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fans4wga · 1 year ago

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WGA UPDATE: "Where We Are and Where We’re Going"

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From WGA West on Youtube: WGA Negotiating Committee Co-Chair Chris Keyser gives an update one month into the Writers Guild strike.

Mod note: While this video is intended for WGA members, it's a great morale boost and affirmation that what we do as fans and audience members matters. Make your voice heard on social media. Studios are losing the PR battle right now, but strike fatigue may set in later on—fight it and keep up morale among yourself and your fandom communities!

Full transcript below the cut (1992 words)

“Where We Are And Where We’re Going” June 2, 2023

Fellow members of the WGA, East and West, thank you for giving me a few minutes to update you on where we are and where we're going. Our strike against the companies of the AMPTP is now in its fifth week. We have walked together on picket lines for a month. With the acknowledgment that there is no letting up until we ultimately achieve the contract we deserve and that we need to survive in this business, I will say, we should all take a minute to appreciate what we've accomplished. We have been highly effective in inflicting pain on the companies by withholding our work, by picketing itself, publicly demonstrating our resolve, our endurance, our sometimes even joyful commitment to a joyless task, by bringing to our side a coalition of labor that this town has not seen in generations, by disrupting production in concert with those union allies who honor our lines, and by informing investors and advertisers of those disruptions.

Our message has power because it's true. We believe in it because we know it's true. But that only goes so far. What has real power, what moves people, what will move this town one day, is our belief in each other. So thank you, all of you. All our picket site coordinators, all our incredible captains, every single member who has spoken with their feet as well as their voice, who has stuck with both the letter and the spirit of the strike rules. Thank you to Guild staff, who have gone above and beyond and then beyond that. Thank you to the other Guilds and unions: the Teamsters, IATSE, SAG-AFTRA, the Musicians, the Electrical Workers, the Plasterers, the Laborers, the DGA, and everyone else who have sent a message to the companies with their solidarity.

What have the companies been doing in the meantime? Well, they've been putting out heartfelt statements from their executives that they truly hope the strike can be resolved quickly for everyone's benefit, which is weird. They hope? Aren't these their companies? Don't know where to find us? We are, after all, right outside their gates. They claim they don't have time for us, that they're busy. That's a lie, it's just a lie. They could talk to us if they wanted to. This is their strategy, such as it is. The same old strategy. But it's not going to work. If Carol Lombardini thinks negotiating with the DGA while we're out on strike is some kind of trump card, she's gonna find out that her 2007/8 playbook doesn't belong in a negotiating room, it belongs in a museum. Any deal that puts this town back to work runs straight through the WGA, and there is no way around us. We wish the DGA the best in their negotiations. That goes for SAG-AFTRA as well.

We are, as I said before, infinitely grateful to all their members who have marched with us every day. We are rooting hard for them to exercise their power and achieve the contract they deserve. They are hurting just like we are. They are at risk just like we are. SAG-AFTRA's SAV vote should send shivers down the companies' spine.

The month of June will bring us all some answers. By the time it's over, the companies may find themselves embattled on more than one front, or we alone may be without a contract. And either way, we will fight on with this understanding: We are girded by an alliance with our sister guilds and unions, they give us strength, but we are strong enough. We have always been strong enough to get the deal we need using writer power alone. We were strong enough in 2007/8, we were strong enough during the agency campaign, we are strong enough now.

As David Goodman and I have said from the very beginning, the single thing that will determine whether we succeed or fail in this strike is our endurance, both physical and emotional. I have no doubt about that endurance. Writers' strength of character aside, the companies have made us strong. They have taught us, however painfully, to withstand months and months without work. Their abuse of us has made it untenable to rush back to jobs that may not even be there in a year or two in a career where even success is financially unsustainable. But even as we endure, there will be challenges, it will be painful. Uncertainty is painful. Is there any one of us who doesn't wake up feeling the weight of this every day? I don't think so. Having no income in a tenuous job market is painful, there's help for that, of course, through the Strike Fund and the Good and Welfare Fund and the Entertainment Community Fund, but none of that is the same as having a job, and everyone understands that.

We will need to steel ourselves against arguments whispered in our ears designed to weaken our resolve, to distrust each other. I'm gonna say them out loud again because it's better to talk about them than to ignore them. The first is that the Guild is just waiting for the AMPTP to decide when negotiations begin again. We are negotiating now. Every day, we are negotiating. We are making the only argument the companies can hear, the argument of power. We are withholding our work, disrupting productions, talking to Wall Street, to City Hall, Sacramento, and Washington D.C. We are bringing allies to our cause. This is the work. This is the leverage. It is the same in any strike, and it will take time. But if we believe the central truth of our cause, that it all starts with writing and that nothing happens without it, then we have to trust that truth and stay the course.

Related, of course, is the lie that the companies are impervious to all of this. Every day, the cost of not negotiating with us adds up. And it's not just from the shutdowns that get all the attention, it's the shows that will shoot until they run out of scripts and then stop dead, the shows that will finish shooting and grind to a halt in post, it's the fall broadcast season that day by day will begin to slip away. It's the pain that for others will come later but will come. Because subscribers don't pay for platforms with meager product and advertisers just don't pay for shows with meager audiences.

So all the silent CEOs lounging on their summer yachts, leaving it all to Carol and the AMPTP, will have some explaining to do once it becomes clear that we are not going anywhere. The parent companies of the broadcast networks as well as Sony will have to explain the strategy of risking those broadcast interests to the interests of tech companies who will still have products to air in the fall. They'll have to explain linking their fates to the fates of those same companies whose explicit intention is to eat them for breakfast, one at a time. They will have to explain their refusal to negotiate with us over business practices that are roughly in line with how they have done business for decades. Even those companies whose business is a half-and-half mix of streaming and linear programming, Disney, Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Paramount, but whose streaming businesses rely heavily on the content they make for network television, content that is about to dry up, will have to explain. Warner Discovery will have to explain why writers are a greater threat to them than Netflix and how, having dumped content and shut down development for the past year to pay for one man's merger, they intend to compete without scripted programming. Apple will have to explain how this little experiment in branding is working out for them and why, with their nearly $3 trillion in market capitalization, they refuse to even talk to writers over a $17 million ask a year. Why this company that became rich beyond measure from its creative brilliance refuses to allow writers just a fair share of ours.

As for Amazon, given the way they treat unions, maybe they think they don't have to explain anything. But this is a different town they're in now. Even Netflix, who alone among all these companies, has no other product but its programming and for whom subscription churn is a huge problem, whose quarterly results can be made or broken by the success of a single smash hit show, will have to explain. Because the hole in content is coming for them too. It may be coming later, but it's coming, and Wall Street will take note.

All of which is to say, hang on. We are doing what we set out to do, and it's having an impact even beyond the lives of writers. It began with every other Guild and union in this business who saw in our struggle a mirror of their own. What I'm telling you is that when you walk in circles in front of every studio in town, you are carrying with you a cause that is larger than just us and this business, though just us and this business would have been enough. We are marching for labor, and labor is watching us. We have, it turns out to our great fortune, something very precious. We have a strong union in a heavily unionized industry. We have what many workers in this country do not. If we succeed, we will make it easier, not easy, but easier, for others to succeed after us. If we falter, if we fail, if it is the companies' power that wins the day and not ours, then we will have failed for everyone. We will have made it harder for everyone.

And I mean that not as a burden but as a purpose. The signs we carry have messages written on them in invisible, visible ink, and all who labor can read them: that everyone who works has a right to be treated with dignity, that we are not diminished by the size of the company that employs us, that what we want is not just a gig, not just a job, but a career with a future and with promise, and that first among those promises is that if you do good work, you can make a life out of doing that thing. That technology driven only by unchecked capitalism and with no attention to its human costs and moral implications is a threat to us all. It must be controlled. It cannot be left only to those who would always rather make a dollar than a good decision. And that, as I have said before, the promise of this country belongs also to those who make something other than just money.

The companies think that time is weakening us, but they are wrong. It is making us stronger. Every day they refuse to negotiate, they bring us together at their gates to hear each other's stories, and in those stories to hear echoes of our own. They have reminded us every day of the thousands of other people for whom we are fighting and reminded us, too, that thousands of other people are fighting for us.

To paraphrase a line, we are now perhaps at the end of the beginning. No one knows how long this will take. The companies will have some say in that. What they will have no say in is how we behave along the way in our fortitude. But they will come to understand it, and they will pay it the respect it deserves in time.

On behalf of the leadership and the NegCom [Negotiating Committee], I thank you all again. We have marched with you every day. We are in awe of this membership. You give us strength. Union now. Union forever.

#wga #current events #hollywood #fans4wga #i stand with the wga #Youtube #wga strike #writers strike

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ladylilithprime · 2 months ago

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Day 6: Electric

(Thanks to @rodiniaorzetalthepenquin and @karategirl80 for bouncing ideas with me!)

IN THE USUAL course of investigating a possible ghost hunt, by the time it came to the attention of actual hunters, nineteen times out of twenty it was a ghost or poltergeist that was being dismissed as bad electrical wiring, and the rare one instance where the person actually knew it was a ghost even if they didn't know what to do about it. There was a formula to it, to sorting out the truth and helping the restless spirits move on, gently or forcefully as need be. Sam had turned it into practically an artform after thirty years on the road and twenty spent actively hunting, barring that three and a half year break for college. And with Dean currently on stand-down with Charlie keeping an eye on him and that nasty little murder mark on his arm, Sam had Castiel along as his hunting partner, which would help cut down the time searching out the spiteful spirit.

Cut it down to nothing, as it turned out. While Sam talked to the older homeowner, a woman who had known Rufus Turner once upon a time and had followed the trail of his contacts to find someone to help with her "ghost problem", Castiel had played the role of hunter-friendly psychic and surveyed the house more directly with his Grace. The results that came back were a cause for dismay and aggravation and an unexpectedly free evening for the visiting hunters.

"A prank," Sam repeated as he stepped into the motel room, tugging off his jacket. "Because the house actually had some faulty electrical wiring that was acting up and the neighbor's kid thought it would be funny to make the 'kooky old lady next door' think her house was haunted!"

"I dare say that boy will be thinking twice about playing any other such 'pranks' after the lecture you gave him while Mrs Feltsman called the electricians," Castiel offered as he entered their room after Sam, closing the door behind them and, after a brief hesitation, flipping the lock switch as well. Sam huffed a laugh, then sighed and draped the jacket over the back of the desk chair before dropping into it.

"Was I too hard on him, d'you think?" he asked, looking up at Castiel worriedly.

To his credit, Castiel tilted his head to one side and visibly thought through the question before he answered. "I do not believe so, no. The boy had no true malice in his heart, but his delight in mischief and pranking was perhaps not as harmless as he had led himself to believe. Best that he learn there are certain boundaries to such things necessary to keep them truly in good fun."

"I guess so," Sam conceded. That had been what he'd been going for with the lecture, but now that he was back in the motel room he worried that maybe he had gone too far, seeing shades of Dean in the kid's close-cropped hair and cocky smirk. Shaking it off, he looked up and offered Castiel a small, tentative smile. "Well, we've got the room already paid for the night and no more need to either go digging in the dark or skipping town to avoid notice after a salt and burn.... anything in particular you feel like doing?"

"There are many things that I would like to do with you, Sam," Castiel murmured, fixing the hunter with his gaze, eyes dark and blue and altogether too heavy and intent for such innocent phrasing. Just as Sam felt his pulse begin to pick up speed, Castiel slid his eyes away towards the televison and the weight lifted. "While this motel may not have Netflix, there may still be a movie or documentary that we could watch together."

"Sure, yeah, that sounds good," Sam nodded quickly, trying his best to sound normal instead of straining against the rush of heat and the electric prickle of arousal that gaze had sent through him. He cleared his throat and swallowed before managing a more steady-sounding, "How about you take a look for something while I clean up and get changed."

