#vs dream team where they have basically no relationship

[detectiveaku]

why passerine is not (just) a found family fic (and why c6 and c7 are necessary): the essay

when you click on passerine, you know that at least one character is going to die. "major character death" is in the warnings, and if you had it recommended to you, likely it was prefaced with "this is going to ruin your life". you read passerine not in spite of but likely because of tommy's death. it punctuates all of the build up, the war, the family, phil leaving and returning, techno choosing to settle with mortals. its gratuitous. its in your face. tommy is funny, charming, and young, and set up to die. you are supposed to assume that he doesnt live through the war, thats the point of everything that comes before.

and its happened before. what makes passerine unique is how ambiguous the setting is. when does it take place? where? in the antarctic empire, or lmanburg, or somewhere else? the authors characterize the kingdom so well, with puffy, niki, and tubbos stories sharing why people love this place and why they are willing to die for it, without once naming what it is exactly that they are fighting for.

the first line is "he must have had a life before this." and he did. in thousands of other fics, time and time again, wilbur, tommy, techno, and phil have met each other, gone through horrible traumas together, and done it again in the next one. its gratuitous. its in your face.

chapters 1-5 hint at this, but c6 and 7 are where this really happens at. you so desperately want a happy ending, to reread up until that fatal line, to see wilbur's sacrifice and imagine an ending where tommy lives and everyone goes home. to rewrite the story. to see it happen again, happen better. thats the essence of fanfiction, and its what phil left techno and his children to pursue. and when he comes back, he discovers that in trying to rewrite the story, he lost the opportunity to enjoy the original.

this is the question passerine poses. is fanfiction a beautiful way to engage with the original work, to expand on what couldve been? yes. but is there a danger in getting caught up in a relationship that is nowhere near canon, playing it out over and over, never quite being satisfied because you know it isnt the truth?

dream represents the opportunity to close your eyes and forget, letting it happen again and going back to the beginning with a vague sense of unease and hope. rewriting the ending, rather than accepting the ugly truth. it is incredibly poetic that people tend to ignore his character and talk about c1-4 over and over, and also incredibly predictable because that seems to be the intention. ignore the voices. ignore your looming fate.

phil, in contrast, represents death and freedom. in locking him away in eternal battle with dream, the freedom to live in peace, blind to what is right in front of him, is gone, and so is death. tommy will never die again.

sbi is a made up family that people use to project their own shit onto. and this is very useful and helpful and fun to do. but in doing so each character loses part of the whole. techno is forever a blood god, violent and undying. wilbur is forever a king, stoic and heaped with responsibility. tommy is forever a child. and phil is forever a parent of children who will suffer. time and time again. and passerine breaks this cycle.

passerine is not a tragedy by technical standards. it is bitterly triumphant. wilbur and techno get to live in peace and mortality, and their ending is finally finite. its meta as fuck and the most creative thing i think ive ever seen.

god it frustrates me so much that no one understands passerine. or is everyone just pretending not to get it? either way youre annoying me

[sandraharissa]

I’m kinda bummed we’re for sure never gonna see certain interesting characters team up or even really interact. For me it’s Mel and Silco cos they seem the best political players but also share this connection that’s kinda subtle and not a lot of ppl talk about it but arcane is chock full of parallels and one of them are Ambessa and Mel vs Silco and Jinx. Those are two very similar pairs but in the crucial aspects that arcane explores they’re the exact opposite.

We’ve got these brutal leaders with their political goals with daughters that are quite sensitive and good-natured even tho both are raised to be violent.

On one hand we have Mel with her good heart who has a mom who wants her to ‘be a wolf’ however Mel is basically a princess (definitely lives like a princess) and has an older brother who she looks up to who also doesn’t want to be a wolf and so it doesn’t work. All we see is Ambessa trying to teach 10yo Mel this lesson by decapitating a 10yo princess just like her that Mel sympathized with in front of her. And predictably all it does is traumatize her and start the rift between the duo.

On the other hand I can’t imagine Silco ever behaving like this in front of Jinx or treating her like that. Moreover in Jinx’s case it’s unnecessary cos her whole world is violent and she needs to be violent to survive. Long before Silco she saw her siblings glorify violence and Vander praise Vi for doing good in a fight. So even tho the narrative goes out of its way to show us how Powder is afraid of violence she is also very successfully conditioned to want to be violent herself from a very young age, waiting excitedly for her bomb to blow up in a teenager’s face.

Secondly Ambessa at some point in her past is put in front of a decision where she has to choose between her daughter and their relationship and her political goals, so basically the exact same conflict Silco is later put through, and she chooses to exile Mel so she can do her thing peacefully. In contrary, Silco gives up his political goals for the sake of not sending his kid away from him to prison, which I think is comparable to exile.

And then in The Moment of Truth the both daughters are put in the positions to make world-changing decisions. Their choices are enforced by the slightest move of their fingers. Mel pulls off her Medarda ring for the sake of following her values and ignoring her mother’s ambitions, meanwhile Jinx pulls the trigger for the sake of following her own values so to speak, and in a way to honor her dad’s memory/avenge his death/fulfill his dream.

So we see how the two duos who are in drastically similar situations play out the exact opposite way based on the polar opposite type of relationship present between each parent and child. And that results in the polar opposite choice each daughter makes between war and peace in the piltover/zaun conflict. So basically my point is that if Mel ever met Silco she’d cry tears full of mommy issues.

[egostrawberry]

Opinions on the new Nintendo direct

Mario & Luigi Brothership: this looks cute as FUCK. I loved Mario & Luigi Dream Team so I already know this is gonna be a banger

Nintendo World Championships (NES edition): I like when Nintendo acknowledges the speedrun community and I will be trying this even though I suck at video games

FAIRY TAIL 2: Generic anime game #1

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension: Generic anime game #2

Nintendo switch sports (new sport): This looks like ass! I’d rather have Wii sports resort please

MIO Memories in Orbit: Yup that sure is a game. Looks cool ig

Disney Illusion Island: Yup that sure is a Disney game

Hello Kitty Island Adventure: IM PLAYIN HELLO KITTY ISLAND ADVENTURE

Looney Toons Wacky World of Sports: Space Jam already sucked ass but at least it was nostalgic. Now it just sucks LMAO

Among Us:

Farmagia: Generic anime game #3

Donkey Kong Country returns HD: OH HELL YEAH I used to play this on my 3DS

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake: I think I heard my dad talk about this game once

Funko Fusion: Thanks, I hate it! Absolutely nauseating!

Luigi’s Masion 2 HD: FUCK YEHA BABY DARK MOON’S BACK IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR SO LONG YEEESSSSSSS

THE NEW DENPA MEN: the fuck is a denpa man. Kinda cute ig

METAL SLUG ATTACK RELOADED: I think I heard my dad talk about this game once

Darkest Dungeon II: huh?

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: Sorry what? I couldn’t hear you over the sound of me pirating your games

Phantom Brave The Lost Hero: Generic anime game #4

Marvel vs Capcom fighting collection arcade classics: Eat my ass Marvel capcom W

Super Mario Party Jamboree: I love Mario party games! They tear relationships apart! This looks fun. I like the word “jamboree” that’s a fun word

The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom: ZELDA PROTAGONIST GAME?!? UM YES???!!???!!??!?!?!? The gameplay in this looks hella fun

Just Dance 2025 Edition: I’ll only be buying this ONLY if they put hatsune miku in there

LEGO Horizon Adventures: Yup that’s a LEGO game. Horizon is pretty cool tho I watched my buddy @web-creep play it

Stray: Kitty! :3 I already have this game on PlayStation sooooooo

Tales of the Shire a lord of the rings game: Don’t care didn’t ask + gollum

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection: Oh my god I finally get to experience the AA game where Edgeworth won’t stfu about chess I’m so excited /gen

The Hundred Line Last Defense Academy: Generic anime game #5 + I dont like danganronpa (I probably spelled that wrong (I do not care))

Romancing SaGa 2 revenge of the seven: Generic anime game #6

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond: Hey that’s my mom! Samus is my mom you guys. I hope Snapcube sees this.

Conclusion? I’m very excited for Dark Moon HD remake and that’s basically it :)

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group B Round 4: Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time vs Run with the Wind

#B7: Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time

Kid epicly procrastinates during class

#B5: Run with the Wind (Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru)

Amateur college track team aims for big race

Details and poll under the cut!

#B7: Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time

Summary:

All Rumi Yokoi wants to do is focus during school, but she is constantly distracted by Toshinari Seki, her neighboring classmate. Paying attention during class is the least of Seki's worries, as he obsesses over intricate setups created using an assortment of items, from an elaborate domino course on his desk to a treacherous war played out with shogi pieces. Yokoi desperately attempts to focus in class, only to be repeatedly sucked into his intriguing eccentricities; however, they always seem to end up with her getting in trouble with their teacher. Fortunately, lessons will never be dull with Seki's antics around!

Propaganda 1:

Seki-kun is the sort of anime that stays underrated because it seems overly simple, but it really shines in its simplicity. The episodes are short tales of Seki’s epic procrastination and they’re absurdly amusing. Both the opening and ending are super funny and really well-thought-out.

It’s the anime equivalent of a hard candy. You can have an episode at the end of the day or between tasks, and it entertains you well without asking for much.

Propaganda 2:

It is a really short anime with very short episodes but is still very entertaining, and we never hear the character whose name is in the title speak but we still get a really good feel of his personality. It’s just really funny and a lot of fun to watch.

Trigger Warnings: None

#B5: Run with the Wind (Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru)

Summary:

Former ace runner of Sendai Josei High School, Kakeru Kurahara is chased away from a convenience store for shoplifting. Shaking off his pursuer, he runs into Haiji Kiyose, another student from his university. Haiji is impressed by Kakeru's agility and persuades him to live in Chikusei-sou, the run-down apartment where Haiji resides along with eight other students. Having lost his entire apartment deposit at a mahjong parlor, Kakeru accepts the offer reluctantly.

However, Haiji reveals a secret during Kakeru's welcoming party: the apartment is actually the dormitory of the Kansei University Track Club. He unveils his ultimate goal of participating in the Hakone Ekiden—one of the most prominent university marathon relay races in Japan. Unfortunately, all the residents apart from Haiji and Kakeru are complete running novices. Worse still, none of the inhabitants are even remotely interested in being involved with Haiji's ridiculous plan! With only months before the deadline, will the fourth-year student be able to convince them otherwise and realize his elusive dream of running in the Hakone Ekiden?

Propaganda 1:

Okay so, finally a sports anime that isn’t set in high school. (There aren’t nearly enough set in college.) MC is basically Older Running Kageyama, in both looks and personality. He has to overcome his past issues with his old track team, and learn to open up. I love the relationships that form between the team members. There’s one who is just Not Here for It and struggles A Lot, who just wants to go home and read manga. (Hey it me.) There’s also a cute dog, and a lot of the bg music is by the same folks as Haikyuu.

