#plus i love the silent protagonist trope

[chickenmanbeloved]

A lovely reminder

[bubbledumbbinch]

Okay so can I ask for some general headcanons for a Fem!MC in twst? The game has gender-neutral pronouns for the MC so far and it's an all boys school. How do you think the characters reaction/interactions would change if the MC was female? (if all are too much you can just pick your faves, maybe just include the octa and Savannahclaw dorm?) Just your thoughts and some brainrot💖

I think the boys would definitely be a lot more flirtatious to fem!MC!!! (I just wanna call her FeMC so I could say… fem… with a c at the end LOL). This is an all boys school, what do you expect?!

These are mostly short I’m sorry! I wanted to try to fit everyone in!

Ramshackle

Grim would lay at night curled up beside you. On days when your period hit, Grim would sense you in pain and get near your abdomen and purr. He feels like it’s an instinctual thing to do and if if helps out his minion, he’ll do it! Plus there’s tuna in it for him, right? Pet his ears too!

Heartslabyul

Riddle would definitely blush when you are around, but not too heavily! Sure he finds you attractive but it won’t stop him from fulfilling his duties as a dorm leader! He can’t help himself when he gets flustered talking to you since the only woman he grew up around was his strict mother. Since you’re different compared to her, he can’t tell but feel warmth from you which he wants to keep in his heart.

Ace and Deuce would make jokes at each other’s expense, both of them sorta going neck and neck trying to compete for your attention! They know you guys are just friends… unless..? 😳 Ace would make the snarky remarks while Deuce would threaten to beat Ace up.

Trey would act the same towards you, knowing he has to be a respectful upperclassman! You ALMOST can’t tell he sets aside the cupcake with more fruits or decoration on it for you at the Unbirthday party. Trey would give his signature smirk and wink as he sets it down in front of you.

Cater would take you on shopping sprees and outings to have so many photo opportunities with NRC’s only female student! Girls would flood his comments asking if you were his girlfriend, but he never answered. He secretly hopes you like him back so you could do cute couple things together like match outfits!

Savannaclaw

Leona would still call you herbivore and treat you the same as always. Still as lazy as before. However he can’t help but show off when he plays Magift and you happen to be watching. He lowkey stares at your features and shape of your body when you’re not looking 👀

Ruggie would also mostly act the same towards you, but he would bump into you on purpose so he can have an excuse to touch or smell you! His body tingles when he can smell your scent on the blazer he accidentally knocked into you with! Still treats you the same as ever though!

Jack would be gentler towards you, he knows how rough and big his body is, he doesn’t want to accidentally hurt you! His personality is still the same, don’t think he’ll treat you any differently because you’re a girl!

Octavinelle

Azul would try to make shady deals with you to offer you protection against students who may be too forward with you since you’re a girl. In exchange? For you to work at the lounge! and spend time with him. He secretly likes you but would never tell you to uphold his reputation and he is also afraid of rejection ;w; Azul would also not mind seeing you wearing the lounge uniform, fufufu…

Jade would would act more like a butler type! You also find him nearby sometimes, feeling his striking gaze looking at you. He’s always there when someone is trying to confess to you and you look uncomfortable. “Oya oya, do you need some help, miss?” His voice teasingly echoes through the halls, scaring off the guy who was trying to hit on you. Jade would stretch out his hand and escort you to wherever you needed to go.

Honestly? Unless you had a super “girly” appearance, Floyd wouldn’t have noticed until he gave you a hug to squeeze you, noticing your body was different… more squishy... and your bone structure is different. Shrimpy is so squeezable!!! Huh? He has to be wary of your chest? He’ll just lift you up by your tummy! You being a girl doesn’t stop the hug train!

Scarabia

Kalim wouldn’t treat you any differently! He would still definitely invite you over as often as possible, not realizing his sweetness may come off as flirtatious! Might develop a small crush on you :) imagines all the pretty outfits he could buy you from his homeland

Jamil would at first be wary of you but once he realizes you aren’t a threat to Kalim or the school, he stops doubting you. Definitely isn’t the type to judge you differently based on your gender!

Pomefiore

Vil would smirk and think he finally has someone else to practice makeup on! He definitely uses you as a model to show off his products, whether it be makeup, skincare, clothing, etc!

Rook would be… protective. He likes you because you’re different, and he would subtly follow and stake you out to see what things you’re doing differently at NRC as a girl. Rook offers silent protection against those he sees as a threat to you before you can even notice.

Epel would definitely try to prove his manliness in front of you if Vil isn’t in the vicinity! Going out of his way to carry heavy items, be tough, etc. If YOU tell him he’s manly, it’s certainly gotta mean something right?!

Ignihyde

Idia thinks it’s like some sort of anime trope, you’re the female protagonist and it’s like a reverse harem because the whole school is full of boys! Cough cough breaking the fourth wall here! He would probably be more… nervous around you, not like he would ever get close anyways, but still! The idea of the only girl at school actually being friends with you and maybe becoming more makes his heart beat faster.

Ortho would not. Perceive you any differently LOL. He’d be intrigued would say like “A girl? Cool! The body analyses I’ve done from everyone around you reads their body temperatures higher and their hearts are all beating faste- MMPH!” He would be silenced by ADeuce…

Diasomnia

Malleus…. Once he knows how you don’t fear him and how you like him even without knowing who he is. All he can think of is how beautiful you would be as his queen. Who can blame him? He has priorities and he needs to think of these things! I can also imagine him picking petals off flowers and saying “She loves me… she loves me not…” because he’s romantic like that… my heart

Lilia would use his experience in his vast years of dating to his advantage, knowing what ways to talk to a woman best. He swears he is only flirting with you for fun! The way your cheeks puff up in embarrassment is just too cute to resist! He certainly doesn’t mind a gender neutral MC, but Lilia can appreciate the beauty in every gender and he certainly appreciates your beauty!

Silver said 😪😴 . You notice Silver has more of a knightly approach to you, offering to protect you when you need it. He understands how a situation between one girl and hundreds of male students could provide a sense of fear, so Silver would always be there to protect you if you need!

Sebek would blush when you’re around, but he thinks you’re trying to use feminine charm and wiles to seduce the young master, even though all you did was make a yawn noise, flip your hair, or put on a bit of makeup! You have to explain to him that you aren’t doing anything to try to seduce anybody. You just wanted to go to school. He is doubtful but finally agrees. Maybe he was becoming victim to your charm instead?

[kuronekonerochan]

Hi...how are you? If you don't mind me asking what are your top 5 favorite danmei novels (until now)? And why? Sorry if you've answered this question before.....

Hi, sorry for being slow at answering!

In no particular order:

Ok, so I liked the 3 from MXTX:

 - Grandmaster of Diabolic Cultivation/ Mo Dao Zu Shi 

This one I loved but it has a particular style that ppl might not like in that it feels jumpy, confusing and with information gaps while reading, even though eventually everything that matters does end up being explained...in other works this would probably be just lazy writing, but here it is clearly an intentional choice bc 1) she doesn’t do this in her other novels 2) this is in WWX’s pov and dude has heavy ptsd and adhd, plus he tends to pretend to take everything lightly as a coping mechanisms...all this put together and it’s easy to understand why the story has such an unreliable narrator that even the other characters constantly point it out. I ended up loving this extra layer of storytelling.

 - Heaven Official’s Blessings/ Tian Guan Ci Fu

If you’re in the mood for a saga type long ass novel with a ton of interesting side stories and side characters with a main character who is a true cinnamon bun in sweet romance with a side dish of sweet sweet aaaangst.

- Scum Villains Self Saving System

The most entertaining out of all of them. It manages to be a parody of two genres, both danmeis and wuia/jianghu harem het novels (fighter of destiny style) with OP leads, while also being its own cute and funny story with a heart to it.

From other authors:

 - Meatbun’s 2ha/ Dumb Husky and his White Cat Shizun 

What if someone took a look at the parody that is SVSSS and said...”no, you know what? This really deserves to be an epic, long ass, and I mean, topping old classics’ length novel packed with angst, filled with pain and topped with despair...and then we’re sprinkling some funfetti on top to fool y’all”...and you know what? that’s some good cake. (If you’re into cdramas SVSSS is to 2ha what The Romance of Tiger and Rose is to Goodbye My Princess).

- Priest’s Sha Po Lang:

Steampunk China plus creepy voodoo tribal ritual magic, involved in internal and external wars over petrol (with a different name) and with our leads in Iron Man suits, fighting, among other enemies hot young(er) hands on, on the field, western troop General, the Pope, that I can only visualize in my head as Jude Law. I tell you all of this nonsense just to say that instead of the ridiculous fun this should be, it ends up being a very compelling romance with lots of scheming and heavy plot and some heartbreaking scenes.

- The Golden Stage:

This is a court drama type novel with friends-to-rivals-to-lovers that is just the right length and compelling with not too many plot twists but two main characters who are really great both individually and together and this is the one out of all in the list I feel like re reading the most. It really is a solid read and I feel like I’m selling it short, bc it really is good. It is similar to Sha Po Lang and To Rule in a Turbulent World, a simpler version of those but not worse for it.

(Since you said top 5 and I’ve said 6, I regretfully cut down Heaven Official’s Blessing bc even though I love it, unlike MDZS or SVSSS, it didn’t feel like a standalone novel because some of the several storylines of the side characters that I loved were left open ended (although the main characters had a complete story arc), as if this book was supposed to be the first of a series and those characters would have their own spinoff books where I’d know where their story took them...except this really is a standalone, and so the lack of resolution bothers me).

>> Honorable Mentions:

- To Rule in a Turbulent World

This one doesn’t go in the top 5 list yet bc it’s not fully translated, last time I checked (tho it’s very near the end). As an ongoing novel, I adore it. If the ending isn’t terrible it might be in my top 3. It’s similar to the two above in plotlines but it has a quality to it that it takes care to make every character in it multidimensional. There are no good and bad characters, even the ones on the opposite side are given something that makes them relatable and human. Plus, the characters all change throughout the novel, most of all the protagonists and the novel gives itself breathing time between events where you just chill with the characters and learn about random things like agricultural practices. 

- The Wife Is First

This one is just that light fluff feel good one that is great to pick up from time to time since it’s on going. Dumb Jock husband did everything wrong in his first life, gets a re-do and from then on it’s adorable respect the spouse juice and awe of said spouse smarts. Cute. Also, there’s a baby pet tiger.

>> Others I did like, just not in the top 5:

 -Faraway Wanderers and Lord Seventh/Qi Ye by Priest:

Qi Ye is similar to To Rule in A Turbulent World/The Golden Stage/Sha Po Lang. I really liked it still, just a tiny bit less than these. Since it’s the same author as SPL and I think it was written earlier, I have to say, the writing only got better.

