#these are definitely NOT the worst ads in this theme that I have seen on the margins of my Aroace Guy comics

[diltonsstrangescience]

This ad placement is the height of irony.

[animeyanderelover]

can i request gojo with a darling who can touch him even when his infinity is on? (I think it's canon that he can never turn it off completely so that would be his first time actually having physical contact with someone)

Huge thanks to everyone who helped me with this request by explaining how exactly Gojo’s abilities work! I’ll start watching the second season as soon as all episodes are out for anyone who is wondering. I added a bit of stuff to make for an more interesting read.

Tw: Yandere themes, unhealthy mindset, toxic relationship, possessive behavior, clinginess, obsession, touchiness, manipulation, gaslighting, paranoia, isolation, abduction

The first touch

🩵Gojo has been having his eyes on you even before he knew about your very special abilities. That basically means that you have this white-haired menace terrorising your daily life whenever he can. You almost have the impression that he can sniff you out among the many million people in Tokyo as he always finds you somehow. You're honestly just so fed up with him but are terribly introverted and feel too scared and awkward to explain to him clearly how you feel about his constant intrusion. You doubt that it would get through his head anyways so you silently endure the man's clingy, whiny and increasingly affectionate antics. Satoru knows no personal boundaries when it comes to you or rather he just decides to ignore it. You're just too cute~ Your unwillingness to stand up for yourself leads to ruthless abuse from his side.

🩵He has had it coming one way or another as he senses your growing frustration with his unbelievable clinginess and disrespect of your privacy. Worst is that he's at this point provoking you because he wants to see what you look like when you snap. So when your string of patience finally snaps as you feel his hands rubbing your shoulders and fawning over your current anger, you've had enough. You swing your heavy handbag at him in a moment of short and impulsive anger. Satoru doesn't move from his spot as he doesn't worry. His Infinity is activated so the handbag won't hit him. It'll easily just be seen as you missing your target, which is right now his handsome face. He sees your handbag moving closer to his face and just gives a small grin... At least until the fucking thing smashes against his face with full force, heavy with all of your stuff inside.

🩵Everyone who would know him, would probably laugh at him if they would see him in that moment. The almighty Satoru, stumbling back in shock before tripping over his own feet and landing onto the ground. That would have never happened if he would have been around anyone else. But he isn't around anyone. He's with you. Sweet, weak and lovable non-sorcerer you. Around you he never has his guard up unless he senses danger. Not because he underestimates you, although he definitely does, but because he feels like he can just be himself around you. That's why he's so thoroughly unprepared for this. For a moment he just sits on the ground in bewilderment, his face pulsing with pain from the impact it just had with your handbag. You start frantically apologizing as soon as you realize what you've done, flip a bit out when blood seeps out of his nose. You quickly rummage through your handbag as you search for something to stop the bleeding.

🩵Gojo on the other hand, who slowly starts coming back to reality after this major shock, touches his face in a daze. When he pulls his hand back, his fingertips are covered in blood, in his own blood. He looks at the red liquid like it is something he has never seen before in his life, as if it's something alien-like, before he jumps abruptly up. You flinch and shrink when he bents down to your height, brilliant blue eyes seemingly trying to look deep into your soul as he asks you quietly how you just did that. His voice is slightly strained with emotions you can't fully detect. You do see some of them swirling around in his eyes. Curiosity, shock, surprise but also something else. Something you haven't sensed in the silly and clingy man before. It unsettles you deeply. You don't even know what he just meant with his question just now and Satoru seems to realize that too as he pulls back, allowing you to breathe again.

🩵He leaves you a while after that incident and even if he tries to keep his normal facade up, you sense that something has startled him. If only you'd know. Satoru's mind is occupied with this accident the whole day. How were you able to do that? You're a non-sorcerer by all accounts and he didn't sense any cursed energy from you nor from anywhere around you. You were honestly expecting him to not show his face so soon again yet instead he rings at your apartment in the early morning hours. You're majorly confused and frightened by the fact that he seems to know where you live as you have never told him that yet Gojo pushes past you like he's been here a hundred times before. His eyes briefly fly through your current home, noting that it is quite small if you'd live with him, you could have everything you would want before he asks you the most ridiculous question you've heard all week. "Can you slap me?"

🩵You look at the man as if he has suffered from brain damage due to your handbag yesterday. How does one even respond to such a request?! Weirdest of all is that he looks at you with genuinely curious eyes. Can you slap him? Can you touch him with your own hands and everything you hold in your hands even if his Infinity is on? You hesitate a tad bit too long before he decides to provoke you a bit to anger you enough to do as he just asked you. It works as it is early morning, you've just found out that he knows where you lived and you're also still quite tired. You're in no condition to endure his teasing as he reminds you of embarrassing accidents he's had the joy of witnessing. The next thing he knows, he feels the impact of your hand against his cheek with more strength than he assumed. Maybe he underestimated your strength just a tiny, tiiiiny bit. Nevertheless though, as he rubs his stinging cheek his eyes are glued to you as a realization comes to him that changes his life. You, a non-sorcerer, somehow have the ability to seemingly nullify his Infinity... How?

🩵It must be the biggest irony of the universe. His darling is metaphorically and literally his one and only biggest weakness. A tiny part of him really has to chuckle about this but for the most part, Gojo suddenly grows by leaps and bounds more paranoid. He is the strongest in the sorcerer world and he couldn't even count on both hands how many people constantly pray for his downfall but can only do that as he is literally untouchable. With his situation he would already be under normal circumstances be overprotective and slightly paranoid that someone would instead resort to making you a target and use you against Gojo. He has to protect weak you for that reason against all the evil in this world. Yet with the knowledge that you can touch and by extension of that also harm him, a new fear inside of him grows. What if his enemies would decide to set you up against him to have you kill him? Or worse, what if you yourself would decide to rebel against him and would try to harm him?

🩵If you wouldn't have this special talent, he wouldn't be worried. Because then you simply wouldn't be able to harm him although your betrayal would still badly sting due to the lingering scars of Geto's betrayal. Yet with the added aspect that you can actually hurt him, Gojo's paranoia worsens. The image of you being his downfall, the only person he genuinely loves and trusts in this world, breaks him somehow. It isn't likely considering that he is far above you in all physical aspects and still has other abilites, not to mention that you would never sink that low, yet the fact that it is the tiniest possibility is enough to drive him a bit mad. You'd never do that, right? You love and care too much to ever think about killing him or even slightly harming him, right?

🩵You don't know where those sudden insecurities and his paranoia come from, you never imagined the Satoru you knew for a while to be so fragile underneath all his confidence and silliness. You wish that he could revert back to that side of him, even if it was possibly only a facade. Because now Satoru is downright suffocating and scares you even. You can't do anything to escape his tight grasp though and even if he doesn't hold you, you're still stuck in your new home. In his own huge mansion, installed with a security system that would never allow you to step outside unless he's with you. You will never leave his side, he won't let you. No one is allowed to find out about you and your one of a kind abilities. It is the bittersweetest irony ever. The warm touches of yours he so yearns for are the only ones who could also kill him.

[claymoresword]

I Choose Her | Chp: 13

Hermione Granger x Slytherin Fem!Reader

Summary: You are the daughter of known death eaters from one of the richest and oldest wizarding family. Are you prepared to abandon everything you know for Hermione Granger?

Pairing: Hermione x Reader

Wordcount: 3.5k

Warnings: character deaths, parental neglect, mentions of mental/physical/emotional abuse, potential self harm references

Note: an update?? who saw this coming? definitely not me! i know i disappeared for a very long time, i have no excuse i just hope you can accept my apology

i also was kind of procrastinating this chap for so long bc of the heavy themes in this, i just knew this wasn't going to be an easy one to write... (i was right) but anyway i added some fluff to hopefully balance it out so we'll see lol

anyway thanks so much for your patience, i hope you enjoy this one!

also one last thing, thanks for all the love shown on the previous chapters, sorry if i hadn't gotten around to replying to your comment yet but i do appreciate all of u !!

Taglist:@gvrsto @aweidlich @xxsekhmet @arielj @poppyflower-22 @scarleigh1989 @smut-religiously777 @cocoyeehaw @blackbirdv98 @arcturusseer @iamcapitalgbicorn8287 @lonewalker17 @karsonromanoff @httphayn @bigbadsofty07 @cherryflavoredcoke @dumpsapphic

(pics are not mine)

As you approach Malfoy Manor you find it increasingly difficult to catch your breath. 

You were foolish to assume you wouldn't eventually get caught. 

You fleetingly consider grabbing Hermione and disapparating, but Greyback's firm grip on your arm prevents you from even attempting to reach for her.

The gates of the manor come into view, and you try to pry your arm away again. A last ditch effort, but it is no use. 

The man forcefully holds you in place and you have no choice but to stand in front of the gate.

 You make eye contact with Bellatrix as she approaches from the other side, her gaze then shifts to a disfigured Harry to your left, before landing her attention back to you.

A maniacal smile flashes across her face, as if she found the display before her truly amusing, and you have to fight the urge to cower.

"Get Draco." 

════════════════════════════════════════════

You stood in the foyer in front of your parents. An involuntary thrill travels down your spine as you study their expressions. You cannot recall the last time you have seen either of them this furious. 

"So this is what you have been doing all this time?" Your mother exclaims, gesturing to Hermione and you have to avert your eyes.

Your silence only further infuriates your parents. 

You cannot help but feel a sense of embarrassment, being apprehended like a child in front of the other Death Eaters, Harry, Ron, and worst of all, Hermione.

"Have you absolutely no regard for your mother or I?" Your father finally speaks, his voice vibrating with anger.

"We have given you everything. Do you have any idea what we had to sacrifice just to raise you? Your mother and I have provided you nothing but the best." Your father raises his voice, it is sudden enough that it causes you to wince.

"This is how you repay us?" He continues.

"Do you have any idea the shame you have brought upon my name? Upon our entire family?" Your father steps closer but you keep your gaze fixed to the ground.

"I'm sorry." All you could afford to utter.

You hate how you feel in this moment, powerless and meek, only wishing for the ground to swallow you whole, so you never have to face any of the people in this room ever again.

You can feel Hermione's worried stare, but you cannot bear to look at her.

