#oban 14

[nobrashfestivity]

KATSUSHIKA HOKUSAI Irises and Grasshopper Woodblock print, from an untitled series known as 'Large Flowers', signed Saki no Hokusai Iitsu hitsu, published by Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudo), circa 1833-34 Horizontal oban: 9 5/8 x 14 3/8 in. (24.4 x 36.5 cm.)

[eustasscapitankid]

Eustass Kid x Reader | GN! AFAB! Challenge: Kikitober 2024 "Modern" & "Knife Play" Rating: Explicit Warnings: None Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern, Knife Play, Choking, Teasing, Alcohol, Swearing, "Pet", One Use of "Boy/Girl" Summary: You were used to being disappointed on a night out at your local bar--but there was a new face in the crowd tonight. You just couldn't help but stare... Word Count: 2,160

"I just can't wait to get under your skin."

Notes: • Lightstruck - damaged or fogged by accidental exposure to light; a beer that has undergone a reaction to create MBT, which can cause it to smell like skunk spray. Other descriptions of the flavor and aroma include musky, foxy, dirty, dank, and marijuana-like • Oban - (14 Year Old) A balanced whiskey with a mix of maritime notes, sweetness, and a hint of smoke. • Amber - a warm, bright color that is a mix of yellow and orange; see here.

The bar is full of cheap beer when all you want is a tall glass of whiskey. Colored light filters through bottles on the shelves, blending with the soft glow of neon lights decorating the walls. Clinking glasses echo over boisterous voices. Large open doors let in sea breeze, obscuring the scent of lightstruck beer. Staring at the ring of liquid on the bar as you raise your glass, taking a sip of the golden liquid before placing it back in the small puddle. You shift your eyes across the room, a monotonous sea of plain t-shirts and slimy men.

How heavy is the weight of observation? Is it true that one can feel the pressure of a stare? Kid turned his head slightly, searching for the daggers that pierced his skin. His eye’s met your gaze, holding an unabashed intensity that made his cock twitch.

What’s this? A new plaything?

Downing the last dregs of his drink, his face twisted into a sardonic grin as he removed himself from his seat. Predatory eyes bore into you, footsteps seemed to echo impossibly through the bar as he approached—cutting his way through the crowd. The redhead was a striking figure with a grace that belied his towering frame, hulking over the men surrounding him. The soft fur coat that graced his shoulders stood in stark contrast to the sharp abs that peaked through his black vest.

“Well, well, well,” Eustass drawled, sliding into the open barstool next yours. He leaned closer, propping his chin on his hand as he inspected the specimen before him. “Seems like I’ve caught you staring, pet. Care to tell me why—or do we skip to the part where you buy me a drink?” His voice was a low purr, a teasing invitation.

Finally. Some hard liquor. “I think we skip to the part where you buy me a drink.” You didn’t even try to prevent the wide grin that spread across your face.

A rich, dark laugh reverberated through the air as he sat up, leaning back in his new seat with crossed arms, his gaze fixed on you in amusement. You’d have remembered seeing this man at this bar before—you hadn’t—yet the two taps of his fingers on the wooden surface seemed to materialize the bartender out of thin air.

“Two glasses of Oban,” he ordered without so much as a glance in the staff’s direction, his accent a mix of Gaelic lilt and South Blue roughness. “Neat.”

As the drinks were poured, his amber eyes remained glued to yours. A look radiating such unreserved fervor that it made you pulse.

Oh...fuck this is going to be fun.

He slid one of the whiskeys in front of you. “Here’s to new...acquaintances.”

You raised your drinks—letting the sound of glass meeting glass ring in the air between you, tapping it back on the wooden surface before each taking a swig.

“So, what brings a pretty thing like you to an ugly place like this?” He mused, his hand lazily drifting to the hilt of his blade, slotted into the hem of his pants, fingers tracing over it’s textured surface.

You fingered the rim of your glass. “Oh, just looking for some...entertainment.”

A wicked grin met you in response. He took another sip of his whiskey, relishing the burn as it slid down his throat before returning to his mindless stim. “Entertainment, hmm?” he unsheathed the knife, twirling it idly between his fingers, “If you’re looking for some fun, I promise you’ll find nor shortage of that with me.” Your eyes followed as he let the knife drop, it’s tip coming to gently rest on your thigh. “The thing about fun though—it comes with a price.” His eyes raised to meet yours. “Are you willing to pay it...?”

Unflinching, your fingers run up the blade, “What’s fun if it doesn’t come with a risk?” A challenge. Solidified as you finished the last of your drink.

Eustass felt a jolt course through him as he watched your fingers glide along the blade of his knife, the sensation like a surge of electricity.

I deserve a reward for this level of self-restraint alone.

He let the tip linger on your thigh, a small dimple pressed into your skin. “Shall we find somewhere else to continue this...conversation?” He answered with a question of his own, his voice dropping to a low murmur as he gestured toward the exit with a tilt of his chin.

In a fluid motion his knife was sheathed, money left on the counter, and a hand was outstretched in your direction. You accepted, using the leverage to slide yourself off the barstool. Fingers laced around the back of your neck guiding you out of the bar, the cool night air calming your heated skin. A shared glance. Kid’s eyes flicked to the nearby alley but you were already making your way to a small inlet within.

