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tonydaddingham · 2 years ago

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Transcript of main article under the cut:

THE RASCALLY DEMON Crowley (David Tennant) and the neurotic angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) put aside their differences to pull off one doozy of a Hail Mary and prevent an impending Apocalypse in Good Omens' first season. The task cemented the pair's unconventional friendship. So what are divine beings who have fallen out of grace with both Heaven and Hell to do for an encore?

The answer lies with archangel Gabriel (Jon Hamm), who shows up unannounced on the doorstep of Aziraphale's London bookshop. Suddenly, Aziraphale and Crowley are caught up in a caper of biblical proportions- but also a more intimate tale.

"It's a mystery" showrunner Neil Gaiman tells SFX. "It kicks off a story that doesn't have giant consequences for the universe, even if it does have consequences for Aziraphale and Crowley. We have a lot of the marvellous Jon Hamm, who is the angel Gabriel and turns up at the beginning stark naked, carrying a cardboard box with no memory of who he is. In the same way, it is about Aziraphale and Crowley having to get involved with humanity in a way that they haven't before.

"They get dragged in slightly against their will to try to sort out the love life of Aziraphale's tenant," he continues. "Her name is Maggie (Maggie Service) and she runs the

record shop next to the bookshop. You'll see the coffee shop over the road, which is Nina's (Nina Sosanya). The relationship between Maggie and Nina is one that Crowley and Aziraphale try to fix, and mess up, because they are not good at human relationships, even if they can do miracles."

Truth be told, Gaiman never originally intended this arc to serve as Good Omens' second instalment. The TV series was based on Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's 1990 novel. The two collaborators had partially hashed out the details for a sequel to the fantasy comedy, late one night in a hotel room. This, however, is not it. Gaiman instead plotted a new narrative that could provide the connective tissue between the first season and a theoretical season three, if it happens.

"Because the hypothetical season three exists, there is a story that is there, and I didn't feel that we could drive straight from season one into that," Gaiman explains. "I knew what the stakes were. I knew what the parameters were. I also know that I had David and Michael. I had the angels from plot number one. I had demons from plot number one. And with anybody that I wanted to bring back, but didn't have room for right now, I did not have to bring them back as themselves.

"I had absolutely nothing for Madame Tracy to do in this plot, but I would be damned if Miranda Richardson wasn't going to be in this. She is one of my favourite people in the world. She is hilarious and is so good. And I knew I was going to have a new demon replacing Crowley as Hell's representative in London/the UK. Miranda's demon Shax is the best demon you could want."

It's late February 2012 and SFX is in Edinburgh for a set visit. A soundstage in Pyramids Studies has been transformed into a street in Soho. The visible local stores include the aforementioned book, coffee and record shops, as well as a magic establishment. In the middle of them all stand Aziraphale and Crowley, the latter in close proximity to his classic Bentley. It's close to the end of the six-episode season, so exactly what the duo is discussing constitutes a spoiler. We can say, however, that Aziraphale has picked up the pace. Time is of the essence as Shax marshals her forces to descend on Aziraphale's store and retrieve Gabriel.

"This is really Shax's first time out on Earth," Gaiman explains. "She is working very diligently and very hard in Hell for a long time. Now she is on Earth, trying to figure it all out. She's just discovering what Crowley has known for 6,000 years, which is that if you're a demon and come up with a brilliant plan to screw up the lives of humanity, people will get there first and do worse than anything you could have imagined! She's coming to terms with that.

"She is having to deal with the first crisis on her watch, as well, which is the disappearance of the archangel Gabriel from Heaven. It would be fair to say that by the end of the story, she is leading as much as she can get from Hell's requisition department - a legion of Hell - in an attack on a Soho bookshop."

When audiences catch up with Aziraphale again, he's enjoying his time among humans. He owns most of the block in a Soho neighbourhood, and he's meddling in Nina's love life. Meanwhile, Crowley has been living in his car, with his plants sitting on the back seat. He's grumpy about his current status quo, but frequently hangs out at Aziraphale's. The duo began as antagonists, but their history and blooming relationship will be fleshed out in flashbacks.

"One of the enormously fun things I came up with in the idea of minisodes," Gaiman explains. They are 25-minute-long episodes within the episode. We have three of them over our six episodes. Each of them is like one of those chunks of episode three (in season one). Whereas the longest one of those was four or five minutes, if that, these are full stories.

"You get to have the story of (put-upon Biblical figure) Job and you learn Aziraphale and Crowley's part in the story. Then writer Cat Clarke takes us to Edinburgh in the 1820s for a tale of body-snatching and attempted murder that the boys get involved in," he adds.

"Finally, Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman reunite the League of Gentlemen in a Nazi-period story that takes place very shortly after the episode in the church. That one was the only one I said had to be there, because I fell in love with our Nazi spies in the church I kept thinking, "What would happen if they essentially came back as zombies with a mission from Hell to try and investigate whether or not Crowley and Aziraphale were actually fraternising?"

Gaiman admits that one of the greatest challenges has been filming Good Omens simultaneously with his upcoming show Anansi Bays. The two shoot within throwing distance of each other, but are both time-consuming endeavours.

"If I could go back in time, I would go back to 16 September 2020, when Douglas Mackinnon (co-producer) and I got the phone call from the Amazon bigwigs to say, "We have

good news for you and interesting news for you," Gaiman recalls. "'The good news is we are greenlighting both Good Omens and Anansi Boys. The interesting news is you are going to have to do them both at the same time.'

"I would go back to then and I would throw myself on the call and say, 'Neil, don't! This is unwise.' That we are doing them both together is great. The amount of sleep I am not getting is monumental and monstrous.

"It's a little bit like childbirth, in that I managed to forget all the things that drove me nuts about the first one. Having said that, I managed to fix all the things that really drove me nuts making season one which is great. We just have a whole new set of problems making season two."

#good omens #SIGH does this mean i need to edit my 40s meta AGAIN? im tiRED OF THIS GRANDPA #edit: missing page

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emeraldart · 4 months ago

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Releasing my official statement saying that they should’ve just traded lunches

[Transcript:

By the grace of whatever gods may or may not actually exist, the lunch lady does not yell at Michael for his decision-making abilities, or lack thereof. Because she gives him the spaghetti and meatballs and he doesn’t really feel like arguing with her.

Again.

“Hey.”

Michael hears the clack of a lunch tray. He recognizes the voice as Kit’s, who slides his own lunch across the table.

“Trade?”

Michael sighs with relief, sliding his lunch back at the other boy. “We should’ve done that the first time.”]

#But they didn’t. Because if they did then homosexual events would’ve occurred.#Anyway. Cooking fanfic right now.#jcvtu #jentry chau vs the underworld #jcvtu shitpost #Michael olé #Kit jcvtu #this is fueled by my desire to write a Michael Olé centric fic to conclude his little flute arc

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lena-in-a-red-dress · 4 months ago

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Greys Anatomy AU-- Lillian at Seattle Grace Pt 1

Perhaps Lillian and the chief were classmates or something, because they go way back, and it's evident to everyone that he's pulling out all the stops to try and engage her interest in Seattle Grace.

Inevitably, Lena starts getting the kind of attention she hates.

Her fellow interns suddenly start speculating that maybe she didn't earn her spot in the program as organically as everyone else. Lexie doesn't join in the ribbing, but she doesn't stop it either. Lena doesn't engage past the occasional searing glare at the interns as she excuses herself from eqch exchange, and makes no effort to defend herself.

Until one night after a particularly bad day of challenging patients, aggravating interns, and dodging her mother, Lena storms over to Meredith's with a stack of files in her arms. Meredith takes one look before tilting her head towards the kitchen, where Lexie is munching on a late night snack.