Propaganda 2:

I genuinely think this might be the best sports anime out there. It’s an amazing anime in general, with good animation, a beautiful art show, and a great premise, though what really makes it stand out is the characters.

RWTW is a character-driven story at heart, with all the main characters given their time to shine. The main cast is very lovable, and their relationships with each other are depicted in a sweet but realistic way. The protagonist, Kakeru, goes through a great character development over the course of the show, from being a lonely outcast at the start to accepting the other team members into his heart as found family.

While I’m not a runner personally, I still found this interesting to watch, since along with the training there’s a lot of thoughtful discussion on the nature of running: what it means to run, to be a runner. There’s a very philosophical aspect to it, which makes sense considering that RWTW is actually adapted from a book. The last thing I’ll say is that as a college student myself, it’s really nice to watch an anime focused on people in college and not high school. Oh, and the soundtrack is incredible.

Trigger Warnings: Alcohol and Smoking

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how it’s presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form with your revisions, and I’ll consider adapting those changes.

New: Starting round 5, screenshots will be included in the poll post. You can submit screenshots through the form linked above, or through here, via ask or dm.

Guidelines in submitting screenshots:

No NSFW or spoilery images.

Pick some good images please. Don’t send any blurry or pixelated ones.

You may send up to 9 screenshots, but not all may be used.

[itlivesproject]

hiii! your project is AMAZING and you're all so talented 😭😭 but i have a question if you feel comfortable with sharing. which apps/programs you guys used to recreate the game? I'm interested in developing my own games but have no idea where to start. can you give me some tips? 🙂 tysm anyway!

If you want to make a standalone visual novel, then the program we use, Ren'Py, is perfect! It's free and designed specifically to make visual novels easy to make for everyone, including beginners. I had literally zero understanding of programming when I started working on ILW and just figured it out through tutorials, asking questions on forums, and trial and error.

This is the Ren'Py link.

Because this is long, under the cut I'm sharing some things you'll need to think about if you want to make a visual novel:

Your team:

You don't have to have a team of people helping you with this. You can do it alone. However, I will say that ILW would not be what it is if I had just tried to go it alone. It is so much better than anything I could've dreamed of when I first got the idea. More people on a team = more ideas, more constructive criticism and feedback, and more heads going in together to make a better product. But if you want a team, you need to make sure you maintain an attitude and environment that is open to suggestions and contributions from others. Be ready and willing to throw out ideas you like if it no longer works or someone thinks of something better. Nothing kills the creative spirit faster than defensiveness and competitiveness, so to have a well-working team, open-minded members and sharing your ideas and criticism in a positive way is extremely important.

Art:

This is one of the first things you should really nail down, because if you start working on your game but never figure out the art, everything else will go to waste. For most VN creators, they usually hire out for art. For us, since this is a free fan project, our artists worked for free. We were also lucky to already have a bunch of backgrounds and assets from Choices that our artists could edit, so we didn't have to make dozens and dozens of entirely new backgrounds. If you're going to have to hire out, I'd try to really compress the amount of art you'll need - plan ahead and cut down unnecessary characters who'd need sprites, maybe use a silhouette for unnamed characters, and limit the amount of backgrounds you'll need, because backgrounds take up a lot of space, they take up a lot of time to make, and they're expensive.

Programming:

Obviously, programming is a big thing. If you have enough motivation, you should be able to figure out a lot of this on your own. If you use Ren'Py, be sure to read the documentation, watch a lot of basic tutorials, and just get into the engine and start getting your hands dirty! It seems like a lot at first, but once you get the feel of it, it's actually not too complicated. When it comes to programming, I recommend simplifying everything as much as possible. When I first started ILW, I didn't simplify things much (because I was figuring things out) so what I used to do in three lines of code I now do in one. Limiting the amount of code you ultimately end up writing GREATLY diminishes possibility of errors and bugs. Also, try to get as organized as possible. Make as many folders, subfolders, and text files as you need. Don't try to put the whole script in one file, don't put all the images in the same folder. Good organization goes a long way to making everything a lot easier to keep track of.

Game structure:

Piecing together a branching game is honestly quite a puzzle. Before going into working on your game, you should sit down and figure out game mechanics. What points do you want to include? Personality? Relationship? Romance? Skills? Some kind of narrative scale akin to blood vs shadow? Figure out what points systems you want to include and then figure out how that's going to impact the story and where. When creating love interests, don't just create a character and assume they'll fit themselves into the narrative. Focus on the character as a character first, meaning determine how they fit into the story's narrative, and then think about them as a love interest second. If you do this, it will make them a better character and a more satisfying love interest. Finally, start the game knowing how much variation you want. Do you want something with immense, diverging endings? How much variation do you want within one scene? Because interactive fiction is so determinant on player choices and there can be so many routes, it's not a good idea to just go with the flow and see what happens, because otherwise you won't be able to reconcile all the different routes you likely created. So figure out the overall structure for your story in terms of mechanics before you really start on planning.

Planning and writing:

Once you have the previous stuff figured out, then you can start actually planning the story and eventually, writing it. Again, I'd recommend you figure out the previous stuff first because if you start planning and writing immediately, but then it turns out you can't solve the programming, or can't get art, then all this work will have been for naught. My advice on planning: do NOT skimp out! Additionally, to make the love interests feel more important to the story as a whole, I would recommend the technique of arc outlining, which is essentially when you take each love interest separate from each other and plan out scenes that tie into the story to further their individual character arcs. Doing this makes it easy to figure out where tender relationship and intimate moments can go, and those moments will be more interesting because they're connected to an actual plot point instead of just being like "it's sexy time!" Once you have your plans, you can start writing. Depending on how long your story is, writing can be really difficult. It takes a lot of time and thought, and burnout is real.

Music:

You'll want to figure out how you'll get music for your game. Again, creators usually hire out for this. On the Ren'Py forums, there's actually a specific topic for music that helps you network with composers who are looking for jobs. For us, again, since we're a fan project that's not making money, we could use 1) Choices music 2) tracks from a music library I have a deal with and 3) as a composer myself, I wrote some original tracks. Also, if you're looking for free sound effects, freesound.org is actually perfect for that. It's where I got the siren, forest, and ghost voice SFX!

Distribution

Distribution can be tricky! For ILW, we originally wanted it to be playable online, but we eventually removed that option because 1) saving online was complicated 2) the quality wasn't as good and it couldn't run smoothly and 3) we didn't want people who could download it, play online and have a bad experience instead of downloading it. If you offer an online option, most people will take it. For indie games, I think using something like Steam or itch.io is the way to go. Unfortunately, that will make it so it's not available on Apple products, but to get it on Apple you have to package it specifically for Apple which is difficult, and you have to pay $100/year to be allowed to have it up on the app store in the first place.

Hopefully this helps! This is really just scratching the surface, but here are some things to think about if you're interested in making your own visual novel.

[jacksgreysays]

Ahh, your new and very bleak AU is such a good read! I'm curious, what is Sasuke doing in this AU and how is he juggling the relationships? And did you have any ideas of where you would take this Au further if you did? If it would get bleaker or at least a little better?

First off, thank you! Yeah, this AU is very bleak and I don’t know why it’s the only thing my brain wanted to churn out but I decided to let it happen.

Second, oof, hold on to your seats, this is gonna be rough: I have a lot of Thoughts™ about this AU.

So, Sasuke is a sticking point in this AU because everyone else is pretty easy to understand on which side they’d fall, but I did want him specifically to be neutral in the aftermath. Because I didn’t want it to be Shikako and Sasuke vs Naruto but also Shikako vs Sasuke and Naruto isn’t great either and realistically, even the DoS version of Sasuke still loves vengeance.

He would’ve been on the side of legal capital punishment for sure because vengeance, but once it became official that the councilors were going to be imprisoned instead I don’t think he would have approved of Shikako’s actions. Like, I think it’s the illegality that is the problem especially if he’s head of KMP at this time. But even if he’s not, Shikako performing an extrajudicial execution is very much skirting the line into… uh… power corrupts type vibe.

I also wanted Sasuke to be in Konoha: in DoS future fic in general, not just this AU, I like the idea that Shikako is the traveler while Sasuke is the one who stays in Konoha—or, if he does travel, it’s because he’s traveling WITH Shikako. (Tangentially related, I do think Naruto likes traveling but THINKS he likes being in Konoha because of his Hokage dream and that explains why he’s Like That in Boruto)

Anyway, in this AU Sasuke is in Konoha and conflicted on this matter to the point of being neutral. Because on the one hand, yes, justified vengeance of course. He was definitely team justified vengeance. But even if he doesn’t UNDERSTAND Naruto’s decision to not give Shikako her justified vengeance, he’s—in this universe—law abiding.

So I don’t know if it’s just the act of extrajudicial execution or if Shikako asked him to be accessory to it or if she tricked him into being accessory to it, but Sasuke doesn’t approve. So ideally Sasuke agrees with Shikako that the councilors should have been given the capital punishment, but the methods that Shikako used (whether involving/compromising Sasuke himself) he disapproves of so in that way he agrees with Naruto.

Hence, conflicted to the point of neutrality.

I should also maybe mention that Sakako doesn’t exist in this AU. Which sucks for Shikadai because he also doesn’t have his other cousins either—or, rather, they exist, but he’s not going to meet them and they aren’t his cousins: Kareru (if he does exist) is an Uzumaki (which the Nara have conflicted feelings about.) And in my own little headcanon of NGSS Shikako’s the one that finds Araya, Gaara’s the one that finds Yodo, and while Kankurou was the one to find Shinki he’s very busy in this universe what with being the Kazekage and all—but understandably sucks more for Sasuke considering he basically lost a child. Or never had the child that he could have?

Schroedinger’s child.

Anyway, he does still have Sarada, which is good. Whether or not he also has the other biological kids because of the repopulation program is kinda up in the air of whether that would be affected by Konoha’s internal politics.

Weirdly, I think his relationships with other people hinge on how I want Sakura to feel about Shikako’s actions? And now I’m fully going off the rails, but I like the idea of SaixInoxSakura as a stable throuple in a good future. In this bleak AU it’s obvious whose side Ino is on, and DoS!Sai has always been Shikako’s more than Naruto’s (and also, he’s so down to break the law for her it’s great,) and while that is also true of Sakura, she’s also a civilian born medic. So philosophically, she would agree with Naruto that imprisonment is better than execution. And she would also agree that what Shikako did is pretty fucked up.

But Sakura is also the kind of person who, in canon, forgave Sasuke for a lot and worse shit. And there’s also Inner Sakura to think about because, yeah, we don’t see her as much (if at all) but, you know, hurt those who have hurt you is a very instinctive thing to do.

