#Arc; Sphere's Determinator

[lifeofpriya]

Lessons and Kisses - Jack Draper

[gif credit goes to @pyotrkochetkov]

a/n: this was inspired by @pyotrkochetkov and i's chat about what jack would be like when he's teaching his partner tennis 🥺😩

summary: while trying to teach you tennis, Jack's attention is constantly drawn away and struggles to keep his eyes on the ball and his heart on the game...

"Jack, I swear, I can't hit this ball to save my life," you say, laughing as the yellow sphere sails past you once again.

Jack chuckles and strides over to you, his footsteps echoing gently on the pristine clay court. "You're overthinking it, that's all. Just like when you worry about work or what to wear on our dates." He takes the racket from your hand and demonstrates a smooth, practiced swing. The air whispers as the ball zooms towards the opposite end of the court. "It's all about muscle memory and not psyching yourself out."

You watch him, the way his muscles ripple under the sun-kissed skin, the determination etched into his features. "Easy for you to say," you reply, your voice laden with playful sarcasm. "You've been playing since you were a toddler."

Jack smirks, his eyes never leaving yours. "And you've been captivating people since you were born." He gently places the racket back in your hand. "Now, let's try this again. Remember, watch the ball, keep your eyes on it, and swing when it's right in front of you."

You nod, trying to focus on the lesson, but the warmth of his touch lingers. The scent of freshly cut grass and his subtle cologne fills your senses, making it difficult to think about anything else. The sun casts a soft glow on his medium brown hair as he takes his position opposite you. The light breeze whispers through the leaves of the trees surrounding the court, carrying the distant sound of a dog barking.

Jack serves the ball. You take a deep breath, willing yourself to concentrate. The racket feels heavier than before, as if it's a part of you now. You watch the ball intently, tracking its path through the air. Just as Jack instructed, you swing when it's perfectly aligned with your body. For a moment, time seems to slow down, the only sound the rhythmic thwack of the ball connecting with the strings.

The ball sails over the net and lands with a soft thud on the other side, bouncing just within the lines. "Yes!" you exclaim, feeling a surge of excitement. You've hit it correctly.

You see the delight spread across Jack's face, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's it," he says, clapping. "You're a natural."

Emboldened, you serve the next ball. It's not perfect, but it's better than your first few attempts. Jack returns it with ease, his movements fluid and precise. The back-and-forth dance of the tennis ball becomes a mesmerizing rhythm, one that you're slowly starting to follow. Each swing feels more natural, and with each hit, your confidence grows.

"Good," he says, his voice filled with genuine encouragement. "Now, let's work on your backhand."

Jack approaches the net, his eyes never leaving yours. He tosses you a new ball, which you catch with surprising ease. The fuzzy sphere feels warm from the sun and slightly damp from the sweat on your palms. You take your stance, feeling the cool shade of the court's edge brush against your skin. He demonstrates the backhand technique, his racket carving a graceful arc through the air.

"Your turn," he says, stepping back and giving you space.

You toss the ball up, the sun glinting off it as it reaches its peak. Your heart races as you try to replicate the motion he's shown you. The ball comes down, and you swing, feeling the sweet spot of the racket connect. The ball sails over the net, and Jack nods approvingly. It's not perfect, but the thrill of improvement sends a jolt through your veins.

"Better," he says, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Now, let's add a bit of power to it."

Jack stands closer, his presence a comforting warmth as he adjusts your grip. His fingers are firm yet gentle, sending a shiver down your spine. "Keep your wrist firm and pivot your body when you hit it," he coaches, his voice low and reassuring.

You try again, focusing on his instructions. This time, when the ball meets your racket, there's a satisfying crack, and the ball zooms across the court. It's not as precise as Jack's shots, but the power behind it surprises both of you. He raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Not bad," he says, his eyes gleaming. "But let's work on your footwork."

Jack hits a series of balls toward you, forcing you to move side to side, your sneakers squeaking on the court. His eyes are sharp, watching your every move, analyzing your technique. Each time you hit the ball, his feedback is immediate and precise, pushing you to be better. Despite the heat of the day, you feel invigorated, the challenge of the lesson invigorating your spirit.

As you practice, you become increasingly aware of Jack's gaze. It's not just focused on your form; it's as if he's trying to read your every thought. You stumble slightly on a shot, and he's there, his hand steadying you.

"Woah there, partner," Jack says with a laugh, catching you before you topple over. His hand lingers on your arm, his thumb brushing against your skin. You blush, the heat from the sun and his touch mixing into an intoxicating warmth. "You're getting better, but don't let your enthusiasm trip you up."

He steps back, giving you a playful nudge with his racket. "Now, let's focus on your footwork." He hits a slow, lobbing shot over the net, which you manage to return, albeit awkwardly. "Good," he says, nodding. "But remember, speed and agility are key in tennis. It's like a dance, you know?"

Jack starts to hit the ball closer to the net, making you run forward to meet it. You feel clumsy at first, your feet stumbling over themselves, but gradually you find your rhythm. The soft thump of the ball on the clay and the squeak of your shoes become a symphony of effort and improvement. Each step feels lighter, more coordinated. The scent of the court fills your nostrils, mixing with the faint smell of Jack's deodorant. It's a smell you've come to associate with excitement and challenge.

"Jack! Focus, will you?" You laugh, swiping a strand of hair out of your face as you watch him stare at you with a glazed look.

Jack snaps out of his daze. "What? Oh, right, the lesson." He chuckles, a blush spreading across his cheeks. "Sorry, you're just…distracting."

You roll your eyes, but your heart skips a beat at the compliment. "Keep it professional, Draper," you tease, but the smolder in his gaze tells you he's not entirely joking.

Jack clears his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Alright, let's practice volleys," he says, his voice slightly huskier than before. He moves closer to the net, his eyes locked on yours, challenging you to match his intensity.

You approach the net, feeling the tension in the air thicken. Each step is deliberate, your heart racing as much from the exercise as from the electricity between you. The sun is now high in the sky, casting a warm embrace over the court, the shadows of the surrounding trees stretching lazily. You watch as Jack hits a ball towards you, its trajectory perfect for a volley. You lunge forward, your racket poised, and hit the ball back with a solid thwack.

Jack's eyes widen slightly as the ball sails back over the net. "Impressive," he murmurs, a hint of surprise in his voice.

The subsequent few volleys are a blur of motion and adrenaline. Your reflexes sharpen as you anticipate his moves, and the air crackles with energy. You can feel your muscles warming up, your breath coming in quick gasps as you push yourself to keep up with Jack's skill. Despite the seriousness of the lesson, there's a playfulness to it, a flirty challenge in every exchange.

Jack's shots become faster, more unpredictable, and you find yourself leaning into the game, your body moving almost on its own. You're not just trying to hit the ball; you're trying to impress him. And with each successful volley, his eyes light up brighter, his smile broader.

The sound of your rackets colliding with the ball echoes through the quiet afternoon air, punctuated by the occasional bird call or rustle of leaves. You're both sweating now, your skin glistening in the sun, your clothes sticking to your bodies. But you're in the zone, lost in the rhythm of the game, the thrill of competition, and the undeniable pull between you.

Jack's eyes never leave yours, his concentration unwavering as he feeds you ball after ball. The air feels charged with something more than just the physical exertion of the game. Each hit feels like a silent conversation, a dance of attraction and challenge. Your heart beats in time with the thump of the tennis balls, and you can't help but notice the way his shirt clings to his chest as he moves.

"What do you say we make this a little more interesting?" Jack suggests, his eyes glinting with a mischievous spark. He wipes his forehead with the back of his hand, smearing a line of sweat across his skin. "If I win this next point, I get a kiss," he says, raising the stakes.

You laugh, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. "And if I win?"

Jack grins, his dimples deepening. "Whatever you want."

The tension shifts, the air charged with a new kind of excitement. You line up for the next volley, your heart racing. He serves the ball, and you watch it closely, timing your jump just right. As you make contact, you feel the perfect combination of power and precision, sending the ball back to Jack's side of the court. He's caught off guard, and it hits the net.

"My serve," you say with a smug smile, stepping back to catch your breath.

Jack nods, his eyes still on yours, the playful glint not fading. "Alright, but remember, no holding back."

You serve the ball, feeling the heat of his gaze as it flies over the net. He returns it swiftly, and you're back in the rhythm, your bodies moving in sync despite the competitive banter. The ball slices through the air, a blur of yellow against the blue sky. You both dive for it, your rackets colliding in a flurry of motion.

As you both straighten up, the air between you thick with anticipation, the ball hits the net and drops to the ground. "Match point," you say, panting slightly.

Jack's grin widens, and he nods, raising his racket in a salute. "Alright, one more. Let's make it count."

You serve again, the ball spinning through the air, a blur of yellow against the vibrant green of the surrounding trees. Jack leaps into action, his racket slicing through the air with a sharp crack. The ball zooms back at you, and you return it with a volley, your body moving almost on instinct. The ball goes back and forth, both of you pushing your limits, the air around you electric with anticipation.

As you watch the ball come towards you for what feels like the final time, you know you have to give it everything you've got. You lean in, your muscles tensing, and hit it with all the power and finesse you can muster. It sails over the net and lands just inside the line. "Match," you declare, breathless and triumphant.

Jack laughs, shaking his head. "I didn't see that one coming." His smile is genuine, the kind that makes your stomach do somersaults. He steps closer, and you can feel the warmth of his body. "Looks like I owe you one," he says, his eyes dropping to your lips.

You lean in slightly, the anticipation building like the crescendo of a symphony.

"What'll it be?" He asks, his voice low and teasing. You feel the heat of his breath against your cheek, and for a moment, you're lost in his eyes, a swirl of hazel that seems to hold a universe of secrets and promises.

"A kiss," you reply, your voice a whisper, the challenge in your eyes matching his.

Jack's smile turns into a full-blown grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He takes a step closer, and you can feel the warmth of his body as he leans in. His breath mingles with yours. The world seems to hold its breath around you, the only sound the distant chirp of a bird and the thud of your racing hearts.

As your lips meet, the intensity of the moment hits you like a perfect ace. It's a kiss filled with the passion of the game, the sweet taste of victory, and the undeniable attraction that's been building since the lesson began.

Jack's arms wrap around you, pulling you closer, and you melt into the embrace. The rackets clatter to the ground, forgotten as you lose yourself in the kiss. His lips are soft, yet firm, a mirror of the determination he shows on the court. You feel the roughness of his stubble against your skin, the warmth of his body pressing against yours, and the steady beat of his heart against your chest.

You both pull back slightly, breathless, eyes locked. The moment lingers, charged with a newfound intimacy. "Worth the wait?" You smirk, feeling your cheeks flush.

Jack nods, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "More than worth it." He brushes a strand of hair from your face, his thumb lingering on your cheek. His gaze drops to your mouth again, and you can't help but lean in for another kiss. This one is slower, more deliberate, as if he's savoring every second.

When you finally break away, you're both panting slightly. The sun is lower now, casting a warm, golden light across the court, turning it into a stage for your shared victory. "I think I've had enough lessons for today," you murmur, your voice thick with emotion.

Jack nods, his eyes still on yours, searching for something unspoken. He takes your hand, the calluses from his years of playing tennis a stark contrast to your soft skin. "Me too," he agrees, his voice hoarse.

