#the journey of growing into a style they can truly call their own while also paying homage to those that inspired them through their lessons

[thewhizzyhead]

ya know, what made epic the musical such a joy for me personally is seeing it actually develop throughout its 4-5 year long history and I don't just mean like from the ground up and everything. I mean it in a way as someone who immediately clocked Jorge Rivera-Herrans as a fellow playwright heavily inspired by Lin Manuel Miranda's style - which fucking meant of course most of the early publicized drafts of epic were raps because of course they are (this is not meant to be a slight because like I totally get him)!

But like actually seeing Jorge apply the lessons in LMM's writing into his own original style that is befitting to the story he wants to tell - and not only that, he literally took his audience along with him on his journey with every tried-and-tested demo and audition and everything, and the actual pre-production and production process of writing an album is something we don't usually get at all, especially in something as extensive as a musical concept album!

Like what really had EPIC make it's mark on the internet and on musical theatre (especially INDIE MT) is that it was a literal Odyssey of sorts - the creation of this entire fucking thing was a journey from beginning to end and we were all invited to witness it from behind the scenes while also having many artists among fans be a part in its creation one way or another, while also observing how Jay had his own artistic development throughout - from someone whose epic was quite obviously heavily stylized after Hamilton, into an artist whose style he can call truly his own.

I have so much more to say on how and why epic became such an iconic piece of work and perhaps being the first MT work in 2020 to truly define the decade, but all in all let's just say I'm glad to have witnessed the growth of an artist - and I'm excited to see what art this will inspire in turn.

[soaringwide]

Pick a Card: What makes you feel alive and inspired in life?

PILE 1 🩷 > PILE 2 �� > PILE 3 ❤️

We are all driven by different things, and it's easy to lose track of that when you are distracted by the noise of the world.

Today, I want to look at what lights up your spark, what makes you feel alive and inspired in life.

Whether you want to simply get to know yourself better, or get a little reassurance in a difficult time, this reading is meant to be empowering and uplifting, and help you remember what makes life feel soulful for you.

Remember that this is a general reading meant for many people. Take what resonates and leave out the rest. Never forget that you are the leader of your own life and you make the call on what you want to do, believe and think, or not.

If you like my style, feel free to check out my paid readings on ko-fi or the link bellow.

book a reading ★ all PACs ★ pinned post ★ instagram

PILE 1 🩷

Cards: The River, Ace of Cups, Judgement, the Devil, the Hermit, 3 of Pentacles

Life is a flowing journey for all, but you take it to heart.

You feel the most alive and inspired when you embrace what the great current of life brings to you in order to wash away the decaying parts of yourself and shed your old skin.

To you, life is all about transforming yourself. The Existential Grindstone putting pressure on what needs to change and forcing you to be born anew. You do not like being stagnant, for murky waters poison your sense of purpose. You like movement within yourself, and knowing that you are always growing, always learning and expanding.

You are not scared to go into the depths of yourself to face your own limitations and shortcomings. There is a humming in your heart, a whisper calling for change. You are an eternal student of life, dedicated to becoming a better person and experiencing life in its purest form: as a journey toward yourself. There is a well of patience and a vivid energy in you, merging wisdom gained from experience and the pure heart of youth.

There is a subnote about healing here, and I think, one some level, you feel the most soulful when you manage to shift things within you and witness the metamorphosis happening within yourself, so that you can sooth your pains and let go of the past. I see you being hyper aware of the darker or heavier aspects of yourself, and you are not scared of them because you know that within them lie the opportunity to bring more light, to expand and rise above. To break the chains stopping you from feeling truly alive.

I also believe that you wish for a fairer world, and that you know that it all start with yourself. And while appearing very in tune with your deeper self, which implies holding the most tender part of yourself secret, I know that you do not lose sight of the world around you, and that by building yourself, you can help build a better world too.

You will feel unaligned with life when you swim against the current. The world is a river carrying you and connecting us all, and in this life, you will feel the most alive and inspired when you accept to flow with it, to let events and people shape you, helping you build yourself, helping you write your own unique story.

PILE 2 🩵

Cards: The Castle, Death, 4 of Wands, the Lovers, Page of Pentacles, 10 of Cups

For this pile, I'm getting that you are well aware of the illusions of materialism and consumerism, and that you don't want to get lured in by dulling comfort and shiny luxuries. Most people accumulate things to build walls around them and to fill the void inside their soul, and it is possible that you were like that at some point, but you realized it led nowhere and embraced a deep change of your way of living and experiencing life.

I think your soul craves simplicity and honest connections with people, and that you feel the most alive when you manage to break away from the decadence of our post modern way of living next to each other (rather than truly together) and obsession with accumulating senseless things. "Why do we constantly need more, and when is more ever enough?" Could be a pretty significant idea for you and something your draw inspiration from.

You see this issue clearly and feel inspired by the dream of a more authentic and open world, and world that you could share with people you love and cherish.

It's like you want life to be a great party where everyone is equal and we all have enough to live and love freely, and when you manage to dive into that, do your part on your level, you feel invigorated, inspired and alive. It's also possible that you seek situations that encourage this feeling and feel inspired by that. Little moments of truth stolen from the surrounding madness that you see in the world.

I think connecting with people, from friends and family to heartfelt exchanges with strangers, is so important to you and make you feel soulful, and I see you either dreaming to have your own love nest (family of any kind, or community), or already having it and feeling the happiest when you can share these simple and authentic moments with your loved ones.

Life is a gift to be experienced with others, what is the point of living if only for yourself?

PILE 3 ❤️

Cards: The King, the Magician, 10 of Cups, 4 of Cups, 7 of Wands, Ace of Wands, Strength

You are someone who feels the most alive when you can lead the way and leverage your influence, skills and knowledge for the greater good and happiness of those around you.

You have a strong and proud soul, a regal heart and you know you can do lot of good with your positive influence, be it by protecting, leading or inspiring others to do more and better.

You are highly motivated and dedicated to make your wishes happen in the world. You feel highly stimulated when you are pushed to overcome struggles and obstacles, when you can rise above and prove yourself. You are highly resilient and will not let others make you feel small and weak. On the contrary, I think that inspires you to expand and become a greater version of yourself.

For you, time spent waiting passively for life to bring you what you want is wasted time. You find indecision and uncertainty distasteful and always strive to become more. The world will not open its doors for you if you do nothing, and you find that extremely stimulating and it gives you a sense of purpose that make you feel alive.

You might be someone who collects hobbies and passion because you enjoy learning and expanding your range of skills. You feel the most alive when you feel busy and can work hard on something you set your mind to. You want to be a master at many things, and you enjoy the process of reaching that point more than the actual end of the journey.

You want to be able to show the world all that you have accomplished, and it's pushing you forward and keeping your inspired.

[mynameisnotthepoint]

Ossan no pantsu EP 3

Disclaimer: I had already watched this drama with subs that were mostly machine translated, so this is less of a first time reaction and more of an "i finally have the whole picture now". This will contain spoilers, so be warned!

As always: thank you to @isaksbestpillow for continuing to provide us with excellent subs to this drama!!

Quote (translation by isaksbestpillow) I believe that Kakeru is thinking of a way to connect with the rest of the world right now. Maybe you could start with supporting him on that journey. (Daichi to Makoto)

My jumbled thoughts/recap I love this building up frustration Kakeru and Makoto have with getting ready/rehearsing to get ready. I think this is also where I really noticed that Kakeru has grown out his hair, it has that choppy look of going from a few milimetres to like 10 cm (same length everywhere, which is what I have been doing for the past year, Kakeru's hair grows fast!). Kakeru seems to really be shedding his old life of baseball and typical boy stuff, but his room has this contrast between his bed, little table and coat rack with a few things that are really to his taste, while the rest of the room still holds the old "boyish" stuff from his childhood.

Makoto's style is truly that one from the "just own the same pants and shirt and jacket in several colors, that way you can mix and match!" videos. Him keeping the leather jacket from his youth, such a thing my stepdad did! (his jacket is still in good shape, though).

Kakeru's story of slowly inching back to the outside world and being percieved by people (especially people his age) is told with such care. Never is he made fun by the narrative, nor are his choice of clothing style or his interests ridiculed. (BTW, a few days ago i watched a fansub of 0.5 no Otoko about a reclusive gamer uncle who is forced to live with his sibling's family after living with his parents for a long time, it was really good!!).

I also love his outfits so much!!! (and look!! he made it outside!!)

From looking at Daichi and his interests, he doesn't seem the one to be most hellbent on following trends. Yet, because he is young, Makoto thinks he will know everything about the popular things with the youth. Later, he also has to call his wife to find a present that Daichi could give to his boyfriend's family. Makoto doesn't really trust his own judgement, is quick to try and help but never thinks if he actually knows how to. It also shows that he doesn't consider his wife's job that important, because he calls Mika several times during her shift for something he could have asked beforehand i.e. help w the present. He didn't even seem to know that she had returned to work after taking time off to look after their son. Mika is always holding back, stowing more sorrow and hurt away so she can serve people (at work, and at home...) with a smile on her face.

Daichi also never says his boyfriend's name, I've noticed. And the fact that he wants to make a good impression on parents that he might never get to meet is something that a lot of queer people have to deal with. Daichi knows what it is like to grow up different, knows what being queer means but also how it keeps you from doing certain things society expect you to do. I am so so glad that Kakeru has someone like Daichi in his life, and honestly also that Makoto can discuss things with Daichi, who has already faced the hurt but also experienced the joy of being queer (he has other queer friends! his mom accepts him!).

Makoto and Daichi talk about being transgender and the difference between men who like to wear women's clothes and who are attracted to women. Which, interestingly enough, Makoto knows someone! Harinishi also gives him a perspective on truly embracing who you are and wearing what you want, even buying it yourself because you want to know what the fabric feels like. Which makes me wonder - where did Kakeru get the clothes from? Did Mika or Moe buy them for him?

In the shop with Daichi, Makoto finds something that would fit Kakeru's current interests, but refrains from buying it after the shop assistant asks him if it's for his daughter. He is shown later in the episode buying it with pride for his son. Just like with the cakes in the first episode, if it is something Makoto can make someone else happy with and is made aware of, he can do it with pride. I think that is his strength, to realize that something is truly not working, find the better option, and change so he uses that option. He of course has huge foot in mouth syndrome, like when he tells Daichi's mom her son is wonderful and then adds it's almost a shame that he's gay...

But here lies the crux of Makoto's problems: He wants to help now, make decisions now. But that is just not possible when you don't know who you are and what you want! So the most important thing he has to learn is patience to let other figure it out and patience to listen when they eventually tell them their findings.

I love this loaf. (Also, i love that the TV program that is on is about Mika's favourite idol group).