"We have warned you time and time again to end your relations with her." Your mother hisses, gesturing to your girlfriend.

You finally lift your head but your mother harshly grabs your forearm to pull you aside.

"Don't you dare look at her, y/n." She scolds, pure vitriol.

"You must think us fools. Is this all just a game to you?" Your mother taunts but you choose to remain silent.

An effort to de-escalate but it results in the opposite effect as you catch your mother fishing her wand out of her pocket.

"We have given you more than enough chances. More than you deserve." She states, pushing past you, storming directly towards Hermione.

A flicker of fear appears on your girlfriend's face. One you mirror, just as you realize what your mother intended to do.

Hermione tries to retreat, only to bump into Scabior, purposely standing behind her to cease her attempt at fleeing.

"It is time you suffer the consequences of your own actions." Your mother takes a fleeting glance at you before lifting her wand to point it at your girlfriend.

Taking large strides, you manage to put yourself in between Hermione and your mother, just before she gets the chance to utter the spell. You feel your girlfriend's firm grip on your arm as you continued to shield her with your body.

"No! Mother, please, don't." You plead, holding up your hand and she hesitates.

"I am sorry I have disappointed you. I am sorry I went against your wishes."

"But I will not– I cannot apologize for loving her." You hesitate as your voice trembles, but you speak the words anyway.

You hear a cackle from Bellatrix, grumbles and groans of disapproval coming from the Death Eaters gathered in the corner, and once again, you feel more exposed and deplorable than ever.

Your mother remains staring at you, this time with nothing but disdain.

"Love?" She scowls, almost like it disgusted her just to utter the word.

"In love with a mudblood?" Your mother's tone shifts, now incredulous and despondent.

She finally lowers her wand, only to strike you across the face with her other hand.

You hear a gasp from Hermione, but otherwise the room is silent, as you clutch your cheek in pain.

When you finally muster the courage to look at your mother her expression betrays no trace of regret.

"You are no child of mine." She utters, exasperated, and your heart shatters into a thousand pieces.

Tearing your eyes away they naturally fall on your father, standing a few paces behind.

You recognise a tenderness somewhere in his eyes, one you hadn't ever been awarded before. It's jarring and unfamiliar, it makes you want to weep.

"Step aside, y/n" Your mother says, lifting her wand again.

Perhaps it was pity, perhaps now your father was just as embarrassed as you are, or maybe, it is love that compels him to step forward, placing a gentle hand on your mother's shoulder.

"Darling, this is hardly the time or place." He attempts, but your mother doesn't move.

However, footsteps soon approach that causes all of you to shift your attention.

Draco can be seen entering the foyer with both of his parents, interrupting your altercation.

Your best friend pauses at the sight of you, evident concern etched across his face.

"Ah, Draco." Bellatrix acknowledges him and he's forced to look away from you.

The witch walks up to Harry, harshly gripping a handful of his hair to pull his head back, giving Draco a clear view of his face.

"Is it him?" Bellatrix asks expectantly, and the platinum haired boy couches in front of Harry.

"I can't be sure." Draco responds, dismissively.

His father then grips the back of his neck, harshly, and you observed as your best friend flinched under his touch.

You instinctively take a glance at your own parents. 

Your mother has since resumed her position next to your father, both of them deliberately avoiding your gaze, once again your chest constricts painfully.

Scabior is standing so close behind you and Hermione, too close, you can both feel his breath against the back of your necks.

"Look closely son." Lucius says.

"If we are the ones to deliver Potter to the Dark Lord, all will be forgiven." He adds, his voice low but it echoes through the large hall anyway.

"Now we won't be forgetting who actually caught him. I hope." Scabior states, finally stepping away from you.

"Mr Malfoy." He continues to antagonize, and it works to set the other man off.

"You dare talk to me like that in my own house?" Lucius raises his voice and Draco flinches again.

"Lucius." Narcissa finally steps forward, extending her arm to calm her husband.

Hermione remained clutching your arm, her grip only tightened the longer you stood watching the commotion before you.

Finally, none of the Death Eaters are in close proximity, so you decide it an opportunity to try and escape.

"We need to apparate." You manage to whisper to Hermione, reaching down to intertwine your fingers but your girlfriend shakes her head.

"We can't leave Harry." She responds and you sigh, defeated.

An answer you expected but it causes your anxiety to heighten anyway. You begin looking for another solution, another way to flee. 

"Now, if this isn't who we think it is and we call on him, he will kill us all. We need to be absolutely sure." Bellatrix warns.

"What's wrong with his face?" Draco finally asks with a scowl.

"Yes, what is wrong with his face?" The dark haired witch repeats.

Scabior shrugs.

"He came to us like that." He states simply.

"Something he picked up in the forest I reckon." Another snatcher chimes in.

"Ran into a stinging jinx.." Bellatrix quips.

"Was it you, dear?" She asks, pointing directly at Hermione.

You feel your heart stop as your girlfriend tenses next to you.

"Give me her wand, let's see what her last spell was." The witch orders, and the evident worry that flashes on both of your faces easily gives you away.

"Ah, I caught you." Bellatrix says pointing at the two of you, amidst a cackle.

"It appears your girlfriend is not as smart as she thinks she is." She taunts, looking directly at you, successfully earning a grimace.

You contemplate lunging at the other woman, but before you can act, she halts. 

She catches sight of the sword of Gryffindor proudly propped up, next to one of the snatcher's.

"Where did you get that from?" Bellatrix gasps.

"It was in her bag when we searched her, I reckon it's mine now." The snatcher responds with a grin.

Before any of you can comprehend it, Bellatrix sends the man flying into the wall with a single throw of a spell. She then points her wand at the other snatcher in the corner, taking him out too.

"Are you mad?" Scabior exclaims, but the wand pointed at his face in an instant, silences him immediately.

"Get out! Get out!" Bellatrix repeatedly shouts, and the band of snatchers scurry out of the hall, all fearing for their lives.

"Put the rest of them in the cellar." She exclaims, lifting Harry by the collar before grabbing Ron as well.

She shoves them hard enough that they fall by Wormtail's feet.

"I want to have a little conversation with this one." Bellatrix states. 

You feel Hermione get ripped from your side, and instinct kicks in.

"No, get your hands off her!" You exclaim, reaching out to grab her but Bellatrix swings her arm, you feel a harsh blow to the stomach that knocks the wind out of you, making you land on the ground as a result.

"Bella!" Her sister scolds, rushing to your side.

"Stop fighting, you will get yourself killed." Narcissa warns, you feel her firm hand on your shoulder as she forces you to stand next to her.

Before you can respond you feel another harsh grip on your collar attempting to drag you to the cellar with the boys.

"No, not her– I want her to watch this." Bellatrix states, gesturing for Wormtail to let you go, and he does.

All you can focus on is the way Bellatrix is handling Hermione, the sadistic smile as she does so, rough and thoughtless.

Your girlfriend looks terrified, and you feel utterly powerless.

She soon retrieves a dagger from her side, holding it up in front of Hermione's face.

"I will give you one chance to answer my question, before I start cutting." Bellatrix says.

Your head is now pounding, your abdomen still aches from the blow, your face stinging where your mother struck you.

Hermione attempts to make an escape but with one swift flick of Bellatrix's hand, she bounds your girlfriend's legs, causing her to fall onto the ground.

You watched as the witch got on top of her, pinning her down by her shoulders.

She then forcefully cuts through Hermione's sleeve with her blade, until enough of her arm was exposed.

"That sword was meant to be in my vault in Gringotts, how did you get it?" She asks, her face an inch away from Hermione's.

Your girlfriend is silent, beyond the whimper that falls out of her lips.

This seems to only urge Bellatrix to bring the tip of the dagger to Hermione's arm. The older witch begins dragging the blade down the exposed skin.

Hermione's sobs quickly morph into deafening screams and you don't feel anything beyond panic.

"It was me! I stole the sword, not her!" You raise your voice, hoping that it would be enough to take the attention of your girlfriend.

"Quiet! I am not asking you." Bellatrix retaliates, merely brushing you off like some pest.

Your eyes followed as she hovered the blade over Hermione's arm again. You see her blood trickling from her wound onto the wood underneath, and you feel sick.

"Please, I didn't take anything." Hermione pleads helplessly, and your chest aches so much you can barely breathe.

"I don't believe you." Bellatrix begins cutting again, this time she's laughing.

Deriving true pleasure from torturing Hermione, and you couldn't stand by and witness it any longer, you had to act.

Amidst your girlfriend's screams you manage to slip past Narcissa, stepping next to her son.

"Draco, give me my wand." You state firmly, as his hesitant stare meets your pleading one, he hands you your wand after a beat.

"Stop lying!" Bellatrix exclaims, you see her lower the blade down to Hermione's arm again and you don't allow yourself to think a moment longer.

You point your wand at the dark haired witch.

"Avada Kedavra!" You exclaimed, survival and wrath, your only goal was to save Hermione.

The bright green light shoots out from the tip of your wand, in an instant, the witch drops onto the ground with a large thud, motionless.

"Y/n, what did you just do–" You hear your mother exclaim but you don't acknowledge her, you refuse to.

Her shock, along with everyone else's; hangs in the air, mute but suffocating. 

Hermione is the first to come out of it, she sits up and you rush to her side.

With your arms around her you shut your eyes not half a second passes before you both disapparate, leaving your family behind.

-

You find yourself at the outskirts of Tinworth by Shell Cottage. The location you all agreed to meet at if anything went wrong. 

It was meant as a precaution, you never actually thought things could ever go this wrong.

Disowned by your parents.

Murdered another in cold blood.

Your girlfriend tortured and maimed.

"Hermione, it's alright, you're safe now." You state, carefully placing your hands on either side of the other girl's face.

Your girlfriend doesn't meet your gaze, scattered, her mind entirely elsewhere.

"Y/n, we have to go back, we have to help the boys–" She says, you stop her with a firm hand on her forearm before she can stand.

"No, Hermione! It's too dangerous. If we go back they will kill you." You say with a raised voice, unintentional, driven by your heightened emotions, but it works to get the other woman's attention.

"I can't– I can't lose you." Your voice shakes and Hermione finally looks at you.

An expression flashes across her face that tightens the knot in your stomach. 

