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patemi-pk · 24 days ago

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ITALY - Part 3

100% Disney (2018-)

Yes, it's a collection of random stories linked by the theme on the cover.

Disney Comics (2022-?)

Yes, we must publish those Disney Global stories too and, after publishing some of those on Topolino, Panini decided to make a spin-off just for them (a bit like LTB Young in Germany). Its fate is unclear, because recent issues have been reprisals of older volumes, so it's probably dead.

Disney Hero (2019-)

Yes, it's a collection of random stories linked by the character on the cover. In 2024 it was dedicated all year to Donald Duck, for his 90th birthday, covering his interaction with other characters. It seems that this Donald-centric format will continue in the forst months of 2025 too.

Disney Love (2019-)

This is part of an effort from Panini to have more thematic comics to be published during the summer. Disney Love, in fact, it's published monthly only on July and August every year (except for 2019, when it had a Valentine's day issue and a June issue too). It collects mostly stories from the old female-centered publications of the past (Minni, Minni & co., Minni amica del cuore), plus a minority of stories from Topolino.

Topolino in Giallo (2021-)

This is part of an effort from Panini to have more thematic comics to be published during the summer. Topolino in Giallo, in fact, it's published monthly only on June, July and August every year. It collects Mickey detective stories, plus one Egmont Mickey story never published before, per issue. Contrary to most of these titles the covers are new and all done by Davide Cesarello.

Disney Team (2021-)

Yes, it's a collection of random stories linked by the theme on the cover. It is supposed to alternate between duck stories and mice stories, in fact the name changes every volume between Paperino in team and Topolino in team, but the divide may not be so clear.

Disneyssimo (2019-)

Yes, it's a collection of random stories linked by the theme on the cover. It has 7 issues per year: Invernissimo (for winter), Primaverissima (for spring), Risatissima (for April's Fool time), Estatissima (for summer), Vacanzissima (for the summer holiday season), Scuolissima (for back to school time), Natalissimo (for Christmas time).

Paper Mitologia (2024-)

This was supposed to be a miniseries, collecting that mythology Disney Global series and other mythology stories. The selection has been soon precarious, collecting early on stories with a weak connection to mythology, but appearently it has prove itself to be successfull, because they are extending it, making Le dodici fatiche e 1/2 di Pippercole the main series of the future issues.

Disney Play/Topolino Junior (2020-)

This is a title for younger readers, so featuring games, articles and shorter stories, some of those made for this magazine, others are reprints of older Topolino stories, others are foreign tales.

Disney Special Events (2019-)

I don't know how to describe it. This is the randomest of random titles, as much that I would say it's not a title per se, but a collection of different initiatives that did not meet the criteria to embark in a burocratic hustle to register a new publication. We need to publish those thematic hardcover small books attached to Topolino (i Topolibri)? Let's publish them here! We need to publish the new Darkwing Duck volume, but we don't want to revive the older Disney Premiere title where it was featured? No problem, toss it here! We need to publish a reprint of Epic Mickey? Say no more! We need to continue publishing the Definitive Collection edition of Fantomius because there are so many people who still collect it, but the Definitive Collection closed? Let's do volumes which are aestehically identical to those and publish them under this label! We need a volume of Area 15 because there is a fair event in Milan, but Topolino Extra had been paused at the time? Let's do a volume ina completely different format and publish it here! We need some books to exploit the UEFA European Championship, without naming it? We have some space here! A calendar? Here! A cover collection volume? HERE! A Snowhite book for the anniversary? Dont worry! A cheap edition of Life and Times? Again, we hare room! And I've not covered every random book this series features. The one thing about it it's that these are, generally more curated books, not really some cheap random ones, but still there is no coherent lineup.

Ok, it was quick.

An addition to this:

Le più grandi avventure Disney (2019-)

Can you forget that something exists? Yes, you can.

And, yes, it's a collection of random stories linked by the theme on the cover.

#disney #comics #disney comics #fumetti #panini comics #italy #disney magazines

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eldesperadont · 1 year ago

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@ AEW GIRLIES (gn) who are interested in NJPW lore

with All In coming up, I need fans that only know Kota as Kennys insane boyfriend and Jay as the silly Bullet Club bastard to know about their history with each other (and Kenny/Hangman) which spans 5 years at this point, even more if you count in Jays time as a trainee in njpw (2015/16), so he like.. watched and learned from them all – anyways lets go with the rambling recap

Starting with Jays first title win and how it came to that: early 2018, Kenny was in the midst of a power struggle in Bullet Club, his relationship with Cody was getting more strenuous by the day and the non Elite BC members were getting tired of their BS.

Kenny, trying to legitimise his position as a leader, thought recruiting new promising talent to his side would help, so he offered a young Switchblade Jay White “the opportunity of a lifetime”.

Jay accepted, only to attack him right after, and with that nothing could stop the threads holding Kennys BC together from rapidly unravelling.

Kenny would lose his US Heavyweight Championship to White soon after, and in the aftermath of the match even more. Hangman, finally taking a step out of his friend's shadow, got all up in Jays space, snatched the belt and obviously implied a challenge, but Kenny wouldnt have any of that. He pushed Adam aside and gave Jay his price back. (to the surprise of the crowd who expected Kenny to be more bitter apparently lol)

Enter Cody. Opportunistic and sinister as he was at the time he immediately stoked the flames, snapping at Kenny why he wouldnt let Hangman have that moment.

They seem to talk it out but whoops, Cody attacks Kenny after all, Adam helping him.

They are about to lay him out as Ibushi runs to Kennys aid, finally giving us the reunion people have been waiting for years.

In the following months a lot happens, Adam gets his match with Jay (and is read to filth by him - it’s essential to watch that promo, here) but doesnt succeed, the Golden Lovers and Young Bucks have an emotional feud, Cody continues being a menace with Hangman at his side, Kenny finally wins the IWGP Heavyweight belt, the Golden Elite was formed, Cody is a sad lil bitch now, they were all kinda friends again, oh and Bullet Club split fr*.

[*On one side you had Kenny and his friends, on the other BC originals Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga plus his younger brothers and technically their dad? Things were kinda messy but thats technically the BC that stayed in Japan and made Jay White their leader. The last real appearance of the Elite as BC was at the inaugural All In, their indie PPV.]

Alright end of 2018/beginning of 2019 - Kenny loses his IWGP belt at Wrestle Kingdom (njpws wrestlemania) and quietly leaves NJPW with the Bucks, Cody and Hangman, starting AEW (things behind the scenes didnt work out as expected and nooj didn’t wanna cooperate with them at first)

So yeah. Ibushi. He was all alone again, but in the summer of 2019 finally manages what he was so close to in the previous year: winning the G1 tournament.

He faced Jay White in the finals, who at that point firmly held Kennys position as Bullet Club leader and is the top gaijin of the company.

Both him and Ibushi were together with Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito the top of NJPW. And all four would be involved in the main events of the following Wrestle Kingdom. Jay and Okada as titleholders, Naito and Ibushi as challengers.

Well neither Jay or Kota came out victorious on the first WK night, but the following day, in a match for third place, Jay defeated Ibushi, making the latter the biggest loser of the event,,

Covid caused quite a mess in the following months - their next singles meeting wouldn't be till late 2020, during that years G1, where Jay gets another win over the Golden Star

but is unable to reach the finals, in contrast to Ibushi, who wins the whole tournament for a second time.

Jay doesn't wait and immediately brings up Kotas loss to him, demanding a match for the WK contract he's just won.

Alright bada bing bada boom Ibushi-

LOSES??

Yeah to the shock of everyone Jay actually managed to put himself in the main event for the following WK, thinking he'll face double champ Naito to dethrone him .. but Naito still wanted to face the G1 winner so Kota got his title shot regardless lol

so yeah we got Ibushi vs Naito on night one, and whoever wins that on day two against Jay

In complete contrast to the previous WK Ibushi would not only be victorious on the first night, but also finally beat Jay for good, becoming the undisputed double champ, and God. (their words not mine)

Which absolutely broke White, giving us a glimpse at whats really going on in the "Switchblade". He's so obsessed with success, finally wanting HIS moment, his era, and despite everything he's sacrificed it doesn't seem to happen..

(pls watch the whole promo, its an insane performance)

He'd show up for one last "contractually obligated" match, battered and bruised, taking the pin in a multiman tag match between Bullet Club and Chaos, before leaving everyone in the dark for month about whats next for him.

He'd stick with NJPW for two more years, returning even more unhinged than he already was.

Kota would go on with his reign as double champ, till NJPW unified the titles to create the IWGP World Championship (a highly unpopular move with the fans), which he's the inaugural champion for.

Jay would try his best in the New Japan Cup in hopes of getting another shot at Ibushi, but fall short in the quarterfinals - new focus new goal, he goes for the NEVER Openweight title, and becomes the first ever NJPW "Quadruple Crown" champ, having already held the IWGP US, Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship at that point.

Ibushi, now with the IWGP World Championship, has his first proper defense with the new singles belt .. and loses to 2021 NJ Cup winner Will Ospreay, cutting his reign shorter than anyone expected.

His bad luck doesnt end there tho, despite making it to the G1 finals for the fourth time in a row, he breaks his arm in said match and is unable to continue. He'll not appear in a NJPW ring again. Mistreatment by staff which caused serious trouble in his private life has him decide against re-signing with the company.

Jay in the meantime would shake things up overseas, defending his NEVER title, debut in IMPACT, be on weird terms with the Elite, lose the NEVER title, debut in AEW, oh and not return to Japan. For a full year, missing out on key events, which had even his BC mates start asking questions.

After some rearranging within the club (kicking out old and recruiting new members) he’d finally return to Japan in the summer of 2022, swiftly dethroning IWGP World champ Okada, Jays last title reign in NJPW (youve might seen his first defence, at Forbidden door against Hangman, Cole and Okada).

