#free runner pattern

[bevanne46]

All A Flutter Free Runner Pattern https://bearcreekquiltingcompany.com/shop/product/all-a-flutter-free-runner-pattern/

[bluecrocss]

Yes. You are racist. (Buckle up, this is gonna be a long one)

So approximately half a year since the premier of the Disney+ Percy Jackson show, and almost two years since the announcement of the Trio's casting, I would like to take this moment to look back at the insane, racist and anti-black backlash that was launched at Leah Sava Jeffries and a few other cast members from the PJO fandom.

I'm not concerned with the trolls who are openly racist, who resorted to racist slurs and outright threats, everyone agrees that they "took it too far". I want to talk about the rest of you, the "I'm not racist, but.." people, the "What's wrong with wanting book accuracy?" people. Just to let you know, for the unasked question... yes, yes you are.

I've noticed the Percy Jackson fandom has been lording some weird superiority complex over a certain *unnamed* fandom that has fallen out of grace due to their recently outed bigot of an author. But honestly, y'all are not much different. The amount of vitriol and anti-blackness I have seen from this fandom (beyond just bullying a 12 year old girl), y'all don't have a leg to stand on.

Below is a breakdown of the most common arguments I have seen used to justify y'alls absolutely insane bigotry. I am going to explain why none of these justify the amount of anger and vitriol y'all have sent towards Leah, Rick or any of the cast.

I am not here to argue, and this is not a democracy. I am giving you a chance for some self-reflection and to understand that this pattern of violence directed towards POC actors (mostly black women) has never been justified in the name of "book accuracy"/"comic book accuracy"/"ending forced diversity" or whatever other excuses y'all try to make up.

If you still try to justify or argue further for any of these points, I will just block you. I am not coddling you through your racism. If anyone has seen any other dumb arguments floating around that I might've missed, feel free to sound off in the comments.

She's not book accurate:

Neither is Percy, Luke, Grover, Dionysus, Poseidon, and just about every other named character.

Rick already made it clear that physical features were not the priority with casting, rather it was actors that embodied the role. So why are the biggest complaints about Annabeth and Zeus? 🤔

What? You're gonna say everyone else got backlash too? I see you trying to obscure the main issue by playing dumb 😉

See my friend, yes, there were one or two comments about how Percy's hair should be black or how Luke is supposed to be blonde, but as soon as Leah was cast, none of those actors got any significant backlash. In fact, Walker and Charlie literally have an army of fan girls at their beck and call, calling them the perfect Percy and Luke, despite neither being "Book accurate". But then again, have we not observed the pattern of White boy of the month vs WOC to hate for the year? (Yes, I know Charlie isn't white. Further adds to the irony, doesn't it).

Why include character descriptions if you won't stay true to them, you cry? Well, my dear sweet moron, see, books and TV are two different mediums. Because in literature, you can't *Literally* SEE the characters, the author has to add descriptions to paint a picture in your mind, in TV... that's not an issue. So unless the character's appearance is necessary to the plot (like Luke's scar, or Nico being Italian) the show runners can actually focus on more important things.. Like ACTING and PERSONALITY.

2. It's just not how I imagined her:

News flash, babe! ANNABETH ISN'T REAL. None of these character are. They are concepts that originated from the brain of Mr. Rick Riordan. It doesn't matter how YOU imagined her. There are millions of people who read these books that imagined her several different ways. When the creator of the character watched Leah's audition and said, 'Yes! She embodies the character I created!", your imagined version of Annabeth ceased to matter. And guess what? The books still exist... they have not been burned. Your version of Annabeth has not disappeared. Go read the books.

3. Zeus can't be black/Gods have to be Greek/*Insert Character* can't be black:

Y'all did not read the books, I swear. You have to be fake fans looking to troll atp.

The gods move based off the center of western civilization. They change their forms/environment to reflect the culture they are occupying (they did it with Rome, now they're doing it with America). The gods change forms all the time. How we see them is not their true form as a mortal would disintegrate if they were to see their true form.

America is a cultural melting pot (specifically NY where Mount Olympus is now based). If the god's choose forms that reflect the current society they inhabit, they could literally be any race (keep in mind NYC is only 33% white).

All of this is literally SPELLED OUT in the Lightning Thief.

Furthermore, if you're going to push the ethnically Greek thing... Poseidon is British with a British accent and Hermes is Latino. The only ethnically Greek actor is Dionysus (who still doesn't look book accurate). Y'all are sounding like some white supremacists because do you forget that race is a social construct?

Before the advent of the transatlantic slave trade, I can promise you that the Greeks and the Anglo-Saxons did NOT view themselves as the same people. Why are y'all not taking issue with Poseidon's actor then?

Also, Percy Jackson has canonically had a slew of explicitly black demigods since the second book (including Harriet Tubman, which I have mixed feelings about 😭), so I genuinely have no idea where some of y'all are going with this point.

4. She was our smart blonde representation:

Don't pmo. I swear to God!

White, blonde women have NEVER been excluded from Hollywood. Representation is not something you lacked. The dumb blonde stereotype was a simple branch off of a larger misogynistic "dumb woman" stereotype. It has not truly been relevant since the mid 2000s outside of childish jokes.

This iteration of Percy Jackson will probably not go beyond the first 5 books, based off pacing and the age of the actors. So here's a fun game: 5 bucks to the first person who can find me a quote in the first 5 Percy Jackson books, where Annabeth laments her insecurities about being blonde (hint: there aren't any).

Also, her blonde hair does not hold her back at Camp because she is head of the Athena Cabin who are highly respected (and guess what?), ARE ALL BLONDE!

Her insecurities about her hair color are two or three lines at most in the later books, not this fundamental, core part of her character y'all all of a sudden wanna pretend it was. And guess what, as a non-blonde black girl, I was able to read those scenes of Annabeth feeling undervalued because of her looks and relate to her even if she didn't look like me at the time.

Why all of a sudden can y'all not do that with a black Annabeth? By every metric black girls are undervalued for their intelligence in academia more than white girls are, regardless of hair color. So your little representation of a woman undervalued by her looks would still hold. Do y'all dehumanize black women so much, that you are incapable of empathizing with show!Annabeth's plight in the way I could with Book!Annabeth simply because she doesn't look exactly like you?

Your issue isn't that she isn't blonde, it's that she is NOT WHITE.

Furthermore, Becky Riordan had tweeted previously (before the show was even cast) that Annabeth never needed to be blonde (probably recalling the BS y'all put Alexandra Daddario through), so even if they cast a white Annabeth, the blonde hair was never a guarantee. the author and producers all agree that it was not a significant part of her character. It's been a non-issue since day one.

Also, stop acting like smart blondes are rare in media... If you don't go watch some Legally blonde, Iron Man (Pepper Potts), Zack and Cody (Maddie), Liv and Maddie, FMAB (Winry), Captain Marvel, She-Ra, Buffy, The boys (starlight) etc. etc., and go sit down somewhere 🙄🙄🙄 (those were literally all things I've watched recently, off the top of my head, btw 💀)

5. It's not about race, but...:

Yes it is. It was always bout race. No other actors got as much hate as Leah. Her grandmother and other family members on IG had to mute their comments because they were getting so many threats.

Alexandra Daddario had to come to her defense on Twitter. Rick had to put out an official statement on his website. This girl has endured years of psychological torment for simply having the best audition. No one else is book accurate, no one else is ethnically Greek (except Jason Mantzoukas). Walker literally has British and German ancestry.

Why was she being called racial slurs on reddit and in youtube comments?

I know what you're gonna say, "I actually had problems with the entire cast", "I actually had a bigger issue with Walker's hair color", blah blah blah. Then why aren't you in Walker's comment sections? Why are you only making your displeasure known on posts defending/advocating for Leah? Why is she always your first example of 'wrong casting"?

Well, she "looks the most different"... Look up the term "scapegoating".

"Oh, I don't agree with the harassment. I just don't like the casting." Guess what? She's already been cast. They are not going to uncast her. What do you get out of still complaining about it.

All the vitriol you're stirring about her when you complain about her on Social media, it is directing people to send her hate, even if you're not writing it directly. It's is not enough to "not agree" with the racism, it is your duty to actively prevent it. And btw, these are young gen z actors, they are active on social media. They see the edits of themselves (even comment on it) and they most likely see these little "harmless" complaints you're posting. Are your upset feelings really worth contributing to the racist dogpile on this poor girl?

6. Why couldn't they atleast give her blonde braids?:

Why should they? Y'all wanted blonde because of the "dumb blonde" trope... that doesn't apply to POC.

A blonde black girl is gonna be viewed the same as a non-blonde black girl (or at worst, someone might decide she's "ratchet" or some shit for wearing colored hair). What difference would it make?

Why shouldn't Walker dye his hair, then?

7. Annabeth has Gray eyes:

Less than 3% of the global population has "gray eyes". Even if they cast a white actor, they would've needed contacts. Her being black is not the reason Annabeth's eyes aren't gray. Simply put, it is a plot element they removed, like the whole "names have power" element, or Ares having flames for eyes, or Dionysus using his powers to grow strawberries at Camp.

That's how adaptations work. Unnecessary plot elements are cut to save time and budget. This has nothing to do with her casting. They probably also didn't want to make child actors wear contacts (not a new practice).

8. Even if Rick chose her, he was wrong/Disney is forcing him to be okay with it:

Where do I start? Rick created the character. He can't be wrong. Do y'all have no self-awareness? Death of the author has no place here, because y'all are hung up on an aspect of the character that is not relevant to her arc or development.

Y'all's justification for wanting a "book accurate" Annabeth is that she was such an inspirational and important character growing up, and yet your behavior is so in conflict with the character you claim means so much to you. You're narrow minded, dismissive of bigotry and injustice, and disrespectful to the wishes of the creator of your favorite character; everything that Annabeth would never be. Y'all were never genuine fans of the books. You're bigots that needed an outlet for your rage.

Keep in mind, Rick has said countless times that PercaBeth directly mirrors his relationship with his wife. Y'all think he would have allowed them to cast someone who doesn't live up to the woman who has been by his side for decades? The mother of his children?

Regarding Disney forcing him, show me one piece of direct evidence that proves Disney in anyway pressured Rick to cast her. Cuz if you can't, that's baseless speculation. And if you have to resort to baseless speculation, maybe try to examine why it's so important to you to hold on to this belief.

9. So, I'm racist because I hate "race swapping"?:

To start, there is a difference between "race swapping" and "color blind casting". Often times, when y'all complain about the former, you're actually mad about the latter.

It would be "race swapping" if Rick and the team decided ahead of time that they wanted a black Annabeth and ONLY allowed black actors to audition. But the actual reality was that they accepted auditions from everyone (there were white actors and non-black poc that also auditioned for the role) and chose the best person who embodied the role. They didn't "make Annabeth black" and they didn't "make Zeus black", they cast black actors for those roles.

