#Invincible Questions & Discussion part 1

[clairewritesfanfics]

Invincible Questions & Discussion

smart atoms and skin-biting

masochist smart atoms

what if there were enough supplies in the wasteland

emotions and viltrumite flight

omni-mark and his wife getting judged by other women

flaxan mark notes

mark, his variants, and the legendary puppy dog pout

mark grayson is my godzilla

mohawk's influence on the virgin viltrumite

no goggles and mohawk educate virgin viltrumite

the other marks try to educate virgin vil

shiesty is a supportive gamer bf

mark variants with duplikate-like reader

chiikawa (spoilers)

mohawk zipper

marks getting embarrassed

female mark grayson

right person, wrong time with reader, mark and eve & eve's reaction

reader-sexual

every mark's love

variants react to eve and main mark crashing out

variants costume suit up

marks as disney princes

scarring with shiesty and full mask

mark can't masturbate

comfort him

most to least embarrassed -🌠 anon

would i pierce him?

piercing mohawk

ranking the masochists -🌠anon

mark tiddies

the real reason omni crosses his arms so much

omni is working to make them bigger

i wanna suck

other au marks (burger & gda)

teaching them to swear in filipino (tagalog)

good boy -🌠 anon

murderous viltrumite puppy -🌠 anon

jealous big dogs

sinister sinister

command: kill 🐇

spoiler alert, eve (possible spoiler for canon)

flower harem

teasing shiesty with his veil

personal salon crew -🌠 anon (harem au)

"you're too late, bro!" cw: nsfw at the end, mild angst, happy end tho

chibivincible, or "invinciblobs," or "invinciblorbos," if you will

star charts -🌠 anon (harem au)

ranking the star whores

boyfriend of the month (harem au)

prizes -🌠 anon

full mask banned

suggestion box

most coveted award

when you laugh -🌠 anon

scar headcanons (full mask and shiesty)

stunted prison mark

what to call the marks -🌠 anon

"up"

trapped in the canon verse

random yn visit

when you smile 🐇

mark in his gold and white thraxan mini

get pegged

gold and white suit

cut him open

when we rant to him (them) -🌠 anon

vil mark hobbies

eating with them pinoy-style

vil mark's froggies

scars and masochist atoms

full mask and shiesty sharing the love (harem au)

anglerfish love 🐇

altar of love (harem au)

reader's blood -🌠 anon

viltrumite blood donation 🐇

finite curve without traces of you (harem au)

marcy's (female mark) au

bite me -🌠 anon (harem au)

shiesty with a figurine collecting reader

harem manager reader -🌠 anon (harem au)

kidnapping angstrom for a mark harem

smart atoms rejected

marks accidentally step on chibi reader (harem au, dollhouse au)

yandere reader wants to kidnap mark

watching chibi reader bathe (harem au, dollhouse au)

each variant's shrine - 🌠 anon (harem au)

silent hill 2

relationship of each mark with each other (harem au)

snippet

jason todd and batsis reader (platonic) (neglected batsis au)

mohawk's looks

no goggles and a giant portrait

do you think my food is affecting me?

the marks as dads and their ranks

#end of first list#

author's note: Tumblr won't let me add a new link for some reason (T.T) but if you want to see the continuation, just use the #InvincibleQ&D tag

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Any questions for the author? Ask here.

[kirietown]

Charmless Morning | Ch. II

Pairing: mark grayson x f!reader

Summary: before there was the hive, there was only you.— or perhaps before there was you, there was the hive? it hurt your head to think about it, but all you knew for certain was that now you were one in the same, and if the hive wanted mark grayson, then so did you.

Content: mind hive control, college move in!, the hive shenanigans, minor body horror

18+

[chapter one] [chapter two] — ongoing series

Word count: 2.1K

a/n: i promise we will have mark appear in the next chap <3

College meant a lot of things; change was the most major thing. Luckily, you hadn’t gone through many throughout your first week. Though it was difficult to part with your bees; your backyard had grown into a large sanctuary over the course of your adolescence and housed thousands of bees of various breeds. You promised them you’d see them on the weekends because thankfully it was only a half hour drive from your college. 

Upstate was promising, but you had no interest in socializing— and had heard plenty of roommate horror stories on Reddit that caused you to implant a bee as soon as you saw your roommate come in with a scowl on her face and more luggage than necessary. Her name was Darla-May, a second year, (not Darla, not May, but Darla-May), and she grew up in the city but had some questionable tradwife views. Had you not planted the bee in her brain, you would have never found out about the fact she was planning to have her group of friends harass you to force you to drop out so she could have the room to herself. 

Luckily, campus was buzzing with bees and you managed to find one for each of them! They lived life the same, though now you made sure they wouldn’t be hurting any more girls on campus. The Hive was truly a blessing. You now had your very own friend group, something most university students struggle with for months. They made it easier to seek out the one you were looking for, Mark Grayson, who apparently was a friend to William who had been dating Rick, who unfortunately was MIA— or possibly dead? You didn’t bother with the details, and The Hive was able to handle the rest. 

You’d learnt a few things about Mark Grayson since your stay on campus; 1. He has a girlfriend named Amber,— this, the hive was displeased by for some reason. 2. He was the superhero Invincible, son of Omniman,— though it seemed the hive already knew this. 3. Mark Grayson was not on Earth at the moment, and although The Hive knew most things, it appeared that outer space was its hard boundary. 

“How can I get close to him if he’s not even on the planet?” 

You sighed as you laid in bed and pondered over your situation. Darla-May was fast asleep in her own bed across from you, and you didn’t have to worry about potentially waking her up because her bee ensured a strict sleep schedule (she used to have a bad TikTok addiction and it was what led her down the tradwife pipeline). It wouldn’t wake her unless you wanted her to wake, or if it felt as though she were in danger. 

We wait. In the meantime, we have to prepare. 

“Prepare?” 

We’ve been tailing Amber and William. Their discussions imply that Mark has a habit of putting his hero duties over his personal life. We won’t get anywhere by trying to get through to him through there. 

“But how will we be able to do that?” You furrowed your brows in confusion,— just how could you infiltrate his superhero life? 

Is it not obvious? 

“No…” You knew where this was going, but you didn’t like the thought of it. College was supposed to be your biggest worry, but it seemed like The Hive had a different agenda for you.

Becoming a superhero was easier said than done— even with the help of The Hive. Outside of class time, The Hive had you on a strict regimen when it came to exercise and concentration. You’d learnt that if you focused your attention enough, you could connect to any bee in the country if you had to. The Hive was convinced you could link to every single one on the planet if you continued to strengthen your link. 

By the end of your second week of training, you were already stopping petty burglaries amongst other smaller crimes. You were pleased, but The Hive was convinced you could do more. 

We have to get the GDA’s attention. Go after something major, and then we’re in. 

“I don’t get why you can’t just plant a bee in one of their top agents or something…” You sighed. You walked casually on the sidewalk until you came across the tailor shop you had been looking for. You needed a proper costume now that some time had passed, as The Hive believed a baggy sweater and a scarf wasn’t heroic enough. The shop you chose was old fashioned, but it was the closest one to campus that seemed low key. You needed something that didn’t seem like it attracted a lot of visitors.

They’re incredibly thorough when it comes to access. We can’t risk them believing we’re some type of foreign invasion nor would they understand us regardless. We’d have to get their director, Cecil Stedman,— but we don’t want him to join our hive. 

The Hive was picky sometimes when it came to allowing certain individuals into its domain. Planting bees into your parents, and most regular people was fine. But it drew hard boundaries during other occasions and you weren’t sure why. 

We find him icky. 

“Hello?” You called into the tailor shop, stopping by the counter until a man emerged from a back door. 

“Hello to you as well,” he replied in a chipper tone. “My apologies, I’m the only person who works here and so it’s hard for me to manage the desk and work on suits at the same time. It feels like a back and forth between the back and the front. But it’s why I have the bell here,” he explained with a sigh, and ended his ramble by pressing his hand against the bell on his counter. 

“Anyway,” he continued. “So what can I do for you?” 

“Well,” you said. “I’m trying to get my own suit too, but something of a more niche nature. Actually, I’m glad you mentioned you’re here alone because it makes this so much easier.” He furrowed his thick brows in confusion at your words, and you only smiled tenderly. 

“Sorry,” you said. “The little guy I picked out for you is a little shy.” You sighed dramatically before you reached into your jacket pocket and pulled out a mellow bumble bee. “C’mon,” you said softly. “I know you’re young but I promise you it’ll be fine.”

”Look girl,” he said as he backed away in worry. “I don’t know what you’re on about but—“ his words were cut abruptly as the bee in your hand quickly flew off and went straight into his ear. He choked for a moment, stunned, before his expression changed to one of familiar neutrality. You sighed in relief, glad that your little friend finally got over his confidence issues. It wasn’t that the bees didn’t want to work, some were afraid of disappointing The Hive as it was a great honour to work directly for you both.

You shut your eyes, suddenly in tune with the memories of the tailor. “Okay Derek,” you said, though you didn’t need to speak physically, but you had begun to prefer it over the years due to the history of silence between yourself and your parents. “You know what to do.” 

You turned to take a seat on the couch, and watched him bring out various yellow fabrics and immediately started to work at a quickness that was beyond human. No, it was a quickness only made possible by The Hive, and its little friend.

The entire process of making your superhero costume, which would normally take any tailor several weeks, only took an hour. He needed no measurements as The Hive knew all there was to know about you and your preferences and thus your suit had been made. 

You stepped around the mannequin Derek had assembled it on and noted the fairy like appearance of the top and skirt. You pursed your lips at the sight, noting the wide open back— you weren’t opposed to a backless look but you didn’t realize the hive would select something so… revealing. 

The back is open for a reason. But unrelatedly, we want to catch Mark’s attention. 

You stepped back in shock at the words that rang in your head. “I thought you just wanted to get close to him— did you mean seduce him?” You paused for a few moments and waited for The Hive’s reply but it didn’t come. “Are you there?”

Yes. Are our intentions not obvious? 

“He has a girlfriend, which you’re aware of…” You paced around, feeling your cheeks heat up at the thought of The Hive trying to set you up with a guy you never even met. 

She doesn’t seem very happy with him.

”Whoa,” you said with a snort. “I’ve never heard you sound so snappy before, you’re usually so monotone. Why do you need this guy so bad?” You halted your walking and found yourself in front of the costume again, admiring the bright and sparkly fabric. It ideally fit the criteria of both cute and sexy. You could see Derek at the corner of your eye standing stiffly, if he had been paying attention to your conversation he didn’t show it. The Hive had said his implant would be temporary anyway, you only needed him for his skill, and now that the bee had been in his brain long enough, anyone connected both now and in the future to The Hive could duplicate his skillset. 

Everything was shared once you were a part of The Hive; in fact, everyone with a bee in their head currently knew exactly where you were right now and what you were feeling. 

Awkward. 

We think he’s an ideal candidate for us. 

“Because he’s some B-tier superhero?”

No, because he’s part extraterrestrial. It is the link we have been ready for. 

“I see,” and you really didn’t. You just hated to question The Hive too much; if The Hive got too agitated, your head would start to hurt. It wasn’t a normal pain either— it was punishment. You knew better than to question The Hive’s choices or authority. You weren’t sure why you bothered to now. 

You turned and allowed Derek to pack up the suit and associated mask. You thanked him and paid him generously for his services before you summoned his bee back into your palm. You watched his expression shift from contentment to confusion within seconds before you thanked him again and exited the store. You knew he wouldn’t remember anything that had just happened, and thankfully you didn’t have to fix any cameras as the store didn’t have any. 

That night you slept pleasantly until you awoke from immense pain searing across your back. You flailed in bed for a few seconds before you tumbled out and ripped your shirt off and threw it across the room. It hit Darla-May straight in the face but she didn’t stir whatsoever much to your annoyance. Wasn’t she supposed to sense your pain? 

We can’t see but she’s crying in her sleep, The Hive said solemnly. They all are. That’s why we waited to do this in the middle of the night. 

“W— what are you doing to me?” You cried out. You curled your back and pressed your clammy forehead to the floor, feeling the cool hard wood against your skin. The pain of your back was so intense you felt as though you’d pass out at any second if it didn’t stop. You could feel your skin splitting, as if to make room for something, though it felt less so of an invasion and more so like an intrusion— if that even made sense. You had never felt the terms were so different until now. 

Don’t worry. Just sleep. 

Instantly you relaxed, your eyes shut tightly, and despite the pain, your body and your mind listened. 

In the morning you woke up sweaty despite having been pressed top naked against the cold floor all night. Slowly, you arose twitching slightly due to the sensation of fluttering against your back. 

“What is it? What’s on my back?” You asked Darla-May who seemingly awoke a few minutes before you as she had been in the middle of grabbing her towel and other toiletry from her closet. You stared at her with anxiety written all over you. Yet, if she noticed, she didn’t show it. Generally, she was clearly unbothered by the situation. 

“Wings,” she said happily. “You have wings,— just like a bee. Isn’t The Hive so generous?” 

What a blessing, you thought bitterly. You ignored the pain suddenly digging in your skull. What a blessing to have been chosen by The Hive. 

[bananasplit133]

Between Shadows and Light (Part 2)

Alternate Invincible | Mark Grayson/reader

(Part 1) - (Part 3)

Summary: In this chapter, the protagonist deepens their friendship with Mark, known as Invincible. As they share conversations in the café, Mark reveals his loneliness and the thrill he finds in instilling fear. The protagonist supports him, encouraging Mark to see himself as more than just a figure of fear. The chapter ends with a growing connection between them, allowing their friendship to develop at a slow pace amidst the chaos of their world.

Words: 1,866

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The next few days at the café unfolded in a comfortable routine, but thoughts of Mark lingered in your mind like the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Each time the bell above the door jingled, a flicker of anticipation ignited within you, yet you maintained a steady patience, understanding that genuine friendships take time to build—even with someone as complex and sinister as him.

