#there's like seven more i haven't included here yet too

[crudely-drawn-ben]

Introducing Trilogy

Yesterday I released Trilogy, a new tabletop RPG crafted to support you in having grand adventures in worlds of your own making.

There are several reasons I started writing Trilogy, but the biggest one is that I ran a Dungeon World podcast called Crudely Drawn Swords for seven years and that was a lot of time to think about what we were playing. To a degree Trilogy is the game I wish that we could have had to run the podcast.

Starting from the question "what would a purely PbtA game for epic fantasy look like?" I started thinking more widely - what do I want from a fantasy game? And the truth is that I want a game that supports the structure of characters and their interactions but doesn't tie itself to a specific setting.

Trilogy begins with The Appendices - conventionally in epic fantasy these are at the end and document information about the wider world that might not have made it into the story, but here it is where you sit down as a group and decide what tone you want your game to have, and your world looks like. What kind of place is it? What magic is there? What is religion like? What are the major cultures where the story begins? How would it feel to be in this world? Trilogy doesn't tell you any of these things, it gives you the tools to think through how you want your world to look.

This creates a secondary challenge - without knowing what the world looks like, how could I design character classes for this type of game? Trilogy answers this by going back to the fundamentals - instead of a conventional character class, the playbooks in Trilogy represent a narrative arc. Some of them, like The Fighter, The Priest, or The Magus, look like familiar classes. Others, such as The Volunteer, The Mentor, The Weapon, or The Defeated, are a little different. Character arcs have a set of turning points, story beats that allow you to advance along your arc after you have collected a certain amount of experience. Some are positive and others negative, you choose which ones you want to hit and when, but every character's story has its highs and lows and to get the most from the game you need to lean into both. A character can pass through three arcs as they grow and change, like the three volumes of a trilogy.

The aim of the game is to create a slower but satisfying sense of progression - instead of hit points characters take Stress and Harm like in other Powered by the Apocalypse games that can have both mechanical and narrative effects. That makes combat feel dangerous, but the game also offers more ways to solve problems without getting into combat - I have played games where the player characters never got into a fight, instead resolving confrontations through an ingenious selection of alternative strategies including "lying" and "vomiting magic ink all over the floor." I'm genuinely enthusiastic about this game - I think I would be as excited about it if somebody else had written it. It leans hard into the joy of discovery and the excitement of adventure - you can play it as spooky and whimsical or gritty and hard-edged and anywhere in between.

Because I was writing it I even got to make most of the examples of play roll out as the story of someone's game, something I always appreciate when I read it. It also contains every technique I use as a GM in the hope that even before people get the chance to play it (heaven forbid any TTRPG afficionado have books we haven't got around to playing yet!) people who read it will still be able to use that advice in their other games. So that's Trilogy, the game I've been working on for the last few years. I think it's pretty great and I hope you will too:

Obviously it's a full-priced game and that's a big gamble from an unfamiliar creator - if you want an idea of what it's like in practice we've got the CDS team back together and we're starting a streamed campaign so you have a chance to see it in action. You can find that over on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxpXacko9Nc

The first episode includes me notably failing to use OBS at both the beginning and end, and I can't make any promises things will improve in that regard, but it should be a good opportunity to see how the game shapes up from this start and with this crew I know it's going to be funny and take some wild swings. If you're interested in reviewing Trilogy or you really want to give it a try but you can't afford it, drop me a message

[piracytheorist]

The Forgers' Kitchen

It's very interesting to me to spot small differences between manga and anime in Spy x Family, considering how closely and faithfully the anime adapts the manga. That way, small differences stick out and sometimes I have the need to document them and share with the world!

So in the manga, the kitchen is basically a long room, with an opening on the wall that connects it to the dining area and living room.

The stove is at the far end, with the fridge on the left side.

Above the stove is a simple ventilation fan, with a cord to turn it on and off. The fridge has separate doors for the main fridge and the freezer. Comparing it to the height of the counters, it looks like it may have a base that makes it higher, judging also by this screenshot here.

It looks like to the left are the counters, and the red circle is where the fridge is. A quick search for "60s fridges" gave me this

so it's entirely possible Endo saw something like this that inspired him for the fridge design.

Finally, the sink is across the fridge, right by the opening in the wall.

A cool design, if you ask me. Washing dishes can be way more pleasant if you're facing a window or open space in general, than facing a wall.

The anime follows the design pretty closely, with two basic differences; the placement of the fridge and stove, as well as the design of the fridge.

This time, the fridge is at the far end, with the stove on the wall next to it, across the sink which is again facing the opening in the wall. The fridge is also of a different design, being the single-door type, I'm guessing with the freezer being inside it and smaller, like this.

And a small difference too. This time for ventilation there's a range hood (I hope that's the right word, I actually never had to use that word in English before so I never learned it, haha) instead of a simple vent with a fan.

It looks like the stove has three hobs, while in the manga it has four. It does, after all, only have three switches for the hobs in the manga. Though it has seven switches in the anime, with the one in the center being further from the other ones. That's a little peculiar, since the switches for the hobs would usually be close to each other, with the hobs for the oven a little further away, if there's any distance at all. In both cases, however, they are gas hobs and the stove is quite spacious!

Almost ridiculously spacious, I'd say XD Look how small Yor looks in front of it, it almost looks like it's two stoves merged together, with a combined oven space!

A few more details:

Note the Bondman magnet on the fridge! I do find the placement of the utensils weird, since they're mostly needed during cooking so you'd need them right by the stove. On the left side of this screenshot, behind Loid, you can see another small appliance. Judging from the above anime screenshot, it's missing from the anime. I checked later episodes too, and it's still not there.

At first I thought it's a microwave since it seems to have a glass window, but it looks too bulky, so I think it may be a countertop dishwasher. After all, the buttons are above the window, where dishwashers usually have them, while in microwaves it's usually next to the window. A quick search shows designs of such dishwashers that include windows to see inside, (though not from the era Spy x Family is inspired from, but I can get behind artistic liberties!).

I'm not super familiar with kitchen designs from that era, but it's certainly interesting to spot all the small details! Reminder that I don't read manga chapters that haven't been animated yet, so please don't spoil me for any further developments!

[seoul-bros]

Muse - an exploration of love

It now seems clear that Face and Muse were recorded in parallel, overlapping and intertwining. It's a situation which creates a thread of connection between the two albums.

It's largely the same production team as FACE with Jimin again participating in writing most of the tracks on the album. He has also turned his hand to producing on Rebirth and Interlude: Showtime.

Track 1: Rebirth

The first track seems connected to and leading on naturally from Set Me Free Part 2. Thinking back to the end of the MV where Jimin's clothes change from black to white, from leather to softer materials and his gaze is at last peaceful and penetrating, it all seeks to communicate release, reemergence and renewal.

Rebirth therefore is the moment beyond, when Jimin determines to embrace life and love again. It could be a declaration of intent to start telling the story of Muse.

Track 2: Interlude: Showtime

Which would make Showtime, the first step to embracing that new found freedom. It's an Interlude sure, but I keep getting a very theatrical image in my head, very bold, very Cabaret (if you're in London, I recommend you see the show).

Track 3: Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)

We will get to hear Smeraldo Garden Marching Band in less than a week (aggggghhhhhhhh i'm not ready ......but at the same time so so ready). The track description says it "draws inspiration from a marching band, blending hip-hop elements with the big band sound characterized by a large-scale orchestra, creating an upbeat, lively rhythm and dynamic atmosphere." This gives me a stepping up, stepping out kind of feel.

Given the focus on The Beatles and St Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band during Face era and the involvement of Nick Lee in Set Me Free Part 2, I'm expecting more big brass and a full sound which Jimin seems to be drawn to - brass and choirs all the way baby.

I'd also expect to see some choreography here something like On but that might be asking too much.

South Korean rapper Loco is the featured artist. Looking through his back catalogue one of his most successful songs featured RM's long time collaborator Colde. It'll be interesting to see how their voices and styles combine here.

Track 4: Slow Dance (feat. Sofia Carson)

With Slow Dance, the seduction really begins. Arcades are Matt Thomson and Max Lynedoch Graham, a British electronic music production duo who we saw in the studio with Jimin in 2022 along with Gabriel Brandes and Alex Karlsson. Now we know what they were doing there.

Also involved in this one is Like Crazy co-writer BLVSH. Oh yes this bodes very well for this track.

So we're thinking EDM, maybe with a Latin feel. Sofia Carson has a unique voice which I think will pair well with Jimin and she has also been known to sing in Spanish and we know after SoWooZoo that Jimin is not adverse to that.

Track 5: Be Mine

Be Mine is still a bit of a mystery to me, given its placement on the album it would suggest that Jimin has found the objective of his affections and wants to solidify the attraction into something more. Will it be a ballad? The production is giving no clues and I haven't seen any credits yet. However, some eagle eyes on TwiX spotted a Be Mine reference from ID: Chaos.

Track 6: Who

This is the main track and the production team includes Jon Beillon who worked on last year's summer smash Seven so we can expect some focus on elements for commercial success.

There are more echos of ID:Chaos with he colour scheme for Who matching that from the Freedom shoot. It would be nice to think that Who reflects that particular sentiment i.e. this is who I am and knowing this has set me free to live and love as I choose.

Track 7: Closer Than This

We round out with Closer Than This which given its position on the album and the way it was previously released solidifies the message, this is me until we meet again. Our love is strong enough to weather the storm of this enforced separation. It is a message for the fans but also for the BTS members.

Post Date: 21/06/2024

[moodymisty]

Hi absolutely love your primarch fics

Could i request a corvus corax x reader. The poor bird boy needs more love. Maybe something fluffy i do adore the fics where the primarchs are more human and they get a break.

[ 𝕸𝖔𝖔𝖉𝖞𝕸𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖞'𝖘 𝕸𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙| 𝕬𝖔3 ]

Author's Note: Ok so I decided to kind of combine these two also, since they both seemed to work together. This isn't fully NSFW, but there is some lewd elements. I hope that is acceptable to you both.

This is also my first time writing Corvus, and I haven't delved into his lore like I have with some of the other legions. So I apologize in any deviations from his canon and any inconsistencies in this fic apart from the obvious 'primarchs in love' ooc-ness.

Summary: Diplomacy has always been dreadfully boring.

Relationships: Corvus Corax/Fem!Reader

Warnings: NSFW but it's pretty vague, I dunno what to call this I guess fingering? But it's not? hand grinding/rubbing I guess It'll make sense I promise, Voyeurism kink, General 40k mentions so war death all the usual

Word Count: 1714

"You shouldn't have brought that thing here."