Y'all think you're being slick with your wording. Dismissing that is implying that they did not earn their roles fair and square. Which is racist. It's the equivalent of going up to a black college student and telling them they only got in because of affirmative action. You're dismissing the achievements of a person solely because of their racial background.

For all you people complaining about "unfairness" and "forced diversity", I would think hiring based on merit would appeal to you 🤔

71% of theatrical Hollywood leads were white in 2024 in comparison to 29% POC and you still think "black washing" is a thing? You still get this angry over a black person fairly earning a role because you think in a time where Hollywood only knows to do remakes and adaptations, that the majority of lead roles still *have* to be reserved for white actors?

Once again, white people have never been excluded from Hollywood for being white. Representation has never been something you lacked nor is it something you can lose. Your anger comes from seeing a black face where you think they don't belong. Because you feel you are owed a disproportion of representation in Hollywood.

10. Woke agenda/DEI/Forced Diversity:

If you are unironically using any of these terms in a negative light, it's already too late for me to reason with you. Look up the term "dog whistle". If you are sharing the same terminology with Elon Musk and his fanboys, maybe reevaluate some things.

POC are objectively underrepresented and have been historically excluded through actual laws and policies in Hollywood. There is no such thing as "forced diversity", you have bought in to a right wing conspiracy theory.

"Woke" is a term that was intentionally appropriated from the black community. It originally meant being aware of injustice and systematic threats to the community and is now being weaponized by bigots. Good job.

Diversity and inclusion is a good thing.

11. But POC deserve to have their own stories told:

We do. And we have been fighting for it for over a century now, and we've made great strides, no thanks to y'all.

No thanks to y'all gaslighting us about how little representation we get or that representation matters at all. No thanks to y'all pushing the idea that POC can't sell globally and obscuring POC actors in international promos. No thanks to y'all continuing to whitewash even to this day (Bullet train, the beguiled, gods of Egypt, atla, every portrayal of Jesus ever, etc.). No thanks to y'all calling every piece of media that has more than one black lead and more than one queer couple "woke". No thanks to y'all throwing a fit every time a black person in a fantasy setting isn't a slave.

Fact of the matter is, y'all never cared about POC "getting their own stories", you're only parroting our own words back to us now as a politically correct way of saying, "leave white roles alone" lmao

Well fun fact, actors of color getting opportunities to play lead roles and allowing poc to "tell their own stories" are not mutually exclusive. If y'all cared that much, instead of bullying a 12 year old actress, you could actually support up and coming independent POC writers, directors, and studios 😱

12. Studios need to stop "setting up" actors of color:

Do me a favor and google the term DARVO.

Your racism is not the fault of the studios for giving a POC actor a role that they earned. It is not up to the rest of society to tiptoe around racists to avoid their vitriol. It is our responsibility to hold them accountable and protect minorities from unwarranted hate. At most, you can say it's the responsibility of the studios to provide adequate support to POC actors who face this backlash.

At the end of the day, Hollywood only allows very few spots for POC actors (especially WOC), while simultaneously pushing a new white boy every month to put in everything. Putting minorities in these roles that are usually closed to them, usually opens the door to more actors of color than before.

Brandy being cast as Cinderella did a lot to push her into the mainstream (yes, she was already extremely famous in the black community atp), Halle Berry being the first, black, bond girl literally shot her to icon status, and even going as far back to what Anna Mae Wong did for Asian American actresses with her "femme fatale" roles.

At the end of the day, even with the backlash, *some* rep does more good for POC actors than *no* rep. The solution to racist backlash isn't to take away those opportunities, but rather to not be racist??? 🙄

Also, for everyone that claims that "POC race-swapping" is just as bad as "white-washing", despite white washing having a longer history and objectively causing more harm, note how the backlash to white washing never lasts as long as the harassment that POC get.

Like, no one brings up Scarlett Johansson's ghost in the shell role anymore, but you can best believe Candace Patton is still fending off racist trolls. As much as people hated the atla movie, people moved on quick from Nicola Peltz playing Katara since she was just a kid that accepted the role (re: daddy bought her the role), but y'all would not have any of that consideration for Leah Sava Jeffries.

But I digress...

13. What if we made Tiana white? Wakanda white? Hazel white...:

Ah, my favorite inane point. I was so excited to get here :)

See, I could start out by pointing out how "White washing" and casting a POC actor as a traditionally white character are not equivalent.

I could point out the history of hollywood ACTIVELY excluding POC actors and POC stories. I could point out how grossly over represented white people are in hollywood. I could point out that POC characters are so few in comparison that whitewashing them causes actual harm, where white people have never lacked rep.

I could point out how, because poc characters and stories are so often tokenized that their racial/cultural background is often directly tied to their character's identity, in opposition to a lot of white characters, since hollywood treats white as the "Default".

See, I could make all those points, but the thing is, the people who make this argument already know all that. They are trying to waste time by drawing me into a pointless circular argument that will sum up to "fair is fair", while ignoring all the context and nuance I previously provided.

So you know what? Forget it. Let me play your game.

I am actually fine with a white Tiana. Would it make sense, for her and her family to experience Jim Crow era racism, in the south while white? No. But we can look past it. Disney was never known for historical accuracy anyway 🤷🏿‍♀️

However, in exchange, the live action frozen will have a black Elsa and Anna, live action Rapunzel will be black, live action Merida will be black, we're re-filming Cinderella and Beauty and the beast to cast a black belle and Cindy, snow white will need to be recast as black, and we also get aurora whenever the live action sleeping beauty is announced. But then y'all can keep Tiana, deal?

You want a white T'Challa? Fine! (I'm partial to Ryan gosling), in the meantime, we'll be recasting Iron man, Captain America (Steve version), Bruce banner, Thor, Loki, hawk eye, black widow, ant man, captain marvel, Bucky, Peter Parker etc. All the avengers and their side characters, then y'all can have Sam Wilson, war machine and the whole of Wakanda (will it make sense that a sole, hidden, African nation is randomly made up of white people? Who cares? We get the avengers!).

You want white Hazel? You got her! I hope you have no problem with us taking Percy, Nico, Will, Poseidon, Jason, calypso, Rachel, Tyson, Silena, the stoll brothers, Sally Jackson, Hades, Hepheastus, ares, etc. But y'all can have Hazel and Beckendorf.

If we're gonna do this, let's commit all the way. Fair is fair, after all.

14. Leah isn't as "pretty" as Book Annabeth/Movie Annabeth:

I wish I could say this wasn't a genuine point I had read, but when all else fails, they will always go for a woman's appearance.

Now first of all, as a rule, I will never hold black women to white beauty standards. Our hair will never be long and silky enough, our nose will never be narrow enough, our skin will never be fair enough and our eyes will never be light enough (Might I recommend Toni Morrison, when you get the chance?). But Leah is unfairly gorgeous idc what any of you say, and you're not gonna have me use my defense of Leah as an opportunity to bash Alexandra either because she is also beautiful. These two queens slayed to the best of their abilities within this toxic ass fandom.

I find it funny, however, that so many of you harped on the "blonde" issue because you thought it was important that Annabeth be seen beyond just her looks, but quickly devolve to bashing an actress's looks when it comes to why she's not right for this role 🤔

I would also like to sincerely apologize that the 13 year old girl they cast in the show, wasn't as sexually attractive to you as the 24 year old woman they cast in the movie and sexualized through like 25% of her screen time (I'm actually not sorry. You're very weird if this is an actual point for you).

15. I don't agree with sending hate to the actor, but she's just not right for the role:

Once again, what are you doing by complaining about her casting on no other basis than her race?

The creator of the character said she embodied the role. She has already been cast, and Disney would be in a legal/production hell to recast her atp. Just because you're not directly leaving comments on her social media doesn't mean you're not part of the hate mob.

No matter how you look at it, your issues with her casting come from a very entitled and narrow-minded place. When you join in on these dialogues you are bolstering a sentiment that pushes more people to harass this teenage girl. When you leave these "harmless" complaints, on show content, fan posts or posts defending her, she's liable to read them because the cast regularly interact with fans online.

What do you have to say that is so important that it trumps protecting a young girl from the long-staying trauma of racism, of being told she doesn't deserve something she worked for because of how she was born?

16. I can't even criticize the show without being called racist:

Get. Over. Yourself.

Y'all are not the victim. Have fans of the show gotten protective of Leah and the young cast? Yes.

With good reason. This fandom is unbearably toxic.

Racism outweighs your need for a "perfect adaptation", sorry.

If you explain yourself properly and keep your critiques fair (like, even I don't think this was a perfect season, and will be sharing my thoughts shortly), no one is gonna call you racist.

You're preempting with that because in all honesty, you're probably planning to use your "critiques" of the show to pivot to one of the many points that I just outlined, and you want to pre-empt the criticism.

If a black Annabeth is the end all be all for you, just don't watch the show, no one's holding a gun to your head. Geez.

17. I'm Black/POC and I don't agree...:

Hey, Candace Owens... No one gives a shit.

First of all, for all the "I'm POC and I don't agree" people, you don't speak for us. Anti-blackness is rampant in just about every culture globally. You being not-white doesn't somehow make you less prone to hating black people.

But for the "I'm black and I don't agree" leftovers (assuming you're not just a 👩🏼‍💻 behind a keyboard). Black people are not a monolith. You're not obligated to think a certain way because you're black.

But consider why you're putting yourself up as a barrier to protect this hate mob. It's one thing to just state why you don't like Leah's casting, but to start off your spiel with "I'm actually black" as a way to weaponize the very identity politics you're critiquing... very strange. Not to mention, what are you defending?

The black community is coming together to defend one of our own, a kid who has been receiving death threats since she was 12, and this is when you feel the need to back the opposition?

I mean whatever... sometimes the house slaves would snitch to the master. There will always be some of y'all in the woodwork. It is what it is.

But when the exact ideology you defend is turned against you, when a Baltimore elected official is being accused of getting his job through "DEI", when conservatives are claiming that they wouldn't "trust a black pilot", don't decide that's where you'll finally draw your line in the sand.

All that being said, This is my Annabeth:

May every tongue that rose against Leah Sava Jeffries Shrivel and die in 2025 🙏🏿 My girl will keep winning ❤️

(video by @/waleahhasmyheart on TikTok)

[nikalejo]

Have a Hallway

It’s finally done!

Thankfully, I managed to submit my thesis on time—which gave me just enough room to finish this cozy little hallway set. The—Have a Hallway—set includes 8 unique objects, all handcrafted from scratch (except for the twigs and flowers, which are lovingly borrowed from the base game 🌿).