As soon as you’re out of sight, you’re spun around to face him. The assertive hand on the back of your neck now wrapped around the front, face close as his breath mingles with yours. “Are you sure you can handle what I have in mind?” It wasn’t a question. It was a promise. He leaned in, his lips capturing yours in a bruising kiss, your lips parted, his tongue greeted by the taste of remnant whiskey and unfettered lust. A low growl rumbled in his throat as he broke the kiss. The hand on your throat twisted as his thumb slipped under your chin, turning it up as he ghosted his lips over your skin as he pressed you against the wall.

I don’t care if this is a night of bliss or a storm I won’t survive.

Teeth sank into your neck, ravenous, threatening to break skin. His hand loosed it’s grip on your neck, tracing over your shoulders and down your arm before settling on the small of your back. He pulled your center flush against his body, hard muscle pressing against soft skin. The evidence of his arousal now pressed firmly against you. He rolled his hips into yours, relishing in the delicious gasp that escaped your lips. Fingers teasing the hem of your shirt. A light kiss pressed against your neck before pulling it over your breasts, the fabric, stretch and fit to form, staying perfectly in its new pace across your chest.

Fuck—they’re not even wearing a bra.

You felt his dick pulse against you, making you to bite your lip at the thought. You looked so handsome under the dim, flickering light. Your skin so soft under his touch.

He lifted the hem of his shirt with his thumb, followed swiftly by the sound of his blade leaving it’s sheathe with a soft whisper. His eyes shifted to the metal, appreciating the warm reflections that flickered along it’s edge. “Do you trust me?” his voice was low—kinetic—as he awaited your response.

You smirked, “Enough.” a light shrug tugging at your shoulders.

“Enough, huh?” he mused, bringing the flat side of the blade to rest against the curve of your neck. Your pulse thrumming through the knife, syncing with his own heartbeat. His tone was teasing, but the hunger carried behind it was unmistakable.

The cold steel traced down your chest leaving goosebumps in its wake.. He let the side pass over your right breast, his mouth following suit as he leaned forward to capture your hardened nipple in his mouth. The modified tip followed it’s path, tracing down your stomach. As it reached the hem of your pants he pulled away, a string of saliva connecting him to you. Removing it, he adjusted his grip, now teasing your cunt with it’s flat side pressed against your clothes. The resulting quiver like a gift.

Your lips parted, and he mirrored your expression. The resulting whimper causing the corners of his mouth to tilt up in subtle mockery. Placing the blade in your mouth, resting it between your teeth, he reached to unleash the button of your pants. Fingers teased at the hem of your underwear before slipping inside. His eyes darted down to his hand buried in your clothes.

God damn.

Wet fabric now clinging to the back of his hand. You had already soaked through your underwear. His fingers glided along your slit, coating them in your slick. The blade acted like a threatening gag, and you started to drool as his finger slipped inside of you—eliciting another pretty little whimper. He continued his ministrations, enjoying the feeling of your spongy insides against his fingers and the perfect little sounds you made. He added another finger to his ministrations, making it easier for him to press deeper into you, curling them into a spot that was…

“Nnnghh!” your moans were muffled by sharp object held in your mouth...but he wanted to hear those beautiful noises! His face fell close to yours, holding sharp eye contact as he grew closer. His teeth wrapped around the hilt of his knife. In return, your expression eased, giving way to a soft panting as he continued fucking into with his fingers.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, a genuine admiration laced in his voice, “like a storm waiting to be unleashed.” But his compliment, while sincere, was only to act as a balm as fingers left you empty in it’s wake. In spite of yourself, you let out a pathetic whine.

So cute.

Knife still firmly between his lips he knelt down in front of you, looking up at your confused expression as his hand found it’s way to the hem of your pants. With an expert grip that only someone with one arm could manage, he ripped your pants down, letting them fall to the floor. As he rose, he removed the blade from his mouth by it’s hilt, letting it trail down your stomach. Eye’s never leaving yours as it reached lower, lower—silently asking for permission to continue. A slight nod was all he needed. The steel slipped lower, the cold metal in stark contrast to the heat between your legs. With a swift motion, the knife moved to your inner thigh, it’s path now heading north. He chuckled darkly at the sharp intake of breath as it found its place, hovering just over your now exposed folds. Watching you twitch as it made contact with your leaking cunt. After teasing you for what felt like eternity, he brought the wet blade to his mouth. You watched as his tongue cleaned the blade, savoring every last drop of your sweet mess.

Ambrosia is real.

The look this evoked was enough to make him snap. He didn’t bother sheathing his knife. He let it drop to the floor as his hands sought his zipper. Ripping it open and unleashing his cock in a single movement. You knew it was big from when it was pressed up against you earlier, but seeing it bounce out of his pants made you drip. His hands laced around your waist, forcing you to turn toward the wall behind you—your palms bracing against it.

His fat tip traced along your entrance, teasing your pretty little pussy. But he couldn’t take that for long. After all, he knew he needed to go slow. He was here to have fun. Not break you. He aligned himself up with your entrance and pressed into you. Not even having his fingers inside of you just prior could have prepared him from the tightness that met his girth. He forced his dick inside of you, inch by delicious inch, before feeling confident enough he could bottom out without hurting you. His hand on your hip held you still as he pulled most of the way out before slamming back into you.

No longer able to hold back, he fucked into you with a punishing force. His hand doing all it could to steady you as he abused your hole. He continued his assault as the pressure built inside you like a rubber band. Heat pooled in your belly and your walls started to clamp around him. He leaned in to whisper in your ear, “Now be a good boy/girl and cum for me.” The rubber band broke. He rode into you as you found your climax, the feeling of your walls fluttering against his dick sent him over the edge into his own release, filling you with hot ropes of his milky cum. Wrapping his arm around your stomach, his head found the crook of your neck. Both sweaty and panting as you came down from your respective highs.

