#yoko/anyone but hammer....

[somacruising]

Nine People Tag

Thanks for tagging me, @rayless-reblogs! It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these :333

Last Song:

I listened to Dawn by CircusP! I love the demo he did for the Solaria synth voice and I find it a somewhat comforting song to listen to. I actually dig Solaria’s voice bank a lot and I’m excited to see what other creators do with her.

Last Movie:

Probably the Venom films. I never watched them when they came out because I’m pretty burnt out of superhero movies in general...but I was curious enough about why all the monsterfuckers were into them and was willing to give it a try. I definitely figured out why they like them and I might actually see the next Venom movie out of curiosity.

Currently Watching:

I’m not ACTIVELY watching anything right now... but I intend on watching Mike Flannagan’s The Midnight Club pretty soon. I just need to be in the right mood to watch it since it seems pretty depressing. I rewatched Severance slightly recently and that was just as good as I recalled.

Currently Reading:

I actually just finished reading The Legacy of Yangchen by F.C. Yee yesterday, so I haven’t started anything new yet. I liked it a lot and it was relaxing to read before bed (despite how this was not a relaxing time at all for poor Yangchen). I’m also eagerly waiting for the next book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, which was the first time I’ve ever read LitRPG outside of a webcomic.

Currently Craving:

Brownies...which I actually have in the kitchen so I’ll be grabbing those after I finish this hehe

Last Thing I Searched for Writing:

I searched up methods to treat a sprained ankle and what one looked like. A few days ago I was looking up military ranking for a fic I haven’t released yet.

Three Ships:

This is not a simple answer because I have so, so many... but my biggest ship of all time is Beat/Joshua (TWEWY). My URL was actually this ship for a while. It was the first not het ship I ever had so it has a special place in my heart. A crossover crack ship I have is Dhaos/Duke from their respective Tales games... and thanks to a friend, I now really like the idea of Van/Largo from Abyss lmao

Tagging:

My brain is pretty smooth right now, so I probably won’t tag a lot of people. just @fray--myste, @unwontedfemme, @thisintermezzo, and @mohsthetic

[average-woman-lover]

*the girls playing smash or pass*

Wednesday: *Saying smash to literally every name Yoko says*

Yoko: Enid.

Wednesday, no hesitation: Pass.

Enid: What the hell, Wednesday?!

Divina: You’re kidding, right?

Yoko: That’s messed up, dude.

Enid: *Leaves*

Wednesday: I don’t understand. Why is she upset that I don’t want to smash her to pieces with a hammer?

Yoko, disappointed: Wednesday that’s not what ‘smash’ means. You just told your girlfriend you’d do the deed with literally anyone but her.

Wednesday, standing up: Wait, what? oh. oh.

Divina: Yeah…

Wednesday, chasing after Enid: Enid, wait! I would certainly smash you!

[m1ssunderstanding]

Get Back Rewatch 55 Years On: Day Four

"Lennon's late again" says Paul, as he walks in late. And sweet Ringo just gently, "between ten and eleven is the time" Which means: "Chill babe. He'll be here."

One thing that always gob smacks me is how bored George and Ringo are watching Paul pull Get Back out of the ether. They literally see him do this shit all the time which is insane to me.

His voice is so so so pretty!!! And he's just so completely in his own world. The hunched shoulders. The twitching. The gibberish. The tapping. The twisting.

Obviously this is a song with the original central feeling being let's go back to before everything went wrong but he wants to make it into a meaningless song with both story bits and almost walrus-esque bits. But why is the first lyric he comes up with about gender? Thinking of @scurators posts on Paul and gender.

Ringo's customary quiet really does add significance to his voice, so him singing along with this so quickly says something I think about his support for the song and for Paul in general.

When John walks in he's greeted with a little cocky nod and smile like "look what I've just done while you were late." And then Paul sings "get back to where you once belonged" directly at him before breaking the eye contact. It's one of those heartbreaking Lennon/McCartney miscommunications because Paul is doing this to get John back, but actually it's scaring him away, you know? Paul thinks he has to prove to John how good he is, but John's exhausted with how good Paul is.

STFU Michael Lindsay Hogg

Paul really does love the idea of being forced out of parliament by cops and honestly so do I. Would've been iconic and might've kept them together.

John's so quiet today and also Yoko is not here. Correlation or causation I wonder.

"They say don't they say charity begins at home?" I love you forever, George. His humor is always so well-placed and so dry (even though he's clearly cracking himself up here). And it steers the conversation away from a direction he was not happy with without poking any bears. In fact, everyone's laughing. Clever boy.

"I've decided that the whole point of it is communication. And to be on TV is communication and we've got a chance to smile at people like all you need is love or something so that's me incentive for doing it." Wise, egalitarian John making a lovely appearance.

And then there's Paul. "I'm here cause I wanna do a show." Lol I love them.

Why do they say "Mr Epstein?" Is it because they're on camera and they want people to know who they're talking about? Does it have something to do with the maharishi telling them certain ways to talk about Brian? Does anyone have any thoughts about that?

Okay so you know how I just said last time how emotionally mature George was? I still think it's generally more true of him than the others, but this right here? This is not it. "I don't want to do any of my songs in the show because they'll all just turn out shitty." Man has issues.

I think it's important to recognize that George and Paul have both said the literal word "divorce" and it's NBD. But when John does it, Paul takes it as "the groups really over and I have to go into hiding and not get out of bed and maybe od who knows." Why? There's another puzzle piece here that we're missing.

"Should we leave you for a while?" "YES!"

On the one hand I'm like "working on Maxwell is the last thing you guys should be doing with this time alone." But on the other thing maybe it's the only thing they can do at this point.

"Mal? You should get a hammer. And an anvil." As he's walking away. Main character in a contrived mad genius biopic. Except it's real.

"Joan" sounding suspiciously like "John" ... And then he goes "fool, Maxwell fool." Aka one of their ~special words~ New theory. John hates Maxwell because he dies in it. And Paul's the killer.

"Take it away Johnny." Even though it was George and John whistling before wasn't it? Did George get cut from the whistle chorus? Another straw on the camel's back.

I LOVE that John just does not know any of his own songs. Across the Universe my beloved!

On the glyn/Paul moment featured below, I have three thoughts. 1. Whore. 2. John Lennon villain origin story. 3. The fact that glyn didn't just tell John is striking.