He’d hold the title till early 2023 and in good old switchblade fashion be this 👌 close to realising his errors, only to blame everyone else and lose his mind over it, getting involved in a “loser leaves Japan” match against Hikuleo (who had turned his back on Jay) and afterwards, cause that somehow wasnt enough, a “loser leaves NJPW” match against Eddie Kingston. And thats how we got Jay White in AEW, mf is in exile and acts like nothing ever happened lmao

Ibushi, whos last match had been in October 2021, would finally return to the ring in March 2023, at Josh Barnetts 9th Bloodsport event, and make his AEW debut at Blood and Guts, reuniting with Kenny, the Bucks and Hangman as the Golden Elite :)

So yeah both Kota and Jay had quite different paths (that crossed a lot) towards AEW, and as someone who's been watching them for so long now I'm absolutely giddy to see them face one another again - if youd have told me a year ago that I'd get to see Kota and Jay in the same ring again, cause of KENNY of all things, I'd have imploded on the spot (positive)

📷 picture credit: NJPW World, one pic from Jays Instagram, one impact thumbnail and one aew thumbnail

‼️ feel free to ask about anything / correct me on info or spelling mistakes, english is not my mother tongue and im disabled so sometimes i mess things up

#hi i have a lot of feelings about seeing them at all in #jay white #kota ibushi #kenny omega #adam page #aew all in #aew #njpw #bullet club #wrestling thoughts tm

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kalinara · 2 months ago

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Hello! New to the X-men fandom, drawn here by Scott Summers (I love your blog so much!) Two questions, if you don't mind:

1. What would you consider essential reads for Scott specifically? There are so many starting points it seems.

2. I did finish Whedon's run of Astonishing X-Men (at the recommendation of reddit) and was wondering if Scott (now?) doesn't need his ruby quartz glasses/visor? Sorry if that's a run-specific question!

Hello!

The first question is surprisingly difficult, only because Scott's such a staple throughout the entirety of the X-Men. So let me kind of give you a run down of your options.

The 60s comics are really fun, if you want to see where things began. It is very 60s though, and the style may not be to your taste. There's also some period sexism that's not great (though surprisingly less than I expected. Possibly because Jean's meant to be a fairly liberated teen, as opposed to older ladies like Sue Storm or Janet Van Dyne.)

The Claremont Era (Starting with Giant-Sized X-Men, which introduces staples like Storm and Wolverine) is probably what will be the most familiar to folks who became used to the X-Men from other sources, like the cartoons. The Animated Series and X-Men '97 adapt a lot of Claremont era stuff, so it'll be pretty familiar.

It's also soapy and dramatic, and Scott (and Jean) feature very heavily. You'll also meet Rachel. Rachel is fun.

X-Factor's first run is something I'd recommend only after you've gotten into the character more. It's actually really good, IMO, and an amazing deconstruction of how much of a trainwreck the poor guy actually is. It's not always a flattering portrayal though, which is part of what makes it interesting. (It is good though to read the Madelyne stuff for yourself eventually, summaries tend to ignore the aspects that make Scott's side of things a bit more understandable, if not sympathetic.) Baby Cable is here too.

The 90s X-Comics are pretty fun too, like the earlier Claremont era, this is likely what folk are familiar with if they remember the cartoons. Costumes, characters, and so on. Scott is one of a very large cast, but he tends to have some really good arcs here and there. The art takes getting used to it. This is where you'll start seeing adult Cable as a major character. And another AU Summers child, Nate Grey. He's complicated.

the 2000s-2011 era of Comics have a lot of upheaval and events. Scott is still an idealist, but he's been jaded by a lot of events (and will be jaded by more). You'll see him get darker here, but not evil. It's pretty sad though. SO MANY big events though, Scott pulls off a lot of wild shit.

In 2011-2016, we have two Scotts basically. Avengers vs. X-Men is a massively huge event that changes Scott's role for a long time. For our main Scott, the next few years are going to read a lot like whump fic. He's going to suffer, people are going to blame him (unfairly, imo!) for a lot of things, and he'll be treated like a monster at times. That said, there are people who do see the truth and end up even joining him.

But also around this time, through shenanigans (read: Hank McCoy), the timeline is disrupted and the 1960s era Original Five (specifically circa issue #8) are brought to the future. They have their own adventures in lines like All-New X-Men (v1. and v2.), X-Men Blue, and Scott specifically has a solo series early on and then joins up with Kamala Khan's Champions and it's darling.

Eventually older Scott "dies" (it happens in comics). Young Scott continues though. When Young Scott goes to the past again, older Scott comes back (unrelated reasons).

For 2019-2020, there's a short run by Matthew Rosenberg, starting at issue 11 or so. The original team of X-Men is presumed dead (really they're dealing with some multiversal nonsense. Possibly Nate Grey's fault), and a returned Scott starts gathering new X-Men. It's intense, angsty and kind of bleak. This isn't about saving the world anymore, just maybe going out doing what they should.

From 2020-2023, we get a massive, amazing change in direction called the Krakoa arc. Scott's not featured as prominently here (It's Xavier's show), but he's solid in any series that he appears (Adjectiveless X-Men will always have him somewhere. He's very prominent in Teen Cable's book too.) Krakoa is something very different than anything the X-Men series(es) have done before and it's definitely worth reading. Though for my own taste, I like the return to form that comes with...

Our current era is "From the Ashes" and it's not actually a bad place to jump on. Everyone's a little scattered and out of sorts since the fall of Krakoa, but Scott, being who he is, has already pulled his own book together for the kind of mutant-rescuing heroics that he is wont to do.

As to where to start? Honestly, I'd go with whatever seems the most fun to you. Eventually, I think, you'll find yourself branching out and it won't be nearly so confusing. (There are also wikis, podcasts, and annoying pedants like me who like explaining everything.). Fans will often have their favorite special books (Children of the Atom, for example, is probably my favorite version of the O5 origin. It came out in 2001 and has a truly horrifying Jack Winters), and we'll always leap on the opportunity to share those things.

-------------------------------------------

as for 2. I don't know if you read the Giant-Sized finale of Astonishing X-Men, but they do have a scene where Scott's eyes start glowing again and Emma places the visor on him. It's a nice, quietly somber scene.

In current X-continuity, Scott does still need the visor. The inability to control his blasts may have a psychological component but there's also physical brain damage. (In the Krakoa arc, there are mechanisms where he might have repaired said damage, but it actually does come up at some point, and he specifically chooses not to. I hope I can find that page again, because I feel like there's a lot of interesting potential meta in that choice.)

I don't think they ever really revisit why Emma (or Cassandra, possibly) had been able to neutralize Scott's blasts/restore temporary control over them, but I tend to go with the interpretation that a powerful enough telepath could force a bypass with his powers, but it's an incredibly traumatic, potentially damaging, and ultimately temporary solution. Hence, what we see.

For her part, Jean Grey (at least in the modern era) is able to psychically block his powers. And that's always fun. (And sometimes a little kinky!)

#scott summers #cyclops #a sorta timeline?#hope it helps!#I like asks!

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leopauldelr · 1 year ago

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The beginner's guide to the Pretty Series

With the recent announcement of the new Pretty Series installment titled Himitsu no AiPri, it's about time the Pretty Series returned after over a year since the Waccha PriMagi! series finale. In celebration of the newest installment, let's take a quick history lesson about the Pretty series.

The Pretty Rhythm Saga (2010-2014) - The Pretty Series saga began on July 15, 2010 with the arcade game titled Pretty Rhythm Mini Skirt. Made by Takara Tomy and developer SynSophia, this arcade game pits players in the role of Prism Stars, performing Prism Jumps, and collecting Prism Stones.

While the one that started it all made a slow start, the folks from Takara Tomy wanted to do more with the Pretty Rhythm saga, and with that, a TV anime titled Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream was made. Aired in TV Tokyo on April 9, 2011, for 51 episodes, this anime is the fruit of Japan-Korea collaboration thanks to Japan's Tatsunoko Production and South Korea's Dong Woo Animation. The TV anime is all about Aira, Rizumu, and Mion in their quest to take on the prestigious Prism Queen Cup.

As Aira Harune's journey to become Prism Queen is completed, Mia Ageha takes the baton as the star of the next Pretty Rhythm story; Dear My Future. Aired in TV Tokyo on April 7, 2012, for 51 episodes, Dear My Future centers on the rivalry between Prizmmy☆ and the K-Pop group PURETTY. Believe it or not, there are real-life versions of the groups as seen in the anime. There's even a live-action segment featuring Prizmmy☆ as well.

As Mia Ageha's road to Grateful Symphonia is well and truly over, Naru Ayase steps to the spotlight in the third and final chapter of the Pretty Rhythm saga, titled Rainbow Live. Aired in TV Tokyo on April 6, 2013, it features an original storyline unlike the previous two. It's about Naru, An, and Ito, who are working together at the Prism Stone Shop while trying to take good care of a mysterious girl named Rinne.

Although the Pretty Rhythm saga ended, the story continues with the KING OF PRISM spinoff films featuring male characters from the Pretty Rhythm saga. They even got a 2019 anime show as well showcasing the rise of the boys who would be Septentrion.

The PriPara saga (2014-2018, 2021~) After the end of the Pretty Rhythm saga, the folks of Takara Tomy prepped up what it seems to be the second generation of the Pretty series. It's called PriPara and it aired on TV Tokyo in the Summer of 2014 and lasted for three seasons, four if you count Idol Time PriPara of course. This anime series centers on the life and times of Laala Manaka, a little girl who wants to be the best PriPara idol. Together with Mirei Minami and Sophy Hojo, they became SoLaMi Smile and they fought their way against the best idol teams of PriPara, especially Dressing Pafe consisting of Dorothy, Reona, and Sion, Tricolore, and Gaarmageddon, among many others. PriPara is a huge win for the people behind it and such success prompted the show to spawn four movies and outrageous merchandising rights.

