#its been since the 30th of January

[713-4th-ward-g]

.

[yandere-wishes]

𝓦𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓦𝓸𝓵𝓯

Summary: Heritage pricks Wriothesley like a valley of thorns, it's unnerving to find someone with the same pains. 

Warnings: Yandere Behavior, werewolves, gore, older man/ younger woman if you squint.

January 15th; 12:00 Am  

There's blood on your face and a blade in your hand when Wriothesley first meets you. A body at your feet half gutted and half eaten. If not for the flickering shade of gold in your eyes, he'd have summed you up as just another alleyway murderer. 

Not a monster.

Not a creature he was all so intimately familiar with. 

When you'd first met the Duke of Meropide, there had been a full moon hovering overhead. A little too haunting for your taste. The stars cowered behind heavy clouds as the taste of metal rang in your mouth. His frigid fingers had tucked a lock of hair behind your ear. Tracing it's shell that had yet to lose its unnatural edge. "Qutrub" he mumbles, low and rattling as he drapes his jacket across your shoulders. 

You've yet to tell him that that night still haunts you. Not the blood or the first kill. Not the face of the man as you tear out his intestines with your teeth. No, the nightmares come from his voice, how easily he spoke of the horror you'd turned into. He'd known you before you'd even known yourself. 

His familiarity is what haunts you. 

All too deep and knowing. 

You still shiver when the beast's name leaves his tongue. 

He's blunt and brutal when he tells you of the curse you've inherited. What manner of creature resides within you. He speaks as if he's the Archon of wisdom, all lethal facts and icy truths. You couldn't really speak back then, brain still split between two worlds. Too feral to be human, yet too meek to be a threat. "The first transformation is always the worst, kid. It'll take a while before your mind's set straight again." 

You didn't understand what he meant back then. Too busy focusing on the permanent buzz in your head. It felt like a fever dream, sticky, slow. Your limbs weren't your own and neither were your thoughts. You think you may have collapsed back then. Vaguely recalling the sensation of his calloused palms against your forehead. 

 It's only by the end of a brutal week that you finally realize what his words signified. You're starting to act human again. Morphing back into something normal, something tame. It's only on the seventh day that you remember how to form words. And even then it's only half-slung phrases in your mother tongue. Wriothesley answers when you speak. Mirroring your words, your accent, your tones. That had been around the time you'd begin to understand what he was. What you where. 

Not human. 

Never human. 

 It's another excruciating week before you remember the language of Fontaine.

 Another long endless month until the new moon. 

January 30th; 1:00 Am

There's blood on your hands again, a shade too red to have a name. You stare at the body, his face shredded beyond recognition. 

His bone reverberates between your teeth. Beckoning you to crush it, to crack it open and gulp down the marrow like nectar. 

Wriothesley hums in approval, slinging himself over the ring ropes. The Pankration Ring is abandoned. Reserved only for the warden and his new "pet". It had become routine over the last few weeks, Wriothesley would bring in a "misbehaving" prisoner, some he -and by extension Fontaine - needed gone. And you would take the opportunity to whet your new, primal powers. 

"bloodlust does not define us." He circles you. Predator and prey. "Our kind has existed since the dawn of Tayvat. We're not monsters, although that's what everyone likes to think." he stops, his fangs tickling the side of your neck. As if trying to simulate a reaction, he needs you to feel the antiquity that courses through your blood. To understand where all this is coming from. 

The bone in your mouth cracks, something thick spills out. Just as Wriothesley's fangs pierce your precious flesh. 

"We're not monsters..."

"Not quite" 

January 31st, 11:59 Am

His voice is haunting. It slips into the cracks of your psyche, pulling apart the open wounds until there's enough room for him. Only him. The glib timbre of his voice stalks you through the corridors and past the darken rooms. Slithering over walls and echoing in your skull. Cauterizing doubts of what you are. He needs you to feel his pain. To live with his curse, his blessing. 

There's a window five meters from his office. It's the only time you catch glimpses of the world outside the metal dome. Your mind is fractured now too preoccupied by new sensations and emotions to fully recall anything from the topside world. The blurry scenery has long since faded from your memory.

 Somewhere a clock chimes. You start to race for the boxing ring. 

February 1st, 12:15 Am

You recall the first lesson he ever taught you. Back then you had yet to shed the ferocity running ramped across your veins. Preferring to use your teeth, to tear and sheer, hacking at whatever flesh you could reach.

You lay in a pool of gore, fresh enough to make your mouth water. Still, you keep your eyes locked on him. Longing for some acknowledgments, a shred of affection. 

Wriothesley's shadow is casted above you, white fangs glowing. He looked every bit the predator he'd raised himself to be. "Tired already?" His voice carries a tone of mockery. It's to be expected you guess as you'd laid on the metal floor heaving. Black dots danced across your vision, laughing when you tried to block them out. Wriothsly stands proud, metallic boxing gloves reflecting what little light they can. "We're qutrub's (y/n), not animals. Stop acting like one." 

Today's prisoner had put up a fight. A dirty one at that. His blade had pierced you more times than you dare count. it had been Wriothesley who had finished the job. Who had saved you from your target. A heartbeat later you feel him pulling you up, cradling you in his arms as he departs for his chambers. 

Back then you'd seen him as a predator, a beast. No difference in what he decided to call himself. Now all your eyes can convene is a saint draped in black. Wriothsly wears his heritage on his sleeve. Proud of the beast he has become. Proud of the way his bones rearrange to turn in into something odious, something ethereal. Someday you wish to make him proud. To be the creature he envisions, to be more than a monster, more than a wolf. To be worthy of him. 

"I love you" Wriothesley mutters, warm breath hitting the side of your neck. You wonder if monsters can love if that sentiment isn't stripped from them the moment they grow claws. You think it's ludicrous to believe either of you can still harbor such human feelings.

 The new moon feels like a lifetime away.

Febuary 8th, 2:00 Am

 "Until you learn to control your powers, they'll always reign over you. Never bend to them. Remember they are an extension of you. Not the other way around."

The bloodlust has grown more ferocious as of late. Its vicious howl rings through your head, blocking out Wriothesley's voice. It's a welcomed difference, a much-needed rest from his constant yammering. 

You've taken to hunting for sport. Slaughtering any you can corner, any you can out-match. Cherishing the blood that dries under your nails and the liberating ache of your body after the fact. 

At first, Wriothesley had made a show of decorating his desk with any blood-soaked trophy you'd brought him. Now you think he's growing vexed. 

He has you perched on his lap. Ankle cuffed and chained to the stone floor. A security mechanism he'd insisted on after you'd brought him the heart of the Coupon Cafatria's chef. 

Wriothesley never keeps animals in the fortress. He insists it's cruel to cage such a free thing. You wonder if you'll be the first exception. 

Wriothesley drinks tea religiously. it's the only thing keeping his heritage flowing within his bones. You wonder if the flavored scorching waters keep the violent urges at bay. You wonder if their soothing is all that keeps him from ripping out people's jugulars. 

He offers you a sip from his adorned glass. The tea's aroma is overwhelming, it reminds you of a place you've never been to. It burns your tongue on the way down. Enough to make you consider shattering his cup. 

February 11th, 3:00 am

Wriothesley flinches when he sees the blood coating his hands. Flashes of a hell he'd long since buried flicker through him.

A part of you wishes to tell him that he's clean. That killing isn't a sin. At least not here, not to them. He tells you of the night he first transformed, a tiny boy who, at the time, had only ever pulled his punches. 

He tells you why he killed and maimed, why his powers awakened when they did. "I keep trying to tell you." His words are phantoms, restless spectators that cloud your mind. "We're not monsters, not really. Sure all they see is the bloodshep and claws and they take off running. But the truth is our kind have been guardians and protectors longer than their kind has existed." 

His fingers trace your cheek. Leaving red waterfalls to drip down your chine. You think this is love in its rawest form. You think this is desperation in its strongest form. 

Wriothesley's kisses taste of burnt ice and ash. Filled to the brim with sorrow, too deep to understand. You claw at the back of his neck. breaking skin on a childish whim. Desperate to unleash the monster he insists, doesn't exist.

In a blinded second of rage, of passion, of some emotion, no word could properly describe. He has you sprawled on the cold ground. His body hovering over yours. You see his eyes bleed into the most perfect crimson. You see the monster start to break out. 

Febuary 14th 11:58 Am 

It takes too much effort on his part not to baby you. To remind himself that regardless of your age and lack of experience you are still an adult. He gives up on most days, opting to just cradle you on his lap and hum some forgotten tune until you fall asleep.

Tonight's the new moon. He doesn't know what to expect.

You hear his voice in the back of your head telling you to calm down. 'It's just the way we look, you're alright.' you ignore it favoring the sensation of your claws digging behind your eyes. You feel his claws on your wrist prying your hands away. They cut into your veins and you howl, something inhuman, something feral. 

Wriothesley kisses your eyes, staining his lips a doleful red. He listens to the cacophony of your bones rearranging, cracking, and slipping into their new positions. 

he teaches you how to box. Tells you it's a way to stay in touch with your human side.

he tells you about the murders, about how, even at such a young age, he'd known he was a monster, he'd known his heritage sang hymns of moons and blood between his bones. He tells you how he overcame it, where he became something more than a monster. The stories ease the transition, piquing your interest enough to distract you from the natural way your body bends. 

"I want to be human again" you choke, tears marring your cheeks "I hate this, I hate you. Why couldn't you have left me in that alleyway? Why couldn't you have left me alone!"

Wriothesley's facade cracks, your trained eyes pick up the slightest indication of concern weaving across his face. "They'd have hunted you like a wild animal". "I am a wild animal" You protest. "You should have let them kill me!"

There's blood in the back of your throat, metallic, pungent. It feels like holding the sun between your teeth and letting it burn you from the inside. You wonder when you'll be strong enough to deny the bloodlust, to relish in the transformation. Will a time ever come when all this feels natural? When you're as calm and composed as him?

Wriothesley kisses your forehead. It's the last thing you remember before the world turns red. Your brain and body are no longer your own, governed now by the fanged creature inside you. 

If ever there was a time to die, now's not it. 

Febuary 15th 11:00 Am

You wake up in a soft bed. Wriothesley's arm tucked under your head. Your nails have lost their supernatural edge, you trace stars and moons into his chest absentmindedly. His pale blue eyes, shift to you, shaking off the netherworld they'd been engaged with.

"There's an old story about us." His gaze is as cold as the blizzards of Snezhnaya. "About how we were cursed yet survived. The divine turned us into soldiers, they didn't expect us to thrive."

You used to be a fickle thing, all so arrogant and free. So sure of your place in this world. When did that change exactly? When did the world morph into an endless stream of gore and despair? When did you start hanging onto his every word? Despreat for him, all of him?

"What is a monster anyway" you ask, voice too frail that it cracks when met with open air. "A guardian, an outcast, the child of heroes who shares none of the glory its parents once had." You feel the burn on your tongue from the tea he gave you. Suck on the flesh before replying.

" It's inexperienced shoulders buckling under the weight of duty."

"Maybe" he shrugs, "I guess it could be that too."

Somewhere along the lines, Wriothesley forgot how to love. He's not even sure if he's ever understood the emotion in the first place. Maybe it all comes with being a feral, creature of the night. Maybe it all comes with being born only partially human. He rolls your name off his tongue. Nicking his bottom lip on his fangs.

