#infinite tournament of everything

[infinite-tournament]

Submitted propaganda and media below the cut:

autism

"Autism Webbed Site"

"it’s autism"

asexuality

"i am ace and i want Representation"

"It's no fun for the same champion to reign forever. We need a new winner to keep things fresh and I believe this has what it takes."

[neptuneiris]

Cruel Summer (01/10)

Sunset's Bay

pairing: modern!aemond × fem!reader

summary: There are two sides to the city of Sunset's Bay, the rich who live in 'Crown's' and the poor who live in 'Black Waves'. What happens when a rich guy and a poor girl meet and inevitably fall in love? In the city where they live and with their status, that can't be possible.

words: 5.8k

series masterlist • next part

I wasn't sure about posting this but if you like the story I will continue with it, it all depends on how you receive it😬

in case you like it, I want to advance that the story will be a kind of forbidden love by the fact of rich and poor hehe and I have a lot prepared, basically everything is already written, I just need to structure it in a better way

this has only been an introduction to the world of Sunset's Bay, so I hope you enjoy it and the warnings will be added as I post the chapters if you like it🤗

so enjoy!

Sunset's Bay.

The hidden but mostly inhabited beach on the California Coast, with golden and white sands that slide into crystal clear waters of such a deep blue that it seems infinite.

According to Google, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Northern California and where teenagers living in surrounding cities yearn to come every time a new summer begins.

Sunset and sunrise on these waters are beautiful, as they transform the horizon into a palette of vibrant colors, from warm shades of gold and pink to soft purple and the deep blue of night.

Every summer, the beach comes alive with exciting surfing tournaments, as well as Sunset's Pier, the midpoint of the beach where everyone mingles, transforms into charity events with live music, fireworks and lamp shows that illuminate the night with a mesmerizing light show.

Boat and yacht rides add a touch of sophistication to the coastal scene. This allows tourists to explore the waters beyond the beach, visit small islands up close and enjoy the serenity of the open sea.

But on top of all that, everything is meticulously maintained, most of it, like the clean, spacious beaches, adorned by palm trees swaying gently in the sea breeze.

And your favorite section, the volcanic stone cliffs that are distributed in specific locations on the beach, offering rocky walls as you sit on the seashore behind you and all around, emerging as natural guardians of the beach.

And from their heights, you can take in panoramic views of all the beauty of the landscape, encompassing the vast endless ocean and coastline to the endless horizon.

You always looked forward to coming here as a child when a new term at school ended and your mother was always willing to come and spend the vacations with your relatives, the Blackwoods.

They always welcomed you and your mother and together with your cousin Alysanne, you had an amazing summer.

Ever since you were little, you have always been tattooed with the memory of the sand on your feet, the salt air in your nostrils, the water enveloping you completely and the sun in full sunset caressing your whole face as you watched it on the horizon starting to descend on the shore of the beach with the cliffs behind you.

And now, that's all you know, a life in Sunset's and your frequent days at the beach.

Living with your aunt and uncle and Alysanne in a house big enough to also make room for you on the beach shore, this has been your home for exactly a year now.

And now summer has begun.

"Sam has sent a message."

You raise your gaze to Alysanne as you finish cleaning one of the tables.

"He says to meet him at the beach with the others in the evening. Do you want to go?"

You place a small smile on your lips.

"Sure."

"Table nine!"

You both turn your heads toward your boss, who looks at both of you as if he wants to kill you at any moment, and you quickly rush to serve the food, briefly wiping the sweat from your brow to keep working.

"Hurry up, Blackwood," Mr. Frey tells you reluctantly as you begin to pick up the orders on the tray.

You let out a long breath and glance at the clock briefly before going to serve, realizing that you will have to put up with this for four more hours and for the rest of the summer as well.

Unfortunately you and Alysanne have to work, as it has been for some months now at a seafood restaurant where the 'rich' people from this side of the city come to enjoy the delicious food.

And because of the summer, the work has increased. But that doesn't stop them both from having fun now that summer has begun.

So as soon as you and Alysanne finish your shift, you head home as soon as possible and start getting ready to meet your friends at the beach.

Previously going out and having fun was a problem for Alysanne's parents, your aunt and uncle were not the liberal type, but as soon as you both started working and helping them with the household expenses with what you could, they started to be more permissive and understanding.

And this is your home, the less ostentatious side of the city, but still genuine.

Once you join Sam and all the boys on the beach, you head for the small boat floating near the shore.

It is not a luxurious boat, much less can it be compared to a boat or yacht of the latest model, but it is a modest boat that has seen many summer seasons.

And it has taken them all to many spots on the beach and you have shared many anecdotes on it.

And as the boat glides through the calm waters, you and Alysanne enjoy the laughter and stories shared by the boys from the neighborhood, Sam, Daniel and Chase.

The three of them have been childhood friends of Alysanne's and when you came to live with her officially, she introduced you to them and now you all have formed a group of friends where you enjoy afternoons like these with Sam's boat and where you also go swimming and surfing all together.

The sea breeze caresses your faces and the sun slowly begins to descend as it paints the sky in warm golden tones, until the afternoon turns into night.

And on the beach, with a campfire in the center, the starry sky above and all together in a circle, you start burning marshmallows and drinking beer.

"And tell us..." speaks Daniel, watching you both curiously, "How about the slave life for the rich people?"

You and your cousin let out a small laugh.

"Slaves?" you repeat amused.

"Well yeah, come on, you said your boss... what's his name? Grey? Payne?"

"Frey," Alysanne corrects him.

"Yeah, that," he points to her, "He's a jerk or not?"

"And no concept of patience and prudence," you add.

"I imagine the ones who eat there are worse, no?" asks Chase.

Daniel snaps his fingers at him.

"Lannister?"

"Oh yeah, definitely. Jason Lannister has that vibe."

"I put him in the top one of the most hated, along with the Baratheons. And I have a feeling the Arryns do too, I don't know why," Daniel again looks at you both, "Right?"

"You work for them," Alysanne tells him amused, "Don't you know that?"

"Well, it's not like they can tell me much for cleaning their boats and yachts but... no–they're extremely nice, though..." he holds up his finger with a thoughtful expression, "Though I think there must be something wrong with them."

Alysanne lets out a snort.

"They're rich and live at Crown's, practically owning all the establishments on the beach just like the Lannisters, Baratheons, Tyrells and others leaving nothing for us, the poor ones, because they despise us," she says with an ironic but true tone "Of course there must be something wrong with them."

"One time one of them didn't leave me a tip," you say, remembering, "The Tyrell's."

Sam looks at you amused.

"Tips are not obligatory."

"Oh come on," you retort, with a touch of irony, "They're rich, they can have yachts and mansions, but can't they at least give me a five percent tip?"

"Yet it's not obligatory."

Everyone lets out a laugh.

"Yeah, it's not the nicest place to work and the customers aren't necessarily nice but the pay is good, after all," Alysanne says as she shrugs.

And that's true.

Even though it's not a good work environment, the necessity is what makes you not quit and endure as much as you can. Even though your aunt and uncle are taking care of you and taking responsibility for you, you know you can't continue that way forever.

You want to be independent, pay for your own things, especially you want to pay for college, but to do that, you have to work and now this is the job.

Besides it's useless to find work elsewhere when the owners are still the same; rich and arrogant. And you can't find work on your side of the city because the pay won't be much or maybe they won't even hire because they can't afford it.

But right now, being here enjoying the summer with your friends and your cousin, you allow yourself not to think about it and just continue to criticize the rich people.

And after many cans of beer, Chase picks up his guitar and you all together start singing in the most off-key and horrible way possible, laughing amongst everyone with the jokes filling the air, just like the heat of the flames and the aroma of roasting marshmallows.

"You had a party and didn't invite me!?"

Almost everyone together turns their heads unexpectedly toward the approaching outside voice laden with amusement and mild reproach.

And then they all see Cregan Stark with a huge grin and a bottle of beer in hand.

The guys soon start showing off at the mere sight of him, making jokes and greeting him with great enthusiasm, as Cregan greets them.

And you just watch Alysanne with a sly smile, amused by Cregan's sudden appearance, but of course, she quickly hides all traces of whatever her reaction is to seeing him, adjusting her expression to one of neutrality as she tries to appear disinterested.

But you know.

And you're amused at how she acts as if you don't know her.

Cregan Stark is the spoiled son of one of the wealthiest families in Sunset's, living in one of the most exclusive areas on the Crown's side.

His appearance reflects his status; brand name clothes, really expensive accessories, late model car and an attitude that denotes familiarity with luxury. However, despite his wealth, Cregan has proven to be different from other boys in his social environment.

Although he has access to all the luxuries, he does not carry with him the air of superiority and arrogance that many would expect from someone like him and that those of his class usually display.

In fact, Cregan became friends with Chase, who works for his family in the ports.

And it was Chase who introduced him to the group and although at first no one felt confident with him, Cregan instead of imposing his status, imposed a genuine and friendly demeanor that won the friendship of everyone in the circle.

Later everyone understood that he doesn't really enjoy being with people from the same environment as himself. The wealthy teenagers he usually hung out with, for the most part, were overly judgmental and arrogant.

So thanks to Chase, he found company with all of you, the guys from across the city who don't have a mansion and all the money in the world, but who are genuine and free of pretense.

Despite the looks people give Cregan for not understanding his choice of company, he deliberately ignores them. His parents don't say anything to him either, although he says they clearly prefer that he stop interact with you.

"I am deeply, intensely and extremely offended," he says expressing mock indignation, holding a hand to his chest, watching you incredulously but amused.

"Come on, man, don't get dramatic," Chase tells him giving him a friendly tap on the shoulder.

"Yeah, we're just getting warmed up," Sam encourages him.

"Besides..." says Daniel, in an exaggerated tone, "We can't send messages across the beach, us poor people have to use carrier pigeons like the olden days to get anything to you, but guess what... we're so poor we can't even afford pigeons."

Everyone lets out a laugh, enjoying Daniel's humor in implying the differences between the poor and the rich on the beach.

"Stop, seriously, why didn't you guys tell me you were doing this?" Cregan asks, taking a seat on the logs.

"I heard there's a party on your side of the beach and I figured you'd be heading over there," Chase tells him, "Which you did, didn't you?" he points to the beer in his hand.

He lets out a long breath.

"Yeah but it was pretty fucking boring."

"Boring?" you repeat incredulously, "A party with a DJ, champagne and yachts I highly doubt is boring."

"Well, not that it wasn't fun," he says looking around and observing everyone, "But I wanted this, to be with you guys, the atmosphere."

"And how did you know we were here?" asks Alysanne curious.

"I didn't exactly know," he smiles at her, "So I just decided to come and try my luck."

"Oh man, stop it or you'll make me cry," Daniel jokes, holding a hand to his heart.

"He loves us, doesn't he?" asks Sam, with a smirk.

"Yeah, he definitely loves us."

Everyone laughs and you watch discreetly as he and Alysanne start throwing their little looks at each other.

"Party with DJ and yachts? Man, if I were you, I'd be enjoying that," Sam confesses, shaking his head in a gesture of incomprehension.

"It's not big deal and people are hateful, believe me."

No one argues with him about that but you too sometimes wish you could have fun like that, have the experience of going to a beach party like the rich kids in the movies, just once.

But the time will come, someday, there are still many summers left to enjoy.

The conversation flows as the boys settle around the campfire, the warmth of the fire contrasting with the cool night breeze blowing in from the sea.