"As you wish," Castiel hummed, picking up the remote control and turning on the television just as easily as he was apparently turning Sam on. Like the angel didn't know what he was doing to Sam with that wording choice. With another mumble of agreement, Sam got up and grabbed a pair of flannel pajama pants out of his duffel bag and fled to the bathroom.

Castiel had removed his overcoat and suit jacket and found a nature documentary on various types of birds by the time Sam emerged from the bathroom, clean inside and out as best as he could manage with the motel's meager amenities. He smiled at Sam as the hunter joined him on the bed, a flicker of that previous intensity making itself known as the angel took in the loose-fitting pajama pants and tight t-shirt Sam was wearing. "I have texted Charlie with an update on our case and subsequent change of plans. Her response was brief, but supportive."

"Really?" Sam blinked.

"Her response was, quote, 'woo hoo, get it, hotshot'," Castiel replied dryly. "I assumed that means that she approves."

"Uh, yeah, that's... approving," Sam mumbled, ducking his head reflexively to try and shield the sudden flush to his face. He almost asked what Castiel had sent to Charlie, but stopped himself. Charlie was very similar to Dean in a lot of ways, after all. She could easily have responded like that no matter how Castiel had phrased his own text. And if she had told Dean and he hadn't sent his own text, that was as good as approval from him, too.

The birds were surprisingly interesting to watch, though Sam noticed that not even David Attenborough's soothing narrative could distract him from the angel at his side. Especially when the documentary turned to talking about the various mating rituals of the brightly colored tropical birds and the different wing displays and dances performed. It had to be his imagination that he was feeling the faintest hint of feathers brushing against the skin of his arms and neck, as if Castiel had extended one of his own wings to wrap around Sam as they sat together...

The lights flickered and then went out as the television abruptly went dark.

"Shit," Sam muttered, blinking in the darkness and then closing his eyes to try and hurry them up in adapting.

"Stay here," Castiel directed. Sam felt the bed move as the angel got up and heard his footsteps as he crossed to the window. Very dim light spilled through the curtains as Castiel pulled them aside, allowing Sam to see the frown of consternation on his face. "The lights in the parking lot and across the street are also dark. It appears to be a broad power outage, not merely our room or the motel alone."

"Great," Sam sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. "Well. There's electric candles in my duffel, if you can grab 'em."

Not that Castiel would need the light at all, but Sam was having to work a bit to keep his breathing even with the loss of both light and heat from the power outage and Castiel's current distance. The light disappeared as Castiel let the curtain drop, and Sam carefully tracked his footsteps over to the duffel, listening hard for the sounds of the zipper and Castiel sifting through the contents within. A moment later, there was a soft click and the pale yellow glow of a battery powered flame-shaped bulb lit the room.

"Will this be sufficient?" Castiel asked, looking up at Sam from where he knelt by the bag. "It would perhaps be wise to keep the others in reserve in case the power outage extends for the whole night, but if you need more...."

"This is fine," Sam assured him, nodding quickly. It was a fair point. Sam really didn't need that much light, especially not for sleep, just so long as it was enough for him to see Castiel and be assured of which angel was with him when he woke. Castiel returned the nod and got to his feet, returning to stand over Sam by the bed and setting the candle on the table beside them. Then he opened his hand other hand and Sam felt the heat rushing back to his face at the sight of the plastic tube of KY the angel was holding. "Uh..."

"I realize that it may take a bit to 'recapture the mood'," Castiel murmured, low and almost purring, sending shivers of desire up Sam's spine. "However, with the power outage rendering the television unavailable, perhaps we might dispense with the pretext of watching birds and proceed with our own 'mating rituals'."

"Uh," Sam said intelligently, brain shorting out as surely as the power had earlier. He swallowed, staring up into Castiel's lust-darkening eyes. "As you wish?"

Castiel smiled.

#rk writes #suptober24 #supernatural fic #sastiel #sam winchester #castiel #seduction through nature documentaries #power outage

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ethersierra · 1 year ago

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So. There was a noticeable lack of silence in the beginning of today's Steeplechase episode. For those familiar with my nanofather insane post, you know I'm already on the case faster than Darla Davis.

Episode 35 followed up the rather offputting Krystal with a K intro with the Steeplechase theme song, and then... immediate dialogue, in media res...

Far weirder to me than the silence.

True, Justin could have just gotten over the bit since it'd been three episodes. Maybe the Nanofather truly is gone.

But I don't buy that. Not for a second.

Episode 33 ended with dialogue from Orwell, the gorilla-dactyl. Episode 34 we still had a solid six-second silence, then discussion period before Justin recontextualized them, presumably because Orwell was done speaking.

But 35. There is less than a second of silence. No fucking silence. It's just Orwell. Last episode Orwell was there at the start but he was just ominously staring at them right? Like he wasn't actively conversing with them, there's a precedent.

My current understanding of the nanofather is that he goes through electricity or energy and is specifically more able to inhabit animatronics, as we've seen with Geltfrimpen. When he's in hardlight, he can't really talk, just observe. In the arcade machine he was able to speak a bit, but it was weak and he seemed to be running out of time. In those moments, he is able to interact with the characters.

When the other nanofather intros start he isn't talking to the characters, though, he's talking to the players and audience. When he is talking to us/the players, he's called us spirits, and he seems to have a physical form but it's like... The mechanism is THROUGH the park. He connects to the animatronics and it's a bridge to the characters. There is a secondary function that connects him to us that was taken away when they were put in Kidadelphia. Not necessarily from the characters though. Because he manifests in electricity/animatronics and well... the animatronics of jungle island are FROM Steeplechase originally so he could have inhabited them that way and a part of him still be connected. Remember, he is scattered. He is not in one place, not in one form.

The significance of this episode is that we have further confirmation of the divide in how he interacts with the audience versus the characters. Justin makes a clear point that in Kidadelphia, they are disconnected from the main source of power within Steeplechase. If you connect this to the ways he's spoken with the audience, it makes sense-- we are heard through the "horn" and the walls.

Additionally, if we recall when he inhabited Geltfrimpen, creaky man said he was shattered in several places across the world. That shows that he, as he exists within the universe of Steeplechase, is not bound to the confines of the park (unless "the world" is the park).

TLDR The Nanofather exists in Orwell. He is sort of a spirit within the animatronics, it would seem. Or something close to that. He seems to have reverted back to observing rather than speaking, due to his weakened state.

Either that or Kenchal Denton killed him too hehe

#sierra speaks #taz steeplechase #taz spoilers #taz steeplechase spoilers #the adventure zone #i am posting it standalone too cause the original i reblogged from is soooo long it just fucks up stuff so. this is easier #taz nanofather #nanoheads where u at...

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layce2015 · 1 year ago

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Supernatural (Dean Winchester x Female!Reader)

Long-Distance Call

Masterlist

Sam and I were walking across a city square toward Dean who was sitting on a bench and talking on his phone. He hangs up then in one motion picks up and throws an unopened can of soda to Sam then to me before he stands up, shoving the last of the food he is eating into his mouth.

"So?" he asked us, still chewing on his food. "So, the professor doesn't know crap." Sam informed and Dean hums. "Shocking." He said. "Pack your panties, you two, we're hitting the road." Dean said.

"What?" asked Sam, confused.

"What's up?" I asked. "That was Bobby. Some banker guy blew his head off in Ohio and he thinks there's a spirit involved." Dean replied. "So you two were talking a case?" Sam asked him. "No, we were actually talking about our feelings. And then our favourite boy bands." Dean said, sarcastically, which made me snort a bit.

"Yeah, we were talking a case!" Dean yells, annoyed. "So a spirit, what?" I asked him. "Yeah, the banker was talking about some sort of electrical problems at his pad for like a week. Phone was going haywire, computer was flipping on and off." Dean replied.

"Huh..." Sam said, unimpressed. "This is not ringing your bell?" Dean asked him. "Well, sure, yeah. But, Dean, we're already on a case." Sam said. "Whose?" Dean asked. "Yours." Sam and I said. "Right. Yeah. Well, you coulda fooled me." Dean grumbles.

"What the hell else have we been doing lately other than trying to break your deal?" Sam asked him, angry and annoyed. "Chasing our tails, that's what. Sam, we've talked to every professor, witch, soothsayer and two bit carny act in the lower 48. Nobody knows squat! And we can't find Bela, we can't find the Colt. So until we actually find something, I'd like to do my job." Dean exclaims.

"Well there's one thing we haven't tried yet..." Sam said and Dean shakes his head once we realized what he was hinting at. "Sam, no." Dean said. "We should summon Ruby." said Sam. "I'm not gunna have this fight with you." Dean grumbles. "She said she knows how to save you." Sam said, hopeful. "Well, she can't." Dean said.

"Oh really, you know that for sure?" Sam asked. "I do. And so does (y/n)." Dean said. "How?" Sam asked, suspicious. "Because she told us!" I said and Sam looks at me.

"What?" he said, shocked. "She told us. Flat out. She can't save me, nobody can." Dean said. "And you guys just somehow neglected to mention this to me?" Sam said, hurt. "Well, I really don't care what that bitch thinks and neither should you, so..." Dean said to him.

"So what, now you guys are keeping secrets from me?" Sam asked and I turned to him. "You really wanna talk about who's keeping secrets from who?" I sneered at him. I was still hurt that he didn't tell me that this Lilith was not only after him but me as well. We stare at each other in silence for a long moment. Sam turns away and starts to walk off.

"Now where you going?" Dean asked him. "Guess I'm going to Ohio." Sam exclaimed and the three of us began to walk

"I found him there." Mrs Waters tells us as the boys and I, the three of us dressed in suits, follow her into the study area. "Why don't you tell us everything you saw, Mrs Waters." Dean says to her. "You mean beside my dead husband?" She asked, slightly offended. "Just everything else you saw. Please." Sam said and she sighs.

"Blood. Everywhere. The phone was ripped from the wall, his favourite scotch on the desk, what else could you possibly want to know?" she said, upset. "Why was the phone ripped from the wall?" I asked her. "I don't know." She said.

"You mind if I take a look?" I asked her. She waves her hand, vaguely, and I go over to the phone. "I already went over this with the other Detectives." said Mrs Waters. "We'll be out of your hair in no time, ma'am." Dean assures her as I push some of the buttons on the phone. Until I got to an odd number with the time of when it called.

"Ma'am, what time did your husband die?" I asked her. "Sometime after 11." She replied and I wait until Dean and Sam look at me, and I tap the phone display. "What about strange phone calls? Receive any of those lately, weird interference, static, anything like that?" Sam asked her.

"No." she said, defensively, and the boys raise their eyebrows at her. "No!" She shouts again. "Mrs Waters, withholding information from the police is a capital offence." Dean said, firmly, but then Sam noisily clears his throat. Dean glances at him and receives a glare from Sam. In some parts of the world I'm sure." He mutters and Mrs Waters sighs again.

"A couple of weeks ago, uh...there was this..." she stops and looks between us. "This what?" Dean asked her. "I woke up one morning, I heard Ben in his study. I thought he was talking to a woman." She replied.

"What made you think that?" I asked her. Because he kept calling her Linda. The thing is, I picked up the other line and nobody was there, Ben was talking to nobody." She said. "There was nothing?" Sam asked. "Just static." She said, plainly.

"Did you ever speak to Ben about this phone call?" Sam asked. "No. I should have but...no." she said. "Did he ever say who Linda was?" I asked but then she shouts, upset. "What difference does it make, there was nobody on the other end!"

"Linda's a babe. Or, was." Dean said as he looks through the laptop while Sam and I were sitting on the bed. "Hey!" I said. "Sorry, sweetheart, but I call 'em as I see them." He said, smirking. "Uh-huh, I'll keep that in mind." I said.

