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ckiine · 12 days ago

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Teru teru Bouzu

A/N - Hello. Another short shinran fanfic cause as always I miss them. This is sort of set in timeline when ShinRan were in Junior high. When Shinichi had a game and they lost in PK rounds in the semi finals.

There is a OVA episode called flower of Fantasia about it, this time line is mentioned in the Koushien case and also in the 16th DC movie - the 11th striker.

A/N - It has been inspired by an image I found on pinterest.

A/N - Do let me know your thoughts and comments!! and as always please forgive me for the grammatical errors.

"It was a good game everyone."

"Thank you captain."

"I can see that everyone is hyped up for the game coming in 3 days."

"Keep up the spirits and we shall play with no regrets!!!," said captain Toonoka in his usual hyped and motivated voice.

"Yes captain!!!"

The team, even though exhausted by the day's practice still responded with enthusiastic fervour.

"Thank you for the good work!!"

The soccer team shouted in unison and the two opposing teams bowed down as thanks.

"Dismissed."

"Oi Kudou, Hama, Inoue stay back for a few minutes." Toonoka called out.

The rest of the crowd dispersed as the four people and the coach stayed back.

"Well, I had some first-years run around to gather some more information regarding our opponent of the first match. "

"A few key players to mark and a few recordings of some of their games."

"Go through the video of the recorded game, though I do not think we need to make any changes in our current play style for this match but have a cursory look."

"Yes coach!"

"We can do the reviews at my home today." Shinichi offered.

"Yea, sounds good to us."

"Lets quickly get changed and head to Kudou's house."

The three guys were well respected in the team for being quite level-headed. It was no secret that Kudou was an insane soccer fan but since he was very good at analysing things he was an excellent strategist. Similarly, Hama and Inoue were all rounded players who also had good inputs.

It was fairly common for the soccer club guys to crash at Kudou's house to watch matches and hang out in general, well he did live in mansion which also had an excellent home theatre system. It was perfect to watch matches, movies etc.

As they walked towards the locker room they passed by a few guys from the basketball club.

"Man that was one strange accident."

"I know right!! To think a stay baseball would end up shattering the indoor gym window and at the same time the tempered glass basketball hoop would end up shattering like that."

"Did anyone get hurt?"

"Apparently some one ended up getting caught in the shattered glass shower."

"Eh? Who was hurt?"

"I think it was Mouri from class 4."

Shinichi froze in his tracks.

"EEHHH?? How is it Mouri, the captain of the Karate club?? Of all people how did she get hurt?"

"I dont know there was some sort of commotion."

"Excuse me," Shinichi interrupted.

"Please let me know when did this accident happen."

"Ahh just a few minutes ago, I think Nakamichi-kun from the basketball club took her to the infirmary."

"I see, thanks."

"Captain, you guys, go ahead to the changing rooms, I will join you guys in ten minutes." said Shinichi and dashed towards the infirmary leaving the guys staring at his back.

"Arn't Kudou and Mouri-san childhood friends?"

"Yes, they are, since kindergarten apparently."

"EEhhh for that long."

"Ah"

"But do you think he likes her?"

"I am not sure. But it is Mouri we are talking about? Who does not like her."

"...."

"But they have been friends for so long, he has an advantage."

"You idiot, childhood friends are the ones who end up being the furthest apart in such times. First of all, because the person is so close it becomes difficult to distinguish if you like them romantically or not and then if the other person does not return your feelings it is impossible to go back to being friends."

"Followed by, what if the feelings are just a misunderstanding just because the other person is of the opposite gender. It's a lot more complicated than it seems." Toonoka finished with a self-satisfied, righteous expression.

"...."

"So captain how many shoujo manga have you read exactly?"

"You- You guys!!! how dare you talk to your captain like that!!" Tonoka said, aghast and gave the guys a chase.

"Ohhhh the captain is not denying it!!"

"Hama! Inoue! Be quite otherwise I will shave you hair off!!"

*****

Shinichi had no idea at what time had he started to run. His mind attempting to deduce the severity of the accident.

"Hey you! No running in the corridor! Also why are you wearing outdoor shoes inside the school building?!?!"

"Gomen sensei."

Shinichi stopped immediately and took his shoes off and started running again.

"Heyyy I said no running in the corridors!!"

"Gomen sensei, it's a medical emergency," Shinichi called out without turning back.

****

Shinchi was almost there when he heard some voices coming from the infirmary.

"But even so thank you so much for protecting Aki-kun."

"Don't worry about it. I am really not that badly hurt."

That voice is Nakamichi and ....Ran's voice...

"And I already got first aid as well. So don't cry Aki-kun."

"RANN!!"

Shinichi stopped by the door frame, panting heavily but analysing the scene before him.

Ran was seated on a stool and gently patting the head of boy who clearly looked like an elementary school kid. His small face was flushed and eyes were wet with tears.

Nakamichi was sitting front of her who was tyding up the first aid box.

"Shinichi...."

"Kudou...."

They both started as six pairs of eyes stared at the out of breath, sweaty teenager who was for some reason holding his sports shoes in his hand.