"I wish it fucking would". "Cause I'm down." This lyric going from a self-soothing reassurance that his people aren't going to leave him that he'll always have this beautiful dream he's created with them. To this? I hate it here.

So there is a big emotional and energy difference between their Beatlemania selves singing "Rock and Roll Music" and their current selves. And part of it is due to the fact that they're just not as happy as they were then. But I think most of it is really just that they thrive when they're performing for an audience.

[weissaddams]

Date With Death

Chapter 9

--

Their quiet smiles, unspoken words and cool hands were interrupted by the only people who could rival Wednesday’s love for Enid.

Her own family, much to Wednesday's chagrin, were let in by Yoko while she was talking to Enid. She did not want to let go of Enid’s hand just yet but Enid all but jumped up when she saw Morticia, Gomez, Pugsley and Thing make their way towards her. 

Morticia and Gomez open their arms to Enid who gladly jumped into them.

Wednesday had read that it was usual for a family to spend time with their daughter during the hours before the wedding. Knowing the werewolf’s family, Wednesday didn’t think it odd to see their welcome absence. Enid deserved a loving family who didn’t pick on every little thing she did and the Addams family would gladly fill that spot.

“Mi Loba! You look absolutely gorgeous!” Gomez held a hand over his heart as he softly squeezed Enid’s arm.

“Enid, my dear, you look magnificently dreadful!” Morticia cooed, nearly crying, as she delicately cupped Enid’s face and looked at her. How could anyone ever look at Enid and only see flaws? The only flaw here was Enid's choice of groom, but Wednesday made her promise to keep that to herself. 

Enid wanted to cry. These people, who have all but taken her in as their own, have managed to make her feel so, so loved with every word they utter. 

“Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Addams. I’m so glad you made it.”

Enid fights back the tears but the moment she loses that battle, Gomez is at her side, dabbing away the tears with a handkerchief before it does too much damage to her makeup. 

“Please, Enid, call me Tish. You can even call me mother if you would like.”

Wednesday doesn’t miss the knowing smile her mother shoots her as she continues to talk to Enid who was noticeably blushing even under her light makeup.

The raven blocks out the rest of the conversation as Pugsley beckons her to the terrace. She trusts her parents and Thing to take care of Enid or at least keep her in one piece. She watches them all giggle at one another before she starts to step back. Enid gives her a quick smile just before she turns, a quick signal that it was okay to leave her for a bit.

“Now that Pugsley has distracted Wednesday, I have to ask, dear, any cold feet? I’m sure Wednesday would be more than willing to drive for a runaway bride?”

Enid starts to giggle again because of course that’s the first thing they ask her. The apple really didn’t fall far from the tree. 

“Wednesday already offered earlier, but no cold feet.” 

“Ah, how unfortunate. It’s been a while since we’ve helped a runaway bride.”

Enid couldn't tell if they were joking. Not with the disappointed smiles they gave her. She laughed it off but genuinely wondered if helping runaway brides was also an Addams thing.

Morticia holds her hands in hers and squeezes lightly. The seer’s heart felt like it was about to burst. Was it because she was so happy for Enid? So torn for Wednesday? She could not tell.

“My dear Enid, please remember that no matter what, you will always be part of our family, understand?”

“And if you ever need a reminder, just look to your wrist.” Gomez added.

The bracelet Wednesday gave her feels cool on her wrist and in that moment, Enid felt more loved than she did in all the time she spent with her biological family.

--

Pugsley is dressed similarly to Wednesday, except he tended to hate the neckerchiefs. They made him too warm.

“So is she still getting married to Ajax?”

“Of course. Why would you think otherwise?”

“I saw you holding hands when we walked in. Kinda hoped you changed your mind about telling her.”

“Hope is a dangerous thing, brother.”

“Can you blame me? How would I ever get back at you for all those pranks if the stupid curse gets you first?”

Wednesday sighs. They’ve talked about this. At length. Pugsley knows he’s fighting with a glass hammer but his stubbornness always seems to win out. When Wednesday made up her mind, no one could change it, so really, they were both stubborn.

“You will best me by outliving me, brother.”

“Feels like a cheap win.”

“A win is a win.”

“If you tell Enid, wouldn’t we all win?”

“I will not confess to Enid just because my life depends on her returning my affections. She deserves a freer, truer love.”

Pugsley knew he would never win an argument against his sister but understanding what was going to happen didn't make him feel any better about losing her. 

“Stupid curse.” He kicks at the air, nearly losing his balance in the process.

“By calling the curse stupid, you have also called our family stupid. Including me.”

“Well, you’re being real butt right now so yeah. You’re stupid, too. Because this curse has to be the worst kind of stupid if it can’t see how Enid looks at you.”

All Wednesday hears after “stupid” is more of Pugsley’s grumbling. He really should outgrow that. It was not fitting for an Addams to grumble.

Wednesday, in an act of love (because to hell with it, it’s her last day on earth anyway), puts a hand on her brother’s shoulder to console him. All her responsibilities would go to Pugsley the moment she crossed. While she has much confidence in his abilities, she would not blame him if he started to hate her when he realizes just how taxing it would be to lead the Addams family in its entirety. 

“I have accepted my fate, brother. Please remember what you swore to do when death graces my door.”

“I’ll look out for Enid. I promise.”

“You are a good brother, Pugsley. I am sure the curse will not seem as stupid once you fall in love.”

Pugsley chuckles darkly. He’d quip back if their parents weren’t calling for them to come back inside for a family picture with Enid.

Their parents had,  of course, already taken a photo with Enid. They just wanted the whole family this time.

Morticia made sure to place Wednesday and Enid together in the middle. It looked best with them there, after all, no other reason.

If her daughters were never given an opportunity to have a wedding of their own, she’d at least have this photo.

The photographer shows Morticia some of the photos when they disperse for the garden shoot. She spots one shot that clearly captures Enid fixing Wednesday’s lapels while the werewolf smiled and Wednesday looked at her.

Her heart breaks. This was the moment she saw in a vision years ago.

Her daughters’ happiest moment was captured in a photo.

--

Yes daughters (plural) because they’d thought of Enid as their daughter the moment Wednesday brought her home that first summer all those years ago.

Hi guys. I’ve been wanting to write so much but I got sick and my timing wouldn’t line up so yeah I’m crunching this out now. 

I’m not totally happy with it so I’ll probably pretty it up now and again.

