#much more grounded Dramatic Reality vibes

[g1rlsp1ckins]

🥨🌱&🐚 pleaaseeee!!! & any reality your heart desiresss!!!

𝓢HIFTING 𝓐SK ✶ 𝓖AME

for my haikyuu (college) dr

🥨 - TWISTY PRETZEL – what twists and surprises happen in your dr? are there unexpected friendships, plot twists, or new adventures waiting for you?

1. Reuniting with a Ghost From the Past

Oikawa Toru shows up. At Karasuno University.

He started taking a sports science program that happened to collaborate with my university. I found out by accidentally running into him at a ramen shop near campus. The tension is thick—unfinished conversations, unsent messages, and the silent what if that still lingers between us. He’s grown, still as dramatic as hell, but more grounded. And now, we're suddenly… around each other again. Cue emotional whiplash.

2. The Unexpected Best Friend Energy

I randomly ended up seated next to Yamaguchi Tadashi in a lit elective. At first, we didn’t talk much. But then we get paired for a group project, and I start to see his dry wit, his quiet resilience, and the way he works hard without needing validation. He becomes my safe space. We exchange playlists, study together at weird hours, and become those friends who can just sit in silence and vibe.

3. Manager Role? Not Quite.

Though I start helping the volleyball team with drills and stats, it doesn’t take long for Hinata to beg me to “just serve once so we can see it.” I cave, obviously. And it’s a bomb. The entire gym goes silent. Even Tsukishima looks up from his phone.

This kickstarts a new journey—not as a player (not yet), but as a speciality coach for the team. Daichi convinces me to help train the next gen of players—serve techniques, court awareness, and game psychology. I'm still avoiding playing full-on, but I'm in it, and it feels right.

4. Her First Real Crush Since High School

Oof. Yeah, it happens.

I never planned to fall. But I meet a grad student who’s helping out with the psych department, and damn, he’s smart, funny, and sees through my walls in a way that’s unsettling. Think: late-night library talks, unexpected emotional vulnerability, and a “why do I feel safe with you?” kind of tension. Oikawa notices. And things get messy.

5. Rebuilding Her Relationship With Her Old Team

A random group chat revival leads to a full-on Aoba Johsai mini-reunion. Matsukawa and Hanamaki still act like idiots. Iwaizumi gives me that solid hug I've needed for years. We talk about the past—openly. There’s crying. Closure. And healing.

· · ─ 🏐 ─ · ·

🌱 - HOPEFUL SPROUT – what personal growth do you go through in your dr? is there a skill, mindset, or dream version of yourself that you develop over time?

1. I stopped measuring my worth by what I could do.

Back at Aoba Johsai, I was the volleyball girl. Reliable. Strong. Sharp. I built my whole damn identity around that version of me. When the injury took it away, I didn’t know who I was without it. I smiled through it, but inside? I was spiralling, quietly.

Coming to Karasuno Uni, I didn’t just want a fresh start—I needed to figure out who I was without a jersey on my back. And little by little, I started to realise:

I’m still me—even when I’m not winning, even when I’m broken, even when I’m not needed.

That hit hard. It still does. But I’m softer with myself now. Less pressure. Less performance. More just… being. And that’s enough.

2. I learned to stay.

My first instinct has always been to run. If it got complicated, if I felt too much, I bounced. When I got hurt? I disappeared. Oikawa tried to reach out, and I ghosted him. The team? I shut them out.

But here… at uni… something shifted. I started staying. I stayed through the awkward talks, the emotional messes, and the moments where I wanted to shut down. I let people see the bruised parts of me.

Turns out, connection isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being real. And staying, even when it’s uncomfortable, is one of the bravest things I’ve learnt to do.

3. I found my voice—off the court.

In high school, I had things to say. I just didn’t always feel like I was allowed to say them. At Karasuno, I found spaces that actually listened. Lit classes, psych seminars… suddenly, people cared about what I thought. About how I saw the world.

I started presenting research. Sharing ideas. Writing poetry that got published in a little zine with a staple in the middle. People started telling me I had clarity. That I made them feel understood.

I still love the game. But now? I love my mind, too.

4. I fell back in love with the game—on my own damn terms.

Volleyball used to mean pressure. Winning. Performing. Being good enough. But watching Karasuno's team flail and fly and try with everything they had—it cracked something open in me.

They weren’t perfect. God, they were chaotic. But they loved it. And so did I.

I stopped trying to have some tragic comeback arc. I started mentoring. Coaching. Giving what I had without needing the spotlight. And when I stepped back onto the court?

It wasn’t about proving anything.

It was freedom.

5. I started dreaming bigger.

I used to think the goal was just… survive. Graduate. Stay invisible.

Now? I want more. I’m working toward becoming a sports psychologist. I want to help athletes who feel the way I did—lost, burned out, scared. I want to show them there's more to life than medals and perfect plays.

And I’ve started to believe that maybe… just maybe… I deserve good things. Love. Peace. My own joy. Not earned, not bargained for. Just mine.

· · ─ 🏐 ─ · ·

🐚 -  SAFE SHELL – who or what is always there for you in your dr, wrapping around your life like ivy on a wall? a best friend, a mentor, or a deep connection?

Yamaguchi.

Tadashi was the first person at Karasuno who really saw me, not just the “former athlete” or “American transfer” or “that girl who won’t shut up about perfect serve arcs.” We met in some random psych elective, partnered on a project neither of us cared about. He was quiet, but when he spoke? He cut through.

He never asked for the edited version of me. He just let me be—tired, messy, cynical—and answered with warmth. He started sharing his playlist. I started sharing pieces of my past. We built a rhythm. And over time, he became the place I ran to instead of the one I ran from.

He’s not loud about it. But he’s always there.

Coach Ukai.

He’s the one who handed me a clipboard before I even realised I needed one. He saw me watching practice one day, just lingering in the doorway, and said, “You can stay, y’know. Don’t gotta play to matter.”

That gutted me.

Because back then, I didn’t believe that. But he did. Every time I doubted myself, he’d give me a task—scout this team, tweak that drill, fix their damn footwork. He trusted me when I didn’t. He pushed, but never too hard. Always just enough to make me remember who the hell I was.

He became a mirror and a mentor. A calm, grounding presence.

Iwaizumi.

Hajime was my past—Aoba Johsai days, before everything cracked. Back then, he was steady, the backbone of the boys’ team. He was always the one who made sure I drank water after a match or stretched my shoulder after I took too many dives.

We lost touch after I disappeared. But the second he heard I was back in the game, he showed up. No drama. No guilt trips. Just an Iwaizumi hug—tight, quiet, everything I didn’t know I needed.

He doesn’t talk about emotions much, but he shows up. He texts me after rough matches. Checks in on my knee. Sends me ugly memes when I’m spiralling at 2AM. He knows who I was, and he respects who I’m becoming.

He’s my history and my healing.

· · ─ 🏐 ─ · ·

hey so new dr??? yayyy!!

[noodlesarecheese]

The last couple seasons of Game Changer, the finales have been versions/parodies/twists of reality game shows/competitions. Now, there's no telling whether that trend will continue or not but that's not going to stop me from predicting/pitching potential finales. Sam, if you're reading this and one of these inspires you, feel free to grab it and run.

Naked and Afraid - Now, you may be wondering how they would do this. Yeah, dropout's a streaming service so they could do nudity or censored/implied nudity, and I'm sure there are dropout cast member who would be down but it's not quite the vibe. So what's the twist - Costumed and Afraid. The contestants are given VIP-style makeovers and have to do some sort of challenges, presumably in character. I'm imagining a zombie apocalypse nerf battle or perhaps a team-based laser tag thing. Is this just survivor with costumes? Maybe.

Cluedonnit? - They've already done a murder mystery and it's an excellent episode but let's be real since then Game Changer has gotten so much bigger. They have so many options now! They rented out part of a hotel for Ratfish surely they could rent a hotel ballroom for a murder mystery masquerade! I'm thinking it would work kinda like a game of werewolf or mafia, perhaps with mini games or challenges to earn clues, and in a perfect world Rekha would be in this episode because the fear of being in a more elaborate truman show would create some incredibly funny moments.

Real Cast Members of Dropout - Wait, Real Housewives isn't a game show, what's the meaning of this? Imagine, if you will, some of Dropout's biggest personalities, where the game is to be as big and dramatic as possible (with like, ground rules and safety measures to make sure nobody actually hurts anyone else). They could be characters, they could be themselves, the sky is the limit. A variation of this could be Big Brother themed.

Dropout Drag Race - I think this one speaks for itself tbh. Hosted/judged by some of the queens Dropout has worked with/is currently working with. A variation on this could be America's Next Top Model themed, but that's not as exciting.

[fuumiku]

They’re really interesting foils in many ways. I’ve always thought that Marcille & Mithrun have underrated dynamic potential. Give me the cringefail dungeon lords. Give me the elves with ears-centric metaphorical self-image issues. Give me the academic elites whose deepest strongest desires will always remain unreachable and the only option is to turn to the corrupt forbidden fruit of a demon pact. I am so so normal about Mithrun and Marcille

I wonder if the resemblance between captain Mithrun and general Hagreus aka Marcille’s fave in Dalclan is intentional… They definitely look very alike. It could represent idealization vs reality? Something something the romanticization of elves and their societal drama in their fiction vs a very real and imperfect product of their military system. The canaries certainly aren’t glamorous next to whatever Hagreus is the general of. I feel like she never had the opportunity to notice the resemblance herself bc within seconds of meeting him he was wrestling her on the ground but. If she had… She would so think he should have been his actor in the tallman stage play of Daltian Clan in that new extra comic hehe. I love the little details like Hagreus’ lips being drawn with extra details because they’re full and pretty while Mithrun’s lips are drawn with extra details because they’re chapped lmao.

