#what must that be like everyone is so amazed

[mono-dontidae]

say it

c/w: pointing out insecurities (everyone except kenma cause i dunno how kenma woukd make point an insecurity out), cheating (just kenma), pure angst no fluff, not proofead

a/n: no lev because i love lev he could never be mean!! haha!! (im running out of shit to write pls recc me a school or 3 ppl to continue this idek)

pairing(s): kuroo, kenma, yaku x !fem reader

kuroo

you weren't the brightest. but you certainly weren't dumb. you just needed a little help with your studies. however, you were amazing at other things; sports, curricular activities and communication pursuits. kuroo admired how determined you were at trying to be better with your studies though. the way you'd do your best to help your other classmates with things neither you understood. he caught himself smiling at the sight of it. maybe that's why he loves you so much. all up until one day, it's been a particularly hard day for him. training's been horrible and you just kept bugging him for a study date. "does it have to be me? i'm sure you could ask like.. kenma or something", he asked you, trying to contain his annoyance. you refused, wanting your boyfriend to help him. you felt more comfortable around him and you feel that spending time together was a good idea. he thought otherwise. "fuck, can't you just get the hint? i'm fucking tired. why can't you be like [girl's name]? she's pretty, funny and smart. you're just a good face with no thought behind it. just get the hint, okay? it's real fucking annoying.", his words harsh and blunt. he couldn't think. "what? don't be petty, tell me directly 'no'. there was no need to compare me with her anyways.", you replied back, hurt. you didn't mean to act so persistant on it. "you're almost worst than lev. it's embarrassing enough to have a girlfriend who's shitty at school, like, why're you here in the first place?", he laughed almost, seemingly twisting the knife. he walked away while you just stood there, insecure.

kenma

"pfft.. haha..", kenma kept smiling as he texted on his phone. you were both eating a bento you made at a park, afterschool. he hasn't had a single bite yet and making conversation with him was impossible. "mm.." "uhuh" "yeah." "crazy." "oh?" "ah." was all he ever replied back with his eyeballs staring at his screen, his fingers making a longer sentence than his mouth ever could. "oh, for fucks sake.", you finally spat. you snatched kenma's phone away, getting him to finally look at you. "what're you doing? i'm talking to a brick wall here ken, what could be mor-", you paused as you looked at what the contact was saved as. "honey ♡". a heart? are you serious? "ken? what in the fuck is this?", you got up, angry and fuming. understandable honestly, who wouldn't be? "oh. that's.. uhm", he darted his eyes to the side, unable to answer you. ".. an online friend..", that answer of his only filled your rage. "no friend would ever be thought to be named 'honey' with a heart, ken. what the hell, what gives? i thought we were good, what's up with this?!", you asked him, confused. you sounded desperate for an answer from him, a boy who's always of few words. "i don't know. she's always been.. available. she plays all the same games as me, likes the same anime's as me and always been interested in what i like.", he said, matter of factly. you placed his phone onto the banch you were both sitting on a bit too harshly. "and what, that justifies you to just cheat on me?! you could have just broken up with me!", you stepped forward, now facing infront of him. this was all so stupid. "you and i have never been in the same intrest bubbles. she's more fun. you're boring. she's cool about anything too, you're super uptight. i just stayed to make you pleased i guess. i don't know.", he replied half-assed. it's almost like he was never bothered. almost like you never mattered. you were just another person to him and he kept the lable going to delude you of happiness. how embarrassing it must be to be so unaware.

yaku

you were cool, tall, charming and apart of the nekoma female volleyball team. it's how you and yaku met in the first place. deep down, you weren't as masculine or stoic like how you seemed on the outside. you didn't dig your stereotyoe much and hid how you were girly, sweet, nice and overall being pretty feminine knowing it didn't suit you. your height and athletism has been an insecurity and always wanted to be "pretty like other girls". obviously, you both got stared at in school or public by the height difference and such but it never mattered. or did it? "hey, suke? you wanna have lunch later?", you appoached him in class that morning, happy to see your boyfriend. he looked a bit startled when you approached his desk. he looked up, seeing you tower over him. you were a foot taller but you didn't mind being taller than him. however, yaku has always been insecure of his height. lately the teasing of his classmates and team has gotten to him. "oh, hey. no thanks, babe. i'll be eatingg with the guys today.", he replied curtly. you felt a bit dissapointed but you still festered a smile. you handed him a packed lunch. "alright. here, then. i made you something.", it was cute, floral patterned wrapping cloth containing a little surprise note you wrote inside. "oh. thanks.", he stared at it. you waved him goodbye before walking to the other side of the classroom to your desk. later at lunch, he walked to the class next door where kuroo, kenma, fukunaga, yamamoto and inuoka were. they waved him a hello as he approach, your bento in hand. yamamoto pointed it out first, "yo, your little girlfriend made you lunch? oh, wait. you're the little one, sorry!", then laughed and the rest followed. "pfft, lay off him. we all know height doesn't matter. but how's being the girlfriend, huh?", kuroo barked next. the rest laughed once more, irritating yaku more. he sat, unveiling the lunch. your note was his last straw, 'hope u love this, honey! lot's of love, y/n. p.s, i made sure to cut the crust off your sandwich this time!'. "nevermind!! she's just your mom at this point, man! haha!", yamamoto laughed as he peeped at the note. he got up angrily and threw the bento onto the floor. "look, it's not my fault my girfriend's a freak. she's tall as shit and theres nothing i can do about it. she can't even be girly 'cause let's face it, it'll never suit her. she chose me 'cause i'm the only person willing of taking her. no dude in the right mind would date her; you're right, she's a boyfriend at most! i shouldnt've even dated her from how embarrassing it is!", he rambled as the class was silent. then there you were, in the doorway watching. you were just walking past the class to head to the canteen and he was exploding before your eyes. everyone looked from him to you, crickets playing. some were staring at you with pity, some trying not to laugh, some in shock and some confused.

ts so ass highkey 🥀

[hestzhyen]

Chapter 77 Irrelevant Posting

Hello, dear void... we're definitely on a streak of excellent chapters lately.

Rough TL of the Editor's Notes: First Page: 語られるのは...- [katara reru no wa...] "A conversation..." Last Page: 構える淵天！！いざ！！[kamaeru enten!! iza!!] "Enten at the ready!! Let's go!!"

And a TL of that amazing colour page's text that will no doubt be removed in the official English version:

背負うのは矜持と愛と歪んだ未来- [seou no wa kyouji to ai to yuganda mirai] "Bearing the burden of pride, love, and a distorted future..."

Unnecessarily cruel title placement though, jeez.

HAKURI!!! HE'S STILL REAL! HAKURI HAKURI HAKURIIIIIIIIIIII AAAAAAHHHHHHHH

Alright, now that that's out of my system... how 'bout them apples? Looks like we got our "trio" for Kaugrabachi! And it's the best one I could have asked for, honestly. I love all three of these kids to pieces and I want them to find all the happiness they deserve by the end of the series.

Except... I'm already malding in advance that the English version will remove the text on the colour page. It perfectly summarises the burdens that were passed on by these kid's fathers and so should stay! Hakuri suffered due to Kyora's pride in the Sazanami legacy, Chihiro is suffering thanks to Kunishige's deep parental affection for him, and Iori is suffering because of Samura's fear for what's to come. 背負 [seou] says it all- "to carry on one's back", "to be burdened with", "to take responsibility for". These poor kids are in so much pain because of what they've inherited to struggle with- and the pain even extends beyond them because of how much influence their fathers have/had. Innocent people are caught up in their misery too but only the children bear responsibility for what happened. This is the core theme of Kagurabachi! And there are a lot of readers who could stand to be reminded that this series is more than just "cold lines" and "aura farming"!

Okay. One more TL note before we get into the chapter. The title of it in Japanese is 蚊帳の外 [kaya no soto], an idiom. The literal meaning is "outside of the mosquito net" and it's similar to "out of the loop" or "left in the dark"- someone being purposefully excluded for one reason or another, usually because they don't fit in. Keep this in mind for later!

Some Guy

This guy gets a name and we are STILL using fandom nicknames for recurring characters lol.

吉田貫龍 [Yoshida Kanryuu] - will we see this guy again? Why did we get his name, if not to tease him reappearing (or the author trolling us)? Given his surprising connection to Samura, he might not just be a one-off though. Perhaps just to drive the point home that Samura fucking cares a lot about everyone, like how we got Fuura Ryo's name in chapter 57.

The family name Yoshida is made up of the kanji 吉 [yoshi, good luck/fortune/auspiciousness] and 田 [da, rice field, rice paddy] to make a very generic last name implying bountiful rice harvests. Kanryuu is made up of 貫 [kan, pierce/penetrate] and 龍 [ryuu, dragon/imperial dragon/mythical creature] to make "pierced dragon" for an insanely cool given name.

It seems to strange to start a fight chapter with a seemingly random artist talking about his depiction of a phoenix, doesn't it? But Mr. Yoshida being connected to the Seitei War and being saved by Samura is a framing device for this chapter.

We saw a lot of Samura's flaws during the flashbacks to Iori's past and him being played by Yura. He's a bad dad even though he tries his best, he barely functions as a person- it really seemed like he was struggling a lot and maybe just a smidge pathetically too. Mr. Yoshida doesn't change anything with his initial appearance here. But...

You're now aware we never saw his right hand in frame until these panels.

No wonder this guy painted something downright biblical to represent his Seitei War experience! The Bearers must have seemed like gods on the battlefield.

Samura is a saviour; he wants to rescue people no matter what. (Maybe it's the brainrot talking, but who else does that remind you of, kind void? Hmm? Maybe a certain guy who gave himself literal brain damage to try and save Uruha? Perhaps the guy who got a million paper cuts saving an audience in a theater?) And he did just that in spectacular fashion this chapter; Hokazono-sensei really went all-out with the artwork this week before the break. Goddamn there were so many cool shots.

But yeah. Samura's not just a sadsack guy with too much unmanaged anxiety; he's mercy incarnate. He will bring salvation one way or another, even if it's through death (and rebirth).

Theories on what, if any, limitations Suzaku has are still up in the air though. Hiruhiko tried to test them and we can confidently say there's no cooldown interval or target selection restrictions. I think we'll find out what they are sooner or later, probably as a dramatic reveal of some kind.

Interesting that Samura's eyes couldn't or wouldn't be healed though. Not much more needs to be said- he's stuck in his mindset and will keep punishing himself to atone and save. My current (largely unfounded) theory is that Samura stays blind by choice and his using his own life force to do those spectacular feats with Suzaku; almost quite literally setting himself on fire to save others. C'mon and prove me wrong, author! Being completely off-base is my favourite past time besides rotating Hakuri and HakuHiro in my brain 24/7.

Three-Way Sword Fight

As was predicted in chapter 61, so it has come to pass.

The text on the chapter 61 page was "intersecting motives". I love this manga.

We got our three-way clash of ideals and skill and holy shit was it epic!

Samura trying to cut them both at once to end things quickly, Hiruhiko having a moment of hubris, and Chihiro being focused on saving himself for confronting Samura... what an amazing chapter.

Got a lot more insight into Hiruhiko too so let's talk about it. I won't be bashing him, promise. Neutrality is the name of the game.

Even feral toddler > nameless mook in a suit in Kagurabachi.

Hiruhiko not caring about anyone or anything is in line with his character as we knew it to this point. He's a very nonchalant kinda guy who just wants to have a good time, and unfortunately for innocent people that happens to involve a lot of injury and murder apparently. Because it's just one more thing he can do- no different from, say, going to an amusement park or playing video games. Being a killer is part of his self-image and he embraces it with open arms.

Why is he this way, though? Maybe he was just born with it. Maybe it's adaptive apathy as self-defence. Maybe it's because he apparently wasn't raised with much care early on in his life. We don't know, really, so choose what you want to believe until the author makes the reveal. He killed someone trying to assault him at the age of three and that's what unlocked his natural talent for fighting and killing, yes. But the mindset of why he doesn't care about it is yet to be explained. Another thing to put off for the future.

Nice title drop, bro.

It's Hiruhiko's hubris that did him in again. For the third time. He doesn't care about anything except fighting Chihiro, so he writes Samura off for the second time in like 5 minutes. Chihiro knows better and refuses to engage. Cue Hiruhiko getting wiped. He's the one who doesn't belong and maybe it'll finally sink in.

I don't think he's going down this arc despite experiencing his well-deserved third loss (and losing another arm to boot). Samura leaving Hiruhiko alive at his lowest point ever when he absolutely could have killed him there isn't just mercy, it's probably the set up for Hiruhiko becoming a legitimate threat somehow in the future. The kid's been trounced three times in a row while trying to connect to Chihiro and had all his feelings crushed too. He's definitely got strong motivations to stop messing around with his "freedom" schtick and learn some real combat techniques. I'm putting my bets on Hiruhiko coming back strong as hell despite all the slander he's going to get the next two weeks.

Will he keep Kumeyuri though? Well... jury's hung on that. Interesting that he's got zero compatibility with the sword! Maybe a different blade would suit him better?

Not a great match for the Enchanted Blade you bonded to? Just buffer underflow and glitch into God Mode, bro.

His True Realm for Kumeyuri is manipulating anything as he desires with no respect. This could be an extremely formidable move if he keeps the blade somehow.

It also says something about Uruha, though.

I miss you too, Kunishige.

Play requiring the user to have immense respect for and practise with the objects they manipulate means Uruha was someone who treated things with care most likely. He cooed over Enten and it was funny, but he also placed an accurate "value" on his own life at the train station. He also understood the weight of the Bearer's lives even though Samura didn't agree with him. Not to mention how utterly devastated he was after learning about Kunishige's death. Sensitive soul Uruha's definitely on the board!

As for Chihiro vs. Samura, well.

Time to show your stuff, Chihiro.

My personal (again, unfounded) theory is that Chihiro will win the fight by breaking Tobimune similar to how he broke Kuregumo when fighting Sojo. Samura's a goddamn Dark Souls boss right now with teleportation on top of blisteringly fast swordplay on top of apparently infinite regeneration/revival. Chihiro's good with a sword and the White Purity style now, but he's no match for Samura most likely. So break the thing that makes him so threatening then see what happens next.

Tobimune, just as a reminder, is written as 飛宗 - Soaring Faith (lit. "flying religion"). It's a sword for someone devoted heart, body, and soul to their beliefs and it enables them to act on them. Samura's True Realm being Suzaku is a sign of how sincere he is in not wanting to kill but save! So if Chihiro can break that faith, he can stop Samura in his tracks without needing to kill him. I hope we get another "conversation" sword fight between them where Chihiro wins by shattering his opponent's way of thinking. (Please. I'm begging on my hands and knees.)

I don't think Samura would pick up Kumeyuri to continue the fight. It's not a reflection of who he is and if he's no longer able to use Tobimune, he can't accomplish his goals anyway. He needs the scouting ability to find the Hishaku and the teleportation to catch them. So... maybe, finally, he'll have a chat with Chihiro then Iori.

I'm usually wrong though so this break week is gonna be tough to sit through.

Just One More (Inconsequential) Thing

OK, gay pink frog guy.

The EN TL nerfed Hiruhiko's gayness here a little bit. Not much, just toned down the language and didn't carry over the poetic feel of his inner monologue towards Chihiro.

Obviously I'm not a professional, but my fairly amateur take is here if anyone wants to compare: Hiruhiko: Chihiro, you alone are special. Hiruhiko: You gave me meaning. (Chihiro: No. That's why... we seek to kill each other.) Hiruhiko: For the first time, I want something more- crossing Enchanted Blades and reaching the zenith by killing each other. Hiruhiko: I'll give everything I've got... Hiruhiko: ...to make it happen!!

And here's the original Japanese for folks who want to check my work or do it themselves:

千鉱 お前だけは特別なんだよ

お前は意味くれた (違う だから 殺し合う) そんなお前と初めて妖刀を持ち合い最高潮に殺し合える

そのためならどこまでも 頑張ろうと思える

最高潮 [saikouchou] specifically means climax/peak/zenith/apex so... I chose the more poetic option, but "climax" is perfectly valid too lol. Mostly though, Hiruhiko's being so damn passionate about Chihiro as the first person he's ever cared about beyond himself and I wish that was conveyed more in the official translation is all. He's completely serious about being "friends" by fighting to the death.

OK dear void! A Hakuri sighting and a badass fight with more to come- what a wonderful chapter. I'll see you in two weeks for more blathering of nonsense. Stay well and be kind to yourself until then!

[tgmsunmontue]

You put a ring on a wild thing - 7/? WIP Hangster

Affectionately titled "Drunk Vegas" fic until I gave it the title above.

Explicit Hangster. Drinking, dubious decisions and complete disregard for actual facts.

ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX

PART SEVEN

                His life has gotten weird, but also so good. Bradley is… Bradley. Amazing. Funny and smart and a little bit snarky. He matches Jake’s flirty comments with humor and makes plenty of flirty comments back. He feels like he’s a teenager again with his first crush. Except it’s on his husband. Which is totally allowed. That fact that he has somehow accidentally found a guy and married him while drunk and he seems… well. Jake knows no one is perfect, even if he holds himself to a high standard, Bradley seems pretty fucking perfect for him.

                “Married,” Javy hisses through the phone when he answers it, and he freezes.

                “What?”

                “You’re married.”

                “Uh… where did you here that?”

                “From your husband.”

