#stark trek v

[amyjsoba]

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

About every other week my friend comes over and watches a sci fi movie with me and my husband. We’re working through a huge list and have more or less gone in order of date made. This was the last movie of the 1980s, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

It’s been about fifteen years since I’ve watched this film, so it was interesting to go back and revisit with mainly one question on my mind: is this movie as bad as I remember? The short answer is no—and yes. 

Star Trek V opens with a fairly strong beginning. Jerry Goldsmith scores this movie, and I believe the opening to ST: V is the best version of what’s now known as the “TNG Theme.” It’s got the classic opening from the 60s tacked on at the beginning (which TNG also has) and just when the music is ramping up to the main fanfare, there’s a synth that mimics the sound of warp drive engaging.  I love this. You can listen to the track here if you like. 

I also love the idea that everyone is on shore leave and is hanging out with each other. Sulu and Chekov are on a hike, and Spock, Kirk, and Bones are camping. It’s some nice character interactions that are them being found family together.

The edition of Sybok is one of those, “okay, I guess they needed to shoehorn that Spock has a brother somehow” but I found the idea not completely distasteful.

Actually, our discussion of the film after it finished was just that—the idea of someone getting a weird vision from an entity and having to fly to the center of the galaxy feels like a plot point from TOS. It’s entirely within the realm of “things that happen in Star Trek”. And this aspect of the movie is what I found less distasteful than when I watched it 15 years ago. 

The problem with the film comes with almost everything else. My friend, LE, pointed out that this narrative would’ve been more compelling if someone on the crew received the vision to go to the center of the galaxy. But instead, we get a side character who seems like they’re going to be the villain, but then just sort of...isn’t? 

That’s the biggest issue of this movie. There’s no drive or urgency. The entire cast just stands around doing nothing for most of the film. They’re along for the ride. The Enterprise gets taken over and there is so little effort to get it back. Think about all the times the Enterprise gets taken over (it’s a lot). Westly puts in more effort to get the Enterprise back when everyone else is taken over by that pleasure game. 

Spock doesn’t kill his brother, but he doesn’t attempt to fight him, either. That seems OOC to me. I feel like Spock would’ve at least tried to do something. The rest of the crew is a bit brainwashed but this is also never reversed, or discussed much. Sybok says they’re not brainwashed but...come on. They’re brainwashed. 

I also like that bit where Kirk is basically like, “I DON’T NEED THERAPY I NEED MY PAIN” which is hilarious and made me laugh out loud, because of course that’s what Kirk would say. Manly space captain! 

The Klingon villain isn’t a villain (he just gets scolded by the old Klingon general) which is also funny but then it falls flat because again, there isn’t urgency or a sense of drive. The payoff isn’t as good as it could’ve been.

And then at the end, the Klingons, crew and everyone else are all drinking together which feels weird in the context of Star Trek VI. 

Shatner was given a chance to create the story and direct and this movie is what we got. It’s a good thing he was only given the reigns one time. 

For our next film, we move into the 90s with Total Recall (1990). Our last film was Predator (1989). 

[asgards-princess-of-mischief]

Last Updated: 2023-11-11

Hi everyone, my name is Evelyn. Welcome to my blog! It's wonderful to have you here. I am just another university student finding solace and stress-relief in fandom and fan-fiction.

I like to think of myself as a fandom librarian and this blog as my library. I want to sharing all my favourite fanfics so that people in these fandoms have an easy way to find to a plethora of talented writers, both new and old and their many wonderful stories. Think of it as your one-stop-shop for fantastic fanfics.

Moreover, if you have a fanfic you'd like to recommend please D.M. me or send and ask!

A.O.S Star Trek

James T. Kirk || Khan Noonien Singh || Leonard 'Bones' McCoy

BBC Sherlock

James 'Jim' Moriarty || Mycroft Holmes || Sherlock Holmes

Criminal Minds

Spencer Reid

Enola Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

Game of Thrones

Robb Stark

Lucifer (Fox/Netflix)

Lucifer Morningstar

Marvel Cinematic Universe

James 'Bucky' Barnes || Loki Odinson || Stephen Strange

Tom Hiddleston + Characters

James Conrad || Jonathan Pine || Magnus Martinsson || Prince Hal/Henry V || Robert Laing || Sir Thomas Sharpe || Tom Hiddleston

[shinyasahalo]

Top 100 AO3 Ships (All) May 1, 2024

(M/M) Castiel/Dean Winchester (Supernatural TV) 116,578 fics

(M/M) Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski (Teen Wolf TV) 73,560 fics

(M/M) Sherlock Holmes/John Watson (Sherlock TV) 72,435 fics

(M/M) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter (Harry Potter) 70,893 fics

(M/M) James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers (Captain America/Marvel) 66,307 fics

(GQ/GQ) Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens TV) 64,542 fics

(M/M) Sirius Black/Remus Lupin (Marauders/Harry Potter) 51,400 fics

(M/M) Steve Rogers/Tony Stark (Avengers/Marvel) 47,536 fics

(M/M) Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku (My Hero Academia) 45,551 fics

(M/M) Harry Stiles/Louis Tomlinson (One Direction) 44,633 fics

(M/M) Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian (Modao Zushi) 42,229 fics

(M/M) Jeon Jungkook/Kim Taehyung | V (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 39,019 fics

(M/M) Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin TV/Arthurian Mythology) 37,813 fics

(F/M) Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug (Miraculous Ladybug) 36,839 fics

(M/M) Keith/Lance (Voltron) 34,994 fics

(M/M) Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester (Supernatural TV) 34,574 fics

(M/M) Bakugou Katsuki/Kirishima Eijirou (My Hero Academia) 32,707 fics

(M/M) Dazai Osamu/Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs) 32,625 fics

(M/M) Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood (Shadowhunters TV) 32,313 fics

(M/M) Will Graham/Hannibal Lector (Hannibal TV) 30,944 fics

(F/M) Rey/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren (Sequel Trilogy/Star Wars) 30,449 fics

(F/M) Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter) 30,410 fics

(M&M) Peter Parker & Tony Stark (Avengers/Marvel) 30,368 fics

(M/M) Jeon Jungkook/Park Jimin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 30,137 fics

(F/M) Original Female Character/Original Male Character (All Fandoms) 29,256 fics

(M/M) Min Yoongi | Suga/Park Jimin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 29,163 fics

(M/M) Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov (Yuuri On Ice) 27,963 fics

(F/M) James Potter/Lily Evans Potter (Marauders/Harry Potter) 27,505 fics

(M/M) Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson (Stranger Things TV) 27,249 fics

(M/M) Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz (9-1-1 TV) 25,676 fics

(M/M) Original Male Character/Original Male Character (All Fandoms) 25,438 fics

(M/M) Midoriya Izuku/Todoroki Shouto (My Hero Academia) 24,637 fics

(M/M) Kim Namjoon | RM/Kim Seokjin | Jin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 23,837 fics

(M/M) Clay | Dream/GeorgeNotFound (Video Blogging RPF) 23,714 fics

(M/M) Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic (My Hero Academia) 23,690 fics

(F/M) Pepper Potts/Tony Stark (Iron Man/Marvel) 23,633 fics

(M&M) Wilbur Soot & TommyInnit (Video Blogging RPF) 22,378 fics

(M/M) Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier | Dandelion (The Witcher TV) 22,138 fics

(F/M) Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley (Harry Potter) 22,024 fics

(F/F) Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor (Supergirl TV/DCU) 21,423 fics

(M/M) James T. Kirk/Spock (Original Series/Star Trek) 21,144 fics

(M/M) Iwaizumi Hajime/Oikawa Tooru (Haikyuu!) 21,062 fics

(M&M) Sherlock Holmes & John Watson (Sherlock TV) 21,018 fics

(M/M) Hinata Shouya/Kageyamo Tobio (Haikyuu!) 19,681 fics

(M/M) Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet (Our Flag Means Death TV) 19,581 fics

(M/M) Blaine Anderson/Kurt Hummel (Glee TV) 19,279 fics

(GQ&GQ) Aziraphale & Crowley (Good Omens TV) 18,515 fics

(F/M) Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley (Harry Potter) 18,466 fics

(M&M) Bakugou Katsuki & Midoriya Izuki (My Hero Academia) 18,433 fics

(M/M) Levi Ackerman/Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan) 18,426 fics

(M/M) Jung Hoseok | J-Hope/Min Yoongi | Suga (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 18,380 fics

(M/M) Harry Potter/Severus Snape (Harry Potter) 18,170 fics

(M/M) Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier (X-Men/Marvel) 18,106 fics

(M/M) Dan Howell/Phil Lester (Video Blogging RPF) 17,899 fics

(M/M) Akaashi Keiji/Bokuto Koutarou (Haikyuu!) 17,719 fics

(F/F) Original Female Character/Original Female Character (All Fandoms) 17,339 fics

(F/N) The Doctor/Rose Tyler (Doctor Who TV) 17,153 fics

(M/M) Armitage Hux/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren (Sequel Trilogy) 17,086 fics

(M/R) James "Bucky" Barnes/Reader (Marvel) 16,982 fics

(M/M) Keith/Shiro (Voltron) 16,928 fics

(M/M) Ian Gallagher/Mickey Milkovich (Shameless TV) 16,592 fics

(M&M) Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester (Supernatural TV) 16,235 fics

(F/F) Evil Queen | Regina Mills/Emma Swan (Once Upon a Time TV) 16,177 fics

(M/M) Han Jisung | Han/Lee Minha | Lee Know (Stray Kids/K-Pop) 15,998 fics

(M/M) Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier (IT Movies) 15,991 fics

(M/M) Kim Taehyung/Park Jimin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 15,888 fics

