#vacation arc 2024

[organicsaturdaychurch]

Ametrine Plinko perched in a plant

[amynessblog]

Weekend away in Paris 🇫🇷🥖🤍

[flightsandhotels]

Follow the link to book a flight to Paris, book hotel rooms in Paris and to book tours in Paris.

[alexthegamingboy]

Toonami Weekly Recap 03/23/2024

Ninja Kamui EP#07: Using the Kamui suit, Higan defeats Lil and sends his severed head back to AUZA headquarters. Yamaji consequently decides to speed up his plans and gives Zai permission to go after Higan. Back inside her truck, Aska explains to Higan how her during her childhood, her face was severely disfigured in an accident and she was abandoned by her parents. She was and eventually adopted by the former clan chieftain to become a ninja where she became a master of disguise and "watcher" for him. Aska and Mari developed a close personal bond with each other against ninja conventions. As the former chieftain succumbed to illness, Yamaji became leader and took the clan away from Japan alienating many long time members. Meanwhile, Mari had secretly developed a face-changing device which she shared with the dissidents. When Mari became pregnant with Higan's child, they were forced to flee and go into hiding. Aska says that she decided to stay in order to uncover what future Yamaji was planning for the clan.

Lycoris Recoil EP#10 - Repay evil with evil: Chisato decides to close down LycoReco. Mizuki and Kurumi both decide to leave for foreign countries. At DA, Kusunoki reveals Enkuboku, or the new radio tower, as Majima's next target, and explains their mission to raid his hideout. Takina confirms the Alan Institute's involvement with Majima after interrogating one of his men. Meanwhile, Majima has taken Yoshimatsu hostage, and tells him he will target the AI after dealing with the DA. The Lycoris raid the hideout, but Majima has relocated, boasting to Kusunoki he plans to expose Japan's false peace. The next day, Majima uses Robota's USB in the tower's antenna to broadcast to all of Japan that he has hidden a thousand guns all over Tokyo for anybody to find. Seeing Majima wants to expose the DA's existence, DA superiors order Chisato to intervene. Meanwhile, Mika tells Chisato the truth about Yoshimatsu and apologizes for hiding it. However, she does not blame to either of them, being thankful for the time she was given. Kusunoki calls to deploy Chisato, just as they receive a call from Robota telling her where Yoshimatsu is being held, saying he will be killed if she heads to Enkuboku. Trusting Takina and Fuki's abilities, Chisato and Mika prepare to go rescue Yoshimatsu.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Entertainment District Arc EP#18 (44) Finale - No Matter How Many Lives: Nezuko burns the blood blades with her fire. Tanjiro, no longer poisoned, reunites with Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Tengen; Nezuko burns the poison out of their bodies, saving them. She and Tanjiro set out to finish off the demon siblings and find them insulting their relationship following their defeat. Tanjiro implores them to support each other in their last moments but Daki dies first. Gyutaro remembers their human lives; they were born into the poorest caste of a red-light district. Despite his appearance burdening him, Daki, considered very attractive as a child, gave them a comfortable life. One day, Daki attacked a customer of hers and was burned alive in retaliation. Gyutaro found her and killed the people responsible. They were subsequently found by the Upper Rank Six of then and turned into demons. Gyutaro meets with Daki in the afterlife and they reconcile, walking to Hell together; he finally disintegrates. Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro arrives, sarcastically praising Tengen for killing Upper Rank Six. However, Tengen intends to retire and informs him of Tanjiro's potential. Elsewhere, an increasingly ill Kagaya is overjoyed at the news and expresses his pride in the Demon Slayers, noting Muzan's defeat is near. Akaza is summoned to the alternate dimension, the Infinity Castle, and realizes that an Upper Rank has been killed. Tanjiro embraces Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko, relieved that they all have survived.

[sambuckylibrary]

TFATWS Anniversary Event 2024

The @sambuckylibrary will be holding a The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Anniversary Event! The event will start on March 18th and run until April 28th. During that time, we will be reblogging and sharing the work you guys create here on our blog.

This event is not just for the creators, but for the commenters. You can post fanfiction, art, moodboards, edits, podfics, fic list recs, comments, etc. It’ll be a low-stakes event. No need to sign up. Just remember to tag @sambuckylibary in your post for each fill, and we will be tracking #tfatwsanniversary2024 for reblogs.

If you are posting on AO3, please add it toTFATWS Anniversary Event 2024 Collection.

Each week will have a different theme with prompts from Monday to Friday. Each prompt will also come with a badge you may use for it when you post. The weekly themes and their prompts will be:

For the text version of the information above as well as the FAQ and rules, check the information under “keep reading”.

WEEK 1 (March 18 - 24): THE WINTER SOLDIER TO PRE-INFINITY WAR

MONDAY: “I don’t think he’s the kind you save.”

TUESDAY: Sam Searches for Bucky

WEDNESDAY: “Can you move your seat up?”

THURSDAY: Team Up at the Airport

FRIDAY: On the Run

WEEK 2 (March 25 - 31) : INFINITY WAR TO PRE-TFATWS

MONDAY: Laying Low

TUESDAY: Reunite in Wakanda

WEDNESDAY: Soul Stone

THURSDAY: Victory Party

FRIDAY: 6 Months of Ghosting

WEEK 3 (April 1 - 7): The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

MONDAY: Couple's Therapy

TUESDAY: “Let me just walk you through a hypothetical.”

WEDNESDAY: Madripoor

THURSDAY: “You’re just gonna set me up like that, huh?”

FRIDAY: The Cookout

WEEK 4 (April 8 - 14): Post-TFATWS

MONDAY: Meanwhile, on the Boat...

