#to be honest the most appealing about them is the possible banter

[crafty705]

Hello mfb tag it is Monday. I could’ve tried to refine this block of text more but it’s a Blorbo Essay and I’m posting it on tumblr (the piss on the poor website) so whatever I type may be misinterpreted anyways. I did try to maintain a formal tone and punctuation throughout writing (which is probably unnecessary when all you’re doing is arguing that your gay ship is gay) so this might just end up coming off as pretentious but oh well. It’s for the bit trust.

Anyways, it’s been a little over a year since I’ve tried jotting down the way I perceive the masaking dynamic, so what better time to will these thoughts into being coherent? Mostly, I would like to expound a bit on the appeal of their dynamic and trace back what drew me to them in the first place.

When I first rewatched Metal Fury, particularly the scenes these two had together, the thing that struck me from the get-go (though it doesn’t technically fall far from the other rivalries introduced in this show) was their near-instant evolution from strangers to friendly rivals. So what allows them to get along so well?

They antagonize each other throughout the first time they meet, yet are quick to band together to talk smack to a common enemy (jigsaw lmao). They tend to draw the same conclusions in most situations, even when they’re competing. They are so inexplicably on the same wavelength certain characters have wondered if they are innately related to each other.

Trope-wise, they’re pretty much your average sports anime-esque meatheads. At a glance, the lack of mental bandwidth they exert on a daily basis for anything other than their “sport” of choice (beyblade, in this case), combined with their untenable egos, archetypes them as goofy side characters that play off of each other and are rarely seen apart. As a viewer, you wouldn’t expect them to be emotionally mature or exhibit awareness of their surroundings. In fact, this assessment is true almost all of the time. They fire off petty insults at each other and can’t seem to agree on the littlest of things, and they often cause a scene others around them then have to contend with (re: destroyer dome property damage, their dialogue before the start of the beyster island championship).

Yet, their banter, though pointedly irritating to other characters in-show, is charming because it shows care for the voice of another person from characters who appear to focus on themselves a majority of the time. They constantly question and act judgey to each other’s opinions without it ever affecting their friendship negatively, even gaining understanding of each other in the process.

For a character like King, who had been outcast by those who misunderstood him in the past, a relationship where he has the opportunity to express himself without consequence is undeniably relieving. To phrase this in the most dramatic way possible, having a person who you are able to bare your honest self to and still have them want to remain beside you is the essence of human connection. Besides the two of them being notedly inseparable (hilariously, practically every appearance they have after their meeting involves them both in the same frame), how well they get along is definitely an appeal of their dynamic.

Additionally, it becomes clear King more than reciprocates the acceptance he receives.

To bring up how similar Masamune and King are to each other again, this similarity may also work against them. While it has become common for fans who enjoy one character to also enjoy the other, there are key differences that may not be immediately obvious that causes the audience to perceive one as the “worse version” of the other. It could be argued King hasn’t developed Masamune’s sportsmanship (having lacked the opportunity to do so), or that Masamune lacks wins in noteworthy battles (let’s think critically about the common thread in this particular case). Indeed, one such point of contention is that while they are both outspoken about their abilities, only one is really able to “back it up”.

From an audience or outsider’s perspective, there is nothing besides their similar personalities “tying” King to Masamune as a rival or equal. It could be said, in a sense, that they achieve such different results with equitable levels of raw power (due to the star fragment, from a meta standpoint) that Masamune could not or even should not be considered King’s equal in the first place.

Yet, what we as viewers learn from their interactions is that talent isn’t everything. Results aren’t everything. Yes, Masamune often bites off more than he can chew, and at times aspires to goals that he can’t quite reach. Yes, it is important to back up your yapping every once in a while. However, even if victory itself is validating, failing still isn’t the be-all end-all because what defines one’s character is not the end result, but their efforts and their sportsmanship. Yes, you may not be able to control fate, you may fail even if you try your best, but you can control how you react to it, and continue to work towards bettering yourself each day.

I believe such a philosophy aligns beautifully with both their character arcs as well as the entire season of Metal Fury/4D. Despite how some may perceive Masamune’s overbearing ego, he does still train, he does still work towards being the best that he can be, and he does extend a hand to his fellow bladers and is capable of acknowledging and celebrating their achievements (re: among others, the literal instance from episode 119). As a result, Masamune is given reassurance of his value to those who have already bonded with him through beyblade, assuaging his guilt over not being able to contribute in a critical moment.

Going off on a tangent here because as you can imagine, I also have many thoughts on how the infamous episode 128 “sunrise scene” plays out in particular.

King’s defense of Masamune after his loss on beyster island stands out both because it is at a moment where no one else sees Masamune’s hurt feelings as a priority (and in the greater scheme of things, it really isn’t), and because it is completely justifiable. Even if Chris is strong, and his victory was fair, and most importantly, they kind of need him so the world doesn’t end, King cannot seem to find it in him to ally with this stranger who blatantly condescends the earnestness that preceded the first bond he made with a fellow blader.

In the aftermath of Ryuga’s departure, the group is debating on how to proceed with the loss of another potential ally, and Masamune is visibly pretending to be fine due to his own contribution to that loss.

King, who cares single-mindedly about the experience gained from a battle after being deprived for so long, who was finally able to meet like-minded individuals through the activity he is most passionate about, takes evident notice of this moment of vulnerability, and understandably takes it upon himself to uplift Masamune. He assures Masamune that because of their common goal, because of their shared identity as bladers, because of how fun it is to compete with an opponent like him who gives it their all, he hasn’t stopped viewing Masamune as a rival and equal. He accepts Masamune, imperfect though he is, and never stops believing in his ability to be greater than he currently is.

Interestingly, though King believes himself to be “the best”, he never lets that stop himself from wholeheartedly competing with Masamune. He wants Masamune to believe in himself just as much so they can keep beyblading with their all, together. Perhaps this is in part due to ego as well, that any opponent he has deemed worthy must therefore meet such an expectation (lest his judgment be proved wrong). However, this sense that he wants Masamune there with him, striving for the top, to be “better than” him, shows that he isn’t expressing his ego maliciously—he does not want Masamune to second-guess blading beside him. It is a drastic shift from the self-sufficiency and loneliness pushed upon him by his talent in the first place. Esoterically, because bladers historically have communicated through blading, King has found someone worth getting to know.

Masamune’s ultimately positive reaction to this assurance of their rivaldom is appealing as well. He accepts King’s belief in him and the proposal to continue being his rival as he previously accepted (and reflected) King’s overbearing attitude and strength as a blader. And really, what more can anyone ask for?

[oyeedraw]

Stripey wings smorches bug wings. Or licks. (no i totally did not latch on the idea of this crack pairing after cpt. Ira groped-frisked Mal for seekret weponz and actually licked him in the fic's canon too. Can't wait to find out who the secret suitor is or if the poor sod Ira kidnapped-and-interrogated is still around. ALSO THE CHALICE EVOLVED??? :D)

@macabrecabra

[chemicalpink]

If it’s alright with you could you do an astrology post about how bts would flirt with a person they were attracted to?

So.. god I really hate disclaimers because I like to believe that we are all reasoning people, plus there’s a general disclaimer on my page BUT I know for a fact that people don’t read that (those same people won’t read this one anyway).

Disclaimer: This analysis/reading is based on my experience and knowledge of astrology, it is not meant to be the absolute truth, as BTS are real people, and astrology can only capture so much about multidimensional humans that have had past experiences and cultural approaches amongst other things, it does not have to resonate with you since this is in no way related to anyone reading it (unless you are a member of BTS in which case, get out of here lol ) This is just for entertainment purposes.

OKAY NOW THAT THAT’S OVER by default, Venus and Mars could give us an insight into their love styles, but I’ve already got reading about those here, here, and here 

We are going to use those BUT I’ll focus on their EROS (if you want me to do actual research and post a full love life analysis for each member, let me know in my ask)

SO BASICALLY THIS IS BTS’  FLIRTING STYLE ACCORDING TO THEIR VENUS, MARS, AND EROS. 

Kim Seokjin ʕっ˘ڡ˘ςʔ

I feel like a dad joke to tune into the other person’s humor is his way to go.

His Eros in Scorpio points to someone blunt in his approach, so something along the lines of overly flirting pick-up lines.

His Cancer Mars points to his overall romantic self so if Kim Seokjin is flirting with you prepare to live a drama scene where you feel like the only person in the world.

His Capricorn Venus reinforces the fact that this man is straightforward when flirting, and is very VERY selective as to who they approach.

So all in all, these three placements tell me that Kim Seokjin is a man that loves the fact that people are so multidimensional and he is here for it! he wants to know everything about the person he decided to approach because this man’s standards are over the top and he knows it. 

There's a lot of talking involved while getting to know each other, although he drops facts about himself here and there along with some funny storytimes, he will make it all about you.

A gentleman at his finest, drop you by your house, make sure you’re not cold, that you’re enjoying your food, that you’re comfortable.

This man’s way into your heart is ultimately his actions + his humor.

Min Yoongi  /ᐠ｡ꞈ｡��\

He’s... silent. Kinda shy, okay very shy, unless you gave off a great vibe, you’re not getting past awkward introductions and anxious small talk.

If you make it past introductions(because let’s be real, this man’s standards? impossible to fulfill), you’re in for a ride.

His Eros in Capricorn makes him crave to connect in a physical sense, even if it’s just hand-holding during dates, funny enough, this placement is the hardest one to make him open up so.. he’s not talking much about himself.

EVEN FUNNIER his Aries Venus points to someone bold and confident, which I can totally see him doing, the first move if he sees someone that plays into his idea of perfection.

Idk why it just strikes me as he knows what he wants from people, he’s not afraid of a challenge and chase, and his boldness as well as need for physical touch, makes him a great candidate for a fun short term, especially since his Eros signals that he pretty much values work more than love life.

Yoongi is... very much handled by his ego self, so he might be aloof at times, it has to do with his terrible high standards, a somewhat fear of intimacy and love for his work that keeps him from any type of social life (because he values work too much), but this man is also very romantic, and a great listener, as it is told by his Cancer Mars.

It’s all a matter of getting through his hard skin to get to the mushy Yoongi he doesn’t let many people experience.

Jung Hoseok ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ

This man loves a challenge, the thrill of the chase, not very healthy if you ask me but hey, you do you.

Playing hard to get will most certainly interest him. As well as letting him help you so he can “save the day”. This is all according to his Aries Eros. 

True to his Eros, his Aquarius Mars makes him be the biggest fan of flirting, and he obviously succeeds, thanks to his huge charisma and wittiness. 

LISTEN- THIS MAN as oblivious to affection as he is, can flirt with a whole group of people at once.

Free-spirited and quick-witted people are his cup of tea since it makes it easier for him to keep the flirting flow going.

I know I’ve said it many times before in this post, ISN’T IT FUNNY his Pisces Venus points to him being shy and awkward but cute, which I think pretty much describes Hobi, minus the shy.

So all in all, Hoseok flirting magnet, he is all smiles and will fill your heart with cute stuff and funny things, also, KING of not giving off mixed signals, he doesn’t even have to say a word, he flirts with his whole body.

KIM NAMJOON “φʕ•ᴥ•oʔ

THIS MAN BEING AN EROS IN LIBRA MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. He has a more traditional sophisticated way of flirting, kinda like courting.

It also makes him very giving, up until the relationship is off-balanced, then things end, so yeah, he likes to give, but he also likes to receive just as much. 

Also, very much into intelligent refined people. 

Just like Yoongi and Jin, he has a Cancer Mars, which only heightens his leaning towards traditional love and courting.

He will be devoted even when flirting, wanting to know everything about the other person, even on the first date, just- very very soft Joonie.

Lowkey, as poised as he is, his Scorpio Venus will give everyone a run for their money on terms of flirting. This man knows whats he's doing and how much he affects the person he is flirting with.

He’s just- so used to flirting and connecting with people that he doesn’t have an outcome in mind, just finds flirting fun and exciting.

Basically, Namjoon is a man that knows what he wants and how to get it, but flirting stages are just so common to him, he does it out of boredness, not that he doesn’t want to connect with people, quite the contrary, he finds people so amazing, it’s just- flirting doesn’t have an endgame for him.

Might I dare to go as far as to say, Kim Namjoon might end up in a relationship by accident just because he didn’t know when to end his constant flirting. 

PARK JIMIN  •᷄ɞ•᷅ 

His Eros in Pisces makes him one of the more emotionally passionate of the bunch, to an unhealthy state, in which he may manipulate himself in order to satisfy the other person. 

There’s a lot of thought going into dates, small gifts “because they reminded me of you” and a lot of cute stuff. Very Very passionate.

He has a Scorpio Mars, so as much as he is passion-driven and very much into cute stuff, and believing that he should 100% merge with the other person, he knows what he’s doing when he flirts.

Different from Namjoon, Jimin doesn’t just flirt for funsies, he entertains the idea of love when flirting, future plans, meeting the parents, he can just see it all.

AND he also has a Scorpio Venus so he is definitely aware of all his flirting and how he affects the other person, especially since there’s a lot of sex appeal going into it.

Not so much a mystery himself, but he tries to be the perfect fit for all. Which might ultimately hide behind this perfect partner facade. 

This man doesn’t just end up in a relationship by accident, this man falls in love on accident.

KIM TAEHYUNG ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ

We’ve got another one in love with the thrill of the chase.

Tae also has Eros in Aries, so there’s a lot of playfulness involved in flirting, from banter to playfully shoving the other person aside.

Might also be into dates where he can compete with you, like arcade, or something that he disguises as competition but he knows beforehand he’ll win.

Someone tell him it’s not healthy to crave impossible relationships, anyway, he’d love to be the shinning armor in his love story.

He has Capricorn Mars, which makes him have an honest, practical, and straightforward style of flirting.

The vibe check is real, so unless you pass it with flying colors, do not expect to be flirted with.

Although, his whole aura screams social and flirty due to his Aquarius Venus, which involves a lot of charisma and a great sense of humor. 

Just like Hobi, Tae can flirt with a bunch of people at once without even trying.

