#of course i like my opinions more than other's otherwise I'd have different opinions

[areyoudoingthis]

I think the reason I don't really enjoy the ofmd fandom is that most people are actually convinced that they have the correct interpretation of the show and everyone else is wrong. and it's not just the rabid izzy fans, it's most people in every camp. the fun thing about the everyone's opinions are incorrect except mine take on fandom is that it's not true, and it stops being fun when you truly believe it

[cenorii]

Suspicious mentions

Today we will focus on something interesting, a little sad, and also squint and pretend to be surprised by something. A little bit of Jake, a little bit of Wesker.

I wrote once before that I find any mention of Wesker in games since his "death" suspicious, but I want to talk about it again because I have something to add. All of this is my personal opinion, seasoned with facts.

Capcom jettisoned Wesker very early on, failing to find a proper\interesting use for the character other than "antagonist who dies at the end of the game". Wesker has too long and complex a history that intertwines with all the games, and dying so early and so stupidly is obviously not a very worthy development for such a character. And they came to that conclusion too, but very late. This is the reason why Jake Muller, a wonderful character, and the whole thing with his mother was invented. Jake is a nice way for Capcom to continue Wesker's idea, but without him, or an attempt to end his story in a more dignified way by giving him a "suitable successor".

But they couldn't achieve the desired result with Jake either, so they continued to get out of the quagmire they got themselves into because of the ending of re5 by adding references to Wesker in Umbrella Corps, where it's gotten to the point where he's probably alive or his clone is now in charge of the Corps. A convenient way to prepare players for his return? Do they really intend to develop him? I'd like to see that happen.

But no one would be surprised that Wesker isn't dead, knowing his regeneration abilities and so on. So Capcom is forced to write in every note mentioning him that he's dead, reminding everyone that the volcano is his end. But… as we can see, this certainty of his death is the delusion they're trying to make us believe. All those notes, all those mentions… they are unreliable, because no one has ever answered the question "did anyone check out that volcano?". Can anyone in RE at this point be 100% certain that Wesker is dead? I don't think so, since no one has checked his "place of death".

In re7 Capcom decided to remind players of Wesker again, stating that BSAA is now, all of a sudden, partnered with Blue Umbrella, and using Wesker's weapons recovered from his designs. Why bring up Umbrella again? Why give them the same logo as the Corps but in blue colors? Why make Chris use Wesker's weapon? These details were chosen by Capcom for a reason, because games aren't developed in 5 minutes, they are created over years and all these small details are discussed repeatedly. Wesker's weapon also appeared in Umbrella Corps, which kind of hints that Capcom had some development planned for him as early as 2015. Empty references and a sudden clone? No, it's all for a reason. It all carries some sort of meaning and will lead to something in the end.

The note Jake's mother left him before she died reads:

«My beloved son, Jake. Please forgive your mother for leaving you alone so soon. And please don't hate your father. Your father surely still loves you from the bottom of his heart. Stay strong and know that you will meet him one day»

(Project Umbrella Translation)

I'd like to talk about Ms. Muller's assurance that Jake will one day meet Wesker. This, of course, could be a dramatic element, telling the viewer that Jake will not meet him, since his father is dead and he is now all alone. However, now, knowing all the facts telling us otherwise, Jake's mother's words sound different. They sound like a prophecy. Why was she sure that Jake and Wesker would meet? How deep is this iceberg?

There are no answers to these questions, we can only hope Capcom continues to pursue this line in future games. Given the presence of a picture of the old Wesker in re8 - they're really determined to develop this subtle storyline. And that's a great thing.

It's about time they stopped killing off "negative" characters at the end of games if they are "negative", because sometimes some of them have great potential for a second life. A character like Wesker, with a background that can only be compared to the deepest iceberg, is capable of something more than just antagonism. And I'm really enjoying the fact that he still hasn't been brought back, only tossing us small details that only slightly hint at his continuing life. After all, this is how a character like this should be revealed, he's perfectly at home in the background, behind the scenes, as someone who doesn't like to get personally involved. He's a head, but not a leader.

And if that's exactly what they're leading us to, they don't want to surprise us with Wesker's return at all. That would be too easy, don't you think?

[crabsnpersimmons]

Hello there!

I'd like to know your advice on drawing tablets?

As in, what do you use for your digital art? Is there any you suggest?

I'm planning on getting one, but there are so many options, and I'd like to know your opinion and preference.

Thank you ^^

hi anon! thanks for the question!

i draw with a samsung galaxy tab s7!

BUT if this is your first time drawing digitally, then it's a good idea to test out if you like it with cheaper options first (so you don't drop a whole lot of money on a hobby/medium of art you don't enjoy)

some suggestions:

if you have a smart phone, try drawing with your finger using free to use drawing apps like ibispaint X or HiPaint (i recommend HiPaint cuz the UI is a lot simpler and less overwhelming, but both have a good selection of tools. i wanna say ibispaint has better text tools tho and there's A LOT more tutorials and resources online) drawing digitally with your finger is different from drawing digitally with a pen AND drawing traditionally, but this is a good way to familiarize yourself with digital art tools. a very simple entry point if you already have a smart phone.

if you don't want to draw with your finger (understandable, i personally couldn't stand it) you can try simple drawing tablets, which are the tablets that you plug into your computer/laptop, come with a pen, but they don't have a screen you draw directly on. they're actually a lot more affordable nowadays (i saw some for under $50 CAD, which is WILD), so that’s a good starting option if you want to draw with a pen. with a pen, you have more control with line weights than you do with your finger, but it takes practice to get used to. it also takes some getting use to drawing on a tablet and looking at your monitor, but this is where i started haha. i still have my old bamboo wacom create drawing tablet. but nowadays, other brands like xp-pen and huion are very comparable to wacom, so definitely consider getting a cheaper one to try out first. of course, if you go with a drawing tablet, you'll need an art program on your computer. i've used photoshop and clip studio paint and they're very good, but probably overwhelming for people who are new to digital art (they are loaded with tools and you have to really familiarize yourself with the menus and everything). there are probably simpler options available... but i'm not as familiar with them. oh wait, i think there are some drawing tablets that can also connect with your smart phone too nowadays. man, that's so cool. that's probably a better option instead of purchasing photoshop or clip studio paint right off the bat.

if you REALLY want a screen display experience, try a cheaper general tablet. iPads are a popular option if you're comfortable with the Apple ecosystem (i'm not 😅) but they can be pricey PLUS you have to buy the Apple pen separately. for Android, I'm pretty sure even the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is a solid choice and it comes with a pen unlike an iPad. the SPen is built with Wacom tech, so you know it's quality. and while iPad has Procreate, HiPaint is available for Android and it's basically a Procreate clone (i explain more about HiPaint here) otherwise, ibisPaint X is also good and infinite painter is probably the most sophisticated free to use drawing app i've encountered (sophisticated as in it does a pretty good job at imitating traditional media in their brushes. it's cool, but the free version is very limited).

also if you like watching videos, Brad Colbow and Teoh on Tech on YouTube are great resources. they specifically review tech from an artist's perspective.

why i suggest testing it out is because if you're used to drawing traditionally, then switching to digital is a different experience. some artists can't get used to drawing digitally, and that's fine. that's why it's a good idea to test it out with a cheaper option first to see if you like it and to give yourself time to familiarize yourself with drawing apps/programs. i actually kinda hated drawing digitally at first. i didn't have the same level of control that i was used to with drawing traditionally. and overtime i made a lot of bad habits with my digital art that i had to unlearn by switching back to traditional art for a couple years (some bad habits like: relying on the Undo button to make "perfect" lines; trying to draw really fast because the pen glides over the screen unlike a pencil has friction against paper) so... give it a try and just let yourself have fun. don't worry about making anything perfect, just have fun!