As you wiped down the counter one evening, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with vibrant shades of orange and pink. You were lost in thought, recalling your conversations with Mark, when the bell jingled. Looking up, a small smile formed on your lips as he stepped inside, wearing a casual black hoodie that made him appear more approachable. The familiar silhouette brought a sense of warmth to the otherwise cool evening, even as a hint of danger clung to his presence.

“Hey,” you greeted, your voice steady, betraying none of the excitement that bubbled beneath the surface.

“Evening,” he replied, a hint of amusement in his eyes as he glanced around the café. “Mind if I grab a seat?”

“Not at all. Your usual?”

He nodded, and you poured him a cup of black coffee, observing him as he settled into the corner booth. There was a relaxed air about him today, but the faint shadows under his eyes hinted at the burdens he carried—not just as a person but as a figure of fear in this chaotic world. You found yourself curious about what thoughts might be swirling in that mind of his.

As you joined him at the table, you set the coffee down in front of him and took a seat across. “So, what’s on your mind today?” you asked, genuinely interested in his thoughts.

Mark took a sip of his coffee, contemplating your question. “I’ve been thinking about our last conversation. You have a way of making me reconsider my outlook on things.”

You shrugged, pleased to hear he was reflecting on your words. “Sometimes it helps to talk things through. Life can be overwhelming, and everyone needs a sounding board now and then.”

“True,” he replied, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. “I’ve realized I haven’t had many conversations like this in a while. Most people avoid me or just want something from me.”

“That’s unfortunate,” you said, tilting your head slightly. “But I’m glad you’re here now. You deserve to have people in your life who want to know you, not just Invincible.”

His gaze met yours, and for a moment, the tension in the air shifted to something lighter. “It’s nice to hear that. I guess I’m just used to being seen as this larger-than-life figure. It’s refreshing to talk to someone who sees beyond that.”

“That’s how I feel,” you said, smiling softly. “I’m just here to serve coffee and make sure people enjoy their time. If that means chatting with Invincible, then so be it.”

He chuckled, the sound rich and warm. “I’ll take it as a compliment. It’s not often I get to just… be me.”

As the two of you chatted, the conversation flowed easily. You found yourselves discussing everything from the state of the world to your favorite childhood memories. Each word exchanged drew you closer, building a foundation of friendship that felt genuine and steady, even with the shadow of his sinister nature looming over your interactions.

“Do you ever miss it?” Mark asked, his voice low, a hint of nostalgia in his tone. “The way things used to be before everything changed?”

You paused, considering his question. “Sometimes. I miss the way the café used to buzz with life, the laughter and chatter. But I also believe that we can find ways to create new memories. It’s just going to take time.”

“Time,” he echoed, leaning back in his seat. “That’s something I’m not particularly good at.”

“You’re not alone in that,” you replied. “We all struggle with patience, especially when we want things to change quickly. But friendships take time to build, just like anything else worth having.”

Mark looked at you, a mix of appreciation and curiosity in his gaze. “You really think we can get back to something resembling normal?”

“I have to believe that,” you said firmly. “If we don’t hold onto hope, then what’s left? We have to create our own sense of normalcy, even if it’s just in our small corner of the world.”

He nodded slowly, a thoughtful look on his face. “I think I’m starting to understand that. Maybe there’s more to this than I initially thought.”

Just then, the bell above the door jingled, and a few more customers entered, breaking the intimate moment. You stood, glancing around to ensure everyone was settled before returning your focus to Mark.

As the café buzzed with life, you felt a sense of contentment wash over you. Your conversations with Mark had become a highlight of your shifts, and while you were aware of the darker undertones of his persona, you were in no rush to push it further. You valued the growing friendship, the gradual unfolding of trust, and the shared laughter that brightened even the darkest days.

Over the next few weeks, Mark continued to visit the café regularly. Each time he entered, you felt a familiar flutter of anticipation, but you kept your demeanor calm and collected. You shared stories, jokes, and insights, allowing the bond between you to deepen without rushing into anything more. Each interaction felt like a carefully woven thread, adding strength to the tapestry of your friendship.

Mark opened up about his life, the pressures he faced as Invincible, and the loneliness that often accompanied his power. You listened intently, offering a safe space for him to express himself while being mindful of the darkness that lurked within him. He spoke about how people cowered before him, how the fear he instilled kept them in line. There was a twisted satisfaction in his words that sent a chill down your spine, but you remained steadfast, determined to understand the man behind the mask.

One evening, as the sun set and the café emptied, Mark lingered at the counter, his expression contemplative. “You know, I never thought I’d find a place like this—where I could just relax and be myself.”

You smiled softly, wiping down the counter. “I’m glad you feel that way. It’s nice to have you here, Mark. It feels like I’m getting to know the real you.”

He chuckled, a hint of warmth in his voice. “The real me is a work in progress. But you’re making it easier to embrace that.”

“Good,” you replied, meeting his gaze with sincerity. “We all have our layers, and it’s okay to take your time revealing them. I’m just happy to be part of the journey.”

As the evening wore on, you found yourselves lost in conversation, the connection between you growing stronger. Each shared moment felt like a step toward something more profound, yet you were content to savor the friendship that was blossoming between you.

“Have you ever thought about what you want to do once things settle down?” you asked, curiosity piquing as you leaned forward. “What are your dreams beyond being Invincible?”

Mark paused, his brow furrowing slightly. “Honestly? I haven’t had time to think about it. Everything is so chaotic right now. But I do enjoy the power I hold over people. It’s fascinating to see how fear can control them.”

“Is that what you want?” you asked, your curiosity growing. “To control people through fear?”

He hesitated, the tension in his shoulders evident. “It’s part of my nature. I thrive on it. It’s amusing to watch them cower, to know I can bend their will.”

You nodded, understanding the darkness in his words. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a balance. You have the ability to use your power in different ways, even if it’s not what you typically do.”

Mark regarded you quietly, the intensity of his gaze making you feel seen in a way that was both exhilarating and daunting. “You really believe that?”

“I do,” you replied, your voice firm. “But it has to start with you wanting to be that person. You can’t let the darkness define you.”

He nodded slowly, processing your words. “You’re really good at this, you know. Most people would just give up on someone like me.”

“Maybe they don’t see the potential,” you said, shrugging lightly. “I see you as someone who has the chance to grow and change, even if it means grappling with the darkness within.”

Mark’s expression shifted slightly, revealing a glimmer of something deeper. “You have a way of making me feel… hopeful. It’s strange.”

“Hope is a good thing, even when it’s hard to hold onto,” you replied softly. “And you don’t have to navigate this alone. I’m here, and I’m happy to be part of your journey.”

He smiled, the warmth in his eyes bringing a flutter to your chest. “Thank you for that. It’s not often I find someone who genuinely cares.”

The atmosphere between you felt charged, and you sensed the bond between you deepening. Yet, you were both content to remain in this phase of friendship, allowing it to flourish at its own pace.

Eventually, the café began to empty, the last customers drifting out into the night. You glanced at the clock, realizing your shift was coming to an end. Reluctantly, you prepared to close up, the thought of leaving Mark behind filling you with an unexpected sense of longing.

“Hey,” you said, turning to him as you wiped down the counter one last time. “I should get going, but I really enjoyed tonight.”

“Same here,” Mark replied, a genuine smile lighting up his features. “I’ll be back soon. You can count on that.”

With a final wave, you stepped outside, the cool night air enveloping you. You couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something meaningful—a slow burn of friendship, unfolding in the shadows of a world transformed by fear.

As the weeks turned into months, the café became a sanctuary for both of you. With each visit, Mark shared more of himself, his walls slowly crumbling under the weight of your patience and understanding. You learned about his struggles, the expectations placed on him, and the moments of loneliness that accompanied his power. You also witnessed the enjoyment he derived from the fear he instilled in others, a part of him that you couldn't ignore.

Mark became a constant presence in your life, and your friendship blossomed like the flowers in spring. You found comfort in his company, and with every laugh shared and every story told, the bond between you grew stronger.

And while the thought of a deeper connection occasionally crossed your mind, you both seemed content to explore the friendship that was blossoming between you. There was something beautiful about the way you interacted, each moment laced with the potential for something more, but never rushing into it.

For now, you were friends navigating the complexities of a chaotic world together, and that was enough.

[renae-nicole-lynn]

More Invincible x Frankenstein's Monster!Reader Headcanons

A/N: Why? Sometimes I like the ideas I come up with. These are in no particular order in terms of timeline or otherwise, like bare minimum organization period, other than mostly being based in season 1

There is another part to ‘Why Him?” coming soon so keep an eye out for that, assuming I have it out before the hype completely dies if it hasn’t already 🫠. Also @sweatinghoneybee left a really cool analysis on my first headcanon post and you should absolutely read it.

As the old story goes, stolen limbs were sewn together to create you. And with a shock of electricity and the worst pain you have ever felt since, you became something from nothing. Originally after your creator for robbing the gravesites of heroes, the GDA finds you abandoned and Cecil, seeing the potential, decides to take you in and train you.

You’re taught how to hone your abilities through physical and mental disciplines, eventually excelling in hand-to-hand combat, shooting, and academics. Most of all, you’re taught how to survive, to blend into a crowd effortlessly. With a hologram watch(or bracelet depending on your style) that hides the two white streaks in your hair and the scars and stitches that hold your body together, you look as human as it gets. Sure as hell doesn’t feel like it sometimes, if at all.

Your costume is created from a material that can repair itself as fast as it can be pulled apart, making it easy when you have to detach a limb during a mission. Completed with holsters for guns, medical kit, etc.; tactile, not flashy, perfect for working in the shadows.

Once you’re deemed ready to start doing fieldwork, that's exactly where you start. You watch, you learn, you report to Cecil anything noteworthy.

You only really start doing civilian work when you start doing part-time missions with Team Teen and eventually with Mark. Even then you’re something of an urban legend, keeping your distance from civilians as much as possible last time you interacted directly with civilians it didn't end well. Most pictures of you are back shots and the ones of your face were too blurry to make out any defining features save from your signature white streaks and scars/stitches.

You and Mark were sitting across from each other at Burger Mart when he asked, “How come you don’t have a hero name?”

You take a sip of soda as you consider his question. “Why, ‘Weird Stitch Monster Thing and Invincible’ doesn’t scream ‘dynamic duo’ to you?”

After the discussion confession on the roof there was nothing like a formal agreement or secret handshake; the two or you as a duo just felt right, as both heroes and romantically, it was almost instinctive.

Mark rolled his eyes playfully. “Just curious, I’ve seen a lot of people online talking about it.”

You sat back against your side of the booth. “Having a name typically means interacting with civilians on some level regularly, something I clearly don’t do too often because Reasons.”

Mark winced. He knew what you were talking about, your first interaction with civilians gone bad was one of the first stories you told him.

“Besides the whole ‘mysterious person’ thing I got going on is enough for people to remember me by, no hero name required.”

This changed weeks later when some civilian heard Rex Splode call you ‘Corpse Bride’ and the name quickly circulated online.

Mark struggled and failed to not to laugh as you gripped his shoulders with utter panic and disgust. “I don’t care what my hero name is, it will not be something the poor man King Bomb-omb gave me.”

He snorted as he squeezed your hands comfortingly. “We’ll think of something.”

In the early days of your relationship, you weren’t used to casual displays of affection, i.e. holding hands or Mark’s arm casually wrapped around your shoulder. He’s patient with you, always asking if you’re okay before doing anything. Eventually, it’s as natural as breathing to you both.

Compared to your naturally chilly body temperature, Mark’s warmth feels like heaven oh the joys of being a reanimated corpse and a half-alien respectively. Whenever you’re curled up together you wrap your limbs around him and bury your face in his neck, getting close as you possibly can. Not that he’s any better, during the warmer weather the boy’s clinging to you like a koala.

Stealing kisses from each other while on patrol and sparring becomes a regular thing. It gets to a point where your friends/teammates learn to give a warning before they enter a room with the two of you in it, especially when you two began to take things a little further.

When you both have free time you’ll cuddle up in his room and read comic books together quietly. You two don’t talk, you don’t need to, just being in each other’s company was enough.

You are a nerd through and through. Sometimes when you and Mark hang out together you’ll go on science rants and geek out over a recent paper that was published. He never seems to mind though, you’ve even caught him staring at you with an adorably dopey look on his face as he listened to one of your rants

You cut your tangent off and looked at Mark guiltily. “Sorry, didn’t mean to…” You trailed off when you saw the look on his face.

He had his chin propped up by his palm, and he was watching you with a soft look in his eyes and an even softer smile on his face. When he realized you were actually looking at him, he blinked and quickly shook his head. "No no, don't apologize." His cheeks turned a light pink and he scratched the back of his head. "I like listening to you."

You awkwardly tap your fingers against the table. "Yeah?"

He shrugged as if it was the most simplest thing in the world. "Yeah, it's cute."

You look away, if you could blush would probably be pink like him. “I guess it’s fair considered how many Seance Dog tangents I’ve had to sit through.”

“Hey!”

You totally think he’s cute when he goes on his own tangents, don’t lie.

Of course, this means study dates with the classic kiss every time a question was answered correctly. Given your high intelligence and the motivation of getting to kiss you, Mark’s grades improve and Debbie loves you for it.

Speaking of which, when it’s time to meet the parents you charm and are charmed by your boyfriend’s mom. You think of her as a pillar of strength for being a wife and mother to heroes, she thinks you’re good for Mark because you keep him grounded inside and outside of hero life. Nolan was perfectly polite, asking all the right questions a parent should ask their kid’s partner; but you got the sense that he didn't approve of your relationship with Mark. It wasn’t until after his murder of the the Guardians of The Globe and using Mark to massacre Chicago.