[ladyirisreviews]

Final Fantasy 9 - Review

Final Fantasy IX is considered by many as a love letter to everything Final Fantasy stood for, with a number of callbacks and classic designs, it is also considered one of the best in the franchise and I can see why some people would think that.

I think it's an interesting game and it's worth talking about, so that's what I'll do.

Unlike the past 2 games in the series, Final Fantasy 9 comes back into a more traditional fantasy world.

You follow Zidane, a member of a band of thieves that call themselves the Tantalus Theater Troup, with the facade of throwing a theater show, they plan on kidnapping the Princess of the Alexandria kingdom.

But unbeknownst to them Princess Garnet also wants to be taken away from the castle, as she has noticed some concerning changes in her mother's behavior.

After a very entertaining introduction, they both get away from the castle, along with Steiner, a knight set on taking the princess back, and Vivi, a young black mage who got dragged into the situation against his will.

They will discover what is really going on with the queen, and you will see the personal challenges every character has ahead of them. New characters are introduced throughout the game, each with their own conflicts.

In multiple parts of the plot, the characters will get separated, and you will take control of them, but the most important characters are Zidane and Garnet.

Both of them are on a journey that will make them grow up, learn who they truly are, and make hard decisions.

The characters also interact between them quite a lot, which is not something Final Fantasy did a lot of before this point, and I really appreciate that they interact so much.

Besides this, every time you reach a new town or village, characters will split up, and you are able to see how everyone interacts with their enviroment, you can clearly see the personalities of each of the main cast and get attached to them.

Though I wish some characters had more dialogue and that some of the optional cutscenes were not so easily missable, it's a huge step forward compared to what they were doing before in characterization.

Another thing I like about the plot is that the main villain changes and grows, it might still have a simple motivation that comes down to wanting to destroy everything, but you can believe that the villain has emotions and acts according to them, which is saying a lot when talking about Final Fantasy villains.

So in general, both the plot and the characters are pleasant to see, and I didn't find many things that really bothered me about the writing at all, it's for sure one of the best Final Fantasy plots.

It also has the best Final Fantasy character ever, just look at this little guy.

The exploration in this game is also very good, at least in the cities, they are very lively, and with the characters interacting all around a given city it makes every location stand out.

Unlike in so many other RPGs where the cities all look the same, every location has a very distinct style and feeling to it, visiting a new place doesn't get boring.

While the city exploration is good, the dungeons leave a lot to be desired.

They all look nice, but every single dungeon is extremely short, there were several times during my playthrough when I thought a dungeon was looking interesting with the concepts it introduced, and right as I thought it was getting good, the dungeon was over.

There's a lack of gimmicks and puzzles, and they all feel very linear. I would have loved if dungeons were more intricate, even if that meant they were worse looking.

Now it's time to talk about the gameplay.

Like it's usual now, ATB makes a return, and it works the same, we are back to 4 player characters and there's a new addition, the trance status, which replaces the limit break system.

When you take and deal damage the trance gauge fills up and when it reaches 100% your character transforms, this gives them new abilities and generally makes them stronger.

Although it is neat, I don't really like that it activates automatically, most of the time it will activate on random encounters where they don't make a significance, and if it activates right before a boss fight it'll take extra time to fill all the way, making trance extremely situational and not something to rely on.

Every other aspect of the fights is more or less the same as it's been for a couple of games now, you wait until your ATB gauge fills up and decide what to do, and like past games magic still works the same, you can decide to use a spell on 1 enemy or on multiple by pressing a button.

What is different is how characters learn skills, which is very unique to this game.

The skills come from equipment, every piece has skills that can be learned, though the character has to be compatible with the skill.

To have the skill you have to actually equip it, and each one has a cost of gems, which you get more of as you level up.

If it ended there it wouldn't be that different from how Materia worked, but what sets it apart is that you can permanently learn any skill.

At the end of every battle you earn AP points, which go into mastering the skills you have equipped, once you master them, they are yours forever.

It's a neat system and it allows you to customize your characters however you like while also letting each character be unique in what they can do, which I appreciate.

Another mechanic in the game is the ability to combine equipment in specific stores.

This nets unique equipment with unique skills that are not able to be obtained any other way.

If you happen to have the required ingredients you can get a way stronger armor or weapon than you could get in other ways, with the advantage of learning good skills.

Though I wish some of the equipment wasn't missable, so if you play it try to check every equipment store for stuff you might not have yet, and don't be afraid to buy repeated equipment.

Some of the strongest equipment can be entirely missed, along with some skills, which kinda sucks if you want to get all the skills on all the characters.

While I'm at it I also want to mention that the difficulty in general is very accessible, it's very well balanced, and the superbosses are quite challenging, and even if you decide not to tackle the superbosses, the final boss is quite challenging without being unfair.

In the Playstation 1 version of the game, there's an issue I do have with the gameplay, and that's the battles taking too long.

You might not think it's a gameplay issue but the length of most of the animations messes with the ATB system and how it works.

Some animations are so long that while the animation is playing, every other character filled their ATB gauge already and is waiting for their turn to act, it also messes with how some bosses attack, they have higher speed stat so it's natural they would attack more, but with how the system feels stuck waiting for the animations to play, it more or less feels like they are getting way more turns than they should, it's hard to put into words.

Just for reference, this is how long a fight against a single enemy can be with the default game speed, just as it was on the PlayStation 1.

If this ATB worked like how it worked in older Final Fantasy games, with all the gauges pausing every time an animation played, I wouldn't have any issue with the gameplay, besides feeling battles take too long, which they already do.

This general slowness also discouraged me from willingly starting random encounters when I played the original version, and only really playing through the absolutely necessary encounters.

There's also the introduction to every fight, as if it was the first time you saw the battle arena, it might not seem like much but it takes so much of your time as you progress through the game.

This isn't an issue on new versions since there's is both a speed-up option, a skip battle intro option and an auto-battle option, I replayed the remastered version and it's such a better experience compared to the Playstation 1 version, it's definitely the way to go.

The past six paragraphs or so don't really apply on this version, except maybe only the bit about the ATB not behaving like in olderFinal Fantasy games, but that's a nitpick I have with every single game doesn't behave like that.

Just for comparison, this is how fast the same battle can go in the remaster.

The music is, as usual, very good, with a lot of memorable themes, the graphics are outstanding for a PlayStation 1 game, for the longest time I thought this was a PlayStation 2, the prerendered backgrounds are very good and the models themselves have a lot of detail.

The visual style is also more animated than the previous 2 entries, the designs really stand out and are absolutely memorable.

On top of Vivi being the most handsome guy we also got another peak design in the form of Freya, take a look at her please.

So yeah, in general, this game is great, I do have some grievances with the missable weapons and skills, but that's almost to be expected from a Final Fantasy game at this point, to have missable things, and it's not that much of a problem if you consult some guides for missables.

So don't be afraid to try this Final Fantasy, it is not only one of the best places to start, but it's one of the best Final Fantasy games out there, if you want a good RPG this is definitely a game I would recommend.

[dynmghts]

Jeanist passes a Jift Box (Jean Gift Box) to Bakugo. And suddenly he's gone. Like a fine morning mist. Inside? It's a pair of jeans that fit him... almost too perfectly, and a small, travel hair-care set. Along with a card that reads: "It is only a fool to believe himself above any man, and for that reason, I have been a fool, as I have seen, through watching you, that I have many things left to learn, about the human spirit, about hardwork, about tenacity, and of course, about what it means to truly be a hero. Like the fibers of this well-crafted denim, you have interwoven yourself and your unbreakable spirit amongst the threads of my life. It has been a pleasure to watch you grow, and while I cannot take credit for your growth, or your journey, I find a selfish sort of pride in knowing the great hero, Dynamight, once looked to me as a mentor. I am looking forward to the day I work alongside you, once again. Hopefully in a more peaceful time. Happy birthday. Your friend, Best Jeanist."

❛ oi, what the hell's- ❜ before katsuki can even apprehend his mentor about the stupid and weird jift box ... [ it has a name ? ] ... placed in his hands, he was gone. crimson stares blankly in the general direction of his last sighting with a sense of bewilderment across his features. he glances to the box. back in the direction of jeanist. ❛ ... seriously, what the fuck ? ❜

maybe it was his way of avoiding whatever repercussions would come from gifting a kid with an explosive temper. not that there'd be any real ones, since one of them was a pro and the other was just an intense and foul-mouthed hero-to-be.

nonetheless, calloused hands work to pull apart the jift box ... [ seriously, that's what it's called ? is it made of denim ? ] ... and ultimately reveal the present inside. his gaze turns quizzical at the pair of jeans he lifts out. as he'll find out, they fit him too well and it's maybe a little concerning how well they work with his frame - as it stands, though, he slings it over an arm to check out the hair care products next. huh. travel sized ... maybe he could use that.

his attention finally settles on the card, and he pulls it out to read properly.

it feels like forever ago since the blond won the sports festival, prideful and arrogant in his capabilities, the first year to topple everyone else with unabashed confidence. since he applied to intern at best jeanist's agency with the express desire to witness a top five pro-hero in action, feeling like he'd chosen the wrong agency, enduring the week he felt was fresh from hell - as his hair was styled in an unnatural manner and he had to wear jeans with his costume.

he was also the one to guide him, to show him how to start interacting with the public. because patrols weren't just for deterrence ; they were to show the people who you really are. and because a hero name isn't just a callsign for other heroes to call you by ; they are a wish, a reflection of how you want to be, how you should be. best jeanist made it clear he did not like bakugou katsuki straight away, but he was also the one who put him on the right path - and how could katsuki be ungrateful or ignorant of everything his first mentor offered him ?

and now here he was at the beginning of his third year. here he was, having learned from many mentors now, having gathered knowledge from each since they all had value. but best jeanist was the first.

katsuki may have made his journey on his own accord, but just as he's woven himself into jeanist's life - as he describes, in his stupid thread-related speech - the pro-hero had done the same for him. after all, was it not best jeanist who assured the other heroes that his stubborn and indomitable spirit would mean he'd never cave to the villains ? was it not best jeanist he wanted to intern with again, even if he couldn't since the former had disappeared ? and was it not best jeanist who was the first to hear his hero name, shouted across the battlefield with the same unyielding confidence as if he wasn't bleeding out ?

❛ damned jeans. couldn't come 'n say it to my fuckin' face ... ❜ but katsuki is not any less appreciative for the gifts, or the well wishes. he puts everything back in the box for safekeeping. if he can catch the hero again before he goes dashing off to who-knows-where, the blond will find ... some way of expressing his gratitude. even if it ends up being less than pleasant.

and best jeanist should keep an eye out : bakugou katsuki has every intention of interning at his agency during his last year of ua.

