#she does not deserve to be on the same level as our amazing

[likesdoodling]

I felt like drawing chibi ascendance of a bookworm characters.

It has been too long.

*wipes away imaginary tear-

And SO MUCH STUFF HAS HAPPENED

I feel like I need to do a and entire collection of these just to catch up on all my favourite moments-

THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM!!

From the last two books alone along with the prepubs, I mean. Yeah.

Also the fact that I got impatient like four books ago and read the webnovel...

Haha..

I was impatient.

I don't regret it, but now I'm kind of tempted to do a whole lot of incredibly spoiler heavy funny pictures...

:(

Eh.

Maybe I'll just do them anyway and release them as the novels come out, or the prepubs since I'm following both rn-

IT'S JUST SO EXCITING!

ANd the LAteST PREpuB!

*screams-

I just... I want to do more stuff as it comes out, but I have been sadly busy.

Studying.

Which is fine.

BUT BOOKWORM STUFF!

Y'know, I started learning Japanese to see if I could learn the language before all the light novels got translated-

Which is looking like more of a pipe dream as time goes by,

(I started two years ago, but haven't gotten that far)

But now I genuinely just want to learn Japanese, light novels aside, cause like... BOOKS. In a different language? And poetry? And Stuff? And Anime?

Besides Japanese just looks pretty. Which yes, I know is a kind of shallow reason but still-

Eh. I just like the language. It's cool. Though it makes you realise just how weird English is. I mean, I do not envy anyone trying to learn English as their second language, it makes like, no sense. I mean, it is useful, since so many people speak it, but I am also very grateful that I don't have to learn it.

(spoilers ahead-)

Anyway. I felt like drawing today, so here we have 'totally there in person' Myne facing off against Detlinde! Who will win?

I mean if Myne was actually there I feel like she would utterly destroy Detlinde, mainly because y'know. You don't threaten Ferdinand when Myne's around. Overall bad move/prepare to be obliterated-

Yeah. I like the latest book. It's cool.

[muneca-lemon-steppa]

hi mo! i want to wish you a HUGE congrats on your milestone (: you deserve every single follow and like and reblog! your writing is so, so good and it brings me sm comfort if youre still taking requests, can i pls request alfie + “how long has it been since someone hugged you?”

Oh Noni this was so sweet! You are so so kind. It brings me immense joy that my writing brings you comfort. That is the greatest compliment I could ever receive. I’m sending all my love to you darling, I hope you enjoy this.

Guys this is the last request from our 100 Follower Celebration!!! This was so fun and I am so in love with the community we have built here together!!! I’m currently working on our final installment of Interviews for New Beginnings!!! Anyway I love y’all so much, have an amazing day my loves!! - Mo

100 Follower Celebration: Always

Alfie Solomons x Fem!Reader

Warnings: cursing

“Mr. Solomons. I know you don’t want to hear this… or anything I’ve said the past 10 years I’ve been your physician… but you really need to watch your stress levels sir. It may very well kill you one day.”

Dr. Young had been treating Alfie Solomons exclusively for 10 years. Every stab wound, bullet hole, and influenza season had been watched over diligently by the good doctor. But every month his largest concern was Alfie Solomons’ blood pressure and tension headaches. Unfortunately for Dr. Young… Alfie Solomons was the worst patient he ever had.

Alfie ripped the stethoscope off his burly chest and threw it back at his doctor, “Bah fuck off. Respectfully of course. I’m fine. I’m going to live longer than you mark my words. Stress is good for the body.”

Dr. Young shrugged, there was no use fighting with Alfie. Usually Alfie would see reason and silently beckon and repent right before death came knocking, “If you believe Mr. Solomons. Anyway I want you to keep counting your pulse and recording it. Not that you’ll do it I wager. But I’ll be back same time next week.”

“Yeah, right. See Ollie gives you your fee. And double check with my secretary that your window is still open.”

Dr. Young smiles, “I’ll be sure to let her know that I gave you a task so that she keeps you accountable as well.”

As he walked out, leaning heavily on his wooden cane to offset his heavy medical bag, Alfie hollered after him, “You will do no such thing damn you! Ask her the schedule and nothing else!”

Alfie hears the slight chuckle of his ancient physician behind the closed door. Alfie finally lets out the sigh of relief he had been holding tightly all morning. His head falls into his calloused hands. The slow and rhythmic push and rush of his palms against his eyes and temple soothe the panging and banging in his head. An ache that has been ever present for the past few days. One that hasn’t been aided at all by the lack of water in his day to day.

The past few days have been Alfie’s own personal hell. The Americans’ prohibition on spirits has added another layer of problems to the business. New men had been hired and were not all bright, causing more mistakes than their bodies were worth. Cops were getting greedy, and were needing more to smooth their hands and seal their lips. Usually, a boss would have been able to hand off problems to lower levels. Not Alfie. Never Alfie. Alfie doesn’t get to give jobs to anyone else. No one wants to help Alfie. Alfie is to solve every problem. By himself. If he doesn’t do it, it will not get done. If he doesn’t fix it, everything will fall. But it’s always been like this. Ever since his father passed away, he’s been the man. He’s been the fixer. The protector. The boss. The leader. He alone can do it. He alone does it. He alone. He is alone.

Through the barricade of his stress and rage and sweat and stiff muscles, he hears his door click open, and the soft tap of your feet across the floor boards. Your sweet bell voice tingles his nerves, “Alright Alfie I set up Dr. Young’s appointment next week so you are all settled. This afternoon you have two more meetings. Mr. Yusef and Mr. Edmonds. Also you will need to look over the shipping particulars for the shipment to New York in three we- Alfie are you alright?”

You pause looking at his face. He’s always looked rather scruffy and wild but this was different. His face was gaunt and ashen. His usually ruddy cheeks were pale and covered in a thin sheen of sick sweat. Those bright blue and sparkling eyes looked glossy. If you didn’t know better… they could almost be tears.

You don’t even let him try and explain away his symptoms.

“We’re cancelling the rest of your meetings today. No arguements.”

Screaming. Shouting. Bellowing. The glass in the window panes shake. The wood of the desks bang like the sound of gunshots and canons. “VILE WOMAN YOU TOUCH THAT CALENDAR YOU ARE FIRED DO YOU HEAR ME! YOU BRING YOURSELF BACK HERE NOW!”

You ignore him, calling the other secretaries, having to shout over the bellows and cries of your melodramatic yet beloved boss. The excuse you concocted didn’t matter. You wouldn’t care to remember the story you told. You would deal with it later. What mattered was clearing the calendar to make sure that Alfie could be released from his bindings that he so tightly wound around himself cutting the circulation and breath of peace.

You set the cornflower blue and cream colored tea pot on the little stove in the corner. Gingerly stoking the flame, coaxing warmth and light into a sweet roar. You call for hearty treats from the bakery next door, a good array to settle the spirit of your war laden boss. Soon the tea is ready and the soulful remedies are set. The roaring of the animal in the office has settled into rumbles. It was safe to enter.

Upon entering Alfie is again shouting, “You’ve got a lot of fucking nerve treacle. I am your boss. I am your superior officer. I pay your paycheck. And you have the absolute fucking audacity to…”

You let the hot words wash over you like a summer storm. You place your tools of healing on Alfie’s desk, swiftly and quietly. You take your spot in your chair across from him, grabbing his worry worn wooden pipe and filling it with his tobacco. Like a dance you’ve done a thousand times, he gingerly takes that pipe from you as he’s still yelling and scolding, pausing briefly to light it and suck in that air like it’s his last meal.

You smile as he blusters on like a thunder cloud. There was no true threat. You would never really be fired. Even if he was cross with you. There was a certain comfort in the noise. Like the storm cloud the noise signified that there was still life and that a calm would soon follow. But there was still the tightness in his shoulders. There was still that look you saw before he started to storm and blow. In a feat of courage you cocked your head to the side, “When was the last time someone hugged you?”

Immediate silence.

“What. What the fuck did you just ask me?”

“When’s the last time someone hugged you? You look like you need one sir.”

His index finger might as well have been a loaded pistol the way he pointed at you, “Men do not hug. I have never been hugged nor will I ever hug do you hear me? Hugged?! It’s even a ridiculous word. I mean… hugged?! No! I don’t want one I don’t need one that is completely and utterly ridiculous!”