[collegetennisoriginstory]

I wanted to throw in my opinion on the Trans MC if you want it! Option 3 would be a lot of extra writing and coding, so I get that it wouldn't be a decision made lightly and it would be added pressure to get it right and it's a sensitive topic for sure. I will say that if you chose to go this route tho, it would make a huge difference and mean a lot to us. I'm a trans athlete, and the lack of representation can be really discouraging. It's time like these where we are receiving so much hate, especially when it comes to sports, that allies could really step up and make a difference. Reading can really open people's minds! It may be difficult and uncomfortable, and take extra work, but that's our everyday tbh. We out here living on hard mode 😂 that's just my thoughts on the matter but I will respect you and read your story either way. Much love 🏳️‍⚧️♥️

Hey! Thank you so much for sending this! This gets long, forgive my wordiness.

First off, I really feel your statement to the bone, the part about how allies could step up and make a difference, and how positive rep in media, games etc. is insanely important.

So many stories, TV shows, movies have shaped my experience of being queer and POC, and while some of them have been nice just so I could see someone like myself being represented, the ones that really made an impact are of course the ones where these identities were explored in a sensitive, thoughtful way. (When I watched Saving Face for the first time at 17, about a queer Chinese American doctor, I bawled my eyes out and dont think I've been the same since).

I would absolutely love if CT:OS/my IFs could do this for trans athletes too.

I've seen/heard so many worrying statements about trans athletes (both in real life and in the media)—and it makes me so sad.

Some that really get me really riled up are: The idea that a trans athlete's accomplishments mean nothing because they "have an unfair advantage" (or putting it down to "just hormones" or whatever instead of recognizing the hardwork, skill, and dedication behind EVERY successul athlete, trans or not). Or the idea that trans athletes shouldn't get to choose to be trans if they want to be athletes. Or the idea of policing trans athletes' bodies or forcing them to undergo surgery in order for them to be "valid"...

Well, FUCK THAT. FUCK those people.

If my IF can help celebrate trans athletes, and combat/shut down the really harmful (and ignorant) rhetoric out there? I'd love to do that.

But since I am not trans myself, it feels doubly, triply important that I wade really carefully here. I'd really need to spend time making sure I like and can stand behind what I'm putting out. I don't think it'd be responsible representation, otherwise!

I'm not really a perfectionist about my writing and that's how I make progress on my IFs while working a full time job. I'm more the... "slap shit tgt, get it out there, get feedback and edit if I feel like it" kind of writer. And I don't think I'd be able to finish CT:OS / Merry Crisis any other way. But when it comes to race, gender, and sexual identity? I really. Really. Wanna get things right.

(I rewrote that Rayyan convo about being a POC athlete with Deepal so many times haha and it was already marginally less scary, since I am a POC athlete.)

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I agree it's so goddamn important to have trans stories, and rep, especially in sports, where views are often so toxic and polarized.

But I don't think I know yet whether I see my IF being more a simple "yay, trans rep" kind of space or an actual deeper exploration of what it means to be a trans athlete. I was quite prepared to add the option to be trans (+ any accompanying scenes etc.) when I have the complete CT:OS 1st draft, but I was also toying with the idea of just putting something imperfect into the game earlier.

Faced with indecision, I've opted for: procrastination. I am still waffling, but it was helpful to hear what you guys think. Thank you so much for your message.

Lots of love, keep being awesome ❤️

[bellshazes]

i am very curious about your academic history! uni or informal or personal interest or otherwise. i've seen you mention a number of disciplines from time to time, v cool to see medieval studies be among them. always awe-inspiring to see someone use their wealth of lit knowledge to help create incredibly provocative posts about minecraft youtubers. your experience with philosophy is one i'd love to know more about.

(if you're comfortable with sharing it! otherwise, feel free to ignore this ask :P)

this is a very lovely ask and i don't mind to share at all because it's really just... a hodgepodge. it took me twelve years to graduate college. i flunked out my junior year and tried in fits to go back and chip away at my last requirements only when i got reimbursement through my job. i concentrated my courses on medieval culture/literature, french, and general linguistics (these often overlapped). i didn't study any actual theory in my courses until i took my final 2 humanities ones. which in fact i took and blogged through right here.

taking that theater of the absurd class (as Last Life happened!) connected me to academic game studies, which was easy pickings since i spent about a decade teaching arkham horror (and occasional other pinch hits for e.g. catan) at game conventions. so i have a lot of friends from those cons who enjoy and have the vocabulary to dissect games' mechanics and feel and the social dynamics of them. i love rehashing the difference between game mastering a co-op board game vs. an official strategy tournament vs. casual improv games vs. casual competitive vs. asymmetric, and then rehashing the player pov of each of those and more, and people who can argue back.

i'm very lucky to have friends who also think of philosophy not as being walled off from daily life but a practice of examining the world and our relationships within it. we sit and argue for the sake of tearing a concept apart, like "what differentiates art from craft?" or "does the platonic ideal suck or is it romantic?" or "what are you most afraid of?". do this for at least 5 years and you'll end up with complex opinions and perspectives. in my early 20s, biking from my restaurant job to free museums and writing about local art history kept me alive.i'm lucky my very bizarre career path since has led me to jobs where taxonomical flexibility and philosophy are necessary skills.

i think everything is worth taking seriously, even the most unserious parts of life, and i think you can take play seriously while also remaining playful in your examination. i think all your experiences build on themselves by virtue of aging, if you allow yourself to play with them. i think that there are a thousand silver threads between each thing and every every every other thing in the world and universe and imagination and drawing those lines of juxtaposition illuminate the edges of a negative space that is dynamic as it pulls and is pushed by all of its interrelationships, even the most obscure thinnest threads. i wouldn't have worked all that out without talking with the same people again and again.

at a work conference last year i was introduced to gregory bateson, whose ecology of mind makes me feel like i just stepped off the tallest rollercoaster in the world. i'm still not sure that i've got a good enough understanding of pedagogy of the oppressed (which i discovered via um les mis fanfic?) but i reread the second chapter even more often than i revisit quine's the ways of paradox. for good advice on how to be an amateur, tampopo lays it out the best. i lead with being a college dropout because i want to emphasize i'm no master of anything, just a lover of many, but that i think a critical amateurism, a love that drives learning and development and communion with others is just about the best most life-giving thing there is.

[nattikay]

so I've now completed all the content in Sky Breaker (finished the story a while back and finished the last side quest yesterday), here are a few thoughts/opinions. I'm not gonna go super in-depth on the story, but will put it under a cut anyways for those who want to avoid all spoilers.

First things first, the Heart of the Plains region is absolutely gorgeous! It was super cool to find all the new crafting items and see the alternate versions of all the animals and stuff. I also warmed up to the Zakru species a lot more once I saw them awake and moving around (I felt kinda meh about them in the main story, like nothing wrong with them, just....meh, y'know? But they were pretty cool when they were up and about.)

When I first mentioned having to wait to play this pack (cuz it came out right before AWU and I was way too busy at the time lol), someone in my replies claimed that it was "too short and disappointing"...which, no one asked, but ok i guess. Having now played the pack, though, I disagree! I don't think it was disappointing nor too short. I mean, yeah it was a lot shorter than the main story, but were you really expecting otherwise? 😅

I will say that it definitely lulled me into a false sense of security. RDA combat has always been my least favorite part of the game; the main draw for me is to be able to run around as a Na'vi in a beautiful little escapist landscape, exploring all the cool plants and animals and such, not spending hours sneaking around dirty bases and shooting arrows at robots (no shade to those whose favorite part is fighting the RDA, more power to ya, just not what I play for personally).

So when the first half of the quests were all just fun Na'vi stuff surrounding the Great Games, I was starting to get excited! Like heck yeah these are the kinds of quests I play for! This is the kind of stuff I like in this game!! Yeah, I felt mildly suspicious when I'd fly past old overgrown RDA camps, but they were overgrown, perhaps they were just there for decoration...

but then of course, Teylan radios in about this cool signal he heard coming from an abandoned base, oh he would love to analyze it, can't I go check it out for him and I was like yup, I know where this is going -_- Teylan my buddy my pal, whenever you want me to "check out" something in an "abandoned" location it ALWAYS turns out to be not fully abandoned and sure enough, there was an ambush, surprise surprise -_- so the RDA's back after all. darn it. oh well :P

I've seen some people complain that the final quest/boss was too easy, personally that suits me just fine lol. Like I said, I'm not here for the combat, I just wanna get it over with and when it gets overly difficult I find it more frustrating than fun. So the difficulty level was perfectly acceptable for me lol.

