#the fourth movement will have one more part to it and then we're on to order of the phoenix

[averagecygnet-blog]

one thing I absolutely adore about tgwdlm is how completely and irrevocably a stage musical it is. it HAS to be a stage musical - the medium is so deeply baked into the story that it truly would not translate to another medium.

some reasons why:

the musical style is old-fashioned in a way that screams classic broadway. you can't get away from it, especially in songs like "lah dee dah dah day" and "show stoppin number". and it's not just the music, it's the dancing too - have you ever seen a kickline in a movie musical, once, ever? or jazz hands? gimme a break

along similar lines - all the broadway references! hamilton of course, but also wicked and mamma mia and jekyll & hyde

all the attention deliberately brought to the lighting and set! the performers in "la dee dah dah day" loudly saying "lights down!" when it's over; ted, paul, and emma striking the stage after "show stoppin number"; the lighting panels used as sirens, TVs, showcasing hudgins' alexa, and more; ted wheeling the big meteor prop off the stage after "let it out". they don't let you forget that we're in a theater.

all the hokey ass miming and special effects???? charlotte and hudgins having their guts ripped out is flashy and fun onstage because of the intestine props. emma and ted having blood capsules in their mouths. paul, emma, and zoey violently shaking when pantomiming being in a helicopter. ted running in place, moving forward or back to suggest movement across the road. it's all so fun and consistently reminds you that this is a stage

double-casting as intentional obstruction of the truth. we're used to seeing one actor play several roles in a musical, so when a familiar face shows up in a new costume we assume it's a new character. but it was zoey flying the helicopter to clivesdale, and I think it was zoey in the hospital at the end as well. you couldn't pull that shit in a movie because movies don't double-cast.

the role of the audience, the laughter and gasps and reactions and applause, especially the applause at the end when emma is begging the audience members to let her use their phone and demanding to know why they're clapping; sure movies have audiences too but the presence of the audience as part of the story makes a point about societal ideals as something we all have a part in that a movie just couldn't make in the same way

on a related note - emma's sudden awareness of the stage and the audience as the horror trope where the person realizes they're trapped and will imminently die. she knows she can't escape because it's just a fuckin loop. she knows no one will save her because they're all clapping. you couldn't do that in a movie because in a movie there is a fourth wall, whereas on a stage there's nowhere for the characters to run away. on a stage the characters can look you, the audience, directly in the eye, with no camera or screen between you

I will literally never shut up about that curtain call

god damn what I wouldn't give to watch this show performed live

[butterflydm]

more WoT s3 spec - what we know vs what we're guessing at

I've been poking at what we know about s3 vs what we can reasonably guess, so I wanted to break that down a bit.

So there are a few things we know just about the structure of how the show has worked so far: we know they shoot in blocks of two episodes each and that each of those blocks is going to have the same director for both episodes. Because of this info, we can make some guesses at where specific episodes may land. We also have some casting info (wotseries.com being a great resource here).

They tend to have a major reveal in the fourth episode - Nynaeve being incredibly powerful in the One Power in 1x04; Selene being Lanfear in 2x04.

What we know for certain:

Rhuidean & the Waste will appear (Rand & Egwene's storyline).

Tanchico will appear (Nynaeve & Elayne's storyline).

The Two Rivers will appear (Perrin's storyline).

Rand and Perrin will each get focus episodes akin to Nynaeve having "What Might Be" and Egwene having "Eyes Without Pity" in s2.

We have four episode titles: "To Race The Shadow"; "A Glimpse of Crimson"; "Goldeneyes"; and "He Who Comes With The Dawn".

Sea Folk are confirmed for S3.

Potential leaks include:

Mat, Min, and Thom all being part of Nynaeve & Elayne's storyline in Tanchico. Big change for Mat & Min, but matches canon for Thom. And since show-onlys have only seen Thom with Mat and Rand, it would make sense to use Mat to re-introduce us to him.

Reports of the actresses reported to be playing Morgase and Elaida seen at a castle which is almost certainly in Caemlyn (Andoran banners spotted), most likely for the first or second episode due to the timing.

An actress playing Maigran (one of the Aiel from the Rhuidean glass columns sequence) is listed under the director who is being used for eps 3 and 4.

An actress has been cast to play an older version of Latra and I really like @wheeloftimeofficial's idea that we'll see her as the ancient Aes Sedai who establishes Rhuidean in the glass column memories, especially since the younger actress also has s3 listed on her CV.

We have (unofficially) confirmed castings for Faile & Galad.

Hints we've gotten from interviews & bts info:

In an interview filmed before the actors' strike, Daniel mentions Lan having some really good relationship scenes with Nynaeve, so we know that there's interaction between those characters before their plotlines separate, implying that we will not begin with everyone already all off on their separate journeys, like they were in 2x01.

Also from Daniel, it's implied that there are training scenes between Lan and Rand (could happen at any point, since Lan is likely to be in Rand's storyline the entire season).

From what Josha has said, the show will be pivoting to a more familial relationship between Egwene and Rand next season (which matches the book timing).

Rafe made a point of mentioning that Elayne healing Rand was to flag to the audience that this was a relationship to pay attention to (which implies we'll get at least some movement on that relationship in s3).

Josha also says that there is "way more togetherness" for Two Rivers' characters in s3 than in s2.

In an unrelated interview on screenrant, Rima Te Waita (Sheriam) mentioned that she will not be in s3 but, if s4 is greenlit, she will be in s4.

Josha and Ayoola posted some cute instas of each other after finishing up the South Africa shooting stint near Cape Town, which might be a hint towards our potential AviRand interactions (could also just be the actors being cute!).

Guesses based on book & show knowledge:

It seems likely to me that Gawyn & Galad will be introduced in the same episode as Morgase and Elaida, which I am tentatively going to guess will be episode 2.

I think that Verin, Alanna & their Warders are going to be getting out of Cairhien as quickly as possible. And that they are pretty conveniently set up to head to their TSR storyline.

I am pretty torn about when the coup will happen! I feel like it happening this season feels pretty much a lock because there really isn't any more "White Tower storyline" until the coup happens, and they do already have the set made. But it could either happen pretty early on or fairly late in the season. Maybe episode five? That lets us meet Elaida in episode 2, gives her and possibly Gawyn & Galad time to get to the White Tower, maybe we get some scenes of her politicking in the WT in episode 4, with the trigger being pulled in episode 5 or 6. But another possibility is that the coup happens right away, while all those Sisters are still in Cairhien and we see Liandrin take the lead on something like stilling Siuan and Leane, which would put the White Tower in chaos before Elaida even arrives. There are at least two Black Ajah Sisters in Cairhien, after all, and Liandrin likes to act extra-judicially, and she might want to try to make sure that Siuan is taken care of before anyone has a chance to out her (Liandrin) as Black Ajah. But there is also a chance that it might happen in the finale, so that we can parallel Moiraine & Siuan's 'downfalls'. So really this one is a wildcard for me. It isn't really directly tied to any other specific events in TSR, so it can happen whenever.

We will get the glass columns in episode 3 or 4. In the books, it happened as soon as Rand landed in the Waste, basically, but the show could potentially do Cold Rocks Hold first, depending on how Rand is getting to the Waste. I used to lean towards it happening in ep3, but after learning the leak about Mat being in Tanchico, it made me wonder about ep4, maybe, as that could potentially lead to Mat going through the doorways (just speculation with zero leaks or spoilers to back it up but I like it a lot lol) from Tanchico to Rhuidean either at the end of ep4 or the start of ep5, leaving Nynaeve & Elayne's storyline and going to Rand & Egwene's.

I do keep thinking about Josha saying that the Two Rivers' kids would have "way more togetherness" than in s3, which seems difficult if they all separate by or after ep2 and then don't reunite the entire season. I guess technically it would be true because they don't reunite in s2 until the final moments of 2x08 but feels somewhat underwhelming to mention, lol.

I do still suspect that we're getting Lanfear & Moiraine with the doorway at the end of the season.

So, a tentative outline. Now we leave behind the more solid leaks and knowledge and enter into the wild speculations. Please check out @markantonys' recent post too, she's got some fun speculations!

3x01: To Race the Shadow

"Way more togetherness" between the Two Rivers group than in s2, so says Josha. This is also where we have to be getting the Lan & Nynaeve romantic scenes that Daniel keeps hyping up, lol.

Moiraine and Rand are going to be arguing about his next plans.

Something will happen that makes them realize that Something Is Up in Tanchico -- this might be a first Dream from Egwene that leads them in the direction of the museum? Which also leads to her talking to Amys, which is why she decides to go with Rand instead of going with Nynaeve & Elayne. The big question for me is if they are going to Tanchico because of Liandrin or if they go for other reasons and then run into Liandrin also being there to get the same thing that they're getting.

Now Mat may go into a doorway here as speculated by @markantonys (the room of curiosities) but for this specific outline, I'm going to say that he doesn't, and instead he chooses to go with Elayne & Nynaeve because he's running away from Rand (after the Stabbening). This pulls in something that Mat tries to do a lot in the books but gives him a new motivation that fits his show character.

I think Lanfear is going to warn Rand about the rest of the Forsaken being free but potentially also send Liandrin to Tanchico to try to get the, uh, plot token for her potential use in the future (a girl needs a back-up plan).

Lanfear talking to Rand might be another thing that Rand and Moiraine argue about.

Rand and Egwene are going to have their official 'break-up' and then we'll see their more platonic relationship develop over the course of the season. I also feel like we have to have at least a scene or two with Rand and Elayne to establish them feeling Some Kind of Way about each other, to build on that moment from 2x08.

3x02: A Glimpse of Crimson

Good episode title for a Red Ajah & Andor episode!

I'm going to guess that Rand & co are going to be stopping in Caemlyn (my feelings are similar to @markantonys about us potentially getting a garden introduction between Egwene & Gawyn here, and then having Rand & Egwene meet Elaida & Morgase (and Galad?). Elaida will have her Foretelling about Rand and freak herself out.

Our group hears the rumors about the Two Rivers, and Perrin decides to go investigate. The question is how is Rand going to get to the Waste from Caemlyn? I don't feel like they would introduce Portal Stones as a one-off if they haven't done it before, so I think there's a chance that Loial might go with Rand instead of Perrin, as Perrin doesn't need to go through the Ways to get to the Two Rivers (of course, then they would need to change how the battle resolves in 3x07).

(alternatively: there's always the Lanfear express, I guess, lol)

This could also be when Elayne, Nynaeve, & Mat arrive in Tanchico, and their introduction to the city is our B plot. I don't think they would throw all the plots at them at once and I feel like just introducing Thom first would be a good start for the first episodes in Tanchico.

3x03: Unknown

Rand & co arrive in the Waste, but I'm going to send them to Cold Rocks Hold for now, instead of straight to Rhuidean. This gives Rand and Aviendha time to bond, Rand and Moiraine time to fight, Rand and Lan time to train together, and gives the audience a chance to get to know the Aiel culture in a bit more of a relaxed setting. Then we get an attack by Shadowspawn and Rand gets the reminder that the other Forsaken have been let free and don't share Ishamael and Lanfear's feelings about him.

Another plot will be in Tanchico, involving Nynaeve, Elayne, and Mat investigating, running into Min and/or Egeanin or Tuon taking Egeanin's role. This may be where we get our early encounters with Moghedien (she Compels one or more of our characters to spill the beans to her about their plans) and potentially where she reveals herself to Liandrin & co as one of the Chosen and takes control of their group after playing servant for part of the episode.

We also have Perrin & co arriving in the Two Rivers and getting the lay of the land. This could be a fairly emotional episode for Perrin, due to memories of Laila's death. Maybe when Perrin says goodbye to Laila (putting his ring on her grave/memorial?) and potentially our first sighting of Faile.

3x04: Unknown

Rand goes to Rhuidean and into the glass columns. This is the main plot of the episode and Rand's focus episode of the season.

We get the history of the Aiel here, and learn about Rand's ancestors.

Subplot: Aviendha is told that she is destined to be a Wise One (maybe she accidentally channeled during the fight at Cold Rocks Hold?) and deals with idea that she has to leave behind being a Maiden.

Our Tanchico B-plot leads to Mat entering through the twisted doorway in the museum, For Reasons, and getting his prophecies. Maybe this same plotline leads to Elayne and Nynaeve finding dream ter'angreal, and to Tuon/Egeanin realizing that Elayne and Nynaeve are channelers, and potentially learns that all sul'dam are, and then leaves our main plotline at this time.

3x05: Unknown

When Rand leaves the glass columns, he finds Mat hanging on the tree outside, and saves his life (we've gotten a few different pieces of foreshadowing about Mat being hanged, so I feel like it will happen at some point). Mat says he was just in Tanchico.

We catch up with Perrin in the Two Rivers, with him learning to move past his grief as he gets to know Faile.

Because we've already done Cold Rocks Hold, this means that Rand & co can go straight to Alcair Dal at this point.

Aviendha and Rand bond over their lives being dictated by being able to use the One Power and not having any choices about their future.

On the way to Alcair Dal, we meet the traders, who are hiding Lanfear and Asmodean in their ranks, and Lanfear sees that Rand is getting closer to Aviendha and Does Not Approve.

Nynaeve and Elayne worry about where Mat has disappeared to and experiment with the dream ter'angreal that they recently discovered in the museum (might only be one: the twisted stone ring, so that channeling isn't needed for it), and run into Birgitte in the dream. She gives them a warning but they realize that this is the same place that Egwene was talking about in 3x01 and are excited that they might be able to communicate with her.

3x06: Unknown

Another journey into TAR for Nynaeve (maybe a successful contact with Egwene?), and she encounters Birgitte again, but Moghedien too, and this leads to Birgitte getting ripped out of TAR and bonded by Elayne to save her life.

Moiraine tells Rand that he needs to go to Tear, to fulfill more of the prophecies, but Rand is resistant.

The Two Rivers ramps up for the battle.

This would also be a good spot for the coup, imo.

3x07: Goldeneyes

The Battle of the Two Rivers. Potentially Perrin's focus episode as well, as he comes into his own as a leader. I think that it would be good to push any confirmed Perrin/Faile romance forward into the future, so they will still just have some vibes for now.

We get some pieces moving into place for the other storylines: Rand arrives at Alcair Dal; Nynaeve and Elayne make plans to return to the museum.

3x08: He Who Comes With The Dawn

Desperate to get through to Rand and worrying that he is focusing on the Aiel instead of being the Dragon Reborn, Moiraine went back to Rhuidean to try to use the doorway, as when Mat talked about his experiences there, she recognized what he was talking about and wants answers of her own.

Rand announces himself at Alcair Dal, drawing the attention of Lanfear, who makes her pitch to him that We Could Rule Together, worrying that she's losing her hold over him after seeing him getting closer to Aviendha. She tells him about Asmodean and about him potentially teaching Rand so that he can reach his potential.

Inside the doorway, Moiraine gets answers that she doesn't like about Rand and Lanfear (sort of merging her going into the doorway in Tear with her going into the silver rings).

On the Tanchico side of things, we have our big Tanchico encounter between Nynaeve and Moghedien, which results in Nynaeve breaking her block. Nynaeve and Elayne escape Tanchico on a Sea Folk ship, heading towards Tear, potentially bringing Min & Thom along with them.

After talking with Lanfear, Rand is let out of his 'bubble' at Alcair Dal as Couladin declares that HE is the Car'a'carn and he will prove it by leading the Aiel to conquer the wetlands (setting up s4 to be a combo of TFoH/LoC, with a hint of TDR with the destination being Tear instead of Cairhien). Rand realizes that the fake dragons on Couladin's arms were put there by Asmodean and goes after him -- Asmodean Skims back to Rhuidean and he and Rand battle, and Lanfear arrives, puts the block on Asmodean and offers him up as a teacher to Rand. Moiraine takes advantage of Lanfear's focus on Rand to yeet both of them into the doorway while channeling, based on the knowledge that she learned inside, melting the doorway. We see in the Tanchico storyline that the other doorway melts at the same time, leaving them no exit.

And I agree with @markantonys that possibly the most effective stinger would be the reveal that Tuon is the DotNM, but if there is no Tuon in this season, we could have it be a Forsaken (Sammael) setting up shop in Tear, to set the scene for the upcoming season.

It is a lot more cliffhanger-y than our previous season finales and I'm sure that my thoughts on it will change as we get closer and learn more spoilers, but that is my wild speculation for this specific week!

[capricornlevi]

tattoo artist!choso x reader // v mildly suggestive/nsfw, mdni // wc ~700

---

"choso, it's just like tattooing anybody else," you quip, diligently keeping your arm in the position he set out at the beginning. his tattoo parlour's bench is quite comfortable, all things considered -- you don't think you could manage two hours on your side with your arm over your head otherwise. "just pretend i'm any other client."

"you're not," he retorts, and when you glance down at him, you see he's locked in on the movements of the needle, eyes not so much as flickering a millimetre in your direction. his hair is pulled back out of his eyes, his sleeves rolled up to reveal the black-and-white whirls of his own designs, but even as you gawk down at him, he continues pretending that the only visible part of you is the three-inch wide patch of skin he's tattooing.

equal parts relieving and frustrating.

"how is it any different?" you press, trying to point out the ridiculousness of his worries.

he scoffs in response, careful to not let it affect his movements, the unrelenting sting of the needle against your ribcage serving as evidence. "i haven't seen my other clients naked before."

you roll your eyes. "you've seen me naked three times, y'know. we're hardly married. can't a girl ask her talented friend-with-benefits for a tattoo? isn't that one of the benefits?"

choso's nose scrunches up adorably, brow furrowing from something other than concentration. "don't call us that."

"aw, are we lovers? paramours? in a situationshi-"

"don't finish that sentence," he butts in impatiently, gloved hand holding your waist firmly in place as he puts the finishing touches on his design.

he had been mumbling before about how awkward this could be, how he doesn't like to tattoo people he knows. how it's too much pressure.

you decide to put his mind at ease. "well, we're not dating, so if it turns out shit, i can't really break up with you. i can only just ... make it so that you won't see me naked a fourth time, i guess. is that still a scary consequence?"

