#FINALLY i drew the iconic duo together- | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bookwyrminspiration · 2 years

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Alright then! MSo, Ninjago is a TV show that basically was made as a way to get parents to buy toys for their kids back in 2011. It has evolved beyond that, but that was the reasoning for it being created. It has a pretty medium sized fandom, probably a bit bigger than keeper.

It’s basic plot is that it follows a group of ninja with elemental powers that help defeat supernatural enemies. One such instance is when they face up against an evil genie creature.

There are two main characters who are important to the story: Lloyd, who is the green ninja, and Kai who is the red ninja. They are often depicted as being very brotherly and that’s what a lot of the fandom sees them as.

A little while ago, there was an account on Tumblr dedicated to running a bracket tournament on the best red and green duo. Obviously, Lloyd and Kai were put on it by a few different people, myself included.

It went pretty normal for the first round, where Kai and Lloyd won against Red Guy and Duck from Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared.

However, the normalcy was soon be over. Because in the next round, Ninja was up against Mario and Luigi. And I am pretty sure I don’t need to explain to you that Mario and Luigi are a very popular duo.

So the Ninjago community decided to come together to take down the popular duo. A few people @ a few different bug Ninjago blogs, which brought the poll into more people’s view. And the discord server for the most popular Ninjago fanfic shared a link, so it definitely was in people’s eye.

We almost lost, but we managed to eek out a win against the Mario and Luigi. To commemorate the occasion some people drew fanart. But the war wasn’t over yet.

The next battle for Ninjago was against Phineas and Ferb, one of the most iconic duos in cartoon history. But we were prepared.

Once again we all banded together and we managed to defeat Phineas and Ferb, this time in a landslide.

We only had one more opponent: Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. The Ninjago community knew that if we won this, then we could get at least some bragging rights that we won a popularity contest (even if we committed voter fraud.)

It was a fairly intense battle. We all shared link with each other in order to make sure we all had voted. Also, I may or may not have gotten some of my friends outside of the Ninjago community to vote for Lloyd and Kai.

Finally, it all came to a close. On March 2, Lloyd and Kai won, 64.7% to 34.3%. It took voter fraud, campaigning and a whole of working together but we done it. We won a popularity contest.

I am definitely not doing the story justice whatsoever, but if you want to see the polls, they were on redandgreenpoll tumblr.

Anyway, thank you for indulging my silly little story, and if you want to know more about Ninjago let me know!

-⚙️

My apologies whenever I hear the word ninjas now my brain just goes "where did all these ninjas come from" to quote the one, the only, the velocipastor at 48 minutes and 20 seconds into this glorious movie. it's probably not as funny without the hilarity and mindset of the previous 48 minutes but I think about it...so often...

but hey! is that the lloyd who has the joke made about him like "uh no your name is lu-loyd, I named you and that's how it's pronounced" or whatever it is? pronouncing both the Ls?

back to your story: wow! you're right, you don't need to explain to me how popular those other duos are or how impressive it is that you beat them. I 100% believe you when you say it was voter fraud because those franchises are popular. i suppose ninjago is popular enough that I vaguely know about it's existence, but still! congrats to you all on your victory and all the bragging rights you now have :)

what an intense popularity contest. I'll have to look through that tumblr bracket showdown to get a better sense of what you're talking about, but thank you for sharing it with me! if you'd like to tell me more about ninjago, I'd be happy to listen, but otherwise i likely won't seek out further information (no offense. i just don't watch a lot of things in general, nothing against ninjago itself :) )

#ninjago #quil's queries #⚙️ nonsie #long post #i do also have a second ninjago post in my askbox right now from someone else explaining some of it #so i should probably also answer that one #oh you know what maybe the increased humidity from the rain is why my shorts weren't dry this morning #<- completely unrelated random thought but I already typed it out so it's staying #anyway! very fun story! even though I have very little context!#i am nodding my head along to your story with fond amused attention and slight perplexion :)

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dwtsfun · 4 months

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I've been following your Tumblr for a long time and I just have to thank you for the incredible content you bring about the show.

I agree with pretty much everything you think about the show, and I think you'd be an amazing EP to keep the show engaging and family-friendly (in the sense of keeping familiar faces around).

So I would like to ask you some questions:

The first is how you would set up the hosting duo and judging panel if you could do whatever you wanted;

The second is what you would do if you could choose 12 professionals for the next season, being realistic with the current situation;

The third question is about your ideal season, I know you like 12 or 13 couples and 10 or 11 weeks (preferring 10), so I would like to know how you would put together your ideal season (number of couples, number of weeks on air , how many couples would be eliminated per week and how many finalists would be in the final;

The fourth is if you think Barry is in Peta's Top 5 best partners, alongside Tommy and Donald;

Lastly, I know you consider the lack of brightness and "strength" to be a characteristic of Artem's partners and their choreography, and in seasons 30 and 31 you always thought that Melora and Heidi were overrated. I expected a lot from the first show and ended up being disappointed; I didn't know the second one. Artem has publicly said that his favorite partners are his wife Nikki, the legend Patti LaBelle (an icon and for me the biggest star to ever do the show) and Heidi, which really surprised me as I thought he would choose Lea Thompson or Nancy Kerrigan, or even Melora for being a little more performative.

So I'd like to know how you would rank Artem's partners: Lea, Patti, Nancy, Nikki, Melora, Heidi, and Charity.

Thank you so much for your work, I wish you all the best!

I can really tell that you have been following my blog for quite some time just from this message alone. Thanks for staying with me and reading for so long. And I'm so glad that you think I'd be a good EP for the show. That is such a huge compliment! Now to answer your questions.

#1 I can see the hosting thing go a lot of different ways so let me start with the judges table. I think it should be a table of 4 and Julianne needs to be brought down from the Sky Box and put as the HEAD judge on that table. Derek, Bruno and CAI can all stay. Alfonso can stay as host. I would like to see someone like Kym, Marie Osmond, throw it back to Drew Lachey or bring back Samantha Harris (if she's willing).

#2 Pros- So I'll give 6 men, 6 women and 2 reserves (man and woman): Men: Brandon, Keo, Alan, Pasha, Ezra, Val (though I think he's ready to hang it up) Women: Daniella, Witney, Britt, Koko, Emma, Rylee Reserves: Louis, Peta (for those 13 and 14 couple casts) This is what I can realistically see happening.

#3 12-13 couples is ideal. I don't care which if we have a strong cast on all fronts. It should be 10 weeks and the last episode should be the week of the last Thursday in November at the latest (US Thanksgiving). No one would get eliminated in week 1. Week 2 is the first elim. With 12 couples, there doesn't need to be a double if you have a 4 couple finale, which I would be okay with. With 13, there does need to be one singular double. I would prefer to have that early on. Either the first or second elimination would be a double. No judges' save.

#4 I do think Barry is a top 5 Peta partner. It's him, Tommy, Donald, Nyle and either James or Brant (I'm leaning toward James).

#5 You're definitely right about my feelings for Artem and his partners. He's like Tony, but Tony was a much better teacher imo and at least produced a handful of memorable dances with his partners. I like this question though, it's forcing me to remember Artem's partners lol. Okay here we go from my favorite to least favorite:

1 Patti- she forced him to teach out of his comfort zone (I also agree that she along with Gladys, Donny, Marie and maybe Chaka Khan are the biggest stars to ever do the show. Not most current, but biggest) 2 Nikki- similar to Patti, she forced him out of his comfort zone 3 Lea- she worked best with his style cuz she didn't fade as much as the others 4 Charity- he actually shifted how he taught her toward the end 5 Nancy- they were fine but I always wonder how Nancy would've done with Derek 6 Melora- she's only here because she was a better dancer than Heidi 7 Heidi- a literal nonevent and was way overhyped

Again, thanks so much for reading. I had to take some time to think about all of these, so thanks once again. I love engaging questions like this from everyone. They are so much fun and take my mind off of the disaster that is my life lol

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bojackhorsemanobviously · 1 year

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OH phantom became his mentor yah that checks out acutally.. btw he rooted for eric/christine

write a fictional story of bojack horseman meeting the phantom of the opera

ChatGPT BoJack Horseman had seen his fair share of strange encounters throughout his tumultuous life, but nothing could have prepared him for the day he found himself face to face with the enigmatic Phantom of the Opera. It all began when BoJack, feeling lost and weary, decided to take a break from the Hollywood madness and embarked on a journey to Paris.

Arriving at the iconic Palais Garnier, BoJack was immediately captivated by the grandeur of the opera house. As he explored the labyrinthine corridors, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Shadows danced in the corners of his vision, and an eerie sensation crept up his spine.

Suddenly, a haunting melody filled the air, resonating through the halls. BoJack followed the enchanting sound until he reached the majestic main theater. There, standing on the stage, was the unmistakable figure of the Phantom, cloaked in darkness.

BoJack cautiously approached, intrigued and wary of the figure before him. "Who are you?" he called out.

The Phantom turned, revealing a mask that obscured half his face. His voice, both haunting and vulnerable, echoed through the theater. "I am the Phantom of the Opera, a creature of darkness and music. Who are you?"

BoJack paused, contemplating his response. "I'm BoJack Horseman," he finally answered, his voice tinged with weariness. "I'm just a washed-up actor trying to find meaning in a world that seems to have forgotten me."

The Phantom seemed to understand the pain and disillusionment in BoJack's words. "Ah, the pursuit of fame and the eternal struggle for relevance. We are kindred spirits, you and I."

Curiosity and a shared sense of isolation drew the unlikely duo together. Over time, they formed an unusual bond, sharing their deepest fears and regrets. The Phantom confided in BoJack about his disfigurement and his longing for love, while BoJack opened up about his self-destructive tendencies and his desire for redemption.

As BoJack spent more time with the Phantom, he discovered a hidden talent within himself—a talent for singing. The Phantom, recognizing BoJack's potential, became his mentor, guiding him through the intricacies of music and helping him channel his emotions into powerful performances.

Together, BoJack and the Phantom started staging secret underground shows beneath the opera house, captivating audiences with their unique blend of melancholy and passion. BoJack's voice soared through the catacombs, his heartache echoing in every note.

Their collaboration became a cathartic journey for both of them, a chance to confront their inner demons and find solace in the power of their art. They shared moments of joy and despair, gradually peeling away the layers of their troubled souls.

But as their bond deepened, BoJack couldn't ignore the gnawing guilt that had haunted him for years. He realized that he needed to face his past and make amends for the pain he had caused others. Reluctantly, he made the difficult decision to leave the Phantom and return to Los Angeles.

With a heavy heart, BoJack bid farewell to the Phantom, promising to carry the lessons they had learned together. The Phantom, understanding the weight of BoJack's journey, bid him farewell, his ethereal voice fading into the darkness.

As BoJack made his way back to Hollywood, he carried the music of the Phantom with him, forever transformed by their encounter. And in the stillness of the night, when the world was at its quietest, BoJack would sometimes sing, his voice mingling with the phantom's melody—a testament to the enduring connection forged between a washed-up horse and a haunted spirit.