The rattly, nearly wheezing voice comes from somewhere out of your sight, and you don't pay any mind to it from how mumbled and furious it seems. You assume it's directed at another, and not yourself. No one has any possible reason to speak with such anger at you, after all; At least as far as you're aware. The fabric of your clothing is wrinkled at the front, and you brush it to flatten it. Perhaps you shouldn't have walked ahead.

"Are you deaf, girl?"

Suddenly you look up, and see someone standing to your side. The source of the voice earlier, you presume, judging by it's similar rasping tone.

Head to toe they are adorned in various cybernetic enhancements, even more so than what is visible to you, judging by the odd, inhuman bulging beneath his ornately decorated copper robes. The metal, hooked fingers of his left hand gesture to the raven perched comfortably atop your left shoulder.

"That, shouldn't be here."

The small metal tubings coming from his neck seem to muffle his speech in some way, and there is a distinct tremor to both his motions and his speech. You don't know if it's the sheer volume of his anger like an engine overheating about to explode, or simply something his extensive cybernetic work has yet to or is unable to fix.

The raven, still unnamed by you, snaps it's beak in the direction of the man's metal finger getting too close to itself and it's keeper, letting out a squawk when the man instantly retracts his hand back close to his peculiarly shaped torso. The raven only then returns to preening your hair, or at least attempting to.

"I think I can bring it where ever I want, thank you."

With no surprise he seems completely shocked by your adamant refusal to listen, no doubt not expecting it in the slightest. You don't know if he hasn't noticed the Aquilla and the symbol of the XIXth on your clothing, or if he just simply doesn't care.

"Unbelievable; You embarrass yourself acting such a way- And where did that, thing, even come f-"

"It was a gift."

The sharp corners of this fortress's halls effectively hid Corvus for a good while until he was quite close, the pitch black of his armor seemingly almost eating the light that shined onto it instead of reflecting it. His hair does the same, flowing down past his jaw and laying against the collar of his armor. He is followed by a retinue of seven, Nykona included among them. Despite all the other Astartes leaving their jetpacks behind because of such tight quarters, Nykona elected to still wear his. The advantage of his skill with it is too great for him not to have for any possible scenario.

Even if this world seems intent on coming peacefully, someone like Corvus is going to take no chance on the matter. You would be of no surprise to find out that there with Raven Guard scattered across this fortress, and along the rocky faces surrounding it.

The man looses color like a draining sink, what little blood left in his body leaving his face and worsening his pallid complexion. He instantly moves to bow, before rising, pointing towards you and instantly breaking any previous respect he might have gained.

"Lord Primarch?! What is your r-"

"That raven was my first courting gift to her."

As if his face couldn't get any paler, it somehow seems to upon the realization that he'd just insulted the new lover of the Primarch who holds this world's neck in a noose trap. The Shadow of the Emperor sits moored just in the planet's outer atmosphere, ready at any moment. Corvus need only give the word.

Had Corvus the desire, he could simply level this rock until it was nothing but ash beneath the treads of his boots. But he was perhaps a bit more human than some of his brothers, and given the planet had relatively vast infrastructure and plentiful resources, he had elected diplomacy. To make use of said infrastructure, rather than simply leveling it and starting over.

You hear a soft sound; The crackling of a vox channel being used between the Astartes helmets. It's a subtle sound you've gotten keen to. They're talking to each other on their private channel, but about what you have no idea.

The one left of Corvus, not Nykona, is who speaks up.

"What are our orders, My Lord?"

Corvus gestures down the hall at the end of which lies the grand meeting room you had been moving towards, before getting interrupted. The counciler that once had the intent to scold you now stands frozen, fearful of the Primarch's lack of interest in his existence.

"Two post at the door. The rest with me."

The Primarch begins walking forwards and nearly through the man, had he not stumbled out of the way.

Corvus need only take one look at him, to send the man scuttering back towards his peers. You follow beside Corvus, and one of the Astartes slows his gait ever so slightly to allow you to do so.

The four Astartes spread across the meeting room once you enter, all placing themselves near points of entry like windows. It's nowhere near as large as something you would see on Terra, but it's more than sizable to need a few Astartes to cover it's corners.

However, you had entered the room with five- you notice a group of candles almost blow out from an invisible wind, but you elect to look away from it.

A myriad of profuse apologies on behalf of and from their compatriot fill the air, mixed between bowing and spouting of enough titles to fill a stew pot; Only once it concludes do you finally sit. They must've heard the altercation from moments ago, and you struggle not to show amusement at the theatrics. But after that moment, only a feeling of boredom remains.

In the deep recesses of your mind, perhaps one sicker than you might wish it, you lament Corvus's choice of diplomacy.

It's longer, far more tedious, and has you spending all of your energy speaking with stuffy priests and diplomats that has your mind aching in either boredom or annoyance. Or at worst, anger. Like moments ago in the hall. With something such as war, the goal is at least on first impression, simple and obtainable. Diplomacy requires a firm hand, yet gentle, and results in having a legion of Astartes figuratively chomping at the bit.

Thankfully, Corvus has Imperium agents and his own diplomats to do most of the gentle talking. Corvus is far too blunt and tight lipped for these sorts of things, and you aren't on your best behavior after the incident in the hall. You swear that man might actually just collapse dead if Corvus spares him one more glance.

But the Primarch seems disinterested, though not much to your surprise. What is a surprise however, is when he seems to decide to find a way to occupy his mind elsewhere. On matters perhaps a bit more interesting to him.

His hand lays on your thigh. It's heavy; The ceramite of his armor adds a considerable heft. You look up at him curious and receive nothing back in return. He has always been impeccable at hiding his emotions behind an mask of complete indifference, and only sometimes does it fall off. You only catch his dark eyes for a moment before he looks elsewhere, the sunlight colored through the stained glass and shining on his pale skin.

His hand trails further up your thigh, though it doesn't much have to given the sheer size of his hand in comparison to your body. He might perhaps not be the largest of all the Primarchs, but that doesn't mean his body is any less gargantuan compared to your own.

The raven, which has been largely silent since sitting, shifts from your shoulder to his, content with it's higher perch. Your clothing bunches and wrinkles underneath his armored fingers, before the outside of his armored palm presses against your cunt. You feel a jolt of lighting go up your spine, and it's a struggle not shift your shoulders forward as he applies a non-stop pressure to your most sensitive areas.

You put a hand on his fingers and attempt to peel them away, but they stay firm. It's like trying to pry away the fingers of a marble statue. There is absolutely no chance in doing so and now you sit at the mercy of whatever he wishes to do to you. A question that will get no answer, as you glance upward again his watch his stoic face glance from person to person. As if completely unaware or uncaring of what he is doing.

He is intent to try your patience, it seems. You lean slightly forward as your nerves make you fear of anyone being able to see what's happening beneath the table; As you know there is at least one cloaked Raven Guard somewhere in the room. If he was behind you, he would be easily able to see. Especially as The Primarch's hand begins to move, unsatisfied with simply forcing his way into the front of your mind with just his still pressure. Each movement he makes makes your body feel hotter, like you're going to boil alive despite the cool air

"And mandatory requisitions..."

Negotiations seem to be doing well, from what murmurs you pick up. But you're too busy tensing your thighs as Corvus rubs the side of his hand against your clothed cunt to notice. His armor is unyielding, pressing against you firm and forcing your thighs apart slightly no matter how hard you fight it. You'd be hard pressed to have anything come to mind at this point. Slowly and with every muscle in your body tensed, you attempt to let out a deep, heavy sigh without casting any interest your way.

You cross your ankles, and put your chin in the nook of your index finger and thumb, placing fingers over your lips in an attempt to simply look bored. Your other hand grasps onto the first two fingers of his hand for dear life, desperately trying not to even make a single movement out of place let alone make a noticeable sound. You can feel the way your undergarments slide against your cunt, soaked and crying for it to stop, and for it to continue until you finally come.

"We can construct a new harbor..."

You've completely lost the path of what's happening around you, thighs quivering from how tight you have them pressed together around Corvus' hand. But his hand still moves between them up and down against your clothed cunt, unimpeded.

A harsh breath is all you let out of your nose as you feel your stomach tense as you come against him through the layers of fabric, feeling like you're being watched by a million eyes. But none are, except for him.

Through that flawless, neutral expression, he glances downward at you before he pulls his gauntlet from between your thighs and rests it back against the massive wooden tabletop. You could tell the look in his eyes. He lets you settle down from the high in silence, in a room that feels like a stage. You have no possible idea of how long you'll be stuck here, as your clit throbs in aftershocks.

You look away from his dark eyes before they trap you for good, and lament the wet, sticky feeling against your undergarments as you shift in your seat.

[hesbuckcompton-baby]

charm for someone of your choice :)

thank you, anon!! decided to use this as an opportunity to introduce another ship - maisie and douglass!! ONE WORD PROMPTS

-> charm

Swing music thrummed through the officers' club, vibrating off every surface and combining with the din of chatter in an almighty cacophony. Or at least, it certainly seemed that way to Maisie Flynn. Practically pressed up against the side wall, she cradled a glass of lemonade with both hands, zoning out slightly as she watched the constant spin of dancing feet across the floor. Nora was out there somewhere, swaying with the rhythm in the arms of the unfamiliar pilot that had carted her off. When Nora was around, Maisie could talk and joke and laugh like anyone else - but alone, she was all but useless, lips pursed in awkward silence, a wallflower if ever there was one.

"Flynn! Hey!" A voice called across the room, snapping her out of her somewhat dazed state as she glanced up at James Douglass, approaching with a warm grin.

"Hi," She half-squeaked, offering a wide-eyed smile as he came to stand beside her, assessing her expression in the way he always did, the way that made her squirm.

Maisie wasn't sure where her friendship with Douglass had begun - nor why it had, really. He looked out for her, he filled in a gap when she was in danger of withdrawing into her shell - she couldn't confess to having any idea why he bothered, but she would never complain that he did.

"You want me to buy you a drink?" He asked.

"I haven't finished my lemonade," She replied, utterly earnest. Douglass bit at the inside of his lip to suppress a smile as he nodded.

"That is true."

Maisie hummed in confirmation, lifting her glass to her lips to take a sip, gaze surveying the dancefloor as Douglass stood obediently at her side. She hadn't noticed, but as she watched the couples twirling in time with the band, he watched her, the faintest of smirks curling his lip as he did. After a moment of drawn-out silence, he cleared his throat slightly, nudging her with his elbow. "You should get out there - find someone to dance."

