#summer 2023 sr

[animebw]

Seasonal Reflection: Summer 2023 Anime

I've noticed over my years of seasonal anime watching that summer tends to be the weakest season of the year. For whatever reason, everyone saves their good shows for winter, spring or fall, leaving the middle of the year to limp along with few real standouts. But god almighty, even by those standards, this was a dismal fucking season of anime. Forget just not having many good shows, there were so few shows that even had the potential to be good. Trying to find anything with a fighting chance of turning out even halfway decent felt like trawling for nuggets of half-digested corn in an overflowing septic tank of obviously bad isekai, obviously bad light novel junk, and obviously bad wish-fulfillment rom-coms. And then, just to add insult to injury, basically all the shows that did start out strong ended up tripping over themselves in some way. So not only were there so few anime even worth keeping up with this season, none of them managed to score anything higher than "pretty good." This is, unquestionably, the worst anime season I've sat through since I started watching seasonally. So let's take stock of the few shows I kept up with and pray for better things once the much-more-promising fall season gets under way.

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead: Unfinished/10

Well, isn't this unfortunately ironic. The increasingly exploitative conditions that anime is made under have resulted in so many high-profile shows suffering production delays as their animators crash up against the cruelty of overwork and corporate greed. But there's something particularly disquieting when that fate befalls a show that's all about breaking free from your shitty exploitative job. Zom 100 sets out to extol the joys of living a free life unchained by capitalism's cruel clutches even in the midst of the end of the world, but ends up so ravaged by those very chains that it was unable to finish its run before it ran out of timeslots. And now its last three episodes are left in limbo, the entire production team waiting for a chance to recover and find some way to bring their work to a close. It's a pretty bleak situation that almost makes you believe a zombie apocalypse would actually be preferrable to our current state of affairs. Especially when, uh, this is not a show you want to give the audience extra time to think about. Cause the more you think about it, the more all its aggravating flaws- painfully simplistic moralizing, a sexist streak that refuses to just fucking die- start to sour your good feelings for the rollicking ride it's taking you on. I can only hope the final episodes, whenever they arrive, close it out on a strong enough note to make the ride feel worth it.

Mushoku Tensei Season 2 (1st Cours): 1/10

I have stewed long and hard over how to phrase my thoughts on the second season of Mushoku Tensei. I've agonized for hours on how to express how viscerally, repulsively infuriating this show has become. But ultimately, there's only one thing I can say: Fuck this show and fuck everyone who likes it. Fuck every free ride this show gives Rudeus so he never had to face consequences for his actions. Fuck the hypocritical stabs at "redemption" that only serve to excuse and justify every female character slobbering over an unrepentant pedophile. Fuck the single worst use of slavery I've ever seen in an isekai (Cannot fucking believe I have to give Shield Hero credit for anything). Fuck this lifeless waste of a cast that steadfastly refuses to have a single interesting member. Fuck the misogyny. Fuck the masturbatory woe-is-me manpain. And most of all, fuck every last braindead, media-illiterate mouth-breather who decided to turn this irredeemable garbage into a modern anime classic. The success of Mushoku Tensei is the death of everything I love about this medium, and I will never forgive any of you for bringing us to this point. Go. Fuck. Yourselves.

My Happy Marriage: 4/10

God, I really wanted to like this one more than I did. Isn't it great to see high-profile shoujo anime with impressive productions making a comeback after years of drought? And this is a story about trauma and healing and discovering your self worth and all that good stuff! This should've been right up my alley. And yet, My Happy Marriage just left me frustrated and somewhat offended. There's such a powerful story buried in here somewhere, but thanks to a combination of painfully overwrought melodrama that robs its heroine of far too much agency, a poorly handled supernatural twist on the Cinderella formula that only grows increasingly awkward the more it tries to force the two together, and a condescending undercurrent that seems to think the only cure for years of abuse is embracing a hyper-traditionalist form of wifely duties, that nugget of potential never has the chance to blossom. What an utter disappointment.

Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence: 5/10

Rejoice, folks; we've finally found the mathematical average of the slice-of-life moe romance. Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence is the platonic ideal of the fluffy, disposable rom-com made flesh, pleasant and harmless while watching but leaving no lasting impression once it's done. It's a collection of cute character moments, amusing gags, and occasional stabs at emotion that sometimes tug at your heartstrings a bit, all arranged in their proper places with a likable cast and bouncy animation and just enough energy to stay moderately interesting all the way through. And aside from the somewhat unique setting of a Medieval church as home base for our two awkward lovebirds, none of it lingers in your mind once the episode ends and you find yourself forgetting all the jokes you were just chuckling to. Which may seem like a backhanded complement, but honestly? This is what I would consider the baseline for anime rom-coms. If you're gonna just be fluffy and disposable, this is the absolute minimum you should be aiming for to make me appreciate spending twenty-four minutes every week with you. I can't really recommend it to anyone but the most ravenous rom-com fans, but at least now I have a standard to judge any similar shows that fall short of the mark.

Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Season 2: 5.5/10

What strikes me most about Sugar Apple Fairy Tale now that it's over is just what an ambitious show it turned out to be. It's one thing to write a hackneyed fantasy racism metaphor about fairy slavery into your swoony shoujo romance, it's quite another to actually try and engage honesty with the implications of that idea as the core driving force of your narrative. And whatever else you might say about it, SAFT is really, truly making an effort to explore discrimination and systemic bigotry, tackling it from so many angles over the course of its 24 episodes without shying away from its thorny complexity. How many other stories like this would dedicate an entire subplot to showing how victims of one kind of discrimination can still perpetuate harm on groups even lower on the social totem pole like SAFT does with Brigit? Or explore how toxic systems of control don't magically get better just because a minority is at the helm like Lafalle? It's that kind of ambition that makes it easier to take this show's stumbles in stride, numerous though they might be at times. I'll always appreciate an earnest, messy attempt at making a statement over a safe, line-toeing space filler without the conviction to even try.

