#AUGH ITS ALMOST 1 AM. HELP ME
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scyllas-dogs · 7 months ago
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DOGS MEET WOLF
thinking about that part where the suitors almost overpower Telemachus and Odysseus goes full tyrant
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maddieandangel-2 · 2 years ago
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Yeah I'm doing it
The transcript for my messages is below
Most of it except the last section is just a plot summary but. shhhhh whatever
---
And finally, THIS EPISODE
(Honestly this one doesn't even need to be seen as romantic it's really cute regardless,,,,,)
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First off I screenshotted the title screen before I even started the episode for Obvious Reasons ඞඞඞ
I already knew that an episode titled "The Fungus Amongus" was coming up because I'd looked through the playlist, but they also had to do the font in RED?
But anyway. The episode was actually really good, despite it bringing back a Master Belch fuckin lookalike villain who I did not particularly enjoy the first appearance of
The returning villain found a fungus that eats through metal, and he wanted to use it to get revenge on 1. Betty, 2. The entire Galactic Association by destroying their HQ
And this is one of those rare episodes where the Big Potential Danger To Robots actually *does* affect X-5!
X-5 gets attacked by the fungus after it attacks the crew's spaceship, and is taken hostage by the episode's villain. And Yeah! He is Very Much in danger of Actually Dying! The villain threatens as such, unless they tell him the location of the Galactic Headquarters.
And X-5 is like “yeah no, no Galactic Guardian would *ever* tell you that, no matter what.” So the villain makes good on his threat and sics the fungus on him.
And as the fungus starts to eat away at X-5's protective shield coating, Sparky blurts out the coordinates. Sparky. NOT Betty. Betty was panicked too, but it actually seems like she wasn't going to say anything? She even covers Sparky's mouth after he gives the location. (Not that I'm bashing her though)
Sparky was willing to put the entirety of the Galactic Headquarters at risk to save X-5’s life.
Read it whatever way you want, platonic, romantic, whatever, it's still just— OUGH. He CARES. Despite all his jabs and teasing, Sparky DOES genuinely really care about X-5!!
And yeah sure, knowing Sparky, he probably wasn't thinking about all the long-term consequences of revealing the Galactic HQ's location (unlike Betty and X-5). Especially since he and Betty only had like 6 seconds to make a decision. But he still would've known that doing that would be Bad, and he still chose X-5 over it anyway.
It later turns out that the fungus can be eradicated by some soup Sparky had been making before everything went down ((which, by the way, he was making for X-5 to help with a ‘cold’ that he had—which was likely more something akin to an allergic reaction right before the fungus attacked the ship))
But when Betty asks Sparky for some of the soup, having figured out the fungus’ weakness, Sparky's like “okay, but this is hardly the time to be eating, you know!”
SPARKY.
THE GUY WHO'S ALMOST CONSTANTLY EATING, NO MATTER THE SITUATION.
Even Sparky himself is surprised he said that.
Then at the end, once HQ has been saved from the swarm of fungus, DeGill wonders aloud how the villain even managed to find its location, X-5 rats Sparky out. And y'know what, I'm just gonna give you the transcript for the conversation:
X-5: That was Sparky. He gave away the location.
Sparky: Hey, I only did that to save you, you ungrateful sardine can!
X-5: Ungrateful sardine can..? Truth is, you like me! *He leans in for what I am choosing to interpret as a hug* You really like me!
Sparky: Do not!
X-5: Do to!
Sparky: Do not!
X-5: Do t-
Sparky: Not!
X-5: Do!
Sparky can try to deny it all he likes, but the truth is obvious <3. And I just think the scene is really cute?? X-5 seems so happy to know that Sparky does genuinely care about him.
---
It does make me wonder though about X-5 maybe being a little insecure about his place in the crew? Because of how happy and relieved he is to get confirmation that Sparky cares about him, and also one of his lines earlier in the episode, “I didn't know Sparky cared that much about... Metal.” (which. AUGH? You are so much more than just metal, my boy!! Don't let anyone make you think otherwise).
But it would kinda make sense for him to be worried about that. In some ways, he could kinda be seen as the most 'replaceable' member of the crew? I say this with him as my favourite character, and I don't think Betty or Sparky would think that, but like. X-5 is very heavily connected to their Star Cruiser. He can still exist and function just fine away from it, but the two are a package deal. And if the crew wanted to upgrade to a new, more advanced ship, it would come with a new robot companion (as seen in Bye-Bye X-5 from Season 1). Which would mean X-5 wouldn't really be 'needed' anymore, and he and the old Star Cruiser could be abandoned sent to 'retirement' in Crushton. So in a way, X-5's 'worth' is tied to how useful he is to his crew.
Now, I do believe (or at least fuckin hope) that Betty and Sparky care enough about X-5 as a person to want to keep him around even as they upgrade the rest of their technology. But I could still understand X-5 feeling anxious about the whole thing—and thus being very very happy and relieved when his crew proves that they do care about his well-being, even if, logically, they could just find another robot to perform his duties and replace him if he were to die.
I do kinda wish this episode took place much earlier in the series' timeline, though. I'd love for it to mark a turning point in X-5 and Sparky's relationship, where this is where X-5 realizes that Sparky does genuinely like him in spite of what all his insults may suggest (meanwhile he's always deeply respected Betty as a leader, and Betty's never treated him too poorly). But... By the time The Fungus Amongus takes place, the crew have been Galactic Guardians for multiple years at that point. The idea that X-5 has been insecure about his place in the team for that long makes me sad.
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thevaneltia · 1 year ago
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im going to do these all at once cuz fuck waiting a month to answer all the questions.
also i havent finished the game, so ill probably rb this as i get further in. for reference, ive just gotten the lightship and directions to go to the four remaining rogress.
1. adele, strangely enough. in this point of the game, shes gone full blown yandere. and theres several points that have indicated that she is NOT doing well inside. particularly in a skit in the gula temple, alf talked about how shes been bottling up so much stuff and eventually it just exploded. and he lamented that he knew but didnt do anything about it. shes gone through so much shit and shes come out the other side an absolutely deplorable person. but i fucking love her as a character.
2. this might be a little obvious from my answer to #1, but alf, easily. theres just something special about younger brother prince trauma idk. that scene after the party gets arrested in diamant hit my fucking soul. weiss gloating over how he should just have the party executed while alf, separated from the group and surrounded by the guards that are supposed to protect him too BEGS his brother to let the others go. that scene just. AUGH also the way he blames himself for literally everything. even things he literally had zero way of causing. i am CERTAIN that him trying to fulfill his role as a child of eesa has a lot to do with his self imposed guilt. but its not even self imposed!! nobody just starts blaming themselves for everything for no reason. and we ALREADY know that weiss is an absolute dick bucket. he is for sure the cause of alfs current mental state. anyway i love me a good old fashioned pathetic man. i dont really like how hes been getting more and more incel coded as the games gone on tho. if that keeps up im stealing him and making him my oc and fixing his writing. whats imageepoch gonna do? they went bankrupt in 2015. eat my ass.
3. alf. next question.
4. l’arc. idk what the writers were doing but his ass is NOT a compelling character. hes an absolute dick to everyone. alf was keeping him in line for the first like 20 hours but now alf’s fucked off so we have to suffer through l’arcs existance unfiltered and hes fucking insufferable. the only good thing ive seen from him is that hes honest about how hes only doing the things hes doing for the money. but even then like COME ON. his employer is out here bombing cities and his ass is over there berating alf for being a “traitor” like dawg. be so fucking for real. the person alf is betraying is a fucking terrorist in charge of one of the most fucked up police states ive seen in a piece of media. also l’arc cant figure out whose fucking side hes on. which WOULD be compelling character wise if he wasnt trying to be wholly loyal to both weiss AND rifya and the whole imaginal thing WHILE ALSO constantly saying he doesnt give a shit. like i swear to god the word ive heard him sy most frequently is “whatever”. this is a bit of a hot take but i think the game shouldve been told from alfs perspecive. because alf is a compelling character and l’arc is a fucking bitch.
5. that one kopin in the race betting game at the casino whose tagline is “PASS ME AND I EAT YOU.” woody is his name. i fucking love woody. it also helps that hes one of the most profitable kopin to bet on.
6. oh god thats a hard one. ive mentioned the scene where the party is arrested in diamant. thats deffo up there. another REALLY banger scene is the scene at the top of the tower in antrax where the party splits up. also special shout out to that skit where alf reminisces with adele about hiking up a hill and eating sandwiches. bro dropped the fuckin “that might be my favorite memory of my whole life” line. and then had the audacity to say “nvm” when adele asked him to repeat himself. motherfucker how sad is your life that thats the happiest memory you can think of. i love you. im giving you forehead kisses you precious boy. OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT the scene in the church where we find out about the human experiments turing ppl into felldragons and then a few scenes later (or before? i dont remember) we find out serge is leon. fucking hell yeah bro.
7. i just downloaded the whole soundtrack the other day and literally every song is a banger. i havent listened to all of them for fear of spoilers, but the two themes for antrax took my heart out into the back alleys and shot it 20 times. i hope we get to rebuild antrax but im not gonna keep my hopes up. also the moon inn theme has a special place in my heart. i booted up the game for the first time in years and the first time i got to a moon inn i had to take a second and cry for a bit.
8. oh GOD. ignacy. hes such a fucking greasebag. i hate him so much but also AUGH. good character. terrible fucking person. i want to punch the shit out of his awful fucking face.
9. l’arc/alf. l’arc needs someone to reign his ass in and alf needs to feel like hes helping someone. it wouldnt be a HEALTHY relationship. at least not in the beginning. but i think if anyone could do it, they could.
10. serge & leslie. for being the “flirts” of the group they both give me such huge aroace vibes. i know theyre both in the party at the end of the game, so i know ill get more interactions between them and that makes me SO excited. theyre basically the parents of this goofy ass found family and i love it.
11. i dont know. i havent really interacted with the fandom at all. if two or three people can even be described as a “fandom”. most of the other ships i havent mentioned that exist are either straight up illegal or i just dont think theyd get together at all ever. im not shipping cecille with anyone cuz shes a fucking child. i REALLY dont think rastan is looking for a partner judging based on the line he said in the scripted loss ignacy fight about ignacy “paying for the death of his wife and child”. so i guess he had a wife and a kid and hes FOR SURE grieving that shit real hard. i dont really see ryfia getting with anyone. idk shes just super fucking sheltered and it would take a LOT before shed be in a position where she could actually give informed consent to anything. i cant think of a single reason for niko to get with anyone. especially considering the fact that the whole party is just constantly bullying him for no reason. and i cant think of any side characters that i would ship with anyone. although dynos and alf would go kinda hard if dynos would stop being a dick to alf. idk i guess i just dont have a least favorite ship.
12. rufunga. pretty big boobie lady. yes yes. i didnt get her tho unfortunately. alfs crew steamrolled me and i dont feel like grinding to beat that. especially cuz i know i fight alf and get all his rogress later. pretty water lady ill come get you eventually!!
13. neither? idk if thats even an option. but theyre kinda both lying to their respecive children of eesa. alf mentioned something about imaginal being an eletist prick and theres no way any child of eesa would choose real if the entire fine print was just “world go boom. new world time”. speaking of, people gotta learn informed consent in this fucking game. stop making contracts with gods when you dont know EXACTLY what youre getting into you stupid motherfuckers.
14. well THATS fucking ominous. not many have died yet. just zamuel and selena really. unless you count the untold innocents in antrax and benetnash. i already know niko dies later. thats a dumb fucking decision writing wise. the whole party has been bullying this kid since we fucking met him. and he sacrifices himself for them??? WHY????? in the gula temple he literally opens up to rastan and serge about feeling suicidal and nobody does anything about it. granted hes not SUPER clear with it. but what the fuck else is that supposed to look like. and rastan and serge just immediately blow him off just like everyone else does. fucking give this kid a break bro.
15. ive already listed a bunch of things i wish didnt happen earlier in the list, and therell probably be more listed later.
16. i havent really gotten much in that regard. but so far, both serge and rastan. the more i learn about them, the more i want to hold them in the palm of my hand and squish them. finding out serge was leon was fucking nuts, and rastans ass sitting there going “I FUCKING TOLD YOU PEOPLE SO” was hysterical. also i found out in a skit that rastans favorite flower is a lupine and WOAH those are so pretty.
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like LOOK AT THEM THEYRE BEAUTIFUL. anyway. i am holding serge and rastan gently.
17. uhhh pretty much any of them would be cool as shit. NOT WEISS THO. OR IGNACY. THE WORLD DOESNT NEED MORE PSYCHOPATHIC SADISTIC BASTARDS
18. i was looking through the monster index a bit ago and this motherfucker stood out to me. i get that hes wearing little goggles but what is HAPPENING on the lower half of his face??? are those TEETH????? i think theyre teeth
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also shout out to this silly little frog variant with a santa hat from around opalus. i love this stupid guy
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also fuck his idle animation. motherfucker hops around and its IMPOSSIBLE to get a clean photo of his ass.
19. every single fight that begins with an enpty area and a dramatic angel choir before they jump in and start beating the shit out of you. those are fucking sick and they scare the fuck out of me EVERY time. also weiss. i fucking love the reveal of his wing arm thing. though, if it’s related to the felldragon experiments near ebur, i feel like he shouldve had some of the hozone crystal things in there somewhere. idk i just think those crystals are SO cool. theyre terrifying but also cool.
20. im guessing this is asking “whats your favorite animal outfit the party can wear”. the answer is rastan. motherfucker’s bear costume is so gigantic you cant even see the head. hes like 7 feet tall if you measure to the top of the bears head its RIDICULOUS.
21. im gonna go individual characters. and only the outfits i have so far. for l’arc its “meridian boy”. it makes me think about how he couldve had a normal life. a lot of things wouldve had to change, but its neat to think about. ryfia’s is “the artist”. she looks so cutie patootie in it. and the hat is adorable on her. rastan’s is the bear costume obviously. goofy ass motherfucker. for cecille its gotta be “frilly bikini”. she has a fucking neon green water pistol. have they even invented plastic yet?????? im not gonna question it. niko’s has to be his version of the “pilgrim’s robes”. that outfit is NOT hiding his imperial army uniform. what a silly little guy. serge’s original outfit is peak but his “pilgrim’s robes” compliment his hair so nicely. i dont remember if alf had any outfits. i think he had a swimsuit? seeing him shirtless was a little silly. hes so fucking pale lmao. adele got a cute little school dress and a swimsuit if i recall. the dress was cute. but her diva fit goes SO HARD. its INCREDIBLY impractical. but i love it anyway. and leslie isnt in my party officially yet but i know she will be in the end, and i have outfits for her. i havent seen it on her ingame, but i saw her shrine maiden dress online and its SO cute i love it. shes so mommy. but in a “shes definitely ace but makes sex jokes to fuck with people” way. thats canon btw. the second part at the very least. i dont think any of these characters have canon sexualities. OMG EXCEPT WAIT. SERGE. hes been flirting with everyone regardless of gender. my personal hc is that hes demisexual like me becaus thatd be sick.