She let out a huff of laughter, faintly shaking her head. "You sound like Nora."

"Well, is she incredibly wise and handsome?"

Maisie considered this. "...Y'know what? Kinda."

"Well then it's a good comparison," He smiled as she chuckled. "Seriously though, every guy in this room would dance with you if you asked."

Biting her lip slightly, she looked around the place, finding too many free men to count. Their sheer volume was overwhelming - how was she ever supposed to choose one? 'Every guy'... did that include the one next to her? Maisie struggled to ever find herself certain of what Douglass was implying. She took a deep breath, turning her head to meet his eye. "D'you know how many people there are in my hometown?"

"How many?"

"Twenty-seven. That's... not even half the number of people in this room. I'm good just standing here, I promise. I get to have a drink, and then I can walk Kit home when she gets too wasted," She shrugged.

"Then start easy," Douglass held out a hand to her. "Maisie Flynn, will you dance with me?"

Maisie grinned, chuckling as she shook her head. "No, c'mon - I'm not gonna bog you down and ruin your night - I know you'd rather be chatting up some pretty Red Cross girl. Like... that one," She pointed across the room to a woman sitting at one of the tables. "She keeps staring at you," As Douglass's gaze landed on the woman, she was already looking straight back at him, a flirtatious smile adorning red-painted lips. He knew himself well enough to know that a smile like that could get him any time, and if it had been any other night, he would've already been halfway across the floor, advancing towards her. And yet...

"Not interested," He declared, offering his hand once more.

She bobbed her head, doing her best to mask a smile, but failing rather miserably. "Liar," She breathed, tipping her glass and downing the last of her lemonade in one final gulp. The action made him beam, and he trailed after her as she squeezed his hand, tugging him past the dancefloor.

"Hey, uh," Douglass huffed with amusement. "Where we goin', doll?"

"Well, I'm not dancing over there," Maisie declared, surprisingly assertive for once. His brow raised, somewhat impressed as she led him down the hall and through the side doors, the night air striking him with a sudden chill. With the door propped open, the music remained easily audible, even out here, and she nodded in satisfaction. "This works."

It hadn't quite fallen completely dark just yet, the purple tint of sunset still narrowly scraping the tips of the clouds, and yet the streetlight was already lit, casting a puddle of golden light upon the ground. "Maisie Flynn, you old romantic," He teased, shaking his head in mock disbelief, unable to quite wipe the grin from his face.

She screwed up her face in a sort of pleased embarrassment, letting out a snort of laughter as Douglass drew her close with a gentle tug, their palms clasped together as a warm hand rested in the curve of her waist. They stepped tentatively from side to side along with the music, still blaring from indoors, his beaming grin steadily fading to a soft smile as he stared back at her - at the way her fringe twitched slightly when she blinked, strands of hair catching on her eyelashes, as the way she blushed whenever she met his eye, catching him looking. Maisie never returned his gaze for more than a couple seconds, her eye pretty much fixed on his shoulder or the collar of his shirt. But he knew she meant well - she always did. It wasn't her fault.

"See?" He prodded.

"See what?"

"You've got charm in spades, honey - Just gotta coax it outta ya."

Maisie chuckled, head tipping downwards as a red flush coloured her cheeks, oblivious to the way he smiled at her, ducking forward slightly until their foreheads were almost touching. "I look silly," She insisted, blinking in rapid succession as she straightened herself.

"Nah," Douglass shook his head, dissenting without a moment's hesitation.

"Nah, you don't."

[warcorrespondence]

I know I promised Sherlock reviews for Free Fandom Friday, and trust me, they will come, but first I have to talk about hockey. Oh, and Captive Prince.

Concordia by Ccainao3 is what we'll be discussing today, because I haven't stopped talking about it, nor will.

fandom: captive prince

pairing: damen/laurent

explicit, 123869 words

I'm going to start by saying that if you haven't read the Captive Prince series by C.S. Pacat, it is the humble opinion of this Correspondent that you really, really should. Like, right now. It's epic enemies to lovers villain with a heart of gold Nikki catnip and I will never, ever shut up about it.

But Concordia is something very different. First of all, it's a hockey au, and for all the hockey lovers in the hbowar fandom (@ep6bastogne included)...I am not one of them. I have never once seen a hockey. And yet, as has been discussed, there's...a lot of good hockey writing? So I've read a shocking amount of hockey, and I'm here to tell you that Concordia offers Very Good Hockey.

More than that, it offers extremely good character work. Captive Prince is full of horrors, and in taking the story out of that Franco/Roman fantasy world, Ccainao3 did not remove the horrors--they exposed them. The traumas in all their multitudes are laid bare, and each character is forced to work through them. Damen and Laurent work slowly (very slowly) through Laurent's abuse, as well as each of their complicated relationships with Auguste (who lives). Damen also works through his relationship with Kastor. As in the books, Damen and Laurent are both deeply flawed people, who are trying so fucking hard.

If this all sounds dark and challenging...it is. But it's also so fun and sweet and lovely! Damen and Laurent are just so good for each other, and hard on each other in the best kinds of ways, and it was wonderful to watch them come together and heal.

“Did you think I’d been reporting on you, or something?” “No,” Laurent says, but his face twitches. Damen digs in his pocket for his phone, and tosses it to Laurent, who fumbles it a little but doesn’t let it fall. He looks down at it, and then back up at Damen. “What,” he says, blank. Damen gives a “go-ahead” gesture. “You’re serious,” Laurent says. “As a heart attack.” For a moment, Laurent looks almost anguished. “If your passcode’s four sevens, I’m breaking up with you,” he says finally. “No you won’t,” Damen says comfortably. His passcode is, in fact, four sevens; there’s a click as Laurent unlocks it. “And besides, we’re just friends.” “Of course,” Laurent murmurs. “By any chance, do you have a peach emoji and a heart next to all your friends’ names?” Damen’s face is on fire. “The, uh, the peach emoji’s old.” “And the heart is new?” Damen had added it a week ago on a whim, after Laurent had sent him a text asking him to grab some yogurt on his way home. “Newer.” “I suppose I should add an eggplant to yours,” Laurent says, almost too quietly to hear. Damen thinks he must be eggplant-colored at this point. “Sure,” he says.

[henrygrass]

Seven Sentence Sunday

Here's a snippet for a fantasy au that has been stuck in my brain for weeks. I haven't written much yet, but I figured I could share this.

He floats in the water, quietly lulled by the ripples. Each gentle wave that washes over TK cools the scars covering his body—reminders of what he did. However, he doesn’t need reminding; he remembers. He remembers the echoes traveling through the battlefield below: the war horns that ignited the courage within the soldiers, the clash of steel against steel, the rallying cries of commanders, urging the troops forward, and the terror that rose when he set the sky ablaze. It was easy, like lighting a candle. The power surged through him, a storm breathed into his veins by the world itself; it heightened his senses, and he wanted more. That was the problem—he always wanted more. The screams flooded his ears as liquid flames poured from the heavens, each vibration reaching the depths of the world that shouted back at him to stop, that it was too much—but he was lost in ecstasy. His magic spared no one—including him—branding his sins into his own flesh. Of course, he didn’t feel it, for he was reaching for bliss. He was so close that he could feel its touch on his fingertips; his tears were filled with rapture, and his heartbeat drowned out the pleas of the world—until he lost it, and the pain hit him all at once. His screams joined the silence that remained.

Thank you for the tag @heartstringsduet !

Open tag &

@nisbanisba @carlos-in-glasses @alrightbuckaroo @emsprovisions @decafdino @tellmegoodbye @eclectic-sassycoweyes @ladytessa74

[alstroemeriadissonance]

Compartmentalize (NSFW)

A/N: Aaaa I've been gone for some time (was busy with doing my urban fantasy AU found here), and I haven't been active in my socials including Twitter...I hope I can muster the will to do housekeeping and updating links. RL stuff is just getting a bit too much these days...

NSFW. Dr. Vyn Richter navigates his emotions with the help of his trusty dictaphone. Or, Vyn gets his own bad end. Crossposted from AO3 here

[0:00 - 0:37]

Dr. Vyn Richter

Patient is neatly groomed. Mood and affect is moderately dysthymic. Speech is normal in rate, rhythm, and volume as sampled in this recording. He is moderately distracted, with thoughts that are slightly tangential. Insight and judgment is impaired, with a tendency for emotionally-driven decisions. He has persistent, intrusive thoughts of his limerent object for the past fourteen hours and twenty five minutes since waking up at nine this morning.

[0:37 - 0:50]

Dr. Vyn Richter

Thoughts of jealousy, stemming from mild obsessive behavior towards limerent object have been observed, leading to difficulty with focus and concentration causing two instances of critical lapse in decision making.

“You’re doing it again.” Marius snapped his fingers in front of Vyn’s face, only to have his hand slapped away.

“Stop that,” Vyn muttered, reaching for his cup of tea. “What was I doing again, pray tell?” He took a sip, then made a face once he found out it had long gone cold. Irritated, he slammed the cup back into its saucer, spilling amber liquid all over his documents piled on the glass conference table. “Fuck.”

“Zoning out. Focus, will you?” Marius groused as he closed the document folder in his hands. It was obvious to him that Vyn couldn’t crunch data off the top of his head in his current state of mind. “I don’t like staying here past seven either, but we’ve got a job to do.” He tossed the folder onto the table and reached out for his tablet. “How about you take a quick look at this instead—”

The door to the files room opened, but Marius did not take notice; he was busy flipping through the documents on his tablet to look for the one he needed feedback on. “Vyn—ah, damnit.” 

Vyn wasn’t zoning out yet again, but Marius thought what he did was way worse: the doctor’s hawkish gaze was trained at the recently opened door, or more specifically, the couple who had emerged from the files room: Luke and Rosa. 

Marius, with his gift for observation that was mostly used in his art endeavors, easily picked out how the doctor’s fingernails dug into his thighs. He was sure that Vyn would bleed it if it weren’t for the sturdy fabric of his khakis. “Vyn?” No response; the doctor was already burning holes onto the backs of his colleagues, both too preoccupied with their light-hearted bantering over their smartphones to notice Vyn’s all-too bitter glaring.

[0:50 - 0:59]

Dr. Vyn Richter

I am looking in the mirror, my rose. Beholding the just deserts of our stubbornness. It is a tragedy that we have to hide the truth about ourselves, what we feel for each other, this beautiful thing that we have nurtured together.

