#what an iconic character (i say about someone i heard of yesterday but HAVE become obsessed with today)

[variousqueerthings]

been watching clips from the comedy show “kids in the hall” which ran from 1989-1995, and was very into this bit about respectability politics

[judyhopps934-mt-zd]

Thoughts on Gang of Secrets

Warning: Spoilers and intense emotions. Have fun!

Chat Noit sensed that something is wrong with Ladybug. Love how he can sense that based on what she doesn't say.

She almost didn't pound it and was distracted to do so. Oh boy.

BOIIII WHY DID YOU TAKE HER TO THE MOVIES???? THIS IS NOT THE TIME!!! AND LADYBUG KNOWS THIS AS SHOWN BY HER FACIAL EXPRESSION!!! I am SCREAMING because he took her to a movie ABOUT ROMANCE!!!

The civilians do not mind that superheroes are going to the movies. That is until...

Ladybug goes into this rant about romcoms and I agree with every word she says. There is no such thing as a happy ever after and things do not go perfectly. Go off Ladybug!!! There's a reason why I hate rom coms.

The civilians being shocked/annoyed from her rant just adds to it. I am guessing because this is literally freaking Paris and considering the couples there. Has the same vibes as Grunkle Stan from Gravity Falls when he approached a couple to say marriage is terrible in the second episode.

Hurts that the rant was the reflection of Marinette's dilemma.

Chat finds out that it was about heartbreak. He finally picks up about social cues! Good work Chat! Too bad that you learned that after your breakup with Kagami.

Ah, the swimming pool. A great place to go to forget your heartbreak go for a swim.

Realized that akumas cannot attack people if they are submerged under water, which is why she goes to the pool and a theory roaming online that she goes to the pool to cry makes a lot of sense.

I know this is a kids show and that logic gets thrown out the window, but does no one in Paris find it fishy that Ladybug in her swim suit enters the Dupain-Cheng household???? I feel like no one cares.

Ladybug might say that the board of pictures with Adrien and Luka and some of her friends might not bother her, but it seems to bother her somewhat as it is a reminder of the relationships that she can't have as long as she's Ladybug. It hurts badly though.

Unpopular opinion: The Kwamis can be good at providing comfort and probably make them laugh, but they are not the best therapists. Do not blame them though.

Marinette only detransforms for Tikki's wellbeing. She is at that point where the only reason she does something is because someone else is suffering, not for herself. It hurts seeing her suffer like this.

Tikki is fine despite being in the earrings for a long time. She is more concerned about Marinette though.

Meanwhile, the girls have their suspicions about Marinette as they did not know about her breakup with Luka until he told Juleka, which started a chain that I cannot remember, but do remember that it ended with Alya.

They call Marinette, but she does not answer because what will she tell them? The not answering part is a mood, but the reason hurts.

Alix being like "why not get orange juice with her and talk about her feelings" and everyone else staring at her as if she was the one with a crazy idea. I can't! Especially when she was like "*sigh* fine"

Also, Luka is not taking the breakup well either if Juleka's photo is anything to go by.

The bracelet idea is cute. I did something similar to that Junior year.

The scene from the ad that made us mad: Marinette transforming angrily after saying how her life as Marinette is complicated and prefers to be Ladybug all the time. It hurts to see this scene actually be in the 3rd episode as the guardianship and the breakup had consumed her so quickly.

Baby girl, we love you and we know as the audience how hard your life is now. This is why we are very concerned about you challenging ShadowMoth. Concerning.

But she breathes and goes back inside. Glad that you blew off some steam, but is everyone in Paris not aware that this just happened?!?!? Hello!?!?!?! Like Plagg said: People are blind. And a good thing too.

Just as this was happening, the girls come barging in. Good that they are great friends for being concerned, but have they ever heard of knocking?

Rose finds the dollhouse. Its a nice dollhouse, but isn't that too obvious that it will attract other people's attention? Not judging though, its a nice dollhouse and shows the expansion of Marinette's craft.

Originally, I thought they were coming after Marinette because of what happened in the episode "Ladybug", but glad to know her other friends cared about her too!

Alya comes up to find Marinette in the balcony just as she detransformed. That was WAYY too close.

Obviously, this made Marinette angry. Like who wouldn't be? They did barge into her room without asking and she was already stressed out as it is. And they were also snooping through her stuff.

In the heat of anger, Marinette said that she didn't want their friendship, which shocked everyone. So they left. But they weren't mad, they were just upset.

At least no friends means reduced amount to lying??? Yeah, but we need friends in life, so it is a lose-lose case.

Sabine asks of they are okay and no one says anything. I wonder if she will ask Marinette later on.

They go to the park and as they recall their pain, ShadowMoth akumatizes them in a link because of their emotional connection to the bracelet. They didn't even have to hold hands in a circle!

Finally, a safeguard for the Miracle Box that isn't obvious and is protected by a passcode. The record sonogram (or whatever is called) that Master Fu had!

Bruh, they couldn't come up with something different for the Gang of Secrets other than their former akumatized selves???

And then the girls (now the Gang of Secrets) barge into Marinette's room (again) to get her to spill her secrets.

Trixx using their power of illusion to lead the Gang of Secrets somewhere else. And Marinette was hidden.

Lady WiFi wondering how Marinette jumped 3 stories without superpowers was just that wholesome moment like girl you don't even know.

Every kwami using their powers without a holder has their own adverse affect. For Trixx, it was making the Eifel Tower dance (or at least I think it's dancing)

Plagg is like "this isn't a me thing, this is an everyone thing, but more importantly a Trixx thing." Adrien is like "M'Lady needs me!"

Ladybug and Marinette merge into one (figuratively speaking) when she tells Chat why the Gang of Secrets was there in the first place. Poor girl, we need to give her a hug.

Ladybug confronts Lady WiFi and tries to tell her that she is trusted and about Rena Rouge. Then...

SHE BREAKS OUT OF HER SIDE OF THE AKUMATIZATION!!!!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! ALYA HAS BECOME THE FIRST PERSON TO BE AKUMATIZED AND BREAK OUT OF IT! AND SHE HURT SHADOWMOTH WHILE DOING SO! I'M HAPPY FOR MY GIRL.

Ladybug trusts Alya and gives her the Fox Miraculous again. Not complaining, but what about ShadowMoth knowing her secret identity??? Miracle Queen anyone??? You know, a chunk of the reason WHY MARINETTE IS SUFFERING IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?!?!?

Also, teleportation of the Miraculous from the Miracle Box to Ladybug's yoyo! (Well more like a direct connection!) Cool and smart!

Rena Rouge, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US MARICHAT STANS AND OUT #justice for Marichat CAMPAIGN STARTED BY SOME OF MY FOLLOWERS ASKING FOR MORE MARICHAT EVEN IF IT WAS FOR 3 SECONDS!!!! (Yes I notice your comments peoples, I am generally a tired and busy person to respond, but I eventually acknowledge everything)

Can we take a moment and point out how amazing it was that Chat was fighting three (four???) akumas ON HIS OWN WHILE ON THE CAT PHONE!!! ICONIC!

IT WAS ALL SO CLOSE! SHADOWMOTH ALMOST HAD THE MIRACULOUS IF IT WEREN'T FOR PERFECT TIMING!

The moment with Alya in the alley! Friendship goals.

Marinette comes to terms that the breakup upsetted her so much and finds that love is complicated and chose friendship at the very least. Their reunion was what they all needed after what happened.

Alya stays behind to say that she knows that there is more, but will not press further. Can we get an applause for character growth?

Marinette asks her to stay longer as she wanted to tell her something.

It really was hard for her to keep lying to everyone and how she had to break up with Luka for this reason while also fearing that it would be the same with Adrien (she does not know, so she has a right to fear, also Chat Blanc!) She really needs a hug and such.

The whole concern about things changing between them is relatable to be but on a different context. It hit hard for me.

My fellow peoples: the moment that we were (sort of) waiting for ages is here:

JE SUIS LADYBUG! MARI TOLD ALYA THAT SHE'S LADYBUG!!!!

And Alya GIVES HER A HUG AS IN SHE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THIS MEANT AND THE REALIZATION OF WHAT MARINETTE WENT THROUGH!

As sad as I am that it was not Chat that she said this to first, I am glad that it was Alya. As her best friend literally hours prior to becoming Ladybug, having stuck by her side unconditionally, and having the willpower to break out of her akumatization, Alya is a perfect choice. Now I look forward to see how Alya helps Marinette deal with this burden.

Overall, this is a top tier episode, aka the best episode in the entire series in my opinion! I love how we explore Marinette's feelings regarding everything that is going on in her life and the ramifications of her being a guardian. It hurts and at the same time, it is beautifully executed! It shows the evolution of the writing and of the characters!

My arm hurt from the vaccine yesterday and these posts are usually long, so that's why it's released today rather than yesterday. Anyways, I recommend watching this episode!

[prettywordsyouleft]

To Be Continued - Part 2

Summary: As an author, you had created Brian Kang for your current trilogy series to represent the ultimate man that everyone would love, along with Charli Evers - your female protagonist. What you hadn’t expected was for him to find a way out of the story and begin shaping up your world instead

Pairing: Brian Kang x female writer (ft. Park Sungjin)

Genre: writer au / romance / fantasy

Warnings: fictional characters coming to life / a bit of angst here and there / Sungjin as a cop (or does that only affect me?) >_>

Word count: 2205

Preview | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Epilogue 

Once you stopped laughing with your panic, you did what any other logically thinking person would do and rang the police. And you waited at your front door, not touching anything within your home in case you tampered the evidence further. You were already scolding yourself for eating the food prepared for you. What if it had been poisoned? You thankfully didn’t feel any worse off with your cold, if anything, you felt loads better.

Still, the anxiety ran high within you until the two officers finished checking everything over.

“It looks like the person who did this knows you intimately,” Constable Park said with a brief frown. “We’ll run the fingerprints we’ve managed to find through our system to see if they’re in it but I’m not sure what more help we can give you, Miss L/N.”

“Thank you, Constable, I appreciate your efforts all the same.”

“You said you’re a famous author, right?”

You grimaced. “I wouldn’t say famous.”

“I’ve heard of your name before,” Officer Yoon mentioned with a sheepish grin when you glanced at him in surprise. He chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. “My girlfriend reads your stories.”

“Ah. Please tell her I said thanks.”

“Could I actually get your autograph to give to her? I’d be in her best books for-”

“Dowoon!” Constable Park cut in sternly, causing the taller man to shrink back.

“I don’t mind,” you offered and headed back to your office for a pen and paper. You stopped when you noticed your favourite pen was missing. Surmising it had been moved during the police search; you reached for another pen and then wrote down a quick message for the young officer’s girlfriend before signing it.

You stopped again, staring at the message still displayed on your screen.

Your biggest fan.

Constable Park was back at your side again and you glanced up at him. “You mentioned just now about me being known and the message here…”

“Just make sure you keep the doors locked and maybe invite someone around to stay with you for the time being. As harmless as it’s all been, we do have more than one fingerprint detected today. Since you live alone and haven’t had anyone over in some time, we can confirm there was a second person in here last night. I know it’s easy to spend time being grateful to your avid followers but be careful with who you share your personal information with.”

A chill shuddered its way down your spine and you nodded hastily, taking the card the man held out. He smiled comfortingly. “If you have any other problems, Miss L/N, this is my direct line. Contact me right away, okay?”

“Thank you, Constable Park,” you replied weakly, reading the card and finding that his first name was Sungjin. You smiled when you looked back up at him. “I appreciate it.”

“Alright Dowoon, let’s head out and I’ll be in contact when we’ve checked the database,” Sungjin – Constable Park – stated and you nodded once more as you handed the autograph to his colleague. Dowoon grinned bashfully and thanked you all the way back to your front door, where you fare-welled the pair.

And promptly locked and latched the front door.

You had lived alone since your early twenties, too independent to work well with roommates. Whilst you had started out in a small, frigid apartment, you had cherished the space alone to create your fantasies into novels. You had only moved to your modest villa within the last year and adopted Binks, the only company you needed on a daily basis outside of your characters.

You weren’t recluse by any means, you just preferred your own company. Socialising was exhausting for your introverted ways, and even though you wanted to play it safe, you slumped down on the couch after the police left and groaned at how exhausting today had been so far.

“I’m sick, that’s adding to it,” you said out loud, and then caught yourself doing so, snapping back upright in your position. “I talk out loud to myself a lot, don’t I?”

Of course, your belongings didn’t reply. And Binks had gone into hiding when Sungjin and Dowoon were here, being afraid of men entirely.

Thinking over the care the stranger had given to even your cat, you decided they had to be female. It didn’t ease your mind any assigning a gender to this person. But it did help you feel as if you were getting somewhere with the mystery behind it.

“And once the police run all the necessary checks, hopefully, I’ll have more answers,” you announced, groaning when you had realised you spoke out loud again. “Oh, whatever! I don’t have to keep my thoughts locked up inside my head or spoken through my fingertips into a word document either! My house, my life!”

And with that, you got up and went back to your desk where you tried to seek out some normalcy for the rest of your day.

You checked emails before conversing with Lily who was animatedly retelling you of her reactions to the final part of the manuscript you sent her. You mentioned to her about what happened too. Lily, however, seemed to be more concerned about something you had written, after exclaiming over your safety. You watched the video screen where your editor, and probably the person who knew you the most aside from your mother, struggled with something.

You frowned. “What is it?”

“You didn’t put your usual The End at the final part for me.”

“Yes I did,” you corrected, leaning back in your chair. “You know me. I always put it at the end of every manuscript so you can’t nag me for more words. The End means I’m not adding to this story anymore!”

“You didn’t put it, Y/N,” she repeated, glancing up at you curiously through her laptop’s camera. “You put something else.”

“Look, I’ll prove it to you,” you announced with pure conviction, clicking on the word document icon on the taskbar and then stopped momentarily when you finally noticed that the story was still open. “That’s strange. I know I closed out of it last night.”

“Out of what?” she asked as you clicked on the tab and watched the document appear on the screen.

You immediately gasped. There, after the final scene of Charli and Brian, was no longer The End as Lily had announced. Instead, the words, To Be Continued had been placed there.

“I didn’t put that there,” you whispered and Lily laughed, unconvinced.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Y/N! Who else would have?”

“I sent it to you right after I finished and I swear I had The End written there.”

“Maybe your writing muse changed it on you,” she teased but you didn’t join her in the amusement. She sensed your shock and blinked a couple of times before focusing back on you. “You really didn’t do it?”

“What if they changed the whole story?!” you shrieked as you jumped to the worst conclusion, scrolling up until you found the line that Brian had spoken to Charli about waiting for an eternity for her. You relaxed a little when everything appeared to be in order. “Maybe I’ll name the third book in this series, Eternity.”

“Wow, just like that, you calmed down,” Lily observed and then nodded. “I like that.”

“I don’t know. I’m just a little sensitive.”

“You were taking medicine last night for the cold, right?” You nodded at Lily’s question and the woman smiled knowingly. “Maybe you took too much at once and hallucinated a little. Or blacked out and can’t remember much.”

“I’m changing it back to The End,” you told her, typing it as you did so. Closing the document, you smiled brightly at the video call. “I’m not adding any further words to Captivated, you hear me? You work your editing magic and I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Yes, Boss!” she cheered, waving to end the call and you powered off your laptop then, making sure to shut the lid down as well.

After finding Binks, you scooped him up in your arms, checked all the doors a final time before heading off to bed for much-needed rest.

You were still a little sick, after all.

You awoke to the sound of your phone ringing the following morning and blearily reached out to silence it. “Hello?”

“Miss L/N?” a deep voice asked and you sat up a little, blinking away your sleep. “This is Constable Park. We met yesterday regarding your intrusion issue?”

“Sungjin,” you immediately said and then gripped at your blankets at your first name slip-up. Clearly, you were still grappling with becoming alert enough for proper etiquette.

He chuckled lightly. “Yes, shall I call you Y/N?”

“If it makes the situation still work well, be my guest.”

“Well, I’m not sure how happy you’ll be to have me calling you by your name, Y/N, in a moment.”

“No?”

“The results are in and there’s no fingerprint matching that in our database. Whilst that’s bad news for us to immediately act upon it, it doesn’t diminish the fact that someone had been there either.”

Despite being under your blankets, you ran cold, wrapping your spare arm around you to try and warm yourself back up. “I see. Does this mean you can’t do anything?”

“I’m afraid so. If you find anyone suspicious in your house or lurking around the outside, don’t hesitate to call me, okay?”

“Of course, thank you, Sungjin.”

“You’re the first person I’ve been called out to that’s called me by my first name, you know.”

“Do you find me rude for doing so?”

“It’s refreshing,” he admitted and you couldn’t help but smile at the thought of being something different for the man. You then bit at your lip, realising you were overreacting all because a man in uniform had stepped into your home.

Okay, so Sungjin was really handsome. And you were deprived of seeing such handsome outside of your stories. Whilst he was no Brian Kang, he would definitely make for a great love story counterpart in a new world. Perhaps he helped the main protagonist and became her protector. Or maybe –

“Y/N?” Sungjin said and you blinked rapidly out of your racing thoughts, coughing a little to cover your embarrassment. “You okay?”

“Sorry, I’m still recovering from this fever,” you admitted, fanning at your face for effect. “Did you say anything else?”

“Yeah, I just told you to keep safe, okay? I don’t need to be worrying about you needlessly, right?”

Oh, you were so going to get up right after this phone call and start typing out these ideas flashing through your mind. However, you gave a moment more to the police officer and confirmed you would call him at the first sign of trouble before ending the call.

Springing up from your bedding, you dashed into your office and perched on the edge of your chair as you opened your laptop and turned it on. You were relieved to find everything in your office in the right place as you opened a new word document and tapped furiously on your keyboard to get down all your ideas for your new police officer au story.

And when you were finally done, you leaned back in your chair and giggled. You weren’t always inspired by people who stepped into your world, but this was solid content you couldn’t ignore.

“Perhaps it’ll help me live out my Sungjin desires too,” you admitted sheepishly before glancing at your pen stand. You remembered about the missing pen and searched on top of your desk and then scooted your chair back to look on the floor. “Where did you go, favourite pen?”

Not finding it anywhere, you pouted right as your stomach grumbled. “Ah,” you said weakly, clutching your stomach in your hand. “I best feed myself and Binks. Hopefully, that pen will turn back up.”

Once you had eaten and quietened Binks’ demands for his morning affection, you got dressed and readied yourself for a trip out to the grocery store. Next, you had to write out a list of what you needed and went back into your office, sitting down at your desk and reaching for some paper.

Your attention turned to your laptop, where you found your favourite pen sitting upon it. “What the…”

And looking up at the screen, another message awaited you.

 Sorry, I didn’t realise I had taken it with me after writing you the notes.

 Glancing around yourself, you froze with the fear that rose within. You hadn’t heard anyone inside the house during this time. Yet, there was proof someone had come in again. You looked to the window, it was firmly shut. There was no way anyone could have gotten inside the house without walking passed you first.

You then started to shake.

Had they been in here all night long again?

Just as you went to get up and fetch your phone to ring Sungjin back, you noticed a second tab open on the document screen.

It was Captivated. And once again, the last words read, To Be Continued.

_________________

Part 3

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[tommystummy]

Where can i find these Reggie x Nick thought i heard from you? I'm intrigued.

Sorry it took a bit to answer this, Nonnie! But thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk about this new crack ship that I can’t help but love. They haven’t yet reached the same level of love I have for my other “technically” crackship, that is basically canon to me, Flarrie (aka Flynn x Carrie who has become an otp to me and @alexs-fannypack and is a beautiful ship in our canon and deserves to have a ex friends-enemies-lovers sl in s2 and beyond. FIGHT US.) BUT, I literally just came up with the idea of Reggie x Nick like yesterday, so it’s new. However here’s why I really like the idea of them (even though there’s absolutely no basis for them):

How I came up with them was that I was seeing a funny post about Nick and Juke. And it reminded me about my feelings about Nick. Like even though I don’t really ship Nick/Julie and Juke is my OTP of OTP’s on this show (along with Willex), I still felt really bad for him, especially at the end of s1 (they better get Caleb out of him ASAP). He was always so nice and supportive to Julie. Like even after Julie rejected him, he was still so supportive and happy her when she and the band performed at The Orpheum. Nick is just a supportive sweetheart and deserves all the love in the world. 