#fun with ai

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sunshinecoastqldnews · 2 years

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Even LeBron James is obsessive about Americas pickleball craze. He simply purchased a group

Just lately, a sure sport has caught the attention of NBA star LeBron James—and it’s not basketball. Relatively, it’s a comparatively new leisure exercise that’s shortly gaining traction. James and his enterprise associate, Maverick Carter, introduced Wednesday that they’d be a part of an possession group of a Main League Pickleball (MLP) group. The duo will personal the group by means of LRMR Ventures, their household workplace. “After I began taking part in pickleball, I instantly related with the game’s neighborhood and its capability to be each enjoyable and aggressive,” Carter stated in an interview with CNBC. “To see the game rising in communities throughout is de facto thrilling, and we’re wanting ahead to bringing our experience collectively to try to construct a championship group.” Different members of the group embrace funding agency SC Holdings and different NBA gamers like Kevin Love and Draymond Inexperienced. The monetary phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed. MLP is the primary skilled U.S. pickleball league. It was based in 2021 and has 12 coed groups of 4 gamers every. The 2022 season finale will happen in October, when 48 gamers will compete for $100,000 for the successful group. The rising curiosity amongst buyers and newbie gamers has been a chance for MLP, which is increasing its roster of groups to 16. “The MLP enlargement to 16 groups allowed for a lot of potential buyers—each people and teams—to submit bids for the 4 new groups,” Anne Worcester, MLP’s strategic adviser and board member, instructed Fortune. “We acquired overwhelming curiosity from 60-plus teams for these groups, which far exceeded our expectations.” Pickleball, a mixture of tennis and desk tennis, has a rising fan following, highlighted by the staging {of professional} matches in a few of the nation’s most distinguished tennis venues. The game has 4.8 million fanatics within the U.S., in response to the Sports activities & Health Business Affiliation, together with Invoice Gates and the Kardashian household. The game has additionally been attracting new funding, with retired NFL icon Drew Brees and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk additionally pouring cash in to assist it. Join the Fortune Options e-mail record so that you don’t miss our largest options, unique interviews, and investigations. Originally published at Sunshine Coast QLD News

#Sunshine Coast QLD News

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thevindicativevordan · 2 years

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Why did it take so long for Carol Danvers to become Captain Marvel, in your opinion? It feels like it should have happened like 10 years before it actually did?

Probably because Death of Captain Marvel was a big deal I guess and most people didn't view "Ms. Marvel" as being lesser until that changed for some reason. Carol started getting pushed after Marvel realized that all of their A-List heroines were under Fox's purview, and that they didn't have a premiere heroine who could compete with WW in the MCU.

No offense to her fanbase but I see her as the industry plant of superhero comics. Didn't matter that her sales constantly dropped into cancellation levels despite repeated relaunches, Marvel was determined to make sure you couldn't ignore her. Hence the "Carol Corps" actually only numbering in the 10k range going off the KSD issue sales, while Marvel pretended she was already Wonder Woman's equal in popularity and iconic nature. Sometimes I'll remember Breevort claiming that they didn't want a Wonder Woman, they wanted a success, right around the time they were getting set to do another #1 because her sales had tanked again. Never fails to make me laugh, but Marvel got the last laugh in the end I suppose.

Sure it may have taken 4 relaunches in 5 years before Carol finally started to stick, but stick she did! Marvel succeeded in their goal, the Kelly Thompson run has managed to sustain itself for over 40 issues, finally she can celebrate real milestone issues. Are Carol Corps fans satisfied with where she is now? Genuinely curious because as far as I know Carol continues to lack the elements you'd expect from a top tier Marvel character in a solo capacity, especially one whom Marvel wants standing alongside Wonder Woman as a premiere heroine. Doesn't have any meaningful Rogues to speak of, her longest running love interest is Rhodes but the two of them have zero chemistry together from what I've seen, Jessica Drew is her only real friend, and her personality rotates between "fuckup" and "fascist". Giving her an alien cat and making her half-alien - with a name ending in "Ell" to boot - amuses me given the obvious lifting of Supergirl's traits.

It occurs to me that she's a better counterpart to Homelander in that she's a perfect example of the corporate superhero. Her beloved status is a result of an excellent PR team both in-universe and out, not an organic reaction to her character or stories. Underneath her public persona lies an emotionally damaged soldier with psychotic tendencies and serious issues. Perhaps that's changed, I've never read any of the recent Captain Marvel stuff, but I haven't seen or heard of any "must read" Captain Marvel stories made within the past decade. People still talk about the infamous Avengers #200 story, or her actions during Civil War or Civil War II, but aside from some love for Ewing's Ultimates run no buzz about any must-read stories featuring Danvers as the lead have reached my ears. Something must be going right for her because her ongoing is doing well, and if her fanbase is happy that's cool with me. Aside from having an excellent costume redesign I don't have much interest or attachment to her.

She and Hulk are a fun duo however, they should team up or fight more.

#captain marvel #carol danvers #hulk #opinion

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lifewithdavefarts · 3 years

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DaveFarts - Episode 9 “Trapped In The Closet” [Episode List] Following the most blatant sit-com tropes you can think of, Dave decides to spy on his girlfriend, Dana, because he thinks she’s hiding something. Tim reluctantly decides to join his friend, but the two end up stuck in the girl’s closet, which will eventually turn into a gas chamber.

Trapped In The Closet

“Yeah Dana. Sure. No problem.”

Tim was working on some college tasks, but couldn’t help but to eavesdrop Dave’s conversation with his girlfriend, Dana, on the phone. He could only hear his friend’s replies, which being only the 50% of what they were talking about, it didn’t make a lot of sense. Not that he was interested: Dave was simply hanging out in his room because he had nothing better to do during that warm Summer evening, apparently, and so he simply showed up to Tim’s place with a couple of beers and a remarkable amount of procrastination powers.

Despite being relatively hot outside, Dave was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of long, grey levi jeans, kinda loose as usual. Something that Tim hated about his kink is how quickly he checked his friend’s outfit, something that he always did since Dave is now basically his “fart bud”, against all odds.

“Yeah… yeah… I love you. No… I love you more!”

Kinda funny how Dave, 24, would revert back to an awkward teenager at times whenever he and his girlfriend were on the phone. They probably even acted like that on purpose, because love is doing stupid things together after all.

“Tim. Car. Now!”

Dave hung up and turned weirdly serious, got up and walked downstairs, saying something about getting in the car.

“Wait, what?” Tim asked, questioning whether his friend was being serious or not, but he did follow him to wherever he was going.

“We don’t have much time, Tim. Dana will come back soon. She’s out with her own friends and we have… like… 15 minutes.”

The two walked outside and headed towards the girls’ house, actually only a few blocks away from Tim’s. Tim himself reluctantly followed his bro into this, knowing that, at best, it may turn into a funny mishap to tell to their other pals while being drunk and laugh about it.

“I’ll just pretend your words make any sense, like I usually do…” Tim chuckled, sarcastically, but still following his friend.

“I think she’s hiding something.” Dave explained, walking at a fast pace, Tim right behind him. “She’s been strangely elusive lately and I want to check her room for clues.”

Tim just chuckled in response. “Dave, you do realize that this is not a 90s sit-com, right? Her room? Really? What are you hoping to find out, exactly, anyway? That she’s having some kind of affair behind your back?” he asked, trying to reason with him.

“An affair? You think I’m that kind of guy?” Dave answered, looking surprisingly offended by Tim’s question. “I just want to make sure she’s fine. She seemed worried about something and she’s like this organized haf-woman/half-machine hybrid who keeps sticky notes in her room to keep an eye on her busy life.”

“Oh…” Tim replied, rather sarcastically. “Now that makes a lot of sense.”

“Leave your sassiness for later, dork. Can we take your car?” Dave asked.

“Why? We’re already right in front of her house…”

Dave realized that he was so worried that they did, in fact, walked for a couple of blocks and found themselves stepping in Dana’s backyard without even noticing. He just laughed a bit about it.

“Sorry. Love makes me blind.” he joked, knowing that it was a rather silly thing to say anyway.

“Not the words I would have used, but ok.” Tim answered.

“Come on, let’s get inside.” his bro said, with a smirk.

“Alright… but please, let’s keep a low profile and no awkwa-”

But as they approached to the girl’s house, Dave awkwardly started muttering some kind of theme song that was oddly reminiscent of the Mission Impossibile’s most iconic soundtrack. This guy has a girlfriend, everyone.

“So much for keeping a low profile, Ethan Hunt…” Tim joked.

Dana’s room, following the usual “average american house tropes” that the writer of this story grew up with in the 90s, was on the second floor. Luckily, the house was empty, so both Tim and Dave could easily climb it without fearing of someone noticing their totally legal actions.

“Look at Tim, such a rebel! Such a fast climber!” Dave whispered, noticing how good Tim was at climbing the girl’s house.

“Thanks. I learned it when I visited your mom.” he joked.

“I thought you’d prefer my dad, you know.” Dave played along, with a rather noticeable reference to Tim’s homosexuality.

“Just… just let’s get done with this.”

After some awkward climbing, the two found themselves in front of a window leading to Dana’s room. The duo was sitting on a small portion of slanted roof, wondering how to get inside.

“Alright. I could just punch through the window and open it. But you know I don’t like violence against windows.” Dave said, somewhat joking, but really trying to come up with a way to get through this final obstacle.

“Never mind, it’s open.” Tim said, as his hand passed right through the window. “Or, you know, I got ghost powers all of the sudden, but I doubt it.”

“You’re so funny I forgot to laugh.” Dave commented, as he got inside his girlfriend’s room, making sure no one was there, immediately followed by his sassy friend.

The room was fairly big and messy, books and magazines scattered all around the floor and the bed. Dana was a busy woman: she got a degree in economics but, given the tough times, she had troubles finding a decent job lately. Dave actually suspected that this was the reason she was being nervous about, well, everything, understandably.

“Why don’t you just ask her instead of acting like the perfect boyfriend material that you are?” Tim stated, in his usual snarky tone, noticing Dave basically rummaging through Dana’s more personal stuff.

“Just… let me do my thing ok?” he was serious again, trying to find something that could be clue, deep down knowing that all of that was quite non-sense and even ridiculous, but his stubbornness was showing. “Wait…”

Something drew his attention. A red (therefore important, according to Dana’s code) sticky note on the nightstand. Something was written on it.

“Oh… I guess I was right…” Dave whispered, eyes glued on the note.

“Something about her job?”

But Tim didn’t get an answer, as they heard someone coming from downstairs. They probably were so focused on their mission that didn’t even notice how someone got inside the house minutes after them. They went silent and tried to listen to the person’s footsteps.

“Yeah. I’ll keep you posted.”

They heard a muffled female voice getting closer, probably talking on her phone. A voice that was very familiar.

“Fuck! It’s Dana!” Dave whispered.

The two looked around, looking for a quick solution or a place to hide, blatantly ignoring the window they used to get inside in the first place.

“The closet!” Dave said.

Without even questioning whether this was a good idea or not, the duo sneaked inside Dana’s closet and closed themselves inside just as the girl came into her room, still talking on the phone about something.

Tim and Dave managed to mess things up however, as they ended up in a very small section of that apparently big, spacious closet, so they had to arrange themselves in a weird position. Dave was standing up, towering over Tim, who found himself sitting on the floor instead, right behind his friend… with his face perfectly aligned with his loose jeans butt. As his eyes got adjusted to the dark, Tim started to distinguish the seams and texture’s on Dave’s jeans ass, and the tiny red Levi tag on the right back pocket. He couldn’t help but take a look, which he felt really unnecessary, given the context.

“So… this is where you lived for most of your life…” Dave joked, looking around, as if the closet was some kind of fancy mansion.