                “Fuck…” There’s no point denying it.

                “Jake! Why didn’t you tell me! I almost clocked him because I thought he was two-timing you…”

                “What?”

                “He wears his wedding ring around his neck and fiddles with it when he’s relaxing. It’s pretty fucking cute. I’ll take a picture for you next time.”

                “Could you?” Jake asks, because hearing this makes him feel all warm inside, more than he expected, that Bradley wears his wedding ring with his dog tags and just… talks about him. He hadn’t thought about that.

                “Oh man… you got it bad for him huh?”

                “He doesn’t send me enough selfies,” Jake replies, because he’s not going to dispute the fact that he does indeed have it bad. He’s self-aware enough and Javy knows him too well to not call him on his bull shitting.

                “Well I’m not taking the kind of pictures that he might want to send you in private.”

                “Just send me normal pictures you dick.”

                “Just not of his dick.”

                “No. Come on man… send me cute photos of my man. Or embarrassing ones. I’ll accept embarrassing ones too.”

                Honestly Jake doesn’t want dick-pics. He doesn’t remember what they got up to, doesn’t remember what Bradley’s dick might look like, but he’d rather reacquaint himself in person. It’s definitely something to look forward to. Plus he’s going to put his ring on his dog tags.

…            …            …

                He’s in the rec room practicing darts, enjoying the peace and quiet while mostly everyone else has headed out for some liberty leave. Mostly everyone.

                “Seresin!”

                “Trace…”

                “Where did you get the shirt? Doesn’t seem like quite your style…”

                “Well, you would be right there. It’s not mine. It’s my husband’s.”

                Jake has become quite partial to the shirt, not the print and colors so much, but the softness of the fabric is amazing, he finds himself rubbing the corner of the front between his thumb and forefinger. Has started sleeping in it. She stares at him.

                “You’re married?” she asks, suspicious. Jake’s glad now that the ring is around his neck and he pulls it out, likes having the evidence so close, can understand why Bradley does it now.

                “Yep, got a ring and everything. Sorry to disappoint Trace.”

                “Oh… I’m disappointed. But not with you for once. I guess we better get to know each other.”

                “Uh. Okay?” Jake asks, because he’s confused. He and Trace have always been friendly enough, a little snarky, but not friends. He’s not quite sure how getting married is going to change that.

                “What you need to know is that Bradley spent far too much money on this shirt, and the fact you’re wearing it… hmm. He must be pretty gone on you.”

                “He did marry me…” Jake offers, swallowing nervously, not really sure how he should play this. Not sure what Bradley has told her, if anything. She’s looking at him with narrowed eyes, head tilted to the side.

                “He was drunk wasn’t he? Bet he was… God. You were probably both drunk. Told him he’d end up doing something stupid. Ended up marrying stupid instead. Stand over there. I’m going to take some photos of you…”

                “Uh. What?”

                “Oh. He’s going to get shit for not telling me he went and got married. Wait. Wait wait wait wait wait wait. Oh. He’s a walking fucking cliché. It was when he went to Vegas. Right? You got married in Vegas?” Jake nods slowly, because clearly she knows Bradley well. “So you’ve been married all of a couple of weeks. Congratulations.”

                “Thanks?”

                “Look. Bradley is my best friend. He should have known I would find out. Dumbass. Oh. Do you mind if I fuck with him?”

                “What?” Jake asks before his brain catches up with the fact she wants to fuck with him, not actually sleep with him. Guess he’s a little possessive.

                “I’ll tell him I have my eye on a decent looking guy in my squad for a quickie… send him a picture of you… see how he reacts.”

                “That seems kind of mean. Wait, what do you mean decent looking?”

                “Oh, it’s definitely mean, but he didn’t tell me. He deserves a little shit. He’d expect no less.”

                Jake is pretty sure he doesn’t get a say in the matter, her phone already in hand, sending a message, or maybe several judging on how fast she’s typing. Then she’s offering to show him photos of Bradley from a few years ago and he jumps at the chance. She ends up sending him some, which he then dutifully shares with Tyler and Hannah, most of them captioned with look at how cute he was! After he’s explained to them that he’s stationed with Bradley’ best friend from flight school.

                Then his phone is ringing and Bradley is calling, he smiles, ignores Trace’s eyeroll as he answers.

                “Hi there…” Jake greets, and Trace is making silent vomiting motions. So mature. He flips her the finger.

                “Hi. How are you?”

                “I’m good. Didn’t think you had time for a call today until later…”

                “I don’t. Not really. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

                “Yeah? Want to hear it say anything in particular?” Jake asks, and they’ve flirted plenty, but they haven’t yet delved into phone sex but he suspects it’s only a matter of time. Trace doesn’t need to know that though, and she’s pulling a face.

                “Uh… fuck. I really don’t have time for that. But, uh, later?”

                “Yeah. We can talk later…”

                “God…” Bradley breathes and the sound makes his skin prickle.

                “Mmm…” Jake hums, and Trace reaches over and slaps Jake on the thigh, hard and sharp and he yelps.

                “Natasha is there isn’t she?” Bradley asks and Jakes scowls at her, rubbing his leg and giving her the stink eye.

                “What makes you think that?”

                “Because she lives to fuck with me. She’s figured out we’re together and is trying to make it my problem. But I’m on to her. I’ve got to go. Talk to you later?”

                “Later.”

                He ends the call and looks up to find Trace watching him speculatively.

                “Well. That was enlightening. You have family?”

                “Yeah, obviously. Why?”

                “Because Bradley doesn’t.”

                “I… I know. He told me.”

                “Good.”

                “You… you want to see some recent photos of him?”

                “You have recent photos? Is he dressed?”

                “Yes! Oh my god… My best friend, Javy, he’s deployed with Bradley. He’s been sending me photos.”

                “Oh… that’s cute. Sure. Show me.”

…            …            …

                Admiral Kerner kind of gives him the creeps. He is pretty sure no one else is quite under the same level of scrutiny as he is since they all reported in a week ago and it’s confirmed when the Admiral calls him over after a training hop, both of them standing there in their flight suits.

                “Sir?”

                “At ease lieutenant. Nothing wrong. Just wanted to say congratulations on your marriage.”

                Jake blinks, wonders why Admiral Kerner of all people knows he’s married. Because he’d have had to look up Jake’s record to find out, and that’s definitely a little creepy.

                “Uh. Sir?”

                “I flew with Bradley Bradshaw’s father. Considered him a friend. Was part of his Top Gun class when he died during training… he’s still got a lot of people looking out for him.”

                Oh. This is a shovel talk. That is actually somewhat of a relief, and knowing that it was more likely Bradley’s record that he’d been keeping an eye on, rather than Jake’s is also reassuring.

                “He has mentioned his father, and the passing of his mother,” Jake says, because Bradley had called himself an orphan and Jake knows there are no siblings to speak of.

                “Just… We’re… I’m happy to know he’s found someone. Keep up the good work Lieutenant. Would be a shame to make Bradley unhappy.”

                Jake blinks, wonders if he’s imagining the threatening tone or not.

…            …            …

                “Come on Bradley. Pick up. Pick up…”

                It’s later. A couple of days in fact, the two of them trying to align their private time so they can maybe have a different type of phone conversation. However those plans for this call have kind of gone out the window because he just wants to double check he’s not going to have a squad of Admirals watching his every move.

                “Hi…”

                “Yeah. Hi. So. I’m going to need a list of everyone that flew with your dad because Admiral Kerner just like, cornered me earlier today and told me in kind of threatening tones that you have a lot of people looking out for you and I’m scared they might never find my body…”

                “What?”

                “Uh. Admiral Kerner –”

                “Yeah. Sorry. I heard you. Just. Um. Uncle Slider’s harmless.”

                Jake makes a sound he will deny making on his death bed.

                “Uncle Slider?”

                “It’s his call sign. I just… fuck. I’m sorry Jake. There’s probably an alert on my file or something. Sorry you had to deal with that.”

                “It’s… it’s okay. Just. Uh. Should I expect this often?”

                “Yeah. Probably. My dad was pretty well liked. And a lot of them kept coming around when I was growing up.”

                “A lot of who exactly?”

                “Shit. Uh. Well. I’m not sure where to start…”

                “Start with Uncle Slider. Holy shit. The worst one of my uncles will do is make you try his hot sauce…”

                “Well, Slider was Uncle Ice’s RIO.”

                “Ice?”

                “Uh. Admiral Kazansky.”

                Oh shit. Jake needs a drink. Except that’s how he got into this in the first place.

                “And, uh, then there’s my godfather. Captain Mitchell. Maverick.”

                Fuck it. He’s having a drink.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 02x21 - Goodbye, Ken-chan / The Crest of Kindness

Previously on Digimon Adventure: We set the Kaiser's base on fire to distract him while we blew it up. Unfortunately, we tragically underestimated the power and efficiency of the Kaiser's emergency fire suppressant systems. However, just when all hope seemed lost, Daisuke jumped in a hole and came back with DVD copies of Digimon Adventure: Hurricane Touchdown, in stores now.

Daisuke: DIGIMENTAL UP!!! V-mon: V-MON, ARMOR SHINKAAAAAA Magnamon: RADIANT MIRACLE, MAGNAMON!!! Daisuke: H-He evolved....

The golden evolution so nice, we played it twice. We open on Magnamon's evolution once more, as well as the accompanying footage of everyone being shocked.

But we skip Wormmon, Takeru, and the Kaiser reacting and move right along.

Daisuke: M... Magnamon...?

Magnamon is an Armor-stage Free-attribute Paladin Digimon. Not a lot to really say here. He first appeared in the various 02-associated media; In the cards added to incorporate 02 Digimon, the 02 D-3 V-Pet, the 02 movie a month ago, etc. His name comes from the Latin word "magna" which means large or grand.

Narrator: Magnamon! An Armor Digimon that evolved from V-mon using the Digimental of Miracles. He releases light from his armor using his special attack Extreme Jihad.

You fucking heard him. In this, the year 2000, Magnamon is going to fight the climactic final battle at the peak of the Digimon Kaiser arc using his signature attack エクストリームジハード Ekusutoriimu Jihaado.

In the upper chamber, Magnamon's overflowing light fills Poromon and Upamon with energy, restoring their stamina the way the Digimental of Miracles did for Chibimon.

Poromon: M-My strength.... Upamon: My strength is returning-dagyaa!

Rejuvenated, Poromon and Upamon evolve into their Child forms once more.

In the dub:

Davis: GOLDEN ARMOR ENERGIZE!!! V-mon: VEEMON GOLDEN ARMOR DIGIVOLVE TO.... Magnamon: MAGNAMON!!! Davis: Wow, that was intense!

Still no title for Magnamon. I bet they just don't want to say the word "miracle".

In the previous episode, this line from Davis was "Ah! Dude, that's amazing!" The spirit is the same but as usual he's saying different things in the two versions of the same moment.

Davis: You're about the coolest thing I've ever seen! Where'd you get those rad shoulderpads? I could use them as boogie boards! Magnamon: (rundown) I am Magnamon, a Golden Armor Digimon that attacks with my Magna Blaster. And I look so good doing it too. Poromon: My strength is back! Upamon: Yeah, me too!

Definitely just didn't want to say the word "miracle". They threw out the phrases "Radiant Miracle", "Digimental of Miracles", and unsurprisingly "Extreme Jihad" from this scene.

Watching from above, the Chosen Children try to make sense of this.

Miyako: What is that!? I've never seen a Digimon like that before! Iori: Is it a new Armor Evolution? Takeru: No, it can't be. There aren't any Crests left to inherit. Hikari: It could be some kind of special evolution that's unique from the others.

But they aren't the only ones who've noticed this. Outside, Chimeramon suddenly stops and looks back at the fortress. Doing a 180, the creature flies back to the structure and crashes through a wall. The probably-Devimon voice laughs as they breach the fortress once more.

Voice: Hahahahahaha!

The veterans here are laying it on thick that Magnamon isn't as simple as "Oh cool, we're getting another round of new evolutions."

In the dub:

Yolei: I wonder if Hawkmon can Golden Armor Digivolve? Cody: I don't get it. Where did he come from? T.K.: It came from that Golden Digi-Egg! Davis must have unleashed its power! Kari: This is fantastic! Can somebody turn off his headlights?

The Probably-Devimon voice's twisted laughter does not play when Kimeramon crashes through the wall.

They're all off-script. Where Hikari answers the question of how we're meant to interpret Magnamon, T.K. answers the question of what Magnamon is literally: A new Armor Digimon from the new Digi-Egg, duh. That's how Digi-Eggs work.

I also have a minor nitpick with T.K.'s line and that is having characters speculate things that they factually know. Either he watched Davis do that or he wouldn't know about the Golden Digi-Egg at all.

Anyways, it's CHIMERAMON TIME-- Wait, no. Scratch that. Chimeramon's dynamic entry was in the wrong room or something 'cause it'll take them a moment to get here. That's embarrassing. Hope nobody saw that.

This time, the Kaiser is recovered and ready to offer his opinion on Magnamon.

Kaiser: How many times are you people going to interfere!? Daisuke: Digimon Kaiser! It's time to settle this!

Suddenly, far below, a heavy impact breaches part of the central column's outer wall.

Hikari: It's the power of Darkness! Takeru: They're back!

Magnamon stops gleaming wildly, pulling his radiance back inward. Looking down at the impact spot, he watches Chimeramon crash through the wall and into the central column far below.

Kaiser: (pleasantly surprised) Chimeramon!

From the depths of the column, Chimeramon charges through the air, soaring straight up at their quarry.

Magnamon: DAISUKE!!!

Acting fast, Magnamon tackles Daisuke and carries him to safety moments before Chimeramon bursts through the walkway where he'd been standing.

(Had to tackle the wall twice to get through this time, and it wasn't even the right elevation. Dynamic entries are hard. No one appreciates the work that goes into them.)

In the dub:

Emperor: Hey, Digi-Fools! Do you honestly think your new Digimon can beat me? He couldn't even be my flashlight! Davis: Oh, yeah!? Well, sticks and stones can break my bones but when Magnamon gets a hold of you, he'll kick your-- Emperor: But! You didn't let me finish. He would make a good night light.

Ken's talking a lot of shit for a guy with no Digimon to fight Magnamon with. Davis really has to stretch for that butt/but word-replacement gag, but does capture the right vibe: He's powered up and ready to break Ken's face.

(Heavy impact below) Kari: (gasp) What was that!? T.K.: It can't be good! (Kimeramon crashes through) Emperor: (pleasantly surprised) Kimeramon!

Dub veterans are slower on the uptake here. In the original, Hikari seems to actually sense Probably-Devimon's presence more than she's reacting to the impact. Chimeramon's return brings the Dark power haunting Ken back into the fortress. Because they are the same.

When Kimeramon breaks through the wall and rushes upwards, the dub takes its first commercial break. On return, they quickly cut together short clips of Kimeramon crashing through and flying upwards again to re-establish the action.

Davis: WATCH OUT!!! Magnamon: Huh? Davis: Whooooa! (Magnamon tackles Davis off the bridge)

Here, it's Davis who warns Magnamon about the impending attack rather than the other way around... and then Davis awkwardly gawks at Kimeramon until Magnamon saves his dumb ass. Even though. He's the one who said "watch out" to begin with. Uh.

Once the danger's passed, Daisuke and Magnamon pick themselves off the ground. Magnamon's eyes still locked on Chimeramon, now above them.

Magnamon: Daisuke, leave this part to me. Daisuke: Ah, gotcha!

Daisuke clenches his fist.

Daisuke: All of this... IT ENDS TODAY!!!

Roaring with intent, Daisuke charges for the doorway leading back into the rest of the structure.

Takeru: We're going too!

The rest of the team run off to join in. Finally, Wormmon also departs the central column. Spitting a strand of silk and wrapping it around a pipe above, Wormmon swings up to the room that the Kaiser's watching from.

Wormmon: Hey, it's dangerous here. Hurry, we need to run! Kaiser: Quiet! My Chimeramon has returned to me. Wormmon: But they aren't listening to you anymore. Kaiser: SHUT UP!!!

The Kaiser whips Wormmon in the face, smacking him aside. Then he resumes watching the action with a smile on his face.

Kaiser: (enchanted) Chimeramon....

Hey, you remember when Takeru made him eat that fucking whip? Good times.

In the dub:

Magnamon: Davis, I'll take care of this. Davis: Go get him, Magnamon! Show him he's no match for you. (Davis clenches his fist) Davis: But just in case he is, I'll get the others! T.K.: We've gotta get out of here, guys!

Doesn't go nearly as hard as "This ends today".

In the original, Daisuke is running off to go punch the Kaiser out of Ichijouji Ken and the others are going to help him shitstomp on that slimy weasel's face. The dub changes it to Davis fleeing to get reinforcements while the others want to retreat, which is a total flipflop.

When he spits his silk, Wormmon calls it as an attack in the dub.

Wormmon: SILK THREAD!!! (Wormmon swings up to the Emperor) Wormmon: I don't mean to drop in like this but Kimeramon is tearing the place apart. Emperor: Nonsense! He's simply following my orders to attack! Wormmon: But Kimeramon's not following anyone's orders but his own. Can't you see that?

The Kaiser whipping Wormmon is cut from the dub. They go straight to the Emperor's enchanted, smiling face.

Emperor: My greatest creation won't let me down.