And then it hit me. You know who else is also a supportive sweetheart that deserves all the love in the world? Our very own Reginald, of course. 

While Luke has Julie and Alex has Willie, my boi Reggie deserves to have someone too. And he’s such an adorable precious bean who loves and supports everyone, and who deserves more love. And yes, that’s basically my whole basis for them. However, I think pairing two characters who both like music and are such supportive sweethearts, together can be really adorable. They can show that love and support to each other. 

Now, you’re probably thinking, “That’s cute and all. But one’s a ghost and one’s a lifer who can’t see him like Julie can. How’s that going to work?” Well, I’m glad you asked. There’s two ways that this can be solved. 

1) I mentioned before that I think after Julie saved her himbos The Phantoms, they got more powerful which explains how she was able to touch them, and were now able to do more stuff. I have different theories of what that exactly entails. But right now we’re going to focus on others seeing them. And there’s two ways that came to mind to help with Reggie x Nick. Either, only people can see them when Julie’s around and/or touching them, or if the ghost has like an emotional connection to them or something. In my Alex fic that I wrote, I explained it being a bit of both. 

2) After Nick is possessed by Caleb and they somehow save him (bc they’re gonna save him dammit), maybe it did something to him that not only makes him able to see the ghosts but touch them as well. 

Now that solving how they can see each other is out of the way. Here’s other random/silly thoughts on why I like the idea of them: 

-Like most of the characters, they both really love music and are really talented. But it’s not really focused like the others. For Reggie, we do see is it (like in The Band Is Back) but it’s mostly either through jokes (e.i the best country song not yet made, Home Is Where My Horse Is) or through their band’s love for music in general. And with Nick, we barely see him in music class in the beginning of 1x01 (which I will expand on in just a second), but I think it’s safe to say that he loves music and that it means a lot to him. It’d be cool to have how they first bond is through music (like with Juke).

- Speaking of their love for music. They both can play the guitar extremely well. Reggie with his bass and Nick with the electric. Like did you see Nick shredding that beautiful blue Les Paul in music class during 1x01?? I think Reggie would totally rock out to that. Now I’m imagining them completely jamming out together.

-They both have great styles that I think can sorta compliment each other in way. Like @alexs-fannypack mentioned, Nick’s fedoras are awesome and I can totally see Reggie being like the only one who brings them up and really loving them. Like Nick’s whole Fedora/old style look matched with Reggie’s 90′s rocker leather jacket/black tank/flannel shirt tied around the waist ensemble? Already iconic. *chef’s kiss*

-And last but certainly not least. Nick would totally play/sing Home Is Where My Horse Is with Reggie. Both out of support for him, but also bc he really loves the song.  

In conclusion: Both Nick and Reggie are precious supportive beans who deserve the world and love (just in case that wasn’t clear from all of the times I mentioned it). And I think they can give that to each other. Thank you for coming to my TedTalk.

[nctinfo]

[TRANS] NCT DREAM’s interview with Allure September 2019 issue!

RENJUN

Has any of your childhood dreams come true? My dream, when I was little, was to become a real ‘star’. I wanted to become a singer, every year at school when the teacher would ask us what we hope for in the future my answer was always the same, becoming a star.  And because that became true I feel really good. 

Do you often dream when you sleep? I never not dream. Even when I sleep for a short while I still dream. The problem is that the moment I wake up I forget it all. So it’s rare for me to remember a dream, but there are dreams I have often. I’m not good at controlling the ability to fly so it’s a hard dream for me. (laughs)

Your favourite thing about ‘Boom’? The choreo in the last chorus has an impact. Not just the choreo but also the song itself is good. Also the mood of the concept is like all Dreamies so I really like it. A long time ago I’ve watched ‘Chewing Gum’ on Youtube. It feels like there’s been a change in those 3 years. In terms of appearance Jisung has changed the most. Yesterday I’ve watched an old video of ours and I was really surprised. This kid has grown up so much until now!

You’ve turned 20, what does it mean to turn 20 for you? A long time ago I knew that when you turn 20 you become an adult. I was looking forward to see if I too will grow up to the bone but once I actually turned 20 there wasn’t any huge change. On the outside it looks like you’re maturing but on the inside you’re still a kid. It seems like maybe being an adult can’t be defined by age.

What is something you’re the proudest of when it comes to NCT DREAM? One thing I can say for sure is that the members are very close to each other. So the mood within the team is good too. I can’t help but be happy even when I’m working. Once you work with is one time you can’t escape the Dream charm. (laughs) You’ll keep wanting to work with us. 

Once you were said to be a good translator? That means you must also be good at communication. I was always speaking both Korean and Chinese so there’s no special secret behind that. First of all in my head I read something in Korean first. Then I think of the meaning and say what I want to say in Chinese. You should never try to translate everything word by word. You have to go with the flow. 

Do you listen to your members’ concerns a lot? Yes. I listen to Jisung a lot so he can often be found in my room. One time he came and we talked until 4-5AM in the morning.  I talk a lot too so I think listening to each other like this opens our hearts and makes the stories even better. 

Today it has been continuously raining. If you don’t have any schedules on a day like this what do you want to do? On a day like this I’d be happy to set up a tent and eat hot pot in it, because I like resting while watching the rain pour. I like feeling cool (refreshed) and clean, so rainy days, days when it doesn’t rain, days when it snows, I like them all. To be honest I like all seasons. 

Every time you guys are trying new concepts, which one do you think suits you the most? Picking just one is hard. Until now we’ve been showing images that suit our age so all of it was just us being us. More childlike when we were younger, now it’s more grown up. I think we’re always showing concepts that suit us the most.

If you were to challenge something new, what would it be? I’d like to try a free concept. There hasn’t been a makeup or styling that would make me stand out so I’d like to showcase a side of me like this. I always wanted to learn playing piano, I can play a song or two. I want to learn more. 

You sing the ‘The dancing child with an innocent face now smiles and sets your heart on fire’ part. It’s a lyric that feels like it’s implying NCT DREAM has grown, how does it feel to sing it? Back in the day, we had a really pure image. It’s not that just our image has changed, but our mindsets are different too. Our growth is so evident that our fans and even people who aren’t fans can see it, this is what I think of. “Look, we’ve grown up like this”.

You’ve performed ‘Boom’ out of the <We Boom> album, but if you were to pick a B side what would it be? From this album specifically it’s hard to pick but I like ‘Bye My First’ the most. The melody is nice from start to end so you can listen to it with ease and no burden. 

Compared to other tracks with lots of charisma, this song is softer and sweeter. Is singing it different? There’s a tip I’ve learned at our company. When you sing a song while genuinely smiling it’s really different. You know how you know whether someone’s smiling just by listening to them speak? It’s the same with singing. There are no cameras but if I focus on conveying the emotion while smiling then it will be delivered to people who listen to the song well. 

JENO

Is there any childhood dream you had that came true? The dreams I had when I was younger never came true. But the one particular thing that did come true was me promoting as an artist. Among the other dreams I had were a car designer and architect. Though they are dreams I cannot achieve right now, I don’t have any regrets. 

What do you think of when you hear the word 'dream'? Growth and hope. Having to debut at a very young age, whether it's our physical growth or our developed skills, I think we've become the icons of growth. And the fact that we can still grow more will also lead to hope.

What's your favourite part in 'Boom'? The last chorus where we all dance together. The other members will feel the same. I like it because it gives me strength. At that moment, we all have that feeling of wanting to show everyone what we've worked hard for.

Your slogan is 'Yo Dream, let's be dope, fighting!'. When do you think your team is the best? I think our teamwork is the best when we tease each other. (laughs). We're so close now, it feels like a family. Even when we're busy during the promotions, you won't think we're tired when you see us joking around. It's really noisy in our waiting room.

What's the thing that changed the most in the three years since you debuted? When we just debuted, I felt a lot of pressure when we had to do official public talks. However, I've started to feel more comfortable since I began MCing for <The Show> a year ago. I think as we individually grow, the team's image also grows.

How do you feel it (the team's image) has changed? If 'Chewing Gum' only had a cute image, then this album has the image that's like a newly born adult. But everything else hasn't changed. It's all the same as when we first met. Whether it's the way we talk, our personalities or our thoughts. They are still all there.

How is the time spend with NCT DREAM is practicing? The longer the practice gets, the more our concentration will drop so we try to get everything done as quickly as possible. When we put bets on buying snacks when someone gets the choreography wrong, we all become very focused. it's kinda like spartan. (laughs)

You've just started your 20s. Is there anything you wish to happen? Actually, when I was a young boy, I thought something would be different when I turn 20 years old, but there isn't much difference. I think to work harder and have to take more responsibility so I can be more mature. But so far I still don't really know. What should I be responsible for and what should I work harder for? Seeing as I'm always together with the same friends.

Your nickname is JenoJam..? Did you make the other members laugh recently? Uhm... I don't really remember anything like that (laughs). Actually, I thought the nickname was kinda unfair when I first heard it. I thought I wasn't unfun to that extent. But after 4 year, I've acknowledged it and let it go. I thought it was good to have a character like that. I am the only 'NoJam' character in DREAM (laughs). Also, the kids have a chance to make it more fun. I think it has more advantages than I  thought.

As a child model, you've acted as various children types. But what kind of kid were you actually? A kid who studied hard and wanted to be good at everything.

It seems you might have been more comfortable in front of the camera compared to the other members. It's scary and nerve-wracking to stand in front of the camera for the first time because you are in front of many eyes and the recording remains forever. Thanks to my experience as a kid I didn't have much trouble standing in front of the camera when I debuted. And there are always kids who have their eyes closed when their pictures are taken. It seems like I was able to avoid that though.

You are a member who raises cats. When do you think a cat is the loveliest? Cats also have different personalities. It's great when they are 'catdog'-like but it often happens that they are not so that's why they are the loveliest when they are asleep. You have to be careful around sensitive cats when they are asleep because you can wake them up just from one touch.

Is there a member who resembles a cat? There's none. They are all like dogs. (laughs)

You are a member who is going is dancing and always does the 'point'-choreography. Do you have a role model? It's the one and only, famous for his dance, Kai sunbaenim

When idols talk about dance, they often talk about the 'body/dance-line'. What kind of dance-line do you like? I like it when a powerful dance is controlled/contained. First of all, a song and a dance have to match for it the whole thing to come to life. When you can control your strength, even in small movements, the dance-line will look impressive.

HAECHAN

Is there any childhood dream you had that came true? Debuting as the maknae. I've liked SHINee's Taemin hyung a lot since I was young so I thought it would be good to debut as the maknae. And oddly enough, I was the maknae when I debuted with NCT 127 even though I'm one of the older ones in DREAM. (laughs)

What's your favourite part in 'Boom'? The pre-chorus 'I become your dream and a path to it. I can make you hold your dream oh the dancing child with an innocent face now smiles and sets this track on fire oh' is the part I like the most. The lyrics, rhythms, it continues without empty space and you have to keep the groove inside that part going. Many things about this part suit me very well and I'm attached to it.

Especially in this part 'the dancing child with an innocent face now smiles and sets this track on fire oh' you can feel the growth of your team. We're really living up to these lyrics when we're doing promotions now. Until now we always had the vibe of 'we are promoting with a youthful spirit' but now it's like 'we dreamies have grown up and we will show you how much'. The lyrics have that kind of feeling so I can really feel it every time we sing it.

What's the thing that changed the most in three years? The mind? I'm not sure how to express it. When we just debuted, everything was fascinating and enjoyable. As I've gained more experience I think I've become more careful.

What do you think about the color (image) of NCT DREAM that's changing? To put it into words, we're going from a cute to a more mature image. In the case of 'Chewing Gum', back then Jisung very young at 15 years old and started entering puberty. Now, we've all grown out of puberty and I think we have that image. Especially our outer image (has grown) but still I think when people look at us they feel that 'these kids have grown'.

I've heard NCT DREAM is always practicing. What is the practice room to you? The practice room seems to be the start of everything. It consists of many things and a lot is done. It's different from what fans imagine. In a way, it's also a secret space. 

You made your debut and did promotions when you were young and now you've turned 20 years old. Does turning 20 have any meaning to you? I think it kinda has, it has many different meanings. After you turned 20, you also become an adult, it's the start of your 20s and no matter what you have many responsibilities... Since I thought I should show the image of my growth I gave it a lot of thoughts.

What would you like your 20s to be like? your 20s are the peak, right? I think it's a time where you bloom. If the teenage years is the time you make preparations, 20s are when you make the start.

Before you've said "(you) have to be cool and do well" right? When do you think you're cool? I don't think strong concepts aren't the only ones that are cool. I think anyone is cool when they are themselves. I think it's cool when you know yourself and are able to express it. I didn't really know either. I just followed the cool stuff. I used to not know what I was good at (didn't know myself) but from the moment I started to realize what I'm good at (found myself), me and other people who watch me have been seeing me in a better light. (t/n: cool ‘멋있다‘ can be interpreted in many different ways here. Like: confident, amazing, admirable, impressive, etc.)

When were you recently 'cool and doing well'? I think the rap I did for 'Stronger' is the rap that's the nicest to listen to and the best I've done thus far. Instead of thinking 'I have to be the best' I tried to do it comfortably (without much pressure). At that moment I was just talking with the director hyung, and through lots of discussions, the best (of me) came out so I'm very proud.

In the summer, you have to eat well. Is there any specific healthy food you eat? I really like buckwheat noodles so I eat it often. These days, our dorm auntie buys us a lot of samgyeopsal so we're eating well.

You have a very special vocal color even within SM's many talented singers. Which artist do you personally think has a charming vocal color? That's Michael Jackson. His voice is so diverse, it sounds very pure in some songs and in others it's incredibly powerful. I want to be like that. I also like the fairy tale feeling, but Michael Jackson can that too so I've liked him for a very long time.

Do you want to release your own songs someday? I've been writing and composing songs for a long time, but there are many things I'm worried about. There's this fear of making new things... But I'm working very hard on it so maybe I can show it someday in the future?

You're known for your quick wit. So far, as album titles, you've had <We Young>, <We Boom>, <We Go Up>. If you were to describe today's photoshoot with 'We ____' what would it be? 'We are'. Our existence. Us

JAEMIN

Do you often dream when you sleep? I'm not the type that dreams often. But when I do dream I often getting chased (laughs)

What do you think of when you hear the word 'dream'? I quite literally think of dreams and hope because it's our aspiration as a group to bring healing and dreams.

Your slogan is 'Yo Dream, let's be dope, fighting!'. When do you think your team is the best? Our team is the best when every member carries the team. (laughs) When someone does something wrong, you'll get in trouble. There are times when we're really united, whenever we're tired and want to finish the practice quickly or when someone makes a mistake. Because we all carry (the team) we can sense each other fast. Once you fall out there's no way to get out.

What's the thing that changed the most in the three years since you debuted? In the past, when I was dancing or performing, I was always busy looking for the camera and was focused on not making any mistakes but these days I'm more relaxed. I'm able to change my performance depending on the stage and it's more fun like that.

How did the members change? The team didn't change that much. (laughs). We're exactly the same as we were from the start. But if I had to pick something, it's that we've grown closer to each other even more.

You made your debut when you were young. It seems like this album shows the growth of NCT DREAM. We watched unreleased videos of Jisung that were taken when he was still in the 5th grade. We hadn't realized how much we've grown. But we do when we look at pictures or videos. When we see Jisung we often say "He has become a dragon" [meaning he has grown/became successful] (laughs). He really has grown up well. He was really young and was really like a kid.... But he's still the same on the inside, his taste in food is the same, his 'poop' hands are still the same... nothing has changed.

What do you think about the color (image) of NCT DREAM that's changing? During 'Chewing Gum' we bounced around with our baby fat and we definitely had a lot of youthful spirits, but now there are more mature members and you will be able to see our mature side. If the former was a clean white color, it would now be a gray tone.

Do you like that color? I like how we are now. Because it's hard for us to keep up the feeling 'Chewing Gum' had.

What is the practice room to you? It's a place where you can express really good energy. The idea of getting out of there give a lot of motivation. It's basically a place where we can develop our skills, so it's a place we need.

How is the atmosphere during practices? We're very serious during practice. But if when you're serious for too long, you can get tired very quickly so it's a relief we can't stay serious for too long (laughs). Even when we're serious, there's always someone to pops up and breaks the mood. It's a style that allows us to be full with energy.

You’ve just turned 20. How do you wish to spend your 20s? I've only been in my 20s for half a year... Honestly, I don't even see myself as an adult. I think you should be in your 30~40s to an adult. If my mom saw me, wouldn't she still see me as a baby? If you imagine your 20s, you may want to go on a trip or have time alone. However, my job is to be a singer and I want to improve my skills.

What is your biggest pride as an NCT DREAM member? We can challenge anything since we're still young. No one can break us down... right? (laughs)

Is the legend that you were cast while volunteering true? I was cast when I was volunteering at a festival where I was handing out flyers. It was over and I was about to leave when I woman started talking to me (laughs). So I thought it was an insurance company and tried to avoid her but she said she was from SM. I asked my mother what SM was and she said it was a good company.. It was cast like that. My mom told anything her son wanted to do he can do.

Is it your parent's influence that made you kind-hearted? I was influenced by my mother a lot. I don't know if it's because I'm like my mother or if it's because of my parents' affectionate care for me that made me have a lot of affection for people. I like people a lot. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.

You might get hurt without the intention (by someone) I've only lived for 20 years but since I've lived like that for 20 years, I can't change it. It's in my nature to love people so much. If I were to change that I would have 2 faces. I don't like that. 

Like in 'We Go Up' you're mainly in charge of the powerful rap openings. What do you most focus on, on stage? Since we do it live, there are a lot more things to pay attention to than it might seem. Basically, while I'm looking for the camera, unlike a recording, there are many things to think about. I keep practicing so hard but the voice I want to come out doesn't (come out at the live performance). So I focus on practicing to be able to do as much as I can do on a stage as I do during a recording.  I'm someone who will always keep moving during the practice like it's a real stage.

Earlier you seemed interested in the shoots of the other members, you seem to be good with machines. Aren't you interested in photography? I have a lot of interest in computers and cameras. I've very much interest in programs like that too. I want to try to work with various programs like Photoshop, Premiere, Final cut etc.

Is there anything you want to create? Yes, I'm making something right now. I'm composing and writing a song alone, just as a hobby, on Ableton and I upload pictures I take of the members in Photoshop and Lightroom. Taking pictures of the members it the most fun

NCT is showing a lot of various content on VLIVE and on NCT's YouTube channel. What is the secret to having fun? You’ve hosted [your vlives etc] and organized [stuff]. Organising? Our kids would never organise/clean up (laughs). There’s no secret to having fun If you're excited alone at the start, all the other members will get more excited at some point too, that's when I calm down and try to balance is out. I think the combination of the members is important.

What is the charming point of the various content? Unlimited fans can enter and we can communicate in real-time. I think the biggest advantage is that it can be seen from all over the world. 

Out of the concepts that NCT DREAM has done so far which one do you think suits you the most? I think has to be ‘We Go Up’. I really liked the pink hair. With that hair I looked pretty even when I wasn’t wearing any make up. (laughs)

If you were to challenge something new what would it be? At 23. Or 24 maybe, something sexy? (laughs) I want to try something like EXO hyungs ‘Love Shot’. It was really cool. Also I’d like to try out acting. Living as other people feels interesting.

Because the team’s name is ‘Dream’ you often sing lyrics about dreaming. Dream. What does it mean to you? My dream was to travel around the world with my mom and building a house. I like traveling alone especially. When I look at travel pics on SNS I want to go there before I even know where it is.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that you’ve turned 20 with your team who you’ve met in your childhood times. I’m realising that I’m growing up with my team. More than anything it’s amazing how inseparable we’ve become now.

