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joanshan · 1 year ago

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The Ultimate Guide to Winter Teas: Cozy Up with a Cup of Warmth

Winter is a season that invites us to seek warmth and comfort in every possible way. As the chilly winds blow and snow blankets the landscapes, there's no better time to indulge in the delightful world of winter teas. We might be coming out of winter here in New Zealand, but there are still plenty of cold days ahead, especially if you are in the South Island. And if you are in the northern hemisphere, your winter is getting set to begin. Our favourite quality brands (T Leaf T, Harney & Sons, and Tea Total) offer a delightful range of winter teas that are sure to warm your soul during those frosty months.

Whether you're a fan of winter afternoon tea, are on the hunt for the best tea for winter, or simply looking for a great flavour for a chilly blast, we've got you covered. So, grab your favourite mug, snuggle up in a warm blanket, and let's embark on a journey through our picks for the best teas for winter.

Winter Teas: T Leaf T, A Kiwi Favourite

One of the leading brands in New Zealand's tea industry is T Leaf T. This homegrown brand is known for its commitment to sustainability and its dedication to delivering exceptional tea blends. Their winter tea collection is no exception, offering a delightful range of options to cater to different palates. From spicy chai blends to soothing herbal infusions, T Leaf T has something for everyone seeking solace in a cup of tea during the colder months.

T Leaf T New Zealand - Six Sampler

The T Leaf T New Zealand - Six Sampler contains six mini tins of mixed loose leaf teas and infusions inspired by this wonderful country that we live in. As they are inspired by a colder climate, it is the perfect choice for a variety of wholesome winter tea flavours.

T Leaf T Orange Oolong

T Leaf T's Orange Oolong is a well oxidised Formosa Oolong hailing from the Nantou District in Taiwan. Despite originating in a warmer climate, the savoury notes in this tea perfectly match the 'marmalade on toast' taste of the orange, making it a gorgeous wintery breakfast tea.

T Leaf T Turmeric Chai Organic

No winter tea list would be complete without a chai tea. And we think T Leaf T's Turmeric Chai Organic Tea is a perfect herbal chai with a subtle sweet heat to keep you warm when it is cold outside. It is a herbal chai tea infused with New Zealand's Native Horopito leaf, the power of turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon and liquorice.

Winter Teas: Harney & Sons, An International Icon

Harney & Sons, an international tea company, has made its mark in New Zealand with its premium tea selections. Among their coveted winter teas is the Winter White Earl Grey, a blend that combines the elegance of traditional Earl Grey with a winter twist. This delightful concoction pairs beautifully with a slice of cake during a winter afternoon tea.

Harney & Sons Earl Grey Supreme Tea

This tea uses a higher grade of teas with the addition of Silver Tips so if you are looking for a bit of luxury during a wintery blast, this fine tea is definitely the blend for you!

Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea

It’s sweet! It’s spicy! It's Harney & Sons' most popular flavoured tea worldwide. Hot Cinnamon Spice is an assertive blend of black teas, three types of cinnamon, orange peel, and sweet cloves and best of all, no added sugar.

Harney & Sons Vanilla Comoro Tea

Harney & Sons Vanilla Comoro radiates a soft sweet aroma and has a rich malty, yet light bodied character. Vanilla notes swirl in each sip of this tasty decaffeinated black tea enhanced by creamy vanilla from the Comoros Islands. A calorie free sweet treat to enjoy by a nice warm fire!

Winter Teas: Tea Total, A Kiwi Gem

Tea Total, a family-owned business based in Auckland, has some truly delicious blends for discerning tea enthusiasts in New Zealand. Their winter tea offerings feature an array of options, including warming herbal teas and robust black teas. Not to be missed is their Winter Milk Tea, a rich and creamy blend that's perfect for those seeking comfort in a cup.

Tea Total Chai Spiced Bengal

Hold on to your taste buds, Tea Total's Chai Spiced Bengal tea really packs a punch. Made to be brewed as a traditional chai - boiled with milk and water the traditional way, leaving you warm on the inside. The perfect brew for a cold winters day!

Tea Total Fireside Heat

Dreaming of a fruity mulled wine? Tea Total Fireside Heat is a stunning blend of cinnamon, spices and orange zest bringing together all the flavours of mulled wine. This is a versatile tea - excellent hot, iced, or push the limits and infuse with red wine! I can’t think of a better winter tea.

Tea Total Rooibos Madagascar Vanilla Tea

Tea Total's Rooibos Madagascar Vanilla Tea features cuts of bourbon vanilla (the purest Madagascan vanilla pods) blended with South African red bush tea. A perfect brew to drink with or without milk. A delightful wintery afternoon tea.

Winter Afternoon Tea: A Warm Tradition

In many cultures, the tradition of afternoon tea holds a special place, and winter is no exception. As the days grow shorter and the air turns chilly, there's nothing like the warmth of a teapot and the company of loved ones. When hosting a winter afternoon tea, consider serving a selection of winter teas that cater to various tastes.

The Best Winter Teas for Your Cosy Moments

Winter Tea Flavours to Satisfy Your Cravings

Winter teas come in a wide range of flavours, each designed to evoke the comforts of the season. We’ve listed our picks for the top winter teas - what is going to be your next winter tea favourite?

Conclusion

As a wintery chill sets in, there's no better way to embrace the season than with a cup of your favourite winter tea in hand. Whether you prefer the robustness of black tea, the comfort of herbal infusions, or the sophistication of Earl Grey, the world of winter teas has something for everyone. Brands like T Leaf T, Harney & Sons, and Tea Total offer a wide array of choices to cater to your unique winter tea cravings.

So, why not make the most of winter and enjoy the warmth and flavour of winter teas? Whether you're enjoying a quiet evening by the fireplace or hosting a winter afternoon tea party, these teas will be your faithful companions throughout the chilly season. Explore the top winter teas available, experiment with recipes, and savour the delightful flavours that winter brings. It's time to sip, relax, and welcome the winter wonderland with open arms.

Disclaimer: The information provided by The Flowering Herb is intended as general information for entertainment purposes only. We are not healthcare providers and we do not hold any healthcare qualification.

The content contained on this site is in no way intended as medical advice or as a substitute for medical treatment and we are not making any recommendations for your personal situation. We therefore strongly recommend and encourage you to consult with your primary health practitioner prior to making any changes to your diet/consumption habits or purchasing any of our products with the intent of manage any health condition.

Source: Winter Teas

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apkfanda · 1 year ago

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Bloons TD 6

Craft your perfect defense from a combination of powerful Monkey Towers and awesome Heroes, then pop every last invading Bloon! Over a decade of tower defense pedigree and regular massive updates makes Bloons TD 6 a favorite game for millions of players. Enjoy endless hours of strategy gaming with Bloons TD 6! HUGE CONTENT! * Regular updates! We release several updates every year with new characters, features, and gameplay. * Boss Events! Fearsome Boss Bloons will challenge even the strongest defenses. * Odysseys! Battle through a series of maps connected by their theme, rules, and rewards. * Contested Territory! Join forces with other players and battle for territory against five other teams. Capture tiles on a shared map and compete on the leaderboards. * Quests! Delve into what makes the Monkeys tick with Quests, crafted to tell tales and share knowledge. * Trophy Store! Earn Trophies to unlock dozens of cosmetic items that let you customize your Monkeys, Bloons, animations, music, and more. * Content Browser! Create your own Challenges and Odysseys, then share them with other players and check out the most liked and played community content. EPIC MONKEY TOWERS & HEROES! * 23 powerful Monkey Towers, each with 3 upgrade paths and unique activated abilities. * Paragons! Explore the incredible power of the newest Paragon upgrades. * 14 diverse Heroes, with 20 signature upgrades and 2 special abilities. Plus, unlockable skins and voiceovers! ENDLESS AWESOMENESS! * 4-Player Co-Op! Play every map and mode with up to 3 other players in public or private games. * Play anywhere - single player offline works even when your WiFi doesn’t! * 69 handcrafted maps, with more added every update. * Monkey Knowledge! Over 100 meta-upgrades to add power where you need it. * Powers and Insta Monkeys! Earned through gameplay, events, and achievements. Instantly add power for tricky maps and modes. We pack as much content and polish into each update as possible, and we’ll continue to add new features, content, and challenges in regular updates. We truly respect your time and support, and we hope Bloons TD 6 will be the best strategy game you’ve ever played. If it’s not, please contact us at https://support.ninjakiwi.com and tell us what we can do better! Now those Bloons aren't going to pop themselves... sharpen your darts and go play Bloons TD 6! ********** Ninja Kiwi Notes: Please review our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You will be prompted in-game to accept these terms in order to cloud save and protect your game progress: https://ninjakiwi.com/terms https://ninjakiwi.com/privacy_policy Bloons TD 6 contains in-game items that can be purchased with real money. You can disable in-app purchases in your device's settings, or reach us at https://support.ninjakiwi.com for help. Your purchases fund our development updates and new games, and we sincerely appreciate every vote of confidence you give us with your purchases. Ninja Kiwi Community: We love hearing from our players, so please get in touch with any feedback, positive or negative, at https://support.ninjakiwi.com. Streamers and Video Creators: Ninja Kiwi is actively promoting channel creators on YouTube and Twitch! If you are not already working with us, keep making videos and tell us about your channel at [email protected]. Read the full article

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nelll101 · 2 years ago

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Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

I saw an article titled that Crunchyroll named this the best anime of 2022 so I would obviously have high expectations for this (plus the good ratings from google reviews) and thought it would be amazing, but as much as I want to deny this, it fell short. This show really could've been a masterpiece but the story was honestly really rushed and David and Lucy's relationship was also rushed and not developed well. Like I really want to force myself to love this show, but I just can't. It wasn't completely bad, but it's not perfect.

