#misunderstood punching someone back to health as literal

[star-manis]

happy fuck it up friday or something

[dailyservingofhope]

Bodies (Chapter 2)

Kyoko noticed first.

Maybe it was the monotone voice, or the way my eyelids drooped with world-weary cynicism. Something about me betrayed that I was no longer myself in the most literal way possible.

She lurched back, "It's him!"

The fifteen seconds that followed were a roller-coaster. Not those rickety, old wooden coasters. I'm talking about the metal ones that hurl you screaming through dives, loops, and corkscrews so fast, you can't even anticipate the next section before you've already rocketed through it.

After Kyoko alerted the room to Izuru's presence, an armed security team appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and just an arm's reach away. They must have hid themselves in the shadows, but even then, shouldn't I have heard them close in? And why were they raising their guns at an empty pod? By the time I realized they were aiming at MY pod, and that I had closed the distance without even noticing, my hands had already disarmed the nearest guard with a few deft movements. Then my legs whipped around in a tornado kick that sent her flying into the other guards, knocking them over like bowling pins.

Finally, Izuru raised my arm, which still held the confiscated handgun, and fired a series of quick, perfect shots aimed to cripple each guard's trigger finger. Their weapons clattered to the ground.

Izuru's power and apathy stunned me. So much blood, and the noise from the gunfire was incredible, yet Izuru strolled through the carnage, collecting the remaining guns as casually as a kid picking flowers. I wanted to close my eyes, but I couldn't even control that.

"Stop!" Makoto shouted, laughably late. He ran in front of Izuru and stretched out his arms protectively. He seemed so small next to Izuru's overwhelming presence, but his bravery was admirable. This was the person we all put our trust in.

Izuru said, "I have no intention of harming any of you so long as you do not harm Hajime. There's no sense in violence between us. However, I will not allow you to point weapons at him." His voice through my mouth unsettled me, like when you hear yourself speak in an audio recording for the first time. It's technically you, but something just seems off about it.

"They're under my orders not to fire unless I say so, and I don't plan on saying so," Makoto said before turning his attention to a communication device pinned to his suit. "I need medical assistance in the pod room."

As Makoto and the rest of the trio tried to appease the moaning, pissed-off guards, I overheard Kyoko whisper to Byakuya, "Sedating the survivors was a good idea. Letting them all wake up at once probably wouldn't have ended well."

It was true. We were still dangerous. Even I was afraid of us.

The nurses quickly arrived and began escorting the wounded away when Izuru spoke up, "Hajime is hurt too." He raised my fists to show the broken skin on my knuckles from punching the glass lid.

Everyone gaped at him.

I almost laughed at how ridiculous it was. The guy who just shot up an entire security team was now worried about a few cuts and scrapes. I wondered why he even bothered asking when he seemed content to act on his own in every other way. Was he trying to... work with them?

Makoto forgot how to speak for a moment. His jaw worked until his words caught up, "Yeah, can someone please assist him with that? Oh, and Izuru? We'll be there shortly to ask you some questions."

"I will answer any question I deem acceptable." Izuru said while a very terrified-looking nurse led him away.

-

A fragment of glass plinked into a dish, then another. Izuru, armed with a pair of tweezers, cleared the debris from my wounds with a level of care that I didn't expect from him. The nurse offered to help, but he refused, insisting that he could do a better job himself. It was astoundingly rude, but I couldn't deny how painless it was when Izuru handled it.

Still, there was no way I'd give him a compliment after what he did. I scowled at him, however one scowls without a face of their own.

He ignored me, focusing instead on washing my wounds with soap and warm water. It felt strange, but pleasant. The hand he used to massage my wounded knuckles felt like it belonged to another person, like it belonged to Izuru. I blushed at the sensation of him sliding his soapy palm up and down my hand.

"Do you want me to stop?" Izuru transmitted.

 "Uh... Yeah, I think they're clean enough."

He dried my hand and applied ointment, then finished with a bandage. "I know you're unhappy not being in control, but this will go more quickly and easily for you if you let me answer their questions."

 "Fine, but once you're done, this body is mine."

 "I predict you will decide otherwise when you hear what I have to say. So calm down, elevated levels of cortisol are linked to a variety of health problems."

I was about to transmit a big "fuck off" when Kyoko entered the room.

"If you're ready, please come with us."

-

Compared to the futuristic pod room, the conference room looked dilapidated. The lack of cobwebs and dust told me someone cleaned it recently, but long term structural damage from years of neglect couldn't be wiped away with a wet cloth. The walls cracked and water damage warped the floor. It was obvious they spent all their resources on the pod room. On us.

My shame at being powerless to control Izuru, after everything they did for us, made me feel tiny and pathetic. I wished I had the confidence to vow never to let it happen again, but at that moment, I was like a child locked away in a room. I was at the mercy of someone stronger; someone that my small, reserve-course mind didn't know how to reason with.

I sulked in the background as Makoto, Kyoko, and Byakuya interrogated Izuru. His answers helped me to fill some gaps in my memory, but there was one thing I kept asking myself.

As if he could read my thoughts, Makoto asked for me, "Why did you do this? Why did you upload the Junko AI into the simulation?"

"I had a question. Of hope and despair, I needed to weigh their merits and decide once and for all which side I would take. But I couldn't determine the answer with the knowledge I had on hand, so I ran an experiment. I learned of the simulation you were developing and concluded it would be a sufficient stage."

"There's something I don't understand. You seem to want to protect Hajime, yet you allowed that to happen to him?"

"I did not foresee him being harmed in any of my calculations."

Did I hear him right? Did he really just say that?

What kind of soulless freak did those scientists turn me into? All the death, the fear, the doubt, the grief. He didn't consider that harmful? My friends and I could have been happy! We could have walked out of that simulation, together! Now, we were either dead or traumatized. All because of him. Not harmed? I wanted to scream! I wanted to wrap my fingers around my own throat! I wanted to stand up and...

Somehow, the force of my emotions was enough to reclaim control. Rage flooded my chest until it burned away the cold of Izuru's grip on me. I leaped out of my chair, slammed my hands on the table and shouted, "That's wrong!"

