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withhertea · 6 months ago

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HELLO WITCHES!

me again!!

it’s been a couple months since my last letter to you all and i’ve missed you all deeply. a few things have changed since we last spoke, so let’s get into it shall we.

i guess the main thing that’s changed is that i announced i would no longer be going on the kelsea ballerini tour this year, for mental health reasons. i was so grateful and so wonderfully surprised by the outpouring of support and love i received for that decision and i know you all know this but truly it was one of the hardest i’ve ever made. i’m such a fan of kelsea and i know i would have learnt so much through being on the road with her; i also know how many of you guys i would have been able to see, which broke my heart. however to be honest, going on that tour was just going to be too much for me and my body and i don’t think i could have handled it healthily if i had gone through with it. i made the decision so as to be the best version of myself when i come back to the stage, which i hope will be sooner rather than later, and i am just so grateful that i have such a sweet and caring and understanding fan base who have been nothing but kind and supportive about it. i LOVE you guys and the main emotion i had after announcing was pride in how everyone in our little side of the internet treats each other, and has each other’s backs, mine included :’))))))))

since announcing that, i really have been in my rest and recovery period! i have been decorating my new flat, framing sheet music and hanging it up like a proper adult, seeing my family and friends a ton more, and of course, spending most waking hours in the studio. mp3 really came on leaps and bounds in the last two months of last year – i was able to unlock a new side of myself and my writing, and wrote a handful of songs i’m so so proud of. i also met some really amazing new collaborators that i am so excited to continue working with this year!! it’s scary and it’s exhilarating and it’s overwhelming, and making this album has definitely been a period of extreme growth for me. i feel i’ve stepped out of my comfort zone in many ways, and i hope i will look back on this period of time and feel so much joy at what was to come!

what can i tell you about the album then… i can tell you last winter i went to decoy and to real world studios in bath, and made some really magical things. keywords right now are peace, reflection, freedom, flight, home. the colour feels like a mossy green, a dusky pink. i’m writing love songs for the first time in a long time, and it’s interesting the way that those are taking shape, the form this love that i am in takes on the page. it’s also interesting how true love makes you look backwards at its predecessors, and that’s something i’m definitely writing about more and more. have a lyric, as a treat why don’t you

‘does my memory kill, or is it letting you live? we were all good babe so riddle me this i’d rather be hated than forgotten’

i’ve said too much! what else can we talk about? christmas and new years were calm and sweet and full of family and bananagrams, my idea of heaven. i rang in the new year at one of my favourite london pubs (which i fear i shall have to gatekeep!), dancing with my boyfriend and doing rum shots (which meant i had a very rare maisie hangover january 1st), and was to be found in the lucozade aisle of my local shop bang on 9am. i’ve moved in with my sister and her sweet boyfriend, and she’s a truly all star chef who has been making me delicious meals every night; i truly am living the good life and i thank the gods above every day. the other night she made me flapjacks just because i wanted some, can you BELIEVE it. we have been giggling and scheming and watching traitors like every other reasonable household (justice for kaz, my heart for minah, linda for icon of the year) and it’s been such a slow and lovely start to the year for me.

winter is cold and crisp and beautiful here in london, but my heart right now is pretty consistently with LA, and all the people there suffering through the fires. i am going to attach a link to a page of resources to help the people of the city, and i urge you to do whatever you can to help also <3

i am going to wrap this up with some quick recommendations to make your days a little brighter, and i will talk to you again all super soon!

a new cafe has opened on brighton beachfront called reading room and it is just gorgeous, sea views and coffees and just elite vibes the playlist old jazzy romantic calm on spotify – i have started using it whilst cooking/ tidying and it really brings an inner zen that is needed in these trying times a real pain – the new jesse eisenberg / kieran culkin film, so funny and silly and sad and wonderfully made, the first cinema trip i’ve been on since 2009 wolf hall – a book series by hilary mantel i started rereading recently. i love nothing like a good tudor england novel it must be said

love u all to the moon!!! mais x

#maisie peters

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marjaystuff · 2 years ago

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Interview with Karin Slaughter

After That Night

Will Trent Thriller book 11

Karin Slaughter

William Morrow Pub

August 22nd, 2023

After That Night by Karin Slaughter is typical of her books. She intertwines a fascinating thriller with a very important relevant subject matter, drawing readers into the story from page one.

Fifteen years ago, Sara Linton’s life changed forever when she was violently assaulted and raped. With a strong support system, she became a successful doctor and is now engaged to Detective Will Trent, a man she dearly loves. She has tried to put her past behind her. But one evening changes everything.

She is now working at Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital when 19-year-old Dani Cooper is admitted with fatal injuries from a car accident. Sara recognizes signs of rape, which Dani confirms with her dying breaths. Having been raped herself 15 years earlier, Sara vows to bring Dani’s assailant to justice.

Fast forward three years and Sara is now testifying in court against Thomas Michael McAllister IV. He is the son of two of Sara’s former medical school peers, pediatric surgeon Mac McAllister and his wife, Britt. Even more surprisingly, Britt McAllister, when Sara encounters her in the courthouse restroom, smugly informs her, “What happened to you. What happened to Dani. It’s all connected.” Sara decides to tell Will and his partner Faith and works with them to take down the bad guys.

As with all her books the story is riveting and touches on important subjects of the day. Slaughter not only shows readers the effect that rape has on victims but shows how predators get away with it. It is gripping and shocking from the very first page. This book had a nice number of twists, turns and revelations. There are plenty of little quips, bickering, and witty banter sprinkled throughout to ease some of the tension of the story.

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for this story?

Karin Slaughter: I write about stuff I have seen going on in the world. It was time to write more about what happened to Sara Linton, a character readers like. Now would be a good time to talk about where she is at. At my heart I am a thriller writer and that has always been my goal, to write thrillers.

EC: Can you talk about why that quote at the beginning of the book?

KS: You are referring to this one, “Remember to speak from the scar, not the wound.” It is from the trauma counseling community. Those sexually assaulted should give themselves some distance. It takes time to process, for a woman to get through it, to recognize and understand it, and to get to a point she can speak about it.

EC: This is like sex trafficking?

KS: Sex trafficking is a good corollary. There was this movie, “Sound of Freedom,” made about it. One of the main investors was just arrested in sex trafficking. People put themselves in the spotlight as advocates for children and women as they speak about family values but are using it to hide their true selves. They have an “alibi” if ever accused because they appear to be such a supportive person. It is the same way for rape where a lot of men hide in plain sight. My point is that a predator is not someone who can be easily spotted.

EC: There is a scene in the book where Sara says she is not sure how she should feel: Outrage, matter of fact, emotional, or devoid of emotion. Please explain.

KS: Sara is talking about how as a victim she also must manage others’ feelings around rape. It is true that this is one of the few crimes where society puts value judgements, especially other women. I think these women are not nasty, but fearful. Every woman has lived with this fear that they could possibly be raped. The fact is rape can happen no matter what a woman does. Women should not be saying ‘she should not have worn that or done this.’

EC: There is a statistic in the story that fewer than 1% of rapes lead to a felony conviction. Please explain.

KS: A lot of police are driven by numbers. They do not prioritize cases. Sometimes they ignore the cases because maybe the victim was a prostitute. Once again, it is a judgement call. Sara feels this weight to suppress her own emotions and help others in the story work their way through what happened to them. Everyone thinks the system works until they are in the system. Rape consistently gets pleaded down to a lesser offense, so men are not put on a sex offender registry.

EC: How did the rape affect Sara?

KS: I openly write about her rape since book 1, Blindsighted, and how it affected her life. Sara feels however people responded to being rape is how they should respond. She managed to rebuild her life including falling in love with a man and to be able to trust him. She did have her family as a support structure.

EC: What about the relationship between Will and Sara?

KS: I have this quote in the book about her relationship with Will, “This is the miracle of her recovery. She trusted with every fiber of her being that he will always be there. He can pick up her moods.” This is one of the strongest parts of Will’s character that he is intensely loyal. He always has Sara’s back and is very supportive.

EC: How would you describe Britt, one of Sara’s medical school peers?

KS: She is a ‘pick me.’ She always is talking about how she does not get along with other women, but the fact is other women do not like her. She will always choose a man over her women friends no matter what. She has no identity outside of a man. She identifies herself only as being the wife of this powerful man. All her self-worth and power come from the fact that she is married to Mac, a top surgeon. She wants to be the cool girl, one of the guys. It is a sad way to live. She is spiteful, insecure, and bitter.

EC: How would you describe Mac, Britt’s husband, who was also a medical school peer of Sara?

KS: He is a control freak. This is not a bad thing considering he is a surgeon. He needs to pay attention to the important details.

EC: How would you define the rapist?

KS: He uses coercion, control, brainwashes, and false imprisons his victims. He uses charm in the beginning, the brain washing part. He does not show all women that part of himself but only the victims are showed this part of his personality. All this work is put into being the thing that they are not.

EC: Are all the rape victims in the story similar?

KS: Sara later talks with Sloan, another medical school peer who was raped. There were different women from different walks of life. They had different ways they chose to deal with it. There is no one way to recover. Sometimes the police have a hand in it also. When a woman files a complaint there are some who say ‘I do not believe you and I will arrest you for filing a false complaint. I am not going to investigate.’ I wanted to show how all these women had different responses and different outcomes.

EC: Next book?

KS: It will be another Sara and Will story. I am working on it now. It will be out next year this time.

EC: What about the TV series on ABC?

KS: I hope people are enjoying it. There will be a second season out when the strike is over. I look forward to the series continuing.

THANK YOU!!

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the-land-of-eternal-winter-novel · 3 years ago

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The Land of Eternal Winter - Political Compass 9×9 - ultimate character sheet + worldbuilding masterpost

Auth-Left

Including actual communists but generally just working class people and their adjacent labour unions, political parties etc

Center-Left

Including again, mostly working class people (regardless of political affiliation), people who are "progressive" by the standards of this society or otherwise people who view the revolutions in a positive light although they themselves would not join

Lib-left

Including actual anarchists as well as, again, people who would be considered "liberal" by the standards of that society, as well as those who prioritise their personal freedom etc

Auth-Center

Comprised of people who are power hungry for the most part, as well as others who are opposed to the current regime for whatever other reason

Centrist

People who genuinely want nothing to do with all of this, and are mostly concerned with their personal affairs, in this context used as synonym for apolitical

Lib-Center

People mostly concerned about personal freedom etc rather than any specific political affiliation, including various villagers (who would be conservative from a cultural lens)

Auth-Right

Including actual imperialists but mostly just traditionalists and the older generations of monarchists, people more concerned with justice and order than peace

Center-Right

Again, mostly monarchists and conservatives, more or less comprising the majority/ status quo of this society

Lib-right

People who value freedom, peace, etc more than order, justice etc, in the case of the monarchs: particularly lenient in their rule, this side also includes republicans (in the anti-monarchist/ presidency sense)

Edit:

Note:

The numerals indicate how proemiment a character actually is in the story

I = main cast

II = supporting character

III = episodic character

IV = background character

End of note

DISCLAIMER

I do not pretend this is a very accurate representation of an actual political compass, I mostly use it as a neat little character template because it's one I've been using for a long time

The society in which these characters live is largely very conservative, so even the left wingers are not as left as they would normally be, or the progressives as progressive as irl, etc. See: Overton window

I have indeed conflated right wing with conservative and left wing with progressive in some cases (otherwise the characters would not be so political, instead being in some way or another "against the grain" and thus falling in the category of "they care more about their personal freedoms"), and also the authority-liberty axis is used in a government sense with some (ostensibly political) characters, but in a personal (how lenient or inscrutable of a person they are etc) with less political characters.

I would also like to add that I tried my best with the names (personal names, surnames, toponyms etc), but I know I might have made some mistakes. If you know the language in which any of those names are written and it makes you cringe, feel free to critique them, but also offering some alternatives, because otherwise I cannot change them for the better. (On the other hand all country names are equally "cringe" translating literally to stuff like Frozenland, Mistland, Springland etc, so I'm not being disrespectful to any country in particular).

End of disclaimer

________

I worked about 2 months on this, with a total of 81 panels, and almost 100 characters illustrated

I personally am very satisfied with the end result and how far I've come both regarding my drawing and my writing skills. I really hope you guys enjoy it too and that the lore, presented in this format, will make you interested in my novel. Currently I've only written draft 1, but I'm working on wprldbuilding and outlining for draft 2, as illustrated (badum tss) above.

Thank you for reading!

#the land of eternal winter #my novel #brainstorming worldbuilding #worldbuilding #trailer #brainstorming for draft 2 #political compass

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oathkeeper-of-tarth · 3 years ago

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DnD character ask meme replies! @fuleao and an anon both asked for 2, so here it is first:

2. what was your original concept for this character? how did playing them change that concept?

Here my very very first concept was: haven't played DnD in ages, let's make an honourable oathkeeping paladin, absolute Oath stock character, easy mode, check. I then like taking silly things, in-jokes and memes, as well as core DnD/mechanical stuff, and using it all as prompts for serious character expansion and flavour.

The rest is under the cut because I ramble quite a bit.

Second in this particular case, I was fuelled by an old grudge from back in my highschool 3.5e playing days. We were starting one of our homebrew campaigns, I made an aasimar character, ate the level adjustment, and took the whole chain of prerequisite feats from the old Races of Faerûn in order to have wings. I literally just wanted to play a speedy glowy lil guy with wings and a bunch of Freedom of Movement stuff even though it was severely sub-optimal in a million different ways. And in approximately the second session we ever played, the DM decided to be a dick (we don’t play with that guy anymore for a variety of reasons), instakilled the char in a contrived way, and then had them reincarnate… as a normal human. So anyway, about a decade later, I made a glowy lil guy with wings (once a day for a minute but hey, whatever, I'll take it).

The origin of the name is a completely non-serious

And the other thing is that FMA gif of the buff guys clasping hands, and the amusing contrast with the fact that we were using standard array for stats and I dumped the 8 into strength.

I ended up doodling this "family portrait":

So there, a weird little glowy foundling child adopted by the village's buff blacksmith couple. An absolute noodle who wanted to be a smith, ended up being a righteous knight of honour and justice due to Circumstances and an Incident (which I left vague until way, way later on). And finally, got spirited away by spooky magical mists into a cursed, dreary land with an evil vampire overlord, which is where the actual play started.

