#kids show hosts for the design of the mascot

[strawbubbysugar]

Hello there my good author, please feel free to use this ask as a prop to ramble about the ideas you have for So(u)l (or bethroned if you have any you want to talk about) /nf

Also hope your break has been wonderful so far! :D

Oh hehe ty!! And it has been, thank you!! It’s been a really nice break from writing (lying, has been roleplaying with my partner and writing a lil)

They aren’t very organized, but here are a few scattered thoughts

- taking some inspo from classic fnaf, dca is replaced by an animatronic mascot who’s lorded as being the “ultimate in ai”, truly a marvel, talks like a person! Etc etc, bc he’s got most of a real human brain in there and some of a human body, but it’s being controlled by electronics and engineering work. On the outside seems to be entirely robotic, but if you delve too deep into the robotics underneath the hood you reach lungs being artificially pumped with pistons, things like that. Imagining a scene where he gets stabbed through the chest and thinks he’s fine, insists he’s fine, but blood begins to drip from his chest. They think it’s oil at first

- he doesn’t know he used to be, or that he has any human pieces in him at all. Until the big zap, and not only does he get his string, but the *real* mind inside of him wakes up. The human body that they’re using as scaffolding for his AI.

- he’s mad, terrified, and a little bit crazy after having his mind moulded to produce a happy go lucky ray of Sunshine mascot character.

- the most upsetting part is that the AI is still there after the zap. Still functional. But really, Truly *awake* now. Forced to share a mind. Forced to realize what an abomination he/their shared body is, the pain he causes just by existing .

- y/ngineer is an engineer like before, but is tasked with working on superficial things like the mascot’s outer stuff and the arms and legs, and monitoring the AI’s progress. Forbidden to delve any deeper because of “NDA” rules. Can’t shake the feeling that they can hear this robot breathe.

- reason behind the creation of this robot for this company is to start a new empire (a la Disney), with real mascots that walk around rather than people in suits. They’ve got an entire amusement park that’s being built, and other robots in similar situations to the main character, with human bodies inside used as conduits, brains used as fodder

[reasonsforhope]

"Next Monday [6/17/24] is the start of National Pollinator Awareness Week, and one Colorado advocacy group is hosting a flower planting drive to rewild Colorado’s meadows, gardens, and just maybe, its children too.

Created by constitutional amendment in 1992, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) is a state-funded independent board that invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces.

This year, GOCO’s offshoot Generation Wild is distributing over 100,000 free packets of wildflower seeds to collection points at museums, Denver Parks and Rec. offices, and libraries all over the state to encourage kids and families to plant the seeds in their backyards.

The Save the Bees! initiative aims to make the state more beautiful, more ecologically diverse, and more friendly to pollinators.

According to a new report from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, 20% of Colorado’s bumblebees are now at risk of extinction. Even in a small area like a backyard, planting wildflowers can make a positive impact on the local ecosystem and provide native bees with a healthy place to live.

“The Western Bumblebee population has declined in Colorado by 72%, and we’re calling on kids across Colorado to ‘bee’ the change,” said GOCO Executive Director Jackie Miller.

Named after Generation Wild’s official mascot “Wilder,” the Wilderflower Seed Mix was developed in partnership with Applewood Seed Co. and packets are now available for pickup at designated partner sites including more than 80 Little Free Library boxes.

By distributing 100,000 Wilderflower packets, Generation Wild is providing more than 56 million seeds for planting in every nook and cranny of the state. All seeds are regionally-native to Colorado, which is important for sustaining the living landscape of bees, birds, and other animals.

Additionally, by using flower species adapted to the Mile High climate, landscapers and gardeners need to use less water than if they were tending non-native plants.

“Applewood Seed Co. was excited to jump in and help Generation Wild identify a seed mix that is native to the Colorado region and the American West, containing a diversity of flower species to attract and support Colorado’s pollinator populations,” stated Norm Poppe, CEO of Applewood Seed Co. “We hope efforts like this continue to educate the public on pollinator conservation and the need to protect our native bees and butterflies.”

Concluding her statement Miller firmly stated that children grow up better outside, and if you or a parent you know agree with her, all the information on how to participate in Save the Bees! can be found here on their website, including a map showing all the local pickup points for the Wilderflower Seed Packets."

-via Good News Network, June 13, 2024

[popculturebuffet]

TMNT Month: Turtle Tunes and We Wish You A Turtles Christmas: Not So Erotic Nightmares Beyond Any Measure and Christmas Fever Dreams to Treasure Forever (Comission for Emma Fici)

Hello all you happy people and welcome back to turtles month. Thanks to a schedule change, we're looking at another piece of weird turtles media coming as the franchise was loosing steam and someone was huffing that steam to try and come up with new ideas.

As a result we got two direct to vhs specials, designed to try to eat into that sweet sweet DTV market that was starting to really take off at the time and would do so long into my childhood and long after. These specials go for a younger audience, I suspect trying to get some of that barney money. They did not and we only got two and the world was spared the third that would've triggered the end times.

As you can see just looking at the covers for these things they had the budget of a paper clip and a piece of string, and it shows. The turtles have horrifying barley moving heads that insure they'll be your sleep paralysis demon for years to come. But beyond the terrible costumes what do these specails have? Well not a lot and everything respectively so let's talk about them, and hopefully make my night terrors worth the money under the cut

Turtle Tunes has an objectively weird premise. It's not a horrible one for doing some goofy less actiony videos as these costumes would tear apart if the wind blew on them slightly, I can't imagine them doing full on fight scenes like the movies, but it's still weird for the nonexistant budget this thing has.

So the turtles got a hookup from april to host their own show on channel 6 and were this just a tmnt version of waynes world i'd have watched this years ago. Also something to keep in mind for the mutant mayhem verse. Just saying.

But no their instead just counting down their faviorite songs.. and rather than say use the ones from out of our shells which are actually pretty good, or make some up they decide to do covers of various public domain songs and still present it like it's TRL. Do kids still know what TRL was? I.. I feel old.

Anyways, the Turtles rather than have April, who agreed to this in the first place, Splinter or Casey help out, instead have a bunch of random kids serve as their crew and boss them around. Also Mikey runs off and apparently does this all the time. Just goes to skateboard around the park and do mushrooms, living his best life.

As for the rest of the plot

This vid is just an excuse to do terrible covers of public domain songs.. and a loose one of Rick Springfield's don't talk to strangers. I'm dead serious. I mean the song IS a mild banger and using it for an actual anti stranger message and not Rick Springfield desperatly trying to stop his girlfriend from leaving him, but it's left as atonal garbage.

I don't have much for this one. I mean it has Leo on a rowboat as he slowly dies inside, that's kinda funny and it's weird they chose to do that one to yankee doodle dandy instead of row row row your boat, but I stand by their dumbass decision. At least Leo struggling to breath as he rows a boat is funny. Everything else is just bland: the turtles talk over each other, announce videos and somehow get renewed, though I think the renewal is really an excuse to get them out into the open and into a woodchipper.

Turtle Tunes proves, in the words of our prophet huey lewis, sometimes bad is bad. Sometimes cheese can be really funny, this is just 20 some minutes of my life I won't get back.

Thankfully We Wish You A Turtles Christmas, which emma and I watched before is so bad it's good. It's gloriosuly stupid, cheap and while still using music videos to pad things, is far more creative with them. This feels more like a tmnt product.. one that was written by a sentient mound of cocaine, but still a thing people put actually efort into at least feeling like a tmnt vide0 Turtles tunes could have any obnoxious mascot jammed in it. It could've been Busby Tunes... imagine him announcing videos and doing stuff and

Okay maybe it's thanks to saftey regulations we got the turtles, but still you could've also just.. put an opossum on screen to music. There's a line and a few layers of hell between TMNT and Bubsy

We Wish You A Turtles Christmas is the good kind of crack to Turtle Tunes shard of glass they tell you is crack, taking a straightforward tale of "the turtles forget to get a gift and have to go get it" and making it baffling as it is hilaroius.

So our story begins with We're the Turtles, the theme song for both tapes where their turtles and their on the look out for a friend in need that's what their about... and never actually find one too busy as they laugh and sing and do their thing their the turtles. Their the turtles. It's this weird durge that gets glued to your brain.

So it's christmas eve and the turtles are joking, putting presents under the tree while Leonardo sings Reggage, you know what everyone does every christmas. Or else.

Leo is horribly out of character in both these specials, taking being a stern big brother type who leads the team and tries to keep them on task and making him a dick who insults his brothers and also the mutant equilvent of Ras Trent.

As for the reggae song itself it's deck the halls but TO A REGGAE BEAT MON. CULTURAL APROPRATION POWER! It's the clear seperation from this special and turtle tunes; Turtle Tunes is KINDA weird, We Wish You A Turtles Christmas is FUCKING weird. You have a scooby dooby doo doo laden song about decking the halls that both is happy Bebeop and Rocksteady aren't here yet wishes a merry christmas to the shredder, while also having a beat drop for some reason. It's beautiful and I never want to hear it again.

The turtles then have a horrifying relization: WE FORGOT TO GET A GIFT FOR SPLINTER. I do like HOW this comes about as it's the only part of this special that's not written by a guy who was told the basics about the turtles then told to write a christmas special or they'd release the bees. The boys all thought one of the others had the duty: it's a sitcom cliche sure but one that would happen to a family.

So they have to go shopping on christmas eve with a rousing rendention of over the river and through the woods "up through the sewer"... or sleep inducing. Let's go with coma-tastic, sounds snappier.

We get to the surface for what's the best song of the special. A subterranian bar but it's the upbeat and peppy gotta get a gift for splinter. It has dancing, random children out on christmas eve busking, ryming gotta gift for splinter with "I hate shopping in the winter", and suggesting they get him a go cart "a go cart in the sewer baby!" while aruging. This sibling bantering and bickering at least is a little fun.

We then get to the most inexplicable part of this special.. and yes

As Mikey decides to sing opera. And this alone would be amazing just for the sheer what the fuckery.. but the turtles annoyed reactions and implication he does this a lot just sell it. The bit's dumb, but like this special it's also fun. No one not even the characters know why the fuck this is happeing.

After that our turtles return home to wrap they also decide.. TO RAP. Yes it's time for the Rap every bit of 90's childrens media thought they could do. It's as painfully awkward as you could hope for. Not as awkard as the rasta bit because it has a little bit of a beat but it sure does exist, i'll give it that.

So with that we get the climax as the turtles all get vauge gifts and give Splinter a 12 days of christmas themeed barrage of gifts while awkwardly sings about them. I do love how he looses pace towards the end and looses his space and his delighted "nailed it" when he catches up. Splinters singing is stiff as it's clear his actor cannot sing int he character voice, but I'll give him points for enthussim

So the gifts they got are

Twelve April O'Neil autographs

Eleven pairs of sneakers

Ten yellow yo-yos

Nine narrow neckties

Eight chopsticks

Seven silk kimonos

Six frisbees

Five video games

Four man-hole covers

Three skateboards

Two comic books

And a pizza with pepperoni

It's a bizzare assortment something you notice while listening but really looking at the lyrics, thanks turtlepedia for having those so I didn't have to listen to this song in full again to find em all, you see just how slapdash it is. It's in character but it dosen't make it any less bizzare as this list is not played for laughs. So we have 12 autographs from someone they know and likely got in a rush, elven pairs of sneakers which.. is honestly quite nice they found them in his size as while it's not his style of footwear i'm sure splinter would love some shoes after walking in the sewer barefoot for nearly two decades, ten yellow yo yos clearly from the dollar store, nine narrow neckties which while the specitfication weird is a classic parent ot child they don't know too well gift, eight chopsticks which is just.. .did you guys go for chinese and realize you missed a gift for your schitck, seven silk kimonos which is kind thougthful and a good gift, six frisbees because they went back to the dollar store, five video games all copies of the first NES game no one wanted, four man hole covers because theft is okay if it's christmas, three skateboards because splinter can shred man, two comic books which is just aweirdly low number and a pizza with pepperoni which is the most self serving as we all know Splitner prefers sushi.