Faraway Wanderers is a short read, but you’re only gonna like it if you’re ok with amoral main characters (I guess that is true for many on this list but it’s more obvious in this one bc the novel and the characters are unapologetic about it).

- YuWu by Meatbun - Still reading it, but is isn’t grabbing me like 2ha did.

>> I assumed you only wanted danmeis as in period fantasy bl novels, but if we go modern, fantasy or not:

 - Silent Readings by Priest:

I love crime fiction novels (love Ding Mo’s novels) and this is that type of conspiracy, murder novel with smart criminals and smart investigators. Little romance, but still there.

 - Guardian by Priest: 

Priest is hilarious and except the last part that gets a bit heavy on the lore this is just a joy to read. Also pretty short.

- Advance Bravely:

I read it a long time ago and it’s okayish, with some cute and some weird, problematic characters. 

- Addicted/ Heroin:

Also read it (this is 2 books) ages ago...and this one is NOT cute. It starts out as a pretty normal, but kind of toxic very typical oldschool drama/manga romance right down to the step brothers’ trope....and then it keeps escalating to new levels of WTF am I reading?!! All I have to say for this one is, that while I cannot recommend it per se, nor say it’s good, the title really is fitting, bc it is addictive as f.

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

After re-watching Demon Slayer, I think the main reason why I really loved the series is because the show feels like the “anti-shonen”. It goes against a lot of typical shonen anime tropes but does it in a way that makes the show feel fresh. 

What I mean by that is:

1) Making Zenitsu and Inosuke as part of the main quartet. In any other shonen, they’d probably be the side characters. 

2) Making Giyu a recurring/support character. Usually, the silent, mysterious, cold, dark-haired anime guy would be part of the main group (you know, like Sasuke or Vegeta). Also, he’s not even that “edgy” of a character, he’s just chill most of the time.

3) Nezuko, being the “girl” member of the main group, is written as the heart of the series. She’s not obsessed with romance and she’s not a love interest of the main protag. Also, as another breakaway from shonen tropes, the series is focused on Tanjiro’s relationship with Nezuko. That is such a damn relief from other series I’ve seen where the main relationship is between the protagonist and their rival. 

4) Tanjiro doesn’t really randomly power-up in the series. You see him actively train and get better. Plus, the show goes into detail about how it takes months for Tanjiro to master a new ability. 

5) Along the same lines of point 4, the show also delves into the team’s recovery. They don’t just go back into the field after a fight, they have to regain their health.  

6) The main group doesn’t really have that much unnecessary drama with each other. They’re just bros who argue with each other all the time. Coming off of Naruto Shippuden, which has one of the most dysfunctional main groups I’ve ever seen (Sasuke abandoning the team, Naruto and Sakura’s tension with Sai, Naruto and Sakura having their own problems affecting their relationships, etc.), it’s amazing that Demon Slayer, even with all the arguing between the main characters, is somehow one of the more functional shonen anime teams. 

7) Not extending a villain’s lifespan longer than they should. I absolutely hate it when these shonen anime series let the villain live, which leads to either the villain redeeming themselves or once again becoming a threat in a future arc. In Demon Slayer, nope, it’s on sight. You cross Tanjiro, you’re gonna die, case closed. I absolutely love that.

8) Tanjiro in general. I love that he’s not your typical shonen protagonist. Instead of being an underdog trying to become the best, he’s a dedicated family man who wants to avenge his loved ones. Yes, he does want to become stronger, but it’s to save someone else. Also, I like that the show doesn’t really portray him as an underdog, he’s a fucking badass and he knows it. 

[intercat-archived]

the beginning.

[ love unholyc self insert backstory. part i. ] [ matthias is my bf’s love unholyc self insert ]

“Ah…?” Mirage opened his eyes to find himself laying on the grass, gazing up at a starry night sky.

He sat up, rubbing his head. Where on earth was he? He was quite positive he had gone to sleep in his bed last night. And he didn’t drink, so how did he end up outside?

“Ah-ha, you’ve finally awoken.” A smooth voice sounded next to him. Mirage froze, slowly turning to the source of the voice.

A handsome-looking young man was sitting beside him. There were several things off about this man, however.

For one, he was dressed in nothing but loose white robes and bandages. Black horns adorned his head, and his pupils were horizontal, akin to a goat’s. His irises were blood-red, and he had a self-satisfied look on his face.

“So, my powers have indeed remained just as potent throughout the years.” The man said smugly. “You must be rather confused.”

Mirage’s hands shook. Was he dreaming? He couldn’t remember the last time he had a lucid dream, especially one this… realistic? Vivid? He couldn’t think of the right word. After all, he was stiff with fear.

The man easily stood up, offering a hand to Mirage. “Up we go.” He said, helping Mirage up.

Mirage, although awkwardly, accepted the man’s hand. “Where… who…” he mumbled, half to himself.

“You must have many questions, right?” The stranger guessed. “I’m Asmodeus. And you, my dear descendant, are currently in the world of that game of yours you enjoy so much.”

“Asmo…deus…? Descendant?” Mirage’s brow furrowed. “Game…?”

“Take a look for yourself.” Asmodeus gestured to something behind Mirage. Mirage turned around to see a very familiar-looking mansion… almost identical to the protagonist’s home in the Korean otome game Love Unholyc. The dots slowly connected in his head.

“This… has to be a dream.”

“Haha, you probably wish it was.” Asmodeus rested a hand on Mirage’s shoulder. “Alas, it’s very real. You must be familiar with this trope, with all the manga you read, yes?”

Mirage squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, as if to clear it. “I… don’t understand. You called me your descendant. I’m a human.”

“Not anymore!” Asmodeus chuckled. “I have granted the blood of an Unholyc to you. Don’t you worry your little head, though. You’re still partly human, after all!”

Partly-human… yes, that was what an Unholyc was. Part human, part charm demon.

“W-wait, what about my old house?”

“What about it?” Asmodeus shrugged. “It’s not like you had any lasting connections in your world.”

Ah. Well, he wasn’t wrong, exactly. Mirage was always so busy trying to make ends meet, he never had time for friends. Plus, he was never that close with his family, being raised by his aunt and uncle, never knowing his real parents.

Perhaps this was for the best.

“So… you… brought me here? Why?” Mirage struggled to get the words out. He was usually very quiet, but he simply had too many questions right now to stay silent.

“Haha, you’ll just have to find out! Have fun! The sun is rising, so it’s time for me to go. Good luck!” Asmodeus winked, disappearing in a red flash.

“Eh…?” Mirage stared at the empty spot where the strange demon used to be. He turned around to gaze at the large, dark mansion before him. Was this truly the world of one of his favorite games?

He had already witnessed the impossible. Could it really be true…?

And, if so… was he in danger?

Mirage finally decided to knock on the mansion door. What’s the worst that could happen, right?

After what felt like an eternity, an irritated face poked out from behind. It was a tall, rather attractive man with several tattoos, long black hair tied into a low ponytail, and glasses. “Who on earth is knocking on my door at a time like this?”

Mirage couldn’t help but stare. “…William?” He murmured.

Much to his dismay, the man heard him. “Yes, I am he. Seeing as how you know my name, you must be the Unholyc Agni told us to look after.” He huffed. “Could you not have at least waited until noon? That’s when the young masters usually wake up.”

Mirage flinched at his harsh tone. “Sorry.” He mumbled.

William noticed his discomfort and sighed. “I suppose it can’t be helped. You should come inside.”

Thoughts swirled around in Mirage’s head. Agni told William to look after him? Agni was the very first Unholyc, and the most powerful one. Had Asmodeus told her of Mirage’s coming, and instructed William to care for him as he does Mir? And… masters, plural? Mirage remembered that the only ones living in this mansion were Mir and William…

“Make yourself at home, please.” William gestured to the sofa in the living room. “I shall wake the young masters at once. Would you like some tea?”

Mirage shook his head politely. Even if he did like tea in the first place, it was a running joke in the game that William’s tea tasted terrible.

As Mirage waited, he wondered who the second ‘young master’ was. Perhaps he had come into this world post-chapter two? Had Mir already found a lover in one of the three love interests, and was now living with him?

Footsteps sounded in a nearby hallway, as well as voices that were slowly growing closer.

“You should brush your hair, you look ridiculous.”

“I do not! And, if I have to brush my hair, you should wear nicer clothes! You’re just wearing a hoodie and sweatpants!”

“So are you, idiot!”

That… definitely wasn’t the voice of Sol, Leo, or Jung Hi.

He watched as two figures came into view. One familiar, one completely foreign to him.

A young woman with shorter pale hair that faded into purple at the ends, wearing a pink hoodie and white leggings.

Next to her, a slightly taller young man with short, lavender hair wearing a purple hoodie and black sweatpants.

“Ah…” Mirage blinked, making eye contact with the young man.

Mir elbowed said young man. “You say hi first!” She whispered fiercely.

The man coughed, and stood up straighter. “Um, hello! I am Matthias, and this is my younger sister, Mir. We are… looking forward to your stay!”

Mir turned away to stifle a laugh, clearing her throat before facing Mirage. “Uh, yeah! What he said!”

Mirage nodded. “Thank you.” He said quietly, so quietly it was almost a whisper.

“I’m glad to have another Unholyc friend!” Mir beamed at Mirage.

“Y-yes.” Mirage nodded once more.

Suddenly, a realization hit him. Well, several realizations, really.

One, this wasn’t the game world he knew. Matthias’s existence proved that.

Two, he was indeed an Unholyc. Unfortunately for Mirage, his favorite Love Unholyc character was the enemy of all Unholycs. Eater, the centuries-old so-called “monster” that consumed the power of an Unholyc, leaving only a husk of their former self behind.

Was he, one day, to face Eater? And when that time came… would he have the heart to defend himself? He was incredibly fond of Eater’s character, and to have such a beloved character try and harm him… his stomach twisted in pain. Not the kind of pain one feels physically, but rather emotionally. The type of pain one would feel after hurting their lover, or having their lover hurt them.

What on earth did the future have in store for him…?

[risingsol]

3, 30, 38

munday asks / accepting

3. On what platform did you start RPing?

My baby RPs started first on AIM and Yahoo/MSN messenger! I also used to RP on chat forums that I'm pretty sure no longer exist.

30. What are your favorite RP tropes to play? (angst, hurt-comfort, etc…)

I do like angst... but I love hurt-comfort, slice of life, sometimes crack, uh drama? And fluff, despite all the stuff that I post here, I do love a good fluff RP. Overall though, I like dabbling a little bit in everything because it gets a little repetitive to me if you keep writing the same trope in different flavor texts.