Lena smacks the stack down on the table in front of Lexie, who stares first at the files, then up at Lena. "What is this?"

"My records," Lena clips with a glare. "Every transcript, every internship and letter of recommendation. From secondary to undergrad to med school. I thought you might want to see them, since you don't seem to believe I earned my spot."

Lexie gives an appeasing, exculpatory grimace. "I didn't say that--"

"You haven't defended me either!"

Never in all the time since they've met, has Lena raised her voice. Shock jolts through Lexie at the sound of it, before her guilt does its best to deflect.

"I didn't think you cared what they thought," Lexie points out.

"I don't!" Lena shouts. Lexie gapes at the outburst, causing Lena to scoff. "Fuck those guys!"

That rankles Lexie. "Then why are you here??"

"Because I care what *you* think!"

The silence that follows sits thick between them. Lexie stares, shrinking a little in her seat, chastised. Lena deflates.

"I care what my girlfriend thinks," Lena echoes, softly now. "Because I love you, and... the thought of you thinking any less of me--"

"I don't," Lexie blurts, rising sharply from her chair. She rounds the end of the table between them, but stops short of reaching for Lena, when Lena pulls away.

"I *don't*," she says again, more fervently. She waves towards the stack of folders. "And I don't need those to tell me how brilliant and amazing you are. I already know."

Lena's lips tremble in spite of herself. "Then why?"

"I don't know," Lexie confesses quietly. "I think I was hurt. That you didn't tell me." She looks at Lena beseechingly. "It's kinda the sort of thing you'd tell your girlfriend, isn't it? That your mom is a super genius surgeon?"

A muscle twitches in Lena's jaw, but she doesn't respond.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Lena folds her arms defensively across her chest, plainly uncomfortable. Lexie almost expects her leave, but to her surprise, Lena responds.

"The day I took my oath as a doctor," she says in a low voice, "I looked into the audience, and didn't recognize a single face."

Shame and pity fill Lexie's chest. "She wasn't there?"

Lena shakes her head. "That was the day I went low contact with my mother.... which turned into no contact, when she didn't even notice that I'd stopped calling."

Her voice cracks on the last word, and Lexie can't help but reach for Lena. Lena finally allows the tender touch of Lexie's palm against her cheek. She leans into the contact, as a tear slips from the corner of one eye.

"I don't know why she's here, or what game she intends to play," Lena murmurs. "But whatever it is, I want you in my corner."

Lexie exhales, stepping close enough for their foreheads to rest together.

"I am," she vows. "Always."

#lexie x lena #greys anatomy au #lillian at seattle grace

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ilikekidsshows · 3 months ago

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You know, this is definitely old news, but to this day I'm -still- so bothered by Marinette's behavior in Ephemeral. Not even the part where she conspired to secretly expose Chat Noir's identity to a third party without his knowledge or consent (cute). It's what she said to him during, to convince him to reveal himself; she tricks him into thinking it was something they were doing together, and thus takes advantage of his trust in her and how much their bond means to him (transcript below for context):

Ladybug: Well... actually, it's kind of linked to what happened today. I've given it a lot of thought ever since I became guardian, you know? (leans on the fence) And, I've realized that... you were right after all. (turns to Cat Noir) We should tell each other our secret identities. Cat Noir: But, aren't the secrets supposed to protect us? Ladybug: I thought so. But when you didn't show up today, I didn't know how to locate you because we can't communicate when we're not transformed. If something bad happened to one of us when we're not heroes, we could know about it. It would make us stronger. We'd be able to defeat Shadow Moth quicker! Cat Noir: (walks towards Ladybug's side) So, we're doing this, for real? Ladybug: Yes. Cat Noir: Wow. Okay. You go ahead, m'lady. Guardians first! Ladybug: No, you first. Cat Noir: Let's do it together. (Viperion listens to their conversation while he's in the sewers.) Ladybug: No, I mean it. You go first. I'm... feeling kind of... awkward.

Is it just me, or is this not one of the most blatantly manipulative things she's ever done? To honest, I find it disgusting. She says all these things she knows he wants to hear, and doesn't mean one word of it. I've seen damage control interpretations that she did mean it, actually, that it's what she secretly wants herself but...that just feels like copium at this stage. There's no direct evidence for this interpretation beyond wishful thinking. On the other hand, it's blatant that she doesn't "feel awkward" as much as she's making an excuse to get him to reveal without having to herself (she doesn't want Viperion to know her identity, too, after all). Meanwhile Adrien is being put into a vulnerable position and arguably actually feeling awkward himself (seriously, when you watch the episode you can hear it in his voice). It's just...gross. And for what?

This is Lila levels of manipulation, but worse, because it's our supposed "heroine" who's acting this way (and I hold her to higher standards, yes, because hello, actual superhero and intended role model here?). Which is fine if it's treated as an actual flaw she learns from, but no. Of course not. She will never face real repercussions, or learn from this, because oh hey, turns out this never happened (and no, her realizing something went wrong with her plan in the end does not automatically mean she regrets her plan to betray his trust, or that she even realizes she was doing so). And our one saving grace, the one chance of this being addressed in any meaningful way, was Chat Noir's expression at the end of the episode, where it's clear he knows she's keeping something from him (he saw Viperion in the sewers, after all). But this never go anywhere, actually. They'll let him be frustrated at the secrets for one brief moment in Strikeback, before she has a panic attack and he drops it all, never to be brought up again.

And so many people seem to gloss over that she never actually apologized. All she did was berate herself for being the worst guardian ever, and then immediately accept Chat's pep talk, which includes a bit about how she's the "best superhero there ever was." At this point, I'm starting to think she has a point about being the worst, actually. Maybe she should lose her memories, transfer the guardianship to Alya, and get therapy. I'm not even mad at her, I'm mad at the writers for constantly pushing it in my face that she's the "best" when she's demonstrably...not, multiple times over. She doesn't need to be the best! It's not like she can't be impressive without being The Best TM, my god. But anyways. She could put her money where her mouth is and come clean about Ephemeral and other things, but no. Of course she hasn't.

And now as of season 6 we have him genuinely praising her as 'the best version of herself,' so no, his expression at the end of Ephemeral meant nothing in the end, actually, and she got away scot-free, being disgustingly manipulative without having to make amends or apologize or anything. All she had to do was cry.

I'm currently drinking major copium myself, hoping all or some of her secrets come to light (including her plan in Ephemeral, which, oh yeah, he still doesn't know about), wherein he rethinks the whole 'best version of yourself' thing and feels rightfully betrayed.

Because what the fuck, Marinette.

So yeah, I'm still bothered by Ephemeral.

---

Maybe Ephemeral wouldn't keep being so topical if Marinette's utter moral failures in that episode didn't keep getting ignored by the show. It's like the writers are counting on people to forget about it ever happening so that they can pretend Marinette isn't ready to shamelessly manipulate Cat Noir with every vulnerability he’s ever revealed to her. Until she, of course, does it again and the fandom will act like it's completely new and out of character, and the writers will take advantage of that to act like it's not a pattern of behavior by now and really is just a single, momentary lapse of judgement she shouldn't be judged for. But, like, those of us who remember know that all Marinette needs to manipulate Cat Noir with no hesitation is 1) a reason to do so 2) an assurance that she won’t get caught.