(M&M) Toby Smith | Tubbo & TommyInnit (Video Blogging RPF) 15,665 fics

(M/M) Jenson Ackles/Jared Padalecki (Actor RPF) 15,635 fics

(M/M) Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto (Naruto) 15,460 fics

(M/M) Loki/Thor (Thor Movies/Marvel) 15,430 fics

(M/M) Jeon Jungkook/Min Yoongi | Suga (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 15,334 fics

(M/M) Tartaglia | Childe/Zhongli (Genshin Impact) 15,178 fics

(M/M) Rodney McKay/John Sheppard (Stargate Atlantis TV) 15,145 fics

(M/M) Gabriel/Sam Winchester (Supernatural TV) 14,916 fics

(F/M) Bellamy Blake/Clarke Griffin (The 100 TV) 14,907 fics

(F/M) Fox Mulder/Dana Scully (The X-Files TV) 14,787 fics

(F/M) Annabeth Chase/Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson TV) 14,420 fics

(M/M) Regulus Black/James Potter (Marauders/Harry Potter) 14,398 fics

(M/M) Getou Suguru/Gojo Satoru (Jujutsu Kaisen) 13,993 fics

(M&M) Technoblade & TommyInnit (Video Blogging RPF) 13,727 fics

(M/M) Harry Potter/Tom Riddle | Voldemort (Harry Potter) 13,682 fics

(M/M) Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade (Sherlock Holmes TV) 13,515 fics

(M/M) Levi Ackerman/Erwin Smith (Attack on Titan) 13,359 fics

(M/M) Frank Iero/Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) 13,310 fics

(M&M) Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead & Midoriya Izuku (My Hero Academia) 13,303 fics

(M/M) Miya Atsumo/Sakusa Kiyoomi (Haikyuu!) 13,207 fics

(F/F) Clarke Griffin/Lexa (The 100 TV) 13,194 fics

(M/M) Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones (Torchwood TV/Doctor Who) 13,111 fics

(M&M) James "Bucky" Barnes & Steve Rogers (Captain America/Marvel) 13,073 fics

(M/M) Steve McGarret/Danny "Danno" Williams (Hawaii Five-O TV) 13,064 fics

(F/M) Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov (Avengers/Marvel) 13,052 fics

(M/M) Enjolras/Grantaire (Les Miserables) 12,829 fics

(M/M) Loki/Tony Stark (Avengers/Marvel) 12,808 fics

(M/M) Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit) 12,773 fics

(M&M) Castiel & Dean Winchester (Supernatural TV) 12,751 fics

(F/M) Oliver Queen/Felicity Smoak (Arrow TV/DCU) 12,721 fics

(F/F) Amity Blight/Luz Noceda (The Owl House) 12,526 fics

(M/M) Bakugou Katsuki/Todoroki Shouto (My Hero Academia) 12,376 fics

(M/M) Nico di Angelo/Will Solace (Percy Jackson TV) 12,334 fics

(M/M) Dabi | Todoroki Touya/Takami Keigo | Hawks (My Hero Academia) 12,318 fics

[relatableblorbopoll]

Preliminaries

Here's how it will work:

The first round will consist of 18 polls of 6 participants each, the first two places get a place on the bracket

For the second round, there will be 12 polls of 6 participants each, the first two places get a place on the bracket

The third round will consist of 4 polls of 12 participants each where there will be a (metaphorical) knife battle to the death where only one character from each poll will get in the bracket

All pairings of groups are randomly generated

Check after the read more for the full list of participants and for the groups of the first round of preliminaries

Group 1 poll

Nimona (Nimona)

Twelfth Doctor (Doctor Who)

Blue/Green Oak (Pokémon Green/Blue/Red)

Jack Reacher (Reacher Series)

Tsubakura Enraku (Len'en Project)

Albedo (Genshin Impact)

Group 2 poll

Jessica Day (New Girl)

Daniel LaRusso (Karate Kid)

Omota Uramichi (Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan)

Jack Spicer (Xiaolin Showdown)

Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid)

Eichi Tenshouin (Ensemble Stars)

Group 3 poll

Conner Bailey (The Land of Stories)

Lucy Honeychurch (A Room With A View)

Greg Heffley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Gideon Nav (The Locked Tomb)

Akaashi Keiji (Haikyuu!!)

Burgerpants (Undertale)

Group 4 poll

Legosi (Beastars)

Stephen Stills (Scott Pilgrim comics)

Sunny (Omori)

Tony Stark (Marvel Avengers)

Rookie (Club Penguin)

Charlie Morningstar (Hazbin Hotel)

Grupo 5 poll

Melissa Chase (Milo Murphy’s Law)

Candace Flynn (Phineas and Ferb)

V-Flower (Vocaloid)

Ciaphas Cain (Warhammer 40k)

Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson series)

MK (Lego Monkie Kid)

Group 6 poll

Jesper Fahey (Six of Crows)

Crowley (Good Omens)

Dave Strider (Homestuck)

Junior (Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race)

Kim Dokja (Omnicient Reader's Viewpoint)

Donutella (Tokidoki)

Group 7 poll

Rigby (Regular Show)

Angua (Discworld)

Cao Weining (Word of Honor)

Aang (Avatar: The Last Air Bender)

Okuyasu Nijimura (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)

Shin Tsukimi (Your Turn to Die)

Group 8 poll

Stanford Pines (Gravity Falls)

Miles "Tails" Prower (Sonic The Hedgehog Franchise)

Jonathan Sims (The Magnus Archives)

Ford Prefect (The Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy)

Shaun Murphy (The Good Doctor)

Sonic (Sonic The Hedgehog Franchise)

Group 9 poll

Overlord (Bad End Theater)

Denji (Chainsaw Man)

Abed Nadir (NBC Community)

Entrapta (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Gren (The Dragon Prince)

Ocean O'Connell Rosenberg (Ride The Cyclone)

Group 10 poll

Nagisa Ran (Ensemble Stars)

Waver Velvet (Fate series /The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II)

Shuichi Saihara (Danganronpa V3)

Opossums (real life)

Midori Takamine (Ensemble Stars!! Music)

Seven of nine (Star Trek)

Group 11 poll

Mae Borowski (Night in the Woods)

Shigeo Kageyama / Mob (Mob Psycho 100)

Barry the Quokka (The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog)

Kaveh (Genshin Impact)

Yusuke Kitagawa (Persona 5)

Nanami Kento (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Group 12 poll

Rod (Avenue Q)

Missi (Vampair Series)

Lia (The Music Freaks)

Sand (Only Friends)

Pa Jindapat (Bad Buddy)

Sara Murphy (Milo Murphy’s Law)

Group 13 poll

Cecil Gershwin Palmer (Welcome to Night Vale)

Noah (Total Drama Series)

Basil (Omori)

Stanley Pines (Gravity Falls)

Wen Ning (Mo Dao Zu Shi/The Untamed)

Nick (Only Friends)

Group 14 poll

Oz Vessalius (Pandora Hearts)

Sound (My School President)

Luz Noceda (The Owl House)

Gundham Tanaka (Super Danganronpa 2)

Saiki Kusuo (Saiki Kusuo no Psi Nan/The Disastrous Life of Saiki K)

Drew (The Music Freaks)

Group 15 poll

Wen Kexing (Tian Ya Ke / Faraway Wanderers)

Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Nico di Angelo (Percy Jackson Series)

Heinz Doofenshmirtz (Phineas and Ferb)

Reki Kyan (Sk8 the Infinity)

q!Quackity (QSMP)

Group 16 poll

Parker (Leverage)

Gudetama (Sanrio)

Finn the Human (Adventure Time)

Rain O'Fire Frazier (Worm)

Piper Mclean (Heroes of the Olympus)

Norma Khan (Dead End Paranormal Park)

Group 17 poll

Berdly (Deltarune)

Hamlet (Hamlet)

Squidward Tentacles (Spongebob)

Hunter (The Owl House)

Szeth-son-son-Vallano (The Stormlight Archive)

Nami (One Piece)

Group 18 poll

Tobias (Animorphs)

Isaac O'Connor (Paranatural)

Trisana Chandler / Tris (Emelan book series)

Sokka (Avatar: The Last Air Bender)

Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran Highschool Hostclub)

Shinji Ikari (Evangelion)

[red-black-aesthetic-bout]

Round one matchups under the cut!!

EDIT: ROUND ONE IS CLOSED. CHECK PINNED FOR ROUND TWO

Bracket 1

Ruby Rose (RWBY) vs. Vanitas (Kingdom Hearts)

Mello (Death Note) vs. Rhaenyra Targaryern (House of the Dragon)

Kuga Yuma (World Trigger) vs. Kiki (Kiki's Delivery Service)

Clifford (Clifford the Big Red Dog) vs. Dracula (Castlevania)

Kai Satou (Your Turn to Die) vs. Ladybugs/Ladybirds (real life)

Zuko (Avatar: the Last Airbender) vs. Kuro (Katamari)

Kate (Shadows House) vs. The Cat (Ghost Trick)

Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Marvel comics) vs. Red X (Teen Titans)

Elric of Melniboné (The Elric Saga/Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion Multiverse) vs. Naomi Armitage (Armitage the Third)

Alucard (Hellsing Ultimate) vs Keith Kogane (Voltron: Legendary Defenders)

Lance (Sym Bionic Titan) vs. Panpeus (Gitaroo Man)

Six-Eared Macaque (Lego Monkie Kid) vs. Flick (Animal Crossing)

Watchdog (Jupiter-Men) vs. Crowley (Good Omens)

Eye of Sauron (Lord of the Rings) vs. Giant Horse (Breath of the Wild)

Razer (Jak X: Combat Racing) vs. Kieran Valentine (Monster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall In Love?)