This art is all silly and surface level but in my head mithrille is like so dramatic and I make up daltian clan level big plots with them gbdgd. I made a spotify playlist for mithrun if y’all interested, rn it’s mostly centered around cravings that consume and losing yourself and illusions inspired from his time as dungeon lord but it’s branching out. Varied vibes, levels of intensity and degrees of confusion and await you ✨ I would emotionally rant about Chainsaw Man ost lyrics and how they tie in with Mithrun and the winged lion’s relationship but this post is already a monster

I want more of these two please please please pleaseee just one or two interactions in the new canon content coming up… All they ever did was debate philosophy on desires and human self-fulfillment and try to murder each other, please… I never get to gush about them and I can’t shut up so if you want more thoughts I talk about them more below

To get a girl to peacefully accept arrest follow these simple steps: in private, ominously stand above her and forcefully interrogate her, while in public, tell her you’ve met before (untrue and also not a pickup line) and interrogate her with a thin veneer of decorum. If all else fails, threaten and follow through on said threat. My guy needs more than just physical therapy I’m afraid

Sorry if most of these were Marcille-centric with Mithrun standing there looking cool, if I were doing these more from Mithrun’s pov things would be like "She’s a bit much but I guess I don’t mind hanging around her." or "Oh you’re a half-elf? -insert elven supremacist rethoric-" or "I have to keep her from becoming demon stew." immediately followed by "Did someone say demon? Kill kill kill kill kill" since these are set prior to like really knowing another. Then things would be more like "huh she has bad tastes in novels but her magic research is pretty interesting" and "I’m lonely and don’t understand myself— Oh she loves talking about feelings? Oh shi-" That last one is an aspect of why I like Marcille and Mithrun’s potential dynamic lol. She’s very… Emotionally intelligent alongside being impulsive. You think you have no feelings because the world has beaten them out of you? Think again!! Marcille be upon ye! -In a therapy sort of way but mostly in a connecting with people and your own self through interpersonal relationships and talking kinda way. I just think a lively, upbeat, annoying friend way too interested in your personal life would do him good, the canaries are nice but like if Marcille went to prison and was a sort of extra new bunkmate I think that’d be interesting and fun to read is what I’m saying

Unlike Kabru she wants all the useless messy filler of his backstory, eating chips while listening. Like two chibi sets side by side, "me and my fellow canaries, name name and name-" "Hold on that’s too much info we have to compact this" vs "Then we were to sleep on the third floor of the dungeon, which had the look of a mausoleum, and name and name got into a fight over the campfire placement." while Marcille is like uh-huh what next what next while kicking her feet. She thinks of pre-dungeon pompous Mithrun and is like omg you went through a character arc and became better as a person- and then he opens his mouth and she’s like nevermind let’s keep working on that. She would also go "ew ur hair is greasy" and give him a full hair care treatment. What I’m saying is I need them to be forced to spend time in a dungeon together and become besties through a life or death roadtrip

Marcille is insecure about her ears, long, like an elf’s pride should be, but rounder, inelegant. Seeing Mithrun though, the epitome of beauty, with his half-cut ears make it a sillier thought. Not sure if Mithrun is the best person to reconnect with ur elven culture with but it sure is an option Marcille would so appreciate being around someone both cool headed and kind, I genuinely think they’d get along, like not that Senshi isn’t that too most of the time but I think Mithrun would be in a way that’s more refreshing to her. I’d be so curious about them discussing Dalclan, I doubt he’d have read it but she could make him read it, maybe post-canon with the excuse that they’re trying to find him a new hobby hah. He’d tear into the writing and everything but it’d be a fun time, I like to think that it’d make him a bit less prejudiced. Marcille @ Mithrun "👉👈 Soo maybe you don’t know these books they’re pretty recent having come out 50 years ago but…"

I’ve been in a Mithrun phase I want to make and read Mithrun-centric fics and angst so baaad. I razz him a lot here but he’s literally a traumatized military man that became obsessed with revenge due to bad coping and neglects himself in the process idk not much for him going on and some of it is because he has to work on himself, but hey no one’s perfect it all comes from a place of love and relating though I prommy. He’s the one ungodly angsty squeaky toy blorbo with brain damage rep I have don’t take him from me

[allfrogsmatter]

2, 15, and 17 if you'd like to!

yayyy!! thank you!! this might be an essay but uh.. i'm having fun writing it so!

2. how would you describe your style?

hmmm this is a tough one.. i think my style heavily depends on the story i’m telling and the characters it revolves around, but right now for sure i’d say moody and a bit dramatic (mostly in terms of color and lighting).

i’ve always leaned towards high contrast and over saturated colors (esp. for this story) and find myself constantly juggling contrast, exposure, and color mixing. i tend to take my screenies quite saturated and dark, then i realize when editing and have to go lighten and desaturate, but then i add in highlights and shadows to really up the dramatic visuals and end up coming away with something quite orange and quite bold (i’m still trying to find that balance somewhere).

but i do love this question because my style now is so completely different than for the hayes legacy! i think that one i tried to make my preset (editing preset since i had no reshade and limited skills) rather light and a bit faded to give both a sort of ethereal quality and the image of age so it would feel a bit more like stepping into the past without removing color entirely (because i do love to play with color). i think especially in the 1940s i was starting to try and incorporate more of those technicolor vibes using bright reds and teals and yellows that very much say midcentury to me, whereas in wasteland babes i’m much more drawn to darker, harsher colors to really ground scenes in reality.

15. who is your current favorite sim that is not by you?

can i do one for every simblr i follow? LMAO everyone on here is so talented and make their characters so endearing ❤️ i also draw a lot out of other peoples' characters to inspire my own (plagiarism???) so i really tend to love characters that are super complex and layered (and SO MANY of you guys' are!)

but anyway i will always have a soft spot for eli from @alxandergoth’s occult legacy (charlie too ofc). but eli really sparked my excitement in reimagining wasteland babes in a modern setting because underneath the surface he is actually very similar to reed. reed is definitely a lot messier and has a very different temperament, but when it comes down to core issues, they protect themselves in similar ways. I think they also share a naivety (as teens) that they can have things both ways - they can have what they want but also keep up the mask they've been wearing, but neither realizes how that hurts people around them. (i could write an essay about how charlie and eli have inspired the modern versions of reed and jerry but that shall wait...)

i also have a MASSIVE soft spot for atlas by @elderwisp (team pisces!) I just love how messy and complicated he is, and how he makes horrible decisions but we still love him. there's something about a really profoundly complex character that just snatches my heart and the more we learn about his background the more i want to pinch his cheeks. i also find a lot of inspiration for reed and jerry in atlas (for reasons that shall be revealed). for one, reed and atlas both have complicated family dynamics. like atlas, reed has a very tense relationship with one parent that tends to really drive his feelings of inadequacy and shame, and though we haven't seen too much of it yet i think atlas's relationship with frances has helped me deepen the dynamics between reed and gene!

a few more characters i loved so much they inspired aspects of my characters -

ida by @caramellles has given me so much inspiration for chiquita as she gets a bit older and less naive

eden by @deykxn and kian by @lupuspluvio - two very different sims with very different stories, but they both in their own ways made me realize i really want to explore a trans character and their story, so that is a sidequest i'm incorporating (expect it in 1-5 business years - i already have the character mostly fleshed out, they just don't come into play until... uh... 2021 in my story)

ash from @duusheen has inspired a lot of aspects of jen's personality! they're both pretty girls who pretend not to care when they do and watching ash soften to pandora (a couple times) has helped me really dig into jen's more personal side!

and characters i love for the sake of them being really amazing characters:

EVERYONE by @aheathen-conceivably but ESPECIALLY Jo. Alexis could teach a masterclass on writing complicated characters we're mad at but love to death

ellie by @cupofcarolina a SWEETIE!! i feel like we are all collectively her aunties and uncles and want nothing but the best for her

lennon from @simswoon !!!! again i LOVE me a messy sim and seeing her story come around to where she is now, a mother of THREE!!! has been so lovely!! (also the aesthetics of lennon’s gen are so stunning to me all the time i love how much it feels like her)

17. do you talk about sims with people in real life?

yes and no... i mention it sometimes, but there's no one in my life who really cares to hear about all my characters and lore or the characters and lore from stories i'm obsessed with so at times i feel very lonely in my obsession (queue excessive rambling on simblr SJSJS)

apologies for the obsessive tagging! i just want to give credit where credit is due because i constantly marvel at how many amazing sims cross my dash every day

[oddygaul]

Common Side Effects

Shit, I’m just glad Joe Bennett (and Vincent Tsui) have another animation gig going. It’s no Scavengers Reign, at least for my deeply sci-fi-pilled tastes, but there’s a lot to love here.

Some of the Scavengers DNA is here; the trippy bits have a similar graceful abstraction to them, and all of the flora and fauna we encounter is animated with loving attention to detail. The character designs, well, they kind of unsettle me, but they’re successful at what they’re going for: they’re undeniably unique, and the enlarged heads allow for lots of expressive character animation.

It’s much more of a straight up-and-down thriller than I was initially expecting. There’s a lot more awe and mysticism than your typical Adult Swim show, don’t get me wrong, but Common Side Effects is firmly grounded in the real world: the conflict between Marshall’s naive idealism and the harsh reality he finds himself in remains the driving force of the show.

