#Angel Samurai Warrior

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

ANGEL WARRIOR FROM THE WORLDS ABOVE -- PARTICIPANT IN THE SAMURAI WARS BELOW.

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on promo shots of Lotus, the Angel Warrior (something of an "Anti-Spawn"), from Spawn Series 19 "Spawn Dark Ages: The Samurai Wars," released by McFarlane Toys in July 2001.

FIGURE OVERVIEW: "Lotus is an angelic Samurai warrior sent to feudal Japan from the Worlds Above to put an end to the epic battle between Samurai Spawn and the beast Jyaaku the Nightmare. Lotus dispatches the three-headed Jyaaku back to its own dark realm before turning her attention to Samurai Spawn. The Samurai, formerly known as Takeda, bows his head to receive the death blow he longs for. Instead, Lotus pardons the wild creature, leaving him to roam the ancient Japanese landscape in search of salvation."

-- MCFARLANE TOYS, c. summer 2001

Source: https://mcfarlane.com/toys/lotus-the-angel-warrior.

[tropicalshoegazze]

Samurais, cowboys, surfers, angels, african warriors, medieval knights, swimmers, romans: love between men

[shatinn]

Starfield 101/?

[dewo13]

[reyl0ct]

I really wanted to get a name change for my WoL (because I think Nala Tsukino is kinda lame :') )

But! I will forgo it in favor of this outfit!!! She looks too good I can't 😭🌟✨️🗡

[best-tv-theme-song]

Round 1 is over, full results below!

Round 2 will start on Monday.

What are your most devastating losses this round?? Mine are Milo Murphy's Law, Gilmore Girls, That 70s Show, and Reba. (No respect around here for a single mom who works too hard who loves her kids and never stops)

Group A

The Addams Family vs. Fairy Tail

Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat vs. Goosebumps

Wizards of Waverly Place (S1-3) vs. Ed, Edd n Eddy

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood vs. Only Murders in the Building

The Backyardigans vs. Downton Abbey

Naruto vs. The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

Dexter's Laboratory vs. Kenan & Kel

Parks and Recreation vs. Jujutsu Kaisen

Danny Phantom vs. Pippi Longstocking/Pippi Långstrump

My Life as a Teenage Robot vs. My Hero Academia

Sabrina the Teenage Witch vs. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (S4-7)

Little Einsteins vs. The Benny Hill Show

Teletubbies vs. Ted Lasso

VeggieTales vs. Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir

Lizzie McGuire vs. The Proud Family

Steven Universe (Original Theme) vs. The A-Team

Group B

Doctor Who (New S1-2) vs. Charlie's Angels

Thomas & Friends vs. Bob's Burgers

Community vs. The Brady Bunch

Adventure Time vs. Ever After High

Seinfeld vs. Ranma ½

Batman vs. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Monty Python's Flying Circus vs. One Piece (2023)

Friends vs. Rocko's Modern Life

Sesame Street (S1-23) vs. Saved by the Bell

Total Drama vs. Monk

Full House vs. Winx Club (We Are the Winx)

Looney Tunes vs. Murder, She Wrote

M*A*S*H vs. South Park

Pinky and the Brain vs. Happy Days

One Day at a Time (2017) vs. The Suite Life on Deck

Pokémon (Pokémon Theme) vs. The Andy Griffith Show

Group C

Gravity Falls vs. Milo Murphy's Law

Horrible Histories vs. Leverage

Neon Genesis Evangelion vs. Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

The Simpsons vs. Samurai Jack

The Golden Girls vs. Wonder Pets!