What I’m saying is: if Sakura has somehow threaded the needle on her own conflicting feelings about Shikako’s actions, then because Sarada is Sasuke’s link to her, Sakura might be Sasuke’s best friend?

Because he definitely lost Shikako when everything went down, but he kind of also lost Naruto even before that when he denied Shikako her justified vengeance?

And if his best friend is Sakura now, then his social circle kind of depends on her social circle. Like, if she’s remained in the throuple with Ino and Sai without weird lingering resentments, then by default his social circle includes them and other people who were on Shikako’s side. If she didn’t remain in that throuple then their social circle is people who were Naruto’s side.

… Schroedinger’s throuple…

Anyway, as for the direction this AU is going, I suppose it also depends on whose POV you’re in?

The reason why Shikako is running around being international superstar Kako Heijo is because she didn’t want to destroy Konoha by kicking off a civil war. Like, she doesn’t regret killing those councilors, but politically it doesn’t look great for her to blatantly refute the Hokage’s decision. And it especially isn’t great if she stays there where people who agreed with her would rally behind her and cause an internal schism in the administration that would lead to a civil war.

It’s like the situation in Indelible except worse.

Unfortunately, her pulling a Tsunade and leaving while not being a missing nin didn’t really solve the problem so much as delay it or make everything hide under layers of passive aggression.

Because the trajectory that I currently have is that the ANY clans are gradually and quietly seceding from Konoha. Those three clans could practically form their own functioning village—the Yamanaka and Nara are in so many different departments and the Akimichi (or at least my version of it) have noble/civilian ties and resources—in a way that could devastate Konoha’s infrastructure for at least a few months if not years if they just up and left. Obviously, not everyone in the administration is from the clan system so it’s not like a debilitating walk out for the village, but it doesn’t look great and also there are some who aren’t in the clan system who might want to defect to wherever the ANY go.

Like, my brain definitely has some Ino-and-Chouji-being-coldly-furious fic ideas including the absolute INSULT it would be to them that Konohamaru is BORUTO’S jounin sensei when EVERYONE KNOWS that the Sarutobi are supposed to be mentors to the Ino-Shika-Cho. (To be fair, Naruto didn’t do this as a deliberate snub. Obviously he doesn’t know about clan ties/alliances, but it’s a pretty glaring misstep that he hasn’t learned that since becoming Hokage and an especially worse misstep that he assigned Konohamaru to his own son’s team out of preferential treatment.)

There were other perceived slights over the years, I’m sure, but I just especially like turning Boruto canon into something for Ino and Chouji to rage over. It’s great. They’re so mad in this AU. I love it.

So I guess… thinking about how to make this less bleak would be… if Shikako and Shikadai are trying to figure out how to save Konoha from itself. And also keep Shikadai out of Sand’s clutches.

Which I guess means that Shikadai has to become Hokage?

… which is a pretty funny take on the original premise of Naruto. Like, I’m going to become the strongest/the Hokage to protect the people I love (from a civil war.)

I’m legit laughing.

But in all seriousness, any next major steps narratively of this AU would have to be done by Shikako, Shikadai, and maybe Kankurou in order to prevent Konoha’s implosion. And unfortunately, this situation is so tangled up politically that it can’t just be Shikako swooping in to save the day.

Like, even if they somehow found Gaara, it wouldn’t change the fact the Shikamaru was assassinated, Naruto wouldn’t let the Nara clan have their justified vengeance, and Shikako took it by force anyway.

It’s a very sins of the father (or… aunts/uncles) situation where only the next generation—ie Shikadai—can seize the means by which to… I guess… forgive all parties involved and if not repair then at least put out the active flames of the burning bridges.

Either that or time travel which has been brought up before… which could be pretty cool but is also pretty funny because, like, imagine you’re a 12 year old boy and your international superstar aunt and your foreign king uncle, both of whom you’ve only just met, go time traveling together. That’s hilarious.

All of which is a very long way for me to say that the passive trajectory is bleak, but an active narrative would involve attempts to make it less bleak (either by Shikadai becoming Hokage or the strangest boy and his aunt and uncle go on a time travel roadtrip, lol)

[insipid-drivel]

DID vs. PTSD: A Surprising Showdown

After spending months basically going door to door looking for a therapist, I finally met one that's taken a particular interest in the way my PTSD and DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder, aka "multiple personalities") fight against one another rather than compound on one another.

It all started today when I was feeling generally Angry about some bad memories I had stewing in my head from the days when I was still in my abusive biological father's custody. You don't get DID without an element of abuse or neglect at a young age, so it's not a big shock to hear folks/systems talk casually about a traumatic event. Mine comes largely from my biological father, who I very seriously refer to as a psychopath. After many years of describing him to mental health professionals across different focuses in my own journey toward finding the right doctor, "psychopathy" is a word I've heard used a lot by them in response. This isn't to say all psychopaths are bad people or inherently abusive. I just happened to be stuck with one that was.

Like a lot of people with PTSD, there are days or moments where my head feels stuck in a particular moment, and it's hard to shake off the negative emotions that result. I've done enough work that I can generally make progress in pulling myself out of ruts like that if I have an opportunity to talk through exactly what's going on in my mind. I mentioned to my therapist that I often sink into my DID and embrace my alter personalities for help in wiggling loose from the cycle of memory and emotion. It's a very natural behavior for me, because many of my memories that took extensive work to recover were a result of my alters "returning" them to me. Memories of dissociative events aren't entirely lost to my brain, and are instead stored by the personality/ies that were in the forefront of my consciousness at the time an event occurred. With enough work learning how to communicate and negotiate a symbiotic relationship with them, they gradually began "giving back" the memories to me.

My therapist stopped me at this point. We were on a video call, and I could see she was intrigued and perplexed at the same time. She asked me, "Can't you ask for your memories back since you learned to speak back and forth with them?" (For context, I didn't learn how to talk freely with my alters until I was about 28. Before then, the little buggers were very stealthy and hiding as the characters from books I'd written)

"I can," I said, but I had to qualify it. "They don't always agree to do it."

I'm used to the jot of concern that comes on any therapist's face when they're first learning about how my DID ticks. At first blush, some of our "protocols" seem restrictive and on the edge of giving them too much control. I personally welcome the system and was part of its construction, because when you have people in your head that can take your body for a walk on a whim, forming positive relationships built on trust and firmly-established boundaries keeps everyone feeling like they've got an equal space to work from.

So, she asked, "What happens when they're not sure if you're ready to remember something?" - A great question, by the way, because we're not flawless. My Team, as I prefer to call them, aren't perfect. Quite a few of them struggle with basic etiquette like wearing pants. Plus, making it a rule that they're capable of flaws keeps things interesting and promotes growth and communication, in my experience.

"I'm given options," I said in return. "I can either remember through a dream. If the memory is too intense, the dream can be trashed and forgotten before I wake up. It subverts a lot of the damage of letting the flashback play out completely." I'll wake up feeling distraught and upset, but the finer details of the memory will be completely gone. It kind of feels like my Team is able to quickly reset my brain to its most recent previous version in the event of a mistake like that.

She nodded along while I continued. "The other option is to remember while awake, but the memory is altered by the personality that remembers it. Instead of remembering as though it's happening all over again, the memory will be tweaked so the other personality is physically present and capable of intervening or speaking through the memory, and even outright changing what happens in it."

This is where my therapist's interest reached its most piqued. I'd used a real example where my biological father had attempted to harm me in response for something I'd said back to him. It was one of the more intense moments that I'd ever dissociated and switched personalities with my Enforcer. I dissociated from the event so intensely that she was able to manifest more strength than normal and seriously injured my biological father. He wound up in the hospital getting emergency surgery, and I remembered none of it.

My therapist began to explain a form of memory regression therapy that utilized similar tools, except the imaginary helpers were usually real people, such as loved ones and friends. Through this therapy, the survivor could reenact a traumatic moment while experiencing the sense of support and protection provided by the volunteers.

"It's like your alters have learned how to do that organically to help you heal," she concluded, looking off in the mid-distance while she fiddled with her glasses. I pointed out that what I'd just described was why I wasn't going to her for help with my Team or my DID.

She asked me one final question before our session came to a close. "How is it that you got the negative-presenting ones to become positive helpers?"

She was referencing Marchosias, one of my Team that scared the shit out of me throughout my childhood. It's not weird for kids with DID to perceive their alters - especially negatively-tuned or aggressive ones - as paranormal activity. Marchosias was the only one of my alter personalities that actually did physical harm to me - mostly through scratches. Otherwise, I would perceive him as trying to drag me out of bed by my feet at night, shaking my bed, or chasing me down hallways to try and pull me into dark rooms. One of the reasons I became a practicing Druid at 14 was as a coping mechanism for learning how to fight what I thought was a demon.

I explained to her, "I eventually figured out how to see that scary time through his eyes." Alter personalities aren't necessarily born into the world knowing everything (or more) that the brain they're living in knows. Some are confused and need guidance. Others are aggressive and angry because they can sense the stress and trauma of the primary ego, but don't know how to help or make it stop.

I had to talk to him for a long time and ply him with encouragement. Marchosias isn't proud of the way he treated me when we were both surviving. My biological father was a big guy - about 6'3" and always 200lbs+. I'm a small person, and that's when it clicked.

Marchosias was trying to abscond with me, as it were. The rooms he tried to pull me into were ones that my biological father couldn't easily fit into, like a small side bathroom or an honest-to-god closet. The scratch marks I got on occasion were from his clawing attempts to pull me out of where I was to drag me to where I'd be safe, even if that was just under the bed.

He was treating me like an adult trying to take a frightened pet to a vet. I couldn't understand the scope of what he was trying to do, and as far as I could tell some eldritch entity was Trying To Take Me Away, but our relationship underwent a serious mending once I understood that he was trying to take me away from where the trauma was originating from.

All in all, it was a very intriguing session, and further substantiation that DID, systems, alters, teams, multiples, or whichever is your preferred term isn't just a source of dysfunction; it has the power to form abstract methods of healing, too.

[luxurybathroomsau]

What Sets Professional Bathroom Renovations Apart from DIY Projects?

Imagine stepping into a bathroom that feels like a spa retreat – sleek tiles, modern fixtures, and an ambience that whispers luxury. It's a dream many homeowners share, but the journey from a basic bathroom to a lavish haven involves crucial decisions. 

One of the most significant choices is whether to embark on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project or enlist the expertise of a best bathroom renovation company Melbourne for professional bathroom renovations. 

In this blog post, we'll delve into what sets professional bathroom renovations apart from DIY endeavours, exploring the advantages, the nuances, and why, sometimes, leaving it to the experts is the key to unlocking a bathroom's true potential.