Horimiya Piece: 6/10

So this is a weird situation where the first season of Horimiya ended up rushing through the source material in order to adapt the whole story, and now this side-quel is going back and adapting all the content the first season skipped over. Essentially, it's a Horimiya DLC, scattered skits with no real cohesion or progression that just exist to give you more good times with the cast you love. But hey, Horimiya was never really heavy on plot to begin with; it's always been more a collection of moments across the lives of these friends than anything else. So I don't see anything wrong with doing a full season of just slice-of-life shenanigans, since that's basically what the first season became once Hori and Miyamura got together. And if nothing else, I certainly appreciated all the extra time with these lovable goofballs; this show does a better job than most of capturing the sheer, absolute chaos that teenage friend groups can cause amongst each other. Unfortunately, there are two episodes in the back half that truly, utterly suck- episode 9 is completely focused on the creepy pedophile teacher the show thinks is just the most hilarious joke ever, and episode 12 faceplants into romanticizing abusive relationships in a really gross way. So if you're gonna check Horimiya Piece out, do yourself a favor and skip those episodes entirely. Your experience will be better off for it.

Undead Murder Farce: 6.5/10

Pulp is a hard style to define, isn't it? You'd think it would be easy with how influential and popular it's been over the years. Ultimately, though, you just gotta know it when you see it. And Undead Murder Farce is pulpier than a thousand trees being turned into paper at an orange juice factory. It's a Victorian-era serial mystery extravaganza that turns the entirety of 19th-century supernatural adventure literary canon into the backdrop for a rakugo-performing half-oni and a severed immortal head to traipse through solving mysteries as they pursue a larger goal. Over the course of their adventures, they match wits and butt heads with vampires, werewolves, Sherlock Holmes, Phileas Fogg from Around the World in 80 Days, The Phantom of the Opera, Arsene Lupin, Frankenstein's Monster, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. And thanks to the director of Kaguya-sama at the helm, the visual presentation is exactly as gonzo and freewheeling as this brazen OC fanfiction deserves. I enjoyed every second of this goofy-ass show, and I hope we get a second season to see which classic characters our wisecracking immortal detectives rub elbows with next. It's what we deserve.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 (1st Part): 7/10

It's increasingly difficult to pin down my feelings on Jujutsu Kaisen. On the one hand, it regularly delivers some of the coolest, most lavishly animated punch-ups in modern anime. On the other hand, is that enough to cover for the story's incredible lack of focus and constant zig-zagging between different ideas at the drop of a hat? Like, I might need more than ten fingers to count how many times this show just drops in the middle of building up a status quo to shift gears into something entirely different without giving proper closure to what's come before. On the other other hand, though, season 2's backstory arc finally gave us an actual driving force for the story and a strong emotional framework to understand the stakes at play, except then it almost immediately reverses on that idea by revealing one of the critical characters has been dead the whole time and his story's suddenly over just when it was really getting under way, and... eh. Look, I like Jujutsu Kaisen, and its spectacular action and hilarious character interactions are usually enough to help me forgive its overly convoluted plotting (especially this season with its massive upgrade in directorial flourish and experimental animation). But at some point I'm really gonna start wondering if any of this nonsense will ever amount to more than a slapped-together framework to justify the fights.

Fate/Strange Fake Episode 0: 8/10

It's probably not a good sign that the only anime to really inspire me this season was basically just a prologue for a show that's still being made as we speak. But with how barren this season has been, I'll take my victories where I can. And sweet buttery Jesus, am I glad that Strange Fake is getting a full adaptation. After years of having no interest in Fate beyond the core story, one of these endless spinoffs finally manages to grab me hook line and sinker. And all it took was the author of Baccano and Durarara filtering the concept of the Holy Grail War through his particular penchant for sprawling, chaotic ensemble stories full of truly deranged characters slamming the full weight of their personalities against each other for the sheer fun of it. Add a mesmerizing new visual style from a longtime key animator making his directorial debut, and the result is an epic hour-long masterclass introduction that leaves you breathless for more. This is what Fate/Zero's first episode should have been. And sure, it could still go horribly off the rails at some point, but for now, I choose to remain hopeful. May this promise of better things to come prove a welcome omen as we leave this miserable anime season behind.

Shows I Dropped:

The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses: Dropped at 2 episodes for extreme GoHands over-animation, and just being a painfully cringey male fantasy rom-com.

Atelier Ryza: Dropped at 1 episode for being boring and generic as fuck. Only worth it for the hilariously crowbarred-in fanservice shots and I can just look those up on their own.

Reign of the Seven Spellblades: Dropped at 2 episodes for some of the most cringe-worthy DeviantArt-tier writing I've ever seen.

The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again Today: Dropped at 2 episodes for just being boring, even though it's way better than GoHands' other monstrosity this season.

Bang Dream It's MyGo: Dropped at 1 episode for just not vibing with it, idk.

[philomena-famulok]

©Philomena Famulok

Cut a hole in a bag filled with seeds of any kind and place the bag where there is a wind. (Yoko Ono, "Painting for the wind")

[kindahoping4forever]

Ash IG Story

[saintsenara]

enchanter's nightshade merope gaunt/tom riddle sr. teen | 1.4k words

it is hard to come by circaea lutetiana - enchanter’s nightshade - in london, especially as the summer is dying and the trees are preparing to snake-skin shed their greenery. in little hangleton the plant grows everywhere, a woodland carpet ready for the taking, ready to be simmered into that mother-of-pearl liquid, that bewitching elixir, which had brought her a brief glimpse of a happier life the day she ran from the ramshackle prison in which she had been raised, her hand in tom’s long, thin one. 

this piece was written for the incredible @broomsticks [leftsidedown on ao3], a truly admirable indulger of my nonsense and a wonderful fandom friend, as part of @hprarepairshorts summer wishlist event [you can read the other fics in the collection here].

author's notes under the cut

leftsidedown had asked for merope gaunt/tom riddle sr., which naturally brought me running. it would wrong to say that these two are a favourite pairing - that, to me, implies a degree of wholesomeness which is simply not present in the reality of their relationship, and the rape and sexual slavery which defines it - but they are a pairing i find fascinating and very moving to explore.

this fic takes a look at something which i've often wondered about: when and why did the love potion which merope was using to control tom sr. stop working? in canon, dumbledore offers his own speculation, rooted in the idea that merope’s love for her husband made her decide to stop giving him the potion. i take a different view of things here.

