brown eyes that would reflect sunlight so beautifully whenever a golden ray hit them just right - that was the only thing that made you yearn for sunshine in the middle of that twilight. Regardless, you couldn't help but grin at the man approaching you. Being in his presence was everything that occupied your thoughts when he was gone.

"Thought you'd be here," he said while chewing on a toothpick.

The giggle that left you was just a bit too obvious for your taste, but you muscled through it. "Aren't you smart."

"I hope you haven't been here all week," he teased. "I don't tell you when I'll be here in my letters for you to tie yourself to the hangar."

"It might surprise you to know I'm always exactly where I need to be," you smirked, your hands traveling to your hips. "I just happen to be needed here right now."

Crosshair, who was always so stern and so serious, let out a chuckle in front of you. The way others talked about him, even his brothers, you were already sure by then that you were one of the only people he ever did that around, and the low sound of his laughter and the way his chest fluttered when he did made you feel your knees giving out on you. Finally, Crosshair took a couple of calculated steps toward you, decreasing some of the distance between the two of you. He looked down at you, silent for a moment, so peaceful you could hear the wind blowing at your sides. Despite the cool breeze, all you could feel on your skin was heat.

"Have you heard the rumors?" You asked him.

Crosshair nodded, the seriousness returning to his face. "Yeah. War's ending soon."

Sarcasm flooded his previous remark, and you gave him a bittersweet smile. "You don't seem all that happy about it."

"It's not that," Crosshair replied. "I'm not in a position to assert or expect anything."

"Right," your mind went back to your initial pondering on the cruelties of war, but you decided to focus on the man in front of you. "Will you be headed to Coruscant?"

Crosshair shook his head. "We're needed on Kaller."

"Oh," you said. "I see. Kaller... snowy, full of clankers."

"My specialty," Crosshair purred.

You giggled. "So... maybe it's safer to say that I'll see you again soon?"

As you were talking to him, you inched closer to Crosshair. Your hands were down at your sides, but you couldn't help but notice how close his hands were to yours, and how easy it would be to reach out and touch his gloved fingers with your bare ones. What you hadn't realized up until that moment, even with all the letters and the hours you'd spent thinking about Crosshair, was how desperately you needed to hold him, and to be held by him.

But Crosshair sighed, hesitant. "Darling..."

"We haven't been sending each other letters for months now just because," you whispered. "Have we?"

A faint smile appeared on his thin lips. "No."

Your own smile, though soft, grew at him, and your eyes seemed to sparkle.

"Crosshair..." You sighed, the dreaminess finding its way into your voice.

He couldn't help but laugh again. "Well, damn. You really are smitten."

Flustered, you looked away, but Crosshair reached out to gently hold your chin and have you look up at him again. He took in the way you were looking at him, with sparkling eyes and an adorable smile, your cheeks warm and your silhouette glowing with hope, like a girl first entranced by puppy love. Your hand went up to perch itself over his wrist, but as you did, your romantic heart stilled itself when the thought of him leaving soon bled into your mind, forcing the smile to slowly disappear from you.

"What is it?" He asked.

You chuckled bashfully. "I just..."

You feared the effect of your words, you feared that it would put a pressure on him that he didn't need, one that no soldier deserved to be burdened with. But inside you, a flame burned, one that prompted you to simply speak now, to not hold back, to not reduce yourself and your feelings to letters and comms. Crosshair, the man of your dreams, finally stood before you, his hand on your skin. You would never forgive yourself if you wasted this opportunity now that you had it.

Because how in the world could you have known what happened next?

"I just don't want you to leave," you whispered. "I never do."

Crosshair gave a soft exhale as he rolled the toothpick to the opposite corner of his lips and spat it out to the side only to look at you again, his gaze turning gentle on you. His other hand traveled up to your face, and now he cupped your cheeks with a steady, soft grip.

"Would it help if I told you I don't want to leave you here either?" He asked.

You smiled softly. "It's nice to know that."

Your eyes met, and you were overtaken by the desire to collapse in his arms and become one with him. You valued each second you'd been gifted to look at his face; your gaze traced the tattoo over his right eye, memorizing the little textures where the ink seemed to falter - you'd never noticed it wasn't a solid line, it looked like it'd been drawn over the artisanal canvas of his skin. You basked in his warmth as your hands reached out to his waist, and you pulled yourself closer to him, and while you did, part of you wanted to curse and lash out at the fact that you hadn't done this sooner.

But you were there now, and that was enough to calm you. And if the war was ending, you wanted to cling to the hope that you'd be in the arms of your beloved again soon.

"Crosshair?" You asked.

With his gaze, he prompted you to continue.

"I..." you said. "I want to kiss you."

Crosshair didn't wait longer, and he slowly lowered himself to gently press his lips to yours. You felt as if every star in the sky above you would explode at that moment, and your arms slid up around Crosshair's shoulders while his slid around your waist. A kiss that started out softly didn't hesitate to become what you could only describe as romance itself, fully engulfing you both in one wavelength as your lips danced together, timeless in your own right. Softly, you moaned at his taste, and you vowed never to forget the sensation of his lips on yours, warm and intoxicating, like it would give you everything you'd ever need for the rest of your days.

You never wanted it to end, but the time came for Crosshair to set you down again. You hadn't even noticed when you'd started to stand on your toes, but when the soles of your feet were back on the ground, you looked up at him with hope, with love, and with the unspoken desire to scream "don't go" building up and eating you up inside.

With all those feelings in your gaze, looking at you nearly broke Crosshair's heart.

Your hands gently traveled to Crosshair's cheeks and you felt his stubble growing in beneath your fingertips. You gave a light chuckle and added that detail to the many you'd remember from that night, and finally, you smiled brightly at Crosshair.

"Let me know where you end up after Kaller," you said.

Crosshair smiled softly. "You know I will."

You knew it would be time for him to leave soon, so you resolved to be with him in the time you had left. You threw your arms around Crosshair and held him tighter than you'd ever held anyone. You didn't mind the armor under your soft body, all that mattered was you were holding him.

And fervently, during those last few moments, you prayed neither Kaller nor whatever came after it would take him away from you.

Thank you for reading! Reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated!

[quaranmine]

you were in Iceland?? epic! I've been there as well (in 2022), how was it? how was the volcano? (if you don't mind me asking, feel free to ignore this)

Yes! I was there 5/18 to 6/1. I've wanted to go for like a decade and have been semi planning this trip for 2024 for a year and a half, then properly researching and planning since January. It was SO AMAZING. Exactly everything I wanted :) I was ready to go home at the end for like, my own bed and some rest, but now I miss it and want to go back lol

If you went in 2022, did you get to hike to the Fagradalsfjall eruption? I know those were the "tourist" ones that people could get closer to. The current eruptions are part of another volcanic system on the Reykjanes peninsula, Svartsengi. They aren't open for hiking. It erupted again 3 days before I left. I got to see it twice! On our last full day we drove out of Reykjavik and saw it along the highway, and then the day we left we stopped on the way to the airport. I took this with my 250 mm from literally the side of the highway:

It caused no interferences with our travel. It's a fissure eruption, so the lava is erupting along a fissure and isn't as big and explosive. Initially they were afraid this one might disrupt air travel if the lava flowed to the sea (producing more ash and steam) but it didn't. It was very cool to see! I feel bad for the people who lived in Grindavik though, it’s been months since they had to evacuate and there isn't an end in sight for them yet. The Icelandic government really stays on top of things like road closures, weather reporting, etc so I checked their websites daily. The main concern with the eruption as gas pollution, so I just checked their pollution forecast to see if the wind was going to blow it over us or not (it didn't.)