38. What’s the best inspiration for your muse?

This. No, but Aether might really be the first protagonist that I've ever really written so finding that sort of fine line between realism and main character is a lot of fun! Plus as a protag, you kind of end up getting into a lot of shenanigans that are fun to try and navigate through. There's a certain larger degree of freedom that you're allowed with a mostly silent protag like Aether so thinking of a more grounded portrayal is inspiration in and of itself!

[animearchetypes]

Dere Types That Are Commonly Confused With Another

I made a a few posts about comparing the two similar dere types but it didn’t really seem to have that much effect. I’m aware not everyone will click on the “dere types comparison” hashtag so I may as well put it all in one page.

The difference is there won’t be bulletpoints this time so I’ll instead rely on full explanation as we go along. I know I may make mistakes, but hey as long as it’s effective and entertaining, I’m up for it.

I will also add the character examples of each overlap. Now let’s begin.

Dandere

A dandere is quite a popular trope in anime. It is one of the four main dere types, and yet this archetype is commonly confused with a kuudere.

Why?

Most dandere characters appear as kuuderes. Both are silent, asocial, they hardly talk, and don’t really open up until the right person comes along. Danderes are more anxious than kuuderes. However, both kuudere and dandere characters can sometimes display the same facial expressions and body language, so I wouldn’t blame them for getting the two mixed up.

Shown in the GIF above is the example of the overlap, Yuki Nagato from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. She came across as emotionless and blunt when she was really just shy. She had trouble expressing her feelings but she slowly came around in the end.

Hajidere

A lesser known trope, but it is slowly becoming recognized. A hajidere is basically someone who is embarrassed around heir crush. As the trope becomes more recognized, there’s no doubt people will mistake this archetype as a dandere.

Why?

Both of these dere types display their shy behavior, so it is no doubt that more people will get the two mixed up, which is why I’ll explain the difference.

Danderes are silent and less open towards people in general due to their shyness, especially towards people they don’t know. They don’t initiate conversation, and so they tend to be more socially awkward. The shyness of a hajidere depends on the situation, they aren’t always shy. They can in fact be more outspoken when they need to be.

While both dere types are shy towards their crush, it’s the hajideres that take this to the extreme; they freeze up, sometimes to the point of fainting. Shown in the GIF is Hinata Hyuuga from Naruto, the character who was often listed in the examples of both dandere and hajidere characters. Hinata was initially shy towards everyone like a dandere, but she also took her shyness towards her crush to the extreme like a hajidere would by going red and fainting. Hinata being the example of both, adds the confusion between the two dere types.

Bodere

A fairly new trope. Boderes cope with their romantic feelings poorly by lashing out so they can hide their shyness. They are easily mistaken with the most popular dere type, the tsundere.

Why?

Boderes are similar to tsunderes; they both lash out, get embarrased easily, and they both have trouble handling their romantic feelings. But there’s a catch. Bodere characters lack the dialogue that tsunderes have and are far less mean and arrogant. In fact, boderes don’t have a harsh exterior at all. Instead, boderes are more shy and they use their fists instead of words. You can say they are like a combination of a tsundere and dandere, but it’s the bodere’s lack of dialogue when embarrassed that really distinguishes them from tsundere, dandere, and hajidere.

The GIF is Hiyori Iki from Noragami, while Mahiru Inami from Working is a more popular example of a bodere, I tend to see Hiyori as a toned down Mahiru, except she doesn’t have Androphobia which is what influenced Mahiru’s behavior and personality.

Why is Hiyori in there and not Mahiru? Bodere behaviors often overlap with tsundere qualities, which often causes confusion. Plus some people group Hiyori with other tsundere characters, thus ignoring her bodere behaviors. While I don’t blame them for seeing Hiyori this way, I believe bodere better fits the bill because she lashes out with violence.

Dorodere

CW: Rape mention

This trope is neither rare or popular, but somewhere in the middle. A dorodere is a character who is sweet on the outside and disturbed on the inside. This archetype is often confused with a more popular dere type, the yandere.

Why?

Both dere types are sweet on the outside and they’re both initially sweet and kind. The main difference is how the mind influences the behavior of a character. While both types are obsessive, it’s the doroderes who don’t act on their thoughts by harming someone else, and it’s the yanderes who are more likely to commit a crime in the name of love.

However, not all yanderes commit crimes by killing or becoming serial killers, which is a common myth about the yandere trope. Not all yanderes kill, but they do act on their thoughts through over protectiveness or some other form of brutality. Anna Nishikinomiya from Shimoneta is a prime example of a yandere who has never killed anyone, but she did act on her obsessive thoughts by attempting to rape the protagonist.

In the GIF above is Yuri from Doki Doki Literature Club. She’s there because people often debate on whether she meets the yandere criteria or not. But she fits the dorodere criteria because one, she doesn’t act on her thoughts; and two, she’s unpredictable. I believe she was a dandere who became a dorodere after Monika messed up her personality.

Well that’s all I could think of for now, but there will be a part 2 soon. Till then, thank you for reading.

[luckystarchild]

“Breath of the Wild” was a Narrative Disappointment

Don’t get me wrong. Loved the graphics, gameplay and open world concept. But the storyline sucked such a major boatload of ass that I’m left with a feeling of intense disappointment upon completing a playthrough. I honestly feel that the game was an overall waste of time, at least when I take into consideration the amount of hours I put into it. Playing for a few dozen hours gives you a glimpse of what the game can offer; unlocking all of it became a slog, and the ending made me want to flip a table. “I wasted all this time killing mobs for THAT?” I literally yelled at the screen after staring at the credits for ten minutes in silence.

Spoilers below. Here’s my review of the game’s writing, specifically.

For all her supposed importance, Zelda may as well have been absent throughout the game OR replaced with a magical object/McGuffin that Link could use to defeat Ganon, as that's all she really amounted to by the end of the game. She spends the game locked in a tower occasionally whispering to Link through his memories/through mild hallucinations... and that’s it. She has no other role. We’re told that she’s keeping Ganon locked in the castle, but... that’s it (and it’s a bad case of “telling, not showing” to boot). She might as well be a magical padlock. Since the game revolves around rescuing her and defeating Ganon before her magic can fail and let him loose, AND since she’s the one who must strike the final blow in a big moment of Deus ex Machina grandeur, she’s heavily objectified both as both the Object of Power that Link needs to recover to save the day AND the princess who needs rescuing. Her lack of agency is just plain bad writing.

Which is a shame, because this Zelda might be the best-developed Zelda in this series so far, BUT she’s not even that well-developed by objective standards! Because all of her character development happens in flashbacks, she couldn't grow or evolve during the story; none of the storyline’s events impact her whatsoever. And while the game allows you to discover “memories” that unlock cut-scenes of Link’s past experiences with Zelda, the flashbacks are too disconnected (and viewable out of order) for us to see her growth on-screen in any meaningful way.

Plus, the game spoils its own plot where Zelda is concerned! In the flashbacks, we see her struggling to unlock the powers that are supposed to be her birthright, and the tension lies in whether or not she’ll unlock them... but we KNOW she’ll do so because in the present timeline, she’s clearly powerful enough to seal Ganon away with magic. The central mystery of whether or not she developed her magic abilities is rendered moot given we learn nearly immediately upon Link’s awakening that she must've developed powers since she was able to seal away Ganon.

Also, everything in her backstory is really textbook “young woman must inherit a caretaker role from her mother while her father overprotects her” bit of trope and cliche, which is rooted in sexist stereotyping... but honestly, the fact that it’s BORING is the part I really can’t stand. 

Ganon himself was also a faceless evil entity without any menace; he was just "chaos incarnate" and some nameless evil floating around in castle, and while that's not a huge departure for the series’ writing, necessarily, it didn't give me any sense of stakes whatsoever. Given you can play the game for eons and he never breaks free as consequence for your delays in reaching him, he's just... toothless. The tension of “Will Zelda be able to contain Ganon long enough for Link to become strong enough to kill Ganon?” is, once again, rendered moot by the mechanics of the game itself!

And Link is, true to form, a cardboard cutout of a person. You can say it’s because he has amnesia OR because he’s a silent protagonist in the vein of typical JRPGs OR that that’s just normal for Link, but again... BORING. The worst crime a story can commit is to be boring, and Breath of the Wild committed that crime in spades. And before someone accuses me of not understanding these games, let me say this: I think LoZ's simplistic storytelling worked in past games! These sins are typical of this franchise. But at this point as we move into more and more storytelling-focused and narrative-heavy games, especially where RPGs are concerned, those missteps with Zelda and Ganon were disappointing at worst and lackluster at best. They really could have done so much more with their material, and this franchise is going to need to evolve if it hopes to be more than what it currently is: A technical marvel saddled with soulless storytelling. I'm just hoping BotW2 has a stronger narrative. Hopefully the first game was just a means for them to test the open world and combat systems... like a really formal beta, if you will. But I’m going to be eyeing reviews of it very closely, and if I can’t be assured that the writers were allowed to break the mold, it’s a game I will have to skip.

If you play games for the combat and worldbuilding, you’ll love Breath of the Wild. It truly is great in those aspects. But if, like me, you play for the story first and foremost, you’ll come away feeling hollow.

(Also the game is really really shitty to trans people and it was absolutely AWFUL in that respect; had to put the whole game away for a month and I only came back to it because I’m a completionist.)

[britesparc]

Weekend Top Ten #455

Top Ten Comedy Sidekicks

Ha, LOL, ROFL, guffaw, snort. Comedy, eh? You’ve got to love it, unless you somehow fall through a timewarp into a late-seventies working men’s club in Blackburn and you find yourself choking to death on second-hand smoke, mother-in-law jokes, and a simmering undercurrent of racist violence. Good times!

Anyway, it’s fairly common that even in the most serious of narratives and with the most serious of protagonists, we need a little chuckle very now and again (nobody tell Zack Snyder – actually, no, scratch that, somebody definitely tell Zack Snyder). It lightens the load, makes the world more nuanced and realistic, and even makes the truly dark moments stand out all the stronger. Most films have a bit of a joke every once in a while (and, of course, Shakespeare’s tragedies are full of comic characters or bits of business), and one very common trope is the Comedy Sidekick.

What is a Comedy Sidekick? Well, it’s a supporting character who offers comic relief, basically. sometimes this can be obviously discernible – Luis in Ant-Man, for example, may function as a plot engine from time to time, but has little in the way of actual character development and is mostly there to be funny whilst the heroes do hero stuff. Sometimes it’s harder to define; I mean, are either of the Blues Brothers a comedy sidekick? Arguably Jake is the lead and Elwood is a bit more of a “turn” (he’s almost eternally deadpan and unemotional), but I’d never say one was inherently funnier or “straighter” than the other. And the you get onto films like Aladdin: sure, Aladdin himself is obviously the protagonist, and there’s an argument to be made that the Genie is a comic relief supporting character, but I feel in this case he’s far too integral to the plot, played by a significantly more famous actor, and really just dominates the film to the extent that he becomes the de facto lead (see also: Captain Jack Sparrow). Again, in Men in Black, Will Smith’s J is clearly the “funny” one, but Smith is also the bigger star and the audience entry point; plus, Tommy Lee Jones is hilarious as the deadpan K. So it’s not as simple as it may first appear.