How the concept changed? Well, mostly it became more refined, especially setting-wise, because when we started CoS we all had fairly vaguely defined characters we were deliberately filling and colouring in as we went and as things became relevant (it was a fun way to do it instead of writing out 30 pages of probably irrelevant backstory, would recommend). The party that got Mist-napped was originally from Eberron, our group’s favourite and by far most played of the official settings. Eberron has a very specific cosmology/way of handling the planes and all that, and thus an aasimar wasn't just a lil glowy guy with wings anymore, now I had a whole Thing to work with, and the thing was Irian (thanks Exploring Eberron, btw - excellent book). This led to other silly-but-later-serious things, like the idea that Ramiel's main way of contacting Irian is by… bath. Because Irian has this bit called the Refuge:

The Refuge is a vast fortress-monastery, though it has aspects of a spa as well. It’s filled with tranquil groves, soothing baths, and places to rest and reflect.

Healing angelic hot springs, come on, I'm not leaving that out. And CoS the module has a whole thing with a mysterious blessed pool in one of the towns (originally entirely unrelated to anything mentioned above, but sometimes things just work out nicely). This tidbit also tied in to my general love of playing support/heal, and things I noticed as we started playing, just looking at what abilities and spells I was using, etc. Sanctuary, Protection from good and evil, Bless, all that good stuff. Having access to and constantly using both Lay on hands and Healing hands.

The paladin bit became refined as well, with the Silver Flame and other setting-specific stuff coming into play, and I found the idea of having TWO perhaps clashing sources of radiant/celestial power (and responsibility) interesting. It's also relevant politically, with us collectively deciding to be a trio from the setting's Fantasy France.

Ultimately, the contrast - and essentially struggle - between protection and healing vs. paladin nova stuff and easily going absolutely apeshit with dealing single-target damage (arising from mostly mechanical resource management during play) turned into a fairly important aspect of the character. Are you chasing glory and smiting evil, being vengeful and destructive, and using protecting innocents and whatnot as an excuse, more than anything? You can indeed protec but also attac… but not at the same time, and if you go too far with one, you won't have anything left to enable you to do the other. And then Rudolph van Richten dies because you don't have a spell slot left for Revivify fml.

I also took the Oath of Devotion "do not lie" bit 100% seriously, which was… interesting to roleplay, to say the least.

I realise upon writing this all out it actually better fits several other questions on that list… but here we are!

#ask meme #blorbos from my tabletops #gonna take my horse to the old svalich road #ramiel #dnd #tabletop #curse of strahd #oathkeeper replies to things

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moneypie91 · 3 years ago

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A ... Conversation of SELF

If it far more dangerous to hold onto your feelings and action of self...than to say and do them out loud. One day the mask falls off....and shatters the false reality .

As a child, being Neurodivergent, I had and still have one main hyper fixation. Science fiction, more specifically, Cyberpunk. Anime, manga, comics, movies, TV shows, the works. It helps me make sense of the world both through a psychological and scientific lense. As well as a spiritual one. It asks the question of "why?" A question we ask as a child to our parents, friends, teachers, strangers. Why? Most importantly it taps into the fundamental building blocks of what makes a human a human. It. Questions. As a Pagan with a bachelors degree in Psychology I had spent years asking why, and trying to make sense of the human mind, the world around me, and what is beyond that which I see. What more is there? Another question we ask as we dream of worlds beyond the stars of our solar system. How can we get there? And how far can we go? Where else could we go? What else is there beyond this world, this body I inhabit? How do I exist? Why?

Why does it matter?

I suppose that's why I have neither a pessimistic or optimistic view when it comes to the future of the world. I have long accepted that while I have action I am at my base a artist. I desire to bring a peaceful environment to those who need it, and cheer on those whose action is to fight on the front line. Yes, I desire the best outcome for the human race. Freedom, equality, justice and judgement. I am after all a black, neurodivergent, queer woman.

I juggle between what I need and what I want. Juggling my materialism versus minimalism. I question the frustration of the world as a whole, my country, society, the economy. I scream into the void and write out my emotions because saying them doesn't seem to make any sense to the neurotypical mind. I write in hopes someone will read and listen. I paint and draw in hopes someone will see and feel. That is my action. Can it change the world? Maybe, maybe not, but it can bring someone happiness and peace. It can fuel them however they need it to.

I center myself through meditation, quiet, breathing to bring back balance in a world that continues to say it doesn't want me. Yet...I love this world. I love my home...but I can't love my country. I am...Conflicted. But...I am also acceptance.

I'm not the praying type, I manifest what I can. I get by doing what I can, when I can. I am grateful for my support system and try to support others. And at the end of the day I continuously question.

why?

#cyberpunk #pagan #witch #spiritually #spiritualist #psychology #science fiction #sci fi #solarpunk #mental health awareness #mental health #shadow work #identity #the self #self awareness

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smokeybrand · 4 years ago

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This is the Good Life

I read a ton of manga. I find the content coming out of Japan to be far more genuine and creative than the sh*tshow comic industry we have here in the states. I’m not saying there isn’t good content to be found in the massive annals of Marvel and DC, i am in particular love with whatever the f*ck is going on with the X-titles right now, but that is the exception, not the rule. Japan is different. Even the most blatant shill of a cash-in has a unique spin to it. When the moe boom happened and we were inundated with slice of life fodder for a decades, shows like Higurashi, Toradora, Haruhi, Lucky Star, and basically anything out of Kyoto animation, were absolute masterpieces. Each tells a distinct story, adapting that cutesy art style to their respective strengths, and it worked beautifully. The homogeneity of formulaic content here in the US, isn’t really a concern overseas and that is a wonderful thing. It makes for amazing storytelling and a creativity freedom, even when awash in trend or fad. I say all of this to preface the fact that Kajiya De Hajimeru Isekai Slow Life is chef kiss levels of shine, even if it is a manga staunchly entrenched in the grating isekai fad.

Now, i say “grating” in the glib sense because i genuinely love the isekai genre. I have for decades, going back to Escaflowne, El Hazard, .Hack, and Rayearth. What i think most people are frustrated with, is the OP protagonist in these stories. You can only identify with some, overwhelming, power fantasy, so many times going into these tales. How do you frame that narrative? how do you keep it compelling? You don’t. Entries like Overlord and Tensei Shitara Suraimu Datta Ken do a great job avoiding that stagnation by building out the world around their ridiculously plot-armored mains but that doesn’t work all of the time. If you want a character driven narrative, you have to build great characters. You have to make your principal cast affable, flawed, and fun. I think that’s the strength in Kajiya De Hajimeru Isekai Slow Life. You almost immediately fall in love with the cast you’re going to sped all of your time with and that’s absolutely necessary because this story is as much about the world building as it is about the main cast, themselves.

Slow Life follows Eizo Tanya, who is hit by a truck in the process of saving a cat, who turned out to be an inter-dimensional god or something. Since the Kitty deity f*cked up and was almost “killed’, causing Eizo’s death in turn, it offers to reincarnate him into a brand new world with a mad overpowered cheat skill. Eizo gives it a thought and chooses - blacksmithing! You see, Eizo was a salaryman, bitterly unhappy with his life in the old times. He wanted, more than anything, to be able to work with his hands in the new world so, instead of asking for he power to be a Hero or some vicious Demon Lord, he just wanted the ability to make dope sh*t in the woods. Kitty Deity is a little surprised but grants Eizo his wish and, boom! We have the foundation for a pretty delightful romp. Stuff happens, Eizo gets a tiger wife and a dwarf apprentice. His craftsmanship is the best in the world and his tale toward legendary status begins.

The simplicity of this narrative is one that has a level of accessibility not found in most isekai. The simple desire of a man, overworked and looking to be fulfilled, to find value, in what he does with his life, really resonates with cats like me who have been in the workforce for decades. I left my job a year ago to pursue my dream of crating so i identify with Eizo’s passion to be more than just a cg in a machine. More than that, i love the way he is written. Eizo feels real, like a proper person lost in a world of fantasy and magic. The supporting cast is also amazing and decently developed. I immediately fell in love with tiger waifu, Samia. She is capable, tenacious, curious, and f*cking adorable. There isn’t a ton of groundwork about her past being laid but i have a feeling we’ll definitely get into that as the narrative develops and i can’t wait to see where that leads. Newcomer to the story is the dwarf apprentice, Riku Moritz. We haven’t had a great deal of time with her so far, but she comes across as a studious, knowledgeable, junior who yearns to be the best at her craft. She reminds me of Miles Morales from Into the Spider-Verse, to Eizo’s Peter B. Parker and i adore that type of dynamic. We are only a handful of chapters in, but this story seems like it has legs and i look forward to where it goes in the future. I’d say it’s a slow burn, but it really isn’t.

I was hooked from chapter one and a lot of that, aside from the great writing and developing character work, stems from the artwork. My, goodness, is Slow Life gorgeous! There is a purposeful elegance to how these lines and strokes come together. The line work is clean and precise, granting each panel thjust the right amount of detail hile staying true to the artist's personal vision. It's actually very refreshing to see. The style is very distinct and carries it's own, unique hallmarks, similar to Toriyama or Oda, but slightly more relaistic than those. I am absolutely in love with it. Like, i follow a few trash rags because the art is dope and immediately hooked me. Isekai Meikyuu de Dorei Harem Wo, Gunbured X Sisters, or Kouya Ni Kemono Doukokusu immediately come to mind, all decent in their own right, but it’s very obvious the strength of these entries lies in the art. True to form, it took a while for me to get into their respective narratives and, in all honesty, they’ve gotten pretty good but those first few chapters were a bit rocky. The art kept me coming back and now, these three are some of my favorite titles to read. Slow Life did not have that issue. The art immediately took my breath away. It felt like cracking open Tsugumomo, BLEACH, Lv2 kara Cheat datta Moto Yuusha Kouho no Mattari Isekai Life, Gleipnir, Meikyuu Black Company, or Isekai De Skill Wo Kaitai Shitara Cheat Na Yome Ga Zoushoku Shimashita: Gainen Kousa No Structure. That’s a lot of titles but i am a slut for great, unique, artwork and these entries hit my sweet spot immediately. I’m just lucky that the narrative accompanying them was enough to do the linework justice because it would have been a shame to abandon these titles over sheer ugliness. Slow life definitely dodged that bullet. It is, without hyperbole, some of the best looking manga I've seen in years.

Kajiya De Hajimeru Isekai Slow Life is absolutely amazing. It’s an easy read filled with exceptional art, deft character work, and a world that is both compelling and growing steadily. Eizo is a great protagonist, easily to identify with and none of the edgelord OP, baggage most Isekai protags tend to have. Samia is a delightful love interests who carries a quiet strength and enjoyable naivety, which immediately endears and Riku is just plain hilarious. This laid back narrative of a smith who just wants to make dope sh*t, while being dope to his tiger wife and faithful apprentice is an distinct palate cleanser in a world of power fantasy saturated, isekai, trash. I love this book and feel like more people should have eyes on it so, you know, got put your eyes on it. You won’t be disappointed. Also, all the other titles i specifically mentioned. They’re worth a gander, too, especially Isekai De Skill Wo Kaitai Shitara Cheat Na Yome Ga Zoushoku Shimashita: Gainen Kousa No Structure and Lv2 kara Cheat datta Moto Yuusha Kouho no Mattari Isekai Life. Them sh*ts is just plain lovable and have two more of these objectively bias essays forthcoming. But that’s for later, for now, go read all of Kajiya De Hajimeru Isekai Slow Life, right now! Is totally worth! Plus, Samia is f*cking adorable, man. Seriously, tiger waifu is best girl!

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novarose24 · 5 years ago

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Writings from Offline {Ep.2}

Raavanan

Director: Mani Rathnam

(Warning: spoiler alert)

Raavanan was an effort by the director to show the perspective from Raavanan in a modern sense. The title pretty evidently conveys that by the end, we would understand Raavanan’s perspective of the happenings in the Ramayana.

The movie, without any elaborate revealing, shows the widely perceived antagonist in the very first scene. One of the prime setting of the movie, water and river is also revealed in this scene. From here, we meet “Sita” who is then abducted by “Raavanan”. We also meet the eagle for the first time, in this sequence. Being a symbol for Vishnu, it is of significant importance and visits again in later parts.

The title scene follows which has red, fire and shades of brown dominating the background. The song says “Veera” which literally means a brave warrior, giving an aura of justice and righteousness to the character.

The scene that follows is the one where our “Ram” is intimated about his wife’s kidnapping. The coolers hide his eyes, but it was pretty evident that he was more upset and angrier than worried. His face showed an expression of determination to kill his enemy.

The characters in the story embody the traits of the characters in the Ramayana, but are conveniently modified to suit the needs of the story. “Raavanan” is manifested as “Veera”, a dacoit who is a savior to the people but a villain in the eyes of law - in some sense, a robin-hood. The people who inform the police of their encounter with Veera have ten different accounts to give of him, almost like he had ten different faces. The repetition of the reference to ten faces is a common occurrence in the progression of the film. Ten different voices too torment him. There is no transition of character in the film except that he falls in love with the woman that he had kidnapped. His ideals and values remain the same. The change occurs in the perception of the audience.

The audience observe this change through the eyes of “Sita”, here “Raagini”. Since the emphasis is only on Raavanan in this story, Sita only functions as a tool for us to observe this change; she doesn’t express her story despite being given almost an equal amount of screen time. In the scenes following her abduction and in the scenes at the end, she does express her opinions and her desires; otherwise she follows the conventional-ideal-wife trope. She has an undying love for her “Ram”, portrayed as “Dev”, who’s name literally means god. The naming might be an intentional action to draw attention to the juxtaposition of his name and his actions. He is a police officer, we are initially of the feeling that he is a good cop who is honest and righteous, but eventually we see that his determination to catch Veera turns into a bit of an obsession. He lies to his wife and hurts her in order to get to Veera. Rescuing his wife is not his main motive; much like Veera he uses Raagini as a bait to reach his target. There is no difference between the two men in this spectrum. Dev plays an important role but has approximately the same screen time as “Singaraasu” who could possibly be a representation of “Kumbakarnan”. Veera’s other brother is the most decent and “civilized” among them, like “” and is called “Sakkara”. These two are always on their brother’s side and help him with his work. Their representations don’t exactly fit their counterpart in the epic.

“Hanuman’s” representation as “Gyana Prakasham” suffers the same fate. He is a forest guard with good knowledge about navigation in the forest, but is crippled by his addiction to alcohol. It is confusing that Hanuman’s modern version is a drunkard.