✨ What’s Inside:

Sit and Slide Bench – All 4 variants made it in, since the poll didn’t go quite as planned. Features 7 wood swatches and 12 blanket options.

Doormat – Comes in 14 swatches, 8 with Simlish text and 6 plain.

Hallway Runner – A colorful addition with 24 swatches.

Plant Pot – Adds some life to your entryway, with 28 swatches.

Statement Mirror – Available in bronze, silver, and gold metals, each paired with 24 stone-textured color options, plus 4 bonus swatches with lots of fun patterns.

Naturally, most items were inspired by Pinterest (as always 😄), and I tried to make sure there’s something for every taste in here.

If you love it as much as I do, you can grab the Have a Hallway set on SFS, completely free as always.

*DOWNLOAD*

[theresattrpgforthat]

Ok I know this sounds specific, but do you know any good investigation/mystery games that AREN'T Eureka?

THEME: Non-Eureka Mystery Games.

Hello friend! I've got quite a few recommendations for you, especially at the end of this post! I hope that one way or another, your mystery game craving is sated!

Delta Green, by Arc Dream Publishing.

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

Born of the U.S. government’s 1928 raid on the degenerate coastal town of Innsmouth, Massachusetts, the covert agency known as Delta Green spent four decades opposing the forces of darkness with honor, but without glory. Stripped of sanction after a disastrous 1969 operation in Cambodia, Delta Green’s leaders made a secret pact: to continue their work without authority, without support, and without fear. Delta Green agents slip through the system, manipulating the federal bureaucracy while pushing the darkness back for another day—but often at a shattering personal cost.

In Delta Green: The Role-Playing Game, you are one of those agents. You’re the one they call when unnatural horrors seep into the world. You fight to keep cosmic evil from claiming human lives and sanity. You conspire to cover it all up so no one else must see what you’ve seen—or learn the terrible truths you’ve discovered.

I don't think I can do a better job of recommending Delta Green than Quinns from Quinns Quest, but since his review is an hour long, I'll summarize: Delta Green is a heavy trad game that takes much of the horror of Call of Cthulhu and revitalizes the genre by turning you into everyday government workers pulled into investigations at the cost of their peace of mind. The rules of the game seem to be pretty down-to-earth and detailed, but the mundanity of the core of the game is what allows the horror of the adventures to well and truly pop. In his review, Quinns mentions that for much of the investigative parts of the game, a well-built crew will hardly ever have to roll to gather clues - which means that solving the mystery is doable, smooth, and makes room for plenty of interesting story once you start putting the pieces together.

Detect Or Die, by silkandstone.

Discover who you were. Decide who you are. Solve the Case. A tabletop RPG of neo-noir empiricism, unstable detectives, and total ego death & resurrection. Inspired by science fiction stories of memory and detection like Blade Runner (1982) and Disco Elysium (2019), Detect or Die places the players as the various inner voices of the Detective, collectively embodying the fractured psyche of an amnesiac protagonist attempting to solve the Case - whatever that entails.

One player takes on the role of the World, laying out the setting and mystery for the rest, using a bespoke variation of the Powered by the Apocalypse game engine influenced by Blades in the Dark and Bluebeard's Bride. The rest play Personality Components, the fragments of the Detective's Ego who combine investigative competencies with erratic coping mechanisms, trading off control and emotional stamina to make it through the Case to the ultimate revelations - about the World and about the Detective.

I'm intrigued about the pattern of mystery games and their attachment to systems that encourage you to inflict negative changes to your character as they discover more and more about the truth over the course of play. Detect or Die is unique in that all of the players are technically embodying the same character, or rather, fractured pieces of them. The pull from Disco Elysium gives you some really unique and iconic terminology, such as Exofamiliarity (a skill), Heartbleed (a skill), and Egghead (an archetype). I think it's also fascinating that Detect or Die pulls threads from Bluebeard's Bride, which is also about many facets of a personality inhabiting one person, but is a much different, very horrific kind of game.

The creator of this game has released a free case: The Case of the Signal Fire, as well as an example of play for folks who might want to get a taste of what the game is about. I still feel a little bit out of my depth with this game, and I suspect that's because I'm unfamiliar with much of Disco Elysium, but the combination of PbtA and Blades in the Dark rules certainly has me intrigued.

Elementary, by Black Armada Games.

Elementary is an Agatha Christie-esque game of convoluted relationships, seemingly insoluble mysteries and quirky detectives who solve them. It is GM-less: you take turns to introduce clues one at a time, building up a picture of the murder and who might have done it. And, it's competitive. You each have a preferred suspect and you try to introduce clues that will implicate them. At the end, like the movie Clue, you each create an alternate ending where the detective accuses your target suspect.

If you really like watching mysteries with friends and trying to guess who the murderer is before they are actually revealed, you might enjoy Elementary. It feels like the GM-less format is meant to allow you to play the game competitively if you wish, and GM-less games also typically spread out the burden of rules-knowledge, which means that this game might be easier to pick up if your group has a hard time deciding who should be the GM. Judging by the store page, you might be able to learn how to play Elementary in a way similar to how you might learn a board-game, and that's another strong point in its favor in my book.

Red Harvest: Mystery on Mars, by fuzztech.

RED HARVEST: MYSTERY ON MARS is a one-shot tabletop roleplaying game based on the 1929 novel RED HARVEST by Dashiell Hammett.

Play as a private investigator from the Galactic Detective Agency. You have been hired to investigate a mining colony on Mars. It looks like it’s going to be a routine case. That is, until your client turns up dead at the dig site. It’s up to you to solve the case, and unravel the mystery of the mine.

Includes Player Manual (1 page) with rules for character creation and taking actions, and Game Master Manual (3 pages) with a pre-written mystery scenario and supplemental materials.

Mysteries… in space!

Red Harvest is a relatively simple mystery game with four basic backgrounds for your character, with two skills per background. The game is meant to be a one-shot, with the mystery and setting laid out for the GM, as well as a map for the players to move through and investigate. Equal parts mystery, sci-fi and horror, this is a great game for folks who want a one-and-done taste of roleplay, and might even be a great introduction to the hobby!

Unravelled Knots, by Emily Cambias.

Each Saturday, a rag-tag group convenes in a dusty tea-room to discuss the criminal cases detailed in their local newspaper. Their leader is the mysterious Old Man in the Corner, whose knowledge of each case (and the true perpetrators of each crime) seems unmatched. From each newspaper headline, he extrapolates the truth of What Really Happened to these victims, and the missing pieces of each case that escaped the bumbling authorities—aided by his eager listeners and his trusty piece of string. Based on the book Unravelled Knots and The Old Man in the Corner by Baroness Orczy.

Instead of dice or cards, Unravelled Knots uses a piece of string as a measuring tool for when your story is coming to an end. It's less like a traditional mystery game and more a collaborative storytelling exercise, with each player taking turns adding clues to the mystery as well as offering up reasons as to why those clues bring you closer to the real answer. You take turns playing The Old Man in the Corner, who acts as a sort of Poirot or Sherlock, in that he presumably holds the knowledge about What Really Happened. You also pick up other roles that are meant to introduce new clues, such as the details of the crime scene, the gossip surrounding various suspects, and the real state of the deceased's finances. If you like Agatha Christie novels, you might enjoy Unravelled Knots.

The Road Ahead, by WendigoWorkshop.

In The Road Ahead… you play as a group of young adults returning to their hometown for a summer of fun, parties and nostalgia. After one of their close friends suddenly disappears, new and old feelings stir, eventually getting them involved in the case. Through the carefree lens of an eighteen-something, uncover the truth and make sure it is the best summer of your life!

This game uses a deck of playing cards to provide resources for the characters, as well as dice to help resolve decisive actions. Built on the Songs and Sagas SRD, it's meant to be inspired be OSR-style play, with a flowchart to help the GM put a story together - a kind of adventure-builder, if you will.

The Road Ahead doesn't feel like it's solely a mystery game: your character is probably going to get into dire situations that they need to fight themselves out of, and if the right consequences happen, it feels like there's also personal fallout that each character might have to deal with, which feels very iconic of games about teens and young adults.

Haunted Echoes, by gaa_txt.

Have you ever wondered who died when the echo of a bell toll reached your ear?

Who died when the masked man descended from their black church to burn the flesh of the forgotten? Some say there aren’t enough of them to give names to the bodies, find the culprit. Even worse when you slip through their fingers, the only thing you can do is return as the worst memory you ever had, hoping your loved ones aren’t a part of it.

HAUNTED ECHOES is a lightweight TTRPG focused on one-shots and short term games where we play as weird detectives in the rainy streets of a fantasy Victorian city. Use your talents to gather clues, solve cases, banish ghosts, deal with elemental demons and ruthless scoundrels while trying to search for an answer to the question that haunts your very being.

This game combines mystery with the paranormal, giving your investigators technical and/or supernatural abilities that will help them try to solve a mystery of using a clock that is reminiscent of the same mystery clock found in games such as Bump in the Dark, or Brindlewood Bay. The game is a stripped-down Forged in the Dark rule-set, with play-sheets that are less differentiated than a typical playbook, a brief overview on how to run the game, and plenty of cases, questions, and details to help put together a mystery as well as flavorful characters to learn about as you play.

Some Days, You Just Can't Get Rid of a Body, by C.R. Legge.

You have received a letter that you hoped to never get. The one person that could ruin your life has invited you to a party, and wishes to discuss things…

As you arrive at the old mansion, they find you and ask that you meet them in a side room at a specific time. When the time comes you see a few others moving towards the room as well. Cautiously, you all enter the room and see them standing in front of the fireplace, arm against the wall. Before anyone can say anything, your host falls backwards onto the floor, dead.

You all had a reason to want them out of the picture. Unless you find out who really killed them, any of you could be framed for the murder…

This game is unique in that everyone who sits down to play must embody someone who had a reason to kill the central character. What I think is absolutely hilarious about this little game is the fact that since all of your characters are suspects, you as a group must carry the body of the victim with you around the house, to prevent NPCs from discovering their death. I can think of so many shenanigans a crew could get up to in trying to solve the crime while also keeping the key piece of evidence out of everyone else's hands.

Games I've Recommended in the Past...

One More Thing, by Nathan D. Paoletta.

Brindlewood Bay, by The Gauntlet.

After the Mind, the World Again, by Aster F.

Grandmothership, by Armanda.

Film Noir Game Recommendations

Mysteries Recommendation Post

If you like what I do and want to leave a tip, you can check out my Ko-Fi!