When both of you regained enough composure, you helped him as he pulled your pants up back over hips, the feeling of the still wet fabric cool against the battered space between your legs. You turned to face him. “Want to go back to my place?”

[whiskyconsidered]

Oban 14

The Basics: Do I recommend it?: It’s fine. Availability: Widespread. ABV: 43% Presentation: Unspecified General information: n/a Bottling type: Proprietary Character: Fresh and maritime. Score: 79/100 The details: Oban is one of the smaller distilleries in the vast Diageo portfolio. Its whisky, one of the original six in the classic malts range, has always been inexplicably popular here…

[nuwildcat]

Surprise Snippet

Heyyo! So during productivity corner this week I got cracking on another installment of the Vampire!Kinn Werewolf!Porsche series inspired by @moerusai‘s amazing gif edit. If you haven’t seen it you should check it out here!

I’m working my way through the next installment after Scotch and Blood and I’ve decided to treat you all to a little sampling of the next one!

Enjoy!

Last Wednesday, during a particularly slow shift at the bar, he decided to look into Kinn. Big mistake. Now, Porsche is all too aware of how much he has stepped in it by sleeping with that particular vampire. 

The earful that he had gotten from Yok when she caught sight of who he was googling , literally twisted his ear till he confessed like a pup, was loud, lengthy, and slightly scarring. There were allusions to the only functioning part of his body being between his legs and the fact that she could solve that problem for him. Porsche had made himself scarce for a while after that conversation.

Still, two weeks later, after spending the previous night snuggling with Chay on the couch watching trashy television, Porsche is in a particularly good mood. This is, of course, when the universe decides to dump a whole lot of drama in his lap.

The man who comes into Hum Bar is rather unassuming. He’s well dressed in a nice emerald sweater and grey slacks, with a benevolent smile on his face. The three men who enter after him, do not share his disposition, with their stone-cold looks, and eerily familiar uniforms.

The man comes right up to the bar after surveying the rest of the room and perches on one of the stools. There’s only one other small group in the bar. Interns from the dodgy law office down the street who are desperately trying to drink away their shitty work schedule are hiding in a booth in the back. Porsche approaches his newest customer with caution and his most courteous service worker smile.

“What can I do for you, sir?” 

The man eyes the bottles behind him with a piercing gaze before settling on Porsche. He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “What are your best scotches?”

Porsche just manages to control his eyebrows before they can display how ridiculous he finds that question. Besides walking into a cocktail bar, the man is asking for a liquor, that when done really well, comes from the opposite side of the world from Bangkok. He has a decent selection, but probably nothing this man usually drinks.

“What do you look for in a scotch?” 

This surprises the other man enough for him show it on his face. The smile that follows is a lot more genuine. “Something smokey but with notes of spice.”

That narrows the field a lot, they don’t have a lot of peated scotches. “More cinnamon and clove or something complex like licorice?” Porsche has two options in mind.

“Hmm,” the man pauses and considers for a moment. “For today, let's go with the cinnamon and clove notes.”

Porsche nods in response and immediately turns to grab the bottle of 14-year-old Oban, on their top shelf. He brings it to the man to show him the bottle.

“It’s a peated single malt scotch from the highlands. It’s distilled in copper and then aged in oak barrels,” he explains.

The man nods, “Yes, that will do.”

“Neat?”

Again a sharp nod. Porsche turns to grab a tulip glass.

“Not a snifter?” the stranger inquires. Porsche can’t tell if he’s testing him or genuinely doesn’t know.

“No, sir. Snifters have too small of a rim for their body and tend to release more of the ethanol aromas that will overpower the flavor of the scotch.” 

Porsche takes his job seriously. He isn’t just a prime bartender because of his looks, he’s good at this. The super nose helps, he picks up on smells humans won’t ever get, but even without that, he likes it. It’s interesting to learn the different mixology theories and understand the way that alcohol and flavors blend and can be enhanced.

The man swirls the scotch in the glass before taking a sniff and finally sipping. Porsche watches him swirl the alcohol in his mouth to get the flavors hidden in the scotch. This man is not an occasional drinker.

“Quite nice,” it’s not a raving review, but then again something tells Porsche he’s used to much higher-end stuff. And if he is who Porsche suspects he is, this kind of scotch wouldn’t make the cut. “What’s your name, young man?”

“Porsche,” He replies, there isn’t much else he can do.

“Ah, so you are who I’m looking for.” A sense of dread washes over Porsche, likely stealing some of the color from his cheeks. “It’s come to my attention that you know my son, Anakinn.”

[married-to-a-redhead]

Thankfully I didn’t do this the other night halfway through my bottle of Oban 14. At least that I can remember.

[acommonloon]

My first bottle purchase of 2023 is the Oban 14. I've had it several times over the years, most recently a memorable late night dram in an old Belgian Chateau with my son who'd never had Scotch.

It's an easy drinker with a Highland profile but stands apart for me with a buttery softness enhancing its sweet fruity character. It has a mild but extended linger drying the palate ruthlessly demanding another sip.