“Haha! Another gay joke! Great timing, Dave!” Tim muttered instead. The last thing they had to do was talk.

The two waited for a couple of minutes, hoping that Dana would just leave again or even just go downstairs, so they’d have enough time to get out of there in the hopes that Dave didn’t leave any clue of his presence.

“As long a we remain silent…” Tim whispered. “We have nothing to worry about.”

Only moments after saying that, he felt a very familiar sound greeting his face. It was a long, rumbling sound coming from Dave’s denim ass. It was one of his usual, well-known loud farts, a fart that he was desperately trying to keep as silent as possible. Luckily, Dana was too busy with her phone to even notice the weird noise coming from inside of her closet.

“Dave! What the fuck?!” Tim hissed.

The gassy friend tried not to laugh, realizing how idiotic the whole situation was. “I’m sorry dude.” he murmured. “You know what happens when I’m nervous!”

The smell was unbearable already. Being in a such small space didn’t certainly help. Those were probably some of the smelliest farts Dave ever managed to rip in Tim’s face, although this time was, against all odds, more like an accident.

“Tim…” Dave whispered, carefully placing his butt closer to his friend’s face.

Another fart erupted, sounding dangerously louder than the previous one. The rough surface of Dave’s denim gently caressed Tim’s nose. The blast of gas then turned into something much more subtle, but still otherwise bubbly. Tim felt his nose burn, as really he had no choice but to breath all of that in.

“Dave I swear. If you don’t stop, Dana’s gonna–”

But another “slow-paced” rumbly fart cut him off. Dave was seriously trying to contain his well-known farting abilities. Tim, instead, was trying to remain calm, feeling like the Universe was somehow messing with him. That was an insane situation: he certainly wasn’t new to Dave’s farts, but in that context, it felt almost like one of his weird dreams about his fart fetish.

“Tim I’m sorry, at least I know you don’t mind… I hope”

Funnily enough, despite the slightly amused tone in his whispering voice, Dave sounded genuinely sorry. Yet he was right: Tim was insanely enjoying it, but knowing that Dana was out there made the whole thing almost surreal. And, once again, as much as Dave always proved so chill about this stuff, he couldn’t help but feel somehow awkward about having his friend face-farting him so non-chalantly.

And yet another “ninja” fart was ripped all over his face. Being nervous really turned Dave’s stomach into a messy cloud of gas, and Tim’s nose was there to vacuum it all up, completely defenseless, standing before the sheer power of the gassy friend’s powerful denim-covered anus.

Even though the situation was absurd, Dave couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. After all, the smell hit him too, and it was getting insane even for the farter himself, whose gas just didn’t stop building up.

“Sorry bro… I have to do this.” he whispered.

Tim felt Dave’s hands gently grabbing the back of his head, holding it still, as he pulled him in the clutches of his denim butt. The warm fabric of the jeans was soaking in that unbearable smell. The sniffer then felt the weight of his gassy friend almost crushing his skull. Despite being dark, Tim realized that Dave was basically sitting on him, using his head as some kind of human stool.

The fart was directly ripped in Tim’s mouth at that point, that rumbly sound once again renewing the already destructive stench. It was supposed to be loud, so loud, that Dave had to basically use his friend’s face to deadpan its impressive thunderous noise. The gassy bro was trying to rip it in the form of a long series, hoping that Dana would fail to hear (or even recognize) his well-known gross, but rather impressive talent.

Tim heard his friend’s sighs of relief after each, rumbling fart, but Dave was also trying not to burst into a laughter that could blow their cover. Fart fetish or not, he couldn’t help but to find it more hilarious than gross.

As much as the lack of space in that closet wouldn’t really allow it, Dave even lifted his right leg a bit, while still “sitting” on his stool-friend, as a way to facilitate the impressive amount of gas gushing out from his anus. It’s not like he had to worry about Tim passing out or finding it too gross, anyway.

That fart itself was lasting longer than both of them anticipated. They lost count of how much time passed, probably a full minute. Tim’s face was warm and sweaty now, still trapped in the clutches of his gassy bro’s denim butt, directly living in person that thin line between Fart Heaven and Fart Hell.

A final sigh of relief, followed by a louder toot and a chuckle. “Sorry, bud.” Dave muttered, hoping that his plan worked.

Indeed, Dana didn’t hear a thing. She hung up and left the room, her footsteps slowly turning into a far, muffled sound, until silence announced that the duo was now free to get the heck out of there, especially considering how they were almost both choking on farts.

Tim forgot what fresh, non-fart air felt like in his nostrils and so took a deep, refreshing breath the moment he stepped out of that gas closet. Ironically, Dave did the same, maybe even wondering how would Tim even endure something as overwhelming as his farts, but he didn’t really mind anyway. Despite everything, that was oddly hilarious, as the two stared at each other and then bursted into a laughter.

“Now let’s get out of here…” the farter suggested.

But before the two could even walk towards the window, Dana showed up again in her own room. She didn’t even startle.

“What are you two doing here?” she asked, sounding more like an inquisitive mom than an angry girlfriend. She was fairly mature, after all. “I don’t know what you Dumb and Dumber are up to, but I swear if you–”

“I heard the news, Dana. We were just outside your window…” Dave explained, slightly tweaking the truth. “We wanted to play a stupid scary prank but then I heard it, while you were on the phone you know…”

Dana shook her head and laughed a bit. She hugged her boyfriend and kissed him.

“Yes! I got the job!” she giggled. “Sorry I’ve been so cold lately. The job interview made me so nervous…”

“It’s fine, Dana. You’ve always been stone-cold anyway!” Dave joked, earning a playful slap on his chest by his girlfriend.

“Yes, that’s a very import–wait what’s that smell?” the girl asked, sniffling loudly the air around him.

Tim’s heart almost stopped while Dave did his best to not just laugh like an immature prankster. His hair, clothes, skin, were completely “soaked” in his gassy bro’s gas, so naturally he’d himself smell like flatulence.

“Never mind. It must be you, Dave. He farts like crazy when he’s nervous, Tim, I swear.” she said, disgusted but slightly amused as well.

“Ow… it’s part of my charm, babe.” Dave replied, using what he would have considered an irresistible flirty tone of voice, which was super awkward instead.

“And yeah. Tim’s very aware of my skills, right?” he joked, winking at him, like the big teasing bastard he’s always been since he found out about his fart kink.

Tim just shrugged, faking a disgusted look, his heart racing fast, knowing that all he had to do after that was take the biggest shower in the hope that such unbearable stench didn’t fuse with the atoms in his body.

“Well, it’s gonna be a wild ride!” Dana exulted, happy about her new job offer.

“How about a round of beers to celebrate?” Tim suggested. “It’s on me, no worries.”

“Great idea, but I’m paying. I got the job, you dumb-dumbs get to drink!” Dana replied. She was in a very good mood.

“It’s fine, Dana! It’s the least we can do after-“ but Dave interrupted him.

“Come on Tim, stop living in outdated gender roles and let the pretty girl buy you a drink.” he said, faking a serious tone.

The girlfriend simply rolled her eyes and left the room “Just… meet me downstairs when you’re done saving the world, ok?”

As Dana was nowhere in sight, Dave simply turned to Tim and let another huge, long one rip.

“Shhh. Just tying up some loose ends here.” he said, shushing the gay friend, blasting what was left of his gas out.

“Are you finish-“ “Not yet” he simply said, as if he was making sure no particle of gas was left behind.

With one high pitched final note that was met with some immature laughter, Dave sighed in relief.

“With that said” he chuckled “You might want to take a shower.”

Tim simply nodded with an unamused expression.

“Oh, and you might want to leave the other closet you’ve been hiding.”

That was out of nowhere.

“No pressure bro, just know that we’re all always more than happy to have a beer with you.”

“Thanks Da-“

“Despite your bigoted views on gender roles of course.”

“I’m going to punch you now.”

The duo then headed downstairs and no one got punched luckily.

Tim thought about his friend’s words and how it was probably time to leave that metaphorical stuffy closet soon or later, not that he felt forced or anything.

Dana’s closet, however, that’s probably the only one he enjoyed being trapped into…

End of Episode 9

#fart story #eproctophilia #fartkink #davefarts2 #gayfart #malefarts

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mashup-writing · 4 years

Note

Somebody else by 1975 and it is sparkles-✨

It worked out well; Park Chaeyoung (Blackpink)

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Summary: Y/N and Rosé had decided to announce their relationship, but they were gonna be extra about it.

Requested? ☑

"I remember it all too well."

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It was the final part of Y/N's concert and while he's used to the feeling of thousands of eyes on him, what's going to follow was something that made him extremely nervous, which says a lot. Especially when he was counting on the audience for his plan to work.

At the start of his career, he had announced that he was a Transgender man on all of his social media platforms. An action that took a lot of guts, and and an action that drew a lot of attention to him. At the rising point of his career when he was questioned about it in an interview, his answer was something that made him well known figure within the industry.

--------------------------------------------------

"Now Y/N at the very beginning of your career, you told the world that you were a trans man. That must've taken extreme bravery on your part seeing as those people who are against your community- The LGBT community, can be downright nasty and ruthless in 'Expressing' their dislike. What mae you decide to do this so early on in your time in the spotlight?"

Y/N smiles in his seat, switching from a laid back posture to one that elegantly demands attention, his next words being the ones that made him an icon amongst allies and LGBT people alike. "I am an advocate of LGBT rights before I am an artist, at the very start of my career I wanted to make it clear that I didn't want bigots to be a part of my following or an avid listener of my music and while I'm a man who values my privacy, I value honesty and transparency just as much. So if you're someone who believes that transgender people are just 'Confused' or that they're a 'Crime' against nature? Then go ahead and consider me your worst nightmare."

--------------------------------------------------

Y/N had been sitting on a chair for quite a few moments now, holding a Q&A onstage before he stands up and decides to follow through with the first part of his plan. "Alright, now today's intermission, I'm going to do a cover of my most favorite song called 'Somebody Else by The 1975'. Oh and don't worry you guys, the Q&A will still continue after this cover." The stadium fills with loud screams and cheers from the people watching as he places his mic back on its stand and goes to pick up his electric guitar. The lights dim into a sunset red as the opening notes of the music fill out through the speakers, Y/N starts singing and playing his guitar as the crowd claps along to the beat.

At the start of the second verse, Y/N takes off his guitar and takes the mic off of the stand, walking back to the guitar stand, he puts the instrument down before walking back to the front of the stage and hyping the people up to sing along with him in the pre-chorus. The entrance platform that had sunk back down starts rising as a distinctly feminine voice fills the stadium at the start of the chorus. Y/N smiles widely as the stage screens show Rosé walking towards him, offering her hand. He takes it and raises their hands up, leading the Blackpink member into a twirl, the crowd has gone wild at this point and the duo are pretty sure that somebody or multiple people in the audiences are Blinks seeing the way they've started chanting Rosé's name even without Y/N introducing her beforehand.

The bridge part comes along and the two singers alternate their lines. When the instrumental hits, Rosé takes his hands and starts dancing along to the beat, dorkily smiling and roping the man into dancing along. When the final chorus comes, Y/N and Rosé sing together, motioning for the crowd to sing along and the stadium fills with the sounds of music and the combined voices of a chanting crowd.

The song comes to an end with loud cheers for the two vocalists who are now smiling widely while catching their breaths. Y/N offers his hand to Rosé and when she takes it, the two raise their hands and perform a bow. He lets go of her hand once they've come up from the bow, turning to face her before speaking. "May I introduce, Park Chaeyoung of Blackpink everyone."