He wonders if you'll like chameleon or mint tea for breakfast. Or maybe something more bitter. His lips find you delicate ones, an exchange of exhaustion. You're so soft and sweet under him, a stark contrast to the beast he's come to tame. 

Masterlist

[englishotomegames]

Genso Manège (幻想マネージュ)

Release dates (Nintendo Switch, Steam) Japanese: January 30th, 2020 English: January 31st, 2025

"I will awaken the magic within you, and you will free us from the Rêve...

Set in a wondrously evocative re-imagining of France, a beautifully crafted otome visual novel following Emma, orphaned at a young age, as she fights to uncover her forgotten memories. A witch who lost her powers when young and now living a quiet life, Emma is led by the memento her father left her and finds herself swept away with the arrival of a travelling amusement park in town.

Filled with magic and dreams but holding a dark secret, Emma feels an immediate connection to the wondrous La Foire du Rêve. She discovers that hidden underneath the lustrous fairy-like charm of the park, its employees are trapped, bound to the amusement park and only the magic within Emma can free them. But it has been years since Emma has been able to access her magic, and she must dig deep within herself, navigating painful repressed memories, in order to recover it.

Working at the Rêve as she unravels the tangled threads of her forgotten past, Emma forges bonds with the employees of the amusement park. A cast of wonderful characters; the dazzling director Hugo, the stoic accountant Serge, the Tsundere Performer Crier, the kind-hearted rabbit Lyon, the Reclusive Mechanic Luciole, and Emma’s special childhood friend, Arnaud. Each character with their own crosses to bear, stories of tragedy and longing woven together with desperation, Emma builds deepening bonds of friendship, and maybe more, as she works to unlock her magic and their freedom."

This is a commercial visual novel! You can buy the physical version from Amazon.com here, or you can buy the digital version from Steam here, or from the Nintendo store here.

[kingofthering-two]

Hi guys, Maïna / kingofthering here. You might have heard or noticed that I got my account terminated yesterday (and had the joy to discover you don’t just lose your sideblog but all the blogs associated with your account).

What happened? As I mentioned last week, I received my 2nd strike for copyright infringement on the 11th of December and I protested it (sent a DMCA counter notice) on the 12th. Tumblr forwarded the counter notice to the claimant on the 16th, leaving them 10 business days to answer before I could get the strike taken away and the content restored. Unfortunately, yesterday, on the 19th, I received my third strike and it came with the termination of my account. 

How is it fair that tumblr lets you receive a new strike so soon after the precedent one, when you couldn’t even have the time to finish fighting the first one? I legitimately don’t know. I’ve tried to contact them about this but they don’t treat the messages since it’s coming from a terminated account. I think I need to send the message with another email address, which I might do later.

Could my account come back? In theory, from what I’ve read online, yes, but that remains to be seen from my end for me to be completely sure of that. My only current hope is for the blog to reappear when I get my first and second strikes removed (the first is from January but I never thought of fighting it before because it was videos so I thought they didn’t stand a chance but now I genuinely believe the type of content doesn’t matter). 

In September, there were 14 days between the counter notice being sent and me getting my content back (10 business days + weekends) and I suppose we might have to take into account Christmas here. I think that in the best case scenario, I might hear from tumblr on the 30th of December, maybe the 31st.

What now? I briefly considered using this as a (forced) break from tumblr. I tried to have one earlier this year and failed miserably. I think that the older I get, the less patience and tolerance I have for things that annoy me (and get past the filtering system) (but also things outside of tumblr, seeing my gifs get reposted to twitter, something that happened again recently, really annoys the fuck out of me). But, at the end of the day, the good outweighs the bad (annoying) far much, when it comes to this website and this community. If I check my tumblr app screentime on my phone, I might cry at how bad it is. I do want to finish the projects I have ongoing (the RPF survey answers will be studied and treated and shared) and keep in touch with everything happening on here.

I’m going to use this current account to browse tumblr at least until the end of the year. I’ve already seen glimpses of stories that I need to catch up on and I’ve seen you guys being very supportive already (thank you) so I felt like making myself reachable here was better. Posting wise, I’ll probably post about things that I know are safe i.e. things of my own (stats, my progress on the 2025 journals) and gifs of things not coming from Dorna (e.g. reels/tiktoks, podcast videos).

What then? The only thing I can tell you for sure is that no matter what happens next, I’m going to create an archive blog on a separate account (with a dedicated email address). This blog will not have posts of its own but only reblogs of content I originally posted on kingofthering. If I can have my old account back, the job will be made much easier (and will obviously be more complete). If not, I’ll have to rely on a lot of research to get things back as best as I can. Don’t worry about this for now, I’m going to wait until I know for sure about my old account to start the process (since the method will be very different depending on the answer on that).

For 2025, we will see. The thing is, even if I get my account back, I know that I will keep getting strikes (even if I’m not posting anything because old posts of mine have been targeted as well) and honestly, even if fighting them works, it’s both stressful and exhausting. Also, people have been winning the battles against the strikes for now but who knows how long that will last.

And like I mentioned, it’s a sideblog connected to all my other blogs which also depend on kingofthering’s faith. That includes my main blog that I’ve had since 2011 (I don’t use it much but I use it to keep all the useful stuff like the photoshop tutorials, writing prompts, etc), my hockey sideblog (not been using it much either lately but it does have some history I’d like to keep) and a bunch of others.

A solution to keep those other accounts safe would probably be to move everything motorsports related to a new account (maybe this one if I can get my main back) and delete the original kingofthering. It would pain me because of the history of this blog and what I would lose in the process (mostly the asks I haven’t gotten to answer and obviously the following that I had grown but I suppose that I can grow back little by little). It would also mean I couldn’t see anymore the posts in my notes and the tags people add to their reblogs (which is like half the purpose of posting in the first place) and that’s annoying as well but I suppose I could grieve that too, in theory.

If I don’t even get the account back, well. I talk about creating a new dedicated account but if it also gets striked (which I suppose will happen), it will be equally exhausting to fight fo it so, I don’t even know if I want to do that.

At this point, I know which content is safe for sure (or what has been safe so far for me) and there are still a lot of stuff that I enjoy sharing with you and getting your opinion on but giffing race weekends was the major part of my blog and I don’t know how I feel about giving that up. Anyway, much thoughts to have still.

Can you do something to help? I don’t think so. Or, well, not with recuperating my account. In regards with the copyright issue as a whole, though? I don’t know what to say because I don’t know what’s the best course of action there. I’ve seen some discussions around about emails and a petition and involving other social media and bigger people but I genuinely don’t know what’s the best thing to do. I’ve personally always considered tumblr as this little (safe for everything) bubble and I don’t exactly feel comfortable “exposing” some of my content here to the rest of the world (some people on tumblr are already mean enough about RPF, I don’t need to see what people not on here have to say about it). That’s obviously just me and I’m not going to keep anyone from doing what they think is right. Part of me wants to believe that things will fix themselves once Liberty Media take over but that’s not a sure thing and the frequency of strikes lately has been quite worrying so I understand the need to do something. Some thinking over to do there too.

Where can you find me? For tumblr, on here for now. I’m going to post this on the motogp tag and I’ll try to follow my mutuals (from memory so, going to miss a lot of people for sure, sorry in advance). I might appreciate a reblog of this post to spread the word. I still have my twitter (mostly talking stats), the blog and my tiktok (barely being used but still in existence).

If I do the set ups correctly I’ll have my DMs open here and askbox open to anons. I am still bad at answering those, though, so apologies in advance there as well.

(Also, I just got home for the holidays and literally learned about the news when I was in the train yesterday afternoon, so, worst timing ever.)

[pan-flute-skeleton]

Winter Wonderklok 2024

Hello! And Happy Holidays my friends!

First of all, I must apologize to everyone for dropping this so late already. But I do have a very good reason. This year I have been in the process of planning my wedding which is coming up next month. It has consumed almost every part of my headspace and Wonderklok snuck up on me.

Second, I know this poster looks like crap. I am not an artist at all, but wanted to make this list stand out a little bit compared to a basic Tumblr note. Roast it for all its worth. Next year I aim to work with a great artist (TBD) to deliver a more dazzling display.

Third, since this is going up so late, I have decided to shorten the list and push it later. This takes place in the weird dates between Christmas and New Years, but feel free to post them in January if you don't have enough time.

Lastly, have fun with this! I loved everyone's contributions last year and I hope to see some good ones this year. Art, writing, pictures, playlists, you name it! Rock and roll with it. Best of luck and if you have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to contact me.

Plain test

Dec 26th Snowball Fight

Dec 27th Ultimate Snow Fort

Dec 28th Warming up by the Fire

Dec 29th Bows and Ribbons

Dec 30th Preparing a Feast

Dec 31st Winter Animals

[love-and-deepspace-wiki]

How long do you think Caleb was "dead" for before he and MC reunited in Homecoming Wings?

Hey there! According to what I could find, the short answer is "several months". But here, we show our work lol. So the long answer is below.

Here's what I was able to piece together from in-game context clues. Caleb's "death" occurred in "Main Story: Under Deepspace: Under Twilight: Within Reach". When the incident report is shown at the beginning of "Main Story: Under Deepspace: Under Twilight: A Real Nightmare" (left), its number starts with 2048 and likely identifies the year the event occurred.

Ultimately, in "Main Story: Homecoming Wings: Vanishing Skyward: Gentle Gaze", the protagonist states that they'd been separated for "several months" (right). She then proceeds to fill him in on the events that occurred from "Main Story: Under Deepspace: Under Twilight: Within Reach" to "Main Story: Homecoming Wings: Vanishing Skyward: Above the Clouds".

Based on this scene, we can surmise that the remainder of Under Deepspace, the entirety of Long-Awaited Revelry and Prologue To Tomorrow, and the first chapter of Homecoming Wings all transpired over the course of several months.

Interesting Facts:

Later in "Main Story: Under Deepspace: Under Twilight: A Real Nightmare", the protagonist is at the Hunter's Association HQ and turns to look at news coverage of the explosion. As she does so, we briefly see a calendar on the desk adjacent to hers. That calendar is flipped to September, which I'd initially hoped would give me even more info to work with. Buuuut, after scrutinizing it further, I'm pretty sure this is just a developmental artifact. Here's why.

Though the leftmost side of the calendar never comes into view, we can deduce a lot from the blurry day column text. Since "Wednesday" is the longest day name, the longest text blob is most likely Wednesday. If true, that would mean September 30th landed on a Monday.

Based on the date configuration, this calendar doesn't depict September 2048 (left). It doesn't even depict September 2049 (right).

Buuuut it does align perfectly with September 2024 and this game was released in January of 2024.

[whatcha-reading-today]

Favorite Books of 2025 so far (Jan-March)

I've read 71 books so between January and March 30th, which averages out to 23.6 books a month. My thoughts on some of my favorites so far appear below the cut:

Horror

Stephen Graham Jones: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. I read this as an ARC and feel like it might be Jones' best book since The Only Good Indians. This is an epistolatory on the murder of 200+ Blackfeet Indians in the late 1800s. The writing here is so bleak and consistently cold that I could easily envision this (or maybe I just want it) as a Mike Flanagan movie/tv show.

Bauder: My Father's Name is War. A series of interconnected stories all on the brutality of war. Our author is a veteran and has a lot to say. This is so beautifully and viciously written. My copy is annotated to hell.