Despite the cut, the point that the Digimon Emperor is utterly deluded and refuses to admit he's lost control is still well-made.

As Magnamon meets Chimeramon, the battle is joined.

Magnamon feints towards Chimeramon, suddenly swerving to the right once he's in range to attack. Chimeramon falls for it, throwing a punch with their right Devimon arm and whiffing the air. While Chimeramon's disoriented, Magnamon turns in the air, kicks off the wall, and comes in for his real attack.

Magnamon: MAGNUM PUNCH!!!

A fierce right hook to Chimeramon's left temple sends the creature crashing down into the wall below.

Inside, Takeru's crew ascends the spiral stairs that ring the central column. Daisuke comes running up from behind.

Daisuke: GUYS!!! Takeru: Daisuke-kun!

The team stops so he can catch up. But then Chimeramon hits the wall and their right Devimon elbow breaks through. It crashes through the wall right behind Daisuke, knocking him off his feet.

Daisuke: DYAUGH!!!

Outside, Magnamon continues the assault.

Magnamon: MAGNUM KICK!!!

They land a right flying kick that's as much a stomp as a kick straight into Chimeramon's face. After that, they forego named attacks and just start throwing punches, slugging Chimeramon's face as if it were a punching bag.

From the stairway, everyone stares in confusion at Devimon's elbow for a moment, which twitches with every hit Chimeramon takes on the other side of the wall. Tailmon finally brings them to their senses.

Tailmon: We don't have much time left. The fortress is starting to fall. Armadimon: If we don't hurry, the Kaiser will get away-dagyaa! Daisuke: Right! Let's go!

With that, the team gets back on the move.

For clarity, since the fansub translated Tailmon's line as "The fortress is collapsing" so I guess this might be confusing: She means it's starting to fall in the sense that it is beginning a rapid descent. We are inside an airborne structure that no longer possesses a power source. It's about to start moving inexorably towards the ground, and we probably don't want to be inside when they meet.

In the dub:

Magnamon: MAGNA PUNCH!!! (Punch; Cut to Hallway) Davis: GUYS, WAIT!!! T.K.: (alarmed) RUN, DAVIS!!! (Kimeramon's elbow crashes through the wall) Magnamon: MAGNA KICK!!!

This sequence is apparently way too violent for the dub. They use white flashes to obscure the impacts for both Magna Punch and Magna Kick. Once he starts boxing, they keep one shot of just Magnamon throwing punches towards the camera but cut all footage of him flying around pummeling Kimeramon's face.

Gatomon: We don't have that much time! We have to ditch this place before it takes a nosedive! Armadillomon: Sure would be nice to capture the Digimon Emperor while we're here. Davis: Right! Let's go get him!

So, a few things. T.K. seems to have a psychic premonition and realize, based on nothing, that the elbow's about to come crashing through. He yells at Davis to run even though he isn't aware of anything Davis needs to run from.

Armadillomon finally comes up with the idea of taking the fight to Ken, which was already what they were trying to do in the original.

An interesting note about Magnum Punch and Kick: They're kind of the same word as Magnamon's name. This is because the a/u distinction between Magna and Magnum doesn't exist when the words are transliterated into Japanese Katakana.

マグナモン Magunamon

マグナムパンチ Magunamu Panchi

"Magnum" in Katakana is literally just "Magna" with a ム mu at the end. The word "Magnum" is already derived from the root word "Magna" but here they are basically the same. In fact, it might be more accurate to translate Magnamon as Magnumon! The Magnum attacks imply that they were going for that.

Finally, Chimeramon's had enough and gets their second wind.

Chimeramon lets out a shot of Heat Viper. Magnamon takes a glancing hit to his right shoulder and the beam continues, striking the wall right next to the opening the Kaiser is standing in.

Kaiser: Where do you think you're aiming, Chimeramon!? Chimeramon: Ahahahahahaha!

That wicked laugh returns, now unmistakably coming from Chimeramon. The Kaiser's eyes go wide. He slowly backs up as Chimeramon turns towards him, belting out that hideous cackle.

Chimeramon: AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Suddenly, Magnamon comes in from the left with another flying kick, though he doesn't call this one. A left Devimon hook counters his approach, knocking him out of the air and sending him tumbling into the abyss below.

In the dub, Kimeramon calls his shot.

Kimeramon: HEAT VIPER!!! Emperor: AUGH!!! Watch where you're aiming! Remember who your Master is, Kimeramon! Kimeramon: Ahahahahahaha! (Emperor backs away, terrified) Kimeramon: AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Magnamon: MAGNA KICK!!! (Kimeramon knocks Magnamon away)

The dub censors Kimeramon's punch two separate ways. First, the point of impact for the punch is obscured with a white flash. Then, as Magnamon's falling, Magnamon hitting the wall and bouncing off is concealed behind a discretion cut to the Emperor looking scared.

Punch, white flash, Magnamon is sent hurtling downward, cut to the Emperor, cut back to Magnamon still falling, then cut to the Emperor for real this time.

This really is the No Violence Allowed episode, apparently. They can't even show Magnamon getting bounced off a wall.

Wormmon crawls up to the Kaiser's leg, grabbing onto his leg.

Wormmon: You understand now, don't you, Ken-chan? Kaiser: Let go!

The Kaiser weakly shakes his leg to try and get Wormmon off.

Wormmon: We made a terrible mistake! Kaiser: A mistake? That's ridiculous! I don't make mistakes! Everything I do is perfect! Wormmon: This time is different, Ken-chan! Kaiser: BE QUIET!!!

This time, much more forcefully, the Kaiser kicks Wormmon up into the air and then whips him across the hall. Standing over his battered Partner and looking absolutely deranged, the Kaiser exclaims:

Kaiser: This is a game and, in the end, I'll be the one who wins it! Daisuke: Are you still saying that!?

Slowly, Wormmon opens his eyes to see that the rest of the team have arrived to confront the Kaiser.

In the dub:

Wormmon: I beg you to listen to me. He's out of control! Emperor: Get off me! You're sliming up my pants! Wormmon: Please, Master, let's leave. He'll destroy you! Emperor: But I'm his... creator! I nurtured him from the beginning with evil! These kids today have no respect! Wormmon: You're right, Master. Let's talk about it outside where it's much safer. Emperor: I'M NOT LEAVING!!!

Some more censoring here. The Kaiser whipping Wormmon and the shot of a crumpled and battered Wormmon on the ground are both cut. They replay the shot of Wormmon clinging to the Emperor's leg and talking to him after the Emperor screams, then go straight to the deranged looking Emperor shot.

Wormmon: I understand. You tried to make Kimeramon yours but I'm your true friend. Emperor: Listen, you little nightcrawler! If I had a friend, it certainly wouldn't be you! Davis: KEN!!!

We lose a lot of character details for Ken here. His admission of "I don't make mistakes; Everything I do is perfect" is a pretty telling remark that informs on a lot of his behavior in this final sub-arc. We know Ken has always been a flawless prodigy. Everything he does just comes naturally to him, and he's grown up in an environment of endless praise for his effortless accomplishments.

Ken is resistant to personal growth and change because he can't really fathom the idea that he, Ichijouji Ken, would have made an error. We saw that resistance as recently as last episode, when he had a revelation about the Digimon's true nature that he promptly pushed out-of-mind and went back to what he was doing.

Ken's environment and his natural talent have made him pigheaded and stubborn. It's just easier for him to believe everyone around him is stupid and wrong than to accept that something he thought or did was incorrect. Because, for much of his life, that has been exactly the case. So even now, faced with evidence of his error in judgment, his ego cannot accept that the Boy Genius Ichijouji Ken made a mistake.

The dub drops that in favor of generational whining about The Youths.

As a consolation, we do get a reminder of a significant emotional beat, that Ken created Chimeramon/Kimeramon specifically to replace Wormmon as his Partner Digimon. This is also an important character point.

...and lose the reminder of Ken's other significant error in judgment: He thinks the Digital World is a video game and all the Digimon are just NPCs. He's farming Digimon like Minecraft Villagers. Ken hasn't brought this up very much since the first episode, but it's pretty important for understanding his character.

Realizing the others are upon him, the Digimon Kaiser turns to face Daisuke's team.

Kaiser: The Chimeramon I created will never lose to the likes of you. Daisuke: Now isn't the time to ramble about winning or losing some game! Miyako: What does making a Digimon even mean!? You really think it's okay to do something like that!? Iori: How can you be so proud of scraping off data from other Digimon to create "your" Digimon!? It's stupid! Digimon aren't toys!

Takeru gestures to the Partner Digimon they have with them.

Takeru: Take a good look at these Digimon! They're living, breathing creatures! They're alive! They're valuable, irreplaceable partners to us! Ken: (stunned) Ah!

That cuts deep. The Kaiser gasps in shock at Takeru's words. Then Hikari steps forward.

Hikari: You're supposed to be a Chosen Child yourself, but you don't even understand that much?

She points to the battered Wormmon on the ground.

Hikari: That Digimon is your Partner, isn't he?

Wormmon slowly picks himself up off the ground.

Wormmon: Ken-chan...? Kaiser: The Digimon that suits me most... is CHIMERAMON!!!

But still, the Kaiser refuses to listen. Clinging even now to his mistakes. The Kaiser is perfect. He cannot be wrong.

In the dub:

Emperor: Well, if it isn't the DigiDestined! I see that you've finally come to your senses and are ready to surrender to me and Kimeramon. Davis: Fat chance, Ken! I think some of your hairspray must have leaked through into your brain again! Yolei: And another thing! Who said it was okay for you to go out and create a Digimon anyway!? Cody: Yeah, do you think you're Dr. Frankenstein or something!? Creating creatures just for your own cruel pleasure!? Kimeramon is not the monster, Ken; You are! (T.K. gestures at the Partner Digimon) T.K.: Look at them! Are they trying to hurt you!?

Uh, kind of, yes. Weird question for the guy who beat the shit out of Ken yesterday to ask. This isn't the angle, chief.

T.K.: They're not your toys for some kind of a sick game! They're alive! They're not just data in a computer; They're living creatures like you and I! Ken: (stunned) Huh? Kari: You're DigiDestined too, just like us. You have a responsibility to both worlds. Like Wormmon! He's your friend and not someone you should kick around. Wormmon: ...Master...? Emperor: There's only one Digimon that's suitable enough for me. AND THAT'S KIMERAMON!!!

Cody makes a pretty clever comparison to Frankenstein that falls apart under close inspection. Kimeramon very much is the greater monster. A pretty significant thing that is happening right now is that Ken has awakened a true nightmare and has revealed himself a dumb kid drunk on his own hype and grasping for a semblance of control.

It's like if Frankenstein made a Faustian pact to create his Monster, which is now a vessel of Mephistopheles.

Here, they drop the "Digimon are our valuable Partners" point which got touched on in the preceding scene between the Emperor and Wormmon. Odd choice given that it's the basis of the Kaiser/Emperor's final outburst.

Instead, they just say Digimon are friends. Wormmon is the Emperor's friend, Kari accuses. Which. Uh. No. Demonstrably, he is not. Dub Wormmon has only ever been the Emperor's personal 'monservant and whipping boy. Without that specific connection of Chosen Child and Partner Digimon, she sounds delusional. The Emperor clearly has no feelings of any sort of bond towards Wormmon and never, ever has.

In the central chamber, the fight continues.

Chimeramon uses Heat Viper to blast the remaining three walkways off of what used to be the generator, then another ship to break the column supporting it. The generator platform falls into Magnamon, erupting into flames and carrying him to the bottom of the structure where it explodes. The blast rips through the very bottom of the fortress.

This sequence passes without dialogue in the dub, as in the original.

Kaiser: This is the end for this fortress. If you want to die then keep wasting time here!

With that, he leaves Wormmon behind and runs for his life.

Daisuke: Wait, Digimon Kaiser! ICHIJOUJI KEN!!!

But the Kaiser keeps running. Wormmon weakly hops up the stairs after him. Still loyal to his Partner even now.

As another explosion rocks the stairwell, the Chosen Children have a withdrawal of their own to make.

Hawkmon: Miyako-san! We must flee as well. Miyako: Yeah, but... aren't you tired? Hawkmon: We're okay. Please let us handle this. Tailmon: Do you guys feel up to it? Patamon: Yeah! Armadimon: Dagyaa! Hikari: In that case, then please.... Group: DIGIMENTAL UP!!!

That stamina rejuvenation from the Digimental of Miracles wasn't for nothing, y'know!

In the dub:

Emperor: Don't feel too proud that you destroyed my home base because you are going down with it! (Emperor flees) Davis: Wait, Ken! We want to help you! KEN, LISTEN TO ME!!!

Do we? We haven't said anything about helping him. Where did that come from?

Hawkmon: Pardon me, but it is getting a little hot down here! Yolei: Right! But do you guys have enough energy to Digivolve? Hawkmon: Yes, now let's leave before I'm a fried chicken! Gatomon: The heat is on, guys! Ready? Patamon: Mhm! Armadillomon: Yeah! Kari: Okay, let's do it. Group: DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!!!

Hawkmon delivers that "Yes" like it's the most obvious thing in the world, which I appreciate. Miyako/Yolei has not been following the plot today.

Once the team's Armored up, Digmon fires his Gold Rush at the wall.

Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!!

His drills explode on impact, but only crater the wall a bit. It's not enough to breach.

Elsewhere, Magnamon does breach the wall, smashing through to the desert outside. Chimeramon follows after him. Turning in the air, Magnamon lets off another attack.

Magnamon: PLASMA SHOT!!!

It's a set of eight homing missiles fired from the panels on his armor. They turn in the air and lock onto Chimeramon, hitting them dead center and exploding.

Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!!

This time, Digmon's drills break through the wall, opening a gap large enough for Digmon, Pegasmon, Nefertimon, and Horusmon to escape with their Partners.

Daisuke rides shotgun on the back of Pegasmon, but as they depart, he looks back at the fortress.

Daisuke: Ichijouji Ken....

In the distance, a lone Devidramon takes flight from the top of the fortress moments before it crashes into the sand.

The dub plays the insert song Run Around over this escape sequence, where the original's playing the usual Break Up. They add some lines to the escape.

Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!! (Failure; Magnamon and Kimeramon break out) Magnamon: MAGNA BLAST!!! (Direct hit on Kimeramon) Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!! (This time they break through) Digmon: (escapes) Come on, everyone! Follow me! Pegasusmon: (escapes) I'll follow him! Nefertimon: (escapes) I'll follow you! Halsemon: (escapes) I'll follow you! Digmon: Now that's what I call following orders! (Davis looks back at the base) Davis: Geeze, that was a close one!

The follow-follow banter is cute. Though it bugs me that Davis's line was changed away from Ken after exclaiming "We want to help you!" a moment ago.

Magnamon's attack is called Magna Blast, but it is not a blast. It is missiles. In the original, it's Plasma Shot, which is also incorrect. It is missiles. Nobody knows what missiles are.

Following the fall of the Kaiser's fortress, the desert is silent. It lays buried in the sand.

The silence lasts about three seconds before a sharp reminder that there is a high-power deathmatch happening nearby.

Magnamon: EXTREME JIHAD!!!

Beams of light erupt forth from every metal surface on Magnamon. The light scorches Chimeramon, who roars in pain with visible smoke trails rising from their body.

But despite Magnamon's immense power, Chimeramon is still standing when the light fades. They let out a defiant, beastly roar.

Magnamon: This is bad... I don't have any power left....

Magnamon slumps in the air, struggling to even remain afloat.

In the dub, as the dust settles, Magnamon references the crashing of the Hindenberg.

Magnamon: Oh, the humanity! (Fighting resumes) Magnamon: MAGNA BLAST!!! (No effect) Magnamon: It's no use! He's too strong! I'm running out of power!

Magnamon calls Extreme Jihad as Magna Blast too. It makes a lot more sense in this context, as it is both blast and magna.

With Magnamon's batteries drained, Chimeramon easily capitalizes.

Before Magnamon knows what hit him, Chimeramon closes distance and snatches him up in their SkullGreymon hand.

Magnamon: Shit!

From the desert below, perched atop his Devidramon, the Kaiser watches with enraptured fervor.

Kaiser: Good job! Now crush him, Chimeramon! Wormmon: You can do this, Magnamon! Kaiser: What!?

Unsurprisingly, the Kaiser punishes that remark with a whiplash to the back of the head.

The dub takes its second commercial break after Kimeramon grabs Magnamon. We pick right back up where we left off on return.

Emperor: That's it! Let him have it, Kimeramon! Wormmon: You can do it, Magnamon! Emperor: SILENCE!!!

This time, the dub actually lets the Emperor whip Wormmon. Though, of course, they obscure the moment of impact with a white flash. There's still a whipcrack sound so it's unmistakable what just happened.

Wormmon quivers in place, a thin red line clearly visible along his back in closeup.

Wormmon: Ken-chan, you still don't understand, do you? The old Ken-chan wasn't like this.

With tears in his eyes, Wormmon turns around to look at Ken.

Wormmon: The Ken-chan that I first traveled the Digital World with wasn't like this! We laughed together. We cried together. Me and the ordinary, kindhearted Ken-chan!

Up above, Chimeramon squeezes Magnamon harder. He cries out in pain.

Magnamon: HUAAAAGH!!!

While, down below, Wormmon's speech continues.