Wei Wuxian (The Untamed/MDZS) vs. Yifa Snorgelsson (Dimension 20: Neverafter)

Shadow the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog) vs. Black Sonichu/Blake (CWC's Sonichu)

Sailor Mars (Sailor Moon) vs. The Toy Soldier (The Mechanisms)

Ada Wong (Resident Evil) vs. Jack Spicer (Xiaolin Showdown)

Top Hat (The Nightly Manner) vs. Marceline the Vampire Queen (Adventure Time)

Parr Family/The Incredibles (The Incredibles) vs. Pioneer 9 (17776 and 20020)

Guilmon (Digimon) vs. Julian Devorak (The Arcana)

Miles Edgeworth (Ace Attorney) vs. Sundancer (Worm - Parahumans)

Hal 9000 (2001: A Space Oddyssey) vs. Eas/Cure Passion (Fresh Precure)

Harley Quinn (DC comics) vs. Itachi Uchiha (Naruto)

Scorpia (She-ra and the Princesses of Power) vs. Redcloak (Order of the Stick)

Scarlet Kingsnake (real life) vs. Hornet (Hollow Knight)

Maka Albarn (Soul Eater) vs. Toa Tahu (Bionicle)

Thorn (Scooby Doo and the Witch's Ghost) vs. Litten (Pokémon)

Maned Wolf (real life) vs. Orko (He-Man)

Rebecca Rubin (American Girl Dolls) vs. Lucifer (Obey Me)

Death the Wolf/The Wolf/Lobo/Death etc. (Puss in Boots: the Last Wish) vs. Joker (Persona 5) Bracket 2

Miles Morales/Spiderman (Marvel comics) vs. Cynder (Spyro)

Edelgard von Hresvelg (Fire Emblem franchise) vs. Sanguine (The Elder Scrolls)

Artegor Nexus (Galactik Football) vs. Beidou (Genshin Impact)

Barb (Trolls) vs. Mao Mao (Mao Mao Heroes of Pure Heart)

Wrathion, the Black Prince (World of Warcraft) vs. Vox Akuma (Nijisanji En)

Romeo (Minecraft: Story Mode) vs. Hua Cheng (Heaven Official's Blessing/TGCF)

Sharkface (Red vs. Blue) vs. Ashley (WarioWare)

Carmen Sandiego (Carmen Sandiego) vs. Beatrice (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)

Claire Stanfield/Felix Walken (Baccano!) vs. Deathgripper (How to Train your Dragon)

Default Mii Brawler (Super Smash Bros Ultimate) vs. Silver (Pokemon franchise)

Joui Jouki (Ordem Paranormal) vs. Banica Conchita (Evillious Chronicles)

Dreadking Rathalos (Monster Hunter Generations) vs. Black Widow Spider (real life)

Celestia Ludenberg (Danganronpa) vs. Gira/Kuwagata Ohger (Ohsama Sentai: King Ohger)

Garnet (Steven Universe) vs. Black Knight (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)

Scott Summers/Cyclops (X-men) vs. Heather Chandler (Heathers)

Lon (Sendokai champions) vs. Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Darth Maul (Star Wars) vs. Detective Turret (Portal 2)

Easthies (Witch Hat Atelier) vs. Grim (Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy)

Zagreus (Hades) vs. Freddy Kreuger (A Nightmare on Elm Street)

Black Rose Dragon (Yu-Gi-Oh!) vs. Marian Hawke (Dragon Age 2)

Michael Burnham (Stark Trek franchise) vs. Mapo Tofu (Food Fantasy)

Flapjack (The Owl House) vs. Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug (Miraculous Ladybug)

Red-winged Blackbird (real life) vs. Pucca (Pucca)

Overblot Riddle (Twisted Wonderland) vs. Quattro Bajeena (Mobile Suit Gundam franchise)

Pyramid Head (Silent Hill) vs. Lord Hater (Wander Over Yonder)

Sigmund Sinclair (The Reckoning) vs. Vash the Stampede (Trigun 98/Trigun Maximum)

Ranma Saotome (Ranma 1/2) vs. Valerie Gray (Danny Phantom)

Mephone 4s (Inanimate Insanity) vs. Regina (Doki Doki Precure)

Mordecai Heller (Lackadaisy) vs. Sideswipe (Transformers G1)

Satan (Lil Nas X's Montero music video, and also Christianity or something) vs. Zealot Carmainerose (Epic 7)

Zero (Code Geass) vs. Yor Briar (Spy x Family)

Vincent Valentine (Final Fantasy franchise) vs. Ryuko Matoi (Kill la Kill)

THESE ARE OUR CONTESTANTS. NOW WHO'S READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!!

[immortaljailor]

9 People to Get to Know Better (Tag Game)

alright...this year I'm resolving to be more of an active participant in fandom...this year I'm resolving to be more of an active participant in fandom...thank you to @dustykneed for tagging me, I'll try to do my best with this!

3 ships you like:

Outside of the obvious (*cough*persistent star trek brainrot*cough*) I'm gonna say Winterbaron (Bucky Barnes/Zemo), Barmaro (Nick Amaro/Rafael Barba from That Cop Show That is Still Somehow Being Aired), and LinSu (Lin Chen/Mei Changsu from Nirvana in Fire aka 琅琊榜). What do these have in common? Almost nothing lol, but maybe there's an argument to be made about a common "on the surface we seem so different/present ourselves differently, but deep down we understand a part of each other in a way no one else does (whether we like/admit it or not)" dynamic.

First ship ever:

I legitimately do not remember this, but I've kept a journal/diary since I was 7, and once I went to look up the entries around when I first discovered fandom (early teens, 12-14 ish) and would you believe it, there's a page of me yelling very passionately about Spones and Mckirk, which...is just mind-boggling to me because I've always thought my first ship was Stanner (Tony Stark/Bruce Banner). So I'm still claiming Stanner, but...LMAO

Last song you heard:

...to answer this honestly, it was technically a rather...sub-par rendition of Eminem's "Rap God" by my very dear sister during last night's post new year's dinner living room karaoke. The last song that came up on my phone playlist though was apparently "San Francisco" by The Mowgli's.

Favorite childhood book:

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" (a collection of recorded conversations between Ralph Leighton and the titular Richard Feynman)—yeah you can tell I was a fun kid 😭

Currently reading:

"The Rise of Modern Chinese Thought" (《现代中国思想的兴起》) by Wang Hui which is like...an analysis of the connection between Chinese political culture and classical Chinese philosophy. I think. I'm only like 50 pages in and I'm discovering that I may be too stupid to really understand what's going on. Also, "Like the Argonaut" by trash_heron on Ao3 which is a (still in-progress) Spones epic that's in the middle of going through all of TOS with some really interesting worldbuilding things and integration of other Trek series with the TOS events.

Currently watching:

The Bear, which I'm enjoying a lot even though I'm watching it...incredibly slowly due to constantly getting distracted by other things 😭

Currently consuming:

Leftover dimsum from breakfast/brunch 👍

Currently craving:

Bones McCoy content, always craving more Bones content 💙💙💙

Tagging (absolutely no pressure!! ...I only have like 20 mutuals so to reach 9 about half of you are being tagged I'm so sorry):

@chucktaylorupset @themf-scholar @youandthemountains @fluffy-leech @fely-v @endren @milarca @bogwarg @hopefulcanary (and anyone else who sees this and wants to do it obviously)

[ussenterpeen]

jeebies' most wanted!

Hi! I'm Jeebies (32, cisfem, queer, EST, been roleplaying for 20+ years) and I am a writer and moderator on Denouement, an 18+ pan/multifandom roleplaying site that's been going strong for over two years. We have a Jcink hub for apps, lore, and basic info, but most of the writing/RP takes place via real time chats (utilizing Tupper), post-by-post threads, and comm threads on Discord. We also use Cbox for RP, particularly for real time group RP. What makes Denouement unique is the sheer variety of fandoms/muses represented -- anime/manga, live action tv & movies, novels & comics, musicals & podcasts. It's truly a panfandom experience -- not leaning towards one genre or medium or another. We welcome the most niche fandom characters as well as fandomless original characters. Our members love sharing their OCs and hyping up others' as well. Below, I've written a few detailed blurbs for characters I'd really like to write against. The character wanted is in bold, and I write the character in italics.

Rebecca Welton for Ted Lasso (platonic or romantic)

I took Ted from the end of S3, leaving for Kansas City. Writing him against a Rebecca from S1 who is still bitter and an emotional mess could be a lot of fun; Ted would be able to use his therapy techniques and improved emotional intelligence to help her adjust. Talk about a reversal of which fish is out of which body of water! I think being stranded together, desperately clinging to one another for sanity and security, could be the spark of potential that leads to a slow burn Tedbecca relationship -- though I am absolutely cool with keeping them platonic/unrequited if that's not your speed.

Dean Winchester for Castiel (platonic, ideally romantic)

My Cas is from the end of S5, and I have also put him on the Summer Path, meaning he has all of his angelic powers but no memory of who or what he is. So far, he's been working as a humble gardener and beekeeper, interacting with other non-humans to try and figure out who he might be. Having Dean show up and try to help him remember things would help reshape Cas back into the being he's meant to be. And maybe they kiss a little along the way?? Plus, Denouement's got a whole lot of baddies to gank!

Tony Stark for Peter Parker (familial/platonic)

My Peter is from the end of No Way Home, so he arrived in Denouement under the impression no one would know or remember him, with both of his closest parental figures gone. He has MJ, a beacon in the darkness, but he's struggling to decide if he needs to give up being Spider-Man for good, lest he destroy this new world the way he nearly destroyed his own. Having his mentor back to help him find his way would be so great for his development. Also, if you pick up Tony, there's already a Stark Industries waiting for him to play with (and I also write Steve Rogers which could make for some draaaaaamaaaa). Plus, we have a whole cast of Marvel chars to write with.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy for James T. Kirk (platonic)

I pulled Jim from the end of STID, so I am looking more specifically for an AOS Bones to write against, but also happy to write against TOS Bones if that's your vibe! Jim needs his bestie, and no world will ever test Bones' patience like Denouement; there are so many strange and hazardous situations that need a doctor. We have an AOS Spock, a DIS-era Pike, and a few other Star Trek OCs to write with as well!