Marinette is a dishonest person. I remember reading someone talking about ‘Reverser’ and they said that, in that episode, Marinette couldn’t even help another person approach someone without her plan having an element of deceit to it. That just stuck with me. And now she’s being pitted against Lila, the person the fandom dubbed “Liar-la” because they thought she was the bigger liar based on very little. They’ve really amped up Lila’s liar game since with her multiple mother scams and such, but, like, considering how unironironically they have Marinette acting just like Gabriel, I don’t think the “liar versus liar, whose lies will bite them harder” parallel is going to amount to anything in the show.

#ml critical #ml salt #dats chats

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omentranslates · 4 months ago

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Trigun Stampede Chugai Grace Cafe Collaboration - I Translated Another Menu :3

Hey long time no Trigun on here! Some pictures from this collab were recently brought up in a server I'm in and reminded me that it existed so I thought I'd list out the menu here in English for anyone who wants to try and recreate these treats :D

I did this almost a year ago for the collab that was running at that time and it was much longer bc I literally just rewrote the entire website, but this time will ONLY be the menu since this one is like way over I think this was from 2023. Transcript starts under the cut as usual, just a flat rewrite of the menu text my own notes will be in parenthesis, happy gunning trigang idk

Dragonfly Grass Napolitan

napolitan with sausage and confetti vegetables

cheese shaped like Vash's sunglasses and a cracker

Punisher Black Curry

black curry

black sesame rice

confetti vegetables

leafy greens

punisher wafer (doesn't appear to be pictured, look up monaka (最中))

Partners' Parfait

desc: Double donuts like Vash's sunglasses, a cigare cookie sprinkled with bamboo charcoal powder and a pointy cone* top this parfait fit for two. (*could be read as either cone or corn, i put cone bc that's the shape but honestly i think it's probably just both since it looks like a corn chip. like that is a bugle.)

strawberries

strawberry syrup

mango chunks

mango whipped cream

mango sauce

vanilla ice cream

whipped cream (yes more (regular this time))

mint

Twins Cremet d'Anjou

desc: A desert plate of Cremet d'Anjou — Angel's Cream — in the image of twin brothers Vash and Knives

cremet d'anjou

strawberries

mango sauce

whipped cream

blue curaçao (does not say where or how)

powdered sugar

white chocolate shaped into angel wings

Orange Sunrise *Vash's Drink!! <3

orange juice

raspberry syrup

orange slices like Vash's sunglasses

Overdose Coke *Nicholas's Drink

cola

energy drink in the ampoules pipettes

Wing Apple Tea *Knives's Drink

apple tea

wing sliced apples

mint

Welcome Home *Special Drink

desc: nonalcoholic whiskey imitation drink

apple juice

whiskey flavoring (no further specification)

lime

Plant Soda

blue curaçao

mojito green jewel (this is like a jelly/jello that you can kind of see sitting at the bottom of the jar in the picture. it's a specific product look up mona jewel (モナジュエル) mojito green is the color)

sprite

ice ball

And that's all! The cups with character art are just lattes. Thanks for reading hope it's tasty ;3

#trigun #trigun stampede #english translation #yeah idk why only some of them have descriptions but fuck it we ball #Welcome Home being absolutely evil and Plant Soda being like lowkey genius all things balanced as usual #yknow i actually #i have 2 little standees from this collab. i have the little Vash and Wolfwood on my desk i see them every day.#so i really have no idea why it took me so long to remember this existed lmao #i guess i kinda forgot abt the cafe part I know i saw pictures of it when it was happening but tbh i dont think i ever saw the menu

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askdaisukejz · 1 month ago

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@askdrunkjimmy (Transcript under read more)

To Jimmy,

I’m not very good at this whole sentimentality thing. Hell, I had to look up “sentimentality” to see if I was using it correctly.

You’ve always been there for me when I needed you most. I still remember when we were little and that weird asshole kid used to beat up on me. That one blow to the nose you gave him made sure that none of his friends ever tried to fuck with me again. You were like that when we were growing up- always a dickhead, always giving me shit, but never letting anyone else get the chance. I think you were the big brother that every kid needed.

Your mental health has always been such a struggle for you and it continues to be. I know that it’s hard for you because it’s a constant reminder of the life you came from… the “hereditary curse” as you call it. It reminds you of your birth father and what he did to you and your birth mom. When our parents found out what happened, they almost didn’t tell you. They thought it would be better if you didn’t know, but as we grew and you started to show interest in where you came from, they felt like they had to. I think they regret that- I think it bothered you more than you realized. Finding out that your dad killed your mom, the same person you believe you inherited your illness, that would fuck anyone up. I wonder if that was what started it all… the self doubt, the self hatred, the insecurity.

You’re a good person at heart, that’s why it’s always so hard to watch you fall off the wagon. You have these stints of growth that make everyone proud and then the fall from grace is twice as hard. Are you afraid of being happy? Does it make you nervous?

I’m writing you this letter because I know there are so many things you’re avoiding by drinking- some of which you’ve told me, others that must be eating away at you because you can’t allow yourself to open up.

Your drinking is only making things worse and you know that. We want you to get help. We want more than two weeks at a time with the real Jimmy.

I love you and I want you around for a long time. One day I’ll get married, and have kids, and I don’t want to have to tell them why their Uncle Jimmy isn’t around- or worse- isn’t alive anymore.

We all pooled the money together, me, Curly, Anya, and our parents. There’s a facility that does a 30-day addiction program. They’ll take you today. If you don’t agree to go, I won’t be able to come running whenever you need me anymore. I wanted to move closer to you because you’re my brother and I love you, but I fear all this time I’ve been making that decision so I can care for you more easily. That’s no life for either of us to live.

Please accept the help.

- Daisuke

#daisuke mouthwashing #mouthwashing #mouthwashing ask blog #daisuke talks #askdrunkjimmy #askdaisukejz #adj au #mouthwashing au #mouthwashing art blog #tw rehab

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deconstructthesoup · 1 year ago

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Thinking about a Nerdy Prudes Must Die swap AU

Steph---the mayor's kid who was put under a lot of academic pressure growing up, resulting in her getting lumped in with the nerds despite her struggling in school. She has to try twice as hard as everyone else, which gets seen as her being a buzzkill who does nothing but study, which makes teachers expect more from her... and, yeah, she's infinitely stressed. So stressed and burnt out, in fact, that when a pop quiz gets thrown at her out of nowhere, she finally breaks and asks to cheat off of...

Pete---one of the few popular kids who's popular not because he can play football or soccer or whatever, but because he's genuinely nice. He's taken Ted's advice just enough so he can seem cool without actively being a sleazeball, and he's even managed to be class president. Of course, he's still got a lot of nerdy interests he keeps under the rug, and he's also a lot smarter than he passes himself off as---so he never in a million years would've suspected that the mayor's cute nerdy daughter would want his help on a test, but he's prepared. Until, of course, they get caught by...

Max---the pastor's son who's well known throughout the school to be a judgmental and self-righteous asshole, holding himself and others to ridiculously high standards. He's still an untouchable menace, but instead of it being because he's a football star, it's because every single teacher and authority figure is swayed by his Good Christian Boy attitude, despite the fact that he has a C average (hey, you don't need to worry about grades if you're just going to take over running the church when you grow up). By all accounts, he's pretty much perfect---except for the fact that he has a secret thing for...

Grace---the head cheerleader who still grew up in a very Christian family, but she's embraced her crazy and has successfully talked her parents into letting her do more stereotypical high school stuff like, well, cheerleading ("it looks good on my college transcript, and it's a way for me to get steady exercise and keep myself in shape") and the occasional party ("it's just a fun thing between friends, and if any of them do anything reckless, I want to be there to help"). In reality, of course, she's the most unhinged popular girl in the history of ever, and nobody fucks with her because she's the type of girl who will bite you if you give her shit.