Still, it manages to keep the vibes light despite that. The writing is funny without being over-the-top; Marshall’s relentless optimism is refreshing, even if it can be frustrating at times; hell, even the DEA agents break ranks to do the right thing when it comes down to it*. Plus, the end of the season implies things will only get weirder from here: between Jonas’ bizarre overdose-induced birthloop and the increasing ubiquity of the lil grey guys, there’s clearly lots we still don’t know about the Blue Angel mushrooms.

*I mean, I guess that one was a given. No one with shoulder work like that could be evil, right?

Sidenote, a snake though he may be, I did find Jonas’ speech about how a widely accessible Blue Angel might dramatically disrupt the world order fascinating. The optimist in me thinks inequality would be immediately, drastically reduced by releasing a wonder cure into the world. The realist imagines that by necessity, there would still have to be distributors of the mushroom, even if it wasn’t the pharmaceutical corporations, and how much power those distributors would hold. And if everyone had access to what is essentially a respawn, the threshold for violence truly might shift; without the consequence of death or permanent injury, the use of force becomes a much more appealing option to the average person. Could this result in an uprising against oppressive oligarchical regimes? Maybe… or it might calcify our existing social order even further, with the ultra-wealthy’s grip on the world’s power structures now bolstered by on-demand immortality.

It’s a compelling topic, is what I’m saying. Hopefully season 2 sets some time away for it.

[mariacallous]

We Americans are in the habit of assuming that what happens in our elections sets the tone for the entire democratic world. Sometimes that’s true, but a more realistic version of the theory holds that while trends in the United States certainly matter, they often reflect what voters in other democracies are also feeling and thinking. Yes, vibes cross borders without any tariffs.

The 1950s saw the rise of moderately conservative figures in key Western nations who were ready to come to terms with welfare state measures, which in the United States meant the New Deal. The decade’s important leaders in this mold included Dwight Eisenhower in the United States, Harold Macmillan in Britain, Charles de Gaulle in France, Konrad Adenauer in Germany, and Alcide De Gasperi in Italy.

The Reagan Era also mattered, reflecting the rise of the pro-market right or what is often called neo-liberalism. But the Reagan Era was really the Reagan-Thatcher Era; Britain’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s election predated the Gipper’s. The Reagan-Thatcher embrace of lower taxes and lighter regulation not only influenced conservative parties around the world but also led to a rethinking on the center-left.

This produced the next great trend in the world’s democracies, often referred to as the Third Way. Bill Clinton’s election in 1992 created a centrist wave on the moderate left, with Britain’s Tony Blair rising to power in 1997 after closely studying Clinton’s two successful presidential campaigns. Other Third Way leaders included Wim Kok in the Netherlands, Gerhard Schroeder in Germany, and Ingvar Carlsson and later Goran Persson in Sweden.

Donald Trump’s 2016 election and especially his 2024 return to power have sparked hope among his supporters, particularly his globetrotting champion Steve Bannon, who has worked closely with the nationalist right in Europe, that a surge of Trump-style nationalism would sweep the democratic world.

What Bannon understood is that right-wing nationalism was gaining ground in Europe even before Trump came down that escalator in 2015. There’s a case that Trump is in fact importing European nationalist politics to the U.S. right wing. Anti-immigrant political parties began playing an important role in European politics in the 2010s, and, in some cases (Denmark and France, for example), even earlier. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has become a hero and ideological guide to the American nationalist right, has been in power continuously since 2010. (He also served earlier, between 1998 and 2002.)

Trump’s 2024 victory certainly shook the globe, but elections held abroad since then do not support the idea that he is leading a new right-wing wave. The outcome of elections since his victory points at least as much to a backlash against Trump and Trumpism (and especially his tariffs) than to emulation. Yet the nationalist right remains a strong force in many democratic nations, a reality brought home dramatically on June 1 by the victory of Trump-backed Karol Nawrocki in Poland’s presidential election. The runoff between Nawrocki and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski was a clear choice between right-wing nationalism and the liberal internationalism of the European Union. Nationalism prevailed by the narrowest of margins in a deeply divided Poland: 50.9% for Nawrocki, 49.1% for Trzaskowski.

Far-right parties also notched some important gains this year, particularly in Germany, Britain, and Portugal. In none of these cases did the far right come to power, and even in Poland, the presidency’s influence is limited compared with the legislative branch of government and the prime ministership, which are still in the hands of a broadly centrist and liberal coalition. However, the Polish result broke an anti-Trump streak in key elections and pointed to a democratic world still very much up for grabs.

[doctorofmagic]

No one asked but here's some thoughts about Stephen's current and future life.

First of all (and to be completely honest), before Blood Hunt, I do think Stephen was starting to find joy in being the Sorcerer Supreme now that things were seemingly going well in his life.

Just to name a few, he befriended his general self, his marriage was rekindled, Mordo was finally locked down, Clea and Umar were starting to find a common ground (at least, they were not enemies anymore) and Donna II happened, blessing their lives. Stephen was finally thriving. He was executing his duties just fine despite the challenges of being Earth's magical defender. Conflict was obviously expected but it was far from the struggles he faced in v4, for instance. There was optimism.

The fact that he seems sad in that Pasqual's post could be about anything but if I was to predict why, I'd say it's because 1) he didn't want to pass the mantle down at this point in his life and 2) he didn't want to pass the mantle down to Victor specifically because well, it's Doom. And let's be real, Jed's interpretation of their relationship is not similar to T&T or Infamous Iron Man or even Secret Wars. Even if Victor is rarely portrayed as a villain these days (more like an antagonist), there's still a certain dread whenever he shows up in stories. So it's only natural for Stephen to be worried about what's coming next.

Personally, I think Victor will not be a bad Sorcerer Supreme. He's competent and incredibly complex. There's altruism in him, especially when it comes to protect Latverians and people in general (Doom 2099 my beloved). And let's not forget about his dramatic ego and petty personality. If anything, I'd go for a gray representation. He will not be the king of altruism (aka Stephen), but he will not be a shallow villain by desecrating the mantle (something I'm pretty sure Mordo would do. Hate that guy). That said... Oh, he's also in for a big surprise, not expecting the burden that comes with such a huge responsibility. But that's just my two cents. Could always be wrong. However, I still remember when he tried to go after Jericho and gave up as soon as the light of the Eye of Agamotto hit him, so... This idea does have canon support.

(panel merely illustrative; from an alt future/reality)

As for Stephen and Clea, what comes next for them? I know the fandom is desperate for domestic vibes and a peaceful era for them. But let's be real, it's Marvel. Also it's Stephen and Clea. For starters, Clea is still the Warlord of Manhattan, which means that area will remain under her protection, tying her to our dimension. As for Stephen... We know him, right? We know he will never stop doing what he does, Sorcerer Supreme or not. We have tons of magic characters doing their jobs. Even when magic was practically dead, he found a way to keep doing good because it's intrinsic of his personality. And let's not forget Wong and W.A.N.D. They still need someone reliable, and I hardly think they'll go for Victor when consulting all things mystical. Oh, and Strange Academy, of course.

Last but not least, every change in status quo hardly lasts more than a year or two in comic books. It happened so many times before: Salomé, Jericho, Loki, even Clea. It was only natural for Victor's turn, given how T&T is such an important book to their mythos.

As for me? I think it's not really fair for me to share my feelings assuming how much I love both Victor and Stephen. I've seen some unhappy fans (and I can't relate, sorry 🥲) and some excited ones.

The reason I'm still kinda blue is merely due to the lack of new announcements, whether it's a new Doctor Strange book or a mini featuring Victor. Also it's almost certain that Jed is done with his work, which hit me like a train. I really don't want to say goodbye to Jed just yet, and seeing his work continue with Moon Knight while going for the X-books makes me a bit bitter. There's still the possibility that he's staying, but it's all conjecture at this point. I mean, I dread that some bad writer comes next, and boi do I have a no-no list. Hopefully, SDCC will shed some light on these dark times of uncertainty.

Well, that's it. Do I ramble a lot? Was not expecting to write such a long post, sorry about that (old testament me comeback?). Just wanted to write down my thoughts since they were making a mess in my head. If anything, I'll still be around for whatever comes next. After all, my love for Stephen knows no shame 🔥

[sixeyesonathiel]

hi, i hope this doesn't come off as pushy or anything, but i was curious about how you give so much depth and personality to the reader in ur fics? i've been trying to write as of late but i feel that the reader in my fics kinda lack flavor. do you tend to include bits and pieces from ur own habits/life or are they just completely made up? thank u for ur content!

OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS ASK SO MUCH ACTUALLY 😭😭🩷 like first of all, thank you for even thinking i give the reader that much flavor?? because i am very very self-aware that i project like hell LMFAOOO. but that’s kinda the secret… i project so hard.

i’m a big freak who lives more in the online world than irl so i’ve gone through so many usernames and “eras,” and these eras are always tied to certain hyperfixations or friend groups i’ve had. like i genuinely build a whole personality around my interests 😭 so depending on what vibe the fic is giving, i just channel the version of me that fits. and every reader i write ends up carrying a little bit of that version—sometimes loud and bratty, sometimes quiet and jaded, but always just a little bit me, yknow?

i’m not bratty or loud irl at all (i’m honestly just a tired, delulu loser) but when i write? oh i will make reader mouthy, dramatic, and spoiled rotten, because i believe i was meant to be like that in another life 😌✨ BUT that doesn’t mean that’s the only kind of reader i write!! free throws and figure drawings is honestly such a good example of the opposite—she’s withdrawn, emotionally stunted, closed-off—and she’s probably the most grounded character voice i’ve ever written because she mirrors more of the tired, quietly desperate parts of me. and even then, i try my best to give both her and satoru their own individuality and inner lives, and then mix those together into something that feels real as their dynamic builds. that’s the magic to me: the chemistry isn’t just vibes—it’s two full people crashing into each other 🫶

writing reader is also kind of my way of living the life i want. like yeah maybe i can’t throw tantrums and be kissed breathless by my hot fictional boyfriend in real life, but i can write it. i can make that my reality for a few thousand words. and there’s something so comforting about that, about giving yourself the things you want through fiction, even if it’s just for a little while.

so yeah, i think it’s okay if your reader voice pulls from your own thoughts or little habits! reader is supposed to feel like someone real, even in the wildest settings. and sometimes, adding those small personal quirks—like how they react to praise, or what makes them tick, or even how they panic when they catch feelings—can give them so much more personality without having to describe their whole backstory.

also: don’t be afraid to lean into your own ✨inner weirdo✨ when writing them. if you think something’s silly or dramatic or even embarrassing, it might be exactly what gives the reader that extra flavor 💅

you got this. i’m cheering u on 💖💖💖

[nerdyenby]

DRS2 reactions (spoilers)

Ep 1

Ras at the shadow dojo???????? Who woulda thunk

New intro?!?!!!?!! Idk why I wasn’t expecting that, actually

The public including Pix with the missing ninja my beloved

Gosh, big Riyu will take some getting used to

Wait… is that a curious george reference??

I don’t know if I’ve heard someone outright say something isn’t good for their friend’s mental health in a cartoon before, it’s really refreshing

Casual Frohicky and Sora/Arin interactions my beloved <3

Omg Kai explaining Shang to Zane is such season one vibes

Lloyd having open and honest conversations with his students about both his and their wellbeing is so important to me

Ok, hear me out: au where baby Wu didn’t age back at an enhanced rate and gets lost at somepoint and Arin is teenage Wu

Dang it, Cinder’s kinda funny

Ep 2

I legit started happy stimming so hard at that opening shot, I’m really invested in Euphrasia’s story already and nothing’s even happened yet lol

Percival out here making the gen z solarpunk dream a reality!!!!

Lloyd calling it what it is — a panic attack — soothes something in me

Sora did really bad graffiti of cats when she was young, that’s adorable and kinda tells you everything you need to know about her

MY GIRL!!!!!!!

Euphrasia using a cane!!!! Hell yeah mobility aids!!!! (Even though it’ll probably be gone in two episodes lol)

I kid you not, I was 100% expecting Suetonius to say “resurrect… the Great Devourer” lmao

I love that the gang is (mostly) all together, but it’s a bit too many characters for a conversation, I get why they like to split them into groups

Nya grounding Lloyd :(( /pos

Kai boasting about a fight that he won a decade ago when Cinder probably doesn’t even know Ash is endlessly amusing to me

Ras is so dramatic I can’t really take him seriously

Damn, they’re letting characters get hurt, it’s kinda refreshing but it’s scary

Ep 3

Wait I didn’t see Euphrasia get captured :((

WHAT THE HELL?!???? /vpos

Strength, motion, energy, and life?!??!!??

AYOOOOOO?!?!????

Kai comforting Wyldfyre <333

We know this takes place after the mech shorts, so why hasn’t anyone mentioned Cole? He was also seen in public, so why did that conspiracy guy say he’s still missing?

Why do they keep leaving Zane behind?? He’s in his housewife era fr

Kai making sure Wyldfyre’s taken care of :((

This show is so unserious, I love it

I wasn’t feeling people calling Kai Wyldfyre’s dad after season one but…

No… Sora took Arin’s thing from him… she didn’t mean to, but he feels like he’s not special anymore :(

I’m going to pretend that was a believable amount of parts to make a mech that big

Kai getting moments with Arin and Sora my beloved

Kai’s “hey kid, nice of you to drop by” is giving the same energy as when Lloyd and Arin first met during the merge

THE WALLS ARE MOVING, REPEAT: THE WALLS ARE MOVING

These nightmare sequences are going so hard

Nya being the first one to realize it isn’t real when her nightmare is reality, I’m screaming

Riyu comforting Wyldfyre <333

Nya best sister award when

Ep 4

My boys!!!!!

THE found family of all time

IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY CHILDREN I WILL RIOT

Seeing Kai and Nya fight so smoothly together is so special after how much they and Lloyd were tripping over each other when they first reunited

Basketball?!??!!??!!!

Autistic Arin real and true

I love Bonzle so much

Geo is such a lil bastard actually /pos, makes more sense why he and Cole are a thing, knowing Cole’s taste in men

COLE!!!!!!

Cole will never stop being overpowered, it seems, he deserves it tbh

Censorship pog /hj

“Not funny, Wyldfyre” “Not joking, Sora” the sheer cousin vibes in this interaction are too much to handle

Lloyd PLEASE just mention being 1/4 dragon, it will almost certainly get Egalt on board, I am begging

Glacier reunion!!!!!!!

Ep 5

I wanted a more emotional reunion, but they’ve probably seen each other off screen (or I’m just forgetting a scene from the shorts)

Zane, why are you still carrying that doll like it’s your child??

Bonzle my beloved, she’s says that so deadpan I don’t actually have any questions

Wyldfyre my beloved

I would die for Bonzle

Cole and Geo holding hands 😭😭😭😭😭

Is Egalt the motion source dragon?? Probably not tbh but I’d believe it

Man’s spitting facts, flatearthers are going to lose their shit

“Little fire man” IM DYING OH MY GOD

Wait when does this take place? My first instinct is while the ninja were in the Never Realm but idk if we’ll actually find out

“Friends can become like family?” “Definitely” IM SOBBING ON THE FLOOR

Letting Arin be angry is so important

Cole shutting down Bonzle’s suicidal thoughts without hesitation “no, you are loved and needed. We will find a way to protect you” <333

The physical affection in DR is so dear to me

Human sacrifices???? In MY lego show?????

Ep 6

Wyldfyre struggling with her body’s limits is really relatable as a young disabled person

FOREHEAD TOUCH :((

Plot twist: where the other ninja are right now is Mysterium and they have that tua meme of two cars passing each other moment

Damn, that exchange hit hard as a former gifted kid. Sometimes having someone believe in you hurts. You’re not just letting yourself down, but them, too

Nya just fucking bodyslamming Kai, Egalt didn’t know what he was getting into pitting the world’s most competitive siblings against each other

“The Finders are like my family” *looks at Zane* “My other family” screaming, crying, sobbing on the floor

Oh no

Wait yeah, why are they thirsty if Zane can just make ice for them to chew on? At least Cole and Jiro, idk if Bonzle needs water

The nonbinary pirate!!!

Cole CANNOT escape the performing arts fr fr

Ep 7

Bonzle is giving transgender

That is the most Jay and Cole thing I’ve ever heard it, it’s so in character it almost feels out of character

Arin and Sora going through the exact same thing and trying and failing to not take it out on each other :( it’s ok tho, the real ones are the ones you can be snippy with and love regardless

Wyldfyre referring to the ninja as “Kai’s friends” honey, they’re your friends too, I promise

Anyone who calls Wyldfyre dumb can fuck off, she’s so perceptive and intelligent and is really good at connecting others when she truly wants to

Bonzle’s mom <33333

Bonzle’s smile when her mom compliments her name <3333

Who you calling stolen equipment bitch?????

Lil Kai and Nya!!!!!!

Nya’s so proud of him!!!!! I could cry

Kai being the first to achieve it because fire is an element under motion’s domain methinks

Oh you bigoted son of a bitch

Zane why are you considering it????? Honey

What the fuck did you do to Jiro??!?!!!

JAY?!?!!???

Ep 8

NOOOO 😭😭😭

There’s literally a nindroid agent right there????

The og musical cue playing when Jay comes back <3

Jay on his Euphrasia arc, this is highkey breaking my heart though

I’m counting this as a fakeout death and you can’t stop me

Are you kidding me???!!!? How many times is Jay going to be one room away from the ninja

Lloyd SHUT UP /aff

“And cursed!!” She says cheerfully, this lady is an icon

The subtitles keep calling Cole Kai, what is this, season one??

Ep 9

Aww, baby Ras (trying desperately to not care about him)

Oh ok, he’s making my job easier

Poor Wyldfyre :(

I love this trio so much, their banter is so good

Lloyd honey, fighting it is making it worse

Nya holding him through his panic attack :((

I was expecting Cole to deny that it was him, the earth is going through it

The disco toaster!!!!!

Heck yeah Riyu!!!

I love them so much it’s not even funny

“What’s your elemental power, imperviousness to sarcasm?” She just called him autistic in 13 languages (I’m autistic, dw guys)

“First time driving?” “Believe it or not, no” Bonzle and Arin my beloved

I’m a touch disappointed Wyldfyre’s perfectly fine now as someone with chronic pain, but I’m glad it was handled as well as it was and it’s a really important lesson for younger audiences that pushing your body while it’s in pain only makes it worse

The silent exchange of Cole suggesting Zane takes the parrot potion is endlessly funny but also sad considering it’s probably the closest well get to talking about the Falcon

Cole turning into a puppy who cheered?!???