Here's some helpful links to get started!

Guidebook Taken Canons Reserves Path/Ranking System Discord

I also write: Eddie Munson, Edwin Paine, Emma Meyer, Fiona Goode, Five Hargreeves, Joel Miller, Karen Page Rey, and Steve Rogers. I'm happy to toss plotting your way with any of these folks should you choose to join!

Aaaaand, a few other of my wanted fandoms/fandoms I just wanna see:

Star Wars, Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy, The Last of Us, The Boys, Gen V, American Horror Story, Kingsman, X-Men, The Adventure Zone, Yu Yu Hakusho, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Barbie, Dead Boy Detectives, Doctor Who, Severence

[wasted-women]

ROUND 1 BRACKET LISTINGS

Welcome to Round 1 of the Wasted Woman Poll, the tournament to see which fridged woman deserved better!

Thank you everyone for your patience for Round 1 to begin. Now that the semester is over, I finished the list of match-ups for the Round 1 bracket.

There were 89 contestants for this tournament. Anyone familiar with tournaments knows that it doing a 89-contestant, single-elimination tournament would be annoying. Rather than cutting out 25 contestants to make it a 64-contestant tournament, I opted to use the format of a 64-contestant tournament, just with some of the poll in Round 1 (a majority of them, actually) being three-way polls with a single winner rather than solely two-way polls. So out of the 89 contestants going into Round 1, only 32 will go on to Round 2. Many of the listings in Round 1 will be characters from the same series going against each other, so that the future rounds will be more varied.

The tournament will be split into 4 sets of 8 polls each, with every poll running for a whole link. Below the cut will be the list of match-ups for each set and when the polls will premiere.

If there are any mistakes at all (spelling, if a character appears twice, if the media someone is listed under is incorrect, etc.) please let me know! I did double-check it, but I'm only human so errors do happen.

ROUND 1A (Will be queued to be posted on Tuesday, December 26th between 12 PM and 1 PM)

Jiang Yanli (Mo Dao Zu Shi / Chen Qing Ling) vs. Wen Qing (Mo Dao Zu Shi / Chen Qing Ling) vs. Qin Su (Mo Dao Zu Shi / Chen Qing Ling)

Trisha Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist) vs. Misaki Unasaka (Buddy Daddies) vs. Madam Lan (Mo Dao Zu Shi / Chen Qing Ling)

Kaede Akamatsu (Danganronpa v3) vs. Kuina Shimotsuki (One Piece) vs. Akane Hyakuya (Owari no Seraph)

Maiya Hisau (Fate/Zero) vs. Four Masamune (Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam) vs. Safu (No. 6)

Sherry Polnareff (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Stardust Crusaders) vs. Nobara Kugisaki (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Maria Robotnik (Sonic) vs. Captain Molly (Sonic X)

Serena, Rin, and Ruri Kurosaki (Yu-Gi-Oh!! Arc V) vs. Cyndia Crawford (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters) vs. Amber (Pokemon)

Rachel Bronev (Professor Layton) vs. Anna Irving (Tales of Symphonia) vs. Grandma Rosiepuff (Trolls)

ROUND 1B (Will be queued to be posted on Thursday, December 28th between 12 PM and 1 PM)

Storm (Warriors: Dawn of the Clans) vs. Bumble (Warriors: Dawn of the Cats) vs. Bright Stream (Warriors: Dawn of the Cats)

Spottedleaf (Warriors: The Prophecies Begins) vs. Brindleface (Warriors: The Prophecies Begins)

Sky Young (Arcane: League of Legends) vs. Pyrrha Nikos (RWBY) vs. Allura (Voltron: Legendary Defender)

Lisa Tepes (Castlevania: Symphony of the Night) vs. Sara Trantoul (Castlevania: Lament of Innocence) vs. Julia Belmont (Castlevania: Nocturne)

Beru Lars (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) vs. Padme Amidala (Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith) vs. Satine Kryze (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Jadzia Dax (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) vs. Tasha Yar (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Bill Potts (Doctor Who) vs. Freya (BBC Merlin) vs. Mary Watson (BBC Sherlock)

Jessica Moore (Supernatural) vs. Mary Winchester (Supernatural) vs. Charlie Bradbury (Supernatural)

ROUND 1C (Will be queued to be posted on Saturday, December 30th between 12 PM and 1 PM)

Allison Argent (Teen Wolf) vs. Jenny Calendar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) vs. Amber Volakis (House M.D.)

Lady Marian (Robin Hood 2006) vs. Irene Adler (Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows) vs. Belle Gold (Once Upon a Time)

Tara Maclay (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) vs. Mako Mori (Pacific Rim) vs. Daenerys Targareon (Game of Thrones)

Cordelia Chase (Angel) vs. Darla (Angel) vs. Winifried "Fred" Burkle (Angel)

Julia Johnson (Walker) vs. Andrea Cantillo (Breaking Bad) vs. Lyanna Stark (Game of Thrones)

Kathy Stabler (Law and Order) vs. Joss Carter (Person of Interest) vs. Shannon Diaz (9-1-1)

Eo (Red Rising) vs. Evi Kholin (The Stormlight Archive) vs. Teresa Moreno (Sharpe)

Julia McCullough & Sarah Borden (The Prestige) vs. Rachel Dawes (The Dark Knight)

ROUND 1D (Will be queued to be posted on Monday, January 1st between 12 PM and 1 PM)

Laurel Lance (Arrow) vs. Vanessa Carlysle (Deadpool 2) vs. Eudora Patch (The Umbrella Academy)

Gamora (Avengers: Infinity War) vs. Natalia Romanoff / Black Widow (Avengers: Endgame) vs. Jane Foster (Thor: Love and Thunder)

Magda (X-Men: Apocalypse) vs. Frigga (Thor) vs. May Parker (Spider-Man: No Way Home)

Jean Grey (X-Men comics) vs. Jean Grey (X-Men: The Last Stand)

Gwen Stacy (Spider-Man comics) vs. Gwen Stacy (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)

Karen Page (Daredevil comics) vs. Holly Granger / Hawk (Teen Titans comics) vs. Mary-Jo Altman (Young Avengers comics)

Martha Wayne (Batman comics) vs. Sarah Essen Gordon (Batman comics) vs. Stephanie Brown (Batman comics)

Alexandra DeWitt (Green Lantern comics) vs. Sue Dibny (Justice League: Identity Crisis) vs. Lois Lane (Injustice: Gods Among Us)

[facial-hair-fight]

The brackets are here!

Much like @blue-character-brawl, the 128 characters that made it in have been split into four brackets, where the four winners will fight in the semi-finals, and then the winners of those will fight in the finals to find out who the best character in fiction with facial hair is! Brackets will last 24 hours (except for the finals) and the first set of polls will be posted on April 26 between 4:00 and 4:30 PM EST! Here are the matchups:

Bracket 1

Matt (Wii Sports) VS. Saburo (Wii Sports)

Rockhopper (Club Penguin) VS. Sensei (Club Penguin)

Mario (Super Mario) VS. Wario (Super Mario)

Luigi (Super Mario) VS. Waluigi (Super Mario)

Toadsworth (Super Mario) VS. Penguru (Super Mario Galaxy)

Cranky Kong (Donkey Kong) VS. Bluster Kong (Donkey Kong)

Vitruvius (The Lego Movie) VS. Sandy (Lego Monkie Kid)

Rex Fury (Lego City Undercover) VS. Forrest Blackwell (Lego City Undercover)

Dr. Coomer (HLVRAI) VS. Gordon Freeman (Half-Life)

Colonel Mustard (Clue) VS. Mr. Monopoly (Monopoly)

War Doctor (Doctor Who) VS. Wilfred Mott (Doctor Who)

i Tony Stark (Marvel) VS. Steve Rogers (Avengers: Infinity War)

Stephen Strange (Marvel) VS. J Jonah Jameson (Spider-Man)

Grandpa Fletcher (Phineas and Ferb) VS. Balthazar Cavendish (Milo Murphy’s Law)

2nd Dimension Doofenshmirtz (Phineas and Ferb) VS. Major Monogram (Phineas and Ferb)

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars) VS. Count Dooku (Star Wars)

Bracket 2

Ganondorf (Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom) VS. Dr. Eggman (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Wilford Warfstache (Markiplier) VS. Old Mark (In Space With Markiplier)

Oliver Queen (DC Comics) VS. Mobius (Loki)

Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation) VS. Stanley Hudson (The Office)

M. Rasmodius (Stardew Valley) VS. Gus (Stardew Valley)

Lewis (Stardew Valley) VS. Linus (Stardew Valley)

Chief Bookem (Kirby: Right Back At Ya!) VS. Mayor Len Blustergas (Kirby: Right Back At Ya!)