Brenda and Kyle are Steph's fellow struggling nerdy friends---Brenda got lumped in with the nerds because she's in the fandom zone, despite the fact that her head's usually in the clouds and she can barely pass classes, and Kyle's the awkward theater guy who's a total romantic but can't even properly talk to people he likes. By contrast, Richie and Ruth are Pete's friends, and while they aren't exactly cool, everyone knows Richie as the weirdly funny school mascot, and Ruth is Pete's incredibly cocky vice president. So, social clout.

And, uh... yeah

#it's fun to imagine the swaps #starkid #hatchetfield #nerdy prudes must die #stephanie lauter #pete spankoffski #max jagerman #grace chasity #brenda npmd #kyle npmd #richie lipschitz #ruth fleming

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ghosts-and-blue-sweaters · 2 years ago

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Tommy: okayokay *inhales* okay.

Ghostbur: it’s Technoblade! :D

Tommy: politely- politely, die. Politely-

Techno, overlapping: yeahhhh!

Ghostbur, overlapping: Technoblade! Technoblade, I’m here! I’m here! Have some blue, have some blue, please, please, calm yourself! Calm yourself! Calm yourself!

Techno, overlapping: yeahhhhhhh, yeahhh! Have some fooood, my mannnnn!

Ghostbur: whoa!

Ghostbur, muttering: that’s a very expe…

Techno, overlapping: I have a dealer.

Ghostbur, sounding impressed: that’s expensive food.

#I hope this transcription is okay lol #clips I like #DSMP clips #dream SMP #exile arc #Tommy #techno #Ghostbur #Grace does transcripting

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binch-i-might-be · 4 months ago

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just saw an interview snippet from I wanna say the eighties in which david bowie is being hounded once again about his sexuality and honestly he was a stronger man than me because I could not have dealt with these people

let me bring you this loose transcript

lady: you've been asked whether you're bisexual or not

bowie: too many times

lady: but you've never really answered the question

bowie, at this point already showing more patience and grace than I will ever possess: I have. I'm bisexual

lady, her two braincells narrowly missing each other: but does that mean you really are, or-

bowie: I ✨️answered✨️ the ✨️question✨️

I would have called her a cunt on live tv I am not even joking

#ah yes i see that your answer is that you're bisexual. follow up question: does this mean that you're bisexual?#also a personal favourite of mine is from the seventies when he was wearing glittery heels and the interviewer asked him if they're #women's or men's shoes and my said “they're shoe shoes”. icon #man! i miss that guy #when he died right at the beginning of 2016 i should have known that year would be fucked to hell #rayrambles

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chirpingfromthebox · 3 months ago

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The Sceptres' Post-game Press Session from 2/11/2025 - MIN at TOR

youtube

The Toronto Sceptres' post-game press session from their home game against the Minnesota Frost on Feb. 11th, 2025.

At the table were head coach Troy Ryan and forwards Renata Fast and Natalie Spooner.

My transcription is under the break.

[Video begins]

Reporter:

Natalie, it’s been a long road back to being on the ice in a full game. What was it like to get back on the ice and how do you feel?

NATALIE SPOONER:

Oh, it was awesome. I mean, definitely an adjustment and I think it will take a few games to get really back feeling like myself. But just to get out there with the girls, to get that win, felt really good. So, excited for the next one now.

Reporter:

It seemed like you and Hannah [Miller] kind of just picked up where you left off last year, really clicking together. How much easier does it make it knowing that you’re gonna be on a line with her and you guys already have that chemistry from last season?

NATALIE SPOONER:

Yeah, I mean I loved playing with her last season. I think last season, like, I’d say she was one of the best passers on our team and was setting me up. But this year she’s scoring all the goals. So I think I gotta be the one passing to her now [laughs]. But I mean she’s an amazing player so I know she’s gonna, you know, bury those pucks. She’s gonna win battles, make plays. She’s a lot of fun to play with.

Reporter:

Does that net front still feel real familiar?

NATALIE SPOONER:

For sure. Yeah, I like being around there. Got a few pucks in there today, they didn’t quite go in, but yeah, just kind of getting comfortable with my timing and where to be when pucks are coming in. Might take a little bit of time, but it felt good to be back there. Felt at home.

Reporter:

How did tonight compare to your expectations over the weeks and months?

NATALIE SPOONER:

Yeah, I mean obviously, like, coming back from pregnancy I kind of had a similar experience and I think having that I can kind of, in a sense, give myself grace. And I would say the first period definitely didn’t feel great. But kind of in the second period I thought I settled in a little bit more. But yeah, to be honest it felt a little bit of a blur so I’ll have to go back and watch a bit of the game and see. I’ve got a lot to work on still. Could feel it out there already so just kind of take it a game at a time and hopefully after a few games I kind of get back to that timing and that rhythm of the game.

Reporter:

Did you surpass- or did you get back quicker than you might even have thought you might have gotten back? Or was this a little later than you were thinking that you would?

NATALIE SPOONER:

As a high-performance athlete I think you want to get back as soon as you can. So I probably would have liked to have been back earlier. But at the same time I think it was the right time. The strides that I was making week after week, I think, were important. And to be able to go out there and feel safe and feel strong, I think was important. Today I felt good physically, so now it’s just getting that speed and that timing back.

Reporter:

Renata, is there a different feel with Natalie back in the lineup?

RENATA FAST:

Yeah, definitely. I mean, you can feel it the moment we got to the rink this morning- this afternoon, Spooner’s energy already in the locker room. I think Spoons just brings so much on ice, off the ice. Her presence, like you said, the net front, I think all us D were like, “If you see Spoons in front of the net just shoot the puck.” Because she’s just so good in front of there. Yeah, just such a valuable part of our team. It’s nice to have her back.

Reporter:

Troy, what did you think of Natalie’s performance in her first game back?

TROY RYAN:

I thought it was great. You know I mentioned to- in media before the game that it’s- you know our team would just be so excited to have her back. The presence she has off the ice, the presence she has on the ice. Had a great, probably our best scoring chance in the first period and none of it really surprises me. Doesn’t surprise me that she got back as early as she did. It’s like the best- it’s almost like a trade acquisition you make at this point in the year. And it’s the best trade we potentially could make getting Spooner back into our lineup at this point in the year. We’re excited.

Reporter:

In retrospect what did that time away feel like for you given you guys fought so hard to have this league? What was it like to watch from the stands in those games? Especially after the season you had last year.

NATALIE SPOONER:

Yeah, yeah, I mean, yeah, it’s never easy, I think, to show up at the rink every day, but not like be able to practice with your team. And be grinding out and rehabbing; it’s not where you want to be. But I think, you know, I just took it a day at a time. And standing in the stands at the same time I got to see kind of the perspective of the fans and how amazing the league is from that perspective. Which I think was really neat. Just kind of brought a really big appreciation for, you know, the city of Toronto. And they’re showing up for us every single day. So to be able to play in front of them today was kind of extra special because I had then seen that other side that when you’re on the ice you don’t really get to see.

Reporter:

Troy, it seemed that this was, for both teams, but seems like neither team was able to get shots until it opened up a little in the third. Why do you think that was the case? Especially for you guys. And why do- how do you want to make that adjustment moving forward?