If you were to congratulate NCT DREAM on the soon approaching 3 Year Anniversary? Congratulations. It’s been 3 years. Now it’s only 7 years until we turn 10 so let’s run even stronger.

CHENLE

Is there any childhood dream you had that came true? There’s exactly 2 and first of them is becoming a singer. And the other one was just simply dyeing my hair for once. I came here and made my wish come true. Ever since debut I haven’t had black hair, I really like that. I want to keep dyeing my hair. (laugs)

What does the word ‘dream’ remind you of? A feeling full of young and powerful energy. 

Soon it will be 3 years since your debut. What has changed during those 3 years? My height and the baby fat on my face has been lost I think. I’ve grown up a lot. At first I was barely 170cm but now I’ve grown to as much as 178cm. Our team grows a little bit with each comeback. We all progress skill wise, our faces become more mature and our thoughts get deeper too I think.

You were riding hoverboards when you debuted, right? Is there anyone who still rides the hoverboard? If you pick up a license would you keep riding it? I want to, it’s really cool. I think that riding a board on a long distance would be really wicked. Also I think if you ride a hoverboard while on the stage it gives you an advantage. Because you’re riding a board instead of walking your legs don’t hurt.

What does it mean for you to turn 20 years old? I always thought it’s important when you turn 20 because you’re an adult then, but last year when Mark hyung became an adult I saw no change, hyung is still cute now. (laughs)

What kind of an adult do you wish to become? An adult who can attend a company get-together properly. (laughs) After SMTOWN concert is finished we have company dinners. Other artists are having a good time but me and Jisung just drink cola or sprite and have to leave early which is a shame. Also when I become an adult I’ll be able to do activities after 10PM which I think would be nice. Everyday I can only do so much until 10PM and it’s a bummer, I want to do more.

Music videos are important to watch for all fans all over the world, with what kind of mindset were you filming ‘Boom’ MV? There’s nothing in particular. I just had to make it cool, other than that there wasn’t anything. When I saw the result I liked it very much. I was satisfied. (laughs) I was shooting it thinking that we have to show the fans a grown up image of us. A cute side, a cool side, I wanted to showcase various sides of us.

When you’re young there’s a lot of people you envy, what do you think is your weakness? There are people who look at me like I’m a baby. Of course if you follow the looks I could be a baby but… (laughs) I don’t think I am, but since they see me as a kid…

Various personalities being in harmony is the team's charm, what do you think is the colour you’re personally in charge? Still in charge of being cute it seems. Instead of doing aegyo on purpose I’m the cutest when I’m just being a free Chenle I think. (laughs) Jisung can’t do aegyo either but sometimes he’s cute when he does little things. It’s hard to explain but he’s similar to me there usually just is a cute feeling. Haechan hyung and Jaemin hyung are the true masters of aegyo.

You grew up in Shanghai. Do you have any memories from around that time? Traveling with my mom whenever there was a break. I like traveling with my mom, Hainan was really nice. Especially in winter when it’s warm so you can go there even if it’s cold, it’s nice to go in the summer too. The seafood is really tasty too.

When watching you on youtube it feels like you’re progressing in Korean everyday. It must’ve been hard. I think learning a language is one of the hardest things. But I think you can do everything if you got the courage. At first when I was learning Korean I was talking to Jisung a lot and that really became a huge help to me. I’d say whatever and because me and Jisung were close he’d just know what I was trying to say. He’d tell me if I was wrong and that way I’ve improved so much. Jisung was my Korean teacher and Renjun hyung was always good at Korean so he translated for me. If I didn’t know something I’d just ask hyung and then I’d practice with Jisung… (laughs) When it comes to languages people around you are really important I feel. 

You’re the member with a beautiful voice tone, what kind of a vocalist would you like to become? I want to make people feel comfortable when they listen to me sing, I’d like to heal. In the bridge part of Boom the lyrics have a feeling of growth, how does it feel when you sing it? I wanted to tell our fans how much I’ve grown and I just sing it like that. 

JISUNG

Is there any childhood dream you had that came true? Debuting. Then when I debuted conquering the world through performances and having half of the world know my or my team's name became my next dream and I’m going to work even harder to make it come true.

What does the word ‘dream’ remind you of? Hope.

What’s your favourite thing about <Boom>? I like the lyrics. More than anything they capture our growth so that’s what I like. Especially in ‘Boom’, ‘The dancing child with an innocent face now smiles and sets your heart on fire’ is a part that I like the most.

You have tried participating in the lyric writing process this time. With what kind of mindset and what did you write about? I took part in writing lyrics for ‘Bye My First’ and ‘Best Friend’. As usual I kept trying my best. Since it’s our album we had to write lyrics that are relatable, and it’s also more comfortable for us to sing later on. Since I’ve never been in love I was imagining a drama in my head while writing the lyrics. Usually, I take a lot of notes on my phone too.

You’ve already established yourself as a member who’s great at dancing, but in this album your vocals have a greater presence. What were you trying to showcase? To be honest from a long time ago I have had the greed (to sing) so I tried my absolute best. It was really nerve wrecking. It’s my first time doing so many vocal parts on an album. Before I’d focus on dancing only, but because I want to become an all-rounder artist that’s good at everything, lately I’ve been looking into rap, dancing and singing a lot.

Soon it will be 3 years since your debut. What has changed during those 3 years? First of all I’ve grown inside, but also changed on the outside a lot too I think, it feels like I’ve become a bit tougher.

When did you realise you’re tougher? I feel it in every situation. I think I was more self-centered back in the day, these days I’m a bit more mature. I’m trying to figure out what’s the right way to do things. 

You guys are such a cool team, seems like you must’ve spent a lot of time practicing, what’s the practice room like for Jisung? Like a research room. The practice room is where I am able to look into my dancing and singing, but if you look at the practice itself it’s also frustrating, like why isn’t my dancing improving? In that sense it’s stimulating me more to push myself to develop. Isn’t that the craving for success? (laughs)

NCT DREAM has debuted as the teenage team, what does being 20 mean? I think that the age really doesn’t matter. With age I think rather than listening to compliments you go with the mindset of just having to do well. 

What kind of a person do you want to become in the future? A hero who gives strength to many people, especially those who’ve been hurt. This really is who I want to be.

When you’re young there’s a lot of people you envy, what do you think is your weakness? I’m young so I can still be shaped, I think only our team has a colour that can still be shaped. A weakness of mine is that I haven’t experienced much so I’m easily swayed by words of other people.

What do you think about on the stage? When I get on the stage there’s nothing in particular I think of, I focus on the stage only. If I had different thoughts come up it’s like the performance is over. If the stage isn’t satisfying then it’s not as good as I thought it would be, I don’t think about anything other than that.

You’ve been dancing solo a lot before, what points do you take into consideration? The dynamics. The mood of the solo dance is always changing. So if the group dance is strong and the solo dance is strong as well, I think there’s no balance. If it has to be intense then it shouldn’t be similar. 

NCT DREAM has of course done stages with multiple people like ‘Black on Black’. How is that different in terms of dancing? When I’m dancing alone I get to think of the song vibe, the rhythm and expressions but when it’s a team dance there’s of course a lot more talking involved I think. We share our thoughts with each other a lot. Solo dance looks cool but with numerous people knife-sharp choreographies it’s really impressive too. I always try to stand out on stage. Not just me, all of our members.

In that case what’s the secret (to stand out)? It’s the hair. (laughs) You can’t move your fingers the way you move your hair, for me I think the hair really is the charming point. It’s so beautiful and soft. We have bones in our bodies so we can’t help the angles, but when the hair just moves with the flow of the air it’s really beautiful.

Do you have a dance role model? I don’t think we should just pick that one person and try to become like them because there’s so many people who are good. Whenever I look at Kai hyung he’s always admirable and it makes me self reflect a lot too. One day I’d like for people to think of me as the dance god, the end of dancing. I’ll have to practice a lot.

What dance are you into lately? Before I was only into strong dances and these days I like strong too but when stretching I’m trying to adjust the balance dynamics a lot. It’s not about the difference in strength but the difference between lines.

September is the start of Autumn, is there a season you like? I like them all but I kinda hate summer a little, there’s too many bugs at this time. 

What are you thinking about a lot these days? Fans liking this album a lot. I think a lot about having to do even better next time and repaying them the most.

Translation: Alex, Esmee @ FY! NCT (NCTINFO) | Source: Allure Scans — Do not repost or take out without our permission!

[frederator-studios]

Graham McTavish: The Frederator Interview

At the moment, Graham McTavish is in Malta getting his head torn off by a Werewolf. Jack Bauer once rammed a fire poker through his chest then slit his throat. He’s been set on fire, drowned, strangled, stabbed, speared, knifed, shot - not to mention, kneed in the balls, punched in the face, even slammed over the back with a log by an over-eager young performer. All in a day’s work for the Scottish actor, who’s played the baddest of baddies on a slew of excellent dramas-with-a-twist, from Preacher to Outlander, 24 to Castlevania. But Graham himself doesn’t view his characters as ‘villains’ - just passionate, complex people, of which Dracula (though he’d resent to be called “human”) is the embodiment. Read on for Graham’s take on playing one of literature’s most iconic, dangerous anti-heroes—from the relative safety of a recording studio.

Are you in LA long?

I’m flying out tonight actually, back to New Zealand. My kids are there, so I split my time. I’m doing Lucifer at the moment for Netflix as well as Castlevania, so I had to come back for a day, yesterday - I flew back just for that. (wow whaaa?) Yeah. I do a lot of traveling, but even for me that’s insane! It’s also unusual for the scheduling to work out perfectly, which it does the next few months. I have an episode gap now, then in October, I do a film in Malta, and the day that wraps, come back to LA to finish Lucifer, and the day after that, fly to Canada to do a film with Willem Dafoe about the Iditarod. I’ve got to learn how to mush a dog sled.

That’s awesome. It’s like getting sponsored to learn a cool obscure skill.

It’s definitely a nice side effect of being an actor. What other job would allow you to learn how to mush a dog sled, unless you were actually becoming a professional dog sled musher? It’ll be great.

How is it for you to switch between characters, with so little time between roles sometimes?

It really depends on your approach to acting. I approach from the point of view of a child. I have two young children, and the great thing about being that age, is they can switch from one thing to another in an instant. Very fluid. I think because I’ve never trained as an actor, I can see work as play. Some actors live as a cobbler for 5 years to play a cobbler, and that’s what works for them. Personally, I pretend. When I'm mushing dogs, I will give the illusion that I really know what I'm doing. That’s what acting is: an illusion that the audience willingly participates in. And everybody is complicit.

You didn’t have professional training?

No. I used to write comic sketches at school with a friend of mine, and we didn't trust anybody else to perform them, so we did. The Drama teacher at school asked me on many occasions to be in a play, but I always said no. Then on one occasion, he asked me to step into a play called “The Rivals” by Sheridan, filling in for an actor who’d fallen ill three days before the production was due to be performed. I said yes. To this day, I have no idea why I agreed. But I did the play, and was of course bitten by the acting bug.

After that, a local Dramatics company asked me to join them, so I did amateur theatre for a year. Then I attended Queen Mary College London University and majored in English literature. I was lucky enough to have a professor who loved Shakespeare and Jacobean drama, and he cast me in all of those plays. As an English Lit major, I was doing two or three Shakespeare plays a year, performing roles that I never would have been given if I'd been at Drama School. I'm not against it, but I don't think it's for everyone. I got my union card in Britain after doing a Beckett play, and then just started working professionally. I also did a lot of Repertory Theatre in the UK, which I think is a great training ground for actors. So it was all slightly accidental, the case with a lot of people.

How did you choose to play Dracula? What about that part compelled you?

I played him onstage once, a great experience. Dracula is the sort of character people love guiltily. If you get the opportunity to play that, it's a no-brainer. Just reading Bram Stoker’s book, your sympathy is with Dracula, in many ways. You live the story through him. It's such a wonderful ride to be playing a man whose been alive for hundreds and hundreds of years. Dracula plays to our secret desires, our secret fears. I think in all of us, there is a fascination with the idea of living forever. Fear of living forever, and fear of death; the Dracula myth plays on that edge. It’s so powerful because it takes something that we all have to face one day and says, what if you didn’t? But in gaining immortality, you lose something very important. Dracula is very enviable in some ways, but is also deeply sad and tragic.

How is it, playing tragic characters?

Among the few advantages of getting older is you have more life experience, including with tragedy. It’s inevitable. And you can draw on those memories. But you can also draw on your fears as well. I did a scene in Outlander, toward the end, where my brother is dying. I thought of my own father, and all the things I never said to him. Those emotions definitely informed that scene. When tragedy and death and loss touch your life, you carry those feelings into your future.

Are you an animation fan?

I love animation, I grew up with it. Along with books, it was my first experience of storytelling. Cartoons, as we called them; they fired my childhood imagination. It’s like how we were talking earlier, about children, and the profundity of animation to them. The first film I saw in a theatre was Walt Disney’s Peter Pan. I was five and had no question that those characters were real. To such an extent that when they took the posters down at the cinema, I got upset. I was like, “But where’s Peter? Where’s he gone?” Because I thought Peter lived in the cinema. I still get absorbed into great pieces of animation, when the artistry is powerful, and it’s part of my attraction to doing animated work. And this show, Castlevania, is particularly beautiful.

How were you introduced to the project, and did you have expectations going in?

I knew it was going to be great. I was recording Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when the Voice and Casting Director, Meredith Layne, pulled me aside. She said she was on a project and couldn’t tell me much, but she thought I’d be a fit, and would I like to be considered? Meredith has great taste, so I said “Of course” and sent in a tape. And when I heard that Warren Ellis was the writer, that was a huge attraction. I love his comic book work, and fiction as well. The Crooked Little Vein is one of my favorite books. Really, it couldn’t not be great, and the more I learned of the creative team behind it, the more sure I was. Everything put into the show - the casting, directing, producing, animation - elevates it so hugely above anything comparable. I love that it occupies this unique space.

What do you feel Castlevania’s Dracula uniquely brings to the character?

It’s his being human that makes it so interesting. When I portrayed Dracula onstage, there was no suggestion that that version of him felt love, or experienced empathy. But in this production, a woman, Lisa, takes him by surprise. She makes him feel, and turns his life around. I love that, because everybody can relate. You think your life is one way, then you meet someone who changes everything, opens your life up, makes you think about it differently - and makes it more enjoyable to be alive. And since Dracula is essentially dead, that irony is very clever.

Do you have a favorite representation of vampires in Media?

I'm a little biased, but I love the portrayal of Cassidy by Joe Gilgun in Preacher. It’s so unconventional. Herzog’s Nosferatu springs to mind, just incredible. Gary Oldman’s Dracula is wonderful. And I loved Let the Right One In, the original Swedish version. It’s genius. It took something familiar as a vampire story and gave it a whole new spin.

You work so much in the fantasy genre - is that purposeful?

Oh yeah. I love the variety. I've been a Viking, a Roman - twice - after always dreaming of playing one, I got to be one for a whole year. Growing up in the UK, you never imagine yourself getting to be a cowboy. On the first season of Preacher, there was a scene I rode into a western town: the whole duster coat with the Stetson guns, surrounded by horses and wagon trains, all the paraphernalia. I had to look cool and unbothered. I wanted to jump up and down in excitement. I was so, pathetically excited. I did a season of 24, and I’d been a huge fan. Every day I’d go up to the producers telling them I was a huge fan. After a while, they’d say, “Yeah, great, we get it. You like the show. You’re in it now, so if you could just be the character that’d be great.”

And I still get a pathetically childish enjoyment out of playing Dracula. What kid doesn’t want to play Dracula?! I once talked to Lance Henriksen, and he said one of the reasons he went into acting was to be thousands of people. You get to be a cowboy and a vampire and a dog musher and a Highlander in the 18th century and a dwarf in Middle Earth. I'd definitely rather do any of that than put on a suit and do a courtroom scene. Not that I wouldn’t! I’ve just never been asked. No one’s ever looked at me and said, “Let’s cast him as The Dad.”

Have you ever played a “Castlevania” game?

I am a terrible game player.

But, but - your voice is in like every game of the past decade!

Yes, I have done loads of video games. I did a franchise called “Uncharted”. Award-winning; incredibly popular. Never played them. I played one game years ago with my friend, called “Gears of War”. I was so bad at it. I'm the guy that shoots in a circle around his feet. I’m useless at them.

Your character's bad-assery makes up for it. Anything to say to fans of the show, in advance of season two?

I just really hope you enjoy it and get carried along with the story and and want to see more. That’s always the greatest thing, if you can get the fans to clamor for more ❀

Follow Graham on Twitter and Instagram

Thank you for the interview Graham! Without a doubt, you’re the kindest chronic bad guy I’ve come across. 

- Cooper ❀

(Craving another CV interview? Read Richard Armitage’s here.)

[hollowedrpg]

CONGRATULATIONS, ROBYN! — You’ve been accepted for the role of Arthur Weasley. Your application was honestly a dream. I love, love, love how you expanded on how Arthur’s speech impediment affected his growth, and the man he’s become. The way you delve into his relationship with Molly, and with their children just allowed me to disappear into his character. I can’t wait to see where you take him from here.

Thank you so much for applying. Please create your account and send in the link, track the right tags, and follow everyone on the follow list. Welcome to Hollowed Souls!

ooc.

name:

robyn

age:

21

pref pros:

she/her

timezone:

GMT (wales)

activity:

I’m working full time but other than that I should be around daily to interact.

how do you feel about your character dying?:

I’d be gutted because Arthur has already been dealt a bit of a shitty hand (what with everything in the Mols/Gid/Fab realm) but such is war and that’s this world.

anything else?:

WHERE’S MY WIFFEEEEEEEE :(( — jk he’s just suffering already :D

ic details.

full name:

Arthur Septimus Weasley

date of birth:

5th february 1950

former hogwarts house:

Ravenclaw - A boy who could be heard without words, who can command attention from his peers? tell me he’s not here to prove himself with his knowledge of other languages or pour himself into non-verbal magic to provide himself with a voice that can not be ignored. For an individual that has never been thoughtless, Hogwarts freed him from any social restraints he put on himself, the house of the curious facilitated the growth of that character, to ask questions where he felt things were unjust or provide an answer to those that challenged him. It leads perfectly into his role within the Ministry as he attempted to introduce legislature to protect and normalise muggle culture.

(I have always been irritated at the trope-y excuses for the Weasley’s being Gryffindors,Art screams Ravenclaw to me, lemme know what you think)

sexuality:

heterosexual

gender/pronouns:

cis male, he/him

face claim change:

i’m happy with sam if you are

more.

how do you interpret this character’s personality? how will you play them? include two weaknesses & two strengths.

Art is that guy that you turn to when you need someone to hear you out or have a be with. He’s a rock because he has his world laid ahead of him, his marriage is absolutely water tight and his children are the light of his life. Shake that up and you’ve shaken his core sense of stability. With Molly gone… He’s lost in the hope for her to come back to them all, to their children, to him.

Therefore his strengths look like:

Homemaker/Comforter: He and Mol built the Burrow for themselves before the children were even a whisper in their subconscious, and now he strives for the familiarity and comfort that his home gave even strangers. Godric’s Hollow is a taboo place, in a horrendous situation, but Arthur turns the dingiest corners into little nooks for the boys or respite for those around them all. Hopefully everyone benefits from smaller icons of what home could be and where it could be found again.

Defender: Arthur’s decision to join the Order was not only to protect the ones he holds dearest, but those that need help. He is no pawn to be played with and whilst he feels he has made the biggest mistake by not taking his children and wife and leaving, Arthur knows Molly will come back to him. His knowledge in defensive magic will grow broader as he seeks to understand the darker twists and turns of runic magic and strengthening wand-less charms and hexes for the purpose of duelling. What else could he do with the time where the kids are asleep?