As you sat beside his hospital bed, you thought back to the moment he left you and Will in the Burger Mart parking lot. I should have done more to keep him there, I should have ignored Cecil and gone to Chicago and helped…

Shouldn’ts went going to help you now. Your thoughts turned angry as you looked at Mark’s broken body. Omni-Man wanted to use the sweet boy you loved as a weapon. Next time you would be ready, next time you would defend Mark to your last breath.

Later, when you two had a moments alone, you just held each other in his bed.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

You felt his hold on you tighten. “I’m glad you weren’t,” you could feel him begin to shake. “God, if he had killed you- I need you to promise me if he comes back you’ll run.”

You pulled away just enough you were looking him in the eye. “I am not going to leave you! If he comes back we face him or anything else together!”

“I can’t lose you!”

“And I can’t lose you! So fuck running away, fuck you, we’re stronger together!”

“Why are you so stubborn?!”

“Because my boyfriend almost died and he’s asking me to abandon him if he’s ever in that situation again!” Your voice cracked, and this time you tightened your grip on him. “Never ask me to abandon you ever, please.”

The two of you stared at each other silently for a while before Mark sighed, letting his forehead fall against yours. “Okay.”

You let your eyes closed and pressed your palm against his beating heart.

He was here, broken but alive.

You were together.

Things were going to be okay.

“Okay.”

[drazenarts]

*ੈ✩‧₊˚𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕝𝕤: ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕦𝕖! ੈ✩‧₊˚

Pairing: Lensless!Invincible x Reader.

Warnings: None for this chapter, expect smut eventually however and overall dark themes. Mark takes over the world, violent fighting ect. Species extinction and Alien species propaganda and sleeper agent program also discussed.

Tags: Dubcon, Drinking, DrazenArtsFic(I myself am the NSFW).

Word Count: 2,885.

Chapter Links: Chapter 1,

A/N : This work of fiction is about the reader being part of a nearly extinct Alien species called ‘The Bellators,’ who were ancient historical rivals to the Viltrumites. Lensless is not in the Prologue as it’s about Readers last day on her planet. So only read if you want exposition and backstory. Otherwise I’ll see you in the next one hopefully sometime next week?

You gaze out at the beautiful night sky on Paradis, a beautiful but mostly resourceless “safe world” the Viltrumites had mostly ignored. It was given to you and your people by the coalition after your home was taken many centuries ago, or at least that’s how the history goes.

Your people are the stuff of legends, a myth. Long ago the last defenders of the galaxy of Redemptio Subsinctus, one of the first galaxies to be targeted by Viltrumite conquest. It’s said the Bellators gave the Viltrumites a run for their money, but back then, before the Viltrumite civil war, there were many, and your people couldn’t keep up, so those who were left were forced to abandon the planet to avoid extinction and brought here to live out the rest of your days in pitiful disgrace after failing to save the weaker life forms in your galaxy.

As you think about your people's disgraced legacy, a voice interrupts your thoughts.

“______ there you are! I’ve been searching all over the compound for you. Come on, the meeting with the coalition agent is starting soon.”

You quickly turn to see a young man your age his baby blue skin contrasts with your own light lavender hue, your parents from different nations but all bellators nonetheless. “Agustinus.” You murmur, looking at one of your fellow warriors and friend fondly. You don’t say much at first as you follow him back inside towards the building, only making casual talk about the event as you walk the halls.

“So… you think they’ve sent the unopian to talk to us once again?” You ask nonchalantly, a hint of dryness in your voice.

“Well, who else would they send, my dear? He is supposed to be the most relatable to us after all. Nearly extinct, strong. Not very flexible, though.”

You can’t help but laugh at that. You didn’t have a problem with Allen, but his goal was clear: to recruit more sleeper agents to attempt to spy on Viltrum's colonies. Your people are one of the few adaptable enough to make such agents and blend in despite your unusual appearance.

As you both reach the room, you quiet down, the antennas on your little heads slightly wobbling as you come to a stop, taking your positions in the rather small line of eligible recruits.

“My dear Allies and comrades, I’m sure you know why you’re gathered here today is the day you get your assignments. You’ve trained for this, and only the best have been chosen.” You bite back a chuckle at that. A lie to boost morale there were but 15 of you eligible to fight. Your parents were deemed too old, and the younglings were out of the question. Most of you are aged between 18-56. Still, you manage to keep a straight face as Allen begins handing out the mission packets. By the time he gets to you, towards the end of the line, you don’t hesitate grabbing it firmly, a cold expression on your face.

As you open the envelope and turn on the tablet, you’re able to catch the name of the world you’ll be sent to. “Terra.” You mutter in your language. As Allen goes to hand Agustinus his package, you can’t help but notice for the first time that he has a look other than authority on his face for you, pity perhaps? What for? You didn’t need it most of you knew less than half were expected to come back safe. Being forbidden from ever returning home if you were deemed at risk of exposing the remnants of your species if your mission proved unsuccessful. If anything, it was always the younger Bellators looking at him with pity due to him being the last of his kind. You try not to think about that look and figure you’ll read the specifics of the file before going to bed, putting the information away in your bag, and waiting for the coalition official to dismiss you.

Once dismissed, you turn to Agustinus and Nova, a slightly older woman with purple skin like your own and a different antenna variation than yours and Agustinus. “Shall we?” She says, interlocking arms with both of you as you make your way out of the facility. “Yes. We shouldn’t keep Celeste waiting.” You simply manage to say a slight smile forming on your face as Agustinus cheers and fist pumps. “Fuck yeah, we’re tearing up Aurora’s one last time before we go!” The rest of the walk you tune out Agustinus’ excitement as he chats with Nova about old times. Instead, you focus on the dark purple grass beneath your feet as the three of you walk, the walk seems more beautiful than usual, as you pay attention to the orchid colored sunset for the first time and how it casts subtle light on the nearby river as you cross the bridge. You stop for a moment, causing Nova to place a hand on your arm as if to comfort you. “Seems more beautiful knowing it’s probably the last sunset we’ll see, huh?” You can only nod, wondering how many times you’ve missed it or overlooked it and taken it for granted. “At least we still have sunrise to look forward to.” You mention, before catching a whiff of a foul smell, turning to Agustinus. “I thought I told you not to smoke that crap you’re going to kill yourself before we even make it to our missions at this rate!” You scream at him, clearly upset. He’s been smoking some new cyan colored sticks that have been going around this part of the galaxy, and the long term effects don’t exactly look good.

Agustinus glances at you from the corner of his eye, his cyan stick emitting vibrant fumes through the air as he lets it fall from his mouth before slowly stepping on it. “Alright, alright. I’ll put it out, but only out of respect for you and our last night together. You can’t stop me once I’m on my mission, he says with a sly smirk.

You respond to this by climbing onto his back and beginning to yank on his antennas as you continue to make your way to the bar. “I have your coalition ID if you don’t make it back, I swear I’ll pull these out myself!!! We’re all coming back alive and well, so stop being stupid! Team, AN_C forever!!” You scream, yanking at them as he walks around disoriented. Eventually Nova pulls you off of him and walks between the both of you to avoid any more shenanigans as you arrive at Aurora’s.

You gaze up at the half lit pink neon sign one last time before entering. The inside is dark like a nightclub despite being a bar, dim color lights being the only light you have. Today the overall ambiance is mostly blue, the aluminum like surface of the tables helping reflect some of the light around. “____!” A girl with baby pink skin and antennas just like yours rushes to hug you. She is none other than your younger sibling, Celeste.

“Hey, kiddo.” You greet back as you run your hands through her white hair that emits a soft pink hue, staring back into her hazel eyes. “Hey! Watch the hair, and I’m not a child I turn ___(two years younger than yourself) next spring!” She proudly boasts fists on her hips. “Whatever.” You roll your eyes playfully as the four of you sit at one of the booths. Soon enough you all have drinks in hand as you begin chatting away. Eventually the topic comes to Celeste finishing her studies next fall, you can’t help but glare at Nova for asking her of it. “I’m going to be just like you all! Just watch I will finish off Viltrumite scum on my mission so fast you won’t even realize we’ve been apart because I’ll come help you after I save ____!” She cheers excitedly towards Nova. “Can’t wait for you to rescue me.” Nova simply says supportively before shifting the conversation to another topic with Agustinus. As Celeste looks at you for approval, you cross your arms and glare out the window instead, causing her little antennas to go down.

It’s not that you hate Celeste or you’re not proud of her for nearly finishing at the academy, it's just- you know she wants to join the program just like the three of you. Just like most Bellators do. For a Bellator, it is an honor to die in battle. It’s just-… she’s your baby you can’t understand why the fuck she can’t stay home and go to the Academia instead, where it’s safe. Does she not see you volunteered in your family’s name so she wouldn’t have to do the same? Still, you know you can’t stop her, and that discouraging her would only encourage her to defy you more, so you choose to voice your disapproval through silence and indifference instead.

“Excuse me.” A man that doesn’t look like he’s from here pipes up. Probably a passerby. “May I take your picture? It’s just the four of you look so vibrant tonight just chatting away.” At this you nod, pulling out your card. “Make it 4 copies, buddy.” You say as you all huddle around the table for a group photo. As you examine the copies after the man leaves to photograph other people at the bar, you take a moment to point at the back of Agustinus’ head. “Celeste! It was supposed to be a serious photo!” Her fingers are behind his head, looking like extra antennas. “It is!” She exclaims back as she and Agustinus laugh. You can’t help but chuckle as you put yours away along with your card.

You dance the rest of the night away, taking time to share at least one song with each of them. After your fifth or maybe sixth round of drinks, you all decide to call it a night. “I’m going to miss you so bad.” Agustinus is hugging you and Nova crying like a baby while Celeste, in typical little sister fashion, tries to join the little group hug. You allow it, and eventually, after a few minutes, you part ways as Nova and Agustinus live on the opposite side of the fields. Nova gives you one last bittersweet wave as Agustinus clings to her, trying to wipe away his tears with his hand.

“Come on, let’s go home.” You say to Celeste as you finally bring yourself to turn around, knowing most likely your launch pad wouldn’t be next to each other in the morning. You try and walk in silence, mostly staring up at the pink aurora borealis and night stars in the sky, but Celeste stops walking all of a sudden, causing you to look back at her as she stomps her foot on the ground.

“H-hey! I want to know before you go. Why do you hate me? Ever since I told you I want to join the program, you treat me like I don’t exist.” She’s trying her best to hold back drunk tears now as you rush to hug her. “My little star-“ you begin. “I don’t hate you, it's just been- difficult for me to accept you’ll take the same path as me despite me wanting better for you. But nothing and no one will ever destroy my love for you.” You say, doing your best to find the best words possible in between pauses. She seems to reluctantly accept your explanation, a small smile forming on her face, as she hugs you tighter. You remain outside your home with her for a few moments, letting her cry into your chest until she feels better, the last thing you need is your mother seeing you made the baby cry.

As you arrive home, you see your mother at her work table sewing some last minute materials for her work. “Mom!” You scream, leaving Celeste’s side to scold her. “You shouldn’t be working so late.” You grab her hands to impede any further sewing. At this, she gently smiles at you. “This one’s personal, it's a last minute gift from me for your mission.” You pause, piping up, “Then let me help!” As you begin to argue, Celeste takes the opportunity to sneak upstairs she knows better than to get between the two of you. Your mother sighs. “No, your mission is tomorrow, pumpkin, you need your rest.”

You ball your fist and slam it on the table trying to make a point. “In that case, all the more reason for me to stay up and help you, it’s our last night together. Besides tomorrow, I’ll just be sleeping on a small ship till God knows when until I arrive on Saturn.” You open your palm, waving it in the air confidently. “Let me put on some tea, we'll make a whole event out of it.” Your mother sighs in defeat, knowing she could never win against your stubbornness. “Fine, but only because I don’t want to say goodbye to you on bad terms.”

The two of you spend the night chatting away about fond memories, Celeste eventually rejoining you and falling asleep with her head on your lap. The end result of the project was a leather jacket with strange writing that was supposed to be Earth's language. Street style jacket, if you will.

Your mother makes uniforms for the program, so she’d gotten some information about the planet you’d be going to a few days in advance for this. After it’s done, you carefully move Celeste out of your way, setting her head on a cushion as you stand. As you gaze out the window at the sun beginning to peek out again, you stretch out your arms, allowing your mother to put the jacket on you. You then turn to face her as she looks up at you, cupping your cheek in her hand.

“I know I never say it, but I’m proud of you.”

That causes a slight smile that remains on your face even after you’ve said goodbye to your family and made your way to the base, getting ready to report for takeoff. It’s not until you’re sitting inside the small capsule ship that you put on a more serious face as you heed instructions for a safe and successful flight.

As you press the final buttons, you gaze over at the photos in your wallet, the photo from last night and one of your mom with baby Celeste, smiling at it before takeoff. You keep your eyes open as you stare at the orchid atmosphere of your planet one last time, your city, and anything else besides the sky fading out of view with each blink. It doesn’t take long for your small ship to exit the sky, and as it does, you catch a glimpse of a few others, each heading different ways. You attempt to spot your friends, but no such luck the ships are gone from view faster than you can wave at them. You look around at the vast space of the universe, lulling yourself to sleep before you know it.

You don’t even know how long you napped in the quiet darkness of space, but when you finally wake, you panic. “Ah right, the files!” You’d spent all night with your family you’d forgotten to review them. Seeing you still have a day or so before you arrive on Earth, you quickly begin looking them over.

You learn about Earth, the nations, and a few of the customs that’ll help you blend in. As you turn on your camouflage watch, you flip through a few avatars, trying to pick out a human appearance for yourself. After you’ve settled on one you like, you lock it in as you begin to read about significant people on the planet. Then finally you get to the chapter about your target, the Viltrumite.