Everyone looked surprised, including me. I'd fought Izuru and won. Even if it was only this one battle, that still meant something. And now that I could speak again, I just wanted to be heard. "I WAS harmed! It hurt to see my friends die! It hurt to live in fear every day that I would be next! I'm covered in wounds you can't even see!"

Emotionally spent, I flopped back in my chair and wept. I didn't care that others could see me cry. I was tired. So tired.

Through my sobs I thought I heard Izuru transmit a faint "I'm sorry", but that couldn't be right.

After my quaking body relaxed, Kyoko said softly, "Hajime, I assume we're talking to you now. I'm sorry, we misunderstood your situation. When we spoke to you and Izuru as distinct, separate individuals, we thought you were like a friend of ours who has a condition called Dissociative Identity Disorder. Do you know what that is?"

"Yeah, I've heard of it," I said, wiping my face with a hand. "It's like multiple personalities right?"

"Something like that... Although most people with that disorder aren't aware of their other 'personalities' and don't know what they say or do when they're in control. We assumed you were dormant. Hajime, if we had known you were aware and listening this entire time, this would have gone differently."

"Why are you so worried about me, you should be locking me up. I can't control him." I muttered.

Makoto looked horrified, "We didn't release you just to lock you up again! Don't give up hope. Izuru seems to care about you. Maybe we can convince him to not take control without asking."

Byakuya stood up, "Makoto, I've let you try things your way, but your naivete is going to kill us. Izuru is clearly using Hajime as a shield. He's counting on our leniency because whatever we do to Izuru, we do to Hajime. There must be something he still wants from us. That's why we're not dead."

"We shouldn't jump to conclusions, but that is something I've been wondering about," Kyoko said. "Do you know why he's so protective of you, Hajime?"

That now familiar sensation of cold water once again flooded through me. Izuru regained control and held it fast.

"That is not an acceptable question," he said.

Why was he so flighty around the subject of me? I suddenly found myself intensely curious. Maybe I could find a weakness in that nearly impenetrable armor.

"He's Izuru again." Kyoko sighed, "Do you realize it's unfair to Hajime to keep taking over without asking? Bodily autonomy is a basic human right."

"You misunderstand. I have no interest in taking control of his life. There's nothing I want out here. As soon as I've done my job, the body is his."

Makoto smiled, "That's great! Thanks for being so reasonable about it!"

"Wait," Byakuya said. "What is this 'job' exactly?"

"Hajime's friends who died in the simulation, I can revive them. All of them."

[kittymaverick]

It’s that time of the year again! MCF Moths to a Flame commentary-- Wait, MCF 20 is also in the works????!!!!

Once again, I’m relying on Pazu for the content, so excuse anything I miss in the process. Spoilers below the cut!