22. oh thats easy. alf talking about adele’s mental state. i took photos of it.
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i am holding alf so very gently
23. at the moment? the gun named “bugkiller”. its literally just bug spray with a gun trigger.
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24. alf minus the incel bullshit. i fucking love my traumatized boy. and i relate a little too hard to the way he blames himself for other peoples actions
25. first step: cry for a bit about the state of the world. second step: realize its pretty much the same as the real world. third step: make a BEELINE for the new moon inn and live there forever.
26. i want l’arc to shut the fuck up for two seconds. or for a gay kiss. either between alf and l’arc or if rastan had a coming to gay jesus moment and kissed serge. thatd be awesome.
27. uhhhh idk i dont really associate any songs with the game other than the soundtrack for it. i booted it up for the first time in years and started a new file cuz i dont remember SHIT about what happens (i was up to the gula temple) and every single song that has played has made me put down my controller for a second and have a little bit of a cry. the moon inn and topazion/jada in particular hit me hard.
28. my mother bought a copy back when it first came out and she beat it. then one day i was rooting around the games cabinet trying to find something to play, and pulled it out. mom said i could play it (why i would need permission to play a fucking video game that we already own is beyond me but this post isnt about my abusive mother). i remember opening up her save at one point (the one she made VERY CLEAR that i was Not Allowed to Save Over or God Help Me) and she was in the final dungeon. i wandered around in there for a bit but had no idea how later aspects of the combat worked. i also DONT remember what the final dungeon looked like. i think it was purplish and greenish and in the middle of the map where the giant pocket of ocean is. thats all i got idk lol
29. rastan. theres a spot open for a parental figure in my life and i know my dad isnt opposed to kissing boys. i just know rastans a good dad. hes a little suicidal but hey everyone else in my family has dealt with ideation (myself included) so who cares.
30. i havent played the luminous arc stuff before so i cant say much about the series. but THIS game is so fucking good. the only bad thing is the english voice acting, but its so bad that its wrapped back around to being funny. but literally everything else is fucking great. the artstyle, the characters, the fucking story, the game mechanics. GOD. yummy game.
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Welcome to the 30 Day Arc Rise Fantasia Challenge!
Favorite Female Character
Favorite Male Character
Favorite Character Overall
Least Favorite Character
Favorite Minor Character
Favorite Scene (party chats count as well)
Favorite Song
Favorite Villain
Favorite Romantic Ship
Favorite Platonic Ship
Least Favorite Ship
Favorite Rogress
Imaginal or Real?
A character you wish wasn’t dead
Something you wish didn’t happen
Favorite character backstory
A character you wish was real
Favorite monster
Favorite boss (side ones included)
Fursuits
Favorite alternative outfit (for one or any character or all)
Favorite quote
Favorite weapon
A character you find most relatable
What would you do if you suddenly found yourself in the world of ARF?
Something you wished happened but never did
A song that reminds you of the series
How did you find out about ARF?
What character would you want to be your best friend?
Why do you like/love this series?
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yourlocalstranger123 · 2 years ago
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Hi! its me again.do u write for the side characters too?if yes can u do a hc of how they would react if a really short MC can pick them up?if u don't write them can u do it for the bros btw can I be ✨anon?thx in advance!
YES! hiii ✨️ anon!
Obey me! x short! Reader
How do they react to short! MC picking them up?
Damn, you're hella strong.
[Part 1]
Part 2 (side characters)
Sorry in advance, some of the pictures idk who they came from.
Characters: obey me, brothers.
Bold is reader. (Reader is like dominant)
Warning; long, slight begging(light), good boy mentions, VERY VERY SLIGHT sussy, ¡!cringe!¡ (I need help with my life)
Note; the picture is an example/how they look like. You'll understand when you read one of them.
~Oldest to youngest~
LUCIFER
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Twitter artist: kuso_gk666
Lucifer was in his office as usual, doing work. Although today would be his last day of his pride.
"Luci! You promised me you would sleep!"
"Ah, sorry dear. Just few more papers, I'll go to sleep."
You knew he wouldn't only do a few papers.
"Luci, you don't want me to do this."
"Pfft, what are you gonna do? Pick me up?"
As he said smirking, looking down to you. 'Your just too short' He thought.
"Yes."
"Wha—"
He flinched when he didn't feel his feet on the ground. He looked at you baffled. His face was red as his eyes. He didn't expect that!
"P– put me down now!"
"Awww, did someone's pride been broken into pieces by short little me~?"
You gave him a smirk, snarking at him. His face was so easy to read. He really thought you could do nothing because of your height? Oh he was so wrong. You went on the bed but did not let go.
"[Name], were already on the bed. Put me down already!"
You wouldn't let go that easily now would you?
"Say the special word then."
He was confused. 'What special word?' He thought.
"Hah...I guess I just have to tell you. Beg."
He was bewildered by your response. He tried covering his face but you grap his wrists so he couldn't cover his face.
"I guess I'm not letting you go now."
He doesn't want you to let go He looked away, hesitantly....
"Please.....[name]?"
Augh- that hit you right in the heart. You let go of him, slowly putting him on the bed. Putting the blankets over him.
"Good boy. Now that wasn't so hard is it?—"
He felt the smirk on his hand that was covering your mouth.
"Sh- shut. Let's just go to sleep."
Now you do it every time he does this. He always expects this. His face shows annoyance but you knew...He loves it
MAMMON
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Twitter artist: kurekachan
Note; well I didn't originally found this on Twitter, I was on Reddit and I saw the art and in the comments, the person who posted it linked the artist and told me it was in Twitter and the account. I didn't press the link so if I was wrong I am so sorry
"Pfft, wow. Never thought I would see the great Mammon get tied hanging upside-down."
"H– hey!.....augh, lets not talk about this, let me down!"
You didn't budge and just looked straight in the eyes. He knew what you wanted, you wanted him to beg for it.
".....please, pretty please [name]!"
You quickly untied him but he still didn't feel his feet touch the ground. You were carrying him! Just how??? You were so short!
"Let's go shopping, yeah?"
His eyes brighten up, although the tip of his ears is still bright red.
"Are you gonna let me down now?"
You didn't awnser and just ran out of the door.
Rumor was that there was a speedy midget carrying someone to the mall with the avatar of greed
He wonders why you bought some bunny ears.
LEVIATHAN
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Twitter artist obm_kuki
You guys wanted to go home, play some video games and watch anime. But Levi got a twisted ankle from running too fast and tripping, and this is how you got here.
"I can still walk!"
"With what workable leg."
"My right one!"
"...you damn know that you cannot walk unless you drag yourself right?"
"...."
"Hahh....I guess I gotta—"
*swoop*
"AaaAAaAH?!"
You made a mental reminder to buy some earplugs. Damn you almost needed a docter-
"P- put me down!"
"No. You have a twisted ankle AND no one is literally Here beside us so no one is gonna see us. Jeez."
"Fine...."
*later*
"PFFT AHAHAHAHAHAHA, I CANT— BREA- BREATHE!" Asmodeus was laying down, gasping for air. While the other brothers were trying to not laugh. Attempt failed Apparently, your other friend (me 🤭) posted you two on media, and Asmodeus saw it.
Now Levi is in his room, not even budging when hearing a conversation about ruri - Chan or his beloved video games. Although he did want to just bust down the door when he heard you talking about a new game. He is the one who is supposed to do that with you! My, my! So jealous
Perhaps he would come outside if you come in his room and convince him?
SATAN
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Damn....Satan may have mistaken your alcohol as water.
Welp! It's your responsibility, not mine! Cya—
"Hgnh....[name] don't go!~"
Great. He can't correctly walk anymore, and if I leave him alone he'll destroy everything if something goes wrong! What did you do shortie? You picked him up.
"Ah— oh! Pfft, why are you picking me up? What? Am I a cat or something? Haha!"
You can smell the awful smell of alcohol from him.
*later that day*
"Why is Satan screaming and running around? And why is he red?" Beel asked, concerned also because he could destroy everything. And the kitchen!
"Well apparently [name] picked him up but he kept bothering them. So [name] decided to prank them when he gets sober up. [Name] put him in a maid dress with cat ears and tail, then they made a video. And Satan remembers when [name] picked him up." Lucifer told beel, as he glared at the laughing Asmodeus.
Yeah, Asmodeus didn't go unharmed well he did since he can't get his precious skin get damaged! but the area around him didn't.
Video;
"You like the outfit hm?"
Yeah! I- its like a cat!"
His word slurred but you still understood.
"Can you say that you won't ever drink anything that's mine without permission?"
"AhEm, I won't ever drink anything that's yours without permission!"
"Good boy—"
Satan turned it off quickly. Embarrassed, he still remembers so vividly of the warmth of your hand on his face. How he felt when you said 'good boy.'
ASMODEUS
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Obey me
It's his birthday! You wanted to take a picture of him. After you took the picture you noticed he didn't move.
"Hey, let's go. We don't wanna miss your party now do we?"
"Of course darling! It's just....I think my leg gave out on me—
oh– oh my!"
"This fits you as a pReTtY LiTtLe PriNcEsS."
"H- hey!...well that was pretty funny"
You smirked at his confession. You could never get tired of his beautiful smile.
"But I didn't expect you were so strong but yet so short!"
"...."
'Damn....he was right though' you thought.
You both went in the party, it was truly a good day. Soon to be a good night. He surely would have a beautiful lustful smile.
BEELZEBUB
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Twitter artist: SnailTato
You saw him in strength many times. Now you wonder how strong you were! And thats how you and Beel got here.
"[Name], I don't think this is a good idea though. Are you sure?"
"Yup! I am NOT gonna go back to my words. Heh."
You had to do some convincing that you wouldn't be squished by him. He shut his eyes then he jumped, he felt arms carrying him. He opened his eyes and saw you....how??? You were so short though! And He was huge!
"See! I'm strong enough!"
*later*
Beel was piggy-back riding on you, Diavolo was impressed by your strength! Luci was very, very concerned. He was ready to put a safety magic spell just for in case. You also gifted Beel pocky sticks. But he was still hungry, for your warmth. Maybe you could hold his hands/body in a different way hm?
BELPHEGOR
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Deviantart artist: il-lumee
You were so tired of waking up and seeing belphie sleeping on the floor beside you with a pillow and a blanket. Like seriously! If you wanted to sleep near our wonderful, darling [name] then just sleep on the bed not the floor and if there's no space just wake them up.
As much it was rather cute, but still no.
The next day, you stayed awake but pretended to sleep. You heard the door creaking and a loud
*thud!*
He fell didn't he....you stood up and walked to him. He woke up but still half asleep. Until he saw your face and didn't feel the ground.
He jolted
"Stop moving around, where did this sudden burst of energy from the avatar of sloth, you sleepy head."
Well how do you feel when you see a shortie picking you up!
You set him on the bed, you spoon him.
(He probably likes being the big and small spoon)
He sighs. Well, at least he doesn't have to sleep on the hard floor just to be next to you. He falls asleep as he snuggles closer to you.
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bettimbellis · 2 years ago
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A Collage (of Yelling)
I saw someone do something like this to advertise their fic- they linked the fic, and then put in a little collage of various comment snippets. I can’t find the post to show off- someone please do let me know if you’ve seen that, I want to credit them. 
Either way, my Hollow Knight post-Black-Egg-Temple fic (linked here) has 209 comment threads on it. I’ve gone through and found some bits. These bits were mostly chosen for entertainment/intrigue value out of context- a lot of my favorite comments didn’t get in. 
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Got some good reviews there, I think. Anyone wanna see the collection I have of Discord screenshots from folks yelling at me about this fic?  (Seriously though, thank all of y’all who comment, yell in the tags, whatever- I love it. Really helps keep the writing muse going, too.)
Image descriptions below the cut. 
[Image ID: a collection of bits of text placed on a light green background, in several groups. Text is as follows. 
Excuse me who gave you the right to hit me with this line at seven in the morning”, with an arrow pointing to the left. also it feels like there are many things to be concerned about lmao  God, Hollow is such a poor baby. A lanky wet cat left in the rain. Hollow, that feeling is love, dear, no need to feel so confused about it. Hornet, my sad dumb little spider baby, go to bed. in summary holy shit this is fucked sounds like stressTM can these characters stop being so relatable good Lird *smacks my face* Hornet. Hornet. the fuck HOLY FUCKING SHIT [all caps] It was so soft!!!! And then it became *so goddamn angsty-* *squints harder*  Wet rag is my new favorite character. *thunks my head on a wall* Gosh darn it Oro course you had to have integrity But also OW MY HEART?! SHATTERED?1 POOR BABY HOLLOW IM GONNA CRY Gosh dang. The last chapter was a little lighter, but apparently you were just holding back for this one.  (Chp. 3) I stg this whole chapter made my emotions whip back and forth between “awww :)” and “awwh :(” and “oh. Oh no baby do not think like that”.  Augh. just, augh. / ...except that bit at the end. ...except that last sentence, ‘cause, yeah. / *hides face in hands* this has been exhausting for everyone, apparently. Hollow knight or: when you are so touch starved that your standards for touch that you want are somewhere in the abyss that has spawned you.  Whatever the FUCK happened in the last section is Oh Lord Oh God What The Heeeeeellll Ohhhh My Goood No Waaayyyy... Will be waiting for the next chapter STARING at ao3...
i was so relieved to read this that i accidentally put my phone in airplane mode trying to respond “it is startled out of its pleasant memory-” pLEASANT???? PLEASANT!?! Hollow no. HOLLOW NO- / why does this for some reason almost feel like fluff.  My urge to keysmash at you is strong Just. God. Everything about this is so fucked in so many ways.
Something about this line just makes me want to. Maybe stab the king in the chest. Repeatedly. And then throw them off a bridge. Idk Actually many things about this chapter make me want to stab the king in the chest repeatedly and then throw them off a bridge. Because *holy shit* Hollow, honey, you have so much trauma. OMG ghost, what have you done [stressed emoji] Okay then. Well. Um. That’s a lot to happen.  God it’s such a mess Ah yes, the eldritch nonsense trying to approximate a living creature, my beloved PK you ass. PK you absolute ASS get over here I wanna hit you with something heavy-  oh / im immediately punched in the face okay thank you for that Right off the bat I am mildly excited about this chapter solely because you played with text formatting and that makes my serotonin levels rise. I don’t know why but thank you for that.  CONFUSION SOUP I’M FHDHDJFKFKGH I wanna join the cuddle pile :<<< let me in [holding Hollow gently in both hands] / I will get you all the fresh-dirt-scented soap Fucking superb you funky little vessels. Oh boy! Spiraling!
