#robots doing stuff at the Rose Parade

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers West Coast #68: California Screaming!

March, 1991

The Reaper and the Robot Part Four ROBOT HOLOCAUST!

Is that Robby the Robot's silhouette?

Don't do a whole burning, Robby the Robot. Be good.

Also, ay yi yi, not a good time to cover a comic titled California Screaming but when will be?

At least, I can respect the wordplay.

Last times in Avengers West Coast: Grim Reaper came back to life thanks to his voodoo girlfriend and now he stabs people to death to extend his own life. Wonder Man has taken his brother's resurrection hard and believes that the blood of Reaper's victims is on his hands for not being able to stop him.

Wonder Man fucked off from the team for a bit to search for Grim Reaper on his own, mad that the Avengers were prioritizing something else.

The something else was a mysterious crop dusting helicopter coming out at night and also robot farmers. By investigating an abandoned subway tunnel, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and Tigra discover that Ultron is behind it. Both the crop dusting and the farmers being a plan to turn humanity into robot drones, subservient to Ultron.

The three Avengers were captured and turned into robots which were sent to preemptively stop Dr Pym. The other Avengers managed to stop the Robovengers, with the help of Wonder Man. Dr Pym and Iron Man were able to mostly deroboticize the Robovengers, with a little hex help from Wanda, whose powers have maybe returned.

Also, Grim Reaper joined Ultron.

A lot going on.

But we pick up with the Avengers busting into Ultron's hidden subway lair.

Eh. It's no "we would have words with thee" but then, what is?

Anyway, Ultron isn't here right now. So it's good the Avengers didn't waste a better intro.

All that's in the base is a bunch of the Andrones, the android drones that Ultron turns people into with his roboticizing compound.

And that's why the Avengers are carrying ropes. They don't want to hurt innocent people that have been turned into robots.

(Although, Wonder Man is being unnecessarily rough because he's still preoccupied with his murder brother)

Tigra distracts a group of Andrones by doing a sweet flip overhead and then Quicksilver runs around them and ties them up.

And the other Andrones get similar treatment.

In a particularly cruel twist, Ultron has turned a small child into an Androne, specifically to lull a compassionate person into a trap.

And US Agent is that poor sap that's decided to show his heart only to get kicked in it.

Wonder Man saves him by prying the robo-child off Agent and scolds him for assuming that the Andrones couldn't talk just because they hadn't.

(For example, he should have remembered that the robot farmers talked. Although, I don't remember if they were Andrones or original robots.)

In the robo-child confusion, the Avengers miss one Androne who starts the secret subway base's secret self-destruct sequence, despite Iron Man blasting the control panel as soon as he noticed.

Iron Man orders everyone to grab the tied-up Andrones and gtfo.

US Agent: "You know what I like about the way you give orders, Iron Man? Not a blasted thing!"

Weird time to be a contrary for the sake of contrariness but at least he does grab an Androne and gtfo.

AND OF ALL THINGS, the Avengers find a cop outside the subway tunnel, about to put a parking ticket on the Avengers Quinjet like it's just standard procedure.

Random cop to Quicksilver: "This vehicle yours, sir? 'Cause if it is, so's this ticket. Don't you know this is a restricted area -- especially since last summer's tunnel explosion?"

Do you run into a lot of illegally parked jets, officer?

I mean, this is a superhero universe so the answer very well could be yes.

I actually love the idea of a cop trying to give a parking ticket to the Avengers. Sadly, the goof isn't really given space to land because the situation is too serious for the Avengers to play into the gag.

Anyway, the Avengers West Coast all rush out of the tunnel, right before it explodes. All except Wonder Man. But he's nigh-invulnerable and he doesn't even have to be blastin'. So the Avengers aren't worried about him.

Belatedly, the cop realizes that the random Quinjet belongs to the Avengers.

The Avengers are a little too distracted to pay much attention to this comic relief moment and take off in their jet without even bothering to see how this parking ticket thing is going to shake out.

In FAIRNESS, there's an Ultron on the loose and Andrones to do something with.

Within the exploded secret subway base, Wonder Man stayed behind on purpose and let himself get blown up and buried in rubble on purpose. Because he knew Grim Reaper was hanging around. And he wanted to talk to him without the Avengers butting in.

Like Wonder Man suspected, Grim Reaper went looking for Ultron after their last conversation. And Grim Reaper says he joined Ultron and said he'd watch his base.

Of course, Grim Reaper was lying. He and Ultron are mutually planning on betraying each other. Ultron was going to let the Reaper serve him for a while and then get rid of him. And the Grim Reaper is planning on betraying him before that.

Villains, amirite. Aside from groups that actually like each other like the Wrecking Crew, they just can't play nice.

That's why stuff like Acts of Vengeance was doomed to fail and why the Old Man Logan universe is merely the stuff of twisted fantasy.

Wonder Man asks why Grim Reaper even pretended to join team Ultron if he just wanted to kill him. And Grim Reaper explains it.

The explanation is fucking nonsense. But it is an explanation and in a superhero universe we must accept the fucking nonsense.

Grim Reaper: "While he's been 'robotizing' people, there's been a subtle feedback into his own system. In a nutshell, he's been absorbing human energy -- humanity itself -- in the process. That, in turn, leaves him increasingly vulnerable to my scythe. Otherwise, I could never have damaged his adamantium body, like I did last night."

... Sure!

That makes no sense at all! But we must accept it.

Grim Reaper also explains his angle. He knows what Ultron's plans are. He's going to turn a whole hell of a lot of people to Andrones all in one swell foop.

A lot more people than Grim Reaper would eat in years.

So his proposal is a needs of the many/lesser evil argument.

He'll tell Wonder Man where Ultron is planning to strike. In exchange, Wonder Man must swear to stop getting in Grim Reaper's way. And Grim Reaper will only eat one person a day.

Lives saved in the long run! All of humanity saved in the long run!

Grim Reaper: "Now, what could be fairer than that?"

Wonder Man protests that would be a monstrous bargain. But Grim Reaper is hard carrying a villain card right now so it being sick and twisted is why he's in favor. Wonder Man also objects that how can he be sure that the Reaper will stick to just one delicious human life a day. And the undead menace says that if he did eat more people, Wonder Man would find out.

It's not like Grim Reaper's feedings can be mistaken as normal deaths!

Grim Reaper: "Now, don't be bitter, little brother. After all, when you save all those people, you'll be an even greater hero than you are now. And no one but you and I will ever know that all it cost the world -- is a paltry 365 human lives a year. One more in leap years, of course... !"

Wow, you are loving this, Grim Reaper.

You're kind of a dick.

Anyway, back at the Avengers West Coast Compound, Hawkeye is reverting.

The infrared cure last issue didn't fully derobotize him. He was still left with some metal parts. And it seems that remaining metal means he's still susceptible to Ultron's influence.

Semi-Androne Hawkeye starts shooting off arrows and trying to blow up the infrared bombarder that Hank Pym is building to cure people affected by the robotizing.

Wasp tzaps Hawkeye but since he's part metal her stings aren't having any effect.

Sigh. Remember when Wasp's stings had evolved to the point where she could blow up a house?

Byrne hard reset her to ineffectual nuisance and Hank's ego fluffer. And the Thomas run isn't bringing her back to her cool Shooter/Stern heights.

SIIIIIIGH.

Hank tries to shrink Hawkeye because shrinking his problems usually makes his problems smaller! Like when he shrank Tigra and then forgot about her and the problem resolved itself!

grumble.

But the Pym Particles aren't working on Hawkeye. Which confuses Hank. Pym Particles worked on the robot farmers. They made them explode.

Wait. Were you trying to explode Hawkeye, Hank??

Scarlet Witch decides that since her powers maybe worked last time, that means her powers are fully back and reliable, so she tries using them on Hawkeye but instead it maybe causes a huge piece of equipment start to fall over on Hank Pym.

Hank is able to shrink THAT so he doesn't get the squish. But I wonder if Wanda has been reset back to when her hex power was as likely to screw the Avengers over as their opponents.

Fuckin

can any of the ladies keep their sweet gains??

Anyway, Hawkeye nearly escapes out the open hanger door but then he collapses.

A random comment that Wasp makes has Hank realize that it wasn't the Pym Particles that made the robot farmers explode! It was vibrations of Rover's engines! And Rover and the Quinjet have similar engines!

So is the weakness of the robotizing infrared or sound vibrations? Pick a thing.

Anyway, Wonder Man signals the team that he needs them so they all take off to meet him.

To Pasadena! Where the Rose Parade is being held! With a very sci-fi 'world of tomorrow' theme to it in this modern year of 1991.

Wonder Man and Grim Reaper are already there. With Wonder Man having secretly signaled the Avengers as soon as Grim Reaper revealed where Ultron was going to strike. Pretty sneaky, Simon!

Grim Reaper explains that Ultron is hiding in one of the blimps that's flying over the parade - one branded with a big SEANKAI, which the parade announcers don't recognize.

A blimp isn't Ultron's usual choice of vehicles but Reaper explains that it will let the robot get near thousands of potential Androne recruits without anyone expecting it.

Wonder Man's doubtful reaction to learning the location does prove Grim Reaper's point that the Avengers wouldn't have suspected Ultron could possibly be in a blimp.

A security guard appears to yell at Grim Reaper and Wonder Man for being in a prohibited area.

To Grim Reaper's delight. He'd hoped for some breakfast before the fight with Ultron!

Seriously. He calls the security guard breakfast.

Wonder Man grabs Grim Reaper and flies out of the building, scolding him no advance payment on the deal before defeating Ultron.

The security guard is just left confused by the whole thing. Reporting in that Wonder Man and some guy with a sickle hand were looking for food.

Womp womp!

Wonder Man flies towards the big SEANKAI dirigible with Grim Reaper. He's spotted by the parade announcers but since the parade has a sci-fi theme, they dismiss the sighting as probably just part of the parade.

Hilariously ironically, the announcers also say that the sophisticated modern person knows that robots are nothing like the menacing monsters of old sci-fi.

IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE.

Which has Ultron and the Sentinels and more. Robots are exactly like the menacing monsters of old sci-fi because that's what they were inspired by.

Sometimes, comic universe are a little too world outside your window and not enough world outside their window. The average Marvel citizen lives in a confusing fantasy sci-fi spec fic kitchen sink world.

Anyway.

Wonder Man OH YEAHs through the side of the blimp and reveals its no blimp dirigible, it's a hi-tech anti-gravity airship disguised as a blimp! Pretty sneaky, Ultron!

Ultron: "I should never have trusted you, Grim Reaper. But actually, in point of fact -- I never really did. I simply do not deign you worth fearing."

Ya burnt, Eric.

But Ultron better start deigning because he's very surprised when Grim Reaper stabs him and starts draining energy out of him. The human life force that Ultron has somehow absorbed by turning people into robots even though the roboticization process is not being directly by Ultron but by a chemical process. Human energy is still ending up in the big bad Mr Roboto and Grim Reaper is still slurping it up like a delicious milkshake!

Even Ultron doesn't really understand exactly how what he was doing resulted in absorbing life energy. He's willing to roll with the concept and operate off that basis now that it's been made clear that is what the story is going with. But he doesn't understand it either.

Meanwhile, down in the parade, the robots decorating all the sci-fi floats come to life.

I also don't know why this is happening.

One can assume Ultron rigged them up to menace. And that they were accidentally activated with Grim Reaper throwing Ultron into so many computer panels. But either way they're menacing the parade and it gives the newly arriving Avengers West something to contribute in this issue while Wonder Man is having a personal arc play out.

One of the marching band ladies trips so she can be menaced by Gort et al. Making the cover an actual true and accurate representation of a moment from the comic!

Except she's dressed in green, not red.

Dangit, cover, you were SO close!

Iron Man tackles Gort and ties him up in a lamppost. Quicksilver runs around and around Robot the robot, accomplishing nothing. Then Scarlet Witch gestures and Robot falls over.

(These announcers have approximate knowledge of many things.)

Meanwhile, US Agent, Dr Pym, and Wasp tackle Robby the Robot. Hank shrinks him down with Pym Particles, instantly winning the fight. Because with Hank Pym, if he can shrink you, he probably wins.

Meanwhile, Grim Reaper has absorbed a whole hell of a lot of energy and seemingly defeated Ultron. And he gloats about it.

But surprise, Wonder Man reneges on the deal.

He's not an honor before reason type. He promised he'd let Grim Reaper eat a person a day only so he could find and stop Ultron. And now that Ultron is stopped, he's going to try to stop Grim Reaper too.

Good on you for lying, Wonder Man.

And Grim Reaper is perversely proud of him for it, too. Simon is finally growing up and whatnot.

Not that it will stop Reaper from beating Wonder Man to death with his bare hand.

Because his scythe doesn't work well on him, see? But his bare fist shouldn't either. Wonder Man is vaguely in Thor's weight class. Grim Reaper isn't. Although Reaper did just slurp a whole bunch of energy out of Ultron. So, eh, fair enough.

Wonder Man proclaims that Grim Reaper isn't really the brother he knew because that brother wanted to protect him. In a really fucked up possessive delusional way that sometimes involved putting him in a giant blender. But Wonder Man can tell that Grim Reaper is really trying to kill him.

Grim Reaper: "You got that right, at least? Why should you go on living, while I'm -- the way I am? Answer: you shouldn't. Answer... you won't!"

This is the first hint that we've got that Grim Reaper actually resents his undead condition. Huh. Depth.

Ultron isn't quite dead, because he had battery backups, and he gets back up to get Reaper back for getting him got.

And then Hawkeye flies through the blimp hole and rams into Grim Reaper.

Being partially roboticized meant he had a homing instinct toward Ultron. That's how he found them. Neat.

Also, he's got his own agency back. Also neat.

But Grim Reaper deflects the arrow Hawkeye shoots at him. Then slices his bow up.

Then Ultron starts shooting MIND CONTROL CIRCLES at Hawkeye, trying to subvert his will and turn him into a weapon. While Grim Reaper stabs Hawkeye and tries to drain his life energy.

And both attempts are cancelling each other out. But also fucking up Hawkeye.

Wonder Man tackles Hawkeye out of the crossfire, which leaves Ultron and Grim Reaper to bonk torsos and knock each other out.

The rest of the Avengers West show up to find Wonder Man and Hawkeye in bad condition and Ultron and Grim Reaper out cold.

Not sure why both lurched forward like that but dammit, we needed a resolution!

Hawkeye: "Just m-my luck, ain't it? I get turned practically... into a freakin' metal robot... and I still get knocked around...!"

Yeah, but in the future people will love you for what a trash fire you are. So, it kind of balances out.

Iron Man: "We're going to do everything that's humanly possible to cure you, once and for all, Avenger... emphasis on the 'humanly'!"

Iron Man flies Hawkeye out of the notblimp, to get him medical attention.

Even as banged up as Wonder Man is, he tries to go help the unconscious Grim Reaper.

Wonder Man: "G-got to help Eric, Wanda... don't you see? He may be... walking dead... even a murderer... But... he's s-still... my brotherr*"

And he passes the fuck out, with the Avengers deciding he's earned a long snooze after everything that's happened.

Tigra: "So -- Happy New Year, everybody!" Wasp: "Yeah. Right."

Ugh. Things almost lined up where this issue would have posted on New Years Day! But it didn't because of the weeks I'd missed. It doesn't matter but wouldn't it have been neat?

Anyway.

The Reaper and the Robot arc. Hmm...

Well, Reaper coming back as a zombie and needing to eat people to live gave him a new motivation that wasn't his obsession with Simon. Eating people. It flipped the script and made Wonder Man the one obsessively chasing after his brother.

We got some good drama out of it. And it interrupted the attempts to ship Wanda and Simon together. Which are attempts I do not care for.

And on the robot side of things, Ultron's new scheme is also new sinister ground for him. He's going to turn all of humanity into robots. But robot extensions of himself.

The two villains, erstwhile allies, have radically opposed motivations so they inevitably clash. With Wonder Man in the middle.

The ending gets a little weird with Ultron being a pinata of human energy. Granted, that's just the kind of nonsense that one needs to expect from comic books.

And this is such a Wonder Man story that the obvious emotional hook for Hank Pym just isn't there. Ultron is his worst invention. Which is now attempting to transform and enslave all of humanity. The last time he faced Ultron, there was a good Ultron who had turned over a new leaf but which got killed by an evil Ultron who hadn't gone through that character development. Hank should feel more dialed into the plot but he's firmly operating as the Brains and the Leader (the role, not the gamma guy) and Wonder Man is taking up all the drama so Hank just kinda exists and makes good decisions.

But, whatever.

Anyway. Speaking of bonkers conclusions, the bonkers conclusion to the Avengers arc with the Tetrarchs of Entropy next week. And next next week, issue 69 of Avengers West Coast.

That is one of the funny numbers.

Follow @essential-avengers. Like and reblog. Comment. Dance like nobody is watching, not even Uatu.

[andmaybegayer]

Last Monday of the Week 2024-06-24

Hosting

Listening: It's important to put music on while there are people kicking around the house to fill in the gaps, a lot of that has been Vienna Teng, so, Green Island Lullaby :

Also as another note, I am closing in on the end of The Magnus Archives, and I like some of the stuff of this last season. It gets to get a lot more into absolute horror when it doesn't have to reasonably fit into the real world and I appreciate a lot of that, I've always liked my short story to veer a little abstract.

Watching: After my parents left for Amsterdam I was like "hey I should watch something" and put on Funeral Parade of Roses/Bara no Soretsu, which is such a banger of a movie if you love queer art films from five minutes after we invented the concept of editing and horrible tragedy. We should make more extremely heavy movies that include within themselves comedic making-of documentaries.

Also, courtesy of @canmom's Animation Night, Mars Express, a very beautiful robot sentience animated movie by Jérémie Périn. It follows a Space Cop who ends up working with a renegade engineer who jailbreaks sentient slave robots. Extremely space-noir. Extremely detailed world of future-tech, thoughtful design, and a by-the-numbers but well-executed plot. If you like cyber neo-noir you'll love it, also check out Animation Night on twitch.tv/canmom most Sundays at 20:00 UK time, truly a gem, the first place I watched PMMM.

Reading: All but finished with Iron Widow, it's a shame that it's not a very good book because it feels like much more aggressive editing could have saved it. There's so many words and maybe 30% of them don't have to be there, this book loves to tell instead of showing, or to show and then tell you all about what it's shown you. Again, very compelling setting and themes, the way that being in a mech transcends your material form while simultaneously making you very responsible for other people is a great idea!

Zetian is a clumsy protagonist in-world, which is fine if frustrating. She's not calculating enough to pull off Taylor Hebert long-term plans and careful considerations, but she's not impulsive enough to get into interesting problems for very long, there's lots of opportunity to create intrigue that just get snipped in the bud because she decides not to care, which means a lot of threats just aren't very credible.

Playing: Hades! I got tutored through a full clear and had the boons system laid out to me and I have now got a clear with every weapon except the fists, and that's only because I haven't gotten around to it yet. I still don't think I enjoy the way the narrative of Hades is presented, but I am appreciating the gameplay, I enjoy enginebuilder-likes like this, you know, Inscryption, Noita, that kind of thing.

Making: Not much, too busy.

Tools and Equipment: I picked up a LowePro Creator Box, which is their line of mini-camera storage cubes intended to help turn normal bags into camera bags. Transporting camera equipment is a huge pain in the ass, because you have to keep it all padded, but dedicated camera bags are frequently awful as, you know, bags. Lowepro does make some camera bags that are also okay day packs, but these boxes are really nice for just dumping into an existing backpack or carry-on to safely travel with a camera and a couple lenses. This is the Large size.

There's a line of outdoor backpacks that even let you access your box from a side hatch directly, but I don't have one of those. This makes it much easier for me to, say, hoof my camera to work when I have somewhere I want to go later in the day. There's some gigantic cubes for larger bags as well which I guess are for if you're doing wildlife photography on foot, or running a full production in a remote area.

[unpurposed-organism]

🌻

Hmmmmm Ive got lots of random thoughts rattling around in here. Im going with music. I dont really talk much about things I like bc idk Im not a critic or anything. I dont know how to explain why I like the things I like and that kind of bothers me. I should just say more bullshit though I think. Im a yapper at heart.

I have a very hard time listening to albums. I usually just pick a few songs from an artist and Im like yeah this is great. Then i never touch the rest of their stuff. I might die if i listen to an artists full discography idk. I just love sampling random bits from here and there.

There are some artists I do end up listening to most of their stuff though. Mostly its stuff i grew listening to. I love elliott smith. Im always kind of itching to try and get my friends to listen to him but its like, kinda hard. If we're going out and Im driving, Im not gonna throw that on. Its not the vibe.

Oh wait, i should totally make a new playlist with some of his more upbeat stuff and any other random bullshit i feel like. Maybe thats the way. Make them listen to amity, new monkey, or rose parade? Those are more upbeat. Theres also ballad of big nothing. I actually saw an izutsumi amv to that song the other day. If you make amvs with elliott smith songs then i love u forever <3

Speaking of dungeon meshi, I am still down bad for kabru. I love anime boys more than i like to admit lol. I have.... very lame taste in anime guys unfortunately. Anyway the song Robot Lover by vandal moon is everything to me right now PLUS apparently The Killers are american. Fucked up right?