JEON JUNGKOOK  ₍ᐢ ̥ ̞ ̥ᐢ₎ ♥

Flirting for Jungkook is more of a mental game than an emotional one, according to his Eros in Gemini. 

Now listen, the nerdier, the better. But you would have to approach him first, as much as he enjoys the idea of talking to people, he doesn’t really do it that well.

Just like Jimin, he has Scorpio Mars, so in line with flirting being a mental game, he knows his game plan, his moves, he knows how people will react to them, he knows what he wants, and more importantly, how to get it.

He very obviously knows about his sex appeal and uses it as an advantage, even though at first he’s kinda awkward about it.

Much like Namjoon, he enjoys flirting so much that he doesn’t even need to have an endgame in mind. He likes to hear people talking about their passions and loves it even more if he learns a thing or to about it in the way, but his awkwardness comes through when he doesn’t really measure that most of the time when you flirt its because you’re interested in pursuing a romantic relationship.

His Libra Venus also plays the part, since it signals him being flirty and witty without even trying, just a man, his beauty, his charm, and his charisma. 

He’ll do anything possible to make you feel like you matter, even going as far as daring to hold your hand just because (which is a great pointer t know if he is really interested or just flirting bc he can)

Ultimately, his flirtation serves as a means to cheer themselves and other people up.

[dmicld]

Is it alright to ask for you to talk about dmcl I love seeing your tags on posts about them ;w;

AH YES!! I essentially take any and all opportunities to talk about them I love them so much.

I’m not sure if there are any specific thoughts you’d like so I’m pretty much just going to word vomit my favorite aspects of their dynamic and how I understand them but !!

I’ve mentioned this before in a post but I love that dimitri and claude essentially function to subvert their expectations of each other. The two connect so well and have such a fantastic synergy because both their “superficial” and “deeper” characters are compatible. it makes dmcl the type of couple that grows into themselves really well and gives great contrast between the two; it’s easy to highlight the finer points of their differences because they can also be so similar—I think this is also what makes their banter so good.

To put it really simply I think dimitri essential has this prince charming > fall from grace > resurrection into his true/whole self arc while claude essentially is presented as charming schemer > deeply held (selfless) dream > compassionate leader. like you basically get the serious/playful dynamic between their initially presented characters and then it’s subverted when both are much more complicated and contradictory than first presented BUT THEN it is subverted again as they both grow into who they can be. I hope this makes sense but essentially the things that they keep hidden strengthen their overall dynamic; like dimitri’s gentleness, seriousness and compassion fits well with claude’s easygoing attitude, charm, and mischief BUT ALSO the fact that dimitri is capable of extreme violence and chooses to be better is SO interesting when paired with the fact that all of claude’s “scheming” comes from the impulse to either end conflict with as few casualties as possible or his ultimate dream of bringing people together.

so going off this I think dimitri would be drawn to claude because he’s someone that walks through life “lightly”—he smiles and laughs often, and he has an easy and charming demeanor. I think this + their lack of history would honestly really appeal to dimitri? being in claude’s presence wouldn’t hold the same baggage or expectations as it would with anyone else because they’re essentially social equals but also complete strangers before white clouds. he basically has a chance to be just “dimitri” to claude without bearing the responsibility of his future (as he is not claude’s future king) or being reminded of the baggage of his past in the context of their relationship. add to this the fact that they’re both house leaders and it’s essentially a “clean slate” (for both of them, actually; I imagine claude’s familiarity with fodlan before the academy is essentially entirely limited to the alliance and its most eastern territories). I think dimitri desperately DOES want to connect with people in white clouds, but his own reservations wrt his “deserving” to do so (he sees himself as monstrous, only useful as a warrior/tool for revenge, unable to be himself compared to what people need/expect of him, etc) compounded with how immensely painful his personal history is with the blue lions he would naturally be close to makes it so difficult for him to reach out and truly find intimacy with others. I think claude’s “lightness” and having zero expectations for a different “dimitri” (lol felix) is SUCH a compelling way to explore their dynamic at the academy as a result of this. who can they be to each other when they aren’t required to be specifically anything at all? 

conversely I think claude would find dimitri straightforward, earnest, honest, and... kind of intense? focused? I suppose I think he’d realize immediately that dimitri is someone who doesn’t do anything by halves and takes no pains to hide that. I think he’d also just be drawn in by dimitri’s… accidental charm? idk I just think it’s funny how forward dimitri can be, but I don’t think he always means it EXACTLY in that way. I think claude can dish it but not take it, and I think dimitri sometimes dishes it without even realizing. claude probably finds himself flustered and charmed just as often as dimitri does, but I don’t think dimitri always realizes what he’s doing jdgdjskshdjd. also also claude would definitely catch on to dimitri’s super dry/lightly bullying sense of humor pretty early, and I think he’d just find it so charming and attractive? like here’s prince charming and he’s actually kind of a menace <3 on purpose <3 and he gets away with it <3

BUT at the same time I imagine dimitri and claude have a “like recognizes like” situation, and they each realize that they both are showing and hiding parts of themselves deliberately. I think this sort of canniness on dimitri’s part would be VERY interesting to claude and he’d find this opaqueness almost… alluring? I think it would draw claude in; claude chooses strange places or opportunities to take risks, and I think dimitri would be one of them. so I think claude realizing that dimitri has this straightforwardness and earnestness (which I DO think are genuine qualities of his personality and not a “front”) while also hiding parts of himself deliberately and intentionally? idk I just think he’d find that sort of fascinating and compelling.

Conversely, I think dimitri would also recognize that there are parts of claude that claude chooses to hide. but dimitri IS patient and kind and he can be very emotionally perceptive. I think he sort has a sense when he’s treading around other people’s hurt/baggage..? and I think his default is to be respectful of that in whatever way bests suits the situation (think his supports w/ marianne vs. hapi); so I think while he would definitely WANT to know about these parts of claude that claude feels he must keep hidden, I also think he’d respect (and trust!) claude to come to him with them when he so chooses.

this all culminates in my thoughts that I really believe they both recognize and choose to see the best in each other, even when they can’t do it for themselves. I think claude’s natural optimism and hope are good for dimitri’s actual pessimism/fatalism and tendencies toward self-loathing, and I think dimitri’s earnest desire to see claude as GOOD and putting his trust in him would be so... healing for both of them? it's maybe a bit sappy but I do really love that. how good they can be for each other. how gentle they would choose to be toward one another. how they each have their baggage, trauma, and blind spots, but they “fit” in such a way that they can help each other through these things and grow together!! I think they also just have so much love that they? want to give? 

GOD this is SO LONG but wrapping up: I just love how their few moments of canon development together encourages such strong and meaningful interpretations of their relationship. I think the game sort of sets you up to believe they’re at least friendly with each other in white clouds, given that they are seen talking together (at the beginning of white clouds) + fighting together in the battle for the monastery cutscene (at the end of white clouds). AND THEN the golden deer’s plea my beloved. most insane chapter in the game tbh for what it does for a ship that probably said a total of five lines in canon to each other before that. there’s actually a bunch of little things I’d want to talk abt from this chapter and post ts but obviously literally everything abt that chapter in general is the big one so I couldn’t go without mentioning it!! closing remark is that obviously their solo endings should just be shmushed together. it would be so easy

[stagbells]

Summerdew and Sweet Kisses

From: @daikoski

To: @strawberryaeris

Written work under readmore!

notes: hello!! i had lots of fun writing this, it was such a joy to work on! it’s my first time writing lacenet, so i hope you enjoy!! summertime love :D

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It’s date night, and Lace has full reign on what they’re doing today.

It’s less of a spoken thing and more a silent agreement that one of them can take the lead and decide what sort of day the two will share together. Whether it be cozying it up at home, or working on individual projects with the other close by, going hunting, or seeking out a new activity to share, most of everything is free game when it comes to them. 

To which, she’s deliberately chosen something new.

Hornet had mentioned one time, in idle conversation, that she’d never really swam for the sake of it. If anything, it was a shortcut, if she couldn’t easily cross the body of water with her needle and silk. That she hadn’t really considered it as a fun passing of time, a recreational activity of sorts.

Well. Neither had Lace, but the thought of it now sounds far more appealing now that they’ve both claimed better lives for each other, for Hornet’s family, doesn’t it? It’s safer now, and they’re easing into a life beyond just fine, but something good instead. 

And... there are plenty of beautiful, isolated spots within the land that Lace has seen, and what better to enjoy it than with her darling? 

And what a pretty little area it is too; a pond, hidden within the depths of a lush grove. hidden, but with evidence of prior life, if the cute wooden dock is any indicator. The surface of the pond is scattered with aquatic plants in little vibrant clusters, pearls of colour that sway with the breeze. 

“Are you sure you don’t want to enter the water, dear?” 

From her spot, with Hornet sitting perched on the dock, dangling her peets into the water and swishing them around in such a way that makes Lace laugh, before settling her always so composed regard on her, she looks nothing less than perfect. And also very wary of getting wet beyond that.

Cute. 

“I’m considering it,” is just enough of a not-response that Lace hums, a touch understanding, a touch mischievous. Ah yes. She’s considering it. 

Hornet has been sitting on the edge of the dock for almost an hour now, the two making idle conversation as they enjoy the balmy air that’s heavy-sweet with ripening fruits and bright flowers, hot to the point of being almost unbearable, but alas, she is still considering it. 

Such a shame.

Lace splashes the unsuspecting spider. 

Not a full-on wave, of course, she isn’t that mean, but as of now, a little urging on her part wouldn’t hurt, and Hornet immediately shields herself from the water. The top-half of her cloak is soaked.

“Lace—!” 

“Yes?” Her voice as innocent as she is not, she merely swishes her hands within the water, propelling herself back a bit from the dock before holding her hands out in gesture, as if to catch Hornet if she were to dive in. “My, dearest, do you need any help with that? You’re already halfway there!”

“My silk is going to melt, and my things could rust...” 

“A little water won’t hurt, but if you need a place to keep them, there’s a little nook over there that’ll keep them safe.” Shrouded by bits of sweet grass and soft soil, it’s a perfect spot to keep anything important safe. Besides, they’re both well aware that both of their belongings are far sturdier than that...

“If you had wanted me in the water so bad, you could have asked.” 

Kind of haphazardly, more deliberate than not, Hornet unburdens herself of all the little tools and trinkets she keeps within her cloak, before finally sliding into the water. (It’s a mess, but a mess that she understands and who is Lace to question that.) 

“There. I’ve removed everything from my pockets, and I’m here now.” Her tone is just a touch grumpy, though that’s easily dismissed with the way Lace can feel the faint stutter-rumble of her purr as she rests a hand on Hornet’s chest.

“Cute, but I think the little questions I’ve scattered into our conversation were not given much heed.”

“Maybe if you asked again...” Ah, now that is most certainly petulance. “You’re enjoying making a fool of me today, aren’t you?”

Hornet’s claws are carefully gripping her own, smaller hand, and Lace brushes the pad of her thumb over her now damp fur. The distant, light waves that carry them ever so slightly kind of pushes her to Hornet, and she can only smile wider at the way her lover’s claws go to brace her gently.

“Ahh, my apologies, I'm not trying to be mean!” 

“Really.”

“Mm. At least, just a little bit.”

“So you do admit it.”

“And you must believe me, dearheart, when I say I have no ill intent~!” 

Intentionally, Lace lets her mandibles curl in a teasing, honey-sweet manner that always has Hornet unable to look away for just a little bit, and she relishes in the attention just as much as the way her darling swats a wave of water her way in reciprocation.

Because even if she says it in a teasing way, going so far to jab her elbow lightly into Hornet’s side with a laugh, she hopes that the cute spider knows she means every word of it. 

Because she’s something wonderful, isn’t she? Direct in a way that’s refreshing, because how often is it that Lace gets to experience something like that? Sharp and honest (and even if she does sometimes struggle with expressing her feelings, she’s still honest) and it’s in such a way that makes Lace want to be the same towards her, be something more open, more real.

...Weird concept, and Lace finds herself laughing to herself, just a little trill of delight. 

Yes, but nothing could ever make her stop wanting to tease the spider. Her reactions are so cute after all! 

But, her sappiness can be saved for later. Not when there’s currently the cute culprit of these thoughts right in front of her. It’s fun to splash around and goad her dearest on into something of a playfight, one that results in the both being absolutely drenched, but it’s just as nice to relish the coolness of the water against her shell, and in turn be able to admire the many facets such a new experience has brought upon Hornet’s visage. 

Cute.

Such as the vague flit of surprise that had so graced the spider’s face when Lace had dunked herself beneath the water; not so many bugs feel comfortable doing such a thing, after all. Or the fond, subdued smile that quirks her fangs just so with each sharp banter that slips so naturally out. It’s nice. 

And when the sunlight becomes something a bit too bright and Lace can see the films of Hornet’s eyes try to flick up as she winces from it, she can’t help but bump shoulders with her, before drawing her hand over the smoothness of Hornet’s mask in an unsubtle way of blocking the light, for even just a moment. 

“You’re getting water in my eyes,” Hornet half-protests, fangs scrunching but looking so much more relaxed now, and Lace can only think of it as a job well done. 

She had purposefully made it so that they would go out later in the day anyways; noonlight was something so sharp sometimes, but alas, even in the evenings can the sunlight bother her dearest like so. They continue like that for a good while longer, idly floating about and conversing, one instigating another splash war on occasion.

It’s all fun and games until they have to get out of the water.

Hornet, the poor little thing, looks just a bit miserable as she works on flicking the water from the tufts of fur that lines her body, chelicerae working ever so slightly concentration. Well, it’s good she’s come prepared.

“Here you are, lover!” Easily tossing a towel around Hornet’s shoulders, Lace gives it a light tug to pull her spider down to press a little kiss and a nuzzle against the side of her mask.

“You planned for this.” Hornet is nothing short of accusatory, and she laughs, just letting a playful hum be her response as she helps tumble dry her.

“What, to trick you into the water so I can give you a kiss?” 

Could it really be considered such a devious plan when she was planning on kissing her either way? Endearing thought, especially since Hornet herself is the one to go through some length to muster up something as direct as asking for a kiss. Usually all she’d need to do is start purring up a storm to leave Lace as the one giving the kisses!