You walk off the court together, your hand in his, the tension of the game now replaced by the gentle squeeze of his fingers. The sun is lower in the sky, painting the world in a warm, golden hue. The air is cooler, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers from the nearby garden. The silence between you is comfortable, filled with the quiet understanding that comes from sharing an intense experience.

You sit on the bench beside the courts, the wood still warm from the day's heat. You take a swig from your water bottle, watching as Jack does the same, his throat working as he swallows. He sets the bottle down and looks at you, his eyes searching.

"What is it?" you ask, your voice still breathless from the exertion and the kiss.

Jack clears his throat, his hand still wrapped around yours. "You're so beautiful, you know that?" he says, his voice filled with wonder.

You blush, looking down at your tennis shoes, the laces loosened. "I'm a mess," you protest, but the smile playing on your lips betrays you.

Jack shakes his head, his eyes still holding yours. "You're perfect," he says, his voice earnest.

The words hang in the air, and you can't help but feel a warmth spread through your chest. You look up at him, your heart racing. "Jack," you whisper, not sure what to say.

He smiles softly, leaning in to kiss you again. This time it's gentle, a promise of more to come. You melt into it, feeling the world spin around you. When you pull away, you're both grinning like fools, the thrill of the game and the excitement of the kiss intermingling in your veins.

[librarycards]

Hello! Do you have any recommendations for where to learn about Down syndrome, preferably non academic? I feel like I see very little about it within general disabled circles

you're absolutely right - intellectual + developmental disabilities broadly are horribly neglected at basically every level of disability discourse, because (i think) it challenges the postenlightenment obsession with autonomy-as-independence that pervades disabled circles as much as it does everywhere else. that is, we're still lacking a strong conceptual framework for talking about collective self-determination alongside robust social and material supports for people whose neurodivergence doesn't align w/ mainstream expectations of 'intelligence' and 'competence' and 'productivity'. Down Syndrome (despite recent inroads in terms of limited respectability for some/incorporation into the public and economic spheres) is included in this lacuna.

annnnyway, some students with Down Syndrome have been in several of my cources through a program at my University, and I've learned the most about DS from just asking them what they needed from me & what they wanted me to know. Beyond this, I recommend The Arc for up to date info/advocacy, esp. the chapter most local to you. I also like the DSRF - they center actual people vs just their families, are AAC/alt communication positive, and sex + sex-ed positive. The bar is low because of the alternatives, but I'm glad they pass it. Lastly, Down Syndrome International is a great org to follow, and they have a good youtube channel, too. They have a conference coming up in march (NYC/virtual) if you're interested in signing up!)

hope this helps & that we get more work from people with DS themselves in the very near future.

[dearinglovebot]

hellooo :)

i haven't seen the movies yet, so tell me everything i need to know about Claire Dearing! /nf

(sorry if you've already done this i hope u have a lovely day 🫶)

hey! it would be my absolute pleasure to answer this. i'm assuming you're asking for jwcc/ct reasons so i'll make sure to highlight all the important connections there

claire is like the COO of jurassic world! she's second in command only to simon masrani, the CEO, and their board of trustees. she's worked at jurassic world for essentially her entire adult life. she began as a low level employee and very quickly climbed the ranks to her current position (which has its own separate novel of backstory). because of her position, that would make her roxie and dave's boss as well as someone in daniel's sphere of park contacts.

when jurassic world falls in 2015, her nephews are visiting. the last time she saw them was implied to be her last living parent's funeral 7 years ago. she's not a very present aunt or family member in general, to say the least. she's a very lone-wolf type of person at this point. she's not necessarily mean, but she's not approachable. she's MISS DEARING to everyone, not claire.

however, after the indominus escapes, she abandons her post at the control room to rescue them. she goes on a wild adventure and has an arc about loving dinosaurs again, rejecting capitalism, and building stronger relationships. and at the very end of it, she does what darius did in jwct s1 ep10 and uses a flare to lure the trex into attacking the indominus rex. in s2 ep1, the kids actually find the corpse in the mosasaur lagoon and go ewwwww.

and she does alllll of that in high heels.

after the events of jurassic world, she has a bit of an existential crisis. she spends the first two years dealing with the legal battles and then starts living the van life™ with her boyfriend owen grady the former raptor trainer of jurassic world (who is, as darius' mentioned, barry's former co-worker. he discovered the techniques and research that the handler/soyona will use on the atrociraptors later. but his whole deal is that he's super against dinosaurs being used in weapons, unlike the handler and soyona). in late 2017, however, there's news that the volcano on nublar has become active again (because of the geothermal shenanigans the campers did in the tunnels in s5).

claire is extremely guilty about how jurassic world turned out. she heavily regrets what they did there, even before the indominus rex. because of this, she's determined to safely relocate the living nublar dinosaurs somewhere else. this causes a falling out between her and owen for a little bit.

she founds an activist group called the dinosaur protection group (DPG) and makes two close friends: zia the paleovet and franklin an IT specialist. together, they try to rally the government to protect the dinosaurs in some way. but the government rules that since the dinosaurs are private property without any rights, they don't really care about saving them.

that's when claire gets a call on behalf of benjamin lockwood, john hammond's former business partner. the manager of his assets, eli, promises her that they have a safe location to relocate the dinosaurs to, even if it isn't exactly legal. she's fully on board because it's like her chance at redemption for what happened at the park. so, she gathers her team of zia, franklin, and owen and sets off for nublar.

long story short, they get doubled crossed and claire is NOT having a good time dealing with that fact. blue, the velociraptor we see on nublar, is taken hostage along with zia while franklin, claire, and owen are left to die on the island. but they're crafty. she jumps a truck off the dock and they hide out on the ship. the ship eventually docks outside of lockwood's estate. eli is planning to auction off all the dinosaurs to the highest bidder. (this is what brooklynn started investigating at the end of JWCC)

they, of course, have to stop this. there are some setbacks along the way, but they manage to do it. but they also meet this little girl named maisie lockwood who is the "granddaughter" of benjamin lockwood. or, as they soon find out, the clone of his dead daughter, and the first human clone EVER.

a new hybrid was created by henry wu, who has been doing his research in the basement of this estate for the last three years. when they come to get the indominus rex bone in the season 3 finale, this is where he's heading back to after. the hybrid is defeated through the power of teamwork but uh oh! new problem.

there's a gas leak where the dinosaurs are being held. some have already been sold off to the highest bidder, but many are still there in the basement. claire is faced with the choice of saving them or keeping everyone on the mainland safe. she reluctantly chooses to let them die for the safety of humanity. maisie, however, presses the button to open the gates when no one is looking. she's still reeling from the death of her grandfather and being a clone, and she just doesn't have it in her to let them die.

so, dinosaurs are roaming california now. including the allosaurus that will "kill" brooklynn in a few years and the brachiosaurus darius sees outside his window in the final episode of jwcc. with dinosaurs and their genetics now free roaming, ANYONE can make their own dinosaurs. it's a scary new world and you really feel how weird they all feel after it. they've lost the battle this time. claire and owen, who are now back together, flee the scene with their new adoptive daughter maisie.

there are 2 books that take place in the 4 year period between JWFK and JWD, but we'll skip those for now. imagine a chaos theory season 1 type plot (dinosaurs on the mainland who the main characters help with. but also trying to stay undetected 'cause theres a lot of people after them) but focused on this family.

when we see her again, claire has become a fullblown eco-terrorist. think the DLN but actually focused on the dinosaurs well-being. she, zia, and franklin are now breaking and entering to save the lives of one sick dinosaur and calling in anon tips to get breeding mills shut down. but zia and franklin are sick of getting shot at all the time, and tell her that it's gotta stop because she's getting too reckless with all of their lives.

because honestly, claire is pretty depressed. she's acting a lot like kenji in jwct season 2 with his borderline suicidal tendencies while living darius' life post-brooklynn's death as an isolated hermit.

and she's also having some trouble with maisie. now 14, maisie is going through a teen angst phase. she has a lot of strong feelings about not being a real person since she's a clone, as well as being actively hunted by the black market, and they're struggling to help her work through it. after a fight, she storms off from the house and gets kidnapped by soyona's henchman rainn delocourt along with blue the velociraptors baby named beta.

claire LAUNCHES into action no questions asked. her friend franklin now works for the CIA and she asks him to help her find barry who'll have an in for the blackmarket in malta that maisie has likely been taken to. they're on the first flight over and their number 1 priority is just finding their kid.

as we saw in season 3, things go wrong pretty quickly. after getting into a fight with soyona, claire learns that maisie is being taken to biosyn. she and owen get chased by the atrociraptors, and with the help of claire's new pilot friend kayla (who is a blackmarket smuggler who's looking for her own touch of redemption), they catch a flight to biosyn.

but uh oh! biosyn knows what they're up to 'cause soyona called them. their plane is attacked by the quetzalcoatlus, and claire is given the only parachute. she gets launched into the forest and has an absolutely miserable time crawling through a lake and the woods. but she manages to get out and reunites with owen and kayla

this is where the big locusts from season 3 come in. to hide the evidence of what they're doing, dodgson has started burning the evidence and it's causing a massive forest fire. that causes maisie, and the OG trio who are helping her escape, to crash. right in front of claire and co. maisie tearfully reunites with her parents, after having her own arc of realizing she was cloned with love not as a freaky science experiment.

they spend the rest of the movie trying to escape biosyn. claire and maisie are closer than ever now that her parental issues are resolved. but claire still has that whole depression arc going on. that gets resolved when she and ellie go on a sidequest. ellie tells her that yes the nightmares are forever, but you can't live in the past forever. it's okay to move on. and she's like hmmm. maybe that's good advice.

the whole crew manages their epic escape with both baby dinosaur and baby clone in tow! it's a very feel-good ending for them as a family. claire has begun the process of TRULY healing from the last seven years, she's closer than ever with her adoptive daughter, her relationship with her boyfriend has been strong and issue free for the last four years, and her boyfriend's velociraptor has been happily reunited with her own daughter. the whole vibe is very "this is the end of their story on-screen, but it's just the beginning for their happy domestic life".

long exhale. and there is your summary of the last 3 movies from the perspective of claire. tried to keep it short but well. it's 3 movies that take place over an in-universe 7 year span. if you have any follow-up questions feel free to ask!

[llamhigyn-y-dwr]

While this is a Nick Fuentes-centric blog, I feel like the reason a lot of my story ideas are more Jaden-centric is because 1) he's slightly more honest than Nick (or at least his lies are more consistent), 2) he has had something resembling an actual character arc. Also, Nick is still a part of his presence, so even if I did end up doing that Jaden McNeil X Tucker Carlson oneshot I joked about, Nick would inevitably come up, whereas the same can't be said for some of the rest of Nick's former associates.

Oh, and the other people in the Nick-sphere are mostly either not as interesting to me or just as inconsistent as Nick or too closed off to really determine much about.