"Anyway, did you find her?" Sam asked, changing the subject, as we stand up and walk over to Dean. "Yeah, Linda Bateman. She and Ben Waters were high school sweethearts." He said.

"So what happened?" I asked. "Drunk driver hit them head on. Ben walked away." replied Dean. "So, what then? Dead flame calls to chat?" Sam asked. "You would think, but Linda was cremated. So why's she still floating around?" Dean asked. "You got me." I said as Sam shrugs.

"What about that, uh, caller I.D?" Dean asked. "Turns out, it's a phone number." Sam said and I look at him. "No phone number I've ever seen." I said. "Yeah, 'cause it's about a century old, back from when phones had cranks." Sam replied.

"So why use that number to reach out and touch someone?" Dean asked. "Got me there too, but we should put a trace on it." Sam said. "Well how the hell are we going to put a trace on something that's over 100 years old?" I asked him.

"We don't get many folks from HQ down here." The guy said as we follow him down the stairs and along the hallway. "Yes, well the main office mentioned that there would be a lunch." Dean said and I elbow him in his side.

"Well I'm sure we can arrange something. The man you wanna be speaking to is right this..." the man said as Sam swipes at a fly that has flown into his hair. "I know, sorry. We've got something of a hygiene issue down here if you ask me." The man said and we enter a basement office.

"Stewie? What did I tell you about keeping this place clean." the man said as Stewie sits at a large console with multiple screens and keyboards, various packets and junk food are strewn about. Stewie jumps at their entrance and desperately tries to close down the multiple screens in front of him showing advertisements for porn sites.

"Spam mail...spam mail..." Stewie said as he clicks quickly. "Stewie Myers. Mr Campbell. Mr Raimi. Ms. Maguire." The man introduced us as Stewie continues clicking. "I don't know how all this got here..." he said as the man reaches out and flicks the back of Stewie's head, making him jump again and grunt.

"From headquarters?" He said and Stewie spins around in his chair, then quickly crosses his legs and places his hands together on his lap. "Give these gentlemen whatever they need." He tells Stewie. "Yeah." Stewie said. "Thank you." The boys and I said and the Man leaves.

"So...can I help you?" Stewie asked and Dean checks to make sure the Man is gone, then gestures toward the screen. "Is that, ahhh, BustyAsianBeauties.com?" Dean asked, smirking, and I roll my eyes. "No." Stewie said, quickly, when a female voice from the computer said. "Oh, me so horny."

Then Stewie quickly clicks that ad away. "Maybe." Stewie said. "A word to the wise? Platinum membership? Worth every penny. Ha?" Dean said as he nods, knowingly. I sigh with exasperation and shake my head.

"Right, anyway. We're here to trace a number?" Sam said as he hands Stewie a piece of paper. "Where did you get this?" Stewie asked. "Off caller I.D." I replied. "Oh no, that's impossible." Stewie said. "It hasn't been used in a few years, we know." said Dean. "A few years? It's prehistoric. Trust me, nobody is using this number anymore." Stewie exclaims.

"Sure. Could you run it anyway?" Sam asked him, nicely. "Sure. Why don't I just rearrange my whole life first." Stewie said, snarkily. The boys and I glance at each other and Dean smiles before he leans in closer to Stewie. "Listen, uh, Stewie. You got like six kinds of employee code violations down here, not to mention the sickening porn that is clogging up your hard drive. Now when my partner says run the number, I suggest you run the number!" Dean threatens.

He looks between us then turns back to his console. Dean grins and Sam shrugs and I smile back. "Okay, whatever, jeez!" Stewie said and he clicks a few more buttons. One of his screens fills with a long list of numbers. "Holy crap." He said, shocked. "What?" I asked. "I can't tell you where the number comes from, but I can tell you where it's been going." Stewie said.

"What do you mean?" Sam asked as Stewie pushes print, goes to the printer and hands some paper to Sam. "Ten different number in the past few weeks, all got calls from the same number." Stewie said and he looks between us as we stare at each other, then Stewie sighs and walks between us and back to his console. He sits and stares at it for a moment, then looks back.

"So, are we done here? Cause I was...sort of...busy?" he said and I smirked. "Right..." I said and we began to leave.

Sam and I get out of a rental car then he makes his way to one house and I make my way up a footpath. I knock on the door and it is opened by a middle-aged man. His son comes to stand beside him, around 6-7 yrs old. "Yeah?" the man asked. "Hello sir, I am with the phone company?" I said. "We didn't call the phone company." The man said.

"Oh no sir, we're calling you. We've had a lot of complaints from the neighbourhood lately." I said. "Complaints?" the man asked. "Yes sir. Dropped calls, static, maybe even strange voices on the other end of the line?" I asked just as I noticed a teenage girl stepping into the hallway, looking startled.

"No, we haven't had any of that here." the man said. "Nothing?" I asked. "No." he said. "Okay. Great, just thought we'd check. Thanks." I said, smiling. "No problem." the man said then he turns to his son. "Come on, Simon." He said as they turn to close the door I see the girl staring at me, looking scared, but she turns away as the door closes.

I return to the car just as Sam comes back. "You got anything?" He asked me. "No. You?" I said. "Nothing." Sam said. "No way you guys work for the phone company." a voice said and I turn around to see it was that teenage girl.

"Sure we do." I said. "Since when do the phone people drive a rental or wear a cheap suit?" She asked me and I huff a laugh. "Yeah, well. Maybe we're both keeping secrets." I said as I fold my arms across my chest.

"Why did you ask my Dad if he's hearing strange voices on the phone?" she asked me. "Why, did you hear something?" Sam asked as he goes to stand next to me. "No." She said. "My mistake, I thought maybe you did." Sam said. "Well I didn't, okay?" She said, defensively. "Okay. Sorry to bother you." I said and we turn away and head to the car.

Sam looks down at his keys then said. "Because you know...if you did...then I would have told you that we've been right where you're standing right now. Hearing things, even seeing things that can't be explained. Maybe we would have been able to help out a little bit. Anyway..." Sam said and we start to load up in the car.

"Hey wait." The girl said, stopping us, and we turn to her. "Maybe...maybe I've been talking on the phone...with my Mom." She replied. "Well that's not so strange." I said. "She's dead. Like three years now." She replied and I furrow my brow at this.

"How often does she call you?" I asked her. "A few times. It started a week ago. I thought I was like, crazy or something." she said. "Well we can tell you one thing for sure, and you're going to have to go with us on this, okay? You're not crazy..." I assured her and she gives a look.

Later, Sam was driving the car when my phone rings. I answered it then pushed the speaker button. "Yeah." I said. "Guys, stiffs have been calling people all over town." Dean said. "Yeah, tell us about it." I said, exhausted. "I just talked to an 84 year old grandmother who's having phone sex with her husband, who died in Korea!" Dean said.

"Eww." Sam and I said, disgusted. "It redefined my understanding of the word Necrophilia." Dean said. "So what the hell's going on here, Dean?" Sam asked. "Beats me, but we'd better find out soon. This place is turning into spook central." Dean said. "Yeah. All right, I'll call you later." I tell him. "Yeah." Dean said before I hang up.

"Dad? You really think it was Dad?" Sam asked, confused. We were back at the motel and Sam and I were sitting at the table while Dean was pacing. He just told us that after our talk, he got a call...a call from John. "I don't know, maybe." Dean said.

"Well what did he sound like?" Sam asked. "Like Oprah!" Dean shouts, sarcastically. "Like Dad, he sounded like Dad, what do you think?" He growls. "Okay, Dean, calm down. What did he say?" I asked. "My name." Dean replied, sounding a bit calmer.

"That's it?" I asked him. "Call dropped out." Dean replied. "Why would he even call in the first place, Dean?" Sam asked. "I don't know, man. Why are ghosts calling anybody in this town? But I mean, other people are hearing from their loved ones, why can't we? It's at least a possibility, right?" Dean said. "Yeah, I guess?" Sam and I said, unsure.

"Okay, so what if...what if it really is Dad? What happens if he calls back?" Dean asked. "What do you mean?" Sam asked. "What do I say?" Dean asked. "Hello." Sam replied. "Hello?" Dean said, disbelief, and Sam shrugs. "That's what you come back with. Hello?" Dean asked, angrily.

"How's the afterlife?" I suggested and Dean gives me a disbelieving look. "Unbelievable." He growls as he grabs his jacket and headed for the door. Dean grumbles under his breath and walks out. Sam and I look after him, concerned, while Sam shakes his head.

Three hours later, Sam was sitting on the couch with the laptop in front of him and I was sitting at the table, looking through my laptop. Then Dean returns. "Find anything?" He asked us. "After three hours we have found no reason why anything supernatural would be going on here." Sam said and Dean huffs at this. "Well, you know, you think a Stanford education and a high school hook up rate of zero point zero would produce better results than that." Dean sneers.

"Hilarious." Sam spat. "Guys, you're just looking in the wrong places." Dean said. "And what are the right places, Dean?" I asked him and he reaches into his jacket pocket. "Motel pamphlet rack." Dean drops some literature on the coffee table.

"Milan, Ohio. Birthplace of Thomas Edison." Dean said as I walk over to them and read over Sam's shoulder as he flicks through the papers. "Yeah, right. So what?" Sam asked. "Keep reading." Dean said and Sam scoffs slightly and keeps looking. He sighs, but after a few moments of reading,, my eyebrows go up and we look at Dean.

"You're kidding." I said and Dean raises his eyebrows back, smiling.

"And we're walking." the female tour guide said as she shepherds us into a room in the museum. "And, here we have one of the museum's most unique and treasured possessions. Thomas Edison's spirit phone. Did you know that Mr Edison, as well as being one of America's most beloved inventors, was also a devout occultist? Ooh!" she said, being a bit over dramatic.

"What's with the quote-y fingers?" Dean whispered to us. "He spent years working on this, his final invention, which he was convinced could be used to communicate with the dead. Pretty spooky, huh?" The guide said then she checks her watch, twirls her fingers in the air and begins leading the group into the next room.

"And we're walking. We are walking. We're walking. And we're not touching that. And we're walking. And stop." she said but Sam, Dean and I stay back with the spirit phone. Sam quickly gets out his EMF and holds it over the spirit phone.

"Anything?" Dean asked. "Nothing." Sam said. "What do you guys think?" Dean asked us. "Honestly? It kinda looks like an old pile of junk to me." Sam replied and I nod in agreement. "It's not even plugged in." Dean said as he looks it over. "Maybe it didn't work like that." I said.

"Okay. Maybe it's like a radio tower, broadcasting the dead all over town." Dean suggests. "Could be." Sam said, shrugging. "You know, this caller I.D. is 100 years old, right? Right around the time this thing was built." Dean said. "Yeah, but why would it all of a sudden start working now?" Sam asked, confused.

"I don't know. But as long as the mouldy are calling the freshers around here it's the best reason we've got." Dean said. "Yeah, maybe." I said, shrugging. "So maybe it really is Dad." Dean said and I give him a concerned look.

The next morning, Sam and I entered the motel room to see Dean typing furiously on the laptop. "What's up?" Dean asked us. "That girl Lanie, her Mom's ghost spooked her out pretty bad last night." I replied. "That sucks." Dean mumbles as he continues to type. "Yeah it does. What are you doing?" Sam asked. I think Dad's right. I think the demon is here. Check it out." Dean said and he hands us some papers and goes to his bag.

"What is this, weather reports?" Sam asked as I read over him. "Omens. Demonic omens. Electrical storms everywhere we've been for the past two weeks." Dean replied. "Ahh...I don't remember any lightning storms." Sam said. "Yeah, me either." I said. "Well, I don't remember you guys studying meteorology as a kid either. But I'm telling you, that bastard's been tailing me...wearing some poor dude's meat." Dean growls.