1. From the title alone I feel like the MD is... well... taking a certain leap of faith here that they’ll survive. 2. Dang, that elevator ride... if this is the MD agency headquarters, can I say you guys are in desperate need of a full-office renovation? MD: Ever wondered why I drive a buggy? It’s because they don’t have the funds for that, let alone pay me enough for my suffering. 3. “Not a secret passage”. OPEN IT. MD: No. It doesn’t have a lock! OPEN-- MD: How about... this spooky looking archive instead? .....This where they put all your reports of shame? MD: ...Yes. *sobs* 4. Hey, hey guy? Not smoking in the archives is sort of a common sense rule! MD: Hush, our line of work is stressful, alright? 5. I like how you guys just scribble out the FAIL stamps with pencil. Also, did you put up that cut out of the news clipping about Ravenhearst destroyed? MD: My proudest accomplishment... *wipes a tear* Huh, and also mentions of Huxley boarding house-- MD: I’m so sad I didn’t get to burn that place down. 6. ...This wall looks a bit creepy... You happen to have a stalker coworker, MD? MD: I already work with creepy clients and adversaries. Please don’t make my life already harder than it is. Huh, more blueprints... What is it with you and guys that love to make blueprints, huh? MD: ...I attract a certain type-- *NEON LETTERS OF YOU WILL ALL PAY SHOW UP* *ME SCREECHING* 7. Hey MD, just making sure... that guy wasn’t you, right? MD:.... ....Master Detective?.... MD: I can neither confirm nor deny such a speculation. Guys, I TOLD you that MD needed a therapy dog! 8. I swear, television head mannequin has turned into the new MCF mascot. MD: They grow on you after a while, like mold. 9. Omg, there’s an entire cabinet of your cases. MD: Every time I look at that bookcase, I feel like I need another holiday-- So you can get assigned an overseas case! :D MD: ...What has my life come to... 10. ...Wait, only NOW are we getting the intro? Also, ehehe, I see you still got crows following you. MD: A murder is forever following my footsteps, great. 11. “Several top secret files have gone missing from the agency--” MD: Oh, OH... NO ONE ROBS US AND GETS AWAY WITH IT. “To keep a low-profile, we’re sending you alone.” MD: Wait, that’s not... how... I’m getting no back up? RIP Master Detective, you will be sorely missed. :) MD: Is this because we’re not making enough money to pay for two?! LOOK I’LL TAKE THIS PRO BONO LET ME HAVE A PARTNER TO WATCH MY BACK OKAY-- 12. “We have reliable information that the files at are the Zenith Museum of Oddities--” MD: Okay, first, if you know where the files are going, WHY ARE YOU NOT CALLING THE POLICE THAT IS PROBABLY IN CAHOOTS WITH US AND WILL JUST HAND THEM BACK TO US ANYWAY? Second, IT’S A MUSEUM OF ODDITIES AND YOU THINK SENDING ME IS A GREAT IDEA? Third, if it’s some of our top secret files that might be related to oddities, HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT THIS HEIST MIGHT HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY DONE TO DRAW ME TO THE MUSEUM, AND I’M LITERALLY WALKING INTO A DEATH TRAP? ...MD, you keep up that paranoia, and we’re not gonna get a game. MD: I JUST WANT MY SANITY, OKAY. MY HEALTH INSURANCE DOESN’T COVER THAT MUCH THERAPY. 13. “...The museum is abandoned--” Really? MD: Are you sure? Are you absolutely absolutely sure? MD: If the files are there, HOW can it be abandoned? “...You want to lose your badge, detective, cause you’re this darn close.” MD: ............. “The Queen sure do love reading your reports.” MD: I will remember this, director....... *shakes fists* 14. “It’s okay, we’re going to give you a MAC, reserved for the very best--” MD: You’re getting me a Macbook?! 8D “No... it means Mechanical automated companion.” MD: ...But, Mac, Book... It’s okay, MD, it’s okay. Trust me, you don’t want Macs on an important mission where they could just break... That said, I swear, Elf from Mystery Trackers had like a basket of puppies, why couldn’t we have gotten one?! “Can Elf do this?” *Badge transformer* MD: !!!!!!!! ...Okay, you know what, THIS? WAY COOLER. 15. MD: It found something! This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship-- Ah yes, they gave you a companion cube JUST SO THEY CAN TAKE IT AWAY LATER. >8D MD: Can’t you let me have my happiness for just one, bloody, second?! 16. Hm, a car in the ravine. MAC can’t get inside. If we aim a rock carefully, maybe we can pop the trunk open-- MD: *chucks rock at back window, shattering it* UM, REALLY? MD: Vandalism, a step down from arson, but just as cathartic. 17. Hm, a bike. MD: *eyes shining* Um, MD???? MD: *vibrating on spot* UM. NO YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COMMIT GRAND THEFT AUTO. MD: dammit. 18. One Chloe Waston... ring any bells? MD: Nope. Right, filing down one NPC as a possible rescue target, if not a body, if not an adversary. MD: The three categories of people I meet on my cases... 19. A place for all great but misunderstood things. MD: Sounds like something a certain family would say about themselves. Mmhmm... 20. Puzzles so far in the first 15 minutes don’t look sketchy. I almost miss the nonsensical ones that scream “Hi, I was built by a madman!” MD: I’m not sure if I should feel safer, or less safe about having an adversary that might actually be sane for once. 21. MD: Place could use a garderner. Victor was a pretty good garderner-- MD: Can you not please Sorry, force of habit. 22. Pazu: Can you see the robot television man? Really? Oh boy that doesn’t bode well-- *Another robot falls from the above* AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH MD: WHERE IS MY BUGGY LET ME OUT OF HERE. 23. TV head: Welcome to the Zenith Museum-- MD: WHY DO YOU SOUND LIKE THE TV MAN FROM ALL THE OTHER PLACES??? Maybe they mass produce them-- MD: YOU TELLING ME CHARLES HAS A FACTORY FOR BUILDING THEM SOMEWHERE??? If so, hey at least that’s one more place for you to indulge in being a pyromaniac. 24. I just realized, all those people probably came here for the missing case files. If so, um, MD, you guys honestly have got to have the worst kept secret files ever in history. MD: I mean, when entire buildings are burning down, it’s hard to keep people from talking... 25. This letter to open the door screams TRAP, MD. MD: Look, if I quit now, my pension’s done for, so I might as well die trying. ...You have a pension? MD: ...No, I’m just making up excuses for why I’m entering the building of a murderer... You could just say you have a murderer to stop... 26. Ah, found the files, obvious in a mysterious box-- Um, MD. MD: ..... They... those three were also.... Master Detectives....... MD: *cracks knuckles* Ohhhhhhhhhh fuck they’ve done it, they’ve really pissed the MD off... 27. MD: That outline, it’s like the letter I got from the Queen-- *FOOL* MD: ....................................... Wow, I mean, it’s refreshing that someone just outright calls you an idiot for once. Um, please tell me you brought your immortality feather. MD: Oh bloody hell no, this is mortal combat, just you and me, pal! ...maybe the insult MIGHT be right in some ways... 28. MD: Hey MAC, what’s up? *RED ALERT, TV HEAD ATTACK* MD: I KNEW YOU GUYS WOULD TURN ON ME ONE DAY. TV head: Hey, maybe I can help you. Two heads is better than one! MD: Given that you JUST attacked me, how about GO GET GUILLOTINED BY THE DOOR. 29. MD: *picks up head* You, TALK. TV head: I don’t know what happened! MD: Oh, REALLY? If you want to punch the screen out, I’m not against it, for once. 30. Um, MD, I have to point out... MD: What? ...Mac disappeared. Like, YOUR BADGE literally disappeared. MD: ...NOOOOOOOOOOOOO I’m sure you’ll find it later, when you need it the most-- MD: HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO STAB A HOROCRUX WITH SILVER IF I DON’T HAVE MY BADGE. If it’s any consolation, at least you have the other badges, though they are a bit fused together, and huh, this statue here says badges only-- *Contraptions swallows up badge* *Spits out.... Dalimar portrait chain.* ... MD: ... MD: *TURNS TO BANG ON DOOR FUTILELY* LET US OUT OF HERE, EIPEX WE WANT OFF THIS RIDE LET US OUT PLEASE MD: I FORGOT MY FEATHER PLEASE LET ME GO GET IT AT LEAST SO I CAN CHEAT MY WAY OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!

[To be continued in part two...]

[christiancomputerstudent]

(source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-44688094)

The Church needs to do more to embrace disability and mental health, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby says, drawing on the experience of two of his daughters.

Justin - he insists we use his first name - reveals that Katharine’s mental health difficulties and Ellie’s learning disabilities, had “really brought it to the front of [his] mind”.

He was speaking to the BBC Ouch podcast, made by the BBC’s disability team.

Sitting beside his daughters, Ellie, 24, and Katharine, 32, Justin encourages them to speak openly, even if it is difficult for him to hear.

He begins by taking Ellie’s hand - this is the first time she has spoken publicly.

Taking part in a discussion about exclusion with other disabled studio guests, Ellie says: “The church I go to now, I sit at the back because I don’t really feel comfortable.

“They’re very friendly in my church, but sometimes I can feel a bit out of place there.”

Ellie also has dyspraxia, which impacts co-ordination, but can be confused with clumsiness.

Her disability, not being an obvious physical impairment, is often referred to as invisible. Because of this, she feels her needs are often misunderstood or overlooked.

“I have struggled a lot. People have looked at me and basically - I know the look now - it’s literally like, ‘You’re not disabled, why are you sitting there?’ Or, ‘Why can’t you do this?’.

“I’ve been discriminated against quite a few times because they don’t understand it.”

Justin gives Ellie - who confesses she is a “Daddy’s girl” - a friendly punch on the shoulder to acknowledge that she’s made a good point.