because i think that the denial of merope’s agency implicit in a decision to handwave her treatment of tom away as rooted primarily in love is really problematic - not only in how it fails to acknowledge tom’s victimhood [something highly present in the canon narrative, which never treats him as suffering any long-term effects of his experience and which criticises him for failing to take an interest in his son], but in how it fails to acknowledge merope’s own complexity.

after all, she is heavily implied in canon to be the victim of sexual violence herself - morfin’s jealousy of tom sr., and the fact that he tells tom jr. that her relationship with another man "dishonoured" him, suggests this - at the hands of her father and/or brother. she cannot be somebody who can meaningfully understand that what she’s doing is rape - not least because she can be presumed to have no understanding of consent or bodily autonomy herself - and she cannot be somebody who has ever been happy or had the chance to do something of her own volition. i think she must sincerely believe that what she does to tom will make her happy - but i think she must also know that it will not automatically make him so [something i’ve written about in another merope-centric piece the shack at the end of the lane].

i prefer to see her as somebody who is fully aware that her feelings for tom are not reciprocated, who is willing to accept that because of what the relationship gives to her and her only, and who knows that she will have to spend the rest of their marriage keeping him drugged.

except that isn’t as easy as she might have once believed.

i cannot imagine that the elder riddles accepted tom’s sudden marriage - which must also provide an explanation for why he becomes something of a homebody when he returns to his parents. that the riddles’ disapproval would have a material impact is mentioned in canon only after tom leaves merope, when she becomes destitute, with the implication that, when tom was still drugged, they were financially stable. enchanter’s nightshade, in contrast, suggests that tom and merope found themselves on the breadline almost the minute they married - and that it was this running out of money that lead to merope being unable to keep her husband controlled with amortentia.

this is expressed through a theme which runs through the piece - that of tom and merope both feeling disjointed in london. in both the shack at the end of the lane and the snow child [another merope-centric piece], i write little hangleton as a folk-horror setting. the idea that it feels like the sort of place where witches might lurk in hedgerows is key to tom’s bewitchment. in london, with its modernity and excess, he is a very different person. as is merope, who can no longer harvest the flowers needed to mix up her love potion by taking a few short steps from the gaunts’ shack, but instead is forced to buy them from city apothecaries with money she doesn’t have.

there is a second theme which runs through the piece - the unborn tom riddle jr. that tom sr. is very like his son is a favourite trope of mine - and the long hands and colour-changing eyes and arrogance mentioned throughout enchanter’s nightshade are all things shared with the canonical voldemort.

but the piece also explores the idea that tom jr. was wanted and longed for and eagerly anticipated. as i’ve said in the notes to the shack at the end of the lane, and the notes to my tom-centric piece, the velveteen rabbit, i loathe the idea that merope didn’t want to live for her son - and, as a result of this, i also dislike the implication of canon that his conception was a consequence of the marriage, but not necessarily one either of his parents wanted. the merope of enchanter’s nightshade - knitting her son a blanket she will never finish [she will in the afterlife] - wanted to stay alive and raise him, and she wanted his father to love him.

even as she knew he didn’t love her.

[felassan]

EA site update:

"The Dread Wolf Rises Dragon Age Day 2023 Happy DA Day to our friends across Thedas!"

"[Mark] Dragon Age has always been a franchise about characters. Characters to fall in love with or to learn to loath. Those characters need a place in which to live, to fight, and to love—a place that shapes them and the events they find themselves swept up in. Today we explore the place they call home that forms the stage for everything that you do: Thedas. Corinne and the Dragon Age: Dreadwolf team have created a game that celebrates the rich and varied past of the franchise while crafting new experiences and stories. It has been incredible to come back to BioWare and see all of the progress they’ve made, and I’m excited for some of that world to be shared with all of you today. [Corinne] Thank you, Mark! I fondly remember playing each entry in the Dragon Age franchise, being completely immersed and enamored in the world you all had built. It amazes me to be here now, working alongside you and the team, to bring new stories and characters (not to mention a few returning characters) to all of the fans of the franchise. Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is the product of hard work and love. We know how much this world means to all of you, how these experiences stay with you. We want to get it right, so we’ve taken our time. We're so excited to join in this celebration of all things Dragon Age and the incredible fandom that surrounds it. Within the dev team, we’ve been eagerly awaiting Dragon Age Day as the enthusiasm, stories, charity, and artwork you share motivates us to be our best and create new experiences for all of you. To celebrate DA Day, we’re sharing a look at a few of the in-game locations you’ll explore on this new adventure (and perhaps a little more for those who listen closely). The stage is set. The Dread Wolf is ready to make his move. Oh, and one last thing before I go… In summer 2024, we’ll be fully revealing Dragon Age: Dreadwolf to you! We honestly can’t wait. See you all in Thedas, — Corinne Busche, Game Director & Mark Darrah, Sr Production Advisor"

"You’ve visited the lands of Thedas thrice before in our games and many more times in comics, books, art, and short stories. This time, you’ll be venturing to places unseen and returning to places from long ago. To celebrate Dragon Age Day, we wanted to show you some of those sights. [link to new trailer] We stand on the precipice of change. This is a world brimming with stories and characters waiting to meet you. The fate of this world teeters on the edge of a knife. In past games, you only got to see a slice of the world. In Origins, it was Ferelden—a land ravaged by war and Dark Spawn. In II, it was Kirkwall and its locales—festering with corruption and a dark underworld. And in Inquisition, you ventured across much of Orlais—facing down political intrigue as often as combat."

"This time, however, much more of Thedas is yours to see. The desolate, beautiful badlands of the Anderfels with curtains of distant mountainous spires. The twisting canals and gleaming towers of Antiva, where Crows may lurk in any shadow. The turquoise seas of Rivain with its rushes of greenery and hardy sea-faring people. And of course, there’s more."

"We felt this was best for the tale we wanted to tell this time and we hope you enjoy it as much as we have! It’s allowed us to create many more locations than past games, including both some you’ve longed to go to…and some you’ve never heard of before!"