[mamsellechosette24601]

Had a uni assignment to use Freud to analyse any piece of media of my choosing... I did it with Dead Ringers (1988) and Crimes of the Future (2022) and particularly liked my conclusions about the latter, so I'll share it here!

wonder what @cronennerd will think

"(...) This happiness of intrauterine life, as well as the regression which the twins undergo, are connected to the idea of ​​the death drive, which determines the desire to preserve the body by always returning to a previous state of balance, which would have existed in the womb, or even before conception, and which will only be truly recovered after death. It is the fundamental desire to become inorganic, and it is also an impulse that can be realised in the sexual act, the orgasm being that moment of destruction of the Self. Here, we must consider Crimes of the Future to better understand the Cronenbergian conception of the death drive. In Cronenberg's films, the Self constantly tries to destroy itself, often seeking this in acts of sexual perversion (in the Freudian sense of any act other than heterosexual penetration for reproductive purposes). Claire, with her sadomasochistic tendencies and insistence that she must always be humiliated, represents this quest, while for the twins this is a quest that exists beyond the sexual sphere. In general, Cronenberg's films support an idea that sex is just one facet of the death drive, and explore other ways in which it can be demonstrated. This is why I don't like to read the scene in which Beverly performs surgery on Elliot as a symbol of homosexual penetration, just as in Crimes of the Future all the penetrations that occur during the film should not be read as equivalent to genital sexual activity. What Cronenberg seeks to demonstrate is something that goes beyond what we have learned should be the height of intimacy and jouissance, whether in the union of identical twins inside the womb or in the exponentiation of skin, muscles and organs as utmost erogenous zones. As Crimes of the Future reiterates, "surgery is the new sex˜. About the bioport in eXistenZ (1999), Teresa de Lauretis says, “it is not a metaphor, but a substitute, indicating a new sexual economy of the human body”. The same is true here, and there is even a moment when Saul refuses to engage in the “old sex”.

After all, the climax of pleasure in Crimes of the Future is in the least obviously erotic act of all, though with a high libidinal charge, eating. This climax is possible due to Saul's personal context of acceptance of his body as flesh, independent of any mental process of his, whether conscious or unconscious, following rules of nature that, while promising salvation for humanity, are also the realisation of becoming inorganic, now that plastic can be digested. The ecstasy is such that a parallel is created with The Passion of Joan of Arc, the Saint's expression being burned at the stake, in such a way that the ingestion of plastic becomes comparable to death, abandonment by everyone, faith, and promise of resurrection with God. And it is not the plastic itself that causes this, but the significance that this moment gains for Saul, in a way that proves Freud's idea that sexuality, libido, are not a biological function of the body, but a product of fantasy. Throughout the film, suffering immensely whenever he eats, constantly weakened, Saul is like a baby who lives between the real experience of feeding and the idealisation of when this filling will occur again, which is what in the oral phase makes the breast becomes a point of fixation whose loss, during weaning, is traumatising. In Saul's case, the idealisation of the moment when he will feel satisfied is constant, but he finds only suffering in reality. It's as if he was experiencing the trauma of weaning without knowing it and, when consuming plastic, he found his mother's breast again, returning to the comfort we all long for, once again being that baby in a state of completeness with its mother. Just as the martyr's death is seen as a return home, the final nostos, Saul too, at this moment, returns home. And of course, because this return is being associated with a new object, it is characterised as a life-creating development, and not as a destructive regression, even if (or especially because) its pleasure is based on the destruction of the Self.

Thus, David Cronenberg's journey from Dead Ringers to Crimes of the Future demonstrates a change in perspective on certain fundamental issues. In a lecture this semester on the figure of the devil in Fernando Pessoa, professor Roberta Ferraz brought up the fact that, as he exists only in the field of fantasy, Fernando Pessoa's devil cannot inflict pain, so that everything related to it passes from the field of morality onto the field of aesthetics. This leap of creative freedom is taken by Cronenberg in Crimes of the Future, allowing himself to represent sadomasochistic impulses within an aesthetic dimension, without them carrying a weight of moral corruption, humiliation and waste of life, as occurs in his other films. The real crime of the future is the manipulation of a boy's corpse by a bureaucratic body, to hide the reality of people already being born with a digestive system adapted to plastic. The horror lies not only in the aesthetic corruption of the boy's body, but especially in how his body is used by foreign vehicles without him having any say. The issues of consent and autonomy to do what you want with your own body come to the fore, contrasting with the way the Mantle brothers deal with their patients' bodies. The main change in perspective, however, occurs in relation to the death drive and its clash between the organic and the inorganic. Where before the death drive was only destructive, now it is also life-creating. Where before there was the horror of our carnal condition, doomed to eternal lament for the loss of non-existence, its physical barrier that makes the much-desired immersion in the Other destructive, now there is love for the flesh, for the pleasures it provides us, and a tempting play with the idea that to become (consume) inorganic will be the salvation of our species."

[autisticsupervillain]

FTF: Gauntlet Run!

Where we have a character run a Gauntlet to see how far they can get!

This Week's Fighters....

Evil Cole MacGrath vs The JoFoes!

Conditions:

Cole MacGrath with the powers of The Beast is used. Canon JoJo’s villains only, all at their absolute peak.

Analysis: Cole MacGrath

What does it mean to save mankind?

Ever since Cole MacGrath awakened his amazing and horrifying powers, he has grappled with this question. Once upon a time, Cole was just an ordinary bike courier, of no real note to anyone. But, upon being tasked to deliver the mysterious Ray Sphere to a man named Kessler, this all changed dramatically. Awakening in a crater with incredible new powers, Cole became hated and feared for having supposedly caused the blast that destroyed Empire City. His girlfriend left him in horror and disgust and people on street banded together to attack him in droves. The whole city turned against him, gangsters, terrorists, and friends included, and eventually Cole decided he'd had enough.

If everyone was going to treat him like a demon, Cole would become one.

Notch by notch, Cole tore down Empire City. He eliminated the gangsters and terrorists who threatened him with ruthless efficiency and terrorized the people into submission. Cole got revenge on the mysterious man named Kessler for ruining his life, killing his girlfriend, and turning the whole city against him. It was only then that Kessler revealed the truth. Kessler had meant to turn Cole into a hero. Into someone who could save mankind from a monster known only as tge Beast.

Cole laughed at the idea.

Determined to destroy The Beast so he can gain more power and eliminate a threat, Cole ventured to and conquered New Marias, descimaring the Militia put together to stop him. It was only there that The Beast communicated with him and revealed his true intentions. A plague was decimating humanity and only those with superpowers could survive it. And The Beast wanted Cole to carry on his fight.

Cole accepted his offer and, feeling remorse for the last time in his life, murdered what was left of his friends so that no one could stop him. Cole will always tell himself it was to save humanity. But, one look at his conquest of the planet would show show you, it was only so he could save himself.

This version of Cole MacGrath is the most powerful Conduit in the franchise. As such, he has access to a huge variety of horrifying abilities with which he can decimate entire armies.

Cole is one of the most versatile electricity wielders in fiction and he only grows more versatile with time. Thanks to his ability to create new powers when using his powers in specific ways, Cole can continually expand his moveset even mid-combat. He can shoot out a variety of lightning bolts, many of which are designed to arc between targets and hit as many people as possible. He can create grenades and missiles out of kinetic energy, ranging from a hellish barrage of homing missiles to grenades that explode into even more grenades. He can levitate long distances by manipulating magnetism and can do the same as a form of telekinesis. He can even create tornados and lightning storms to toss at the enemy, though he needs to replenish these with ions absorbed from fallen foes. His most dangerous electrical ability, however, is his Ionic Drain.

With this technique, Cole need only pose dramatically to suck the bio-electricity out of anyone near him in a several foot radius, capable of killing hundreds of foes without ever having to touch them.

Cole also possesses advanced napalm powers, gifted to him by Nix, which he can use to boost his flight, summon acid spewing monsters, entrap targets, or just give his powers a little extra explosive kick.

Cole shares numerous powers with his canonical Good Karma counterpart, including:

Self Resurrection so long as his heart in intact.

Advanced healing, to the point of regenrating from being riddled with projectiles and can implicitly regrow limbs.

Blasts that can deflect missiles.

Speed Amps that increase his speed to the point where people who previously appeared as only a blur to him moved in slow motion.

Radar Sense, an omnidirectional sixth sense which works independently of Cole's other senses, allowing his to detect all sources of electricity nearby, including people. It also allows him to see skeletons, determine if someone is ill, and detect who has hostile intent towards him.

Can create weapons out of electricity.

Can create shields that convert bullets into energy.

Can see the last moments of freshly killed people by touching their corpse, which creates an echo of the killer that Cole can then follow in order to locate them.

And many, many others.

What's more, is that this Cole isn't balanced out by his other self's weaknesses, as he no longer shorts out in water after absorbing the Beast's powers, which include.

The ability to create fake black holes that deconstruct things on an atomic level, even deconstructing electricity by it's electrons.

The power to regenerate from atoms, even remaining conscious and fighting when reduced to such a state.

Teleportation.

Telepathy.

The ability to grant and take away superpowers.

Unlimited stamina and energy, no longer needing to recharge his powers or rest.

The ability to turn into a giant monster made of magma.

The Ray Sphere Blast. A city spanning explosion that grants Conduits superpowers. If anyone who isn't a Conduit gets caught in its radius, the blast kills them in five different ways. It atomizes normal humans on contact, sucks the bio-electricity out of them and absorbs it into nearby Conduits to empower them, pumps them full of lethal radiation, and infects anyone left over with a devastating plague that, by itself, would've wiped out mankind in just a few months. Just for good measure!

All of these abilities get more and more powerful the more Cole uses them, constantly growing and adapting in response to the threats that he faces. For example, when the Beast first gained his powers, he initially took several days to regenerate from being atomized. By the time he reached New Marias, The Beast could regenerate to that extent within minutes.

This means that Cole should be more powerful than any other character in the franchise, having combined all the power of both himself and The Beast. The same version of The Beast who atomized the coastline in only 5 days.

Source:

Similarly, Cole should be able to move much faster than light, scaling as being much faster than every other Conduit in the series. This would include his inFAMOUS 1 self, who could direct electricity through wires traveling at 90% light speed, his inFAMOUS 2 self, who can dodge beams of radiation, and Delsin Rowe, who can turn into beams of neon light to boost his speeds. Layer all of that on top of Cole's Percision Mode, and Cole could easily be within the FLT+ or MFTL range of speed, even if there's no way to tell for certain.

Cole MacGrath is a walking extinction event by the end of the series, unstoppable and unkillable. Fear the Demon of Empire City and beware The Beast of New Marias.

Round 1: Dio Brando (Part 1)

I'll be using Dio as a branching point for most of the power scaling that applies to the JoJo’s characters, as JoJo doesn't get too much stronger from part to part in terms of stats and usually just relies on getting better hax. Most of the characters in this Gauntlet should scale to the stats I'm about to give to Dio here in one way or another, be it either physically or at least with their Stand abilities.

Part 3 Dio, while possessing Jonathan's body, could fight evenly with the Stardust Crusaders and was nearly successful in killing all of them. Part 1 Dio scales as he fought evenly with Jonathan.

Polnareff's Stand, Silver Chariot, is fast enough to cut a beam of light out of the air, moving so fast that the beam is practically standing still. This is consistent with other faster than light showings in the series, such as Joseph Joestar dodging beams of light from Kars. Given how fast Silver Chariot was moving relative to the light beam, he would've had to have been moving, at most, thousands of times faster than light.

Source:

In terms of attack potency, the Stardust Crusaders with their Stands can fight evenly against Stands like The Sun, who can heat up an entire 97 km wide desert. This would require, at most, 2 Gigatons of TNT.

Source:

So, that should establish the dynamics stats wise for most of these fights. While the JoJo’s character are quantifiably much faster than Cole, the massive speed amp provided by Percision Mode would likely make up this gap and Cole would gradually evolve to become faster as the Gauntlet Run goes along. Attack potency wise, Cole is laughably stronger. 202x stronger to exact. More than enough to obliterate his opposition in one shot.