“Lakshman” is also represented in a contradictory context; but he still hurts Veera’s sister,” Venilla” the same way Lakshman hurts Soorpanaka. Hearing the story of his sister, Veera’s acts of revenge are diluted of their viciousness. We understand that there is a valid reason on his side too. The alternating shots between the flashback and Raagini’s shocked concerned face creates this feeling.

The scene following this tells us how this account from the criminal’s past has influenced Raagini. Raagini walks to the middle of the river where there is a broken statue of Vishnu. She prays for her anger to keep burning because she fears she pities Veera and is falling for him. She stands near the head of the statue but Raavanan stands at the feet of the statue. This simple placement of the characters captures the gap between the two in the social order.

In a successive scene, the exact opposite is conveyed when Dev flips the back-to-back photos of Raagini and Veera. It could stand for how he considers his journey to rescue his wife is equivalent to triumphing over his enemy or his doubt on his wife of being in close proximity with his enemy. His shouting for Veera and the talk about lies-detector support this. The interesting thing about the accusations that he frames on Raagini is that it is set in the tunnels giving us the feeling that we are in the dark regarding the true motives. The colour of their dresses in this scene is pivotal. Both Dev and Raagini where white initially. When Raagini meets Veera, Veera is still clad in black like he usually was in the film. When Dev emerges out of hiding, he is clad in white shirt and brown leather jacket for the first time instead of his usual pale colored clothes.

The majority of the screen is green and when Veera and his folk come in, it is covered in earthly colors of brown and black. All the songs with his folk involve rain, water, mud and great lyrics! The “Kodu potta” song is important in terms of their message to the world. They want their land and the freedom to govern it themselves. Another observation is that Raagini who shelters from the rain at first is seen getting wet in the during the end; not a significant act but it could possibly mean that she is learning to enjoy their ways too. Another example for the developing soft corner in her heat is her clothing. Could be said to be a requirement of the plot, but the fact that she dressed in a red saree that turns brown in the rain is significant in my view.

The music and the songs all act as a measure of civilization. The songs of the tribe are more upbeat with mainly percussion and some kind of horns. The dialect used for the lyrics just like their speech is different. The song of the “civilized” world, “Kalvare”, is more classical and has a more refined version of the language. Also, it is the only vision we have of the two and their life before.

The narration of the story shifts from the actual chronology of events. The story begins with no pretext, with the kidnap of Raagini, then we have a short idea of Raagini and Dev’s happy life, the story continues showing the different sides of Veera and Dev and the dilemma that Raagini faces, there is flashback giving us Veera’s backstory and then the events flow to the climax.

The jumps from scenes and the sequencing were typically good but the editing didn’t quite meet expectations. A lot of unwanted scenes were left unedited.

The other is the references in the film to Ramayana. The story by itself pretty evidently points to the Ramayana. The constant references in dialogues seemed unnecessary personally; if the details were played more subtly, it would have been more interesting to search for the tethering between the two tales. For example, repetitive scenes that emphasis the distance that Veera maintains with Raagini was overplayed that it got a bit boring.

The only time he touches her is prevent her from harm when Dev shoots during the climax. In the consecutive scenes, Raagini and Veera reach out their hands to touch each other but that doesn’t happen. As the audience are waiting with a yearning for the two of them to meet, they are left uncompensated and conflicted with the death of Veera.

#Movie #Moviereview #Tamilmovie #Kollywood #Raavanan #ManiRathnam #Assignment #College #Writing #offline

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creepingsharia · 6 years ago

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93% of Muslim Public Officials Would Not Express Support for the Constitution They Swore to Uphold

Are the other 7% employing taqiyya?

A follow-up from the author of the book featured in Wednesday’s post, Stephen M. Kirby. via Jihad Watch

It’s more than just about having three Muslims in Congress. I think symbolically it has great value, but I won’t rest until 2020 we have five more members of Congress; 2022 and 24, we have ten more Muslims in Congress. In 2030 we may have about 30, 35 Muslims in Congress. Then we’re talking about Madame Chair Rashida. We’re talking about Madame Chair Ilhan. Hell, we could be saying Speaker of the House Ilhan, Speaker of the House Rashida, Senator Rashida, Governor Ilhan, President Fatima, Vice President Aziza, Inshah’ Allah…Each and every one of us has a directive to represent Islam, in all of our imperfections, but to represent Islam and let the world know that Muslims are here to stay, and Muslims are a part of America. And we will, we will have a Muslim caucus that is sizable, that is formidable, and that is there for you.

U.S. Congressman Andre Carson at the CAIR Community Congressional Reception, January 10, 2019

People in public office at the local, state, and federal levels are required to take an oath of office that requires them to swear, or affirm, to support the U.S. Constitution. This is based on Article 6, Clause 3 of that Constitution (the “Oaths Clause”):

The Senators and Representatives [in Congress] before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution…

As David Shestokas noted:

This constitutional requirement is binding upon every government official in the United States from state governors and judges to members of city councils, police officers, firefighters or board members of mosquito abatement districts and library boards.[1]

The 2019 elections saw an increase in the number of Muslims re-elected and newly elected to public office across the United States, and as part of their oaths of office they each swear to support the U.S. Constitution. However, as I showed in my latest book Islamic Doctrine versus the U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials,[2] there are many core tenets of Islam that are in direct conflict with much of that Constitution.

In theory, however, one would think that after a Muslim public official had publicly taken an oath to support the U.S. Constitution, having to publicly choose between either following that Constitution or following Islamic Doctrine would be simple: a Muslim public official would abide by the oath of office and choose the Constitution.[3]

So I decided to put that to the test. In Chapters 10 and 11 of my latest book I provided a number of questions that could be asked of a Muslim public official and that require that official to choose between the Constitution and Islamic Doctrine. I put four of those questions into an e-mail and individually sent that e-mail to eighty Muslim public officials across the United States.

We shall first look at the four questions I used and then examine the variety of responses I received. I then list the Muslim public officials, by State, who did not respond to what, considering their oath of office, should have been simple questions to answer. This is followed by my concluding remarks.

The Questions

On December 9th and December 16th of 2019 I sent the following e-mail to eighty Muslim public officials across the United States who were either incumbents or who had been newly elected to office in the November 5th elections:

I am interested in your response, as an elected public official who follows the religion of Islam, to the following questions:

No. 1: Will you go on record now and state that our 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech gives the right to anyone in the United States to criticize or disagree with your prophet Muhammad, and will you also go on record now and state that you support and defend anyone’s right to criticize or disagree with your prophet Muhammad, and that you condemn anyone who threatens death or physical harm to another person who is exercising that right?

No. 2: Our 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of religion in the United States. As part of that freedom, anyone in the United States has the right to join or leave any religion, or have no religion at all. Will you go on record now and state that you support and defend the idea that in the United States a Muslim has not only the freedom to leave Islam, but to do so without fear of physical harm, and will you also go on record now and state that you condemn anyone who threatens physical harm to a Muslim who is exercising that freedom?

No. 3: According to the words of Allah found in Koran 5:38 and the teachings of your prophet Muhammad, amputation of a hand is an acceptable punishment for theft. But our U.S. Constitution, which consists of man-made laws, has the 8th Amendment that prohibits cruel and unusual punishment such as this. Do you agree with Allah and your prophet Muhammad that amputation of a hand is an acceptable punishment for theft in the United States, or do you believe that our man-made laws prohibiting such punishments are true laws and are to be followed instead of this 7th Century command of Allah and teaching of Muhammad?

No. 4: According to the words of Allah found in Koran 4:3, Muslim men are allowed, but not required, to be married to up to four wives. Being married to more than one wife in the United States is illegal according to our man-made bigamy laws. Do you agree with Allah that it is legal for a Muslim man in the United States to be married to more than one woman, or do you believe that our man-made laws prohibiting bigamy are true laws and are to be followed instead of this 7th Century command of Allah?

I look forward to your responses.

Support for the U.S. Constitution

Only six Muslim public officials responded by specifically saying that they supported the U.S. Constitution. I emailed each of them and asked if each would be comfortable in being publicly identified in an article I would be writing. Three did not reply and one asked not to be identified, so I have not identified those four. The two that had no problem in being identified for their support of the U.S. Constitution were:

Mohammad Iqbal – Kane County Board, Kane County, Illinois

Shammas Malik – City Council, Akron, OH

Other Replies

I received various replies from seven other Muslim public officials:

Ilhan Omar – U.S. House of Representatives (MN-5): On December 16th I sent the e-mail to three different e-mail addresses I had for Omar. That same day I received a form response from Connor McNutt, Omar’s Chief of Staff, stating that he was out of the office but would be returning that day. On December 20th I received a form e-mail from Omar that started out:

Dear Stephen,

As your Congresswoman, I do not only want to represent Minnesotans, I want to govern with you…

Omar never responded to the questions I had sent her.

Rashida Tlaib – U.S. House of Representatives (MI-13): On December 16th I received a form response from Tlaib acknowledging receipt of my e-mail. I have received nothing further from Tlaib.

Kaleem Shabazz – City Council of Atlantic City, New Jersey: On December 19th I received this reply from Shabazz:

As an elected official I support uphold [sic] and defend the laws of this nation state and city [sic] where I reside. Islam is completely compatible with the American laws. As president of the local branch of the NAACP and a member of the state Executive committee of the NAACP I support and speak for social justice civil rights and equality for all citizens [sic]. As President of Bridge of Faith an Interfaith group I try to being [sic] understanding of various faiths.

The next day I sent this response to Shabazz:

Thanks for getting back with me. I am curious about your statement that “Islam is completely compatible with the American laws,” especially in light of the glaring incompatibility between Islamic Doctrine and the U.S. Constitution/“American laws” shown in the four questions I sent you. How can you support “the laws of this nation” when such an incompatibility exists between some of those laws and some of the tenets of your religion? Are you saying that when there is a conflict between the two, our man-made laws are superior to the commands of Allah found in the Koran and the teachings and example of your prophet Muhammad? Do you mean that Islam “is completely compatible with the American laws” because when there is a conflict between the two, the Doctrines of Islam are subordinate to the U.S. Constitution and our other man-made laws?

I have not heard back from Shabazz.

Pious Ali – City Council of Portland, Maine: Ali responded on December 9th, simply writing:

The Inquisition ended in 1834

I replied that same day:

There is no “inquisition” involved. These should be very simple questions to answer because I believe your oath of office included a statement that you would support our U.S. Constitution and laws. Why do you hesitate to support the 1st and 8th Amendments to our Constitution, and our bigamy laws?

On December 10th Ali responded:

Where are you located again? I have taking [sic] that oath three times, It [sic] never says I should answer to bigots who live outside my jurisdiction, I hope your week is going well.

I replied that same day by pointing out that there was nothing bigoted about asking how he resolved fundamental conflicts between doctrines of his faith and the U.S. Constitution, and I asked why he was reluctant to answer.

On December 11th Ali responded:

I don’t think I have to answer you, for one basic reason there is a separation between faith and politics in America. Unless you have another question that is directly connected to my role as an elected official in Portland Maine. [sic] I will not answer any of your racist anti-Muslim questions.

On December 12th I thanked him for his input. Later that same day he responded:

that is what I thought [sic]

I had not further exchanges with Ali.

Mustafa Al-Mutazzim Brent – City Council of East Orange City, New Jersey: Brent responded on December 12th, writing:

Please pardon my delayed response, it is neither deliberate nor intentional. Thank you for this timely and necessary discourse. Please feel free to reach out to me at your convenience, I will be happy to answer any questions you my [sic] have.

I replied that same day by pointing out that I looked forward to his responses to the four questions I had sent him. I have not heard back from Brent.

Abrar Omeish – Fairfax County School Board in Virginia: Omeish responded on December 9th with a form e-mail thanking me for contacting her and for everything I had done to help her to win. She noted that if the matter I was contacting her about was “time sensitive” I should send the e-mail again with “time sensitive” in the subject line. That same day I sent the e-mail again with “time sensitive” in the subject line. I have not heard back from Omeish.

Robert Jackson – State Senate of New York: On December 16th I received a form response from Jackson confirming receipt of my e-mail and stating:

We will review your email and do our best to provide feedback on the matter.

On December 17th I received the same form response again. I have not heard back from Jackson.

No Reply

These Muslim public officials did not reply:

California

Maimona Afzal Berta – Franklin-McKinley School Board

Javed I. Ellahie – Monte Sereno City Council

Al Jabbar – Anaheim Union High School District Board

Farrah N. Khan – Irvine City Council

Ali Saleh – Mayor of the City of Bell

Cheryl Sudduth – West County Water District Board of Directors

Ali Sajjad Taj – Artesia City Council

Aisha Wahab – Hayward City Council

Sabina Zafar – San Ramon City Council

Georgia

Sheikh Rahman – Georgia State Senate

Illinois

Bushra Amiwala – Skokie School District 3.5 Board of Education

Sadia Covert – DuPage County Board Member

Raabia Khan – Oak Grove School District 68 Board of Education

Sara Sadat – Lisle Board of Trustees

Indiana

Andre Carson – U.S. House of Representatives (IN – 7)

Iowa

Ako Abdul-Samad – Iowa State House of Representatives

Mazahir Salih – Iowa City, City Council

Maine

Marwa Hassanien – Bangor School Board

Maryland

Hasan M. “Jay” Jalisi – Maryland State House of Delegates

Fazlul Kabir – College Park City Council

Sabina Taj – Howard County Board of Education

Massachusetts

Afroz Khan – Newburyport City Council

Sumbul Siddiqui – Cambridge City Council

Michigan

Dave Abdallah – Dearborn Heights City Council

Mohammed Alsomiri – Hamtramck City Council

Sam Baydoun – Wayne County Commissioner

Nayeem Leon Choudhury – Hamtramck City Council

Abdullah Hammoud – Michigan State House of Representatives

Angela Jaffer – Northville School Board

Minnesota

Abdisalam Adam – Fridley School Board

Keith Ellison – Minnesota State Attorney General

Nadia Mohamed – St. Louis Park City Council

New Jersey

Alaa Abdelaziz – Paterson City Council

Assad Akhtar – Passaic County Freeholder

Mussab Ali – Jersey City Board of Education

Jamillah Beasley – Irvington Municipal Council

Adam Chaabane – Woodland Park Board of Education

Sadaf Jaffer – Mayor of Montgomery Township

Mohamed T. Khairullah – Mayor of the City of Prospect Park

Alaa Matari – Prospect Park City Council

Raghib Muhammad – Montgomery Township Board of Education

Salim Patel – Passaic City Council

Kamran Quraishi – Montgomery Township Committee

Denise Sanders – Teaneck Board of Education

Hazim Yassin – Red Bank City Council

Adnan Zakaria – Prospect Park City Council

Esllam Zakaria – Prospect Park Board of Education

New Mexico

Abbas Akhil – New Mexico State House of Representatives

New York

Charles Fall – New York State Assembly

North Carolina

Nasif Majeed – North Carolina State House of Representatives

Mujtaba A. Mohammed – North Carolina State Senate

Ohio

Basheer Jones – Cleveland City Council

Omar Tarazi – Hilliard City Council

Pennsylvania

Rochelle Bilal – Philadelphia City Sheriff

Nusrat Rashid – Delaware County Court of Common Pleas

Sheikh Siddique – Upper Darby Township Council

Virginia

Buta Biberaj – Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney

Ghazala Hashmi – Virginia State Senate

Haseeb Javed – Manassas Park City Council

Babur Lateef – Prince William County School Board

Harris Mahedavi – Loudon County School Board

Sam Rasoul – Virginia State House of Delegates

Ibraheem Samirah – Virginia State House of Delegates

Mohamed E. Seifeldein – Alexandria City Council

Lisa Zargarpur – Prince William County School Board

Washington

Riaz Khan – Mukilteo City Council

Varisha Khan – Redmond City Council

Conclusion

As I had previously noted, in theory one would think that after a Muslim public official had taken an oath to support the U.S. Constitution, having to publicly choose between either following that Constitution or following Islamic Doctrine would be simple: a Muslim public official would choose the Constitution.