Fantasy & Mysteries

Madeline Miller: Galatea. I've read every Miller story, and while The Song of Achilles is my favorite, I can never get over how artfully constructed Galatea is, even at 30 pages. My biggest complaint is that I was able to find a copy of this book in a free little library that retails for $12.

Alexandra Rowland: Yield Under Great Persuasion. Look, I just loved this low stakes romance fantasy. It's funny and moving and doesn't overstay its welcome. It's easily one of the sweetest books I've read this year.

Holly Stars: Murder in the Dressing Room. Misty Divine has to solve the murder of her drag mother. This is British Murder She Wrote with drag queens. I'm so ready to read 50 of these as each of Misty's friends bring her somewhere and someone gets bumped off.

A. K. Caggiano: Villains and Virtues series. This should be referred to as sidequesting the fantasy series. While we have our A plot of Damien trying to free his father, our two leads, Damien and Amma get distracted in increasingly silly ways that make every minute ridiculous and fun. Major kudos to the narrators who use a filthy East Coast accent for the associated evil characters. I recently read Bound & Tied, which is Xander's story, which is pretty good, if a little light on stakes. I still have one more in this series on Celeste, and I don't know if I'm ready to let go!

Nora Sakavic's The All for the Game series

I read both The Sunshine Court and The Golden Raven once they were added to Hoopla this spring. No I had no idea these were coming out. Yes I want to reread the original trilogy. If you're looking for absolutely unhinged boys playing sports this is so much fun. The latest set of books follow Jean, who has been freed from the Ravens and has joined the USC Trojans. Jean's recovery is so heartbreaking to follow and I love the dual perspective from Jean and Jeremy.

Manga

Takeru Hokazono: Kagurabachi Vol 1-3. This is easily my favorite shonen series I've read in a long time. This follows Chihiro who is trying to reclaim his father's swords, all of each possess mystic powers. Chihiro is such a fun character--even though he plays as aloof, it's obvious from page 1 that he loves deeply and affectionately. The art is also incredibly well done, especially during any of the fight scenes.

Nonfiction

Tia Levings: A Well-Trained Wife. This memoir is a nightmare as Levings describes her indoctrination into Christian patriarchy and the abuse she and her children suffered. While there is so pain packed in here, I do think there's also a tremendous amount of hope and love extended towards those still trapped under religious oppression.

What's next?

I just read an absolute dud so I'm looking to reread some favorite series, probably The Captive Prince trilogy and the first three All for the Game books. I've previously listened to the audiobooks for AFTG and cannot wait for the TSC and TGR (in the previews, Jean's accent have been Lumiere quality). I'd also like to read a solid horror and picked up a copy of Clive Barker's Imajica and a collection of Harlan Ellison's stories.

Two authors I love both have books coming out in fall 2025--Hiron Ennes' The Works of Vermin, and Andrew Joseph White's first adult horror, You Weren't Meant to Be Human. I loved Ennes' Leech when I first read in back in 2022 and I'm kind of terrified by the idea of an adult horror from White. I mean look at what he does for YA??

What's your favorite book so far and what books are you looking forward to in 2025?

[pinkkop]

For the past while I've been wanting to start doing weekly post about the QL's I'm watching and the new year is the perfect opportunity to start doing just that!

It'll be a place where i can share my thoughts on the BL and GL shows while I'm watching them and leave my final thoughts as well.

This week I've just left the shows in alphabetical order but I'll probably start sorting them from most to least liked next week. Also I hope this post doesn't feel too long since I don't know where I'd place a cut 😊

Let me know if there's anything you find confusing or if there's anything I could do better for next week.

QL Recap for Week 1 The 30th of December to 5th of January

🇹���� Caged Again Ep. 9 of 10 ----- Watching on: Gagaoolala

I'm still enjoying this a lot but it's definitely lost some of its spark. 

🇹🇭 Fourever You Ep. 15 of 16 ---------- Watching on: Gray

I'd completely forgotten that WeTV starts fast-tracking the episodes towards the end so color me surprised when I saw that ep 15 was also available and unsurprisingly I watched it the second I realized. I lost interest in Ter and Hill a couple of episodes ago so I don't pay much attention to them anymore. I am however really enjoying Johan and North. I feel like I haven't seen this kind of pairing before. I'm really enjoying the slow development of North slowly learning who Johan is and opening up to him and then Johan slowly opening up to North as well. I'm not a fan of when characters get unnecessarily jealous of their romantic interest's friends or have a problem with friends being close like when Hill saw a problem with how North and Ter cuddle. On top of this I don't like when a character makes decisions for their romantic interest unless they are small decisions, which meant that I also wasn't a fan of how Hill and Johan fixed the "problem" with Ter and North cuddling. Like who the fuck just moves their boyfriend out of their place and into yours without asking first 🤯. Those two things are the only major gripes I have with this show right now and I mostly just try to ignore them because Johan and North are still hella cute and I love that they are finally officially dating without drawing it out unnecessarily (looking at you, Hill and Ter).

🇯🇵 Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu Ep. 9 of 10 ----- Watching on: Gagaoolala

I'm not sure where they are heading and what Hirukawa is thinking with how he is acting but I've really enjoyed this show as a whole so I trust that it'll all make sense next week with the final episode.

🇹🇭 Perfect 10 Liners Ep. 11 of 24 ------- Watching on: Youtube

I really like Gun and Yotha as a pairing and I'm definitely invested in this show but it's not at the top of the list.

🇹🇭 Petrichor Ep. 6 of 10 ----------- Watching on: iQiYi

So many reveals this episode! This show is not quite the same level of brain-rot as Spare Me Your Mercy was for me but I'm having a good time and I'm invested in the story.

🇹🇭 Sangmin Dinneaw Ep. 2 of 8 ----------- Watching on: iQiYi

The first episode was promising and I'm always a fan of characters having sexual fantasies because it gives a good insight into the character's feelings, both because of the fantasy but also with how they react to it. Episode two made me feel more like I was watching a pulp drama and I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of the over the top acting of some of the characters which seems like those characters will keep being a part of the story going forward. It's just not a type of humor I find funny but so far it's not enough for me to drop this show. The trailer was steeped in it though so who knows how much of the show will focus on that kind of humor.

🇹🇼 See Your Love Ep. 12 of 13 ---- Watching on: Gagaoolala

These two are just the cutest and I'm enjoying them so much. The small touches and the casual kisses are so good and it makes them feel really real and like a good match in a way that not all BL couples do when we get to experience them after they get together. I love how Shaopeng's deafness is still a part of the plot but not in the sense that it needs to be fixed, it's just a natural part of him and it bleeds into all aspects of the plot in a really great way. Honestly this is just such a solid show! 10/10 would recommend. I'd just like for the episodes to be just 5-10 min longer so I could get more of the second couple.

🇹🇭 ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat Ep. 4 of 13 -------- Watching on: Youtube

I'm still absolutely on board with this show. The plot of getting the band together feels a little simple but I really don't mind it because it works well with Thame and Poo getting to know each other. After this episode I wonder whether Jun actually believed what he said about Thame to Po. Like does he really believe that Thame isn't interested in Po or is he just trying to avoid them getting together? Either way it was so delicious to see Po start doubting himself but then Thame once again showing loudly with his actions that he is so interested in Po and that Po is a priority to him. Like who talks on the phone for hours, falls asleep still on the call and then just keeps being on the phone when you wake up again and then pretty much serenades the other person in the morning 🤯 Absolute bonkers behavior from Thame and I'm so here for it. This actually makes me wonder how self-aware Thame actually is? Does he know that he has feelings for Po? 

🇹🇭 The Boy Next World Ep. 1 of 10 ----------- Watching on: iQiYi

This is definitely a show where I needed to lower my expectations before watching the first episode because I've really been looking forward to this and I'd much rather set my expectations low and be happily surprise. I really liked the production quality of this show after the first episode and Boss and Noeul are doing really well. I'm definitely still excited about this show even if the first ep left me a little confused but I think that's to be expected when a show introduces concepts like parallel universes so I'm expecting that it'll make sense with time.

🇹🇭 Your Sky Ep. 8 of 12 ----------- Watching on: iQiYi

These two are so damn cute! This show just keeps being this little happy bubble for me. I'm glad they didn't drag out the misunderstanding so now they just gotta figure out how to bone. I like Real and Hia a lot as well but we don't really get enough of them for me to get completely invested. So far I'm not entirely sure what Hia thinks and feels because we've only really seen glimpses of Real realizing he has feelings for Hia. I'm guessing we'll get more of them while Fah and Rak figure out how to be a couple. 

That's it for this week!

For links and airing schedule check out World of BL (Only for BLs)

[milligramspoison]

Updated list of potential FOB 8 ball songs

(An update to this post as the European leg starts tomorrow and some songs on the list made it as 8 ball songs as well as fixing any mistakes the previous post had!)

Evening Out With Your Girlfriend

Honorable Mention - last performed on January 22nd, 2007

Switchblades and Infidelity - last performed on August 28th, 2004

Pretty In Punk - has never been performed live (yet)

Growing Up - last performed on November 7th, 2008

The World's Not Waiting (For Five Tired Boys In A Broken Down Van) - has never been performed live (yet)

Short, Fast, and Loud - has never been performed live (yet)

Moving Pictures - last performed on November 23rd, 2005

Parker Lewis Can't Lose (But I'm Gonna Give It My Best Shot) - has never been performed live (yet)

Take This To Your Grave

Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things to Do Today - last performed on July 24th, 2023

Homesick at Space Camp - last performed on July 16th, 2023

Sending Postcards From a Plane Crash (Wish You Were Here) - had its only live performance ever on March 12th, 2004

The Pros and Cons of Breathing - had its only live performance ever on November 19th, 2007

Grenade Jumper - last performed on February 20th, 2009

Reinventing the Wheel to Run Myself Over - last performed on November 19th, 2007

The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes - last performed on July 5th, 2023

My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue

My Heart is the Worst Kind of Weapon - has never been performed live (yet)

It's Not a Side Effect of the Cocaine, I Think It Must Be Love - has never been performed live (yet)

Love Will Tear Us Apart (cover) - had its only live performance ever on June 10th, 2004

From Under The Cork Tree

Our Lawyer Made Us Change the Name of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued - was the 8 ball on November 4th, 2023- its first performance since March 23rd, 2008!!

Of All the Gin Joints in All the World - last performed on June 23rd, 2023

Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner - last performed on July 19th, 2023

I've Got a Dark Alley and a Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song) - last performed on August 6th, 2023

7 Minutes in Heaven (Atavan Halen) - last performed on August 1st, 2023

Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year - was the 8 ball on October 25th, 2023 and December 9th, 2023!

Champagne for My Real Friends, Real Pain for My Sham Friends - has never been performed live (yet)

I Slept With Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me - last performed on July 11th, 2023

Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part to Save the Scene and Stop Going to Shows) - last performed on August 4th, 2023

XO - was the 8 ball on November 8th, 2023 and December 12th, 2023!

Snitches and Talkers Get Stitches and Walkers - last performed on January 30th, 2007

The Music or the Misery - last performed on May 30th, 2006

Infinity On High

Thriller - was the 8 ball on November 6th, 2023!

“The Take Over, the Breaks Over” - last performed on August 4th, 2023

Don't You Know Who I Think I Am? - was the 8 ball on October 27th, 2023!