"To help capture the wonders of Thedas, we partnered with three wonderful artists from our exceptionally talented community and gave them an early look at what you’ve now seen. We’ve always been so fortunate to have such an incredibly skilled community of artists, and getting to work with these three was a true joy! We asked each of them to create a vista of one of the three regions in the video based on their interpretation of it in their own unique styles. Please enjoy their wonderful work, and be sure to send them some love when you check out their personal channels for more of their art!" [link to art]

"Turning our focus to your closest kitchen, if you’re looking for a fun gift this holiday season or want to try some Thedosian dishes yourself, we’ve got you covered with Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas from our partners, Insight Editions! This project was lovingly crafted by the author, Jessie Hasset, as well as members of our team who have an affinity for the kitchen and a love of cuisine."

"The cookbook features recipes suited to all skill levels, but we know that jumping in may be a daunting task for some. To help you out, we’ve partnered with MisoHungrie, a wonderful YouTuber who specializes in cooking, with a particular knack for video game and entertainment-related dishes. If you’re looking for a place to start on your culinary journey, check out his video and follow along. And be sure to let us know what you think of these Thedosian delights! In addition to this, there are two giveaways you should keep an eye out for! For the first, our friends over at Insight Editions are giving away five copies of the cookbook on their social channels, so be sure to check them out. And it doesn’t end there. For those of you who decide to try your hand at making a culinary delight from the book (including one of the ones we’ve released separately), be sure to follow our own Dragon Age social channels for the second giveaway. Keep an eye out for the opportunity to submit your creation for a chance to win a BioWare Gear Store package, including the brand-new Morrigan romance bundle! Details on that giveaway will be posted next week."

"As we mentioned earlier this year, we’ve partnered with Dark Horse to create a digital package of all their comics for Dragon Age and Mass Effect on Humble Bundle. Visit the Humble Bundle page to find out how our partners are working to support Child’s Play, an organization that seeks to make the lives of children in hospitals more comfortable through the enjoyment of games. There’s no better time than the holidays to bring a smile to someone’s face. BioWare is also supporting a few local charities this month that focus on helping the most vulnerable in our communities via food banks. This includes the Edmonton Food Bank, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Les Banques alimentaires au Québec, and the Central Texas Food Bank. All of them provide food to thousands of people each month and rely on kindhearted donations and volunteers. If you’re wanting to give back this holiday season, please consider supporting Child’s Play or donating to your local food banks. Many communities also accept non-monetary donations of canned, dried, and packaged goods, clothing, and other useful supplies. However you choose to support those in need, know that every bit helps and can make a big difference in someone’s life, whether they’re in your community or around the world."

"An insult that he took as a badge of pride. An insult to inspire hope in his friends and fear in his enemies. That is what Fen’Harel, the Dread Wolf, truly is. Not a man who sees himself as evil, but someone who believes he’s fighting for a good cause and is willing to get his hands dirty. This long-awaited chapter of Dragon Age is fast approaching—the time close at hand. We’ll see you next summer with answers to your questions, including ones you have yet to ask. With that will come our full reveal including new trailers, gameplay, and—of course—the long-awaited release date. The Dread Wolf will rise once more and we’ll have much more to share with you as we approach Summer 2024. Please keep an eye on our social channels for all the latest information on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf’s reveal and beyond. Know this, though: The Dread Wolf has not been idle these past years. His reach is far, and soon his plans will come to fruition—a cataclysmic rejoining of magic and realms hundreds of years in the making. Will you be able to stop him? We hope so. Always believing in you,             — The Dragon Age Team"

[source and full post]

[presdestigatto]

what about sainz to red bull?

a few reasons why it doesn’t look likely now:

1) redbull wants to wait as long as possible before signing their 2nd driver, mainly because it incentivises checo to do well. they’ve said they won’t discuss contracts until the summer break & it’s in carlos’ interests to sign as early as possible. he could wait, but that means that his chances of being seatless next season grows.

also! there’s no guarantee that he can keep up his current form over the season, particularly with the imola updates which are rumoured to make the car focused more on the front end—which favours charles. already (china) charles is qualifying and finishing above him. if charles goes back to beating him comfortably that makes his bargaining power smaller. right now fresh off the aus win is the best time for him actually

2) helmet marko has basically said they have no interest in matching audi’s offer for carlos

3) the redbull seat is the most 2nd driver seat in the whole of f1 😭 history says that’s not what carlos wants, though he could settle for it

but redbull may also not want him as a 2nd driver because he comes with a very messy entourage & has shown that he isn’t a good team player. he just attacked charles at the restart last week losing them position to russell. considering the circumstances at redbull now, it is decidedly in their best interests to not sign someone who may make max unhappy. can you imagine losing max verstappen because you signed carlos sainz?? (among other reasons ofc) plus their fathers have butted heads before in toro rosso. can’t imagine jos will be very happy to see sainz sr again

from redbull’s point of view, checo is currently a better option than carlos. he won’t challenge max, he brings in sponsors & viewership from a huge country (whereas spain already has alonso), he can get those 1-2s for the team. ‘checo will fall off’ so will carlos if we’re going by past trends (e.g. post-suzuka to AD in 2023) i think if checo keeps up his current form he’ll get an extension

he will also have a really terrible time at redbull. i’m afraid max will curbstomp him

there are negotiations but i doubt redbull are offering him terms he’ll be happy with (more than a year, assurances he won’t be sacrificed for max at times etc etc) if he does go there he’ll have to accept being second to max because if he tries as hard to beat max as he at beating charles right now—it would be very funny to me, but bad for the team (i don’t think he will be able to get close enough to max to do this but yk that’s also a very bad look for him)

[sakurapika]

Reviewing New Year Sale Outfits in Twisted Wonderland

In Japan, New Year's Day (お正月, or "Oshogatsu") is the biggest holiday of the year, and it is also my favorite. That being said, the TWST artists never disappoint when it comes to the art for this event, so let's review all of the cards!

Spoiler warning for upcoming ENG and JP sever event cards, including some Groovy art!

Round 1: 2021-2022

Kalim Al-Asim (SSR)

Look at him, he's so festive and cheerful

This Kalim, as well as Deuce's SR, have a special place in my heart. I started playing TWST the summer it came out, but I wasn't a "serious" player until around New Year. Kalim and Deuce were my first "duo magic" pair, and I love their interactions in the story as well.

I love his headband ribbon and how it matches his obi. The sparkly hakama also suits him. I'm excited to see Jamil's version of this outfit as well, but we all know it'll be a very long time until Jamil volunteers to work retail during the peak season.