Merlin vs. El Chavo del Ocho

Victorious vs. CSI: Miami

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic vs. Smallville

Good Omens vs. Good Luck Charlie

House, M.D. vs. Pride and Prejudice

LazyTown vs. The Big Bang Theory

Bob the Builder vs. Wild Kratts

New Girl vs. Infinity Train

Arthur vs. I Love Lucy

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The X-Files vs. Pucca

Group D

The Fairly OddParents vs. X-Men: The Animated Series

Sherlock vs. Monster High

Spider-Man vs. Revolutionary Girl Utena

Orange Is the New Black vs. Hunter × Hunter

The Office vs. Angel: The Series

Law & Order (SVU) vs. Arcane: League of Legends

BoJack Horseman vs. Wonder Woman

Jeopardy! vs. Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody vs. Taskmaster

Totally Spies! vs. Yellowjackets

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia vs. Ouran High School Host Club (Japanese)

Yuri on Ice vs. Samurai Champloo

Ducktales (1987) vs. Charmed

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood vs. Shaun the Sheep

How It's Made vs. Tokyo Ghoul

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! vs. The Emperor's New School

Group E

Kim Possible vs. Once Upon a Time

The Great British Bake Off vs. The Legend of Vox Machina

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power vs. Gilmore Girls

Animaniacs vs. Pretty Little Liars

Zoboomafoo vs. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

The Umbrella Academy vs. The Muppet Show

WandaVision (A Newlywed Couple/Ep 1) vs. NCIS

Reading Rainbow (1983-1999) vs. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Hannah Montana (S1-2) vs. Gilligan's Island

The Mandalorian vs. Dragon Ball Z (Cha-La Head-Cha-La)

What We Do in the Shadows vs. Inspector Gadget

Big Time Rush vs. Barney & Friends

Power Rangers (Mighty Morphin) vs. Young Justice

Futurama vs. Spy × Family

Succession vs. Bluey

iCarly vs. Code Lyoko

Group F

The Magic School Bus vs. Jackie Chan Adventures

Digimon Adventure (Butter-Fly) vs. The Last of Us

Star Trek: The Next Generation (S3-7) vs. Soul Eater

Zoey 101 vs. Xena: Warrior Princess

Dora the Explorer vs. We Bare Bears

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend vs. Carmen Sandiego (2019)

Star Trek: Enterprise (S1-2) vs. Mr. Bean

Sailor Moon (Japanese) vs. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (S1-2) vs. Red Dwarf

Death Note vs. Phil of the Future

Yu-Gi-Oh! vs. El Chapulín Colorado

The Flintstones vs. His Dark Materials

Game of Thrones vs. Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure

The Nanny vs. Haikyu!!

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends vs. Frasier

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air vs. Black Butler/Kuroshitsuji

Group G

Bill Nye the Science Guy vs. The Facts of Life

George of the Jungle (1967) vs. Veronica Mars

H2O: Just Add Water (S1) vs. Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek: The Original Series (With Vocal) vs. Hawaii Five-O

Drake & Josh vs. Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman

Puella Magi Madoka Magica vs. Cowboy Bebop (1998)

Lilo & Stitch: The Series vs. Torchwood

The Twilight Zone vs. Wander Over Yonder

Rugrats vs. Columbo

The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius vs. The Walking Dead

Hey Arnold! vs. Psych

Twin Peaks vs. Voltron: Legendary Defender

Dragon Tales vs. How I Met Your Mother

Stranger Things vs. Mission: Impossible (1966)

W.I.T.C.H. vs. Daredevil

What's New, Scooby-Doo? vs. Tiny Toon Adventures

Group H

SpongeBob SquarePants vs. X-Men: Evolution

Fraggle Rock vs. Stargate SG-1

Firefly vs. Scrubs

Codename: Kids Next Door vs. Inuyasha (Change the World)

That '70s Show vs. Bear in the Big Blue House

Cheers vs. American Dragon: Jake Long

A Series of Unfortunate Events vs. Black Sails

The Powerpuff Girls vs. Darkwing Duck

That's So Raven vs. Grey's Anatomy

Ben 10 vs. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

Cyberchase vs. Reba

Malcolm in the Middle vs. Shake It Up

Teen Titans (2003) vs. Mob Psycho 100

The Owl House vs. I Dream of Jeannie

Assassination Classroom (Question) vs. Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake

Phineas and Ferb vs. Batman Beyond/Batman of the Future

[thegreat2000s]

A list of cool anime series that you should totally watch if you haven't yet!