"terrifying," he mumbles through a fond smile, your ramblings having successfully cut through the tension. and just then, the buzz of the needle quietens to a stop, with choso grabbing some equipment from his side tray that you presume is for the aftercare.

"is that it?" you gasp, trying to angle your head to catch a glimpse at the finished work. "is it done?"

"that didn't feel like two hours to you?" he asks, lips still pulled up into a nervous little grin as he grabs a mirror. "can't say the same for myself. i told you how much pressure it is-"

"choso!" you squeal, a bit more ungracefully than you expected, mouth falling open as the image of your tattoo reflects in the mirror in front of you. "i fucking love it!"

the design is the stuff of your pinterest board dreams; exactly as you imagined it but somehow better, with refined details you couldn't have pictured yourself. all done with minimal pain and only a bit of griping on the artist's end.

a blush has formed along choso's sharp cheekbones, the same blush you get to see whenever you have the apartment to yourself and can invite him over without your shared friend group making the world's biggest deal out of it.

the same blush he gets whenever you kiss him, when your fingernails start to dig in against his lower back as he --

"you like it?" he asks, adorably bashful despite the objective beauty of his design.

"of course," you reply earnestly, figuring it best not to tease him when he's done you such a favour. "i know you're giving me a reduced rate, but fuck, man, you could charge double for this."

"double is a bit dramatic," he replies quietly, blush spreading. your turn to grin.

"okay, then i'll have to make it up to you in other ways, i guess."

he swallows thickly, your implication obvious even to someone as innocent as choso.

still, for the sake of clarity and to show your sincere gratitude -- and your own self-interest, admittedly, since you can't believe it's been nearly two weeks since you're felt his lips on yours -- you decide to elaborate on your offer.

"up for a fourth time?"

[sleepynegress]

A COMPREHENSIVE & AUTHENTIC UHURA LOVE/HISTORY POST

The above is where Roddenberry 1st employed Nichelle Nichols [click to watch the full clip]. It was a military show based on Roddenberry's own experiences, the episode is called To Set it Right (I highly suggest reading the wiki article about it).

You should note two other actors, whom he later pegged for Star Trek are in the episode.

They dated briefly and then became good friends way before Trek came about.

Miss Nichols was already an accomplished singer and dancer who performed regularly w/ Billy Eckstine and Duke Ellington

Roddenberry's 1st show, The Lieutenant, was canceled/pulled from the air before these scenes bluntly dealing with racism could air (there's blackface as punishment for the racists at the end of the show, in a case of 'he 'a little confused but got the spirit' for the times, so tw)

He created Star Trek to try to soften the blow of all the social messaging he wanted to insert from his military experience. Star Trek was basically, a submarine drama placed in a sci-fi setting. He made it diverse on purpose because the military helped him travel and serve with all kinds of people. Roddenberry was inspired by that.

Uhura was the first person to read for Spock and in fact, helped to shape the character with her reading and based many of the traits of Uhura (formerly Uhuru) on Spock.

She was basically a glorified secretary. She played the part with poise, joy, and the 60's style womanism she got to play out for those times... Everything from her mini-skirt (which Nichelle herself called very comfortable) to her smile, and teasing lines, and quips were about her playing "big" in a small role. She made every moment, every look, every line, and movement count:

Roddenberry cracked jokes about the fact that the network never figured out that Uhura was fourth in command.

Nichelle was the only main cast member who was not salaried. She was paid by the hour. This attempt at marginalization actually resulted in her being the highest paid at times, because of the long hours.

Nichelle was not let in the front entrance at times, her fan-mail was kept from her, and she grew frustrated with the constant cutting of her scenes, lines and storylines. This is why she justifiably attempted to leave. The bigots in production did not like her being there (and if we're being real, were it not for Janice Rand's actress Grace Lee Whitney having gone through so much and thus losing her job in the 1st season...Uhura might have had even LESS presence)

The lost context in MLK convincing her to stay was that YES she was minimized and could make more money and be more fulfilled on broadway, but her symbolism and presence meant so much at a time when Black women weren't on TV unless as a racist caricature cleaning a house, and even that was rare...that she stayed.

One of her best allies was DeForest Kelly, who threatened to quit if they fired Nichelle. George Takei was her absolute best friend on the show and in life (she served as his Best Woman at his wedding).

There was an unfilmed episode in which Uhura and Deforest would have played reverse roles in "racial dynamics" on a planet they visit

Spock and Uhura were originally supposed to kiss in the alien mind control episode, but Shatner demanded to do so for the publiicity.

Her work to recruit marginalized people as astronauts, as in personally going to colleges and talking to candidates after the show is a staggering achievement that arguably is the most potent of any castmember in any of the Trek series post-show. Sally Ride, Guy Bluford (she personally recruited the 1st woman and 1st black astronaut), Mae Jemison (the 1st black woman credits her for inspiring her to become an astronaut).

Uhura did finally command the ship in the animated series. She would not have gotten to voice the role, but for Leonard Nimoy making it an obligation that all the original actors voice their parts for him to come on.

Scotty and Uhura in the film was definitely a pair the spares situation, in which both were the leftover senior citizens with the writers just going "why not?"

it was beyond insulting and she did protest about the scene where she's bumbling through a giant translation book to speak to klingons for laughs in trek 5 ...but her best moment IMO is her pulling a gun on the young ensign in the transporter room in Trek 3...sadly her ONLY scene in the damn movie.

Miss Saldana got to play to MANY corrections in JJ Abrams rebooted Trek, from being amazing at languages to having an actual life & love, to confidently turning down Kirk at every turn.

FUN FACT!! Both JJ and Bob Orci both expressed disappointed shock that the love story between Spock & Uhura got more hatred from fans than BLOWING UP PLANET VULCAN.

another FUN FACT!! The love story between Spock & Uhura is what grabbed the old school Star Wars fan (JJ Abrams) enough to come aboard to direct. Yep. JJ ships Spock & Uhura.

Zoe's iteration became the 1st version of Uhura to speak confidently in Klingon

Celia Rose Gooding becoming Uhura brings around a lot of Uhura's qualities full circle, IMO. As she is also from theatre (like Nichelle) and has a beautiful singing voice as well as the charm. Zoe's iteration was sharper, and much more protective, professional, & mature, about her life and love.

Celia Rose has the youthful curiousity and stars in her eyes and had vulnerability from her first intro... I loved the eagerness the crew showed to being in her orbit, seeing the glow of her talent and being drawn to that, to have a part in nurturing that.

As I've said... Celia IMO has the most dazzling smile, giant warm brown eyes, fantastic curves, and an energy that feels essentially Uhura, & that is all light, joy, a bit of uncertainty, -from the light singing (!) and the growth to her joy in discovery... I'd love to see her writing move away from serving and be more about her wants needs and growing in friendships/loves.

But Celia is a gift and is perfectly cast.

Essentially Uhura = femininity, graceful carriage, gorgeous smile, excellence in engineering and translation (canon!), ability to sing and play the Vulcan lyre, sharp womanist wit, love for her U.S. of African-Kenyan culture and being beloved by all crew...

When Miss Celia hummed those gorgeous notes to the alien entity on that comet?? That Solidified that she IS Uhura IMO.

I 100% think they fucked up by killing Hemmer, because that mentor-mentee relationship was giving marginalized coming together and bonding over everybody else's bullshit and I was here for it...it was giving me Data and Geordi updated...and since then, IMO they've lost track and given us the same kinda backwards wingwoman role BS, that people who like to pretend to be her fan shoehorn her into.

...but I have high hopes that they'll course-correct.

All this to say ALL OF THE ABOVE is Uhura and anyone calling her ugly, bossy, pushy, annoying, whatever is just sad little hater who doesn't know wtf they are talking about.

[jumpywhumpywriter]

Living Weapon Whumpee part 17

Warnings: forced living weapon/fighter, recovery whump, reluctant alliance, rejection by peers, betrayal

But the men were growing bolder and more confident the longer Whumpee was around, and it was on the fourth day that Whumpee faced his first round of genuine, direct trouble.

It was usually passive-aggressive with them, but this time he was being directly challenged by Jake himself.

"So you've suddenly switched sides, eh? I don't buy it," Jake sneered boldly after a long training session. Whumpee raised a single eyebrow at him, and a few of the men behind Jake shrank away at that movement alone.

"Flint seems to think you're tamed now, docile. But we all know the truth, and I'm tired of pretending I'm okay with this. And I'm pretty sure I speak for all of us when I say that."

A few murmurs of agreement rippled through the group.

"What are you hoping to accomplish by telling me this?" Whumpee asked flatly. He kept his expression carefully neutral to avoid escalating the situation.

A lot of men will likely go out of their way to cause you trouble, Flint's words echoed in his mind. Whumpee needed to keep calm, show he wasn't a threat if he wanted to earn any trust whatsoever. If it was a rise Jake was looking for out of him, he wouldn't give him the satisfaction. But his blood still boiled at Jake's words.

"What I'm saying is that we don't want you here," Jake scoffed, lip curling. "If what you say is true that you want to help, run away from this place, and don't come back. We're all safer without you. You're a ticking time bomb."

It hurt more than Whumpee expected, stinging him in the chest, a pang of hurt. "...I will leave if Flint tells me to." He spoke slowly, deliberately, choosing his words carefully. "Flint is now my leader as much as he is yours. And I only take orders from leaders like him."

Jake's eyes flared and darkened with anger. "I am leader of this team, or have you forgotten? So by your own logic your loyalty should apply to me too, right? So if I tell you to leave, shouldn't you obey like a good dog?"

The heavily conditioned part of Whumpee instinctively wanted to cling to the order and follow it, but he consciously stopped himself, revolted by the mockery of being called a 'good dog'.

In his peripheral, Reed caught his attention, back turned to him and peering down the hall like he was looking for something. Something about it didn't feel right, but his attention snapped back to Jake when the large man took a menacing step forward.

Whumpee's mind was already analyzing the situation and preparing for a fight out of pure habit.

Favors left leg, typically feigns to the right during sparring...

He shook his head with a frown. No, what am I thinking? I'm not supposed to fight these men, he reminded himself firmly. But Jake was egging him on, and it was really starting to get under his skin.

Suddenly, Reed let out a single short whistle, low and quiet, some sort of signal, and Whumpee stepped back in surprise as Jake lunged toward him, swinging a loaded right hook. He was under attack, instinctively defending himself. It was a bold move from Jake, one he hadn't seen coming.

⏪️ Back Next ⏩️

Masterlist

@scoundrelwithboba @lumpofsand @isikedmyself878 @iamheretohurt @fleur-a-whump

@ay5ksal @otterfrost @sausages-things @i-don't-know-sal @togzy

@whump-till-ya-jump @cravesunconditionallove @whumpwritinglover222 @silly-scroimblo-skrunkl

[bayofwolves]

Rereading Blood Ties

We're back again with the third book! In these posts, I highlight details that I find interesting enough to comment on and/or that I previously missed as a younger reader. Since I plan to revise this series and create a fourth arc, a full reread is in order. So, let's see what adventures these kids get up to next!

This is one of my favourite covers in the entire series. There's really nothing more iconic than the first, like, four covers in my opinion. Also, the way I see Meilin is pretty close to how she appears here.

Rollan experiences seeing through Essix's eyes for the first time in this book, completely by accident. And that's not the only thing. In a later chapter, he taps in to her sense of taste, too (unfortunately for him).

Xue hesitates when she introduces herself to Meilin, suggesting that this may not be her real name. "My name is... You can call me Xue."

True melanistic tigers such as Zhamin do not exist on Earth, so here we have a fictional tiger colour!

Assuming names from Meilin's part of Zhong follow the same conventions as Chinese ones, Meilin's full name would be written as Teng Meilin (surname first, followed by given name). Of course, it's never explicitly stated that Teng is a surname, but from my basic knowledge of Chinese names, I think it's clear enough. Meilin is probably the only one of the Four to have a surname.

Somehow, the Tergesh never summon spirit animals, which Lishay theorizes is because of their existing relationships with their rhinos. Interesting. So exposure to an animal from a young age can prevent any spirit animal bond from forming? I feel like it should be the other way around -- growing up close with one animal opens up the possibility of a spirit animal bond forming between you when you're old enough -- but that's just me.

Lishay is able to understand Zhosur's thoughts as if there is a telepathic link between them. Same with Tarik and Lumeo. This must be common in spirit animal bonds. Do the humans just have the thought deposited in their minds, or do they hear the "voice" of their spirit animal? I think it would be awesome if, in time, the Four Fallen were able to speak directly into their human partners' minds, using the voices they had as Great Beasts.

Meilin's tattoo of Jhi keeps moving around from the back of her hand to her arm, even in this one book. I go with the hand in A Revised History of Erdas; it's a more unique location.

It appears Conor has renounced his ties to Trunswick since Hunted. Whereas Abeke proudly tells Jodoboda that she is from Okaihee, Conor says he is "from nowhere in particular". Of course, this could be because his family lived in the fields near but not in Trunswick, but I prefer the idea that he gave up his connections to the town after his abysmal experience there in the last book.

Abeke can tell time from the movement of the stars. She also names one of Erdas's constellations, the Elephant's Trunk. I wonder, was this constellation named in honour of Dinesh? Are there perhaps other constellations likewise corresponding to other Great Beasts? (This is the kind of stuff I want to know about Erdas; what's going on in space? What are their stars like? What if they had more than one moon? Are there other planets nearby?)

When Conor and Abeke ask Briggan and Uraza to help them see better in the swamp, it's almost reminiscent of prayer. They kneel down, close their eyes and utter their request in their minds. Since the Great Beasts are essentially Erdas's gods, I found this bit neat.

So the Sunset Death is spread via insect bite, and seems comparable to malaria. It's named this because the person who falls ill to it will die at sunset. Man, Rollan has been through it.

Conor talks in his sleep.

On the way to the Lake of the Elephant, Meilin rides noticeably silently and later falls off her rhino as if she had been asleep. However, this is very likely a well-disguised instance of her being mind-controlled by Gerathon, which explains how the Conqueror army found them so quickly. I've never realized this before now.

Dinesh has some pretty cool powers. He can turn himself to stone, change his size and heal himself instantly. Despite his obnoxious behaviour during the Grand Council in Tales of the Great Beasts, he might be one of my favourite Great Beasts.

Conor puts two and two together and concludes that the reason Abeke stayed with the Conquerors for so long is because she had feelings for Shane. Seems like everyone knows what's up except for Abeke and Shane themselves. This is an instance of clear romantic implications for these two -- Abeke blushes and is uncharacteristically defensive when Conor questions her about Shane, Conor then figures out that she likes him. Overall, the nature of Shane and Abeke's relationship is left somewhat ambiguous, enough that I used to see many people argue there were no romantic feelings between them at all -- but there are moments like this that say otherwise.

Lishay is the Erdas equivalent of Indian, confirmed in later books but first implied by the fact she uses a talwar, a type of sword from India. So, Zhong isn't just a fantasy version of China -- there are other Asian regions in there, too.

Shane is probably the one responsible for Teng's death, not Gar. Even though Gar was riding Grahv when the crocodile killed Teng, he had no control over him as he wasn't his spirit animal. Which means, unless Grahv was following his natural instincts in that moment (possible), or Gerathon was controlling him like with Iskos (unlikely), Shane was controlling him from afar.

It's still unclear how Meilin was given the Bile. Did Teng replace the Nectar with Bile himself, or did he get someone else to do it? Sheyu might have been involved, if he defected to the Conquerors -- he did let Lenori take Meilin to the Greencloaks, but that's what the Conquerors wanted. I guess we'll never know the truth of it.

A spirit animal may return to the passive state in death. We see this with Zhosur and later Aputin (Dante's spirit animal).

Xue kind of reads as a mystical being to me. Her age, her wisdom, the way she comes and goes... I'm sure she was intended to be a normal human being, but I think it'd be cool if she was actually a spirit who guided Meilin on her quest. Something about their relationship reminds me of those stories about supernatural beings disguising themselves and appearing to humans, helping the good ones but cursing the bad ones. Whoever Xue is, there's certainly an aura of mystery around her. I wish we saw her again in the series.

This book has some really good scenes of the Four bonding and working together as a team. Meilin even lays off Abeke for the entirety of the book! It's too bad she relapses into her mistrust and aggression towards her in the next two.

This reread really made me appreciate how fantastic Blood Ties is. My love for Meilin has been well and truly rekindled by now. What an amazing character. The Reilin developments were wonderful to read about, too; their romance is so good. I really let this one pull me in and could clearly visualize everything that was happening, which is part of what made the experience so enjoyable. And the final battle was the greatest one so far.

Let's hope we don't sacrifice all this character development in the next book! (Spoilers... we do)

This is part of an ongoing series.