“At least you’re adorable” “I’m always adorable” get a room /aff

Tournament of elements flashbacks

The workplace gossip omg, Cinder really out here beefing with a 16 year old

Don’t you even fucking dare

MY BABIESSSSSS

Ep 10

Arin mistaking Lloyd and Nya for his parents hurts :(

Oh no… I mean, it was obviously coming but it’s still very bad

WYLDFYRE POPPING OFF!!!!! THIS GIRL NEEDED HER ENRICHMENT

Let Euphrasia do stuff 2024

Wyldfyre jumping in front of Kai and protecting him

The basketball practice coming in handy lol

The fight cinematography in DR is fucking superb

KAI D: (he’ll be fine, I believe)

Nya!!!!!

BONZLE MVP!!!!

I was prepared for Rontu and Egalt to stay dead, the breath I let out when the stone cracked was unparalleled

Are we legit not getting Kai back????

Cole and Lloyd hug!!!!!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

Oh no… that lie is going to hurt when it comes out

Kai and Bonzle!!!!

Not like Master Wu says, like Lloyd says ;-; /pos

[aestraljupiiter]

'*•.¸♡ astrology observations ♡¸.•*'

Venus conjunct Mars - there is that strong balanced energy for the need to give and take, in forming relationships with others, be it friendship/romantic partners or even for a sexual benefit. However when it comes to "the one", they usually are quite overprotective and a bit controlling, in the relationship, if it does happen. Also one of the most loyal, and it takes quite a bit for them to get over the one's they hold dear, because they give their all at a start, especially if they are serious with them.

Moon conjunct/sextile Neptune natal - usually very intuitive and have deep introspection about a lot of things, especially when it involves with the self. But they don't just rely on intuition alone, they usually have gone through a lot in their life, or sometimes experience people who have a very different background of life from them. However in terms of their overall presence, there is that cold air to them, but it's not because they want it to be, it's more of the type of vibe that's as if "I've heard, saw and experienced shit, this doesn't phase me"... as if reality grounded them. however their appearances are quite youthful despite having that experienced aura around them. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Taurus suns - are very attractive even despite being ruled by Venus, planet of attraction/beauty & relationships. Taurus suns however aren't that funny, I've had an ex bestfriend who would constantly try to make jokes but it just doesn't work... however despite not being that funny, they are one of the most hard-working and serious people ever. Every time I met with a Taurus sun, they always come from a background where money just simply something they already have, and even if they don't... money just naturally flows in to them. Also Taurus suns, come on you guys are good at flirting, give yourself more credit. I think taurus suns also forget how charming they are even without trying but sometimes can be a little bit of a people pleaser, depending on what house it falls in.

Scorpio risings - are very dramatic, I'm sorry, but this is so true. Like despite coming off as somewhat "standoffish", who are you trying to fool T_T!! However there is that intensity within you that creates a spark around people, you guys are very naturally alluring. I just wanna point out that, my Scorpio rising bestfriend, despite being confident & very out there, there is still that side to them that will somewhat keep hidden, and I mean only a selected few get to know. Another fact about Scorpio risings, is that probably when they were younger, people who were very emotionally abusive or manipulative would have been attracted and would be around their space or have experienced having them in their life, especially if these people were so called "friends" or "family". ⬇️⬇️⬇️

10H, 11H & 12H - very focused with the self/individuality and they are usually people who have strong personalities, and can be quite polarizing with their own beliefs & opinions, about their life and others. However because of the development on their strong personalities, people with these house placements have been through a lot in their childhood, more than the others. It was made clearly that they were taught lessons and were forced by the universe to struggle and to try to cope/solve it. The thing is, they are probably more sensitive than most because of it, but have developed a certain approach on it. Also one of the most ambitious people I know and the most Loyal but despite having a sensitive nature, they aren't the most physically affectionate, but they maybe more towards the people they love and care about. people with these houses are either introverted or extroverted, none in between, but will probably get more balanced as they get older.

Aquarius moons - are very fickle and hard to catch, they really do have their heads up in the clouds and one of the most idealistic, creative, talented people ever. You value family but not as much as you value your independence and the connection to friendships. Idk why, but every time I talk to an Aquarius moon, I always do wonder what's going on inside their head and what they are going to do next, cause like... they do be doing a lot of things yk? like they always gotta do something, be it a hobby, sport, or talking to others T_T ⬇️⬇️

Sagittarius & Scorpio friendships - this is giving me so much angel & devil type of duo energy, or opposites attract. However I realize in every friend group, you'll see 2 pretty bestfriend so engrossed in their conversations about life and their work. They both have a lot in common, and I think it's because of how brutally honest, loyal, ambitious, independent and value their loved ones a lot. They both have that much intensity to go on with their life and do it with pride. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Capricorn suns/moons - I'm sorry but I don't see the difference between them, like they give off such grounded, practical, cold like energy. They both seem to have a that bitter view on reality yk? I think these people have so much responsibility that when it's finally off their shoulder, they are so prepared to get ready for another one. Idk... yall however are very ambitious, independent and very very very cut throat, you just don't stand BS, yk? (but I still can't get along with Capricorns, and I think it's cause we are both bitter just in a different way) ⬇️⬇️⬇️

THE END.

[seafoamreadings]

week of april 10th, 2022

aries: you're catching glimpses of enlightenment like never before and you physically tread more lightly as you walk too. people notice a change about you, a subtle one, which you probably hadn't noticed yet yourself. but subtle things can still be quite significant.

taurus: spring time intensifies and mercury duly enters your sign this week. combined with some nodal activity, you may find yourself nostalgically and/or wistfully pining after some idealized dream of a person. that's fine, let it be fun, but don't forget that with neptune and the nodes involved many things are likely not quite as they appear.

gemini: this week you may find yourself living in dreams and daydreams more than consensus reality. your spirit grows without assistance but you can fuel it with some astral work if you wish.

cancerians: the astrology becomes yet more supportive of you as taurus and pisces energy strengthens this week. you may not have noticed it yet, but you're becoming quite powerful. in a gradual way, like muscles carefully and lovingly trained in the gym.

leo: a lilith-mars trine affects your relationships. it can simply lend a fun naughty quality, but unstable situations will be shaken up. probably in a good way, but sometimes the universe sees a distraction from your partner as a good thing, and your partner likely won't. so be aware and try to behave honorably, even if you must be wild in doing so.

virgo: if aries season has been trying for your nerves or giving you a headache, the first stirrings of the impending taurus season begin this week as mercury heads into that sign. this much more stable ground. even if you love aries season, be sure to stop and smell the roses.

libra: after mercury heads into taurus this week, see if you can get intimate with someone who matters using only words and thoughts... maybe telepathy?? but just focus on how much interpersonal connection requires open, honest, vulnerable communication.

scorpio: this is likely to be a fun week, full of creative opportunities and/or flirtations. embrace your inner child and do some of the things you can now but weren't able or allowed to as a child.

sagittarius: the actual conjunction of your ruler jupiter with neptune in pisces is now upon us. your home and your body are your sacred temples, so don't neglect to treat them with the reverence they deserve. while sagittarians are not known for being homebodies, this is a great week to stay in and reflect. treat it like a meditation retreat if it helps.

capricorn: this gradual shift into a more stable, earthy vibe is grounding, of course, for you. not that you can't survive with everything up, but isn't nice to sometimes not have to work so hard?

aquarius: all week you are being asked to inhabit the solid, earthy world of material existence and the way you relate to objects and items.... and for you this is pisces energy, which is very dreamy and otherworldly. in what ways does this magical thinking serve you? in what ways does it cause harm? can you reconcile those with each other in your real life?

pisces: although last week was already intensely piscean, this week is even more dramatically so. the jupiter-neptune conjunction is officially exact and there's a lot of nodal activity going on, interacting with it. your empathy is off the charts and so is any clairvoyant/prophetic type of tendency. so crank up the self-care but don't avoid reaping the benefits of this very intense activity.

[tobiasdrake]

Well, that's it for the competitions. Let's see what else this vacation has in store.

Huh. Haruhi's a straight-edge. (Just like me! Chemical intoxication of any kind messes with my neurodivergence in grotesquely unpleasant ways. Haruhi is my reflection.) Wonder why? Is she trying to avoid ever being in a situation where she has to write off a supernatural encounter due to intoxication?

I mean. If you get super drunk or high and then you see a UFO, can you really be sure you saw a UFO?

It's nice to see that Haruhi's gained some humility in this reality. Yep. She's much more grounded and down-to-earth in her expectations this time around.

Ryoko having the time of her life at the big feast. I think this is the happiest she's been all trip.

I like that she's a foodie. You should never trust a chef who doesn't love to eat with every fiber of their being.

AWWWWWWWWW

He doesn't want to be separated from Yuki!

Get it, girl! This is the most hopeful sign we've seen for your ship since Haruhi showed up!

I mean. Also get it Itsuki. I always got the vibe that he had a thing for Kyon in the original reality and, despite claiming to be in love with Haruhi, he was flirting hard with Kyon in this episode earlier.

But also. Like. You can have Kyon in the main reality, after we pry him away from Haruhi with a crowbar because NO. Let Yuki have him in this one.

(Everybody falling over themselves for the Trash Boy.)

Oh, Kyon agrees. That couldn't be more on-the-nose if it tried.

"Book-reading mood", huh?

Look at Kyon, standing up for himself and firmly telling Haruhi "No" when she tries to drag him into a Haruhi Thing. Demonstrating the level of freedom and control over his life that the obligations of SOS Brigade so frequently deprive him of.