[ so long as he can go without his hair being styled - he'll even put up with the jeans, whatever, if it means he doesn't end up with the embarrassingly uniform and slicked-over hairstyle from his first year. ]

@eclipsemuses / katsuki's bday wishes! <3

[snuggles-and-struggles]

Trying to post here more frequently so I'll try writing out some older ideas

A while ago, I'd been pondering on the whole "yandere" thing. It's not a trope that's ever really appealed to me much, but I was curious if I might be able to come up with a fic or au idea with that kind of set up but something that really actually intrigued me.

It wound up leading to an idea where US had relatively recently surfaced, and Stretch decides to start working on that basement machine again (whether or not they share a surface with any other AUs, idk, it's not particularly important).

Something goes wrong and the machine turns on, malfunctioning and throwing Stretch into the multiverse. He lands in a UF variant. Not exactly a horror style AU, but significantly more fucked up than a normal Fell. And not just in tone, the actual code of the AU got messed up by the child who'd since left.

Sans, Undyne, and Asgore have also since died or been killed, the underground devolved into a sort of wild west free for all, and the Papyrus has suffered severe psychological consequences for it.

Somehow, they wind up meeting, and who eventually winds up nicknamed Edge agrees to let Stretch stay with him and work on...what's left of their machine in the basement.

It's not long before Edge grows attached, too attached, becomes possessive and obsessed with keeping Stretch safe. And well, Stretch is still safer with him than alone, so there isn't much he can do about it.

Due to the shape of the machine, it takes a lot of time to make any progress, and in that time, Stretch slowly starts actually growing attached to Edge, too. He comes to better understand him, what's happened to him, why he’s so terrified of losing what little shred of good he’s found.

It's at least two years before the machine is fixed, and by that time, Edge and Stretch's relationship had developed into an acknowledged romance. Suffice to say, they get the hell out of dodge as quickly as possible, and Stretch is shaking with relief finally able to breathe air free of lingering dust.

However, despite growing to care and love each other truly, Edge is still completely fucked in the head. Stretch had managed to talk him back from several points of no return by now, he has something of a magic touch with Edge, reaffirmed by their years together and Stretch's loyalty.

He wants to help Edge. He knows there is a good, kind, deeply loving monster in there, but the fear and pain has corroded him terribly. He deserves to feel safe again and Stretch would never dream of abandoning him on that journey.

It's not easy, it's a constant uphill battle. He has to meet Edge where he's at and slowly, painstakingly carefully take every little step back up with him. As fragile as Edge's psyche is, trying to push too hard or trying to force him too early will only lead to backsliding and the loss of Edge's faith, which he can't risk, or he may lose Edge entirely.

Edge...wouldn't even entertain he was maybe, perhaps a tiny bit in the wrong sometimes at first. But after how long they're together, and especially as he glacially comes trusts they're really on the surface now, he can...admit. He isn't...entirely mentally sound. And he and Stretch can actually talk about it, sometimes. He wants to work with Stretch, really, loves him so much he’s willing to...attempt to reconsider his own reality.

So it essentially became a "yandere recovery" story, which, idk if that's a thing really or not? But it'd still be very dark, of course, with plenty of angst and close calls all throughout.

I doubt I'd be able to "reach a happy ending" since it would probably take most of their adult life for them to work back up to an even remotely healthy amount of dependency. But if I did want them to get a happy ending, it'd be implied they do get there one day.

[chhavi123]

2023's Hottest Outdoor Furniture Trends

As the seasons change, so do our desires to bask in the beauty of the great outdoors. The allure of the open sky, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the warmth of the sun on your skin call for a perfect outdoor haven. And what makes this experience truly exceptional is the outdoor furniture that adorns your space. In 2023, the world of outdoor furniture has seen an exciting transformation, blending aesthetics with innovation to create spaces that redefine comfort and style.

In this article, we embark on a journey through the top outdoor furniture trends for 2023, offering you a glimpse into the future of alfresco living. We'll also introduce you to five must-see outdoor furniture sets available at Apkainterior, a hub of chic and quality furniture pieces, to help you bring these trends to life in your own outdoor oasis.

Check These 5 Most Trending Outdoor Furniture on Apkainterior

Argo Outdoor Patio Furniture Set:

The Argo Patio Furniture Set is a masterpiece of modern design. Crafted for comfort and aesthetic appeal, it features clean lines, plush cushions, and a minimalist color palette. This set is the embodiment of sophistication and is perfect for those who appreciate contemporary outdoor living. With Apkainterior's dedication to quality, you can trust that this set is built to withstand the elements while maintaining its impeccable style.

2.Loch Outdoor Indoor Sofa Patio Furniture Set:

The Loch Patio Furniture Set offers the best of both worlds. Its versatile design seamlessly transitions from outdoor to indoor, making it an excellent choice for those who love flexibility. With its luxurious sofa and coffee table, this set invites you to lounge in comfort and entertain guests with ease. The Loch set is an epitome of elegance, exuding charm wherever it graces your space.

3.Sapa Stylish Outdoor Furniture With Cushion Set:

If you're looking for outdoor furniture that combines style with coziness, the Sapa Furniture Set is an absolute gem. Its chic yet inviting design is complemented by plush cushions, providing a perfect balance between aesthetics and comfort. The Sapa set is a testament to the idea that outdoor furniture can be both striking and snug, making it a delightful addition to any outdoor retreat.

4.Wrought Iron Patio Furniture Set Of 3:

Wrought iron never goes out of style, and the Wrought Iron Patio Furniture Set of 3 is a classic choice. Its timeless design and durability make it an excellent investment for your outdoor space. This set includes a table and two chairs, creating an intimate setting for morning coffee or evening conversations. ApkaInterior.com offers this set in various finishes, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your taste.

5.Outdoor Patio Balcony Chair Set With Glass Table:

For those with smaller outdoor spaces or balconies, the Indoor Patio Balcony Chair Set is a perfect fit. This set exudes charm with its compact design, featuring two comfortable chairs and a glass-top table. Whether you're sipping tea in the morning sun or stargazing at night, this set creates a cozy nook for intimate moments outdoors.

Conclusion:

In 2023, outdoor living takes center stage with a fusion of style, comfort, and innovation. The outdoor furniture trends we've explored here reflect a growing desire to create outdoor spaces that are not only functional but also extensions of our personal style and preferences.

If you're ready to transform your outdoor area into a haven of relaxation and beauty, Apkainterior.com offers a diverse range of outdoor furniture sets to choose from. With quality craftsmanship and designs that align with the latest trends, these furniture sets ensure that your outdoor space becomes a true reflection of your taste and a sanctuary for enjoying the natural world around you. Explore these trends, elevate your outdoor experience, and make the most of the great outdoors in 2023.

[musicarenagh]

The Magic Epic Talks About His Latest Single 'Player 1' The Magic Epic had to isolate himself and starve his ears in other to nurture his own sound and not follow the masses. Music, since childhood, has been a form of companion and outlet for him to let his feelings out. He has since then dedicated his time and efforts to making long-lasting sounds that would stand the test of time. Born Toby Juan is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and composer who performs under the pseudonym ‘The Magic Epic’, over the years he has finely tuned his craft while using real-life experiences and things happening in his surroundings, he makes his songs relatable and helps in casting the message in the song across. His latest single Player 1 is about fighting for what is right no matter how difficult and hopeless it seems, this is a great course to advocate as most people tend to give up the fight when they think their chances of winning is low, but this mindset can be cleared after listening to Player 1 In a recent interview with Mister Styx of Musicarenagh, The Magic Epic shared his growing process with his fans, he said: My style evolved hugely throughout the years, I had to stop performing covers to truly find my own style and step away from Listening to music for a while completely for that process to happen. He had more to say during the interview as he went on to state some of the challenges, he faces in the music industry. Get the full story below while listening to Player 1   Follow Magic Epic on Facebook Twitter Spotify Soundcloud Youtube Instagram   What is your stage name The Magic Epic Is there a story behind your stage name? I intended to have a band once I’d recorded an album and after getting told my songs were epic more than once and my belief real music comes from the magic of the universe I decided that The Magic Epic would be the name that best represented my music. Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration on the journey of life and convey my experiences , hopes and dreams through song . What was the role of music in the early years of your life? I always remember what music I listened to in significant times in my life. I think music is best described as a sound track to life. Music has always been my best friend to get me through the hardest times and accompany me on the best. Are you from a musical or artistic family? Both of my grandfathers were musical , one played drums in the army band and the other played piano around south London bars. I also have an uncle that had a number one record in Germany with a band called the Bermuda Triangle . Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry? I am more inspired to keep music alive than anything else and restore it back to its former golden era. Watching a live show passenger in pink pop really lit something in me that I had to record my songs finally . How did you learn to sing/write/to play? I thought myself pretty much everything apart from the first chords I learnt on guitar , by repetition. What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform? The first real concert I ever saw was guns n roses , it was epic How could you describe your music? A bit of the the last 7 decades combined . Describe your creative process. It all starts with a feeling, which is the title of the intro track to my first album. I will usually start a new song whilst doodling on the guitar or piano , I use these instruments to release my feelings like meditation I guess and I will hit upon something I think sounds amazing, then I will sing the initial melody once I’m totally connected to the tune , I then freestyle and words will come to me and then it’s all about playing it over and over till it takes its best and most natural direction. I never work with the best until the song is the song , as I feel that a meaningful song is more about melody than anything else. Once I’m fairly

happy with the ghost version , I go to the studio where I work with my friend and producer Andy Brook and under my direction we put the track together and I always run through different options for the lyrics with Andy until we have the finished piece . What is your main inspiration? My main inspiration is not to get to the end of my life with the music still inside me. What musician do you admire most and why? I think I admire Elvis Presley the most as he changed the face of music , his self belief was out of this world, his voice charisma and presence haven’t been seen since, there’s a bit of Elvis in so much music . Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career? My style evolved hugely through out the years , I had to stop performing covers to truly find my own style and step away from Listening to music for a while completely for that process to happen . Who do you see as your main competitor? I don’t see any competition as that’s not what music is , my music is unique to me so therefore shouldn’t be compared. What are your interests outside of music? I live by the ocean and spend a lot of time by the beach , I love animals , mindfulness , working out , boxing and cycling If it wasn't a music career, what would you be doing? I am music so I am lost without it , I can’t imagine what else I’d be doing but I know I wouldn’t be happy What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music? I think the biggest problem is that people don’t buy records or cds so it’s a lot of work and investment that is hard to get much return from unless you are selling out big stadiums , which is a struggle when the biggest struggle is getting the music to peoples ears in this time. If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be? I would stop the record companies brainwashing the public with low vibrational genres of music that are usually bad for society and the conscious vibration of the planet Why did you choose this as the title of this project? It just came to me with the music at the same time . What are your plans for the coming months? I have 2 more singles and an album coming so I am now focusing on making live videos so people can hear the songs in their natural state as well as the fully produced versions Do you have any artistic collaboration plans None What message would you like to give to your fans? Always make the right decision at the right moment and your life will be glorious. Oh and pre save the magic epics second studio album 26. Available on all platforms from the 8th of June.