Wild Born | Hunted | Blood Ties | Fire and Ice | Against the Tide | Rise and Fall | The Evertree

Immortal Guardians | Broken Ground | The Return | The Burning Tide

Heart of the Land | The Wildcat's Claw | Stormspeaker | The Dragon's Eye

Tales of the Great Beasts | The Book of Shane | Tales of the Fallen Beasts

[theresa-of-liechtenstein]

two special edition rehearsalposts in a row? damn we're on a roll. anyway, rehearsalpost and quartetpost election day edition time i guess

the two older ladies in my section complimented my outfit for today (a blouse with fun sleeves and a tie neck with trousers and doc martens) which is how you know you've won in life

viola friend spent much of the day stress-baking and gave tita conductor a scone, which she happily accepted

as we got settled, my stand partner leaned over and said to me, "ten dollars she mentions the election"

sure enough, tita conductor referenced the cute flute couple, who are poll workers, and i pretended to pull out a wad of cash and hand it to my stand partner when she was done talking

we then commenced with what i have decided to call the Cardigan Chuck. and what, pray tell, is the Cardigan Chuck? allow me to enlighten you.

without fail (and at most 10 minutes into rehearsal time) tita conductor decides she's done wearing whatever cardigan she's put on for the day, shrugs it off, and puts it to the side at the front of the room. she does this by balling up the poor article of clothing and yeeting it away, sometimes over the heads of the outside stands of the cello or first violin section (depending on her whims that day). either way it is wildly funny and i have to try not to laugh when she does it

we got started on the first movement of the dvořák and tita conductor told the robust cello section, "to quote myself—what did i say last time?—i will not be sending you an engraved invitation. you will need to come in"

"you need to start playing this like the cavalry is coming from six counties away" -tita conductor to the violas

there's a finicky bit in the development that i've been struggling to get under my fingers independently, but i think feeling the context in rehearsal made something click for me and i felt a lot more confident playing it. W for me i guess

at some point in the sprint toward the first recapitulation the second violins were repeatedly Not Getting a series of notes, so tita conductor asked us to sing them through

after the first time through, during which i was the only one not mumble-singing, tita conductor looked down and asked us to do it again, adding, "and em, your leader, is doing a perfect job" 😭

madamina, once again, may i remind you we are in public; moreover, doesn't being technically part of chamber singers give me an unfair advantage in this

left for class shortly after and returned for quartet about an hour and thirty minutes later. we decided to read through eine kleine nachtmusik because, considering the current circumstances, none of us thought death and the maiden was suitable for the occasion

hilariously, every time keys could be heard jingling outside (we had the door propped open), we would all look to see who it was, because 9 times out of 10 if you are on the first floor of the arts building and hear a copious amount of keys jingling, it is usually tita conductor. call that conditioning

however, this time it was not tita conductor, but our two trumpet players, who walked in to give us an electoral college update before complimenting our playing and disappearing again

we managed to read through the first and second movements of eine kleine and would have done the fourth had ate dean not had grading to do. we cleaned up and would have informed tita conductor of our departure, but by then her office lights were off, so we all parted slightly somberly.

anyway considering that i will not have time to do anything of consequence in lab on tuesdays and thursdays next quarter, i think i’ll join chamber singers. seems like tita conductor would be amenable

[parallax-polysemy]

🎭Backstory (and notes)🎭

Part l - Debut

The girl, an abandoned orphan, lived without knowledge of her origins or destination after the group she had lived with disbanded, and after she left the cruel excuse for an orphanage until she encountered a small group of people. From a distance, she watched a black-haired lady with a double ponytail, gracefully moving across the stage like a butterfly. Despite donning various masks, they did not hinder her laughs and cries during her performance, captivating the audience even from afar. The butterfly leaped in front of her, then flew back up. Then, she remembered that she was watching the performance from beneath the stage from her large cage. As if she would ever be able to see it from the perspective of a normal audience member. But as usual, she continued to watch the performances for countless days, but she remained an audience member, never stepping into the spotlight. After one of the shows ended, she asked the lady if even just once, if she could perform up there like she had seen. With a smile, the black-haired lady handed her a mask. "Why not? You are 'Milana’, now. Go, it's time for your debut." As the curtain, serving as the fourth wall, was drawn, the stage remained dimly lit, revealing an unsettling black void. Though wearing a mask, she knew the audience could see and hear her. She kept recalling the woman’s performance, imitating her movements, voice, and demeanor. "You've done very well for your first time." “But my performance... Was not perfect." "That is a minor hiccup, but not a problem as long as nobody notices the difference... By the way, we are leaving tomorrow, so for as long as you want, you are Milana, and you can make her whoever you want her to be." Seiun wanted to say something, but the lady affectionately rubbed her head, effectively making her forget whatever it was that she was going to say. "Not many people care about you like we do, We're just a small group of very good people, and we don't have grand aspirations of becoming famous in the cosmos... It brings me joy to meet someone like you who will remember even a insignificant character named Milana... Don't cry, you can keep this mask. Now it's yours, Milana Suvi." Seiun nodded. "When you don this mask, you have the power to become anyone and no one... If you truly aspire to be an actor, don't limit yourself to this small stage. Set your sights on the larger world and explore new horizons."

Part II - A Dilemma

As one of the few Living Shadows, the girl lacked the freedom to choose. She was bound to live her life according to the dictates of the mask, as “puppets” were mere vessels for the masks. According to their legend, the longer a “puppet” dons a mask, the higher the chances of the puppet acquiring a soul, resembling a true human. The longer a puppet dons a mask, the more they begin to forget who they were without it until all that is left is the persona of the mask. However, as she had no interest in staying human, being a puppet was not an unfavorable choice for her. She dutifully obeyed the commands of the mask, despite the risk of attracting pursuers, as defying the mask proved to be challenging. Movement was a crucial aspect. By the will of the mask, she needed to smile sweetly when happy, hold her forehead while crying, grit her teeth when angry, narrow her eyes when jealous, and make a scene when in despair. There were also signature gestures, such as raising her eyebrows slightly to face others with the left side of her face, and raising her hand to express love, although she had to lower it later, as slightly biting her lower lip was the way to convey her true desires. Voice was another aspect. Depending on the situation, her voice needed to be cheerful when happy, mellifluous when expressing lyrical emotions, calm and assertive when making statements, strained when harboring hatred, and sorrowful when filled with grief. Remarkably, she managed to sustain this way of life for years, seamlessly blending into her surroundings and even becoming a playwright. Nobody ever suspected that she wore a mask. However, she couldn't help but wonder if there existed another type of "mask" in the world — perhaps someone wearing such a mask would laugh when seeking revenge, shed tears when smiling, remain silent when raging... And speak the most sarcastic remarks with the utmost calmness. Naturally, she couldn't do this due to the will of the mask, but as a playwright, making her characters on stage act like this was easy for her. One morning, the doorbell rang, but it wasn't her usual delivery person at the door. "Dear Miss Milana, I wonder if we could have a chat?" "We have read your latest work, and we're curious if you know anything about the 'Mask'..."

Character Story: Part III

The girl realized that she must be under some kind of curse. Why else couldn't she feel any stimuli? Her sense of pain, taste, and smell were all intact, yet she was unable to react to them. Naturally, she couldn't experience joy, anger, sadness, or a range of emotions. She could only strive to observe others' reactions in various situations to understand their feelings, and then attempt to copy them. Or somehow find or make a new mask... "...How would you feel if you were drinking a cup of bitter tea? How would you drink it?" Although tied to the chair and immobilized, the homeless man on the left made an appreciative gesture and nodded. The girl in the middle immediately cried and shook her head in denial, while the madam on the right wrinkled her nose in disgust. "What if you were in an extremely cold hut, with only this cup of tea at hand?" Naturally, the man nodded. The girl cried for a while and then reluctantly accepted, while the lady still reacted in disgust. She continued to change her scenarios and ask questions day and night until her interviewees passed out. She would send them home and seek out new targets for her "interviews." During that time, the small town's inhabitants all had the same nightmare. They found themselves trapped in a place where a faceless young girl politely asked them questions, and they had no choice but to answer. They could only provide responses repeatedly until the young girl meticulously finished recording every detail on paper masks, one after another. Whenever a mask was filled, it was replaced by another. This nightmare was soon replaced by another, as residents claimed to see porcelain masks flying through the air in the middle of the night. The masks would talk to each other, faintly glowing before eventually disappearing, resembling sparklers in the night sky. They appeared every night, as if they were residents living in the shadow of the town. In a dark basement, a young lady remained unaware of this bought of fear throughout the town. She had gathered enough information about people's nuanced emotions and their perceptions of different things... To make more masks. She firmly believed that although she possessed no emotions, the masks she created had flesh and blood. She even believed that one day, they would become real beings.

Part IV - View

"There are a few versions that are particularly popular." When Seiun arrived at Lupin Bar, she admitted her deeds. "Liking and believing are two different things, but people are more likely to believe in their favorite stories." "Lies? Come on, I'm not trying to tell a grand story or fabricate an eye-catching experience... I'm wholeheartedly exercising my imagination for my own sake. I imagine various lives, seek excitement, and then recreate them as best I can, and pump the brakes on my imaginative balloon just a second before it bursts." "Seriously, having a script is far from enough. First and foremost, I must wholeheartedly believe that the character I'm portraying truly exists. Then, I need to imagine the other stories where the character would appear. I always need extra information to make their motivation logical and emotional." "And only then will I feel I can grasp the essence of the character without being influenced by others. After all, when I encounter other people, I won't know what they want until I know who they are. Sometimes, you simply like the appearance of a character, and sometimes, you just want to experience it for fun. I do that sometimes, too." "And of course, there are those who play solely for the sake of gain or to be regarded in that way, hoping for unimaginable wealth, status, or power... Anyway, what I'm trying to convey is that in such an environment, who but myself can guarantee that I won't stray from my intended path and become a character in someone else's story? Nobody! That's why I have to tirelessly imagine and immerse myself in the act." "No, I'm not denying it... It's truly addictive to me. The more I imagine, the more I get absorbed in those characters, the wonderful and tragic situations I create for them, and the emotions they experience in those circumstances..." "Sure, I used to think about that kind of life... Joining a troupe, becoming an actor, traveling to unknown places for performances, creating a character with my own name on it... But then, one day, I had a sudden realization!" "If you want to perform, is there a stage more captivating than your own life?"

IMPORTANT NOTES

A Important thing to remember while reading her story is that almost all of it is symbolic or one thing means another thing.

•Firstly almost none of this is how its read

•its almost all a metaphor for something because I’m delusional. Her story needs a some thinking to fully understand it too.

•The group mentioned in the beginning is the Sheep

•Due to the fact that she and Milana are technically the same person, a lot of memories of things that specifically happened to MILANA have been fused to Seiun’s mind, making her believe that those things are her own personal memories. If that makes sense.

•Some people who have known Seiun for long enough would/are probably aware of her split personalities or that she and Milana are the same person, because once you’ve seen/heard enough of her and interacted enough with them, you’d be able to connect the dots like the corresponding memories, them sharing close appearances and more. Currently, Nakahara Chuuya, Osamu Dazai, Yuan and Shirase of The Sheep, and Aster Chase are the only people who know, but they play along with it because of the possible risks.

Seiun views the world as a metaphorical stage, where people "perform" by simply being who they are. The woman Seiun watches isn’t literally performing on a stage; Seiun just perceives her actions as a performance because of her own perspective.

When Seiun watches from "beneath the stage" or from a "cage," these terms represent her situation as a 15 to 17-year-old girl living in a large wooden box in an alleyway. She’s been through a lot, and she’s observing the woman, who is aware of Seiun’s presence and intentionally "performs" where Seiun can see her.

When Seiun asks the woman to "perform too," she’s really asking if the woman would take her in and teach her how to fit in with normal people, hoping to escape her current life. The woman, who is actually Misteln, agrees to help because she was the one who helped create Milana—another identity for Seiun.

The "curtain" symbolizes the shift that happens when Seiun puts on the "mask" of Milana. Once she adopts this new persona, the world becomes dark and scary, but she remembers how Misteln and others acted, which guides her.

The talk of "masks" refers to the different personas Seiun adopts. When she "dons the mask" of Milana, she’s taking on that persona. This is metaphorical, but also somewhat literal, given her abilities to switch identities.

EXPLANATION ABOUT MILANA (@summer-lantern) AND SEIUN -

Seiun is Milana's original, true self—her core identity beneath all the masks and layers she presents to the world. However, Seiun has adopted the persona of Milana so frequently that Milana has effectively become her default identity.

To others, it might seem like Milana is the real person and that Seiun is just an alternate persona she occasionally takes on. But in reality, it's the opposite: Seiun is the genuine self, while Milana is the constructed persona that has taken on a life of its own. The key is that Seiun is always present, but she’s acting as Milana, even though it appears that Milana is the primary identity. People around her just haven't realized this truth yet.

TAGS:

@paintedgrilledcheese

@dazai-mackerel

@myluckymoon

@i-brought-the-heat-back (나는 네가 이해하지 못하는 이것에 너무 많은 시간을 보냈어 😨)

@my-taintedsorrow

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

New Rule: The War on the West | Real Time with Bill Maher

New Rule: For all the progressives and academics who refer to Israel as an "outpost of Western civilization" like it's a bad thing, please note: Western civilization is what gave the world pretty much every goddamn liberal precept that Liberals are supposed to adore.

Individual liberty, scientific inquiry, rule of law, religious freedom, women's rights, human rights, democracy, trial by jury, freedom of speech. Please somebody, stop us before we Enlighten again.

And since one can find all these concepts in today's Israel and virtually nowhere else in the Middle East, if anything, the world would be a better place if it had more Israels.

Of course, this message falls on deaf ears to the current crop who reduce everything to being only victims or victimizers, so Israel is lumped in as the toxic fruit of the victimizing West. The irony being that all marginalized people live better today because of western ideals, not in spite of them.

Martin Luther King used Henry David Thoreau's essay "Civil Disobedience" to help shape the Civil Rights Movement. The UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights owes its core to Rousseau and Voltaire. Kleisthenes never showed up for a sexual harassment seminar, but without him there's no democracy. The cop who murdered George Floyd got 21 years for violating his Fourth Amendment rights, an idea we got directly from John Locke, who no one in college would ever study anymore because he's so old, and so white, and so dead, and so Western.

Yes, that's how simple the Woke are. It's never about ideas. If it was, would they be cheering on Hamas for their liberation? Liberation? To do what? More freely preside over a country where there are no laws against sexual harassment, spousal rape, domestic violence, homophobia, honor killings or child marriage. This is who liberals think you should stand with? Women there should be so lucky as to get colonized by anybody else.

And for the record, the Jews didn't "colonize" Israel or anywhere ever, except maybe Boca Raton. Gaza wasn't seized by Israel like India or Kenya was by the British Empire. And the partitioning of the region wasn't decided by Jews, but by a vote of the United Nations in 1947 with everyone from Russia to Haiti voting for it. But apparently, they don't teach this at Drag Queen Story Hour anymore.

Now it is true that for too long we didn't study enough Asian or African or Latin American history. But part of the reason for that is, frankly, there's not as much to study. Colleges replaced courses in Western Civ -- boo! Eyeroll! Dead white men, am I right? -- they replace that with World Civilization classes, which is fine in theory, but what it meant in practice is you read queer poetry of the African diaspora instead of Shakespeare. And I'm sure there's value in both, but as usual, America only ever overcorrects.

And so, we're at this place now where the words "western civ" became kind of a shorthand for "white people ruined everything." But they didn't ruin everything. No, they didn't live up to their own ideals for far too long and committed atrocities. But people back then were all atrocious, not just the white ones depending on who had the power.

But it was the western Enlightenment that gave rise to the notion that the law of the jungle should be curbed. Henry David Thoreau. John Stewart Mill. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Three-named dudes. It was all about three-named dudes. Three-named dudes like that were the OG social justice warriors. The ideas that came through Athens, Rome, London, Paris, and yes Philadelphia, are what make life good for most people in free societies today. That the individuals have value, and even the powers that be must submit to the rule of law. That punishment should not be cruel and unusual. That accused people get a trial. That there is such a thing as a war crime.

Why is it that every other culture gets a pass, but the West is exclusively the sum of the worst things it's ever done? You think only white people colonized? Historians estimate that the very non-western Mr Genghis Khan killed 40 million people, and that was in the 13th century. He single-handedly may have reduced the world's population by 11%. On the other hand, he kind of made up for it, because he was such a prolific colonizer of vaginas that today an estimated 16 million people are his direct descendants.

So, stop saying "western civilization" like it's a contradiction in terms. It's not. You're thinking of "moderate Republican."

==

The people who snarl "western civilization" went to elite universities with air conditioning where they used their MacBook Pros and iPhones on extensive Wi-Fi networks.

[hisuianhellion]

Update. Too tired to be emotional, so this might sound dry.

Not dead. Despite the universe's attempts to kill me, I am decidedly not dead. My family's also doing alright. All of us are alright on food, shelter and no one's injured. I'm... we're sacred, but we're okay.

I was actually kind of amused by Volo's little excersion onto my blog. Seems people don't trust him, but neither does Mutt, so I'm not gonna say you guys are in the wrong. Only that I DO trust him.

Kamado is not content with letting sleeping dogs lie, and despite Cyllene, Akari and Laventon being opposed, their hands are tied. He has been sending Security corp after Mutt and I. And I'm... rapidly losing my patience about that. We've had to fend off three of them. A fourth would've, but... it was Pacif. The one I helped teach. He's... he delivered a message from Akari. And said that he refused to obey, leading to him being cut from the fucking corps by Kamado, going OVER Zisu's head. And she couldn't do anything.

It's made it clear that even if I wanted to rip that man in half, he's a rather integral part of how Jubilife functions. I can't do too much to him. I don't want blood on my hands, but I was more tempted than I care to admit thanks to Maddie's shared fury over the situation. The people listen to him on the whole, and even with people cutting out to defy him, he's the one in charge. He dies, the village rebels.

I have thus spoken to Mutt. We will not be returning. Ever. I do not fucking care what that man says, I do not care if he grovels on the ground, crying out for forgiveness. I will not go back. I will rip my fucking tail off if I'm made to go back. Not again. I will fucking hire people to build me a house in the Fieldlands. There's no feasible way I will ever fucking go back to that village for anything other than helping Cyllene, Laventon, Pacif or Akari.

As for... what I've been trying to do. I explained to Irida and Adaman that the change to being a Pokemon was "within the week" levels of recent, and while confused, didn't seem opposed. I was still me. Mutt was still Mutt. They would help. They've been tag-teaming assisting, with Adaman leading us to Lake Valor and Irida to Lake Acuity.

We met... I think they're Legendaries. Azelf led me on a fucking fool's errand trying to deter me, and I nearly wanted to bite its head off before it conceded. It wanted me to show my willpower. And Uxie effectively quizzed me. They wanted to make sure I knew exactly what I needed to know, which meant a hefty amount of questions about the Pokemon I claimed to know of. And I got something from them both.

Adaman is heading back to the village to keep a closer eye on Kamado. Something about his movements has us all worried. Volo's been making sure we get information by effectively trailing to the Gingko guild both for supplies and for news, and it seems Kamado's prepping. For what, I don't quite know just yet. I'm not inclined to wait to find out, so I'm on my way to Lake Verity to meet the third of the trio. Cogita's offered to craft the Red Chain, so... it's about time we get shit done.