"Did you get hurt Shinichi?" Ran asked slightly surprised and concerned on seeing his dishevled state.

"No I just heard you were in an accident so I..." Shinichi could not finish the sentence now suddenly quite embarrsed by the situation.

"Onee-chan got hurt because of me." came a small sniffling voice.

"Aki-kun its not like that. I am quite glad that you are okay. And see onee-chan does karate so I am quite strong." Ran said, reassuring the child attemting to lift his spirits.

"Who is this and what happened exactly?" Shinichi asked, walking inside the infirmary.

"Aah this is my younger cousin, Aki Yuzuhara, currently studying in Teitan elementary school. Next year he will be joining this middle school so he pestered me to bring him today for a field trip and since its summer vacation and only the clubs and the remedial classes will be on I decided to bring him to school."

"He was watching us play, after practise got over I was just practising some free throws, when Mouri was making her way towards the exit."

"Ehh why use the basketball court exit?" Shinichi asked

"The main entrance stays closed during the vacation Shinichi." Ran added.

Well since Shinichi was in outdoor sports it was natural he was not going to know the gymnasium settings during the summer vacation.

"I see and then."

"It is sort of my fault really," Nakamichi said a little guiltily.

"Its really an accident and I am really not badly hurt." Ran reassured the boys.

"Well I was practising the free throws on the hoop which was near the exit since it was hot and the doors were open. Mouri initailly took the long way around the court but I told her it would be okay to use the shorter route."

"Aki was chasing the basket balls after my throws and well it just happened to fast. A stray baseball smashed in through the upper window and litrally at the same time I had thrown for the hoop but it ended up smashing the tempered glass."

"Aki was so surprised and could not move on time but Mouri with her fast reflexes pinned him down and covered him."

"You know the rest, I removed the glass shards and helped them up and came to give Mouri some first aid."

Shinichi saw her hands where her fingers were covered in individual band aids.

"Its not that bad Shinichi, really," said Ran waving her hands in front of him to show that she was not hurt.

"Also I am wearing the gymnasium clothes so I am in a jacket and all so I did not get pierced with any glass shards," Ran smiled reassuringly to all the boys present in the infirmary.

Nakamichi sighed but gave a grateful smile and said, "Thanks Mouri, I owe you one. You too Aki, say thank you one again."

"Hai, arigatou pretty onee-san." Aki said cheerfully, clearly regaining his spirits.

All three were taken aback by his bashful compliment but Ran playfully tapped his nose.

"Nakamichi, I think you should get going. I suppose you will need to run a few errands." said Shinichi.

"Now that you mention it, since I was the last person there, I will need to clean up the glass shards in the gym and also drop a message to Gotou-san, our club advisor about the damage." Nakamichi said, suddenly listing things off.

"Aki, lets run to see if a few of my teammates are still here, I will need to ask for their help."

"Do me a favour Nakamichi, my teammates must be waiting for me as well, please let them know I will be running a little late and that they can wait at the family restaurant 2 streets away, the usual hangout spot."

"Got it. Anyways, thanks Mouri, see you guys around."

Nakamichi rushed out with Aki-kun in tow. Ran giggled at the kid and waved him goodbye and her eyes met Shinichi. His eyes were calm but were locked onto hers. Unmoving and steady. Seeing the serious look in hie eyes Ran's own eyes softened and a small smile blossomed on her face.

"I am really not hurt Shini-ouch!" Ran let out a small yelp and moved her hands towards the nape of her neck.

"Dont touch it." said Shinichi, swiftly holding on to her wrist.

"Let me do it. As suspected there are shattered glass fragments in your hair. Well since your hair is long and silky it did not get entagled but any small leftover shards are dangerous."

Shinichi grabbed the first aid and circled around her and to have a look.

"Wear gloves Shinichi, otherwise you will also end up getting cuts if there are more glass shards."

"It will be fine I can see clearly."

Shinichi very slowly placed his hand on the back of Ran's neck, she let out a slight surprised gasp. Shinichi moved his hands slowly and placed his hand on the nape of her neck.

Ran felt a rush of heat. His hands felt big and hot against the cool nape of her neck.

As soon as he stopped his hand, he felt the shard. Shinichi picked the tweezer from the first aid box and removed it.

"I will have a quick look Ran."

Shnichi kept his hand on the back of her neck and with the other hand slowly combed through her hair. His movements was gentle and patient as he slowly and steadily gathered bunch of her hair and placed them on her shoulders.

Ran closed her eyes in bliss. Well there was no one woman in the world who did not like to have their hair bushed. It was a hot day but now the sun was setting, the school had gotten quiet as the club activities had gotten over, the chirp of the cicadas was loud, clock of the infirmary was ticking away and in this quiet she heard it as well. Shinichi's and and her own heartbeat. Ran felt as is she had trancsended somehwere, her auditory and tactile senses had expanded and she really felt as his and her heart were beating in unison as if they were always one, two halves of the same thing.

"There all done."

Ran woke up, startled and slightly confused.

Infirmary....???