[creativelyryeblogs]

Month Long Catchup

Time is truly an illusion, especially when it comes to school. There are times when I think about how long it takes to finish a journey, then all of a sudden you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Journeys are so amazing to process and analyze after they happen, which sometimes sucks because your emotions are not present in the moment. Sometimes I enjoy it tho. The past few weeks I have had a lot of time to reflect over my art and life in general. It's hard to balance work, school and personal life but it's becoming easier for me to get the hang of things

Week 5

I was able to work on a lovely piece for the Black Af Exhibition, which allowed me to portray the love of a father and son. With in the black community we have a stereotype that fathers are not in their children's lives, especially young boys. This stereotype is mainly talked about when it comes to violence with in the black community. I wanted a piece to tear down that stereotype and represent love and unity of black men.

Week 6

I submitted a travel proposal for the DAAP SOA scholarships. This was honestly so exciting but also time consuming due to the extensive details I wanted to include. My trip consists of going to London and I was able to write down all the exhibitions, sights and areas I hope to visit! Even if I am not able to go to London, just the idea of being able to potentially be there brought a lot of excitement! I want to explore the works of Claudette Johnson, Sonya Boyce, Keith Piper and many more other Black UK artists. I feel that the black history of London is so rich and full of culture due to the Afro-Carribean history of london. Many people migrated from those areas in 1948 and brought their own style to the city. I am interested in the influence of culture and travel outside of the US and how it can connect to my practice.

Week 7

In the mist of preparing for the Black Af Exhibition, I was able to enjoy the works of my friend and Dayton Local artist, DAVE who put together a phenomenal show with other local artist from Dayton and Cincinnati. It was called the Sage Ultra experience and it really gave a new perspective of the importance of art with in my own familiar community. Growing up in Dayton, I hated the lack of fun the city had to offer. As time progressed and I was able to go to an art school for middle school and high school, I was able to enter a different realm with the importance of being an artist. As time progressed I grew a love for all of the artist in Dayton who have stuck to their roots. Its a small city that needs love and a strong community, art is the perfect way to explore that. February 25th was the Black Af Exhibition and it was AMAZING! I was able to make profit from my prints as well as sell an old painting I had for a while. I also go the opportunity to make 2 more pieces to add. Overall, I am very proud of the experience and support of black people in art. I just want to continue to be apart of this community.

Week 8

This week involved a lot of planning for my future projects and first installation for class. It was stressful and time consuming but once I finally figure out exactly what I wanted to do, everything fell in place. My sketches are often limited because I also rely on image boards and imagination as the process begins

Week 9

Installation time! With all the planning and ideas coming together, as well as pieces that I worked on throughout the semester, I finally got to place everything in the Annex gallery. The focus was my art and being an Artist, not a machine. I had a moment during the semester when it was pushed upon me to make 20 pieces in 2 weeks. Something I refused to do because I want my work to reflect quality not quantity. Its hard sometimes being an artist because people try to control your narrative. As soon as you let them know you make art, they follow with "Can you draw me?" No I am not a robot/machine that just makes anything at anytime. I am an artist. The inspiration for this statement was the 1968 Memphis Workers Strike. Due to deaths of 2 workers, being overworked and underpaid, the workers decide to strike. They used the quote "I Am a Man" to take back the power of racial slurs and degrading terms that refer to Black people as less than human. With this, I wanted to gain power and control of my art to show people that I am an artist and Im serious about my shit. Overall, I love the look and vibrancy of this installation. Definitely one for the books!

Week 10

Spring Break!! Got to go to Chicago to celebrate my birthday, enjoy friends and city vibes. Really enjoyed visiting the Art Institute of Chicago. The most memorable piece was Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A) by Felix Gonzalez-Torres. It was phenomenal to know the background of his work then to view it in person and actually take a piece of candy. It felt wrong but right at the same time. This put a different perspective on how I can use simple installations to imply a bigger meaning to my work.

Week 11

Brainstorming on the realm of AfroFuturism and Afrosurrealism. I am interested in viewing the future and surrealness of Black people in reference to culture and artistic values. Ironically I have been viewing the past and how the represented the future. Things like y2k culture, 90s-2000s futuristic music videos, and music that has placed the space of black culture into an alternative vibe.

[sharonisthebettercarter]

a shy darling i know once told me,

"there are no bad artists, only young ones"

which is to say that art and creativity are skills that we aren't born with, but we can learn and foster and make grow into something truly beautiful, but we all start somewhere and we always have potential. ;)

and YOU, well... sweetie, ya make me feel SO OLD and decrepit cause you are WAY better than me despite being a good deal younger than me, but look how far you have come<3<3<3 and honestly, i support it, fully. go off, do art, enjoy yourself<3. even if others (myself included) aren't so fond of what you produce, beauty and taste is all up to the beholder so be freeeeeee~<3!! ;)))))))))))

however, if you really feel stagnant or stuck (and are okay with taking advice from a lowly art baby peon like myself), experimentation is the way to go (or so i've heard ;)). if you want to, take a step back from doing these lovely, drool worthy pieces and pretty asses... where was i going--oh yeah. anywho~<3

take a step back and maybe focus more on style/anatomy/feature/pose studies or do more sketchy work (although you already seem plenty fucking amazing to me. GOTDAMN<3<3<3)

but here's something artists often aren't told (same shy darling mentioned, also an artist!), being stagnant is okay. not constantly improving is fine. if you are happy with the direction your style has gone or is currently at, it is perfectly okay to just continue on your merry way and keep having fun with your work. often called guilty pleasure art.

except there's nothing 'guilty' about it, because art is *supposed* to be pleasure<3

if you feel from a personal perspective that you *want* to improve or shake up your style a bit, that is different, but it is *your* journey that you have every right to, and experimenting is a fantastic method of choice to get there ;)

personally, i think your style is just fuckin' perfect and i love it, i could certainly hope to inspire you with my own ideas~<3 ;)))))))))))))))))))))) and be inspired by your work<3 regardless, i'll support you and hope you continue to be inspired/produce such lovely work that makes you happy<3<3<3

lmao about chris pine! yeah i kinda see that a bit<3 (lovingly of course, the piece is still incredible<3<3<3 i recently did my own feature study and (by the actors) learned that homie's nose is a bit longer/larger than butchy's buttony little cat nose--also learned that apparently nose size is related to dick size?? WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN WILLEM DAFOE--IGNORE THAT I--)

now excuse me while i catch up on what i need to like and comment on and fawn over geralt's cum gutters--

your butchlander piece is so nice! lol homelander looks a little like chris pine to me but it's so beautifully done and he's definitely enjoying that pain❣️ and that superbat one had me 👀 I must admit.

hey do you mind if i suggestively wonder if you might just be interested in a tsun tsun bratty bossy bottom billy butcher? homelander's such a misbehaved service dog but billy's so damaged deranged and yippy it has me 👀👀👀🔥🔥👀🔥🥵🥵🔥🔥👀 like he needs a good prostate 👀👀 you have no idea. literally called himself an alpha male unironically like bitchy butchy you are a total bottom

plus the fact that super dicks have no refractory period and can be vibrated??

ugh ignore me lovely work 😘😘❣️❣️

Ahh Thank You so much!! I'm happy you like the drawing and that you like this ship in general! 😳🙏💕

YOU MADE ME THINK JUST NOW because that sounds so hot ohmygod I can't believe I haven't thought of this possibility-Thanks for opening my eyes 👁️👁️👁️👁️

Misbehaved service dog ygsgfsgssgsg sobbing. I love that. Yes he is.

Maybe I was a little too respectful towards Butcher with that first piece. /j sggssgshsh Maybe he just deserves to get dicked down. The more I think about it the more I like the idea damn Remember this when you see me drawing anything like that because it's gonna be your fault!! 😩💫

To be perfectly honest, I'm in a period where I try to draw as many different characters I was ever interested in as possible because I've been feeling a little overly self-conscious about my style and anatomy and stuff /like my style is becoming very stagnant. /(that's why my page is all over the place rn 😳) I watched this show last year and I loved it but I wasn't drawing much at that time. I thought it's only gonna be one single fanart *for this experimenting period* from The Boys but I got way too deep so quickly, it's insane. There's definitely more to come. 💀🙏❤️

[inkybirdy]

of course I'd be happy to tag you, @takemetotheastral ! and I'm happy to offer some basic notes on the wind waker au, currently titled "a different tune" on Ao3!

in brief, the wind waker au is one in which aryll is the one who goes on a quest to save her sibling, and gets embroiled in a high-seas fantastical adventure instead of link. meanwhile, ganondorf and tetra are both rival pirate captains fighting to settle a centuries-long dispute over territory, magic, and the power to shape the future of the world. link wants a nap.

a few more specific character notes below!

Aryll is very recently 12 years old, an auspicious age for those of Outset Island! She’s now old enough to train in the island’s traditional sword fighting style, as well as take on new responsibilities to protect her home and assist her brother with his own tasks. It’s an exciting time! And also bitter - while it’s nice, growing up, to have new opportunities and a broader sense of agency, Aryll is already starting to miss being able to blindly trust that her brother would take care of everything that needs doing. She wants to help, wants to prove herself, but it’s all a bit daunting, isn’t it? She has her brother, though, in the end. As long as they’re together, as long as he’s around to help steer her in the right direction, she has faith everything will turn out alright.

Link is in his early 20s and doing his best. After the death of his grandmother when he was in his later teens, Link was not only left with the responsibility of raising Aryll but also acting in his grandmother’s place as caretaker for the island’s fairy fountain and various spirits, shrines, and artifacts. Among these are a couple of the island’s treasures - a small golden pendant that nobody is allowed to pawn, and the Wind Waker, which has proven fairly useful to have on-hand to shoo dangerous storms away from the island. Of course Link takes his duties seriously, but he tends to the island’s caretaking in the same way that he tends to any other household chore. Really, his focus and any energy he’s had to spare has been put toward his efforts to raise his sister. He won’t say he’s good at it - he knows his love of naps and idleness has turned into longstanding fatigue, and his charming snark has turned caustic - but he’s determined to do all he can to make sure Aryll is cared for and given the best opportunity to grow into a well-adjusted person.