And his weaknesses look like:

Sightless: People may’ve picked up on the speech impediment, something he’s navigated for years but he’s currently blinded. Not physically of course, but things have occurred and who knows what is happening to those missing. Arthur is a certified knot of chaos, and is only just realising that it’s detrimental to his and his children’s safety. He’s too caught in what was and cannot accept a future without his wife and friends. It’s a lot for everyone right now, but he cannot drag himself from the searing pain of what looks to be the future. Unlike others, Arthur is finding it incredibly difficult to move forwards without his stabilising people. To have lost his brother-in-law, and not know whether his other brother-in-law, and wife, has annihilated any sense of security.  

Unamenable: In the sense that he hates the pity that others cast him whilst desperately requiring the support he needs for his own wellbeing and that of his children. It’s something that he needs to get over yesterday in order to survive as a parent, it isn’t weak to accept the criticism of those around him.

how has the war affected this character, emotionally and otherwise?

His blood runs cold when he can’t see all of his children. Every morning he wakes up and forgets in those two seconds that Molly isn’t going to be soft under his arms, he’s content, but then he remembers. Arthur has stopped being the warm, inviting, individual that he was once acclaimed, and is now succinct with a worn nod or an obligated line of a smile. Opening up to the new people he’s put in close proximity with isn’t his game, and instead of offering stories to lighten the mood, he listens to everyone and everything he can. He observes more so now than ever and people can assume it’s because he has a speech impediment or that he’s grief stricken because his family are missing or because he’s preoccupied with his children. Arthur isn’t at Godric’s Hollow out of choice, he’s there because he couldn’t think of a better place to be with his children. He’s incredibly thankful but doesn’t trust people’s intentions, Arthur is aware that he can be used a tool in the machine and is biding his time until someone calls upon him.

where does this character currently stand? with those who wish to hide in godric’s hollow until the war ends, with those who wish to rebuild the order and continue fighting the war, or on neither side? why?

Arthur’s as conflicted as most. Stay in the quiet with the boys and lay low, stay protected where flicks of ginger haired aren’t sought out to match their mother’s. Yet there’s a fire in him that yearns to fight and flicker from the ashes and embers, to go and fight for Molly. And he so bitterly finds himself wishing that they would’ve waited longer for the children’s sake because if there were no children they could’ve fought harder at the immediate. She wouldn’t have been lost. He shouldn’t have been a coward and told her to go alone… He’s a mass dichotomy, no one move seems to have a balanced return, he always seems to lose.

It’ll take time but he will realise that he needs to listen to his gut and fight forwards, to set an example that good does prevail when it’s smart and strong enough. For now, they’re all exhausted and Arthur’s very much caught in that state of mind also.

With Molly missing, how is Arthur managing taking care of his children and continuing to be a part of the Order? Does he feel like he should remain a part of the Order?

He knows that he has obligations to the Order because after all, they are housing his children, using resources that should be reserved for those that are actively fighting. However, they accepted that strain and he will serve as best as he can. Currently Arthur is attempting to school his children with what books are littered through Godric’s Hollow and provide structure and normalcy where there seems to be none.

Art knows the Order need people who are dedicated to lose their lives for this, for others, and more importantly for the future, but he just isn’t sure if that is something that he can actively promise or provide to any degree.

Although he continues to read and further his skills to the point where he either decides to move the children and fight with the Order or leave Godric’s Hollow and take off with them.

extra.

here you can list or add any extras you created to get a sense of this character. that can include graphics, writing samples, mock blogs, etc. apps that have extras won’t have an advantage over apps that don’t, although it can help me further understand your grasp of the character.

00/00/52 Molly

05/02/50 Arthur

29/11/70 Bill

12/12/72 Charlie

22/08/76 Percy

01/04/78 George

01/04/78 Fred

01/03/80 Ron

11/08/81 Ginny

_________________________________________________________________

“Do not listen with the intent to reply. But with the intent to understand.”

Fingertips pressed to the tip of his thumb, orderly and silent within his pocket. Listen, watch, observe Arthur, it’s the fastest track to becoming a wiser man. Advice from his father, a stoic, genius of a man. He’s taught Arthur secrets about morality and how to keep his tongue in his head before he had even considered the evils of the world. It was priceless information to have instilled into you at a younger age - especially with the Weasley name carrying blood traitor status.

However it took a time for everyone to realise that words were caught struggling to tumble from his mouth, tripping on his tongue. Fighting their way through monetary issues meant that Cedrella and Septimus Weasley were incredibly busy people whilst Arthur was younger. Both working tirelessly in order to make ends meet, and of course they did, but at the extent of Arthur never really being able to realise the frustrations of having a speech impediment until he took interest in attempting to say new words at the age of five. He should’ve been talking for longer than that but it was a combination of being busy and Arthur naturally being quiet that allowed his disability to go unrecognised.

And so began the speech therapy with a diagnosis for developmental verbal dyspraxia. His speech went from incorrect stresses to monotone, breath control allowed Art to imagine the music he had heard and loved so dearly and breathe to it, suddenly he was starting to flourish. In the meantime, he was introduced to sign language in the therapist’s waiting room, and of course he was intrigued. Talking without words? It seemed like the ultimate solution and so he delved into books and taught himself to sign in the mirror. He wasn’t fluent with expressions and developing a less mechanical place until he made friends with a few deaf children. They filled the gaps in his knowledge and he was a new friend for them to play with. It was exactly what he needed to realise that he could manage without clear language, that he could make others hear him. And these children were muggle, without magic to aid their communication.

Arthur was so excited to be surrounded in magic that he started reading the texts at the age of ten, the anticipation made him nervous beyond belief, knowing that incantations would be his fall. Instead he read the theory of the magic, practising the movements and prayed that by the time he got to Hogwarts, he would just need time to breathe through the incantations. Thankfully he was sorted into Ravenclaw, a house that fed his traits of listening but nurtured the need to ask questions, he began to reach out to his peers and ask more. And they listened, sometimes baffled by his lack of intonation, sometimes reaching out to sign themselves, it was a house of curiosity and endless questions so of course Arthur was forced to be more communicative.

Whilst it wasn’t a cure all, it was what he needed to develop into the individual that would speak out against what he thought was wrong and stand strongly for what he believed to be right.

__________________________________________________________________

“Wit beyond measure is a man’s greatest treasure.”

“RAVENCLAW!”

Red hair felt out of place on the Ravenclaw table. Warmed by a firm hand on the shoulder, his heart pounding in his chest as he looked at the faces beaming at one another, wondering what the first years might bring to the house. His quiet at the table was easily accepted and ears tentatively picking up names and hobbies. As he turned in his bed, his stomach was full of dread at the realisation of the title to live up to - the innovators and path makers. Arthur swallowed the fear of inadequacy as he rolled again, restlessness was a new thing to one so young.

It was only a week before another signed hello to him, something he hadn’t even clocked as he returned the gesture but was immediately dumbfounded as it came to the front of his mind. It earned a grin from across the room and finally he was settled in his new home, with others hungry to learn from their peers and fill gaps in their familiarity. Despite it turning out that the other thought he was deaf, Art still greatly appreciated the act of kindness, and it instilled in him to give time to others. He hadn’t tried that hard with those around him since he had been surrounded by kids at speech therapy, but this pushed him.

A mention of a charms club had him asking questions to a fifth year student who laughed at him but shrugged and jotted down the directions to a second floor classroom. His magic had never thrived more than when charged with excitement, and Art was soon to be questioned on how he was so proficient. Why was he so proficient? And so his slow explanation was spoken aloud, a rarity to the 11 year old, but others heard him and laughed, wondering if he was going to do their homework for him.

Ravenclaw is his spiritual home. It nurtured him not only with knowledge, but with opportunity. It gifted him the bollocks to ask Molly out. Ravenclaw bequeathed him the strength to shrug off ridiculous name calling and sneers about his sympathy towards non-magical possessing individuals. His core was absolute and clad with the experiences that he held dearest, to support and nurture. To defend. To listen, to learn before marching blindly. Arthur’s morality was furthered in Ravenclaw, it wasn’t borne in the house, but it was watered to full blossom. No longer a seed under fresh soil, but a sunflower tall and looking for light where seemed little.

__________________________________________________________________

“Eos ipsos defendere non possunt defendamus”

(Let us defend those who are unable to defend themselves)

Arthur fell in love with Molly. Molly fell in love with Arthur. Everyone knew that was the story, they could see it in the fond glances and touches that lingered, savouring one another. They were the couple that you almost couldn’t imagine not being together, complete yin and yang. One was burned hot and vibrant where the other ran cool and calm, pacing was better for the both of them as the realised how well the other benefited their lives.

People didn’t see the arguments about having children immediately or wanting to travel or the small pause that happened just after they bought the Burrow. It wasn’t for people to see. They certainly didn’t see the months long conversation about joining the Order or what it would do to their family. What it would do to them and for what? A cause?

“Protecting who at what cause?!”

It made sense now.

But of course there was a part to the yin and yang that absolutely reassured Arthur everyday he woke up. Because for over a decade he had given to loving Molly Prewett, he had received her love back, he was now a piece of her. He would know if she had died. He had to know. It wasn’t fabled that people collapsed out of the blue despite not knowing their significant other had passed. It couldn’t have been. He would hold Ginevra in his arms every night whispering promises of returning her to her mother, of offering the comfort of her touch, and there were nights when his daughter was his only comfort whilst he sobbed alone, defeated and exhausted.

“Children! Families! People with those to lose!”

The memory of the argument alone made him stoic and calmed his fears as much as it screamed his guilt in silent moments of thought. An odd juxtaposition but he was as determined as he was when the words had left his lips. All of them had but one goal to move through this. They would find her, because that was what they were all here to do - what they had to do.

__________________________________________________________________

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.”

Charlie. Percy. Fred. George. Ron. Where’s the baby?! WHERE’S T- Ginny.

Morning mantras were never reminding yourself that your children were alive and surrounding you, they were the eggs and bacon?

Or porridge?

No, Dad! I want toast.

It wasn’t always a tightened chest when he heard a clatter of locks changing whilst his children played across the room from him, an instant flash of hands to check that they were all aware to be respectful of those around them. He had never quietened their noise as he did so now… Not that they were louder than most’s speaking level. It still was unnatural to see his eldest pick up the younger ones when Arthur moved in front of them when somebody unexpected entered the room.

Watching his children grow up aware that they were all targets. Now that was stomach churning, to see their fight or flight in real time instead of in tag or when they were scared because they’d broken a glass.

Art was exhausting his imagination in order to provide fun alternatives for them to play or take their minds away from the cold reality. They were now learning how to write their wishes and new words and spells. Art was worried for his children getting to an age where they needed proper magical tuition, whether they would leave for Hogwarts as Bill had, how would they channel their magic initially without wands. Could he guide them through that?

What would Molly do?

His heart burned for his eldest son. He just wasn’t enough for everyone and that was the problem, wasn’t it? Arthur felt like he was letting his boy down by leaving him away from the rest of his siblings but it was the safest place for him. Perhaps safer than his siblings. It was the question that wracked his head - should he collect Bill from Hogwarts so that he was safe with everyone? How could he protect him when he was miles away? Would he be able to protect another child, especially one so desperate to protect his siblings… Molly would be so irritated at that thought. Or maybe she would be furious that he still waited, that he hadn’t taken them already. His mind buzzed light the air in a storm, but at least his words weren’t yet electric and sharp to others. Instead he exhaled and shook out the distress, heaving sighs in hopes of removing the weight crushing his chest.

Self doubt was an evil bastard and he was consumed with the what-ifs and the when’s instead of the right-here’s and the nows.

DAD!!!!

He had been waiting for it. Percy was writing letters to his grandmother when Charlie had stolen a rubber band and thwacked it across the room, hitting his brother on the side of the head. Arthur stifled a laugh whilst he watched Molly take a rather purposeful sip of tea to hide her smile before correcting the behaviour.

Dad?

Art blinked, staring at a frowning George, tuning back into the room. His son had been so hesitant, the boys were very patient with both him and Ginny in the absence of their mother. They wanted home as much as he did, but at least their space was slowly becoming more comfortable and their drawings were brightening Godric’s Hollow as small gifts to the others that sat and read stories with them all. He just hoped that this wouldn’t become their usual and he could return to the home he had made for his family.

__________________________________________________________________

AFTER THOUGHT:

(Muse is something that develops in scenario for me personally and I am stoked for the plot of this RP to reinvent the Arthur I’ve written for years. Hence how face value the answers are, but hit me up if you want more drabble or to further move through the points, I just want the chance to do this organically through interaction.)

[kuuderekun]

Magical Girl Site, Transgender Representation and The Batman Question.

Magical Girl Site, Transgender Representation and The Batman Question. 

For the second week in a row Magical Girl Site is the only show I really want to comment on.  But I'm still enjoying all the shows I'm currently watching. I mentioned in my Astolfo post how I don't use the term "Trap" to describe characters who are actually Trasngender.  The only problem with making that hard distinction is Japanese media doesn't always use the same terminology we use in the west, so it's not always clear what the writers are going for.  For example I'm still not sure what we're supposed to think of Ruka in Steins;Gate, I like that in the new series they seem more comfortable with their gender identity, but I'm still unsure what it's supposed to be. Episode 7 of Magical Girl Site introduced the character of Kiyoharu Suirenji.  Going off what we see in this episode alone I would have to conclude she is a Transwoman and not merely a Crossdresser because of her using the girl's bathroom and that being an issue.  I don't think a CisMale Crossdresser would use the girl's bathroom.  However her seemingly not objecting to others calling her a boy complicates the matter, but it could be she's just someone who doesn't want to get confrontational about it.  But I also could have missed something there since I'm watching it Subbed because there is no Dub. In the episode's MAL forum one user who's read the Manga says the character is definitely a Transwoman.  That user is defending using the proper terminology to refer to her.  However there is at least one user there being very blatantly Transphobic. Most of what we see of the character in the episode I like.  However we are given a glimpse of the character having a dark side, with her saying she'll get revenge in the distant future.  Now this is a Dark Magical girl show where most characters have something dark about them.  But I'm still recovering from the disappointment of my favorite Western TV show of all time, Pretty Little Liars blowing it with it's handling of this issue. People sometimes ask whether bad representation is better then no representation.  It is interesting that if this show had never brought the issue up I would probably have never singled it out to criticize for lack of Trans representation.  But as soon as they provide some representation it doesn't take long for me to start being on edge about her being mishandled.  I'd been praising the show for it's unsanitized depiction of Bullying, I should then be thrilled to see that theme expand to showing the bullying Trans Women endure.  But instead I'm worried about the implications of this character either turning evil or dying. But I now realize that, yeah, I should be criticizing Magical Girl shows for failing to include trans representation (and even Sailor Moon fails to include any true Trans representation, the Starlights were simply a gender bending gimmick).  They frequently try to have very diverse casts allowing many different kinds of girls to be magical girls, representing many different forms of the adolescent female experience in Japan.  I think we're long overdue for a Trans Magical Girl and it's unfortunate that the Dark Magical Girl Genre people are back lashing against now was the first to do it. This subject happened to be on my mind already before I saw episode 7.   You may have noticed I posted about a Batman movie that features The Riddler yesterday.  Well Batman and The Riddler being on my mind reminded me that back when I spent a lot of time trying to imagine what kinds of Batman films I'd make I had came up with a concept that re-imagined The Riddler as a Trans Woman.  But then decided that I wasn't comfortable casting a Trans character as a villain in our current climate. Homosexual representation in media has reached the point where you can have Gay villains without it automatically reinforcing the same harmful stereotypes that used to keep Gays only as villains or victims in American fiction.  But Trans representation, especially for Trans Women, has not, as clearly shown by what happened with Pretty Little Liars.  I absolutely believe the writers of that show had the best of intentions, they wanted to say Transphobia is the ultimate cause of the tragedy, but regardless Charlotte being the only Trans representation the show had left the LGBT community who at one point loved the show deeply offended. Ironically this Trans Woman Riddler idea had developed in my mind before season 6 of PLL happened.  And yet my vision for The Riddler was influenced by PLL before the Trans Woman aspect was a part of it.  PLL started airing back when Batfans were still hoping The Riddler would be in the third Nolan Batfilm.  And I from day one immediately felt how -A operated on PLL was a good reference point for how to "Nolanize" The Riddler. So in hindsight Charlotte DiLaurentis kind of resembles the Trans Woman Riddler concept I'd been thinking of.  And how that whole controversy helped shape how I think about this issue is probably a factor in why I dropped the idea.  Still my envisioned backstory for her (which I don't entirely remember) was far from identical.  And of course I also regardless of the character's gender or ethnic identity prefer The Riddler to not be a murderer.  It would be admittedly hard to keep that in tact when making The Riddler the main antagonist of a big budget Hollywood blockbuster, but I do think it's workable. So in that sense my Riddler was closer to Mona then Charlotte. But now I can't help but wonder if outright abandoning it was simply the Cowards way out (Realistically I'll probably never get to make a Batman film anyway, but this is hypothetical).  For example if I have good guys in the movie who are also Trans that could certainly help make it salvageable. Part of what was so harmful about the Charlotte story-line was caused by the need for it to be a twist, that the character who turned out to be "Charles" had been posing as a Cis Woman.  And that's the main problem with my initial concept here.  The starting premise before any Gender issues factored into it was allowing a Batman movie that's actually a Mystery/Detective story by having us not know who The Riddler is.  But I now realize that the concept can be reworked so that whatever name She is using before the reveal she can still be openly Trans.  The thing is I'm kind of killing that mystery aspect for future use by giving it all away publicly now.  Only way it could work for someone who'd read this post is if multiple Trans Women are in it.  Oh wait, that happens to also help fix keep her from being the only representation. The YouTube Channel FilmJoy did a video last year called The Batman Question which I watched today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwzE2J7bo0c&t It was about the idea of allowing more then just CisHet White Men to play Batman and other major Batman characters.  Janelle Monae was a choice brought up a lot, and she responded that she'd rather play The Joker. And that reminded me how members of Batman's Rouges Gallery are Pop Culture Icons and that almost every Actor wants an opportunity to play one.  And I personally would cast an actual Trans Woman to play the role (The Pedantic Romantic could make a good Riddler).  So perhaps we shouldn't exclude the Trans Community from being able to play those roles out of fear of how it can go wrong. The Riddler is often viewed as Batman's smarted nemesis, his greatest intellectual threat. After all Eartha Kitt wasn't counterproductive for Black Women.   KyleKallgrenBHH in his recent video on The Watermelon Woman talks about how for a long time Black Women weren't allowed to be Sex Symbols in America.  So in that context one getting to play the greatest Sex Symbol of American Pop Culture was downright revolutionary.  And so in today's climate maybe Catwoman should be the first Bat Rouge to consider allowing to be a Transwoman? You may ask, why was it that my mind went there for The Riddler first? Another question you may ask is, how would I handle naming this Transwoman reinterpretation of Edward Nygma? Well the answers to those questions are kind of the same. When I starting of thinking about what I'd do for a Nolanesque Riddler story.  I first decided "The Riddler" should be a name given to them.   They would identify themselves in their messages as simply -?  Again influenced by -A on PLL. Then I first started thinking about the character's Gender as I was playing around with the inherent pun of E. Nygma, and the idea entered my head to use the name..... ....... Annie Nygma...................... And from there I thought first just of making The Riddler a woman, an idea which technically had done before at least by Cosplayers.  But I also thought about having her use multiple names and for the sake of Nolan style realism not having any Nygma name be her birth name.  Then I heard of this Edward Nashton name that had emerged as an alternate name for The Riddler, I don't know who used it first but I heard of it via The Riddler Blogs, a fan film project derivative of The Joker Blogs. And then I thought about how Transmen and Transwomen naturally tend to change their names from what they were given at birth.  And so the idea popped in there to have Edward Nashton be the name assigned at birth, and Annie Nygma the name she chose when she accepted her Gender Identity, because she was into Riddles and Puzzles. I'm not Trans, I can't actually relate to these issues.  So I simply don't know what the right answer is.  Perhaps it's a good idea for me to put this experience out there and let someone who is Trans use it for their own Fanwork if they see value in it. Part of the reason I was ashamed of this for awhile is it didn't originate much from a place of caring about representation.  I've always been a believer in Trans rights, but it was in recent years I've become much more sensitive to this and other Social Justice issues. The more recent ideas I've come up with for characters who are Trans have been making them heroes.  Like the idea of the Vordenberg who Carmilla had a romance with being a Transwoman.  Or my desire to tell a story about Lancelot as a Transwoman (using the name Lanzelet), as well as Perceval as a Transman.  And my idea for a fictionalized French Revolution shared cinematic universe innovated using Chevalier d'Éon in the Captain America/Wonder Woman/King Kong role as the one who's origin story film is set in a previous era.  And interpreting d'Eon as a Noble Honorable and Heroic Transwoman, not doing weirder ideas like the Anime about her and Fate Grand Order do.  The only Fantastical aspect will be keeping the character young in the 1790s.