Our trip went great. We had mostly good weather and apparently left just in time because this last week there's been a pretty nasty problematic storm across the whole country that left a bunch of people stranded. But we left 2 days before that. We drove 3,300 km in our rental car (2,050 miles) and did the entire ring road + some of the Westfjords + Snæfellsnes + Húsavik + Borgarfjörður Eystri as detours. Our rental car was named Jim because that was his license plate. We bonded with him lmao

Here's a few photos :)

Major things I did: Katla Ice Cave, Vestmannaeyjabær, Silfra snorkeling in 2°C water, Jökulsárlon boat tour, Húsavik whale watching, countless waterfalls, puffins at Borgarfjarðarhöfn, Hvammsvik hot springs & Sky lagoon, and Mulagljufur Canyon.

It was at coldest, 2°C (35°F) with downpour rain being pushed sideways into your face by wind to the point you could hardly open your eyes. It was at hottest 19° C (66°F) and sunny. We mostly got great weather, it was only one day that was particularly bad. Mostly it was between 7°C - 13°C (45°F - 55°F) the whole time.

I NEVER saw it get dark and that was a novelty to me the entire trip. Like it never settled in as something I got used to. Presumably it got mostly dark somewhere around 2 am but I was always asleep by then and even if I woke up to go the bathroom, it'd be like 4 am and already light again. The furthest north we stayed was Ísafjörđur, and according to timeanddate.com by May it never reaches full dark, only civil twilight for 3 hours and daylight the other 21. I can't imagine if I'd actually have been there during the solstice, with just that extra month for the days to be even longer!

Now I want to go back for a short winter trip to see the northern lights and then for a proper summer trip to see the highlands (closed the whole time we were there for thawing season)

[glassvines]

Now that it's been a little over a week since the finale was released, I'm going to give some of my final thoughts on Murder Drones.

While I'm going to miss this series a lot, I really do think it's for the best that it ended here on a high note, as all the mysteries being setup throughout the series concluded in ep 7/Mass Destruction.

Absolute End was twenty minutes worth of satisfying wrap-ups.

Thoughts/comments in order:

⋅ Nori and Uzi briefly interacting at the beginning of the episode was great. LOVE that there was a little semi-realism here: no sound can be heard in space. Nori and Uzi having to find ways to communicate was clever.

⋅ N finally getting to pilot a spaceship :').

⋅ The VERY CUTE convo between N and Uzi that they are, in fact, dating was perfection. While they're falling through the atmosphere. While on fire. This was so good you guys. They are such a great main couple. Have loved their slow burn throughout the show <3.

⋅ V IS BACK. Was already 100% positive Lizzy's "secret friend" was V, so this was not a surprise.

⋅ Now, while I was hoping for J to see the light in the final episode, I was happy with what we got instead. Confirmation that she knows what has happened to Tessa, and that she has ultimately taken the cowards way out. She won't fight the inevitable.

Love the brief hint that she has TRIED to make things right with V in the past; warn her about Cyn's plans.

"If I promised you anything, it tricked me too."

:(

Also props to Shara Kirby here. J didn't play a huge role in the series, but the few lines she did get in the finale were great.

⋅ Legit my favorite part of the episode is that corny bit N and Uzi do while they're still falling towards Copper 9. Uzi blasting Cyn with the solver (null-solver? blackhole-solver?), THE WINK, Uzi and N: The Drone Killers, and the final sunglasses pose.

ABSOLUTE DORKS ILTHEM SO MUCH.

⋅ I also love that they are IMMEDIATLEY completely fucked up beyond belief by Cyn moments after this. That was devastating holy shit.

⋅ CYN IS SO SCARY IN THIS EP. Cannot believe how good the "call back ping" scene is.

⋅ N has never had problems with panic attacks throughout the series, so I can only assume this is due to him having access to his own memories now? Cyn could keep his personality intact by, as Uzi put it in ep2 "turning his memories to soup".

Which gives me the impression that he could potentially go comatose without Uzi there to hold his hand.

JFC.

⋅ V's heartfelt confession that everything she did was to keep N safe was a fantastic scene too. I went into this episode assuming 99% of the cast would survive, but I was definitely panicking here.

Me: "Do something N. DO SOMETHING."

N: *does something and is immediately ko'd*

Me: "NO, NOT LIKE THAT!!!"

⋅ Khan was redeemed early on the series for me, given how much effort he immediately put into trying to be a bigger part of Uzi's life after the pilot episode.

That being said, it was nice that he managed to come through in a clutch and save N :).

⋅ "Weirdly hot robots" Uzi lmao. Further confirmation that this entire show really is YA/Twilight spoof.

⋅ "I think dumb things are figgin' cool and I. AM. FREE." Yeah no, I can understand why this is a very niche show. The humor is very. Um. Look, I love her so much, this was so funny to me. The final message of the series is literally "be your dopey, cringe self - get the guy" hahaha. Teenage-me would have made this series my entire personality. Or, I would have at the very least appreciated the message.

⋅ BOSS BATTLE!! It's insane how good this scene looks. This was an absolute joy to look at. Adored the addition of Nori's ipod nightcore mix as the main battle song.

⋅ Allanah Fitzgerald is a riot actually.

⋅ I was not fooled by the N fake-out death lol. Good setup to further prove the trio are absolutely in sync now though. Probably my favorite part of the fight scene.

⋅ The fight against Cyn ending in a very grounded way was...interesting? Literally just Uzi making an appropriate strategic decision in a split second.

⋅ Tessa's ribcage oh my God.

⋅ Nori still being infatuated with Khan is so funny.

⋅ Uzi not coming out of this scot-free makes sense. The setup for that reveal was great.

V: "Oh, she's still a cringelord it's her UGH".

⋅ N twirling her around and squeezing her and crying into her shoulder omfg why are they so cuuteee.

⋅ Uzi coming full circle from the pilot scene presentation, complete with an updated "protag/heroes journey" slide:

"Forget about all of this insanity. Get tunnel visioned on spooky corpse robot reveal. Work backwards from there."

LMAO

⋅ Khan excitedly cheering about the fact that Uzi essentially decided she should have never gone outside. Blink and you won't notice that Nori is with him, but she iiisss.

⋅ Final classroom scene and end credits were fun:

- "THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND!" - N is learning to draw manga (from one of those awful Western "how to draw manga" books from the early 2000s) - V is very affectionate/proud about this - V and Lizzy are very close now - Doll's body is for some reason there too (??) - V is definitely drinking from a dead worker drone in this scene lmao - The group shots of Lizzy, V, Thad, Uzi and N together were cute - J is STILL ALIVE. Why is she obsessed with leaving via the ship...? - Gin Rummy game finally happened. Also Nori again. - "Pog in chat!!" Why. - Doll's funeral (or well - memorial presentation by Lizzy) at the prom. I love how pissed N and Uzi look lmao. - V playing chess against the sentinel

⋅ AAANND we get the final confirmation that Uzi is in fact, permanently stuck with Cyn/the Solver, as it can speak to her. I'm not buying the "everything's a hologram and everyone's actually dead" theory because the show is simply not that cynical. But I do love that this certainly leaves the audience with questions at the final moment.

Again, I'm gonna miss this show and these characters. Would love to see them explored more in the future *emoji eyes at Glitch*.

Cannot wait to see what Glitch has in store, in terms of new shows. I'm shocked at how high quality indie animation has gotten in the last half decade, and I'd like to see more of it.

[cadybear420]

I'd love to hear more about Evie and Emma and Evie and Jade!

Ask list here!

Details below! <3 <3 <3 Beware for possible incoherent rambling. These are meant to be braindumps after all lol

Evie and Emma

Evie and Emma are definitely the friends that inspire each other and lift each other up. They consider each other very important to one another. Emma was there to help Evie out on the first day at Berry and encouraging her to meet people at lunch, Evie was there to help Emma out like when bringing the party and letting her stay at her place and encouraging her to join an activity with her.