Oh this chapter hurts ‘specially bad. Because it wasn’t enough to be possessed and neglected and quite literally tortured and driven insane, now we gotta have more medical issues and amnesia-  I fuckign cried at this one, oh my god. Pain is always a tearjerker, but it’s nothing compared to someone who’s been in pain so long finally getting that first big moment of *realizing they’re wanted* and *heard* and *healing*  And I gotta say, (this is gonna sound bad) I really do love Hollow’s victim blaming. Or how it’s written. I love how you write characters in pain <333 “Oh, just a quick chapter to read before bed,” I thought to myself. “I will enjoy it and feel a normal and manageable level of emotions about it.” / ...Thanks for making me all teary in the wee hours, now I’ll never get to sleep! (...I mean this as praise.) Oh. Oh Hollow. So wrapped up in the need to be useful. So incapable still of seeing that their own gut-wrenching familial love might be returned in kind, whether they have some designated purpose for their existence or not.  Yeah. Relieved. / Oh, Hollow... You have already left kudos here :) [three times] / Have I ever been told the definition of insanity?  honestly the body horror was the /least/ disturbing thing in this chapter. not to say! that it was not disturbing - even then, less the horror and more the. context. i want to punch TPK. into a lake. that is on fire.
First comment of my first reread, and MAN. This opening hits just as hard the second time.  Keep in mind Hollow Knight was made by Australian people Hollow 100% deserves a nice date at the palace if they so wish. anyway, I feel very emo about Hollow, all the time.  HOLLOW IS LETTING THEMSELVES HAVE WILL, LET’S GOOOOOO Ghost is doing Fine:tm:, Hornet is doing Fine:tm:, Hollow is *actually* doing pretty well Good news! Hollow is an emotional wreck!  Hornet is doing sooo normal right now (lying).
TLDR; amazing story, glorious update, poor Grimm, I Am Desperate For Shield Lore, someone please tell Ghost it isn’t their fault, the entire gaggle of siblings needs a group hug, I Am Going To Put The Pale King’s Corpse Through A Shredder, and Hornet needs another good cry. 
anyways fuck you for writing this keep it up
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cubedmango · 3 years ago
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NAINA. it’s the delusional cm anon here and ohmygod. It took me so long to come back because I had no strength in me to try and organise my thoughts into words that actually make sense I. Even now I can’t actually express my feelings about all of it to you without talking for years but can we please. Talk about the beach scene can we.please the way kurosawa so easily said that when adachi said he loved him his heart almost stopped and the fact that in the scene w his parents you could literally See his eyes change like something changed within him he almost passed out and then the way he just pulled out the ring and then. The most Fucking. Extra most Romantic proposal scene I have ever seen in my LIFE NAINA LIKE WHAT THE HELL? THE WAY THEY HELD EACH OTHER’S HANDS LIKE THEY WERE HOLDING THE MOST VALUABLE FRAGILE MATERIAL… THE WAY THEY THEY TURNED EACH OTHER’S HANDS OVER WITH THE LIGHT GLINTING OFF THE RINGS… THE WAY. THE KUROSAWA. THE WAY HE RUBBED HIS THUMB OVER ADACHI’S HAND I FEEL@SO UNBELIEVABLY SICK
CM ANON WELCOME BACK !! ALSO BIG MOOD i am just . i dont know how to express my emotions abt this movie in words its not possible . all i can do is scream. Literally. send help please
THE BEACH SCENE. LETS TALK ABT THE BEACH SCENE. BC I HAVE THOUGHTS . SO MANY OF THEM.
1. the magic
THE GROWTH . ADACHI HAD. him going from relying on his magic and being assertive thanks to it, to going from being glad he doesnt have it anymore and being assertive despite it is. . it is. Hello. how he went from knowing what to say bc he knew what ppl were thinking to how he spoke what he truly thought himself no matter what the person expects him to say is so. . . Hello!!!!! and its that determination in his own words and his own conviction that he could prove her wrong abt regretting it that got through to kurosawa's mom that i dont think wouldve worked had he read her mind and told her what she want to hear. Augh. augh........
2. the proposal
kurosawa was so happy to hear adachi loves him that his heart almost stopped ...... also what u said abt his eyes changing in the scene w his parents like Yeah.
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ITS HITTING HIM. i dont know the like . terminology for it but those Tiny Changes In His Expression That Mean Everything To Me . mr machida sir can i send u a care package and flowers just for this scene. please
another thing about the proposal is that. there was nothing asked. no question of 'will u marry me' or anything like they just . They Know. but also because it didnt have to be asked? theyre already engaged?? the silent acknowledgement that the pengagement really Was the actual proposal, and this is just then making it official to the world once and for all without having to hide it anymore. im gonna chew glass
3. the rings
kurosawa had the box on him the entire time. rings for good luck, which maybe Did work ... but i think he intended on proposing no matter how their talk w his parents went?? just thinking about That. Ough. but how he presents them just like that ..... no grand speech. no big huge romantic gesture. just the deserted beach and two of them like...... he doesnt try so hard anymore to be perfect or cool and plan a whole proposal, he just thinks about how much adachi loves him enough to declare it to his parents and Goes For It, almost on impulse i feel like ? but like in a good way like he Knows this is the moment™️ for it. anyways that left me pretty unwell also so that was fun
4. the hands
every single word u said anon......... i have no words left to say abt the hands its just. the. the. Theyre. the. i thought the manga's whole hand kissing deal after the proposal had killed me but this. the tenderness. the lighting. the Rings. the fucking gentle thumb rubs.......... I Am Never Going To Recover On God
5. the 'i love you'
listen they muted it . And That Was Extremely Evil Of Them. but i know kurosawa said i love you. i know this. and that too he said so quietly adachi couldnt hear it at first, and then whispering it to him bc he wants only adachi to be able to hear it ........ rlly felt like we as the audience are like. Intruding upon smth incredibly sacred that we're not supposed to see or something . 10/10 scene though like adachi nodding and then kurosawas SMILE and HUG and him taking the fall (AND HIS FEET WHEN HE DOES . idk why but im obsessed w the way his shoe shows up on frame for a bit its just . its so silly. theyre so silly i love them)
6. the hands, part 2
GOD. THAT PARALLEL TO THE DRAMAS INTRO IM TOO WEAK FOR THIS ??????????? why would they Do that to me. the way all their hand movements are in sync..... the way theyre smiling as they look at the rings......... I am normal about this (not)
7. the sillies
please look at my new favorite shot of kurosawa of all time
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HES SO GIDDY. HES SO HAPPY. HE IS SO SILLY!!!!!!!! mans measured adachi's ring size while he was Sleeping !!!!!!!!! where is the deleted scene of him sitting there at like 2 am with a thread in his hand and quietly trying to measure it !!!!! I Demand This !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ADACHI TOO ????? HES SO HAPPY ....... and how he knows what to expect from kurosawa by now like . this is the same guy who got so freaked out over kurosawa thinking abt his mole that he had to run away to the bathroom about it . but now just the plain and simple acceptance that Yeah. Kurosawa Is A Little Weird About His Love. And That Is Okay And Endearing And I Love That About Him that adachi shows here. ............. i am fine :)
ok thats it for beach scene thoughts. for now. but ill probably think of more stuff later as i slowly start to process this movie so like ......... look forward to it perhaps??? also anon pls if u have more thoughts abt the movie i would love to hear them too 👀 i need to talk abt it as much as possible its the only way i can cope
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wrmchild · 2 years ago
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The City
Where am I? Wheres finch? Augh my head hurts, what happened? These were the only thoughts that occurred to me before I blacked out. Again.
Bright lights. Excruciating pain. Where's finch? I need to find them. Where am I? Ah yes, I remember now. The bots attacked our alley. They came so quickly- I didn't have time to think. There was... an explosion? My head hurts so much...
BOOM
Slammed back into reality, I search my surroundings for something, anything that might be a sign of home. A barren wasteland surrounds me consuming any surroundings in a heavy dust cloud, swallowing any hope I had of finding my way home. Trying to keep my heavy eyelids open, I attempt to stand up- only to almost immediately fall back down to the painfully rough, crude ground of this lifeless place. As I stagger around, bleary eyed, I spot someone, no, something hurtling towards me at an alarming speed in the distance. As my mind clears, my instincts finally kick in.
Run.
As these murderous mechanical monsters soar towards me, I drag my empty, fatigued body across the scorching ground, littered with dead animals. So, the radiation doesn't just kill humans then, I think to myself, momentarily forgetting I'm running for my life .
Right, I need to get my priorities in line- lists always help, right? First, I need to escape from these stupid hunks of metal and shoot them down. Then I need to find my way back to the city- disguised as a bot (ingenious, I know), find finch and escape this hell-hole with them. However, it appeared that while I was forming a plan, the bots had disappeared. Just great.
Carefully removing my bow and arrows from my back, I check the perished features of this death trap for any threat. Wait- what's that noise-I flick my eyes upwards just in time to realise the bots are trying to attack from above. Trying to remain calm, I aim with shaking, calloused hands, and- 3, 2, 1- FIRE!
The bots lifeless iron bodies fall to the floor. Perfect shot.
Just as I finish the tedious process of taking the bot apart and cobbling together its sterile features into some armour, the dust cloud clears to reveal the city, immense and imperial, right in front of my sleepless eyes. "You got this jade" I murmur to myself, pushing aside the doubt already gnawing a hole in my malnourished stomach, and turning on the bot's jet pack. If I'm optimistic enough, it looks like there's just enough power left to fly me back to our alley, where finch will hopefully be waiting, to get out of this abyss, and return home, to mum and pops. "Here goes nothing " I mutter as I shoot up into the perilous sunrise.
"Wow"
I can't help but say it out loud, I haven't been above The city in years. Its... really quite beautiful for a place like this, ridden with disease, death and abuse, overthrown by bots, stealing our homes, our food, our water.. but as the sun blooms on the horizon, its golden petals stretching ever outwards into the rich blue, a flower of the sky, warming my soul, an invitation to a new day, reflecting off the cracked windows of the crumbling skyscrapers, once holding entire communities, now derelict, abandoned and disintegrating. The roads are clear, no bots in sight, no imminent danger.. it feels quite peaceful....
Wait.
Am I getting closer to these deadly superstructures? Oh crap. The powers cut out! I guess just optimism wasn't enough to fly me back to The City.. wait- wher is the parachute? Please dont say I left it back in the wasteland! Well I guess theres nothing else left to say other than- "HEEELP!".
Just as I'm saying my final goodbyes to everything and everyone in my life, wishing I'd done so much more with my life, I'm swept away from my gory death, and into someone's arms. Human arms. Not a robot. A real life breathing human with real life thoughts and real life emotions. Not just some worthless hunk of metal. A human. Who has just saved me from my gruesome demise.
Dazed and confused, my head filling with so many questions, I feel it'll explode. Suddenly I realise we are miles above The City, above the clouds even! My head... it feels like it weighs a thousand tons. Looking up, all I see is Finch's concerned face looking down at me.
"Jade?"
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ohveda · 4 years ago
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The Terror - season 1 review
I have paused in my frantic gif reblogging to finally write out my thoughts on the Terror and why I enjoyed it so much.
The first season of The Terror tells the story of the tragic Franklin expedition. This was a British arctic expedition in the late 1840s, led by Sir John Franklin, which had the aim of finding the North West Passage. The expedition was comprised of two ships, Erebus and Terror, hence the name of the show. It was tragic because everyone died (this is not a spoiler). The circumstances as to how everyone died are still mysterious to this day and there is lots of speculation (although a cursory glance at wikipedia suggests that people are building up some theories).
So, this is a TV show where you know from the outset that it is going to end tragically: everyone you get to know is going to die, and the only question is exactly how. And this is why, despite how much I enjoyed it, I wouldn't recommend the show to everyone. It is not so much scary as it is harrowing: there is gore, there is a monster, and there are disturbing scenes. I finished watching it a day and a half ago and I do not yet feel like I have recovered mentally from what I have seen (give me a few more days and I will be fine). You guys out there will know your tv-watching habits; if you don't like stories that are scary, depressing or dark, this show is not for you. However, if you don't mind watching those themes then I absolutely recommend this show whole-heartedly. It is incredibly incredibly good.
Here is the trailer: https://youtu.be/3WLz6wxEabc
The rest of my review might contain mild spoilers, so I'm going to put it under a cut.
There are several things I love about the show. From the first glance it looks fantastic; you can tell that there was money behind the production. The sets and the setting are lush with atmosphere and historic detail; it really feels like care has been taken (not that I know enough about naval history to assess accuracy, but the little bits I do know felt very right). And those coats! If you know me you will know that I go crazy for well-fitted double-breasted coats with bright buttons. I WAS IN MY ELEMENT HERE.
The acting! You can't fault it. Everyone does a superb job and I think one of the reasons the story works so well is just how compelling everyone is.
But my absolute absolute favourite thing about the show is the writing. I am in ecstasies over how well it was written. It's the best period drama I have seen since 2014. The show is based on a book of the same name, so doubtless many good things from the show come from the book, but I have heard some not-entirely-great things about the book too, so I get the feeling that while the good characters and interesting plot may come from the book, the technical skill that makes the show truly rewarding and compelling comes from the show's writers.
The main thing that they get so right is exposition. It's tricky to do well in any piece of fiction, but it is particularly hard in historical fiction when there is always so much to explain. It seems that often the urge with historical fiction is to explain too much and too frequently, to the point where every line loses its poignancy because it's immediately followed by an explanation of why that line is poignant (Poldark, I am looking at you). The Terror does not fall into that trap at all. Things are not explained; the audience's hand is not held; and the viewer is treated like an intelligent person who can come to their own conclusions. This does, admittedly, lead to some parts where I didn't actually know exactly what happened until I read up about them after I finished the show, but this haziness in certain areas does not detract from the watching experience in any way. The writing is good enough that the viewer always knows the key points of what is happening and what that means for the plot (there is never a feeling of being lost and confused), and the fact that you can get an extra level of detail and interest the more you look into it is an additional joy.
When it comes to how good the exposition is, let us take scurvy as an example. Scurvy is mentioned a lot in the first episode, but not anywhere in that episode is it described. In a lesser show, as soon as scurvy is mentioned the first time, someone would say "oh, you mean the disease where your gums bleed and your old wounds open up?" In The Terror this information is not given in the first episode because it's not needed in the first episode. The information is not actually given until after the first symptoms start to show, and even then it's given in an offhand and believable comment that doesn't feel intrusive at all. This means that for viewers who already knew the symptoms of scurvy, it's not jarring in any way, while viewers who don't know the symptoms of scurvy get a wonderful reveal of what has been happening and are now prepared for what is yet to come.
Augh! It's just done so well! I absolutely can't stand it when TV shows talk down to me, whereas I love it when they treat me as a capable adult who is able to put the clues together by myself.
And then we come to the plot. Going from the trailer, and seeing how high the production values were, I had assumed that the plot would have a level of, what to call it, sensationalism? Hollywood-ness? I was expecting it to be more spectacle and less substance. I was ready for jump-scares and plot-twists and set-pieces, and they didn't come, not really, not in the way I was expecting. There was only one part in the final episode where things veered towards melodrama that was too ridiculous to believe. The rest of the plot is not ridiculous nor is it fluffy nor empty; it feels solid: the pacing works and each plot point follows on from one to another. This is not a show where an unsubstantiated plot twist is thrown into the mix for surprise value (looking at you, BBC 2020 Dracula); this is a show where the hard graft of writing is done, to make sure that the plot is built from the ground up so that the audience can follow it and believe in its progression, regardless of how unbelievable the actual events may seem to be.