Maybe my favorite Highland

[h-sunnywet-d]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thank you @chocoluckchipz for the tag! 😊

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

8! Wow, I'm on fire or what? :D

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

18 501.... nah, I'm not on fire :"D

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Miraculous Ladybug

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Alone, with a roommate (333), Chat Noir's Tumblr Asks - the sequel (141), Loss (77), Get Lucky (76), Scary, like a little black purring kitten (47)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes, every time, and also try not to cry of happiness because people liked my story enough to leave comments 🥺💖

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I do not like angst as ending, but Loss has a sad theme overall.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I think it's Get Lucky :)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I don't think so? 🤔

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Nope

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Nope

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think my fics worthy enough to be stolen ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

See above, just with translating

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

@dkrosi was the sole inspiration for Scary, like a little black purring kitten, does that count?

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

Lovesquare (if not fanfic related and established relationship also counts, then Morticia and Gomez Addams)

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Chat got your tongue? and Fancy Dress too. The latter already has a fanart, and I would like to finish it one day.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I don't know? ^^;

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

A c t u a l l y w r i t i n g

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I'd write it in the same language as the fic, but note that they switched to another language and use italics to show what's said in another language. If the character which pov I use does not understand it I'd just say they speak in a foreign language, but won't write down what exactly has been said.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Oban Star Racers

20. Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

All of them! U_U (can't choose, don't force me please)

No pressure tags @dkrosi and @nebilas 😊

[vinora-nyghtshayde]