It especially means a lot to Evie that Emma, a very shy and socially awkward girl, had no problem extending kindness to her on the first day. Since Evie is like that too, she'd probably see that as like "well if Emma can do that for me, I can do it for her and the other people I meet here too"

I think also a motivator with Emma is how Evie had behaved to her deceased middle school friend. Even though she and Emma don't fully align in tastes or opinions or whatnot, Evie still has that whole incident in the back of her mind and she's just like "I'm never making that mistake again"

Something I kinda wish we got a (premium scene) of, but we didn't (though I can kinda get why we didn't, it just Would've Been Cool) and so I'm gonna write a fic about it, but after the basketball game in Book 2 when MC and Emma go to the golden griddle to catch up. I haven't fully thought it out but Evie would get a chance to vent to her about the game and feeling like Band and Cheer are rooting against the wrong enemy.

I also have this idea, it's mentioned early on in canon that Emma likes YA romance novels. Evie obviously would have disdain for them because of how a lot of them seem to have very gender normative romance roles and that makes her feel alienated. She was that 8th grader who mocked the absolute hell out of books like Twilight for this reason lol. But going into high school, she would start to realize there were lots of girls (including Emma ofc) who actually liked those books, and while she didn't fully get why, she would tend to be more quiet about it because she didn't want to make Emma feel bad about it. I go more in-depth on it here kinda.

But sooner or later at some point, Evie would commiserate about this to Emma, and in a manner that's respectful of Emma's tastes. Just explaning that she feels like she feels like people like her with her romance preferences are alienated by a lot of the romance genre. And the scenario I had in mind is maybe Emma going through her collection of personal favorites and picking out those few favorites that she thinks might appeal more to Evie's tastes. Cue Evie tearing the fuck up and hugging Emma.

Evie and Jade

These two would definitely be the kinds of friends to just hi-five every time they agree on something, and seeing how heavily they both love to stray from typical femininity they're definitely hi-fiving a lot haha. Especially when Jade says "you wouldn't catch me dead in that tiny cheer skirt". Honestly I think Evie could be good at cheer and might enjoy it, as long as they let her wear pants lol.

During the whole tryouts debacle in Book 3, Evie overall was very consistently nice to Jade. As frustrating as it was to have to do those tryouts again, it was still clear that Jade was a cool person and definitely someone she'd want to be friends with.

In the premium scene about the truth or dare game at Four Corners in Book 3, when Jade asks Evie truth or dare, Evie chooses truth. So she gets the question "would you rather fight me or hug that crazy principal that tried to take over Berry", Evie chooses the former. She would never give Isa a hug, and she's fairly confident that she can take Jade on in a fight. At some point, these two definitely have a friendly fight, and I feel like that becomes a common thing.

Oh it's also mentioned in HSS:CA that Jade does cross country, which Evie is also experienced at, as she loves running. These two probably race each other a lot for fun haha.

Also I think about this conversation with Caleb a lot and I definitely think she brings it up to Evie too at some point. The more I think about it there are actually a lot of ways that Evie and Jade contrast, one of them being that Evie mainly had girls for friends (while Jade mainly befriended boys). Jade also preferring glitter-free frill-free simple dresses, Evie doesn't mind a bit of a cutesy touch to outfits but definitely agrees that there should be more simple non-fancified feminine formalwear.

But more on the whole thing with playing with girls vs guys. Very very incoherent ramble up ahead. Evie did sometimes enjoy playing "girly" games like pretending to be fairies. She rarely felt insecure about either her "boyish" tastes or her "girly" tastes, but of course as she grew older she picked up more on how the world made femininity seem like an obligation, or a necessity, or like she "owed" it, or like it was intrinsic to womanhood. So that did start to make her resent a lot of feminine things and make feel more averse to befriending a lot of other girls. While she didn't get why some teenage girls liked revealing clothing or romance novels, she didn't inherently think lesser of more feminine women.

I definitely feel like that might have been a similar motivation for Jade. Jade again was a "one of the boys" tomboys who had distaste for certain feminine things, but she never at any point in canon seemed to considered femininity or feminine girls "lesser". I think Evie would realize from Jade that maybe she too was nervous about not being perceived as a "real girl" and that might have contributed to some of her social aversions. Can't hang out with the boys cause they might think she's just forcing herself into a "boys' space", can't hang out with the girls cause think something is wrong with her as a girl.

They would both commiserate over the whole "NLOG" debates and the notions that teenage and adult women who take on more masculine behaviors just have internalized misogyny, and are only rejecting femininity because it's seen as "lesser". And yeah it is seen as "lesser" often, but it's also still pushed as the expectation/standard for women and to them, sometimes it feels like no one ever takes that into consideration for why so many women reject it.

Something else I feel like Jade would have picked up earlier on while Evie wouldn't realize until adulthood, how tomboyishness and gendernonconformity in girls can be seen as cute and praised as challenging stereotypes when they're young, but once they're teenagers it's seen as "unnatural" or "insecurity" or "internalized misogyny" or whatnot.

[piracytheorist]

Ranking SxF season 2 episodes!

So, some time ago I made a ranking of the season 1 episodes of Spy x Family, from my least favourite to my top favourite. I felt inspired a couple days ago and I thought I'd make a similar ranking of the season 2 episodes.

Mentioning again that: This is all my personal judgment heavily based on stuff I liked. You most certainly will disagree with me and that’s fine! Just don’t argue with me because that’s just personal opinions, I’m not trying to change anyone’s minds or prove anything!

And also: I chose to rank each episode by five criteria, the things I love the most about the show: 1) Humor (intentional or not), 2) Character (defining or cool moments and such) 3) Cute 4) Plot (how much development there is and how well the action is delivered) 5) Feels (of any kind).

#12, Least favourite of the season: 29. The Pastry of Knowledge/ The Informant's Great Romance Plan II

Humor: 6/10 Character: 6/10 Cute: 7/10 Plot: 6/10 Feels: 5/10

I think this is the only episode that got points removed for something I didn't like. I made some very passionate posts about it when it first aired, particularly due to how after watching it I realized I'd been treated very unfairly by some fellow fans, and thus I'm almost incapable of rewatching the first half. Yes this is about Damian bullying Anya, no I won't shut up about it.

Anyway. This is still quite a high ranking (it's higher than the three lowest from my s1 ranking), cause the humor and the cats of the second part were quite entertaining on their own. It got a few points for plot because it introduced the stakes of Anya getting low grades, and also because of the discussion between Franky and Twilight about Garden.

#11: 36. Berlint in Love / Nightfall's Daily Life

Humor: 9/10 Character: 6/10 Cute: 6/10 Plot: 5/10 Feels: 7/10

A very high humor score because I honestly doubt a single minute passed without me laughing my ass off in this one. It was so ridiculous and they loved making it so. Though having two wholly different parts, they were both fun in how they were around two characters blinded by their affection for Loid to the point they have no idea how hopeless their goals are. I just love how exaggerated it all is.

Some feels points were added for Yor talking about remembering what Loid had told her during the bench scene, and also because we get Loid being a stupid simp for his strong wife.

#10: 31. The Fearsome Luxury Cruise Ship

Humor: 7/10 Character: 8/10 Cute: 6/10 Plot: 8/10 Feels: 6/10

Reminder that this is still a high ranking. I'm just being strict in the ratings because the entire season is so good, the bar is really high!

Anyway, though I like this episode, it feels more like a passing point from the previous one to the next, compared to those specific episodes, so that's probably why it's this low. I love how the assassins plot is kicked off and we get to see some action, and character points were added for McMahon's ruthless killing of the stalker assassin.