The (After) Life of the Party - was the 8 ball on October 29th, 2023 and on December 1st, 2023!

The Carpal Tunnel of Love - last performed on April 4th, 2008

Bang The Doldrums - was the 8 ball on October 17th, 2023!

Fame < Infamy - was the 8 ball on November 7th, 2023, it’s second performance ever!!!

You're Crashing, but You're No Wave - was the 8 ball on October 31st, 2023, its second performance ever!!

G.I.N.A.S.F.S. - was the 8 ball on October 18th, 2023 and on November 8th, 2023!

It's Hard to Say “I Do”, When I Don't - has never been performed live (yet)

Folie à Deux

I Don’t Care - last performed on September 7th, 2023

She’s My Winona - last performed on July 19th, 2023

America's Suitehearts - last performed on July 2nd, 2023

The (Shipped Gold Standard) - was the 8 ball on November 2nd, 2023, it’s first performance ever and marks the fact they’ve performed every Folie song now!!

(Coffee’s for Closers) - last performed on July 1st, 2023

27 - was the 8 ball on October 24th, 2023!

Tiffany Blews - last performed on September 19th, 2009

w.a.m.s. - had its only live performance ever on August 2nd, 2023

20 Dollar Nose Bleed - last performed on September 29th, 2013

West Coast Smoker - had its only live performance ever on July 30th, 2023

Pavlove - had its only live performance ever on August 6th, 2023

Lullabye - last performed on April 26th, 2009

Believers Never Die: Greatest Hits

Alpha Dog - has never been performed live (yet)

“From Now On, We Are Enemies” - had its only live performance ever on July 26th, 2023

Yule Shoot Your Eye Out - had its first performance since December 18th, 2013 on December 12th, 2023 and it was for medley! Wasn’t even 8 ball!

Save Rock and Roll

Alone Together - last performed on November 17th, 2017

Where Did The Party Go - last performed on July 16th, 2023

Just One Yesterday - last performed on August 1st, 2023

The Mighty Fall - has never been performed live (yet)

Miss Missing You - last performed on July 25th, 2023

Death Valley - last performed on September 12th, 2014

Young Volcanoes - was the 8 ball on October 28th, 2023, its first performance since May 7th, 2018! And it was the 8 ball again on November 2nd, 2023 and December 3rd, 2023!

Rat a Tat - has never been performed live (yet)

PAX•AM Days

We Were Doomed from the Start (The King Is Dead) - had its only live performance ever on November 29th, 2013

Art of Keeping Up Disappearances - had its only live performance ever on November 29th, 2013

Hot to the Touch, Cold On the Inside - had its only live performance ever on November 29th, 2013

Love, Sex, Death - last performed on June 14th, 2014

Eternal Summer - had its only live performance ever on November 29th, 2013

Demigods - had its only live performance ever on November 29th, 2013

American Made - had its only live performance ever on November 29th, 2013

Caffeine Cold - had its only live performance ever on November 29th, 2013

New Dreams (cover) - had its only live performance ever on September 13th, 2013

American Beauty/American Psycho

Irresistible - last performed on March 7th, 2023

American Beauty/American Psycho - was the 8 ball on November 3rd, 2023, it’s first performance on Tourdust!!

The Kids Aren’t Alright - was the 8 ball on October 23rd, 2023 and December 6th, 2023!

Jet Pack Blues - last performed on August 6th, 2023

Novocaine - last performed on March 27th, 2017

Fourth Of July - last performed on March 22nd, 2017

Favorite Record - had its only live performance ever on July 15th, 2023

Immortals - last performed on September 7th, 2023

Twin Skeleton’s (Hotel In NYC) - has never been performed live (yet)

Mania

Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea - last performed on August 18th, 2019

The Last Of The Real Ones - last performed on July 29th, 2023

HOLD ME TIGHT OR DON’T - last performed on May 7th, 2018

Wilson (Expensive Mistakes) - last performed on November 4th, 2018

Church - last performed on April 30th, 2018

Heaven’s Gate - has never been performed live (yet)

Champion - last performed on December 6th, 2019

Sunshine Riptide - has never been performed live (yet)

Young and Menace - last performed on October 10th, 2018

Bishops Knife Trick - has never been performed live (yet)

LLAMANIA

Past Life - has never been performed live (yet)

Footprints in the Snow - has never been performed live (yet)

Wrong Side of Paradise - has never been performed live (yet)

Lake Effect Kid

Lake Effect Kid - last performed on October 10th, 2018

City In A Garden - has never been performed live (yet)

Super Fade - has never been performed live (yet)

Believers Never Die, Volume Two - Greatest Hits

Dear Future Self (Hands Up) - last performed on December 6th, 2019

Bob Dylan - had its only live performance ever on August 5th, 2023

So Much (For) Stardust

Heartbreak Feels So Good - last performed March 16th, 2023

So Good Right Now - has never been performed live (yet)

I Am My Own Muse - was the 8 ball on October 20th, 2023!

Flu Game - has never been performed live (yet)

The Kintsugi Kid (Ten Years) - was the 8 ball on October 21st, 2023, it’s second performance ever!!

What a Time To Be Alive - was the 8 ball on November 3rd, 2023- it was played in full for the first time!!

So Much (For) Stardust - performed for the first time ever on November 2nd, 2023- it wasn’t even the 8 ball!

(Disclaimer: I included songs that have already been 8 balls as some have been performed as a 8 ball again and have been performed outside of the 8 ball range)

[theskeletonprior]

Update: May 30th

So I guess my last update was... (checks watch) January 2nd, so to say I have been wayward is something of an understatement. This year really came in with a brick in its fist, and I've been sick almost every other month. That's a real kicker for the old productivity, I'll tell you that. Lately, though, I've been doing a lot better--in April, I started going to the gym (got sick again, and then went right back). In combination with my anti-depressants, lifting weights has helped a lot with my mental health. I've been seeing a great boost in my productivity, my ability to stay awake, and I find that I feel quite good in the old meatsuit, these days. Infuriating that that works for me, but I'll take it. This month also marks one year since a pretty ugly break-up, and I'm pleased to say that since that time I've only grown. I feel quite unfettered, and very happy, and my relationship with my beloved husband remains as ironclad as ever. What happened was sad and disappointing, but I'm able to let the good go with all that badness. I'm grateful for the lessons of that time. As it happens, the painful things that happen to us, prepare us to help others in the future. DMing has been a little bit rocky--it's hard to get consistent work with the theatre company that I collaborate with, so there's lots of feast and famine. I'm still working towards getting set up on Start Playing Games to even things out. I've had some delay in doing so, but in the meantime I have my first private client, and I've been DMing for them quite happily since the end of March. I did complete and submit a story to an upcoming anthology, but the response date came and went without a peep. Instagram tells me the publisher has received more submissions than it was prepared for so there might still be some hope, but I'm moving onto other things and shelving the draft in the meantime. But I'll include a little peek as a treat, as it was for a monsterfucking anthology, and I think this is the correct audience for that. The website for The Bishop of Black is still on the way, but news to follow on that! It would be finished by now if I hadn't gotten horrifically sick but c'est la vie. Other than that, I'm clearing out my commission queue in preparation of opening up again to help make ends meet nicely. That's all the news, I think! I hope everyone's writing has been coming along! If there's anything you're very excited to share, please do drop it in the replies and I'll be sure to take a look. And now, this!

Pondering the fallen hunter, in his miserable heap on the floor of its den, Glatisant could not believe its luck. How many rivers had this silver figure crossed to follow it? How many swamps? How many thickets had he cut his way through? And this time, only this time, had he fallen so badly that he could not pick himself up again. Indeed, it had been difficult for Glatisant to do so, though the hunter seemed not to realize how he had come to be here instead of moldering in the riverbed. His mare, wisely, had fled for her life, and horse meat had never agreed with its belly. Perhaps she was running still, but more likely she had grown tired, and now grazed aimlessly in some clearing or another. Glatisant watched its reflection in the hunter's silver chest. How strange. It had never seen him so close and so still, and it was surprised to find him so delicate. Like the shattered bones of a songbird, all the sharp edges sticking out. He'd been young once, but the hunt had weathered him, and roughly. Glatisant's tongue flicked out—long like a snake's but barbed like a wildcat. It could use it to taste the air, or strip meat from a carcass. Now, it did neither, gently lapping the hunter's hollow cheek. The river had washed him… Mostly clean. When he didn't wake, Glatisant wound its sinuous neck around him, and dragged him deeper into its den.

Taglist: @alexanderflowerbird @void-botanist @ceph-the-ghost-writer @vacantgodling

If I’ve tagged you in error, do let me know, and I’ll act accordingly. To join my taglist, let me know in the replies or in the tags of your reblog.

Divider by @/strangergraphics, from this set: here. Thank you!

[dontyoutrytocalmmedown]

Alexandra Savior

Alexandra Savior chats to 1883 Magazine about her new album Beneath The Lilypad and more.

Combining mystique, dulcet tones, and a sonic palette that could be inspired by an Edgar Allan Poe novel, American songwriter Alexandra Savior is an unwavering creative force.

Since sharing a demo of “Risk” in 2015, which found its way onto the second season of True Detective starring Colin Farrell, Savior has created an undeniable allure around her musical persona. This was only amplified by the official debut single “Shades” in 2016. At the time, the Portland native was just entering her 20s and still learning the ropes of the industry after signing with Columbia Records in 2013.

In 2017, Savior released her debut album Belladonna of Sadness, two years after much of the work had already been laid down. It was a sublime debut, though somewhat overshadowed by the media due to her collaboration with rockstar Alex Turner as a co-writer.

For a time that should have been a thrilling ride—playing sold-out shows and building a rapidly growing cult fanbase—the momentum faltered when she was unexpectedly dropped by both her label and management. By then, she had already written much of her sophomore album The Archer, which wouldn’t see release until January 2020 via 30th Century Records. It was another stellar effort from the songwriter, though its true potential was somewhat halted due to the pandemic. Alongside battling mental health struggles, the artist has faced an unpredictable journey throughout her career.

However, despite all the ups and downs, Savior has remained steadfast in her commitment to her art. After nearly five years of working on her third album, Beneath The Lilypad, set for release on May 16 via RCA Records (a deal she signed last year), she’s now poised to share the most personal work of her career. Recorded over multiple studio sessions alongside her partner and producer Drew Erickson (Lana Del Rey, Father John Misty), the album delves into themes of love, ego, insecurity, and mental health. With the cinematic opening singles “Unforgivable” and “The Mothership,” Savior is more creatively liberated than ever before. Beneath The Lilypad is shaping up to be her magnum opus.

1883 Magazine’s Cameron Poole sits down with Alexandra Savior to discuss her new single “The Mothership,” what Beneath The Lilypad represents to her, stop-motion filmmaking, and much more.

Hi Alexandra, thanks for speaking with 1883 Magazine. We actually first met eight years ago at Oslo in Hackney for a different website—time flies! How has life evolved for you since then? It’s been a long period of time [laughs].

[laughs] Yeah! It’s crazy that it has been that long since. Was I playing a show?

Yes at Oslo!

I remember that, it was kind of a smaller one, right?

Yeah, it’s a lovely venue.

Nice. Well, it has evolved a lot I guess [laughs], I don’t even know where to start. I’ve put out almost two records since then, and I have a dog now.

