#with a high translucent version of the new one on top

[golden-bubblebee]

I understand why you changed your pfp but it is massively throwing me off

I keep thinking like "why isn't bubbles posting at all =[" but you have been it's just a different pfp

HAHAHAHHA

I 100% get it! I have that too, to the point were one of my moots genuinly gives me a warning when they're abt to change their pfp 😆😆. I do prefer the other one myself, I will say, but soon we'll get used to this one!!

[athena-gunpla]

HGBD:R 1/144 P-Bandai Planets System PFF-X7 "Core Gundam" [Real Type Colour] + Planets System Armour Unit PFF-X7/M4 "Marsfour Gundam" (Dive Into Dimension Clear)

This is the second of three core-system gunpla I've bought over the past few months. I was looking for a Marsfour to go along with my Earthree, and found this one pretty nicely discounted instead. While I don't usually go for clear kits, especially when the white is this sort of milky translucent clear instead of true clear, the cool sparkles within the plastic sold it for me.

The kit contains both a recolor of the Core Gundam, in the "Real Type Colour", resembling Tomino's initial RX-78-2 palette, as well as the base parts for the Marsfour. Disappointingly, despite being a P-Bandai version of the kit, the weapons were not included.

Just as with the Earthree's core gundam, this little unit is nicely articulated. It comes with a small beam spray gun and the core gundam's half-shield.

The shield nicely shows off the new weathering technique I've been trying out. This combines a heavy drybrushing of dark. gunmetal, a top pass of light silver (Citadel Necron compound works really nicely for this), and some Tamiya gunmetal pigment powder to catch the high edges (Weathering Kit C). I think I really managed to bring out the edges and portray a distressed look, as well as enhance the contrast and bring out a lot of the smaller details.

Again, like the previous kit, there are two small beam saber effects for the core gundam, this time in a really nice super clear trans-yellow.

The yellow effects work nicely with the gold foil stickers for the eyes and auxiliary sensors.

Like the Earthree Gundam, the Marsfour parts build into a support plane. A lot of the parts are nearly identical to the Earthree, with similar forearms, skirt, and leg design, but with an overall spikier design aesthetic.

Forming the full Gundam works just as I outlined in my Earthree review, and the final form looks just as impressive.

Unfortunately unlike the Earthree there's no shield upgrade or gun extension, and the backpack lacks the cool wings from the Earthree as well. Instead, the gimmick of the Marsfour armour is the two flip-out claw/shields attached to the forearms. Thankfully the core-sized beam spray gun still looks ok on the full Marsfour. Again, like Earthree, there are a pair of longer beam effects to use alongside the bigger armoured-up gundam.

As both kits utilize the "Core" system, you can mix and match pieces from Earthree and Marsfour together. I really like this concept, as it lets you customize a final form with your favorite colours and gimmicks. If cash wasn't a concern I'd definitely try and collect as many of the other kits as possible to mix and match.

The Marsfour/Earthree combo still looks really nice, however.

Overall I had fun with this kit. Cleanup is a little more difficult with a clear kit, as is panel lining. It turned out a lot messier than I would've liked, and it was hard to see where all the grooves were. I probably won't bother with any future clear kits. It was also difficult to hide or sand away the nub marks.

Overall, while I'm upset at how these kits are priced, and sold independent of their weapon upgrades, I still really enjoy the concept. I have one more core-system kit to show off for now, which should show up in the next couple of months. I really think it's worth trying at least one of this type of kit, if you enjoy HGs.

Interested to hear other modeler's experiences with clear kits.

[taybatwo2]

Off White Raven Rhapsody Part 1 of 2

I just spent waaaaay too much on a doll; -but I really didn’t buy too many Skullectors last year, so I’ll say that it evens out.- To date, this is the most I’ve ever spent on a doll. Monster High really pulls me in with their new and interesting monster head sculpts….always has and always will….so I bit the bullet and bought her. I didn’t take a photo of her box, but it is a very heavy duty box. I feel like a lot of budget went into that damn box too as it uses really thick paperboard, has four interlocking (like a much bigger version of paper board jewelry boxes) pieces, and four acrylic pieces. I am not an inbox collector, so this is just some very expensive trash to me. -I can’t even recycle the thick paperboard here locally-

Anyways, let’s see if some of my money went to the doll. -I know the lion’s share of expense is due to the Off-White brand, blah blah-

I wanted to compare her to her MH gargoyle brethren: Create a Monster Gargoyle (in a Granite City High jumpsuit I started to make him, but never finished), Garrott du Roque, and Rochelle Goyle. She seems a little more radioactive colored than the other gargoyles. Maybe she was carved out of uranocircite or metatorbernite instead of granite…. It does bother me that she doesn’t have any speckled skin. She was an expensive doll, why not make her skin the same “off-white” color and throw in some speckles! She also did not make her with clawed hands, which is very strange because Skullectors put that shit on everything. Well, let’s take a closer look at the thing I mainly bought her for. Her face!! Her face is so pretty….

Let’s compare her face sculpt and Rochelle’s.

I am very certain that the face part of the head is the same. The nose is identical, they both have the “worried bumps” in the middle of their foreheads, and the jawline looks the same. Rochelle’s lips are fully painted in, while Raven’s look under painted (especially on her upper lip). Their eyes have varying styles. Rochelle’s eyes have thicker lower lines, larger pupils and irises, and much longer eyelashes (ghoul is using the same mascara Yuma). Raven’s eye paint looks much more crisp, seem to fit the mold better, and a bit more detailed (her make-up uses several more colors than Rochelle’s). Raven’s eyebrows look a bit pixelated though.

Yup, their profiles look pretty darn similar. Now her HORNS! YESSSSSS! Look at those detailed horn ridges.

They’re detailed all the way around too.

Her painted scalp could be a bit better. You can also see that her horns are separate pieces.

Now, lets look at their “ears.”

Rochelle doesn’t have ears in the traditional spot.

Her ears are very similar to Create a Monster, but her ear tip is a lot more rounded and the inverted scalloped edge is a lot deeper too.

Garrett’s ear is actually more detailed than either of them (there is more detail on the tip of the ear and the base of the ear). The veins are much more prominent too.

Now let’s look at their wings!!

Raven’s are the BIGGEST by far. Even the shape is completely different (I thought maybe it was a bigger version of Rochelle’s but looks like it’s a completely different mold).

Rochelle’s and Creat a Monster both have two separate wings, and a lot texture to their wings. Garrote has a smoother texture and is only one piece -THAT NEVER STAYS IN- Raven’s wings actually does stay in REALLY well.

The front has veins, tons of cracks (that off white color that doesn’t like to be photographed), and lightly translucent. ….I wonder if they will reuse this mold in some aspect for Ru Paul’s dragon MH doll??

Yup, no veins on the back. I wonder how it will look if I add a light wash to those cracks…

She also has these little horns on the top of her wings. Mine had some scratched off paint…yay…also, the horns don’t look cleanly sculpted (especially compared to her horns).

Yeah, her horns look a lot more defined. Also, this is as far down as her arms go at the shoulder…

Also, her arm joint on her left arm is messed up. She can bend it but it really did not want to turn around.

Well, I guess I can look at her expensive branded clothes. In Part 2!

[deliciouskeys]

@cozycornerkinktober’s prompt #2: Gloves

America’s Sweetheart (Homelander solo with a soupçon of Starlander)

Warnings: rated soft E or hard M. Cross-dressing elements.  HL pov and all that comes with that. Short. AO3 link.

Homelander can't understand a lot of things about Starlight. For someone who made her way into Vought’s top echelon of supes, she's still oddly attached to her unremarkable birth name (Maeve never insisted he call her Maggie, and The Deep and A-Train only use theirs for signing contracts). She was inexplicably dating a limp noodle of a man who was a mudperson. Homelander would have understood if it was someone with political clout or money, but Hugh had none of those things. And she periodically felt the need to speak out on camera about things that made everyone uncomfortable. In some ways, Homelander wonders if it was her infuriating behavior during rehearsals that inspired him into his own public tirade. Did she think she was the only one who could speak off the cuff?

Given all of these things, her rejection of the sexier improved uniform the Vought team attempted to update for her shouldn't surprise him. His new co-captain seems determined to wear that dowdy, prim little skirt-and-cape ensemble. Shoulder covered. No cleavage, no thigh high boots. He’s surprised she didn’t insist on a skirt that would cover her knees and go with a full Amish bonnet instead of a headband.

When he intrudes into her room to discuss his vision for the finale of Vought’s Next Top Superhero, he paces around idly, stopping in front of her closet and scanning through it. He’s pleased to discover that she never bothered to return her uniforms. Six identical outfits Vought manufactured for her that she snobbily rejected after a brief run were still hanging up, side by side, in the back of her closet. 

“Why won’t you wear this version?” he asks as he shoves the door open and pulls out the uniform that also has accessories on the hanger.

“Because it’s uncomfortable and obscene,” she says brusquely.

“What’s obscene is you wearing jeans and a t-shirt while you’re on the clock. It’s fucking unprofessional.”

“I’m in my own room!” She was already exasperated with him before, but is clearly even more on edge now. Maybe because she can guess that during his scan he also saw her vibrator stashed away in her underwear drawer. He did enjoy the brief mental image it gave him, but there’s no reason for him to bring it up and give her a hard time. If he really wanted to, he could listen for the buzzing sound at night and look through walls and floors to perv on her. But he’s not that obsessed with her.

“Your room is in Vought Tower, and 10 am is work hours by any definition, even a New Yorker's. So pull yourself together. Wear your old maid uniform, at least, if you can’t force yourself to wear this sexy one.”

“Sorry I can’t be like you and live in my suit 24/7. But I’d like to see you wear that thing and then tell me you’d want to spend time in it.”

Homelander’s mind feels like it shorts out and goes blank for a moment.

~~~

He brings the uniform he pulled out back to his own room. Starlight has no intention of wearing it or at least she didn’t voice any protest when he took it with him. He has no interest in the white and gold shapewear that might as well be a swimsuit and throws it on the bed, but he’s itching to touch the gold gloves and thigh-high boots. He remembers when he touched her gloves for the first time, holding hands as they walked down the red carpet after Translucent’s funeral. He was drawn to do it again down in the tunnels, patronizing her, grabbing her wrists as he told her to kill off her lowly on-again off-again boytoy. But he was touching them through his own thick gloves. It wasn't until assaulting her in the elevator that he really lost his mind over the way they felt as he snaked his hand down her body while she raised her arms up to protect herself.

Now he strips down with eagerness that surprises himself, and fucking moans when he touches her gloves with his bare hands. He tries to pull one of them on but to no avail. They’re small and tailored for thinner arms than his– and he’s so bad at estimating his own body size under the foam padding that he fully expected them to be able to stretch and fit. He can’t quite fit his feet into the boots either, even with the leg is unzipped all the way down to the ankle. All he can do is push his feet in as far as they will go, not quite able to fit his arch in, heel hanging over the edge.

This won’t do. 

~~~

When Homelander orders only the accessory pieces to Starlight’s deprecated uniform, but in a bigger size, the people in the costuming department look at him uncertainly.

“Is she wearing it again?” they ask, as if it's any of their business. “We weren’t aware her size changed.”

Homelander sighs at having to explain himself. “It’s not... for her. It’s for a different woman. Who’s a bit larger.” He realizes his tone sounds strange as he’s trying to come up with a good lie for why he needs this. “Can you just make them larger?”

“But sir, no one else is allowed to wear Starlight’s uniform, even the old version. It’s copyrighted…” the man with a ‘Steve’ nametag begins to stammer.

“Oh for crying out loud, this isn’t for wearing outside. It will only be worn behind closed doors, I promise you. And I trust I can ask to keep this discreet?”