He, himself, has struggled at times with what he calls “the black dog” - a phrase Winston Churchill used to describe episodes of depression.

In 1983, the Welbys lost a seven-month-old baby, Johanna, in a car crash. Twelve months later another of his children was critically ill. It has often led him to question his faith.

“There have been moments where it’s been a huge test,” he says. “You read the Bible and life’s not simple.”

//As someone who has dypraxia with crossed over dyslexia myself I find this article encouraging (even though I have been to university and have a degree, I still sometimes get problems, people need to be aware of hidden disbilities)

[byakugcu]

In Defense of Haruno Sakura:

Refuting Anti-Sakura Arguments

Ok. So these anti-Sakura arguments literally make me laugh. Read the manga! Guys seriously, this character is literally so misunderstood due to the anime studio’s disgusting misinterpretation and bias against her. I will be refuting the following using canon source material (ie the manga, databooks and hiden novels. The anime, I do not care for, it is mostly filler containing ooc moments so no, I won’t even be discussing anime only content)

More under the cut!

Usefulness

I don’t understand why we’re still arguing this. It’s like the anti’s ignore all her feats because they know their fave can’t even compare. Well here are her feats

Gathered intel on Sasuke and Kabuto (Akatsuki spy)

Defeated Sasori with Chiyo

Healed your faves including, but not limited to Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, Kankuro, Chiyo, everyone in the Shinobi Alliance

Not just healed, but kept Naruto alive long enough for him to get to Minato

Gathered intel on Obito’s Kamui, White Zetsu’s technique

Motivated the whole shinobi alliance

Summoned, Katsuyu, the slug summon, a feat only shown by her and Tsunade

Dimension hopped with Obito, using her byakugou chakra to get Sasuke back

Punched Kaguya, the rabbit goddess and progenitor of Chakra on Earth and broke the horn off her head, allowing Naruto and Sasuke to seal her

Opened a children’s mental health clinic, establishing the shinobi world mental health system

Also, Sakura is a medic-nin. Are we forgetting the amount of lives that she saved? Are we forgetting that medics had a guideline they were meant to follow issued by Tsunade?

First clause (第一項, Daiikkō): “No medic ninja shall ever stop medical treatment until the lives of their party members have come to an end.” (「医療忍者は決して隊員の命尽きるまで治療を諦めてはならない」, “Iryō ninja wa kesshite taiin no inochi tsukeru made chiryō o akiramete wa naranai.”)

Second clause (第二項, Dainikō): “No medic ninja shall ever stand on the front lines.” (「医療忍者は決して最前線に立ってはならない」, “Iryō ninja wa kesshite saizensen ni tatte wa naranai.”)

Third clause (第三項, Daisankō): “No medic ninja shall ever die until they are the last of their platoon.” (「医療忍者は決して小隊の中で最後まで死んではならない」, “Iryō ninja wa kesshite shōtai no naka de saigo made shinde wa naranai.”)

Fourth clause (第四項, Daiyonkō): “Only those medic ninja who have mastered the Strength of a Hundred Technique of the ninja art Creation Rebirth are permitted to discard the above-mentioned laws.” (「忍法創造再生の百豪の術を極めし医療忍者のみ 上記の掟を破棄できる」, “Ninpō Sōzō Saisei no Byakugō no Jutsu o kiwameshi iryō ninja nomi, jōki no okite o haki dekiru.”)

It’s literally stated in the second clause that medic ninja were not supposed to be on the frontlines in battle, they could only disregard the system if they mastered the Strength of a Hundred Technique. It wasn’t until the war that Sakura unlocked the yin seal.

Compared to the other kunoichi in the Naruto series, Sakura has achieved so much more than the kunoichi in her generation, surpassing her own master in her teens.

“Sakura hasn’t shown anything different from her master? Hinata developed her own jutsu.” Well, put it this way. Sakura is a 17 year old in the middle of war, is she really going to be spending time developing new techniques or will she use techniques her master taught her, that she knows she can master and will work in combat. Also, when has Hinata’s lion fist ever done any serious damage? She defeated one juubi fodder? So have all the rookies in her gen. Sakura’s fist may not be anything new but it does work (multiple juubi fodder and Kaguya’s horn say hi), and in combat you have to be able to utilise your skill-set fully rather than have techniques that cannot be optimised.

“Sakura doesn’t have a tragic backstory/She’s too plain to be in the main cast.” Not everyone in this series needs a tragic backstory. Her lack of tragic backstory was evened out by her lack of skill in the beginning of the series.

Sakura was meant to be the girl who didn’t have a tragic backstory, didn’t come from a highly revered clan, or have any special circumstances. Her character is meant to show that just because you are ordinary, does not mean you can’t become extraordinary. She defied the odds and rose up to become a significant kunoichi. Sakura’s character was always about development throughout the story, she was meant to be someone who you watched grow despite her disadvantages.

 “Sakura is selfish”

When has this ever been shown in the manga? Sakura’s motivations throughout the manga are never shown to be selfish. She has always been shown with good intentions.

“Sakura broke her friendship off with Ino for Sasuke” No. If you read the manga and have basic comprehension skills, Sakura broke off her friendship with Ino in order to step out of Ino’s shadow and become her own person. Ino literally degraded her own friend by calling her a bud after she revealed her insecurities. Sakura breaking off her friendship with Ino sparked a rivalry to become the better kunoichi which Ino agreed was a good idea. Sakura putting her forehead protector in the ribbon’s spot should tell you that.

 Her confession to Naruto? Her trying to kill Sasuke? Do not forget that the entire Rookie 9 guilt-tripped her. They straight up ganged up on her, Shikamaru told her that a war may start in Sasuke’s name. Add on top of that, Sai, told her, to her face that she was hurting Naruto with her promise. Her wanting to kill Sasuke herself was to prevent Kakashi from killing his own beloved student. So excuse her for trying to prevent conflict as quick as possible. Although her actions weren’t the greatest, her intention was to prevent Naruto from getting hurt, and to prevent the war from happening because of Sasuke.