Ganondorf - otherwise known as Captain Dragmire, or simply Ganon - is already one of the most notorious and influential pirates on the Great Sea, despite only being in his mid-20s. He’s an expert treasure-hunter, an experienced scallywag, a deadly swordsman and gunslinger, and - according to some - a truly impressive knack for magic. His crew, based in the Forsaken Fortress, is devotedly loyal, approaching their goals and the goals of their captain with dogged and dangerous enthusiasm. Heir to what is understood as an ancient and potentially world-shaking power, Ganon pursues glory and destiny in all things. When not fulfilling his role as the charismatic and deadly pirate captain, though, Ganon is bright, inquisitive, easily flustered, and impulsive - which, often, sends him tripping into variously unfortunate and terribly embarrassing situations. It’s fine. He’s fine. He’s totally got this, it’s fine. Crew and reputation established, skills honed, magic and minions at his beck and call, Ganon is ready for his greatest conquest yet - Finally claiming his ancestral power and proving himself the rightful steward of a long-buried legacy, and destroying the last vestiges of the chaotic forces that once cursed and drowned the world.

Tetra - also known as Captain Nohansen, Captain Tetra, or The Great Sea’s Terror - is a match made in the deepest parts of hell for Ganon in how their journeys to greatness have paralleled. Also in her mid-20s, Tetra is a prodigious mage, a lethal swordsman and gunslinger, a savvy explorer and trader of treasures, and a ruthless force to be reckoned with. While her crew has no proper base aside from their common haunt, Windfall Island, they’ve become a staple in stories and nightmares across the Great Sea. Her crew follows her without question, with religious fervor and unending loyalty that disavows even the most minor slight against her - they’re her best friends, bonded in spilled blood and drunken oaths over years of companionship. Tetra’s charisma strays from Ganon’s more smooth and charmingly cocky persona into sheer command and brutal competence. The instant Captain Tetra walks into a room, it is her domain - she knows exactly what she wants, and it is highly unlikely even gods could help those that dare stand in her way. Sarcastic, capable, confident, she is the picture of a legendary pirate: Whether that’s good news or not depends on the person standing across from her. However, all that confidence and support tends toward bullheadedness. When given the choice between arguing a point with Tetra or throwing one’s self into a nearby whirlpool, it may be easier to fight the tumultuous ocean current. Again similarly to Ganon, Tetra is the heir of what is said to be a power capable of bending the future of the world to one’s will. She aims to outclass Ganon and claim her ancestral right once and for all, to reveal the truth of a centuries-long struggle and possibly even draw the drowned earth once again up from the seas.

altogether, they’re fun. I’m having fun. And I hope everybody sticking around to follow the story does too!

[h4lcyonism]

show suggestions for owl house fans during the hiatus

1. tangled the series

where to watch?: disney+

how long?: a movie + 3 seasons

summary: rapunzel is adjusting to life as a princess, but when she sneaks out beyond the kingdom walls alongside her best friend cassandra, she touches magical black rocks that cause her hair to grow back and she embarks on a journey to learn about the mysteries of the black rocks and her hair.

this was actually a tts blog for a while during the time the show was airing, so of course i’ll recommend it!! it’s truly a beautiful show with stunning animation, interesting lore that expands on the original movie, lovable characters, and incredible music.

2. rwby

where to watch?: rooster teeth

how long?: 4 original character shorts + 8 seasons/volumes (9th volume coming later this year)

summary: ruby rose, weiss schnee, blake belladonna, and yang xiao long attend beacon academy, a school where they train to be huntresses and protect their world from monsters called the grimm.

again, as a current rwby blog, i’m gonna recommend it!! please note that it’s not a kid’s cartoon, so it can get dark and heavy with some of the violence, but it’s not inappropriate in any way. there are so many characters and ships to love, plenty of complex storylines to follow, absolutely banger musical soundtracks, and a very unique 3d animation style (it gets better after v3, i promise).

3. kipo & the age of wonderbeasts

where to watch?: netflix

how long?: 3 seasons

summary: after being forced to flee the burrow that she’s known all her life, kipo oak searches for her father on the surface of a post-apocalyptic world full of giant, talking, mutated animals.

kipo is such a beautiful but underrated show!! it’s been praised for its lgbt+ and poc representation, and is the first kid’s cartoon to ever have a character verbally come out as gay!! i saw someone describe it as a mix between spop, amphibia, and toh and that’s actually a perfect description for it. it has stunning animation, great music, lots of great rep, and a really cool plot premise.

4. amphibia

where to watch?: disney+

how long?: 2 seasons (season 3 premiering in october)

summary: when anne boonchuy and her friends open a magical box, she’s transported to the world of amphibia, where she meets friends and foes while trying to find her friends and a way back home.

i just finished watching this show and it was so cute!! it does get pretty dark towards the end of season 2, but a lot of it is fun frog adventures with plot buildup. the animation is great and a lot of toh fans are also amphibia fans!!

5. gravity falls

where to watch?: disney+

how long?: 2 seasons

summary: when twins dipper and mabel pines spend the summer in gravity falls, oregon, with their great uncle stan, dipper discovers a strange journal and together, they start to uncover mysteries about the town.

most owl house fans are probably familiar with gravity falls, but i thought i’d recommend it anyways!! dana terrace (the creator of toh) worked on this show and the creator, alex hirsch, is her boyfriend and is also involved with the owl house (voice of king, hooty, etc.). it’s such a fun and heartfelt show and is definitely similar to the owl house, but unique in its own way!!

[coalitiongirl]

Fic Recs (under 300 edition)

So I wanted to get back to reading Swan Queen fic regularly, and I asked people to rec longfic that they'd read (not written) and loved that had fewer than 300 kudos! I haven’t read most of these, but I’ve collected them here so y’all can go through the list and discover some new fics with me! Please try to kudos and review every fic that you read! It means the world to the writers and will keep em writing, and then we all win. 😁

Atonement by SgtMac (M): With Regina's magical heart failing thanks to years of previous evil, Emma and Regina and Henry (and Granny!) set out to save her life by traveling to the Enchanted Forest and requesting help from ancient magical beings known as the Guardians. Given a mission as simple as it is impossible - to achieve atonement by creating peace - the ladies find themselves joining a rebellion and fighting for the very soul of the Enchanted Forest all while trying to help Regina to understand that the self-loathing and guilt which have driven most of her actions don't have to doom her chance for a new beginning or even, a chance to live and love again. A S4(ish) SQ love story set against the turmoil of war and the chaotic savagery of the old world.

Blood and Sand by cheshire6845 (E): A/U The Savior is a slave forced into the role of fighting as a gladiator for the House of Hearts. The odds are against her survival as she will have to win in the arena, navigate Cora's schemes, outlast a general's vengeance, and not be killed out of spite by the current House of Hearts Champion - Regina the Undefeated. This story follows the major plot points of Starz Spartacus with some twists along the way.

But what if there was no time by KizuRai (M): When she wakes up, it's dark. She can't move, she can't see, she can't feel and she can't hear. Where am I? She feels a forceful oppression, pressing her down, draining her of her energy and she's powerless to stop it. How did I get here? The question of here is relative, she's not even sure where here is. What happened? There must be some reason for being stuck here but her memory is fuzzy, like all her thoughts are being sifted through a filter. Who am I? She's not sure if she actually exists or she suddenly became sentient in the darkness.She hears a voice reverberating in the distance, it's distorted and quiet but she hears it all the same. It breaks the monotony of the silence. Someone's coming for her, they will get her out. She's just not sure she wants them to as the price might be too great.

Finding Home by evl_rgl (T): “I wanted to remember you so badly that I pulled back your cursed town just so that the memories would make sense. I needed you so badly that even when I had no memory of you, I still tried to find you.” Regina gave Emma and Henry memories of a happy life together before they fled Pan’s curse, leaving them with no memories of their lives in Storybrooke. However, when the memory spell shows signs of failing, threatening to rip apart the minds of both Emma and Henry, Regina makes a drastic choice to go back and fix it, understanding that it will mean living alone in a world where her son doesn’t know her. Was the spell really faulty, though? (swanqueen)

Five Flames by MariaComet (U): In the past, Emma Nolan disconnected from her peers in high school, preferring to keep to herself. In her sophomore year of high school, she decided to try and join the boy’s wrestling team because she was bored. She didn’t expect herself to become the champion of the most bullied kid in school or the secret best friend of the school queen. She also didn’t expect to join a club that would change her life. In the present, Emma is trying to cope with a humiliating loss in her martial arts career. She claims to be “training” but is stuck in limbo between wanting to retire and try again. She is isolated from her former best friend, Regina Mills, a local celebrity chef and the rest of her old friends. When one of them calls her with an idea to honor their deceased teacher, she is confronted with unresolved feelings and questions about how powerful love truly is.

A Glamour of Truth by PrincessCharming (T): After 2x10, Regina uses magic to show Emma the obvious truth. A tentative trust forms between them amid hilarious bickering. With Emma's help, Regina struggles to regain a place in her son's life... until Cora arrives, wanting her daughter back. Pieces of Regina's past emerge showing that the board was set long before the game started. The final battle begins soon.

His Dark Materials 'verse by MoonlitMidnight (M): A modern Alternate Universe in which Dæmons (the external physical manifestation of a person's 'inner self' that takes the form of an animal) are present. In which Emma and Regina have led slightly different lives and they make slightly different choices.

How Many Miles to Avalon? (WIP) by RavenOutlander (E): Regina would do anything to save Emma from the darkness and bring her back home safe and sound. Even put up with the two idiots, Captain Guyliner and a bunch of dwarves she decidedly wanted to drop off at the nearest exit. But in their search for Emma, they find that she might not need that much saving after all. Caught up in a search for the infamous Philosopher Stone, an all out war between DunBroch and Camelot, and ghosts from the past to haunt her every waking moment, Regina finds herself scrambling to keep her and her family's happy endings from falling apart.

The Hyperion by FrankenSpine (M): After wishing upon what she believes is a shooting star, Emma Swan finds herself aboard the Hyperion, the royal starship of an alien Queen from a faraway galaxy. She quickly learns of the tensions between the Queen's people and her own, but the Queen takes an interest in her and agrees to take her away from Earth forever. Adventure awaits. *(Loosely based on Guardians of the Galaxy with just a hint of Farscape)*

If Wishes Came True (It Would've Been You) by Angeii_K (M): After Regina films a guest appearance on her friend Neal’s popular show, he invites her to spend the weekend with him and his girlfriend. What she never expected was to actually like the woman. Sparks fly between the two, which results in them questioning everything and making choices they will later regret. 4 years later, they meet again in the most unexpected of ways. Now co-stars on the same show, they are forced to work through the emotions from their last encounter. What will happen next? Only time will tell.