TUESDAY: Divorce Arc

WEDNESDAY: Skrulls

THURSDAY: Better Thunderbolts Ideas

FRIDAY: Better Captain America 4 Ideas

WEEK 5 (April 15 - 21): AU Week

MONDAY: No Powers AU

TUESDAY: Period Piece

WEDNESDAY: Sci-fi/Fantasy AU

THURSDAY: Based on a Movie

FRIDAY: Ghost/Zombie AU

WEEK 6 (April 22 - 28): Sambucky Week

MONDAY: Didn’t Know They were Dating/Friends with Benefits

TUESDAY: Redwing

WEDNESDAY: Hurt/Comfort

THURSDAY: Separate, Long Vacations

FRIDAY: Dealer's Choice

FAQ

What is this?

It’s a SamBucky event.

Is there any pressure?

No pressure at all.

Can I fill more than one prompt with one piece of art/one fic?

Yes! You can fill one prompt with one piece of art or fic. You can try to fill all five prompts that week at once with one piece of art or fic. You can do any number in between.

Are there any prizes for making anything for this event?

Just the satisfaction that you made something cool.

Is it just SamBucky?

Yes please, just SamBucky. There can be side ships, but the main ship should be SamBucky.

How long will this event run?

It will run from March 18th and run until April 28th.

I heard there are badges I can use for each fill?

There are! You can find the badges here.

RULES AND GUIDELINES

What are the guidelines for the bingo?

I will be borrowing some of this from the MYSU Valentine’s Day Bingo 2022 Guidelines, since they were fantastic.

For Everyone:

1. Remember to @sambuckylibrary in the post as well as #tfatwsanniversary2024.

2. Please also tag the prompt you’re filling (for instance, if the square is “Redwing”, use “#redwing” as one of your tags when posting about it on Tumblr).

3. If you’re uploading to AO3, please:

a ) Say somewhere which prompt you’re filling.

b ) Add it to TFATWS Anniversary Event 2024 (TFATWS_Anniversary_Event_2024).

For Artists:

1. Create at least one piece of new art that can’t have been posted anywhere else before this.

2. All visual art forms are welcome:

a ) Gifsets, at least 3 gifs.

b ) Aesthetic boards or moodboards, at least 4 images each.

c ) Drawing/painting, that is not a sketch.

d) Fan video.

e) Graphics edit.

For Authors:

1. At least 500 words.

2. Posted on Tumblr or AO3.

3. Can be part of a series, but should work as a standalone.

For Podficcers:

1. The podfic should at least be 5 minutes long.

2. It should be posted on either Tumblr or AO3.

3. The podfic can be of a fic made for the event, a fic not made for the event while still adhering to the prompt, or a notfic.

For Fic Rec Lists:

1. You must have at least five fics or podfics on the rec list.

2. Make sure to give brief descriptions of the fics or podfics as well as their rating and wordcount.

For Commenters:

1. Any amount of comment counts, from a heart emoji (“❤️”) to an essay.

2. We would rather this be about what makes you happy and joyful about reading than any scathing critiques.

Things to be mindful of when creating:

For Sam

Avoid framing Sam only as a caretaker or emotional support for Bucky. Be mindful of Sam acting angry or aggressive in an out-of-character way and falling into the angry/sassy Black man trope (check out the MCU source material to help with character traits).

Avoid decentering Sam as a main character and refrain from focusing entirely on Bucky.

In art: avoid whitewashing Sam’s skin and research drawing Black characters.

General disclaimer: Race affects every aspect of his life, including interacting with police/government and the white structures of the world when it comes to performing his duties as Cap and simply being a Black man that lives in the U.S.

For Bucky

Avoid phrasing “flesh/normal/human hand” to refer to the contrast between his prosthetic arm and his right arm. The phrasing is ableist. You can simply refer to his prosthesis when relevant, otherwise use “right/left arm/hand”.

For more information, please check out this document suggested by @ninesdb on how to write Bucky as an amputee. @ninesdb is also open to questions if you have any queries not answered by the google doc.

Specific Tags:

Avoid tags in AO3 like “Sam Wilson is a Gift”, “Sam Wilson is a Saint”, and “Bucky Needs a Hug”.

Have fun and we look forward to your TFATWS Anniversary fics!

- The Mods

[scarecrowofthefields]

Kakashi Appearances in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

I couldn’t find a list of all the episodes where Kakashi made an appearance in Boruto: NNG so I decided to make my own. Not sure how many people still care about Boruto: NNG, hopefully it’ll save people the headache that I had scouring through 293 episodes just for this retired man

updated: October 24th 2024

Key:

episode number - episode title

no asterisks = one scene

** = two scenes or more

*** = kakashi-centric

13 - A Demon Beast Appears***

Kakashi's debut in Boruto! Not only that, he showcases a new Lightning Style: Purple Lightning in place of Chidori after he lost the Mangekyo Sharingan at the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War

18 - A Day in the Life of the Uzumaki Family**

It's Inauguration Day of the Seventh Hokage, Kakashi leads the ceremony and presents Naruto as the new Hokage Kakashi does a silly distressed laugh in "The Day Naruto Became Hokage" OVA

20 - The Boy with the Sharingan

He receives a phone call from Naruto while he's on holiday at a hot spring

35 - The Parent Teacher Conference! ***

Kakashi disguises himself as "Sukea" and interviews the students before they take their academy graduation exams

36 - The Graduation Exam Begins! ***

The students are faced with the practical exam and discover Kakashi as the test proctor

37 - A Shinobi's Resolve ***

Kakashi tests the student's motivation as future shinobi

55 - The Scientific Ninja Tool

He attends a private meeting with Naruto and Shikamaru about the purpose of the White Zetsu and Sasuke's reports about the Otsutsuki

62 - The Otsutsuki Invasion**

Kakshi's spotted watching the Chunnin Exam finals with Guy, Konohamaru, Moegi, Udon, and Iruka. The stadium is attacked by the Otsutsuki clan, he helps to evacuate the arena