She looked around, her hair was bunched up on one side of her shoulder, her neck felt cool and she could distinctively feel the bandaid on her neck.

...Right, I got hurt and Shinichi was giving me a first aid.

She turned slowly and looked upwards, her eyes hazy and dreamy but shining and lovely. She felt a sudden gush of warmth enveloping her on seeing him.

"Arigatou Shinichi." she said, her voice was soft and mellow and a tender smile blossomed on her face.

Shinichi pulled away from her, a faint blush creeping up on his neck. He covered his face with his hand, trying to hide his embaressment.

"Its no big deal. Let's go."

They left the infirmary and made their way to the club room.

"Oh, how was your practise game today? Are you excited? The matches will start in three days, right?"

"Yes, everyone is in high spirits and pumped up for the tournament. A few teammates and I were planning to go to my house and watch a few recorded videos of our upcoming opponents."

"I see, wait a minute! Does that mean I held you up?"

"No no dont worry about it, I told them go ahead and wait at the family restaurant. It didnt take long anyway. I just need to get changed."

"I see, do you want to go together then?"

"Sure, wait for me," said Shinichi and entered the scoccer club room.

Once inside, Shinichi took mad gulps of air as if finally he could breath. These past ten minures or so felt erratic to him. the concern which flooded him when her heard of the accident, him sprinting all over the school premises, seeing her and then the rush of relief on seeing her not gravely injured. The next few minutes were even more bizzare.

Shinichi felt as if he had become hypersensitive towards Ran. When he had placed his hand on the nape of her neck, his palms were so much more warmer, the back of his hand felt ticklish due to her hair. However, the torture began when he had to weave through the long, silky strands. The thick locks wrapped around and slipping through his fingers were doing a number on his heart. Considering his ginormous crush on her, touching Ran like this felt extremely intimate and nerve wrecking at the same time.

Phew! Finally made it

Shinichi peeked at Ran, suddenly realising how still she was sitting. The sight he saw simply robbed him off his breath. Ran's face was tranquil, her long lashes were almost touching her upper cheeks, her breath was slow and steady, her full lips were slightly parted and Shinichi had the sudden intense urge to trace them with his fingers and investigate if her hair was softer or her lips.

.....Ran, I thought I could watch you forever, your eyes, lips, smile, hands, your every gesture.

.......I thought I could do it but I am slowly realising how futile this is. I have simply been enchanted.....

..... Even when I know I am sinking, I do not want to be saved. I really want to drown. I have been completely captivated by you.......

He memorised the image of her in his mind as best as he could, cleared his throat and said, "There all done."

Almost like butterfly wings, Ran's eyes fluttered open and she looked up around and met Shinichi's eyes with a dreamy, sleepy smile.

"Arigatou Shinichi."

Might as well pour honey in my ears Ran!!!!

Shinichi trampled down on his urge to pounce on her and crush her in his arms.

These whiplash of emotions is tiring. How come one moment I feel an emotion which almost like devotion but then the other moment I want to do unspeakable things to her?!?!

Shnichi felt shame but somehow managed to keep the conversation going till reaching the changing room bringing him to his current predicament of gulping in air as a way to clear his head off perverted thoughts.

He quickly changed and came outside. Ran was waiting outside holding her bag by her chest. Shinichi automatically grabbed her her bag and said, "Lets go."

Ran was slightly surprised but smiled and fell in step with him.

They spoke about casual things like the upcoming matches, Karate club's summer camp, other plans for summer vacation and reached the family restaurant. The boys were waiting outside for the duo.

Hama and Inoue shared sly a look after seeing Mouri's bandage covered hands and the fact that Kudou was carrying Mouri's gym bag.

"Oooo nice timing! We just got the takeaway as well. Lets go." Toonoka said ethusiastically.

They walked and chatted till reaching a common point.

"This is it for me," said Ran taking her bag from Shinchi.

"All the best for the matches! I will definately be cheering you guys on."

"If you have time do come to see us play," said Tonoka

Ran secretly met Shinichi's eyes, smiled and said, "Of course, I will most certainly be there."

Waving goodbyes, they went there separate ways.

After walking some distance Ran had the sudden urge to look back. The boys were all smiles and looked excited, energetic and so full of youthful energy.

Seeing them like this, seeing Shinichi like this made her happy.

She clasped her hands together, feeling a dull pinching ache in her hands but prayed.

"Kami-sama, please let the scoccer team play with no regrets. Also please heal my hands quickly, I wish to make a teru teru bouzu. I hope all the matches have clear blue skies."

Following the short prayer, Ran rushed home.

*****

I find this sooooo adorablee >////////<

A/N - THIS IS NOT MY IMAGE

A/N - All the credits to the original artist!!

Ran did mention about hanging teru teru bouzu for Shinichi's important matches and so the title. :)

Also in that case is a rare moment when 'Conan' is not really excited for the case but is actually more interested in going on a field trip with his Ran-'neechan'

The side-eye of Conan towards Heiji will always make me laugh :)))

A/N - Do let me know your thoughts!