Wormmon: Then, the next time we met, you told me to call you Digimon Kaiser. I couldn't do it... Because no matter how you present yourself, you're still Ken-chan. That's why, no matter how many awful things you did as the Digimon Kaiser, I always believed you'd go back to being Ken-chan one day. Believing that is how I was able to follow you!

Wormmon glows with white energy as he speaks. So there's no uncertainty, Break Up begins to play as he glows. This is the holy light of a Chosen Child. It's Ken-chan's light, long suppressed by the Digimon Kaiser.

To be real for a moment, Ken's lucky that Wormmon has the patience of a saint. Otherwise Wormmon would have Dark Evolved and bitten him in half a long time ago. But instead, Wormmon chose to cling to Ken's kindness even when Ken himself had long abandoned it.

In the dub:

Wormmon: I hope you're finally proud of yourself. You've officially become worse than the monsters you've created. (Wormmon turns around to look at Ken) Wormmon: What ever happened to that sweet kid I met a long time ago who had a dream to take over the Digital World? Okay, sure, it was a sick and twisted dream but still, we had a lot of laughs together. What happened to the boy I was proud to call Master? Of course, you make me call you that.... (Kimeramon squeezes Magnamon harder) Magnamon: Take it easy! I'm not a melon! Wormmon: You've changed, Ken. But it's not too late for you. For some reason you started capturing Digimon and you turned them into your slaves instead of into your friends! I didn't agree but I stuck by your side because I was your Digimon. And then you started being cruel to me, the one who knows the true you. The others may know and fear you as the Digimon Emperor, but never forget that I know the real you.

The real him... with the sick and twisted dream to take over the Digital World while making you call him Master? The dub completely butchers this speech. Wormmon claims that Ken was always a piece of shit, just not this bad.

"You made the captured Digimon your slaves instead of your friends!" is such a weird line.

The dub is torn between their characterization of Ken as a Saturday Morning Cartoon villain born from pure evilness to shoot moon lasers at orphanages and rob jewelry stores, and the earnest heartfelt speech that Wormmon's supposed to be delivering here. They've gone too hard on the bit and are now being forced to have a moment of serious drama between what are effectively Snively Whiplash and Muttley.

And it hits so weird.

Up above, Magnamon begins to glow with Ken's light as well.

Magnamon: Huh? Th-This is.... Wormmon: I will always believe in you, Ken-chan. In the real Ken-chan, not the Digimon Kaiser. The real Ken-chan....

Wormmon shines even brighter. Glowing with energy, he roars:

Wormmon: ...IS THE KIND KEN-CHAN!!!

Then he tackles the Kaiser in the gut, knocking him off of the Devidramon. Ken lands on his shoulder in the sands below while Wormmon makes off with his enslaved Devidramon. Together, Wormmon and Devidramon take to the air and make for Chimeramon.

In the dub:

Magnamon: Huh? What's happening? Wormmon: I'll always think of you for your kindness, Ken, no matter what happens. One day, I hope you'll realize that the real Ken isn't the Digimon Emperor but the Ken that's my friend. (Wormmon shines brighter) Wormmon: And only a real friend would do this! (Wormmon tackles Ken off of Devidramon)

That stuff about Ken having a sick and twisted dream muddies the stuff Wormmon's saying about "I know the true you" and "I'll think of you for your kindness". But I do think that, ultimately, the general idea that Wormmon once knew a very different version of Ken at least somewhat gets across.

In the air, Wormmon joins the fight.

Wormmon: RAAAAAAUGH!!!

Letting out a battle roar, Wormmon flies Devidramon straight into Chimeramon's arm. The impact causes them to lose their grip on Magnamon.

Magnamon: Wormmon, you.... Wormmon: Save Ken-chan.

With what little time he has, Wormmon says what matters most. Then Chimeramon swats Devidramon away with their Kuwagamon arm, hitting the creature so hard that they leave Wormmon behind in the air. Chimeramon follows with a SkullGreymon punch, bashing Wormmon back towards the ground.

As he plummets, Wormmon's tears fill the air and he calls out.

Wormmon: Please, Magnamon... Save Ken-chan....

Wormmon glows, sending a beam of light into Magnamon. Transferring all of Ken's light into him now.

Magnamon: Wormmon's power is flowing through me....

In the dub:

(Devidramon tackles Kimeramon's arm and frees Magnamon) Magnamon: Wormmon! What are you doing!? Wormmon: Magnamon, it's up to you now! (Kimeramon swats Devidramon and punches Wormmon) Magnamon: Wormmon! Wormmon: Please, Magnamon, save Ken for me! Here's what little energy I have left! Use it! (Wormmon sends Magnamon his light) Magnamon: Wormmon's power has re-energized me!

Solid. Neither version explicitly explains what the sudden illumination around Wormmon is about. You just kinda have to get it if you're familiar with all that Holy Light stuff from the first series.

Which, if you watched the dub version of the first series, you might not be.

Overflowing with energy, Magnamon cuts loose once more.

It goes very, very well.

Magnamon: EXTREME JIHAD!!!

This time, the blast obliterates Chimeramon. Overtaken by its power, they disintegrate into pixel dust.

Down below, the Chosen Children all cheer for Magnamon's victory.

Children: YEAH!!!

Except for Daisuke, who's already running to where his Partner will drop.

In the dub:

Magnamon: MAGNA... EXPLOSION!!! (Magnamon kills Kimeramon) DigiDestined: YEAH!!!

Extreme Jihad is now Magna Explosion despite the same attack being called Magna Blast a moment ago.

In the wake of Kimeramon's death, we see two very different reactions from the Kaiser and Daisuke.

The Kaiser drops to his knees, disbelieving what just happened and still not really reckoning with everything that's been said to him.

Kaiser: My Chimeramon... lost...?

And on the other foot, Daisuke sprints through the sands until he finds an exhausted Chibimon unconscious in the sands.

Daisuke: Are you okay!?

He turns over Chibimon, who opens his eyes and laughs weakly.

Chibimon: Eheheh...

Filled with relief, Daisuke embraces his Partner. Showering him with all the affection that Ken has for so long denied to Wormmon.

Daisuke: Chibimon!

Then Daisuke notices the other thing that came down with Chibimon after his evolution broke. Not the Digimental of Miracles, but the true form of the power Magnamon's been wielding. The power that lifted Ken's fortress and brought an end to Chimeramon.

It's something Daisuke doesn't have the experience to recognize on sight. But we, the audience, do.

It's a pink Crest half-buried in the sand. Daisuke picks it up and lets out a curious gasp.

Daisuke: Huh?

Here, on this meaningful juxtaposition between Daisuke and Ken, we finally take our commercial break.

In the dub:

Emperor: (stunned) I can't believe they defeated me. How could this happen? (Davis runs to DemiVeemon) Davis: Are you okay!? (DemiVeemon opens his eyes) DemiVeemon: Hey.... (Big hug) Davis: You were awesome! (Davis suddenly notices Crest) Davis: Wait a second. Did someone lose their keys? (Davis picks it up) Davis: Ohhh....

Davis seems to recognize the Crest when he gets a better look at it. It's not super clear whether Daisuke knows what that is. He got the recap in Wizarmon's episode so he might. But either way, Davis definitely does.

Following the commercial break, we find the Digimon Kaiser breaking down in the sands.

Ken: I... I lost.... Why!? Everything was supposed to be perfect! This... This is the worst! It's the worst Bad Ending of all!

"Bad Ending" is in English.

Ken: If this is how it has to be... Then I'll just start over! All of it! I'll reset the Digital World and-- Takeru: Reset the Digital World?

Yeah, they were all standing there watching him do this. Takeru delivers that line like he's trying to make sense of some weirdass gibberish he just heard.

Ken: Yeah, I'll... I'll just go home, erase all the data on my computer, and then start over again from the beginning. Daisuke: You... What are you talking about? Miyako: Are you serious? You think erasing some data from your computer will reset the Digital World? Takeru: That's absurd! What do you think the Digital World is!? Ken: What? Iori: This isn't some game. You can't just reset the Digital World. Ken: (shocked) What did you say!?

And there it is. The truth Ken didn't want to hear. That multiple people have tried to tell him anyways but this time he isn't in a position of power from which he can just mock them and storm off.

It's hard to get through to someone when they still have the option to just go "LOL Whatever, fight me bruh." But now that Ken feels vulnerable, he's in a position to finally hear other people talk.

In the dub:

Ken: I lost... I'm a failure... This isn't what was supposed to happen! I was flawless! My plans were supposed to work out perfectly! How'd it happen!? You must have cheated somehow! That's the only possible explanation! I only have one choice left and that's just to cheat myself! I'll start over! I'll just have to reset the Digital World! T.K.: Reset the Digital World? What are you talking about, Ken? Ken: It's simple. I'll just go home and delete all the Digital World data off my computer and create a new program. That way I can start a new Digital World that doesn't cheat! Davis: Dude, you can't be serious. Yolei: The Digital World is a completely real place, Ken. It's not just something that's programmed into your computer! T.K.: We tried to tell you that before! But you thought we were trying to play some kind of a trick on you! Ken: Huh? Cody: This isn't some kind of a video game. Ken, Digimon are real and it's about time you realized what you've been doing! Ken: What!?

This is pretty good. It hits the important points: Up to this point, Ken has been convinced he's playing a video game and now the others are confronting him with the truth.

I love that Ken accuses them of cheating because he can't handle that he lost in PVP. That's such a toxic gamer move. That line aged really well.

Looking at the other children holding their Partner Digimon, Ken remembers the revelation he ignored yesterday.

He briefly flashes back on them sitting with their Digimon at the soccer game with Daisuke, outside of the Digital World.

Ken: That time at the soccer field... Were you Digimon there? Chibimon: We're not just data on a computer. Daisuke: Digimon are alive, just like us. Ken: Digimon are... living beings? Then... everything I've done....

Ken flashes back now on the cruelty and barbarism he's inflicted over the series. Evil Rings capturing the Gazimon and Unimon of the first episode. Whipping Elecmon. Forcing Gizamon to construct his Dark Tower in the frozen north and whipping them when they falter.

Returning from the flashback, Ken holds his head in his hands, suffering a complete meltdown.

Ken: Then I... what... What have I done!? Takeru: The Digital World isn't a dream or a fantasy world. Hikari: It's a separate reality that's just as real as ours.

At long last, he finally understands.

In the dub, Ken talks over the flashbacks.

Kari: You've been hurting innocent creatures, Ken! (Flashback to soccer game) Ken (V.O.): You Digimon were all at the soccer game in the real world. I remember now. (End Flashback) Ken: You are real. Not just computer data. I can't believe that I never figured that out! DemiVeemon: You know, for an evil genius, you really are a slow learner, Ken. Davis: And you've constantly been abusing Digimon ever since you claimed to be the Digimon Emperor! Ken: I had no idea. What have I done!? (Flashback to Ken's crimes) Ken (V.O.): I thought my Dark Rings were a stroke of genius. I never realized I was causing pain! I made them work for me tirelessly without ever giving them a break and I was cruel to them beyond imagination! (End flashback) Ken: NYAAAGH I'M A MONSTER!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'VE DONE!!! T.K.: It's hard to argue with you there, Ken. You've done some pretty horrible stuff. Kari: The important thing is you've realized what you've done and it's not too late to make a fresh start.

In the original, Ken brings up his laundry list of offenses of his own volition. Once he understands the truth about Digimon, he's forced to reflect on how he's treated them.

In the dub, Davis brings it up to rub Ken's nose in what a dick he's been.

By contrast, Kari in the dub suddenly brings up atonement and redemption while Ken's still in the middle of his meltdown. She's over this scene and just wants to skip ahead to the part where Ken joins the team.

Suddenly, Ken lets out an anguished scream.

Screaming at the top of his lungs, he pulls off his gloves and throws them on the ground. Then he unclasps his cloak and drops it into the sand, followed by ripping the visor off his head and tossing it. Each article he drops disintegrates into pixels once it's off of him.

Ken gets up, screaming and wandering until he collapses into the sand once more. Finally, the Digimon Kaiser jumpsuit itself pixelates disintegrates off of him. The Digimon Kaiser is no more.

In the dub, Ken kicks off his screaming with a line.

Ken: WHAT HAVE I DOOOOOONE!?!?

Also, the dub has Ken more crying than screaming. He's ugly crying, bawling out his regret at the top of his lungs, where original Ken is just screaming raw emotion. Which, after that "boys shouldn't cry" stuff from the first series dub, is refreshing to see.

While Ken's busy deleting his profile, the team turns their attention to someone else.

Hikari: Wormmon....

Hikari's voice grabs Ken's attention. He looks up from the ground.

Ken: ...Wormmon...?

After taking that hit from Chimeramon, Wormmon isn't in good shape. He's on his side in the sand and he isn't moving. The Chosen Children gather around him, with Hikari and Tailmon checking on him.

Tailmon: He's still breathing.

Weakly, Wormmon opens his eyes and addresses Ken.

Wormmon: You've gone back to the original Ken-chan.... Ken: Original? Wormmon: That suits you better. Daisuke: The original Ken?

Even here, at the end of his rope, Wormmon is thinking only of Ken. He made the difference and achieved what he wanted most.

In the dub:

Kari: (gasp) Wormmon! Ken: Wormmon? (Everyone gathers around Wormmon) Gatomon: He's still breathing. (Ken gets up and approaches) Wormmon: You returned to your old self. I knew you could do it, Ken. Ken: I'm sorry. It's too late for me. Wormmon: It's never too late to be sorry. Davis: Wormmon's absolutely right, Ken!

Again, the original is talking about Ken being restored to the boy he was before all this Digimon Kaiser stuff. Daisuke's confused by what Wormmon says because none of them have ever known a Ken who wasn't the Digimon Kaiser.

This Ken, the version of himself he's reclaimed, is someone only known to Wormmon. And also to Ryo Akiyama from the Wonderswan tie-in video games.

Dub Wormmon brings that up too, but then they switch topics so they can also use this space to talk about atonement.

Suddenly, at the mention of the old Ken, the Crest in Daisuke's hand glows pink.

The Crest levitates into the air and flies over to Ken, hovering in front of him. Daisuke briefly flashes back on the pink symbol that appeared on the artifact before it became the Digimental of Miracles.

Daisuke: In the generator room, I heard a voice coming from that Crest. It said it wanted to be returned to its true owner. Ken: Its true owner...?

Ken holds out his hands and the Crest settles into them. That pink symbol from the generator artifact is clearly visible on it.

Wormmon: That's Ken-chan's... (pained) Crest of Kindness.... Ken: This is my Crest of Kindness? Tailmon: Kindness will release a golden radiance. This must be what Wizarmon was talking about. Wormmon: Because... Ken-chan is full of kindness....

I love the symbolism in this. Ken's Crest of Kindness, the symbol of his greatest virtue as a Chosen Child, was the power source for his fortress. Not even understanding what it was, the Digimon Kaiser kept his very own Crest locked away in chains like the Digimon he enslaved.

In the first series, a key point was that the Chosen Children themselves must grow and evolve with their Digimon. By locking away and enslaving his Crest, the Kaiser stifled his own ability to change and grow. He suppressed his own evolution with the Dark Digivice, just as he suppressed everyone else's.

In a way, Ichijouji Ken was himself a slave to the Digimon Kaiser.

In the dub:

T.K.: Where'd you get that thing, Davis? Davis: I found it in the sand. Why? T.K.: I'm not sure, but it looks like one of the Crests we used to have in the old days. (Flashback to the artifact) Kari: You're right, T.K. And it has the Crest of Kindness on it! (End flashback) Ken: But why is it coming to me? (The Crest settles into Ken's hands) Wormmon: Because it belongs to you, Ken.... (pained) ...it's the Crest of Kindness.... Ken: There must be some mistake. I've been anything but kind. Gatomon: That's what Wizardmon meant when he told us that kindness will release the golden radiance! Ken must be the key to unlocking the power! Wormmon: I told you that, deep inside, you were kind....

I love T.K. chiming in to go "Holy shit, is that a Crest?" Good use of the veterans' history.

But then Kari somehow specifically recognizes the Crest of Kindness despite this being a brand new Crest never mentioned before. Um.

It's funny because it's consistent with the first series where the dub kids would just go "Oh that's the Crest of Courage" without anyone ever telling them that. They're all just... exceptionally fluent in virtue cryptography.

To my surprise, Gatomon brings up Wizardmon. For once, they don't snip out the reference to the previous episodes.

"Ken must be the key to unlocking the power" is a bit of an awkward line, though. She says that in the present tense as if there is something we must do with Ken and his Crest now. But the prophecy is already fulfilled. Kindness already released the golden radiance. It's done now.

They might have been hedging their bets in case the Digimental of Miracles sticks around. Like, could you imagine if Daisuke and V-mon had a special super-powered evolution they could pull out in dire circumstances, but only with assistance from Ken and Wormmon? That'd be pretty cool.

Pretty sure nothing like that is coming down the pipe, though.

Walking to Wormmon, Ken drops to his knees and pulls the long-suffering Digimon into his arms.

Ken: Wormmon... were you always this light...? Wormmon: ...Goodbye... Ken...-chan....

With those final words, Wormmon closes his eyes and disintegrates into pixel dust. Ken stares at the empty space where his Partner used to be.

Ken: ...Wormmon...? Takeru: He's dead. Ken: ...dead...?

Suddenly, a memory strikes at Ken's mind. In a white void, the image of Wormmon falling away from him transforms into the screech of tires on the road, the heavy sound of an impact, and a boy falling to the ground.