63 - Sasuke's Secret Weapon

He assures Sasuke he'll take care of everything (watching over Sarada) and wishes him the best in returning Naruto back alive

71 - The Hardest Rock in the World**

He has a delicate nature when it comes to things, like peeling an orange

72 - Mitsuki's Will**

Kakashi and other advisors discuss Mitsuki's disappearance

73 - The Other Side of the Moon

As the Council criticizes Naruto's reckless decision, Kakashi believes in him and reminds the Council they are there to guide the Hokage

87 - The Sensation of Living

Kakashi and Tsunade are sent to meet with the other Great Villages to gather support to engage in Iwagakure affairs

95 - Tactics for Getting Along with Your Daughter **

He tries to help Sasuke understand his daughter's feelings using Icha-Icha Tactics as a reference

106 - The Steam Ninja Scrolls: The S-Rank Mission ***

It's time for a well-earned vacation, Kakashi and Guy set off for the Land of Steam with Mirai as a bodyguard

107 - The Steam Ninja Scrolls: The Dog and Cat War! ***

In the Land of Steam, the group discovers there's an annual festival in town

108 - The Steam Ninja Scrolls: The Haunted Inn! ***

The group takes a stop at a haunted inn and runs into Tenten

109 - The Steam Ninja Scrolls: Potato Chips and the Giant Boulder! **

A giant boulder has crushed a popular local hot springs, putting a holt on their trip

111 - The Steam Ninja Scrolls: Mirai's King ***

Kakashi and Guy finds Mirai and the missing girls, they provide backup as Mirai goes after the follower of Jashin Episode 110 doesn't feature Kakashi but it's important to the story arc, ngl thought he was in it lol

115 - Team 25 ***

He disguises himself as "Sukea" once more to investigate the complaints Team 25 has been getting. We get to learn more about Houki who idolizes Kakashi

167 - Their Decision

He does a sneeze at the end of the episode. Please watch it

168 - Training Begins! ***

Reluctant at first, but he later oversees Boruto's training

169 - A Joint Mission with the Sand

Kakashi tells Boruto that he has reached the limit with his Wind Style: Rasengan

170 - A New Rasengan **

Seeing Boruto's training is coming along well, he calls in a favor

171 - The Results of Training **

He's impressed with the outcome of Boruto's training and tests it out using the most effective method

172 - A Signature of Fear

Kakashi greets Boruto in the hospital and orders him to not use Compressed Rasengan recklessly

176 - Blockade the A-Un Gate! **

He caught a fish!!

211 - The Chase ***

He teams up with new gen Team 10 in tracking down an intruder who broke into the archives

260 - Fireworks of Love ***

Kakashi goes on a "mission" with Boruto to solve a Tragedy of Love in order to obtain a first edition copy of Icha Icha

282 - Sasuke's Story: Infiltration **

He becomes a tutor to Nanara, a prince of the Land of Redaku who was sent to Nagare Village since he was too young to rule. Kakashi takes this opportunity to teach him how to read and write. In a later scene, he sneaks into the King's study in search of a book of the Sage of Six Paths

286 - Sasuke's Story: The Ring

Kakashi makes fun of Naruto for being "thankless" about the work he did in the Land of Redaku

In the background / No lines

78 - Everyone's Motives

178 - Our Fathers' Example

215 - Prepared

not even gonna bother writing a description for these. there's probably a few episodes that show Kakashi in the bg but I happened to stumble upon these ones by accident

[pookie-mulder]

May 2024 fic roundup

I’ve decided to post a list of some of my favorite fics I’ve read each month, kind of like a reading journal. I’m terrible at remembering details of the fics I read (they all blend together in my mind), so I thought this would help me be able to look back on them in the future. Plus, maybe it will help you guys find some new stuff to read! (I’d love to chat about fics with you guys.)

Anyway, here’s my first one! I didn’t add these as I went (oops), so there’s definitely a bunch I’m forgetting. I’ll hopefully be better about it next month.

(If any of the untagged authors have tumblrs that I didn’t know about, let me know and I’ll add them.)

🏝️🚢 Erlona’s Heart by MD1016

Oh boy, this one has everything. Cancer arc angst, a vacation gone wrong, whump aplenty, intense UST, fascinating world-building, and some good old fashioned booty-smooshin’. I loved it so much! I’m so glad that I can read classic fics like this one that were published before I was even born.

🏕️🐻 Last Chance Falls by @slippinmickeys

Another oldie but goodie! This scratched my itch for a nice survival fic. Give me all that sweet, sweet hurt/comfort and cuddling for warmth and taking care of each other’s injuries and just-in-case love confessions.

❄️🧥 got you covered by @thursdayinspace

An excellent little fic based on a prompt I gave where Mulder wears Scully’s clothes. Idiots in love my beloved!

🏨📔 Blinded by White Light by @dashakay

I read the first installment in April, but I didn’t get to the follow-up until May, so I’m still counting it!

This post-colonization fic absolutely blew my mind. I was deeply obsessed with YA dystopian books in the 2010s, and this fic gave me major nostalgia while still being fresh and original. Honestly, it’s best if you go into this one not knowing much. Just read it!!!

[therummesoccupied]

IDW'S SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, 2024 ANNUAL - THOUGHTS

I wanted to cover this one earlier, I really did, but the Sonic X Shadow Generations hype took me over, and for the past couple weeks I have been incapable of thinking about anything else. If you haven't played that yet, by the way, I highly recommend doing so as soon as possible. It's truly one of the most astoundingly high-quality pieces of Sonic media ever produced. Maybe I'll do a post on it, who knows. But for now, we have an annual special to cover.