You smile, knowing that he would say something like that. As if approaching a wild dog you put your hand out, offering yourself to him. Offering your vulnerability to him. Alfie stared down as thought it held an invisible gun, unsure what it was you held. Carefully and out of practice, he slowly slipped his hand in yours. Cool and smooth fingertips against is hot rough hands. Your hands so easily slips around his, finally finding its home. To Alfie’s absolute shock, he watches as your perfect thumb runs patterns and circles around his scarred knuckles and ornate rings. He watches the way your lashes flutter and soft smile blooms on your face. In a gentle caress to his ears you say, “You know you don’t have to keep it all inside. You can ask for help.”

He scoffs and rolls his eyes. But doesn’t move his hand away, “I don’t need help.”

You laugh, and he feels his heart skip, “Oh I’m sure you don’t. I’m sure you could run this entire thing by yourself.”

“I could.”

“I know.”

Alfie hums, satisfied that he’s won enough. You sit in silence, the muffled sounds of the distillery and street below being the only signs that you’re still on Earth. Alfie never moved his hand, never responding to your ministrations beyond a gentle squeeze.

“Thank you… for… being here.” Alfie finally breaks the silence. He can’t help the blush that rises to his ears and cheeks. He can’t look away from the smile on your perfect lips.

You nod at him, squeezing his hand and shaking it. “Always.”

[runnning-outof-time]

How the Bestest Boy Celebrates the Holidays

Request: no - @raincoffeeandfandoms and I were talking about Christmas Cyril and this popped into my mind.

Pairing: no pairing … just Cyril, Alfie, and Tommy with the mention of the lovely OC Rose Solomons

Summary: Cyril’s two dads owners discuss how their canine best friend should be treated on the holidays.

Warnings: language (Alfie’s present…does it even need to be a warning?), two gangsters who are secretly softies when it comes to a certain dog - this is just a silly little story, y’all.

Word Count: 629

A/N: I hope you enjoy this little piece that I came up with after chatting with Flor….Cyril deserves to have the best holidays! Also thanks to the lovely Flor for this amazing picture - it’s what sparked this entire idea. Enjoy! :)

I’D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! - YOUR COMMENTS & REBLOGS HELP ME WRITE!

“You’ve got Cyril’s presents all ready, yeah?” Alfie Solomons asked as he leaned back against his office’s chair, the phone receiver pressed to his ear.

Tommy Shelby sighed. The man on the other line hadn’t even greeted him. “He’s a fucking dog, Alfie,” he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose, “please don’t tell me this is why you called.”

“He’s our fucking dog though, Tommy. He deserves some fucking presents, don’t you think?” Alfie quipped back, waving his hand in the air even though he was sitting by himself.

“I’ve been too busy to deal with it,” Tommy tried another strategy to deflect Alfie’s topic.

“And you think I haven’t been busy? Hmm?” Alfie quickly shot back, “you think the reason why I traipsed my way over to your fucking gaudy mansion for four of the last eight fucking days was to see you? You’re wrong, mate. I came for that dog. I only come for that dog. And then he enjoyed himself at Margate for the final four, was pampered like he should be. His gifts were custom-fucking-made, Tommy. But now you’re going to sell him short.”

“You made all of his presents?” Tommy picked one of the points Alfie made and asked him to elaborate on it, trying so hard to stay interested in this conversation. The conversation that was centered around a dog, and how said dog should be treated during the holidays.

“Nah, Rosie made most of ‘em,” Alfie answered nonchalantly, unable to stop a grin from forming as he mentioned his wife, “she sent me out to grab the rest…like the treats and whatnot.”

“And I’m needed to do the same now?” Tommy asked another question.

“It’s what’s right, Tommy,” Alfie insisted, “unless you want him thinking that Hanukkah is better than Christmas…then by all means, keep fucking it up for yourself.”

“Christmas isn’t until the 25th of the month, Alfie.”

“That’s just a week away.”

“Yeah, so I’ve got a week to get what I need for him.”

“It should be ready for when he returns, which is tomorrow.”

“Alfie…”

“Thomas,” Alfie leveled his tone to match the Birmingham gangster’s. “It needs to be right for him.”

Tommy let out a long sigh. There was no way he was going to beat Alfie Solomons at this fight, not when the other man’s mind had already been made up. They’d known each other too many years now for Tommy not to realize that that was how the baker from Camden Town operated.

“Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?” the blue-eyed man asked after a few moments had passed, deciding to change the topic of conversation. Silence came in response. “Alfie?” he checked to see if his confidant was still on the other side of the line.

“Nah, mate. That was it,” Alfie’s response was quick, and it made Tommy sigh again, “just make sure that dog’s presents are sorted, or it’s your fucking head on the line, got it?” The second half of his statement held a threatening tone.

“Got it,” Tommy responded. He was unable to get another word out before the line clicked and went dead. Alfie had hung up on him.

Tommy sat the phone back onto the hook before pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a sigh. Alfie was taking this whole holiday thing way too far. He was making a much bigger deal out of it than was needed.

Besides, if he knew the Peaky Blinder as much as he claimed he did, he would have known that Tommy already had all of Cyril’s presents purchased and in order…and that he had had them ready weeks ago.

That’s what the bestest boy deserves on the holidays, right?

I’m really not sure who I should tag in this … so I’m just gonna add some mutuals/people on here who might be interested - I’m sorry if I forgot anyone! Hopefully it gets sent out…..

@raincoffeeandfandoms @zablife @call-sign-shark @evita-shelby @cillmequick @emotionalcadaver @toms-cherry-trees @look-at-the-soul @thomashelbyswife @loverhymeswith @shelbydelrey @brummiereader @peakyltd @forgottenpeakywriter @there-goes-thefighter @hoodeddreams13 @peakyswritings @theshelbyslimited @gypsy-girl-08

MASTERLIST

[canirove]

Broken Hearts Football Club | Chapter 1

Summary: June Maxwell, football star. Ben Chilwell, ex football player and tv pundit. Life had broken her heart (figuratively) and his (quite literally). But when they were together, their pieces became whole.

Author's note: Finally found the inspiration to write another story with Ben! I was expecting to start posting it while surronded but lots of new content, but his hamstring had other plans 😔 So I hope that at least it helps you miss him a bit less. It is another enemies to lovers story (kind of), I am sucker for those 😅 The character of Vittoria, one of June friends and teammates, is completely made up, but all the other players mentioned are based in real people. Hope you like it, and thank you for reading! 💜

Next chapter

Masterlist

"I can't believe we are starting another season already. It feels like yesterday when we were playing our last game!"

"This summer has completely flown by. What do you think, June?"

"Uh?" she said.

"You weren't listening to us, were you?" Vittoria laughed.

"She probably was busy texting her hot dj" Lauren smirked. "Where is he now? Ibiza? Las Vegas?"

"He actually is in London."

"What?" both Lauren and Vittoria said at the same time.

"He's visiting his family and wanted to meet, but since we are playing in Liverpool and he is leaving tomorrow…" June shrugged. 

"That's what happens when you date someone famous" Lauren laughed.

"We are not… Son of a bitch!"

"Hey, I'm trying to nap!" one of their teammates complained from the other side of the plane.

"Sorry!" June said. "But I can't believe what I just read."

"What did the dj do?"

"Him? Nothing. It's Mr. Chilwell. He says I don't deserve to be one of the captains!"

"Oh my God, June. Why do you keep paying attention to him?" Vittoria said, rolling her eyes.

"Because I can't understand why he is so obsessed with me."

"I've always thought he is in love with you."

"What?" June laughed.

"I think he is in love with you but has to be mean on camera because if he praises you, people will notice and he will never see the end of it" Lauren explained.

"Ben Chilwell in love with me? Please."

"Think about it. It makes sense" she shrugged.

"No, it doesn't."

"It does for me" Lauren shrugged again. "And you would make such a cute couple... Even your last names rhyme. Maxwell and Chilwell" Lauren smiled.

"You've gone mad."

"Oh, c'mon. I haven't forgotten about the huge crush you had on him when we all were at the academy."

"Every girl had a crush on him, to be honest" Vittoria pointed out.