Bleach

Soul Eater

Ouran High School Host Club

Eureka Seven

Naruto

Toradora

Shaman King

Azumanga Daioh

Tsukihime

Chobits

The Melancholy Suzumiya Haruhi

Black Lagoon

Fullmetal Alchemist

Clannad

Saikano

Alien Nine

Digimon Tamers

Serial Experiments Lain

Potemayo

FLCL

Fruits Basket

Transformers Armada

Hajime no Ippo

Code Geass

Death Note

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Eikoku Emma

Hellsing

Digimon Frontier

Shoujo Cosette

Ikki Tousen

Monster

Baccano

Samurai Champloo

Hoshi no Kirby

Megaman NT Warrior

Beyblade

Full Metal Panic

Digimon Savers

Ghost in the Shell

Love Hina

Hamtaro

Chrono Crusade

Ergo Proxy

Fate Stay Night

Devil May Cry

Heaven's Lost Property

Inuyasha

Gundam 00

Higurashi When they Cry

Bakugan

Spice and Wolf

Dinosaur King

Black Butler

Gantz

Zero No Tsukaima

Elfen Lied

Ghost Stories

Kiss x Sis

Xxxholic

Blood+

Highlander Search for Vengeance

To Aru Kagaku no Railgun

To Aru Majutsu no Index

School Days

Lucky Star

Cardcaptor Sakura

Mirai Nikki

Yugioh GX

Another

Jigoku Shoujo

Ore Imouto

Vampire Knight

Gunslinger Girl

Full Moon wo Sagashite

Afro Samurai

Yumekui Merry

Angel Beats

Rosario Vampire

Bakemonogatari

Paranoia Agent

Kimi no Todokete

D Gray Man

To Love Ru

Lyrical Nanoha

Strike Witches

Trinity Blood

Gintama

Welcome to the NHK

[iron-sparrow]

— MUTUAL CATCHUP —

Thank you for the tag, @verysmallcyborg! Now prepare to learn about the most boring person on tumblr.

LAST SONG: Landmines by Sum 41

CURRENTLY WATCHING: Thorlar on Twitch

THREE SHIPS: Mizu x Akemi (Blue Eye Samurai), Ah Toy x Nellie (Warrior), Red x the Man (Transistor)

FAVORITE COLOR(s): Grays, black, deep yellows, soft greens

CURRENTLY CONSUMING: Final Fantasy XIV, Phasmophobia, coffee

FIRST SHIP: I don't even know, because I was never really into shipping until I tried FFXIV RP (I'm a late bloomer). Maybe Tifa x Aerith?

PLACE OF BIRTH: smile

CURRENT LOCATION: "With roughly 3.9 million residents within the city limits as of 2020, Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind only New York City." Thanks, Wikipedia.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: @nolcro

LAST MOVIE: My Neighbor Totoro, with @oh-yeah-no & @this-is-ris ♡

CURRENTLY WORKING ON: A work report you really don't want to hear about. If crimes aren't back online soon, I may return to adding entries to my original urban fantasy world; started it a few years back out of frustration at the lack of proper Asian representation in tabletop style games.

(RECENT) FUN FACT: I developed a fever at the gym but lifted 213 lbs. several times without much effort. Still got sent home by my coach when he realized I was burning up. Yeah, I know nobody asked, but I'm telling you anyway.

DM me for a photo of my parrot Beelzebub, also.

[gilgalahad]

Masaaki Sasamoto - Samurai, Warrior, Angel

[tag-that-oc]

Sometimes a group of OCs is a Symphonic Metal Visual Kei band very influenced by Versailles called Rose Cross Descendance where the singer and bassist are in a gay relationship together.