The minigames were fun. I think the direhorse one was my favorite.

I'm undecided how I feel about Mokasa. I'll have to rewatch the cutscenes before I can form a solid opinion on his mini-redemption. Conceptually I have no issues with him being redeemed, I am of the opinion that any villain can regret their past actions and try to do better, but I don't recall feeling particularly convinced by the way it was done...well, like I said, I'll have to rewatch.

I'm glad Nor was at least acknowledged. He's not my favorite character by any means, but his absence at the end of the main story felt like the biggest loose end to me; it was like the game just completely forgot about his existence after he stabbed Alma's avatar and ran away. We still don't know what happened to him other than that he "doesn't want to be found right now", but again at least it was mentioned. Maybe his story will continue in a different pack...

[blackbyrenflowers]

My thoughts on Season 2, episode 1: A Son for a Son

Some general spoiler-light thoughts:

No mention or presence of Maelor or Daeron, unfortunately.

Jace was definitely the highlight of the episode.

Nice to see more of Aegon - he seems to like being king, to put it lightly.

Overall, I'd say a 6.5/10. Maybe a 7.5, if it hadn't been for the way they did B&C, which was... well I didn't go into the episode with the highest hopes, but I'm still disappointed. I'll make another post on it.

More details below:

Perhaps it's just my unrealistic expectations after so much time waiting, but this episode felt a bit muted. It sort of reminded me of Episode 6 - a general catch up after a long absence, where we see how everyone's doing. Necessary, but it's not going to be electric.

The opening at the Wall felt like it suffered from the need to have Jace back at Dragonstone in time for Luke's funeral. Which is a shame, because what we got of him and Cregan felt really good - my favorite little bit was Jace reminiscing about how Aegon and Torrehn Stark stood where they were, only for Cregan to sarcastically thank Jace for not threatening him with Vermax.

I will say though, the different motivations they gave Cregan was kind of odd - in the book he sends only his Winter Wolves because he needs his men for the harvest (otherwise they'll starve and die), but in the show he needs them to protect the Watch in case the Others show up? Is the implication supposed to be that the North sends thousands of men to protect the Wall at the beginning of winter (which in Westeros, can last for years)? And this happens every year, never mind the logistical strain this would place on the entire North and the Night's Watch? Alright, buddy.

No scenes in the Vale, unfortunately, presumably due to the same reasons for the condensed Wall plot. We're told that Jeyne agreed to support Rhaenyra in exchange for a dragon to defend the Vale, but we don't get to see the Maiden of the Vale. Of course this episode had a lot to cover, but it would've been nice to see her.

In my opinion, the highlight of the episode is Jace reporting to Dragonstone. He stands proud, strong (no pun intended), but has a wavering voice as he struggles to tell Rhaenyra about his diplomatic mission - and then he breaks down and Rhaenyra rushes to embrace her.

Rhaenyra I feel doesn't do much this episode. She spends her time looking for Luke's remains, finds a cloak tangled up in his dragon, she's there at the funeral. I like her pained, subdued entrance to the war council, announcing that she wants Aemond's head - but it feels like a bit of a narrative retread of the end of episode 10.

From all the reviews raving about Tom's acting chops, he was probably my most anticipated character in season 2. I wouldn't say I'm disappointed in his portrayal, but he was a bit more... carefree than I was expecting. A great actor, but the reality of the war doesn't seem to have sunken in for Aegon yet. Definitely my most anticipated watch for the next episode, however. A vengeful, grieving Aegon will be fun to watch.

Moving over to his mother, we see that Alicole is a thing now - our first glimpse of the two is Cole kneeling between Alicent's legs. It's implied this isn't the first time, but it's unclear for how long it's been going on. I feel like this episode could've used a little more time between them. However, I do very much appreciate the touch of Alicent being the one to put Cole's white cloak back on. Very obvious symbolism, but I approve of it all the same.

We get a preview of some upcoming characters - Alyn appears as a shipwright in the Driftmark docks. He gives his condolences to Corlys for the loss of his heir, and Corlys thanks Alyn for being the one to pull him from the sea in episode 6. Interestingly, Alyn seems almost uncomfortable to be thanked by his "lord" (gee, I wonder why?).

Hugh Hammer shows as a blacksmith petitioning Aegon for more funds due to rising iron prices. No real foreshadowing there, though I did find it slightly amusing how he was obviously well-groomed compared to all the other petitioners - he's definitely not a reoccurring character.

And that's all I can think of, I guess. Looking forward to next week.

[neerons]

Hi! I'd like to know your opinion on one of my expectations for Kazuomi's next season. I have a question for you too ☺️

**Spoilers alert : I talk a little about Kei and Yuzu's past stories**

In the near future, Kazuomi will definitely reveal his true self to the MC, but I also want her to have some deductions about the truth he's hiding (his past and his real feelings). The MC has a really good intuition, and she likes to investigate. So I don't want her to only wait for him to share his feelings and do nothing. I want her to show Kazuomi and let him know that he can actually talk to her and be vulnerable around her. Because she will always be by his side and love him no matter what. Kazuomi has always been here when the MC was feeling down and lost. This time, it's Kazuomi who needs help, even though he thinks otherwise.

I want to see more sweet moments between these two lovers. More importantly, I don't want Kazuomi to still feel lonely and to not feel understood. It means the world to him that the MC respects his boundaries and understands him like no one else did. Therefore, I hope the MC won't be too passive in the next stories and that she will try to find the truth by herself, to help and truly understand Kazuomi. You know, similar to Kei and Yuzu's stories. I'm aware that Kazuomi has a different writer, but I want his story to be as well-written as Kei and Yuzu's stories. In fact, Kazuomi is a complex character who needs good development.

When it comes to the past, he is, among the 3S, the one who keeps chasing his past. **Spoilers : We know that Kei unconsciously erased his past in order to protect himself from his trauma. For Yuzu, he chose to abandon his little brother in order to have a better future, and he doesn't regret his choice. However, he feels guilty as he still cares for his brother.**

On the other hand, Kazuomi claims to not care about the past and says that the present is more important to him. We now know it's not the case. He wants to forget his past and so, he tries to be someone who lives in the present, but it's only a mask. Like I said in a previous comment, his past still haunts him today and he can't deny it. (I don't know if you read Jujutsu Kaisen, but Kazuomi's issue with his past kind of reminds me of Gojo Satoru's story)

Furthermore, if we analyse Kazuomi's character, we can see that most of the things he does are related to his past. For example, his dream to open a resort, the meaning of Christmas for him, his love for games and gambling (in addition to the anticipation and the mental thrill of not knowing the outcome because of all the different possibilities), his love for sweets and desserts, his feeling of loneliness and his struggle to really trust others (sometimes he can be emotionally detached), etc. That's why his upcoming stories must be well-written because Kazuomi is the character who needs to confront his past the most. I know you'll post a detailed analysis of the characters from MK, so I can't wait to read it!

Of course, all of the things I've written will happen depending on the plot for his upcoming season. Someone of Kazuomi's past life will most likely appear too (similar to Kei and Yuzu's stories). Who do you think it could be, and why?

I'm sorry I wrote a lot haha. Thanks for reading until the end! ❤️

Heya 🥰

Kazuomi's Cryptic Past

As of now, we can only interpret how things will go since we don't know what happened to him other than his family basically betrayed him. He lost everything. He felt lonely and not loved. He became homeless. He hates his father more than anyone, too, it seems.

I totally agree that Kazuomi needs to rely on others, especially MC, about his past. We should be able to see that soon once his next season is released.

Maybe the MC will have her own deductions from his past and play an active role in discovering it for herself, or maybe she'll actually decide to keep those deductions to herself and let Kazuomi reveal it to her, out of consideration and love for him.

When it comes to Kazuomi, he knows that MC is there for him. He's already aware of that, deep down. As you said, he also appreciates that she doesn't push him for answers and revelations about his past.