We see David and Cyberpsychos depict what addiction is in the real world and the effects it causes. We also see the theme of greed in the show. Kiwi's character stood out to me because she told Lucy not to trust anyone in this world because people will turn on you, and she ends up doing that exact same thing. Pretty interesting action her character did that makes you think about how society functions in the real world. Humans are self-centered creatures in the end.

Lucy shows what escapism is. She sees the world for what it truly is and her choice of not going back to be with David's gang solidifies that. She escapes this world through her fascination of the moon and David not being able to go with her further proves how she stated that they are from two different worlds, they are completely different. David also lives through others and lives through what other people want for him and Lucy's will to live is the complete opposite; to make her own choices. David dying in the end shows the extreme of not just addiction but losing one's self and instead living through others causing something like this.

The show also depicts social classes. David grew up poor yet his mother wanted a good life for him and worked as hard as she could to almost "fake" a higher class life that they couldn't afford. The higher class people such as that one boy, bullied David because of it. David shows rejection of that societal construct by fighting the boy in the school and getting expelled. He knows what the consequences are and chose to do it anyways and later is seen not regretting his actions.

Overall the show wasn't horrible and I did enjoy it. It kept my attention for all 10 episodes and is interesting enough for it to be a recommendation but the actual story and narrative fell short.

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rhysdarbyarchive · 2 years ago

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Interview with Rhys from the 20 October 2010 issue of Inpress Magazine

Rhys Darby is heading back to Australia with his new stand-up show, It's Rhys Darby Night. The Kiwi comedian speaks to Aleksia Barron about his rapid rise to the upper eschelons of the comedy world.

When Rhys Darby answers the phone from his headquarters in New Zealand, the temptation to demand a Flight of the Conchords band-meeting style roll call is almost overwhelming -- but most certainly unoriginal.

When asked whether journalists are still demanding that Darby declare himself 'present', he laughs. "It's almost gone, the roll-call hounding," he says. "It was very big last year. But you do get the odd mention."

New Zealand's number one ginger ninja, Darby, is a comedic star on the rise. After years of traipsing around the UK peddling his wares as a stand-up comic, he became involved with a radio project alongside a pair of Kiwi funnymen, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. That project was Flight of the Conchords, which gave rise to the television series of the same name catapulting the trio of New Zealanders to overnight fame. And while McKenzie and Clement were front and centre in the spotlight, Darby's performance as hapless band manager Murray saw him getting noticed by the industry elite.

The turning point where Darby realised that he had truly reached a new level of success was his appearance in the Jim Carrey vehicle Yes Man. It was a sign that a career in comedy acting was a real possibility for him.

"I certainly hoped that that's where I could go, but I had no idea that it would happen that fast and that quickly," he explains. "Getting Yes Man, that was just freaky. I'd sort of idolised Jim Carrey for a long time, and I hoped to one day maybe meet him -- but to act in a film with him, my first feature film, well, I can't really describe how that felt. I thought, 'This should take a bit longer'."

The cherry on the sundae, so to speak, was Carrey's unrestrained public praise of Darby while on the film's promotional circuit, when the established actor likened his co-star to Peter Sellers. "That meant a lot to me, coming from a man that I'd looked up to so much."

There's been no shortage of feature film opportunities for Darby since, including a cameo on oddball hit The Boat That Rocked and parts in upcoming rom-coms Coming & Going and Love Birds.

"I kind of just had to hold onto the reins," he says, laughing. However, never one to rest on his laurels, Darby was keen to show his chops on the stand-up circuit. He embarked on a worldwide tour, coinciding with the release of his stand-up comedy DVD, Imagine That!. The DVD release, Darby explains, introduced audiences to his stand-up style, which helped him be seen as himself, not just Murray. "It was really perfect timing, because [the DVD] became quite popular, and then people knew that I did actually do stand-up. People were already aware of it when I went on tour."

Now he's returning to stages around the world with a new show, It's Rhys Darby Night, in which he's broadened his on-stage range of comedic tricks. While Darby's stand-up is known for his sound effects and impressions, this time around, he's raising the bar.

"I do three characters in the show, which to me are probably the funniest part in it," he says, adding that these characters will involve, "actually going back and putting a different outfit on. I decided I could do this because I've done a bit of acting and people seem to laugh at my characterisations on film, so I've added that."

Conchords fans will doubtless be pleased to know that It's Rhys Darby Night will feature Darby's musical abilities as well (who could forget Leggy Blonde or the operatic Rejected?). "I've got a theme song!" he says enthusiastically. "I think everyone should have one, which you can slip out at parties. I open the show with a theme song about me, based on me, sung by me." He chuckles, "I don't know how good it is, but people seem to laugh."

The reason behind the new material, Darby explains, is his increased confidence in his comedic acting abilities. "For me, stand-up has always evolved, and as I've grown in popularity I've thought, 'Okay, people do like what I've got, so I'll challenge myself'. I just love doing comedy acting now."

However, when it comes to looking at the longer term, Darby remains drawn to the small screen. Television, not film or stage, is the medium in which he would like to do the majority of his work. "It's not as fleeting as the other two," he explains. "On film, you're only working with people for three months. And with stand-up, you're very much on your town. Television -- with the limited work I've done on Conchords -- you've got a family. That appeals to me the most, really."

It seems a loaded statement, given the persistent rumours that Darby will take Steve Carrell's place on the US version of The Office. However, when asked where he'd like to be in a year's time, he speaks enthusiastically about his own project, based on one of his new stand-up characters, park ranger Bill Napier.

"We've just shot the pilot," he says proudly. "It's set in New Zealand, about a ranger who goes around the world on adventures, so it's a bit of an Indiana Jones kind of thing, but it's a sitcom. It's the world's first action-adventure sitcom." It sounds just about crazy enough to work, and Darby, who would prefer to remain based in New Zealand with his young family, is crossing his fingers.

"My dream is for that to come about, to be able to film it here, and to sell it to the Americans -- then the whole world can see it."

For now, however, Darby is just excited to be getting back on stage and showing his expanded range as a stand-up comic. "It's about having fun and doing it all." Still, for fans of his earlier work, he's keen to make sure they walk away happy. "I'll usually do a couple of encores -- stuff they've seen in an earlier show or on my DVD, which I know they love." Whatever Darby does, it's clear he'll always aim for the best. "I'm trying to give them everything I've got."

#rhys darby #interview #magazine #2010s #2010 #aus #i have so many thoughts about so many of the things mentioned in this article holy shit #this is from a free magazine from melbourne street press what a fucking awesome interview #bnl

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hxlyhead-harpies · 4 years ago

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I Talk to the Sky (C.D.)

Pairing: Cedric Diggory x Reader

Summary: Everything reminds you of Cedric

Warnings: Angst, major character death, grief

Word Count: 1k

Based On: I Talk to the Sky by Maddy Estelle

At two in the morning, you are were incredibly grateful to Flitwick for teaching you a silencing charm. If it wasn’t for the quick Silencio and the flick of your wand, your roommates would have overheard your sobs and witnessed the mess that you truly were. You preferred it this way, you never wanted anyone to be burdened with the task of trying to save you from your own sorrow. You’d rather have a good cry in the middle of the night, before waking up the next morning and pretending that everything was fine and that you could cope.

You wiped away your tears and thought of the last time you had seen his brilliant gray eyes. It was shortly before the third task; he had pulled you in for a desperate and hopeful kiss, claiming that it was for luck. You had just smiled and ruffled his hair, swimming in the depth of his gaze. He had muttered a quick “I love you” in your ear before he made his way towards the other champions. It hadn’t been too long since you last saw his eyes, but no one had told you that it would be the last time.

If you had known that you’d never see him again you would have done so much more. You would have tried harder to memorize the shape of his jaw and the curve of his lips. You would have attempted to decide if his eyes were more blue than gray and you would have told him that you loved him too. But it was too late.

When Harry had brought his body back, the eyes you had loved so dearly were open but unseeing, staring blankly into the deep expanse of the sky.

Everyone believed that you were fine, not quite knowing of the storm that raged in your head. Your anguish was concealed by empty smiles and hollow laughter. People were uncomfortable with open displays of grief. Once you had arrived back at school for your seventh year you quickly discovered that your pain had reached its expiration date and you were expected to go on as if nothing had happened. Your crying was no longer met with the pity and understanding that it once was, it was only met with poorly hidden annoyance. So you attempted to hide your feelings, saving them for the safety of the night or moments when you could finally be alone.

Being back at school was hard. Everything in the castle reminded you of him. On your way to transfiguration, you passed the corridor where the two of you shared your first kiss and when you sat in the Great Hall you were forced to see the spot where he had first told you that he loved you. Every time something happened you felt yourself turning over your shoulder to give him a look only he would understand only to remember that he wasn’t there. In those moments, the pain would come rushing back again, as if the wound was still fresh.

In a small journal you’d write down conversations you’d never have. They were simple, telling him about your day or bragging about a grade. But you missed those little, inconsequential conversations. Before long the journal was stuffed and you wrote the words that you wished you could say on any spare parchment that you could find. The words your quill became most familiar with were I love you.

Some nights, when you were too haunted by your memories, you’d find yourself in the astronomy tower, staring up at the sky. Cedric had always loved astronomy, taking it even in his later years of school. The two of you would spend hours admiring the stars, Cedric pointing out his favorite constellations. There was one night in particular that stuck out in your mind.

The two of you had been wrapped in each other’s arms, the glow of the stars glittering in your eyes. He had revealed that when he died he wanted to become a star. He wanted a place in the spilling sea of incandescence, to reside with the likes of Vega and Pegasi. Of course, back then, the idea of death felt so far away and far removed. Neither of you suspected that the shadow of the reaper loomed so close.

Tonight, you found yourself sitting once again under the night sky. Your journal in your hands as you read aloud, hoping that somewhere, somehow, Cedric would hear you.

“Today during potions, I was finally able to perfect the draught of the living dead,” you said softly, knowing that if he was here Cedric would throw an arm around your shoulder and kiss your temple.