[naresnani]

on Violence

Chapter 6

Chapters: [1] , [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]

Fandom: Ikemen Prince | Nokto Klein / Adam Kain | Words: 2k

Tags: Scriptfic, screenplay format, Political stuff, Slow burn, Route spoilers

Summary :

Some interviews are in order.

tagging: @altairring @tiny-wooden-robot @kissmetwicekissmedeadly

notes: this chapter made me go AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH insane but eventually i finished it. somehow. Through many sleepless nights

EXT. PALACE GARDEN - MORNING

Dawn breaks. Pinkish orange clouds are painted on dark blue sky. 

There’s a strange uncaring peacefulness in the city and palace. Besides the ones involved, no one else in the world really knows or cares about what just happened a couple hours earlier. Dews dots the blooming rose petals. A ladybug crawls across. Birds take flight through the sky. 

Footsteps descend the palace’s stairs towards the garden.

It’s Nokto Klein. Obviously, he hadn’t slept at all. He’s not looking to sleep either. He’s all up in his head, barely conscious of his surroundings, thinking God knows how many number of things in his head. Despite this, he seems to be enjoying himself. 

It should be implied that he had just gotten the scolding of a lifetime. From Chevalier, of course, who else. And now he's walking away a changed man. (or, likely, he’s stress-smiling through it all.) 

Nokto stops on one fork of the pathway. In front of him, columns of rose bushes stretch far in front of him. He stretches his body himself, yawning loudly into the air, when-

YVES, LICHT, LEON, JIN

Supriseee, Nokto!

NOKTO

What the— 

And where did they even pop up from? The four princes of The Other Faction show up holding up a plate full of cookies, and they’re parading it up in front of Nokto like it’s his birthday.

NOKTO

What is this even about?

YVES

Hey, this wasn’t my idea okay? but I followed through anyway, so be grateful, it’s cookies.

It does smell distinctly like Yves-made cookies. And yes, Yves-made things do smell distinct.

Jin steps forward, full of that intimidating, manly-camaraderie and wraps an arm around Nokto’s shoulder.

JIN

Nokto, guys here thought you needed to catch a little break. Why, getting your ears chewed off by Chevalier after experiencing all that isn’t exactly a normal Saturday thing. It was Le-

LEON

(sweating)

It was Licht’s idea!

LICHT

(at the same time)

It’s Leon’s.

While it’s true, that Nokto could definitely be drawn or depicted with squiggly lines at the moment, he had also tiredly recognised what this is all actually about.

NOKTO

You guys. Thaanks, but I really need to be doing something right now.

LEON

C’mooon, Nokto, not even Chevalier usually works at these hours. You can afford some chill time. Here, here.

He’s shoving a cookie to Nokto’s face.

YVES

You may think I half-assed these but I didn’t. I really did fire up the oven this early in the morning. These cookies are of legit quality.

Yves is also shoving one after Nokto is done chewing the previous one.

LICHT

You also need to drink more.

Licht boredly gestures toward the glass of water he’s holding.

JIN

(lets Nokto go)

And look, just in case, I even opened up this champagne. Just in case you terribly, terribly need them.

He picks up the fancy looking bottle from a nearby garden table and boasts in front of Nokto.

At all of this, Nokto sighs, and makes a dumb grin on his face. He leers at Leon.

NOKTO

Leoon. Come on, spit it. What do you want to say?

LEON

(still sweating, grins)

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

NOKTO

(mock surprised)

No, don’t tell me! Could it be that... you feel guilty?

LEON

Guilt! What guilt, why would you think that?

[Read more on AO3]

[keyofjetwolf]

Pitch Me your thing!

HELLO HELLO MY SUNBEAMS. For most every category, there was an impressive turn-out for pitches, so I thought we’d utilize the weirdness of this year’s GIFTENING to give something new a try. The popular vote winner for each category will happen on the first day, but on the second, the winner will be chosen from YOUR PITCHES. Mostly those pitches will be to me. The exception is in Miscellaneous, where you’ll be pitching to my family, because what I want to do and what is most entertaining isn’t necessarily the same thing.

So! How will we do this thing? GLAD YOU ASKED. I’ll link you to a form in a minute with space for one pitch. Once you fill it out, you’ll be asked if you want to do another. There’s no limit to the number of pitches you can send in! But remember that if you submit multiple entries for the same category, you’ll basically be competing against yourself.

NOW WE’VE GOT SOME RULES FOR DOING THIS (which I mostly stole from Holligay, because I have no creativity this year). Please read them carefully! I’ll toss pitches that break any of these, and I’d rather your hard work not go to waste.

Pitch Me is open for your submissions from RIGHT NOW (22 December) through the very last day of this hellyear (31 December) at 11:59pm MT.

The thing you pitch must have come from what was nominated for THE GIFTENING 2020. (Full list of those nominations in every category below the cut on this post.)

Entries must be unsigned! I’m looking to chose based on the pitch alone, regardless of who submitted it.

The pitch itself must be 100 words or less. HAVE PITY ON ME I CAN ONLY CONSUME SO MUCH.

If you’d like to get some help, ideas, feedback, all that good stuff, the Discord is a FANTASTIC resource I encourage you to use.

HERE IS YOUR PITCH SUBMISSION LINK

And, as promised, below the cut you’ll find the list of all the nominees in every category you guys sent in this year. IT’S A LONG LIST HAVE FUN WITH THAT

Anime

A Place Further Than The Universe/Sora Yori mo Toi Basho Ace Attorney (Gyakuten Saiban) Action Heroine Cheer Fruits Aggretsuko Aho Girl Air Master Akuma No Riddle Alien Nine Angel Beats! Angelic Layer Appare-Ranman Aria Aria the Animation Arrietty/ The Secret World of Arrietty (Ghibli film) Ascendance of a Bookworm Azumamga Daioh Baccano! Beastars Black Cat Blood + (the series) Bloom Into You Blue Drop/Tenshitachino Gikyoku Bodacious Space Pirates (starting right where you left off) BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense Boku no hero academia Bubblegum Crisis Card Captor Sakura: Clear Card Cardcaptor Sakura Castlevania the Animated Series Cells at Work Chaos; Head Chihayafuru Code Geass cowboy Bebop Cyborg 009 Death Note Death Parade Deca-Dence Demon Girl Next Door Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) Diebuster: Aim For the Top 2 Dog Days dorohedoro Dot Hack//SIGN Dr. Stone Elfen Lied Erased (Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi) Escaflowne Excel Saga Fantastic Children Fate/Zero Flip Flappers Fresh Precure Fruits Basket 2019 Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Ga rei Zero GaoGaiGar gekkan shoujo nozaki-kun Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex Ghost Stories (dubbed) Girls' Last Tour Great Pretender Hoseki no Kuni/ Land of the Lustrous House of Five Leaves/ Saraiya Goyou Inari konkon koi iroha Interviews with Monster Girls Inuyasha Isekai Izakaya "Nobu" Jellyfish Princess/ Kuragehime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable Kaguya-sama Love Is War Kaleido Star Kannazuki no Miko Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! Kemono Friends Kiki's Delivery Service Kimi ni Todoke: From Me To You Kino's Journey/Kino no Tabi (2003) Land of the Lustrous (Houseki no Kuni) Little Witch Academia Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files EP0 {"A Grave Keeper") Love is Hard for an Otaku Love Live! Sunshine!! lupin the 3rd part 4 Madoka: The Rebellion Movie Magic knight rayearth Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha March Comes in Like a Lion Mardock Scramble Master of Martial Hearts Mawaru Penguindrum Megalobox Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Mob Psycho 100 Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) Monster Mushishi My Bride is a Mermaid (Seto No Hanayome) My Love Story!!! My Neighbor Totoro My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom My Roommate is a Cat NANA Naruto Natsume’s Book of Friends Neon Genesis Evangelion (hateblog) New Cutey Honey Nichijou Ōban Star-Racers One Piece Ouran High school Host club Outlaw Star Paranoia Agent Perfect Blue Please Save My Earth Pop Team Epic Pretty Cure Fresh Princess Jellyfish/ Kuragehime Princess Mononoke Princess Principal Princess Tutu Project A-Ko promised neverland (/yakusoku no neverland) Psycho-Pass Ranma 1/2 Re: Cutie Honey Re:Creators Read or Die (OAV) Red Garden relife Revolutionalry Girl Utena Rose of Versailles Ruroni Kenshin Sailor Moon Sailor Moon (viz dub) Samurai Champloo (english dub) Sarazanmai School Days School-Live! Scum's Wish Senki Zesshou Symphogear (listed as just "Symphogear" on Crunchyroll.) Serei no Moribito (Guardian of the Spirit) Shin Sekai Yori (From The New World) Shirobako Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle Smile Pretty Cure (Japanese original)/ Glitter Force (english adaptation) Snow White with the Red Hair Sound Euphonium Strawberry Panic (yuri) Sweetness and Lightning The Devil is a Part-timer The Devil Lady The disasterous life of saiki k (saiki kusuo no Sai Nan) The End of Evangelion (movie) the Promised Neverland The Twelve Kingdoms Tiger & Bunny Tokimeki Tonight ToraDora Tsubasa Chronicle Umineko When They Cry Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid Vinland Saga Violet Evergarden Whispered Words (Sasameki Koto) With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun Yona of the Dawn Yu Yu Hakusho Yugioh Duel Monster Yuki Yuna is a Hero Yuri Kuma Arashi Yuri On Ice!!! Zoids: Chaotic Century Zombie Land Saga

Non-Anime Animated

Adventure Time Amphibia Animainiacs (Original) Animaniacs (Reboot) Archie's Weird Mysteries As Told By Ginger Barbie Life in The Dreamhouse Batman the Animated Series Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot Big Mouth Bob's Burgers Bojack Horseman Bravest Warriors Captain N: the Game Master Carmen Sandiego (1994) Carmen Sandiego (2019) Castlevania (Netflix) Cats Don't Dance Coco Courage the Cowardly Dog Craig of the Creek Cyber Six Daria Darkwing Duck Dragon Booster Dragons: Riders of Berk DuckTales (2017) Exo-Squad Fern Gully Fillmore! Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends Futurama Gargoyles Glitch Techs Godzilla: The Animated Series Green Lantern the Animated Series Hedgehog in the Fog (Ёжик в тумане) Hey Arnold Hilda Infinity Train Iron Giant JEM Kim Possible Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts Legend of Zelda animated series (1989) Legion of Super-Heroes Liberty Kids Magical Girl Friendship Squad Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart The Legend of Korra Moominvalley Motorcity My Little Pony (Classic, NOT FiM) My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Onyx Equinox Over the Garden Wall Over the Moon (2020 film) Owl House Primal Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Redwall Rise of the TMNT Roco's Modern Life Rugrats RWBY Samurai Jack Seis Manos She-Ra (1985) She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018) Sonic Boom Spartakus and the Sun Beneath the Sea Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse Star vs. the Forces of Evil Strange Magic Super Mario Brothers Super Show Superman: The Animated Series Teen Titans The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo The Animals of Farthing Wood The Dragon Prince The Hollow The Legend of Tarzan (TV series) The Magic School Bus (1994) The Mysterious Cities of Gold The Pirate Fairy (Disney Fairies) The Powerpuff Girls (1998) The Real Ghostbusters Thundercats (1985) Thundercats (2011) Transformers: Prime Tuca and Bertie Twelve Forever Undone Venture Bros Wakko's Wish Wakfu Wander Over Yonder We Bare Bears (TV) Winx Club Wreck-It Ralph (2012) X-Men Evolution X-Men: The Animated Series Xiaolin Showdown

Live Action

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 28 Days Later 3rd Rock from the Sun A Series of Unfortunate Events American Horror Story: Asylum Babysitter's Club (2020) Batman (the old Adam West version) Better Call Saul Black Mirror Blackbeard's Ghost (Peter Ustinov) Boston Legal Boy Meets World Boys Over Flowers Bromance (Taiwanese tv series) Brooklyn 99 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cadfael Cagney and Lacey Charmed (2018) Chopped Cleopatra 2525 Cloak and Dagger Clue (1985) Community Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Dead Like Me Dead To Me Deadwood Death Note (Netflix) Derry Girls Dimension 20 - The Unsleeping City Doctor Who (New) Doom Patrol Dracula's Daughter (1936) Escape to the Chateau Farscape Fingersmith Galavant Godzilla (2014) Gokushufudo (2020 Japanese TV drama) Golden Girls Good Omens H20: Just Add Water (somewhere in seasons 1-2) Happy New Year Harley Quinn movie Hateblog a REALLY STRAIGHT soap opera. Haunting of Bly Manor His Dark Materials (HBO series) Holes Hot Fuzz House Inception Inside No. 9 Iron Chef America Joan of Arcadia Julie and the Phantoms Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Kamen Rider Build Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Kamen Rider Fourze Killing Eve Knives Out Letterkenny Leverage Little Women (2019) Lucifer Matlock Majisuka Gakuen MASH Merlin Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol Money Talks (1997 film) Motherland: Fort Salem Murder She Wrote Mythbusters Nailed It! Never Have I Ever Once Upon a Time Orphan Black Pen 15 PGSM Pi (1998) Picnic at Hanging Rock (2018) Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical Puppy Bowl Pushing Daisies Rome (hateblog) Russian Doll Sabrina Sense8 Sera Myu: Un Nouveau Voyage Shameless Sierra Burgess Smallville So Weird Star Trek: TOS (or their films) Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Star Trek: Voyager Stargate Atlantis Suckerpunch Supernatural (out of context speedrun the last three episodes) Sweetheart Switched at Birth Tall Girl Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles The Addams Family (1964) The Big Flower Fight The Booth at the End The Bride With White Hair The Crown The Fresh Prince of Bel Air The Good Place The Kissing Booth The L Word The Librarians The Magicians The Muppet Show The Pregnancy Pact The Room The Steve Harvey Show The Stranded The Untamed The Witcher The Wolfman (1941) Torchwood Twilight Zone (original) Twin Peaks Ultraman Nexus Umbrella Academy Van Helsing Warehouse 13 Warrior Nun What We Do In The Shadows (tv show) Will & Grace Wynonna Earp X-Men 2: X-Men United Xena: Warrior Princess

Miscellaneous

Alpha Flight #41-62 Anime music dance party, the logistics of which are to be determined! Ask Hot Pocket and/or Mina-pup AskSharknado: Giftening Edition Attempt to make French macaroons Commentary on old Goggles Critical Role Crowdsourced: A Black Mirror-style day where Jetty has to ask what her choices are of the audience for everything! I give you a menu, you decide what she has for dinner? What does she wear? Does she walk on the track or do the eliptical? Does she go to a movie with Doc or play a video game with Mike? Can be done alongside other stuff. Doodle Day Dramatic readings of fan fiction! Drunk History (or whatever your favorite subject would be) with Jet Wolf! Drunk Sailor Moon Exorcising Closet Ghost Fic Prompts Day Figuarts Day! (Not specifically freeing anyone, just various fun poses and such) Guess the plot of a show based on its opening Her Shim-Cheong (manhwa) House of X/Powers of X Hubby's Choice IDW Jem comics liveblog Intros Only (watch show openings, give commentary, guess what show is about, etc.) Jackbox Games Jet Wolf paints along with Bob Ross Jet and Doc go to Heaven/Hell, respectively: Jet gets to write reams of words about the awesomeness of Rei Hino and Doc has to read all of them and say ONLY NICE THINGS. Jet does Tiktok dances Jet Liveblogs Holligay: A Nature Documentary Jet Ranks Sailor Moon Image Songs Jet Reads Goosebumps Jet Reads Legion of Super-Heroes Jet redesigns the Wolf and Gay offices! Jet shows off her knitting Jet Wolf attempts to recreate scenes from Sailor Moon with Mina and Hot Pocket and/or whatever is in the house Jet Wolf reacts to Sailor Moon tiktoks (in blog form) Jet Wolf reads Love and Rockets. Jet Wolf reads the Jem comics by IDW Jet Wolf reviews her old top 100 Sailor Moon moments list Jet Wolf talks about Archie Comics Jet Wolf talks about each cel she owns and why they are so awesome. Jet Wolf writes Poetry Jet Wolf's Top 5's Jet, Hubby and/or family play board games Jetty Rants and Raves Jet Wolf tries to crack the Gravity Falls Codes Kiwi Blitz on Hiveworks Let's Play on Webtoon Liveblog: Favorite X-Men comic book arcs Livestream Pathfinder one-shot LOONA (Collection of music videos with an ongoing story/universe about GIRLS who are FRIENDS and SAVE THE UNIVERSE) Lore Olympus on Webtoon Mike regales us with "the story of your love" while you get increasingly embarrassed Mina and Hot Pocket day - liveblog like a nature documentary Mister Tsukino Does His Taxes and the Household Budget (Sailor Moon fan comic by Shadowjack) Nancy Drew: Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake Not So Shoujo Love Story on Webtoon Pitch Mishaps for Untitled Senshi Game (it is a lovely day in Juuban, and you are a Horrible Minako.) Pitching hubby's favorite media at (readers/holligay/jill/momigay) Playing with dolls (because how could 3 women not have any dolls between them) Re-Take By Studio Kimigabuchi (All Ages Version) Real or Fake Anime (people submit descriptions of anime you guess if it is an anime that actually exists or not) Reviewing succulents Scavenger hunt! Not entirely sure how it would work, maybe folks could send in asks for you to show things like your favorite Rei Hino object, or the thing that's been with you the longest, etc. sewing/knitting/baking tutorial Share or rant about a Roman history topic Sleepless Domain on Hiveworks Talking to Docholligay 2: Doc Harder (basically you talking to Doc's future womb evictee while still in there and telling them stuff like say the greatness of Rei Hino) The Monster Duchess and Contract Princess (manhwa) The Polar Bear Plunge--I take Jetty to our finest Lake Elmo in January, and she jumps in! Note: THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS, WORRYWARTS. I'll bring a life preserver, I've done it before, and I would do it with her if I weren't pregnant. The Senshi Helpline--The Senshi, taking your advice questions, here and now! The World of Moral Reversal Virtual knitting/crafting circle! Let us craft and chat with you! What-If #24 Gwen Stacy Lived Worm the web serial Write an explanation for a drawing we send you! Yuri Hell's Kitchen

[rhinkthreeways]

Manbun (angsty version)

This is a Never Met Before Au, college!rhink with a twist. 

(drug use mentioned briefly)

(note: Aspen is Rhett, he’s just changed his name because this Rhett totally would...)

---

From the first moment, Link laid eyes on his college roommate he hated the guy with a fiery passion. Everything about Aspen—who the hell named their child Aspen?!—made Link either roll his eyes or brought his blood to a simmering boil.

Link considered himself a modern man. He’d grown up in the South, yes, but he was educated and open-minded. Even though someone might consider him a bit high-strung, he’d had a nice, little group of friends in high school and had even moved to L.A. to pursue a degree in film studies. Not an intolerant red-neck hick by anyone’s standards. But Aspen was way more than he could handle. 

It was clear from the beginning, that they were different. The other side of the room was filled with all kinds of new-age stuff—crystals, amulets, dream catchers, and psychedelic tapestries. The first night they shared the room, Aspen lit a wooden stick that made the whole room smell like something that to Link was a gag-inducing mix of old socks and something sickly sweet. When Link politely asked him to put it out, his roommate refused on the grounds that he needed to “purify” the room from the energies of the previous residents. After a heated argument, Link spent his first night as a college student on the common room couch.  

Their shared existence got even worse from then on. Link had no idea what Aspen was studying since it seemed that he didn’t own any textbooks. He was practically always in their room. Link asked him once whether he attended any lectures and was accosted with a half-an-hour monologue about the beauty of independent study and self-discovery and college being first and foremost a social experience. And Aspen was definitely social; he had a group of like-minded friends he had over almost every night. They listened to music—not that Link would call it music; it was more like chest-pounding beats and incomprehensible mumbling and chants—and more often than not, got high. After a couple of what Aspen called “bursts of negative energy he could help Link get rid of if Link just let him cleanse his heart chakra”, Link invested into a nice pair of noise-canceling headphones and tried to spend most of his nights in the library or in a cafe.  

The worst part, by a long shot, was how Aspen looked. He was impossibly tall, a head taller than Link and Link wasn’t exactly a pip-squeak himself. He had bushy eyebrows and mossy-green eyes that always looked at Link with rage-inducing amusement. His long, curly hair was usually pulled on top of his head into a man bun, and he was clearly trying to grow a beard—with not that much success. And his wardrobe? When he left the room he wore tie-dyed shirts and weird loose pants made of colorful, shiny fabrics. He wrapped multiple scarfs around his neck, explaining something about color energies and mood-altering fabrics. His wrists were heavy with bands and woven bracelets and one of his ears was pierced in three places. Inside their room, he opted for something more low-key. When he didn’t parade around the room naked—those were the worst days for poor Link—he wore tight, black boxer briefs and extra-large t-shirts he’d “customized” by ripping them so that they barely covered anything. 

Everything about Aspen made Link uncomfortable. And he thought that things couldn’t get any worse. Until the day when he got back to the dorm from a sit-down with a professor about the essay he’d written. 

Link burst into the room, threw his bag on the floor, and himself on his bed, burrowing his head under his pillow. For once, Aspen was alone in the room even though it was a Friday night.  

“I’m sensing a lot of negative energy radiating from you, Charles,” Aspen noted after a couple of minutes. Link groaned.

“Leave me alone,” he mumbled, without moving the pillow.

“I simply can’t do that. You know how susceptible I am to other people’s moods.”

Link’s disappointment and embarrassment morphed into anger—an easy switch when in the presence of his nut-job roommate. 

“You know what?!” Link snapped, throwing the pillow on the floor and sitting up. “I am not responsible for your feelings! I can be upset. I can feel whatever the fuck I want to feel and it’s not my job to manage my moods to your benefit!”