In his mind, he already sees her as the woman of his life. The only one who could understand him that well, and not press him for answers. She's irreplaceable to him.

But Kazuomi is also someone who has been betrayed before. Especially by his father, and by women, especially his "mother". The story with his "mother" was vague but it seemed to have had a huge impact on him, and I don't know exactly what she did, but it's clear he was incredibly hurt by this woman. In the end, he didn't feel truly loved by her.

So it makes sense that he might not completely feel ready to be weak in front of someone again, even if it's the love of his life. He doesn't want to be weak in front of her and have her pity him, even if she's not like that.

Due to that, I assume, he often tests MC along his seasons to see how much of him she is willing to accept, and she always accepts him and loves him more, which in turn makes him love her even more, and it shows us how far their love can go (it's infinite, I'm telling you 🥰)

So this next step is, I think, going to be Kazuomi finally revealing his past in his next big MS and see how MC will react to the "real Kazuomi" and if she's still going to love him.

It's possible that the real Kazuomi is, at least according to him, pathetic, naive and weak. Or maybe it's a side of him more cruel than what he has shown her before.

Deep down, I think he's scared of what she'll think of him, and he hopes she'll accept him despite his many flaws. But he's also convinced "forever" doesn't exist, and that even their relationship might be a fleeting one.

He is currently in a philosophical conflict. He wants her by his side, wants her to know everything, but at what cost? Will she eventually leave once she knows? Will Kazuomi risk losing his life in a new gamble, and he'll have to say farewell to her?

I expect the MC to once again show him she loves him just as he is, because he is him, the man she loves, which will probably surprise and touch Kazuomi's heart way more than anyone ever could. And he'll realize and have the confirmation that he doesn't need anything but her.

MC's Personality & Love for Kazuomi

As for her, she is aware that he doesn't want to talk about his past, and she saw it when he became surprisingly silent when he was affected by memories of his past in the R&C event.

Despite her agent side, curiosity and love for investigation, we often overlook that the MC is a woman respectful enough to not poke her nose where she feels it doesn't belong.

She loves Kazuomi so much and is worried about him, rightfully so, but she doesn't want to cross a boundary without permission or consideration. She'd love for him to tell her about it someday, but she's waiting for him to be ready.

Him opening up on his own to her without her asking wouldn't be such a bad thing to me to be honest. I sure hope she plays a role in his story, and she will as always, but I think Kazuomi revealing his past to her would be a great depiction of his trust and love towards her.

Trust me, I love MC being badass and doing her job amazingly well and going beyond expectations. And if she does have a mission or a situation where she has to uncover his past in full detail, I hope it'll be done well too in a beautifully written story again.

The problem is: if she decides to uncover his past herself, how will he take it?

He treats his past like a highly confidential mission. It's possible that, if she gets involved into it too deeply in the end, they'll have to become foes again. And then Kazuomi will ultimately realize he wants her to know and won't stop her from knowing.

Or, if his past becomes dangerous for her, he'll feel guilty because she's now in danger because of him. We can't really know how things will turn out since we have no clues about what even happened to him before.

Possible outcomes in the next season?

I actually can see his next season going two different ways (at least):

She discovers the truth about his past through a mission (and the client could even be the antagonist). She'll have to put her feelings aside and fulfill her mission while having mixed feelings about discovering something he wanted to hide to the world and especially to her. Kazuomi might become distant as he decides to face his past alone and puts himself in danger against the antagonist, which will fuel the MC to save him

Another situation would be him opening up to her once the drama of his past (lui pète à la gueule 🤣) happens and he has to face his past forcefully because the antagonist either shamelessly reveals his past publicly, or in front of MC, or he'd just put Kazu and MC in a situation where they have to talk about it. And then, MC, and maybe even Yuzu, Kei, and others? would decide to help him out against said antagonist

No matter how it goes, I'm sure it'll be well written. I have never been disappointed honestly. I always see the reasoning behind the characters' actions which is probably why I'm never mad or sad about developments?

At least in MK, I've never been bothered by how a season has been written (except the case about the way the Boss' last season was treated, which is more of an exception, since Voltage discontinued him abruptly and left him with plot holes and left me with my HEART BROKEN GAHH)

Kazuomi's manufactured personality

It's funny that you mention Jujutsu Kaisen and especially Gojo Satoru when you talk about Kazuomi, because JJK became one of my favorite animes and mangas, and Gojo has a special place in my heart. I have started reading the manga so nobody spoils me!!

I can see the similarity between Gojo and Kazu. Their bubbly, quirky and charismatic personality hides the scars they try to run away from. It's also a distraction for them (and it helps them distract others from their vulnerability, too)

It makes them overcome their sadness, loneliness and anger as well since putting on a different mask enables you to put distance between your present self and your past self.

Like you said, It's clear that Kazuomi chases his past. He's the one character from MK who's really secretive about what happened to him, even more than Kei who runs away from a past full of trauma, more than Yuzu who fights against his emotions, and more than the Boss who is KNOWN for not being straightforward and having his emotions be "inactive", if that makes sense.

And I'm so curious and also scared to know what he's really like. Because I love the way he is now personality-wise, but I hope I'll love him even more once his mask falls for good. I also hope he'll still be his witty and fun self, but I'm sure his story will be amazing.

Who's the antagonist?

When it comes to who they'll be up against next time, considering the revelations from the Revenge & Challenge event, the only people I assume could make an appearance are Kazuomi's father, or maybe his "mother".

I don't know if they'd be the potential antagonists. It's possible that they were more victims to Kazuomi's father's dangerous relationships and got screwed. But Kazuomi resents his father a lot. I can't know how bad his father is, but he's not the purest person on Earth. It could be him.

In the Japanese app, we're also getting another event about the guys' pasts currently, so it's not unlikely that his parents will be making an appearance if they're still alive.

If it's not the parents, it's likely someone who knows about his parents, and past (and is linked to it) that we don't know about yet. Like Nate from Kei's Eden's Love story, who is an antagonist we couldn't have predicted. It could be one of the guys his father had secret meetings with. They were bad, and probably belonged to a sort of mafia (I forgot and I'm too lazy to check again I'll admit)

Conclusion (...am I writing an essay again? 🤣)

No matter how the season happens, the important thing, to me, is that Kazuomi finally learns to believe in "forever" and stabilizes himself with MC in the end. I hope he'll be able to live freely with her and that he can move on after all these years of suffering.

We should all forget our expectations for his route and just enjoy the ride when the time comes, though. In my humble opinion, we shouldn't wish for too many things, because that'd just make us closer to the end of his route, and it makes room for disappointment if something doesn't happen the way we wanted it to.

We have one of the best titles Voltage has made, and one of the best LIs, the elite among the elites, so let's appreciate the hard work behind it and see what the next season has to offer again. Personally, I know I'll love it 💖

(And thank you for your enthusiasm about the characters' analyses! They'll be separated into different posts for each character, and Yuzu will be the first to be out when the time comes I think. But I'm re reading every MS to do a good job, as well as reading Ikémen Prince and making art most of the time, so it's taking time haha)

Thank you for the ask!

[rosalind-hawkins]

For the ask game here - hmmmmm........ Carryshipping, Deathshipping, aaaand.... let's go random: Dragonshipping!

(Okay, and Mumbleshipping :D)

Thank you so much for asking! 💛

CARRYSHIPPING

1. What made you ship it?

@kira-quartz of course! I had never even considered it before, but I discovered this right as I was starting to explore Buddyshipping, so the timing was perfect.

2. What are your favorite things about this ship?

I think kira said it best when they said that Tristan is the earth to Joey's sun and Ryou's moon, and there's no better way to explain their dynamic.

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have about this ship?

This ship only works for me with Joey still a half-feral street-kid.