List of anime, a majority of them dubbed, I've watched over the years

1 .Hack//Legend of the Twilight

2 .Hack//Roots

3 .Hack//Sign

4 A centaur's life

5 A lull in the sea

6 A Whisker Away

7 Accel World

8 Ah! My Goddess

9 Akame Ga Kill

10 Amnesia

11 Android Kikaider the animation

12 Angel Sanctuary

13 Angels of Death

14 Armitage III

15 Arrietty

16 Assassination Classroom

17 Attack on Titan

18 Attack on Titan Junior High

19 B: The Beginning

20 Baccano

21 Banner of the stars

22 Basilisk

23 Bastard

24 Battle B-Daman

25 Beastars

26 Betterman

27 Beyblade

28 Beyond the Boundary

29 Big Fish & Begonia

30 Black Blood Brothers

31 Black Butler

32 Black Clover

33 Black Lagoon

34 Bleach

35 Blood Blockade Battlefront

36 Blood+

37 Blue Exorcist

38 Blue Seed

39 BNA: Brand New Animal

40 Boogiepop Phantom

41 Boruto

42 Bungo Stray Dogs

43 Cardcaptor Sakura

44 Carole & Tuesday

45 Case Closed

46 Casshern Sins

47 Castlevania

48 Castle in the Sky

49 Cells at work

50 Ceres, Celestial Legend

51 Charlotte

52 Cheer Boys

53 Chobits

54 Chrono Crusade

55 Code Geass: Lelouch of the rebellion

56 Code Geass: Akito the exiled

57 Code: Realize

58 Code: Breaker

59 Coppelion

60 Cowboy Bebop

61 Crest of the stars

62 Cyborg 009

63 D.Gray-Man

64 D.N.Angel

65 Dance with Devils

66 Deadman Wonderland

67 Death Note

68 Diabolik Lovers

69 Digimon

70 Dr. Stone

71 Dragon Ball Z

72 Dragon Ball GT

73 Dramatical Murder

74 Durarara

75 Erased

76 Ergo Proxy

77 Fooly Cooly

78 Fafner

79 Fairy Tail

80 Fire Force

81 Fist of the North Star

82 Flint the Time Detective

83 Free

84 From the new world

85 From up on Poppy Hill

86 Fruits Basket

87 Fullmetal Alchemist

88 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

89 Fushigi Yugi

90 Gad Guard

91 Gate Keepers

92 Gate Keepers 21

93 Ghost Hunt

94 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

95 Ginga Densetsu Weed

96 Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin

97 Gravitation

98 Gungrave

99 Gunslinger Girl

100 Gurren Lagann

101 Haikyu

102 Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East

103 Hakuoki

104 Hamtaro

105 Hell Girl

106 Hellsing

107 Hellsing Ultimate

108 Hetalia

109 Hitorijime My Hero

110 Howl's Moving Castle

111 Hyperdimension Neptunia

112 IGPX Immortal Grand Prix

113 Inuyasha

114 Isekai Quartet

115 Izetta: The Last Witch

116 Japan Sinks

117 Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

118 K

119 K-On

120 Kamigami no Asobi

121 Kamisama Kiss

122 Karas

123 Karneval

124 Kekkaishi

125 Kenichi The Mightiest Disciple

126 Kiki's Delivery Service

127 Kill La Kill

128 Kiss him, not me

129 Kiznaiver

130 Knight's & Magic

131 Konosuba

132 Kuroko's Basketball

133 Kyo Kara Maoh

134 Laughing Under the Clouds

135 Last Exile

136 Little Nemo

137 Little Witch Academia

138 Love Stage

139 Lupin III

140 Medabots

141 Megaman

142 Megaman NT Warrior

143 Mekakucity Actors

144 Mirage of Blaze

145 Mirai

146 Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid

147 Mobile Fighter G Gundam

148 Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team

149 Mobile Suit Gundam 00

150 Mobile Suit Gundam Seed

151 Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny

152 Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

153 Monster Rancher

154 Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

155 My Hero Academia

156 My Neighbor Totoro

157 My Love Story

158 My roommate is a cat

159 Nanbaka

160 Naruto

161 Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

162 Nekopara

163 No. 6

164 Noein To your other self

165 Noragami

166 Noragami Aragoto

167 Oban Star-Racers

168 One Piece

169 One-Punch Man

170 Ouran High School Host Club

171 Outlaw Star

172 Paranoia Agent

173 Peacemaker Kurogane

174 Please Teacher

175 Please Twins

176 Pom Poko

177 Ponyo

178 Porco Rosso

179 Pretear

180 Prince of Stride Alternative

181 Princess Mononoke

182 Prison School

183 Promare

184 RaXephon

185 Re:Zero

186 R.O.D the TV

187 Ronin Warriors

188 Rosario + Vampire

189 Rurouni Kenshin

190 RWBY: Ice Queendom

191 Servamp

192 Sk♾️ The Infinity

193 Sailor Moon R

194 Sailor Moon

195 Saint Seiya

196 Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas

197 Saiyuki

198 Samurai 7

199 Samurai Champloo

200 Samurai Deeper Kyo

201 Sankarea

202 Say I Love You

203 s-CRY-ed

204 Sensitive Pornograph

205 Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign

206 Serial Experiments Lain

207 Servamp

208 Shaman King

209 Shinzo

210 Shonen Maid

211 Show By Rock

212 Silent Mobius

213 Sirius the Jaeger

214 Snow White with the Red Hair

215 Sorcerous Stabber Orphen

216 Soul Eater

217 Soul Eater Not

218 Spice and Wolf

219 Spirited Away

220 Stars Align

221 Sukisho

222 Sword Art Online

223 Tactics

224 Tales of Zestiria the X

225 Tenchi Muyo

226 Tenjou Tenge

227 The Ancient Magus's Bride

228 The Boy and the Beast

229 The Cat Returns

230 The Devil is a Part-Timer

231 The Morose Mononokean

232 The Prince of Tennis

233 The Promised Neverland

234 The Rising of the Shield Hero

235 The Royal Tutor

236 The Seven Deadly Sins

237 The Vision of Escaflowne

238 The Way of the Househusband

239 The Wind Rises

240 Tiger & Bunny

241 Tokko

242 Tokyo Ghoul

243 Toradora

244 Trigun

245 Trinity Blood

246 Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle

247 Uta No Prince-sama

248 Vampire Hunter D

249 Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust

250 Vandread

251 Violet Evergarden

252 When Marnie Was There

253 Whisper of the Heart

254 Wise Man's Grandchild

255 Witchblade

256 Witch Hunter Robin

257 Wolf Children

258 Wolf's Rain

259 X

260 Yamada & the Seven Witches

261 Yami No Matsuei

262 Yashahime

263 Yona of the Dawn

264 Your Name

265 Your lie in April

266 Yu-Gi-Oh

267 Yu Yu Hakusho

268 Yuri!! On Ice

269 Zatch Bell

270 Zoids

[wolfjackle]

I managed to get in on the Oban Star Racers bluray drive. For those who don't know, Oban is a French-Japanese cartoon that aired in 2006. Beloved cult classic for those who remember it.

The creators of the show were the ones trying to remaster it because the DVDs were out of print, expensive, and hard to find. (I know. I had to trawl Ebay for affordable copies.)

I want to quote some parts of their posts from the kickstarter.

...it already took us three full years to locate, negotiate the rights, and then restore, recalibrate and resynchronize the 11 different dubs which will be featured on this Blu-ray release

I want to reiterate: the PRODUCTION studio struggled to track down official dubs. And even after doing so, they were unable to get the rights to the English opening song and the bluray only features the Japanese opening. (Which is absolutely lovely, but I have a fondness for the English opening because it's what I grew up with.)

Unfortunately, a number of these international masters had been so badly damaged with time that they became totally unusable (such as the Indian languages dubs of Episode 12), when they were not simply lost for good (such as episodes 14 to 26 of the Polish dub). Other dubs had also not been properly recorded from the start, which caused other issues. As a result, in a few languages the voices may sound a little deeper. But at least we were able to save and preserve 10 of these international versions - 11 if we count the Polish dub, which we will include in our release using a lower quality alternative sound source for the second part of the series. A few years more, or even months, and we may have lost much more...

Even after all that work, they couldn't save everything.

Actually, after digitizing the original HD video master tapes, we realized they too were badly damaged in places. Luckily, we had two different sets available and little by little were able to patch every shot that needed fixing.

Some examples of glitched or damaged footage that had to be repaired:

Here's a link to the (closed) kickstarter where I got the above quotes and images. There's more info in updates, but I feel like the above is a good summary.

I was shocked when I read the above. How can the production company have to spend so much time to track down and get rights to their own media? How could dubs be lost and the original high def footage be damaged so badly?

And what happens to all the movies and shows with creators who don't or cant spend the time, money, and effort on restoring their work? It is impossible for a group of fans to do what Sav! did to restore Oban. And I'm so, so lucky it happened to a show I'm a fan of.

But had it not happened? This would be another piece of lost media out there with no option but piracy.