12/10 he's so cute

Deuce Spade (SR)

I was surprised that this was just an SR, and that you could get him by finishing the event story. His outfit is so detailed!

I chose his Groovy art so you could see that he's wearing sneakers with his outfit, which I found funny. Cater is wearing similar shoes in his own SR, so it must be part of the Heartslabyul New Year attire. It still feels very in-character for Deuce.

The silhouette of his outfit is interesting. His jacket is short like a suit jacket, but has the sleeves of a haori. There are lots of elements of his dorm uniform, like the pins and sash around his waist.

Not only does he look awesome, but he chose to work during the New Year's Sale to buy a present for his mother.

12/10 very cool and wholesome

Round 2: 2022-2023

Ruggie Bucchi (SSR)

HIS HAIR!!!

Aside from Vargas Camp and his birthday cards, Ruggie doesn't have a lot of SSRs, so I'm happy for him. I look forward to getting him in the English server soon.

I love how Ruggie seems to have picked up a lot of merchandise from around the store. Aside from a fan, which all the boys are using as their "weapons" for battles, he has a little koi bag, which I love so much (I have a similar one). The little toy he's holding is called a den-den daiko (でんでん太鼓), which is popular for young children.

11/10 congrats on getting the job, Ruggie!

Cater Diamond (SR)

I chose to show his un-Groovy art, because it's easier to see his outfit.

His clothes are similar to Deuce's, except that his "vest" is red, and he is wearing a button-down shirt underneath. The mix of Japanese and Western influences reminds me of Taisho-era clothing. He looks like Kazushi Tatsuishi in the anime version of My Happy Marriage, which also happens to be set in the Taisho Era.

It's hard to see in this picture, but he has a hairpin in his hair!

10/10 he slays

Sebek Zigvolt (SSR)

He looks so dramatic with his gloves and fur collar, but are we surprised? He's a Diasomnia student, after all. I wish they had given him a different hat, though, because it looks almost identical to his dorm uniform.

This one makes me laugh, because he poses like my dad. Not seen in this image is Sebby's neon-green geta, which I think my dad would love (he likes having shoes in unusual colors).

10/10 who needs fireworks on New Year's Eve when you have Sebby?

Vil Schoenheit (SR)

He stole the show.

At first glance, his outfit may bear too heavy a resemblance to the regular Pomefiore uniforms, since they're already inspired by kimono.

With his fascinator hat, netted gloves, and black nail polish, though, Vil adds a sense of mystery and intrigue to his outfit. He looks like he is playing the role of a Taisho-era socialite who poisoned their lover and is now actively avoiding the police.

Either that, or he got divorced from Rook. After all, it looks like he is wearing a furisode (a type of kimono meant for single women) rather than a tomesode (worn by married women), like in his dorm uniform.

11/10. The storytelling potential is limitless.

Round 3: 2023-2024

Trey Clover (SSR)

I love his scarf and hat. His coat looks longer than Deuce's and Cater's, and more like a haori. Overall, it looks like a cozy combination.

Like Cater, he is also wearing a button-down shirt under his kimono, and his vest is green. Heartslabyul is the only dorm that gets a character in this event every year, so it's nice to see that the outfits are personalized for each character.

He looks like he could be someone's uncle, but you know for sure that he'd spoil his nieces and nephews.

10/10 very classy, if he was working at the store and I came to visit, I'd trust him.

Ortho Shroud (SR)

ADORABLE.

Something I've always found interesting about Ignihyde clothing is their use of sharp shapes and geometric patterns, especially in Ortho's case. I wonder how Idia's version of this outfit would look.

Ortho and Idia must've had so much fun creating this outfit together!

Infinity/10 if Ortho were trying to sell me anything, I'd buy it, regardless of whether I actually need it.

Rook Hunt (SSR)

He's wearing RED EYELINER!

His outfit is quite different from Vil's. While Vil is wearing a furisode, which is traditionally worn by women, Rook's outfit seems to have a more traditionally masculine silhouette (of course, this is just my interpretation). This probably means that Epel will get to wear an outfit similar to Rook's next time as well.

The peacock feathers on his red hat is also a nice touch.

His pose and expression remind me of Wen Kexing from the C-drama Word of Honor. They also have similar personalities.

10/10, he looks like he just stepped out of a period drama. I look forward to seeing the fanarts of him with Vil.

Jade Leech (SR)

Jade's card has to be my favorite from this year's lineup. I just love how they translated Octavinelle's suits into kimono, while keeping details such as the purple bow tie.

I'm obsessed with his haori--it looks fluffy. I'd like to buy five.

His pose is so...

Like Trey, he looks like someone's uncle (it must be the fedora). However, unlike Trey, he looks like someone's uncle who may or may not be part of the Yakuza. Instead of giving you money on New Year, you owe HIM.

He also looks like he goes door to door selling products, and is about to sell me what he guarantees is a genuine Toshiba toaster oven and absolutely not an overpriced knockoff that will short-circuit and cause my entire neighborhood to lose electricity.

11/10 I will buy that toaster oven anyway.

Which cards are you most excited for? Let me know!

[thecreaturecodex]

Ranna

"Slaadi" © Wizards of the Coast, by Sam Wood

[New Year, New Monsters! I am feeling much less burnt out than I was for the back half of 2023, and have built up a small backlog of new writing. I'm going to keep monsters I post to 2/week for now, to give myself time to go through said backlog in case the burnout rears up again when I'm back to work.

So for my first trick, is a monster NPC I actually wrote back in like September, but didn't post. Consider her an epilogue to the whole "Monster Girl Summer" thing. Ranna is @strawberry-crocodile's character, and fits with some of my other monstrous NPCs. She's Doctor Shiny's main minion, and their relationship serves as sort of a nasty counterpart to Gigi and Priscilla's. Of course, if you just want to use the stat block as a particularly burly slaad enforcer type, that works just as well as Ranna's baroque and macabre backstory.]

Ranna CR 18 CE Aberration This blue, frog-like humanoid has a triangular fanged snout, warty skin and enormous claws growing from the backs of their hands. A red gemstone is embedded in their skull, right between the eyes.