She lets herself breathe and think, she realizes what you had done just moments prior, the significance, its implications.

"You killed her." Hermione states, more awe than contempt but you scramble to defend yourself anyway. 

Truth be told you don't know why you had reacted the way you did, you weren't even aware that you had it in you to begin with.

"I had to– sweetheart, she would have continued to hurt you if I didn't stop her." You stutter, but Hermione quickly silences you.

Her lips crash into yours, fervent, anguished, and eager. Your girlfriend's hand rests on the back of your neck, pulling even closer.

Hermione's clinging onto you; with no desire to let go of her lifeline, her love, the only reason she is still here, safe and alive.

You are forced to pull away as your lungs burn from the lack of air. 

"I will go back for them myself, promise me you'll wait for me here." You breathe out against Hermione's lips, your forehead resting against hers.

Before your girlfriend can even begin protesting you see Harry apparate in the distance. Closely followed by Ron and Luna.

The ginger haired boy is first to run to Hermione's side.

"Hermione, y/n. Are you alright?" Harry shouts, your girlfriend nods but you don't respond. Your eyes remain on the elf behind him.

You catch sight of Dobby, limping as he clutches his stomach.

"Harry Potter." The elf calls out, weak and frail.

Harry finally follows your gaze.

"Dobby." He says, sprinting to Dobby's side, and the elf collapses right into his arms.

You watched as a distressed Harry pulled something that seemed to have impaled the elf, he finally sets it on the sand next to him and your own stomach turns.

You immediately recognize the bloodied dagger. 

How can a single object cause so much damage? 

You feel your anger resurfacing, you regret not discarding the blade when you had the chance.

"Just hold on, okay?" Harry says as he tries to stop the bleeding, placing his hand over the wound.

"We'll fix you. Hermione will have something." He reassures before turning his attention towards her.

"In your bag– Hermione?" Harry pleads and your girlfriend merely clutches you tighter.

"Hermione." He repeats, desperate.

"Help me!" The man shouts, you hear your girlfriend let out a sob.

A barely audible "I'm sorry." before Hermione turns to embrace you, burying her face into the crook of your neck. 

An attempt to protect herself from the inevitable anguish; witnessing someone entirely undeserving of death, go out so painfully, abruptly.

"Such a beautiful place– to be with friends. Dobby is happy to be with his friend, Harry Potter." The elf mutters, and you are unable to stare any longer.

You make accidental eye contact with Ron, but for once there is a shared regard between the two of you. Grief, sadness, gratitude, acceptance.

The sheer helplessness Harry feels is shared amongst all of you as you watch the elf take his last breath in his arms.

You observed as Luna walked up to him, graciously shutting Dobby's eyes with her fingers.

Hermione remains in your arms, and you hold her close, having no intention of letting go.

"I want to bury him– properly. Without magic." Harry says, fighting back his sobs.

════════════════════════════════════════════

You are jolted awake once again out of a distressing dream. This time your girlfriend is not in bed next to you, you sit up abruptly in a panic.

"Hermione?" You call out, and the voice that responds almost immediately, swiftly eases your nerves.

"I'm here." Your girlfriend says, emerging through the doorway.

"I had to use the loo." She then explains, climbing back into bed. 

With the feeling of Hermione's head against your chest you can breathe again.

You spent most of the night lying awake, and when you did manage to find sleep you were merely tormented by nightmares. 

The encounter in Malfoy Manor could've gone much differently, in fact it could've ended horribly. You were so close to losing everything that mattered to you. You could only vow that you will never allow yourself to get that close again. 

Any relief you felt this morning derived from knowing your girlfriend at least managed to find some sleep herself. Clearly the events of yesterday took a toll on her, but she is resilient, as always, and you adore her for it.

"I'm sorry you had to leave your parents." Hermione says after a long silence.

"Don't be. Nothing good has ever come from me being around them." You state truthfully, threading your fingers through her hair, absentmindedly.

"You saw how they were." You add.

"I know, still, I'm sorry." Hermione repeats it anyway, lifting her head to place several kisses against your cheek, the same spot your mother had struck.

You then reach down, gently grazing her bandaged arm, soon lifting it up to place a tender kiss against it.

The look Hermione gives you in return makes your heart stop and beat faster in your chest all the same.

"You know, I fight so hard because of you." You admit, extending your arm to cup her jaw.

"I never had a reason before you." You add, your thumb stroking her cheek.

You watched as your girlfriend's eyes welled with tears, overwhelmed and consumed by adoration.

Hermione finally leans in, capturing your lips with her own. The kiss snatches the air right out of your lungs, but you don't care. You'd never wish for it to end.

She finally pulls away only slightly before resting her forehead against yours.

"I love you, y/n. So much, more than you'll ever truly know." Hermione says, and the pleasant fluttering that travels throughout your entire body translates to an easy smile on your lips.

[sometipsygnostalgic]

Bit of thought and discussion last night over what makes a competent, effective movie vs a deep or interesting movie with Star Wars as our target.

So to highlight it in the most obvious way: George Lucas's movies are complex with deep plots, but are not well-written and fun to watch. So the prequels gained this reputation for being a bit of a slog because no matter how much Lucas loved this story he crafted, the way it was presented was lacklustre.

Meanwhile Disney tries to make a "competent" and entertaining movie with every attempt. Every marvel movie... before Endgame... was very entertaining and well-directed, regardless of if there was anything worth thinking about later.

When it came to Star Wars, Disney really struggled with this.

The Force Awakens is definitely a competent movie that hits all the beats they wanted it to. It has those good Classic Star Wars feelings, weighty lightsaber combat, a core cast that you love watching interact, and an emotional centre. It does the job it's supposed to, perfectly, whereas not taking a SINGLE risk with the franchise. It desperately doesn't want to be associated with Lucas's "boring power bloaty" prequels.

Of course the film recieves criticism for this, because it's just copying A New Hope without adding any new dna to the franchise. Every critic can see what Disney was doing, making a nostalgic star wars theme park, and they say they want Disney to deliver in the next movie.

Then comes The Last Jedi, where Disney's lack of direction became incredibly obvious. Rian Johnson took the Force Awakens critique FAR TOO MUCH to heart and made The Last Jedi the complete opposite - Everything TFA did, TLJ did in the opposite way. So instead of being a hero in waiting, Luke Skywalker is disappointing to Rey, he's ran away and fallen into squalor and he immediately throws away the lightsaber that brought him to tears at the end of the first film. And instead of leaning on the new trio everyone was excited about, Johnson splits them up permanently, with no interaction at all in the movie.

The Last Jedi tries to make itself more interesting by forcing threads into places that do not fit. Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy isn't a messy dark character, he's a starry eyed optimist, but this movie takes the easiest and cheapest route possible to turn him into something he's not because the author wants a darker more questionable story and has only got this one film to make it that way. The movie also leans hard into everything Disney was trying to avoid with the first one, long boring segments of whacky hijinks.

As a result a lot of writers have respect for Johnson's attempts to diverge from Disney tradition of super safe movies, his attempts to add stuff to Star Wars and make a unique film, but it completely fails as a competent movie and it fails as a competent story because there are too many authors clearly fighting with each other.

Movie 3... I've not seen it. I do know a lot about it, and Abrams spends the whole thing once again undoing everything Johnson did and trying to return to a safe Star Wars. TOO safe. To the extent that the plot completely lacks any comprehension because it needs to warp the story so much to return to the beaten path.

Somehow, Palpatine returned!! What the fuck!!! And why was this revealed in Fortnite???

Why are they puppeting Carrie Fisher's corpse?

Rise of Skywalker is disney at its worst because they have gone from being super safe to trying to return something adventurous to the safe path, without any degree of originality or creativity. I don't think a single actual writer worked on that film. It was all just direction to make epic setpieces, the pursuit of a "competent and entertaining" film instead of the ninth part of a story.

They are also repeatedly having to do this with Marvel. They have the lost the ability to do their own stuff with Marvel and are following a variety of comic plots, because that's "safe", right? But no, the comic goes to all sorts of crazy places, which gets in the way of making a competent and cohesive film. So theyre trying to get rid of some of that complexity, enough to make the writing bad, but not enough for Marvel to become coherent because that would require actually creating new stories and not following the basic, highly profitable guidelines of Marvel comics.

[musings-of-a-rose]

Can I pls have "you made me a better person" with Santiago Garcia?

A Better Person

Pairing: Santiago Garcia x f!reader

Word Count: 650+

Rating: Mature - 18+ ONLY!

Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story. 

Notes: Santi deserved to have some soft fluff love 

**If you want to be added to the taglist, join here or let me know!

❤If you enjoy the fic, please consider giving me a warm beverage! (It is not required in any way!)

**Reader is not described

Main Masterlist

Santiago Garcia Masterlist

Santi never thought he would settle down. He definitely dated, but no one seemed right, no one made him want to stay and look for no one else, no one made him feel special, important.

Until you came along. 

It was unexpected, a random encounter out in the world rather than at a bar or on one of those dating apps. You’d both reached for the same random flavor of chip on the shelf, Santi nearly choking on air as he took you in, his stomach leaping into his throat. He made small talk, flirted a bit, and oh my God when you laughed, the entire world laughed with you. He asked you out and you seemed shocked, like no one had ever asked you out before. 

That was a year and a half ago.

Inseparable, you and Santi had moved in together after a year, a big step that Santi had never thought to take with anyone else. But now that you’re here? Everyday? He was so happy he thought his heart would burst from his chest. Getting to wake up next to you every day was his own personal heaven on earth, listening to the little sleepy sounds he’d pull from you when he ducked his head under the covers and shifted between your thighs. He didn’t see how he could get any happier.

Well…there was one way. 

It was grocery day and Santi and you were at the store, picking up the things on your list and also checking out some new items. He seemed a little extra handsy today, always wanting to be touching you, his eyes nearly never leaving you. You turn the corner and head down the next isle, pausing to reach up for the same flavor of chips that you’d reached for when you met Santi.

“We gotta have thes-”

Words die on your lips when you turn around, seeing Santi on one knee, gently taking your hand, his eyes never leaving yours. 