#9: 28. Mission and Family / The Elegant Bondman / Extras

Humor: 6,5/10 Character: 9/10 Cute: 6/10 Plot: 9/10 Feels: 7/10

This is the first time I felt the need to use decimals, lol. I just feel that this episode is one of the darkest and most serious of the season, but also... Bondman's part was ridiculous (affectionate) and the omakes were great by themselves, so I felt that a mere six wouldn't do.

I'm honestly entranced by the first part. The plot and exploration of Yuri's and Perkin's characters were near damn perfect, I only wish there was a bit more beyond that episode, haha. I understand the focus needed to be in the Cruise Arc, so I feel a nine will do for this one. The feels were honestly added because I was a bit touched by Perkin's motives, and how those touched Yuri too.

#8: 30. Plan to Cross the Border

Humor: 8/10 Character: 9/10 Cute: 7/10 Plot: 7/10 Feels: 7/10

The Shopkeeper's introduction was amazing, albeit terrifying. Olka's was a little more subdued, but it was more touching. I felt both also reflected on something about Yor, so it was overall very satisfying. Due to so many introductions, plot was light (not that I minded), but Anya's scheming put up points in humor and cute. Feels points were added for Olka wanting to escape the crime underworld, and how that affected Yor.

#7: 32. Who Is This Mission For?

Humor: 8/10 Character: 8/10 Cute: 8/10 Plot: 6/10 Feels: 8/10

I'd spent the entire week before this episode aired wondering how Yor would manage fighting Barnaby, and even though I should be used to the story's wackiness by now, it still managed to surprise me and make me laugh. Also Loid will never outlive his ridiculous tourist getup. Anya was an adorable little gremlin who couldn't stop having fun, so cute points went up, and Loid managed to spend one (1) episode without going "For the mission!" once, so character and feels points went up as well.

#6: 26. Follow Papa and Mama

Humor: 9/10 Character: 7/10 Cute: 8/10 Plot: 6/10 Feels: 8/10

To be honest, I think I'm a bit strict with this one. I don't know how this story manages to make miscommunication so funny for me, but it was legitimately hilarious. The thing is, this was the only episode of the season whose manga chapter I'd already read, long ago too, and maybe my expectations for its adaptation were unrealistically high - probably also due to it being the season premiere and I'd spent ten months without my show, so I'm probably biased. Mind you, I still loved it, but this further cements my will to stay anime only.

Anyway! Character points went a bit down because I didn't feel we saw anything new, but the cute and feels persisted because of Anya's machinations and because of Yor admitting how good she felt with Loid dedicating time for her that day.

#5: 34. The Hand That Connects to the Future

Humor: 8/10 Character: 7/10 Cute: 8/10 Plot: 8/10 Feels: 8/10

A lovely, hopeful closure for Olka and the rest, Yor getting the acknowledgement she deserves, a spectacular ending of the assassins fight, high stakes with the bomb threats, and an emotional ending scene with Twilight carrying Anya to bed and then the family getting ready to meet in the resort island. Not much else to be said <3

#4: 35. Enjoy the Resort to the Fullest / Bragging About Vacation

Humor: 9/10 Character: 7/10 Cute: 9/10 Plot: 6/10 Feels: 9/10

No, I'm definitely not biased because this episode shows us the first glimpse of Twilight yearning for Yor what are you talking about.

Who am I kidding, I definitely added feels points just for that look he gave her while she watched Anya play with the sheep. The whole episode felt so relaxing and fulfilling after the intense assassins plot, especially the scene of the Forgers having tea upon returning home, that I don't mind that the second part at school feels a little exaggerated. The ending scene with Anya being surrounded by liars though is top notch.

#3: 27. Bond's Strategy to Stay Alive / Damian's Field Research Trip

Humor: 9/10 Character: 8/10 Cute: 8/10 Plot: 7/10 Feels: 9/10

Endo used Dog Cuteness! It's super effective!

Yeah, the whole adventure and the way it was presented were appropriately hilarious and we saw some more of the dynamics between Bond and the rest and I really liked that. Plot wasn't heavy but I was all wide eyes at the introduction of a truth serum, and at the second part when Mr. Green talked about people defecting to the West. Feels went up thanks to, among others, Twilight thinking he was helping Bond get his "revenge". Also, though the second part didn't do much for me, it actually felt nice to see Damian laugh innocently like the kid he really is.

#2: 37. Part of the Family

Humor: 8/10 Character: 8/10 Cute: 9/10 Plot: 8/10 Feels: 9/10

Despite the mopping wet of a dog we got here, I kinda felt this was less... humorous, or at least not focusing so much on the humor aspect. I felt it was more cute and emotional that Bond was just trying to help left and right but was only misunderstood by Twilight. The action takes the place of a plot here, and I loved it all. Some development too through Twilight realizing he can relax a bit with Bond, even though he's still in denialTM about how much he appreciates his company.

#1: 33. The Symphony Upon the Ship / Sis's Herb Tea

Humor: 8/10 Character: 10/10 Cute: 7/10 Plot: 9/10 Feels: 10/10

Yeah OH MY GOD are we surprised. Top tier shit. Excellent balance of pretty much everything in this one. The humor even in the way Yor took out some of the assassins. Her flashbacks with Yuri. The ACTION and the ANIMATION of it all. HER REALIZATION AND DETERMINATION POWERING HER THROUGH. HER LOVE FOR HER FAMILY.

Yeah wow it's really so good any eloquence evades me. Perfect. Mwah. Thank you Endo-sensei.

~

And here is the overall ranking of the episodes, from both seasons, based on the ratings I gave:

1. Operation Strix

    2. Secure A Wife

    33. The Symphony Upon The Ship / Sis's Herb Tea

    24. The Role Of A Mother And Wife / Shopping With Friends

    38. Part Of The Family

    16. Yor's Kitchen / The Informant's Great Romance Plan

    27. Bond's Strategy To Stay Alive / Damian's Field Research Trip

    14. Disarm The Time Bomb

    12. Penguin Park

   11. Stella

   21. Nightfall / First Fit Of Jealousy

   35. Enjoy The Resort To The Fullest / Bragging About Vacation

   15. A New Family Member

   9. Show Off How In Love You Are

   5. Will They Pass Or Fail?

   34. The Hand That Connects To The Future

   3. Prepare For The Interview

   26. Follow Papa And Mama

   32. Who Is This Mission For?

   13. Project Apple

   4. The Prestigious School's Interview

  30. Plan To Cross The Border

   28. Mission And Family / The Elegant Bondman / Extras

   8. The Counter-Secret Police Cover Operation

   6. The Friendship Scheme

   31. The Fearsome Luxury Cruise Ship

   25. First Contact

  23. The Unwavering Path

   18. Uncle The Private Tutor / Daybreak

   6. The Target's Second Son

   36. Berlint In Love / Nightfall's Daily Life

   20. Investigate The General Hospital / Decipher The Perplexing Code

   19. A Revenge Plot Against Desmond / Mama Becomes The Wind

  29. The Pastry Of Knowledge / The Informant's Great Romance Plan Ii

  17. Carry Out The Griffin Plan / Fullmetal Lady / Omelet Rice ♡

  22. The Underground Tennis Tournament: The Campbelldon

  10. The Great Dodgeball Plan

[noorahqar]

A, N and V for the ask game!

A: Of the fanfic you’ve written, which is your favorite and why?

Oooh. Hard question, because I absolutely love almost all of my fics. But I THINK I can narrow it down. To three. (I'm indecisive LOL)

this year it taught me (lost and ambitious) was my first longfic ever (even if it's more of a collection of short stories) and is my pride and joy. The title may suck - I have no clue why it's so long - and there's plenty of flaws, but I'm very proud of this guy. Every so often I reread it and it's always a blast - past me covered a lot of different topics, a lot of relationships, and I think it had some pretty good characterization!