Anyway, the ten in this list are ones I define as definitely being supporting characters. They may be big characters, in terms of plot or development, but they’re definitely there in support of another protagonist. And whilst they may be fully-rounded characters with their own arcs, their primary function is to be funny; they’re the ones who deliver the comedy lines back to the main character, or crack a joke at the end of a serious bit.

Right, I think that’s my usual ridiculous caveats out of the way. Now let’s make ‘em laugh.

Baldrick (Tony Robinson, Blackadder series, 1983-99): Baldrick is one of the supreme comic idiots in all of fiction. Serving as a perfect foil to Blackadder, he is not only supremely stupid but also his niceness and naiveté serves to undercut his master’s wickedness; plus his idiocy is often the undoing of Blackadder’s villainous plans. But he is also charmingly fully-rounded, oblivious to his own stupidity, possessed of “cunning plans”, and with a great love of turnips. A phenomenal turn from Robinson.

Sir John Falstaff (various plays by William Shakespeare, from 1597): is it cheating to include as significant and iconic a literary figure as Falstaff? Feels a bit like it, especially as he's practically a lead (and, indeed, becomes one in Merry Wives). But really he’s the archetype: a supremely vain and self-serving comic foil, but one with vast hidden depths as he’s keenly aware of his own frailties and the inevitable end of his good times with Prince Hal.

Father Dougal McGuire (Ardal O’Hanlon, Father Ted 1995-98): in many ways he’s a slightly watered-down version of Baldrick’s comic idiot; but Dougal is, if anything, even stupider, and less self-aware. He’s like a perfect idiot, a beautiful naïve fool, a supreme man-child with his Masters of the Universe duvet. And he’s divine, just incredibly hilarious throughout; and, like Baldrick, serves as the perfect foil for his more duplicitous and cynical elder.

Donkey (Eddie Murphy, Shrek, 2001): animated sidekicks are very often the comic relief, and I’d argue that Murphy’s Donkey is as good as they come. I actually think Murphy’s prior turn as Mushu in Mulan is probably the better character, but Donkey is just a comic force of nature, a creature who exists only to make everything dafter and funnier. It allowed Murphy a chance to go all-out in a way he hadn’t on screen for quite some time, and it was something we’d rarely seen in animation (arguably only Robin Williams’ Genie is in the same ballpark). Plus, he actually is a good friend to Shrek, bringing out his better nature. Well done, Eddie!

Danny Butterman (Nick Frost, Hot Fuzz, 2007): another of those characters who really skirts the edges of “supporting comic relief” and is really a deuteragonist. But I feel like most of Frost’s characters in his partnerships with Simon Pegg are, essentially, supportive; Pegg is almost always the lead. In this film, despite Danny having some great development and functioning almost as a romantic partner for Pegg’s Nick Angel, he’s usually presented as a beautiful comic foil, his folksy, slobby demeanour contrasting perfectly with Angel’s straitlaced professionalism. And – for the second film in a row – he gets a tremendous C-bomb.

Luis (Michael Peña, Ant-Man, 2015): another comic fool, Luis is the silly, charming, endearing, loveable thorn in the side of Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang. He’s daft, yeah, and comes across as a bit dim, but his permanently-smiling demeanour means we just keep on loving him, even when we can see how annoying he would be. but what cements his position is his rapid-fire OTT explanations, and how the movie presents them; pieces of comedic joy in the MCU.

Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor, Singin’ in the Rain, 1952): Singin’ is one of those great Golden Age movies full of witty dialogue (as well as great songs, natch), and by its nature Gene Kelly is the lead and therefore straight man, whereas O’Connor’s Cosmo can be wackier and funnier, and in doing so get to the truth of what his friend is feeling. But what really gets him in this list is his performance of “Make ‘Em Laugh”, running up walls like he’s in The Matrix or something, and feeling like a Bugs Bunny cartoon brought to life.

Silent Bob (Kevin Smith, View Askiewniverse, from 1994): I guess you could argue that both Bob and his less-silent colleague Jay are, as a twosome, the comedy sidekicks in whichever films they’re in (apart from the two they headline, I guess); but if you take the pair on their own, I’d say Bob is the comic of the duo. Yeah, it’s Jay who’s the mile-a-minute loudmouth, cracking jokes and being explosively filthy. But who really gets the laughs? For my money it’s Smith’s perfectly-judged expressions, punctuating the pomposity or reinforcing the eccentricity of whatever Jay’s on about. And then every now and again he gets to speak, and delivers a great one-liner (“no ticket!”) or serious, heartfelt monologue (cf. Chasing Amy).

Semmi (Arsenio Hall, Coming to America, 1988): Semmi is supposed to be a loyal and devoted servant to Prince Akeem, and he is, I guess; but he’s also a true friend. Akeem’s quest to find love in New York is genuine, and despite the film’s high joke quantity, Eddie Murphy has to be relatively restrained in his lead role. Hall’s Semmi, on the other hand, gets to be acerbic, throwing shade and barbs at his lord, questing their quest and seeking his own share of wealth and, well, women. And we all love his line “you sweat from a baboon’s balls”.

Dory (Ellen DeGeneres, Finding Nemo, 2003): as discussed above, comedy cartoon sidekicks are a cinematic staple. They’re not often female, however, and even more rare is a female character who gets to be both funnier and seemingly dumber/goofier than the lead. Of course, Dory is full of pathos, a borderline tragic character whose chronic memory loss has a dreadful impact on her day-to-day life. It’s her sunny optimism (“just keep swimming!”) that makes her endearing more than her humour, however; and, of course, it’s this optimism that begins to chip away at Marlin’s (Albert Brooks’) flinty suit of armour. Funny, warm, makes our hero a better person, but can be a little bit sad – perfect comedy sidekick.

There are two that I’m annoyed that I couldn’t fit in so I'll mention them here: Carrie Fisher in When Harry Met Sally and Danny Kaye in White Christmas. In the former case, whilst Fisher’s Marie is hilarious throughout, and definitely comic relief when put alongside the relatively straight Sally, the fact that everyone, really, gets a lot of funny lines in what is a consistently funny film kinda knocked her down the rankings a little bit, even though I feel bad about it, because everything is always better if Carrie FIsher is in it, including these lists. Kaye’s Phil Davis in White Christmas absolutely steals that film from Bing Crosby, with fast-paced witty wordplay and some supreme physical comedy, and the running gag about how he saved the life of Crosby’s Bob Wallace is golden. But, I dunno, he just kept slipping down the list, despite being my favourite thing in that film. Sorry, Danny.

[chartreuse-gale]

Dragon Warrior/Quest ramblings/collective review

I rant about the Dragon Quest franchise a lot.

Two of my video game pet peeves are when people laude the original Dragon Warrior/Dragon Quest as ground breaking (it’s not, see Wizardy/Ultima), or the great grandfather of JRPGs (it’s not, see Hydlide/Dragon Slayer/Fantasian/) I’m generally not a fan of silent protagonists. I rarely identify enough with a character to feel like I’m “in” the game, so I prefer to be playing the role of a character with some kind of dialogue and a personality. Every dragon quest (that I’ve played) has a silent protagonist. That said, I do have some love for the series. I’ve suddenly found myself interested in giving Dragon Quest XI a spin, but instead I went back to Dragon Warrior IV. I remembered liking it as a kid and I’m happy to say I’ve been having as much fun playing it now as I remember having back then. Here are my thoughts on the dragon quest games separated into the ones I’ve finished and the ones I haven’t (mainline only).

Games I’ve Finished

Dragon Quest: This is grinding the game.

Strategy is almost nonexistent in the battle system outside of “Grind XP to LVL UP/Gold to buy better equipment”. You have 1 character and you never fight more than 1 enemy, so all fights are one-on-one. There isn’t any equipment with special traits or functions (just better Attack/Defense). You get access to a total of 6 spells in the game: Heal Heal More Heal Most Hurt Hurt More Hurt Most (these last 3 are usually a waste of MP) The plot is linear (except for potentially at the very end of the game). At least there’s a decent amount of exploration. Worse than Final fantasy I and Phantasy Star I by far, but to be fair, Enix did better with Dragon Quest II, which beat both of these competitors to the punch. Dragon Quest II: So much better than the original.

The grind is mediated by choices that matter in regards to equipment and combat. Also, you have an actual party this time (of 3), Also, Also, you can fight multiple enemies at the same time. Dragon Quest II added a much wider variety of spells (buff, debuff, and elemental damage spells); Equipment that had special functions when used as an item in combat (e.g. the Lightning Staff can cast whoosh), and a smidge more plot. Many people say more grinding is required in II than in the original, but I would argue that Dragon Quest I is nothing but grinding whereas Dragon Quest II breaks up the monotony with a dose of strategy. Comparable to Final Fantasy I. Far worse than Phantasy Star I. Dragon Quest V: Decent.

Also the first game originating on the Super Famicom (although we didn’t get an official English translation till the DS remake)

Allows for a party of 3 (4 in the DS remake). Considered groundbreaking by many for it’s monster recruitment system but it wasn’t the first game to have one by any means (Megami Tensei beat it by 5 years and Wizardry IV by 4). The game is divided into sections based on time periods as you grow from a kid to a teen to an adult, which is a cool way of pacing the games content, and gives you a little more perspective on the setting than you typically get in a Dragon Quest game. Characters are mostly boring outside of one (or two) of the love interests. Did I mention this game has love interests? I think I would have liked it better if there was only one, because it punched me in the heart for not picking the one it leads up to as the primary love interest (who also happens to be the canon one). Has really frustrating setting/plot-gender dynamics with two characters late in the game who I won’t name because spoilers.

Games I’ve Played but haven’t finished

Dragon Quest III: My least favorite game in the series (out of the ones I’ve played).