“Querida, before I met you, I was lost. I wasn’t the worst guy ever but I also wasn’t great. I’ve done some terrible things and I thought I was destined to just waste away, find no true love in this life. But then you came along and I was instantly drawn to you, falling in love the second you looked at me. I’m still shocked you agreed to go out with me,” He chuckles and you feel tears start to well up in your eyes. 

“Every day with you has been the best day of my life. You made me a better person, a person worthy of your love, and for that, I am forever indebted to you. And I want to spend the rest of my life, and whatever lays beyond, trying to repay you. Querida, will you marry me?”

Santi holds out a small black box, opening it to reveal the most gorgeous ring you’d ever seen, exactly your style. 

“Oh, Santi! YES! YES I would love to marry you!”

The widest smile stretches across Santi’s face as he slides the ring on your finger, standing up with a slight groan that was cut off by your lips on his, applause from the other customers fading in the background as you kissed him deeply, arms wrapping around his neck. He pulls back, putting his forehead to yours. 

“I love you, querida.”

“I love you, Santi.”

Within a few months, you became Mrs. Garcia and never go a day without being loved. 

—----

General Taglist:

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[warmerstranger]

I want request request headcanons for Ritsu and Izumi to find that their s/o is a underground singer (maybe seeing her in the underground live-house) please!

Active Flow Below

ft. Ritsu Sakuma, Izumi Sena x fem! reader

thanks and sorry for the long wait, izumi's part was the part i most struggled with, did I make him too yandere-ish... hope you enjoy either way though!

°°``Marked as and included with: fluff, angsty kind of, Ritsu feeling a little possessive mood, stalking and breaking-in implications

Ritsu Sakuma

To be honest, Ritsu would pick up on some assumptions immediately about his girlfriend keeping something from him especially if there are signs; some specific and unfamiliar string of words he wouldn't expect to come from your own mouth even when it's just a thoughtless mumble or being an added part of a ramble, a set of distinct clothes or accessories, or just your random things as if belonging to some obscure band.

The worst assumption coming to his thoughts would somehow escalate to the scenario of you cheating on him or leaving him, even though it just pains him to think about the possibility. He would have asked you about it with all the stuffs he has seen when some crucial clues about what you have been doing is picked up by his hearing from Mika and/or Mao when the latter give him a ticket to some underground live night concert which Ritsu would know about the truth if he comes there (dragged along by Mao's insistence and promise of company in the end).

Even though, he really doesn't want to go through the hassle and mingle with the crowd... He ultimately decides it's best for him to wait himself for the ultimate reveal—to another part of yourself that you've been hiding all this time.

The moment he steps in that livehouse, he already feels out of place and hates the noisy and rough atmosphere. He would be hanging around in the back, discerning through others a presence he seeks from the sidelines where he can have some space and keep to himself. He might be far away from the stage, but he can still see it, and even just witnessing your performance puts him in a trance that brings him to another realm of dimension.

- After the truth is revealed, he would make it like you owe him a lot since his energy has been sapped away just for something like this which shouldn't have been hid from the first place (you really made him worry the worst, it could be called as a stingy revenge on his part).

- You wouldn't get off scot-free from his relentless teasing for the next few days. Not even after that you can rest easy (you're the one who should have to let him rest easy on your lap or shoulder, he will be borrowing them a lot)

- He would definitely feel a twinge of jealousy with the specific group of audience you have since you're not that publicly known, it makes them more private and somehow that sour his pleasant train of thoughts whenever it cross his mind.

- Though, he's thankful you don't get exposed much to wide popularity since he doesn't want you to be getting that much spotlight. After all, you're one to be with the dark just like him, right? He would only want you all for himself for the most part he could get your attention.

- In a way, your overall theme reminds him of his certain someone (if the scope of genre is akin to punk rock, metal or anything similar), Ritsu could use it to his advantage for Rei—casually implying that even an underground singer he's a loyal fan of is thousand times better than his bothersome older brother in general, just to jab it where it hurts him the most or pushing him to get all jealous.

- You aren't that much of an exception for that kind of treatment, still. He makes it an inside joke or references in conversations if there's someone else with you two and especially if you would need to keep it a secret from the others. Oh, he would enjoy himself a lot when that could get a reaction out of you.

- If it isn't obvious enough after you have tried to hide it from him, the truth is Ritsu would feel mostly hurt inside for that fact. Even though you should've known about how much he opens up and gets comfortable with you by now to let him be there for you. Like he cares if you're an underground singer or not, you're stuck with him he would stick with you whatever the circumstances.

Izumi Sena

Since this man has already juggle the schedules of his idol work and modeling jobs, he would focus more about the fact that sometimes you seem tired out of nowhere and even staying up late with reasons of doing important projects. He gets more overbearing, would force scold you to take care of yourself more, sleep early more often or you'll have to tell him what you've been doing like he's probably thinking you're up to some fishy things going on with an illegal group or something. Really insufferable for him to know there's a hidden thing about you and it bugs him so much that he's kept up at some nights wondering.

You really thought you're so sneaky and he would just brush it off, huh? Well, that's where your mistake lays. With his persistence of watching you more closely that he might or might not put a voice recorder taped in your room from an unknown spot. After having gathered enough intel, he would finally follow you out to some place he has an inkling of where the place is.

Either from a backstage or a place where he can see you up close, he's cheering for you in a lovestruck gaze complete with a phone discreetly recording and taking pictures once you arrive on the stage. You simply are breathtaking, leaving him almost tearing up, it's like he fell in love all over again with the same already charming girl who stole his heart.

Your attention would be on him no matter what that you fumble on your lyrics and trying not mind him with your whole might (fail) while keeping up a professional performance—all at once.

- Izumi is totally having a field day out of it. He would soon nitpick on parts of your performance you need to improve in the first chance he could get. You've still got a long way from the 'competency test and assessment' he gave if you could still get distracted by even his presence, after all.

- At the same time, he would express what he thought in a cool mocking confident attitude about how you color him suprised that your passion can be felt through your hard effort as if he didn't just look like a die-hard fan.

- He doesn't even care anymore about how you were hiding it from him, since he was able to welcome himself very easily into this another part of your life.

- The revelation would give him an ego boost and he's even prouder now to have you as his s/o (he already has a whole album and collection about you anyway). You proved yourself worth of his support, it goes without saying, he would give you advice with valid points that still consider your ideas or feedbacks of course.

- He's quite strict in making sure you don't overwork yourself. Like if you look tired or anything, do it in a place he couldn't see it so he wouldn't be bothered and minding your business (which would be quite impossible because he monitors you closely). Though, it's a living contradiction when he also doesn't let you to slack off too much.

- Not even your audience or longtime fans are safe from his watchful eyes, they would have to pass his selective evaluation. Still, he wouldn't stop your rise of popularity or anything.

- Overall, Izumi would only check how things are progressing with your singing career and butt in every so often when it goes out of track. Just let him have the right to keep your life in check, it's that simple.

[elendsessor]

nocturne is definitely known for having weak characters which is honestly true. given what the game is going for (with the best way i’ve seen it described being a modern parable) it really had to focus hard on the artistic aspects as opposed to character development. that being said, something i’ve come to appreciate is how it depicts relationships via music and visuals, and i think it’s not given enough credit.

most of the cutscenes has pov shots particularly with the demifiend since he’s who you play as, and i think that adds a lot of context to what’s being shown.

chiaki especially is the best example and i really want to talk about it.

her theme is really soft and nostalgic, and her infamous jean dress is a lot more stand out than the large amount of monochrome fits the cast has. in some ways, that blue can represent sophistication and comfort, and maybe a tiny bit of melancholy.

when she talks about her reason, the models are all pink. that can be chocked up to her being a girl and pink being “girly” but this isn’t entirely the case. first, did you know pink was originally the color associated with men? there seems to be some debate as to why the colors changed around the 1900s, but for the longest time, pink being a symbol of masculinity came from the fact that it was deemed a stronger color while blue is weaker and fragile (here’s a good article breaking it down btw it’s an interesting read). as such, and given her reason is ultimately might makes right, you can definitely see this choice being to show power. you can even go further by saying her outfit is a red herring, making her seem delicate when in reality she’s a bit of a mean girl, to put it lightly. if you want to look at it in a more recent color association way, this is where the pov stuff shines. pink is seen as an innocent or romantic color, further adding to that not everything is as it seems label. the demifiend sees her as innocent, or someone he loves. the latter might also be possible in general since, though it can be deemed non canonical, he does have a crush on her in the drama cd. the blue could be representing the more masculine depiction it has now but also stands out in its own way. the reason of yosuga is a lot like the stereotypical chaos depiction mainline smt became a bit infamous for, but it’s interesting that no chaos route has a female representative. the closest you can argue is nuwa in 5, but the destroy the throne stuff comes from her side chick that isn’t a chick (which is the closest ending to any typical chaos route), and she actually pushes for the worst ending- i mean the true neutral ending. every chaos rep is a man, and the neutral alignment tends to be where the leading lady resides in.

what interests me the most is her ring. it’s best shown in the concept art that this was something that must’ve been important to the symbolism if it never got left out.

roses have many different meanings based on color and general appearance. the saying “every rose has its thorns” rings true for chiaki, but red roses in particular are associated with love and passion. it could be a gift or could be to represent her passionate nature when it came to expressing her reason. not entirely sure, but it’s interesting.

something i also noticed is that her outfit slightly changed once she goes genocide mode. it’s a bit more purple, which can represent royalty and luxury, but the juxtaposition offered by the rose ring which she just so happens to hold onto could have this loop back around to rose symbolism. lavender roses symbolize mystical love and enchantment.

baal avatar is also interesting in her own right, as white is sparingly used.

takao is shown wearing white throughout the entire game which, while it can represent purity, seems to better represent one of its other meanings—vulnerability. she’s not at all innocent, being the one who knowingly helped start the conception and admits to hating the old world to a degree, and she’s the only human in the game that never truly gains power. her sponsor can’t save her, she can’t fight, hikawa always ends up harming her… she’s pretty much the damsel in distress who can’t ever truly be saved. old man luci wears white, though this may be to juxtapose his former status as an angel before being cast out of heaven or the fact that he thinks waging war against god can lead to a better universe, thus seeing his intentions as “pure.”