One of the main reasons for why this plot progression works so well is that it is almost entirely character-driven. Oh yes, there are events from outside that affect the characters and what happens to them, but the bulk of the plot is driven by the characters and their choices. What is it about character-driven fiction that makes it so satisfying? Certainly stories can and do work without being character-driven, but there's something so good about having a character you can get your teeth into: a character who is a person, with likes and dislikes, and good parts and foibles; a character you get to know and care about. The characters in this story are not mere window-dressing; they drive the plot, and you both love them and hate them for it.
Now, take that well-written, rounded, satisfying character, and multiply them by thirty. This is an ensemble cast and boy does it feel like it! I'm frankly astounded by how many fully-thought-out characters there were. It's not like there are five main characters and the rest are all cannon-fodder. Each character we meet has their own story to tell. There are characters in the first episode who feel like extras, but who come to have important and complex parts as the story moves on. Even as we come to the final episodes there are characters whose significance only then begins to show.
This multitude of characters is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it makes for a story that is rich, rewarding and realistic. But a curse because it is impossible to learn all those names and tell all those people apart. They all look the same! Is that character A in the navy blue coat with the big mutton chops? Or is that character B? I've watched the entire series and for a lot of the characters I still don't know! But this confusion doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the show. Just like the exposition, learning more about certain characters (which is where I think a rewatch would help) will add another layer of interest, but without that it is still easy to follow the main parts of the plot. There are certain main characters who you do come to recognise and to know, and this is enough; the other characters, each with their own richness, even if you don't know it yet, are an extra treat for those viewers who want to watch again and dig into the story a little more.
I won't say that the story is without its faults. I would like to ask the show-makers why apparently all British sailors in Victorian times were white??? And why did the cgi monster have to look like that??? But there aren't enough faults to truly detract from how enjoyable the show is.
Look at me here, trying to be all serious, making points with words, instead of just howling like I want to. What I haven't mentioned yet is how this show consumed me. I ate it up! I watched an episode per day (the short length of the show, being only ten episodes, is another reason why the plot is so tight and satisfying) and I couldn't stop thinking about it! My days were filled with thoughts of boats and mutton chops and my dreams were filled with them too. Even now that I have finished the show, and I have felt just how harrowing it is to watch a show where they all die, horribly, I long for it. I have withdrawal symptoms from it. I'm not yet mentally strong enough to watch it again, but my God I yearn for the time when I will be. It's that good! Whenever, over the past week, someone has asked me how I am, my answer has been "I'm watching The Terror!" as if I felt that from that response alone they could glean exactly how excited and happy I was to be watching it; as if it was my everything at that moment! My God!
And I'm not even mentioning just how much I came to enjoy the character of Goodsir. I was told "there's a character in this who's a bit like Segundus from 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell'; you'll like him." I did not know how accurate that was going to be. I want to slam my fist on the table! Do you know what it is like, in a show like this, to develop a favourite character and to know, to know, from the outset that every single character is going to die? It is heart-wrenching and it hurts, and I am still not over it (not by a long shot) but at the same time the pathos is so satisfying you want to eat it all up. This is 2021. We're not here for good times. Make it hurt. Make it cathartic. Take my mind off of the world of today with a pain that I can control with my TV.
So. Wow. tl;dr The Terror is an excellent show that I highly recommend for people who like this kind of stuff. (And I'm still sparkly-eyed over Goodsir and can't do anything about it.) The End.
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organizationhimself · 4 years ago
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Dark Bramble Guide [Taco Bell update]
My friend keeps getting deep space murdered so I figured I would help.  Please note: I am extremely witty and hilarious and I know it.​
So here’s what I’ve learned.
Dark Bramble has five SIX AUGH different openings.  Four along the sides, one on “top,” and one on the “bottom.”  I consider Dark Bramble to be “upright” when it is oriented like so:
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Most of the time you’re going to be dumped in front of the four middle openings, which can be the hardest to recognize if you don’t know where to look.
I’ve also determined two routes.  In some cases you can get straight to the Vessel, and in others it’s better to go to the Escape Pod 3 first, and then change your marker to the Vessel (which at least gives you something to do while you’re floating past the three fish).  There is ALWAYS a fish guarding a Vessel seed, but the one in the Escape Pod room is much easier to avoid aggroing as a rule.
Bear in mind that when identifying these routes, I have just shot for my targets (Escape Pod, Vessel) completely full throttle the entire time, not giving a fuck in the world, and eliminated routes that get me eaten this way.  So the key to fish avoidance is to go in one direction as much as possible and avoid firing your rockets in any other directions; often I have been able to full throttle right past a fish that didn’t get upset till I fired a rocket to one side or the other.
I’ve decided to help identify these with some features I call the Dewclaw and the Forsaken Breadstick:
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Right in between the Dewclaw and the Breadstick, we have Chili’s:
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Chili’s has an Escape Pod in an ok place close by the entrance, and if you’re practicing going straight from Timber Hearth to Dark Bramble, you will always see Chili’s first.  But there’s some vines and stuff in the way of the Escape Pod that make this route sub-par.  There’s better places, so we’re gonna skip Chili’s.  Let’s talk about Tim Hortons.
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Tim Hortons is always to the right of Chili’s and the Breadstick and has the best Escape Pod route on the planet, apart from his brother Tom Hortons (who we will get to later).  There’s no fish getting to the Escape Pod’s seed, it’s VERY close, and I have always avoided fish on my way to the Vessel seed from very soon after entering the room unless I was looking for a fish for Science (though there’s some annoying twisting geometry in the way if you don’t go in the direction of the Escape Pod for a bit).  His Vessel route is very dangerous (2 fish yikes) and I got insanely lucky, so that’s a hard no.
This Escape Pod is the route I used to beat the game, so I’m sure it works once you have the warp core (I don’t know if more fish can spawn after you get the warp core but just in case).
Left of Chili’s, we have Olive Garden:
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So at first I didn’t really recommend Olive Garden, because I thought the Escape Pod route was ideal and its Escape Pod will absolutely kill you.  But its Vessel route is actually pretty straightforward and could actually be a winner (I had a hard time attracting the attention of its fish).  It seems like Olive Garden tends to be the facing you get when you go straight from the Twins to Dark Bramble with the warp core so it’s probably the one most people naturally go into first.
To the right of Olive Garden (and left of Tim), basically in the “back” of Dark Bramble if you’re facing Chili’s like when you first arrive, there’s Tim’s brother Tom.  This far around it’s hard to see our main two landmarks so here’s a newer, shittier one (sorry):
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I called him Tom Hortons because at first I thought he was basically a copy of Tim’s, but Tom is actually better because Tom is an all around yes man.  You want to go Escape Pod?  Do it bud.  Vessel seed?  Yeah man.  Tom’s a bro.  However he is, as I discovered intensely painfully, very easy to mistake for Dark Bramble’s sixth location (the one most visible from directly on “top”), which I have decided to call Taco Bell because it is a pain in my ass:
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Taco Bell is kind of caged in by everybody’s sick ‘do’s and is most easily accessible from going around back of Chili’s, to either Olive Garden or Tom Hortons.  It has a perfectly acceptable Escape Pod, and its Vessel seed is basically completely hit or miss.  There’s a vine in front of it in some orientations, so if you go the wrong way around it there’s a Very Mad fish. So like, unless you’re aiming for an Escape Pod route, just don’t go to Taco Bell, y’know?  It’s not worth it.
Finally, on the bottom, there’s Subway:
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Subway is extremely easy to find because it’s on the very bottom and caged inside a bunch of vines that can be a little tricky to navigate.  Also, its Escape Pod route will kill you.  Its Vessel route may, potentially, also kill you--I found the fish easier to aggro--but it is very close and convenient like Olive Garden and Tom Hortons.  Basically you might as well go to one of those, they’re just as close and easier on entry, but if you’re really struggling to identify them then Subway is impossible to miss.  You have to want to go there.
Again, orientation is EVERYTHING in Dark Bramble, so if I say things are in the upper left/right/whatever then that’s gonna be meaningless if you approach from a different angle, but here are some outside and inside photos from the center openings as approached from an “upright” angle.  This is proceeding around Dark Bramble’s center, starting from Chili’s and moving right:
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Taco Bell on top and Subway on bottom are impossible for me to give a consistent orientation for, so Subway may vary significantly from what you see depending on your angle:
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Taco Bell is a pain in the ass so it gets two of these based on which other (better) opening you face before you fly “up” over it:
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So basically, the safe Escape Pod seeds tend to be very close to the ceiling or wall and out of the way, and if the Vessel seed looks far away I’d try another entrance.  From cross-referencing I have determined that a safe initial distance is usually between 1 and 1.3km, and a distance between 1.5 and 1.7km almost certainly has a fish, but again some orientations may still end up attracting attention where others would not.
Best Escape Pod Routes:
Tom Hortons
Tim Hortons
Taco Bell
Chili's (obstructed)
Best Vessel Routes:
Tom Hortons
Olive Garden
Subway
Taco Bell (obstructed)
I am pretty sure that both the Escape Pod room and the Vessel room are the same entrance flipped around different ways no matter where you enter the seed, and it’s really impossible to make the orientation consistent, but as a result both the Pod and the Vessel should be in the same place and you can navigate from there.
If you choose to take an Escape Pod route, I’d recommend aiming for the Escape Pod itself until you see a really prominent red glow from the Vessel seed.  This can help you avoid all the crap floating around in the way, and it’s also completely safe once you get into the vines (I have never been eaten there from any orientation).  Alternatively, following the lights to the dead Nomai also gives you a straight shot to the Vessel seed with what feels to me like the smallest possible chance of running into a fish (I think this is a gameplay mechanic), but it takes longer.
Once you actually make it into the Vessel seed DO NOT MOVE.  You will not hit the fish.  You cannot hit the fish.  You will literally go through the fish, and then it’s ok to start accelerating up to 2 bars as long as you are under 900km away from the Vessel marker (but probably safer at under 800km). After further testing, I’m pretty sure there’s only one fish inconveniently close to the final seed, which you pass on the way.  I tend to be drifting at this point to make sure I don’t slam into the branch between me and the seed, so I don’t recommend going above 1 bar around here if you can help it, the fish is more aggressive than I first thought and it’s kind of 50/50 whether he’ll actually chase you.
Fortunately, there’s a pretty foolproof direction to go in:
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This last branch before the seed has a little curved area that is the perfect size for your ship, and if you go through it while still aiming for the Vessel, you will be almost perfectly lined up for an opening.  (In this particular orientation I managed not to alert the fish at all, but it’s not a good idea to stop to adjust here, I’d just aim for this opening regardless.)
I think this section is kinda designed for the fish to notice you, and even if he does, you’re generally going to be close enough to the seed to make it inside before he can reach you.  But sometimes he screams at me just as I’m about to go inside it even if he made no reaction before, so be prepared for that possibility.
Last tips: -If you do attract a fish, try to put it between you and a seed.  It will get slowed down or stuck in the geometry, giving you some time to go into the seed. -If a fish groans and comes your way, stop thrusting IMMEDIATELY.  If you go dark before it screams, it will go where it last heard the noise and you can coast right past.  (It helps to be going at a pretty fast pace.) -For endgame setup, I found 2:00 - 3:00 to be an optimal timing to doze off at the fire before going to Ash Twin to catch the first cycle (but that can vary across consoles/computers).
(Edit: Looks like my theme is not nice to these images so larger versions are available here if you need clearer ones, or the full guide is also up on Steam now because I am a menace.)
On a final note, Outer Wilds doesn’t care about your suffering, which is why the very first time I finally pulled out the warp core, Ember Twin got ahold of my ship and did this shit to it:
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thanks for coming to my ted talk good luck with ur endless fish.
@autopotion
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highfunctioningflailgirl · 5 years ago
Text
My Lethal White episode 1 recap
After having had a lot of fun recapping episode 2, I went back and did episode 1 as well. It got a bit out of hand and is a loooong post...
Under the cut, because, evidently, there will be ALL THE SPOILERS! 🚨
*SQUEEEEE!!!* THEY’RE BACK!!! 🤗💃🏻🙌🏼  (Yes, I’m still squeeing, although this is a rewatch)
Let’s look at the title sequence, shall we? They’ve added a few new details: There’s the wooden cross from the dell, the White Horse of Uffington and Robin’s Houses of Parliament guest pass. The child from Billy’s memories and the pink blanket. Someone’s already mentioned the ‘whore’ swirling in the coffee cup, and then later we have a fencing icon in the pint. Cool hints. 😎
Cut to tired, head-achy Cormoran at the wedding. Strike has a slightly different haircut, and I wonder: they dye Tom’s hair darker for the role, but he has a glint of natural first grey at the temples that I’ve seen on Tom pre-Strike. How did they keep that? (Sorry about the hair kink digression…☺️)
Pet peeve of mine they carried over from Career of Evil: in the book, Donald Laing slashes Strike’s palm, but it didn’t happen in the series. There was no blood on his hand when he called Robin, and his glove was intact. And yet, Strike has his hand bandaged. I know it’s a silly pet peeve of mine, but stuff like that pulls me out of the moment. And Strike wouldn’t slap on a bandage just for a little bruising. *steps off soap box*
“You look beautiful.” - “And you look terrible.” - “It’s this jacket, needs taking in.” 😂
“I want you back.” - “What?” Augh, the double meaning of it all, Strike’s softness and Robin’s initial uncertainty of what he means. 🥺
When she realizes that Matt deleted Strike’s messages, there’s a tear spilling from her eye, and she quickly wipes it away. 😢 Such good acting. Such a brave girl.
A few of us have already addressed this in the chat: did Matt BLOCK Strike, or delete his calls and messages? Or both? They’re frustratingly unclear about this detail, and it makes a difference in terms of Strike being able to reach her or not. (I’m a continuity nerd, sorry)
Sarah standing next to Matthew. *gags*
Robin looks so beautiful! And so very sad. (Holliday is acting her heart out of this season, can’t say it enough). This is award material, hands-down. 🏆
Her look across the room at Cormoran while they’re eating! And he’s… just been staring at her all through the meal? Good god. These two.
If Cormoran falls asleep before dessert he’s got to be really, REALLY tired.☺️ Poor baby.
We’ve got to work on your fine dining skills, Cormoran darling! It’s very cowboy and rugged, handling cutlery like that, but you would SINK during an aristocracy under-cover op. Maybe the Comte de la Fère is available for a lesson?
The first chords of The Calling’s “Wherever you will go”. Ack. They really went for the original, and as someone who’s always been ridiculously in love with that cheesy song, I AM HERE FOR IT.
Cormoran walking slow-mo past the bridesmaids, looking at Robin dancing with Matt The Twat. My heart…💔
When I’m gone you’ll need love to light the shadows on your face… *sniff*
Cormoran’s FACE during the dance. I can’t. He looks like a puppy about to get shot. 🥺
(and what a juxtaposition to the little lady with the funny hat bobbing happily next to him, to everyone looking awww and being completely ignorant of the drama that’s playing out. Ugh. I’m dead.)