The people behind the counter look at each other nervously, but smile appeasingly and nod and promise to deliver something for him in the next few weeks… days!, they quickly correct themselves when they see the irritation on his face at the long timeline.

~~~

He finds the package is delivered right to his door. Maybe the department downstairs were intimidated by him and dropped it off to avoid a conversation. Homelander thinks they’re being ridiculous. He’s given them no trouble, asked for no modification of his own suits– he’s requested very few changes since 1999. When he opens the box and unwraps the white tissue paper providing cushioning around the gloves and boots, he forgets all of his annoyance at them. The gloves are just like Starlight’s originals, not a knockoff material as he feared they might resort to if they no longer had the old one in stock. They’re thin and silky to the touch— and not very protective at all compared to his thick pleather ones. He strips down and tries to pull one of them on. It’s still a tight squeeze but he manages to get his hand into the glove, just a little too small. He can't really complain when he didn’t give them any exact specs. He pulls on the other glove too. They feel insanely good, smooth, lightweight, and he loves the feeling of them stretched all the way up to the middle of his upper arms. He sits on his bed and just rubs them up and down his own torso, touching his nipples, and running a hand down from his breastbone, past his navel and to his crotch. Its only takes a few strokes of his cock with the silky texture to get him hard. 

He pauses before riling himself up any further, and puts on the boots. They're also tight, but this time he can push his foot in and even zip up all the way up to mid-thigh. He walks to the mirror to really admire this, finding walking in heels unfamiliar but loving the extra height. He gets harder when he sees his pale, thin torso surrounded by gold-wrapped arms and legs. He's usually vaguely disgusted by seeing himself nude. His brain is used to the suit, and when it’s not hiding his deficiencies he looks bony, skinny, pathetic, as weak as he's afraid to be. But in this getup he enjoys being on the lean side. He keeps rubbing his hands up and down his torso, twisting and turning in front of the mirror, cupping his ass, shifting his weight from one leg to the other coyly, jutting his hips, even crouching down and doing an obscene spread of his legs. These gloves and boots are much more fun than his own, he is loath to admit.

Starlight’s an idiot. She had the best uniform in the Seven, if she had had any clue how to work it. She doesn’t seem to understand that part of her job being America’s Sweetheart on the Seven is having strong sex appeal, even if she’s marketed to be a little demure and provincial.

His cock is aching to be touched again, and he obliges, watching his motions in his reflection, coming with a groan all too quickly, and spraying the mirror’s surface despite standing more than a foot away.

[hallowgracie]

Short Story: "Alternate Universe, Slow Burn"

Author's Note: The storyline for Starfall Sleuth developed when I was creating a fictional fandom for a short story about two young adults deep into fandom spaces (cosplay, edits, and fanfic) whose catalyst for realizing they've been in love with each other is that they're about to meet at a convention for their favorite fandom in-person.

I thought it might be fun to share that story, so we might learn where certain ideas came from--and what might have changed between the version of the story depicted in this short versus what suits my writing sensibilities.

...

Sonya didn’t even bother turning on the lights in her dorm. Instead, she toed off her shoes and headed to the rigid standard desk in the trance of a routine. She slung her backpack to the unswept floor and removed her most precious possession—the laptop gifted to her by her parents for her high school graduation. Stickers covered every inch of the laptop’s translucent turquoise shell, with little chibi characters on both sides of the mousepad. 

Sonya booted it up, revealing a desktop screen with a wallpaper set to a movie poster with those same characters in live action. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she entered in her password and pulled up Discord. 

Her breath hitched. This was it.  The message that had her soaring all the way home in anticipation. 

nightshadewisdom : just got to the hotel w Will and Sam and the others. The Phantom Thieves are here!

She pushed her circular golden glasses up her nose as she took in the words on the screen. So simple, so short—only seventeen words. Seventeen words that were the culmination of five years. 

agardenofstars : Glad to hear you got here safe. I totally thought with the rain there’d be a delay to the flight. 

There was no green light next to his profile icon, an anime depiction of the character with a domino mask, a top hat, and a great purple cloak with a rose broach fastening it. So Sonya clicked to open a tab—he’d be back online eventually. 

There were several new comments in her inbox at Archive Of Our Own, all on the latest chapter of her newest fanfic. That was distraction enough, to keep her from repeatedly checking Discord and refreshing in futility. 

playinghergame : I absolutely love it! This is the ending Seele and James should have gotten!! 

seele-is-queen : What is there to say? Ugh, I love the line about the pointlessness of self-sacrifice. That’s what the writers of season 4 deserve, having James die like that and Seele end up alone. 

the-okay-detective : Oh, that scene in the tower is so beautiful, and the art by nightshadewisdom is just gorgeous, as always. I love seeing what you two come up with for my favorite ship!

The last one had Sonya’s cheeks go warm as she found herself smiling. It was only on the last two or three stories that they’d collaborated like this, posting art meant to go directly with a totally planned-out story. 

She decided to respond to that one first. 

agardenofstars : @the-okay-deective, thank you so much! Yeah, I love nightshadewisdom’s work, when he showed me that, I had to actually rewrite the scene to do it more justice. I’m so glad that you love it, we always love seeing you in the comments

agardenofstars : @seele-is-queen The season 4 finale was such bullshit, I had to bite my thumb at it. Thanks for reading and reviewing, as always!

agardenofstars : @playinghergame Thanks! Seele x James forever!

As she finished the last response, the distinct chime of a new Discord message rang out. She clicked to see several new messages from Jay. 

nightshadewisdom : Yeah, I thought so too. But we’re here, getting our wigs and everything ready for tomorrow. 

nightshadewisdom : I hope the rain wasn’t too much trouble on your campus.

Sonya’s fingers flew across the board like she was sure her heart would, in a Snow White kind of way. 

agardenofstars : It wasn’t too bad, I live on campus, so it’s not like I ever had to walk long in the rain. Still, I hate when it gets all dark and gray like this, it’s so depressing.

agardenofstars : It’s supposed to be sunny tomorrow, though, so at least your wigs won’t be in danger!

She added a little chibi winking face, styled after the character in his icon. 

nightshadewisdom : Maybe we should meet up for coffee or something before we go to the convention hall. 

nightshadewisdom : Know any good places?

agardenofstars : I mean, I guess there’s always the Starbucks on campus. But I’ve heard really good things about the coffee shop in the convention center. Might be worth waiting to check it out.

nightshadewisdom : That’s fair. I guess I was just hoping to see you sooner.

Sonya leaned back and frowned. What exactly did Jay mean by that? The phrasing was strangely sentimental, it had a feeling of almost. . .yearning to it? Then again, it was always hard to tell in the written word.

It was funny, she’d spent so long learning how to write all kinds of emotions though characters that meant everything to her. And yet she still could not discern the intentions of a stupid text message on Discord. 

agardenofstars : That’s fair. It is weird, isn’t it? We’ll see each other in person for the first time tomorrow. 

agardenofstars : You, Will, Sam, all of your friends. And yet I feel like we know each other so well already. 

nightshadewisdom : Because we do know each other so well. We’ve been talking like this for what, five years?

Sonya bit her lip and thought of the date circled on her calendar, one that she only noted three or so years ago, when the feeling of sentimentality hit her. 

agardenofstars : Yeah, five years. Pretty close to today, too. I remember I was watching the livestreams of the con panels and wishing I could be there. 

nightshadewisdom : That would have been around season 2, right?

agardenofstars : Yeah, right before season 2. I think I saw your fanart of the waterfall scene with Seele and James and I just had to write something for it. . . 

nightshadewisdom : You tagged me in it, and I was still small enough then that I could keep up with everyone tagging me in stuff

agardenofstars : And the rest is history ;)

agardenofstars : And you were plenty popular then! The fandom for the reboot wasn’t that big yet. 

nightshadewisdom :  Okay, you got me

nightshadewisdom : I’d actually seen your fics before that point

By nature, Sonya was a storyteller. She lived and breathed a narrative, a romanticized sequence of events. And she prided herself in knowing her stories well, keeping track of all the miniscule details, like whether Seele Gardner’s eyes were blue or green (somewhere in-between). 

This was a detail unbeknownst to her, one that she couldn’t have known. And yet it was one that changed the narrative. A chance meeting was less than chance. The moon and the earth had been circling each other in orbit long before they could see each other. 

She sat back in her chair, considering it a moment. Then her hands hovered tentatively over the keyboards as she struggled to decode her own whirling thoughts. 

agardenofstars : Really? I wasn’t really writing anything good yet. Or getting that many hits on my work.

nightshadewisdom : That’s true, but you were also one of the only ones writing Jaseele fic. 

nightshadewisdom : I always wanted to post some of the work I’d done based on that earlier stuff but I never got up the courage.

nightshadewisdom : You never know how that kind of thing will be received

agardenofstars : Ha, I would’ve worried about that for your stuff, if you didn’t always post it with a caption saying it was okay. 

nightshadewisdom : It’s funny, isn’t it? We both were so shy then, it would have been so easy for us to never meet

nightshadewisdom : And tomorrow would be very different. Maybe it wouldn’t happen this way at all.

nightshadewisdom : I don’t know. Sorry, guess I’ve been thinking about things. I don’t know why. 

agardenofstars : It’s okay. I’ve been thinking about it too. Hard not to, I guess. 

She knew that she would just be waiting in the silence, hanging on the edge of her seat as she waited for the things that neither of them wanted to say. She couldn’t dare to bridge that gap herself. So she got up—she’d come back to this later. 

Besides, there were things to do to get ready for the Starfall Sleuth convention tomorrow. She had to get her cosplay out, double-check the wig, and give one last once-over for all of the details. She also needed to retrieve the tickets from her email and get them onto her phone, and pull some cash from the ATM in the basement of her dorm building. Then there was dinner, and a thousand other excuses she could make.

But she’d come back to Discord eventually. 

She always did, when it came to Jay. 

If there were two things that always came back to her, it was Jay and Starfall Sleuth. 

It was an hour later when Sonya returned to her computer, ready to brave the messages on Discord with a bowl of Kraft Mac and Cheese, courtesy of the microwave in the dorm’s rec room. 

“Alright, Jay,” she murmured to herself aloud. “What’cha got for me?”

nightshadewisdom : How did you get into Starfall Sleuth, btw? 

Sonya blinked. She hadn’t expected him to take the conversation in that direction. Still, she faithfully began to type out a reply.

agardenofstars : It’s funny, I guess it never came up before. My mom was into Starfall Sleuth back in the 80s, when the first show came out. I watched parts of it as a toddler, and when I was in like, fifth grade, I saw the books in my school library. 

agardenofstars : I was more into them than the original show, although I liked the first show okay. But then when the reboot came out, there was so much hype and it was hard not to get swept up in it, you know?

nightshadewisdom : Yeah, I know the feeling. 

agardenofstars : How about you, then? I know you were doing art when the reboot was announced, but I don’t think you ever told me your origin story either. 

nightshadewisdom : Really? That’s funny, it’s always seemed obvious to me. 

nightshadewisdom : But now that I think about it, I never told you my full name. It’s James.

agardenofstars : OH LIKE JAMES STARFALL SLEUTH

agardenofstars : You’re shitting me

agardenofstars : HOW HAVE I NEVER PUT THAT TOGETHER BEFORE?

agardenofstars : I feel so stupid now

nightshadewisdom : It’s okay, I actually feel better knowing that you never put that together

nightshadewisdom : So yeah, my dad ALSO liked the show in the 80s and then when he had me, what else was he going to name his kid? 

nightshadewisdom : It could have been worse though. He also liked the original Voltron, so I could’ve been a Keith. 

nightshadewisdom : And growing up in a house full of old nerdy stuff, it’s no wonder I ended up the same way

agardenofstars : You have no idea how much is clicking into place for me

agardenofstars : That’s kind of cool, though. I take it you and your dad were close? Before. . . you know

nightshadewisdom : We were. And it’s okay. I don’t mind talking about it with you.

nightshadewisdom : I mean, you were there, when it happened. Or there for me, since we couldn’t meet up yet

agardenofstars : Yeah. God I wanted to buy a ticket to fly to you then, even though my mom would have never let me fly to meet some guy I met online.

nightshadewisdom : You know, I think sometimes that it’s a good thing Dad didn’t make it to see the last season. 

agardenofstars : What do you mean?

nightshadewisdom : Dad’s favorite character was always James Atelier, and he really liked how the first show ended, compared to the books 

nightshadewisdom : But he hoped that since they made so many changes in the reboot that they might make James’s ending a little more happy.

agardenofstars : Like that he and Seele would get together this time?

nightshadewisdom : Exactly. 

nightshadewisdom : He thought even the ending in the TV show, where James wanders the world and is all alone

nightshadewisdom : That was too cruel for someone who always wanted to try and do the right thing and cared about his friends

nightshadewisdom : Even if he went about it the wrong way sometimes

nightshadewisdom : Maybe if Seele hadn’t just gone on her way after he friggin sacrificed himself for her

nightshadewisdom : Maybe if she just cared or acted like she loved him at all

nightshadewisdom : Then maybe I’d be okay with how they ended the whole thing 

nightshadewisdom : But my dad would’ve hated it regardless

nightshadewisdom : he hated unhappy endings 

agardenofstars : So do I. 

agardenofstars : The ending absolutely crushed me. I really loved reading about Seele Gardner as a kid, she was the smart and almost unlikeable kind of girl I was 

agardenofstars : And she was so alone in the world because of it, at least at first

agardenofstars : Throughout so much of the stories, she got to have adventures and to make friends and to have someone like James Atelier, someone who really understood her. 

agardenofstars : He was like, basically her soulmate, the Gentleman Thief to her Great Detective

agardenofstars : And then he just DIES?!

agardenofstars : like wtf?

nightshadewisdom : exactly!

nightshadewisdom : and you know what’s weird?

agardenofstars : what?

nightshadewisdom : I don’t think any ships I’ve had in the past few years had a happy ending

agardenofstars : OMG YOU’RE RIGHT

Sonya added a chibi image of a steampunk girl with red hair with her little hands on her oversized shocked face. 

agardenofstars : It feels like only unhappy endings are what you get right now when it comes to love

agardenofstars : Especially for female protagonists. 

agardenofstars : I mean, I think I kind of get why, since a female character doesn’t NEED a love interest but. . . 

nightshadewisdom : it makes you feel like love is dead

agardenofstars : EXACTLY!! THIS!!!

nightshadewisdom : it definitely makes you wonder. . . 

nightshadewisdom : What about you?

agardenofstars : What do you mean?

nightshadewisdom : Do you believe in love?

What the hell kind of question is that?

agardenofstars :  Of course I do. *gestures at AO3 backlog* I’d be kinda hypocrite if I didn’t

nightshadewisdom : I’m sorry, I don’t know why I asked you something like that

nightshadewisdom : I’ll stop being weird, I promise

agardenofstars : That’s a fucking lie and you know it, Jay 

agardenofstars : When have either of us not been at least a little bit weird??

agardenofstars : Are you thinking about Jenny again, then?

That seemed the most logical reason. He’d gotten oddly philosophical, in the wake of the breakup. Sonya had always been the writer between the two of them, but the words he typed in their late night chats after Jenny disappeared out of his life were practically poetry. 

Sonya only knew Jenny as a shadow, a mere image. She’d heard the name in some chats, saw the pictures on Jay’s Instagram, but not much more. But she did remember how one of the pictures had branded itself into her memory. 

It was taken on a school trip, at a zoo or something, and one of his friends must’ve taken it for him, because Jay was in the picture. He wore the Starfall Sleuth hoodie that was in a lot of his photos, an arm around Jenny’s shoulders. 

Sonya remembered seeing that photo while sitting on the couch, re-watching a Season 1 episode of Starfall Sleuth for one of her works in progress, and being overcome with a sense of longing. She wanted, in that moment, more than anything, to be Jenny. She wanted Jenny’s sunny smile, her shiny, glorious hair blowing gracefully in the breeze, and most of all she wanted to be standing where Jenny was. 

And then she felt quite cold on the couch. Ice crept through her veins, as she wondered what had given her the nerve, the desire, the feelings she didn’t want to explain. 

She’d felt it all again when Jay told her that they’d broken up and Sonya felt like the worst person in the world.

Didn’t she want one of her best friends to be happy? To live a life in the real world?

Like I’m not real? Like Starfall Sleuth and all the things we’ve made aren’t?

Sonya shook her head and dismissed the thoughts as mere exhaustion, or nervousness, or any other excuse she could come up with to deny what she was feeling. 

She decided to get up and put her empty bowl in the sink. She’d clean it later, at some point. By the time she got back, Jay had written back. 

nightshadewisdom : No, not exactly. 

nightshadewisdom : Forget about it. Want to see the Phantom Thieves unite?

Sonya grinned. 

agardenofstars : Of course—although, isn’t it a little like seeing the bride before the wedding?

Her cheeks heated up and she wished she could have taken it back. What on Earth had given her such an idea?

nightshadewisdom : haha maybe

He then attached a photo—a quick mirror selfie showing Jay and his two close friends in the costumes without wigs or makeup. All were in varying states of quality, but the love shone through. 

agardenofstars : You guys look great!

agardenofstars : I can’t wait to see you guys at the convention center tomorrow

nightshadewisdom : Me too. 

nightshadewisdom : anyway, we’re going to turn in, since long day tomorrow

nightshadewisdom : goodnight!

The light next to his Discord icon dimmed, and Sonya was left alone in the blue light of her laptop screen. She found herself reaching out, her fingertips brushing against the words on the screen, Me too.

They felt like a vow, somehow. An oath. 

The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning, as the thunder rolled outside of her dorm window. 

She closed Discord and opened her word processor. A few keystrokes, and her YouTube playlist for Jaseele drowned out the rain. She would start a new story, a modern AU, enemies-to-lovers of course, where James and Seele had met online and were about to be in person for the first time, the catalyst to their immortal love of course. 

And maybe they could show her how to say “I love you” tomorrow. 

...

Saturday morning on Sonya’s campus was uncharacteristically quiet and idyllic. She strolled under the pink and white apple blooms planted around the college’s main avenue as the birds sang and the sun passed through the fluffy white clouds, giving the mid-morning a pale blue glow. Only a few other students were out and about, and they were mainly keeping to themselves. 

That said, curious eyes drifted all to Sonya in her cosplay. With the periwinkle Edwardian-inspired dress, white-blonde wig, and elaborate straw hat with fake flowers in pink, white, and aqua-green pinned to the brim, she looked eccentric, at least. 

Not that she paid them too much notice. Her mind was racing with thoughts, all about the epiphany she had had last night, tangled in with the five-thousand words of Jaseele fanfic she’d drafted last night in a frenzy. 

Today, Sonya would meet Jay for the first time.

Too quickly, her steps had carried her to the outside of the convention center, hardly a block from her campus. The modern marvel of architecture towered over her in steel and glass. The large digital sign over the great front entrance declared that SleuthCon would take place inside—the local branch of the convention dedicated solely to Starfall Sleuth. The last time one of these had been held in Sonya’s city, she’d been thirteen. It was funny, to think how much had changed since then. 

The trip through the security queue outside was short, especially as Sonya had no prop weapons on her, only a small backpack purse that was easy to check. Within a few minutes, she was through and she was inside of the convention. 

Already the cosplays caught her attention as she entered the lobby of the convention center. So many costumes from the series had been brought to life before her very eyes. Several young women donned red wigs and goggles characteristic of Victoria Kestrel, Seele’s mechanic friend who was a known flirt and a fan favorite. Jay and his friends wouldn’t be the only Phantom Thieves cosplay group: several people were dressed as James Atelier and his friends. Seele could even spot one of the complicated costumes from the 80s version of Princess Emmaline ascending the stairs to the main floor.  

There was so much to do—Seele had to grab her badge and the ticket pre-order goodies, then she needed to check the final convention schedule to figure out what she was going to do today. But she didn’t do any of that first. 

Rather, first she headed toward the coffee shop near the front, a location that did not require for Seele to acquire a badge first. That was where, according to the Discord that she’d received earlier that morning, Jay and his friends would be waiting for her. 

She thought she might have to search a bit for him, especially given that many people were wearing the same costume—James was the deuteragonist of the franchise, after all. 

But she locked her eyes onto his as soon as she entered the room. Her breath caught in her throat as brown and brown met. She thought her heart might beat faster, but it didn’t—it slowed. She found herself smiling as she floated toward him. 

This felt right, like coming home. 

He’d smiled when he caught sight of her too, she could see that as she weaved between patrons and tables. 

“Sonya, you look great!” One of his friends, Will, turned around and waved as she approached.

“So do you guys.”  Seeing the picture last night of the unfinished, thrown-together version were one thing. But this was with the proper preparation, the wigs in place and the right makeup—and the effect was arresting. One of Sonya’s favorite stories had come alive, and she was a part of it. 

“I got a birthday cake-latte for you.” Jay placed a coffee cup with her name scrawled on the side in front of the chair left open for Sonya. “I remember you mentioned that you’d tried it a month or two and you really liked it.”

“I can’t believe you would remember something like that.” Sonya sat down gingerly, careful not to crush the white under-layers of the dress. “Thank you.”

Jay shrugged and opted to take a sip out of his coffee cup instead. 

Sonya took advantage of the moment to pull out her phone and send off a text to both her roommate and her other friend on campus, Alix. 

Got to the convention ok. Let you know when I’m heading back, but don’t expect that til late. 

She then turned on the camera and put it on selfie mode, holding it high above the round table. 

“Smile!”

Everyone held up their drinks and made a goofy expression. 

With a snap, the moment was immortalized. Not that Sonya needed a photograph to remember how this felt. Like watching lightning strike the pond at her grandmother’s from the front porch when she was eight, the moment might have only been for.a second: but the memory was seared into her brain for forever. 

There was so much to talk about, so much to say. But the epiphany remained at the forefront. It was the pink elephant, the thing she could not talk about no matter what. After all, it wouldn’t be worth it, for all of her fantasies entwined with fan fiction last night to tell him what she thought. After all, the risk of ruining such a long friendship was too big to ruin with possibly unrequited romantic feelings. 

“So, did you guys see the convention schedule?” Robin asked as he scrolled on his phone. “The panels all look kinda lame, not gonna lie—they couldn’t get anyone good to come here.”

“Didn’t they get the actress for 80s Elodia to come?” Will tilted his head. 

“Eh, she was only in one episode.” Robin shrugged. “Kinda overrated, if you ask me.”

“Well, I want to go see the costume designer’s panel,” Will said. 

“What do you want to do, Sonya?”

Sonya turned her head to Jay—there was an urgency of sorts in his eyes, the kind that indicated an attempt at communication without words. She glanced down, and that was when she realized that she had slipped her hand into his. 

“Whatever you want to do,” she declared. “I’ll follow you anywhere.”

The way he nodded, without looking away from her, she felt as if they’d exchanged a vow. 

[mcgiggers]

New York - September 2024

Just back from the Armory and related art festivities in the Big Apple which also hosted the US Open and New York Fashion Week. The eclectic mix of aficionados made for a raucous and visually entertaining backdrop for the supercharged events. On the art front, the Armory Show was center stage as it celebrated its 30th edition and its second at the revamped Javits Center. Other fairs visited were Independent 20th Century and Art on Paper. While the sheer proliferation of fairs in the last decade can inevitably result in hit or miss experiences, the gatherings nevertheless offer the opportunity to see thousands of works by a broad range of local and international artists all under one roof which, with some patience and visual filtering, always yields marvelous art finds.

This year the Armory featured over 235 leading galleries representing more than 35 countries. The notable absence of the mega-galleries and smaller overall international representation gave the fair a more local feel with an energized NYC vibe. The smorgasbord of primarily post-war contemporary offerings ranged from figurative to abstract with a hint of conceptual. The Javits Center easily accommodated the bulked-up size of the fair, and the comfortable spacing and layout enhanced the viewing experience.  Some highlights included: Deni Lantz’s dreamy John Zurier-inspired “Untitled”, 2024, oil and beeswax on canvas (72.0 x 59.84 in.); Anouk Lamm Anouk’s ethereal “post/pre Nº 64”, 2023, acrylic on linen (19.75 x 21.63 in.); Paul Feeley’s iconically shaped “Untitled (January 29)”, 1962, oil-based enamel on canvas (57 x 81 in.); and, Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos)’s playful “foxes on the moon”, 2024, acrylic, graphite, Xerox transfer on panel board (49 x 72 in.).

Independent 20th Century fair was more highbrow. From a gallery perspective, that might be fine if the right people are showing up; from a fair goer perspective, the offering was more nuanced. Set in the historic Battery Maritime Building for the second year in a row, the smallish 32-exhibitor show primarily championed artists that applied their trade between 1900 and 2000. The highlights included: Squeak Carnwath’s painted patterns and thoughts in “Dick & Jane”, 1996, oil and alkyd on canvas (76 x 102 in.); Tom Fairs’ nightscape “Untitled”, c. 1998-99, mixed media on heavy paper (30 x 22 in.); and Rebecca Ward’s translucent “king ranch lll”, 2013, bleach on canvas (40 x 30 in.).

Art on Paper continued its run on the courts of Basketball City on Pier 36 and celebrated its tenth edition with a 100-gallery roster featuring top modern and contemporary paper-based art. On a relative basis, the offering was probably the most accessible from a price point perspective compared to that of other fairs which likely contributed to its enthusiastic appreciation by art fans.  Highlights included: David Richardson’s “White Roses #3”, 2024, chalk on paper (14 x 11 in.); Simone Christen’s “Moment of Bliss l”, 2023, ink on raw linen (30 x 24 x 1.5 in.); and Herman Cherry’s “Untitled #35”, 1968, oil on rag paper (18.25 x 23 in.).

One of the most impressive sights viewed during the New York visit was a billboard by Glenn Ligon spotted from the High Line at 18th Street and 10th Avenue. This new version of “Untitled (America/Me)” spans 25 x 75 ft and features an altered image of Ligon’s iconic 14 ft 2008 “Untitled” which stretches 14 ft across spelling out the word “AMERICA” in neon lights that flicker on and off.  In 2022, Ligon revisited “Untitled” by creating a print, the original “Untitled (America/Me)”, that manipulated a photograph of the neon by drawing X’s through letters leaving only M and E untouched. The billboard is a reprisal of that modest sized print (14 x 11 in., edition of 50) on a gargantuan level, magnifying perhaps the polarized state of affairs in America today.  

Meanwhile back in Hogtown, it’s time to heat up the grill with BBQ season nearly upon us. The burning question is who is going to run with the Barnes, Barrett and Quickley trio. The Big Austrian is a prime candidate in the middle, but who will suit up at the number 4 spot? The ask is for a 6’8” 240 lbs. defensive stalworth that can guard in space, run the floor and knock down 3’s at a 38% plus clip. The current roster’s cast of characters are not obvious candidates. Tricky Dicky, Kelly Canuk and B-Squared each fall short in a few categories. As the auditioning plays out in training camp and the pre-season, there may be some surprises among the lesser known and yet unproven entities on the payroll, but hope is not a strategy. The whole spells for some uncertainty regarding the upcoming season. Barring injuries, the Dinos may be good enough to better last season’s record of 25-67, but probably not good enough to make a splash beyond a play-in round. With that prospect, Sensei Masai’s hand will not be far from the tank button. In the interim, Coach Darko will have to manage as best as he can and be ready to pivot at any time.

For more information on any of the artists or works mentioned, and the starting lineup for the Dinos, “Just Google It”.

There you have it sportsfans,

MC Giggers

(https://mcgiggers.tumblr.com) Reporter’s Certification

I, MC Giggers, hereby certify that the views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views and that no part of my compensation was or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific views expressed herein.

I also certify that I may or may not own, directly or indirectly, works of artists mentioned in this report and that I may or may not have a strong bias for such artists and, more generally, for “Pictures of Nothing”.

[flaminghamsterhotsauce]

Fresh Red and Green New Mexican Christmas Chili Recipe

This version of New Mexican Christmas chili uses fresh red and green chili peppers for a vibrant, spicy, and authentic flavor. The combination of these chiles captures the essence of New Mexican cuisine. Serve this chili with warm tortillas, tamales, or over rice for a festive and flavorful holiday meal. 

Either cook the red and green chili’s together or separately so that one half of the bowl is filled with green chili and the other with red. Top with sour cream and shredded cheese, so good!!

Ingredients:

- 4-6 fresh red New Mexican chile peppers (such as Anaheim or New Mexico varieties (Hatch, etc))

- 4-6 fresh green New Mexican chile peppers (such as Anaheim or New Mexico varieties (Hatch, etc))

- 1 large onion, chopped

- 4 cloves garlic, minced

- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

- 1 teaspoon ground cumin (Optional)

- 1 teaspoon dried oregano

- 2 cups vegetable broth

- 1 cup water

- Salt and black pepper to taste

- Optional toppings: shredded cheese, diced onions, sour cream, and chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions:

1. Roast and Peel the Chiles:

   - Preheat your oven's broiler or a grill. Place the fresh red and green chile peppers on a baking sheet or grill grates.

   - Roast the chiles, turning occasionally, until the skin is blistered and charred all over. This can take about 10-15 minutes.

   - Transfer the roasted chiles to a paper bag or a covered bowl, and allow them to steam for about 10 minutes. This makes peeling easier.

   - Once steamed, peel off the skin, remove the stems and seeds, and chop the chiles.

2. Sauté Onions and Garlic:

   - In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat.

   - Add the chopped onions and minced garlic, and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the onions become translucent and fragrant.

3. Spice it Up:

   - Sprinkle the cumin and dried oregano over the sautéed onions and garlic.

   - Stir well to combine the spices with the onion mixture, allowing them to become fragrant.

4. Add Chiles:

   - Add the roasted and chopped red and green chile peppers to the pot.

   - Stir to combine with the onion mixture.

5. Add Broth and Simmer:

   - Pour in the vegetable broth and give it a good stir.

   - Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the chili simmer for at least 30 minutes to an hour. The longer you simmer, the more the flavors meld together.

6. Taste and Adjust:

   - Taste the chili and adjust the seasoning with salt and black pepper to your liking.

7. Serve:

   - Serve the Fresh Red and Green New Mexican Christmas chili hot, garnished with your choice of toppings, such as shredded cheese, diced onions, sour cream, and fresh cilantro.

This Fresh Red and Green New Mexican Christmas chili captures the essence of New Mexican cuisine with the authentic flavors of roasted fresh chiles. Enjoy the spicy and vibrant holiday dish.

[fireflysummers]

New potential sticker sheet! This time featuring Princess Tutu!

Oldies are goodies, right?

Image ID:

A 5 x 7 stickersheet with a variety of chibi characters from the anime Princess Tutu. There are nine larger character stickers, and five smaller “filler” stickers.

The characters stickers include 1) Duck, a young woman with blue eyes and strawberry blonde (orange) hair pulled back in a long braid, wearing her civilian clothes of a white top with yellow cuffs, a red pendant, yellow shorts, striped white-and-orange knee-high socks, and orange flat shoes. She wears a startled expression. 2) Princess Kraehe, a young woman with fair skin, red eyes, and black hair, wearing a black ballet dress with a fringe of dark feathers. Behind her, a small stylized wing can be seen. She is striking a ballet pose, with her right arm raised over her head 3) Lilie and Pike as part of the same sticker. Lilie is a young woman with long, curly blonde hair, pulled into high pigtails by large pink ribbons on either side of her head.Pike is a young woman with fair skin, purple eyes, and pinky-purple hair pulled back in a bun. She has asymmetrical bangs that curl off to the left side of her face, and are kept up by a pair of hairclips on the right side. They both wear their school uniform, a gray dress that falls above the knees with a blue stripe at its hem, a gray jacket with puffed sleeves and similar blue striped hems, a white collared shirt beneath, a yellow broach, white cuffed ankle socks, and black heeled shoes. Lilie leans into Pike, one hand raised to her mouth, while Pike stands with arms folded, both wearing looks of mischief. 4.) Mytho, a young man with fair skin, white hair, and gold eyes. He holds both hands to his chest, and wears a blank expression. He wears a long, oversized white shirt that is rolled up to othe elbows, a pair of brown trousers, and no shoes. Behind him, a sword with a swan themed hilt is broken into shards. 5) Princess Tutu, a young woman with fair skin, blue eyes, and short strawberry blonde (orange) hair framed by a white feather headpiece. She wears a complex white ballet dress with pink frills, blue ribbons, and translucent yellow wings, bracelets of round golden beads, pink ballet shoes, a small golden crown, and a necklace with a red ornate pendant. She is striking a ballet pose, with her left arm raised over her head, and her left leg raised so that she balances on the toes of her right foot. 6) Miss Edel, a woman with fair skin and green hair in a complicated style. She wears a brightly colored and complicated dress of white, pale blue and purple, red and gold, with multiple tassels and frills. She wears heavy purple eye shadow and purple lipstick, but has no eyebrows. Her hands are held in front of her, and she wears an impassive expression. 7) Rue, a young woman with fair skin, red eyes, and long black hair worn loose. She wears the same school uniform as Pike and Lilie, and holds her hands in front of her. She wears a pensive expression. 8) Uzura, a small child that shares a simplified version of Miss Edel’s style and color scheme. Of particular note is the little white-and-red drum that is in front of her, and she holds a pair of drumsticks. She has a wide-eyed expression of wonder. 9) Fakir, a young man with fair skin, sharp green eyes, and long, messy black hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. He wears the male variant of the school uniform, a long blue sweater with white stripes at the hems, white trousers, white formal dress shoes, a white shirt beneath with frilled sleeves, and a yellow pendant. He sits with a hostile glare, holding a sheathed sword propped against him.

The filler stickers include 1) A single white feather; 2) Duck in her duck form, a small yellow duck with an orange beak and big blue eyes; 3) A heart shard that takes the form of a small, red crystal; 4) Princess Tutu’s magical necklace, which is an ornate pendant of red and gold, bearing a dragonfly-esque motif; 5) The text “Princess Tutu” set into a golden plaque

[i-am-bitterly-jittery]

Simply Meant To Be (pt 1)

An expansion on this soulmate blurb (no Virgil in this one though)

[part 2]

Rating: teen

Word Count: 2130

Pairings: Roceit, Intrulogical

Warnings: minor swearing