So, with all that laid out, does Part 1 Dio stand a chance? No, he does not.

Dio's vampiric abilities might throw Cole through a loop initially, he isn't bringing anything to the table that Cole can't handle. Dio's ability to shoot pressurized water out of his eyes might've helped back when Cole was still weak to water, but this version of him has no such weakness and Cole has shown to resist hypnosis and mind control abilities. Without those, Dio has no way to close the stat gap and would be obliterated by the first Ray Sphere Blast Cole releases. While vampires in the JoJo-verse can regenerate from being blasted into chunks, the strength gap here means the explosion would likely reduce poor Dio to ashes.

Also, Cole arguably has experience fighting vampires, but Festival of Blood is ambiguously canon at best and it wouldn't really change anything so....

Round 2: Ultimate Lifeform Kars

Kars has the distinction of being the only character on this list who can compete with Cole in terms of physical raw power, due to being hundreds of times more powerful that Joseph in canon.

This means that Kars and Cole can likely trade blows with each other evenly. Even the lowest estimate for Kars's vague statement would put him at 200 Gigatons, not far below Cole himself. This is a completely fair fight that requires one to examine their hax and other abilities.

Kars is a Pillar Man, a shapeshifting super species who can alter his body to mindbending extents and regenerate from nearly anything. Kars can turn his bones into razor sharp blades to cut you to pieces, survive as nothing but his nervous system and possess you by overtaking your own nerves, and regenerate from nothing but dust. Furthermore, as the Ultimate Lifeform, he gains the abilities of every organism on the planet amplified tenfold and can freely shapeshift his body into whatever organism he pleases.

As a result, I have no doubts about him being able to survive the Ray Sphere Blast. Since Pillar Men can already regenerate damage to the brain, pulling out his bio-electricity would likely not be sufficient to put him down and having the combined resistances of every organism on Earth would no doubt allow him to ignore the Plague, the zombification, and the radiation. Certain real life organisms are all but immune to the effects of plagues or radiations and Kars would no doubt have those resistances too. In the worst case, Kars might even figure out how the Ray Sphere Blast works, shapeshifting his body to give himself the Conduit Gene and using the blast to gain powers. Kars is a supergenius who figures out the workings of modern technology very quickly despite being centuries old, after all.

But, Cole has counters to him doing that exact thing. Seeing as the Beast can break and drain the powers of other Conduits, Cole could very well just nullify whatever powers Kars develops to limit his moveset. Cole counters a lot of Kars modt devastating abilities truthfully. If Kars were to pull an AC/DC and try to possess Cole through his nervous system, Cole could simply turn into the Beast's giant lava monster form, which doesn't even have a nervous system to possess. Pillar Men can absorb other organisms on physical contact by dissolving them with acids, but Cole has resisted both absorption and powerful acids in the past.

In truth, this fight would largely just be both of these fighters constantly adapting to try and counter the weird powers of the other. Kars is smart enough to figure out that Cole is tracking him through his bio-electricity and adapt his biology to counter it, for example. "This foe seems to have immense control over electricity and he always knows where I am when I try to ambush him. I'll bet he's tracking my bio-electricity". The problem here is that this is something Kars has to actively think about doing and plan out, whereas Cole's body just does it automatically.

At the end of day, it is fitting that this matchup is the one that's the most like an actual fight. These two vibe together very well and they'd definitely enjoy fighting each other and developing new abilities against each other. They definitely match each other's bloodlust on that front.

But, the simple fact is that Kars cannot kill Cole and Cole can eventually kill Kars. Kars has no way to destroy every individual atom in an opponent's body, so Cole will simply keep regenerating from everything he does. Not even Hamon can negate that level of regeneration, as Cole isn't weak to sunlight. Meanwhile, Kars cannot survive being ripped apart down to his molecules by a black hole, so Cole can eventually land the one hit he needs.

It's fitting that the Ultimate Lifeform would be brought low by the Ultimate Extinction Event.

Round 3: Dio Brando (Part 3)

DIO carries the distinction of being the first Stand User on the list. This gives him an advantage, as Cole cannot see or hurt Stands due to not having one himself.

That being said, I still don't think this changes anything from Part 1. DIO's Stand allows him to stop time and pummel Cole into pulp, but not only is the strength gap sufficient for his blows to not do anything, Cole would simply regenerate even if they did. Time stop would be extraordinarily useful in dodging Cole's attacks, but without anything to fight back with, it's just a stall tactic.

What's worse is that it's conceivable for Cole to adapt to resist DIO's time stop. Second Son established Conduits can evolve to manipulate and resist the manipulation of time. At which point DIO's just fucked.

Round 4: Yoshikage Kira

Kira carries the distinction of being the first character in this bracket capable of actually killing Cole, as his explosions can destroy souls and thus bypass his regeneration.

The issue, however, is whether he would get it off in time. While Kira's Stands themselves are superhuman, Kira himself is still an ordinary human physically and would be obliterated by Cole doing anything. This is a quick draw contest and while Kira's Stands are fast enough to keep up with faster than light Stands, they lack in range and cannot travel more than a few meters away from Kira himself. Stands like Sheer Heart Attack and Bites The Dust would fare better in that regard, but Kira would have to go for them immediately before Cole thinks to just nuke the city.

Seeing's how Cole "Collateral Damage" MacGrath's whole deal is nuking the city to turn people into Conduits, I think he blows Kira away before any bomb can be primed.

Round 5: Diavolo

I unironically skipped past Diavolo while writing this because I forgot he existed. Anyways, this is just Part 3 DIO again.

King Crimson’s time erasure, when combined with Epitaph's precognition, would allow Diavolo to handily evade Cole's attacks by seeing them coming and erasing the time they happen in to make them not happen, but he lacks the means to kill Cole. While the future Epitaph sees is guaranteed to happen, he can't see a future in which he actually kills Cole, because that future just doesn't exist. He can forsee himself beating the fuck out of Cole all he likes, but Cole would just regenerate from any beatdown that's destined to happen. He'd do better than DIO if only because his fate manipulation guarantees that he'd do some damage, but we've never seen it negate a power or regeneration like that. He just can't kill Cole.

What's more is that even if he avoids the Ray Sphere Blast explosion by skipping the time it happens in, the effects will still be present. So he'd still die to the three other things it causes afterwards, getting plagued, zombied, or radiationed to death.

Round 6: Enrico Pucci

I'll be honest, I thought this would be where Cole first stopped. Sure, Cole would regenerate from attacks initially, but Pucci's speed is such that he could be several postcodes away before a Ray Sphere Blast ever hit him and he could eventually just launch Cole into space with infinite velocity and wait for the time acceleration to finish so the universal reset goes off.

But then I remember how Pucci died. See, the time acceleration effects everything that isn't a living organism, including speeding up things that are lethal to Pucci. This is how he died when his time acceleration accidentally sped up how quickly pure oxygen was able to effect and kill him.

Cole's Ray Sphere Blast generates lethal plagues and deadly radiation. If Cole gets the attack off once, he'd be surrounded by deadly, nonvisible radiation and plagues that would kill Pucci in seconds. Due to the fact that it would take Pucci a moment to realize what he has to do to win and his time acceleration takes awhile to speed up to full effect, Cole would most likely have time to get the attack off at least once. Pucci runs off fast enough to avoid the explosion, runs back in, and drops dead from super radiation poisoning and a literally globe scaring plague simultaneously with Cole confused as to what just happened.

Cole doesn't win by his own merits. If you give both prior knowledge, Pucci wins effortlessly. But Cole's go to move just accidentally exploits Made In Heaven's biggest weakness. Oops.

This fight would be hilarious from Cole's perspective. He gets walloped faster than he can think, makes a big explosion to get the guy off him, and then Pucci reappears after the blast and immediately drops dead. "What the fuck was that?"

Round 7: Funny Valentine

Oh, god, this one's a headache.

D4C: Love Train is an overpowered abomination that Cole has no answer for, even for as busted as he is.

Love Train is a massive barrier of light that Funny Valentine hides behind to protect himself. He is functionally invulnerable here, as any attack or misfortune that comes his way will simply be redirected elsewhere. As such, Cole cannot hit Valentine so long as he's hiding behind Love Train.

D4C allows Funny Valentine to travel between universes so long as he's between two surfaces. He uses this both for immortality by possessing other versions of himself and for offense by bringing people from other universes to fight for him. If he brings in an alternate universe version of his opponent and the two collide, they will both collapse into sponges full of infinite holes, bypassing even Cole's regeneration. This gives Funny both the defensive and offensive means to survive Cole.

It is worth noting that Cole doesn't get stomped here. Funny Valentine has to leave himself vulnerable and exit Love Train in order to counterattack, leaving himself vulnerable to either Cole's attacks or the radiation and plague left over from his attacks. If Cole's on his game, he could vaporize Valentine during this window of opportunity before he can enter a new body, as he's an ordinary human without his Stand. This is particularly problematic, as Funny wouldn't know what radiation is, much less understand why he's dying to it.

Funny could simply grab Good Cole with the RFI from an alternate universe and have him kill his counterpart and have the both of them explode. There is, however, one problem.

That's not how multiverse interaction works in inFAMOUS. The collapsing into Merger Sponges bit is specifically how the JoJo universe handles alternate universe selves, but inFAMOUS allows alternate selves to interact just fine. Kessler is an alternative version of Cole and those two beat each other up just fine. So.... I'm a bit unsure how to proceed here.

If the laws of the inFAMOUS multiverse trump the JoJo’s here, then Cole eventually wins because Funny can't kill him. While Valentine could grab RFI Cole to fight on his behalf, that would require him to know about and seek out the RFI to begin with, which he wouldn't. Without the RFI, Evil Cole is the most powerful version of Cole around so throwing other versions of him in would only do so much good. Plus, Valentine would have to convince the other Coles to fight for him and that's going to be tricky as the bodies mount up as Valentine hides behind his shield. Cole is a pretty skeptical guy in any timeline. Without Merger Sponges or prior knowledge, Valentine can't get past that damn regeneration.

If the Merger Sponges do work, then Funny could likely win, but it's just a case of if Cole can hit him when he exits Love Train before he gets into another universe. Possible, but Funny's powers are so outside the box that I call it unlikely, as Cole's just gonna be confused about this guy's whole deal.

Round 8: Tooru

AHAHAHAHA!

No.

Wonder of U is the abstract concept of Calamity itself. Cole can't do shit.

While Tooru himself can still be killed by Cole, Wonder of U will activate the second he even thinks of doing so. The real question is whether Wonder of U can create a Calamity powerful enough to kill Cole in the first place. Wonder of U changes the Logic of the universe to cause Calamities to happen to you in proportion to both how much you pursue its user and how bad of a person you are. Given Cole's casual bloodlust and genocidal ambitions in this form, Calamity is gonna fuck him up.

We've seen things like Wonder of U making it so raindrops punch holes straight through people or you accidentally snap your own neck by turning your head too hard. As hax as Cole is, he still runs on Logic, which Wonder of U manipulates.

The most Cole can do here is possible kill Tooru before going down, but even then Wonder of U will persist as the embodiment of Calamity, with Cole just unable to hurt or see him in any way. A random raindrop lands on Cole with enough force to split all the atoms in his body and make him explode until no molecules are left gg.

Conclusion:

Honest to god I was not expecting Cole to get this far. I thought he'd get past Part 5 at the highest. Him dumb luck sneaking in a loophole to get past Pucci and Valentine genuinely suprised me.