This time you have a protagonist and you can hire adventures to join you on your quest. They are all nobody characters. Their personalities are assigned at random, and (from what I can tell) only effect their growth. There’s no fucking dialogue with them (which is something I expected after DQ II). Personalities and seeds are fucking annoying, because both of them are random, have huge differences in their effects, and their effects make a huge difference in character capabilities, so it makes me want to spend hours saving/reloading until I get the effects I want. Fuck this game for introducing seeds to the series which appeared in many Dragon Quest games after this (thankfully I haven’t run into personalities again yet). Often lauded for having the “groundbreaking” option of changing character classes/jobs. Yes this came out before Final Fantasy III (Japan), but I would like to make the following points: - Final Fantasy I let you pick your character classes (which came out beforehand) - Final Fantasy III had a class change system you could actually make use of throughout the game (unlike DQ III where you need to get about halfway through the game first) - The original Wizardry came out 7 years earlier and also had a much more accessible class change system than DQ III I played very little of Dragon Quest III (I dropped it before even getting to my 2nd town). Two great thing about this games: It’s the first in the series to give you the option of playing as a woman, and I heard it’s the game that introduced the casino/mini games to the franchise. Dragon Quest IV: This game is Great! Also, Unlike the first three games in the series, Dragon Quest IV might actually be groundbreaking. You ever play Wild Arms I, II, or III? Did you enjoy playing through the prologues that introduce your early party members? Well Dragon Quest IV does a similar thing: The game is divided into chapters. Each chapter has a different protagonist. In their chapter you play them as silent protagonist, but when you encounter them later in the game they have dialogue. This does a lot to develop much of the cast, because you can see how people react to/talk with them and later on you can see how they engage with the player character (who you’re actually introduced to last). The cast is great and falls into a mix of both very old school and very uncommon tropes for a JRPG: You have an aging knight who goes on a mission to rescue children and then goes on a journey to find more about the ominous forces behind their kidnappers (Ragnar). Then there’s a princess who wants to go on an adventure against her fathers wishes so she kicks a hole in the wall of her room and jumps out of the castle (Alena); she’s joined by a young priest (Cristo) and an elderly mage (Brey) employed by her father, who give up on bringing her home and instead ask to travel with her to help her out. Next you have a merchant who wants to raise enough money to buy his own storefront (Taloon). After that you play a Fortune Teller (Nara) who travels with her dancer sister (Mara) on a quest to avenge the death of their father (an alchemist who was murdered by his apprentice).  Each chapter ends on a climax related to motivations/goals of its lead character and each chapter shows more of the world/gives out more info on what is going on behind the scenes. While you actively control the primary characters of a chapter other characters are either controlled completely by AI (in chapters I-IV), or loosely follow a tactical strategy you select (chapter V). I’ve been getting on fine with it, but this might be a deal breaker for some. The music is better than any of the Dragon Quest games I’ve finished (and what I’ve heard from any of the ones I’ve played, but not finished). A remake of this game has an interesting flaw: they cut all the party chart dialogue from the foreign language versions of the DS version; so if you don’t know Japanese, you’ll probably miss out on a lot of character interaction with that version. (I heard this had something to do with concerns that the game wouldn’t make enough sales to cover translation costs of the party chart [which was reputedly two thirds of the game’s script]). Dragon Quest VI Honestly I’ve barely played this one. You have actual characters for party members (a big plus in my book). I’ve heard there’s a job system as well. Plot/setting seem decently interesting on first glance. I might come back to this one later. Dragon Quest VIII I got about halfway through this one.

They included a character-specific skill tree system which is cool, except that there are objectively best routes to take for some (possibly all?) characters and these best routes are not even close to obvious from the outset. It introduced a pretty fun crafting system.

There’s  a decent cast of characters, but they don’t have quite enough going on for my tastes (my fave is Yangus). Plot has an interesting premise, but feels very barebones, and the environments/towns/npcs aren’t very interesting (maybe about as good as DQV, but worse than IV).

This game gets lauded for the 3D models of characters/enemies, but honestly I’ve never been a fan of the character designs of Dragon Quest (especially the monsters), so I feel pretty “meh” about it outside of being able to see your party members in combat (for I think the first time in the series), which is very nice. The music is very ambient a lot of the time. It does a good job of fitting melancholy moments, but doesn’t do such a great job of building excitement during battles and high-tension events. Dragon Quest IX This game feels a lot like Dragon Quest III.

You don’t have any actual characters, you just recruit them and use them in battle (no meaningful intraparty dialogue, character development, etc.) I think I played around 10-20 hours before dropping it.

Final Thoughts

Dragon Quest games vary from game to game in terms of gameplay mechanics, but they vary a great deal more when it comes to characters.

If you like having a lot of control over your party composition and don’t care about having characters with personality, you might like Dragon Quest III, V, or IX.

If you want a party comprised of characters who interact, have personalities, and might even develop over time, you might like Dragon Quest IV, or (sort of) VIII (I haven’t played much of VI, or any of VII or XI, but I heard they also fall into this camp). If you want to play an old school, 8-Bit JRPG that launched a spectacular franchise, might have actually been ground-breaking for its time, and is still fun to play today, check out the original Phantasy Star. . . . . . . (at least, for me it’s still fun to this day) [notes: - edited some typos, and mistakes most notably regarding the Hurt series of spells in Dragon Quest I - Revised some word choices - Added a comment about being able to see your party in combat in Dragon Quest VIII]

[ucflibrary]

The national celebration of African American History was started by Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian and the founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, and first celebrated as a weeklong event in February of 1926. After a half century of overwhelming popularity, the event was expanded to a full month in 1976 by President Gerald Ford.

 Here at UCF Libraries we believe that knowledge empowers everyone in our community and that recognizing past inequities is the only way to prevent their continuation. This is why our featured bookshelf suggestions range from celebrating outstanding African Americans to having difficult conversations about racism in American history. We are proud to present our top 20 staff suggested books in honor of Black History Month.

 Click on the link below to see the full list, descriptions, and catalog links for the Black History Month titles suggested by UCF Library employees. These 20 books plus many, many more are also on display on the 2nd (main) floor of the John C. Hitt Library next to the bank of two elevators.

 A Fool's Errand: creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the age of Bush, Obama, and Trump by Lonnie G. Bunch III Founding Director Lonnie Bunch's deeply personal tale of the triumphs and challenges of bringing the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture to life. His story is by turns inspiring, funny, frustrating, quixotic, bittersweet, and above all, a compelling read. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Research & Information Services

 An American Marriage: a novel by Tayari Jones Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together. Suggested by Rebecca Hawk, Circulation Services

 Becoming African Americans: black public life in Harlem, 1919-1939 by Clare Corbould Following the great migration of black southerners to northern cities after World War I, the search for roots and for meaningful affiliations became subjects of debate and display in a growing black public sphere. Throwing off the legacy of slavery and segregation, black intellectuals, activists, and organizations sought a prouder past in ancient Egypt and forged links to contemporary Africa. Their consciousness of a dual identity anticipated the hyphenated identities of new immigrants in the years after World War II, and an emerging sense of what it means to be a modern American. Suggested by Betsy Kaniecki, UCF Connect Libraries

 Black Sexualities: probing powers, passions, practices, and policies edited by Juan Battle, Sandra L. Barnes Why does society have difficulty discussing sexualities? Where does fear of Black sexualities emerge and how is it manifested? How can varied experiences of Black females and males who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), or straight help inform dialogue and academic inquiry? From questioning forces that have constrained sexual choices to examining how Blacks have forged healthy sexual identities in an oppressive environment, Black Sexualities acknowledges the diversity of the Black experience and the shared legacy of racism. Suggested by Sandy Avila, Research & Information Services

 Charlottesville 2017: the legacy of race and inequity edited by Louis P. Nelson and Claudrena N. Harold How should we respond to the moral and ethical challenges of our times? What are our individual and collective responsibilities in advancing the principles of democracy and justice? This book brings together the work of UVA faculty members catalyzed by last summer’s events to examine their community’s history more deeply and more broadly. Their essays―ranging from John Mason on the local legacy of the Lost Cause to Leslie Kendrick on free speech to Rachel Wahl on the paradoxes of activism―examine truth telling, engaged listening, and ethical responses, and aim to inspire individual reflection, as well as to provoke considered and responsible dialogue. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Research & Information Services

 Diversifying Diplomacy: my journey from Roxbury to Dakar by Harriet Elam-Thomas This is the story of Harriet Lee Elam-Thomas, a young black woman who beat the odds and challenged the status quo. Inspired by the strong women in her life, she followed in the footsteps of the few women who had gone before her in her effort to make the Foreign Service reflect the diverse faces of the United States. The youngest child of parents who left the segregated Old South to raise their family in Massachusetts, Elam-Thomas distinguished herself with a diplomatic career at a time when few colleagues looked like her. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Research & Information Services

 Go Ahead in the Rain: notes to A Tribe Called Quest by Hanif Abdurraqib How does one pay homage to A Tribe Called Quest? The seminal rap group brought jazz into the genre, resurrecting timeless rhythms to create. Seventeen years after their last album, they resurrected themselves with an intense, socially conscious record which arrived when fans needed it most, in the aftermath of the 2016 election. Poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib digs into the group’s history and draws from his own experience to reflect on how its distinctive sound resonated among fans like himself. The result is as ambitious and genre-bending as the rap group itself. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

 Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin Baldwin's first major work, a novel that has established itself as an American classic. With lyrical precision, psychological directness, resonating symbolic power, and a rage that is at once unrelenting and compassionate, Baldwin chronicles a fourteen-year-old boy's discovery of the terms of his identity as the stepson of the minister of a storefront Pentecostal church in Harlem one Saturday in March of 1935. Baldwin's rendering of his protagonist's spiritual, sexual, and moral struggle of self-invention opened new possibilities in the American language and in the way Americans understand themselves. Suggested by Jada Reyes, Research & Information Services

 How We Fight White Supremacy: a field guide to Black resistance edited by Akiba Solomon and Kenrya Rankin Many of us are facing unprecedented attacks on our democracy, our privacy, and our hard-won civil rights. If you're Black in the US, this is not new. As Colorlines editors Akiba Solomon and Kenrya Rankin show, Black Americans subvert and resist life-threatening forces as a matter of course. In these pages, leading organizers, artists, journalists, comedians, and filmmakers offer wisdom on how they fight White supremacy. It's a must-read for anyone new to resistance work, and for the next generation of leaders building a better future. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

 Long Division by Kiese Laymon Kiese Laymon’s debut novel is a Twain-esque exploration of celebrity, authorship, violence, religion, and coming of age in Post-Katrina Mississippi, written in a voice that’s alternately funny, lacerating, and wise. The book contains two interwoven stories. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

 Magical Negro by Morgan Parker Parker presents an archive of black everydayness; a catalog of contemporary folk heroes. Her poems are both elegy and jive, joke and declaration. She connects themes of loneliness, displacement, grief, ancestral trauma, and objectification while exploring the troubling tropes and stereotypes of Black Americans. Suggested by Jada Reyes, Research & Information Services

 Olio by Tyehimba Jess With ambitious manipulations of poetic forms, Tyehimba Jess presents the sweat and story behind America's blues, worksongs and church hymns. Part fact, part fiction, Jess's much anticipated second book weaves sonnet, song, and narrative to examine the lives of mostly unrecorded African American performers directly before and after the Civil War up to World War I. Olio is an effort to understand how they met, resisted, complicated, co-opted, and sometimes defeated attempts to minstrelize them. Suggested by Jada Reyes, Research & Information Services