To get more specific: Tresor Beauregard-- alternatively known as the "Rose King"-- is a high ranking noble vampire from over 200 hundred years ago. Thanks to a specific event in history that caused his father, Louis Beauregard, to be killed in cold blood, he doesn't quite have the highest opinion of humans. He's very slowly getting better about it though, kind of comes with his prideful personality. He's the lead singer/vocalist.

Next up is Edgar Legende-- also known as the "Diamond Knight"-- the group's bassist. Like his lover, he was also born of noble blood. Unlike Tresor however, he's far from proud of it and had ran away when he was a young teen. In part because his parents were pretty far from the kindest to him. Despite all of that, he's a kind and gentle soul, always trying to see the best in others with very few exceptions.

For the last three, I haven't done official drawings/renders, so you'll have to put up with various picrew images. Hope that's not too much of a downer.

With that said, here's Joanne Jett-- also known as "Shinigami" one of the group's guitarists. She's a punk tomboy who tends to not take shit from anybody. Backstory's still a bit of a WIP.

The other guitarist is Angelique, her stage name being "Holy Maiden". Essentially she's an angel who basically tripped and fell out of Heaven one day and just decided to stick around on Earth because it's far better than the hive mind up there. She's very much the big sister of the group, always looking out for them and generally being the most capable in stuff like cooking and the such.

And last but not least, the drummer Blade Murasaki-- also known as the "Oni Warrior". He's a demon-blooded samurai who was seeking a purpose in life prior to meeting Tresor and Edgar. He originally introduced himself as only being known by the name of his blade, but thanks to wires being crossed, he ended up getting the name he now has. Not exactly the most talkative of the group, generally being the most silent and stoic. Though he does have a gentle heart underneath all of that.

(I am incredibly sorry for how long this ask ended up being, I just had a lot to say.)

they all sound like a fun group and they're all so interesting!

[blazewatergem]

Silly Game Time: Who are some of your favorite fighter characters? And what do you like about them?

They can weild any weapon (swords, spears, axes, clubs, knives, bare hands, etc.); they can be of any class or variety of combatant (ones who rely on strength like brawlers or berserkers, ones who use finesse like martial artists or technique masters, ones who balance defensive and offensive equipment like knghts or samurai, etc.); they can be of any race or species (from fantasy or sci-fi); they can even have access to special powers to improve their combat skills (magical, psychic, technological, superpowers, etc.).

What matters is that one of their primary skills, roles in the story, and traits as a character is physical fighting.

It genuinely took me so long just because I had to think about who exactly would fit these :’D normally I’m drawn to magic characters after all, though I’m happy enough for duel wielding characters(magic with strength).

Luckily, I think I have a few that fit! In no particular order, as usual ;D

First up: Erza from Fairy Tail!

Still magic - but like you said, her main magic is honestly just “weapon” 😂 she herself had to learn each weapon type she uses, and then figure out her armor too. Ultimate warrior, and a classic in my eyes.

Second, Gwaine and Mordred from Merlin.

While sadly Merlin has to sit out for this list, I couldn’t decide between my two favorite knights. Mordred is also a magic user, but Gwaine is all brawler/sword :D

Third, we got the modern day, infamous on Tumblr Winchester brothers Sam and Dean!

Look, I’m not gonna pretend SPN made smart choices - but I do still love it and the actors :3 fanfic exists for a reason. Obviously they use a variety of weapons from magic angel daggers to a good old shotgun. It all depends on the hunt of the week.

And, to end this list off so I don’t keep rambling, my honorable near and dear…Nick Burkhardt from Grimm!

I fucking love Grimm. The effects are a bit cheesy, but considering age and time - plus how hard the work was to do with what they did at that age - I think they did fucking GREAT. His weapon is mostly just the usual gun, but he does jazz it up sometimes!

Honorable mentions to the companions cast of Baldur’s Gate 3, I don’t quite know everyone yet or who is firmly a fighter fighter, but they’re pretty cool so far!