So, even without a Stand himself, Cole MacGrath from the Evil Karma timeline at his peak would still be a massive threat in the JoJo’s universe. From outdoing the Ultimate Lifeform at his own game to nearly clearing most of the original timeline. He doesn't solo the verse by any means (Gold Experience Requiem tells him to get fucked) but he stands tall among its top tiers as a threat more than capable of bringing most Bizarre Adventures to a cruel end.

[vgprintads]

'Soccer Brawl'

[ARC / NEOGEO] [MEXICO] [MAGAZINE] [1993]

"In the future, soccer is in a state of decline as attendances grow smaller while hooliganism is rising. The authorities have decided to allow the players on the pitch to win by any means including fighting and using weapons to attract the fans back. Eight countries of seven players which include England, Germany, Spain, USA, Japan, Brazil, Korea and Italy compete in a league to be the best in the world. There are now only two stadiums in the world, an astro-turf pitch in Japan and a metallic surface in San Francisco. Instead of the plastic ball used today, the ball is now a metal nuclear powered sphere. Soccer Brawl is viewed from the side at an elevated angle showing a small part of the pitch. The joystick is used to move the players while one fire button passes or heads the ball, the other button punches a player or shoots the ball. The length of time the button is held down determines the power of the shot. Hold it down till the power meter fills and a super shot is initiated knocking down anyone who gets in the way." ~MobyGames

=====

Source: Inter Video, January 1993 (Vol. 02, #01) || Gaming Alexandria, Dustin Hubbard (via the Internet Archive)

[katgametable]

TAZ Balance Episode 28: Lunar Interlude II: Internal Affairs

Written 01 May 2025, shortly after relistening, having listened to the entire Balance arc some time ago.

The three have returned to the moon base from Goldcliff, and there’s a huge crowd waiting that bursts into applause as they arrive. Turns out they were all watching the battle wagon race. They go to the Director’s office; she’s a little less happy. Davenport brings out the lead sphere, Merle places the Sash inside, and they watch it get destroyed. The Director is still sad, though; she was impressed by the race, but she really wants to know what happened in Captain Bane’s office. They insist on extreme secrecy, so she shows them into her private rooms, and Taako casts Detect Magic. He finds a painting of the Director has a lot of illusion magic over it, but he can’t determine anything more. Magnus recounts what happened in Captain Bane’s office; when Magnus mentions the insubstantial man in a red robe, she gets very concerned, for the Red Robes were the people who made the Grand Relics, and are meant to all be gone. She urges them to flee if they ever encounter a Red Robe again, lest they use mind magics to find out about the Bureau. The Director blames Captain Bane’s betrayal on the Sash corrupting him. She tells them she’s reassigning the other Reclaimers, and that they’re getting new quarters – their former roommate Robbie (aka Pringles) has been sent to the brig for unspecified reasons. They also have a new Seeker assigned to assist them directly – Angus McDonald!

They are sent down to feed the Voidfish with Captain Bane’s profile. In the Voidfish’s chambers, Johan is having an argument with a man called Lucas who doesn’t trust the Voidfish, given how little they know about it and how much they rely on it. Lucas wants to study the Voidfish more closely. He’s not actually a member of the Bureau, more of a contractor, and when he threatens to go to the Director, the Voidfish blasts out some loud, extended notes. Lucas leaves, and Magnus puts a hand on the glass – the Voidfish touches a tentacle to the other side. Johan is very confused, and starts playing the Voidfish’s song on a harp. They play together, and Johan comments that he’s never heard that song before. They feed Captain Bane’s memory to the Voidfish and remember him.

The three head for Leon’s workshop and the Fantasy Gachapon (Davenport gave them tokens as they left). Taako tries to get Leon to operate the Gachapon, but Leon just walks out. Magnus goes ahead, and get a belt with a dial on the buckle, the Defender’s Dial, which can provide protection from fire, cold, or lightning damage. Taako does the Gachapon perfectly, and gets a black leather hooded cloak – a Cloak of the Manta Ray that increases AC by 1 and in water, increases AC by 2, gives water breathing, and a swimming speed. Merle plays with the token, drops it, tries again, and gets a red cross pendant, the Physician’s Pendant, which gives a 1 in 4 chance to not expend a spell slot when casting a healing spell. (Travis asks Griffin if each character is pulling from their own pool of items, and Griffin confirms that that is the case, so no-one ends up with an item they can’t use.)

They head for the Fantasy CostCo. They have 1800 gold each. Magnus is attracted to the Flaming Poisoning Raging Sword of Doom, but it’s too expensive for now – it does an extra 20 damage. Instead he goes for the Shield of Heroic Memories, which “learns” which enemies it’s faced and grants +1 to AC, and Magnus can also tell tales of real or imagined battles for a chance to gain the bonus – the shield starts with a mirror finish but gain engravings with the memories. He also picks up the Glutton’s Fork, which allows him to eat any inedible object for an HP boost, but trades in his old shield as a signed-in-blood collectible to make up the cost. Merle goes for the Nitpicker, a garden gnome statue that can open locks, but will also insult the party for their failures while doing so, and picks up Phone-a-Friend scrying bones, which allow him to ask Griffin a yes/no question, and a rusty can of Cheer Wine (apparently that’s a brand of drink? I don’t get it) which increases his max HP. Taako gets a single-use anti-gravity sphere, and a plastic sheriff’s badge that gives advantage on Charisma check while impersonating a person in authority. He also trades in the Gustmaster for an immovable rod.

Level-up time. They go from Level 6 to Level 8. Magnus gets Know Your Enemy and increases Constitution and Wisdom, plus two new manoeuvres, another superiority die, and more HP. Taako can cast Fourth Level spells, increases Intelligence and Dexterity, and gets more spells and HP. Merle improves Turn Undead into Destroy Undead, learns Dominate Beast and Grasping Vine, gains Divine Strike, increases Wisdom and Constitution, and gets more spells and HP.

I like these more pedestrian house-keeping episodes. I like the development of the Bureau. I like the wild range of magic items – even is a lot of them don’t get used. (Maybe I should keep tally of every time one is used and see if I’m right about that – but I’m not sure if they say when they’re using passive bonuses.) It’s also wild to see the differences in how the classes level up. And I like the Voidfish. Big friendly jellyfish jamming with Johan. Nice fishy.

[weerd1]

ENT Rewatch Starlog, 18 March, 2024: Episode 3.16 “Doctor’s Orders”

Phlox and Porthos walk through an apparently empty NX-01, stopping to visit Captain Archer who lies asleep with a device on his forehead.

Flash back to a few days before and there is an area of spatial anomaly brought on by the spheres between them and Azati Prime. It would add a lot of time to go around, and if they go through damage the human minds. Phlox suggests that he would not be affected. He’ll put all the human crew into a mental stasis while Enterprise crosses the area of space. 

At first, Phlox is having a fine time, getting caught up on writing to friends, playing with Porthos, occasionally feeding his pets in the nude. But while watching a film, he hears something moving.

Tracking it through the ship he ends up in the shuttlebay, and indeed finds T’Pol���also not sedated—who doesn’t know what he’s hearing. The incidents get worse, and Phlox sees Xindi insectoids on board. T’Pol finds nothing, and suspects Phlox is having some sort of breakdown, possibly based on loneliness considering how social Denobulans are. He insists on checking the ship with a phase pistol, and upon almost blasting Porthos, begins to realize that maybe she is correct. He scans and finds that in fact there is a non-lethal, but potentially hallucinogenic effect in his brain. 

He prepares to put himself under and leave T’Pol in charge since they will be through the region of space in six hours, but she begins to panic, also suffering from the anomaly. Worse, the area has expanded faster than anticipated, and though Tucker said they shouldn’t, the ship will have to warp to escape. Phlox and T’Pol bumble through with her seemingly useless.

They do escape however, and once free, Phlox’s mind is restored. He wakes up Archer, and before going on to the crew escorts T’Pol to her quarters. There he finds the Vulcan sedated; the T’Pol he has been talking to has also been a hallucination. 

A fun episode that makes you feel like it’s falling into the helpless T’Pol trope, but is saved in the reveal that she couldn’t help because she isn’t real.  It does turn out to be a nice exploration of Phlox’s character and a good way to do a bottle show while still getting the overall arc to move along. I do wonder though is Phlox hallucinates almost shooting Porthos; the Beagle forgives him pretty quickly.

Nice callbacks as well to the earlier episode “Dear Doctor” with Phlox’s friend Dr. Lucas getting a letter. We’ll of course get to meet the good doctor in Season 4 during the Augments story arc. 

Also a fun line when Phlox suspects he’s hearing things because the week prior, Trip showed him “The Exorcist.” 

Next Voyage: Archer has to determine whether all his eggs go in one basket after Enterprise finds a Xindi Insectoid “Hatchery.”

(Images taken from the main website for @trekcore; I am happy to remove the images if asked.)

[sapphicslut777]

so idk if this is a running theory, but i’ve never seen this mentioned in the stranger things sphere…

i think that henry/vecna/one is the biological father of all of the children in hawkins lab.

from what i understand, a lot of time went by after henry was captured by doctor brenner. as we are currently in 1986 with the start of the end of the world 😅 and with ‘83 being the year when will went missing (the day in which the upside down is stuck)… then what happened between 1959 (henry’s capture) and 1979 (in hawkins lab, when we clearly see children/experiments 2-12 (or 17??) have been acquired somehow)???

in the ‘79 hawkins lab we see many numbered children with abilities being taken care of by an extensive staff, including one, who’s powers have been kept at bay by the soteria doctor brenner implanted in his neck. by this time 20 yrs have passed and surely henry is in his 30s by now. the fact that we didn’t see all of that missing time, makes me think it’s important.

i know that it’s been explained in the papers, and understood by becky (terry ives’ sister) as well as hopper, that brenner was using lsd and shit like mk ultra to create/obtain people with powers. but those never included experiments on children. the newspaper described adults with the drug experiments. the way that becky describes terry’s experience makes us think that she was the only one this happened to… “she didn’t know she was pregnant at the time” she says 😳

it is also unclear how or when henry got his psychic abilities. and doctor brenner (who has been studying henry since he was a child—under the care of his own parents) has always wanted to not only study, but replicate, henry’s powers… so if he had done all of the experimenting that he could on one child and couldn’t determine how to recreate the results,,, i don’t think it would be above brenner to craft an entirely detailed plan on how to breed the children himself, using henry’s genetic material to get the powers.

because in ‘79 the oldest child (two) seems to be about 14-16 years old, this would make him born in about ‘63-‘65 (henry turned 18 in ‘65)… i just think brenner is the type to create a whole operation. we’ve seen the way that he has his lab staffed in ‘83 and even in ‘86 (with NINA). he is neat and orderly and checks all of the boxes and possibilities. i think if he had years of planning he could definitely come up with a system of not being caught.

the lsd experimentation was probably an entire ruse to acquire people (women) who would want to volunteer. these people (women) who weren’t afraid to take drugs or be closely monitored or experimented on… fuck in his own sick and twisted mind he probably saw it as them consenting???