“You teased me so incessantly last year about how badly I managed to mess it up. I think you would be proud,” you said with a sniffle, refusing to let a tear escape.

“I’m sorry to inform you that Hufflepuff is doing dreadfully in quidditch this year,” you revealed with a soft chuckle. “Their new captain doesn’t have the same natural leadership that you do,” you paused and let out a shaky breath, “As you did I suppose.” You still had trouble talking about him in the past tense, a small part of you not quite ready to realize that he was truly gone. You pulled your knees to your chest, setting aside your collection of words.

“I really miss you,” you whispered, “Everyone expects me to have moved on or forgotten but I can’t. I’m not sure that I’ll ever be able to.” You tore your eyes away from the stars, looking down at the floor.

“I had all of these plans, you know? I was going to become a healer and I was going to move to the countryside. But none of that seems right anymore because you won’t be there. You won’t be able to cook me dinner when I get home from late shifts because I am dead on my feet and dreadful in the kitchen. We won’t get the cat we always talked about and you’ll never get to have the boring ministry job you always insisted you wanted,” you said. You looked back up to the sky, hoping for some sign that he was there and that he was listening but the sky didn’t say a word. But it didn’t have to, because you had faith that he heard you anyway.

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

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#cedric diggory #cedric diggory angst #cedric diggory fluff #cedric oneshot #cedric diggory imagine #cedric diggory x reader #harry potter #hp and the goblet of fire

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diamcndgirl · 3 years ago

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have you ever thought to yourself, “hmm, i love one direction and i love waltrp... i wonder what would happen if we gave every taken character a one direction song that reminds me of them??” well, don’t worry because even if it never crossed your mind because it did for me. i’m back once again with another silly little #waltmeme for you with songs by one direction or their solo albums that remind me of your characters. the choices can have something to do with a certain lyric, the title, or just the all around vibe it gives me that makes me think of them. don’t worry everything is under ‘read more’ and in alphabetical order-- or whatever order the taken list is in. p.s. not everyone has a blurb. but i still had a reason for everyone. if you really wanna know why just dm me and i'll give an explanation. love u mean it.

ALEJANDRO DIAZ - STOLE MY HEART / ONE DIRECTION

“you stole my heart with just one look” alejandro, my love, my heart. it’s clear the reason i chose this song is because it talks about having something stolen. but, you and your band of misfit criminal friends can steal my heart any day.

AURORA CAPULET - LITTLE THINGS / ONE DIRECTION

“i can’t let these little things slip out of my mouth” aurora you may be thinking.. this song talks about all my imperfections why would you pick such a thing? oh no! it’s not because i think you’re imperfect at all. it’s because i’m totally in love with all the little things that make you who you are.. and not to mention i couldn’t not give you a ballad.

ANNA ARNADALR - HEY ANGEL / ONE DIRECTION

“hey angel do you ever try to come to the other side?” this whole song has anna vibes. anna, you’re an angel.. did you know that? well, angel… when you aren’t busy trying to fix your sisterly connection come to the other side and hang out with me.

BECKHAM TEAGUE - NICE TO MEET YA / NIALL

“i want your number tattooed on my arm in ink i swear.” the song, the lyrics, the vibe all just fits beckham’s personality very well.

BENNET DOE - SWEET CREATURE / HARRY

“sweet creature running through the garden oh where nothing bothered us.” sweet, soft, and lovely bennet.. sweet creature is one of my favorite songs in the world and it reminds me so much of you. i couldn’t pick a character better than you to give it to.

BARLEY LIGHTFOOT - CANYON MOON / HARRY

“i keep thinking back to a time under the canyon moon.” lyrically this song doesn’t fit you, barley. not truly. but, aesthetically it reminds me of you very much. you’re adventurous and a little out there just like this harry styles tune. the bridge especially gives me a vibe of riding around in guinevere out on an adventure.

CASSANDRA JAGER - ONLY THE BRAVE / LOUIS

“tall stories on the page, short glories on the fade.” cassandra reminds me of strength and being brave (wink wink). and this song just reminds me of you, cass. though short it gives me a feeling like i can kick some ass.

DANI DENNISON - THROUGH THE DARK / ONE DIRECTION

“oh i will carry you over fire and water for your love and i will hold you closer hope your heart is strong enough.” i love dani.. like really really love your sweet soul. she’s the cutest truly. just the sound and lyrics remind me so much of her and her heart to help the ones she cares about.

DAPHNE BLAKE - LITTLE BLACK DRESS / ONE DIRECTION

“i wanna see the way you move for me, baby” clearly this song isn’t anything to write home about lyrically. but, when i hear this song i get all excited and ready to go take on the world. something about it makes me feel like i’m the hottest girl in the room and it should go to the hottest girl in the room.. which is you, daphne.

ELIZABETH MCQUEEN - WOMAN / HARRY

“i hope you can see, the shape that I’m in while he’s touching your skin.” hi elizabeth.. this song is just hot. you’re just hot.. i really am jealous of monty and would take his place at any given moment if you let me.

ELSA ARNADALR - DON’T LET IT BREAK YOUR HEART / LOUIS

“don’t you let it kill you even when it hurts like hell. oh, whatever tears you apart don’t let it break your heart.” elsa, you’re truly the strongest girl i know. this song just radiates that energy of getting over what you’ve been through and not letting it break you down.

EMILY LORELEYN - BLUE / ZAYN

“in the clouds where the angels sing. in your eyes, where i wanna be and her smile is all i see….. i need someone to love me blue.” emily is a goddess okay.. like she’s so beautiful and kindhearted. this song is so beautiful and then also the ‘love me blue’. reminds me of her origin and how she waited for love until she passed and turned blue.

EUGENE FITZHERBERT - ONE WAY OR ANOTHER (TEENAGE KICKS) / ONE DIRECTION

“and when the lights are all out.. i’ll follow your bus downtown.” oh horace.. this whole song just fits you so well.. the teenage kicks mashup with the joan jett classic. it just embodies you so well. i don’t think i could’ve picked a better song for you.

FLORIAN CHARMONT - NIGHT CHANGES / ONE DIRECTION

FRANCIS KYDD - SOMETHING GREAT / ONE DIRECTION

“come on, jump out at me. come on, bring everything. is it too much to ask for something great? the script was written and i could not change a thing. i want to rip it all to shreds and start again.” there isn’t a real lyrical reason i picked this song for you, francis. just something about it made me think of you. just gave me a feeling that it was theatrical enough for you, dear.

FRAN BERNOULLI - NO CONTROL / ONE DIRECTION

“i just can’t get enough of you the pedal’s down, my eyes are closed. no control” did i pick this song because you’re a race car driver and it made me giggle… yes, and because i haven an uncontrollable crush on you, fran.

FRED FREDRICKSON - SAVE YOU TONIGHT / ONE DIRECTION

“i, i wanna save you. wanna save your heart tonight. he’ll only break ya. leave you torn apart inside.” fredzilla, my absolute favorite hero. i dedicate this to you. simple but effective.

FREDDY JONES - END OF THE DAY / ONE DIRECTION

GEORGIE FOXWORTH - SOUR DIESEL / ZAYN

GRACELYNN MOON - HAPPILY / ONE DIRECTION

this is my favorite one direction song, gracie and i’m giving it to you. so take care of it and understand that it’s upbeat sound reminds me of you and your cute behind.

HADES VASILIKAS - STOCKHOLM SYNDROME / ONE DIRECTION

you steal people. but if you stole me.. i’d fall in love. that’s all really.

HAVEN LEMOS - STEAL MY GIRL / ONE DIRECTION

HERCULES ZERVOUS - STRONG / ONE DIRECTION

get it because you’re strong? hehe.

HOWL PENDRAGON - ILLUSION / ONE DIRECTION

IAN LIGHTFOOT - MAGIC / ONE DIRECTION

JACK FROST - LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW / LIAM

i’m sorry but i’m not sorry i chose this song for you, jack. feel free to hate me forever.

JIM HAWKINS - WE MADE IT / LOUIS

KIARA SANTUCCI - NOBODY COMPARES / ONE DIRECTION

LILO PELEKAI - SHE’S NOT AFRAID / ONE DIRECTION

LOGAN TEAGUE - TEENAGE DIRTBAG / ONE DIRECTION

LUCA PAGURO - SUMMER LOVE / ONE DIRECTION

MAEL CALCIFER - FIREPROOF / ONE DIRECTION

“i’m feeling something deep inside. hotter than a jet stream burning up.” i’d only want to be fireproof for you, mael. there is just something about you that wins my heart. i’d walk through fire for you.

MAVIS VADUVA -

MEG DIMITRIOU - SHE / HARRY

MOLLIE SILVER - KISS YOU / ONE DIRECTION

MONTY MCQUEEN - ROCK ME / ONE DIRECTION

“hit the pedal heavy metal, show me you care.” not only do i want you to rock me, monty. the only reason i chose this song is because i have a nascar inspired shirt for this and it reminds me of you.

NALA OMITA - NEW ANGEL / NIALL HORAN

NUKA LEU - PILLOWTALK / ZAYN

ORION BARTHOLOMEW - KIWI / HARRY

orion, are we sure you’ve never had a woman accuse you of being her baby daddy? either way, this songs vibe just makes sense for you, dear.

PENELOPE HAINLINE - GIRL ALMIGHTY / ONE DIRECTION

“she floats through the room on a big balloon. some say she’s such a fake that her love is made up.” penny, you are aware you’re the literal coolest girl in the world this song just proves it more.

PHILIP CHARMONT - WOLVES / ONE DIRECTION

REAGAN CYMBELINE - SUNFLOWER VOL 6 / HARRY

“sunflower my eyes want you more than a melody.” reagan, besides the fact you’re a literal walking and talking sunflower there is just a sweet feeling i get when i hear this song and its the same feeling i get when i think of you.