The woman in question laughs, shaking her head before going to bow once again and waving to the crowd with both hands, Y/N decides to push his luck. "Also known as Rosé of Blackpink, or Rosie, or Foodsé, or Chipm-" He runs as she jokingly tries to swat at his shoulder.

The cheers continue and the two laugh with each other before Rosè speaks to the crowd. "So how did you guys like our cover?" She's answered with loud cheers and Y/N's manager signals at the two from behind the curtain, raising both his hands up. 10 minutes left, Y/N nods at him and smiles while Rosé turns her attention back to the crowd, he gives the singers a thumbs up with a dorky smile before taking his leave. Y/N shakes his head in humor.

"I'm pretty sure I'm speaking for both me and Y/N over here when I say that we're happy to see you guys loved it." Y/N turns to Rosé to agree with her statement. Y/N speaks into the mic saying that he and Rosé will spend the last ten minutes of the concert for the Q&A. The following minutes fly by with questions aimed at Y/N, questions aimed at Rosé as well as questions aimed at both come in droves, until Y/N announce that the next question will be the last one before the event comes to an end and they have to start saying goodbye. Multiple people raise their hand, and he leaves it up to Rosé to pick who gets to ask the final question. She gives her mic to a girl in the front row, and the girl states her question.

"How did you come up with the idea to have Rosé make a special appearance for a cover? Going by your latest Instagram posts before this album dropped, it seemed like you guys were writing songs together. So we were really hyped for a collab." The fan hands the mic back to Rosé who smiles at Y/N as he takes a deep breath, steeling himself for what's to come next. The Western singer brings his mic up to his lips to answer.

"There's a pretty good reason for this cover actually. 'Somebody Else' is a song that holds special meaning for the both of us, besides being our favorite song." Y/N motion for Rosé to take the lead, and she steps closer to him before speaking. "There was a point in me and Y/N's life that we didn't know where we stood. It a point we could sort of compare to the kid's game: Tag." She looks over to the man beside her, silently asking if he wants to back out of it. Instead Y/N takes her hand, interlocks their fingers and squeezes. Go on, I'm ready.

"Long story short is that I was hung up and broken hearted over this person and he was hung up over me." Collective gasps resound through out the stadium. After all, the only thing they know about you and Rosé relationship up until this point was that she was helping you write songs. You bring your mic up to your lips and speak. "The pictures on my Instagram of her looking at the lyrics I wrote? That wasn't Rosé helping me write. That was Chaeyoung reading what I wrote about her." The crowd goes crazy over the newfound information, and Y/N's pretty sure that they miss the way he referred to her using her real name instead of her stage name. But Chaeyoung catches onto it and she smiles softly at the man.

"I can't even begin to describe how thankful I am to Y/N by the way. Staying up countless nights and listening to me ramble on about being torn up, being there for me in every single way, helping me heal and doing all of this without expecting anything in return. Such a gentleman really." The crowd collectively 'Awwwwws' and Y/N hangs his head low, hiding his blush from everyone, Rosé laughs as Y/N looks at the ceiling, composing himself before speaking.

"I would never expect anything in return from you and you don't have to thank me either, I was just doing what a friend would've done at a time like that. Anyways, I stuck by her in those times all while all I could think of afterwards was how stupid the person who broke her heart was, all while I wished I was the one she had ended up with instead of them. I never even hinted at how I felt about her in those times, much less actually tell her. I promised myself I wouldn't tell her how I felt until the time was right. I didn't want her to feel guilty or pressured at all by what I had to say." Y/N looks from the crowd infront of him to Rosé before continuing "Time passed and her heartbreak had healed. But she still wasn't ready for a relationship for a while after that whole ordeal, so I kept my promise and I waited."

"When I had told my members and Y/N that I was finally ready for another relationship- That like, I was completely okay. Y/N decided to court me instead of asking me outright to be his girlfriend. Can you believe this sap?" The crowd laughs with Rosé as Y/N's jaw hits the floor, he walks away from Rosé and heads to the other side of the stage. He crouches and points to Rosé "I was being noble, chivalrous and mind you I was trying to prove that I was boyfriend material! Then she goes and calls me a sap?! I can't believe this..." Y/N lowers the mic and shakes his head in mock disbelief. Rosé doubles over in laughter before walking over to him and resting her free hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, I'm calling you a sap because you are one. But it worked out didn't it?" She looks down at Y/N before continuing. "I gladly said yes." The crowd goes crazy, people cheering, some were jumping, and the others were speechless.

Y/N smiles, a full smile from ear to ear as he takes Chaeyoung's hand on his shoulder to bring it to his lips. "Yeah, yeah it worked out well in the end didn't it?"

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A/N: Damn writing in 3rd person is a TASK. I might never do it again, I hope this was good enough? I'm not too sure about the ending but I liked the idea of them announcing their relationship infront of a crowd instead of doing it via a social media post. So yeah.

#Blackpink #Blackpink x Reader #Park Chaeyoung #Park Chaeyoung x Reader #Rosé #rosé x reader #reader!insert #TransMale!Reader #Male!Reader #Park Chaeyoung x Trans male!Reader #Rosé x Trans Male!Reader #Park Chaeyoung x Male!Reader #Rosé x Male!Reader

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makeste · 4 years

Note

Op, I know that Katsuki's and Izuku's relationship has always been, in some level, one of the main focus points of the show, as they are and have always ended up circling each other, but do you think that once Katsuki and Izuku unravel the loose ends of their relationship, will it be over for the spotlight surrounding them both, and that the show will be focusing on something else?

It feels like their relationship is having...a lot of attention this last year or two, give or take. Slowly, but definitely steady. (To me, that great! I dont think I could get fed up of their dynamic anytime soon. Even if they ended up became the most domestic, boring people in the world, I dont think their dynamic would be any less interesting or incredible as it already is now.) But I can't help but think that this is temporary. As in "okay, you've got this big chunk of stuff of their relationship for a while. Now that's done, its turn for someone/something else"

Do you think that once their spotlight is over as a duo, it will shift to their individual relationships with other characters? For example, there's the Izuchako thing going on, or whatever or whoever would Katsuki be interested in? Not that there has to be but well, this is a shonen manga after all.

Id rather much prefer for no one to end up with no one, but If we're talking about ships, Bakushima doesn't seem like it's too far of an endgame, does it? "A subtle relationship you can't give a lot of spotlight to yet, because it will in the end"

Anyways, thoughts?

regarding that last part, I’m not the blog to go to for opinions on which ships will be endgame, or analyzing how much of a chance a given ship has of becoming canon. I just have no personal interest in it, and even less interest in inserting myself into that whole debate, so my apologies!

as for whether or not the focus of the series will ever move away from Katsuki and Izuku’s relationship in general though, I honestly don’t think so. the thing is, it’s like you said -- their relationship has always been a focus point of the series. it’s not like this is a recent trend. it’s been about them from day one. Izuku saving Katsuki from the sludge monster. the two of them getting into U.A. with zero rescue points and zero villain points, reflecting the contrast between them and the way that their paths to become the best will inevitably lead back to each other. their fight on the very first day of practical training. Izuku telling Katsuki he got his quirk from someone else. the two of them becoming ensnared in the Todoroki Drama at the Sports Festival. Izuku copying Katsuki’s moves during the Hero Killer arc. them working together against All Might in the final exam. “don’t come, Deku.” Izuku coming to save him anyway. the two of them watching All Might’s final battle side by side. Katsuki realizing that Izuku has All Might’s quirk. their second fight at Ground Beta. Katsuki becoming a part of the OFA Scooby Squad. the two of them showing off for each other in the Joint Training arc. Katsuki helping Izuku with his training. the two of them interning with Endeavor. and now everything that’s happened in this latest arc -- Katsuki staying by Izuku’s side; his big flashback showing how he’s trying to atone; and last but absolutely not least, him taking that crucial hit for Izuku in his very first, instantly iconic “my body moved on its own” moment.

this is steady, patient character development. it takes its time. it’s not always on, but it’s never off, either. it comes in fits and spurts, but it’s always there churning away in the background. even when the two of them aren’t interacting, their rivalship is still there as the driving force behind every action they take. Izuku is there fueling Katsuki’s character development, and Katsuki is there fueling Izuku’s drive to become stronger. this is always going on, even when their relationship isn’t at front and center. the push and pull between them is what drives the series, even when it’s not in focus.

and by the way this isn’t to say that there aren’t plenty of other characters who’ve also had a profound impact on both of them along the way, though! and I’m not trying to minimize the influence they’ve had. Kirishima, who helped Katsuki learn to start trusting others. Ochako, who helped Izuku learn to start trusting himself. and All Might, whose trust in both of them is helping them to reach their full potential. and Todoroki, and Iida, and Kaminari, and Aizawa, and so on and so on. these are all important relationships too, and I’m not trying to sell them short in any way.

but at the end of the day, it’s Katsuki who is Izuku’s image of victory, and Izuku who is becoming Katsuki’s image of saving. it’s the two of them who push each other to Go Beyond. it’s them pushing their entire class to go beyond. these are fundamental dynamics of the series, and I don’t think they’re going anywhere even after the two of them finally wrap up those loose ends you mentioned. actually I think if anything, them healing their relationship is actually bringing it more to the forefront, not less. because this dynamic with them serving as the series’ twin catalysts only gets stronger the more that they learn to work together. basically, they’re the beating heart of the series. they’re the ones that make stuff happen. and you can’t take that away without basically trying to rip apart the fabric of the series itself.

that said, they do tend to follow a bit of an ebb-and-flow pattern, and there will be a lot of other relationships to focus on in the immediate aftermath of this battle. so it’s very possible that they might go on the backburner again for a little while. but not for too long, because on the other hand we’ve still got those hero name origins to explore, and Katsuki’s ongoing atonement arc (hopefully building to an eventual apology). not to mention more OFA stuff, including the looming vestiges plot which Katsuki appears to be intricately tied to for better or worse. so yeah, regardless of where the story goes from here, I think it’s safe to say that the two of them will remain at the center of it. which -- seeing as their relationship is what drew me into the series to begin with -- I for one have absolutely no problem with.

#bakugou katsuki #midoriya izuku #bakudeku #bnha meta #bnha #boku no hero academia #bnha spoilers #mha spoilers #bnha manga spoilers #makeste reads bnha #asks #anon asks #long post #p.s. thank you tumblr for finally loosening up a bit with those annoying character limits for asks #this is infinitely easier than having to copy and paste long asks together #now please do the comment limit next lol

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passionate-reply · 3 years

Video

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This week on Great Albums: one of my favourite “hidden gems” of the mid-1980s, Blancmange’s *Mange Tout* is about as extra and in-your-face as it gets, full of dense arrangements, gender-bending bombast, and musical instruments from Southern Asia.

Welcome to Passionate Reply, and welcome to Great Albums! This time around, I’ll be taking a look at one of my favourite hidden gems from the mid-1980s, the sophomore LP of Blancmange, entitled Mange Tout.

Despite their relative obscurity today, particularly in comparison to many of their contemporaries, Blancmange weren’t total strangers to the pop charts. Their first full-length LP, 1982’s Happy Families, would yield the biggest hit of their career: “Living on the Ceiling,” which peaked at #7.