all i’m saying is, when we see the clips of eleven (jane) being taken from terry, it’s brenner himself. he’s running the whole operation. and when we see the lab in ‘79 there are tens of kids there (all in varying and descending ages). which makes me think that he takes a baby, waits a little bit, then pops in another one when the time is right 😨🫢😬

all i’m saying is,,,, it would make a lot of sense that brenner would want to use the soteria on henry and have him help with the training and the monitoring of the other children’s abilities (who knows henry’s powers better than himself??). it would make sense as to why one thought he had “the right” to destroy all of (his and) brenner’s work. their experiments. their children. this would explain why henry seems to latch onto eleven so easily, letting her know how he harnesses his power (something that would be very personal to him). it would make sense why eleven and brenner are the only ones left in the lab (besides staff) in ‘83. why brenner is so desperately using el to get to the upside down and find henry. why wouldn’t brenner make more experiments? more children??

all!! i’m!!! saying!!!! is!!!!!!!!! it would make the whole “papa” and daddy issues arc a Hell of A Lot Stronger, if henry was watching these (his) children and waiting for the right one (eleven/jane) to trust to carry down the family legacy and the powers. henry talks to young el like “i wanted us to join forces”… what if he sees her as his true daughter??? he sees that she’s powerful enough to carry out his escape plan. and it’s obvious that he’s so betrayed by eleven when she rejects his offer and banishes him. he wants to rebuild the entire world with her for fucks sake!!! talk about some toxic daddy-daughter shit!!

in henry’s monologue to el in the lab in ‘79 he says “papa wanted to recreate me.. he started a program. and soon, others were born. you were born. and i’m so glad you were, eleven.” this theory would also explain the reason he thinks the children he killed are not dead. he claims that they’re still with him. he points to his mind. “in here”.

he also says “to your papa, you are nothing but a lab rat, something to be tamed.. but the opposite is true”. he explains that eleven is better than “they are” (normal humans i suppose?? or simply everyone else??). he claims that she is superior… why? bc he is superior. henry thinks he is the greatest and most powerful, all-knowing being in the universe. and to have a daughter to watch over, that posses the same ultimate power and can finally understand him… i think that’s all henry’s ever wanted.. he’s always felt disconnected and ostracized by his family. and even his “second family” (papa and the other children). but eleven reminds him of himself. he says so throughout the entire 4th season.

this daddy-daughter relationship between henry/one and jane/eleven would also hit hard for el’s storyline, which has been riddled with father figures this whole time…. brenner was “papa”, hopper was next (also taken away from her by the upside down/vecna/henry/one), then brenner again, and even doctor owens for a time. for her to then have to come to terms with henry being her biological father would be the final evil cherry on top of this season finale. 🍨🍒

all throughout the series, we’ve been being tossed back and forth between these psychic/supernatural/other-worldly things being the villain AND humans and their inherently twisted complications and multitudes being the villain. i wouldn’t be surprised if the ending, and all that’s revealed in season 5, was to wrap all of that up into a double whammy bow. of like,,, yea isnt it fucked up that humans and their desires made these decisions to create these things, these “monsters”, these powerful beings…

but the human brain is the biggest monster of them all. we’re all so fucked up. and we always have been. and we always will be.

but!! the power of fucked up can always be faught with the power of love and happiness and cherishing others and actually caring for one another….

so humanness has a cure?

[sonicasura]

I have been thinking but can't come up with a good idea. How do you think Frontier's Barian side gets revealed too everyone?

It awakens on its own. Frontier hasn't been around any other Barians so this side of them remained dormant for a very long time. That changes when Barian Arc begins.

Frontier can't help but feel woozy throughout the entire invasion. Their whole body aches as if it's burning from the inside. Ray's presence doesn't help because warning bells tell the Pokemon Trainer to not trust him.

Cue the Sphere Cube Calamity Duel. Frontier unfortunately also watched Yuma try to fight Mizar and sustain serious damage from Tachyon Dragon. Seeing their friend being mocked before collapsing broke something in them.

The Pokemon Trainer began trying to pry the barrier open. It obviously shocked them badly they refused to back down. Everyone was stunned into silence when Frontier's skin began to crack like glass as if something was trying to get out. Or that their fingers tearing through the barrier bit by bit.

Things only escalate as the Dark Stone begins to resonate with their determination. In seconds, the Trainer's human facade broke apart in blue lightning revealing a pitch black Barian with glowing blue electrical markings, sharp claws, large fangs and a lightning bolt shaped horn. Unique traits unwittingly inherited from Zekrom who swiftly uses Dragon Cheer on his champion.

It didn't take much longer for Frontier's claws to tear a large hole right through the barrier and reach Yuma. Mizar couldn't help but flinch as the growling hybrid glared daggers whilst they stand protectively over the fallen duelist. Kite definitely arrived to one hell of a scene.

Frontier's response? "Go kick his ass, Kite. I'll keep Yuma safe."

[discerndiary]

ZODIAC

What is the Zodiac?

The Zodiac is a circular band in the sky that is divided into 12 equal parts, each representing a different astrological sign.

The 12 signs of the Zodiac are:

1. Aries

2. Taurus

3. Gemini

4. Cancer

5. Leo

6. Virgo

7. Libra

8. Scorpio

9. Sagittarius

10. Capricorn

11. Aquarius

12. Pisces

These 12 signs are based on the position of the Sun relative to certain constellations as observed from Earth.

The Zodiac circle is used in astrology to interpret the positions and movements of the Sun, Moon, planets, and other celestial bodies in relation to the 12 signs, which are believed to influence human affairs and terrestrial events.

Each part, or 'sign,' spans 30 degrees of celestial longitude and corresponds to a constellation.

Constellation: an unplanned formation of stars perceived as a figure or pattern

Let's Break Down What This Means:

The Zodiac, a band of the celestial sphere, is divided into 12 equal parts, each associated with a specific constellation.

These parts are the 12 signs of the Zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc.

When it's said that

"Each sign spans 30 degrees of celestial longitude"

This means that each of these 12 divisions covers 30 degrees of the sphere (because 360 degrees divided by 12 equals 30 degrees).

So, if you were to visualize the sky as a complete 360-degree circle, each Zodiac sign occupies its own 30-degree slice of that circle.

This is what astronomers refer to when they talk about the position of celestial bodies, they're often discussing where these bodies are about these 30-degree divisions.

Celestial Longitude

The term "celestial longitude" is analogous to how we think of longitude on Earth — it's a way to measure location, but in the sky rather than on the ground.

Each 30-degree section of the Zodiac is associated with a specific group of stars that, from our perspective on Earth, form a specific pattern in the sky.

These patterns are what we call constellations.

LET'S REVIEW AND TRY TO DISCERN MORE CONCRETELY TO UNDERSTAND THE ZODIAC:

The zodiac is an imagined belt in the sky that extends approximately 8° north and south of the Ecliptic.

Ecliptic: the path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year

WHAT DOES 8° NORTH OR SOUTH MEAN?

The region 8 degrees north or south of the ecliptic is significant in astronomy and celestial observations.

This region corresponds to the band where the paths of the planets are located in the sky. It is within this area that astronomers track and study the movements of celestial bodies, including planets, asteroids, and comets.

The position of these objects relative to the ecliptic provides valuable information for astronomical research and observations.

The orbital paths of the Moon and major planets are within the belt of the zodiac.

Orbital Paths: An Detoured Motorway for energy to travel on

In Western astrology, the zodiac is divided into twelve signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Each sign occupies 30° of celestial longitude and roughly corresponds to the astronomical constellations with the same name.

The term 'zodiac' also refers to the region of the celestial sphere that includes the paths of the planets. This region extends approximately 8 arc degrees above and below the ecliptic, which is the apparent path of the Sun across the sky throughout the year. It is within this band that the orbital paths of the planets are located.

The zodiac is used in astrology to predict the future and determine a person's physical characteristics as well as intelligence and personal traits.

The twelve signs of the Zodiac include: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

OVERVIEW OF ZODIAC:

The belt-like region of the celestial sphere is approximately eight degrees north and south of the ecliptic which include the apparent path of the sun, moon, and visible planets.

The twelve equal divisions of the zodiacal region into signs or houses, each named for a prominent constellation in the region.

The ecliptic: the belt-like region of the celestial sphere corresponding to the apparent path of the sun over the course of a year.

Any of various astrological systems considered similar to the above.

A circle decorated with the signs of the zodiac.

ZODIAC - Where Did The Word Come From? ETYMOLOGY-

The word zodiac comes from Latin zōdiacus... Which comes from the Greek ζῳδιακός křklos, meaning "circle of little animals".

In ancient Greek, ζῷον (zōion) meant "animal" or "living being" and δεκατέσσαρες (dekatesseres) meant "twelve".

When combined, ζῳδιακός κύκλος (zōidiakos kýklos) literally meant "circle of twelve animals" and referred to the twelve constellations along the ecliptic through which the sun, moon and planets appear to travel.

[ladyluscinia]

Organizing my thoughts on OFMD 2x01 - 2x03

Strong start to a season. I really enjoy the black comedy aspect of the show, and the "all these people are kinda terrible" aspect, so win for me! The opening scene gave me a lot of thoughts. Actually, lots of stuff gave me thoughts that I'm gonna dump here (as I rewatch the episodes since I spent the first go around whooping and cheering more than paying attention to details lol) so I can start picking through them more coherently.

---

Ok, first. OHMYGOD EDWARD AND IZZ- *I am yanked off the stage* Ahem. BlackHands thoughts will go into a different post, so as not to overwhelm the many other things going on worth discussing. (Link to post)

So. Real first point:

Kraken Era

Big thing I was absolutely wrong about was how dark Edward's Kraken arc would go. I was counting on a very handwavy resolution that would still let him do some fucked up shit, but I expected it to be mostly externally directed violence that toed up to a potential line but didn't quite cross it. Reminiscent of Flint's vengeance rampage after Miranda is killed. Self-destructive harm but only tangential harm of others in your social sphere.

That is... we did not get that. But what we did get I am very here for.

I'll be honest - I wasn't sure they were bold enough in a romcom to blast right over the line into horrifying and then be so audacious it looped back to funny, but they did. And I think the tone is working for them so far. Big saving grace is they went way further with Edward's cruelty but they counterbalanced it by going way further with the suicidal themes, which made the whole situation more extreme and sympathetic. He should still probably apologize tho.

The Breakup Boat

Frenchie my beloved! Also Fang & Jim & Archie & Izzy! Literally the breakup boat is a resounding success all around and I adore every second of their fucked up trauma bonding. Win after win after win.

Frenchie is repression king and it's hilarious. I love how he gets named first mate for presumably being the only one who sounds plausibly honest when getting interrogated, tries to turn the job down, and then doesn't follow a single order while vibing. Also the bonding with Izzy?!? He's steps in during the intervention. He hides him after Edward shoots him, and then later he's checking in on him and leaning against his leg in the cell. Please Frenchie get all up in that Edward and Izzy mess!

And I'm trying not to turn this into a breakup boat recap but also Fang sobbing through basically every scene. The wooden boy story. Jim's terrible voices. Izzy hiding in the walls. "He's our dick" to "He was your friend" holy fuckkkkkk. And the whole mutiny scene was amazing. Jim saying fuck this toxic bullshit and Izzy saving them all!!! (Sidenote: love how all the nameless extras got washed overboard in the storm. More bodycount!)

The tearing into a seagull like zombies scene - perfect. Archie recognizing Stede (did they tell her about Stede in hushed whispers or was it literally just Izzy's singular statement?). All backing each other up on the "retirement" story. Izzy taking the blame to motivate Stede in trying to defend the crew again.

Trauma bonding WIN!

Also sympathetic Izzy has been real forever despite misreads of S1 and the mistaken predictions they spawned, but once again... Izzy!!!