 On the Other Side of Freedom: the case for hope by DeRay Mckesson Drawing from his own experiences as an activist, organizer, educator, and public official, Mckesson exhorts all Americans to work to dismantle the legacy of racism and to imagine the best of what is possible. Honoring the voices of a new generation of activists, this is a visionary's call to take responsibility for imagining, and then building, the world we want to live in. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

 Rest in Power: the enduring life of Trayvon Martin by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin Five years after his tragic death, Trayvon Martin’s name is still evoked every day. He has become a symbol of social justice activism, as has his hauntingly familiar image: the photo of a child still in the process of becoming a young man, wearing a hoodie and gazing silently at the camera. But who was Trayvon Martin, before he became, in death, an icon? And how did one black child’s death on a dark, rainy street in a small Florida town become the match that lit a civil rights crusade? Told through the compelling alternating narratives of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, this book answers those questions from the most intimate of sources. It’s the story of the beautiful and complex child they lost, the cruel unresponsiveness of the police and the hostility of the legal system, and the inspiring journey they took from grief and pain to power, and from tragedy and senselessness to meaning. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

 Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, and a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

 The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead Based on the real story of a reform school in Florida that operated for one hundred and eleven years and warped the lives of thousands of children, this is a devastating, driven narrative that showcases a great American novelist writing at the height of his powers. Suggested by Rachel Mulvihill, Teaching & Engagement

 The Segregated Hour:  a layman's guide to the history of Black Liberation theology by Jeremy D. Lucas On March 18, 2008, as Barack Obama rose to the stage in Philadelphia, political commentators were on pins and needles over how he was going to address the fiery sermons of his long-time friend and mentor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. With an eye toward a more perfect union, the soon-to-be president offered his initial thoughts on the current state of race relations in America. "The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright's sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning." Soon after the Civil Rights Movement came to an end, James Cone had been the first to write of this "old truism" when he introduced the world to something he called Black Liberation Theology. For those still angered by past and present oppression, there was only one place of refuge where the government would not intrude: the black church. Cone became their primary theologian. Rarely seen in small towns and rural fellowships, black liberation has been relegated to the inner city neighborhoods where the poor reach out for anyone who will give them hope for a better tomorrow. Suggested by Jeremy Lucas, Research & Information Services

 Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead In Whitehead’s ingenious conception, the Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor—engineers and conductors operate a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. Cora and Caesar’s first stop is South Carolina, in a city that initially seems like a haven. But the city’s placid surface masks an insidious scheme designed for its black denizens. And even worse: Ridgeway, the relentless slave catcher, is close on their heels. Suggested by Rachel Mulvihill, Teaching & Engagement

 We've Got a Job: the 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March was a turning point in American history. In the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, the fight for civil rights lay in the hands of children like Audrey Hendricks, Wash Booker, James Stewart, and Arnetta Streeter. This is the little-known story of the 4,000 black elementary, middle, and high school students who voluntarily went to jail between May 2 and May 11, 1963. The children succeeded ―where adults had failed―in desegregating one of the most racially violent cities in America. Suggested by Betsy Kaniecki, UCF Connect Libraries

 Wrapped in Rainbows: the life of Zora Neale Hurston by Valerie Boyd The first biography of Zora Neale Hurston in more than twenty-five years, this book illuminates the adventures, complexities, and sorrows of an extraordinary life. Acclaimed journalist Valerie Boyd delves into Hurston’s history—her youth in the country’s first incorporated all-black town, her friendships with luminaries such as Langston Hughes, her sexuality and short-lived marriages, and her mysterious relationship with vodou. Suggested by Sandy Avila, Research & Information Services

[honeylikewords]

Do it. You know you want to. You know you want to make headcanons about this man. This man played by Oscar Isaac. This man played by Oscar Isaac who is made out of cake and dreams. This man played by Oscar Isaac who is made out of cake and dreams and who, despite being the main protagonist, has a whole canvas of life to paint a story for. *i place a paintbrush into your hands and curl your fingers around it* Paint is a portrait, Master of the Arts. ;)

Don’t tease!

But, I suppose I must... for I love Santi deeply and I want to tell his story! So, here I go! 

Despite being a very handsome man and his teammates frequently making comments about his informant being “attractive women” and calling said informants “his girlfriends”, Santiago has never actually slept with or wooed any of his informants. He treats them exactly the same way he would treat a male informant; with sympathy, kindness, and firmness when necessary. He doesn’t believe in using sexuality as coercion, especially against women. It makes him feel gross, uncomfortable, and disgusted to imagine doing that; he considers it a form of predation and would never behave like that.

Santi also loves working with kids and teenagers. He’s very sensitive to the needs of children and always treats them in a friendly, almost fraternal or fatherly manner, and wants to have kids of his own, one day. Once out of the forces, he takes a job working with kids, either as a social services worker or a teacher in some variety, possibly a counselor (as I’m discussing with @regrettablewritings ). He’s very fond of kids and they’re often very fond of him; he’s playful, fun, and empathetic. 

Santi loves chocolate, especially chocolate that’s a little bitter or has some spice in it, like chiles. He’s not super picky about his chocolates, but when his sweetheart surprises him with a whole selection of dark, artisan chocolates, he’s over the moon, kissing her cheeks and cooing about how kind of her it is to give him something this rich! He offers to share with her (he’s fond of sharing, he finds it very intimate, and he’s not a very selfish man by nature), and if she agrees, he’ll enjoy feeding her bites of the chocolates and taking some himself, asking her what she thinks with every bite.

Growing up, Santi loved his parents. His father was very supportive of him, if a little harsh sometimes, and his mother was the kindest woman he ever met. His father was Mexican-American, and his mother a Columbian immigrant to the U.S., and while never especially rich, they were happy and loved each other very much. Both parents were very influential in forming Santiago to be the compassionate, intelligent man he is today. Despite both of them passing when he was relatively young, he remembers them very fondly and keeps their memories alive in the work he does for other people.

Santi is great at soccer. He’s very light on his feet, fast, and playful, and despite his knees having a bit of trouble, he still loves to have a good game every now and then with the local kids or with his friends. He watches big games on T.V. every now and then and has favorite teams, even owning a few jerseys himself. 

Around the house, Santi tends to wear pretty relaxed clothes. Jeans if he’s going out, a button-up over a t-shirt, things like that, but if he’s just at home, it’s exercise shorts and a t-shirt. Or boxers and a t-shirt. Or boxers and an old soccer jersey. He’s not picky. It just has to breathe and be comfy for him.

Santi sleeps in just his undies, or nude, if he can manage it. I’m sorry.

On that note, Santi also likes hot weather but with the air conditioning cranked to max. He’s pretty used to the heat and finds it kinda relaxing. If the weather is cold or snowy, he gets put off and cranky. He HATES being cold, but doesn’t mind the chilly feeling one gets from going from sweating to icy air conditioning blast. He finds that stimulating, but finds the regular cold groggy and gross. It makes him super grumpy if he gets snowed in.

Not to do That Dumb Fanfic Trope(TM) but he also regularly switches between Spanish and English, especially in the company of people who do speak Spanish. He prefers Spanish to English if he’s with people who also speak Spanish, but doesn’t mind using English if the people around can’t keep up or don’t know Spanish as well. He also knows some amount of Portuguese, but uses it less often.

Santiago does, actually, want to get married and have a family. He’s a little shy about it with his team, but when Fish got married and settled down with babies, Santiago was secretly jealous. He told himself he wasn’t, but then he’d lay awake in bed during those rainy Columbian nights, staring at the ceiling fan, thinking about what it would be like to have a soft little lady here in bed beside him (though he imagined the bed somewhere back in the U.S., maybe Florida), their baby either in the room over or still in her tummy. He imagined being retired, working somewhere he could help people, wearing a gold band around his finger, introducing people to “Mrs. Garcia”, holding his baby in his arms. He’d roll over and go to sleep, pretending that wasn’t what he’d spent the last hour daydreaming over, but every time he’d see a father cheering in the crowds at a son’s soccer game or a mother outside a shop kissing her baby’s cheek, his stomach would knot and he’d get that voice in his head saying “When’ll it be our turn?”

Santi sometimes fidgets with the necklace he wears, especially when he’s reading. He winds it around his fingers or taps the charm at the end of it to his lips, humming a little. When the clasp glides over the ridge of cartilage at the back of his neck, brushing his scar, he’ll shiver and note the sensation. Though he no longer feels the scar, he’s still aware of it, and the area surrounding it is sensitive to him because of that awareness.

In a similar vein, he likes when his sweetheart lays him on his stomach and kisses his bare back, especially following the white-pink line down his neck and spine, the scar that glows against his gold-tan skin. He gets happy little shivers whenever she does that.

Santi doesn’t watch much T.V. and prefers music as background noise. That being said, he can’t sleep if things are too quiet, so he always has something running, especially when he moves back to the U.S. and gets an apartment in a quiet, normal neighborhood. Everything’s so... calm. And silent. It makes him tense. So he plays the T.V., radio, or music at all times, even as he’s sleeping. When he goes to sleep, he sometimes turns the T.V. on to some boring show he doesn’t care about and calmly falls asleep to the familiar sounds of bickering voices and cars.

On that note, Santi loves Metallica. He loves all the big 80s rock bands, especially metal ones, but Metallica is his favorite. 80s music, generally, is something he enjoys, though, so he’s happy to jam to anything with a strong bassline and some good ol’-fashioned synth.

Despite loving and being comfortable in the heat, Santi hates sweating and feeling stinky, so he bathes religiously. He’s very particular about his grooming, keeping himself clean-shaved, his hair handsomely done, his skin well-washed, exfoliated, moisturized, and SPF’d. It’s not that he’s vain, but rather that he’s meticulous and cleanly, and he likes to take these moments to have some quiet self-care. He’s always so busy and lived a very hard and harsh life, so taking the time to zone out and just clean himself up feels good. Dude’s not ashamed to pop on a face mask and clear his pores out. It’s self-love, baby. Even veterans can do it. Plus, everyone should wear SPF every single day, and Santi is very firm about that! Especially in intense climates like Colombia!

Santi gets bored at the movie theatre often. He finds movies largely disinteresting, and if his partner wants to go see a movie, he’ll just sit there the whole time rubbing up on her, touching her arms, stroking her face, kissing her hands, massaging her thighs. It’s not that he’s trying to Get It On in the theatre, just rather that he’s bored and he loves her, and it’s nice and dark and quiet so he can just revel in the sensation of touch, watching how her skin reflects the light of the screen. Sometimes, he doesn’t even see the movie at all, not one second of it, his focus so solely on her. He doesn’t mind; she looked so pretty all engrossed in the movie, and with her head tilted like that, he had good access to her neck to leave kisses and little bites here and there. Very enjoyable, ten stars out of ten.