At some point, Hornet had cuddled up to her, both drying beneath the steady heat of the sun, but indulging in the warmth of one another for as long as they were allowed. Laying back onto the wood of the deck, peaceful and soft and warm, where the only sounds were that of trickling water and slowing breathing.

Despite appearances, Hornet can be quite the cuddler, curling herself as close as possible to Lace, little tail and everything looping around her as she dozes. Well, this is her fate now. 

She doesn’t have the heart to move and disrupt Hornet from a well-deserved nap, even if the way they cuddle always traps her beneath her weight. Not until the sun begins to fall, and the faint glimmers of the starlight begin to settle in, does Lace think of stirring the spider. 

This is the sight she wanted to share with her, after all. To deliberately take a moment and enjoy the sight the massive void above has to offer, with all its strange mysteries and stories to tell. Stories she only really heard as a grub, but ones she’s more than willing to try and scrounge up to share with her lover if she so asked...

“Hello there, darling,” Lace carefully nudges her girlfriend awake, and Hornet untucks her face from the crook of her neck. “The sky is clear tonight, take a look.” 

(There’s no teasing note to her voice—there’s no need to bring it forth, rather. Not when everything is so quiet, so subdued, and Hornet is still shaking off the last lingering bits of sleep from her eyes, looking so peaceful and comfortable that the sight brings an ache forth in her chest.)

(That this is something they both get to have.)

“It’s night time already?” Hornet murmurs, twisting herself to lay on her back, “Would you not get cold?” The sleepy note to her normally composed and cold voice is something so cute, and Lace leans in to give her a little nuzzle. 

“No, and even if I do, I have you, as well as the shawl you had weaved for me so kindly.” And alongside that, the soft, genuine fondness in her own voice is still something so faintly unfamiliar, yet so nice. She could get used to it. 

Hornet flushes a bit, perhaps at the prospect that Lace had decided to take the gift she had made for her along in case the night air became chilly, before letting a little ‘mrr’ of disappointment out. 

“I am not sure if we should stay out so late...” she begins, before gesturing a bit vaguely, “that, and I had mistakenly assumed we were to return home by nightfall, so...”

Ohh, are her siblings expecting her?

Lace sits up, and unable to help it, stares for a moment. It clicks. Right. They usually go hunting during their dates, two belflies with one stone so to say. 

“Did you leave your siblings at home with nothing to eat?” is her automatic question, more concerned for Hornet than anything else. Hornet sits up as well, adjusting her cloak.

“Not nothing.” Hornet frowns, but there’s a small smile hidden, tucked away beneath her mask and Lace knows she’s not truly upset at her question, “they’re most likely eating as we speak. And if they so happen to finish all of our food at home, neither are the type to allow the other to go hungry anyways...” so they could very well be hunting, too.

“Ah, but I can tell you still dislike the notion of leaving them without a fresh meal.” Lace points out, and Hornet leans into her side a bit. 

“...Yes.”

“Cute! If it so soothes you, my worrier, then we can take a little detour. I wouldn’t mind if this date takes a turn for our usual.” Carefully extracting herself from Hornet’s hold, Lace hops up with ease to swipe up her belongings—including her pin.

Hornet visibly hesitates—and by visibly, there’s the slightest press of her claws against Lace’s arm, just a light pressure as if to gently tug her back to her side—before she too stands. Not one to leave things undone, not one to linger, but oh, so it seems for the both of them, lingering is just so much easier nowadays...

“Apologies...” she mumbles, and whether it be due to cutting their plans short, or the hesitation, Lace hums affectionately to comfort her. “We could stay a little longer?”

“We can always go stargazing another day, my dear. And hunting with you is always a treat, there's nothing to apologize for.” and with a little nuzzle, the two are on their way.

(A part of her delights so wonderfully at the fact she’s come to pick up so many of Hornet’s cues; not when so few bugs can say the same, and it makes her preen with a silly sweet sort of pride. Hers, just as much as she is Hornet’s.)

It isn’t until they’re both following an easy scent trail that Hornet speaks up again, breaking that routine silence and looking beautifully dangerous in the moonlight, needle and silk carrying her onwards.

“...Did you call me your ‘warrior’ or ‘worrier’?”

Pfft!

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

...

“I suppose I’ll just earn back my title as your warrior with this hunt.”

[aueua]

🖊+any of ur Among Us OCs

alright so

I have sixteen (16) where twelve of them are the main cast of colors and are quite tight-knit, but then I wound up making two more as sole-impostors and another two more as a result of scribbl.io-esque shenanigans (and even two more after that based off of pets which’d make that eighteen because I was a teensy bit off the rails)

content warnings: blood, illness, (???) it’s among us so I’ll just say take caution when going through *** For the doodles at the very bottom of this post: Body Horror.

the one that the randomizer chose was one of the said impostor ones [TB] and I’ll just. share some documents I made (that were primarily for roleplay, therefore their very... uh... hm... bland nature). where if you feel like reading those for whatever reason, here’s the only few good ones: Purple (Eys), and #FFFFFF (TB).

-

(Crossposting directly off of a discarded ask blog I once attempted to run.)

Foremost. With my verse, the crewmates are all simulated codes of data (with… feelings). They are not in a “real” scenario of having all individual, proper backstories where an impostor comes aboard their crew one way or another. They are all well aware of the fact they are not real as they happen to be “player avatars” at times.

They do not know how many games they have been through, but treat them as having gone through more than enough situations that they no longer care for any actual murder and are in a happy intermission after things are said and done. (Such situations can include custom rulings  and whatnot. Think of “hide and seek” and “one word per meeting” type of things.)

This being mostly to... well... allow me to develop the muses in various ways because I enjoy all sorts of interpretations and whatnots (and MAYBE just MAYBE I’m incomparably lazy when having to think up legitimate Real Life Coherent backstories for characters). Also I am a clown and like to dance with the very many cool possibilities for alien shenanigans.

-

That said! All of the main expeditors I hold thus have had the opportunity to get into the groove of the simulations (aka “when you first play” versus “how you are now after 200+ hours”). By all means, none of them were required to stay with any of those they’ve met, and they’ve all had met different crews beforehand (where some were in more drastic/toxic environments than others but what’s new to that huh).

I won’t get into all of them and will be focusing more on the dynamic of my Hol (Black, Medic) and their mentor TB (the Impostor Doc in question) ‘cause I think that one’s fun.

Compensation TB and “in-training” Hol doodles as reference in case you didn’t want to look at the document (which honestly, same).

・ While Hol now is more reserved and less socially inept (mostly just Dog-Tired), at first they were simply... awkward. Very awkward. Starting off, all they were aware of was they needed to assist and step in when any mishaps occur, but not to any extreme extent just yet since they needed a bit more experience with interacting and harmonizing among crews.

・TB happened to be on the crew that Hol met first, and while its interest was a “Ah, a fellow professional.” at best, it had shifted accordingly when Hol managed to get over their nerves enough to at least say hello. Converse with them. (Which it found odd-funny, since normally it’s the one that initiates interactions even for those in the same field as it.)

・ It was kind of nice, you know. Getting to indulge those questions that they don’t normally get to answer to a length where someone would understand. And a part of it was at least aware that the other needed more hands-on experience because. TB may have taken possession of the body they have now, but they kept a lot of the sentiments (and memories, unfortunately) of the former host that was also... incredibly socially inept, but endearing in any sincere attempt to talk to others.

・ I won’t get entirely into it but it’s essentially a mentor/friend relationship. That’s it. That’s the whole thing. Except it’s like a slowburn fic where I’ve omitted more than half of the information.

・ But TB also has watched over this younger impostor that came aboard some time ago (horrifically named DH for... yes... Demon Horns... and together... TBDH is To Be Darn Honest...) that has one of the most annoying and frustrating personalities to work with where it has to insist in brief and intimidating ways not to get in the way of its own goals (which is learning more about humans, whether that mean alive or dead but mostly alive because that’s when they’re most interesting).

・ Short story: DH kinda disregarded that and kinda put Hol in harms way and kinda then resulted in an impromptu “Let’s learn more about the anatomy of at least one Impostor, shall we?”

・ Other tidbits: TB has 100% outed itself as an impostor/alien to Hol at some point in the long verse of intermission, but then proceeded to go, “Ask any questions! It’ll be fun!” (And it’s also taken care of Hol in the instances where they had taken on impostor attributes as well...)

・ TB’s essentially the whole reason Hol’s more nonchalant about impostors and in the way they’d compromise the safety of the crew at times in their interest of learning more about them.

・ tl;dr doctor meet medic and they platonically hold hands and learn things together and about each other! zomg!

now for a bonus short thing I wrote mid-December:

“Tea? Hnm… it isn’t for everyone…” Their eyes had drifted for a moment as they considered something, looked up. It didn’t need to see under that mask and visor to know that there was a faint smile in the way they had asked,  “Did you want to give it a try?”

And it wasn’t always fond of tea, no. The thought of consuming anything for luxury other than the deceased was wholly appealing. What could smell nicer than a properly inspected cadaver? But, it could not turn down their little offer. It couldn’t deny it if it wanted to fit the disguise as crew. As far as its recollection goes however, it had always been bland—more boring than water—and was ultimately overly-glorified regardless of how impeccably-proclaimed it was brewed. But again. Would it ever deny spending more time with their beloved medic? No. So be it; they’d use tea as an excuse, every different little thing tied with a memory.

The one that was weirdly spicy-cold to its many tongues had reminded it of the earnest-warm concern, the way they had looked up at it with fretting hands and murmured apologies accompanied by questions it couldn’t help but humor.

The minty zest of something auburn that reminded it of the unchanging season where they bantered—a ringing airy sound—a light taste of what it would consider mirthful in how their shoulders shook. (Not in fear, not in anger; that, it had duly noted.)

The bitter boiling nothing remembered where they had soon fallen silent, asleep, but for longer than usual even with it watching over them in their little spot like they always had. Tasteless, without the fond familiar company it always looked forward to.

The water, it made, when they were no longer among its crew in the instances. When it could no longer remember the process of how to make Hol’s favorite tea, or so it lied and led itself to believe, the strange aftertaste of a hollow spacious quiet remained.

It never liked those memories.

and now here’s your compensation doodles for going through all of that nonsense! like. a handful of the ones I never posted.

(that’s not DH that’s Blue a different impostor entirely)

(that’s DH.)

CONTENT WARNING:

Blood Body Horror.

(no, really)

(I’m adding more bullet points in case it makes it any easier to look away)

(that’s DH. get  clowned on, DH.)

(I like gore and horror even if I’m not the greatest at it so Y’know...)

[scottymcgeesterwrites]

Final Fantasy VII Remake Review

Year: 2020

Platform: PS4

I finished this game shortly after posting all my main single-player series Final Fantasy reviews. I was still digesting it and thinking about it to put together my review.

Synopsis:

The Shinra Electric Power Company rules over the city of Midgar, and the eco-terrorists AVALANCHE stop at nothing to try and prevent the life essence of the planet from being used as energy. Barrett, leader of AVALANCHE, hires a mercenary named Cloud Strife for their bombing mission on a Shinra Mako Reactor. Cloud doesn’t care much for the greater cause and only wants his pay. But then, after a mission goes awry, he meets Aerith, a flower girl who is the descendant of the Ancients. He quickly finds himself wrapped up in the greater conflict against Shinra.

Gameplay:

Final Fanatasy VII Remake has one of the best gameplay styles of any Final Fantasy game. It’s that good. It seems like after all these years, this is what Square really wanted to do. Since this was released after Final Fantasy XV, it’s pretty much the successor to its gameplay. While Final Fantasy XV has you more or less spamming the attack button with occasional spell casting and item usage, Final Fantasy VII Remake has you much more involved with the Materia system, abilities, and guarding/evading. One notable example is that Final Fantasy XV always told you when you should guard in order to counter, but Final Fantasy VII Remake has you figure that out on your own.

The abilities are so goddamn flashy and cool during gameplay. Tifa’s moves are quite possibly the most awe-inspiring.

My only complaint is locking onto the enemy during battle. You have to press down on R3 to lock onto an enemy, and I sometimes found that jarring with the camera controls. Sometimes I accidentally disengaged from an enemy and missed an attack. Since your moves are dependent on an Active Time Battle system, you can waste a turn if you get hit while conjuring a spell or taking out an item. That sometimes made me go “REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!”. But in the long run, those were very small gripes. The battles are so much fun.

Since the game follows only the Midgar portion of the story, it’s linear. But you reach sections where you are free to roam around and do sidequests before continuing with the main objective. I’m sure the later releases of the remake will feel much less constrained. But this remake does a good job at expanding upon Midgar without feeling too redundant.

Graphics:

Jesus Christ. This game is gorgeous.

Both in-game graphics and pre-rendered cutscenes. The switch between a pre-rendered cutscene and in-game cutscene has become much more seamless than ever before.

If you remember my Final Fantasy XV review, I mentioned how NPCs and other in-game animations seemed stiff and stilted. Final Fantasy VII Remake takes steps to remedy that. Characters have more fluid movements and everyone’s lips move a lot more. However, lip movements can come off as awkward. My friend was watching me play, and during one in-game cutscene they said “Something looks weird with their lips.” At times, lip movements seem too dynamic when the character is standing relatively still, which comes off looking like Mr. Ed the horse trying to talk.

Despite those small awkward things, the rest of the game is extremely polished. Remember how blocky Final Fantasy VII was? We now finally see these characters and the world of Midgar brought to life in beautiful HD graphics.Like holy shit. Everyone looks so beautiful.

Before I played this game, I was a Tifa stan, but now, ho man, they made Aerith so much more appealing.

SO.

MUCH.

MORE.

APPEALING.

And Tifa shines better than ever. I’m very tempted to just gush about her but here is just a couple enticing gifs.

Imagine playing this game and still thinking gamers are oppressed.

Story:

Final Fantasy VII Remake follows from the start of the original game up until the party leaving Midgar. Square plans to release the rest of the remake later.