Finally we have the title song.. which is eh. I don't have much to say its there for a moment, it's gone and they all rock out ending the special.

We Wish You A Turtles Christmas is something you have to experince at least once: it's baffling, stupid and hilarious and i'm glad to share it all with you. I encourage you to watch it.. and leave turtle tunes in a dumpster where you likely found it. Thanks for reading and remember i'm pullin for you, we're all in this together.

[artazura]

Thought I'd share my rough interpretation of the Chapter 3 Secret Boss.

Introducing...

Petals the Friendly Flower™!

I'll just give a quick rundown for her.

She's basically in a mascot costume; The host of a cancelled kids show after a certain "incident" relating to clashing creative ideas.

After peeping the horrors of the Shadow Crystal and going insane, she ends up fused to her suit and therefore is stuck in it.

When it comes to her typing quirk, I had 2 ideas

She is swearing almost 24/7 but all of her swears are constantly censored with a cartoony sfx

She doesn't have a typing quirk and instead, her gimmick is occasionally She'll look straight at the screen and ask YOU, the PLAYER a question ala Dora the Explorer

I'll go more into her character and how you would get to her fight once I finish the design for her being out of the costume.

[thebananwithaplan]

@getblammed (cont.)

Though at first surprised by @thebananwithaplan ‘s instinctual reaction, Pico did seem to get it, with a chuckle and a reassuring nod following the banana’s sheepish apology. He couldn’t help but be glad that he wasn’t on whichever game show the guy hosted, because god only knew the amount of censoring or sudden commercial breaks they’d have to do with how often a curse slipped without care. “ Yeah, it’s cool, man. It’s disorientin’ though, all th’ new faces. Been seein’ Nene n’ Darnell around more lately, that’s dope. ”

Had the growth taken some getting used to? Of course it had, people weren’t drawing the flash portal’s “mascots” with a mouse in shitty drawing programs from sketchy websites anymore, and they certainly weren’t animating them in Flash anymore. Not as commonly, anyways. Today is the age of flashy tablets, and entirely bypassing the ‘just getting started’ age of scribbled hands and circle tool heads. Pico couldn’t complain though, just meant content of him and his fellow icons at a higher quality.

“ Course I got good on th’ mic, B! I’m more than my guns these days, ya know? Everybody’s been gettin’ into th’ music game lately, s’ pretty wild. ” He’d always had an interest, really. He’d even wanted to be a DJ when he was younger, either that or something with computers. Now he’s neither, but that wasn’t important right now.

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

Honestly, it's for the best. Sorry, Pico, but he really can't afford to lose the SMART Technologies sponsorship. DB promises there's still ways you could win prizes without having to set foot in the studio, though!

. "Really? That's nice! At least you still have some friends that got developed with you along the way. I didn't even really had a 'universe' to be in, so to speak. Like, there were other fellow dancing fruits in similar gifs, but none who I'd call an actual friend. Not even mutuals. We just... co-existed, I guess...."

It truly were different times. The Dancing Banana couldn't even talk, let alone have much of a thought in the world outside of dancing; the most 'communication' he could do then was all through his body language, whether it was by his signature dances or by waving his pompoms around. (Depended whether he was in his pixelated or animated 2d glory) of course. Maybe sometimes also holding up signs that had questionable phrases on them.

The upgrade of these art and animation programs sure helped with his update to his current design. But good lord were many 3D attempts steering too close to uncanny valley - it's only the Shovel Team that finally got his look close to that of a likable funny toon character.

A character that still had some questionable morals lingering close to 'dangerous' territory by others to the point of having 'WANTED' posters, that also had a school theme involved in their lives at one point, and who has gained a greater taste and talent for music. Sounds familiar?

. "That's great! I'm a big fan of Blammed, by the way! And the way you were basically shooting down an entire army to the bpm in Stress? Honestly, I call THAT talent! I can't help but be pr-"

. "....pretty impressed!"

No, he wasn't absolutely about to say 'proud of you' to Pico like he was some old out-of-touch uncle. A side effect of having an urge to cheer kids up and actually having any sort of a family with actual younger nephews. Pico isn't even that young anymore, either. He has to remember that now.

. "Between you n' me, you've definitely got skills to pay the bills. And I don't just mean that with your, uhh, more 'renowned' talents."

[universestreasures]

Kaiba Land Headcanons (Random Assortment Part 1 / ???)

Locations

Aside from the two Kaiba Lands mentioned in canon (Kaiba Land Domino and Kaiba Land USA in California), I like to think the chain of parks has grown to develop parks and resorts all over the world as time passes. Below is just a list of what the locations are by 2004 (aka when Mokuba is 19 which is when he takes over as Kaiba Land's CEO in my timeline/interactions with @shachou )

Kaiba Land (Domino City Japan, the OG park with indoor and outdoor elements, expanded by DSOD time and is the most constantly updated)

Kaiba Land USA (San Diego, California, is the first overseas park and the largest theme park by size alone, and it includes one hotel inside the park. is also looking to build a second park nearby due to the popularity of it since it is the most popular park of the chain)

Kaiba Land Shanghai (Shanghai, China, the second overseas resort, includes two parks (one indoor and one outdoor), a shopping district and three hotels)

Kaiba Land Florida (Miami, Florida, the third overseas resort that includes a water park and beachfront resort hotel in addition to the theme park with two hotels connected to it via a boat)

Kaiba Land Germany (Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany, the fourth overseas park that is an indoor theme park like the OG park and includes a ski resort and two hotels)

Kaiba Land Texas (San Antonio, Texas, the fifth overseas resort that includes two hotels nearby. features the most thrill rides of any Kaiba Land)

Kaiba Land Brazil (Gaspar, Santa Catarina Brazil, the sixth park overseas. It is only currently a water park and beach resort but is looking to expand.)

Kaiba Land Canada (Vaughan, Canada, the seventh resort overseas that is in development. will feature one park, an indoor game complex, and two hotels.)

Kaiba Land Egypt (A park that I imagine was pitched and then rejected by either the government or by Seto himself)

Staple Elements

Each Kaiba Land theme park and corresponding resorts has it's own unique qualities and features, but they all have elements that are the same across the board. These include:

A Kaiba Bros statue near the center of every park. The design of it can differ between parks, but it's always them together. I like to think the first park that had it installed was the Japan Kaiba Land after Duelist Kingdom and depicts them hand and hand.

Blue-Eyes statues near the entrance.

Blue-Eyes and Kaibaman as the mascots.

An arena that can be used to host events.

Special themed menu items, such as Mokuba's Chocolate Parfait or Blue-Eyes White Chocolate Bars.

Orphans and underprivileged children with their families are always allowed in for free and eat for free, no questions asked.

Has top of the line service and a special team dedicated to provide accommodations to guests who need it.

Fountains people throw money into that is donated to charities.

Preview centers that display upcoming Kaiba Corp products.

A Capsule Monsters themed building or attraction.

An activity center (including arts and crafts and games) and playground for smaller kids.

A Kaibaman show that features stunts and musical numbers.

A private suite somewhere in the park's hotels or inside the park itself (Like the castle in Kaiba Land USA for example) for Seto and Mokuba's use when they visit.

Attractions

There are many different types of attractions in Kaiba Land, with most skewing to all ages (similar to Disney), including dark rides, water rides, game rides or experiences, thrill rides, flat rides, shows, and play areas. Most ideas for attractions I like to think Seto and Mokuba developed together, with Mokuba being more the ideas guy. Some are unique to each park, and some are cloned. Mokuba's favorite attraction is the Kaibaman show, which he had a huge hand in developing, from the character of Kaibaman himself to the plotline and other aspects. It's something he always has to see whenever he is in the park.

One idea Mokuba's had for an attraction that he has never shared with his brother is a Kaibaman and Mokieman (a superhero version of Mokuba he has thought up but never shared with his brother too) trackless dark ride (similar to Rise of the Resistance at Disney) called Legend of Kaibaman and Mokieman. Its plot would be inspired by the brother's personal history and would involve the two's humble beginnings before being adopted by the supervillain Kaibalord (a Gozaburo stand-in), who they both then defeat with the help of the riders. It's something he's thought of for years but hasn't had the courage to ever share because he knows his brother (especially in the manga verse) would shoot it down.

Collaborations with Other Company's IP

Kaibaland has attractions and experiences featuring intellectual properties they do not own, but are present due to sponsorships or deals made with other companies to have their IP in the parks. These include Duel Monsters and Capsule Monsters obviously, but also Buddyfight due to a collaboration between Kaiba Corp and the Amanosuzu Group. These attractions are usually unique to the park they are in, and if the other company is willing to also invest, might even be it's own land or mini land.

[xamaxenta]

Tell us a bit about the Whitebeard commanders. What do they do for a living?

Wowoo lets go !! I love the wbp so much

Jozu: owns a trading company with Haruta who’s more of the salesperson than anything he just does all the transportation and stuff, his pokemon are Tauros and Two Machamp

Thatch: owner of a small bakery company that got so popular he had to open several branches across the Grandline to meet the growing demand, he often swings through all of them to ensure they’re meeting his standards n stuff, his main shop is in Sphinx tho, bc he can’t leave Pops without fresh croissants!! His Pokémon are Fidough (ee new pokemon!) and Dartrix

Vista: fashion designer, usually has his brothers and sisters model the clothes he designs, well decorated in the field for providing unique and flattering bespoke fashion for all body types, his pokemon are Gardevoir, Gallade and Kirlia (yeah. Haha) he’s absolutely enamoured with Ace’s proportions though and Ace really does not want to be alone in a room with vista just because he won’t be able to say no to him asking for a moment of his time to model some things (last time he said yes he was occupied for a whole weekend LMAO sorry Ace, Vista got INSPIRED hard)

Blamenco: physics professor, specifically interested in the Ultra Beasts phenomenon and worme hole pocket dimesions, has published several papers on the subject and his prized Pokemon is indeed an ultra beast, the highly dangerous Guzzlord, as such he’s under strict monitoring to ensure he doesn’t let it go on a rampage, his other pokemon are: Granbull, Mr Mime and Goliscopod, he lovingly calls these three his Guzzlord insurance policy haha (because theyre all super effective type countersagainst Guzzlord)

Rakuyo: game show host and popular radio host of an opinion based channel that talks about news and reacts to it etc ( the reason Izo keeps getting invites to do tv appearances ZBDBD) his pokemon are Elekid and Braixen (theyre both game show pokemon mascots!)