Matthew moves like someone who’s (painstakingly) learned exactly one (1) dance, and for their wedding only, and why is he even smiling so proudly? They must’ve just had the biggest row in history? Is he really so full of himself?
Even Robin is smiling, although staring longingly at Strike. I bet they did that so Strike would be a little mad at her and want to walk away.
AND HE DOES! 😟 You can just see the “Fuck this” from the book crossing his face as he turns around and leaves. Ack. I’m dead again.
If I could then I would, I’ll go wherever you will go
(Perfectly placed, kudos) 👏🏼
And she runs after him, looking like a fairy-tale princess. Did you see how frigging COLD it must’ve been, judging by her breath?! Poor Holliday must have been freezing to death during the shoot. And then to pull off such a heartbreaking scene…
(Also, the lawn in the park? A shitload of rolled sods. No grass looks this lusciously green in winter, and you can see the edges everywhere. Some landscaper had a field day there!)
“Are you sure?” - “Yeah. I am.” About WHAT, you idiots?! *wrings hands* To her coming back to work, of course, but there’s so much more to their statements. And I’m sure that non-book-readers thought they were about to kiss and elope, but - alas! - we know that’s not going to happen.😔
But at least we get The Hug™️, and it’s everything we hoped for: Robin crying, digging her fingers into his jacket; Cormoran closing his eyes… God help us, we are all DOOMED sailing this ship! 🙈💔
I was a little miffed upon first watching that they faded out of that hug so quickly. That was it? No, it wasn’t, as we now know, and I love, love, love that we’re getting all these extended flashbacks that reveal more and more of what happened to us!
ONE BLOODY YEAR LATER (I still can’t get over that time jump)
Lol at the subcontractor crashing his moped into the cab! It was only briefly mentioned in the book, and turning it into an actual dialogue was a fun idea.😂
And there’s Denise (that IS her, right?), completely uninterested in doing her job. Good grief - Strike and Robin are BAD a picking employees! 🙈
Robin looking not-jealous-at-all at Strike walking off with Lorelei. Ouch.
I like Lorelei, btw. They chose the actress well, and she’s nice and mature. Which doesn’t mean that I’m not secretly flinching every time she kisses Cormoran. It’s just not right.
Billy. Joseph Quinn does an incredible job playing him. 👏🏼 As dangerous as he appears at first, his despair and his efforts at holding himself together are heartbreaking. That battle he wages against his mental illness is on full display, and his scared big eyes are killing me. 🥺
Cormoran is admirably unfazed by Billy’s appearance - is that his Army training kicking in? Robin, though, is shaking but braving it out, recording with her phone although her hands are trembling. Good acting by Holliday.
Good riddance, Denise.
The good ole’ pencil trick. “I didn’t know people still did this.” 😌
I was surprised that Cormoran chose to simply break into the house on Charlemont road. It’s breaking and entering for no good reason. Could’ve been anybody’s home.
He’s not going to- EWW! He’s sitting down on that filthy couch. And plucking hairs from it. EWW!🤢
Robin: “...and some porn.” 😂 Says it as if it’s what they always find. The usual. Men… 🙄
Who’s the guy taking pictures of Cormoran? I seriously don’t remember this from the b- Oh, WAIT! Reporter guy. Patterson. Yeah. Him.
The CORE members are as cliché in their looks as are Chiswell’s upper class folks. It’s all a bit on the nose for my taste, but then clichés are clichés for a reason.
Cormoran needs to work on his disguises. Not fitting in at all with the CORE crowd, age-wise or in his look. No wonder they don’t trust him. He does it better in the books.
Oh Robin. I actually think you need a lot more therapy to work through your shit.
Ah, here we go. Seaborn bacteria. But first, Matt’s got to be a prick again. 🙄
Chiswell with his arrogance and his rudeness and his finger-snapping. *shakes head* I think if Cormoran hadn’t known he could make some serious money with this case, he may have walked out on him.
Btw, the “large” jacket is making Strike look slimmer instead of bigger. 😄 They’re so desperately mentioning Strike’s largeness, as if beating it over our heads could actually make us not see barely-6-foot and slender Tom Burke.
“Couple more potatoes wouldn’t hurt.” And his FACE! 🥰
Glenister is a really good actor. I always listen to the Strike audiobooks that he narrates, and I was worried hearing his voice in the show would be confusing, but it’s not because he sounds so different. Can’t wait for him reading “Troubled Blood” to me! 🎧
Is it a coincidence that Drummond’s art gallery has a painting of a horse in its front window? I think not.
I love that soft blue shirt they put Cormoran in. Makes him look very huggable. *blushes*
“Not sure I would make a convincing goddaughter either.”😂
So in England you can just walk up to a minister’s house and ring the doorbell without any security people stopping you? Interesting.
Chiswell just shutting the door in Cormoran’s face. RUDE.😠
The brown contact lenses. 👀 Okay, they make her look different, but not THAT different. It’s her sudden posh accent that’s the real stunner.
The panic attacks. Holliday plays them so well, I almost feel like I can’t breathe myself. 😧
I was expecting the Houses of Parliament to look a little less like a stuffy basement full of old junk. *ducks*
Barclay! Definitely looking more attractive than his description in the book. And I thought I’d gotten food at understanding Scottish. I haven’t. *turns subtitles on*
Izzy is the only Chiswell offspring who doesn’t make me want to immediately vomit.
“Venetia. Like the blinds.” Oh God. 🙈
Winn is such a creep. 🤮 Poor Robin. GET AWAY FROM HER YOU LEECH!
Of course Matt doesn’t want Robin to wear the Green Dress. Twat.🙄
The house warming party. I always wonder why Robin doesn’t have friends of her own. I have a feeling Matt has something to do with that.
The earrings. So we will see Robin finding out Matt’s cheating on her! I can’t wait for her to rip him a new one! 😈
Robin calls Cormoran - and it’s not Coco but Lorelei who picks up. That’s a smart change from the book. And it makes her the rebound girl. Which she doesn’t deserve, but it is what it is.
“And she bakes.” 🥴 Is it just me wondering how Lorelei got that cake into the tin without ruining the icing?!
Flashback to The Hug™️. God, their faces are so close. Cormoran is so soft. Nnnnhhhggggg.
Enter the plaid shirt. Lumber!Cormoran is a good look on him! 😍
The Armchair of Sadness™️. Of course that’s where the devastating phone call to Robin’s house happens! The disbelief and disappointment on Cormoran’s face is heart rending. 😢💔
@lulacat3 and I have already established the continuity error with Cormoran’s facial injuries suddenly missing when he’s reached the pub. (And they should still be there; he’s still wearing the plaid shirt from that same evening.) If I were the makeup person I would have been deeply regretful of having missed dabbing fake injuries on Tom’s face again.
The Uffington Horse. Robin’s in appropriate Wellingtons, weather jacket and a beanie for their outing. Cormoran is wearing what he always wears, and Tom clearly wishes he had a beanie. At least he gets to wear a t-shirt under his eternally blue shirts this season. REVOLUTION! 😄
Sure. Let’s just go and dig for a corpse with a shovel so conveniently available! Just the two of them - one delicate Robin and one invalid. And then Robin finds the bones after ten seconds of digging. No further comment. 🙄
But I like the change with Cormoran’s leg. As stupidly heroic as he acted in the book, I like it better in the show where he has to acknowledge his handicap and Robin takes charge.
The bones. Dun-dun-DUN!
(Good first episode, although all in all the pacing wasn’t quite right yet, and compared to the book it all felt a bit rushed. I liked episode two better.)
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splicejunction · 5 years ago
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Please tell me about shatterstar's Childhood
oh my god anon okay I’m assuming in context of what I’ve recently posted you want like... my version of events rather than what’s canon but just in case I hope you know that there’s basically zero canon material that actually describes his childhood/young adulthood beyond “I was a warrior born” or whatever the fuck. if you want to know about that idk go on the fucken... marvel wiki page or something
also--I hate that I have to put this out here and I doubt anyone would actually do this but just in case--I have spent like 1 million hours thinking about this because I have brain disorders and it is very close to my heart so please do not A) use this in fics, etc without letting me know/getting my permission in advance or B) reblog this post
anyways. this is a can of worms so I’m going to do a cheeky lil
first we have to get something out of the way: I hate the “shatterstar’s his own grandpa” paradox. I am sorry if this angers people but it makes me mad so I ignore it. the reason it bothers me is because it means alison blaire essentially married her grandson, which is A) weird and B) bad from a genetics perspective.
in my version of canon ‘star IS the biological child of longshot and dazzler but longshot wasn’t cloned using ‘star’s DNA because..... oh god... another whole separate post can be made about this but... in my head, on mojoworld the way genetic engineering works is not really the same as it is here. here genetic engineering generally means taking an existing genome and inserting or deleting genes. this is how they make, for example, animals that glow, or confer pesticide resistance to plants.
but on mojoworld I think the way they genetically engineer is more like... the way we mechanically engineer. like the entire organism is built from the ground up. there’s a master genetic blueprint which is essentially the “minimal genome” required for a functioning humanoid. this was created by study of Earth humans by arize and the other genetic engineers. they can then go in and customize by adding elements to the genome that code for the signals/building blocks that control things like height, strength, hair color, eye color, having hollow bones etc. so in my head longshot was sort of... designed with ‘star as the inspiration, but not directly cloned. that wouldn’t even make sense anyways because A) different hair color and B) LONGSHOT HAS 3 FINGERS ON EACH HAND and shatterstar has 4!! thats NOT HOW CLONES WOULD WORK!!!!
(side note, the concept of a minimal functional genome is a real thing in biology! some scientists have taken a bacterium that already has a small genome and reduced it to the minimum size required for viability. here is a wikipedia article on it and here is the original paper (DOI: 10.1126/science.286.5447.2165) which I can explain in more detail because I took a class on synthetic biology which this technically falls under and I had to read this paper very closely).
fuck I’ve written 4 paragraphs and not even talked about his childhood yet. I am so sorry. anyways. so the way I think they raise the gladiators on mojoworld is they create them in batches of 5 to 10 identical copies of a certain “model”, place each copy in a different “class” with a set of 2-3 mentors/teachers, and train them to fight until they are 13 or 14. until this time the only names they have are the names that identify the “model”--like for shatterstar that would be gaveedra-seven where the model identifier is “gaveedra” and he is (in the lore that I have come up with) the 7th of 8 total.
the reason they create multiples and put them in different classes is each mentor is going to have a slightly different style of teaching which is going to work better for some and worse for others, so it allows them to have more mass production while increasing the chances of creating a truly great champion. it’s classic nature versus nurture--the genetic engineers create your nature, but you don’t end up exactly the same as others of your model. maybe you get an edge, maybe you don’t.
another thing that happens is different mentors believe in different ways of raising the kids in their care. shatterstar specifically was raised in a class where there was absolutely zero emotional development at all and no attachments allowed beyond fighting alliances. that’s not the case in all classes, and it also had the effect of making him somewhat of an outsider even within the other gladiators as he got older.
at 13 or 14--and yes I realize this is very fucked up but dude its fucking mojoworld idk what you expected--they start participating in fights. the first ones aren’t to the death and they’re as teams and they’re not usually televised they’re more like high school sports games that are attended by scouts (here, they’re “sponsors”--I think that’s a canonical term but I honestly can’t remember) and if you get sponsored you leave your class and join a new “team” that’s really just a bunch of people who all have the same sponsorship. this is where things can get interesting because they’ve all been raised with slightly different fighting styles but more importantly, slightly different degrees of Personhood.
also at this point I should mention that by this time, there are usually only 2, maybe 3 of each model left. either they died or were recognized as not having talent so they were sent to eventually fulfill other roles in the network. in ‘star’s case there was just him and gaveedra-five. once you get to the stage where you’re sponsored and you’re actually fighting to the death one of the first people you’ll fight is any remaining members of your model group.
by the time you’re the only one left of your group, you’re also eligible to earn a stage name. this usually happens if you have a particularly epic fight with a lot of viewers, you win and the commentators will typically say something like “Let’s give this crowd a real name to cheer!” and they’ll have a few candidate names and they’ll kind of just pick one. AUGH I actually have this scene written out in story form but its too long so I think I’ll save it.... :) 
after you get a name you also get a cool outfit and usually some kind of mark or tattoo that serves as a brand. this brings me to another important point--shatterstar inherited the X-gene from alison and therefore he IS a mutant. his mutation is the swords vibration thing and the glowing eye. the star mark is a tattoo and teleportation is benjamin russell’s mutation (how he fits into all this is... for another post). basically after he got his name the costuming department guys were like “hey your eye glows, you look like the Legendary Warrior of Old, Longshot, we’re gonna pattern your look after him” so they gave him the star tattoo and the outfit that’s literally inverse colors of longshot’s.
also this brings me to another aside: you’re probably wondering “if he’s the biological kid of longshot and alison how are there 8 gaveedras?” when the genetic engineers got a hold on him as a baby they were like Sick! free baby! free genetic material! thats our job done for us! so they cloned him (in the traditional sense) and made 7 copies. this was also to kind of conceal his identity as technically being from outside mojoworld, which would make him stick out and thus be a target. they DID edit out the x-gene in the other gaveedra models though. this wasn’t a problem for ‘star because his mutation didn’t manifest until he was already sponsored.
I think that’s .... pretty much it for macroscopic lore on what it was like to be a kid gladiator on mojoworld. now let me give you some Tidbits of his life specifically:
like I said he was raised in a particularly cold and ruthless class. the mentors that raised him are like well-known by everyone to produce some of the best warriors but also there’s discourse on mojoworld because some people say perfectly emotionless killing machines aren’t as fun to watch. when he was sponsored there were 4-5 others in the same sponsorship and they were like Theres Something Wrong With You LOL
they speak earth languages on mojoworld because they’re imitating the broadcasts they (the spineless ones) used to hear from earth. however, most of the lower-class as well as almost all arena fighters and other television personalities speak cadre or other languages which are native to the planet. the stage names are all vaguely in english, but the gladiators don’t really understand them at first.
shatterstar got his name before he got the glowing eye, and when he learned what stars are, and saw his eye as a little star, he was like wow :) this is Me :) which is why that name is so important to him. it’s also one of the first things that wholly belonged to him.
(you can’t see stars on mojoworld because of light pollution and also because it’s a pocket dimension and there just aren’t that many stars to see)
I hate to bring up the s**ley miniseries but I do think it would be interesting to have him have a sort of ... mentor/first friend, similar to the concept of gringrave but they were NOT in a relationship. it was more like... another kid who was a year or so older than him got a soft spot for him and helped him not be so clueless. she didn’t make as much progress as xforce did, obviously. but they were.... something like friends.
unfortunately she was used by spiral to get shatterstar to murder the first rebel guy who tried to get him out of there. then she got switched sponsors (this can happen) and he had to kill her, and he was like well I will simply never develop any kind of attachment to anyone ever again.
he almost didn’t make it out of the first training session with his sponsorship group (this is semi-canon--there’s a reference when he’s teaching terry to swordfight to almost not surviving the first time he was in a gladiator class or whatever it was).
the closest he ever came to losing was the day he got the name. that’s why the crowds loved it so much.
the double-bladed sword was a gimmick weapon but when he got his mutation they realized it works way better if there’s resonance between two parallel blades so they redesigned it as an actual weapon.