I have to say, they made the story a lot more engaging than the original. That may seem like blasphemy, but the dialogue and voice acting was just so damn good. Some of my favorite moments included the banter between Aerith and Cloud. Like I said, I wasn’t into Aerith that much until I played the remake. She’s just so damn cute and charming. One of my favorite parts was when she said, “Shit” and almost fell, after mentioning how she didn’t need help climbing a ladder. Her voice is so lovely and amusing to listen to. The growing romance between her and Cloud doesn’t come off as forced or cringey, because we now spend so much time with Aerith.

Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie have much more important roles in the story. This gives us a greater sense of Avalanche as a ragtag group.

Entire chapters focus on them, especially Jessie. I cringed a bit at Jessie to be honest, despite her popularity. She now comes off as a copy of Aerith in the sense that she comes on strong to Cloud. But really strong. Like “I want that D right now” strong. Cloud has officially become your usual anime boy who is good at everything that can make any woman magically fall in love with him. So that whole thing made me roll my eyes.

There are some new characters inserted, such as the SOLDIER Roche. I thought they were going to do more with him but, apparently not. The new characters can be a bit “meh”, such as Chadley. Johnny isn’t a new character but may as well be since his role is so expanded. He was probably the most annoying, constantly calling Cloud “bro”. That gave me some bad flashbacks of Prompto’s modern-speak in Final Fantasy XV.

The remake adds a certain new plot element that you’re not sure at first where it’s going until it’s revealed at the very end. The ending can be a bit out there, as the original storyline is changed significantly. SIGNIFICANTLY I was curious if this game would make sense to first-timers, but, probably not when you reach the end. The ending heavily relies on you knowing the original game.

My only complaint about the story was how they started the motorcycle chase cutscene. That was my favorite cutscene of the original game, with Cloud driving down the stairs and the group getting into the car. I liken it to the barrel scene in the original Hobbit novel. But like the Hobbit movie, they made the motorcycle scene pretty outrageous. Like so over-the-top that my initial reaction was to scoff at it. It also struck me as awkward, because there were many moments when the bad guys could have shot them but just. . .stood there watching Cloud kick their asses.

Some people may be upset by how the remake ended, while others find it cool. I thought it was cool. But at the same time, now I want an official “remastered” Final Fantasy VII too. Just a game strictly like the original but with vastly improved graphics.

Music:

The music was pure eargasm. There were many moments when I fanboyed screaming “THIS IS THE SONG! YESSS!” They remixed the songs so well, from the battle theme to the Shinra theme, and the Wall Market theme. Everything you loved about the original soundtrack but MORE gusto, more pomp and circumstance.

A couple complaints though.

1 – I think the focus on making the music more orchestrated takes away the mood of the original music. I missed some of the synth and electronic from the original game because it related well to the technological city of Midgar. The synth and electronic featured in the original game gave off a brooding, darker mood.

2 – I didn’t like what they did with the Crazy Motorcycle music.

Notable Theme:

It’s difficult to find pieces of the original soundtrack as of today, because Square is taking them down from YouTube. Still, some people have managed to keep up some of the coolest tracks from this game. Unfortunately, the videos have gameplay footage, which could be spoilers, technically.

I’ll just leave it as this:

The Jenova battle theme is a much longer piece in this game, but it pays off at the final quarter of the song.

Trust me.

Verdict:

The remake does the original justice. We waited so long for this game and it delivered, unlike Final Fantasy XV.

I don’t think a first-timer would really appreciate it though as much as a fan of the original game would. Sure, there’s nothing stopping you from just going into it without knowing the original game, but there are things that one wouldn’t understand unless you played the original game. In that sense, the word “remake” is a bit misleading. Maybe they’re “rebooting” the entire Compilation of Final Fantasy VII? It seems like they’re going for what they did with the newer Star Trek movies, if you catch my drift. But I can’t say for sure exactly where they’re going with it until the next game comes out, but it seems that way to me.

[mamaskillerqueen]

Maybe a song fic with Ben Hardy to the song "Paper Rings" by Taylor Swift?

A/N: Hi anon!! So, I’m firstly going to apologise for how long this took me to get out. I just haven’t been loving it. I think I started over at least three times. I still don’t think that it’s my best but I do hope that you enjoy it!!

Four Years Ago: 

Is there anything worse than house parties?

If there was, it was house parties where you didn't know anyone. Your anxiety had already gotten the best of you, but to top it off with the only person you knew having left to be a host... this was not your ideal night. 

You'd met Joe the day you moved in next door. Having come a long way from your hometown to take up residency in New York, you were alone to unpack. That included all the furniture you had brought along to furnish your new townhouse just outside of the city limits. You were contemplating just sleeping on the hardwood floor because carrying your mattress up by yourself didn't sound appealing, when Joe came to your rescue.

Since struggling to get the furniture up the stairs, and yelling very loudly "Pivot!" at each other, you'd become pretty close friends. He was sitting on your couch during a FRIENDS marathon one day when he mentioned that his Borhap family was getting together at his later that week. Ben and Gwilym were supposed to be coming into town, and they were all going to be having dinner at Joe's. He extended an invitation and you immediately declined. 

The thing about your friendship with Joe was that he never let you turn down things that you'd later beat yourself up for. He insisted you be at his house, promising it was just a small get together. Somehow you didn't believe him... and here you were, standing in his foyer ready to bolt because this was not what you signed up for. As a good friend though, you elbowed your way further into the house, hunting for the kitchen. If you were going to stay, you were definitely going to need a drink.

"Y/N!" 

If it was possible to slur just a name, Joe was definitely doing it. Despite yourself, you smiled as your friend pulled you into a hug. He was drunkenly telling you how happy he was that you were here, vaguely pointed to his friend beside him but didn't actually introduce you two. Before you could even say anything else Ben, as you recognised him from all the Instagram posts, was pulling Joe away from you.

"Nice to meet you, love." 

He called it over his shoulder, even though you weren't actually introduced. How rude. 

Deciding that he wouldn't notice if you didn't stay, you quickly slipped out the way you came. The house reeked of smoke and sweat and booze, the combination of smells turning your stomach. It was good you were leaving, you wouldn't be missed because everyone was so out of their mind they wouldn't notice. Not to mention, you literally knew one person. He saw you, that was all that mattered. 

The next day you woke up earlier than usual, having gotten to sleep far earlier than you had anticipated. After your morning coffee, yoga, and a shower it was time to adult and go to the grocery. If you could get by just eating food delivered to your door step, you would. That would be the life, however, you couldn't. What even is a delivery expense if the driver doesn't actually see that extra money?

The day was nice, far too warm for being so early but you weren't going to complain. Much. With your purse over your shoulder, you locked the front door and started down the steps. Movement caught your eye on the steps next to you and that was when you got a really good look at Ben. Photos didn’t do him justice. 

Despite the direct eye contact, you completely ignored him as he started to wave. You came to the sidewalk as he was calling your name, trying to catch your attention. Without a word you looked up at him, a brow raised in question.

“Hope we didn’t keep you up too late last night.” 

There was a smugness to his tone that made you roll your eyes. It was a playfulness you hadn’t felt in a long time. 

“Slept like a baby.”  

You yelled over your shoulder at him, and went on your way. Most of your interactions went like this. A playful banter, and he often left you rolling your eyes. You didn’t see him too often though, only when he was out for a smoke at the same time you were passing by. Joe mentioned that Ben was crashing at his for a while, something to do with work. Anytime you were invited to hang out, you quickly declined. 

There was no way you were getting caught up in that party scene again. 

At least that was what you thought. Joe came by your place, insisting on squeezing in a few episodes of FRIENDS because it had been far too long. There was no refusing that but, that was your first mistake.

He swore it wasn’t going to be a huge gathering. Ben was wrapping up the project he’d been working on the last few months and Lucy and Rami wanted to say congratulations and goodbye before he hopped a flight back to England. You’d already missed your chance to meet Gwilym, and you weren’t going to lie, meeting Lucy sounded like a blast. 

One could always use more girlfriends. Or just a girlfriend, as you hadn’t made any since moving to the city. 

“Fiiiineee...”

The dramatics made him laugh, and despite yourself you laughed too. When the day finally came, you couldn’t help but feel kind of nervous. Even as you knocked on the door, it felt more like the first day of school than anything. You’d been playing this game with Ben for weeks now, almost like a cat and mouse. There was no denying you were interested though. 

If you were being completely honest, you may have completely stalked him on the internet. Probably more than once.... okay, definitely more than once. Something about the playful banter made you want to know him more. The only problem was, you didn't want to lose the light fun you always had when you interacted. We'll just pretend anxiety didn't play a part. 

In very Joe fashion, the party started out just the five of you but quickly developed into quite a bit of people. It was like every friend any of them had ever made ended up at Joe's house. The music was loud, because how else can one dance? They all just wanted to have fun, and sure after a few drinks that was definitely what you were having. You still barely knew anyone but it was a lot more than just one person now. 

Even with all the fun, you felt the need for some fresh air. The backdoor was much closer than the front, with far fewer people between you and it. You'd been back there a few times, loving the fact that your neighbour had a pool. Summer days were always great by the pool but as autumn was giving way to winter, the pool was the last thing on your mind. Or so you'd thought. 

"Hey." 

Ben's deep voice startled you as you closed the door behind you. You were probably a sight as you jumped, clutching your chest as your heart tried to jump out of it. After a moment you caught your breath and took a seat on the lounge chair beside him. 

"What are you doing lurking out here?" 

You were responded to with a laugh as he held up a cigarette. You nodded your head in answer and then turned to look over the pool. Joe hadn't closed it up, saying he was going to have a heater installed so that it was usable all year round. That was something you'd have to see to believe. 

Silence stretched out for a while but it was surprisingly comfortable. Until Ben finished his smoke, that is. He was over the silence, apparently, and ready to annoy you again. He quickly shed his jacket and pulled the beanie off his head.

"What are you doing?"

"We are going swimming, get up."

"Are you insane?" 

"Maybe. Let's go love." 

He had already taken off his shirt and shoes and was working on his belt by the time you gave up arguing. You just sat there and watched him as he dropped his pants. He looked over his shoulder at you once and then offered a wink before jumping into the pool. Clearly, he'd lost his mind.  

"What are you waiting for?"

"Summer, like a sane person." 

"You're so boring." 

The chuckle made your roll your eyes, a comeback wasn't going to help you. You slid from the seat, quickly removed your sweater and pants before quickly jumping into the pool. It was far more freezing than you had anticipated and when you surfaced again you couldn't help but gasp.  

"This was a stupid idea!" 

You were shivering but you weren't alone, no matter how much he tried to hide it. 

 "I didn't think you'd actually do it." 

"You thought wrong." 

 Three Years Ago: 

You were more than surprised to see how quickly your friendship with Ben grew from that night on. He left only two days after the pool night but you didn't go a day without talking. It was weird for you but somehow through the distance you'd grown closer. So much closer that you found yourself hopping a flight to London and crashing on his couch. 

It was that trip to London that ended in a relationship. 

Trips back and forth weren't a rare occasion. You often found yourself in London, and if you weren't there, it was a guarantee to find Ben in your bed in New York.

"I know you were planning on coming back to London with me this week but I've had a change of plans." 

You were laying in bed, the chill of winter crippling your little town house. It was late, the midnight sky leaving just a soft moon light coming through the blinds. You were wrapped up in Ben's arms, your head resting on his bare chest. It had been nearly a year since the party at Joe's house. Nearly a year of being together. 

"And, what kind of change are we talking?"

"I've gotta get a flight home to see my brother. He and his wife are expecting a daughter any day now." 

A smile pulled the corners of your lips up, your eyes transfixed on the finger that was drawing mindless patterns on his chest. He always spoke so fondly of his brother, and he'd been so excited to become an uncle. It was all he'd spoke about since he found out.

"I promised to help paint the nursery." 

You hadn't realised how long the silence had stretched on until he'd spoken again. 

"Sounds like a lot of fun." 

He hummed and silence stretched again. It was so long this time you'd nearly fallen asleep. 

"Come with me." 

You were surprised, the thought of meeting his family was crazy. It was probably way over due but it still made you quite nervous. You still agreed to go, and you both got there with perfect timing. The day you landed his sister-in-law went into labour, leaving the two of you to get the finishing touches done on the nursery. 

It was so much fun, getting to paint the walls and move all the furniture back in. You'd gotten to meet his parents when they dropped by before going to the hospital to meet the baby. It was a great time, and you weren't sure what you had been worried about before. Ben insisted on staying behind and waiting to meet his new niece until she made it home. 

Something about him seemed off after his parents left. He wasn't as excited, it seemed like something was bothering him. You waited until you had everything in its rightful place before you even attempted broach the subject. 

"You wanna talk about it?"

He looked up with a raised eyebrow, as if he didn't know that he was completely obvious about his feelings. For someone who often wanted to hide the way he was feeling, and for being an actor, he was terribly unconvincing.  

"It's nothing." 

Normally, you weren't one to push. When you uttered the same words you wanted enough respect from someone to be left alone for you to deal until you were ready to talk. Today seemed to be an exception.

"It's not nothing. This should be a happy occasion right?" 

It was after the words left your mouth that you felt maybe you were the problem. Maybe he felt as though he wished he hadn't brought you along? 

"Do... is it... I mean, is it me? Do you not want me here?" 

You stuttered as you got the words out and when you finally managed a coherent sentence you were immediately soothed with a 'NO! Of course, I want you here'. He sighed and then motioned for you to follow him. You made your way down the stairs to the kitchen where coffee was immediate set to make.

"I just look at all of this, and you deserve this one day." 

He motioned around the house and as you looked around your brow furrowed. This was just stuff, and with how well his career was taking off, he could more than afford to give you stuff. Not that you wanted any of it. For you, all that mattered was that you had him. 

"You're going to have to elaborate, darling." 

He chuckled at you before explaining further what was bothering him. 

"One day, when it's time for you to have a baby.. if that's what you choose, you should know that your husband is going to be there with you." 

"And you can't provide that?" 

The confusion was clear in your voice as well as on your face. Ben always told you that you were such an open book, and easy to read. You never took that as a compliment until times like these when you wanted to convey your genuine feelings.