Music: “Living on the Ceiling”

While it never got to be a chart-topper, “Living on the Ceiling” is still an unforgettable track in its own ways. Perhaps its most distinctive feature is its use of the traditional Indian instruments, the sitar and tabla. While 80s synth-pop is certainly full of Orientalism, most of the references you’ll find are pointing to the Far East, and the perceived aesthetic sophistication and techno-utopian futurism of China and Japan. Aside from certain works of Bill Nelson, Blancmange were pretty much the only ones engaging with South Asian musical themes. Blancmange’s instrumentalist, Stephen Luscombe, grew up in London’s Southall neighbourhood, which had a high population of immigrants from Southern Asia, which led him to a lifelong interest in Indian music. Combined with electronics, it makes for a totally unique sound, which ends up sounding better in practice than it might in theory.

While any time White European musicians turn to alternative cultures as artistic tools, there’s a valid cause for some degree of criticism and concern, there’s also an artsy, left-field un-hipness about Blancmange, who seemingly drew from Indian music not only alone, but purely for sonic enjoyment. Unlike the exotic fantasies spun by groups like Japan, none of Blancmange’s songs seem propelled by any specific idea or ideology about India, but rather seem to tackle common pop themes of love and heartbreak against a seemingly *non sequitur* musical backdrop. While we, as listeners, might have strong associations with particular sounds, this is ultimately more cultural than innate, and there’s really no reason why a composition with Indian instruments must revolve around some theme of “Indian-ness”; it isn’t like people in India don’t also fall in love. However you feel about these influences, the role of Indian instruments is only increased on Mange Tout, where they appear on multiple tracks, including the album’s most successful single, “Don’t Tel Me.”

Music: “Don’t Tell Me”

On Mange Tout tracks like “Don’t Tell Me,” not only do the instruments return, but so do the session musicians who had performed on “Living on the Ceiling”: Deepak Khazanchi, on sitar, and Pandit Dinesh, on the percussion instruments tabla and madal. “Don’t Tell Me” is a track with a lot of pop appeal, lightweight and singable, which makes it a bit surprising that it was actually the final single released from the album. It certainly impresses me that Blancmange managed to create such bubbly and finely tuned pop, given that neither of their core members came from any formal or technical background: Luscombe had had a history in avant-garde music ensembles, and vocalist Neil Arthur became interested in music via the DIY culture of punk. Their first-ever release, the 1980 EP Irene & Mavis, sounds more like Throbbing Gristle than Culture Club, but they somehow managed to arrive at something quite sweet and palatable in the end. That said, it’s also possible for sweet to eventually become too sweet--and this line is provoked on the album’s divisive second single, “That’s Love, That It Is.”

Music: “That’s Love, That It Is”

In contrast to the lighter “Don’t Tell Me,” “That’s Love, That It Is” is utterly bombastic, with a vicious intensity. The instrumentation and production style is dense to the point of being borderline overwhelming. By this point in his life, Stephen Luscombe had recently discovered that he was gay, and his time spent in nightclubs that catered to the gay community provided another pillar of Blancmange’s signature sound: the influence of the queer disco tradition, which is almost certainly the source of this tightly-packed instrumental arrangement style. Blancmange never seem to be mentioned in the same breath as other stars of queer synth-pop like Bronski Beat, Soft Cell, and the Pet Shop Boys, presumably due to the combination of their overall obscurity and the fact that Luscombe was never the face of their band, but I see no reason not to include them in the same pantheon of camp. Speaking of queerness, it’s also worth noting how Blancmange played with gender, particularly on their cover of “The Day Before You Came.”

Music: “The Day Before You Came”

A solid eight years before Erasure’s iconic Abba-Esque, Blancmange offered their own interpretation of an ABBA classic with “The Day Before You Came.” In their hands, it’s a languid dirge, and a meditation on quotidian miseries for which the titular event seems to offer little respite. The unchanged lyrics, portraying the narrator working in an office and watching soap operas at night, are subtly feminine-coded, but the deep and unmistakably masculine voice of vocalist Neil Arthur seems to muddle those connotations. While it is a cover, I’m tempted to sort it into the same tradition as Soft Cell’s “Bedsitter” and the Pet Shop Boys’ “Left To My Own Devices,” as a work which musically elevates the everyday life of a campily self-obsessed character to the sort of melodrama the narrator perceives it to have.

I’ve spent a lot of time praising the instrumental side of their music so far, but it’s also true that Blancmange wouldn’t be Blancmange without Arthur’s contributions. The presence of his rough and untrained voice, with the added gruffness of a Northern accent, draws a line between these tracks and a typical pop production, and he sells us quite successfully on the gloomy, ominous feeling of tracks like “The Day Before You Came” and the album’s lead single, “Blind Vision.”

Music: “Blind Vision”

On the cover of Mange Tout, we find an assortment of seemingly unrelated items, which form a sort of graphic wunderkammer against a pale beige backdrop. Perhaps the best theme that could be assigned to them is that of travel--we see several means of transportation, such as a boat, a motorbike, and an airplane flying above a map, as well as items that can be taken as symbols of exotic locales, such as a North American cactus, and an elephant and Zulu nguni shield from Africa. Only the harp is clearly evocative of music itself--and this instrument won��t even be found on the album! The album’s title, “Mange Tout,” suggests that we are getting “full” Blancmange, or “all of” Blancmange. Taken together, the cover and title seem to imply that this album is stuffed to the brim, and contains a whole world of musical ideas. I would definitely agree that that’s a major motif of the album: it’s audacious, explosive, and free-wheeling. It very much feels like an album that was put together on the back of a first initial success, with a pumped-up budget and bold creative vision, and hence pulls no punches. Perhaps the most compelling feature of Mange Tout, and the primary reason I recommend this album so highly, is its unbridled enthusiasm for what it’s doing. Even in its ostensibly experimental moments, Mange Tout feels not like an album that is “trying” something, but rather one that boldly and assuredly proclaims the things it does, and embraces a kind of “more is more” maximalism.

In hindsight, it’s easy to see Mange Tout as the creative as well as commercial peak of Blancmange’s career. Their follow-up release, 1985’s Believe You Me, is far from the worst album I’ve ever heard, but it definitely doesn’t feel quite the same as the “classic” Blancmange works, adopting a more middle-of-the-road, radio-friendly synth-pop direction, with less of the South Asian influences and experimentation that really set them apart in the saturated synth-pop landscape. While not a work devoid of merit, Believe You Me was a relative commercial dud, and the duo would split soon after, chiefly citing personal and creative differences--though they did have a brief reunion in the early 2010s.

Music: “Lose Your Love”

My favourite track on Mange Tout is “All Things Are Nice,” which, alongside the neo-doo-wop “See the Train,” would be classed as one of the more experimental tracks on the album. Full of tension, “All Things Are Nice” alternates between eerily whispering vocals from Arthur, and a variety of samples from other media--which was still a relatively cutting-edge technique for the time. “All Things Are Nice” is almost certainly the most conceptual track on the album: as samples discuss world war, and Arthur whispers that “we can’t keep up with it,” the song is probably to be interpreted as a commentary on the runaway nature of technology and so-called “progress” in the modern age. The titular assertion that “all things are nice” seems to be ironic--or perhaps it embodies a sheer love of chaos and unpredictability, for their own sake, which would certainly fit the album’s mood. It also feels like it might be a sort of defense of the album itself: like I said, *Mange Tout* is serving us “all of Blancmange,” and isn’t it fun to get to have all of something? That’s everything for today--as always, thanks for listening!

Music: “All Things Are Nice”

#music #great albums #blancmange

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fides-regnat-aeterna · 3 years

Text

Hanahanu Reborn

"Bring him in," a voice announced. It was strong, albeit a bit concentrated in the nose. It was one that wouldn't be too out of place within his home Legion. But here? It was one of the many markers that made him so distinct from his newfound kin.

"Yes, lord," a second voice said, a figure bowing and moving from the threshold of the door that was barely cracked open. This one was firm, a bit hardened by yelling orders to his warriors, though a note of unease was easily able to be noticed. The figure was dressed in full warplate, crimson and edged in steel, with the armor itself carved and inset with symbols taken from the Book of Lorgar. Upon one pauldron sat the icon of his Legion, the Latros Sacrum, and on the other sat the icon of his Host, a bloodied handprint over a leatherbound book. The Host had no grand title or name -- few did, nowadays -- and was simply known as the 17th Host. He was bare headed, with tanned skin, black hair styled with an undercut swept to one side, and dark eyes that betrayed his worries. His name was An-Ishkur, and he had been asked to assist in the rejoining process for his brothers within the Legion.

He strode into an adjacent chamber, where a number of warriors bearing similarly-colored warplate currently sat. It was quite barren, as the newly-named Master of Possession had asked it to be, with benches lining the walls and warding sigils carved into the pale walls. The floor was a mosaic of white and black, marking out the sacred octed beneath their feet. The warriors within tried not to show their overt discomfort. Most were able to mask it well. But some were pawing at their faces, snarling with annoyance, tapping their foot, or reciting prayers and litanies under their breath. Within each one sat a creature of the Empyrean, one of the revered Neverborn. Daemons, as many called them.

"Hanahanu Elil," An-Ishkur said from the doorway. A few heads came up, and he locked eyes with the one who was destined to go next. "Your time has come, brother." The eyes looking back at him were a tawny grey tinged with amber, a testament to how much the daemon within had changed him. He was just surprised to see that Elil was able to even take his helm off -- several of the other Legionnaires could not. The face looking back was darker than his own, with the same handsome, almost patrician features found amongst most of the Legion. His hair was a short, messy crop of black that almost edged on a very dark grey. He reached a gauntleted hand up to brush some of it aside.

"We're ready," Elil said, standing. As he spoke, An-Ishkur noticed his teeth were becoming sharper. If all went well, like it seemed to with the two who had gone before, then hopefully the beast within could be quelled.

Hopefully.

An-Ishkur nodded, making a gesture and leading him to the door. The door itself was decorated and ornamented, with some more recent carvings and wards having made permanent marks within its surface.

He raised a hand to knock, before the man within impatiently said, "I know who you are and who you are with, just get him in here."

The two traded glances, and An-Ishkur shook his head before opening the door and allowing Hanahanu in first. The room still smelled of burning flesh, blood, and incense. The only other figures within the vaulted chamber was an Astartes clad in robes of red and white, followed by two smaller robed humans as he renewed the circles and prepared for his next experiment. The room was approximately fifty feet on a side, with braziers of burning incense set about ten feet apart to the duo's left and right. Towards the front of the room sat a raised dais with a lectern, and upon it sat a book bound in skin with yellowed pages. An-Ishkur suppressed a shiver as his eyes passed over the book. Something... else felt as though it brushed his consciousness as he did.

The man in robes finished speaking an invocation and finally drew himself up, turning to face the two newcomers. With the two of them arrayed in battle plate, it almost made him look smaller and slighter in comparison. He was still formidable compared to the two humans beside him. He brushed aside his sandy-colored hair, his odd sky blue eyes staring into Hanahanu. He clasped his sun-kissed hands together, a smile plain on his face.

"Well, Hanahanu Elil, it is my pleasure to formally meet you," he said. An-Ishkur had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. "And a pleasure to meet your partner as well. Do they have a name?"

"Hersyaf," Hanahanu growled, his teeth half bared. He shook himself out, closing his eyes and letting out a breath. "... Hersyaf. He calls himself Hersyaf."