The King Doesn’t Have To Know (WIP) by highheelsandchocolate (M): The White Knight had never seen anyone like her before: the Queen was nothing short of mesmerizing. Her possessive yet neglectful husband, however, was another thing entirely.

The Lich by Dangereaux (M): Gay disaster Emma, exasperated Regina, and a monster. A Halloween special.

Maybe if We Close Our Eyes we Can Reach the Stars by wellthizizdeprezzing (T): Emma is a lonely astronaut. Regina is an adventuring alien. Their paths cross leading them onto a journey of new discovery. Between galaxies and many miles of cold black space, despite not speaking the same language, they manage to fall for each other. An out of this world love story.

A prisoner long forgotten by sugarsweet_19 (M): ‘I wish I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood and as black as the wood of the window-frame. Soon after she had a little girl, who was as white as snow, with lips as red as blood and with her hair as black as the ebony of the window-frame. She was therefore called Snow-white.” This is how our story starts but how will it end?The evil queen as been locked up in a tower and forgotten that is until princess Emma looks for a place to hid from her parents after they tell her she has to marry Neal the son of the dark one.

Revenge of the Three Little Pigs by mskyo (M): Regina and Emma find themselves alone and looking for the rest of their party. The Evil Queen must face the consequences of her past actions. Will Emma come to her aid, or understand that justice must be served... *Some chapters have fairly graphic sex, and violence*

Things I Almost Remember by cheshire6845 (T): A/U Despite an oncoming war between the Dark and the Light, Emma and Regina are best friends growing up in the Enchanted Forest. When war does come, they find themselves on opposite sides. Regina will have to defy her mother to save Emma. Will Emma be able to save Regina when Cora curses her daughter to live in the Land without Magic?

What We Make (WIP) by DiazTuna (M): “My mother.” He says calmly. He’d known all along, she’s aware. But he’d known that today would be the day that would get this going. She wants to ask what it was like, to have woken up this morning, laced up his boots and walked into hell just knowing. “It’s programmed the cyborg to kill her. Before I have a chance to be born.” -In which the leader of the future sends his best soldier back to the past to save his mother from a killer cyborg. Terminator AU.

The Wrong Way by pcworth (M): Takes place right after Zelena steals Regina's heart. Zelena offers Regina a chance to go back in time with her and change both of their lives for the better. But what will be the price of that decision. Slow-burn to SwanQueen

zombie trash by 13pens (T): Zelena could have her brain and eat it, too. Fic operates on three premises 1. this takes place in any universe where zelena is a reformed asshole 2. zombies are a thing and exist iZombie style 3. i have NO chill

[wrenhyperfixates]

Loki Series Thoughts—Glorious Purpose

Ok, I’m always nervous about posting my thoughts, but here we go. Spoilers ahead of course!!! (Disclaimer: Any gifs or images are not mine.)

Let’s start out with the episode’s name: Glorious Purpose. I know some people were a bit miffed about the emphasis put on the line, but I actually thought it worked well. It’s not so much that Loki actually believes in this “purpose,” but rather he is clinging to what he’s been told his purpose is. And by the end of the episode, he’s finally working through some of the things he’s been hurt by, abandoning what he’s been forced into and ready to be who he wants. Granted, it’s still going to take some time for him to come to grips with all that has happened, but I’m excited to see the journey.

The TVA. They undeniably suck. Whether or not it will be addressed directly, they are the (or one of the) antagonists in the show. What they are doing is, frankly, tyrannical. Three “time keepers” have taken it upon themselves to force countless versions of time and people into one single stream. And you know what? They can’t control that timeline. Not like they want to. As much as Loki’s line about “the weak” applies to himself, it applies to the TVA, too. It’s a facade of control that they cling to; if they truly had the right, the ability, to control time, everyone would follow their path. There would be no variants. Now, I could write a whole separate analysis on the MCU’s explanation of time travel. It’s convoluted and in a large way doesn’t make sense.

I’d like to talk about Loki’s characterization. I am, in a word, relieved. From the trailers, Tom seemed to be over-acting, something rather strange for someone so good at conveying deep emotions through nuanced actions. Now I believe any exaggerated lines from the trailers are just Loki trying to separate himself from who he’s been told he is, and trying to reinvent himself. I don’t think that’s a bad thing either; they’re not rewriting Loki, he’s just growing in a new way. And though this way is “new” I think it will be similar to what we’ve seen before. From what we’ve seen so far, there is good continuity, and they are addressing things about Loki that should be addressed in canon.

Loki projects. Most notably in the Avengers, but also a bit in Thor 1 and The Dark World, a lot of Loki’s lines can be applied to himself, though he is talking generally or towards another group. What comes to mind is actually something he touches upon again in the series. The illusion of freedom. And though it is not said that line in particular is him thinking of himself, it can be inferred based on his admission that the line in the gifs above apply to him. Also that little gesture when he says “weak” breaks me. He’s hurting so much.

Loki is not a villain. He may think he’s one because everyone else is telling him that, yet we’re already seeing it brought up that it’s not true. I can only hope that we’ll see Loki state this himself later in the series. He was largely forced to do what he did. It is not his fault, so how can he be a villain?

Loki cares. Tom’s acting is just *chef’s kiss* Seeing his mother’s death hurts so much. I love that his first response is denial. Loki is thrown into something he’s never known about before, being shown things that, to his knowledge, have never happened. But then when he’s had a few seconds to wander around the TVA on his own terms, he’s more come to grips with all that’s going on. So, when he’s by himself and see’s Frigga lying there, dead, it gets to him. Then seeing Odin still call him his son, he feels the slightest glimmer of hope, but also regret; he already knows in the back of his mind that he’s not actually going to get that. Loki’s living from second to second, trying to hold on. He probably thinks this ends with his death. (I do have issues with that Odin scene in context of Ragnarok but that’s more a tangential aside, so I’ll gloss over it for now.) Then seeing Thor and himself acting like brothers again is heartwarming. So just when he’s feeling uplifted, Thanos comes into the picture. He realizes how much control the titan still had over his life; he never really escaped. And in the end, Thanos made good on his promise. And that is terrifying! And he laughs at it. It’s a sad sort of laugh, one that’s slightly crazed. Loki feels that no matter what he does, it ends in pain. By the end of seeing all that, he is a man broken. Rather, more broken than he already was.

Loki is struggling. That’s nothing profound; it’s obvious. But where it really stands out to me is actually in a part I originally thought to be out of character. I am referring to “What if I was a robot and I didn’t know it.” Upon closer inspection, I realize it’s actually that his perception of himself has been so thrown that he really isn’t sure about his own chemical makeup anymore. Odin and Frigga keeping from him that he’s a frost giant made him so unsure of himself, he thought he might not even be a living being.

Nervous tics. Was I the only one noticing his leg bouncing when he talked to Mobius? And what about that scene when he’s sitting on the steps? He begins to pick at his hands. Note, that’s something he did in T1 after finding out he was a frost giant and while confessing to the Warriors Four about how he was the one who told the guard of their trip to Jotunheim. Just a little detail I really appreciated. (If anyone has gifs of any of these things, feel free to share :)

Mobius. I’ll be honest, I’m a bit undecided. I’m hesitant to say he’s evil. After all, we haven’t seen that much of him yet. However, I will say he is unscrupulous and manipulative. His questions weren’t to help Loki work through his trauma. Mobius was trying to goad him into helping, and likely was trying to gauge how much this Loki is like the variant he’s tracking. When Loki makes any admission of his feelings, it’s something he already knew, not a conclusion Mobius helped him reach. Mobius mocks him a bit and pushes his buttons because he sees Loki as a means to an end, and wants to know how easily he can get him to work with him. And what strikes me is how similar Mobius’s deal is to Thor’s deal in TDW. Thor doesn’t offer Loki freedom, he offers revenge. Mobius’s deal is just another variation of this. He can’t offer “salvation” but he can offer something “better”. Working for the TVA really isn’t better, though. So what does he mean? Well, I think he means a chance for Loki to prove he’s a hero. I hope as the show progresses it’s addressed that Loki doesn’t have to prove himself to anyone. That’s what he’s been doing his whole life, but I want Loki to see for himself that he doesn’t have to.

Miss Minutes. Propaganda. Plain and simple, it’s propaganda. Besides the way it praises the “time keepers” as amazing saviors, necessary to keep the world in order, it’s essentially saying “don’t think for yourself.” The whole point of the video is “the time keepers are great. The TVA is flawless. Trust us to decide everything. You have no autonomy in the world we want, so surrender your free will. Submit to the system we’ve decided is perfect and everything will be just fine.” Of course, by “just fine” they mean the variant will be pruned and the timeline will keep going as the time keepers see fit. The animation style was great though! It really fit.

The infinity stones. I think their inclusion makes sense. If you remember from Endgame, the stones being in the right place in the right time keeps the timeline from branching, and thus prevents the multiverse from being created. Likely, the time keepers used the stones to make their “sacred timeline.” Naturally, any variant time stones would cause a problem. That’s why they have so many extras. But think about how pointless so much of what happened seems. Nat, Gamora, Vision, Tony, everyone who was snapped, everyone who was left. So, literally the entire universe was flipped upside down for paperweights. It really puts Thanos’s pursuit of the stones into perspective, doesn’t it?

The cloaked figure. I think there’s some misdirection going on here in one way or another. Mobius says he’s chasing a Loki variant, then immediately it cuts to a scene with the cloaked figure. Our minds are likely to assume that is the variant then. But they don’t actually say it’s Loki, so I’m inclined to believe it’s not. Though, I don’t have enough information to say who I do think it is, I could make a couple of educated guesses and say Mephisto (he certainly interacted with Loki in the comics, plus there’s the stained glass window) or Sylvie. Well, whoever Sophia Di Martino’s character is. I know she was previously listed as Sylvie on sources such as IMDb, but that has since disappeared. But why would you have a “young Sylvie” (Cailey Fleming) without an older version? There is speculation Di Martino’s character will be Lady Loki, but I hope this won’t happen. If they make Lady Loki her own character, I doubt we’ll see Variant Loki get to be fluid. Even if it’s confirmed on the record, it’d be nice to see actually happen beyond a piece of paper. And with twist villains being such a prominent force in modern media, I’m interested to see who our cloaked friend really is.

Time travel. Like I said earlier, this is a lot. But I can’t talk about the episode and not mention this aspect in at least a little more depth. I don’t like how the MCU deals with time travel. I think it’s an unnecessarily complicated mix of a number of different, already complicated theories. However, I think Loki will ultimately escape from the TVA and create a multiverse too difficult to prune (and maybe he’ll actually get to burn the place down too!) This will then tie directly into Doctor Strange 2. Do you guys know what that’s called? The Multiverse of Madness. Actually, in the Miss Minutes propaganda, they almost exactly say “will throw the multiverse into madness.” Will we get to (finally!) see a certain raven-haired god meeting Dr. Strange? And maybe even the Scarlet Witch herself? Well, I’m not sure, but right now I think it’s looking pretty good!