#dc #gosho aoyama #shinran #fanfic #shinichi kudo #dcmk art #mouri ran #ran mouri #kawaii #manga #school #dc summer #romantic #tenderness #love #couple

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evolutionsvoid · 5 years ago

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When one ventures away from civilization and into the wilderness, there is a ton of important things you must bring with you. I know many immediately think about what equipment you take and what tools you have at your disposal, but there are important things that you cannot stuff into a backpack. Yes, a sturdy hatchet or a trusty blade can do wonders, but they will be useless if you do not know when to draw them. For me, knowledge is one of the best tools to have at your side, especially when it comes to the lands you walk through and the flora and fauna you deal with. This is the kind of stuff that helps you find edible plants or figure out what beast has patrolled this area. It also is crucial for understanding your surroundings, and spotting the signs of a trap before you blunder straight into it. There are many ambush predators out there, and each have their own way of hiding and attacking. If you don't know what hunters dwell in the territories you are exploring, then you will be blind to their machinations until it is too late. Even then, it is not just the predators you must be wary of! Creatures of any diet can be territorial, the only difference between the meat eaters and plant munchers is what they do with your corpse afterwards. Being able to identify markings and tracks will help you avoid these conflicts, as the best battle is the one that never happens. I say this because I am thinking of the serene ponds and tempting water holes within the tropics. Peaceful looking places where travelers and explorers often choose to rest. Do not fall for these looks! Know what creatures call these waters home, and be sure to check for their presence before you go for a dip! I have heard quite a few tales about those who decided to rest in these cool waters, only to be later found floating dead within them. The Berberoka may not have the fearsome teeth and claws of crocodilians or basilisks, but they can be just as deadly to those who incite their wrath. The Berberoka are amphibious fish that are found in the freshwater pools and ponds of the tropics. Though they can dwell in any water source, they prefer to make their homes in places where it is still and has some depth. Swamps and bogs are acceptable, but nothing beats a nice weedy pond! They like a good amount of vegetation both in and out of the water, as those are the perfect places to hide or rest. Amphibious in nature, they spend most of their time in the water, but will venture onto dry land for certain things. Their myriad of fins are great for swimming, though they rarely need to move fast. They prefer a slow and steady drift through the water, propelled by the movements of their smaller fins. This lets them drift along while the rest of their body stays perfectly still, turning them into a floating piece of vegetation. Outside of the water, they use their serpentine tail to slither along, which is helped with their arms and lower fins. Able to breathe both air and water, they can hide in the shallows or within the tangles of weeds that line the shores. This makes it difficult to locate a Berberoka, as they could be in or out of the water, and there is no telling where they are lurking. Though I may have hyped them up as dangerous creatures, they are not vicious carnivores. Berberoka are omnivores that feed on algae and tiny critters that dwell in the water. Their long thin mouth is good for sucking up water, and internal structures sieve out any food pieces that are pulled in. This tiny orifice makes it difficult to eat anything bigger than a grape, but they do not let such limitations rob them of a meal. Sharp protrusions around their mouth can cut and slice, and they use them to core out plugs of fruit or flesh. However, these food stuffs must be soft for this to work, as they don't have the sharpest "teeth" nor a biting mouth. To help soften up their food, they will often drag it into the water and store it in one of their hiding holes. Every Berberoka has small food caches under the water, usually sticking them in flooded burrows or hiding them under rocks and logs. Letting their meal soak in the water will allow it to break down and soften, just enough that they can carve out squishy chunks or suck up the remaining slurry. This method goes for both plants and meat, which is why finding a corpse floating in their pond is no rare occurrence. Despite the appearance, they do not really hunt for food. A lot of carcasses they obtain either came from an inhabitant of the pond that died for other reasons, or from outsiders who walk straight into their territory. While they are not active predators, Berberoka are quite aggressive and territorial. They are quite protective of their ponds or water bodies, and will lash out at those they perceive as a threat. They seem to target larger creatures, those that may rob them of their food or may try to claim their territory for themselves. It doesn't matter if this is the intruder's intention or not, as the Berberoka tend to interpret anything as a challenge to their claim. Approach their waters? Then you must be after their food caches! Drop your pack by a tree? Clearly marking the territory as theirs! Falling asleep in the shade? They are already building a nest! The gall! With this short fuse, Berberoka attacks are quite common, especially in wild territories where no one has placed warning signs. Sources of water are crucial for any beast or explorer, so many tend to head straight for one once it is sighted. If you are not observant, you may walk right into a Berberoka nest and incite an attack. Though they possess a few pointy bits, that is not the weapons they use to defend their homes.