[queen-of-reptiles]

𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙺, 𝚂𝙴𝚃, 𝙶𝙾!

description - maz's 'friend' is the no.1 400m runner in the world, she needs to prove that at the world champs. if she does, maz will hard launch

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maz pacheco x female reader

disclaimer - i am not in anyway assuming Maz’s sexuality this is all just fiction

warnings - fluff, elude to sex and that’s it i think xx

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y/n just posted

Liked by, racheldaly3, maz_pacheco and 1.2 million others

tagged racheldaly3, maz_pacheco, jordannobbs, leahwilliamsonn and 11 others

y/n I promise I am training hard... 🫡

view 472, 888 comments

username1: hahahahhahahahah😭

username2: Why does she know the womens football world??????

^

username3: She and Rachel Daly grew up together !! And she is close with Millie Bright and Maz Pacheco

^

username2: Ooooooh Thanks !

racheldaly3: I so think I could do the 400m 🤷‍♀️

^

mbrighty04: You can't even count that high stfu

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y/n: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH 😭

^

racheldaly3: 😡😡

username4: Whooooooooo! 💙💙💙

username5: Gold for sure! 🥇🥇🥇

username6: So excited !!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳

leahwilliamsonn: Go on our girl - so excited to see you run! 🩷🩷

^

y/n: 🩷🩷🩷

maz_pacheco: <3

^

y/n: <3

teamgb: Come on y/n!!

^

y/n: ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

username7: 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞

username8: I DREW Y/N !! PLEASE CHECK IT OUT

jordannobbs: Chickyyyyy 🐣🐣

^

y/n: Jordyyyyyy 🐣🐣

see more comments...

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maz_pacheco just posted on her story

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twitter/X:

username1: Anyone seen Maz's story????

^

username2: I think a load of the Villa girls and Lionesses are there supporting y/n!!!! 🥳

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username1: Ahhhh Thank you!

username3: y/n is so fit omg 😝😝

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username4: The fact she walked out of the intro just grinning and waving! 🥺🥺

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username5: The lil hair flick UGHHHHH

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username6: THE ABS??? 😰😰😰

username7: Anyone see y/n and Maz's little wave

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username8: Their friendship is so cute omg 🥺

see more comments...

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y/n breathed a deep breath out, trying to keep her composure, her stomach was tight with nerves but as she looked over to her girlfriend she couldn't help but let out a small smile.

Maz was sat there, a smile on her face and as they locked eyes, y/n could almost feel her girlfriend's confidence in her flow through her.

y/n had been running most of her life, she found it freeing and exciting, she had set the world record for 400m, but with Femke Boll right on her shoulder she knew today would be a test.

The outdoor world championships were made to push, but y/n had to show that since her gold at the last Olympics her ankle injury had not changed her.

Truth was it had, every had seen her push through the finish line seconds ahead of everyone and then watched her go down in pain as her Achilles snapped.

It had been a long road to recovery, one of tears and upset despite the gold which was hung in her home, she had won but at what cost was the headlines everywhere.

y/n had been described as someone who had changed running, and now she needed to prove it. All of her qualification times had been slower than expected but still easy races.

It was clear she was not pushing herself to make quick times only qualify, and that had made the media wonder if the 23 year old still had it in her to run.

y/n had many things on the line here today as she prepared for the final. But the one she really cared about was Maz's encouragement that morning.

"You win, and I'll tell the whole world." Maz said with a grin, her arm tracing patterns on y/n's bare shoulder, kisses being placed into her hair line.

"Really?" y/n questioned, Maz nodding simply as y/n chuckled and pressed a kiss to her long-term girlfriend's lips.

"Well, I better win then." y/n smiles Maz leaning down to press a deep kiss against her just as the door opens.

"Separate and clothe please, I want my cuddles!" Rachel stated as she walked in, throwing a random top at y/n as the woman chuckled and pulled it on, her best friend landing next to her on the bed.

"3, 2, 1." Maz counted as the door opened again and Millie appeared, the Lioness landing the other side of Maz also.

"You know guys, this is a 2 person relationship." y/n had said and Millie snorted.

"No it ain't." Millie denied and the group shared a laugh.

y/n couldn't help but smile at the memory of that morning, knowing full well that Maz's promise had pushed her mind a little further as she set down.

She waited for the call, the crowd now dead silent, this was it, this was the final push. y/n breathed in, breathed out. The shot echoed, and y/n leapt.

Her feet pushed against the ground, her breathing regulated as she came into the first bend, she looked at nothing, heard nothing, not even Femke behind her, trying to keep up with the blistering pace y/n had set.

y/n did not look at the clock as she came down the back straight, she didn't hear the shouts from the crowd as their eyes continuously darted between the clock and y/n herself.

y/n continued, going around the final bend and into the home straight, she realised somehwat that she felt as if the race had gone quick, very quick.

"Come on baby!" Maz's voice brought her back into the race, pushing her legs harder as her lungs burnt and she raced past the line, the girl slowing her legs down as she collapsed onto the floor.

y/n's body shuddered as she tried to breathe, only just acknowledging the deafening cheers coming from the crowd as Femke got her yelling excitedly.

"Fe, what?" y/n asked with a pant as she got up, accepting the water throwing her way and throwing half of it on herself before trying to take small sips of the rest.

"Oh my god!" Femke grinned, turning her around to see the screen so y/n could see her time.

"HOLY SHIT!" y/n screamed, jumping back and running in shock. She collapsed on her knees, looking at the time in shock and someone wrapped a flag around her shoulders.

45.67 seconds - WR, WL, SB, PB

The crowd could now definitely be heard as y/n shouted in joy up at the sky. Photographers racing to get a photo of the new record holder who had almost matched the men's.

y/n leant down pressing a kiss to the track beneath her as she was helped up on shaky legs, throwing herself at the people around her who were just as happy for her as she was.

That was something y/n had always loved about competing. Those around her despite being from different places, were always as happy for each others achievements as the person themselves was.

y/n ran at her friends, Rachel and Millie dragging her into a hug as y/n tried to compose herself. Maz was next the woman leaning down and placing a kiss on her girlfriend's lips.

"Had to go an set a world record as well?" Maz asks her and y/n grins, pushing herself up and into Maz again, another kiss being shared with the cameras flashing wildly.

Millie and Rachel cheered with the girls around them, excited it was finally out and they no longer had to keep the hard to do so secret.

"Love you!" y/n called as she hopped down, Maz grinning as y/n ran off, flying the flag behind her as she celebrated and shouted with the crowd.

This was a race she would never forget, and the photos taken would soon be all over her and Maz's home, as the love shared was perfectly captured in a snapshot of victory.

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y/n just posted on her story

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maz_pacheco just posted on her story

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twitter/X:

username1: you know MAYBE ONE DAY we will all stop being idiots :)

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username2: na never gonna happen

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username3: THEY ARE SO CUTE THO 😩😩

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END

Tried my hardest with this but still not super happy can’t lie ! xxx

[mintedwitcher]

I suppose this is tangentially related to the Eddie critical discussion since I'm not sure I'll actually be adding to the points y'all made and more just adding my two cents. I've mentioned before that I love the concept of Eddie's character and that there is so much potential but that the show runner and actor just aren't doing it. While I would love to have an actual resolution for Eddie's character and see him truly work on himself and resolve the self-destructive tendencies beyond him just acknowledging that there is an issue and then falling back into the same pattern, I don't believe Tim is the right director nor is Ryan the right actor to see that to completion. Would it be great to be proven wrong? Yeah totally. But it's been multiple seasons since the initial therapy and talk with his father about breaking the mold.

I honestly have to agree.

Tim is ill-equipped to actually write a satisfying, long-form narrative for Eddie's character, and Ryan is ill-equipped to deliver the performance in a way that would actually make an impact.

Ryan is good at comedic or familial scenes, he thrives in those. I love his funny scenes, and I adore his scenes with Chris (with the exception of this season). But his dramatic scenes? They fall flat unless he's allowed to get physically aggressive in them. He is incapable of performing complex emotional scenes without relying on physicality.

I compare him and Oliver too much so let's look at Kenny instead.

Kenny, imo, has had a variety of scenes very similar to Eddie's. Comedic, dramatic, familial. Just like Ryan, Kenny excels with the comedic and familial scenes. But where I think he shines, are his dramatic scenes.

The one I think about the most is the scene in season 5, when Chimney has just learned that Maddie left, and he's at the hospital talking to the pediatrician who treated Jee. That scene is so well done, because Kenny is so good at emoting. We can feel Chim's raw desperation for answers, his fear for Maddie, his fear for his daughter, his confusion and the weight of the stress and loss he's feeling in that moment.

Compare that to Ryan's peformance of grief in season 8. It's flat. The only feeling presented to the audience is anger. Even when he's reminiscing and flashing back to getting the call about Bobby, it doesn't feel sad. There's no weight to it. Because he's relying on anger and physicality to sell the scene, any other emotion he tries to present feels fake. Especially after the shove. It feels like a manipulation. (Because it is, but I digress.)

Ryan is simply not good at emotionally complex scenes. So for him to be able to portray Eddie successfully breaking free of his toxic behaviours and bettering himself? That takes a level of skill that, quite frankly, Ryan does not have. It would've been better for his character and the narrative overall if they had dealt with his anger issues when they first became plot-relevant in season 3, and then written him as a better man from season 4 onward. I think they tried to do that, to be fair, but the aftermath of the traumatic regression after the sniper attack fumbled the progress, and they couldn't figure out how to get him back on track, which was how we got the season 5 breakdown.

[kaisosims]

Christmas '23

Versatile holiday décor in typical red, green, blue, and white matching holiday colors and patterns. No room for a full sized Christmas tree? Use the Cardboard Craftmas Tree and Candy Cane Pillows to bring the spirit of Christmas to your Sims' homes.

6 new items with 15 swatches each:

Christmas Couch Blanket | fits many 3 and 2 tile wide sofas Christmas Rug Christmas Coffee Table Cloth | fits many 2x1 coffee tables Candy Cane Pillow Cardboard Craftmas Tree Christmas Table Runner | fits many 2x1 coffee tables

5 pride swatches included in addition to 10 standard candy cane swatches 😄

All items are 100% 3D modelled and textured by me

All items are Base Game Compatible with all necessary LODs

Find items in this pack easily by searching "Christmas '23" or "Kaiso"

Download (Free!): https://www.patreon.com/posts/93962254

[luminous-letters]

i have been fed by new jack content

"Shit..." He cussed under his breath, stopping at the opening of the main street night market. He mentally cursed at the universe's comically on-point timing. The night market

"Just had to be now..." He huffed, struggling to squeeze himself through the crowd of... couples out on a Christmas date. Sweet. Romantic. He could practically see the hearts in the winter air.

'Great', he thought, a tad embarrassed at himself for not being that great of a planner. Sue him, he had no time to map out an entire itinerary... He didn't know the dorm Christmas party would take longer than expected, plus the errands he had to run, then his time to get dressed, his time to go to the kiln, and to package his gift...