RITA HOLDEN - ONLY ANGEL / HARRY

SADIE TEAGUE - KILL MY MIND / LOUIS

SIMBA SANTUCCI - TIO / ZAYN

SHAGGY ROGERS - WHAT A FEELING / ONE DIRECTION

SOPHIE HATTER - ADORE YOU / HARRY

THACKERY BINX - SMALL TALK / NIALL

VITANI LEU - MIDNIGHT MEMORIES / ONE DIRECTION

“tell me that i’m wrong but i do what i please.” vitani, if anyone in elias is gonna say fuck you i’m doing what i want.. it’s you.

VELMA DINKLEY - BACK FOR YOU / ONE DIRECTION

VIDIA BELLEFONTE - SHE / ZAYN

WALLY AXIOM - PERFECT / ONE DIRECTION

WILL TURNER - LIKE I WOULD / ZAYN

#waltmeme

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darthkruge · 4 years ago

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Hey girl I'm the clothing anon from earlier and I have got another question for you (anyone can answer yall) but what do yall think Anakin listens to when it comes to music??? Is it rock?? Hip hop?? Jazz rap?? Psychedelic rock??? Trip hop??? 90s drum & bass?? Punk?? Metal?? Like what would his Spotify play list consist of?? What does he listen to on the spaceships when he's going on the missions?? DOES CORUSCANT HAVE POP SINGERS??? RAPPERS?? DOES HE LIKE DRAKE??? WOULD HE LISTEN TO ARIANA GRANDE??? WOULD HE BE A BEYONCÉ OR A RIRI STAN??? This is so important like I need to know (yall can give your opinion but I feel like he's a Riri type of boy). DOES ANAKIN EVEN LIKE MUSIC???? Like all of this is running through mind & I thought I should put it out there and maybe you can give your opinion & your thoughts

OMG HI ANON IM SO GLAD YOU’RE BACK IN MY HEAD I REFER TO YOU AS “INTELLECTUAL ANON” BC YOU BE ASKING THE REAL QUESTIONS

OKAY the way I lowkey don’t know but I’m gonna try and get my ideas to function bc I have some ideas

First off I think Anakin is fascinated by music. Especially when he first goes to Coruscant and sees actual singers and like bands he’s probably like “woahhh” and he could listen to it forever. I just see him being very interested in basically everything. Mans is smart af and loves to use his brain, he wants to understand as much as he possibly can.

As for the music taste itself: I think Anakin kinda has like a variety.

I AGREE WITH YOU WITH THE RIRI THING THO THAT MAKES SENSE AND IDK WHY BUT YES

I also see him listening to Harry Styles. Why? Who’s to say. But Kiwi comes on and he goes 🤩🤩

I have been listening to Melodrama by Lorde and Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers on repeat all day and I am desperately trying to not project lmao

I kinda think he likes rock and hip-hop. I think he really likes the beat of it, something to get his heart pumping, y’know? Like if he’s on his speeder he wouldn’t wanna be listening to Lo-Fi.

That being said, Anakin would not feel comfortable listening to music with like misogynistic or homophobic or racist lyrics or any of that shit. I strongly believe that he loves listening to the words. He just like really loves finding those songs that he connects to. I think that having songs with like deep meanings would mean everything to him. He always felt alone, if he had some songs where he could know that at least someone understood what he was going to and could put it into words, it would have truly helped. Now I’m sad-

I also think he loves to make Spotify playlists but he never finishes them. Like mans has 50+ unfinished playlists. Because he’ll want to make one for a specific mood but then he’s like “ooh this one works but not quite let me make a new one” so then he goes to the new one and finds a few songs but then it changes the vibe of it so he scraps it. He wants them to be perfect and fit and sometimes it doesn’t and he’d get really frustrated 💀

Also I think Anakin would love making playlists for you. He’d be like “these songs reminded me of you” 🥺and they might be all over the place. Like some Ari, some Taylor Swift, some old R and B, some random alternative songs, classic rock, some ABBA, but the vibe would be so perfectly you and it would make sense.

And if you ever gave him a song suggestion, mans would take that shit seriously. Again, he wants to know you, to understand you. He wouldn’t just put it on the background one morning as he brushes his teeth, he’d put on headphones and pull up the lyrics and make sure he truly understands the song, to its core, because that would help him get you.

I also think he’d lowkey like musicals and soundtracks too. No this is not just because I’m a theater kid. I think he’d love the stories. They’d remind him of the stories his mother used to tell him. Ever since his childhood, he’s found comfort in stories, characters, definitive endings.

And Anakin’s sad boi hours playlist is probably heartbreaking. Like he pours his heart and soul into those playlists, even though they’re chaotic and kinda unorganized, the songs he does choose for each one work amazingly. Especially if they relate to an emotion he feels a lot.

Y’all I’m a singer and I write music and I love music so this was kinda me projecting a little but I think he’d love it, all genres. He’d be entralled, like “why are these melodies and words making me feel everything.” I love it, I love him slfsdjf

AS ALWAYS IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER IDEAS WHAT KIND OF MUSIC HE’D LISTEN TO PLEASE LET ME KNOW I WANNA DISCUSS

#megan’s inbox :)#anon #anakin headcanons #anakin's music taste #this became random character analysis i'm sorry #my brain goes wOO #anakin thoughts

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carmenxjulia · 4 years ago

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I put together a transcript of the 2 hour Q&A Interview the Carmen Sandiego Discord did with Showrunner Duane Capizzi. All of the questions were submitted by server members. You can read everything below the break!

Duane Capizzi:

Hi there!

Am I in? Is this thing on?

PizzaHorse:

Hi, welcome!

Yep, you're in the right place!

Duane Capizzi:

Sorry I'm late, I was wandering around some empty Discord hallways looking for the right room haha

PizzaHorse:

No worries. Let's get started!

Who is your favorite character?

Duane Capizzi:

Moose Boy!

KIDDING!

Alright, how to NOT get myself in trouble if my answer isn't "Carmen" haha.

But really, they are ALL my babies.

So I know it's going to sound like a cop out to some that I can't pick just one. But hmm, some for instances...

I love that she's so morally evolved at such a young age; her ability to always take the high road and never lower herself; her drive and conviction and dedication. Her ability to kick serious booty and look good while doing it. Her progressive values, her fashion sense. I could go on and on. But then there's Shadowsan and his arc; Chase and his. Julia, who's every bit as strong as Carmen but shows it in different ways. The Cleaners don't get enough love.

I'll close that question with an anecdote about The Cleaners ...

I love that all our characters are embraced and that everyone seems to have favorites. Our sound engineer Marcel is a pretty serious guy: he has a serious job that takes high levels of focus and attention. He's always deeply focused and not prone to small talk. Anyway, we were in the middle of our first or second sound mix, and he suddenly stops in the middle and turns around to face us. I'm thinking, "uh oh, we're giving too many notes." That's when I notice he's freeze framed the Cleaners. He says "I really like these guys." Then he turns around, hits play and gets back to work.

PizzaHorse:

What was the biggest challenge for coming up with new stories and plot for the reboot?

Duane Capizzi:

THE biggest? Sigh. I'm not sure I could come up with just one. Plotting is always challenging and we had the brain trust of the room, our trusty white board, and writer assistant to keep the threads of the ongoing storyline together. I think the single biggest ONGOING challenge was tracking which character knew what at any given time.

The caper part was challenging - coming up with new capers and keeping them interesting and fresh. But, it was the characters and their interactions that kept things fresh and interesting. Another museum heist? That's okay - Chase is on the case and he gets to interact with "X" this time (for instance).

There were also some episodes - Duke of Vermeer and Crackle Goes Kiwi come to mind - where there was SO MUCH SET UP needed to get the payoffs to work. I was really worried about too much talk/too much detail. Very "Swiss watch!" It took a lot of work to make sure it all clicked and was clear - hopefully it seems effortless on screen but I can't say there wasn't some sweat and the occasional tear (mostly from me - I'm a big cry baby

But really, what made it fun was that we had so many buckets to draw from: sometimes a story germ initially began with a character idea; sometimes it was inspired by global location; sometimes it was a clever way to update or reimagine an idea from old Carmen lore. Usually, it was some combination of all of the above!

PizzaHorse:

What was your favorite scene to write?

Duane Capizzi:

I think we have a theme here! "How can I pick just one ...?"

As a film buff, I got to indulge in some serious fan nerdery on this show: I got to write spy movies, yakuza movies, spaghetti neo-westerns (though turning it on its head: spaghetti westerns usually involve REVENGE and because of Carmen's character make up, this was sort of anti-revenge).

Is writing coming up with the idea or typing it? Haha. An "if a tree falls in the forest" question. The writing team and I had so many cathartic "that's how it goes" in the room. But on my own, writing the Pilot, was a very inspiring time for me: I remember laughing out loud the moment I thought of Chase falling on his own car (in part because of doing my spin on "that trope" that we've seen in so many hard boiled movies recently). But also how emotional I got when I imagined the simple but potent image of Black Sheep deciding to take her destiny into her own hands and walk that long corridor to the Faculty who we were about to meet for the first time.

I think I've cited this in another interview, but there was a period where I was completely immersed in Chase's arc and the scene where he would crack the location of VILE island ... by listening to Julia in a dream ... was a big one for me. It revealed he was finally open to admitting he needed Julia more than he would ever admit - yet, it was his own subconscious speaking.

The next morning, after cracking that scene, I bumped into Raf Petardi (voice of Chase) ... at the supermarket! It was very strange and hilarious

PizzaHorse:

Did you scrap any lengthy or funny scenes that you would be able to share?