When aggravated, a Berberoka will slink into the shallows. They will quietly hide themselves in the reeds and algae, watching the offender with a constant glare. They will carefully watch their movements, keeping track of their infractions and assessing if they are a threat. Unless the victim is aware that this pond belongs to a Berberoka and undertakes the proper precautions, they will most likely be seen as a threat. When they deem the intruder guilty, they will start to fill their body with water. With powerful muscles and flexible sacs, the Berberoka can swallow an insane amount of water in no time! Their bodies will be filled to bursting with fluid in seconds, and all that water will be unleashed upon the invader. When their target has come to rest or is near the water, the Berberoka will launch out of its hiding place and blast them with a torrent. Their thin mouths make for a tight beam of water, creating a powerful force that can bruise and even cut through exposed flesh! It doesn't help that this spray is aimed towards the face, where it can damage your eyes and blind you! These blasts of water quickly disorient the victim, causing them to stumble and fall. Even if the intruder is trying to escape, they will not let up on their assault. They will keep spraying their target until they scamper off into the wilderness or fall into the water. Those that wind up in the pond will be grabbed by the Berberoka and pulled under. Using their arms and tail, they will bind their victim and seek to drown them. Those that have enough strength to keep their heads up will have their faces blasted with more water until they succumb. Even those pinned on dry land are not safe, as they will continue to hose you down until your lungs are filled. In Berberoka territory, a drowned man on dry land is not an impossibility. After they successfully take down their intruder, they shall store their body in the water so it may get soggy enough for them to eat. No point letting food go to waste! These attacks make the Berberoka seem extremely violent and angry, but that is not always the case. We have this image because that is what the creature is doing when we are around. When left alone, the Berberoka seem much more serene and calm. They lazily drift through the water, and actually take pride in maintaining their pond! If one is stealthy and silent enough, you may be able to witness a Berberoka tend to their territory. They will fuss with the weeds and shoreline plants, often bending and wrapping them to create tangles and makeshift shelter. Rocks along the shore may be moved about and organized, though we don't know what their system is. Sunken stumps and branches will be put in different spots, like someone rearranging furniture. Some suggest that they do this to attract potential mates, or perhaps these actions help their ponds flourish. Since they mainly eat algae and tiny bits in the water, the Berberoka may shape their pond to better suit these food sources. I can believe this, as Berberoka territory is so rich with algae and the such that they tend to attract Lily Dryads! When I first heard this, I feared the worst! Those poor little things hardly think about danger and tend to be oblivious to their surroundings. Surely one of them slithering into Berberoka territory is doomed! Well, it turns out that the Berberoka don't mind Lily Dryads. For whatever reason, they are perfectly fine with a swarm of them hanging out in their ponds. They hardly even seem to notice them, to be honest! During my observations of one pond, I found that the resident Berberoka treated them like every other piece of vegetation, even when they moved or started talking! No one is really sure why the Lilies are spared of such extreme aggression, but some theories have popped up. One idea is that the Lily Dryads are small enough that the Berberoka doesn't see them as a threat. They tolerate smaller creatures, so perhaps a Lily Dryad fits the bill. Another theory is that the anatomy of a Lily Dryad has enough similarities to the Berberoka that it has some familiarity to them and thinks they are one of its own. The problem with that one is the fact that these creatures hardly interact with the Lilies, so I can't imagine that it thinks they are its young. Whatever the reason, Lily Dryads are allowed into their ponds and they find quite the haven there! Anything that would dare try to harm the Lilies would have to get through the angry home owner first! Speaking of the Lily Dryad mystery, I know some folk are wondering the obvious thing. "If you want to know why the Berberoka tolerates them, why don't you just ask them?" These are the questions of people who have never had to talk to a Lily Dryad before. Due to their laid back nature, they really don't pay attention to things and they aren't exactly the sharpest thorn on the branch. Conversations with them is like trying to have a scholarly debate with a sapling or child. They don't follow what you are saying and they would rather talk about whatever comes to their mind at that moment. I foolishly tried this questioning once, and the results were useless despite the aggravating amount of time it took to get them. I was able to convince a few Lilies to leave the pond and meet me a safe distance away from the territorial Berberoka. I asked them what they knew about the creature and they said "they seem nice!" I asked what else they knew, and it was "they are pretty nice!" I pointed out the fact that their "kind" neighbor was responsible for drowning at least four people in the past few months, which garnered a "they're quite nice once you get to know them!" To save my readers the misery and repetition, I will just say things didn't get much deeper than that. Due to their aggression and violent attacks, Berberoka are feared and reviled. Any person that lives within their range has heard the cautionary tales a hundred times. Those who disappear in the swamps are often believed to have been killed by one of these beasts, and many local children are wary of these still waters. Warning signs are quite common around these water bodies, especially those close to town. If a Berberoka gets too close to a local water source, the townsfolk will be forced to slay it. Using spears and shields decorated to look like large faces, a group will surround the pond and slowly approach. Eventually the Berberoka will come out spitting, and everyone will hide behind their shields. Seeing the false faces, it will direct its stream towards these instead of the actual warriors. While it is focused on one target, the others will slowly creep closer. It change its attack to those who are closest, but eventually someone will get into range and stab it. They aim for the inflated water sacs, looking to rupture them and take out the watery cannon. Once this happens, the rest can charge in and finish it off. While there are some sad instances where slaying a Berberoka is necessary, a lot of suffering can be avoided if people know how to identify Berberoka territory. One should pause and take a minute to study a water body before rushing in, checking to see if it is inhabited. One sign can be found in the reeds. The Berberoka wrap them together and shape them into a swirled den. Look for unnatural piles of rocks, which these creatures may build while they are tending to their pond. If you see a bunch of lily pads, they may actually be Lily Dryads. If you have the patience, you may be able to get their attention and ask them if one of these creatures is around. Just don't call it a "Berberoka" when you ask, as they have no clue what that is. If you find any muddy patches away from the shores, look to see the trail of a serpentine tail and the furrows of their lower fins. If you see a bunch of these signs, don't approach. Find somewhere else to rest or refresh. If you desperately need water, then try to find an access point that is protected. Trees, rocks, anything that can stop a beam of water long enough for you to grab what you need and run. Cover your face and wear as much protection as you can. If you approach, do so with a hunched posture and keep yourself low to the ground. A submissive stance can buy you some time, but don't stick around for too long! Another trick you can use to locate a Berberoka was one I learned from the locals. They make these wadded up balls of dried mud and crushed up crab shells. When they want to check if a pond is safe, they will chuck one of these things in and wait. The water melts away the dried dirt and releases these powdered crab bits. Apparently the Berberoka absolutely hates this and is whipped into an agitated state when it catches the scent. They thrash and splash in the water, churning up the area where the ball was thrown. In a few moments, it will settle down and return to its stealthy state, but this outburst is enough for locals to spot them and head the other way. Looking into it, I found that the scent of certain freshwater crustaceans agitate the Berberoka, as these species are known to feed on their eggs. Lobbing in this scent bomb sets them off and they immediately look to eliminate this fake threat. It is a fascinating solution and one that I have used a couple of times during my expeditions there. However, do be sure to keep these crab balls in a sealed container when you are at camp. While the Berberoka hates the smell of these critters, other beasts are quite fond of it and you may wake up to find a hungry customer in your tent! Chlora Myron Dryad Natural Historian ------------------------------------------------------------ I don't recall how I came to learn of this mythical creature, but I liked the concept once I did! These guys weren't intended for Mermay, but I found they fit the theme, so here they are!