Personal Touch vs. Professional Precision

DIY bathroom renovations often begin with enthusiasm and a Pinterest board full of inspiration. There's an undeniable charm in adding your personal touch to every tile and fixture, making it a labour of love. 

However, the allure of DIY projects can be deceptive. While they promise a customised outcome, the lack of professional expertise can lead to unforeseen challenges. This is where the expertise of a bathroom renovation company Melbourne shines. 

Professional renovators bring not only skill but also a keen understanding of spatial dynamics and design principles, ensuring that every inch of your bathroom is optimised for both aesthetics and functionality.

From Concept to Completion

One of the defining features of professional bathroom renovations is meticulous planning. From the initial concept to the final touches, a bathroom renovation company follows a well-structured plan. 

This involves a detailed assessment of the existing space, a discussion of your preferences and requirements, and the creation of a comprehensive design. 

The beauty of this approach lies in its ability to foresee potential challenges and devise solutions before the renovation even begins. DIY projects, on the other hand, may lack this strategic planning, often leading to mid-project improvisations and compromises.

Quality Materials and Craftsmanship: The Professional Edge

In the realm of bathroom renovations, the saying "you get what you pay for" holds significant weight. Professional bathroom renovations come with the assurance of top-notch materials and craftsmanship.

 Bathroom renovation companies have established relationships with suppliers, ensuring access to high-quality materials at competitive prices. 

Moreover, their teams consist of skilled craftsmen who specialise in different aspects of the renovation process, from plumbing to tiling. 

This blend of quality materials and expert craftsmanship guarantees a finished product that not only looks stunning but also stands the test of time – a feat that can be challenging for many DIY enthusiasts.

Navigating Regulations and Permits: A Professional Advantage

Bathroom renovations often involve more than just choosing the right tiles and faucets. Navigating building codes, obtaining permits, and adhering to safety regulations are crucial steps that can be daunting for DIYers. 

A bathroom renovation company not only understands these legalities but also takes charge of the entire process. From securing necessary permits to ensuring that the renovation complies with safety standards, professionals have the experience and knowledge to navigate the bureaucratic maze seamlessly. 

This not only saves homeowners from potential legal hassles but also guarantees that the renovated bathroom is a safe and compliant space.

Time and Cost Efficiency: The Hidden Benefits

While the prospect of saving money with a DIY bathroom renovation is tempting, the hidden costs and time investment can be substantial. Professional bathroom renovations, when viewed holistically, often prove to be more cost-efficient in the long run. 

Bathroom renovation companies have established networks with suppliers, allowing them to procure materials at a lower cost than individual buyers. 

Additionally, the efficiency of professionals in executing the renovation, coupled with their ability to avoid costly mistakes, contributes to a more streamlined and economical process.

Conclusion

In the grand tapestry of homeownership, bathroom renovations stand out as transformative moments. The decision between a DIY project and enlisting a bathroom renovation company Melbourne for professional bathroom renovations ultimately boils down to priorities. 

If a personalised touch and the joy of hands-on creation are paramount, a DIY project might be the right fit. However, for those seeking a seamless, high-quality transformation with the least possible stress, the professional touch is the key to unlocking a bathroom's true potential. 

So, as you embark on this exciting journey of renovation, weigh the options, consider the long-term benefits, and envision a bathroom that not only meets but exceeds your expectations – a testament to the marriage of expertise and personal style.

Source By - http://tinyurl.com/3fxtfcfz 

[urmumlelecksdee]

I think people underestimate youtuber ships. Like after their rajjchelor love or host, Katerino and Carson were lightly involved behind the scenes, they talked about their feelings for each other, they HAD that discussion!

And then like calli and kiara, massively shipped, and the ship was held up by the two of them, they similarly MUSTVE had a similar discussion. But this one coming out to no involvement, seeing as calli isn't really into girls and kiara is an adult and ofc respects that

And then there's ironmouse and Connor. There's GOT to be something there. They spend so much time together and act in just the right way,,, how they talk about each other with other people, also mousey just posted this fanart of them,,

Theyre adults and have had the conversation, we just won't know what ever came out of that. Remember kids. Dan and Phil happened. ANYTHING can happen.

But I get it! Dating a friend/coworker (basically) so publicly is dangerous! All privacy is lost! And what if you break up! You have countless mutual friends who also live very publicly, it'd suck SOOO hard. But there comes a point where you spend so much time together, that putting a label on your relationship really doesn't change much... I find it hard to believe there's absolutely no attraction at all between them

For the record, the only significant dream team content I've consumed was George meeting dream for the first time. And that alone made me a dnder. Ain't no WAY is that a heterosexual relationship. You can just TELL by the way they interact with sapnap vs each other. They will be the next Dan and Phil mark my words.

Anyway. Not tagging this. The outside world don't gotta see my insane ramblings

[stan-fixations]

1. Team Edward vs Team Jacob

2. Team Stefan vs Team Damon

3. Team Francis vs Team Bash

4. Team Michael vs Team Rafael

5. Team Bellamy vs Team Lexa

6. Team Clarke vs Team Echo

Let's talk about it.

1. I'm team Jacob. I love a vampire as much as the next 16 year old girl but Edward I can live without. His relationship with Bella just doesn't hit for me. He lacks some flavor, some personality, something to make him interesting.

2. I'm team Damon. I actually really love Stefan. Stefan is everything Edward failed to be but he's just not better than Damon imo. Yes I'm guilty of falling for guys with douchebag personalities but in my defense they're always lovable in the end it just takes some time. Plus I find Damon to be hotter.

3. I'm team Mary [insert evil laugh]. No really I can't decide like Francis is literally a dream. The boy is so romantic and if I was a princess or queen or royal of any type I'd want Francis cause omg he's something straight out of a fairytale. But bash. Sebastian the bastard son. He is so sexy especially when he's swinging his sword around. But bash has a sensitive side too and he's got no problem putting himself in the back if it means taking care of others and I love that about him. Both boys have their pros and cons (kind of like Stefan and Damon) but this one is just too close for me to decide so honestly I can't blame Mary for wanting them both cause I do too.

4. I'm team undecided. In the beginning I was team Michael like I hated Raf with every ounce of my cosmic being. But then I loved him. Michael kept making me upset and betraying me with his actions. Then I loved Michael again cause he's too adorable to not love. Then there was Petra. Then I loved them both and so like Jane I decided to not choose between either of them. Then Michael betrayed me again and broke my heart. Then there was Petra. Then Rafael started giving dilf vibes. Then there was Petra. And then there was Adam. Basically they take turns doing things that make me not like them and then I go back to loving them and then I can't decide and honestly it makes sense that Jane does the crazy shit she does. Between a dream boy dork and sexy ceo dilf how could she possibly make good decisions??? Idk where I stand on this one and there's a good chance I never will.

5. I'm team depends on the context. I think bell and clarke are def soulmates but in a toxic platonic way. Like there's never been a better pair of toxic best friends. They hurt each other a lot and I think it's just too much for them to be lovers cause lovers don't betray each other and shoot each other and hate each other and put everyone else first but then turn around and say they care about each other. That's not stuff lovers do. But toxic best friends they def do those things. Lexa and clarke are soulmates in a romantic way its literally self explanatory. You can't watch their love story and say they shouldn't be together.

6. I'm team ^. Clarke is his toxic platonic soulmate. Echo is his romantic soulmate. Ppl say there's not enough personal connection between them but we met echo in s2 and she made it to the final lineup and with the amount of shit that happens in that show they had opportunities to get closer so there's def enough personal history. And let's not forget about the 6 years they spent together on the ring. Also echo is an awesome character even if her name isn't really echo ;)

[lucemferto]

Hey girl, don’t mind me, I just quickly went and rewrote Dream SMP Season 2.

I’m focusing on the big plot stuff from Season 2, which makes it really easy for me to make it good, because I don’t have to contend with all the hard parts like dialogue and scene pacing and stuff. As an additional challenge to myself, I try to change as little as possible. If I don’t mention stuff (like the Egg-Arc) then that means I’m fine with them the way they are.

I wrote this in an hour, so don't expect it to be good, pls.

Whether you agree or think this is trash, I'd be so interested to hear your thoughts!

ACT I

Fundy’s early arc with Ghostbur, Eret and Phil is great and should stay the way it is. It sets up the character relationships and potential for conflict that we can explore in the future.

Similarly, I wouldn’t change too much about the conflict during Exile with one exception: Both Tommy and Quackity don’t want to include Technoblade. Instead, they believe that they can take one Dream by themselves – this is important for Techno’s, Tommy’s and Quackity’s personal journey later on. In this rewrite, Quackity also didn’t found El Rapids, but instead recruited George & Sapnap to L’Manburg – because his stated goal is to make L’Manburg the strongest nation on the server, so why would he make a rival nation with a plotline that goes nowhere?

What’s also important is that it’s revealed that Dream has a spy in L’Manburg around here. Maybe Tommy confessed his burning of George’s house during a cabinet meeting and word still got out to Dream. Who knows, but it’s important for later.

Something big that I would change about this Act I is that I would give Techno an actual B-plot. As it stands, Techno’s early plotline was just “Grrr, I’m angry that Tommy would use me like that! Someone killed my cows and robbed me! L’Manburg will know my wrath”

3 weeks later

“Nevermind, I’m a pacifist now and live in the arctic”

Instead, we pick up where S1 left off. Techno is intent on destroying L’Manburg and instituting anarchy. During that time, he comes into conflict with Quackity’s henchmen (Fundy, George, Sapnap, etc.) to establish that L’Manburg could be an actual threat to him.

We also have some conflict with Phil. They’re old war buddies, but Phil’s son built L’Manburg and Phil himself is unofficially Tubbo’s advisor. I think them reconstituting their friendship will take up this early part until Tommy’s exile – it makes for a nice foil to Tommy’s and Tubbo’s friendship falling apart.

Technoblade also tries to recruit people like HBomb and Niki to his cause, but they’re hesitant, because, you know, he sent Withers to destroy their home. Not the best first impression. Techno is hurt, but convinced it’s because of L’Manburg propaganda and they don’t want to work with him, because they don’t see him as useful.

ACT II Part 1

Exile-Arc basically stays exactly the same – with one notable difference. When Technoblade comes to visit Tommy it’s not to mock him – it’s as a final attempt to convince Tommy to join him. It’s a first culmination of Techno’s character journey so far: His previous interactions with the citizenry of L’Manburg has left him shaken, but not shaken enough.

Tommy truly does need “The Blade” right now and he has no reason to further believe L’Manburg’s propaganda. So, by Technoblade’s inner logic, Tommy should accept.

But he doesn’t. Tommy viciously rips into Technoblade and gets very personal (he’s in a bad space, understandably) – Techno can play it off nonchalantly, but either the cinematography or some later moment shows us that he was hurt by this.