[captain-aralias]

giving birth

idk, i'm pretty sure some people wouldn't write a post about going into labour on tumblr, but it's a thing i wanted to write about, so - it's here if you want it! if you'd rather avoid, don't click the read more.

things normal people might want to know outside the cut:

baby is now 11 days old <3 things are generally going well. i sleep between about 11pm and 3am, and then again 8am to 10am

it's been hard to get enough brain together to write a post like this, reply to comments, read fic, etc, as many of my most cogent hours have been visitor hours or hanging out with my partner. the night shift is not a good time to do things that aren't watching TV. i've managed to Read Half a Book (daisy jones and the six - easy going, i like it)

i was going to cosplay him as baby simon snow left at the orphanage, but he looks nothing like simon (much more like baz - currently: grey eyes, reddish-gold skin, dark hair), and also i don't want to write on my baby :o

surprise fourth entry: we think the terrace house next door has been turned into a brothel ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

ok - birth stuff after this. not too much gory detail, probs, but some.

the beginning part you already know!

waters broke on thursday 11th, just after i woke up. this was two days after the stitch was removed, and therefore almost certainly related, so hooray for stitch! kept the baby in until 37 weeks.

i'd been worried that i might not realise my waters had broken, as apparently this is totally possible. i am here to tell you - that YES, it is possible. i clocked what it probably was immediately, but also it wasn't a 4 cups of liquid is everywhere sort of deal, it was more like - about half a cup every hour or so. and so i thought - this is probably what is happening, but maybe it's not and i should have done more pelvic floor exercises.

went to hospital. got hooked up to the machine that monitors baby heartbeat and movement. nothing much happening, although heartbeat all ok. the midwife on duty was called 'merlyn' - true story.

she asked me to walk around for a bit and come back, so my partner and i walked to the costa coffee inside the hospital. i ordered one of the new 'bubble' drinks, because i thought - why not? it's sugary and cold, these are things that make babies move. the drink was...... not good. blueberry slushy with cream on top and bubbles that were a) too big to fit through the absolutely normal straw and b) apparently were a cross between blueberries and popping boba. i say apparently as i'd given up by then and my partner ate them.

anyway - this detail included just to show you how surreal and nothingy early labour was. we walked back, hooked back up to the machine. baby now kicking a bit, and merlyn asked me whether i just had a really high pain tolerance and therefore wasn't upset about the contractions. i said, 'i dont know - guess we're about to find out' 🤔

agreed i probably wasn't in labour yet, so i was sent home, but asked to come back at 4.30 for my pre-scheduled scan with the nice doctor who first realised my cervix was open, and who we've seen regularly since (because my partner rang to complain when we had no follow up, and because this doctor was the one who rang us back and then made sure we were seen afterwards. not brilliant work from NHS administrators).

was also told if i didn't go into labour before hand, to come back at 8.30am (24 hours after waters broken) to be induced. given leaflet about induction methods. key take away - could take up to 3 days. sounds terrible.

home for 2 hours, back to hospital for scan.

we were waiting around for about half an hour. shown in - doctor says, 'we've had some difficult patients today, sorry! but you should be easy'. my partner tells her my waters have broken - she's surprised! (but pleased) no one has managed to tell her or put it in any notes, which she just reviewed. again - great job. i do love you NHS, but what is going on? a student midwife is trying to scan me - and has had to deal with all these previous difficult cases. with little amniotic fluid left, her job is basically impossible. sorry :'(

but - waters breaking confirmed! honestly, until that point i was still not sure. doctor says, induction could be offered immediately, but we mostly don't do that as in almost all cases you go into labour before 24 hours. i said thank you again for spotting my cervix being open. weird to think we won't see her again!!

went home. watched the end of 'little dorrit' (overall - it's good. so many famous people. the ending is a bit all over the place, though). about 9pm started feeling period-pain type pain. figured: probably a contraction! definitely did not feel like i expected in that there was no real release. it was just - now you're having a painful period. i called maternity triage again to say there was blood in the water now, and they reminded me that was totally normal (mucus plug, i guess) and to come back when things were serious.

so - i went to sleep.

woke up at about 2am. contractions now serious business, but also still... not as serious as i'd expected. again: basically it felt like period pain, this time crossed with constipation. and then it would go away, and i'd feel totally normal again, which i was not expecting.

we'd been told to come in when the contractions were every 5 minutes for an hour. my contractions were coming about ever 2-3 minutes. after about 20 minutes, i told my partner that i wanted to go to the hospital now, even if we should really wait. this was the RIGHT decision.

i'm the only one who can drive our car. it was obviously not a good idea to drive the car. i called an uber. unfortunately the labour ward is on the other side of the hospital to the main entrance, and doesn't have an address you can give uber..... retrospectively i'd have done better just putting in the street, like i usually did, but i tried to use the labour ward post code. we ended up at the main entrance, which was shut.

erin (my partner) keeps telling people that the uber drive was annoyed i slammed the door of his car, but i honestly do not remember this. the drive was about 10 minutes, during which i alternated between feeling bad and feeling totally fine.

we didn't bother trying to direct the driver to the right part of the hospital, just got out. erin wanted to go and get a wheelchair, but i didn't want to just sit on the ground outside the hospital in the middle of the night while she did that, and i felt completely fine ... except when i didn't.

so we walked to the labour ward. it's about 5 minutes from the entrance. i sat on the floor when the contractions came. then walked again. cool times.

arrived at maternity triage. again, it felt like going there every other time we'd ever been there - my key take away is that most of being in labour was extremely underwhelming. pain was not great, to the extent that i was thinking 'i can see why people don't like labour, maybe this was a terrible idea', but i could still think things like that. they hooked me up to the same machine as they had in the morning, and this time it said - yes, definitely in labour (which i knew, but ho hum - it was doing its best!).

asked to confirm i was a low risk pregnancy. we were like - nope, don't think so. ivf, stitch, isnt that in the notes??

a midwife came over and was like - "WOW, you're 8cm dilated." (of the necessary 10cm) at which point they started to take everything a bit more seriously. but they also described a bunch of pain relief options - and i was like, whatever, give me whatever i can have. and then was told - oh no, you actually can't have pethadine, water birth, or epidural of these as you're too far along. (which i also knew, but then why offer?)

i'd sort of suspected this might be the case, given how my cervix tried to open at 21 weeks. so my birth plan was basically 'whatever'. v glad i hadn't had my heart set on anything in particular.

they wheeled me down the corridor to one of the birthing rooms. they wouldn't let me go to the toilet in case i had the baby in the toilet..... that's how quickly things were happening.

i managed to change into the hospital gown, then got onto the bed. 'this is such a comfortable bed' i told my partner, although later (post birth) i realised that it wasn't... but i appreciated it a lot at the time.

i WAS allowed gas and air, hurrah. i'm extremely keen on doing things that make my life easier, so i accepted, obvs. basically, you breathe in during the contractions, and breathe out of the mask normally when you're not contracting.

THIS made the whole experience very different from just 'intense period pain', in part probably because the pain was ramping up, but also because whenever i wasn't contracting i felt completely off my face from the gas. overall, i thought this was a decent pain relief option. i also liked how breathing in the gas gave me something to focus on while pain was happening and it was a clear signal to everyone else that it was happening.

i probably had about... 5 more before my body was like 'maybe time to push'. (it really did feel different/like an actual urge). midwife told me i couldn't have the gas and air anymore - boo - just focus on pushing when the urge came.

pushed...... but obviously it hurt, so even though they were like 'keep pushing!' i thought, i will just relax because that's less painful. (great job, brain.) but i only faked out twice.

they invited a doctor in, because i was bleeding, and baby's heartrate was dropping. i agreed to the episiotomy because even though i reeeally didn't want that, i obviously would do whatever to get the baby safe.

retrospectively, my partner and i think that probably i was bleeding because i'd just had the stitch out two days before and those wounds had opened. but neither of us thought of it at the time, and no one assisting with the birth had had time to read the notes. (this is a theme of the post, not to be too whingey - but it was a shame). but anyway, the cutting (boo) came with a side of local anaesthetic (HOORAY) so actually it felt like a very good decision at the time, even above baby's safety.

one more contraction, one more push - baby was born in one go.

he's premature-levels of small at 5lb 10oz (5th percentile), even though he's technically full term. this is why erin and i think the bleeding was from the stitch rather than the baby, although one of the midwives suggested perhaps he was holding his arm up next to his face and that made him seem bigger. the scan we got the day before estimated his weight as being more normal, but scans are super unreliable particularly late in pregnancy.

really a very easy birth, as far as i can tell. i had slept through a lot of the early stage. the fear of being at home at not with medical professionals was the worst bit (and we fixed that by just going in even when we weren't sure) and as soon as it was over, i felt immediately fine. the whole thing had taken 2 hours tops. baby born at 4.30am.

i thought i'd cry when they gave me the baby, but actually i was too surprised that he was actually there and alive. (my partner cried.) the umblical cord looks creepy and alien. we'd agreed a medical professional should cut the cord, rather than erin (who wants to do this? they just want dads to feel involved). i got to hold him baby while they gave me the shot to deliver the placenta. barely felt it.

then had to give baby to erin for 30 minutes while a fuck tonne of stitches were put in... the amount of sewing involved was definitely worrying. i'd assumed maybe like... two stitches, but... it was a lot. can't recommend (though could not feel it at the time.)

after that, we just got to hang out in the room. i showered, changed, they brought me (but not erin) some breakfast and lunch. they did tests on the baby, most of which he passed. didn't pass the hearing test but apparently this is normal, as lots of babies have fluid in their ears. we think he can hear as he has startled at loud noises since. all the clothes i'd brought were hilariously too big.

sent home about 12 hours after the birth. could have stayed if we'd wanted to, but definitely did not.

i felt totally fine the entire day of the birth, full of LOTS of adrenalin. second day was also ok. third day was my crash. i got a cold, which was NOT good for my pelvic floor (and which i still have, RIP). my stitches hurt, the sleep debt had kicked in and i was hobbling everywhere, and breastfeeding wasn't going well. before the birth i'd been very much of the opinion that i'd breastfeed if it was easy, but i found it kind of weird and knew the health benefits were exaggerated. (but not completely, obviously). deep in my hormones, i was not able to hold onto this previously rational view. instead, i was thinking - i have no connection to my baby anymore.

i also cried at the song 'making a man' from the musical operation mincemeat (which is NOT an emotional song - but is about someone with the same name as my baby, who i'd just made), the beginning of the movie 'in the heights' (it was just so good!), the ending of the movie 'pride', and i cried again while describing what had happened at the end of 'pride' and how i'd cried.....

bought several breast pumps, fed the baby formula, took a day off from trying to breastfeed, things pretty much fixed for me (except for the crying at movies) by day 5. going to continue with combination feeding (i.e. breastmilk+formula) though, because it just seems insane to have to wake up every time the baby is hungry. what am i, a sadist? and when people are over - how good not to have to get your breasts out... thank you makers of formula.

ANYWAY. we're now on day 11. feels like baby is pretty easy going for a baby, he only cries when he needs something - which i appreciate, as it helps me keep him alive \o/ he will sleep in his basket, but only if he's already asleep. he prefers to be held. he can sleep for 3 hours at a time, but only during the day - at night you're lucky to get 1 hour, and he has been awake for about 2 hours at a time, unlike about 15 minutes average in the day. he smells nice, he wasn't cute-cute when he first came out, but he is getting extremely cute now and i think he looks more like my partner than an unknown donor (although still all to play for, i think). because he's still super small and almost pre-term, his legs and arms are still all curled up like he's in the womb, even though he's been out 11 days. but he's gradually uncurling them and stretching out.

i like holding him. he makes funny faces. he has a LOT of hair - which means the heartburn was right about that one. (n.b. heartburn is linked to hair, this is an old wives tale that is now scientifically proven) think it's going well, overall <3

n.b. i had to pause at this point because baby woke up. what they say about baby boys peeing on you while you change their nappies is 100% accu-rat, but it's quite funny really. we haven't worked out how to stop it because putting a cloth over him makes him hold it in..... and then you remove the cloth....... fine comedy in action.

my bump was very small, so i was able to put my pre-pregnancy jeans back on after only a few days. hooray, i love jeans.

uterine contractions started about day 6 (this is a thing i feel i did not know about before being pregnant myself. 7 days worth of contractions post baby to bring your uterus back in line). wow, it's like MORE PERIOD PAIN. great. there's less blood than i expected, though. i also can't control my temperature well at night - so i'm super hot while asleep, then get out of bed and start shivvering. apparently this is what the menopause will be like. looking forward to that 😅

not much else to add except the brothel stuff. basically 2 nights ago, someone knocked on my front door at 4.30 (same time baby was born!) in the morning as i was sitting up with baby. rang the doorbell, walked round to peer through the window, and then knocked again. i would not have answered - just wanted him to go away, but erin came down and opened the door, which was (it turns out) the right thing to do, but i was not happy about it - as we live in a semi-dodgy neighbourhood, although i've always felt relatively safe as we're off the highstreet and there are often people outside the pub until 1-2am, which is annoying but also feels like they'd see and stop anything bad.

i was running through scenarios like 'and then he breaks in' or 'and then he stabs whoever opened the door' in my mind. instead he just said something like - 'do you know where the whorehouse is?' and erin said 'wtf, it's 3am' and closed the door.

this could have just been a random incident, and indeed i didn't hear him say 'whorehouse' so i thought it was just a drunk guy asking for directions. but once she told me what he'd said, we then realised that the house next door to us... probably is a brothel. it's been renovated by our ex-neighbours and rented out, all the windows are blacked out, including the skylight we can see out of our windows. there's a complex doorbell system, they refuse to take our packages in, they don't have any bins out the front (which is presumably because no one is using the house as a house), and we've definitely heard people having sex through the walls. though erin thinks they've put up sound insulation just in time to not have to hear the baby crying in retaliation.

she's american and leftie and very against cops, so i'm trying not to be a karen about it. i have not reported it to the police, but i have said to erin already that if anything else happens that makes me feel unsafe...... i probably will. the man knocking on the door makes me not want to be awake with the baby in the night, even though nothing happened. (he broke the first rule of secret brothel - you DONT talk about secret brothel). we don't have our ex-neighbours details, so reporting is all we could do. apart from i guess ask them to move.... (won't be doing that, obvs. confrontation? no thanks.)

hopefully it's fine, and they will just move on at some point. VERY weird, though. and not what i need while hopped up on hormones.

glad to have written this post! feels like a good turning point in baby land, being able to write some words even if it's just this stream of consciousness. i also logged back into work Teams to send some pictures. since he was born, have been out with baby to the midwife (in the car), marks and spencers (in the car with pram), boots (in the pram), and today to a hipster coffee shop (in car, baby slept in pram bassinet). might reply to some comments tomorrow. working back up to actually writing some fic or finishing my lego.

also - it's (almost) hitting me that i have 9 months off work. apart from the sleep, i feel like i could go back to work now.... but i WANT the time off. but usually i only take 2 weeks off, and i've done that now... so it's time to go back to work...

i did read a bunch of other messages on Teams/Slack when i was posting the pictures. v hard not to care. even with something much more important to do.

ok - going to eat some food, now. thank you to anyone who read this far! hope it was interesting as well as long.

not tagging this pregnancy as i was doing it so people could block the tag, but people who don't know me literally found my posts and read them. and ... that's not what this is for.

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Seiko Kimura VS The Lizard [Danganronpa Survivor VS Spider-Man/Marvel Comics]

Hifumi: Dr. Seiko Kimura; the Ultimate Pharmacist!

Leona: Dr. Curtis Connors; The Lizard!

Hifumi: Part-human...Part-monster...ALL SAVAGE!

Leona: But when their backs are against the wall who's the most savage of them all!? He's Hifumi and I'm Leona!

Hifumi: And it's our job to analyze their weapons, talents and skills, to see who will win a DEATH BATTLE!

Leona: So for our combatant in Mikan Vs Fluttershy, we talked about a medical girl who's life just fucking sucked. THIS TIME however, we're going to talk about a medical girl who's life just fucking sucked! ...Wait a second.

Hifumi: We've talked many times already about the Biggest, Most Awful, Most Tragic Event in Human History. Also known simply as the Tragedy, it's origins lied in Hope's Peak Academy; a coed, private, city center high school with boarding facilities that was approved by the government and established several decades before the events that are known to us.

Leona: Before it was known as that though, it all started as The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy, the chronologically first mutual killing game to occur in our world, despite it's brevity. 

Hifumi: Many have characterized the Tragedy as a remarkable instance of social unrest that swiftly descended into meaningless chaos, violence, and fatalities. What began as the "anti-talent" movement quickly spread throughout the world and became more violent by the day, with the Masterminds, Junko Enoshima and the Ultimate Despair, working to fan the flames of unrest. Soon, chaos and death became the norm in society, and the initial reasons for the protests were forgotten. Before long, the majority of people had descended into chaos and hopelessness, and a significant global phenomenon had emerged.

Leona: But when things were at their bleakest, that was when a certain organization slotted themselves in to quell the Despair and return the world to how it always has been - The FUTURE FOUNDATION! Wow...We're 10 episodes in and only now we're really going into the history of the Foundation? I mean, it's basically our job.

Hifumi: That's simply because it hasn't been COMPLETELY relevant to our other combatants backstories thus far. For this particular character, it's quite an integral part of her tale. Alumni of Hope's Peak Academy founded the Future Foundation at some point during or after The Tragedy drove the world to the verge of destruction in an effort to defeat Ultimate Despair and repair the harm their actions had caused to the world. While initially founded by Kyosuke Munakata and Kazuo Tengan, it's unclear when they started operating, but they were clearly well-established during the events of the first killing game because they were able to support the Hope's Peak Academy survivors after they defeated Junko Enoshima and Monokuma.

Leona: And one of the founding members of this organization was a very interesting individual who served as a lead medical expert and the Branch Chief of the Fourth Division...Dr. Seiko Kimura.