#berberoka #monster #creature #mythical creatures #mythical beasts #leafy sea dragon #seahorse #mermay #mermay 2020 #art #drawing

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pikachu78109 · 5 years ago

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After Thoughts on Pokémon SwSh ((SPOILER HEAVY! TREAD CAREFULLY))

Okay, wow. So, I played and finished the main story in two days (I had so much free time after college classes) and I managed to power through the game in no time at all. Right now, I am doing post game, but I’ll save that for another time. For now, I want to address my overall thoughts on the main story and some of the pros and cons that this Gen has brought. Spoiler heavy content incoming!

Pros

1) The region is f*cking gorgeous!

When the Pokémon team really puts their mind to it, they create Galar to look really beautiful. From past generations, most of the town weren’t really towns, they looked like villages. And though the cities looked big like in Gen 5, 6, and 7, Gen 8 really pushed itself with its graphics and made the design of the towns and cities looks massive and eye catching. The colors pop and the things that stand out really stood out, such as MotoStoke, Wyndon, Hulbury, and Hammerlocke. These games are just so gorgeous to look at!

2) The Wild Area

Grinding as never been as fun when you’re in the Wild Area. Not only can you Dynamax your Pokémon when approaching as Power Spot, you can encounter rare Pokémon and Camp and do some serious training before the next Gym Match. I used this area a lot when playing through this game, and I have collected so many Berries and items and even battled some Pokémon to level up my team. This area has a functional use and something worth mentioning because I found this area to be extremely helpful whenever I need a bit of grinding. There are a few Trainers, heck there’s even a nursery if you want to drop off a couple of your Pokémon there, and they do sometimes give you items in exchange for Watt power. It depends on how much though, but you could get some rare items from them, if possible. Overall, a really great addition!

3) A Good Cast of Characters

Galar has so many characters and the majority of them are pretty good! While there are a few that I felt could’ve been stronger or competent even, most of the characters have different personalities and each one displays vast characteristics that make them stand out. Marnie, Bede, and Hop were great rivals and each one had a personal goal and under went character growth (Bede especially) as the story continued. Other characters like Sonia were present in the story and offered more to the plot, like telling about the legends in Galar or assisting you on your way. Leon was a character who was present most of the time and was a great Champion. Most of the Gym Leaders were unique in their own way (some more than others) and gave Gym Missions that could either frustrate you or not. It’s definitely not like Gen 7 where the cast gets involved one way or another, but in Gen 8, the cast never felt forgettable and had something to offer.

4) The Soundtrack Is Good

If I can pull a Trugreen 7 here, the music in this generation was pretty good. It brought a lot of life to the region and gave it atmospheric energy. My favorites include the Slumbering Weald, the Gym Leader theme, Chairman Rose’s theme, and Hop’s Battle theme to name a few. The Wild Area gets hit with a blast of bagpipes, giving it a distinct identity apart from the routes, cities, and towns. When the OST for this game comes out on iTunes, I’m definitely going to download some of these tracks!