This is the first one of these annuals I've discussed on here, but I really appreciate their presence in the story. Both they and the various mini-series have done a great job of sort of filling the void Sonic Universe left behind when Archie Sonic ended. It's nice getting to peek into what the supporting cast is up to and what's happening outside of the main plot.

This one is also a unique little experience since, while most Annuals have had either five or six short stories included within them, this one includes only three stories - with one of them being a full twenty pages. That's as long as a regular issue! So I'll move through the stories one at a time, and give a few thoughts on each.

I wanna start by talking about the cover, though, because this one's kind of interesting to me. In the past, the "A" Covers have always done a bit to give you at least some idea of what to expect from the stories inside. The 2019 and 2020 covers both featured somewhat generic art featuring characters making appearances from stories within. The 2022 cover showed Blaze in a sundress spending time with Cream at the beach - an allusion to the "Guardians" story that kicked off the 2022 Annual and its ending with Blaze taking a vacation in Sonic's world.

This one, though, features a nice little art piece featuring Sonic and Tails rushing through a snowy mountainscape, which... does not happen in the Annual. None of the stories in this one center around Sonic or Tails, and none of them take place in any sort of wintry tundra.

Just an odd detail I noticed. Nothing here gives us any sort of glimpse into the stories we're about to see or the characters we're about to follow. Still nice art, though.

With that bit of business out of the way, we'll move on to the real meat and potatoes of the Annual:

The Stories

Story #1: Hero's Calling

We kick things off with a good old-fashioned Ian Flynn story about Surge and Kit continuing to pursue a life of heroism following the events of the Extreme Competition and Phantom Riders arcs, and finding it more difficult than they had anticipated to live up to the reputation of a hero.

The pencils here are handled by Thomas Rothlisberger with Rik Mack tackling Inks and Colors. Rothlisberger's style is often employed for the series' lower-stakes stories, relying a lot on exaggerated expressiveness and cramming every panel as full of action and detail as possible. They're perfect for slapstick-y stories, and while that fits the bill a bit here, it doesn't fit perfectly for me since, as this story continues, it takes a turn for the quieter and more introspective toward its second half.

After "saving" a runaway trolley in the city of Westopolis (from 2005's Shadow the Hedgehog - neat to see that city show up again), Surge finds herself contemplating a difficult question. As she chases the life of a hero, she takes it upon herself to save others. But she wonders: Why do they even need saving? With this world being subject to one crisis after another, shouldn't its denizens have learned to handle this sort of thing by now? She wonders if maybe, by always being there to save the day, if Sonic and friends have made this world a little soft. Maybe the Sonic Cycle really is keeping the world from moving forward.

Maybe...

I love Kit's reaction to this. Kit has always been quick to support Surge, no matter what, but when she suggests that Dr. Starline, the man who stole their lives, used and tortured them, and destroyed everything they were, may have been right all along... For the first time, we see the tiniest hint of anger toward her flash across his face. Kit. Truly Hates. Dr. Starline.

As she talks things over with Kit, Surge... never really settles on a course of action. The only thing she knows for sure is that she believes Sonic is the problem here, and that she hopes to one day remove him from the equation once and for all.

Kit, on the other hand, arrives at a much more dangerous conclusion.

Kit sees Surge's frustration at the world's ability to solve its own problems, but he also sees the fulfillment she gets from solving those problems. And so, he resolves to continue making sure there are problems for her to solve, even if she is able take out what she perceives as their roots.

This... will not go well. I can already see it. Surge is going to keep solving whatever issues Kit constructs for her to overcome, feeling like she's truly making a difference, only for it all to come crashing down when she realizes she was never changing anything. This will, in turn, create a rift between her and Kit, and since Kit has become heavily dedicated to and dependent on her, it is going to destroy this poor child. Mark my words. These two are in for some sad times.

Overall, Rothlisberger does do a pretty good job at capturing this story's subtler moments, but at times the exaggerated, cartoony style and Mack's very bright, stark colors can take me a little bit out of some of the moodier moments of this story. Still, a solid bit a storytelling dedicated to these two characters who really seem to be going somewhere in the grand scheme of things.

Story #2: For My Destiny

Our second story is a chill, little character check-in on Knuckles the Echidna as he spends his days peacefully guarding the Master Emerald on Angel Island. This one boasts a script and colors by Iasmin Omar Ata, and pencils by Adam Bryce Thomas.

This is yet another case of an artist being used in an odd way, since ABT's art really shines when he gets to do big, shonen-style action scenes. But here, we just get a quick introspective of Knuckles contemplating his relationship with the Master Emerald and all of the events and people it's brought into his life.

Not much else really happens here, and the first time through, I thought this story was a bit of a waste of time. Like, we already kind of get this sort of look at Knuckles in Sonic Frontiers, why keep harping on it here? But then I read it a second time with Frontiers in mind, specifically the Prologue: Divergence animated short. I thought of how this story would be told if it could be animated, with music and performance to really nail down the vibe it's going for, and I... kind of love it now? It's dramatic in a very understated way, and I'm honestly glad its here.

Story #3: Shattered Diamonds

This one. This right here is the real showstopper of the 2024 Annual.

Here, we get a script from Gigi Dutreix, Pencils from Dutreix and Mauro Fonseca, Inks from Matt Froese, and Colors by Leonardo Ito and Valentina Pinto. Everyone here brings their A-game for... a backstory comic about Mimic the Octopus. This is nuts to me. A comic-original side-villain, getting his own full-issue length story exploring his background, and it's... so good.

Dutreix has explained on their social media that they put a lot of work into researching real-life sociopaths, and the commonalities in their worldview when determining how to handle Mimic's backstory. We learn that he was once an actor (hey! I'm one of those!) and that his time in the fiercely competitive industry quickly taught him not to trust anyone. He learned to use whatever means necessary to achieve his goals, even going so far as to stab others in the back to get what he wants.