Your new single “The Mothership” is out now. What was it like working with your partner and producer Drew Erickson—especially as the track serves as a love song to him, but also touches on your past mental health struggles?

Your third album, Beneath The Lilypad, arrives on May 16. After everything you’ve navigated—personally and professionally—what does this release represent for you now, especially after nearly five years in the making?

It feels like this release, when I first started writing it, I was in a really tough place in my life, and I was dealing with a lot of mental health struggles. It’s sort of like this journey; within the process of making the album, I went into psychosis, and I was hospitalised, and then when I came out the other side of it, I feel like I really changed completely as a person. Coming into being in control of my brain chemistry, and the fact that has been something that has really taken up so much of my life. Now, I feel like a fully formed, capable person, which I don’t think I was when we first started.

When I first started writing it, and even when we first started recording it, so for me it just represents overcoming the hardest thing that I’ve ever had to go through. I’m just really excited that it’s going to finally go into the world, you know.

Look, I appreciate you even talking about that because it can’t be easy speaking about these things to a bloody journalist and not a family member or friend.

Thanks for listening.

During that previous interview, you mentioned it was “rare” for you to get the opportunity to paint—have you been able to find more time for this passion lately? I know you did the cover for the new record, which is so cool.

Yeah, It’s been tricky because I have an autoimmune disease. One of the main problems is that I have really extreme arthritis and so I wasn’t able to play guitar, paint or draw because the pain was so intense. But now, I’m recovering, and I’ve been able to start working on things again. Actually, I was a little late today because I was making a model for a stop-motion, which involves painting and all that kind of stuff.

So it’s nice because the nice thing about being a musician or artist in this way is that, I’m not that good at painting [laughs], I couldn’t make a living off it, so that is why I did music. But I am able to use the music as a way for me to express myself creatively and have control over it, and just do what I am passionate about which is making stuff.

For the new album’s first single, “Unforgivable,” you created a stop-motion promo clip. What do you enjoy about this technique and is there anything else you want to explore further?

What I’m drawn to within the stop-motion is that so much is based around collage. With the stop-motion, I’m essentially creating a three-dimensional collage involving the same visuals that are in the album and single covers. I’ve always wanted to try it when I was working on my second record. But I was way too scattered to sit down and focus on something like that.

Now because the record has been finished for so long, and getting ready for it to be released, I’ve had all this time. I think it helps create a world, when I see things in my head, it is nice to figure out how I can make it with my abilities, I couldn’t paint it, but with stop-motion, it is tangible and I find it easier to build the worlds with stop-motion.

The clip was 17 seconds but how long did it take to make? A lot of work goes into it even for just a short clip.

[points to the chessboard in her bedroom] I made that with collage, that was the thing that took the longest amount of time. I was looking through all these old Life magazines from the 1940s and finding dark, light hues. That’s what took the longest.

Actually making the film itself which was 17 seconds, it took us about three and a half hours.

I know “Unforgivable” has been out for a little while now but people will still be discovering it for the first time. In a previous interview, you mentioned in terms of excitement for this record, it felt a bit “anticlimactic” as the record has been ready for a while and you were getting the right team together. But still with it being your first song back in a few years, how did you feel in that moment when it was released? It seems to have had a really good reaction.

Yeah, I mean, it’s funny because this is what has happened with every single release or every album that I’ve put out, where it’s almost like you expect that everything is going to change. With the singles, there’s not a tangible release, or I’m not holding a record. Probably a similar feeling would be iff you posted something on social media, and everybody kept asking me within the weeks afterwards, ‘how are you feeling?’ But it doesn’t feel real yet to me.

You also told me during that previous chat how you’d just been recognised for the first time at a Rough Trade show two days before the Oslo performance. Obviously, as a musician, you don’t care about fame or anything like that, only the art. But I had a Google and now, you’ve got dedicated fan pages and people covering your songs on YouTube—how does that feel?

It feels really great. I’m always just shocked, and I feel a lot of gratitude to even know that people are listening to it. Because it’s not often that reality I’m faced with that, because it’s not like I’m walking down the street [laughs] and people are recognising me. But when it does happen, or whe playing shows, it just warms my heart because I feel like I feelmisunderstood a lot. That’s a big part. Since I was little, I never felt like I like fit in and then with my mental health, I feel very misunderstood. So when I see people react to it or cover the songs, it’s just like wow.

As much as we’re supposed to pretend like we don’t want validation. I think any person who’s invested in something and has created something wants people to feel what they feel, I think. It’s a great feeling, it’s nice.

The recognition is deserved. To pursue your vision and art, no matter what hurdles come your way, and putting out new music, no matter the wait, is fantastic. It’s not easy.

Thanks.

With Belladonna of Sadness you were with Columbia, and then 2020’s The Archer came via 30th Century Records. From those past experiences, what have you learned to truly value—and fight for—when negotiating your deal with RCA last year?

Oh, I think that I didn’t have a lot of creative control when I was working on my first record, or at least it felt that way. I think I was so young that I didn’t know and maybe didn’t have a lot of self respect, I guess [laughs]. Then I don’t know, I had these two completely opposing experiences, from being with a major label and then being with this small indie. It’s interesting, I guess, just knowing that the vision is going to be mine.

I’ve had such a great experience with RCA, because now that I’m older and know my direction more, I haven’t had many problems with it. But I think, just making sure that the creative vision is within my control, and just finding people to help me with it, rather than allowing it to be taken from me, is important.

Do you have any personal favourite moments from the recording process for the new record? I believe it was essentially just you and Drew for a lot of it, and how you’d go into a studio one month to record and because studios are expensive, it was then several months before you’d get back into the studio to record again. How many sessions were there in the end?

Oooh, well, so it’s interesting because with the singles, Drew played mostly everything, and I played a little guitar. But then with the rest of the album, it was a different process. The reason why it took so long is because at the beginning, we went in and we were recording to tape with a band. And so I would just be like: ‘Okay, here’s the song. Like, this is what I want it to be like’. Then we would just go in and I would sing and play in the booth, and then everybody would be out playing at the same time. That was really fun for me to experience. It was also the first time that II had strings on anything.

To just be in a room with people who are in the LA Philharmonic, it was insane. My brain couldn’t even attach to how it was happening, it was fun. Some of my favorite moments is that my dog got to come with us and he’d be running around, sitting under the chair of the cellist [laughs].

And working with Drew and the engineer, who is our best friend. So it was a very intimate and warm setting to make this record. I think it was about 20 days in total that we ended up [in the studio], but it was over the course of a couple of years.

Do you have any particular favourite songs from the new album that resonate with you the most?

I really like “You Make It Easier” because I wrote it right after I got out of the hospital. It’s sort of another similar kind of lyrical theme as “The Mothership”, just knowing that there’s this darkness and maybe some suicidal ideation going on, but that having someone there with me through it makes it easier. I really like that song.

Are there any potential UK dates planned, or should we wait for a bigger tour announcement?

There will definitely be UK dates. I don’t know the specifics yet, but this is just the beginning, so we’ll definitely be going over there. I love playing the UK—it’s always so fun. I love it there. So we will, I just don’t know when.

Finally, what is one thing you’d like to manifest for yourself?

I think I just want to manifest consistency within my life as a creative. To just be consistently making and releasing music because that’s been the hardest thing.

Well, the making is not the hard thing, it’s the releasing. It’s been so up and down for me, and I think I would like to have a solid foundation to do that [laughs].

Alexandra, I know you’ve done a lot of interviews, and they can be tedious sometimes, so I really want to emphasise how much I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. It’s been nice.

Thank you! No, It’s not tedious for me, It’s exciting. I’ve been forcing my mum to listen to these demos and asking her what she thinks. So it’s nice to have people talk to me about it because most people in my personal life, this is the last thing they want to talk about [laughs].

[big-sankaku]

Link! Like! Love Live! SPECIAL STAFF INTERVIEW ~Beyond Graduation~

[From Love Live!Days March 2025 Issue published on Jan 30th, 2025 and now available online at G’s Channel website] Featuring: Sato Kazuki - A Producer of Link! Like! Love Live

Translator’s note: This is not a word-for-word translation. I’m heavily paraphrasing but I did my best to captures the essence of the contents. This is a second staff interview for this project, you can read the translation for the first one here.

It's been 1.5 years since the official release of "Linkura". We asked Sato Kazuki, a key figure in this project, to tell us about last year progress and important information regarding this year developments.

Overnight, the number of Hasunosora Suki Suki Club members increased dramatically! The surprising effect of Ijigen Fes.

— "Link! Like! Love Live!" (will simply be referred to as "Linkura" for the rest of the interview) celebrated its 1.5 anniversary in November 2024. First of all, let's take a look at the past year.

A: Thanks to everyone, the number of users has increased significantly. The other day we surpassed 800,000 downloads. In addition to that, in April 2024 we introduced a non-app payment service called "App-Pay". With App-Pay, you can buy SisCa cheaply. Sales from the App side are also doing well. Compared to other similar services, the usage rate of App-Pay is fairly high. Since sales through App-Pay are not reflected in the report published by Google and App Store, we sometimes hear people worrying that the app is in bad state. But for now, we would like to inform you, "Don't worry about it!"

— Hasunosora's popularity has increased significantly since the "Ijigen Fes IDOLM@STER★♥Love Live! Uta Gassen" in December 2023, bringing a large number of users to the app. Please tell us your thoughts about it.

A: Not only did the number of users increase, all the songs performed at Ijigen Fes also charted on the Spotify viral chart. I heard that the First Fan Book which was released right after the Ijigen Fes was reprinted on the day of its release. Our popularity skyrocketed suddenly and more people are becoming interested in Hasunosora. We're lucky to have the opportunity to perform alongside our seniors from Love Live, as well as everyone from Idolm@ster. At the same time, I realized that we were able to stand on such a big stage thanks to everyone who supported us for about nine months from the start of service in April 2023 until December when Ijigen Fes took place. 

I was at the venue on the day of the event. Everyone was so enthusiastic! When Nirei Nozomi did a call-and-response, we got a huge response. Perhaps it’s not a big crowd, but I felt an overwhelming passion. I was happy to hear the cheers from our fans. I feel very fortunate that we were able to show you the presence of Hasunosora, the youngest group in the series at that time.

— In the 103rd term main story. After the defeat of Love Live! in January, the excitement reached its peak with Sachi-senpai's graduation. From January to March of the 103rd term, what was the most memorable event for you?

A: January 2024 started with the episode of their Love Live! defeat. That was the "Prologue" of Linkura. With that, we've finally reached the starting line.

「What a long prologue! 」

A: At the end of 2023, Hasunosora made it through the "Love Live! Hokuriku tournament" thanks to the 「Link to Us! Link with Yours!!」, An event where "everyone" worked together to help the club collect mobile data. Then, they were eliminated at the Final. Because of that, it was decided that they were going to do Fes×LIVE at the end of January to express their gratitude to everyone who supported them at Hokuriku Tournament. We gave everyone the highest-ranked ticket for this occasion. This series of events was the user experience we had aimed for since the early stages of the project. So for me personally, it was quite moving to see that we were able to make it a reality

— Can you tell us about the process of the production development for the "Activity Records/Main Story"?

A: First of all, we have a requirement set from the app itself, then we had to adjust it based on what kind of experience we wanted everyone to have with Linkura. For example, in the 103rd term we incorporated an interactive gaming experience, such as a mini-game to collect mobile data in December, and the invitation-only live show in January, while also ensuring that it was an appealing story.