(forgot this but I feel like I should include it) at 17 he escaped the arenas and joined the cadre alliance. two years later he came to earth and joined xforce.
I think that’s going to have to be it for now because it’s literally almost midnight and I have work tomorrow and I did NOT intend to stay up this late but I did. thank you for this opportunity anon :) feel free to ask me any other questions and also I realize a lot of this probably makes no fucking sense and that’s because I am not a writer or anything I’m just a biochemist with brain problems that cause me to obsess over stupid shit
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blue-lions-baby · 5 years ago
Text
Operation Confession (Dimitri x Reader) [Ch. 1]
hi!! so sorry for the inactivity! i’ve been super busy preparing for college n stuff, so i didn’t really have time to write anything... but like i also didn’t want to go *another* week of not posting anything so lol
i’ve been working on this fic for almost a month now and as i was approaching the 5000 words mark, i figured it would probably be best to chop it up into more.... manageable sections ^^’ please enjoy~
spoiler-free and pre-timeskip fluff!
~*~
Oh, this was perfect.
Sylvain watched in pure amusement at the scene playing out before his very eyes. Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, future king of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, reduced to nothing more than a blushing schoolboy antsy with the love bugs and raging hormones. He weakly disguised his chuckle with a cough when he saw yet another quill snap in the blonde’s hand, most likely in reaction to that adorable pouting face you had put up. You had absolutely no idea what type of effect and the severity of said effect you had on the prince.
Which made it all the more entertaining.
You didn’t mean to-- in fact, you weren’t even aware of the raging feelings Dimitri held towards you.
But Sylvain knew.
And you could bet your ass he was gonna do everything in his power to help his longtime friend man up and confess to the girl of his dreams.
Dimitri’s cheeks, once dusted with only a faint pink, suddenly became a hodgepodge of every shade of red when he realized that was the third quill he broke in this hour alone. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, helplessly looking to his teacher for help.
“Your Highness... Have you broken another quill?” Dedue murmured beside him, concern eminent in his voice. Dimitri looked down at the large splinter running down its side and mentally banged his head against the desk.
“It appears so... I will request a replacement from the Professor.” He muttered back, silently rising to his feet and making his way to the desk up front. He was suddenly stopped on his 4-step journey when Byleth (with a crinkle in their nose and a sigh) redirected their frazzled student to a whole box of spare quills behind the blackboard. Dimitri-- very much aware that this box filled with ludicrous amounts of quills were entirely for him-- bowed deeply to the professor, picked up the feathery thing, and hurried back to his desk.
You looked up from your work to give your eyes a break from their swimming lessons and accidentally made eye contact with the returning prince. You both paused for a split second before you flashed him a heartfelt smile; a gentle warmth kissed the surface of your cheeks and you averted your eyes back to your studies.
A resounding snap reverberated throughout the quiet classroom.
“Dimitri?”
“Y-Yes, Professor?”
“See me after class.”
“Yes, Professor...”
♠ ♥ ♣ ----------------------------------------------------------- ♣ ♥ ♠
While the rest of the class huddled outside the door and watched their house leader write “I will not break another quill” line after line on the blackboard, Sylvain looped an arm around your waist and winked.
“Hey, (F/N). Mind if I steal you for a bit?”
“Um... Sure.” Wary of his skirt-chasing tendencies, you were reluctantly led away from your classmates and into a more secluded part of the monastery.
“This better not be one of your tricks again, Sylvain... I already told you, I don’t like you in that way.”
“Ouch. That hurt.” Sylvain’s lips formed into an exaggerated pout and you couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“Nah, this ain’t about me for once. It’s about a certain... someone.” He continued rather vaguely.
“A certain someone? Sylvain, are you sure this isn’t about you?”
“It’s really not, I swear.” He put his hands up in surrender and seeing him genuine for once, you decided to believe him.
“Well, before I continue, I just wanna know if you... y’know.” Sylvain’s eyebrows wriggled very suggestively and a teasing smirk splayed his features. Your heart thundered in your ear, already knowing where this was going.
“If I...?” You whispered, taut fingers knotting the fabric of your uniform.
“Like, like-like anyone?”
Sylvain wished with all his heart that he had some way to capture the look and flood of colors that quickly took hold of your face. He watched in silent amazement as your face shifted from a barely-there pink to strawberry red in a matter of seconds. Gotcha.
“W-Well, I mean--” You took a shaky step backwards and your jaw clenched so tightly you were certain you were gonna chip a tooth. “There is this guy... Wait, why am I telling you this?! It’s none of your business!”
You rammed past the tall male with enough force to almost knock him over as you promptly made your way back to where the rest of your classmates were.
Satisfied with the laughable drop in quality in Dimitri’s penmanship, Byleth finally let the poor male join his classmates outside. His fingers twitched in an unsightly fashion and his wrist throbbed and cricked with every motion he made. He let out a guttural groan, making small, crackling adjustments to his neck and shoulder. The only thing he had left to do today was train, but he’d probably just go ahead and retire to his bed, at least for a little while...
Past the sea of heads crowding around him, he saw a flash of (H/C) streak across his vision, followed shortly afterwards by a head of shaggy red. (F/N)...? What were you doing with Sylvain?
Crippling exhaustion transfigured into searing jealousy and his eyes narrowed at his childhood friend with cold suspicion. Sylvain could easily feel the scorned prince’s hard stare like a knife in the back.
Was he at all fazed? Not in the slightest.
In fact, thought Sylvain as he sidled right up next to you, he wanted to toy with Dimitri’s heart just a little bit more...  
“Excuse me everyone, but I must speak to Sylvain immediately.” He emphasized the last word sharply, gently pushing his way through the crowd. While he brushed shoulders with Ashe and waltzed around Ingrid, he spun around and ended up face-to-face with... Oh Goddess, his legs were turning into jelly.
“Dimitri...? Is something wrong?” You breathed, fumbling with your clammy digits.
“O-Oh!” Said male rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. “Nothing, Belov-- (F/N). Please excuse me, but it is imperative that I have a little... talk, with Sylvain.”
He left you no room for response as he quickly latched onto the toothy-grinned noble and practically dragged him away on his heels.
“What seems to be the problem, Your Highness?”
“Let us discuss the issue in my quarters.”
“Your quarters? Oh ho ho.~”
“Stop it, Sylvain. ... We’re here now.”
Dimitri watched Sylvain plop on the edge of his bed, his lips upturned in a carefree fashion. Dimitri lowered himself on his uncomfortable desk chair, his hands anxiously squeezing his kneecaps.
“So what would you like to talk about, Your Highness?”
“It’s about (F/N).” Dimitri spoke resolutely. “Sylvain... I know this will sound nothing short of mad, but--”
“Let me guess. You like (F/N).”
Dimitri’s bodily organs ceased to function; every ounce of blood in his body mutated into sharp, prickling icicles that seized his heart in a snare of terror and dread.
“I-- Wait, how--?”
“Your Highness. No offense, but pretty much everyone knows how you feel about her. You’re not exactly... subtle.”
Dimitri? Not subtle? Even after the extraordinary lengths he went through to make sure you remained ignorant of his true feelings for you? His brain filed through each and every interaction he’s had with you, combing through each word and shaky glance and awkward blush exchanged between either of you. Well, sure, he’s no master of disguise, but he wasn’t that bad... right?
While Dimitri’s thoughts remained in utter chaos, Sylvain coolly continued.
“Hey, about that lil’ act earlier... I was just messin’ with you, Your Highness. (F/N)’s a serious cutie, but I’m really not after her. I swear.” Sylvain winked. “Plus, she doesn’t even like me. She actually told me she likes--”
“WHO?!” Before Sylvain even had time to process-- well, anything-- Dimitri was on his feet rattling the poor noble to and fro, completely forgetting the crippling strength his Crest bestowed him.
“Gah! Stop it! That hurts!” Sylvain cried, trying with all his might to pry Dimitri’s iron grip from his shoulders.
Coherency finally returning, Dimitri immediately unclasped his digits from Sylvain. An expression of apologetic horror shot through his eyes as he stumbled back, back, back against his desk. The chest of both men heaved violently; raspy and hasty apologies slipped out of Dimitri’s lips while pain-stricken groans and a few obscenities raced out of Sylvain’s.  
“I’m so-... I’m so sorry, Sylvain, I-- I’m so, so sorry--”
“Augh, Goddess... You’ve got quite a grip there, Your Highness...” Sylvain chuckled weakly, feeling his skin swell and bruise.
“Allow me to fetch a healer for you!”
“N-No worries... Ugh... Just, I need to talk to you.”
“Sylvain--”
“Please. Seeing you skirt about this issue is far more painful than any bruise you could give me... But I’m not gonna lie, this one comes pretty close.”
Dimitri drew in a deep breath and settled in his desk chair, its wooden legs creaking slightly from his weight. He planted his elbows firmly by his kneecaps and rested his chin on folded hands.
“Lemme ask you a question, Your Highness. Do you truly love (F/N)?”
“Yes.” Dimitri answered unfazed, but suddenly realized the gravity of his response and drooped his eyes towards the floor.
“Then tell her!”
“I... I can’t. I’m afraid I lack the confidence to waltz up to a girl and profess my feelings to her. Especially with what happened to...” Dimitri shivered at the awkwardly painful memory and continued. “Sylvain, what if she doesn’t like me in that way? Then I’d have made a fool of myself in front of everybody. But most importantly, her...”
“Well, since she didn’t tell me exactly who she liked, there’s no surefire way to know...” Sylvain acquiesced. “But I’ve got a real good feeling about this. Trust me! If there’s one thing in the world that I can help you with, it would be something like this.”
“Well, I suppose you’re right...” Dimitri pondered, sighing in defeat. “But regardless of whether she likes me or not, I am unable to simply walk up to her and tell her my feelings. That’s...”
Dimitri trailed off, dejection glossing his pastel blues.
“I don’t deserve someone like her.” He breathed out just above a whisper. Poignancy took hold of Sylvain’s heart after hearing the sincerity in Dimitri’s voice. One look at the despondent royal was enough to tell him how much he believed those words-- how much Dimitri believed that he, a beast stained by blood and vengeance, could never have a beauty as tender and loving as you.
“Hey, come on Your Highness... It’s not fair on your part to be giving yourself so little credit.”
“Sylvain, look at me.” Dimitri cupped his throbbing head in his hands and he growled. “I am a monster. I can not drag someone as pure, lovely, and beautiful as (F/N) into...”
He paused, choosing his next words carefully.
“She deserves someone else-- someone who can bring her true happiness. Someone who’s... not me.”
Sylvain gritted his teeth from the dark and pulverizing atmosphere. Dimitri was spiraling. Further, faster into the void.
“Cheer up, Your Highness!” Sylvain bubbled half-heartedly, desperately trying to reel his friend from the abyss. “You’re a great guy! Hey. Remember when we went out to cull some bandits outta that one village? And some bad guy almost got (F/N)? You managed to swoop in just before that happened! You saved her, Deems. The look of pure adoration and gratitude in her eyes after the battle... It felt good, right?”
“I... suppose.”
“Oh! And remember when (F/N) was having a hard time grasping the concept of that battle formation the other day? Who came in, and spent the rest of their afternoon tutoring her until she could explain why you needed to send the flyers in first?”
“... I did.”
“Yup! And who’s the chivalrous, hard-working leader of the Blue Lions that everyone looks up to?”
“I am.”
“Atta boy, Your Highness! See? You’re a great guy! And the fact that you’re a prince doesn’t hurt your chances either.” Sylvain’s eyebrows danced smugly.
Dimitri’s chest rose and fell in laughter; Sylvain’s eyes lit up like a star. He managed to save him-- at least for now.
“Thank you, Sylvain. I really needed that encouragement. I... I apologize for--”
“No worries, Your Highness. ... I’m just glad I was able to help.” Sylvain clasped a hand on his friend’s shoulder and squeezed reassuringly.
“Um, Sylvain...”
“Hm?”
“How do I confess to her? Properly?”
Sylvain clapped his hands together and rubbed them gleefully.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ve got a plan.”
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since-it-must-be-so · 4 years ago
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A Wild Sheep Chase: Chapter 2 of Choujin X!
It's here! I've gushed about the chapter over at my Twitter, but like I said in my previous post, I want to see how the story progresses and keep a log about it. So here it goes!
Background info on Ely Otsuta
So before we delve into Chapter 2 which almost exclusively featured Ely... Let's take note of the new things we learned about Ely:
She's from a rural prefecture. I think she lives in the mountainside specifically since that's where she grows her tomatoes.
She's a greenthumb (we already kinda knew this from the previous chapter but we learn more about her life pre-Choujin X). I understand that even if the soil is infertile, she's able to grow tomatoes so nutritious and plump. So plump, they resemble butts, hence, "bumbums!" It appears she uses advanced equipment for her farming stuff. So yeah, based on these, it's established Ely has a green thumb!
Oh, and it appears that it's clarified that her "Grandpapi" whom she talks about in the 1st chapter is an adoptive grandfather (not biological, hence, maybe in the future we'd know her parents and learn why Ely is special).
It's just me but I get the impression that Ely is being introduced as some sort of "fertility" choujin, since she also dreams of having 9 kids. Haha!
It's kinda weird though why the burning tomato has a face. Was it just from her dream, since after plucking a bumbum - she woke up? Hmm, after some thought, I think the burning tomato with a face is just from her dream.
Ely Wakes Up from Reality
When Ely woke up, she finds herself in the South Yamato prefecture. Okay, so I think this leaning tower of some sort has a significance to the story.
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It's featured in every spread with the title "Choujin X" and also in the last chapter. Can you see it? Maybe it has something to do with how the powers are made, like pollution-related or a botched experiment. Dunno. Just my wild speculation.
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A Wild Sheep Chase
This is the exciting part. So when Ely wakes up, Chandra Hume offers to "escort" her, but really it appears he wants to kidnap her. And from, *checks the manga* page 10 to 40, we have Ely running away from Chandra until she fell in what looks like a similar area where Tokio and Azuma fought Johnny Kiyoshi Takeyama.
The chase sequence consisting of 30 pages were so fun and I was smiling all the while I was reading! Ely is so cute trying to parkour her way through the buildings (kinda reminds me of Touka?? I miss Touka!). Chandra looks really cool, he seemed to be flying too, using his powers (more on that later)!
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But not to be outdone, Ely borrows a "Roller Boy Yay-Yay" which basically is a scooter with something that resembles a driver's wheel. Its literal translation of ローラーBOYイェイ・イェイ -- which, checking Twitter and in Ishida's latest live stream, I think the locals found it hilarious too. Ishida is just unleashing his crazy here, I love it!