Oh boy. Marius gave up and grabbed his bag to stuff his things, resigned that he would have to wait till their next meeting to get something pertinent out of his usually fastidious tutor. Whatever.

Luke was mumbling something as he hunched over Rosa’s shoulder, pointing at whatever was displayed on her screen. They seemed a little too intimate for work colleagues; Luke pulled Rosa closer to him, his arm wrapped around her as he fiddled with her phone’s display. 

[1:05 - 1:13]

Dr. Vyn Richter

Try as we might to separate our personal lives from the professional, the world is trying to take advantage of the consideration that we allow them at the expense of our own needs and desires, Rosa, do you not see it? 

Marius wasn’t surprised to see Vyn finally flipping his lid when Luke whispered something to her ear, his lips dangerously close to her face as if he was kissing her cheek.

“Luke, Rosa,” the doctor began, his voice controlled yet loud enough to easily fill the entirety of the sizable conference room. “If you could please keep your voices down. Marius and I are trying to do work here.” 

No we aren’t, because someone here is stewing in his jelly juices, Marius thought to himself. He would have said it out loud, but he did not feel like getting in the crosshairs of his tutor’s ire at the moment. 

“I have no qualms about any of us pursuing personal relationships, but if you could please exercise enough restraint to keep your flirting outside of working hours?” Vyn, despite his flat, emotionless tone, wasn’t giving any quarter. “I did not sign up for this circus.”

Marius threw the doctor a look that said Are you fucking serious? and nervously shifted his sights towards Luke and Rosa. As he expected, Luke was positively incensed, and Rosa was nothing but downright mortified.

“If you’ve got more to say about me and her catching up, why don’t we take this outside?” Luke nudged Rosa to stand behind him, but she didn’t budge; she remained rooted on the spot, her face red with embarrassment. 

“That is not necessary,” Vyn said, his voice clipped. “I am done here. You two can carry on with your business. I care not.”

Marius merely watched as Vyn stiffly gathered his things to leave the conference room; held his breath in anticipation when the doctor had to pass Luke to get to the door—only to be grossly disappointed when they merely stared each other down.

“I bid you a good evening, Rosa,” Vyn said quietly, his eyes never leaving Luke as he addressed her. “Enjoy your time together.”

[1:14 - 1:21]

Dr. Vyn Richter

Do you not see how much it tears me apart?

Later that night.

He drove his head deeper into his pillows, relishing the warmth and wetness of her mouth wrapped around his cock. He let out a moan as she did her best to deepthroat him; he had told her that she didn’t need to, yet Rosa was adamant to try pleasuring him. 

Perhaps as a way to make up for what happened back in the headquarters.

The earnestness of her efforts alone was enough to send him almost weeping in his own bed, a mere few minutes until midnight, way past his routine bedtime. But he did not care; sticking to a healthy routine was important if he were to maintain his mental acuity, yet at that moment nothing mattered to the doctor than feeling his lover’s hot, wet tongue swirling around his tip, and how her small lips were stretched to accommodate his girth as much as she could. His head spun in pleasure; the thick thread of precum leaking into her sucking mouth betrayed just how much he had waited for relief.

The muscles of his inner thighs tightened; he was getting near. His fingers twitched and sought her auburn tresses, unsure where they needed to be in his sudden bout of kindness, only for his care and restraint to be undone as she started sucking in earnest; her hand wrapped around the rest of his shaft and jerking off what her mouth couldn’t fit. Shuddering breaths quickly turned to needy gasps as he grabbed fistfuls of her hair, and begged for her to let him come—

But she only stopped and drew back, his still rock-hard cock slipping out of her lips.

Vyn almost wept in abject frustration. “Rosa, I—” His strangled voice told a little too much of just how much of his control was lost, only for him to be thwarted at the last minute. “...Why?”

“You didn’t have to antagonize him,” Rosa muttered, wiping the mixture of spit and precum off her lips with the back of her hand. “He was just showing me the videos he took from his last assignment.” Her olive eyes were clouded with such a mixture of emotions that Vyn couldn’t discern, not when he was too vexed after being deprived of release all too suddenly. 

Was it anger? Resentment? Regret? 

In the end he decided that none of those mattered, and he roughly pulled Rosa closer to him for a lingering kiss that told of his simmering desire for her, long ignored and neglected during the daytime. “I do not like how he holds you as if you were his possession,” he murmured against her lips, his arms snaking possessively around her sweat-slickened body. “Only I have the right to do so, Rosa. My love.” 

[1:25 - 1:37]

Dr. Vyn Richter

Only I should see your smile. Only I should hear you speak, in that sweet voice only your lover should hear. Only I should feel you. Around me. In me. Your intoxicating scent as we make love, only I should know of it. 

“I keep on telling you, we were only—ah—” Her protests died in her throat as Vyn pushed her down onto the mattress. “This wouldn't even be a problem if we'd only admit to our rela—” 

“Sssh.” Once again Vyn interrupted her from voicing out her grievance, this time with his slender finger across her grumbling lips. “We have already talked about this, pet.” He spared her from his usual vague platitudes about keeping things professional. Now wasn’t the time. The indignation he had to go through a few moments ago was still swimming in his bloodstream, but the need to sate his hunger was paramount. 

He spread her thighs open, and a dark chuckle rose from his throat. Despite her misgivings aimed at him the lurid sight of her wet and swollen flesh between her thighs betrayed just how much she was indeed his. 

She throbbed for him, and not for whoever she was with during the daytime, certainly not her childhood friend, try as hard as Luke might to worm his way into her heart by taking advantage of their shared memories. 

Memories that will be easily edged out by the lifetime of midnights shared only between the doctor and his precious rose. 

He could feel his dick harden even more at the thought.

His blood sang in triumph. 

“I will now take what is rightfully mine,” he whispered, licking his lips as he pushed her thighs further apart.

[1:40 - 1:59]

Dr. Vyn Richter

I knew my obsession with you was far too dangerous to allow unimpeded, but still I happily indulged in it, devoting my time and energy to your altar. You made me realize how much of a hypocrite I am, that I am no better than any man, just another someone who would squander everything in pursuit of that one woman. 

His bedroom was filled with nothing but shared sighs and ragged moans as he sank deep into her, inch by delicious inch, into her hole. He threw his head back, closing his eyes as he relished the heat inside her cunt grasp his cock perfectly as if it was made for him. Yes. For him only, she was his alone, of that there was never any doubt. They fit perfectly, both of them pieces of a puzzle they did not know they needed to solve until their first touch. Vyn knew there was no one else made for him. He was going to make her his, in every sense of the word, but that was for later.

“Sing for me, Rosa,” he murmured, hands sliding down to her thighs and wrapping her legs around his waist. “I want to hear your voice. Tell me you are mine,” he demanded, his voice a touch too needy for his liking. It was difficult to grasp what little composure he had left with how good her hot cunt felt around him. 

With a snap of his hips he bottomed out inside her; her moans of pleasure music to his ears as he started moving. 

“Vyn, Vyn, I—nngh—” There was no hope for Rosa to come up with coherent words, not with how she helplessly clung to his shoulders, her legs greedily pulling his hips back to hers in time with his hard, deep thrusts. “Yours, I’m…ahh—” Tears pricked the edges of her eyes, to his utter, unhinged delight; a sinister laugh rose from his lips the moment he felt her fingernails drag across the skin of his back, no doubt drawing blood. That is fine, he thought as he hissed in the pain and licked his lips, his darkened gaze locking onto her unfocused olive stare that told of just how far gone she was in her head, focusing on the climax steadily building as he pounded into her, over and over. 

“I need to…come. Please,” she managed to whisper, her weakened voice almost inaudible as he kept on rutting into her mercilessly. “Please, Vyn,” she whimpered, one of her hands letting go of his shoulder to reach down between her bodies. 

He was going to let herself reach her precipice first, but the feel of her hand desperately rubbing her clit—her knuckle grazing his cock as he kept on fucking her the way God intended him to do her—pushed him past the point of no return. With a loud, guttural moan he burst his hot seed inside her. 

She is like a drug, he decided as he slumped over her body, fully spent; and as she came, her cunt milking him for all he was worth with each orgasmic spasm, he knew that his spiraling obsession for her would lead him to nowhere but the abyss, and there was no hope for him to turn back and save himself. 

[2:05 - 2:12]

Dr. Vyn Richter

It is unfortunate that you know this side of me, my love. And I cannot afford to let others know of how much of my control I lose over you.

At exactly one in the morning she was already fully dressed, her smartphone in her hand as she booked for a taxi to come pick her up from Vyn’s place.

“Rosa, being out alone at this hour is unwise,” Vyn said, still naked on his bed. “At the very least please give me a few minutes to dress myself and I will drive you home.” 

He wanted to tell her that he’d rather she stay the night, for her to sleep beside him, but many things have already been said between them; it was much too late for him to renege on what they have already agreed upon, in the interests of compartmentalizing their romantic entanglement away from their professional lives and, in Vyn’s case, duty of his birthright.

And so all he could do was slip on his robe and see her out his door.

[2:23 - 2:52]

Dr. Vyn Richter

I will now come out and say it: You own me, my beloved. Me, and everything it entails. You own my thoughts, and my feelings. I cannot help it, your ownership of me is etched into my very being. You must bear responsibility for this, my rose. I place my fate into your hands.

“I will miss you, Rosa of my heart,” Vyn solemnly said, reaching out to her with the intent of holding her hand. 

His fingers could only brush the back of her hand as she drew back and away from his grasp. 

“I know,” was all she said before she stepped out through the door.

[2:52 - 3:01]

Dr. Vyn Richter

But the world is not yet ready to know this. Not yet.

They passed by each other the following morning, when he took it upon himself to personally deliver subpoenaed documents for a high profile case Themis Law was currently working on. 

Vyn, on his way to Artem’s office, went past the pantry where he saw Rosa poring over documents spread out over the table with a mug of coffee in her hand.

He was about to approach her and say hello but Artem beat him to it, pulling a chair beside her. Vyn could only look on as the senior attorney huddled closer to his junior, going over the specifics of whatever the documents contained, sharing a laughter or two during their impromptu meeting in the pantry.

He could only watch as Celestine approached the two, loudly calling Rosa ‘Ms. Wing’ in jest, and tasked both attorneys to attend a business function together in her stead. An out of town business trip. Easily two or three days, out in the country together. 

I have intruded on her business enough. The doctor pivoted on his heel and strode over to Kiki’s cubicle instead. “Hello, Miss Kiki,” he said in his bright voice usually reserved for the most reticent of patients. “Wing seems to be preoccupied at the moment.” He handed her the folder, along with his favorite green striped pen for her to sign the receipt slip with. “Would you be a dear and receive these documents for me?” 