“Mark Grayson.” You mutter the name to yourself in disgust as you stare at his face. As you read about him and how he’s been left in charge of the earth for the time being, the main Viltrumite in charge, Nolan, being forced to take leave due to an uprising on another important planet, you raise an eyebrow at his personality description. “How unorthodox.” You state, as the file describes, behaviors a bit unusual of a Viltrumite. He’s crude and reckless, often taking the time to toy with his opponents rather than destroy them as efficiently as possible. You don’t understand it at all, you were taught Viltrumites are cold and calculated, prioritizing efficiency above all else. “Still, even if it doesn’t bark like a Viltrumite, it’ll still bleed like one-“ as the words leave your mouth, you quickly catch yourself and curse the word “arrogantia” under your breath. Even if he doesn’t behave as expected, he’s still a Viltrumite, and you shouldn’t underestimate him. Arrogance is one of the 8 pillars that lead to the downfall of your own empire after all. You pinch yourself, sighing gently as you promise to yourself to not be so overconfident when facing him, for you have no intentions of repeating the mistakes your ancestors once made.

[dailyanarchistposts]

You and your friends already compose an informal organizational structure capable of tremendous achievements. Here’s the theory to go with that practice.

You will need ( tools or supplies ):

A circle of friends

Trust

Consensus

Secrecy

A good idea

Plans for different scenarios

Structures to respond to unexpected scenarios

A little courage (may be optional, but should be at hand just in case)

Action!

Subsequent discussion

Step 1

Chances are, even if you have never been involved in direct action before, even if this is the first radical website you have ever encountered, that you are already part of an affinity group—the structure proven most effective for guerrilla activities of all kinds. An affinity group is a circle of friends who, knowing each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and backgrounds, and having already established a common language and healthy internal dynamics, set out to accomplish a goal or series of goals.

An affinity group is not a permanent arrangement, but a structure of convenience, ever mutable, assembled from the pool of interested and trusted people for the duration of a given project. Once assembled, this group may choose to be “closed,” if security dictates: that is, whatever goes on within the group is never spoken of outside it, even after all its activities are long completed. A particular team can act together over and over as an affinity group, but the members can also participate in other affinity groups, break up into smaller affinity groups, and act outside the affinity group structure.

The size of an affinity group can range from two to, say, fifteen individuals, depending on the action in question; but no group should be so numerous that an informal conversation about pressing matters is impossible. You can always split up into two or more groups, if there are enough of you. In actions that require driving, the easiest system is to have one affinity group to each vehicle.

Affinity groups can be practically invincible. They cannot be infiltrated, because all members share history and intimacy with each other, and no one outside the group need be informed of their plans or activities. They are more efficient than the most professional military force: they are free to adapt to any situation; they need not pass their decisions through any complicated process of ratification; all individuals can act and react instantly without waiting for orders, yet with a clear idea of what to expect from one another. The mutual admiration and inspiration on which they are founded make them very difficult to demoralize. In stark contrast to capitalist, fascist, and communist structures, they function without any need for hierarchy or coercion: participation in an affinity group can be fun as well as effective. Most important of all, they are motivated by shared desire and loyalty, rather than profit, duty, or any other compensation or abstraction: small wonder whole squads of riot police have been held at bay by small affinity groups armed with only the tear gas canisters shot at them.

Affinity groups operate on the consensus model: decisions are made collectively, based on the needs and desires of every individual involved. Democratic votes, in which the majority get their way and the minority must hold their tongues, are anathema to affinity groups: if a group is to function smoothly and hold together, every individual involved must be satisfied. In advance of any action, the members of a group establish together what their personal and collective goals are, what their readiness for risk is (as individuals and as a group), and what their expectations of each other are. These matters determined, they formulate a plan.

Since action situations are always unpredictable and plans rarely come off as anticipated, an affinity group usually has a dual approach to preparing for these. On the one hand, plans are made for different scenarios: if A happens, we’ll inform each other by X means and switch to plan B; if X means of communication is impossible, we’ll reconvene at site Z at Q o’clock. On the other hand, structures are put in place that will be useful even if what happens resembles none of the imagined scenarios: internal roles are divided up, communication systems (such as two-way radios, or coded phrases for conveying secret information or instructions aloud) are established, general strategies (for maintaining composure, keeping sight of one another in confusing environments, or blocking police charges, to name some examples) are prepared, emergency escape routes are charted, legal support is readied in case anyone gets arrested. After an action, a shrewd affinity group will meet (again, if necessary, in a secure location) to discuss what went well, what could have gone better, and what comes next.

An affinity group answers to itself alone—this is one of its great strengths. Affinity groups are not burdened by the procedural protocol of other organizations, the difficulties of reaching accord among strangers or larger numbers of people, or the limitations of answering to a body not immediately involved in the action. At the same time, just as the members of an affinity group strive for consensus with each other, each affinity group should strive for a similarly considerate relationship with other individuals and groups—or, at the very least, to complement others’ approaches wherever possible, even if these others do not recognize the value of their contribution. People should be thrilled about the participation or intervention of affinity groups, not resent or fear them; they should come to recognize the value of the affinity group model, and so come to apply it themselves, from seeing it succeed and from benefiting from that success.

An affinity group can work together with other affinity groups, in what is sometimes called a cluster. The cluster formation enables a larger number of individuals to act with the same advantages a single affinity group has. If speed or secrecy is called for, representatives of each group can meet ahead of time, rather than the entirety of all groups; if coordination is of the essence, the groups or representatives can arrange methods for communicating through the heat of the action. Over years of collaborating together, different affinity groups can come to know each other as well as they know themselves, and become accordingly more comfortable and capable together.

When several clusters of affinity groups need to coordinate especially massive actions—for a big demonstration, for example—they can hold a spokescouncil meeting. In this author’s humble experience, the most effective, constructive spokescouncils are those that limit themselves to providing a forum in which different affinity groups and clusters can inform one another (to whatever extent is wise) of their intentions, rather than seeking to direct activity or dictate principles for all. Such an unwieldy format is ill-suited to lengthy discussion, let alone debate; and whatever decisions are made, or limitations imposed, by such a spokescouncil will inevitably fail to represent the wishes of all involved. The independence and spontaneity that decentralization provides are our greatest advantages in combat with an enemy that has all the other advantages, anyway—why sacrifice these?

The affinity group is not only a vehicle for changing the world—like any good anarchist practice, it is also a model for alternative worlds, and a seed from which such worlds can grow. In an anarchist economy, decisions are not made by boards of directors, nor tasks carried out by masses of worker drones: affinity groups decide and act together. Indeed, the affinity group/cluster/spokescouncil model is simply another incarnation of the communes and workers’ councils that formed the backbone of earlier successful (however short-lived) anarchist revolutions.

Not only is the affinity group the best format for getting things done, it’s practically essential. You should always attend any event that might prove exciting in an affinity group—not to mention the ones that won’t be otherwise! Without a structure that encourages ideas to flow into action, without friends with whom to brainstorm and barnstorm and build up momentum, you are paralyzed, cut off from much of your own potential; with them, you are multiplied by ten, or ten thousand! “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world,” as Margaret Mead wrote: “it’s the only thing that ever has.” She was referring, whether she knew the jargon or not, to affinity groups. If every individual in every action against the state and status quo participated as part of a tight-knit, dedicated affinity group, this revolution would be over in a few short years.

You don’t need to find a revolutionary organization to join to get active—you and your friends already comprise one! Together, you can change the world. Stop wondering what’s going to happen, or why nothing’s happening, and start deciding what will happen. Don’t just show up at the next demonstration, protest, punk show, traffic jam, or day at work in passive spectator mode, waiting to be told what to do. Get in the habit of trading crazy ideas about what should happen at these events—and of making those ideas reality!

An affinity group could be a sewing circle, a bicycle maintenance collective, or a traveling clown troupe; it could come together for the purpose of starting a local chapter of Food Not Bombs, discovering how to turn a bicycle into a record player, or forcing a multinational corporation out of business through a carefully orchestrated program of sabotage. Affinity groups have planted and defended community gardens, built and burned down and squatted buildings, organized neighborhood childcare programs and wildcat strikes; individual affinity groups routinely initiate revolutions in the visual arts and popular music. Your favorite band—they were an affinity group. It was an affinity group that invented the airplane. Another, composed of disgruntled Nietzsche enthusiasts, nearly succeeded in assassinating Adolph Hitler during the Second World War. One set up this website.

Step 2

For affinity groups and larger structures similarly based on consensus and cooperation to function, it is essential that everyone involved be able to rely on each other to come through on their commitments. When a plan is agreed upon, each individual in a group and each group in a cluster should choose one or more critical aspects of the preparation and execution of the plan and offer to bottomline them. Bottomlining the supplying of a resource or the completion of a project means guaranteeing that it will be accomplished somehow, no matter what. If you’re operating the legal hotline for your group during a demonstration, you owe it to them to handle it even if you get sick; if your group promises to provide the banners for an action, make sure they’re ready, even if that means staying up all night the night before because the rest of your affinity group never showed up. Over time you’ll learn how to handle crises, and who can be counted on in them—just as others will learn how much they can count on you.

Step 3

Although one of the rules of thumb for affinity groups is that they should not be so large as to need formal structures for discussions, larger meetings—between clusters of affinity groups, for example—may require them. Be warned: using such protocol unnecessarily will bog down discussions and alienate participants, and can even foster needless antagonism and drama. On the other hand, if an assembly shares good faith in a given approach and works out its details together, such structures can make group decision-making quicker, easier, and more responsive to the needs and interests of everyone involved. No system is better than the people who participate in it; make sure in advance that everyone is comfortable with the format you use.

In one common format, the discussion goes around a circle, each person taking a turn to speak. In another, suited better to larger gatherings, the group begins by agreeing on a facilitator, an individual who will help keep the discussion constructive and on topic. Another individual volunteers to “take stack,” keeping track of the order in which people raise their hands to speak; if people feel it is important to make sure different demographics represented in the group get equal time speaking, this person can take a separate stack for each, and alternate between them. Next, individuals propose items for the agenda of the discussion, then come to consensus on an order for these items and, if time is pressing, a time limit for the discussion of each. During the discussion process, individuals can ask to respond directly to questions, so the group doesn’t have to wait until the stack comes around to them to hear their response. Individuals can also make comments on the process of the discussion, urging people to focus when they are getting distracted, or proposing a break so people can stretch their legs or discuss matters in smaller groups. When it’s time to make a decision on an issue, individuals make proposals, propose amendments, and then address concerns until the group reaches consensus or the closest thing to it.

[bizarrequazar]

GJ and ZZH Updates — March 3-9

previous week || all posts || following week

This is part of a weekly series collecting updates from and relating to Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan.

This post is not wholly comprehensive and is intended as an overview, links provided lead to further details. Dates are in accordance with China Standard Time, the organization is chronological. My own biases on some things are reflected here. Anything I include that is not concretely known is indicated as such, and you’re welcome to do your own research and draw your own conclusions as you see fit. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or additions. :)

[Glossary of names and terms] [Masterlist of my posts about the situation with Zhang Zhehan]

03-03 → The whaler MistyRose posted a screenshot of account stats that can only be seen by the account holder for the official Ranyi Music YouTube channel (associated with the Zhang Sanjian songs.) This suggests that at the least she has some insider connection with the scam that allowed her to receive the screenshot personally, and it's possible that she's the one running the account herself.

→ 361° posted two photo ads featuring Gong Jun. (1129 kadian)

→ Za posted another teaser photo ad featuring Gong Jun. (1129 kadian)

→ The Instagram posted six photos of "Zhang Zhehan" and "Zhang Mama" and four of an aquarium.

03-04 → Gong Jun posted a commercial for the makeup brand Za, announcing that he is their new global spokesperson. This was reposted by his studio.

→ Za posted five photo ads featuring Gong Jun. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] (1129 kadian on the first)

→ The Instagram posted a video of the most recent scam concert.

→ Za held a livestream to promote the new endorsement with Gong Jun. During this, a number of people with obviously CPF usernames won several giveaways, and the streamer reportedly said "Oh [you're] also a fan of Zhehan" to one of them. Sources: [1] [2]

→ 361° posted a promotional video featuring Gong Jun. Fan Observation: The video shows him colouring flowers in with red. In the final shot one flower is still left uncoloured, recalling Zhou Zishu's plum blossom mural in Word of Honor.

03-05 → Za posted a promotional video (1129 kadian) and two photo ads [1] [2] featuring Gong Jun.

→ 361° posted three photo ads featuring Gong Jun.

→ Za posted three wallpapers featuring Gong Jun.

03-06 → Gong Jun posted five photos ads of himself for L'Oreal.

→ Za posted a promotional video featuring Gong Jun.

→ Some of the old essays posted by Zhang Sanjian at the very beginning of the scam (early 2022) were reposted, but edited to remove the implications against Gong Jun and CPFs. It's been discussed quite bit by now that trying to appeal to solo fans at the expense of CPFs so early on was the scam's biggest mistake, as it caused CPFs to become sceptical and begin investigations. This is not the first time that the scam has shown signs of wanting to backtrack on that move.

03-07 → The Fox Spirit Matchmaker Weibo posted a promotional image of Gong Jun's character to celebrate the show reaching 4 million viewer reservations. Caption: "Refreshing and clear, with eyebrows like poetry. Dongfang Yuechu @ Gong Jun Simon seems to be the person in the painting."

→ Gong Jun posted a short commercial for Za to his Douyin. Fan Observation: The product is called Magnetic (贴贴, tietie) Powder, the same word fans use for how Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan would often bump against each other when they were working together. I could be wrong, but I couldn't find any evidence of this product existing prior to Gong Jun's endorsement.

→ Gong Jun's studio posted a little video celebrating Fox Spirit Matchmaker's milestone. Caption: "Pure fire is invincible🔥Candied haws never leaves the hand✌️ #Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red Moon Chapter has more than 4 million reservations#, @ Gong Jun Simon's new mission props are now distributed!" The same was also posted to the studio's Douyin.