In the spring of 2017, the next chapter of PriPara begins with three new main characters penning the final pages of this saga. Titled Idol Time PriPara, it's all about Yui Yumekawa, whose fateful encounter with Laala Manaka changed everything following an accident. With Nino Nijiiro and Michiru Kouda joining alongside, the MY☆DREAM trio made the best closure to this saga.

Although the PriPara TV series is finished, the story continues with Idol Land PriPara. First announced in December 2020, it was originally slated to be released in the spring of 2021 until it became subject to long gestation and delayed launch dates. It was released on August 17, 2023. It is the second official PriPara app game after the defunct PriPuz puzzle app game. This app game also features an original anime series set moments after the events of Idol Time PriPara. It introduces new characters such as Amari Katasumi, Mario, and Pololo, among others.

The Kiratto PriChan years (2018-2021) - Aired in TV Tokyo since April 2018 for three seasons, Kiratto PriChan is set in a world where fame comes from social media just like in the real world. It's about a group of girls who called themselves the Miracle☆Kiratts who are striving to become the best PriChan idols above the rest. For three seasons, we watched Miracle Kiratts taking on big challenges such as heated competition with rival teams such as Meltic StAr and Ring Marry, the jewel idol competition, saving the world, the road to the Queens Grand Prix, and saving the world...again, while they do what they do best; showcasing the world that they're the best PriChan sensations ever known.

PriMagi (2021-2022) - Waccha PriMagi! is the fourth installment of the Pretty Series that revolves around the lives of Primagistas striving to become the best of the best. The show is about Matsuri Hibino, a middle-schooler who dreams of being the best just like her idol, the legendary Jennifer Sumire Sol.

AiPri - After over a year of void, the Pretty Series has returned with the newest installment coming to TV Tokyo this April 2024. Titled Himitsu no AiPri, the new series stars Minori Fujidera as Himari Aozora and Sae Hiratsuka as Mitsuki Hoshikawa. For the first time in Pretty Series, the animation sequences were provided by OLM, the studio behind the Pokemon and Yo-Kai Watch anime series, while South Korea's Dongwoo A&E returned to cooperate for it.

Welcome back, Pretty Series! The world can't wait for the franchise's comeback show this April.

#pretty rhythm #pripara #Kiratto Pri☆Chan #Waccha PriMagi!#Himitsu no AiPri

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aois-amaterasu-painting · 19 days ago

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Gekirock - Uruha & Kai interview (2021)

The New 10th Album and a Message for the Present Day, Released After Nearly Three Years! "What We’re Always Conscious of, at the Core, is the Live Show."

The long-anticipated full album MASS from the GazettE has finally arrived, marking nearly three years since their last release, NINTH. What’s more, this new work is their 10th studio album. Following the cancellation of their milestone 18th anniversary live concert last spring due to the pandemic, the band has been working steadily behind the scenes. This production involved significant online collaboration, a necessity of the times. The completed album is imbued with meaningful messages reflective of this unique era. Naturally, the release of such a monumental work raises expectations for live performances. Stay tuned for future announcements!

Interviewer: It has been almost three years since your last album, NINTH (released in 2018), and now you’ve completed MASS. Could you first reflect on the journey the GazettE has taken over this time?

KAI: After releasing NINTH, we spent quite a lot of time on an extensive tour, so a significant portion of our efforts as a band went into that.

URUHA: We were touring on and off for over a year, after all.

Interviewer: Indeed, starting with the hall tour PHASE #01-PHENOMENON in July 2018, followed by the standing tour PHASE #02-ENHANCEMENT, the live house tour PHASE #03 -Passion is Ferocious, the world tour PHASE #04 -99.999-, the Japan homecoming semi-final performance PHASE #05 -Mixed-Blood, and the FINAL NINTH LIVE AT 09.23 YOKOHAMA ARENA in September 2019—this LIVE TOUR spanned 61 performances, covering not only Japan but North America, South America, Europe, Asia—a truly massive undertaking.

KAI: Yes, and since it’s hard for us to mentally shift toward starting new material until after the tour is fully completed, this album’s creation followed the same process as usual—beginning about a year after the tour ended.

Interviewer: So when did the band—or even the individual members—begin to form a vision for MASS, even vaguely?

URUHA: The vision became clearer as we progressed with production. There wasn’t any rush to establish a clear direction; instead, we took the time to carefully discuss and decide on our next steps together.

KAI: By the end of 2019, we held our first song selection meeting. After a series of discussions, we gradually narrowed it down, eventually settling on the 11 tracks included in this album.

Interviewer: On March 10 of last year, during what was likely the middle of your album production period, the 18th-anniversary live show “18TH ANNIVERSARY DAY/6576” was originally scheduled to take place at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza Main Arena. However, the GazettE made the decision to cancel the event after carefully assessing the situation, even before the first state of emergency declaration was issued. After that, it seemed like the band's activities went completely silent. While I assume you were focusing on creating MASS behind the scenes, why didn’t you opt for the types of outreach many artists were doing at the time, like audience-free streaming concerts or video uploads on YouTube?

URUHA: That’s simply because we had already planned to enter the album production phase at that point.

KAI: Actually, we had our second song selection meeting even before March 10. After that, we stopped production temporarily to switch into live mode and started preparing for the anniversary concert. Unfortunately, it ended up being canceled. So, once that was decided, we just returned to production as planned.

Interviewer: I see. When did you actually start recording?

KAI: We recorded in multiple phases, and the first session was last summer. At that time, we recorded just one track, the lead tune of the album, BLINDING HOPE.

Interviewer: Speaking of BLINDING HOPE, could you share why this particular song was chosen as the lead track for the album?

URUHA: It was a song RUKI (vocals) wrote and presented right from the start saying “this has to be the lead.” When we listened to it, it had a convincing impact and a strong presence that made it clear it was perfect as the lead track. All the members agreed on that point without hesitation.

KAI: This isn’t specific to this album; RUKI always thinks about it holistically and presents the main song and album title at the same time. We listened to his thoughts on that and respected his wishes as we continued to produce the album.

Interviewer: From the perspective of each player, what kind of sound did you think needed to be captured for the lead tune, BLINDING HOPE?

KAI: The phrases were already quite developed in the original composition, so I just added some of my own arrangements here and there. As for the sound, it wasn’t just about my approach as a drummer. Instead, we started from the question, “What sound should the band aim for next?” and built from there.

Interviewer: I'm really curious about what kind of conversations you had within the band when you were searching for this "next sound we should aim for."

KAI: Each of us brought up different reference points, including sounds from various international artists, we did talk about wanting to aim for something that focused on a fairly natural sound at first. I think that was because we were conscious of going in the opposite direction to our previous album, NINTH.

Interviewer: When comparing MASS with NINTH, the difference is striking. NINTH had a densely packed, almost enclosed soundscape, but in this album, even the sound of the kick drum seems to carry more resonance and a sense of space.

KAI: At first, we were even saying, “Should we just go back to recording normally for once?” But after further consideration, we decided to stick with the same separate recording method we used in the previous album. Of course, we used samples for some of the sounds, but one of the key changes was having a different drum technician this time. That likely contributed to the final result being noticeably distinct from NINTH.

Interviewer: Was the main change in the drum parts related to tuning?

KAI: It wasn’t just the equipment we used that changed; the change in the tuner was surprisingly significant. This person is very precise in tuning the snare and toms to match the original compositions perfectly. He seems to have great chemistry with me and provides lots of valuable advice. Honestly, I learned so much—it was really eye-opening.

Interviewer: It’s incredible that even with the GazettE’s 19-year career, you were still able to gain new insights like that.

KAI: Yeah, I was genuinely surprised by how much I still don’t know (laughs).

Interviewer: Did the unique drum sound that became the foundation of this album affect the guitar sound in any way?

URUHA: Since we recorded the guitars while listening to the recorded drum tracks, there were moments where I thought, “The sound is different from the pre-production stage. So that's how it turned out.” However, that didn’t lead to significant changes in the guitar sound. The sound changes drastically during the mixing stage, so getting caught up in minor adjustments during recording could cause inconsistencies in the overall album production. That’s why my focus was consistently on the sound of the album as a whole.

Interviewer: So you had to look at things from a big-picture perspective. Speaking of that, what were the key aspects you emphasized while working on MASS? My impression after listening to it is that there are many parts of this album that seem to be made with live performances in mind, starting with the SE track COUNT-10 leading into the lead tune BLINDING HOPE and the energetic ROLLIN’ with its drum solo intro.

URUHA: Absolutely, that’s exactly right. The GazettE rarely creates songs solely for recordings. We often approach music with live performances in mind. Even during the song selection process, we judge whether a track is suitable for live settings. Fundamentally, live performance is always at the core of what we do.

KAI: During the album production, we actually simulated setlists. We experimented with mixing new songs and existing ones to see what combinations would feel cohesive for a live performance. Based on those tests, we identified gaps like, “We need this type of song,” and added tracks accordingly.

Interviewer: Now, for the Gekirock readers, could each of you recommend two personal favorites from MASS?

URUHA: For the Gekirock audience, I have to start with BLINDING HOPE. It’s the one song that encapsulates the various elements contained within MASS. The melodic progression, the sense of speed, the intricacy of each instrument—this track is a condensed representation of the current state of the GazettE. Just by listening to it, you’ll get a good grasp of the album’s overall feel. And since Gekirock readers tend to be metalcore fans, I’d also recommend MOMENT.

Interviewer: Interesting choice. Why MOMENT specifically?

URUHA: For metalcore fans, I think it’s refreshing to sometimes take a break with a ballad like MOMENT featuring acoustic guitars. I’m guessing many of you don’t often listen to this type of song, and it’s also rare for the GazettE. It had been a while since I recorded with an acoustic guitar, and I hope you’ll enjoy this tranquil atmosphere.