Marina Rhynne was an alchemy student at Endirion School in Absalom, prone to anxiety and to thinking with her stomach. She caught the eye of Doctor Agatha Shiny, who used the pretext of a dinner invitation and offer of a graduate program to abduct her and implant her with an alchemically treated red slaad egg. Doctor Shiny succeeded in one of her goals, which was to cause memories to be passed from the host to the parasite, but failed in that the resultant blue slaad did not maintain the intelligence of her progenitor. The resultant slaad, named Ranna, could recall her previous life in a hazy, dream-like way, but the predominant personality trait that was carried over was hunger.

Ranna is now Doctor Shiny’s Number One Minion, her assassin, procurer and lover. If Doctor Shiny needs someone eliminated or an unusual creature captured and brought to her, Ranna is the one to do it. She usually tracks her targets as an unassuming humanoid until she can set up an ambush and remove her greater hat of disguise. Ranna fights with her natural weapons almost exclusively, although she does occasionally toy with targets by battering them with heavy objects hurled by telekinesis. Although she is lapdog-loyal to Doctor Shiny and always follows her instructions for her specified victims, Ranna enjoys collateral damage, which usually involves biting bystanders. She views any red slaadi that are created through chaos phagethe way a proud parent views their children, and is happy to hear of any death and destruction they create.

Ranna’s personality is playful in a cruel way. She sees her progenitor, Marina Rhinne, as a pathetic figure, and has an air of contempt towards academic pursuits in general. She still appears as Rhynne when abroad in Absalom, and is the terror of Endirion School’s faculty, staff and students as Doctor Shiny’s personal assistant. Ranna is happy to play the bad guy so that Doctor Shiny can maintain her impeccable public reputation, and takes matters into her own claws if anyone gets too close to the truth about Doctor Shiny’s goals and activities. Ranna tends to dispose of the evidence of her murders by eating the corpses of her victims. She is also an excellent chef. Doctor Shiny does not eat food that Ranna prepares unless she is very sure of where the meat came from.

Ranna  CR 18 XP 153,600 Blue slaad slayer 9 (cutthroat) CE Large aberration (chaotic, slaadi) Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +19

Defense AC 33, touch 20, flat-footed 24 (-1 size, +8 Dex, +1 dodge, +9 natural, +4 armor, +2 deflection) hp 303 (11d8+9d10+200); fast healing 6 Fort +22, Ref +20, Will +15 Immune mind reading, sonic; Resist acid 10, cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10; SR 19

Offense Speed 30 ft. Melee +3 bite +32 (2d6+16 plus disease), 2 +3 claws +32 (2d6+16/19-20x3) Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft. Special Attacks augmented critical, opportune target, rend (2 claws, 2d6+22), sneak attack +3d6, stab and grab, studied target (swift or move action, +2) Spell-like Abilities CL 8th, concentration +11 3/day—hold person (DC 15), passwall, telekinesis (DC 18) 1/day—chaos hammer (DC 17)

Statistics Str 36, Dex 26, Con 30, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 16 Base Atk +17; CMB +31 (+33 bull rush); CMD 52 Feats Alertness,Awesome Blow, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (claw), Improved Natural Attack (bite), Intimidating Prowess, Killing Flourish, Power Attack Skills Acrobatics +20 (+24 in urban environments), Bluff +16, Climb +20, Disable Device +25, Disguise +16, Intimidate +34, Linguistics +4, Perception +19 (+23 vs. traps), Profession (chef) +14, Sense Motive +19, Stealth +21, Survival +15 Languages Common, Slaadi SQ legendary, slayer talents (surprise attack, trapfinding [trap sense +3], stalker, street stalker (Acrobatics) Gear manual of gainful exercise +4 (expended), manual of quickness of action +2 (expended), manual of bodily health +4 (expended), belt of physical perfection +4, bloodstained gloves, greater hat of disguise, soulbound eye, amulet of mighty fists +3, bracers of armor +4, boots of teleportation, cloak of resistance +3, ring of mind shielding, ring of protection +2, potion of fly (x2), potion of displacement, potion of haste, potion of lesser restoration (x2), potion of cure light wounds (x4), masterwork cooking tools, 150 gp

Special Abilities Augmented Critical (Ex) A blue slaad’s claws deal x3 damage on a successful critical hit. Disease (Su) Chaos phage; bite—injury; save Fort DC 25; onset 1 minute; frequency 1/day; effect 1d6 Con damage and 1d6 Cha damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. A creature that is reduced to 0 Con or Cha by chaos phage is immediately transformed into a red slaad. This transformation can only be reversed by a miracle or wish. A Small or Medium humanoid with levels in an arcane spellcasting class instead transforms into a green slaad. The save DC is Constitution based. Legendary (Ex) Ranna’s statistics are built with 25 point buy, and she has the equipment of an 18th level PC. These advantages increase her CR by +1. Opportune Target (Ex) If Ranna can act in the surprise round, she can study a foe as a free action and select them as her studied target. Stab and Grab (Ex) As a swift action, Ranna can attempt a steal combat maneuver against a dead or unconscious foe, or against a studied target that she has successfully confirmed a critical hit against. A dead or unconscious opponent takes a -10 penalty against this maneuver. Street Stalker (Ex) Ranna adds ½ her slayer level to Acrobatics checks made in urban environments.

[mandiips]

why wake him up

SRS Log- 4/16/2023

linking the pant reference i used because it was so helpful lookit

bokomon looks off cause i drew him the next day, but its not like i'm getting paid to doodle

a headcanon that he's always STUPID moody and sleepy after spirit evolving because fire?? burns off more energy? and it's apparently a thing with fire type digimon? /many unsure questions They'll have siestas in the middle of the day to recharge, or depending on the climate they inhabit, they'll lie in the shade during the hottest part of the day to avoid dying.

(it also might just be the autism who knows really.)