I think I might try writing one of the Wenclair fic ideas I posted if I get too stumped to write about the next chapter for Date With Death.

I’m not abandoning it. Don’t worry.

Let me know what you think! Also, I suck at spelling so let me know where the mistakes are!

--

Date With Death master post

--

All the chapters are up there!

[beevean]

"Hammer: I trust Yoko and all, but that "pretty boy", Arikado. You think she likes him?

Soma: Yes, but Arikado doesn't seem to be interested in anyone."

I don't care much for the "Hammer has a crush on Yoko" writing, but I tolerate it for the loose hint of "Alucard is aroace"

Yeah, that subplot was seriously annoying and it singlehandedly turned Hammer into my least favorite character in the games.

It will never not be funny to me how Alucard is the fandom's Launcher of a Thousand Ships (Trevor, Richter, Maria, Sonia, Julius, Soma, Lyudmil, Hector), and yet he himself has never, ever expressed any ounce of interest in anyone 😂 the most I can think about is that scene in GoS where he speaks highly of Trevor and to Trevor, but no, I really cannot picture him feeling any sort of romantic attraction, let alone caring about sex. dude needs friends, nothing else.

[lansalla]

Sometimes thoughts pop into my head...and I think them. In one of the interviews (not even in one, it seems), Joey said that when preparing for the third season, he was inspired, among other things, by John Lennon.

I'm an old fan of the Beatles and I was reminded that, according to one version, John met Yoko Ono at her exhibition and became interested in an exhibit called ... "Hammer A Nail". 

The essence of the performance was that visitors hammered nails into a wooden board, creating a work of art. And we all remember that unforgettable monologue of Jaskier about hammers and nails...

The second - he pronounces a monologue half-naked lying in bed. And we also all remember that unforgettable action of John Lennon and Yoko Ono "Bed-In for Peace" and analogies were drawn in my mind again.

I understand that this is all most likely far-fetched and the fruit of my inflamed fantasy, but we are here to express our thoughts, right? :)

upd: and in addition, there are rumors that Lennon never fell in love with anyone except Yoko. And he saw in her a like-minded person and the only person with whom they were on the same wavelength, whom he himself understood, and she could understand him... well, you understand  :3

[love-and-rockers]

yoko nakahashi || 出る釘は打たれる - the nail that sticks out gets hammered down

(thank you @slashsrose for the suggestion - please anyone else give me some more!)

[tanfilms]

hii!! perhap write some argument between xavier and reader and then them making up?? could be over anything

FIGHTS N’ GROVELING . . . 🦪

CHARACTERS. xavier thorpe 𝒙 reader

GENRE & WARNINGS. fluff. romance. sexual tension and suggestive themes. friends-ish to lovers.

SYNOPSIS. you would do anything to prove your best friend was not the Hyde, even if it went against your own safety.

A/N. sorry this is short! i wanted to start our simple to test my writing style if anyone liked it etc. I hope you actually like it :)

PS — english is not my first language and I use a correction app for a lot of things so please be gentle on me 😭 esp if the pov suddenly changes because i can’t catch mistakes sometimes!!

Your heart was hammering against your ribs in a pathetically rapid manner. You hated confrontations, the said action always leading to heated arguments with the unfortunate way you manage to handle bubbling situations. But what else were you to do?

An entire event. Almost the entirety of the dance was of complete silence and harsh glares from Xavier’s end after he saw you laugh along the arms of Tyler. It was a misunderstanding to be fair. You’d fallen on the paint covered ground of the dance floor and he’d helped you up after cracking a joke. You know as the best friend of the boy he’d assaulted that you should’ve declined his help and looked for Xavier, but he’d been stressing about Wednesday for the past week that you’d entirely forgotten any sort of friendship had been formed between the both of you.

“Fine, ignore me all you will but don’t act like you haven’t abandoned me for the past three weeks since the beginning of the year Xav-”

He aggressively wiped down the faux blood from his eyes, staring at you with what you can only assume was growing hatred, “Y/n, I am currently being accused of being a deadly monster that hurt his own friends, forgive me for trying to figure out why an Addams of all people, would come to this conclusion.”

Your frown deepens. That he never told you, so you’d went on to assume that he’d harboured a crush on her — which to be fair, you’d understood but also didn’t appreciate. “You never told me that, why do you never tell me anything anymore?”

“Great, somehow this is my fault and I’m to blame for trying not to have you worry, thanks Y/n, wonderful speaking with you.” And with that, he’d stormed off to the direction of his dorm, leaving your mouth agape and speechless as students scurry off with dramatic screams and painted dresses.

You didn’t like the way the conversation had ended, your core sprinkled with guilt as you let the immature side of your heart take over you back then. Looking around with no other place on your mind, you follow a trail you’d left before to his shack. If there is a chance he could ever be locked up, you’d want to be the only person to decrease it. So while shuffling the bottom of your dress into your arms, you slip your heels off as you run into the darkening woods.

His knees shook violently on the side of the bed. The night had passed since your argument, and by now you would normally come knocking on his door with a batch of apology cookies from the store that you’d claimed to bake.

But it was stillness from your side, no calls, no Enid speaking on your behalf; and it distressed his mind endlessly. Xavier was aware that he wasn’t fully at fault; but still partly to blame for your own careless actions, and so his heart weighed heavy on his chest since your absence. With swift movement, he’d clutched his phone, drying his hair once more with a towel before leaving his dorm in hopes to catch up with you quickly.

Walking through the halls, eyes landed on him in oddly intense stares. He cleared his throat as he slid his way past multiple pupils. “What is it with everyone today,” he murmured to himself, light drops of sweat catching onto his eyebrows furiously as he spotted a weeping Enid being comforted by Yoko on the other end of the hall — with a straight-faced Wednesday staring with a perplexed look upon the two.

The blonde caught sight of him, jumping up from her position to have her hands land on the taller boy’s shoulders. “Oh Xavier I’m so sorry, she just left and didn’t tell any of us where she was going. But i promise she’s going to be okay, she’s Y/n she’ll be fine!”

A heavy sigh left him as he felt a headache sneaking up on him, and his breathing race quicker at the mention of your name in a depressing manner. He gulped, throat dry and hands clenching a fistful of the ends of his shirt. “What are you talking about? What happened to Y/n?”