[yugiohcardsdaily]

Posted Cards Master List - 50.5

rest of August 2023

Prevent Rat

Primal Seed

Princess of Tsurugi

Queen's Double

Prohibition

Psychic Kappa

Pumpking the King of Ghosts

Queen Bird

Rainbow Flower

The Winged Dragon of Ra - Spheal Mode (joke card)

Raise Body Heat

Ray & Temperature

Ray of Hope

Really Eternal Rest

Reaper of the Cards

Recycle

Reflect Bounder

Reload

Respect Play

Ring of Magnetism

Robbin' Goblin

Robbin' Zombie

Root Water

Rush Recklessly

Ryu Kokki

Sacred Crane

Sakuretsu Armor

Salvage

Sand Stone

Sasuke Samurai #2

Sasuke Samurai #3

Sasuke Samurai #4

Science Soldier

Sea Serpent Warrior of Darkness

Self-Destruct Button

Senju of the Thousand Hands

Serpent Night Dragon

Share the Pain

Shinato, King of a Higher Plane

Shinato's Ark

Shining Angel

Silpheed

Skull Archfiend of Lightning

Skull Invitation

Skull Knight

Skull Mariner

Skull Red Bird

Skull-Mark Ladybug

Slot Machine

Smashing Ground

Snake Fang

Snatch Steal

Solemn Wishes

Solomon's Lawbook

Sonic Bird

Soul Absorption

Soul Tiger

[annon-guy2]

Bloody Roar Guest Character Poll: Video Games

The left side shows their Human Form while the right side shows their Beast Form.

Please note these characters are not Zoranthropes like the Bloody Roar cast and that they all don't have Beast Forms in the traditional sense.

[aggravateddurian]

SubSurf: My Cyberpunk SF/Fantasy Universe I've been working on for just over 8 years now...

SubSurf is a near-future cyberpunk urban fantasy universe, set in alternate universe. In this universe, a fantastical element known as 'Etherite' has propelled science and technology. Etherite has also fundamentally affected the development of humans. New species of flora and fauna have popped up across the world.

You might recognise them from fantasy, maybe like those seen in DnD, Skyrim or Shadowrun, but different in their own ways, the consequence of the circumstances of their creation.

Before we begin, let's check the news...

Florida man strikes again!

Now, some of this might sound like a TTRPG sourcebook, and that's because I started this project as a TTRPG, and back then my cyberpunk of choice was Shadowrun (I am a glutton for punishment).

Part 1: What is a Subsurfer?

The term 'subsurfer' started appearing in slang around 2025. The term referred to mercenaries and punks who used the disused Los Angeles Subsurface Transit (LAST) Network tunnels during the Third Continental War (also known as the First Intercorporate War) to traverse the city.

It also had the connotation of being associated with underground culture (e.g. punk) culture. It is therefore accurate to state that the term 'subsurfer' is synonymous with the term 'cyberpunk.'

Part 2: The Subsurfer Life

Subsurfer Archetypes

A list of the typical roles or specialties of mercenaries in the 2080s.

Street Warrior

The Street Warrior is the ur-archetypical Subsurfer. The first Street Warriors were the Baywood Ronin, a crew of subsurfers who revolted against a corp-backed gang in Baywood, on the south side of Morro City, in 2028. Prior to that, without a unified term, Street Warriors were often referred to as gunslingers, street ninja, cyber ninja, street samurai, cyber knights and a thousand other variations, some of which survive today as self-applied designations of a particular speciality in combat.

Street Warriors are the muscle of a mercenary crew. They specialise in the very delicate art of applying firepower or force to targets, making physical holes in things, knocking teeth out and any other number of combat-related tasks. Depending on the speciality, they can range from agile, acrobatic shinobi types to the generic ‘operator’ with an assault rifle, breachers who specialise in explosives and CQB combat with shotguns, all the way to brute force muscly chrome-heads decked from head to toe in subdermal nanoweave armour and equipped with a pair of tech-fists capable of punching clean through tank armour.