"And it's following you because..." I said, skeptical. "I guess I'm big game, you know. My ass is too sweet to let outta sight." he said, smiling a bit. "Okay. Sure." Sam said as I roll my eyes. Then Dean snatches the papers back. "Don't get too excited, guys. Might pull something." he snaps at us.

"Dean, look, Sam and I wanna believe this man, we really do..." I said but then Dean turns to us. "Then believe it! if we get this sucker, it's Miller Time." He yells. "Yeah, that's another thing. Dad rattles off an exorcism that can kill a demon? I mean not just send it back to hell, but kill it?" Sam asked, questioning. "I've checked it out. This is heavy duty Dark Ages. Fifteenth century." Dean said.

"Yeah, we've checked on it too, Dean. And so did Bobby." I said. "Okay, and?" Dean said, annoyed. "Look. It definitely is an exorcism, okay, there's just no evidence it can kill a demon." Sam tells him. "No evidence it can't." said Dean.

"Honey, come on..." I said, exasperated. "Hey, as far as I'm aware the only one of us who has actually been to hell is Dad. And maybe he picked up a couple of tricks down there, like which exorcisms work." Dean said. "Maybe it does. we hope it does too, but we gotta be sure." Sam said.

"Why aren't we sure?" Dean asked us. "'Cause (y/n) and I don't know what's going on around here, Dean! I mean, some guy blows his brains out, a little girl is scared out of her wits." Sam exclaims. "Wow, a couple of civvies are freaked out by some ghosts. News flash guys, people are supposed to be freaked out by ghosts!" Dean shouts and we stare at each other for a long moment.

Sam sighs and Dean drops his head in frustration. "John tell you where to find the demon?" I asked Dean. "I'm waiting on the call!" Dean shouts as he holds up his phone. "I told Lanie (y/n) and I would stop by." Sam said. "Oh, good yeah. No you go hang out with jail bait. Just, uh, watch out for Chris Hansen. Meanwhile I'll be here getting ready to, you know, save my life." Dean said, sarcastically, and Sam and I keep moving toward the door.

"You're unbelievable, you know that? I mean for months we've been trying to break this demon deal. Now Dad's about to give us the freaking address and you can't accept it? The man is dead and you're still butting heads with the guy, Sam!" Dean shouts and we turn to him. "That is not what this is about." Sam said, firmly.

"So what is it!?" Dean asked, angrily. "The fact is we've got no hard proof here, Dean. After everything, you're still just going on blind faith!" Sam shouts. "Yeah, well maybe! You know, maybe that's all I got, okay?" Dean shouts and we stare at each other again before Dean looks down.

I sigh then walk up to Dean then placed my hand on his cheek. He raises his head and I look into his green eyes. "Please. Just please, don't go anywhere until we get back. Okay, Dean? Please." I begged. Dean remains silent and I give him a sad look before I lean up and kiss his cheek. I give him one last look before I turn around and head out the door with Sam.

"Have you told your father about any of this?" I asked Lanie as we stand in her room. "And bother him at work? No. He wouldn't believe me anyway, he'd just chuck me into therapy." She replied.

"So what did your mother say?" Sam asked her. "She wanted to see me. So at first I thought I was supposed to go to the cemetery." said Lanie. "Did you?" I asked and she nods. "Nothing happened. But then she started asking me to do other things." she replied.

"What sort of things?" Sam asked her. "Bad things." She said and I could tell she was uncomfortable. "Lanie please. Tell us what happened, it's very important." I said to her, soothingly. "Mom told me to go to Dad's medicine cabinet." She said then she bites her lips. "And?" Sam and I asked, encouragingly. "She wanted me to take his sleeping pills, take all of his sleeping pills." She cried.

"She wanted you to kill yourself?" Sam asked her and she nods then cries. "Why would my Mom want me to do that?" She asked us, tearfully. "Don't know." Sam and I said. "I mean, just so I could come to her?" She cries and I freeze at this then look over at her.

"What'd you say?" I asked her. "She wanted me to come to her." Lanie said. "No, how'd she say it?" I asked her. "Come to me. Like a million times." She said then Sam and I share a look and I could tell he got to the same conclusion as I did. "Lanie." I said to her as I turn to look at her. "That's not your mother."

"Listen to us. Don't answer the phone. Don't use the computer. Don't do anything unless (y/n) and I say so, all right?" Sam said as we walk down the hall. Sam and I start down the stairs until we realise that Lanie's not following. "Lanie." We said as she stands at the doorway to a room. "Where's Simon?" She asked us, horrified.

Sam and I run out of the house and could see Simon walking off down the street. We chase after him and see him walking across the next road where a large truck barrels toward him. Sam books it as he gets in front of me and the truck horn blares and tires squeal.

Simon throws his hands up to protect himself just as Sam rushes the road, grabs Simon and dives for the verge. They lay panting as the truck roars past and I come up to them. "Holy crap." I sighed then kneel down to them. "You two okay?" I asked and Sam nods while Simon starts to cry.

After we bring Simon back to Lanie, Sam and I get back into the rental car and I call Dean. "Dean, it's not John." I said into my phone. "Then what is it?" Dean asked me. "A crocotta." I replied. "Is that a sandwich?" he asked. "Some kind of scavenger. Mimics loved ones, whispers 'Come to me', then lures you into the dark and swallows your soul." I replied.

"A crocotta, right, damn that makes sense." Dean grumbles, disappointed. "Dean, look, I'm sorry honey, I know..." I started to say but Dean talks over me. "Hey, don't these things live in filth?" he asked. "Yeah." I replied. "(Y/n), the flies at the phone company." Dean said then I look over at Sam with a knowing look.

That night, Sam and I creep along an alley and peaks in a window at Stewie, sitting at his console. That is until we were distracted by a banging noise, we ducked and look around but see nothing.

When we look back, Stewie is leaving the room. We run back up the alley and see Stewie leaving the building. Sam and I hide behind a van as he holds his phone to his ear. He sighs then whispers. "Voicemail."

I roll my eyes as Sam said. "Dean, we're in the parking lot. He's here. Hurry." Sam said and Stewie unlocks his car. Sam rushes him and pushes him into the car, holding a metal spike to the back of his neck while I stand next to Sam.

"What the hell!" Stewie grunts. "We know what you are." Sam growls. "Wait, mister." Stewie pleads. "And we know how to kill you." I growled. "Please. Okay, wait, wait. If we're overcharging you for the call waiting or something I...I can fix that. I am your friend! Please. Please just don't kill me!" Stewie pleads while Sam and I give confused look towards him.

But that was the last thing I remember before I felt something hit the back of my head and I black out.

"I'm sorry, Clark. I'm sorry for whatever I did to you. I'm sorry...please..." I hear a voice sniveling as I come to and open my eyes to see Stewie tied up in a chair across from me. I look to my right and see Sam was tied up as well.

I tried to move but realized my hands were tied up. I look back up at Stewie and see that man, Clark I believe Stewie called him, was standing behind him. "Wait! Don't do it." I shout and Clark looks over at me. "You two are awake." He said and I look over and see Sam waking up too.

Clark leans over Stewie and places the tip of a knife against his thigh. "You're not a killer Clark, no! There's a good man inside of you, I know it." Stewie snivelled and Clark looks over at us.

"What do you think, Sam and (y/n), am I a good man?" Clark asked us. "Just let him go." Sam begged. "I would. I really would. If only I'd had more than a salad for lunch. You see, I'm starving." Clark said and he lifts the knife high above his head and plunges it into Stewie's chest.

"No!" Sam and I shout as Clark moves in front of Stewie's body. His mouth opens, revealing a blood red interior and razor sharp spikes. He crouches slightly, holds Stewie by both shoulders and unhinges his jaw, his mouth becoming impossibly wide and his teeth were sharp.

Placing his mouth close to Stewie's face. he sucks in his energy. I shudder and look away until Clark stops and stands, wiping his mouth. "My last call with Dean. That was you. You led us here." I growled as I glare up at him. "Some calls I make, some calls I take, but you have to admit, I had you fooled for a while. All that Edison phone crap." Clark laughs and moves over to the telephone exchange cabinet.

He places his hands against the glass and leans back in ecstasy. "What are you doing?" Sam asked him. Clark smiles then looks over at us. "I'm killing your brother. Or maybe I'm killing another guy. We'll just have to see how it goes." He said.

After a few moments of him calling a guy, Clark walks over to Stewie and pulls the knife out of his chest while I was trying to get out of my restraints. "You know, mimicking Dean's one thing. But their dad. That's a hell of a trick." I sneered at him as I gesture towards Sam with my head. "Well once I made you three as hunters, it was easy. I found Dean's number, then your number, then Sam's number, then both of your father's numbers. Then emails, voicemails, everything. You see, people think that stuff just gets erased, but it doesn't. You'd be surprised how much of yourself is just floating out there, waiting to be plucked." Clark explained.

"Dean's not going to fall for this. He's not going to kill that guy." Sam said. "Then the guy kills him." Clark said then he stands over Sam. "Technology. Makes life so much easier. Used to be I'd hide in the woods for days, weeks, whispering to people, trying to draw them out into the night. But they had community, they all looked out for each other, I'd be lucky to eat one or two souls a year. Now when I'm hungry, I simply make a phone call. You're all so connected. But you've never been so alone." He sneers.

He opens his mouth and begins to unhinge his jaw while raising his knife. But I erupt out of my chair and Clark and I fall to the ground, making him lose the knife. "(y/n)!" Sam shouts as Clark and I struggle for the knife.

I was rising up first but Clark grabs my jacket and swings me around into a metal grate. Clark picks up the knife, running at me, until Sam gets free and grabs him.

They struggle for the knife then I jump in to the fight. We exchang blows as we move about the room. Sam finally manages to pull the knife away and hits Clark, forcing him backwards into the wall. A spike, one of many on the corkboard, jams into the back of Clark's neck, killing him.

"You okay?" Sam asked me after we catch our breath. "Yeah...you?" I said and he nods.

We make it back to the hotel and see Dean holding a facecloth to his cut eye, groaning. "I see they improved your face." Dean jokes and Sam and I snigger. "Right back at ya." Sam said and Dean moves past us into the main room then we sit on a bed each, but I sit next to Dean.

"So, crocotta, huh?" Dean said. "Yep." Sam and I said. "That would explain the flies." Dean mutters. "Yeah it would." I said before sighing.

"Hey, um...look I'm sorry it wasn't Dad." Sam said to Dean. "Nah, I gave you guys a hell of a time on this one." Dean huffs. "You guys were right."

"Forget about it." I said, waving my head vaguely. "I can't. I wanted to believe so badly that there was a way outta this. I mean I'm staring down the barrel at this thing. You know, Hell. For real, forever, and I just..." Dean said then he begins to tear up. "I'm scared, guys. I'm really scared." He said which made me and Sam tear up. "I know." We said, in unison.

"I guess I was willing to believe anything. You know, the last act of a desperate man." said Dean. "There's nothing wrong with having hope, Dean." I said as I place a hand on his knee. "Hope doesn't get you jack squat. I can't expect Dad to show up with some miracle at the last minute. I can't expect anybody to, you know. I mean the only person that can get me out of this thing is me." Dean said. "And us." Sam and I said, earnestly, making Dean look between us.

"And us?" he said, questioning. "What?" Sam said, confused. "Deep revelation, having a real moment here, that's what you two come back with? And us?" Dean said, disappointed. "Uh...do you want a poem?" Sam asked, raising his brow. "The moment's gone." Dean said and I smile slightly while Dean flicks the TV on.

Then he reaches between the beds, grabs three bottles of beer and holds one out to Sam without looking at him. Sam takes one, then Dean hands one to me. We crack them open and drink in unison, while staring at the TV.