~~~START~~~

Roman is a romantic, that’s just a fact. He loves love. Any day he gets to watch two soulmates meet each other is automatically a good day. The second best day of his life was getting to watch Remus meet their soulmate when they were sixteen. The best day of his life is reserved for when he meets his own soulmate. 

It hasn’t happened yet, but it will. One day. 

For now, Roman is content with being colorblind (well not content, but he’s learned to not let it bother him too much). Remus and Logan are actually a huge help with that. Logan has even gone as far as to make a list of all of Roman’s clothing and includes a chart of what pieces do and do not go together based on Remus’ (admittedly professional) opinions, and Remus actually went through and labeled all of Roman’s makeup with what color it is and what kind of look it should go with. 

Anyone who vaguely knew the twins might think that Remus would use this opportunity to mess with Roman, but Remus knows how much Roman hates being colorblind; they would never lie to Roman about colors — about other things? Sure, but not colors. 

Remus and Logan met when Logan moved to their school from Georgia. One day Remus had claimed that there was a trail of color — they would later learn that it was navy blue, Logan’s soon-to-be favorite color — leading from the parking lot, to the main office, to the east wing. They’d chosen to skip first period in order to follow it, having never seen the trail before, and Roman, being unwilling to miss the opportunity to watch his brother meet their soulmate, followed him. Remus had walked right into a physics classroom, and straight for a boy with short curls and thick glasses that Roman had never seen before and declared him their soulmate. 

Roman got detention for skipping first period, Remus got a pass on account of meeting their soulmate. 

Most people met their soulmates before they turned twenty-five, after all, how difficult can it be when all you have to do is find the trail of color they leave behind them everywhere they go and follow it?

Well, as Roman has learned in his thirty-five years of being alive, it can be pretty freaking difficult. 

As children, Roman and Remus had wandered their town far and wide looking for colorful trails, and even after they met Logan, Remus continued to go with Roman as he searched, even if they couldn’t see Roman’s soulmate’s trail themself. As soon as Roman graduated from high school, he took the customary gap year that most everybody who hadn’t met their soulmates yet takes to search for their soulmates. 

He never caught a glimpse of anything. 

“What if I missed them somehow? What if I saw their trail and just didn’t realize it?” Roman whines one day at his usual Saturday brunch — because they’re adults goddammit — with Remus and Logan. 

“You wouldn’t have missed them, Ro bro,” Remus assures him as they do every time Roman starts lamenting about having not met his soulmate yet. “Colors are so unmistakable that there’s no way you’ll miss them.”

“And even if you are genetically colorblind — which is unlikely considering Remus is not,” Logan continues before Roman has a chance to respond. “I have read multiple papers that state that soultrails will still make themselves distinct. There are multiple accounts of the trails emitting light, absorbing light, or even emitting sound. All of that is, of course, on top of the translucent cloud that follows your soulmate’s every move. I find it improbable that you, of all people, would not have noticed a soultrail.”

“Yeah, I know you guys are right,” Roman sighs. “I just want to meet them! I’ve travelled all over the place looking for them, where are they?”

Remus says nothing, which Roman is grateful for because Remus has a habit of saying dark jokes in an attempt to lighten the mood, and Roman really doesn’t need to hear them suggest that his soulmate died in a car crash or something right now. Besides, the question is rhetorical. If Remus could see Roman’s soulmate’s trail, then he’s sure they would have spent the last nineteen years looking for them too. 

“Sorry, I guess I brought the mood down,” Roman apologizes. “How are you guys?”

Remus opens their mouth.  

“The PG version, please!” Roman rushes to say before Remus can mentally scar him. Again. 

Remus closes their mouth again. 

Logan rolls his eyes fondly and proceeds to get Roman up to date on all the high school gossip. 

“- and of course the middle school’s robotics instructor left suddenly to follow her soulmate to England, so I have taken over as their advisor until a suitable replacement can be hired.”

“How is that?” Roman asks, cringing at the thought of having to deal with middle schoolers. Kids in general kind of freak him out, but middle schoolers especially. 

“It has been fine, they are not as adept as my high school students, but of course for many of them this is their introduction to such things, so I’m trying to be patient and supportive.”

Roman snorts at that. He’s sure Logan is a good teacher, but his brother-in-law can be a bit short tempered, and has a habit of talking down to people who don’t understand what he’s trying to tell them. 

“Don’t laugh at him!” Remus jumps in to defend their soulmate. “Logan’s great with kids, it’s adults he has a problem with.”

“They are much too old to be as ignorant as they are,” Logan defends himself resolutely. 

“Of course they are, Sugar Butt.” Logan cringes slightly at the pet name, which is really all Remus is ever looking for with their pet names. 

“Anyway,” Logan says, somewhat forcefully. “There is one student who seems to know what he is doing, but he doubts himself at every turn. I have tried telling him that he is doing everything correctly, but he is… reluctant to trust himself.”

“Maybe as the year goes on he’ll gain confidence,” Remus suggests. Logan hums in acknowledgment, and Roman takes that as the end of talking about Logan’s students. “Oh! Ro bro! Did you hear the theater got a new makeup artist?”

“Finally!” Roman groans, thinking back on their last makeup artist. “I swear Lisa was trying to poke my eyes out every time she did my eyeliner!”

“Oh she probably was,” Remus comments offhandedly. “I told her — back when she first started with the theater — that you thought that makeup artisting was a waste of time.”

“WHAT!?” Roman screeches, gaining the attention of the staff and other patrons. 

“Roman,” Logan warns, growing uncomfortable under the curious stares. 

“How could you do that to me?” Roman hisses at a much quieter volume. “I never said that! She hated me for five years because of you!”

Remus shrugs, slurping the end of their drink through their straw loudly. 

“You better not make the new artist hate me!”

“I would never!” Remus gasps, clutching their heart dramatically. 

Roman glares. 

“Cross my heart!” Remus insists with a much too innocent expression. 

“I hate you.”