"Hersyaf," the man said with a nod. "I am Zikar-Sin. Formerly of the Thousand Sons, now taking the position of your new Master of Possession as the Apostle wills."

Formerly was an interesting word to use. To An-Ishkur, it was blatantly obvious that he had not entirely eschewed the ways of his old Legion, and that he still considered himself one of them.

"Do you know why I have called upon you, Hanahanu-Hersyaf?" Zikar-Sin asked.

"You want to make us more 'whole'," the warrior answered. An-Ishkur could hear the growls of the beast under the careful voice of his friend and brother. An-Ishkur looked to him, trying to hide his worry.

"Are you sure you want to volunteer? Maybe you should wait until we know it works," he had said when the sorcerer had first announced his intentions.

"An-Ishkur, we've been over this. If something isn't done, Hersyaf is just going to take over and rend us apart anyway. This can be a chance to give us true balance, rather than having this more..." Hanahanu trailed off. "... parasitic relationship we have together."

"Hopefully it won't be more than a few weeks of waiting and testing," An-Ishkur protested. He sighed. "Look, I get it. Hersyaf is getting stronger and bolder, but he's always been a bit of an arrogant blow-hard. It hasn't always been easy calming you down."

"That's the point," Hanahanu said. "This can make it so I can have more control, too. That way we both benefit, and the bond is less one-sided. I don't want to just be a vessel to feed a daemon, An-Ishkur. I am my own man, with my own thoughts and my own devotions of the Powers."

"I know, I know. I'm just worried something will go wrong."

"And if it does, I know you'll be there to take care of me." Hanahanu rested a hand on his brother's shoulder. "We've been side-by-side ever since we first strode the sands of Colchis as aspirants. And we've been there for each other in all other miserable exploits of ours. Remember the wine raid in Tizca?"

"Hey, that was your idea," An-Ishkur replied, finally breaking into a small smile. "But that was much different to this."

"Even though we had one of our cousins scolding us for ages afterwards?"

"Hanu, come on. I know you want to make light of this, but this is a serious decision."

"I know it is. And I know why I've made it." Hanahanu removed his hand. "It's for the benefit of us both. Even if Hersyaf is impatient and doesn't want to admit it, we spent some time discussing it and we both agreed." He offered his friend a kind smile. "But I appreciate the concern." An-Ishkur tried to smile back, but he knew it read false. His expression turned into obvious concern as his brother walked back to his own personal chambers to prepare for what was to come.

"I am indeed." The words of the sorcerer shocked him out of his memories. "I am going to make sure that both of you can co-exist in a mutually beneficial relationship. Already, two of your kinsmen have walked away as one. I can see the strife within you both." He reached up one hand, reaching towards Hanahanu. He growled and gnashed his teeth at him.

"Sorcerer," he hissed.

"Hanu," An-Ishkur said. "Please." The other warrior turned, his eyes looking unfocused for a number of moments, his face locked into a snarl. It took some effort for him to nod. An-Ishkur's concern only grew.

"Ah. Feisty one. Not an uncommon reaction," Zikar-Sin said. "Well. We should be getting started, now shouldn't we?" He turned his body and gestured to the center of a number of concentric rings. Hanahanu looked apprehensive of them, but An-Ishkur nodded his approval. Once more, there was a pause before he moved, carefully avoiding the salt and chalk that marked them out on the ground. Once he was standing, the Master of Possession made a gesture for him to sit. Hanahanu obeyed. "You may wish to put on your helm. Or don't, it's not very relevant to me," he said to An-Ishkur. An-Ishkur nodded, trying to give his brother a smile one last time.

"I'll see you on the other side, then."

"We'll be made as one," Hanahanu said with a nod. An-Ishkur took the helm at his belt and fit it over his head, taking in the new view behind his jade-colored eye lenses.

"You will be called if you are required," Zikar-Sin told him. "Close the door on the way out, don't pay attention to the whispers, blah blah blah, this is your third time hearing me say this." He made a dismissive gesture towards An-Ishkur as he moved towards the lectern. An-Ishkur was glad the helm could hide his face, so the sorcerer couldn't see his grimace and his eyeroll.

He moved back towards the entrance of the chamber, casting one last look over his shoulder at his brother as he knelt there. Once again, they locked eyes, but instead of only seeing the eyes of the man he'd known for centuries, something else looked back at him, too. With a breath, he left the room, letting the great door creak close behind him.

It was eighty minutes before they opened again.

Eighty long, torturous minutes. Eighty minutes holding a vigil at the door, one hand planted on the pommel of the chansword belted at his side. Eighty minutes left wondering if anything would go wrong, wondering if his brother would be the one to fail. He never had the control his predecessors had over his daemon -- Hersyaf was infamous for his hungers and rages, and notoriously difficult and reluctant to relinquish control -- so would this process even work?

His answer would come to him in a way he had dreaded since Hanahanu had volunteered himself for the process.

A ghastly, snarling howl erupted from the room behind him. An-Ishkur moved, drawing the chainsword as he faced the shut doors. From within he could already smell flesh cooking, and he could hear the chanting of Zikar-Sin within. He stood there, tense and waiting, for fifteen seconds.

+GET IN HERE AND HELP ME!+ a voice thundered through his mind. An-Ishkur doubled over from the force of it, clutching his helm, but he soldiered on and threw the doors open wide, his chainsword revving.

He froze at what he saw.

Within the circles, with blood covering its ragged maw, stood a beast. Its head was lupine in form, with large fangs and teeth that constantly salivated, milky blind eyes, and spines starting from its forehead and continuing down its body. The armor of the beast was the same deep crimson of An-Ishkur's own, though it had been moved and formed into natural armor. Mangled fur sprouted from where the plates had buckled, sitting atop mutated musculature. Its arms were twice as long as they should've been, the hands having grown to triple their natural size and ending with curved and wicked claws. A long, almost serpentine tail, ending in a wicked thagomizer lashed. The legs were armored, wolf-like in form, with claws sprouting from the crimson ceramite boots. One of the circles was pulsing a sickly pattern of red. Zikar-Sin had a trail of blood coming down one side of his face, his clothing a messy ruin. The only other figure was a robed human, who was cowering away in the corner.

The bloodied rag of a robe that laid at the feet of the beast was all that remained of their companion.

The beast let out another ragged howling snarl, its sightless eyes staring into the ceiling.

"What have you done?" An-Ishkur demanded.

"It was not me! The daemon was too strong, it overpowered his soul!" Zikar-Sin shouted. He wiped blood from his forehead, drawing himself up and keeping his hands loose before him. "Thanks to the wonderful thralls provided to me, it was able to breach one of the wards against my distinct command!"

"It seems your thrall has paid the price for it."

"Thank you for stating the obvious, now help me!" Zikar-Sin said with an eyeroll. An-Ishkur approached the raging monster, keeping his weapon leveled at it.

"Hanahanu Elil!" he spoke, keeping his voice as strong as he could. "I know you are in there, brother. Hear me! Come back to us! We shall try again at a different time!"

"We are not using that weakling's name!" the beast spoke, resting its weight on its hands. Its tail lashed.

"You can speak?" An-Ishkur asked, lowering his weapon. He glanced to Zikar-Sin. "What shall we call you?"

"I am HERSYSAF!" he roared. "WE shall be HERSYAF! Not a weakling, soul-bound MORTAL!"

"Where is my brother?"

"I am your brother now, Captain An-Ishkur," Hersyaf practically purred. It came down to rest its weight on its hands. "The bitter whelp is going to be sleeping for a while. But I like him enough to not destroy him entirely. Not yet. He feeds me well." The two locked eyes. Through the milky film, An-Ishkur could swear he saw the same old tawny eyes of his oldest friend looking back. Hidden. Repressed. Pleading. The creature grinned, and An-Ishkur turned on Zikar-Sin.

"You have explaining to do. Lots of it." He revved his weapon, anger clear in his voice and in his posture as he stalked over to the sorcerer. "Start talking, or I'll rend you open myself. What have you done?"

"Those are questions best left answered for me, Captain," said a dangerous and deceptively soft voice from the doorway. Both An-Ishkur and Zikar-Sin diverted their eyes to the floor. An-Ishkur dropped to a knee.

"My Apostle," he practically whispered.

"Captain. You may look up, your obedience has been recognized." Eyes of flint locked onto the robed Master of Possession. "Zikar-Sin. I sensed that something had become altered," said the newcomer. "Look at me."

"Yes, lord," said the sorcerer, his voice actually sounding shaken, for once. Both looked up to see the unarmored form of the Dark Apostle of the Host, flanked by four members of the Annointed. Even Hersyaf seemed to be attentive, his nose sniffing at the air. A soft whine came from him.

"We shall discuss the ramifications of this failure and you shall discuss how this happened with me," the Apostle stated.

"Aposte Ans'ar, I-"

"You," he said, shifting his attention. "Captain."

"Yes, lord?"

"You know the brother whom we have lost?"

"Not yet lost," An-Ishkur said quickly. "I-I can still see him, my lord, though he has been pushed down. I think I can help save him."

"Do you?" His head was gently cocked to one side, his eyes intense and searching. He glanced back at the creature stuck beyond the wards.

"I do, Apostle." An-Ishkur nodded. There was silence. The tension was palpable. He could hear Hersyaf clawing at the ground.

"Then he shall be put under your command, if we decide he is to live." Ans'ar crossed his arms, making a gesture to one of the heavy-plated Terminators behind him. "Zikar-Sin, you are to come with us. You will explain what blasphemies you have created."

"Yes, Apostle," Zikar-Sin replied. The two Annointed came forward, with one seizing his arms and putting them behind his back.

"As for you," the Apostle once more looked to An-Ishkur. "You and your coterie may begin the rites of mourning. The Legion will join you." He turned to leave, but the captain's voice stopped him.

"Apostle, if I may?"

The Apostle stopped. "Speak, Captain."

"Please, let him live. Hanahanu and I have been together since we were aspirants. I know I can reach him. I know he's still in there. I can deal with Hersyaf. I promised him I would help him, no matter what happened."

The silence that followed made him feel as though he was balancing on the blade of a knife.

"Very well," the Apostle said with a small sigh. "If this is what you wish to pursue."

"It is."

"I can reverse this!" Zikar-Sin called as he was being taken away.

"Silence, sorcerer," Ans'ar called after him. "Then he shall be considered a member of your coterie. If he acts in a way that puts the Legion at jeopardy, he will be punished."

"As would any of us," An-Ishkur said quickly.

"Indeed," the Apostle agreed. He turned once more, making another gesture as he walked out with the Annointed, leaving An-Ishkur alone with Hersyaf in the circle.

"He wanted union," Hersyaf said in a snarling whisper. "He wanted the two to become one. And, well..." he grinned. His acidic saliva splattered and hissed on the salt making up the wards. "This is what our unity looks like."

An-Ishkur watched his Apostle leave, standing and facing Hersyaf. "Hanu never would've wanted this. But I swore to him I would help him no matter what."

"When did I ever say it was he who desired this unity?" the daemon asked with an all-too-knowing grin.

#3k words on the dot #hello this account exists lmao #will be shilling on main and other side blog #moonclaw writes #legion lore

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airquietworks · 4 years

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Lost at the Summit (IzuOcha) (Part 1)

Summary: Ochako and Izuku have just announced their retirement and are ready for their final days as professional heroes. But as Izuku soaks up the spotlight, Ochako finds her retirement largely ignored. She questions whether she truly did enough as a hero. But with some help from unexpected places, Izuku reminds her that her rescues left their mark.