At that, the vampire and werewolf had plastered similar expressions on all of their faces, and it frustrated him even more. Wednesday’s lips tugged upwards in a smirk, tilting her head agonisingly before speaking up. “Incredible. One would assume that you would be the first to know that your supposed ‘best friend’ was caught in the hands of the Hyde yesterday after the dance…was it not after a quarrel you two were having or am I wro-”

The words were cut off after Enid smacked her arm with a shriek and an alarmed face of shock, a frown on her lips as she watched Xavier’s mood shift from frustration to clear raging fear. It was his fault.

“She’s not dead,” Yoko spoke up, “She was in the infirmary with a couple face scratches and a past bleeding womb. It wasn’t bad enough for an urgent ride to the hospital, so she’s currently residing in her own dorm passed out from exhaustion.”

The Thorpe’s nods were faded as he was lost in his own head, horrible theory’s of your current well-being jumping one another in a consistent manner to assault his thoughts. Hands visibly shaking as quick as his ragged breaths, he uttered a low thank you to the trio before his feet were painfully dragging him to your direction.

Anger. Hurt. Confusion. All piled upon him like a sudden crashing wave when he’d reached your door. What do they mean you’re not left in a hospital? Did you not deserve better care? Better care than what he could’ve possibly offered? Too busy allowing his thoughts to consume him and wallowing in his own misery, he flinched when the door jiggled open — your tired yet bright figure gazing at him strangely.

“Y/n…” he whispered, your name igniting a fire in the pit of his stomach. Xavier’s pale hands were clutching the hot chocolate and food he’d picked up on his way here for you, hands burning but your presence numbing it all. You smiled teasingly, already knowing why he’s here before stepping backwards and letting him inside.

Licking your lips, you watched as he set the bag and cup on your desk table before your back softly hit the wall behind you in a sudden movement. Lavender engulfing your senses, your favourite, as his arms wrapped around you in a soothing matter; as if you were the most fragile thing left in this world right now, and in his eyes you most definitely were.

“Am I here to comfort you or is it the other way around Thorpe?” Your tone was light hearted, joking with him in hopes of forgetting what had occurred before hand but it brought him back to his senses. Xavier let you go swiftly and his lips curled up as yours were pursed. “Why are you stupid enough to leave out to the woods, almost in the middle of the night, with nothing to protect you?? Did you seriously not think that through?”

Sighing, you reached out for the mug of delicacy behind him, huffing before thinking carefully of your next words. “I did it on purpose asshole. My whole intention was to get hurt.”

“What?” He blinked once, then twice awaiting for your explanation that left him agitated in his spot but he couldn’t find it in himself to rush you as you consumed your drink and dug through the bag of food. You looked so weak at the moment, skin pale from the medication he spotted near your drawer — enhancing the glint trickling in your eyes and the soft colour of your lips. A rippling sense of calmness flooded his senses watching you eat, ignoring the bruises piled up near the end of your eyes for his own sake and sanity.

“Hmm sorry, i’m just hungry. They’ve fed me nothing but soup the whole day — yuck,” coughing, you continued, “You would never hurt me no matter how angry you are at me Xav. Even if i trashed your Art shed again — still immensely sorry about that — you’re nothing but gentle with me and I just wanted to show that you’re just as kind hearted with everyone else, that you’re not Hyde.”

It clicked in his brain. If he were Hyde you would not have seen a scratch trailing your body. Further connecting the dots he realised as to why Wednesday had not bothered him either by the time he woke up, she knew he was innocent. He wouldn’t be locked up anytime soon and it was all because of you. His gaze was soft as it trailed up and down your figure.

That had been the kindest thing anyone had ever bothered to do for him, and his suppressed feelings leapt with euphoria at your selfish act. He stepped closer his hands tracing the scratch above your lips.

Your mouth went dry, dropping the bagel back into the brown bag absentmindedly as you watched his eyes land on the scar remaining above your lips. “Xav, listen I really am sorry. I didn’t think about you and Tyler, and I didn’t think I’d have to go this far-”

Xavier ignored your apology, muttering a low ‘shut up’ before he found his lips atop of your own. His hands cradled your face tenderly, and the gentle action caused you to inwardly sigh and kiss him back, a train of butterflies exploding within your stomach. His hands traced circles on the side of your cheeks, a small smile adorning his lips when you’d returned the romantic action.

“I can’t kiss you back if you’re going to smile,” you said after pulling a way, a light giggle leaving your own lips when he let out a quiet laugh. “Sorry, my bad L/n,” he apologised, “It’s going to be serious from now on, no laughing matter.”

You nodded, going along with the joke. “Intimate actions are of utmost seriousness Xav!” You pointed a finger at his chest and poked him. “Oh absolutely,” he chuckled, his lips finding home near your own once more, before pecking the marks that were tainted on your skin.

[rosebleue]

Re: other posts in timeline about this

The most infuriating of Mina being reduced to Soma's morality anchor in DoS is that, while she's clearly the Lisa figure, iga has literally said that Julius, Yoko and Hammer are meant to be parallels to Trevor, Sypha and Grant (with Alucard being himself)

The point of it is he not only has "a lisa", he has a found family mirroring the heroes who killed him first. That's his second chance. His amends with the world aren't just romantic love. It's family. It's humanity. The song that plays in game over the redemption sequence is fucking called you're not alone.

That's the whole point. That if Dracula chose so, he wouldn't be alone, that HE turned his back to humanity. Soma didn't. Soma is not turning into a monster. And sure, he wants to save Mina! But also he doesn't want to hurt anyone else! They're surrogates for past heroes and thus HUMANITY ITSELF.

[ariaofsorrows]

I think another aspect of Castlevania that goes gravely misunderstood is the importance of Mina’s talisman towards the end of DoS. It’s deeper than the cliche of the hero remembering the one he loves to stop him from going evil, whatever. I believe it was really important, because it was Soma’s last link to the real Mina. Her real personality, ideals, and wishes.

My personal interpretation of how Chaos took over Soma is that it started by manipulating and rewriting Soma’s memories of her. We and Soma know that Mina is way too nice to even think about hurting someone else. Therefore, she could never be vengeful about her death.

For Soma to truly believe that Mina wanted to end humanity as revenge, Chaos needed to change her from someone who was strong-willed, to someone very fragile. From someone who believed there was good in everyone, to someone petty and afraid of other people. Most importantly, Chaos warped Soma’s perception of Mina’s love for him from something sweet, genuine and trusting, to a demanding, needy love.