Remus just gasps again before dissolving into uncontrollable giggles. 

 ~~~

There isn’t rehearsal on Sunday, so Roman doesn’t have to go in to work. Unfortunately, he is saddled by the knowledge that Remus — as the theater’s costume designer — does have to go in today, and therefore has a whole day to lie to the new makeup artist about him. 

Come Monday, all Roman can do is hope that Remus hasn’t done irreparable damage. 

“Calm down,” Remus orders when they come to pick Roman up. “They weren’t even in yesterday; I haven’t met them yet.”

“I’m not letting you ruin my relationship with the makeup artist again,” Roman pouts. 

“Just try and stop me!” Remus cackles. 

Once they reach the theater, Roman practically jumps from the car before Remus has even parked. 

“REAL MATURE!” Remus yells after him as he sprints for the theater door. 

“THIS ONE IS GOING TO LIKE ME!” Roman yells back. 

“NOT IF I MEET THEM FIRST!”

Roman skids to a stop as soon as he reaches the lobby. Not expecting their twin to just be standing there, Remus slams into his back, throwing them both to the ground. 

“The fuck, Ro Bro?” Remus demands as they flop off their brother and onto their back. 

“I-I see it,” Roman whispers, voice filled with wonder. 

“See what?” Remus demands. “The lobby? You’ve seen the lobby bef-oh!”

The awestruck look on Roman’s face finally clicks, and Remus bounces excitedly. 

“You see it? Like it it?” Remus scrambles to their feet, dragging Roman up with them. “Where? Which way does it go?”

“It looks like how the sun feels,” Roman says instead of answering. “All light and warm and good.”

“Roman Kingsley you tell me which way your soulmate went this instant!” Remus demands loudly. This is important dammit!

“It goes from there,” Roman points to the side door that’s usually used by staff that take the bus to work. “To there,” the door leading backstage. 

“Excellent!” Remus cheers dragging Roman forward. “Time for your date with destiny!”

Remus throws the backstage door open dramatically, but Roman groans as he realizes that his soulmate’s trail is going in literally every direction, making it impossible to know which way they went last. 

“Well?” Remus asks expectantly. 

“Either my soulmate is familiarizing themself to the theater, or they knew I’d be here and are trying to spite me,” Roman answers somewhat dejectedly. “I can’t tell which trail is freshest.”

“Well shit.” Remus scans each entry as though Roman’s soulmate will just happen to wander in (plausible, considering they’ve trailed all over the theater). 

“Hey guys!” A voice calls from by the dressing rooms. The brothers turn to find Thomas, the owner of the theater and their boss. 

“Thomas!” Remus cries gleefully. “My absolute favoritest person in the world behind my incredibly sexy soulmate!”

“Okay, so you want something,” Thomas answers with an amused grin. Remus always piles on the compliments when they want something.

“Who’s new today?” Roman asks, more to the point. 

“Like, in the theater?” Thomas asks. “Just Janus, the new makeup artist. Why?” Thomas’s eyes widen as if he’s just had a realization. “You’re not going to prank him or something, are you? He’s very talented, I can’t have you scaring him away already!”

“Roman’s soulmate is the new makeup artist? Lame,” Remus pouts. “How am I supposed to trick him into hating Roman?”

“Soulmate?”

“My soulmate is in the building, Thomas!” Roman declares, striking a dashing pose before deflating a little. “Except his trail leads all over the place, I don’t know where he went!”

“Oh… well,” Thomas looks to each direction Janus could have gone, but he clearly doesn’t know which way Janus would have gone. “He said he wanted to get a lay of the land before everyone got here…”

“I got this!” Remus pipes up suddenly before cupping their hands around their mouth like a megaphone and screaming at the top of their lungs. “JANUS!”

“What?” A faint, far-off voice calls back, followed but the sound of hurried footsteps. “Thomas?”

“Dressing rooms!” Thomas calls back. 

Footsteps thunder down the stairs, and all too soon a man appears on them. 

The first time you lay eyes on your soulmate, you begin to see the world in color. Everyone’s experience is different: Remus said that as soon as he laid eyes on Logan, the world exploded violently into vibrant shades. Logan said that colors appeared one at time, quickly, but slow enough for him to notice. Roman’s mom said that her soulmate’s trail swelled to fill the space before things slowly began to take on their proper color, and his mama said that it was almost like everything had always had color, she just hadn’t bothered to notice before. 

For Roman, the man before him is painted in vibrant shades while the background remains in grayscale, but as soon as the man makes eye contact, his colors begin to slowly bleed throughout the space. 

The man’s eyes widen as he stares, slack-jawed at Roman — no doubt mirroring Roman’s own expression. 

“I’m Roman,” Roman says quickly, before Remus can forever ruin his first meeting with his soulmate by making a dick joke or something. 

The man smiles and Roman immediately decides that his favorite color is whatever this guy’s eyes are — they’re hazel, but Roman will later change his favorite color to red after realizing how stunning and bold the color is when it isn’t just another shade of gray. 

“Janus.”

~~~TO BE CONTINUED~~~

General Taglist:

@royalty-of-all-things-snuggly

@pixelated-pineapple

[thoughts-on-bangtan]

MTV Unplugged presents: BTS

by Admin 1

What a time to not only be alive, but also be ARMY with BTS taking the MTV Unplugged stage on February 23rd 2021 as the first Korean artists in history to do so. It’s another marvelous achievement on the already highly impressive list BTS have to their name, another mark they’re leaving on history and another piece solidifying their place among musics greatest, at least if you ask me and everyone else who tuned in and was left extremely impressed and emotional, a mix of euphoria, emotional rawness, but also a sense of warm, soft, and gentle comfort and hope.

With this gorgeously put together setlist they’ve also proven, once more, that even when you take away all the high budget stadium stages, the dynamic and explosive choreographies and the fancy music video editing, and just focus on their craft as musicians and their most valuable instruments--their voices--BTS can stand their ground easily. Their talent and passion is unmistakable and shines brightly in all these songs, four of their own and one cover.

The performance was shown simultaneously on dozens of MTV stations across the globe, some watching on TV and others via official live streams, and yet others catching up with what they missed hours later. All the promo, hype and attention paid off and they showed that it was all worth it, that they are more than worth it, and that we as ARMY have every right to be proud of them and be proud of being ARMY.

So, let’s do what I love doing most and talk about each performance, shall we?

What an absolutely delightful, happy and funky way to open the show and introduce new listeners to just how fun BTS can be. The stage was one giant room filled with lost of little details, including a motorbike with a second passenger extension, arcade games, a football game, and a sofa. Right from the get go there’s this joyful aura around the members, smiles on their faces, little dance moves making their steps light and fun--they were having fun and subsequently we were, too.

How wonderful is it to also finally see Yoongi with them as well, even if it’s very noticeable (and understandable) that he’s keeping his shoulder steady and arm moving as little as possible? After all Telepathy was “his” song for BE and contains lots of little Yoongi signature features, most obviously his knack for playing with autotune in a way that is very audible yet never quite too much, just walking along the line in an interesting way. There’s a genius note change from Hobi in the second half of the song that’s one of the absolute highlights, just like Namjoon and Seokjin doing their little minimal movement dances in the back while grooving along to the music.

As Vminnies we get our own little treat with Jimin and Tae coming together to sing alongside each other and do their little dance as well which we’ve previously seen during the Dear Class of 2020 performance of Mikrocosmos. Then to finish off their little segment, they also do this funny little thing of pointing at each other with Tae as though acting like he (perhaps) wants to boop Jimin’s face/nose from afar. Absolutely adorable.

Speaking of which, can we talk about their cute Donald and Daisy Duck accents on their clothes and accessories which add this little sense of retro? As well as the fact that Tae is wearing the cardigan equivalent to Jimin’s Gucci sweater from his NOTES on Dis-ease video? I do very much enjoy these little details from the stylists. Also, has anyone else noticed that Tae has different in-ears? His usual ones were green yet here they’re translucent.

The way I gasped when the members turned to Tae and asked him to introduce the next song and he said it’s one that is very meaningful to him, honestly, I can’t even describe it. I was so, so happy but also getting ready to be swallowed by all the feels. I know ARMY sns had theories that we’d get Blue & Grey based on the visuals of that stage which we got in the teasers, and yet somehow I still wasn’t quite ready when the song began and we were graced with absolutely breathtaking vocals that went straight for the heart.

The visuals for this performance were perfect for the song while being interesting yet not too much that it would pull your attention away from the song itself. One by one the members sang their parts and found their places along the two main walls, the lighting cold yet on the white/grey side, none of them really interacting or looking at each other which was fitting with the atmosphere of that blue and grey feeling. Then, for the second half, the ‘stage’ switched to more of a blue lighting and we had moments where first Seokjin and JK sang together and then Jimin and Tae, their voices harmonizing so heavenly with each other yet still none of the members really looked at each other, at most looking into the camera.

I love how this performance put the focus on each member on their own but also in moments on the entire group, that feeling of being alone but never quite alone, that they have each other, and that we have them. Tae also really seemed to be highlighted during this performance, which makes sense when given the history of how the song came to be. But, really, each of them was just as visible and equally beautiful in this.

Speaking of beautiful, my jaw dropped when we got to see (and hear) Namjoon during his verse. Honestly, that mans beauty and handsomeness--it somehow keeps on increasing with each time we see him.

From anon: Omg vmin in blue and grey 😭😭😭. They coudnt even look to each other while singing “Don't say you're fine' Cause you're not Please don't leave me alone, it hurts too much” it’s my fav part by the way and their harmonization it’s heaven. I loved they choose this song to the mtv performance!

As much as this was supposed to be a surprise, MTV accidentally spoiled it hours before their performance was aired, and yet, despite knowing it was coming, I don’t think any of us were quite prepared for it right after Blue & Grey.

Fix You is a gorgeous song in its original version with a sad backstory, and it’s one of those Coldplay songs that they are extremely selective over when it comes to requests for official covers or use for commercials or movies/shows. They are about their entire discography, but I think it especially goes for this song, and yet they gave BTS the permission to do this official unplugged cover.

We also know the song means something more to the members, seeing as Jimin posted a video on their 6h anniversary showing the members during a trip they’d gone on together while the song is playing in the background. They also spoke about Coldplay during the press conference before their Wembley concerts, and Namjoon and Hobi had gone to one of their concerts a few years ago, as well as Tae on a different occasion. There certainly is a level of admiration and respect involved, a deeper connection to what they were singing, which was very clear and tangible during their performance as well.

Vocal line were truly outstanding in this, especially Seokjin (who took sns by storm as the “pink mic guy” with floods of praise and people wondering who he is, what his name is, because they’d all fallen in love with him--very relatable because same). Rap line switched between harmonizing with the vocalists in their low register and did a beautiful job of it. Namjoon harmonizing with Seokjin truly gave me goosebumps (and made my little namjin heart very happy). We also had Tae and Hobi harmonizing and sharing a brief smile with each other, as well as Namjoon harmonizing with Jungkook and Jimin, and Yoongi harmonizing with Tae and Jungkook.

The stage was also beautifully thought out, minimal yet captivating at once, all the members sitting on barstools in a line with the blinds drawn on the windows behind them, spotlights shining on them from above and others dancing behind them giving them a beautiful glow and turning something simple into something extraordinary and gorgeous. They truly didn’t need any more than that.

And like their performance wasn’t outstanding enough, we also saw Coldplay themselves not only tweet about it while calling the cover beautiful in Korean (and tagging the member’s twitter account instead of the _bighit one), but also post the same comment below the video on YouTube and share links to it on their facebook and IG stories, as well as sharing the video in their community tab on their YouTube channel. 

So, not only did BTS garner big approval from Coldplay fans and ARMY alike, but also from the original artist. A wonderful moment in music and between two legendary artists in their own right.

This acoustic version of Life Goes On is truly a masterpiece, so calm, soothing and offering that sense of comfort, togetherness, and this reassurance that life will go on, that we’re together in this, that we’ve made it through the blue & grey, that we’ve helped each other to “fix” ourselves, and that we can now slowly heal and grow from the things we’ve gone through. The electric guitar, the slow and quiet drums and on top of that the members voices, all of it coming together truly beautifully.

Their outfits kind of gave me UK private school or University secret society vibes, or as Admin 2 called it “ready to go hunting, we’re just missing our Beagles or Basset Hounds” which isn’t necessarily wrong. And yet the warm shades of brown fit the atmosphere of the song really well, complement it even.

While we’re “used” to vmin having their little moment, we only really saw Tae smiling towards Jimin, though the camera unfortunately didn’t give us a wide shot to see if Jimin returned his smile, though I’ll go ahead and say he likely did if he noticed Tae’s. Though honestly, Tae’s wide happy smile was enough to melt my heart on its own.

And then, to close out the night, we got a very funky and fun yet calm version of Dynamite during which, surprisingly enough, the members actually stay in their seats against all ARMY theories and bets (well, okay, Namjoon stood up for a moment, but sat down really quickly again and no one actually got out of their seats to dance). Who would’ve thought a day like this would come, especially looking at how they got up in previous seated performances of Dynamite.

I love the not so subtle flex of all their gold, silver and platinum records across the wall behind them, as well as their MTV moon men. With how humble they are about their awards and achievements, this felt like a good moment to highlight just how hard they’ve worked, how much they’ve achieved, before they got the chance to be on MTV Unplugged and that truly, if someone deserves to be there and showcase their talents, its them.

Looking at how many times we’ve seen and heard Dynamite, it’s fascinating how they still managed to create a version that was different from all the previous ones and felt fresh and new. Their outfits were simple and all white and thus didn’t pull too much attention onto them leaving the focus on the music and vocals. Tae’s adlibs were absolutely fantastic and they all just seemed to have so much fun with this performance, smiling and dancing in their seats, obviously having a great time. We even got Jimin smiling and scrunching up his nose happily at Tae while he sang! 

Overall this MTV Unplugged performance was a wonderful display of their talents and music merits, their vocals and rap, and just how outstanding they are as a group on this vast world stage. The setlist was perfect, though perhaps a little short. Honestly, if you ask me, they could’ve performed five or ten more songs and I would’ve remained glued to the screen through it all. And yet, still, I couldn’t have asked for more. I was left brown away and so extremely impressed despite being ARMY and knowing how good BTS are. They truly manage to find new ways to grow, evolve, and showcase their musicality with each performance. I also love how they don’t shy away from trying new things and challenges, like rap line singing and harmonizing with the vocals.

I’ll definitely come back to watching these stages many times in the future and they’re easily up there in my top ten of favorite performances of all time. Thank you, BTS, and thank you MTV Unplugged.

[amintyworld]

It’s a Wonderful Life, Tommy - Dream SMP Holiday Oneshot

A/N: So this started as an imagine that I wanted to do a bullet fic for, but I got carried away and kind of, sort of, wrote an 11-page fic? So, sorry for the extra setup at the beginning. It’s inspired off two of my favorite Christmas movies: ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ and I ended up with a pretty good even blend of the two, and I’m pretty proud of this. Here’s my Christmas gift to the fandom, I hope you enjoy! So, grab your hot cocoa and Christmas cookies, settle into a blanket and enjoy this holiday tale. -Minty

Summary: After a nasty fight with Tubbo combined with Tommy’s worsening depression, its Tommy’s final straw as he decides he’s ready to give up. But, it looks like Tommy’s condition and situation has gotten some supernatural attention.

TW: Suicide attempt, talks of suicide, heavy blood and gore, manipulation and blame, major character deaths(?), insanity. (Please tell me if I need to tag anything else!)

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

Imagine it’s Christmas Eve but he didn’t end up going with Technoblade and he’s still alone. He’s still as depressed as ever, and on top of all of that, he had an argument when Tubbo tried to visit that ended worse than anything Tommy ever imagined. 

Tommy’s trying his best to enjoy the holiday and ends up wandering around, stumbling upon Technoblade’s house - where Ghostbur and Techno are both singing carols while decorating a tree. Tommy’s heart aches with loneliness as he quickly leaves before anyone could see him through the window. No one had left him any presents (Dream burned them all secretly) and he kept looking over Dream’s gift - a white porcelain mask with eyes and no mouth, like Dream’s. Dream claimed in his note that things were getting dangerous and it was to keep him safe and hide his identity. Something about it felt off, though. 

He didn’t want to assume the worst of his friend, but it seemed more like a gift Dream wanted him to have instead of something he wanted. That’s why after a while of just holding it and tracing over the details with his fingers he put it away in his chest. He climbed his tower again and was getting ready to aim for the top of a tree, done with everything - with trying to hope when everything he ever had, his friends and family, were gone. He kept searching for a point to his suffering and found none, so he decided to finally end things for good.

A voice called out to him. It was Phil.

“It’s not really the season for giving up hope, now is it?”

Tommy was of course startled, as a floating spirit in the form of what looks like Philza, his dad, flying and floating in front of him... with wings? Tommy is trying to compose himself while trying to discern whether or not his ‘thing’ is real - touching his shoulder only to touch absolutely nothing, yelling at it to see if it’s a demon, while the spirit is nonetheless, unimpressed. “What are you? Are you really Phil, or am i just... hallucinating again?”

“I am quite real - you can call me your guide of sorts. I’ve taken the form of your loved one to make you feel more at ease. Anyway, Tommyinnit, I’m sent here to stop you from jumping from this pillar.”

“Why exactly should I listen to you? For all I know, you’re just another weird vision like Tubbo was. I’m really tired of my messed up mind, just go away.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Tommy. It’s my sworn duty to step in here, for your behalf.”

“My behalf?! I assure you, whoever you are, I’d be happier dead than to live without anyone who really cares about me.”

“How about a deal then? I will show you three places, events, and if I can’t change your mind, I’ll leave you alone.”

“No lying?”

“Why would I?”

“Okay, sure.” Tommy still didn’t think any of this was real, but he was honestly curious where this weird dream was going. The Guide took Tommy’s hand and told him to trust him, and they both jumped, Tommy yelling, confused, as he fell, fell, fell, preparing for impact and probably death, instead of falling into... snow?

He shivered and looked around - how is the sun up, it was the night a few seconds ago...? The Guide took his hand with a comforting smile and led him through the trees when Tommy froze in his tracks. A house... he KNEW that house. “Look familiar?”