Then the Eggman War we see in Sonic Forces happens, and Mimic's ugly worldview seems to be proven true, and the means he uses to survive appear justified for a while, further strengthening this idea he has to that no one but him is honest with themselves, and that one mustn't trust or dedicate themselves to anyone else if they hope to survive.

Then. Something happens.

Mimic meets a group of people who seem.. genuine. People who care for each other. Care for him.

And he panics.

He convinces himself that they must be fakes. That they wouldn't care about him if they really knew him. All they have to do is see him for who he really is, and they'll stab him in the back just as he's done to so many others before.

He starts to view the Diamond Cutters as a means to an end. And he fears becoming attached to those means, fears letting those means change him.

So... he disposes of them. Or tries to. From there, we all know how it goes. But now, we have a far more thorough understanding of why someone who claims to be pragmatic and driven by self-preservation continues to engage in this dogged pursuit of revenge against Whisper. He views her as the last remaining evidence of a memory that almost changed who he is. And he worries that he will never be comfortable being himself again until she is gone.

The story ends with a quick little scene of Mimic stalking the New Diamond Cutters as they make their way toward the Eggperial City at the beginning of the Urban Warfare arc, and there's one little bit of weirdness here.

See, in this story, the Diamond Cutters are waiting to meet up with Sonic and Tails before proceeding to the City, but when they storm the city together in Issue 57... Tails isn't there. Tails isn't part of the Urban Warfare arc until Issue 58, after Sonic has reached out to Jewel and asked her to send backup. After that point, Tails arrives with Amy, Silver, and Blaze to lend Sonic a hand. So why is he here with Sonic before he and the Diamond Cutters even make their way to the city?

I actually got a chance to ask Dutreix about this directly, and they provided a fairly similar answer to the conclusion I was already considering: Tails had simply accompanied Sonic to rendezvous with the Diamond Cutters before splitting off to go do something else on his own, returning to regroup with Sonic after Jewel put out the call for reinforcements.

Continuity weirdness aside, though, I loved this story. It was explorative and complex, dark and moody, and it all had such a clear sense of direction. This is the kind of quality storytelling I would never, in a million years, expect to be devoted to a character like Mimic. And that fact just makes it all the better.

Wow.

Massive props to Dutreix and crew for putting together one of the most compelling Sonic stories I've had the pleasure to read.

It might be easy to complain about the smaller amount of stories in this Annual, or about how many of the stories are connected to events that have not yet happened in the comic, but I tell ya, the quality and care put into the stories we got makes it all worth it. This is exactly what these Annuals are for.

Anyway, I think Issue 74 dropped about a half hour ago, so I'mma go read that, and get a review written sometime in the distant future, for sure.

Thanks for reading!

[nicksbestie]

the bratzfornick 141 writing challenge

hi everyone! we’ve been looking for new fics to read and so many of you are so talented, so what better way to have new reading material than hosting a little challenge to fuel our delusions 😋

here are the basics for the challenge: pick 1 character, pick 4 story elements, and create 1 fic! more details below!!

the following rules are things you must follow. otherwise, you will be eliminated from this challenge. 

no being rude or hateful to other creators. this includes us, as well as others participating in the challenge.

no copying or plagiarizing ANY work. this includes challenge submissions as well as other stories that have been posted to tumblr/wattpad/etc. if you choose to use one of your works from another platform, please make sure that you have proof it is your own work

no submissions that revolve around anything weird or illegal (abuse, incest, illegal age gaps, highly graphic mental illness, hard drugs, age play, homo/transphobia/racism/abelism/etc, bathroom play, etc) 

5k max word limit. in order for us to be able to thoroughly read all of your submissions, please keep your word count to 5k or less and use paragraph breaks!

when you post your fic, please tag @bratzforchris and @nicksbestie and use the tag #bratzfornick’s 141 writing challenge 

characters (pick 1)

matt sturniolo

chris sturniolo

nick sturniolo

nathan doe

story elements (pick any 4): you may mix and match these to your liking. you are not required to do one from all four categories (for example: two locations, one trope, one genre OR two genres, two tropes, etc)

GENRES: 

Fluff

Smut

Angst

Age regression

TROPES:

Friends to lovers

Enemies to lovers

Little x caregiver 

Friends with benefits

Chronically ill x healthy

Mafia x goody two shoes

Academic rivals

Lovers to strangers

Nurse x doctor coworker

Fake dating

Grumpy x sunshine

Royalty x bodyguard

Major character death

Angel x demon

Singer/band member x fan

Arranged marriage

Locations/Settings: 

Alternate universe (AU)

College/university

Concert

Outskirt small town

Big city

The forest/woods

Home

Library/bookstore

Vacation

Haunted/abandoned house

Office

Hospital

Plot Ideas: 

Accidental confession (it slips out when drunk, caught in the heat of the moment, etc)

Revenge (fake dating, sleeping with an ex, etc)

Getting used to a new diagnosis/disability (a doctor who is so used to coaching patients through their new diagnosis that they struggle with theirs, getting used to new dynamics with a partner)

Forced proximity (one bed, locked in a room, etc)

Redemption arc

Taking care of each other (cleaning wounds, cooking, holding the trash can while they’re being sick)

Hiding a big secret

Fight that turns sexy

Language barrier (a Southern partner not understanding Boston slang, an actual language barrier, etc)

Chance encounter

Caught in the rain

Dare 

create 1 fic: please follow the rules, characters, and story elements listed above! as stated before, you do not have to pick from all four story categories, just four total. write as many fics as you’d like for this challenge. 

don’t forget to tag BOTH of us: @bratzforchris and @nicksbestie and use the #bratzfornick’s 141 writing challenge in your submission!