Benjamin Chilwell, Ben, Chilly. He had been one of Chelsea's most promising players, making it to the first team when he was 18 and becoming one of the captains at 21. But everything ended when he was just 23 and diagnosed with a heart problem. Playing football on a professional level was over for him, but he discovered he could still be part of that world as a pundit. He knew the sport, how to speak, and had the looks to be on tv because he happened to be stupidly handsome. He had been the crush of so many over the years for a reason. 

"Yes, everyone was in love with him. You included. And now you are two hot and successful adults obsessed with the other" Lauren said.

"I'm not obsessed with him. He is with me" June protested.

"Ok, fine. Maybe he is more obsessed with you. But his reviews are the first you always check and the ones that matter the most to you. There must be a reason behind that."

"That I don't get it! Have I done something to him?"

"Being talented, beautiful and simply amazing, which makes it easy to fall in love with you."

"He… urgh. This is the most pointless conversation ever." 

"If you say so…" 

"It is. Ben isn't in love with me, and I'm not in love with him, Lauren" June insisted.

"Then what is it, uh?"

"Maybe he's jealous because you have everything he wanted" Vittoria said.

Like him, June had grown up in Chelsea's academy, and even though she was a couple of years younger, their careers had followed a similar path. She made it to the first team at a very young age, being called by the national team not long after. She had become the star of both teams, winning individual awards right and left, the most important brands being interested in signing her as an ambassador. She was a star. And this season, she would be Chelsea's first captain, which to her was one of the biggest honours.

"See? That makes more sense" June said. "But still…"

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Ok, girls. Let's do this!" June cheered up her teammates before going into the pitch to do their warm-up. As she stepped out, she couldn't help but look to her left, to where the tv set was. To where he was. "Ok, focus" she said to herself. She was there to play football, to win. Not to think about a certain pundit.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"There goes June Maxwell. If she scores this penalty, it'll be a hat-trick for Chelsea's captain. She gets ready… and goal! What an extraordinary penalty by Maxwell." 

"No goalkeeper could have stopped that" Jacob said.

"If the goalkeeper had been better positioned, it would have not been that easy."

"Oh, Chilly" Andrew laughed. "New season but you haven't changed a bit."

"Pretty sure that her 1, 2, 3 and that smile at the camera was directed towards you" Jacob chuckled.

"What she should do is care about playing football, not what I say" Ben replied, his eyes focused on the replay of her celebration and the big smile on her face.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Lauren, what the fuck?" June said while reading the things her teammates had written on the ball from the game.

"What?" she shrugged.

"May this be the first hat-trick of many this season. Suck it, Chilwell."

"C'mon, June. You were thinking about him when you did the penalty celebration."

"I wasn't."

"You were. It was a beautiful fuck you."

"It… urgh."

"If it bothers you it's because you know it is true!" Lauren laughed.

And she wasn't wrong. June always gave everything on the pitch and tried to play her best, but she had been extra motivated that day. She wanted to show Chilwell how wrong he was about her, that she deserved to be Chelsea's captain, to lead the team. When the ball had gone in after that penalty, her first thought had been for him. And she had the feeling it would not be the last time that season…

[porcelainmortal]

Relinquish, and let's go with... Phillip? Yeah. Phillip!

Thanks for the ask, Ash! This was a fun challenge. I hope you enjoy!

Philip ficlet below the cut.

“The thing I don’t understand is how he can be so bloody selfish,” Philip rants, pacing his sitting room.

“Darling, I’m going to need you to sit down, you’re making me dizzy,” Martha chastises as she leans back on the settee, rubbing her eight-and-a-half-months-swollen belly. “And further, it’s not selfish. He’s doing something that, frankly, he probably should have done a long time ago.”

“What?” Philip halts in his tracks, his head whipping in Martha’s direction at her words. “You can’t be serious.”

“Come on, Pip,” Martha says calmly. “You know as well as I do that Henry has never really been happy as a royal. And now we’ve got our second baby on the way, he’s being pushed even further down the line of succession. It hardly matters at this point whether he keeps his place in line, and you know it.”

Philip huffs, his stomach twisting even though he knows she’s right. And even when it bugs him how she always remains calm and docile, he knows it’s her level-headedness that grounds him. That brings him back to earth when his instinct is to fly off the handle. 

“Still. He has a responsibility to this country. To the crown. To relinquish his title, it’s…” Philip throws his hands in the air helplessly. 

“Come sit, love.” Martha scoots over and pats the seat beside her. Philip goes to her easily, as he always does. She reaches up and runs a hand across his back in a circular motion that always seems to soothe him when he gets worked up. He feels himself relaxing. “Henry is giving up his title, you must accept it. In truth, I’m amazed that he didn’t do it years ago, especially after he was outed. The press was ruthless.”

“Yes, well, he just wanted the Crown’s protection,” Philip spits bitterly.

“He needed it, to be sure,” Martha says in that same placid tone, her hand never ceasing on his back. “But he deserves to live his own life now. He’s been in America several years already and he’s going to marry Alex.”

“He said that to you?” Philip asks, turning to look at her. A soft smile crosses Martha’s face, her eyes fond like she thinks he’s being silly.

“Come now, love. You know that’s where they’re headed. And they certainly wouldn’t want a royal wedding, which can only be avoided by abdicating.” Philips sighs, remembering the stress of their wedding. Although it had been beautiful (save a minor incident with the cake), planning had been overwhelming and even tested their relationship at times. Martha leans her head on his shoulder, her hand coming to a rest around his waist. “I know it’s difficult for you to relinquish control but you have to accept that Henry is a grown man and he can make his own decisions.”

Philip tilts his head, resting his cheek on the crown of her head. 

“I just hate the idea that he’ll have no reason to come back here. I want our children to know their uncle.” He reaches up a hand and rubs it across the baby bump.

“They will.” Martha turns her face, looking up at Philip. “Henry loves you, he loves our son, and he will love our daughter, too.”

Philip looks down at her soft smile, unable to stop the one tugging at his own lips in response.

“You think?”

“I know.”

“I suppose you’re right,” he says, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her lips. 

“I always am, darling.”

God help Philip, but she is. He only prays that it holds true this time, too.

Ficlet Friday

[steddieunderdogfics]

'things to come' by 'birthdaycandles' is so amazing - one of the best depictions of steve i've read!! :)

things to come by birthdaycandles

@steveharrington

Rating: Not Rated

52,855 words, 9/9 chapters

Archive Warning: No Warnings

Tags: Post S4, Canon Divergent, Eddie Lives, Max is Awake, Hurt/Comfort, Hospitals, Medical Procedures, Slow Burn Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Volume 2 Spoilers, Catholic Guilt, Religious Guilt, Needles, Sick Steve Harrington, not romance centric

Summary:

“Steve?” Eddie interrupts again. Steve casts a glance in his direction, but Eddie is looking past him at the television with hazy eyes. “Yeah, I’m here.” Steve jostles his foot gently and gestures for the doctor to continue talking about fluid levels. By fluid, he’s pretty sure she just means blood. The blood that Eddie was coughing up, he figures. It had to go somewhere, so they must’ve drained it the same way they drained all the leaking air from Max’s lung. Maybe. He hopes Eddie’s uncle gets this stuff better than he does. “Don’t you live in Loch Nora?” Eddie asks just as the doctor is opening her mouth to speak again. Steve builds up to a sigh, unsure how exactly to tell Eddie to shut up when it’s not even his fault that he can’t, before he realizes Eddie’s gaze is still glued to the TV.

Thanks for the rec!

Know a fic that deserves extra love? Submit through our asks or the submission box!

[blackdagger456]

Let’s Talk About: MHA CH 394

This chapter was amazing.

There’s no other word to describe it but that.

This chapter was the absolute culmination of Uravity and Himiko Togas Arcs throughout this Final War as a whole and I love it. I knew they were going to be foils be god damn seeing them come to a satisfying conclusion like this is beautiful.

Something that I have seen people complaining about over the days leading up to the official chapter release is that this is Queer Baiting or that Uraraka doesn’t deserve this moment. I’m here to deny thos accusations.

While Ochacos development could have started long before the war officially began there have been hints of it throughout MHA. None of it more so than when she confronted Toga after Twice was killed and what we saw of her during the cleanup. A frequent problem I see when it comes to people looking at Ochaco is that they only look at the surface level, they read too quickly and miss the subtly of her character growth in later chapters.