Interviewer: When using acoustic guitars in the GazettE’s music, what is important to you?

URUHA: Normally, acoustic guitar parts are handled by AOI. However, MOMENT is a track where the acoustic guitar takes center stage throughout, including the guitar solo. Since it was such a special case, we emphasized capturing the natural resonance of the guitar body by recording it with a microphone. That said, faithfully reproducing the recorded sound in a live setting might be challenging due to the band’s overall acoustics, so I think we'll have to go through a process of trial and error from here on out.

"The thing is, the GazettE just can’t lie" - KAI

Interviewer: Not just MOMENT, but listening to MASS, I was reminded again of how strong the GazettE’s melodies are in general.

URUHA: I like heavy music, but I this is largely because our roots aren't in metalcore. Our roots are in visual kei, so of course we think about song melodies as the axis.

Interviewer: Meanwhile, KAI, what are your personal recommendations from MASS?

KAI: While I feel like I should pick something different from URUHA’s choices (laughs), I can’t leave out BLINDING HOPE. It’s the entrance to MASS, and more than any other track, it encapsulates what the GazettE is as a band. So, I can't leave it out.

URUHA: So, what about the other two songs?

KAI: Hmm, all the songs are my favorites, so it's hard to pick out just one (laughs).

Interviewer: In terms of drum phrases, HOLD has quite a flashy structure, doesn’t it?

KAI: Ah, yes, definitely. I think readers of Gekirock would probably prefer tracks like HOLD, BARBARIAN, and FRENZY. But personally, I’d like to recommend LAST SONG.

Interviewer: Please tell us why.

KAI: This is the song that concludes the album MASS, and if we do any tours in the future, it's definitely the song we'll play last at live shows.

Interviewer: That's why it's called LAST SONG.

KAI: Yes, it’s a track that really makes the live experience come to life, and I believe it will play an important role in our future live performances.

Interviewer: LAST SONG includes lyrics like "I was dreaming in despair" and "Wandering voices, here and now, screaming like that day." For those who have been eagerly waiting for the GazettE’s live shows since last spring, this song seems like it will be an incredibly emotional moment.

KAI: Yeah, this song carries a very strong message. The thing is, the GazettE just can’t lie—we end up expressing exactly how we feel in the most straightforward way. In that sense, BLINDING HOPE is also entirely that kind of song. Since this album was created during the pandemic, it was only natural for us to want to pack it full of the emotions we experienced during that time.

Interviewer: And which other track would you choose?

KAI: 濁 (Daku). I think this type of track might not be very familiar to Gekirock readers. It’s a song that really lets you immerse yourself deeply in its world, and I believe that’s one of our strengths. And being able to enjoy such a dark atmosphere is one of the best parts of visual kei, so it might actually be something fresh for Gekirock readers.

Interviewer: With tracks like NOX, which incorporates string elements into loud rock, and THE PALE, which evokes vivid imagery as you listen, the 11 songs on this album each stand out with their unique characteristics. That said, with such a wide variety of songs, wasn't it difficult to compile them into one album?

URUHA: If anything, it was actually a bit harder during NINTH. This time, we didn’t really struggle with that.

KAI: The GazettE has been a band that’s experimented with a lot of different things over the years. We’re quite accustomed to blending a variety of elements into a single album, so it’s something we’re pretty good at by now (laughs).

Interviewer: What was the most challenging part of the production process this time around?

URUHA: This time, because of COVID, we couldn’t gather as a band very often. All the string instrument parts were recorded at home. Even beyond the recording process, we had to proceed without being able to clearly see what each member was working on or how they were approaching things.

KAI: We even did the mixing online this time, which was a first.

Interviewer: When working on the guitar ensemble, did you also communicate with AOI online rather than in person?

URUHA: We kept using LINE and Zoom throughout pre-production. Even after the recording phase was done and we moved to mixing, we still had thorough discussions to make sure the ideal form we each had in mind matched up with the actual sound, so we kept communicating until the very last minute before the deadline.

Interviewer: In such a setup, what approach did you take to find solutions to issues as they arose?

URUHA: First, I tried to draw out AOI’s vision as much as possible—what kind of sound he was aiming for. In the past, I might have jumped in with my own ideas first, like, “Here’s what I think.” But this time, I focused on understanding what AOI wanted to achieve and then considered how I could contribute. Luckily, with tools like re-amping and cabinet IRs (impulse responses), we could tweak sounds extensively. We were able to adjust both AOI’s tone and mine in real-time during our discussions to bring them closer to our shared vision. It was a somewhat tedious and roundabout method (laughs), but it gave us ample time to share and refine our ideas. I think the way we aligned as a twin-guitar duo turned out quite well in the end.

Interviewer: Wouldn’t it be fair to say that it wasn’t a roundabout process but rather a meticulous and careful approach?

URUHA: I guess you could put it that way. Also, this time it was necessary to create from a bird's-eye view, rather than from a subjective point of view.

Interviewer: The twin guitar sound doesn’t clash unnecessarily; instead, it achieves a harmonious and refined ensemble, which makes perfect sense now.

URUHA: I'm glad. If you could feel that, it's all worth it (laughs). While it wasn’t to the extent of completely suppressing myself, this time I really focused all my energy on fully embracing the intentions of the composer, each part's preferences and finding the best possible landing point.

Interviewer: After completing MASS, is there anything new you’ve realized or learned from this experience?

KAI: We were able to do the production online, and as a result, we managed to create something like this. I’ve come to understand that the ideal way to work would be for everyone to gather in person for things like mixing. Hearing the sound from the same speakers and discussing it on-site is really important. When each of us listens on different speakers, our discussions can get a bit misaligned (laughs).

URUHA: The sound changes depending on the environment, after all. Things we used to do smoothly without any issues took unexpected extra effort this time. That’s definitely something to address moving forward, but realizing it was itself a significant takeaway from this production.

Interviewer: This album has been titled MASS. I would be grateful if you could explain a little about the thoughts behind this title.

KAI: The word MASS itself carries many meanings, so it’s not like the title is meant to reflect just one of those meanings. But the aspect of "MASS" as "one cohesive entity" is definitely one of them.

Interviewer: It seems like listeners will have the opportunity to explore and find the meanings themselves while enjoying this album. Also, this happens to be the GazettE’s 10th studio album.

KAI: Yes, and we kept that in mind with the jacket design. It’s a collage that incorporates elements from all our album covers since our first full-length album, DISORDER, released in 2004. In that sense, you could interpret MASS as a square within a square*, and I think it can be interpreted in many other ways.

*The term he used is "枡目の枡" (masume no masu). It’s like saying the "unit" or "box" that is a part of the grid. So, it’s a way of emphasizing that the "masu" itself is a part of a larger, organized structure made up of smaller units.

URUHA: That said, MASS isn’t what you’d call a conceptual album. It wasn’t created around a specific theme. It’s more accurate to say it encapsulates the core of the band, distilled into one record at this moment in time. But this doesn’t represent some sort of final destination for the GazettE. If anything, it’s just a checkpoint. This is our best work at this time, but there are still many unanswered questions even after finishing the recording. Those are things we’ll have to discover as we keep moving forward. Creating this album really reminded me, after three years, "Oh yeah, this is what making an album feels like" (laughs).

Interviewer: As the GazettE celebrates 19 years this year and approaches its 20th anniversary next year, we sincerely hope for the day when we can hear the songs from MASS performed live as soon as possible.

KAI: Since we’ve released MASS, of course we want to follow it up with live performances. That’s definitely on our minds. However, we’ll need to consider the timing carefully. Regardless, we’re making preparations so that we’re ready to go whenever the opportunity arises. So, I’d like to say it clearly here: We will do live shows!

URUHA: The issue of COVID-19 is a global one, so for now, saying “We want to do live shows” is really just an expression of our hopes. But if people listen to MASS and feel, “I want to go to their concert!” then we believe it’s our job to create the conditions to respond to that feeling as much as possible moving forward.

Interviewer: How are you feeling about the upcoming 20th anniversary next spring?

URUHA: We had a lot of plans in place for the 20th anniversary, but some of them have had to be changed under the current circumstances. Still, when I think about it, I feel like reaching 20 years is pretty incredible. I'm amazed that we've lasted this long (laughs).

KAI: Hahaha (laughs).

URUHA: But as the years go by, I’ve come to feel more and more that it’s because of the five of us that we’ve been able to keep going. Our members are truly resilient, and their love for the band runs deep. Without that, we wouldn’t have made it through all the rough seas we’ve faced over the years. I felt that once again when we finished MASS.

KAI: That’s why, even beyond the 20th anniversary, all we want to do is keep expressing what we want to convey through our music. That’s everything for the GazettE.

#the gazette #ruki said the exact same about breath “there are many meanings but im giving you 1” wink wink #its nice to have this confirmation though. thank you kai #thing is. i know exactly what they mean with that mass cover art #its the coagula of solve et coagula but i wish they said a bit more #interview translations #mass #mi #gekirock #counting 10

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animeking114 · 1 month ago

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Senku Faces a New Rival in Dr. Stone: Science Future (Season 4) Main Trailer

The highly anticipated final season of Dr. Stone is here! Studio TMS Entertainment has dropped the main trailer for Dr. Stone: Science Future (Season 4), giving fans a thrilling preview of what’s to come. The trailer features the opening theme song “CASANOVA POSSE” by ALI, with the ending theme titled “Rolling Stone” by BREIMEN. The season is set to premiere on January 9, 2025, and will run across 3 split cours. Dr Stone Season 4 Trailer Highlights The new trailer showcases intense moments, highlighting Dr. Xeno Houston Wingfield and Stanley Snyder, voiced by Kenji Nojima ( Voice behind Eiji Okumura from Banana Fish). and Koji Yusa ( Voice Actor of Gin Ichimaru in Bleach, respectively. This season promises high-stakes science battles, as Senku and his allies face off against these formidable new rivals. Watch the Trailer: Dr. Stone: Science Future – Cour 1 Main Trailer https://youtu.be/zjBQrDy5wLU Cour 1 Trailer Dr. Stone S4 Cour 1 Main Visual The main visual for Cour 1 was also unveiled, featuring Senku, the “Five Wise Commanders” of the Kingdom of Science, and their newest adversaries. As humanity inches closer to uncovering the mystery of petrification, Senku’s ultimate goal of reaching space feels tantalizingly within reach.