@rach5ive @kitsun369 @itzabbyxx @cevans-winchester @ellie-andthemachine

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animebw · 3 months ago

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Man, what a shitty way to end the season.

Well, that's Superstar Season 2 finished. And for whatever reason, the thought I keep coming back to is this one line from Bojack Horseman where he calls himself "A xerox of a xerox of a xerox." When something is copied over and over again, each new copy gets a little duller, a little vaguer, a little less certain of what it used to be in the first place. Love Live has been going on for over a decade now, with new installments almost every year. It is no longer the firework bursting spectacularly in open air; it's the leftover ash from that fireworks as it descends of the sky, still vainly trying to shine just as brightly as before.

And it feels tired.

For all the wonderful energy of Superstar, all the gorgeous art direction and animation and direction, it feels so, so tired.

There are absolutely things I like about this season. Even things I love. Keke and Sumire's episode alone prevents me from calling this a bad season of Love Live. Not to mention how wonderful Shiki and Mei are. But every new iteration of this series feels like more and more of its magic is draining away. School Idol Project was nothing short of a miracle, a lightning-in-a-bottle conflagration of optimistic euphoria that made me believe in the power of idols like nothing had ever done before. But Sunshine struggled all throughout its run to match up to that miracle, and it only really managed to do so when its movie finale came around. Nijigasaki swung for the fences to try something fresh and interesting, but all it resulted in was a crushingly hollow disaster. And even with Superstar bringing back SIP's director, Jukki Hanada in the writer's chair, it only ever feels like it's playing the hits without justifying its own existence. It has no idea how to make this new self, this new chance, a worthy contender to stand on the same stage as its ancestors. And if even the best creative team to ever work on Love Live can't figure out how to keep Love Live from stagnating... then what hope is there for anyone else?

Truthfully, part of me wonders if Hanada is just tired of it all. He's been writing original scripts for this franchise for over a decade, and even with someone else handling Nijigasaki, there are still very few gaps between the entries he has a hand in. That's a long time to write the same kind of story, trapped in the same kind of formula, no doubt with countless corporate mandates to prioritize lest he "tarnish" the pristine image of idols with anything too dangerous or exciting. As much as I love Hanada's work, I can't help but think that sounds like the most soul-crushing cycle to be stuck in. And if you think that's just me projecting, well... do you remember that other original music anime Hanada just came out with? The one that's all about angst and punk spirit and shouting in defiance of society's norms? A series that, in contrast to Superstar, feels truly electric and explosive and bursting with the undeniable spirit of something born of passion too powerful to contain? Where one of the co-protagonists' backstory is her old band was forced to rebrand with specifically idol aesthetics to stay marketable in a world with little place for the scrappy, raw, unapologetic honesty of the rock music they started out with?

youtube

Yeah, suffice to say, I wouldn't be surprised if Hanada saved all his best ideas and creative passion for the start of something new and special instead of spending it all on his third rodeo at a steady paycheck.

So where does Superstar go from here? I honestly don't know. We've got a third season coming up just this October- a first for this franchise- so there's no telling what to expect. Personally, I hope it leans fully into that cartoon-world magical-girl energy I talked about before; the more it can stake its own identity, the better chance it will have to justify itself when all is said and done. But more than anything, I wonder how long it will be before Love Live just... stops being special entirely. Until the magic is truly all used up and the horrific emptiness of Nijigasaki becomes the rule rather than the exception. Until this series that truly made me believe in something starts to leave me feeling just as hollow about idols as I was before I picked it up.

And that is far too tragic a fate for me to accept.

The first Love Live was special. It will always be special. And I think Sunshine was, eventually, able to earn its place by SIP's side. But Muse themselves knew that sometimes, the only way to be special is to put everything you have into a single beautiful moment and leave everything else behind when you're done. I'll still watch Superstar season 3, and hopefully it's good, but after that? It might be time for me to leave this franchise behind. The memories of this series at its best will always matter more then endless failed attempts to measure up to that high bar. Cherish the magic we've made, and don't let time and exhaustion steal that away from you.

To those who found me through my Love Live posting, thank you for being here. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts, positive and negative alike, and I hope you stick around as my journey through anime's history continues. I will always celebrate Love Live for what its best efforts mean to me; whatever the future holds, that will never change. I can only hope whatever comes next for these creators will be just as singular and special. But Superstar season 2, for all its charms, is getting no higher score than 5.5/10 from me. The dream is coming to an end soon; and I, for one, am ready to wake up and see what new sights await in the light of day.

Speaking of, I think I have another poll to make...

#anime #tabw #the anime binge watcher #love live! superstar!!#love live superstar #love live!#love live #2013 aniwatch #Youtube

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carabas · 7 days ago

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Dragon Age Veilguard liveblogging -

FADE TRIP WITH SPITE! We live in the Fade and we've gone through so many of Solas's memories, I wasn't expecting to get a dedicated Fade mission on top of that, and yet here we are complete with jokes about turning into a mouse or fighting oversized spiders, awww, thank you Spite!

And there's something really striking about these rays with their bright electric blue glow here in Lucanis's mental prison where all the colors are usually muted, that Lucanis's mind included them.

Spite at the first lock, when Rook's surprised there's no one waiting there to confront them: "Of course not. Rook can't be here. You open doors. You don't close them." i'm fine this is fine give me a minute

Zara's disembodied voice: "Envy is the rarest of all demons. And the most challenging to cultivate. The conditions must be perfect." ...Envy? Was she aiming for Envy when she got Spite? There is a very obvious Dellamorte candidate for Envy and it's not the one she locked up.

Lucanis may see Rook as the one who opens his prison door, but he's casting the other companions as guards keeping their eyes on the prisoner, and he's given us these reasonable justifications about why he prefers to sleep in the tiny windowless extremely-prison-cell-like pantry really, and this whole time he has been mentally carrying his prison with him, can we please get this man a window now. A mattress maybe. ...I was about to suggest he move in with Rook like a DA2 romance but actually I'm not sure an underwater view would be much of an improvement here.

It took seventy-three hours of playing for Rook to start this romance and then only three hours to commit to it, what is this pacing.

Lucanis makes tarta de limon to pair with Rook's favorite tea, and this unlocks a codex entry recipe for... a Nevarran hazelnut torte? Which sounds pretty good actually, with the apricot. Is that what he would have made in this scene if Rook liked coffee instead of tea? But I kind of love that Lucanis is getting Nevarran recipes from Emmrich now - and I'm assuming this codex entry is the same no matter which faction your Rook is from and it's just a coincidence that Rook happens to be Nevarran, but it's a nice coincidence. Also the banter where Lucanis agrees to try a wine Emmrich recommended "just to see what the Watchers keep in their cellars." Things that were not actually intended to be romance lines for Mourn Watch Rook specifically, but they work out nice that way - Lucanis hates the necropolis Rook grew up in so very, very much, but he wants to learn the tastes Rook grew up with.

EMMRICH'S GOING TO BECOME A LICH? IS IT TOO LATE TO RETHINK ROOK'S LOVE INTEREST i'm joking, i'm mostly joking, I am very happy with Rook/Lucanis and also with the nice relaxing friendship between two necromancers venturing outside their necropolis. Romanceable lich though.

It is very funny how clearly you can hear the difference in tone between the specifically Mourn Watch Rook lines which are just sincerely, wholeheartedly happy for Emmrich and his future lichdom, good job getting tenure congrats, and then it gets to a line recorded for Rooks in general and suddenly he has concerns.

Oh, man, Harding confronting the Titans' anger. When Harding says You took everything from us, and you thought you won, and she's looking directly at an elven Rook. We will thrive in spite of you, and the embodiment of Spite is right there beside her, and just moments earlier had been assuring her he won't tell anyone about how afraid she is.

I was surprised earlier that our spirit companion for this game was Spite and not Regret, since regret seemed like the big theme of the game, but I can see it now.

"Why would you want to outlast everything you love?" Lucanis asks, talking about Emmrich's lichdom, but while standing directly in front of Solas and Mythal. "It sounds like a terrible fate."

Gratuitous picture of my Rook because this lighting is really bringing out the dark circles under their eyes

Everyone in this Lighthouse needs to get some sleep.

#dragon age #veilguard #liveblogging #da4 spoilers #long post

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tia-amorosa · 10 months ago

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Sunset Died - Bachelor/Clavell/Wan (?)

One day, early in the evening. We're with the Bachelors, well, what's left of the family. To everyone's regret, the family is no longer complete. The parents of the two children died in the disaster. Now Xander is looking after them. He has also lost his parents and so they have joined forces in order to survive.

"uh, oh man, I'm so hungry"/ "Uncle Xander will hopefully be back soon"/ "yes, hopefully ".

While waiting for dinner at home, Michael and Xander are on the lookout for all kinds of edible things to bring home. "Man, sometimes I get the feeling that the others have already snapped up all the stuff"/ "by no means everything, check the garbage can to see if you can find anything useful there"…. Of course it's an unpleasant thing to rummage around in a garbage can for useful things, but what don't you do to improve your standard of living a bit?

A few minutes later. "Why didn't you tell me straight away that something edible was growing behind the house?"/ "I'm sorry. Look, The lettuce has grown so beautifully. I believe that the spirit of Mama lives in every single plant. She gives us food and looks after us"/ "Yes, that's how it will be… And again, it's just a salad today… Oh, what I would give for a delicious sausage"

A little later. "Did you get anything?"/ "Heads of lettuce, lots of them". Pauline wrinkled her nose and threw her head back in annoyance. "oh man, I'm getting sick of all this green stuff"/ "well, maybe something can be done, I saw the boss bringing a few boxes to the back of the warehouse today, it looked like canned food"/ "W-what?". Her eyes widened.

"Yeah, I don't know where he got the stuff, but I'll find out"/ "yes, please, if they withhold anything from us, I'll get really angry. I'll make us something to eat now… Wow, salad… at least there are still a few onions and tomatoes growing in the garden". Pauline stood annoyed at the kitchen counter and prepared the food.

"Are you otherwise well?"/ "Sure, since i'm with you, hn". Pauline is leading a double life at the moment. And that's why she's not always honest. She not only shares a bed with Xander, but also with Hank, with whom the relationship is nevertheless difficult. The official story is that they have broken up. But Pauline has a mind of her own. "Hank and I … That probably wouldn't have worked out in the long run and besides, I really wanted to know who the guy was that he was always talking about when he came home from work …"/ "You've got a thing for bad boys?"/ "hnhn, not really, but you're … Just different, and I like that.".

Bella comes back into the house. "Where have you been?"/ "I just had to pee"/ "Let me know next time, okay? I don't want you to be out alone in the dark"/ "but I don't want anyone watching"/ "nobody's done that before, we've always stood in front of the fence"/ "but you can hear the peeing noise"/ "Oh nonsense, come on, Pauline's made salad"

"Salad… Always just salad. Can't we bake a cake again?"/ "We need eggs for that, and they're a bit scarce at the moment because we don't have enough chickens"/ "Then you'll have to get a rooster to make the chicks"/ "Oh, you know that?"/ "Of course, that's what… Mom told me".

Michael had to smile a little. "Yes, Mom knew a lot…". It's often a difficult situation for Xander when the children talk about their parents. Because it's not just them who have lost their parents, he has too. Until now, there has never been a proper funeral or memorial service for the deceased. Everyone had to deal with the new situation from one day to the next. But some of the residents want to take care of the cemetery soon.

"And please take care of this 'matter' tomorrow, okay? I really want to know what's going on…"/ "Don't worry, I'll find out what the Altos are up to. "/ "They lead a much better life than some of the others here. They have running water, electricity. They should finally support us. I bet they have some kind of contact with the outside world"/ "mhm, for sure".