After that sequence, we get the tractor and sheep chase. Ah! I love it.. So what happened is that, Chandra and Ely fall off from their Roller Boy Yay-Yay. Ely who just claimed she can outrun Chandra if she were riding a tractor, suddenly found one right in front of her! Then Chandra lands near a gang... or should I say, a flock of sheep-bikers. They're all wearing these Kanji-printed tracksuits and basically look like they're a bunch of delinquents? They even describe themselves as "cryptid bikers"... Cryptid supposedly means mysterious? Idk why the weird choice of words for the translation though.
Funnily, I was just reading Haruki Murakami's A Wild Sheep Chase (羊をめぐる冒険 --- Hitsuji o meguru bōken or literally An Adventure Surrounding Sheep). I wonder if this scene something to do with this book?
Anyway, Chandra entices the sheep to help hip capture Ely by bribing them with a Docomo flip phone. I don't know why a flip phone - could mean the following: (a) the sheep are so poor, a flip phone is cool; (b) maybe flip phones are a status symbol in that universe; (c) maybe the setting is in the 2000s when the flip phones really were all the rage.
So they all chase Ely, but Chandra suddenly has a car too. Someone on Twitter said it's a Porsche? But I can't tell, though Chandra said his car is a four-wheel drive... Heh? Idk what to do with this info.
As for Ely, she is really good with the tractor as she said. The hilarity of outrunning motorcycles and what could be a Porsche. That tractor prowess! Later on, Chandra and the other sheep figure into an accident with a "safety-loving" truck (oh the irony, lol). Chandra flew off the car and so did his fancy shoes...
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Ely didn't exactly come out unscathed. Ishida allocated 4 double spreads for this epic fall. Some of the sheep definitely should have died from that spectacular accident.
At first, Ely was smug about escaping the sheep. But then, I think she was moved by compassion and I think she hurt herself in order to revive the sheep. I just wonder though, how she learned to do that?
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Then we get another awesome double spread of her transformation, similar to Tokio's. Augh Ishida-sensei. These are soooo good!!!!
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Because of her transformation, the whole area was engulfed with smoked and I think the sheep were effectively revived. It appears Chandra saw all this (while he was regenerating... so we now know choujins or at least smoke choujins like Chandra has regenerative powers), hence he marveled at Ely's newfound power. It was kinda confirmed that Ely was responsible for keeping the casualties to a minimum. Specifically he said Ely possesses: quick judgment, though resolve, persistence... making her a human with the makings of a choujin... while also kinda noting Ely's silliness.
Here we go again with Chandra's "fancy gentleman" facade... Even the way he talks is fancy ("I am well-acquainted with the roads here") but more than that... he's self-important. I talked about my other views on his character on Reddit. I get the impression he's something of a "Choujin supremacist", you know what I mean? So, he wants to kinda recruit Ely into his organization or whatever.
Ely is righteous
So we see that Ely is further introduced as a good character, standing up against Chandra and rejecting his offer to be his pupil or something. Ely was clearly upset about the grandma getting hurt (did she die? I hope she didn't) and made it clear she would never join him. Chandra takes offense at this rejection, especially when Ely said Chandra is worse than a turd.
As Chandra tries to inflict pain on Ely (something about marking her on the face), she recalls her resolve from Chapter 1: drones for farming, a greenhouse, her grandpappy, a mansion, the big dog, paying back the kid for his roller boy yay-yay, the Goldilocks hubbie, nine kids... But just before we can see if she can fight Chandra off...
The most handsome man of all Sui Ishida's works (haha!)
This buff mysterious man with a bandana reminiscent of the Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles seemed to have blown Chandra and Ely (also the cars and motorcycles) away by a mere clap of his hands. It appears even Chandra is afraid of this guy and recognizes him... he leaves the scene using his smoke powers before the guy can do serious damage. I think his power has something to do with wind since there was like a little hint with all the ventilation stuff in the setting.
The guy manages to create a circle of protection around Ely. He tells Ely that Chandra's modus is to target "people with aptitude like Ely". He helpfully mends Ely's punctured hand with his bandana.... And when Ely looks up at his face, what do you know? Haha!
Our girl Ely has a love interest! Haha.
Tokio's Gregor Samsa moment
I've observed from the manga I've read that characters with transformation abilities always, always go through this adjustment period with the power. Gregor Samsa, Peter Parker, our boy Kaneki... Anyway, it seems Tokio doesn't know or can't turn back into a normal-looking person. But the last panel sure is interesting because we have them experiencing this transformation at the same time. Also, since it reminds me of Touka and Ayato's volume cover. I hope they find each other soon though!
Types of Choujins and initial premises on the Power of Choujins
So there are 3 confirmed types so far: Flexi (Johnny), Bestial (our boy Tokio), and Smoke. It seems that pretty boy Hoshi doesn't have a category yet, but like I said I think his has something to do with air or ventilation lol.
We learned that Chandra is a Smoke Choujin, and Ely is now one too and she was may have been somehow infected by Chandra's smoke/fumes. It appears now that there are 2 ways to become a choujin: injection and inhalation. Chandra wonders if Ely was infected with his power... But I'm thinking the infection theory might not be that accurate. After all, it seems Ely has a green thumb.
But, I think as Chandra said, only some people have an aptitude for this. So, Ely and Tokio are examples. I wonder if Azuma also has choujin powers or did it not manifest yet? Is the aptitude inherent or something you can acquire? If so, what does Tokio have that Azuma doesn't, especially since everyone thinks Azuma is "better" than Tokio in all aspects?
We'll find out in Chapter 3 more or less!! I'm sorry for any grammar mistakes! I'd like to hear your thoughts or comments if any :)
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hquokkah · 4 years ago
Text
Cookies, Love, and Burnt Cookies.
!! Contains some swearing !!
SKZ members decide to make cookies one day. The real question is, will it end up in disaster or utter chaos? Maybe both? Fic featuring OT8 members of Stray Kids! <3
......
“Have you gotten out all the ingredients yet Hyunjin...?!” Minho asked, pulling out a mixing bowl.
“Almost. I just can’t find the eggs! I swear I saw them yesterday.” Hyunjin replied, sticking his arm in the fridge as he moved items around to find the carton of eggs.
“Look harde- OW!” Minho yelled, accidently whacking his hand against the counter as he turned to face him.
“HAH! That’s for yelling at me.”
Minho rolled his eyes.
“We haven’t even started baking yet! And both of you are already at it.” Felix sighed.
“That’s his fault. He’s taking too long to find the eggs.”
“They’re not even in the fridge! You can’t yell at me if there’s no eggs to find!”
“Jokes on you, I have them with me~” Minho smirked.
 “YOU WHAT”
“I was just teasing Jinnie~ Now get over here, I think we have everything?”
“I think we do.” Felix glanced over everything just to be sure as Hyunjin made his way over grumbling.
“You look a lil grouchy. Is it because I woke you up instead of Jeongin since he had to go out?”
“You tickled me awakeee…” He whined. “Are we just making regular sugar cookies?”
“Yep! I thought maybe we could decorate them too! I bought some frosting for us.” Felix chirped, pulling out store-bought frosting from a shopping bag. “Here they are~” he said, smiling.
“I’ll set them down for you.” Minho said, taking the containers of frosting. “Should we start making them now, Felix?”
“Oh yes- Hyunjin could you pass me the flour?”
-- time skip bc cookies take time --
“Alright! Dough is done, Minho could you please find the cookie cutters? It’s in the storage room.”
While Minho was searching for it, Hyunjin divided the dough into three sections so each of the boys could do whatever they wanted with their share of the dough. He began playing around with his, tossing it like pizza dough.
“Hyunjin-”
“Yeah?”
“Be careful you don’t drop that on the floor. I dunno the last time we cleaned it.” Felix cautioned.
“Me? Drop it? Never…” Hyunjin laughed, tossing it above his head and catching it to prove his point. “See?”
Felix stared at him for a moment and then shrugged. “Okay then. Just be careful mate.”
“You got it bro--” Hyunjin’s dough fell on the floor with a smack.
He glanced at Felix quickly, who thankfully had his back turned. The boy darted to pick it up and dust it off quickly, blowing on it to get off any germs from the floor that could’ve collected, dumping it on the table just as Felix turned back around.
“You good? I thought I heard a thump.”
“O-Oh- that was....probably Minho. All’s good.”
“Really? Huh. I’ll go check on him.” He said, leaving the kitchen.
Once Felix was out of sight, Hyunjin stared at his dough with a disgusted look on his face.
“...What am I going to do with you..” He thought aloud, his nose scrunching as his finger poked it.
“A thump? Wasn’t me.”
“Oh really? That’s weird.”
His eyes widened at the sound of his approaching friends, arms flailing everywhere as he panicked. The doorknob was turning…
“We’re back!” Felix hummed, moving towards his spot from before. 
Hyunjin sat at the table, looking 100% calm as if nothing happened. “Find the cookie cutters, hyung?”
“It took some looking, but yeah, I did.”
“Perfect. Here’s your half of dough, by the way!”
“Thanks...”
“You’re Welcome.” Hyunjin smiled, facing him. His tone seemed a little too sweet.
He had traded his germy dough with Minho’s clean one-
I repeat: He traded his fallen dough with Minho’s clean dough last minute so he wouldn’t have it. 
Minho raised an eyebrow suspiciously at him, and Hyunjin could feel cold sweat forming before Minho turned his attention back on the cookie cutters.
“Wait...WE HAVE CAT COOKIE CUTTERS? I’m using them. They’re mine.”
“Are you going to make Soonie, Doongi, and Dori cookies?” Felix questioned.
“Of course I am!” He grabbed his dough and cut out 3 cat shaped cookies. 
Hyunjin just stared at them.
“Hyunjin! Hurry up so we can bake them already!” Minho patted his head and gave it a light flick.
“Right- pass me a cookie cutter please?”
After cutting the dough into shapes, the boys placed them on a baking sheet and put them into the oven.
“How long?”
“Er...Given the amount of cookies we have, I’d say fifteen minutes.”
“Oh good. I’m hungry…” Hyunjin sighed.
“Oooooh you’re making cookies?” A familiar voice sounded from the kitchen entrance. “Is there enough for me, hyungs?” Jisung ambled forwards to take a look at the oven.
“Yes. You can have Minho’s cookies.”
“Of course I will. As a matter of fact, I’ll have some of your cookies too, won’t I, Hyunjin. After all, who could resist my heart stopping handsomeness?”
“Handsomeness? Where?” Minho squinted and looked around the room.
“HA-” The clapping of hands and laughter were heard from Hyunjin. 
“Hyung…!” Jisung groaned, only to be enveloped by a pair of arms.
“You can have my cookies!” Felix laughed, squeezing Jisung into a tight hug. “Don’t listen to em! You’re handsome as hell.”
“Aw...thanks Lix.” Jisung hugged him back before turning his head.
“SEE! At least FELIX loves me!” 
“Oh yeah?! Well-Well- MINHO LOV-”
Minho stared at Hyunjin with a teasing disgusted look on his face. 
To which Hyunjin mirrored by looking him up and down and making a fake gagging sound.
“...Never mind. BUT I BET FELIX LOVES ME MORE!”
“NOOO!” Jisung tightened his grip on Felix and began to sway left and right.
“Lix loves me!”
“Ack! I love all of youuu~” Felix hummed, loving the hug he was getting. 
“What’s going on?” Changbin asked, coming in to set a used glass in the sink.
“They’re fighting over who I love more, I guess.”
“Wow, even Minho?”
“Of course not. It’s dumb because Felix loves me more than both of you combined!”
“That’s stupid, because he loves me more than all THREE of you combined!” Changbin smirked. 
“Tch. Sureee…”
Felix giggled at them. 
“How do we settle this?” Jisung asked, playfully trying to kiss Felix’s cheek.
“Er...Arm wrestling?” Binnie suggested.
“Arm wrestling…?!” Hyunjin repeated.
“Yeah…”
“Why arm wrestling? To compete for his love?”
“That’s all I could come up with! Do you  have anything better?”
Hyunjin bit his lip.
“That’s what I thought, Ratpunzel.”
“Hey, don’t call me that!”
“Alright, who wants to compete first?” Minho asked aloud.
“ME. MEMEME!” Jisung shouted, still latched around Felix.
“Alright. Jisung against Changbin.”
“I-” He swung his arms nervously. “Against Changbin? Uh- can I go against Jinnie instead-”
“Are you underestimating me?!”
“You’ll go against Changbin.” Minho smirked.
“Alright, lemme just-” Jisung dropped to the floor and started doing push ups.
“C’mon! I don’t got all day.”
“Bro chill! I’m trying to not break an arm over here, jesus!”
“You’re just a scared quokka.”
“NO!” Jisung pouted. “You’re about to cooked bacon meat once I beat you, pig.”
 “IT’S PIG RABBIT.”
“Okay, alien pig.” Jisung teased, taking a seat at the table with Changbin. 
Changbin put his arm in position, glaring at the man across from him with a smirk. “Let’s just see how this plays out, loser.”
Jisung flexed his arms to show off his beefy muscles, returning the smirk. “I’d be surprised if this pig could beat this.” He landed a kiss on his flexed arm and met his hand with Changbin’s.
“Pabbit versus Quokka.” Minho announced, standing beside them. “Shall we see who comes out as the victor and the loser? On three.” He placed a hand on their holding hands. “Three. Two....One!” He shouted, releasing his grasp.
“WAH!” Jisung squeaked, using his full on strength against Changbin, and getting...close to nowhere.
“Hehe!” Binnie giggled. “I can do this all day!”
Jisung grunted as he started using another hand to help himself out.
Changbin yawned.
“This....isn’t...fair!” Jisung whined. “Felix...I LOVE YOU, BABY-” He yelled, using every last inch of force he had, managing to turn Binnie’s arm to the opposing side farther.
“Hah. Hope you had fun~” Changbin slammed Jisungs arm against the table.
“AUGH!” The man fell off his chair onto the floor dramatically. “Avenge me…” He whispered, before faking dead.
“Pfft. You wish.” Minho laughed. “Alright Hyunjinnie, its you and me~”
“Save me.” Hyunjin sighed, taking Changbin’s spot as Minho took Jisung’s.
Both hands met, and this time Changbin counted down. “3...2...1!”
“ARGHHHH!!” Hyunjin yelled, using all his strength.
“You...sound like you’re...giving birth!” Minho snickered, also using his might.
“Maybe he is!!” Jisung called from the floor.
“SHUT...UP!”
“Im hurt, baby!”
“I’M NOT IN THE CURRENT POSITION TO CARE RIGHT NOW!”
Minho slowly started leaning into Hyunjin, who responded by scrunching his face. “Don’t distract me.” He whined.
Minho puckered his lips.
Hyunjin batted his eyelashes.
Minho leaned in.
“HELL NAW-” Hyunjin faltered as he reeled back, to which Minho used it as an opportunity to win.