DEATHSHIPPING

1. Why don't you ship it?

I had no familiarity with the manga at all for my first few years of being into Yugioh, so my impression of Ryou formed completely without any of the "this boy likes dark and occult things and is such a weirdo." I also don't see Yami Marik as being anything other than an entity of hated and vengeance and power, and so he's not really capable of feeling anything else? That's just my understanding of the character, and I don't trust that Yami Marik wouldn't hurt him (but I still wrote Deathshipping into my Tendershipping fic because that whole story was a challenge to myself to see those ships differently). I will still like some Deathshipping posts and content, but I wouldn't say that I ship it.

2. What would have made you like it?

Maybe if Yamima weren't so thoroughly violent and deranged in every moment of his canon appearance, I could dig it, and maybe if I'd been exposed to weirdo!Ryou earlier on, I would be more into it.

3. Despite not shipping it do you have anything positive to say about it?

I do think it can be really interesting as a background ship to Thiefshipping, because it feels so unlikely. I also like the idea of Yamima defeating Marik and Bakura but leaving Ryou behind and freed from the Ring. The size difference is definitely 😘👌

DRAGONSHIPPING

1. What made you ship it?

Honestly, just the deep respect that the characters have for each other in canon, and how they help each other grow. It's a very low-key ship for me, in that I don't seek out the content or think about it at all, but when I do see it, I give it a thumbs up. 👍

2. What are your favorite things about this ship?

The whole thing about Joey definitely beating Yami in a duel to win back his Red-Eyes card and then never mentioning it, not once, not even to Kaiba. There's just such respect and humility in the fact that Joey keeps it a secret and doesn't think any less of him for the loss. These are two dudes that will give their all in a fight against each other and love each other for it, even when they think the other is completely wrong.

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have about this ship?

Yami bottoms to Joey, you can't convince me otherwise. He's a pillow princess.

MUMBLESHIPPING

1. What made you ship it?

I couldn't stand having to choose between Euroshipping and Minorshipping (and Mastershipping), so I just squished them all together. My very old FFN fic, just called Mumbleshipping, actually started out as a one-shot that I wrote as a challenge to myself of "let me find really obscure yugioh ships and write them for fun" (that's why the list of ships I've written is so long and includes things like Revenge, Lavender, Midriff, and Vengeance). But then I was like, "this really does make sense though, so what if I just... Continue the scene?" And it turned into the mumble boys being on vacation in an Italian villa, living the good life, Ryou and Duke forcing Seto to stop working and truly relax, until I got restless and threw in a whole lot of drama for each of the boys in turn, and lots of Mokuba being a cutie and everyone being horny and traumatized.

2. What are your favorite things about this ship?

Everything. The shared dad trauma. The way they're all on the fringe of the Yugi friend group. Mokuba becoming a surrogate sibling to Duke and Ryou. The way the four of them settle into becoming a family. The fact that they don't have all shared experiences: Duke doesn't know Duelist Kingdom, Ryou doesn't know most of Battle City or season four or Noah's Virtual World, neither of them know the Legendary Heroes arc. Duke doesn't know anything at all about Death T. They all have enough fuck-uppery going on in their lives, and they all have their own ways to deal with it and not give up. They're good for each other, and you can't convince me otherwise.

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have about this ship?

*booming voice* I AM THIS SHIP. I AM THE CAPTAIN AND THE SAIL. I REVIVED THIS SHIP FROM THE ASHES OF OBSCURITY. Do you seriously think there's a popular ANYTHING about this ship?

[id-rather-be-home]

What do you think Ted thinks about gay people? He’s obviously conservative, but he doesn’t strike me as a particularly politically involved Republican. I feel like he’s too unmotivated for that lol. He’s very Milquetoast Suburban Dad™️.

Also, the Wheelers don’t seem to be very religiously motivated either. This is not to say that Ted would think gay people are “normal,” or that he wouldn’t be homophobic, but do you agree that it wouldn’t be in a fire and brimstone way?

Ted seems like more of a cultural conservative to me who votes Reagan because things are “good” under him, and there’s no reason to think any differently. Maybe he turns on the radio occasionally, but it’s not like there is FoxNews and evangelical preachers constantly in the Wheeler home. Is it possible he cares more about the economy than about social issues?

How do you think he would feel about having a gay son? Is it possible he already suspects it? Or suspected it at some point?

Also it’s hard to get a read on if Ted loves his kids. He obviously doesn’t really show it, but does he feel it? I feel like he at least loves Holly.

you really read my mind with this analysis on ted, anon!

i am absolutely obsessed with the wheeler family dynamic and how stereotypical it is of an 80s family

i cannot imagine ted wheeler being a fire and brimstone type of homophobe. is he homophobic? almost certainly, but i don't think it's due to deep seeded religious views. like you mentioned i think it's mostly because it's just not what is typical or 'normal'. i'm inclined to believe that ted doesn't extend much thought to gay people until it's brought under his attention by maybe discussion of the AIDS crisis or his son being gay

and, yeah, i'd say ted probably cares more about the economy than social issues. it's just so difficult to imagine ted extending the energy to care about social issues either way or hating a specific group of people - he's genuinely just kind of indifferent it seems

as for mike... i feel like ted might suspect something. he's made too many comments throughout the seasons for me to think otherwise, especially when he's like "our son with a girl?" of course that could have been him in disbelief over a girl liking mike because he's nerdy and not popular in any sense of the word, but with every other context clue about mike's sexuality in the show it just makes you wonder

i don't think that ted would be the type of homophobic parent to threaten to kick mike out of the house or become abusive (*cough* lonnie the son of a bitch *cough*). but i do think he'd tell mike to keep his sexuality and especially his relationship with will behind closed doors, and it'd be a subject not really talked about. ted likely wouldn't approve simply because it's not what is 'normal' and he might make some passing comments to mike that make his opinion known, but i can't see it becoming overly aggressive. i really believe ted would just rather not talk about it or acknowledge it at all instead - an out of sight, out of mind mentality

and i do think he loves his kids, actually. he's just a very stereotypical 80s dad that doesn't show it well at all. he probably assumes he's showing his love by providing them with a good house and food on the table. to him fathers aren't the ones who deal with the emotional stuff, that's up to the mother. he's no doubt even worse with mike about showing affection because it would be even more awkward for him to be open and vulnerable with his son rather than his daughters, and that of course is caused by misogyny and rigid gender roles/expectations

i am interested to hear what anyone else thinks about this!

[baxterbella24]

My Favorite Daemyra Fanfics

Here's an updated* and better curated list of my (very personal) favorite Daemyra fics, WIPs and finished, in no particular order. I offer a few words on each on them, mostly my own opinions and impressions, please click on them if you want a proper synopsis. Other than 100% finished stories, I tried to stick to fics that either stand on their own despite having room to continue, or are frequently or regularly updated, so there's less chances you get invested in something that might never get a proper ending.

I'll welcome and thank any recs too, ofc, I'm always eager to read new material and depictions of them, especially (almost exclusively, in fact) modern AUs. I'm open to different family dynamics as well, especially siblings, biological or otherwise (I include two great ones here, btw). Currently, I'm leaning toward more mature stories, with a Rhaenyra facing adult conflicts rather than just age gap PWP with feelings. I'm still a smut enjoyer though, don't get me wrong, lmao.

Well, nothing more to add for now, so... here we go!

Back, Baby by velvetwoman: Modern AU. Heart-wrenching, but beautiful one-shot. It's kinda finished, the ending is really bittersweet, but author promised a follow-up that hasn't come out, though I refuse to lose hope just yet (I just need to believe, please let me be). It features underage sex, so be warned.

entropy by firecollide: Modern AU. WIP. Musical references, especially Arctic Monkeys. Starts as a texting fic, and turns into a Daemon/Rhaenyra POV multichapter piece. They get together/fall in love quite fast, although it gets quite angsty at a point and remains like that. I only recommend if you're patient and want more than just fluff and smut, character growth specifically. Best Daemon depiction for me, complicated and heartbreaking, because I do relate to Rhaenyra a lot as well.

Ānogar Hūra by sweetestsorrows (katschako): Modern Mafia AU. Finished. Succession, violence, murder, betrayal, lots and lots and lots of smut. I particularly love how their relationship develops from them getting off on fighting and exasperating one another to them falling in love but keeping that feisty and explosive dynamic in bed. Daemon is a very strong dom in this, though deep down he's a very caring and considerate partner.