Since Pauline has been living in the house, the atmosphere here has changed. So far, they've managed quite well without another roommate. And of course Michael also understands that you need someone to talk to… But at the moment it's probably just about exchanging bodily fluids. No one will ever be able to properly replace the parents of the two children. But they are being looked after.

The kids go to bed. "hey, this is actually my bed"/ "but it's much cooler than mine, you built it all by yourself, mine is old"/ "but it's still in good shape…fine, then I'll be the princess tonight"/ "thihi… Which book did you get from the shelf?"/ "You'll notice in a minute".

While Michael reads his sister a bedtime story, the adults next door are busy with other things. "Have you taken the pill?"/ "That's the last pack I could get, after that we should be really careful"/ "Why, don't you want children?"/ "Under the current circumstances? No…".

"well, if need be, I can pull 'him' out early"/ "chuckle, but that doesn't always help"/ "I'd say we just take our chances… I'll take care of it, bunny".

Less than 20 minutes later. "Sleep well, sis… At some point… Hopefully everything will be a bit more normal again. My friends are all madly in love… great, and I'll probably stay a virgin until I'm 30…". It's not easy for Michael to put up with the other couples' affections. Everyone here has their own individual needs.

End of this part

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

@greenplumbboblover 😊 , Thanks for tagging me, by the way. Unfortunately, I find it infinitely difficult to pick out a sim and write facts about it. I like them all very much.^^ But if I do come up with something about someone at some point, I'll let you and others know😊

Note: I know some parts are quite long and contain a lot of text, but they can't be split up any other way and I like to write a lot 😉

#sims3 #screenshots #simsstories #sims3 story #sunset died #xander clavell #pauline wan #michael bachelor #bella bachelor #post apocalyptic

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tobiasdrake · 11 months ago

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Finally, we're off to sea. If that's what you call this.

You know, this just occurred to me. If Patches has to keep his eyes shut to use his magic, how do we navigate? Like. Is it someone's job to rotate him? Take him by the shoulders and turn him left or right?

In any case, at least we're on our-- Hey, where the hell is Teaks? Did she miss the boat or fall overboard? Or was she the only one of us with enough good sense to go, "Hahaha nope, I'll wait for the next one."

I'd heard that no one ever returns but I'd just assumed the Dweller of Woe was eating them or something. Are they. Like. Community building instead? That'd be weird.

Kind of, then. It's like a psychic ranch. She keeps people as livestock and occasionally takes them out to slaughter.

Oh shit yes. Can we board it now? Trade in this dinghy for the spoils of our conquest? TELL ME we can do this side quest!

Aww, I wanted it to be ours now. But okay. Fine. We can do my thing first. Pout.

Hold up, how can the night be everlasting if we're expecting an eclipse? Night isn't what happens when the moon is present; It's what happens when the sun is absent. The moon has no authority over the night and day cycle, and is in fact frequently in the sky during day.

You cannot have an eclipse without a sun in the sky. The sky doesn't work that way.

Is the eclipse going to, like, magically pierce it somehow? Because, again, you can't have an eclipse during perpetual night.

Well, I guess if it's a lunar eclipse, you can. Those are pretty common.

You know, I kinda expected you guys to pull up close and make us swim the rest of the way while you hightailed it away from Psychic Cattle Farm Island. Surprised you were willing to stick your necks out like this.

Means a lot to me. I will try not to let you get eaten by the Dweller.

T_T I'm sorry I made fun of your stupid raft. This is really touching and now I want to be besties forever.

Guess we should set up camp and figure out--

TEAKS!

She did wait for the next boat. Or she swam. One or the other.

It's great to have you with us, Teaks. I'm sorry if you end up doomed forever because of it.

There are illusionary treasure chests hiding ghost ambushes. I hate this--

Oh. Pardon me. These are woodland spirits. Illusionary treasure chests hiding gaea's vengeance. The metaphysical consciousnesses that guide the natural order of our world want me dead for some reason. Can't imagine wh--

...okay, so perhaps I have not always been the most reverent of Solstice Warriors. We may have gotten off on the wrong foot. But. It doesn't have to be that way. I believe that, with maturity and grace, we can learn to understand each other and-- RANDOM BULLSHIT GO.

HAHAHA GOT 'EM. Test me, fuck-os.

You know, this is a nice little town the cattlefolk have made for themselves. We've got electric lighting. Nice homes. You almost don't even notice the gloom.

There's even transparent ghost people wandering near their graves! That's great. It means when the Dweller eats once of your loved ones, they come right back to you lickity-split.

You know, I was wondering. I figured there was some sort of low-level psychic barrier that just convinces everyone to stay, but no. It's threat of force. Everyone lives here in uncertainty wondering when the Dweller will summon them to be devoured, but if you try to leave then you're summoned immediately.

Denial? Your bar is denial? That's pretty clever, honestly. Points for that.

GARL NO

Do not give these people hope. They have no ability to influence what's about to happen in any way. If we win then they'll be free to go whether they knew it was coming or not, but if we lose then they'll be crushed by false promises. Hype is an insidious monster that strangles reality in its bed.

Let's just kill what we came to kill, and then we can start talking about it. It isn't news until it actually happens.

There's something about this place. Like. A commentary on the way we use escapism to distract from the hopelessness of living in a world that seems to be getting worse by the day. People meeting at The First Stage of Grief to share fictions of what they want their lives to be like, it resonates with our moment in time.

This place is really interesting.

Hold up, the squiddy on the end of Patches's staff is alive? I honestly thought that was a woodcarving.

Yeah, I have nothing to add to that. This place is a sobering reminder that action and glory are meant for something. In all seriousness, the end-goal shouldn't be the enrichment of the self, but of society.

An organization that claims ownership of violence for "the greater good" must always be cognizant that what they are doing is for the betterment of people's lives. Not of "society" as a whole even, but specifically, "Is the service I'm providing making people happier?"

#sea of stars #drake plays sea of stars

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ener-chi · 5 months ago

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Spiritual Update Time! TL;DR Seeing Prince again, working formally with Skadi and Sekhmet, Puberty Pt. 2 Electric Boogaloo, and some readings.

I visited a friend back in the old town I was living in before moving to Portland for school. It didn't occur to me until after I had gotten there that I could go and visit the forest, and Prince. And I felt a pull to go there.

So I did. And as soon as I got there... I was met by Prince. It was soo good to see him again. It's been a while. We've both changed - quite a bit. He wanted to give me a gift of fae energy, and in return receive a kiss. Who am I to say no to such a handsome and beautiful fae prince? Besides, he is an incredible kisser...

Anywho, we spent a considerable amount of time catching up. Then, he said that he's been doing a fair amount of travel on the astral plane lately, and would love to do it with me. I accepted the offer - tbh I haven't really done a whole lot of exploring, and really need an excuse to do it more. Besides, traveling with him sounds like fun.

In other news, I am now working with both Skadi and Sekhmet - in a much more official capacity.

Skadi and I have worked together on and off over the years. I was working with her, and then we had a more casual relationship. She expressed interest in working together more earlier this year. But a few days ago we had a chat and she wants to work with me formally now.

Part of that is that my friend gave me this cool stim ring that happened to be in my size that he didn't wear anymore. But it has runes all over it - the futhark. As soon as I saw them, I immediately thought of Skadi, and I could hear her call...

We met and talked. She has gifted me more of her energy and power and in return I will work with her in a formal capacity, and doing a bunch of other things.

For a long time now I've always felt this strong pull towards a very snowy, cold place, like Iceland. Since our newfound pact, I've been getting visions again of this place... so cold, so snowy, so... energetically strong. I feel... like I NEED to go to this place... my soul yearns for it. I see myself being there in a couple of years - like 5-7.

I am now also working with Sekhmet in a formal capacity. I forget when and how she came to me, but it was around the time that school started. We had a tenuous agreement that she would help me with my studies if I helped heal and defend people.

But she came to me and also wanted to work in a more formal capacity. I've been taken into her realm and energy, am being more guided and watched by her, and in return am doing some stuff for her but also more fulfilling my role and development as a healer.

Both of them wanting to work formally with me kind of came out of nowhere - and both at the same time. I am in no way complaining - more just kind of noticing and chuckling at the timing of them both coming to me, and at this time in my life.

Speaking of which, this summer break has absolutely been the best summer break that I've had. It's also lasted an eternity - it's already been 2 weeks of the 3, and it's felt like it's been a month and a half, and I STILL have one more week left! Let's gooo

About a week ago, 1 month in, my estrogen started hitting me HARD. I am having sooo many changes. Lots of physical changes, my emotions are wildinnnn. Also, I am SO HUNGRY. I am eating so much food. My body needs it.

I realized this over the weekend and have been joking with people - I am absolutely going through puberty part 2. Like everything about puberty. It's so jarring asl;kjfas;lkdjf

I'm literally becoming a different person, physically, emotionally, but also spiritually. It is... crazy.

I did some readings this weekend! I've had some people come to me asking me for my paid services. Interestingly enough, both were spirit services. It was nice to be able to get back into that again. I have a lottt of help now. I am kind of relearning how to do things - or rather learning how I do things in a new way now that I am changing. It was really nice to be able to get back into some readings. My services are open if anyone wants to take part in it (winks)

That's it for now! A lot has happened irl, but that can be for another update. Just trying to survive this heatwave right now, and gonna hopefully spend this last week of summer break getting some R&R in.

Hope everyone has a wonderful night!

Blessings!

#mine #about me #journal #7.7.24 #deity work #paganism #norse paganism #egyptian paganism #sk #sekhmet #witchcraft #witchblr

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nokillbananashelter · 2 years ago

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ZELDA IS YOUR CAR, A NEW THEORY

THE QUESTION NINTENDO IS ASKING ISN'T JUST

"WHAT IF ZELDA HAD A CAR"

IT'S ALSO ASKING

"WHAT IF ZELDA *WAS* A CAR"

Hear me out- this is alot of theories in one. First- it is a "you will control someone else besides link" rumor, as it involves zelda magically possessing spirit fueled choo choo goo, or controlling it with her sick sheikah slate from a distance/other realms and THROUGH LINKS ARM.

Second, it is a "zelda is dead" theory, as in order for it to make sense, she must be transported to a new plane of existence where she and link are NOT AT ALL CLOSE BY, but need to work together, As in, she's probably your "Companion" character, but like, using her sheikah phone to drone pilot links FUCKING ARM, I NEED TO STRESS THIS PART, SHES CONTROLLING YOU THROUGH THAT.

Thirdly, it is boldly answering the first question of "What if Zelda had a car" by creating a reasonably extraneous explanation for the invention of the wheel, and how the necessity for that invention would have to play out, because its something so bold and daring they needed to hype themselves up with lore in order to properly digest the Nuts and Bolts Zelda.

Fourthly, and this one is for all you boys who work so hard, it is a Zonai theory, as it must clearly explain the "Magical Ancient Tech 2: Electric Bokoballoon" vibe Totk CLEARLY HAS.

Fifthly, it is a Twilight Realm theory, because clearly the Zonai and the twilight are related, like come on now, be serious, and we've seen a sacred/twilight realm in the trailer. Be honest with me. Do you really think it isn't that? Are you really gonna think those aren't related? Arent you just playing with your own heart at this point? Give yourself a rest. Let it be true within yourself.

Sixthly, it is most absolutely a timeline theory. which is exhausting, and I hate to say it, but its probably got some kingdom hearts level "im your evil twin but not the real evil twin but the sad evil twin within the dark you" bullshit happening. Maybe Midna and Hilda and Hylia and Zelda all walk into a room together and shrug before talking on the phone with link. The Logo is literally a car tire made out of two stone dragons. This game is about gods, wheels, times, cycles, motorcycles, circular logics, technological advancement from people breaking stuff for fun, and absolute nonsenses about what that philosophically means from a story standpoint as well as a game mechanics standpoint. That's a promise, but I’m not detailing that here.