Nevertheless, he gives Tommy a compass that points to his HQ, showing us that he cares about Tommy, like he did during their early days in Pogtopia.

This is where we implement some big changes. The story of Technoblade and the Butcher Army becomes the A-plot, while the Exile becomes the B-plot.

It makes perfect sense. The Exile-Arc is a very inward-focused, almost a character study of Tommy and Dream. It doesn’t have a lot of big narrative movement – so the perfect time to execute on that narrative movement in the storyline that has a lot of moving pieces.

So, after Tommy chewed him out, Techno is hurt and meets with Philza. Techno then explains that for him anarchy always was the natural order of things – to fight for a world where only the strongest survive – but pursuing anarchy like that has left him empty. Philza then explains that anarchy should be more about helping people and building an equal community.

We’re all but stating a major thematic conflict of this storyline: Fighting those who wronged you vs. Helping those in need. All this while also exploring the philosophy of anarchy with Techno and Philza serving as symbolic stand-ins for some different thoughts on the matter.

So, while Tommy’s Exile is going on, Techno refines his approach. This goes hand in hand with Quackity using his henchman to turn L’Manburg into a totalitarian police state in order to root out Dream’s traitor (told you it would become important later).

This will be the main conflict here in the first half of Act 2. Quackity and Philza will play shoulder-devil and shoulder-angel respectively for Tubbo and Fundy, pulling them in different directions. Ghostbur also hangs around L’Manburg – a constant reminder for Tubbo of the most sanitized version of President Wilbur and the lofty ideas he stood for.

This is another big thematic conflict for this storyline – externalized in part through Ghostbur’s presence: When do the ends no longer justify the means? It also feeds into the motif of Tubbo and Tommy becoming like Schlatt and Wilbur respectively (even if that’s still mostly superficial).

During this political turmoil, Niki is getting into Quackity’s crosshairs. She opposes his policing and brutal methods. So Quackity really focuses in on her and she has to live with constant surveillance, searches, etc. Niki tries to talk to Tubbo about this, but he says it’s necessary to keep L’Manburg safe. Slowly, Niki grows disillusioned with L’Manburg.

It is during this time that Niki gets into contact with Techno and the two start to form a bond and helping the citizenry hold out hope during this time (I don’t know who would be the citizenry, probably people that don’t have their own storyline going on such as HBomb, Vikkstar, Lazarbeam, etc.)

And we can have a few lorestreams like that, where the conceit is that Techno’s sneaking into L’Manburg to help people and there’s actual tension.

All this culminates in Hog Hunt. Fundy sees Phil, Niki and Techno team-up. He confronts them after Techno left and Phil begs Fundy to not out them – but their divide has grown too deep (and we’ve actually shown that during Fundy’s streams this time).

Quackity has Phil and Niki incarcerated (L’Manburg has a prison now, it’s not as good as Pandora’s Vualt). Tubbo is deeply disturbed that Philza and Niki would betray him by working with the man that took one of his canon lives and finally gives the Butcher Army his presidential approval. Quackity was already prepared and the events of Hog Hunt play out as we know them.

ACT II Part 2

Again, plays out relatively similarly, except for one major difference: Tommy comes to Techno with the explicit purpose of asking for his help. Exile has left him really hardened, probably more so than we have currently.

This would a.) make Tommy a bit more proactive in his partnership with Techno and b.) actually gives some weight to Techno’s later beef with Tommy, because now it’s based on more than just some flimsy phrasing during S1.

Otherwise, this plays out relatively similarly – Techno and Tommy maybe share a few more character moments, just to drive home that Techno cares about Tommy. Also, none of that dumb keeping it a secret whether or not we destroy L’Manburg – that’s some contrived nonsense and I hate it.

Tommy knows that Techno wants to destroy L’Manburg and while he’s conflicted, he ultimately goes along with. Once he gets his discs back, everything will be over after all. The destruction of L’Manburg will have been worth it.

Part of the rising action will be breaking Phil and Niki out of prison instead of the petty bullshit about Techno’s items that he doesn’t need. This is where we have the initial confrontation between Tommy and Tubbo (and Techno doesn’t ruin the moment by being his worst self).

Other plot points include: Techno receives the Wither Skulls over the course of him and Tommy working together by some mysterious benefactor. This is after he and Tommy confronted Dream. He doesn’t tell Tommy who the benefactor is, even though he knows (spoilers: it’s Dream).

Meanwhile, Tommy, Techno, Niki and Phil are secretly rigging New L’Manburg with TNT a la Wilbur, just to really drive that comparison home. Niki is getting really angry; she has suffered enough and she’s really gonna get revenge.

One of her big moments of terrorism before the Green Festival is burning down the L’Mantree (maybe we can include some character conflict Fundy, so we have these two people who were once really close friends now so warped and torn apart by these two sides at war).

Meanwhile, Quackity has figured out that Ranboo was the traitor and is pushing for Tubbo to execute Ranboo for the greater good of L’Manburg. Tubbo is hesitant, but as there’s no moderate voice in the cabinet anymore, he concedes to the idea.

Finally, the Green Festival is here. This part is really … tough to rewrite, because you have to accommodate so many different character arcs, but I’ll try my best.

In a move not unlike during the Red Festival, Ranboo is revealed as the traitor and put in the execution cage (because those parallels). Tubbo feels really bad about it.

This is when Tommy and Techno start their assault and unleash the whithers. L’Manburg is under attack and we have the big fight between Tubbo and Tommy. We get the big shout-out “The discs were worth more than you ever were” and the ensuing epiphany on Tommy part.

Techno’s calling for him to explode the TNT, but he doesn’t do it.

Quackity is calling for Tubbo to execute Ranboo, but Tubbo has an epiphany himself and refuses. Both their personal conflicts are resolved here. Also, we have some nice parallelism between Quackity and Techno as Tubbo’s and Tommy’s respective bad influences.

Techno – understandably this time – feels betrayed and hurt. He and Tommy have their shouting match. Quackity tries to attack Techno, but during their match they accidentally trigger the TNT. Quackity’s hunger for power has created the grave of his ambitions.

(Niki is also pissed at Tommy and Fundy is fully distraught, because L’Manburg was everything he had left from Wilbur).

Dream steps out of the shadows and reveals that he was Techno’s mysterious benefactor. He gets his hands on the second disc and gloats to Tommy. The scene from Doomsday plays out only that Techno shows some stings of remorse for helping Dream accomplish what he wanted. (Quackity flees the ensuing chaos).

Dream tries to goad Tommy with the discs, but Tommy doesn’t bite, because he has resolved his Want vs. Need now. Dream is frustrated, but retreats for now.

ACT III

In the aftermath of ACT II, I think it’s very important to hammer home that this wasn’t a win for Techno, Niki or Phil. For that to work I think it’s important to make clear that Tommy’s and Techno’s bond was genuine and that they really cared for each other during the Bedrock Bros thing. Neither of them is happy for how this turned.

Niki is plagued by nightmares and sleeps in a prison cell like in the current canon. She stands in symbolic for the emptiness that vengeance brings. Phil is shaken from his talk to Ghostbur and he’s the one who brings up that maybe what they did wasn’t for the best.

Then Techno and Phil have a discussion about the nature of anarchy again, calling back to that earlier conversation at the beginning of Act 2. Techno also feels empty – his vengeance and the destruction he wrought left him no happier.

Meanwhile, Punz and Tommy are actually spending some quality bonding time. Thanks to the medium, they could simulate that pretty well. Punz actually gets attached and when Dream mentions his coup-de-grâce, the cinematography shows that Punz isn’t too happy about it.

Tommy and Tubbo prepare to fight Dream on their own terms. They know, they have to stop him lest he hurts the people they care about (this makes both of them a bit more proactive in the finale). Punz (as per Dream’s orders) tells Tommy where Dream is hiding. Tommy thanks him, oblivious that Punz is a traitor, but Punz feels bad. He has grown attached to Tommy.

During the Final Disc War we actually get two perspectives: One is Tommy’s and Tubbo’s as we know it (only without the constant “Your discs or Tubbo”-stuff) and the other is Punz’s. He has decided to help Tommy even though there’s nothing monetarily in it for him.

First, he goes to Quackity, but Quackity says that Tommy has betrayed him and L’Manburg and that he gets what’s coming to him.

In a last-ditch effort, he goes to Techno. Here’s where we resolve that thematic conflict (Vengeance vs. Charity) for the Techno-Butcher Army storyline: Quackity has chosen to perpetuate the cycle of vengeance (because he will be the villain in S3), but we want some nice character development for Techno.

Niki is against it and stays put, but Techno and Philza ultimately decide to go with Punz and the others to help Tommy.

Finale plays out the same. Stuff’s still awkward between Techno and Tommy/Tubbo; they haven’t resolved all their problems, but it’s a first step. Some good set-up for S3.

And that’s my basic rewrite. It’s long and probably not the best.

[hamphobicbasil]

Could u elaborate about the dsmp story being bad? Not a rabid/brain dead fan, just genuinely curious and I enjoy reading people's rants lolol

oh you dont know the floodgates you just opened

a few things:

1. despite not liking the creators of the dsmp anymore, I don't actually hate most of them. [the ones that are particularly unsavory fall outside of this of course] so all that I'm saying i truly mean in a critical sense towards the story, its also just all purely my opinion as someone who enjoys fictional and fantasy stories and who like criticizing works to see what it does well and what it doesn't do well

2. for clarification I'm going to use the c![name] to indicate when I'm talking about the characters. Don't get me wrong, I think its annoying too but its the only way I'm gonna be able to write this thing without getting something across the wrong way yknow?

3. I stopped watching the streams after November 16th, [save for one Techno one but I closed out after a particularly bad story beat lol] and so all information coming afterward is all second hand from either me seeing people on twt talk abt it or people dming me. All i really know is up to dream's imprisonment and some stuff past that.

4. This is mostly aimed towards the "main" story, so stuff abt the badlands, eggpire, and whatnot are briefly mentioned.

anyways uh, i'll try to be brief but also include enough information to get why i feel the way i do on some stuff across

A. Performances Alright obviously these people are all streamers, so obviously they might not be the best actors, and hell no one is even asking that of them. However, when you're telling a story that's based on the audio with the visuals kinda coming to a second, it's gotta be pretty strong. I will say, some of the best actors in my opinion are Wilbur, Tommy, and Tubbo. I would include Ranboo but I never watched any of his story bits or story streams so I can't say much. Wilbur and Tommy are excellent in selling their character's emotions and feelings, when I watch the stream I don't feel like I'm watching an rp but an actual thought-out story yknow? And one of my favorite Tubbo examples was in the Hog Hunt video whenever Techno attacked him, he sounded genuinely afraid and I believed everything his character was feeling.