The atmosphere is filled with laughter and banter, and the relaxed beach setting becomes the perfect backdrop for a night of genuine camaraderie.

Cregan, with his carefree and genuine attitude, seems to fit right in with all fo you and that he values sincere company over superficial luxury.

And you don't know exactly how much more time passes or how many beers that Daniel brings back the theme of the rich party on the other side of the beach.

"Hey, Cregan," he says, leaning forward with a mischievous expression, "Since you're here, why don't you take us to that party? I'm sure it's not as bad as you say."

Cregan raises an eyebrow, amused but surprised.

"What?"

Something about Daniel's words clicks in everyone's head, even yours, so you quickly exchange glances with Alysanne. And Cregan notices how everyone starts to truly consider it.

"Do you guys really want to go to that party?"

"And why not?" asks Alysanne, with an grin, "I'm sure we can have fun, even if we're not part of the rich circle."

"Yeah, and besides..." adds Sam, with a persuasive tone, "It would be interesting to see what the other side of the city is like from the inside. We've never been to a party like this."

Cregan seems to think about it for a moment, looking at the boys with a mixture of doubt and amusement.

"Seriously you guys are telling me this? The rich haters?"

You shrug.

"The rich hate us too."

"And that's precisely why we want to go," Sam says, gesturing animatedly, "We want to try something different. And who knows, maybe we'll give you a good reason to have a little more fun at that party. Right, Chase?"

Everyone looks at Chase, who shrugs.

"I guess that wouldn't be bad."

"But you haven't thought this through," Cregan insists, "As soon as they see you all, they'll know you're not like them."

Everyone looks at themselves and well... he's right.

The rich, especially those who are the same age as you, have a radar to recognize someone who is just like them... or not.

But you don't blame them, since you have them too, the difference is that you don't make disgusted faces or criticize in whispers as soon as you notice.

You notice your two-piece bikini top is wrinkled and is clearly second hand, besides your worn-out sandals. Alysanne is also in the same condition as you and the boys... well, they're worse.

Sam's shirt is torn, Chase's is torn, and the clothes are visibly secondhand.

"We have better clothes at home," you tell Alysanne and she nods.

"And we take our shirts off and stay in shorts," Daniel says, in solution, "Are we at the beach or not?"

"And if something goes wrong, we can always run out and come back here," Alysanne suggests.

Everyone nods and basically watches Cregan with puppy dog eyes, hopeful that he will take you to his kind of people.

"What do you think, Cregan?"

Cregan is silent for a few seconds, his gaze sweeping over the group around him, analyzing and thinking about all the things that could go wrong. And he doesn't pass up the abandoned cat look that Daniel and Sam throw at him.

And finally, he lets out a laugh and a resigned sigh.

"All right, all right. I'll take you. But if we have a bad time, don't say I didn't warn you."

"That's what I like to hear!" exclaims Sam, raising his arms in victory.

"We won't regret it."

"We may not but the rich will."

"Thanks, Cregan," says Alysanne, patting him on the back.

You frown as you watch her gesture and also notice Cregan's confused look for a moment, but go back to watching the boys.

"Well, then let's go before I change my mind."

You put out the campfire, pick up the trash and with laughter they all very animatedly walk away from your spot on the beach, heading first towards the trash cans and then towards Cregan's car.

"You do know Cregan likes you, don't you?" you say to Alysanne, walking a little further away from the guys.

She gives you an incredulous look.

"What?"

"Oh come on and you like him too, don't deny it."

"Of course I don't."

"Of course you do."

"You're crazy."

"And you won't stand a chance if you keep treating him like just a dude."

"Oh yeah, yeah, whatever you say."

You let out a laugh, understanding that it will be difficult for her to accept and share it with you, so you give her time. The guys behind you laugh too, with the echo fading into the salty air, leaving the sea breeze and the sound of the waves behind.

The difference in locations is completely noticeable.

You leave behind the small wooden houses, the unkempt streets, the establishments where you and your friends can shop, the bicycles and old cars, to move to large neighborhoods with green grass, trees and bushes on every corner with huge luxurious houses, almost mansions with modern cars and expensive decorations.

The guys are excited and so are you, as you have never explored these sections of the beach before, which are completely exclusive and with access for the rich people.

Obviously there are entrances with booths and security guards, so Cregan's appearance alone proves he's a Stark and he's allowed in without objection.

And soon enough, you arrive at the party.

"Oh my goodness, look at this," exclaims Alysanne, wide-eyed as she takes in the scene.

"That's a Prestige F4?" asks Sam in surprise, eyeing the luxurious yacht in the distance.

"Seriously, how much money do these people have?" mutters Daniel, in shock.

"More than you'll ever have," Alysanne tells him with a smirk as you all walk onto the beach illuminated by the party lights.

"You don't know that," Chase replies to her, pretending to be offended, "Maybe someday I'll get rich and buy one of those," he points to the yachts.

"I'm very offended that you didn't invite us to your parties sooner," Daniel says to Cregan, putting a hand to his chest as if he were badly wounded, "How could you hide all this from us?"

"Don't draw too much attention to yourselves, guys," Cregan asks with a mixture of concern and amusement in his voice.

"We won't," says Sam, "We'll just enjoy ourselves apart from the others but inside, you get it?"

The music starts to get louder and soon enough, we are inside the party.

Blue and purple neon lights illuminate the white sand, creating a dazzling contrast against the night sky. Waves break gently on the shore, almost muted by the music vibrating through the air.

There is indeed a DJ from a raised platform and most of the people here dance in the center to the music, some with cocktails in hand, bottles of champagne or recording the moment on their phones.

Near the dock, several luxurious yachts are docked, all decorated with lights flashing to the rhythm of the music. There are people inside them, enjoying the party from right there.

Some people get off the yachts to join the party on the beach, while others stay on board, enjoying the view and the exclusivity it offers.

If not beer, there is a bar offering a variety of exotic drinks and gourmet appetizers, such as sushi, caviar and canapés.

And throughout the party, groups of people are spread out, chatting animatedly, laughing, toasting and dancing. There are also party games, such as beer pong and spin the bottle.

While others gather around improvised campfires farther away near the sea, where the atmosphere is more relaxed, watching the spectacle around them.

The air is permeated with the smell of sea salt mixed with expensive perfumes and the sound of laughter and music all along the beach.

It is a party that clearly reflects the wealth and status of their hosts, as well as the people present; pure spoiled kids with rich parents.

"Are we going to have fun or what!?" exclaims Sam excitedly, fully entering the party and everyone follows.

Chase convinces Cregan to be worrying since most of the people here are in their own world and he doubts drunkenly checking to see if they have the latest model Iphone or what.

And honestly you relax too as everyone here is having fun and you along with Alysanne look more presentable in nice bikinis.

They are second hand still but they are more cared for than the others you have.

Sam quickly orders drinks, surprised and excited to have gotten a bottle of champagne, then Cregan and the others take him and you and Alysanne to a more secluded spot.

You make a space for yourselves on the sand, a bit secluded from everyone, having the view of the huge luxurious houses, the cliffs in the distance and also the illuminated yachts on the dock behind you.

Pretty soon you have your beer and start enjoying yourselves just like everyone else, not worrying too much and just pretending you are one of them all.

Mingling with the rich at Sunset's pier is one thing, since the pier is the center of the entire beach and there are no prejudices there, but now pretending to be one is completely different.

You find yourself watching everyone around you when Alysanne nudges you slightly and points her gaze to a specific spot.

"Look at that."

You follow her gaze and see a group of girls.

"That bracelet is from Pandora, I saw it on Instagram."

From here you can see how their gold and silver necklaces and bracelets sparkle. Also the bikinis they have on are beautiful, certainly brand name. There is also a girl with a Guess bag and they all have the latest Iphone model in their hand.

And you turn to Alysanne with a shrug.

"Why are we judging when it should be the other way around?"

"We're not judging, we're just noticing the differences between girls like them and girls like us."

You both let out a laugh.

"You definitely want that Pandora bracelet, don't you?" you look at her amused.

"And you don't?"

The two of you continue to observe or rather admire all those rich girls who have fancy accessories when suddenly you hear a specific boast behind you.

You turn your head and see the dock, noticing how some impeccably dressed people are boarding one of the larger yachts docked near the shore.

And there they are.

You think as you make out those distinctive black, red and silver hair.

Of course they couldn't miss a party like this, the sons of the most influential families in the city, the Lannister's, Baratheon's and Targaryen's, practically the elite of Sunset's.

You've seen Cerelle, Tyshara and Loreon Lannister before on the Sunset's Pier, their red hair gives away who they are instantly. They always brag about their luxurious yachts, cars, jewelry stores and everything else they own.

Their father, Jason Lannister, has built an empire based on shipbuilding and port development.

From what you understand, his company designs and manufactures some of the most advanced and exclusive ships for the world's elite.

In addition to this, Lannister also owns a network of ports and shipyards on several coasts, allowing him to maintain a steady flow of wealth through port fees and contracts with global corporations.

This influence has given him a prominent place among the city's powerful and his family has inherited not only his fortune, but also his imposing and domineering character.

So it is no surprise that the Lannister's are typical spoiled children with clearly very wealthy parents, as are the others, especially the Baratheon's, Cassandra, Maris and Floris.

Known as much for their tanned skin and peculiar dark hair as for their arrogant attitude, they always seek to be the center of attention at any such social event.

Cassandra, the eldest, has a dominant bearing and never misses an opportunity to show off her status. She is also the best known of the daughters to go out every now and then with a boy from an important family either from the city or abroad.

Next, there is Maris, the quietest of the three and the most reserved, but still, as you have heard, just as spoiled and boastful as her older sister.

And finally, Floris, Cerelle's best friend and supposedly the most arrogant, capricious, shallow and boastful of the three.

She is the one who seems the sweetest at first glance, but her spoiled nature soon becomes evident when something doesn't go her way.

You also know that there are two other children, a daughter and a son, Ellyn and Royce, but apparently Ellyn prefers to stay at home and Royce does not live here.

Her father, Borros Baratheon, is a most important and influential shipping magnate and merchant in the region, known for his connections with outside businessmen.

He owns one of the largest commercial fleets operating along the entire Pacific coast. You don't know exactly what it's about but the guys have talked about how his company specializes in logistics and shipping goods across the ocean or something like that.

And finally, the sons of the most powerful family in the entire city and the entire country, the Targaryen's.

Viserys Targaryen is known as the most powerful man in the entire country and by extension his entire family as well. He owns one of the largest and most influential corporations in the region.

Your uncle Ben always had a kind of admiration for him, though your aunt always expressed her dislike of him, as well as the other families, for simply being other greedy money-rotters who drive up the costs of the city for all that they invest to elevate their status and leave you poor people increasingly difficult to make a living.

You honestly couldn't agree with her more, but the Targaryen's have been forging their main empire here in Sunset's for a very long time now and there is nothing that can really be done about it.

The Targaryen business empire focuses on multiple sectors, but they are best known for owning a very prestigious bank, where they serve wealthy elites and large corporations, as well as financing large scale projects, such as real estate developments, technology or even public infrastructure.

You understand that he has built and manages shopping malls, corporate skyscrapers and exclusive developments in major cities across the country, as well as high profile tourist destinations like Sunset's.

So basically all of them and him especially have total control over the financial resources of the region, as well as infrastructure and development in the most luxurious sectors.