Namur: handyman, jack of all trades he’s always on the move and can’t settle down, Marco’s a little worried about Namur because every time he calls/chats with him, Namurs gone and got fired or has a new job but it doesn’t seem to bother him because he says all of it is experience gained anyway, his pokemon: Whiscash, Quagsire and Wobbuffet

Blenheim: pokemon police force, originally was part of his home island’s military but then he left and instead drafted into law enforcement, his pokemon are Arcanine and Golbat

Curiel: pokemon ranger, he’s always wanted to be one since he was a kid, because he was rescued by one when he got separated from his parents (later confirmed deceased F curiel…) in a national park that had flash floods, his pokemon are Swampert, Pidgeot and Golem

Kingdew: prowrestler, famous just like Izo and often has to comment on Izo’s latest contest win and vice versa and Kingdew shrugs like you’re asking the wrong guy, Izo’s pretty but is he gorgeous like me? No, we are not the same (he means it in a joking way haha Izo indulges him like oh Kingdew? He’s too fabulous for little old me and all the press are like ???????? Huh???), his pokemon are Hariyama, Incineroar and Hawlucha

Haruta: co-owner of a trading company with Jozu, the sales and spokesperson, they mostly deal in mineral goods, his pokemon are Bisharp and Sir fetche’d

Atmos: currently unemployed, he stays with Pops to keep him company, but has recently found out he’s got quite the green thumb, and is apparently really good at trimming hedges into decorative art pieces, he’s looking to take gardening gigs soon, his pokemon are Bellossom, Sunflora and Shroomish

Speed Jiru: a bodyguard, currently employed by Izo who hired his brother due to two things: Jiru won’t judge him for his reasoning to hire a bodyguard and because Izo prefers if it was family anyway, his pokemon are Aggron, Ferrothorn, Drapion, Stuntank and Sharpedo, he’s one of the only WBP siblings to have as many Pokémon as Marco, he’s second in battling prowress to him and should Marco ever resign his elite four seat, the next in line would be Jiru unless he declines

Fossa: fisherman, it started as a hobby and now its a real thing for him, he’s good at rearing water pokemon and currently farms Chinchou, Magikarp, Goldeen and Clampearls, he has a Poppilo friend that visits (begs for scraps) his only Pokemon is a Volbeat

Izo: fashion blogger, popular pokemon coordinator, well known for his beauty tips and how to train your Pokémon to become top tier beauty contestants, often appears on game shows for local celebrities, his Pokémon are Oricorico (blue one) and Froslass (aesthetic matches his)

[juliandev0rak]

Modern au main 6's occupations and what kind of place would they live in?

it was so fun to write this and think about who they would be in our world! thanks for this request 😊 

Asra

Asra would be an artist, and he’d probably teach some art classes on the side

he lives in a brightly lit apartment with room for an art studio, and every surface is covered in plants and art he’s made

his decor style could best be labelled “eclectic” and his apartment is full of color and different fabric textures

he’s also really into ceramics and pottery so most of his kitchenware is hand made by him, none of his dishes match but he likes it better that way

his apartment is meant for entertaining and he has friends over nearly every night to cook dinner together and talk (mostly they gossip) 

he’s all about soft lighting and his apartment is filled with candles and fairy lights to create a cozy atmosphere

Julian

Julian would still be a doctor, but he’d actually have a medical license in modern times (though he might still try to convince his colleagues that leeches are an important part of medicine)

he lives in a traditional brownstone townhouse in the city, its restored from the 19th century and he loves how historical it looks

his house is filled with leather furniture and antiques, and he has a library in his office 

he’s spent a lot of money on a fancy espresso machine and has a coffee bar in his kitchen

he also has a proper bar stocked with his favorite cocktail ingredients and fancy alcohol 

he has a favorite chair in the living room that he sits in to drink his coffee in the morning and to relax in at night, its well worn and soft and he can just sink in and feel fully at home after a busy shift at the hospital

Nadia

Nadia would be the CEO and designer of her own fashion brand 

she’d be a certified boss ass bitch like Miranda Priestly from the Devil Wears Prada, but luckily for everyone- quite a bit nicer

when she’s not travelling to all of the biggest cities in the world for fashion shows and editorial shoots she lives in a fancy penthouse 

she’s had it completely renovated to fit her tastes and she worked closely with a team of designers to get it perfect

think glossy white marble counters, crystal chandeliers, custom couches and lots of original art by famous artists (including Asra of course)

her bedroom is the room she spent the most time on, its her refuge, comfortable, private, and a soothing escape away from the outside world

and of course, her closet is huge and full of all of the collections she’s designed, it’s like a museum where everything is kept organized and in perfect condition

Muriel

he’s the park ranger at a national park

it’s the perfect job for him because he gets to spend all day in nature with very little human interaction except during busy tourist seasons

he won’t admit it, but he loves interacting with kids and teaching them about the flora and fauna found in the park

he lives in a cabin in the woods near the ranger station, it’s in a secluded spot near his favorite hiking trail

while the cabin is simple, only a few rooms, its cozy and has personal touches like his carvings that make it feel like home

Inanna patrols with him and is known around the park as Muriel’s deputy park ranger

Portia

she’s an investigative journalist who spends her time researching stories and out on the field finding evidence

she’s covered quite a few high profile court cases and has made a name for herself as a true investigator

her main goal is to uncover inequalities and make sure that bad people pay for their crimes, but she’s also a writer who knows how to tell a great story

she lives in a cozy apartment above a bakery, and in true Portia fashion she’s best friends with everyone who works there

her apartment is full of light and flowers and it feels like stepping out of the city into a safe haven 

one day she wants to move somewhere with space for a garden, but until then her balcony is full of planter boxes where she’s started a small vegetable and herb garden 

she lives alone with Pepi, but she has an open-door policy for friends and family and will always welcome guests with a cup of tea and sweets from the bakery downstairs

Lucio

Lucio is the CEO of an energy drink brand, he also stars in all of the commercials

his brand is all about “being awesome!” and living up to your “awesome potential”, he uses the word awesome a lot in branding

he lives in a hype-house with his friends and business partners, he makes youtube videos to promote his brand and to show off his lifestyle

he’s surprisingly genuine though and loves his subscribers, he donates to people’s “go fund me’s” and hosts giveaways quite often, and he donates money to charities and causes he supports on the side

the mansion he lives in is incredibly nice if a bit basic, it’s got an indoor basketball court and all sorts of unnecessary things

his bedroom is ostentatious, he’s got a gigantic canopy bed and a closet full of expensive shoes and designer clothing, most of it custom and monogrammed with his name

Mercedes and Melchior are the mascots of his brand and he also sells a line of Lucio merch for dogs

[mahou-furbies]

It is time for

Last year the Dazzling Pink Precure were supposed to host the event but were unavailable due to being redesigned, but this time they are ready for the job!

Here is the magical girl (and related) media consumed on this blog this year:

(you can read my closing thoughts on them here)

Anime: Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel & the 2 OVAs, Twin Angel Break, Pretear, Happy Seven, Ojamajo Doremi (started), Healin’ Good Precure (most of it that’s out now), Magia Record (also following the game news though I don’t play), Myriad Colors Phantom World, Re:Creators, Concrete Revolutio)

Movies: Fresh, DokiDoki, Happiness Charge, Go! Princess, KiraKira & Star Twinkle Precure season movies, Spring Carnival & Miracle Universe crossover movies, Magical Sisters Yoyo and Nene)

Manga: Magical Girl Site (finished), Zodiac P.I. (reread), Sugar Sugar Rune (reread), Nogi Wakaba is a Hero, Puella Magi Suzune Magica (reread), Puella Magi Tart Magica (reread), Can You Become A Magical Girl, Colourful Macchiato)

(revisits to old familiar stuff don’t qualify for an award unless I had forgotten everything about it, Doremi is ineligible since I've only seen 1/5th so far)

Unexpectedly I managed to finish quite a lot of stuff on my last year's "plans for 2020 list".

As for blog stuff, this year the Precure Chibi Project was concluded for the designs that exists so far, but obviously it will continue when more are released and I'd also like to draw some more of the civilian clothes too. But this year over 400 chibis were drawn...

Then we of course had the Precure Dress Tournament, with Cure Magical emerging as the winner. Hosting it was a lot of fun since I like graphs and numbers, as the fact that I keep a google sheet that documents the dates when I draw the chibis (it also calculates useful data such as how many percent I've finished).

(Also Megumi's heart dress should totally have won the tournament)

The Precure positivity posts were also a thing this year. Usually the franchise is bitched at here at Mahou-Furbies so I tried to say something nice about each Cure that I had seen. Which was a major struggle in some cases but hopefully they don't come across as too much damning with faint praise. I plan on writing similar posts for the Cures from the other seasons too as I watch them, but also because I managed to write an entire post about Mana without complaining I take that as justification that I get to write a huge bitchy "the flaws of the Precure franchise" post later.

And then now at the end of the year the Dazzling Pink Precure finally managed to emerge again with their new designs. I hope I'll be able to post more about them in 2021!

And now, the Mahou-Furbies 2020 magical girl awards!

Let's start with Best Henshin Design: Megumi Moka from Magia Record! I always love a good sweets theme and I can't get over how cute she is.

(Kikko from Concrete Revolutio was also a strong contender)

Best Team Design goes to Nogi Wakaba Is a Hero, I've always loved the YuYuYu henshin outfit design.

The Best Powerup Look award goes to Lala's Cancer form in the Star Twinkle Precure movie! I just really like the fresh colour palette...

Runner-up is Nagisa's MagiReco Valentine's outfit which I like for being sweets themed but I guess it's more like an alternate form than a powerup?

There weren’t that many contenders for Best Civilian Design but let’s say that since I like the casual outfits in KiraKira Precure in general, The Movie was also good at this. So let’s reward Ciel’s look, it’s nice to see a more muted colour palette in Precure every now and then!

Oh, right! Also everyone from the Star Twinkle Precure movie! Love all their outfits. 

Best School Uniform is the one from Sukoyaka Middle School, from Healin' Good Precure! I like the colour palette, and the cut of the dress.

The uniforms from the Twin Angel franchise are also fun with their cherry ribbon.

Best Hair award goes to Kikko, from Concrete Revolutio! The "rectangular" cut ends are fun.

Best Magical Item is Mamika's wand from Re:Creators! There's really nothing special about it, I just think it looked nice enough with the candy cane and the heart crystal (and also not so merchandise driven since this isn't a kid show).

The Best Henshin Scene award goes to Sudachi from MagiReco! I don’t like how detailed all the body curves are drawn in the few seconds before her outfit appears, but otherwise there’s great backgrounds in this, starting from the space theme, twinkling stars, beautiful blue sky and then ending with cute hearts.

Best Fan Creation award goes to Marighoul’s comic “First Hunt”! (read it here) It was a fun little story and the colours were amazing!

Best Relationship is Hikaru and Lala with the alien in the Star Twinkle movie! I would never have guessed that I’d enjoy Precures raising a “baby” mascot this much, but it is true! I love how much role their bond had in the story, and the conclusion was more epic than anything Precure has managed to offer elsewhere. 

The Best Mascot of 2020 is... the aforementioned alien UMA! Unusual design for a girl show, doesn’t have an annoying voice or speech pattern (or in fact doesn’t talk at all), and has an interesting role in the story.

Second place is Nyatoran from Healin' Good Precure, he pairs well with Hinata and I love the scene where she records cat videos of him with her phone.

As for Best Supporting Character, this is a joke character, but I have to say Mayune from Pretear. I'm sorry I just like this kind of dumb diva characters (with the o-ho-ho laugh!) and always had a good time when she was on screen.

Discount Tuxedo Mask from the Twin Angel franchise was also fun, he had nice chaotic energy to him.

Best Visual goes to Kikko's magical effects from Concrete Revolutio! We always get the standard sparkles so I was so happy to see something different for once.

Best Audio award goes to Pretear OP! The song feels a bit dated but in a good way, this is just the kind of music I like.

The Best Scene award goes to Healin' Good Precure attack!