TROY RYAN:

Yeah, I think there’s many reasons, many factors. Like obviously a lot of players on both of these teams were just away with their national team. So that’s gonna have some impact. Fatigue would be part; it’s a quick turnaround and it’s the first game after that international break. And it’s not just that, you know, there’s players not just the Canada/US, there’s the international players that did international travel and then a quick turnaround to get into this game. And then the players that weren’t away with the national teams, there’s a bit of a break there, right? So you get away from the flow of what games look like on a regular basis. You try to create game-like situations, but it’s really difficult when one half of your team is not there and some of your staff. So I think that’s- it’s just a quick turnaround. We knew that it was going to be ugly at times, but I think that’s what’s special about getting a win like that. Is that you can find different ways to win and our group just found a way to stick with it. So I think that’s one of the ones that when I look back at the end of this year I’m gonna be proud of, because you know, it’s just you’re finding a way to get it done.

Reporter:

You mentioned some of the international prey- play, bringing back Laura [Kluge] after her training camp and what has the process been like over the past couple of months here? And bringing her back what does she bring to this team?

Troy Ryan:

Yeah, she’s gonna be a great addition. You know, Gina [Kingsbury]’s done a lot of hard work to make that happen and obviously Laura as well on her end. You know, the one thing that I think’s really important to note is that it’s kind of getting grouped in with the [Sarah] Nurse being on long-term injury: they’re not connected at all. Laura was coming in to be a part of our team and it just happened to align with the same time that Nurse got- and I know that’s a bit of a side note, but I think it’s important for everybody to know that it was always the plan to bring in Laura and when we got the opportunity it just coincided with Nurse’s injury.

Reporter:

Just to piggyback on that, were you guys always looking for her to come after the international break? I know her and Germany were trying to qualify for the Olympics. Was that kind of the time frame you guys were looking at?

TROY RYAN:

Yeah, I mean you might have to ask Gina on the exact details of it. I just know it was always work but there was some work with her to do in Germany to get cleared and be able to be eligible for us to have signed her.

Reporter:

Renata, it’s taken a long time to get to your goal-

RENATA FAST:

Oh, it’s all good. [laughs]

Reporter:

Did you realize there was so little time left on the clock? And maybe a little bit of your description on what you saw there?

[For the record it took 6min and 41 seconds to ask Fast about her game-winning overtime goal. Just so you know!]

RENATA FAST:

Yeah, no I actually had no idea of the time on the clock. But, yeah, I was just telling them that I’ve had a couple of breakaways in overtime where I’ve shot the puck over the net or things like that. So I just went in just like, telling myself, “Don’t shoot over the net.” And that’s what happened. But yeah, I had no idea of the time.

Reporter:

Do you think the 3-on-3 suits your game?

RENATA FAST:

Yeah, I like when there’s lots of space on the ice, so I think it suits my game.

Reporter:

With the week- I mean, you’re coming back from Rivalry Series and can’t be really totally fresh, but you still had gas to go, at that point in the game, after- I mean, you were at your own end for almost the full 5 minutes, where do you find that?

RENATA FAST:

Yeah, well, I mean you see open ice in front of you and your eyes get big, you just go. But no, I think all of us were a little bit tired from the week that we had, but yeah, you just find it in yourself to play a game that you can play given the energy levels you have and go when you can and stay back when you don’t have it. So I think just managing it throughout the game allows you to still have a jump at the end.

Reporter:

Do you feel you were kind of owed this one? I mean you’ve had a lot of games where you guys have dominated play, and they kind of well they did dominate the overtime, and then to just steal one away. Do you almost feel like you’re owed this one?

RENATA FAST:

It definitely felt good. I mean, yeah we’ve had quite a few close games, overtime games, that haven’t gone our way in the last little bit. So, yeah, I think our team was happy with this one to finally get the win.

Reporter:

You mentioned earlier about not having Sarah [Nurse]. How much does that hurt not having her in the lineup for the next stretch?

TROY RYAN:

Yeah, it’s gonna be tough. She’s a big part of our team. A big part of our success. And obviously it’s gonna be difficult for a few weeks without her in our lineup, but I think there’s plenty of players that will make the most of the opportunity and hopefully we don’t miss a beat.

Reporter:

Can you guys also just talk about Kirk’s performance in the overtime? We talked a lot about it and then she made a couple big saves for you guys. Can you just talk a little about your thoughts on her during the game and especially during that overtime?

NATALIE SPOONER:

I mean, I thought she was solid. I’ve got to watch her from, you know, the stands, but to be out there- She made some huge saves and I think, you know, diving saves sometimes. Like, they were just desperation saves, but I think those were the saves we needed. She was able to make them in a timely time when we needed them and keep us in that game and eventually get Renata down the ice. So, yeah, we needed those big saves and she was able to give them to us tonight.

Reporter:

And Natalie, obviously, you know, the two big stories is no Nurse in the lineup and then you joining the lineup. Does- Do you think that puts any pressure on you getting back up to speed quicker here knowing that, you know, a big part of the team like Nurse is gonna be out for the foreseeable future?

NATALIE SPOONER:

I mean, I’m not trying to put any more pressure on myself, no. But I mean, I also play with Nursey so I was pretty disappointed, obviously, with her getting hurt. And I’ve played with her for many, many years now. And she’s kind of a comfortable person that I can play with. So definitely disappointed that, you know, I don’t have her there beside me, but I know she’ll be back soon enough. And hopefully we can pick up also where we left off, but yeah, I mean, she’s still a huge part of this team and she’ll still be around. So it’s just making sure that we’re winning games so that when she comes back we’re in a good spot.

Reporter:

Natalie, you mentioned being excited earlier, to come back and make the return, but how much does the win make the moment and the night that much sweeter for you?

NATALIE SPOONER:

Yeah, I mean it’s- Obviously you go out there, you want to win and you give it all. Just to come away with that win? It felt really good. So hopefully we can kind of build off that. It was definitely not a pretty win, but just kind of take that energy into the next little stretch of games we have and keep improving every game I think is really the goal coming down the stretch.

Reporter:

When did you know that tonight would be the game that you would make your return?

NATALIE SPOONER:

I mean, the timeline was kind of always constantly changing. But last week I had a few tests and was able to pass them and just kind of, I guess, talking with my surgeon and medical staff and it was like, Okay, you’re good to go. Passed everything. And then they were like, hey, that can be the game then. I mean, I’d always hoped for either this game or maybe a game earlier, but, you know. This one was the good game. You know, against Minnesota, I guess you can’t write any better, against Minnesota, got hurt against them. You know it seemed like the right time I guess.

Reporter:

You’ve taken some contact from practice already. Was there much, and again forgive me if I missed it, but it didn’t look like you got hit too much tonight?

NATALIE SPOONER:

No. Yeah, there was definitely- I think I got beat up a few times by our skills coach [laughs]. Getting ready and even some of the other girls that we were back training with me. So I was ready, but I’m sure once, maybe there’s a big hit, I dunno. We’ll see. But I think I’m ready for it now.

Reporter:

You also made the trip with the team going to Minnesota and then Montréal. Can you talk about how that helped your process getting back? You know, kind of getting back into schedule and to routine?

NATALIE SPOONER:

Yeah, just getting used to, I guess, the travel and everything. Being on the road. Just, you know, hanging out with the girls a lot more. I think it was a lot of fun for me. But yeah, even coming to the rink today I was like, What do I do? What time am I supposed to be ready at? You know? What do I drink? What do I eat before the game now? So there were a few things that I was like, Where do I stand? But, no, it’s all kind of coming back to me and it was nice to get that first one under my belt.

Reporter:

Troy, you have Megan [Carter] and Natalie out of the lineup for so much of the season, they finally come back and now Sarah’s out. Is there a frustration of not having a full healthy group? Or is it rolling with the punches at this point in the season?