We solidify those as the "blueprint". We've been discussing this and building a solid foundation around it. The Activity Records have no narrative text at all, and are more like an anime script than a visual novel. But the scenario team is really great at choosing their words that I am often moved when reading it (laugh). We put a lot of effort into the production of the Activity Records.

The episode that was released in January, during the 103 term had a huge volume of material, its equivalent of two episodes. Since it had many important scenes, it took a lot of work. Episode 15 in particular, was developed much earlier than the usual schedule, and we created a new, extremely emotional piece of music for the soundtrack.

— Next, episode 18 of 103rd term, featured the former School Idol Club member, Sachi. The episode depicts her graduation and the send-off.

A: Sachi-senpai's graduation episode was, in a way, a trial. It was a major event to allow people to experience the base concept of the app, in which things will progress and members will graduate in real time. I was impressed by the number of people who expressed their sad feeling of her graduation. With Sachi's graduation, I think  people were able to get a taste of how traditions are woven together as members are changed.

＊　　　＊　　　＊ 　　　＊　　　＊

「It took two months to create an Activity Records of three new students joining the club.」

— In April, new members from the 104th class joined, making it 9 members. Regarding user reactions, was there anything you expected or were surprised by?

A: Typically, it's more common to introduce a new character meta-wise before adding them to the game. But this time we didn't release any information in advance. Not even a hint of their existence. It was a huge risk for the app and other aspects of the project, but after discussing it with various parties, we thought this was the best option. Of course, we wanted to create a real-time experience, but more than that, we didn't want to spoil the sentimental mood of the graduation ceremony that will take place from the end of March to April. 

The fourth cherry blossom is a season for farewell and new encounters. First, the users are faced with the harsh reality of saying goodbye, and after that, I want them to experience the new encounters with excitement. For that reason, the "first appearance" of the 104th class members: Ginko, Kozusu, and Hime was a live stream, via With×MEETS. I believe being able to witness their debut firsthand is a precious experience. After that, we provided the Activity Records, detailing how they joined the school idol club and came to participate in the With×MEETS.

However, this meant it was necessary to add episodes for three members in one go. It was inevitable that the content of the Activity Records for the first episode of the 104th class would be massive. In order to allow people to get to know the new members better, we took about two months to create the Activity Records, taking our time carefully.

— It was worth it. I feel like the addition of the first-year students were well-received.

A: Yes, a majority of people welcomed them warmly, which was a big relief. I think the fact that "traditions being passed down in different forms" being a core element of Ginko's episode was able to create a good synergy." While everyone has some degree of rejection to "change", Ginko herself, being a new student, was able to reflect the feelings of the users in an authentic and persuasive way

— The Fes×LIVE, which were held monthly in the 103rd term, has been decreased to once in three months since the start of the 104th term. I heard that you would tell us the reason for this... 

A: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk about the topic. The adjustment of the frequency of Fes×LIVE is a combination of various factors, but the biggest reason was budget issues. Fes×LIVE requires six months production time before the actual event. It's not only about the virtual live itself. It involved the whole Linkura environment, including songs, Activity Records, Card Illustrations, etc., This budget change was finalized in October 2023, just before the half anniversary, around the time of our last interview. 

With great struggle to push through, we somehow manage to finish all 103rd term Fes×LIVE. We have decided that we cannot continue to do this in the 104th term. That was the most difficult and toughest decision I had to make in 2023, I ended up feeling unwell and bedridden for a while... 

However, since then, the environment surrounding Hasunosora has changed drastically due to the Ijigen Fes that was mentioned earlier. I believe that "now" we can try a different approach of how to do it. Fes×LIVE is the core experience that we want to create with Linkura. Through some adjustments, I'll try my best to meet everyone's expectations.

— Compared to With×MEETS, Fes×LIVE costs more. How big of a difference?

A: Although it is true that both are "real-time 3D live stream". With×MEETS is a casual talk stream that does not require new resources. Compared to that, Fes×LIVE requires the creation of 3D costumes, the stage itself and also detailed plans for each song and performances. And multiple cameras (to create a Dynamic View experience on the app side). The creative aspect requires a huge amount of preparation and money. The dance formation requires a big space. To accommodate that we need to use one of the largest motion capture studio in Japan. And of course, the preparation of the cast members who will be performing it in real time is also an essential part of it.

— Indeed, it may be similar to With×MEETS but it's not the same thing. Some people suggest to make it smaller in scale, or record it instead of keep it real time. After all, people want it to be held as usual. What do you think about this?

A: Yes, for example, we consider many ideas, like fan meeting or variety show. I asked someone to do the calculations for that, but there was almost no difference in the final cost. As for pre-recorded videos, the resources required are the same, and we might need to refine the motion data. In fact, it might end up adding more cost. Of course, it would be a completely different story if we have a team and setups that are optimized for these plans. But building a new team requires additional budgets and time. If we had the resources to establish that, then we might as well continue Fes×LIVE as is.

— I see... It's something that couldn't be solved by simply adjusting the content.

A: Although the circumstances surrounding Fes×LIVE is as I explained. We will continue to listen to the feedback we receive every day and strive to provide the best possible experience. Every day, the entire team is working hard to see if there is anything we can do to provide everyone with a slightly better experience. 

One of the examples is the With×MEETS karaoke stream, which finally came to fruition at the end of 2023. Fortunately, it was well received. We hope to continue to make adjustments so that it can be held regularly in the future. Also, when a new song is created and no Fes×LIVE, in order to convey the charm and worldview of the song, a lyric video is released on Hasunosora's official YouTube channel.

— Even the release of Lyric Videos are linked to the entire work.

A: That's right. One of our big projects was the surprise reveal of the song "365 Days" during the encore of the "2nd Live Tour ~Blooming with ○○○~" in Hyogo last May. This song was treated as if it was being performed at the same time in-game universe. At the end of the live performance, we released a lyric video and added a song-themed card to the gacha, making it fully connected. A similar attempt was made with the "3rd Live Tour TRY TRI UNITY!!!" that started last November. We also implemented it in the Unit Live. 

To continue promoting "Linkura" in the 104th term, we try to incorporate mixed developments outside of the app as much as possible while keeping the real-time aspect of the project intact. In fact, Fes×ReC:LIVE is one of the projects that was born from this trend.

By the time this interview is published, the finale of the "3rd Live Tour TRY TRI UNITY!!!" will have taken place. That performance will serve as the final link, the culmination of all experiences we offered across 104th term. If you are reading this and don't know about it, I would appreciate it if you look into it in more detail.

＊　　　＊　　　＊ 　　　＊　　　＊

Fes×ReC:LIVE : A novel attempts to capture the feeling of being in a live house. A perfect match for Hasunosora.

— What kind of event is Fes×ReC:LIVE?

A: "103rd term Fes×ReC:LIVE ~first crossing~" is a virtual live event with an audience at a real venue, focusing on a reconstruction of the performances shown at the 103rd term Fes×LIVE. It's a side content that is linked to the 104 term Activity Records. The highlight of the event will be a newly recorded song, DEEPNESS (ReC Ver.), sung by the six members of the 102nd and 103rd class.

As mentioned earlier, the core experience of Linkura is the virtual live concert. However, it has become difficult to hold Fes×LIVE every month. So, one option we explored was the possibility of holding a virtual live at an actual venue. We asked the live concert team to consider it. We were told that if we focused on "reconstruction" then there is a way to make it. Somehow we managed to run the event smoothly without any problems.

Since there is no similar case to it, as usual, it’s something "You wouldn't really understand until you try it". While there are still some issues to be addressed, it seems like everyone who participated enjoyed it very much, so in the future, we would like to connect it more closely with the Activity Records. Ultimately, our goal is to hold an actual "FesxLIVE" in real time at a real venue. 

Fes×LIVE itself, from a technical standpoint, isn't revolutionary. But, with Fes×LIVE you can cheer the characters in real time, engage with the story in a way that lets you revisit the events leading up to that moment, and interact with the members via With×MEETS... I think it's really different from usual 3DCG Live that a lot of people have been doing.

— With live streaming, members can interact directly with fans. This makes for an ideal event for Hasunosora.

A: Speaking of that...The app itself, Linkura, as we stated it in the app description, is a "school idol support app". It was created to give users a meaningful involvement. One of the cases is a crowdfunding campaign. 

At the end of 2023, we held the event "Let's support the members of Hasunosora School Idol Club by donating the mobile data that they need for live streaming so they can safely participate in the Love Live! Hokuriku Tournament!". This is how you can "support your Oshi" with the app. Ideally, we would like the users to participate interactively in the app as much as possible.

— So by sending gifts to streams or purchasing in-game, it’s equivalent to "Use this to eat something nice or go to karaoke!"

A: That's how it feels. I think the feeling of wanting to spend money on things you like as a way to support them and the feeling of spending money for a F2P game, it's something that closely resembles each other... and in order to connect these two, we came up with a somewhat unique structure.

As I mentioned briefly in the previous interview, the original idea behind Linkura was to create a comprehensive and enjoyable multi-media experience within a single app. In the app, you can read the original story, enjoy live streams and live concerts, and decorate your wallpapers/profiles in various ways. For the "game" part, we have the "School Idol Stage (known as "Sukuste").

For a series like Love Live!, where the core experience revolves around supporting the members, I think the most conventional and catchy option is a rhythm game. With the expectation to release it in 2023, after exploring various options, we came up with this musical card game, which will known later as "Sukuste"

— "School Idol Stage" is an authentic card game.

A: When people fall in love with the members of Hasunosora and want to immerse themselves in the story more deeply and stay in touch with it for a long time, our ultimate goal is to create a game that can respond to that desire.

However, when we released it... due to a lack of a tutorial, the initial reaction we got from many people was, "Oh, just like the other titles, it's an idol training simulation game", which gave it the wrong impression. It was a miscalculation on our part.

— After all, it's the world's first "school idol cheering app" (laugh). Now that I've been using the app for a year, I can tell there are differences between it and other games.

A: I'm glad to hear that. There are many benefits of producing multi-media project in an integrated manner within one app. The voice lines you hear when you obtain or train a card not only tell you stories related to the situations depicted in the illustrations, but also short episodes that are not told in Activity Records. The power scaling of the card was designed in a way so players can immerse themselves in the story, music and feel the growth of the character and their relationships as they play the game.

The "KEY of Like!" set, released at the end of last year, is particularly easy to understand. So, if you've never paid attention to card skill before, I highly recommend you to read it carefully this time!

― I was surprised to see some important information about the story casually revealed in voice lines. The first mention of Hime's older sister, who appeared in episode 6 of the 104th term, was revealed at "Murozaki Lattice” voice lines, released on April 13th.

A: Yes, countless of information is only available on those cards. Such as the hidden thoughts of the members that were never spoken about. All the voice lines were written by the scenario team who wrote the Activity Records. This is one of the big benefits of the intensive production I mentioned earlier, and I think it's a very luxurious thing. Even a single line, we put our utmost care into it, so it doesn't contradict the Activity Records or With×MEETS. The voice lines aren't a side content, it's part of the entire work. Those aspects add a significant value to it.

By the way, the content is not biased towards rarity such as R (Rare) or UR (Ultra Rare), so even if you have low-rarity cards that are easy to obtain, it is recommended that you try training them.