Ken: He's dead!?

In his memory, a much younger Ichijouji Ken stands over the body of an older boy laid out in the road. The only sound is an ambulance's sirens as it approaches in the distance.

Young Ken: Osamu-chan? Osamu-chan! OSAMU-CHAAAAAAN!!!

Ken's screams ring out as the ambulance takes Ichijouji Osamu away. We already know his fate. Until this point, Ken has been presented as the only child of the Ichijouji family.

As the flashback ends, Ken weeps into the sand.

Ken: It wasn't supposed to be like this! I didn't come here just to relive that feeling all over again!

Honestly, this revelation makes what Ken's putting his parents through that much harsher. Knowing that they've already suffered one tragedy like this....

In the dub:

Ken: Wormmon... I'm sorry... Don't go. You're my best friend! Wormmon: You're my best friend too. Goodbye, Ken. (Wormmon dies) Ken: Wormmon, no! T.K.: He's gone, Ken. Ken: He can't be! (Mind's eye Wormmon turns into Osamu) Ken: Not again.... (Flashback) Ken (V.O.): Wormmon's gone. Just like my brother. I was helpless to save him and now I can't save Wormmon either! (End Flashback) Ken: Why do I keep losing people!? I came to the Digital World to get away from all those feelings but I just can't escape!

The dub isn't willing to use the word "dead" of course, but they pull no punches with this nonetheless. Wormmon's death happens onscreen and uncensored, and the characters are pretty explicit about the fact that he's dead.

They don't even have anyone chime in to ruin the moment with "But Digimon don't die for realsies so it's fine actually" like they started doing in the first series. Both Wormmon's death and the comparison to Ken's dead brother are presented raw, visceral, and uncut.

As the team silently watches Ken cry, no one really sure what to say, Daisuke suddenly remembers something.

Daisuke flashes back on the interview Ken's parents were giving right before he left. The one playing in the living room when he and Jun were arguing about the camping trip.

Daisuke: You should go home.

At the sound of Daisuke's voice, Ken slowly stands up. He's unsteady on his feet, but he rises nonetheless. The rest of the team watch him uncertainly.

Daisuke: There are worried people waiting for you!

Ken says nothing more. He just stumbles away through the desert, wandering vaguely in the direction of his destroyed fortress. Daisuke calls after him once more.

Daisuke: GO HOME!!!

But still no answer comes. The team can only watch him recede into the distance.

The animation on their faces here does a fantastic job of really conveying the complicated emotions happening. Like. We came here to kick the shit out of this guy, and instead we just watched one of the worst moments of his life unfold while he both trauma-dumped and underwent shocking revelations.

A lot happened just now and I don't think anyone here knows what to do with it. Are we still enemies? We're certainly not friends. Do we sympathize? Do we care?

What are we supposed to feel about Ichijouji Ken right now? There can be no clear answer while the wounds are so fresh.

In the dub, Ken's father in the flashback speaks.

Father: Ken, we miss you.

As usual for the dub, this is a revisionary flashback. He did not say that in the scene Davis is remembering.

Davis: There's still people who love you. (Ken stands up) Ken: I gotta go. Davis: Don't walk away from your problems! Let us help you, Ken! (Ken keeps walking) Davis: YOU'RE DIGI-DESTINED!!! JOIN US!!! Cody: I wonder where he's going? I hope he'll be okay.

The dub takes its third commercial break here.

Again, the dub is in a hurry to speedrun Ken's arc here. They've had the kids reaching out with an olive branch to Ken since the episode began. Here, Davis tries to skip over all the complex feelings and jump straight to team recruitment.

Cody even gets an extra line to express concern for Ken's wellbeing. They give it to him because he's on the far right of the group, so the slow tracking shot of the team leaves him offscreen for long enough to say it. But that's gonna be really funny in a couple episodes when Iori quite reasonably hates Ken's fucking guts.

I'm not even sure what Davis is trying to recruit Ken for. As of this moment, mission is accomplished. We have no greater objective beyond making Ken eat shit, and we've done that. We're done here, right? Don't look at the episode count.

Anyway, that was a hell of a thing. Time for some tension relief.

Jun: YOOHOO!!! YAMATO-KUUUUUUN!!!

I have no idea where Jun slept last night but, at long last, she's made it to Yamanakako. The boys are visibly thrilled to see her, yeah. That's definitely a reaction of pleasant surprise.

Yamato: Ugh... She actually followed me all the way here? Jun: That was so mean! You left me behind, Yamato-kun! Yamato: Ah, uh, that was... How do I put it...? Jun: Eh? Where are Daisuke and the others? Taichi: FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

He doesn't say the words but you can see it on his face.

Yamato: Hey, Taichi! Where are Daisuke and the others at? Taichi: D-D-Daisuke and the others...? Uh... Koushiro! Where are Daisuke and the others? Koushiro: Eh!? Uhhhhhhh... I'll... I'll go look for them!

Koushiro flees this conversation straight into the woods. He was never seen again. Jun watches him go with a curious expression.

Jun: ...hrm?

I swear, the mood whiplash from Wormmon's death to Jun shenanigans is fucking intense.

The dub at least has the commercial break to chill the transition. This was a pretty good place for it, giving some time to wind out from that intense drama before Jun suddenly happens all over the screen.

Jun: Hey Matt! I made it! Matt: Nrrrg! Oh no, she followed us! She's like a boomerang that keeps coming back! Jun: It's funny but when you drove off with your tires screeching, you didn't realize you left me standing there. Matt: My bad! Sorry about that. I must have forgot. Jun: Oh. Where are Davis and the others? Matt: Uh, I think Tai knows. Hey, Tai, do you know where the others went? Tai: Let me think about that for a sec. Uh... Izzy, weren't you the last one to see them? Izzy: Daugh! Uhhhh Uh Uhh... Of course! Uh, I'll go find them right now! (Izzy runs off) Jun: ...hrm?

Original Jun recognizes that Yamato left her behind on purpose and berates him for it. Dub Jun somehow interprets it as an accident and I love that extra layer of self-delusion. 10/10 Expert Stalking.

As a kid, I used to ship Jun with Matt. I don't anymore because... yeesh. But back then I was young, didn't really understand how creepy this is, and just wanted Jun to be happy.

I have serious questions for the Motomiya parents over what the fuck their kids are learning about romance.

Taking his laptop with him, Koushiro makes off into the woods. Once he's far enough away, he stops running so he can think.

Koushiro: Oh, what do we do now!?

Suddenly, Koushiro hears a beep on his laptop. He looks at the screen just in time to see the Digital Gate appear.

Koushiro: Ah! The Gate is open!

That is all the forewarning he gets before reality explodes from his computer and dumps a pile of bodies on his face.

Back at the campsite, Jun sits with Taichi and Yamato. She's eating what looks to my American ass like mashed potatoes and gravy but I'm pretty sure it's actually supposed to be a flan.

Jun: Weren't you all together? Taichi: Oh, uh, y-yeah, we are....

Yamato turns around and points at the woods.

Yamato: Uh, they're probably just playing in the woods over there.

Taichi turns and points too.

Taichi: Yep yep! Right over there....

At that moment, Koushiro emerges from the woods where they're pointing with all of the junior team kids in tow.

Taichi: (surprised) Oh, l-look! Yamato: (bewildered) Like I said? Daisuke: What on earth are you doing here, Onee-chan!? Jun: HIIIIII!!!

Taichi and Yamato breathe a mutual sigh of relief at one hell of a bullet dodged against all odds. One final gift from the Digimental of Miracles?

In the dub:

Izzy: Oh boy. What am I supposed to do!? (Beep beep) Izzy: The Digi-Port is opening! (Dogpile on Izzy; Cut to campsite) Jun: Did you guys hear that noise? Tai: It could be a wild animal. (Matt turns and points) Matt: Yeah, the woods are a dangerous place. You'd better leave quick! (Tai turns and points) Tai: I'll tell Davis you stopped... by...? (Davis and the others emerge) Tai & Matt: ...huh...? Tai: Ehehe.... Matt: (bewildered) There they are? Davis: Hey, Jun, who invited you to come out here!? Jun: Matt did!

Again, they ramp up Jun's self-delusion with that final line. XD

They take out the gag where Taichi and Yamato are accidentally correct when lying that Daisuke and the others are in those woods over there. With the new dialogue, there's no clear reason why they both turn around and point at the forest behind them.

From here, we cut straight to loading up the van.

Jun: WAIT FOR MEEEEEE!!!

Jun runs screaming towards Hiroaki's van, which is already loaded down with children. Somehow, Hiroaki has absolutely no questions about the fact that, three days into this trip, his camping crew suddenly tripled in size while his back was turned. Does he know? Did they actually tell him the full details of the plan?

The junior team is visibly exhausted from their all-nighter. Takeru, Iori, and Miyako are resting in the back, and Takeru and Miyako are both clearly napping. Hikari's in the center row and looks tired as well.

Presumably, the passenger seat up front is for Yamato, which leaves Taichi, Daisuke, and Koushiro having to squeeze in with only two seats available between them.

Jun runs up to find Daisuke waiting by the open side door, presumably to stake out a seat next to Hikari. Taichi, Yamato, and Koushiro are busy loading up the trunk.

Jun: What's going on here!? I just got here and you're already going home!? Daisuke: Yeah, because we're all tired. You showed up uninvited, so quit whining about it.

With that, Daisuke steps into the van, drops into one of the middle row seats, and lets out a big yawn.

Daisuke: Agh, I'm so sleepy.... Jun: (whining) THAT'S NOT FAAAAAAIR!!!

Sorry, Jun, but Daisuke's right. You did show up uninvited on the third day of the camping trip.

A note on the translation for Jun's うそ Uso exclamation. The word literally means "A lie"; Jun is exclaiming not that Daisuke is lying but that she wants him to be.

But in practice, it's basically just a hollow exclamation of her dissatisfaction at the situation. Something that doesn't really mean what it means. She's upset by the outcome and needs something to yell to vent that feeling inside of her. Americans use baseless accusations of unfairness for the same purpose.

In the dub:

Jun: HEY GUYS!!! WAIT FOR ME!!! (Cut to the van being packed) Tai: Eugh, that was a close one. (Jun comes up to Davis on the side) Jun: Hey, would it be okay to get a ride home with you guys? I don't wanna take the bus all by myself. Davis: No way! Not in a million years! Take the bus! It's not my fault you came all the way out here! Jun: It's not fair!

The dub also went for the baseless accusation of unfairness, so we see eye to eye on that.

Davis's rejection comes off a bit harsher here. In the original, she's asking them to stay and camp longer since she doesn't want to go home right after getting here. In the dub... Davis fully intends to leave his sister stranded in the woods. Harsh.

But not super harsh; Both Davis and Jun clearly assert that there is a robust public transportation system available to her, so it's not like he's telling her to walk or hitchhike. And, in fact, Jun taking the bus is where the scene is going with this.

I suddenly find myself wondering how old Jun is supposed to be. She's Daisuke's older sister, but I'm not clear on how much older. I feel like that's important for really contextualizing Davis telling her to take herself home on the bus alone.

In any case, Hiroaki picks up on a problem I noted earlier.

Hiroaki: Oh, but we have a problem. Not everyone's going to fit. Jun: Huh? Didn't you guys say there was another car?

As a matter of fact, they did. Back when Yamato ditched Jun the first time, they explained Daisuke and the others' absence by saying Hiroaki's coworker brought them to the campsite in another car.

Yamato: Oh, uhh, yeah! But they went home yesterday! Hiroaki: Yamato, you'll take the bus home. Yamato: Ehh!? Are you serious!?

Hiroaki passes Yamato a 10,000 yen bill through the window. Approximately $100 in American money.

Hiroaki: Here, take it.

With Yamato out, Koushiro takes the remaining seat in the middle row while Taichi hops in up front.

Taichi: (teasing) Sucks to be you, Yamato! Koushiro: (teasing) Be careful out there! Yamato: W-Wait, hang on....

With friends like these....

Before Yamato can protest further, Jun cheerfully closes the van door, leaving him stranded outside the van with her.

Jun: Then I'll go home with Yamato-kun! Yamato: HRUAAAAAAAAGH!!!

All pretense gone, Yamato's eyes bulge from his head and he screams at the top of his lungs. But there's no saving him now. He's doomed. Jun links arms with Yamato and bids farewell to the van occupants.

Jun: I'll take good care of Yamato-kun.

Now that that's settled, Hiroaki starts driving.

Yamato: YOU HAVE TO LET ME IN TOO!!! Jun: Bye-bye!

But no dice. The van vanishes into the distance, leaving Yamato alone with his karmic retribution.

Jun: Ehehe! Yamato: I can't believe this....

Funny as it is, stranding Yamato with his stalker like this might seem really unfair. However, it does make a certain sense as a narrative punishment.

Yamato could have and should have told Jun, in no uncertain terms, that she is not invited. He should have made a clear and unambiguous rejection of her advances. Instead, he took the easy route. He led Jun on by pretending to have a present for her and then dumped her on the curb and bailed.

Jun already underwent a karmic punishment of her own for her delusional pursuit of Yamato. That was the detour with Mary and Kenny that wasted all the time she could have spent with Yamato at the campsite. Now the shoe's on the other foot and she is, in turn, serving as Yamato's karmic punishment for his earlier cowardice.

If Jun hadn't butted in on the camping trip or if Yamato just told her, "You're not invited and I don't want you here. Go away," then neither of them would have to go through these twin ordeals.

In the dub:

Hiroaki: Come on, kids. That's not nice. Someone take the bus with Jun. Jun: That's very nice of you, sir, and I already have the perfect volunteer in mind. Matt: And the absolute perfect volunteer is T.K.! Hiroaki: Matt, you take the bus home with Jun. Matt: Huh!? I'm broke! (Hiroaki gives Matt a 10,000 yen bill) Hiroaki: There's more than enough here. Tai: (teasing) Have fun, you two! Izzy: (teasing) Have her home before curfew! Matt: I-I'll trade for your seat?

In the animation here, Yamato is holding the bill and reaches out into the van. The dub cleverly presents this like he's offering the bill to someone as a bribe.

(Jun shuts the door) Jun: Ahaha! Don't be silly; You'll sit with me. Matt: AHHHHHHH!!!! (Jun links arms with Matt) Jun: Come on, hunk! We'd better go catch the bus. It's a long ride! Matt: Please! T.K.! You can have my college money! (Van drives away) Jun: Buh-bye! Matt: AHHHHHHH!!! Kari: Seeya in four hours! Hahaha! Jun: Hehehehehe.... Matt: Oh, I give up....

In the original, Hiroaki only tells Yamato to take the bus because the van's full up. I'd assume he's more comfortable trusting his son to make the trip than he is with dumping one of these other children that he's responsible for in the middle of the woods.

When Jun suddenly closes the door and Yamato has his eye-popping reaction, it's in response to both him and Jun suddenly realizing what else taking the bus means for him. There's an escalation to this gag. Yamato protests having to take the bus because that sucks, then is suddenly reminded that Jun will be there too, and then shrieks and starts protesting more frantically.

In the dub, Hiroaki sends Matt to escort Jun home on purpose. Which does parse and still makes sense that he'd entrust it to his son over someone else's kid that he's responsible for. However, it does mean that when Matt suddenly eye-pops and shrieks at the sight of Jun, it feels more random because it doesn't have that one-two punch to delineate.

On the drive home, the radio reports on recent events.

Radio: And now, onto the news. Boy genius Ichijouji Ken who went missing in May was located only moments ago. Having been missing for three months, details are scarce as to why he suddenly turned up in his own home. Taichi: For now, it seems the Digital World's crisis is finally over. Koushiro: Yeah, that's true. They really pulled it off.

We're having this conversation right next to Hiroaki so I guess he does know about the plan? Huh.

Also, police investigation into Ken's family would absolutely be starting immediately. Ken miraculously showing up at home, no worse for wear? Yeah, there would be suspicions that the Ichijouji family made up the whole "kidnapping" thing for publicity.

I remember an incident years back when a family lost their child in a hot air balloon that took off. It was all over the news cycles until it turned out their kid was safe and sound in the attic and they had made the whole thing all up. Right now, that is what people would be thinking the Ichijoujis did.

Taichi and Koushiro look back at the junior kids, all asleep in the car.

Narrator: Just like that, the conflict with the Digimon Kaiser was over. The new Chosen Children's first mission was complete. However....

Cut to the Ichijouji residence, where Ken's mom is crying in the living room in the arms of her husband.

Mother: Thank goodness... He's....

In his room, we find Ken asleep in his bed. Sleeping off the emotionally intense day he's just had.

Narrator: ...Ichijouji Ken still had work to do.

First mission may be complete, but we aren't finished yet.

In the dub:

Radio: And in local news, the missing boy genius Ken Ichijouji mysteriously returned home after being missing for the last several months. Events surrounding his puzzling disappearance and sudden reappearance are still unclear, but his family is thankful to have him home and safe. Good day! Tai: Well, looks like the Digital World will be a safer place from now on without Ken running the show. Izzy: Yeah, that sure must have been some battle these guys fought. (They look back at the junior team) Izzy: I think we older kids can take a lot of pride when we call these beginners the new DigiDestined. Tai: You're right, Izzy. The torch has been passed and they didn't get burned once. (Cut to Ken's mom crying at home) Mother: My little boy is back! (Cut to Ken sleeping in his room) Mother (V.O.): First, we lost his brother. Then we lost Ken! I'm just so glad he's back home! Narrator: How will Ken use the Crest of Kindness? Find out on the next episode of Digimon: Digital Monsters!