Santiago has the best relationship with Fish, then with William, then with Tom, and then Benny, in that order. Fish is his closest and oldest friend-- they knew each other as young men in high school and enlisted together-- and met William very early on, bonding the most with those two out of everyone. While all of the brothers of his team are very dear to him, he sees Fish and William the most regularly, and values their input on his life the most. 

Santi is a good dancer, but never shows it off except at home, listening to his records with his beloved. There, he’ll shake his hips and snap along, shimmying to the tunes like there’s no tomorrow, swaying with his lady love. It’s adorable.

Santi’s necklace was previously his mother’s, and he can’t bear to not wear it. It upsets him not to have it on, and if he thinks he’s lost it, he’ll start having a panic attack. Luckily, he’s never lost it, and it’s made it through hell and back with him. He hopes one day to pass it on to his child, too.

Never in his life would Santiago ever have a social media account. Texting? Sure, fine, he can do that. But posting stuff? Personal stuff? Pictures of himself or others? No way! He’s very private and secretive, despite what others may think. He’s not one to keep up with other people’s lives, either; if he wanted to know, he’d ask them, call them up, text them. So he’s off the grid, internet-wise, and plans to stay that way.

Santi’s hair started greying very early. His first greys showed up when he was about 20, and now he’s very salt-and-peppered. For a while, he tried dyeing his hair, but found it too finicky and stressful. Besides, he grew into liking his looks, and maintains a very youthful appearance even with the greys. And, lord knows, the grey is pretty darn sexy, so he keeps it, now. Especially after his sweetheart spent a long night kissing him and telling him how gorgeous all those silver streaks are. “Like comet-light,” she giggled, kissing his cupid’s bow. “I mean, I can’t believe how stunning you are...” “Right back at you, darling,” he murmured, lips to hers.

Santi also loves getting massages. His poor back and legs ache all the time, and his neck is so sore, so when his sweetie gives him that good, deep, untensing massage, her thumbs really digging in and undoing all his knots, cracking those tired joints, he lets out happy hums and sighs. “Oh, that’s the ticket,” he’ll purr, sometimes complimenting her in Spanish and cooing about how relaxed he feels.

On a different note, Santi is always the one who drives. He hates being in the passenger seat. He’s a terrible backseat driver and actually gets stressed out not being in control of moving vehicles. It’s a vet thing he doesn’t like talking about too much, but he feels like he has to be behind the wheel in order to keep everyone safe. 

Santi likes being the big spoon a lot, but doesn’t mind being the little one. He’d prefer to be the big one, but if he’s feeling sensitive or needy, he’ll curl up in his lover’s arms and feel safe and ensconced, wrapped in her love and protection. She’s not gonna leave. She’s there for him. And he’s happy as can be!

Okay, this got... longer than I anticipated. But my heart is full of love and I cannot control myself!

[midnight-musings-blog]

My favourite vampires and their respective media (novels and films)...

Hmm... this is actually quite hard to rank, but I'll give it a go.

1. Count Dracula, ‘Dracula’, (Bram Stoker, 1897). Since it was reading Dracula for the first time that caused my love of vampires, I shall have to put this one first. Since there are many films and variations, this one has a lot of milage for fandom. 

2. Count Orlok/Dracula, ‘Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens’, (director, F.W. Murnau. Max Schreck, 1922) and ‘Nosferatu, Phantom der Nacht’ (director, Werner Herzog. Klaus Kinski, 1978). Yeah... I know. This is sort of counting Dracula twice, since Nosferatu is just an unauthorised Dracula adaptation. However, this is a sufficiently different variation and stands on it’s own enough to be counted separately. I could go further and count both films separately too - Max Schreck (hehe. Great name for an actor mostly known for this famous horror film) and Klaus Kinski give sufficiently different performances since one is silent and emotes pure alien terror; whilst the other has sound and projects as pathetic, tragic and disgusting.

3. Sebastian LaCroix, Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlust (2004). This should come as no surprise. The only reason I don’t put him higher is because Dracula is my favourite vampire thing, and my other vampire interests originate from it so I have to place it higher.

4. Meier Link, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000). Believable scary, but also believably noble and with a capacity to love. Mature portrayal of the tragedy and horror of vampires, but without being cringe-y or pure w-angst. Include D himself too actually.

5. Sir Franicis Varney (plus other alias), Varney the Vampyre; or the Feast of Blood (Malcolm Rymer, 1845-7). A pain to read this long rabbling penny dreadful. However, Varney the vampire himself is interesting enough. There are some gems in this. Important tropes in the vampire genre were first seen here.

Honourable mentions to a collection of various vampire stories from the 19th century. I’ve not mentioned Carmilla, only because I haven’t actually read it (*gasp* horror). I should also say that I liked Selene in Underworld - but as I'm not a huge fan, it’s not noteworthy enough for me to list her as a favourite of mine. I do however enjoy the three vampire brides, Aleera, Verona and Marishka in Van Helsing (2004), which is a guilty pleasure and a film I watched over and over when I was younger lol. I suppose it is an interesting observation that my favourite vampire characters are all male, but I love strong female characters in vampire stories that are human, rather than vampires. I LOVE the dynamic of contrast and tension between vampire and human main characters. I suppose some observation could be made of that. I could psychoanalysis myself for why... For one, there’s a distinct male/female masculine/feminine interaction dynamic going on. Also to do with attraction/sexuality etc. Vampires in literature can serve as projections - metaphors - an expression of something within the self that the individual (portrayed by the protagonist) is uncertain of/un-self-realised/uncomfortable with etc, stereotypically a sexual projection, but not necessarily always or just that.

I have not mentioned much in the way of modern vampire stories - the absence of Anne Rice material will probably seem like a big gap  for instance - so it should be obvious that I’m not particularly invested in them. It’s not that characters from a variety of vampire media haven’t been good, it’s just that it’s the above that have caught my imagination the most. LaCroix stands out to me amongst newer (by this I mean anything second half 20th century-present) vampire characters - just more material there that I like. And yes, he probably fits a particular mode of vampires that I prefer - or at least insofar as his age and ‘type’ as a Ventrue go with my classic preference. 

[allthefilmsiveseenforfree]

Hell Fest

IT’S HALLOWEEN SEASON PUMPKINCHUCKERS. You know what that means - low-budget horror movies designed for jump scares and little else. This year’s season opener (I’m completely ignoring The Nun because it was too early and also terrible) is the wonderfully premised Hell Fest, about a group of college students attending a one-night-only horror theme park/haunted house extravaganza. The only problem is, someone in the park isn’t content with the fake stuff and is using the cover of the haunted attractions to kill off attendees one by one. And he’s got his eye on our protagonist, Natalie (Amy Forsyth) and her friends. That’s a pretty fucking good premise, right? But this is a horror movie with no prestige studio backing or impressive horror pedigree to its name so this could also go off the rails real quick. So which is it? Well...

This thing is solid top to bottom and a genuine thrill ride. The pace is a brisk 89 minutes, but that means the whole thing hums along with real urgency as it takes 80% of the movie for anyone to truly determine what’s going on. The characters don’t suffer from “omg who DOES THAT” syndrome, and the villain is classic slasher movie creepy - anonymous, relentless, and silently murderous. Plus the horror theme park setting leads tons of great atmosphere and amps up the adrenaline through jump scares in ways that feel authentic rather than as a cheap gimmick.

Some thoughts:

Who throws away that much of a pretzel ESPECIALLY after you’ve just been talking about him buying the pretzel for you? Honestly, I thought this was the cardinal sin for which Natalie was going to be brutally murdered.

The strongest aspect of the movie is the friendships between the college friends due to a pretty strong script by Seth M. Sherwood and Blair Butler. You really believe that Natalie and Brooke (Reign Edwards) are best friends, you really believe that Natalie and Gavin (Roby Attal) are in the early stages of puppy love, and you really believe that everyone is secretly annoyed and super over the antics of Taylor (Bex Taylor-Klaus) because OH MY GOD SHE IS THE WORST. It may seem progressive for the gross, oversexed, overhyped, let’s crank this shit up to 11 character to be a girl instead of a guy, but the real progressive thing would be to not include this character at all because nobody wants to be friends with them, including the characters in your movie. 

Also I’m offended on behalf of queer girls everywhere about Taylor’s character design, clothes, and haircut. 

I appreciate that we weren’t left with one stereotypical Final Girl situation. I also appreciate that female friendship was the key to a lot of the survival of all the friends at various points in the movie. It’s like the movie is completely flipping the Final Girl trope to say “No more pitting us against each other; we’re stronger when we stick together.”

I’m not saying the guy’s mask isn’t creepy, because it is. But it also kinda looks like the special edition DVD cover of Evil Dead that’s meant to look like the Necronomicon made out of foam rubber.

The funny thing is, I wasn’t scared all that often during the film. But I did feel a lot of concern, and a lot of anxiety for the characters. There wasn’t much hiding-my-face-behind-my-hands (except for some horrifying eyeball-based gore) but I was deeply invested. Don’t go in expecting bone-chilling nightmares, and you’ll probably be pretty pleased.

That ending was a lot more shocking than I was expecting. You know how I’m always bitching about horror movie endings either relying on a lame jump scare or being something completely nonsensical? Well, there’s also this option, which is frankly scarier than anything that occurred in the previous 88 minutes. Don’t go for the jump scare if you can go for the long, deeply disturbing implication.

One bit of solace I can take from Hell Fest is that I do not like haunted houses or haunted attractions or any sort of scenario in which I pay people in costume so they can jump out at me. Therefore, I will never be in this particular situation that our characters find themselves in. However, if I DID enjoy those things, I would probably think twice about going this year, because Hell Fest’s scares are effective, its gore is well done, but thankfully brief, and its lingering questions are the most haunting aspect. 