Aspen rose slowly from his own bed. 

“I simply meant—” he started.

“I simply meant.” Link repeated in a mocking voice. “I know what you simply meant. Relax, Charles. Take a breath, Charles. Have a pot brownie, Charles, live a little!”

Now he was up, standing in the middle of their small room, yelling. “I don’t need to relax! I feel just fucking fine. You need to get a grip! You just lounge here all day long with your buddies and alter your mind as if nothing you do has consequences. And you think, I have to reel in my negative feelings so that you’re not inconvenienced?!”

Aspen’s eyes grew wider and wider as Link spewed out every thought that had plagued him ever since they started college.

“I’ve had enough of this shit! I am a good person! You look at me like I’m the freak! But I am a normal, goddamn person. I am respectful and punctual and dutiful and kind. And I am more than devoted to my studies! I am a fucking model student for Christ’s sake! And he said I have no soul!”

Link drew in a ragged breath and stared at Aspen in horror. He hadn’t actually meant to say that last bit.

“What?” Aspen asked hesitantly. Link’s head dropped between his shoulders and he slammed his palms over his eyes, trying desperately to push back the tears that threatened to overflow.

“H-he said— Professor McIntyre s-said my essay had no soul. That I sounded like a textbook. That I was boring and robotic. But I-I’ve— Fuck!” There was no stopping the tears anymore. A pathetic, whimpering sob wracked Link’s body and he almost felt nauseous from the embarrassment.

“Hey,” Aspen’s low voice said from much closer than Link had anticipated. Long, surprisingly strong arms wrapped around Link and guided his pliant, trembling body to sit on the bed. Link couldn’t help himself. Aspen was so warm. So big and solid. Link curled up in his arms, wrapping himself around him and cried his frustration into his ripped t-shirt. Aspen pet his hair slowly for a little while. Then he slipped his finger under Link’s chin and lifted it so he could look right into Link’s teary eyes.

“I don’t think you’re boring. Far from it. I think you’re fascinating. I think you’re smart and funny—in a kind of sarcastic way. I do think you are a bit reserved, but that’s fine. Not everyone has to be the life of the party. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

Link stared at him, stared at the kind and earnest eyes and something shifted inside him. Without thinking about it, he reached up and pressed his lips softly against Aspen’s. After a moment of pure terror, thinking that he was about to be rejected, Link felt Aspen’s mouth open slightly in invitation. Link’s tongue slipped past his own lips, tasting Aspen’s berry lip balm before meeting his tongue with a sweeping brush. There was a low moan. Link wasn’t sure which one of them had made it, but he didn’t care. His hand rose to Aspen’s hair, pulling off the hair-band that was holding his bun together. Aspen’s hair billowed around his face and Link threaded his fingers into it, tugging him closer.

“Can’t deal with this goddamn bun of yours,” he whispered breathlessly against Aspen’s lips. “It’s been driving me insane ever since we met.”

“I’ll cut it off if it means I get to keep kissing you,” Aspen answered, voice just as affected, his palm sneaking under Link’s shirt and palming his bare back.

“Please, don’t,” Link muttered, before diving into another kiss, this one more heated.

[ingoldentent]

Happy New Year, Spirale!

Very soon, it will be 12:00 at night. In other words, 24:00.

When you think about it, isn’t 24:00 a strange time? ...It can be called 24:00, and it can also be called 00:00. It’s the hour at the culmination of the previous day, ...and at the same time, it is hour zero as the next day begins.

And tonight, that time would be even stranger, for it’s almost 24:00 of December 31st, 2019. But when that time comes, it won’t be December, or 2019, anymore. It’ll be 00:00 of Januray 1st, 2020. The next day, the next year, the next decade are about to begin.

When there is only about 5 minutes left to midnight, a small cloud of golden butterflies can be seen flying up to the sky. For most citizens, the identity of the one creating them should be at least superficially familiar.

In a seamless manner, Battler Ushiromiya materializes himself up in the skies of Spirale City. On his hands, he carries a microphone, and to his sides, Beatrice’s iconic shoulder towers float up - however, rather than artillery, they only carry a bunch of sound boxes in them.

“Goooood evening, people of Spirale!!” He shouts, the sound boxes making it so the whole city should be able of hearing him. From the height he is, though, it shouldn’t carry that obnoxiously loud sound microphones might produce when turned on.

“I hope you’re all ready to end 2019 with a bang! ...Dang, what a year this was, huh? We got to experience life as ‘normal’ humans in a ‘normal’ city...” He makes air quotes at those words. “We dealt with an asshole cat god and his balloons, we saw the world end and turn into a fantasy MMORPG, we had a summer festival, we were given some chill time at a happy dream world, we faced ever changing apocalypses, we had a winter festival and we even had an episode of musical bodies!”

Whew, that truly was a lot. And this is only considering the major city developments. Who knows what sorts of plots and changes the people here went through, be it for better or worse? Battler knows his own, and everyone else knows theirs.

“...Now, I know what some of you might be thinking right now. ‘All of that in a year? That was hell! And next year there will be only more hell!’ And honestly, I don’t blame at all the people who hate this place. Heck, I’ve my fair share of complaints about Spirale too! But unfortunately, the power to leave this place is beyond everyone here, which means that we can only count on ourselves and each other to survive here.”

“...So rely on each other. Don’t try keeping your burdens to yourselves. Make it so, in this upcoming year, you strive to become better people than you are today. If you can’t do it by the end of next year, it’s ok. Your efforts are worthy by themselves. But we, as Humans and Witches and demons and ghosts and robots and Pokémon and whatever other species that lives on this island, can do much more when we work together. We can surpass any pain together. ...I believe in all of you. And I hope you’ll believe in yourselves and each other.”

A couple seconds of silence later... “Buuut enough of me giving out pep talks! It’s almost midnight, and there is one thing that I know you’re all anxious for!” He looks at his wristwatch. Yup, it’s 23:59. “Time to start the festivities! Soundboxes...” He snaps his fingers. “ON!”

Upon his words, an upbeat melody would begin playing at exactly 47 seconds before midnight. This is the only sound the following firework show will generate, for there is no need to create loud explosions sounds tonight.

It begins with what seems like gentle ripples in the sky. To the beat of the song, as if the sky was one of those soundboards with colored bars, several small wave patterns begin to spread in the sky, of all different colors imaginable.

The first bell sound plays, and with that the first firework proper illuminates in the sky. The waves’ intensity increases, as more beats are added up in the song. And once what seems to be the main melody kicks in, fireworks of numbers begin to appear in the sky, marking the final seconds of the decade, with each number being bigger than the last.

10... 9... 8...

7... 6...

5... 4...

3...

2...

1...

“<HAPPY NEW YEAAAAAR!!!!>”

Several fireworks appear at once. They spell, in quite legible numbers...

‘2020′.

That is it! The old year is officially over! But this party... is only beginning.

As more fireworks begin to pop in the sky, in a beautiful spectacle of colors, golden butterflies begin dropping down on the streets. Soon they coalesce... into animals? Well, not real animals. They are animals made of firework, you could say. And not just animals. From humanoid figures to silhouettes resembling inanimate objects, several firework beings roamed the streets of Spirale, with one goal and one goal only...

Dance to the kickass beat of the 1:14 mark in the song!!

And the citizens don’t have to stand still. On the contrary, the firework folks, with all their bright colors and cheerful disposition, invite folks to dance alongside them, although they won’t force anyone to follow along. Some prefer staying quiet, that is fair.

The show in the sky isn’t lacking either. Fireworks keep popping up, now far more than just spark shaped. Some shapes begin to form, at first simple geometrical patterns like triangles and circles and squares, then a bit more complex stuff like hearts and stars.

They get progressively more detailed, so by now you get photorealistic roses and butterflies and cookies. You’ve got dogs and cats and birds and rats. There are even faces of some citizens Battler is familiar with in the sky! Obviously he doesn’t know everyone in the city, so not everyone is there, and some people wouldn’t authorize their faces to be exhibited like this, but if you wouldn’t mind having the whole city see your face... maybe you’re there!

Once 2 minutes and 11 seconds have passed, the firework entities begin changing their dancing style. Alongside that, two noodle like streams of firework energy begin to sprout from Battler’s arms. It’s a number he actually pulled off last year, but in a much bigger scale, due to the much bigger crowd, plus a couple tweaks here and there at the presentation.

The streams fall close to ground level, then proceed to gain details. They’re two Chinese dragons, one golden with red details, the other silver with blue details. At first, the dragons float around the streets in a slow pace, simply bobbing to the song’s beat. In their trail, smaller fireworks appear and come to life, bobbing along to the beat.

At the return of the main melody at the 2:39 mark, their movements become faster, as they release harmless fire from their mouths. They zig zag the streets in astonishing speed, yet with enough precision and speed not to hit a single person at the crowd. They form beautiful patterns with their flight trail, which lasts a few seconds after their passage.

They also come close to each other, and with the same grace as usual, they dodge each other with absolute perfection. It’s a harmonic dance, one that keeps speeding up as the song’s momentum increases.

At 3:06, they ascend to the sky. Without the risk at hitting people, they take on more complex, riskier patterns in their flight, forming knots and untangling, passing by firework rings, forming rings with their own fire for each other to pass by.

And once the violin hits its climatic notes, they ascend higher and higher in the sky, flying in perfect parallel to each other. A trail of gold and silver dust falls gently over the city during this flight. And at 3:20...

They burst on each other, all by the sorcerer’s command. For a brief moment, it’s as if the sun has emerged prematurely - a sun that shines with its light decomposed into all the colors of the rainbow, that is. Once the night sky returns to normal, there are still fireworks appearing, but their frequency is diminished, as per the less frequent song beat. The firework beings also seem to act slower and slower... By 3:54, they are immobile.

And then we return to the initial soundboard like colored ripples in the sky. As this phase occurs, a change begins to occur to the firework beings. See, he feels like he should make this presentation more tone fitting to 2020 specifically. He isn’t a clairvoyant, though, so he has to work with things that are absolutely certain about this new year.

And after pondering a lot about this during the show’s planning phase, one simple solution came to mind - it’s the Year of the Rat! Therefore, now every single firework being has been turned... into firework rats!! Rats of all sizes and colors are now standing at the streets of Spirale City...

The hard beat soon returns at 4:22, and at the signal, all the firework rats begin doing the crab rave dance, to the energetic tone permeating the city. Once again, the citizens are invited to join their ranks, perhaps to pull off innovative dance numbers of their own!

Their dance goes on a crescendo as the main melody returns, jumping and squeaking happily in a rat parade in the streets. There is now colored lighting of unseen sources bathing the streets, making them look like a rave. They don’t flash, though. No need to cause epileptic attacks with this. They calm down a bit by 5:03, just bobbing in place to the tune as the next part of the show begins.

By 5:30, normal fireworks appear once again in the sky. This time, besides repeating the pattern of simple sparks to simple figures and then those figures growing in complexity, there is an abundance of rat fireworks. Besides realistic looking rats, there are also fireworks of Pokémon that look like fireworks, creatures that he has seen during his time back in the old city (sorry, Morpeko, that excludes you).

Golden butterflies go around the streets providing people with glowsticks. They should disappear once this party is over, but until then, the citizens can keep up with the rave mood. For those who want it, the golden butterflies can also turn into those discardable water cups, or in glasses of champagne. Again, they should all disappear once the party is over. He is an ecofriendly witch, after all!

The song hits the 6:27 mark, and with that the rats turn back into a more varied range of firework beings. Now, Battler summons two orbs on his hands, one of dark energy and one of light energy. He combines the two, and the result is something akin to one of those disco globes.

The globe is covered in a checkered pattern. From the white squares, rays of white light fall down the city, and from the black squares, a veil of darkness covers it instead. Just like in disco, the globe spins around slowly, intercalating the areas covered in light or darkness. It creates the perfect environment to keep everyone’s spirits up and dancing while the show keeps going.

At last, it is time for the grand finale. At the 6:55 mark, the firework entities dissolve into golden butterflies, which then proceed to move towards the city’s center. They fly en masse, under the growing beat of the song, all concentrating at the hole. A couple stay around the streets, glowing with colors that change to the beat, but the big bulk is now hovering above the central hole.

The fireworks continue to pop on the sky during this mass migration. For those too far from the hole to see it in person, the remaining butterflies tune closeby TVs into showing the proceedings. Once enough butterflies are concentrated over the hole, they begin flying up in an ascending spiral, while a pillar of golden light begins to form inside said spiral.

Soon, the butterflies’ spiral reach Battler’s height, which means he is now also inside the pillar of light. Just in time, as the 7:22 cue comes, causing the butterflies’ flight pattern to change from a simple ascension to a wave-like up and down beat. The light pillar reaches the globe, intensifying its pattern spread so that, rather than a slow spin, it’s now switching each tile from light to dark to light according to the song’s beat.

All of these lights are probably a bit too dizzy for some citizens, so he diminishes their intensity for everyone’s comfort. All except the pillar of light, which is now oscillating itself like a sound record being played live. Meanwhile, the fireworks become bigger and bigger in their size, showing even more complex images like famous landscapes of the city, like the Beach, Savior’s Respite, the main Fibonacci buildings and the Lake of Koi.

As the song hits its climax once again, the fireworks coalesce into even bigger pictures, until, at last, there is a full upside down replica of Spirale City made entirely of fireworks over the real deal. The light pillar and the butterfly spiral, on the other hand, are vibrating frenetically, about to collapse into nothingness at any moment...!

And then... they do. At 7:36, the globe stops spinning. The firework city is undone, turning instead into a firework cascade that gently falls over the citizens, but it dissolves high enough that it has no chance at hurting anyone. Likewise, the light pillar and the butterflies combine into a wave of magical energy that spreads throughout the city, with no other effect besides being bright and pretty.

The cascade’s beautiful colors, whose spectrum covers beyond the expected in the rainbow, is truly magnificent. And when combined with the magical wave... it’s like the whole city has, for a single moment, been transported to an otherworldly place, where magic and fantasy reign supreme.

By the 8:11 mark, the music attempts to build itself up once again, but Battler is cutting its energetic attempts short. All remaining butterflies in the city are called back to his body, and all the water cups, all the champagne glasses, all the glow sticks begin turning back into golden butterflies, providing the city with a final beautiful image of the golden butterflies flying up in the sky.

The flight of the butterflies is marked by the constant beat of the song, just like the soundboard ripples in the sky do. Those who still have some energy left in them might keep dancing, thinking that perhaps there will be yet another number that Battler will pull for this show.

And yet... the song ends. In an instant, the butterflies, the cascade, any trait of the magical firework show disappear. And with it, the Endless Sorcerer brings an end to the spectacle. ...What an ironic thing, no?

[spongeguyandlelouchvibridankia]

Karmiro Week 2k19 Day 1: “Missing Him/Missing Her”

I made this fanfic as quickly as possible! Happy Karmiro week!

Day 1: Confession/Future

It was a beautiful spring day in San Fransokyo, and Hiro Hamada was approaching the train station by way of Shimamoto street.

 To most, this was a normal sight: A 14 year old child prodigy with black as graphite bangs and a tooth gap that made all the girls squeal.

 Quite why they did that still boggled Hiro, but there were some things even a child prodigy couldn’t figure out.

 Girls, am I right?

 Oh, yeah, sorry.

 Anyway, Hiro was walking down the street, looking a little chipper than he had in a few months.

 6 months to be exact.

 6 months, 4 days, 4 hours and 23 minutes, to be precise.

 Not that he was keeping track.

 Not that he had been keeping so much track that Go Go had to put the power dex on to wrestle him out there one night.

 Ahem.

 Moving on.

 The sky was clear, but Hiro’s thoughts were not.

 This was a normal occurrence, as an SFIT Student/Superhero/Teenager, but Hiro had, for once, different thoughts on his mind.

 He would have LOVED to be focused on villains, homework and what he was going to do Friday night.

 But…

 She was coming back.

 SHE was coming back.

 She was coming BACK.

 Granted, for a short visit of a weekend, but…

 SHE.

 WAS.

 COMING.

 BACK.

 And…

 “Your heartbeat is growing in a rapid state and your hormones levels are rising…”

 Ah, I knew I forgot something. I guess I’m just used to him being there, I forgot to mention him.

 It’s kind of obvious, no?

 …

 What do you mean it isn’t? He’s always there!

 Whatever, just let me finish the story! Jeez, everyone’s a critic!

 “Baymax, not the time!”, Hiro said, his head turning left and right, hoping no one overheard the medical analysis.

 “I diagnose you with… Happiness. But… A sad happiness.”

 Great, he was doing the finger pointing thing. That usually meant he was right.

 “…Look, buddy, I’m just trying to find the station, ok?”

 Hiro was approaching it now, but his mind was such a mess that he had nearly taken the wrong turn.

 “I’m not usually like this…”, he thought, not liking this lack of control.

 Hiro was used to being totally in control.

 With a push of some keys and the writing of some programs, he could upgrade Big Hero 6’s armor just like that.

 Give him a few nights and a couple dozen bags of gummy bears, and he could build incredible nano technology.

 Even at the worst of situations, a good plan and Tadashi’s guidance was all Hiro needed to keep San Fransokyo safe.

 But if there was one thing Hiro didn’t know how to control, it was his emotions.

 And right now, they were running in every single direction, driving him insane.

 Feelings of loss, longing, reunion, excitement, dread, joy, despair, anger, solitude, hope and even…

 Wait, no, not that, definitely not that!

 But whatever it was, it was making Hiro’s heart practically leap out of his chest as he neared the station, his brain constantly going “Any minute you’re going to see her!” “Any moment you’re going to see her arrive!” “ANY MOMENT, HIRO, WATCH OUT FOR THAT…”

 BONK!

 …That lamp post.

 Hiro fell to the ground and rubbed his nose.

 He felt embarrassed already, and she hadn’t even showed up yet.

 Great. Now his face was even redder.

 This couldn’t get…

 “You have fallen.”

 Never mind.

 “On a scale of 1-10, how would you…”

 Hiro clambered up, getting his balance back.

 “Buddy, seriously, not now. She’s almost here and… You know what? Can you give us some time alone?”

 Hiro didn’t like sidelining Baymax, but this was sort of a personal and private affair.

 He did NOT need Baymax to spout out some puberty stuff.

 Though it could make her laugh.

 …God how he had missed that laugh.

 He had heard it here and there on the webcam conversations, but he wanted to hear it face to face.

 Her face.

 Her incredible face…

 No. No.

 Stay focused.

 “If it improves your condition, I will gladly move aside, Hiro.”

 Hiro couldn’t help but smile at that.

 “…Thanks, Baymax.”

 Baymax was a machine, so he couldn’t truly express emotion, but Hiro swore he heard affection in the words “Always, Hiro.”

But Hiro had to think of other things now.

 Like how she’s almost here.

 She’s almost here.

 She’s almost here.

 She’s almost…

 The sound of train tracks click clacking reverberated in his ears as a bullet train sped down, so fast it was that Hiro could barely register it.

 But he saw the number on the door.

 He had memorized that number: 99.

 He could say it in his sleep.

 According to Honey Lemon, he had said it in his sleep once during one of the gang’s sleepovers, so that wasn’t an exaggeration.

 So there!

 I guess.

 “…”

 Hiro didn’t even know what to say, his heart beating so hard he could barely hear the doors open.

 His mouth felt dry and his breath short.

 Would she look different?

 Would she sound different?

 Would she… Be different?

 Would she smile?

 Frown?

 Would…

 Did…

 Did she miss him?

 As much as he had missed her?

 Hiro had been kidnapped by supervillians, yet this was somehow scarier.

 After what felt like an eternity, she stepped out.

 She looked the same, but there was some clear dampness on her cheeks.

 She had been crying.

 Her eyes hadn’t located him yet, a crowd of people still blocking him from her sight.

 She was also looking to the wrong direction, left, then right, searching…

 For him?

 He hoped.

 Suddenly, her eyes locked with his.

 His eyes locked with her, how could they not, what else was there to look at?

 They locked eyes with each other…

 And…

 “HIRO!”, Karmi screamed with joy, practically running at the robotics expert.

 Hiro smiled, but for some reason, what had been a shy smile turned cocky…

 Odd.

 Karmi leapt at his feet, tears of joy running down. “I’VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH, MY DARLING!”

 Her voice was different, almost like she was being voiced by someone else.

 And it wasn’t just Karmi’s voice that was different: Her whole body seemed to turn small, cute and anime esque.

 What’s the term? Chibi! Yes, that!

 Hiro was also different, adopting massive abs and a cleft in his chin.

 He was also 12 foot tall.

 So there was that.

 “Oh, hey Karmi. Didn’t see you there.”, he said, his long flowing locks blowing in the wind.

 Kamri, heats in her eyes, leapt up to his face excitedly, a wild and loving grin on her face.

 “Oh, Hiro! All this time away from you made me realize how much I love you, you gorgeous, genius hunk you!”

 She fawned over him, her giant eyelashes batting.

 “You’re so smart and hot and cool and kind! Even Tadashi is proud of you!”

 Karmi then held his face in her hands, magic in her voice.

 “I LOVE YOU, HIRO HAMADA!”

 She then planted a huge kiss on his lips, and there was a parade of musicians, and it rained gummy bears, and everyone agreed that there was no one like Hiro, and Professor Granvile did the cha cha cha.

 “And that’s how your mother and I got together!”, an older, now grown up Hiro proudly announced, sinking back in his chair.