Although Viserys and his wife Alicent are no longer seen as much at events this side of Crown's and on the pier, their influence still shapes everything that happens here.

"Hey."

Sam snaps you out of your thoughts when you feel him tap you on the shoulder and you turn your head towards him, confused and attentive.

"Hm?"

"What are you looking at?" he asks you amused, sitting down next to you and offering you a new bottle of beer.

"Oh, no, nothing, just..." you shake your head, taking the beer and not paying attention to the son's and daughter's of rich parents.

But Sam had followed your gaze before.

"I know, they're beautiful, aren't they?"

You immediately watch him intently.

"Who?"

"The yachts," he tells you as if it's obvious, "Imagine spending a whole weekend on one, just doing this..." he points to the beer and all the partying, "In the middle of the ocean."

You let out a small laugh.

"That's your biggest dream, isn't it?"

"And for the yacht to be mine, obviously," he says excitedly, turning his gaze back to the dock where they all are, "If I used to see them from afar and feel envious, now it's torture to have them so close."

You look to where he sees and he has a very good point. They could live perfectly well on one of those yachts and there would be no problem, which is also one of your dreams.

"Oh, come on Sam," you give him a friendly smack, looking at him again and you notice the gleam of longing in his eyes, "Surely your charm can make a girl from Crown's fall in love with you and let you enjoy the amazing yachts."

He looks at you incredulously.

"A Crown's girl with someone like me? Are you kidding?"

"It's not impossible," you shrug.

"Oh yeah, here at Sunset's everything is impossible if you don't live on this side of town."

And that's another good point and very true.

Daniel joins you and Sam's little group and you stop paying attention the moment you turn your gaze back towards the yachts and them specifically.

This time you focus on the Targaryen's, Helaena, Aegon and Aemond.

Surprisingly, despite being in the top tier of the wealthiest and most powerful family in the entire city and country, compared to the Lannister's, Baratheon's, Tyrell's, Arryn's, Stark's and Greyjoy's, they are not so smug, superficial and arrogant.

Although, come to think of it, the only exception is Aegon.

The eldest of the brothers, he is characteristic of his carefree and arrogant attitude. His life is summed up in parties, girls and excesses. Everyone knows him, he is the soul of the party and drives all the girls crazy.

For him, life is a game where he always wins. Sometimes he seems like the typical privileged son who has never had to strive for anything, but his power lies precisely in that.

Then there is Helaena, the only sister among the Targaryens who has a pleasant and gentle presence.

Although she is rich, the richest of them all and extremely beautiful, she doesn't abuse it, she doesn't show it off, she's not shallow or arrogant, besides she's always looking out for her siblings.

She is the kind of person who doesn't need to shout to be noticed and with just a quiet smile, she earns the respect and admiration of those around her.

You know a little about her as Chase has a little now not so secret crush on her and honestly you don't blame him, she is absolutely beautiful and even kind, which is rare due to her provenance.

And finally there's Aemond, who of all them, he's always been... different.

Where Aegon is shameless and carefree, Aemond is calculating and serious. Always impeccably dressed, with an expression that doesn't say much and keeps him at a safe distance from most.

From what you've heard, he's extremely intelligent, he's also reserved and quiet, the complete opposite of Aegon.

There is also a rumor about him about his left eye, something about an accident as a child and where he apparently wears a prosthetic.

You don't really know much about it or him but he's always been intriguing and mysterious, in a way.

You focus on him specifically, watching him from a distance, curious, as he takes a seat on the deck with an expression you can't read as it doesn't tell you much.

You watch as his short silver hair moves slightly in the wind and breeze, as well as he watches everything around him intently, to again focus on his siblings and Floris.

Floris is his girlfriend, apparently they have been dating for a few months now and have given a lot to talk about since no one expected Aemond to even date anyone.

But there they are.

You watch as Floris approaches him and takes a seat on his lap, looking radiant in a tight dress and a huge smile on her face, but he, on the other hand, remains expressionless.

Floris murmurs something in his ear, to which he responds with a slight smile, but averts his gaze to the horizon. However, she gently takes him by the jaw and leaves a soft kiss on his lips.

They begin to kiss and you look away, trying to refocus on the party and enjoying yourself here with your friends.

However, being here with all these wealthy people, especially the Targaryen's, you can't help but feel that divide about the rich and the poor at Sunset's.

You feel like you live in two different worlds, where they, the rich, live a life completely oblivious to the concerns of the people on the other side of town, in Crown's.

While you and the others work in the restaurants, clean their yachts, boats, houses and make sure their lives are comfortable.

They float above it all, the Targaryen's, Lannister's, Stark's, Baratheon's and so on, attending parties and making decisions that only benefit their own.

But you, the poor, the ones who live in Black Waters have nothing, you don't have the money, the influence or the power. Even the name of your side of town is a mockery to them, the rich, in despising even more the poor who don't have what they have.

But that's the life in Sunset's Bay.

[itshype]

Excuse me, do you work here? (DC x DP)

This is sort of based off of the core idea behind The second, secret Justice League, so mayhaps consider reading that if you haven't? It'll take you 2 minutes max. Also, here's my masterpost.

So, Danny frequently works with the JL headquartered in the Infinite Realms. Basically, every League-Adjacent hero who died in costume chose to continue their work and make the Violent Afterlife a little safer. It's lead by Jason Todd as Batman (he never revived after Joker killed him in this AU - ....yet?) and has whomever else you like it in it. It's still just called the Justice League because with the zone inhabitants being long dead, never born or aliens, enough of them are unfamiliar with Justice League Earth.

They're better than ghost cops because they all died within the last decade. They remember what it is to be alive, they remember living people who they love and it changes the way that their minds think about crime and criminals in the zone. Their criminals are still people, not just obstructions to their obsessions.

And in a fun swap, Jason lives in mortal terror of the day anyone dares to kill the Joker. He hopes that asshole lives to the age of 108 and dies peacefully in bed so the chances of the Joker becoming an ecto-entity are as low as possible.

The regular, non-secret Justice League are kidnapped by a cool Alien species who want to make them fight. Not to the death, unless you feel like it, but more as a exhibition match. Martian Manhunter, Superman, Green Lantern and Constantine are not pumped to be kidnapped but the Lantern explains that doing well in this tournament will be super great going forward. If other planets hear about Earth's robust defence, they're all going to be less likely to fuck around and find out in future.

So, Constantine, in his infinite wisdom decides to - while they wait for the whole thing to start - summon the "best equipped" Justice League member to fight on their behalf. This other member (he assumes it will be Wonder Woman or Plastic Man) will probably not love being taken to a new planet. But, it's for the greater good and they'll all be taken home later.

But he didn't specify which Justice League - not knowing there are two. A 14 year old (looking) boy shows up. Superman is furious. Constantine, trembling with horror in what his hasty actions have done, explains everything.

Danny's thrilled, he's on a NEW PLANET?! He's met a MARTIAN? And he gets to do a low-stakes fight that could save millions of lives someday? This is the best day ever!

Danny tells them he's gonna fight, and he's gonna win, and they're going to help him get in touch with Batman on Earth when he's done. As payment.

He wants to tell Earth Batman that Ghost Batman loves him and never blamed him etc etc. Things Jason didn't exactly tell Danny to tell Bruce, but that he's mentioned to the team as wishing he could reach out and tell Batman before. (Why doesn't Jason go to Earth? Maybe he doesn't know which one, maybe the idea of being on the same planet as Joker sends him into a destructive rage, maybe he thinks telling Bruce he's still out there would do more harm than good... idk)

4 adult heroes watch in awe as Danny does a magic girl transformation into Inverted Danny and starts pulling more and more powers out of absolutely nowhere. Danny obliterates his competition and everyone is scared to hell of him. He gives an unwanted speech about what an honour it was to represent his solar system (he's thinking of his new bestie Martian Manhunter's culture's safety too).

It's only on the way home in the spaceship owned by the tournament mangers that it occurs to any of the Normal Justice League members to ask how this kid they've never even heard of is a member of their team and what he wants to discuss with Batman.

[badass-queer-couples-battle]

Gay wrongs tournament, round one of the major bracket

Propaganda:

For the Doctor and the Master:

Immortal genderfluid war criminals <333

So we all know the Master has killed plenty of people, but, despite their reputation, the Doctor has killed a more than average number too. Sure they undid the whole destroying their own planet thing, but that's still something the Doctor did. Also there's apparently a novelization out there where, when they were children, the Doctor killed one of their childhood bullies but then made a deal with Death so that the Master had the memory of it and became Death's champion, which is pretty messed up and murder husbandish. There are plenty more war crimes on the Doctor's hands, and the Master has killed countless people in a variety of creative ways. Also, I'm having trouble finding the quote, but I swear the Master once said something to the lines of "trying to kill the Doctor is just my flirting" or something similar. But I do know Missy (also the Master but female at the time) described their relationship as "older than your civilization and infinitely more complex". They love each other, they're constantly trying to destroy each other, they are the only friends they each have who can even begin to understand everything they've been through; they've known each other since childhood and they've watched (and helped) civilizations rise and fall together. They may not be who you first think of for murder spouses but they really are a beautiful example.

For Joe and Nicky:

Immortal mercenaries they first met when fighting on opposite sides of the crusades. They killed eachother many times but came to understand eachother as the years passed. Eventually they fell in love and have been inseparable since. They live, love, fight and die together and have done so for hundreds and hundreds of years.

That is your pfp, dear pollrunner, and yet they don't have an automatic submission??? For shame! :D :D :D (Mod note: Honestly they should have :D They're no longer the pfp, though)

They definitely commit crimes, including murder. Their goodness or badness "depends on the century." There is an exchange in the comics about what crime they'll commit that night (they end up dancing gayly in a place where that's illegal but that wasn't the crime they originally planned on)

[desultory-novice]

"Noir's Field Trip" Masterpost

I thought it might be useful to have a separate Masterpost of all my content/propaganda for Noir related to the Kirby OC Tournament.

This is also a reminder that...

[Noir is open for asks/interactions!]

(At least for the length of the tournament!)

(So people can get in touch with you, silly boy!)

[Bring On The Noir!!]

Updated: August 22nd

Apparently, this post reached the maximum number of links you can include in a Tumblr post. As a result, I'm unable to link to the last twelve Noir's Field Trip posts... The only one that was particularly relevant in a significant lore way was the written summary of the Shiver Star Arc and the second Raquelle ask “No More Turning Back” which I managed to squeeze in; also a response hinting at Noir’s pre-corruption body count, which you can find back linked in the bottom of that post.

(oldest > newest) [Entry / Reference Sheet] -"Noir Fontaine" | illust

-Apologies AU Summary (Shiver Star Arc)

[Major Events] -"Starting Out" | comic + interaction rules

Apologies AU Good Ending Summary

*Due to an injury, I decided to finish Apologies early. This post summarizes the remaining major plot beats of the tournament arc as well as the mechanics by which Noir would be resurrected and reunited with his new family on Dream Land.