Duane Capizzi:

With few exceptions, most scene cuts are done at the script stage so that the story board team doesn't waste effort over boarding. A variety of trims to any script are common, but they are usually for the better

The easier question to answer might be scenes were part of our "wish list" at writer room stage, but never made it to story or script. I hesitate to go too deep here (in the event that we might ever do more Carmen episodes in this canon - I'm not giving up hope). And there were cases where things we wanted to do earlier in the series wound up getting nixed or not fitting for whatever reason, but we got them in later - USUALLY FOR THE BETTER. So there's sort of a reverse Murphy's Law/rule of good fortune somehow in these things. But some fun things that didn't make it into the show, that leap to mind were: a Bollywood dance sequence (!). A Vegas caper involving Brunt wanting to steal an Elvis jumpsuit against the backdrop of an Elvis impersonator convention. We also thought it would be neat to get Maelstrom imprisoned so that Julia could interrogate him and he would play mind games with her - very Lector/Clarice!

PizzaHorse:

Were there any different treatments of Carmen you pitched before settling on the one we ended up with?

Duane Capizzi:

I was one of several "pitches" that I'm sure HMH heard before running with my version. But I can honestly say I've never pitched anything as fully formed: the take on Carmen felt so right to me, and clearly HMH and by extension Netflix agreed

I'll answer your question with an anecdote: I had the entire Pilot pretty well worked out, and pitched it in the first meeting. But one key thing that changed (much for the better!), simply because it wouldn't have fit without slogging things down ...

In my Pilot pitch, Black Sheep's escape on the boat was off screen: we see Shadowsan corner her, then we cut away. The rest of the Faculty show up to find SS's broken sword on the rocks, and are led to believe BS killed him (!). In the present, Crackle points his weapon at Carmen and prepares to pull the trigger. We know that Chase is on the way and may rescue her. The compartment door opens to reveal - not Chase - but Shadowsan! Big surprise! Then we cut back to BS's escape and find out what really transpired etc etc.

Crazy, right? SS would have been hanging out with the gang in season 1; we might not have gotten to 203 with his back story, since his sword was broken and he couldn't return it. Just one of those magical things where "things work out" the way they are supposed to. THAT SAID, it made for a heckuva pitch

PizzaHorse:

Are there any characters that ended up taking a direction you didn't initially anticipate?

Duane Capizzi:

GRAY.

I didn't know we'd make him amnesiac when I wrote the Pilot, that was something we came up with in our first week Writer Room.

And even then, when it became clear he'd be a key piece of the bigger puzzle, we didn't know how exactly (mostly the Season 4 stuff).

We did get very deep with a version where 404 ended with his protective streak for Carmen kicking into high gear, and they would be fighting off Vile Guards back to back in perfect tandem. Then, having chosen Carmen over VILE, it was Carmen who actually orchestrates Gray going "off grid" so that VILE can never find him again. Funny, I know that is arguably the version of Gray's arc that many fans might have preferred seeing. But in the tradition of spy thrillers and film noir, and for a lone wolf character like Carmen who is focused on her life mission and not romance, we stand behind where we went with him. We felt it was so much more compelling ... and truly more emotional that he totally has a get out of jail free card when he sacrifices everything (including his life, potentially) to save Carmen.

when she needs him most!

I know I made some controversial comments about Gray "not being good enough for Carmen" and I'd like to clarify that I meant, until that final episode. What he did was so selfless and heroic. Is there hope for them in the future? Who knows?! But I do hope we get to explore that one day

I'm sure Gray is living off the grid somewhere now, inspired by Carmen's selfless good and thinking of her from time to time.

PizzaHorse:

You mentioned in the interview with Alicyn that Carmen is a love story, but you were cut off before you could finish discussing. Could you elaborate on your answer now?

Duane Capizzi:

Ugh, yes! Sorry about that. I actually answered that privately for someone so will cut and paste that response here. Let's see if it works.

Something we never said in the show, but something I imparted to the creative team was: Carmen Sandiego is (among other things) a LOVE STORY, where every character in our ensemble is in love with Carmen in one way or another. Even if they don't know it! That love can take different forms: we see how spurned by Carmen Coach Brunt feels and why she retaliates so excessively. Chase eventually comes to realize that he too loves Carmen, even if he wasn't initially aware of it haha. One of the most moving things to me about the series is how all of the different factions come to Carmen's rescue at the end when she's not "in her right mind," without knowing the others are there too. It's a massive group effort to bring back the Carmen they love. But we weren't looking for a fairy tale ending for Carmen with ANYone - Carmen's a classic lone wolf anti-hero, that goes with the territory. At least at this stage in her journey.

PizzaHorse:

Were there other locations that you wanted to feature in the show that didn't make it?

Duane Capizzi:

I think we managed to cover a lot of ground and "cadence" between different countries/cultures/continents was important to us. Many "iconic" locations of course, and it would have been nice to explore some lesser known locations if we had more episodes.

One that we almost did was Niagara Falls, Canada - actually literally going to the Falls and doing a big hydro-electric caper, where Player could actually get into the field with Carmen and the team.

But ultimately, we wound up bringing Player into the fold the way we did and wound up stronger as a result. It made his "first face to face" with Carmen even more impactful, IMO.

PizzaHorse:

Were there any changes in production between the first half and the second half of the series?

Duane Capizzi:

Well, there was that Covid thing

But while it was no doubt a colossal undertaking to get the entire staff transitioned to work from home (animators! and their equipment!), we managed to make up for lost time WITHOUT a dip in animation quality. My fedora's off to our amazing team at Wildbrain for pulling it off!

We did lose some staff between orders, but that is a natural part of production unfortunately. Namely, one of our episodic directors Kenny Park, our first storyboard artist Dennis Crawford, and our story editor May Chan were among those who moved on to other shows during the break. But, as hard as their shoes were to fill, fill them we did!

PizzaHorse:

What is your favorite season?

Duane Capizzi:

Easy. Hands down, Season 3.

(crickets)

KIDDING!

Again, another "they're all my babies" answer (and yes, I love Season 3 equally

It's hard, because really when you step back I'm sure you'll agree it's a series, with stand alone capers; but it's really all ONE BIG MOVIE.

Season 3 is like the scherzo of a symphony: the shortest movement of four, and the one that tees up the big finale.

That's my hoity toity answer but I'm going to put to rest all of the various theories on what happened with season 3. It was a combination of two things: Netflix's desire to experiment with different ways of "dropping" seasons, and their desire to do a holiday themed drop (in this case Halloween, naturally). It became our challenge to come up with a theme (easy enough: masks), and the bigger challenge to serve their need while not interrupting our ongoing narrative. A challenge to be sure, but a challenge met. I think the biggest bump was perception: it was a short season and I know that was disappointing to many. But, by design.

So, Season 3 = an essential part of the whole. I don't think there's a wasted episode, and it gets everyone into position for the big finish. I can't pick a favorite season - you can't make me

PizzaHorse:

Were there any characters you had wanted to give more time to but couldn't due to time/plot restraints?

Duane Capizzi:

Well, there's the "what was on the white board" answer but hopefully some of those ideas will see the light of day in some way, shape or form some day. I think if we had more episodes, we would have shaken up the internal dynamic of VILE a bit more (as hinted at Brunt's displeasure with Maelstrom for leaving her hanging out to dry at end of 405 - a seed we planted "just in case," as some have noted). And we had more scenes in mind with Chase's partnering with Carmen for the first time that we had to cut to the bone because of what little room we had in that otherwise packed episode (worry not: it's mostly more gags, more embellishment, more twists and turns - but the important stuff is there). Mostly, and I don't think it would have been right for Season 4 but I hope to tell in the future, I think there's an interesting history between Shadowsan and Lady Dokuso - possibly tragic - that I would love to explore one day. (She was a cameo in Duke of Vermeer at the dinner party BTW, I'm not sure if anyone noticed. And we built a bigger role for her out of that)

PizzaHorse:

What are some pre-2000/nostalgic Carmen references you snuck into the show? Do you have a favorite reference that was included?

Duane Capizzi:

Doing that was so much fun! I'd say roughly 60% of the characters were from previous iterations of Carmen, though often in name only. We had fun reimagining most everyone to make them more relevant or updated or giving them a more colorful personality for starters.

"Suhara" was Carmen's Japanese mentor when she worked at the ACME Agency in a flashback episode in the 90's series, for instance. I don't think I need to spell out how we turned that one inside out

And Tigress was also one episode only: she was a "rival thief" to Carmen, but revealed to be an ACME agent in disguise - a persona created solely to bait Carmen. It was really cool of course, but it seemed like untapped potential so we made her an ACTUAL Vile Thief.

My own internal rule was to make sure the references/easter eggs wouldn't confuse anyone - they were there for those who were in the loop and window dressing. The one and only time i broke that rule was Dark Carmen's line from 407: "I do it for the mental gymnastics." It was one of the most absurd lines from the 90's series (IMO) and i was determined to have it come out of Dark Carmen's mouth. I'm sure it left some 7 year olds scratching their heads

aside from that, the key references were the music: I still tingle at how we worked the Rockapella theme into the Interactive Special; and the 90's main title theme (composed by Mozart!), in our Vienna episode ("They're playing my song"). If you wanted Rockapella or Carmen as a bad guy, well ... be careful what you wish for!

PizzaHorse:

Was there any improvised content from recording sessions that made it into any episodes?

Duane Capizzi:

Yes! Not much, because a lot of it would have pushed us into TV-MA haha

Mostly Mary Elizabeth - Coach Brunt has a POTTY MOUTH!

Mikey and Abby usually riffed their banter WAY beyond what was on the written page and had us in stitches. Some bits definitely made it in! But mostly there was too much or it would get off point (hmmm, much like my interview answers maybe? haha)

Sharon Muthu did rise to Pun Goddess status with "Mask and you shall receive." And Raf pitched me "Chasse means hunt in French" after one session and I said: "I'm going to write that in." I don't think he believed me. You can't say I'm not a straight shooter.

PizzaHorse:

If you could get more season, would you do it, and what type of story would you tell?