Educational Quandaries and Academic Arson are the silliest things I've written but also by far my favorite of my oneshots. Writing Sky as a miserable college student and hero is my favorite thing ever. It's also quite representative of myself right now - I have exams in a few weeks I should be studying for, and yet… 

N: Any fic ideas brewing that you’d care to share?

A solid handful. These are all WIPs, actually, not ideas, but I hope you'll forgive me for considering them interchangeable!

In the TP manga, Twilight's backstory includes him accidentally vaporizing the city he lived in before Ordon. I think they turn out to be alive and well, but fanfiction where him and Legend bond over seemingly destroying entire civilizations they loved. 

HTTYD AU! Kind of. Everything's the same, and Sky essentially has a role similar to that of Hiccup in HTTYD 2 - he's an adventurer, mapping out the region around what will eventually become Hyrule. He also has Hiccup's cool-ass flying suit. I want to give Sky a cool wingsuit. That's it. (This is barely an AU, lol. I'm not an AU person for the most part. Excluding modern AUs.)

Speaking of - fanfiction where Warriors and Legend are in a car, and that car gets hit by lightning. Inspired by the same thing happening to my aunt. It didn't really do much except be frightening, surprisingly? Legend is appropriately frightened.

That's everything notable. The rest are all completed short stories and vague ideas that are more emotions than anything, lol. 

V: Are there certain comments you’ve received on your stories that have stuck with you?

As I think everyone who's responded to this comment has said, I love literally each and every comment I receive! There's definitely often some that stand out, though. Some people inform you that you've hit the mark you were aiming for with your writing, others tell you about how your writing affected them personally. The latter always makes me emotional, lol. It's also fun seeing a person comment multiple times in a row on different fics - it's like, HI!! I SEE YOU BINGING MY WORK!!! I APPRECIATE YOU!!!!

Getting comments from writers you admire is great, too. As someone who used to have a huge following on my previous Ao3 account, logically I know they're just some random people who like their blorbos. But I always end up incredibly excited anyways, haha. 

There's also no greater joy than a returning commenter. Often, I've found myself in like… a symbiotic relationship of commenting long paragraphs? It's amazing. I made one of my closest online friends this way, over a discussion about tea in my comments!!

Lord OKAY. I went too hard with these responses, I think, but I have a lot of thoughts. Thank you for asking, Rose!! :D

[tr1ck5]

What is your favorite memory?

This is so hard hahaha I was expecting questions like what's your favorite vowel or my opinion on pineapple pizza (wait to be honest I didn't really expect any questions lmao)

Okay clearly it's gonna be impossible for me to choose ONE so I'm gonna go with something that would definitely be in my top 10... A couple of years back, my SO and I were in Montréal with friends for Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (National Québec/French Canadian holiday on the 24th of June) and we just had such a fucking blast. You know those... perfect days? It was HOT that day and SO sunny we went out to eat and drink gin-lemonade on a restaurant terrace and ended up at a big park in Repentigny afterwards during twilight, with loads of trees and pathways and bats were flying above us and it was so damn cool to watch them! We were near the Saint Lawrence River and eventually I found a small, almost hidden pathway in the long grasses and I wanted to see where it led!!! But my friends weren't sure and were worried about bugs/ticks/poison ivy blah blah blah but I went anyways so they followed. Well the path eventually opened up and led straight to the river's shore where there was a small dock and hot damn. It was very windy but warm, the air smelled a bit briny, the moon was full and gigantic and yellow. Waves lapped on the dock and it was -breathtaking-, we could see the lights of the city afar, and it really felt like we were in this pocket oasis removed from everything, and it was so peaceful. We all sat on the dock, quiet, and just... existed. And then suddenly fireworks erupted, as is tradition on that holiday. From three different directions, all at once and all perfectly visible from where we were. We all just looked at each other, knowing this moment was somehow absolutely magical. This memory is difficult to adequately put into words, it really was a 'you had to be there' moment! My SO managed to snap a picture of me and our two friends on the dock though, and it is a picture I cherish very much, and I would love to add it here but tumblr is fucking stupid and I can't add pictures while replying to asks lol

[the3rddenialist]

Void Silver #1 Liveblog

Hello, this was done on the 1st of June, but will be posted later, this is me liveblogging Void Silver #1! Find The Somewhat Incredible Jackie-boy Man Liveblog here

Edit(28/06/24): I believe enough time past so I'm posting this, ignore the spelling mistakes. These are my initial thoughts from liveblogging

Spoilers ahead haha

Cool cover, hello galaxy higgins

London in the 90s? Back in the past baby!

Did lil marv have a bad day at school?

Oh god he looks tired, dude you're like 12 chill mate

"Bruv" "wicked" oh wow, also hi little sam

British teengers, oh no. And teacher strike on the newspaper

aww lil marv likes magic, haha the guy on the magazine looks like jbm

oh rude dude, that's a child. also ay the preview page thing

huh, the circle seems almost common knowledge in this world. so is magic like normal in this universe if the guy was comfortable to do it on a public train? marv still is sad

marv surely you could of grabbed, liek an apple, also he's an A student? how old is he? and there's meeting at 5 pm?

marv...

oh god i love his mom. i was spoiled he had a mom but she looks so cool. trial prep tho? hmm

THE CAT! and mention of cosmic entity ooo. also a cyborg dude spitting prophecies? this is a strange world

depression the page

gardening!!! also marv what you thinking. also it's weird higgins didn't introduce this volume, I guess it's not going to be a reoccurring thing

OH THE GUY WAS FROM THE PREVIEW PAGE TOO, hey it's the big cat. what is a 'mark' tho?

marvin looks happy for once, but mother dearest is concerned. i mean she's in the right here but the narrative ain't going to like that. ohhh are we going to see marvin sneak out to find the guy.

chill marv, some people care about the bees

bill clinton is canon to marvin lore

yooo another dream. oh don't trust the cat

here's the sneaking scene

my guy has a sick place. a water fountain and everything

marv you don't just zap a man.

IT IS RAMESSE????? I was thinking that but i thought the head was wrong. OH HELL YEAH. WHAT IS HAPPENING???

time eh ramesse? i'm not sure how much a trust this whole 'mark' business. also marv you really shouldn't be walking with a random stranger.

oh that's the headquarters hun? so i suppose the other place in the last page of #0 was somewhere else then. does ramesses bring random kids here often lol??? god he's weird.

two years is along to marvin but short to ramesses is funny. ayy mother dearest is to the rescue! being grounded for the twentieth century isn't the worst punishment when there's only a decade remaining. marv is crying?

i do like colour in this volume. oh god marv read the room. glad you're happy though

TWINS SPOTTED????????? Also this dude was from when he first entered the circle. huh marvin is special or something? this doesn't feel right, echo also told chase he was special. perhaps it's linked. but what great things do you speak of braid twin.

Ramesses how did you manage to insert yourself in marvin's life. mother dearest you okay. is the magic circle and magicians a big enough deal that you're allowing this? interesting.

HE EIGHT??? OH THAT'S SO MUCH WORSE. RAMESSE THAT'S YOUNG. seems time is broken haha. marv you're going to kill someone.

MOIRA!!!!!! NAME DROP THANK GOD. So she's Irish? or at least Gaelic maybe? or just cool name.

oh okay okay we have magic rules now.

Mana energy of non life (abiotic things?)

Malia energy of life (biotic?)

Impetus energy of forces (potential and kinetic energy?)

Apotropacis? To ward off evil. Nazar protects people from the evil eye. but what is the evil?

UNICORNS ARE REALL. TWILIGHT SPARKLE!

cosmic horror takes form of a cat to calm 8 year old kid. ramesses why you broke.