This distorted version of Mina needs Soma to kill for her, in order to prove his love and devotion to her, when in reality, she would never ask him to do anything he wouldn’t want to do. Proof of this lies in AoS when you go back to the castle entrance and speak to Mina. The castle is slowly draining away her life force, but all she all she has to say to Soma is that she’s a little… dizzy. She doesn’t complain, and immediately goes back to trying to help.

There was very little mention of Mina in the ‘Castlevania’ portion of DoS, and every mention of her came from an outside perspective like Arikado, Yoko, and Hammer. Unlike AoS, we don’t get anything that comes directly from Mina. Everything about her is what other people think she is. They think she might make a good girlfriend for Soma, they think she has a hard time dealing with his obliviousness etc… etc… We don’t know how she thinks, and we don’t get her opinion on the situation until we get her letter containing the talisman. Meanwhile, Soma is occupied fighting monsters and dark lord candidates, his mental health is getting beat. He doesn’t have time to think about that girl waiting for him.

This might not be intentional, because I don’t think the writers of the story are cool enough to pull this off, but I find it quite cool how neo-Castlevania made Soma forget who she was until he really needed her. If you didn’t equip the charm when you faced Celia for the last time, I imagine that Chaos took advantage of that lapse in memory to rewrite and manipulate everything that Soma knew and understood about Mina.

If you equipped the charm, it meant that you did remember her. The charm does not benefit your stats, because you’re supposed to remember her on your own, instead of when she is convenient to you. I personally do not believe that it was magic in the charm that stopped Soma from becoming the new Dark Lord. It was Soma himself remembering the real Mina through the talisman, and actively fighting against Chaos’ manipulation.

Yes, the magic talisman might be symbolic of Mina’s love towards Soma, but it is also a reminder of who she actually is, and what she stands for. It’s a reminder of the immense amount of trust and knowledge they have towards each other. They love each other as they are, and they don’t need to prove anything to anyone.

[castlelastlevania]

I’m in the mood to just... summarize a Julikado fic I might not even get to writing.

So, Soma, Mina, Yoko and Hammer, in all their youthful scheming, attempt to... set Julius and Arikado up. They all get it in their minds that the two would be cute together. And duh! They clearly like each other!! Why hadn’t anyone thought of this sooner? It’s perfect!

Soma and Mina’s method is to try to reenact Parent Trap to get the two alone together. 

Not too harmful, it does result in some backfiring when Arikado nonchalantly comments on Soma and Mina’s relationship and Julius starts ruthlessly teasing the young adults on how cute they are together. Failure. 

Yoko makes them reservations at fancy restaurants and speaks to them in only suggestive eyebrow wriggling. 

Actually quite pleasant. Arikado laughs?? It’s as subdued as one would expect, but what isn’t expected is his apparently existent sense of humour?? As the crew is spying on the two, they really feel “GOD! HOW ARE THESE TWO NOT ALREADY TOGETHER!?!” 

To seal the deal, Hammer... puts mistletoe around. Bumps into Arikado so he’ll fall into Julius’ arms... Hands the two notes “from each other” asking “Do you like me? Yes or No”.

At this point Arikado is not entertained, and Julius knows exactly what’s going on. And the crew is still banking on getting the two to kiss. But their plans are dashed by Arikado’s sudden unavailability whenever they want to trick him into another dinner date. Julius’ response to any questioning is: “Oh, Arikado? We’re partners.” and the kids just want to strangle him. How doesn’t he SEE?

They call for an intervention and demand Arikado and Julius acknowledge the sparks there. 

Thoroughly pissed, Arikado refuses on principle. However, Julius finally busts out laughing and tells the group: “Arikado is my partner.” He holds up his left hand, wearing a silver ring. 

A quiet resounding “oh” as Arikado face-palms. 

[krispyweiss]

Long and Winding “Get Back” is All Too Much, Yet Fab, as Fans Meet the Beatles Again

Paul McCartney senses the end is near. George Harrison has quit the Beatles. And John Lennon is not showing up for the sessions.

Waiting around with Ringo Starr and others, McCartney’s watering eyes and wandering gaze tell the story.

“And then there were two,” he says forlornly.

It’s scenes such as this - and Harrison walking away and Harrison squabbling with McCartney over guitar parts and Harrison musing about a solo album and Lennon suggesting a divorce and “Let it Be” director Michael Lindsay-Hogg talking about the film as a farewell - that put all the pre-release, this-is-a-happy-movie promotion in stark relief.

There are good times in Peter Jackson’s “The Beatles: Get Back.” But it is also undeniably the portrait of a splintering band.

Running just shy of eight hours and split into three parts roughly delineated by initial sessions at Twickenham, a move to Apple headquarters and the run up to and the complete Rooftop Concert with Billy Preston, who is very much a Fifth Beatle, “Get Back” is overlong. Too enthralled to edit, Jackson left in too much idle chit-chat - though memories of Hamburg and Jimmy Nichols are priceless - and too many scenes without context while chopping up footage of the song takes that ultimately landed on Let it Be the album.

When Lindsay-Hogg complains, “there is no story” near the end of the three-part documentary, Jackson seems to be making a point.

Storytelling be damned, there is music, including all sorts of covers from “Shake, Rattle and Roll” to “Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn).”

In addition to the songs that would wind up on Let it Be, there are bits of future singles (“Old Brown Shoe”), Abbey Road tracks (“Something,” “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”), oldies (“Love Me Do”) and forthcoming solo cuts from Harrison (“All Things Must Pass”), McCartney (“Teddy Boy”) and Lennon (“Marrakesh,” which became “Jealous Guy”).

There are also moments of pure genius such as when McCartney wills the skeleton of “Get Back” to life from his bass as Starr and Harrison look on and an alternate take of “Dig It” that finds Lennon ticking off the song titles they’ve tracked. And Beatlemaniacs who’ve never heard of numbers like “Commonwealth” and “I Bought a Piano the Other Day” or been privy to Lennon singing “I’ve Got a Feeling” or McCartney performing “Strawberry Fields Forever” will now have new audio gems to search for.

Furthermore, anyone who still blames Yoko Ono for the Beatles’ demise need only to witness the band happily jamming along to Ono’s caterwauling to be disabused of that notion.

“It’s going to be such a comical thing in 50 years’ time - ‘They broke up because Yoko sat on an amp,’” a prescient McCartney says at one point.