Usually in Precure I really don't care for the stock attack animation and instead just focus on the henshins, but in this one I really like the bit where the giant hands rip the element spirit out of the enemy. The music is so good in that part, and the huge hands compared to the tiny spirit feel majestic.

I also liked Re:Creators scene where the (in-story) writers create a powerup for their character by getting their audience excited about it by tweeting. It was dumb how a tweet from some ranobe author goes viral in a matter of seconds, but I still thought the scene was fun and worked well.

The Innovation Award for doing something magical girl related I haven't seen dozens of times already goes to Happy Seven! I thought it was fun how the main character wasn't on the magical girl team at all and instead was practically the Muggle friend for most of the story!

Re:creators is the runner up here with its "fictive characters show up in our world" story, but I think it could have done more with the idea, and I think Happy Seven is commendable for doing something that feels refreshing without having to be all smart and self-aware about it.

Then the Golden Mana Award for one thing that I really didn't like this year. 

The questionable honour goes to Meguru's unbearable behaviour at the start of Twin Angel Break, when she keeps pushing her friendship on the blue girl who has made it very clear that she'd rather be left alone. And of course the blue girl is secretly lonely and ultimately caves in so Meguru faces no consequences for being selfish and entitled and having zero respect for other people's boundaries. Stuff like this fuels my rage at the Friendly-And-Energetic-Stock-Magical-Girl-Heroines.

For Best Character I want to pick Lala from the Star Twinkle movie but she won Best Character last year so let’s pick someone else. To be fair nobody (else) this year made me super excited, but leaving such a broad category as this completely empty would be really stupid, so the winner is Himeno, from Pretear!

She had a lot more multifaceted personality than I initially predicted, had interesting and different relationships with many different characters, and of course had many unique henshin!

And finally, Best Work of the year... I know I picked Star Twinkle as the best series last year (award has been renamed now) so this feels somehow redundant, but I still can't get over how enjoyable their film was and as you may have noticed it has been mentioned in plenty of other awards already so it deserves the spot. On principle I liked that it wasn't centered around the pink Cure for once, and additionally it was about Lala who is my favourite Cure, and also since there wasn't really a villain the plot was more interesting than the same old "bad guy wants to take over the world". Also great visuals.

And that’s it for 2020! It has been a weird year, but that didn’t really show on this blog.

Plans for 2021:

Also once I finish drawing the chibis for the Madoka girls, expect a Madoka themed character tournament in 2021!

[justanotherfluffreader]

RFA Members + Haikyuu!! Characters and what costumes they wore for Halloween

RFA Members (+ V and Vanderwood)

Yoosung- Definitely a LOLOL character, probably either his avatar or some other character he thinks is cool

Jumin- A cat onesie designed to look like Elizabeth the 3rd, and you cannot convince me he wouldn’t wear it at least in his penthouse

Jaehee- Didn’t have enough time to pick out or buy a costume, sadly (but you got her a surprise costume that matched with whatever yours was)

Zen- Not the biggest fan of dressing up since he does it all the time for musicals, but would probably run out of time to find a costume and just wear an old costume for some role he played

Saeyoung- Either a cat (because Elly) or a maid (because he likes seeing the shock on peoples’ faces when he tells them he’s not a girl)

V- If he wears a costume, it’s probably either something random put together or something typical, like a ghost or vampire

Vanderwood- A spy. They want to say ‘trick’ and  taze people after kids go up to him and say trick or treat vanderwoodyoushouldntdothatyou’regoingtogetarrested

Haikyuu Characters (organized by school)

Karasuno

Hinata- A ghost (or a tangerine to make people laugh)

Kageyama- Just his volleyball uniform, and doesn’t understand why people laugh at him

Tsukishima- One of those dinosaur inflatable costumes that hide your face so you don’t know who it is (but only tells Yamaguchi that he’s going trick-or-treating)

Yamaguchi- Either a lil baby ghost or some other cute, wholesome costume

Daichi- Something super typical, kinda like V (scrool up) when it comes to costumes

Suga- A mermaid because he thought it was cool (but regrets it a little when Nishinoya and Tanaka start teasing him)

Asahi- The other third years tell hi he should go as Jesus and actually does it because he doesn’t want to disappoint them

Nishinoya/Tanaka- Their goddess, Kiyoko

Ennoshita- Nothing. He prefers to just stay at home and eat candy that he bought and actually likes

Kiyoko- A devil, matching costumes with Yachi

Yachi- An angel, felling super blessed that Kiyoko offered to match costumes with her and kinda panics the whole time

Nekoma

Kuroo- A cat. No other explanation needed

Kenma- A streamer/gaming YouTuber (or whatever equivalent there is in the HQ universe), or just stays home and plays games

Yaku- A vampire because he thought the cape included in the costume looked cool (and bites Lev with the plastic fangs when he says the cape is too long for him)

Lev- A giraffe, because Tsukishima said he’ll do the same but bailed on him, leaving a giraffe wandering around their supposed meeting place

Yamamoto- His favorite character from any show to make him feel better about not being close to anyone romantically

Aoba Johsai/Seijoh

Oikawa- A king or Disney prince, possibly an alien if he can find a costume like that

Iwaizumi- Godzilla, if he doesn’t decide to just stay home and watch movies 

Hanamaki/Matsukawa- Go as two potatoes, everyone absolutely  l o s e s  it when they wear the costume to practice the day before (potato costumes are a real thing, i promise)

Kindaichi and Kunimi- Each other, to annoy the other person

Fukurodani

Bokuto- Will 100/10 go as an owl, no one can stop him at this point, he’s in too deep

Akaashi- Will ask the other members of the team what he should wear, and decides from what they say

Rest of the team- Owl squad with Bokuto, he’s the leader bird and they all flap behind him as Akaashi sighs and follows them

Shiratorizawa

Ushijima- The school mascot or a farmer, Tendou cries from laughing as he films someone in a swan fursuit/straw hat and overalls waddling around the school 

Tendou- One of his favorite characters from an anime/manga he liked, does poses the majority of the time

Goshiki- Ushijima, in an attempt to impress him and acknowledge him (it doesn’t work)

Semi- Just some old costume that he had from a while ago, examples including a magician and a musician (with an actual instrument)

Shirabu- Doesn’t care about dressing up, Halloween’s just a normal day to him

Date Tech

Aone- Something that was supposed to be cute, but lowkey looks intimidating on him

Futakuchi- Mad hatter from Alice in Wonderland, bc he liked the hat and the idea of confusing people 

Koganegawa- Something he made himself (no one has the heart to tell him they can’t tell what it is)

Inarizaki

Kita- A farmer (apologies, manga readers)

Atsumu- Sangwoo because Osamu told him that’s a character a bunch of the people at school like

Osamu- Either doesn’t dress up or goes as onigiri to annoy Atsumu

Suna- A cloud, which he stuffed with blankets and pillows so it looks like a cloud and at the same time is comfy enough to sleep in

ETC 

Terushima- Doesn’t wear a costume, but hosts a ridiculously huge Halloween party every year

Sakusa- Nothing, but goes to Teru’s Halloween party for a few seconds to give everyone bottles of hand sanitizer (the little ones), then leaves to have candy and watch movies in the safety and comfort of his own home

Natsu- A crow, since her brother said it’ll be really cool (but he really just wants to show her off to the volleyball team)

[chelsmcd]

Those who work in Game Ops.

When people find out I work in sports, the automatic assumption is I grew up playing them.  I apparently have a look about me that, when the truth comes out, shocks a lot of people.

I did not play sports as a kid.  Sure I tried, but I got hit in the shin with the baseball when playing T-Ball, my cleats were too small in soccer, I was too uncoordinated for dance, not really a ton of flexibility or spatial awareness for gymnastics… I was pretty good at skating, I mean I skipped level 3 but it didn’t last.  In high school, I attempted to play Rugby, but mom reminded me I would snap like a twig, and really... at 14, I wasn’t about to discover some unhidden talent.  So, suffice it to say, my experience with sports has been two things:

1. Dressing up as my high school mascot (which for the record is a hot, sweaty and gross job)

2. THEATRE SPORTS! Yeah, I was a drama nerd.  We know we what are, we own it.  I will always look for and run into the spotlight.  I’m an entertainer, it’s in my blood.

So how did I end up working in sports? Well, it’s a long story, and while this is my own blog and I don’t tire of my own stories, I’m hoping you’ll stay with me to the end, so I’ll skip the long version. The main point…is that sports provides a melting pot for all walks of life. No one cares what you do, what kind of car you drive, what neighbourhood you live in, what colour your skin is (unless you painted it the opposing team’s colours)…none of it matters.  In sports…If you’re in the same venue as me, and we’re rooting for the same team, we’re friends.

I’m like a mother hen with my friends, I’m the one who plans the events for everyone to get together, I make sure people feel welcome, comfortable and at home. How does this translate? In sports, I work in game day operations or events (depending on whether I’m with a team or the league office) – but it’s my job to provide the space to bring people together.

There is a feeling, I can’t quite describe, when you hear everyone erupt with cheers, or sing/chant in unison (Oh, Canada anyone)?  It wells up in me.  It literally gives me butterflies of excitement and I want to cry because I need to get it out somehow.  One of my favourite moments was with the Kingston Frontenacs back on January 28, 2017. We hosted a night honouring The Tragically Hip (for those who are in the dark on this one, the Hip are from KTown). We invited the band, they hung out in the suite, the players wore a special Hip Jersey that had their song lyrics all over it, and in the third period we did a sing along.  Now, in a regular game, no, there is no way I would dare to have a break that is just (essentially) karaoke.  But for this game, something grabbed me, and I felt like it would take off. I didn’t have full support at the time, but I was passionate about this one and I’m so glad it was green lit. It was a moment that gave me those butterflies. We had it all planned out, the host would get two fans to sing along to lyrics on the screen, camera pan out, mic down, and … WOW.  The whole stadium, in unison (and I’m pretty sure on key) singing the chorus to, obviously, Ahead By A Century.  Honestly, when that moment happened, it was like the whole arena was hugging The Hip.  We don’t get this for the national anthem (not everyone wants to sing Oh Canada, some want to respectfully listen, and that’s cool), but in Kingston, dare I say, this is a civic pride?  The breaks in the OHL are short and sweet, but the refs gave it a second too, they let the fans sing it out, and you just had to feel it.  It was an energy, or in today’s trendy words “It was a total vibe.”

Game Ops, or Game Presentation, it’s a tough act. You aren’t responsible for the literal score on the board, but you are responsible for the scoreboard (now much more commonly known as videoboards or jumbotrons).  You are responsible for what’s happening off the ice, off the turf, off the pitch and in between the whistles. You can’t control if your team wins or loses (but I’ll tell ya, if I could, I’d have a winning team!) So the job of Game Ops people is to ensure you have the best night, even when your team gets absolutely annihilated.  Did you hear a great song? Was there a hilarious moment on the videoboard? Did the mascot come to your section or heck… the most simplest way to engage: did you get a free t-shirt that is so big for you, it will only ever end up seeing the darkness of your bedroom?  That’s Game Ops, people.

COVID has been hard on these staffers.  Now, I don’t want to alienate anyone, because every cog in the wheel matters, but Game Ops people are the first to be scrutinized and usually the last to be congratulated. Their success isn’t always quantifiable. With Partnership sales there are numbers, with ticket sales, there are bums in seats, with PR & Outreach there are likes, follows and analytics, but with Game Ops… there’s … sentiment.  How do you accurately measure opinion?  The naysayers or grumpy cats are always the loudest and the first to take to social media.  The supportive ones or the people who enjoyed themselves, they don’t go out of their way to talk about the good, because, that’s the way it should be, and while I agree – I’ll ask all fans, here and now… when you have a good time at a game

PLEASE TALK ABOUT IT!