 He was still dressed about the same, but his hair was a bit longer, his body more defined, and he had a Big Hero 6 jacket on his shoulders.

 But that twinkle was still there.

 It would never leave.

 “Daddy, did that really happen? It sounds kind of… Wrong.”

 A little girl, Tamashii, with a ponytail and an adorable tooth gap, wearing a T-Shirt with Big Hero 6’s members on it, sat on the floor and gave her father a quizzical look.

 SURELY none of that had happened!

 Hiro smiled that smug grin of his and lifted his leg over another, not noticing the figure approaching him.

 “Oh, it SO did happen, my koibito.”

 “Oh, really?”

 Standing over Hiro, towering over him as ever, was Karmi.

 A taller, even higher Karmi, with her hair down and her lab coat confidently placed on her shoulders.

 She looked most the same, but there was peace in her heart, something she so sorely lacked in the past.

 She was also better at taking jokes, as she smiled at Hiro with a questioning grin.

 Hiro sheepishly smiled back. “Oh, Karmi! I didn’t see you there!”

 He pointed at Tamashii, who was enjoying the entertainment before her.

 “Oh, Tamashii here was just asking me about when we confessed our feelings to each other.”

 Karmi cocked an eyebrow, still taking it all in good humor. “I heard.”

 She then knelt down and playfully ruffled his hair. “But I get the feeling that you’re misremembering some things, Genius boy.”

 Hiro rolled his eyes, a flirtatious grin on his face. “Will you ever stop calling me that?”

 Karmi cockily grinned. “Well… No, since it’s meaning has changed since we first met.”

 She blushed now, and Hiro now smiled at his favorite sight in the world: His wife smiling.

 But he was going to enjoy his joke as much as he could.

 “Well, my light, can you do a better job?”

 “Oh, Hiro…”, Karmi said, pulling him out of the chair and sitting down.

 “I most definitely can!”

 Rewinding!

 The train arrived at the station, and sitting on the seat was a 16 year old bio-tech major with earplugs in her ears and tears running down her eyes.

 …

 6 months, 4 days, 4 hours and 33 minutes.

 Had it been so long ago?

 She was taken advantage of the day before.

 She was turned into a monster the day before.

 She nearly hurt her… Friend the day before.

 But somehow, despite all that, she remembered it with painful fondness.

 How could she not?

 It was the day she got her first real friend.

 And she hadn’t forgotten him.

 She hadn’t forgotten his words.

 His hug.

 His…

 No.

 It couldn’t be that.

 No way!

 …

 And she was definitely not hoping he was so that she could tell him that she definitely felt the same!

 …

 No way!

 Karmi rested her head on the back of her seat, feeling a slight headache.

 “I hate feeling like this.”

 She felt so many things.

 She was sad that she had to leave.

 She was angry that her parents had forced her to.

 She was happy to be back, even for a weekend.

 But mostly, she…

 She missed him.

 She missed him so much.

 She laughed quietly, a fond smile on her face. “I would never have thought I’d feel that in a million years.”

 But it was true.

 The train finally stopped at her station, and Karmi rose out of her seat, trying her best to ignore “Accidentally in Love” ringing in her ears.

 As she saw the doors open, her body entered panic mode.

 What was it going to be like?

 She…

 She had never even had friends, let alone stayed over at their houses!

 She had never had friends to miss, and talk to, and wonder how they were doing, and longingly stare at pictures of them, and wish you could see that precious smile of theirs!

 She had never had that!

 Karmi’s heart pounded like a jackhammer and her eyes darted wildly as she searched for him.

 Where was he?

 Had he forgotten?

 No, he had sent her at text that he was going to the station, he definitely remembered.

 But had he missed the station?

 Had he…

 Had he decided to not come?

 Karmi sighed. “I guess it’s what I deserve.”, she thought as she kept looking for him, only seeing strangers..

 “I never treated him well. Why would he…”

 “KARMI!”, Hiro suddenly screamed, turning Chibi and handing her roses.

 Karmi smiled smugly and accepted them. “Why, thank you, Hiro! It’s pleasant to see you too!”

 “More than pleasant for me, Baby!”, Hiro said, planting a large kiss on her lips and going down on one knee.

 He took her hand and, with his other hand, he retrieved a diamond ring.

 “Karmi… Will you marry me?”

 “THAT did not happen!”

 Hiro now had an annoyed expression on his face, as Karmi innocently smiled back at him.

 “Oh, whatever do you mean, Hiro?”

 She was using that sing songy voice. Hiro didn’t like that!

 “Karmi, you know that I didn’t propose then!”

 Tamashii laughed, enjoying her parents silliness, but she was getting impatient.

 “Mommy, Daddy, why can’t you just tell me the real story?”

 Hiro and Karmi looked back at their daughter and laughed nervously.

 Perhaps they should just tell her the real story.

 “Sorry, Tamashii, Mommy and Daddy just like messing with each other.”, Karmi apologized.

 Hiro laughed. “It took us a long time to actually realize we should just be friends.”

 Karmi lifted Tamashii and kissed her on the forehead, making the girl giggle, and she then placed her on the now seated Hiro.

 Positioned on Hiro’s lap, and staring directly into her mother’s sparkling eyes, Tamashii once again asked how it had happened.

 Hiro and Karmi exchanged blushed looks.

 It was a little different to their previous stories, to say the least:

 Just like before, Hiro watched the people leave the train and just like before, Karmi got off and looked around for him.

 Unlike before, they had something to give each other.

 Unlike before, the reunion was… Different.

 “Where is he?”, Karmi thought, searching and searching.

 Hiro couldn’t say anything: His body was still frozen.

 All he could see was her.

 All he could hear was her.

 All he could feel was her.

 Finally, he got enough strength to say “….Karmi…”

 Karmi, hearing this, turned and…

 “…Hiro…”

 They stood in front of each other, hundreds of strangers passing by them, dozens of sounds playing off their ear drums, but all they could notice was each other.

 “…Hey.”

 “…Hey.”

 Ladies and gentleman, writing romance! It’s easy!

 Hiro and Karmi blushed and smiled at each other, Hiro’s hand instinctively rubbing his hair and Karmi’s hands instinctively protecting her body, as if she had to close herself even from him.

 For a while, they couldn’t say anything.

 It was just incredible to them that the other was even there.

 It felt like a dream after the nightmare of the last 6 months.

 He had… Missed her so much.

 She had… Missed him so much.

 “…How was the trip?”

 “…Good. I liked seeing all the buildings out of the train.”

 “Good.”

 “Good.”

 This wasn’t supposed to be this awkward.

 Was there a way to…

 “You must have really missed me, eh Genius boy?”

 There it was!

 Hiro actually laughed this time, though, and it sent Karmi’s heart a fluttering.

 Had he always had such an amazing smile?

 It was a smile that made her feel like…

 Like it would all be ok.

 He was here.

 Hiro stopped laughing and smugly grinned.

 “I see you haven’t changed a bit.”

 “Thank god”, he thought.

 “Still as perfect as ever in your eyes?”, she asked, continuing the banter.

 Hiro shrugged. “That’s a funny way to say pain in the butt.”

 Once, Karmi would have shouted at him for that insult.

 But today, she could see the humor (and lie) in it.

 So she laughed.

 And Hiro wondered how he had ever lived without it.

 As she stopped laughing, she suddenly noticed that Hiro was taking something out of his backpack.

 She quizzically observed him as he looked up at her, a shy and… Scared look on his face?

 That was new.

 He seemed a little reserved as he picked whatever it was up.

 What could it be…

 “I… I kind of… Made you something.”

 …Oh.

 Oh!

 He immediately backed up. “I mean, like, it’s stupid, it’s just a silly gift, it’s not what it, you know, this is stupid, I shouldn’t have…”

 But Karmi had managed to see what it was.

 And oh, did she see.

 Over the time they had known each other, Hiro had done many surprising and frustrating things, but this had to be the height of it: He had managed to somehow make a plushie of Captain Cutie…

 Giving her a rose.

 Specifically, the rose she had made that had helped heal the virus all the way back then.

 Hiro blushed wildly, wondering what insanity had taken over him to do this.

 “Honey Lemon helped me make this, I just thought that I had never really given your invention the credit it deserves, and I know you like cute stuff, so…”

 Karmi took it and, with awe struck eyes, looked back at him.

 “…Thanks.”

 She smiled that smile he so loved.

 And after taking a moment to register that, he smiled back.

 “…You’re welcome.”

 Karmi then looked very flushed as she took her backpack out.

 “Um… This is going to be a little weird, but…”

 Hiro couldn’t help but smile (albeit with a massive blush) as Karmi began to take her present out.

 “Great minds think alike, huh?”

 Karmi couldn’t help but blush at that.

 No one…

 No one had ever been like this to her.

 It felt…

 Nice.

 She finally gave it to him.

 “Is… Is that?…”

 A small robot that looked a bit like Hiro’s bot from his bot fighter days shook his pinky and gleefully showed its gift: A heart locket.

 “…A heart locket?”

 Karmi nodded, now feeling very shy.

 “I… I just thought that… If you feel lonely…”

 She then added quietly “Or if I feel lonely…”

 She looked away, blushing. “You can look at this and remember that my half is safely with me… And that we’ll be able to join them together the next time I visit.”

 Hiro took this all in…

 And he closed his eyes…

 And smiled.

 “…Thanks.”

 “…You’re welcome.”, Karmi said, happy that she did it despite her fears.

 Suddenly, both geniuses realized something:

 “You missed me?”

 And then, they both answered at the same time:

 “…Yeah. I did. Every single day.”

 Emotions took over them, as finally being able to see each other after all this time led to…

 A big, squeezy hug.

 They buried themselves in each other’s light, and, overcome with relief, they gazed at each other.

 Suddenly, the two blushed, realizing they were making a scene and showing…

 Gasp! Affection!

 But…

 That didn’t stop them from doing the next thing.

 Their breaths stopped cold, their hearts stopped cold, and their eyes locked as…

 They kissed.

 It wasn’t perfect. In fact, it was quite the small kiss.

 But as they kissed, all the feelings of longing spilled out, the masks finally off as the two were able for the first time to truly show how they felt about each other.

 As they parted, still feeling each other’s warmth, they grinned.

 “…You better not tell any of your friends that we kissed, Genius boy.”

 “As if I would dream of bragging about such a disgusting thing!”

 They laughed and hugged again, now almost slowly rocking each other.

 “I’ve really missed you, Hiro.”

 “I’ve really missed you too, Karmi.”

 And finally, all was right with the world.

  Later that evening, after Tamashii was put to bed, Hiro was overseeing some upgrades to the gang’s armors.

 There were rumors of Momakase (how was she still out there?) planning a bank robbery too, so he may have to head out.

 The rest of the gang was busy, though, so it seemed like he would be the only one going tonight.

 He and Baymax of course.

 He was feeling a little lonely though.

 It was going to be a long night, one that he would spend in the skies instead of his bed.

 With the love of his life.

 Pretty sucky.

 Karmi suddenly showed up behind him and, her arms around his neck, lifted her part of the heart locket.

 “Feeling lonely?”, she whispered, caressing his face.

 Hiro smiled back and held his part of the locket, connecting the pieces together.

 “…Not anymore.”

 It had been 10 years, 4 months, 8 days, 5 hours and 6 minutes since they had gotten together.

 They didn’t feel lonely anymore.

[vgckwb]

ML: Are They Worthy? Chapter 59: Complicated!/X-Ray

This was it. Today was the day. The Paris Nighthawks are back in school. Each of them with their own worries and concerns. However, Max approached the group and said “Relax. You’ll be fine.”

“I dunno” Carter said. “After how badly we’ve treated people, will people be willing to welcome us with open arms?”

Max nodded. “Trust me. We all make mistakes. I’m sure people will be willing to give you a second chance.”

Carter smiled. “You’re right. Thanks Max. See you later.” The four boys walked off.

Katelyn was still stopped in her tracks. “What’s the matter?” Max asked.

“Huh?” Katelyn said, looking up. “It’s...I dunno.”

“You can talk to me,” Max said. “I’m here for you.”

Katelyn looked scared. “It’s just that, I didn’t have many friends before joining the Nighthawks, and I don’t want to fall into that same trap again.”

Max seemed confused. “How come?”

“Well, I had trouble making friends with other girls because I wasn’t seen as ‘girly’” Katelyn said. “I could make some guy friends, and that’s how I met my ex, but I felt alone. I had leaned on Mitchel for support, but when he left and put himself over me, I got lost. To be honest, I still don’t know if I’ve even found myself.”

Max smiled. “Come here” he gave her a hug. “I can’t imagine how hard it was for you. But you’ll be OK. I’ll introduce you to some of my friends after school. You already know Kim, and you’re in the same class as Ondine. I’m sure you’ll be just fine.”

Katelyn blushed and hugged back. “Thanks” she said. “You’re such a good boyfriend.”

“Ah, yes, well” Max said, letting go, blushing now as well. “We should get to class. See you this afternoon?”

Katelyn nodded. “Of course.” The two walked off to class.

Katelyn got to her homeroom and looked around. It was just as she remembered it. People talking amongst themselves. She was about ready to leave when she noticed Ondine waving at her. Katelyn came up and sat next to her. “Isn’t it great that we get to be classmates?”

“Yeah” Katelyn said.

“What’s wrong?” Ondine asked.

“I’m just worried” Katelyn said. “The last time I was in school, things didn’t go well for me.”

Ondine smiled “Well I’ll be here to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Katelyn smiled back. “Thanks” she said.

Class began. “Hello students” said the teacher. “Before we begin, we have a new student joining us. Katelyn, would you like to introduce yourself?”

Katelyn got up and stood in front of the class. “Hello. My name is Katelyn Martel. I am trying my best to get reacquainted with school, and I hope we can be friends.” Katelyn then noticed someone else in her class. She froze.

She came back down to Earth when Ondine started clapping for her. Then everyone else in class clapped as well. “Thank you Katelyn” the teacher said. Katelyn sat down, and class continued.

As break began, Katelyn tapped on Ondine’s shoulder. “What’s up?”

Katelyn was nervous. “Um could you tell me about her?” she said, pointing at the girl she had eyed before. She had light brown hair, a pink hairband, pink shirt, blue pants, and white shoes.

Ondine looked to where Katelyn was pointing. “Oh her? That’s Jasmine,” Ondine said. “She’s the class rep. Don’t be afraid to talk to her about anything.”

Katelyn grew pale. “Right. Of course…”

“Are you alright?” Ondine asked.

“Fine” Katelyn said. “I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t look so good” Ondine said.

“Katelyn?” said Jasmine, approaching her.

“Gah!” said Katelyn, turning around. There she was. Jasmine. One of the girls who would bully her for not being girly enough. And now she’s class rep, and Ondine even liked her. Maybe this was a bad idea after all. “Water!” she said, running out of the classroom.

I don’t belong here. I don’t belong anywhere. I need to leave. She continued running. “Wait! Max!” she said. She stopped and got out her phone and began texting.

In Ms. Bustier’s class when break began, Vlad approached Max. “Hey, can we talk? You know, JW stuff?”

Max nodded. “Sure thing” he said. The two walked out and found someplace private.

On their way, Max got a text from Katelyn. “Hey, can we talk? NOW!”

Max texted back. “I need to talk with my friend Vlad for a minute. Is that OK?”

Max waited for a response. “Sure” she texted back.

Max smiled. They arrived at someplace private. “So, what’s up?” Max asked.

Vlad looked around nervously. “Any luck on tracking Hawk Moth through the video?”

Max shook his head. “Sorry. Whoever Hawk Moth is, they want to keep it a secret, and know just how to do so.”

“Figures” Vlad said.

“Is that all?” Max asked.

“I guess” Vlad said. “To be honest, I’ve been meeting with Hawk Moth under the cover of night.”

“What?! Why?!” Max asked.

“He asked,” Vlad said. “He needs help.”

“Of course, you’re not going to give him help, right?” Max said. “Because THAT would be INSANE!”

Vlad glanced at Max. “He needs help because Mayura’s miraculous is damaged, and according to the Master, is slowly killing her.”

“Oh…” said Max.

“We have a plan in place to fix it,” Vlad began, “but it’s a tenuous agreement. I’d rather not do it if I don’t have to.”

“It’s OK. I get it” Max said. “I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions.”

Vlad smiled. “It’s fine.”

Meanwhile, Katelyn having just received notice that her boyfriend wasn’t coming right away broke down into tears. “What am I good for anyway?”

In Hawk Moth’s lair, Hawk Moth rose up and said “High school often feels like being a rabbit in a lion’s den. However, if the rabbit could fight back, then things will be alright! Fly away, my little akuma, and evilize her!”

The akuma flew out of Hawk Moth’s lair and into the school, where it fused with Katelyn’s glasses. “X-Ray. I am Hawk Moth. Worried about your own insecurities? I’m giving you the power to see through people and expose THEIR insecurities! All I ask is for Ladybug and Cat Noir’s miraculous.”

“It’s as good as done”Katelyn said before being swallowed by the purple-black aura. She emerged mostly covered in a dark gold robotic-looking armor. Her lower head was exposed, but the top of her head was a green square with a light-blue outline, and her glasses lined up with where they normally would. “Time to make people pay.”

“Katelyn!” said Jasmine, running up to X-Ray. X-Ray turned to her and she became horrified.

“Well well” said X-Ray. “You could see through me and pick apart my insecurities! Now I get to do the same to you!” She then focused her right lens on Jasmine and scanned her. “Oh. You’re afraid people will find out you’re nothing but a bully!”She then used her right arm to shock Jasmine. Jasmine then got insanely scared and ran off. “Sooner or later, you’ll have to tell someone!” she said. “Now, let’s go find someone else.”

“Well, I’ve gotta go meet Katelyn” Max said.

“You mean that girl that beat you at the game tournament?” Vlad said.

“Yeah. We’re kind of dating now” Max said, blushing.

Vlad smirked. “You gotta introduce us sometime” he said.

“Sure. How about after school?” Max said.

“Sounds good” Vlad said. The two started to leave. However, they noticed a student panicking and running through the hall. Vlad stopped them. “Woah! Slow down. What seems to be the problem?”

The student was clearly afraid. But instead of saying that there was some crazy robot lady running around, he blurted out “I still sleep with my teddy bear from when I was three!”

Vlad and Max looked confused. “OK…?” Vlad said.

“It’s why I can’t have a sleepover” he said. “Or go to one! I’m afraid people will make fun of me.”

“Why are you telling us this?” Max asked. They heard an electrical discharge. “Maybe that’s the answer.”

“Let’s check it out!” Vlad said. They left the student on his own and ran toward the electricity.

Meanwhile, X-Ray continued to scan and shock people into being so afraid that they let their secrets burst out. “I can’t tell my boyfriend I’m a vegetarian.”

“I’m in love with my best friend’s girlfriend.”

“My friends all think I’m 5’7”, but really I’m 5’4” and just wear shoes that make me look taller.”

“I broke up with my ex because my mom told me to.”

X-Ray was loving this. Exposing all of the pettiness and deceit. It was magnificent for her. However, she didn’t shock anyone whose insecurities were actually serious. She kept them, and moved on.

She walked into her classroom. “Hello Ondine” she said.

“Katelyn!” Ondine said, in shock and horror.

“It’s X-Ray now!” she said. She scanned Ondine with her left lens. X-Ray then froze and started breathing heavily. She read what it said when she scanned her. “I know I marched in the parade, but I’m still kind of afraid that people would not like me if they found out I’m trans.”

X-Ray stood still for a few seconds. She then sighed and walked out of the classroom. Ondine was confused. “Let’s find someone else!” X-Ray said.

Vlad and Max found X-Ray. “An akuma!” Vlad said. He ran off.

Max continued to look on. “Katelyn?” he said. He rushed over to her. “KATELYN!” he shouted.

X-Ray looked at Max. “Ah Max” she said. “Let’s have a look at you.” She scanned Max with her right lens and then also stopped. Max’s insecurity reading read “Have I been a bad boyfriend for letting this happen?” X-Ray didn’t unleash her lightning on Max Either.

“Halt!” said Ladybug, joining the scene with Cat Noir, Judgement Wolf, Rena Rouge, Carapace, and Honey Bee.

“Ah Ladybug. Just who I wanted to see. Hand over your miraculous!” X-Ray said.

“Never!” Ladybug refuted.

“Very well” X-Ray said. She tried to scan the group of superheroes, but her screen read “Error: Overloaded. Please Unleash Energy.” “What?!” she said. “Hawk Moth! Explain!”

Hawk Moth told her “I gave you the powers to punish everyone! You’re holding back too much. Unleash your anger!”

“But, those people don’t deserve it!” X-Ray said.

Hawk Moth looked sternly. “Very well, if you aren’t angry enough to punish everyone, then I’ll just take away your powers.”

“NO!” X-Ray said. “Some people deserve it!”

“Then unleash your anger!” Hawk Moth demanded.

X-Ray struggled. The next two people she had to shock were two of the people that were the nicest to her. She couldn’t betray them. But at the same time, she felt betrayed by the world around her. A world she felt would let go of her in an instant. She wanted the power to fight back against that.

“GAH!” she screamed in agony. Suddenly, bolts of lightning ran out from her arms randomly.

“What’s going on?” Cat Noir asked. “She was talking about not wanting to attack some people, and now this.”

“Her powers are overloading!” Ladybug said. “She can’t control them anymore!” A lightning bolt struck near the heroes.

“This is our chance!” Rena said.

“Wait!” Carapace interjected. “We don’t know how powerful those shocks are! If she’s not in control, she could be emitting powerful electricity.”