Her hugging Naruto in front of Hinata even though she knew she loved him? Sakura doesn’t owe Hinata anything. Let’s keep in mind that the two have barely interacted and that Naruto and Sakura have been through thick and thin together at this point in Part II. Her close friend just saved the village whose inhabitants include their friends, her mentor, her parents, her colleagues so it’s easy to see why she was thankful. Also, she called him rash before she hugged him, meaning that he had worried her and she was relieved he was okay from his fight. Why should she feel sorry for a platonic hug she gave to her close friend in front of someone she barely even interacted with.

 “Sakura gets too emotional”

So we’re gonna hate on a character for expressing genuine human emotions. They may be strong 2D characters who can kick anyone in this world’s ass any day, these characters are meant to be representations of actual human beings. To me, Sakura being emotional makes her relatable. Her emotion in each situation is understandable. Let’s also not forget that throughout most of Part II, her and Naruto were under immense pain and stress from Sasuke’s defection and actions. Also, many other Naruto characters such as Naruto, Sasuke, Ino, Shikamaru and Hinata have cried on the battlefield. Are we hating on those characters too for crying?

 “Sakura is abusive”

What the heck. Seriously. Her punching Naruto? It only happened like what? Two times. Her punching him in the anime is part of filler, therefore non-canon. The times in the manga, he literally said something stupid. Most friends tend to playfully hit each other. And this is a manga series, anything that happens in real life, is exaggerated upon. Honestly though, have you ever considered that if Naruto felt as if he were being abused he would’ve said/done something about it ages ago? He literally has no problem calling her out. They’re friends. Let’s also not forget that Naruto has been punched by other females including his own mother.

 “Sakura is a fangirl”

Ok. But this was when she was twelve years old. Everyone in her class was a fangirl. One of them was even a stalker. So I don’t see how this argument is a valid one when literally every single girl introduced in the beginning of the series had fangirl tendencies.

 Also, Sakura grew out of her “fangirl phase” in the Chunin Exams/Forest of Death arc, where she was willing to allow her team to get eliminated so that Naruto could retake the exams because she believed in his dream of becoming hokage. She also called Sasuke out for being a coward for not doing anything while Naruto had risked his life.

 “Sakura guilt-tripped Sasuke into a relationship”

It’s been stated in the manga by Kakashi twice that Sakura’s love for Sasuke was pure and she didn’t even need him to reciprocate her feelings. She only wanted to save him from the darkness and for the real Sasuke to come back. Also, this is Sasuke we are talking about. It would be out of character for him to be guilt-tripped much less a relationship/marriage with someone he doesn’t love. Sasuke literally calls her his wife and states that Sarada is a child born out of their love.

 “Sakura is a bad parent”

Sakura was a single mother for majority of Sarada’s life. She was balancing being a mother while also working so she can financially support her daughter. Parenting skills are often reflected on the child, and so far Sarada has been shown to be kind, polite, ambitious and mature. Things that would have to be taught by the parent. Compared to majority of those in her generation, it is clear that Sarada has been well raised by her mother as the others have been shown to be bratty, lazy or rude. In flashbacks during Gaiden, we saw a loving and affectionate Sakura as a mother, nurturing Sarada and looking after her while sick, while keeping a joyful atmosphere in their home.

 “Sakura covered up Karin/Taka.” Given that Sasuke left for his mission early, they either did not get the chance to take a family photo at the time, or, they are all with Sasuke. Sakura obviously wanted to show her daughter her father and so she had to make do with the photo from the Bingo book. Sakura probably covered up Taka as seeing them may lead Sarada to questioning her about Sasuke’s past, something that should be told by Sasuke, not Sakura.

“Sakura is a doormat”

This, to me is hilarious. Where? Sakura has been known to not take anyone’s crap. Whether it be from Naruto, Sai or Sasuke. “Sasuke you say, when has she ever-”

As previously stated during the Chunin Exams arc, she literally called Sasuke a coward for freezing up, and refusing to fight, while Naruto had taken the enemy head on, risking his life. In Chapter 699, while healing the boys, Sakura gets Sasuke to be quiet so she can concentrate as well as, contrary to what anti’s believe, got him to specify his apology.

 “Sakura is flat-chested/ugly”

Now this, is ridiculous. Are we reading the same manga? Sakura is meant to embody feminine qualities as her namesake is the cherry blossom which in Chinese culture is meant to represent female dominance and power. As well as this, Sakura has been called beautiful by multiple male characters throughout the series.

 Also, first of all, Sakura is not flat-chested. She has repeatedly been shown to have curves in multiple drawings by Kishimoto, her being flat-chested is something the anime studio made up and cannot let go of.

 Second, what does a flat chest have anything to do with a character’s beauty? On the other side of the spectrum, for comparison’s sake, we have Hinata. She has a chest, but canonically she is not beautiful. Kishimoto has stated in the databooks that Hinata is meant to be “frumpy-looking” or plain in every sense. So obviously in the Naruto world, chest size does not correlate with beauty.

 Conclusion

So as you can see, many anti-Sakura arguments are heavily flawed and can be voided just by doing some research. Please guys, be like your faves who have good eyes or glasses (not too much though, don’t want you guys going to jail)

[ificouldflytotheclouds]

Ranking 5 Seconds of Summer by Album - Sounds Good Feels Good (Deluxe Edition)

Long story short, when this album first came out I was pressured by my friend not to listen or buy it. I download the 'She's Kinda Hot Extended Play.' Besides SKH I really enjoyed the songs.  At one point or another, I tried to listen to the album but could not get past the first three songs; If only I had known the shell was hiding a gem. 

Present day: I keep thinking that the content of the album would've been good for me, but maybe not. Around the time the album came out I was emerging from my state of being depressed. I was trying to figure out my own life again and One Direction's last album was distracting enough.

 I listened to the album in its entirety and fell in love with Sounds Good Feels Good this year. While I was late on the game, I believe this album knocked on my door at a time I was welcome to let it in and hear what it had to say.  I started listening to SGFG in February. I remember being more excited to go to the gym because I could zone out and listen to this beautiful masterpiece.  I can't pinpoint the date I started listening to the album, but I believe it was before Want You Back came out because it helped me see that they were coming out with a new song. But I could also be mixing that up, but I do remember seeing promo for the song and merch before the song dropped. Anyways onto my review (tl;dr: I haven't had as much time with the majority of these songs compared to other fans so the songs ranking and meaning may still shift but honestly that is the case for any album there are songs you can’t relate to at one time but may years down the line).