The bespectacled intern was quite surprised to see him, and her cheeks bloomed easily in his presence, ducking her head as she clumsily signed her name at the bottom of the receipt. It did not take her a minute before she handed him back his pen and the signed receipt. 

Vyn let their fingers brush against each other as he accepted the items. “Thank you.”

“Y-you’re welcome, Dr. Richter,” Kiki chirped, then surreptitiously hid her furious blush behind the documents folder. 

He briefly wondered how easily it would be to bed the pretty, yet painfully shy intern, to fill the gaps of his immensely lonely nights, but shoved it out of his mind just as quickly. 

Nobody deserves to be hurt by petty jealousies, and people who manipulate others with the promise of love are nothing but despicable. He knew this very well.

His heart hurt.

Left with no reason for him to linger, his business finally done, Vyn decided to retreat into the comfort and semblance of control that his research center afforded him.

Yet before he could step into the elevator to leave the premises, Rosa emerged from the pantry and brushed past him, Artem in tow. 

Their eyes briefly met, only for her to look away and place her hand on her boss’s arm, to Artem’s obvious surprise.

Vyn merely pursed his lips.

“Wing, I left the documents with Kiki,” was all the doctor said, after giving them a curt nod. “Have a good day. I shall take my leave now.”

[0:00 - 2:19]

Dr. Vyn Richter

The patient is appropriately dressed but disheveled. He would describe his mood as ‘within limits’. His thought process lacks flow. It has been sixteen hours and seventeen minutes since waking up at nine this morning, and thoughts of jealousy have consumed his sensorium. I am nothing without you, my rose, and I…

[The recording is cut off here. Faint sound of glass shattering could be heard in the background]

[counttwinkula]

hi i have been obsessed with your “the monster’s body is a cultural body etc” post since i saw it like a month ago. do you have any book recs where i can read more about this, like, forever. (I’m aware of your podcast I’m checking it out too) <3

i'm glad you liked it, it's an honor to introduce the people of tumblr to cohen's seven theses

first and foremost i would recommend The Monster Theory Reader, ed. Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, which includes several seminal essays including:

"The Uncanny" by Sigmund Freud

"The Uncanny Valley" by Masahiro Mori

"Approaching Abjection" by Julia Kristeva

"Horror and the Monstrous-Feminine: An Imaginary Abjection" by Barbara Creed

"The Monster and the Homosexual" by Harry M. Benshoff

i would also recommend the book in which Cohen first published his seven theses, Monster Theory: Reading Culture, ed. Jeffrey Jerome Cohen

(i must admit that i haven't gotten around to reading either of these books in full yet)

aside from the essays mentioned above, here are some foundational texts for monster theory but not specifically about monster theory:

The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettelheim

Mythography: The Study of Myths and Rituals by William Doty

Vested Interests: Cross-Dressing and Cultural Anxiety by Marjorie Garber

monster theory/horror criticism texts i've read:

Monsters in the Closet by Harry M. Benshoff

Skin Shows by Jack Halberstam

Murder Most Queer by Jordan Schildcrout

It Came from the Closet, ed. Joe Vallese

Horror by Brigid Cherry

Men, Women, and Chain Saws by Carol Clover

Dark Places by Barry Curtis

The Dread of Difference, ed. Barry Keith Grant

The Monster Show by David J. Skal (SEE NOTE BELOW)

Darkly: Black History and America's Gothic Soul by Leila Taylor

The Ghost: A Cultural History by Susan Owens

and some others i own but haven't read yet:

Dark Carnivals by W. Scott Poole

Phantom Past, Indigenous Presence: Native Ghosts in North American Culture and History by Colleen E. Boyd and Coll Thrush

Queer for Fear: Horror Film and the Queer Spectator by Heather O. Petrocelli

Pretend We're Dead: Capitalist Monsters in American Pop Culture by Annalee Newitz (just started this, already love it)

Theatre and the Macabre, ed. Meredith Conti and Kevin J. Wetmore, Jr.

and i can't neglect to mention The Monster in Theatre History: This Thing of Darkness by Michael Chemers

before i say anything further i want to give one warning. my particular interest is on monstrosity and queerness (probably evident based on some of my recommendations). monster theory and horror criticism have generally been rooted in psychoanalytic theory, particularly as it has been interpreted through a feminist lens. unfortunately, this leads to a lot of arguments and interpretations that are sex essentialist and fail to address gender with the necessary nuance. this is particularly true in Men, Women, and Chain Saws and The Dread of Difference.

(Vested Interests is… complicated. it's not monster theory exactly but cohen cites it. garber is generally better than the others mentioned here in her consideration of trans people but her work can still be uncomfortable.)

i have a lot of reservations about recommending The Monster Show. i loved reading it and i think skal has great analysis. somehow, however, in the middle of his discussion of how marginalized people have been historically monsterized in american culture, he has the audacity to cite The Transsexual Empire by Janice Raymond, the ur-text of TERF ideology, and skal uses this text to monsterize trans women. it's disgusting and reprehensible, and if the rest of the book wasn't so strong i wouldn't recommend it

the best medicine i have are texts by trans people. It Came from the Closet is an anthology with several essays by trans people, i adore it. i am forever obsessed with Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein, which isn't exactly monster theory, but i would say it's monster theory adjacent and i wish everyone would read it

and if you haven't, you must read "My Words to Victor Frankenstein Above the Village of Chamounix: Performing Transgender Rage" by Susan Stryker. (see i even put a link to that one. drop everything and read it now)

alright if you're still with me i have a couple other things to put out there:

the docuseries Queer for Fear, available on Shudder, is incredible and i'm obsessed with it

she seems to be inactive these days but @draculasdaughter has a lot of posts quoting texts and articles on monster theory/horror criticism that i highly recommend

i've only seen the jacob geller videos on this list but i mean to watch this youtube playlist of video essays about horror, fear, and dread

and i also keep a #monster theory tag on my blog that has various posts on the subject, some funny and some earnest

[batsplat]

'The Aliens Have Not Yet Landed', July 2007, by Jorge Lorenzo

Yes, you read it right: they're still not here, they haven't landed yet. And don't worry, there are no signs that they're about to - at least for now... 'there is too much imperfection in this land,' they may be thinking. Maybe their technology and intelligence are light years ahead of ours so to conquer us wouldn't be a big enough challenge for them. I don't know, maybe they don't even exist. What I do know is that here on earth, where we humans live (usually), we don't get visits from aliens (I know... some people look like them, that is true) and even less likely is a visit from a god from another galaxy. And just when we do find somebody we think has paranormal powers, he goes and crashes one Sunday afternoon. When Valentino Rossi crashes, it is not like seeing any other rider crash. When people here in the paddock see that number 46 machine spinning across the track, they can barely believe their eyes. My race had finished and I was tucking into a lovely plate of spaghetti carbonara, watching the MotoGP race, when I saw Valentino trying to pick his bike up out of the gravel. I had to blink several times to make sure I wasn't dreaming. It's always funny to listen to the comments from everybody in the garage when we're watching the MotoGP race, passionately 'discussing' the more controversial incidents. It is one of the nicest and funniest moments of the weekend so it's always a shame that on lap ten we have to rush off to the car and get out of the circuit before the post-race traffic jams starts. Anyway, I digress. When a rider crashes the standard comment would be: 'Look! So-and-so has crashed!' If it's a rider who tends to spend more time on the floor than he does on his bike it will be: 'So-and-so again, what a surprise!' But when Valentino crashes there's a unanimous cry of 'Noooooooooooo... it can't be!' And everybody looks at each other in disbelief. That's what you get when you're a seven-times World Champion. That's what you get when you're considered by most people (this writer included) as the greatest rider of all time. And that's what you get when you hardly ever make mistakes. Having said that, my friends, if you still believe in aliens you can stop looking. You won't find any around here.

Taken from Riveras Tobia's Jorge Lorenzo: My Story So Far

[magicalgirlmascot]

God I've been thinking about the KNPS Inika stuff a lot lately which is GARBAGE because that's not something that's happening for literal years in-universe and I have no idea if I'm ever going to write that stuff BUT ALSO if I don't get this stuff out of my head it's going to give me brain rot so here we go (spoilers for main KNPS fic ahoy)

So I figure they become Toa in their last year of high school. The former KNPS students have largely drifted apart by this point. They still see each other in classes and stuff, but with a few exceptions they kinda got their own lives away from each other once they weren't the only seven people their age that they knew. Some of them started hanging with the kids a year younger than them more once they got to high school, too, but largely they're kind of scattered. Takua and Jaller are still best friends, but Jaller and Hahli have drifted a lot, to the point where both of them have tried dating others. Hewkii and Macku, on the other hand, had a very tearful goodbye when he graduated, then a miserable year apart, and then they got back together when she got to high school and have been very happy together since, but now there's a lot of stress and anticipation for his upcoming high school graduation and what that might mean for them. Kongu has an entirely separate friend group, Nuparu too, and Matoro mostly hangs around the library with Kopeke. All of them, however, the ones from a year behind included, are still friends with Takua.

I haven't figured out all the logistics yet, but they still get struck by lightning and become Toa at some point. So they're having to go through their senior year of high school thrust back together with powers they don't understand or know how to control and their main mentor is Takua of all people.

Vakama has such a headache.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Toa Mata are doing their own thing. Some of them have gotten married. Onua and Lewa bought a house that Onua has turned the entire front lawn of into a massive garden. There's also some large trees in the backyard that Lewa likes to sleep in, draped over the branches like a leopard. Vakama, Nokama, and Matau have long since moved in together. Onewa retired about a year ago but comes in to supply sometimes and he complains about it every time but won't take his name off the supply list.

Things have been quiet at Kini Nui since the events of the main fic, but trouble is brewing and our new Toa are just the team to deal with it. Maybe. Look I'm gonna be honest most of what I've been thinking about here has been character stuff and not plot stuff. Half of it has been shoving Matoro at various characters to figure out who I want to ship him with and picturing Nuparu in shop class because that's where I'm at as a person right now.

[blackjackkent]

Jaheira does not volunteer an explanation for the little girl's behavior, but Hector almost immediately starts to formulate some theories, especially since he can hear the little girl talking with another voice inside the building.

"She'll be here. Any second. Maybe she's sneaking." "Doubtful - we'd hear her knees cracking."