[capricorpus]

thoughts on botw as a whole? like how do you think it compares to other titles, what do you like and dislike abt changes they made? :0

hmm, i’m not the best person to ask since i haven’t played many zelda titles. i haven’t played any older ones in... god, ten years? something like that. I was a kid, so i definitely didn’t put too much thought into it lol. within the past ten years i think i’ve only played Majora’s Mask, Windwaker, and a little bit of Skyward Sword (i dropped it cuz i hated it LOL). i’m planning on playing the series through from the beginning after this playthrough of BoTW though, and i’ve seen playthroughs of other games.

more under cut because it’s my personal opinions on BoTW

it’s such a minor thing, but it personally bugs me that there aren’t any upgrades for inventory items. aside from the Great Fairies amping up your clothes. i like the idea of wear and tear with weapons, but it’s very bothersome, so weapons lasting a little bit longer would have been nice, and i’d personally have preferred if the champions’ weapons didn’t break because when i broke revali’s bow i was devastated lol. i like having to earn certain things though, like finding koroks to gain more inventory.

the camera was janky at times and the lag bothered me a lot. the controls were good an easy to catch on to, though the shield+targeting button is a pain when you’re trying to put your shield up and end up targeting an enemy and getting hit as a result.

i liked the fact that you start out not knowing anything and with no gear. you really get invested in filling out memories to get the whole story of what’s happened. link felt like a ghost to me. i also like that he’s officially named link in this!

the puzzles were boring. after the first four shrines, they all looked exactly the same. the dungeons were lacking and the rewards weren’t worth it imo? in previous zelda titles, dungeons gave you important gear to progress in the game as a reward. in this one, not at all. i liked the spirit orb concept, though. having to earn something instead of immediately getting it was fun to me.

i think an open-world concept for zelda really works, i was thrilled when i found that out, but it also seems very empty to me. there’s not many villages, and the open stretches of land are tedious after the first two hours. it feels both new and nostalgic at the same time (i loved certain points of the map being named after older zelda characters, like Ruto Lake), but i really hated the Gerudos. nintendo still hasn’t shed any racism and the ‘romantically aggressive large dark-skinned woman’ trope coupled with the sexy revealing clothing for a dessert-dwelling race is bad. like what? lol who lives in a dessert and doesn’t cover up? plus link’s vai clothes are terrible.

i wish the champions were more developed. there’s the DLC sure, but that’s a DLC. mipha was boring. her personality fell flat. her entire character is being quiet and pretty and sweet and being in love with. that’s it. Daruk was a generic Goron (also i love him and he deserved more), Urbosa and Revali were the most compelling champions imo, aside from link.

i will say that zelda is the STRONGEST she’s ever been in any other game to me. character-wise, she’s the most important and most developed. in most zelda titles, she’s very regal and princess-y and i don’t really give her much thought, but in this one, she seems exactly like a 17 year old girl who has a poor relationship with her father who forces her to focus only on awakening her powers and sees her as a means to an end, and is frustrated with her lack of godly ability when she needs it most and scared she won’t be able to stop Ganon. i loved how she hated link in the beginning for being something she couldn’t be at the time but over time grew to accept him. the Silent Princess flower is a huge metaphor for her in the game. she should have been the main character. i’m really pissed link was the protagonist instead of her. her arc was the strongest, her development as a character was the strongest, her personality was the strongest, the story revolved around her awakening her powers.

i’ve heard there’s a mod in the making with zelda as the protagonist and I WANT IT. i’m also holding out for a DLC where you play as zelda. she’s the most compelling character in the game and deserves more than what she was given.

i’m sorry that you were looking for a more in-depth though piece over BoTW vs previous zelda titles but i haven’t played enough of them to do that lol. i’m basically a zelda newbie for now

[dylawa]

Having Lived and Loved: The Playlist (Part 2)

Here is Part 2 to my HLAL Playlist description series! The purpose of this post is to put all the important songs in one place, as well as add descriptions for where they fit in, and my reasoning as such. I’ll put it all under a Read More of course.

Again, this is Part 2 since I can only share five videos per post, so expect more to come, and know you’re entering in media-res if you haven’t read the first post! I will also mention, there will be more songs in the playlist than there are directly mentioned in this series of posts. That is because the playlist will include all songs related to the chapters’ titles, not just the ones that have significance character/story-line wise. Links to all parts and the full playlist are at the bottom of the post!

Onwards!

“Oh man, Dylawa, Rush again?” Yes, my friend, Rush again. Specifically, “The Anarchist”. We have a very different mood to set here from our last Rush selection, though! Take a look at these lyric excerpts and, based on the chapter it’s from (yes, the chapter is titled “The Anarchist”), see if you can guess who this is for:

A voice so silent for so long For all those years I had to get along, they told me I was wrong I never wanted to belong - I was so strong

In all your science of the mind, seeking blind through flesh and bone Find the blood inside this stone What I know, I've never shown, what I feel, I've always known I plan my vengeance on my own - and I was always alone

The lenses inside of me that paint the world black The pools of poison, the scarlet mist, that spill over into rage The things I've always been denied An early promise that somehow died A missing part of me that grows around me like a cage A missing part of me that grows around me like a cage

Have an idea yet? We’ve moved on from focusing on Comet and All Might here: This is about Ironwill.

I purposefully wrote Ironwill to be a reflection of Comet-- or, at least, my rendition of Comet. Remember, Comet is meant to be a character you can project onto and change and warp to your heart’s content! The main reason I write her with specific details about her past is because, well, it’d be difficult to write a compelling protagonist without some baggage and the like. Feel free to discard anything in your own Comet interpretations, or add your own details! Anyways, that point aside, as I was saying, Ironwill is meant to be a reflection of Comet; both had distance or abusive parents, and both were told their powers were not suited for the dreams they had. Both lived isolated childhoods due to their oppression and personal beliefs differing from those around them, and both ultimately decided to go against everything they were told to the best of their ability anyways. However, their more personal choices on that last bit of similarity lead them down ultimately different paths.

Ironwill justified his actions by saying they were for the betterment of mankind; he wanted to save people, but believed the only way to do as such was to do exactly as he was told as a child; to fit everyone into neat, safe little qualifying boxes that, should anyone attempt to step out of, would face dire consequences. It’s for their own good, after all! What’s a little government tyranny if it means saving your life?

I understand the title of this piece means the very opposite of what Ironwill is striving for, but his actions certainly go against the government in many ways. Think of it as temporary anarchy to bring about a new rule.

Wow, that was a lot! Moving on to the next song: “Prime Mover” by... Rush. I know, I’m sorry, this is the last Rush song for now, and we won’t spend as long on it!

Basic elemental instinct to survive Stirs the higher passions Thrill to be alive Alternating currents in a tidewater surge Rational resistance to an unwise urge Anything can happen...

So this is it. The evil is defeated, the hero returns to the familiar, but they have been forever changed by the hardships they have endured, and the treasure they have gained along their journey. Comet has started on a path of finding herself, thanks to the help of All Might, alongside coming to her own difficult conclusions about herself. At this point, she’s riding high on the wings of victory, but not every bird can fly forever. For now, though, she’s found her strength, and the world is at her fingertips. Further growth will come later; after all, such an ordeal is never linear. It comes and goes in waves, and for now, Comet has won the right to be proud of herself, and have high hopes for the future. Not to mention, with All Might as her newfound friend...

Anything can happen...

... And while that concludes “if i could be half of what you think of me,” we’ve still got “wondering when i’m coming back” to cover! Let’s get started on diving into that right now, because why not?

I love “In Love With A Ghost”! Great music! Wish they would actually make some!

Ahem, sorry, salty moment there. This song is called “i know it’s not easy but you’re not alone anymore.”

This skips pretty far into the WWICB storyline, as this is the title for the sixth chapter, where Comet and All Might enjoy the Tanabata festival after a not-so-pleasant run-in with Endeavor. At this point, it has become apparent that something is still wrong with Comet’s power; while she has the aid of her eye drops, her power continues to diminish dramatically. I didn’t make this as clear in the story as I wanted to, but the reason for this is her emotions-- anyone who isn’t at their mental best would suffer in performing their duties in, well, any aspect of life. So, essentially, she pulls an Elsa and decides to conceal, don’t feel. That will end well!

But, I digress. What I like about the selection of this song for this chapter is, it’s not really clear who this is meant to be directed at. Is this Comet thinking about Yagi, or vice-versa? It also doesn’t help that, ahem, feelings are beginning to become apparent for both parties (well, apparent to the reader, at least; Comet is clueless!)

Ah, man... To The Moon. Brilliant game. Old, a little outdated, not the best representation of Autism, but still brilliant, and is a huge inspiration for how I try to write as a whole, both in direct dialogue, and in emotion. If any of you have played this game and read the Having Lived and Loved series, now that I’ve pointed it out, I hope you can see some connection!

Anyways, Kan R. Gao is the creator of the game and its soundtrack, and this piece, “Once Upon A Memory,” doesn’t quite fit the overall theme of Chapter 12 of WWICB. However, a moment alone between our two darling heroes is deserving of a track that feels intimate and close, even if the upbeat nature isn’t quite the same as the circumstances our heroes currently find themselves in. Plus, the characters in To The Moon are stargazing when this piece plays, and at this point of time, so are All Might and Comet. So there’s... some connection, I suppose?

That being said, the songs don’t always necessarily fit the chapters they’re assigned to. Sometimes, just the name itself is fitting enough and gets a spot that way, but that being said, most songs at least fit the aesthetic of the All Might/Comet relationship. This one is no different, even if not placed in the most opportune spot.

I really want to go into “The Body Electric” as my next song, but that is, unfortunately, another Rush song, and I promised you guys no more Rush! So I’ll just abbreviate really quickly before moving on to the next piece; it’s 45T3R01D’s song. It will be present in the playlist, of course! So with that, we’ll end this post on...

“You Can Be A Hero,” from the My Hero Academia Soundtrack.

“Now, wait a minute: This is the title of the last chapter, and you only covered three songs from WWICB, and Comet already knows she can be a hero! What gives?!”

There is a really easy answer to that: The other songs aren’t super worth going into detail for (but feel free to ask about any other titles you may be curious about!), and more importantly, this is the song I had in mind for when All Might and Comet share their first kiss.

That little pause at the 1:30 mark is absolutely the perfect moment for a breath, and for All Might to sweep in for that kiss I spent a week writing and perfecting.

For a second, his hands dance in the air, before one settles on your lower back, while the other brushes your hair back from your forehead. The touch is… different, from everything you’ve shared before.

It’s intimate.

You open your mouth to speak, to comment, to question. But all you have time to do is take a breath.

For Yagi makes it impossible to breathe, when his lips connect with yours.

It’s quick, but it’s not a crash. It’s eager, but not desperate. It’s not gentle, but it’s not bruising either. Whatever you can think of to describe it, it isn’t quite that; no matter what, it remains something in between, something indescribable, something… something that must be for you.

... Yeah, I made myself breathless a couple times writing that part.

So, for this song, it’s not so much about the title and the song’s meaning, and more about the feeling it evokes. Once again, Comet has overcome overwhelming odds to emerge the victor, only this time, the tables on the surprise kiss trope are turned! At least, I think it is: usually I see girls initiating the surprise kisses in most forms of media. I like to think this is a welcome breath of fresh air in that regard!

Well, that’s five videos again! Next post, we’ll be going over individual character songs!

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Full Playlist]