"Not if I'm on a set thousands of miles away from you." 

He seemed so genuinely upset but all you could do was scuff at this. When he heard your reaction his head shot up to look at you. Now it was his turn to be confused. 

"I don't need any of this. I need you. It doesn't matter if your thousands of miles away or not. I would marry you with paper rings. All of the ex's, the fights, the flaws, we wouldn't be here. I adore you, if that hasn't been abundantly clear the last year or so. As for the rest of it... we can figure it out as we go. You and me. We got this."

Your shoulder bumped against his, and he couldn't help but break out into a smile. You could tell almost immediately that he felt much better. In return a smile lit up your own face, your head falling to his shoulder as you hugged his arm. 

"I think you're pretty great too, just so you know." 

Present Day: 

The mosh pit that was happening in your stomach was becoming rather annoying. You just wished your baby knew what night and day time were. The clock on the bed side table flashed a ridiculously early time at you, informing you that sleep wasn't happening any longer. 

Nights like this was when you found yourself reminiscing. It hadn't been very long after sitting in Ben's brother's kitchen that you ended up engaged. Even shorter time frame from that you were married. The shotgun wedding was only six months ago, and here you were five months pregnant. Sometimes it all felt so fast but then you looked at the snoring butt head beside you and you didn't mind one bit. 

You found yourself marveling at the fact that when you first met, you kind of hated him, and then you stalked him on the internet, and now you watch him breathe. Kind of crazy how life works out. Who knew moving into that small little townhouse in New York was gonna change your life so drastically, so quickly. Not that you were complaining.

"You're staring darling, and quite frankly it's a bit creepy."

His thick and sleepy voice startled you, making you jump before chuckling. Normally, he would have been laughing with you but he was clearly too tired for that. 

"Can't sleep?" 

"I'll get there eventually, go back to bed. I love you." 

His hand reached over, finding your growing stomach and rubbing soothing circles. They were slow and lazy, but they seemed to do that trick as the summer salts that were happening came to a slow and then a halt all together.

"I love you too. Both of you."

[themollyjay]

Writing the Wise Ass on the Shoulder

(from my Patreon)

One of my favorite tropes, which probably harkens back to how much of an impact I Will Fear No Evil had on me, is the voice in the back of the head. In at least three of the books on my list, including Mail Order Bride, this takes the form of an AI that also happens to inhabit the main character/one of the main character’s bodies.

There’s a lot of reasons this particular trope appeals to me. For one thing, it gives the protagonist a constant companion. Someone who both cares about their wellbeing and can be completely honest with them. For another, the possibilities for banter are wonderful. When you have a character that can keep up a running commentary in someone’s head without anyone else hearing, the things the character can get away with saying are absolutely hilarious, so the character is great for comic relief. But perhaps the most important thing is, the voice in the head can be honest with the main character in a way no other character could.

There is something incredibly fun about writing two characters who literally can not walk away from each other, but it does also have its difficulties. You can’t ever completely isolate the main character, because they always have the friend in their hear, whispering encouragement, giving them a reality check, letting them know that whatever happens, they aren’t alone.

That last bit is important. If you include this kind of character, then the protagonist is never alone, and God, that’s a powerful idea, and one I really enjoy exploring.

[psychcomposer]

Alright, I have too many feelings about a video game that’s going to come out in a month that I really just need to get out. It’s been over a decade and one of my favorite games, The World Ends With You, is finally getting a sequel. I’ve been brooding on the trailers for months, and I just finished the demo, so it is time to put down my capital T Thoughts on Neo: The World Ends With You.

As a warning, this will be entirely too long. But I’m not about to keep this bound up any longer.

TWEWY is my favorite title for the Nintendo DS. It is a JRPG starring Neku Sakuraba, an aggressively antisocial teen living in the Tokyo district of Shibuya. He is suddenly pulled into a test of survival called The Reaper’s Game, where he is forced to join forces with a partner in order to survive a week of lethal objectives in a sub-planar version of Shibuya. I love the story, its such an honest and interesting take on learning to get outside of your comfort zone. But more than that, it is a game that does so much to put a modern twist on every piece of your typical JRPG. You control two characters at once, Neku with the touch screen and his partner with the control pad, forcing you to split your attention and giving mechanic weight to the idea that Neku can’t survive alone. Armor and weapons are replaced with clothes and outfits, with a character’s ability to wear them restricted not by class but by a character’s bravery. The music list is filled with punk, alt-rock and hip-hop that are a stark contrast to the symphonic tracks of other titles. Battles aren’t random impediments, but fun diversions that sport a robust reward system that encourages players to push their limits.

But even more than that, the most modern thing I appreciate about TWEWY has to be the characters. Neku, Shiki, Beat, and Rhyme all feel like believable teens that grew up in the 2000′s. They bicker, clash, and banter like teens struggling to survive and make sense of their situation. One of my favorite little gimicks of the story is just how many nicknames there are for every character. Almost everyone has earned a few nicknames. One of my favorite examples is Sho Minamimoto. He’s a reaper with an obsession with math, often infusing his speech with mathematical jargon or expressions, and seems to enjoy erecting “art installations”, which most people can only decipher as towers of trash. Over the course of the story, he gets called Pi-face, the Grim Heaper, and another nickname I can’t even mention because of spoilers. It’s just... such a nice little human touch, these kids throwing crafted insults at a human enforcer of their doom that could almost certainly tear them apart.

I’m getting into this to try to give a sense of why I enjoy TWEWY so much, why it has such a unique place in my heart. Its a game I’ve 100% completed several times over, a task that’s no easy feat with the sheer amount of collectibles and post-game objectives. Unfortunately, for the last year or two, I’ve been kind of dreading this sequel.

Neo:TWEWY has been... a long time coming. Way back in 2007 they had a whole website counting down to some sort of announcement, with the music slowly building in intensity. I remember following it with bated breath, until it finally hit zero! And we got... An ios port of the game. Talk about a let-down. To be fair, apparently it is a solid port, even managing to re-work the old battle system, one that required a second screen to work properly, into one that only needed one. But what that really offered to someone like me was the hint of a sequel, a single image of a new character being shown. They kept flirting with the idea of bringing the series back. The main cast even featured in a Kingdom Hearts game, of all things, even if they didn’t really do a whole lot. But these acknowledgments grew sparser and sparser.

A few years ago, they released a switch port of the game. Not only that, it included an epilogue! They were finally getting a sequel rolling! Of course I bought that game, beat it yet again, and fought my way to the new content and the hint of the new story ahead.

It was... Well. I found it disappointing.

The gameplay was competent, even if it was clear that the epilogue itself really hadn’t had too much put into it. One new character,  new enemies just being reskins of old ones. It wasn’t meant to be dlc itself or anything, it was just there to herald a return to the series. That wasn’t what bugged me. What bugged me was the writing. It was heart-wrenching. It just didn’t feel right. It just felt flat compared to the story I’d enjoyed so many times. But what really killed my excitement was the new character, Coco.

Now, odd personality quirks are not too unusual among the ensemble of TWEWY. Pi-face is just one of the characters that is so infused with a particular theme that it shows in how they express themselves. It’s part of the charm of them, discovering the personalities that live in this dark underworld of Shibuya. But Coco... she talks like the most stereotypical young teenager possible. unironic lols, totez (yes, spelt exactly like that, in a speech format), OMG’s, and just, like, likes everywhere! It felt like someone who knew they needed to make a quirky character but had no idea how to write one well, and just made the most stereotypical caricature possible. I hated seeing that. It embodied every fear I had about the sequel being just a cynical project, pushed forward after so many years  by people who just didn’t understand what made the original great. That mild dread was so persistent that even the release of the first few trailers couldn’t really get me excited for the game. Neo:TWEWY was shifting into 3d from the original 2.5d, with all the problems that could cause. What I could see of the story felt so much more like a generic fantasy tale with some modern buildings than the story I had grown through my teenage years with. And, well... Just look the original Neku and the new one they showed off.

Look at this. Look at one of the most vibrant, eye-catching character designs on the market for any JRPG in history, one that manages to mix purple and orange with striking lights and darks. And then look at the teenager edgelord bullshit they did with him. It’s atrocious. I hate it. He’s just another guy in a black outfit and just too much fucking cool guy protagonist power to not have the story be about him at this point. And look, I know that there’s Story LoreTM, I know that there could be some twist that explains this, I know that him being such a denial of his old self could be the entire fucking point. But let me tell you, when I saw this, I felt years of shifting, misplaced unease coalesce into a hard lump of dread.

And... Even... So... I did the stupidest thing I could have possibly done and preordered the game anyway. Don’t look at me like that, nostalgia is a hell of a drug.

But you know what? The damnedest thing happened. They released a demo for the new game a month before its release. And I played it, and... I enjoyed it.

Did you see that coming? I certainly didn’t. Welcome to the roller coaster.

Right off the bat, the writing soothed a lot of the fears I had. It felt right at home, like being plopped between to teens exchanging banter. One of the first exchanges is Rindo and Fret, his best friend, trying to meet up. Fret wants Rindo to meet him at  someplace called Wunafo, an area Rindo is clueless about. After some annoyed texting, it turns out Fret is actually referring to 104, a local landmark of a building. Fret insists that its a stylish improvement on the name. Rindo only gives him some grief about it..

I’m not doing the scene justice, or I could just be really desperate for half-decent writing, but I can’t deny that it quickly put a smile on my face. I am almost sure I’ve had this conversation before in years past myself. And beyond that, this game boasts voice acting that brings out a ton of personality in the large cast they are introducing (besides Rindo, which is a shame because he’s the protagonist... hopefully he gets over his apathetic teenager shtick eventually). Not everything is voiced, but it conveys so much appeal and personality, and even when the character’s aren’t voiced there is a conversation screen that occasionally breaks out some stylish layouts to convey mood and temperment and clearly draw from the style that made the original game pop so much.

The battles, of course, have been completely revamped. TWEWY had you control two characters, one of which you could customize by equipping up to 6 different pins that all used different motions and unleashed different attacks. Now you control up to four characters, but each one can only use one pin. But even so, it feels very genuine to its roots. An effective build in TWEWY was usually one that let you stagger an opponent so you can unload a bunch of attacks on them, and in Neo:TWEWY the game actively pushes you to folllow up attacks with characters in succession. It would be easy for this to devolve into a mash-fest, but even with the little time I had with the game it introduced a wrinkle in that- an attack that unleashed a single powerful blow, but couldn’t just be unleashed at the end of the previous combo. It needed to be charged for a while, long enough for the combo timer to deplete. So now an effective combo requires thinking ahead, and even after that you’re paying attention to enemies to dodge out of the way when they strike back. It’s entirely possible this system will flop in the late game, but so far it is robust enough for me to think that it will be one that could make me look forward to battles.

The music hasn’t impressed me so far, besides the tracks that have made the transition from the original. But I remember those strange tracks needing some time before I appreciated them too.

Finally, the story has hooked me. I don’t think that needs much more explanation. I want to see more of these characters and see the changes that have been made to the world in what I assume is years after Neku’s game. And to address the elephant in the room, Neku has not made his appearance in what is available in the demo. Odds are I will probably hate whatever they do with him. But there is enough happening in the space around it that I’m interested in exploring, and a bruised apple can still taste sweet.

Almost all of this, of course, is mostly just saying that Neo:TWEWY is not doomed to fail. There is still plenty of room for things to go wrong later on. There are entire systems I haven’t really seen in game, like shops, pin evolution, clothing and food (Though it looks like they have changed the food system significantly, which I approve of). The things that unnerved me so much in the trickle of information after this game’s announcement could still be enough to turn this sour. But I’m smiling as I’m strapping myself in for this ride now, one I’ve waited quite a long time for. Whatever’s coming, I’m excited.

[ahmedmootaz]

Drakken and Shego: The Shippening: Finale.

You can probably see that I’m running out of ideas for titles. In any case, folks, y’all probably thought I was gone, eh? You thought I stopped my shipping of these two? You thought the Tazmanian Intelligence Forces finally got me after such a long time? Well you thought wrong! Here I am, still writing about these two dorks, and here’s a small compilations of the moments I found to be cute between the two of them, for what will unfortunately be the last time, I’m afraid, but hey, at least Graduation was wholly amazing. Really, it’s one of my favorite finales to a series so far.  But enough monologuing, I watched this show enough to learn how much it can ruin a man, let’s just get into it.

Starting with “Odds Man In”, in which Drakken and Shego open up a...cupcake business. Man, even the summary of this episode can be enough to half-fuel the Titanic. Honestly though, the re-introduction of Hank was a nice call-back, and now he has a better job. Truly a self-made man right there. In any case, I like how Drakken and Shego seem to just have this...thing of casual Friday. I mean, honestly, the way Shego reacted wasn`t surprised or even mocking; she`s already had this conversation before, as in, Drakken has a usual casual Friday. That`s honestly pretty cute. Even though I`m entirely certain Shego would never participate, but at least he`s confident enough around her to wear as he wishes. And, to an extent, she’s nice enough to go with it, which is unheard of for Shego.Then the whole promotion part with Shego, which is what I expected of her to be honest. In fact, her entire dynamic with Drakken this episode appeals to me mostly because of how well they seem to have adapted to each other`s weaknesses and how they`re kinda-maybe-not really getting along well. Also, the ending segment is fairly nice with how Drakken simply invites Shego to help him with the cupcakes. Knowing him, I’d have thought he’d have acted less “Can we please just finish these things?” and more “I made these so they are mine and mine only!”. Though I do wonder how he got rid of the extra calories he gained. Talk about high-metabolism.