The reality is quite different. Out of the eighty Muslim public officials I contacted, only six expressed support for the Constitution; it is interesting that of these six, only two of them agreed to be publicly identified. Seventy-four Muslim public officials would not even make a choice between the Constitution or Islamic Doctrine, even though each had publicly sworn to uphold that Constitution.

The fact that 93% of the Muslim public officials that I contacted would not express support for the U.S. Constitution is concerning and lends increased significance to the remarks of Congressman Andre Carson mentioned at the beginning of this article:

Each and every one of us has a directive to represent Islam, in all of our imperfections, but to represent Islam and let the world know that Muslims are here to stay, and Muslims are a part of America. And we will, we will have a Muslim caucus that is sizable, that is formidable, and that is there for you.

It would appear that 93% of the Muslim public officials I contacted give more credence to that directive than to their oath of office.

It is time to start publicly asking Muslim public officials to make a choice between the U.S. Constitution and Islamic Doctrine.

Dr. Stephen M. Kirby is the author of six books about Islam. His latest book is Islamic Doctrine versus the U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials.

[1] David Shestokas, The US Constitution and Local Government, January 7, 2014, http://www.shestokas.com/constitution-educational-series/the-us-constitution-and-local-government/.

[2] Stephen M. Kirby, Islamic Doctrine versus the U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials (Washington D.C.: Center for Security Policy Press, 2019); https://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/2019/12/03/csp-press-releases-primer-on-islamic-doctrine-versus-the-u-s-constitution/.

[3] However, according to Islamic Doctrine a Muslim can break an oath with minimal cost, or even negate the oath at the time it is being made. A Muslim can also make an oath but at the same time mean something completely different. For eye-opening details about this, see Islamic Doctrine versus the U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials, pp. 13-33.

#Legal #Immigration #Islam #Muslim #Sharia #News #Politics

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smokeybrandreviews · 4 years ago

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This is the Good Life

#Kajiya De Hajimeru Isekai Slow Life #Manga

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raywritesthings · 5 years ago

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Bird in a Storm 3/17

My Writing Fandom: Arrow Characters: Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen, Tommy Merlyn, Thea Queen, John Diggle Pairing: Laurel Lance/Oliver Queen Summary: The confrontation between the Hood and SWAT on the roof of the Winick Building goes differently, altering the course of Laurel’s career, relationships and efforts to save her city forever, the shockwaves of such an altered path making themselves felt throughout her family and friends. *Can be read on my AO3, link is in bio*

The end of the next week started out as a normal day. More normal than the last couple weeks had been, anyway. She had gotten up early, moving about the apartment with care not to wake Tommy, and gotten dressed for work. This was helped by the fact that she finally had use of both arms again. Talk about taking small things for granted.

Since she could drive herself, she met Thea at CNRI instead of being picked up by her brother or his bodyguard. She hadn’t minded that routine, but she liked having the freedom of her own movement.

A few hours into filling out some of the preliminary paperwork for a deposition, she received an email on her computer. Their boss wanted to see her in her office.

“Thea, see if you can locate the Schmidt folder. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Laurel headed back into the office. “Hey, Eric. What’s up?”

He looked up, the slightest frown on his face. “Sit down, Laurel. And close the door.”

She did so. “Why do I feel like this isn’t a ‘just checking in’ meeting?”

Eric sighed. “Because it’s not. Look, Laurel, you’re one of our best here. You know that. And I don’t like having to do this.”

There was a but hanging so heavily there she didn’t even bother to voice it. Just kept staring her boss down.

“It’s our investors. The ones we have left, so you can imagine we need to do all we can to hang onto them.”

“Yes.”

“Which is why I’m telling you they’re not exactly happy to have you on staff here.”

“What?”

Eric held up his hands. “Look, everything with the Hood is kind of making them nervous. Makes me nervous a bit too, if I’m being honest. The guy’s unpredictable. And they don’t like his methods.”

“I’m guessing they like his choice of targets even less,” she said with narrowed eyes. It figured they were more willing to empathize with their guilty fellows than to care about the innocents the Hood had helped.

“The point is, they’re not comfortable continuing to support our organization while you have this- this connection to him. And Kate Spencer has had a few things to say about it as well.”

“Let me get this straight.” Laurel leaned forward in her chair. “They’re holding my job hostage?”

“They’re holding all of us hostage. If you aren’t gone, CNRI is. But, there’s one way they’re willing to reconsider.”

“And that would be?”

“If you were to make a public statement clarifying that you do not support the vigilante known as the Hood or his activities, they would be happy to see you remain on staff.”

“Happy to see me toeing the party line, you mean.”

“It’s out of my hands, Laurel,” Eric said. “You’re the only one who can help yourself here. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I’ll expect your decision tomorrow.”

Laurel was able to register the dismissal for what it was, even if she felt detached somehow from this moment. Like this was happening to someone else, and she was only a passive observer. She stood and left the room to return to her desk, but it didn’t even feel like she’d been the one to move. Her mind was too busy racing.

The philanthropists who thought they were God’s gift to man for keeping CNRI’s doors open were getting nervous about her connection to the Hood. To Oliver. If she wanted to stay, she had to delegitimize his whole mission to save the city. But she couldn’t, not when it was the one thing she really had left to believe in.

“So I got that file you were asking for—” Thea looked up as she approached and paused. “Hey, you okay?”

She was a beat too late in responding, and she was sure her smile looked forced. “Yeah. Just, uh, had to go over some things with my boss.”

“Okay.” Thea was watching her, so Laurel pushed everything else from her mind for the time being. She didn’t want her friend to worry.

Her boss was giving her the day to decide, but Laurel already knew what her decision had to be. Without Oliver, she would have never seen Adam Hunt’s victims get back the money they were owed thanks to the judge Hunt had bought who she’d been due to present the case in front of; she’d be dead in the ground thanks to Martin Sommers and the Triad; Peter Declan’s daughter would be an orphan. There was no decision to make. Even if it cost her her job.

Laurel stood. She couldn’t maintain her composure here, and she needed time to think about what her next move would truly have to be.

“Hey, Thea? I actually need to take a half day today. I’m really sorry.”

“Okay,” her friend agreed uncertainly. There was almost a scared look to her eyes.

“Just ask Anastasia for any additional tasks, and you can go home whenever you want.” She shrugged into her coat and rolled her left shoulder a couple of times to work some lingering stiffness out of it. She’d been out of the splint for only a couple of weeks now, and her mandatory physical therapy had just drawn to an end. That was lucky; no job would mean no health insurance. Yet again, it was probably on purpose. No one would know better how bad the optics would look on firing an injured nonprofit employee than a group of lawyers.

Laurel paused alone in the stairwell and pressed a hand to her forehead. No job… what was she going to do?

---

Tommy was just getting ready to head out to the Verdant when their front door opened and Laurel walked in.

“Oh. You’re still here.”

“Hey, you’re home early.” He leaned in for a brief kiss, but Laurel turned her face so that his lips landed on her cheek instead.

“Yeah, there’s a reason for that.” Her smile faltered and then fell as he stepped back to look at her. “I lost my job.”

He dropped his keys. “What?”

“Apparently it has been decided that CNRI and I should part ways because the investors are making noise upstairs. Not to mention the DA,” Laurel explained. She walked around him, setting her bag down and kicking her shoes off along the way.

“Noise about what?”

“The Hood,” she admitted as she found her spot on the couch.

Him again. He only barely held back a groan. “Well, what about it? You told the police you didn’t have any information to help their investigation.” He eyed her sitting there for a moment, wondering not for the first time if that was true.

“They think my association with him sends a message. And they probably don’t like that he’s gone after some of their friends.”

“But that’s what he’s doing. It doesn’t have anything to do with you.” He walked over towards the couch as well. “Just because the Hood’s got some creepy thing for you—”

“He does not have a thing for me,” Laurel said with a shake of her head.

Tommy felt that was very much in dispute, but he set it aside to focus on the main issue.

“There’s gotta be something we can do. They can’t just fire you like that, after all the cases you’ve won them.”

“Well, they said I could possibly stay on if I publicly denounced the Hood,” she told him.

Relief hit him like a wave. “Okay. Good. At least they’re not totally unreasonable.”

“I’m not going to do it, Tommy.” Her voice and gaze were completely steady even as she was turning the whole world upside down. “I can’t.”

He only barely kept his voice below shouting. “Laurel, come on. What’s the problem?”

“It’s intimidation, for one thing. They’re trying to delegitimize what he’s doing. Stop people from taking his message to heart to keep them from fighting against the powerful and the corrupt in Starling.” Laurel crossed her arms over her chest and continued, “And anyway, it’d be a lie. I still believe in what he’s doing, and I think it’s a good thing. I don’t want to be a part of what stops that.”

“You do good things for the city. Think of your clients, all those people you’ve helped.”

“A lot of those people this year only got help because the Hood intervened. Hunt, Sommers, Brodeur, all of those guys would have walked away from a regular court case. The justice system in this city is broken, no matter how much I wanted to believe otherwise.”

“So you’re fine with him just breaking it more?”

“If that’s what it takes to keep innocent people from suffering.”

She was determined to be stubborn. There was no getting through to her, at least for the moment. Tommy threw his hands up and went to grab his jacket.

“How long did they give you to decide?”

“Tomorrow. I have to go in and clean out my desk.”

“Or to make your statement. I have to go to the club, but we’re not done talking about this.”

“I’ve made up my mind, Tommy,” Laurel said.

He paused at the door and shook his head. “Just let the idea of unemployment and no money sink in for a few hours, okay? It did wonders for me.”

He headed down to his parked car in a much sourer mood than he’d wanted to be in to start back at work. Laurel was determined and not listening to him. But if she wouldn’t listen to him, maybe…

He was going to have to swallow his pride on this one. At least for the moment.

---

Tommy was running late. Oliver didn’t mind that so much; it put off his plans for tonight. The longer he could avoid heading to Queen Consolidated to confront his own mother, the better.

And he soon received additional distraction in the form of his sister, who hurried up to the bar with a nervous sort of energy.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

“Ollie, I think Laurel was fired.”

“What?” He couldn’t have heard that right. “What for?”

“I don’t know. She went in to talk to her boss, and then she told me she was taking a half day, but Anastasia and some of the others started talking after she left,” his sister said all in a rush.

Some people talking was just gossip, but why would they assume Laurel had been fired? What was going on?

He spotted Tommy at last, and his best friend looked in about as bad a mood as he’d ever seen him.

“Ollie, you gotta help me out.”

“Laurel was fired.”

“Yeah, how’d you — oh, Speedy, hey.”

“Hey,” said Thea. “It’s true?”

“Not quite.” Tommy looked at him. “She says they’re willing to let her stay if she just makes a statement about how crazy and wrong the Hood is.”

Oliver didn’t have to feign his shock. “They’re firing her because of the Hood?”

“Yeah, well their investors are kind of his target profile, aren’t they? And he is crazy, I agree with them on that.” Tommy scowled. “But Laurel doesn’t.”

His eyes squeezed shut. “She’s refusing to make the statement.”

“She’s refusing to make the statement,” Tommy echoed in confirmation.

“Well, isn’t it enough that this guy got her shot?” Thea asked. “I mean, they have to know she’s not in league with him if he was willing to use her as a human shield.”

Oliver tried not to wince at the words or the disgust with which Thea spoke them. His sister wasn’t wrong to feel that way; it was one of his lowest moments, and he was still paying for the repercussions of it now.

And Laurel was paying for them perhaps even more.

Tommy’s anger had faded. He turned to him with pleading in his eyes. “I can’t watch her throw her life away on this guy, Ollie.”

“You won’t have to,” he promised. Oliver walked away from the bar and out to the back, swinging onto his motorcycle. As he drove, the comm hooked into his helmet activated.

“Oliver, we really need to get a move on.”

“Not right now, Digg.”

“Why not?”

“Laurel’s been fired because of her connection to the Hood.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Damn.”

“I have to talk to her. My mother can wait another night.” He knew he couldn’t put it off forever, but Laurel’s problem was far more time sensitive.

He went up to her apartment and knocked, and Laurel didn’t look at all surprised to see him when she opened the door.

“So, I take it you heard the news?”

“From Tommy.” He stepped through the doorway as she moved back, and he stood by the couch rather than sit down. Laurel shut the door and walked over.

“I’m going to make sure Thea is given another sponsor there to finish out her community service,” she told him, which caught him off guard for a moment.

“Well, thank you. But that’s not my main concern.” He looked her in the eye. “Tommy said there’s a way for you to keep your job.”

“I’m guessing he also told you I’m not interested in that way.”

His brow furrowed. “Laurel, this is an easy fix.”

She scoffed. “What about any of this is easy?”

“No one’s asking you for my identity. They’re just asking you to say what I’m doing is wrong.”

“How can I do that?”

“You just—” he struggled for the right word for a few moments. “—do.”

“But you aren’t — what you’re doing is complicated,” Laurel settled on. “And your methods sometimes have concerned me. I don’t know that I agree with everything. But it’s necessary work. For the state that this city is in, it’s needed.”