Dr. Stone Season 4 Main Visual (Source- Dr stone official webiste) Dr. Stone: A Journey Through Science and Survival Adapted from the manga written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Boichi, Dr. Stone has captivated fans since its Summer 2019 debut. The manga, which concluded after 5 years of serialization on March 7, 2022, spans 232 chapters and is available on VIZ and MANGA Plus. The Anime Journey So Far - Season 1 (2019): 24 episodes - Season 2 – Stone Wars (2021): 11 episodes - Ryusui Special (2022): 1 episode - Season 3 – New World (2023): 23 episodes over 2 split cours Dr. Stone: Science Future was announced as the final season following the conclusion of Season 3, and fans are eager to see how Senku’s journey will end. Streaming Details of Season 4 - Asia: Netflix will stream the anime starting January 9, 2025. - Global: Crunchyroll confirmed streaming for the rest of the world in January. Plot Overview In Dr. Stone, humanity mysteriously turns to stone, and Senku Ishigami, a genius scientist, leads the charge to revive the world using the power of science. After re-establishing society and progressing through the ages, the Kingdom of Science sets its sights on space to uncover the truth behind the petrification event. With new adversaries like Dr. Xeno and Stanley, the final season promises to deliver an unforgettable conclusion. FAQs How to watch Dr. Stone: Science Future (Season 4)? The anime will stream on Netflix in Asia and Crunchyroll globally starting January 9, 2025. How many episodes does Dr. Stone: Science Future (Season 4) have? The final season will run for 3 split cours, though the total number of episodes has yet to be announced. Will Dr. Stone Season 4 release in India? Yes, Dr. Stone: Science Future will be available in India on Crunchyroll, starting January 2025. Read the full article

#Dr.Stone

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finweanladiesweek · 1 year ago

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Finwëan Ladies Week: September 18-24, 2023

Hello and welcome to Finwëan Ladies Week!

This is a week-long event celebrating the ladies of the line of Finwë! There have been events within the Silmarillion fandom focused on the sons of Finwë and their descendents, and to add to the fun this week was established to give his wives, daughters, and other female descendants their own time to shine.

Finwëan Ladies Week began in 2019 and has run every year since. We are back for more in our fifth year, this time from September 18-24, 2023!

Any content and creations about the ladies of Finwë’s line are welcome! You can create edits, gifs, fanart, fanfic, fanmixes, and more!

Below are some prompts for each day of the week. They are not mandatory, but they are here to inspire you. This page will lead to a detailed explanation for each one.

DAY ONE: Míriel Þerindë and Indis DAY TWO: Findis and Írimë Lalwen DAY THREE: Aredhel and Galadriel DAY FOUR: Later Generations DAY FIVE: Ladies Who Married In DAY SIX: Original Characters DAY SEVEN: Freeform

This event is being organized by mods Anna @arofili and Elle @elesianne. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to message this blog or reach out to Anna on their main blog. Anna runs on Pacific Standard Time, and Elle runs on Eastern European Summer Time, so we will be active and modding on those schedules, although you are free to post your content at the time most convenient to you!

For further clarification, check out our about, FAQ, and prompts pages! Happy creating!!

Mobile links are accessible here.

#tolkienedit #oneringnet #silm #silmarillion #the silmarillion #finweans #finweanladiesweek #house of finwe #lotr #lord of the rings #mod post #2023

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classicsubliminalbo · 4 months ago

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Alpha Summer #1: Alpha Is Everything

Originally published Apr 27, 2019 This series is being revised

The Hedren Theater in downtown Romero hadn't shown a movie since the AMC moved in ten years earlier. But before its demolition, the theater was saved by a Carpenter family petition and it was designated a historic landmark. The small, two-screen cinema was renovated and restored to its original state when it was first opened in 1928. Now it was one of the premier theater houses in northwestern Washington. A popular outlet for political fundraisers, theater department productions, and the occasional off-broadway show, The Hedren was often too exclusive for any random student organization to book.

Of course, the Alphas weren’t any random student organization. Not anymore.

A lot had changed since Madison took over as president of Carpenter State’s Alpha Delta Theta chapter. Under Claire Petruzzi’s leadership, sisters in the chapter were happy just to coexist with the other Greek societies on campus, leaving a minor impact in the form of small and infrequent community service projects. From the beginning of her presidency, Madison made it clear that the girls of her sorority weren’t Betas, but Alphas. They were what the boys in Alpha Kappa Psi could only pretend to be. Carpenter State’s brightest, strongest, and sexiest students. Madison implemented aggressive recruiting strategies that tripled Alpha Delta Theta’s membership. While the other sororities were scrambling to understand how Madison could poach so many of their members so quickly, Madison bolstered the Alphas’ popularity on campus by throwing extravagant parties at night and sending dozens of Alpha volunteers to the children’s hospital in the day. Now with a power that few students had ever wielded on the campus of Carpenter State, Madison was ready to take on its most exclusive group—The Seven Samurai.*

It all started with this one event: Alpha Delta Theta’s first annual Fantasy Girlfriend Draft being held in the main auditorium of the Hedren Theater. To date, it was Madison’s most elaborate project as Alpha president, and few of her sisters had ever seen her so wound up. It would be wrong to call Madison nervous—she didn’t have a nervous bone in her body. But despite Madison’s bottomless reserves in confidence, she didn’t have total faith in her brainwashed sisters not to fuck the whole thing up.

She’d found that sorority girls were quite easy to manipulate, but maintaining a comfortable balance between loyal servitude and sharp intellect was a tenuous practice that Madison had yet to perfect. Claire Petruzzi for example, the first of the original Alphas to fall under Madison’s thrall, could have used her leadership experience in arranging the draft, but Claire had been so thoroughly dominated by Madison that little remained of her ability to lead. She was simply a follower now, one of Madison’s most prized possessions. And yet other sisters proved too headstrong to even risk loosening the leash on, such was the case for the sorority treasurer, Caroline Bishop. Caroline was old money Romero and before her rebirth at Madison’s feet, she’d played that role of entitled rich girl down to the designer purse stereotype. The funny thing about privilege is that it’s often the strongest motivator when fighting back against a dominating force. Caroline had proven a worthy adversary for Madison in the early days of her presidency.

Few Alphas had the qualities of Piper McNeill. Though Madison had only captured Piper to prove a point, the young Alpha quickly revealed her value. She had a unique mix of intelligence and meekness that made her fit to serve. She was Madison’s head organizer, the most important piece of tonight’s event, and the only Alpha who was doing a damn thing to reassure Madison that the night wouldn’t be a complete disaster.

Though the event wasn’t Piper’s own idea, she’d been the architect of the whole show. Madison knew that Alphas were her greatest commodity and she hoped that a charity auction would bring out the hungry frat boys. It was Piper’s idea to hold the event on the night of the NFL draft and model it as such. One member from six of Carpenter State’s fraternities would pick in the draft, and they would each choose their own Alpha from a pool of a twelve sisters. The members were chosen at random to encourage a higher turnout, with an admission of $50.00 at the box office. It was convoluted, sure, but the kind of stupid stunt that frat boys loved.

Piper buzzed around backstage, obsessively studying the twelve prospects that she’d handpicked for the Fantasy Girlfriend Draft. This was a large operation and it required not just absolute obedience from all Alphas involved, but it had to be executed with impeccable style. Piper wasn’t just selling these girls, she was selling a brand. The Alpha, the perfect girlfriend.

Though some of the Alphas struggled with the idea of being outsourced as escorts to frat boys, Piper had assured them that it was all part of the plan to get into the Seven Samurai’s circle.

“But why?” Claire scrunched her face as she tried to process the question in her head. “I thought Sister Madison was all about like, girl power and everything?”

Caroline elbowed Claire in the ribs and quickly replied, “Of course she is. You shouldn’t question Sister Madison’s will, Sister Claire.”

“But what if I have to fuck one of them?”

“It won’t come to that,” Piper interjected as she followed down the line of Alphas standing obediently before her. “I promise that Sister Madison has a plan, and when tonight’s over we’ll be one step closer to realizing her dream.”

Claire and Caroline shared a sigh.

Madison floated in backstage, moving swiftly toward Piper and taking her by the arm. “He’s here,” she whispered. “Row F, seat 8.”

Piper nodded and took note of the seat number on her phone.

“It’s imperative that he’s picked, okay? Otherwise the night’s a waste.”

“I understand, Mistress,” Piper replied. “We’re following your script. Just find your seat and everything will go smoothly.”

Madison bit her lip, then did a quick glance over the twelve prospects. She pointed to the Alpha’s newest pledge. “She doesn’t look comfortable,” Madison said. “Make sure she fits in.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Piper replied.

“I don’t think I’m fit for this,” the pledge frowned. “Nonsense,” Piper smiled. “You’re gorgeous. You’re charismatic. The frat boys will love you.” “What if I disappoint Sister Madison?” “You’re perfect, okay? Alpha is everything.” The pledge’s eyes snapped wide open as she intoned, “There is only Alpha."