baal isn’t like this. chiaki gets her after murdering nearly every manikin, yes, but she’s strangely beautiful. all the other demonic sponsors are pretty grotesque. noah is a mistake and ahriman is a giant tentacle monster that’s literally an evil spirit. in fact, the baal in nocturne isn’t like how we usually see them in the series, as not only is he usually a man but is often power hungry. you can say this is the same for baal avatar, however, not only is baal an important god responsible for many important parts of nature and is highly respected, but the “avatar” label attached has special meaning in the series, with the race usually meaning “holy beast,” being aligned with law, and most importantly being the physical avatar of a god. unlike other smt games, the angels actually are for the reason of yosuga, and given how one of yosuga’s selling points is flushing out “impurities” and “wasted space,” it makes sense. that’s what the angels are trying to do in most of the games, that’s what law normally is, and chiaki vouches for it heavily.

to her, this baal is what fits best. she has become a beautiful, pure being.

and how you encounter her in the tower of kagutsuchi is the most unique. she’s not tucked away in some cramped room in a massive form—baal’s still pretty big but is more like a much taller person than a huge ol’ god—she’s out in the open. she doesn’t fully antagonize you especially not when you side with her reason. she’s also the one demonic sponsor you always fight. become an agent of yosuga? you fight her for dominance. go for the ending where kagutsuchi kicks you out? this is the final boss. she doesn’t get the same rocking boss theme all the others have—hers starts with the reason battle theme. her encounter is not normal. in some ways, it’s framed as tragic. some doomed fate where she’ll always end up dying by the demifiend’s hands.

she’s also the “nicest” out of all of hitoshura’s friends. takao is responsible for the end of the world, isamu’s a narcissistic dick, and yet when she first sees you and even when you disagree with her, she’s respectful. relieved you’re at least alive.

and if we’re going for the pov angle, she’s still seen in bright, serene places. she’s meant to be beautiful despite all the killing and the messed up philosophy talk.

she was his friend. she did care for him. despite it all, he thought of her to be pure and beautiful. despite how much he cared, he was the one to kill her, and i think that’s wonderfully depicted.

[thespiral]

OKAY I found my notebook so I didn’t have to put it in a napkin but. BUT

CHAINSAW MAN AU FRESNO BABYYYY I got it down finally after mulling it over my head for 50000 years and inspired from @sugar-grigri’s incredible write up on how a love devil would look like/function which was genius and absolutely helped with doing the connections that were missing and also taking elements from @krokaxe’s genesis Fresno design that still lives in my head rent free it’s so good

it's due a lot of retooling to make it feel Complete and not just like sketchy wip but it's perfect for now and maybe ill see to pulling it together

they’re the love. Fiend? Host? Hybrid? Something like that. They have a lot going on and I’m genuinely just going to throw up like 50000 lines about their design that is (more or less) wip since I still have to design the butterfly wing design since I didn’t have any proper ideas atm and see if I cram anymore heart motifs in there BUT. It’s here and I am sooo excited to ramble about it. Under the cut for everyone’s sake :3 also chainsaw man spoilers. smile

SO. i definitely did want to make fresno the love devil because they are ofc afraid of love and attachment and i love beating them with the irony stick so love devil/love fiend it was, msotly because they have extremely complicated feelings towards love and attachment because they both crave it and are scared of it, and with me reading on i figured going with a fiend/host situation would be fun. in the storyline in my head the love devil, a primal fear either pulls a pochita and escapes hell or lets itself be cut down to reincarnate into the world, maybe seeking this idea of like. experiencing how Humans Do and it's the idea of like, dying to be humanized but also struggling with it

which is very funny because fresno is the worst person they could have encountered for that, in my head its maybe like a contract maybe like a fiend takeover, but it's a little more arai/violence than asa/yoru, something something union/fusion/togetherness but i'm getting ahead of myself. fresno is deeply afraid and skittish of love and affection and also bugs. because ever since tma i want to torture them a little with the corruption just 4 laffs. so maybe the contract goes awry or it merges them

so a lot of the design is pulling from genesis which is kind of a personal bad end for fresno since it's a lot like. marriage. union. but kind of like a bitter idolization of like this like "wife"/virgin image that they come to hate, so the crown/chain halo. the chain halo is kind of pulling a motif from other pieces that i just kinda imagined since they are in the legion but uhhh love & control. iykyk. i figured that it was a good base to start with though i was split with going with the idea of maybe more classical devil since demons/devils are one of their Themes but then i thought nah lets beat them with the irony stick more. so they're angelic looking BUT with a broken halo completed with a chain. union. marriage. fusion. a middle ground between them

the butterfly motif really tied it all together though that FUCKS. mostly because fujimoto's fiend designs are simplistic but in a way that's kinda hard to nail down and i think tying the design to expressions is so cool and it added like entire layers of complexity to it all because like, butterflies in your stomach, but also butterflies also drink blood, love is blind and i didn't illustrate it but they're supposed to have the eye camo some butterflies have (its also why the butterfly wings are backwards) and also, heart motifs and their own personal gripes because fresno HATES being seen as weak and butterflies are very fragile.

maybe behind the wings they also have tears as a genesis element as well. hmm much to think about. i also wondered if they'd look too silly but i mean, yoru.

so maybe they can look a little silly. or maybe make the eyes ringed like the horsemen because. well. gay shit. they don't have eyes for anyone else.

the veil connecting their crown is also like vaguely "insect wing" looking but also heart looking. also i liked the idea of either some live butterflies or butterfly decorations on them so they didn't look so plain. their hair is also like, Iconic so i wanted to push that so the curls are vaguely heart looking, it's a little overshadowed by the butterfly sketch lines but there's at least a few i tried to put in.

in my head they do have the powers of like, blindness, frenzy, control (lol), but another i imagine would be the idea to give and take love, like imagine. for example. if you were a person that hadn't experienced love in a meaningful way and then you just like Feel it. all of it. love and warmth and togetherness in the blindest, purest, most unconditional way beamed directly into your head and then. it's gone. forever. unless...

the idea of fixation and people being fixated on them is also one of their Themes and like, in the vaf suspended in gaffa/mama animatic that exists only in my head the idea of like control devil (not the canon ones. in this one it's a whole other guy) being attracted to love first for power (since love and control DO go together in some scenarios) but also falling victim to their power as well is funny and i like that, and idea of losing yourself to another, where does one begin and the other end is like. well. incredibly up my alley. also just like getting the taste of something you've never experienced yourself but also twisted in its own way (in my head, there's the lyric in suspended in gaffa of "not till i'm ready for you" which is the singer addressing this like, higher power of something they want to have/see (in the song it's implied to be a glimpse of god) and they would have to work for their reward, but taking that and changing it into the speaker being the higher power addressing the singer feels like the type of shakeup that would be going thru a control's lens maybe. also using the idea of a transforming devil maybe a secondary power of transformation (haha, butterflies also represent that/reincarnation) as a loved one OR. the Potential of them as a loved one. fresno has the terrible luck of attracting people who love/value them for what they Can be or what they Could have been, and having the butterfly maybe swap designs or transform or be blank could be something like that. wanting someone to see behind the curtain, not shy away from who they Really Are Right Now. consider that another stick

there's also the aspect of union/fusion/togetherness tha i just. love. so i had to do it. something about tying together two beings, till death do us part, maybe the creation of a whole new thing since i'm insane and would like to tie the vaflings into it because of course i would

i think there would be a whole struggle of being afraid of what you represent/embody and acceptance and a lot of other things.

this turned out to be like a massive rambling thing SORRYYYYY i like talking about this a lot if you've read this far thank you and you havent thank you regardless. i'm soooo glad and excited to have a proper design to put in the grinder now

[mwolf0epsilon]

Do you think the SW Sequels Era did anything right? I've seen a lot of backlash in regards to what they did wrong, but I'm genuinely curious to see what some people think were positives ideas to come out of the whole ordeal. (Luke's characterization, Reylo canonicity completely sidelining Finn and Poe, and Disney/Execs overall throwing their POC cast to the wolves when they weren't happy with conditions were decisions that should have never been made in my own opinion btw)

This is one of those topics that might stir up a wasp's nest depending on who you ask, but honestly the Sequels Era as a whole wouldn't be so bad if the executive decisions behind them weren't such a disrespectful trash fire.

But yeah Anon, I getcha. We've all seen people's (rightfully) negative opinions of the Sequels Era and how much squandered potential the trilogy turned out to be. That said I do think there are some positives. Mostly in the form of ideas that DO still have potential so long as they're approached with care and consideration.

With that said, what I think they did right:

The Force Awakens - It's just a straight up good movie that opened the door to a lot of possibilities. Good OST, good cast, interesting alien and creature designs, combined some pretty dark elements that could very easily be explored more deeply by anyone who's interested in sparking a debate about willing conscription vs forced indoctrination and how to tell the two apart, etc. I still consider it a part of mine and @lost-on-kamino 's Forceful Intervention AU Verse because honestly it's a movie that paid excellent homage to both the original and prequels trilogies.

Star Wars Resistance - A lot of people consider it a subpar show, which honestly I don't see. It has so many interesting themes, from privileged kids that want to actually do good instead of sitting pretty while the world burns around them, the dangers of targeted propaganda and how it's specifically used on youths that are dealing with trauma left behind by war, trying to make your way in a galaxy that isn't always friendly but that can offer you community if you know where to look, and more. The cast is fun, the style isn't the worst I've seen in terms of animation, and overall I feel like it's a breath of fresh air to focus on characters that aren't inherently connected to the Force.

Kix Lives - There is absolutely so much potential behind the reveal that Kix was not only frozen in stasis by Dooku, but also found 50 years in the future after everyone he knew and held dear to his heart have been dead and gone for a long while now. The amount of survivor's guilt and trauma would be immeasurable, if not torturous, and I feel like the writers at least owe it to Kix to help him find some legacy his brothers might have left behind. Be it artifacts or even entire lineages they might have been able to start. If not that, then at least show us some of his adventures with the crew of the Meson Martinet.

Barghests - They added a new kind of space doggo that I absolutely love the design of, and want to see in action so badly. Just look at these absolute creatures of all time:

Delightful beasts! Friend shaped! Worthy of as much esteem as the humble Massiff, the zesty Charhound or the beefy Corellian Hound!