Submissions close May 15th, 2024! Most importantly, have fun! No actual monetary or material prizes will be given out for this challenge→it’s all meant to be fun and creative. Good luck and have fun! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

[intotheelliwoods]

2 Arms Left Masterpost (Part 5)

(Part 1) - Main Comic Masterpost

(Part 2) - Mini Comic Maserpost

(Part 3) - Bonus Drawings

(Part 4) - More Bonus Drawings

(Part 5) - Crossovers, tags, references and misc sagas

Below the cut is extra/other stuff!

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Noteable tag sagas, not linked separately in masterpost:

#hug saga

#collab comic

#2al dtiys

#the besties

#2al takeover

#2al coms

#freshavocado

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Crossovers/Peepaw Multiverse/Separated Multiverse

Assorted shenanigans #1

Assorted shenanigans #2

Assorted shenanigans #3

I May Be Invisible, But I Still Look Good #1

I May Be Invisible, But I Still Look Good #2

I May Be Invisible, But I Still Look Good #3

I May Be Invisible, But I Still Look Good #4

We'll Meet Again, Soon

Last Grain of Sand in the Hourglass

Dumbass Separated Leo AU

All other SLAU/2AL crossovers are tagged as #the besties because there is so many crossover drawings with them!

Krangified Donnie #1

Krangified Donnie #2

Krangified Donnie #3

3 Sided Coin

Wanderer

AU Comp 2024

Replica (AU Comp 2024)

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The extra tiny Little Leo saga

THE POST THAT STARTED IT

He is off balance without an arm :(

He should hate me

What about a little big Leo?

How did this all happen?

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

The microscopic Little Leo saga

He SHURNK!?

Future Leos reaction!?

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The IRL 2AL saga (the bobble heads, and action figure)

An Introduction

Is this even real?

They are important and queer!

Stay hydrated!

Why are we here?

Vacation!

Poptart action figure has arrived!!

Poptart and the bobbles!

So many... so many poptarts.....

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

Fusion Nonsense (Avocado/Toast)

Main informational post

#freshavocado <- tag for everything related

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Assorted Merch art

Keychain concepts

Sprout keychain too?

do NOT the poptart keychain!!!

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Prosthetic info <- Old, still correct but may need updating

Arm info #1 - Concept art

Arm info #2 - What if he gets punched there?

Arm info #3 - Complications?

Arm info #4 - What does Leo miss about a flesh arm?

Arm info #5 - Does Leo feel weather changes?

Arm info #6 - Port care and maintenance

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

Assorted Lore dumps <- needs updating, maybe an informational lore post later

Dump #1

Dump #2

Dump #3

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

Playlists

Arc 1

Arc 2

Individual Character Playlists!

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Color References

Big Leo

Big and Medium Leo

Medium and Little Leo

Colors

Sprout and Poptart outfits

Currently most updated colors for all 3 Leos!

Post-Plot Sprout!

Bonus: Lmao color consistency? Whats that.

[organicsaturdaychurch]

Dmitrius’s favorite part about beach vacations is that all the vacation houses have nautical theming which almost always matches his color palette

He has found where he shall be sleeping for the coming nights.

[mikeywayarchive]

Photo: Jawn Rocha

Mikey Way debuts his Dark Horse Comics series, Christmas 365

Anna Zanes | July 24, 2024

Full article under the cut:

It might still be sunny out, but Mikey Way is stuck on Christmas. Alongside co-writer Jonathan Rivera and illustrator Piotr Kowalski, with Brad Simpson on colors, the My Chem guitarist-cum-graphic novelist (Electric Century, Collapser) has announced Christmas 365, an upcoming series with Dark Horse Comics, also home to Gerard Way’s Paranoid Gardens and The Umbrella Academy. This oddly feel-good story, bizarre and magical as it is loaded with gallows humor, follows the arc of Peter Rockwell and his family as they navigate the treacherous holiday season, aided by some words of wisdom from a strip mall Santa. Way describes the surreal satire astutely: “Like most kids growing up, I would often fantasize, ‘What if [Christmas] never had to end?’ That very thought was what sparked this story.” Though it's got the spirit of The Nightmare Before Christmas and the kooky suburban charm of Better Off Dead — this team has created a series that’s fresh, surprising, a bit spooky, and entirely their own. 

In speaking to their process, AP connected with co-writers Way and Rivera. “Finally being able to tell this story is a real dream come true! The idea came about a decade ago, and there were plenty of starts and stops in the process,” Way shares. “Putting it in comic form felt like the perfect way to tell the story exactly how we envisioned it after so many years of wanting to share it with the world. Let's be honest, I don't think there's a kid alive who hasn't wished Christmas would never end. Haven't we all fantasized about it being something we got to live day after day?” He continues, “I saw this as an opportunity to tell a funny but heartfelt story, in the vein of all of the classic ’80s and ’90s Christmas movies that I loved so much. I remember watching Home Alone and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation back to back one night and wondering, ‘What story is left to tell?’ An hour or two later, the framework for Christmas 365 was born.”

The connection between co-writers has been an ongoing one, though this project sees it come to fruition. “It's been really fulfilling getting to finally write a story with Jonathan Rivera, who is one of my best friends — I think we've known each other over 20 years now,” Way says. As for the rest of the highly experienced team, “Piotr Kowalski and Brad Simpson brought the story to life exactly as we imagined, giving it the feel and imagery of a ’90s Christmas movie through and through. Daniel Chabon has been a terrific editor to work with and really helped us keep the story focused. I am sure this goes without saying, but it has been a real honor to be able to put out a comic under the Dark Horse banner. The folks over there have always been super kind and supportive to me, and have a rich history with my brother. So to be joining the ‘family’ with my own story to tell is pretty surreal!” 

Rivera, also known for Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye, adds, “Mikey and I had been talking about this story for a while, but it really started to come together as a comic during the pandemic. We’re living in stressful times, so it felt so cathartic to work on such a sweet and strange story about forgiveness and spending time with the people we love. It’s also the type of story we rarely see in comics, and that made me really excited as well.” 