The person writing the script needs to hear it.  The people trying to pump you up, can always use that positive reinforcement, heck the person sitting directing the videoboard, or switching the camera angle, or the person who edited a video two weeks ago, or the person who designed the graphics – often go unsung.

Game Operations take a talented individual. Someone who can manage and plan but also throw their script out the window because things changed yet still deliver on all ‘sold assets’. If you don’t work in Game Ops, you have no idea the pressure these people are under – because the right people for this role, don’t let you know they are under the pressure. They keep it together, composed and focused.

Ok, tangent over. So, to hiring managers… As I mentioned earlier, COVID has not been kind to those who work in Game Operations (myself included), so at the risk of standing on a soap box, here’s what I think you should know while evaluating those resumes:

The Game Ops People are:

the first to show up

the last to leave

the most adaptable

quick learners

born with ambition & don’t need incentive to perform (but hey, if you can put a bit of financial gain in front of them, it never hurts)

inclined to say yes, you may need to remind them it’s OK to say “my plate is full” or to ask for help

some of the most resilient people you will meet

your biggest champions

never the ones to say “that’s someone else’s job” - they figure it out & get it done

Their skill sets? They manage budgets, they manage people, they manage time, they manage fans (and complaints) – they are easy to teach! I ask you, if a resume of a sports person comes across your desk, understand that who you’re hiring isn’t always something that can be captured in a cover letter and resume.  If I’ve learned anything in my career thus far, how you do a job is just as important as what you know coming into the job. You can teach the skills, you can’t teach personality.

I started this post, thinking about all the things I miss this year with not having a Grey Cup in Regina, and I didn’t even touch on it.  I’ll save that for another post; I think this one is more important.

With that, please stay healthy, physically distant and socially close.

-me.

[smbinfostation]

Super Mario Bros. Ice Capades - 1989

To commemorate the SMBIS’s 20th anniversary, here’s the infamous Mario Ice Capades video in high quality. Enjoy!

Original commentary from October 17, 2003

On Thursday, December 7, 1989, ABC presented an Ice Capades special on TV, hosted by Alyssa Milano (of Who's The Boss fame) and Jason Bateman (Silver Spoons; Valerie, Arrested Development). The show had many famous and talented figure skaters, music numbers and comedy acts, including segments featuring Barbie and the Super Mario Bros. This happens to be the 50th Anniversary of the Ice Capades that they taped, as the programs that the hosts and the audience had, with the Mario Bros and Barbie on the back. (The 50th Anniversary Ice Capades Barbie was released at this time also.) When the segment begins, the hosts are backstage when they spot some random people playing Super Mario Bros. Alyssa mentions that she's never played videogames before (*gasp*) and Jason brags to her that he is a master of Nintendo, proclaiming himself to be the "Video Prince." Then he tells her about the plot of Super Mario Bros. [It's interesting to mention that Jason refers to King Koopa as Bowser, because the entire show after this just calls him King Koopa.]

As they talk, they are interrupted when the monitor starts flickering and doing crazy stuff. Jason, who apparently know everything about Nintendo, states that it's a computer virus, which will, and I quote, "release all the evil forces stored up in the computer." @_@ Um...OK, "Mr. Video Prince", whatever you say. Then, who pops up? Yes, it's good ol' King Koopa (NOT Bowser!), played by the late 80's sitcom star Christopher Hewett, a.k.a. Mr. Belvedere. Koopa has released the virus and threatens to take over the world. His plan is very laughable at best, as it implies that a NES can be used to infect computers with deadly viruses, which probably can't happen. That, and he says he doesn't really want the world, but does it anyway because he loves causing trouble. It's nice to have hobbies, I guess.

The Mario set is decent enough. It looks like a 3-D version of the 8-bit SMB1, with pixelated clouds and trees in the background and a castle in the middle. However, it looks way better than what Mr. Hewett had to wear. His costume is very tacky and ugly. He doesn't even have anything over his face, just horribly applied green face paint around his moustache. His horns looked like dangly jesters' bells and he's wearing horrible plaid pants and a geeky red bow tie. On top of that, he's riding on a moving castle. You know the forts at the end of each level of SMB1? Yep, he's roving about on the ice on a castle. o.O

Koopa calls out his minions to destroy different computer parts that NES's don't have, including 2 Green Koopa Troopas, 2 miscolored white Goombas, 1 Hammer Bro (two Troopas and only ONE Hammer Brother?), a Red Paratroopa and a Spiny. The baddies' costumes were based on their official Nintendo designs, though they looked very non-threatening and somewhat cuddly-looking. The Goombas and the Spiny, about a meter or so tall, do seem to be radio-controlled, or have skaters crouched or something inside them. After this, Koopa pompously sings about how evil he is, with his baddies dancing around him...wearing plaid pants...on a moving castle...oooookaaay. Mr. Hewett had a very cultured, polite-sounding British accent, not like Cartoon Koopa's voice at all. He sang pretty well, but the lyrics were shallow and kinda childish. The song is short, thankfully, and only proves that Koopa can create plans for world domination much better than he can sing silly egotistical songs. After this, we see the Princess Toadstool (can't call her Peach yet, as this is still 1989, or all time and space will unravel around us and disappear), who has a huge, horrid mascot-like head and a cliché Mae West-ish Hollywood voice, off to the side with her subjects of plumber pawns with her. Another note is that the Princess's costume is based on the official Nintendo design; she has blond hair, instead of red/brown from the cartoons.  Princess Pea....Toadstool, helpless to stop Koopa, then summons the Mario Bros., who for some reason arrived from the sky with the help of their trusty support wires. @_@ [Here's something I just noticed: In the scene when the Princess talks to her people before she calls the Bros. from the heavens, you can see the Marios behind her, with their backs turned to the audience. Sloppy editing.] After being briefed on the situation by Princess, Mario and Luigi, with their very stereotypical Italian accents and oversized, misshapened mascot heads, protect the Maiden in Distress from the horrible men in Koopa Troopa suits. The Princess helps out by sending out carts containing kids from the audience to assist the Bros. Koopa then scoffs at the Marios for sending children to do a man's job. So, one by one, Koopa sends out his legions of dumpy villains to defeat the Bros. However, Luigi dons his airgun/cardboard box out of nowhere and mercilessly kills each bad guy with sparkler blasts that are later added in. The effect of the baddies dying is just crude and leaves one to think how it'll work without the superimposed TV special effects of them just fading away and disappearing to low-budget heaven. Koopa, realizing that his army of extras is failing him, decides to attack the Bros. himself on his mobile fortress with his Spiny. The Marios and the children in the carts surround Koopa, totally ignoring Spiny altogether from the onslaught of death and sparkly insanity. After Mario spouts a remarkably bland joke/pun, the children vanquish the Koopa King with their big foam wrenches and dirty plungers in a blast of sparklers. Cheesey fanfare music plays afterwards, proclaiming the death of the Koopa King, as the children are returned back to the audience, without getting any complementary gift for being a part in the show.

In the end, the Princess, who now just looks like a giant, mutated blow-up doll, congratulates the Marios by giving them the "Purple Plunger for Bravery" or "The Incredibly Cheap Cardboard Hero Prize.". Then, the Bros. have a disgraceful squabble about bragging rights. Note that in all this, Mario does absolutely NOTHING to help out. Luigi killed all the minor foes and commanded the children to kill Koopa. Lazy, lazy Mario... Backstage, the monitor that the hosts were watching all this goes back to normal, then for no reason, Alyssa announces that she wins the game by default, although she doesn't even play it at all, leaving "Jason the Video Prince" in a stupor.

----

More research led me to a site belonging to a Mr. Michael Baroto, a costume designer who made these all the characters for the show, including the baddies, the Bros. and Peach. Apparently, he had only 3 months to make three sets of ten costumes, as well as two other costumes for another show. Seeing that he had to make 30 costumes in the short a time span, this would explain why the Marios and Peach looked so rushed. They don't do his talents justice, however, as his other works, including puppets, dolls and marionettes, are very creative and well-made. There are production photos of the Mario costumes in the previous link. If you ever get to read this, Mr. Baroto, please don't take my negative comments personally. ^^;;;;;;

Here's something I just noticed after watching this over again. Apparently, they deviated from what they'd usually do at a live show and made it extra special for the TV show by adding those "special" effects and camera angles. Also, they taped this when the audience wasn't present, as the seating couldn't been seen at all. They do show some stock footage of people watching all this and laughing at the bad puns, and of the kids getting out of the carts when the show was over, never getting compensated with gifts and whatnot for killing off the "mighty" King Koopa.

However, doing this just made the show worse, as there were obvious editing mistakes. For example, you can see enemies that were killed off later hanging about off to the side when the children return to the audience. In another instance, right at the end, you can see a lone boy sitting on the ice in the background playing with a wrench behind Princess Toadstool before she hands out the awards. Then he disappears in the next shot. And let's not forget the earlier example of the Marios already on stage before they arrive from the sky.  Very very sloppy, even for late 80's television. Of course, this was a time when little kids wouldn't care less if the show was crappy or not. It had Mario, and that's all that mattered.

[detectivesplotslies]

An Anthropologist and a Pianist walk into a School

Oumota Week 2019 - Day 2: Talent Swap / Monster AU 

Description: The Ultimate Anthropologist, Kaito Momota, wants to make quick work of getting to know everything about his classmates, but a certain Pianist seems to be making that troublesome.  Word Count: 1719

Read on AO3 here

“So, you’re a pianist? That’s quite a profession to get into, lots of glory and greatness in being a musician! Who would you say inspired you?”

Kaito barely wastes a moment after introducing himself and jumps straight into questions. He’s already had a long discussion with Kaede about her inventions and Rantaro about his organization, and Kokichi happens to be hovering when he finishes.

“You cut right to it, huh. Well of course the greats, Beethoven, Wagner, a bit of Handel gives you a good handle on it.”

“So you’re into classical stylings? Are they hard to learn? What about your teacher?” Kaito talks a mile a minute, quickly committing the names to memory. Sure music isn’t his expertise, but he knows the big names. Symphonies that inspired others, and ones inspired by others.

“Oh my teacher’s a real gem, but he’s so strict, there was one time I got one note wrong in Beethoven’s 10th Symphony, and he made me play the entire thing backwards from that note and THEN start over. My poor fingers!”

“Oh cool, you must be really skilled then! Sure must have been a pain, that’s crazy punishment for a mistake! Did it even sound good?” Kaito looks up, his face genuinely excited.

Kokichi pauses before grinning and continuing.

“...well of COURSE it still sounded good, I am the Ultimate Pianist after all.”

“With training like that, can you compose? Do you improvise? Or after that rigorous training are you forever bound to the classics? Would it feel wrong to play something modern, or do you like the jazz era too?”

“Wow Momota-chan, how dare you speak of jazz in my presence. I do not play that filth, only the best for my hands!”

“Ah… okay, well, then what made you keep at it? You’re inspired by the classics and your teacher was harsh, but there’s not much for those outside of concerts. Are those what you play for?”

“Silly Momota-chan, of course it’s about the audience. The audience is always who matters when you play music, because only they can hear what you really want to say with it! You really ask a lot of questions, ya know? Are you sure you’re an anthropologist and not Ultimate Journalist? Ultimate TV Show Host? Ultimate Cop? Hmmm?”

“Hey I know a thing or two about audiences, but I’m still an anthropologist, don’t you forget it! Been on lecturing tours at universities all over to show what I’ve put together. I bet those aren’t too different from touring concerts.”