[entergamingxp]

Command and Conquer Remastered Interview — Joe Kucan On His Role as Kane and the Series’ Legacy

June 4, 2020 1:00 PM EST

Famous for his role as Kane in the Command and Conquer games, Joe Kucan sat down for an interview with DualShockers to talk about the legacy of the series and his part in it.

When granted the opportunity to have a 1-on-1 interview with Joe Kucan, I excitedly leapt at the chance. Joe is instantly recognizable to someone who grew up playing the Command and Conquer games, like yours truly. He’s the actor responsible for portraying the series’ iconic antagonist Kane, the leader and messianic figure of the Brotherhood of Nod. Joe has played this role in every installment of the series (even the more reviled ones), and his enigmatic but charismatic character was a core component in giving the real-time strategy classics their personality. Behind the scenes, he also directed the voice lines and cutscenes for Westwood Studios’ early games.

Since his last appearance in 2010’s Command and Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, Joe has been absent from the world of game development. The impending release of Command and Conquer Remastered has seen him resurface, much like the deathless character he portrays. I had hoped to have a good discussion with Joe about the legacy of the series and his role within it. What I didn’t expect from the interview was the sheer level of charisma and genial humor he provided.

In asking what he’d been up to since his first public appearances, Joe regaled me with his time in office as the president of France; a term which ended in disaster due to his inability to speak the language. That didn’t stop him from growing rich off grift and corruption, though. Oh, and he founded a non-profit theater company in Las Vegas which has been running for the past ten years. That should set the tone that our conversation took.

Read on to hear what Joe had to say about his time with Command and Conquer, and what to expect from the remastered collection of this classic series.

Kris Cornelisse: Command and Conquer Remastered is coming out soon-

Joe Kucan: Yes! I’ve heard. That’s what they tell me.

KC: Yes, so, there’ll be a quite few new players and returning fans getting to revisit the early days of the series-

JK: Yeah, so, tell me about the genre, man. Tell me about where strategy games are sitting now. We’re primed, right? We’re going to jump right into a thriving marketplace?

KC: Weeell…unfortunately the real-time strategy genre doesn’t seem to be that flourishing. It’s all MOBAs and Fortnite and such, these days.

JK: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hope we have new players, and I’m optimistic they’re gonna have new players, but I just heard that and it sorta made me pause a little bit because I think there’s a certain nostalgia for all of this stuff. I’m guessing, Kris, that you feel a certain nostalgia for all this stuff?

KC: Absolutely.

JK: Right, so I think that that’s part of the real allure, and if that translates into new players and a new bit of nostalgia moving forward, sort of like neo-nostalgia? That’d be awesome. But I interrupted you, go ahead and finish your question.

KC: You more or less pre-empted the question. How do you feel about the enduring legacy of the Command and Conquer games, and what it’d be like for new players to come experience that and your work?

JK: I could not be more flattered and surprised by the enduring legacy of the games, I’ve gotta tell you. You know, we’re sitting in our little studio 25 years ago, banging this thing out…I don’t think anyone anticipated its long shelf life, and certainly not the impact it had even in the short term.

I think that initial reaction to the game, and the universe, the storylines, all that stuff; I certainly didn’t anticipate it. If I HAD anticipated it, I would’ve done better! I would’ve done a better job, instead of just coasting through the whole thing and cashing the paycheck, which is pretty much what I did!

I think I’m curiously excited — I’m crixcited? Curcited? — about what the new sort of reactions will be. Because, like you say, it’s a very specific genre. Real-time strategy is a smart person’s game, let’s face it.

KC: Absolutely.

JK: It’s a game for gamers. It’s a game for people who enjoy game theory, and — it’s right there in the title — strategy, right? It takes a certain skill to play this game. Not to disparage the Fortnite shooters and the, y’know, guys with their sniper scopes and what have you. But it is a different skill set, isn’t it? Thinking about a big picture…strategy, approaching these games, is really different from just entertainment. And there’s certainly a great deal of entertainment to be had in Command and Conquer.

When you really have to think and plan and strategize: I think that makes your involvement in the game levels above the sort of first-person shooters where you’re just sort of running around like a tank.

KC: Yeah, I’d definitely agree. I’ve heard it described as “managing crises,” with so much going on, you have to juggle it back and forth.

JK: I’m going to steal that for future interviews if you don’t mind. Managing crises, I like that very much.

“It is a different skill set, isn’t it? Thinking about a big picture…strategy, approaching these games, is really different from just entertainment.”

KC: I think it was Day[9] talking about Starcraft, so there you go. With my blessing!

JK: Oh. Star…craft. I’m not familiar.

KC: Eh, it was some other game, might’ve been…y’know. Somewhat relevant. But it wasn’t Command and Conquer.

JK: Never heard of it. Can’t imagine it sold more than four or five copies.

KC: No, no, definitely not. Definitely didn’t, you know, become an esport giant or a national sport or anything. Perish the thought.

JK: I am curious to see the new reactions, but I’ve gotta be honest- can I be honest, Kris? Do you mind?

KC: By all means!

JK: A little bit of honesty in the midst of all this nonsense? I’m a little scared by the scrutiny, because I look back at some of that stuff that we did, and I understand the limitations of not just the technology, but the space that we were in, the knowledge we had, the talent available to us, and the sort of time deadlines that were thrown at us. I recognize all those limitations and I see where we certainly exceeded a lot of those expectations.

But I also look back at some of it, and I think “oooh,” there’s some cringing. Anybody who looks back at something they’ve done 30 years ago…25 years ago; you’re certainly going to look back and go “Ooh, really, okay, well, yeah, nnngh…”

So I’m a little nervous about the increased scrutiny, especially since the evolution of games has continued. And we’re sort of forcing the evolution of this game now, right? The remaster is just kind of forced evolution. We’re upping the graphics, we’re changing some of the code, but at the end of the day-

KC: Removing plenty of the limitations, yeah.

JK: Yes, so my considerable ego is sort of gearing up to be…kicked a little bit. *laughs* With that sort of reaction. And there’s something about- you’re saying you’ve been playing this game for a while? You sound like quite a young man, so I can imagine that your first experience with the game happened when you were, what? 10, 12 years old?

KC: Younger, even.

JK: Right?! So that experience as a kid is sort of brand new, wide-eyed child looking at this game. The experience that you had is going to be hard to recreate as an adult. You go “Oh, I remember this!” or “I remember that feeling that I had!” I don’t really think it can be recaptured or even be recreated, but it can certainly be appreciated. That’s kind of what I’m hoping for.

“I’m a little nervous about the increased scrutiny, especially since the evolution of games has continued. And we’re sort of forcing the evolution of this game now, right? The remaster is just kind of forced evolution.”

KC: Well, I can tell you I’ve just been replaying some of the older games. I’ve just finished Command and Conquer 3 yesterday, so-

JK: See, it feels like I just did Command and Conquer 3 like two years ago. So for you to call it one of the older games…it kind of hurts my soul.

KC: *laughs* I don’t mean it in that regard! But, y’know, it has been a while…the franchise has been relatively dormant, so.

JK: That’s true, that’s true…

KC: I don’t suppose you have any insider information about whether that will change or not?

JK: Well, they had licensed a Broadway show based on Command and Conquer. It was going to be a big musical. We were scheduled to start rehearsals in June, but the whole coronavirus shuttered it indefinitely. So I don’t know if that’s still going to go forward, and I think there’s a clause in the contract that the exclusivity clause I think becomes invalid after a certain date, so I’m not sure if that’s going to go forward or not.

KC: Well all the best in getting that off the ground then, for sure!

JK: *laughs*

KC: So I have to ask then, what led to the creation of Kane’s persona in the original Command and Conquer? Did you have any influence or say in the writing process, or did things change around your acting? How did that happen?

JK: Ahhh, well…the original game, a lot of things were written very differently, and the pipeline was very short. We’ve got an idea of what the storyline is, but in terms of specific monologues and specific approaches, they would happen kinda piecemeal. We would shoot things over the course of weeks as we decided to change approaches and what have you.

With other performers and some of the other actors, we had to have everything sort of in-place. [Eric Martin’s] Sheppard had one day of work, so we had him for one day to record all of his things and we couldn’t really go back and change too much. We had some pick-up days where he would come back and change some stuff, but as a general rule, it was pretty quick.

So in terms of creating the persona of the character *laughs* I always felt like the tongue-in-cheek aspect of the persona was important. I’m not suggesting that I felt like I was in on a joke, but I felt like I was in on the spirit of what we were doing, that I was sharing that with the players; that there was some sort of shared experience that we were both having. It wasn’t just the player having this experience, but on the other side of the camera, I was having this experience as well.

So I think that part of the persona, of the character, just became an expression of that shared common feeling about what it is we were doing, which was…silly! Conquering the world! Conquering the world is a silly trope, really.

KC: Oh yeah.

JK: Yeah, and I think that you have to play that a little bit tongue-in-cheek. And I wonder if that came across.

KC: I’d say you did a pretty good job of it, personally.

“I always felt like the tongue-in-cheek aspect of the [Kane] persona was important. I’m not suggesting that I felt like I was in on a joke, but I felt like I was in on the spirit of what we were doing.”

JK: Well, thank you! I’ve said this before; there are fans of the game, but when you talk to the fans of the game, they are very encamped. They are very pro-GDI, or they are very pro-Nod, and it’s not just the strengths of the units in the game that create that loyalty. I think there’s a certain interest in the personalities involved — the sort of grand sweeping feeling of the story — that helps create some of that loyalty. Don’t you think?

KC: I would say so, yeah. People definitely choose their side, as it were.

JK: Yeah, and I like to feel that I’m a small part of that.

KC: I would definitely say so.

JK: *laughs*

KC: So I guess we’ll just wrap it up; do you have a message for all of my fellow brothers and sisters of Nod who continue to serve in the name of Kane?

JK: YES. I don’t know how it is in Australia, but here in America? The left lane on the freeway is the passing lane, ladies and gentlemen. It’s the passing lane. Slower traffic, stay right. When you’re passing your car, you move into the left lane, make your pass, and then back into the travel lane — the right-hand lane. Which is just a long-winded way of saying stay out of my way.

Command and Conquer Remastered is due to release on June 5, 2020 for PC, on both Origin and Steam. This release will include both the original Command and Conquer and Red Alert games plus all of their expansions.

June 4, 2020 1:00 PM EST

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/06/command-and-conquer-remastered-interview-joe-kucan-on-his-role-as-kane-and-the-series-legacy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=command-and-conquer-remastered-interview-joe-kucan-on-his-role-as-kane-and-the-series-legacy

[indigo-streaks-in-her-hair]

500 Follower Ask Celebration :)

welp, here we are with 500 beautiful lovelies reading our fics. when we first started this blog, we never imagined such a wonderful response. everyone is the nicest & we both can’t express how grateful we are for every one of you.

thank you so much for sticking by us, even during our rough times. your support means the world to the both of us, & you all keep us going more than you think. you all inspire us every single day, & never fail to make us laugh.

you, yes all of you, are the best followers in the whole damn universe. you’re all irreplaceable & extremely dear to us. we love you guys so much. words can’t begin to describe how we feel.

and so, since we literally can’t come up with anything else to do on this momentous occasion, our original plan for 500 was to reblog a long ass ask list for you guys to send in numbers, but since that would all be complicated on the matter of the two of us answering, we decided to just answer all these 45 questions.

you’ll find the questions and our answers under the cut! enjoy!

 um she’s really lovely and sympathetic and true and magnificent and her name is summer and the most annoying thing about her is that she’s not annoying at all. -v

pretty much the fact that vic is better than me at  e v e r y t h i n g . she’s so much more caring and generous and beautiful and she’s always there for me whenever i’m having a bad day or if i’m just lonely or whenever i need someone to talk to. she’s also super polite and hilarious as hell. -s

2 • least favorite tv shows? 

oops sorry if i offend some people but i really don’t like vampire diaries, thirteen reasons why, gossip girl, or the uk version of the office. -v

i don’t, like,,,,, watch tv much so all honesty, i can’t really have an answer for this? sorry?? -s

3 • favorite moment with your best friend ( s ) ? 

oh omg i was texting summer a few weeks ago discussing and finalizing which fic requests we were each going to be taking and we had that one request asking for a connor imagine in which him and the reader take zoe to get her wisdom teeth out so i said something around the lines of “i can take connor and the wisdom teeth” and i literally froze before following that up with “omg that could be a name for a band”. summer freaks out and we’re both laughing hysterically over text and we stop everything and just spit out crappy band names that include connor and various body parts like “connor and the tonsils” and “connor and the funny bone” and even “connor and the fractured pelvis” and we’re absolutely dying because we can’t stop cackling at this stupid thing i brought up which made me laugh out loud a hundred times and i ended up scaring my own grandmother when she saw me giggling crazily with my phone. she ended up cutting me a slice of pie because she thought there was actually something wrong and the pie might help me calm down. so if the person who requested “connor and the wisdom teeth” is reading this right now i just wanna say thank you for requesting and your idea is amazing and your fic will forever be iconic ily. -v

oh my god, i was literally going to say the exact same thing vic did, but i guess i can choose a different memory.  one time vic posted a pic of a turtle on her sc story and i was like “girl omg” and she remembered that time she played the character Turtle in her school’s production of The Westing Game play and then we started reminiscing on our old nerdy memories like when a projected video didn’t work for her and she had to just say all the audio backstage, or the time after my school’s cheap ass production of the Wizard of Oz during curtain call i tried to quickly change from my farmhand costume to my tin man costume and i forgot to put my shoes on and i slipped and fell on my ass during curtain call (i also forgot to bow but unimPORTANT) and it was just so sweet and cute but honestly every moment with vic is the bEST. -s

4 • what’s one quality you would like to have? 

hm i’ve always wanted lighter eyes, mine are this boring brown color. whenever i’m in sunlight, they become shot through with these bits of gold and amber and it’s super pretty and that’s the only time they really lighten up. it would be really nice if they were like that all the time. -v

my big nose and thin hair have been the #1 qualities i’m most self conscious of, so i would really like to either have a smaller nose, or thicker hair. my face is already super oily as is, but my nose is the worst part, and i’ve always hated how my nostrils are almost as big has my eyes. as for the thin hair, you always have to be cautious about what you do with it, because there’s so little of it. like, i’m hella prone to sweating, which sucks, so if i sweat too much, my hair can easily build up enough grease to look like i just got out of the shower in a matter of minutes. or if i sleep on it the “wrong way”, and portions of are crinkled awkwardly or sticking out, then that’s how it’s going to look the entire day. and i can’t do any cute hairstyles with it because it all will fall out. -s

5 • name three people of the same sex you would kiss, marry, or fuck. 

kiss rachelle ann go, marry pippa soo, and fuck laura dreyfuss oops. -v

kiss pippa soo, marry eva noblezada, and as for the other one,,,, i’ll get back to you on that.. -s

6 • do you like your full name? 

hell no it sounds so boring and standard. -v

hahahahahah, no way. -s

7 • tell me your most embarrassing memory. 

erhm so many? how do i choose? i’ve tripped in front of crushes hundreds of times, i spelled a word wrong in a spelling bee that i really did know how to spell but my anxiety acted up and i panicked so badly, i ran into a sliding glass door literally yesterday, when i was little i sang in a public bathroom and everyone heard, i also fell out of a tree? does that make me evan hansen? -v

oh n o. there’s too much there, i swear. um, i got so nervous when someone asked me what my name was, i told them i was “helen”, but i think that was because i accidentally said “hell” too loud and tried to cover it up. i’ve tripped so many times on a flat ground. once i was crying in a public bathroom and a kid started banging on the door and told his mom that no one was in there, so before they got the staff to open the door, i panicked and hid my face in my sleeve as i ran out of there. omg there was also one time, a long ass time ago, someone asked me who my favorite member of one direction was and i didn’t know who they were because in my house we don’t listen to (at the time) contemporary music. not to mention anything in english?? but anyways, i’d heard of them but nothing about them, so me, trying desperately to fit in said “i like all four of them”. and they told me “there’s five”. there was also a time i was invited to this girl’s retreat thing in her youth group when we took a field trip to this pumpkin patch and they had this corn maze and we tried to go through it, but i got lost and nobody was around me and for some reason i thought everyone just left so i was terrified and crying and just started running straight through the corn. but then one of the other kids saw me and called me out to everyone and i was too embarrassed and anxious to say “i got lost”. there’s probably so many more memories and probably worse ones too, but in short, my life is a huge embarrassment. -s

8 • favorite color to wear? 

pastel baby blue is my number one. i have this off shoulder blouse that’s this pretty sky blue color and white and i think it’s my favorite item of clothing. -v

i can’t make a lot of colors look good on me so usually i turn to black, gray, or any dark shade. -s

9 • favorite restaurant? 

there’s a vietnamese place called “saigon diamond” in my city and it’s absolutely wonderful and i would go there every single day if i could. -v

i love this little place, it’s called “cafe vie” where they have boba tea, spring rolls, phở, all sorts of vietnamese food and it’s just so quaint and the food is the best there, honestly. i’m so hungry now. -s

10 • what would be a good first date for you? 

take me to a broadway show and then dinner and i will be the happiest girl in the world. -v

vic pretty much took it away at “broadway show” for me. and dinner is hella important, food is so good. i don’t have high standards, but if you really want to make an impression on me, then i’m literally the biggest sucker for romantic gestures. -s

11 • are you a good wrestler? 

thumb, yes. arm, no. full body contact, idk about that but i do know karate so i will fight you. -v

lmao, no. -s

12 • are you allergic to something? 

up until the time i was five or something i was allergic to grass and i had to wear pants whenever i went outside and it was honestly horrible because i couldn’t play tag or run around like other kids my age. -v

i honestly don’t know but most bug bites i get can get hella blisters and really gross even if i don’t touch them. -s

13 • would you be a good singer? 

i’ve been singing pretty much my entire life but it was only this year that i started gaining confidence with my voice so i guess i consider myself a good singer? i’m not completely there yet, though. -v

i really hope so. i’ve been a big choir nerd since i was 7 or 8 and i’m really passionate about singing, but that really has nothing to do with skill, i guess? i don’t really like the sound of my voice, but i’m pretty decent at harmonizing. -s

14 • who’s the last person you said “ i love you ” to? 

summer aka the shining light in this dark world. -v

victoire aka the actual light of my life?? love you, vic -s

15 • what car would you buy if you had enough money? 

um a porsche obviously because that shit is prime. -v

literally any car that doesn’t break down. as long as it can transport me from point a to point b without any troubles, then i am set. -s

16 • favorite cover of a song? 

currently it’s that cover of ben platt singing “ stay ” that’s floating around tumblr rn and i think i had an eargasm when i listened to it the first time i was so shook. -v

i can’t pickk a favv omg. everyone is so frickin talented it makes me actually want to curl up and yell. -s

17 • what was your last conversation about? 

coincidentally it was summer telling me we hit 500 and me proceeding to flip out. -v

hah, i don’t remember who it was with but i went around telling a couple people that my dad took my phone and i can only contact them from my crappy chromebook. -s