And that's about it on my list of things that the Sequels Era did right. If only the rest wasn't an absolute mess... We could have definitely had something really good to work with.

Ah well... Nothing like rolling up the proverbial sleeves and getting to work exploring all the wasted potential yourselves!

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 The Most Famous Girl in the World Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD Are you a true crime fan? OR What conspiracy interests you the most? ❓ 🦇 It's been two years since Rose—a first-generation Middle Eastern American, functional trainwreck, and reporter for online journal The Shred—wrote the investigative article that exposed Poppy as a socialite grifter. Normally, one of her articles going viral would be cause for celebration, but the highly publicized trial that followed turned Poppy into the internet's favorite celebrity. And Rose has been reeling from the aftermath ever since. Although Poppy served her time for defrauding some of the richest, most powerful men in the world, Rose knows this is only the tip of the iceberg for Poppy's crimes. She just can't prove it yet…At least not without the help of a devilishly handsome FBI agent gone rogue.

💜 The Most Famous Girl in the World is loudly and proudly satire. The novel is entirely self-aware, which is quite a feat to write while straddling the line where the fourth wall used to stand. There are so many interesting, complex themes explored in this book that it will no doubt become an interesting read for book club circles. For example, why does society hyper-fixate on certain people? Why do we practically worship actors and musicians? There's a moment during Poppy's confession that's quite interesting. Rose's article paints Poppy as callous, cruel, deceptive--a villain--and Poppy is glad for it. She says society puts too much emphasis on being perfect, that people prefer 'bad' people because she's a mirror, reflecting the worst versions of themselves. "If I can get away with murder and still be beloved, there's hope for them yet." Social media glamorizes people. We see a pocket of their world, perfectly cropped, and see roses instead of the thorns beyond the frame. The Most Famous Girl in the World is a fun, exhilarating ride, but its exploration of fame, mass hysteria, identity, and conspiracy can't be ignored.

💜 I love that Rose is a messy protagonist. As a Middle Eastern American, I've been shoved into boxes and plastered with labels. She recognizes she's hit rock bottom and relies on self-deprecating humor to survive it. Is she a little exhausting at times? Yes, absolutely. Does that make her all the more real as a protagonist? Definitely. However, I do wish we'd seen more depth to her character beyond the mess. No person is one thing. We focus on Rose's substance abuse and obsession with Poppy, her pessimism and disdain for the world around her, but none of the positives that make her equally human.

💙 I have a love-hate relationship with the story's satire, which leaves it riddled with purposeful cliches. The campy-ness ("I've always had villain monologues in fiction. They feel too convenient. Unrealistic.") feels like the fourth wall is constantly getting broken down and resurrected again. And Poppy's confession is exactly that: over the top and unrealistic. All of the pieces are so obvious (Rose getting tipped off twice would mean it was someone at the publication [ie, Cat] or someone close to her [ie, Antanova]). It's possible to write this as a satire without it being so predictable at every turn. The whole "pranks" thing (aka "lies") made the characters seem juvenile, rather than adding levity to their world.

💙 As a Middle Eastern American journalist, I wanted to connect to Rose so much more than I did. The self-reflection about being a child of immigrants could have built Rose's character, made her question her sense of belonging (reflecting the ease in which Poppy assimilates into the world of one-percenters). Instead, it's randomly inserted into the story, added in as an afterthought. There's a brief mention of Rose's articles about her upbringing--feeling like an outsider, an observer straddling the line between two words. Giving us snippets between chapters from those articles would have humanized Rose more. Instead, we dive RIGHT into the drunk, drugged-up, self-destructive version of Rose, which makes her unlikeable and unreliable as a narrator. Rose and Poppy share that mentality of nonbelonging--it should have been a focal theme for the story all along.

🦇 Recommended for fans of true crime and satire.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 💋 Satire/Witty 💋 Anna Delvey/Inventing Anna Vibes 💋 Journalist/FBI Agent 💋 Drug & Alcohol Use 💋 Child of Immigrants/Inherited Trauma 💋 Murder & Conspiracies 💋 Smut

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #TheMostFamousGirlintheWorld

💬 Quotes ❝ Reality really can write itself better than any great American novel. ❞ ❝ That article I’d written about Poppy set me on fire. I was forged but also burned in the process. ❞ ❝ It was strange and disorienting growing up with a foot in each world. My sourdough-skinned peers could tell I wasn’t actually a blue-blooded American. My skin was brown, and my arms were hairy, and my parents talked funny when they came to pick me up in their Kia Rio. The other Iranian kids didn’t quite recognize me as their own, either. I was too westernized to understand their jokes, to fully feel the weight of their dysphoria. Since I couldn’t be an active participant in either world, I grew into a silent observer. And I began to write everything down. ❞ ❝ I keep them at arm’s length, never letting them get to know the real me. And in turn, they embrace the fake me. ❞

[lemonhemlock]

feel free to ignore if you've already answered a question on this, but something i do think worth pointing out in response to the "alicent silenced dyana" from team black (not saying its only them who say this, just that I've largely seen it from them) is that i don't remember the scene showing that dyana actually wanted to go public. the scene showed that she clearly didn't believe alicent would believe her in private, so using that logic- why would she be eager to accuse aegon publically? and if that's the case - then no, alicent actually would have been in the wrong for then trying to push dyana to speak out. and for what? fire and blood shows how there were rumors about alicent having an affair with viserys while aemma was alive or that she slept with daemon instead of safeguarding her virtue for marriage. alicent is obviously of a very different social status and her family is renowned for its connection to the faith so I have to ask why is the fandom dense enough to think they would be any kinder to dyana?

Hello & sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I have a post on Alicent & Dyana here if you're interested. Other than that, I agree that Dyanna didn't really seem to even want to go public, she was just mortified and terrified no one would even believe her. Speaking out would not have solved any of Dyanna's issues as literally no one would care. Not that they would remain unfeeling, but no one would have the power and resources to go against Aegon. The only person who could possibly punish him is Viserys and he would, at most, scold him and give him a speech about how disappointed he is.

Worst case scenario, no one believes her and she's slut shamed. Best case scenario, they do, but would it really tarnish Aegon's reputation in any way at this point? The man spends his free time in brothels in the show.

To be fair, we should recognise that Alicent is 100% invested in this situation being hushed, her reasons being twofold. First is that she's obviously Aegon's mother and asking her to be his judge, jury and executioner is a tall order, no matter how horrible the act. Certainly, this is a much more complex philosophical discussion on the nature of morality, but holding the person's mother to the same ethical stringency & expecting her to enforce a ruinous punishment is never going to be a straightforward exercise. This is a theme they clearly chose for Alicent, as Olivia expanded on in interviews, as in "my son is a terrible person, but I still love him and will do anything and everything for him, no matter what". Secondly, this is goes beyond Aegon for Alicent. Her entire family is at risk if they can't crown Aegon.

So, in that sense, yes, you could say that Alicent plays a part in ~silencing Dyanna - the suggestion that going public would be futile is definitely pointed. BUT it's not so simple as reducing Alicent's motivations to upholding the patriarchy and peddling abuse and marking her out as this evil, awful person. How many mothers in her position wouldn't have done the same lol. How many fans hating her for this wouldn't have done the same had they been in her position? It's a difficult and uncomfortable question to ponder, but her handling of the entire situation is very human. This specific narrative addition basically throws Aegon under the bus and sacrifices his character in favour of adding layers to Alicent. I don't think it's a fair trade-off, but it is what it is.

[goji-pilled]

spoilers for the first main boss of shadow of the erdtree 👍

i dont think i necessarily would have to tag this as spoilers considering we have seen it before in trailers and its not a secret it exists but eh better safe than sorry for now i suppose

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so that marks the first remembrance boss of the dlc as beaten in ng+2, from scratch (this is the first run of the dlc on this character), and this time i did it completely solo without any summons.

and whew my opinion definitely has changed a lot compared to the first time i fought it.

during the first run i absolutely hated this thing. genuinely one of my least favourite bosses and i have no doubt that i will still despise fighting this guy's death blight cousin ugh. this time however? i actually?? enjoyed the fight?? for the most part anyway.

i dont know what it is because my scadutree level is 4 as of in this clip which isn't any more than it was in the first run + this guy should do more damage and have more health now too but it somehow?? didnt feel like it??? idk if the dragonslayer katana is just broken like that or if they tweaked something during the patches but boy it felt so much better this tims.

which, again, is crazy considering im doing this in ng+2 from scratch.

however, i still have my share of criticism.

for one there are times where the effects from his bajillion phases put a noticable dent into my fram rate which absolutely sucks. and while im at the effects: there were also just times they either cluttered the screen and it was difficult to see anything, or where stuff like the tornado straight up just blocks the entire view of the dancing lion.

there's also the aoe stuff in the arena during the lighting phase which i find to be extremely annoying and feels like it was added just for the sake of making it more difficult. all it does is contribute to the points above made about the effects.

its not nearly as bad as it was with that atrocious final boss though LMFAO

also, arguably the worst part: although the lion's moveset is extremely cool and does the dancing part justice, with the way it zooms around there are times the camera just fucking goes all over the place making it hard to see and follow what is happening which cost me multiple deaths.

overall though still actually a very cool experience and a great boss though, not to mention that the theme is an absolutely fantastic banger; 7/10 👍

[richincolor]

Group Discussion: The Shadow Sister

Lily Meade’s debut novel was highly anticipated novel about sisters, missing girls, and some sort of curse. The perfect summer read and a perfect discussion book for us! 

Publisher’s Summary: Sutton going missing is the worst thing to happen to Casey, to their family. She’s trying to help find her sister, but Casey is furious. And she can’t tell anyone about their argument before Sutton disappeared. Everyone paints a picture of Sutton’s perfection: the popular cheerleader with an entourage of friends, a doting boyfriend, and a limitless future. But Sutton manipulated everyone around her, even stole an heirloom bracelet from Casey. People don’t look for missing Black girls--or half-Black girls--without believing there is an angel to be saved.

When Sutton reappears, Casey knows she should be relieved. Except Sutton isn’t the same. She remembers nothing about while she was gone—or anything from her old life, including how she made Casey miserable. There’s something unsettling about the way she wants to spend time with Casey, the way she hums and watches her goldfish swim for hours.