Her expressions.

Her actions

Her words

Her eyes.

Especially her eyes. It’s something I’ve noted Horikoshi doing when it comes to their characters finding their way or coming to a positive turning part. The amount of detail and life in their eyes are stunning and impossible not to notice.

To date the ones I’ve really documented were Deku, Tsuyu, Ochaco and our resident dead boy Bakugou.

At one point I counted Himiko among that number but since Jins death there hasn’t BEEN any light in her eyes. There’s just been anger, just been hate and her reaching out to both Ochaco and Izuku for answers only deepened that. With the latter not understanding her meaning until the last moment before he had to leave and the former coming to understand what Himiko was going through. She tells Himiko that despite the side she’s on she hasn’t been privileged. She got i to this to make money for her family, so they could have more food in the table and her parents burden can be lifted.

Something that’s highlighted by her screaming at Himiko to let all of her emotions out and the next panel doing just that.

We see Himikos past as she goes to stab Ochaco, we see how her parents reacted to her and how her counselor failed her. (Seriously fuck that woman holy shit that is not what you say to a fucking child good lord)

We see her go through the peoples she’s lost. Jin, Mag and most recently Dabi. We see her remember all of this and go to stab Ochaco---before stopping.

She lets the words flow, allowing herself to fully open to Ochaco once again. Telling her of her past and how she views the world. Telling her how she loves and how she felt despair at how everyone told her how to smile---when all she wanted to do was be herself.

And Ochaco understands.

And Ochacos LISTENS.

She does not condone all her actions but she UNDERSTANDS and she LISTENS.

She understands that the League were the only true family Himiko ever had. The only people that she could fully open up too and be herself without any repercussion. Without rebuttal. Without rejection.

And Ochaco knows that she can never replace that in Himikos heart---but as Jins blood and quirk fade, as Himiko lets go of the hate that failed to allow her to truly become Jin. As she lets the love that fueled not only her quirk but her motivation, a motivation that drives the Heroine in front of her as well, back into her soul Ochaco finds she wants a place in it all the same.

And damn—

Aint that a beautiful thing.

[ani-coolgirl]

Some notes about Clip Show (08x22)!

Dean's level of petty toward Cas is amazing here. Like, he was straight up going to pretend Cas was invisible until he directly addressed. Then, he compares Cas to Sam as someone who's more reliable, which is astonishing given how our boy spent half the season acting the exact same way toward Sam (for arguably even pettier reasons). Sam doing nothing but trying to awkwardly change the conversation is also amazing, because it just reeks of "he just stopped being mad at me, I do not want him to change his mind about that."

Abaddon indignantly referring to Crowley as "the salesman" and how offended she is at finding out he's running Hell is absolute gold. I've gotten tired of the "Hell is actually just a terrible bureaucracy full of red tape!" trope, but this is one instance of petty interoffice politics I find hilarious.

Them losing Abaddon is one of the singularly most avoidable thing that ever happened in the show. Besides the fact that they never should have dug her up in the first place; guys, it only takes one person to answer the damn phone!! Why did you both leave the room!!

So there are three ways Cas would have learned about Dean's porn preferences: a) Dean told him: I think back in season 4, when they went to strip club; b) Sam told him: specifically as a way to get help get Cas back in Dean's good graces; c) Cas is a creeper: self-explanatory. Personally, I think b) is my favorite, but a) and c) seem equally plausible.

It would have been way more impactful if the nephilim Castiel had to kill for the "angel trials" begged for her life instead of fighting back. It would have made it way darker, which was needed considering the minimal buildup. Make Cas work for it. They also should have brought her back in the middle of the Jack stuff in later seasons to have her whispering in his ear that they'll just turn on and murder him when they don't need him anymore--which totally kinda happens. It also would have added a cool angle to Cas and Jack's relationship, with Cas deeply regretting the (ultimately

Giving Sarah a heroic husband and a one-year-old before killing her off was just mean. I'm pro anything that makes Sam suffer, but this was just too much. One of the most egregious examples of fridging I've ever seen in any piece of fiction. Sarah, you deserved better.

"Well, I think the people you save, they're how you justify your pathetic little lives." Not only can Crowley give a great villain speech, he understands the Winchesters better than any villain on this show. Yeah, I'm including Lucifer in this as well. While he does occasionally get in his own way, he gets the boys as people and never underestimates them. More often than not, Crowley's plans don't work out more often due to bad information than arrogance. He's so cool.

Dean insisting on pushing through is pretty funny given what's coming up in the next episode. Do you really want Sam to go through this? Are you suuuuuure??

[tumblydovereviews]

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - Does it Still Hold Up?

Well, it's the Halloween season, and what better way to celebrate than reviewing one of Tim Burton's iconic, spooky stop-motion movies- The Nightmare Before Christmas Corpse Bride! Never before has an animated movie managed to make the concept of death so freakin' hot, but that's another story.

Corpse Bride was released in 2005, so while not as old as the previous installment in our little series, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, it is on the older side of films at almost 20 years old.

The film follows Victor van Dort and Victoria Everglot, whose parents have arranged for them to be married at their own economic and societal gain. Victor becomes so enamored with Victoria that he stumbles over his vows anytime he tries to recite them, ruining a key wedding rehearsal. Embarrassed and ashamed, Victor runs away, where he is now finally able to cite his vows out loud without Victoria witnessing. However, this results in him accidentally attracting Emily, a 'corpse bride' who has been waiting in the forest for years for her love to return. She mistakenly believes this lover is Victor, and now the poor guy is caught in a love triangle between a rich, lovely women and a literal dead body.

First of all, let's address the elephant in the room- the beautiful craftmanship. At times, you forget the movie is even stop-motion because of how lively the props, character movements, and soundtrack all are. I find it ironic that I just called a movie about death lively, but that's the truth.

While I'm not exactly sure the movie has the same level of grandeur as one like The Nightmare Before Christmas has, it doesn't have to. The simplicity of Corpse Bride is what makes the movie beautiful. With a relatively short runtime of only 77 minutes, the movie has little time to express the plots and themes it needs to in order to be successful. Yet, at no point in the movie's run do you think that a scene felt too rushed, or a moment went too slow. The ratio of pacing to plot is perfect.

Both Victor and Emily are ridden by a sense of restlessness as a result of their need for love. Victor is bothered by his ability to love someone 'properly,' while Emily has waited for seemingly years for her lost love to return to her. In marrying Victor, Emily realizes that while she now has her happiness, she has taken the sense of love away from another victim, Victoria. Emily's regret is only cemented when she realizes Victor wasn't the man she's been waiting for all these years; this man is actually a suitor Victoria marries in replace of Victor. At the end of the movie, when Emily transforms into a swarm of butterflies and leaves for good, she's not only departing from Victor's life, but also her sense of sorrow permanently. Emily is never portrayed as a villain, and she isn't; her desire for love is justified based on her patience and desperation. She realize later on that it just wasn't meant to be.

To make this movie even better, Corpse Bride also happens to be a musical, with at least three songs in the movie. My personal favorite song was Remains of the Day. Once again, a movie about mortality is less than dead in its presentation. Danny Elfman does an amazing job with the songs and soundtrack in the movie, one that deserves as much acclaim as the movie ultimately ended up receiving.

Upon it release, Corpse Bride was a commercial and critical success. The movie made 112 million dollars, almost triple that of its budget of 40 million dollars. The movie is currently certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 84% on a critical scale and 77% with audiences. Yet the question still stands- does the movie hold up even after almost two decades?

Yes. Yes it does.

Corpse Bride is a simplistic, but magnificent story demonstrating how deep the bonds of love can fall. Through its detailed, intricate plot, handmade backgrounds and props, and great songs, the movie's message on life, love, and loss is not forgotten. This movie is a must-watch for the Halloween season, and even outside of the spooky season, it doesn't lose its charm and signifigance.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

[casp1an-sea]

OK I’m going to share my thoughts on Dancing with the Stars this season because I don’t know why I haven’t done that yet. I’ve been obsessing over it.