And with those points being made- this is the Theory.

Zelda and Link, newly equipped with the Sheikah Phone that has been suspected as communicating with the dead in old crypts deep under hyrule, are exploring Ganon's crypt chamber.They find out who sealed him in the first place- the Zonai! But Gasp! Merely steppin in this chamber was folly! It begins crumbling, and the two are separated in an explosion. the hand that was sealing ganon now must make a choice-try saving a failing seal and also loose two very important prophesied people, or, to make the hard choice of saving zelda or link while eons of magic become undone, dooming hyrule to an even crueler fate....for now.

Link is saved by the Zonai hand under request from Zelda. Zelda clearly makes a self sacrificial but calculated move, because she knows something the audience doesn't, or she recognizes... a second, shadow zonai hand, that was more reluctant and cautious, but still calling. Yes, thats right- the zonai are in multiple realms, above and below. Perhaps they are in opposition to eachother? Or maybe...longing for eachother? As zelda falls deep into the depths, She finds herself in good company! PERCHANCE EVEN MIDNA'S COMPANY??? Though She is technically safe, by all accounts she is in a spirit realm, and therefore, dead.

Link, on the other hand (HAHA) , is pulled with the Zonai up in the sky towards a different realm we recognize- The Secret Dragon Realm!!! But at the last second!!! Ganon, or one of his goons?! Comes in and snatches link from the zonai hand as its juuuuust squeaking through the window to the other realm. The zonai arm, which is revealed to be a remote control device between realms, and links arm, are FUSED. Link doesn't make it to the spirit realm where all was going to be explained!!!

As link falls, we get a peek at new bow falling mechanics and time slow down, but its not enough!!! We're too thrown by our powerful new arm!!! We're still falling!! AHHH!!!!!! IT'S OVER!!!!

"STOP!" Zelda cries, holding the sheikah device from the shadow realm!!

Suddenly the ground is getting farther and farther away again, and we're going BACK UP INTO THE SKY, because zelda has changed the trajectory of a piece of rubble via the sheika phone through our arm and its LIFTING US!! we're introduced to the new time reverse mechanic in our tutorial area, The abandoned and nearly unrecognizable but clearly footprintable Skyloft (I HATE THIS DETAIL TOO, BUT I FEEL IT COMIN, OKAY?). Right off the bat, nintendo makes the goal get to the ground, but be cautious" and we learn all over again how to control the shiekah powers and some spooky new ones- including Ectoplasmic Choo Choo Goo, because all of the Zonai tech in our control is powered by Zeldas ghost/spirit power!! As we descend, we begin to realize something..... a lot of the islands in the sky are not even accessible from the height we were at. How could this be???!!! Surely there is much more to do in the sky before going down?? It seems we'll need to get to the ground and uncover, develop, and think our way out of this one with what we have below!! Wait, Is that.... ZONAI MONSTER TRUCK WHEELS?! Zelda will need to do research based on our findings, and she'll need us to collect as much magic green choo choo goo as possible, to give her more room to possess and control objects and link's arm.

So lets ground this concept. While Link is the character you control, You do, in a strange extra layer of role playing, Control Links Arm and the Choo Choo Goo as "DEAD" ZELDA, FROM HER SHEIKAH SPIRIT-PHONE, IN THE SPIRIT REALM. As she tries to make her way back abstractly from the dead realm to help you defeat ganon, she also has a literal direct hand in the adventure, and

ZELDA

*IS*

THE

CAR

#totk #zelda tears of the kingdom #banjo kazooie #gaming #game theory #Zelda lore #you know it’s true cowards #i’m terrified #Zelda died and became a car

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deafmangoes · 2 years ago

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Why Legend of Korra Breaks Avatar's Worldbuilding

Part 2: Technology

Hello and welcome to part 2 of my extended rant about Avatar: Legend of Korra and why I, an adult woman, dislike a popular kid's show.

This is what I do with my time, it's on you if you read it.

Today: Technology! TLA dealt with a rising industrial power in the Fire Nation and did so pretty well - LoK took that, pushed it into an almost dieselpunk vibe, and broke it by trying too hard. Here's the highlights.

Platinum

Platinum is an "unbendable" metal in Avatar, brought up in Season 3 and 4 of LoK (probably when the writers realised 'woops, we need a way for handcuffs to still work'). The in-universe reason is that it's "too pure" to bend - meaning, it doesn't have those "earth" impurities that allow for normal metalbending.

Like I brought up before, mercury already breaks that a bit. Also, I guess they picked "platinum" because it sounds cool but it's no more or less "pure" than any other metal. It's also really not that common and very expensive, yet in Season 4 a "25-storey mecha suit" is constructed almost purely from platinum, except for the internals! How!? You can't bend it so it must be forged, right? We never see any of this! Even in universe it seems to be pulled from Kuvira's ass, as no one had any clue it was being constructed.

The weird properties ascribed to platinum could be easily handwaved away as it not being like real-world platinum at all, but then you could have just used a made-up name. We already accept that platypus bears and turtle ducks exist, you can make up a metal! Call it mithril, orichalchum or adamantine, any of the typical fantasy stuff.

That Fucking Mecha

I just...

I loved the vibe in TLA because the Fire Nation felt like a society in the middle of a vast industrial revolution and it was really well done. We even get to see development during the series, as warships become more complex, tanks go from drawings to weapons of war, zeppelins emerge from simple balloons, and then there's the Ba Sing Se Drill which probably represents the peak of Fire Nation engineering. It all felt very real, and made them seem very threatening - particularly when fighting a society that relied on purely pre-industrial weapons and tactics.

At first I liked the jump to a "Roaring Twenties" aesthetic in Season 1 of LoK. It felt like a natural progression from the innovations displayed in TLA, particularly stuff like cars, radio and electricity (although being generated by people lightning-bending all day is... problematic).

I was also fine with giving a fantasy pass to Varrick's initial mechasuits, as they're essentially single-person tanks with some fancy weaponry (and no visible source of power but shush), but then Season 4 comes blasting in and annihilates my suspension of disbelief with an Inception BWOOOOOM fired from a skyscraper-sized bipedal mech.

Firstly there's the "where did they get the metal from" issue but that's a broader complaint about a lot of both TLA and LoK engineering. Secondly, that thing shouldn't be able to stand up, just as a basic rule of structural integrity. Thirdly, no, it does not make sense to put a fucking railcannon on its arm, and if you're going to do it at least be consistent about kickback (as we've demonstrated this weapon causes a fuckton of kickback). Power source is fine, you've already demonstrated (clevely, I'll admit) the idea that spirits exist in the "natural" world as a form of solid energy.

Also just as an aside, remember when a spirit earlier in the season scoffs at Korra for not understanding that there's no difference between "talking" spirits and the vines? Yeah, they don't really come back to that but the implication is that those are fully alive, sapient things being mulched into energy. Probably screaming.

Finally, Kuvira plainly did not have the time or resources to build this machine without anyone noticing it. It comes as a complete surprise to all the world leaders and the cast, despite being the size of a large building and visible from several miles away - espionage alone would have informed them she was building something like this. It must have taken her most of the three years of campaigning. Design and prototype testing alone.

I hate the mecha, I hate that it destroyed most of Republic City and they treat this as a "woops, oh well" and not a massive humanitarian disaster, I hate that it has windscreen wipers.

Hummingbird Drones

Flying Bison fly because they can airbend.

Zeppelins and aircraft fly because they are suspended from a lighter-than-air balloon or abuse the principles of powered flight, respectively.

Hummingbird Drones fly because they... flap their little metal wings so hard and fast they can pull tons of metal into the air???

No. F--. See me after class. Try again.

Varrick, Sato and the Myth of the Industrialist

It's a pretty pervasive myth in real life so I'm hardly surprised it made its way into fiction, but just so you know, most inventions in the real world don't spring fully-formed from the head of a single stable genius. Science and industry are collaborative efforts.

We all know Edison crowdsourced "his" ideas. Thing is, so did most inventors - but LoK plays the trope straight with Hitoshi Sato (inventor of planes, trains and automobiles) and Varrick (wealthy industral capitalist, patron of film, Death; Destroyer of Worlds).

I'm not sure if Sato or Varrick is the worse offender. Both are clearly highly intelligent people and surprisingly well-written characters, but both seem to be able to lock themselves up in a workshop and come out days later with working nuclear bombs/perpetual motion machines/time travel/who knows. That's not how things work!

In the earlier seasons, there's a bit more 'realism' in that both have large amounts of resources at their disposal, but particularly in Season 4, this breaks down. Varrick develops the in-universe equivalent to the atom bomb (and I actually like this arc, despite everything), and while he does have some help from Kuvira's people it's not very clear how he managed all this in about a year. Let alone the latter part of Season 4, where we jump from "these vines are a power source" to "these vines are ammunition for fully working Death Lasers" in about 2-3 months, in-universe?

The aforementioned Fucking Mecha and Hummingbird Drones are particularly egregious examples of this issue. It would be more forgiveable if the mecha was just a sized up version of the smaller ones (which run on tank treads) but it is not. The Hummingbirds are neat, but make zero sense and were developed in a cave with a box of scraps Asami's workshop.

Look, I'm just saying that Iron Man's actual superpower is being a technopath. And rich. But no, there's no way he should have got any of that stuff working while holed up in a terrorist camp, and neither should Varrick, Sato or Asami.

Batteries

Related to the electricity point, but battery tech in Avatar is like, centuries ahead of us. It shouldn't be, and it's just plain handwaving. It's not really that big of a deal, I guess, just felt like pointing it out.

And that's all for this one. Next and last: politics.

#deafmangoes #worldbuilding #bad worldbuilding #avatar #avatar legend of korra #legend of korra

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aeoki · 28 days ago

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Candy House - Electric Utopia: Chapter 4

Characters: Sora, Natsume & Tsumugi Season: Spring

Tsumugi: Hmm… A company that names itself after a monster sounds pretty scary. What should we do if they turn out to be some sort of anti-social organisation?

Sora: Sora thinks it’ll be fine~

Senpai, you don’t know much about video games so you might not know, but…

“Gorgon Corporation”, in other words, “GC”, is a fairly well-known major game company.

Natsume: That’s their official abbreviation but I don’t really know anyone who calls them “GC”, thouGH. Don’t other video game fans call them “Gor-coRP”? I know I dO.

Sora: They do~♪

They’re the company that mass produces unique puzzle-solving games that use exceptional and complex technology, and their games share an incomprehensible world and story. In other words, we like to call them “our Gor-Corp”! HaHiHuHeHo~♪

Tsumugi: I think I’ve seen that phrase trending on social media before. Oh, so you two were talking about video games.

I thought you were talking about a well-known artist’s imposter.

Sora: That’s Van Gogh~

Anyway, this is amazing! Is it true that “Gor-Corp” wants to form a business partnership with our agency? Is it really them?

Tsumugi: I’m wondering that as well. They seemed rather fishy to me, so I’m asking this “Gorgon Corporation” some questions at the moment…

If it’s just a swindler pretending to be a well-known company, then we should be able to find out if they’re the real thing or not.

Natsume: You mistook Gorgon for Gogh, so I’m surprised you managed to do thAT.

Tsumugi: I just copied and pasted the sentence in the email word for word…

I couldn’t tell what sort of company they were based on their website alone, but now I understand. So they were a video game company.

Sora: Oh~ Their homepage is a bit weird since they’re promoting their latest release right now~

Natsume: It’s supposed to represent the “Is The Company Sane?” phrase, so their website and social media accounts are always oDD.

They’re promoting their new horror game right now, aren’t thEY?