Shouts nearby made his head whip around as a snowball raced toward him. He braced for impact, but it didn’t hit him. Instead, it hit a tree trunk behind him. Laughter filled the air as he heard a familiar voice behind him yell. “HA, your aim is shit, Tommy!” He saw a young version of Technoblade rush through the bushes, and... that was him... a young version of him in the trees, snowball in hand, angry at his missed shot. 

“Yeah, well I still have the high ground, you arsehole!” He noticed a young Tubbo next to him, a snowball in each hand wearing a green coat that was way too big for him. He laughed, remembering it - Phil didn’t have money for a new coat for Tubbo that year, so he gave him his older one to use, and the poor kid kept falling over and tripping on it. Tubbo handed Tommy another snowball as they both pelted the snowballs down as Techno rushed into some cover behind a rock. 

“This is Christmas by the lake, where Phil grew up. But, how can I see it, that was over six years ago-?” Tommy turned to the guide who showed him who his whole body turned translucent. 

“In order to show you events, we must travel to that point in time, but we’ll only be observers, we can’t interact with them.”

Tommy looked over as Technoblade pelted Tommy with a snowball hard, making him lose his balance and fall to the snowy ground below. “This is unreal, it’s so clear, how can I recall this in a dream...?”

“I told you, I am a spirit Tommy, your Guide.” Looking around at it all, Tommy couldn’t help but to start to believe him. The smell of gingerbread filled his nose from the house as Wilbur walked out, his hands in the air.

“Okay guys, Phil told me to tell you to come inside-” Before his older brother could even finish his sentence, three snowballs hit him square in the face. “Hey, I’m not even playing!”

“You’re in the kill zone, Wil!” Tubbo shouted from the treetops as if that would explain everything.

“Ugh, why are you all so annoying-”

Techno smirked, looking over at his brother from his spot covered by the rock. “Aw, come on, don’t be a buzzkill Wilby.” Wilbur stopped at the nickname and turned with a fire in his eyes.

“I’ll show you buzzkill-!” He shouted as he threw a snowball at Techno, running for his own cover.

“Look at you, surrounded by your family, your best friend - it seems like you all love each other a lot.”

“Well, of course, we’re family.” Tommy paused, realizing what he said and quickly correcting himself. “At least, we were.” He watched the scene unfold - Philza called them in for cookies and cocoa and they all rushed into the house. While running, Tubbo tripped on his coat and fell again, and Tommy saw himself stay back and help Tubbo to his feet with a smile.

“I bet Tubbo appreciated your friendship, especially then.”

“Well, I knew what it was like to be the new kid in the family, you know? It’s awkward and weird at first to settle into. You’re by yourself for so long it’s hard to get used to being around people all the time who give you so much affection.” He walked over toward the window and looked inside - Phil put on some Christmas music that blasted through the player and Techno covered his ears, begging for something different, making everyone laugh. Wilbur pulled out his guitar as Technoblade practically slammed the ‘stop’ button on the player.

“All of you look close.”

“We are- were,” Tommy said. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter, none of this does - even if they cared for me and loved me then, doesn’t mean they do now.”  

“I thought you said family loved each other no matter what.” The Guide said smoothly. “Why would it make sense for them to stop loving you now?”

“I don’t know...” Tommy breathed, his mind confused and questioning. “Maybe we’re not family. Maybe we... maybe we never were. Anyways, you’ve shown me enough of this to count for the deal, let’s just move on.”

“Hold on, we’re gonna miss my favorite part.” The Guide said as Philza came in with a Santa hat.

“As per tradition in the Sleepy Boys Incorporated Household, me - the Grand Master - shall decide who gets to receive an extra special gift to open before Christmas Day.” Wilbur bounced excitedly on the couch, and Tommy crossed his fingers as they waited. “I have tallied the points-”

“I still think there’s no point system-” Technoblade mumbled as Philza continued.

“And this year, the wearer of the special Santa hat goes to... Tommy!” Phil said as he tossed it over to the boy, who smiled widely. “For your extra help around the house and chores, this year’s for you, buddy.”

“Yay, Tommy!” Wilbur said from the couch as Technoblade smiled and nodded in approval. Tubbo clapped and cheered - this was the first year Tommy had ever been given the hat. Outside the window, Tommy crossed his arms and looked at the snow, knowing what was going to happen next. Young Tommy smiled wide as he clutched the Santa hat in his hands. He looked over to Tubbo for a moment, then to the hat, unknown thoughts in his head. Then, he handed it out to Tubbo. 

“Here. You can have it.”

Tubbo looked confused. “But Tommy, you worked so hard for this - you did extra chores, you helped out Wilbur when his beanie got stuck in the tree... you didn’t curse for an entire week!”

“I know.” He smiled, turning into a smirk. “But, you know, if it was that easy for me to get it this year, I can always get it again. And, since it was harder for you, if I don’t give you the hat now, you probably won’t get it until you’re Phil’s age.”

“Hey, I heard that!” Philza shouted as he carried in a large gift-wrapped box to set on the table.

“But Tommy-” Tubbo tried to interject, but Tommy threw him the hat.

“Come on, I insist,” Tommy said, and the two best friends hugged each other tightly. Outside, Tommy looked at the scene, pressing his hand up against the glass, his heart aching uncomfortably, not being able to tear his eyes away from the tender moment. He turned to the spirit, emotion, and anger on his face.

“Tubbo exiled me, he burned his compass, he didn’t show up to my beach party, he didn’t even come to see me.” His eyes looked cold. “He’s NOT my best friend, let alone my friend!”

The spirit looked calm. “I see.” He slowly turned and began to walk away into the forest swiftly, leaving Tommy scrambling to catch up. 

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

“Spirit... Guide... whatever you are, wait up!” Tommy shouted as he sprinted after the figure through the trees, suddenly being caught by his shirt before he fell into the water. He looked around and noticed he was in L’manburg - the moon just how he left it when the spirit took him to the past. He noticed the Chinese lanterns, the dock, the houses - it wasn’t just L’manburg, it was New L’manburg. The spirit walked up the steps silently and Tommy was quick to follow. “We’re in the present, in L’manburg, but why?”

“I thought you’d be curious to see how your former friend is celebrating tonight - a look without the trouble of trying to hide or break the rules.” The spirit said simply, before holding out his hand for Tommy to take. “Hold on tightly, please.” Tommy gripped the spirit’s hand as he was dragged through a few walls, freaking out a bit until he realized that he was in the same state as a ghost, or like the spirit called it, an observer - so he couldn’t suffocate.

Whatever Tommy was expecting, it certainly wasn’t this. A room filled with torn posters of Technoblade pasted along the walls calling him all sorts of bad things, and a wooden table in the center with four people sitting around it, Tubbo among them. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea anymore, Big Q. With what Dream’s done to Tommy, what if he gets caught in all this?”

Quackity looked upset, his eyes narrowed. “Tubbo, this is our one and only chance to get revenge for our country, and you’re saying to stop all of our work for the small chance, chance that Tommy will show up?”

“He’s a L’manburg citizen, Quackity. As president, it’s my job to protect every citizen-”

“You’d sacrifice the country, Mr. President, everything we’ve worked for, for one person?!” Quackity snapped. Tommy looked on with piqued interest, noticing how both Ranboo and Fundy sunk down a bit on their chairs from the building tension in the room. Tubbo got up and leaned in so he and Quackity’s faces were inches apart. 

“Yes, I would. I’m not going to be responsible for anyone becoming a ghost on my account, Quackity.” Tubbo snapped. “I draw the line at risking innocent lives.”

Tommy couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Even after they yelled at each other, screamed at each other, he... he still... cares?

“I’m questioning your true loyalty to your country, Mr. President - it seems your loyalties lie elsewhere. What kind of President wouldn’t be willing to do anything, make any sacrifice, for the betterment of the country?”

“One like Schlatt. Wilbur maybe. But not me.”

“Then, Mr. President, you’re nothing but a traitor.” Quackity said, pulling out his sword and pointing it at Tubbo. “I’m taking you under arrest.” Tubbo slowly put his hands up, looking over to Fundy and Ranboo, who both looked distraught and stayed silent. 

“Quackity, you’re insane. You’re going to destroy L’manburg to kill Techno and Dream, you’re going to destroy everything we’ve worked to save.” Tubbo protested, but his cries fell on deaf ears as Quackity forced him to give him his stuff and armor.

Tommy’s mind whirred. “Tubbo still cares about me. Even after everything, he’s still my friend.” Tears welled up in his eyes. “I...I can’t believe it.”

“It’s a shame you don’t think the same of him.”

Tommy was quick to respond. “I do, I have, it’s just he’s done so much against me - he burned the compass, he didn’t show up to the beach party-”

Tommy looked over just in time to see Quackity close the jail cell loudly - there was barely enough room for Tubbo to sit or even stand. Tubbo’s hands clutched the bars. “Quackity, don’t do this. Do you even understand what Dream and Techno are capable of?!”

Quackity glared at him. “Of course I do, which is why I need to dispose of them since our leader is too much of a coward to do it himself. Come on guys, we have a festival to prepare for.” Fundy and Ranboo were silent as they passed him, bowing their heads in shame. Tommy walked closer with the spirit to see him pull out...the compass...

The enchanted compass, the matching one to the one Tommy had in his own chest. The one Dream said he burned. That didn’t make any sense, Dream said he- Dream. “Are you tricking me?”

“Why would I do that, Tommy? We made a deal.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense, Tubbo shouldn’t have the compass, it’s supposed to be burned!”

“Ah. Maybe that was the claim that led you astray?”

Tommy silently looked down at Tubbo as he held the compass in his hands, tears welling up in Tubbo’s eyes. “Guess you were right, Tommy. I’m so sorry…” Tommy had no words, thoughts running through his head. This didn’t make any sense. Dream wouldn’t lie to him, he’s his friend. Even so, emotion welled up in his eyes as his stomach formed in knots. 

“Dream wouldn’t lie to me. Stop trying to trick me, I know this isn’t real.”

“But I promised you I’d only show the truth, didn’t I?”

“But this can’t be true - Tubbo’s compass is supposed to be burned, he’s not supposed to cry for me, he's supposed to hate me, they’re all supposed to hate me!”

“What if they don’t, Tommy, and they never have?”

“Even if they didn’t...even if they cared, I’ve caused too much trouble - all of this started because of me. So, wouldn’t it be better if I was gone?” The spirit held out his hand to Tommy.

“Do you want to find out?”

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

After a few moments of hesitation, Tommy took the Spirit’s hand, and quickly was dragged upwards through the wall, into darkness, the spirit’s wings taking them up, up, up, and suddenly… he found himself on the ground. Thunder rolled in his ears as a light shower of rain began to fall toward the ground. He was on a mountain, and his hands gripped the soggy grass between his fingers, feeling the realness of it all. He looked around for his winged spirit but found no one. L’manburg stood around him, and he walked down the dock, noticing a crowd of people gathered around a memorial of sorts.

Curious, he crept closer. Who’s memorial was it? It looked nice too - a small stone cover from the rain, vines and flowers growing all around it. He started to worry - did his death cause someone else’s? He looked over at the crowd - he noticed Skeppy holding Bad close as he cried, and there was Puffy and Ant, who looked dazed by it all, their faces solemn. Oh, over there was Quackity - he crossed his arms and looked to the floor. Fundy sat next to George and Sapnap - his eyebrows furrowed in thought. George held Sapnap’s hand in comfort as tears slid down their cheeks every now and then. Punz and Ponk were in the back.. Oh, there was Ranboo!

His half-enderman friend was shaking, as Ghostbur stood at his side and did his best to comfort him, though even Tommy could tell the ghost was more than distraught over it all. Tommy walked closer… wait, was that Technoblade?! What was he doing here…? Isn’t he wanted in L’manburg? Even more surprising, was the tear staining glisten in his eyes - Technoblade was crying.  It was an odd sight indeed to see his tough friend weep, but Philza was at his side to pull him close, tears rolling down his cheeks as well. 

“He was a hero for L’manburg, and made numerous sacrifices for our country. More than that, he was an uncle, a son, a brother, and a friend to many who knew him.” There was Tubbo, speaking at the podium looking the saddest Tommy had ever seen him. His hands gripped the wood tightly as he shook slightly. “Though he was not with us for long, I think it’s clear to see when I look around this room he touched more lives than he knew. He was brave, strong, and an inspiration to many as someone who encompassed the true values of our nation.. He may be gone, but will always live on in our memories and in our hearts.”

Tommy’s heart dropped as he read the sign: ‘Tommyinnit, joined July 2020, died December 2020. A friend taken too soon.’ This was his memorial, all of them were here… this was HIS funeral! He noticed how Tubbo’s shaking grew more noticable as tears streamed from his eyes that left drops where his speech was prepared. Philza walked up and they both hugged each other tightly, Phil rubbing his back as Tubbo let out a sob and the two walked back to sit with the rest. 

Slowly, one by one people began to walk up to a buried spot on the ground - his green bandana  was tied tightly to the side as it waved in the wind like a flag.  He watched as Ghostbur walked up and left some blue flowers at his grave. “I hope you’re happier, wherever you are. Here’s some blue - I got extra so you won’t run out.” Tommy’s eyes threatened to spill with tears as Ghostbur put a hand on his gravestone. “Both Alivebur and I love you very much, and we’ll miss you a lot, but don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine! I’ll try to take care of Tubbo for you, okay?”

“Okay..” Tommy choked out as a tear slid down his cheek. Ranboo walked up to sit next to Ghostbur, silent. Ghostbur gave him a hug, which he returned before Ghostbur left, walking back into the crowd of people talking. 

“I really should have noticed it sooner, shouldn’t I?” Ranboo said. “I should’ve been there more, did more, did anything… but I… I’m so sorry, Tommy.” His hands were shaking as they reached out toward the gravestone but stopped short of touching it. “You did so much for me, you protected me, and I… I couldn’t even do the same for you. I’m a pretty bad friend, aren’t I?”

“No, no.” Though Ranboo couldn’t hear him or see him, Tommy put his hand on Ranboo’s shoulder as he tried his best not to try, sniffling. “You were the best friend I could ever ask for. You were there for me whenever I needed you. This isn’t your fault.”

Both heard steps behind them and turned to notice Techoblade standing there, no clear emotion in his face. Ranboo quickly left, intimidated by the pig hybrid as he disappeared back into the crowd. Technoblade took his crown off as he approached, kneeling in front of the gravestone, silent for a few moments. “I wish we were closer. I wish I would’ve been there to help you before it was too late. I… I wish you knew how much I loved you, but I guess we’re both too similar when it comes to admitting something like that, huh?” Technoblade smiled a bit before it quickly fell. “I know I didn’t agree with your choices, but that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t help you, I should’ve let you know that.” Tommy stood, stunned at Technoblade’s words - that he loved him, that he’d miss him. Techno pulled out a folded cloth. “I was going to give you it for Christmas, but Dream had other plans. I’m sorry, it’s the only present I saved from the lava.” Technoblade set it down next to the flowers. “It’s a cape like mine, see? Wilbur kept telling me how cold you were in exile. Partly it was because of that, the other part was because I was too annoyed when you kept trying to steal mine-” Technoblade sniffled, a few tears going down his cheeks that landed in the dirt below. Philza walked up and gave him a tight hug.

“Shh, Techno. It’s okay. I know he would’ve loved it.” Philza said, comforting his eldest. “Now go talk to Ghostbur and make sure he doesn’t wander off with Friend.” Techno just nodded, taking one last look at the grave and placing his hand on the stone, turning and walking off. 

Philza was by far the quietest one of all, running his fingers over the soft green bandana and the top of the gravestone. Tears flowed freely down his cheeks as he took out a small photo in his pocket. It was an old Christmas photo from so long ago - Technoblade had Tommy up on his shoulders, Wilbur was standing at attention in a salute, holding back a laugh as Tubbo chased his scarf, Philza taking a sort of selfie with the camera, the chaos showing in the background. He wedged it in Technoblade’s cloak. “Here, don’t forget us - the good parts of us.” Philza said softly. “Don’t forget that we’ll always love you, no matter what.” Philza wiped away a few tears from his eyes. “I don’t know if I’ll ever know why you did this, and I don’t think I’ll ever really know. I’m sorry I wasn’t a good father to you, and I hope you’re at peace wherever you are.” Philza took a deep breath getting ready to leave when a loud crash interrupted him. 

Tommy, still trying to compose himself and wipe away his tears from his family and friend’s sentiments, looked up in surprise to see Tubbo pissed off, being held back by Technoblade and Puffy, Ghostbur trying to calm him down. Dream got up from his place on the ground, a large crack forming on his white mask. Tubbo yelled, shouted and kicked. “He doesn’t GET to be here, he’s lucky I don’t kill him right now! He’s the one who killed him, he doesn’t get to go near him again!”

Ghostbur looked nervous when Tubbo smacked the blue he offered out of his hand. “Tubbo calm yourself, please, for Tommy-!”

“I didn’t push him off that tower, did I, Tubbo?” Dream’s words were sharp and calm, traced with anger. Everyone fell silent, as Dream approached the President. “I didn’t do anything, if anything, he died because of all of you - you could have stopped me, you could have visited, and you did nothing-”

Without hesitation, Tubbo decked him across the face, his mask flying toward the ground, and suddenly blonde messy hair and piercing green eyes started down at him. “You told him lies, you manipulated him, you made him think he was alone. We may have not done much, even if we knew what you were doing, but at least we didn’t drive him into that depression, Dream. That’s all on you, and you fucking know it.” Tubbo pointed a finger at his chest. “You’ve got some nerve showing up here after everything you did to him. I don’t want you here and I know that he sure as well wouldn’t either.” Tubbo’s eyes narrowed. “So you either leave or we’re settling this right here, right now.”