Kokichi laughs and continues to poke. The interview devolves into defenses, Kaito’s illustrious experience and credentials taking the spotlight and questions forgotten. Soon enough they part and he’s off to interview another classmate. An anthropologist’s work is never done as long as there are people to learn from!

But that was hardly the end of what he heard from Ouma that day. You’d think a musician would be more considerate about the volume of their voice.

---

During lunch the elegant cosplayer approaches the pianist, poise exquisite. He seems to consider the boy’s clothes before posing a question.

“So, do you wear the classic tails and tie when you perform, Ouma-kun?”

“Oh yes all the classics. The tie, tails, knuckles, sonic-”

“I’m sorry the-”

“Gotta go fast, Shinguji-kun! You know that one right? Ever worn a mascot costume? Huh?”

After a moment of awkward silence to Ouma’s exclamations Korekiyo excused himself. Kaito, also in the dining hall figured that… could be a way he could show interest in the cosplaying talent. Maybe. But from his interview he knew mascots and simple designs were the farthest from what the cosplayer’s actual interest was.

---

During an argument about her tastes, it isn’t long before the artist tries to push back on the other art talent in the room, and prove herself more cultured.

“Well, I bet you don’t have any more recent musical influences hmm? All long dead men, who’s music is gathering dust. A real artist has to live in the now,” Tenko huffs.

“Oh but I love to stay current! Why just last month I attended a very inspiring concert.”

“Oh really? Tenko would like to know who!”

“Have you, my dear, heard the musical stylings of the Wiggles?”

The jazz hands are met with a nose thrust in the air as Tenko turns heel to leave. Kokichi calls something about artist temperaments after her, to which her heels in her exit from the courtyard clack a bit louder and angrier, like little daggers stabbing the pavement.

Possibly artistic differences? Competitive sort of field? Kaito isn’t sure he’s got a good enough grasp of Tenko’s stance on it all yet to judge.

---

This time the sound of a strange song with no tempo played obnoxiously that caught his attention, and the anthropologist stops in the doorway to look into a classroom.

“Why do you keep playing that thing? I thought you were a piano man, or something.”

To the astronaut who was pointing at the kazoo in his mouth, Kokichi holds it out with some flare.

“The kazoo, which we in the music industry like to call the tongue piano, is a very technical instrument to get right, but if you listen closely you can hear the nuances of a master, c’mon lean in.”

A sharp sound, a spray of spit and a string of profanities later, Miu storms out muttering about getting that key wiggling twink back while Kokichi laughs himself breathless. Kaito stumbles out of her way, his face pinched into a frown as he glances back at the classroom.

Perhaps this called for a follow-up interview.

---

Kaito returns from the library, fists clenched, looking around. Eventually he spots Kokichi, snapping his suspenders and chatting away at the magician, Shuichi, backed into the corner with something between fear and confusion on his face. His top hat is precariously close to tipping off his face while he pushes against the wall.

“Hey Ouma, I wanted to ask you some more questions!”

The pianist turns, tilting his head to the side, face blank for a moment before a cheshire grin spreads across it.

“Momota-chan! Of course, of course. Want to hear more from the master, couldn’t resist, I get it. Well I have plenty of time! Saihara-chan here won’t tell me the ritual he cast to get so powerful because I’m not a wizard like him! Maybe your interrogation will work!”

Kaito hesitates a moment. Wizard? Isn’t Shuichi a magician? “Ah, no I just have questions for you, not Saihara.”

That’s all it takes for Shuichi to take his chance to dart behind Kokichi and leave the room in a run. Neither of them have ever seen the kid move that fast. They are left alone.

“Right, so I just wanted to check a few things with you. You said Beethoven, Wagner, and Handel were your inspiration?”

“Why Momota-chan, were your ears taking a vacation? Yep! Those are my favourite piano composers! And I won’t repeat it again, so you better listen!”

“And when you messed up in Beethoven’s 10th Symphony your teacher made you play it backwards?”

Kokchi flutters his fingers in front of him dramatically. “Back and then front again, like a puppet!”

“And you despise jazz?”

Kokichi gags. “Won’t touch the stuff!”

Then without missing a beat, Kaito grins and asks a new question.

“So your entire interview with me was bullshit, huh?”

Kokichi scoffs and crosses his arms in front of his chest. “My, my, Momota-chan, what nerve you have to tell a musician he doesn’t know his own taste! Next I’ll be telling you about anthropology journals or whatever boring things you are inspired by!”

Kaito sighs and pulls a book out of his bag and flips it open, citing pages as he talks. “Wagner was a terrible pianist, and while he did write some pieces for the piano, apparently they pale in comparison to most other composers of his time. Beethoven only wrote 9 symphonies, so whether you can play one backwards or not you should have corrected the number when I repeated 10th back at you. And you say you dislike jazz but that’s the beat and style you’ve been playing on your kazoo all day.” He claps the book shut with a satisfied smirk on his face.

There’s silence between them for an uncomfortable moment, until Kokichi puts his arms back lazily behind his head and smiles.

“Wow, Momota-chan’s such a nerd.”

Kaito’s smirk drops and indignance rushes onto it, red and unready for its turn.

“Wh- No I’m not! How is finding out a liar nerdy? You’ve been messing with people all day I had to fact check, I-”

“Ohhh, not a nerd, my mistake, a stalker! Wow, I haven’t had one of those since that one time at one of my concerts when this guy grabbed me by my tails and-”

“Ouma, I don’t want to hear another story, I want to hear about you!” Kaito may have shouted it a touch louder than planned, as Kokichi’s tale about his tails abruptly cuts off.

“Why?”

“What? What do you mean ‘why’?”

“Momota-chan can ask questions, but he can’t answer them? Why don’t you want to hear a story. Stories are much more fun! Stories about hedgehogs, teachers, fun kid shows, wizards, and strange instruments. Why wouldn’t that be what anyone wants to hear? It only matters if you like what you hear, afterall.”

“I don’t care if it’s what I would like if it’s not about you. What’s the point in getting to know someone that way?”

“I don’t know, maybe you should tell me, you’re the one studying humans, and they tell some pretty stories when there’s nothing very pretty at all.”

Kokichi smirks and starts to walk out of the room. He’s almost out when Kaito says something to himself, quietly, but Kokichi’s trained ears hear it clearly.

“So you weren’t lying about that then.”

Kokichi turns, raising a brow. “What do you think was true, then, oh Ultimate Questioner?”

“That it’s all about the audience. You change your tune based on who’s listening, and if what you want them to hear? Then I wonder what your audience when you actually play is like.”

Kokichi frowns for a moment and continues walking out, no reply ready.

[end note]

Hope you guys enjoyed a taste of the dumb talent swap I’ve been nursing in headcanons for ages hahah <3 As a bonus, about their designs, some fun details. Kokichi tucks his hair behind his ears so he can better catch what people are saying quietly, and Kaito ended up wrecking his eyes and needing glasses from trying to read things in dark places on expeditions after dark or before the crew would set up. For @oumota-events week!

[magic5ball]

Nature Trail to Hell Arc I: Nature Trail to Hell (5)

Chapter 5: Being Bad is Good as Long as You’re Being Bad to Bad Guys

Having slogged through the worst days in my ten-year-old life, it seemed like things were finally looking up. Well, that’s a stretch ever for me, but at least now I had a mission to distract from how sucky everything was. My theivery, or ‘Acts of true selfishness’ as Hilda called them, started with basic stuff: ketchup packets, napkins and the like. But my favorite was a trick where I’d rip the stickers right off kid’s shirts, replaceing them with sticky notes before they even noticed. The ol’ Switcheroo, I called it. Now, I know what you’re thinking:

‘Watt, if you were such a good kid, then why were you stealing?’

To which I’d like to point out that it ain’t stealing if you’re doing it from the bad guys. Like Robin Hood!

           Meanwhile, Shatner was raising ticks and Lord knows what else under his bed. Whenever we reconvened, I’d always see them in his hands, little red marbles swollen with blood. Never did ask where he got the blood, though. Probably for the better.

           Sometimes, before we lay our offerings to the Vessel of Darkness that was our camp mascot, Shatner and I would have a little talk. Turned out, he didn’t really want to eat boogers.

“Like the great snake tamers of old would gradually inject more and more venom into their veins to get an immunity, so I have tasted my own nasal mucus in hopes of being granted resistance to that fiendish concoction our benevolent hosts call ‘Turkey Meatloaf Surprise’.”

So if you couldn’t tell, Shatner was an arrogant prick who liked using a lotta big words, but prison breaking has a funny way of bringing the oddest people together. And we were no different. One day, we’d been bickering about whether or not the dreaded meatloaf surprise was from a mutant blob or something called pink slime when Shatner dropped the big one:

“If I might inquire, what drives you to abscond from this wretched hive of tyranny?”

I had no idea that half those things were even real words, but I got the message, so I told him about the big misunderstanding with the Leprechaun that had started it all, and my poor Gamekid at home, probably dying from neglect.

           Shatner fished around his pocket and took out a crumpled piece of paper. After he unfolded it, I realized it was one of those old Kodachrome color photos. Now, I’m not what you’d call an arachnaphobe- back at home, I’d pick up spiders with my bare hands to put them outside- so I think it says something that the critter in the photo made me jump back a foot. The spider- at least, that’s what Shatner told me it was- was the ugliest little bugger I’d ever seen. It was at least the size of a dinner plate- no, dinner plates were the size of it- with fangs thicker around than my thumb and black eyes like bullets. Most spiders have hair, but this thing? I’d seen wooly mammoths that were less shaggy. But the most shocking thing of all was the photo showed Shatner wearing the thing like the world’s creepiest coonskin cap.

“This is Hixson. I think I forgot to feed him before I left.” He gripped my shoulders. Hard. “Listen, Watt. I’m a strong kid. I’m actually like fiber O’s. I could endure the vilest punishments of Hell if need be. But I cannot stand idly by while my best friend starves!”

I began thinking that wasn’t too bad for a prick who ate his own boogers, when in swooped Hilda, snatching up the photo and tearing it to pieces.

Shatner stared, on the verge of tears.

“Wh-Wot the deuce you do that for?!”

“Cool your jets, Shatner. We must offer our desires to our Dark Lord if he is to fulfill them.” She sprinkled the photo pieces like confetti around Freddie’s cage, the bits blending perfectly with the newspaper at the bottom.

           Compared to Shatner or me, Hilda was a bit of a weirdo, which was really saying something, all considered. She never told us anything about why she wanted to do this, and when we did ask, she’d tell us it was none of our business. Or worse, threaten to turn us in.

Felt kinda bad for her, though, since being Camp Mascot Keeper meant she had to work harder than either of us to look like Hobag’s stooge, and I could see by the way the color drained from her face it was really taking something out of her. Smelled funny, too, but I never told her that.

The upside was she could pull some strings, so we’d often find ourselves paddling the same canoe, literally. Hilda said she just wanted time to hang out, but I knew it was cover for our little operation. She even thought of clever things like bringing along board games Shatner and I liked.

It was only over the last few days of our operation I noticed something odd going on with Freddie. There’d be flickers of time where his beady eyes would be filled with something like malice only his cute little self. On at least one occasion, I swore I heard him squeaking rap music backwards. I just figured he’d been listening to Hilda’s IPod. Though maybe I should have been more concerned with the technical details. Especially after he started vomiting up blood whenever we mentioned Jesus around him.