Yuki's reality is so great for everybody. I mean, there's no supernatural shit for Haruhi to find but she wasn't allowed to find it in the other timeline anyway so frankly that's a lateral move for her. Haruhi's life remained largely the same while everyone else's lives improved dramatically.

It's nice to get to live in a world where we get to worry about whether Kyon will return Yuki's affections instead of killing Ryoko and then covering up her death so Haruhi doesn't find out.

Rest of the episode is more "Hot Springs Episode gonna Hot Springs Episode" along with doubling down on gross Mikuru shit. I'm still mad that we never got to see Yuki and Haruhi face off in the ultimate ping pong championship match.

But, plus side, I did leave this episode more hopeful than ever that Yuki's going to get her man. I just want her to have nice things and be happy.

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan, Episode 8 - A Plot by Haruhi Suzumiya

Everything Haruhi does is a plot by Haruhi Suzumiya. Haruhi is an incorrigible plotter. Unless you mean the movie she filmed, which is a different kind of plot by Haruhi Suzumiya.

(Two parts.)

I guess Tsuruya's joining the list of characters volunteering to be Yuki's fallback love interest if Kyon ends up red-stringed. Pretty sure that is a red-crowned crane, specifically? That looks like the red crown on its head.

Nope. Sorry, Tsuruya, but despite being more tolerable in this series, you're still on the shit list.

The hell does that even mean?

Hot springs episode really is going to hot springs episode at maximum velocity, isn't it?

I know this is going to be an opportunity to play with the Yuki/Kyon vs. Haruhi/Kyon triangle but if we're spinning a roulette wheel of shipping nonsense then I want to see some random bullshit instead. Itsuki/Yuki! Mikuru/Ryoko! Kyon/Tsuruya! The Will They/Won't They shipping war can wait until we get home; For now, let's get crazy!

Incidentally, the answer is yes. This is the gratuitous fanservice episode that "The Hot Springs Episode" always implied, and it is played as hard as you would expect the show that gave us Mikuru Asahina to play it. In fact, it even takes time for some incredibly gross Mikuru shit while it's at it.

Admittedly still not as bad as that time they drugged her but still pretty bad. They don't even do the "Tsuruya protects Mikuru and fights off Haruhi" thing they've been doing; Tsuruya and Haruhi team up for maximum grossness. It's like they're trying to make up for lost time.

Apparently "Matchmaking Bath" means voluntary peephole.

Uh. Okay. This episode is weird.

Ha!

Nice time loop callout. Though there is no way they've actually fit that many competitions into the short time Haruhi's been with the Literature Club. Taken literally, she pulled that number straight out of her ass.

XD HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Now that we're out of the Den of Male Gaze, the comedy's back. Poor Kyon. We all know it's going to be him. It's always him. It doesn't even need to be rigged.

Absolutely furious that Ryoko and Tsuruya's match wasn't animated. I have so many questions about Tsuruya's Dance of the Crane technique.

Also, Kyon and Mikuru continue to be useless.

When the hell did he injure his wrist? Did he beat Kyon's ass so bad he hurt himself?

Absolutely furious that Tsuruya quit the tournament in its second round, allowing the competition to continue while forever shielding her crane technique from the prying eyes of the camera.

Also, Haruhi, don't think I didn't notice that this is your second bye. You didn't compete in the first round either. You're advancing straight to the finals without ever picking up a paddle. Kyon was right to object to rigged games.

(Is that how Itsuki injured his wrist? Did he fake injury so Haruhi could have a 1v1 with her romantic rival?)

I'm with Kyon. The first round seemed legitimate but that second round was totally rigged by the Kouyouen kids.

NO

NOT MOVING ON

I WANT TO SEE THE FIGHT

What the hell!? How dare you deprive us of the pivotal battle between Yuki and Haruhi!? I AM SO MAD RIGHT NOW AAAAAAAARGH.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

No, for real, the comedic timing of Yuki Show is so good. If they ever bring back Melancholy, whether as a continuation or reboot or whatever, I hope they learn from the successes in this spinoff and build on them.

That means she won, right? I think that means she won. I am choosing to believe that means she won. Yuki won. I will accept no argument.

[takaraphoenix]

Another thing about the comics is that... I have never felt this poly-baited before in my life.

Many love triangles give off big “this would be better poly” vibes to me and I end up shipping them as an OT3 instead. But very rarely do they feel like the writers themselves are two seconds from coming to that same conclusion; most feel more unintentional in the vibes they give off.

But the BtVS comics very much felt as though they were deliberately setting Angel/Spike/Buffy up to become canon. And I’m saying that as someone who doesn’t ship that. I only ship one of these three angles, so I can’t even say that this is personal shipper bias making me see things.

First, we have season 8 making Buffy and Angel actual soulmates. Which feels like the kind o thing that, I don’t know, should have a real pay-off.

Then, we have Buffy and Spike being the central romantic relationship of the comic run, being canon for two whole seasons, with Spike being her primary love interest in the comic continuity and the comics really fleshing out their romantic relationship.

And then there is the third angle. The Angel and Spike angle.

For one, the comics actually did just randomly confirm that Angel/Spike had a thing at one point in the past. Completely unprompted. There was no need to put that in there, but it sure would have worked as a good foundation for yes, they do have a sexual history with each other too. There was something once; under the right circumstances and maybe with the right ignition (-> their shared love for Buffy), who’s to say there couldn’t be something again?

And, outside of the Spuffy moments, one of my favorite moments was when Angel was losing himself and Spike was the only one to ground him. Spike. Of all people. Him, getting Angel back by calling him Liam, by going back into Angel’s past and using Angel’s abusive father to redirect Angel’s anger. That was... such an incredibly vulnerable moment for Angel and it also gave insight into just how well Spike knows him. And I do think that, throughout the comics, their relationship grew a lot and they became much more grown-up and less dick-measuring-contest brats around each other.

Seeing Spike, Angel and Buffy fight side by side and rely on each other so incredibly fluently was actually fascinating.

Another huge aspect was how... Buffy... kept fantasizing about them. For one, when we see her go into her dreamscape with Ethan and she sees herself in the nurse outfit with Spike on her one side and Angel at her other side.

(It feels wrong to say that and not provide a visual.)

But there was also a whole tiny mini comic that was just Buffy dreaming about Angel and Spike making out with each other. Which goes beyond the her wanting them both for herself, but also her subconsciousness thinking about them together.

And lastly, and the biggest reason why it felt not just poly-baity but like they genuinely wanted to go there: Harmony.

Harmony Kendall, who continued to be the biggest Angel/Buffy/Spike shipper in universe. She brought up polyamory by name repeatedly. At one point, she got the freaking book that could alter reality into her hands and aside from many selfish wishes, she literally wanted to give Buffy the “ultimate” happy ending in having Angel/Buffy/Spike be a happily married triad.

One time’s a joke. But if you continuously keep bringing up “hey actually polyamory is a thing” then it starts to sound less like a joke and more like foreshadowing. Because her bringing it up started to feel more and more like the way Willow and Dawn and Dowling kept bringing up Spuffy around either Spike or Buffy during s9 and early s10; just before Spuffy actually became canon.

Love triangles always present two possible ship outcomes and the oh-so dramatic either/or question. But those are not actually the only options.

The comics went with the third option of just... not... making anything endgame at all, which might just be the most frustrating approach to this. But they really had the opportunity and, quite frankly, the set-up to go poly.

(I’m not saying Angel and Spike would have just... immediately fallen in love or anything. But if nothing else, their shared love for Buffy would have made them willing to give it a try.)

[xamaxenta]

FUCK OK HERE WE GO ILL TRY TO REMEMBER ALL OF IT CAUSE YEAH IT WAS PRETTY LONG SDKJHLFG

So Marco sees Ace being pinned against a wall by one of his producers and the first thing he wants to do is tackle him to the ground and maybe throw in a punch or two but he just stares daggers into the man and keeps his voice even as he asks, "Am I interrupting something?" He tries his best to keep his calm if there's even the slightest chance he's misreading the situation.

Ace's eyes dart back and forth, anxious out of his mind and lowkey mortified marco found him like this and his leg is trembling from his injury and he curses himself for his voice being gone as he tries to speak and keep calm as well "My,,, my leg hurts. I need-- help,,"

Marco knows he's telling the truth in a surface level way and a deeper way. Yeah, his leg really looks like it's killing him, but the way Ace's voice almost broke when he stuck on that last statement. Marco is able to easily pick up what he means.

The producer shoots a look at Ace and growls at him. "You didn't tell me about that. You," he looks at Marco, "You get out of here if you know what's good for you."

Marco approaches and puts his hand on the man's shoulder, firm and tight, and tries to show the man some patience and understanding cause despite how much he wants to clock this guy in the face he knows producers are important and this really should be solved as smoothly as possible like "I've come to find him to take him to a walk-in clinic, his leg is really bothering him and it needs to be looked at."

The man releases one of Ace's wrists to slap Marco's hand away and face him more and he scoffs at him, "You've got some nerve, you nobody. I need to speak privately with my star here, if you could--"

Ace can feel the animosity growing and Marco wanting to murder him with every passing second, so suddenly Ace starts gasping and wailing and collapsing in on himself and holding his leg "M-Marco! Marco, it really hurts! I think something's wrong!!"