“I agree” Judgement Wolf said. “We should focus on clearing the area for now, and then come up with a plan.”

“Good idea!” Honey Bee said. “Ladybug, Cat Noir, and I will take the top floor, and Judgement Wolf, Rena Rouge, and Carapace, you take the bottom floor! Got it?!” The heroes nodded and broke off.

One by one, the heroes evacuated the school. X-Rays bolts of lightning were striking randomly across the school, and getting larger. Luckily, the heroes made sure no one was hit, though it got close plenty of times.

Once everyone was out of the school, the police created a perimeter around the school to keep people from going in. “We’re safe for now” Ladybug said as the heroes regrouped.

“Yeah, but this lightning is getting out of control fast!” Cat Noir said. “I don’t know how long it’s going to be contained to the school.”

“Not to mention what it’s doing to the person inside” Judgement Wolf.

“We need a plan, and we need one now” Rena Rouge said.

“Here goes” Ladybug said. “Lucky Charm! A duffel bag?”

“Wait, haven’t I seen this before?” Cat Noir said.

“That’s it!” Ladybug said. “We need some assistance!” A bolt of lightning came in between the heroes. “I’ll be right back! Keep the people safe, and remain close to our villain!” Ladybug left the area. The rest of the heroes nodded in acknowledgement.

Marinette entered Master Fu’s. “Master! A villain is losing control of their powers. I need some help!”

Master Fu nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. He opened the miracle box for her and reminded her “Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Pick an ally you can trust to fight alongside you in this mission. Choose wisely: Such powers are meant to serve the greater good. Once the mission is over, you will retrieve the miraculous from them.”

Marinette quickly looked over the miracle box and grabbed the monkey and the horse miraculous. “Thank you, bye!” she said, running out of the parlor.

Ladybug found Kim and Max and gave them their miraculouses. Shortly after, Ladybug, King Monkey, and Pegasus joined the group. “So, how do we solve this?” King Monkey asked.

Ladybug looked down at X-Ray barely containing her powers. “It’s still too dangerous to get close,” she said. “But I wonder… HEY! Can you hear me?!” X-Ray looked up at Ladybug. “Who are your current targets?!”

X-Ray struggled through the bursts of electricity. “Max...and Ondine…”

“Got it!” Ladybug said. “Lucky Charm! A rubber suit?” Ladybug looked at X-Ray, and then the suit, and then the rest of her team. “I’ve got it! Carapace, you and Rena find Ondine and use your Shell-ter to protect her. Rena, you tell us when he’s in position. Pegasus, you take this and give it to Max” Ladybug told him, throwing him the suit. “Take Judgement Wolf with you so he can tell us when he’s ready!” Ladybug nodded.

Pegasus nodded back. “Alright, Judgement Wolf, let’s go! “Gallop!” a portal opened up. Pegasus took Judgement Wolf with him through the portal. Rena and Carapace left as well.

“Alright, the rest of you are going to play an important role” Ladybug explained.

Carapace and Rena Rouge found Ondine. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“We’re going to protect you” Rena said.

“Shell-ter!” Carapace said, creating a shield around himself and Ondine.

Rena contacted Ladybug. “We’re set over here!” she said.

“We’re good on our end as well” Judgement Wolf informed her, and Pegasus took refuge in the suit.

“Great!” Ladybug said. She put away her yo-yo. “Hey! You can unleash your attack safely! On both of them! They won’t be affected!”

X-Ray looked up. “You better not be lying” she said. She unleashed her usual bolts of lighting from both of her hands. One bolt was countered by Carapace’s Shell-ter, and the other bolt was countered by the rubber suit.

“Thank goodness that worked” Judgement Wolf said, as Pegasus emerged from the suit.

“Now let’s go!” Pegasus said. “Gallop!”

Meanwhile, X-Ray was catching her breath. She looked up once more. “Alright Ladybug! Now it's your turn!’she screamed. “Ow!” she said, as she got hit from behind. She turned around to find Pegasus twirling one of his horseshoes on his finger. “You!” She went to scan them.

Before she could fully process her scan though, King Monkey used his power. “Uproar!” he called, summoning a can. He threw it onto X-Ray.

X-Ray’s lenses started to malfunction and she couldn’t see through anyone anymore. “What the?!”

“Venom!” Honey Bee called out. She stunned X-Ray while she was confused by the disruption of her powers

“And now, for the piece de resistance” Cat Noir said. “Cataclysm!” He pounced down and Cataclysmed X-Ray’s glasses, releasing the akuma.

Ladybug smiled. “No more evildoing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize! Gotcha! Bye bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!” She threw the rubber suit up, and the ladybugs fixed everything.

Hawk Moth stared out his giant window. “I’m going to need to talk to Nooroo about what happened. In the meantime, Ladybug, I will find your greatest weakness, and use it to gain your miraculous!”

Katelyn emerged from a purple-black aura, breathing heavily. “Gotchyou!” Pegasus said, rushing to her side.

Katelyn was still breathing hard. “Thanks” she said.

Pegasus picked her up. “I’m going to take her to the nurse’s office,” he said. Ladybug nodded. Pegasus left.

Everyone’s miraculous started to beep. “We should probably head out. King?” Ladybug said.

King Monkey nodded. “Let’s go” King Monkey said. They all split off in different directions, except for Ladybug and King Monkey, who went together.

King Monkey took his miraculous off. “Thanks for letting me help this time,” Kim said.

“You did good out there” Xuppu said. “Why doesn’t he have his miraculous full time?” he asked Ladybug, angrily.

Ladybug stammered. “Well...I...uh…”

“Relax” Kim told Xuppu. ”I trust Ladybug. She knows what’s best.”

“Thanks” Ladybug said, blushing. Kim put the miraculous in the box and ran off.

Meanwhile, Pegasus set Katelyn down on the bed. “Thanks” Katelyn told him again. She passed out.

Pegasus smiled. “Hey” Judgement Wolf said from behind. “You OK?”

Pegasus looked at Katelyn and then at Judgement Wolf. “She’ll be alright, so, yeah.”

“Well then, let’s get down to business” Judgement Wolf said.

“Not here” Pegasus said. “Gallop!” He opened another portal and the two walked through it. Pegasus took off his miraculous. “Here you go” He said, giving it to Judgement Wolf.

“Thanks” Judgement Wolf said.

“Sorry I couldn’t help earlier,” Max said.

“It’s fine” Judgement Wolf said. “Although, there might be someone else who needs to hear that needs to hear that.”

“Right” Max said. He ran off.

Judgement Wolf contacted Ladybug. “I’ve got the horse miraculous.” Soon, Ladybug showed up. “Why don’t you take them back?” she said, tossing him the monkey miraculous. Her charge ran out and she turned back into Marinette.

“Of course. See you later?” Judgement Wolf said.

“Of course” Marinette said. Judgement Wolf left to return the miraculous, while Marinette returned to the school.

“So Nooroo, what happened?” Gabriel demanded.

Nooroo explained “It’s a rare occurrence, but sometimes when someone is conflicted about their powers, they lose control.”

“I gathered that” Gabriel said. “Why couldn’t I stop them?”

“Because when they lose control, so do you” Nooroo told him. “The conflict comes from them fighting with themselves about whether or not to let you help them.” Gabriel was not pleased. “I know it’s not ideal, master, but it IS a risk that comes from this power.”

Gabriel sighed. “I guess I can’t blame you then. Is there anything else I should know?”

“Well, the person sometimes can retain some memories of what happened when they’re powered up” Nooroo explained. “The ammount varies from person to person. Also, that complication doesn’t arise as much when you’re Scarlet Moth.”

“Really?” Gabriel said, smiling menacingly.

A little while later, Katelyn woke up in the nurse’s office. “What happened?”

“Katelyn!” shouted Ondine. She gave her a hug. “You’re alright.”

Katelyn hugged Ondine back. “Thanks.”

The hug ended. “So, what happened?” Ondine asked.

Katelyn struggled to answer. “Well, Uh, I-”

“I can explain” Jasmine said, entering the room. She sat down and hung her head in shame. She sighed and explained “Back when Katelyn first went to school, I was one of the people that bullied her.” Ondine was shocked by this. “I was caught up in a bad crowd. I know that’s no excuse, but still. I realized what I was doing was wrong, and broke off from those people I managed to turn myself around, and I eventually earned everyone’s trust. But then Katelyn showed up again. I was worried that you would tell everyone what happened between us, but it seemed like you were more worried about me not having changed at all.”

“Yeah…” Katelyn said. “I was really nervous about coming back to school after so long in general. I got into my own head about things. And as much as people reassured me that things would be OK, I was afraid that it was the you that bullied me that became class rep. Like everyone was against me.”

“I’m sorry” Ondine said.

Katelyn smiled. “It’s not your fault.”

Jasmine nervously looked at Katelyn. “I’m sorry.”

Katelyn looked at her and said “I guess I can forgive you.”

“Katelyn!” shouted Max. He came barging into the nurse’s office. “Are you alright?”

Katelyn looked at Max and said “Yeah, I feel better. But I think I should take it easy the rest of the day. I mean, I can still go to class, but I don’t want to do anything too demanding for me.” She dragged Max in and whispered “And by the way, you’re not a bad boyfriend.” She gave him a peck on the cheek. Max blushed. “Well, we should get back to class.” Katelyn started to get back up.

“Do you need help?” Jasmine asked.

Katelyn stretched a bit. “Hmmmmm, maybe just keep close,” she said. The four left to go to their class.

After school, Ondine was packing things up when Katelyn said “Hey.” Ondine turned her attention to Katelyn. Katelyn handed her a slip of paper. “The top one is my number,” she continued. “The bottom one is my brother’s number. His name is Luc, and he lives in Nice with his girlfriend.”

Ondine was confused. “Why are you giving me your brother’s number?” she asked.

Katelyn looked around nervously. “Just in case you need to talk about...certain issues. He can relate...I’m sorry that that’s how I found out…”

Ondine looked at Katelyn and picked up on what she meant. She gave her a hug. “You’re just the sweetest thing” she said.

“Yes, well...thank you for being so understanding” Katelyn said.

“Hey” Max said, coming up to them, alongside Kim. “I know you don’t want to do much, but I could introduce you to some of my friends today still.”

Katelyn smiled. “I’d like that.” The group got up and walked off together.

They met Vlad. “Hey Vlad” max said.

“Hey” Vlad replied.

Max turned to Katelyn. “Katelyn, this is Vlad.”

“Hey there” Vlad said.

“Hi” Katelyn said nervously.

“So Vlad, what are you doing this afternoon?” Kim asked.

“Actually, I was invited over to the Liberty to hear a song by Luka” Vlad explained.

“Oh, sounds cool. Can we come?” Ondine said. She glanced at Katelyn. “If it’s not too much trouble.”

“Nah, it’s fine,” Vlad said. “Luka told me to invite people.”

“I’ll be fine as well” Katelyn said. “I can manage to listening to a song.”

“Great! Then it’s settled” Kim said.

“Let me see who else wants to come” Vlad said.

Out of everyone they asked, Adrien had fencing, Marc and Nathaniel had to work on their latest book, and Nino and Alya had a date planned, same with Chloe and Sabrina. Obviously, Juleka was going to be there, along with Rose, Ivan, and Mylene. Alix also agreed to go. “Alright, there’s just one more person” Vlad said. “Hey Marinette?” he asked. Marinette turned around, and Katelyn was surprised. “Wanna head to the Liberty to check out Luka and Ashe’s new song?”

“Oh, sure” Marinette said, nervously.

“Hey, you’re that girl that beat Carter” Katelyn said.

Marinette was surprised that Katelyn recognized her. She reached out her hand. “My name is Marinette. Nice to meet you. You know, in a friendly context.”

Katelyn shook her hand. “Same” she said.

“Alright, Let’s head out” Vlad said. The group headed to the Liberty.

Luka and Ashe were on stage, getting things ready. “Hey Luka” Vlad said.

Luka turned to see the enormous group. “Woah! That’s quite a group.”

“Relax” Ashe said. “It’s fine. We wanted opinions on it, and here we have them.”

Luka nodded. “You’re right,” he said. “OK everyone, please take your seats!” Everyone sat down. “OK, so, um this is our first song together” he stuttered. “Um, do we have a name?”

“Like, just the two of us?” Ashe asked. Luka nodded. Ashe thought about it. “What about, for now, just calling it ‘Project: Step Siblings’?”

Luka’s face lit up. “I like that. Alright, we are, currently, Project: Step Siblings!, and this is our first song! ‘Wishing I Was Someone Else’. Hit it!”

They started with a bit of riffing, and then Luka began with his verse.

“When I first saw you enter my room

I felt my heart beat and instantly go boom

And I know you awoke something inside of me

I played along, I’d act like I was cool

But now it seems like I was played the fool

And our love was just never meant to be

I had thought it'd be easier to swallow

But now you’re gone, I just feel like I’m hollow

But know this, I will take it in stride

Cause even though I’m all out of place

I can see when I look into your face

That you were meant to be by his side

And I can’t be there

But I can’t stay here

Just sitting around

Wishing I was someone else

And I’ll fight tomorrow

Against the sorrow

Cause I know I can’t keep

Wishing I was someone else”

There was a bit of a bass riff from Ashe. Then Luka joined back in with his guitar. The Ashe sang her verse.

“We were there, just passing notes in classes

Hoping you could see beyond my glasses

And notice the love deep in my eyes

Everyone thinks I am just a weirdo

It hurt less when you were close and near though

You help decorate my smiling disguise

When you wanted just a little change

I felt broken, and a little deranged

Why can’t I be good enough for you?

You said I still would be a close friend

But our shared time came to an abrupt end

I just didn’t know what to do

Cause I can’t stay there

But I can’t be here

Just sitting around

Wishing I was someone else

And I’ll fight tomorrow

Against the sorrow

Cause I know I can’t keep

Wishing I was someone else”

There was an instrumentation break, and then Luka and Ashe dueted together for the last bit.

“Cause I can’t stay there

But I can’t be here

Just sitting around

Wishing I was someone else

And I’ll fight tomorrow

Against the sorrow

Cause I know I can’t keep

Wishing I was someone else”

After a bit more instrumentation, the song came to a close. 

“What’d you think?” Luka asked.

Everyone applauded. Luka smiled. “Told you” Ashe said.

Katelyn looked around. Between the song, and everyone else around her, she felt like she had a place where she belonged. Sure, the song was kind of emo, but it was just what she needed. She felt like she had to put on a brave face. But after that, she knew she could open up more with people. “Heh” she said. She leaned on Max. Max was surprised, but taken with this action, and wrapped his arm around her.

Mylene got a call. “It’s Lorenzo. He’s probably wondering when I’m showing up to the pantry.”

“It’s OK” Luka said. “I just wanted you to hear the song. You can go.”

Mylene smiled. “Thanks. And your song was excellent.” She picked up her phone. “Yeah, I’m on my way. OK, see you soon.” She hung up.

“I’ll come too” Alix said. “A deal’s a deal, and there’s no time like the present.”

Mylene smiled “I’m sure they’d be happy to have you.”

Marinette got a text from Adrien. “Adrien’s done with practice. Maybe I should meet him.”

“Wait!” Juleka called out “Um, if it’s all the same to you, we could use a little Kitty Section practice…”

Luka smiled. “I’d like that,” he said.

“OK, I’ll text him to meet us here” Marinette said.

“In the meantime, let’s get everything set up” Ivan said.

“Ooooo, I’m so excited!” Rose said.

While they were setting up, Marinette got another text. “Adrien’s on his way, and he’s bringing Kagami.” Juleka gave Luka a look, which Luka returned with an eye roll.

“We’re here” Adrien said, announcing his presence.

“Adrien said you were good” Kagami said. “You better be.”

“I hope we’re good too!” Rose said. “We wouldn’t want to disappoint anyone.” Kagami smiled. The two fencers sat down. Rose stepped up to the microphone. “Hello everybody! We are Kitty Section! Performing for the first time with our new…” She turned to Ashe “Permanent?”

Ashe nodded. “I start school Wednesday.”

Rose lit up. “Permanent member! Hit it!”

They spent the rest of the afternoon listening to “I Love Unicorns” and “Comforting Wave”, and everyone had a great time.

[chicagoindiecritics]

New from Al and Linda Lerner on Movies and Shakers: Irresistible

This film gets our vote. Writer/Director, Jon Stewart cleverly illuminates the influence of money on campaigns with raw, human comedy. Gary and Faith, (Steve Carell and Rose Byrne) play political consultants, really adversaries in their blood sport campaigning to win elections. Stewart incorporates so many issues. He tackles the hypocrisy of the divide in America and it all leads to money. 

Even though you may think where Jon Stewart’s loyalties lie, he points out that there are bad players on both sides of the political spectrum. Stewart hits the mark with issues now escalating with our own upcoming election. 

Carell is all bluster as Gary looking to get his mojo back after being humiliated for his handling of the Hilary Clinton campaign. He’s brash and condescending to his staff and everyone. When an aide named Evan shows him the video of a candidate in Wisconsin reminiscent of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” he seizes it as an opportunity he can’t pass up. It’s his chance to groom this man with Midwest Values to become a national superstar. 

Stewart toured the state with University of Wisconsin political science professor and author of “The Politics of Resentment”, Katherine Cramer. The goal was to understand every nuance of the conflict between Democrats and Republicans in the swing state. And he exposes so many in detail. 

Jack Hastings (Chris Cooper) is the low key, former Marine Colonel, farmer, widower who becomes Carell’s star candidate. He’s impressed with Jack’s speech on You Tube about how to save their dying Deerlaken, at the town council meeting. Gary, inspired by Jack’s authenticity, thinks he could be a candidate in the reddest part of Wisconsin who doesn’t know yet that he’s really a Democrat. 

Carell plays the political savvy elite to the hilt. He’s a DC denizen who takes a chartered jet to Wisconsin, dining mid air on custom ordered mozzarella balls. Gary lines up renting an Explorer to seemingly fit in with the locals. But has to have those Bose speakers to suit his taste as he drives to Deerlaken, Wisconsin. Stewart uses the same country western song coming from Jack’s pickup truck, and then in Bose quality in Gary’s rental to accentuate the difference. Gary’s requesting a high floor in a 2 story rooming house with no elevator over a bar, then ordering a burger and a beer put his city boy expectations on display. 

From the get go out the door the next morning, he’s greeted by name by everyone. Even, Bakery owner Ann (Blair Sams) who is so quaint you could faint, has his coffee waiting the way she thinks he likes it, and plies him with streusel he tries unsuccessfully to refuse. The scene with him in the car stuffing it in his mouth groaning with pleasure as if having an orgasm is absolutely hilarious. 

Gary meets Jack on his farm and sees his daughter, Diana, (Mackenzie Davis) for the first time with her arm up a cow. Gary seems disturbed by what he sees, but is instantly smitten, not by the cow, but by Diana. Since leaving as host of The Daily Show, Stewart has experience living on farm which provides plenty more fodder for his political satire. 

Talking with Jack and Diana, Gary convinces the colonel to run for Mayor. Jack hesitates and says he’ll only do it if Gary runs the campaign, but not from New York, from Deerlaken. The campaign is modest and quaint at first with Jack announcing his candidacy in a video shot on the farm with cows in the background. It’s funny how Gary breaks up the group of too many black cows together to make sure it makes for better optics.  

Jack’s daughter, Diana, is devoted, dutiful and a quick study taking in all she’s learning from Gary about campaigning. Mackenzie Davis does a great job becoming the most respected and trusted liaison between Gary and her father. She’s also the one who keeps Gary informed about what works in the town and how to deal with the people.

What’s the mother’s milk of politics? Money. Gary takes Jack to New York to parade him in front of Manhattan liberal elites as potential donors to the campaign. Cooper’s Jack, is incredibly effective as the seemingly intimidated truth teller who calls them out about money and politics. Gary is blown away with how well that worked so he now has plenty of bucks to work with.

Now that the money is flowing in, the Republicans take notice and they send in their big gun, Faith Brewster. Rose Byrne is spot on as Gary’s  Republican counterpart. She’s slick, smart and ruthless, and it doesn’t hurt her image in this film that she looks like a mashup of Ivanka and Kelly Ann Conway. There’s no question she and Gary have a lot of history. Over coffee, she says “Crushing the last piece of hope in your eyes gets me off.” They make a raunchy bet about who will win the election, and it’s game on!

Polling takes a hit in this film. Polling expert, Kurt (Topher Grace) displays attitude and puffs up his ego, even when his crystal ball is cloudy. Plus the unregulated and limitless money that flows through PAC (Political Action Committee) becomes the focal point of the campaign. It garners so much  national attention, that the Republicans take notice of this little midwestern town. There’s a scene where Carell as Gary points out the ridiculousness of the PACs and rules governing them. 

The best cartoon characters in the whole movie are the millionaire donors for both sides. You get to meet two filthy rich old brothers in wheel chairs and a scary, robotic billionaire all willing to contribute huge sums to help their side influence the election. And what does the money buy? A high tech war room to keep tabs on who’s voting for who. Stewart’s most chilling line in the whole film is when Gary shows his true colors about to release damaging intel. He defends the personal attacks done during campaigns to Diana, explaining that it’s not the politics, “it’s just math, the +1.” 

This film includes a collection of likable characters on both sides of the aisle. Stewart has shown considerable development since his first directorial debut, Rosewater. This project shows that he knows his stuff both behind the camera and the script. 