I think that's correct. The next episode should be a major character-focus episode for Ken, and I'm pretty sure the Crest of Kindness is going to be involved somehow.

Assessment: Hoo boy, what an emotional ride that was. Here we are, at the end of the Digimon Kaiser arc. The Kaiser has finally been vanquished in an epic and thrillingly cathartic def-- No, wait, he broke down emotionally and it was really awkward. Because he is a misbehaving child and not an epic villain of ultimate darkness.

I do have to say one thing. I noted earlier that the dub went too hard on the Saturday Morning villain thing, but the original kinda did too. Ken's revelation that Digimon are living creatures like people falls a little flat when earlier episodes characterized him as a judgmental misanthrope who despises and denigrates everyone in the human world and literally kicked a puppy at one point.

There are other extenuating circumstances in Ken's wickedness, mind. Next episode is going to be very complicated.

But if "OH MY GOD, Digimon are PEOPLE!?" was the direction you wanted to go with this character's Face-Turn, you probably shouldn't have written him as a vicious little shit with as little regard for people as he has for Digimon. That scene shouldn't be the first time Ken's behavior is ever shown to distinguish between people and Digimon.

It would also make Wormmon's faith in Ken ring truer if we were ever shown a side of him that wasn't this before. After twenty episodes with the guy, Ken having some redeemable qualities to him shouldn't feel like a plot twist.

So they both went too hard on making him a vicious monster who lives and breathes only cruelty. It's just that the one did it dramatically and the other did it comedically.

He's not completely one-dimensional, I should note; We've seen from earlier episodes that Ken is lonely and miserable, and he honestly seemed to enjoy his rivalry with Daisuke in the soccer episode. But we haven't really seen any evidence that he sees some sort of distinction between Digimon (who he can mistreat because they're game NPCs) and people/animals (who he respects and values the sanctity of their existence). If anything, we've seen evidence to the contrary.

So overall I like this twist. I do think this was the right direction to go in with Ken. I just think it should have been better set up.

That said, I do like how well this episode portrays the way a sense of power and domination impedes personal growth and progress. No matter how many people try to talk to Ken, nothing actually gets through as long as he can go "Blah blah blah, sic 'em, Chimeramon!"

It is so, so hard for diplomacy to prevail against someone who believes he has power over you. Ken doesn't listen until he has no other choice but to listen. Because as long as he's still in the seat of power, he doesn't have to listen. His status and authority insulates him from having to care about what other people think. It's only when he's pulled down from his throne that his sense of empathy reasserts itself, and he no longer has the luxury of ignoring their words.

[ilovedthestars]

I wasn't kidding when I said I spent an hour just trying to sketch out the pose for this drawing! Sometimes you just gotta go through like 8 sketch layers to figure out what you're doing.

I also ended up looking at two references--this one from The Pose Archive, which I traced the legs from after struggling for a while to get proportions that looked right, and a photo of myself that I asked my roommate to take so I could figure out what to do with the arms. The process got significantly faster when I remembered I could use references and started working with them.

I think it's good to show some of the behind-the-scenes of your artwork every now and then, both because process is cool and because it removes some of the sheen of "whoa, i could never make that." I know I get discouraged at times by artists who "make it look easy," when really I can't see all the time and hard work that went into making something. I don't want to create that feeling for anyone else!

So, here's a glimpse into how much I struggled to get the pose right, and below is the timelapse where you can see how much I fiddled with the colors until I had something I was happy with. It was probably at least two hours of "i am spending way too much time on this" and "why does this still not look right" before I got to a point where I started thinking, "wow, this looks good." But I got there eventually, and I'm really happy I stuck it out!

[front-facing-pokemon]

[phe-purple-parade]

Once again I am imploring y'all to ask whether someone dances lead or follow before asking them to dance

[parakeetpark]

Uh oh. Essay in readmore time

What's so frustrating is that for almost all of my life I didn't know I had adhd, and only found it out 5ish years ago

During ALL of my studies i was intensely freaked out and even when i got a grip on some of my mental health shit at uni, importantly I was still unaware of the adhd. And only had some professional tell me about their suspicion about it AFTER I could have received any support in my schooling.

And I have been working damn hard over the last half a decade to learn about myself and the way I work, and be kind to myself and open minded, and learnt from many many different people with adhd how they function - especially through advice on here bc much of Google is shit, and learnt what does and doesn't work for my personally.

I slowly unravelled and found myself. To a point where I'm actually functional and content in myself.

So now i find myself in the most intense, stressful period of my life since then. Grieving and finally understanding what people meant when they spoke about grieving a very close loved one. How nothing feels real even.

And I've found myself so extremely wired from having to do a very vast array of tasks all crammed into a short space of time with a close deadline - exactly the same conditions as during my studies.......... where nothing ever helped.

Yet. In the last thirty minutes I've unwound because I instinctively KNEW what to do. I found myself following all the things i taught myself about my adhd, and now I'm like 70% more chill???? Huh?????? Noticed suddenly that I've been using my ADHD self knowledge for the past few weeks and coped remarkably well because of it.

It's shocking because imagine what i could have done if I had ANY help with my adhd EVER in my life from the adults who were supposed to notice in my entire childhood. Like HUHHHHHH, I am shocked. Imagine how I'm here as an adult using 5 years of learning adhd related advice and stuff I learnt through self awareness .... and feeling better.

SHOCKING!!!!

PS - long ass tags that immediately ramble away from my initial post and go into something positive and that made me feel fluffy inside. You've been warned

[gatheryepens]

JOMP book challenge: April edition

Day 30: Read in April

I finished this book maybe a week or so ago and I really enjoyed it, not the best book I’ve read - I don’t mean this in a bad way. This was a really interesting book, the plot was well thought out and kept me engaged. I thought the characters were well written and realistic which was nice to read and another plus is I like Greek mythology - so definitely a book targeted to something I like. After reading this book, I don’t think I will continue reading the series as I have other stuff I want to read but I might revisit it in the future or if I so happen to get a copy randomly. I would rate it 3.8-4.0/5 and would recommend giving it a read if you like Greek mythology :)

[todayisafridaynight]

every day i thank god for the like. one or two japanese minedai artists who make mine the embodiment of 🥺 while also still making him. mine.

[lacyblades]

౨ৎ yeah, yeah, pornstar!gojo, and all... but what about pornstar!reader, and fan!gojo?

gojo is obsessed with everything you put out there. notifications blare, ensuring he is the first to see every post. his phone is always glued to his hand, your channel is his goddamn religion.

he ditches anyone, ducks into bathrooms, alleys, wherever to catch a glimpse of that sweet pussy. he even contemplates risking getting caught jerking off on a public tram, his strained pants a testament to his desperation. a crowded tram, mind you. he doesn't even care.

and, that michelin-star dinner? kicked out. again. because he can’t keep his hands off his phone, and his volume down. the head waiter gives him a look that could kill, and gojo just shrugs, already halfway through his next video.

he really is your biggest hype-man, and also your richest one. his tips? a goddamn tidal wave in the chat. every moan you make, every twitch of your hips, fuels his own private show. and, well, you've got to make it up to him somehow, right?

in return, you let him control your toys. you take it so well, he thinks, the highest setting of your lovense. that remote control? a shitty substitute for his own hands, really.

if a vibrator does this to you… he strokes himself, mimicking your rhythm, a frustrated, aching pulse, the image of your slick heat filling his mind. he wants to feel it, wants to hear you scream his name. you're gripping the sheets of the bed, head thrown back.

if just a little vibrator is doing this to you, he can't imagine how you'd react to his cock.

gojo's hand slides up and down his hard length, throbbing with arousal as he watches you moan.

"oh, fuck," you cry, "i— i'm gonna cum!" and, cum you do, as your hips buck, body tensing, and fluttering hole gushes liquid. he times his own release just seconds after, and it feels like the closest he'll ever get to you.

you've wrecked him, completely. he can't even have a girlfriend anymore, because he's always groaning your name during sex with them. it's the only way he can get off, now.

pictures and videos, that is. exclusive content, little bits and pieces of you — anything he can get, he'll have. you're the only thing he thinks about, you've turned him into a porn addict.

sleep is a war zone, gojo's brain replaying your every move until he is jerking off into his own hand, the sheets sticky and smelling faintly of his seed.

he fantasizes, raw and dirty, about burying his face between your legs, about the slick heat of your cunt, about the way you’d scream when he finally comes.

he wants to fill you, wants to hear you beg. gojo lies awake at night, his mind a whirlwind of your images, replaying old videos, memorizing every curve, every sound.

(and yeah, he has a fan account. pathetic? maybe. but he doesn't give a fuck. he has to spread the word, has to make sure everyone knows just how amazing you are. plus, he likes reading the comments. it makes him feel proud of you.)

gojo strokes his leaky dick at night, submitting into his fantasies of shoving your head into a pillow and dragging his sensitive tip across your slit, getting to release his load into your soaked walls.

but, at some point, god must finally be on his side, because ten minutes after your latest livestream, he is met with a dm from you — "how would u like to 2 mess with those controls in person <33"

after all those enormous tips he's sent your way, isn't it time for you to give him something extra?

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

David Tennant interview at the British LGBT Awards, June 2024 (x)

Int: You being an ally to the community isn't something new. You've been doing it, but recently you've obviously really stepped up for trans and non-binary people in a time that's so, so needed. What made you do that?

David: I don't know that I feel like I've done anything that I wouldn't just sort of be normally doing. I mean, it's for me it's just common sense that there's there should be any suggestion that people aren't allowed to live the life they want to live and and to be who they want to be with and to express themselves wholeheartedly. I mean, as long as you aren't hurting anybody else, everybody else just needs to fucking butt out. I don't really understand why...

Int: ...it's controversial.

David: Yeah, there is and the thing... the thing, if there's something that's particularly sobering and depressing, it's that certain debates are being weaponized by certain elements of the political class, often for no... it seems it's not ideological so much as opportunistic. And I just think that's pretty disgusting, really.

Int: I couldn't agree more. What message would you like to send out to trans youth?

David: Please don't feel like you're not loved and that you're not accepted and that you're not... you know, most people in the world are good and kind and just want you to be able to be who you are. Most people in the world don't really care. I mean... you know what I mean?

Int: We're all narcissistic.

David: Exactly. Everyone's so self obsessed that really, the sort of noise that comes from a certain area of the press and of the political class is... it's a minority. It really is. And please don't let that make you feel diminished or dissuaded or discouraged, because, you know, you just... you have to be allowed to be yourself, and you are, and you are yourself and you must thrive and flourish, and we're all here for it.

Int: Amazing. I think, yeah, it's so important .I think sometimes it feels like there's so many people, but it is a minority. It's such a minority.

David: It's a tiny bunch of little whinging fuckers that are on the wrong side of history and they'll all go away soon.

Int: Like what happened with gay people 20 years ago.

David: When I was a kid, when I was a kid, exactly. You know, I was at school when Clause 28 came in and it all felt like being gay was something to be terrified of. And gay men in particular were demonised as paedophiles and now that just feels historic and ludicrous and, I mean, I don't see all those... all those battles aren't won, but we're in a very, very different place. And I feel like.I feel like history is on a progressive trajectory and it might get knocked sideways now and again by people for all sorts of reasons, which are often quite selfish and quite, as I say, not coming from a place of any sort of genuine belief system, but other than a place of opportunism. And that's something that we... I hope that in 20 years time, we're talking about, you know, these culture wars as something of the past.

Int: I believe we will. I'm a huge Doctor Who fan, so.

David: Oh, good, me too!

Int: You are my Doctor.

David: Oh, thank you very much.

Int: But recently, obviously, you came back for the 60th anniversary and you got to work with Yasmin Finney.

David: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Int: What was it like working with her?

David: Oh, she's brilliant. She's fantastic. Yeah. And she's in the show again now, she's back in it, so that's fantastic to see. She's lovely, talented, cool as a cucumber, articulate, brilliant. I learned a lot from her as an actor and also as someone who, you know, who's become a sort of de facto activist just because of who she is and where she is, and she becomes a sort of symbol of hope, and she's wonderful.

[feal-the-grinch]

Their friendship <3 truly a great show.

Some coincidences, some bad timing, put in just to create more drama (which makes sense but... sometimes, it's truly hardly believable, bc what did they do to deserve that much bad luck), it was a little bit annoying at time, especially when everything was going fine again, just for everything to return to shit a second later.

However, it's really easy to see through this, because the message behind the show is so heartwarming. The character's growth, the friendships, how themes are treated... it's well done. I appreciated all the aspects of the show even more after this rewatch.

I would add : that show has a happy ending, for all of its three characters ! It is also really hopeful.

Anyway, please watch Trinkets.

(I ranted a bit more about it in the tags)(there are no obvious spoilers)

requested by anon: “could you do a gif set of Elodie and Tabitha? I loved their friendship dynamic so much.”

[phantomrose96]

When people join self-improvement or even hobbyist communities, there are some absolutely critical skills of fundamental skepticism they need when going in. I think most people who get into these communities aren't aware of these.

And just, as a fundamental few:

Does this person stand to gain financially from the thing they're trying to sell you on?

Is the business model of this whole community one of artificial competitiveness? Is there a pressure around never lapsing, or never straying from the model being sold to you?

Are the claims made in this community becoming bolder and bolder deviations from standard information?

These are absolutely rife in fitness, nutrition, and financial-advice communities and they often receive very little scrutiny except among those who already "got out." Because from the outside, seeing someone get into fitness is a good thing, good for them, glad to see it, look at that dedication, happy for them. Same on the other categories, and probably numerous others I haven't seen.

---------

Does this person stand to gain financially from the thing they're trying to sell you on?

If the answer is yes, that does NOT mean "immediately abort", it means keep that in mind when you're interacting with their content.

This nutrition influencer has given you some great recipes for free, and now they're promoting a "really fantastic" brand that they have an affiliate link with? Their motivation isn't to be your friend and helpfully clue you in on a great product. It's to make money off you.

You really like this fitness influencer's work outs, but she gets MORE interaction and MORE viewers the skinnier she gets? She CLAIMS she's been losing weight naturally with healthy eating and exercise, and she's still full of energy, and You Can Too. This is not your friend. This is not someone who knows you. This is someone under large financial and social pressure to do everything she can to put out her best appearance and her happiest appearance, and your attention and belief in the appearance is where the money and clout come from. You really need to remember this in the same way you remember to look both ways before crossing the street. You can cross a street and you can follow a fitness account, but protect yourself when doing it.

---------

Is the business model of this whole community one of artificial competitiveness? Is there a pressure around never lapsing, or never straying from the model being sold to you?

Communities stay strong if they retain people. There are a lot of fine and positive ways to retain people, but it's often easier to retain people by instilling them with a sense that they must be here. They should feel bad if they lapse or if their attention drifts. What they were before was inadequate. Everyone outside this community is inadequate. Do you want to go back to inadequate?

Is that financial subreddit that taught you valuable lessons about 401k's, index funds, and budgeting also quietly pressuring you to always do more? Are the top posts from extremist examples of people living in destitution so they can show the most extreme screenshot, and curate the envy of everyone else who ought to be ashamed of not doing as well as them?

Is that fitness community that got you into jogging also putting you in the mind that the truest and best people exercise 7 days a week? Never miss a metric? Never compromise on their dedication?

Is that person who "cut out all sugar and feels amazing" informing you that you should never have another cupcake in your life? And if you DO it's because you're BAD and DON'T WORRY, you'll get RIGHT back on the horse after. Shame will motivate you to come right back, and stay with the community, and never leave.

As long as you stay, the community grows. As long as you stay, the ad sponsors and the endorsed products and the influencers can benefit more and more. And sometimes, there's perhaps not even a malicious force behind it. It can happen from evolutionary pressures. The communities that survive are the ones that retain people. A community that trips accidentally into a model of pressuring people to stay is one which retains people and thrives.

-----------

Are the claims made in this community becoming bolder and bolder deviations from standard information?

You joined because you wanted to learn to cook for yourself. And this community has been helpful! You know how to make some delicious things. You've tried vegetables you've never tried before. And maybe you needed some convincing that brussel sprouts can be yummy, but what do you know, turns out you like them roasted.

But what else is being said? What things are being said with more and more frequency? Is it that "humans don't actually need any sugar, and it's a poison being sold to us?" Is it that "seed oils are toxic for you"? Is it that "pasteurization is bad"? Is the raw fruitarian convincing you that cavemen lived exclusively off fruit and you can too?

They'll have sources sometimes. Check them. Are they cherry-picked? Are they from an insular echo-chamber? Why isn't the mainstream literature aware of this? And if the answer has anything to do with "because mainstream wants to TRICK YOU and you're actually BAD for ASKING" then don't engage. Disregard. Take the recipes if you must but apply your skeptical filter to all the parts that are snake oil.

Sometimes it's that another community is only a stone's throw away. That person with a great financial portfolio has only good things to say about crypto, and what they're saying is making sense (average person [not smart] [poor] [bad money skills] laughs at crypto, but you're smarter. you're on the in-track). That amazing bodybuilder is pulling the hottest dates, and he says it's about male-confidence, and he says there are good support guides on becoming a respectable masculine man, and all you need to do is reclaim your masculinity in a society that wants to steal it from you.