And some random things that didn’t really anywhere else:

Peggy is in the background?! My thought here is that Steve wasn’t supposed to stay with her. This made not only a Variant Steve, but also a Variant Peggy. We may not see Steve, but I bet he’s been taken care of too!! And who knows? Maybe there will be a cameo later. Otherwise, it might be something that was cut from the show, or just a fun easter egg of sorts.

The score was so good! It sets the mood perfectly.

Loki is a good fighter. Even if he’s overpowered, he finds a way.

Some of the humor didn’t land, but that might just be a personal thing.

So now my final thoughts. It’s their strongest pilot yet. So much emotion crammed into less than an hour. A lot of exposition, too, yet it didn’t feel tedious (Endgame I’m looking at you). And then we get to delve into Loki’s psyche, something that really appeals to me! Overall, 9/10. I hope the rest of the series is as good!

Did I miss anything? Was there something you were hoping I’d mention and didn’t? Or do you have something to add or (politely!) disagree with? I’d love to hear it all! Remember, fandom is a safe space to talk about, analyze, and debate about things you enjoy. My ask box is always open with anon on. Reblogs and comments are great too. Thanks!

Me after watching the episode:

[thekingofwinterblog]

Getter Robo Retospective - Getter Robo Part 1 -Ryoma Nagare

So, Iv’e been wanting to do an overall retrospective of the Getter Robo manga franchise for a while now, and since the Getter Robo Arc is nearing it’s finale as of the time of this writing, and will either give it a definite ending, or be the final nail in the coffin that the series will never be finished before Getter Robo falls into public domain, I thought now might as well be the time to do it.

As such, I’ll be doing an overall analysis over the entire collection of Ken Ishikawa’s Getter Robo manga series, it’s plots, themes, characters, and covers the various ideas this crazy and amazing sci-fi series covers.

Also, this retrospective will NOT cover the various anime adaptations, or the behind the scenes stuff that has gone on with Getter Robo over the years, such as Go Nagai being credited as the writer of the original manga despite only having come up with the overall concept and designs for it(the rest was by Ken Ishikawa), or the way that Ken went back and added in some extra chapters in the original two manga to explain some things and to tie the early manga more closely into what came after.

For the purposes of this retorspective, I will be focusing exclusively on the manga itself, and what it has to offer, without going into anything else.

And of course there is no place better to start, than the beginning.

So, what is the story of the original Getter Robo Manga?

Well, the overall plot of the original manga is about the conflict between two sides of a conflict, as laid out rather well in it’s prologue chapter.

The first is our protagonists, the Saotome Institute of Japan, who’s leader and namesake has invented the titular giant mecha, the Getter Robo.

Powered by a revolutionary newly discovered form of energy called “Getter Energy”, this enormous metal behemoth is a fighting machine unlike any other.

This war machine was originally supposed to be used for space exploration, but due to necessity, it has instead been reworked into a fighting machine.

It’s only weakness is that it requires 3 different living pilots to operate it to draw upon its full strength.

Opposing the Saotome Institute, is the forces of the Dinosaur Empire

An empire of humanoid Sentient Dinosaurs that long ago was forced to flee the Earth’s surface after it was bombarded with a strange kind of energy from space that was deadly to their kind, their only way to survive being to use their incredible technology to hide on the only place on Earth where the rays couldn’t reach them. The Earth’s very core.

Now, after millions of years underground, and the rays that forced them beneath the earth to begin with having seemingly ceased, they have finally returned to reclaim the earth’s surface for their own. At it’s disposal, it has incredible technology, and giant cyborg dinosaur monster in it’s quest to wipe out the newcomers, the human race, to achieve total dominance over the Earth.

If you think this premise sounds very generic, and you’ve seen it in some form or another in countless other Mecha series, you are not wrong. Ancient evil group attacking the protagonists, and only the new giant robot can stop it, probably the biggest stock plot in mecha overall, having been done in everything from Neon Genesis Evangelion to Megas XLR in some form or another. The set pieces and details are different, but the overall plot is the same.

However, where Getter Robo fits into this, is that it was one of the first giant robot manga there was, and many, many of the tropes and ideas it pioneered would be used and imitated by its successors.

In fact, I would argue that Getter is the second most influential mecha series in history, only second after it’s big cousin, Mazinger Z.

However, we are not here to detail how it influenced the manga industry, but how Getter holds up on it’s own, and in this regard, despite having a plot that has been overused time, and time again by it’s successors, this isn’t really that much of a problem for Getter Robo. Because like any good Mecha series, Getter’s biggest strength is it’s cast of characters.

Starting off in chapter 1, we are introduced to the first of the Robot’s giant pilots.

Ryoma Nagare.

Each of the pilots of Getter Robo is given an introductory mini-arc to set them up, and Ryoma’s is easily the best of the 3.

We are introduced to the main character of most of the franchise at a very unusual spot to open a main character, especially for a Shonen protagonist.

At the end of a revenge story.

To put it bluntly, Ryoma does not start off this series as a particularly likeable, nor good person, as his introductory scene is him crashing a perfectly legal martial arts tournament and beating the everloving shit out of it’s referee, it’s participants, and the judges who arranged it.

His reasons for doing all of this?

Revenge for his old man.

As it turns out, Ryoma had a massive beef with the arrangers for this contest, as his father, Ichigan Nagare was a pro karate champion back in the day, whose reputation was purposely destroyed by those arrangers.

Now he’s come to take revenge by utterly crushing their disciples on national television, to hammer in the point that his father’s martial arts was superior to theirs for all the world to see.

During this whole thing, we also get a very good look into how Ryoma thinks at this point in time.

When the arranger tries to appeal to the “Sacredness” of the Sport to get him to stand down, Ryoma laughs in his face, proclaiming that there is nothing sacred about combat at all. The only thing that matters is who emerges as the victor.

This is backed up by how he doesn’t show the least bit of compassion or honor to the first of the contestants he defeats, easily smashing him to the ground then gloating over him after having demonstrated the sheer difference in the combat prowess between the two of them.

He is very blunt about the fact that he believes that one should pursue strength for strenght’s sake alone, and never stop until you have crushed anyone who stands before you. Always train to get stronger, and always seek out those who can challenge you and beat them too.

Might makes right.

This is a REALLY good introduction for showcasing Ryoma as a character. How he thinks, his immense near superhuman strength, his ruthlessness, his pride in his own strength.

It also ties in directly into the themes of this series, as this kind of thinking is essentially Evolution itself boiled down to it’s bare core. The survival of the strongest. What is the point of Evolution after all, if not this? Those with the traits to survive and thrive will do so, while those who cannot, will be crushed by those who can, who in turn will pass down what made them successful to begin with.

Of course that is not what the actual message of this series is, but it is a concept that this series is rather blunt about, and it’s not a coincidence that the most prominent of all the main characters of this series began his journey while believing wholeheartedly into that ideal.

All in all this scene is just great, and it sets up Ryoma really well, as well as making it clear that this is a boy who has a lot of growing to do as a person.

And so, having achieved his life’s work that he’s trained for for years and years, Ryoma nagare quietly leaves the arena, leaving behind a dozen bruised, battered and broken men on the ground.

Of course this display of power has not gone unnoticed, as in the audience were two men from the Saotome Institute who came here hoping to find someone strong enough to pilot their giant robot.

As it happened, they just found one that fit the bill rather spectacularly.

Then in the next scene we are showcased Ryoma’s home.

Ryoma Nagare, a fighting genius that at the tender age of 16-17 smashed the greatest karate practitioners in Japan with ease while being outnumbered a dozen to one, lives in a ramshackle part of town, in a rundown old building that has broken windows, a leaking roof, and can at best be called a ramshackle cottage.

It’s a rather brutal contrast to the sight of the prestigious, well made and maintained karate tournament building we were just in.

Inside we find the sight of something else rather unusual for a Shonen protagonist. Having now achieved his goals, and avenged his father’s memory, Ryoma is slowly starting to come to the realization that this has all been one giant waste of time. He hasn’t actually earned anything on this journey. His father is dead, he’s still poor, and his only belongings is this shitty building and the clothes on his back.

As we learn here, Ryoma has spent his entire life being trained in martial arts, to insane degrees even for an adult man, much less for a child. All for the purpose of one day doing what he did today, and avenging his father’s memory.

This scene really hammers in the fact that for all his ridiculous strength, Ryoma is a child, and he has a child’s way of looking at things.

He thinks back fondly on being pitted against stray dogs in death matches, and he reveals here that in his mind, this was all about “Redeeming” martial arts somehow, as if this display would really change anything in the grand scheme of things within the sport.

It wasn’t of course. This was all about revenge. Everything Ryoma ever trained for was for this moment, this moment of what should have been absolute and total triumph as he achieved a truly spectacular victory and proved his father’s fighting style the best in all the land and he has proven that he himself is the strongest fighter in all Japan.

Instead he is coming to the realization that so many people that wasted their lives on vengeance have come to over the years. That it was all a giant waste of time.

Revenge is a suckers game.

Having achieved his goals, Ryoma has found them to be completely empty, and has nowhere to go. This is a really fascinating way to open up a character arc, as usually a character that learns the lesson that David Xanatos knew so well, happens either at the end, or somewhere later down their line. Ryoma however, learns it in the very first chapter, and now has to find something else to live for.

However, his soul searching is then interrupted by a few gentlemen from the Saotome institute.

Who immediately tries to kill him.

Now before I discuss the next part, I wanna praise this overall scene, because it really works great within the context of this chapter.

Ryoma has been introduced as a massive asshole, who firmly believes in the mantra of Might makes right, and he doesn’t feel any regret at having brutalized a dozen of innocent people, just the fact that he realizes that there was no real satisfaction to be had from it. Now the other shoe drops, and HE is attacked in his own home, completely unprovoked for reasons that frankly he has no personal involvement in on his own side. While this attack does have an in universe reason behind it, it main purpose is that it serves as a nice cathartic moment for the reader, as while he’s never going to legally punished for what just happened at the tournament, he is punished by the narrative for his actions, which is something i’ve seen far, far too many stories do over the years fail to do with asshole protagonists.

It also serves to put Ryoma’s current belief in Might Makes Right to the test. After all, aren’t these men doing exactly what he said that those who practice martial arts should do? Seek out those stronger than them, then crush them.

All of this makes it a shame that it is horribly undercut by the one, genuine stain on the original manga. Namely that one of the attackers is this guy.