BlackBonnet "On A Break"

They are idealizing each other so fucking hard. Also Stede what on earth are you talking about in the first episode??? "He's just blowing off some steam." "I'm afraid that your life is better without me?" MY GUY are you reading that list of what Edward has been up to??? Denial so strong.

So we have Stede still full of self-loathing and simultaneously convinced Ed couldn't want him but also avoiding the realization that he hurt him really bad because Ed wanted him. And we have Edward actively suicidal over feeling unlovable and determined to murder-suicide his situationship and the kids, except he can't kill himself so he's trying to make everyone else do it.

(And, you know, Edward is very pointedly refusing to see how the people around him would care for and support him if he would let them - even when they straight up offer it to his face - because he is more concerned with the misery of his own twisted narrative about being fundamentally unlovable than whether or not that is a true statement. Stede doesn't want him and everyone else is just a prop for his depression's final act. Very "I don't have any friends" of him - shoutout to that flashback in his purgatory sequence too.)

Edward's self-loathing throwing him into the water, but Edward starting to save himself well before merman!Stede shows up. Because he does, deep down, want to live with or without Stede. Very strong. Like that. Also the idealization on Edward's end of envisioning Stede as a legit magical being of golden scales??? Fuck, you two need to get some perspective.

Stede's Crew

Trauma Lucius I was not counting on, but Lucius going from BlackBonnet supporter to FUCK YOU STEDE was fun. Also Stede offering to be supportive and then immediately trying to nope right out.

Sea Witch Buttons!!!!!! We're going to get naked Buttons charging into a scene screaming about how he's a seagull or something, aren't we?

Confirmation that Oluwande can't read in the funniest way. Well I guess on reflection the scrolls are probably in Chinese so reading wouldn't help, so maybe this point is null.

I did like the note of Stede knowing "The Soul Reaper's" real name. Piracy hyperfixation bonus.

JimOlu vs JimArchie... If we get another poly ship then I'm calling SteddyHands real. I'm just saying.

Oluwande taking initiative to step up and flex his boytoy powers to advocate diplomatically for the crew - very Captain material of him. Also conveniently doubled as a distraction so he was essential to the plan. Go Olu!

Antagonists New and Old!

Spanish Jackie was a treat. I enjoy that she still hates Stede. The Swede literally became a new man by marrying her. AND WE SAW THE HUSBANDS!

Prince Ricky is so far just kind of a shady classist scumbag - presumably that's going somewhere.

Zheng Yi Sao on the other hand... interested what's happening with this whole armada plan she's apparently enacting. The whole Olu boytoy arc was fun. I'm not as into the whole "girlboss" approach to every single female character in this show so far, so, uh, concerned about that. Hoping for more exploration of how she's doing Stede's version of piracy but what exactly is off about it? Because so far there's no real reason to resist her, other than maybe the whole "I didn't conquer China by listening to pirates ramble about their feelings" bit.

Hornigold. Yeah, I know he was a subconscious manifestation of Edward's self-loathing but I still have hope. "Last time I saw you, you said you were gonna flay my skin and feed it back to me." Does that not sound like a great foreshadowing for S3???

[yunfeiz]

jjk s2 ending brainrot

the jjk s2 ending for the hidden inventory arc is filled with beautiful symbolism. i've been thinking about this so much and i just wanted to get it all down. workers at mappa clearly thought it out and how they wanted everyone to leave each episode. note that i definitely don't have everything all down in this post. i'm not that attentive, so if you have anything else you noticed please let me know.

tl:dr an overwhelming amount of satosugu brainrot filled with betta fishes, water, and pain

NOTE: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR SHIBUYA ARC AND FURTHER. IF YOU ARE AN ANIME ONLY DO NOT READ THIS.

-----

OBVIOUSLY i have to talk about the betta fish. i'm gonna go on a pretty long tangent so bare with me but i used to have 4 betta fishes, o, a, p, and e and they all lived in the same tank (it was my first time owning fish). a died of natural causes, p got swallowed whole by o, and e got decapitated by o. if you put betta fishes in a tank together, they will fight it out till the one that is the strongest survives. other than the eyes of the fishes ofc we can also determine which one is the strongest based on the state of their fins. an indication that a betta fish is unhealthy is through their fins. if they are slightly stringy (unless they're a specific kind of betta fish) it is a sign that they're not healthy. sometimes the health issue could come through malnutrition or fighting between betta fishes. we can now further deduce that because geto is the less healthy betta fish, gojo is naturally the strongest of the duo (thus the end of the strongest duo...) another thing to note, by using betta fishes to describe gojo and geto LITERALLY it means that in no world can those two ever be together. they will always fight and one will always emerge victorious while the other will frankly die. they're not fated to be together but rather they're fated to be each others natural enemy.

this is a little bit of a stretch and something that kinda makes zero sense at all but stay with me for now. water in jjk openings and jjk endings is typically used to indicate danger. think sukunas finger literally growing plants out of water and sukuna (no offense to sukunas stans) kinda is just danger all around. through each opening and ending we get to see how each character interacts with danger through the way they interact with water. satosugu is no exception to this. gojo is protected by the water with an umbrella, something he most likely brought with him because he knew it was gonna rain. a couple of things about this are that gojos technique obviously protects him from danger. as long as the technique is activated and he's using reverse cursed technique to unfry his brain, he knows that he will not get hit and it's very hard to actually get him into a dangerous position. the nature of his technique protects him and distances himself away from the danger of curses and whatnot. geto however only has his school bag protecting him and he's obviously going to get wet there is no denying that. even if the schoolbag managed to cover his entire body, his hands would still get wet. getos technique unfortunately is just not as powerful as gojos and can't protect him as well. i am not saying getos technique isn't powerful there's a reason why he's a special grade sorcerer. i'm just repeating what is established in the story and that is geto is simply not as powerful as gojo thus is more susceptible to danger. additionally, the nature of geto's technique quite literally exposes him to danger. he has to literally absorb curses by making them into spheres and using his hands to swallow them. HE IS CONSTANTLY INTERACTING WITH DANGER IN ORDER TO FIGHT AND SURVIVE, which is why he will never be fully protected by it unlike gojo whose technique distances himself away from these curses. geto has to as his technique draws himself closer to these curses. it's the only way he can fight, something he learned a lot from school which is why he is using his schoolbag to protect himself from the rain

this section is going to be shorter than the rest BUT theres this beautiful section of the ending dedicated to these red spider lillies. if you watch a lot of anime you probably already know what these symbolize but they symbolize death and rebirth. pretty obvious as to how it connects to satosugu but this one article i read specifically said that these flowers could also represent the separation of lovers. pretty interesting to think about isn't it? (gege i'm gonna catch you one day just so satosugu can finally live a happy life)

THE BETTA FISHES ARE BACK WOOO. anyways, in the scene with gojo, getofish floats by and gojo doesn't actually fully notice it until its gone. and off the screen. which is LITERALLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THE STORY. gojo didn't notice geto's struggle until it was too late. by the time gojo noticed geto had already finished his little mass murdering of the village and he had already decided what he wanted to do. also important to note, gojo follows the fish and continues to stare the second he notices (you guys remember how gojo immediately noticed geto's residuals after 10 years. yeah. me too.) in geto's scene, gojofish floats by all healthy and geto actually immediately notices the fish and immediately avoids eye contact with the fish. geto's pretty naturally attentive. you can actually notice him all throughout the season just quietly staring at gojo. and much like the ending of their friendship, geto can't face gojo directly. i'm not necessarily calling him a wimp?? but like he did the kfc breakup in front of so many people. he's not really talking to gojo directly, more like talking very loudly over others and speaking in identity crisis riddles. i have more thoughts on this but they keep coming out onto the post not the right way i think the fact that geto can't look at gojofish directly has something to do with the fact that geto was the morality check that gojo needed and because of geto's new "mindest" (because i'm a firm believer that geto's morality still remains the same. he is still a very caring individual just he really can't stand non-sorcerers and might be protecting them in his own very fucked-up way) the morality that gojo initially thought was correct kinda just crumbled. but i can't actually formulate a reason for this morality check because it's just a bunch of jumbled thoughts in my brain.

SPOILERS FOR SHIBUYA ARC arcade games really make their way into these don't they. a lot of people have noticed this so i'll keep this brief. the people on the winning side are gojo and shoko, the only people currently alive from the students we're introduced to in hidden inventory. the people on the losing side are geto, haibara, and nanami, all of which are currently dead. something else i noticed is that it's directly gojo and geto that are versing each other in the arcade game and it's rather sad because technically in the end gojo did "win" against geto.

a lot of people have also talked about this so i just want to add my two cents. obviously gojo and shoko are in the light and geto is in the dark, symbolizing the contrasting sides they've taken. but i wanted to specifically talk about this white line. let's just say this white line is the clear shift in what gojo called getos "moral argument". geto is completely past this line and he has rejected his past ideals and shifted his ideals to match his new understanding of the world. gojo is walking away from this line. he was previously on this line, and didnt' understand what geto's "moral argument" was before. now he fully understands and is talking steps to maintain this moral argument. sure he also wants to change the world to be better and where curses are slightly less prevalent, but he's doing it through education and still willing to protect non-sorcerers. shoko is also past the line but she is walking parallel to it. in my opinion, shoko was far more relaxed when she heard about what geto had done and even joked around with him a little bit when they ran into each other. she still has an understanding of geto's previous "moral argument" but she's not necessarily taking any deliberate action to further this argument. she just understands it and isn't rejecting it. do not get me wrong though, she has a very important role in the jujustu world it's just very different from the motivations of gojo who is furthering said moral argument (this is like very messy and i know it probably makes no fucking sense at all)

FINAL ONE and it's probably gonna be pretty long. once again this is talked about a lot so i'll keep the first part sort of brief. irl this bridge only has one road but for the sake of the story, mappa made it two. gojos path leads to land (safety) and geto's path leads to danger (water) (IT'S ALL COMING BACK TOGETHER). what i wanted to talk about was the animation that occurs in this scene. a couple of things happen 1. gojo crosses over to geto's half of the screen 2. geto pushes him back 3. gojo remains on his half for the rest of the scene gojo would've crossed over to geto's side when he was carrying riko's body if geto just said yeah i'd like to kill those fucking annoying people cheering on the death of a literal teenager because they want their god to become something akin to a tree. gojo would've literally obliterated them and probably wouldn't have thought too too much about it as geto was literally his moral guide. at that time whatever geto thought of as moral, gojo kinda just went along with it (he did argue about it ofc, it's gojo). geto however pushes him and says no there's not really a point to kiling them and so gojo remains on this set moral path for literally the rest of his life. in my personal opinion, gojo remains set on this path because riko meant a lot to geto and gojo and for geto to say there's no point in killing them even though the organization was so cruel for no reason, then this argument obviously becomes incredibly compelling. this also could explain why gojo couldn't find the point in geto's mass murder of the village

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those are all my thoughts that i really wanted to get down. please let me know if theres anything else that is in this ending that will cause me to sob i am all ears. satosugu actually has ruined my life so a little more probably won't hurt (it will)

[danggirlronpa]

Which Future Arc fakeout death would you make stick: Aoi or Kyoko?

With (and because of) strong love for her character: Kyoko, in a heartbeat.