Warpers

The Warper is a specialist in psionic warfare. Etherite warps reality, and some beings with large etherite presence in their body, due to genetic predilection to naturally accumulating it in their bodies (and not getting horrible cancer or mutations in the process) or because a corp decided to ‘accidentally’ drop an airship’s worth of etherite dust into the river and your poor family (who can’t afford water filters) had to drink etherite-laced water for the formative years of your life.

Nobody is born ‘magic,’ you develop it. Warpers are powerful force multipliers or gamechangers on the battlefields of the 2080s, and one that corporations and the military rarely employ, because they’re prone to etherwrack, a condition that’s not unlike Violent Cybertech Dysmorphic Psychosis (VCDP, or borg-rage, the final, and often terminal stage of CDP). This means that almost every Warper’s a subsurfer. A subsurfer with the ability to warp space and reality, granting them capabilities on par with some of the most advanced cyberware.

Codecasters

Codecasting is the ‘lite’ version of webcrawling, in that their work exclusively takes place in meatspace. Their weapon of choice is the WANDeck (sometimes just called a ‘wand’), either a small, PDA or phone-sized device they wear on their hip, or in recent years, a neural implant attached to a pair of wireless transceivers mounted on the user’s temples, or inside their optical implants. The codecaster uses a set (deck) of pre-built programs to wirelessly (but sometimes, surface crawling as well) penetrate enemy nets and distribute (cast) their pre-coded attacks on their enemies. This has effects ranging from causing their optical implants to reset, to triggering critical system failures in their enemies, or underclocking an enemy’s control limit to induce borg-rage.

Anybody with a WANDeck and cursory web knowledge can become a codecaster, but the best codecasters have custom rigs, sometimes even backpack rigs, or significantly chrome their own bodies (on par with the most advanced webcrawlers), and code their own programs.

Webcrawlers

Webcrawlers, sometimes called ‘spiders’ (particularly corporate or government operatives), are network specialists who engage in the riskiest, but most rewarding way of accessing the net… connecting your physical body to the net and directly interfacing with it. Webcrawlers are often chromed in unique, often lifechanging and permanent ways, to achieve this. This technology has only existed in the last forty years. Prior to this, webcrawlers ‘ran on the web’ by entering the net through a deck (now called a LANDeck, or simply a spider deck), often worn on their hip or forearm, which contained their programs and other advanced tools for interfacing with the web.

In the 2040s, the cybertech firm MacroComm, the grandfather of the modern webcrawling profession, developed neurodecks, which allowed crawlers to ditch the deck (though many prefer the added layer of protection the deck’s ICE system provides) and directly interface with the web. Today, most webcrawlers are the latter type, who have neurodecks implanted directly into their brains. Some webcrawlers accessorise their neurodecks, including datavols (data volumes, essentially expandable storage devices) to store programs and viruses, and some even have branched into the world of codecasting, augmenting their neurodecks with caster transceivers.

Techies

Techies are specialists in a range of technical fields, ranging from car repair to advanced surgery. They are an essential part of any merc crew, even if they don’t go out into the field and get shot at daily. Most techies specialise in weapons systems, vehicles, or drones, and build a repertoire of contacts, resources, and knowledge to become highly skilled in their field. Those who choose the field of drone ops, vehicle operations (e.g., becoming a professional wheelman or pilot) or medicine undergo extensive training for years, often starting their career working for a gov or corp before they go out on the streets.

The most famous and well-known techies are cybertechs and cybersurgeons (sometimes corrupted to cygeons), the specialists in cyberware maintenance and modification, and implantation and removal of cyberware, respectively. The best comparison is the difference between an electronics technician and an electrician.

Fixers

In a world where crime is just about the only way to make a living in the neon-choked streets of the dark future, it makes sense that someone who is a combination between logistics specialist, organised crime boss, mercenary commander, arms dealer, contract lawyer and celebrity agent is one of the most important professions. Meet the fixer, a logistical master who uses their contacts and connections to arrange jobs for mercenaries, or even for non-mercs, sometimes fixers are employed by bands or media crews to arrange logistics or gigs. Sometimes, they cover up ‘unfortunate accidents’ for corps, others, they’re arranging the shipment of arms through restricted zones, and other times, they’re helping negotiate deals between rival gangs.