For the writer, a goal has been achieved with this project. Dark Horse has long been a northern star in the industry for Rivera, who caps the chat off with, “I’ve been a fan of Dark Horse comics since I picked up their first Aliens vs. Predator miniseries as a kid. I later worked with them when I ran the official Myspace for The Umbrella Academy back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. So it brings me great joy to come home again with a book that means so much to me!”

Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse Comics

[starrysnowdrop]

Looking Forward -> 2024

We are almost done with 2023 and what a year it’s been! Both IRL and here, there has been so many great changes this year, and there’s still so much to look forward to in 2024. Therefore, I wanted to take a little time to reflect on this past year and then talk about what I have planned for next year. Because I know I’ll be long winded as usual, I will place it under a cut.

2023: The Year of Hali

So this year was a momentous year creatively for me, as I officially switched my main WoL OC from Yume to Hali, and though I do still have a twinge of guilt for dropping Yume completely like I did, I have to admit that I’ve never been happier writing than I am right now. Hali and her story and her ship with Aymeric bring me so much joy, and I have seen how much Hali has been enjoyed by all of you, so it just tells me that I made the right decision. I have written so much more for Hali in only a year than I have for Yume in all the previous years combined. I have been practicing my gposing way more and I felt like I have grown so much as a creator, and I think it’s because I’m so genuinely happy with Hali that it makes me want to keep doing more. This little pink woman has stolen my whole heart and I am very proud of all I have done this year with her.

Now I know that the last two months have been really stressful IRL and it’s been difficult to get back into writing, but I’m not going to let it get to me. I’m hoping that starting next week after the holidays are over, my son is back in school, and we are all back to our routines that it’ll be way easier to write. Still, I’m proud of what I’ve already done and I’m so excited for what I have planned for 2024, along with my hopes for Dawntrail and for Hali and Aymeric’s future development.

2024, Dawntrail, and Beyond

I know I’m not alone in being extremely excited for Dawntrail and beginning our WoLs’ next story arc, so I already have some plans for Hali that will happen for sure, and some that might happen depending on circumstances. I also have plans for Urania x Hermes on top of everything I want to do for Hali. So let’s go over all of these briefly.

First of all, I am going to continue working on my current WIPs for Hali’s story, notably Hali and Aymeric’s first meeting, expanding on Hali and Aymeric bonding while Aymeric recovers in the infirmary (twice!), the letters they send to each other throughout SB, ShB, and Pre-EW, the love confession, and the Ishgardian Ball. I have worked on all of this interchangeably for months now and I hope to get something done soon enough. I also have a bunch of Hali lore that I have planned on discussing, notably her ancestry and where each side of her family comes from. This is a lot I know, but there’s so much that I want to write and share with you all.

Next I absolutely know that I want Aymeric to accompany Hali to Tural (The New World) for 7.0 despite it going against canon. I want Aymeric to have some time away from Ishgard and to experience an adventure with Hali. I know he can’t accompany her on adventures most of the time, but I want to be self indulgent damn it and that man needs an action-adventure vacation with his girlfriend!

That’s it for my definitive plans, but what about what I might be doing for Hali in 2024? Well, the biggest question hanging in the balance is the new casting job. It depends on if I believe the new casting job will fit Hali and make sense for her progression if I will add it to her canon jobs list. If I don’t think it’ll fit her, then I might look into the other jobs and see if there’s something I’ve overlooked that can be added instead. But there’s always the possibility that no new canon jobs are added and Hali remains an Astrologian and Dancer only. I was just looking forward to perhaps giving Hali some development of her magical abilities and learn a new job. But I will have to wait and see for Tokyo Fanfest for that!

The other thing that I’m not entirely sure if I’m doing it yet or not is a proposal! I might have Aymeric propose to Hali in 7.0 but I’m not sure if I want to do it so soon, or if it feels right doing it in 7.0. I want to experience all of 7.0’s MSQ before I decide on that. It WILL happen eventually I promise, it’s just a matter of when.

I think that’s everything for Hali, but I also have plans for Urania and Hermes! I’m wanting to write a bit of their canon story but I’m also super excited for the Modern AU I have been developing! I’m not sure yet if I will do anything with the Good Ending AU I just posted about, but it’s still a possibility. I’m also going to make them a separate section under my pinned post so there will be easy access to their lore.

Okay, I believe that’s everything. I will be getting started on all this after the new year’s celebration, and I hope to be able to share something really soon. Until then, I wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope you enjoy your holiday weekend and I wish everyone joy and inspiration in the new year! Love you all!! 🥰💖

[alexthegamingboy]

Toonami Weekly Recap 03/16/2024

Ninja Kamui EP#06: The organization begins searching the city for the lieutenant and Higan. After retreating to heal Higan, the lieutenant reveals herself to be Emma, otherwise known as Aska. She explains to Higan that she was sent by the clan in order to spy on him under the guise of a rookie FBI agent. Aska informs Higan that it will be virtually impossible to defeat the organization without using an armored suit and informs him that she has taken one of the most advanced models during their escape, the Kamui. To use it, Higan must be directly synched to the suit via neural pathways for it to function. Before putting him into deep sleep for the procedure, Aska confirms she was the one who saved him back during the ambush and helped him infiltrate the city. Lil manages to locate their hideout and Aska engages him in battle before ultimately being defeated. During the synching, Aska subconsciously relays to Higan that she was only able to save him because she didn't arrive in time. She explains that Mari saved her life long ago and that the two of them stayed in touch since. Higan finishes the synching and confronts Lil in the Kamui.