I love this album, deciding on an order will be difficult, and for that reason, I will be listening to this album on shuffle.

Hey Everybody!

This is one of the first three songs that I just was not impressed with upon first listen. Now I have heard it enough, I jam to this song, not my fav, but I’m not mad at it. 

If you are not listening, this song sounds like money, and I may or may not confuse it with money because they talk a lot about money lol. 

I can really relate to this song at the moment because I just graduated college. It is important to me that I pay off my loans as soon as possible and for that reason, I am taking a gap year before I go to do my masters to help reduce the financial burden. The issue is I currently do not have a job. I did a temp job the week after graduation, so I’ve only had one week not working, which I am actually very grateful to have gotten the opportunity to do because there are not many times in one's life where they are able to do so. Worse comes to worse I’ll go back to my old job but I want to look for other things first. One of the reasons I didn’t go back to my old job is because I wasn’t feeling fulfilled, I have been with this organization for 5 years, and I think I need to change it up. At the same time I know sometimes a job just needs to be a job. While I am hoping to earn money before I go back to school I am also making sure to focus on me and letting myself live. I am so excited for the 5sos concert this fall, I have a Harry concert in less than a month, and I am traveling to Chicago with my friend to see Niall on the 3 year anniversary of seeing 1d in concert for the first time. Additionally, I am hoping to go vegan and spend my free time doing things that I love such as singing, writing, doing yoga… things that I didn’t give myself enough time to do during college. 

Ranking: 1 of 1

Permanent Vacation

Sonically I am so in love with this album. WOw. This song has so many meanings (not that this post was supposed to be me analyzing the lyrics). This is 5sos. They didn’t go the typical route and now they’re on a permanent vacation. I can relate to the prechorus when you just don’t have any motivation for anything and it gets really frustrating, I can relate this to bad mental health days (in which I literally went on a vacation to 2 other countries  and I came back and I remember being so happy and content in my daily living, a feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time) but also I’ve jammed to this while doing homework, I was so over it. They have us in the system, go to school, go to some more, get a job cubical job, it’s a cycle, but I don’t want that to be my life. I want it to be something more. And I feel like that’s what the songs about. 

Ranking: 1 of 2 over Hey Everybody!

Fly Away

I always forget how hard this song goes because the chorus is softer than the verse. Just based on these three songs you can tell how the album ties away, going away from the normal, living your life to it’s fullest and not wasting your time mulling over things you don’t find fulfilling. This is a reminder that you can create your own future. It’s all up to you. 

When I think of SGFG this song doesn’t stick out to me. I think money and hey everybody makes a bigger punch. With that said...

Ranking: 2 of 3 over Hey Everybody!

Airplanes

Michael Michael. He is so underappreciated. I love all of their voices and I hope Ash gets more solos/parts in Youngblood. I feel like people don’t talk about Michael’s singing enough. Have you listened to live performances when he killed the harmonies? Focusing on when he leads: I  think his voice is sooo important to bringing together 5sos’ sound especially when it comes to new broken scene. This song is so adorable, someone coming into your life and suddenly your life has meaning. They way that they describe their life, suddenly bursting to colors. But it’s not that straightforward, the individual isn’t getting better for the new person in their life, this person brings the light, the purpose of the individual doing things for themselves.

The second verse kills me emotionally because this is many of us when we struggle with xyz, our ego gets in the way, we think we can deal with it ourselves, but at one point or another, we recognize that it is larger than ourselves and we think we should’ve sought help. But the thing is, it’s never too late to get help. Even when you’ve found someone who brings neon lights to your life, getting a little extra help from someone never hurt anybody.

Lyrically I like this song better than permanent vacation but permanent vacation is such a bop.

Ranking:  2 of 4 over Fly Away

Broken Home

This song is. So. Good. It’s heartbreaking. While I am adopted and have had some rough times at home I can’t say I can relate to the chorus. This song makes me cry none the less and I can’t imagine how much this song must mean to those who have or are currently dealing with divorce or something similar.  My heart breaks for you, my heart breaks for your family. While a dream may be lost hopefully the individuals who once made a couple can find their own happiness and be treated the way that they deserve (not saying that one person is intentionally hurting another, but even neglect, intentional or not isn’t giving the other partner what they may need). Sending you all the love. 

Ranking: 1 of 5 over Permanent Vacation

Invisible 

This song is so pretty and it’s a song totally up my alley. But when it comes to ranking I know it’s going to be towards the bottom. It’s not a standout song, sonically or lyrically. For me personally, I think that this has to do with life stages, it’s not to say that I don’t have times that I feel invisible at 22, but I think this relates to my time in middle school and high school where was forming my identity. It’s funny going through time and going through friends because sometimes you feel like you aren’t understood, you blend into the background. When you find your people when you truly find your people you burst into light similar to airplanes. That’s not to say that with amazing people surrounding you that you don’t feel invisible, misunderstood....

I don’t know. I find this song difficult to relate to when I don’t currently feel this way. And the times of feeling invisible don’t stand out, in my life as much as it may for other, such that my state of being depressed was persistent for around 2 years. (This song can easily relate to depression/states of being depressed, but I don’t personally feel the connection)

I don’t question that this and the last song are things that 5sos has dealt with but these are also songs that are specifically dedicated to the fans.

Ranking: 5 of 6 over Hey Everybody!

Jet Black Heart

This is 5sos’ anthem. This. Song. Is. Everything. While the last song I couldn’t relate to my own state of being depressed (I say this rather than depression because I was not clinically diagnosed but it was the emotional state of being depressed). There are no words. I want to scream these words on a rooftop for everyone to hear. This song is so vulnerable, which they do an excellent job of conveying in the music video, and just them as artists. We don’t need to know their life stories, but they have given us a glimpse at some of the most difficult things that they have had to deal with in their life. 

‘As we burst into color, returning to life’ recently is one of my favorite line because I can relate it from going to dark days to living in a consistent state of grey to having a period in my life where I found AMAZING people and I was So. So. SO. happy every single day. 