He tried changing tactics. “My father asked me to right his wrongs, to bring justice to the people who are poisoning the city. Letting those same people force you out of your job is directly counter to that mission. I can’t let that happen.”

Laurel only frowned. “Maybe it’s all about the mission to you, Oliver, but the people in the Glades don’t know that. What they know is that for the first time in years they have hope. They feel like someone has seen their struggle and decided to do something about it. How can I tell them that they are wrong to believe in that and then turn around and expect them to trust me to fight for them?”

He didn’t have an answer for that. They both knew it. Where he relied on secrecy and lies, Laurel had always kept her integrity when dealing with her clients. Letting her in on his identity had complicated that.

“How can I let you do this, Laurel? It’s your career, your life.”

“And it’s my decision to make. I would’ve made it knowing your identity or not, but at least knowing it gives me more than just a blind faith.”

Oliver didn’t know how Laurel or people in the Glades could have faith in him. He was a killer going after other killers. That was all. He wasn’t some hero.

“What will you do?” It was the only appeal he had.

“I haven’t figured that out yet. But I’m going to. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“It’s not that simple, Laurel.” He shook his head. “I’m always going to worry about you.”

She sighed. “Then I guess we have to settle for that.” She walked over to and sat on one of her chairs. “Look, I’m not happy to be losing my job, but I’d be even less happy if I compromised myself to keep it.”

“Nothing’s totally free from compromise. Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to to keep going,” he said.

“But I haven’t been going anywhere at CNRI,” she replied. “All of my big cases this year have been won or settled because of the things you were doing as the vigilante. The law on its own has stopped being able to fix things in this city. Isn’t that why you’re out there?”

The problem was she was right. The problem, too, was that being right didn’t get her job back. He sat on the arm of the couch.

“What can I do? Do they need money? Different backers? I could—”

“You need that money to disguise purchasing your arrows,” Laurel cut him off. “And it would be your mother’s call as to whether Queen Consolidated became a full-time backer.”

Considering the little John had picked up from spying on his mother, Oliver doubted she would make the time or expense at the moment.

“Oliver, you set out to save this city, not my job.”

“Well, it’s part of saving the city. You help save it,” he insisted.

Her lips twitched into a smile despite herself.

“You’re really going to tell them no?”

She nodded.

Oliver sighed. That was the thing about Laurel; when her mind was made up, that was it. And unfortunately, he hadn’t made a single argument for why she should denounce the Hood that didn’t ultimately come back to keeping her comfortable. Laurel never cared about that.

“I’m sorry,” he told her. Ultimately this was his fault. He’d gotten too close, forgotten that while he’d protected his own identity with a hood that Laurel hadn’t had that same protection.

“It’s going to be fine, Ollie. I’ve already started a job search,” she stated.

He gave a small grin. “Of course you have.”

“So, you can tell Tommy that things will be okay,” she continued. “I know he’s upset.”

“He’s just worried about you.”

“Well, he seemed more angry at the Hood than anything,” she replied. “Do you think…?”

Oliver shook his head. “The less people that know, the better. And like you said, he isn’t exactly a fan.”

Laurel’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah.”

His phone buzzed, and Oliver checked it to find a message from Digg: Your mom’s gone home

“Something wrong?”

“No. No, I just missed something tonight.”

“You mean the vigilante did?” She stood and moved to the door. “Really, Oliver, I don’t want to be in the way of anything.”

“It’s fine. It wasn’t urgent.” Digg would probably say otherwise, but that didn’t matter right now. “You’re more important.”

“Well, now that you’ve seen I’m perfectly fine, I shouldn’t keep you any longer.”

He got up, meeting her at the door. “If you need anything,” he began.

“I know where to find you,” she finished for him. “Goodnight, Ollie.”

“Goodnight.”

As he left, Oliver did decide to take an early night. He wasn’t sure he wanted to go back to the club and Tommy empty-handed.

Laurel leaving CNRI because of the Hood. What had he done?

#lauriver #laurel x oliver #laurel lance #oliver queen #arrow #green arrow #black canary #my writing #bird in a storm

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shansen21ahsgov · 5 years ago

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Blog Post #3: Political Party Action

Republican

The greatest asset of the American economy is the American worker. Legal immigrants are making vital contributions to every aspect of national life. They are committed to American values and they strengthen, enrich our culture, and enable us to better compete with the rest of the world. They are specifically grateful for the thousands of new legal immigrants, many of them not yet citizens, who are serving in the Armed Forces. They agree that American’s immigration policy must serve the national interest of the United States. Illegal immigrants endangers everyone, exploits taxpayers, and insults all who aspire to be an American legally. Our highest priority must be to secure our borders and all ports of entry and to enforce our immigration laws. This is why we support building a wall along our southern border. They endorse the SAVE program in which it ensures that public funds are not given to illegal persons in the country. The Republicans believe that sanctuary cities violate federal law which is why they should not be eligible for federal funding. States have the constitutional authority to take steps to reduce illegal immigration. They condemn the Obama Administration’s lawsuits against states that are seeking to enforce federal law. From the beginning, our country has been a haven of refuge and asylum. This should continue but with major changes. Asylum should be limited to cases of political, ethnic or religious persecution. To ensure our national security, refugees who cannot be carefully vetted cannot be admitted to the country, especially those whose homelands have been the breeding grounds for terrorism. I agree with wanting to strengthen our border and protect the citizens of the U.S. I also agree that public funds should not be going to undocumented immigrants and instead to people who are actually citizens. I agree that illegal immigrants endanger parts of society, exploits tax money and insult all who aspire to come to America, legally.

Democratic

The bedrock American idea, that we are one, has been a part of our country from its earliest days. The Trump administration has repudiated the idea and abandoned our values as a diverse, compassionate and welcoming country. They say the Trump administration has been cruel in the extreme. The Democrats say that Trump has been forcibly separating families, putting children in cages, endangering lives by denying Covid-19 tests and banning people from travelling to the U.S. based on their country of origin. Democrats believe “America can do better.” Democrats will reinstate protections for Dreamers and the parents of American citizen children. Democrats believe that the fight to end systemic and structural cruel racism in our country extends to our immigration system. Democrats believe they should rovide a path to citizenship for all illegal immigration in our county. They want to promote workers right because they know that abusive employers make all workers suffer, most importantly immigrants. Democrats will address the root causes of immigration which are violence and security, poverty and corruption, lack of education and economic opportunity. They want to renew American diplomacy as our tool of “first resort” and rebuild our partnerships and alliances. I agree and disagree with these policies. I do not agree with the things they have been saying about the Trump administration and I feel like they are very bias in their writing. All the other platforms did not mention another party except this one.

Green

Immigration and the large number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. has become a ot political issue. The Green party thinks that if it were economically possible to provide for their families, many would choose to remain in their native countries. Any immigration policy should be seen as a way to address all people humanitarian needs. The Green party stands for social justice for all those living in this country regardless of their immigration status. Above all, policy and law must be humane. The party accepts as a goal a world in which persons can freely choose to live in and work in any country he or she desires. Although they believe countries do have the right to know the identity of the person seeking to enter and also the right to limit who can come in to protect public safety. They think there cannot be any true solutions to the conflicts created by immigration until we are able to organize globally the campaign to drive down workers living standards everywhere. They will work toward the goal of curbing the power of multinationals. I agree that if it were economically possible people would probably want to stay in their native country. I do not agree that undocumented immigrants should be receiving the same economic and political justice and people who actually are citizens.

Libertarian

The Libertarian party does not mention immigration on their platform. Their preamble identifies that they “seek a world of liberty: a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and are not forced to sacrifice their values for the benefit of others.” They defend each person's right to engage in activity that is peaceful and honest and they welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world they seek to build is one where “individuals are free to follow their dreams in their own ways, without interference from government.” Their ultimate goal is “a world set free in our lifetime.” It is confusing to me why this party does not identify immigration because one of their main goals is to allow freedom for all, and I am confused whether they are talking about worldly or just in the states. They promote diversity and they say that freedom also promotes a diverse culture, so I can infer they are promoting immigration in order to continue that diversity.

Peace and Freedom

The Peace and Freedom Party calls themselevs “Californias feminist socialist party.” This party was born from the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s and is committed to socialism, democracy, ecology, feminism, racial equality and internationalism. They say they represent the working class and those without capital in a capitalist society. Their goal is to organize toward a world where cooperation replaces competition and a world where all people are fed, clothed and used. They want all women and men to have equal status and all individuals may freely do what they desire. They want a world of freedom and peace where every community retains cultural integrity and lives in harmony with others. On the topic of immigration, they say that immigrant workers are hounded by government authorities, worked and housed in substandard conditions and blamed my Republicans and Democrats for society's problems. They call for open borders, they demand an end to deportation of immigrants, and full political, social and economic rights for resident non-citizens.

Which party position do you identify with the most? Is that surprising?

I identify most with the Republican party position. It is not surprising to me, I have always been very interested in immigration and have always found myself connecting most with the policies of the Republican party. I like how they state that the foundation of the American society is the American worker. A lot of people pin Republicans as people who do not like immigrants and immigration but in the platform it literally states that “immigrants are making vital contributions to our way of life.” I agree with this and I connect with their stance on immigration and what to do about undocumented immigrants.

Would you vote for their presidential candidate?

I would vote for the Republican presidential candidate because I think we as a country should vote based on policies the candidate has provided over personal emotions. I think this plays a major part in the large split between the two parties. As well, I think the Trump administration has taken strides to secure America and better the American citizens through their immigration policies.

Was your civic action issue a topic during the debate?

Unfortunately, immigration was not brought up in the presidential debate.

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thankyougotham · 6 years ago

Photo

Here’s an article that Film Daily wrote about Nygmobblepot. If you’d like to see them write articles about other relationships, you can contact them on Twitter and make a request. They’ve been very supportive of Gotham in general, so follow them if you’re on Twitter.

“Gotham is an innovative show based on DC Comics characters and produced by Warner Bros. The Batman origin narrative helped us rapt viewers understand how our favorite heroes (Batman) and villains (The Joker, Penguin) came to be. It also cast a light on just how Gotham City became the wretched crime-filled cesspool we all know & love.

As the fandom knows, we’re so behind the mission to Save Gothamthat it hurts, but today we’ve decided to take a break from all the activism and talk about love. Here’s why we and the Gotham fandom ship hard for Nygmobblepot, and why these fantastic felons are anyone’s perfect gateway into Gotham for people on the fence about the show.”

Sample Quotes from fans:

Mr. Millicent Cordelia

Both Ed & Oswald were transformed by love. They made sacrifices for each other & always ended up back together. They deserve, and the fans deserve to see this relationship respected as a romance on a server that understands it’s the 21st century.

Merc

Honestly because they’re both idiots and they really deserve each other.

Zoe Tomorrow

They’re two individuals who’ve spent their lives mistreated and misunderstood. They are the only ones who accept one another wholeheartedly. Together they’ve learned about trust, sacrifice, forgiveness, and love. And no matter what they always find a way back to each other.

#PenguinSpinOff

Excellent chemistry between them, and a fun, fresh take on these old, iconic characters. They’re like peanut butter and jelly: fine on their own, but especially delightful together.

Rachel

For one, they “really are meant for each other”! They’ve been through so much and have hurt each other so many times but they’ve managed to overcome it. They have a strong bond, would do anything for each other, and somehow they always come back together!

𝕫𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕒

These two men grew up misunderstood and overlooked, and learned to use that to grow. they have risen together, and make an excellent team. they have both admitted to being stronger together, and their fates always become intertwined. they’re destined to be together.

Angela

While I’m not the biggest shipper of Nygmobblepot, I do care for their happiness and for the fans who do ship them. My ship is Batcat. They are best friends as kids & love each other deeply. They always want to protect each other. They are family.

LongLiveGotham #Gotham | #SaveGotham

Nygmobblepot has a long, complex history that reveals both the best and worst of these 2 characters. They have grown and learned much from the relationship. They deserve to be on a server that allows them the freedom to be a romantic couple.

Jenny i love my girlfriend

they are two men who have been abused and undermined their entire lives, but see each other as equals. they have certainly had their ups and down, but they always come back, better and stronger than ever. they understand each other more than anyone else ever has.

(not to mention how groundbreaking it would be to have two characters who have been historically heterosexual be in a romantic relationship)

Hale | 45 Days Till Neo

I’m down for anything with dear Oswald- his chaotic energy is a joy to watch, especially when it’s messing with other character such as Edward and Jim.

Scheming Minor

I am going to say something different in lieu of semantics. Technically in a sense when you get to the details they really are one of the few villain pairings portrayed in a “healthy” relationship in the Batman fandom. They progress, accept and move on; never stagnating. I included the healthy relationship chart to prove a point. Each one of those slices can be seen over the course of Riddler and Penguin’s relationship in Gotham– more so when we reach season 5. Their entire journey is about respect. Adding one more thing – Riddler has traditionally been coded as queer and flits with tentative bisexuality, meanwhile Penguin is known as a womanizer but has rare moments of ’what if’ regarding men. Gothamis one of the few Batman shows that follows through with M/M content.

kebu loves Oswald

They are both extreme individuals, but they fit together perfectly. Both are complex characters that went through life unaccepted by everyone which shaped their desire for more and their paths to becoming supervillains, so when they met it was the first time they found their equal and were accepted by someone. Their paths have been intertwined ever since, and whether they’re together or at odds, they’re always the most significant person in each other’s lives. But even though they ended up appearing together, we didn’t actually see them get “officially” together. Their story has yet to come to a close.

Riz || Professional Mr.Penn promoter

A very complex relationship that cannot be concluded in a spawn of a cut off season like it was. They have had a long journey and a perhaps even longer one before them. Their lowest and best have been shared together and they’re the one person who understand the other fully.

M/M relationships in media and tvshows especially is a rare breed. Even more is the concept of the big chance to make two comic characters and made an entirely new spin on them by being brave enough to make them queer, Oswald perhaps within the asexual spectrum at that. Ed as a tormented, abused soul who struggles with his own identiy and perhaps sexuality.

There is really so much to say, which is exactly why there need to be more to tell the rest of the story.