Top Chef (Deltarune) VS. Asgore Dreemurr (Undertale)

Senshi (Dungeon Meshi) VS. Mustache Girl (A Hat in Time)

Santa Claus (Christmas) VS. Julius Pringle (Pringles)

Present Mic (My Hero Academia) VS. Edward Newgate (One Piece)

Drayden (Pokémon) VS. Kamado (Pokémon)

Cirdan (Lord of the Rings) VS. Gimli (Lord of the Rings)

Alex Louis Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist) VS. King Bradley (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Richie Tozier (It) VS. Murray Bauman (Stranger Things)

Homer Simpson (The Simpsons) VS. Jasper Beardly (The Simpsons)

Bracket 3

Warden Blackwall (Dragon Age Inquisition) VS. Dorian Pavus (Dragon Age Inquisition)

Pops (Regular Show) VS. Alex Dorpenberger (Close Enough)

Kili (The Hobbit) VS. Bofur (The Hobbit)

Alador Blight (The Owl House) VS. Phillip Wittebane (The Owl House)

Iknik Blackstone Varrick (Avatar: Legend of Korra) VS. Iroh (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Murro Morton (Identity V) VS. Percy (Identity V)

Jeff Winger (Community) VS. Gregory House (House MD)

Rico Rodriguez (Just Cause) VS. Tom Sheldon (Just Cause)

King Triton (The Little Mermaid) VS. Frozone (The Incredibles)

Harry Du Bois (Disco Elysium) VS. Kim Kitsuragi (Disco Elysium)

Gashu Satou (Your Turn To Die) VS. Hades (Hades)

Kogoro Mouri (Detective Conan) VS. Shaggy Rogers (Scooby-Doo)

Ted Lasso (Ted Lasso) VS. John Wick (John Wick)

Otokichi Shirabe (Suite Precure) VS. Asuma Sarutobi (Naruto)

Gomez Addams (The Addams Family) VS. Frederick Loren (House on Haunted Hill)

Cap’n Cuttlefish (Splatoon) VS. Lionel (Animal Crossing

Bracket 4

Abe Lincoln (Clone High) VS. Rex Mohs (Scott The Woz)

Hercule Poirot (Poirot) VS. Seneca Crane (The Hunger Games)

Bob Zanotto (Psychonauts) VS. William Riker (Star Trek)

Alexsandr Kallus (Star Wars) VS. Steve (Minecraft)

Sea Hawk (She-Ra) VS. Boris Badenov (Rocky and Bullwinkle)

Victor Sullivan (Uncharted) VS. Yosemite Sam (Looney Toons)

Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit) VS. Qui-Gon Jinn (Star Wars)

Din Djarin (Star Wars) VS. Alec Hardy (Broadchurch)

Buford Tannen (Back To The Future) VS. Scott Howard (Teen wolf)

Halt O’Carrick (Ranger’s Apprentice) VS. Jack Pearson (This Is Us)

Thomas Magnum (Magnum PI) VS. Dedue Molinaro (Fire Emblem)

Barbarian (Clash of Clans) VS. Adam Jensen (Deus Ex: Mankind Divided)

Remus Sanders (Sanders Sides) VS. Grandpa Harley (Homestuck)

Massimo Marcovaldo (Luca) VS. Dr. Erasmus Craven (The Raven)

Toki Wartooth (Metalocalypse) VS. Richard Kimble (The Fugitive)

Deputy Dewey Riley (Scream) VS. Walter White (Breaking Bad)

[rapeculturerealities]

Demand has tripled, quadrupled at California abortion clinics since Roe fell | National | union-bulletin.com

Six months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, prompting about half of the states in the country to move to ban or limit abortion access, these are the kinds of stories California clinics say they are encountering on a regular basis as they continue to serve an influx of patients from Texas, Arizona and beyond.

“When patients arrive, they’re in a much more panicked situation,” said Stacy Cross, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, which serves half of the counties in California, including most of the Bay Area. “These are patients frequently that have never left their small hometown. And now they’re having to drive or fly thousands of miles to get essential health care.”

California abortion providers have long been gearing up for an expected surge of patients from states with new abortion bans after the court reversed half a century of abortion rights in June. But while demand for care from out-of-state women is definitely up — at Mar Monte’s clinics it’s quadruple what it was before the Supreme Court ruling — it’s not as high as some experts predicted.

That’s likely because while 26 states were poised to ban or limit abortions with the fall of Roe, not all of them have been able to do so, because of legal challenges and legislative delays. And for most women who need an abortion but can’t get one in their state, California is a trek — going to North Carolina, Colorado or Illinois would be far easier.

“California has become extremely well prepared and done everything possible to be inviting,” said Carole Joffe, a professor at the UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health. “But simple facts of geography mean that at this moment more people are going to places where it’s still legal in the South and Midwest.”

Even so, the increase in out-of-state patients has had ramifications for California clinics, such as increased wait times in some places.

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte — the Bay Area’s main affiliate — prepared to serve between 250 and 500 extra patients per week. Instead, it is seeing about 100 extra patients per month. Even so, that represents an overall four-fold increase from last year.

What’s even more stark is the spike in women who can’t afford to pay for the procedure. Last fiscal year, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte subsidized all or part of the cost of 2,800 abortions. This fiscal year, that number has jumped to more than 3,500 — showcasing the impact abortion bans have on low-income women.

[valaenatargaryensdragon]

Legacy of Fire (III)

Chapter Three: The Desert Odyssey

Summery: Vaeloria Targaryen's journey. The group of three face what could only be described as a nightmare.

Warnings: Cursing, death by sword, death by fire, death by hanging, war, humiliation, betrayal, violence, use of the word bastard, incest, angst, fluff, burning, threatening, future smut, P in V, fingering, cunnilingus, scissoring, blowjob, handjob, anal sex, girl x girl, boy x girl, boy x boy, dragons

Word Count: 2,1K

The relentless Dornish sun beat down upon Vaeloria, Lara, and Ser Ian as they pressed on through the seemingly endless desert. The landscape stretched out before them, an unforgiving expanse of golden sand dunes and solitary palm trees. The heat was suffocating, and the shimmering waves of hot air seemed to distort the very horizon.

The journey through the desert was a stark reminder of the challenges they faced. With each step, the sands shifted beneath their feet, making progress slow and arduous. Their clothing clung to their bodies with sweat, and the sunburn on their exposed skin was a testament to the unrelenting climate.

Vaeloria, though determined, could not escape the physical toll of the desert. Her throat was parched, and her lips cracked from the relentless sun. She knew that they had to rest periodically to retrieve water from their limited supplies and allow their aching bodies a moment of respite.

They sought refuge in the shade of a solitary palm tree, its fronds providing a meager shield against the sun’s scorching rays. Vaeloria’s satchel, filled with water flasks, felt like a precious treasure.

Lara, ever attentive, poured a small amount of water into a cup and handed it to Vaeloria. The cool liquid was a balm to her dry throat, and she drank it slowly, savoring every drop.

Ser Ian watched over them with a vigilant eye, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his sword. The desert, while unforgiving, held its own dangers, and he was determined to protect his lady at all costs.

“We must conserve our water,” Vaeloria said, her voice hoarse from the heat. “We don’t know how long this journey will take, and we can’t afford to run out.”

Lara nodded in agreement. “I’ve rationed our supplies as best as I can, my lady. But we must find a water source soon.”

Vaeloria looked out at the vast expanse of desert that seemed to stretch on endlessly. “We will,” she said with unwavering determination. “We’ll continue on our path northward, towards the Wall, and we’ll find Jon there. I have faith.”

The journey through the desert was a trial by fire, a test of their resolve and their loyalty to each other. They were bound by a shared purpose, a mission to reclaim the legacy of House Targaryen, and they would not falter in the face of adversity.

With their water flasks replenished and their bodies rested, they rose from their temporary refuge and continued their trek through the unforgiving desert. The sun blazed overhead, but their spirits remained unbroken.

The sands of Dorne held many secrets, and as Vaeloria, the Dragon, ventured deeper into the desert, she knew that the path ahead would be fraught with challenges. But she was undeterred. The legacy of her family, the fate of Westeros, and the destiny that awaited her compelled her forward, even in the face of the scorching desert and the relentless heat.

As the relentless desert sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the golden sands, Vaeloria, Lara, and Ser Ian stumbled upon an unexpected sight. Nestled amidst the desolation of the desert was a small cottage, weathered and humble, with no signs of civilization in sight except for a lone man and two weary horses.

The sight was a rare oasis in the midst of the arid wasteland, and their hope surged at the prospect of finding shelter and perhaps even a source of water.

The three of them approached cautiously, Vaeloria leading the way. The man, weather-beaten and dressed in modest attire, appeared to be in his middle years. His eyes, filled with a mixture of curiosity and caution, met Vaeloria’s.

“Good evening,” Vaeloria greeted him, her voice carrying the weariness of their journey. “We find ourselves in need of shelter for the night. Would you be willing to offer us refuge?”

The man regarded them for a moment before a warm, albeit weary, smile graced his lips. “Aye, you’re welcome to stay,” he replied in a gravelly voice. “Times are tough out here, but I reckon there’s always room for travelers in need.”

Their relief was palpable as they dismounted from their horses and made their way to the humble cottage. The man, whose name they soon learned was Darron, helped them tend to their horses, offering them water from a well nearby.

Inside the cottage, a simple meal of bread, cheese, and dried fruits was shared among the weary travelers. Darron proved to be a gracious host, sharing stories of the desert and the challenges it posed to those who braved its unforgiving terrain.

As night descended upon the desert, Darron offered them a place to rest. Lara and Ser Ian took shelter in one corner of the cottage, while Vaeloria settled near the hearth, a makeshift bed of blankets and cushions provided by their kind host.

The crackling fire provided both warmth and comfort, and as they drifted off to sleep, the desert winds howling outside, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude for the unexpected refuge they had found.

In the heart of the relentless desert, where survival was a daily struggle, they had discovered not only shelter but also a glimmer of humanity in the form of Darron. Their journey continued, but for this night, they rested under the stars, knowing that kindness could be found even in the most unlikely of places.

As the night wore on and the fire in the small cottage crackled, Ser Ian’s unease did not wane. He had a deep sense of responsibility for Vaeloria and Lara, and the cautious part of him could not dismiss the nagging doubts about their host, Darron.