Hifumi: Technically speaking, Seiko Kimura didn't OFFICIALLY get her doctorate until AFTER the events of the Tragedy and the Final Killing Game, and there's a rather tragic reason as to why. Not an awful lot is known about her backstory or her family life as a child, but what we DO know is that even as a youth, she had a terribly sick complexion and a chronic illness, hence her pale skin and grey hair. In order to stay alive, she had to submit to taking the same sample of medicine every single day of her life, otherwise, she could potentially die.

Leona: Because of her weak constitution, she didn't have many friends, except for two rather notable childhood companions in two other eventual Foundation leaders: Ruruka Ando and Sonosuke Izayoi. Though she hated being closed off, Seiko naturally learned a lot about the medication she was taking and the happenings of the medical industry. And it was thanks to this that she decided to make use of her pitiful life and do some good with it.

Hifumi: Though a younger Dr. Kimura had a tendency to undergo emotional spikes and snap at people for minor inconviniences, she was naturally quite humble and compassionate, and realized that there were many people in the world who were suffering like her, perhaps even moreso, because of sicknesses and illness beyond their control. 

Leona: So she studied hard to become a doctor, and went on to develop her own brand of special medicines with never before seen special effects, some of which she made when she was in Elementary School! 

Hifumi: This was what initially drew Ando and Izayoi to her. When Dr. Kimura was unable to save a dog from a car accident, the three of them first got together. They were surprised by how effective her medication was, and Ando warmed up to her, giving her some of her best-made candies. 

Leona: Sadly, Seiko was unable to eat them because of the harmful side effects that sugar has when combined with her medication; otherwise, she might not survive. 

Hifumi: Ando called Kimura a friend as a result, and Kimura promised to assist Ando in any other way she could to make up for this slight. She had gone to the same school as Ando and Izayoi all through elementary, middle, and high school, and eventually, all three of them got accepted into Hope's Peak Academy. Izayoi as the Ultimate Blacksmith, Ando as the Ultimate Confectioner, and Kimura as the Ultimate Pharmacist. Unfortunately, there was one other thing about Ruruka Ando that we need to mention...

Leona: She's a bitch! ~♪

Hifumi: I would not have put it so aptly but...Yeah, I suppose we can say that...

Leona: Though she kind of is so naturally, Ruruka Ando is probably the most toxic as fuck best friend you could ever hate to have, and I'm friends with Maya Canzanilla, so you know I mean that! Most of her relationships, ESPECIALLY the one she had with Seiko, was manipulative at it's core, with a "Get them to love you, and they'll do anything for you." kind of mindset. Mainly when it came to their practical exams at Hope's Peak, she made Seiko create sweet tasting drugs to put in her food to kind of...cheat-code her way through the exams.

Hifumi: And this HEAVILY came back to bite her in their second year. All thanks to the actions of one particular individual - Nagito Komaeda: the Ultimate Lucky Student of Class 77

Leona: Ugh THIS GUY again...!

Hifumi: After witnessing his classmates' depressing behavior all day due to the loss of Hiyori Sato and Natsumi Kuzuryu, Komaeda felt compelled to take action. He devised a plan after failing to get the exams postponed and went to see Dr. Kimura in her research lab. His plan was to lace laxatives in the judge's food, and should that fail, set off a bomb underneath the exam hall to disrupt the proceedings.

Leona: The fuck is wrong with this guy!? Ahem...Anyway, it's a pretty long and stupid story, but basically this led to a whole bunch of mixups, like Nagito swapping around similarly named medicines and then accidentally swapping bags with Seiko, that led to the judges ended up eating Ruruka's pastries laced with laxative, and Seiko accidentally switching on the bomb along with Ruruka.

Hifumi: Due to the mixup, Ando believed Kimura had purposefully given her the incorrect medication, which was why she failed her exams. Ruruka's comments hurt Seiko as well, and the two of them lashed out, releasing years' worth of pent-up resentment. Furthermore, the bomb incident resulted in the expulsion of all three of them, including Izayoi, whilst Komaeda, thanks to his talent, got off with a suspension. Due to these incidents, Seiko and Ruruka developed a deep dislike and mistrust for one another and thought the other was a traitor.

Leona: But to be branded a failure by Hope's Peak is to be branded a failure by ALL of Japanese Society. Seiko had NOTHING LEFT, and was implied to have been homeless and without a place to go when Munakata, Chisa Yukizome, and Juzo Sakakura stepped in to offer her help. Thus she became one of the Future Foundation's first members, and currently it's longest running.

Hifumi: Dr. Kimura's pharmalogical skills earn her the natural envy of even the most potent medical practitioners in the Danganronpa universe, like Mikan Tsumiki and Kanata Inori. As the Ultimate Pharmacist, the medical industry took a keen interest in Dr. Kimura due to her ability to discover novel applications for pre-existing medications in addition to developing her own. Many pharmaceutical companies had approached her, vying for her talent, saying they wanted to offer her their full support, but she took only minimal assistance with her research.

Leona: Seiko can create just about any kind of medicine, even with little resources, ranging from something common like laxatives and cold medication to more ludicrous concoctions such as strength enhancers and super-healing medication. Like the Doping Corn Soup that Akane Owari uses in some her battles that we covered in her episode.

Hifumi: Or the healing fluids that Mikan Tsumiki employed in hers. The Future Foundation trusted her to provide medication to the Tragedy victims, and she delivered. And Dr. Kimura carries a supply of these medicines on her person so that she's always ready to heal herself or her companions. The healing medicine she carries is so potent, it can regenerate even broken bones in a matter of seconds.

Leona: Though she unfortunately still suffers from her own affliction, she's been able to cure, repress and counter some of the most powerful afflictions and illnesses. She repressed Nagito Komaeda's cancer and frontemporal dementia, cured Nekomaru Nidai's heart virus, and balanced out Kuripa Kurafto's CIPA's disease by creating a drug that through ingestion, speeds up his already naturally slow healing process...Though this does have some nasty side effects if a person who DOESN'T have CIPA's takes it...As seen with Kaede.

Leona: And these medicines have helped herself and her friends survive the most powerful afflictions and adversaries they've ever come across, especially when she, Ruruka and the other Foundation leaders would be swept up in the Final Killing Game, secretly hosted and created by Kazuo Tengan as a weird as fuck attempt to save the world. For real though, I don't GET ANYTHING with that plan!

Hifumi: Don't think about it then. It's not worth your stress. But this came in clutch in the Final Killing Game, even after meeting her very unfortunate demise. Instead of executions, the Final Killing Game employed NG Code Poisoning in their place. The Monokuma bangles strapped to the participants wrists recognizes when a player transgresses their NG Code or Forbidden Action and instantly injects a deadly poison into their bloodstream, which almost claimed the lives of Daisaku Bandai, Koichi Kizakura and Kyoko Kirigiri.

Leona: Emphasis on that ALMOST. You have a deadly poison! WE have a Seiko!

Hifumi: Though it was only thanks to her research and Mikan Tsumiki's equal medical knowledge, Seiko Kimura developed a COUNTER-MEDICINE to the NG poisoning. A person would go into a comatose state rather than pass away from the poison injection if they took the medication prior to the bracelet activating. Taking the drug before her NG Code activated allowed Kyoko Kirigiri to survive. Even though she looked dead to her friends, the physical effects were significantly less severe, and after Mikan Tsumiki revived her, she had no lasting side effects. And she achieved this UNDER FOUR HOURS after Daisaku Bandai was first induced with it.

Leona: That's not even mentioning that she eventually developed a CURE! Even though she confirmed Bandai's almost instant death with the NG Code Poison, she was able to resuscitate both him and Koichi Kizakura hours after everyone believed they had died. But I know what you're all wondering. "MeH, thiS is A DeAth BaTTlE, HOw's she gUnNA uSe tHIs To FIGHT, mEh!?" Which is fair, since what's the point of being so smart if she can't hit hard? Fortunately, she can, with her most powerful and notable drug...

Hifumi: Dr Kimura was developing a "Reanimator" just before she was expelled from Hope's Peak, which had the added benefit of enhancing the user's physical condition. No matter how worn out someone was, she claimed that one ingestion of the pill she was developing would revitalize them completely when it was believed to have been added to Ando's confections. A small dog that was consuming some of the reanimator during Komaeda's antics soon transformed into a GIANT, which enabled it to completely breach a wall.

Leona: In the Final Killing Game era, it takes the form of these little green pills that Seiko takes by popping a handful of them in her mouth. And taking these little babies transforms Seiko into her BEAST MODEtm!

Hifumi: Dr. Kimura specifically enters a berserk-like state, exhibiting glowing purple eyes, longer hair, claw-like fingernails, and a more muscular body. When she was attacked by Ando and Izayoi, she used this transformation, and as soon as she transformed, Izayoi threw a knife at her, which she caught in her mouth and broke with her teeth!

Leona: The transformation gave Seiko the strength and immunity to power through all of the traps that Ando and Izayoi set for her. Given that Izayoi has previously shown to be on a similar fighting level as Remnants Akane and Nekomaru, Seiko being able to wrangle with him shows just how powerful she really is.

Hifumi: And it's not just Izayoi that Kimura was able to "wrangle" with. She also took Juzo Sakakura, the Ultimate Boxer, head on, and even fought and almost beat Kanade Otonokoji, who was able to defeat Kuripa Kurafto by catching him off-guard.

Leona: Not to mention that at the time they fought, Kanade was coked up herself! On HOPE SERUM! The same drug that was developed to gift Ayumu Fujimori and Nagito Komaeda the Ultimate Hope powers that Hajime Hinata recieved through the Kamukura Project, becoming an unstoppable being who's existence is talent and power itself.

Hifumi: ...Sort of. When Kanade Otonokoji took the Hope Serum, her body was not pre-prepared for it's effects. So instead of giving her Ultimate levels of capability, it instead boosted her strength by a fair margin, but not as much as it would have done if she had the right body type for it. Even still, with how ferocious she fights, it's still impressive that Dr. Kimura was able to fight with her on an equal level. It implies the effects of her drugs have the potential to keep up with Fujimori and Komaeda if they're developed further.

Leona: Seiko also broke down several metal doors and structures with relative ease, jumped great distances through and up into the air, and was even able to smell the scent of Ruruka while she was a great distance away, even through solid glass, giving her bloodhound-like senses. And this isn't even the full power that the form can reach!

Hifumi: The number of Reanimators that Dr. Kimura consumes at once determines how her form changes; consuming more of them lengthens the transformation and boosts her power. During her transformation into the advanced state, she bent a metal rail, sent Sakakura skidding away with a single blow, repeatedly punched through reinforced glass, leaped around a large room breaking lights along the walls, and then embedded her feet in a wall above the window of an observation booth, and tanked several missiles fired at her by Miaya Gekkogahara, causing a massive explosion.

Leona: But one interesting thing about her berserk state, is that even though her senses and bloodlust rise exponentially, it seems that her intelligence and consciousness remains...mostly intact.

Hifumi: Indeed. While she does undoubtedly go crazy in this form, she has always demonstrated that she is still capable of thinking when she uses it, as evidenced by the suggestion that she wanted to mend Aoi Asahina's injured arm or the fact that she was still capable of taunting communication during her fight with Otonokoji. And even though she is a beast, she still knows how to use her medical knowledge and equipment, like how she used her medicine to heal her arm when Izayoi damaged it.

Leona: Alas, as incredible as she is, she is far from indestructible. As a regular human without the use of the medicine enhancers, Seiko is just a normal human with normal human weaknesses.

Hifumi: And even though she poses a serious threat as a monster, her metamorphosis is only temporary and ends when the effects of the drugs wear off. And sadly, even the beastial form did not save Seiko Kimura from her demise in the Final Killing Game. In her last moments as her transformation started to wear off, she began to reflect on how all she really wanted was to be friends with Ando once more. She was also sorry that she was unable to stop her allies from dying. She fell asleep for the last time when the timer on her bracelet rang. She was brainwashed into taking her own life while she was asleep.

Leona: Until the Future Foundation's resurrections devices brought her back to life! Which by the way, she was kind of in on all THAT stuff as well!

Hifumi: Well, she didn't MAKE the machines, but she helped to study and improve them, which led to the ones who died in the first killing game, including yours truly, to be brought back to life. I really owe her a lot now that I think about it...I should show my appreciation more often...

Leona: Just get her some valentines chocolates or something.

Hifumi: I would if I didn't risk invoking Mr Komaeda's wrath. During the same time as her resurrection, the Remnant's of Despair, now reformed and back to their old selves, were beginning to work with the Future Foundation, and came initially under Dr Kimura's care; something that she personally did not like at first. Though this also had to do with her past experiences of being manipulated and not wanting to increase her social circle too much. But still, when she discovered that the prior terrorists had changed their tune, she changed hers, and went on to help them with lots of their long-standing issues and by this point in time, basically became one of them.

Leona: So you're telling me that after he got her and her friends expelled, ruined her life, became a Remnant, destroyed the world and then betrayed the Future Foundation for the sake of petty revenge, she hooked up with that weirdo? I'd judge her standards, but I'm about the same.

Hifumi: Well, Mr Komaeda became a very different person following the events of the Jabberwock Island Killing Game, and it's mainly thanks to Dr. Kimura. Though remaining an idealist, Komaeda was eternally grateful for the things that Seiko had done for him in spite of their rough history, and regretted what he had inadvertedly done to her and her friends. He committed a lot of his time to helping her out and getting whatever she needed for her, eventually falling in love with her. Genuine affection, that is.

Leona: I.e. NOT the creepy hope obsession affection that he usually displays. but yeah, Nagito's care for her allowed Seiko to keep going even when Zetsubou kidnapped her and forced her to develop their powerful Hope Serum, and boy did she style on them once she got her edge back. 

Hifumi: Seiko Kimura will always remain despite all that she has endured and witnessed, and will regretfully always be confronted with from her traumatic past. And among the many powerhouses of our universe, she will continue to be among the most astute and formidable women in history.

Leona: Ok, but seriously though, are there any medical people in our universe who's lives DIDN'T fucking suck?

Hifumi: Um...Dr. Inori?

Leona: Lost her parents in a car crash

Hifumi: Your friend Mr Ito?

Leona: Struggled with transphobia when he was a kid.

Hifumi: Mr Porosen?

Leona: Barely counts and you know full well how damaged that baby boy is.

Hifumi: Fair...

Leona and Hifumi continue their back and forth

Leona: The strange case of Curt Connors is one of the most tragic in Spider-man's career. Over the years, he has watched helplessly as his close friend has slowly devolved from human into animal. But the road to reptilian hell was once paved with good intentions.

Hifumi: Dr. Curtis Connors, known by his family and peers as Curt, started out life as a very good man. Born in Coral Gables, Florida, he studied a doctorate and became a gifted and talented surgeon, eventually joining the US Army as a combat medic, operating on injured soldiers in combat emergencies. He had many friends despite his introverted nature, and was a family man with a loving wife, Martha, and son, Billy.

Leona: Why does every superhero comic have a loving wife named Martha...Ahem, never mind! But then one day, tragedy struck...His arm went KABOOM!

Hifumi: While serving the force, Connors was caught in an horrific explosion that, miraculously, he survived, but his right arm was damaged beyond repair, and he had no choice but to have it amputated. Unable to serve the force anymore, Connors was discharged and went back to civilian life as a research technologist. His medical and scientific wisdom landed him a job at Oscorp, or S.H.I.E.L.D depending on the iteration.

Leona: However, coping with the loss of his arm turned out to be a NIGHTMARE for Curt, and he struggled to live with his lack of it. Using his wealth of knowledge and research, he and a few close friends set out to try and find a cure, or a way to help him regrow his lost limb. But his path towards a solution came from a rather interesting place...Herpetology! Wait...he got his solution from HERPES!?

Hifumi: NO! Ugh...Herpetology refers to the area of zoology which is dedicated to the study of reptiles and amphibians. What Connors was specifically interested in was a reptiles unique genetic "recipe," that provided creatures like axolotls or lizards their enhanced regenerative abilities of musculoskeletal tissues, 

Leona: ...Come again?

Uchui [off-screen]: They can regrow their limbs!

Leona: Ooooh! Ok, so by understanding the secret of how lizards regenerate their limbs, Connors set out to develop a potential way to simulate the regeneration of limbs in humans, helping them regrow amputated or damaged limbs. Not just for himself, bare in mind, but he figured if he could use his medication on himself, he could use it to provide revolutionary healthcare to the rest of humanity who were suffering like he was. What a SWELL GUY!

Hifumi: And it honestly wasn't that far-fetched of an idea, at least not on paper! Despite being cold-blooded reptiles, lizards essentially have the same genetic toolkit as mammals. In fact, lizards are the most closely-related animals to humans that can regenerate entire appendages. Researchers have found that in particular areas of a regenerating limb, such as the tail, they activate at least 326 genes, including those involved in wound healing, hormonal signaling response, and embryonic development.

Leona: Curt became obsessed with learning about reptilian limb regeneration. He finally developed an experimental serum derived from reptilian DNA while working from his home in the Florida Everglades with the assistance of war buddy, Ted Sallis, and in a few iterations, the one and only Peter Parker, the son of Richard Parker, an old friend of Curt's who attempted to help him before he mysteeeeeriously disappeeeaaared~

Hifumi: As it turns out, the experiment worked out pretty well at first! Connors put this serum to the test on an amputated rabbit, and it worked! To take this experiment to the next level, he discovered an even better test subject: Himself.

Leona: Despite his wife's desperate pleas, Curt used himself as a Guinee Pig and ingested his own experimental serum. Thus "Experiment-that-can-only-go-wrong No.342" occurred...Le sigh...THIS is why we LISTEN to our wives, people!

Hifumi: Once Connors took his serum, his amputated arm regrew within MINUTES, something that reptile regeneration actually doesn't do, since it takes a lot more time than that. The results of his experiment were frankly miraculous, and for a brief time, the Doctor believed he had revolutionized modern medicine...But then reptilian green scales started to spread over his body, and he spouted a long, lizard-like tail...!