Lycoris Recoil EP#09 - What's done is done: Takina manages to force Himegawa to flee, but she still applied a high voltage discharge into Chisato's heart, making it unable to be recharged, giving Chisato only two more months to live. This devastates Takina, but Chisato returns to her daily life, unfazed. Kusunoki recruits Chisato for a raid on Majima's hideout, but she only agrees if she reinstates Takina. Kurumi has Mika reveal ten years ago, despite her talent, Chisato suffered from a congenital heart disease that only gave her six months to live. Seeing her potential, Yoshimatsu arranged for Chisato to receive an artificial heart, under the condition Mika raised her like their own daughter, and ensured she used her talent for killing. However, Chisato saw Yoshimatsu as her "savior", and thus used her abilities for good. Takina and Mizuki overhear the story, and they all agree the best way of tracking down Yoshimatsu is through Majima. Meanwhile, Majima learns about Yoshimatsu and comes up with a new plan. Takina decides to return to the DA to help Chisato, and arranges for a day off to spend time with her. After visiting the park, she thanks Takina and gives her her scarf as a present before leaving. Meanwhile, Yoshimatsu and Himegawa are ambushed and captured by Majima.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Entertainment District Arc EP#17 (44) - Never Give Up: Tanjiro survives his fall but is confronted by Gyutaro, who mocks his inability to protect Nezuko and his friends, slamming him around the burning city. He offers to transform him but Tanjiro responds by head-butting him, secretly stabbing him with a poisoned kunai. With Gyutaro immobilized, he attempts his Hinokami Kagura once more to behead him. Daki intervenes but is attacked by Zenitsu, reaching her neck with his fastest form. Gyutaro removes the kunai and recovers. Before he can kill Tanjiro, Tengen, having halted the poison's effects, intervenes, battling Gyutaro despite his wounds. Seeing his chance, Tanjiro reaches Gyutaro's neck but is stabbed in the jaw. His scar transforms into a fiery mark, giving him the strength to slice through. Zenitsu loses momentum without cutting Daki's neck but is joined by Inosuke, revealing he moved his internal organs upon getting stabbed, causing Gyutaro to miss his heart. The Demon Slayers simultaneously behead the siblings, but in the aftermath, Gyutaro’s body suddenly erupts with blood blades, destroying the city.

[sambuckylibrary]

TFATWS Anniversary Event 2024 Badges

Here are all the badges for TFATWS Anniversary Event 2024! For more information about the event, please check out the main post for the event.

WEEK 1 (March 18 - 24): THE WINTER SOLDIER TO PRE-INFINITY WAR

MONDAY: “I don’t think he’s the kind you save.”

TUESDAY: Sam Searches for Bucky

WEDNESDAY: “Can you move your seat up?”

THURSDAY: Team Up at the Airport

FRIDAY: On the Run

WEEK 2 (March 25 - 31) : INFINITY WAR TO PRE-TFATWS

MONDAY: Laying Low

TUESDAY: Reunite in Wakanda

WEDNESDAY: Soul Stone

THURSDAY: Victory Party

FRIDAY: 6 Months of Ghosting

WEEK 3 (April 1 - 7): The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

MONDAY: Couple's Therapy

TUESDAY: “Let me just walk you through a hypothetical.”

WEDNESDAY: Madripoor

THURSDAY: “You’re just gonna set me up like that, huh?”

FRIDAY: The Cookout

WEEK 4 (April 8 - 14): Post-TFATWS

MONDAY: Meanwhile, on the Boat...

TUESDAY: Divorce Arc

WEDNESDAY: Skrulls

THURSDAY: Better Thunderbolts Ideas

FRIDAY: Better Captain America 4 Ideas

WEEK 5 (April 15 - 21): AU Week

MONDAY: No Powers AU

TUESDAY: Period Piece

WEDNESDAY: Sci-fi/Fantasy AU

THURSDAY: Based on a Movie

FRIDAY: Ghost/Zombie AU

WEEK 6 (April 22 - 28): Sambucky Week

MONDAY: Didn’t Know They were Dating/Friends with Benefits

TUESDAY: Redwing

WEDNESDAY: Hurt/Comfort

THURSDAY: Separate, Long Vacations

FRIDAY: Dealer's Choice

[bingebuddie]

My Writing Journey January 2024

Some status updates on my projects...

Sideways

The next arc on Sideways is coming along well. I have three chapters complete and ready to post. But I want to have some more ready before I start posting. Aiming for the end of January for launch. I don't want to have this arc stretching out like the last two did. Check it out if you want to catch up before the next arc starts!

I might post a teaser... there is a lot coming in this next arc... including the face-off with the LAFD, lots of world-building, and Buck, Eddie, Bobby, Athena, Wes, and Cole taking their planned vacation. Traveling to New York, getting a view into Wes and Cole's origin, and then the long-fated cruise...

I have done some refining on the outlines for the two following arcs.

This fic his 300k words in 2023... it's looking to beat that in 2024...

Nevermore

I had some artwork commissioned for this, and I cannot wait to share it.

I've posted five new chapters on this one in the last few weeks. I have trimmed some of the outline as I felt it was too long and was dragging the story out.

Anyway, I'm having a lot of fun wrapping this up. I have future plans for this world.

Buddie WIPS:

Run: Small one shot. This one will be up in the next week or so.

Search and Rescue - Buck and Eddie qualify to be part of a new SAR task force. While they work together better than anyone else, they have never been further apart personally.

Relationship Goals - In an effort to rebuild their friendship, after their new relationships fail, Buck and Eddie join a local hockey team with some of Buck's old Seal friends. This is already 20ish pages and closest to being complete.

Stolen - A stolen kiss changes everything between Buck and Eddie. This Angst fest is somehow super soft.

The Ties That Bind - Buck breakdown fic.

All I Want for Christmas - Think Scrooged and It's a wonderful life but BUDDIE... I wanted to have this done for the holidays... maybe for next year...

Still working away on my original novel.