Jackson put his film together from 60 hours of previously unseen video - painstakingly restored, it pops off the screen - and more than 150 hours of audio, so a definitive soundtrack seems plausible.

That would make up for - and be more desirable than the 18-hour director’s cut Jackson’s already talking about - the lack of complete takes in the film and the unwise decision to cut into the Rooftop Concert with video and audio of bobbies telling Apple staff to cut the noise and interviews with people on the street.

For while “The Beatles: Get Back” is too much in some, non-musical ways, it’s too little in many musical ways.

Grade card: “The Beatles: Get Back” - B

11/28/21

[wearejapanese]

A Japanese person's perspective on the mini-series. Let's discuss!

As a naturalized Japanese-American who was born in Japan, speaks Japanese with family, and has lived in Japan for 10 years growing up, this mini-season was the absolute best thing I could have asked for. Binging it made my weekend!

Going into this, I immediately had this feeling in my gut knowing that there is an extremely large cultural difference between Japan and America, and was curious how effectively the show was going to explain that to the audience or if they were going to take a more shallow, "JAPAN IS SO KAWAII and COOL" route. People in Japan are EXTREMELY accustomed to the concept of "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down"; you should not be different or stand out, because you will be bullied and conforming is for your sake. Modesty, conforming, gender roles, being indirect and roundabout, and not being emotionally expressive are extremely big concepts in the Japanese psyche. Mental health, therapy, LGBT acceptance, being sexual, "doing me", straightforward emotional expression, embracing your curves, loving your body, etc. are not as prevalent in the general population as they are in America.

Kiko Mizuhara (who I've adored since I was a teenager living in Japan, she is so gorgeous and is in so many commercials in Japan) did a good job explaining and clarifying things to the Fab 5, although I wish she was featured a little bit more in each episode breaking things down more. The whole concept of a "guide" was really great, as she is decent at English and explained well, but I think the show could have done more with her.

1: Yoko was a fantastic hero to start off the season. The fact that she was spunkier than the average 50-year-old Japanese woman helped keep the episode lighthearted and appealing. She was so receptive and warm to the Fab 5 and it was a really feel-good episode overall. I think her episode helps viewers who are unfamiliar with Japanese social norms to get a taste of concepts like "throwing away your womanhood". I think the first slot was appropriate for this episode, as opposed to later. I was a bit sad that Bobby covered up a lot of the traditional Japanese interior of the community center, but I have to say the place ended up looking like it'd really be useful. I loved her transformation. It was really refreshing but still age-appropriate. In Japan, it'd be embarrassing to be talking about things like "How do you like the new me?", "I learned to have more self-confidence", etc. But the way she delivered her speech was soooooo...Japanese, so un-self-centered, it made her experience more digestible for the people there.

2: LGBT acceptance is really lacking in Japan compared to in the U.S. As soon as I saw the preview blurb on Netflix for this episode, I knew we were in for a doozy. Sure, there are still ignorant people anywhere, and still accepting people anywhere. But, as Kan expressed, it's extremely difficult to live "out and proud" in Japan with all of the social norms we grow up indoctrinated with. I thought Kan was the sweetest, most endearing lead, and he was also super receptive to the Fab 5, and I think it helped tremendously that he knew English so he could understand what they were saying. I also thought Kan was so brave to be so open on TV about his sexuality and I have so much gratitude for that. The scene with the monk and Kan breaking down about how he couldn't find support abroad or at home made me bawl my eyes out. I also really appreciated JVN telling Kan in the hair salon that it's radical and brave to love yourself and that's enough, you don't have to dress like him to be radical. Finally, sleeping on the floor is totally normal, and that is what a real futon is. The flat thing on the floor.

3: This was my second-favorite episode for a reason. It was so nuanced and definitely not the bubbliest or most happy. First of all, the mom haunts me. I am 100% Japanese, and my parents are both Japanese, live in Japan, only speak Japanese. They were traditional Asian Tiger parents growing up, and did a lot of things to me that I wouldn't ever do to my future kids. I don't talk to them about anything personal. I don't feel close to them. But, we get along decently in person, and they aren't bad people. Personally, in my opinion, something about Kae's mom gave me the heebie-jeebies. I got so much anxiety every time she came up on screen. There's obviously way more that has to be unpacked here. The pure, still rage on the mother's face when Kae said to Antoni that "she told me not to be in the kitchen so I felt uncomfortable to", the way the mom stirred the stuff in the pan with that blank stare, I felt extremely uncomfortable the whole cooking scene. And Antoni tried his hardest to get them to connect, but it just was a bit too "direct" to work well in Japan. I appreciated that Antoni heard out the mom when she said that saying "I love you" isn't normal in Japan, which is definitely true. The fact that the mother didn't recognize that bullying was a big deal literally floored me. The way she said "I think we're similar in that we both tend to not express our pain to our parents" really rubbed me the wrong way. That may be a fact, but it's not something to be content about or use as an excuse, it's something to improve upon. Sorry, I have a lot of thoughts on this topic from personal experience and also analyzing their body language and stuff from a Japanese perspective. Finally, I love JVN so much, but that hair was horrible. I wished he kept it pink or at least a dark burgundy. Also, loved seeing Naomi Watanabe in this episode and I think she was a great choice to inspire Kae - someone who can turn any situation into something lighthearted which will help Kae feel comfortable, while also being straight up, and with major star power! I don't know why tf Kiko got the drawing in the end, when she didn't even help, but oh well. Tan is so nice.

4: I knew guys kind of like Makoto growing up in Japan. Getting by in life, not openly into girls or dating, watching out for themselves, extremely introverted. Really fitting into the mold of what society accepts, because that's all they know how to do, think will be appreciated, and think is the right thing to do/think is enough. The way that Makoto's boss made that comment about how Makoto's wife is more out-spoken, saying what she wants, reflected the traditional gender roles and sexism that Japan still has. It had this undertone of like, women usually aren't like that. I really enjoyed this episode because it was honestly so...interesting. The dynamic between Makoto and Yasuko was really mind-boggling, right? I was so thrown off by all the things that were divulged about their marriage. I don't want to come across as disrespectful, but I honestly had a few moments in that episode where I thought Makoto was in the closet or something. Maybe it was editing. Did anyone else think that? However, I think that there are a ton of different types of people in the world - different personalities, ways of expressing themselves, childhoods, parenting styles that affect adult personality, all that stuff. Clearly, being from Japan where emotional expression is minimal and extremely indirect to begin with, along with maybe having a sad (?) childhood, and not being the most experienced with dating or relationships, I can see how Makoto and Yasuko unfortunately settled into this sibling-like relationship for 4 or so years. I think that they have a great shot at improving their relationship over time, and I think Karamo helped them so much with the yoga conversation where they finally opened up about their insecurities and unspoken worries. Also, I'm pretty sure they translated a bit wrong. Makoto is referring to Yasuko as the superhuman, not himself. He says to her, "Just the fact that you exist makes you a superhuman to me". Very sweet! His makeover also looked amazing, my favorite transformation of the season.