Stay for the credits where Stewart appears off-camera meticulously interviewing the former commissioner and chairman of the FEC (Federal Election Commission), Trevor Potter. It’s a humorous, informative and engaging conversation that succinctly explains the issues he’s presented. The timing of this film is no accident with the upcoming presidential race. You can tell how passionate he is about election process. Stewart has created a piece that people from all over America, rural and urban, red and blue, can find Irresistible. 

Focus Features       141 minutes                R                 VOD

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[my-bad-writing]

Chapter 2 - Revelations

In a dimly lit room at U.A., teachers sat in chairs before a wall-to-wall monitoring screen displaying the Examination Results and clips from the mock battles.

“Check out the results from the exam,” a male with a slightly raspy voice spoke.

“Wow,” a woman exclaimed, “the first place student racked up both Combat and Rescue Points.”

“She handled the robots like they were nothing,” a gravelly voice commented. “Not to mention, combined rescuing a fellow examinee with taking out more targets.”

“She appears very capable,” another woman with an airy voice summarized. “Observant, clever, skilled, and prepared to lead when necessary. Very few potential students have shown such talent in the past.”

“Meanwhile,” the first woman continued, “the second place student didn’t even have Rescue Points.”

“He took down those faux villains like an ace,” the second man noted. “When most of the other examinees were running from the big obstacle, he stayed focused on letting the smaller targets get in close and then counterattacking.

“That kid is tough.”

“On the opposite end, the eighth-place student had zero villain points.”

“He’s not the first U.A. hopeful to take out that giant robot, the first place student proves that… Though, it’s been a while since I saw someone blow it away with one attack.”

“But at what cost,” the first man questioned. “Did you see how badly he injured himself?

“If you ask me, it’s like his body isn’t used to his Quirk.”

Near the exit, another teacher leaned against the wall, a foot propped up and arms crossed, with an almost disinterested, blank expression on his face.

His eyes darted between two clips: the Midoriya boy who broke his own body to take out that robot, and the Akatsuki girl wandering the city then helping that invisible girl.

He pressed his lips into a thin line, and his eyes continuously returned and lingered on the girl.

There was no way.

He hummed softly to himself, lowering his head slightly and trying to focus on the gnawing feeling he had about the boy while clamping down on his tumultuous memories and feelings the girl’s name brought up.

Between getting her acceptance letter and the start of school in April, Maaya further familiarized herself with the city, having only arrived a couple weeks before the exams and spending that time setting up.

It was vast and sprawling with several districts Maaya memorized. She took note of hospitals, fire stations, police departments, and other important places as well as those she’d need to frequent like stores and markets.

Maaya also noticed an orphanage and animal shelter apparently allowing volunteers, as well as a Hot Topic and Barnes & Noble looking for workers.

She figured she might as well try to atone for all the bad things she had done in the past and the things she might be forced to do in the future.

Walking around the city; volunteering; working; keeping in shape; researching and taking notes on heroes and villains; and her passion for music, books, and writing kept her busy until the first day of high school arrived.

Maaya was one of the first students to arrive for class.

Tugging an earbud out and pulling out a book, she was about to immerse herself in written words as well as sung ones, when the three students who arrived before her introduced themselves.

The first one jumped and landed with a sharp thud in front of Maaya’s desk in the back row.

Pausing her music, Maaya saw that the girl was clearly an extroverted morning person.

The blue haired girl smiled brightly at her, mouth open with words ready to spill forth when the sole boy spoke.

“Ameya,” he called sharply, piercing the girl with an aquamarine stare. “Leave the poor girl alone, not everyone’s an early bird or a people person.”

He faced Maaya, “Sorry about my sister, she gets a little spirited at times.”

Maaya smiled, “It’s fine, we’re all gonna get to know each other anyway.”

She held out a hand to the black haired boy, “I’m Maaya Akatsuki.”

“I’m Ameryuu Yagami,” his grip was firm, “though most call me Ryuu, and,” he smirked towards his sister, “you’ve had the unfortunate chance of meeting Ameya.”

“What do you mean ‘unfortunate’,” she stood to face her brother, hands on her hips. “The only thing that’s unfortunate is that you keep raining on my parade.”

Ryuu snorted, “Some parade.”

While the Yagami twins delved into an argument which appeared to be a common occurrence, the third student, a girl with deep blonde hair and cyan eyes, smiled.

“My name’s Yumiki Achikita. It’s nice to meet you, Maaya.”

“Nice to meet you, too.”

The bickering between the siblings rose in volume and the two girls looked on in amusement as the brother and sister hurled insults and the odd comment about who’s older doesn’t matter, Ryuu definitely didn’t think that.

Eventually, Ryuu and Ame, as she apparently preferred to be called, stopped arguing in exchange for making a bet to see who could be the most well behaved all day. The loser would have to do the most chores that night.

Wondering if all siblings were like the twins, Maaya stowed her earbuds in exchange for listening to her new classmates already present, who all seemed to be childhood friends, and for the ones who had yet to show.

She was glad to see three others enter the classroom.

Greeting Sero, Kaminari, and Hagakure respectively, Maaya listened amusedly to their reactions on getting into U.A.: relieved, excited, and, though they did not admit it outright, anxious on what classes would be like if the entrance exam was so intense.

Maaya sat, listening to the students who entered talk about the entrance exam. Apparently, a boy in Battle Center B had zero Combat Points but risked his life to save a girl trapped under rubble like Toru was, and ended up breaking both legs and an arm using his Quirk to stop the zero-point robot.

A Quirk he hasn’t gotten used to, Maaya thought. I wonder if he’s—

She mentally shook her head.

Best not dwell on that man’s obsession, just—focus on fitting in.

Yeah, playing the game for the long run.

Tuning back into her surroundings, Maaya learned that Yumiki and the twins were three of the seven who got into the hero course through recommendation.

She also learned that the ashy-blond boy, Bakugo, was as temperamental as his Quirk and appearance.

A redheaded boy seemed to like him though.

Another boy with dark blue hair and glasses seemed to be quite a stickler for rules; maybe he had too much respect for the school and its reputation.

No one else seemed to notice the door to the classroom slide open to reveal an average looking boy with wild, dark green hair, bright green eyes, and a dash of freckles across his cheeks, gripping his yellow backpack like a preschooler.

“Take your feet off that desk now!”

Maaya looked to see Glasses standing before Angry Boi who had his foot propped up on his desk, a stern look on the taller boy’s face.

“Huh?” Bakugo glared up at the boy, a smirk on his face and arrogance clear in his whole demeanor.

Glasses continued, emphasizing with his hands, “It’s the first day and you’re already disrespecting this academy by scuffing school property, you cretin!”

Bakugo shifted, tilting his head up, “You’re kidding me, right?”

Glasses looked taken aback.

“Your old school put a stick up your ass? Or were you born with it?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Maaya saw the green haired boy deflate, disappointed by something to do with the two arguing boys.

“Uh—” Glasses paused, composing himself. He placed a hand on his chest, “Let’s start over.” He began talking with his free hand, “I’m Tenya Iida from the Somei Private Academy.”

Bakugo seemed even more pissed as he mocked and threatened Iida, “Somei, huh? So you must think you’re better than me. I’m gonna have fun tearin’ you a new one.”

Iida gasped, pulling back, “You would threaten me? Your own classmate? Are you sure you’re in the right place?”

Bakugo scoffed and looked away.

Then they both noticed the boy in the doorway.

Iida straightened up while Bakugo just glared at the kid, “It’s him.”

All heads turned and a slight murmur rippled through the students causing the boy to gasp in embarrassment, his eyes widening.

He blushed and quickly averted his gaze, his grip on his bag tightening, “Uh, hi.”

Iida walked forward, “Good morning!” His gait was strange. “My name is Tenya Iida fro—”

The boy held up his hands, “Yeah, I-I know.” He smiled awkwardly, “I’m Izuku Midoriya. It’s super nice to meet you.”

Iida put his hands at his sides, “Midoriya. You realized that there was something more to the practical exam, didn’t you?”

Midoriya lowered his hands somewhat looking confused, “Huh?”

“You must be very perceptive.” Again the hand movements. “And I completely misjudged you, I admit.

“As a student, you’re far superior to me.”

Maaya had to hold back a snort.

Midoriya sweatdropped.

“Hey! I recognize that messed-up hair!” A brown haired girl now stood in the hallway, an aura of light-hearted purity surrounding her.

Midoriya turned to the voice.

“Falling boy!”

Midoriya gasped, a blush staining his cheeks.

As the girl talked, Maaya noticed that Midoriya was lost in his own thoughts.

The brunette mimicked what Maaya assumed to be the boy’s punch as his entire face went red and he covered it while scratching the back of his neck.

He seemed to be trying to thank her for something that happened after the practical exam.

Maaya also noticed the look Bakugo was giving Midoriya. There seemed to be some bad blood between the two that only Bakugo was aware of.

She sighed softly to herself. Boys.

Then she spotted a flash of black and yellow behind the girl in the corridor.

Midoriya still looked incredibly embarrassed, but the brunette seemed oblivious.

“What do you think we’re doing today besides orientation?

“I wonder what our teachers are like?

“I can’t wait to meet everybody!”

An adult male voice spoke from behind the ball of sunshine, “If you’re just here to make friends then you can pack up your stuff now.”

Midoriya and the girl made noises of surprised confusion and Maaya finally registered what she was looking at.

The brunette whimpered while Maaya bit back a laugh at the beat-looking black-haired man in a yellow sleeping bag.

He looks like a freaking larva!

“Welcome to UA’s hero course.” He partially unzipped his sleeping bag and sucked on either a juice or protein pouch.

Midoriya, Iida, and the girl looked scared and confused which didn’t help Maaya stop laughing to herself.

She caught a glimpse of Yumiki and the twins trying to reign in their laughter as well.

The teacher stood up completely and unzipped his sleeping bag the rest of the way, revealing a long, thin grey scarf and a ragged black shirt.

“It took eight seconds before you all shut up. That’s not gonna work. Time is precious.”

He stepped a bit into the room; under the long-sleeved shirt, he wore a utility belt and black pants.

“Rational students would understand that.”

Maaya’s breath caught in her throat as she choked on her laughter.

She recognized this man, and not because all faculty members were heroes.

He looked more worn out and was unshaven, but it was definitely him, down to the ‘I’m tired of this shit’ demeanor.

He turned to face the class, and Maaya made sure her face was blank.

“Hello, I’m Shota Aizawa. Your teacher.”

She felt his gaze stop at her, but was able to avoid eye contact.

Dread filled her. Crap. Of all the teachers it had to be him?

He quickly reached into his sleeping bag, “Right, let’s get to it.”

He pulled out a gym shirt, “Put these on and head outside.”

“Huh?” Resonated throughout the class.

“What? A Quirk assessment test?” The class questioned in unison.

Maaya simply raised a brow, her arms crossed, while Yumiki and the twins looked resigned.

Then that brunette spoke up, “But orientation! We’re gonna miss it!”

Aizawa had his back to the class, facing the track and hands in his pockets.

“If you really wanna make the big leagues, you can’t waste time on pointless ceremonies.”

Gasps rang out amongst the class.

“Here at UA, we’re not tethered to traditions.” He looked over his shoulder at them, “That means that I get to run my class however I see fit.”

Maaya rolled her eyes as her peers gasped again.

He seems to like the theatrics. Not like Present Mic or All Might, but he definitely enjoys hazing students.

Aizawa turned halfway towards them, “You’ve been taking standardized tests most of your lives.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, holding it up, “But you never got to use your Quirks in physical exams before.

“The country’s still trying to pretend we’re all created equal by not letting those with the most power excel. It’s not rational.

“One day, the Ministry of Education will learn.”

Mr. Aizawa faced them fully.

“Bakugo, you managed to get solely Combat Points on the entrance exam.

“What was your farthest distance throw with a softball when you were in Junior High?”

“Sixty-seven meters, I think.”

“Right. Try doing it with your Quirk.”

Bakugo grabbed the softball and stepped into the circle facing Mr. Aizawa.

“Anything goes, just stay in the circle.

“Go on. You’re wasting our time.”

Bakugo stretched his shoulder, “All right, man, you asked for it.”

Facing the sector, he wound up like a pitcher then threw the ball shouting “Die!” as an explosion propelled the softball high into the air.

To her left, Maaya heard Midoriya mutter to himself, “Oh, whoa.”

She smirked.

“All of you need to know your maximum capabilities,” Mr. Aizawa spoke as the softball landed. He turned back to the class, “It’s the most rational way of figuring out your potential as a Pro Hero.”

He showed his phone to the students.

Bakugo had thrown the ball 705.2 meters.

Most of the students gasped in amazement.

Kaminari looked stunned and awed, “Whoa, 705 meters, are you kidding me?”

A pink-skinned and haired girl clapped her hands together, “I wanna go! That looks like fun!”

“This is what I’m talkin’ about,” Sero commented, “usin’ our Quirks as much as we want!”

Maaya noticed Aizawa’s demeanor change.

“So this looks like fun, huh?”

Midoriya gasped in puzzlement.

“You have three years here to become a hero. You think it’s all gonna be games and play time?” He smiled darkly, “Idiots.

“Today you’ll compete in eight physical tests to gauge your potential. Whoever comes in last has none, and will be expelled immediately.”

“Huh?!” The students panicked.

Yumiki sighed and Maaya’s eyebrows shot up.

Drama queen.

“Like I said, I get to decide how this class runs,” Aizawa lifted the hair out of his eyes and gave them a penetrating look. “Understand? If that’s a problem, you can head home right now.”

Maaya’s eyes hardened. She knew that this was Aizawa’s way of teaching and that he was singling out Midoriya from what she understood of the boy’s Quirk, but she felt like Aizawa was testing her as well.

Did he put the pieces together?

The brunette girl stepped forward, “You can’t send one of us home! I mean, we just got here! Even if it wasn’t the first day, that isn’t fair!”

“Oh, and you think natural disasters are?”

The students gasped.

“Or power-hungry villains? Hm? Or catastrophic accidents that wipe out whole cities? No, the world is full of unfairness.

“It’s a hero’s job to try to combat that unfairness.

“If you wanna be a pro, you’re gonna have to push yourself to the brink.

“For the next three years, UA will throw one terrible hardship after another at you.

“So, go beyond. Plus Ultra-style.”

Aizawa beckoned them with a finger.

“Show me it’s no mistake that you’re here.”

He glanced at Maaya as another round of gasps rippled throughout the class.

Out of the corner of her eye, Maaya noticed Iida pull out a sports bottle, but she had bigger concerns than hydration or lack of.

Aizawa has an inkling as to who she was and why she’s there, or, at least, why she’d been allowed there. Her own reasons were very different from the orders she’d been given. She just hoped he knew that, or would maybe understand. Someday.

“Now then. We’re just wasting time by talking. Let the games begin.”

The first test was the 50-meter dash with a measuring mecha at the end that started and timed each pair of runners.

Maaya observed everyone else’s runs, noting the abilities of their Quirks and looking for any possible limits or weaknesses.

When it was Ameya’s and her turn, she just teleported to the other side.

Her reaction time was spot on, receiving 0.00 seconds while, in a gust of wind, Ameya reached the end in 2.01 seconds.

An air Quirk. Interesting.

Next was grip strength which left quite a few at a disadvantage.

Maaya managed 56.3 kg. Better than even some of the boys, but those like the six-armed guy managed in the mid hundreds.

The third test was the standing long jump so she was able to teleport in midair to the other side.

Ryuu’s Quirk seemed to draw moisture from the air and turn it to water that he used to propel himself forward before it evaporated again.

Repeated side steps was a breeze.

The small guy with weird orb-like hair pulled them from his head, they grew back almost immediately, and stuck them to either side, bouncing off them like he was a pinball.

Then came the ball throw which Bakugo had already done.

The brunette girl, who Maaya discovered was named Ochaco Uraraka, used her Zero-Gravity Quirk to send the ball into outer space receiving infinity as a result.

While Maaya couldn’t match that without excess draining, she figured she had done well enough with the other tests in limiting using up her energy that she would risk using up more by sending the softball the second farthest at 1268.7 meters.

Next came Midoriya who had yet to use his Quirk and had looked panicky since Aizawa started the tests.

Midoriya stared silently at the ball in his hand.

Off to Maaya’s right, Iida spoke, “If Midoriya doesn’t shape up soon, he’s the one going home.”

Bakugo turned on him, “Huh? Of course he is.” He pointed to Midoriya, “He’s a Quirkless loser.”

“He has a Quirk.

“Did you not hear about what he did in the entrance exam?”

“Huh?”

Maaya glanced at Mr. Aizawa.

His face was still a blank slate, but she could sense the wheels turning.

Bakugo knew him for a long time; so, it’s either Midoriya’s Quirk developed only recently, or All Might found a successor. Maaya groaned inwardly, They cannot find out about this.

As Midoriya wound up to throw, she noticed Aizawa activate his Quirk.

“Forty-six meters,” the measuring device announced.

Midoriya stared at his hand in surprise and despair, talking softly to himself, as Mr. Aizawa stepped forward.

“I erased your Quirk.”

Midoriya faced their teacher who had one hand in his pocket and the other grasping a strand of his scarf/capture weapon which flowed freely in the air around him. A pair of yellow goggles hung around his neck, his eyes had begun glowing red, and his hair stood up on end.

“The judges for this exam,” Aizawa continued, “were not rational enough.

“Someone like you should never be allowed to enroll at this school.”

He shoved his free hand back in his pocket.

Midoriya stared at him, “Wait, you did what to my—Ah! Those goggles. I know you!

“You can look at someone and cancel out their powers.

“The Erasure Hero. Eraserhead!”

The rest of the class all mumbled their confusion.

“Uh…”

“Eraser,” Sero questioned. “Who’s that?”

“Oh,” Asui connected the dots, “I’ve heard of him. I think he works on the down-low.”

Standing off to the side of the group of students, Maaya caught sight of All Might hiding behind the corner of the nearby building.

Seems both teachers hold an interest in Midoriya, though not for the same reasons.

Turning back to Midoriya and Mr. Aizawa, she watched the gears turn in the green-haired boy’s head as their teacher looked down at him.

“You’re not ready.

“You don’t have control over your power.”

Midoriya inhaled, stepping back slightly.

Aizawa continued, “Were you planning to break your bones again? Counting on someone else to save your useless body?”

“No! That’s not what I was trying to do!”

Aizawa pulled his hand from his pocket, sending part of his capture scarf to wrap around Midoriya’s torso, pinning his arms to his sides and pulling him face-to-face with the teacher.

“No matter what your intentions are, you would be nothing more than a liability in battle.

“You have the same reckless passion as another overzealous hero I know. One who saved a thousand people by himself and became a legend.

“But even with that drive, you’re worthless if you can only throw a single punch before breaking down.

“Sorry, Midoriya. With your power, there’s no way you can become a hero.”

The class gasped, watching as Aizawa’s hair drifted down and his capture weapon returned to its form as a scarf.

Midoriya dropped his head.

“I’ve returned your impractical Quirk.

“Take your final throw.” Aizawa began walking away, “Hurry and get it over with.”

Vaguely aware of Bakugo, Iida, Aoyama, and Uraraka talking beside her, Maaya watched Midoriya think out his options and saw Aizawa use some eye drops off to her far right.

Suppressing the urge to smack her teacher, especially on the first day of school, she crossed her arms, hoping the inheritor of One For All had brains as well as heart.

Midoriya wound up once more, but Maaya noticed something was different this time.

At the last possible point of contact, Midoriya used his power to send the ball rocketing off with just his index finger.

Maaya smiled proudly while the students gasped once again.

She rolled her eyes.

This is a school for heroes full of people with Quirks, why does every little thing take their breath away?

From what Maaya could tell, Midoriya got around the same distance as Bakugo.

“Mr. Aizawa.”

He looked up from his phone and Midoriya turned to him, biting his lip and clenching his heavily bruised, broken, and swelling finger in a fist.

“You see? I’m still standing.”

Maaya noticed the strange, appraising, and slightly crazed look on Aizawa’s face.

“This kid…”

Maaya shook her head softly, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

The rest of the class was astounded.

“He threw it over 700 meters,” Kaminari gawked.

Uraraka was pumped, “Nice, he’s finally showing us his true power!”

“But his finger appears to be broken now,” Iida observed. The hand blocking the sun from his eyes moved to his chin as he pondered, “Just like in the exam.

“This Quirk is very odd.”

“It wasn’t a very pretty throw,” Aoyama commented.

Bakugo gaped at Midoriya, shock and anger written all over his face.

Wary, Maaya watched him.

Don’t be an—

His Quirk sparked, then ignited, and he charged.

…Idiot.

“Hey! Deku, you bastard! Tell me how you did that, or you’re dead!”

Midoriya screamed, panicked and fearful.

Mr. Aizawa then stepped forward, his hair raising and scarf moving as he did.

Bakugo was halted with a grunt, the capture weapon wrapped across his torso and head, hand outstretched to grab Midoriya or blow him up.

“What—? Why the hell is your damn scarf—so strong?”

“Because it’s a capture weapon made out of carbon fiber and a special metal alloy.

“Stand down.

“It’d be wise to avoid making me use my Quirk so much. It gives me serious dry eye.”

“Too bad,” the class spoke in unison. “That power is amazing!”

Maaya analyzed the man before her. Class 1-A’s homeroom teacher: Shota Aizawa. He can erase the Quirk of anyone he looks at, but the effect ends when he blinks.

He can come off as rather intimidating when he’s like this.

Releasing Bakugo, Aizawa’s scarf and hair settled and returned to hanging off the man’s slouching frame.