Leona: Similar to a letter-day Jekyll and Hyde, Dr. Curt Connors had gone from being a mild-mannered scientist into a BLOODTHIRSTY villain...! The LIZARD! Because superhero comics...HATE DOCTORS!

Hifumi: When Connors is the Lizard, his altruistic personality takes a backseat to the reptilian rampagers brutal behavior. He is unable to control his transformations very well, and he is constantly in a state of rage and fury. Warranting him an unmatched destructive power, as well as MULTIPLE encounters with the web-slinging hero; even the X-Men at times.

Leona: Lizard is a ruthless beast who possesses incredible strength and inhuman powers. While he may walk like a man...sometimes...and is even capable of speech...sometimes...his behavior is anything BUT civilized. And he has only one goal and desire...to WIPE HUMANITY THE FUCK OUT!

Hifumi: To put it another way, his goal is to eradicate all mammal life from the planet. To his animalistic mind, the only way to restore reptiles to their rightful place as the planet's masters is to wipe out all warm-blooded species, including humans. Despite the fact that Dr. Conners and Spider-Man have grown dependent on one another over time, the Lizard despises the webslinger for impeding his efforts to wage war on humanity. And with his own unique powers, as well as how he can handle Spider-Man multiple times and quite easily at that, it's all the more important for Spidey that he needs to be stopped.

Leona: Let's talk stats. To start with, Lizzie's leg muscles are so powerful that he can leap nearly 12 feet into the air, and cover an average distance of about 18 feet with a single bound, which more than helps him keep up with Spider-Man, even though he's not as fast AS the hero. He's also used his incredible speed to keep up with characters like Morbius and Doctor Octopus.

Hifumi: He can whip his tail at speeds of up to 70 mph, and his top running speed is close to at least 45 mph. That's comparable to a Greyhound's speed. And thanks to the Lizard's natural ability to regenerate from wounds and fatigue, his stamina is almost immeasurable. The bio-regenerative serum gave him an enhanced, hybrid physiology that allows him to fight almost endlessly without fear of fatigue. He can withstand severe bleeding and brutal wounds thanks to his healing factor, and he has lost limbs several times without so much as blinking.

Leona: So he's got speed and stamina in the bag, but what about power? Well, if the big-ass teeth, fuck-off claws and hulking beastbody don't sell it...Yeah, yeah, he's REALLY strong.

Hifumi: The Lizard has fought and matched Morbius the Living Vampire in battle, who in Spider-Man's own words, "hits like an h-bomb," and while this is obviously exaggeration, Morbius' actual attack potency is indeed above and beyond that of most Marvel heroes, much more than Spider-Man's. 

Leona: And over the years that Lizzie and Spidey have been fighting, he's just gotten more powerful every time. Kind of like if Goku was a large angry reptile and also very evil! Evidence of the Lizard's passing is "a steel door torn off its hinges like it was cardboard," and he often causes mass environmental damage. In Insomniac's Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man's fight with Lizard infamously took them across most of New York, and whatever infrastructure the two came across was basically totalled.

Hifumi: Spider-Man even claims in the comics that unlike most of his recurring foes, Lizard is one that he can't afford to pull his punches with as he usually does. Though many forget it, Spider-Man's punches are ordinarily LETHAL in potency; especially since he's able to one-shot Tombstone, who can't ordinarily feel pain, and halt the charge of the Rhino with a single kick. If he struggles to fight Connors without holding back, that's certainly saying something!

Leona: But there's MORE to it! A few times in their early fights, Spider-Man outright states that the Lizard's reptilian skin is so thick and hard that's what she said...that he almost FRACTURED HIS KNUCKLE just punching him! And this is coming from the same guy during one of their fights, punched through a three-inch thick steel door!

Hifumi: This would take about 150 tons, or 300,000 pounds of force, for a mild steel door. The force for a HARDENED steel door could increase significantly but would likely remain below 1,000 tons, particularly if the door is composed of an exotic alloy like maraging steel. Either way, to know that the Lizard's skin is somehow DENSER than that makes you wonder how Peter is even able to HURT the Lizard in the first place.

Leona: Sometimes it feels like he CAN'T! Lizard's skin HAS proven to be bulletproof and explosionproof, and even when Spider-Man goes all out, it's very hard to keep the beast down! He's also taken hits from Stregon, another reptilian villain who put his fist directly through concrete with a punch, and he's taken hits from opponents that are just as strong, if not stronger than that, including, but not limited to, Wolverine, White Tiger, Man-Thing and the Last Son of Kraven.

Hifumi: It's a little bit complicated in lore terms, but the Last Son is a Kraven clone raised on an accelerated life cycle and trained from birth, who went on to hunt and kill 86 other Kraven clones raised in the same manner. Additionally, Kraven's Last Son has the ability to punch Kraven through walls while he is wearing the black Spider-Man suit, and Connors was hit repeatedly by the Last Son even when unable to retaliate because of an adamantium inhibitor chip in the back of his neck.

Leona: Even aside from his natural strength, durability and speed feats, the Lizard is more than just some movie monster. He's got some weird, wacky and FUCKING TERRIFYING powers under his scaly belt! Like Hifumi already said, for one, he can easily regenerate.

Hifumi: As I already said, ACTUAL reptile regeneration is not a quick process. The injured stump where the lost body part was originally located forms a "blastema" in reptiles with the ability to regenerate body parts, such as newts and salamanders. This is a mass of cells that will regenerate the damaged body part, including stem cells. The genetic program that initially formed the body part before birth or hatching will be activated by the blastema. If the creature LIVES for that long, this process could take a month or up to fifteen months.

Leona: Ok, I get it, it's slow, stop using big words!

Hifumi: But the Lizard on the other hand has a regeneration process that is just inhuman or...in-reptile I suppose; not just because it's much faster, but because it's far greater than just regenerating limbs. Not only has his tail and arms grown back, but so have his eyeballs. He has quickly healed from multiple gunshot wounds and made a full recovery from impalement. He swiftly healed his broken neck, avoided having the Man-Thing burn his head, healed after receiving a knife wound to the head and regurgitated his spinal cord after it was severed!

Leona: He ALSO adopts characteristics from other reptiles like Alligators, and by which I mean those bastards stealth skills. Though he as the power to tear down buildings at his leisure, Lizard typically relies on catching his prey by surprise, and he's damn good at it despite his large size and beastly aura. He uses his stealth skills to stalk his prey at the night, and is perfectly capable of causing distractions, like how he was able to sneak under a couple's car without them noticing. Wait, how the fuck does he fit under there!? He's like 3 times the size of me!

Hifumi: Lizard's hands and feet are also covered with tiny claws that create adhesive pads, like those of a gecko. The pads allow him to scale and slither even sheer surfaces, with naturally faster speed than a real lizard and ever greater ability than Spider-Man himself.

Leona: But among Curt's many abilities, what to me is his most interesting one is his telepathy. Yeah, among all the other insane bullshit, this guy can CONTROL MINDS! WOOOOO!

Hifumi: Well, sort of. As long as they're close by, Lizard's special ability allows him to control and manipulate the minds of all other ranges of reptiles, including snakes, crocodiles, and lizards. When it comes to Spider-Man, Lizard is more than happy to use the reptiles as his foot soldiers. This power is robust as well. He's even used it to control the mind of Man-Thing, and once, he summoned an entire swamp of creatures to attack Ben Reilly Spider-Man.

Leona: But surprise surprise, he can use this power on HUMANS too. Spider-Man explained that the telepathy is like an aura around Lizard that "makes the Id take over the Superego". What that fucking means, I don't know, but based on the dialogue I'm going to assume it means it makes everyone around him stupid. Considering it made Doc Ock act like an animal who talks like the Lizard, I'm gonna assume I'm right.

Hifumi: Sorry to hit you with more science and calculations, but the way the Lizard does this relates to the Triune Brain structure; a hypothesis put forth in the 1960s by American physician and neuroscientist Paul D. MacLean regarding the evolution of the vertebrate forebrain and behavior. One aspect of the diagram is the Reptilian Complex, or R-Complex. The word comes from the belief held by comparative neuroanatomists that these structures dominated the forebrains of birds and reptiles. According to MacLean, instinctive behaviors typical of a species such as aggression, dominance, territoriality, and ritualistic displays are caused by the reptilian complex.

Leona: So in summary, it's LITERALLY every man's inner beast. In order to employ this, Lizard's body gives off a noxious fume that can fuck with someone's mind in a DEVASTATING way if it's inhaled. He forces the animal instinct to be released, and to make human beings act mindlessly and destructively, which he's employed against and ON Spider-Man, employing the web-slingers lizard brain to induce fear in him and make him run away in terror.

Hifumi: As for any other abilities he might have, it has also been demonstrated that he has poisonous clawtips that cause excruciating pain, disorientation, and sensory impairment to those who are slashed by them. Additionally, he's resistant to heat and diseases. He was unaffected by boiling water, merely startled by a Bunsen Burner's flame, and had no trouble biting into flaming objects. 

Leona: Damn...We sure covered a lot of crazy as fuck feats. And I bet you all thought he was just some big green scaly monster. So the question is this...if the Lizard is such a terrifying foe, how is Spidey able to beat him?

Hifumi: For one thing, Lizard has a rather potent weakness to the cold. The main thing that separates reptiles from mammals is the formers cold blood, and in the case of Connors, severe cold severely impairs him and may even stop him entirely. It also drives him, on occasion, into hibernation.

Leona: Plus, as I said before, Lizard is only KIND of able to communicate and strategize beyond that of his animal instinct. The longer Curt Connors remains AS the Lizard, the more his abilities to talk and think slip away, and his hunger for violence and destruction only grows. 

Hifumi: When they first clashed, using Connors' notes, Spider-Man created an antidote to return the Lizard to his human form and mentality. The family man was back, and even though his mentality regressed over time due to the battle with the beast inside him, he went on to remain one of the webslingers most trustworthy allies, even going as far as to save May Parker's life when she was accidentally exposed to Peter's radioactive DNA.

Leona: But how long do you think THAT'S gonna last?

Hifumi: Good question. And the truth is I can't tell you for sure. It later became clear that the success of Connors' apparent cure from the Lizard persona was short-lived. A cycle began of Connors' transformation into the Lizard continually caused by stress or a chemical reaction; Spider-Man fighting him, forcing him to swallow the antidote to stop the transformation until the next time, rinse and repeat

Leona: At any time, be it due to reactions with chemicals or overexertion of stress, Dr. Curt Connors can at any point relapse into the reptilian beast. Until the day comes that someone finds a true cure for the monster, The Lizard will stay one deadly predator and one of Spider-Man strongest and deadliest rogues.

Hifumi: Alright, the combatants are set! We've run the data through all possibilities!

Leona: IT'S TIME FOR A DEEAAATH BAAATTLLLLLLEEE!

The scene opens to a dark, damp and grimy sewer, as Dr. Seiko Kimura, the Ultimate Pharmacist, carefully trudges through the sewage. With a worried look on her face, she sees multiple slash marks and the traces of what appear to be mutilated animal corpses lying in the grime. Her goal is to track down the perpetrator.

*hisss...!*

Seiko: ...!?

She suddenly senses a presence nearby, and barely spots a shadow as it lurks around a corner. Instinctively, she grabs a bottle of pills and equips a bag full of medicines to her side.

Seiko: Doctor Connors? If you're trying to scare me...It's working...!

Seiko suddenly breaks out into a run as the pressure gets to her. With her feet splashing along the damp pavement of the sewer, the Lizard finally crawls out from it's hiding place and scales the ceiling to catch up to her. It pounces and knocks both of them down a large drop where the sewage water falls.

Seiko cries out and very quickly shoves a handful of green pills in her mouth, as she and her reptilian adversary splash down into a pool of dirty water, with Lizard being the first to emerge by swimming through the 

Lizard: Hrrrgh...!?

To the reptilian ravagers surprise though, Seiko Kimura's hand, now more beastly and with claw-like fingernails, bursts out of the murky water. It slams on the concrete, cracking it, as she hoists herself out. The rest of her body then rises, with her hair now longer, her eyes a bright glowing purple like the Lizard's glowing green pupils, and her fangs as sharp as a staple remover. The Lizard however, is not threatened.

Lizard: You...think you can sssstop the LIZARD!?

Seiko: Whether I have to currree you orrr kill you...! One way or anotherrr...I'm taking you down!

With a growl, Seiko charges the creature that used to be Doctor Connors, but the Lizard's reflexes are quick, and he smacks her back with his powerful tail.

Seiko rebounds swiftly from the severe blow, and the Ultimate Pharmacist attempts another claw slash, but her opponent shrugs off the attack, lands a kick, then a second blow with the tail and finally a claw swipe.

Seiko: GRRAAARRRGH!

Lizard: GAAGGH!? RRAAGH!

Seiko scrapes the sewer's concrete wall, chipping away at a sizable portion of it before slamming Connors back into his obstruction. 

Lizard: HYAAAARRGGGGH!!!

Seiko: USE YOURRR WORRRRDS CONORRRS! With SYLLABLLLES!

Without any delay, she grabs the head of the reptile and violently bashes it against the sewer wall. Even though the Lizard doesn't seem to be affected much by this, the attacks are so strong that they indent and eventually shatter the wall, sending the two Devasting Doctors flying through it.

Seiko tosses her battered opponent to the ground below as they find themselves in a new, open area with rushing water behind them. The Lizard lands hard, but Connors rolls over onto all fours, his victims' blood streaming from his mouth as he snarls.

The vicious Pharmacist lunges in at full speed and runs along the ground to intensify her attack. In return, Connors roars and rushes in her direction.

Seiko: GRRAAARRRGH!

*BANG!* *BASH!*

Lizard: YOU'RE SSSSSOO PITIFFFUL!

*SHUNK!* *SMASH!* *BAM!*

Because of her agility and smaller stature, Seiko gains the upper hand and tackles Connors, hitting him twice with outright vicious punches. Connors then returns fire, cutting Seiko with his claws and hitting her again just as hard.

When the lizard tries to bite his opponent, she dodges and then tries to bite back, which gives the monster the opportunity to whip her severely with his tail.

After being knocked back, Seiko uses her claws to climb the adjacent wall and escape Connors's follow-up bite. Connors however, does the same, scaling the wall with the tiny claws on the pads of his hands.

Lizard: RRRRAAGGH!

*CHOMP!*

Seiko: GRRRAAGGGH!

*CRAASSH!*

As the two monstrous scientists grapple against the wall, the Lizard is able to bite Seiko and launch himself off, driving her into the ground in a manner akin to a German suplex, except with his mouth. Lizard keeps a tight hold of Seiko's arm, which starts bleeding profusely.

Lizard: You're ssssoo weak...! You're not even worttthh keeping alive in my empire...!

Seiko: You arrren't the scarrrriest thing I've seen...! RRRGH! Good luck getting out of these sewerrrrs ALIVE!

Lizard: HYAAUUGH!

Seiko bounces back swiftly from the hard landing, using her superpowers to deliver a vicious uppercut to the Lizard's jaw that tears it apart and frees him from her. She hurriedly digs through her medicine bag for a green syringe, sticks it in her arm, and instantly seals the wound on the her arm, quickly wiping it of blood.

Lizard: Hisss...That'ssss MY ssscchchtick!

With a growl of frustration, Lizard watches as Seiko tends to her wound before roaring and rushing back at her. In an attempt to evade the attack, Seiko leaps multiple feet into the air and bounces off the wall to get some distance. However, the Lizard simply makes an equally high jump, sending their fight into the air, at least 14 feet above the ground.

With the lack of footing, Seiko finds herself at the initial disadvantage, thanks to the Lizard's autonomous tail, but eventually she seizes an opening by grabbing the tail and jumping on the Lizard's back!

*SSSHUUNK!* *CRAACK!*

Lizard: REEEEEEEEAGGH!

Lizard cries out in pain as Seiko suddenly takes the syringe that her healing serum was in earlier and stabs him in the eye with the needle! Not only that, but while the pain shoots through his face, Seiko grabs both sides of his jaw and pries it open as they crash back down to the ground!

The Lizard's body breaks Seiko's fall, but Connors bears the full force. Even though he throws Seiko off of him by grabbing her with his tail, the Lizard breaks his jaw when he lands face-first on his pried-open mouth.

However, this does not have the long-lasting effect that Seiko aims for. Though in immense pain from the impact, the Lizard's jaw muscles and bones naturally regenerate very quickly, and within seconds, it's like the injury never happened.

Lizard: I'm not about to losssee my mouth when I sssstill have yet to feasssst on you...!

Seiko: You'rrre not eating me today, Connorrrrs...!

Lizard: Don't missssunderssstand...! Mealsssss are meant to be SSSSHAAARED!

To Seiko's horror, the scaley scientist summons several sharp-toothed reptiles to attack her, and they suddenly emerge from the sewer's dark crevices. She struggles to fend them off as they start jumping her and trying to sink their fangs into her, not helped when the Lizard makes follow up attacks with his own powerful claws.

However, Seiko is still able to fling the reptiles off of her with a powerful spin, and quickly starts pulling medicines out of her pouch. She quickly kicks Connors in the face to get him to back off, then starts combining medicines on the fly while avoiding his reptile minions.

Once she's created a concoction, Seiko bottles it up and smashes it on the floor in front of her, clouding the sewers with a pungent aroma that repels the reptiles from her, including the Lizard, to an extent.

However, something then happens that she doesn't expect. Lizard starts releasing his OWN gas from his body that overpowers hers. Not powerful enough to bring back his reptile army, but enough to allow him to push back towards Seiko, who is not taking to his fumes well.

Seiko: What...arrrre...you...doing...to...me...!?

Lizard: HRRRAASASSAAAGGGH!

Connors however, has given in to the beast, and cannot respond with words anymore. However, his scent starts to activate the R-complex in her brain, and what little sanity and stability she has left starts to slip away...!

Seiko: GGRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHH!!!