Vero

While Ed fights with the dichotomy within himself, he’s always felt the most whole when he’s been all-encompassed by Oswald’s world and care. Oswald found compassion and acceptance for all the parts that Ed thought were not loved. They are twin souls that deserve a longer story.There’s always been a complexity to both of them, and they understand the extremes that have made them into the people they are. There is no desire to change the other, only bring out the best in one another and a comfort shared that’s so important.

madi

I feel as though they have stories that extend beyond what Gothamwas able to show through their 5 seasons. Especially with the 5th season being half of its normal length. They mean so much to me, and so many others, and I would love to see even more of them (1/2)

(2/2) and to be able to see Gotham’s depiction of Ed’s backstory, an explanation for the whole Isabella fiasco (like how is she even possible) and a plot line where Ed saves Oswald. We haven’t had any of those since s2/early s3 and I need that in my life. I miss them so much.

Evan

Not only off the charts chemistry, but near similar backgrounds also. Both Ed & Oswald were abandoned by their parents, and had to fight the world their whole lives. Then brought them together and they’ve been unstoppable ever since.

Suzy Dakroub

Because they have the best character development and bond I’ve ever seen on a show! They both truly have no one but eachother. For villains where it’s rare to see compassion and love, these two have it for each other and it’s so wholesome and sweet.

Frothy

it’s the first LGBT representation in such a major franchise on TV! it was taken from us once, twice, but there won’t be a third. i will produce season 6 in my basement with tze and my best friend if i must

Warrior_Of_Loyalty

REPRESENTATION!!! Seriously, there’s nothing quite like it. Oswald and Edward deserve a wedding and a musical episode to go with it. Because, if Arthur’s teacher can get married on TV why not The Penguin and The Riddler!? Please!! Make it happen!

𝕻𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖚𝖎𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 ||

Because they are two characters who have been physically and emotionally abused most of their lives, and even after all of their hardships and turmoil, found love and trust and safety in one another

Azura Lynn Paulin

Because they never got to become a real couple on screen and they deserve to have that chance at happiness

MamaDev

Their chemistry, specifically between Robin Lord Taylor & Cory Michael Smith, is incredibly entertaining and heart warming to watch. It makes my whole day, of not, week better when I see them interacting on screen. FOX did not do them justice by keeping them in the closet.

Queen C

Because their story is FAR from over. Cory and Robin’s skills and chemistry shouldn’t be squandered. We had 5 years of their story buildup and got crapped on in the final episode, and I deserve my #BisexualRiddler!!!

Bandi [Gotham/Good Omens Spoilers] #SaveGotham

Nygmobblepot truly is such an interesting ship. As singular characters they are great, but together, they shine. They’re complex, damaged characters and take comfort in each other. Their journey is a long, painful one, but they deserve and compliment each other. It makes sense.

Anders

They are truly self confident with each other, anything becomes possible. They don’t need any cane.

They have each other.

Mae

they just have such strong chemistry and are so much better together than apart. their relationship constantly evolved throughout Gotham, becoming the main driving force for their individual developments too and… they were just made for each other okay

Tam Loves Kris @ Resting in Home

I see a lot of myself and my partner@MisterPenguinin the#Nygmobblepotship and I feel that their relationship is very well developed with lots of ups and downs and it’s fate that they are both meant for each other.

Kat Shade

With all of the characters that had amazing chemistry on Gotham, the main three had to be nygmobblepot, wayleska, and babitha. Nygmobblepot have been through so much together, and besides how revolutionary and amazing it would be for a show based on two previously heterosexual characters in a homosexual relationship, they simply work amazingly together.

#Gotham #nygmobblepot #Film Daily

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yunaffie · 6 years ago

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Shu Takumi interview

Several years ago, Official Nintendo Magazine UK (now no longer existent) had an interview with Shu Takumi and it was even on their website. Now their website is no longer around, but I did manage to find the interview on the Wayback Machine and I figured I’d repost it to make it easier to find, as well as give people who haven’t seen it yet the opportunity to do so.

On the day that Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies is released, Takumi talks to us about his best-loved series

Shu Takumi's most famous creation, Phoenix Wright, is famed for his 'turnabouts'. These whiplash-inducing twists of logic see him step into the unknown in order to seek his client's innocence; he's essentially a chancer, blagging his way to victory. Talk to Takumi, however, and you sense that he leaves nothing to fate. His stories are intricately plotted, his jokes laser-targeted and his heroes full-bodied personalities.

In a medium in which storytelling starts and ends with 'man hates thing, man shoots thing', Takumi is a rare exception to the rule. With his latest yarn, Professor Layton Vs. Ace Attorney, on the horizon, Associate Editor Matthew Castle was lucky enough to cross-examine one of gaming's definitive voices.

Matthew Castle: Before we start, just for any readers who might not know who you are, could you tell us about your role at Capcom?

Shu Takumi: I'm a director, which means that I propose ideas for new titles, design the games, write the scenarios and direct the projects. In addition, I mutter complaints and, when the intense pressure of an impossible schedule finally gets to me, escape into a fantasy world of my own creation [laughs].

MC: Before developing Ace Attorney you worked on Dino Crisis. How does one go from dinosaur survival horror to virtual courtrooms?

ST: Dino Crisis was the brainchild of my then boss, Resident Evil creator, Shinji Mikami. Working on his projects taught me not only how to make games, but also how to think about them. After Dino Crisis 2 wrapped, Mr Mikami gave me six months in which to create any kind of game I wanted.

I was still pretty wet behind the ears, but as I'd originally joined Capcom with a desire to create mystery and adventure games, this was a huge chance for me to make my mark as a creator. In the end it took a team of seven 10 months to produce the first GBA Ace Attorney title. Having the freedom to create exactly the kind of game I wanted was amazing and it was a real pleasure to work on that project.

MC: Can you remember when the idea of Ace Attorney first came to you? How did your bosses respond to the idea of a lawyer-based adventure game when you first described it to them?

ST: It was in 2000 when Mr Mikami said I could make my own game and my original idea was a fairly typical adventure with a detective as the main character. Most mystery adventures have the player choose from a number of different dialogue options for their character in order to progress the story, but I wanted a new gameplay style that enabled players to deduce for themselves what was happening, rather than just selecting canned responses. I developed this into the concept of facing off against the suspect in a crime and exposing the contradictions in their statements.

I was sure my new idea would be a fun and original take on the genre, so I started to revise the main character, since a detective would be too traditional for such an original concept. I asked myself, "What kind of professional would face off against a suspect and expose their contradictory statements?" The answer, of course, was a lawyer and so the Ace Attorney concept was born.

Incidentally, I wrote the game design document at home during my summer holiday straight after Dino Crisis 2 finished. One day, I got a call from Mr Mikami. Despite having supposedly given me free rein to design whatever I wanted, he warned me off doing a game about courtroom trials!

MC: Ace Attorney paints the police and legal profession in a silly light. Have you ever had feedback from lawyers or policemen about your portrayal of them?

ST: A few years ago I had the opportunity to speak with some police detectives and they told me that their real-life investigations are nowhere near as absurd as those that were depicted in Ace Attorney. I thought to myself, "Well, I had sort-of guessed that already..."

I've never had feedback from any lawyers, but I imagine it would be the same. They'd tell me they don't scream out "Objection!" as vigorously as our characters and I'd think to myself, "Well, I had sort-of guessed that already..."

MC: Every Ace Attorney game is full of great characters, so when you wrote each sequel how did you decide which people to bring back?

ST: The first time a previously featured character returned in a later case was Larry Butz. Phoenix defended him on a murder charge in the very first case of the first game and he showed up later in the same game as a supporting character in the fourth case.

He wasn't originally planned to be a recurring character, however. The schedule for designing and drawing a new character for that case was so tight that there was a serious risk we wouldn't make it in time, so we decided to reuse an existing character simply to save time on asset creation. Thus, Larry made his encore appearance, which ended up being a well-received element of the first game's storyline, so from the second game onwards, we started bringing old characters back intentionally.

How we choose who to bring back is simple: it's usually either characters who are popular with fans, or those I am fond of [laughs].

MC: For all the madness, there's something traditional about the mysteries at the heart of Ace Attorney. Did you draw on any classic crime writers for inspiration?

ST: You could say that there is a mixture of the spilled blood of victims, the guilty tears of killers and the sweat of hard-working detectives flowing through my veins... To put it less graphically, from the time I came across the Sherlock Holmes series as a child, all the way through to my university days, I've been obsessed with reading classic murder mysteries. It's safe to say that Ace Attorney would not exist were it not for Perry Mason.

When writing the cases for the games I've found inspiration in the works of GK Chesterton, Ellery Queen and Anthony Berkeley, to name but a few. And I can't leave out that modern classic of the genre, Columbo.

MC: How hard is it to devise a juicy twist and to hide it from view? In storytelling you often want to obscure the details, but videogame design often requires clarity. Did you find it hard to rectify those two things?

ST: They say that it's harder to create a puzzle than to solve one and that's certainly proved to be the case in my experience. For the first game, with my lack of experience I found it less like a challenging task than a hobby with which I became obsessed.

You need to control the information presented in the game so that there is a single right answer for the player to deduce, but also weave in plenty of initial inconsistencies for them to uncover and our trademark 'turnabout' twists to confound their expectations. This is where reading all those mystery novels in my youth has really paid off.

MC: Having worked on four Ace Attorney games, how did it feel to step away and work on Ghost Trick? Were you nervous to leave that safety bubble?

ST: I first started working on the Ghost Trick concept in 2004, after the completion of the original GBA version of Ace Attorney 3. The third game was supposed to be the last one, but plans changed and I ended up working on the first DS Ace Attorney, which, as you know, was the first Ace Attorney title to be localised and released in the west. My next project after that was Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, so by the time I got around to finishing Ghost Trick it was 2010, six years after I first thought up the concept.

I certainly felt a lot of pressure when making Ghost Trick, as it was a brand new IP and I had just left the Ace Attorney series, but I was grateful for the chance to take on a new challenge.

MC: Ghost Trick featured some incredibly gruesome murder concepts - death by giant roast chicken is my favourite. From where did you draw inspiration for such a huge variety of deaths? Did any not make the cut?

ST: I feel that the most violent way of murdering someone is by directly shooting, stabbing or strangling them, so for Ghost Trick I wanted to have more indirect ways of killing someone, with a darkly comical, more symbolic feeling to them.

Combining this approach with the fact that the Nintendo DS screens are not the largest, or most high-resolution displays out there, it became important to make sure that whatever death we were presenting to the player was visually easy to comprehend. So being crushed to death by some giant object was a perfect fit for our requirements, whether it was under a big rock or a huge roast chicken.

As far as cut ideas, there was going to be a stage where the victim had been crushed by a huge safe that fell from the ceiling, but time restrictions meant the whole stage was cut. I do love having giant objects fall on people, don't I? That's probably the influence of Tom and Jerry on the young Shu Takumi showing through.

MC: More importantly, how did your team react as you presented these death ideas to them. Was anyone worried for your sanity?

ST: Yes, and not only that, but I also made it my goal to cause the team to worry for my sanity whenever I presented an idea, because if they were, it meant it was a good one. I would hear a little voice in my head saying, "You win!" at times like that. The more "You win!" moments one can have in life, the better.

MC: There were nods in Ghost Trick to Ace Attorney - Missile the dog, for example; a character who looked like Wright - do you see the two games as existing in the same universe?

ST: Those are really just coincidences: the guy who looks like Phoenix actually only has the same colour suit on and the dog is not the same breed as Missile, which, coincidentally, is the name of my pet Pomeranian.

Ghost Trick takes place in what is obviously a much more fantastical world than Ace Attorney. You may have noticed that the level backgrounds in Ghost Trick never have any kind of writing in them. This was an intentional design choice to prevent the game's setting from being identifiable as taking place in any particular country or era from the real world.

MC: Could you imagine an Ace Attorney/Ghost Trick crossover? Any deaths that we couldn't prevent by way of possession could then go to trial in a courtroom...

ST: ...or Phoenix Wright could be killed and Sissel could prosecute his killer in court! Whatever form it might take, a crossover between these games is something I would love to see happen.

MC: When you return to Ace Attorney after a period of absence - whether it was to write Apollo Justice or Professor Layton Vs. Ace Attorney - how easy do you find it to slip back into that world and that writing voice?

ST: Writing for Professor Layton Vs. Ace Attorney was the first time in several years that I wrote in the voice of Phoenix and Maya, but those characters are so dear to me that I carry them around everywhere in my heart, so it was very easy to pick it up again. It was like a reunion with old friends and was a very pleasurable and nostalgic experience for me.

MC: When you came to write the scenario for Professor Layton Vs. Ace Attorney, how hard was it to make those two universes gel? Layton's world traditionally dispels the paranormal, while Wright tends to embrace it.

ST: I worked together with Level 5 to develop the world in which the crossover takes place. It took quite a lot of time for both sides to find a setting into which we were happy to place our biggest characters. The starting point for me was when I wondered to myself if one could still use logic to solve a case in a world in which crimes could be committed using magic. I really liked this idea, so it was hard, but fun, work to design the court sections of the game around it.

MC: Putting all diplomacy aside, who would win in a battle of the wits between Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright?

ST: If you ask me, I don't think Phoenix would be able to hold a candle to Layton in a real battle of wits. However, we all know that the hand of fate somehow always manages to bring a 'turnabout' in Nick's fortunes, no matter how sticky the situation, which means, well, sorry, Professor, but you're out of luck!

MC: With Ace Attorney 5 and Ace Attorney Investigations how does it feel to see your characters in the hands of other Capcom employees? We imagine it must be like a parent sending their child to school for the first day.

ST:

That's an apt comparison. I do have mixed feelings about it sometimes. For instance, I was really surprised to see that after we focused on the new character of Apollo in the fourth game, the Dual Destinies team decided to bring Phoenix back. Ultimately, though, having creators other than myself take the helm of the series is a valid choice, as it brings new directions and new story possibilities.

The team on the new game have looked at what the essence of Ace Attorney is, and as long as they can give the fans another great game to enjoy, I'll be happy. After all, the fact that the series is still going over a decade after I made the first game is something I couldn't possibly have imagined in the first place.

MC: Have you seen the Ace Attorney film? If so, what did you think of it? Was it funny to see characters you sketched out all those years ago in the flesh?

ST: I saw it, and I even got to make a little cameo when the film company invited some Capcom staff to visit the set. You can see me briefly in the spectators' gallery in the final court scene.

It was really something to see the story I wrote for the first game brought to life on the big screen by real-life actors.

And those costumes! They were such perfect recreations. The director, Takashi Miike, is an expert at making existing works from other media into entertaining live action films and he did a great job with Ace Attorney. I highly recommend that everyone reading this check it out, if they can.

MC: This interview is part of our 100th edition and we're looking back over some of our magazine highlights. Looking back over your own career, what is your personal highlight to date?