What happened to Sutton? The more Casey starts uncovering her sister’s secrets, the more questions she has. Did she really know her sister? Why is no one talking about the other girls who have gone missing in their area? And what will it take to uncover the truth?

 Warning! Spoilers ahead!

What did you think of the book overall? 

K. Imani: I’m really not trying to spoil anything but when I reached the end of the novel I was confused because it just…ended. I was like “where is the rest of it?” I was thrown because I was really enjoying the novel, the relationships between Casey and Sutton, the mystery, etc and wasn’t ready to leave their world. I felt that there were so many layers to this story, so much more that could be explored, that this could have been a very powerful novel. 

Crystal: I too was left shaking my head a bit at the end. It resolved all of a sudden, but we didn’t get to see a lot of the relationship development, healing, or growth that I was hoping for after the trauma. There was a lot more we could have seen and it left me wondering if it was meant to have a sequel. Overall though, I enjoyed it and really appreciated the relationships. 

Audrey: I liked it quite a bit! It’s rather difficult to talk about the ending without giving major spoilers, so what I’ll say is that I calibrated my genre expectations away from the true crime/mystery end of the genre spectrum fairly early on in the novel. (In other words, I started suspecting we’d have an open, ambiguous, or even downer ending.) With that framework in mind, I feel like the ending worked for the genres in play, and while I might have enjoyed a longer denouement, it wasn’t necessary. THE SHADOW SISTER was the kind of book that needed to end on a striking set piece after all the previous build up, and I think it was a solid way to finish. 

Jessica: Not to echo everyone, but I totally feel that and agree with you all! The story was so compelling that it definitely left me wanting more at the end. At the same time, I can completely see what Audrey is saying about calibrating genre expectations and how the build-up led necessarily to that particular ending. It certainly made me excited to read more from Meade! 

I know we all have sisters and the overarching theme of this novel was Casey’s and Sutton’s relationship. In what way or ways did the portrayal of their relationship sit with you?

K. Imani: My sister and I are close in age much like Casey and Sutton and it reminded me of our teenage years where we did most of our fighting. As friendships became more important we drifted a bit and that was the source of our tension and I saw much of that reflected in Casey and Sutton’s relationship. I feel it was further added by the way their mother showed her preference for Sutton because she was lighter than Casey (but that is a whole other conversation). For me though, despite their antagonizing relationship, there was still love there. Casey was very gentle with her strange sister and worried about her recovery. I like that Meade included some chapters from Sutton’s POV because it gave us a more complete version of their relationship and showed that there was a chance that if they just communicated better they could become close again. 

Crystal: Family relationships can be incredibly complex in spite of sharing genes, surroundings, events, and so much. It has always boggled my mind a bit how even in the same home, my sister and I have such different world views and ways of interacting with others. With Casey and Sutton we see this play out. Sometimes it takes distance to see someone more clearly. Here they have had a trauma, but also some space and time to give them some perspective. Casey definitely believes that she knows Sutton, but it is fascinating to watch Casey begin to understand her sister in a different way. I appreciated this, but especially at the end I wished for a little more from Sutton’s perspective.

Audrey: One of the things that struck me was how quickly and angrily I was on Casey’s side at the start of the novel—and then how that anger slowly drained away as we got more Sutton POV chapters and went further back into the past to see what was happening on the other side of their sisterly relationship and how it had changed. It was—eerie, unnerving, how Sutton returned basically a stranger, and how much Casey didn’t know how to deal with that. Watching their new relationship form in the shadow of their previous animosity was really interesting to me.

Jessica: Sutton’s POV chapters were so important! It was honestly incredible to feel my own perception of the situation shift as I kept reading and the story unfolded. I’m quite close with my sister and we haven’t ever had an antagonistic relationship, so this was actually quite a change of pace for me. But the complex ties of family certainly resonated with me – and agree – there was love there. 

Casey is sometimes very unlikeable and is an unreliable narrator. How did her version of events between her and Sutton affect your reading?

K. Imani: Having Casey be both at times unlikeable and also unreliable is what drew me to her. Her feelings towards her sister greatly clouded her reaction to when her sister returned and why she was so suspicious in the first place. Her parents and others didn’t see it, but this version of Sutton that Casey had in her head is what drove the story forward. The conflict that Casey carried by being both moved and repulsed by her sister really showed the complexities of their relationship and ultimately led to the truth being revealed.  

Crystal: Perhaps this speaks to the often rocky childhood relationship I had with my younger sister, but I found Casey to be believable and related with her quite a bit. My sister and I were very antagonistic in our younger years and only as adults began to see each other without so much blocking our vision of each other. I was surprised to see the word unlikeable in the question so maybe I connected to her a little too much. 

Audrey: With Casey as the narrator, it was really easy to be on her side because she had such a flat view of Sutton at the start. On a meta level, I kept circling back to the idea that Casey only started to question her own perception of her sister once Sutton was—well, very obviously not herself anymore from everyone’s POV, including hers. Her own uncertainty about what she knew about Sutton was complicated by the fact that she had seen other sides to Sutton that no one else had or would admit to (the fighting, the cruelty). And even though I loved the Sutton POV chapters for how they revealed things, I’m not sure that Sutton was any more of a reliable narrator than Casey when it came to their relationship. I really liked that ambiguity and uncertainty in the story—it drove a lot of tension and suspenseful moments.

Jessica: I loved the nuance and complexity layered into the characterization of the sisters! I have a soft spot for characters who are unreliable narrators and imperfect people (aren’t we all?). It was so fascinating to see how Casey and Sutton evolved throughout the story. And I love drilling in on the whole idea of, well, the idea of someone. That the perception of who someone is that we build up in our head may not be accurate. So relevant and haunting!

The theme of family is strong in this novel, especially with Casey’s father being a historian and researching their family’s history. What part of Casey’s family story stuck with you the most?

K. Imani: I absolutely loved how Casey’s grandmother, Ma Remy, went about getting her family artifacts from the museum. I was so angry for her that the museum initially denied access to her own family documents that she had to go to extremes to getting it back. The way she snuck in to the reenactment  and no one noticed…I laughed. Typical of people who say they mean well, but are just as racist. I thought her plan was genius and the fact that Casey’s father was embarrassed by it unnerved me. I got a sense of the force of the woman that Casey’s grandmother was from that one story alone and loved her for it. 

Crystal: That sense of history and being connected through the years stuck with me. And yes, I loved Ma Remy and how she reclaimed their property.  Also, she was so great at managing to make both Sutton and Casey feel special. They both had a strong bond with her that lasted beyond life. Her deep love for family and connection is passed down through the generations. It was also a hoot to see that her diary included a bit about her love life. 

Jessica: I loved Casey’s grandmother! She really made such an impactful impression from that one story. Not to jump on board with you all, but she really stuck with me. Co-sign! 

Audrey: Agreed, with all of you, plus I liked how the family history theme connected to the climax of the story and made that particular ending possible. Being able to learn about and claim your family history had power, and it was a delight to watch how that played out. It also gave hope to the idea that Casey and Sutton could reconcile someday, which was important to me as a reader.

Casey and Sutton’s mom was adamant about creating a perfect vision of Sutton so the police and the community would look for her because she is biracial. The story also contrasts this with mentioning the other two missing Black Girls. 

K. Imani: I’m so glad this theme was prevalent in the story. Initially I was irritated that Casey and Sutton’s mom felt like they had to pretend Sutton was the perfect child, but I appreciated that the story focused on this theme because when Black girls go missing, it seems that society will only help out those whom they deem “perfect”. Showing the traumatic toll this takes on a family and highlighting how police treat missing Black girls really showed the injustice in our society. 

Crystal: This was an important point that I too am glad was in the story. It shouldn’t be an angle that families need to focus on when they are trying to find their loved one, but that’s still where we are and the author acknowledges it openly. 

Jessica: So glad you bring this up. Seeing the pain and the injustice in the book, and what Casey and Sutton’s mom felt like she had to do, really hit home. And as Crystal points out, this has been an ongoing issue in current events – and of course, past events. It’s so important that there are books like The Shadow Sister to highlight this terrible discrepancy to readers who might not be aware of it, and to acknowledge readers who are. 

Audrey: Honestly, that plot line hurt, but I’m glad it was tackled upfront. The scene where Casey tried to look up information online about the other missing girls was heartbreaking, especially how she had to keep refining her search terms and still found barely anything. I couldn’t help but think at the end that so many other Black girls could have gone missing if Sutton hadn’t been taken when she did—she was lucky her family was in such a position that they could get that media coverage. But even after the media coverage for Sutton, that didn’t change the narrative for any of the other missing girls, which was awful to see.

Stories about sibling relationships (found siblings count!) are major themes in many YA novels. What are some of your favorite books and what book about siblings are you looking forward to?

 K. Imani: I just finished reading My Week with Him by Joya Goffney which has a sweet sibling relationship (look for my review next week!). Brandy Colbert also writes siblings really well and I’m so looking forward to reading her newest book, The Blackwoods, which comes out in October. 

Crystal: Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley, So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow and Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi are some of the more recent books I’ve read that feature sister relationships. I think the sibling book I’m most looking forward to is Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim. 

Jessica: Everyone Wants to Know by Kelly Loy Gilbert is a book centered around a family that I read recently and loved! I need to read My Week with Him and Her Radiant Curse – so those are on my TBR. 

Audrey: Good question! I loved the sisters in She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran and the sworn sisters in Strike the Zither by Joan He. 

That’s our discussion. Have you read The Shadow Sister yet? What did you think? Share your thoughts in the comments. 

[spikeinthepunch]

i finished Lisa the painful *again* to get the secret in Definitive edition and now i want to ramble about that, and also the other realizations i had on my second playthrough (spoilers ofc. do note again i havent gotten to Joyful). get ready for an essay

TW for physical and sexual abuse

soooooooooo

this second play was good because there was a lot i hadnt yet connected about the story with Brad, and it hit like a fucking truck when i realized.