Piper looked out among a packed crowd while Tina Kennedy took the stage as the night’s MC. She introduced the evening’s twelve prospects to a slideshow of their “bikini bod” pics which elicited plenty of cheers from the crowd. Piper could see her mistress in the front row, pleased with the way the introduction was shaping up. When the draft commenced, Piper began texting Tina random seat numbers which she then read for the audience. Members from each fraternity jumped out of their seats as they were read off.

First, Freddie Simmons, Carpenter State’s own star baseball player. Excitedly he yanked the microphone from Tina’s grasp and shouted, “Melanie Reyes, baby!”

“Our first surprise of the night!” Tina said when she regained control of the microphone. “With the first overall pick in the draft, Freddie Simmons selects Melanie Reyes.”

Mel entered stage right, strutting confidently in her high heels and bareback gown. She flashed a white smile for the crowd, defying the sporty tomboy image she’d once so proudly embellished. “Like Freddie,” Tina said. “Melanie is a star athlete, smashing a school record thirty home runs last season for the lady Gremlins.”

Freddie admired Mel as she closed in, flashing his own confident, “I’m gonna put you in your place” smile. Mel closed the gap and pulled Freddie into a kiss. The crowd went wild as they exited stage left.

Piper sent the next number and the draft continued. Caroline went with the second pick, and as she entered the stage she put on an even racier show for the crowd as each Alpha would try to top the last.

With the third pick, Piper laid the bait.

“Row F, seat eight,” Tina read. “Yeah!” Gregory Mortensen cried as he realized where he sat. He was a paunchy young man with a haircut that didn’t seem to quite fit his head. He was out of breath by the time he jogged his way up to the stage.

Tina kept her distance as she asked him his name and fraternity.

“Greg Mortensen…my friends call me Morty. Sigma Iota Nu.” “Wow,” Tina offered a polite golf clap. “From the prestigious Sigma Iota Nu, we have Morty, ready to take the third Alpha off the board.”

Morty spoke into the microphone, “Claire Petruzzi!”

Madison couldn’t have staged this better. Not only had she tracked down one of Carpenter State’s storied Seven Samurai, but she’d also managed to string him along. But the greatest surprise of the night was that he’d picked Claire, her oldest enemy. Madison watched with a wry smile across her face as Claire pranced on stage, powerless to disobey her orders, Claire was forced to Morty for an evening of truly distasteful activities.

“Have you ever seen Blade II?” Morty whispered in Claire’s ear. “It’s the superior film of the Blade Trilogy which many overlook as the series that normalized superheroes in our popular culture.”

Somewhere inside Claire was screaming.

With Morty in her clutches, Madison was free to enjoy the rest of the evening as she watched her conquests individually embarrass themselves on stage. But it wasn’t until the final pick that Madison found absolute delight.

“With the final pick in the first ever Alpha Fantasy Draft,” Tina said. “Mike Olsen selects…”

She held the microphone up to Mike’s lips and the frat boy proudly announced, “Corbin Arroyo!”

Backstage, Corbin was a mess of anxiety. As the newest Alpha, she was only just adjusting to a life that she had once mocked. Piper tried to ease the pledge’s nerves throughout the ceremony , assuring her that, if her name was called, it would just come natural to her. Serving Madison always did. “Look at Mel,” Piper said. “She took to being an Alpha easily. The will to obey is inside all of us.”

Corbin nodded and repeated her oath. “Alpha is everything. There is only Alpha.”

Piper smiled.

Corbin continued to repeat her oath until the sound of her name over the speakers and instantly she was pulled into trance as her mind played out her programming. She moved fluidly toward the stage, like a veteran supermodel walking the catwalk for the thousandth time. Driven by a powerful and primal desire to please her Mistress Madison, the pledge put on a bright Alpha smile for the crowd, strutting on stage in her tight, form-fitting dress.

When she reached Mike, she parroted Mel’s move by pulling him into a kiss, but as their lips touched she plunged her tongue into his mouth before spinning around and grinding her ass against his tightening pants. The crowd loved it.

“Are you gonna fuck me tonight?” Corbin asked with a slight, mischievous grin. “I…dunno? Is that allowed?” “Baby,” she playfully slid her tongue over his mouth, quickly tracing the outline from his chin to his nose. “I insist.”

For the first time that night, Madison had joined the applause. But unlike the dozens of frat boys around her, applauding one of their own who was surely going to “get some,” Madison was applauding something else. She was applauding her own work.

Alpha is everything. There is only Alpha.

*The Seven Samurai are an elite group of fraternity members who traffic drugs throughout campus. First mentioned in Captured #7: Confrontation

#subliminalbo #subliminalbo's alphas

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blurscolours · 2 years ago

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The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea | Part One

Masterlist

Summary: An attack on Arthur’s imprisoned brother Orm leaves him with no choice but to rely upon you, a friend made due to unfortunate circumstances nearly a decade ago, to provide safe haven while he restores peace to Atlantis. Suddenly tasked with sheltering a sullen former king results in a very different summer vacation than you had originally envisioned, but changes both of your lives forever.

Warnings: Language, Discussion of Injuries, Discussion of Events of Aquaman Movie, Reader Has No Dietary Restrictions, Orm Is A Picky Eater, Arthur Is A Drinker, Alcohol

Word Count: 1781

Sunset Country, Northwest Ontario, Canada – Summer 2019

You leaned back on the lounge chair, looking out over the diamonds on the water of the lake where you had spent your summers since the year you were born. It has been in the family since the 1920s. The footprint of the cottage had changed over the years, as had the neighbours, but never the peaceful scenery. The granite rocks, the crooked jack pines; they had been there for centuries and would remain long after you were gone.

As the world became less and less familiar, the consistency of this place was a comfort to you. It was why you had decided to spend the month of August here for summer holidays. You glanced over at your phone as it chimed with a message on Facebook Messenger. Probably a reply from Tom. You unlocked the screen and looked over the panorama of the coast he’d sent in reply to your panorama of the lake. You really needed to get back to Maine one of these days…

A well-earned respite from the daily grind! It’s a beautiful day down here, too. Enjoy your vacation!

You replied with a GIF of Eddie Murphy in a lounge chair enjoying a glass of champagne with the caption ‘vacation mode’ and chuckled at his reply of laughing emojis. Sure, Facebook and it’s Messenger companion weren’t for the cool kids anymore, but out here with only WIFI, they were the most reliable way to stay in touch with others.

You set the phone down and took a sip of your own cool beverage before burying yourself in the book you’d been saving for this exact purpose. You passed the day reading, swimming a few times, enjoying some snacks, but never really leaving the dock. The lapping of the water on the rocks, and the creak of the floating dock attached to the solid one upon which you sat were your soundtrack. It was heaven.

It was just about time to head up to the cottage, to think about dinner, when two figures suddenly burst out of the water and landed on the end of the floating dock. The water you had been drinking missed your mouth entirely and poured down the front of your bathing suit, the cold shock against your warm skin propelling you to your feet with a gasp.

“Jesus fucking Christ” You exclaimed. “Arthur?!” You squinted at the dark haired, towering man who you had not seen in person in nearly a decade. “What the fuck are you doing here? How did you even…” You trailed off as your manners caught up to your shock. There was someone else with him.

Arthur smirked a little as he strolled across the wooden boards towards you. “Easy Brokedown Girl, can’t I visit an old friend?”

You nodded dumbly, but your eyes were resting on the figure beside him…His blonde hair shone in the long light of the afternoon, his eyes were a pale blue. He didn’t stand as tall as Arthur but was just a broad and perhaps even more imposing due to the stoic look upon his face.

“Orm, this is Brokedown Girl. Brokedown Girl, my brother Orm.” Arthur’s introduction pierced through your thoughts, and you cleared your throat.

“It’s been seven years, Arthur. Will you ever let me live it down?” You smiled to them both and introduced yourself properly to Orm. He nodded in return and that is when you noticed the rips in his black suit…it looked akin to a wetsuit but definitely seemed more advanced. Arthur wore something similar, though with more structure and gauntlets. Most noticeable, however, were the wounds on his brother’s exposed skin. “Why don’t you come inside and tell me why you’re really here…”

You grabbed your things and led them up to the modestly-sized cottage, holding the door open for them as they filed in, finding themselves in the kitchen.

You headed further into the building, through the open dining and living room and down to the hall to grab a couple of towels and the first aid kit from the bathroom, before returned to guide them to sit on the wooden chairs at the dining table. They would take the damp better than the soft furniture of the living room.

A screened in veranda with a pair of day beds and a few chairs was attached to the front of the cottage, facing the lake, accessible from the dining room, while access to the back deck lay opposite, facing miles of uninhabited forest.

You came up to Orm, admittedly intimidated by his handsome appearance and cold demeanor, but set the first aid kit in on the table in front of him.

“I’m trained in first aid; can I help you?” You asked while trying to assess the extent of his wounds.

He shook his head.

“No need. I will see to it myself, where may I get cleaned up?”

You nodded and led him to the bathroom, leaving him with the first aid kit and more towels before coming back to Arthur who had stripped to the waist and was towelling himself off at the table. Well at least he didn’t seem injured. You grabbed him a cold beer from the fridge and offered it to him, hoping it would help him explain what was going on.

He took a grateful, and deep, swallow before looking to you and sighing. “He was supposed to be safe. Our mother had been visiting him, things had been going so well…”

You held your breath at the mention of his mother, holding back your shock, and nodded as though you knew the full story. You were honestly just relieved he’d started talking. Your nod was enough to prompt him into a fuller explanation. Of the attack on the surface, the ring of fire, the trident, finding his mother…that part brought a smile to his face…the battle, and finally the defeat and imprisonment of his brother. By the time he finished his story, Orm had joined you at the table, bandages visible through the tears in his suit, his hair combed back neatly.

“I am going to find out who did this…I am going to bring peace to Atlantis and then all seven of the kingdoms…but I need to keep you safe, little brother. You’ll stay here with Brokedown Girl.” Orm opened his mouth, most likely to protest, but Arthur shook his head and continued.