"alchemy in her guts" ramesses stop. stop touching. why are you such a menace.

ohhh incantation. we've seen that a lot. just realised marv will be 10 for his exam, wow.

heyyyy moira. and good effort ramesses.

can marvin opt out of magic? god imagine marv as a lawyer. oh no he has been selected, no choice there. god marv looks anxious about moira and ramesses talking. is that another sam?

TATTOOS AT EIGHT WOW. moira i'm so sorry. OH FUCK MOIRA YOU GOOD????

tey look like a family in the car, grandad, mum and kid. marv got his green cloakkk. hey moira, nothing bad is going to happen to you right. please.

time passing. oh no, marv you good?

HE FAILED????

oh god trial and tribulation art looks so good.

woah. okay. so we have yet to see everything that was on the final page of #0. so that will probably be across the next couple of books. what happened when you fail? does he need to wait another 2 years? 5? he looks significantly older in #2. did not expect a proper ramesses introduction. anyways this was interesting! I enjoyed it a lot, and liked the background character designs too.

anyways until next time

[mermaidsirennikita]

I just finished A Wicked Bargain for the Duke by Megan Frampton and I was wondering if you had any recs for others book where the couple start off having middling sex but end up having great sex (I was unsure about the sex scenes in the book given how they started out but they ended up being really hot)

Oh, sure!

For My Lady's Heart by Laura Kinsale has a pretty mid first encounter for Melanthe and Ruck, largely because a) the focus is really less pleasure and more consummation and b) he hasn't had sex in 13 years so it lasts for like... half a second. A lot of their relationship is about her becoming vulnerable and LETTING him take care of her needs, which includes sex. In the second book, Shadowheart, Allegreto and Elayne's first encounter is.... straight up noncon, though I don't think either of them would necessarily see it that way, because 1300s.

Her Husband's Harlot by Grace Callaway has a variation of this--I don't even know if he finishes, but their first encounter is really awkward. Then she ends up pretending to be a sex worker and seducing him that way, sorta kinda accidentally? I haven't read Regarding the Duke yet, but I know the couple in that has been married like... eight years, and has good sex, but sex that's very structured and withholding. He gets amnesia and it turns around.

Run Posy Run by Cate C. Wells is a mafia romance I enjoy a lot wherein the hero and heroine have been in a relationship for around a year, and have very mid, him-focused sex because she doesn't feel comfortable with asking for more. He thinks she's cheated after a video is doctored and she has to go on the run--but he quickly realizes she's wrong and chases her. He's like... a sociopath, and the book is him realizing his feelings for her and learning what pleases her. It's gooood.

Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas has a variation of this. I think the wedding night is good? But the hero and heroine separate for ten years the day after, and when they first reunite the focus is all on having a baby, and she wants to divorce him. So it's a bit awkward.

Lord of Darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt has another "it's awkward because it's all for the baby" thing. The hero and heroine got married because she was pregnant by another (dead) man and her brother blackmailed the hero into marrying her. She miscarried right after, and they've been living separately, but she arrives in town wanting a baby. He agrees, but the sex is intentionally very stiff and weird at first, though it gets more passionate as the story goes on.

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole, obviously paranormal. Rydstrom and Sabine are fated mates, but she's evil and just wants his baby for scheme purposes, and he withholds until he can't anymore and it's... intense, but not fun for her, lol. She's all "NEVER AGAIN" and they have to work up to good sex.

The Chief by Monica McCarty. Tor and Christina's first sex scene is awkward because he literally doesn't know it's her, and she didn't realize he was going to put it in, and then also her dad barges in and Tor has to like, leap naked out of the bed. They get better.

The Truth About Cads and Dukes by Elisa Braden is a marriage of convenience book where the hero tries to be cool and withholding, which leads to awkward sex until he basically admits he's obsessed with her.

Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath. They obviously aren't married, but the sex is clinical and awkward (and over quickly) until she allows herself to feel something for him.

Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas. They have a hORRIBLE wedding night full of miscommunication, but after some angst over that, they work towards a good sex life.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang. Contemporary, hero is on the spectrum and the heroine doesn't realize it and doesn't get how little he knows about female pleasure, so it kind of sucks at first and they have to lear to communicate.

I know A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy has this with the hero and heroine marrying, having an awkward wedding night, and separating right after. It didn't super work for me the first go around, but I think it was partly a mood thing, so I want to try it again.

[kingdomkeykitsune]

KHOC WEEK 2023 DAY 2: NEW WORLD

No applicable art for @khoc-week today, please enjoy this Destiny Islands Gif instead lol. Kimbri's story sees her headed to many a new world in her search for her brother, but today I thought I'd take a look at one arrival that didn't carry so much weight and urgency.

Also a shout out and BIG thanks to @luxmoogle bc your posts about the Destiny Islands mainland were absolutely invaluable for helping me develope a clear mental image while I was writing this.

Edit: I fixed an egregious case of autocorrect failure, Sora and Echo's mother's name is Orihime, not Origine. What the hell.

As New and Constant As the Tide

The tang of salt in the air was the first thing Kimbri noticed as she hopped out of the Gummi Ship and into the gleaming sun. Birds soared high above on the cool breeze and she could see the glint of water in the distance past creamy colored brick and stucco cottages and dense green foliage. Sand and gravel crunched under her boots as she hit the ground, still feeling odd beneath her feet despite all her travels after spending most of her life on grass and cobblestone.

Destiny Islands was just as beautiful as Sora had always promised it would be. Grinning, Kimbri took off her glove and reached back to help Vega out of the ship.

"You've got to see this." She said. Normally that would be an incredibly insensitive thing to say to a blind person, but her brother just chuckled and took her hand, activating the ability that would allow him to see what she could see.

"Oh... It's charming." He said, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"I'm glad you guys like it." A voice spoke and they both turned towards it.

"Kairi! Hey sweetie, how are things?" Kimbri smiled and reached to hug the redhead. As they embraced her nose was filled with the familiar scent of the sun cream Sora used. Coconut he'd told her it was. Familiar and comforting.

"Mmmm... Everything is good. We're just waiting for everybody to finish arriving before we head out to the Play Island for the party."

"We're not the last ones are we?" Squall asked, stepping out and carefully lifting Ombra to the ground as she followed behind him.

"Nah, not by a longshot, you're actually pretty early comparatively. We're still waiting on the Twilight gang and for Riku to get back." Kairi chuckled, shaking her head. "Which works out perfectly, Sora's mom was saying she wanted to meet the new members of the family."

"Wait, what?" Kimbri asked, brows furrowing.

"Oh c'mon, don't tell me you've been going around calling Sora your brother thinking it didn't go both ways or something." The redhead put her hand on her hip and grinned teasingly. "You guys have been adopted. Don't even think of protesting, Sora comes by his stubbornness honestly.

"Wha- I- Oh, honestly..." Kimbri sighed, shaking her head. "Well, in that case I suppose we shouldn't keep her waiting... Lead on." 

Kairi smiled and gestured for them all to follow her.

There seemed to be only one main road on this part of the Island, a long sandy strip bordered by lush plant life and charming lamp posts that almost appeared to have been cobbled together from spare bits. Kimbri smiled to herself as they walked, she recognized the plants from books she'd poured over in her uncle's library growing up.  Petunias, foxgloves, trumpet flowers, hyssop... All things that thrived in warm climates, which made sense given the climate.