Just as he was about to voice his concerns to Vaeloria, a sudden drowsiness washed over them. Their eyelids grew heavy, and their senses dulled. Panic coursed through Ser Ian as he realized that something was terribly wrong. He glanced at Vaeloria and Lara, both of whom were struggling to stay awake.

Darron’s treacherous intentions became clear when he admitted, with a sinister smile, that he had laced their food with a potent dose of the milk of the poppy. His plan had been to incapacitate them and then carry out a nefarious scheme.

Ser Ian’s heart raced as he fought against the creeping lethargy induced by the drug. He knew he had to act swiftly to protect the two women under his care. With every ounce of strength left in him, he lunged at Darron, determined to prevent whatever dark fate the man had intended for them.

A fierce struggle ensued, with Ser Ian’s training and determination pitted against Darron’s cunning. The small cottage became a battleground, their grunts and the scuffling of their feet filling the air.

Outside, the desert winds continued to howl, oblivious to the life-and-death struggle within. The outcome hung in the balance as Ser Ian fought to thwart Darron’s sinister plot and keep Vaeloria and Lara safe from harm.

It was a desperate battle, a test of wills and strength, in the heart of the unforgiving desert. The legacy of House Targaryen had brought them to this perilous moment, and Ser Ian was determined to see them through it, no matter the cost.

Amidst the fierce struggle, Ser Ian managed to growl defiantly at Darron, “You’ll not lay a hand on them, you treacherous snake!”

Darron, grappling with Ser Ian, responded with a twisted grin. “Oh, but I will, Ser Knight. The Princess of Dorne will fetch a princely ransom, and I’ll be living like a lord.”

Lara, still groggy from the effects of the milk of the poppy, stirred and managed to murmur, “You’ll never get away with this.”

Vaeloria, her determination burning despite the drug-induced haze, added, “We have allies who will come for us.”

Darron’s laughter was cruel as he retorted, “By the time anyone realizes you’re missing, we’ll be long gone, and you’ll be nothing but a memory.”

Ser Ian’s grip on Darron tightened as he fought to regain control of the situation. He knew that they were running out of time, and their only chance at survival lay in overpowering their captor and escaping this treacherous trap.

As the struggle continued in the small cottage, the legacy of House Targaryen and the bonds of loyalty between Vaeloria, Lara, and Ser Ian would be put to the ultimate test. The desert night bore witness to their resilience and their unwavering determination to protect their legacy and each other, no matter the odds.

In a cruel twist of fate, Darron’s sinister determination won out as he managed to overpower the weakened Ser Ian. Despite the knight’s valiant efforts, the drug-induced weariness had taken its toll, and Darron’s strength prevailed.

With a heavy heart and a grim resolve, Ser Ian was subdued, leaving Vaeloria, Lara, and himself at Darron’s mercy. The treacherous man wasted no time, binding their hands and feet securely with rough, unforgiving chains.

Their limbs felt heavy, their movements restricted, and the realization of their dire predicament settled upon them like a heavy shroud. They were prisoners in the heart of the relentless desert, far from any help or hope.

Darron stood triumphant, a sinister grin etched across his face as he reveled in the success of his malevolent plan. The legacy of House Targaryen had led them into this perilous situation, and their path forward was uncertain and fraught with danger.

As the desert winds howled outside, the small cottage became their prison, and the legacy they carried with them was now a heavy burden, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness of their captivity.

Ser Ian, though battered and bloodied, managed to utter through gritted teeth, “You won’t break us, Darron. We’ll find a way out of this, mark my words.”

Darron’s sinister grin persisted as he taunted them, “Oh, I doubt that, Ser Knight. You’re in the middle of nowhere, and there’s no one to hear your cries for help.”

Vaeloria, her determination unyielding, retorted, “Our allies will come for us. House Targaryen will not be brought to its knees by the likes of you.”

Lara, with steely resolve, added, “You underestimate the strength of House Martell as well.”

Darron’s laughter echoed in the small, dimly lit cottage. “We’ll see about that. For now, you’re mine, and you’ll do as I say.”

As the night wore on, the captive trio found themselves in a perilous struggle, their loyalty to each other and their legacy their only source of strength in the face of Darron’s malevolence. The legacy of House Targaryen burned within them, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness of their captivity, guiding them toward an uncertain future.

Amidst the bleak confines of their captivity, a sense of unity and resilience prevailed as Vaeloria, Lara, and Ser Ian sought solace in each other’s company.

Vaeloria, her voice filled with regret, turned to Ser Ian. “I’m sorry, Ser Ian. I should have been more cautious.”

Ser Ian, his bruised and bloodied face bearing the marks of their struggle, offered a reassuring smile. “My lady, there’s nothing you could have done differently. We’ll find a way out of this together.”

Lara, still bound like the rest, chimed in with her own apology. “I’m sorry too, my lady. I should have been more vigilant.”

Vaeloria reached out to Lara, her voice gentle and soothing. “Lara, this is not your fault. We’re in this together, and we’ll face whatever comes our way as a team.”

Ser Ian, despite the pain he endured, added, “We are bound by loyalty and honor. We’ll protect each other, no matter the odds.”

In the face of adversity, their words of apology and comfort served as a reminder of their unbreakable bond and the enduring legacy of House Targaryen that would guide them through even the darkest of nights.

Ser Ian, though battered and bound, spoke with a sense of responsibility that defined his character. “I apologize as well, my lady, Lara. I failed to protect you both and fell for Darron’s treacherous ruse.”

Vaeloria, her unwavering spirit undiminished, reached out to Ser Ian. “Ser Ian, you’ve been a steadfast protector, and we’re all in this together. None of us could have foreseen this betrayal.”

Lara nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the same determination. “We’re a team, Ser Ian. We’ll face this together and find a way to escape.”

Ser Ian’s gratitude was evident in his eyes as he whispered, “Thank you, my lady, Lara. Your trust means the world to me. We’ll get through this, I promise.”

In their moments of vulnerability and shared resolve, their bonds grew stronger, and the legacy of House Targaryen burned ever brighter, lighting the way through the darkness of their captivity.

[hornymagnets]

Calling All RPers

Hello everyone! My name is Crowley (21 f), and I fell out of RP for a while. Currently looking for any interested rpers to rp on discord that are 18+. My discord username is discreetyam5109#8611, so feel free to message me or interact with this post if you’re interested in any of the fandoms below! The ships I have listed are the ones I’d love to do, but I’m open to more, and I love a good au!

Assassin’s Creed        Malik x Altair, Alexios x Thaletas, Demosthenes x Lysander, Eivor x Hytham, Eivor x Basim, Hytham x Basim, Eivor x Vili, Eivor x Ivarr. Cyberpunk 2077        Johnny Silverhand x V, Viktor x V DC        Batman x Joker, Batman x Two-Face//Bruce x Harvey, Batman x Superman, Riddler x Scarecrow, Riddler x Penguin

Harry Potter       Harry x Draco, Sirius Black x Remus Lupin

Inkheart         Mo x Dustfinger

Kingsman         Harry x Merlin The Last of Us          Joel x Tess, Frank x Bill

Marvel        Loki x Tony Stark, Kaecilius x Karl Mordo, Matt Murdock x Frank Castle, Matt Murdock x Foggy, Warren Worthington x Scott Summers, Steve Rogers x Bucky, Zemo x Bucky, Charles x Erik, Azazel x Raven, Ronan x Peter Quill, Kilgrave x Jessica Jones, Marc Spector/Steven Grant x Frank Castle, Carlton Drake x Eddie Brock, Venom x Eddie Brock

Resident Evil         Heisenburg x Ethan Winters, Lucas Baker x Ethan Sherlock          Sebastian Moran x Moriarty, Victor Trevor x Sherlock Holmes, Lestrade x Mycroft, John Watson x Sherlock

Star Trek         Spock x Kirk, Kirk x Bones Star Wars          Hux x Kylo Ren, Finn x Poe, Anakin Skywalker x Obi-wan Kenobi The Walking Dead          Rick x Negan

Various Horror Genre (please message me for specific ships!)          AHS, American Psycho, Child’s Play, Creep, Dexter, Devil’s Carnival, Donnie Darko, Friday the 13th, Halloween, Hannibal, Hereditary, House of Wax, House of 1000 Corpses, Interview with a Vampire

[izzysarchivedblogs]

clint's au verses + notes

as a general rule of thumb, @/thefleetfinest regardless of verse or ship, mel's leonard mccoy is clint's sober buddy/sponsor always. assume he is in all of these verses. Or if i have written him in / if he is referenced like an npc assume it's mel's leonard. // mass effect and dragon age may go single ship as well to be determined

star trek // to boldly go // single ship: @/crisispider

Set in the Kelvin timeline

One of five helmsman on the Enterprise, he is typically Sulu's alternate and typically takes the night shift

Post Beyond, he is contemplating a career change from pilot seat to being a security officer thinking his skillset may be better used not glued to monitoring flight controls (actually its the paranoia and trauma)

He doesn't join Starfleet Academy until he is 33, after being an entertainer from the age of 14 to 32 when he got a divorce

He's an odd one, not the most authority friendly

Manages sobriety alongside Leonard Mccoy after an incident with John Walker in the final year of academy before the Nero crisis

Divorced and sad except now he is a committed relationship with engineer Peter and he makes him happy

Friends: Leonard, Uhura, Carol, Peter and Linda. Iowan Alliance with Jim

wastelands // you can run on for a long time sooner or later god'll cut you down

Can follow either the comics or the podcast for plot and canon in terms of events