“You’re wasting my time now.” He lifted a hand in dismissal and walked back to the class, “Whoever’s next can step up.”

Midoriya held his injured finger to his chest, skirting around Bakugo cautiously before hurrying back to the rest of the class.

Maaya watched Bakugo stand stock still as she listened to Uraraka.

“Ouch, is your finger okay?”

“Sure. Fine!”

Bakugo sharply turned his head to glare at Midoriya from the corner of his eye, his fists tightening.

Maaya sighed softly to herself.

These two are gonna cause some problems.

The last three tests; sit-ups, the seated toe-touch, and the long-distance run; were uneventful.

Midoriya, however, seemed wiped after the run to the point where he lay on the ground, sweat dripping down his face as he panted.

He didn’t complain once, but it was obvious his finger was bothering him a lot more than he let on as he grimaced once more in pain.

Maaya considered healing his finger but held herself back.

Don’t draw attention to yourself unless necessary. As far as everyone here knows, teleportation is my only Quirk.

She made a note to ask her guardian if she could add healing to her repertoire as well as she offered the green haired boy a hand up, returned his smile, and followed the rest of the students to where Mr. Aizawa stood.

“All right, time to give you your results.

“I’ve ranked you all from best to worst. You should probably have a good idea of your standing already,” he pulled out his phone once more.

“I’ll just pull up the whole list. It’s not worth going over each individual’s score.”

Maaya watched from the back of the group, her arms crossed.

The person ranked last is going to be expelled, and, from what I can tell, that’s Midoriya. But Mr. Aizawa saw what he did for the softball throw. The kid’s got potential.

Aizawa’s not the type for bullshit so he’s serious about expulsion.

So the question is: did he see enough potential in Midoriya to change his mind?

Aizawa pressed a button on his phone, bringing up a projection of the class’ results.

Maaya scanned it quickly.

She got first, Yumiki was in second, Ryuu and Ame got fifth and sixth respectively, Bakugo was in seventh, and Midoriya was last at twenty-fourth.

Maaya glanced to Midoriya who lowered his head, staring at the hand with a broken finger he had clenched into a fist.

Aizawa turned off the projection, “And I was lying, no one’s going home.”

The students gave him dumbfounded looks.

Maaya raised an eyebrow.

He gave them a shit-eating, worn down grin, “That was just a rational deception to make sure you gave it your all in the tests.”

Yumiki chuckled and Maaya snorted while several of the others made noises of shock and other yelps.

Yaoyorozu stared at them all, “I’m surprised the rest of you didn’t figure that out.

“I’m sorry. I guess I probably should have said something.”

Kaminari, Jiro, and Mineta all gave her a “duh” look.

Sero turned to Kirishima, “That was pretty nerve-wracking, huh?”

The redhead raised a fist, a smirk plastered on his face, “Nah, I’m always down for a challenge.”

Bakugo just brooded.

Yumiki congratulated Maaya which she returned before the blonde had to go break up the argument between the twins about who should’ve been ranked above the other.

Maaya chuckled.

“That’s it. We’re done for the day,” Aizawa began walking away. “Pick up a syllabus in the classroom. Read it over before tomorrow morning.”

Midoriya sighed then Aizawa called to him as he came to a stop before the boy.

“Midoriya — Take this and go have the old lady fix you up.

“Things are gonna be tougher tomorrow when your actual training begins.

“Make sure you’re prepared.” And with that, he left.

Maaya looked up at the passing clouds as the students drifted off.

I don’t know whether to look forward to or dread my time here.

She sighed, closing her eyes.

“You seem to be taking Mr. Aizawa and the school in stride.”

Maaya tilted her head slightly to peer at Yumiki through a half-lidded eye.

“It’s a school for potential heroes,” she shrugged, “best to just go with the flow. As for Aizawa,” she lowered her head and gave another shrug, eyes unfocused, “All I had to do was get a feel for him as a person to understand how he teaches. He’s a no-nonsense kind of person. It’s admirable, but not always desired in a teacher.”

“Yeah. He can be kind of difficult, but his heart’s in the right place.” Yumiki placed her hands behind her back, nodding her head towards the building where their classroom resided to grab a syllabus and their stuff.

Maaya straightened up to follow her, “Sounds like you know him.”

“My uncle works here, so I know a few teachers.”

Maaya hummed in understanding.

The blonde eyed her, “Aren’t you gonna ask me who it is? Most people are surprised to meet a relative of a hero.”

Maaya shrugged, fiddling her fingers, “It’s your life; not my business to know. If you want to tell me fine, but otherwise…”

Yumiki blinked, then smiled softly, “I like you. You’re different than most.”

Maaya glanced away awkwardly, her face warming slightly as she scratched her cheek.

You’ve got no idea.

An arm slung across Maaya’s shoulders, and she tensed as her heart rate spiked. She’d have to get used to friendly physical contact.

“Maaya,” Ame grinned widely, “you got first place! That’s so cool!”

If she wasn’t blushing, she was now.

“Um — Thanks, I guess. Though it wasn’t really all that special.”

“Ame!” Ryu grabbed his sister by her collar and pulled her from the awkward girl. “You need to learn about personal space. That’s the second time today you’ve bothered Maaya.”

Putting some distance between her and the outgoing bluenette, Maaya gave an awkward half-smile, “It’s fine. If we’re going to be friends, I might as well get used to it.”

Ameya gasped, her eyes sparkling. Wrenching herself from her brother’s grip, she launched herself at the reserved girl who quickly steadied the pair of them. “Yay! We’re gonna be the best of friends, the four of us!”

I regret this immediately.

Maaya eyed Ameya warily, unnerved by so much enthusiasm bottled up in one person. “But we’re gonna have to limit affection because I’m not so good with it.”

Ameya released her, “Sorry! I get a little excited.”

Maaya raised a brow, “‘A little’?”

Ameya chuckled, embarrassed.

They grabbed their syllabuses from the classroom and shoved them in their bags, heading outside, Ame somewhat dejectedly since she lost her and Ryuu’s bet.

“Well,” Yumiki spoke up, “I’m supposed to head home with my uncle, so I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

Maaya and the twins bid her goodbye, but then she got an idea.

“Hey, Maaya. Why don’t you give us your phone number? We already have each other’s, but since you’re friends with us now I think we need a way to keep in touch outside of school.”

“Uh, yeah, that’s a good idea.”

Maaya exchanged numbers with the three then her and the Yagami’s made their way back into the city before splitting up.

Yumiki went back into the school using a special ID that allowed her access to some places where only the teachers could go.

Her blue eyes temporarily turned a glowing gold before fading back to their normal color.

Heading down some corridors, she slid open a door, “Hey, uncle, you need to stop worrying about that Midoriya boy. He’ll do fine, I’m sure of it.”

The blond man turned to her, chuckling softly, “Your Quirk tell you that?”

She shook her head, “Doesn’t need to. He’s clever going by that stunt he pulled with the softball throw. You saw it too, right?”

He walked up to her, setting a hand on her head, “Yeah. And I don’t need your Quirk to know that this year’s gonna be interesting.”

Yumiki sighed.

The man’s brows furrowed.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think this year’s gonna be more interesting than we want it to be.”

“Why’s that?”

“Don’t know, just a feeling.” Yumiki tilted her head, pondering as her eyes turned gold once more, “I can’t quite see that far, which is never a good thing,” her eyes faded back to blue, an uneasy look on her face. “And…”

“Hmm?”

“That girl. Maaya Akatsuki.”

“What about her?”

Yumiki shook her head, “I’m not entirely sure, but Ame, Ryuu, and I think she’s in the middle of all this.”

Toshinori frowned, moving his hand from his niece’s head to her shoulder and giving her a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “Anything we can do?”

“Just keep an eye on her and be there for her, I guess. We think she’s hiding multiple things from multiple people. Including herself.”

The students of UA had an infectious energy. However, Maaya only fully realized this after she parted ways with the Yagami’s.

The positive vibes she got from them ebbed away the closer to her apartment she got.

By the time she got to her door, she had to force her brain into autopilot.

Normally, she’d go for a walk or run, but, instead, she called her guardian about adding a healing ability to her repertoire, changed into some PJs, prepared dinner early, read the syllabus, ate, cleaned up, and crawled into bed.

Exhaustion weighed heavily on her eyelids; her mind sluggishly going over parts of her day, forcing her to relive the parts she wanted to forget.

The moment she had so desperately wished for had come and gone, and she wished it had never happened at all.

She felt so overwhelmed with negative feelings, it was as if they were trying to drown her.

Maybe it would have been better if she never came to UA, if her guardian never gave her those orders. She could have avoided this. But that wasn’t the case.

There was no changing what had already happened, she knew that, just as she knew she couldn’t change what started this all.

Maaya’s eyes burned and her chest felt as if it were a vice that was squeezing the life out of her heart and the air from her lungs.

A thick lump formed in her throat as she tried to fight down her unshed tears. But it was no use.

She never got to mourn; she never gave herself the option before.

However, now, alone with her thoughts in her new apartment, aware that no one was watching, no one was listening, she finally allowed herself to weep over what could never be.

Curling into a ball as broken sobs racked her body, chest heaving, Maaya tightly gripped her sheets as she buried her face into her pillow to hide her tears and muffle her wails as she cried out at the unfairness of it all. But was life ever fair?

Her lips quivered, her eyes seared, and her lungs burned.

She mourned her biggest what if, what could never have been.

She mourned for the family she never had.

Maaya screamed until her throat burned, the lump still present as her voice failed her.

She fell apart with only the pillow and the moon shining through the window to witness her crumbling.

She would pick up the pieces of herself tomorrow before school, but, for now, she allowed this painful display of weakness.

[keyofjetwolf]

THE GIFTENING 2019: Jet Wolf’s Nomination Run-down

Last year, people said they would have liked to know which of the nominations I’d seen, or knew about, or liked, or didn’t like, etc. etc. I HEAR YOU. Under the cut, you’ll find all the nominees in every relevant category (anime, non-anime animated, live action, movies, games), and a couple of brief notes on my familiarity (or lack thereof) and general feelings on the thing.

YOU NEED NOT CONSIDER ANY OF THIS BEFORE MAKING YOUR VOTES

I’m putting the info out there for those who’ve wanted to know, but that information is relevant precisely as much as you want it to be. I can and will liveblog something I hate, I can play a game I’ve played twenty times before. THE GIFTENING is for you, and while I won’t lie (I won’t pretend to like something I don’t, I won’t feign surprise at a twist on my 21st playthrough), I’ll happily provide whatever entertainment in whatever way I can.

Also please note that if I don’t like something, that feeling comes with no value judgement. My disliking a thing reflects only on myself. So if you see I’m not a fan of something, or don’t think I’ll like it based on what I’ve seen or heard, please keep in mind there’s nothing personal toward in you at all in that. AND HELL I COULD BE WRONG FEEL FREE TO TRY AND SHOW ME

Anyway, enough with the blah blah. Join me under the cut if you care to know!

Anything marked only with ** means I haven’t seen/played it nor have any particular thoughts or opinions to share.

Anime

.hack//Sign  **

A Place Further Than The Universe - Haven’t seen it, but from Dashboard Osmosis, was more interested in it than I have been a non-Sailor Moon anime in a long time.

Aggretsuko  **

Aikatsu!  **

Alien Nine  **

Angel Sanctuary  **

Aria the Animation  ** 

Assassination Classroom  ** 

Azumanga Daioh  **

Bodacious Space Pirates - Saw through the first couple of episodes (liveblog here!) Not sure where it’s going, but liked it pretty well!

Bubblegum Crisis - An old personal favourite

Clannad  ** 

Death Note - I think it’s about killing people with a slam book I DUNNO

Death Parade  ** 

Diebuster  ** 

Erased (Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi)  **

Excel Saga  **

Fate/Grand Order: Babylonia  **

Fate/Grand Order: First Order  **

Fire Force  **

Free! Iwatobi Swim Club - I’ve watched the first series. It’s okay, WOULD BE BETTER IF NOT SO MANY DUDES

Fresh Precure - I’ve not seen any Precure series, but if pressed, would say it appears overwhelmingly fluffy and saccharine

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - a GIFTENING favourite! Barely into it, but enjoying so far. (previous liveblog here)

Fushigi Yuugi - I watched the series (quit partway through the OAVs) when I finished Sailor Moon back in the day and desperately wanted to find it again. I failed.

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun  ** 

Given  ** 

Glitter Force  ** 

Grave of the Fireflies - NEVER SEEN IT HAVE BEEN INFORMED IT WILL DEVASTATE ME

Haibane Renmei - I know only what I’ve read via Holligay’s liveblogs! (find them here)

Hamtaro - uhm isn’t this about a hamster

Higurashi When They Cry  ** 

Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous)  ** 

Hugtto! Precure - See note on previous Precure

Hyouka  ** 

Kaguya-sama: Love is War  **

Kaleido Star  **

Kemono Friends  **

Kimetsu no Yaiba  **

Little Witch Academia  **

Log Horizon  **

Love Hina  **

Luck & Logic  **

Madoka: Rebellion - I saw the Madoka series (fairly ambivalent to it), and heard the movie was terrible, but no clue why, specifically.

Magic Knight Rayearth - Watched this back in the day and haven’t watched a single second since. I REMEMBER LIKING THE BLUE ONE

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha - Someone sponsored this liveblog for a while! (liveblog here) It was doing some really interesting things with kids burdened with all this world-saving shit, I thought.

Magical Girl Pretty Sammy (TV not OAV) - I know this is a Tenchi Muyo! spin-off (watched some Tenchi back in the day), but I’ve never seen it. Magical Girl Raising Project - Seen the whole series, and really quite enjoyed it.

March Comes in Like a Lion (3-gatsu no Lion)  **

Megalobox  **

Mirai Nikki (The Future Diary)  **

Mob Psycho 100 - Never seen it, but know a bit about it through Dashboard Osmosis.

Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) - WOW WE’RE GOING BACK INTO THE OLDEN TIMES. I’ve seen bits and pieces of *A* Gundam, but no idea which.

Moribito  **

My Bride is a Mermaid (Seto No Hanayome)  ** 

My Roommate is a Cat - Never heard of it, love the title, want it to be a series mashed with the one above.

NANA

Natsume's Book of Friends - I’ve heard the title enough to have it ring a bell, but know nothing otherwise.

Neon Genesis Evangelion - I FUCKING HATE EVANGELION I SEE YOU HOLLIGAY

O Maidens in Your Savage Season - This is another banger title, never heard of it.

Ojamajo Doremi  **

Pretear

Princess Principal

Princess Tutu - WE’RE OLD FRIENDS TUTU AND I. I’m currently liveblogging Princess Tutu on the regular thanks to Calantian! (liveblog here) I just got to the halfway point of episode 12, and have Tutu on the schedule for January as well. LOVING THIS SHOW.

Project A-Ko - Among my earliest of anime experiences. A classic. A weird, weird little classic.

Re:Creators  ** 

Read or Die (OAV)  ** 

Revolutionary Girl Utena - I’ve no doubt my time of fully diving into this anime is approaching, but thus far, I’ve only nibbled at the edges. I know there’s shit here, there are too many people into it. MOSTLY THOUGH I’M STILL CONFUSED ABOUT WHY THERE WAS A KANGAROO (previous liveblogs here)

Rose of Versailles - It’s a historical anime and I think there are lesbians?

Samurai Pizza Cats - I could have this wrong, but I think this is a dubbed anime that’s hilariously unconcerned about anything involving the actual translation and plot? And it’s about cats that deliver pizza? I think there’s a crow that’s the bad guy or something?

School-Live - I know the general premise and watched the first episode ahead of Doc’s Eight Days liveblog of it. What I know has intrigued me.

Serial Experiments Lain - I watched this waaaay back when. Bought it on DVD! Still have them! I cannot for the life of me remember how I felt about it.

Slayers - Another I watched a bit back when! Found it to be generally okay, but it was like twenty something years ago because I am an old.

Snow White with the Red Hair  **

Suite Precure - See previous Precure notes

Sweetness and Lightning - I got this as a Wildcard a couple GIFTENINGs ago, and found it to be CHARMING AS FUCK. I’m still mildly concerned it’s going to go creepy and weird on me Because Anime, but otherwise, I had a great time. (previous liveblog)

The Promised Neverland ** 

Thunderbolt Fantasy **

Trigun - I think I saw this on commercials for Toonami? Vash the Demolished or something? I THINK IT’S ABOUT A DUDE WITH A GUN

Umineko When They Cry ** 

Violet Evergarden ** 

Yona of the Dawn - I did a tiny bit of this for a commission, but remember next to nothing about it. (previous liveblog)

Zombie Land Saga - I ASSUME IT INVOLVES ZOMBIES IN SOME FASHION

Non-Anime Animated

Adventure Time - Seen a lot of it pass my dash, I know there’s a yellow dog that can be things, and the vampire and the pink one are gay.

Anastasia - Just livestreamed the movie with Holligay for Eight Days! I’ve no particular feelings toward it otherwise.

Archer - I KNOW IT’S ADULT

Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse - This has been nominated every single GIFTENING, I think, and while I’m no closer to knowing what this is actually about, the persistence is inspiring.

Bob's Burgers - Great show! Seen many episodes! I think it’ll be hard to liveblog in a meaningful way.

Bojack Horseman - I’ve seen through season three. EXCELLENT SHOW

Captain N - What the fuck I think I used to watch this on Saturday mornings

Carmen Sandiego (2019)  **

Castlevania (2017) - I’ve seen a couple gifsets, that’s it.

Chuggingtons - WHY DO YOU PEOPLE HATE ME

Courage the Cowardly Dog - I know the premise, never watched the show.

Cyber Six  **

Daria - It was a Beavis & Butthead spin-off and that immediately killed all interest for me.

Donkey Kong Country (TV series)  **

Ducktales (2017) - I know a lot of people love them, but I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of the Disney ducks, generally speaking.

Epithet Erased  **

Ever After High  **

Gargoyles - Saw the first multi-part episode in a livestream a year or so back. It was pretty standard 90s cartoon stuff to me just from that, but I know it’s well-loved.

Generator Rex  **

Gravity Falls - Currently liveblogging for the Patreon! LOVE IT. I’m not sure we’re outside the exclusivity window for it, but if it makes it into the second heat, I’ll figure out how to go from there.

Green Eggs and Ham (series) - Wait, what the hell, this is a series? HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS INTO A SERIES

Green Lantern: The Animated Series  **

Harley Quinn - Loved the clips I saw of the first episode! Did not love the antisemitic clips I saw of the second episode!

Hazbin Hotel  **

Hilda   **

Home Movies - The few clips I’ve seen were hilarious.

Infinity Train  **

JEM - MY LOVE. It’s desperately 80s and objectively poorly done in places and I adore it with my entire being.

Jonny Quest  **

Kidd Video - I feel like I SHOULD know this, but I can’t place it.

Kim Possible - I’ve heard of it!

Klaus  **

Mao Mao Heroes of Pure Heart  **

Moominvalley (2019) - I know Moomins are those little white hippo things. I am pure confusion beyond that.

My Life as a Teenage Robot  **

Over the Garden Wall - I did a couple episodes for my Patreon a few years ago, and have since finished watching the whole series. I’m up for a rewatch!

Rugrats - I know of it, but have only watched the Hanukkah special.

RWBY - Heard of it! I had the impression it was pretty queerbaity? (don’t quote me on that)

Samurai Jack - I know the premise, but never watched the series

She-Ra (80s) - YES I KNOW YOU

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018) - Love it, love it. I still haven’t seen the most recent “season” (it’s a half season don’t jerk me around Netflix)

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse - I am a long-time comic book nerd and quite familiar with the Spider-Mans. Saw the film shortly after last year’s GIFTENING and enjoyed it.

Star vs the Forces of Evil - Had a liveblog of this for THE GIFTENING a few years back and it was okay, but I wasn’t super impressed. (previous liveblog)

Super Friends - I FUCKING HATE THE SUPER FRIENDS I SEE YOU HUBBY

Tangled: Before Ever After - Saw the movie, never seen the series!

The Animals of Farthing Wood  **

The Dragon Prince - I’ve heard Tumblr chatter in a general sense, but no details.

The Hollow  **

The Loud House  **

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show  **

Thundercats - I fucking loved Thundercats as a kid, hahhaha, there is no way it holds up.

Totally Spies - I’ve had several Patreon livestreams with the show, so have a pretty good general sense of the show at this point. I’m not sure it’d make a good liveblog, though.

Venture Brothers - I think it features a blond buff dude in a black t-shirt?

Wakfu (French dub) - Oh hey, this was a free to play game at PAX one year! That’s it, that’s all I know.

Winx Club  **

X-Men: The Animated Series (90s) - DID SOMEONE SAY X-MEN??? I love this show. Hubby and I still to this day quote this show. This show is not good.

X-Men Evolution - Evo, on the other hand, is EXCELLENT. One of the single best incarnations of the X-Men, in my opinion. Seen all eps multiple times, love it, can talk for a hideously long time about details you never in your life cared about, will probably not make it through an episode, please consider if that is a point for or against it before you vote. (previous liveblog)

Live Action

Agent Carter - Saw the Captain America movie, that’s it!

American Gods - Read the book

Atypical - I know the premise very loosely, and it sounds good, but I’d be a little concerned about accidentally stomping in all the wrong places with my giant clumsy neurotypical feet.

Babylon 5 - I know it’s a sci-fi classic, and I’ve been assured there are characters I would love, but haven’t seen it.