Leaving Drakken to burn those calories like he burns people with his raps, we now move onto “Stop Team Go.”, an epsiode I’m certain many put on their ‘Favorite Episodes’ list, and not without good reason. Of course, the main point of the episode was to explore the strange, unimaginable and yet intriguing idea of what would happen if Shego was basically Kim but with superpowers. I enjoyed the return of Team Go, the expansion of their proper storyline and such, and I definitely did not mind seeing Ron go back to becoming Lord Zorpox, even if for a brief moment. But I suppose the real reason we’re all here is Drakken and Shego, eh? Can’t blame ya’. So the side-plot with Drakken and the pickle jar was more than entertaining, but you know what I noticed? Drakken’s immediate assumption that Shego was there during the morning. At breakfast. I mean, come on, people, does anyone here regularly have breakfast with their boss? Well, in any case, even after her abandoning him time and time again throughout this series, Drakken is either gullible enough or so trusting to the point where he considers this all to be a little...prank. He spends all the day trying to open the pickle jar and imitate Darth Vader, but he doesn’t doubt her.  At all. I find that rather nice on his part after everything they’re been through together. I quite liked seeing Shego and Kim interact without trying to cut each other’s throats for once (Mr.Barking crushing on Shego was...It...I-I...Listen, he can dream big, alright? I ain’t stopping him, but...I don’t really think it...uh...worked, for a lack of a better term...He didn’t quite deserve angry guard dogs on him but...I think it was best for him to let go...) but after the dust had settled and Electronique was back in jail, one thing got me hooked: “SHEEEEEEGO! I NEEEEED YOU!”. C’mon, Doc, you’re her boss. Couldn’t you have said something more...strict and bossy? “Oh, there you are, Shego!”, for example? Bah, whether or not he was speaking solely about the gherkin jar is entirely up for debate...heh. I also liked the fact that in what I can only presume to be their spare time, they actually sit together in a single room. Not much talking, but at least they’re getting along. Maybe they can even start a chat or two.

Heading onto “Cap’n Drakken”, where I didn’t really find much in the term of shipping. Perhaps their little chat in their underwater lab, but it was standard at this point in time. I suppose it does give more room for personal writing and headcanons now that we know that Drakken has underwater labs in addition land ones, so there’s that. I cannot really consider anything Drakken does when he’s possessed as...him, to put it simply, although I did appreciate Mr.Barkin`s shenanigans during the episode. Also Kim saving our lovable blue man after he nearly drowns was nice on her part. Thanks for not letting Drakken die a horrible and painful death, Princess. I would`ve liked a joke or two about Mr.Barkin recognizing Shego as Ms.Go and Shego actually trying to help Drakken instead of blasting him off the boat because he ticked her off...But I suppose what she did was very...Shego of her. Couldn`t have expected anymore on her behalf.

And now, we explore “The Mentor Of Our Discontent.” where....Frugal Lucre is back?...Goodness, Frugal Lucre IS back! I almost forgot about him! Good on ya’, man. Though I don’t suppose Drakken was too happy about it...And Shego telling Frugal about what irks Drakken the most while disguising it as his most beloved things? Typical. Nice bit of teasing, though. Her saving them from their near-doom was also a nice on her parts. I also liked the small bit of continuity where Shego reminds (read: practically yells at) Drakken that his past robot-related idea was a bust...Which...I mean...she’s not wrong, but it’s not the robots themselves that failed, it was him...well, tying Kim effing Possible with a regular rope to what seemed like a piece of cardboard. Also...”Oh no: They’re bonding!”...Shego, is that...jealousy, I sense? Most likely not, in fact it’s probably my shipping senses tingling once more, but SHHHHHH. In any case, she probably didn’t want Drakken knowing anyone else since...well, they’d render her obsolete; how many people does Drakken know and interact with on a  daily basis? Not many, I would presume. The plan was...well, it could’ve worked, certainly, but...trying to seduce Jeff Bezos? Yeah, not...too likely...Honestly, the way Shego and Drakken argued this episode, it seemed as if she wanted more...recognition? Appreciation? Never thought she’d be after that, but I suppose she does deserve some, no? Also...Shego with yellow hair? Yeah, not really working out for ya’ with the whole...green skin thing...Yeah, I’ll stop. Also, unlike some people, I actually think Jeff dodged a big, flaming plasma bullet when Shego left him for good. Who knows, he might’ve woken up with a large burn wound and empty pockets. Also no real-estate value. At least she was nice enough to save Drakken and Frugal after this bust of a plot, no? Otherwise we wouldn’t see them in the following episodes? Oh, shut up, I’ll think what I want!

Alsoalsoalso, and this is extremely important: Shego loves hydrangeas! Hey, everyone has a soft-spot, and apparently, Shego is no different. Extremely important you guys. Think of the fanfiction potential!

And now, sliding onto “Clean Slate”, we have Drakken discovering what it’s like to start forgetting about the most essential of things while remembering everything else for a plan. You know, I could’ve sworn I saw a character like that before, though he was nowhere near as likable as Drakken...Oh. Wait. Sorry, my fault. That’s just me. Also, good on you for calling out the exposition, Shego, just as a true friend should for their boss!...Okay also for a sidekick but shut up. Anyways, Drakken tries to amplify his thinking by stealing a thinking machine and...Honestly? His dialogue and banter with Shego throughout the way there is simply amazing. The first scene with the pair of them in the lab after the day-off was just brilliant; I could not tell you just how unsurprising it was that Drakken watches “Ballroom With B Actors”. No surprise at all. Their banter was surprisingly...un-bitter? I mean, yeah, Shego was being her usual self, go figure, but Drakken wasn’t reacting nearly as vengefully as he would...Hmm...Also, why does Shego care if Drakken becomes a list-guy or not? Why does she care if he becomes lame? She is only the sidekick, no? She shouldn’t be concerned about how lame or not he is, eh? Also, personal experience has taught me that these papers are actually life-savers so...lameness for the win? And the hospital scene was quite nice too. The bowling with the henchmen part got a giggle out of me, but I liked how Shego was (slightly) invested in the mission itself. I mean, she actually took the lead, helped Drakken fit the pieces...these things. Also, what I wouldn’t do for a card that just says “Oh snap.”. Their second scene at the lair was also very nice, mostly because of how natural(?) everything felt...I mean...Once more, they’ve started interacting less like boss-and-sidekick and more like equals...In fact, Shego doesn’t immediately quip back when Drakken boasts about his plan in front of her. Which is honestly something unheard of for Shego. And again with the serum creation part, where the lippy-ness and everything else just becomes...naturalized. I mean, heck, “geek!”? That’s the best insult Shego can come up with? Though I have to agree with her about the fool-proof part; the more you say it, the more it is jinxed, my man. And then, the plan itself. which...well...I mean...Just one part. So close. So close. I liked the small quip with “Settle down,”, implying that he needs Shego to...well...calm down. I don’t like stating the obvious but here I am. Unfortunately, Shego’s friendliness doesn’t last all too long (When has it ever?) and she abandons Drakken when the train is about to explode. Same old Shego. At least she came back for him, though. I respect that at least.

Alsoalsoalso, can we give it to Dr.D that he took a major level in awesomeness?! I mean, Shego just deserted him, he was about to be overrun by (an admittedly weakened) Kim Possible, but instead of yelling or running away, he fights back! You go, Dr.D...even though it didn’t turn out all that great...But did you folks see just how glorious his coat looked while it fluttered in the wind? The stuff of dreams. Also the fact that he managed to survive a head-on collision with a hard surface at about 150 Km/h without having Newton’s Third Law obliterate him deserves an award in and out of itself.

Alright, so the next episode that features them only has them in the end credit, but I’m going to use that ocne scene for my argument anyways! Why does Drakken, I don’t know, talk to Shego about lair decoration? I mean, come on, is that a normal thing? And Shego peacefully reading without any snark...just informing Drakken of what’s happening. It was a nice display of companionship and trust after everything they’ve been through. I believe it was also one of they very few scenes with the two of them without any actual snark. Which sets the mood perfectly for:

“Graduation.”. Alright, this one is self-explanatory. We’ve heard it all; an amazing wrap-up, fantastic conclusion to the characters we loved to much (even if I did hate having to bid this show farewell...) and most of all ship-fuel. Oh, goodness, so much ship-fuel. Let’s start with the first scene, with Drakken and Shego in their lab again as he...turns into a Flower?...Just imagining how they’d deal with that is fluffy enough...Oh, also, why was Shego just...taking a bath right there and then? I get that it’s cold up there, but come on, isn’t that just a great display of trust? Could you possibly imagine this would just be done in a regular employee-employer relationship? We’ll skip momentarily over the admittedly nice and thought-provoking Kim-part to go straight to the jungle lair, where our favorite duo is...teasing each-other. The small, genuine smile on Shego’s face sells their friendship to me, and once more, imagining a day where Shego needs to deal with Drakken’s flower is fluffy beyond all belief. And then the alien tower-robot drops in. And then he gets abducted. I’ll gloss over his adorable monologue about his mother and cut to Shego’s horrified expression. That absolute terror on her face when Dr.D’s being dragged away from her. Pretty caring of her, dont’cha think? And her only worry when seeing the alien beacon near them is their lair being found out...seems like Drakken transmitted his interests to her pretty well.

Alright, so the second, more amazing part. Firstly, Shego being so bloody adamant on finding Drakken warms my heart like she warmed those machines’ metal legs, I mean goodness! That’s someone on a mission right there! Amd her absolute resolve to just go out to space to save Drakken...Yep, definitely more to her than the gloating, teasing, snarky Shego we all know and love. Putting aside the amusing interactions between Drakken and Kimmy, we’ll move onto one of the most iconic scenes so far, and one that has been unfortunately spoiled to me, the near-hug between Drakken and Shego. I...I knew from the day I first saw that this would be great to watch. Just...So close! The hesitation signaled to me that they didn’t quite know how the other one felt, so they called it off as to not get ‘awkweird’. Even their bickering afterwards feels less like bickeing and more like...talk. Old married couple snark, if you will. So after a small jog they run into...Warhawk and Warmonga. Who then proceed to perceive them as a couple. Listen, I’m not an expert on romantics, but when an alien race who has only seen you for a single day and thinks you’re a couple...well...inter-galactic shipping cannot be wrong, eh? And Shego’s rebuttal of these caims, while fierce is...well...as Warhawk elegantly put it “A river of Denial.”. Also, notice how Drakken made no effort to argue with Warmonga’s claims.  And then their little co-operation at the lab...if I remember correctly, someone had posted a now-deleted script for this scene that was far more amical. Also far more shippy. And now, we head onto how they save the world together. Firstly, Shego’s introduction of Drakken really feels like how she’d act if she was a typical sidekick, finding glory in every bit of Drakken’s plans. Of course, this is Shego we’re talking about, so this must be something...Good on ya’ Dr.D. Also, and I noticed this through the insight of @bcbdrums ‘ post, but have you noticed that the flowers that bloom are blue and green? Hmm? Is this signaling something, Drakken? Perhaps he signaled it a little too close in the final moments, if that also-iconic scene is anything to go by! I just stopped in my tracks for a moment when it came to him and Shego...Plant-hugging. This is almost everything I wanted. And the smile...it just sells a lot to me. Also how happy Shego looks for Drakken. And on that note, I adore that this is the last we see them together, leaving the rest for our questionably sane minds to fill.

So that was it, folks. Kim Possible. What an amazing journey, huh? It was all-around amazing, and Drakken and Shego (and their shippiness!) only added to it. Such a magnificent adventure this has been, and I wish you all enjoyed it with me, even when I went MIA to hide from Tazmanian Intelligence also because I was lazy  , once again, thank you. Every single one of you. Your opinions are welcome.

Alsoalsoalso, I wrote a Fanfic! Check it out here and write your opinions about that because...well, it means a lot to me. The Fic:https://archiveofourown.org/works/20329315/chapters/48201205

[carat10library]

Reverie

Pairing: Junhui x You

Genre: fluff

Word count: 1,436

A/N: I saved my ult bias for last. It’s Wen Jun Hui. This one was set in probably my favorite European city in Czech Republic. And also the bridge that is my dream destination. No, I haven’t been there but I would really love to be there someday. For this, I toyed with the idea of Jun being all-out with his playing the piano (and his being a weirdo in front of girls hahaha). And with my childhood dream of learning to play the violin which dates to 16 years ago, I made this one possible.

But this isn’t just for me. So if you love him too, this is for you!

Thanks for reading, if not all, then some of the oneshots I wrote. Keep shining!

  The Old Town is now quiet though some shops are still open. The buildings look mysterious, beautiful and lonely. The skies are dark sprinkled with tiny stars. You walked quietly, hiding your yawn. It could be the way the lights are pouring on the street this evening that gives you the calm feeling. Or it could be Junhui walking beside you wherever you go around here in the city of Prague. You always feel comfortable with him and grateful for the small talks and comfortable silence.

The entrance to Charles Bridge is nearer now. You both agreed to come here at evening so there would be fewer people. You both love the quiet despite laughing out loud at each other’s lame jokes. Prague is in the middle of autumn; the wind chilly but bearable.

“We can go up the tower to see everything better,” you told Junhui. He nodded, hands tucked in his coat’s pocket.

The Old Town Bridge Tower looks empty of other tourists. Perfect. With sure steps you led him inside it. Junhui catch up with your pace until the stairs came into view.

He offered a hand to you. You smiled apologetically. You stopped walking, contemplating on what to do. It is a given that you want to hold his hand badly, but something is forbidding you.

“I’m sorry. I forgot about your hand,” he mumbled shyly. Perhaps, he noticed your secret dilemma. “You can go first,” he offered, stepping aside the end of the stairs.

You frowned at yourself while going up the stairs. He must be disappointed. You sighed quietly to erase the thoughts in your head. As you reached the top of the tower, your breath left you. Stunned by the beautiful view below you, everything you saw made you wonder. Charles Bridge glows above the Vltava River. Prague Castle glitters on the other side.

“Junhui,” you started. “You look disappointed and it’s because of me.”

He looked at you and something in his eyes made your knees buckle. Sympathy stared at you.

“I’m not,” he stated softly. “I understand that your hands hurt. I am not disappointed, really. Maybe, it’s the pain that makes me feel close to being disappointed. But it’s not you.”

You stared at your hands. Some of your fingers are wrapped in transparent Band-Aids. Strain from your arms and wrists joined in the tragedy. There is pain in learning music. In the case of the violin, it is physical.

“You are only beginning to learn. I won’t stop you from doing what you want. Who knows, you might be the next violin prodigy of this century?” he said in a rush.

“Stop it,” you said, chuckling. “Are you kidding me?”