“No one but my father knows who she is or that she even exists. You know how hard it was for us to get here, it is the safest place for you to be until I fix this.”

You swallowed tightly, processing the extensive information he had just provided to you, and now the fact that you were going to be sheltering his brother.

“Are you certain, Arthur? You know I’m not…”

“You are the safest place in the entire world. There is no one I would trust more with my little brother.” He interrupted you firmly.

You nodded in reply, lost for words at the heartfelt nature of his statement.

“Well,” You cleared your throat “You’ll be needing something food before you head back, right? Steak and potatoes?” You stood and grabbed the ingredients from the refrigerator, seasoning the steaks and washing the potatoes before wrapping them in foil. You could hear them talking to each other quietly as you worked, and you consciously ignored them. It was obviously not a conversation for your ears.

You cooked everything on the barbecue on the back deck, burning any remnants of food off the grill while the steaks rested to prevent any temptation to the local bear population. You made a salad just before you sat down together to eat. Arthur was ravenous, obviously having used a lot of energy to get his brother to you, so far inland. Orm was somewhat more reticent. He tried bites of the steak and potatoes, mostly seeming to gravitate toward the salad, but hunger eventually won out and he cleared his plate as well.

You were already planning on going into town to get him some clothes. You’d make sure to buy some food more to his liking as well. The sun was beginning to set when Arthur announced he would get going. The two of you followed him down to the dock as he pulled his suit back onto his torso while walking.

“I will come back once it’s safe.” He grabbed Orm’s forearm and pulled him in for a hug. Orm seemed somewhat stiff in the face of the affection but nodded as Arthur pulled back.

“Just remember you can’t text me out here, ok?” You reminded him, giving him a hug. “Be careful…” You said firmly but offered a smile.

“Don’t you worry about me, Brokedown Girl. Just make sure he doesn’t cause any trouble.” He patted your head, and you shot him a look of annoyance. Orm did not look overly impressed with his comment either. Neither of you had the opportunity to reply, however, as he promptly leapt backwards into the lake, leaving a ripple of wake in his trail as he shot off through the water.

You turned to Orm, the light of sunset playing off the water onto his striking features and swallowed.

“Well…I’ll, uh, show you your room.”

He turned to you and nodded. You were close enough to see the stunning blue of his eyes. A shade reminiscent of some tropical waters off in the Pacific somewhere. You managed to turn away before he saw you swallow visibly, or at least you hoped that was the case. You led him back up into the cabin and down the hall past the bathroom and towards the bedrooms. You stepped into the one beside yours, looking out over the water.

“Will you be comfortable in here?” You asked.

He nodded quietly. “It will do, yes.”

You smiled a little, relieved. “I’m just next door, please let me know if you need anything. I’ll be up for a while yet reading, but I understand in you’ve had a long day?”

He nodded again. “I will retire for the night.”

“Good night then.” You smiled again and stepped out, leaving him to his privacy.

You cleaned up the kitchen and sat on the veranda as the night closed in, cooling off from the heat of the day. You tried to pick up your book again but found your thoughts drifting…drifting back to Arthur’s words, back to his brother just down the hall. You sighed as you looked out over the water and couldn’t help but feel like your life had just become very, very complicated.

Read Part Two

Masterlist

#orm x reader #orm marius x reader #orm imagine #orm fic #orm marius imagine #orm marius fic #ocean master x reader

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skylarbee · 1 year ago

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What really happened between Alex and Miles in 2017? I discovered their story and events that year are often mentioned, I heard about depression about Alex and it's true that he changed a lot (physically too) from this period...

I love your blog ;)

aw thank you so much! <3🥰

tbh i don't read too much about what might've happened between them, it just makes me really depressed lmao. no one really knows, except them, and if you know the main things, then your guess is as good as mine, and i probably won't be saying anything new.

you might know already, but the general idea is that everything seemed to go wrong in the summer of 2018, specifically july, when alex and taylor break up and he gets a new gf. now, i think it's pretty clear that LV and miles don't really... get along/like each other? not sure what the right words would be. there might've been more going on, but i think that miles must've known/found out that alex was cheating, and we all know that miles and taylor were really good friends. so, maybe miles didn't really like what alex had done to taylor, and also didn't like LV? the question is whether they (alex and miles) had a fight about this, did miles call alex out and tell him he's a prick (it's what i would've done), or was there something more going on on top of all this, something between them that had nothing or little to do with any gf. i don't think we'll ever know. there could be a chance that the eycte tour had certain aftermaths that they didn't thing it would have, and maybe they messed around too much and thought that they could get away with it and it wouldn't change anything between them, when in fact it did.

this twitter thread from 2019 sums everything up pretty nicely: them performing 505 together for the last time (where everything seems to be okay still), miles saying that tlsp3 will come "very soon" in september 2018 (which it didn't, so something had to happen - covid, but maybe other things too...), new gf alert (things are wrong), la cigale (thing are very wrong), miles opening for am but not doing 505 with them, them being at the same fashion shows and apparently not meeting up, some of miles' lyrics that he could've written about them from coup de grace, and then them eventually being seen together again finally towards the end of 2019 (things seem to be okay-ish again?), and then in 2020 and 2021. it's in spanish but google translate should do the job: https://x.com/drunkkatemoss/status/1150079970951094272?s=20

if someone knows more though, feel free to tell us. it looks like they weren't on the best of terms for about one year, from july 2018 to september 2019, but again, we don't know. things sure are different than before, but i think their love is still strong, or at least it's what i hope it to be. they're definitely okay compared to a couple of years ago lmao

#alex turner #miles kane #milex #anon

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financieur · 2 months ago

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V.01 ━━ M/Y Étoile. Commissioned in 2017 from an Italian Shipyard and delivered during the Summer 2019 in Monaco, the M/Y Étoile is a 6 levels yacht, and the replacement to the 'Nëperke' Yacht, his 2005 Sunseeker Predator 108. It was a much needed [ and desired ] upgrade to make justice to the position Le Chiffre now occupied within Quantum. It remained useful even past the takeover that Spectre went through by his hands in late 2019.

The boat's furniture was bespoke to his necessities, design to reflect little to nothing of his own personality and much of what he was perceived by others, and then crafted by an Italian atelier. As for the ship's internal structure, all finishes, such as the hardwood floors and ceilings, and details, such as the illumination coloring, were carefully chosen by Le Chiffre himself. The decor is nearly monochromatic, with the wood, soft lines and warm indirect lightening being a way to break the coldness of the palette and feign a sense of comfort to make it livable. The hull is painted in a mirror-like coating that uses a special coverage to avoid overheating the surfaces.

Another heavily customized feature of Étoile is the security infrastructure. The decks are all equipped with deck sensory arrays, which give an alert whenever people walk over it, as well as infrared beam sensors , lock-down vessel system, live CCTV and real time tracking by his team of choice. The ship is also equipped with an infirmary and an extremely well stocked armory. The Crew counts with a minimum of 4 security guards and an emergency surgeon in every trip it does.

The main deck is where all guest accommodations can be found, as well as the main lounging and guest entertainment areas. The vessel can comfortably fit 60 guests for events and 10 guests for travels in 5 rooms, divided between a VIP Stateroom, almost as well equipped as the Master Suite, two double cabins and two twin cabins. The upper deck holds the dining rooms and a private kitchen, as well as a sunbathing area and a bar. The fly deck, also known as owner's deck, is where the master suite can be found, equipped with a master bathroom and a walk-in closet, a small office space and a security control room can also be found at this deck. The sun deck holds only a small lounging area with a bar and another sunbathing area.

The lower deck is where the crew is accommodated, as well as most of the functional rooms, such as the laundry room, storage and pantries, can be found. The engine deck is where the technical rooms are found, such as the boat engine room, the infirmary and the armory.

Despite being considered his primary residence for many years, now the yacht spend most of the year docked either at Port Cala del Forte in Italy or the Falmouth Harbour Marina in Antigua, being only used by Le Chiffre when he want to travel in a more secure manner, or to entertain certain guests.

#001://_lore #001://_locations #long post /

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chlorinebaby · 1 year ago

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29 reasons why katie ledecky is a sporting icon: a reminder

she is the most decorated individual world champion of all time

she is the 2nd most decorated individual champion (behind only phelps) in the history of olympic swimming

she has set 14 individual world records in the olympic pool (2nd most all time behind, you guessed it—phelps). her biggest rivals, summer mcintosh and ariarne titmus, have set 2 each.

her first world record in the 800 free would no longer podium at the 2023 world champs. she still won this year by 4.5 seconds.

she has gone undefeated in the 800 free since london 2012...

...and undefeated in the 1500 free since barcelona 2013.

she won the singular 1500 freestyle at the 2014 pan pacific championships by 26 seconds, which the national team director called the best race he'd ever seen in his 50 years in the sport

she is the only swimmer to win four individual freestyle events (200, 400, 800, 1500 free in 2015) at a single world championships...

...and split a 52.7 100 free (same as olympic champion penny oleksiak) on the way to olympic silver in the 4x100 free relay.

she went a 3:56 400 free when everyone else was going 4:01

she went an 8:04 800 free when everyone else was going 8:16

she is still going 15:2X in the 1500 free when only one other woman in history has broken 15:40.

when she broke the 800 free WR in jan 2016, olympic finalist and worlds medallist leah smith had just turned for her final 50.

you think she only wins by big margins because she swims longer events? the men's 1500 at worlds was won by 0.05 seconds. ledecky won by 17.

what about in 2022, when gregorio paltrinieri routed the field on his way to the (then-)second fastest swim of all-time? he won by 4 seconds. in the women's race, ledecky won by 14.

she had an off meet at worlds in 2017 and won five gold medals.

she was hospitalised at worlds in 2019 and still won gold in the 800 free, in a time that was faster than anyone else in history.

she had an off Olympic meet, adding a combined 25 seconds in the 800 and 1500 free, and still won two individual gold medals.

people expected her to break the short course world record the first time she swam the 1500 scm freestyle. she defied expectations and ended up breaking it by nearly ten seconds.

she swam the third-fastest performance of all time in the short course 800 free...on her way to that world record swim in the 1500. to the feet.