18 • where were you born? 

good ol’ michigan in the usa where i still live today. come visit us because we have chocolate fudge, cereal, and eminem if you like that kind of shit. we also have lots of lakes and pretty places and we’re so cool we’re shaped like a fucking mitten. -v

kansas, where i also still live today. maybe i don’t get out much, but it’s kinda boring here,, -s

19 • least favorite app? 

there’s this app on my uncle’s phone called “ chicken scream ” where this chicken has to jump onto platforms but to do that you have to scream and the octave of your voice determines how high the chicken jumps. seriously fucked up and i hate it but it’s hilarious watching people play it. -v

anything that can’t entertain me for more than two minutes. i have such a short attention span -s

20 • tell me two facts about the country of your birth. 

um we have the largest air force in the world and we sell enough pizza every day to cover one hundred whole acres and no i am not lying i read this in a book ok bye. -v

uhhh… its abbreviation, “USA” stands for the United States of America, and it’s made up of 50 states. -s

21 • do you like wearing sunglasses? 

actually i hate wearing sunglasses because they get tangled in my hair but if a pair looks good with my outfit then i will wear them for the sake of fashion. -v

i don’t wear sunglasses really at all, so i guess i can’t really have an opinion on them? -s

22 • when’s a good moment for a first kiss? 

goodbye kisses are the best, do not tell me otherwise. walk me home and then kiss me goodbye at the door and i will be thinking about you all the damn time and i’ll can’t wait to see you. -v

i think for a first kiss it should be a very important thing, so whoever you have it with should be really close to you, and someone you know that even if things don’t work out, you can always look back on it as a positive memory. but what would i know? -s

23 • what are your nationalities? 

i was born in america to immigrant parents who came from the philippines. along with the filipino blood, my great grandmother on my dad’s side was chinese, and my great grandparents on my mom’s side were spanish. -v

i was also born in america to immigrant parents, but they were from vietnam. my great grandparents on my mom’s side were chinese. -s

24 • what would make you drop college / university? 

ha are you kidding me if i ever dropped out of any sort of education my strict asian parents would probably disown me and mushu the dragon would appear out of nowhere and give me that whole “ dishonor ” speech. -v

^damn vic, i couldn’t have said it any better. -s

25 • a crossover between two shows ( any shows ) you would like to see? 

idk about any of you but a crossover between riverdale and doctor who sounds hella awesome. i’d definitely watch that. -v

frick;; i don’t watCH TV at like,,, all?? -s

26 • long or short hair? 

on me? honestly i prefer to have long hair but i’ll go shoulder length if i’m really feeling brave or something. when i was little i had super short hair with bangs so i was basically an asian dora the explorer. -v

short hair, for sure. i used to have hair down to my waist when i was younger and that was probably the grossest thing about me because it was so disproportionate to my head/face and made me look like if E.T. had two long strands of black yarn on its head. but even before that ofc i had a bowl cut. what asian kid doesn’t have a bowl cut, honetsly. although, over the summer i don’t cut my hair so i can dye the ends, then have it cut when school starts. the farthest it goes down is barely past my shoulders. -s

27 • a character from a book / tv show that shouldn’t of died? 

max lightwood from the mortal instruments book series was the purest bean, and he wasn’t even ten years old yet and that definitely broke my heart. as for tv characters, i sobbed for days on end when arthur from the bbc show merlin died. -v

um,,, crap idk. -s

28 • favorite movie scene? 

pitch perfect two where ben platt’s character benji musters up the courage to kiss emily before the bellas go on. idk why but it’s so cute? maybe it’s just ben? -v

sidenote: vic, i love that scene. anyways, maybe that final scene in heathers where martha gets her one line. idk. -s

29 • do you ship more fictitional characters or real people? 

fictional characters of course. who would i be without my otps? -v

definitely fictional characters. -s

30 • favorite country song? 

i seriously despise country music. i just don’t like it. it’s bleh. i don’t really know half the artists or their songs so i can’t have a favorite. -v

frickin “your man” by josh turner. i’m seriously kidding. i don’t listen to country music efiouhadjhdsilvb -s

31 • favorite john green book? 

it’s tied between “ paper towns “and ” looking for alaska “ because both are equally cryptic and beautiful at the same time and i love when books are like that. -v

heck, i really like “looking for alaska” -s

32 • least favorite ed sheeran song? 

oh come on. i love ed. you can’t expect me to pick a least favorite. but when it comes to the song i skip over most of the time it has to be ” even my dad does sometimes “ from multiply ( x ). -v

uhhhhmmmm… hell if i know -s

33 • favorite ship? 

malec from shadowhunters will always be my otp until the day i die. the ship is so diverse and has so much chemistry and if you read the books magnus and alec are so in love i can’t handle. -v

i don’t frickin knowwww. i’m honestly feeling so attacked right now. i’m so sorry if all of my answers are like this, i’m literally the most indecisive person in the actual world. -s

34 • how do you deal with sexual tension? 

uM -v

uM -s

35 • name a celebrity who died that you miss. 

our queen carrie fisher. i grew up with star wars always on my tv and when i heard of her passing i cried and rewatched ” the force awakens “ with blankets and two boxes of tissues. -v

there’s really too many to choose from, and thinking about all of the happy memories they’ve brought to me and everyone is just getting me so emotional. -s

36 • favorite harry potter spell? 

i’m really fucking basic but ” lumos “ is the best. it’s so simple. it’s light. and idk why that resonates with me but i just think everyone needs a little light these days. -v

i literally said “lumos” too, but now i’m going to choose “riddikulus” because turning boggarts into something funny proves that anyone can find humor in their biggest fear. -s

37 • something you are scared of losing? 

my family. there’s no way in hell i’d make it through life without my little brother or my grandparents who are there for me. -v

i’m terrified of losing the few friends i have. everyone i used to know didn’t have a single hesitation in forgetting me or even trying to lose contact with me. -s

38 • someone you regret meeting? 

i could make you a list and tell you what each one did to make me regret even looking at them but i don’t wanna go out on a full on bitch rant about these people who ended up wasting my time. but i’ll just say i’ve met my share of shitty human beings. -v

too many. there have been too many people who’ve hurt me or betrayed me or have honestly made me feel like a horrible person, and i really wish i could forget every last one of them. little tip: it doesn’t matter how long you’ve known a person, it doesn’t excuse any sort of bullshit or betrayal they’ve done. -s

39 • have you ever been hurt by someone you thought was your friend?

yes and it’s caused a lot of emotional and mental issues. i’ve been backstabbed and used so many times and i just wish i could stop being stupid and blind for not seeing it in the first place. -v

god, yes. i wish it didn’t take me this long and this much damage to realize i shouldn’t have been throwing around my trust or my yearning to be accepted so lightly. getting hurt by the people you thought cared about you most is the most awful feeling, especially knowing that every single act of kindness and sympathy and love to them meant nothing. -s

40 • do you easily open up to people? 

yes and no, actually. it ultimately depends on the person and whether i have a connection with them. -v

it’s really hard to open up to people in real life because i don’t know if they’re confidently lying to my face or will use my own words against me to people who also know me irl. but online it’s easy to open up to my friends there because i can find people who understand shit i go through and actually take the time to give a crap. -s

41 • what is a gift you love receiving? 

hugs. i love hugs. gimme all the hugs you got, boo. -v

damn, v knows exactly what i’m going to say. i love hugs so frickin much, but honestly any sort of affection is all i need, like, smooches? yes?? compliments? absoLUTELY?? cuddles??? MARRY ME?!?! -s

42 • what is something you could leave easily? 

erhm maybe my notebooks? i usually journal in them but not that often anymore. -v

probably hair clips. i really can’t do anything with them, and on me they’re really tacky. -s

43 • rant about what’s eating you up. 

i’d really rather skip this one if anyone doesn’t mind, i’m sure i’d go on for a hundred paragraphs about my stressful life plus i’m sure it would annoy you. and my problems are the kind of personal ones i’m not comfortable putting out in public yet. -v

i really agree with vic here, i don’t want to be a huge bother to y’all and it’s really a touchy and personal subject here. -s

44 • if you could make a phone call to anyone right now, who would it be and what would you say? 

i’d call ben platt, tell him how much i love him and how much i love the show and whole cast, all while screaming and shaking. -v

i was going to freaking say ben platt too, seriously. i wish i could thank him for how much his representation of evan and the build up of his character has made me find something to relate to and learn to appreciate myself more, even in the slightest. i’d also love to tell him that he shouldn’t have to feel apologetic for doing the things he does to take care of himself physically and mentally, and his fans should be more than supportive of him taking care of his well-being. i’d also ask him to tell the rest of the cast, creative, and standbys how much i seriously appreciate them, but honestly i’d be speechless if i knew he was on the other end of the line. -s

45 • are you easy to love? 

aw yes. people say i’m lovable. i’m been compared to a teddy bear before. it’s happened, trust me. -v

i should hope so, but not very many people like to stick around me. i mean, i try to be someone worth loving and i’m more than happy to spill out all of my love to anyone who just asks politely <3. -s

[eldritchsurveys]

695.

What is the name of the last book you read? >> Recursion.

Who is it by? >> Blake Crouch.

When did you start reading it? >> I want to say... Wednesday or Thursday?

When did you finish it? >> Yesterday (Saturday, the 14th).

Who were the main characters in the story? >> Barry Sutton and Helena... I forget her last name.

Who or what was the protagonist? >> Barry was the protagonist.

Who or what was the antagonist? >> The antagonist was mostly Marcus whatever-his-last-name-was. I think his name was Marcus. Idk why I forget these characters’ names so damn easily.

How did the main character(s) overcome the antagonist? >> A lot of time travel, to put it simply. (Although “time travel” is a bit of a misnomer because although yes, you are moving from present into the past, it’s probably more accurate to say that you’re travelling through your own memories, which are another dimension that forms the multidimensional concept of reality. In the book, anyway.)

Was there a moral to the story? >> I wanna say it’s something like “the human desire to inhabit and control the past is a foundation of suffering” but also “we [as a species] really just shouldn’t invent certain shit because we can’t be trusted”. Kinda corny, but it was a damn good story so I’ll forgive it (also, I... don’t entirely disagree with them, I just think they come across as schmaltzy when you word them explicitly like this).

Did you learn anything about yourself through the process of reading? >> Actually, yes, but it has to do with a specific exotrauma situation I was going through this past week and is kind of complicated but I did write this post which kind of gets into it. It was just weirdly coincidental that I read this book at this time. Always crazy when that happens.

What was your favorite part of the book? >> Oh man, I couldn’t even say. There were so many good moments. Oh, maybe when the fucking Big Bend suddenly appeared in Manhattan, that was fucking ridiculous. I was so glad to be reminded of that stupid building.

What was your least favorite part? >> I don’t think I have one.

Who was your favorite character? >> Hmm... yeah, I don’t know. I don’t have one, I guess.

Who was your least favorite character? >> Honestly, none of the characters really affected me one way or the other, it was the story itself and the concepts it explored that got me.

Did you learn any new vocabulary words? >> I don’t think so. I did learn after I read it that False Memory Syndrome -- a major plot device -- is apparently a thing that exists in this world, too.

What was the plot of the story? >> Hmm. Machine is invented that allows a person to travel through their memories as if memory were a spatial dimension (so, time-travel, but like... not exactly, obviously), with the purpose of going back to a specific memory and changing the events. Shit seems great at first until it becomes clear that 1) the memories of the “dead” timelines still return to the people who experienced those events that are now changed, which fucks with your sanity hardcore, and 2) as in all time-travel-y stories, shit eventually balloons out of control and long story short, there is a lot of terrorist attacks and nuclear annihilations to live through and relive through and relive through before the protagonist and the inventor of the machine finally learn how to reset the world. (There’s no fucking way I can give a proper synopsis of this book, and if you read it you’d probably forgive me for this horrific attempt because it’s A Fucking Lot.)

What genre(s) did the book belong to? >> Science fiction? Probably.

Would you recommend this book to anyone else? >> Sure, if you like having your mind fucked with.

How did you hear about this book? >> I think I was looking at someone’s blog and they’d gotten an ask about book recs and that was on it, and since the kind of books they liked seemed interesting to me overall, I put it on my to-read list.

Would you read it again one day? >> Yeah, probably. I think it would benefit from more than one reading.

Is this book by your favorite author? >> I’d never heard of this man before now, but I definitely want to read more of his stuff.

How would you describe the author's style of writing? >> I don’t know, it’s not, like... iconic or anything. I do appreciate that he managed to write tightly enough and with enough clarity that despite all the time fuckery and jumping around and shit, I managed to follow the story very well with only minimal confusion, even in the beginning before I knew what was really going on. That’s a real fucking skill, man.

Were you bored by the book, or did you find it engaging? >> I wasn’t bored for a single second.

Did you like the way it ended, or could it have ended better? >> Oh, no, it ended well.

What was the climax of the story? >> I’m not sure. I’m not always clear on story structure.

What would you have done if you were in the position of the main character? >> I would never, ever want to be in that position. I’m not sane enough to hold it together through this sort of scenario.

What was your favorite quote from this book? >> I didn’t record any quotes.

Lastly, how many pages was it? >> Goodreads says 336.

[hermanwatts]

Sensor Sweep: A. Conan Doyle, Barry Smith, Gardner Fox, Manly Wade Wellman, Sundered: Eldritch Edition

Tolkien (Jeffro Johnson): This came up the other day, so I had to look it up. Any classic character that is adapted to contemporary media is consistently mutilated into something they’re not. Most recently this can be observed in the many edits made to Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker in Disney’s cartoon adaptation of the original Star Wars film. It seems a small thing, maybe, but this is how people that hate us actively rewrite our culture right in front of us. Plenty of well meaning people take the knockoff for the original while their imaginations are dimmed. Before long, the waters are so muddied the original inspirational character concept is lost in the noise.

  Authors (DMR Books): Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would have turned one hundred and sixty today. If your average sword and sorcery fan were to be asked, “What British Victorian author had a major and lasting influence on S&S?”, chances are you’d get a blank stare or, maybe, “H. Rider Haggard.” “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle” would not likely be at the top of the list. And yet, Doyle profoundly affected the origins of S&S and continues to influence writers within the genre right up to 2019.

  Weird Tales (Don Herron): All the ruminating in re: Farnsworth Wright getting fired from the editorial chair at WeirdTales caused Brian to go digging through binder after binder until he pulled the note seen above from the trove. He has it mostly because of the “initial signature” of Farnsworth Wright — the squiggly “FW” — not initialed just to speed things up but because Wright, suffering from Parkinson’s disease, had a hell of a hard time doing a full autograph.

  Art (DMR Books): Legendary artist, Barry Windsor-Smith, turns seventy years old today. When I mentioned that fact earlier this week to a couple of older Barry fans, they were like, “No way!” Yes. Way.

Barry Windsor-Smith’s career history is a long and tangled one, spanning over fifty years. Time constraints prevent me–perhaps mercifully, for some readers–from looking at it in detail. For those unfamiliar with the life and work of BWS, you might check out this excellent link here. Or, you can read Barry’s own exhaustive bio here, though it only goes up to about 1995. For this post, I’m only going to touch on the highest of highlights, of which there are several.

  Authors (Goodman Games): Today is the birthday of Gardner F. Fox. Most people know him as the legendary and prolific writer for DC Comics who created the Justice Society of America as well as many of the most iconic DC Comics characters including Doctor Fate, the Flash, Hawkman, and Sandman. He also wrote many of the earliest Batman stories and was the first to introduce the Batarang. His contribution to the world of comics is well documented and uncontested.

  Fiction (Eldritch Paths): I wasn’t planning on it, but somehow I got sucked into rereading Brian Niemeier’s fantastic Soul Cycle series. These books are much better the second time. I say this as someone who’s never reread a novel. I’ll post the links to my initial reviews of each book below. I will be discussing some spoilers here so *SPOILER ALERT*.

  Science Fiction (John C. Wright): In science fiction stories, there are a limited number of ways to explain the conundrum of how time travel might work if it could work (obviously it cannot) but still to make a presentable and dramatic story.

I doubt I can list all the various answers of the various imaginative authors who have attempted in an entertaining way to address the paradox. It makes for entertaining bull sessions by college students and philosophers, however.

  Myth (Walk & Word): I’ll just say it. I like dragons. Yep, I’m that nerdy guy who’s into the fantasy genre: books, movies, art. If it’s about dragons, I’m into it. Now, if you mention dragons in the Bible, most people will immediately think about the dragon in the book of Revelation. However, what many people don’t know is that dragons are mentioned a lot in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament. In fact, familiarity with these references to dragons in the OT will actually help the reader understand the dragon in Revelation even better.

  Men’s Adventure Magazines (Men’s Pulp Mags): The World War II years are often cited as beginning of the end of the classic pulp mag genre. The years after WWII saw the beginning of the rise of men’s adventure magazines, which incorporated and continued key elements of the pulps, such as painted covers and rousing action/adventure stories. Fans know what someone means when they refer to “pulp magazines.”

  Authors (Goodman Games): Manly Wade Wellman arrived in this world on May 21st, 1903, born literally an ocean away from the place he’d be forever associated with in his later life. Young Manly’s playground was the land of Portuguese West Africa (now Angola), where his father was stationed as a medical officer. It was undoubtedly here, in a land far removed from the staid world of 20th century America, that the seeds of Manly’s imagination found their first fertile ground. Wellman would grow to become an accomplished writer, penning stories in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, occult detective stories, prehistoric adventure, and horror during a career lasting almost 75 years.

  Sherlock Holmes (Pulpfest): Looking for a way to efficiently exploit the growing market of monthly magazines, Conan Doyle decided to offer more of Holmes and Watson. In the summer of 1891, “A Scandal in Bohemia” appeared in THE STRAND MAGAZINE. It would be followed by eleven more tales, one per month for the next year. In writing the stories that became THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, Conan Doyle created the first short story series. In the years to follow, his idea would be imitated across the globe. It resounds to our very day in series television and throughout popular culture.

  Gaming (Eldritch Paths): I’ve never heard of Sundered: Eldritch Edition before yesterday. I saw a trailer and was immediately impressed by the art. This game has some fantastically eldritch art design. Take a look.

Magazines (Cirsova): Cirsova Summer Special Available for Pre-Order!

The Summer Special will be out June 3rd!

The Ghost of Torreón By EDD VICK and MANNY FRISHBERG A strange experiment gone wrong has granted Professor Rigoberto “Beto” Caminante an extraordinary power—the ability to “ride” radio waves!

  Gaming (Jonathan Moeller): A reader emailed to ask that since I’m self-publishing audiobooks if that meant I was going to start self-producing video games based on my books.

Not just no, but heck no!

Audiobooks are expensive. But video games are much more expensive and infinitely more complicated – you have to hire developers, programmers, artists, sound people, music people, QA people, and then the inevitable time fixing and patching bugs. All of that is enormously expensive.

  RPG (Goodman Games): My buddy Bob Bledsaw and I, both being avid wargamers, became fast friends in the fall of 1974. Dungeons & Dragons was the first game we played together and this launched a flurry of weekly adventures that he hosted at his house for about 18 months. Bob was an “older guy” of age 31; the rest of us were in our late teens. Along with D&D being a brand new game concept, we were in awe of his prodigious pace of campaign material production. I later learned that perhaps he had some insomnia that gave him more time than the average guy.

  Fantasy Fiction (Eldritch Paths): Modern fantasy just isn’t as fantastical as it could be. There is so much you can do in fantasy, and yet, the genre is mired in either Tolkien knock-offs or anti-Tolkien knock-offs. This is not a knock on Tolkien. I loved Lord of the Rings, it’s more a knock on Tolkien imitators.

If modern fantasy isn’t using Tolkien as an inspiration, it will tend to use history in a very copy-paste sort of way. I’m thinking here of Brent Weeks’ Night Angel Trilogy. It wasn’t a bad series, but the fantasy elements were the least interesting part of the story.