Overall, I'd rank the episodes in terms of how much I enjoyed them: 2, 3, 4, 1. How about you?

I think this mini-season excellently touched on a lot of really real social issues in Japan and presented how different things are in Japan compared to in the U.S. Do you have any questions about certain things that came up in an episode? I'd love to discuss with you and share my perspective.

(Reddit Conversation)

[demonfox38]

Prompts? If you need one I have an idea. Soma becomes a vamp and Alucard helps him adjust.

I think this prompt may have triggered some social isolation feels…

/***/

To say that Soma Cruz was not feeling well was a mild understatement. There were colds, there were flus, there were viral outbreaks, and then there was vampirification. Even that was becoming an annoying regularity in Soma’s life. Get abducted by a cult? Turn into a vampire. Get Arikado’s blood in an open wound during a life-or-death fight? Drac was back. Feeling a little angsty about work? Boom! Acne and rashes and huge-ass fangs.

He laid on a futon that wasn’t his, staring at the mottled drop ceiling. These containment apartments Arikado’s agency owned were terrible. Not in an infestation way, no. Each were sparkling clean, scrubbed down to the baseboards. They were just so boring. There was a kitchen he couldn’t use, a bathroom that would kill him, a TV with five million channels showing ten billion people having way, way more fun than he could. Even the walls were starting to screw with him. He was so used to the unified paint color that his brain was starting to invent pink, yellow, and blue splotches on them.

He wasn’t even sure if the rattling at the door was actually the HVAC system kicking on or someone paying him a visit. At least, not until Arikado passed into his line of sight.

Long legs folded onto a discarded couch cushion on the floor. “Good morning.”

Soma’s head drifted. “Good morning, or good evening?”

“Good evening, I suppose.” If Arikado was annoyed with Soma’s attitude, he was at least keeping his own in check. “It is 20:00.”

“Hooray,” Soma sighed.

More clinking drew his attention. He watched as Arikado lowered a tray onto the coffee table next to Soma’s futon. Even in the shadowy confines of his containment center, he could still see shining streaks bouncing off the edges of glass and metal. Two drinks were propped on the tray. Soma’s stomach sank at the sight of them. He could hope that they were tomato juice or Bloody Mary cocktails all he wanted, but he knew what Arikado had brought him.

The dhampir kept cool, clinical. “I have contacted both Julius and Yoko. They will be arriving in Tokyo within the week. They should be able to cure your condition after that.”

“So long?” Soma asked.

“International travel has been restricted, somewhat. A viral outbreak in London has had repercussions for any outgoing flights,” Arikado explained. “I suppose, in a fashion, we are all in a bit of a lockdown at the moment.”

Sarcasm could only mask so much of Soma’s discouragement. “Yay.”

“At least they were able to get clearance.” Arikado smoothed the creases of his dress pants. “For what it is worth, Hammer sends his regards and wishes for your recovery.”

The futon creaked as Soma sat up. “You called him, too?”

“Of course,” Arikado nodded. “He is your friend, after all.”

Soma smiled. Even prickly Arikado could be nice, now and then. “And Mina?”

Arikado’s silence said far more than he could.

The young man flopped back into the futon. Oh, boy. What was it this time? Was Arikado purposefully hiding what had happened to Soma? He couldn’t be that stupid. He had to know that Mina could get just as unhinged as Soma did when something bad happened to her. Perhaps in a more delicate, sensible way, but still frantic.

If he could do anything while he was trapped here, at least he could force Arikado’s hand. “Does she at least know what happened to me?”

“Yes,” Arikado replied. “She requested clearance from my employers to visit you, but—”

Soma knew the end to that sentence. “She got rejected, right?”

Black hair fell as Arikado tilted his head. “It is more that you did.”

Another groan escaped Soma. Blackballed again. What was it this time? Was it his irrational way of hightailing it into dangerous areas? How about how he would lose his cool any time Mina was in danger? Maybe even that last millennium he spent waging war against anyone with a cross and a bible at his front door? That could have something to do with it.

For as bad as Arikado was about not answering Soma’s questions, he was far better at addressing those that the young man never asked. “You have performed marvelously during your recent infection. However, we have protocols to follow.” He drew his ankles under his seat, sitting up as straight and tall as any prince. “We would prefer to test your instincts around some of our female agents prior to authorizing any visits from Miss Hakuba.”

Soma just rolled his eyes. “I’ll probably see Julius and Yoko before I pass all of those tests.”

“Most likely,” Arikado agreed.

Well, at least Arikado was being honest. Or, should Soma be worried about that? The only third-party verification he could get at that moment was from the television set. Even that was more concerned about old educational specials or high school dramas. Maybe a week wasn’t forever. Hell, even two weeks would be manageable. It wasn’t like anyone could notice his hair getting any whiter from panic.

Soma sat up, then reached for one of the two drinks Arikado brought. It felt as warm as tea, condensation beading on its sides. He didn’t need to smell it to know what it was. Its scent invaded his nose anyway, jabbing his sinuses with pikes. Blood. Yay. He could only hope that it went down smooth, that he didn’t have to gag down coagulated hunks.

“You know,” Soma sighed, “You could have at least put a celery stalk in it.”

Arikado shook his head. “That would have provided no nutritional benefit to you.”

“At least it would have looked like a Bloody Mary,” Soma laughed. “Just humored me, right?”

“I suppose,” the agent agreed.

Pale fingers took the other drink. Soma cocked his head, confused. Well, there had to be a reason there were two glasses of blood on the tray. But, was Arikado really going to drink blood, too? He hated the stuff. Or, at least, that was what he said. Maybe it was like how some humans hated the taste of water. Just…slightly less hygienic.

Arikado stared at the rim of his glass, his reflection never to be found. “I realize that this is difficult for you, right now.”