"Enough, Fig. There's no point getting your hopes up. She'll be back when she's back." "You don't think she will." "I know she will. But we can wait a little longer, if you like."

"I saw her, I swear!" "Are you sure? Maybe it was just a laborer hauling a shaggy grey mop." "Be serious, Rion. Who puts braids on a mop?"

Hector swallows the urge to smile. Whoever these people are, they know Jaheira. They have been waiting for her to return from the shadowlands. This is going to be a reunion.

He looks at her sideways as they step through the door, but her expression is utterly still, entirely unreadable. She only speaks as they reach the center of the living room and the arranged figures standing there (Fig included) turn towards them.

"Oh, Malar's mark... here we go," she says, and a rueful smile flickers onto her face.

It's a rather motley crowd arranged to receive her. Fig and another girl about her age stand by the side of a young elven woman with dark hair wearing a greathammer on her back and polished leather armor. Next to her is a hulking half-orc fellow with bright pink hair. All of them look more than a little surprised.

"Are we quite sure she hasn't actually died this time, brother?" the elf says with jocular humor, lounging back on her heels and looking at the orc. "She *looks* dead."

"Smells it, too," the orc grunts.

Jaheira snorts. "It has been a hard road," she says with something between amusement and indignation. "But I can clip you both around the ear to prove I am no ghost, if it would help!"

The woman grins sardonically. "Forgive us, mother. We're just surprised you know how to find your way home."

Hector's eyebrows shoot to his hairline and his mouth drops open. "Mother? Jaheira, these are your children?!"

Adoptees, certainly, unless Jaheira casts her net far wider than he would have ever taken her for. He finds himself deeply touched to picture the actions that would have led to this diverse bunch calling themselves siblings. Jaheira has a more sentimental streak than she would ever actively admit.

"She always brings the smartest people home, too," the woman says dryly.

"Enough, Rion," says Jaheira, suddenly sharp. "I taught you better manners than that."

"No, you didn't," the orc mumbles, sotto voce.

Rion rolls her eyes. "A sending spell can carry twenty-five words. Do you know how many Jaheira's only message contained, in all this time she's been away? Seven."

Hector winces. OK, maybe Jaheira's not *that* sentimental, he thinks wryly.

"This... really isn't any of my business," he says awkwardly, rubbing his jaw with one hand.

Rion laughs, a shade bitterly. "Hah. Now there is a phrase Jaheira has never uttered. But no." A slight pause. "The message went, 'I'm sorry. You know what to do.'"

"So why haven't you done it?" Jaheira interjects with visible agitation. "You were supposed to get the young ones out of the city!"

"And you were supposed to be dead," Rion fires back without missing a beat. "That's what your oh-so-stoic message meant, yes?" Her voice softens almost imperceptibly, and Hector can hear the thread of anxiety underneath it. "Yet here you are. So... what happened out there?"

Jaheira frowns, then jerks her head to indicate Hector. "I got my skin saved by this one. We've come to take the fight to the cult - which is *exactly* why you all cannot be here."

The woman juts her jaw out stubbornly. "Why? You plan on winning, don't you?" She turns in Hector's direction, lifts an eyebrow at him - in a way that reminds him very much of Jaheira indeed. "You're the one who saved her, so tell me. Are we all doomed?"

Hector folds his arms and looks back at her steadily. "The cult is powerful," he says. "It's not going to be an easy fight."

"So fight," Rion says sharply. "That's what all you heroes and Harpers are for, isn't it?"

Jaheira sighs. "You are a very irritating girl," she deadpans.

"Ah-ah--" Rion wags a finger at her. "This isn't your house, remember? You'll keep a civil tongue under our roof - *if* we let you stay at all."

"Have mercy, sister," the orc puts in. "She's old after all."

"SOOOOOO old," one of the little girls says with a giggle.

"She can stay," Fig declares. "But only if she brought home *presents.*"

Rion laughs softly, though without much humor. "Seems I'm out-voted. See, mother? That is how you go about talking things through with your family." She shakes her head, looks at the others of the group with some skepticism, then shrugs. "Now, if there's more to discuss, then bloody well come in. And wipe your boots."

[pixies-and-poets]

Bramble’s Fanfic Collection

Hi friends!! I’ve been wanting to do this for a while: since I don’t, as of yet, post my work on AO3 or anywhere else besides here, I wanted to get together a collection of my writing. I will keep this post current, so if you are looking at this from a reblog, be aware that it might not be up to date unless you visit the original post!

This isn’t everything I’ve written in my life, of course, but it’s everything that lives here. I have much older stuff that I might port over here gradually if I decide I’m still happy with it. 

Nothing I write is too explicit, but it sometimes may deal with body horror, injury, death, and distressing themes such as depression and suicidal ideation. Content warnings are given on individual posts.

Fanfics are collected into general fandom categories below. Thanks to anyone who’s ever read, commented on and enjoyed my work!

Super Mario RPG

I first played SMRPG over half of my lifetime ago, but it never really captured my imagination until the remake came out. Being older, I felt like I was in a better spot to appreciate some of its more subtle themes, and became enamored with the Smithy Gang in particular. I haven't written all that much yet, but I'd like to do more.

The Forging - A Spear is born.

Smithy Gang Headcanons - My personal timeline and background from which I hope to eventually build more ideas.

Mack/Claymorton Headcanons

Mario + Rabbids

This is the fandom that brought me back to tumblr and got me to stick around, and also got me writing on my own again after ages of drought. Years ago I would have never believed that rabbids would get me to write so much, but here I am, and I’m grateful for it!

Most of these so far are about Woodrow and Palette Prime more generally, because that’s where my brain lives, and the catastrophe poet is very special to my heart. I’ll eventually branch out more though, I swear.

I write a bunch of Phandrow (Phantom x Woodrow) stuff specifically; it started out with me trying to justify a crackship to my own brain and then whoops! I became obsessed

Of Verses and Curses 

My magnum opus of fanfics, as of yet, and the longest work of fiction I have written independently in my life, this is a story of finding the person who loves you even if your passion in life seems to only bring failure and misfortune. It’s a deeply personal story built off a lot of my own feelings and struggles. It’s also a story about two gay rabbids who have never canonically met. [Phantom x Woodrow, also includes plenty of Dryad x Sweetlopek] 

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Music of the Night

The dark inverse to Of Verses and Curses, set in the Sparks of Despair AU created by @pastelprince18​, this is a far more upsetting tale of doomed love and unhappy endings. There is a monster at the end of this book.

(Body horror warning, especially at the end, so just be aware before you get invested.)

Chapter One - In Sleep He Sang to Me

Chapter Two - Do I Dream Again?

Chapter Three - Our Strange Duet

Chapter Four - To Glance Behind

Chapter Five - Those Who Have Seen Your Face

Chapter Six - Where Night is Blind

Chapter Seven - Angel of Music

Other Woodrow or Phandrow stuff

Bwahstrella’s Warning - an exploration of what might happen when you push the galaxy’s own disaster poet to the heights or the depths of his passion. [Phantom x Woodrow]

Poetry Slammed - Sweetlopek’s perspective of a certain boat incident. [Sweetlopek and Woodrow, platonic]

Happy Phandrow Things - not really a fanfic so much as a collection of thoughts/headcanons but they make me happy so they’re going here, gosh darnit!

The Eulogist - Woodrow necromancer AU. Not sure I need to say more than that. [character death and slight body horror warning]

Wolf of the Woods - An exploration of a Werewolf Woodrow AU! While not much in itself, people liked it; not only did it spearhead a lot of fun discussion/art, but it’s pretty much what got me writing again and therefore led to EVERYTHING above!

Unmerged - Not really a fic, but an exploration of an idea that makes me too sad to think about too much D:

An Appeal to the Heavens - In a time long past, a poor poet makes a desperate plea to the god he yearns to serve.

Pocket Poet, Part 1 | Part 2 - my one exploration of the Borrower AU: tiny Woodrow experiences the theatrical world of his lover, up close and personal.

Non-Woodrow Stuff (wtf, it DOES exist)

Something from Nothing - before we really knew what the Tower of Doooom was about, we had thoughts. Unhappy thoughts. [featuring Spawny and extra-evil Phantom]

M+R Timeline Analysis - Not a fic, but some background on how I view this universe.

Tools of the Traitors - A mini Super Paper Mario crossover between Kanya and Dimentio.

The High Seas AU

Sirens and Soliloquys - a pirate poet who bears a curse in secret is tempted by a siren's song, and gets more than he could have possibly imagined as a result.

Further worldbuilding and character background ideas for the AU!

Sea Legs - just a little more Phandrow silly sweetness

The Vampire [Phanpire?] AU

A Phandrow-centric AU that really speaks for itself, collaboratively created. Usually Phantom is the vampire and Woodrow his willing prey, but sometimes the roles are reversed, sometimes the ""victim"" is Prima Donna (Phantom's drag persona), sometimes they're both vampires- look, we like to have fun here.

As a general warning, pretty much anything in this collection will deal with blood and mild injury.

A Bite for Good Luck - my starting point for this AU, and its companion piece from Tom's perspective.

Burning Like The Sunrise - a little prequel to the above. A tale of passion at first bite.

One Paw in the Grave - Woodrow learns just how vulnerable a vampire can be.

Bat's Eye View - A vampire shows his beloved the world as he sees it.

Batsong - Lord Phan runs into misfortune; but thankfully, it's only of a rather amusing kind.

Various Vampire Phandrow Ideas: A Duet | The Lord's Protection | Thoughts on Sleep | Something More Than Blood | Nothing Wasted | Paeans to Prima Donna | Sacred Anatomy

Donkey Kong/Banjo-Kazooie/Rare-Playtonic Universe

A Donkey Kong’s World - this is a narrative record of the homebrew D&D campaign I was in, and includes elements from all of the things mentioned above, as well as Sea of Thieves and the Mario series. I’m including it here because not only was I involved as one of the characters, but I actually novelized most of the whole story (taking over from our DM who did the first few chapters) based on our session recordings. It was an extremely special experience for me, and is quite a long read, but if you’re a big fan of any of these franchises I think you might enjoy coming along with us. [Link is external and goes to the forum where the story is hosted.]

Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga (+ Bowser’s Minions)

These are years old, from before my tumblr hiatus, so they may not be quite up to my current standards... but I still like them.

Anamnesis - While Popple and Rookie plan their biggest heist yet, Rookie tries to remember who he is... and almost does.

Wallflower - In the quiet moments, Captain Shy Guy realizes just how much he cares about that silly Goomba... [Captain Shy Guy x Captain Goomba]

The Stolen Birthday - a little headcanon for a Popple backstory.