    Sensor Sweep: A. Conan Doyle, Barry Smith, Gardner Fox, Manly Wade Wellman, Sundered: Eldritch Edition published first on https://sixchexus.weebly.com/

[canaryatlaw]

OKAY. so. If I’m gonna do this properly I should start with yesterday morning because I didn’t make a real post last night and I have a lot to post about. so. I woke up to my alarm Friday morning at 11, with the goal of leaving at 1 so I had plenty of time to get downtown for the train that left at 3:15. I packed most of my stuff the night before so I had some ramen and did a last few couple things before heading out. bus to the brown line, brown line to downtown, got there around 2 which was good because I had no idea where I was going in the station or how to get there so I had plenty of time to figure all that out and get to the right place to wait until they started boarding. I should probably brief you all on what exactly the plan was for the day because I don't think I’ve laid it all out on here yet. so this was the guy I went on a date with before Christmas that I thought went pretty well. So I was taking the train up to Milwaukee since he lives in Wisconsin and we were gonna go see Book of Mormon which was touring. so yeah, good stuff. once we got on the train it was like an hour and a half ride, which wasn’t bad at all. While on the train I was thinking about how it would go and if I was honestly attracted to this guy or I was more attracted to the idea of having a guy and he was a suitable candidate (or more suitable than most at least) since he was also a Christian, because I wasn’t really sure, but I figured I would find out. we’d just been texting for a few weeks now and he had sent a few messages like “oh I’m really really excited to see you” that seemed to indicate to me that he might be more into this than I was. so we pulled into the station in Milwaukee around 4:45 and I met him outside a few minutes later. We had a dinner reservation at a place for 6:15 and the show was at 8, so we had some time to kill. The original plan was to check out one of their museums for a bit but we then discovered they actually closed at 5, so that really couldn’t help us very much. So we basically ended up parking (or so we thought at least) his truck where we could and then walking around for a while. and I mean, the conversation’s fine and the city is really pretty to walk around but the whole time I’m just like eh I don’t know how I feel about this but he’d clearly put a lot of effort into it all so I should at least give him a solid chance, but like he would like want to hold hands and stuff and I’m just like ehhh I’m kinda uncomfortable. There was an outdoor ice rink in a park that was pretty cool so we hung out by there for a bit and just talked until it was time for the dinner reservation. the place was a Brazilian steakhouse, which is apparently characterized by men walking around with giant pieces of meat on skewers and they’ll stop at your table and ask if you want some, and if you do they’ll cut you off a piece. I was slightly hesitant because with meat it’s always hard to tell how it’s going to be seasoned which could be a problem but I figured there were enough options that there would be something I could eat, which ended up being true so that was good at least. After dinner we had to go back to the car because he had realized he locked his keys in the car and he had had his friend bring him the spare key while we were at the restaurant. so we get back to the truck and he had in fact left the keys in the ignition with the truck still on, which I’m not entirely sure how he managed to do??? But the car wasn’t like dead or out of gas so we just turned it off and then walked back to the theatre the show was playing at that was by the restaurant. It was a really nice theatre, kinda different than what I’m used to because there were no aisles in the seating, it was just a straight row of seats all the way across, whereas pretty much all broadway theatres have a left and right section on the sides of the main orchestra section, so that was interesting. Now, my familiarity with Book of Mormon was that while I was in high school and it came out I heard it was supposed to be good, so I started listening to the OBCR and I got exactly halfway through the song “hasa diga eebowai” where they reveal the saying they had just done this whole song about actually meant “fuck god” and I was like OKAY THAT’S HELLA BLASPHEMOUS ABORT ABORT because that was a bit much for my poor high school self to handle lol. but I’ve heard from plenty of Christians in the years since that they’d fully enjoyed it so I wasn’t too worried about it, but still had some slight reservations. Well, thankfully that did not become an issue, because they very much made the whole thing around mormons being this weird crazy thing where when they were referring to god I felt it was sufficiently separate from a mainstream Christian idea of God that it didn’t really bother me and was definitely comedic material, because OH BOY is there some crazy shit going on there. Of course this is the bastardized version because it’s for comedic effect, but they did it very well in pointing out just how nutty some of it was. It was probably good my high school self stopped listening when I did, because I definitely wasn’t mature enough to handle some of the other material handled in the show. If you’re not familiar, the basic concept is it follows these two mormon young men who get sent out on their “mission” for the church and wind up assigned to Uganda, which was less than desirable for them, and they have some very colorful interactions with the locals to say the least. the villain of sorts is the “general” who is a guy who runs around with an AK-47 strapped to his back and his whole shtick is kinda based around female genital mutilation which was of course played for laughs (like “the power of the clitoris is too strong!! it must be stopped!!”) but I was still a little ehhhhhhh I don’t know if this is something we should really be joking about, but that was my only real reservation. there’s a scene in the second act where the main guy has his “spooky mormon hell” dream and I was dying, it was fucking hilarious. I was also of course observant of the cast because I’m an actor and I analyze these things and it was interesting. they basically had ten white boys that were the “mormons” at the mission headquarters initially and then the ones stationed in Uganda. And beyond that pretty much the only other characters were the Ugandans, who were of course are all black. and the one part I was really like ehhhhhhh about is that there’s pretty much one named female character in the entire show?? and of course she’s the love interest for one of the main guys, and while she is the “named” female character her name was a running joke throughout the show where the guy just called her an increasingly ridiculous range of things that start with “N” like her actual name did (like “Nabisco” and “Nicki Minaj”) so that wasn't exactly the most agency providing thing. and like, beyond the female ensemble members, that was pretty much it as far as female characters, which is a beef I constantly have with broadway shows in an industry that is completely dominated by females with the male competition being much less, and yet the shows we write and come out with overwhelmingly feature male characters. It’s very rare to find a show that’s actually based around women’s stories (which is one of the reasons why Wicked was considered so iconic when it debuted for it’s two main characters being strong female roles). So that’s always something I’m aware of and observing in shows. But yeah, the show overall was really funny, and having been on tour myself I have to appreciate the art of being able to pack your entire show into a truck at the end of the weekend and drive to another city where you set it all up and do it again, because that’s a lot more difficult than performing on a permanent set with everything set to go for you. but yeah, overall I was fairly satisfied. During the show the guy was trying to like, put his arm around me and like the entire time I’m watching the show I’m having this inner debate like do I want this?? is this just me being hesitant because I’m not used to this stuff or is it really that I’m just not attracted to him?? and at the end of the day, for now at least, I think it’s the latter, and the entire time I was there I was slightly uncomfortable just being with him. but yeah, show ended, the original plan was for me to grab a train back to Chicago but it turns out they don’t really run trains at night, and the only other option would’ve been like a megabus that would’ve gotten in at like 3 am and that would be super sketch. so the agreement was that he would sleep on the couch and I could have his (very small twin sized) bed (I did offer to take the couch of course but he said it was fine) so we drove back to his apartment which is like 20 minutes outside of Milwaukee, not bad. and like, when it comes to the physical intimacy stuff I was like trying to remember what it was like at the beginning with my college boyfriend and I felt like I might’ve been a little uncomfortable at first but I got over it pretty quickly? but then I’m just questioning if I’m doing this whole thing wrong and just not giving boys proper chances when I should just get over it? but like....I feel like if you’re attracted to someone you shouldn't feel uncomfortable being with them and like, wanting that isn’t an unreasonable expectation. It’s just hard because like, I see so many people my age (like everyone it seems) is getting engaged or at least in a serious relationship and like of course I want a family and a husband and I’m tired of waiting (I mean whenever I’m talking to God about it he’s just like “trust me” but I can be very impatient) and like I’m clearly trying to find the right guy but it’s really just been all strikeouts so far, and like this had a lot more potential than a lot of other ones did but it just wasn’t going to be a thing. We got back to his apartment and stayed up for a little bit, his roommate and one of his neighbors who were hanging out upstairs came down and introduced themselves, so that was interesting at least. I wasn’t like, really tired because I hadn’t been able to take my meds which would make me able to fall asleep but like I didn’t want to interact with anyone anymore so I went to bed but of course it took me a while to actually fall asleep. I had multiple people offer to rescue me should anything turn bad that night as far as like wanting sex or anything like that and I appreciated the offers but I was pretty sure we were on the same page with all of this so there thankfully weren’t any awkward interactions regarding that. My alarm went off at 7, train was at 8:05, so I got up and got ready and then woke him up and he drove me to the station. He wanted to hug goodbye of course and I was like mmmmmm this is a long hug and I kinda want to be done with it now, and then when he pulled back he went in for a kiss and I’m like I can’t really like refuse him at this point so I just made it a short one before being like “I should probably go” and disappear into the station. and I mean, if you have sparks with someone aren’t you supposed to like, feel something when you kiss them??? because I really didn’t feel anything, and then I’m like spiraling into a crisis like am I actually sexually attracted to men?? am I actually asexual??? And of course I don’t know the answer to any of this so they’re just all questions spinning around in my head this whole time. but yeah, got into the station and the train boarded shortly afterwards, trip home was fine, just listened to podcasts and played stupid games on my phone. and I guess that was that for now. I don’t know what I’m going to do exactly about where to go for here, I’d feel way too guilty to just straight up ghost him after he was clearly putting a lot of effort into it but like how do you even let a guy down easy like you’re nice but I’m just not really attracted to you?? ugh. so I’ll have to figure that out at some point in the next few days and how to deal with texting until then. but yeah, arrived at the station, took the brown line back north to the bus and waited for Jess at the spot for our brunch plans. we were reaching out and trying in a new place today that had come up on our main restaurant strip that was called a “breakfast club” and apparently was highly rated by different publications so that was encouraging. The first thing I noticed is that they said they had “fresh squeezed juice” including orange and I’m always like 👀👀 about these things because the orange juice industry is a lie, and while I can eat actual oranges without it bothering my acid reflux, I can’t actually drink orange juice because it’s all fake bullshit that makes it way more acidic. so I like asked the waitress about it and she said they did actually squeeze it there, so I tried their strawberry and orange juice but I wasn’t able to drink too much of it before I felt the acidity setting in and I knew it would be bad if I kept going, so oh well we tried at least. also got potato pancakes and a waffle, which was very good. This was supposed to be our Marvel weekend during which we’d watch Venom, Infinity War, and Into the Spiderverse. I felt like going out today and we wanted to do a little shopping so we walked from the restaurant back to Jess’ place and from there went to one of the Chicago locations for the store we originally discovered up in Schaumburg when we were getting my computer fixed that I’d been to a few times but Jess hadn’t been, so we ran around there for a while and had fun looking at things before checking out the vintage store that’s below it which has a lot of crazy stuff. From there we got Starbucks and then drove over to the Target we like to go to that’s by Joann’s and ran around there for a while and ended up buying coats, which is good because I definitely needed a new one. Afterwards we went across the street and got Panera, then headed to the movie theatre that was around the corner for the 3:45 movie. Originally it looked like it was sold out and we’d have to wait another hour, but when we got to the ticket booth they had tickets for the 3:45 so we went ahead and got those. I had heard very good things from a lot of people about Into The Spiderverse so I had fairly high expectations and oh man, I loved this movie so much. I’d heard a lot about the animation style and how it’s very unapologetic animation, as opposed to the disney/pixar thing about trying to make everything they draw as realistic looking as possible, they really leaned into the animation style and it worked very well for them. The story though, oh man, we both cried SO MUCH during this movie. (spoilers ahead) like goddamn, losing our Peter Parker like that, especially after they very much canonically established him as Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man by showing all the iconic moments that we all remember from those movies (the train, the bridge with the bus, all that good stuff) (and I mean yes they made him blonde but that was clearly for difference in appearance to the other Peter) and man like, cutting from the Peter Parker is dead scenes into the ones with animated Stan Lee did NOT help, so there were plenty of tears being spilled between us at least. and god, Miles is so well written. I loved how he is very much established as a kid who got thrown into this and originally wants nothing to do with it but gets pulled in when our Peter dies and ultimately wants to become our Spider-Man. I could keep going but this post is already really freaking long, needless to say I really loved the movie (that shot where he jumps and they flip the perspective was fucking genius, they better be getting an Oscar nom for best animated film at the LEAST) so that was very enjoyable. Once it was over we left the theatre and drove over to the japanese place we decided we wanted to get food at, I decided to go with noodles instead of sushi since I haven’t had that in a while and they were very good. Just as I was signing the check to leave two cop cars pulled out in front of the restaurant and apparently had pulled over a bus and we didn’t know what was going on so we were like okay maybe we should just stay here for a few more minutes but after a bit it seemed like it’d been resolved so we went to leave but as we walked out we passed who appeared to be a homeless woman that had apparently been the focus of the altercation and she was screaming stuff at the cops as she passed us and they ended up following her and bugging her about the direction she was going in (something about where she said she was going being in the other direction) and I had this moment where like on one hand I’m sure she was probably causing a disturbance or stoking a fight on the bus that resulted in the police incident, but at the same time I was like do they really not have anything better to do than harass a homeless woman? Sigh. Policing in Chicago is complicated to say the least. but we walked back to the car and drove home from there, we were initially going to watch one of the other movies tonight after Spiderverse but we were both cried out and emotionally exhausted so we decided to postpone them till tomorrow. I got back to a number of amazon packages which I had been expecting so I went through those for a while (I forgot I had gotten sparkly combat boots before I left for Christmas and accidentally ordered another pair off amazon, but the new ones are totally amazing so I cannot regret buying them), then took a shower to try to get a slightly early night in (which is funny being that it’s almost midnight and I’ve been writing this post for over an hour now) and ended up trying out this mask stuff I got off amazon that was supposed to be very good for acne because for whatever reason my face is like badly broken out right now which is not terribly common for me. And yeah, I did that and washed it off and then I took my meds and started writing this and here we are. I am quite tired now being that I took my meds over an hour ago now, and this post is already way too long (hope you appreciate it, anon from earlier) so I will be going to bed now. Goodnight my dudes. Stay excellent.

[pinelimelife]

Smack My Limes Up

Limes like me tend to not do well with minimal rest, and I’d probably sum that up as my weekend. Today’s blog entry is the first of my BIG Sunday entry. My big Sunday entry consists of not only what I’ve been up to but also includes my thoughts on chosen films, songs, games, and TV shows. So strap yourselves in... Oi, don’t you run, get back here! I will apologise now if I babble on for too long... Am I really sorry? Who knows, who cares, enjoy. To start of it has been a busy weekend. I’ve had my friend over, we plastered through the new season of Iron Fist yesterday on Netflix. We drank, we drank more, my mate fell asleep, woke up and we drank some more on Friday. We’ve watched old game recordings, we watched funny glitches and mods on youtube, and watched “Not Another Teen Movie” which is a comedy we both watched when we were younger.  How did the Carpal Tunnel test go? Depending on your definition of what really well is, I’d say really well. The test was like a nerve conductivity test. They’d hook me up to this machine and send electricity though the nerves in my hand to see if they are still alive and not damaged. Prior to the test, they make you sit in the waiting room holding a hot plate (it’s like some weird hard thing heated up inside some sort of cloth type covering)... No I don’t get what I said either. I can only describe it as a hot water bottle with no water. I was told I’d feel discomfort but actually I weirdly enjoyed the sensation of electricity in going through my hands and began giggling... Yes, because I’m a weirdo. I don’t have Carpal Tunnel which is brilliant news but it doesn’t answer for the symptoms I had been getting. Which means back to the doctors for discussion. Some of the symptoms have begun subsiding since cutting off caffeinated energy drinks or fizzy drinks though.  Lacuna Coil 119 cinema trip - London, October! An opportunity came up the other day to see a cinematic release of Lacuna Coil’s 119 show back up in London, which is a Q&A with the lead singers of the band and a signing. I just couldn’t control myself. I went to their special show this year back in January, I’ve got their limited edition signed book pre-ordered, and I just wanted to finish off the experience and it seems like a perfect opportunity. Haven’t worked out who I’m taking yet though. The following Film, TV show, Album and Game have been selected by my friend and not by myself. If you wish to see me talk about something here on Sunday’s, you are welcome to send me a message here:  https://www.facebook.com/pinelimelifeblog/ I’m not good with explaining and describing so most of my reviews are probably extremely basic at best and not the most informative. But really I’m just chatting about it. Sadly if it’s not fresh in my mind I find it harder to relay the best bits but here goes: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Film: Disney’s Robin Hood An interesting pick from my friend, Robin Hood is one of those Disney films I never watched very much. I don’t remember owning it as a kid. I do remember seeing at other peoples houses though. This is a fun and unique version of the Robin Hood story, told with talking animals who are absolutely fun to watch. The animation is beautifully done considering that i was entirely hand drawn, which I feel is a much more skillful craft than most modern animation (I love modern animation though). My favourite scene is near the beginning with Robin Hood stealing gold from Prince John whilst they are on the road. Little John kisses Prince Johns fingers whilst in disguise as a woman and steals his ring jewelry. Oh yeah, and Robin Hoods disguise at the archery game always cracks me up. My favourite character would be hard because there are so many great characters in it. Prince John, Little John and Sir Hiss are probably my favourites for various reasons. The comedy characters always pull me in when watching these types of films. I love the screenplay between Little John and Sir Hiss, they just work so well together as characters it’s like a comedy duo of two completely different types of personality. The voice actors were amazingly good at their parts, but I found Disney films often did have good voice actors back then. Some people I know didn’t like the film very much but that’s just what their taste is like really. 