→ Za posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

03-08 → Gong Jun posted four photo ads he did for L'Oreal to his Xiao Hong Shu.

→ GXG posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ 361° posted a video voiced by Gong Jun for International Women's Day. (1129 kadian)

→ Za posted a behind the scenes video of their commercial featuring Gong Jun. (1129 kadian)

→ Gong Jun posted four photos of himself. Caption: "Happy holidays! Also share my half-day leisure 😌"

→ Za posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ Gong Jun posted a silly video of himself to his Douyin. Caption: "I heard that this is how millions of people move their mirrors 🤳" BGM is What You Won't Do For Love by Bobby Caldwell.

03-09 → The scam announced a short film entitled "August" directed by "Zhang Zhehan", using footage that the scam gang took during the bike trip in August 2022. The intention of this is very obviously to have search results for the film come up with information about 813.

Additional Reading: → N/A

previous week || all posts || following week

[loverwithalittledagger]

wip wednesday I guess

The current Kazper fic im working on (hanahaki and 5in1 tropes with 4 major character deaths before things works out)

-------

1.

This understanding is as much as a curse as the flowers were, it comes too late to change anything - but from then on, when the night is quiet and a breeze that feels like a sharp smile and a hint of danger on the horizon curls through the Slat, Kaz will trek out to a quiet unmarked place under a tree where a bright rose bush blooms no matter the season and sit there alone with only regrets and the ghost of the man who loved him for company.

-------

3.

"Would it have made a difference then?" Jesper asks quietly, staring into his drink. Emotionally, this feels the same to him as discussing the weather or a very distant past. These feelings mattered to a person that he once was, he's stayed up long enough tracing his mind over the emotional pathways of his memories that lead to the same numb nerve endings.

He's at peace with those choices now, it's hard to not eventually find peace with nothingness, hard to be angry at a lack and hole left behind where something probably should have been, but for the sake of that previous Jesper, the one who loved the man next to him with everything he had in him and then gave it all up to keep his role and his duty, that Jesper deserved to have the question asked, even if he no longer cared about the answer in the same way.

"Maybe. I don't know." Kaz was looking away now, shoulders hunched in just slightly with the weight of an unnamed emotion. It looked like guilt to Jesper's eye.

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Macdoc content: Dear Diary chap 3 snippet

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Oddly everything has been quiet on the supervillian arch nemesis thing. (I can't believe I have a super-villian arch nemesis, I have a weird life already, and he's definitely the weirdest part of it) 

It's oddly comforting, and maybe I shouldn't say this, but you're a book and you can't respond to shame me, but there is something comforting in knowing that he's out there. Yes, he does try to kill me, and I would really prefer to stay alive, but with him I know where I stand. The hero, here to save the day, the genius with my pocket knife, where I have to use every trick I have to win, and he's the villain and I didn't believe in villains like that before him, he's almost cartoonish, I believe there are bad people sure, but an honest to goodness arch-nemesis with real actual supervillain traps and plots and lairs. I feel like, when he's the enemy things become simple. Straightforward. Me against him, good against evil. 

He'll probably kill me one day, it's how these things go. But there's also a comfort in knowing that. Nothing else is going to get me, it's like I'm invincible until that point. Fated even, for this cat and mouse game, and when I'm dealing with everything else, it's easier somehow because they're not him, and so I can survive and I can save the day, I've beaten him so there's nothing I can't do. 

[wyldloganroth-blog]

Ranni: Loki or Queen Medb?

Weird question, I know, but just lemme explain myself first. Before the release of the game, both Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin stated that this game would borrow many elements from both Norse and Celtic mythologies to create the setting and lore for Elden Ring, and it's pretty obvious to see.

Most of the demigods that make up the family of Radagon, Rennala, and Marika more closely mirror to the Aesir of Norse myth than anything else, though certain relations and inspirations aren't exactly 1 to 1 with the myth, but it's fine. So let's start comparing our Empyreans and see what we can gather through process of elimination.

-Radagon is obviously our Thor counterpart, what with the red hair, signature hammer, and tendency to kill Giants.

-Marika is a little less obvious, but I'm inclined to say she's our Odin, seeing as how she's the head of the Golden Order and is most known for hanging high above the ground, much like how Odin hung himself to gain the knowledge of the universe.

-Radahn could be our Tyr, the god of war, but that's about it when it comes to comparisons.

-Malenia is not just our signature Valkyrie Lady, but I would bet money that she's our Frigga/Freyja equivalent, as she's the Queen of the Valkyries, and Malenia leads a group of other like-minded women who share some aspects of her moveset.

-Rhykard is our Jormungandr/Midgardsormr, being the serpent of blasphemy and leading the charge to destroy the Golden Order much like the World Serpent himself. You could make the argument that he's also Nidhoggr, which is also valid, but I see that more with Messmer than anything, as he's the only other snake related character.

-Maliketh being Fenrir is another one, as the canine son of Loki was the one to ultimately kill Odin in the myth during Ragnarok, so Marika controlling the Rune of Destined Death makes sense.

-Morgott could be our Heimdall, as he's the last bastion of the Golden Order before the player character makes their way to the final portion of the game.

-This one is probably a stretch, but Godrick could be Sleipnir? Odin's horse is the only one that comes to mind when making comparisons for the bosses of Elden Ring as they both have an unnatural amount of limbs, so eh? Also, Sleipnir is a horse and Godrick is just a freak with an inferiority complex, so that's both reasons why Odin/Marika doesn't want him that much lmao

-The Fire Giant is more likely than not Surtr, as he's the only literal fire giant in Norse Mythology that would aid in the destruction of Asgard with his giant sword, or I guess in the case of Elden Ring, a giant trash can lid.

And that's all I can really think of off the top of my head for the Norse side of the equation, but the question remains: where does Ranni fit into all of this? Well, one of my theories is that I'm at least 95% confident she's our Loki. How so? Well, I coincidentally left out one other demigod out of the list, and for good reason. Godwyn the Golden was the first ever demigod to be slain by mysterious assailants, ordered by daughter of Radagon and Rennala, Ranni the Witch. It sounds awfully familiar to the Death of Beldr, the invincible god of light, who was struck down by a dart or arrow made of mistletoe crafted by Loki, the god of mischief. Beldr's death would usher in total chaos and was the first step into the inevitable apocalypse of the Norse pantheon. The Black Knife Assassins were the mistletoe, Godwyn was Beldr, and Ranni the Witch is our Loki.

That should be the end of the discussion, no? We figured out the comparison pretty neatly, didn't we? Well, yes and no. Ranni being Loki makes perfect sense in my book, but we forgot to mention anything related to the Celtic myths that were also a big inspiration for Elden Ring. And they are indeed a pretty big part when talking about the Hornsent, the Carian scholars of Raya Lucaria, and so many others.

Rennala of the Full Moon, mastery of the glintstone school of magic, is probably the game's version of Danu, mother goddess of the Tuatha De Danaan, pantheon of the Irish gods. Her leadership over the school and mother to half the demigods on our list gives weight to the theory of her being out Queen goddess of the Tuatha De.

Mohg and the rest of the Hornsent could be categorized as Fomorians, enemies to the Tuatha De. They represent many things, such as death, destruction, and other stereotypical "evil" things, which make sense. They were lepers of the Golden Capital, ridiculed and shunned away from the light of the Erdtree, our Yggdrasil of the game, for they were deemed cursed and unholy creatures. Mohg himself was seen by the community as one of the only truly evil characters until the DLC came out.

Godfrey could very well be our Dagda, king of the Tuatha De and first Elden Lord. The Dagda is the pinnacle of strength and manliness, which couldn't be any more truer of a statement than that. Godfrey shatters the very ground beneath his feet with just his body alone, and isn't above just thrashing the player character with the might of a hundred wrestlers and with the discipline of a tavern brawler.

Blaidd, everyone's favorite wolf man, is our Setanta or Cu Chullain, the Hound of Chullain, and son of Lugh of the Tuatha De. The fact that he's a werewolf kinda makes the connection between the two characters have a little bit more staying power. A strong warrior who also can be described as a crazed beast in battle makes sense for the beastman with a giant sword. Too bad Cu Chullain died after his revolt against Queen Medb after killing leagues of her own soldiers.

But who is Queen Medb? Well, in the myth, she was a lover of many men, warrior queen to many soldiers, and master strategist in times of war and conquest. Later years would call her a descendant of the fae, as other Celtic stories tend to go, but that isn't always the case. She was however the last opponent Cu Chullain would face before she ordered all the sons of all the soldiers he killed and sworn enemies to the Hound to chain him and kill him with his own weapon. Some iterations of the tale would say one of the reasons for her antagonism towards Cu was his refusal to sleep with her or take her hand in marriage, though that would be an incorrect summary of what happened there. But I think Elden Ring takes that one step further.

If Ranni is to be our Queen Medb, then her one true follower, Blaidd, our stand in for Cu Chullain, would be a kind of ironic take on the myth. Blaidd wants so badly to be the witch's consort, but she refuses his advancement, and seeks the player character out for their hand in marriage instead after furthering her questline far enough. She wants to erase this world and remake it in her image, with us by her side, even barring her trusted Hound. A fun, yet twisted take on the killing of the warrior formerly known as Setanta.

So I ask the audience once again: is Ranni Loki or is she Queen Medb? Or is she both? Or maybe she's neither and is instead a secret third thing? (I also would have said Scathach, Cu's mentor, as she is also a demigod who's proficient in magic, but I like the Medb theory more cuz it's funnier) I'll let y'all decide on that one in the comments. Personally for me, it could go either way, but I'm more leaning towards Loki, since there's a stronger connection there than the Medb argument, as the only real reason I brought that side up is because Blaidd just resembles Cu Chullain way too much for me to ignore.

Also, please don't ask me about who I think the Fingers, Astel, or the Elden Beast are supposed to be. My knowledge of both Norse and Celtic myths only goes so far, so until further notice or I'm proven otherwise, I'm just gonna say they're either fairies and/or representations of Christianization. That's all from me BYE

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Chapter 5: Heroes Never Fall

Narrated by Perlin.

Narrator: I think I can finish the draft today. Only the final evaluation is left.

Narrator: There has been much discussion over Yunikina, even now.

Narrator: Some say that she could have built a great empire, if she had half the ambition of the Queen of Arms.

Narrator: She clearly wasn't a warmonger, though, so they thought that she let her talents go to waste.

Narrator: Of course, it's unreasonable to berate a historical figure with modern perspectives.

Narrator: In the past and even now, people hold her might and flawless record in high esteem, hoping for a repeat of her deeds.

Narrator: With the recent rise of anti-war sentiments, she has become a symbol for peace and freedom.

Narrator: More works of art based on her were released. She has become synonymous with the terms Girl Commander, Unforgettable Romance, and Patriot.

Narrator: Yunikina now shoulders so many romantic ideals that her actual life seems boring in comparison.

You: Do you think it's boring?

Narrator: Like many kids in North Kingdom, I grew up listening to stories about Yunikina.

Narrator: But I was never into fighting, so her stories didn't inspire ambition in me, but an indescribable peace of mind.

Narrator: North Kingdom is becoming peaceful now. When I was little, there was always a war going on.

Narrator: I remember watching the war reports, seeing the soldiers' tired faces, burned pictures, and those little sprouts growing in bullet casings.

Narrator: I could almost understand why the invincible commander always regarded herself with a hint of sadness, why she could wield the Sword of Legend, and why I feel safe whenever I hear stories about her.

Narrator: We were both born in times of peace and scarred by war. I began to wonder if history is indeed moving forward, or simply going around in circles.

Narrator: Eagle never sang about war. He only praised the beauty of bygone things, reminded Yunikina and her people of their home that once was, and showed them the way forward.

Narrator: Perhaps that is what I truly want to do. To be calm while I reflect on the past, and maybe have some sort of revelation.

You: Is it why you chose to major in military history?

Narrator: Probably. I don't know if this story has answered your question.

Narrator: If I must say something... I am grateful for her part in North Kingdom's history, and for being my childhood hero.

Narrator: Also, perhaps I was wrong before with what I said.

You: Huh?

Narrator: A hero's story never ends, because memories are never-ending songs.