First of all, why was Anna Delvey on the show? Like it doesn’t make any sense. Maybe they were trying to cause drama or something, but it did not work. She deserved to be eliminated that early. like watching her made me feel uncomfortable and like you could tell the people around her were uncomfortable too. Originally, I didn’t understand why she was getting so much hate aside from the fact that she was uninteresting. But I watched a TikTok, where someone explained how they hated that she was on the show because she was in an illegal immigrant being allowed to stay in our country to perform in a dance competition, meanwhile, so many others are being mistreated and deported by the government. And God that pissed me off so much.

Second thought, I’m not a fan of brooks and Gleb. The constant reminders that they’re sexy and hot and having a showmance was just annoying to me and distracted from the dancing.

I know a lot of people have been making jokes about Jenn Tran dedicating her dance to Taylor Swift rather than an important person in her life like the other contestants did. And I did this too at first, but I was thinking about it and honestly, I think it’s just as valid and meaningful that she chose to dedicate this dance to an artist because she explains that the reason she’s doing this is because Taylor’s music got her through a really difficult time. And honestly, if it were me, I probably would think to dedicate my dance to something like Star Wars before thinking of dedicating it to my family. Because the things that we love often are what we spend the most time of our lives consuming and can help us get through those difficult times when those important people in our lives like our family cannot or choose not to be there for us. And even if it seems more shallow, there is a real level of emotional connection to that thing.

I love Chandler but it’s really is annoying to me when dancing with the stars gets celebs that have actual dance experience. I’m not saying she deserves lower scores. I think she deserves the scores she got and I’m glad that she got them. I just don’t think she should have been allowed to compete the same way I don’t think contestants with prior dance experience should have been allowed to compete in previous seasons. If they want to do something like that They should have a spin off show. I also don’t think it was fair that she got to perform her song on Disney night. It just seems like an unfair advantage because she already had experience with and was comfortable performing as that character and experience dancing as that character even if the Choreo was vastly different. But that might just be me. I still enjoyed watching the dance though. And I do like the song.

all right complaints aside let’s be a little bit more lighthearted

I think it’s no shock that I love Ilona and Alan, everyone does. I think she really embodies what dancing with the stars is about not just in her personality and what she stands for, but also with her dancing. the way that she truly has visibly improved from the start to the finish. She might not necessarily be the strongest dancer, but she still a good dancer and has definitely learned from her time on the show. Other contestants like Joey and Chandler we’re doing pretty well consistently and while that’s great and amazing and I think they deserved the scores and placements that they got, having a dancer like Ilona is just really refreshing

I really liked Stephen and Riley’s freestyle. Not going to lie originally I only watched this season for Stephen. I was a competitive gymnast for 13 years and I still have a lot of complicated feelings with that experience. I decided not to watch gymnastics at all Until this Olympics, So this was my first time watching it again after I left the gym. So when I found out that Stephen was competing on Dancing with the Stars, of course I was intrigued. I’ll have to admit he was not the strongest of the finalists and I think he deserved fourth place. But his freestyle was my favorite of the night. Originally, I was a bit skeptical because I felt that there was not much dance moves in it, but that didn’t mean that I disliked watching it. There was just something moving about it and maybe the song helped but that was just part of it on my second rewatch I genuinely was brought to tears watching it just all of these experiences with gymnastics in the past flooded me. It was so powerful. I just can’t stop watching that dance. It was probably my favorite of the season not because of the dance itself, but because of the way it made me feel.

Monster night was my favorite. I loved it. I pretty much liked every single dance. yup

I don’t know what made this season so special but I’m glad everyone sees it

and lastly, my opinions on the final placements.

I think I liked them. I know a lot of people are attacking Joey but I was fine with him winning. I thought it was going to be a tossup between him and Chandler and I think the both of them were pretty evenly matched throughout the whole season. Neither of them were my favorite groups. I didn’t dislike them. I just liked Ilona and Stephen more but I think the placement that they got made sense and I’m not really mad that Chandler got third think her and Joey could be swapped and it would still make sense.

I think Ilona deserved second like I said before, to me she really embodies what dancing with the stars is about. And it’s no secret that she had the public vote and she deserved it. I think the show isn’t just about good dancers but also about a dancers improvement so it makes sense to me that The most improved dancer should get second place. now before the finale, I would have put Stephen in fifth. and that’s not saying I dislike him. I’m just saying I felt he wasn’t the strongest of the dancers. He was still good and he still improved, but I don’t know if I would put him over Danny. I think if they hadn’t decided to let everyone stay for the finals Stephen would have been the one going home. At least that’s my guess. But I am very glad he got to stay. Like I said, his freestyle was just phenomenal and this put it over the edge for me. I think he deserved fourth. He had a stronger final performance than Danny did and that’s really what determined it for me in the end.

I think Danny‘s placement in fifth is fine. his final dances weren’t my favorite. The Barbie and Ken one was funny and I liked it because it was fun, but I don’t think it was the strongest performance. I think he really did improve as a dancer throughout the show and he deserved to get into the finals.

I’m overall happy with how it ended and sad that it’s over. If the tickets weren’t so expensive, I’d go see them on tour.

[eriexplosion]

Time to get the house back, RETRIEVAL IT IS.

I remember we all wanted this so bad to be about getting Crosshair like we are chomping at the bit to get this family reunited and that is the primary reason Tech needs to be alive. Put their asses in the same place RIGHT NOW.

Wrecker is such a mood, ME WHEN IN ANY UNIDEAL SITUATION: I'M BORED

It'll be a SLIGHTLY OPERATIONAL heap of junk!

I absolutely love that Gonky is actually plot relevant to getting the Marauder back. HE IS AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF THE TEAM AND DESERVES TO BE CARED FOR. I know that the batch is just always primed for loss but still. Show them a LITTLE concerned for Gonky.

Jesus christ Benni eating a dusty ration bar off the floor in absolute blissful delight is a LOT.

I am really not crazy about Mokko on multiple levels, mostly in regards to the fat + disability combo being used as the symbol of Capitalistic Excess and Exploitation which is a shame because I think the overall vibe and base alien design is cool.

That's OUR defective power droid.

I genuinely do love that like. They think they have to just accept that Gonky is gone along with the ship and they let it go just as easily as they have ever other loss in their life (because clone troopers don't really get to Keep things) but as soon as they know they can GET GONKY BACK. Well that's different. Give them their pet battery.

The way the batch is usually fairly gentle with kids, and then Wrecker literally clotheslines Benni while Omega holds him at arrow point like they are going to do a beat down on this child.

Drives me insane that they're at an old Techno Union mine and Echo ISN'T HERE.

Who gave him the right to be this fucking pretty?

"The conditions of this mine are less than ideal" What exactly are the ideal conditions for the child slavery mine Tech

Really want to steal this kids hair

I feel like there's more to be explored here with the enslaved kids and the clones as parallels to each other but we don't really go that deep into it. I would like to though, I think it would have boosted the episode.

Okay but the ritualized soup allowance where the top earner is allowed his own bowl of soup to be consumed in front of everyone is certainly unsettling.

"I can't leave. This is my home, it's what I know." Like I said, the parallels are thereeeee, but they don't really click as well when Benni is only really interacting with Omega who doesn't have the veteran history.

Wrecker's AGGRESSIVELY UNINVESTED LIE THAT MOKKO SENT THEM.

Genuinely I wish that this episode had more non hostile interaction between the boys and Benni because like I said just the parallels have potential but they're not really explored.

I do love Omega trusting that Hunter will catch her when she jumps though that is WONDERFUL SHE'S GROWN SO MUCH.

Getting rid of Mokko feels very tropey somehow like the dramatic 'take my hand' and Mokko using it to try to drag him down too. Still couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

I LOVE WRECKER HUGGING GONKY

Another favor has been promised that I hope comes back in season 3

This is probably my least favorite episode of both seasons but it does have its moments and one amazing Hunter shot so I forgive it.

[consultingjedi]

the sleep no more excerpt dropped, and i… have a lot of thoughts. too many thoughts. nearly two thousand words of thoughts under the cut (though half of those are quotes).

!!! huge spoilers for all of the october daye series !!!

(some details referenced from the wiki. thank you wiki contributors, you're amazing.)