That’s all for now!!

[dragimalsdaydreams]

Dragon Booster Notes: Colors

a lot of DB fans I've talked to think that DB has way too many Draconium colors, and I'm inclined to agree, lmao. so here's my take on a more condensed version of the Draconium color wheel!

I've had to rearrange and heavily revamp certain colors and basic lore (such as Gold, which I'll get to), but I think I like what I've done with the place~ I've also changed the names of most of the crews because we seriously need less "dragon" in names, everyone's starting to sound like Troll Will Smith. like, we get it, this show is abt dragons, lmao

I'm also aware that some of the more specific colors were meant to evoke certain types of vehicles/machinery (like white = planes, and brown = construction vehicles), but that reference is somewhat lost in my take. my hope is that secondary colors in dragon palettes could better evoke that machinery, but I may need to chew on it more. I do genuinely like the dragons = cars schtick and think it's fun to play with in terms of colors/design, so I don't want to go TOO hard on my own lore and lose that silly aspect, haha

and be aware that I haven't changed my other DB notes to reflect these colors since I'm not fully settled yet. I may wait for more feedback to see what other fans think of this take

anyways, "narrator voice" begins under the cut:

Base Colors

the Racing Association recognizes the following seven colors as the standard, core colors of Draconium. however, there is continued debate over these classifications, considering the fluid, gradient nature of Draconium. the concept of sub-classes has gained momentum in some circles, and several racing teams operate under the idea of these sub-classes, though these sub-classes are not officially recognized. common sub-class signifiers include "dark/light", "white/black", or mixed/specific color names such as "turquoise" or "mahogany".

also note that Draconium influences the integument, temperament, and energy of a developing dragon on a situational basis rather than an evolutionary basis. Draconium colors do not constitute evolutionary lineages, but are instead influenced by direct parentage and environmental influences during a dragon's development within the egg. additionally, while most organisms exhibit a "dominating" color type, all organisms exhibit some mix of colors. "pure"-color dragons are rare, and often exhibit health disorders due to the lack of balancing influence from other colors.

Red:

common temperament: passionate, competitive, loyal, flashy. these dragons thrive as the center of attention, and are eager to compete to prove their place. though this makes Red dragons excellent competitors, they are prone to show-boating and losing sight of their goal. adequate attention and praise from their riders will solidify a Red dragon's confidence and prevent overcompensation.

physical traits: Red dragons often develop more decorative cartilage fins and "flare" for show.

class percentages: Raptors: 30%; Canids: 30%; Felids: 25%; Bulls: 15%

known crews: Red Flares

((replaces: Red))

Orange:

common temperament: clever, inquisitive, stubborn, cautious. these dragons are considered the most intelligent of their kind, but also the most dangerous for that exact reason. they are quick to solve puzzles and avoid obstacles, quickly developing strategies for escape and success, outwitting even their riders. despite their potential as racers, very few Orange dragons will even cooperate with humans, much less compete on the track.

physical traits: many Orange dragons exhibit peculiar changes to the visual structure of the skull and surrounding integument/musculature, leaving the brain and Muffler visible. this does not seem to affect skull durability, but sparse research has yet to confirm. Orange dragons also seem to have a higher aptitude for telepathy than most modern dragons.

class percentages: Raptors: 85%; Canids: 4%; Felids: 7%; Bulls: 4%. this particular color skews heavily Raptor, but this may be due to historical/social influences rather than an innate aspect of this Color.

known crews: The Prophets ((and Keepers ("dark" Orange) but few know of them))

WARNING: most Orange dragons have defected from human society, and the dragon-led "Prophet" crew has been named a top terrorist organization by Dragon City Police. exercise extreme caution in areas you suspect Prophets or other Orange dragons may roam.

((replaces: Orange, Light Green. I almost put Light Green in Yellow instead, but then I thought abt the tension of two wildly different crews representing the same "dangerous" Orange color. maybe Prophets see Keepers as pathetic, living off of the little scraps of human society and meekly refusing to demand more. and maybe Keepers hate how they're associated with the "dangerous" Prophets just bc they're Orange too, painting a similar "terrorist" target on their backs. I think there could be an interesting conversation here abt the ideas of acceptance vs assimilation, and the cost of survival under the will of human society...))

Yellow:

common temperament: skittish, flighty, curious, adaptable, energetic. these dragons have a high well of energy perfectly suited for racing, but are often distracted and startled by the unexpected. a gentle, guiding hand can keep these dragons focused and on-track.

physical traits: Yellow dragons usually develop fins along their sides and tails to aid in gliding. these fins are usually cartilaginous, though some may develop bone-like spines and tendon attachments to further control fin shape. these dragons also tend to be smaller than dragons of other colors, but this is not a universal trait.

class percentages: Raptors: 50%; Canids: 25%; Felids: 20%; Bulls: 5%. Raptors adapt best to the flighted aspects of Yellow, while Bulls struggle to maintain their energy or properly utilize their fins.

known crews: Windstorm ("white" Yellow)

((replaces: White, Turquoise? we don't know much abt Turquoise...))

Green:

common temperament: steady, stubborn, focused, loyal. though Green dragons are not the quickest to start a race or make a decision, you can trust that they will dedicate their entire focus to their goal. their patient determination can carry riders through any obstacle, especially once a rider has a gained their loyalty.

physical traits: Green dragons tend to develop thicker hides/plates, and heavier musculature.

class percentages: Raptors: 3%; Canids: 10%; Felids: 7%; Bulls: 80%. due to the "heavy" nature of Green, this color skews heavily Bull. the delicate structure of a Raptor struggles most to handle the added weight that Green can induce in the body, though some Raptor breeders have been working to address this.

known crews: Will of the Dragon ((combining crews as well. I think it would be interesting if Kawake was the former head of the Will of the Dragon, and Fistus admires him and maybe feels guilty for taking over his role? maybe he tries to convince Kawake to come back after his recovery. idk, I need more interesting character dynamics))

((replaces: Green, Brown))

Blue:

common temperament: easy-going, adaptable, playful, sociable. Blue dragons love the thrill of a race more than competition, prone to nipping playfully at other dragons or skipping about on the track in their excitement. they may need a reminder and extra incentive to keep their focus on the race rather than play.

physical traits: Blue dragons usually develop fins along their tails, spines, and legs to aid in swimming. much like Yellow dragons, these fins are usually cartilaginous, though some may develop bone-like spines and tendon attachments to further control fin shape.

class percentages: Raptors: 10%; Canids: 40%; Felids: 40%; Bulls: 10%. though Bulls and Raptors struggle with the swimming-oriented aspects of this color, they otherwise seem to adapt fine, despite their low numbers.

known crews: The Inner Order, Nautilus ("light" Blue)

((replaces: Blue, Light Blue))

Purple:

common temperament: sociable, loyal, attentive, focused, cautious. one of the most sociable types of dragons, Purple dragons quickly pack-bond with any humans and dragons they spend extended time with. though a boon for solidifying connections within crews, this can also spell trouble outside of the crew, as Purple dragons are deeply suspicious of strangers. it takes a solid connection and stable environment to make sure a Purple dragon's healthy caution doesn't develop into outright hostility and tunnel-vision.

physical traits: Purple dragons often develop more exaggerated heat pits and larger audial fins.

class percentages: Raptors: 35%; Canids: 40%; Felids: 5%; Bulls: 20%. Felids are less adaptable to the "tracking" aspects of this color than other classes.

known crews: Huntsmen

((replaces: Purple. I'm going back and forth on whether I should just combine Black and Purple together? but I think they exhibit enough unique 'personality' traits that they prolly ought to be separate..))

Magenta:

common temperament: independent, stubborn, curious, clever. these dragons take a long time to warm up to their riders, and are often considered "aloof" by racers of other colors. but once their trust is gained, they quickly open up to their riders, showing a much more affectionate, playful personality than initially expected. even then, riders must keep a close eye on their own dragons to make sure they haven't wandered off into trouble on their own.

physical traits: ((tbh I can't think of any for this one. help))

class percentages: Raptors: 20%; Canids: 10%; Felids: 50%; Bulls: 20%.

known crews: Snake Eyes ("black" Magenta) ((idk if snakes still exist but I'm just going to say they do for now))

((replaces: Black. I just think "Black" is a silly color for a color wheel tbh, and it feels a little too on-the-nose for the "evil" group, y'know? also, let's be honest, most Black dragons have purple/magenta as secondary colors, so it feels appropriate.))

Special Cases

these cases of dragon and Draconium development are beyond the scope of typical racing, exhibiting unique and highly-specific traits compared to other color groupings.

Prismatic Dragons:

Prismatic dragons do not exhibit a single, dominating color of Draconium, but rather the intersection of all colors. thus, these dragons function as prisms-- able to refract different Draconium colors at will.

historically, Prismatic dragons were much more common, as Draconium naturally blends and merges across the spectrum, and organisms gather mixed collections of Draconium from their surrounding environments. it is only in the modern day that we rarely see Prismatic dragons emerge, and indeed have yet to see one for many years...

known crews: none ((that the Association knows of, at least~))

((I really want Yellow to be one of the main colors, and Gold doesn't feel as 'neutral' as I think it ought to be, so... *jazz hands*. on the one hand, I'm remiss to nix Beau's iconic black/gold color palette... on the other hand, what if the originally "gold" sections on his body changed colors to reflect whatever Draconium color he focused on, and simply shimmered a metallic silver otherwise? that sounds cool))

Grey Dragons:

Grey dragons exhibit a bizarrely neutral form of Draconium. however, unlike Prismatic, this is not due to a prism effect, but due to the lack of distinct color itself-- Draconium in its purest, most uninfluenced form.

Grey is even less understood than Prismatic. we know that no living dragon is Grey, only reanimated corpses. we do not know how these corpses reanimate, nor why it so rarely occurs.

some have suggested that, once a Prismatic dragon dies and the color of mixed Draconium drains from their body, they are truly Grey underneath, and are reanimated to continue some unspecified duty. this is impossible to verify, given the rarity of Prismatic and Grey dragons, but it is certainly an interesting theory.

perhaps it is simply the nature of life, that even Draconium must strike a balance-- that for all that there is light, that there must also be an absence. for all that there is life, that there must be death. perhaps this is too poetic a notion for an academic journal, but we have few other hypotheses to consider.

known crews: The Mechanists

[pancake-breakfast]

Not really ready to move on from Vol. 10 yet, but here we go anyway.

Stream-of-consciousness thoughts for TriMax Vol. 11, Chapters 1-2 below.