Drinking again

An absolute disaster and bastard of an old man

Blind from glaucoma

wastelands inspired au // something in the orange tells me we're not done (single ship w/ crisispider)

features my "oc" ashley parker barton, blood related to barney barton, adopted daughter clint barton and peter parker (he is married to peter) as well as peter and mj's daughter mayday

Sadly, he and Leonard are no longer sober

Currently on his revenge quest to kill the T-Bolts and everyone responsible for V-Day

Can be deterred from this suicide revenge quest because well his family is alive

the more fun version of wastelands and more flexible with plot

mass effect // a spectre. smoke and dust and shadow nothing substantial until i chose to be

Canon flexible/divergent setting of the main trilogy // time blind

One of the first few human spectres to come after Commander Shepard (this can happen in the two year gap when shepard is "dead" in me2 // happens post any ending of me3)

Barney and him got off planet of earth when he was only 12 years old, where they both ended up running with a bad crew

That causes a lot of trouble for Clint, but also makes him the best marksmen you could ever pay for

After Barney dies from injuries on a job gone wrong, Clint flips his tune and starts to go after gangs like the gang he ran with (turn vigilante)

There was one specific take down of a splinter pirate crew, that had lead to Clint meeting and working with high ranking Alliance officer Steve Rogers and engineer Tony Stark (not just a phony tony stark; but the Tony Stark of wealth and fame)

The meeting of these two, would later prove beneficial, when Clint would be set up by ex partners-in-crime and would lead up to arrested on the Citadel, awaiting Council judgement

Rogers and Stark had apparently been keeping an eye on Clint, and not only bailed him out with the Council but pitched and vouched; that the Citadel instead turn Clint into one of their operatives. he's got skills that are hard to teach, scary accuracy with any weapon in his hand.

That's how Clint went from orphan to criminal to vigilante to one of the Citadel's few human spectres

Clint has a small crewed ship named the BROKEN ARROW with a varying crew (some details will be static if verse goes singleship)

BROKEN ARROW has two doctors, leonard mccoy (@/thefleetsfinest) and (my) linda carter who specializes in medicinal care for biotics and xenology

Sobriety comes with being a spectre, wanting to be and do better; actually take this seriously as a way to do good in the universe

working an andromeda verse as well

the last of us // had to fight like hell until fight like hell made me one hell of a fighter

Clint's one of the original fireflies; when the group started to rise up in the world

He's always been a resistance guerilla fighter of a guy; doesn't approve of some of the ways that fedra control affected the world

Incredibly resourceful and an invaluable survivalist, almost exclusively uses a bow and arrow

As the fireflies start to lose sight, or as clint finds out about some of their not-so ideal ways of helping people (he is a huge help people guy) he starts to turn away from being a firefly or being the first guy to call them out

dragon age // i will wear the title oathbreaker with pride for no more false demons shall be slain

a born ferelden-er

Has a mabari named lucky

ex templar archer turned mage rights activist

orphaned at age seven with his older brother and became a templar alongside him as the chantry orphanage put pressure upon them that becoming a templar was the maker's intended path

was a mage hunter (and good at it)

quits the order as he finds himself ill with what circles have become, as the chantry does cuts him off from lyrium

turns to alcohol to cope with lyrium addiction and withdrawal

centered around the inquisition timeline, with clint joining up with the inquisition at haven ; favors mage-friendly inquisitors and anti-chantry followers most

can splinter off into two additional verses with one being clint becoming a warden in for da:o / da:a or be a companion for da2

616 // all he ever needed was to trust his own wings

Currently part of Mayor Cage's Thunderbolts

Working on amends with all the Avengers (and hopefully be an Avenger again)

Managing his sobriety well which came about after he was outed as Ronin and events of freefall

He and Kate have reconnected, and he'll usually turn a blind eye for her (sorry Luke and Helen; hawkeye fam always comes first)

[shinyasahalo]

Top 100 AO3 Ships (All) Aug. 1, 2024

(M/M) Castiel/Dean Winchester (Supernatural TV) 117,406 fics

(M/M) Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski (Teen Wolf TV) 74,109 fics

(M/M) Sherlock Holmes/John Watson (Sherlock TV) 73,054 fics

(M/M) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter (Harry Potter) 72,525 fics

(GQ/GQ) Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens TV) 66,784 fics

(M/M) James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers (Captain America/Marvel) 66,783 fics

(M/M) Sirius Black/Remus Lupin (Marauders/Harry Potter) 54,026 fics

(M/M) Steve Rogers/Tony Stark (Avengers/Marvel) 47,795 fics

(M/M) Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku (My Hero Academia) 47,445 fics

(M/M) Harry Stiles/Louis Tomlinson (One Direction) 45,149 fics

(M/M) Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian (Modao Zushi) 43,315 fics

(M/M) Jeon Jungkook/Kim Taehyung | V (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 39,790 fics

(M/M) Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin TV/Arthurian Mythology) 38,363 fics

(F/M) Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug (Miraculous Ladybug) 37,384 fics

(M/M) Keith/Lance (Voltron) 35,350 fics

(M/M) Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester (Supernatural TV) 34,958 fics

(M/M) Dazai Osamu/Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs) 34,616 fics

(M/M) Bakugou Katsuki/Kirishima Eijirou (My Hero Academia) 33,247 fics

(M/M) Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood (Shadowhunters TV) 32,471 fics

(F/M) Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter) 32,024 fics

(M/M) Will Graham/Hannibal Lector (Hannibal TV) 31,749 fics

(F/M) Original Female Character/Original Male Character (All Fandoms) 30,852 fics

(M&M) Peter Parker & Tony Stark (Avengers/Marvel) 30,793 fics

(F/M) Rey/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren (Sequel Trilogy/Star Wars) 30,688 fics

(M/M) Jeon Jungkook/Park Jimin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 30,488 fics

(M/M) Min Yoongi | Suga/Park Jimin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 29,607 fics

(M/M) Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson (Stranger Things TV) 28,662 fics

(M/M) Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Munson (9-1-1 TV) 28,539 fics

(F/M) James Potter/Lily Evans Potter (Marauders/Harry Potter) 28,531 fics

(M/M) Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov (Yuri! On Ice) 28,115 fics

(M/M) Original Male Character/Original Male Character (All Fandoms) 27,071 fics

(M/M) Midoriya Izuku/Todoroki Shouto (My Hero Academia) 24,964 fics

(M/M) Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic (My Hero Academia) 24,605 fics

(M/M) Kim Namjoon | RM/Kim Seokjin | Jin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 23,996 fics

(F/M) Pepper Potts/Tony Stark (Iron Man/Marvel) 23,683 fics

(M/M) Clay | Dream/GeorgeNotFound (Video Blogging RPF) 23,683 fics

(F/M) Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley (Harry Potter) 22,581 fics

(M&M) Wilbur Soot & TommyInnit (Video Blogging RPF) 22,356 fics

(M/M) Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier | Dandelion (Witcher TV) 22,326 fics

(F/F) Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor (Supergirl TV/DCU) 21,704 fics

(M/M) Iwaizumi Hajime/Oikawa Tooru (Haikyuu!) 21,587 fics

(M/M) James T. Kirk/Spock (Star Trek) 21,430 fics

(M&M) Sherlock Holmes & John Watson (Sherlock TV) 21,342 fics

(M/M) Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet (Our Flag Means Death TV) 20,544 fics

(M/M) Hinata Shouya/Kageyama Tobio (Haikyuu!) 20,352 fics

(M/M) Blaine Anderson/Kurt Hummel (Glee TV) 19,326 fics

(M&M) Bakugou Katsuki & Midoriya Izuku (My Hero Academia) 19,241 fics

(GQ&GQ) Aziraphale & Crowley (Good Omens TV) 19,185 fics

(F/M) Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley (Harry Potter) 19,005 fics

(M/M) Harry Potter/Severus Snape (Harry Potter) 18,630 fics

(M/M) Levi Ackerman/Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan) 18,539 fics

(M/M) Jung Hoseok | J-Hope/Min Yoongi | Suga (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 18,504 fics

(M/M) Akaashi Keiji/Bokuto Koutarou (Haikyuu!) 18,473 fics

(M/M) Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier (X-Men/Marvel) 18,370 fics

(F/F) Original Female Character/Original Female Character (All Fandoms) 18,350 fics

(M/M) Dan Howell/Phil Lester (Video Blogging RPF) 18,104 fics

(F/N) The Doctor/Rose Tyler (Doctor Who TV) 17,388 fics

(M/M) Armitage Hux/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren (Sequel Trilogy/Star Wars) 17,165 fics

(M/R) James "Bucky" Barnes/Reader (Marvel) 17,142 fics

(M/M) Han Jisung | Han/Lee Minha | Lee Know (Stray Kids) 17,136 fics

(M/M) Keith/Shiro (Voltron) 16,965 fics

(M/M) Ian Gallagher/Mickey Milkovich (Shameless TV) 16,923 fics

(M&M) Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester (Supernatural TV) 16,650 fics

(F/F) Evil Queen | Regina Mills/Emma Swan (Once Upon a Time TV) 16,323 fics

(M/M) Regulus Black/James Potter (Marauders/Harry Potter) 16,130 fics

(M/M) Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier (IT Movies) 16,071 fics

(M/M) Kim Taehyung | V/Park Jimin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 16,031 fics

(M/M) Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto (Naruto) 16,028 fics

(M/M) Getou Suguru/Gojo Satoru (Jujutsu Kaisen) 15,906 fics

(M&M) Toby Smith | Tubbo & TommyInnit (Video Blogging RPF) 15,718 fics

(M/M) Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki (Actor RPF) 15,671 fics

(M/M) Tartaglia | Childe/Zhongli (Genshin Impact) 15,588 fics

(M/M) Jeon Jungkook/Min Yoongi | Suga (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 15,511 fics