Duane Capizzi:

Well if that hasn't been clear so far, ABSOLUTELY

There have been discussions of course. It's up to the powers that be at this point. I will say this: the beauty and tradition so far has been that every iteration has been its own thing. I definitely think there are more "different canon" versions of Carmen that can be had and be a part of this wonderful tradition. After all, there were many naysayers for our version when it was first announced.

I will also say that if we don't get to tell any more stories in this canon with these characters, we've left a perfect gem that will stand the test of time. I would rather go out on a high note than overstay our welcome.

All that said, we worked within the allotted episodes given, ended it as we wished, but left the door open for other stories. I'd love to do an expansion and a deepening: pick up where we left off; find out what happened in those two years; and proceed to do the equivalent of Godfather II or Better Call Saul as related to the amazing originals they followed.

Let's hope! Keep putting good vibes out there!

PizzaHorse:

If you could pick a character on Carmen Sandiego who'd you switch places with for a day (you get to control their life and they get to control yours) who would you pick, and why?

Duane Capizzi:

Okay, THIS is difficult. So you're going Freaky Friday on me?

on a Sunday?

Hmmm, I know Ivy would get along with my cat ... but then I'd have to hang out with Zack!

That's the trick: I can't pick my favorites cuz I couldn't hang out with them!

(not that I have favorites - they're all my babies haha)

Okay, I have one: ROUNDABOUT. I could fill Shadowsan's seat - how cool is that? Then, I could enact all my evil fantasies - but still have a get out of jail free card cuz he'd be sitting at my desk!

(cut to Duane being brain wiped - D'oh!)

PizzaHorse:

Who are two characters who don't really interact in the show that you think could be good friends or work really well together?

Duane Capizzi:

Hmmmm. Okay, now I'm going to give you quick and sassy answers. Gray and Julia! They'd be so cute banding together to rescue captive Carmen (for instance). And they could also duke it out and maybe settle things between themselves re: shipping controversies instead of dragging me into it

PizzaHorse:

The FINAL QUESTION. Have you learned anything super impactful while working on the show?

Duane Capizzi:

Aside from Iceland's terrifically low crime rate?

I think I have learned to never underestimate how meaningful characters can be to fans. Social media has obviously brought us a lot closer to our fan base in more immediate ways: it's been really gratifying to hear/see/read feedback and not be writing things in a vacuum. It's been gratifying to see that ideas that were meaningful to myself and the creative team on Carmen that were crafted with care, have also resonated with our fan base. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who has traveled on this journey with us - for embracing Carmen's world view, and her friends and foes alike. Take care everyone! Stay safe! This has been fun, thanks for having me!

PizzaHorse:

HUGE thank you to Duane Capizzi: for being here today.

Thank you everyone for watching and reacting!

Duane Capizzi:

Okay, gotta run - just gotta find the door

Anyway, really: THIS HAS BEEN AMAZING. I speak for everyone involved in the creation and production of Carmen: it has been an amazing and inspiring series and we're elated to see it connect with such a CREATIVE, TALENTED and INTELLIGENT fan base. Take care everyone! Until next crime...

#Carmen Sandiego #Duane Capizzi #CS Crew #Interview #Transcript

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prncessparkrry · 3 years ago

Text

wattpad fanfic recommendations

(larry, unless otherwise stated)

- artwork by _miiki {9/10}

- aquarelle by _miiki {10/10}

amazing plot. the first book is kinda slow but the second one is the perfect ending. between harry and a girl named sierra.

- escape by ao3larrystyfics {9/10}

I ADORE THIS FIC. it would’ve been a 10/10 but -1 for ziall

- polite by american-larry {8/10}

this book had a sweet, but broken feeling to it

- wheels on the bus by softiesharry {9/10}

this starts off with larry as kids and finishes with them as adults and i find it so adorable, but also heart wrenching

- secret feelings by Larrys_Girl {9/10}

it’s the classic “we’re best friends, we can’t be in love” troupe and it’s PERFECT

- it’s just a photo by rightnow_larry {9/10}

this was really sweet seeing the twins try and get larry together, plus harry interacting with kids is always a great thing. the way their romance built up was sad but also beautiful

- co-captains by directionmclfied {10/10}

a bit like unbelievers, but so amazing in its own way. i loved how their relationship grew. i also loved how they showed their care for each other all throughout the book.

- thin walls by beautifulnightmare2 {10/10}

i don’t know what it was about this book, but it was amazing. it’s on the premise of adult larry being neighbors and getting to know each other by talking through the wall. there’s some really funny bits too.

- playboy by heartagust {8/10}

i really enjoyed reading this but i didn’t love their relationship because it was pretty toxic

- oh i do like guys, just not you by harrystylesisgod24 {10/10}

OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK. IT WAS SO GOOD. PLS READ EVERYTHING BY THIS AUTHOR. IM READING ONE OF THEIR ONGOING BOOKS RN BUT SERIOUSLY THIS ONE IS SO AMAZING YOU HAVE TO READ IT.

- ankles and awkwardness by beautifulnightmare2 {10/10}

this is a pretty popular larry fic but it’s definitely worth it. it’s so good and reading it made me happy and bubbly inside.

- flightless bird by AudreyHornesHeart {9/10}

male ballerinas. doesn’t get any better than that. no but it’s actually really sad at parts, but beautiful :)

- malignant by happydays1D {9/10}

this ones really good. i didn’t love harry at first but he ended up really caring about the girl. i haven’t finished the series yet, but it was a good first book to it all.

- stall/stall 2 by MysteryMixtapes {10/10}

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES. ITS BETWEEN HARRY AND THIS GIRL, ABBY. AND ABBYS REALLY HOT!!! I STARTED CRYING WHEN THE AUTHOR POSTED THE LAST CHAPTER ITS SUCH A GOOD SERIES. EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER IS AMAZING.

- Wish You Were Here 1-3 by RubySlippers_ {10/10}

this 3 book series is so beautiful. it shows the relationship between harry and this girl, olivia (not olivia wilde, she’s a totally made up character for the purpose of the book). i couldn’t tear myself away from this book i absolutely adore it to the ends of the earth.

- locker 17 by StylesRoyalty {9/10}

such an amazing book. i really like the high school setting and the secret relationship etc

- tired tired sea by haroldedwardstyless {9/10}

this is a classic and i loved it. it is pretty long chapters, but a great rainy day read.

- hoping this cold blue water scrubs me clean and spits me out again by peachminh {pain}

THIS. BOOK. BROKE. ME. i love it tho

- unbelievers by namelesshaha {10/10}

so good, glittery, and sweet

- young and beautiful by larryslips {7/10}

this was actually a really good story, it was just kinda hard to read for me. i feel bad rating it so low because it was really good, i just struggled understanding parts

- excessive by fckingpayno {10/10}

- obsessive by fckingpayno {7/10}

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES EVER. ITS SO FUCKING AMAZING. i first read it back in middle school and AHH. it’s so amazing and has so many twists and turns. the character build up between harry and arabella is BEAUTIFUL. the second book is only rated low because it was never finished and left with a lot of questions. it’s still worth it to read, though. i love these books more than life itself. it’s one i read over and over again

- 27 minutes by YorkshirePerrie {8/10}

another classic larry fic. it’s slightly triggering but it’s a good slow read.

- lost memories by fresharold {10/10}

- built memories by fresharold {9/10}

UGH I LOVE THIS SERIES. it’s so beautiful and happy but then heartbreaking and hurts. it also gave me that bubbly feeling inside.

- psychotic by weyhey_harry {10/10}

BEST. BOOK. EVER. I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. SERIOUSLY. ITS SO AMAZING. there was a second book but it never got finished, but that’s fine. there was only a few questions remaining and the second book sends you for a mf loop questioning EVERYTHING. but the first book is amazing enough on its own to makeup for a few questions being unanswered. this is always my first book to recommend to people, the writing is truly amazing. harry falls for a nurse at the mental hospital and she tries and helps proves his innocence and ahhhh i love it so much.

- the admiration project by blixciit {10/10}

this is so cute. it’s pretty short but it’s so sweet. i love how the two fall in love and there’s some really beautiful writing in it.

- the wicked game by Ao3_books_ {10/10}

this book is SO AMAZING. it’s based off the bachelor and just the writing is so good. i stayed up till 6am reading it, i just couldn’t put it down.

- kiwi by Hitterj {10/10}

SO SO GOOD. OMFG. LIKE A MIX OF STALL AND WISH YOU WERE HERE, BUT BETTER? AND HARRY AND EMMA ARE SO GOOD TOGETHER. AND ITS TOP TIER SMUT. AND THE SUSPENSE. AND AGGHHHH

also i’m writing one called Things I Can’t by hazzasmoon4 in case you want to check it out :) I update it every Saturday

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elyvorg · 4 years ago

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Wandersong character rambles 1 of 3: Kiwi

Wandersong is so incredibly good that I need to get all my Thoughts about it off my chest by writing a series of rambles analysing its three most important characters. There will be spoilers, obviously. Plus, this’ll probably be kind of hard to follow anyway for people who haven’t played the game. Go play Wandersong! You won’t regret it.

(For anyone unaware, Kiwi is the bard’s canon name. It doesn’t feel right at all just calling them “the bard” for this; it makes them seem like just a simple caricature and not a complex and fully-rounded person with issues. Since part of their issues are specifically about wanting to be seen as more than just a silly happy bard, I want to do right by them and call them by an actual name. I was tempted to use “Lute”, the name given to them by the Let’s Play that introduced me to this game, which I still kind of think of them as, but I really should use the name that others reading this post are more likely to be familiar with. So, they’re Kiwi.)

2 of 3: Miriam

3 of 3: Audrey

Hero issues

Kiwi spends a lot of the story being bothered by the feeling of not being a hero like they so badly wish they could be. Although they hide it and keep being their usual cheerful self on the surface most of the time, the few times they end up talking about this, they lament how they’re not a hero at all, they’re nobody, nothing they do matters. Which is heartbreaking to see – because, really, it’s so obvious the whole time to everyone except Kiwi themselves that, even without the Earthsong, they’re already every bit the hero they want to be.