-

[A Fairytale Tragedy] -Parents... (sortanonymous) ---Watching Hell from Heaven... (sortanonymous) //dark -Soul Reading... (crystalstars64) | OC art -Such Tantalizing Potential ... (anon) --In-erasable Mistakes ... (sortanonymous) -Infinite Fish / Parents (graycoin + driftwoodmfb) | illust -Proud Father | illust -What's In A Name? (driftwoodmfb) -Do You Believe in Fairies? (anon) -"And Here We Are" ... (driftwoodmf) --The Fairy Reveal! | Q&A

[A Cold Hell] -Raquelle... (driftwoodfb) | comic --No More Turning Back/Come, Sweet Butterfly | comic -Infinite Fish / Raquelle (driftwoodmfb) | illust -Shiver Star Cool Kids Junior Jumble! -Hard to Stomach (cauli-flawa) -"Good compared to what...?" | illust

[I wish... I wish...] -Thousand Cranes... (shibuyatoastedcursor) | OC art ---Better Start Folding... | illust ---Help from the Stars... (starflung waddle dee) | comic -

[Cuts Straight to the Heart] -Haircut From Hell ... (george228732) -

[Kleptomaniacal Kindness, aka, Cheery Noir] -Everything is Bright .. Wisp (moonsharkss) | illust -Animal Friends!! ... (anon) -Penguin Spotted! ...george228732 | illust / fanart -Kimetsu no Noir | illust -Back to Zero ... Sir Uther (quanblovk) | illust / fanart -Friends to You and Me! (driftwoodmfb) - [Propaganda] -A Call From Home #1 | comic -Round 1: Support Level ... Sasakia Knight (mementomarx) | video -A Call From Home #2 | comic -Round 2: Freeze or Burn ... Era Knight (azzie-tangerine) | -A Call From Home #2 pt 2 | comic -Round 3: Manufactured Children ... Astro + Techie | illust

[Asks] -France... (anon /Jake) | illust ---Star Warrior... (anon / Jake) ---Once More With Feeling... (anon / Jake) -Time of Day... (starflungwaddledee) //dark -Fellow Dark Matter... (anon / Soyi) -Two-Factor Authentication... (sandstorm-thetraveller) | illust -Bad Parenting... (m0x1ez) | OC art -Meow Mobsters... (anon) | illust -Infinite Fish... (driftwoodmfb) | illust ---Cosmo (poppybros-jr) | fanart ---Olympea (pinkestmenace) | fanart / video ---Periwinkle (askthedreamyversegang) | fanart -Go To Therapy... (poyoofthestars) | illust --Perfectly Ordinary... (pinkestmenace) | illust -Good Dreams Aren't Made of Me... (starlight-strider) -The Life Aquatic... (sandstorm-thetraveller) | illust ---Penguins Penguins Penguins | illust -Still Human... (hunty-long-legs) | illust -Saving Up... (zerosocialskillz) -Nightmares... (lunala8368) | OC art -Forget-Me-Pleases... (poppybrosjr) | OC art / illust -"You Should Stay For Dinner"... (kachikirby) | OC art / illust -Mother's Lullaby ... (driftwoodmfb) -"Survival in the Saddest Way" staring Raquelle | comic -

[Interactions + Propaganda] -Delivery... Wisp (moonsharkss) | OC art -PUPPY! ... Clark (absolutely-zero-regrets) | OC art -Cooking + Taxes ... Fondue (moonmacabre01) | OC art -Forgiveness... Amaterasu (zerosocialskillz) | OC art -Armor Trick ... Shade Knight (rosiegardenlove) | OC art --Noir's Not Jealous... Shade Knight (rosiegardenlove) | OC art -Troubled Teenage Years ... Jade (turquoisetuber) | OC art -

[Gifts + Art] -Round 1...Fight! (driftwoodmfb) | fanart -Go Noir! (itsjustpalmtrees) | fanart -Unsettling Aura (cauli-flawa) | fanart -Friendly Elder Gods (askthedreamyversegang) | fanart -Noir Collage (driftwoodmfb) | fanart -Vote for Noir ... Cosmo (poppybros-jr) | fanart -New Friend! ... Era Knight (azzie-tangerine) | OC art / fanart -Waddle Dee Beam! (driftwoodmfb) | fanart -Secret Weapon ... Techie (ivyna-j-spyder) | OC art / fanart (??)

[Non-Ask Silliness] -Dreamlanders > Noir + Adeleine -Alignment/Picrew Silliness -"Birthday Buddies" w/ Marx (driftwoodmfb) | illust -"Wake Up, Sleepyhead!" | illust (?) -Six Character Inspirations -Thank You For Loving Me... | illust -Pride Colors! | illust -Cooking w/ White-Haired Noir (driftwoodmfb) | comic -The Gift of Prophecy | edit -White-Haired Noir + the Meta Knights -Pokemon Partners illust -Noir's Art Skills Poll -Waddle Dee Wednesday w/ Starstruck Dee | illust / OC art - -

[Non-Ask Non-Silliness] -Chosen By The Sword (driftwoodmfb) | illust --The Armed Painter and the Dyed Knight | fanart / comic -Noir in Meta Knight's Revenge | fanart (driftwoodmfb) -When You Grow Up ... (cauli-flawa) -Requiem for a Mask (anon)

(Highlight from the Kirby OC Tourney Hunger Games Simulator)

[howlingday]

Pyrrha: Who's there?! Are you- Jaune?!

Jaune: Whoa, whoa! Easy, Pyrrha! It's me. Your friend.

Pyrrha: What's going on? Why- How are you here?!

Jaune: It's a long story, but I can give you a short version. There's different timelines, alternate universes, and I'm from one of them.

Pyrrha: Then... Are you..?

Jaune: The new All-God of Remnant? Yeah.

Pyrrha: But... But that's not possible! There's only supposed to be one All-God!

Jaune: When I was fighting against Cinder for the Brother's magic, our universe was destroyed, but it caused a ripple effect across the timeline, splintering events to different, but similar outcomes, with the end result of someone becoming the All-God. Where I'm from, I became the All-God. Meanwhile in yours, you became the All-God. In others, Cinder became the All-God, or it was Ruby, or maybe even Nora. There's an endless amount of alternate universes where anything could happen.

Pyrrha: Then... Then if there are infinite alternate universes... and you remember everything you said... and me, then.... then you're...

Jaune: The same boy you pinned to the locker room wall. The same one you later pinned to the tree. The same one who was at Beacon as your leader, your friend, your partner. The one you trained on the rooftop every night until the Vytal Tournament. And the one who kept his word to make you smile.

Pyrrha: ...

Pyrrha: (Rushes in, Kisses him, Crying)

Jaune: (Holds her)

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: November 11, 2024

Reworked Character #7: Ralf Jones

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to divorce, death, and crime.

Real name: Rafael Paul Jonesbury

Esper title: Avatar of Flaming, Renewal, Controlling Quietus, and Physical Destruction

Aliases: One-Man Army and Marauding Lupine Carnivore

Occupation: Colonel of the Ikari Warriors

Retirement plans: To open his own fighting tournament and experience all thrill-seeking activities that society has to offer

Special skills: Driving military vehicles, close quarters combat, orchestrating stress relief programs, proficiency in all weapons, and training recruits

Esper abilities: His go-to esper ability is the Vulcan Punch, a rapid-fire series of punches capable of obliterating everything from humans, riot shields, bulletproof armour and glass, cars, all known Slugs, small to medium-sized tanks, and smaller helicopters. His second go-to esper ability is the Galactica Phantom, which he activates by leaning back, rearing his arm, and then flinging himself forward to unleash an incredibly powerful and explosive haymaker.

Despite his belly being constantly bloody and inflamed, he experiences surprisingly little pain due to his exceptional pain suppression, increased blood vessel density, resistance to extreme temperatures, and rapidly regenerating organs. This unique combination, coupled with a secondary esophagus lined with razor-sharp, spiky hairs, enables Ralf to harness the inflammation and blood to vomit a controlled stream of scorching, burning red liquid that incinerates his enemies. The sole drawback of his perpetually bloody and inflamed belly is impaired digestion, leading to difficulties in processing food, which in turn causes persistent vomiting and diarrhea.

The skin on his torso, arms, and legs can harden into diamond-hard scales, providing impenetrable protection against bullets, blades, small bombs, and weaker cannon blasts. He can move at incredible velocities, effectively achieving infinite speed, allowing him to move indefinitely while time appears to stand still around him. Ralf can manifest up to twenty invisible arms composed of solidified telekinetic energy, which can be utilised to move around easily as well as bludgeon and slice through people and objects with precision. These arms appear to be malnourished and exhibit constant, erratic movements, reaching up to 20' 5" (622.5 cm) in length. He possesses the hearing and smell of a dog as well as the ability to manipulate red and orange flames. He can also induce explosive blasts with his punches or a mere touch of any of his fingers.

He has the ability to split his arms into six parts, exposing his coppery muscles and a gaping, organic muzzle that fires ten tentacles with sea lamprey-like mouths. These tentacles can insert themselves into the spine or brain of deceased enemies, injecting a tar-like orangish-black substance to reanimate them. In the process, they augment their physical strength and render them obedient to Ralf's commands. Whenever Ralf is killed, his body rapidly transforms into a cocoon adorned with serrated shell plates, as his corpse dissolves into a mushy, visceral substance. This cocoon then violently pulsates before rupturing, giving birth to a new, fully formed Ralf, covered in bloodied slime and emerging stark naked, with no visible injuries or scars on his body. Whenever this occurs, he experiences temporary blindness, dizziness, and intense, bitter coldness.

Hobbies: Baseball, participating in the biennial fighting tournaments that the Ikari Warriors host, taking his friends to carnival rides, camping trips, and science and art museums, rewatching his favourite anime movies and shows, and playing arcade games and iconic riffs on the electric guitar

Likes: A medal awarded from the President of the United States, the natural sounds of the jungle, collecting blades that look cool in his eyes, alebrije sculptures, and Clark

Dislikes: False rumours, venomous snakes, abuse of power, children being killed, and people hurting and insulting those he considers as “family”

Favourite food: Intestinal sausages and bubblegum that taste like watermelon and blueberry

Favourite drink: Root beer floats and brandy

Sexuality: Biromantic asexual

Gender: Male

Age: 25 (in 2022), 31 (in 2028), 33 (in 2030), 35 (in 2032), 37 (in 2034), 44 (in 2041), 46 (in 2043), 47 (in 2044), and 50 (in 2047)

Blood type: A+

Weight: 243 lbs. (110 kg)

Design: He's a 6' 2" (187.96 cm) American mesomorph of Latino, Ojibwe, and British descent with a robust build, decently chiselled musculature, broad shoulders, and a bit of a beer belly. He has almond skin, sunburst amber-sage green eyes, toes tipped with black wolf claws, and bear-like teeth. His hair resembles Ralf's from KOF XII and KOF XIII, but it's slightly tousled and a shimmering ash brown, and often tied into a long braid that falls to the middle of his back. His back and armpits are covered in golden brown otter fur, accented with streaks of olive green and tan. Additionally, his back features distinctive white spots outlined in black.

On his left deltoid, he has a tattoo of a stylized red otter playfully escaping the jaws of a black-furred wolf with piercing yellow eyes, clutching a ball of purple fire in its forepaws. On his right forearm, he has a tattoo of an alebrije with undulating cerulean horns, an orchid purple eagle head, languid lavender eyes with aquamarine pupils, a fiery mane, a forest green elk body, and a hot pink salmon tail with red-orange tiger stripes. Sprawled across the right side of the creature in a vertical line is a Spanish phrase in silver: "La sangre nos fortalece", which translates to "Blood strengthens us" in English.