The job of the fixer is highly rewarding, but fraught with risk. Fixers are one of the most dangerous subsurfer jobs there is. Betraying a crew for a leg up on another lead could lead to the crew (or a survivor) hunting you down and giving you a lead injection to the back of the head. Organising and executing a hit on a corp could lead to said corp ‘paying you a visit,’ working with gangs could lead to rival gangs doing what gangs normally do, but to you. Piss off a band you organised locations and gigs for, they might destroy your reputation… and the less said about what happens if you decide to fuck an journo, the better.

I'm going to post additional lore over the next few days. Next will explain what Crystal City is, and why living there is worse than living in San Fran or LA, as well as the variants of humanity (and inhumanity) that exist in the world of SubSurf.

[woltourney]

ROUND 1 / SIDE A / POLL 8

Surdal Demilish (@apessimisticjackass) v. Hide-a Lyn (@when-angels-come)

Surdal Demilish:

q. What is your WoL name and pronouns? a. Surdal Demilish, He/Him

q. What is your WoL's species? a. Lalafell

q. What is your WoL's class? Or classes? a. Sage/Samurai

q. What data centre/server are you on, if you want people to find you? a. Gilgamesh as the Home Server, but frequents Behemoth

q. Tell us a bit about your WoL! a. Surdal Demilish is a 32 Year Old Lalafell- They usually lack tact, don't sugar coat most things, and hate it when he perceives people as being 'patronizing' to him. He likes to dress 'mature' because he utterly loathes when people mistake him for a child due to his stature and general look. He was roped into this 'Warrior of Light' business because apparently, he's the only one who does anything around Eorzea. Outside of his heroic adventures, he usually likes to play with his Gaelikitten or any other cat themed minion he may have, as well as fashion.

q. Why should YOU win? (Answer IC!) a. "I have done SO much goddamn petty work for Eorzea. I have done more work than I think even paid city officials. If I do not win, I will go back to not doing your people's menial chores and watch as society promptly falls apart." ~ Surdal Demilish

Hide-a Lyn:

q. What is your WoL name and pronouns? a. Hide-a Lyn she/her

q. What is your WoL's species? a. Lalafell

q. What is your WoL's class? Or classes? a. White Mage, Dancer

q. What data centre/server are you on, if you want people to find you? a. Materia||Ravana

q. Tell us a bit about your WoL! a. She keeps accidentally stumbling into mods and more plot. All she wants to do is pet the kitty people! Everyone pets her, so why can't she pet the pretty kitties?

q. Why should YOU win? (Answer IC!) a. So I'm allowed to pet the kitty people!!

q. Anything else you wanna add? a. I'm fond of kneecap dinner. Especially when not allowed to pet the kittehs

[world-cinema-research]

A Review of Blue Velvet (1986) with shared similarities to Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999)  

By Cris Nyne

Blue Velvet is a film noir murder mystery that is both polarizing and captivating. The film is a product of surreal storyteller David Lynch and it begins in almost a dream sequence from the heart of the American dream that churns into the dirt within the first two minutes of it’s opening. Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) is home from college after his father has a stroke. While walking through a field, he finds a severed human ear that he brings to the home of detective John Williams. Jeffrey then strikes up a relationship with detective Williams’ daughter Sandy (Laura Dern). After some inside information from Sandy, Jeffrey begins to stalk jazz singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) who is seemingly connected to the ear. Soon thereafter, he finds himself caught in the tumultuous world of a drug-fueled psychopathic sadomasochist gangster, Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper), who potentially has Dorothy’s husband and son.