Alright, he was running out of excuses.

He deftly (very poorly) sifted through the crowd (crashed against one poor couple) before picking up speed once he was at the familiar route down Ramshackle dorm. His build had its benefits and downsides.

He is a runner, a literal track star.

Bag in hand, he sprinted until he reached your now-fixed porch. He'd never admit it, but he kind of missed how the old floorboards would creak under his weight. It would have saved him from ringing your doorbell.

"Uh, hey... I'm... I'm here!" He called out, heart sinking a bit at the fact that your lights were all turned off. Was he too late? It was indeed past midnight. Still, he wanted you to have this, it was the least he could do for missing out on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...

Just because he said he'd give you a gift, definitely not because of the gnawing guilt of not being with you for an indefinite amount of time.

Movement.

His ears twitched and his tail swished instinctively. That familiar pattern of movement, your hand feeling the wall in search for the switch before flicking it. Immediately, warm light spilled from the door transom.

The door opened to reveal you, half-asleep and still in your pajamas. It was a stark contrast to Jack's dorm uniform, which was still damp with sweat.

He held up the bag which was patterned with red and green zigzags, and had small trees decorated all over.

"Hey. I got you something... Well, not 'got' really, I made you a little something. Sorry it took so long." If one would look closely, Jack had sad puppy eyes.

No pun intended.

You reached out for it, your fingers brushing against Jack's. It only amplified his already wagging tail.

Opening the gift, you found a mug.

"Remember how I said I'll be taking some pottery in my free time? It was Ace's idea. He dropped it after a week. Well, I made you this... uh... mug..." He trailed off, opting to scratch the back of his head in hopes of ridding some of the awkwardness in the air.

He tried looking away, but he couldn't help but steal glances at you as you inspected your late Christmas gift.

The mug was quaint, it had a hastily-painted Christmas tree with an artist's rendition (Jack's drawing) of you and Grim. As your fingers traced the ceramic, you could feel the indents and depressions of the imperfect craft. Its handle was too big for your hands, and the base was his best attempt at a cylinder. Still, it was...

"It's perfect." You gave him a reassuring smile. Now you were concerned if Jack might take off the ground with how fast his tail was wagging.

"R-really? I'll make you a better one, I promise!"

"It's fine, Jack."

It was special because he made it. Someone might give you one that's made by a seasoned artisan, or something bejeweled and pricey. But you liked this mug because it's from him. It's authentic and was made for you.

"Good thing you dropped by, I was worried that I might not be able to give you your gift," you chuckled, guiding Jack into the dorm.

Under the dorm's Christmas tree was one gift labeled 'Jack'.

Opening it, he found...

"Ear muffs... In the shape of my ears?" He examined the crocheted craft in his hands.

"C'mon, it's stylish." You encouraged him by putting it on him. "There. Fits like a glove," you mused.

"No way I'm gonna wear this outside...." He sighed, but his crinkled eyes, his warm smile, and his tail all said otherwise.

[goldenarmyofficial]

Pre-game analysis - Midnight Showdown: The Gold Army vs. The Phantom Aces

🖊️ By Christopher Fowler – Senior Sports Analyst

⚡ The Unstoppable vs. The Unbeaten – Who Breaks First?

For years, the Phantom Aces have been an enigma—a team that does not lose.

No official records. No home stadium. No known history of defeat.

Every opponent who steps onto their field leaves changed. Some claim they play against shadows, others whisper about mirages, about plays that shouldn't be possible.

But now?

They face the Gold Army.

A team that never backs down.

A team built to win.

A team that thrives under pressure and has spent weeks preparing for war.

This isn’t just a game.

This is a battle for dominance, for history, for reality itself.

And by the time the final inning comes?

Only one of these legacies will remain.

⚔️ Gold Army – Strength, Power, and Absolute Confidence

Gold’s Key Strengths

🔥 Raw Power & Speed: A brutal mix of explosive athleticism and relentless drive.

🏆 Unshakable Mentality: The Aces thrive on mind games. But Gold does not doubt. Gold does not break.

⚡ Tactical Versatility: From Mack’s fearless instinct-based plays to Xavier’s surgical precision on the mound, Gold brings a diverse, adaptable game.

🧢 A New Captain Rises: With Herc mysteriously absent, Brody (#11) steps up to take the Captain role. He’s an imposing force at first base, bringing raw strength and leadership when Gold needs it most.

Gold Players to Watch

Brandon #58 – The Unbreakable Catcher (Catcher)

The rock behind home plate. Brandon has been studying Vincent Moreau, watching tape, learning his patterns. If anyone can break the Phantom Catcher’s influence, it’s him.

Mack #70 – The Instinctive Monster (Shortstop)

Once a precision-based player, **Master Percival rewired Maximus into Mack—**a cocky, reckless, instinct-driven beast. His blindfold training has pushed his reflexes to inhuman levels. If there’s one player who can disrupt the Aces' eerie rhythm, it’s him.

Brock #46 – The Relentless Defender (Second Base)

Brock isn’t just quick—he’s relentless. His ability to chase down impossible plays and shut down runners makes him a crucial counter to the Aces’ unpredictable movement.

Dylan #20 – The Speed Demon (Right Field)

Fast. Smart. Everywhere at once. Dylan’s ability to cover massive ground will be key in countering Nate Voss’s outfield tricks. He won’t let the Aces steal free bases without a fight.

Xavier "Poker Face" #39 – The Unreadable Pitcher (Starting Pitcher)

Unlike the Aces’ Isaiah Crowe, whose pitches seem like illusions, Xavier brings absolute control. His pitches are razor-sharp, unreadable, and unnervingly precise. He doesn't overpower—he dissects. He's called "Poker Face" because even the most seasoned players have difficulty reading him.

🃏 The Phantom Aces – The Unbeaten Mystique

The Team That Shouldn’t Exist

No wasted movements. No hesitation. They move like one entity.

Their opponents don’t just lose—they start to doubt themselves. They start to see things. They second-guess every step.

Some claim their shadows shift. Some say their plays feel pre-determined.

Are they just that good?

Or is something else at play?

Phantom Aces Players to Watch

Maddox Kane #00 – The Phantom Captain (Shortstop / Captain)

If you lock eyes with Maddox Kane, your game is already lost.

Tall. Lean. Unshakable. He sees everything before it happens—always in position, always one step ahead. His presence alone disrupts opponents' confidence.

Vincent Moreau #13 – The Unbeatable Catcher (Catcher)

No one steals on Moreau. No one second-guesses him. He doesn’t need to speak—just his presence behind home plate rattles even the best hitters.

Isaiah Crowe #21 – The Phantom Pitcher (Starting Pitcher)

Crowe’s throws shouldn’t be possible. No one can track his windup. His form shifts mid-game. It’s like he throws reflections of other pitchers’ best pitches.

Silas Reed #17 – The Silent First Baseman (First Base)

No sound. No wasted movement. If you’re running to first, he’s already there. Some say he doesn’t even blink.

Nate Voss #9 – The Doppelgänger Outfielder (Outfield)

Hit a ball deep into center field? Somehow, Nate is already there. He moves like he exists in two places at once.

🚨 Mysterious Disappearance: Where is Herc?

One massive question hangs over the Gold Army:

Herc is missing.

The powerhouse of the team vanished before the final preparations.

No one saw him leave. No one heard anything. One moment he was there. The next, gone.

Did the Phantom Aces get inside his head?

Did he leave on his own?

Or is he still somewhere in Specter Stadium—watching?

⚖️ The Matchup – Breaking the Curse or Falling Victim?

The Aces have never lost.

Gold has never backed down.

One of those things is about to change.

The Midnight Challenge is set. The rosters are locked.

🏆 Official Roster Announcement – The Lineup for Both Teams

Gold Army Roster

🔹 Starting Lineup (Batting Order)

1️⃣ Mack (#70) @polo-drone-070 – Shortstop 🏃‍♂️💥 Explosive athleticism, instinct-based play, fearless energy

2️⃣ Daniel (#16) @danielgold-16– Center Field 🌪️🧤 Fastest outfielder, elite coverage, reliable catching

3️⃣ Isaac (#45) @isaac-gold-45– Designated Hitter ⚾🔥 Consistent contact hitter, precision batting (For Starting Pitcher Xavier #39)

4️⃣ Brandon (#58) @brandongold58– Catcher 🧱🎯 Tactical catcher, strategic playmaker, defensive backbone

5️⃣ Tariq (#89) @tariqgold89– First Base 💪🛡️ Towering presence, powerful bat, unshakable defense

6️⃣ Trevor (#52) @polo-drone-125– Third Base 🔥⚡ Aggressive plays, high-energy competitor, reactive defense

7️⃣ Alex (#64) @polo-drone-151– Second Base 🏆👀 Smart plays, quick reflexes, consistent fielding

8️⃣ Tamerlan (#73) @eddy-gold-73– Left Field 🎯🚀 Strong arm, tactical awareness, defensive powerhouse

9️⃣ Dylan (#20) @dylangold20– Right Field 🚄🧤 Reliable outfielder, excellent field coverage, clutch performer

🔹 Pitching Staff

⚾ Xavier "Poker Face" (#39) @polo-drone-039– Starting Pitcher 🎯🔥 A surgical pitcher, mixing controlled precision with devastating breaking balls. His cold, calculating mindset keeps hitters guessing and opponents locked in frustration.

⚾ Roman (#68) @roman-golden-68– Relief Pitcher ⚡🛡️ A tactical thrower with an adaptable mindset, perfect for mid-game adjustments.

⚾ Herc (#9) @goldenherc9– Backup Pitcher (MIA?!) 💥💪 If he returns, his raw power pitching can turn the game in Gold’s favor.

🔹 Bench / Substitutes

🔸 Ares (#10) @goldengod-ares10– Power hitter, momentum shifter

🔸 Brody (#11) @brodygold– Assisting Coach Chet in tactical planning

🔸 Herc (#9) – Pitcher / Designated Hitter (MISSING – if returns, a game-changer)

🔸 Leander (#88) @leander-gold-88– Versatile player, reliable under pressure

🔸 Trey (#52) @hero21us��� Field coverage specialist, adaptable baserunner

🔸 Brock (#46) @brockgold– Solid infielder, tough defensive asset

🔸 Briar (#50) @polo-drone-050– Base-running ace, elite speedster

🔸 Ross (#79) – Utility fielder, dependable in late-game scenarios

🔹 Gold Army Leadership & Spirit

👑 Coach Chet – Master strategist, ensuring Gold plays with precision and discipline.

🦾 Brody (#11) – Team captain, assisting with on-field tactics and rallying the squad.

⚔️ Grayden @polo-drone-084 – The Golden Knight – Gold Army’s head mascot, leading cheers and pumping up the crowd.