TEN MINUTES LATER, she went a personal best 1:52.3 in the 200 free, becoming the third-fastest american of all time.

you still think she's washed in the sprints? her 200 relay split in tokyo was the fastest out of not just the US team, or the medalling teams, but out of all 32 swimmers in the final.

...and she went even faster in budapest 2022.

as a bonus, she's a national champion in the 400 IM — her fifth best event? that time would've won a world championship medal, and she doesn't even swim the event internationally.

hell, she was the one to break katinka hosszu's all-time record in the 400 yard IM and is still the #2 performer in history

and she's still getting better in her main events. ten years after her first WR, ledecky reset her us open record in the 1650 yard free ... which was the fastest in the country by 42 seconds.

at an age where most female distance swimmers have retired, she won the 2023 world championship in the 1500 free in a time that was two seconds faster than her world record in 2014.

because who else would not be at her best and still win AP Female Athlete (athlete, across all sports) of the Year?

because no one else has ever owned an event as she has in the 800 free. no one else, in anything, has ever had the top 29 times in history.

#katie ledecky #swimblr #swimming #katie could retire tomorrow or flop at paris and she'd still be the goat #she doesn't need to prove anything to anyone #everything she does now is just a bonus #god i love her #all the while with a stanford psych degree as well like whaaat #mother mothering

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coridallasmultipass · 9 days ago

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Funny story about my past week with guitar playing: (long post / personal)

Just gonna lay this out by bullet points:

1. I chat with someone about playing guitar, and I recommended my favourite translucent picks. I use M/L and M thickness, which are green and purple respectively. I mentally remind myself to order more at a different date in the future. (10/10 mouthfeel, still. My desire to eat plastic is insatiable.)

(Pic below: partial pick collection - the main picks are the translucent green Jim Dunlop ones, and the same gel type in purple, not pictured.)

2. YouTube recommends to me a video about choosing guitar picks (I'd been watching a lot of vids on guitar stuff prior to that this week). The video was really informative and made a lot of sense to me, that I never put two-and-two together before.

To explain my perspective on that, I gotta give you backstory. I learned guitar (as an intro, I took lessons after) in a week-long summer day-camp for learning electric guitars as a pre/teen around 2007-ish. The picks they gave me were all Light picks (very thin). I broke so many that I strung them up on a necklace in the first like 2 days. I switched to harder picks when I told them about my chronic problem. Felt great playing with Heavy picks. Except then I started breaking strings from strumming too hard as an excited and inexperienced kid. And strings are a lot more involved/time-consuming to replace than a pick. So I found a Goldilocks zone at Medium picks.

In January of 2009, I ordered an electric guitar of my own choosing (the one from camp was a package-deal, so nothing fancy). My new electric guitar was a LOT more resonant and loud, and sounds like an acoustic - like it doesn't even need to be plugged in, if I'm just playing for myself. So I found a new balance of using the Medium-Light picks on this guitar, and the Medium picks for the old electric. (This is in line with the knowledge in the video, btw.) The new guitar is versatile and can do like shreddy stuff and strumming, the old guitar is better for shreddy stuff - just what my general takeaway from playing both was. The new one has a larger space between the strings and fretboard, which was rough to get used to, but honestly, I MUCH prefer that now, even for metal, because it's easier to orientate myself. I know it's adjustable. Anyway.

Years later in 2018, when I inherited an acoustic, after years of guitar-playing hiatus from college, I grabbed the purple (M) pick off the electric which didn't have a case (the old one from camp) when I flew with the inherited acoustic across the country. It sounded terrible, but I didn't have options. So, I ignored the bad sound, and just played it a bit less, so I wouldn't bother roommates with the sounds of learning guitar. ((Fuck you for yelling at me and giving me anxiety about making any sound in the apartment. I needed to play that guitar to heal, and I was too scared to.)) The video recommended aiming for lighter picks on acoustic, to avoid being overpowering. But obviously there's a lot of nuance with the goals you have and type of music you're playing. It's just something I hadn't considered, because that specific acoustic has heavy gauge strings, and my wrong intuition was that, heavy strings need a heavy pick. Because of metal. Lmao. Who's playing metal on acoustic? I know you can, but it's not what I was doing.

When I moved back home again around 2019, I picked up my 'new' electric again, and re-learned how to play. I never changed picks, because I honestly forgot I had them in the mint tin in the compartment of my new electric guitar case. Up until the convo I had.

One more point: I read the YouTube comments, and everyone was talking about their fave pick, which was all the same type - so many comments that the creator acknowledged it in the pinned comment. I disregard that information, because MY PICKS TASTE BETTER. (Pretend I said that in a Terezi voice. My oral fixation relates.)

Okay, next event:

3. I'm playing guitar today and as I'm ready to stop, I remember to learn a new riff, one I've been wanting to play forever, but kept forgetting. (It's "Gods of War" by Def Leppard btw. Mostly just the intro.) I shakily learn it. I'm terrible, but y'know. I could practise it later and get better at it over time. The point was to put it on my guitar-playing radar, so I could remember to play it again next time I pick it up. No one is learning that shit in five minutes. (I didn't even turn on the music to remind myself of what it sounds like, because I was already tired before I started playing it and didn't wanna scrub back and forth thru the song to get to the guitar intro.)

4. Okay, learned enough, no more fake outs, I'm putting my guitar away for the night for realsies this time. Except... I notice my guitar case compartment that has the Invader Zim Hot Topic mint tin with all my delicious picks inside it. I pull it out again to check if I have any Light picks for my acoustic, I can leave one out for later. I locate a couple Light ones and play them with the newly acquired riff, and they sound terrible. Just slapping around and playing like a seal.

I decide to play through a couple different pick weights, while I have that new riff open on my phone. I'm still digging the same pick weight of M/L to M, and the other Heavy picks I have. I'm about to put the picks away altogether (I forgot to leave out a Light one still lmao oops), when I see an absOLUTELY THICC MOTHERFUCKER. This motherfucker is also a TINY-ASS MOTHERFUCKER. How can something be thicc and tiny? It's the thickness of a clipboard, and tinier than my thumbnail. (Most picks I use/have used have all been big, like bigger than the tip joint of my thumb. Never as small as this one. It's difficult to hold onto small picks when strumming.)

I laugh and my thought process goes like, "Alright. May as well try this one, too. I never did play with it because I bought it to be my unbreakable forever-pick, after breaking all the first picks, except then after I bought it, I broke all those strings with the regular Heavy picks. And also, it's tiny and hard to hold. So, why not? I might launch it like an arrow, but I will give it a whirl on the way."

WHOA. WHOA, DUDE. WHOA.

I PLAYED THAT MOTHERFUCKING RIFF, MAN. I PLAYED IT SO MUCH MORE EASILY THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THAT MINT TIN. IT JUST FLOWED OUT MY FINGERS IN FULL NEON 80S GLORY. I played it and I just had to stop and laugh, because what the fuck just happened?? Genuinely felt like picking up a Legendary quest item. I'm ready to defeat the final boss, now. That pick was one SMOOTH MOTHERFUCKER.

It was at this moment, I realized how chewed-up my translucent green pick was, and probably causing me a harsh gritty sound (not the one shown in the picture above). But more importantly:

5. I decide to look at this legendary pick and see if it has a label, so I can buy more. "Jim Dunlop" - ah, yes, very informative, but I like the other gel ones. I flip the pick to the other side. "Jazz III". ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? HELL YEAH, THIS IS THAT ROTUND MOTHERFUCKER THAT'S GOT YOUTUBE COMMENTERS SPAMMING HER NAME IN GENERAL INFORMATION VIDS. WE'VE COME FULL CIRCLE.

This is like, okay, imagine going to your friend's house, and seeing a famous pin-up chick on the wall and not really caring. (You don't display pin-up chicks because I'm gay, and so are you for 3 more sentences.) Then, days later, the very same chick walks up to you in person like, "Can I give you my number?" HELL YES, YOU MAY GIVE ME YOUR NUMBER. I'M GAY, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR CURVES AND REPUTATION NONETHELESS.

"I look for silver, while I lie in bed with gold..."

I'm not imagining shit either, I tested it and I can literally play the riff easier with this CURVACEOUS MOTHERFUCKER than I can with a flat pick. Even the Heavy flat picks make the slapping sound, but it's just mostly covered by the sound because there's less slap to sound ratio. (The Light picks make more slap sound, which is 'ugh' on electric, but completely abhorrent if the electric is quiet or unplugged.) With this pick, it's so thick and small, it's got a curve that is preventing the sound of plastic-slapping-on-metal-strings. This CONVEX MOTHERFUCKER sounds like finger-picked notes for the individual notes played.

I guess now's a good time to invest in shatter-proof goggles, in case I lose my grip on this pick while strumming. Wouldn't wanna take out an eyeball like that. "Oh my gosh, what happened to your eye??" "Yeah, I lost it playing metal." "Sick, what did it?" "I dropped my pick." "Boo. Can't even hold a pick. For shame." Lol.

#i like big picks and i cannot lie #personal #long post #Cori.exe #Post.exe #Image.exe #woops meant to post this last night lol looks like i hit Draft and then fell asleep #gotta get some more of these when i get new strings #fr tho holy shit i cant wait to play w that more but i really need to figure out floating bridge tuning #(im having a decision issue w deciding what tuning i want to lock in. its def a metal guitar but do i want e. drop d. d. drop c. etc)

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