― It's amazing that the voice lines for the cards, which depict various situations, are a proper episode that is connected to the story.

It makes you want to collect every single one…

A : In November 2024, we released, "Link! Like! Love Live! 103rd Term Card Illustration BOOK", a book that contains all the illustrations of the cards released in the 103rd term. We thought about putting the voice lines into the book, but the amount of content was so huge that we couldn't fit it. So please get your voice lines from a card in Linkura (laugh).

―  I'll do my best to train my cards (laugh). I'm also curious about the new game mode "School Idol Show" that was recently announced as being in development. For now, is there anything you can tell us about it?

A: "School Idol Show" is a rhythm game mode where you can play Hasunosora’s song on it. As I mentioned earlier, rhythm games are the most popular approach and have a high compatibility of what we want to achieve. In under two years since the release date, as many things have changed, we are finally able to include it to the app.

We would like to gradually build the specific system for the rhythm game mode, but we want you to know that you can play either mode!. Be it Sukuste or the other mode. Usually, when a new mode is added to the app, it can be fun and refreshing, but in the end, having a huge amount of chores like daily missions can be tiring... I think there are many cases like that. In Linkura, we have "School Idol Stage" and "School Idol Show". We are currently developing it in the way that it doesn't really matter if you play only one mode or play both. You can play it as you like. The fact that we can easily set up such a system is one of the strengths of a "school idol support app" that is not game-driven. To the people that only love the School Idol Stage part of the game, or for those who aren't good at card games but would like to try a rhythm game, we hope you can rest assured and wait for the release!

― So it's up to you whenever you want to participate in both modes or just play one that you like. That's refreshing! I'm looking forward to the release!

＊　　　＊　　　＊ 　　　＊　　　＊

「The culmination of these last two years is the Love Live! championship. And then, the graduation of the 102nd class.」

— In January 2025, the Love Live! Finals were held, and although there was an unexpected playoff, Hasunosora School Idol Club achieved their long-awaited victory!

How will things develop from here as the 102nd class will graduate soon?

A:  At the end of the school year, Kozue, Tsuzuri and Megumi will graduate. It's the graduation for the 102nd class. I can't go into specifics … but I can tell you that we will continue doing real-time with 105th class. The 102nd class has truly walked this journey together with all of you. It's sad to part ways, but precisely because "there is a future ahead of this", a "tradition" is born. It will continue to shine forever without fading. More and more, we are going to bring you 'scenery' that you have never seen before with Hasunosora. So please look forward to it!

Translations : Afi English proofreading : Zonic QC: Eagles

[shefanispeculator]

Blake Shelton to host from the iconic Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville

Grand Ole Opry member and country music superstar Blake Shelton will host NBC’s Opry 100: A Live Celebration, honoring the Grand Ole Opry’s milestone 100th anniversary, on Wednesday, March 19th at 8-11 pm ET and simulcast on Peacock.

The three-hour live celebration will feature performances from some of country music’s most acclaimed artists, including Opry members Ashley McBryde, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Clint Black, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Marty Stuart, Reba McEntire, Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, and a special appearance from Randy Travis, as well as some of the Opry’s fan favorites, including Amy Grant, Eric Church, Jelly Roll and The War and Treaty. Many other members of the esteemed Opry cast, as well as additional guests, will be announced soon.

“Becoming a member of the Opry is a highlight of my life and career, and 15 years later I still get that same feeling of reverence and excitement every time I walk out on that stage. The Grand Ole Opry has been connecting the country music family for 100 years, and I’m so proud to be part of this historic celebration,” Shelton says

Since its debut in 1925, the Opry has captivated audiences with its dynamic lineup of country superstars, new artists, comedians and celebrity guests. “Opry 100: A Live Celebration” will showcase iconic collaborations, reflect on legendary Opry moments, and highlight exclusive digital content that honors the artists, fans and songs that define country music.

The broadcast will feature performances from the Grand Ole Opry House and Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, the Mother Church of Country Music and the Opry’s most famous former home.

A limited number of tickets will go on sale Friday, January 31st at 10 am CT. An exclusive pre-sale will be available to Opry subscribers on Thursday, January 30th at 10 am CT.

The telecast will be executive produced by Silent House Productions’ Emmy Award winners Baz Halpin, Mark Bracco and Linda Gierahn, along with R.A. Clark and Steve Buchanan.

NBC to celebrate 100 years of the Grand Ole Opry - The Music Universe

[the1astolympian]

an introduction my percy jackson ocs !! part one

- warning this post will be LONG. this is only 10/22 but i have years worth of lore/info. im hyperfixated on them LMFAOO

- i love talking about them. So Much. if yall have any questions or want any extra information please dm me/reply i will be so happy

- ages operate under the assumption that pjo takes place in the late 2000s/early 2010s hence why they r all 90s kids. all the ages mentioned are as of tower of nero (june 2011ish) because the ages are technically fluid depending on what time period im writing about

info below the cut :D

1. jacqueline sistine jakobs

she/he/they, genderfluid, lesbian

16, born march 23, 1995

child of dionysus

from paris, france. year round camper

dating madeleine

she is my favorite oc. ever. out of 180+ percy jackson ocs and god knows how many ocs for other fandoms/no fandoms. i love them the most

fun facts

1. their mbti type is esfp

2. she really likes reading

3. his dream job is to be an actor, if that doesn’t work out he wants to be a nurse

2. asra marceline hall

she/her, cis, lesbian

19, born october 31st, 1991

daughter of hecate

from bethlehem, pennsylvania. summer only camper but has since left for college

was in the titan army for a while. left shortly before the battle of the labyrinth with sebastian and ashlynn and rejoined camp half-blood

fun facts

1. her mbti type is intp

2. shes currently a psychology major

3. she has a photographic memory 

3. lydia “lyra” melody jumper

she/they, cis, lesbian

15, born january 28th, 1996

daughter of apollo

from burlington, new jersey. summer only camper

in an on-again-off-again relationship with lace

the first pjo oc i ever created :,)

fun facts

1. her mbti is estp

2. she changes the color of their braids like every two weeks. she is very indecisive when it comes to her hair

3. they really like photography and collect digital cameras (most are thrifted)

4. madeleine rebecca cole

she/her, cis, bisexual

15, born september 25, 1995

daughter of apollo

from north charleston, south carolina. summer only camper

fun facts

1. her mbti type is infp

2. she has prophecy powers which are so cool to me. i love writing stuff with them

3. she likes pottery

5. reid lucas edwards

he/him, cis, gay

16, born april 17th, 1995

son of demeter

from asheville, north carolina. started off as a summer only camper but switched to year round after 2 years

despite her not moving to the united states until she was 8, jacqueline and reid have been friends since they were toddlers. they met while reid was on vacation and jacqueline happened to move into reids neighborhood when she moved to the us

fun facts

1. his mbti type is isfj

2. hes deaf and uses hearing aids

3. he collects magazines and is an avid fan of crossword puzzles

6. catalina “cat” valeria gurrero

she/her, cis, bisexual

16, born september 18th, 1994

daughter of ares

from puebla, mexico. year round camper

dating darcy

fun facts

1. her mbti type is entj

2. shes my shortest oc at 4’11. she is also without a doubt the best fighter out of all my ocs

3. her original name was isabela (isa for short) knight. i do not remember when her name changed but its been catalina for over a year at this point

7. amira blair dupont

she/her, cishet

13, born january 22nd 1998

daughter of aphrodite

from paris, france. year round camper

fun facts

1. her mbti type is enfj

2. she is my youngest oc

3. a bit of a neat freak. she also loves decorating things

8. chase deshpande

he/him, trans male, straight

17, born november 30th 1993

son of ares

from aurora, colorado. summer only camper

fun facts

1. his mbti type is istj

2. he is in a band and plays guitar

3. he really likes race cars. he likes cars in general really. his car is his baby

9. kieran blake lee

they/them, nonbinary, pansexual

16, born august 26th, 1994

child of athena

from akron, ohio. summer only camper

dating taylor

fun facts

1. their mbti type is estj

2. they have glasses that they dont actually need. its purely for the aesthetic

3. very computer smart. they hack people for fun

10. lace amalia van astor

she/her, cis, lesbian

16, born april 26th, 1995

daughter of aphrodite

from amsterdam, the netherlands

in an on-again-off-again relationship with lyra

if my memory is right shes the first oc i ever created however she wasnt a pjo oc until later on. she was created around the same time as lyra i think

fun facts

1. her mbti type is infp

2. she collects vintage dishware/silverware

3. she always smells like vanilla. no matter what

[mychoombatheroomba]

Blood Upon the Snow

Disavowed (Krauser x GN! Reader/Krauser x Leon) - Chapter 4

1998

Krauser finds what remains of the base in Finland . . . and its sole survivor.

(Cross-posted from Ao3)

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Chapter Index

CW: gore, description of corpses

January 30th, 1998

08:15

Dorne Base, Finland

He could see the smoke before anything else, a plume of black against a waking sky. 

The storm had left the world that stretched out beneath the chopper a pristine, untouched white, the snow contrasting harshly against the smoke and the blood red of the sunrise. Against the fires that still burned, albeit low.  

“Holy shit . . .” one of his men breathed, voicing aloud what Krauser was thinking himself. When the base had gone silent, they’d assumed it was the storm interfering with communications equipment. Then that storm had cleared . . . and still no word had come. No all-clear. So, the brief reprieve that Krauser and his men had been on had been cut short. They were the closest to check in on the base, and the most qualified if, somehow, something had gone wrong. 

And when Krauser heard where he was going, he’d known immediately that something had indeed gone wrong. 

Dorne Base in Finland. The very same he’d had on his mind a few times in the last month, all thanks to a proud and paternal Captain promising him a tour, should Krauser ever make his way that far north. A Captain who would have sent the all-clear, if he was able. 

A Captain who, Krauser realized as the chopper landed, was likely burning with the base before them. 

He set out running as soon as he was able, boots crunching against the fresh snow. His men were close behind him, each of them going with the same orders: search for hostiles and check for survivors. More help was on the way, Krauser had called it in as soon as the base came into view, but he knew that if anyone was somehow alive in there, he and his men were their best chance of survival. 

It didn’t take long before that pit in his gut grew wide enough it felt like he might collapse in on himself.

A pile of bodies greeted them as soon as they entered the walls, just under a dozen men, their corpses charred beyond recognition. The smell of ash and burning flesh lingered in the biting winter air, and as Krauser stared down at the remains, he thought only of the smiling faces he’d seen just over a month ago. One familiar and creased with age, the other new and proud. A face that Krauser had thought of more than a few times since you’d waltzed up to him at that bar. 

Was yours among the burnt bodies? Or Reynolds? 

He tried not to let those thoughts in, but it became more and more difficult as the collapsed buildings of Dorne base were searched. 

Shrapnel, debris, portions of buildings that had collapsed, others that had been blown outwards . . . no simple fire could have done this. No natural blaze would have resulted in bodies piled in the yard though, either. This was an attack, the evidence of it written in the burn marks, in the bullet casings he and his men found. Krauser had his weapon in hand, ready if he found the hostiles responsible for this, moving cautiously in case there were any more explosives left behind. Clearing an area was something he’d done dozens of times. Preparing for a fight was almost as easy as breathing to him, now. 

Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of melted, misshapen flesh they found, peeking out of the rubble of a collapsed building. 