And it’s at this moment you realise, oh yeah, this was made in 1970’s Japan. The unfortunate fact is that Mangaka of this period generally based their depiction of black people on early American comics(Which had plenty of this kind of artwork), and Ken Ishikawa was unfortunately not an exception to this rule.

He would THANKFULLY not repeat anything like this later down the line(his depiction of black people is far more natural and realistic in later manga), but hot damn is it both uncomfortable and distracting to read the pages with this guy. And it’s a real shame too, because frankly, not only is the following fight scene very good as a narrative punishment for Ryoma, but it’s just a good fight scene in general.

Unlike the Tournament fight, which was mainly a beatdown to establish Ryoma’s ridiculous strength, this is an actual fight, which showcases Ishikawa’s ability to draw energetic, exciting fight scenes where action flows very naturally.

It also shows that for the kind of ridiculous strength Ryoma possess, he isn’t some superhuman, as early in the brawls he’s heavily wounded by the rather mundanity of taking a throwing knife to the shoulder. This is in general something that makes action if Getter Robo stand out from other shonen series too. When characters, or Robots for that matter, takes hits, they rarely shrug them off with no problem, instead taking real, genuine damage that doesn't just instantly go away. They might power through them, but that isn’t the same as them disappearing into the ether.

In any case, the battle ends up outside the house when Ryoma is thrown through the wall.

He’s then forced to do the classic, catch the blade between the palms of his hands trope, which is depicted much more believable than most cases I’ve seen, as despite succeeding, it still left him bleeding from those palms.

Ryoma then redirects the blade into the big guy who is attacking him from behind, killing him. I really love how the artwork sells that this is a desperate move on Ryoma’s part. He is genuinely fighting for his life here, and he’s pulling out every trick he has to to win despite his wounds.

He then follows that up by ripping the blade out, and throwing it at the knife thrower guy. I also like that after doing so, he immediately falls flat on his ass, in a rather realistic manner(he is fighting in the rain after all, so the ground is undoubtedly pretty slippery.), while also showcasing the force of the throw. My only main complaint is that for this one panel Ken forgot to include the wound and the knife on his shoulder, as I think it would really sell just how desperate Ryoma is here if we’re visually reminded in the moment that, oh yeah, he’s powering through and using the arm whose shoulder has a knife in it to to throw this thing.

Thankfully, that missed opportunity for visual grittiness is more than made up for by the next part.

Having now effectively won the battle(I think the swordsman broke his foot in the fall, at least that’s how it looks), Ryoma suddenly realises that, holy shit, he just killed someone. The contrast between here and how he looked as he challenged the tournament fighters couldn’t be more different. The cooky, arrogant youth is completely gone, and you're reminded that Ryoma is just a kid. A kid who just had to kill someone. The bravado is completely gone, leaving only a kid who is tired, confused, in pain, and probably pretty scared.

He is then approached by the man who just had 3 grown ass men jump and attack him, Dr. Saotome.

Wounded, and mentally exchausted as he is, he is in no position to argue as Saotome declares that Ryoma is what he’s been looking for, and as one of his men rips the knife out of his shoulder, Ryoma screams before losing consciousness from the pain. Afterwards he is dragged into a car, and bandaged up.

Then as they're driving, the’re attacked by a giant flying dinosaur that grabs unto the car and flies away with it, Ryoma and Saotome barely managing to get out in time, alongside one of Saotome’s unlucky goons who breaks his neck in the fall.

And so ends Chapter one of Getter Robo.

All in all, other than the horribly racist black guy, this is a really good first chapter, that sets up Ryoma Nagare really, really well, showcasing his way of thinking, his origin, and where he needs to grow, while also showcasing his ludicrous strength, and that he is fully capable of going balls to the wall to win a fight, which will be showcased many, many times in this series. It also ends on a reminder of the fact that oh yeah, this is a series about one side vs dinosaurs, as Ryoma gets his first introduction into the enemy he will be fighting time, and again in this manga. It also gives a distinct first impression of just how ruthless Saotome is, as he is perfectly willing to send 3 dangerous goons on a teenager just to test his prowess in battle, which is absolutely going to come into play in future chapters.

All in all, it’s a good start. Not an amazing beginning, but certainly a good introduction to our first main character.

[toucan-rede]

Ok, Theory

Ok so in the webcomic Aurora, the “main” character Kendal is an entirely new uncategoriseable entity, a god’s incarnation that survived the god leaving it and developed its own mind and personality. 

Now the god that this happens to is the hero god of the city Vash and, like the Ancient Greek Eros or Nike is named after his domain. So what we know about Vash is that he cut his teeth in this god business by defending his city from and defeating the storm god Tynan, the way he does this is explained here with an in universe telling of the story. What we know is that an alien metal and jewel was worked into an incarnation of Vash at a thematically appropriate moment and became an extremely effective power up, enabling Vash to defeat the hitherto undefeated Tynan. 

Now how this works in the world built magic system of Aurora is really interesting. So in Aurora it appears they're are two (or eight depending on how you count it) fundamental substances of magic, the elements and soul energy, now we know where elemental magic comes from as a central piece of lore in the main storyline so far has been about the ancient war between the elementals and a Void Dragon and how the elementals died defeating this Void Dragon and their bodies meshed together supplying the materials as the world, but the elements still count, and can be persuaded to act, as one body essentially unique to the other elements and so because they belonged to a living entity with a soul can exist in two states, the material element and a sort of potential/soul element held in other materials or channeled by mages to enact elemental effects.

 Now soul energy is something very different and despite the excessive amount of time I've spent explaining the elements, is what we’re focusing on here. Soul  energy is what living things are “made of” being literally the material of souls, now I could be wrong but from I can figure out everything alive contains and in someway uses soul energy, and soul energy has a connection with other soul constructs allowing for an in any capacity uniform group of living things to develop a larger social soul that becomes a god. Vash for instance is a city of people and so through the interaction of their soul energy, construction of early incarnations, and people assigning these incarnations personality or motivations became the hero god the city imagined, as the god itself is made up of the whole cities population who once saw incarnation interpreted them a certain way and influenced some of their aspect. Basically, because the god is their domain how they are viewed by the creatures in their domain effects their personality and most comfortable form. 

So what does this really have to do with Kendal. Well if Vash’s sword was constructed from an alien metal, a solid substance, which issomething almost impossible to make without an elemental, after Vash worked his soul energy into like soul shaper monks do with human prosthetics, which would more than likely work some of this starmetal soul energy into his own soul lattice. Then its likely that Kendal’s soul is made of what little of soul star metal was in the solid material of the meteor. And it’s not just background lore magic systems backing this up.

In the series of pages telling the mythical story of Vash’s Sword we find out that it’s being told through the framing device of the smith god who forged it, to a similar style god to Vash of the Fire influenced race of Ignans. Now while why they're talking and what this incredibly effective smith who uses the arcs and emotional journeys of the wielders of his weapons in his smithing process is doing with a god of fire and fire people directly related to one of our adventuring party is incredibly plot important and personally intriguing, there is something else I wanted to focus on here.

In these panels Tahraim appears to be talking about Dainix, a character Kendal is currently imprisoned with and who are jelling suspiciously well. Now we can see that Tahraim is using his Xanatos gambit forging technique of social engineering to forge out a weapon and fighter for Caliban (probably to fight the fire demon from Dainix’s backstory (who is probably another elemental emissary for Fire (like two other characters currently being heavily associated star metal soul Kendall (I see you Red, with each subsequent layer of brackets I get closer to the truth, witness as my bracketry grows)))) and describing some of the forging fires he’s using fo this weapon (who is probably Dainix, if not definitely)calls one of them “the divine blade”, referring to Vash’s starmetal sword currently held by Kendal, but the blade its self is isnt world shaking, its been around for millennia and everyone is very familiar with its power and prowess as a sword because Vash is an incredibly well known god. But that’s only as a sword, and we know Kendal is world shaking after his discussion with Ilia here where he is told explicitly that the gods fear what he represents but respect the fact that he is an incredibly powerful being with all the strength and ability of a godly incarnation but with no responsibilities of upholding a domain or the limits of staying within they’re domains range. And so the theoretical soul that is Kendal in this incarnation must be made of whatever remainder of star metal soul is left from the solid  star metal in the sword. That had been given the shape and properties of a human/incarnation soul by being weaved into and by Vash and then had the Vash soul ripped apart from they’re shared incarnation leaving the star metal soul to have to develop as its own being in this body

And if all you wanted is proof of this theory you can honestly stop reading here. So far this is dense and a lot and I wanna run through some stuff with this head cannon to nerd out. So if you don't wanna have to read anymore, my argument for this theory is basically through

Kendal being the star metal soul can provide a reason for, guess plot dent instead of plot hole? when Vash takes Kendal to where he is being held by the Collector. The reason this could be a plot dent is that one of the working theories for why Kendal exists can be found in the Sentinels. Essentially building sized stone statues animated by a god semi incarnating in them, its hard to explain so if your interested read here (Also read the comic, it’s really, really good. Like really good. If you get into the extra lore on the website and then scroll through Red’s Aurora Tumblr answers you get to appreciate how truly spectacular her worldbuilding and magic systems are. I mean clearly they’re cohesive and well thought out enough that just off of the magic system you could make a (if I don't say so myself) well reasoned prediction for a major character reveal.) the theory being that because these Sentinels can develop these echoes after being un-possessed by a god over time, the unique way Vash was taken out of his incarnation without dis-corporating it that the body developed a similar echo and is now ambient soul energy drawn into the empty body. However, this wouldn't make sense with Vash taking Kendal to the Collector’s hideaway in his sleep, as if Kendal is made of ambient soul energy he has no actual connection with Vash’s soul and so Vash shouldn't be able to bring him to the crystal he is being held in. But, if Kendal is in fact the star metal soul then he would still have that connection with Vash, as they are the same soul but different parts made of different materials, and so ca operate separately whilst still being so intricately connected.

On one final note, there is one character that already seems to know all this, Tahraim. That Kendal in everyway is the weapon he forged, that they're is a capacity for new elements and therefore different soul energies, that Erin has been possessed by the Void Dragon, and that the Collector has revived life, who has taken Alinua as an emissary, and is using this information not for his own divine or dastardly machinations but on commission. Which is A) a potential threat if Tahraim turns out to be a tad more amoral than he first appears, working as effectively for the next customer instead of esoterically guiding events for the cause of good and B) show cases an incredible mesh of world building and character work with gods being influenced by how their perceived and a god perceived and heralded as an unachievably proficient smith knowing more than any other character or entity we’ve ever seen before and doing exactly what is necessary to forge his commissioned weapons into the most powerful and effective instruments they can be almost only because of how in the magic system some gods are made from ideals and interpretations instead of groups of living things and actually fits the way they are most commonly perceived