> The two Moving Days, when the least among us—those ranked even lower than changelings like myself—are free to pack up their lives and move along to their next home.

whee, starting off immediately fucked up. the moving day description is very "the exception that proves the rule" – apparently fae can only leave at this time.

also, no doubt that changelings' lots are even worse now than they were before.

> Oberon himself has granted his blessing

has he? has he, titania? is he even around, by choice or otherwise?

> the levels of hospitality required by Oberon’s decree and not a crumb or comment more

color me unsurprised that amandine holds to the mere letter of the law and no more.

> I felt shamefully as if I held some actual station in our house.

toby fought so hard for recognition. this is a triple punch of her no longer having that recognition, still wanting that, not feeling that she deserves it.

> one of the children glanced back over her shoulder with glossy eyes and a quivering lip, making me wonder whether they had first sought sanctuary in my uncle’s halls. Fools.

well, sylvester (or some… facsimile of him) is probably around and acting terribly. rest in (hopefully temporary) peace, sylvester's character development. i wonder how much of this is luna, though.

> The bread was rich with herbs he had grown himself, and I sometimes suspected he enchanted it in some small way, to give petitioners luck on the journey yet ahead of them.

simon <3 also the back door = simon's space, front door = amandine's space is… interesting.

> removed changeling children from the household they were born to serve was not a violation of the rules, but it was unseemly at the very least, and unwise by any measure.

i will yell about this more later but. sounds bad!

> the comforting scent of smoke and roses.

on the one hand: comfort in august (and maybe simon's) magic scents! on the other hand. roses, mm, mixed connotations those have had.

> The word was devoid of context in my mind, and I opened my eyes, blinking into the dimness. What was a lawn?

and here we have the first (maybe only) evidence of leak through from the… non-titania world, whatever that may be. at the very least toby knows some things she shouldn't.

> thank Oberon and his beautiful bride

bride? singular? titania what are you doing…

> There is no shame in standing by the rules of your house.

honestly this feels like the most out of character thing for toby yet. toby, breaker of rules and shirker of authority, expressing obedience? oof.

> My blood and magic clearly felt the same, for they had never been inclined to illusions, however hard I struggled to master and call them forth. Nothing in me wished to lie.

this is… a lot. does toby know she's dochas sidhe, not daoine? if she does, does she know what that means for her in terms of magical strengths and abilities?? and "nothing in me wished to lie" – hahahah, except for the huge lie of her entire fake life that titania has forced upon her.

> The kitchen is and has always been Father’s domain. [...] I have always felt most comfortable in the kitchen and the kitchen garden.

simon and toby <3 <3 <3

> I am better left behind the scenes, protected and anonymous. Father sees that need in me, and has always done his best to nurture it.

whiplash! ouch, terribly, no good, very bad. i wonder how much of this on simon's part is an attempt to protect toby-the-changeling from the awfulness of titania's faerie, and how much of it is the changelings-as-servants mindset from that very same… (there is some interesting similarity here of toby not really enjoying the limelight/public speaking/etc, but she's no shrinking violet by any means.)

> A direct descendant of Melia, then, most likely, only two generations removed from Maeve’s dishonor.

i have many questions. is this a reference to a specific act on maeve's part or something else? a real action twisted into something else by titania or something made up entirely?

> The children of the Firstborn are meant to know better, to be better as an example for all of Faerie.

here, i wonder how much of this is amandine versus how much of it is titania.

> neither of which I was authorized to give

the difference between toby in her own home providing shelter to so many, and here in amandine's tower not having any autonomy… ow.

> It would have pained me to lie to them. I would have done it anyway, of course. I knew my duty almost as well as I knew my place.

no comment. just… fucked up.

> We dwell here, between demesnes, because [amandine] has no desire to guide or guard a holding, only to live in peace with her family and be left alone.

well, that doesn't seem like it's changed. though obviously amandine's idea of peace doesn't usually jive well with anyone else's happiness.

> Mother had taught me they were the best Maeve could do in imitating her better sister, and should be pitied but never trusted.

ah, the usual Yikes(™).

> “Golden Shore,” said Maia. “We have heard that such as we can be welcome there.” [...] it was the best any changeling born without a promised place could hope for.

interestingly, golden shore seems to be approximately equivalent to earlier canon. maybe worse in reputation, but they did take in changelings and supply food. 

> As [amandine] also refused to allow any member of her family to shop in mortal lands, we had to purchase our eggs from Golden Shore

first, wow amandine you controlling asshole. second, i bet this extends not just to shopping but to leaving the summerlands entirely. makes me wonder if titania is primarily exerting control over the summerlands and/or the kingdom of the mists, but not the rest of faerie? even for one of the Three, this must be quite an exertion of power (though it likely depends on the physicality + how many people are caught up in it, of course).

> had not Maeve so cruelly cut us off from the deeper lands of Faerie.

ahaha but oberon did that, not maeve. perhaps this is the 'dishonor' referred to earlier.

> the [changeling] children they claim rarely last a handful of seasons. They break.

fuuuuuucked up. 

> “Your kindness is noted, and will be remembered,”

toby's still toby, even after it all 😭

> The lives of changelings were short and brutal, better than humans only because they could see the glories of Faerie, worth less than both humans and fae in every other possible way.

did i say fucked up? well. fucked up. and the degree to which toby has internalized this is extra fucked up.

> Who was I, orchestrated, wanted, and beloved, to pretend at understanding what they suffered? [...] If Mother tired of me and cast me out before August was ready to establish a household of her own, I had little doubt that I wouldn’t survive the year. [...] Mother has made sure I knew that well and truly.

toby, the fact that you have a legitimate concern about this directly contradicts what you just said. subconsciously she knows that amandine doesn't love her. (also, the later offer from the hamadryad for toby to leave with them is just. even strangers can see there's a fucked up dynamic here.)

> I had never lived a day outside this tower, and Oberon willing, I never would.

hahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahaha (sarcastic). again, though, really reinforcing (via steel chair to the face) how much this is not our toby.

> My mother, Amandine, is daughter to Oberon himself, and my father, Count Torquill, keeps no noble Court because he is sworn alchemist to the Rose of Winter

first, interesting that amandine is being open about her firstborn status now. second, simon no :((((((((. third, oh fuck me sideways evening may be awake. (though, interestingly, if this is a dream world, she may still be more 'real' than other folks if she's asleep but sharing the dream-reality.) (also, 'rose of winter' – evening may also be open about her firstborn status? presumably because titania is around to favor her daughter.)

> I was simply a girl who knew her place, who was content where she was, who understood her limitations.

[screams]

> More tired than I should have been after such a brief encounter

i wonder how much of this is emotional, versus how much might be toby being tired from pregnancy?

> My name, as I have now stated twice, is October. That is all.

[SCREAMS LOUDER] did i say steel chair? sorry, i meant a wrecking ball. toby is always, always, always introduced as october daye, the knight of lost words. often with additional titles. she is never just october.

> My mother’s trick is in changing the balance of someone’s blood.

so toby knows what her mother can do, but does she know what she herself is capable of? i bet not, if amandine is trying to keep her contained.

> they rendered our social customs unstable and unsustainable, for any changeling child could get their hands upon one such and remake themselves in Titania’s image without intervention or consent.

in titania's image, hmm? also interesting, this is just like the early rhetoric around hope chests as being items of legend, unavailable to modern fae.

> Her services are but one of the many reasons changelings are better off within the Court system rather than hiding in hovels with parents who should have known better than to bear them without.

so much internalized hatred for changelings! also, amandine openly using her power in addition to being known as firstborn – doubly wild.

> I will never marry, never have a household or children of my own.

haha. hahahahahhaha. but. also. toby, i weep. she's going to be so fucking confused.

> Each noble house and each among the Firstborn is asked to do their duty, to provide a pair of hands to press into the service of greater Faerie.

this is both uhhh kind of gross and so extremely titania-esque. this hatred of changelings as lesser and yet also 'ready made servants.' forcing everyone to have kids. yikes.

> whose daughter, January, still dwelt in her father’s halls in Briarholme.

interesting, given we know jan's dad is dead and has been for almost a century. perhaps this means that january inherited the place, or that in this version of faerie her dad is… someone else?

> A pureblood could no more offer insult to a changeling than a cat could look at a king

as pointed out by many on the discord server… a cat can look at a king. but, apparently, not in titania's faerie.