“Oh sh-” The long haired man’s arm was an inch from hitting the table. He turned his head towards the blonde watching it all. “Felix...saranghae.” He flipped his hair and let himself lose, slumping against the table.
“Me versus you, are you going to surrender?” Minho said towards Changbin who stood behind him.
“No, but are you?”
“Never. Hyunjin move!”
Hyunjin still lay there fake dead.
“Felix, could you please take out the air fryer?”
Hyunjin jumped out of the chair.
“Pabbit, please take a seat.”
“You realize you’re pretty much half of me, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m pig plus rabbit. …And you’re...rabbit.”
“Okay, and?”
“Everything you bully me about is directed towards yourself as well~”
Minho put on a poker face as he positioned his arm. “Then I’ll focus on the pig part of you.”
“PIG PART?!”
“On three.”
The younger sighed, matching his position.
“Two. One.”
Changbin was doing relatively well, and looked up to see his competitor’s face.
Minho’s face was point blank and staring at him intensely, seemingly without blinking.
“GAH- Hyung, you’re scary…”
“Are you going to cry wee wee wee all the way home?”
“I’m going to cry wee wee wee at my victory.”
-Bang.-
“Ouch.” The elder rubbed his arm. “Okay, Okay you win.”
“YES! EHEH.” Changbin rose up and ran towards the blonde, both giggling as Binnie gave him a tight hug. “I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ALL OF THEM!!”
“I can’t believe you guys held a whole arm wrestling competition.” Felix smiled. “I LOVE YOU BROS!”
Jisung got up and made a heart shape symbol with his arms. “BABY I LOVE YOU TOO.”
“I LIKE YOU GUYS A LOT.” Minho shouted.
“I LOVE YOU ALL.” Hyunjin screamed, joining in.
“I LOVE ALL OF YOUUU” Changbin yelled.
“WHAT ARE YOU KIDS SCREAMING FOR, WE’RE GONNA GET KICKED OUT!” Chan yelled, looking like he awoke from a nap with his messy hair all fluffed up. Father mode on.
He was followed by a sleepy Seungmin, sniffing the air. “Are you guys making something? It smells really burnt in here.”
Everyone in the baking group froze…and turned to the oven…
To which smoke was escaping out from.
“HOLY SHIT-” Jisung screamed.
Minho ran to the oven. “MY SOONIE, DOONGI, DORI COOKIES!”
“WAIT, TURN IT OFF FIRST” 
Gray smoke billowed out of the appliance, the cookies burnt to crisp along with some small fires lit on it.
Hyunjin screamed, just as the fire alarms of the entire house turned on, blaring loudly. 
Chan ran towards Minho, and began waving his arms to let the smoke fly away, but accidently smacked the second oldest’s face, causing him to drop half the cookies on the floor.
“MATE WATCH OUT-” Felix shouted, warning Chan who was able to dodge in time.
Changbin picked up a fallen cookie. “I don’t think they’re edible anymore.”
“Well, no SHIT, Sherlock.” Seungmin said, watching everything go down and eating some of the store bought frosting Felix bought.
“Don't EAT that!” Hyunjin yelled, smacking Binnie’s hand. 
“I WASN’T- Wait is this one of Minho’s cookies? It’s cat shaped.”
Hyunjin stared at it. “It is...lucky his burned. I dropped the dough on the floor and gave it to him. I was waiting for him to eat it.”
“You did what!” Changbin said in shock.
“TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH.” Minho called back. “HYUNJIN!”
“UH- I ACCIDENTLY MIXED OUR DOUGHS UP...WHOOPS…”
“I’M GOING TO MAKE YOU EAT THESE BURNED COOKIES ON THE FLOOR.”
“NO!” Hyunjin backed away, bumping to Seungmin who dropped the can of icing and spilled it on him.
“NOO! I LOVE THIS SHIRT.” 
“You should’ve watched where you were going!” Jisung laughed.
“Well! Watch what you say!” Picking up the blue frosting can, he scooped some into his hand and swiped it on Jisung’s face, Hyunjin snickered. “Bluesung is making a comeback.”
Jisung licked his frosting covered lips. “Bluesung is also sweeter than before. Give my sweet lips a kiss!” He ran towards Hyunjin, who ran away. “WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?!”
“I JUST WANT A KISS!”
Hyunjin screamed as the chase continued.
“Guys! The cookies are still burning-”
“CHAN! YOUR PANTS ARE ON FIRE!” Minho yelled, nodding at the knee of his pants.
“THEY’RE WHAT-” Chan began smacking his pants, desperately trying to unlight them.
“HYUNG, TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS.” Minho shouted.
“WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, YOU WANT ME TO WHAT?”
“TAKE THEM OFF!” Minho and Felix chorused as the flame got bigger.
“FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, TAKE THEM OFF OR GET BURNED ALIVE, CHAN-”
Bang Chan fumbled with the buttoning of his pants, to which Minho ended up quickly yanking them off him instead as Felix pulled him back.
“I GOT THIS!” Changbin yelled, grabbing a water bottle and splashing its contents towards them. 
It splashed Felix in the face instead, the blonde boy releasing Chan and falling backwards into the trash can in surprise.
“UH I’LL GET SOMETHING ELSE.” Binnie turned around and grabbed what Seungmin held, thinking he was trying to help.
“WAIT-”
Pink frosting now coated Minho and Chan.
“Bro your aim sucks.” Seungmin said, watching a chunk of frosting slip off Minho’s nose. “I’ve got to take a picture of this…” He snickered.
Minho clicked his tongue. “Come here puppy, want a treat?” Grabbing another frosting can with a green tint, he started throwing the sticky contents at the younger.
“Uh. A LITTLE HELP?” Felix yelped, the trash can having fallen on the floor and taking Felix with it.
“We got you! You’ll be out soon, I promise-” Chan comforted, both him and Changbin trying to yank Felix out.
There was a twisting of the dorm room’s knob.
“...Guys, I’m-” The maknae started, before hearing the still blasting fire alarms. Dropping his bag, he ran to the kitchen entrance to see-
Hyunjin trying to shove blue frosting covered Jisung away from him as he was trapped in a corner, Minho pelting Seungmin with green frosting and Seungmin tossing sprinkles, Felix stuck in their trash can, with Changbin tugging on it, and a PANTLESS leader pulling Felix’s arms. On the floor was Chan’s pants with a small flame lighting it, surrounded by coal looking cookies and a smoking oven.
Jeongin took a step back, before running out the apartment and slamming the door shut. After a minute, he slowly opened the door and went back to where he last stood, taking in the same scene once more.
“These hyungs…”
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origami10 · 5 years ago
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Thoughts from Ajin ch. 75.5/76
Spoilers under the cut!  More ramblings again this month.
Maybe there are two chapters because they had the whole chapter last time, but decided it would be more of a cliffhanger to cut it in the middle? Or maybe it was almost but not quite done?? Or too much physics? Lol
社会性 しゃかいせい sociality                                                                      I feel like this line is particularly important given past chapters  oh lmao especially since the next panel talks about feelings
I really wonder where this is going…   it seems so right for Ajin, but also so much sappier than what makes it to the surface of the story
THANK GOD we finally got an answer for if everyone has the ‘material’ necessary to make an IBM
Oh my god this is unbelievably sappy    Wow Ogura’s crying too
Oh so it’s 彼 huh     what is this, a seinen manga?
引き起こす ひきおこす 1. to cause; to induce; to bring about; to provoke​ 2. to pull upright; to help up (e.g. a fallen person)     ASFDJKL; what a sweet (?) way to think of them?
Oh man Obama helicopter please    now of all times
Oh man oh man this better not be the last chapters, I hate this feeling
Fuck no if Satou gets away on this day of all days
Hahahahahaha did Ogura make everything up o_o      Sakurai I hate you
Ah not the ‘life is meaningless’ thing again      sigh/sob
  Having trouble understanding this part but I think I know where he’s going   god Ogura augh
Please please please see something good on the next page   AH YES EXCELLENT     who was it that wrote about the ‘hands reaching out’ thing
Ahhh this would have been a really good place to end! How did we get blessed with two chapters at once??
OF COURSE it’s called DIEHARDS       ugh Sakurai and his references
oh, that’s an encouraging tag line!! Tanaka and Izumi too??
ok I'm picking up for the second chapter (76) about two days after I read the first chapter
wow they got really high up there on that helicopter
They know how many more times they can make an IBM ahead of time? They don't just suddenly find that they're out?
Awwww Kuro is a she!
You're really telling me I should believe that KEI is hanging on with ONE HAND He's either insanely desperate (probably) or trained a lot (I guess possible)
Wow, last chance And Satou's like "It's okay, I'm done with the game, now you don't have to try so hard!"
omg I had to look it up but is that car a Scion? Why am I paying attention to that now?
How come you have to specify that it's a human-shaped IBM... are you just talking about its head?
「亜人は老衰までは覆せない」Huh, that seems like a weird way to use that word. I'm gonna have to read this part in English
Ah man come on Ogura, we wanted answerssss   (What a Sakurai-like but also very appropriate response)
AH BLEP'S PILOTING =w= I think I knew this I just didn't really notice before
Ah man given the angle I feel like the way Kei hit the street is significant, but I don't know why yet God if this manga ended with Satou getting away and KEI being the ajin who perma-died idk even what I would do
But you're still trying to go after it anyway aren't you
I have no idea what's happening but I like it omg could it be Takahashi oh dang Manabe, that's still pretty good
The tag line above this page says 「すべては『面白い』のために」 That captures it pretty well- it says "The point of it all was that it was 'interesting'"
Oh, Satou hit the same way? no no don't kill Kei AND Satou please no is it hitting your head after you've flooded??
Who are those guys?
Can the IBMs communicate telepathically? Or does Satou have an earpiece for the helicopter radio?
ok well good I guess the falls didn't kill them. At least maybe it wiped out the flood attacking Kou and Akiyama and everyone?
Satou, you of all people should not be asking these questions wait, they didn't like, Freaky Friday switch or something right... ah, the だい ending is Satou's speech pattern though
すみません ?? What a Kei-like thing to say at a time like this
WHAT the
how does Sakurai keep coming up with completely unexpected turns of events
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thednd1911 · 6 years ago
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Stories?
OH CRAP I totally forgot, I’m so sorry about that. AUGH, now I feel bad. I’m so sorry.
Anyway, stories. Hm... I mean, I haven’t actually been DMing long, and am pretty young so my stories probably aren’t the best, just FYI. So lets see... I guess ill start with this one. So, I tend to throw in some sort of immersion-breaking thing if I feel if the players can use a tiny break from the campaign, and the main way I do this is by putting, well, myself (ish) just showing up. I used him during my first campaign, called Army of the Damned set into Innistrad (Very fun Adventure made by... uh... SpiketailDrake on Reddit i think) to make sure they found the basement of the end bosses house. He (I from now on) is a homebrew Cyborg with three “forms”, ish, bolstered by the fact that I used Mystic for each of the forms, and I had a couple of magic Items on me. I am sometimes just a recurring guy collecting very powerful, or destroyed too powerful, magic items and they groan whenever I throw myself in. C’mon guys. Anyway, they were going about in this dungeon, which was actually quite small, and got to the area that I would use to get them to the Magic Item. The Item was undefended, but it wouldn’t be for long as while I was doing the ritual to destroy the item, it would summon monsters to defend itself. I had a table and everything set up with monsters way above their level (Characters were LVL 5, with me being somewhere around LVL 14 I believe). And I ended up rolling pretty low for most, except for the first and the last roll: the first roll I got a Shadow Dragon Wyrmling, though for which base color I don’t remember. They managed to barely get through that one, and to help them out I had my character use a form to heal most of them a decent chunk so that they can get through the fight. The last one was a T-rex. Now, thing is, this T-rex spawned in a area where only one person could get to before it could tear into my character, and that person, a ranger, decided to not do that. Understandably. and so this dino ran up and attacked Me, while doing the ritual. Concentration check barely passed for the first attack, but i wasn’t going to be well if this continued, but if i could survive and finish the ritual the item would be destroyed by the start of my next turn, which conveniently was right after Mr. T-Rex. Second attack was a bite, and this one brings be down to 50 something HP I think, and I easily pass this check. (I had not read the “both attacks cant be against the same target” clause on T-Rex, gimme a break). Anyway, my turn shows up, I destroy the Item, and I use my third form to attack this T-Rex. This form has, something like 3 attacks I think, (I cant find the Char sheet) and I manged to crit on two of them. As such, with all the Mystic stuff that nets be bonus dice on attack with Psi points, I was rolling a lot of dice that I decided that the Rex was just dead. So I showed the power of Me to the rest of the power through this luck, and they rightfully feared me for the rest of the night. Now another reason why they feared me was because in this form I have the mindset of “Kill everything.” Now, who else is in the room with me? The Party. And only the Party. No one died as they entered rooms that after the door closed wouldn’t open again until they did something, but it was a fun “GOTTA GO” moment. I haven’t used him now as he was tailored to a MTG cosmos while the rest of what I have been doing has not been a part of that. 
A second story is One of my players reminded me about. So, this was my second campaign so i’m still using pre-made adventures by people online, and I forget exactly what the adventure was called but it left the party stranded on an almost deserted island in Ixalan. (new characters). There was supposed to be a native population but they were almost all killed and the last few huddled up in a semi-fortified area, speaking of something that comes during the night and slaughters anyone outside. After learning some information the party made a reasonable guess that it was the local dude who holed up in a tower on the island and never talked to the locals. This tower conveniently also had a massive stone skull at its base. So they get in after following zombies, kill said zombies and some skeletons, and get to the first floor. They rightly assume some sort of Necromancer lives here. The tower has like 8 or so, if i remember correctly. Anyway, while going through the first floor they meet the Miniboss: They had taken too long in a room and the Miniboss is a roving guardian of the tower. And they get slaughtered. like, outright. I had rolled ridiculously well and they had not. So, this miniboss knocks them out instead of killing them (its like a massive undead centipede) and takes them to the Necromancer at the 6-8th floor (i don’t remember which) essentially letting the party skip the entire tower. Fun, and slightly annoying for me because I quite liked that tower. I wont say why it did that and not kill  as that’s something a part of the Adventure.  Oh during a test run of Auriga for a group that ended up falling through, I needed to destroy the boat that the party was on. I decided to use a Dragon Turtle to make sure that happened. (Party lvl 1, BTW) and this DT quite easily destroyed the boat but before it finished, the Rogue had attacked it. He had rolled a one. and I use a little table for fumbles and crits, and he rolled one that said “Hit self, normal damage.” So he dealt damage to himself. Enough damage to himself to knock him out. At realizing that, the entire party busted out laughing as this guy is staring, mouth agape, at the die. Its been burned into my mind as a funny experience. Again, not exactly great stories but I haven’t really had one that was super cool for the players or something that I would consider unforgettable. Maybe it’ll happen soon, with this CoS campaign i’m setting up. I dunno. I’m sorry again for forgetting and I’m sorry about the terrible stories. Thanks for the questions, Anon!
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