5) Very Immersive

The attention to detail on the games bring out the immersion was pretty good. There’s definitely some humanity to the main character and there are a few things that accompany that. The Pokémon Camp mechanic was a great way to play with your Pokémon, make curry, and even invite other players to join your Camp. Not only that, but you could visit any nearby Pokémon Camps and interact with the Trainer’s Pokémon if you so wished. There’s a lot of upgrades to the character customization where you have a lot of options to choose from, from clothes to hair, so you could give your player character some identity that’s unique to you or look like you. The Power Up Spots found in the Wild Area invites players to join in a battle against a Dynamaxed Pokémon, so the use of teamwork and connecting with other players helps bring out more usage to the Dynamax mechanic. The region can get pretty easy to get sucked into and it shows.

Cons

So, now that I covered some of my personal favorite pros, I will now discuss some my personal cons that I have with this game. Keep in mind that these cons are of my personal opinion and maybe you might disagree, which is perfectly fine! Anyway, here they are!

1) The Story was Lackluster

As a new game on the Switch, the build to the story was something that I was looking forward to. I mean, there have been leaks about the story that were more like rumors, but they sounded really interesting and it got me hyped for the games. After playing through the story, it wasn’t much. The story, for the most part, was hardly a story. You’re just going around Galar, competing in the Gym Challenge and stopping whatever obstacles that come your way, such as Team Yell. Plot wise, there’s nothing. And when I mean ‘nothing’, I mean that the plot didn’t attribute to anything spectacular. The ending to the story felt very anti-climatic with the whole Eternatus situation and could’ve been handled better with the proper timing or with a better build up. Eternatus does not get mention much throughout the entire story and we are led to assume that Eternatus is the cause of The Darkest Day. That detail felt super unclear to me and I couldn’t tell what the f*ck was going on until the very last half of the game. I will get into more of that later, but for now all I can say is that I liked the leaked rumors more than the actual story we were given.

2) Chairman Rose Is A Weak Antagonist

Why? WHY?! As much as I like his battle theme, Chairman Rose is such a dumb antagonist! Listen, I know that villains in Pokémon can either be weak or great, but it all boils down to their motivation. Their motivations have to at least make some sort of sense, even if it is mediocre or half assed. Chairman Rose’s motive is all based around semi good intentions that can be similar to Lusamine’s from USUM. However, Chairman Rose doesn’t seem entirely aware of what he is doing and jumps into whatever scheme that he thinks might work and help all of Galar. Instead, his plans come off as lazy and last minute. We don’t get any occurrences to his antagonistic intentions because we are devoted to our Gym Challenge while Rose hides behind the shadows. To his credit, he would have to be the most sane antagonist in all of Pokémon and does turn himself in afterwards, so clearly he knew that he f-ed up. That being said, he would have to be the weakest Pokémon villain in my book and I would’ve preferred his secretary Oleana to be the villain instead.

2) Oleana Should Have Been the Main Antagonist

Like I said, Oleana should have been the main antagonist in these games. From the get go, she gave off so many red flags for being a character with less than good intentions but was actually a supposed Admin instead. I mean, she gives off so many bad vibes that I almost believed that she was the antagonist, not Rose. This was just a missed opportunity to me, because in the final stretch of the games, you get a bunch of Macro Officers who supposedly started a fan club surrounding Oleana. Like, wtf?! If you’re lackeys are going to making a fan club dedicated to you, then that has to say something. Oleana has always been a character that just had a cold expression on her face, but she’s left in a position that should’ve been rectified. Once again, this was a missed opportunity.

3) The Champion Battle Could’ve Been Better

As much as I adore Leon, the Champion battle against him didn’t feel as challenging as I hoped it would be. Instead, it almost felt like Gen 6 all over again with me almost knocking out his team completely with little to no effort involved. And he’s supposed to be the ‘undefeated’ Champ in Galar! Shouldn’t he be challenging? Shouldn’t he give me a hard time by providing moves that could put my team in a bind? There’s not much I can say about this other than the fact that this battle could’ve been better. I don’t know about other players, but from this experience, the Champion battle didn’t feel, well, Champion enough.

Final Thoughts

Okay, final thoughts. Obviously, I do have a lot more to say about Pokémon SWSH, but I didn’t want this post to become a lengthy essay. There were definitely some step ups and it’s clear to see where the steps were made to creating this game. Despite the controversy surrounding this Gen, I hope that this generation gets recognized beyond that. There are good things about this game that I pointed out, but there were also some things that felt rushed or didn’t make much sense.

I can’t say that I regret buying these games, because I am glad that I went to Galar and experienced many things from that region. Still, the things that stood out poorly really did show, which is a bummer because these were missed opportunities that could’ve made the games a lot stronger. I don’t think that Gen 8 is a bad game (heck I place that title onto USUM) but it’s definitely in a mixed bag with me.

If I were to rate this game on a scale of 1-10, I would give a 6/10, mainly because of weak story but accompanied with beautiful visuals and a decent cast of characters. The game does have some replay value but I believe that I might restart my game and play through everything all over again. That’s how I usually roll.

Recommending this game to other players would be difficult given the reputation this game has, but as a Switch game, it does an okay job. I just hope that the next games will have more effort and something to look forward to without any unnecessary drama to blacklist it. I can only dream.