ST: As a creator, the greatest compliment to me is when someone tells me that they played one of my games and enjoyed it. In the course of the press tour for Ghost Trick in 2010, many players from around the world expressed their love of Ace Attorney to me and it's moments like those that make me glad I became a game creator. Also, I'm deeply honoured to have been asked to take part in this special issue and having myself, my team and our work considered a highlight of your magazine's history. I'd like to thank you on behalf of everyone at Capcom. This opportunity is in itself a highlight for us.

MC: Many of our readers are keen to know, what's next for Shu Takumi?

ST: Game projects are a complex balance of so many factors: what I want to make, what players might make of my concept, what Capcom as a company wants from the game, and also broader trends in the gaming industry. My next project is in the preparation stages and I still don't know myself what form it might take by the time it's finished.

Whatever happens, though, I'll be pouring my heart and soul into it and working towards that eternal goal of hearing positive reactions from the players at the end of all the hard work.

#ghost trick #ace attorney #shu takumi

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fullcfterrors · 6 years ago

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SEASON EIGHT, EPISODE SIX –– CANON DIVERGENCE.

** this blog will not be following any of the events post episode five, unless plotted otherwise. for the general arch of daenerys in my portrayal however, her storyline was incredibly different. this does not mean to say that i would be opposed to following any storylines where jon attempts to murder her, or where she does go mad queen but i will not be explicitly portraying that theme throughout my writing in general plots and threads. this is my canon divergence, the original post which is mostly a rant written after watching the series can be found HERE but for the sake of my new blog, i thought i would type it more clearly !!! this is likely to be an incredibly long post as i have it in my head that daenerys deserved far better so thank you for sticking through and reading this. its hugely important to me. ** in my head, i truly believe that daenerys was not mad. they did not write her to be mad and her storyline was NEVER her turning mad queen. she was simply doing what she thought was right and best for the people of westeros in a way where she got her justice and unfortunately, she did lose her way and became wrapped up in what she believed her ideal world to be. we completely saw in her final scene with kit beside the throne that she was so human and not insane. she was genuinely a human being, asking him to create a better world with her and ... my girl. i would also like to put it out there that i am very happy with the ending. i know there were a few loose ends that could have been tied with more time but i think everybody is where they are mean to be. and there was no better person to rule the six kingdoms than bran stark. jon’s ending was also beautiful but i won’t clog this post !!! give that like button a ♡ if you do read this –– just so i know for future plotting !!!

◈ obviously, daenerys doesn’t die and although it is an incredibly hard decision to make, she asks jon to be with her and to rule with her whilst stood in an intact throne room which is not burnt to ashes. this would happen in the scene where he comes to kill her, only that does not happen. how this unfolds is dependent on the writer who portrays jon if it is being explored in a thread but otherwise, i would imagine it going smoothly.

◈ tyrion urges that she invites the great lords and ladies of westeros to the dragon pit so that they do not feel uncomfortable or on edge with seeing her on the iron throne. the idea of bringing them to a place where her dragons were once held as prisoners is a metaphor for the freedom that she wants to instil upon the seven kingdoms. now that the war has been won, they discuss the nights watch and other worldly issues –– including northern independence, because of jon.

◈ the main reason that she grants the north their independence is because she knows how much eddard stark meant to him and how the north has been a staple of his childhood and his narrative and she also respects that. she respects everything that he has lost much like her and i think it is important to note that daenerys respects and understands where sansa is coming from. she wanted to take her rightful throne and in the process of obtaining her families kingdom, she wants to give the stark’s what is rightfully theirs too.

◈ in episode four, she urges jon not to tell his siblings about his parentage. in this divergence, daenerys would still be incredibly concerned about him telling people, not because she believes he would ever dethrone her but more so, because she loves him and is worried that it will ruin things between them. there is something within her that worries for the throne too, which is okay. daenerys is allowed to have that burning dream in the back of her mind because it is all she has ever known. she does not want his family or men to judge him for being in a relationship with his aunt as she had always expected to be married to viserys anyway.

◈ “because of everything she has been through, because of everything they have done to her.” this is something that she says to jon. daenerys does not feel threatened or anger towards sansa. instead, she actually feels disheartened. she acknowledges that sansa is not being stubborn for no reason, she absolutely understands that sansa has a vision ( similar to her own ) where she wants to best for her people. eventually, i would like a friendship and alliance formed there because daenerys is not here to be sansa’s enemy. she loves her brother and wants peace for all of the seven kingdoms, whether the north is hers or not. they share hardships and more importantly, how they have both blossomed into two leading women of the world. on this blog, we support strong ass, female characters who deserved better.

◈ daenerys’ small council will have been heavily planned with tyrion by her side. in my canon, i very much imagine jorah and and missandei as having lost their lives but dependent on the thread and plot –– if it aids the other person that i am writing with, we can have them alive. in threads with people who write these characters, just know that daenerys loves you both very much. sharna just likes to live in a world of angst, hurt and upset. if these characters are still alive, it is important to note that jorah would be lord commander of the queens guard and whilst there would be no offical title for missandei, she would always remain her closest advisor and friend. more details about the small council can be found below.

◈ as the queen of the six kingdoms, daenerys would absolutely appoint master of war to jon snow. in her eyes, there is not a single person more deserving of the role given every battle he has faced. she would not expect him to take it because canonically, targaryen or not, she would like to marry him. if they were to keep his parentage a secret, then it would also serve as an alliance between the northern kingdom and the rest of westeros.

◈ bronn would remain her master of coin at tyrion’s suggestion, though at first daenerys would be sceptical due to him being part of the sack on highgarden. she does not feel comfortable with the idea that bronn was a part of the sack, murdering her allies and then claiming the castle for himself. but in this ‘new world’ she is trying to build of forgiveness and second chances, it only seems right that bronn is given the opportunity to prove himself worthy. in any verses with margaery writers where she is still alive, she is very clearly the heir to highgarden.

◈ lord commander of the queens guard is greyworm. he was the unsullied who stepped forward to lead the rest, ensuring her that it would be a pleasure to serve her for the rest of his time. one quote that stands out to me is where he tells daenerys he would like to keep his derogatory name because it gives him honour, in being the name he had when daenerys freed him. i believe that appointing him as the queens guard, somebody who is sworn to protect the realm, it is justice for missandei too.

◈ davos the onion knight, the pirate is the master of ships. i would like to think that daenerys had formed a bond with him, due to him being the one to bring jon to dragonstone. she admired his humour for what it was and more than anything, she admired his bravery as she knew that he had never fought in many fights. i would like to think that they shared memories of dragonstone and seeing as she does not know the castle very well, he would have offered to give her the grand tour of her own home ... telling her stories that shireen had taught him about the night she was born and her families history here. master of ships would also be a way to commemorate his son, in his death through the battle for blackwater bay.

◈ master of whispers. in this divergence, varys did not die or betray her because she ‘went off the rails’. varys may have lost faith in her but daenerys’ kind nature and desire to give second chances was what gave him the opportunity to see something else in her –– a fire. he could see that daenerys knows what she needs to do in order to make this world far better than she found it and he believes in her to do so. master of whispers was always something that he was good at doing and seemed to enjoy doing. and seeing as he brought tyrion to her ( or attempted to ), it makes sense for him to stick by her side and be part of her small council as the queen.

◈ master of law is something that i have not yet thought of and whilst tyrion would likely be perfect for the role, he is her hand. i am going to leave this one open as a plotting device to other people so if anybody would like to do a thread surrounding that role, then be my guest. this is also open to OC characters –– including females as we need some more woman on this bloody small council. lyanna mormont would have been perfect for the role had she not died an epic death fighting a giant wight. imagine her rolling up to the small council meetings and putting everybody in their place, sigh. it’s canon now.

#daenerys on northern independence #daenerys on her small council #aka #probs important to read if we have any s8 verses together !!#... the fire inside of me burns brighter than the fire around me ;; daenerys headcanon.#... canon divergence.

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geek-gem · 6 years ago

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Sonic Movie Legendary Pictures Reboot

My true final edit I finally decided to put the Sonic movie positivity tags because I want this to get more attraction. Despite people may dislike this but after seeing the positivity tag since there are two but the, “Sonic movie positivity” tag is the one people use more. I just want people to notice this. Again I’m not making more of these. Especially I wanted to have discussions with folks who are more positive about the movie and just about anybody okay I’m scared of that but whatever this is fan fiction.

This is something I’ve been working on for the past two nights and this morning and just right now. I started on this late at night after I found out my grandfather was dead. For some time I wanted to try to make some fake thumbnail giving the idea Legendary bought the movie rights to Sonic. But let me talk about this. This all started after I admitted on a reblog I made detailing something like this.

I’ve been honest about the Sonic movie. Such as being cautious and optimistic compared to so much negativity that actually gets annoying. I do like how a lot of folks are excited for the film in some positivity tags for the movie, I’m grateful they are around.

Yet this was an idea I decided to write. Mainly a trilogy of films if Warner Bros and Legendary got the rights to the film. Or the possibility of the film already being rebooted. I’ll be honest it sounds rude that I’m already making this, since the film isn’t out. But I wanted to share my vision and I’m open to everyone’s thoughts. You can well be critical about it, since this is all fan fiction. At one point I was nervous to share this. Including because of that picture at the top. Including it’s very long and be warned this is part 1 of a trilogy. It’s not perfect but again this is my vision of how I wanted a Sonic movie should of been.

I’m opened to opinions and we can discuss this. Including I need to brainstorm about the first sequel and after that the second sequel. Especially this is less ambitious than my old ideas. Or it’s still ambitious because I’m sharing these details. It’s a long read.

Last edit this isn’t a part 1 anymore considering what I have decided or am deciding. This will be explained in a separate post and this is basically a first draft that I will keep out in the open for any possible discussion.

“Prepare to go fast like never before. As Warner Bros, Legendary Pictures, and Brad Peyton, director of San Andreas and Rampage bring a thrilling action filled adventured based upon the iconic Sonic The Hedgehog video game franchise to life.

With the world now threatened by a ego maniac scientist by the name of Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Who is searching for the powerful Chaos Emeralds to make his forces stronger. Sonic, the world’s fastest hedgehog and his friends must work together with a soldier to stop Robotnik’s plan from fully succeeding. But to make matters worse, to stop the hedgehog and his allies, Robotnik creates two powerful robots that could finally end the Blue Blur. They are Metal Sonic and Silver Sonic. Two powerful and deadly robots built to destroy Sonic and help Robotnik.

Now with the world trying to understand what is going on, both on the run from the government and trying to fight Robotnik’s forces. Sonic and his friends must risk their lives to save the planet from these dangerous doppelgangers, and Robotnik himself. While during the journey, friendships will be forged, along with brotherhood in the face of destructive robotic terror”

Tom Holland as Sonic The Hedgehog. A 21 year old hedgehog with a cocky attitude, easy going demeanor, and some what short temper, yet strong sense of justice, compassion, and a love of freedom and adventure. Born with the ability of super sonic speed. He uses his powers to fight off Dr. Ivo Robotnik and other evil forces.

Height: 4 feet.

Chris Pratt as Sergeant Gary Andrews. A 31 year old GUN soldier with a confident attitude and headstrong with a sense of justice for all life forms, but also very down to earth. Including very courageous in times of extreme danger.

Realizing that Sonic and his friends may be the world’s best chance at stopping Robotnik, he goes on the run from the same military he’s in to help them.

Paul Giammatti as Dr. Ivo Robotnik. A 54 year old scientist with a high IQ of 300 who wants to take over the world. Truly an ego maniac who has a psychotic belief of self entitlement, as well arrogant and narcissistic. He won’t stop at his goal and will destroy anyone that gets in his way.

Finn Wolfhard as Miles Tails Prower. A 14 year old two tailed fox. Possessing very high intelligence, and being a mechanical genius, but also a sweet and gentle soul. He’s Sonic’s best friend and looks to Sonic as a brother figure and inspiration. Able to use his two tails to fly and amazing as an aerial pilot, Tails is truly a big help.

Height: 3 feet.

Hailee Steinfeld as Amy Rose. A 18 year old hedgehog who’s a cheerful attitude, though erratic girl, with a positive attitude and boundless energy. Even though some times having a scary temper, she actually has a pure heart. Including has a crush on Sonic but keeps it to a minimal and it’s mainly a secret. She’s not obsessed with him but wants to accompany him on his adventures.

Height: 4 feet.

Metal Sonic. A robotic doppelganger of Sonic himself. Possibly Robotnik’s greatest creation, and serving as his obedient and silent enforcer. Metal is a intelligent machine with a very dark side. Truly a cold hearted, aggressive, and ruthless killer. He’s obsessed with proving his superiority to Sonic in every way and destroying him once and for all. All to finally prove that he’s the, “Real Sonic”.

Height: 4 feet.

Silver Sonic. Another robotic doppelganger of Sonic himself. But compared to Metal, Silver Sonic is more like a machine that gets told what needs to be done. More focused on causing destruction and will kill anyone that appose Robotnik’s rule. Truly a tall brute that’s more bulky, and monstrous than Metal. Making him Robotnik’s muscle. Yet still fast which makes him overall dangerous.

Height: 11 feet.

Emilia Clarke as Katherine Grady. A 31 year old zoologist and a single mother who travelled to South Island and has lived there for some time. Originally from London, she wanted to study and discover what life is like on the island that not many humans travel to. She’s a caring and supportive woman who values all forms of life. Yet she will get serious when she needs to be. Especially to protect the ones she loves, including her daughter.

She has actually known Sonic for some time but not much. But she gets caught up with Sonic, his friends, and Gary when they are on South Island. Finding out what’s going on she helps them by trying to find where Robotnik may be at.

Millie Bobby Brown as Kaliyah Grady. A 14 year old girl and Katherine’s daughter. With Katherine giving birth to Kaliyah at a young age but helped by her father. Kaliyah's father didn’t wanna take care of his daughter anymore because he felt it wasn’t his responsibility, leaving the two and other family members when Kaliyah was 4.

Kaliyah is a fearless and generous young girl. Growing up and not affected much by her father walking out of her life. A bit more adventurous than her mother in some regards. She actually makes friends with Tails and the others when she and her mother get caught up with Sonic.

Idris Elba as Abraham Westbrook. The 54 year old Commander of GUN short for Guardian Units Of Nations. He is Gary’s commander. While being described having a, “Heart Of Stone” and stoic, he is actually quite passionate, having a softer side he rarely shows, and a great sense of duty towards his people.