There was also a mix of various varieties of palms and hardwood trees scattered here and there along the way, providing patches of shade in which to escape the intense sunlight, which she wasn't complaining about. Years spent living in a night world had a lasting effect and bright sun was still hard to take some days. Though her aversion to the brightness was nowhere near as strong as Ombra's, she was navigating the road exclusively by darting from one shade patch directly to the next. It might have been amusing if she hadn't seemed so uncomfortable. Thankfully Kairi promised there would be plenty of places to hide in the shade at the party, and they'd be hanging out at Sora's until time to head over so this would only be a problem while traveling.

Eventually voices started to carry towards them, the sounds of indignant yelping and laughter riding on the wind.

"I told Tidus to leave Echo alone before I left, but he never listens." Kairi sighed, shaking her head.

"Troublemaker?" Squall asked and Kairi shrugged.

"He just likes to think he's the strongest around. He's really not." She laughed. They rounded a corner onto a side path and the source of all the commotion came into view. Echo had a blond boy, presumably Tidus, pinned to the ground in a headlock as he struggled to get loose while another boy and girl stood nearby pointing and laughing.

"Stop laughing and help me!" Tidus grunted, but the others shook their heads.

"No way!"

"You brought this on yourself bro."

"Hey Echo, where's your mom?" Kairi called, and the younger girl looked up.

"Oh, hey Kairi! She's at home cooking, Sora's helping." She said, smiling like she wasn't actively wrestling one of her peers.

"Ah, that makes sense." Kairi nodded and walked past them without even a glance at the grappled boy.

"Kairi! Not you too! C'mon!"

Kimbri suppressed a chuckle and quickly stepped around the pair to follow Kairi. She led them a bit further, past houses and what appeared to be a couple small shops with striped awnings over their doors. Across a tiny creaking plank bridge fording a twinkling stream that babbled to them as they passed, then down another side path. Suddenly the smell of jasmine filled the air, the source easily identified as an overburdened shrub, leaning over a dilapidated blue fence surrounding yet another one of the cottages. Kairi unlatched the gate and headed into the yard without seeming to think about it, leading them towards the house. Stepping stones bearing the imprints of children's hands led the way to the door, which was flanked by vibrant, overflowing window boxes stuffed with more flowers than should have feasibly fit. And Kimbri had seen some very full window boxes in Radiant Gardens.

Kairi continued inside, calling out cheerfully.

"Mama, Sora, we're here!"

"Mama?" Ombra echoed questioningly and Kairi shrugged.

"We all call her that, it's just a thing friends sometimes do with each other's parents. If they're okay with it that is."

"I see… Noted." Her serious tone drew a few fond chuckles from the group as they headed into the kitchen. 

The smell of spices and seafood filled the air, eliciting a growl from Kimbri's stomach and reminding her of Rosa's restaurant briefly, but she was distracted almost immediately by the sight of a familiar blond man slouching at the green painted kitchen table, helping Sora wrap bundles of food in large, vibrant leaves.

"Cloud!" She cried out, beaming and rushing to hug him tightly.

"Hey, careful, my hands are messy." The swordsman chided gently.

"Sorry, I just didn't know you were coming!" She pulled back, beaming. He chuckled softly.

"I happened to be in the neighborhood." 

A melodic laugh filled the air, drawing all of their attention to a brunette woman tending the stove. She had long, thick brunette hair bound messily with a clip near her nape and she wore a turquoise tank with a white wrap skirt embellished with imagery of palm leaves.

"You must be Kimbri, Sora's told me a lot about you." She said, glancing over her shoulder.

"Oh, um, yes ma'am. And this is Squa- Er, Leon, Vega, and Ombra." She said, correcting herself at her fiancé's glance and gesturing to each in turn.

"It's lovely to meet you all, I'm Orihime, but you can call me Mama too if you want to. Please, have a seat, I'll have this batch done momentarily and then you all can eat while you're waiting, you must be starving."

"Ah, thank you very much!" She bowed slightly before taking a seat.

A little while later they were all sitting around, eating and laughing, and Kimbri couldn't help feeling that this place already felt like a second home.

[skaruresonic]

My bf linked me this article that just dropped today about Bioware's hypothetical vision for a Chronicles sequel and I'm like, lol okay. Bit too late for that, Bioware, but sure.

This is painful to read, even as someone who thinks Chronicles' core concepts weren't all that bad in theory.

Big oofs ahoy.

"Nocturnes." You didn't actually play the game, did you? I can tell.

First the Encyclospeedia's "Precurator Shade," now this.

Collectively, they're called the Nocturnus clan. The individual soldier or unit is a Nocturne (as well as the clan's base of operations seen at the climax of the first game), but the game doesn't pluralize the name as "Nocturnes" with an E.

Research fail.

Also, I find it kind of weird that real-world locations are figuring into Eggman's conquest. Most locations in Chronicles were based on locations in Sonic's world (if they weren't already just those locations wholesale, like Green Hill), such as Blue Ridge being the remains of a post-Chaos Station Square.

So basically just Forces but several years before Forces.

"Terminator future" - ah, yes. Much vision, many wow. I can completely see how much it would suck to be oppressed by Eggman in such a future.

Also, don't you love the Big Bad Monster of the Week usurping Eggman yet again? Except this time it's so omgwtfbbq superspeshul that not even Super Sonic can defeat it, ohhhh noooo whatever shall we doooo, and... Wait, have I heard this somewhere before?

:/ The more things change...

"DYKG also says that Shade and Knuckles will be able to 'continue Knuckles' bloodline.'" - well that's a totally cool and normal thing to say about two characters in a kids' game who so happen to be the same species. not creepy at all

I love the implication here that Bioware were so certain their mega-awesome sequel would be such a hit with Sega and the fans that they believed they would have been able to get away with implementing yet another cliffhanger ending in order to keep pumping out sequels. You gotta love the hubris.

...Argus' motivations make no sense. It's a god, but apparently was so afraid of death at the hands of a mortal that it... trapped the most bloodthirsty races in the universe in the Twilight Cage to let them duke it out for the rest of time... because...? Stay tuned for the answer, ig?

Plus, why is it Bioware couldn't have answered the questions the first game raised in the second game? What would be the point of even making a sequel if that's the case?

This is the exact same problem Valve is having right now with Half-Life: they keep making sequels that end on cliffhangers while postponing the narrative. "Haha we totally have an awesome conclusion in the works, you guys, you just have to be patient ;> (doesn't even have an outline written)."

It could not be more obvious that they don't know how to end the story. Or, perhaps more accurately for Bioware's case, don't care, since apparently "they considered their obligations finished after the first game."

So like... What the hell were they even complaining for when Sega gave Chronicles the axe, then? If another party would have had to make the sequel anyway because Bioware washed their hands of the development process, then it inherently stands to follow that some of Bioware's Artistique Vision would have had to change.

Iizuka has... questionable ideas about the series, so I don't really place as much stock in his creative vision as that of other ST members. No offense.

In all honesty, though, as someone who likes the theoretical ideas underpinning Chronicles and Shade's character, I'm struggling to consider how Shade and Argus would impact the series in any substantial way without radically altering Knuckles' character and role. It's not like they'd have anything to do after Chronicles is over.

For all of this speculation about Argus, who was nothing more than a diablo ex machina only mentioned in passing in the first game, I can't help but notice that, conversely, almost nothing has been said about Shade and her motivations aside from her possible use in perpetuating Knuckles' bloodline, which... I find a little distasteful, to say the least. I mean, it isn't surprising. Whatever character development she could have had while battling alongside Sonic and co. in the first game is overlooked in order to turn her into an exposition fairy.