Narrator: Regardless of time or space, the will to uphold freedom and peace will continue to light the way forward.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

[megaboy335]

WSJ Serialization Round - September 2023

It's Jump serialization season so I decided to write short reviews of each new title and give final thoughts on the series ending. I'll update the post with my thoughts on the other two new series and whatever ends next week. Discussion about Fabricant 100, Tenmaku Cinema, and the new series MamaYuyu below Edit: Added thoughts for Do Retry and Kagurabachi Edit 2: Added thoughts for Two on Ice and Ayakashi Triangle

Ending Series 1. Fabricant 100 - 37 chapters (Score 4/10) The Golden Future Cup winner curse strikes again. Fabricant 100 was the 2021 winner and it comes from an assistant of Yusei Matsui. I saw red flags right away with the concept. Why is the most powerful fabricant paired with the most valuable human? They're basically invincible when combined together. Sure enough the early opponents didn't put up much of a challenge (the later opponents weren't much better either). The main character Ashibi and #100 join an organization and the series is forever locked into the battle manga angle. Shortly afterwards, Fabricant 100 pivots into exploring the meaning of life and questioning how to become the ideal human. These can be deep questions that perhaps could have been explored if the series wasn't so dead set on being a battle manga. These two sides of the series were always at odds with itself. Some of the Fabricants showed they could coexist with humans... until they couldn't due to internal instincts to steal body parts. The powers steadily had to become edgier to make the life commentary look smart. The art was rarely anything worth mentioning. I would say it peaked early and the story meandered around for a majority of its run. Instead of having 100 Fabricants, there should have been 10-20 who each lived with humans under unique circumstances. That could have shaken Ashibi's morale resolve at every turn. In the end, the series gave reasons for how Fabricants came into existence and #100 made a selfish yet selfless choice for the first time ever. I hope the author has a more straightforward vision for their work next time. If only we lived in a timeline where Red Hood survived 36 weeks. 2. Tenmaku Cinema - 21 chapters (Score 7/10) At the end of last year, the duo behind Shokugeki no Souma returned with a new series about film making. It focused on the process, tools, and management of creating an amateur film. The story begins with the main character Shinichi finding himself possessed by the ghost of a screenwriter named Tenmaku. The ghost character sees the talented young actress Hinaki and immediately becomes inspired to draft a film based on his perception of her life titled "The Shore". Hinaki reads the script and wants to help as much as possible. Her decision comes from 1) the relatability of the story to her own life (without ever knowing its technically based on her) and 2) the desire to have fun with her school peers for once. From this point the series remains squarely focused on bringing this film to life. We see the ups and downs to film production such as sound, prop setting, music, and location scouting. I wished the series devoted a chapter to simply showing The Shore, but I also think it ultimately didn't matter because Hinaki is the film's protagonist in the literally sense. Between walking home, going to the beach, school, or accepting her mom, those are all moments she can bring out organically from her own experiences and desires. The art was amazing and well detailed as you would expect from Tosh. I thought giving Shinichi a spirit partner was kind of an old school throwback since that's a common troupe of the late 90s/2000s era. Its shame Tenmaku and Shinichi got very little time to interact outside of film making. The biggest weakness is while the manga comes off fairly complete, its also shallow. They only made a single movie, so not a lot actually happened over the 21 chapter run. I think the reason it failed is simple: Oshi no Ko, Chainsaw Man, and Sakamoto Days easily fill the void of movie inspired series. Unfortunately there was no place for a series like Tenmaku Cinama to explore the creation process at a ground level in the current manga climate. At least Tosh and Tsukada will be back with a one shot next spring. We haven't seen the last of them. 3. Do Retry - 19 Chapters (Score 4/10)

I've had my eye on Jun Kirarazaka since Bone Collection. That was a bad series with the art in particular being its weakest point, but I thought the characters had some charm. It was like a modern day Urusei Yatsura with an exorcist series skin. Afterwards they did assistant work under the famous Yusei Matsui and here they are again with an historical boxing series.

Right away its obvious his artwork had improved substantially. There is more detail, better composition, and it had a good handle on portraying the setting. I was very impressed with the first chapter. However, problems quickly began to crop up. As the popularity tanked and art deteriorated, it looked more and more like a Yusei series. Kirarazaka doesn't have the imagination to make it compliment what he's drawing to convey. This could be seen most in the opponents our main character faced. There was a guy with a big arm and another with super slates eyes. Its exactly like the exaggerated features you would expect in a Matsui series, who is able to normalize those features with unique panel compositions. The designs in Do Retry came off ugly and out of place for this setting.

The story itself was fine with enough runtime to have 3 main opponents. As a cancelled title, Kirarazaka had to rush through the final arc scenario. Its not hard to imagine how a long term plot of slowly piecing together a mystery about the missing father would have unfolded. I liked the overarching theme of pushing forward despite adversity. The final chapter time skipped to present and we got to see the main character through the pov of his grandson. That is one of the more clever cancelled final chapters I've seen in awhile.

Honestly, the final chapter saved the series somewhat for me. Kirarazaka dropped the Matsui-ness and got to be himself again. It was like the return to form that I wanted since the beginning. I still think this mangaka can land a hit someday. He needs to figure out how to balance his character writing with his newly developed art skills. Do Retry is a respectable attempt, but this wasn't it. I hope he can keep improving and find a style that works for him. 4. Ayakashi Triangle (AyaTri) - 144 Chapters (Score 8/10) Kentaro Yabuki is a prolific manga artist whose career dates back to the late 90s with his debut series Yamato Gensouki at age 19. Since then he's become known for pushing the boundaries of shonen ecchi series to their upper extreme limited. In 2020, Yabuki returned to the weekly magazine with a new ecchi battle series titled Ayakashi Triangle. The most apparent thing right away was that it had a heavier emphasis on the characters and less on making ecchi scenes. It eventually became even clearer how this series was a soft reboot/continuation of Yamato Gensouki which was cancelled in 2 volumes. While the original has very little lore impact on Ayatri, the biggest connection is original Ayakashi Medium is the previous protagonist Iyo. In retrospect, when Male Matsuri split off I should have considered that it might kick off the end game scenario. At the time I thought it was just another subplot to mess with Suzu. The series was more daily life centric in the WSJ days, and more plot focused after it transferred to Jump+. The publication didn't come with any substantial change in content. Though Ayatri was already too spicy for Viz. It was a miracle they kept it as long as they did. I think the series landed in a good place. In fact Shirogane and Suzu acknowledged my long held idea that she might be able to control Matsuri's gender at will. The daily lives of the characters will continue onwards with hijinks always happening. Yet, I also feel unsatisfied because the final boss battle was against a remote controlled puppet. It makes sense within the series for the Goyosen to be the manifestation grudges from Iyo's time, but its underwhelming as an action climax sequence. However for completing a few ideas from Yamato Gensouki, I think it worked in that area. Yabuki has always been a creative artist. He specializes in minimal panel layouts with dynamic action that is easy to follow. It's a style he perfected over the years and still be seen all over Ayatri. As a weekly series, I would say his art and color pages weren't as good compared to the monthly Darkness years. The weekly color pages on Jump+ weren't particularly memorable for the most part, but his compositions are still way ahead of his peers. Regardless, its been a treat to experience a Yabuki series on a weekly schedule. I think Ayatri will be remembered as the series that didn't introduce anything ground breaking, and yet connects Yabuki's carrer from the start to present. He's an artist you read because the content is sweet comfort food. Yabuki often doesn't often stay gone for long, so I'm sure he'll back before we know it. I look forward to whatever he cooks up next.

New Series #1 - MamaYuyu Weekly Shonen Jump has been a save heaven from the plague of fantasy isekai that has consumed the industry, so I was worried when the preview material talked about heroes and the demon lord. Thankfully that doesn't appear to be the case. We're introduced to a hero from a different world where the demon lord is far from defeated. The main character Corleo gets to learn what it means to be a hero through watching his actions. However, the hero sacrifices his life to save this town from the demon lord of his world. Chapter 1 was a long winded prologue to our hero's origin story. I think it could have been streamlined to get the point without beating readers over the head with the conflicted thoughts of Corleo. It also went overboard on defining a Hero. The paneling was unusual, but not necessarily off putting. I hope the author can handle it better with shorter chapters. I would say this is a middle of the road chapter 1. It's hard to pinpoint the exact direction of the story at this stage. My guess is what it will become a battle manga and the mom demon and hero will have to travel together. We already know there are other worlds so the framework is there for a long journey. Time will tell how receptive readers are to this concept.

New Series #2 - Kagurabachi I feel like I don't have much to say about this new series. Its a sword themed with sorcery like you would see in Demon Slayer/Jujutsu Kaisen. The first chapter played out a little differently than the usual Ch.1 template. It was a prologue in the first half and then the real chapter in the back half. You can feel the dad's passion for his craft and the child's desire to match that someday. The dialogue was a little dry, but I thought it worked well with the art style. In the back half, the art got shaper to convey the change in tone. Usually a chapter 1 would show a character like the dad getting killed and then the incident would create a lifelong motivation for the protagonist. Choosing to pause that story and leave it a mystery is an interesting approach. Overall, I think the minimal exposition gives it a stronger than usual first chapter. It gives room for the characters to be the center of attention. The time skip leaves you wondering what exactly happened and how far the main character will go in enacting revenge. The strongest point of the debut is easily the art. I'll be going forward to seeing how the story unfolds in the coming weeks. New Series #3 - Two on Ice Two on Ice isn't a bad series, in fact I would say it has some solid potential. The first chapter is a prologue story about how the protagonist meet the main heroine and became inspired to take figure skating seriously. Several years later, they meet up once again and he's given the chance to be her partner on the ice rink. It's a solid start for character writing with clear motivations and paths for the story to take. The weaker aspect is the art work. There are places were I thought its not good enough to convey what the manga artist hopes. I think these are pretty minor nitpicks in the grand scheme because the love for Figure Skating can clearly be felt. I'm not sure if this kind of topic can succeed in Jump, but I wish them the best of luck.

[clairewritesfanfics]

Quick Transmigration: Villain Creation System MASTERLIST

Pairing: Mark Grayson x Reader x Invincible Variants

Synopsis:

You died. Literally. The process itself was nothing special. The interesting part is what happened after. Instead of the abyss or paradise, a mysterious voice strikes up a deal with you in front of your fresh corpse.

[I am the Villain Creation System, if you want a second chance at life, then you must corrupt the souls of various Mark Graysons across the multiverse.] “Do I have a choice?” [Of course! Agree to our terms, or spend the rest of eternity alone and conscious of your own nonexistence, unable to move on to the next life and barred from what your ilk calls Heaven.] [ ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ ] “...okay, sold.” [Yay!]

You successfully destroyed the lives of different versions of Mark Grayson, but when it's time to claim your prize, something goes wrong and you are stuck in this godforsaken timeline. What's worse was that they have found you.

"Come with me and we will rule the universe together." "Be my wife and bear my children. No harm will ever come to you." "After you died, no one could compare to you, not even your own corpse."

You: (•_•)

General Trigger Warnings: you are literally dead, death in general, dark humor (e.g. necrophilia jokes), innuendos, mild swearing, mentions of violence and bodily harm, toxic relationships, the Marks are their own warning

Your Character Settings: AFAB

Chapter 1: Don't Mix Red Bull with Coffee

Chapter 2: Tutorial Mission START

Chapter 3: When In Doubt, Do Your Research

Chapter 4: Just Cut Their Red Thread of Fate

Chapter 5: This Boy is a Choking Hazard

Chapter 6: Square Root of a^2+b^2

Chapter 7: My Mama Done Tol' Me a Man…

Chapter 8: They Call Him–

Chapter 9: Just Spit It Out!

Chapter 10: Coming Soon.

[A message from writerclaire: This story is also available on AO3 if you prefer the format there.]

Questions and Discussion about the fic

who is who

villain creation system and origins

path to destruction

how many variants

greedy for love and attention

cheat items

toxic viltrumites vs human love

maskless (gay) mark

villain reformation system

virgin viltrumite

will the marks find out the truth?

more on virgin viltrumite mark

mohawk's zipper

rizz 'im with the 'tism

1st mark's jealousy

meeting with main mark

which variants; also, angstrom?

we don't villainize love rivals here

piercings

system cheats are op

card and board games are free

random thoughts: sinister loves selfishness

fanart by @gluttonousriceflour

spoiler!! chapter 6 fanart by anon

Disclaimer: The images used in this post do not belong to writerclaire. They were lifted from the following sources:

Invincible flying

Alternate Invincibles

ദ്ദി(｡•̀ ,<)~✩‧₊

MAIN MASTERLIST

Any questions for the author? Ask here.

[tlgtw]

-- How to Purify the Omen Curse --

Here is another small part of a larger topic discussed in Episode 2. Like last time, with the DLC being titled "Shadow of the Erdtree," I think putting particular attention on this, specifically, will be worth it.

//By the way, if you see any typos, do not refrain from mentioning them. I am trying to build a resistance for social media posts.//

The 'Purifying Crystal Tear,' we're explained, "purifies the curse from Mohg, Lord of Blood's terrifying rite of blood." "Rite of blood," specifically, meaning the magic drawn from Mogh's blood. Of an Omen son descending directly from Queen Marika.

You might have wondered, when you first got this item, as to what the hell this is actually supposed to mean. I dare say, even, that *many* of you might've been wondering this! For after I released Episode 1 of ERwSET, I exited my 7+ month long stasis from anything Elden Ring-related, to sort-of, prod the waters, and see what kinda questions were most common, that I'd ended up missing in Episode 1 itself.

I was wanting to judge my clairvoyance, you see, as to what things in the game people were confused by, that I'd just completely failed to account for. I also wanted to see if there were any specific topics that'd be good for putting into Episode 2 in-case I didn't get any suggestions. (With the script for Episode 2 now being around 35k words at this point, my fears had been unfounded...)

One of the most common questions, though, which I'll confess kind of surprised me, was as to what exactly happens to Morgott at the end of his boss fight, with him losing all his omen features (His horns, tail, and size) just before finally dying.

For the answer behind Morgott's transformation, simply recall the single object of *his,* prior to beating him, that Morgott *no longer has,* after we have beaten him: He loses his Great Rune.

Morgott's appearance after his boss fight is just the twist-reveal that not only is Morgott's condition, and subsequently the being of an Omen on the whole, the result of an extrinsic magical effect put upon otherwise ordinary humans. But the actual origin of Omen Curse itself is that it's from the Elden Ring. Or, more specifically, the magic of the Elden Ring--Grace.

Retroactively, this goes on to explain why we see *so many* Omen on the Altus Plateau, where there are like, what, a dozen and a half, not including the Subterranean Shunning-Ground? As opposed to the rest of the game combined, where there are only, like, 8.

By the proximity of like, Olympus, there. The Plateau was where the largest number of people with Grace lived. As such, it's where the largest number of Omens were. At the same time, this is why specific attention was brought to the royal/demigod-like-Kenneth-Haight Omen in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. Omen born from Marika's family line. Meaning, inheritors of Marika's blood, and consequently, the same innate Grace of herself, the Erdtree's, and the demigods, that made them all invincible. Thus, their not being killed or horns cut off, and instead, all being thrown down the drain. With the expectation still that they'll continue to live for an eternity.

The power of the Elden Ring itself, through some currently-unknown means, is where the effects of the Omen Curse are coming from.