Assuming Sonic is a threat and shocked when Gary who he considers one of his best soldiers actually tries to help the hedgehog. He realizes Gary was right when he sees Sonic is only trying to stop Robotnik just like him.

Joe Manganiello as Lieutenant Derek Sanderson. A 41 year old GUN soldier who’s good friends with Gary. Despite being more stoic and serious than Gary, he values the same sense of values Gary shares. During a search for Robotnik, Metal Sonic ambushes the squad that was sent, and murders almost everyone. Except for Derek who had survived. Only seeing Metal as what he describes as a, “Blue Blur” and his shape. He and even the commander believe Sonic is working for Robotnik.

Believing Sonic to have murdered his squad and working for Robotnik. He considers Sonic a, “Psychopathic Freak” and makes it his personal mission to not just kill Robotnik, but also Sonic. Basically developing a hatred of the hedgehog and will not stop till he’s dead. What makes it worse when he finds out Gary has joined Sonic to help him. He see’s it as a betrayal of brotherhood, he and GUN try to catch them. Even if he has to get answers out of what he considers Sonic’s associates which are his friends Tails, and Amy, but also Katherine and her daughter.

Setting, characters, and notes.

1. The development of the story was rather difficult. Including I think I felt the pain and annoyance of how the development for the story of Brad Peyton’s Rampage went like. Also possibly even the writers behind Jeff Fowler’s Sonic movie. As the start of a possible franchise and first film, elements of Sonic The Hedgehog 1 and 2, and Sonic CD were used. With characters like Sonic, Dr. Robotnik/Eggman, Tails, Amy, Metal Sonic, and Silver Sonic(From Sonic 2 also known as Mecha Sonic too) being the first to be introduced.

Looking over those first three games and trying to build a story was difficult. Because there was hardly any(Since gameplay was the main focus) but elements that could be used.

There were possibilities of the Death Egg and Little Planet. But to avoid a possible lawsuit by Disney it’s likely a Death Egg adaption might not happened unless it’s changed a bit. Including Little Planet seems a bit much to introduce including the Death Egg.

So the story became a more simple but working one that uses elements from those earlier games. With the simple premise being Sonic with his allies must stop Robotnik from getting all the Chaos Emeralds which would help him a lot.

2. It’s strangely an origin story in a way. While Sonic, Tails, and Amy have known each other for a long while. But Robotnik and Sonic haven’t met yet. Yet Robotnik knows about Sonic and is impressed and inspired to make two robots. One to be a perfect counterpart to Sonic himself(Metal Sonic), and one that’s more of a brute(Silver Sonic) and extra back up.

With Sonic being framed in a way by Metal, and Robotnik having a larger goal to take over the world and build Robotnik Land. Including to give his newest robotic helpers Metal and Silver Sonic all the power they need to help him take over.

3. The setting is based upon a theory I’ve had for the world of Sonic in the games. If you ignore the, “Two Worlds” thing or something. Including this set up also confirms what will be explored in the next film.

Animal like people such as Sonic have been on the Earth from the start. It’s not a story where a character from another dimension comes to our world. In a similar sense it’s like Legendary’s Monsterverse and that creatures like Sonic have been here since the start. In a era before humans became the dominant species.

What happened to these animals is that because of when Chaos decided to unleash his anger on the world. The scene from Sonic Adventure, Chaos was the reason why these animals are no larger the dominant species in a sense. Because of Chaos supposedly destroying the world. While many other species got to live. Tragically the echidna race had it far worse since they were the first to suffer and were the reason Chaos was angered. Slowly the echidna race was near extinction. Which led to Knuckles being the only one of his kind.

Again Chaos is the reason why Sonic and his friends and other animals seem rare. As they live on certain islands and South Island being one of them. Yet there is no tension between these animals and humans. Because there is no point and humanity views these creatures as equals. Yet considering these creatures don’t go out in the human world much, it’s rather surprising to see one in public. This is something the first sequel will explore.

4. Honestly some of this such as Sonic characters, and in some ways the story is inspired by what was the leaked story for the Sonic movie. https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/7e8a15/some_info_about_the_upcoming_sonic_film/ Unknown if it’s truly fake or it was an actual story for the movie. It’s something I don’t mind considering it’s doing what I’m doing. Because when I look at this I would of liked to see the upcoming Sonic movie be something like this. Despite my annoyance with how Chaos is treated. Unless you explore him in a sequel.

5. Brad Peyton is a choice I’ve wanted for sometime because of his work on Rampage. But also to add to that San Andreas, yet Rampage being the biggest reason. Another choice which I’m still thinking about is Michael Dougherty who directed Trick R Treat, Krampus, and Godzilla King Of The Monsters. Yet Brad has that style I want for the film and give him a good writer and it can help.

6. Robotnik was actually a well known genius before becoming a villain. Related to the great Gerald Robotnik.(Confirming his existence in this universe and setting up the possibility of a Sonic Adventure 2 adaption and in a way confirming Shadow probably exists in this universe and so does the Space Colony Ark) Ivo was actually respected but over time people began to see who he was.

He moved to South Island to get away from the human world. Including where he wouldn’t be interrupted and plan for something greater. It’s where South Island he builds his dangerous robots especially Metal Sonic and Silver Sonic. Including he learns of the Chaos Emeralds and wants to use them for his own selfish reasons.

Before hand Robotnik wasn’t bothered by the animals on South Island and assumed he was friendly, Ivo just minded his own business yet he took advantage of the situation by making his own company, making money off the animals to get more parts. Including selling some of his machinery to buyers from across the world. His entire workforce is made out of robots. For a lot of years he kept out of the public eye for many years to make a big surprise. Which is him rising up to become a villain.

7. Metal Sonic is heavily inspired by his OVA counterpart. While Robotnik was inspired by Sonic’s powers to make Metal. He truly wanted to make the perfect killing machine. But also something that can destroy Sonic if he were to try to stop him. Robotnik gave Metal intelligence to learn and adapt from Sonic. Which leads to Metal developing this mindset and obsession that he should be the only Sonic. While not having something like Sonic’s, “Life Data” like in the OVA where he has Sonic’s memories. He’s more like how Sonic CD introduced him. Yet after encountering Sonic he slowly starts changing and develops this hatred of his organic counterpart.

Edit after looking at Hyper Metal Sonic on Sonic News Network. I still wanna incorporate the concept of Metal having Sonic’s memories. Because the idea makes Metal seem more dangerous and like the info said make him durable. Maybe Robotnik gets Sonic’s blood somehow it’s tricky. I just love the OVA so it’s mainly like that version. Edit I’ll admit and use that quill idea which me and other folks are thinking in the trailer for Jeff Fowler’s Sonic movie that Robotnik might use that quill of Sonic to power Metal Sonic or something.

Especially Metal’s design from the games hardly changed. Including the direction to take with Metal was to make him scary. He doesn’t talk, he doesn’t care who he hurts, he’s super fast and super strong. Robotnik intended him to be the true opposite of Sonic. Any others are just back up, while Metal is seen as perfect, the true copy.

While cranking up the idea he’s like the OVA but cranked up to be more scary. Including inspirations from Brightburn, Man Of Steel, and Brad Peyton’s Rampage and not just the OVA. He’s brutal, fast, and unforgiving, but not to a point it’s R rated but it’s shown he’s actually killing people, even breaking bones, yet still PG-13. Showcasing Robotnik went all out to make him this perfect killing machine. Especially to frame Sonic for murdering GUN soldiers.

8. Silver Sonic while based upon the final boss before the Death Egg Robot in Sonic The Hedgehog 2. He’s actually inspired by Silver Sonic V3.0/V3.1 from the Archie Sonic comics. Such as design which resembles more of modern Sonic but still huge.

The direction for Silver Sonic is while Metal is the true copy of Sonic, he was built to be a unbeatable tank. What Robotnik did with Silver Sonic is that he wanted a tall and almost unstoppable monster. The fact Robotnik loved what Sonic’s abilities can do, he didn’t wanna just make one. Silver Sonic is mainly a brute, built to be the tank while Metal is more of Robotnik’s enforcer and to lead his robots. Especially as Silver Sonic does not care of proving his superiority to Sonic, he listens to Robotnik, and just wants to wreck shit and kill anybody who appose Robotnik’s rule.

A name to call them is the, “Metal Brothers”.

But also the other reason why Silver Sonic was added is kind of funny. It was the idea to add a larger robot. Since the Death Egg Robot is connected to the Death Egg, and while Robotnik has used many machines to fight Sonic. I just love robotic Sonic’s. Including the reason to make so tall is that I some what wanted a giant monster, something like a kaiju. Yet it’s not because it’s a giant robotic Sonic causing destruction and shit. But compared to Metal, he’s built to be different.

Another funny thing his height was chosen by what people believe how tall a sasquatch is.

Mecha Sonic from Sonic & Knuckles will make an appearance in the first sequel. Being a replacement for Silver Sonic after he’s destroyed.

9. All of the animal characters are CGI. But their designs are changed radically. They are very familiar. Yet they are more furrier, Sonic has fingerless gloves, it’s unknown of how Amy might look but some changes might be made.(Because of her dress and how under it is exposed) But she would remain familiar. It’s done in a similar route like Legendary’s Detective Pikachu. But other added details such as Sonic’s eyes don’t look like one eye. Despite it was confirmed they are two eyes in the games.

Along with little details like Sonic having fangs like in Sonic Adventure. With the possibility of Sonic’s ears could be curved a bit. But it might make a live action werehog’s ears look redundant. Yet the werehog looks really different.

Sonic, Amy, and Tails were buffed up to be taller and actually older. To show that they were teenagers or young adults, and that they were not that small. Compared to their game’s counterparts. Really I didn’t want them to be that small.

Their ages were buffed up about six years from the games counterparts. The reason being while strange, was the fact these characters get porn drawn of them. It’s best to make them older so we are playing it safe. Yet the other direction is the fact they are a bit more mature. But they are the same characters you still know.

10. Green Hill(despite the annoyance of the fanbase), Chemical Plant(that too despite the annoyance the fanbase), Mystic Cave, Labyrinth, and Metropolis are included as real places. While development of the world is still at hand, the concept that certain countries of today still exist while some fictional places in certain countries.

Metropolis is where the final battle on the main land takes place between Sonic and Gary against Metal and Silver Sonic, and whoever else is involved. Originally a version of Stardust Speedway was gonna be in here. But considering it’s origin it was best to keep it out. Despite it being the place where Sonic and Metal first clash in the games.

11. The movie explores the themes of friendship and brotherhood. Including with elements of family. With Gary in a way a older but human version of what Sonic could be. His bond develops over the course of the film with the hedgehog. Including things such as Sonic and Tail’s brotherhood, Gary’s brotherhood with Derek. Including the friendship between Kaliyah and Sonic’s friends. Along with the idea Gary being the father figure to Kaliyah, Katherine’s friendship with Amy.

Which jeez that’s a lot. Yet this development of characters makes them strong. Especially in the face of certain characters such as Robotnik, Metal, and Silver Sonic.

12. The characters of Katherine(Especially her), and Kaliyah are inspired by Johanna and Hilda from the Netflix series Hilda.

Along with the fact originally Millie Bobby Brown was gonna play Amy. But I wanted to add this daughter element and Millie as Amy I guess bothered me. Despite it being good casting, but I wanted to be comfortable with it so I decided to have Hailee Steinfeld as Amy.

13. Idris Ebla is indeed playing the movie version of the GUN Commander from the video games. The reason I didn’t have his name as Tower because of possible idea that Sega wouldn’t allow that since his name in the Archie Sonic comics is Abraham Tower. But hopefully still using the Abraham name is fine. Especially it’s meaning since for these human characters I looked up there meanings like I do with my other character castings.

Reasons why Idris is casted as the commander because simply Idris is awesome. Including the presence he would bring to the character. The other choice was Lawrence Fishburne. Besides his race wasn’t important from what I know. Despite I do think of trying to diversify casting. But I like these casting choices.

Yet also the commander being here sets up his role or something in a Sonic Adventure 2 adaption. While it also helps with the idea someone needs to be in charge of these military forces.

14. The score would be composed by Andrew Lockington who did the scores for Brad Peyton’s San Andreas and Rampage. Other musical choices include Papa Roach with, “Face Everything And Rise”, and 30 Seconds To Mars with, “This Is War”. Including the added bonus of the original Sonic Boom song from Sonic CD, a possible song from Crush 40, and even Zebrahead with, “His World”. Along with possibly Linkin Park’s, “Numb” which is a theme between Sonic and Metal. With a added bonus of, “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by Smashing Pumpkins and Christion Gray’s, “Stop Me”.

15: Reason why a human element was included for some reasons. Okay reason because it’s live action yet other reasons. While I like characters like Princess Elise(I would like to adapt her and change 06 probably but I don’t know if Sega and Sonic Team and much of the fanbase would even allow that. I would love to put maybe a cameo, and a easter to show Soleanna exists in this world. But the story of 06 would be different), and I’m bothered by a character like Chris Thorndyke. There seems to be this stigma against humans which is some what reasonable.

The concept of having Gary be a soldier and a adult, strangely an action hero is to defy expectations and make certain fans change their minds. Including to have a human directly trying to help Sonic instead of being a cheerleader. He’s literally trained for this, and is actually going against his military to help this hedgehog. Along with the fact he’s so courageous it doesn’t matter he tries to go against certain robots, especially Metal and Silver Sonic. Give him a assault rifle and a grenade launcher and he’s gonna do the best he can. He will be terrified but he’s not gonna run away, he’s truly what if Sonic was a human being but older. Including he’s not gonna lose what is possibly the best friend or even a brother he never had, that shares the same values he has.

While I know not every human needs to be that, and that’s good. But Gary is the example of a person who’s willing to risk his life to not just save the planet, but to also protect a creature he never knew that would be his best friend. The kind of hero who does something because it’s the right thing to do.

16. I’m tempted to add Dwayne Johnson but I won’t. Besides he has Rampage anyway and other major films. But I’m not tempted anymore.

17. I strangely wanna put a little reference to Steven Universe considering two characters are inspired by Hilda. Such as actors or similar to certain characters. But the film will be filled with more characters and you gonna be careful with a lot of characters. Maybe the next movie.

End Of Part 1. Now considering my last edit at the top, it’s not a part 1 anymore.

#sonic the hedgehog #sonic movie #Dr. Eggman #Dr. Ivo Robotnik #miles tails prower #amy rose #metal sonic #silver sonic #sonic movie positivity #movie sonic positivity

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