TROY RYAN:

Yeah, I think it’s still rolling with the punches. Those things are stuff that we can’t control. Now obviously with Spooner back and obviously Carter now is getting a lot more comfortable and, you know, we have Scamurra, like you can just start to see what this lineup potentially could look like and I like that, you know, in the last number of games, I mean, you alluded to it, that outplaying a lot of our opponents recently now it’s gone from outplaying them to finding ways to get points. Or finding ways to get wins. So it’s just good if we just keep kind of chugging along and then when the group gets back together I think we’re gonna be very dangerous.

[End of video.]

#pwhl #toronto sceptres #pwhl toronto #troy ryan #renata fast #natalie spooner #pwhl transcriptions #yeesh I kind of regret doing this one #just super long #you'd swear some of the reporters were planning to write a novel about Spooner's comeback rather than an article #and Troy Ryan is my least favorite coach to transcribe #he speaks really quietly and monotone and slow and a bit mumbly #Youtube

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aspoonofsugar · 2 years ago

Text

Oshi No Ko - A Family Of Stars

I caught up with Oshi No Ko, so here are some opinions and meta thoughts.

AN INVERSION OF NAOKI URASAWA'S MONSTER

Oshi No Ko and Monster are 2 very different stories, but some plot elements and conflicts are similar:

Monster is the story of a surgeon, who must track down a serial killer whose life he has saved. This monster is one of 2 twins and the story deals with the brother and sister uncovering their past

Oshi No Ko is the story of a doctor, who is murdered and reborn as his favourite idol's child. Together with him there is a twin sister and they must track down the killer of their mother. The series leads the twins to find closure with their previous selves, so they can embrace a new life

In short, in both series there is a pair of twins and a murderer. It is just that in Monster the twins have no memories nor sense of selves, while in Oshi No Ko they have too many memories and baggage.

Finally, in Monster the characters must uncover the truth behind Johan, while in Oshi No Ko they must find out who Ai really is. The former is about understanding a monster, whereas the latter is about empathizing with a goddess.

(A)IDOL

The invincible smile that tears up the media Wanna know her secret, so mysterious Even the things she lacks end up in her area Such a perfect liar, you are: [Miss] ingenious, godly idol (You're my savior, you're my saving grace)

In religion an idol is:

An object which represents a deity, so it can become a manifestation of the god itself

A fake god, at least in monotheistic religions, like Judaism, Christianity and Islam

So, idols are gods. And yet, they are fake gods. In particular, monotheistic religions refuse idols because they are over-simplified representations of the divine.

Similarly, people worship celebrities, but only aknowledge their simplistic personas. Actors and idols are put on a pedestal, but also objectified:

So, what'd you eat today? What's your favorite book? And if you wanna go to play, where are you gonna go? I haven't eaten at all That's a secret No matter what you ask She's elusive, evasive Yet still shining bright; Her secret: out of sight, as if visible, has the taste of honey

They aren't seen as people with complex emotions, but as blank slates fans project their feelings onto.

This is why Ai Hoshino is the ultimate idol:

Drawing everyone's eyes You are the perfect, ultimate idol Never to appear again A reincarnation of Venus With that smile, with that "I love you" You captivate everyone Even if those eyes, those words, are false They make up a perfect love (Ai)

Ai's whole self is a lie. Not because she is malicious, but rather because she lacks a sense of self:

She is not sure of her own emotions and can't tell truth from lies. Everything is mixed and unclear. What does it even mean to love? What does Ai even want?

Ai is supposed to embody love. After all, she is associated to the Morning Star, which is called Venus, also known as the Goddess of Love. And yet, Ai's true eyes are dark:

Similarly, the word "ai" means love, but our idol's name is written with no kanji, which makes it the Japanese transcription of the English word for eye.

Ai's name is the sound of love, but with no kanjis (no meaning) attached. Ai is an empty love with empty eyes. This is the pun she is built on.

Still, why is that so? Well, Ai's parents don't put kanjis in her name, just like they don't love her:

So, Ai's character is defined by these 2 ideas:

I have never been loved by anyone Nor have I loved anyone else

On the one hand she was never loved. On the other hand she has never loved. Because of this, she thinks of herself as a fake.

AI (PURPLE) = AQUA (BLUE) + RUBY (RED)

Ai has stars in both her purple eyes. Aqua and Ruby instead have only 1 star each. Moreover, Aqua has blue eyes, while Ruby has red eyes. The idea is very simple. They are Ai's 2 sides:

Aqua is blue, right, mind and an actor

Ruby is red, left, heart and an idol

Together they make Ai, down to her 2 parallel careers (as an actress and as an idol). That said, the twins' foiling with their mother gets deeper:

As Miyako highlights, both Aqua and Ruby are liars. It is just that they lie about opposite things. On the one hand Aqua hides his most positive and vulnerable side. On the other hand Ruby hides her negative feelings. Aqua always sulks, while Ruby always smiles.

Aqua suppresses his wish to love others and to be happy with them

Ruby suppresses her fear to be unloved and abandoned by those around her

In short, each twin explores one of Ai's complexes (to love and to be loved). They really are the 2 faces of Ai (love).

AQUA - THE UNLOVING ACTOR

Aqua's story starts with Gorou Amamiya:

Gorou is a person strongly defined by guilt, which is at the root of his backstory. His mother was a young girl, who died by giving birth to him. As a result, Gorou feels he lives at her expenses and does all he can to rectify this mistake. For example, he becomes an obstetrician, even if he really wants to be a surgeon. Not only that, but he ends up developing a saviour complex. He feels it is his failure that Sarina dies, even if her illness can't be cured and has nothing to do with Gorou's area of expertise.

So, it is really no surprise that once Ai arrives, he projects on her the 2 people he could not save:

Ai is Sarina's favourite idol and a young girl like her

Ai is a teenage mother and is desperate to give birth in secret, just like Gorou's own mother

Ai represents Gorou's chance of redemption and catharsis. He could not save neither his mom nor Sarina, but he can help Ai. She needs the kind of doctor he is and this time he can make things right. However, Gorou is negated this closure and gets killed and reborn as Ai's own son. A son, who is destined to witness his mother's death. This time again, Aqua is powerless and can't save Ai. So, the story repeats and Aqua is left broken:

Aqua's real wish is to save people, but he keeps failing, so he chooses the path of revenge. He becomes his own antithesis.

He feels he doesn't deserve to live happily with others, but his wish to connect is too strong and he ends up forging some of the deepest bonds in the series:

He insists he is only focused on revenge, but ends up warming up to Kana and Akane to the point he goes out of his way to support them multiple times. Even when it doesn't help his avenge quest.

This is made clear in recent chapters, as well. Aqua has decided to give up on all his bonds. He cuts ties with Akane, decides to manipulate Kana and betrays Ruby's trust. He insists he is ready to go to hell alone. And yet, even after he takes such a dark turn, he can't help, but to save Ruby:

As Crow Girl says, this is a bad move on Aqua's side. His revenge would be easier if Ruby hated him, but he lets his true feelings out. He tries to repress his love and care for others. And yet, it keeps manifesting through the cracks of his vengeful persona. Aqua decides not to love, but he still does.

RUBY - THE UNLOVED IDOL

Ruby's story starts with Sarina Tendouji:

Sarina's life is doomed by her illness, which results in her parents abandoning her. Not only does she suffer physically, but she feels unloved. Despite that, she refuses to give up and laces on 2 people, who become her personal lights (stars):

Ai is the girl Sarina wishes to be. A person who is showered with love, as she shines brightly and moves freely on a stage.

Gorou is a parental substitude, as he is the only adult, who supports Sarina throughout her illness. He is even the person who stays with her, while she dies.