It . . . it was human. Or had been, once. Even with the way the fire had been at it, though, Krauser could make out the two legs and two arms, the round skull . . . but his mind could scarcely make sense of the huge, knife-like claws at the ends of those arms. Nor the sharp teeth that sprouted from its mouth. 

“What in the fucking ‘Thing’ is that?” Krauser’s Lieutenant had never sounded so utterly terrified, beholding the corpse like it could reanimate and slice them to ribbons in an instant. 

Krauser couldn’t blame him. 

He’d seen horrors, or, at least, he thought he had. He’d seen death. Not like this. Never like this. Because things like this weren’t supposed to happen. This was the stuff of those stupid horror movies, where men turned into monsters but were always stopped in the end. The heroes won most of the time in those movies, didn’t they? 

Krauser didn’t think anyone won here, though.  

“Leave it,” he said, even if he could see the dog tags wrapped around the thing’s throat. A soldier, once. Now . . . Krauser didn’t even want to guess. Whatever it was, he wouldn’t have his men touching it. Not that, nor any of the other twisted corpses they found. 

With each one, the Major had to ask himself the same question over and over - one that he knew may never be answered: what the hell happened here?

Corpse after corpse they passed, and the Major gave in to that dread choking him. No sense fighting that losing battle. 

No sense in hoping, when at last the parts of the base they could get to were cleared, and Krauser stepped out the opposite entrance from the one they’d come in, beholding the red on white of the sun . . . and the dark shapes lying in the snow in the distance. 

Krauser made his way forward, his men at his heels. “Two more bodies outside the perimeter,” he reported over his radio, hearing chatter from the men still inside. 

He’d seen comrades die over the years. It was a part of the job. He’d made his peace with it as much as any man could. 

Still, he felt something twist in him as he beheld the scene in front of him. 

What was left of Simon Reynolds’ face stared up at him, his remaining eye wide and white as the snow he rested on. Once handsome features were torn asunder, blown apart by bullets, the final blows to a body that seemed to have already taken so much punishment. Krauser glimpsed red staining Reynolds’ fatigues on his stomach - another gunshot wound - and a chunk torn free of his arm. Like something had bitten him. 

Reynolds, who had been there after Krauser had endured a blanket beating in the form of initiation on his first day of training. Who had patted him on the shoulder and told him he’d dealt with the same shit, that Jack couldn’t let it get to him. Reynolds, who had spoken so damn fondly of the men under his command. Who had shared a drink with Krauser not so long ago. His wife wouldn’t be able to see his face one final time, because there was so little of it that remained. Gone without a goodbye. Dead without the chance of aid. 

It ate Krauser alive, knowing that there was likely no scenario in which he could have helped. No way to save the man who’d been a guiding hand for him, once. 

The second body lying in the snow, several feet away, was just salt to his wound. 

“Not like I won’t be twenty-one in a few months anyway. I could die between now and then, you know.” 

Krauser had laughed at your words, back at the ball, writing them off as a smartass trying to get a drink. Now, they gave him nothing but a bitter taste in his mouth. 

Your eyes were glazed over, staring up at the dawning morning. Some other idiot might have thought you looked peaceful, but Krauser knew better. There was nothing peaceful about the way your belly was torn open, red soaking your uniform and pooling beneath you. Nothing beautifully tranquil about the pistol clutched in your gloved hand. There was no peace in whatever you had suffered, that much was clear, and Krauser felt his throat constrict at the sight of you. 

He moved closer, staring at the eyes that had been so bright-

Eyes that, he swore to God, blinked weakly against the morning light.

Krauser was on his knees in the snow in an instant, ripping his own glove off and pressing fingers against the side of your throat. 

When he felt the weak beat of your heart, his own nearly stopped. 

Alive. 

“This one’s still alive!” He called to everyone and no one, but he didn’t wait another second. Not when he wasn’t sure how many you had left. “Get a med kit ready! Now!” 

He stayed by your side as the medic stitched you up, grimacing as he saw the wounds on your stomach - he knew stab wounds and burns well enough from a lifetime of seeing both to recognize them in you. A botched cauterization job, it looked like. 

You should be dead, by all rights, but you held on. 

He hoped the hand he rested against your shoulder gave you further reason to fight on. 

When the stitching was done, he didn’t let himself breathe easy because even if the wounds were closed properly, you weren’t safe. 

You whimpered weakly when he lifted you into his arms, making him all the more careful of your wounds. “You stay awake,” he ordered, hoping his voice reached you in your delirium as he carried you through the snow, cutting as quick a path back to the chopper as he could. 

He almost smiled down at you as you muttered something he couldn’t even catch. Whatever it was, it was a sign of your life. Of your fight. That was enough. 

“That’s it, Sergeant,” he nodded, pressing on. “You make it through this, I’ll buy you all the bourbon you want.” 

You hissed and cried out, your head lolling against Krauser’s shoulder and then falling backwards, eyes blinking heavily. “S-s-” you struggled, but the word that finally formed just deepened the ache in Krauser’s chest. “Simon . . .” you called feebly to a dead man. One Krauser wouldn’t let you join. 

“Just hang on, soldier. That’s an order.” 

He was nearly there. Nearly at the chopper. One step closer to saving your life when- 

“Leave me.” The words were slurred, but Krauser could still make them out. A plea, desperate and empty. He wasn’t even sure you knew what you were saying, but it chipped away at him all the same. 

“You’re a fighter,” he said, shaking his head, knowing it in his heart because you had to be to have survived this hell. You had to have a goddamn heart of fire. He wasn’t going to leave you. He wasn’t going to let you die, because someone had to make it out of this, and based on what Krauser had seen all those weeks ago, Reynolds would have wanted it to be you. That was what he was sure of as he neared the helicopter at last, giving you one final order. One he willed to sink into your very bones. 

“So fight.” 

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Chapter Index

A/N: Yes the title is a Hozier song, and yes there was a reference to "The Thing" 1982 in there, what of it?

You guys got to be happy and unbothered for exactly 1 chapter - but hey, Krauser will get no better

[animesavior]

“You either are a wrestler or you aren’t. No one can give you permission. Everyone knows that.” -          Aunt P / Quesa Poblana, Invincible Fight Girl (Ep. 01)

The Toonami Trending Rundown for November 2024. It was a month of big premieres, as viewers were treated to the World Premiere of Invincible Fight Girl, the return of Blue Exorcist to Toonami for the first time in a decade, and the U.S. television premiere of Mashle: Magic and Muscles.

For the social media buzz on the nights of Toonami proper, #Toonami trended in the USA on Twitter on November 9, 23 and 30th, as well as on Tumblr on November 23. Invincible Fight Girl trended in the US during all five weeks of the month, and Mashle also trended on all weeks save for the 2nd (as the latter show would make its debut a week later due to the former show having a doubleheader for its premiere.) As for Toonami Rewind, #ToonamiRewind and Sailor Moon would trend in the US during both the broadcasts of November 8 and 22nd.

The feature for November 16 was a new Toonami ID titled “Vended.” You can check it out below:

And on November 23, Toonami released a Game Review of Neva by Nomada Studios. It received an 8/10 score.

Anime was well represented at the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as floats of both Goku and Luffy once again took to the streets of New York City on Thanksgiving.

Toho Animation has revealed a new trailer and key visual for Dr. Stone: Science Future, the fourth and final season of the series. The first cour of the new season is scheduled to premiere in Japan and on Crunchyroll in January 2025.

David Wald, the voice of Hannes in Attack on Titan, Tetsutetsu in My Hero Academia, among others, has announced that he will no longer be reprising his roles in any Crunchyroll productions in the future thanks to some abusive behavior from his now former employer. According to David, Funimation/Crunchyroll employees for the past five years have been opening up any fan mail that was sent to him through them, threw away said letters, and passed out any included items between staff members. Which is a violation of federal law (18 U.S. Code § 1702 - Obstruction of correspondence). While Crunchyroll execs have stated that they are investigating the situation, they have yet to update at this time, as the situation may or may not be under litigation.

If you've read my OP-ED, The 2020’s Anime and Streaming Service Bubble Burst, this behavior hasn’t been atypical for Crunchyroll and Funimation since being bought and merged by Sony, as David joins the likes of Kyle McCarley, Laura Post, Marin M. Miller, Ben Diskin, all of Toonami, among many other talents and industry figures, that Crunchyroll has burned bridges with since their merger.

Sony won’t be getting away from the monopoly allegations any time soon, as Reuters reported during the month that they have been in talks to acquire media conglomerate Kadokawa for their anime and video game assets. However, on December 19, Sony have since toned it down (for now at least) to a "strategic capital and business alliance" by acquiring a 10% stake in Kadokawa and will collaborate on various future projects.

Finally, In the Sword Art Online universe, November 7th, 2024 is the exact day when Kirito, Asuna, and the players of SAO would clear the world of Aincrad. To commemorate the occasion, Aniplex and Kadokawa has released this key visual from the events of Episode 14.

Not much else to say other than until next time, stay golden as always.

Legend: The shows listed are ordered based on their appearance on the schedule. Show trends are listed in bold. The number next to the listed trend represents the highest it trended on the list (not counting the promoted trend), judging only by the images placed in the rundown. For the Twitter tweet counts, the listed number of tweets are also sorely based on the highest number shown based on the images on the rundown.

November 2-3, 2024 Toonami Trends

United States Trends:

#Toonami [Trended with #InvincibleFightGirl]

#InvincibleFightGirl [#16]

Tweet Counts:

#InvincibleFightGirl [3,352 tweets]

November 8, 2024 Toonami Rewind Trends

United States Trends:

#ToonamiRewind [#18]

#SailorMoon [Trended with #ToonamiRewind]

Tweet Counts:

#Toonami [1,078 tweets]

November 9-10, 2024 Toonami Trends

United States Trends:

#Toonami [Trended with #Mashle]

#InvincibleFightGirl [#18]

#Mashle [#18]

Tweet Counts:

#InvincibleFightGirl [1,195 tweets]

#Mashle [1,771 tweets]

November 16-17, 2024 Toonami Trends

United States Trends:

#InvincibleFightGirl [#27]

#Mashle [#20]

Tweet Counts:

#InvincibleFightGirl [1,099 tweets]

#Mashle [1,831 tweets]

#BlueExorcist [1,818 tweets]

#OnePiece [29.2k tweets]

November 22, 2024 Toonami Rewind Trends

United States Trends:

#ToonamiRewind [#24]

#SailorMoon [Trended with #ToonamiRewind]

Tweet Counts:

#ToonamiRewind [1,552 tweets]

November 23-24, 2024 Toonami Trends

United States Trends:

#Toonami [#28]

#InvincibleFightGirl [#28]

#Mashle [#21]

Tweet Counts:

#Toonami [2,459 tweets]

#InvincibleFightGirl [1,302 tweets]

#Mashle [2,067 tweets]

Tumblr Trends:

#toonami [#3]

November 30-December 1, 2024 Toonami Trends

United States Trends:

#Toonami [#9]

#InvincibleFightGirl [#17]

#Mashle [#13]

Tweet Counts:

#Toonami [2,688 tweets]

#InvincibleFightGirl [1,000 tweets]

#Mashle [1,268 tweets]

If you wish to send me a tip for the work on the trending rundown, donations can be sent to PayPal.Me/DanielLimjoco.

All the Feels. Only Toonami. Only Toonami on [adult swim] on Cartoon Network.