           And that’s the way things were for a while. Shatner and I gather offerings, while Hilda would set them up around the cage, all while pulling the wool over Hoebag’s eyes. By the time a week passed, we’d made a tidy little monument to what could only be described as the world’s most gruesome scavenger hunt. Ms. Hoebag had even given Hilda a special scratch and sniff sticker as a reward for taking care of Freddie. Ripped it up and stomped it into the ground first chance she got. Guess I should also mention the chanting. It was how we’d end our secret meetings at Freddie’s cage, doing it holding candles for maybe five or ten minutes, then we’d go back to whatever hellish chore Ms. Hoebag had designed to build our character. Don’t remember the specifics of the chant (or chaunt, as Shatner liked to say), other than it sounded pagan-y with some belching. Still funner than singing about baby sharks, at least.

[defeatedbyamerechild]

I’M MAKING A DRAW! THE WINNER WILL MAKE A DESIGN FOR A CHARACTER IN THIS SERIES OF COMICS!

Heya, scamps!

For the following comics, I’m gonna need an original character. However, I totally suck at creating OCs of any kind! This is why I thought I might let one of you scamps design them for me!

I’m not sure if anyone will actually want to participate in this, but... I’m just going to try and make this proposition and see how it goes. If no one wants to participate, then I’ll just create a random design or something similar. :)

Now, please read the specifications and the rules before deciding to participate or not! Here goes!:

General info: This character will be of little importance, but will appear in 7 of the 16 comics in this series. They will interact with Cyrus, Lysandre and Ghetsis, but will not have any sort of romantic relationship of friendship with them. The character is a human. They can be of any gender, color, body type and age, but they already have a definite personality, so you will work only on their visuals!

What’s the character like?: They are the host of a tacky interviewing program. They are futile and kind of dumb (At least act dumb during their TV show) and are constantly smiling and trying to be funny and nice. No matter how absurd the situation gets, they keep their persona, remaining calm and oddly happy, tending to agree with everyone.

Style: In the comics, I will draw the character in my stile, of course. But you can draw them with any style you prefer!

To participate: Send me a drawing of your design (or use a dollmaker if you prefer) as a submission (what I usually call “collabs”) and write something like “Design for the draw”. It doesn’t have to be that sentence specifically, just let me know that it’s a drawing for this draw and not just a random submission! The submissions will not be posted in the blog until the end of the draw! They will remain in my inbox until we have a result!

How many designs can I send? ONLY 1 per participant, PLEASE! If you send me more than 1, I will consider only the first drawing and delete the rest. Please do not send me two drawings telling me one was made by your little brother or something similar, because even if it is true, I cannot make exceptions and won’t be able to accept it. :/

What will be the criteria to choose the winner? S H E E R   L U C K. It’s a draw, really. I’m literally going to write all the names of the participants in little pieces of paper and draw one of them to see who wins! And I’m going to film this and post the video! 

What’s the prize again? The winner’s desing will be in the comics! That’s pretty much all. You will see your character interacting with my characters and drawn in my style... Not much, I know, but it’s what I can offer. And, of course, I will post the winning drawing along with the final desing in my style. :)

What about the designs that didn’t win? Welp, unless you ask me not to in your submission, I’m going to post all the other participants’ works in the blog too! So that we can all appreciate them! They just won’t show up in the comics... (And if we don’t have way too many, I may as well make drawings in my style of all of them, and post my version along with the original designs... I’ll see how it goes!).

When will you draw the name of the winner? THE DRAW WILL END ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 (that is, one month from now). I’m going to wait until it’s the 12th of October in every timezone before I draw the name of the winner, so it doesn’t matter where you are, if it’s october 11th, it’s the last day of the draw! Results will be posted as soon as possible, but most likely in the 12th or 13th of October, depending on where you live. THIS POST WAS MADE ON THE 11TH OF SEPTEMBER, SO YOU HAVE ONE MONTH TO SUBMIT YOUR PRETTY DESIGN IN MY INBOX! ( OR NOT BECAUSE MAYBE NO ONE WILL WANT TO DO THAT :D !!!)

>>>>>>RULES!!!!:

The character has to be apropriate for the blog. That is:

They have to be kid-friendly (don’t make them wear sexualized clothes or clothes containing pornographic or graphic content on it; don’t add big wounds, recently-severed limbs or bloody and gore-y elements to them). -> Breaking this rule will result in me not posting your character in the blog, and you won’t be allowed to participate in the draw.

Scars or the absence of a limb is allowed, as long as it’s scarred and healed, so that it doesn’t evoke violence. However, scars that allude to self-harm or suicidal behavior, domestic violence or other kinds of violence are not allowed. (cuts on the arm/wrist; bruises around the eye or neck, etc) -> Breaking this rule will result in me not posting your character in the blog, and you won’t be allowed to participate in the draw.

The design cannot contain symbols of political ideologies in any part of their body or clothes. (Republican party mascot, Democratic party mascot, Soviet hammer and sickle, etc) -> Breaking this rule will result in me not posting your character in the blog, and you won’t be allowed to participate in the draw. 

The design cannot contain slurs written on their clothes or body (T-shirts, caps, coats or any other piece of clothing with words such as “b*tch”, “f*ck”, “sh*t”, etc. written on them or tattoos with the same kind of words.) - > Breaking this rule will result in me posting your character in the blog with a censor tag over the forbidden word. You will be allowed to participate, BUT the slurs will be removed from the final design and will not be part of the comics.

The design cannot contain symbols of opression and hate in any part of their body or clothes. (Nazi Swastika, Blood Drop Cross, 14/88, supremacist Arrow Cross, Anti-LGBT flag, etc). It also cannot contain symbols that allude to pedophilia or zoophilia (BoyLover Symbol, GirlLover Symbol, ChildLover Symbol, Zoophilia Zeta [ ζ ], etc.) -> BREAKING THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN ME BLOCKING YOU, SO DON’T DO IT AS A JOKE. I WILL BLOCK WHOEVER SUBMITS THIS KIND OF CONTENT.

Also, PLEASE REMEMBER THE CHARACTER HAS TO BE HUMAN. (This has been informed in the “General Info” topic above. Just because otherwise it will be very off in our headcanon!

That’s it, scamps! I hope at least some of you have any interest in this! :3

If not, it’s just fine! I don’t want to force anyone to participate in this and I really don’t know if you will like the idea or not!

Anyways, thanks for reading the post and I hope you like this proposition! :D You may begin to send your designs right now, if you want to! ♥

(I hope I didn’t forget anything :3) (I’m so nervous, it’s my first time doing something like this XD)

[eyesfixedonthesun22]

First Impressions

Summary: With the multiverse now in play, we visit an alternate universe where Steve Rogers is America’s first bisexual contestant on the ever popular and never lacking dating show, The Bachelor. Nick Fury is your illustrious host through the shocking announcement, contestant biographies, and the first night in the mansion. Only one question remains; who will get the first impression rose on what is promised to be the most dramatic season ever!? Pairing: Steve x Avengers Warning(s): Language. Kissing. A hell of a lot of cringe and bachelor/bachelorette tropes. Word Count: 3,238 Beta: The darling sweetheart @supersoldiersruined-me Notes: This is my entry to @revengingbarnes 10K writing challenge. My prompt was a Bachelor AU. Thank you so much for hosting this, Fatima! This prompt was honestly a challenge for me. I wasn’t sure which point of view and formatting I wanted. It’s certainly unlike anything I’ve ever written. Please no one hate me if I made your fav annoying. I just wanted to fit in as many bachelor personality tropes. The fic isn’t an actual representation of my thoughts on each character. 

Live Studio Audience: Intro

“Good evening and welcome to this exciting season of The Bachelor. I’m Nick Fury, your host for tonight.” The studio audience erupts into choreographed uproar. “Looks like Bachelor Nation is out in full force tonight. Are you all ready for what I promise is our most dramatic season ever?”

Nick commands the stage with a casual grace that only comes from years of hosting. “Last season you all watched as the beautiful bombshell Peggy Carter embarked on her quest for love; which she found with her now fiance. While we wish her the best of luck with her engagement, we couldn’t help be as heartbroken as you all were when a particular fan favorite was booted just before hometown dates. Let’s take a look at this season’s Bachelor!”

Broadcast: Steve’s Bio

“My name is Steve Rogers. I’m twenty-six years old. Born and raised in Brooklyn. You may know me from Peggy Carter’s season of The Bachelorette.”

The audience is treated with a montage of Steve at home in Brooklyn. He walks down the street to a corner bodega on a spring day; smiling and greeting the owner at the counter like they’re old friends. The old tabby cat sat on the counter near the register curls into his hand as he scratches behind her ears.

“A little known fact about me is that I really love cooking.” The next shot is him cooking a large family style meal in a stunning modern kitchen. The black hexagon tiles frame the close up of the saute pan as he flips the food; clearly practiced. The camera zooms in once more for a close up shot of Steve’s large calloused hands making deft work of chiffonading the basal to top his culinary masterpiece. As far as lusting goes, the depiction of Steve as the bachelor is a lot less macho and hits more boy-next-door.

“Things didn’t quite work out with Peggy and I. While we’re kindred souls, I think it just wasn’t the right time.” Steve’s no longer shown at home in his cozy apartment but in a carefully crafted video confessional booth.

The audience hears the producer’s voice off screen, “Do you think you’re over her? Are you ready for love?”

“Definitely. I learned a lot from Peggy. I learned who I am and what I need from a relationship. I’m ready for the whole damn thing. I want a partner, I want kids. I like pretty pedestrian, domestic things.” He looks down at his lap, almost as if he’s embarrassed. “I like ceremony. I wanna carve pumpkins and do the tree at christmas; all that.”

“Anything else you’d like to add to your intro?” The producers prompt. Steve’s broad shoulders straighten and take up much of the booth; his body tense with nervous energy which he masks with a radiant smile. He takes a deep breath before looking the camera dead in the eye.

“I’m Steve Rogers… and I’m the first bisexual Bachelor.”

Live Studio Audience:

The audience goes wild; homemade signs wave, men and women alike scream their delight. Nick Fury stands in the small center stage waiting for the crowds applause to dissipate.

“So needless to say, this season will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.” He smirks at the camera knowingly. “Before we jump back into tonight’s episode, would you guys like to hear from America’s sweetheart himself?” More incoherent cheering. “Let’s bring him on out!”

Steve appears from behind the crimson velvet curtain waving sheepishly. They’ve slicked back his locks doing nothing to detract from the classic bachelor look. He unbuttons the slim navy suit jacket as Fury gestures for him to sit on the small interview couch.

“Welcome, Steve. How ya feeling tonight?”

“Not gonna lie, Nick. I feel super nervous.” He fidgets in the seat a bit; rubbing the flats of his palms on the tops of his thighs. “Being the bachelor is one thing. Being the first bisexual bachelor is another.”

“Well I’m not sure about you guys, but I thought it was about time!” Nick’s enthusiasm draws more cheering from the crowd. “We got to know you on Peggy’s season and America just fell in love with you. You’re such a great guy; so genuine and compassionate.”

“Thank you, really, thank you. I honestly was terrified to be the first bisexual man on the show. Being the bachelor has always traditionally been typecast as a very specific type of man; one that I didn’t really see myself fitting into. So to be given this opportunity to find love and to have the support that I’ve gotten since the announcement has been beyond my wildest dreams.”

“You ready to jump into your season?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“While Steve may be our first bisexual bachelor, you can expect not much to change on the show. Each week contestants will be eliminated at a traditional rose ceremony. We’ll still have the first impression rose, hometown dates, and the always anticipated fantasy suits!”