But, given that Bioware intended for there to be multiple sequels and for Shade to possibly earn a place as a permanent fixture in the cast, I'd at least expect something in the way of character development? Is she connected to Argus in some way? Is Argus the reason her warp belt hasn't yet broken, allowing her to stay on Earth for much longer than she should have? Better yet, how does Shade feel about helping other conquered peoples rise up against Eggman? Does she feel ill-equipped to lead, having served a tyrant for 4,000 years? Does she see similarities between Eggman and Ix, and internally kick herself for being so foolish as to fall for the same trick twice? Does it give her trust issues? Does Knuckles help her work through these issues and overcome her prejudices? Does her character actually matter here in an appropriate context given her circumstances? Does she have any internality of her own, or is she just a convenient sexy lamp means for Knuckles to not be so alone anymore?

[crispylilworm]

Top 5 Video Game Foods

The recent Watcher Top 5 Beatdown had me racking my brain and googling lots of pixel food images, love the different aesthetic, experience, and curiosity factors that went in to their lists. Though I'd share my own & would love to hear yours!

5. Sweetroll (Skyrim)

4. Lantern Fruit (Subnautica)

3. Creamy Heart Soup (Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)

2. Peach Pie (Animal Crossing: New Horizons)

1. Brewster's Coffee (Animal Crossing: Wild World)

Reasoning & honorable mentions below ^.^

5. I got into Skyrim late to the game, but my first character started as a Jean Valjean-inspired petty thief in the pursuit bread and cheese. Nothing looked quite as appetizing as those little sweetrolls. One of the many delightful discoveries I came across going in blind to an iconic game.

4. Red, plump, slightly bioluminescent - super versatile as either a food source or bioreactor fuel, but most of all a gorgeous addition to any base. Returning to base and taking a bite of a fresh lantern fruit was more just for roleplay than anything lol, but man do I want to have a taste in real life.

3. Figuring out recipes was one of my favorite parts of the unlimited exploration in the open-world Breath of the Wild, and nothing seemed tastier than the Creamy Heart Soup. I can just imagine how revitalizing it would be to slurp it down mid-battle. Something about video games making imaginary fruits just looks so tantalizing, and I'm always a slut for a good soup.

2. The craftable food update in New Horizons is what kept me around for nearly a 1,000-hour island. Something about how they would steam after you cooked and placed them just looked so good. The cute aesthetics of the food items could warrant its own top-10 list for me, and the Peach Pie was as good as it got. I got the Switch game in 2022 well after the pandemic peak. Neither me nor my friends had peaches on their islands, and I was not about to pay to trade with someone - I never actually attained this beauty. My island had lined fields of crops and a farmers market with baked breads and jarred goods, she would have been my star centerpiece.

1. This is mainly an experience-based choice for me, but I imagine the taste would be phenomenal as well. 10-year-old me was unaware of changing DS settings to play different dates, so the once-per-day cup of coffee was a cherished moment. At the time I did not even know what coffee tasted like lol. The thought of drinking a scalding hot beverage scared me but I did not want to disappoint Brewster by letting it cool past its peak flavor. And Saturday nights when KK Slider was there?? Highlight of my week. Honestly that whole atmosphere of having a tasty little drink and watching a local live performance is exactly the vibe a look for as 28-year-old still. I wish I could go back and see how many hours I put into Wild World, I literally COMPLETED that game before I had access to the internet to look up how to find things - it was my cozy place.

I had too much fun putting this together lol honorable mentions has no cap idc, also no proofreading we die like men!

Honorable mentions: Yeto's Soup (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess) - it took so long to make it must be the heartiest soup ever, Rare Candy (Pokemon) - if it can make my pokemon level up imagine ME, Lobster Thermador (Sims 2) - max level cooking meal I didn't think was real lol, Goopy Carbonara (Sims 3) - what's so goopy about it?, Crab and Egg Chinese Style (Cooking Mama) - a food I want to try and cook myself, Dubious Food (Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) - what flavor is 'dubious' exactly?, Cheesy Meat Bowl (Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom) - food that could instantly cure a hangover, Golden Apple (Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) - does it even taste different?, Perfect Cherry (Animal Crossing: New Horizons) - I am allergic to cherries but I would risk it, Pink Cake (Stardew Valley) - so cute I NEED a taste, Light Faerie Sundae (Neopets) - faerie food looked tasty af the light sundae looked the best, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (HP & The Chamber of Secrets PS2) - Harry seemed so excited to find those beans I need to know why, 'Johnny Silverhand' Cocktail (Cyberpunk 2077) - beer + chili + tequila sounds awful I want a taste, Big Bang Burger (Persona 5 Royal) - I want to taste of Okumura's finest, NukaCola (Fallout) - if it doesn't taste like Diet Coke nuclear apocalypse isn't worth it, Klawf al Ajillo & Pickled Toedscool (Pokeomon Scarlet/Violet) - I want to taste the forbidden meat o.O

[unironicallycringe]

had a thought and wondered if it would pass loremaster peer review. the starting notes of the Hyrule Castle theme is totally just Zelda’s Lullaby, right

LOREMASTER? IM HONORED! 🙇🏾✨

and Im not sure whiiiich Hyrule Castle OST you're exactly thinking of, but it's definitely in the BotW Hyrule Castle Theme! I listened through the TotK ones from the sky and surface and didn't hear it there, but it does have similar vibes to Twilight Princess's excellent build-up.

If you haven't experienced the Twilight Princess one, I recommend listening! It builds from what I can only describe as the Royal Family motif to Ganondorf's theme. TotK does the same, but with sprinklings of the BotW Hyrule Castle theme. I do love how all the Hyrule Castle themes thus far have cool layers like that which then build to a crescendo.

Correct me if I'm wrong on the TotK themes though, I'm at work and can't get as fully Immersed in the OST as I would like to lol

[we-arent-married]

Thoughts about the latest Pokémon presents (though mostly hidden treasures)

So before I get into the new DLC news, I just want to talk about some of the other things we saw.

Super excited about the new Paldean winds series! I hope it follows a similar structure to Twilight Wings where we got to see pre-existing characters but I'm really excited either way!

I got my Mew! Unfortunately I got the lamest Tera possible with normal, but it's still a Mew.

Now for the real meat and potatoes: The DLC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE all of the new Pokémon shown! Dipplin is so damn cute and I am definitely getting one. Thought it was a convergent instead of an evo lol. The new Duraludon evo looks pretty interesting, not my exact cup of tea but cool nonetheless.

And of course we have the new paradoxes. I know that Raging Bolt is either a love it or hate it and I love it. Saber tooth tiger giraffe dinosaur thing? sign me up. And of course I'm gonna love a new cobbalion so Iron Crown is sick.

And seeing new footage for Kieran was amazing. I love him so much but I have my suspicions about every character. Kieran was shown hiding behind walls and he's been advertised as non-threatening. Not saying anything yet, but my eyes are peeled for any suspicious behavior from him.

Seeing the new Terastal ogrepron is nice as well. I didn't see much difference other than it getting bigger, but I might just not be seeing it right.

Mochi is a great new thing for EVs and a new minigame seems fun. same goes for the new photo options.

But now for part two

I'm am so excited for the BB league!!! The new members are gonna be so much fun to interact with, I can just feel it. My favourite is currently Crispin but that is subject to change.

The terrarium is gonna be fun to explore because segmented natural area locations are always really cool in media and this one is no exception.

See the tiny terapagos and big terapagos was pretty neat, but I wish we had the types for the new mascot legendaries for the DLC My theory is grass/dark for ogerpron and water/rock for terapagos

The invitation feature is nice, I like interacting with characters. I'm curious if it's going to be restricted to just the gym leader or if the elite four are gonna get some of the action. probably not, but it's fun to think about.

I like that we can fully just redecorate the clubhouse. My clubhouse now bitch.

And i'm hopeful that we can go back to area zero with our crater besties because the banter was perfection.

There's totally more to talk about, but those were the most important ones to me

To all players competing in the Yokohama world championship, congratulations and good luck to you! safe travels if you're travelling and you're all going to do awesome!

Toodles