Ranking: 1 of 7 over Broken Home

San Francisco

Aka the cutest song ever. This is happiness in a song. It is a sand out because it’s lightness and emotional state. “We don’t gotta say anything, don’t say anything at all” sums up the song. It’s about those magical moments that you don’t want to end and you want to last forever.

This is when the ranking is going to get difficult bc broken home was my number one at one point, it no longer is, but that just shows how amazing this album is.

Ranking: 2 of 8 over Broken Home

Waste the Night

I have less and less to say about my favs because I have no words. Also because this song doesn’t have too many lyrics, it’s fairly straightforward, it’s the music that tells the story in this song.

This is one of those songs that makes you so emo in concert because youre standing there living your best life feeling love all around you. (Also when I went to the concert I should’ve been writing in a paper due the next day, ended up turning it a day late. I think it would’ve been crap even if I didn’t go to the concert bc I would've been distracted by the fact that it was going on, it’s not till the next day did inspiration and motivation hit me. I got lucky got a very small reduction and an A in the class) 

Ranking: 1 of 9 over Jet Black Heart

Money

So this is the song I had to jump over to properly enjoy this album but this is a BOP. I was so turned off on my first listen it took a while to appreciate the song. Hey Everybody! makes me think of Money but whenever I listen to money it stands out on its own. It another one of those lets fall in love and run away from this town songs. It’s surprisingly cute. 

Ranking: 7 of 10 over fly away (this might win over airplanes but I’m going to let it fly)

Outerspace/Carry On

I can’t separate this beauty. 

ugh. The feels. They hit hard. This is...a masterpiece and will be on the top of 5sos accolades. “Nothing like the rain when youre in outerspace.” I have no words. And then Carry On ending the album I want to cry. It’s like life can beat you up, you’ll go all over the place, but all you need to know is it’ll get better. 

I feel like this song transcends everything else on the album, but at the same time it’s not my #1 you feel? 

ugh now I’m questioning all of my rankings should jet black heart go bf san fran and outer space after jet black heart?? I think I am going to go with

Ranking: 2 of 11 over San Fransisco.

Catch Fire 

A certified BOP. This makes me think of the line in JBH (but from a bright and beautiful viewpoint). I love when an artist makes references to their others songs within songs. The big thing while listening to Catch Fire is, will it rank above or below castaway bc those are both WOWWOW.

Ranking 6 of 12 over Permanent Vacation

Castaway

This song goes hard it’s so goood. But I’m feeling 

right now. So catch fire wins over castaway. Ugh this is the point where the ranking gets hard.

Ranking: 7 of 13 over Permanent Vacation

The Girl Who Cried Wolf

This and saftey pin are second tier songs to me. Like you have top songs that you will die over, second tier is your good, your amazing, but I wouldn’tdie over you. It could be because I’ve been with these two songs longer than other songs on the album. For both songs, the chorus is the best. This is a good song to cry to in the rain (it’s an experience) while walking down an empty street. 

Ranking: 8 of 14 over Permanent Vacation

She’s Kinda Hot

I was not a huge fan of this song when it first came out, I viewed it as a bit sexist and just ehh. Over time I realized I was missing the point. Especially by the end of the song, it feels like a different song. There is a reason why they chose this song as their lead single, they were introducing the new broken scene. The title is a bit misleading but I also think that brings a different intrigue to the song. The message of the song empowering...

Ranking: 8 of 15 over The Girl Who Cried Wolf

Saftey Pin

The bridge of this song is everything. I don’t have much to say about the song. It’s solid. This is another one of those songs where you are like this. this. is a 5sos song. Michael said the new album would still have the feeling of running away and being free in the new album and I am excited to hear it on Friday. 

Ranking: 8 of 16 over She’s Kinda Hot 

Vapor

When we end with the best song. I could see some people seeing this song as nothing special as it is a song that is repeative. Also I do not promote vaping. Don’t do drugs boys and girls. This song is just so pretty and the repeative nature of the song feeds into the softness of the song. Contrasted with the more agressive singing in the chorus, showing how much this individual means to them. Or at least how they dream it to be. I feel like it’s a good compliment to Lie to Me. Vapor = falling for the girl before they’re together, even though she’s not into him.  Lie to Me =  Heart Break over a girl who destroyed him and he cant get her out of his body.

Ranking: 1 of 17 over Waste the Night

Sounds Good Feels Good Ranking 

Vapor 

Waste the Night

 Outerspace/Carry On

 San Fransico

Jet Black Heart

Broken Home

 Catch Fire

Castaway 

Saftey Pin 

She’s Kinda Hot

Girl Who Cried Wolf

Permanent Vacation

Airplanes

Money

Fly Away

Invisible

Hey Everybody

Album Review/Ranking Masterlist

[lazzcrus-blog]

Hiya all !! aaa im so excited .  I’m Dina (she/her) & im from nz. meet Laz Papen , my literal baby. OK first before i explain things abt laz ima just say that hoo boy i am so excited!! hmu for plots pls dont be shy !! also if u want my skype u can ask for it or just message me thru i.m (i dont use anything else bc aim is dead)

anyway here is a summation of laz papen ( my child , my baby, my sunshine) , brief cw, i talk about his mental health a bit ( SORRY ITS LONG If U WANT U CAN READ LIKE THE FIRST 3 POINTS AND STOP LMAO IM SORRY)

laz is a really misunderstood person, he’s seen as a bit weird and unpredictable. this is because of his ..pretty abrupt moodswings, one minute he’s up so high and the next he’s down so low he can’t  get out of bed

he’s never been diagnosed with anything, though he shows some pretty profound signals of bipolar disorder in his behaviour.

he acts out a lot, he’ll get in to fights and be so angry he’ll tear his whole room apart. though, this isn’t what most people see of him, most people see a bubbly boy; someone whose happy for no reason

it’s not a front either, he has urges to lash out every now and then but for the most part when his mood is up, he isn’t faking it. and he can stay like that for 2 weeks, 2 months, a year , a day, an hour .

sometimes he can tell when he’s regressing a little, he’ll subject himself to only interacting with one person, and then eventually he’ll lock himself in his room. he doesn’t leave his apartment ever, during these periods of time, stays in bed, will rearrange his room until he sees it fit to live in, will rearrange it maybe 40 times, paint it a different colour,

as far as laz knows this has nothing to do with his upbringing, he lived with his single mother and two sisters growing up, and it’s always been like this, his family never had many worries, he always seemed cheery, they would hate him from time to time because they felt cut off from him, like he ignored all of them.