#pokemon #pokemon sword and shield #nintendo #gen 8 #galar #spoilers

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amoderngorgon · 6 years ago

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RP Habits

Name: Lena Characters: Celia Gorgon, Jasmine Al-Saleh, Ashley Armbruster, Vincenzo “Vinny” Santorini, Llewellyn “Louie” Mallard, Arthur Pendragon Triggers: outer space/gore. also fat shaming I think. Or just weight things. Idk I think that’s a thing now but i’m not sure how to define. Fave Disney Movie(s): Hercules, The Incredibles, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Moana Fave Movie(s): The Winter Soldier, The Return of the King, Les Miserables, Titanic, Dirty Dancing, Gone with the Wind, John Mulaney’s comedy things lol Favourite Book(s): The Outsiders, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Eragon books, Harry Potter, Sarah Dessen books, Favourite TV shows (s): The Flash, Jessica Jones, The Dragon Prince, Avatar the Last Airbender, She-Ra, SNL?, Kim Possible, Fave Video Games: Kingdom Hearts, The Sims, Favourite Bands/Artists: Bastille, The Civil Wars, Sleeping at Last, The Beatles, Britney Spears, QUEEN, ABBA, Sia

Best way to communicate with me: discord 100 percent. I just, i keep tabs for all the muses open at various times but I just don’t check for those messages on the blogs usually. Discord just works better for me as I have the app too and I can keep track that way.

When you approach me to plot, please… come at me with some idea of which characters you want to bring together. Maybe a little bit of a plot idea. It doesn’t have to be much! I love the collaborating part. I just don’t want to be the only one trying to work something out you know? Also appreciate that I might have a difficult time saying no.

For me, I always have that instinct to want to just be nice and agree to most things and all because that’s just...polite or whatever. And I also want you guys to be aware that like...if you’re all jazzed up I’m not always very good at going !!! or being all hyped all the time. Sometimes I just need a bit more of a mellow vibe. It does not mean I’m not interested in the plot or anything. I’m just pretty introverted and sometimes the intense OMG LENA SOGJSGS just makes me want to retreat a little. Not all the time, and if you’re not sure just ask me. it’s okay. you can be like “hey Lena, high energy cool today or nah?” idk. that might be nice.

When I approach you to plot, please… tell me if you don’t like what I’m throwing at you. Or if you don’t feel you have time for it now. The most frustrating feeling is pitching something and it seems like it’s good but then we never end up threading the thing or it just gets pushed to the back burner. Or it’s just uninteresting to you. Idk maybe it is. Just...be honest with me?

My RP Pet Peeves:

Being inflexible about plots or changes. I think sometimes there are changes or things you don’t anticipate when you first plot something out. So being patient with me and willing to work things out if something might not click the way it could have before.

Shipping for shipping’s sake. Everyone knows by now probably that I do love me some romance. I appreciate ships. I think shipping is great. But I also don’t like shoving two characters together just cause. For me it always needs to have a story, and I always need to see if the two actually get along. Chemistry and all that yeah? Not sure if this is a pet peeve or a general thing but I thought it could go here.

I feel like I have other things but my brain isn’t thinking of them now so maybe I’ll add later.

One thing you should know about me before we RP is: I did indie rping for quite a while, and it kind of ingrained this idea in my head that I should never reply right away. That people just kind of...hate that? And so often I might take a little longer to reply to something than I have to because I worry that someone will feel I’m rushing a thread when really I’m excited. It kind of sucks cause like I’ll get really pumped about a thread and what’s going on, but then be afraid to just focus on that and reply to it a few times in a row. So like, if you don’t mind stuff being replied to soon after being posted? Please tell me. I can’t know for sure if you’d actually like that or if it would annoy you.

Also, like quite a few people I think I do have anxiety, and I do worry about whether or not you like my plots or if I come off too strong or not at all. Sometimes I take a little longer to reply because of what’s said above but also because of my studies. I am in my MA program and that is a good deal of work. I don’t know that I’d reply instantly, and sometimes seeing instant replies gives me a momentary feeling of stress? I can’t really explain that at all. But I hope you’ll be patient with me and ask me how I’m feeling about it. I think mostly everyone’s been good about that, but it definitely helps when you ask.

#bdrptask #didn't feel like doing a graphic making thing #so have john mulaney instead

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operationrainfall · 5 years ago

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Title Creature in the Well Developer Flight School Studio Publisher Flight School Studio Release Date September 6th, 2019 Genre Action, Pinball, Puzzle Platform PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One Age Rating E for Everyone – Mild Language, Mild Fantasy Violence Official Website

It’s no exaggeration that Creature in the Well was on my radar from the first time I saw it in a Nintendo Direct. I’m easily drawn to unique art, and Creature in the Well had a quasi cel-shaded style that really got my attention. Since then, I’ve demoed it at two separate events, and my interest only grew. So of course I decided to review the game on the site. The question was, could my initial hype live up to the actual experience? Or was I dragged kicking and screaming into a pit of despair?