Ralf's military gear consists of a chrome orange bandana with shaky rifle green spots and cinnabar fingerless driving gloves with four ivory spikes on the knuckles. He wears a waterproof dark green vest with the Ikari Warriors logo emblazoned on the back, and a coyote-fur trimmed collar. He wears cargo pants with an army green, brown, and silver-grey camouflage pattern, which aren't tucked into his beige jungle boots. He wears a grimy asparagus-hued sleeveless shirt paired with a yellowish-tan belt featuring four black pouches for bullets and a holster for his handgun.

Attached to his belt are two swords: Harpe, a khopesh-like sickle sword with a flint-encased adamant blade, and Yawarakai-Te, a double-edged katana featuring a green-grey hilt and a hardwood sheath adorned with iridescent crow feathers. When the air gently blows past Yawarakai-Te's blade, it produces a soft hissing sound. Yawarakai-Te's blade is unnaturally frigid, able to cut a leaf in half with ease, and compels its user to spare the innocent and undeserving from attack. Ralf dons a cardinal red waist pack that holds two cans of root beer as well as black elbow and knee pads. He also wears a black drop leg sheath for his Zantetsu sword, which features two pointed silvery stripes that form a triangular pattern.

Over his shirt, he dons a Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) with a MultiCam pattern, which carries around his walkie-talkie and ammo for other firearms. Above his belt, he has a dark brown bandolier for holding sticks of dynamite. Ralf carries around a yellowish-tan load-bearing backpack that contains camping equipment, tactical explosives, portable ammo boxes, a canteen full of water, maps for all continents, an extra pair of clothes, and a bag of THC-infused box gummies in light orange (mango peach), red (strawberry), and pale yellow (pineapple). His backpack also contains a faded photograph of him and Clark in their twenties, an army Medal of Honor, a silver milagro charm in the shape of a fiery heart for good luck and protection, a bottle of his chosen brandy, an empty spotted turtle shell, and a dreamcatcher adorned with a grey web design, song sparrow feathers, and colourful beads in red, white, yellow, and black.

He occasionally brings his copper-hued electric guitar and goldenrod-coloured pick holder, containing a rainbow of guitar picks (he jokingly says that he dislikes the purple one the most), on deployments and during downtime in the field. He wears hook earrings, each featuring three porcupine quills tipped with gaspeite beads, and a Jocla necklace made of alternating white wampum beads, copper beads, and raven feathers.

Thanks to Tarma, he owns a key to access his red-violet Matchless G3/L motorcycle, which has a purplish-black sheen. The gas tank features a sky blue fish scale pattern with malachite green dots at the centre of each scale.

Super Devil form: He's a 15' 7" (474.98 cm) draconic entity with a grotesque musculature and scaly rifle green skin that shimmers with a vibrant hot pink iridescence. He has a cerulean coyote-shaped head with sunburst amber-sage green eyes, hot pink slit pupils, a cardinal red nose, and a wispy ash brown goat's beard. Ralf also has horse ears, an orchid purple snout, two rows of olivine shark teeth, and a slimy, pointed tongue. His arms and legs are enveloped in a thick layer of otter fur, matching the tufts found in the armpits of his human form. He has undulating cerulean horns, a fiery mane, spiked knuckles, eagle-like feet, and razor-sharp wolf claws that tip his fingers and toes.

Three rows of symmetrical, deadly sharp, conical spikes are positioned on his back, running from the base of his neck to just before the start of his tail. He has two massive bat-like wings, boasting an impressive wingspan of 21 ft (640.08 cm). Despite being dull and tattered, the wings' membrane displays silvery spots and a striking gradient from grenadier red to flush orange to selective yellow. Additionally, Ralf has olivine thumbs tipped with copper claws, and his forearms, wrists, and five fingers are dark green. He has a long, winding, serpentine tail, twice his height in length, with fur and colouration matching the fur on his human back. The tail culminates in a silver arrowhead-shaped tip.

Character summary: He's a rowdy and outgoing individual who inspires others to step out of their comfort zones and discover new reasons to live. He's a sassy, stubborn, and refreshingly honest thrill-seeker with an unrelenting passion for action and living dangerously. He prioritises relaxation and makes sure those around him take time to unwind and recharge regularly. He strives to maintain an optimistic outlook and is frustrated by pessimism and cynicism, wishing others could focus on the positive and appreciate life's blessings.

After forming a new connection, he rapidly becomes emotionally invested and starts to regard the person as a close family member. He's extremely protective towards new recruits under his command, comrades, and friends, viewing them as family. Ralf is willing to go to great lengths to ensure their safety and the security of innocent lives, even if it requires taking bold action or putting himself in harm's way. However, he harbours a deep-seated hatred for betrayal, particularly among those in the Regular Army or whom he considers family.

He often enjoys teasing Clark, playfully poking fun at his serious nature while showing him brotherly affection, but also treats him with great respect and compassion. The thought of potentially losing his brother-in-arms, Clark, through unfair circumstances is unbearable to him. He secretly resents being scolded for harmless fun, but Clark's disappointment stings the most, filling him with remorse. Ralf is captivated by Hyakutaro's enigmatic past, pioneering status as the first known esper of contemporary history, and his free-spirited nature. He finds Tarma and Nadia to be absolutely hilarious and has a soft spot for Trevor's nerdy and laid-back demeanour.

He deeply cares about children, recognizing their importance to the growth and future of humanity, and is appalled by those who abuse and harm them. The thought of inadvertently causing harm to a child or being forced to do so is utterly devastating to him. Whenever possible, he enjoys connecting with children through entertaining storytelling sessions and lively games of baseball.

Notably, he shares a surprisingly close bond with Heidern, with many speculating that he views him as a father figure. This connection likely stems from Ralf’s gratitude for the opportunity to train under Heidern after being accepted into the Ikari Warriors. He regards Leona as a younger sister, frequently joining her in playful pranks and good-natured teasing of their friends. He goes out of his way to lift her spirits and offer comfort during her most challenging moments. He’s close friends with Nathalie Neo, and relishes the opportunity to work alongside her on missions. He holds her in high esteem as a skilled and proactive member of the Peregrine Falcons Squad, admiring her willingness to boldly take initiative in battle without hesitation. After discovering that she was the daughter of 2nd Lieutenant Cook, he made a promise to protect her and keep her safe from harm. This was because she was the only thing left that reminded him of one of his deceased superiors and best friends.

He strongly disapproves of Gimlet's misogynistic behaviour and objectification of women as well as his aggressive tendency to provoke physical confrontations with Tarma and Marco. Ralf has a tendency to speak passionately about his interests, which range from his favourite anime movies to his admiration for Marco's team and Division 6. As a confident, self-sufficient, and resourceful individual, he thrives on hard work, deriving a profound sense of fulfillment from completing challenging tasks. When not fuelled by excitement or anger, he exudes a calming presence, often serving as a mediator to resolve disputes among friends and comrades as he detests conflict. His insatiable curiosity drives him to explore thought-provoking questions and his surroundings, usually alongside those close to him.

Similar to Marco, he has a habit of concealing his deepest emotions, particularly those related to the many people he has lost during countless wars and terrorist attacks. Instead, he often tries to drown his sorrows with a few drinks, seeks comfort in the company of friends or indulges in reckless activities. Whenever he gets drunk, he exhibits forgetfulness, clumsiness, mild paranoia, excessive joviality, and loquaciousness. He has a habit of frequently mistaking people's names, often using similar but incorrect variations (e.g. calling Marco "Mark" and Fio "Fia"), which greatly embarrasses him, prompting him to profusely apologise for the mistake. He tries his best to avoid water activities like cruising and canoeing as they make him prone to seasickness. He's a deep sleeper, periodically punctuated by soft snores, but his restlessness is evident in his frequent tossing and turning.

He believes that immortality is unattainable for espers and humans, reserved for the psyche and most powerful deities. He's an animist who believes everything is interconnected, and everyone has a vital role in stewarding the earth. He's a devout believer in manitou, which represents the mysterious power of life and the universe. He loves participating in Talking Circles as it gives him an opportunity to connect with friends and comrades through shared stories. Surprisingly, Ralf is a skilled storyteller, often recounting his past experiences and sharing entertaining moral stories his father once shared with him. Although he's a fun-loving, hot-headed enthusiast of arcades and classic anime with a great sense of humour, he possesses remarkable wisdom and generosity. He dislikes the false rumours that surround global events and people's personal lives.

Backstory: Rafael Paul Jonesbury was born on August 25, 1997 in North Dakota, United States. His father, Gabriel Jonesbury, was an Ojibwe shaman and owner of an arts and crafts shop with a spirit name of Kechewaishke. His mother, Javiera, was a British-Latina mercenary who served in the Regular Army. Like Ralf, she was an esper with the esteemed title of the Avatar of Physical Decay, Luminosity, and Fogginess. Gabriel would often share moral and entertaining stories that connected various figures from Ojibwe spiritual beliefs, such as the Thunderbird, Great Serpent, Mishipeshu, and Nanabozo. He also taught him about other important beliefs valued among First Nations peoples, including the Grandfather Teachings and the Medicine Wheel. He sparked Ralf's love for nature and encouraged him to fearlessly explore his identity and interests.

Javiera taught him numerous Latinx cultural values, the importance of family, and how his faith in God would be greatly rewarded. She often crafted wooden alebrije sculptures for him when she was away from home. She usually encouraged him to be proud of his cultural heritage and not let others bring him down for being different. While she appreciated his fondness for nature, she found his love for arcades and anime perplexing. She would unknowingly spark his interest in the military, particularly the mercenary lifestyle, through her stories and experiences.

At age 7, his parents decided to get a divorce due to their differing spiritual beliefs, which were starting to clash more and more. He lived with his father for the most part but was allowed to visit his mother whenever she was between assignments or not away on mercenary work. He also began to take up baseball, which became his favourite sport to play and watch on the big screen. He also developed a passion for extreme sports, often watching them on TV. Meanwhile, Gabriel would take him on extensive trips across the western, northern, and midwestern United States, exploring America's natural wonders, visiting First Nations communities, and attending conferences focused on Indigenous issues.

At 12, with the support of his father and his Ojibwe community, he embarked on his spiritual quest. Due to the extreme fasting, it put relative strain on his body, which activated his esper abilities. Ralf recalls that it produced visions of his future life as a great warrior and storyteller, revealing that he's an esper and teaching him how to harness his powers and access his Super Devil form. After a period of isolation and fasting, it revealed the spirits of his ancestors and his three guardian animals: the wolf, turtle, and otter. Through this experience, he developed his survival skills, gained maturity, and strengthened his connection with nature and the divine forces of life.

At age 14, before embarking on a mission against mysterious terrorist cultists, Javiera gave him her silver milagro charm for safekeeping, telling him it would bring him good luck and protection. Tragically, that mission proved to be her last, as she was captured and tortured to death. When Ralf received the devastating news, he struggled to come to terms with it and felt overwhelming guilt, as if her fate was his fault because he possessed her milagro charm. Although his parents were divorced, Gabriel was deeply saddened by the news and did his best to support Ralf through his emotional turmoil.

Contrary to rumours, Ralf didn’t drop out of high school and become addicted to LSD after losing his mother. Instead, he channelled his energy into his education, using it as a focus for his future. During this time, Ralf briefly explored dating, going on a few outings with both women and men, but eventually stopped searching for love when he couldn't find the right match. Ralf did experiment with LSD once, but the intense anxiety and hallucinations dissuaded him from ever trying the drug again.