“I am actually encouraging you.” There isn’t a trace of annoyance in his voice, only calm conviction.

“Before when I saw and heard you play the piano, I had this dream to play next to you.”

“And you thought of the violin,” he said. “We’re perfect, then.”

You blushed despite the dim lights on that tower.

“It won’t be long. I’ll be good at playing the violin, so we can play together. We’ll do classical and pop. And this pain will be nothing to me because I’ll learn the proper techniques by then and not just going with it.”

“The proper techniques, you should really learn them,” he said that made you laugh. “You’re adorably careless.”

“I don’t know about adorably, only careless. I caused these poor hands to hurt.”

Junhui took a step closer to you. He nudged your chin up so you’d have to look at him. The tower is all yours. You looked up at his perfectly handsome face. For a moment you don’t mind about the pain. Perhaps, you don’t have to think it through. You rested your left hand on his shoulder, the one with the Band-Aids, and feel the rise and fall of his breathing. His heart beating shamelessly fast made you think of a lively pop song you practice with. It’s probably close to midnight and it is full of getting lost in each other’s gazes, accelerandoes found in heartbeats, and nothing but just the two of you up in this old tower. His forehead creased with worry for your hand on his shoulder but you told him it’s okay.

“Careless,” he called you. “It pains me to not hold your hands, but I think this will do.”

You are so not ready for this. But you waited. Junhui leaned in to kiss you gently as if you would break or something. But you do feel like you are falling. Falling all over again for him and not the kind that tears apart. There’s throbbing and you figured it was your own heart. All because of the chaste kiss he gave you.

“Well, um,” he stuttered, shy all of a sudden. The duality of Wen Junhui.

“Hey, you’re okay,” you chuckled. You took his hand. “I thought you knew what you’re doing earlier.”

He sighed, regaining his composure. “I hope you are aware of what you are doing now.”

“I don’t mind anymore,” you uttered. His grip remained loose not because he was reluctant but being careful.

“Why don’t we cross the bridge? And see what’s on the other side.”

“If I’m being honest, I knew that’s the real plan not until several minutes ago.”

“Not until I kissed you.”

“Yeah, that.”

This time Junhui is ahead of you, leading you down the stairs. Charles Bridge is silent, a handful of tourists are taking photos not far from you and him. Junhui is back at your side and you both marvel at the statues on both sides of the bridge even the lamp posts that shine soft yellow lights. The statues added to the bridge’s appeal. No vehicles, whatever the kind, may pass this bridge but only pedestrians. That fact makes this place more beautiful, you thought. It’s like you have it all for yourselves. Just you and him.

“Can I ask what piece are you trying to learn?”

“I’m not telling you yet since it’s a song that most people don’t know and listen to. It wasn’t a classical piece but a ballad song and one of my favorites. I’ll sing it to you next time. You’ll love the song for sure. I can’t wait,” you gushed in delight.

“You talk too much for a quiet person. Do you know that?” he said matter-of-factly.

“Can’t say that I don’t,” you agreed, all smiles. “Are you complaining?”

“I’m not! I meant that in a positive way. Why are you making this hard for me?” he asked, laughing at his own awkwardness and nerves. “You make me feel happy and weird at the same time.”

“Wow. Did I make you flustered? Is this a first for you?” You are totally enjoying this.

“No, you do it frequently,” he confessed. Didn’t he kiss you back at the tower earlier? But you admire him for telling you that.

“Well, I’m not sorry,” you uttered, honestly and playfully.

“No, you don’t have to be,” he decided.

His eyes gazed at you and it seemed like you are back on the tower. It’s impossible to look at him and just turn your eyes away. That’s not something you could do. He’s gone all serious and tender with that look in his eyes and on his face. You smiled, remembering all the days you had with him. Again, you smiled thinking about what’s to come which probably includes lots of staring contests, playful banters, and music from the piano and the violin on rainy days.

Junhui smiled as if he is thinking of those things you have in your mind now. He threw his arms around you, resting his chin on the top of your head like he always does. This is not the time for thinking what’s on the other side of the bridge, where you would rather be wandering without sleep, when all of this Prague escapade might come to an end. The gentleness of his embrace made you drop those thoughts. It is one of his subtle ways of saying the words that could either build your world or make it stop turning. It is in his gazes and the way he held you even when he’s all nervous or edgy.

“Y/N,” he murmured. “I want you to be happy with me every day and if that includes, say, enjoying my own distress as a result of trying my best to sweep you off your feet with whatever chance I could get, then you’re very welcome. That’s all for you, anyway.”

[fan-fantasies]

Love Story At Tina’s Diner

Pairing: greaser!BTS x Reader

Warnings?: possible smut in the future (I haven’t decided yet)

A/N: Hey guys whats up. Breezy here. I decided to share this fic with you all, I’ve begun writing and posting on my Wattpad. (If for some reason you want it, here’s the link) I’m writing it in my free time as a way to destress from my work and as a way to forget about all the work I have for finals. I wanted to share this cause I enjoy writing it and have wanted to write it for some time to be honest but I'm honestly trash at writing series lol. So I hope you guys enjoy it.

~Breezy

The dinner was the hangout of everyone in the town, families, teens and even those who were just passing through. You did enjoy spending time there, even though you worked there every day. You always met some interest people while you worked, all types of people. Though the most interesting people you ever met was this group of boys that rolled into town. Their leather jackets, tight pants and styled hair. Each of them different from each other yet they acted like such close family. They all had something special about them, though two of them seemed to catch your eye more.

One of them usually sat near on the outside of the table, not wanting to be squished into the middle. He was usually quiet, listening to his friends banter about whatever they were talking about sometimes his gummy smile would appear at random. It was cute and would often distract you from your work. 

The second was a rather happy man, would constantly be apart of the conversation, laughing and being silly. His smile always bright which always made you just feel so warm and happy. You never spoke to them unless you were taking their orders, but your coworkers said they were the talk of the town. They were the new ‘bad boys’ of the town. It’s easy for you to say that all these boys are attractive and ones that maybe you shouldn’t get close with. 

Well this isn’t that kind of story. 

Day after day, the boys would come in, order the same things and spent an hour at their table talking about whatever. The more they came into the diner, the more you contemplated speaking more than hello, what can I get you. 

It was Wednesday afternoon, usually a slower part of the day, that was when the group walked in. They walked over to their table continuing their conversation. You decided to give them a few minutes before walking over with your notepad and pen. 

“Same as always I’m assuming,” you say with a smile as you stand at the head of the table, they all looked up at you. 

Taehyung, the one with the boxy smile, answered with a nod, “You bet!” You wrote down everyone order and prepared to walk off,

“You remember all of our orders?” Jimin, a petite man with light hair, spoke to you. He didn’t usually speak much but his voice was very sweet to hear. 

You smile, “Yes, you all are here too frequently I just have gotten used to it,” you tell them before walking towards the window to let the kitchen know of the order.  The group could be heard across the diner, their conversation was loud but it really wasn’t bothering anyone. 

It was a bit before their food was ready for them, you expertly picked up the tray and walked over to the table. Their voices got quiet as you got closer to them, probably expecting you to ask who’s was who’s, but you easily set each plate in front or close to them. 

“You really do know all our orders,” Jimin speaks in shock. 

You tried to hold back a giggle, “I told you, now if you need anything don’t be afraid to call me over.” You knew that these boys were flirty, maybe a little crazy, and not to mention attractive but you wouldn’t let yourself fall that easy. Your parents would kill you knowing you found an attractive bad boy greaser.

“Why don’t you hang with us, darling?” Seokjin spoke out, you usually recognized him due to his outfit and hair style. His hair was typically slightly slicked back and a tight leather jacket, he was like a model. Most girls was gawk at him but you didn’t seem to see the appeal, he was a bad boy, they all were, but his type wasn’t something that caught your eye. 

“Sorry Seokjin, I’m still on the clock. Can’t get caught sitting on the job,” you tell him with a smirk. 

“Then after?” He leaned forward, his eyebrow raised. The group either rolled their eyes or chucked at his comment. 

You stared right back at him, “Not after either, I have plans.” You shrug before walking away leaving the group leaving Seokjin speechless and the other members laughing at his humiliation. He was flabbergasted that he had been dismissed, no female ever dismissed him but he knew that she had eyes on someone else. This only just strengthened his theory even more. 

“She seems like a spit fire,” Tae stated as he nudged Jimin with a chuckle. All the members seemed to erupt into conversation, the only silent member was Jungkook. He seemed lost in thought for a few moments but no one paid any mind to him. 

This was just another typical day with the new the bad boy group, Bangtang.

It wasn’t a lie when you told Soekjin that you had plans, you and a few friends had decided to go to a drive in the watch a movie. It wasn’t uncommon for you all to go out, Soohyun and Minyeong were at your side most time. 

The two of them had moved to your town when you were just starting high school, most people had believed they were sisters considering they didn’t almost everything together. You ended up sitting with them at lunch one day due to your table being taken by a bunch of random people. You never connected with people but these two seemed to instantly understand you. The three of you become just like sisters, going to the drive in, going to the diner. It wasn’t something you were used, so being able to go spend some time with others made your life seem to brighten up a bit. Needless to say it was the one thing you needed in your life, friends. Your parents were ecstatic to hear you finally had someone to spend time with outside of school, though they where very stern on how your grades reflected but they were happy you weren’t spending your time at home or doing some other rebellious thing. 

You stayed friends for the remainder of high school, all the way up to now, a few new friends had wiggled their way into your life as well. You often saw them all at the diner as well, but you all often took a day out of the week to see a movie. It was a fun way to forget about everything going on and just to spend some time away from home. 

After your shift ends, you rushed home in order to get ready for you night out with the girls. You  didn’t think going in your uniform was the most comfortable considering you smelt like food. Once you finished getting dressed you rushed downstairs, 

“Mom, Dad, I’m going to the drive in with Soohyun and Minyeong!” You call walking towards the door. 

“Alright hunny! Just remember be home before eleven!” Your mother called just as you rushed out the door towards Soohyun’s car.

[deltaengineering]

winter anime 2020 part 6: it is fin(e)

Part 5 seems to have fallen into some sort of Tumblr memory hole (it’s not flagged and I know this because I have plenty of actually flagged posts, and people can see it just fine with direct links, but it doesn’t even show up in my own timeline), possibly because of screencaps of shota bulge. But that’s just Interspecies Reviewers, and I’m a honest dude with honest screencaps. You can find it here.

A3! Season Spring & Summer

Oh, P.A. Works. You never know whether you’re getting Dr. PA (Shirobako) or Mr. Works (Glasslip) with them. The last thing they did was most definitely a Mister production (since it was Fairy Gone), so maybe they’re up for some greatness again? In short, no. A3 isn’t dreadful, but it’s more reminiscent of the likes of HaruChika, so maybe an undergraduate at most. It’s more than a bit confusing but at the end of the day it seems to be about a girl that inherits a shitty theater house and now has to make the various boys that hang around in the vicinity do actor things. This is based on a mobile game of the otome persuasion and while I was sussing that out, I saw some people be very insistent that it's MOST DEFINITELY NOT A REVERSE HAREM. It must be some other genre of fiction that is all about one girl being surrounded by pretty boys all day then. Anyway, the main girl is alright, so it seems fairly watchable, but overall it’s just somewhat clunky and not of the highest quality, so I don’t think it’s for me.

ARP Backstage Pass

ARP is a boyband anime, remember those? It’s a really predictable one too - mostly just introductions of the characters, who are all the kinds of characters you might find in a boyband anime doing vaguely boybandish things. You know how these go. What’s funny though is how it looks, which is to say it looks painfully cheap. Not that that’s rare for boyband cash-in anime (I’ve covered the topic extensively), but ARP is unusual in that it has above average looking CG performance sequences too. In the end this makes it look like they had these fairly okay CG music videos already and thought “I know a guy, we’ll pay him 10bux and have him bang out some flimsy connective animation and then we can pretend we have a TV show.” A+ hustle if true.

Dorohedoro

The manga Dorohedoro is a fairly known quantity, and that’s a good thing too because fuck me if I have to explain what it is. Okay, what it IS is not hard to explain: It’s a surreal tone piece defined by a grimy punk-on-acid aesthetic and an irreverent and dark comedic tone mostly based on ultraviolence - what’s hard (and tedious, and beside the point) is to explain the narrative content, so I won’t. The line between lolrandom nonsense and on-point surrealism is very thin, and you need a ton of style to pull the latter off convincingly. Dorohedoro definitely manages to make it work so far, and the only thing I don’t like as far as style is concerned is that they do the main characters in CG. It’s not bad CG, but this is a show that’s particularly good-looking otherwise so it’s still a step down - though CG tends to hold up better when the looks deteriorate over the season, and MAPPA aren’t the most solid in that regard. Hey, at least with them you can count on a ballin’ OP and Dorohedoro definitely comes with one of those. It still makes very little sense, and going by the opinions of people who read it, this won’t change in the foreseeable future or possibly ever. As long as it keeps the style and the quirkiness coming, I don’t really mind.

Kyokou Suiri / In/Spectre

So I was pretty positive on the first episode of In/Spectre, in particular the way it escalates from people sitting on a bench talking about nothing to youkai hunt shenanigans. I also liked the main characters quite a lot and the chemistry between them even more. Still, a few doubts remained - it wasn’t very visually appealing, it’s obviously based on a very talky novel, and what it eventually ended up revealing is that it’s essentially just some modern edgy version of Gegege no Kitarou or the many, MANY imitators thereof. But so far, so good, seems like a winner.

Then I got to episode 2 and it was so excruciatingly bad that I dropped the whole show 20 minutes in because I couldn’t take it anymore. Episode 2 is 5 minutes of very stilted characters banter, followed by, no joke, 15 solid minutes of Kotoko reading a newspaper to a snake. It’s not particularly relevant or interesting news items either - apparently Exposition Shinbun does gangbusters in this universe. The lame direction doesn’t help with any of this, in the end it was the director of Endride after all. With my professional duty already fulfilled by this point and an episode that is a contender for worst episode of the season so far, I ain’t got time for this shit.