> strong against iron, which would be the preferred means of disciplining an unruly commoner who somehow offended a noble.

… if i recall correctly, iron exposure is considered torture normally? and now it's used as common discipline? fucked up!

> If August left without me, my death would be the likely outcome.

hmm. yikes! i would like to think that simon and august would not let that happen, but between titania and amandine… to reiterate: yikes.

> I slumped into one of the uncomfortable couches Mother insisted were appropriate for the sitting room

it amuses me that amandine has shit taste in interior decorating.

> Something was terribly wrong, if Faerie’s children were so afraid of their own homes, their own places. I frowned to myself, a private expression. Such thoughts were unbefitting. 

more cracks in the wall! toby cares, and toby knows this is fucked up, even if both her conditioning and her conscious mind are trying to tell her otherwise.

> Nothing was wrong. Nothing could be wrong, not in Titania’s Faerie. [...] To fail her was to fail Faerie.

[screams EXTREMELY loudly] this is going to go so well (dripping sarcasm).

closing thoughts: toby is in quite a bad place, but she's still herself underneath it all, and there are already some cracks showing. amandine's situation may be different but her attitude towards toby and the rest of her family clearly hasn't changed from treating them as playthings that she owns. titania seems to be... as fucked up as expected.

honestly i can't wait for this book i am so excited to see how this all catches on fire.

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

ARRIII i've watched hidden inventory and by request... am here to let you know my thoughts!!

first of all. i had no idea that it opened with suguru's monologue on exorcising curses... the weariness in his voice physically hurts me. the pacing and structure of this arc was so beautiful though! season 1 felt a little slow at times but the way everything is set up... hooh...

it's hard for me to put my thoughts into words but, hidden inventory truly was nothing short of tragic, i love how they absolutely Had to put a montage of all their happiness together before brutally shattering lol... riko's death scene was so painful though... i've seen it at least a few dozen times, but i haven't seen her backstory/joyous moments leading right up to it and just, everything disappearing in front of both of their eyes, suguru's shock and being frozen in place... she deserved so much better. she truly is the little sister of all time, i have no idea how people send her so much hate :( she's so pure-hearted and a cutie patootie (also adore her design). i'm glad they at least got to go the churaumi aquarium that suguru did so much research on!

episode 5 is . Yeah. it sucked balls. he is so beautiful though el oh el... just watching him fall into that dark pit... he's a little too easy to understand (we have much in common.. sigh). what i really didn't expect though was the scene where he massacres the village. again, i've seen it before but just... watching it the way it was intended, with the events and emotional turmoil leading to that final decision makes it all the more painful and just... his expression and the sound design at that part was absolutely Woah. they definitely portrayed his moral struggles in a way that viewers can sympathize with! the shower scene... i can go on forever but it's really heartbreaking how much trauma he had to go through for the sake of others, and it's portrayed in a way that even the viewers can miss, like the sound of the shower and the rain on the windows.

and i'm glad we got to see suguru's nature before the defection...! even though to me, a lot of his core traits are still the same. he just changed the direction of his morals and life goals. he's still full of love and a protector to the core. we miss you happy teen geto... that being said the the animators did an amazing job at portraying all the despair in his heart! truly have not seen anime on this level before. i'm very honored to have been able to watch it and then discuss with you :D

also i love how obnoxious satoru is like... truly the duo of All time. he's so cutiepie to me and it my heart aches when i remember how little we've seen them together, happy, and how they've clung onto their memories and love for each other after all this time. 🌖

MY LITTLE 🌖 ANON!!!! TYSM FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS W MEEE 🥺🥺🥺 i love talking about this arc so so much………

SUGURU’S OPENING LINES . they set the tone so well!!!!!! it was such a good choice on mappa’s part….. and just such a chilling and sad opening to the season :’3 the voice acting is soooo good too. he really does sound so weary and broken down…. our poor baby…….

AND RIKO’S DEATHHHHHH THEY DID IT SO MUCH JUSTICE . i will never not be insane about the fucking PAUSE after she gets shot . the slow, slow seconds ticking by with only silence as suguru processes what just happened. and obviously the shot too :/// it’s so sudden and jarring….. I LOVE RIKO SO MUCH TOOOO SHE’S THE CUTEST LITTLE SISTER EVER :(((((( thankfully i haven’t encountered many riko haters myself but. it’s so ironic/telling that people dislike her as if she isn’t the most obvious parallel to satoru ever 😭😭 i adore them both…. i’m happy they got those tiny peaceful moments before the tragedy too :’3

AND EPISODE 5 . EPISODE 5. sorry 🌖 anon i’m abt to ramble i think…… ep 5 my absolute BELOVED ever ever ever :333 IT RLLY DOES SUCK HUH. his spiral is so sickening because it really is so grounded !!!! it was partially because of outside trauma and events but also a slow internal deterioration…. definitely one of the most realistic anime fall from grace plots i’ve seen . AND I’M SOO HAPPY YOU MENTIONED THE SOUND DESIGN!!!! THE CLAPPING!!!!!! MIXING WITH THE RAIN AND SHOWER!!!!!!! it’s so GOOD. some of my fav jjk osts are in that episode too …… arrogance and premature………. they’re all so good ……. ANDD THE VILLAGE SCENE 😵‍💫😵‍💫 they did that so wonderfully…… it’s so intense!! and the colours!!!!

ALSOOOO THE SYMBOLISM OF THAT SCENE. the two candles…. suguru’s two shadows symbolizing his two choices……. and then one candle burns out . and he makes his choice. the symbolism in his conversation with yuki drives me insane every single time too…. the fact that she tells him his choices — to give in to his hatred or fight against it — while pointing in two different directions…. an emergency exit, and a dark hallway with no end in sight . it’s just so clever.

AH I ALSO NEED TO MENTION THE ANIMATION. i LOVE LOVE LOVE the animation in ep 5……. especially that final scene with cult leader geto…… i’m fairlyyyy sure the animator for csm ep 8 worked on it?? at least it looks that way 😭 and that style is one of my favs so . i was eating so good…… a painful episode but just so masterfully made phewwwwww

ANDDD I AGREE . suguru never truly changes at his core!!!! he’s always been selfish, he’s always been defined by love/devotion, and he’s always been a protector . :(((( i think it’s sooo telling that his ideology never really changes — whether he’s a teenager or a cult leader, he dedicates himself to protecting those who are most exploited in his eyes. i think it’s important to remember that non-sorcerers are a minority!! and suguru didn’t understand how badly they could be harrassed by sorcerers until he saw it himself…….. he really is a protector at his heart :’3

i’m so happy i could watch and discuss this arc with you too 🌖 anon <333 i love hearing your thoughts!!!! teentoru rlly is such a cutie isn’t he…. silly little guy…… it’s funny how adult gojo comes off as immature but then you see how he was as a teen and it’s like . he rlly matured a Lot didn’t he 😭

[negative-citadel]

For the dbh ask game: 3, 14, 17, 18 💙

I'm apologizing ahead of time because I ramble like hell. LOL Thank you for the ask!

3. Which character do you relate the most to?

Aaaaah, almost really hard to answer. I relate to most of the characters in the game to some degree. Grew up in a broken home like Alice, taken in & cared for people like Kara. I can go on and on but if there's a character I really, really relate to - It's probably Luther, the protector, guardian, however you want to refer to him. He really deserves more lines but I can firmly say I can relate to giving everything in my power to see those around me be safe. I won't type an essay about it because my response is long enough but I can really relate to Luther in many ways.

In a way, I've also really related to Hank lately but I don't want to trauma dump on here or make anyone worried.

14. How do you feel about Kara’s role in the game compared to her role in the Kara short?

Admitly - I'm torn. I actually love both. When I first saw the Kara Short (as a bonus in Beyond: Two Souls), I thought it was AMAZING. I remember my brother and I saying "I wish they'd turn that into a full game". Lmao, and obviously they did. However, I feel in-game Kara is faaaaaaaar different than the Kara in the short. The short is, well, short, and says what it needs to convey and shows Kara moreso as an android that just wants to live life free, whereas in the game, Kara does have those wants, but her main goal is to protect Alice. I love them both and her story in the game is very much packed with the angst I know & love... It's hard to choose which I like more but the Kara short is probably better written (let's face it, it's harder to have plot holes in a 7 minute video rather than a long video game with branching paths).