So, Ai and Gorou are around when Sarina's parents aren't, which is why she ends up idolizing them. Ai becomes some kind of ideal self, while Gorou becomes her first crush. The truth, though, is that they are the 2 pillars of Sarina's life.

Ironically, Sarina's make believe family becomes Ruby's real one. In particular, Ai becomes a mother, who loves her children with all her heart. This is healing for Ruby, who projects her wish for love on Ai:

It is Ai's strong emotions, which make it possible for Ruby to recover from the loss of her mother:

Ruby pursues the career of idol earnestly to become a star who never lies. And yet, she keeps lying to herself, as she refuses to confront Sarina's past. This negation is why her reaction to Gorou's death is so strong. This discovery becomes a catalyst for all of Ruby's negative feelings:

Ruby becomes her own antithesis and starts to climb up high through manipulation and lies. It is implied she weakens her relationships and later on she enters a violent fight with Aqua, which breaks their bond.

And yet, when Ruby hits rock bottom and confronts the painful truth that her parents have abandoned Sarina, it is Aqua who comes to her rescue:

Even if Ruby breaks their relationship and is prepared to live without trusting anyone anymore, she is still loved. The girl who fears rejection and abandonement is loved even in her darkest moment.

IDOL + FANS = MOTHER + CHILDREN

Aqua and Ruby are opposites. Aqua is scared to be loved and can't let go of Gorou. Ruby is scared to be unloved and can't face Sarina. And yet, they are also the same. Both project their deeper issues on both each other and Ai.

Gorou's feelings over his mother are projected on Sarina. Similarly, he projects his feelings for Sarina on Ai

Sarina's feelings over her mother are projected on Gorou. Later on, she decides to become like Ai because of her promise to Gorou

In short, Gorou wants to protect Ai because of Sarina and Sarina wants to become like Ai because of Gorou. As a result, Ai ends up as the object of their fantasies and wishes. A real godly idol.

Obviously, Gorou and Sarina's feelings towards Ai grow deeper and more complex as they are reborn as her twins. Slowly, their relationship goes from that of idol and fans to that of mother and children.

So, Aqua and Ruby's story is about overcoming the idealization of Ai. Both as fans towards their favourite idol and as children towards their mother. After all, isn't a mother their child's idol?

SUSANOO, AMATERASU AND MARIA

Among other things, the theme of idolisation is conveyed through the religious motif of the Hoshino Family.

Even the flowing sweats are beautiful Aqua These eyelids that hid the Ruby within

The lyrics reference the legend of Susanoo and Amaterasu:

According to tradition, the 3 god siblings Susanoo, Tsukuyomi and Amterasu are born from the creator god Izanagi. as he washes his face in a river. Tsukuyomi (Moon Goddess) is born from Izanagi's right eye, Amaterasu (Sun Goddess) from his left eye and Susanoo (Sea God) from his nose. In short:

Aqua is a composite version of Tsukuyomi and Susanoo. He has inherited Ai's right eye, like Tsukuyomi. However, the opening associates him to his mother's sweat, like Susanoo is born from Izanagi blowing his nose. Finally, his name links him to the sea

Ruby alludes to Amaterasu. She has inherited Ai's left eye, the opening links her to her mother's eyes and she herself mentions the goddess

This reference loosely comments Aqua and especially Ruby's arcs.

Amaterasu and Susanoo enter a fight, which leaves the Goddess crying and depressed. She hides in a cave and without the light of the sun, the world is left in darkness. The other Gods come up with a plan to lure Amaterasu out of her prison. In particular, the God of Enterteinment Ame-no-Uzume organizes a celebration for a new bright Goddess. Amaterasu gets curious and eventually comes out from the cave, so the world gets sunlight back.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Ame-no-Uzume is mentioned multiple times together with Amaterasu. Moreover, the characters visit the Goddess of Enterteinment's temple and they metaphorically enter Amaterasu's cave:

What the story does is clear, right? Ruby's arc is loosely an inversion of Amaterasu's story.

The Sun Goddess enters a fight with her brother and hides in a cave, only to be rescued by the Goddess of Enterteinment. Ruby is guided by Crow Girl (who could be a composite character between Yagatarasu and Ame-no-Uzume herself) and enters a cave, where she finds Gorou's body. This leads to Ruby going through her eclipse phase, where her eyes go dark. Eventually, she is helped by her brother and she finds her inner light again.

It is possible that Aqua's story will mirror Susanoo's in a similar way. After all, the God of the Sea is famous for killing a monstrous serpent to protect a Princess and for finding a Magical Sword within the beast. This may reference Aqua's quest for revenge, who leads him to find a princess (Akane-Princess Saya) and a blade (Kana-Tsurugi). That said, it is too soon to say.

As a final note, Ruby and Aqua's fight ties into the mythological motif. After all, Amaterasu enters into conflicts with both Susanoo and Tsukuyomi. In Amaterasu and Susanoo's case, they go through a divination ritual, so that Susanoo can prove his good intentions. Susanoo passes the trial, but the aftermath leads to the siblings fighting. When it comes to Ruby and Aqua, Ruby gets angry at Aqua for betraying Ai. As a result, Aqua has to mend his bond with Ruby by revealing his past self. To do so, he proves his identity through the Ai-keychan (a divine sign). He passes the trial.

What's most interesting about these references is Ame-no-Uzume's role. The Goddess of Enterteinment is an ally of Amaterasu, but Crow Girl leads the characters towards darkness. Thematically, she may embody the darkest part of the enterteinment world, which finds fun in people suffering.

So, what about Ai? What is her religious symbolism? Let's turn to Christianity:

Sing, dance, flutter, I am Maria — Right, lying is the most exquisite form of love

Mary is famous for having Jesus, while still a virgin. She is so perfect that God chooses her to bear his child. Similarly, Ai is an idol and is requested to be pure, so for her to have a sexual partner is out of question.

Still, Aqua and Ruby's reaction to the idea of a father is interesting. It speaks of their idealization of Ai both as her children and as her 2 biggest fans. At the same time, it betrays a wish to repress everything related to the final member of the Hoshino family.

MEPHISTO

As @hamliet explains in her meta, Hikaru Kamiki's name means God of Light, which is a reference to Lucifer, the fallen angel turned king of hell. It is a fitting imagery for Ai's enemy. Ai is Aqua and Ruby's goddess, so her killer can only be the devil. Similarly, Lucifer betrays God and Hikaru betrays Ai.

So, what is known about Hikaru Kamiki? Only 2 things:

He was raped and forced to have a son when he was 11

He is a serial killer, who targets famous celebrities

In particular, it is probable Hikaru idolises Ai, just like his children do. As a child, he is raped by a woman, then he meets Ai and has a relationship with her. However, his unsolved trauma almost surely ends up compromising his story with the idol and he eventually kills her. Later on, he projects his feelings over Ai on women similar to her, whom he targets in a neverending cycle.

This psychological mechanism makes him the embodyment of the most twisted love possible:

He was loved wrong (he was raped)

He loves wrong (he kills women he is attracted to)

Given this premise, he is clearly going to be defeated and he will probably die in the end. Still, the way he goes down will be important for Aqua and Ruby, as it will decide their future, as well.

In general, Hikaru is probably meant to be a negative foil (a jungian shadow) to the twins, as he represents their darkest parts. In particular, it is gonna be interesting if he foils them not only on the main theme of love, but also on the theme of lies and truth.

Aqua explores the idea of lies. He hides things from others and manipulates them. At the same time, he also experiences how good beautiful lies can be (his happy life when he thinks his father died). Most of all, though, he embodies the idea that a lie can become truth and vice versa. For example, his most effective manipulation technique is to mix his true feelings with his lies. He tells Kana she is cute because he thinks so. He tells Akane he is interested in her as an actress because it is true. He manipulates both girls, but his feelings are genuine.