“Yeah.” Soma scooted into the corner of his futon. “I’m starving, but nothing’s good, you know? I want something filling. Bread, rice, curry.”

Arikado could empathize all too well with those sentiments. “Though, you may find a serving of curry to be fatal, at the moment.”

Goodie. Soma’s favorite dish was now akin to swallowing hot coals. “Is it weird, Arikado? For a vampire to hate drinking blood?”

“Not in the slightest.” Dark eyes caught his own, their membranes shining in the shadows. “To be honest, I am glad to hear you say that.”

With that, Arikado pressed his glass to his lips. Their milk blue pallor warmed to pink, the blood reaching them from within and without the dhampir’s body. Soma drank alongside him, swallowing both blood and his pride. He trusted Arikado. He knew the source of this blood had to be collected in an ethical fashion. Perhaps he was in no condition to be demanding that his food was fair trade and locally sourced, but it was better he got it from a willing donator than some random stranger in a back alley.

Soma smacked his lips, clearing a bitter buildup on his tongue. “You don’t have to drink this with me if you don’t want to.”

“I understand.” Arikado lowered his glass to the floor, cupping it like a coy debutant. “However, I think it would be for the best that I dined with you until we rectify your situation. At any rate, I want to know that you are receiving proper nutrition.”

“I appreciate it, but really. I know you hate this.” Soma waggled his drink. “Get yourself, like, I dunno. A salad? Soup? Maybe some crackers? Whatever you eat.”

Arikado nodded again. “I also know how it feels to smell something that you cannot eat.”

Oh, man. That feeling was the worst. Even when he could eat normal food, there were days when Soma was plagued by that feeling. Chicken roasting in the stalls of street vendors while he was on his way to classes. Hamburgers wafting from the university cafeteria as he walked home. Butter, garlic, cheese, salt. He wanted them all, no matter how bad they were for him. Excess calories used to be his only worry. Now, what he wanted could literally kill him.

“This situation is isolating enough,” Arikado murmured. “The last thing I want to do is aggravate you with the scent of food on my person. Therefore, I think it would be wise for me to forgo other consumables, for the time being.”

Soma’s eyes widened. “A blood only diet? Really? Are you sure about this?”

“You do not have a choice in the matter,” the dhampir pointed out. “It would be cruel to torment you with my presence if I were not doing the same.”

Arikado spoke more truth than Soma liked to admit. Vampiric senses were already driving him nuts. He could smell bleach in the bathroom from cleanings weeks ago, creamer on the breath of other agents, milk and blood and things he probably shouldn’t be able to smell on a normal human. Deodorant was annoying, perfume overwhelming. Even worse was Arikado’s scent. It was familiar, reassuring—a snapshot of Dracula’s DNA. That of his wife. That of bodies long lost braided together in their offspring.  

With a single palm, Soma rubbed his cheek. No wonder Arikado’s employers wouldn’t let Mina visit him. Even someone as clean as Arikado still bore a benign body odor—triggered memories from a mind that wasn’t his own. At least he had the strength of spirit to fight them. Few vampires could.

Soma buried his nose in his drink once more. “Thank you.”

Arikado bowed his head. “I just wish I could do more.”

“Well…” Lifting spirits drew Soma out of his glass. “Maybe you could.”

The dhampir arched an eyebrow. “Do tell.”

“Could you…” It was hard for Soma to articulate his request. “Your cellphone…my TV. Can they…you know. Sync up?”

“I should be able to do that,” Arikado nodded. “Would you like to watch a video?”

For as pale as he was, Soma could still beam. “Yeah. I'd…I’d like to watch a sunrise.”

Arikado blinked.

“I-I mean, assuming it wouldn’t kill me or anything,” Soma stammered. “Like, I don’t think the TV is capable of throwing that many lumens or anything. Right? At least, I’ve never heard of a vampire being killed by a TV.”

“It will not be a problem.” The dhampir tapped on his phone, pulling up a streaming service. “I am just mildly surprised at your request.”

Soma grinned, melting into his futon. “You know how it goes, right? It’s always when you can’t do something that you want to do it.”

Seeing his friends. Eating curry. Spending moonlit nights with lovers long lost. Even just watching the sun rise. For as threatening as Soma was, he felt powerless. The only mercy he had was from a man who had killed him two times in the past. But, he wanted Soma to recover. So did old enemies, new allies, even bureaucratic strangers hovering outside of his containment center.

Vampire and dhampir folded together, staring at the sun through the safety of humanity’s technology.

[ofimmortalfangs]

Among Us Sorrow Squad 

Arikado doesn’t know how he got roped into playing but he did. 

Soma accuses Arikado of being the imposter every single round, even when they are both imposters.

Whenever Mina is the imposter she gets eerily quiet. She’s a silent killer that no one suspects. 

Whenever Hammer is the imposter he refuses to kill Yoko, which leads to him always losing. 

Yoko is the worst imposter out of the group. She can’t stop giggling when a dead body is reported. 

Arikado always acts like he doesn’t care about the game, but he secretly does. 

Julius claims he is to old for the game, but he always gets into it more than anyone else. 

[finalsorrow]

thought about 1 sad line and now i have a whole new backstory au for julius alright

he was recovered after the war in ‘99, ended up falling into a coma for a few months. he woke up far earlier than he was supposed to, all of his memories from before the war were kinda screwed-up and he had to be constantly reminded of who he and everyone else was. he went back to live with his parents, fell in love with a girl and, not feeling any attachment to his life before the war because of the faded memories, ran off with her. 

he disappears. that’s the last anyone’s heard of this belmont. 

when soma meets him in the castle, he doesn’t tell much about himself because he’s reserved rather than an amnesiac. he still gets all of his lost memories back when the whip returns to him, remembers the importance of his role as a belmont, attempts to fight soma blahblahblah

he doesn’t use his full power for the same reason that he doesn’t in the game, and he calls-off the fight before it can end properly for another reason. 

in those years he was away from home, he had three kids. the first one was taken too early from an illness, and a few years later, the eldest and his wife died in an accident, and the middle child went missing. he searched for her for a long time, even after he mentally gave-up ever finding her. when he finally settled down again, he just became a bitter and jaded hermit. barely remembering his parents and purpose in life, and now losing the rest of his family.

after he meets yoko and arikado (again) and soma and mina and hammer, he slowly starts getting better.