-soOOO he just steals any able person around and NAPS ON THEM FOR LIKE AN HOUR and everyone HATES IT because then they have to carry him and he DROOLS

also anons, if you care, i didn't forget about you, this is stress relief, see y'all in summer (⌐■_■)

[imasallstars]

SR/SR+ 【Sea Creature】Nina Ichihara

FOCUS STAT 　　　6030 VOCAL at max Level, Max Bond, 0 Potential TOTAL APPEAL 　　　 13 049 Skill:「Ocean Dance」 　　　(Overload) For every 7 seconds, there is a 40~60% chance that 11 LIFE will be consumed, then: PERFECT/GREAT notes receive a 16% SCORE BONUS, and Nice/Bad notes will not break combo for 3~4.5 seconds. Center Skill:「Passion Ability」 　　　 All PASSION-type cards gain a 30% boost in their SKILL PROBABILITY

※ this card is available through scouting from the Summer Night Dream gacha available until August 14th 2023 14:59 JST. This card may return, in the case of a rerun of the Summer Night Dream gacha.

[curedreamy]

Untitled Magical Girl CBT review, guide and first impressions

I have been playing some days already to the closed beta test of Untitled Magical Girl and I'm liking it so much so far! I'm going to review most of the features so keep reading if you are interested in playing!

Home menu

Let's start with the menu and then go into each section of it.

First of all, the UI is very pretty and colorful, and at least to me it was easy to use.

On left top we can see your player level and next to it, your profile (bear icon), 2D option (instead of 3D it shows the 2D art of your character) and change the magical girl and menu background. Below the player level there are more icons; mailbox, announcements, friends, missions and daily bonus, and next to that, the beginner missions.

On right top we have the options, coins, crystals and stamina (the pancakes).

From the hourglass and box icons you can get items.

We have 5 very visible buttons: story, quest, event, shop and the banner. There are as well 7 smaller icons.

The banner just has one ad that opens the website and the event one is locked up, probably not able since this is just a CBT and in the shop you can buy items with game-coins or crystals.

Now I'm going to explain story and quest:

Story

Whitout entering into spoilers, in the game you are "Kuma", the typical mascot and companion of the magical girls, and as per usual, your mission is to find magical girls to save the world

At the beginning of the game you will be able to choose one of the leaders from each group (80s, 90s or 2000s). In my case I chose Yuna, leader of the 2000s group

Each group has a main story were you will see how they met Kuma and how they transform into magical girls and their journey. There are also side stories.

Quest

The way to get more main story parts is doing battles against monsters

The battles are automatic but you have to upgrade your magical girls to win those battles. They also have special movements only available when their power bar goes to 100%

There are also more options like fighting against other players magical girls.

In battles you will get some rewards like crystals, level up items, experience and more.

Now let's talk about the small icons in order:

Chat: there you can talk with other players and send stickers. When people pull in the gacha it will show too.

Magical Girl: Here you can see the stats of all your characters as well level up and spark them, give them items and weapons and level up their habilites.

Also each magical girl uses a different type of weapon, for example, Yuna uses guns as you can see in the little pink icon up the Level counter

Backpack: All the items and weapons you have will appear here.

House Cafe: Send your magical girls to work in the cafe and you will get items like coins, stamina and more.

Team Formation: Make your team and see the total power of the formation

Club: Join teams with other players as a crew and get items by doing special tasks as battles and more

Gacha: Here you can pull for weapons and accessories for your magical girls that will make them more powerful. There are different ranges of items, from N to UR.

You can use 50 paid (I think) crystals daily for 1 item, 150 for 1 or 1500 for 10 items.

When you start playing, you will get extra gifts, a guarenteed SR weapon each 10 solos until 40 solos.

My impression

I really like the game so far, I think is very complete and to think that this is just the CBT version is even more impressive. I love you can make your own unique magical girl by giving them different items and weapons, is a cool feature and the gacha is fine.

Since is a CBT sometimes is a bit laggy or have some graphic errors but nothing serious that will spoil your gameplay.

And I love the 3D models of the characters and the UI, all is very well done.

If you are a magical girl fan (or not), you should definitely try this! The bad thing is that the game is only available in Chinese at this moment. The game is supposed to release full in summer 2023 (Chinese and Japanese).

If you guys like this post and are interested in Untitled Magical Girl, I can do a post talking about the characters!

Last of all, I downloaded the game through Qooapp, here is the link. Keep updated with their official Twitter account

See you :)

[incandescentsims]

February of Fairies - Faebruary 2023

Using the colour prompts create fairy themed lookbooks, CAS sims, dress your OCs, edits, or anything in between. Remember you don’t have to do all the prompts, pick and choose whatever inspires YOU!

And most of all have fun with them!

Tag #Faebruary 2023 or @ me for reblogs. Transcript under the cut:

Colour Prompts

The colour prompts are just a guide, you don't have to use the exact colours and you also don't have to use all the colours for each prompt. Just use what inspires you!

Fairy Floss - Coconut (SR), Bubblegum (SR), Sweet Potato (SR), Periwinkle (SR), Candy Floss (CSC)

Strawberry Fields - Turkish Delight (CSC), Sour Apple, (CSC), Key Lime Pie (CSC), Custard (CSC), Coconut (SR)

Aurora - Sweet Mint Tea (CSC), Peppermint (CSC), Blueberry (SR), Pacific Cooler (SR), Kiwi (SR)

Moonlight - Blackberry (SR), Hypothesis (AP-S), Boson (AP-S), Particle (AP-S), Goya (AP-H)

Stardust - Jellybean (CSC), Blue Raspberry (CSC), Starfruit (SR), Macaron (CSC), Blackberry Jam (CSC)

Sunset - Huckleberry Drop (CSC), Turkish Delight (CSC), Peach Ring (CSC), Dulce de Leche, Custard (CSC)

Mossy Log - Velocity (AP-S), Avocado (SR), Earhart (AP-H), Homer (AP-H), Puppy Love (CSC)

Summer Breeze - Blue Raspberry (CSC), Coconut (SR), Banana Split (CSC), Pumpkin Pie (CSC), Fudge (CSC)

Tropical Oasis - Gummi Bear (CSC), Butterscotch (SR), Blue Moon (SR), Blueberry (SR), Coconut (SR)

Rose Garden - Pommes d'Amor (CSC), Matcha Pudding (CSC), Beethoven (AP-H), Bubblegum (SR), Lychee (SR),

Valentine - Red Licorice (CSC), Strawberry (SR), Shakespeare (AP-H), Aniseed (CSC), Coconut (SR)

Shortcake - Fruit Chew (CSC), Watermelon (SR), Butterscotch (SR), Chocolate (SR), Matcha (SR)

Winter Glitter - Jellybean (CSC), Lupine (SR), Sweet Potato (SR), Periwinkle (SR), Custard (CSC)

Frost - Coconut (SR), Candy Floss (CSC), Genome (AP-S), Popsicle (CSC), Jellybean (CSC)

Colour palettes used:

SR - Sorbets Remix

CSC - Candy Shoppe Collection

AP-H - Academia Palette Historian

AP-S - Academia Palette Scientist

created by @noodlescc

created by @berrygameplay

created by @serindipitysims

[philomena-famulok]

©Philomena Famulok

Last summer days

[rt2417]

[Special Summer Lectures?] Faust 2023 Summer SR

Oz: …It hurts……

Chapter 1

Faust: Seems as if nobody is up yet. I suppose I awoke too early.