Phantom Aces Roster

🔹 Starting Lineup (Batting Order)

1️⃣ Nate "Doppelgänger" Voss (#9) – Center Field 👀⚡ Always under the ball before it lands—sometimes in two places at once.

2️⃣ Isaiah "Mirror" Crowe (#21) – Pitcher 🎭🔥 Copies the opponent’s best pitch—only better.

3️⃣ Maddox "Phantom Captain" Kane (#00) – Shortstop 🧠🎯 Sees the game like he wrote the script.

4️⃣ Vincent "No Escape" Moreau (#13) – Catcher 🧱👁️ No pitch escapes him, no runner beats his tag.

5️⃣ Silas "Dead Quiet" Reed (#17) – First Base 🤫⚾ Moves without sound—already waiting for you at first.

6️⃣ Maddox Kane (again?) (#00) – Third Base 🌀👀 A second Kane stands at third. Real or illusion?

7️⃣ Caleb "Fogwalker" Hayes (#7) – Left Field 🌫️🏃‍♂️ One moment he's running down the ball—next, he's gone.

8️⃣ Julian "Moonlit" Graves (#22) – Right Field 🌙⚡ Moves before the ball is hit, eyes glowing in the dark.

9️⃣ Ezra "Vanishing Act" Quinn (#10) – Second Base 🚀🎭 Turns double plays before you even see him move.

🔹 Pitching Staff

⚾ Samuel "Eclipse" Harlow (#18) – Backup Pitcher 🕶️⚡ Throws into the void—batters swing at nothing.

🔹 Bench / Substitutes

🔸 Dominic "Revenant" Cole (#27) – Backup Catcher Never blinks, never flinches—has he always been here?

🔸 Jesse "Hollow" Briggs (#19) – Utility Infielder No mistakes, no errors—his glove swallows baseballs.

🔸 Dorian "Specter" Lowe (#29) – Backup Outfielder Glides like a shadow—sometimes, he just isn’t there.

🔹 Mascot

🦅Ace the Phantom Hawk – Its glowing eyes have already seen the final score.

🔔 First pitch: MIDNIGHT.

🏟️ Location: Specter Stadium.

Brace yourselves. The Midnight Challenge is about to begin.

[essenyare]

Majorly Out of Spec

WARNINGS: Leon S. Kennedy/Jack Krauser, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Porn with Feelings, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, Cock Worship, Krauser has a huge cock

He was never a fast runner.

Which, in the military, was a kind of disgrace—especially for a man who came out of special forces and had pecs sharp enough to snap a fountain pen.

But the problem was never his legs.

The problem was that goddamn thing .

Jack Krauser had a cock that defied conventional classification.

He’d tried tucking it left—naturally, it leaned that way, and following the grain of his muscle made the most sense. But it never stayed put. Sooner or later, it would spring free at the worst possible moment. And if he happened to be running? One sharp turn and it would whip side to side, smack into his inner thigh. Pick up speed, and it’d start slapping against the meat just below the groin. No joke—that spot bruises easily .

Tucking it right didn’t help either. That meant going against the natural muscle alignment, and it rubbed harsh against the fabric. Abrasive. Unbearable.

He even considered strapping it upward —when it was calm, soft, posing no immediate threat. Krauser sometimes found himself thinking: There are maybe five things in this world that have dared to mess with me. Why the hell is my own dick one of them?

Maybe a bandage. Maybe bind it against the lower abdomen. But it was just too damn big.

He had abs— real abs—neatly stacked, disciplined rows like military rations. Trying to strap that thing against them? It’d be like shoving a baby’s forearm into the front of his pants. Suspicious at best. Laughable at worst.

He’d even tried getting custom gear.

Military-issue went up to size G—G for GRAND, as in comically large . But Krauser had to file an official report titled something like “Request for Accommodation: Non-Standard Male Physiological Trait.” HR thought it was a prank. They made him come in for a conversation that lasted three hours and two bitter cups of government-issue coffee.

In the end, he took matters into his own hands—literally. Enrolled in a vocational course. Learned pattern drafting. Sewing. Stitching. Tailoring underwear became part of his routine—pragmatic, not aesthetic. His entire physique needed specialty care, and knowing how to construct his own clothing saved him from getting fleeced by shady tailors when it came time to buy formalwear.

Eventually, he was issued a new type of compression pants—fresh off logistics supply, designed for high-intensity training. Supposed to prevent varicose veins. He picked a size matching his height, waist, and hip ratio. Managed to yank it over his hips, barely. Walked two steps and felt like he’d wrapped his junk in a nylon execution bag.

Back in boot camp, speed showers and communal sleeping quarters were never kind to him. It’s not like he’d been born with muscles and menace. Once, before discovering whey protein and hypertrophy training, he’d just been a lanky kid. Already tall enough to get stares—but cursed with something between a club and a courtroom exhibit dangling between his legs.

And no, it didn’t earn him the Hollywood welcome. In the barracks, even a single arm hair over your assigned cot line was a punishable offense—let alone a semi-conscious erection slapping against the underside of your issued blanket.

That thing had more surface area than a marine tarp. It took longer to wash. More soap. More time. And no, boot camp didn’t exactly leave time for contemplative cock hygiene.

Running was a problem. So were jumping jacks—his dick had uppercut his own stomach more times than he could count.

Crawling drills? Every third step, an instructor would yell, “Krauser! Is your gear unsecured?”

He hated rope climbs most of all. How the fuck was a man supposed to reach for a knot without risking a full-frontal garrote from the friction of military-grade hemp?

And then came Harrison.

“Sir! Private Krauser just tried to trip me!”

The idiot. As if standing too close during roll call was some kind of coordinated assault. Krauser didn’t even look at him. Just stared at the distant circular target like it owed him money, dropped to the ground, and started doing his two hundred pushups in silence.

At least his back and biceps were getting stronger.

At Colonel Smith’s bachelor party, a whole squad of half-drunk grunts stormed into the strip club like it was a fucking breach-and-clear exercise. Drinks flowed like floodwater. Dancers were called. Krauser wasn’t exactly a saint, nor was he above indulging now and then.

The girl working the pole that night was giving it about twenty percent attention, eighty percent autopilot. She seemed to mistake him for her steel support beam.

She ground against him, slinked and circled, then hit a high-leg spin and—BAM! Her kneecap struck him right in the head .

No, not his head. The other one. The recently-awakened one. If it had a face, it would’ve been the face of someone who just got mugged in a back alley.

Look, it’s simple physics: a stripper’s patella versus a hyper-proportioned gelatinous warclub between a man’s legs? That’s not choreography. That’s a fucking egg vs. rock situation.

You know what they say: With great power comes great fucking liability.

And Krauser felt it. Maybe he wasn’t sure if this was a power or a curse, but the liability? That was real. Tangible. Measured in bruises, stares, and long silences.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t tried dating. Wasn’t like no one was interested. But give it a few drinks, enough to lower inhibitions, make the hands wander—and there’d be that moment.

That moment when someone cupped him through his pants, smiled like they’d hit the jackpot… And then pulled down the metaphorical lever to find out it was too much.

You could see it in their faces: this thing doesn’t compute . Desire turned to disbelief. Arousal crashed into anatomical panic.

And that’s when they bolted.

Because let’s be honest—America doesn’t have universal healthcare. Emergency rooms are expensive. Nobody wants to end up with a perforated colon and a long wait at reception, only to hear:

“Sorry, sir/madam—your case isn’t classified as urgent at this time.”

In a country like this, self-preservation beats orgasm.

So, you ask if he practices abstinence? Fuck yes, he does.

Every. Goddamn. Time.

When it came to taking a leak, public urinals were kind of easy. Find the corner stall, unzip, aim, drain, done. (And no, he’d never admit that the length of his dick correlated with the seconds it took to empty his bladder. No one needed that cursed trivia.)

At home, though—sit-down toilets. And you had to remember to lift the thing up and rest it across your thigh. Otherwise, it was like fishing off the edge of a porcelain lake. And there was nothing tranquil about that.

Routine medical exams? Always a disaster.

The nurses either gasped, stifled laughter, or exchanged that look. One time, a trainee nurse literally sprinted out of the room like she'd seen the Ark of the Covenant in his gown.

So there Krauser was—bare-assed, legs dangling off the paper-lined exam table, his balls shrinking up in shame while the attending physician took his sweet time getting back.

It was harassment. Seriously. Just because it’s not happening to a woman doesn’t make it less of a violation. Men can get sexually humiliated too, goddammit.

And beach days? Forget it.

He could only wear those sad, knee-length board shorts, the kind that made his muscular thighs look like a wasted architectural opportunity. It was less swimwear and more like strapping a goddamn tarp around his waist.

He sighed, full of that specific kind of despair reserved for men whose cocks ruined every attempt at leisure.

He’d just gotten out of the water. Ten minutes of cooling off had nearly fried his forehead under the midday sun. Now he sat under the umbrella, still damp, still sticky, still itchy.

He had sensitive skin. Of course he had sensitive skin. Now he had a goddamn heat rash. Because apparently, America doesn’t do nude beaches, and he couldn’t exactly roam around with his monster dick flopping in the breeze. Not that he wanted to flaunt the damn thing.

And seriously—That kid over there needed to stop staring.

Jesus Christ. He was this close to marching over and kicking over that dumb little sandcastle.

He wasn’t hiding a bioweapon. He wasn’t smuggling some sacred national relic.

It was a burden. A godforsaken, socially isolating, pants-stretching burden. The reason lovers fled. The reason he could never sprint at full capacity without risking internal bruising.

It was the enemy in every low-grade battle he fought.

He was a soldier. But his war wasn’t glory or honor.

It was this. It was living with a fucking monster cock .

And no, it wasn’t a goddamn gift from heaven.

The only grace, perhaps, came with promotion. As a major, he finally had his own quarters. His own bathroom. No more judgmental glances. No more shared barracks. No one to kick him awake when he slept spread-eagle to air out his reproductive furnace.

And hey, if the government ever let him rot out here and he decided to end it all, he could always hang himself with his own dick.

It would be poetic. That’s what he used to think, anyway.

Until he met Leon S. Kennedy.

...Read more on AO3

[bevanne46]

Spooky Hallow quilt, 60 x 72", free pattern at Maywood Studio https://maywoodstudio.com/content/Product-Images-by-Collection/Spooky-Hallow/Projects/Get-Started-PDFS/SPOH_Scaredy_Cats_Free_Pattern.pdf

[franco-gold94]

Vs the Neon Vortex – The Practice: Part 2

Halftime.

The teams switched sides. The thought-transmitters moved from one team to the other, and the players plugged them in.

Silence. For a few seconds, there heard nothing. Then a voice came through the earbuds.