They may not be your typical action hero with cool powers like Audrey, and Miriam may also have powers and be better at the logistical side of things in terms of flying them places and knowing where to go next. But those aren’t the only things that matter! Kiwi is a different kind of hero who focuses on people, on understanding and helping and inspiring them. They make at least a small difference to so many people’s lives, just through talking and singing and caring about everyone!

During Act 3, after getting super excited at the idea of going on this heroic quest and being the destined hero who would bring back the mermaids, Kiwi ended up being really disappointed when they realised they weren’t going to bring the mermaids back and be that great hero after all. But ultimately, they did the right thing and respected the mermaids’ wishes rather than shallowly trying to make themselves look cool. They put others’ feelings above their own – which was the far more meaningfully heroic thing to do in that situation. (And I imagine that Audrey would have done the exact opposite.)

And don’t even get me started on the BUGS, which were the absolute perfect way to show just how instinctively Kiwi cares about everyone and everything, no matter how seemingly insignificant. With all the reminders that the Earthsong has never ever worked before, it’d be easy for Kiwi saving the world in the end to feel cheap and unearned. But the narrative does a great job of building up, through so many little things, that if anyone is capable of actually bringing the world together in harmony through music and connecting with everyone like they need to for the song to work, it’s Kiwi. They get it more than anyone else does. (And, well, technically it wasn’t the Earthsong they sung in the end, but the Wandersong succeeded in saving everyone because of the exact same principle.)

Another obviously-heroic thing about Kiwi is how determined they are, even when things seem almost hopeless. The only point at which they ever truly gave up on their quest was very briefly after the Queen of Chaos died, since they believed collecting the Earthsong had just become completely impossible. But as soon as Miriam reminded them that they can talk to ghosts and therefore there’s still at least a tiny chance, Kiwi got right back up and kept trying, and they never stopped again, no matter how small and overwhelmed and unheroic they felt. Which just makes them even more amazing – there’s nothing truly impressive about heroic feats if the “hero” finds them easy.

I grew more and more attached to Kiwi throughout their adventure for all of these reasons and more. They’re just so good! I was so, so invested in seeing them finally realise how much of a hero they were and become as proud of themselves as they deserved to be.

And, well… that part of the story ended up being a lot more understated than I was expecting. It’s only in their final speech trying to get through to Audrey that Kiwi expresses something to this effect: the notion that her being “the Hero” is just a meaningless title, and that if she worked with them to try and actually save the world and do the right thing, that’s what would make her a real hero.

It was probably spending so much time being jealous of Audrey’s powers and chosen-ness, yet frustrated about the way she insistently did the opposite of saving the world despite this, that led Kiwi to realise that the kind of person who shoots lightning first and asks questions later is, in fact, not at all the kind of “Hero” that truly counts as one. That really, it’s way more important to actually try and do the right thing, even if you’re just an ordinary person without goddess-given cool powers.

This is all directed at Audrey, though; Kiwi never applies those ideas to themselves. Still, the fact that they’re able to say that at all proves that they have finally figured out what really, meaningfully makes someone a hero, so presumably they’re not going to be feeling insignificant over not being one any more, even aside from the part where they really did end up saving the world.

But maybe it’s appropriate that Kiwi never quite has that explicit realisation moment of “I guess this means I really am a hero after all”. Because this isn’t about them. Being a real hero means making things about everyone other than yourself. And since Kiwi genuinely is this kind of hero, they wouldn’t make things about themselves like that. So even though this wasn’t quite how I was expecting things to go, maybe it’s how it always should have gone after all.

…Or, perhaps, it’s because Kiwi is too selfless, and they just don’t think their own feelings about wishing they were a hero are important enough to bring up and address at all. Not in this moment, or in any moment in general.

Too selfless

That’s the other aspect of Kiwi’s issues. They share their happiness and good feelings all the time because it helps people, which is a lot of why they’re able to be such a good hero! But they’re so selflessly focused on helping others that it begins to be kind of unhealthy towards themselves. Sharing their bad feelings doesn’t help anyone (or so they assume), so they just… don’t.

Kiwi didn’t truly get over their moping about not being the hero for several acts. Rather, in their own admission, they just stopped thinking about it. They started focusing instead on the things they could be happy about, like having managed to help Miriam and the people of Chismest. But they didn’t ever deal with their own problem; they pushed it aside and ignored it. That’s… not actually a healthy coping mechanism.

Miriam comments in the dancing conversation that Kiwi makes it look like it’s so easy to just be happy, and they unthinkingly respond with, “It is!”. And then it’s only after some more prodding from her that they admit… maybe it isn’t; maybe they actually have to try really hard to ignore the things that make them feel sad. But they’re so used to suppressing their bad feelings, so stuck on the thought that they should just be happy all the time, that they’ve even suppressed the fact that it’s hard for them to do that.

In particular, Kiwi calls their bad feelings “not important�� – even though they readily acknowledge that Miriam’s bad feelings, and everyone else’s, obviously are important and worth talking about, because it’ll help them! But apparently, their own bad feelings are the sole exception to that. Kiwi is the one person who doesn’t need to be helped, according to Kiwi themselves. They exist to help other people feel happy, and their own bad feelings won’t do that, so those feelings don’t matter.

When Kiwi empathised with the bugs being small and insignificant, it read a lot to me like that came so naturally to them because part of them feels the same way sometimes. Not necessarily about their singing and their happiness, since they recognise the value of that. Rather, it’s as if the part of them that feels bad things has been horribly suppressed and smothered and treated as unimportant by the rest of them for their whole life. Which is incredibly sad and not okay!

After sort of confronting some of this during their conversation with Miriam near the end, Kiwi admits, “I’m the crazy one”. And perhaps they’re not precisely wrong to say this – turns out they’re pretty messed up, actually. These kind of issues could simply be put down to “because they really are just that painfully selfless” – and, I mean, Kiwi is – but in their case, there’s actually a little more to it.

Parent issues

The short of it all is that this is Kiwi’s parents’ fault.

Recall the beginning of Act 4. Kiwi has just been laid up in bed for probably a day or two because they were struck by lightning and seriously injured. Even though they’re finally well enough to walk around again, they’re obviously still feeling very down about something. Yet their own mother doesn’t ask how they’re doing, doesn’t wonder what’s wrong, doesn’t offer to listen if they want to talk about it. All she says to them is, “don’t go out looking like that; you’d look cuter if you smiled”.

Which, when you stop and think about it, is really rather messed up. Especially knowing from later parts of the game that Kiwi has issues with expressing their negative emotions and feels like all they should ever be doing is spreading happiness for everyone else’s sake.

(Their mom is perfectly satisfied with their obviously-forced smile, too, apparently not registering that if they can’t even muster a real smile right now then things must be seriously bad. As a neat detail, Kiwi will only put up the forced smile in their mom’s house, dropping it as soon as they’re not looking at her and putting it back up only if they turn to face her. Seems like they fully expect to be nagged by her all over again if they dare to not smile in her presence.)

I found this family interaction vaguely odd and questionable already during my first time seeing Act 4. What really clinched things for me, though, was the casual reveal during the credits that, oh, hey, the Baron from the factory – you know, the guy who was trying to force artificial happiness upon the whole town and only making everyone more miserable in the process – was actually Kiwi’s dad.

So, that Happy Kid toy he was making, which was (in theory) supposed to be a fountain of pure joy that would bring happiness to everyone who owned one? All those sales pitches for it sure hit different when you know that its creator is Kiwi’s father, who was almost certainly basing the toy off of his own literal happy kid. Happy Kid exists to make everyone happy! Everyone loves Happy Kid! Every family wants a Happy Kid! (And nobody cares about how Happy Kid actually feels inside. That’s not important.)

When they were little, Kiwi probably was genuinely quite a cheerful kid in the first place, someone who could make others smile just by being around them. Which apparently inspired their father to disappear and devote his life to spreading an embodiment of that joy to even more people, in theory creating happiness for everyone… except Kiwi themselves.

Little Kiwi was probably pretty sad about it at first. Their dad just up and disappeared one day, after all! But it seems like their mom agreed with her husband’s philosophy of how their kid should just be nothing but a wonderful fountain of happiness for others, so she encouraged Kiwi to suppress that sadness and all but forget they were ever upset about anything. When commenting in the ending that they don’t even remember what their dad looks like, Kiwi doesn’t seem sad about it at all. They don’t even seem to realise that not remembering one’s own father is objectively kind of a sad thing, even though they’re perfectly capable of recognising that Miriam being straight-up abandoned by her parents is sad.

I don’t think it would be wrong to say that Kiwi’s parents genuinely love their child, in some sense of the word. But my god, making things about everyone except Kiwi themselves was precisely the wrong way to express that, and Kiwi grew up pretty messed up as a direct result of this.

At some point seemingly a decent while before the beginning of the game, Kiwi moved out of their mom’s house and got their own place near Langtree. And I don’t think Kiwi quite consciously realises why they wanted to move out. That would require them to be able to acknowledge negative thoughts involving awkwardness and discontent with their family that they’ve been conditioned for a lifetime to suppress. In the credits, when their mom wishes they would come back and live with her (and their dad) again, Kiwi just says “No,” with no elaboration as to why not. They don’t mention that they feel really at home in Langtree, and they certainly don’t express the idea that maybe they kinda don’t like it in Chismest. There’s so much not being said about how weird and awkward and not-okay their whole family situation is, because Kiwi has unconsciously learned to not think about any of it at all.