“Are you threatening me, Mr. President?” Dream smirked. “Not a very wise decision - I’ve beaten you before, I’ve taken everything away from you and watched you beg for mercy.”

“That’s what you don’t understand, Dream.” Tubbo said. “You’ve taken so much away from me I have nothing left to lose.” Dream pulled out his sword but a heavy smack from Tubbo sent it to the floor. “You underestimate just how far I’m willing to go, Dream. You think you’ve seen me upset, seen me angry? You haven’t seen even a fraction of it. I will stop at nothing for Tommy - I don’t even care if you kill me, all I care about is that you’re going down with me.” For the first time in his life, fear flew across Dream’s face.

“Tubbo. Leave Dream alone, he’s not worth it.” Philza said as he turned Tubbo away from Dream and glared down at him. “Just get out of here, Dream.”

“Tubbo never really was the same again after you left.” The guiding spirit turned Tommy’s attention to the side, where he sat at the top of the dome memorial. “You mean a lot to him, and losing you after L’manburg fell to Dream, it was the last straw.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Dream owns L’manburg?! That’s impossible, Tubbo would never allow that to happen.”

“He didn’t.” The spirit replied. “Quackity led the charge against Dream and failed, nearly destroying the nation again before legally surrendering it to Dream. Ranboo was going to let Tubbo out of his cell to help, but when he didn’t hear from you he decided to check on you instead and found your body. As always, Dream traded Quackity L’manburg for something he wanted more than anything - the power to revive Schlatt.”

“Revive Schlatt?!” Tommy’s eyes widened. “Dream knew how to do it all along. So why didn’t he revive Wilbur…?”

“It wasn’t of use to him.” The spirit said. “When you died, L’manburg died with you. Philza fell into a deep depression after losing two of his sons to his own hands, and Technoblade… he went mad.”

“Technoblade went crazy…?!”

The spirit pointed around the corner as they jumped once again, landing on the dock as screams of agony echoed throughout the country. Tommy looked around in disbelief as red blood splattered the ground. He noticed Niki run past him toward the bridge, terrified. A dark shadow passed overhead and Technoblade landed in front of her with a wide smile and crazy eyes. “Where are you going, Niki…?”

“N-nowhere, I was just going to go fishing…”

“Really…? If I knew any better, I would have thought you were trying to leave.” Techno’s eyes narrowed. “You know how Dream feels about people breaking his rules.”

“Technoblade, I’m sorry, please… I promise, I won’t come near the docks ever again-!” Niki pleaded as Techno’s laugh echoed through the walls, turning into… crying? Technoblade sobbed as he leaned on his trident as a sort of staff. Niki approached, sympathetic.

“I want him back, Niki. I just want him back.” Technoblade said. “I’d do anything for him, any goddamn thing…” The crying stopped as Techno looked up, eyes full of anger. “Even if that means ripping the guts out of some lying two-faced bitch who didn’t care enough to save him. Come here you little-!” He charged at Niki, and she took off again, screaming, crying for help.

“N-no… Technoblade stop-!” Tommy cried, but Techno didn’t hear him as he snatched her up and beheaded her in one rip, sending blood everywhere. Niki’s painful screams filled his ears.

“Tubbo managed to take Dream down, and they both died in one of his death traps. Now, thanks to his manipulation, Technoblade is a bloodthirsty warrior with no master to serve. He clings to the bit of sanity he has left, not being able to deal with the guilt of being responsible for your death, so he blames others.”

“This can’t be true. Surely if I died some good would come from it.” Tommy said.

“The only good that would come of your death would be Dream’s, who thanks to Tubbo died much earlier than he was supposed to, and in turn saved his people from another tyrannical ruler.” The spirit said. “As for Ghostbur, well…”

Tommy turned around to notice Ghostbur flying around, wondering in the bloody mess of L’manburg that was too eerily quiet for Tommy’s liking. The spirit was gone again, Tommy was alone. He followed Ghostbur as he stepped over dead bodies and looked inside houses. “Hey Technoblade?” Ghostbur called, looking around. “Hey Techno, I have a fun idea to prank Tubbo with, where are you?” He opened the door to Philza’s house. “Philza? Philza Minecraft?!” He called. “I can’t find Techno, do you know where he… oh, you’re not here either.” He knocked, door to door, calling out for everyone, but it was dead silent. “Quackity?! Niki…? Fundy, where are you?!”

Tommy reached to grab Ghostbur’s hand. “They’re not here, Wil. They’re dead.” But Ghostbur didn’t notice him in the slightest.

“Tubbo?! Fundy…?”

“Ghostbur, they’re dead. You gotta stop, they’re not here.” Tommy said solemnly. “They’re dead because of me, but you gotta stop looking, they’re gone-”

“Sapnap? Bad…?”

“Wilbur please.” Tommy begged. “They’re dead, you have to move on.”

“George…?”

“They’re dead, WIlbur.” Tommy snapped, beginning to cry. He looked around for his spirit friend. “Spirit, can you hear me? I want to go back, please let me go back. I don’t want this to happen, please! Can I change it? Is there still time?! I want to live!”

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

When he opened his eyes, he was in his bed in the tent, the morning sun just peaking above the horizon. He wiped a few tears off his cheeks. Was it all a dream… was it not real…? He scrambled for his calendar - Christmas Day. There’s still time. He could fix everything! He searched in his chest for the compass and his discs as he packed a bag - he looked over the mask for a second, before rushing outside and in a fit of rage, frisbees it into the ocean and watched it sink to the bottom. “Fuck you, Dream.” He cursed, feeling freer than he had in weeks. 

He grabbed his bag and ran off into the forest toward the snow covered house he knew, picking up some blue cornflowers along the way. His heart felt light as he hummed Christmas carols, running along the path he knew until he saw Technoblade’s house in the distance. Running up to the door, he knocked, smiling. The house was decorated beautifully, and when Ghostbur opened the door he smiled. “Hello, Tommy!”

“Hey Ghostbur!” Tommy smiled. “Sorry it’s a bit early, but I just couldn’t wait to come over and say Merry Christmas!” Technoblade came over to the door, looking extremely confused. 

“Tommy…?” Technoblade yawned before Tommy crashed into him with a hug, only making the older increasingly confused. “Um-”

“Merry Christmas, Technobade.” Tommy said happily, handing out the blue flowers to Ghostbur, his eyes lighting up as he smiled. “This is for you.”

“So much blue!” Ghostbur shook with excitement, taking the flowers in his hands. “They’re so pretty, thanks Tommy!”

“You’re welcome.” Tommy said, feeling a sense of dejia vu from it all. Technoblade smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Wanna come inside? I was just about to make breakfast.” Technoblade’s voice was gentle, and for the first time in a long while Tommy felt really happy. Techno ushered him inside by the fire, insisting that he was turning blue out in the snow without a jacket. Ghostbur realized too quickly that Techno didn’t have a vase for the flowers, but with a bit of help from Tommy, he was beginning to weave a flower crown. It was nice to revisit that - he remembered how Philza taught them all how to weave flowercrowns when they were younger, and how to make an acorn whistle, which he quickly regretted. Tommy laughed as he remembered Phil’s face as all three of them whistled all the way home so loud they scared away any animals within a 100 mile radius, for sure.

Techboblade was quiet but content, relaxed, and happy. After a nice breakfast of eggs and toast - the first good breakfast Tommy had in ages, which he finished in record time - Wilbur stood under the tree to open gifts excitedly like he was a child again. As they all settled in, a quick knock on Technoblade’s door interrupted them. “Hello- Oh… hey Phil.”

To his surprise, Tommy and Wilbur couldn’t see their dad at all behind the large pile of wrapped boxes in his hands. His breaths were labored as he spoke. “I hope I’m not late-”

“No, no. In fact, you’re just on time.”

“I was looking for Tommy’s house everywhere and then I realized I went the wrong way, and then he wasn’t there-” Philza began, walking in as he noticed Tommy sitting on the floor. “Well, there you are.”

“Here I am.” Tommy said with a sheepish smile. “Do you need help with that?”

“Please.”

After all of Phil’s gifts were added to the growing collection under the tree, his father pulled Tommy in for a quick hug. “I’m glad you’re here. Christmas wouldn’t be the same with you, you know.”

“I’m glad you didn’t forget me.” Tommy admitted softly, and Phil squeezed around his middle a little tighter.

“Never.” Philza whispered in response, making the younger tear up a bit at the words in joy. When they both pulled away Tommy wiped his eyes, not being able to help his bright smile. “Alright, we’ve got some presents to open, don’t we?”

“We may have to do mine first, I didn't have much time to wrap-” Tommy said as he grabbed his bag and searched. Wilbur proudly showed off his Blue flower crown with glee, making the other two smile at his child-like cheer. Technoblade stilled as Tommy held out a diamond for him. “I’m sorry, I was in a bit of a hurry, I know you have netherite, if you don’t want it-”

“I love it, Tommy.” Technoblade said as he took the diamond and held it in his hands. “It means a lot to me you’d give me it. Thank you.” The two shared a smile before Techno’s face turned into a smirk. “Plus, you’re poor, it was the best you could do, anyway-”

And, as Philza admired and thanked Tommy for the stone sword, Tommy couldn’t help but notice a figure in the window, a figure he thought he’d never see again. His Guardian Spirit, looking inside from the window at the scene with a warm smile. As the spirit looked inside the joyful house, Tommy could distinctly recall a voice in his head echoing words that he’d never forget.

“It’s a wonderful life, isn’t it Tommy?”

[tamapalace]

Tamagotchi Pix First Impressions

Bandai America sent us the Tamagotchi Pix on launch day to review and we want to share our first impressions of this highly anticipated next generation flagship color screen Tamagotchi with you! Now we know you mad had some reservations about the Tamagotchi Pix when it was first announced, but we must say this is one of our favorite versions because it returns to the basics while bringing robust features that enhance the gameplay like nothing you’ve seen before.

Packaging - Just like the Tamagotchi On, the packaging is large, we get it. There’s plenty of reasons behind it though, and Bandai has informed us that the extra packaging real estate allows to better showcase the features in a marketing that is still adopting the Tamagotchi brand. With that said it is definitely a bit smaller than the Tamagotchi On packaging, and the top is rounded with a transparent arch shape that allows for a nice view of the Pix. The Tamagotchi sits front and center in the top of the package with the same sparkly silver background featured on the Tamagotchi On. The packaging itself is high quality and the paper itself has a nice shimmer to it. The graphics on the packaging showcase the key features, and some of the characters on the back. We really appreciate that Bandai does include images of both genders on the packaging. Inside, the the large space on the bottom is completely empty where you’ll find the instruction manual. We cannot comment about the other packaging that appeared in France, as our model originated from North America.

Build Quality - The Tamagotchi Pix is SOLID, and we mean it. Yes, it's a big thicker than the Tamagotchi On but that shouldn’t be a big deal. It is noticeably wider than the Tamagotchi On, which is probably related to the new camera needing some space where the batteries once laid, they lay horizontally in the Pix. In terms of size it’s more comparable to the Tamagotchi Plus Color released back in 2008. It feels solid for sure, after using the Tamagotchi Pix for a few weeks, when we grab our Tamagotchi On we are almost worried to drop it. The Pix is completely solid, the plastic feels high quality, and small things like the front translucent cover is much thicker than the On. Bandai must know that these gestures need thicker plastic so we don’t wear them down. Even the back door of the Tamagotchi Pix is much more solid than the Tamagotchi On. Not that we encourage it, but if you were to drop the Tamagotchi Pix, we wouldn’t think twice about it holding up, and that’s a welcomed change. It is also important to note that there is not one scratch on the unit we received, this includes the screen itself which was something we’ve heard from others.

Screen - Same screen as most modern Tamagotchi’s including the Tamagotchi On, but it almost seems like the screen has been upgrade in terms of color. The colors seem a bit more vibrant to our eyes, and the viewing angle has possibly been enhanced. The colors don’t appear as washed out as the On, probably to help make the pictures look better. Can we also just acknowledge this is the second modern color screen Tamagotchi to be released outside Japan? YAY!

Game Play - LOVE IT! The Tamagotchi Pix is a unique Tamagotchi, unlike any other we’ve seen more and for that it gets praise! It starts off with the initial boot, which is where you’ll enter in some information about yourself through the attribute quiz. Information includes time, name, birthday, and then some information about your favorite items. Bandai says your responses to these questions helps the Tamagotchi analyze them and select and egg that matches you! How neat? There are three Tamagotchi total, and one will be chosen for you to raise. The initial animations are adorable as it shows the selected egg being delivered by a spaceship from the Tama Planet to  your new Tamagotchi Pix!

The fun doesn’t stop there, the Tamagotchi Pix immediately shows off the silky smooth graphics, which are a welcomed addition and really modernize this version. The living space is no longer just a wallpaper where your Tamagotchi is when you wake up your device, Bandai has made it the center of the device. There are so many wallpapers to decorate with, furniture to add in, and the door is no longer just for decoration! That’s right, you will get visitors on the Tamagotchi Pix. Whether it’s friends stopping by randomly, Nazotchi delivering food or items you’ve purchased on your smartphone, or the sitter ready to watch your Tamagotchi!

What about the buttons? Well the buttons do take some time to get used to, we won’t deny that. Once you start using the device for a few days it becomes easier and easier. In fact the touch buttons are a welcomed edition best the touch gestures itself really help make the Pix awesome. If you’re in your living space you can swipe from left to right to access the clock, your job, and even the outdoor space. The touch gestures are even used in more advanced features such as the cooking feature, item customization feature, and petting your Tamagotchi character up close. You use the touch gestures to clean up poop, vacuum, play the daily draw in the Tama Store, and much more. We love how integrated the touch gestures are in this device, and it feels so natural to use!

The entire lifecycle of the Tamagotchi character gives us the feels of the basics. The device itself does not overcomplicate anything. The main focus here is that you take care of your Tamagotchi, and raise it into a pure breed character, and we love that. Once your character reaches adulthood, you can start petting them up close by selecting the “B” button in your living space, and swiping your fingers from “A” to “C” buttons and vice versa. This petting feature along is easily one of our favorites. It really helps enhance the gameplay by bridging the gap between you and the character in your Pix. Jobs are back! Once your Tamagotchi reaches the teenage stage you will see a room roped off when swiping to the left from your living space, and your character will be walking around the ropes waiting for adulthood. This is where your adult character will begin training. In our experience you will be given training for a select job, and it could very much change. You won’t know the job  your Tamagotchi settles on until it returns back to the Tama Planet.

Tama Codes & the built-in camera are also huge on this version, and if you thought it was gimmicky, think again. We must say it is incredibly addicting to scan Tama Codes off of social media to connect with others for a playdate, exchange items, and more. The built-in camera is probably VGA quality, so don’t expect anything high resolution, this is not a camera you will be taking pictures for Instagram with. In fact you cannot share images outside of the device, but you can send them to the Tama Social which will allow other characters to like your photos, and it’s pretty neat. The explore feature uses the camera to help your Tamagotchi wonder outside and find other friends, there are up to one hundred to meet, and the gamification of that has kept us busy for hours on end. Although this feature does not pertain to the built-in camera, you can on select screens take a screenshot on the Tamagotchi Pix when you see the camera button in the lower left-hand corner of the device.

The cooking feature allows you to snap two pictures and the Pix will analyze the colors of each and allow you to swipe your finger fast enough to formula a new creation. In our experience you’ll need good lighting, and it doesn’t always get the colors right. The creation is edible, and by no means has any method behind what is being created, but it's really fun to make some free food, who could complain? Item customization is one of our favorites, the living space itself was never something Bandai allowed us to change outside of the wallpapers for purchase, and that was a bit boring. The Pix takes it to the next level with a good deal of items and furniture available for customization using the built-in camera to snap a picture of the color you want to paint these items. Swipe your finger from left to right and that new item will look all painted and ready to be shown off in your living space!

These feature will definitely take a toll on your battery life. If you don't already own two rechargeable AAA batteries, you’ll want them ASAP. When we first got our Pix we used the device so much it lasted roughly four days or so, but in our second generation we’re already past that. We think Bandai America’s claim of seven days probably seems more accurate with the average use. Keep in mind that those silky smooth graphics, touch buttons, and built-in camera are using your precious battery life. Oh, and did you connect with others all over the globe with Tama Codes in previous versions? There’s a lot going on here, and yes there is a part of us that wishes Bandai would switch to a built-in lithium polymer battery like most modern devices, but some fans don’t wan to see that. Built-in batteries usually mean that the device is only useable for a certain amount of years as those batteries are typically not user removable, or not sold by the manufacturer long after the successor is released.

Lastly, your Tamagotchi will only stick around until it reaches the ripe age of seven. From there it will then ask for a photo album to be created with the memories aka screenshots and pictures you’ve collected during its life. Once created your Tamagotchi will return back to the Tama Planet and send you another egg, and then the journey starts again!

Can you tell we’ve been real busy with our Tamagotchi Pix? This device is a blast, and has been keeping us busy and not to mention the character lineup is nothing short of phenomenal. If you had your doubts, we highly advise you get your hands on the Tamagotchi Pix. Between the solid hardware, robust software, and key features this device is nothing short of a home run. We’ve found ourself connecting to this device much more than previous versions. Both the floral pink and sky purple Tamagotchi Pix’s are available for purchase, the ocean blue and nature green shells have yet to receive an official release date from Bandai at this time. Don’t sleep on the Tamagotchi Pix!