When he turned 20, his father was killed during a robbery at the arts and crafts shop he owned. To make matters worse, he was facing financial difficulties at the time and struggling to find a stable job. In his desperation, he turned to an illegal fighting ring, drawn by the promise of cash prizes likely funded by other criminal activities. He participated in numerous fights, both in the ring and on the streets, for profit, eventually becoming the most skilled fighter among them. Ralf also discovered a fondness for THC-infused gummies, which provided relief from his emotional pain and served as a pleasant indulgence.

All of that changed when the Ikari Warriors discovered the famous street fighter's true identity as an esper after he joined their biennial tournament. With little convincing needed, Ralf joined the Ikari Warriors, driven by a desire to carry on his mother's legacy and explore the world. He excelled in all aspects of the military training he received, particularly in utilising his esper abilities and mastering hand-to-hand combat. The news that the Ikari Warriors had recruited another esper caught Clark's attention, but he was hesitant to approach Ralf. However, after a mission against a corrupt politician attempting to seize control of Brazil, Ralf and Clark became fast friends. During his time with the Ikari Warriors, he formed close friendships with several comrades, including General Kawasaki, 2nd Lieutenant Cook, Eikichi, Leland, and Byron. Leland gifted Ralf his copper-hued electric guitar, complete with a pick holder, as a birthday present and a symbol of respect—a treasured keepsake Ralf still holds dear.

Ralf has been on numerous missions for the Ikari Warriors, rising through the ranks to become a colonel due to his natural leadership skills and courage on the battlefield. He and Clark played a crucial role in defeating a secret society, referred to as the Serapion Fellowship, that had infiltrated and influenced much of Latin America's political and religious landscape, a group that would later evolve into the Ptolemaic Army. During a battle against the Serapion Fellowship on Ilha da Queimada Grande, Ralf narrowly escaped being bitten by a venomous golden lancehead viper. Later, in the Ecuadorian Andes, he had a harrowing encounter with a fer-de-lance, but in a panic, he managed to deflect it towards a group of Ptolemaic Army guerrilla troops. These two chilling incidents instilled in him a deep-seated aversion to venomous snakes.

Rumours have spread that Ralf and Clark might have battled a group of invading Martians in the Baja California desert and emerged victorious. However, they haven't addressed these claims publicly, despite knowing they're entirely false.

In another notable operation, Ralf, Clark, and a few comrades successfully rescued Elise, the U.S. President's daughter, from a massive criminal organisation that had planned to exploit her to gain access to the President's funds and harvest her organs. Ralf fondly recalls this mission, as it earned him a Medal of Honor from the U.S. President. He acquired Harpe during a mission in Greece where terrorists had raided a recently discovered catacomb. Additionally, he obtained Yawarakai-Te during a separate mission in Yamagata, Japan where a cult with illegal weaponry had taken over an old village, intent on instigating a nationwide war.

Ralf has endured numerous tragedies, fueling his determination to improve and protect the innocent. He witnessed the devastating loss of General Kawasaki during a battle against a cartel in Mexico, where he was tragically crushed and burned alive by flaming debris from a missile strike. 2nd Lieutenant Cook fell victim to a traitor within the Ikari Warriors, who ratted them to a bioterrorist group during a mission in Czechia, resulting in her assassination. While investigating a town ravaged by a guerrilla army in Saudi Arabia, Byron was horrifically devoured by a swarm of Man Eaters. Leland met a brutal end during a mission on a stolen submarine, where he was fatally gutted by a criminal. Eikichi suffered a terrifying fate when a Mutated Soldier latched onto him while investigating an abandoned laboratory, promptly exploding shortly after.

During the Great Morden War, Ralf made a name for himself as he single-handedly successfully defended the United States against the Rebel Army's invasion. Notably, he destroyed a massive Rebel aircraft that had been using captured men, women, and children as hostages and human shields. However, upon destroying the aircraft, Ralf was met with devastating news: there were innocent civilians on board, and they had all perished in the attack. This heroic yet tragic act caught the attention of the Regular Army's high command, who subsequently approached the Ikari Warriors to propose a strategic alliance. The offer was readily accepted, and as a result, the Ikari Warriors were integrated as the elite mercenary branch of the Regular Army.

Following the Great Morden War, Ralf was deployed on a mission to assist Nathalie Neo, a new recruit from the Peregrine Falcons Squad. Their objective was to track down and eliminate a rogue cell of Rebel Army soldiers planning to spark chaos for unknown reasons. During a nighttime operation in a dense forest, they discovered that the Rebel soldiers they had neutralised were, in fact, robotic and biomechanical in nature. Upon inspecting the bodies, they noticed a suspicious logo on the necks of each one, which Ralf recognized from Clark's accounts of being experimented on by a notorious organisation. This revelation led them to realise that the Amadeus Syndicate was behind the sinister operation. They promptly reported their findings to the Regular Army and continued to combat the rogue cell, aiming to disrupt the Amadeus Syndicate's plans.

After Ralf's Vulcan Punch and Galactica Phantom obliterated the Hellfire, their battles raged on through treacherous landscapes. He and Nathalie navigated a jungle waterfall, where they clashed with the Arachnid Bot. They raided an underground base containing numerous cargo crates of trafficked weapons and drugs to launch a daring assault and destroy the Cyclops. Taking to the skies, Ralf and Nathalie eliminated the Mega Laser Turret, cleverly disguised as a Rebel Army plane. While Nathalie fought soldiers on the wing of the plane and attacked the aircraft's weak point, Ralf broke into the aircraft and battled cyborg Rebel Army troops. He stole classified documents, but they turned out to be decoys, containing only basic information on genetics and brain psychology in serial killers and soldiers. This made the reason behind the Amadeus Syndicate's operation a mystery. After destroying the Mega Laser Turret, Ralf swiftly rescued Nathalie using his own Slug Flyer because hers had been obliterated by the aircraft’s laser beam.

As a way to support the Regular Army and show his respect, Ralf frequently trains new recruits to hone their melee combat skills. Due to his mercenary work, he rarely had the opportunity to meet members of the Regular Army's other special forces. He had always heard heroic stories about Hyakutaro and the elite members of the P.F. Squad and S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., especially those from the Great Morden War and the Extraterrestrial Alliance Clash. He initially hoped to meet them in person, fascinated by their tactical prowess and teamwork. This dream eventually became a reality during a mission against the Invaders.

[weatherman667]

part two

one with self: this technique is taught by rens family for the main part and now ren is the only one who knows how to do it. he goes on to teach it to everyone in his team though. the philosophy is simple for the most part even those with their aura unlocked don't have access to 100% of their power anyways as you naturally reject power coming from parts of yourself that you don't like. by accepting that these parts do exist and are a part of you you gain access to the whole of your soul's power. in time you can shrink or even remove these parts by replacing them with parts of yourself you seek to grow. thus making you a far more capable fighter even if you haven't experienced as much or grown for as long as others. meditation for this one mainly centers around sitting down and calmly sorting through your thoughts and past experiences. breathing exercises help with this. as a result users of this style are far more stable and stoic than others. though they can tend to be slow to react to issues.

Avalonian imperative: a man is measured by the impact they have on another's life. through inspiring others, whether through virtue or vice, their souls begin to send the power that naturally emanates from them to you regardless of distance. providing effectively infinite power though typically less than a soul would produce normally unless they impacted a lot of lives and knew how to atune themselves to the people they impacted. again you have to not only accept the world view of every one of these soul refining methods but also learn to use the power granted by them. The Avilonian imperative is meditated on by reaching the state of avilon, we would call this the flow state, where the world narrows to only the actions you preform allowing you to feel more keenly the connections you have to others. users of this style either become over the top villains sparing all they defeat to help inspire more fear in others to feed their legend and impact on others, or shining knights of the world protecting and helping wherever they can empowering their virtues as they do because the energy feeds into that part of their souls.

team jnpr become the fastest growing team in beacon by use of combining the avilonian imperative with one with self. each side of their new chivalrous refinement style being taught by either ren or jaune. pyrrha starts off getting far more energy than she knows what to do with due to her already global fame and her access to 100% of her soul. but the others quickly catch up as they start helping around beacon and vale and winning in various smaller fighting tournaments held throughout the city or through taking on tasks or challenges for others naturally growing their own souls while increasing the impact they have on other's lives.

rwby on the other hand start learning about sacrifice and learn some of the more esoteric abilities, like weiss learns delayed gratification or investing as a training technique. by agreeing to grow slowly now while in beacon she guarenties that her potential will remain limitless for the future. blake learns specialization by giving up on certain abilities her other abilities and skills increase their growth by orders of magnitude. yang learns to trade pain for power taking blows she could otherwise dodge or block in order to gain aura. effectively making her unstoppable when combined with her semblance. and ruby learns the heroic oath from watching jaune. by swearing to do something she gains greater power in order to complete the task she's sworn to, but it can lead to obsession if she promises something too difficult for her to accomplish quickly. the oath taking up more of her thoughts the more power she gains to accomplish it.

thoughts on the idea of soul refining and any ideals or philosophies you think would work to refine a soul? also thoughts on the Avilonian imperative? really just tell me what you think of everything lol

These are all really good ideas for explaining how Aura works. And need to be shared.

[dc-polls]

"That Really Happened?!" DC Comics Tournament Entry #23

Wally Mobius Manhattan West

[ID: Cropped comic panel of Wally West as the Flash but in a blue suit sitting on the Mobius Chair. He has one hand to his head, and the other conjures an image of a house. /END ID]

What Happened?

Alright. So. The Mobius Chair. In post-Flashpoint continuity, the Mobius Chair wasn't made by Metron, but by Mobius the Anti-Monitor (which I have beef with, but will set aside for the time being). So it was already all powerful. Then Metron took it across the multiverse in his pursuit of knowledge, and the chair gained basically all the information that's ever existed in past, present and future, as well as in realities that didn't end up coming to exist. Then one day when some other shit was going down, Wonder Woman lasso'd Metron out of the chair and Batman took it for a while. Then finally Metron got it back and made a deal with Owlman on the moon to give it to him. So at this points it's changed hands a number of times, and all the while has absorbed a shitton of knowledge in the process. Next thing you know, Metron and Owlman are steaming piles of dust. The End. Or is it?

Cut to everyone's favorite, Heroes in Crisis. We're not going to get into all that because it's not the point here, but it matters because it's why Wally was in jail at the start of Flash Forward and was at a pretty low point in his life. But not to worry, the Mobius Chair told (?) Tempus Fuginaut to do some shenanigans to convince Wally to sit on it (and also save his family and this and that, you know how it is). Though reluctant, Wally does decide to sit on the chair. When this happens, he is imbued with ALL the knowledge the chair has absorbed. So like, that's a lot right? Yeah. But what we weren't shown because it was implied, is that Dr. Manhattan was the one who took the chair on the moon, so not only does Wally get everything the chair already had, but ALSO Dr Manhattans powers. Wally immediately becomes blue and starts sitting like the biggest douche in history because I guess that's just what the chair does to people lmao. And he becomes not only the fastest man alive, but also the most knowledgeable and arguably most powerful. He literally fixes the multiverse.

And then it's like "To be continued in Generation Zero" which didn't even get put out because free comic book day got all hecked up due to Covid. But it did get printed in the Flash Forward trade paperback, and idk the Batman Who Laughs shows up, and tbh that's about where I lose steam on this whole thing.