And that puts Marco in zero-in focus mode on him like ace oh my god whats wrong are you okay can you stand can you walk let's get you out of here and the producer is too stunned by the sudden screaming like oh my god this really is an emergency

Marco practically carries him to his car and drops him in the passenger seat and he keeps up the act until the doors are closed and Marco's driving away and its a real quiet ride cause marco tries to question him asking if hes really okay (first about his leg then about his mind) and ace is almost disassociating and shrugging him off cause in reality he's feeling absolutely horrible about himself cause not only did he let that happen to him (he's supposed to be stronger than that, hell he could probably benchpress the guy's weight and yet he still cornered ace like a scared rat) he let marco see him weak like that. hes so pathetic marco's gotta think hes so pathetic now and its not a fun interaction that ensues

*prints this off ten times and stuffs it in my mouth*

This is some HAUTE cuisine my compliments to the chef holy shit yall anons are COOKING

I love dramatics, i also think whether Ace was very much in pain or not utilising drama to get out of the situation is smart of him poor thing :(( youd have to be a giga asshole to ignore someone saying theyre in pain when there’s a witness (unfortunately this is common irl but yknow im not going to focus on that bc its . Sad)

AaaaAAAAAA BRIDAL CARRY THO can i just say the vibes immaculate

The amount of comfort n care after this encounter in the safety of the car is driving me insane like

Ace realising he can relax and feel safe, his manager might be blowing up his phone rn but he just turns it off hes tired and overwhelmed

[jaskierswolf]

Prompt: Geraskier modern au. Jaskier bringing Geralt home on holiday. They’re pretending to date so Jaskier’s parents won’t bombard him asking when he’ll find someone and when they’ll have grandkids. Maybe even a fake engagement? They’re both pining without even realizing and maybe a mistletoe kiss on Christmas Eve will open their eyes. (geraskier-trashh)

Dani <3 I always seem to vibe with your prompts! Once again this is 2.3k. I didn’t get the mistletoe in but... well. I’m pretty happy with it. Fake dating at Christmas!! 💖

Warnings: Some hurt/comfort feels, I’m pretty sure everyone cries at one point or another, lots of pining. ______________

Jaskier and Geralt stood in the doorway to Jaskier’s old childhood room. One single bed was pushed up against the wall, posters of Jaskier’s old favourite bands plastered around the room. Jaskier was gripping Geralt’s hand too tightly, having not let go from when he’d dragged Geralt upstairs to get away from the interrogation of his family. Geralt let out a long sigh and pulled them both into the room, dumping his rucksack on the ground in the corner.

“Ah, I. umm…. I seem to have miscalculated,” Jaskier stammered.

“No shit.”

“I thought, you know. Huge mansion!” He flung his arms out as if to make a point. “I didn’t expect that we’d have to… you know.”

“It didn’t occur to you that it might look strange if we don’t share?” Geralt asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jaskier huffed and put his hands on his hips, tossing his fringe from his eyes. Geralt was moving around the tiny room, his banged up bass case finding space next to Jaskier’s violin, his black hoody thrown over the old desk chair in the corner. Jaskier felt a tug at his heartstrings as he watched Geralt carve out a space for himself in Jaskier’s old bedroom, just like he’d carved out a Geralt sized space in Jaskier’s hearts oh so many years ago. Jaskier flexed his fingers and pulled his necklace pendant into his mouth, this was such a bad idea. What had he been thinking?

It was own bloody fault for lying to his parents for years behind Geralt’s back. It had just been so hard with their constant pressure to find a partner whilst he was pining helplessly over his best friend, so he’d lied and for five years he’d managed to find excuses for avoiding the family Christmas meet up. This year his luck had run out and he’d had to come clean to his friend. He’d thought Geralt was going to murder him at first, his face had gone bright red with rage and he’d not said a bloody word, which was just Geralt all over. Over a tense dinner of instant noodles and boxed wine, Geralt had muttered that he’d do it… and so, here they were.

“Yeah, well, I forgot.”

Geralt rolled his eyes. “You forgot? That you’d told your parents that we’ve been dating for five years?”

“Six years… Our anniversary was two weeks ago,” Jaskier muttered, shuffling awkwardly on his feet and giving Geralt a sheepish smile.

“Our anniversary? For fuck’s sake, Jask.”

“I’m sorry! I meant to tell them we’d broken up but—”

“But what?”

“—but they always seemed so happy that I wasn’t alone, and to be honest it was nice.”

Geralt scoffed. “Nice?”

“Yeah,” Jaskier sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I. I didn’t feel so alone.”

Geralt sighed and pulled him into a hug. Jaskier buried his face in Geralt’s chest and whined. “You’re my best friend, Jask.”

Jaskier closed his eyes, grateful that Geralt couldn’t see his face. He could feel the lump in his throat, a dull never-ending ache in his chest. Best friend. That’s what they were, he should be thankful that Geralt allowed him that much, but fuck he loved him so damn much. No matter how much Jaskier flirted with Geralt, called him cute little nicknames, and practically admitted his love for his friend on a daily basis… Geralt never saw him as anything more than a friend, but god he drove Jaskier mad. He was always so damned thoughtful all the time, cooking dinner when Jaskier was at work even though Jaskier could never return the favour, hence the instant noodles for dinner, or letting Jaskier choose the film when he’d had a bad anxiety day, which happened more often than he liked to admit.

Geralt was his best friend, he was the bestest friend that anyone could ask for so really Jaskier couldn’t complain. He was just… hopelessly in love.

He laughed and pulled back from the hug. “Don’t you mean boyfriend?” He waggled his eyebrows and bopped Geralt’s nose.

“Hmm, fine, but we have got to break up by next year.”

Jaskier’s hand flew to his heart, gasping as he totally pretended to be completely heartbroken. There wasn’t an ounce of reality in the way his heart literally felt like it was shattering in a million pieces. He scoffed, covering up the way his hands were shaking by tugging at the edge of his jumper. “Fine, but I get to dump you.”

“Nope, it’s your mess. I’m breaking up with you,” Geralt grumbled.

Jaskier put his hands on his hips and glared at Geralt. “As if you would break up with this arse!” He laughed and turned to wiggle his butt at Geralt.

“I’ve seen better.”

Jaskier gasped and turned to poke Geralt in the chest. “Take that back!”

“Not going to happen.”

“Geralt!” Jaskier flung himself dramatically into Geralt’s arms, Geralt caught him as he always did, and Jaskier pouted up at him. “You’re mean.”

“Are you boys fighting already?”

Jaskier squeaked as Geralt dropped him to the floor. His mother was standing in the doorway with her arms crossed in front of her chest, a smirk on her face. “No. No no no. Of course not, nope. Geralt?”

“No, Mrs Pankratz.” Geralt pulled him to his feet and Jaskier wrapped his arms around Geralt’s waist, placing a sloppy kiss on his cheek.

“All good here, mother!”

“Dinner’s ready, hurry up.”

“We’ll be there in just a jiffy!” Jaskier sang as he leant into Geralt’s side. As his mother’s footsteps faded off down the hall he reached up to whisper in Geralt’s ear, “Showtime, darling.”

Geralt groaned. “Fuck.” ________________

Dinner wasn’t going too badly. Luckily Geralt and Jaskier had been best friends for most of their lives so there wasn’t much they didn’t know about each other. Honestly the only thing really missing from their friendship to make it more of a traditionally romantic one was the snogging. They went out of friend dates all the time, they lived together, and in all honesty they loved each other. Jaskier just made sure to double the use of pet names in front of his family, and he allowed himself to touch Geralt as much as he wanted, which was pretty much always. They held hands on top of the table, awkwardly eating one handed. Jaskier brought Geralt’s knuckles to his lips in between main and dessert, winking at his friend. It was so fucking easy to believe this was real. For two days he was getting everything he ever wanted. He was going to be heartbroken when this was over.

Geralt flushed and growled under his breath before kissing Jaskier’s cheek, much to delight of Jaskier’s parents.

“Julian, you know we won’t be offended if you want to kiss your boyfriend properly?”

Jaskier’s heart sank and he gripped Geralt’s hand tighter. They hadn’t discussed this. They really should have discussed this, but Jaskier had assumed two days without kissing in front of his parents would have been fine. Of course, his mother would decide to be cool. “Mother, really?” He groaned and hid his face in Geralt’s arm.

“You’ve been dating for six years, Julian. Your father had proposed by then when we were dating,” his mother sighed and smiled ever so sweetly at his father. “Don’t be shy, honey.”

“Mother!” Jaskier whined.

Geralt cleared his throat and Jaskier gazed up at his friend. There was a mischievous glint in Geralt’s eyes that Jaskier did not like the look of. He shook his head slowly at Geralt but it was too late. “Actually, Mrs Pankratz. I umm… I did have something to ask Jaskier,”

“Geralt…”

“The umm… well I wrapped it, but I guess now is as good as ever,” Geralt stood up and pulled Jaskier into the living room, ignoring his protests. Geralt pulled a small wrapped box from the tree, kneeling at Jaskier’s feet as he hand him the box.

Jaskier’s eyes went wide… what the actual fuck was happening? Jaskier thought back to his Christmas list. It was mostly nerdy shit and stuff for his instruments… nerdy shit. “Oh bollocks!” He yelled as he remembered a very specific piece of costume jewellery he’d asked for.

Was Geralt about to fake propose using the ring… like… the ring…  from Lord of the Rings? Oh god, he was going to die from embarrassment. Jaskier’s hands shook as he tore at the wrapping paper. The velvety box fell into his hands, the familiar Elvish inscription was pressed into the black velvet. He hid a laugh behind his hand as Geralt gently took the box and opened it. Jaskier barely heard the shrieks from his mother as Geralt winked at him.