How works this thing… Aaa… I see… It was a clear voice, but it wasn’t the natural voice of any of the members. It was soft and emotionless.

“It was me, bros! I think I figured it out. It is easy.” Percival raised his hands in success. In a few moments, everyone had their devices working.

So… Now we need to improvise. Who will be our brain and crest of the wave?

Captain Herc’s team finished gathering and strategizing, and made their way to the center.

Percival should be the tactician. Percival? Me? Why Percival? Too many thoughts, bros! Percival is fine. Too many!

It was a mess.

But then: Okay bros, then I’ll do it. Nice. Who will be the tip of the spear? Me not. Me! I’m not a good runner. Who? Who is me? Tamerlan. Tamerlan. Wait, really.

“Bros, please concentrate on me!” Percival said. I’ll plan.

The teams were ready. The fourth round began.

Herc started the kick-off. He passed to Trey, who pushed forward with determination.

Let them push. Franco, switch to the left wing. Tamerlan, push forward. Brody, you need to stop Trey. I’ll assist. Maximus, prevent the pass to Herc. They will try to push through with 055 and Herc.

The team moved smoothly. Percival’s analysis was spot on. The Golden Army team moved exactly as expected.

“Trey, I’m free!” 055 shouted to Trey, who was just confronted by Brody. The team captain intercepted Trey’s attack, but Trey managed to pass the ball to 055. But Maximus was already there. He seized the ball, then quickly passed it to Tamerlan, who surged forward, unstoppable.

But the Golden Army team was getting somewhat familiar with the tactic. They made the Neons tactics themselves a few minutes ago. Isaac and 767 marked Tamerlan closely, and made almost impossible for him to break through.

I switch positions with Maximus!

Franco lunged forwards, taking the ball, and pushing ahead. Maximus fell behind to make room for Franco.

Okay team. Franco. To Brody. Brody to Maximus. Maximus into the goal. Quick and fluid.

Franco stopped immediately. 055 bumped into him from the momentum. But before 055 could react, the ball was already with Brody. Herc tried to counter, but the ball flew to Maximus, who was already really close to the opposing goal. With one swift kick, Maximus scored for the Neons. The opposing team couldn’t do anything, the movements were simply too unpredictable.

“Wow. What a move…” Isaac commented.

“Yeah bro. But we already found out our strategy too.” Trey responded as the teams got ready for the fifth round.

The kick-off went to 767 this time. He quickly passed the ball to Herc, who started to push forward immediately. 055 and Isaac followed up.

Hah, they are trying the wave strategy by themselves too. It’s not going to work. It is really nice, that they are try to take the action instead of reaction, but without consistent pattern they are easily disrupted. I’ll separate Herc from 055! I’ll from Isaac.

Tamerlan started running closely behind 055. Brody confronted Isaac, forcing him to slow down. Percival sprinted towards Herc with full speed.

Herc glanced behind to seek reinforcement, but he lost precious time. He had to decide quickly. Herc kicked the ball toward the goal with full force, but Percival blocked it and quickly began to charge forward with it. Switch positions. Mark the opponents! Slow them!

All players raced towards the Golden Army team’s goal. Herc chased after Percival, while the rest of the team tried to intercept his charge. But the Neons didn’t let them.

“Stop him!” 767 shouted from behind Franco, who tried to slow him down. Trey positioned himself perfectly and managed to seize the ball from Percival with a slick move, but was no use. Brody towered over him, and reclaimed the ball immediately. He kicked, and scored the second point for the Neons.

“Man! That is much tougher than I though!” Herc exclaimed after the play. After a huddle for a quick strategy session, the Golden Army team was ready for the final round.

A quick pass to Isaac started the play.

Tamerlan, rush forward. I’ll block the direct attacks. Franco, try to seize the ball.

Franco ran towards Isaac, who quickly passed the ball to 055. Brody! Brody was there to counter 055’s advance, but 055 wasn’t trying to push forward. Instead, he passed the ball to 767. The opposing team ran slowly but steadily, their movements in constant tempo. The Neons were starting to loose ground. They tried to size the ball, but there was simply too many passes among the opposite team.

They are up to something. A new tactic. See? They are running slowly but are passing a lot. Tamerlan, retreat!

An uncomfortable feeling spread over the Neons. Their first attacker had been called back, signalling hesitation.

I’ll focus on Herc. I assume, he will try to push forward. Mark the others, bros!

Percival slowly moved towards Herc, tracking his movements closely. 767 passed the ball to Herc. Herc lunged forward, but Percival was ready to counter for the second time. He lunged after Herc.

But this was a mistake. Because Herc only pretended to move forward. Instead he shouted: “Isaac, here comes the ball!”

And then he passed it to Trey.

The Neons were a second late. The distraction worked. Trey seized the opportunity, capitalizing on Percival’s mistake, and kicked the ball through the hole in the defense. The ball flew into the goal, scoring for the Golden Army.

The team erupted in cheers.

“You made it!” Isaac shouted. “Bros, we have distracted the unpredictables!”

Maximus grinned. “Wow, bros. Good job!”

At the end of the match the two Captains shook hands with each other. They seemed to be really satisfied with the teams performance.

“Good job, Golden Army! The Neon Vortex won’t stand a chance against our skills!” Herc praised the team. The members congratulated each other, shaking hands and talking from their experiences.

“It was a good idea, Franco.” 767 said to Franco.

“Huh, thanks, bro. You only truly know someone when you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”

He was also pleased with the results. The Golden Army had successfully countered the Neon Vortex’s tactics.

Of course, Franco thought, the real match will be much tougher. But we are now prepared.

----

Join our fight against the Neon Vortex! Be a part of the best team, or follow us in our clash against the Neons! Recruiters: @brodygold, @goldenherc9, @polo-drone-001, @polo-drone-125

----

Thanks for joining the Practice: @brodygold @goldenherc9 @polo-drone-001 @polo-drone-055 @hero21us @isaac-gold-45 @polo-drone-767 @polo-drone-073 @polo-drone-070

[ser3nityst4r]

Jamil’s Backstory

Jamil Viper prided himself on his control. For as long as he could remember, he had mastered the art of swallowing the bitterness in his throat, the sting of resentment behind his eyes. His life was a carefully crafted performance, a constant dance of deference and feigned incompetence. 

It all started with a sun-kissed boy named Kalim Al-Asim. The very first memories Jamil could conjure were not of his own home, but of the ostentatious halls of the Asim estate. There, amidst the lavish gardens and echoing corridors, a young Kalim, full of boundless energy and unadulterated joy, declared, "Let's play, Jamil~! I'm gonna win against you this time for sure!"

And Jamil, already educated in the unspoken rules of their world, would sigh inwardly and reply, "Again? I always win, you know? I wanna play something else, too…"

The reprimand was always swift, always predictable. His parents, faces contorted with a mixture of fear and servility, would chastise him for his "disrespect." And Kalim's parents, their smiles never quite reaching their eyes, would praise their "kind-hearted master" for indulging him.

Over the years, the pattern cemented itself into his very being. His father, his voice laced with a desperation Jamil understood all too well, would whisper instructions before every sparring match or competition. "Let Master Kalim win the third time, understand? Don't outshine him."

His mother, her eyes filled with a weary acceptance, would add, "You're a smart child, Jamil. You know how important this is."

And Jamil, his small hands clenching into fists, would whisper back, "I know."

He knew that the Al-Asims were everything his family was not - wealthy, influential, untouchable. He knew that his very existence revolved around serving them, around ensuring Kalim's happiness, even if it meant suffocating his own.

So, he played the role of the loyal friend, the perpetual runner-up, the slightly less capable companion. He let Kalim win at games, even when it meant deliberately fumbling the ball or miscalculating a move. He feigned confusion during lessons, allowing Kalim to bask in the fleeting glow of academic achievement.

He became a shadow, always present, always supportive, yet always a step behind. The bitterness, however, simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over with every forced smile, every insincere compliment.

Even when they came to Night Raven College, nothing changed. The whispers followed them, the expectations remained. And when Kalim, with his usual carefree demeanor, was chosen as Prefect, a decision clearly influenced by his family's generous donations, Jamil felt a surge of rage so potent it nearly broke through his carefully constructed walls.

"He doesn't have exceptional talent!" he'd argued with Headmaster Crowley, his voice tight with suppressed fury. "We're the ones who constantly cover for him!"

Crowley, ever the cryptic mentor, simply chuckled and replied, "Sometimes, Viper-kun, there are things that mere grades can't achieve. Asim-kun's family…well, they do have a way of making their generosity known."

Jamil knew. They all made sure he knew. His parents, Kalim's parents, even the Headmaster – they all expected him to understand, to accept his predetermined role. But understanding did little to quell the burning resentment within him. 

Who was there to understand him? Who saw the sacrifices he made, the talents he suppressed, the dreams he buried deep within himself? The weight of their expectations, the burden of his own resentment, threatened to crush him. 

He was trapped in a gilded cage of his own making, bound to Kalim by invisible chains forged from societal expectations and his family's ambition. As he watched Kalim celebrate yet another victory, oblivious to the true cost, Jamil couldn't help but wonder if the day would ever come when he could finally break free from his shackles.

[nabi-unveiled]

Nabi Notices (April 15, 2025)

Too many all-night work sessions in a row meant I ran out of energy early last week and skated on fumes until Sunday.

What little energy I had leftover I used to make a list of characters that had also run out of spoons. Feel free to add to that list. It was very much just the characters off the top of my head.

I also had fun doing tag dives into shows I enjoyed in the past. Going forward I may still do an occasional tag dive on a low energy day, but I'll probably add those to queue.

The Things I Noticed This Week:

My watch pattern also reflected this lack of energy. Anything that would typically be a long-form post (like Heesu in Class 2 ) got pushed to the side. Anything that might require a high level of mental processing (like When Life Gives You Tangerines) got pushed aside until at least Sunday. Shows that required no thinking were my bread and butter this week. I also did a lot of rewatches of scenes I had enjoyed recently....just because.

Despite all that, I still managed to take in some new things.

Fabulous Fit

Top Form has great fits. It has had great fits in every episode. I've particularly enjoyed Jin's outfits and when Akin wore Jin's clothes. However, the show has always taken another category in my weekly posts so I typically don't talk about the fits. But this week, Akin's outfit in the smoking shoot was divine. I loved everything about it. I only wish I had gotten a better full body shot.

As a runner up, I also liked this casual fit in Fight for You. I'd definitely wear it - particularly the jeans.

Side note: I find it interesting that both Fight for You and Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist are doing this smaller box, old TV style framing for their flashbacks.

Fascinating Find

I'm partway through Episode 3 of Love for Love's Sake (no spoilers please). But the posts for ep 1 & 2 have triggered some fun discussions. In particular, @dropthedemiurge let me know that pizza bread would be sweet which was fascinating. I had always assumed it was like garlic knots with some toppings kneaded in.