Fury eyes Steve hoping to make him squirm a bit. Steve manages to make his sinful blush look composed while he chuckles.

“Without further ado let’s meet the delightful men and women vying for a spot in Steve’s heart.”

Broadcast: Contestant Bios

“My name? Tony Stark. Don’t worry about having your little design guys whip me a tagline; I’m certain no one needs it. Household name n’ all.” A smirking brunette stares directly into the camera and winks. He’s wearing rose tinted sunglasses despite the dimmed lighting of the interview space. “So what do you wanna know?”

The producers sigh before proceeding. “Tell us a bit about yourself.”

The camera stays in the testimonial booth but now a blonde women occupies the seat. Unlike the previous occupant she isn’t slouching but sits with excellent posture and poise.

“My name is Sharon McCarter. I’m an agent for the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. I need someone who’s ready for a fast paced lifestyle. My job keeps me on my toes.”

“What did you think when Steve was announced as the bachelor? What did you think of him being bisexual?”

“Honestly?” Sharon pauses a bit buffudled. “He seems a bit more clean cut then the guys I usually go for.” She looks at the camera with a hesitant smile.

“What would you say your passion is?”

“Fitness. Fitness and health, for sure.” The booth is now overwhelmed with an exceptionally huge man. His long blonde hair falls to his shoulders with delicate braids mixed into his locks. “I’m Thor Odinson. I own and operate Odinsons Gym with my brother Loki.”

“How would you describe yourself as a partner. What could Steve expect?”

Thor continues in his deep voice. It carries subtle hint of an accent not from the states, “Steve could expect the rough sexiness of a pirate mixed with the pure innocence of an angel; the perfect boyfriend if you ask me.”

“What kind of partner do you hope to be for Steve?”

“An attentive one. I’m a scientist by profession.” The tagline on the screen says that the brunette with the tossed curls currently answering his interview questions is Bruce Banner. “A good part of my job is being detail oriented and focused. I’d like to think I bring that same level of attentiveness and sensitivity to my partner.”

Live Studio Audience:

“Welcome back, Bachelor Nation! It looks like Steve has a great batch of men and women who couldn’t be more excited to get their journey started. Let’s see how Steve get’s along navigating his first night in Bachelor Mansion.

Show Footage:

The camera pans across a gorgeous california night sky and comes to land on Steve standing in front of Bachelor Mansion. They have him perfectly centered between two backlit trees with the ornate floral fountain babbling as a soundtrack. He fidgets with his plain black tie waiting for the first limo to pull up. He stares into the camera and mouths a very endearing “What do I do with my hands!”

From that moment on, it’s a parade of individuals dressed to the nines. The women stun in their gleaming and silky ball gowns. The men glow in their crisp suits. Each give their cheesy one liners to Steve before heading into the mansion.

A man named Phil, who insists that Steve call him Coulson, gives him a red, white, and blue sash emblazoned with the words America’s Sweetheart on it while wearing his own sash reading Mr. America. A women named Wanda introduces herself in a thick, sultry accent.

“Where are you from, Wanda?”

“Sakovia. I’m so excited to meet you. I look forward to teaching you about my culture and getting to know you better.”

After Wanda, the next person out of the limo is Clint. He makes a qippy one liner before sauntering into the mansion. A woman named Carol strolls confidently out of the limo nearly glowing in her crimson and gold gown. Next comes a bird. It’s not actually a bird; but rather a man in an oversized mascot type costume.

“Did you know that eagles mate for life?”

Steve stares at the camera for half a second as if questioning if the producers are serious. “I didn’t know that. Any chance I can see the eagle’s face? Or at least know his name?”

“We’ll save the pretty face for later, but the name is Sam.”

Steve takes a moment to compose himself after the bird’s introduction. The final woman exits the limo. She’s in a simple black dress that hugs her body dangerously. Her flame red hair cascades down one shoulder. Her introduction is clipped and to the point. Steve places a hand on her shoulder.

“Sorry I didn’t catch your name.”

Her face softens then. “It’s Natasha, but you can call me Nat.”

After the train of individuals Steve is looking more relaxed. He seems to have settled into his role with less nerves than when the show began. The final contestant steps out of the limo.

“Good evening, Steve. My name is James Barnes. You look so handsome tonight.”

Steve takes in the man across from him. He’s got equally broad shoulders as Steve; they’re nearly matched in height. He wears his silky brown locks at shoulder length with a dainty waterfall braid on one side. The baby blue of his pocket square matches his eyes.

“I can’t wait to get to know you, James.”

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“Alright ladies and gentlemen, settle down. You all know who I am already,” Nick Fury is addressing all the contestants as they make themselves comfortable in the front living room at the mansion. “Steve! Why don’t you come on in here and get this cocktail party started?”

Steve enters the room gracefully. “I just want to thank you all for being here. I know that putting yourself out there in a new relationship is never easy; let alone in a situation like this one. It’s incredibly important to me that you all are your genuine selves. I wanna get to know the real you. Here’s to the start of something amazing!”

He raises his glass to a chorus of agreeing voices. There’s a half second of adjustment before Tony clasps Steve’s hand and tugs him away from the group.

“I’m gonna steal you first.”

Despite his depiction as an arrogant ass in his interview, Tony actually has a pleasant conversation with Steve. The audience is left wondering if Tony is the likeable wild card or this seasons possible obnoxious villain. Before Tony saunters off, he presses a deep kiss onto Steve’s lips.

“Had to get you first, handsome.” He winks and heads to the bar to refresh his drink.

Steve stares into the camera and states, “I guess we’re starting things off with a bang?”

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Clint, being the critical observer, saunters over to the bar to find that Coulson is already posted up on one of the bar stools. It’s by sheer force of will that Coulson is upright as the lack of armrests and amount of alcohol he’s clearly consumed are working against him. Clint quickly surveys the situation and makes eye contact with the camera.

“How ya doin’ there Phil? Save some for us, huh?” Beneath the joke there is a hint of concern in his voice. It would appear the concern is warranted as Phil tips dangerously towards the edge of his seat before righting himself. The first stumble is corrected but the second lands him on the floor. “Whoa big guy. Can I get some help here? Producers? I think first night nerves may have lead Phil to throw back one too many.”

“No pro-hicc-ducers. I’m fine. I’m fiiiine,” Phil slurs. Despite Clint’s efforts to keep him upright he’s laying on the floor, cheek pressed firmly to the cold tile. “I just love Steve-hicc-so much. Ya know?”

“Sure you do buddy...sure you do?”

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Steve speaks to Wanda, Bruce, and Thor in a series of rapid fire exchanges over the next couple of hours. After a warm conversation, Carol leaves Steve lounging on the plush chaise; promising that one day they’ll go stargazing together.

“No one told me these cocktail parties were so exhausting.” The camera crew chuckle. It’s endearing how much Steve utilizes them to break the tension. His unfiltered emotions only make him that much more of an approachable sweetheart. The makeup staff powder his face as Nick Fury approaches.

“We have about a half hour before the rose ceremony. Just a heads up. Any conversations you wanna have, have them now.”

Steve meanders through the expansive grounds. He’s clearly looking for something. He brushes off Thor asking for a second conversation with a polite excuse before take another turn in the winding paths.  He turns his head over his shoulder to ask the camera men which way back inside when he collides with something. Someone.

“It’s probably ill advised to get the attention of the man of your affections by knocking him on his ass, huh?” Bucky jokes. “I actually was coming to grab you for a conversation. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you all night.”

The two men are sat side by side, dress pants rolled up to their knees, while their legs swing gentle waves into the surface of the pool. Dusk has gone and night has come. They’ve been talking for some time now. They’ve both discarded their suit jackets but it’s done nothing to prevent the evening humidity from clinging their shirts to their muscles.

“I have to ask. I feel like I know you from somewhere.”

“Is that you cheesily telling me you feel like you’ve known me for one hundred years?” Steve asks in a singsong mocking tone.

“No! Punk! I’m serious though.” Bucky thinks for a moment before exclaiming, “Do you go to that bodega on the corner of Clark and Henry with Mr. O’Sullivan and his cat Maevie?”

“See I was having a great time chatting with you but now I have to send you home cause clearly you’re a stalker.”

“I knew it! You look...different?”

Steve chuckles gently. “I bulked up a bit for the show. Had to fit the ‘look’ ya know?”

“I feel like such an idiot for not talking to you sooner but I hadn’t seen you there in a long time. I usually go super late though.” Bucky looks down at his hands; there’s more to the statement than he’s letting on.

“Chatting with Mr. O’Sullivan is always a good way to pass the time when insomnia strikes.” Bucky looks up at Steve in shock. He’s ready to explain himself but Steve jumps up abruptly out of the pool. “I’ll be right back. Don’t leave.”

In Steve’s haste to stand, he’s soaked most of his dress pants all the way through. He follows the twists and turns of the gardens and seating areas. Natasha sees him approaching the bench she’s sat at with Wanda. She raises her hand to grab his attention but before she can even get his name out of her mouth his jogged past.

“He’s disappeared for nearly an hour, no one could find him, and then he’s just not gonna talk to the rest of us?” Disappointment clouds her features as she sits back down next to Wanda with a plop.

“I’m so excited to talk to him. He’s just got great energy-” Sam’s discussion with Bruce is cut off by Steve skidding into the living room; wet bare feet nearly have him knocked on his ass for the second time tonight. “There’s the man of the hour himself. Can I steal you?”

Sam stands confidently looking rather hopeful; bird costume now discarded. Steve does a double take eyeing him top to bottom. He rests both his hands on the top of Sam’s shoulders before speaking.

“I would love to have a conversation with you. There’s just one thing I have to do first.” With that Steve takes off once more. He sprints to the small side table in the entryway. On the table sits a delicate gold tray holding a single rose. He quickly snatches it before dashing back out to the pool.

“Hey now. You may be more beefed up but I’m certain your probably still capable of cracking your head open. Careful now.” Bucky tuts laughing at the breakneck pace. His laughter is quickly stifled when he sees what’s in Steve's open palm.

“James-”

“It’s Bucky. Everyone close to me calls me Bucky.”

“Bucky… coming into tonight I was terrified. I know that sounds like the typical monologue speech I have to give but I was near ready to toss my cookies out front when the limo first opened. I had no idea what to expect and had convinced myself I’d made a huge mistake putting myself out here.”

Bucky takes a single foot out of the water and tucks it beneath his body to better face Steve. The hand that isn’t holding the rose is fidgeting with a fold of fabric from his pants. Bucky reaches out and plants his palm on top of the blondes ceasing the movement. His thumb strokes small circles onto the back of Steve’s hand; it seems to allow Steve to continue with what he has to say.

“My anxiety was at an all time high and then out you came. Speaking to you tonight has been the first time since agreeing to be the bachelor that I feel like I’m doing something right. I want to thank you for putting me at ease and being your true self.”

“You’re welcome, punk.” The joking nickname sounds more affectionate than insult.

“Bucky, will you accept this rose?”

“I’d be honored.”

Steve untwines his hand to pin the crimson rose to Bucky’s lapel. His hands hesitate once the rose is in place as if debating their next action. There’s a half second pause before Steve gently tugs on Bucky’s tie drawing the brunette into a kiss.

Bucky can’t contain the wide smile despite Steve’s lips still being against his. He breaks the kiss and places a final peck on Steve’s forehead.

“I know this isn’t going to be easy for you. But anytime during this experience you never need to doubt who I am with you. I’m here to get to know you, support you, and hopefully fall in love with you. I’m with you ‘til the end of the line.”