For one, I hadnt really understood what Brad's "second chance" actually was. It took me a minute to actually realize Dusty was Rando, and with Dusty's limited appearances I didn't completely recognize him in flashbacks. I did know it was him at the end but the information on him is very very scarce and only now did I realize what happened. And how (as i assume based on the information and my assumptions) Brad's second chance is about Dusty instead, and being a better father to Buddy instead.

Because when I saw that flashback of Dusty apologizing, backed into a corner with a bloody injured face..... and then even thinking back to Brad's convo w Queen in the new campfire stuff- about reprimanding Dusty and Buddy for hugs..... it had me connect the change in behavior. Much like Brad turning tough as a defense, and Dusty learning that too esp with how weak he was. I have to imagine while Brad hasn't been physical against Buddy, he still carries that strict and detached role. I don't know for sure if anything is implied as to what Dusty did later in life- if he ran away or something. But oof! ouch! that fucking slapped me when i connected the dots. and feel free to correct me but also, no spoils on Joyful lol.

And then I get to the secret boss added in Definitive (go sleep at the first campfire after getting 4 boat parts).

boy that was something. like, an hour of my time and lots of suffering. I was playing Painless so it wasnt nearly as awful. but god damn. there is such a strong theme of "you cant escape your abusers. you will become them" through the game, and there is desperation from Brad to not be that. But he hold on to so much guilt and so much anger, he is trapped in a cycle of never getting away from it. Marty lives inside him, like some part of him, that he cant get rid of. actually similar to how Lisa in The First sees her mother inside herself that turns into Marty, showing how he has infected all of her memories and mind-- Marty's influence grips Brad so hard still that parts of him reflect Marty's which in turn keeps the roots deep inside.

theres something also so fucking painful with how Marty is displayed. Honest to god havent seen a story like this ever display such a horrible disgusting character so blatantly... so up front... as a huge focus of the characters' arcs. Every step and every piece of dialog had my flight or fight instinct on high. Definitely more triggering as a abuse survivor but-- jesus I felt like I was constantly on alert, fearing for the worst, trying to read Marty's intents as if to make sure I could tell something worse was going to happen. I could just feel it in my gut and i wanted to leave even when i stayed to keep listening to what he had to say. even something about marty patting the bed beside him and telling Brad to sit down with him got my chest tight.

everything Marty says through the fight makes it harder and harder to bear. While I got stressed every time my dude's died, I kind of also wanted to see more of what he'd say out of curiosity lol... It is so strikingly manipulative. the way Brad's relationship all comes from the idea of masculinity and bloodline and how thats just the way it is... thats the worst part. you could probably assume this is what happened to brad's dad with his dad, and so on. not to put any pity on Marty- just the fact that such things run so hard and so deep, and the fact that Marty pressures it on Brad with implications that he weak or not a real man or a disappointment. after a while none of that even mattered to Brad, he didn't like his father and he couldn't stand it. and yet those people, those abusers, hold power because theyve always told you how you're below them.

it hurts so fucking bad esp after i made my above connection with Dusty. i think its wildly interesting to have a character like Brad. i know i could say a lot about "imperfect" or kinda shitty characters as main characters after playing Disco Elysium, and while DE is a fantastic game (my all time fave) oghhh boy if we need a shitty guy then we definitely need Brad. and like, its still not shitty in an irredeemable way, but like the main of DE. orrr at least, its shitty in a way that you feel like they are trying. theyre truing....something. they trying. maybe for the wrong reason? and theyre fucking up when they dont even know it.

Brad's drive in Painful goes from "father figure wanting to protect his child in a world that wishes to hard her, abuse her, and use her." to "father figure finding a way to atone for his past abusive behavior, by caring for a new child despite being unable to let go of the grip that trauma left on him, thus still repeating the cycle of abuse in ways he doesnt understand".

augh. okay. idk where i am going with this now. but i think that secret boss added a lot and i think it was a good addition (even if they sure love making you climb long ass ropes). I also found it interesting there are two scenarios we know abt brad messing around and putting on makeup. With Lisa he apparently just wanted to get into mom's stuff. and i can imagine with Buddy he willingly did it for her to have fun. like. not saying transfem Brad but. you know. i think thats cute.

but this new thing reminded me much of the surreal stuff in The First and i think that was great bc Painful doesnt have too much about Marty and Brad's relationship outside of the beginning and end. and I dont think its needed-- the game can be played fine without it (and many will likely not see it bc its not stated how to get this boss). but The First had some p interesting visualizations about the abuse and i think its very effective. it makes it more scary. it makes it hit harder. the imagery associated with Marty strikes me harder when I played the First after Painful and saw those Marty spiders in the first game. And then seeing the bile. and the vomiting. and the slimy disgusting way he talks--

sorry, i imagine this whole game's story and this dream is probably super triggering for others too, and it hits a different way. i think its easier to attach to this game due to it. and i definitely wont stop my praise for it-- its hard to recommend but, seriously genuinely cant think of any media thats done it like this and i really enjoy every moment.

[chad-chungus]

Am I disappointed in the recent JJK chapter? Yes, definitely. For starters, Gojo’s reaction to Nanami’s death felt very underwhelming. Like I don’t expect Gojo to breakdown and cry because that would be out of character for him as he is a character that is build upon concealing his emotions through a facade. He buries them deep within him so he can still call himself the strongest, and bear the burden of what it means to wield that power so others don’t have to. But the fact that we didn’t get any emotion out of him, like not a single panel of him looking frustrated, clenching his fists or an inner monologue of his thoughts felt SO wrong.

Another thing I need to mention is the time skip. Like I had expected Gojo to unleash all his pent up anger and emotions right then and there when he faced Kenjaku but nope. Especially considering the fact that Kenjaku is in Geto’s body - his one and only true friend! Like I feel like maybe those two having a small fight and then bringing all that tension down with Gojo reuniting with his friends and students really could have given us more in sight into Gojo’s thoughts and really added more depth to his character, especially considering he has been out of the series for over 100 chapters. And like I just really would love to see how much all of the deaths and Gojo being in the prison realm effected his mental and emotional state, because SURELY it affected him, right? Please tell me I’m not the only one who thinks this?

And also like seriously... there is no mention of Nobara whatsoever... like excuse me, if she is 100% dead, Gojo should have been told about her death too! Like honestly her death is left so ambiguous it’s so fucking painful. Arata literally stated that she had a slim chance for survival and if the confirmation was literally Megumi being SILENT and Yuji saying “oh, I get it.” is one of the WORST death confirmations I have ever witnessed because it is SO ambiguous and is just based on the assumption of Yuji believing she is dead! And if Gojo literally hasn’t been told, or if he has but Gege didn’t decide to show his reaction is so bad. And also I want to know so badly if Gojo knows that the old fart killed principal Yaga because Gojo is literally seen walking next to him with Utahime. And speaking of Utahime... gege remembered she exists. But I honestly doubt she’ll remain relevant in this last arc considering how the female writing took a fucking nose dive. And Miwa... like her appearance a few chapters back in the culling games really shook me and it was just never brought up again... like excuse me!!! It’s just so baffling like I seriously think Gege just doesn’t give a shit about his series anymore and has like forgotten what has happened in his own series. 

I just feel like Gege just wants to get to the end by any means necessary, he just doesn’t care if it coherent or paced well; he only wants to get to the finish line by the end of this year. It just makes me feel like he doesn’t even understand his own characters and what is happening in his own story at this point and it is so unbelievably disappointing. And like over the whole culling games arc it has just been action after action with no down time with the characters whatsoever that it just feels like a whole power play between characters, like they have to prove who is stronger and who is the better fighter, and they have all lost their depth to adher to the spectacle of the fights. Not all the characters but still, it’s just so unbelievably jarring seeing the direction JJK is taking. Like the theme of JJk is literally what it means to die a good death, and how no matter how powerful you are, cycles will always remain a constant and that they are rather extremely difficult or rather impossible to break. 

JJK used to be one of my favourite series of all time. I loved it so much and its characters, and while I still love some aspects and some characters, I can’t comprehend anything that is happening now. It’s very disappointing.

[egg-emperor]

Rapid fire questions:

Fav eggman fight?

Least fav eggman fight?

Fav fangame interpretation of eggman?

Best and worst eggman theme?

Fav eggman level?

Depends on what we're going by with what makes his bosses my favorites. In terms of design it'd be Death Egg Robot, Egg Emperor, and Egg Dragoon. But my favorite for the actual fight gameplay would have to be the Unleashed PS3/360 version of the Egg Dragoon fight.

I love the Werehog and it's even better with Eggman involved, I love the intensity of the fight of climbing up onto him, swinging around and brawling, Eggman breaking the ground apart and trying to shoot you as you both fall deeper into the earth full of lava, Eggman yelling for Sonic to die and other threats that are some of my favorites and most well performed in the series adding to the excitement. It's always thrilling 💜

I'm not sure I have a least favorite though! I definitely don't dislike any of them, I like the challenge that every single one brings and I have a lot of patience for them when they involve Eggman lol. I like and will defend a lot of the ones that people say are bad because I genuinely find them fun or at least cool looking. I haven't really ordered all of them to know which one I just like the least as I don't dislike any of them because there are so many

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I haven't played any fan games or looked into any that much on YouTube really to have a favorite one unfortunately! I've seen him in some that I thought were pretty good but not enough to recall and have one I like the most. I'd love some recommendations though, if y'all know of any that I might like ^^

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My favorite theme is a tie of his SA2 theme and Unleashed Eggmanland entrance version of the 06 one, though the Egg Wyvern version and remix for the Colors cutscene sound cool too. I don't have a least favorite again though, all his themes, level, and boss music are beautiful 💜

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My favorite Eggman levels where I can play as him are a tie between Weapons Bed and Cosmic Wall! They're a blast and it shows how badass and diabolical Eggman is with so much action and destruction and it's the BEST. 🥰 My favorite levels where you can't be him but he created/owns them are Final Fortress, Eggmanland, Cryptic Castle, Circus Park, and Tropical Resort and Asteroid Coaster (act 1 for both)

Realized I haven't given a single least favorite and gave multiple favorite answers instead ahfjfnsgksnfksfg sorry for cheating hehe. I find it impossible to dislike literally anything about classic/modern Eggman and I rarely even have just least favorites for him in any area! Only when it comes to portrayals do I really get more opinionated but even then I still love them all, just some more than others XD