However, unfortunately, not everyone is gonna be that good. And I'm gonna say it; Dream and Techno have to be the worst out of the entire cast. I understand Techno's whole character is this monotoned badass, however, when really emotional moments hit I feel like he never lets that fall, and a lot of intense moments just ring hollow. And I'm sorry but Dream's attempts at being intimidating leave me laughing whenever I watch them. It feels like he watched that one scene from The Marriage with Adam Driver and Scarlett Johannson and said "Oh this is what good acting looks like! Just yelling." His whole "I don't give a FUCK about Spirit!" speech isn't as great as people keep making it out to be. And whenever he tries to act coy when being a villain it feels like a guy reading the script for the first time, a bit like he's trying too hard. I have more problems with his character but his portrayal certainly doesn't help.

Everyone else is fine, and I don't feel strongly either way about a lot of them.

B. The "Lore" Okay first off, I can't be the only one who thinks it's silly that people are calling the dsmp's story "lore" when it's not, it's the fucking story. Lore indicates backstory to either the world or the characters, which a lot of the streams don't really pertain to. This is a really petty section but god it's a weird pet peeve of mine.

Other than the misusage of "lore" vs "story", the actual lore and world-building of the world are so lackluster that new elements can be introduced whenever and it often feels cluttered or not well thought out at all. And here's the thing, I feel like if the writers sat down just for a few minutes to establish world rules and general history, a lot of this could be solved! but so much is made up on the spot that it starts to feel like they're grabbing at straws to keep people invested, trying to reach that next high and intense story beat without actually earning it.

C. The Egg / Eggpire This is a pretty minor note since I was only invested in the Egg storyline for a little bit, but god it's so underused that it's almost embarrassing. Bad has provided this super interesting antagonistic force that's infecting the SMP, can control people, and who one of our main character is immune to, and it's just never used or even talked about again? Now I understand if he wanted to keep it to a side storyline only, however, to introduce this borderline eldritch creature and force within the world and then never have it dealt with is so weird.

D. The Writing Oh boy this is. kinda a big one. Now I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty obvious I have a bias for the Wilbur writing over the current team [that consisting of Dream, Quackity, and Tommy mostly]. I don't this his writing is perfect by any means, the characters constantly bringing up traitors got obnoxious after a while, and writing Hamilton but in Minecraft really isn't the modern Shakespeare or anything. However, I think his exploration of characters and plot progression was a lot more thought out and well planned, like he actually had two brain cells behind the story yknow? The current team I think fails to be as emotional or even impactful, things happened too fast and my god was everything drowned in angst for so long.

Don't get me wrong, you gotta have your characters face hardships to make them reach their goal believable, but some of the shit they put the characters through just felt like too much. From c!Tubbo's constant comparison to c!Schlatt [who btw, fucking ordered his death and kept him from his friends in a nation he felt trapped in] and on a side note, i kinda really fucking dislike the "c!Schlatt dad!!" au's or the au's where c!Tubbo inherits some of Schlatt's features, it would be like c!Tommy getting a c!Dream mask after his exile, it's feels so weird yet people eat that shit up for some reason.

But god, did c!Tommy get the brunt of it all and in retrospect after his final death, it kinda feels really fucking gross. Now obviously, I'm not trusting any of these people to write decent mental health representation, but c!Tommy's PTSD and how it was explored was just degrading. [Specifically the scene in that one Techno stream where he saw the final control room from the first war, and had a flashback / panic attack where he started calling out for c!Dream. I understand this is an actual thing people with PTSD will experience, but it felt so fucking stereotypical it got on my nerves. I actually had to close out of the stream because it made me feel sick, fiction shouldn't leave you feeling that way.] And don't get me started on how they basically reused the formula from the previous arc. [Problem introduced -> Tensions rise as things start to fall apart -> Big confrontation -> Exile -> Return from Exile -> Blowing up L'Manberg, again.]

And speaking of characters-

E. Character Arcs, or the lack of them In my genuine opinion, some of these characters' arcs are so disappointing. Especially c!Tommy's. I'm not one to believe that he was a "selfish" character or anything, however, his goals were simply set on his discs and maybe c!Tubbo, he didn't have much outside that. However, L'Manberg gave him something to care about, he gave up his discs for it and he fought for it tooth and nail, I think it taught him to open up to others and trust more. It was a great character arc for him to have, seeing him still fight even after his first exile alongside c!Wilbur, to return safely to the nation that he and his found family had built.

But then his second exile happened, and I feel like all of that was undone.

c!Tommy's exile genuinely pisses me off for so many reasons. It's not that characters can't have their low points after reaching a major change or feeling like they've "completed" their arcs or anything, but it's more of the fact that it seems like he's never going to heal that feels like a spit in the face, especially to people who might have had setbacks like that before. Progress isn't linear, sometimes things happen and you get knocked back down, it can take a while to get back up, but I don't think c!Tommy's character is ever going to be allowed to get back up. From c!Dream, who pretty much was a constant abuser in his life, killing him then reviving him, and his still fractured relationship with c!Tubbo, which by the way I have a had time believing they would still be friends after all that happened, it feels like he can never get a win and it's generally kinda a shit way to treat your characters who have been abused. Of course, not all abused characters are going to get happy endings, I'm not trying to dictate that they all should, but c!Tommy deserves one and the fact that it's so obscure feels shitty.

Side note: we still don't have a canon reason to give a shit abt the discs. Like I'm sorry but without some sorta connection to the MacGuffin why should we give a shit about him getting them other than "he wants them lol". Like hell, I would even accept the classic "they were the last gifts from his parents" or something, but we still don't have a reason.

c!Tubbo also lacks a fulfilling arc as well, from someone who started out as a yes man, he has progressed a bit into having his own interests first, but besides that sometimes his character makes me so. depressed. He's easily one of the most pushed around and hated characters within the story, all for being a kid who didn't know what to do and he's in the same vein as c!Tommy; these kids can't get a break. Also, his anti-violence beliefs morphing into the "lets kill c!Techno lol!" bit was so out of place and without proper build-up it was like. what. And now he's building nukes?? god c!Tubbo makes me so sad because he's kicked around constantly and never given a chance to grow.

Another small note, I also don't really enjoy c!Techno at all. Besides the previously stated reasons of lack of emotions when they're really needed, I find his character to be weirdly pretentious. He talks as if he's constantly been betrayed and hurt but I personally, don't see it? Like, I think one of the main examples was the Pogtopia vs. Manberg war, yknow he wanted to end the government but they just reinstated it after they won = c!Techno upset. But this doesn't make sense to me because why did he think otherwise? The entire time c!Tommy had talked about taking back their nation and starting again, so the fact that c!Techno suddenly thought there would be a sudden change is, to put it bluntly, kinda fucking stupid. I don't want to say that he "plays the victim" or anything because that feels a bit harsh, but his character feels so far up his own ass that I can't enjoy him.

I have a major grip with c!Dream as well, but that's getting it's own fucking section.

F. L'Manberg This is a quick note before we get into the, forgive me for this, endgame, of this entire rant, since the next two sections are tied together. But god, L'Manberg makes me upset because it feels like they gave up on it.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that it is supposed to be c!Wilbur's "unfinished symphony", the thing that destroyed a once charismatic and widely loved man, his attempt at power that utterly ruined him. But the fact that it just got blown up in the end after everything and left to rot felt like such a waste of time. From the first war, to Pogtopia, to even c!Tommy's exile, it all felt fucking worthless in the end, and the story is actively closer to how it was when it started now more than ever. I wished it was actually allowed to exist and continue to be a peaceful place in what is a chaotic world, but no it was just snuffed out because why dedicate to this concept of finding others you can band together with and feel safe. fuck that noise apparently?

G. The Villains Now villain-wise, I'm only talking about c!Dream [during the first war], c!Schlatt, and c!Wilbur. And believe it or not, this is actually mostly positive.

Now I'm not gonna lie, c!Dream as a staring antagonist wasn't bad actually, he posed a genuine and threatening opposition to L'Manberg, even if we didn't know his real intentions or motivations as to why he was against it. He's lucky in this sense because he didn't have to be good, he had to be passable. If anything, he felt more like an anti-hero than a tyrant or traditional villain, and my god do I wish he kept this theme going forward.

Now quick disclaimer, I don't like JSchlatt as much as the next guy, he's an adult man who should know better than to joke about some sensitive topics and act the way that he does. But the one thing I'll ever give him is that damn, was he a good actor for his character.

Now here's the thing, c!Schlatt wasn't particularly deep at all. He had no real motivations behind his exile of c!Wilbur and c!Tommy other than getting competition out of the way, had no reason to act the way that he did and yknow? that's fine. The reason why he worked was from his performance alone, he was actually intimidating. When he came onto the stream and was doing his typical bad guy stuff, it was actually intense to see what he would do. Whenever he would almost catch c!Tommy back in Manberg, whenever he would begin to pressure c!Tubbo, it put you on the edge of your seat and it felt like everything would change at the drop of a pen. He's a villain to be a villain, and this works out because he's just charismatic and well put together enough to make it interesting, even without the backstory or motives.

c!Wilbur however, is much more tragic, and the best villain of the story. He essentially was the "mentor turned evil" trope and it felt terrible watching him descend into madness, unable to trust barely anyone except for c!Techno and c!Tommy. Hell, in the end I think he still cared about them both, despite losing everything. Sure, he blew up L'Manberg, but there was still a smidge of the old c!Wilbur in there made everything he did feel melancholic. His death at the hands of his father after achieving his final wish was chilling, and something I still think about.

Until yknow, Ghostbur came back way too soon to let people feel his loss as a character within that world. And then he got revived, pretty much-undoing everything that moment meant for his character lol.

And then there's the worst one:

H. Dream. I'm going to be completely honest, c!Dream is one of the main reasons why I dislike the current dsmp stuff so much. Outside of his actions as a person, the way Dream decided to write his character as this overpowered madman of the dsmp really just. destroyed any intrigue that he could've had. Perhaps this is from my growing dislike towards him, manifesting into a bias towards his character, but god I cannot fathom why people try to insist he's interesting when he has as much depth as a fucking puddle.

And here's the thing, I'm not even entirely against c!Dream being a villain, hell I think he would've been great as an anti-hero if anything. Make him sympathetic but not through c!George to get your precious "DNF" points or anything, but show him actually caring about the people within the dsmp, including c!Tommy and c!Tubbo. This would make his rival status with them just a bit more complicated, sure they're enemies, however, he doesn't want to hurt or kill them, and there's still a level of friendship there that keeps them bonded when things get super bad. This could've been super interesting to see, the first villain of the story receiving a sorta redemption arc then descending into madness as he started to fixate on being a god. This is all how I feel personally, but god do I feel like it would've been better than his current character, and hell would've worked with how he was during the Pogtopia arc, before the war that is. I'm not trying to tell Dream how to write his own character, but there are so many other ways he could've done the madman seeking to become god rather then. whatever the hell we got.