------------------------- Part 2, Part 3 Chapter 1: Ghost

“Are you ready for this?”

It was a question that should not have made her falter. Ochako had steeled herself for this moment for weeks. Planning, anticipating, rehearsing for every question that could come. She spent countless hours agonizing over this culmination of everything she was and ever had been. “Nope. Still not.” How could she possibly be ready for the end? For the first death knell? To fall from the stars back to Earth? To leave everything she had worked so hard for? How could she be ready for the death of Uravity? How could she be prepared to watch her own hero fall?

"Are you ready for this?"

"Nope. Still not."

How could she possibly be ready for the end? For the first death knell? To fall from the stars back to Earth? To leave everything she had worked so hard for?

How could she be ready for the death of Uravity? How could she be prepared to watch her own hero fall?

"Me neither," the hero in question, still bearing the name she gave him, replied with a sheepish smile. "But I guess there's nothing more we can do about it. Just have to take the plunge."

He had changed so much over the years, and yet his smile remained the same. At 57, Izuku still looked incredible, his physique holding up impeccably well, despite the odd wrinkle on his face, slightly greying hair, and the many scars across his body beneath that costume. Age was creeping up on him, but he was still Deku, however much he was wearing down.

He was holding up a lot better than she was.

"Guess so," Ochako replied. She breathed out a deep sigh and reached out to grasp his hand. It was weathered, but as always, felt right to hold. "Together then?"

"Together to face the world." He squeezed her hand in reply and put on his trademark heroic smile.

"And everything else," Uravity said with a beaming grin as the two stepped forward, partners through it all.

The rapid clicking of camera shutters as they took the stage with a wave was as bracing as ever. They were far more robust than usual today, the reporters eager to capture the rare joint press conference between the iconic husband-and-wife duo. It was only the second time they had done this; the last one had been 35 years ago when they had announced they were starting their hero agency. That attracted less than half the eyes peering at them now.

They each took one of the prepared seats at the table, emblazoned with their agency's star-filled logo. Aides had everything prepared in advance for them: microphones, water, and a wide berth. Absolutely professional.

"Thank you all for coming," Deku began, his smile unfaltering. "It's wonderful to see you all."

"We're truly grateful for your coverage," Uravity said, meeting the eyes of many of the reporters in the room. "We could not do what we do without you."

Charm the press as much as possible before unleashing the storm. That was the plan.

"It truly is a wonderful time for our world." Izuku picked it up, launching into the buildup to their proper announcement. "We have a time of unparalleled peace. I am proud to be part of an incredible generation of heroes that have helped bring crime to a standstill. I am also supportive of the efforts of our governments to address villainy at the root, and slowly move back from relying on professional heroes."

The next generation might be the last, they both knew. They were okay with that. The cycle of violence needed to stop eventually. They had pushed where they could to help bring about real, societal change.

"It is because of the current state of the world that we feel comfortable doing this," Izuku continued, his face suddenly becoming far stonier.

This was it - her cue. With a deep breath, she uttered the words that would change the world forever.

"We're retiring."

The room shuddered with the energy of the statement. "No!" Someone cried, completely losing composure. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd followed swiftly by the whirring of more camera shutters.

"Now, we know it may be alarming," Deku said with a little more force, his tone shifting to exude calm. "And it won't be right away - we haven't settled on an exact date, but we figure it will be roughly six months. We've given it a lot of thought, and we feel the time is right. We aren't getting any younger, and it's time to leave things to the next generation."

"We've both been able to achieve everything we set out to do when we started." Ochako did her utmost to maintain her composure, but it was difficult as she reflected on everything: fighting villains, saving lives, overcoming it all by Deku's side. The memories of all the battles they fought together flashed rapidly through her mind, culminating at this moment.

She momentarily glanced sidelong at her husband, who was wearing a small smile but doing nothing to hide the tears at the edges of his eyes.

"I'm proud of the legacy we've left behind and all the people we've been able to help," she continued, swallowing back her own tears. "I think we can both comfortably say we can move on without regrets."

She stretched her arms out, leaning slightly back in her chair in an exaggerated motion.

"And finally, get a much-deserved tropical vacation."

That got the desired chuckle out of the room. Throwing out humour to put the media in a good mood; always a good tactic.

"We'll take some questions," Izuku said, causing the room to erupt with pushy reporters desperate to get quotes for their puff pieces.

He pointed to the front row at an older reporter with a thick, white mustache and glasses. "Rupert McGuire, National Hero News. Deku, you've been the number-one hero for so long now - you just surpassed All Might's record two months ago. When he retired, it left a massive void and led to a rise in villainy in our country. How concerned are you that your retirement might do the same?"

"Not at all," Deku replied with ease, maintaining a calm facade. It was always mesmerizing to watch him bat off difficult questions; he had gotten a lot better at it over the years, as he learned to push past his anxieties. "I imagine there might be a villain or two that sees this as an opportunity, but our society is protected by hundreds of incredible heroes, with more bright ones coming. Our country is in very capable hands."

Deku quickly pointed to another reporter, a middle-aged woman in the middle of the crowd.

"Hi, Sakura Ito, Japan Today. Deku, what would you say to the millions of people that look up to you, who are going to be hurt by your retirement?"

"I know it is a tough thing to face. I remember how bad it felt to see All Might get forced into retirement all those years ago." Deku's smile faltered for a moment, the wrinkles under his eyes growing more pronounced at the mention of his fallen idol.

Ochako acted quickly, reaching her hand out to squeeze his over the table. It seemed to snap him back to attention, and his eyes met hers, a grateful smile blossoming again on his face.

"I appreciate everybody who has supported me and cheered me on over these years. But all things must come to an end eventually. You can hang on to your memories of me, but make sure you're getting out there to be the best person you can be. And please, cheer on other heroes, too! I know there are quite a few underappreciated pros out there who could use a few more fans."

Ochako heard approving murmurs in the crowd, a few journalists scribbling into notepads or typing into laptops about the quotes. A telltale sign of a comment well-delivered.

"Hi, a question for Uravity!" A younger woman reporter near the back shouted out when Deku called on her, her short, dark hair frazzled and her glasses eschew. She looked nervous - and forgot to name herself or her station- but Ochako found it oddly endearing. She felt nostalgic for her own younger days, fighting through nerves in her first days as a pro.

"You've said before your husband has been your hero since you were in high school. How do you feel seeing him retire?"

She reeled slightly at the question, the first unexpected one of the bunch. It was a little odd - posing a question to her about him. It also was not something she had given much thought to, so mired in her own retirement and the immediate logistics of it all.

She chanced a glance over at him. He looked at her with a slight grimace, clearly unhappy to have had a question slip through their meticulous preparations.

But Ochako could always improvise in an unexpected situation.

"It's a little hard to think about him retiring. It hasn't completely sunk in yet, to be honest." She smiled gently out to the audience, radiating calm. "I suppose I will miss seeing him out there, doing all the incredible feats of heroism that I always knew he could."

Ochako drew her gaze back to her partner again, whose green eyes were focused intently on her, full of reverence. "But I fell in love with the man behind the costume, and I'm looking forward to spending more time with him, too."

She could practically hear the squeals of fans in the distance at that line, alongside the rapid typing. It was pretty good for something off the cuff, but it was true, too. They had given their lives towards helping the world and their families; now, they could give a little bit more time for themselves.

"I know I'm going to miss Uravity a lot," Deku said suddenly, forcing Ochako to snap back to look at him, his eyes suddenly staring at her with burning energy. "She's been such an incredible hero for so long; it's hard to imagine a world without her helping to lift it. I'm definitely sad she's retiring. But it'll be nice to get away and be together."

She beamed at him, placing a hand over her chest. Leave it to him to surprise her with something so heartfelt, even in a setting such as this. She knew it was going to be tough hearing more of that from people upset about her retirement, but she'd have to get through it.

But questions for her did not come after that. Nearly all of them were for Deku, the press far more interested in the loss of Japan's number-one hero.

"Deku, what is going to happen to your agency?" It was their agency.

"Question for Deku, where are you going to be going on your vacation?" It was their vacation.

"Deku, how have your kids reacted to this?" They were their children.

"Deku, what advice would you give to the aspiring heroes of today?" She could have given that advice, too.

"Uravity, how would you describe your husband's emotions as you've talked about retirement?" Why was she getting asked about him again?

She became bored eventually, sighing and leaning on her hand, not that the crowd before them took any notice. They had expected more questions for Deku, of course, but she did not think it would be this pronounced. By the time they got to the end, she realized the only questions she got had been to get her to talk about him, even if in the context of her feelings. She had never been a hero who cared much for the spotlight, but she had some pride as a professional who had consistently remained in the top-20, often breaking into the top-10 as well.

But it could not be helped. It was hard to shine standing next to a supernova, after all. She always knew that.

"That's all the time we have for today," Deku announced suddenly, snapping her from her melancholy. "But we'll see you around in the months to come. Thank you!"

The two got up in unison, bowing respectfully to their audience before walking backstage, conscious of more whirring camera shudders. They kept up appearances best they could until they were safely away from the prying eyes.

"Well, I guess that went alright," Izuku muttered as they made their way to the back exit of the building, a ride back home awaiting them outside. He glanced towards her as they walked, his lips curling downwards. "How are you feeling?

"I'm just glad it's over with." She groaned, remembering their staring eyes, rarely on her, but still expecting her to uphold a heroic image. "Though I hardly had to do much compared to you. I was starting to feel like I got Toru's invisibility.

He chuckled slightly at that. "I'm sorry about how that turned out. But you did really well when they did ask you a question! And at least we can be a bit more controlled with media appearances from here on out."

"Don't remind me that we'll have to do more of this," she said, giving him a playful bump with her shoulder. "I want at least a 48-hour grace period."

"We can check with our agents. It could be a little hard, though. It may not be possible to escape, with how everyone is going to react."

They stepped outside into the bright day, another swarm of cameras sounding in the distance, though the reporters were held back by a security line.

As they walked towards the sleek, dark vehicle that would carry them away, Izuku stepped in front of her. Under the bright sun, Ochako wondered if the cameras could see her walking in his shadow.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

People bathed the city streets in Ochako's favourite shade of green, her husband's face plastered everywhere she looked.

She smiled as she waited in an alley, looking out over a fairly empty sidewalk. Across from her, she could see a simple convenience store with multiple posters hanging in its windows, Deku's green costume prominent, striking a heroic pose for the camera. Such images spread like wildfire throughout the city - both because people wanted to show their appreciation and stores wanted to cash in.

It did her heart good to witness. Deku had no lack of admiration or respect, but she was glad to see the world truly did love him, just like she did. Even as he ascended to number one, there was always a small part of himself nagging, doubting, wondering if he could truly match All Might and inspire people as he did. The near-mourning the city was in over his impending retirement would hopefully disavow him of those lingering fears.

She felt a low buzz in her helmet, indicating it was time to get into action. She stepped forward, projecting loudly.

"Stand aside, everyone; clear the way! Please, stand away from the street; a runaway vehicle is coming this way!" she shouted, stepping onto the very edge of the barren sidewalk.

The few pedestrians in the area responded, moving away from the road, but stopping to gawk at the heroic work about to take place, a few phones coming out of pockets.

"Don't worry; everything is going to be okay!" she shouted, flashing a thumbs-up.