Ruby explores the idea of truth. She hates liars and doesn't want to lie even if it would help her become an idol faster. Still, she experiences how painful truth can be (her discovery of Gorou's body). This leads her to lie to both herself and others. In the end, though, an even more painful truth comes out (her parents do not love her). No matter how much Ruby tries to hide her feelings, truth will come out. And yet, despite how agonizing it is, truth also leads to happiness. She is devastated after seeing Sarina's mother again, but this lets Ruby and Aqua find each other as Sarina and Gorou. As a result, Ruby is now happier and stronger.

So, in which way may Hikaru foil his children here? There might already be hints:

Just like Aqua, Hikaru is a master at manipulating others with truth. After all, it is implied he manipulated his rapist's husband to kill her by revealing her infidelity. Similarly, he orchestrates Ai's death by telling an unstable fan about her pregnancy. Even when it comes to Yura Katayose, he openly tells the actress to watch her step. An open threath masked as advice.

Just like Ruby, it is possible Hikaru values truth and hates liars. This could easily tie in his backstory and explain why his relationship with Ai degenerates:

I shall lie today as well (Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!) Hoping that one day, these words will become true (Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!) And yet, still, (Hey! Hey!) I have been unable to tell you, and you, alone (Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!)

Ai sees herself as a liar unable to love. This is obviously the real lie, as her heart is full of love. Still, it wouldn't be surprising if Ai's own issues exasperated Hikaru's fear to be used again. From what we know, it is probable Ai and Hikaru have feelings for each other, at a certain point. Then things go bad. What if Ai's inability to express her love and Hikaru's inability to understand lead to their breakout and eventual tragedy?

Obviously, this is all a theory, but one thing is sure. Ai and Hikaru's relationship is key for understanding their characters and their legacy to the twins. Still, Ai is already dead and Hikaru will die in the end. How can their story find a closure, then?

A WORK OF FICTION TO SHOW THE TRUTH

The climax of the series is building up towards the movie, which is gonna represent Hikaru and Ai's story.

Interestingly, Aqua is playing Hikaru, while Ruby is playing Ai. It is obvious a lot of emotional payoff rides on this. On the one hand it is gonna be a chance for Aqua and Ruby to sort out their feelings towards each other. On the other hand Kana and Akane will probably do the same, which will solve their love triangle with Aqua. (spoiler - KanaXAqua is probably endgame).

What is really interesting, though, is that the movie is set up to reveal who Ai really is. After all, the godly idol asks the director to film the real her and this request should be satisfied. Not only that, but Ai leaves her children 2 tapes whose contents are still to be shown. So, whatever Ai's legacy is, it will be made clear. This is true also for her bond with Hikaru:

So, does Ai forgive Hikaru or not? Her children seem to believe in the latter. However, the former is probably true.

First of all, it is probable Ai realizes Hikaru is behind her murder. The stalker arrives with a bouquet of white roses, which are associated to Hikaru. Moreover, Hikaru is the only person, who knows both about the twins and the new address. Secondly, Ai shows no rage nor fear for the fan who murders her. The man is clearly a stand-in for Hikaru in the scene. Despite his actions, Ai does not lose time hating him, but spends her final moments affirming her love for her and Hikaru's children. In short, Ai possibly knows of Hikaru's involvement, but doesn't regret their kids.

Still, will Aqua and Ruby portray this in their movie? And does Aqua's revenge ride on Ai's forgiveness or hate towards Hikaru? Will the twins understand their mother?

Whatever the result, it is probable Aqua and Ruby will eventually run into their father. In particular, Hikaru is set up as a threath to the 3 main girls:

He sends Akane white roses and she is determined to stop Aqua's revenge, which may put her in harm's way

He is the thematically opposite of Kana. He embodies twisted love and twisted truth. She embodies healthy love and genuine feelings

Finally, there is several build up towards him trying to eventually kill Ruby:

He comments that Ruby is growing up beautiful

He kills Yura, who is the original first choice for Ai's role

Ruby ends up playing Ai in the movie

If this third scenario becomes true, it could give closure to all the character arcs. Ruby may empathize with Ai and forgive her father. Aqua may be given the chance to save Ruby (symbolically both Ai and Sarina) this time. Finally, the outcome may offer catharsis to Hikaru before he dies. In short, I think Hikaru is gonna die, but that the twins are not killing him. Rather, they are gonna understand their mother's feelings and survive their parents' tragedy.

A SECOND CHANCE

Hikaru and Ai's story is a sad one, but Aqua and Ruby's is gonna have a happy outcome. After all, the whole series is about overcoming death and getting second chances.

Gorou and Sarina both go past their deaths and are given brand new lives

The new B Komachi is a second chance for all its members. It is a second chance to live for Ruby, a second chance for Kana's career, a second chance to fulfill Mem-cho's idol dream. Finally, it is the second chance of Ichigo and Miyako's wish to come true

Miyako and Ichigo's love story will also be given a second chance

The movie is the director's second chance to realize Ai's wish to film her real self

In short, this theme is everywhere and it is possible the series ends with B Komachi performing in a dome, exactly as it starts. This time, though, things will go well.

Still, doesn't something feel odd? After all, if the series is about second chances, why isn't Ai given one?

THE REAL AI (TRUE LOVE)

I think there are 2 reasons Ai isn't reborn:

1- Aqua and Ruby are Ai's second chance

The twins are Ai's legacies and will fulfill her dream for her:

Someday, surely, I will have it all in hand I am such a greedy idol Because I wish to love everybody properly in a life-sized way

Ai's wish is to reconcile her family with her idol career. She wants to love both her children and her fans. She wants it all. Well, Aqua and Ruby come to embody these 2 different forms of love:

Aqua is given a lot of focus when it comes to personal relationships. An important part of his arc is his feelings for Akane and Kana and he is not that much interested in the enterteinment business per se. In the end, he may also choose to fulfill his dream to become a surgeon

Ruby's dream is to become an idol, who shines even more brightly than Ai. Moreover, Ruby's wish is pure in how she doesn't want to lie nor to manipulate others to get there. She is right now also stepping into the role of actress, so by the end Ruby may catch up and surpass Ai in both her careers (idol and actress)

In other words, Aqua may live the love of a happy relationship and family, while Ruby may live the love of openly loving the world and people in general. Whatever the case, Aqua and Ruby will fulfill Ai's main wish which is for them to grow up healthy and happy.

2- Ai doesn't need reincarnation because she in fact does fulfill her dream

Ai wants to love both her family and her fans, which is what she does at the very end.

She remembers the stalker's name and his present. She proves to him she never took her fans for granted

She is able to tell her children she loves them and realizes she is not lying

Ah, I've said it now at last This is definitely not a lie; I love you

Ai's wish is to love and to be loved and she gets it through her twins. Aqua and Ruby feel they owe their mother something and that it is cruel they get to live a second life, while Ai doesn't. Still, they are wrong. If Gorou and Sarina were not reborn, Ai would have had a stillbirth, which would have broken her. Just by existing, they fulfill Ai's dream. They give Ai the love she so desperately craves.

By the end, Hoshino Ai becomes the embodyment of true love. True love isn't perfect. It is complicated, as people struggle and make mistakes. Still, if the wish is genuine enough, it shines incredibly bright. So does Ai, not as an idol, but as a real person (the true Ai).

#oshi no ko #oshi no ko meta #oshi no ko theory #ai hoshino #aqua hoshino #ruby hoshino #hikaru kamiki #my meta

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