[latenightbotanist]

silo thots (part 2 technically i will try to not just say what i said when i initially listened to it)

and the i immediately repeat myself but decatur street guitar and taz amnesty guitar Have The Same Vibes and i am LIVING for these vibes makes me wanna stomp and dance and also learn to play guitar

new ladybug is.. smooth, but like velvet or satin.. og ladybug is peppy and jaunty and this version is still very lighthearted and happy but also more..resonant? like warm smooth wood and the hint of a smile

brown of gold verse chorus verse transitions are top notch, also that intense end part morphing into the record player ambience very good

follow through should be unbearably cheesy but somehow manages not to be? im impressed. the piano and guitar work together so well i never consciously noticed them separately.. feel like this one shows brians growth most of all songs, hes come so far since the yt version and it makes me emotional to think about so i simply wont (tight now...later though?oh boy)

tug of war kid is one of my favourite songs.  extremely satisfying base.envelops you. the whole song surrounds you and also thrums deep in ur bones (and, dare i say, soul). return of shakey percussion thingy pt.3 i seem to subconsciously love this instrument and really should find out what its called. the contrast of the soft high verses and the strong vocals at the end? sexy. lyrics? evocative. this song is understood with the heart as much as with the brain. just how i like it. also has bugs. im pro bugs.

i firmly expected to not cry, and i didnt cry per se, but i did get a lil misty eyed. i just love bigger sky so so so much. the guitar is beautiful, the vibes are impeccable, the lyrics are very much a big mood (and also what made me cry when i heard it the first time, i was not prepared for this one to hit close to home and listening again so intently made that more apparent again) and they make me feel a range of nuanced emotions; all three of them are singing which is just a straight up blessing, especially fond of the ‘out of the city’ bit. i am officially renewing my promise to learn to play this song. if i cant figure out the tab for uke then damnit i will make my tiny hands learn to play guitar. i love this song.so.much.

10/31 has excellent jonah vocals and great vibes.love the cello especially

this ones mine has simultaneously a very specific vibe and also the feeling of a random very vague childhood memory, something ordinary but just a snippet and you couldn't even say what it is a memory of, not just that you cant describe the details, but you are remembering something, a fragment of a complex emotion. idk. im not sure i understand the lyrics really but i also settled into not needing to understand them, i will simply vibe with this song

if must be a dream had existed in 2016 i wouldve cried over it so much and made even more art journal entries about it (saying this as if i didnt make a journal page based on this when it came out..) it has some really really good lines and again the kinda crescendo/build up of the instruments and also again the cello (contrabass?) its subtle in this one but its very very good

hhhhhhhhhhh see the day. i feel like everything has been said about this song already and yet i cannot shut up about it. its too good. its perplexing. i dont understand how this can possibly still hit so hard. at this point its not even connected to the emotional rollercoaster of dances moving. this song is just so so lovely(both versions in different ways but i will stick to silo version). the baseline in this song? ive actually noticed before bc it is just so frigging cool. and all the lil tinkling and soft backing vocals and idek what? distorted guitars? at the top they all make this version positively ethereal and its so delicate, somehow translucent? has the vibes of a steven universe sky at sunset. and then the drop(???) is like letting out a breath you've been holding for too long, its this simultaneously carefree and slightly melancholy dancing, a weight off ur shoulders but still a slightly heavy heart, eyes closed and not-quite-smiling-yet, but when the song is done you slowly come to a stop out of your last slow twirl and open ur eyes  as the percussion fades out taking most of the sadness with it and there it is a soft little smile

i had half a thought to make a fancy stab at newtons first lyrics and newtons first law but i dont think i can do that right now bc im too many thots head full (of emotions) and also i feel like im not the person to do this, idk i dont vibe as hard with newtons first as other people do, not bc i dont like it but it just doesnt connect to my experiences as much? i guess? anyways i am very in awe of jonahs songwriting for this one especially and also very much appreciate his voice

conclusion: silo !!!! good!! i wanna make art and also dance and sing and cry a little but like a cathartic soft cry, lie in a meadow, hug the moon and also sierra jonah and brian for being beautiful talented humans who shared this incredible gift with the world

[mollymauk-teafleak]

The Man That Came Back

Thanks so much to @minky-for-short and @spiky-lesbian, my wonderful betas

Please consider leaving a comment on Ao3, it’s free, easy and means so much! 

---

For the next part of their plan, a heist needs to be pulled off in the fanciest bar on Saturn. And Buddy knows exactly how Juno can disguise himself, much to the delight of Nureyev

---

“Captain, all due respect and everything but that’s got to be the most ridiculous idea I ever heard.”

Buddy gave him a more than slightly exhausted look over the building plans she was studying on her comms screen, “You know, darling, it would be incredibly helpful if that wasn’t your response to every single plan I put in front of you…”

Juno gave her one of his scowls, the ones where he pouted a little and scrunched up his face, where he knew he was being unreasonable but was going to be stubborn all the same, “Well, let’s just say this one tops the whole damn lot! I don’t even...how...how do you even imagine I’d be any good at this?”

Buddy seemed to be tuning him out for the most part, eyes returning to her screen as the floorplan of the bar rotated slowly, exactly where their marks would enter, meet and most likely leave plotted out in glowing lines, “From the data I gathered on you, same way I know not to send you to any job that may, for some unknown reason, take place in a seafood restaurant owing to your allergy to shellfish. I like to know my crew, young lady, their likes, dislikes, the skills they boast about...and the skills they don’t. Keeps things smooth, interesting and us alive.”

Juno had very little reply to that, still choking on the embarrassment he was hiding behind annoyance, “But...what kind of database has that on file?”

“No database that I’ve ever heard of, darling, but you are aware that your high school yearbooks are also digitised and on file, easily accessible in the archives if one has no more information than your name?”

Juno stalled at that, turning somehow redder, “And that was relevant when hiring me to be a space pirate, was it?”

“As far as I’m concerned,” Buddy raised an eyebrow, tracing a new glowing line onto the screen with her finger, “When I am inviting someone new into my family, everything is relevant. Would you pick a sibling or cousin so carelessly, if you had the chance to do so?”

“But…” Juno screwed up his face even tighter, clearly recognising he was trapped in an unwinnable argument but unwilling to go down without a pointless fight, “Of all the jobs, why did it have to be this?”

With a flick of devastatingly manicured fingers, Buddy blew up the plan into a hologram between them and spoke as if to a small child, “The view offered by that position is unparalleled, you’ll be able to see every table as well as the entrances to the bathrooms and the kitchens, thereby covering every possible means of escape for our mark and you can provide a fitting distraction at a moment’s notice.”

“Yeah, yeah, I read the plans before I came in here,” Juno waved away her hands patiently pointing to what she was referencing on the miniature, translucent version of the Saturnian wine bar, The Albedo, “I get your point, doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“I grant you that,” Buddy allowed, “Look, Juno, I’m not asking for talent worthy of a Saturday night stream, you just have to be functional. Enough that we can pull off what should be this very simple and problem free job. Put away that scowl of yours and have fun with it, if you can.”

Juno groaned irritatedly and stared at the still revolving plan in front of him. A simple job. Place themselves within the bar, watch the exchange of the stolen goods between their marks then wait until they leave and re-steal it right from out their back pocket. Boom, details on where the last piece of their little puzzle was hiding, where the book was. Snatch it up before anyone else could find it and not have to pay the exorbitant price their mark probably did. Don’t rob the shadowy, organised crime seller of the information who had security coming out of their ears, rob the poor idiot who bought the thing.

Easy. But it sure as hell didn’t have to be fun.

“Just do me a favour,” he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, “Please put minimal crew members in earshot. And for the love of all that’s holy, not Vesper.”

“Brown butter old fashioned please. With a cherry, if you have one to hand.”

A good alias was like stepping into a different skin, Nureyev had always been taught. Everything you were became less than a memory and this new personality took over completely. If you didn’t believe it, then your mark never would. It had to be complete. It had to be total. You essentially needed to die, for as long as required.

Nureyev still held true to that belief. But sometimes, on a job as easy as this one, he didn’t think it beyond the realm of possibility that your new identity may just happen to have the same favourite drink as you did.

He leaned against the bar and waited for his drink, allowing his eyes a pass over the scene. The bar was comfortably full without being a press of warm bodies in evening wear, just a generous handful of couples and groups at tables or standing with him at the bar, showing why Saturn was considered to have the most eccentric style of the solar planets. The headdresses were towering, the frills were voluminuous, the skirts were miles in diameter. Nureyev was starting to feel a little overshadowed in his simple black suit with gold embellishments set into the silk. The drinks poured out billows of dry ice and came in every colour on the spectrum apart from the usual ones. The music was the only thing old school, classic, a simple piano played by a very talented individual on a small, circular centre platform. Nureyev smiled, it was funny how some things kept coming back into fashion. How old could seem new if it was just old enough.

And in amongst the noise, familiarity. Rita, dressed as a waitress, moving between the tables, chatting animatedly with everyone she brought drinks to so her rounds took about ten times longer than she needed to. Hopefully that slight, almost unnoticeable lump in the pocket of her trousers was the signal jammer, just in case their mark tried to call him some kind of backup or there was a tracker on the goods. Rita didn’t often come down on jobs like this, her place was usually back on the ship, but she’d been desperate to see the bar itself (it had apparently been the setting for one of the streams she liked so much) and besides, if the signal changed, the jammer would need to hunt it down to take it out and Rita was the only one Buddy trusted with that task.

Jet was posing as a patron, dressed in smart dark clothes with his hair pulled back rather neatly, looking like he was struggling with the drink that had been set down in front of him. Nureyev couldn’t blame him, the thing had glowing orbs in it that looked like alien eggs. Not that he’d be drinking much of it anyway, in his usual roll as the muscle, just in case things went south. Jet was always a strong, comforting presence when they went to task and Nureyev was really starting to appreciate it. Muscles were certainly something he’d lacked, if he could be said to lack anything aside humility. Speed and cunning he had but his wiry frame had earned him more than a few bruised ribs in the past when jobs had turned irritatingly sour and fists had come out. He’d learned how to avoid those sorts of outcomes fast.

Nureyev’s eyes continued along, taking in the electric blue lighting fixtures making them look like they were all underwater, sleek leather furnishings, glinting gold and jewels on necks and fingers and wrists. His fingers got that old itch in them but he stilled himself. After the prize was taken, perhaps, but certainly not a minute before.

But one thing unsettled him deeply about the whole situation. The one face he hadn’t seen. The one face he would know no matter what disguise or mask it wore, the one face he always looked for first. Juno Steel was nowhere his eyes could see.

Nureyev frowned. He knew Juno was supposed to be posing as an employee of the bar itself, Rita had worked hard forging them employment orders from the owners. He’d expected to see him behind the bar serving drinks and had gotten himself a little excited about flirting with him shamelessly. They’d had some fun experiences with that, playing around with their new personas when they were supposed to be strangers. Nureyev didn’t think that was breaking his golden rule either. He couldn’t imagine anyone not being attracted to Juno Steel.

But he wasn’t here and that was settling a heavy feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. Too many unknowns. Too many, all centred around a person he cared about. Recipe for panic sparking through his nerves and poor decisions being made.

He tried to catch Rita or Jet’s eyes, tried to calmly and subtly convey the extreme anxiety raging behind his easy, playful bar patron’s expression. But at that moment the lighting shifted, swimming and coalescing on that centre platform. There was an old fashioned mic stand there now, clearly a shift in the entertainment to welcome the actual start of the evening. Though some glitzed up aspiring starlet caterwauling their way through some old Earth classics was hardly what he needed right now, when his boyfriend was AWOL in the middle of a mission. He ignored the gathering interest around the platform and scanned the available exits, head full of potential scenarios with the seller being tipped off somehow, grabbing Juno while everyone else was occupied, leaving him bleeding in the alleyways outside the bar…

Nureyev was halfway out of his seat, drink forgotten in front of him when an artificially amplified voice echoed through the bar room and stopped him in his tracks. No introduction, no preamble,

Just a soft, shy voice buoyed by the sweet piano music, a voice he knew well.

“The night is bitter

The stars have lost their glitter…”

Nureyev whirled his attention to where the rest of the patrons were focused, on the individual in the long, sleek red dress standing behind the microphone, his outfit simple compared to the others on display but so striking for that.

“The winds grow colder

Suddenly you're older…”

Nureyev knew he was gaping at him but he didn’t care. His curls were spilling out over the nape of his neck and forehead, looking so soft under the blue lighting. He looked otherworldly, like something fae and unnatural, glitter dusted over his bare shoulders where it would catch the light just so, the material of the dress shifting and spilling when he swayed to the piano. And his voice.

“And all because of the man that got away.”

Since when did Juno Steel have a voice like that?

If Nureyev had been able to tear his eyes away, he would have seen Rita standing towards the back of the crowd, jaw on the floor, eyes wide, hand having gone limp so a thin stream of neon green wine was dribbling onto the carpet from the bottle she was holding. He would have seen Jet with an eyebrow raised bemusedly, tapping his foot under the table, attention then caught by a man walking in looking more nervous than anyone out for a good time had any right to.

But all he saw was Juno. He was clearly shy at first, voice soft and small, his movements a little stiff. But as the song continued and the reactions from the crowd were clearly appreciative, he began to sway his hips slightly, taking his hands away from holding onto the mic stand in a death grip, letting them float at his sides as he sang. And he started to smile, soft and soulful like his song, full of wry bitterness and loss and longing.

“Every trick of his you're on to

But, fools will be fools

And where's he gone to?”

And then suddenly his eye was on Nureyev, picking him out in the crowd, narrowing the space between them to nothing until they could have been alone in his room back on the ship, voices hushed, lips brushing. And Juno’s smile quirked slightly, enough pin Nureyev to the bar, his breath coming out in a long, quiet exhale. He would make his dear heart sing for him, once this was done.

“The road gets rougher

It's lonelier and tougher

With hope you burn up

Tomorrow he will turn up

There's just no letup the live-long night and day…”

Nureyev could have fallen to his knees in that moment, with how deep and sweet his voice became, drunk without a single sip of his drink. But then Juno’s eye caught his again and slid pointedly over to a table in the shadowier corners. Their mark and the seller. A thin brown envelope being passed under the table, barely visible.

Nureyev went scarlet. Not one of his more professional moments.

He refocused, taking his crystal glass in his hand and sauntering over, like he was just looking for a better view of the stage, an easy thing to feign now Juno’s hands were resting on his chest in a gentle pantomime of heartbreak that was so very distracting. The mark was just getting up, clearly eager to make a quick exit. It was amateurish in the extreme, a millionaire really should have some more self awareness.

It was the simplest thing. Bump into him, the drink cascading over them both. Apologetic pleasantries, outraged exclamations. Pat ineffectually with a nearby napkin. Slip the envelope from the inner pocket and replace with a blank to mimic the weight. Pretend to only just notice that you have just swilled one of the richest men on Saturn and bid a hasty, flustered exit. Child’s play, as smooth and silken as when he’d first mastered the maneuver at thirteen.

Nureyev allowed himself a self satisfied smile, once he was out of view. It was good to know that some things would never go to rust.

He headed back to the stage, stopping to gently tip the wine bottle in Rita’s hand the right way then claim it for himself, taking a seat directly in front of the stage before tipping it to his lips, eyes fixed on Juno, a self satisfied smirk on his lips.

“Ever since this world began

There is nothing sadder than

A one-man woman looking for

The man that got away

The man that got away.”

There were a lot of rules when it came to working jobs, false facing, slipping on alibis like a second skin.

But no one said you couldn’t have fun.

Later, much later, Juno’s voice was raw and breaking from a full night of singing and the noises Nureyev had been drawing from him for the last three hours.

Considering his work done for now and smiling smugly, Nureyev let him fall back against his bed, curling around him and pillowing his head on his broad chest. There was still glitter clinging to his skin that would likely end up on Nureyev and refuse to budge for days but he couldn’t make himself care about that right now.

“Oh my god…” Juno was still panting, chest heaving, heart hammering against Nureyev’s ear, “I mean...oh my god, Nureyev…”

Nureyev chuckled, pressing a kiss to the warm skin beneath his head, “I rather enjoyed it too, dear heart. And I did say you’d be fairly rewarded for your performance, didn’t I?”

“I thought you meant you were gonna buy me a drink or something,” Juno laughed breathlessly, hands coming up to stroke through Nureyev’s soft hair, sort out where it was matted at the back from their efforts, “Not that.”

“Well, I did say the reward would fit the quality of your performance...and that was pretty spectacular.”

He heard the blush in Juno’s voice rather than saw it, he was far too comfortable in his current position, “Ah...I mean, I was alright. Just something I used to do when I was younger.”

“Oh?” Nureyev’s interest was sparked but he hid that. Juno spoke about his past so infrequently, even with all of their lengthy conversations before they’d fallen back into bed with each other. It was clearly still a wound and Nureyev had no desire to poke it.

“Yeah,” Juno continued on, “My brother was always in the school productions, even though it was always kind of crappy and the sets were junk and most kids' parents wouldn’t even come, he still lit up when it came back around. And because it was better than sitting on the curb waiting for him for hours, I signed up too. He was the real talent, Ben could sing, dance, act...everything. I could carry enough of a tune to get shoved into some minor roles but...whenever I sang, even if it was just a few lines, he’d go crazy applauding for me and grinning a mile wide. Really, I was just doing it to see him smile. I knew it made him happy when I joined in.”

Nureyev smiled gently at that, hand reaching out to  entwine his fingers with Juno’s, “I’m sure he’d have loved to see you sing tonight.”