It’s a puzzle-solving game where you end up getting corroded the more you talk to the evil spirits, and you switch places with them in the eND.

Sora: They’re not really evil spirits, but more like a doppelganger? The fake turns into the real person at some point in the story and they take over the original’s life?

It’s a typical “Gor-Corp” video game.

Apparently, it generates a “fake that’s just like the original” based on your social media and browsing history.

That fake then takes over your social media accounts, as if they’ve really turned into the real you.

I wonder how that’s possible with data protection and privacy.

Natsume: HmM~ It’s pretty ambiguous since the video game hasn’t been released yET. “Gor-Corp” has a history of doing illegal things that were enough to file lawsuiTS.

Sora: They’re one of Sora’s favourite game companies, so Sora hopes nothing bad will happen in real life… and the new release won’t be cancelled.

Natsume: I always appreciate their bold style, thouGH.

Tsumugi: Well, since the game has something to do with social media, it sounds fairly modern to me.

Maybe it’s because the idea of having your fake take over your life is one of humanity’s primitive fears, but there are a lot of movies and novels on that topic.

That’s what a real doppelganger would be like.

Natsume: Yeah, there’s a movie I’ve watched that talks about racial issues in a modernistic mannER.

It’s the sort of movie where, at a glance, it looks like an enjoyable comedy flick, but it can get pretty scary when you start thinking deeply about iT.

Sora: The type of story that’s scary when you realise its true meaning, right~?

Tsumugi: Yeah, I think I’ve seen the same one. The director originally came from a comedy background and…

…Oh, it looks like we've received a reply from “Gorgon Corporation” while we were chatting.

Sora: Isn’t that a mouthful to say? Just call them “Gor-Corp”~

Tsumugi: That sounds like I’m looking down on them, so I’d rather not. It feels more like a derogatory term as opposed to a name of endearment.

Sora: Sora supposes it's like playful teasing with love involved? It’s the same as Master~ calling you “Moppy Four-Eyes”, Senpai~♪

Natsume: I’m not calling him that out of love, thouGH.

Tsumugi: …Sorry, could you two be quiet? The company gave us their reply but, hmm, what does this mean?

They also appear to be confused. After I double-checked with them, it seems the business partnership and funding is definitely happening…

But apparently, “Gorgon Corporation” had only checked the details just now.

Sora: ? So what does that mean?

Tsumugi: I’m not sure… Perhaps the higher-ups of the company took it upon themselves to give the partnership the green light?

It looks like they’re investigating the matter right now.

It seems a representative from the company will be coming to our office to give us an explanation.

Natsume: It’s getting more and more suspicious by the minuTE… Hmm, what’s going oN?

Sora: Looks like “Gor-Corp” doesn’t know what’s going on, either~ And we’re in the same boat.

…Hm?

Tsumugi: ? What’s wrong, Sora-kun? Were you able to “see” something?

Sora: No… Sora just got a call from a friend.

It’s the friend Sora was telling Master~ about on the way here.

Natsume: Oh, the one you didn’t get to see for a long time, rigHT?

Sora: Hello? What is it? Sora’s working right now…

Hm? Yeah, we were just talking about “Gor-Corp”~ How’d you know?

Hmm, clairvoyance? What’s that? Sora has probably heard that word before somewhere…

HiHi~♪ You’re the same as Sora, Ecchan – you know lots of things that aren’t needed for survival.

Tsumugi: Ecchan? Wait, is that Eichi-kun? If I remember correctly, I think that’s what Ritsu-kun calls Eichi-kun…

Natsume: Why would you mention hIM? Because money’s involvED?

Sora: Yeah. Okay… Sora doesn’t really get it, but alright.

………?

Natsume: What did your friend sAY?

Sora: Well… Sora doesn’t understand either, but…

The representative from the game company that’s coming to the office is a monster that wears human skin…

Sora’s friend said she’s a witch that has an evil eye, so we shouldn’t believe the things she says.

Tsumugi: ? What? Are you talking about video games again?

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firstumcschenectady · 2 months ago

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“Who We Are” based on Exodus 3:1-14a and Mark 9:30-35 (Homecoming Sunday)

I was once lucky enough to spend a term studying at Oxford, specifically at Magdalen College, where a portion of the campus was referred to as the “New Quad” and dated to about 1733. The day after I arrived back in the United States I heard on the radio about a “great historical find” of a 100 year old Buffalo Bill poster. I remember wondering what the people at Magdalen would call something so new as to be only 100 years old.

This congregation was founded in that same century as the new quad... although a little later. We were founded in 1789, and our current church building dates to almost a hundred years later, in 1872. We've now been in this building for 152 years, although like Americans, we don't refer to it as the new church anymore ;)

Our history books tell wonderful stories of the faithfulness of our fore-bearers in faith, and their commitment to God and each other. They also tell stories of change! This is the 3rd church building this community built - 4th location, and as it was being built the first worship space as over the fellowship hall in a space we mostly don't use anymore. The now Wesley Lounge was the original church office, and the education wing didn't come along until the 1950s. Bill Isles once said he'd been fighting leaks in the roof since then.

I'm often awed as I look at the long list of pastors who have served this church – found on the walls just before you enter the Narthex. It is also notable how many years of one-year service there was in those early days. Maybe the biggest change in the list of clergy is the relatively recent inclusion of women, staring 45 years ago with Rev. Eileen Demming.

I also think about the technological changes that have happened over the course of this church's history. When the church began the US Postal Service was brand new and Post Offices were just beginning to be build. This church saw the advent of the telegram, the radio, the telephone, electric lights, television, fax machines, the internet and email, cell phones and text messages, social media, and even Zoom. Thanks Thomas Edison and GE! These all impacted how life was lived, and thus how ministry played out. Honestly, 5 years ago we lacked live-streaming and Zoom meetings – can you even remember that??

This week we had a meeting to plan our fall retreat – and it was so interesting to hear the beloved traditions of the past meet the needs and values of the present day. I loved it because that's pretty must the gist of everything. In Christianity we talk about the “Living Tradition” where we honor and respect the past, and use its wisdom, while bringing it into the present day and leaving behind what no longer serves us while adding in what we now need. Everything in church is Living Tradition as I see it – from the church retreat to the worship liturgy, from coffee hour to the church library.

We have this constant awareness of and gratitude for the past, while also holding the present and the future together. Over the course of the past year we've made some plans for more change. While this building was bustling with ministry activities in the 1950s, it is now more building than we really need. The maintenance and upkeep of the building take a lot of energy and resources, we love it, but it drains us. This church has decided to go forward, looking at ways this building can be a resource for the community while also becoming a source of financial stability.

I've was awed and amazed to watch the Holy Spirit at work in this community as this way forward was discerned. The part I loved best was watching various groups of people gather together with fear and trepidation about the future, and then think about what it could mean if our building could be used fo provide low-income housing AND financial stability, and see each group get excited and hopeful.

It is a huge change, and it is going to take a lot of work, but the decision is one that was made with incredible faithfulness. And, it is a continuation of the history of change and the reality of the living tradition.

In Exodus this morning we heard the familiar story of Moses encountering the burning bush and hearing God's name. The New Interpreter's Bible emphasizes the verbs of God in this passage. God says, “I have seen... I have heard... I have known... I will send.... I am.” It may just be me, but I hear the living tradition right there! God is “The Great I Am”, or “I Am Who I Am” or “I Will Be Who I Will Be” but God is also impacted by what God sees and hears, and acts accordingly. God's nature is constant – loving mercy all the way through AND God is responsive to human needs and activities.

I loved that our “We Cry Justice” reading reminded us that after Moses saw the burning bush, and went to do what God directed, and the people were freed, and they came out to the wilderness, they returned to the burning bush. And it is there, in the place they are told that God heard them, saw them, considered them, cared for them, and that God simply was, that they work together to figure out the future as God's beloveds.

In this story, the burning bush is sort of interesting in that it's only purpose was to get Moses's attention so that he'd listen to God. Also, there is an angel, but the angel does say or do anything, the angel's only purpose is to get Moses's attention so that he'll listen to God. The bush isn't the message. The angel isn't the message. God just wants Moses to pay attention.

I suspect that God puts burning bushes in front of us multiple times a day. Thich Naht Hahn taught that in the communities he founded every time a bell rang the community members were to take a moment to stop, listen, and pay attention to the wonder all around them. He said that it changed the way they answered the phone. I believe there may be fewer bells and notifications in monastic life than modern life, but perhaps that makes it far MORE important for us to try that exercise. Every time a bell rings, a phone vibrates, or an app gives us a notification we too could stop, listen for a moment, and be grateful for the wonder around us.

I don't know about you, but that's a lot of times a day for me. And that's just BELLS. It is also true that in every other human being we encounter a beloved of God, and they may each be a burning bush inviting us to attend to the wonder of each human.

Sometimes God calls us to sit still, and just be. Sometimes God calls us to move, and just be. (I think all of us are called to both at various times.)

I suspect we all could get better at listening to those calls. How do you get them? What is your burning bush? Could it be bells? Notifications? Other people? An internal sense of unease? Maybe just hungry - it may be that we want to think anew about the tradition of table grace, and face each time we nourish our bodies as the true and wonderful miracle it is, and take a moment to be grateful to God and all the people who make it possible for us to eat and drink each thing before us.

I wrote in the August newsletter about my hopes that we would take this election cycle and time of uncertainty as an invitation to deepen our spiritual practices so that we can respond out of being centered in God's grace. I intended to keep talking about it through August but... well, life went ahead and changed on me and here I am back in the pulpit as of today.

It is so easy to be pulled off kilter by the truly concerning realities around us.

I believe the question for us today, the question of who we are becoming, is how we can care as deeply as ever, while also being able to hold our center. Psalm 1 talks about the people who delight in God as being like trees planted by streams of water, “which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.” It is my conviction that God is a constant source of love, hope, peace, and joy. God is always with us, God is calling to us with our own burning bushes, God is accessible. We are able to connect to the source of love, hope, peace, and joy. We are able to be like trees planted by the streams – with deep roots in God's goodness. And when do so, we are able to be stronger in our compassion for others AND our centeredness that cannot be shaken.

Many of us are worried about what will happen. We are also, of course, worried about what is happening and what has happened. Things are not as they should be, and even the most optimistic outcomes aren't going to solve issues like hungry, homelessness, war, and violence. We are people of faith in the midst of a broken AND beautiful world.

The Bible is full of stories of being in a beautiful and broken world, and finding God in the midst of it. This is just how things go. We don't get to wait for things to be OK before we deepen our faith. Faith happens in the midst of reality.

In Mark, we hear the line, “whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Jesus saw the hierarchies of his world, and he had no patience for them. He inverted everything he could, and led people to question the very idea that someone should be at the bottom (or top) of a hierarchy.

This is one of the core messages of our faith. This is part of who we are becoming as we connect more and more deeply with God. God's unconditional love for all people becomes the most important truth and everything else fades away. Along with changing how we see others, this also changes how we see ourselves and loosens the grip of the narrative that we are supposed to compete to be “good enough to be loved.” We are loved. That's the first thing we teach each other in faith. God loves us. All. That's where it all begins, and I think even where it all ends.

We have a long history of sharing God's love with each other and the world. And the changes that are coming are yet another expression of love. And, no matter what the world throws at us – let's deepen our roots into God's goodness so we are ready to respond with love and love alone. Amen

September 22, 2024

Rev. Sara E. Baron First United Methodist Church of Schenectady 603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305 Pronouns: she/her/hers http://fumcschenectady.org/ https://www.facebook.com/FUMCSchenectady

#thinking church #progressive christianity #fumc schenectady #schenectady #umc #rev sara e baron #first umc schenectady #hope #peace #love #joy #Homecoming #History #Past Present Future #Centered

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