The climax of Act 4’s mini-story, the scene in the factory where everyone confronts the Baron with the sentiment of, “hey, your forced attempt to make people happy is actually just making us all way more miserable beneath it, please stop”… there’s no way that’s not also a metaphor for exactly the kind of thing Kiwi themselves should be confronting their parents about. The Baron says after accepting his mistake that he’s got a lot he needs to think about – and he sure does. Not just regarding his town, but regarding his kid. The real one. Hopefully he can figure this out himself, and maybe share that revelation with his wife. But still, I worry that this bizarre couple might need someone to tell them this… and Kiwi, on their own, doesn’t seem likely to do that.

Miriam is the best

Good thing Kiwi has Miriam! She is the absolute perfect person to gradually become their best friend over the course of their adventure. And this isn’t just because the two of them can relate to each other over feeling inferior hero-wise, or being outsiders, or having difficulty opening up about certain feelings.

More than any of that, it’s because Miriam just so happens to be someone who is only helped and inspired by Kiwi once she becomes aware that they’re not perfect. In order to help her, like they always want to do, they have to actually talk about their not-so-positive feelings for once.

I cannot overstate how much I absolutely love this. It is exactly what Kiwi needed to stop being quite so painfully selfless and finally begin to become more comfortable with opening up about their own bad feelings.

For the first three acts, Miriam will get mad if you sing within earshot of her. She stops doing this from Act 4 onwards (except for a single screen in Act 5 when she’s upset about her broom having just been blown up). So it’s not that she has a problem with Kiwi’s singing in and of itself. I think what really frustrates her about it is that it’s Kiwi being so loudly and obviously happy around her. It must feel like they’re just rubbing it in how easy it is for them to be perfectly happy all the time. That’s bound to sting when being happy isn’t remotely that easy for Miriam – so naturally, she responds by getting angry, which is her go-to way of covering up her painful feelings.

It’s only in Act 4 once she sees first-hand that Kiwi doesn’t always find it so easy to be happy that Miriam appears to realise that their singing isn’t them trying to be obnoxious about it at all. Now that she knows they’re not perfect, it’s easier for her to understand that they’re genuinely doing it to try and help people rather than just to show off. (Perhaps sometimes Kiwi even needs to sing like that to help themselves feel happy in the first place.)

During their conversation in Act 4 as Kiwi convinces Miriam to help take down the factory, Miriam initially refuses out of bitterness. She feels inferior and useless next to Kiwi, who’s been going around seemingly-effortlessly getting all these Overseer songs and Earthsong pieces and generally just being way better at this than her (and why are they even moping about anything when they’re obviously so good at this?). It’s only once Kiwi admits that they feel similarly inferior after having seen that Audrey’s the real Hero that Miriam reluctantly agrees to help. Maybe Kiwi isn’t quite as frustratingly perfect as she’d thought; maybe the two of them have a little in common after all. From this point on, the pair finally start to feel like genuine comrades who are in this together and can gradually begin to become friends.

In the dancing scene in Mohabumi, Miriam manages to admit that she admires Kiwi for how they never stop trying. But as part of this, she makes a point that this is despite them being in way over their head with all this saving the world stuff, and that’s what’s really inspiring about them. Knowing that Kiwi isn’t perfect and is struggling with stuff makes them more inspiring to Miriam, not less! (…Almost like a hero? Like maybe they’re actually a much better hero than someone like Audrey, who really is apparently perfect? (She’s not, of course, but that’s a matter for another post.))

Then there’s their conversation in Langtree just before the end, in which Kiwi eventually admits (after quite some prodding) that they find it hard to share their feelings just like Miriam does, at least if they’re bad ones. They assume sharing their bad feelings won’t help anyone – and I adore Miriam immediately countering that it would help *her*. It only exacerbates her inferiority complex to be around someone who appears so perfect all the time, making her feel even more useless and broken by comparison. Seeing that actually Kiwi is also just a human being with flaws and struggles – that’s what Miriam needs, to know that she’s not so alone with her problems, and that if her friend can keep trying their hardest to overcome them anyway, maybe she can, too.

Miriam is the best, and this kind of thing is exactly what a too-selfless hero like Kiwi who hides their problems too much for the sake of others deserves to hear. I very much hope that this is the beginning of Kiwi making an effort to express more than just happiness more often, because they need that. Even if they feel at first that they’re doing it more for Miriam’s sake than their own, at least they’re doing it at all.

I strongly headcanon that at some point after the ending, while hanging out together being friends and occasionally talking about heavier stuff such as their family situations, Kiwi and Miriam figure out between them why Kiwi is so bad at talking about their negative feelings – that there’s a tangible reason for them being kind of messed up like this. And then Miriam encourages them to embrace those painful, complicated feelings about their parents and lean in to the frustration, because they have a right to be angry about all this. (She’s bad at expressing her feelings, too, but at least she seems to have experience with the idea that getting angry and frustrated can be a helpful way to vent about things that upset you. Being at least a little more like that might be healthy for Kiwi as they get to grips with expressing things that aren’t happiness.)

So Miriam flies Kiwi over to Chismest so that they can finally confront their parents and be all, “hey, it’s your fault I’m kind of messed up and I’m not happy about it, and I just wanted you to know that”. Then hopefully their parents can reflect on that and maybe try and learn to actually put their kid’s feelings first for once. And Kiwi… still won’t necessarily quite feel better, because things don’t just magically become happy like that, but at least they’ll have let out their feelings about all this at last, and that’s good.

Kiwi’s name?

…Okay, so this last part here is some wilder theorising that I’m much less sure is likely to be what the writer intended. But I still find it interesting to think about.

One bit of dev commentary mentions that no two characters in the game address the bard the same way, which I guess is a fun detail in terms of the wide variety of nicknames that different characters use for them. But what it also incidentally means, and I don’t know if the effect of this is deliberate or not, is that Miriam is the only person who uses Kiwi’s actual name.

This kind of feels appropriate at a glance, what with how Miriam is the only person who really gets to know Kiwi as a person and comes to understand their deeper insecurities, while everyone else just sees the cheerful, carefree bard they appear to be on the surface.

But it’s also a little strange, because you’d think certain people other than Miriam should know Kiwi’s name. The people of Langtree should, surely, if Kiwi’s been living with them for a while and is considered part of the town by now? The villagers all address each other by name, for the most part, so why should Kiwi be an exception? Then there’s Kiwi’s own mother, who, sure, has a pet name for them, but it also reads as slightly odd that she never uses their actual name even once. It just adds a little more to the pile of weird awkwardness that this family already is.

So, here’s the wild theory: Kiwi’s name wasn’t even Kiwi until they were asked by Miriam and Saphy to give their name. They have a birth name that their mother gave them, but due to all the unspoken awkwardness with their family situation, they didn’t really want to bring that name with them to Langtree when they moved out. It’s effectively a deadname (…not that I think they’d quite word it that way to themselves, because that’d require openly acknowledging the bad feelings involved). They just never gave a name to the villagers in Langtree when introducing themselves, and said villagers never asked, either. Both parties were happy to simply use variations on “the bard”.

Then, when Miriam and Saphy actually did outright ask the bard for their name, because they didn’t want to give their deadname, they had to literally make up a new name on the spot.

The way in which the game makes you name the bard is really unique. It doesn’t give you freedom over a full keyboard of letters, so the naming process is a lot more haphazard and improvised than naming a player character usually is. You’re likely to initially land on a name that sounds silly and not right, then have to reject it and try a few more times until you get something you’re happy with, something that seems to fit for the character you’ve spent a whole act with by now.

Assuming you do take multiple tries, Miriam even has a line of dialogue commenting on how strange it is that the bard needed several tries just to say their own name. Then there’s her “Welcome to the ‘team’, ‘Kiwi’,” with quotation marks on not just the “team” (because Miriam is not happy about working with them), but also on the name, as if she’s extremely sceptical over whether that’s even their real name at all. Like it sounds like they just made it up on the spot – and this happens even if you do come up with it in one try.

Again, I’m not sure whether this is writer-intended; it could be just a coincidental side effect of the way the character-naming system is creatively integrated with the note wheel. But take the player out of the equation and view that scene at face value as something that really happened that way in-universe, and suddenly it reads a lot like the bard is coming up with a name for themselves off the top of their head!

The only other in-universe explanation is that Kiwi is just being silly and giving random letter-smushes as their supposed name before telling the truth, as… a joke? But that’s not even a great joke, not to mention just kind of rude to these people who are asking to work together with them. It doesn’t quite seem in character for Kiwi to do that.

…Mind you, they probably wanted Miriam and Saphy to think that the failed names were just some kind of weird joke. Actually admitting to any hint of the awkwardness with their family would never have crossed their mind as an option, because they’re supposed to be perfect and happy all the time, right? So, no, um, it’s actually totally normal to make several fake joking suggestions before telling someone your own name, and also to have a name that maybe possibly just came from you randomly picking your favourite fruit or something. It’s fine, they’re Kiwi now (they guess…?), and they don’t have any problems whatsoever. They want to help these new friends of theirs save the world, and having problems of their own would just get in the way of that.

Miriam probably did write it off as weird joking, but if we read this scene in a completely in-universe way, I think Saphy might have actually figured out what was really going on here. She’s the one who asks to confirm each time if this really is the bard’s name, which gives them the opportunity to back out and pick a different one if they’re not happy with this one. It reads like she knows exactly what they’re doing and is being understanding and patient, while also not prying into why they’re coming up with a new name here when they obviously don’t want to talk about it. Then, once the bard settles on something, she says, “What a wonderful name!”, like she wants to help them feel comfortable in the name they just picked for themselves. Saphy is good.

After the ending, as Kiwi has grown more comfortable with talking about their issues to Miriam, I imagine they’d confess to this at some point – but I’m sure they’d also decide that they’ve come to be quite happy with their new name by now. It’s what their best friend Miriam knows them as, after all, and that’s what’s most important.

#wandersong #the bard #miriam #ramble #character analysis #friends #oh hey looks like someone else has hero issues this time #see how much i love wandersong?#eight pages of rambling about just its main character much - and i'm not even done

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