Volume 11 Covers

I see Nightow decided not to give spoilers for Vash's hair here.

That rabbit looks less than happy... but I think Vash deserves to hug a bunny right now.

Looks like we're gonna get some Milly and Meryl again in this volume! Hooray!

Also Legato. Maybe someday he'll evolve from a bagworm into a bagworm butterfly??

And Zazie, whom we haven't seen since like Dragon's Nest.

And... shall we say, a new blond lady friend??

You know, I never actually read the text on the back cover. It's an old habit after having the blurb on the back of a book give me major spoilers once.

I'm pretty sure no one really knows what's going on with the fake back cover here, including Nightow. I hope everyone's enjoying their duck lips.

Slap-Stick Days? Are those really a thing this manga can have at this point? Or is this just another setup so we can end the chapter on "Slap-Stick Days/End"?

Chapter 1: Zero Hour

Awww. His darkened hair makes me sad.

Whyyyyy do I have to start this out looking at Chapel's stupid mug again??

Ah, Legato... has looked better.

"Chapel and the old man are both dead." As in... Wolfwood Chapel and Old Man Chapel??

Ohhhh, geez. I didn't realize just how separately they treated Livio and Razlo. But I guess he really is both Double Fang and Trip of Death.

"Falling out like teeth." Man, they never stood a chance. They've been decimated for a while now.

Wait, when did Legato get shot in the spine? I thought... ohhhh, Wolfwood. Nevermind, I was thinking this was, like, part of his everyday treatment when he's not in his little metal cocoon. Then again, I don't know how he'd have received any treatment like this over the seven months he was holding down Vash. Hells, I don't know how he went to the bathroom during the seven months he was holding down Vash.

Oooh, I was wondering if this element would come up. Zazie looks pretty pleased with their chosen path.

Knives, you crazy abomination, what are you doing now??

It's a good thing Livio knows how to drive given Vash's history behind the wheel.

Is that a Bentley?? How did they get a Bentley??? How in the hell would that be practical on a sand world??? (I assume it came from the same place as the Prada bag Meryl wants to get.)

Ugh. Vash does not want to answer Brad's questions. This is the face of a man who's tired of thinking about it. He's been thinking about it waaaaaay too much, and he was just kind of hoping for a minute's distraction from his brain thoughts. But he knows he has to explain, even if he doesn't want to.

Livio has so many cute little expressions in these pages. They give me life.

I get where Brad's distrust comes from, but Vash doesn't have the heart to deal with it right now. He's doing his best, but he's so tired. Emotionally, I mean.

I love how Vash takes Brad's objection and immediately counters with a real-life example.

Oh, I love the firmness bordering on anger here. Like Livio suggesting Vash is being too trusting with him specifically is an insult to Wolfwood's memory. Gods, babygirl is sooooo angry and hurt by all this right now.

LOL, Brad's anchor tattoo. I know this is kind of a joke panel, so now I'm wondering if he actually has one.

Livio apologizing. I think he really would bleed more as penance for Wolfwood, if he could. Like, he'd accept more grievous injury than Brad can do to him and wouldn't seek retaliation because if it's not fair, it's not fair in his favor and not in theirs. They have a right to seek retribution. To a point, though. He doesn't seem suicidal.

Oh, an ion cannon, eh? I'm sure this will go well for them and not get decimated by Knives from 100 meters or something.

Ohhhh noooooo. They're gonna Last Run a bunch of plants to power this thing.

That's sooooo many plants.

Yeah, as if Knives wasn't pissed enough.

Huh. I honestly didn't expect the Plants' will to come into play here.

I love how insect-y the plants look on this spread.

I mean, they've had over a century to rebel, and it seems like they've only done anything similar in isolated incidents. They seem to genuinely want to help humans. But this particular instance is rather unique. At the very least, they don't seem positively inclined toward Knives.

Ooh, space friends. I'm sure that will go smoothly.

Chapter 2: Slap-Stick Days

Oof, they're down to one major city. That's bad.

This old guy with the guitar. I do like how music is inextricable from the Trigun story.

Luida coming out to talk with the authorities elsewhere really is a Big Thing.

Eyyyy, it's the return of long-haired Meryl!

Still just as cheeky, I see.

Milly is so cute with her hair like that.

"It's descending into a complete state of lawlessness." Hate to break it to ya, but this planet has hardly been a bastion of law and order. Sure, it might be better than just after the Great Fall, but still.

I swear, if this is more Nebraskas...

"Oh no! It's the feds!" This line is so cliche. It's beautiful.

Vash!?

It is Vash! One air-dropped Vash, to the rescue! Meryl and Milly look like they're about to die of pure shock.

That's ok. Vash is gonna die of pure shock at seeing them, too.

When I turn the page, will they be punching him, hugging him, or screaming at him (affectionately)? Some combination of the above?

Welp, a full melt-down with tears of relief wasn't on my list....

(Loving the girls' new outfits, btw. Very practical.)

Hang on, I just need to drink in this page for a bit.

Ok, I'm good. Moving on.

Hahahaha, good job, radio nerd.

This is gonna give a LOT of weight to Luida's claims with the other authorities. I wonder what Knives will make of it.

Ah, there he is. Heeeeyyyy, Kniiiiiives. Buddy.... You... you don't look like yourself so much anymore.... You doing ok? Need a break, maybe? A glass of water? Tea? Hard liquor?

Yeah, pretty sure the ark isn't actually space-worthy anymore. I hope he's providing some atmosphere for his atmosphere-breathing peons.

IDK, man. You might have great plans, but you have NO idea what these people are capable of. They just dropped out of some sort of hyperspace. They're clearly working on the kind of technology humanity would have if they hadn't crash-landed violently on a resource-less planet and been forced to scavenge everything they could get their hands on just to survive. All I'm saying is maybe don't count your chicks before they've hatched, Knives-kun.

Archive

Trigun Vol. 1: Covers + 1-3, 4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 || Vol. 2: Covers + Extras, 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-8

TriMax Vol. 1: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 2: Covers + 1, 2-4, 5, 6-7 || Vol. 3: Covers + 1-3, 4-5, 6-7 || Vol. 4: Covers + 1-2, 3-5, 6-7 || Vol. 5: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 6: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 7: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 8: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5 + Bonus || Vol. 9: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 10: Covers + 1-3, 4-5, 6-8

Extra Credit: Trigun Vol. 1: Nebraska vs. Vash's Motivations, Vash's Loneliness, Vash's Depression (pt. 2 of post), Soupy Brains || Vol. 2: Coin Factoids || TriMax Vol. 1: Lina, Vash, and a Haircut || Meryl, Vash, and the Pursuit of Happiness || Vol. 5: Knives, Vash, and Hatred for Humanity || Vol. 6: Coping Series: Wolfwood, Meryl, Vash || Vol. 8: The Uncoordinated Counterattack || Vol. 9: Justice, Punishment, and Mercy, The Tolling of an Iron Bell || Vol. 10: Crucifixion Symbology (pt. 2 of post), Merging of Families, Being Childlike (And Why God Hates Chapel)

[trgdaily]

Happy Anniversary, IDOLiSH7!

Alright! A bunch of stuff got announced to celebrate the series' 8th anniversary today, so lets break down the most important things regarding our favorite group, TRIGGER!

You've probably heard this stuff already but hey. I do what I want and I'm making this post anyway.

First up, let's get all the smaller 8th Anniversary stuff out of the way! Plenty of stuff has been changed and announced to help bring the series into its latest era, and all of it is very exciting!

Special Anniversary visuals by the series' main character designers have been shared and released!

... Also I feel like it's worth noting that Arina-sensei has made it clear that we've reached TRIGGER's numbers in terms of anniversaries, and that reflects in her art. Meaning, maybe it'll reflect in other things too...?!

The game is hosting weekly free 11-pulls which bring back Heavenly Visitor, Wish Voyage, Kiseki, Music in Your Thoughts, and Light Future cards! On top of that, there's a log-in bonus for nanakores and 80 Stellar Stones in total!

The game has been refreshed with a few new features like notifications on screen when you get a message from an idol/manager, more idol storage, and even special voice lines that play before a live, after an auto live finishes, and if you manage to full-combo the song. The "hey, there's an event going on" home screen line has been replaced, too, thank fuck.

A new Namjatown collab has been announced that covers the idol in glowy clothing!

The official website has been completely overhauled including brand-new bios for the idols!

Now, onto the really fun stuff...

Shuffle Units are back!!

As part of the yearly anniversary story, we're finally getting Shuffle Units including Re:vale and ZOOL! As of Producer Letter 26, it's been confirmed that these units will be themed and have special songs for each, but the themes haven't been shared yet! We may have to read the two-part story to find out!

Part 1 will release September 5th, and Part 2 will release September 15th! It won't be voiced, though. Voice acting will come at a later date.

Kuji Memorial Video & Cards!

What's likely the most surprising thing of all for the anniversary is that it's big surprise looks back on all of the dramas IDOLiSH7's cast have starred in over the last seven years - down to releasing an animated memorial video that covers everything from La Danse Macabre to the Last Dimension musical! There's a lot of shots of TRIGGER to spot, so if you haven't seen it yet, go watch it! It's pure emotional eye candy!

On top of that, the yearly revival gacha deals with it, too, featuring special UR cards that focus on specific scenes from Mechanical Lullaby, i7 Police, Hoshimeguri (now known in English as The Stargazer?), Karatoga, La Danse Macabre, Mission (Yamato's movie from Part 3), and BLAST! (Part 5 drama)

The best part is all the old cards, including the same kujis shown here, are in these pulls, too! Best of luck if you try to bring them home!

Producer Letter #26 Takeaways

As is tradition with i7 anniversaries, there's a new Producer Letter that goes over what the current and future plans for the series are that has a few interesting tidbits fans should be aware of! I'll break it down, but if you can, I suggest reading it in your own time.

The team is still figuring out what exactly comes "beyond the period" in terms of the story, so no updates on that just yet.

They're wanting to do another 16 person live, but they're trying to book a "difficult venue" so many fans can see it. Some fans believe this to be a hint that they're trying to book the Tokyo Dome. 😱 But 16 person live isn't an impossibility!

They've implies that they're working out international distribution and screening for the recent movie Beyond the Period! So sit tight if you haven't gotten a hold of it for yourself yet!

That's about it! Pretty damn big anniversary, isn't it?! Let's enjoy it to the fullest and keep supporting TRIGGER and their friends!!

Happy anniversary!! 🤍💖💙