BUT the point is... even though continuity got kind of rewritten, Wally in his infinite ability to transcend reboots, has been hinted at (or maybe even outright said) that he still retains the Mobius Chair/Dr Manhattan knowledge in current times. So that's pretty darn fascinating.

--

Tournament polls will be posted after all entries are up. As always you can find all posts related to the tournament using #dc-polls-trh

[web-novel-polls]

Web Novel Quotes Tournament: Round 3-B, Match 56

Quote A: 

“Everything I have today, I have fought for! I will fight for what I don't have. I will change fortune if fate denies me! My fate is up to me and not the heavens!” - Shi Wudu, Heaven Official’s Blessing

Quote B: 

“To me, the one basking in infinite glory is you; the one fallen from grace is also you. What matters is you, and not the state of you.” - Heaven Official’s Blessing

[Propaganda below]

Quote A

Submission: THE most badass delivering in all of danmei history!! Bro is literally faced with death, covered in blood! He Xuan asked him if he showed remorse and Shi Wudu was like 'bitch no, remorse isn't real!' Shi Wudu is a BAMF and we all should be appreciating him more!!

Quote B

[No propaganda submitted]

[infinite-tournament]

Submitted propaganda and media below the cut:

Bread products (All of them)

"Any food made with some form of bread. I mean, aren't those usually the best? Sandwiches, pizzas, muffins, french toast, garlic bread...They're all so good. Heck even bread itself is good!"

"I love bread"

Abed Nadir

"Now that gay sex has failed, I truly believe Abed is the only one who can dethrone autism. Because he is autism And More"

[guess-that-ship]

Guess That Ship Tournament S5: Finals

Keep your enemies close

A and B are childhood friends from wealthy/powerful families. However when A gets older his political opinions change drastically and he disowns his mother and creates an anarchist biker gang. Meanwhile B's father dies so he takes over his company and becomes powerful. A and B begin to have conflicts from their differing beliefs. A sees them as fundamentally opposed to one another while B sees it as them using different approaches towards the same goal.

Things between them escalate and they end up fighting against each other, culminating with B sending his men to beat A into a coma. When A wakes up, he goes on a revenge quest against B and the two of them try to kill each other a few times, but both are unable to. B admits that given countless times he could never kill A because he still sees him as a friend despite everything. A points a gun at B and B tells him to kill him but something in A prevents him from doing so. A, unable to kill B but not able to let him walk free due to the threat he poses, decides on returning the favor and putting him in a coma instead.

The most unbearable people on the planet go on a roadtrip through hell

Found family can consist of anything and anyone; found family can also consist of 12 temporarily immortal employees, a worried manager who lost their head (figuratively and literally), a tired guide and his adoptive child who happens to drive a man-eating, magical bus as well as said man-eating, magical bus. And what’s worse is that they’re probably the most unbearable people on the planet – all stuck in that damn bus.

Even so, they travel throughout a variety of broken districts and cities, making various attempts in fulfilling the requests of citizens and alike – albeit in their own chaotic and messy way. Along the ride they struggle, fight each other, share laughs, comfort one another as well as discover each other's pasts and regrets. Despite their differences and conflicts, in this hellish world they live in, they'll learn to depend on each other and survive together as co-workers (and as a broken but healing family).

Because even through the infinite possibilities, billions of timelines, as well as countless alternate universes they reach through, they'll always and inevitably be stuck as co-workers – whether they like it or not.

(Ahem... if I can ask my fellow tournament runners to campaign for this on their personal blog instead of their tournament blog, that'd be appreciated.)

[lethalbreadkills]

Okay, a few things girl! 1) Seeing you are entered into a tournament right now, what are your thoughts on it? did you let yourself in on it or did someone else relay it to you / invite you in? 2) Can we have a quick family run down? I'm sure everyones pretty curious on the tree! 3) ....and do you have any up to no good ulterior motives? O_O or is this all just for fun

Oh, you know~ I entered it all on my own, but my sister was the one to tell me about it... she thought I might enjoy it <3

Weeelll, theres me and my sister, Athena, we're twins you know, and of course our Mommy and Daddy-- hah, no. Our Fathers are Mephiles and Infinite. They created us to, "follow their legacy", as they say. We also have another sister, her names Canis! Love her, silly jackhog thing-

Can a girl not have any hobbies? Honestly, not everything I do is evil!! This is profiling, I swear!! Anywho, this little stint is pure fun <3 no need to worry about the other children~

[badass-queer-couples-battle]

Gay wrongs tournament, round one of the losers bracket

Propaganda:

For Lord Boxman and Professor Venomous:

Canon supervillain power couple <3

Gay peoplrrrr

For the Doctor and the Master:

Immortal genderfluid war criminals <333

So we all know the Master has killed plenty of people, but, despite their reputation, the Doctor has killed a more than average number too. Sure they undid the whole destroying their own planet thing, but that's still something the Doctor did. Also there's apparently a novelization out there where, when they were children, the Doctor killed one of their childhood bullies but then made a deal with Death so that the Master had the memory of it and became Death's champion, which is pretty messed up and murder husbandish. There are plenty more war crimes on the Doctor's hands, and the Master has killed countless people in a variety of creative ways. Also, I'm having trouble finding the quote, but I swear the Master once said something to the lines of "trying to kill the Doctor is just my flirting" or something similar. But I do know Missy (also the Master but female at the time) described their relationship as "older than your civilization and infinitely more complex". They love each other, they're constantly trying to destroy each other, they are the only friends they each have who can even begin to understand everything they've been through; they've known each other since childhood and they've watched (and helped) civilizations rise and fall together. They may not be who you first think of for murder spouses but they really are a beautiful example.

For Heavy and Medic:

Unhinged mercenaries waging unending war

They're so deeply in gay love that gameplay-wise they're one of the most formidable threats in the game when together. This is because gay love is the most powerful force in the world, which allows them to do so much murder. In the comic, Heavy goes berserk and kills the heavy weapons expert of the Team Fortress Classic team after he kills Medic, and Medic escapes death by swindling the devil. He stole the Team Fortress Classic team's souls by surgically extracting them and sewing them into himself, so even though he already sold his soul, the devil doesn't have the majority of his soul because he has 8 more.

[smaller-comfort]

Some poorly organized thoughts, now that I have consumed a stack of Warhammer books about necrons. (Cannot thank @ocelly enough for sending them to me.)

Spoilers for the Infinite and the Divine and thr Twice Dead King books. I'm not talking about Severed because I am genuinely tired of bursting into tears! I have become a parody of a human being.

Orikan deserves it nearly every time Trazyn leaves him in a mangled heap somewhere. No forgiveness or quarter for breaking those pots during his initial theft of the astrarium! I mean, I get where Orikan is coming from; Necrons as a whole are slaved to their past and their inability to change will destroy them. But also, priceless ancient pottery, you raging douchebag. You also didn't have to break Trazyn's walking stick.

Executioner Philias deserves the chance to decapitate both of them, as a treat. And Sannet deserves a vacation somewhere quiet and restful.

I know Orikan tends to be characterized as a shrieking gremlin in contrast to Trazyn's laconic smarminess but they both engage in a lot of shrieking gremlin antics here.

I love how the rise and fall of Serenade's civilizations is used as a framing device for the whole story. I love the approach to time itself in the book in general, with the necrons moving on incomprehensibly vast timelines. Pauses in conversations take hours; three years pass in the middle of a brainstorming session between Trazyn and his staff. Orikan manipulates the timeline with wild abandon to occasionally disastrous and frequently hilarious ends. It's a very fun premise, and it drives home the idea of necrons as not just immortal, but also impossibly old.

(It feels like a treat to read something like this after some of the ideas I've chewed on in my Sea of Stars fic. It's hard not to draw parallels, and some part of me desires an entirely senseless crossover. Trazyn would have a delightful time getting to show off his archives to Resh'an, up until the Vial of Time starts breaking down the chronostasis fields in some of the exhibits. Whoops.)

Thinking about the curatorial/transformational dichotomy in fandom makes me want to contemplate an incredibly stupid AU where Trazyn and Orikan have been getting into flamewars with each other on gaming message boards since the early 90s. They have been banned from attending the same conventions and tournaments after getting in one too many fistfights with each other.

I'm not going to write that. (I'm not likely to write anything...but if I do, it's probably going to be porn where Orikan gets dismembered. *sigh* I'm always predictable to myself, of course, but sometimes the mortifying ordeal of being known weighs upon one's mind.)

I just picked up the audio book, so I may give my eyes a break in the coming week and give it a listen.

Zahndrekh's cameo in Ruin, followed by the revelation in Reign that he's wrapped up in the Carnotite conclave bullshit makes me wildly curious as to where Crowley is headed with these stories. Also the fact that Zahndrekh was as weird and off-putting to people when he was alive as he is when he's a necron is so, so fucking hilarious. He's just like that normally! Incredible. I love him more than words can describe.

I feel like if I were better versed in ancient Greek philosophy and Egyptian mythology, I'd have been picking up a lot more of the references and allusions in Twice Dead King. I've also never watched Battlestar Galactica, so I don't know how much the parallels between BG and Reign line up beyond the superficial.

(It may be Locked Tomb brainrot at work making me assume there are additional levels to the story that I'm missing. Not that there aren't already plenty of levels to the story!)

Going back through pieces of Ruin after finishing Reign makes everything hurt even more! Wow. Incredible.

Reading Ruin: Oltyx you absolute gay disaster baby, please get a grip

Reading Reign: wait no not like that oh god no

Yenekh gets to subvert the 'best friend who dies tragically to support the hero' trope because he's not the best friend, he's the love interest. Oltyx spends the first six chapters of Ruin waxing poetic about his dear friend's graceful curves and shining carapace, come on.

(Their reunion on the Polyphemus also made me cry, unsurprisingly. Love wins! Which is the central theme of course; Oltyx's salvation comes from the people who love him.)

Lysikor manages to steal every scene he's in, which is hilariously appropriate. He's just the distilled essence of that one thief in every D&D campaign who rolls way too high on his pickpocket checks. I have to assume that he's relying on his obsession with stealing shit to stave off his own descent into the flayer curse, since he is originally from Ithakas.

If/when he gets turned, he can go to Drazak and make out sloppy style with Oltyx while Yenekh looks on in horror before joining in.

...I mean I guess Lysikor doesn't need to be turned for that, necessarily. It's going to be an extremely messy endeavor, regardless.

Between The Locked Tomb, and Twice-Dead King, it feels like there's a lot of ritualistic cannibalism with skeletons going on around here. 🤷‍♀️

[csh-tournament]

Tournament Recap: Round 1

And so, Round 1 of Stage 2 is officially over. I thought it'd be a fun idea to make a little status update post as a way to sorta recap the bracket so far.

Aside from 3, which is barely hanging in there, the numbered albums (and Little Pieces of Paper) have all been completely wiped out, which is to be expected but also kinda sad. On the flipside, not a single track from Twin Fantasy (Face to Face) has been eliminated! Of course, that's going to change no matter what in the next round because Stop Smoking and Bodys are going up against each other.