Batman (Adam West series) - A SERIOUS LIVEBLOG WILL RESULT I’M SURE

Black Mirror ("White Bear") - This episode still fucks with me to this day. It’s exceptional, and also very very complicated. This would be a heavy liveblog, be warned. (previous Black Mirror liveblogs)

Brooklyn 99 - I’ve only watched a bit of this and enjoyed it, but like most sitcoms, it’s incredibly difficult to liveblog. (previous liveblog)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - One of my live’s greatest televisual loves. Joss Whedon and time have mostly driven that out of me, but letting my ego out to play for a second, I have to say, I give some pretty good Buffy. (previous liveblogs)

Cagney & Lacey - A formative favourite for tiny baby Jet Wolf! It’s a cop procedural, with all the downsides that implies, but also it’s lady cop BFFs AND I LOVE IT AND THEM

Carmilla - A current staple of the blog, thanks to @cello-moon! I’ve just started Season 3, and if you’re a regular around here, you know how all this goes. (previous liveblogs)

Charmed (1998) - I know of it, very very loosely, but never watched it.

Charmed (2018) - Also loosely known, but even less so!

Cloak and Dagger - I’m burned out (and just burned) from Disney’s Marvel garbage, but I know Cloak & Dagger from the comics, am that only makes me more surprised this show exists.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - I never picked this back up after THE GIFTENING, but had a great time with what we watched! (previous liveblog)

Critical Role (The Night Before Critmas one-shot) - I haven’t seen this one shot, but I DO love me some Critical Role.

Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance - We watched the whole series, and I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. PODLINGS ARE VALID AND HUP IS THE MOST VALID OF ALL

Dear Friends **

Derry Girls - Watched the whole thing a couple times now, absolutely adore it. One of the best shows I’ve seen in a while. Once again though, comedies can be SO hard to liveblog.

Dinnerladies **

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - I’ve heard of the book series?

Doctor Who - I’ve tried SO HARD to like Doctor Who, and yet.

Doctor Who (City of Death serial) - See above, no thoughts on this serial specifically.

Elementary - I’ve seen the first three seasons, I think it is? They began to lose me with some season choices, but I love Sherlock and Joan SO MUCH.

Farscape - I watched the series when it was first on The Sci-Fi Channel, but they kept jerking the schedule around and it fell off my radar. Quite liked it though, as I recall.

Galavant - I SUPER BELIEVE IN YOU TAD COOPER (previous liveblogs)

Good Omens (miniseries) - Read the book and survived the miniseries consuming Tumblr, but didn’t watch it myself.

Hannibal - I remember when this was EVERYWHERE, but mostly I remember that it was very gay and had that guy from Rogue One in it.

Hellier  **

His Dark Materials - Haven’t watched it, haven’t read the books, I know nothing!

Kamen Rider (1971, ep 1)  **

Kamen Rider Fourze  **

Kamen Rider W  **

Kanpai Senshi After V  **

Killing Eve - I’ve seen some photo and gif sets, but haven’t watched it. I think they’re trying to murder each other? But also fuck? IT’S VERY CONFUSING

Legends of Tomorrow - I know it’s a DC show, and I think it has something to do with time travelers?

Leverage - I just watched and streamed my first two episodes last night on Patreon! Quite enjoyed it, more than I expected to.

LOST - Until proven otherwise, I’ll assume this was a troll nomination. GOOD GOD I HATE LOST

Lost Girl  **

Love Island (season 3)  **

Maho Sentai Magiranger  **

Midnight Dinner: Tokyo Stories  **

Murder She Wrote - Actual lol, I have no idea why this was nominated, but I love it and also you. ANGELA LANSBURY ON TV WE ALL WIN

Murdoch Mysteries  **

Once Upon a Time - The premise is fairytales all smooshed together I think?

One Day at a Time (2017) - I’ve watched all but the most recent season, I think. Good show, very enjoyable, but mostly “watch and forget” for me.

Orphan Black - Currently liveblogging, thanks to @skylineofspace​! I’m currently on episode 4, and absolutely loving it. (previous liveblogs)

Parks and Recreation - I’ve seen all but the last season, I think. Great show, but once again, I’d expect a difficult time liveblogging it.

Pushing Daisies - Never seen it. I think it’s about someone whose touch kills?

Re:Mind  **

Russian Doll - Never seen a single second, but I’ve heard nothing but good things through the grapevine.

Sapphire & Steel - HUBBY’S TROLLING ME AGAIN. This is an oooold old old English sci-fi/horror show that I used to watch when I was a tiny tiny Jet Wolf and it scared the shit out of me. I’M STILL MILDLY TRAUMATIZED BY IT TO THIS DAY

Schitt's Creek  **

Sense8  **

Shanara  **

Smash  **

Star Trek: The Next Generation - I love me some Star Trek. I’ve seen all of TNG, but haven’t sat down to fully rewatch the series ever, so most I only saw when they first aired.

Stargate SG1 - I think this is based on a movie I also haven’t seen.

Tantei no Tantei  **

Terrace House  **

The Good Place - OKAY SO THE GOOD PLACE. I watched the first two seasons and LOVED THEM. Mostly. I DO NOT love the Eleanor/Chidi thing. I do not love it to the extent that it completely sucked out my desire to continue with the show. I haven’t seen anything of it past the S2 finale. (previous liveblog)

The Haunting of Hill House - Watched and enjoyed the whole miniseries. I confess to being uncertain about liveblogging this though, as I feel Doc is doing it so much better than I could hope to do.

The Magicians & The Crown  **

The Mandalorian - I KNOW BABY YODA BECAUSE I AM A PERSON WHO EXISTS IN OUR MODERN WORLD (that is all I know)

The Middleman  **

The Tick (2016) - I know and enjoyed the cartoon!

The Untamed  **

Twilight Zone - Who doesn’t know the Twilight Zone, it’s a fucking classic for a reason.

Twin Peaks - Believe it or not, I have never seen a single second of Twin Peaks. I know it’s weird, I know Laura Palmer is dead, I know functionally nothing else.

Ultraman X  **

Westworld - Haven’t seen it, though I believe it’s loosely based on the movie of the same name which I HAVE seen.

What We Do in the Shadows (series) - I’ve seen neither the series nor the movie, but know it’s Taika Waititi and is reportedly hilarious.

Worst Cooks in America - WAIT AM I IN A TV SHOW

Xena: Warrior Princess - My OTHER great love. Adore Xena, adore everything about it (well, mostly), have devoted a not insignificant amount of my heart and brainspace to Xena, if you have me talk about Xena I may never shut up. (previous liveblogs)

Movies

Arrival  **

Atomic Blonde ** 

Barbie's The Princess and The Pauper ** 

Bedknobs and Broomsticks - Saw it a million years ago, remember functionally nothing.

Best in Show - Also seen a very long time ago, just the once.

Bohemian Rhapsody - I love Queen and Freddie Mercury, and I had exactly zero interest in watching this film.

Brave - A Disney/Pixar movie I actually liked!

Cabaret - I haven’t seen the film, though I did see the stage musical, and it fucked me up pretty hardcore for a while there. (Do not let that dissuade you from voting for it! I’ve been wanting to watch the movie. Trump had just been elected when I saw it performed AND WELL THERE WERE THINGS)

Captain Marvel - Haven’t seen it, but it’s one of the few later stage Disney/Marvel offerings I’ve had any interest in.

Captain Underpants  **

Carrie (1976) - ANOTHER SUPER OLDIE I’M SO DELIGHTED. I’ve seen it as well as read the book (both a very long time ago)

Castaway on the Moon  **

Cats (1998) - hahahah I SEE YOU YOU ASSHOLES

Chocolat  **

Clue (1985) - One of my personal favourite movies, though I did stream it not too long ago for my Patreon.

Coco  **

Crank  **

Crimson Peak  **

Dale and Tucker vs Evil - I’ve never seen this, but have wanted to.

Detective Pikachu - Saw this in the theater, and I’m still not sure if I actually enjoyed it or not.

Equestria Girls Rainbow Rocks - THIS IS A MY LITTLE PONY THING ISN’T IT

EVA  **

Fate/Grand Order: First Order  **

Flash Gordon - Delicious, cheesy fun.

Frozen 2 - I won’t be able to stream this if it’s not been released when it’s GIFTENING time, so just keep that in mind. Also please note that I have not seen Frozen 1. I only just, a few months ago, heard “Let it Go” for the first time. TRUE STORY.

Godzilla: King of Monsters  **

Happy New Year (Bollywood) - I legit love Bollywood films, this sounds delightful.

Here Alone  **

Home  **

Hoodwinked!  **

Hot Fuzz - LOVE HOT FUZZ

How to Train Your Dragon  **

Howl's Moving Castle - I haven’t seen it, but I’ve had a few other Miyazaki films voted in for GIFTENING and Patreon, and I haven’t really enjoyed any of them. I’M WILLING TO TRY AGAIN. Just keep in mind, they may not be for me.

Hustlers  **

In Her Shoes  **

Inside Out  **

Interstellar  **

It's Such a Beautiful Day  **

Jennifer's Body  **

Jojo Rabbit - I wasn’t able to see this when it was at our local indy theater, and I regret missing it. I’d love to see it, but I’m not sure with my goyische commentary would be the best delivery method.

Jupiter Ascending - Love this beautiful dumb film, omg. I’ve streamed this for previous GIFTENINGs though, if that’s a thing to care about.

Klaus  **

Knives Out - Very keen to see this, but it may not be out on dvd/streaming before THE GIFTENING, so bear that in mind.

Last of the Blonde Bombshells  **

Legally Blonde - I’VE ACTUALLY NEVER SEEN THIS. I feel like I have, from all the gifs and shit, but nope!

Love Never Dies - Oh my god is this the Phantom sequel, why do you all hate me.

Mad Max: Fury Road - LOVE IT. I’ve done it for THE GIFTENING before, though, just a note.

Madoka: Rebellion - (copied from Rebellion in Anime)  I saw the Madoka series (fairly ambivalent to it), and heard the movie was terrible, but no clue why, specifically.

Man from UNCLE  **

Masters of the Universe (He-Man, 1987) - This movie is so fucking bad hahaha

Midsommar  **

Monster High: Fright On  **

Muppet Christmas Carol - Just watched this during Holligay’s Eight Days! I’m not sure it’s really in my wheelhouse, being relatively lukewarm on both A Christmas Carol and the Muppets, but I’d do my best!

Murder on the Orient Express  **

Newsies (1992)  **

One Cut of the Dead  **

Pacific Rim - I saw it in the theater and actually didn’t care for it over much. I’d be willing to give it another shot though, it might be better second time around.

Pan's Labyrinth - I’ve streamed this film a couple times now, I think, but it’s a good one, so I’m up for another go if you guys want!

Parasite (2019)  **

Perfect Blue  **

Pleasantville  **

Promare  **

Redline  **

Resident Evil  **

Return to Oz - I saw this as a kid and haven’t again since. TAKE THAT INFORMATION AS YOU WILL.

Rock-a-Doodle  **

Searching (2018)  **

Secret of Nimh - LITTLE JET WOLF LOVED THIS MOVIE. Adult Jet Wolf hasn’t sampled it.

Spaceballs - I’ve watched the shit out of Spaceballs. I love a parody, I’m shameless.

Speed Racer (2008) - I’ve only seen this once,but actually enjoyed it more than I expected to.

Spice World - I legitimately love this movie. I’m not sure it’s GOOD but it’s a thousand times better than it has any right to be.

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse - Good movie, lots of fun, I streamed it not too long ago on Patreon.

Star Wars - IT’S STAR WARS

Star Wars Holiday Special - I’ve never watched this, and I’m not sure how excited I am to change that fact.

Street Fighter (1994) - I HAVE ONLY HEARD THE LEGENDS

Summer Wars  **

Super Mario Brothers - Oh .. this can’t be good ...

Tale of Tales  **

Tangled - I’ve seen it, but didn’t have strong opinions one way or the other.

The Adventures of Tintin  **

The Great Muppet Caper - I’m sure I’ve seen this, but fuck if I can remember anything.

The Last Jedi (hatewatch) - WELP

The Living Wake  **

The Lost Boys - It’s not a good movie, and I love it.

The Mummy (1999) - Streamed recently on Patreon!

The Rezort  **

The Road to El Dorado - I’ve seen it, I want a Sailor Moon AU of it.

The Room - I know it’s considered one of the worst films ever made, but I’ve never had the personal privilege of experience.

Tokyo Godfathers  **

Us (2019) - Saw it in the theater, totally down for seeing it again with perspective on the whole movie.

Venom  **

Wall-E - Probably my favourite Pixar film!

Wayne's World - Saw it back when! Does it hold up? WHO KNOWS

What We Do in the Shadows (movie) - As mentioned above, I’ve never seen it, but I’ve heard it’s an amazing Taika Waititi joint.

When Marnie Was There  **

Wolf Children Ame and Yuki  **

X-Men 2 - GOD I LOVED THIS MOVIE. I’m not sure how well it would hold up, but when it came out? One of the few films I’ve paid to see multiple times in the theater.

Your Name  **

Games

Ace Attorney (blog) -  I’ve tried multiple times with the Ace Attorney games, and I must be honest and say I just don’t like them.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent - I’ve watched a playthrough! The story’s not good. THE IDEA OF PLAYING IT STRESSES ME OUT SO HARD HAHAHAH YOU FUCKS

Among the Sleep (stream)  **

Arkham Knight (main story run) (stream) - Very intrigued to play this. I’ve tinkered a bit, but get distracted by all the side stuff. The motivation to just streamline the story very much appeals.

Baba is You (stream) - I’ve heard great things about the game, but in a “It was great!” way, I still know fuck all about it.

Black Closet (blog)  **

Borderlands (stream) - Love Borderlands, it’s fun as hell. I’d probably angle for Borderlands 2 over the first, but would have a good time however it went.

Catherine Classic  **

Cho Aniki  **

Control (stream) - I’ve seen a little bit on Steam, just enough to know I’m interested.

Cthulhu Save Christmas - Never heard of it, but great title.

Cuphead (stream)  **

Danganronpa  **

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (blog)   **

Dead by Daylight (stream)  **

Death Stranding  **

Death Trips  **

Detention (stream)  **

Disco Elysium (blog) - I’ve heard great things, would be totally okay with a reason to play it.

Doki Doki Lit Club (stream) - I was so intrigued with this from THE GIFTENING a couple years ago that I wanted to work it into the main schedule, but it just didn’t happen. 100% on-board the chance to keep going!

Dragon Age: Origins (stream) - I KEEP STALLING WHENEVER I TRY TO REPLAY THIS GAME SO I CAN MOVE TO DA2 THIS IS MY PERSONAL HELL

Dragon Quest Builders 2 (stream)  **

Dream Daddy - I know the premise, and the idea of blogging this is beautiful.

Final Fantasy X (blog) - Have I played X? (asks Hubby) YES I HAVE. It’s one of the few that I finished. Final Fantasy games usually entail so much grinding that I’m not sure it’d be a great liveblog, but I’d do my best!

Firewatch - I’ve been wanting reasons to play this SO MUCH.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (stream) - I’m preeetty sure everyone just wants to hear how many terrible accents we can do. And that’s legit! I’ve since figured out how to play mobile games on my PC so the video quality would be better than last time, but that is the only improvement I could promise. (previous stream)

Gris  **

Half Dead 2 (stream)  **

Hand of Fate 2 (blog) - I think this is a card game?

Hatoful Boyfriend/Pigeon Fucking (blog) - IS IT EVEN REALLY THE GIFTENING WITHOUT PIGEON FUCKING (previous liveblogs)

Hollow Knight  **

House Flipper (blog) - I’ve tentatively had my eye on this on Steam for a while, so seeing this nominated tickled me.

Just Dance (stream) - Jesus wept, you all DO hate me. IF I HAVE TO DO THIS I WON’T DO IT ALONE

Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (First Chapter) (blog)  **

Legend of Zelda (stream) - I AM SO BAD AT THIS GAME WHY

Life is Strange (blog) - See below!

Life is Strange (stream) - I streamed all episodes of Life is Strange a couple years back. While I’m not sure I’d have much to offer on a replay, I’ll happily do it if you guys vote it in. MEANWHILE, here’s a playlist with all the Life is Strange streams.

Life is Strange 2 - My understanding is it’s a separate game from the first with new characters and new story.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm (stream) - And I believe this is a prequel to the first Life is Strange featuring Max and Chloe.

Little Inferno (stream)  **

Long Live the Queen (blog) - YOU KNOW PINK PRINCESS (previous liveblogs)

Long Live the Queen (stream) (with walkthrough to not repeat) - I laughed so hard at the nomination specifically giving my ass a walkthrough.

Mass Effect 1 - I’ve played it multiple times! The Mass Effect series is one of my personal favourites.

Monster Prom (w/Hubby, Doc, & Jill) (stream) - AGAIN WITH VOICES I SEE YOU. It can be difficult to get everyone’s schedules all in alignment, so this may be subject to shuffling and delays, just to keep in mind.

Nancy Drew: Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake (stream)  **

Overwatch (stream) - I assume this is more group play? But we can talk details if it makes it into further heats.

Oxenfree (stream) - I’ve fully streamed Oxenfree on the Patreon. It’s well outside the exclusivity window at this point, and I’m happy to make those public if you guys were interested and would rather put your votes elsewhere. That said, I really enjoyed the game, and think a second playthrough could add a lot to the overall experience, so feel free.

Pathologic 2 (blog)  **

Persona 3 Portable (blog)  **

Pillars of Eternity (blog) - I’ve never finished Pillars of Eternity, but I do have a game with some significant progress I could continue. Alternately, I could roll a whole new character, and would play it however you guys chose. We have options if we go this route!

Pokemon Go (stream/videos) - Amazing. Here the link to last year’s Pokemon Go, if you’d like some idea of what the fuck this is about!

Portal (stream) - The Portal series is great, I think it does some really interesting and innovative ideas with gameplay. I’ve played and finished the first two, though remembering the solutions to any of those puzzles is, of course, another thing entirely.

Recettear: An Item Shop Tale (stream) - THIS WAS THE FIRST THING I EVER BOUGHT ON STEAM. I haven’t played it in forever, and I’m not sure how entertaining it would be, but I’m down for finding out!

Resident Evil 2 remake (blog) - IT’S ZOMBIES. That’s about all I know about Resident Evil.

Reventure  **

Sara is Missing  **

Shovel Knight (stream)  **

Slime Rancher (blog) - I have and have played Slime Rancher! I’m a little unsure about blogging it, but would try!

Slime Rancher (stream) - I WASN’T EXPECTING SUCH A RUSH FROM THE SLIME RANCHER FANDOM THIS YEAR

Stanley Parable - I think Hubby’s played this? I seem to recall it has a narrator who comments on what you do, but I don’t know much else.

Stardew Valley (blog) - I’ve never gotten as far in Stardew Valley as I’ve felt I would. Lots to do for me, yet!

Stardew Valley (stream) - Same as above, just in stream form!

Subnautica (stream) - I’ve done several Subnautica streams for Patreon, and if this gets through, I’d release them so everyone (who wants to) can catch up. If I recall, my last play left off with me exploring a big ass ship that crashed.

Superluminal  **

Tales from the Borderlands - It’s Borderlands, but Telltale, though!

Tales of Symphonia  **

Team SASV (Pokemon X/Y) - TEAM SASSY AND SOMEWHAT VAIN. If this gets in, I’ll need all the intervening time to try and find my fucking DS. (previous liveblogs, via the backup)

The 7th Guest (blog)  **

The Beginner's Guide (stream)  **

The Long Dark   **

The Outer Worlds - I haven’t played this yet but would be extremely delighted for an excuse to pick it up and start.

The Walking Dead game - I watched Hubby play the first two installments, haven’t seen beyond that. Felt the second was weak, LOVED the first. I’ve been hanging on Holligay’s playthrough, so I’m relatively familiar with the story again, save the last episode, which she’s not played yet. I’ve been wanting to before she did, to compare what I think she’ll do to what she actually does, so an excuse to get going on that would be welcome.

The Witcher 3 (stream) - I know @jewishsuperfam loves The Witcher, AND THAT IS ALL I KNOW.

Undertale (blog) - AREN’T I LIKE TWO MINUTES FROM FINISHING THIS. The fight where I left off was frustrating THE PISS out of me, but if this gets in, I’ll get Hubby to read up on what I need to do, and maybe get around that fight before the liveblog, so I don’t spend the whole time getting nowhere and then punching my monitor.

Untitled Goose Game (stream) - I just last month finished this on the Patreon! I need to double check that it would be out of the exclusivity window, but if so, I’d be happy to release it for you guys. I had a great time, but I don’t think there’s much to be regained from playing it again.

VA-11 Hall-A (blog)  **

VooDoo Vance: Remastered  **

Wattam  **

We Happy Few (stream) - I know the basic storyline premise, but little else.

What Remains of Edith Finch (blog) - I watched Holligay’s stream of this and loved the story.

Wild Arms 3  **

Wild ARMs XF (blog)  **

Yakuza 0 (stream)  **

Zero Escape 999 (blog)  **

AND THAT’S THAT. Sailor Moon Day and Miscellaneous don’t require much input from me ahead of time, I don’t feel, but if you have a question on anything there -- or something that’s unclear here, just shoot me an Ask. AND IF YOU FOUND THIS USEFUL PLEASE LET ME KNOW. It took me ... just SO much longer than I was expecting it to. Which I don’t mind, but if it’s not actually helpful to anyone, that’s time better spent elsewhere next year.