Our Violent Ends by grandlovescheme: Vampire AU. Finished. Also modern. Or kind of. The starting point is in canon timeline, but the story stretches across space and time because, of course, our two favs are not exactly mortal anymore. Enemies to lovers trope, and as we all know, those are the type of stories in which the smut is the hottest and most satisfying you could ever hope for. I also strongly recommend all of this author's works, she's very talented and will be appearing again in this list.

Passion driven by ginvael: Modern AU. Finished. This is a really fun fic that involves cheating, a "has his cake and eats it too" version of Daemon that's infuriating and sort of endearing at the same time. Mysaria is a really cool character in this, I personally missed an insight on how her character ended, but the lack of it doesn't really take anything away from the story as a whole, so no biggie.

High Hopes by grandlovescheme: Modern AU. Finished. I'm not quite sure, but I think this is the fic that started a sort of subgenre of Daemyra fics with the "Rhaenyra runs away from home for x reason and finds shelter in her estranged uncle's home" trope. Both characters have their issues and are both beautifully written from beginning to end. It's a very slow burn, but it sure pays off, so your patience will be rewarded.

a safe space / a warm hug by themilkteeth: Modern AU. Finished. Sugar daddy story, but with a different daddy (Daemyra endgame tho, don't get confused). I love how things are described in this, the colors, atmosphere, smells, tastes. Just a one-shot, but it honestly feels like more than that in the end.

If I Could, I'd Get You the Moon by grandlovescheme: Modern AU. Finished. Daemyra are siblings and I've never imagined I'd be into this the way I am, but here we are. The push and pull between these two is "deliriously" fabulous, the smut is hot af, and the way the characters act feels so frustratingly real it hurts me and gives me life at the same time. I'm in love with Rhaenyra in this one, she's not only the gaslight-gatekeep-girlboss we all know and love, she's also unapologetically kinky in such a pure and wholesome way, it's truly fascinating. She's everything, really. Also, Baelon and Alyssa couple goals.

Bad Vibes by sweetestsorrows (katschako): Modern AU. Finished. Twins at college. From the amazing author of Ānogar Hūra, filled with angst, guilt, passion, jealousy and all those equally beautiful and nasty feelings. Another one-shot that feels much more than that and could totally have a follow-up, in my humble opinion.

Violet-Eyed Jealousy by ginvael: Canon Divergence AU. Finished. A pretty interesting premise, with low honor Daemyra going for it despite knowingly hurting Daemon's OC son's feelings. Very twisted and with a bittersweet, partly tragic ending, but definitely worth the time.

Dream a Little Dream of Me by sweetestsorrows (katschako): Incubus AU. Finished. Similar to Vampire AU in that both fics start in canon timeline (this one follows book canon to a T). Daemon is doomed to live for all eternity, never able to find peace until he finds Rhaenyra again to try to make things up to her after all that went down in the war and their tragic canon endings. It's a fascinating story, haunting, emotional and beautiful.

*Jan 3rd, 2024.

[xielexalt]

My personal sound and creative direction analysis of Girls Revolution Project as of November 2024!

open to read more!

I feel like the sound of GRP is a very forward-thinking and refreshing J-pop style, with an emphasis on idol and VOCALOID-inspired sounds. This is evident in their producer lineup which features primarily VOCALOID producers and idol song producers; especially, they feature producers who may not be highlighted as often in Kamitsubaki’s precedent.

A lot of GRP songs focus on the treble aspect of the vocal and instrumental range. With the focus on treble sounds, it creates a soundscape of clarity, lightness; sometimes shimmering, sometimes floating – this focus is part of what makes it have a “refreshing” feeling.

Song structure a lot of the time feels very VOCALOID-inspired as the forefront of inspiration. By this, I mean most of the songs have a sort of 2020s VOCALOID-esque feel and length – short, effective, catchy, stylish. This I feel is one of the core tenants of GRP’s style, and shows the way they diverge from Kamitsubaki precedent in some ways. There's also flavors from the diversity of different idol styles and popular J-pop styles, infusing the VOCALOID song structure with different aspects you wouldn't normally otherwise hear in VOCALOID trends. Overall it's aimed towards a slightly different audience than what Kamitsubaki fans may be used to. It's possible to compare the philosophy behind the sound to Asu and Aru, but the sound itself of course is different.

The songs that I'd say trend to Kamitsubaki’s style precedent more, especially in terms of structure and sound layering, are Fake Night Cinderella, Funeral Flower, and Return to this World. In my personal opinion, these are the “strongest” songs in terms of production. All of these are the debut songs for Sinseiki, Tsumitobatsu, and the entire group respectively. I’d say it's the choice to use this more style to show that a song is more important, and to link them to their core identity in Kamitsubaki. The other songs trend towards GRP’s new signature style based on 2020s VOCALOID song structure.

While the production trends towards VOCALOID, the vocal style is a blend of idol styles and Kamitsubaki’s signature vocal direction. Compared to the rest of Kamitsubaki, GRP has clearly younger voices – likely ranging around 17-22 years old. On top of this, they all have very unique singing styles. It's truly a treat to hear their uniqueness and skillfulness – the Kamitsubaki vocal signature �� with the age range of their voices, when others in the same age range wouldn't quite sound like them in terms of technique. In solo songs and covers, their voices have clear unique quirks to them. In group songs, their complementary nature comes out more, adhering to a more idol-style direction.

The music composition and production complements and highlights this youthful, fresh, and unique aspect of their voices and appeal, while also showing off their skill. It really gives you the impression they are next-generation artists – the latest sounds from the J-music soundscape, and the youthful yet skillful unique voices – this is GRP.

Overall, GRP is an expansion of Kamitsubaki’s soundscape to a new audience and style, while still adhering to what makes Kamitsubaki unique – especially in the vocal style and details in production direction.

[hinadoria]

Title: the act of giving

Author: hinadoria / AO3: hinadoria

Rating: General

Summary: Cyno tries to come up with an adequate thank-you gift for Alhaitham, amidst both solicited and unsolicited opinions.

AO3: Link

On an otherwise uneventful morning, Cyno realized he had ushered in the high noon of his career; all thanks to Alhaitham. It was a startling realization, since the majority of Cyno's feelings regarding Alhaitham could not be placed quite so neatly in a box such as gratitude. Even though labels rarely served to contain the entirety of a concept. Dissatisfaction with this very idea was part of what drove Tighnari to pursue his chosen calling, or so he claimed.

Cyno was in a fugue the rest of the morning. He didn't let it show on his face, but the aim of his spear was ever so slightly off during his daily practice. Alarmed by this, he decided he needed to resolve these emotions quickly, before it made the difference between a successful and failed arrest. There weren't many he could call a friend. The fiasco of Lord Kusanali's kidnapping had netted him more friends than before, but habits were hard to break. His first instinct was still to bother Tighnari. He silently set off to do just that. With Alhaitham around as Acting Grand Sage, there was little he couldn't do during work hours. The implications of this fact were not something Cyno wished to explore in solitude, and so he quickened his pace.

Aaru Village was as cozy and attuned to nature as always. The leaves of the banyan tree casted a long-reaching shadow that hugged the dirt pathways. It provided a relaxing shade for any weary matra or sick patient that might travel by. Cyno was almost certainly the former. On his way exiting Sumeru City, he was accosted by not one, not two, but three of his well meaning friends eager to lend a hand to his plight. Cyno thought his face was quite the closed book. He was right, but his friends had noticed his odd state anyways when they found he wasn't carrying around his trusty TCG deck. Cyno had been so out of it that morning he completely forgot to bring it along. The first to ask about his woes was Nilou. 

"What would you do if you wanted to show someone your gratitude?" he asked her. Nilou smiled.

"I'd dance for them, of course!" Cyno didn't know what he was expecting. Nilou was a lovely young lady, but she had a surprisingly one-track mind. Cyno thanked her and left as if escaping. On the outskirts of the city he ran into Dehya, who was accompanying a cheerful Dunyarzad. The rich young lady had brightened up considerably since the recovery of her illness, and Cyno was glad to see it. 