Seiko also succumbs to her feral inclinations, roaring and spilling some of the contents of her medicine pouch onto the wet floor as she drops it. With each punch, slash, chomp and smack, the two ravenous monsters continue to pour blood as they trade several lethal blows.

Seiko's technique, though now sloppier thanks to giving into her monstrous instincts, is still potent enough to overwhelm Connors quickly, and the Lizard counters by pushing her back with several powerful whips of his tail!

Before Seiko can react, Lizard suddenly wraps his tail around her neck and starts to strangle her, but Seiko is able to pry herself free. Seeing this, Connors instead opts to send her crashing into the wall, which she is cratered into. He himself, needing to take a second to catch his breath, pauses, clutching his head as he feels his human side try and retake control.

Seiko: Haaagh...Ngh...gagh...

But then, in the brief moment of silence, Seiko Kimura starts to slip into unconsciousness...The effects of her enhancing medication start to wear off, and with the R-complex in her brain still active, she feels overwhelming exhaustion in what little senses she still has left.

Lizard: CONNORSSSSS ISSSSS DEAD! AND SSSSSSO ARE YOOOOOOOUUUU!!

With his sanity only barely intact, Lizard is just able to choke out these words before the Reptile consumes all! The Lizard lunges forward, slashing his claws at the now-defenseless Seiko, then bites into her leg, tossing her around like a rag doll until her leg is severed from her body, and her corpse once again impacts the wall!

In a desperate attempt to escape despite the loss of limb, Seiko claws at the wet ground, her vision blurring and her consciousness slipping. However, the Lizard pulls her back and, in an instant, slams his big mouth down on her head and bites it off, utterly DECAPITATING her.

With his opponents dead body at his feet and an army of small reptiles surrounding him. The Lizard lets out one last roar...A roar of victory...!

Leona: HOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLYYYYYYY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT! That was...! I think that was our most brutal death yet! That was fucking awesome and yet...yet I can't help but feel really sick that it had to be such a kind girl who suffered it!

Hifumi: Although Seiko Kimura was an undoubtedly fierce opponent, the Lizard had most things going for him in this bloody brawl of jaws and claws.

Leona: Which is not to say that this was completely one sided. In fact, there are quite a few aspects that Seiko actually outclasses the Lizard in. First of all, considering Seiko was able to keep up with the likes of Izayoi, who has contended with the likes of the supersonic Akane Owari, and Lizard has managed to tag Spider-Man several times, it's safe to say that they tie when it comes to speed. And their transformations gave them very similar abilities, like their heightened senses and incredible strength.

Hifumi: And both are potentially as athletic and acrobatic as the other. Lizard is able to fight in midair, jump over buildings, execute drop kicks, and break falls by clinging to a ledge in quick succession, and he has also been known to backflip to avoid Spider-Man's attack and slap him with his tail in the process. Additionally, Dr. Kimura has caught knives with her teeth, and jumped across a sizable room, shattering lights along the walls, before sinking her feet into a wall and remaining perched there.

Leona: But the BIG ADVANTAGE Seiko has over Doc Connors is bleedingly obvious. Her INTELLIGENCE.

Hifumi: Neither Kimura nor Connors are fighters, and they rely on their animal instinct more than anything to win their fights in their beastly forms. But as regular humans, it's pretty clear to tell who the smarter one is. Connors studied enough to the point where he was on the verge of revolutionizing medicine, but Seiko Kimura has been doing that since she was SIX! Creating extremely powerful healing medicines and concoctions with varying helpful effects and basically NO side effects! Much less turning you into a giant green scaly monster.

Leona: So, here's a question I bet some of us are wondering. We talked extensively about Seiko's knowledge with medicine, so is it at all possible that she could fashion up her own brand of the lizard antiserum, use it on Connors to repress the Lizard, and then kill him in his weakened human state? Well, the answer to that is...Yes!

Hifumi: Within the span of four hours after seeing Daisaku Bandai's "death", Seiko Kimura was easily able to create a counter medicine that saved Kyoko Kirigiri's life, and then made a structure for a cure that saved Daisaku Bandai and Koichi Kizakura. It isn't THAT hard to assume that with her genius level knowledge as a pharmacist, that she could quite quickly fashion a cure for the Lizard Serum and turn Connors back into a human.

Leona: It's helped a lot by the fact that unlike Connors, Seiko actually retains her sanity throughout her transformation. Connors mind is basically turned to mush, but Seiko is still aware enough to avoid and counter traps, administer her serum and retain her empathy and humanity. So...what's the problem?

Hifumi: The PROBLEM is how she's going to actually ADMINISTER a potential serum. In order to properly apply the medication to Connors, she'd first have to either overpower him, or somehow incapacitate or restrain him. Neither of which was possible for her.

Leona: Curt has rather effortlessly torn through Spider-Man's webs, which have been stated to be as strong as steel. Curt has also easily broken through ACTUAL steel, and is generally shown to be much stronger and beastlier than Seiko. He'd overpower her pretty easily in a wrestling match, even if his opponent can outsmart and outmaneuver him in many ways.

Hifumi: Dr. Kimura didn't really have anything she could use to trap Connors either; no notable tools or anything that would really work. In addition to this, while she IS more aware and less of a mindless beast than Connors, the Lizard could easily reprimand this by taking hold of her R-complex, taking away what little insight she has left and turning her into a TRUE beast!

Leona: When it comes to that, Seiko's one big strength over Curt is just GONE, and she's basically at a complete disadvantage. But wait...Sonosuke Izayoi fought the likes of Akane and Nekomaru, who are SUPER strong. And Seiko was able to fight him and opponents beyond his level, like Sakakura and Otonokoji. With scaling, doesn't that mean that Seiko is technically the stronger one here?

Hifumi: That's actually not a bad assumption to make. Both Dr. Connors and Dr. Kimura have ripped through hard substances like steel like they're toilet paper, so even if the latter isn't STRONGER, she's at least on a similar, if not equal level. However, Spider-Man implied that Morbius' punch was tantamount to that of a Hydrogen Bomb. And the Lizard is just as strong as he is, so if we take this literally, his damage output is tantamount to at least 1000 Kilotons of TNT.

Leona: And we estimated in a previous video that Nekomaru Nidai's strongest attacking feats, like his superpowered shit, is tantamount to about 94 Tons. Ah, I getcha. That would realistically make the Lizard at least over 10,000 times stronger than Seiko.

Hifumi: Well, Spider-Man was obviously gravely exaggerating Morbius' power, even if the living vampires strength warranted such a comparison. But even in the case that it is, it doesn't really matter. Regardless of how strong she actually is, Dr. Kimura didn't have the attack potency to breach the Lizard's thick hide. Spider-Man is far stronger than she is, there's no doubt about that, and the web-slinging hero himself stated that punching the Lizard almost fractured his knuckles due to how hard his reptilian skin is.

Leona: So basically, if Seiko tried swiping at the Lizard with her claws, she'd chip a nail and then some. And even assuming that she somehow WAS able to get through his hide and damage him...what does it even matter? Connors can just regenerate the damage in seconds!

Hifumi: Both doctors possess healing and regenerative powers as part of their arsenal, but the difference is that the Lizard's is a NATURAL healing factor due to his reptilian genes, while Dr. Kimura's is provided to her by her medicine; a resource that is FINITE. If this were a battle of attrition, Dr. Connors would come out on top every single time.

Leona: Speaking of things that are finite, the same is true for Seiko's transformation. It only lasts a limited amount of time, and she turns back to her basic, measly strength when the effects of the medicine wear off. Meanwhile, Connors can retain his reptilian form basically indefinitely, and even if he regresses back into his human form through means like the serum, even the most minor interaction with a stressful situation or medical reaction can bring it back out in no time.

Hifumi: Lizard's regeneration factor also provided him almost unlimited stamina, so even if Dr. Kimura had enough pills to keep her transformation up, Lizard could still wear her down before she had the chance to do the same to him. Although, it's more likely he'd casually rip her to shreds before then, since her defensive capabilities are NOTHING compared to his.

Leona: Seiko has tanked missiles from the robotic Miaya Gekkogahara, but Connors has done the same thing against Gray Garrison, AKA Warrant; a bounty-hunter who first surfaced when he was hired to capture, or kill him. Lizard took a missile fired straight at him by Warrant, which knocked him back, but did not injure him even slightly. And that's without mentioning that Seiko's defense feats are wholly inconsistent. Despite the missile feat, when compelled to commit suicide, she repeatedly hit a concrete wall to embed herself in it, which ultimately killed her.

Hifumi: Seiko Kimura was relentless and vicious, but the Lizard had the strength, the skills, and the overwhelming bestiality to win brutally against her.

Leona: Such a shame that Seiko couldn't get through to him. She could have really helped Connors with his "a reptile dysfunction~"

THE WINNER IS DR. CURT CONNORS! THE LIZARD!

Next Time...

The masses need a savior when the world is in danger. In a society that consistently held them back, these incredible heroes began life with nothing and developed the charm, fortitude, compassion, and drive to defend the people they care about. However, which one of them will prevail when everything is on the line?

[blindrapture]

NEW SUNSETTERS!!!!!!

back when we first released our first album, back in 2016, we spontaneously (and immediately) followed it up with a 30-minute song. over the years we have refined and polished and rereleased that first album, but this beast was always left behind. because the thing is, in Sunsetters Canon, this "takes place" after their fourth album, No Entry. and we weren't there yet. well we are now!!! and you bet your bottom dollar we've been working on this thing!!!

I can also say "I." I have been working on this thing, as I am kinda the Editor and Producer of Sunsetters stuff. I am allowed to be proud. and I have been hard at work!!! this thing has absolutely been refined!!! listen to it, I beseech you!!! it is a slow buildup but it goes places, and it should keep your engagement all the way through!!!

"so then. is that it? is that the exciting Next Project after No Entry that you've been working on?" nope! this is a side thing, an EP. I just had to also get this done, and I ended up in love with it. there's still two more releases in the works. but they could easily be a ways away still, so seriously, don't wait up, check out this thing I just posted!!!

"but jordan." yes, lurker? "what if I don't feel like listening to a 30-minute thing right now? what if I want to skip to the good bits?" then I have a playlist for you! I have uploaded all five individual movements of this piece as separate videos! and let me break down the five parts for you so you can decide for yourself:

WARWIG. intro.

SOUTH OF THE FOG. slow smooth sassy doom rock.

THE WHITE DROUGHT. intimate grieving acoustic guitar piece.

DEEP CUTS. the big one. all chaos, all metal, my Editing Tour De Force!!!

SLEEP NOW. outro.

"but jordan." yes, lurker? "what if you don't have to even convince me, I want to drink up all your music right here, right now? what if I want to download all this?" then I have a Google Drive Folder for you! this contains six mp3s (each individual movement, and also the big full 30-minute thing) and two PDFs (a Fictional and a Non-Fictional one! read the Sunsetters's words about their work, and the lyrics! and then when you're done, read mine and Lindsay's words!!!).

"but jordan." yes, my lovely? "what if I want to see this on your Website, or on Bandcamp?" that'll come later! I worked a lot today! today is Release Stage 1, the Fuck-It Release! you get youtube and google drive today!! later will be Release Stage 2, with Website and Bandcamp and also a Paid Boosted Promoted Tumblr Post!!! later!! maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, when I get around to it!!

seriously, just!!! the music's there!! right now, it's there!!! we're really proud of it!! @rapturebones is proud of it!!! I am proud of it!!!! let it impress you!!! let it carry you along!!!

Sunsetters: Ancestor!!!!

thank you!!!! :D

[tamtam-go92]

Tuesday

Hadley usually starts work really early (or late however you consider it) but the following day she couldn't hear the honking outside. She was just too damn exhausted.

Not much later, Linnea is woken up by the first movements of her baby.

Linnea: Canned food for breakfast again?! What are you thinking, Mom, that we are dogs? Cecily: Serve yourself, if you think you can do it better. I'm surrounded by food at work all day, I can't be bothered cooking at home too.

Hadley gets an angry message from work for slacking out this day, but she's got a good enough excuse.

She doesn't have the greatest day. Hadley: Sorry Mom, I'm afraid they're currently not that active. I'll let you know, when they start kicking again...

Time to get their plan into work! Linnea: Have you reached him? Hadley: No, his mother told me he was still at work. Linnea: Oh, doing extra hours, hm? Not too common for Mr. Rafferty junior. Hadley: Don't go too hard on him. He's not that bad. Linnea: Don't you get it, Sis, he played on us both, he used us like toys. And now we're both suffering under the consequences. He has to pay for it, Sis! Hadley: I think you're really over reacting. We all are grown ups, we know what might happen if we woohoo and don't watch out. I know you'd like to see him hanging, but... I don't know, I still like him... Linnea sighed. She couldn't believe her sister was such a hopeless romantic. Sure it was part of their plan that Hadley would pretend to still love Sebastian, but Linnea couldn't risk loosing her sister truly to this horrible man!

Delaney was doing okay-ish at school and great at work, but his Mom was only interested if there was any girl at school that had caught his eye.

Cecily after all, was just a klutz as they say...

At least Vera was interested in getting Delaney's grades up.

Finally: Cecily: Ah, Sebastian, what pleasant surprise! How are you my dear? Do you already miss me? Sebastian: Is Hadley at home? She tried calling me earlier, but I was still at work. Cecily: Hadley? Uh, sure, she's just having her fourth meal today. I think she'd got some interesting news for you...

Hadley: Thank you Mom, could I have some privacy? Linnea was fuming. But she was also excited to see her plan unfold...

Yeah, Cecily was a true klutz. But at least she had the decency to tell Sebastian, that she couldn't see him anymore as he had gotten her daughter pregnant. Sebastian: Pregnant?! O_o

Vera wasn't as diplomatic. Vera: You're gonna pay for this! You've ruined Hadley's life, are you aware of this? Sebastian: And who's talking about my life? I didn't ask for this either? Who are you to come at me like this anyway? It's not like you and Hadley are that close? Vera: We are family. Of course we care for each other!

Linnea held her stomach as she followed Sebastian to the bathroom. Linnea: I can't believe you've also been sleeping with my sister! I though we were something special! I don't want anything to do with you ever again! If Hadley wants to, that's her deal, but don't you come under my eyes ever again! Sebastian: Great suits me just fine! Hadley is more fun than you anyway. You would get along so great with my old man!

As he left the bathroom, Linnea let go of her held breath and slowly touched her belly. It was better that way. She would have the life she wanted and they would have the life they deserved.

Hadley: I'm sorry that they're all so horrible towards you. Sebastian: It's okay dear. I still have you, don't I? And we'll be a little family. He giggled nervously. Hadley: Well not THAT little. Sebastian, I'm having twins!

Now he needed a sit- and a drink!

After he left, the sisters sat down to have a late dinner together. Vera: So, everything worked out just as planned? Hadley: Yes, he's caught the bait. You should have seen his face when I told him it was twins, Lin'. Linnea flinched as she heard her name and faked a smile. Linnea: Yeah, I can tell. He's probably overwhelmed by just one baby. It was the best to go after their plan, she told herself. She wasn't meant to be a mother. She didn't want to end like her own mother...

[sunshine-overload]

[BSTS] Main Story S5Ch6 ‘Jade Thread Handspun by the New Moon’ - Final

Part 2

Chapter 5

-rehearsal room, vaporize bgm-

saki: Hello, please excuse me.

zakuro: My oh my, are you here to watch over Aogiri's team?

saki: Yes.

zakuro: Then please, take a seat beside me.

saki: Thank you. Everyone looks so focused.

zakuro: Today our leader is so driven that they haven't even noticed us.

-song stops-

mokuren: Ok, we’re taking a two minute break to reflect on what needs improvement.

hari: (breathing heavily) ...Yes!

kasumi: You're really into it today huh, Hari~

hari: We're performing two shows at once but that doesn't mean only 50% effort is going into each. I intend to give it my all in both.

mokuren: First up, Hari. Your body still remembers remnants of the choreography from before we changed the costumes. Don't mix in the previous image, be sharper and flashier with your movements.

hari: Yes.

mokuren: Kasumi, take a half a step closer to Aogiri. Get as close as you can without crashing into each other.

kasumi: Roger that.

aogiri: What about me, Mokuren?

mokuren: You should know already. Improve the part with the kicks. Other than dance I can't comment, think about your singing yourself.

zakuro: My oh my, to leave him to his own devices there, your ruthlessness knows no bounds.

mokuren: Then are you going to instruct him, Zakuro?

zakuro: Why me? Unfortunately I am but a mere stone by the roadside. Rather than helping an enemy out we'd be in the same boat.

aogiri: It's fine. I will study by myself.

mokuren: Polish it off by tomorrow, got it? Next, Qu. You're thinking about unnecessary things again aren't you? Quit doing that, that's all.

qu: ...Got it.

—end

-

Chapter 5 extra

-behind starless, night time-

yakou: Sigh...

-iwami walks up-

iwami: Yo, good work. You're working till late again today huh.

yakou: ...!

yakou: Iwami-san... Is there something you want from me?

iwami: I'm simply showing my concern for the substitute owner who's doing his best. I've brought food, I accidentally bought too much so please share them around.

-gives yakou a bag of food-

yakou: Sure... If you're here to run an errand then we can take it inside. 

iwami: No, staying out here is fine.

yakou: Then I'll hear you out personally.

iwami: You really seem to have settled into your work as the substitute owner. Completely different from how lost and disoriented you looked a year ago.

yakou: What do you want today?

iwami: I want to hear your answer once more to that question I asked back then. It's been a year since then and as you told me to, I've been observing things and this is the result of that.

yakou: ...It's true that Haseyama still hasn't regained consciousness, and that an official owner is needed. However, I cannot accept your conditions. Starless needs Kei.

iwami: Hey now, don't go misunderstanding things. It's not like I'm planning to just do whatever I want. All I wish for is to take Starless back from tyrants such as Haseyama and Kei. In order to create a Starless for the cast members. I mean, you all got to do what you wanted for the fourth anniversary performance without Haseyama's interference didn't you?

yakou: ......

iwami: How is Hinata doing? Is he proving useful to you?

yakou: We're thankful for the extra set of hands.

iwami: Jeez, so negotiations are a bust this time too huh. Just remember this one thing then, if I were to run the store, the cast members would be my priority. I wouldn't fire or throw anyone away by my own judgment. I can promise you that.