For the time being, I’ll just brew coffee and…

Oz: ………….

Faust: Oh, good morning Oz. You’re also rather an early riser.

Unfortunately, besides myself, no one else has woken up yet.

Oz: I see.

Oz: …Faust. Have you ever heard of something called “Radio Gymnastics”?

Faust: Radio gymnastics?

Oz: It seems to exist in the Sage’s world. Arthur and the others expressed interest in it.

Faust: Ah…… If I’m not mistaken, we were talking about that sort of thing yesterday.

Exercises to loosen and stretch the body that are performed routinely every morning, correct?

Oz: Right. It seems that if one is physically active in the mornings they’ll feel refreshed and be more efficient in subsequent activities.

Faust: There’s truth in what you say. If we continue on with this, it’ll build our physical strength, right?

Perhaps this could be good for the kids. We’re at the training camp, why don’t we try before breakfast?

Chapter 2

Oz: Even as a wizard, is it necessary to build up physical strength?

Faust: While it’s true that magic can accomplish a great deal of things, still the body is one’s vital asset.

As a matter of fact, Cain, Shino, and Leno all seem eager to use physical means on missions. It suits their characters, I suppose.

Oz: It’s unnecessary for me. I’ll seek guidance from the Sage, and focus on what really interests me.

Faust: Hm, well I guess so… With how you are now though, with your injury from the calamity, you’re unable to use magic at night.

I won’t force you, but I believe that by training your body, you’ll have more advantage in physical fights.

Oz: …………..

The screen fades to black before shortly coming back.

Faust: Oz, you need to bend over a bit more.

Oz: I cannot bend any further.

Faust: Just a bit more; at least enough to be able to touch your toes……

Oz: …It hurts……

Faust: I’m sorry…! Still, can’t you go a little bit further? You can also stretch your back like……

Mitile: Fuaa, good morn……

Mitile: ……Ah, Oz-sama and Faust-san? What are the two of you doing together?

Oz: Well…

Faust: This is, actually…

Hah, the conversation got troublesome.

[trashbins-stuff]

^asset and og info by my friend hazel

okay bin, time to make sum oc lore, lets flesh out this character!! (bracket r established and offishal info and the rest r im too lazy to put bracket, nothing more nothing less)

[name: Elena "Costisha" Kauffmann]

[age: 2k4 kid sooo 19 in 2023]

[gender: apagender]

[sexuality: aro demiace lesbian]

[pronouns: they/it/he/note/she/heart]

-nationality: not too important but based of kauffmann ill say german

[hobbies: knitting, playing games and hanging out w friends]

-likes: shiny things, swimming in the ocean drifting/leaning on back style and making silly website to cheer ppl up!!

-dislike: too much physical affection, sharp things like knifes, sweet things lolz bro will straight up drink the darkest blackest most bitter coffeee u see

-talent: speed eater, physically impossbile to look bad in pictures even with the eyebags

-green flag: caring and loving, good at decorating and party planning and kind to his friends!

-red flag: get grumpy pretty easily, doesnt know when to take a break

-beige flag: have memory issue lolz def not projecting no siree

-disability: sometime use walking frame :] and have autism bc yes and anxiety tee hee

-favourites things: music? lofi/game ost. show? bee and puppycat #1 special interest. animal? fireflies

-backstory/lore:

! note live with note's grandparent most of note's life while note's parents live somewhere else for work, they never called. But that's okay, elena live fine w her grandparents! on sundays heart's grandma wood take heart to a hill and have a little picnic there and sometime a white bunny (which their grandpa call "bnnuy" they thinks its a reference to somehting but they're not sure) they also teach them how to bake, knit, growing vegetables,..

! it's fav thing to drink/eat is creamed-filled pastry and..when it like black coffe now but tis second fav is orange juice, it used to squeeze orange juice and make cookies to share with its friends back in the country side but it move in with its parent the summer before high school and it struggle to adjust,,dw it still visit them one in a while! though it visit less now due to college

! the wall next to his bed is decorated w polaroids and fairy lights, he also have a small star-rainbow lamp thing (ntoe: draw it later)

! note took "gulping down food" a bit too seriously..literally eat a whole cake in one bite/srs

! pull all-nighter to work on project she likes, but probably wont even glance at project from subject she hate, probably just gonna half-ass it

! back in the country side heart would go catch butterflies w heart's friend and chilling at the creek behind heart's best friend house

Note to self: write sum fic abt Elena l8ter

[ao3feed-tomarry-harrymort]

The Apocalypse of Desire

The Apocalypse of Desire

by Lomonaaeren

AU. Harry is traveling in time during his sixth year. Or maybe he’s just going mad. Or maybe Voldemort has cast a spell on him. There has to be an explanation for why he’s waking up in the morning with memories of spending time with Tom Riddle in the Hogwarts of fifty years ago, as a companion, friend—and lover.

Words: 3785, Chapters: 1/3, Language: English

Series: Part 5 of Songs of Summer 2023

Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Underage

Categories: M/M

Characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Poppy Pomfrey, Albus Dumbledore, Tom Riddle | Voldemort, Mulciber Sr. | Tom Riddle's Schoolmate, Hermione Granger

Relationships: Harry Potter/Tom Riddle, Harry Potter/Tom Riddle | Voldemort

Additional Tags: Surreal, Time Travel, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Book 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Angst, Romance, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Dreams

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48288553