People with most mainstream tastes imaginable should not open their mouth on how anti piracy they are btw. Yea no shit you can depend on legal sources to watch Marvel and listen to tswift and Maroon 5. Thank you so much for signing the petition to close that platform that was the only one i could download this 2008 romanian dungeon synth ep from

[tblraris]

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) Minamoto no Yorimitsu-ko no yakata ni Tsuchigumo yokai nasu no zu (The Earth Spider conjures up demons at the mansion of Minamoto no Yorimitsu) Woodcut, signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga and published by Ibaya Sensaburo--very good impression, good color, worming, some margins trimmed oban tate-e triptych: 14 7/8 x 10¼in. (37.7 x 26cm.), each

[nobrashfestivity]

Unknown (Meiji Period) Modern Wardrobe for Women: Change-of-Clothes (Tosei fujin isho kise)

unsigned, with publisher's seal Marukame han (Fukase Kamejiro) on the top margin, further publisher details below unmarked Meiji date along the left margin, ca. 1900

oban tate-e 14 1/2 by 9 3/4 in., 36.8 by 24.7 cm

[maltrunners]

Oban 14 Year (2006), Distiller's Edition 2006

Review by: Whiskery Turnip Distillery: Oban. Bottler: Distillery. Region: Scotland/Highland Single Malt. ABV: 43%. Age: 14 Years. Distilled in 2006. Bottled in 2020. Cask type: Montilla Fino Sherry Finish. Nose: Dried fruits with gentle florals and an old-fashioned candy sweetness; musk and pomegranate, raspberry and orris, a hint of lavender with dried grass and orange peel; tangerine and…

[pamprinninja]

Thanks to @cronnissar for tagging me in!

Eggs: Poached when in a breakfast sandwich / over Eggs Benedict; white omelette with Swiss cheese if I’m being good; fried¹ if I’m not.

Steak: My sympathies to the well-done folks (a preference frequently born of poverty); but medium-rare is objectively the right way to go.

Milk: For drinking, almond milk (preferentially with honey, over ice). Skimmed milk for everything else².

Alcohol: Oban 14, chilled³.

Warm drink: So, so much coffee. So much. (Although green tea is also good!)

¹ The closest US equivalent would be ‘over hard’; although Americans like to smash the yolks and / or move the eggs off of heat before the edges are crisp.

² I know that full-fat milk is considered superior in taste; but I was raised on skimmed, and reacclimatizing my taste buds is, alas, not a priority.

³ Do not mistake my choice as proof of a sophisticated palate; Oban is in a drinking polycule with Bailey’s and Jose Cuervo.

[oilyfry]

dogs4vets 2017

best ending I can imagine for Price and one where doesn't drink himself to death is in an alternate universe where after ww3 he gets assigned an emotional support corgi whom he loathes at first but comes around to and affectionately names Muppet.

Honorably discharged (forcibly in reality, bcs of the mess he caused in Dubai) he retires to a quiet life of writing military themed poetry and tending to the memory of his fallen brothers in arms, with the exception of an occasional pub fight for that sweet sweet adrenaline rush. He goes to the racecourse periodically too, supposed to be for fun but he keeps betting on MacGregor, first to show, and losing his money each and every time.

He's haunted by the past of course waking up at night disoriented and scared, he cant take cold showers anymore and is absolutely unable to relate to the civilian population outside his veteran support group so he self-isolates even from family despite his counselor's advice (he stopped showing up to sessions cause it's a load of bollocks anyway).

But on the bright side he gets a part time job at a shooting range as a safety officer, plus he gets employee discounts. And he quits smoking. Cigars I mean. He switched to menthol cigarettes, pack a day, to mask the rust he keeps tasting in his mouth.

...His worst offense is that he's still reading through that damn journal!!!...not daily. But when he finds himself forgetting he's a walking corpse (cause to him Price died in the gulag) eg enjoys himself too much at a get-together with some of the old boys, he pulls out a pandora shoebox he keeps under his bed along with a bottle of Oban 14 and goes on a trip down memory lane. the pages are a mess, falling out so in wrong order, photos faded... breaking those confidentiality contracts he tells Muppet classified war stories cause she won't try to comfort him when his voice breaks. He always finishes with 'if you tell anybody I'll have to kill you' and he's dead serious.

Anyways, he lives long enough to experience the beginning of ww4.

[mardelivros]

Começam as escavações que darão origem ao Memorial DOI-CODI em São Paulo

As escavações arqueológicas no antigo endereço do Destacamento de Operações de Informação - Centro de Operações de Defesa Interna (DOI-Codi) - órgão que era subordinado ao Exército e foi local de tortura e assassinatos de opositores da ditadura militar - já têm data para que sejam executadas: de 2 a 14 de agosto deste ano. 