In any place like this, come up for air. Come up for air FREQUENTLY. Talk to regular people and engage in academic literature outside this circle. Conspiracy thinking wins if you draw all your information from the entity trying to sell you on the conspiracy.

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

And I hope this is clear but my message is not "never join a community." My message is know danger when you see it. Recognize when you're being used or pressured. Don't fall for conspiracy thinking. Protect yourself. You can use a gas stove to cook meals but don't touch the flame and don't burn your house down. You can cross the street but recognize the signs of a car coming down the street.

And I'm making this point because so many people just don't know. ...Because getting into fitness is "good" and "self-improvement"! So is nutrition. So if financial responsibility. People walk into it and the extremism can make them feel accomplished, and admired, and like they're a part of something, and maybe even like a proper self-punishment for their own inadequacies. And people on the outside won't save you because "Wow! He spends 3 hours at the gym every day! I wish I was that dedicated." is a common attitude, and will push you deeper into what has its claws in you.

Everything I'm saying is not because I'm so much smarter and so much holier-than-thou for knowing this when others don't--I'm saying this because I was in it. I fell for it. Not all the examples above, of course. But I recognize the machine in them. It is highly appealing to run farther and fast longer and overload your class schedule when you don't feel good enough and want to prove something, and so many communities will sell you on the idea this IS an accomplishment. Then once you do, you have to do it forever. Or else you'll go back to not being good enough. And since fitness is "good", and weight-loss and good grades, no one can save you but you.

The answer was not to give up on the hobbies I was doing. I cook for myself most nights. I run and bike as regular parts of my routine. I like new recipes and I like half-marathons. But these are just positive additions to my life and they do not define my worth. If I miss a work-out it's whatever. If I order take-out it's whatever. I fundamentally do not care about the influencer with the washboard abs, and if I try a work-out from her, I have no loyalty to it. If the new recipe I try mentions "clean eating" I'll roll my eyes and just figure out if the recipe seems good. If the recipe is botching itself to avoid certain scare-words I will simply find something else.

There is absolutely a reasonable place for challenging yourself and trying things outside your comfort zone. The internet is full of resources to do so much more than you currently know how to do. And if that community is an oven, recognize it's an oven. Wear oven mitts. If it's actively on fire, leave. You're the only one protecting you. Stay safe.

[harrysfolklore]

you belong with me - gr63

summary: george has been in love with his best friend for 15 years, but she can’t see that she belongs with him

folkie radio: MY FIRST GEORGE FIC!!!! idk why it took me so long to write for him but i hope you like this !! send your feedback <3

MASTERLIST | MY PATREON

liked by georgerussell63, alex_albon and 87,846 others

yourinstagram finally race week! can't believe it's been 10 years of watching this one from the paddock. from sneaking into george's garage during f3 days to now having proper passes (still can't get used to saying "my best friend is an F1 driver" 😅). ready to watch @/georgerussell63 crush it this weekend!

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username1 MERCEDES QUEEN

username2 you guys are literally soulmates just date already

alex_albon The OG paddock bestie 🙌

└ yourinstagram and you know it

landonorris still waiting for my batch of cookies tbh

└ charles_leclerc Get in line

└ yourinstagram LMAOOO

username3 bestie you spelled wife wrong

username4 10 years of friendship and still going strong

username5 someone convince me they're not secretly married

georgerussell63 Wouldn't be the same without you here! Even if you still support Lewis more than me 🙄

└ yourinstagram HES THE GOAT!!!

└ username1 she’s so real

username6 we need more paddock content of you two!

username7 "best friends" sure jan

username8 george's smile whenever she’s around >>>>>

username9 MY FAVORITE DUOOOOO

username10 no one does best friends better than them

liked by yourinstagram, landonorris 1,028,946 others

georgerussell63 P1 BABY!!! Thank you to everyone for the amazing support - winning here in Austria feels amazing. Special shoutout to @/yourinstagram for the lucky socks tradition since F3 - even if they still have tiny race cars on them 😂 Team did a mega job this weekend! 🏆

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username1 THIS IS MY GOATTTTT

username2 GEORGIE I LOVE YOU

lewishamilton Great drive mate! 🙌

yourinstagram those socks won you GP3 AND F2, respect the lucky socks russell 😤

└ username1 YOU KEEP HIM HUMBLE YN

└ username2 whats the real lucky charm the socks or yn

└ georgerussell63 Fine fine, the socks stay

alex_albon expose him more about the socks pls @/yourinstagram

landonorris lucky socks with race cars?? we need pics

└ georgerussell63 Absolutely not, those pics are staying buried

username3 yn has been his real lucky charm since day 1 😭

username4 not the childhood best friends to lovers story we're witnessing

username5 the socks story is too cute i can't

username6 THIS IS MY GOAT

mercedesamgf1 Brilliant drive today George! 💫

username7 how long before he proposes guys??taking bets

username8 find someone who supports you like yn supports george

username9 that post-race hug though 👀

username10 These two give me hope in love

liked by username1, username2 and 15,378 others

f1_insiderinfo🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Mercedes driver George Russell spotted having an intimate dinner with mystery girl in Monaco! The pair were seen laughing and sharing food. Sources say they've been meeting here regularly. Has Britain's most eligible bachelor finally been taken?

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username1 MY BROTHER IN CHRIST THATS YN

username2 y’all must be new here 😭

username3 HEEEELP see we’re not delusional for saying they need to be a couple

username4 ffs that’s his best friend story being weird

yourinstagram ah yes, the very romantic dinner where I stole half his pasta and made him watch tiktoks of cats. very intimate. also that "usual spot" is just where they make his favorite tiramisu 🙄

└ georgerussell63 you INHALED half my pasta, there was no stealing involved. also you promised not to expose the tiramisu thing

└ yourinstagram what, scared the other drivers will find out you have a sweet tooth Mr. Professional Athlete? 👀

username5 not them exposing each other in the comments

username6 the way they banter like an old married couple

username7 "mystery girl" my foot, that's his other half since forever

username8 someone get me a friendship like this 😩

username9 SO TRUE YN AND GEORGE ENDGAME

username10 this is peak comedy

liked by username1, username2 and 12,836 others

russell.archive A thread of George Russell and his best friend YN through the years 🤍

Slide 1: 2014 - Their high school years

Slide 2: 2015 - Their prom photo

Slide 4: 2021 - His first points with Williams

Slide 5: 2024 - Another season together

The "just friends" agenda for 10 years and counting... 🤔

view all comments

username1 WAIT THEY'RE NOT DATING??? All this time I thought...

username2 the prom photo is giving soulmates idc idc

username3 slide 4… that's love

username4 not me thinking they were secretly married this whole time

username5 the way his race engineer calls her "the mrs" though

username6 look at how young they were in the first pic 🥺

username7 their height difference stayed exactly the same I'm crying

username8 everyone saying "best friends" meanwhile they act like this

username9 SOULMATES

yourinstagram omg the prom photo 😭 remember when you stepped on my feet during the entire first dance @/georgerussell63

└ georgerussell63 excuse me? who forgot the corsage at home and made us late?

└ username1 I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

└ username2 not me crying over this

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

texts between george and yn

2019 rookies forever groupchat

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

liked by jamessmith_eng, georgerussell63 and 82,468 others

yourinstagram date night 🍷thanks for a lovely evening @/jamessmith_eng

view all comments

username1 WAIT WHAT ABOUT GEORGE???

username2 someone check on george rn 😭

username3 the way my heart just DROPPED

alexandrasaintmleux 😍😍

username4 this has to be a joke right???

username5 10 years of analysis gone wrong...

landonorris inch resting

└ username1 LANDO WHAT DO YOU KNOW

username6 Not me having to explain to my bf that no, George and YN weren't actually dating this whole time

username7 guys can you please be normal for once? george and yn are FRIENDS stop being weird

username8 why is everyone being so dramatic?

username9 HAPPY FOR YOUUU

jamessmith_eng ❤️

liked by username1, username2 and 27,038

russell.archive The way he immediately looks for her after every race 🥺 (Hungary GP, 2024)

Scientists still trying to figure out how these two aren't together...

view all comments

username1 THE WAY HE LIGHTS UP WHEN HE SEES HER

username2 bro runs faster to her than he does on track

username3 10 year study of their relationship and still confused

username4 that hug is not giving "just friends" idc idc

username5 THE KISS HELLO

username6 not her wearing his mercedes jacket

username7 remember when he was sick and she flew across 3 countries just to make him soup??

username8 the race engineer calling her his better half I CANNOT

username9 someone tell that alpine engineer to back off please x

username10 very platonic sure

liked by alexandrasaintmleux, jamessmith_eng and 92,268 others

yourinstagram triple header concluded ‼️oh and i have a boyfriend now @/jamessmith_eng

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username1 OH-

username2 this feels... wrong

username3 not me zooming in to see if she's still wearing her matching bracelet with george

lilymhe cuties 🤍🤍

username4 THE ALPINE GUY?

username5 why is everyone acting weird like yn and george are just FRIENDS

landonorris 🤔

└ username1 he’s one of us

└username2 HEEEELP LANDO

└ yourinstagram you’re strange

username6 my heart breaks i really thought she was with george

username7 GEORGE’S SILENCE IS SO LOUD

username8 no like from george either 😭

jamessmith_eng 😍😍

└ username1 UM NO LEAVE OUR FAMILY ALONE

└ username2 go back to alpine

└ yourinstagram ❤️

username9 I JUST FELL TO MY KNEES

username10 i know george and yn are just friends but omfg this feels wroooong

liked by lewishamilton, yourinstagram and 876,366 others

georgerussell63 Gained nine places today but overall the damage was done yesterday. Congrats to LH and the team on the podium. We have another chance to fight before the summer break in Belgium. Bring it on.

view all comments

username1 no yn mention??? are you okay???

username2 first race post this without tagging yn i'm worried

username3 the way he usually writes "couldn't have done it without my lucky charm”

lewishamilton incredible drive 👏🏾

landonorris most depressing caption i've ever seen mate

└ username1 HE KNOWS 😭

└ username2 he’s so annoying

username4 where's the usual "special thanks to my favourite paddock menace"

username5 he's posted about yn in every race post for YEARS this is not a drill

username6 even the emojis are gone 😭

username7 BRO IS DEVASTATED and not only about the race

yourinstagram no selfie? 🥺 breaking tradition much

└ username1 CRYING

└ username2 george why are you breaking tradition

username8 alpine guy better make yn happy at least

username9 GEORGIE I BELIEVE IN YOU

username10 the damage in question was un hard launching her bf

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

texts between george and yn

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

liked by jamessmith_eng, lilymhe and 86,992 others

yourinstagram coffee runs with this oneee 🤍 @/jamessmith_eng

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username1 isn't that… george's usual coffee spot??

username2 the way she used to do this with george every race weekend 💔

username3 why does this feel wrong

iamrebeccad ❤️

francisca.cgomes i miss youuuuu

username4 BE NORMAL IN THIS COMMENT SECTION CHALLENGE

username5 she and george are endgame tho idc

username6 the wasy geroge never likes her posts with her tho

landonorris 🤐

└ username1 LANDO STOP

└ username2 he has no chill

└ yourinstagram i never understand what u mean

└ alex_albon oh honey

└ username3 IM WHEEZING

jamessmith_eng My ❤️

└ username1 i don't like his vibe george aside

└ yourinstagram love youuu

liked by username1, username2 and 16,038 others

f1gossip SPOTTED: George Russell with mystery brunette at London restaurant 👀

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username1 HELLO??' SINCE WHEN??

username2 yn's twitter likes suddenly very aggressive

username3 someone check on yn PLEASE

username4 the way she's sitting in yn's usual spot i feel sick

username5 toto watching his team's morale depend on these two idiots

username6 th groupchat must be wild rn

username7 GEORGIE WHAT ARE YOU DOINGGGGG

username8 ou george boyfriend era?

username9 this is alpine guy's fault

username10 THAT SHOULD BE HIM AND YN

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

2019 rookies forever groupchat

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

liked by jamessmith_eng, francisca.cgomes and 83,044 others

yourinstagram date with my favorite human 💕thank you for making me smile x @/jamessmith_eng

view all comments

username1 okay this might be cute

username2 CRYING AGAIN

username3 THAT SHOULD BE GEORGE

jamessmith_eng Perfect day with my perfect girl ❤️

└ username2 ewww

└ username1 come on they're happy stop being weird

└ yourinstagram 🥺🥺🥺

lilymhe we should have a double date!

└ alex_albon we're kinda busy

└ username2 LORD

└ username3 ALEX YOU'RE INSANE

└ username4 he said im with my boy george forever

└ yourinstagram buzzkill

username5 george didn't like this post either

username6 this is how we can get rid of him

username7 why are some people so weid about them yn and george are FRIENDS

username8 i want this

liked by yourinstagram, landonorris and 839,022 others

georgerussell63 Some traditions never change. Pre-race selfie and coffee with my best friend #15YearsAndCounting

view all comments

username1 I LOVE THEM SM

username2 george russell choosing violence today

username3 HE TAGGED IT 15 YEARS AND COUNTING I'M SCREAMING

mercedesamgf1 🤍

username4 GEORGE MARKING HIS TERRITORY

username5 james has been real quiet since this dropped

landonorris territorial much?

└ username1 LANDO STOP THIS MADNESS

└ georgerussell63 You're so strange mate

└ username2 SURE GEORGE play dumb we'll play along

yourinstagram LOVE YOU GEORGIE BOY!

└ username1 girl he loves you but like loves LOVES you

└ username2 wake up he's in love with you

└ georgerussell63 ❤️

username6 whe said who's james we don't know her

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

texts between george and yn

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

liked by francisca.cgomes, jamessmith_eng and 86,370 others

yourinstagram thank you for the flowers and for always finding your way back to me @/jamessmith_eng 🤍

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username1 GIRL

username2 this is the 4th "second" chance but ok

username3 not the apology flowers AGAIN

lewishamilton 👀

└ username1 EVEN LEWIS KNOWS

└ username2 PLEASE

username4 the whole garage pretending we didn't hear them fighting yesterday

alex_albon 🤦‍♂️

└ username1 ALEX IS HIS BIGGEST HATER

username5 somebody check on george

username6 girl get up

username7 can pierre and este sabotage him or something 😭

jamessmith_eng Love you baby ❤️

└ yourinstagram love you too x

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

georgerussell63 has added to their stories

replies:

username1 GEORGE SWIFTIE CONFIRMED

username2 taylor’s version too

charles_leclerc 😂😂😂😂

alex_albon YOU FINALLY EMBRACED THAT YOU’RE TAYLOR SWIFT

└ georgerussell63 don’t push it

landonorris JUST TELL HER

pierregasly Whats this supposed to mean

yourinstagram YOU’RE SUCH A SWIFTIEEEE

└ georgerussell63 I love the lyrics of that one :)

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

liked by georgerussell63, landonorris and 98,749 others

yourinstagram 15 years of friendship and watching you live your dream from the grandstands, and i still get butterflies every time that 63 crosses the line 🤍 couldn't be prouder of my best friend. race day ready as always @/georgerussell63 (still wearing the lucky charm bracelet you got me when we were 12 btw 😉)

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username1 MY FAMILY

username2 IM SOBBING

username3 james from alpine found shaking

lewishamilton 🖤

username4 THE KARTING PHOTO I'M SOBBING

landonorris remember when she used to hide behind trees to watch him practice?

└ yourinstagram LANDO DELETE THIS

└ username1 I LOVE THEM

username5 it has always been HIM

georgerussell63 Still can't believe you kept that bracelet

└ yourinstagram it's my good luck charm, you're not getting it back russell

└ georgerussell63 Wouldn't dream of it x

└ yourinstagram better not crash today, i'm wearing it

└ georgerussell63 Wouldn't dare disappoint my number 1 fan

└ yourinstagram since karting days

└ georgerussell63 And counting ❤️

└ username1 DID WE JUST WITNESS A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL?

└ username2 THEY CANT JUST DO THIS IN PUBLIC

username6 yeah they’re in love and everyone knows it but them

username7 james alpine you are BONES

username8 JUST GET MARRIED

username9 this slow burn friends to lovers idiots in love…

username10 lando and alex screaming rn

liked by yourinstagram, charles_leclerc and 1,022,497 others

georgerussell63 Found out she's still terrible at paddle after 15 years. Some things never change 🏸

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username1 girl whatever he said wasn't THAT funny you're just in love

username2 the way she looks at him vs the way she looks at james- anyway

mercedesamgf1 🖤

username3 NO ALPINE BOYFRIEND IN SIGHT WE WON

username4 the way she only laughs like that with george

username5 yn looking at george vs yn looking at james: a thesis

kimi.antonelli Great day 👏

landonorris "terrible at paddle" mate you dropped your racquet 3 times

└ georgerussell63 Trying to make her feel better

└ alex_albon by embarrassing yourself? smooth

└ username1 THIS IS MY FAMILY

└ username2 best trio forever

username6 not yn pulling a zendaya

yourinstagram i'm not that bad!

└ georgerussell63 You hit yourself with the racquet

└ yourinstagram you DISTRACTED me

└ georgerussell63 By existing?