"Yo! Where is the General scurrying off to now?" Dehya asked.

"Official business," Cyno muttered. Dehya's sharp laughter pierced his ears.

"Well now I know it's definitely not official business. 'Cause if it were, you would have just ignored me!" Cyno's ears burned with shame. Was he truly so easy to read? If the answer was something he wouldn't like, then he'd rather not know at all.

"I'm trying to show someone my gratitude," he said instead. "If it were you, what would you do?"

"Give them money," Dehya said almost instantly. Cyno didn't know why he would expect any other answer. Unfortunately for him, although their salaries were similar, Alhaitham's lack of a crippling TCG addiction meant that he was probably richer than Cyno. Therefore, any material possession he was in want of was either highly illegal or had already been purchased. 

Dunyarzad giggled at Cyno's hesitance. "I'm sure whoever it is will appreciate whatever it is you give them, as long as it comes from the heart," she added.

Cyno stared into space. A gift from his own heart to... Alhaitham? The mere thought sent blood rushing towards his cheeks. Ugh, he might as well stab himself with Alhaitham's sword. Surely that would delight the cold-hearted man more? Cyno didn't know how he bid farewell and arrived at Aaru Village. He just figured if he ran fast enough, he could outrun his own embarrassment. 

Beautiful and cozy Aaru Village, with few people in sight. The only sound came from the gentle rushing of water and the trilling song of the colorful birds perched atop Tighnari's clinic. The music was cut short by the piercing sound of Tighnari's yells. A flustered Collei came out.

"Another misbehaving patient?" Cyno asked. Collei sighed in exasperation. "I wish Master would get angry less often. It can't be good for his health." She looked him over. "Here to pay him a visit?" 

"Yeah, I need his advice for something." 

"You're always welcome... is what I'd like to say, but right now you should probably enter at your own risk." Tighnari's mood swings were of little concern to Cyno. As his best friend, he had long since become immune to his prickly words. 

With this confidence, he entered the clinic, and subsequently dodged a flying catheter. Cyno left the clinic.

He returned when Tighnari had visibly calmed down and the frazzled patient had been escorted out by Collei. 

“I need to show Alhaitham my gratitude,” Cyno said, cutting to the point.

Tighnari's ears, which had been drooping, perked up. “And what caused this decision?” Cyno avoided his gossipy gaze. 

“Just, you know… I owe him a lot by way of my career. Without his role in dethroning Azar, I probably would've been sacked. Now that he’s Acting Grand Sage, I barely even get questioned when I carry out my duties.”

“Fair. But if you wanted to thank him, a new book would suffice. Why did you come all the way here?” 

“I just thought… it wouldn't be enough.” It had been years since Cyno felt this much hesitation over any matter. Years since he was that scrawny young orphan from the desert, walking on eggshells in the hostile world of academia. Peace from distrust; from those gazes that followed him through the hallways was something he didn't expect to have in his whole lifetime. But it was something Alhaitham made reality. And Cyno couldn’t—didn’t know how—to repay a grace that meant so much to him.

Tignari sighed, “Alhaitham is a hard man to read. If it was something he truly desired, then he'd accomplish it with his own hands. You two are quite similar in that sense. Why don’t you talk to him about what you can do for him?”  

Cyno’s first instinct was to bristle. But if even Tighnari couldn’t come up with something else, then maybe it really was his best option to ask Alhaitham directly. He said as much to his friend who smirked and said, “I’m always right.” He earned himself a messed up hairstyle from Cyno for that comment.

By the time Cyno arrived back at Sumeru City, the sky was stained a striking shade of orange. Belatedly, he realized he had wasted the majority of his day on this endeavor. Yet he still wouldn’t be punished for it, if Alhaitham had any power over the matter. Which, much to Cyno’s chagrin, he did. Cyno hesitated for only the briefest of moments before knocking on the door.

“Come in,” Alhaitham’s voice sounded from within. It was laced with fatigue, and Cyno momentarily contemplated returning another time. Then Alhaitham said, “Cyno?” and his curiosity got the better of him.

“How did you know it was me?” Cyno barged in. 

“Few people walk so silently as the General Mahamatra,” replied Alhaitham. “The absence of sound before the knock all but gave you away.”

“Noted.” Silence fell over the pair. Alhaitham sighed softly.

"If you're looking to spar, General, I really don't have the time today."

"No, I, uh…" Cyno's eyes fell on the large stack of unfinished documents and empty ink bottles. A bolt of inspiration struck him. "I was wondering if I might treat you to a cup of freshly brewed coffee? I know a great place." Fuck. He should have stopped before the last sentence. Cyno only knew of the one, and any Akademiya student worth their salt had spent their student days haunting it. Alhaitham must have been aware of this as well, because he laughed.

The laugh was genuine, not the sarcastic kind either. How long had it been since Cyno heard that beautiful sound? Was it during the celebration party after their successful mission? But that had been ages ago. Cyno found himself smiling fondly as he reminisced. It dropped clear off his face when Alhaitham asked, "Does this mean you're asking me out on a date?"

Archons! Heat rose to his face and neck so quickly that Cyno didn't need a mirror to know he was a ghastly sight. "I was just trying to show you my gratitude!" This seemed to take Alhaitham aback. 

"By taking me on a date?" Cyno calmed down.

"Why? Are you disappointed?" Instead of the all-too-familiar snide remark he felt sure to receive and would thus steer the conversation away from dangerous waters, Alhaitham nodded.

"Yes, in fact. And here I'd thought you'd beaten me to the punch."

"What?!" Alhaitham stared directly into Cyno's eyes, and an emotion Cyno couldn’t describe welled up within his chest.

"Cyno. My dearest General Mahamatra. Would you do me the honor of accompanying me on a date? When I'm not swamped with all this paperwork, that is." 

Embarrassment shot through his veins, and Cyno felt the urge to run. "You don't have to be so formal about it. I prefer the version of you that's blunt to a fault, and has a hundred backup plans for every situation."

"I'll take that as a yes." Alhaitham handed him a thick binder. Cyno opened it to find a set of locations, detailed with descriptions and cross-references of his and Alhaitham's own opinions. "Please peruse that at your own convenience. Any of those would be ideal for a first date."

"You're insufferable. Can't believe you made a portfolio."

"Yes, well, I'm still the one you fell in love with, aren't I?"

Cyno choked, "Too soon!" He might as well have said nothing, however, because the persistent flush on his face left little to hide. 

In the end, Cyno never did give a satisfactory gift to show his gratitude. In a way, he had given himself to become Alhaitham's boyfriend. Yet as they walked down the street, hand-in-hand, neither of them complained.

[mysticsparklewings]

Obscutober 2024 Day 11: Derecho ⛈️

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Derecho (n.)

a widespread and severe windstorm that moves rapidly along a fairly straight path and is associated with bands of rapidly moving thunderstorms

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Today’s word is proof that I did not go over the prompt list with as finetooth of a comb as I should have—We really didn’t need “rolling wind storms” and “trees dead-from-storms” back-to-back. 😅

Oh well! Not much to be done about it now. 🤷‍♀️

Click the "Keep Reading" and we'll talk more about my thoughts/process for keeping this one as different as I could from yesterday's. ✨

⭐️ Like My Art and Want to see more of it? Here's All My Links! ⭐️

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Just to reiterate: I honestly cannot believe that when I was making final adjustments to the Obscutober prompt list that I both didn't notice this little string of nouns we seem to be stuck in (aside from Day 9 serving as a break) and also that "Rampike" and "Derecho," both storm-related words that made it on the list, ended up back-to-back. 🤦‍♀️

And it's not the fault of total randomization, either; I did randomize the words at first, but then deliberately moved some around for reasons much like this...I just somehow missed these two in the process. 😅

Then I still didn't notice until I looked at the list to get started on today's mandala. 🙄

So, naturally, I went into working on this mandala a little worried that I'd have trouble making it different enough from yesterday's. This was not helped by the fact that I came home absolutely wiped after being out most of the day yesterday, so I was in no position to even attempt getting started before going to bed, and then I also slept in late this morning, which set back my whole schedule for the day.