Because instead, we got this power-mad asshole who does things... because he can? And that's one of my major issues: he tries to surround his character in mystery to make him "intriguing" but it's kinda like c!Techno, it comes off as pretentious. Not only that, but you cannot keep waving around this mystery of a backstory without ever actually revealing it. I know the story isn't over, but c!Dream is effectively at his lowest point, now would be the time to reveal his backstory. But no just keep it in the dark and keep everyone guessing, that's totally fun and not at all tiring and annoying. (sarcasm, if anyone needs it)

And back to his performance, he doesn't sell this aloof, cynical and strategic warrior that has perfected the blade or some shit, he comes off as some angry guy yelling on reddit. which i don't need to tell you, isn't intimidating. It feels like he's trying to have c!Schlatt's intimidation combined with c!Wilbur's depth, but instead he's like a little brother who's trying to hard to mimic his older brother and is kinda embarrassing himself.

but other then that i dont feel too strongly abt the dsmp lol

but seriously, these are the main complaints I have abt the story tbh, I could probably talk about more but I wont because man. this is probably gonna get me in trouble if any of the hyper-dsmp fans actually read it.

[bishoukun]

🌊 for the Naruto ask game.

Th-there as an anon in my askbox?!

I may or may not have actually jumped in shock.

And then spent the next several hours writing expositions to mentally process the fact that I got an ask.

🌊 favorite story arc (and why)?

WHY DID YOU GIVE ME SUCH A HARD ONE?

My answer (all of our answers, actually) changed over the years, for sure. While I still think Shika vs Hidan is one of the most incredibly well-done arcs of the series, I have hindsight now that I didn't used to.

Now? I cannot stop returning to the three of the first arcs, the Naruto Bridge, the Chuunin Exams, and the Sasuke Retrieval. Haku, Zabuza, understanding each of them more than I ever thought I would, understanding who Zabuza was trying to kill and why, AGREEING with his goal, realizing that Haku was officially a Kirinin as well, seeing their dynamic in a whole different way. (and yes, still hard shipping them.)

Gaara. I haven't updated our carrd page yet, but uh, yeah. Obvious reasons for loving him are obvious. But even just as a character, he's always been high on the favorite list. Neji. The wonderful asshole genius I want to punch hug at the same time. (I did a breakdown to some friends once about the single panel of all the Jounin stopping him at once and the significance of who did what where.) LEE.

Now, put the three of them together.

Gaara and Lee's dynamic and relationship, the way their interactions change each other so drastically, and then how Lee being the most sweet precious cinnamon roll basically secured Gaara's stability. (Also the fact that we get to see him use his kekkei genkai here when we don't anywhere else, and when it happened nobody knew it was a fucking kekkei genkai he was using with his sand!)

Neji and Lee's relationship changes so drastically. I have something I'm writing with my writing partner that goes through the full transition of Neji and Lee fighting outright to beginning to realize what's at risk for Lee and that he understands him more than he would previously admit. Both of them are based heavily in a martial art culture that none of the other characters outside of Gai adhere very strongly to, so when others are telling Lee to stop trying to train, Neji gets pissed off. We see how much he's processed his trauma and how it's no longer holding him back, he's not a tiny whirlwind of anger and fear anymore.

And then there's Kakashi.

I could go on for hours and hours and hours about this man. The amount of personal growth and recovery we see is astounding, and terribly subtle. This is another area where hindsight makes me appreciate what he goes through in these arcs even more.

To know how much all three of Team 7 resembled his own, to know everything Naruto doesn't understand about his own situation and not be allowed to say a thing - because it would probably get him removed from the team, and he has his priorities in the right places, to know he is directly tied to both boys of the team through one's father and the other's brother having been student to one and mentor to the other, to be in a state of complex and complicated emotions in regards to the one man easily responsible for doing the most harm to himself and the only child of his teacher as he goes from being streamlined for war to being the village grandfather to everyone except Asuma as the village finally secures peace and has what he believes is necessary for his own teacher's and Hashirama's dreams to be reality. What a fucking transition, even if he's still far from perfect. Even if it took Asuma playing the "I'm literally your son, so fucking listen to me" card to get Kakashi out of ANBU and then kept him off S-Rank and likely off most A-Rank for years, to the village at large he was a very different influence. He's clearly conflicted when Hiruzen dies.

And that's only a small facet of the complex ball of anger and anguish that is Hatake Kakashi.

I could go on, and on, and on, about four of the aforementioned (Kakashi, Haku, Gaara, Neji), indefinitely. I have a deep love for them and the relationships they have, all of the complexities and intricacies, in-depth analysis. I write for all four of them, among other characters, such as my blond namesake.

But this has taken me, uh, ten... hours... (admittedly with a four hour break, but still).

It's now 8pm and I need some pain meds and lying down time.

Thank you, anon. This really, really made my week.

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group B Round 3: #B5 vs #B6

#B5: Amateur college track team aims for big race

#B6: High school drama in a countryside farming school

Details and poll under the cut!

#B5: Run with the Wind (Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru)

Summary:

Former ace runner of Sendai Josei High School, Kakeru Kurahara is chased away from a convenience store for shoplifting. Shaking off his pursuer, he runs into Haiji Kiyose, another student from his university. Haiji is impressed by Kakeru's agility and persuades him to live in Chikusei-sou, the run-down apartment where Haiji resides along with eight other students. Having lost his entire apartment deposit at a mahjong parlor, Kakeru accepts the offer reluctantly.

However, Haiji reveals a secret during Kakeru's welcoming party: the apartment is actually the dormitory of the Kansei University Track Club. He unveils his ultimate goal of participating in the Hakone Ekiden—one of the most prominent university marathon relay races in Japan. Unfortunately, all the residents apart from Haiji and Kakeru are complete running novices. Worse still, none of the inhabitants are even remotely interested in being involved with Haiji's ridiculous plan! With only months before the deadline, will the fourth-year student be able to convince them otherwise and realize his elusive dream of running in the Hakone Ekiden?

Propaganda 1:

Okay so, finally a sports anime that isn’t set in high school. (There aren’t nearly enough set in college.) MC is basically Older Running Kageyama, in both looks and personality. He has to overcome his past issues with his old track team, and learn to open up. I love the relationships that form between the team members. There’s one who is just Not Here for It and struggles A Lot, who just wants to go home and read manga. (Hey it me.) There’s also a cute dog, and a lot of the bg music is by the same folks as Haikyuu.

Propaganda 2:

I genuinely think this might be the best sports anime out there. It’s an amazing anime in general, with good animation, a beautiful art show, and a great premise, though what really makes it stand out is the characters.

RWTW is a character-driven story at heart, with all the main characters given their time to shine. The main cast is very lovable, and their relationships with each other are depicted in a sweet but realistic way. The protagonist, Kakeru, goes through a great character development over the course of the show, from being a lonely outcast at the start to accepting the other team members into his heart as found family.

While I’m not a runner personally, I still found this interesting to watch, since along with the training there’s a lot of thoughtful discussion on the nature of running: what it means to run, to be a runner. There’s a very philosophical aspect to it, which makes sense considering that RWTW is actually adapted from a book. The last thing I’ll say is that as a college student myself, it’s really nice to watch an anime focused on people in college and not high school. Oh, and the soundtrack is incredible.

Trigger Warnings: Alcohol and Smoking

#B6: Silver Spoon (Gin no Saji)

Summary:

Yuugo Hachiken is studious, hard-working, and tired of trying to live up to expectations he just cannot meet. With the ushering in of a brand new school year, he decides to enroll in Ooezo Agricultural High School, a boarding school located in the Hokkaido countryside, as a means to escape from the stress brought upon by his parents. Initially convinced that he would do well at this institution, Hachiken is quickly proven wrong by his talented classmates, individuals who have been living on farms their entire lives and know just about everything when it comes to food, vegetables, and even the physiology of livestock! Whether it be waking up at five in the morning for strenuous labor or to take care of farm animals, Hachiken is a complete amateur when it comes to the harsh agricultural life. Gin no Saji follows the comedic story of a young student as he tries to fit into a completely new environment, meeting many unique people along the way. As he struggles to appreciate his surroundings, Hachiken hopes to discover his dreams, so that he may lead a fulfilling life on his own terms.

Propaganda:

This show provides an honest look at the ups and downs of farm life, with both the hard work it takes and the satisfaction it provides. The cast is varied and likeable, with every character having more to them than meets the eye. I loved watching the main character's development from an insecure city kid to a confident, well rounded young man.

The information about farming and agriculture is also detailed and interesting - the series creator grew up on a farm and you can tell.

Trigger Warnings: Animal Cruelty/Death. It’s a show about the farming industry, and there’s an arc about the characters coming to terms with animals they’ve grown attached to.

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how it’s presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form, where you can submit revisions for taglines, propaganda, trigger warnings, and/or video.

[him-e]

what did you think of shadow and bone? have you read the books? i only read the duology

Thoughts on Shadow and Bone, now that you've probably seen it?

I think the show is alright? It lacks a real wow factor as far as I’m concerned, but it’s enjoyable. It’s especially enjoyable in those parts I didn’t anticipate to like / didn’t even know would be there. 

Whereas the main selling points leave a lot to be desired.

The good stuff: the visuals. The aesthetic. The overall concept. Production, casting and costumes are excellent, the setting is fascinating. The worldbuilding isn’t perfect and is sometimes confusing, which is probably due to the show jumping ahead of the books and introducing elements that happen much later in the book saga, but I’m loving the vague steampunk-y vibe of it mixed with more typical fantasy stuff and slavic-inspired lore, the fact that it’s set in dystopian Russia rather than your usual ye olde England.

I find it interesting that in this ‘verse the Grisha are simultaneously superstars, privileged elite, legendary creatures and despised outcasts, according to the context and the type of magic they wield. It’s A Lot, and so far it’s all a bit underdeveloped and messy, like a patchwork of different narratives and tropes sewn together without an organic worldbuilding structure. (there are hints to a past when they were hunted, but how did they go from that to being, essentially, an institutionalized asset to the government isn’t clear yet. There’s huge narrative potential in this, and I hope future seasons will delve into those aspects)

Many of the supporting characters are surprisingly solid. I appreciated that Genya and Zoya eventually sort of traded places, subverting the audience’s assumptions about them and their own character stereotypes, despite the little screentime they were given.

Breakout characters/ships for me were Nina/Matthias, and even more so the Crows, i.e. the stuff I didn’t see coming and knew nothing about (having only read the first book). (I thought the entire Crows subplot was handled in a somewhat convoluted way, at least in the first episodes; it was hard to keep track of who wanted Alina and why, but the Crows’ chemistry is so strong it carried the whole Plot B on its shoulders).