*More detailed stuff under the cut. Songs are grouped by album/EP/I'm bald/any other miscellaneous infinitely nuanced answer*

1 [0/16 (0%) Remaining]

tybee island horse ghosts (Eliminated in Group Stage)

good sunday (Eliminated in Group Stage)

big jacket (Eliminated in Round 1 by My Boy (Twin Fantasy (2018))

Cesare the somnambulist (Eliminated in Group Stage)

happy/ugly (Eliminated in Group Stage)

David Lynch versus the moon (Eliminated in Group Stage)

his shiny customers (Eliminated in Group Stage)

up all night (Eliminated in Group Stage)

inside the bell jar (Eliminated in Group Stage)

july new hey (Eliminated in Group Stage)

kid war (Eliminated in Round 1 by portrait of the artist as a young fag)

you have to go to college (Eliminated in Group Stage)

yes bulletin (Eliminated in Group Stage)

mortgages for veterans (Eliminated in Group Stage)

my dad just passed out (Eliminated in Group Stage)

what does OUJ stand for (Eliminated in Round 1 by America (Never Been))

2 [0/13 (0%) Remaining]

smokezone (Eliminated in Group Stage)

this one time I went to a coffee house because some guy I knew was playing and I just sat there for an hour and didn't talk to anyone and then I came home and wrote this song (Eliminated in Group Stage)

we are in space (Eliminated in Group Stage)

it's you, you're the asshole who made this (Eliminated in Group Stage)

shoelaces (Eliminated in Group Stage)

act suspicious (Eliminated in Group Stage)

reversible jacket (Eliminated in Group Stage)

the majestic hotel (Eliminated in Group Stage)

90 (Eliminated in Group Stage)

fiction I (Eliminated in Group Stage)

hanging out with my mom in women's apparel (Eliminated in Group Stage)

...then it will be exactly the same as earth (Eliminated in Group Stage)

will you please pass the milk, please? (Eliminated in Round 1 by Famous Prophets (Minds))

3 [2/13 (~15%) Remaining]

no starving (Eliminated in Group Stage)

portrait of the artist as a young fag

beach weak (Eliminated in Round 1 by Nervous Young Inhumans (2011))

foreign song (Eliminated in Group Stage)

psst, teenagers, take off your clo (Eliminated in Round 1 by High To Death (2011))

sun hot (Eliminated in Group Stage)

beach fagz

summer bummer (Eliminated in Group Stage)

ryan north by northwest (Eliminated in Group Stage)

beach drugs (Eliminated in Group Stage)

beach death (Eliminated in Round 1 by Sleeping With Strangers)

beach funeral (Eliminated in Round 1 by Bodys (2018))

oh! starving (Eliminated in Round 1 by We Can't Afford (Your Depression Anymore))

4 [0/9 (0%) Remaining]

a good bridge to never cross until there's no doubt that he's dead (Eliminated in Round 1 by Famous Prophets (Stars))

who even knows (Eliminated in Group Stage)

even the who knows (Eliminated in Group Stage)

not "kidding" around (Eliminated in Group Stage)

heartless dick (Eliminated in Group Stage)

dickless heart (Eliminated in Group Stage)

feel like daniel johnston (Eliminated in Group Stage)

the ghost of bob saget (Eliminated in Round 1 by Beach Life-In-Death (2018))

around (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Little Pieces Of Paper With "No" Written On Them [0/21 (0%) Remaining]

leave together (Eliminated in Group Stage)

I don't want you (Eliminated in Round 1 by Overexposed (Enjoy))

I am afraid of literally everything (Eliminated in Round 1 by The Ballad of the Costa Concordia)

100 minutes of solitude (Eliminated in Group Stage)

neon sign (Eliminated in Group Stage)

samson's golden axe (Eliminated in Group Stage)

I scream social (Eliminated in Group Stage)

wachovia receipts (Eliminated in Group Stage)

the singles song (Eliminated in Group Stage)

get better get well (Eliminated in Group Stage)

squid desert (Eliminated in Group Stage)

ff (Eliminated in Group Stage)

nothing (Eliminated in Round 1 by High to Death (2018))

surf jerk (Eliminated in Group Stage)

a pleasant sort of terror (Eliminated in Group Stage)

total burn (Eliminated in Group Stage)

when I'm here (Eliminated in Group Stage)

the staying song (Eliminated in Group Stage)

I CAN TALK WITH MY EYES SHUT (Eliminated in Round 1 by psst, teenagers, take off your clo (2015))

the vice president of google and et al (Eliminated in Group Stage)

hot sun (Eliminated in Group Stage)

My Back Is Killing Me Baby [2/11 (~18%) Remaining]

the drum (Eliminated in Round 1 by Unforgiving Girl (She's Not An))

happy news for sadness

sunburned shirts (Eliminated in Round 1 by Maud Gone (2015))

stoop kid (Eliminated in Round 1 by Jerks)

something soon

no passion (Eliminated in Round 1 by Some Strange Angel)

father, flesh in rags (Eliminated in Round 1 by Oh! Starving (2012))

strangers (Eliminated in Round 1 by something soon (2011))

lawns (Eliminated in Group Stage)

p.o.w. (Eliminated in Round 1 by The Ending of Dramamine)

open-mouthed boy (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror) [7/10 (70%) Remaining]

My Boy (Twin Fantasy) (Eliminated in Round 1 by Times to Die (2015))

Beach Life-In-Death

Stop Smoking (Eliminated in Round 1 by Hollywood)

Sober To Death

Nervous Young Inhumans

Bodys

Cute Thing (Eliminated in Round 1 by Beast Monster Thing)

High To Death

Famous Prophets (Minds)

Twin Fantasy (Those Boys)

Monomania [6/9 (~67%) Remaining]

Romantic Theory

Misheard Lyrics (Eliminated in Round 1 by Twin Fantasy (Those Boys) (2011))

Times To Die

Overexposed

Los Borrachos (I Don’t Have Any Hope Left, But The Weather Is Nice)

Souls (Eliminated in Round 1 by The Gun Song)

Maud Gone (Eliminated in Round 1 by happy news for sadness)

Sleeping With Strangers

Anchorite (Love You Very Much)

Starving While Living [2/5 (40%) Remaining]

It's Only Sex

Reuse The Cels (Eliminated in Round 1 by Boxing Day)

I Hate Living (Eliminated in Round 1 by Romantic Theory)

Devil Moon (Eliminated in Round 1 by Cute Thing (2018))

Oh! Starving

Nervous Young Man [9/20 (45%) Remaining]

Boxing Day

We Can't Afford (Your Depression Anymore)

Don't Remind Me (Eliminated in Round 1 by Los Borrachos (2012))

Homes (Eliminated in Round 1 by Knife In The Coffee)

Afterglow (Eliminated in Round 1 by Something Soon (2015))

Jerks

Broken Birds (Rest In Pieces)

The Gun Song

Goodbye Love (Eliminated in Round 1 by There Must Be More Than Blood)

I Can Play The Piano (Eliminated in Round 1 by Stop Smoking (We Love You))

Crows (Rest In Bigger Pieces Mix) (Eliminated in Round 1 by Los Borrachos (2015))

I Wanna Sweat

Burning Man (Eliminated in Round 1 by Sinner)

Dreams Fall Hard (Eliminated in Round 1 by Nervous Young Inhumans (2011))

Plane Crash Blues (I Can't Play The Piano)

Big Jacket (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Death At The Movies (Eliminated in Round 1 by Fill In The Blank)

Jus' Tired (Eliminated in Round 1 by Sober To Death (2011))

Some Strange Angel

Knife In The Coffee

Disjecta Membra [1/17 (~6%) Remaining]

Endpiece (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Please Mr Pilot (Eliminated in Round 1 by I Wanna Sweat)

2:24 (Eliminated in Group Stage)

The Hard Part (Eliminated in Round 1 by Bodys (2011))

Sound Man/Low Fidelity (Eliminated in Round 1 by Hey, Space Cadet)

Napoleon (March On Russia) (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Drunk On A Work Night (Eliminated in Round 1 by Broken Birds (Rest In Pieces))

Love Me Too Much (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Dream: Encounter On Smoke Mountain (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Sinner

When Will My Man Come? (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Hi Life (Eliminated in Group Stage)

AC (Eliminated in Group Stage)

If Not, Then Oh Well (Eliminated in Round 1 by Destroyed By Hippe Powers)

Memories (Leonard Cohen Cover) (Eliminated in Group Stage)

KS (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Unfinished: Pain Star (If Heaven is full of people...) (Eliminated in Round 1 by Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales (Album Version))

How To Leave Town [6/9 (~67%) Remaining]

The Ending of Dramamine

Beast Monster Thing (Love Isn't Love Enough)

Kimochi Warui (When? When? When? When? When? When? When?)

I-94 W (832 mi) (Eliminated in Group Stage)

You're In Love With Me (Eliminated in Round 1 by Plane Crash Blues)

America (Never Been)

I Want You To Know That I'm Awake/i Hope That You're Asleep

is this dust really from the Titanic? (Eliminated in Round 1 by Beach Life-In-Death (2011))

Hey, Space Cadet (Beast Monster Thing In Space)

Teens of Style [5/11 (~46%) Remaining]

Sunburned Shirts (Eliminated in Group Stage)

The Drum (Eliminated in Round 1 by It's Only Sex)

Something Soon

No Passion (Eliminated in Round 1 by Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales (Single Version))

Times to Die

psst, teenagers, take off your clo

Strangers (Eliminated in Round 1 by Drugs With Friends)

Maud Gone

Los Borrachos (I Don't Have Any Hope Left, But the Weather is Nice)

Bad Role Models, Old Idols Exhumed (psst, teenagers, put your clothes back o) (Eliminated in Round 1 by I Want You To Know That I'm Awake/i Hope That You're Asleep)

Oh! Starving (Eliminated in Round 1 by Life Worth Missing)

Teens of Denial [9/12 (75%) Remaining]

Fill In The Blank

Vincent

Destroyed By Hippie Powers

(Joe Gets Kicked Out of School for Using) Drugs With Friends (But Says This Isn't a Problem)

Not What I Needed (Eliminated in Round 1 by Deadlines (Hostile))

Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales

1937 State Park

Unforgiving Girl (She's Not An)

Cosmic Hero

The Ballad of the Costa Concordia

Connect the Dots (The Saga of Frank Sinatra) (Eliminated Round 1 by beach fagz)

Joe Goes to School (Eliminated in Round 1 by Vincent)

Twin Fantasy (Face to Face) [10/10 (100%) Remaining]

My Boy (Twin Fantasy)

Beach Life-In-Death

Stop Smoking (We Love You)

Sober to Death

Nervous Young Inhumans

Bodys

Cute Thing

High to Death

Famous Prophets (Stars)

Twin Fantasy (Those Boys)

Making a Door Less Open [4/11 (~36%) Remaining]

Weightlifters (Eliminated in Round 1 by Cosmic Hero)

Can't Cool Me Down (Eliminated in Round 1 by Sober to Death (2018))

Deadlines (Hostile)

Hollywood

Hymn (Remix) (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Martin (Eliminated in Round 1 by Anchorite (Love You Very Much))

Deadlines (Thoughtful) (Eliminated in Round 1 by Kimochi Warui)

What's With You Lately (Eliminated in Round 1 by Twin Fantasy (Those Boys) (2018))

Life Worth Missing

There Must Be More Than Blood

Famous (Eliminated in Group Stage)

Other

Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales (Single Version)

Unforgiving Girl (She's Not A Single Version) (Eliminated in Round 1 by 1937 State Park)

War Is Coming (If You Want It) (Eliminated in Round 1 by Times To Die (2012))

Edit: Mirror to Mirror and Starving While Living were counted wrong. That's been fixed.

Edit 2: Forgot to mark Maud Gone (2012) as eliminated. I knew I'd miss at least one.