And now you know why today's is going up a little later than I'd really like, too. 😅 Sometimes I just can't catch a break from myself!

"The Ongoing Saga of Mystic's Poor Pacing" aside, I did what I could to separate today and yesterday without totally abandoning what I felt really was the best fit for the word. Primarily, I opted to use black lines instead of white. Though had I realized these two words were next to each other before I made yesterday's, I think letting Derecho have the white lines and making Rampike have black would've been the better way to go. Dead trees would've made a black silhouette work better, white lines make more sense for clouds, etc.

Still, I did what I could and tried to use the black lines to my advantage to focus on lighter, "this is the blue the sky uses to warn you that rain is very much on the way," blues and lighter grays, like maybe if yesterday's colors were a storm at night, this one is a storm during the day when there's more light.

But, of course, since the definition specifically mentions thunderstorms, I felt like I still had to get some little lightning bolts in there. I kept them intentionally small since "Derecho" is more about the wind that precedes the storms, but these did get more proper "lightning shape lines" versus yesterday's lightning mostly being a strong suggestion based on color placement.

However, swirls for "wind" were, in my opinion, completely non-negotiable. But I did try my best to structure them differently and give them a tad more complexity than yesterday's. If we were looking at just the line work, I'm not fully convinced I pushed them far enough, but I think the coloring helps sell the differences a lot more. Then, I had briefly considered adding some kind of rain representation to yesterday's art—whether in the mandala lines or in the background coloring. You can probably guess that I am now super glad I didn't, because that gave me one more tool up my sleeve to help make today's mandala noticeably different! I'm not entirely sold on the exact way I ended up doing the raindrops, but I didn't really have any better ideas so once I was able to get them shaped in a way I was happy with, I opted to just roll with this and try not to otherwise worry about it too much. I think the main thing that bothers me is the raindrops look "too calm" and not really like they're coming from a storm. Again though: I didn't really have any better ideas. I tried a couple of things before settling on what you see and none of it was jiving with me. 🤷‍♀️

For as worried as I went in though, and for what quibbles I still have, I like it a lot more than I thought I would! So I'll consider that a success and cut my losses for today. 👍

...I feel like this description should be longer, but I think you all want to read a play-by-play of drawing a lot of swirly shapes several times about as much as I feel like writing one. Which is to say: Not very much at all!

So I'll just leave it here, and hopefully I can get this baby cross-posted in record time because I haven't had dinner yet and won't want to get started on that until cross-posting is either done-done or very close to it. 🤪 See you Sparklers tomorrow! 🤗

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See the Prompt List

Artwork  © me, MysticSparklewings

Obscutober Concept Inspired by nikolas_tower

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⭐️ Like My Art and Want to see more of it? Here's All My Links! ⭐️

[hollowtones]

Okay I wanted to clarify on the Hades thing as it’s the only Supergiant game I’ve played out of the ones you listed:

1. They went with one of the more favorable interpretations of the myth. Basically, Zeus did a dick move and left Hades and Persephone both in a place where if they did anything but what they did it would have started a divine war. Hades never asked Zeus to kidnap Persephone, and Persephone wasn’t mistreated when she got there.

2. As for the Zag romance point, Meg was never Zagreus’ sister. Nyx is not her mother, and the game implies that she and Zag had a thing before the events of the game. As for Thanatos, it’s a *little* weird, but the game always takes care to say that they were *childhood friends*, not raised as brothers. How that works precisely I have no idea, probably in some “kids don’t know what’s weird about their home life” way.

Anyway I don’t want to sound like I’m saying your feelings are wrong, I actually agree about the other stuff, I just noticed you said you didn’t remember it as well and as someone who is pretty deep into the lore I never really felt like any of it was handled poorly. Heck, Demeter is even Zeus’ step-sister (and older to imply they were never ‘siblings’) to remove the connotations of Zagreus’ parentage.

Anyway have a nice day and I’m sorry if I was rude.

My issue with Persephone wasn't how they contextualize her relationship with Hades (I thought it was fine from what I remember); my issue was I spent most of the game after meeting her thinking "I wish this character had more agency", which is at least in part What They Were Going For, I Think, but something about it still bugged me. I have not played this game in maybe a year so I don't remember specifics.

The game says Nyx is Meg's surrogate mother. It squirrels that away in the codex entries, and does not go into much other detail from what I remember. There's wiggle room to give these a more generous interpretation than how it felt to me, sure. It still feels weird to me.

It's okay if you have a different reading of a story than I did, or felt a different way about it. That's normal. You do not have to justify it to me. It's fine. Don't worry about it. I'm not really interested in getting multiple messages of multiple paragraphs from anonymous strangers over the course of a couple days about two specific plot points in a video game I otherwise loved that I haven't played in a year. I appreciate your politeness about this, I imagine you specifically haven't sent all five of these messages yourself, so this is not me singling out you personally, and I'm sorry if I sound kind of exasperated here. I hope you'll understand: when I post a quick sentence or two about my opinions on something, in a casual setting, having a bunch of people come up to me to then say "well actually, here's a longform response about how I felt about it, what do you think of that", as well-meaning as most of it was, feels weird and exhausting! I like talking my thoughts on things, which I guess is why I'm replying to this. It just feels disproportionate, y'know? It feels weird to post a quick thought and then have people respond as if I'd written an essay & make assumptions about things I did not say. You're not being rude, I'm just tired, bud. No more messages about this, please.

[harocat]

For the LBFaD Asks: 5, 6, 10

Please and thank you!

(I'm such a weirdo but I love knowing if anyone uses different fonts between writing and editing!)

5: Describe your writing space.

My desk! I have a laptop, mouse pad, and a pink kitty-eared mouse. My desk is pretty messy. I used to have it really nice with lots of enamel pins and decorations, but my cat Chai is addicted to messing with anything on my desk. The enamel pins became hazardous because he'd pull them out with his teeth and they're uh, sharp obviously. So those are being moved upstairs to the desk I work at (I WFH). There's a couple cubbies stuffed with little knickknacks and just random stuff and some mugs with pens et al. There's a little desk lamp, and I also always have slime on my desk. I'm a huge fidgeter, so I keep slime with me whenever I can to combat the nail biting, etc. I may do otherwise.

6: Does font matter to you when you write?

I just use the default font, which on google docs I believe is Calibri. I'd be okay with any standard font like that, arial, times new roman, etc. I wouldn't want to write in something quirky or a script though, of course.

10: What fanon fact/s did you make your mind up on while writing for LBFaD?

I don't have a 'set future' per se for DFQC and XLH like I do some of my other ships. Maybe it's because they'll live so LONG that it seems impossible to do. I do think they'd have children, and I have it in mind what kind of parents they'd be. I've always been of the belief that one of their children would have the capacity to wield hellfire, just so DFQC can have some more anguish and trauma (I'm normally quite nice to him, I swear). Of course they wouldn't pursue it, but the mere idea of it being possible would still tear him up inside.

This is a personal thing, but I don't like when XLH is referred to Xiyun post series unless it's in a professional capacity. Xiyun was sealed when she was a child, and everyone that Xiao Lanhua knows and loves that is alive, knows her by that name. She's been XLH longer than Xiyun. It truly doesn't work in my mind that she would, when its actually revealed she's still herself and she has her memories, want people to call her by another name.

I can see her going by Xiyun in goddess related diplomatic settings (specifically if she's appearing as the Xishan goddess. If she's there in capacity as the Moon Queen, I think she'd use XLH), but outside of that she's XLH to me.

But a part of me even likes XLH there as well. Something satisfying about Yunzhong in specific having to call her XLH; he can never forget for a moment that this is the woman that he tortured and hunted unjustly. XLH is not as spiteful as me though LOL

And this is not vagueing anyone. Lots of people have a different opinion than me.

At least I haven't seen anyone have DFQC call her Xiyun. I could not read that. She’s XLH to him (or Xiao Huayo of course).