The film is edgy, with lots of tense interactions and scenes filmed at night. The sexual violence perpetrated towards Dorothy from Frank made a lot of viewers uncomfortable and made for a very divisive film. Roger Ebert initially gave the film a one-star review, then followed that review with another take titled, “My Problem with Blue Velvet.”

“I am not one of the film's admirers. Or perhaps I should say, I admire its craftsmanship but am not one of its defenders. I believe Lynch is a talented director, and that in "Blue Velvet" he has used his talent in an unworthy way. The movie is powerful, challenging and made with great skill, and yet it made me feel pity for the actors who worked in it and anger at the director for taking liberties with them.” -Roger Ebert, “My Problem with Blue Velvet” October 1986

Isabella Rossellini defended her role and David Lynch in an interview with IndieWire. “I try not to read reviews. They’re always depressing. There’s always something that, even if [the review is] good, there is always one sentence that is negative and stays inside you forever. But I remember I was told that Roger Ebert said that [Lynch] exploited me, and I was surprised, because I was an adult. I was 31 or 32. I chose to play the character.” -Rossellini March 2024

During the release of Blue Velvet, many important historical events took place during 1986, including the largest man-made disaster in history with the Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown. Ronald Reagan also confessed to illegal arms sale to Iran in what is now known as "The Iran-Contra Scandal."

Although the original reviews were mixed, today Blue Velvet has obtained cult status and is regarded as one of Lynch’s most important films. American Film institute lists the film at number eight in it’s all-time top ten mystery films. Lynch was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director. Blue Velvet was named Best Film at by Boston Society of Film Critics, Sitges (Catalonian Film Festival), Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle Awards, and the National Society of Film Critics Awards. Dennis Hopper also pulled in numerous Best Supporting Actor awards, including the Montreal World Film Festival. Rotten Tomatoes gives Blue Velvet a 95% rating with critics and an 88% score with over 50,000 audience members. Blue Velvet had a budget of six million dollars and generated more than ten million at the box office. Although Lynch was becoming a well-known director with films like Eraserhead and Dune, the smaller budget, independent release and challenging storyline made the film more unconventional than mainstream.

Speaking of unconventional films, my choice for week seven was Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999), featuring Forest Whitaker. Whitaker as Ghost Dog is a modern-day samurai who quotes Hagakure (a spiritual guide for warriors, first published in 1716), has a best friend that only speaks French- which he doesn’t understand a word of, and lives on a rooftop with his pigeons in a fictional city. Both movies take place in fictional locations. Blue Velvet is set in “Lumberton”, a cozy suburban logging town, but it was filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina, which is about 80 miles southeast of Lumberton, NC. They are not related. Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai was primarily filmed in Jersey City, New Jersey, but the location is never mentioned in the film. Ghost Dog seems to be an amalgamation of cities from the northeast United States.

The main characters in both films are male, and their adversaries are gangsters. In Blue Velvet, Jeffrey (Kyle MacLachlan) finds himself in the grasp of psychonaut/psychopath Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper), the leader of a pack of misfits and miscreants. Their main objective is unclear, but drugs and violence are involved. Frank has the air of an extremely malevolent drug-fueled mob boss. In his role as Ghost Dog, Forest Whitaker is a hired hitman for Louie, an arm of a mob family. After a hired hit from Ghost Dog doesn’t go as planned due to an unexpected witness, the mob wants Louie to have Ghost Dog killed. Both main characters find themselves in the crosshairs of people whose business is violence.

Blue Velvet and Ghost Dog both were released by independent production companies (DeLaurentis and JVC, Le Studio Canal+, and BAC Films, respectively). I found it amusing that Lynch was born January 20th and Jarmusch January 22nd, seven years apart, but both auteurs were born under the artistic/philosopher sign of Aquarius. Both directors share the same contemporaneous timeline and have very distinctive styles. Although the film’s differences were noticeable, the similarities also reverberated throughout the film. Finding the similarities between two different genres of film has been an interesting lesson in critical thought. I would suggest both films for anyone not versed in the worlds of Lynch and Jarmusch.