his sister knew the most minute details of laz’s situation. when laz goes to sleep ( laz never willingly goes to sleep, he would stay awake forever if he could, to do everything ) his older sister covers for him, telling his mum he’s not feeling well ‘dont disturb him’ his sister was the one who took calls from the school, pretending to be ms. papen (technically she is) and explaining his absences.

college is his last lil step towards a better future, he figures if he can go to college then things will be better for him?? so he applies to a bunch and guess which one he gets in to!!ufl bitch.

 he gets a job at a local bookstore, (the owner’s a friend of his mum) and settles down.

it’s a danger for laz to be alone in this apartment but he’s elated by it; sometimes wishes it was smaller (as small as a closet) and sometimes he wishes it was bigger, big enough for him to scream and for it to echo .

he writes, and it’s kind of something he doesn’t really acknowledge but he loves pretty words and he’ll say them all the time, they kind of ground him. he’ll repeat his favourite words over and over until they drown out the ugly ones. sometimes he can’t stop writing, when he’s locked away in his room he doesn’t let his thoughts stir in his head (that would be dangerous) he writes them out rapidly, a whole wall of his room is covered in sticky notes and taped up pieces of paper, front pages of magazines he wrote on quickly to expel whatever was plaguing him. if he’s out and he’s trying to hold himself back from punching someone in the nose or bashing his head against a wall he’ll write in his head, cursive or block letters or calligraphy, he’ll write out all his favourite words and breathe and sometimes it helps.

HOL Y SHIT THIS WAS SO LONG SORRY 

[hispanic-a-la-discoteca]

Entry 9

I found the horde, but I heard someone in a tunnel over from me so I had to look at that first. What if whoever were there tried to sneak up on me? Just as I was about to head into the area, Natsume placed her hand on my shoulder and I jumped in place. My tail might have poofed up again. It’s been doing that a lot lately.

Zendizza was there too with Raeleus and when we were getting ready to go into the room we heard a weird scream. The creatures in the room left through another way and we went in.

Natsume and I went straight to the two unconscious people in the  room. We used some of our health potions and managed to bring them back.

They’re from Port Syrrus and were happy to hear that Felltri was with us. The guy wanted to get his family heirloom from the dragon loot pile but he was pretty bad off.

Zen and Raeleus went ahead, nobody wanted me to go with but I didn’t care and I snuck behind them. I wasn’t just going to leave.

When we were in there the dragon was getting up from it’s apparent bath in acid which isn’t scary at all. We hid behind the loot pile and Zen wanted to take the egg because she had an idea.

I didn’t give it over. I knew the dragon wouldn’t care. This dragon was definitely not going to let us leave no matter what. She attempted to bluff him anyways.

It didn’t work.

And then it just got really intimidating and I heard a squeak from another tunnel. And then Tibby charged in. And Zen tried to punch the dragon and shit literally hit the ceiling.

I managed to hit him a couple of times in the same spot with my dagger and after the third time the dragon tried to attack me.

The acid went through Zen and she collapsed. It barely hit me. Tibbs was able to kill the dragon after that but not before it found Felltri and bite her.

It was so close today.

Felltri was able to heal herself and Zen a bit. And then Zen carried her out of the den since Felltri passed out. I’m glad to see Zen accept Felltri. I happy that she’s getting over her initial gut-reaction of distrust over something she doesn’t understand.

Natsume and I were sorting through the pile of stuff and after a bit the rest of the group showed up and we got the two prisoners their things back. After that everyone took some stuff from weapons to armor.

I grabbed all the platinum since that was basically all I could take from this horde but it was good that everyone got something. I can buy something whenever we stop by a town or whatever.

We left the den and walked for a while and finally made it out of the bog.

And then Dmitry asked where the egg was.

He wanted to smash it but I couldn’t let him. This creature hadn’t done anything wrong and he was going to just up and kill it? When it hadn’t even had a chance to show what it would be like?

I got angry. He got angry.

Thinking on it more I know that he’s just afraid but if he doesn’t make an attempt at even trying to understand what this creature could be… I bet he would automatically try to kill the Gnolls I’ve met. I know a lot of people would.

Gnolls are misunderstood. As are dragons. Sure they have violent tendencies but so do ‘normal’ people. They aren’t inherently evil.

Zen sat next to me and told me I made the right choice but with how crappy I feel, I don’t know. All I know is that I want to see if this dragon can be a beacon for all misunderstood races. And if it can? Maybe the future could be more peaceful and filled with more understanding of differences.

I sat for my night watch. Mostly everyone had taken damage in the dragon fight and Dmitry definitely wasn’t going to keep a lookout with me tonight. He probably wont for a while if at all.

…

I had a, well, visit is a good word. I know it was real. I always thought it was a dream but that catfolk, the one from my dream so long ago, is apparently the being that put that red light in my chest when I was sick.

I never realized it but I’ve never been sick after that. Whatever she put in me is making sure of that.

When she asked me why I hesitate I wanted to know why I had the power. She said something cryptic about contracts and set paths so uh, that’s slightly worrying. She showed me visions of Zen and Orry saying that I was too late or too scared to use the power to save them. She’s right.

I’m terrified of this power. Is it the reason why my fur turned black? Is the only way of contacting her through almost dying? Why did she save me all those years ago? I mean I’m assuming that she saved me. I probably would have gotten better on my own eventually if I was able to.

I’m just so confused.

Apparently I fell asleep, when I woke up it was dawn and no one else woke up for their watch. I made sure nothing happened before settling down on my bed. I had my scythe in my hands and just stared ahead.

Zen joined me after a bit and asked if I was alright. I actually told her the truth that no, I wasn’t but I do think I might be in the future.

She shared how she used to be violent and how everyone in her tribe was afraid of her. She offered to help me with my urges when I needed it and I’m happy that she didn’t try to tell me that it could be changed again.

Watching her re-whittle the little figurine she gave me a while ago had me thinking. She needed to get to her tribe. Whatever was happening at the border could spread past that area.

I think I need to start trying a little bit harder during our battles.

Maybe I can talk to Kyomi.