17. Favorite moments of each playable character?

Oh I have sooo many but I'll try to narrow it down to 2 for each character.

Markus: I love his introduction with Carl. I know the subtext is bad but the moment Markus does his painting, always swells my heart (I think it's partially the amazing soundtrack that gives me emotions). All of the different arts he makes are just...sooo good.

However, I also ADORE crossroads & I love Markus making his way down to blow up the ship while rescuing any androids can. Oh the music, the action, I love it lol.

Kara: There's so many moments I love with Kara. The river endings always have me sobbing my eyes out lol (even if both Alice & Kara make it). I do love the humanity in when you enter the checkpoint and the soldier hands Alice back one of her gloves. I always found it really heartwarming.

Also, Kara talking with Rose. The two just feel like really close friends and Rose cares for Alice on the same level Kara does, I feel. At the final checkpoint at the border, I love Kara finally being able to cry & getting one last hug from Rose before you hopefully make good choices. LOL

Connor: Oh man, hard to choose but I will ALWAYS laugh at Connor breaking into Hank's house via the window...then "Sumo, attack! ...good dog." It gets me every time. Connor convincing Hank to go to the Eden Club in the most sly and manipulative way - I love Russian Roulette as a chapter so much. The depressing subtext is just, *chef kiss*. I love angst & I also love humor.

Then, the chase in the nest. Watching Connor just gun it and run, doing stunts that are impossible for a human being. The music, the action, watching our RK800 dash at probably 15 or 25 mph. Idk, I love it. I'm a sucker for it everytime. I also feel obliged to mention the "I like dogs" & the interrogation sequence. I'm a sucker for interrogation scenes in movies, games, etc. (I also love his little chat sessions with Amanda).

18. Which NPC gave you the most feels?

It's hard to just pick one! Rose gives me mega feels when she brings up how hard it's been since her husband passed. Alice for - obvious reasons. Hank's self destruction, past, addiction, I've seen it irl, I've been it irl. I feel so sorry for him. North - just thinking about her history. It is sooooooooo hard not to feel bad for all the NPCs. I really can't pick one. D:

Thank you for the ask! :D

[forlorngarden]

☕️ im here for YOUR unpopular music opinions bab xx right my wrongs xx

im genuinely a bit terrified because many of my music tastes and opinions are deemed lame and basic but lame girl is my alias and profession so i will commit to it.

before we start let me assessment the level of my lameness - i have a twenty one pilots and a taylor swift tattoo. see? this is what we are working with

whatever

- lyrics are much more important to me than music i do love beautiful melodies and production of course but if the lyrics slap i will probably not give a fuck about anything else

- the best way to listen to music is by going through albums from start to finish. shuffle is evil and my sworn enemy

- phoebe bridgers is in fact one of our greatest songwriters right now. yes, along with mitski. im sorry ridi. they explore different themes and i feel like our connection to said themes is what makes us love one or the other more. and well. it's phoebe for me. i feel like punisher changed the course of my existence that winter night in my small god awful apartment where I listened to it while for the first time while cutting my hair with paper scissors.

- same with taylor. there's much to say about her as a political figure (of sorts), as a businesswoman, as an artist too, and not all of it will be pretty. but she's a strong, strong writer who is constantly overlooked by many outside of her (very annoying and over the top, yes) fanbase (that i have beef with but. that's another story).

one of the most consistent criticisms of her as a songwriter though is that there's too much of her, so much she feels inescapable. and that is a classic case of being woman'd (term courtesy of rayne fisher-quann - we as a society and as consumers are compelled to want to take any woman that gets too successful down a notch. she has always been annoying. there's too much of her. overrated. and so on. rayne's essay was rather eye opening and i can't recommend it enough). but that is a co-product of misogyny, people of marginalized groups (fairly) recognising her privileges and being (fairly) upset by the lack of opportunities for equally talented artists, her enormous fanbase and the pit of despair that is modern stan culture.

- on the topic of stan culture. oh brothers what makes people so mean? for the life of me i can not figure out what good it does you to write "flop" under popcrave tweets. do people feel righteous? cathartic? edgy? is this for the sake of ruling up some and getting throwaway validation from the others? can not wrap my head around this.

- in the same vein. we have GOT to stop demanding content from any kind of artists, musicians included. i think everyone here agrees but i needed to say that because i can not bear seeing this attitude on twitter anymore

- oh those were some thinkpieces babes. well i wasn't an academic for 6 years for nothing

- flash round! melodrama best album ever made; jack antonoff the lows are low but the highs are really fucking high have you heard choreomania and hard feelings/loveless; bo burnham amazing lyricist im not even fucking sorry about this one though i got bullied on tiktok for it; we deserve an emo renaissance. i think that's it for today that was really something

[rookie-critic]

M3GAN (2023, dir. Gerard Johnstone) - review by Rookie-Critic

What a way to start off the year. M3GAN was massively impressive from an FX angle. M3GAN, the titular android doll that serves as the film's antagonist, from what I could tell, was entirely practical. The filmmakers uses a combination of a real actress, Amie Donald, in prosthetic makeup and an animatronic puppet to bring M3GAN to life, and it's intensely effective. M3GAN feels like a real character in a way that a CG'd version could just never achieve because she actually exists in frame with the other actors. Allison Williams and Violet McGraw's performances feel so natural when interacting with M3GAN because they were actually in the space with something tangible talking back to them. I am in no way anti-digital effects, the things that people like James Cameron are doing with that craft deserve an insane amount of praise for what they're doing, and I'm sure Williams and McGraw would have still done beautifully had they needed to do this Roger Rabbit style, but there's something about the dedication and craft of practical effects that give a movie an extra quality push. Speaking of McGraw, let's take a quick aside to appreciate her performance here. Child actors in horror tend to go campy, and while M3GAN's premise is undoubtedly ridiculous (more on that in a second), McGraw does an amazing job and her performance feels very grounded. I've been a fan of hers since seeing her in Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House show on Netflix (really I've been a fan of everyone in that show since it came out), and I'm glad that she is getting major roles like this one, because she is a real talent.

Another one of the great things about M3GAN is its ability to balance tone. This is truly a horror comedy and blends both genres to amazing effect. I will always be down for a film that understands how absolutely absurd its premise is, and will lean into it hard with a self awareness that is unparalleled. It's probably the biggest reason that I loved Malignant when that came out in 2021 (an apt comparison considering James Wan, who directed Malignant, produced and co-created the story for M3GAN). Movies like this work because they're goofy and don't take themselves too seriously, but at the same time they don't sacrifice their horror moments in service of the humor, and vice versa, with both often living in conjunction with one another in the same moment. Seeing M3GAN do a TikTok dance right before chasing down Ronny Chieng's character (a scene that I'm not considering a spoiler as it is one of the more memed moments of the past couple months) is both hilarious and genuinely unnerving, and this is due in large part to the fact that the film isn't really trying to present this moment as scary at all (although, I will say that it felt a little random and out of place).

My big complaint with the film, and it's a shame because the film works on so many levels, is that its messaging, especially in the first half, comes off less like a film warning against the dangers of letting artificial intelligence get out of hand and how parental guardians can find a healthy balance between technology and real-world interaction, and more like a film that just feels afraid of technology in general. It openly mocks parents who "raise their children with technology" and frequently casts a judgmental eye on our protagonist Gemma for allowing Cady, McGraw's character, to have unlimited screen time and... *checks notes* not allowing her to play with her very expensive collectibles because... they're just toys, I guess? There were honestly so many heavy-handed "technology is bad" jokes and jabs in the beginning section of the film that I thought my eyes were gonna roll themselves right out of my skull with how much I was rolling them. Again, it's such a shame that the film presents this incredibly bad and out of touch take as moral and right because, outside of that, I thought M3GAN was a great success. Thankfully, in the film's third act it does come more around to the sentiment of not allowing children to form an unhealthy or damaging emotional or physical need for technology instead of its earlier mantra of "parents who allow their children to breath on a smart device are bad," and it brings the film back to a place where I feel comfortable and confident in recommending it as a fun and quite impressive horror comedy. 2023 has started off an a good note.

Score: 7/10

Currently only in theaters.