She glanced toward a corner in her heads-up display on her visor, where a low timer was ticking down.

Their estimated time of arrival was five seconds.

A dark van sped through the streets, approaching her, making its way to the end of the city through side roads in an erratic pattern. It carried three bank robbers, fresh off a heist.

Three.

The van blared its horn to get people out of the way. The vehicle was not losing any speed, ready to run anyone down if necessary.

One.

She stepped forward to tag the runaway vehicle with her Quirk, timing it precisely so she could step back and forth very casually, without any substantive risk other than sore fingertips. With her Quirk triggered, the van lost traction on the road, its occupants screaming as it floated upwards, losing speed as the air dragged onto it.

Uravity shot wires out of her two gauntlets, which automatically wrapped their way around the sky-bound vehicle. With a quick jerk, she ended its forward momentum, yanking the van back towards the earth.

She carefully guided the vehicle back towards her, pulling until it was just above the ground. She peeked into the window to see a driver wearing a dark mask shaking, and someone else on the passenger side passed out from the rough jerk of her maneuver.

"Surrender peacefully, and I won't send you flying again," Uravity shouted forcefully, body tense, ready to move if the perpetrators attempted to flee.

"I give, I give!" a deep voice sounded from the driver, hands going up on instinct. The car's wheels kept spinning fruitlessly, stuck in mid-air.

Uravity quickly tapped a button at the side of her ear, communicating with mission control. "Vehicle stopped. Need some support and medical; one of them might have a concussion."

"Police on their way. Nicely done as always, Uravity."

Backup arrived before long, quickly helping her apprehend the villains and secure the stolen goods.

By the time she finished, the area had already cleared, nobody around to cheer her on and appreciate the flawless takedown. That is the way it went sometimes. With so many heroes doing incredible feats every day, the little stuff could get lost beneath the cracks. Every hero she knew had gone through that at some point or another.

Still, the streets felt a little lonely as she walked around and continued her patrol, keeping an eye out, awaiting any word of someone in need. She went largely unnoticed as she made her way around, the very occasional greeting doing little to counter the strange sense of isolation.

These were the last days of Uravity, but that had changed nothing about the world.

"...Deku once again amazed us today by taking down another destructive villain at the north side of the city."

A small crowd had gathered outside an electronics store where televisions in the window were playing the news, framed by more Deku posters. It had become a widespread tactic; even non-electronics stores might stick televisions in their displays, airing whatever snippets of Deku coverage they could to attract people to glance at their wares.

She stopped to watch as her husband stared down a burly, oversized villain. The foe punched downwards, breaking the concrete, tearing off a large chunk of it with his bare hands and throwing it at the statuesque Deku.

The camera could not track what happened next; Deku vanished, there was a blur, and the villain was face down in the ground, completely incapacitated. Deku stood victorious above him.

"He's so cool!" A small child in the crowd next to her shouted, jumping up and down.

"It's a real shame he's retiring so soon. What are we going to do without him?" A senior said from the back, shaking his head, frowning.

"He was the best hero there ever was. Even greater than All Might, I think."

"He's gonna go down in history!"

"I'm just glad no one was hurt," Deku's voice said suddenly, his face centred in the frame, a pleasant smile etched upon it. "It was a good group effort to keep the damage contained."

"Any words for your adoring fans upset about your retirement?" a reporter's voice asked.

"I've been touched by all the well-wishers lately," Deku replied calmly, scratching at his head. "But, I promise you'll all be in good hands!"

"Well, there you have it. The world's greatest hero still saving lives in his final days. Truly, we are watching the end of a legend. Back to you."

Uravity walked away as the crowd cheered, eating it up. She smiled wistfully, her own heart soaring at seeing her hero do so well and be so beloved.

Yes, soon they would reach the end of his legend. The name she had helped give him would be retired and move to the pages of the history books while they lived out their days in peace, hopefully. They would tell his story, and she was thankful for it. He deserved it.

She continued to walk, a ghost in the streets as people's attention focused on their descending idol.

Nobody would care much as she ended her hero days. That was fine. She had done everything she wanted to as a hero. She could be content. Her story would stay with her family and friends. She could be okay with that.

Couldn't she?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AN: Written for the IzuOcha Discord Server Big Bang Event. Prompt: "Thank you for always saving me!" Thank you very much to Mal for editing this and for Xylveon for the incredible artwork provided for the fic. You can find it at https://twitter.com/Xylveon700/status/1294469669361840129, Please leave a like and/or reblog if you enjoyed it ! ^_^

#izuocha #my hero academia #fanfiction #shipping #midoriya izuku #ochako uraraka #IzuOcha Temple 3rd Anniversary Big Bang #Angst #fluff #romance #It's about Oldchako you can't take that pun away from me #hope you like <3

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jerepars · 4 years

Text

I put it off for so long. But now I’m all caught up. And I hate this show more than ever.

A summary of my live reactions for 4x13:

Donuts for breakfast? No wonder you have nothing of substance in your head.

The morning tryst is fine, but realistically, who shows up at school that early before the bell rings?

“These stonies” ARE YOU KIDDING? Jughead is supposed to be a writer and this is the dialogue the show writers are giving him?

Wait, so is Betty just going to sit there and watch him write?

Ah, yes, Toni Topaz, still losing personality with every passing episode.

Jarhead and Bison. Oh, OKAY.

I told you not to accept that laptop from Bret without question!

The random shot of equipment in the chem lab, like why even bother, as if Archie could pass a science class.

This show has gone so far off the rails I don’t even really know why Veronica is spiraling.

Is it really worth dealing with Stonewall Prep for this shit? Was I ever supposed to believe that any of these people would truly be able to get into an Ivy? Just gtfo of Riverdale. Go to a SUNY campus.

The Betty/Donna diner scene is shot really beautifully, at least.

Ah, yes, Bret, the ultimate creep.

Jughead’s hair looks so much better sticking out of the beanie than completely tucked in.

Aw, a scene with the Bughead background music. Haven’t heard that in a while.

As if the core four could have fun at a Stonewall party. Should have listened to Archie, should have stayed home.

So does Jughead stage his disappearance and death now?

How can Bret be talking like that that when he’s wearing THAT

A summary of my live reactions for 4x14:

Jughead is not allowed to call his own beanie iconic

So three teenagers just walk into their houses at 3 AM in their underwear? This is like a setup for a comedy routine.

“Jughead couldn’t just lend you one of his grungy flannels” LOL see now this is the content we came for

Charles? You would trust Charles with this ploy?

So your boyfriend/friend is “dead” and all signs lead back to you so you’re having an open discussion in the diner?

Man, Penny Peabody and Evelyn Evernever as the ultimate supervillain duo would be so good.

DON’T KILL YOURSELF, ELMO. Who writes this shit?

If Betty is going to be saying incriminating things on the phone, shouldn’t they all be using burner phones?

How can this supposedly squeaky clean FBI agent be so casual about a murder weapon out in the open? This whole subplot is so dumb.

To be fair, Veronica, you ARE running an illegal underground liquor operation.

The stonies have definitely drugged several people.

Donna’s shirt is really nice though.

Jughead’s “body”. Hmm okay.

An oversized Sherpa jacket suits Betty. But the owner ain’t dead.

A summary of my live reactions for 4x15:

Lol Cheryl getting involved in this non-murder coverup would complicate things.

And, what, FP just believes Donna? Pshhh. More scheming.

Here we go with Alice, continuing to be the worst parent on television.

Meanwhile Jughead is chomping down on snacks in the bunker in the woods while writing ten more manuscripts.

Oh, COME ON. Toni and Jughead were BARELY friends. Just common gang members.

!!!!A WILD SWEET PEA APPEARS!!!!

OMG AND BETTY JUST TALKED HIM OUT OF RAGE. GIVE ME SWEETBEE FRIENDSHIP OR GIVE ME (UNSTAGED) DEATH!

Who even cares what else happens when Sweet Pea is here! I just wish there was explanation for where he’s been this whole time!

omg Sweet Pea is the best. Please just write an alternate storyline where he is the star of the show.

We all know super detectives Jones and Cooper planned this out properly, they wouldn’t skimp on the details!

Wait, did Cheryl have the students make a mock beanie for that locker memorial?

Okay…Betty and Archie would probably sell this better if the actors didn’t look grossed out by each other while kissing.

Veronica, on the other hand, is overselling it.

Betty made Juggie a new beanie THIS IS SO KAWAII

Wait, is this really how the writers are setting up Barchie? They’re supposed to catch feelings this way?

Lol solving a murder by milkshake evidence.

A summary of my live reactions for 4x16:

I hope someone got Jughead some Flintstones multivitamins to account for the loss of Vitamin D due to lack of sun!

So basically what you’re telling me is that everyone who matters in Riverdale is in on Jughead’s “death”

This reveal scene in the parlor must be the longest scene in Riverdale history. It’s refreshing to get an episode that isn’t the usual 45 second clips spliced together over 40 minutes.

Three Forsythes in one room!

Interesting that they have to keep saying Tracy True and not refer to Nancy Drew when Nancy Drew is also a show that airs on the CW

As we live and breathe, Jughead Jones walking the halls of Riverdale High.

Lol wait so Jughead went from provisionally accepted to Yale to probably not graduating? I hate this show.

A summary of my live reactions for 4x17:

Cole/Jughead gets the first singing line in the musical? What is this bullshit?

Sweet Pea makes another appearance!! With cutoff sleeves!!

I get that the Salem Witch Trials is on brand for Jughead, but I would have chosen the Trail of Tears essay given the Serpents connection to the Uktena, but no one even remembers that, I’m sure.

SWEET PEA IS PLAYING BASS (I always thought he would be a drummer though)

Wait…they’re just running from room to room in different people’s houses? Just because it’s a musical doesn’t mean you can keep violating the time-space continuum!

Okay, Cole/Jughead singing is the funniest thing to ever happen on this show.

And all this on the musical episode just to set up Barchie?

So after four seasons Betty and Archie are finally supposed to remember why they were so “close” to begin with?

Who thought it would be a good idea to build Betty and Archie up into these thoughtful, concerned, characters and then completely ruin them this way? That’s predictable and so unfair to them.

Cutting back to the pilot and season 1 Betty and Archie and comparing it to now really just underlines why Barchie didn’t become a thing. That should be pretty obvious.

Also, Sweet Pea is not only in the front row, but enamored by this?

A summary of my live reactions for 4x18:

When did Reggie get an accent?

LOL WHAT so are Barchie laying shoulder to shoulder contemplating if they’re going to get it on?

Ugh. Let me guess. Ethel is only appearing in this episode to be villainized. And there go all my SweetE/Swethel dreams.

WHAT DID I JUST SAY.

Oh, NOW, you can’t stop thinking about Betty? Two years too late, Arch.

Cheryl saying something of value for once?? Who are you and what have you done with Cheryl Blossom?

I just want to live in a world where SweetE is canon. Lol what am I saying, canon writing would ruin SweetE.

Someone tell the set designers that it’s poor science practice to leave empty glassware just out on bench tops.

Principal Honey isn’t going to expel them?

Fangs got into a university with a scholarship? Riiiiight.

Okay, so all that Barchie setup for will they or won’t they to settle on they won’t. So basically just a waste of time? Can the writers just stop trying to resurrect that once every season? It’s a minor annoyance that adds nothing.

Yeah, nope, Daddy will never change, Veronica.

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