-iwami goes to leave-

yakou: Why are you saying this to me?

iwami: Because I'm rooting for you, Yakou.

yakou: (looks troubled)

—end

-

Chapter 5 SideA 

-badkstage-

kasumi: Wow~ Aogiri's singing was pretty impressive today.

hari: Indeed. It may be a cliche way of putting it but it's as if he's finally come out of his shell.

qu: The guests were really fired up too.

aogiri: I'm still just barely holding on. But I am happy all the same. This is all thanks to all of your help.

mokuren: Hmph, this much is nothing. However I will acknowledge you for going along with my intensive training without a single word of complaint.

aogiri: Thank you. I will continue to work hard.

-starless office-

takami: That performance was quite the improvement wasn't it? Especially Aogiri, his efforts are showing.

kei: To stand on Starless' stage, that much effort is the bare minimum.

sin: He may be reaching out his hands to the unbreakable ore.

takami: In any case, it's clear he's not just your average person. If I were told he was a big name to those in the know I'd believe it. Don't you agree, Kei?

kei: At the very least, I've never heard of him.

sin: One cannot pass through the gates of hell without Virgil's guidance. What should be visited is the large boulder dusted with glints of light.

takami: If that's the case then Hinata is quite the actor as well.

kei: That one probably is probably not capable of keeping up the act past his initial introduction. It does not matter for what purpose or under whose directions they came to the store for. Once they're in, we can just keep them here.

takami: I have no objections to that. It's the preferred option to having them just run free after all.

kei: By the way... Takami, if having the ability to be an all rounder is suspicious, then are you not the same?

takami: It's an honour to hear you think of me as such. I'll take that as a compliment.

sin: Be as it may, from here on out the rabbit will sleep.

takami: Yes. Him not having any secrets would be the best case scenario.

—end

-

Chapter 5 SideA extra

-starless office-

sin: The rabbit views the forest. Within the wind and rain, what is it that its eyes long for?

takami: The owner's prolonged absence has begun to lead to rumours spreading that he may not return at all. The risk that our current power structure will be reworked is still high.

kei: Didn't you put a breakwater in place to prevent that, Takami?

takami: Of course. I won't let any harm come to us.

sin: The arrival of the technician is the problem. The time they will spread their wings is utterly unforeseeable.

takami: Even if he makes a recovery and gets discharged from the hospital, can we even guarantee that he'll return to Starless?

kei: Before the store, he will have his own issues to prioritise. However, we at the store are also still trying to maintain things with the void Haseyama has left behind. Such as from those that are trying to take advantage of this and claim the store.

sin: The water streams that flow beneath the earth cannot be perceived. The places where the spring water gushes forth to humans grows sweeter. Even if the corruption dissolves gold.

takami: I can't deny that. Anyone that wants to get their hands on this store would be thinking the same thing right now.

kei: Heh, whatever you're trying to say is easy to guess. You two have no need to worry.

takami: Well, I suppose you're right. Actually, what do you think the owner would even say if he were to see this new version of C?

kei: If we prove to him that Aogiri's joining is profitable the I don't think he'd have any complaints.

takami: True, I can imagine him saying something like 'make sure you bring in lots of cash'. It might be good for us to follow his unique type of flexibility there.

kei: We don't want to go too far ourselves.

sin: A thread which is a lifeline is lowered down. Just like a night sky without any stars. What should concern us is the discord of the prisoners. So long as they are not duplicitous, that is.

—end

(note: these last two chapters kinda melted my brain so apologies if they made no sense LOL)

-

Chapter 5 SideB

-behind starless, evening-

yoshino (on phone): Hello... Did something happen? Yes... I'm relieved to hear your voice though, you sound like you're doing better than I had expected.

yoshino (on phone): That's... Even if I take a day off the schedule will have to be changed around me. That was—! Back then I hurried back because I'd heard you were in a tough spot. I... know. Eventually I will have to follow in your footsteps... But right now, please just give me a little more time.

yoshino (on phone): It's not possible for me to train whilst I'm here. No it's not that, I just don't want to give up on sing—

-shock-

yoshino (on phone): You know about me being an understudy...? Just how much did you look into things... I'll explain everything to you properly soon, I'm in the middle of a shift so I'll be hanging up now.

-hangs up-

yoshino: The place where I... should be...

-zakuro walks up-

zakuro: My my, good day to you, Yoshino. Standing out here all by yourself, could it be there's something on your mind?

yoshino: I was just stepping out for some fresh air. What about you, did you go for a walk before the show?

zakuro: Yes yes, when my thoughts are swirling about and making me restless I feel the need to take a walk.

yoshino: I get that, when I'm thinking hard about a role I go for a walk as well.

zakuro: My, yet another coincidence. Say, I have a question for you, Yoshino. In your opinion, what meaning does singing hold?

yoshino: What...?

zakuro: Is there a reason that it must be singing that your pursue? If so, then what is that reason?

yoshino: Why are you asking me that...

zakuro: I cannot decipher the answer myself, but I figured someone like you would have one. Why is it that humans sing? What meaning do songs hold to us? I cannot help but feel as though finding the answer would mean finding out more about myself.

yoshino: ...I don't know the answer either. I don’t know but... I don't have anything other than singing. So, I think you just have to find out for yourself.

—end

-

Chapter 5 SideB extra

-locker rooms-

kongou: Good work out there, Zakuro. Looking at that note again are you?

zakuro: Indeed. I am still yet to work out what it is.

kongou: Aogiri found that when he was repairing your costume didn't he? It seemed like it had been hidden away there on purpose. I thought it must've been something of importance to you…

zakuro: Hm... I have no idea either.

kongou: At first glance it looked like a lyric from a song.

zakuro: This arrangement of words does not exist in my repertoire. Even so, this definitely looks to be my handwriting.

kongou: Is that so? That's curious then. It's as if it's some kind of code.

zakuro: Hm, a code you say?

-zakuro suddenly looks serious-

kongou: Zakuro...?

zakuro: It looks as though a pebble has risen from the riverbank... This is my...

zakuro: ...!

zakuro: —I see, I see. In the end it appears this was a little love letter to myself.

kongou: What?

zakuro: Please excuse me, I will be heading out to continue this discussion on my own.

-time pass, old starless stage-

zakuro: Let's see here. Will a demon or a serpent appear? Or perhaps...

-looks at note-

zakuro: The answer that I'm searching for might very well be here.

-zakuro searches around the stage-

zakuro: Well well, this is…

-finds CD-

zakuro: There's no mistaking it, this is the jewel that I've been seeking.

-plays CD, blackstar bgm-

zakuro: —Aah yes this is undoubtedly it. This is what I had been lacking for so long. With this, my answer is finally...

-screen flashes-

zakuro: Ugh! ...Ugh...Tch…

-more flashes, zakuro falls to the ground-

zakuro: Ugh... Ah... Haha.... Hahhaha...

-black screen-

zakuro: ....Fufu.

-time pass, break room-

kongou: Oh Zakuro, you're back.

zakuro: Thanks to you I have taken back something very important.

kongou: You understood what the note meant then?

zakuro: Certainly, certainly. Why singing? Well that is once again because it is something that needs to be done. Moreover, simply asking 'why' was just a bubble on the surface. Therefore it is greatly different to that which is well known to most— It feels as though I've finally woken back up.

kongou: Zakuro...?

zakuro: Be as it may I too desire to carry out what it is that I must do.

kongou: I'm not really following what you're saying, but if you've found your own resolution then I'm glad.

zakuro: Yes yes, undoubtedly. From now on, I suppose I will act as I see fit.

—end

(note: I wasn’t really sure on how to word zakuro’s last line here as I assume it’s left intentionally vague, so here it is in JP too 「今後は、よきに計らえるかと。」 yoki ni hakarae is old samurai speak that can mean to ‘leave (task) to someone’)

-

Chapter 6

-starless office-

unei: Everyone, thank you for your hard work all the way up until the closing performance. I will now announce the final result of the versus. The winner this time is... Zakuro-san's team! Congratulations!

saki: Congratulations, Zakuro-san.

zakuro: My oh my, it appears I have won.

hari: Appears? You don't seem to be too excited about it.

aogiri: It must be because this result is unsurprising to Zakuro. I almost feel as though I should apologise for making you participate.

kasumi: No no it's fine, it was on Mokuren's orders after all, so don't worry about it.

aogiri: Still, I am very grateful to have had this opportunity. I couldn't rival Zakuro but thanks to that I have come to realise the charm of standing on the stage.

qu: That's good to hear. Being able to entertain the guests starts with the actors after all.

zakuro: In that case how about we do a double singer show next time?

aogiri: Huh?

zakuro: Depending on the program I wouldn't be opposed to leaving the stage to you either. I'm certain you'd be able to follow through, Aogiri.

aogiri: ...I see, if the opportunity presents itself then of course.

hari: Is something the matter?

aogiri: No, it's just he really is quite the eccentric fellow.

mokuren: Anyways, this means that our stage outfits will remain the same. Aogiri, I will be using you from here on out as well. Don't get negligent with your preparations. Not only in the case of designing costumes but also your training.

aogiri: Understood. I will do as you wish.

mokuren: The rest of you too, if you decide to cut corners I'll kick you off the stage without hesitation. Prepare yourselves.

unei: Then, once again, thank you for all your hard work everyone!

—end

-

EX 1

-shrine entrance, evening-

heath: (writing) ...Hm?

-gui's master appears-

heath: (gasps) You're...!

gui's master: Relax. I'm not going to do anything to you.

heath: Then get of of my sight.

gui's master: I will as soon as I give this to you. Call this number.

heath: A phone number...? 

-gui's master leaves-

heath: Hey, wait, whose number is...

-heath looks shocked before dialling the number-

heath (on phone): ...Akito-san? 

heath (on phone): Why did you have him give me this number... Yes, they're safe. You know that’s something I can't talk about. Not really. Why did you contact me? 

heath (on phone): Huh...? What do you mean be careful? Ah, wait—

-call hangs up-

heath: 'Be careful of the one who got involved recently'...?

—end

-

EX 2

-bar-

man: As always you're drinking the strong stuff huh.

sotetsu: Since when did you start commenting on people's preferences?

man: I just thought since you're at a bar you could drink some whiskey every now and then.

sotetsu: Shochu and whiskey are both spirits in the end aren't they? C'mon, cheers.

-they clink glasses-

sotetsu: And so, how did it go? Find out anything juicy?

man: I got some info that'll probably interest you.

sotetsu: Ooh? This is surprising. I’d already thought he was awfully skilled but what is he, some kind of VIP?

man: It wasn't easy finding stuff on him. There wasn't much public information about him out there.

sotetsu: How come a guy like this is at Starless though...? Plus he didn't look like a completely inexperienced newcomer to the stage. He's at a level that wouldn't be out of place in the entertainment industry.

man: Who knows. From what I could gather on his background it doesn't seem like he ever worked in an entertainment related company.

sotetsu: Meaning there's still more to be uncovered about him huh.

man: From here on out the balls in your court. Use the info for bargaining or bribing, whatever you want.

sotetsu: No, I'll wait for now. I need to decide what the best time to use this would be.

man: Don't go crazy over it.

sotetsu: I'll pay the tab, if you find out anything else intriguing let me know.

man: Sure thing.

-man leaves-

sotetsu: Aogiri huh... It looks like one heck of an interesting guy just joined us.

—end

-

EX 3

-yoshino's family home-

yoshino's father: Have you made up your mind?

yoshino: Father, I still don't plan to return...

yoshino's father: Waiting any longer then this would be a waste of time. Especially so if you're not even going to be appearin' in performances.

yoshino: That's what I've come here to explain today. It's true that the position of understudy is to be there as a backup for the team. In our last show, while I hate to admit it, it was decided that another cast member's singing would be better suited than mine. 

However, it doesn't mean that I won't be making any appearances whatsoever. For our off site summer performance, I was selected as the centre. So that's why, I'm able to take back my spot whenever, I can return to being a standard member—

yoshino's father: That's one overly positive outlook you've got there. If you can take it back 'whenever' then why aren't you doing anythin' about it right now?

yoshino: T-that's... I swear I will regain my spot as a standard member.

yoshino's father: You're going to be turning thirty in January. I'm going to watch that show at the turning point of your life with my own eyes. And I will be passing my own judgment based on that.

yoshino: What...?

yoshino's father: If that performance of yours can't garner a satisfactory applause from the audience, then you are to throw away this worthless dream of yours and return home.

yoshino: Please wait a moment!

yoshino's father: If you still refuse to return in that situation, then I’m cutting ties with you .

yoshino: A-are you being serious?

yoshino's father: Is that how weak your resolve is? In that case return right this instant.

yoshino: ...I understand. I will show you a result that will earn your approval.

-yoshino goes to leave-

yoshino's father: You're still fine for now but what do you think will become of your future in ten years time? Can you even picture it yourself?

yoshino: ...Please excuse me.

-yoshino leaves-

-time pass, starless hallway-

yoshino: Kei, could I talk to you?

kei: What is it?

yoshino: I have a request. I know I'm not in a position to be saying this but... Please allow me to stand on stage in our January performance.

kei: For what purpose? Is this a proposal that will improve our show?

yoshino: .....

kei: Your personal circumstances cannot interfere with the stage. Whether you shall perform or not shall be decided when the time comes.

-kei leaves-

yoshino: I don't have any more time left…

—end

[thir13enghosts]

Do you think any of the women are feminist or support feminism? I know for a FACT Royce is drinking "Respect Women Juice" all day everyday

uhhh kind of? i mean i feel like the only one who actively considered/called herself a feminist would've been jean, coming from the vantage point of being from the late 2000s - early 2010s and having more access to feminist material (both from the past and the present) compared to everyone else

as for the others...

(also disclaimer: i'm going with My versions of the ghosts which tend to differ a bit from canon. just roll with it)

billy michaels: billy was like at most 10 years old when he died. he was probably still in his "ewww girls have cooties" phase. he had no concept of feminism.

jimmy gambino: ngl to you, not really lol. i mean he more or less supported women both then and now (at the very least he wasn't Actively misogynistic, which is the bare minimum), but at the same time i feel like he's the type to call a woman he Just met "sweetheart" or "honey" so yeah. he says stupid shit every now and then, but he'll also listen to you when you call it out and make the effort to not do that again (or at the very least not do it in front of you). might roll his eyes or even laugh at you at first, but he'll still make the effort. like the guy's not perfect by any means but. he's trying.

dana newman: that's a complicated one. on one hand, dana strikes me as someone who probably dealt with a Lot of internalized misogyny, and this goes for both my version & the canon version. probably lowkey prided herself on (whilst also hating herself for) her attempts at being a "good woman" which was basically: keep your head down, keep your legs crossed, keep your mouth shut, remember the man is always right, and maybe this time he'll be nicer to you. hasn't really worked for her so far, but third fourth fifth time's a charm! but on the other hand, i also think that dana was at least Aware of the feminist movements taking place during her time (the 1960s) and likely supported feminist goals, even if she never voiced it out loud. like she wanted to believe that things might get better for her and other women but didn't really hold out much hope for it Actually happening.

royce clayton: i feel like he was better than most boys his age when it came to Not Being Shit To Women (which...unfortunately isn't saying much considering this is the 1950s we're talking abt here), but i don't think he thought much abt feminism itself aside from whatever he might've heard on the news or from the papers. he's kinda like jimmy where he'll say something kinda Ehhh every now and then, but he'll also listen to you when you call it out and make the effort to not do that again. his mamá taught him to be respectful after all, and even after all this time, even after all the ways being a ghost has changed his personality, he doesn't wanna let her down.

susan legrow: kind of? like if you told her some feminist talking points without telling her they were feminist talking points, she'd probably agree with them, but she definitely wouldn't have called herself a feminist. remember, susan was around during the reagan administration; she probably only knew feminists as the stereotype of like bitter, man-hating, lonely Bitches with hairy pits (oh the HORROR!!! /s) and harsh voices and no sense of humor who at best were trying to ruin everyone's fun and at worst were actively trying to Exterminate All Men. it was very much like "tbh that does make a lot of sense...but if i started talking Like That, then no guy would wanna go out with me and i want guys to go out with me! that's definitely what i actually want for myself after all and not just me imitating what i've been taught all Normal Girls want!"

isabella smith: feminism wasn't a Thing during her time. however, i imagine she did have somewhat progressive views for her time (which was probably part of why she was so ostracized), and i do feel like if feminism as a term/social movement was Around back then, she definitely would be a feminist

amelia shelburne: i feel like amelia had Heard the word "feminism" and maybe even had an idea of what goals feminism was striving for (at the time), but idk how much she really knew abt it—mostly bc i still go back and forth on how much she knew abt life outside the circus she & her mother travelled with in general. and even then i feel like she was probably a passive supporter at most, like "that sounds great and i wish them luck but i've got Other Things to worry abt"

margaret shelburne: no but in a very resigned kind of way? as far as margaret was concerned, this feminism idea was for the """normal""" women in the big cities, not for a "circus freak" like herself.

george markley: i don't think george would've identified as a feminist, but that's not to say that he would've been a misogynist. i do think that he at the very least thought that women should be respected as the fellow human beings they are. however the feminism movement that was going on during the time that the markleys lived and died was first wave feminism, and first wave feminism was primarily focused on the rights of white women. intersectionality—such as considering the plight of women of color or working class women and how that would further impact their experience with misogyny—wasn't a priority at the time. and since both george and his wife (i've been thinking her name was ruth) were working class black ppl living in rural late 1800s virginia, they weren't ppl that a lot of popular first wave feminists would make space for.

lenore howlett: no bc part of being a feminist requires caring abt other women/other ppl in general and lenore just...doesn't.

horace mahoney: oh fuck no, absolutely not. horace doesn't see women as people—he sees women as machines with parts that he can disassemble and put back together as he pleases. literally.