And so, taking away someone's connection *to* the Elden Ring's power, as we end up doing directly for Morgott, taking his Great Rune, cures them. All those magically-induced growths of the Omen; the horns, Morgott's tail, his fat legs, all the wings and stuff that Mohg had, and so on, disappear: The thing literally facilitating those effects upon their body has been taken out.

So you're welcome, Morgott!!

And sure. Yeah, whatever, maybe, 'cause it kills him, maybe, you maybe can't call it a particularly *good* cure for the Omen Curse. But like, still, right?

Anyway,

As depicted in the item's icon. Morgott's Great Rune is composed of the yellow Code of the Elden Ring itself, and the red blood of his being an Omen, making it orange. To specify, I'm being literal here. You can see Morgott's red accursed blood on the Rune itself. (Though if you're having trouble seeing it, try looking at the bottom-right corner.) The same way we see Malenia's butterflies and stuff on her's, or, perhaps more pertinently, the same way we see Mohg's Great Rune, "soaked in accursed blood."

Physically, where Morgott, who repressed his Omen-ness, has his red accursed blood just sizzling around the yellow lines of Code on the Great Rune itself. The red accursed blood of Mogh has completely overtaken it. "Soaked," I'd say, being the most interesting word here. 'Saturated,' *filled* with accursed blood. A soaked-through, sopping, soggy, dripping, stain-smearing, born all alone in a cardboard box, Great Rune. (Just like Mogh himself.)

With Mogh and Morgott being twin brothers. That source itself, of Mohg's sogginess, is also necessarily the same as Morgott's. Being identical twins, too--unlike the fraternal Twin Prodigies, for example--also happens to tell us that Mohg is exactly what Morgott *would* look like, if he didn't repress his accursed blood. So imagine, right? What Morgott must feel, *seeing* Mogh, with the knowledge that that is literally what he is, also. That he is that.

He is physically the same as Mohg.

If Morgott wasn't doing what he does, Mohg is literally what that looks like.

Consider how this should feel, of Mohg, from the perspective of Morgott.

...

Now take into account the kinds of clothes they're both wearing.

...

...

...

THE CONNECTIONS.

...

And now, we return to the Purifying Crystal Tear. Or rather, what exactly the Crystal Tear *does.*

Isn't it cute how the Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear is depicted as physically cracked, and physically on fire? Or the Lightning-Shrouding Cracked Tear, also physically cracked, and sparking with electricity? Or the Windy Crystal Tear, surrounded by winds. Or the Twiggy Cracked Tear, growing a twig. The Thorny Cracked Tear, growing thorns. Or even the Crimsonwhorl Bubbletear, depicting a crimson whorl, in a bubble!

We should observe, then, what the 'Purifying' Crystal Tear is shown to be doing. With the reveal of precisely where the Omen Curse comes from in mind. Just as every other Crystal Tear depicts their names directly occurring, the 'purity' itself that the crystal tear itself is actively '-ying' can be seen:

It's separating the red stuff from the yellow stuff.

The red blood of the Omen from the golden Code of the Elden Ring. Instead of mixing together, making the orange of Morgott's Great Rune. Or completely overtaking the other, making the dark red of Mohg's Great Rune. From the little rune fragments in the Crystal Tear itself, the accursed blood is being pushed out, and kept out.

As the Purifying Tear's use in Mohg's boss fight itself appears: a magical bubble or forcefield appearing as if physically repelling back, until breaking, the red rings of the Nihil curse exploding with blood. That otherwise deal a shitton of damage to you.

Comparing this effect's appearance to something similar, the Opaline Bubbletear, something that also, 'repels' things, also reducing their damage. The 'purifying' of yourself from Mohg's terrifying rite of blood, as the item is described, appears to indeed be the very physical repulsion of Mohg's blood from one's own body.

Now, there's a man coming to mind who might just find that power quite useful, wouldn't he? Hand outstretched, high-five ready, at the opposite end of Mohg's arena...!?

Perhaps, then, the effect presented by our Purifying Crystal Tear, through our relic of the physick chemists, priests of the Erdtree, is a foreshadowing of what's to come?

After all, "Basins are placed at the feet of Minor Erdtrees throughout the Lands Between in order to collect their crystallized tears."

"...crystal tears, which only form after the passage of many moons."

"...where the Erdtree's bounty falls to the ground."

And there's a certain gold-pouring tree we've recently seen, that I reckon, at least, to be very fitting of that bill.

I honestly can scarcely contain myself. I cannot fucking wait to find out for real.

[randomshipperhere]

Space with Markiplier Stream on MiltonTPike1’s twitch channel summary

I really thought the stream was gonna be Stan coming back when I heard the announcement yesterday 🥲🥲

Minor spoilers for part 2 will start with a ⚠️ and when I say minor, they really are minor. So much so it’s negligible info but it does give you a tiny bit more heads up

(most of them I wrote while watching, I just made it comprehensible enough)

Mark arrives somewhere in the 3 hour mark of the stream.

First topic. How to deal with burnout. Solid advice and discussion

Unus Annus and the meaning of it

Bitch I’m crying I miss that channel. RIP

Memento Mori

[Talking about the endings of ISWM PT.1] Yeah sure, Mark… there’s a lot of endings

No spoilers 🥺 awww come on Mark. Just a little pleaaaseee

Messing with your audience and how fun it is

[chat reaction] D:

I mean considering our relationship with Mark, we do love this back and forth.

Milton talking about Jerma’s Dollhouse </3

A few stories about the BTS

50-60 crew members a day. Holy shit.

In their busiest day there were 20 actors on set. Sheeesh.

Milton has a commercial story. I feel bad because man, even finishing a meal is hard. Having to eat the same thing for retakes sounds like hell.

Mark went over budget a lot during the filming. Interesting.

Last sound session happened last week.

⚠️“-last scene in the show” 🧐 minor spoiler? Kinda hard to tell if this means there’s only one ending or it’s like AHWM where there’s a true end.

Japanese Breakfast Club “Paprika”. I’ll give it a listen after. I’m not even sure if I spelt that right.

No F*p November 🤨 Mark??? Someone take his mouth away lol

Milton made a UFO 5 hour stream. Man

Mark and Amy loving video essays.

Habo Hotel…? huh???

Mark loves space but found that it really is expensive to make a space related production even when others already said so beforehand 😅

Industry calls write/director/actor people pompous douchebags. Good on you Mark lol

Isn’t that also Actor tho…

No one in the crew knew what the fuck was happening until the very end but trusted Mark enough. It also helped that a lot of them already understood Mark’s crazy process because they were in Heist before.

Space is the next thing for humanity

back to back movie night last night with Mark and Amy. Moonfall and After Earth.

Disonsphere??? hah?

UFO stuff

[chat reaction] Among us and Sus

ball lightning? red balls. Alien going wtf at nukes

Earth speed running any%

I seriously love the jokes in this part of the stream

Humans are just like the Orcs from Warhammer. You heard it here folks

I love the unga bunga human stories

Mark mentions Corridor Crew yet again

AI and the future

All I could think of was vocaloid

Mass Effect 3 mention

Milton has 5 space questions

[chat reaction] Wee Woo borpa spins

I knew about that gravity can create waves but wait black holes don’t succ??

Mark is very knowledgeable about space

He still loves kurzgesagt

Interstellar vs Inception

Mark likes Inception better (he still loves Interstellar tho)

I have not watched either movies (: I actually don’t watch a lot of movies you guys. Last I watched was Spider-Man: NWH

Mark would watch Ratatouille over a million times but How the Grinch stole Christmas (Jim Carrey) is his favorite movie

Any future plans?

Mark just wants to focus on youtube again 🥰 We miss you too

Once again the Pokemon smash or pass vid gets a mention but the backstory is much shorter here compared to the stream with Jack.

MEOW mocks him

jingle the keys in front of the audience m’dudes. Well… it worked on us

⚠️ Minor Spoilers. There’s a lot more stupidity in Part 2

YAAAY WE’RE WATCHING IT IN CHAT. With some commentary maybe?

OST being put out? 👀👀 Guess the answer is up to Schmoyoho. I’d love to actually listen to it. The bgm is so cool y’know.

Mark’s face watching ISWM 🥰🥰🥰 He’s so proud of it.

The design of the Invincible ship is based off of the Event Horizon movie

I see the similarities

COMMENTARY COMMENTARY

Burning Tractor gets another mention! He’s so proud of the VFX team. Corridor Crew mention again

Fun Fact: apparently the things on the ceilings are from Home Depot. Budget stuff

Mark basically saying how everyone’s reaction to the first video is “omg is that MatPat from Game Theory”

Champagne Glass scene. Mark had to drink 12 glasses of sparkling apple juice. RIP Mark’s throat after that shoot.

I mean, I like the taste of sparkling drinks but holy shit 12 of those bad boys…

smh everytime Mark finishes a project he says he doesn’t want to do 1st person ever again

Mark tells he used to do Biomedical engineering. He did civil engineering before that. He dropped 2 sems before graduating .

⚠️“Most is 3 at the moment” AYO MORE MINOR SPOILERS. You telling me my dumbass post about a 4 option path happening is possible

Mark: Recovery is for the weak

Proceeds to say that he’s been focusing on Elden Ring and gettin’ some oreo lol

4:33:55 is the time when he left

Thanks for the existential crisis in the middle of the talk you guys. This is why I just shut my brain off for space stuff. There’s some info that’s repeated but it was really cool to just see these two nerd out about space.

[lewyn-martell]

@succ-season-3-when answer to this post, because it’s getting too long and my answer is long enough already skjndksjns sorry for taking my sweet time, these were long days this week. my answer about roman turned out to be a lot and i'm sorry, it wasn't even the original topic, but i guess i just love him too much.

So yeah, for all of Roman's occasional good instincts, I would say that he seems to be the one who's the least capable of the 3, and Shiv's been on the job for 4 months at most with no prior experience. He keeps wanting to say "fuck it" for everything that threatens Logan's dominance and, for all that sometimes it's a big dick competition, that also implies sometimes it's very much NOT, but Roman's responses all range from "no, let's not cooperate, fuck the DOJ, fuck Kendall, fuck Sandy and Stewy, my dad knows best and he's invincible" to occasionally sucking the dick his dad isn't willing to (or someone else. It's always someone else's plan that he tags along). The good part is that he can be charming when he isn't in his moods, swinging his little dick around, showing his mean streak or high as a kite on power he has no idea what to do with, because it's only a symbolic thing known as the Logan Currency – which is, of course, tied to the kids' distorted sense of self-worth.

I know some people might have been appalled at me calling Shiv more capable than him, but this is a man who panicked by receiving e-mails on his first day of a position he should be theoretically ready to take but chose instead to jack off for a window view power trip. What weight has he actually put forth by himself that isn't trying to tank a giant turkey movie, upstaging his siblings, or a failed attempt of contact with Naomi Pierce? Not only the rocket launch but both his plans of acquiring local tv stations for his dad and that football team as a gift were failures that mostly could have been easily avoided. Say what you will about Shiv but she is present and on since moment 1. The girl has no experience and no chill, but she is still over there, discussing strategy, expressing her views and plans, trying to be included and have a voice, and going to the moon and back to do her part (all the while battling against her dad's waver and lack of support, which leads to her trying to do too much to not be sidelined etc) and get that sweet sweet power rush and validation, while Roman patiently waits for it to fall on his lap as a gift from his dad or fucks up one thing or other on the way when he does try to make a move because he doesn’t care enough to think things through (or is too scatter-brained, your pick).

There is the management training, though, and, god bless his horny soul, actually listening to a competent executive with 30 plus years of experience, but I mean, that did not stop him from having every single wrong Logan-fueled instinct this season. Are those upsides really showcasing any significant leadership skills on his part? Emulating Logan will only take him so far without his dad's... let's say gift because I cannot unpack Logan's workstyle right now.... for business (which obviously none of the kids have). He seems to be at his best when he's pairing up with Gerri professionally speaking – brainstorming and making plans together. Her guiding him, basically – and I think I can see him developing more prudence and even coming to like and truly understand what he does, but that is only if he doesn't stray which we're all pretty sure he will. And I said all that while not even tackling the million dollar question yet: do we really think he actually wants the CEO job that much?? I honestly have no reason to believe he is driven enough for it on itself. It was an interesting thing you said, that he isn't willing to compete for it, and I don't know exactly how much I would agree with that when he's been told to go for it his whole life with prospects of respect and acceptance and love and he doesn't even fully understand why he wants it, but he still does want it in theory (only for what it represents... which is why I always say I don’t think he truly wants it. He doesn’t even think he’s ready for it and that could be a symptom of a lot more). BUT how much does him wanting it will make him actually clean (or dirty even more) his act and cross lines for it? (S03E03 seemed to answer that for now.) Being on his dad's good side feels like his permanent m.o. (until a stronger player influences and covets him like Kendall did mid-season 1 to drag him to his side) and honestly, does dad even want him to succeed at all? (And thus, will doing only what his dad wants actually help with anything?) Are the things he's good enough at (doing what he's told with some nice people skills at times and staying on Logan's good side) only good for being a Logan follower or a true and competent administrator and leader of the world's 5th largest media conglomerate?

And here comes exactly what you said about Logan not even truly wanting to properly, if not groom, but at least incentivize the necessary traits for the job to have a worthy successor, something that goes far beyond blind loyalty and aggressive business strategies and I'm sure that man must know it because he is oh so disappointed in his kids all the time boohoo. He wants the kids to figure all out for themselves all while he clips their wings at every turn, resents them for the opportunities he didn't have, and says nothing and does nothing about their delusional bullshit that came with it ("I'm sorry you're a hothouse flower" LMAO he knows he's indulgent of their worst traits but never did and doesn't ever intend to do anything about it both because it's kinda how he shows care and pride of what he can provide to his family and maybe it also makes him feel superior and still at the top since his only true opponents in his mind – this is a family company – his kids, are spoiled and sheltered and screwed in the head by money). Now will any of his kids see that? Has even Kendall properly seen it when he is still motivated by "you're not a killer, you have to be a killer" and his dad's approval? What you said about seeing their father for what he really is could do a lot for it, and both Kendall and Shiv seem to be in a position where that could happen, even though Kendall so far has been doing a not so incredible job on his own.