“Jask, the last,” Geralt paused and scowled “six years of my life have been the happiest of my life.”

“Geralt,” Jaskier whined, his heart thumping in his chest despite the fact he knew it wasn’t real.

“I’m thankful that I finally stopped being afraid of what I felt, feel, for you, and umm, well asked you out,” Geralt licked his lips, he actually seemed nervous, which was utterly ridiculous. He was a better actor than Jaskier had anticipated. “Can’t imagine how different today would have been if I hadn’t made the choice that day, the choice to be brave instead of a coward.”

Jaskier couldn’t help but reach forward to cup Geralt’s cheek, his hand moving on its own accord. “You’re the bravest man I know.”

Geralt laughed bitterly. “Not always, but ah fuck, you distracted me.”

“Sorry?” Jaskier giggled. “Would it help if I said yes?”

“Yes,” Geralt grumbled.

Jaskier knelt down opposite Geralt. “Yes.”

And then they were kissing, because that was what you did when you got engaged, wasn’t it? Only they weren’t really engaged, they weren’t even dating. Tears streamed down Jaskier’s cheeks as he kissed his friend with all the feelings that he could never admit, holding Geralt’s face in his hands. They were both panting by the time they pulled apart. “I love you, dear heart.”

Geralt, to Jaskier’s surprise, was also crying. He smiled sadly back at Jaskier as he brushed the tears from Jaskier’s cheek. “I love you too, Jask.” And then he slipped the ring onto Jaskier’s finger.

Jaskier swallowed and bit back a sob. “Fuck.”

Geralt tilted his head and glanced towards the ceiling. Jaskier nodded, hugging his arms around his chest. “I think we need a moment alone,” Geralt muttered and scooped Jaskier up into his arms.

Jaskier mother, also crying because apparently Christmas Eve dinner was a disaster, nodded. “Take all the time you need, darlings."

Geralt nodded and Jaskier hummed pressing his face into Geralt’s neck, desperately trying not to lose his grip on reality. They weren’t engaged. The mantra ran through his head obsessively. One more day, they would exchange presents, maybe a standard kiss under the mistletoe and then by next year’s Christmas Geralt would have broken up with him, and Jaskier’s parents would be none the wiser that it had all been a ruse.

A ruse, an pretence, an act.

Only it wasn’t an act, not for him.

“Fucking shit balls,” He mumbled into Geralt’s shirt as his bedroom door was kicked open. Jaskier practically leapt from Geralt’s arms and into the mess of bedsheets, hiding from the love of his life and pseudo fiancé.

“Jaskier, I’m sorry. I took it too far.” Geralt mumbled, sitting down on the bed next to where Jaskier was curled into a ball.

“No,” Jaskier mumbled. “I just overreacted, I… ah fuck it. I wanted it to be real. I’m sorry!”

“You,” Geralt stammered. “You wanted it to be real?”

Jaskier laughed haughtily and threw off the covers, wiping his eyes and glaring at Geralt. “Of course I fucking did. I told my parents we were dating… for six fucking years!”

“And you never once mentioned any of this to me?”

Jaskier rolled his eyes. “Because I couldn’t lose you!”

“I didn’t want to lose you either.”

Jaskier’s eyes went wide as he gaped at Geralt. “Hang on what? What does that mean? Geralt? Please do not tell me that means what I think it means!”

“I love you,” Geralt whispered “always have.”

“No, no no no!” Jaskier whined as his head hit the headboard. “Fuck.”

“Sorry.”

Jaskier laughed, the disbelief and sheer happiness in his heart overwhelming him. “Oh my fucking god, Geralt!” Geralt growled and stood up but Jaskier caught his hand. “Don’t you see?”

“No, care to let me into the joke?”

“We could have been dating for years!” Jaskier cried and then slapped a hand over his mouth, not wanting his parents to hear their argument. “This,” he waved his left hand at Geralt. “could have been real?”

Geralt frowned, his gaze flickering between Jaskier’s hand and his eyes. He sighed and a faint smiled graced his lips. “Maybe we should try dating first? Proposing on the first date is a bit much.”

Jaskier laughed and pulled Geralt into another kiss, his tears ones of happiness this time. He stroked Geralt’s cheek as they pulled apart. “What about the second date?”

“Jask,” Geralt groaned.

“Ok, the third date,” He laughed and Geralt shut him up with another quick kiss.”

“Your turn to propose,” Geralt mumbled against his lips as Jaskier slipped his hand up Geralt’s shirt.

“I don’t think I can beat proposing with the ring, dearest,” He giggled as Geralt pushed him back against the mattress, his nose running along Jaskier’s jaw.

“You’ll think of something.”

Jaskier grinned as Geralt’s lips crashed against his. He would think of something, something spectacular, but for now he was too busy kissing his boyfriend, grand marriage proposals would have to wait until next Christmas. They could make it a tradition. ________________ Tag list: @alwenarin @slythnerd @davidtennan-t @flippinfricks @innocentcinnamonpun @marvagon @elliestormfound @geraskier-trashh @panerato @moonysourenza @artistsfuneral @hailhailsatan @wherethewordsare @havenoffandoms @bitchy-witchy-post-mortem @electricrituals @geralt-of-riviass @00qtee @kittynannygaming @stinastar @scribblesonmapleleaves @thecomfortofoldstorries @fontegagrilledcheese @anythinggoesfandoms @veritasrose @trickstermoose67 @nonegenderleftpain @ohheytheremiss @kueble @love-more-today-than-yesterday @kozkaboi @llamasdumpsterfire @skai6

[bluetomorrows]

Going Through My Movies Part 5: Burning (2018)

What. The. Fuck. Did I just watch?

Anyways I also watched High Diving Hare. Rather than showing off one joke and just building and expanding on it like our last short, this is more so concerned about how many different ways you can do one gag, in this case Bugs tricking Yosemite Sam to jump off the high dive into the bucket of water. And credit to them they do that gag in everyway possible. I will say it loses a little bit of the magic when the punchline is never unexpected, but this was still very fun.

You could say this movie is a slow burn

ba dum tish

In a way Burning is a movie about nothing. It's hard to argue that any of the characters go through big dramatic changes through an arc, the most you could argue is that things they repress are brought to the surface.

Even though again not much really happens in this 2 and a half hour movie, let me try and give you the premise anyways. Lee Jong-su is a loser. He has no friends, no girlfriend, he hasn't seen his mother and sister in many years, and his father is on trial for assault. He has no direction in his life. He wants to be a writer but he fails to think of any ideas for his book (Despite people around him suggesting that he base a book on other people in his life). He reunites with a girl he knew when he was younger Shin Hae-mi, and they start a kind of relationship before she goes on vacation to Africa. When she returns she has become friends with a man named Ben, a mysterious stranger whom both Jong-su and the audience get bad vibes from. While Jong-su becomes jealous of Ben and Hae-mi's relationship, we get a deeper insight into all 3 of their psyches, although Ben likes to keep his secrets, he eventually reveals to Jong-su that he likes to burn down greenhouses for fun, and he plans to do it again soon nearby. Soon after Hae-mi disappears and Jong-su becomes more obsessed with Ben.

Okay, I think I explained it well enough. That wasn't just for your sake mind you, I wanted to get it all straight in my head too. The world of Burning is very slow and very unremarkable. Jong-su desperately wants anything to shake up his life. He thinks Hae-mi is that thing. Some people have accused her of being a manic pixie dream girl which is incredibly dumb and comes from a fundamental misunderstanding of the movie. Hae-mi is only a manic pixie dream girl in Jong-su's mind. In reality, she's a completely normal average person with flaws like the rest of us. Burning is a reflection on the type of masculinity that makes men create manic pixie dream girls (God I hate that term) in their minds.

Steven Yeun as Ben is fantastic in this movie. I loved him in Invincible and he's quite good in one of my favourite films of all time, Sorry to Bother You. In both of those, he's a nice well-meaning, if flawed guy, but here he goes full American Psycho. He's a guy where if you just met him once or twice you probably wouldn't think anything is off, hell you'd probably like him, but IF he lets you pull back the layers you come to realize how screwed up he really is. Not in a Jeffrey Dahmer way, much more subtly than that. Steven Yeun carries it all, it would not work at all without his performance.

Burning is a psychological drama where the audience themselves are the ones who have to work to delve into the character's psyche. I have no doubt that behind the scenes there are dozens of reference pages thoroughly explaining each character, but the movie will never directly show you any of it. It's not so much about the characters, but rather the idea of the characters that we have in our minds and that's really interesting.

On top of all of that, this movie is also shot absolutely gorgeously. Excellent use of colour; it knows exactly when to heighten things with the cinematography and when to keep them grounded. The soundtrack ain't too bad either.

Burning is a movie that thrives in it's ambiguity. The mystery of everyday life, even if that mystery is manufactured. In a way it's about the quiet tragedy of day to day life, how humans won't ever be satisfied. It's not quite like anything I've seen before, it makes me want to go check out Lee Chang-dong's other films, I know Secret Sunshine has a Criterion so I'll have to pick it up in the next sale.

Really enjoyed this one. I gave it an 8/10, closer to a 9 than a 7. I know after all that glowing praise you might expect a 10/10, but I think in some ways the elements here I do like could be expanded upon to fill up the negative space of the story. I get why there's some repetition in this movie but I think they could present it in a better way.

Next up in my collection is The Cranes Are Flying by Mikhail Kalatozov. A movie I know very little about but have heard it is really great.

See ya when I see ya.