Natsunagu

Natsunagu is a short whose unique selling point is, and I quote, “the first over-the-air television anime produced by a local government that lasts one quarter of a year.” Thanks, Kumamoto Prefecture, that’s exactly my strike zone right there. Apart from that bit of hilarity, it’s quite alright I guess. There isn’t much to the first episode because it’s all of 3 minutes long and barely establishes the concept (girl goes to Kumamoto to find an internet acquaintance), but it looks nice and it has a smooth tone that goes down easy. Might just watch it to be able to say I did.

Runway de Waratte

Runway de Waratte is about a girl who wants to become a super, nay, hypermodel but is overly short, and a guy who wants to become a fashion designer but isn’t an asshole. You know, I’ve had some luck with fashion-based anime before, but Runway de Waratte is no Paradise Kiss. There, I said it. It doesn’t even have a Franz Ferdinand ED! Runway de Waratte is the most basic shounen take on the same material; while Paradise Kiss was about a bunch of weirdos and outcasts, this right here is about a rich girl who’s mad that she’s too short to get everything she wants for free, but makes up for it with trademark assertive shounen enthusiasm. Designerman is, of course, the sensitive type and the show thinks that makes it say something about gender roles, which is just adorable. Runway is also very peculiarly paced, to the degree that I’d say it does border on just plain badly written - there is so much time spent on establishing the characters in a vacuum (and they’re hardly complex), only to rush through the part where things actually start to happen during the end credits. And it’s a bizarre coincidence plot too. This is another show that isn’t fundamentally busted and borderline watchable, but would simply have to be significantly better for me to give it more chances.

Rikei ga Koi ni Ochita no de Shoumei shitemita

As someone who has been known to post charts about zettai ryouiki golden ratios and whatnot to social media with the comment “SCIENCE, BITCH”, I can’t really complain about this comedy in which science people attempt to get into romance but can only do so scientifically, graphs about chingrab angles etc included. Furthermore, I also think it’s more funny than not. Don’t expect too much from it, and in particularly don’t expect a show about ostensibly clever people to actually be clever itself. But I have an opinion about spicy romances between people trying to one-up each other, see #1 on this list for details. Of course, RgKnOndSs is nowhere near as good as Kaguya-sama, since it’s far more pedestrian and predictable, and it has some aspects that outright stink too; in particular, the obligatory interlude where science bear appears to badly explain some superficial science concepts is an annoying waste of time every time. Less bad but still not good are scientists #4 and #5, because they’re just very tired otaku clichees that I’ve seen a million times before. The main pair isn’t any less stereotypical, but at least a romantic comedy about them is news to me (no, fucking Steins;Gate does not count and even if it did, Okabe and Chris are tremendously unlikeable jerks with negative chemistry), and rounding out the cast is common sense girl that has common sense, which is probably necessary but not exactly innovative. In the end, this is a very minor production in all aspects, but Himuro’s incredibly dumb/adorable ponytail wag makes it worth watching. Q.E.D.

[littlemisssquiggles]

So, I'm not a Fair Game Shipper. I've never was. But, seeing how the fandom's reacting, i feel conflicted. On one hand, I feel incredibly sorry for the shippers. Its very sad that their ship had to go down the way it did. But on the other hand, They kinda walked into that trap in the first place by shipping two characters who were never even written to be a couple in the first place. People kind of got too excited for something that was never meant to be. Thoughts?

…Hmm…I’mgoing to do my best to try and keep this answer VERY brief since I really don’twish to go into one of my usual jibber jab tirades on this particular touchy subject, given all the discoursesurrounding it at the moment.

Tobe perfectly honest with you anon-chan,this squiggle meister more or lessshares the same views as you in a sense. I didn’t exactly ship Fair Gamemyself. I mean I liked it. I definitely saw the appeal of the ship and Iunderstand why many, many folks gravitated towards it. Clover was a coolcharacter and his rapport with Qrow was very nice. It was nice to see Qrow havea person he can trust against given his previous luck with his former STQR teammatesand other close confidantes he trusted the most once upon a time(coughsOzpincoughs).

However,personally I never saw the prospect of Fair Game becoming canon…mostly becauseI never truly saw them as nothing more than a friendship between two men inarms. It’s for this reason why I often referred to Fair Game by Fortune Cookies---the dub for the Qrowand Clover FRIEND-ship.

Frommy perspective, I didn’t see Qrow and Clover’s connection as romantic at all. While I’ll admit it hadthe potential to go in that direction should the showrunners decide to havethem go that way---but that’s the main point I want to make. If Fair Game wasto be canon, then the showrunners would’ve pushed for it like what they triedto do for this season and last with Bumblebee.

Butthat never happened. Instead the series always portrayed Qrow and Clover as friends and that was the extent of theirrelationship on screen, according to the canon. It’s certain members of theFNDM who perceived their relationship as something more. It’s for this reason why I can’t really support the FNDM’saccusations of the CRWBY (and by extension RoosterTeeth) “queer-baiting” and/or “buryingtheir gays”.

As Oscar would say:

 ....Wait...what?!

NeitherQrow nor Clover was confirmed as LGBTQ characters. The show never evenconfirmed that Qrow and Clover were interested in each other in a romantic sense. Once more, that was the perceptionof some of the shippers within the FNDM who wanted it to become a possibility. Andwhat some folks referred to as ‘flirtatiousexchanges’ between the two huntsmen could easily be debunked as casual, friendlybanter between two men who had grown close within the time they shared witheach other both on and off the battlefield. Throughout the season, we watchedQrow’s attitude towards Clover shift from one of awkward aloofness to one ofmutual respect.

Iteven got to the point where Qrow started to reciprocate the same kind of wittycomplements that Clover once offered him back in V7CH5. It was nice seeing Qrowbehave like this since it reminded me of his behaviour when he was firstintroduced back in V3 only this time he wasn’t drunk. 

He actually started tobehave like his old self again in his new non-alcoholic persona and it wasnice. It was good for his character and it highlighted that his bond withClover was doing some good for Qrow. Whelp…until the recent episode. 

 But regardless, Clover’s involvement in Qrow’slife wasn’t about romance. There was never even any passion expressed betweenthem in the first place. It was purely platonicand mutual respect. I’d even go as far as to say that Clover might’ve been theclosest thing to a best friend thatQrow’s had in a long, long while. The unfortunate thing with Qrow is that itdidn’t last long...like his other past bonds. *long sigh* 

It’s actually a sad day to be a Qrow fan since the show can’t give this man a break at all. ESPECIALLY HOW THEY CHOSE TO PORTRAY THAT SCENE! 

Honestly, I have my own beef with V7CH12 concerning Clover and Qrow but it hasnothing to do with Fair Game since…like I said, I did NOT see thesetwo as anything but platonic since that’s how the show always portrayed them.  

IfI may be blunter, I would go as faras to say that this whole mess with Fair Game is reminding me of the RoseGardenDiscourse that arose after V7CH9. Certain folks making a big whole hullabalooover something that was never confirmed in the first place. Just as how theCRWBY never confirmed Rosegarden, they never confirmed Fair Game either.

I’venoticed within the FNDM community that certainmembers have a tendency to overreactwhen things don’t go the way they interpreted things. Instead of handling it like rationate people, they make noise and resort to bullying---both other fans as well as the people who work on the every thing they claim to “love dearly”. 

It’s for this reason whythe RWBY FNDM has earned a poor rep because of its “very passionate” shipping community.

It’sfine if you’re disappointed with a certain outcome within the show and you’reallowed to be vocal about it in your opinions. But the line is crossed when youmake accusations over something that was never truly confirmed, especially whenyou hold it up to evidence within the show. A mountain out of a mole hill, if you will.

In a nutshell, I’msorry that the Fair Game shippers feel butt hurt after Clover’s deathESPECIALLY based on how the show chose to portray the events leading up to hisdeath. That…that’s still…ugh! I can’t even with that scene.

IfFair Game fans were mainly disappointed over how the showrunners chose todepict Clover’s death with Qrow... then…fair…game.

Butat the same time if the hate mostly stems from a shipping standpoint then…I’m not sorry since the show neverconfirmed this relationship to be romantic in the first place. Besides I find the way certainshippers have been outright attacking the CRWBY on social media because of thisto be downright deplorable.

Again,it’s reminding me of all the nonsensical discourse from certain shippers whoattacked my fellow Rosegardeners after V7CH9. It’s the same kind of behaviourand that earns no empathy from me because it’s ridiculous. 

That’s pretty muchall I have to say on that subject.

~LittleMissSquiggles (2020)

[theincompetentgenius]

Hey, I was wondering if I could get a dangerous fellows, ikemen vampire and ikemen revolution ship? I'm shy when you first meet me, but after I am quite roudy and loud, I have social anxiety which is a problem when I meet people. I'm strong emotionally and physically, I can take care of myself, and I am learning taekwondo. I'm not easy to connect with emotionally, I tend to have walls up and dont let people in. I'm very sarcastic and sassy, with a good sense of humour, I can make anyone smile.

Thanks for the request and I’m sorry for the delay!

Dangerous Fellows

I’d pair you with............... Zion!

So I was originally thinking about Harry for your matchup. He’d always be by your side during (especially when you first arrive), always treating you with the utmost kindness. He wants your wild side to be fun and amusing, bringing a breath of fresh air to his not-to-amazing days. Besides, if anyone was to break down your walls, it would be Harry with his honeysuckle smile. However, Zion wins out for a number of reasons.

Alright, so this might be a little difficult in the beginning because of your social anxiety. Zion isn’t the most approachable person in the group, but I do think your relationship with him would be great in the long run. Realistically, you’d probably spend more time with Harry, Judy, or Ethan at first. However, Zion spends a decent amount of time with them too, which causes you guys to socialize more often.

It is during these times where you slowly reveal more of your true self. And Zion is totally into it. He initially thought you were a timid little kid, but the more rowdy side appeals to him. You’re the only one in the group who knows how to have a good time (besides him of course).

Your sarcasm is a lifesaver for him. Finally, someone who can speak his language. The two of you go on-and-off, throwing sarcastic remarks at each other. Sometimes, the rest of the group gets concerned with how intense the comments can get. But the two of you know that it’s nothing more than harmless banter for some chuckles.

When he sees your taekwondo skills on the zombies, his mouth is wide open. How did you manage to land a punch on them without being bitten? He might scold you for putting yourself at such risk, but he thinks its incredibly hot at the same time. He might even ask you to teach him some moves when he’s got some free time.

Zion is also extremely stubborn himself, keeping his secrets to himself. But his growing relationship with you (along with the pressures of survival) would ultimately cause him to bring down his walls. He tries not to be sappy about it, but it feels nice to get all his thoughts off his chest.

Another Possibility: Harry

Ikemen Vampire

I’d pair you with............. Napolean Bonaparte!

I would be lying if I said that Arthur didn’t pop in my head a few times. I think the two of you would have an interesting dynamic: he’d constantly try to grab your attention while you flick him off with your sarcastic remarks. Everyone in the manor loves watching you put Arthur in his place, including Arthur himself! He finds you interesting, to say the least.

But my buddy Napolean has to take the cake here. Considering that Napolean is the only human (or demi-human) in the mansion, it’s natural that you’d gravitate towards him. Besides, he’s the least threatening out of all these blood-sucking vampires, so the former general is definitely your safest bet.

While Napolean isn’t pleased with looking after you, the two of you are forced to learn about another through all the time you spend together. It isn’t long before you start passing Napoleon while he tacks his infamous nickname on your back. The two of you become close within a short amount of time, ultimately leading to a relationship.

He’s impressed with your technique for combat. Since taekwondo wasn’t common during his time in France, Napolean is intrigued by your skills. He sees potential in your abilities and decides to help you out with some training. At times, the training is beneficial and you learn a lot of new moves. But more often than not, there’s a lot more intimacy than training.

Napolean is extremely charismatic. There’s something about the way he talks that makes it difficult for you to stay away. His words give you insight and clarity, often prompting you to open a little bit about yourself. Whether it's intentional or not, he always appreciates the rawness of it. There’s nothing better to him than an honest relationship.

Lastly, the general always finds himself smiling around you. He’s never met someone with such a good sense of humor, especially in the mansion. Every time he’s with you, he always laughs until his stomach hurts (even if you don’t always mean to be funny). And that’s his favorite thing about you.

Another Possibility: Arthur Conan Doyle

Ikemen Revolution:

I’d pair you with....... Fenrir Godspeed!

I was wrestling between the two best friends because both work really well with your personality! Ray absolutely loves your independent nature, supporting you in all your endeavors. Also, he finds your sharp tongue hilarious (especially when you tease Fenrir). You’re sugar and spice, which is amazing in his opinion.

But I’m going to have to give it to Fenrir on this one. I think he’d do a better job of getting to know you since he’s so loud and friendly. Fenrir would do a great job in making you feel at home in Cradle, showing you around in all the different shops and landscapes. If you don’t feel like talking, that’s fine. He’s got enough conversation for 15 people, so your quietness doesn’t bother him.

Once your louder side comes out, the two of you wreak absolute havoc in the Black Army. There’s not a day where Sirius doesn’t yell at you guys to shut up, only to hear thundering laughter from the both of you. Whether its a simple conversation or a playful argument, your voices can always be heard from a mile away. But that doesn’t bother either one of you because most of your conversations are idle talk.

Fenrir is probably the biggest victim of your sarcasm. It’s fun to tease him because he initially didn’t expect it (especially when it comes to ghosts). However, the Ace of Spades adjusts quickly and learns to tease you. Although he’s not sarcastic or sassy like you, his jabs are always fun to listen to. 

He also thinks you’re the best comedian in the Cradle. Sometimes your jokes are so funny that he finds tears in his eyes. I don’t think there’s anyone who made him laugh that hard before. Now he can’t help but wonder, do all people from the Land of Reason have an amazing sense of humor?

The two of you become partners-in-crime. Fenrir does all the far-range activities due to his judgment and precise aim. On the other end, your specialty lies in close-range stuff due to your strength. Whether its pranks, fights, or anything in between, the two of you make a pretty good team.

Another Possibility: Ray Blackwell