“Oh, Ben would have laughed his ass off seeing me up there trying to be all femme fatale,” Juno hummed, holding Nureyev’s hand just as tightly, “But...yeah. It was hard not to think of him while I was up there.”

“And...what would he have made of the man drinking wine and watching you all gooey eyed, hm?”

“That asshole?” Juno cuddled Nureyev closer with his free arm, “Nah...he’d have liked you. He’d have realised you’re good for me.”

Nureyev buried his face in the crook of Juno’s neck, feeling a burst of delight in his chest at that, at the idea that he was good for someone.

And that someone was good for him.

[coldshrugs]

boats and birds

Fandom: The Arcana Pairing: Cleo/Julian Length: right under 1.7k words Summary?: Cleo and Julian get separated while traveling through the tumultuous realms of The Arcana, and Cleo finds a child that could use a little help.

Cleo's eyes blink open to a thick canopy of tropical-looking leaves, shimmering pink-gold light winking through here and there. The air is thick with magic, but there's no real hostility here.

"We did it," she smiles in relief, nerves leaving in a quiet rush of laughter as she sits up. "We made it to the Magician's realm! Julian?"

They were falling through the void together when she pulled them to the safety of this realm. She didn't even realize they'd been separated. Did Julian make it here at all? Oh god, if he's lost out there in this place he doesn't understand -

Cleo's panic is interrupted by the sound of rustling leaves, a high-pitched yelp, and the muffled sound of crying. Scrambling to her feet, she chases the fading whimpers through the dense forest.

It sounded so close before but now, jumping over roots and ducking branches, she's not sure she went the right way. Starting to feel just foolish enough to turn back, Cleo stumbles into a clearing cut through by a softly gurgling brook. There, on the bank, sits the figure of what is clearly a child with a tangle of auburn hair, collecting water in their small hands and sniffling through shaky breaths.

"Oh! Hello there." Cleo approaches with slow, sure steps. "Are you alright? I heard a shout and-" The child turns to look at her, lip quivering and eyes rimmed in red- "Julian?"

There's no mistaking that face. The features are a little too big for him at this age, but his gray eyes search over her with a familiar curiosity and she knows it's him. He doesn't look like he wants to run. For a second Cleo wonders how he managed to get changed into this version of himself but before she can ask, he opens his mouth to speak.

"W-who?" The word seems to take a lot out of him and a fresh set of tears streak his face. With his body turned this way, Cleo can see the nasty scrape on his knobby little knee.

She steps to his side, smiling as warmly as she can. If not Julian then... "Ilya. is that your name?" He nods and Cleo continues. "I'm Cleo. Why don't I help you with that knee while you tell me what you're doing out here."

Without the slightest hint of reluctance, he nods and gingerly extends his leg for her examination. It doesn't look too deep, just dirty from the forest floor; Julian's pain tolerance is clearly not an inherent trait. Still, blood beads up in various spots and it needs to be cleaned and bandaged. Cleo tears off a scrap of her already disheveled dress and dips it into the stream.

"Mama and Papa gave me a pirate ship for my birthday! It has bright red sails and two masts and even a little golden door to the captain's quarters! but..." his rush of cheer fades just as quickly as it began. "But I lost it. just like I lost Pasha last summer. I tried to chase it down the stream-" Ilya winces when Cleo presses the cool, damp cloth to his knee "-but it was too fast, and I tripped."

Cleo hums a little chuckle, mostly to herself, at the absurdity of this entire situation but it's so adorable, she can't help enjoying herself a bit. She rips another piece of her dress, a cleaner one, and snuggly ties it around his wound. "I'm sure Pasha isn't upset about getting lost. She's a tough little thing, right?"

He nods again, giving her a reserved, gap-toothed grin. "You're right."

"I'll bet we can find that magnificent pirate vessel of yours, Captain Ilya. And if not, the beach here is great for making sandcastles. Wanna go with me?" She stands and extends a hand to him. He takes it without hesitation and stands to a height nearly as tall as her own. Cleo can't help but laugh now, her chest filling with the warm urge of affection one feels when they see a litter of puppies waiting to be pet. "Wow, you're already so tall!"

Ilya beams, puffing up his rail-thin frame and putting his hands on his hips. "Mama says all her brothers are giants and I'm gonna be just like them!" Cleo shakes her head; he doesn't know how right he is.

"Right then, let's find your ship." She starts in the direction of the running water, looking back with a radiant smile when Ilya's small hand slips into hers. His spirits seem entirely lifted, though his eyes are still red from crying.

As they walk next to the stream, Cleo takes the opportunity to ask Ilya about his life, his family, his favorite things; and she makes sure to answer with the warmest encouragement she can muster. She points out all the most dangerous roots just waiting to catch his lanky limbs and he steps over them carefully. As they chat and laugh, the once babbling brook picks up steam. A few jutting rocks and rolling rapids wait up ahead, but Cleo can see the forest opening to the starlit beach just past them. The stream runs right out to the ocean.

"Miss Cleo!" Ilya points at one of the rocks, tugging to get her attention. "It's my ship!"

Sure enough, blood-red sails bump into the stone over and over, but the ship doesn't seem to be damaged.

"Looks like it's stuck, but I should be able to bring it to us." Cleo releases his hand and winks. They dash to the spot directly across from the rock.

"I can find a stick for you-"

"Thank you, Ilya, but I have something a bit more magical in mind." Cleo extends her hand, and her magic flies out beyond it, shimmering in the air as if she were casting a net across the stream. Ilya gasps at her side. When the translucent net floats over the toy boat she drops it, then makes a fist as she calls the magic back to her. The little ship bobs across the surface of the water until the boy scoops it up from the bank.

"My ship! Miss Cleo, you did it! Thank you, thank you!" He hugs the toy to his chest, before rounding on his savior to hug her too.

She pats his back. "You're welcome, Ilya. Anytime. Let's head down to the beach and watch her sail!"

With a gleeful bounce to their steps, they finally leave the forest. Thousands of stars twinkle above them, reflected in the gentle waves of the impossibly colorful sea. Before they manage more than a few feet toward the tide, another rustling sound starts from a cluster of nearby bushes. Cleo takes Ilya's hand once more, shuffling him behind her as they wait for whatever might appear.

A dark, towering form steps out of the shadows, but the presence is one she knows well and relief washes over Cleo. "Julian? Is that really you?"

"Cleo! You're here! The real you, that is." Grown-up Julian looks like a mountain of worry has just fallen off his shoulders. Though Cleo notices something else is there, literally. Tiny legs are wrapped around his waist, held up by his arms, and slowly, a head topped with frizzy lilac curls pokes over his shoulder. With a faint "eep!" the little girl drops back down to hide behind his back. Julian whispers "she's shy" dramatically.

"Is that... is that me?" The edges of a headache build behind Cleo's eyes, but nothing worse than finding out she died years ago. She can handle this.

Julian takes great care to gently sit this smaller version of Cleo in the sand. She's gripping a kite in one tiny hand and clinging to Julian's leg with the other. "Yep. At least, her name is Cleo too. She doesn't talk much but that Firenti accent is thick. Lost her kite in a tree, so I got it down and told her we could come down to the beach to fly it, safely. What about you? Looks like you've got quite the handsome escort there."

He winks at Ilya, who steps around Cleo with a new smile. "Miss Cleo used magic to get my boat out of the stream! It was amazing!"

"She's pretty great, isn't she?" Julian reaches for her hand. "Say, is that the good ship Red Velvet? I lost that ages ago!"

"You named your ship after cake?"

"The best cake." Julian and Ilya say in unison.

Cleo leans into his side, biting her lip to keep from laughing. "Well, Ilya, why don't you ask the other Cleo if she'd like to see the Red Velvet's second, more successful, voyage."

He beams but approaches tiny Cleo with caution. "Do you wanna sail her with me? You can have a turn at being captain, I don't mind. A-and we can fly your kite too!"

She looks from one version of Julian to the other, before nodding. The voice that comes out is astonishingly quiet, and the Firenti accent is just as apparent as Julian said. "I've never been a captain before but I'll try my best."

They start the trek down to the water, before getting excited and running full tilt, their little laughs echoing back across the sand. With the toy boat pushed into the sea, their forms begin to lose shape, shimmering around the edges before disappearing entirely.

Alone and reunited in the Magician's realm, Julian sweeps Cleo into his arms, peppering her face with a dizzying amount of joyful kisses before finally meeting her lips properly.

"I assume you were as worried as I was?" Cleo steadies herself with hands on his shoulders. He nods against her forehead and kisses her again. "But that was so cute! You were such a gangly kid!"

He chuckles and she feels the laughter move through her own chest. "Did you see your hair?! It was massive! As big as you were, honestly. You were adorable."

"Well," she feigns offense, clutching at pearls that don't exist, "one of us has grown into their hair and the other is still a little on the gangly side."

Cleo stands on her toes to catch his lips again but they topple into the sand, any further teasing attempts at teasing dying to breathless laughter and smothered kisses.

[stlplaybox]

Top 10 Transformers of 2019 - Part 1

If you’ve been following, it’s been two years since my last one of these. Technically more given that we’re now deep past the winter of 2020. But end of year lists have a wistful character. They keep ajar a casual window into that tricky thing that is memory lane. They crystallise memories, feelings and journeys into something that attempts to qualify and quantify the experiences of some arbitrary tract of time in our lives. When life comes faster at you with each passing season, where each year seems faster than the last, lists offer some solace, some sense of growth, some recognition of where we’ve come from. 

I guess that’s why despite 2019 seeming so distant, I’ve persisted with making this list of my top 10 Transformers of 2019. There is something different this year though. Something I’ve been plugging away at for awhile now. This year I bring together my nerdy side with my collecting and underpin it with a Transformers scoring system. Yes, I’ve developed and calibrated a scoring system for Transformers. Why you ask? Well the easy answer is I’m a data person and I like to frame the way I look and understand the world through code and data.

The longer answer is I like to understand myself, understand why I collect and like what I like. With so much available these days, it’s easy to lose track of what really resonates with us, chasing that new shiny thing, that new experience, and quickly forget why we’re buying what we buy. This scoring system is my attempt to track this and quantify not just what I have purchased but also what I purchase going forward. So this year, you’ll see me provide two scores. My “weighted”  / subjective score and an ”objective” score in brackets. Both are out of 100.  

Where does this difference come from? In designing my system I recognised that how we value things differ from person to person. For instance some people place high emphasis on transformation and handling while others adore articulation and sculpt. So my scoring system attempts to factor this in by providing a “weighted” score to reflect my personal subjective leanings. The objective score is how it ranks objectively on each of the metrics scored. So that’s some context but I won’t bore you with too many more details. If there’s enough interest, I’ll write more about it sometime. But I will say this scoring system is great as I already what my top 10 for 2020 is at this stage!

A part of me was going to separate the list into transforming and non-transforming toys but I decided against it. They’re all Transformers in the end, it’s the reason we buy them. Whether its a plushie, a statue or articulated action figure they all have their merits.

One last note is I’ve also added to each figure a section called “a moment” where I try to capture a moment of where I was, how I felt when experiencing this figure. I spend a lot of time with these figures behind the camera and posing them, often in lovely natural places where I’m reflecting on a lot of things about the world, life and whatnot. There’s a range of feelings that come with that and for me that’s part of what collecting is about, the emotions these figures stir in you.

So without further ado, let’s roll out!

Honorable Mentions:

MP-44: Convoy

Weighted Score: 89.0% (88%)

Why: While its where my love for Transformers comes from, G1 is no longer where my collecting heart lies. The price, the over-engineering, and QC issues… there were a lot of reasons I didn’t want to buy this. But we lost a dear member of our community @TCracker/@hirohitokusanagi last year and this was a figure he was desperately trying to hold on for. That he couldn’t made this something I felt I had to experience. Even more so as I struggled with my own battle with cancer. This figure is a good figure but sometimes we buy things and they mean more because of the people we’ve met along the way. Simon brought so many sparks of joy with his photography and the opportunity to dedicate a shoot to him was the best way I could honour him. Whenever I shoot this figure, I think of Simon and am grateful for the inspiration he provided and his contribution to our community.

The Moment: It was early spring when this figure arrived. We were due in NZ the day after and I was in a horribly weakened state after my sixth round of chemo. But I hobbled the 2km to my post office to pick it up and shoot it that sunset. My process is to normally spend time experiencing a figure before trying to transform and photograph at sunset as its a small window of 20-30 minutes at best. But I knew time was against me and that with a few weeks in NZ it’d really bother me not being able to have a crack at it given how much it meant to me. So in the days preceding that day, I’d watched video after video of the transformation. I started sunset with the video on the big screen TV in case I needed to refer to it. It was one of my most intense shoots of the year and a lot of that pressure self-imposed. But emotionally, it was one of the most fulfilling.

Iron Factory Blue Flash

Weighted Score: 89.5% (86.7%)

Why: The only thing I owned of Bluestreak as a kid was a jigsaw puzzle. In it he was depicted in this sleek and flashy blue. From that moment, I’d always dreamt of owning an awesome blue Bluestreak. And despite happily owning the Masterpiece and Collector Club version, this was the one for me as it combined that essence with a neo-G1 design.     

Moment: Sitting by our local waterfall not long after I’d been diagnosed with cancer it was quite emotional. I remember staring blankly at it and not starting the shoot as the water cascaded in the background. Thinking about that puzzle, the life I’d led in primary school and how far I’d come. 

With that let’s get into slots 10-6!

10. Amazing Yamaguchi N-14: Optimus Prime 

Weighted Score: 90.1% (86.9%)

Why: Expressiveness is an area that’s increasing at the top of my want list for a figure and this has it in spades. Between the different hands, the stellar ab crunch and butterfly shoulder, it maximises its pure action figure focus to give us a figure that’s so much fun to pose with emotion. It’s really one torso swivel away from greatness.  

Moment: The moment comes from this year where I combined a shoot with Siege Omega in base mode where it captured all the emotion of leaving your home, being unable to stay because you need to seek refuge elsewhere. Something that I think that’s understated about Transformers is that they’re refugees and that shot really captured the weight of emotion of having to leave. 

9. Master Made SDT-06: Overlord

Weighted Score: 90.5% (90%)

Why: For as long as I’ve been doing these lists, there’s not a year I remember when Master Made did not make an entry. They continue to put out some of the most beautifully engineered and fun figures on the market and Overlord was no exception. The sharp edges of the jet half combined with the bulk of the tank are top notch. Add the extra non super-deformed head so that one can use it with Iron Factory legends and combine that with their neo-G1 take on it, this thing hits all the right spots.  

The Moment: I remember setting in for sunset in late autumn with the jet mode on an evening after I’d come home after bouncing in and out of hospital as they hadn’t been able to work out what was going on with my body other than it was failing. This sense of soaring as I photographed him was something that put a smile on my face in that moment of uncertainty.

8. TLK Hot Rod (Unique Toys K-03 La Hire)

Weighted Score: 90.7% (98%)

Why: This is the first figure where I want to talk about the difference in the weighted score and the objective score. This figure is objectively one of the best Transformers in my collection at 98/100. It scores so high across articulation, engineering, handling, aesthetic, paint job that it actually is the highest scoring figure in 2019. However it gets brought down because of one thing: connection. I gave up on watching the Bayverse movies as I just weren’t enjoying them anymore and so as great as this figure is, that’s why it ends up scaling down to 90.7. Maybe if it had more elements of G1 Hot Rod I’d have connected with it despite not seeing the movies but that’s not to be. With that, you’re right to guess that one of my strong subjective weightings is “connection“.    

Moment: It was a warm morning in September last year when I got this figure. I was sitting on the balcony with my partner and feeling awful as it was not long after a round of chemo but I remember repeatedly going “wow”, “holy crap”, “wow” as I step by step learnt all the nuances of this beautiful figure. 

7. Cross Dimension Metallic Optimus Prime (MTCD-01P Striker Manus)

Weighted Score: 90.8% (88%)

Why: The Cross Dimensions line epitomises everything I love and want from Transformers. Fresh designs that take from various parts of the expansive TF universe without being slavish to any particular part. Despite already owning the first iteration of this figure, the dark metallic red, golds and blue elevate what was already a great figure way ahead of its time. Add the extra weapons pack all tinged with orange translucent highlights and you have yourself an absolute winner.

Moment: The joy of having him wield the translucent axe was magical. While the smokestack axes look nice, they don’t pack that same punch. I spent many hours in front of the TV posing him over and over.   

6. MMC Senator Ratbat (R-42 Ultio)

Weighted Score: 91.3% (90.7%)

Why: Since Takara did the Senator Ratbat in the TG line all those years back from the United Scourge mould, I’ve loved the idea of a Cybertronian Ratbat and boy did MMC deliver. If you’d ask me whether they could’ve done it from the Stray mould I’d have laughed but its executed so perfectly and keeps a lot of the great engineering and articulation present in the core Stray design while adding the wings that double as a cape in robot mode and pincers in alt mode. It’s a menacingly alt mode and that purple is just fine.

Moment: I’d had the figure for a little while and was itching to shoot it but between treatment and friends who were visiting it took awhile for me to get to it before and when I did I was thwarted by many boring sunsets. It took me almost a whole week where the days would be fine but then offer not that much by the way of an interesting sunsets. But when I got the chance, I loved shooting that alt mode from all of its glorious angles. I remember finishing and feeling an overwhelming sense of contentment. Things were looking up, I was a healthier, a bit stronger, and fortunate enough to have a great friend come visit.

That rounds out the first half of my top 10 list. Join me back in a few days when we work through the top five and I make some other interesting data driven observations about my collection in 2019.