(M/M) Loki/Thor (Marvel) 15,431 fics

(M/M) Rodney McKay/John Sheppard (Stargate Atlantis TV) 15,258 fics

(F/M) Annabeth Chase/Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) 15,170 fics

(F/M) Fox Mulder/Dana Scully (The X-Files TV) 15,031 fics

(M/M) Gabriel/Sam Winchester (Supernatural TV) 14,992 fics

(F/M) Bellamy Blake/Clarke Griffin (The 100 TV) 14,923 fics

(M/M) Harry Potter/Tom Riddle | Voldemort (Harry Potter) 14,193 fics

(M&M) Technoblade & TommyInnit (Video Blogging RPF) 13,939 fics

(M&M) Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead & Midoriya Izuku (My Hero Academia) 13,911 fics

(M/M) Miya Atsumo/Sakusa Kiyoomi (Haikyuu!) 13,892 fics

(M/M) Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade (Sherlock TV) 13,689 fics

(M/M) Levi Ackerman/Erwin Smith (Attack on Titan) 13,550 fics

(M/M) Frank Iero/Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) 13,473 fics

(F/F) Clarke Griffin/Lexa (The 100 TV) 13,265 fics

(M/M) Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones (Torchwood TV/Doctor Who) 13,232 fics

(M&M) James "Bucky" Barnes & Steve Rogers (Captain America/Marvel) 13,213 fics

(F/M) Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov (Avengers/Marvel) 13,142 fics

(M/M) Steve McGarret/Danny "Danno" Williams (Hawaii Five-0 TV) 13,137 fics

(M/M) Nico di Angelo/Will Solace (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) 12,995 fics

(M/M) Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit) 12,994 fics

(M/M) Enjolras/Grantaire (Les Miserables) 12,927 fics

(M/M) Loki/Tony Stark (Avengers/Marvel) 12,903 fics

(M/M) Dabi | Todoroki Touya/Takami Keigo | Hawks (My Hero Academia) 12,900 fics

(F/F) Amity Blight/Luz Noceda (The Owl House) 12,874 fics

(M&M) Castiel & Dean Winchester (Supernatural TV) 12,869 fics

(F/M) Oliver Queen/Felicity Smoak (Arrow TV/DCU) 12,715 fics

(M/M) Bakugou Katsuki/Todoroki Shouto (My Hero Academia) 12,679 fics

[relatableblorbopoll]

Round two of preliminaries

The first two places will get added to the bracket

(There will be a third round after this)

All pairings of groups are randomly generated

Check after the read more for the poll groups

Group 1:

Jack Spicer (Xiaolin Showdown)

Jack Reacher (Reacher Series)

Lucy Honeychurch (A Room With A View)

Dave Strider (Homestuck)

Donutella (Tokidoki)

Missi (The vampair)

Group 2:

Reki Kyan (Sk8 the infinity)

Shinji Ikari (Evangelion)

Tsubakura Enraku (Len'en Project)

Conner Bailey (The Land of Stories)

Blue/Green Oak (Pokemon Red/Blue/Green)

Junior (Total Drama)

Group 3:

Trisana (Tris) Chandler (Emelan book series)

Akaashi Keiji (Haikyuu!!)

Jessica Day (New Girl)

V-flower (Vocaloid)

Ocean O'Connell Rosenberg (Ride The Cylone)

Sunny (Omori)

Group 4:

Tony Stark (Marvel)

Stanford Pines (Gravity Falls)

Rookie (Club Penguin)

Wen Ning (MDZS/The Untamed)

Drew (The Music Freaks)

Nick (Only Friends)

Group 5:

Nagisa Ran (Ensemble Stars)

Finn the Human (Adventure Time)

Okuyasu Nijimura (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure part 4)

Szeth-son-son-Vallano (The Stormlight Archive)

Barry the Quokka (The Murder Of Sonic The Hedegehog)

Midori Takamine (Ensemble Stars!! Music)

Group 6:

Omota Uramichi (Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan)

q!Quackity (QSMP)

Seven Of Nine (Star Trek)

Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Waver Velvet (Fate Series)

Nico di Angelo (Percy Jackson Series)

Group 7:

Oz Vessalius (Pandora Hearts)

Isaac O'Connor (Paranatural)

Tobias (Animorphs)

Greg Heffley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Berdly (Deltarune)

Ciaphas Cain (Warhammer 40k)

Group 8:

Gundham Tanaka (Super Danganronpa 2)

Noah (Total Drama)

Lia (The Music Freaks)

Angua von Überwald (Discworld)

Gudetama (Sanrio)

Eichi Tenshouin (Ensemble Stars)

Group 9:

Sara Murphy (Milo Murphy's Law)

Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise)

Overlord (Bad End Teather)

Shaun Murphy (The Good Doctor)

Shin Tsumiki (Your Turn To Die)

Charlie Morningstar (Hazbin Hotel)

Group 10:

Jesper Fahey (Six of Crows)

Gren (The Dragon Prince)

Melissa Chase (Milo Murphy's Law)

Nami (One Piece)

Denji (Chainsaw man)

Rain O'Fire Frazier (Worm)

Group 11:

Kaveh (Genshin Impact)

Yusuke Kitagawa (Persona 5)

Nanami Kento (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Rod (Avenue Q)

Rigby (Regular Show)

Sound (My School President)

Group 12:

Piper Mclean (Heroes of the Olympus)

MK (Lego Monkey Kid)

Albedo (Genshin Impact)

Basil (Omori)

Ford Prefect (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

Hamlet (Shakespeare's Hamlet)

[mystery-moose]

DEATH STRANDING (Feb 27th)

In my quest to write down thoughts about art this year, I recently completed Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding for the first time! I had started it twice already, but stalled out both times because I got distracted or moved onto other things.

Kojima has always been a problematic fave of mine, but Death Stranding might be my problematic favoritest of his work.

The raw gameplay loop is as perfectly calibrated, engaging, and compelling as it was when I first played it back in 2019. It is, as Tim Rogers put it, the Gran Turismo of walking simulators, though I would probably put it more accurately as “the world’s best hiking and logistics simulator.” Trekking across Icelandic wastelands and haunted volcanic plains and up and down mountains is alternately so meditative and so tense that even after a cumulative hundred hours in my save file I was still doing optional deliveries just because I enjoy traversing the world. It’s so singular and unique in the thing it’s attempting to do, and in particular with the atmosphere it’s trying to cultivate, that I can say honestly that I’ve never played anything like it. And that’s a wild thing to say about a game with a big budget these days!

But that’s what you get with Kojima. Especially with Kojima these days, unfettered by corporate oversight or monetary concerns. He wants to communicate something, and by god he’s going to do that whether you or anyone likes it or not. That’s a big reason he’s gotten the reputation he has today. And we can argue about auteurship and how it’s bullshit in collaborative mediums all day (and that’s a fine argument to have) but it’s not like Kojima didn’t put in the hours -- the dude’s been making games since 1986, and been a project lead since ‘87. We can say he got lucky once, maybe twice, but we gotta say he’s worked for his pedigree at this point.

I mean, the man made an entire game about nothing but fetch quests, and he made it fun! What the fuck, right?

That’s to say nothing about the use of music, which introduced me to some tunes that still live on my phone! Or the stark, utilitarian-but-inventive mechanical design of Yoji Shinkawa. Or its story, rooted in absurdist silliness, Tarkovsky-esque surrealism, and bizarre metaphysics, bluntly hammering its central message home even as it weaves numerous other threads (heh) into its narrative through its use of visual symbolism, textual analysis, and iconography.

Of course the pacing is a nightmare, though -- so much of the story is backloaded in the final few hours of the game, including numerous revelations that would be better served earlier in the story. And his treatment of female characters, while much better here than Metal Gear Solid V, is... well that bar is beneath the floor, frankly. I do like the women of Death Stranding, in particular Fragile (yes that’s her name, every character is named like that) but the way the camera treats Fragile in one scene that would otherwise be really powerful, and the way Mama’s subplot goes and what Kojima’s even trying to gesture towards, and then the whole deal with Bridget and Amelie... it’s all just kind of a mess.

Which is basically the story of the story of Death Stranding, really! It’s a mess! A frequently fascinating, rarely insightful, occasionally quite powerful mess, but a mess all the same. Whether or not you can look past the stuff that doesn’t work to examine the stuff that does, or are equally interested in failures and fuckups as successes, determines whether you’ll enjoy the story here. That’s how Kojima rolls, though, has been since Metal Gear Solid 2, though that game probably remains his high point for thematic fascination, if not dialogue or character writing. (Including women! Seriously, he’s only been good at it like one time!)

I’ll say, too, that if you care little for story and want to run purely on vibes, then Death Stranding might very well be for you! The vibes here are totally unique and absolutely immaculate, particularly in the audio-visual department. There is nothing quite like when one of those Low Roar songs kicks in while you’re descending a mountain toward a new city, or Silent Poets coming in as you march across a blasted plain. And again, it all feels so personal; you are listening to Kojima’s personal mixtape, a set of bands he heard that he loved and which he associated with this game he was making, and getting that kind of truly personal touch from a big-budget experience is almost impossible to find in games.

Everything in Death Stranding, for better or for worse, is the product of one man’s mind, a snapshot of the things that move him, scare him, fascinate him, make him think and feel and wonder. And they’re all things he wants YOU to think about and feel and wonder. Some of them are stupid, for sure! Others are obvious or shallow. But more than anything, they’re all honest. Death Stranding is one of the most earnest, sincere artistic expressions I’ve seen in any big-budget media, and if that interests you at all (or you’re really into traversal mechanics in games) I’d absolutely recommend it.

Or if you like to point and laugh at the man who put a guy named “Die-Hardman” into his story. Rest assured that Kojima is absolutely laughing too.