DR3 feels incongruous to the games for a lot of people because it centers around very different themes. Where the DR games use trauma and violence as allegory for the common traumas and process of radicalization in teens (in addition to more straightforward uses of violence to examine propaganda and torture porn), DR3 moves its setting to primarily an adult sphere. Teen life, including its abject cruelty, is presented through a lens of brightly colored, rotten-orange nostalgia - or, for the adults with bad high school experiences, presented as dull, gray, and faceless. Instead, it is the side of the adults that is given complexity, depth, and that TV-beloved Gritty Realism TM.

In service of this shift, DR3 doesn't use death in the same way as the games. In the games, death is used as a way of highlighting the tragedy itself; character arcs are cut off midway through and normal teen issues become murder scenes. In DR3, instead, the focus is not on the violence but on the character who is committing it.

DR3 revolves around reflection of - and closure for - the traumas endured as a teenager. To that end, all of the characters are either completely flat to fill the ranks (Daiki, Gozu, Miaya) or have character arcs which their death/survival is a direct part of resolving (Koichi fulfilling his promise to Jin, the tragic conclusion to Seiko, Ruruka, and Izayoi's messy relationship).

With this in mind, not only should Hina not die, she shouldn't have even had a fakeout. Hina's arc in THH is that of a girl whose love pushes her to the absolute extreme of despair - and whose love, similarly, revives her and motivates the enter group to finish the Killing Game with no more deaths. Hina is an emotional lynchpin to the culmination of THH. You'll notice she doesn't get much of an arc in DR3, and that's because Hina's arc has been completely finished; instead, we see her caring for and protecting the people around her, as she has learned to do for the survival of the group. Killing her spits in the face of her arc and removes a key component of what makes the THH survivors function. Which WOULD have a place in a different version of DR3. But in the version of DR3 we got, it's antithetical to the story's goal.

Kyoko's death, on the other hand, is, point-blank, the perfect culmination of her arc. This is doubly true if the series is paired with DRK, but since most English fans haven't read it, we'll just talk about THH on. Kyoko's arc is about learning to rely on others instead of doing everything on her own, and of the divide between logic and emotion. Kyoko is emotionally immature in THH. She overreacts with jealousy when her first friend has a secret, even though she knows it's hypocritical. She sees her father's bones with a detached disinterest, and is overwhelmed at the realization that he was not a one-note villain. For how incredibly capable she is, Kyoko doesn't understand how people work or how to rely on them, and she suffers for it. It isn't until she goes to save Makoto after his execution that we see her truly rely on others - continued into helping him save the Remnants in SDR2.

Kyoko's death in DR3 is the perfect culmination of this arc. An exact parallel to the version of Kyoko in THH who asked Makoto to accept his own death so that she could solve the mystery of the school. With the same cool-headedness that determined she would have to kill someone she cares for to survive, Kyoko makes the same judgment, but with the opposite intention - that she has to die for someone she cares for to survive. From a character who is repeatedly stated to not have an interest or grasp on morality, her life ends with the most selfless thing she can possibly do. It's tragic. It's hard to even consider. It is a perfect culmination of her arc.

And, importantly: it also serves into the greater theme of DR3, which is self sacrifice. Self sacrifice shows up Constantly in DR3 - Koichi for Kyoko, Kyoko for Makoto, Juzo for Munakata; right down to ideological sacrifice, like Chisa to encourage despair and Kazuo to encourage "hope." As the final self sacrifice, Kyoko's death is lent a narrative weight which closes out a story which she, ultimately, was one of the primary drivers of from the beginning.

[toku-explained]

ChocoDan

Arc: Ishido meets with his superior, Nibuya, who confirms the results of analysing Givas' green beams, it had detected the high-energy body in the Hoshimoto area and was trying to find it, Space Sciences have now determined this thing, codenamed Onyx, is in Kitsuneganori Forest. At the Monohorn, a figure transfigures energy at it. SKIP have detected resonance at the Monohorn, similar to during the Digelos incident, so Yuma and Ishido go to check it out, Ishido came straight from his meeting with Nibuya, which he keeps secret. As they approach the Monohorn, Yuma hears a voice calling to Rution, before an energy cube attacks them, they're only saved by Arc putting a barrier around them and then transporting them away. The cube merges with a currently invisible Kaiju, and the figure manifests. Yuma awakens next to a still unconscious Ishido in a theatre Yuma's grandmother used to take him to, Arc appears and pulls Yuma into the mirror again, explaining he's having to excessively expend energy to do this. Arc, properly introducing himself as Rution, shows Yuma a film of his history. Rution is from a highly advanced sar system in a distant galaxy. Their sun, Sonia, started to expand, and if it continued it would consume every world their. The scientist, Ze Su, proposed the use of his experimental wormhole the Ze Su Gate to dissipate the excess energy, but there was a problem. As Ishido wakes up the enemy finds him and forcibly scans his mind, learning that like herself he is seeking Onyx, but she needs more than the general location he provides. She enters the theatre, and sees Rution and Yuma are in the Mirror version. Rution explain that earth was right in the path of one of the predicted dispersal points for the Ze Su Gate, and would be absolutely destroyed by the dispersed heat, and even for their own survival the government refused to sacrifice another world. When Ze Su activated the gate anyway, Rution was sent to protect earth and Ze Su send Monogelos after him. Rution managed to seal the exit point in a sphere, preventing the energy from dispersing, but was attacked by Monogelos, leading them both to the battle that killed Yuma's parents, Rution barely saved Yuma from being crushed by the Monohorn, but has always regretted failing to save his parents. When Yuma asks what will happen with Sonia with the gate sealed, Sweed interrupts. A followed to Ze Su, she believes the Ze Su Gate is the only way, Sonia at the moment is still expanding, and rejects Rution's faith his allies will find another way. They escape to the normal world, but Sweed grabs Arc from within Yuma and, having seen from Monogelos' memories that Rution dropped the seal in their battle, finds from his memories where it is and starts pulling it up remotely. Yuma breaks free.and becomes Arc, Sweed calls her Kaiju, Zadime. Arc has already used a lot of energy, and uses Luna Armour to no avail. Ishido awakens and comes out to see the battle, firing on Zadime, which then falls back. Arc, exhausted, collapses and vanishes. Rushing to that point, Ishido find the unconscious Yuma, and is notified by Nibuya of an emergency, as Onyx has appeared from below ground, and crater formed.

Gavv: Gavv approaches Valen on a roof. Shoma barely noticed ChocoDon on the ValenBuster, Hanto hides it while panicking Gavv will have noticed the thefts, but coolly introduced himself as a kouhai. Shoma believes Valen is the result of the same modification as him, Hanto makes the same assumption about Gavv, Hanto thinks Gavv has had a Granute organ implanted, and Shoma thinks Valen has had surgery hiding his Gavv and has his own minions. They agree not to pry and with assurances the other won't harm humans, they finally name themselves and split. Nyelv has had a part timer called in, aiming to do a new mod as a test. Sachika brings Shoma to the home of her great-aunt, Takarayashiki Masako. Masako needs them to housekeep for her until she can find a new one, and introduces two artists she supports, sculptor Tatehori Tamaki and and painter Egawa Suetsugu. They get to work, but Shoma's inexperience gets in the way, and he then accidentally tears an arm off Tatehori's sculpture, only for that to actually inspire her. Jeeb and Shita visit another checkpoint, still safe, only to be invaded by Glotta, come to put the pressure on them over the lack of Pressed lately, she decides to pressure the Part Timers. Hanto speaks with Suga, asking if he knows of any other Granute researchers, refuses to bring Gavv to him, and accepts the flash frozen ChocoDon Suga snatched. At the mansion, an art curator, Iwashizu, approaches. Shoma and Sachika return to the agency. Sachika tells him she'll handle the work tomorrow, promising to train him properly when she can. Shoma is called over to Dente, who has made a new item for him, the Gavv Phone, which aside from normal functions can project images of and inserted Gochizo's memories, they see images of Valen, and Shoma learns Dente isn't responsible for him. Back at the mansion, Sachika learns from Masako about Tamaki being scouted to go to Paris, unaware of Egawa's resentment. Shoma has just made Maison Gochizo as a hiding place for them when Hanto stops by looking for Sachika. After consulting the ledger to learn the job, Shoma panics think Hanto wants to learn his identity, and enquires, causing Hanto to panic that further research may expose his own. Each play things off, and after Hanto leaves to look into artists disappearing a Gochizo grabs Shoma. At a gallery Shoma finds Iwashizu, and uses the Gavv Phone to show he knows he Pressed Tamaki. Gavv engages the aquatic Granute. Sachika witnesses Suetsugu freak out. A short time later, Hanto also comes, finding the gallery a mess and Tamaki's ID, only for Grotta to pop in looking for the worker. She kicks him the realises he's human, leading him to realise she's a Granute, and they can have human faces. Gavv cannot handle the Granute shooting until a ChocoDan forces itself into the Gavv, the ChocoDan form is gunslinger based, the ChocoDanGun enabling him to actually fight his foe. Sachika tries to support Suetsugu, instead he lashes out and throws paint at her, and she can only apologise. Gavv defeats the Granute and recovers the Pressed Tamaki, while Hanto, swearing to destroy all Granute, becomes and Valen and challenges Grotta.

Boonboomger: The Boonboomgers are battling the Sanseaters Kurumajin Stone brothers, a Yam cooking and Brick wall pair, while ByoonByoom Mach Robo battles Mad Rex. Genba watches, pondering Mad Rex's words. ByoonByoom Mach Robo Toq Custom drives Mad Rex off, and the others force the villains away, Disrace meanwhile is annoyed stuff he needs isn't coming. Genba approaches Mad Rex, demanding to know why he's faking memory loss, and when he says he isn't returning Mad Rex lets Genba know Disrace is manipulating him just as much as himself, and reminds Genba he's already dead and needs to look out for the Sanseaters, but Genba can still reclaim his wheel, and wanders off to the Sanseaters. At the Garage, Jou, Mira, Boonboom and Shirabe discuss Disrace's control of Mad Rex, Shirabe notes the ISA spotted Genba nearby, Sakito telling ByoonD and Chassiro he reckons Genba wants to come back, Taiya says nothing. The Sanseaters beg Disrace to restore Mad Rex's memories, he says he'll consider it if they do well, then contemplates making them puppets as well, then seeing Mad Rex's reaction knows he's awakens, chains him and demonstrates his control with a talisman. Genba enters the Garage, only Shirabe is present, when he says he has a message for Taiya she reveals the others are fighting Mad Rex as they speak, BunViolet handling the Stone Brothers. Shirabe tells Genba Taiya's belief he can reclaim his dream, take hold of his destiny, Bundario agreeing, as Taiya escaped him despite his flaws, Shirabe offers him his team jacket. Breaking down at the realisation they will still accept him, Genba decides to take the wheel. Mad Rex has overpowered the Boonboomgers, his killing blow is blocked by a certain manhole cover. Genba explains the Number Displate being used on Mad Rex, overcoming all limiters by taking full control of the enemy, he informs Taiya of Mad Rex's request, and confirms today's procurement is himself, and hands over the newly completed Champion Changer. They transform, and use the Champion Changer to equip their new Jackets, the Champion Boonboomgers are born. Able to use Boonboom Car powers by touching their emblems. As Bun Violet defeats the Stone Brothers, the others finish things, destroying the Free Displate. Mad Rex is annoyed at not being killed, but is told to take his own wheel. His energy exploding as Disrace's final trap, Mad Rex says they might just be able to reach his boss, and rides off. The Sanseaters vow to continue trying to restore Mad Rex, unaware their commander is flying into space ready to explode.