Speaking of, I don't know if I would say he is doing more coordinated moves this season than in s1. His chances at both strategies were more than pretty good, they were basically done deals that only fell through for unforeseeable extreme situations. This season he seems to only have thought of 3 steps: implicate Logan, assemble a good team, and then something will happen and he will get the company in a good enough shape to run without burning himself. What I will say though is that his second attempt in season 1 was riskier than the first one since he was depending on Sandy and Stewy who would most likely fuck him later (the Canadians don't like you, bro... sdkjnskjnskjn). But I don't see his chances being that much better now... He is lost in a moral crusade ignoring his lawyer's wishes to keep playing mind games with his family instead of focusing on the music. BUT props to him for getting his dad to step down kankjsan I don't know if Logan comes back from that given the circumstances. As for Shiv and whether Logan's playing her or not... I think in a sense he is always playing her as he would do with any heir apparent (throw them around, test them endlessly, up the resentments, make them doubt themselves at every turn and undermine their position), but she is also closer than she could ever be with only Roman (and Connor I guess lmao) to compete, and the nature of that attention might make her or break her from the inner circle, and I'm excited about both prospects while fervently praying for any kind of KenShiv interaction.

About Tom and Shiv's marriage... I have to say I truly don't know what I expect... But my hunch would be that if not, certainly, for the love they might still feel for one another, they could make it work by rearranging what their marriage truly means for them, how much it is needed in their lives and how far they're willing to go to keep those benefits in face of everything that's happening to them this season. I completely agree both Ken and Shiv are the type to choose the Waystar way of life over their loved ones, but unlike Rava, Tom is very much involved in it, with a lot of prospects at stake (not to mention his own lawbreaking neck) and sure, ending it is the logical path this seems to be walking towards, but well... Are Tom's ambitions and rich life that unimportant to him to prioritize his mental wellbeing and file for a divorce? Even if he plans to tank Shiv, Logan&Co to save himself... What's next for him, then? The position he has been so carefully constructing is over and done, and I certainly don't see him as the man who longs for a quiet life with lots of love in a farm instead of a rich executive from the Roy family like a lot of people seem to. And I would not see him staying with Shiv as him breaking his back to reap the benefits while mean bitch Shiv makes his life miserable... This is an unpopular opinion, but I do believe that, even though in a lesser degree than the way they need each other, they also still want each other. (I would not be that sad to see it go, though akjnkjsan I love my failmarriage but I'm on board for everything in this show.)

And oh yeah, I will always treasure the phone call "hey sis, I'll throw you a bone / puppet master out" and I completely agree that in that moment Kendall at least did trust her to do her part and get that deal going for the good of the company, and even though she's pissed at him, she trusted him enough to listen to him. I also thought Shiv's tone in "I don't wish to receive these calls anymore" was sooo funny too nskjndskjnd they really make the fucked up sibling energy pop out of their interactions, no matter how fractured they are.

I haven't seen much of the subreddit, but I have definitely seen enough to agree with you and just want to stay the fuck away. Even some tumblr takes about Shiv sometimes give me a headache, I think I would snap HARD if I spent any amount of time in that place beyond the few minutes I do when I have a specific topic that's easier to find and have more people's inputs and such. I’m not holding my breath for anyone out there outside of our Shiv circle to actually give a shit about her character journey and her traumas and feelings etc. because people consistently just hate her.

[ukaiknowsbest]

breaking down Ace of Diamond - the "Hero's Journey."

Using the model/guide presented by Overly Sarcastic Productions in their youtube video Trope Talk: The Hero's Journey, I will attempt to discuss how Sawamura Eijun's story in DnA is his Hero's Journey to becoming an ace pitcher in the Japanese HIgh School Baseball environment.

Blue from OSP put forward the 12 basic parts of the Hero's Journey Cycle. The illustration below will be our reference. I simplified a graph made by Signy Wilson in order to match OSP's less rigid guide.

disclaimer: I am by no means any kind of expert. I was just fascinated when I learned about the Hero's Journey as a general trope/framework when it came to writing stories. I want to apply what I learned by breaking down the story created by Terajima Yuuji in Ace of Diamond.

A. ORDINARY WORLD

STAGE 1. THE HERO IN HIS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Hero: Sawamura Eijun. Captain and Ace Pitcher of middle school baseball team. He has no formal training in baseball whatsoever but was the one who gathered and convinced his friends to start a baseball club. He's the best player in their small team. Good at sports but bad at academics .

He is generally a baseball idiot and quite a naive/simple guy with a strong heart. He does not have any idea what competitive and pro baseball looks like because not only does he not have experience but also he does not watch the broadcasts on tv/radio at all.

Ordinary World of the Hero: rural town in Nagano Prefecture, where Sawamura formed a small baseball team with his childhood friends. Acording to him, as long as they all stay together they can always play baseball anywhere.

STAGE 2. THE CALL TO ADVENTURE

2.1 Problem/why hero's ordinary world is going to crumble: - He lessened his chances of being scouted/accepted in a good baseball school after he btchslapped an entire opponent team and the umpires in their first and only match as middle school team in Saitama Stadium.

He also has low chance of being accepted into the high school in their area (where his friends are all going to) because he struggles with his academics a lot.

Unless he does something he won't be able to be together with his friends and/or play baseball at all.

2.2 Caller of the adventure - Takashima Rei pursues Sawamura into Nagano Prefecture in order to scout him as a sports scholar for Seido High School, a baseball powerhouse school located in the West Division of Tokyo Prefecture.

2.3 medicine/ solution to hero's crumbling world: being a sports scholar for Seido. This would solve almost all of Sawamura's highschool enrollment problem and also give him the chance to play as much baseball as he wants.

STAGE 3. REFUSAL TO THE CALL

3.1 reluctance to go: Sawamura refuses to leave Nagano despite Rei's "sales pitch" to him and his family. He doesn't want to leave his friends just to play baseball in a stronger school far away because he had promised his friends that they would always stick together.

3.2 hero punished for this - his grandpa literally smacks/slaps him in being stupid and doubting his friends.!!! / technically circumstances are already punishing him for being a hotblooded baseball idiot in the first place.

3.3 do you think you have a choice - this is probably the only chance he'll get to play baseball with all his strength AND finish highschool.

B. EXTRAORDINARY / UNKNOWN WORLD

Venturing out into more competitive/pro baseball is a world beyond him. It's scary and unknown and he'd rather defeat bigger teams than leave his friends.

STAGE 4. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD

4.1 crossing physical threshold - Rei persuades him to at least check the school out with his own eyes. They leave Tokyo together for one visit.

4.2. crossing a metaphorical threshold - in that visit, sawamura, picks a fight with a senior who's bound for baseball drafts, works together with a nationally acclaimed catcher in defeating the senior player, thus changing his worldview because he had so much fun.

4.2. conscious and irreversible decision - Because of the experience he goes home conflicted. His family encourages him in their own way to follow his guts and heart and go to Tokyo.

STAGE 5. REALM OF ADVENTURE

5.1 hero learns to navigate the unknown world - Sawamura learns the harsh realities of being in a baseball school once he actually starts to live there. Our boy also gets educated in Baseball and Pitching 101. He also finds out the true personality of the catcher he played with before.

5.2 meeting allies/rivals/mentors - he learns about the team better when he meets a whole bunch of people: batchmates, coaches and senpais. He builds interesting dynamics with all of them.

5.3 trials and initial failures - Sawamura undergoes difficult initial training and is barely allowed to play in matches.

5.4 meeting enemies - Sawamura being allowed to play as relief pitcher in the games and face talented pitchers and scary batters mostly in tense situations.

5.5 growth, new skills - Sawamura grows with each match, thus bolstering his confidence. Sometimes he falters but he learns from his mistakes.

5.6 first major success - striking out scary batters with each new thing he learns.

5.7 major challenge that leads to downfall - seido vs inashiro finals match where he goes in full of confidence and courage but then he and his team gets defeated in a devastating way.

STAGE 6. BELLY OF THE WHALE

6.1 lowest point of hero where hero physically or metaphorically goes down - one month after their major defeat, a lot of intense practice matches and change in team dynamics, the team find out that Sawamura has the YIPS. This condition took away Sawamura's ability to pitch in his trademark style/ the only thing he was good at.

6.2 hero's darkest hour - without the ability to pitch, Sawamura questions his reality and why he is still on the team.

6.3 Face and overcome inner demons - with a lot of help from allies and mentors, Sawamura finds a way to bring back a bit of his ability.

STAGE 7. ROAD OF TRIALS

7.1 Discarding old self - In the duration of his downfall and eventual healing, Sawamura turns to books, meditation and becomes even more careful in maintaining his form and body.

7.2 Accepting the new role - instead of fixating on the ace position like before, Sawamura is just glad that he is still allowed to pitch as relief.

7.3 Finding path out of the belly of the whale/The road back - After figuring out a solution to fix his pitching, he focuses on it and regains some of his ability. Sawamura is then allowed to play in matches. Just like before, he improves little by little as he recovers from each failure. He gains fresher mindset and new weapons, thus becoming an even stronger pitcher than he ever was before.

7.4 more trials - they face new opponent schools and old but improved opponents which test the best of Sawamura and the team's ability

STAGE 8. PRE SHOWDOWN BREATHER

every major match in ace of diamond has this part of the story but usually the most critical breather episode is the one before the final match.

8.1 show humanity of other characters - Somethng bad happens to the other mc without Sawamura knowing. This could absolutely wreck their chances of winning the final match. This shows that the other guys are not 100% invincible after all.

8.2 last chance to relax. - calm before the storm. It is also the time where they finalize sawamura's weapons.

8.3 quiet moment to reminisce - usually happens before each match. However the night before the finals was the major one because their old senpais went to visit their practice and encourage them.

STAGE 9. CLIMAX / STEPPING UP TO THE CHALLENGE

9.1 Final Showdown - Sawamura helps in the team defense with the best of his ability and weapons and he succeeds. Their team eventually wins Fall Tournament even with a few setbacks.

9.2 Apotheosis - Sawamura's worldview changed once he realises that even with his improvement and skill, his goal of being the ace is still out of reach for him.

9.3 Ultimate Boon - Sawamura gets to be a pivotal member of their baseball team and can play baseball as much as he wants with his team.

STAGE 7. ROAD OF TRIALS start again after the Fall Tournament Act 1 because Sawamura faces new challenges in Ace of Diamond Act 2.

Meiji Jingu Tournament - Play in matches without Miyuki

WInter camp and break - Intense Physical Training and development and improvement of his weapons which he will use and improve on throughout the rest of Act 2.

Spring Koshien where he realises that he has to do more in order to surpass the current ace which was Furuya.

Start of New Term/ Practice Matches - Sawamura and co. meets their new kouhai and team dynamics shift once again.

Spring Tournament / Summer Tournament - Sawamura meets old foes and new enemies. He also becomes the Ace Pitcher of the team, which adds more pressure on his part.

ACT 2 STAGE 8. PRE SHOWDOWN BREATHER

This is the big and long one before Summer Tournament Finals match where injuries and problems were discussed and feelings were explored.

ACT 2 STAGE 9. CLIMAX

Final (Or most hyped and awaited rematch) Seido vs Inashiro in order to qualify for Summer Koshien Nationals.

**everything after this point will be prediction and just my opinion

STAGES 7-9 start again

Koshien Nationals Arc.

STAGE 10. CROSSING THE RETURN THRESHOLD

Miyuki/3rd years retirement/graduation. Sawamura and his batch will have to lead the team.

STAGE 11. THE REWARD

Sawamura gets to play with his team as ace pitcher.

STAGE 12 / STAGE 1. THE HERO IN HIS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Sawamura may become both ace and captain, same as his role back in his middle school team, albeit in a stronger school. Even if he won't be the next captain, as ace he will still be in a strong leadership position.

CONCLUSION

That's how Ace of Diamond is written in the style of A HERO'S JOURNEY.

Act 1 writing especially followed the trope quite rigidly.

Notes:

I still don't want Sawamura to be the next captain. I hope that does not happen. However if it does, it means the story will have gone back full circle. That would be quite poetic ngl.

Gotta applaud Terajima's pacing. Can you believe that the story only reached its lowest and most pivotal point at around episode 70 of the anime???? thank godt that after ep 63 I read spoilers about yips arc in tv tropes or else i would have dropped the series completely.

I had difficulty in classifying the events after the climax stage into hero's journey stages because technically sawamura has not gone "home" yet. Moreover the challenges and trials just kept on piling up after Fall Tournament.

In this whole story, Sawamura has experienced only one true "Belly of the Whale stage" during his YIPS arc. I don't think he really came to a low point in Act 2 other than his first official match as Ace Pitcher. I treated that in the same vein as the effects of Raichi's first homerun off Sawamura back in Act 1.

I realized that having stages 7-9 recur starting from Meiji Jingu to the current summer tournament is what made reading Act 2 quite frustrating for me. That's at least 5-6 arcs of endless roller coaster ride loops.

I consider Miyuki's departure to be the "CROSSING THE RETURN THRESHOLD" moment because playing with him was the major reason for Sawamura's decision to study and play in Tokyo. Something will change Sawamura when this eventually happens.

As Blue from OSP said, the Hero's Journey is just a general guide/framework to writing stories. It is flexible, writers don't even have to use it or all of its parts to make a good story. Terajima just seemed to have adopted A LOT of the hero's journey trope in his baseball series.

I wanted to add more pictures tbh but tumblr is a killjoy :(

This was a fun thought exercise. There were probably even some parts which I have used the tropes wrongly. Please feel free to dispute me.

I talked about Sawamura's mentors here (x).