Os trabalhos serão realizados por pesquisadores da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) e da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG). Eles avaliam que os prédios do antigo DOI-Codi/SP são um marco físico que documenta um período brutal da história brasileira, sob permanente disputa.  Com as escavações (a serem realizadas na rua Tutóia, 921, no Paraíso, bairro da capital paulista, onde hoje ainda funciona uma delegacia de polícia), os pesquisadores pretendem explorar os vestígios encontrados no local, objetos, estruturas arquitetônicas e registros documentais, a fim de buscar esclarecimentos sobre o passado e contribuir para a compreensão dos eventos ocorridos durante o período.  “Resultado de um trabalho coletivo desenvolvido no âmbito do Grupo de Trabalho Memorial DOI-Codi em 2018, o objetivo dessas escavações é utilizar as pesquisas arqueológica e histórica para compreender os vestígios materiais e a memória associada a esse importante local de violações de direitos”, disse, em nota, o grupo responsável pelo trabalho.  Espaço de memória Acrescentou que busca estabelecer uma base sólida para a criação de um espaço de memória do estado de São Paulo, permitindo que diversos grupos da sociedade possam acessar informações e interpretações sobre o passado.  “A investigação rigorosa, o diálogo contínuo com a sociedade e a aliança entre ciência e direitos humanos é um dos caminhos para o conhecimento do nosso passado, visando o fortalecimento da democracia e da construção de políticas públicas efetivas para a consolidação da cidadania”, diz a nota.  Haverá ainda visitas guiadas às escavações, oficinas com estudantes e professores, além de mesas e debates com ex-presos, pesquisadores e defensores dos direitos humanos. Breve relato feito por quem passou pelas celas do DOI-CODI Em 12 de junho de 2021, o jornal Correio Braziliense publicava um texto do jornalista Moacyr Oliveira Filho, preso pelo DOI-CODI em 8 de maio de 1972. Como colaborador voluntário da Comissão Nacional da Verdade, em 2012/2013, ele participou de quatro diligências no endereço onde serão feitas as escavações, ajudando a reconstituir sua arquitetura original, descaracterizada por várias reformas. Reproduzimos a seguir parte do referido texto. Também reproduzimos imagem do local que ilustrou a matéria, para melhor compreensão do que Oliveira Filho relata. A Operação Bandeirantes (OBAN) foi criada em 2 de julho de 1969. Instalou-se, inicialmente, no quartel do 2º Batalhão de Reconhecimento Mecanizado da Polícia do Exército, na Rua Abílio Soares, mas logo depois foi transferida para o complexo de prédios, entre as ruas Tutóia, 921, Thomaz Carvalhal, 1030, e Coronel Paulino Carlos, no bairro do Paraíso, pertencentes ao Governo do Estado de São Paulo, nos fundos da 36ª DP, que funciona até hoje na Rua Tutóia. Em setembro de 1970 passou a se chamar, oficialmente, Destacamento de Operações Internas — Comando de Operações Internas (DOI-CODI). O DOI-CODI funcionou ali até 1984, quando foi transferido, inicialmente para o 4º Batalhão de Infantaria, conhecido como Quartel de Quitaúna, em Osasco, e depois para uma área no Hospital do Exército, no Cambuci, onde ficou até a sua desativação, por uma Portaria do Ministério do Exército, de 18 de janeiro de 1982, que criou em seu lugar, nas 2ª Seções das unidades militares, as Subseções de Operações (SOp), para realizar as operações de informações e contra-informações. Quando dessa transferência, alguns dos seus principais torturadores deixaram o órgão, retornando para as Polícias Militar, Civil ou Federal. Um deles foi o delegado Laertes Aparecido Calandra, que usava o codinome de Capitão Ubirajara, que voltou para a Polícia Federal, levando consigo a maior parte dos arquivos do DOI-CODI. Os documentos mais sensíveis foram queimados. O que escapou está hoje no Arquivo Público do Estado de São Paulo, podendo ser consultado na pasta 50 – Z – 9 do Fundo Deops. Em junho de 1991, o complexo arquitetônico da Rua Tutóia é oficialmente devolvido pelo Exército ao Governo do Estado de São Paulo. Em 2014 foi tombado pelo CONDEPHAAT – Conselho de Defesa do Patrimônio Histórico, Arqueológico, Artístico e Turístico do Estado. Até hoje funcionam ali a 36ª Delegacia Policial e diversos outros órgãos da Secretaria de Segurança Pública. A reivindicação dos movimentos de direitos humanos, Tortura Nunca Mais e familiares de mortos e desaparecidos é de que esse complexo arquitetônico, depois de tombado, seja transformado num Memorial, para preservar a memória desse lugar. Essa reivindicação consta, também, das recomendações do Relatório Final da Comissão Nacional da Verdade. Mas isso até agora não saiu do papel. Antes do tombamento, várias reformas realizadas no prédio principal, onde funciona a Delegacia e ficavam, desde 1970, as salas de tortura e as celas do DOI-CODI, descaracterizaram completamente esses espaços. O outro prédio, onde as torturas eram realizadas em 1969, está inalterado, mas totalmente abandonado. Em 2013, diligências da Comissão Nacional da Verdade, com a participação de ex-presos políticos que ali estiveram (eu participei de 4 visitas ao local), reconstituíram a arquitetura original do DOI-CODI. Esse trabalho está no Relatório Final da Comissão Nacional da Verdade, com os respectivos croquis, nas páginas 755 a 757. O DOI-CODI atuou intensamente na repressão política até 1976, quando ocorreu sua última grande operação — a Chacina da Lapa, como ficou conhecido o episódio em que membros do DOI-CODI invadiram a casa que ficava na Rua Pio XI, 767, no bairro da Lapa, São Paulo, que servia de sede para o Comitê Central do Partido Comunista do Brasil (PCdoB). Na operação, Angelo Arroyo e Pedro Pomar foram assassinados pelos agentes do DOI-CODI e sete integrantes do PCdoB — João Batista Drummond, Elza Monnerat, Aldo Arantes, Haroldo Lima, Wladimir Pomar, Joaquim Celso de Lima e Maria Trindade – foram presos e levados ao prédio da Tutóia. João Batista Drummond foi assassinado nas dependências do DOI.