└ yourinstagram by being annoying

└ username3 THE TENSION IS KILLING ME

username7 ou james don’t make that face

username8 i feel like something is shifting and these two will confess soon

username9 JUST KISS ALREADY

username10 the best friends secretly in love with each other of it all

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

texts between george and yn

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

liked by georgerussell63, charles_leclerc and 102,927 others

yourinstagram always 🤍

view all comments

username1 THE WAY I SCREAMED

username2 FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY

username3 that's george's hand i've studied it for 5 years I KNOW

mercedesamgf1 🥹

└ username1 toto just fist bumped lewis in the garage

landonorris took you long enough

└ username2 LANDOOO DONT CLOCK HER LIKE THAT

username4 the childhood friends to lovers pipeline never fails

username5 the easy we all just KNOW they finally confessed

username6 AND FUCK THAT JAMES GUY

username7 DO A PROPER HARD LAUCH

georgerussell63 ❤️

└ yourinstagram🤍

username8 if look idiots in love in urban dictionary a pic of george and yn shows up

username9 MY PARENTS

username10 plot twist this is actually the alpine guy 😭

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

2019 rookies forever groupchat

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

liked by username1, username2 and 19,738 others

f1gossip GEORGE AND YN AT THE LAS VEGAS PADDOCK RIGHT NOW THIS IS NOT A DRILL

view all comments

username1 OMFG

username2 I CANT BELIEVE THIS

username3 james found crying in alpine

username4 NO WAY FINALLY

username5 THESE TWO IDIOTS FINALLY REALIZED

username6 i’m crying, this is the softest love story ever

username7 ya conspiracy girlies were always right !!!!!!

username8 we witnessed this best friends to lovers slow burn happen in real time i can’t believe this

username9 NOT ME CRYING AT THIS

username10 guys they’re KISSING like WE USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THESE

username11 george finally grew balls and confessed

username12 JAMES FROM ALPINE YOU’RE BONES

username13 WATCH GEORGE WIN TOMORROW

liked by georgerussell63, landonorris and 102,836 others

yourinstagram not just the race you won today mr russell 🏆🤍

view all comments

username1 THE WAY HE RAN STRAIGHT TO HER

username2 YOUR SMILE WHEN HE PICKED YOU UP

username3 the way james had to watch this from p7 💀

mercedesamgf1 Best vegas grand prix ever confirmed 👏

landonorris get a room

└ yourinstagram we did

└ landonorris HELLO???

└ username1 I HAD THE SAME REACTION LANDO

└ username2 no fucking way

username3 I CANNOT BELIEVE MY EYES

username4 they had been in love since forever like we could SEE IT it was about time they realized

username5 HE. GOT. THE. GIRL

username6 george russell you fucking did it

username7 IDIOTS IN LOVE SLOWBURN TROPE I FUCKING LOVE IT

username8 YABADABADOOOOO WE WERE RIGHT ALL THE TIME

username9 a love story fifteen years in the making

username10 EVERYTHING FALLS INTO PLACE

georgerussell63 Still can't believe you're mine

└ yourinstagram always have been. just took me a while to realize

└ georgerussell63 Worth every second of waiting 🤍

└ username1 IM SOBBING AGAIN

└ username2 this is the most beautiful thing ever

liked by yourinstagram, lewishamilton and 2,018,476 others

georgerussell63 Vegas ‘24. Won more than just a race tonight.

view all comments

username1 SOBBING AGAIN

username2 i still can’t quite believe this

username3 GEORGE RUSSELL THE MAN THAT YOU ARE

alex_albon boy went from you belong with me era to lover era real quick

└ georgerussell63 Stop with the Taylor Swift references

└ landonorris NEVER

└ username1 I LOVE THEM SO MUCH 😭😭

username4 THIS IS BETTER THAN ANY ROMANCE MOVIE

username5 alex and lando screaming somewhere because of this

username6 imagine being that alpine guy right now LMFAO

username7 they’re proof that real love always finds a way

lewishamilton Prod of you mate. On and off track 🖤

└ username1 AWEEEEEE

username8 best friends to lovers Y E S

username9 the fact that george waited YEARS for her and watched her with other guys but got her in the end. THIS IS TRUE LOVE

username10 this is way too pure

yourinstagram quite the victory lap mr russell

└ georgerussell63 Had to make it special for my special girl

└ yourinstagram you’re such a sap

└ georgerussell63 Your sap tho. Officially now

└ yourinstagram was always yours. just took me 15 years to realize 🤍

[maruflix]

CAVE CANEM #oneshot #squidgame #thefrontman

Cave canem. Beware of dogs. In the ruthless games, there are countless hounds looking for prey. Oh Young-Il promises to be your shield, your shepherd, your guardian angel— but you soon find out that it’s often the unassuming ones who are the most dangerous.

feat. the frontman / hwang in-ho / oh young-il　　⎯⎯　wc. 2.5k

cw: female reader, yandere, unhealthy relationships, possessive & obsessive thoughts/behaviors, manipulation, squid game spoilers, i’ll use all of his names & nicknames here so don’t get confused, i do not condone yanderes irl, no beta we die like all 455 players in season 1

I.

It’s funny how tragedy brings people together.

It has only been twenty two hours since you entered the twisted battle royale with 45.6 billion won dangled on top of you, but you’ve found companionship in fellow participants: Player 456 Seong Gi-hun, Player 388 Kang Dae-ho, Player 390 Park Jung-bae, and Player 001.

Oh, Player 001.

“How are your wounds?”

You look up to see Player 001 — or, as he introduced himself to you, Oh Young-il. His eyes gleam in worry as he takes in your appearance: hair disheveled, knee bruised, sleeves rolled up to reveal the scratches littering your hands.

You’re just glad you didn’t get killed during the Red Light, Green Light stampede.

“This is nothing,” you assured him with a genuine smile, “thank you for helping me.”

Young-il pauses. Then, as if remembering something, he reaches into his pockets and hands you a small carton of milk. “Here. You must be dehydrated.” He watches as you gratefully take it, instantly drinking the contents, “Don’t worry about the next game. We’ll get through it together.”

Tears are brimming in your eyes at the kind man’s encouragement. You let him take your hand and nod at him, smiling. “Thank you, Young-il-ssi.”

Young-il gives you one last smile before climbing back down to rejoin the rest of the group. His movements alerts Jung-bae, who mindlessly throws a glance his way.

Jung-bae instantly pauses. He knew from the start that Player 001 is not a simple man, but the expression on Young-il’s face is nothing short of terrifying, like a tiger eyeing its’ prey. He follows Young-il’s line of sight and finds you, curled on one of the beds.

A chill runs down his spine.

II.

You don’t know how you got through the Six-Legged Pentathlon, but you did.

Chosen as the one to play ddakji — it’s not like you sucked at it, but you were scared you would be a burden to your teammates — your hands couldn’t stop trembling.

The squares of ddakji felt like rocks in your hand, your shoulders heavy by the fear of dragging everyone down. Their encouragement and cheers merely heightened your anxiety.

That was, until a hand gently clasps your own. “Don’t think too much about it. You said you won more times than the ddakji guy, didn’t you?” Young-il’s eyes twinkle, his shoulders lax, as if he’s not currently playing for his life, “Well, you won’t receive slaps if you fail, so go wild.” It’s amazing how he manages to silence all your fears.

You flipped the ddakji on your first try.

III.

In-ho knew it from the start, but the reality of it still disgusts him. Humans are selfish creatures, blinded by greed, driven by instincts.

He sighs, looking at the results of the vote— 139 for ‘O’ and 116 for ‘X’. One hundred and thirty nine people marching to their own deaths like brainless maggots.

He sneaks a glance your way and sees that you’re shuddering. His heart drops to the pits of his stomach. Slipping away from Gi-hun, he makes his way to you. He keeps on surprising himself: joining Player 456 in the games, cheering with the others during the pentathlon, and now comforting you?

But In-ho is not one to ruminate over his actions too much. He knows what he wants, he gets what he wants, and right now all he wants is to hold you in his arms.

“Young-il,” your eyes instantly land on his and he wonders how it will feel to hear you call him by his real name, “I’m scared. I’m so scared, I don’t want to die!”

He’s beside you the next second, catching you before you can fall to the ground, strong arms wrapped securely on your waist. In-ho falters for a fraction of a second, but his hand quickly shoots up to caress your hair.

Receiving the kindest act for the first time in many years, you can’t help but to cry in his warm embrace, letting out all your frustration and fear. His touches are so tender, so serene, and being enveloped in his tall figure makes you feel protected.

In-ho calms your sobs with gentle shushes, rubbing circles on your back. He was unsure then, but his heart is determined now— he wants you, he’s got to have you, and there’s nothing under the seven heavens that will stop him.

He shudders at the thought of having you all to himself. In-ho can barely control himself right now, when you fit so good in his arms, your skin brushing against his. What would it feel like? To have you next to him every second of every day? He’d shower you with all of him— all his riches, all his affection, all his time.

First, the two of you will have to exit the game safely.

His grip on you tightens as he lifts his gaze from your trembling figure to the several pink guards stationed near the door. In the distance, they straighten their posture in alarm.

Even among the many faces of the players, they can locate their boss in a heartbeat — the Front Man is still the Front Man, even if he’s amusing himself by playing dress up. The way he carries himself is so telling, they have no idea how the players are none the wiser to the wolf hiding amongst the sheep.

... And right now, their superior’s glare speaks volumes about what he’s conveying.

A warning.

IV.

‘One more game,’ they said, ‘it’ll be fun,’ they said.

The rotating stage under your feet is spinning at a controlled pace, yet you feel like you’re going to throw up. The light feels blinding, the gasps from the participants making your head spin even more.

Amidst all the chaos, Young-il’s hand clasping yours serves as an anchor.

“You okay?” His voice is as gentle as ever, unworried.

Even Gi-hun, the former winner of the games, is not exempt to the anxiety and apprehension that shadows the rest of them, but Young-il has never showed any signs of stress— like he has a safety net... or like he’s very sure of his own abilities.

You nod, grateful that he’s allowed you to stick by him like glue all this time. He squeezes your hand in encouragement, smiling.

“Two.” The woman’s voice announces cheerily. In an instant, the crowd erupts in disarray.

Young-il looks around. “Stick close to me,” he murmurs before pulling you with him towards one of the rooms. Not wanting to be a burden to him, you quickly fall in line, matching his steps. His back is very comforting as he cleverly navigates the chaotic hall, avoiding the other players.

Just when the two of you reached the door, a player appears, crashing into the two of you and sending you tumbling away from Young-il. Your world spins as you struggle to pick yourself up, searching for him.

Thankfully, you locate him almost immediately. A few steps away from the door, Young-il is strangling your attacker. “Get in! I’ll be right behind you!”

Fueled by adrenaline, you nod frantically, moving to enter the room. But there’s already another person inside.

True to his word, Young-il quickly scrambles to the room, slamming the door behind him. He immediately takes note of the anomaly, his expression dark.

“I-I was here first!” The stranger sputtered, shuffling away from Young-il.

There are loud bangs coming from the other side of the door and you quickly hold onto the lock, tears now falling from your eyes. “Sorry!” You yell, ”Sorry!”

“Five. Four. Three.” The countdown continues mercilessly.

You look back, “The other guy—!” but your words are caught in your throat.

Young-il has the man in a chokehold. For a moment you had no idea why he’s handling the guy so aggressively when it’s obvious that he’s more scared of the two of you than the two of you are of him.

“Two.”

“Young-il!”

“One.”

CRACK!

You scream. The man slips from Young-il’s hold, limp.

Lifeless.

Young-il’s gaze meets yours. There’s an emotion you can’t quite place on them, but it’s quickly replaced by that of horror. “I-I had to do it.” Tears start to brim on the corner of his eyes, his hands visibly shaking, “I had to-” he desperately crawls away from the dead man as he covers his face in terror, “I’m a monster, I-”

Crying, you kneel next to him, pulling him into an embrace, “No, you’re not,” assuring him in between sobs, “it’s this game, it’s the game’s doing, it’s not your fault!”

Breath haggard, In-ho rubs your head comfortingly. You didn’t even realize that he has long since stopped crying. He covers your ears, knowing by now that the sound of gunshots horrifies you, and glances at the body of the man he just killed.

You watched him kill one guy and you get this rattled? He sighs quietly.

For you, he would kill a thousand more.

V, PART ONE.

“Hey girl,” a voice booms from behind you, catching you by surprise.

You let go of your hand that’s holding Young-il’s, turning your head to address the stranger.

“Saw you from afar and I can’t believe I didn’t talk to you sooner.” The purple haired man wastes no time getting into your space, running a hand through his hair. “D’ya know who I am? Because I wanna know who you are.”

You stiffen up. Of course you know him. Who didn’t? The number one ambassador of the ‘O’ team, aka the people who wish to continue the games, the outspoken menace, Thanos.

Thanos catches sight of something behind you and wavers before looking back at you. “A-anyway. I’ll see you around. Team’s always open, baby!” He exclaims, but it’s obvious that he’s trying to hide his nervousness.

You look back to see Young-il smiling at you. “Wonder what that’s about.”

The people here freaks you out. You sigh. “I know, right?”

In-ho hums, his finger treading along the sharp edges of the fork.

V, PART TWO.

The bathroom is a mess— team ‘O’ and team ‘X’, warring against each other, fueled by the actions of a junkie who’s high out of his mind.

In the middle of it all, Hwang In-ho calmly makes his way to a purple haired man who is slumped on the ground, yelling at his friend.

“Get him, get that sucker! He tried to kill me, man!”

A dark shadow looms over Thanos, and he looks up in terror, recognizing In-ho immediately. “W-what are you-?”

In-ho eyes him coldly before swinging down.

The cold gleam of a fork is the last thing Thanos sees before it penetrates his neck.

VI.

The fire of revolution burns bright behind all of you. Your hands may tremble, but your rifle is secure in your arms. All those first person shooter games are finally coming in handy as you manage to actually shoot down several guards.

“You okay?!” Young-il questions in panic, “You’re doing a good job! It’s gonna get more dangerous afterwards, but I can’t leave you behind!”

You nod, reassuring him, following him up the stairs with two other men in tow. Right now, you are brother-in-arms, comrades, fighting for your freedom.

Young-il halts, sensing the presence of a guard, before speaking into the comm, “Gi-hun-ssi, we found it.” he holds out an arm in front of you like a shield, “Start attacking and draw their attention. Then we’ll hit them from behind.”

Your knees tremble in fear and anticipation. Somehow, with Young-il on your side, you feel like this ragtag team of freedom fighters can actually succeed.

“Okay, got it!” Gi-hun’s invigorated reply came from the other side.

Young-il pockets the comm, nodding to the two men. They nod back in response and move forward. He quickly moves in front of you, signaling you to stay behind him.

Just when you thought about how reliable he is, two sharp gunshots resonates in the air.

Is it over?

You peek from behind Young-il’s back only to be met by the horrific sight of Player 015 and Player 047 sprawled on the ground, choking on their own blood.

Young-il’s rifle is still pointed at the two of them, his eyes cold.

Who is this person? You scramble to get away from him, alarm bells ringing in your head. Did he miss his shot? Did I see wrong? Is there a guard in front of him?

“Young-il-ssi, what’s going on?” came Gi-hun’s distressed voice from the comm, “Are you shooting?”

You watch in horror as Young-il calmly reloads his rifle before squatting down and glancing your way. “Gi-hun-ssi, I’m sorry.” Like a seasoned actor, the unscathed Young-il puts on a strained voice, “It’s all over. They got us too.”

Gi-hun’s voice is blurred as you fall to your knees, finally coming into terms with the betrayal of the person you’ve come to trust the most.

Young-il momentarily looks away from you to shoot the two men one more time. Cold, unfeeling, his fingers steady like he’s done this countless times before.

This is not the Young-il you know.

When it’s all over, several pink guards march up to him, a coat and a black mask in tow. Young-il (?) lifts a hand up to stop them, turning to finally address you.

Your breath gets caught in your throat, your fingers desperately trying to locate the trigger on your rifle, but the man in front of you is much quicker. He yanks the rifle from your trembling hands, unloading the bullets and kicking the weapon away as you back away to the wall, shivering in fear.

He sighs, taking the coat from one of the guards before kneeling down to your height. “I won’t hurt you. You know that, right?”

Confused, you can only gape at him. “W-who are you..?”

“Hwang In-ho. My real name.” he offers, tenderly wiping a tear from your cheek, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to lie to you. I’ll explain everything, if you’ll just give me a chance..?”

In one swift motion, he wraps his coat around your shoulders. You look at his eyes, as tender and unchanging as ever— then it dawns on you: he has always been this way.

“Mr. Front Man, sir, everything is ready.”

You let In-ho pull you to your feet, his touch as comforting as ever as the two of you pass by countless guards. They make way for the two of you, the hierarchy crystal clear when not one of them dare to step out of line.

You’ve been such a fool. All the signs were there, the reason why Player 001 carries himself with such grace as if he’s untouchable. How the guards say things about ‘not tolerating actions that will disrupt the votes’ and yet kept quiet when it’s Player 001’s turn to speak his mind. The way they would shuffle away from him slightly whenever he walks—

In-ho turns to look at you, his eyes kind, “Do you trust me?”

Yet, you can’t bring yourself to say no.

note: i know i appeared on the dash absolutely losing it over the recruiter/the salesman/ddakji guy (he’ll get his own fic after this don’t worry) but i took one look at this man with his hair down and i fell into a SPIRAL. this is totally a passion project. front man ftw 🙆‍♀️