HELNIK. As an enemies to lovers dynamic, Helnik was SUPER on the nose, I’d say bordering on clichéd with the unapologetic, straight outta fanfiction use of classic tropes like “we need to team up to survive” and “there’s only one bed and we’ll freeze to death if we don’t take our conveniently damp clothes off and keep each other warm with the heat of our naked bodies” (not that I’m complaining, but i like to pine for my ships a bit before getting to the juicy tropetown part, tyvm). And then they’re suddenly on opposite sides again because of a tragic misunderstanding - does Bardugo hate high-conflict dynamics? It certainly seems so, because between Helnik and Darklina I’m starting to see a pattern where the slow burn and blossoming mutual trust is rushed and painted in broad, stereotypical strokes to get as fast as possible to the part where they *hate each other again* and that’s... huh. Something.

^That’s probably why I’m almost more interested in Kaz x Inej, because their relationship feels a bit more nuanced, a bit more mysterious, and a bit more unpredictable. (I didn’t bother spoiling myself about them, so I really don’t know where they’re going, but it’s refreshing to see a dynamic that the narrative isn’t scrambling to define in one direction or the other as quickly as possible)

-

Now, as for Darklina VS Malina... I found exactly what I expected. 

Both are ship dynamics I’m, on principle, very much into (light heroine/dark villain, pining friends to lovers) but both are also much less interesting than they claim to be, or could have been with different narrative choices. I’ll concede that the show characters are all more fleshed out and likable than their book counterparts, and the cringe parts I vaguely remembered from the books played out differently. And, well, Ben Barnes dominates the scene, he’s hot as HELL, literally every single second he’s on screen is a fuck you to Bardugo’s attempts to make his character lame and uninteresting and I’m LOVING it, lol.

But yeah, B Barnes aside, Darklina is intrinsically, deliberately made to be unshippable. 

It makes me mad, because it’s - archetypally speaking - made of shipping dynamite: yin/yang-sun and moon, opposites attract, COMPLEMENTARY POWERS AND SO ON. And what does Bardugo do with these ingredients? A FUCKING DELIBERATE DISASTER:

^ Placing the kiss so early on (season 1, episode five) effectively kills the romantic tension that was (correctly) building up until that point, and leaves the audience very little to still hope for, in terms of emotional evolution of the dynamic. 

Bardugo lays all the good stuff down as early and quickly as possible (the bonding, the conflicted attraction, the recognizing the other as one’s equal, etc) only to turn the tables and pull the rug so y’all sick creepyshippers won’t have anything to look forward to, because THEY’VE ALREADY HOOKED UP AND THAT BELONGS TO THE PAST, IT’S OVER, THEY’RE ENEMIES. This, combined to the fact that she falls for him *without* knowing who he really is, is the opposite of what I want from a heroine/villain ship (it’s basically lovers to enemies, and while that can be valid too, I wanted to see more pining and more prolonged, tormented symbolic attraction to the Shadow/Animus on Alina’s part). 

But here’s the trick: it’s not marketed as lovers to enemies - it has all the aesthetics and trappings of an enemies to lovers (the Darkling is, from the get go, villain-presenting, starting from his name), so it genuinely feels like a trollfic, or at the very least a cautionary tale *against* shipping the heroine with the tall dark brooding young villain, and I don’t think it’s cool at all. It makes the story WAY less interesting, because it humanizes the villain early on (when it’s not yet useful or poignant to the story, because it’s unearned) but it’s a red herring. The real plot twist is that the villain shouldn’t be sympathized with, just defeated: there’s a promise of nuanced storytelling, that is quickly denied and tossed aside. So is the idea of incorporating your Shadow (a notion that Bardugo must be familiar with, otherwise she wouldn’t have structured Alina and the Darkling as polar opposites who complement each other, but that she categorically refutes)

Then we have Malina. The good ship.

Look, I’m not that biased against it. I don’t want to be biased on principle against a friends to lovers dynamic that antagonizes a heroine/villain one, because every narrative is different, and for personal reasons I can deeply relate to the idea of being (unspeakably) in love with your best friend. So there are aspects of Malina that I can definitely be into, but it troubles me that in this specific context it’s framed as a regression. It’s Alina’s comfort zone, a fading dream of happiness from an idealized childhood, to sustain which the heroine systematically stunts her growth and literally repressed her own powers, something that in the books made her sickly and weak. But the narrative weirdly romanticizes this codependency, often making her tunnel vision re: going back to Mal her primary goal and centering on him her entire backstory/motivation, to the point that when she starts acting more serious re: her powers and alleged mission to destroy the Fold, it feels inorganic and unearned. 

Mal is intrinsically extraneous to Alina’s powers, he doesn’t share them, he doesn’t understand them, he has little to offer to help her with them, and so the feeling is that he’s also extraneous to her heroine’s journey, aside from being a sort of sidekick or safe harbor to eventually come back to. People have compared him to Raoul from Phantom of the Opera, and yeah, he has the same ~magic neutralizer~ vibe, tbh.

The narrative also polarizes Mal’s normalcy and relative “safety” against Aleksander’s sexy evil, framing Alina’s quasi-platonic fixation on the former as a better and purer form of love than her (much more visible and palpable) attraction to the latter. This is exacerbated by the show almost entirely relying on scenes of them as kids to convey their bond. I’m sure there are ways to depict innocent pining for your best friend that don’t involve obsessively focusing on flashbacks of two CHILDREN running in a meadow and looking exactly like brother and sister. LIKE. I get it, they’re like soulmates in every possible way, BUT DO THEY WANT TO KISS EACH OTHER?

Which brings me to a general complain: for a young adult saga centering on a young heroine and full of so many hot people, this story is weirdly unsexy? There are a lot of shippable dynamics, but they’re done in such a careless, ineffective way that makes ZERO EFFORT to work on stuff like slow burn, pining and romantic tension, and when it does it’s so heavy handed that the viewer doesn’t feel encouraged at all to fill the blanks with their imagination and start anticipating things (which is, imo, the ESSENCE of shipping). The one dynamic that got vaguely close to this is, again, Kaz and Inej, and coincidentally it’s also the one we didn’t get confirmed as romantic YET. Other than that, where’s the slow burn? What ship am I supposed to agonize over during the hiatus to season two? Has shipping become something to feel ashamed of, like an embarrassing relative you no longer want to invite in your home?

Anyway, back to Alina/Darkling/Mal, this is how the story reads to me:

girl suspects to be special, carefully pretends to be normal so she can stay with Good Boy

the girl’s powers eventually manifest; she’s forcibly separated from Good Boy

the girl’s powers attract Bad Boy who is her equal and opposite but is also a major asshole

girl initially falls for Bad Boy; has to learn a hard lesson that nobody that sexy will ever want her for who she is, he’s just trying to exploit her

also, no, there is no such thing as a Power Couple

girl is literally given a slave collar by Bad Boy through which he harnesses her power (a parody of the Twin Scars trope)

you know how the story initially suggested that the joint powers of Darkness and Light would defeat evil? LOL NO, Darkness is actually evil itself and the way you destroy evil is using Light to destroy Darkness, forget that whole Jungian bullshit of integrating your shadow, silly!

conclusion: girl realizes being special sucks. She was right all along! Hiding and suppressing her powers was the best choice! She goes back to the start, to the same Good Boy she was meekly pining for prior to the start of the story.

... there’s an uncomfortable overall subtext that reads a lot like a cautionary tale against - look, not just against darkships and villain/heroine pairings, but also *overpowered* heroines and, well... change? Growth?

Like, it’s certainly a Choice that Alina starts the story *already* in love with Mal. That she always knew it was him. The realization could have happened later (making the dynamic much more shippable, too), but no. 

[a-slut-for-smut]

Ooooooo! For the ask thing: 002 for Rivamika!

BAAHAHAHA YAAAAAAAAAS i was hoping i'd get this one XD

002 | Send me a ship and I will tell you:

When I started shipping them:

Definitely their team-up scene vs Female Titan/Annie. When i saw not only how strong & skilled they were on their own but how well they worked together to accomplish their goal despite having grievances with each other? I knew they would be unstoppable and at that point my ovaries didnt stand a chance the ship launched at lightspeed for me.

My thoughts:

As i allude to above, there's nothing i love more than a couple that makes a great TEAM above all else. Mutual respect and teamwork makes the slutty dream work amirite??? Plus that added tension of enemies to lovers/i hate but begrudgingly respect them makes it that much more exquisite- i just feel this dynamic can only lead to an even deeper bond that is so RIPE for smutty exploration ;D

What makes me happy about them:

Just the thought of them together makes me horny ecstatic teehee

What makes me sad about them:

That Mikasa's character development was basically thrown in the trash by the end- especially from a female perspective. All these indications that she finally outgrew her blind devotion to a man/her character didn't solely revolve around a man were ultimately meaningless and its a crying shame. Upon reflection, i had such an averse reaction to this treatment of her character i found it difficult to be active in the fandom (beyond the occasional anti snk ending shitpost) so yeah....THANKS ISAYAMA

And Levi's ending? Well at least his character overall was left unscathed, but damn where he ended up felt cold as ice- like, why of all ppl would he ended up with the Marley kids & Onyakonpon??? Why not with the ppl who, i dont know, he risked his life to save time and time again, that he's known from years and from the same place as he's from???

Things done in fanfic that annoys me:

Well, "annoy" is a strong word but (and this goes for all my OTPs) whenever Levi (or either party actually) comes off...uh, rapey? Dom! is one thing but when the line bleeds into...let's call it "dubious consent" i dunno...it really takes me out of it. Like i say, im not one to kinkshame if thats what you're into but i have a mutual respect kink so it's really hard for me to invest in that type of story/for me personally would be OOC for them. Anyway, here's an old smutty rec list for any newcomers

Things I look for in fanfic:

as always, hardcore smut topped with sprinkles of angst (with explicit consent of course!)

My wishlist:

my wishlist for them is endless, but above all else i just want them to be happy. Was that asking for too much @ isayama???? apparently so…🙄

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:

I honestly dont know if i consider myself a multi-shipper, but at the same time i have no issue with any ship (just the canonical execution of some...YIKES)

That said, at the end of the day just someone who makes them happy, respects them and have a healthy relationship with.

My happily ever after for them:

My practical take: Overall i just wanted them to have a happy/satisfying ending, more so than anyone else. These two probably have the most tragic backstories, endured so much trauma and suffering since childhood/their entire lives...THEY F*CKING DESERVED IT.

My delulu brainrotty take: Princess Mikasa of Hizuru and her (willing) sex consort Levi rule/repopulate the world with their dozens of Ackerman babies XD

Thanks again for the ask! Happy to answer more :)