36º Distrito da Policia Civil, antiga sede do DOI-CODI em São paulo - (crédito: Cadu Gomes/CB/D.A Press) Considerado o mais violento e emblemático órgão de repressão da ditadura militar, segundo dados de uma monografia do tenente-coronel Freddie Perdigão Pereira, apresentada à Escola de Comando e Estado-Maior do Exército, em 1977 – O Destacamento de Operações de Informações (DOI) – Histórico Papel no Combate à Subversão – Situação Atual e Perspectivas, de 1969 a 1977, 2.541 pessoas foram presas pelo DOI-CODI, 914 foram encaminhadas para lá por outros órgãos, 3.442 prestaram declarações e foram liberadas e 54 foram mortas ou desaparecidas, depois de presas ali. Já o jornalista Marcelo Godoy, em seu livro A Casa da Vovó, lista 79 mortos por agentes do DOI ou depois de presos em suas operações, incluindo aí os que foram mortos em operações de rua ou em outros centros clandestinos, como o Sítio 31 de Março e a Casa de Itapevi, conhecida como Boate, utilizada a partir de 1974. O DOI-CODI operava com três Seções — Interrogatório, responsável pela coleta de informações, interrogatórios e torturas; Busca e Apreensão, responsável pela prisão e estouro de aparelhos; e Investigação e Análise, responsável pela investigação, análise e cruzamento dos depoimentos e informações obtidas nos interrogatórios e aparelhos, que orientava os torturadores nos novos interrogatórios. Cada uma dessas Seções operava com 3 equipes — A, B e C, que trabalhavam em revezamento de 24 por 48 horas. As equipes de interrogatório tinham um chefe, normalmente um delegado da Polícia Civil ou Federal, e cerca de 4 interrogadores/torturadores e um carcereiro — oficiais da PM, agentes da Polícia Federal ou Civil e militares de médio escalão. Todos os torturadores usavam codinomes, de forma invertida, para dificultar a sua identificação. Assim, os policiais civis ou federais usavam codinomes de patentes militares – Capitão Ubirajara, Tenente Ramiro, etc, e os militares usavam codinomes civis — Dr. José, Dr. Jorge, Dr. Tibiriçá, etc. Seu primeiro comandante foi o então major Waldyr Coelho, de 1969 a setembro de 1970, quando foi substituído pelo então major Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, que usava o codinome de Doutor Tibiriçá, o maior símbolo da tortura no Brasil, que chefiou o órgão de 29 de setembro de 1970 a janeiro de 1974. Outros comandantes foram o então major Audir Santos Maciel (1974/1976) e os tenentes-coronéis Paulo Rufino Alves (1976/1978), Carlos Alberto de Castro (1979), Dalmo Lúcio Muniz Cyrillo (1980/1982) e Alfredo Lima do Carmo (1982/1985). Nos primeiros meses de seu funcionamento, entre julho de 1969 e setembro de 1970, o esquema era precário. As torturas ocorriam no prédio de dois andares (à direita da foto, onde tem umas Kombis estacionadas) de forma meio improvisada. Mais de uma pessoa era torturada numa mesma sala, usando-se lençóis ou placas de madeirite para separar os ambientes, de modo que um preso podia ouvir a tortura e o interrogatório do outro. Foi a partir de setembro de 1970, quando assumiu o comando o então major Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, que o DOI-CODI passou a funcionar de forma mais organizada, com as torturas e as celas funcionando nos fundos do prédio principal, onde funcionava a 36ª DP (à esquerda da foto, onde tem 3 carros estacionados), inclusive com revestimento acústico da sala principal de tortura, que ficava no térreo, ao lado da carceragem. Portanto, os companheiros que foram presos entre 1969 e 1970 têm uma visão diferente da dos que foram presos depois de 1970. Nessa época, a entrada das viaturas que nos conduziam, as temíveis C-14, era feita pelo portão de ferro da Rua Thomaz Carvalhal, 1030, nunca pela 36ª DP. No térreo do prédio principal, onde funciona a Delegacia, ficava a carceragem, que tinha 7 celas, separadas por um muro. De um lado, a solitária (X0) e outras 3 celas (X1, X2 e X3). Do outro lado, mais 3 celas (X4, X5 e X6, que era a cela especial das mulheres). A carceragem era separada dos demais ambientes por uma porta de ferro. Ao lado direito dessa porta de ferro havia uma mesa onde ficavam os carcereiros. No teto do pátio, havia uma abertura, uma espécie de clarabóia. Saindo da carceragem pela porta de ferro, à direita ficava a sala principal de tortura, com isolamento acústico e onde eram instalados o pau-de-arara e a cadeira do dragão. Uma escada levava para as salas de interrogatório do primeiro andar, onde ficavam, também, as salas do comandante e da equipe de análise. Hoje, com as reformas, iniciadas no final do primeiro governo de Geraldo Alckmin e no de Cláudio Lembo, em 2006, depois que a carceragem da Delegacia foi desativada, as celas não existem mais. No seu lugar foram construídas salas, onde funciona parte do Departamento de Polícia Judiciária da Capital – DECAP. A solitária virou um almoxarifado e a sala principal de tortura um depósito de material. Essas áreas estão isoladas do resto do prédio por uma parede de drywall. O espaço aberto no teto do pátio, uma espécie de clarabóia, foi reformado e tem, hoje, uma cobertura de acrílico. A liminar da Justiça, na ação civil pública proposta pelo Ministério Público de São Paulo, ainda que parcial, é uma vitória importante e um primeiro passo para que o sonho de que esses prédios se transformem num Memorial vire realidade. Para que não se esqueça! Para que nunca mais aconteça! (*) Com informações da Agência Brasil e pesquisa da Agência PáginaUm de Notícias. Read the full article