My rating: 7/10 IMDB’s rating: 7.6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Album: The Prodigy’s - Fat Of The Land How old was I? The album was released in 1997 which means I would have been in my 7th year of school. This was the year after meeting my best mate I must have been 10/11. Did I own the album? I never owned the album. I knew people who had the album, but my earliest memories of the album songs were seeing the videos for songs like Breathe and Firestarter appear on the music channels at home. Was my taste influenced? Interestingly I reckon my taste was influenced by the Prodigy but in a way that was indirect as most of their music I had heard through others. It was at a time where I was really liking the sound of electronic types of music like Daft Punk on top of the music I already liked by then. Favourite track? My favourite track for a while was Firestarter but eventually it became Breathe. The video for breathe is what really got me, it's dark, it's weird. It's probably the time I began to notice The Prodigy visually rather than just through songs actually. Even as I write this I'm watching the video. My rating for Fat Of The Land - The Prodigy is a 9. It's definitely up there with a lot of other albums i love.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TV Show: Steins Gate (Anime show) First of all, yes I love anime, I love Japanese animation. I also love beautifully done animations as well. While Steins Gate isn’t the most beautifully animated I’ve seen it is one of my favourites. One of those “I’m not sure if i’d like this” turned fan. So what’s it about?: Steins gate is pretty much about time travel, the lead character Rintaro Okabe and a bunch of friends customising a microwave into a device that is able to send texts into the past. The synopsis on IMDB says it simply as: “After discovering time travel, a university student and his colleagues must use their knowledge of it to stop an evil organization and their diabolical plans.“ Favourite characters?: Well straight of the bat my favourite character was the main character Rintaro Okabe.I love his passion, his madness, his ways of explaining things, and his quirkiness. He’s like a mad scientist type character whose working to defeat evil. I found this anime particularly hard to grasp from episode 1 and took a few episodes to get me hooked. I actually did like the main character from the first episode. The other characters are also brilliant as well like Mayuri Shiina whose importance to the main character becomes much more in depth and clearer as the show goes on (without spoiling anything). I haven’t finished watching Steins Gate 0 which is the sequel to Steins Gate. It’s got a different vibe to it compared to series 1, but you’d have to watch the first series to really get the second series. Best not to start with Steins Gate 0.  My Rating: 9/10 (But very narrowly. Probably more of an 8.9 or something.) IMDBs Rating: 8.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Game: Goldeneye 64 The N64 is an important console to me. It’s the console that even to this day still connects me to new friends that I find. Often talking about it’s catalogue of brilliant and amusing multiplayers and single player games. But the most iconic for me is this game, Goldeneye 64. It was my uncle who gave me Goldeneye 64 to play, he was the one who got me into it. I remember it very well. I believe the year was also around 1997 when I first played it. I was also getting into watching the films at the time but I already loved Goldeneye the movie anyway. I can’t remember what I was playing at the time, probably Mario Kart or something. He brought it up and said give this ago, try the first few levels. So I did, and I got hooked from there. Then he came up and showed me the multiplayer mode and I had my arse kicked, that was the beginning of many arse kickings for me but I got better.  It’s a game I still play to this day, playing with friends who won’t play the game with me anymore because I always win. I don’t have to play it for long time my memory with the game remains intact. I always remember playing the game at youth clubs with other people and I’d normally end up 3rd in a match. Obviously as time went on and new consoles and games appeared people began to forget how to play on the N64 but I kept it alive in the background.  A few years ago I was challenged to a Goldeneye death match by someone who claimed they was ‘king’ of the game, others vouched the authenticity of it. The challenge was over mid way though the second game. I had already thrashed the guy in the first round, the second round was fairer but he still was losing so he gave up.  I’d say the game was very faithful to the film, even though it was made in a time where being faithful to the film didn’t actually matter as much. In fact it was packed with cheats, and a few extra levels, not to mention a multiplayer that was never originally going to be included in the game in the first place.  Favourite level?  My favourite level, well actually favourite levels are: Facility, Silo, Control and Aztec. With many few close ones like Archives, Depot, Bunker 2 etc.  Favourite multiplayer setup? Well, it would still have to be licensed to kill mode, facility and power weapons. Favourite multiplayer character? I’d normally never choose the main characters, often going for Janus Special forces or something else. But if I do choose a main character, Bond or Baron Samedi. Remember Oddjob is out of bounds.  Favourite multiplayer level? Actually a close call between Facility, Temple and Complex. These are also my most memorable. I recently played it with a friend of mine, I mentioned it on a previous blog and there’s a link to the challenge video we did. Check it out if you want: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSFjiqVW2Nc My rating: 9.5/10 One of my most beloved games of all time. Right, now I’m sure you’ve had enough of my yapping... and oh my god is that the time? I’ve got more Black Sails to watch... I must make the most of my Sunday’s... I may have to cut the size of this blog o_o... It’s too much for me... I don’t enjoy writing...  Lime

[recentanimenews]

The Crunchyroll 2017 Holiday Gift Guide

Hello everyone and Season’s Greetings. My name is Peter Fobian, Associate Features Editor. We here at Crunchyroll know how hard it is to plan out holiday shopping for your friends, family, and loved ones, so we wanted to put together a handy gift guide for the anime-inclined! We’ve separated the gifts into several different sections for varying types of anime fans and included options for different budgets. Whether the person you’re shopping for loves Attack on Titan or Sailor Moon, we’ve got something for them on this list. Light up the fireplace, pour yourself a mug of good nog, and enjoy the Crunchyroll 2017 Holiday Gift Guide!

Gifts for the Shonen Fan

Martial arts, powerful psychic abilities, and Earth-shattering fight scenes—if the person you’re buying gifts for loves these things, here’s the section for you! Here are gifts for the people in your life who love shonen.

For fans of Dragon Ball Super, My Hero Academia, Yu Yu Hakusho

$:Dragon Ball VIZBIG Vol 1

Akira Toriyama’s groundbreaking manga set the stage for modern shonen and the international megahit Dragonball Z. A more light-hearted, simpler look at Goku's adventures with Bulma as a child. The VIZBIG editions of the series offer a lot  for your dollar, collecting several volumes in omnibus with plus-size pages!

$$:Kakashi Military Hoodie

Perfect for running with your arms out behind you, the Kakashi Military Hoodie is great for the Naruto fan in your life who has cold arms. This type of gear is my favorite since it can be worn casually or as lowkey cosplay and acts as a conversation starter for fellow fans.

$$$:One Punch Man

Here we have the collected edition of one of the most popular shonen anime of the past few years, including all 12 episodes and 6 OVAs. One Punch Man’s comedy-heavy take on the superhero genre and amazing fight scenes demand blu-ray quality viewing as we all wait for season 2.

Gifts for the Shojo Fan

For fans of Sailor Moon, Blue Spring Ride, Glass Mask

Do you know someone who loves nothing more than love triangles and flurries of cherry blossoms? Does the sight of magical girl transformations make their heart flutter? Well we’ve got the perfect gifts for you to buy them!

$:Sailor Moon Socks

By the power of the moon, these socks will keep your toes warm during the winter. A perfect accessory for Usagi fans and a great way of buying someone socks for the holidays without the usual accompanying disappointment. With several different patterns, no  one will be able to accuse you of using the same socks every day.

$$:CardCaptor Sakura Figure

With the approach of the Clear Card arc after nearly two decades of hiatus, it’s time to start gearing back up with Cardcaptor Sakura merchandise. Although the series is known for its myriad outfits courtesy of Sakura's best friend Tomoyo, nothing look is more iconic than Sakura in her trademark rollerblades.

$$$:Revolutionary Girl Utena

A genre-defining shojo title whose influence has reached well beyond the anime fandom. Revolutionary Girl Utena broke new ground when it aired in the late ’90s, and our friends at Nozomi are giving it a gorgeous box set fit for a prince. This gift is great for diehard fans, people who you know will fall in love with the series (everyone), and the rings make it perfect for finding your own rose bride.

Gifts for the Manga Reader

“Well, the anime was pretty good, but have you read the manga?” Here are some excellent gift choices for people who have always, always read the manga before watching the anime.

For fans who are reading a ton of manga that still haven't gotten anime adaptation.

$:The Promised Neverland

Although The Promised Neverland has been running in Weekly Shonen Jump for over a year, the first volume just made it to print in the United States this month. I won't ruin the twist, but there is more to this cute-looking series than meets the eye. If I had to provide one common title to compare it to I'd maybe say... 20th Century Boys?

  $$:Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

An influential manga classic, this series was written and illustrated by Hayao Miyazaki himself. The Ghibli movie of the same name only gave you a taste of the greater story which has been collected in this beautiful 2-volume hardback box set. A seminal work and a must-have for manga collectors.

$$$:One Piece volume 1-23 box set

One of the most popular comics in the world, for good reason. One Piece has been running strong for 20 years and just keeps getting better! A perfect balance of action, hijinks, and some of the highest emotional highs of the genre. This set contains the first 23(!!!) volumes of the series and is a great starter pack for anyone looking to build out their collection. More of a briefcase than a box set, it's even got a carrying handle.

Gifts for the Anime Newbie

Anime is more popular than ever before, which means you probably know someone who is just getting started down the rabbit hole of anime fandom. Here are some presents to help you foster the growing anime fan in your life!

For fans who are dipping their toes in

$: Crunchyroll Membership

  Is there any greater gift in the entire world than a Crunchyroll Premium membership? Access to one of the largest anime libraries in the Western hemisphere ad-free and a ton of digital manga—it’s never been easier to get into anime!

$$:Ghibli Bundle - Spirited Away/Princess Mononoke

Ghibli movies are some of the most well known anime to mainstream moviegoers and are responsible for bringing in more than their fair share of dedicated fans. Most of the people I talk to today got their start with either Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away. Now it's easy and affordable to buy them together!

$$$:Your name

Speaking of anime films that made it into the mainstream, Your name has become a global phenomenon and one of the most successful anime features of all time. The opus of science fiction romanticist, Makoto Shinkai is a perfect starting point for blossoming anime fans.

Gifts for the Arthouse Buff

We all have that one friend. You know the one: that person who has an encyclopedic knowledge of anime directors and a top 10 list of shows you’ve never heard of. Well I am that friend, so these gifts are objectively good choices for the arthouse buff in your life!

For fans of Bakemonogatari, The Tatami Galaxy, Yuri Kuma Arashi

$:In This Corner of the World

I'm gonna keep talking about anime films... While it didn’t make the bang that Your name did, In This Corner of the World was one of the best anime films of the same year. A painstakingly researched historic drama five years in the making from industry legend and Santa Claus of anime Masao Maruyama, anyone who loves anime or cinema in general should see this film.

$$:Only Yesterday

Isao Takahata is often overlooked in favor of Hayao Miyazaki, but his directorial work for Ghibli is just as important! Takahata’s 1991 film is a sensitive portrait of a young woman that reaches an impressive level of realism and depth.

$$$:Mob Psycho 100 Limited Edition

From the creator of One Punch Man, Mob Psycho is the Studio BONES given free reign to go wild over the visual medium. This series reached into the far corners of the medium trying out downright experimental animation techniques. It even comes with a spoon to practice your psychic abilities!

Gifts for the Horror Lover

Halloween may be months past, but it’s never a bad time for horror! While these gifts might not be for the faint-of-heart, anyone with a fondness for all things scary will be sure to love them!

For fans of Another, Shiki, Ghost-type Pokémon

$:Happiness

From Suzo Oshimi, the author of Flowers of Evil and Inside Mari, comes a vampire manga that is as horrific as it is beautiful. Tokyo Ghoul fans will find a familiar premise taken in a much darker and introspective direction. 

$$:Tomie

Junji Ito’s works are being collected into beautiful black and white hardback editions and Tomie is one of his most famous, spawning a series of live-action films. This collected edition tells the story of its eponymous character, a mysterious and monstrous beauty.

$$$:When they Cry

Spread across three seasons, When They Cry is a master class in how to do horror right in anime. Suspense and body horror both used to their fullest for the entire series run is now available in one convenient package.

Gifts for the Figure Collector

Anime figures are one of the easiest ways to show your love for a favorite character! This year has seen plenty of great new collectibles, and here are three that are sure to delight the figure fan in your life!

For fans of Figmas, Nendoroids, and everything in between

  $:My Hero Academia Pop! Vinyl Figure

Everyone’s favorite heroes in training plus the symbol of Piece, All-Might, available in Funko Pop! form! Cute, affordable, and, above all else, HEROIC. PLUS ULTRA!!

$$:Breath of the Wild Link Nendoroid

The newest entry in the Legend of Zelda series was hailed by critics and fans as the game of the year when it was first released, and now this version of Link is available as a Nendoroid! Be sure it check out the store page since nendroid never skimps on customizability and accessories!

$$$:Viktor Nikiforov

Yuri’s coach is immortalized in this beautifully realized figure! Viktor’s known for always surprising his fans and your loved one opening a gift to find this figure within will be no exception. A must-have for Yuri!!! on ICE fans. There's also a Yuri version to recreate their duet.

  Gifts for the Gamer

There are anime fans and there are video game fans, but what to buy those who occupy the middle segment of this particular Venn Diagram? Don’t you worry, we’ve got you covered with these gifts that are sure to put please any anime-inclined gamers!

  $:Battle Chef Brigade

Recent digital release for Windows and Nintendo Switch perfect for fans of everything from Food Wars! to Avatar: The Last Airbender. This charming game combines side-scrolling combat with a novel Puzzle Fighter-like cooking system. Hunt monsters and and use their parts to win cooking battles!

$$:Persona 5

One of the greatest videogames of what has turned out to be a stacked year for gaming. Persona 5 did a rare thing by living up to its own hype, delivering one of the most stylish games in recent history, including a great story with attractive characters and fun gameplay.

$$$:Dark Souls the Board Game

It’s the Dark Souls of board games! FROM may be finished with the franchise, but you can invade your friends homes to take on dangerous bosses as a group. It’s all the soul-crushing difficulty of the game except you’ve got a team at your back.

Gifs for the Fashionable Friend

$:All-Might Socks

Your feet are fine now. Why? BECAUSE I’M HERE. AHAHAHAHAHA.

...

Anyways these All-Might socks are really good.

$$:Yuri Katsuki sweatpants

Do you know someone who wants to dress like a professional figure skater while simultaneously harboring a passion for loungewear? These Yuri Katsuki Sweatpants would make a great gift for them! Perfect for lounging around the house and eating pork cutlet bowls.

$$$:Subaru Hoodie

This hoodie is perfect for the person in your life who is willing to try and fail and try again! It’s a gift your loved ones can enjoy again and again… and again… and again...

The holidays are drawing closer but there's still plenty of time to find the perfect gift. As a self-described anime and gift-giving expert, I'm confident this list has just what you need to end the year with a bang and cause the recipients of your gifts to spontaneously start conversations with others about what a great person you are when you're not around. Until next year, good shopping, good buying, and goodbye-ing...

---

Peter Fobian is an Associate Features Editor for Crunchyroll, author of Monthly Mangaka Spotlight, writer for Anime Academy, and contributor at Anime Feminist. You can follow him on Twitter @PeterFobian.

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[broad-pov-blog]

Avenue Q review

Today (9/9/17) I will be listening and reviewing Avenue Q. This is 1/2 of a 2 musical review I am doing today because I skipped yesterday’s because I was extremely tired (oops). All I really know about this musical is that it uses puppets and I’ve heard snippets from a few songs. I generally like to go in blind to musicals if I’m reviewing them for the first time so perusal, I will be reading a plot synopsis and trying to interweave the important plot points withing my thoughts so it seems like a cohesive review.

The Avenue Q Theme- 

This theme is somewhat mocking of Sesame Street and it sets the setting for the story. It’s sing-songy and catchy enough.

What Do You Do with a B.A. In English / It Sucks to Be Me-

Princeton is nervous about finding his purpose in life, but his priorities including finding an apartment and a job, with no work experience and an English degree, which is ‘useless’. Beginning his search on Avenue A, he finally finds an affordable apartment on Avenue Q. His new neighbors are Kate Monster, a kindergarten teaching assistant who can’t get a date, Rod, an anal-retentive banker, Nicky, Rod's slacker roommate, Brian, an aspiring unemployed comedian, Christmas Eve, Brian's Japanese fiance and a therapist with no clients, Trekkie Monster, a surly recluse who surfs the Internet all day in search of porn and Gary Coleman, the building superintendent. They each argue over whose life sucks the most. This is a good introduction to the characters and it is a pretty nice song. It sets up the theme of the struggles each person kinda exemplifies their respective flaws which is nice.

If You Were Gay-

Rod is quietly reading his favorite book, Broadway Musicals of the 1940′s, when Nicky comes home. Nicky says that as he was on the subway, he thought a man was hitting on him. Rod get’s kinda defensive, and Nicky says he would be fine with Rod should he be gay. This was one of the songs I’ve heard some of prior and it is hilarious. I would love to perform this or have someone sing it to me.

If it were me, I would feel free to say that I was gay, but I’m not gay.

Purpose-

Princeton finds a penny from the year he was born and feels like it is a sign that the future is bright. He yearns to find his purpose, and by extension himself. I guess I like this song and it sounds like it isn’t very satirical as much as the rest of the show is, but it still kinda critiques ‘millennial’ culture. Which is interesting because this was almost 15 years ago and people still want to find their purposes.

Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist-

When Princeton asks Kate if her and Trekkie are related, she says he is racist. To which they each admit they are a little bit racist and everyone joins in. This is another song I’ve heard some of before, and while it does ring true it kinda dismisses racism, but hey, at least it is catchy!

Not all monsters are related!

The Internet Is for Porn-

Kate get’s to teach her first lesson alone, and chooses the topic to be about the internet and it’s educational attributes. To which Trekkie chooses to crash her lesson and tell her how it is about porn. This is another one I’ve heard before and it is one of the more vulgar songs I’ve heard thus far- it is still funny though

Mix Tape-

His song selections are contradicting, making her wonder what message he is trying to send with all the mixed messages, but she decides that he must like her. This is a song I genuinely like and I think it’s sweet that Kate finally get’s a date.

I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today-

This is Brian’s stand up act, and it doesn’t get much attention. All I can say is I can see why he is unemployed.

Special-

Brian then introduces “Lucy the Slut” who performs Special, a rather seductive cabaret number. But what her song is about (besides sex) is about how she can make someone feel special which contradicts the overall theme of people being ordinary that this musical is about.

You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You're Makin' Love)-

The Bad Idea Bears suggest that Kate and Princeton order some ‘harmless’ Long Island Iced Teas, and once Kate is drunk, that Princeton should take her home to bed. Kate and Princeton then have very vocal sex. Gary answers angry calls from other tenants but refuses to interrupt, because they’re having sex. I really like this song, but I don’t think I’d come back to it that much because of the context.

Fantasies Come True-

Rod hears Nicky tell him that he loves him in his sleep, and is ecstatic until he realizes that it was really himself who was dreaming after Nicky wakes him up. Kate and Princeton have some pillow talk and share their mutual love, and Princeton gives Kate his lucky penny seen from ‘Purpose’. I like this but the Rod parts are sad because of his unrequited love.

My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada-

During Christmas Eve and Brian’s wedding, Nicky tells everyone he thinks Rod is gay. Rod proceeds to tell everyone he has a girlfriend named Alberta in Vancouver and tells Nicky that he is no longer welcome in their apartment. I really like this song because it is goofy and catchy and I think it is really funny how obvious it is that Rod is just trying to cover himself.

There's a Fine, Fine Line-

Kate catches the bouquet from Christmas Eve and Princeton reveals to her thatt he has a fear of commitment and asks if they can just be friends and Kate says she has plenty of friends and breaks off their relationship. This song is amazig you can really feel the emotion. This is also the end of act 1.

There is Life Outside Your Apartment-

After being broken up with, Princeton stays holed up in his apartment until coaxed out by some of his neighbors. Lucy is looking for a place to crash and seduces, Princeton, who’s looking to rebound. I think this is a good way to set up conflict for act 2.

The More You Ruv Someone-

Kate is angry about this, and Christmas Eve says she wouldn’t be angry is she didn’t love him. This is beautiful and I really think it has some value with more realistic life lessons.

Schadenfreude-

Nicky, being homeless talks to Gary who is actually feeling good about the situation. They both agree that they each take pleasure in others pain. This is a good song, and it brings up a lot of reasons why people laugh at pain which is fun to point out. Kate writes a note to Princeton suggesting that they rendezvous at the Empire State Building and leaves it with Lucy who promptly destroys it. On the Empire State Building's viewing platform, Kate, thinking that Princeton has stood her up, throws his lucky penny away. A hundred stories below, Lucy, walking by on Fifth Avenue, is knocked unconscious by the penny. Kate and Princeton unsuccessfully try to work out their problems over Lucy's comatose body.

I Wish I Could Go Back to College-

Princeton, Kate and Nicky dream of returning to happier times when they were in college. This is a quieter song because all these characters are suffering, and that toned down effect is necessary at this point.

The Money Song-

Princeton gives a still-homeless panhandling Nicky a quarter, and marvels at how fantastic he feels. Since thinking only about himself has gotten him nowhere so far he decides to raise money to build Kate’s Monster school. He asks everyone for money, but doesn’t get nearly enough. This song points out how other people only give money to stroke their ego.

School for Monsters/The Money Song (Reprise)-

The neighbors hit up Trekkie, and since he has problems from his childhood that he thinks a monster school would’ve fixed, he donates ten million dollars. All I can say about this is that this is one of the most iconic character developments I’ve ever seen.

There's a Fine, Fine Line (Reprise)/ What Do You Do with a BA in English (Reprise)-

Kate gets ready to open her new school. Brian lands a consulting job and Christmas Eve finally has a client (who turns out to be Rod), so they move out to a better neighborhood. Rod finally comes out, and no one is surprised, and he takes Nicky back in. Nicky found Rod a boyfriend named Ricky who looks and sound like Nicky, but with muscles. The Bad Idea Bears discover Scientology. Lucy, recovered from her head injury, becomes a born-again Christian and takes a vow of chastity. Kate and Princeton agree to give their relationship another go.

  For Now-

A new college grad looks into moving in and Princeton finally finds his purpose: to take his experiences and turn them into a Broadway musical. Everyone immediately mocks him.The cast goes on to say that every thing in life is temporary. And it ends the musical on a good note.

This musical is somewhat vulgar but offers a nice perspective on young adulthood with catchy-children show’s like songs. I thought it was really original, the plot was complex and the characters were each interesting enough.

6/10