Now being sweet doesn't necessarily mean it would be unappealing to me. I do live in a community where jello is called "salad" on a regular basis.

But it did prompt a big recipe search to try to figure out if I could make the dish at home and test it out. DIY pizza, cheese bread, etc. are regulars in our household rotation anyways. I found all kinds of recipes...some with mayonnaise, some with corn. I kept getting recipes for sausage ppang, and I couldn't figure out if they're the same thing, variations of the same thing or completely different. Again, it was a low energy week. Brain capacity was limited. Eventually, my mini sous chef picked a recipe for sausage ppang that we'll try sometime soon. It may not be pizza bread, but it still looked yummy.

Fantastic Frame

If someone had paid better attention when building Jin Hwan's pinboard in Business as Usual, the info I learned researching the pinboard might have been the fascinating find this week.

But they included pictures from a company with a well-known hallmark that as best as I can tell wouldn't have existed 8+ years ago. Only slightly annoyed 🙄, because that means the smaller details can't be trusted in this show. And in a show relying on partial viewpoints and flashbacks, I WANT to trust the small details.

It's okay though, because the show did give me this scene as a beautiful location for a shared meal.

I love that this feels like their private space, and they have soft light shining on them throughout the scene. It's warm and cozy. Based on the preview, it looks like we're getting more scenes from this location. So yay for that!

Fun Fluorish

I was informed by @dribs-and-drabbles that there's a steamy bookcase scene later on in Cooking Crush. I had only watched the first two episodes of that show before life got chaotic and it fell to the wayside. But I picked it back up so I can enjoy the bookcase scene as intended. I restarted at episode 1 since it had been a hot minute.

The little animations and cartoon moments were a delight this week. It was just the kind of light-hearted fun I needed.

It was a nice touch that Chef had similar stickers on his locker.

Favorite Fragment

For me to consider something a "favorite fragment", it means the line either needs to strike me hard enough when watching to take particular note OR it needs to get stuck in my head.

Most of the shows I watched this week, even ones I really enjoyed, did not have lines like that. Or I was too tired to take note if they did. The exception - When Life Gives You Tangerines. The dialogue in that show ALWAYS hits. However, it hits so hard and so often that I have decided not to include it in these weekly posts. The dialogue in that show deserves its own post....sometime down the road.

So what did I choose this week? I'm cheating. I picked the book quote from Pride and Prejudice that Mark read in My Golden Blood.

"I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."

Because that's my truth on SO many different levels.

My Queue for the Coming Week:

As always, it's really up to whim and fancy. There will always be things that I watch that are NOT on this list.

I know I'll watch:

Top Form (Ep 6)

Business as Usual (Ep 3)

Things I'll most likely watch:

Love for Love's Sake (Finish Ep 3; Ep 4)

Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist (Ep 4)

When Life Gives You Tangerines (Ep 5)

I'm also hoping to catch up with my writing on Heesu in Class 2 so that I can watch ep 5/6. I think I'm just going to be behind everyone on that one.

[creations-by-chaosfay]

Download these now! They're free until May 2025.

[true-blue-sonic]

Espilver Week day 5: Sports

“I thought ninja never shy away from a challenge!” Silver yells out over the ice. Any jab at Espio’s pride is something that can be used to get him to cooperate, and as Silver races close again the purple dot has crossed his arms and is lashing his tail in clear annoyance. “Or are you scared?” the hedgehog smirks as he rushes past, easily dodging the agitated snowball hurled at his retreating form.  

“Surely it cannot be so hard!” Espio calls out after him, and then the chameleon takes a single step onto the ice and promptly slips right onto his back with a shriek.

☆☆☆☆☆

Espio had diagnosed Silver with “It’s truly impossible for you to sit still for more than two seconds, is it?” syndrome once.

It had made Silver laugh, back then. Sure, Espio had been onto something: his words had been received while Silver had been floating upside-down above their couch, slowly spinning for no reason other than that he’d wanted to. And, now that he’s begun paying attention to it, he must concede Espio is right. He’s either on his feet and standing still for just a few moments while playing with his cuffs and gloves, or he’s in the air. In the air is where he’s free, where his body can move and twist with no constraints, and flying is one thing he might love just a bit more than he loves Espio. Only a little, though!

But of course, he’s got feet for a reason. Silver might not be the quickest runner, but he enjoys it; trying his hand at sports is plenty of fun too. Like the ice skates that had been calling to him when he’d been wandering through a second-hand store he and Espio frequent sometimes. Evaluating hundreds of mugs and plates to find the fanciest patterns while being an “impossible to sit still for more than two seconds” sufferer was absolute torture, he’d smugly told Espio, and then he had skedaddled off to leave his beloved to his endless comparing. By sheer accident it had brought him to the area where sports articles were kept, though Silver figures the two pairs of marked-down ice skates that fitted him and Espio both like a glove had to be nothing short of fate. And that has brought the two of them here, to a frozen lake in a frozen Zone, scarfs around their necks and both ready to rumble.

Well, Silver is, that is. “I still do not understand how you believe yourself to be a fan of ice skating if you’ve never done it before,” Espio brings up, not for the first time.

A snug psychic hold lifts Silver to the middle of the sheet of ice. “I’ve got no idea, but I can feel it. I really want to try it out,” he retorts. And he does: the moment his eyes laid on the skating gear in that store, his soul had been singing to brave the winter outside and get onto the ice.

Which… is indeed a bit strange, he must agree with Espio. He can’t recall having much interest in ice skating before, not when he was a little kid sliding on frozen water and also not during the few times he encountered frosty conditions in the past. But what does it matter, if he’s having fun with it now?

Espio for his part merely pulls a face. Where Silver had been delighted, Espio had been quite a bit more wary, as usual. The other had taken Silver up on his challenge to just try it out immediately, but his usual ninja enthusiasm in trying his hand at dangerous situations had stayed out. Probably afraid he’s going to make a fool out of himself, the hedgehog had conceded. Well, he's not going to be the only one on the move here. “Join me!” he thus tries to urge his beloved on, the blades of his skates striking the ice with a satisfying crackle.

As expected, Espio’s leer is one of great suspicion from where the frozen lake gets a little tap with the skate’s blade. A hesitant clearing of Espio's throat follows, with no attempts to go further. “I… am not certain if I will be successful in these endeavours.”

With a snort Silver moves one foot, and then the other. “Come on, Espio, why would I be?”

“You seem to be doing quite well, though,” gets dryly brought up. And indeed, Silver must agree: he crouches a bit and draws a deep breath… and then he’s blasted off in seconds, firm strikes of his feet pushing him forward on an icy gale as if he’s done nothing else his entire life.

He’s floating.

He’s dancing.

With a laugh Silver spins around, trying to copy vague memories and imaginations of what professional ice skaters do when they’re performing. Twists and twirls intertwine with leaping jumps and graceful motions, as the blades of his skates expertly slice over the ice with each movement. Forget the teasing way with which Espio had talked about him being unable to ever sit still: if life can be lived like this, with Silver's heart singing in freedom, he doesn't want to stop moving ever again. Already he’s far on the other side of the lake, Espio a small purple dot on the opposing shore.

“I thought ninja never shy away from a challenge!” Silver yells out over the ice. Any jab at Espio’s pride is something that can be used to get him to cooperate, and as Silver races close again the purple dot has crossed his arms and is lashing his tail in clear annoyance. “Or are you scared?” the hedgehog smirks as he rushes past, easily dodging the agitated snowball hurled at his retreating form.  

“Surely it cannot be so hard!” Espio calls out after him, and then the chameleon takes a single step onto the ice and promptly slips right onto his back with a shriek.

It takes Silver multiple minutes of cackling and several near-falls in his distraction to calm down again, poor Espio hoisted up on his feet as the other grumbles. “This is… very- very-! …Slippery,” gets bemoaned, Espio’s feet indeed rather spinning out of control and sliding all over. That couldn’t be more different than Silver’s graceful motions. Perhaps he should take pity on his chameleon, Silver decrees, and thus he snugly pulls Espio against his chest.

“Just focus on me,” the hedgehog purrs at the little gasp Espio gives him. Carefully sparks of cyan move Espio’s arms apart a bit, while his feet are kept safely ahead of Silver’s, and with loving movements Espio’s body gets realigned. “Move your weight a bit to my side- Yes, just like that. And one leg before the other, like so- Just go in a straight line! We’ll do corners later.”

A purple tail wraps itself around Silver’s midriff, giving it a squeeze. “You talk as if you have experience, my love,” Espio brings up. “You’ve been skating around as if you’ve done it for your whole life already.”

A chuckle has slipped past Silver’s lips at that naïve statement before he can help it. “Well, duh. I have!” he agrees…

And then he falters, because he hasn’t.

He’s never skated on ice to begin with; this is the first time, Silver’s sure of it. And yet he moves with an ease that does not make any sense…?

Espio regards him curiously as well, though Silver knows his shrug disappoints them both. “I must, but I really don’t remember. Weird.”

“Have you been living any secret double lives that I’m not aware of? Next thing you’re going to tell me is that you’ve been fighting giant demons half your life or had a part-time job in a café between being a master ice skating instructor,” he promptly gets teased.  

“Shush, or I’ll launch you,” Silver threatens him back like Espio so often says to him as well. “It doesn’t matter as long as we’re having fun, no?”

“That is true. And I do suppose your help is valuable, indeed.” Already Espio’s movements are a bit more confident, the straight line Silver is pushing him into skated more steadily. Corners don’t go so smoothly, what with the two of them grinding to a snail’s pace whenever they try to turn around, but Silver doesn’t mind in the slightest. He can guide Espio, after all; the other’s back presses against his chest so snugly, their heads leaning together as Silver steers them around. “Buying these was a good idea,” Espio adds after a while of skating in comfortable silence, Silver nodding.

“We should do a competition. Couple’s skating. I’ll do that thing where I pick you up and make you rest on my hand while you strike a pose.”

That elicits a full snort from Espio and a cackle from Silver in turn, the chameleon vehemently shaking his head. “Absolutely not! I shall not let myself be embarrassed like that.”

“Let’s try it right now!” Silver grins at him, his beloved needing nary a second to turn to floundering in his grasp to tear away and escape. That goes clumsily and with not that much epic speediness, Silver easily catching up to twirl around the other, and Espio almost ends up in a snowdrift on the side of the lake amidst their laughter and the chase…

He’ll use Espio’s argument that he can never sit still to go do this way more often, the hedgehog concedes from where he’s snatched Espio in his arms while skating madly over the ice, and with how the chameleon snuggles close in his arms, he’s sure that with these little details, his beloved won’t mind in the slightest.