#The last time they did that was XY

[shima-draws]

Hello Shima,

I have a question for you. If you could design your own Pokemon Game, what kind of story would you want to tell the player? What would be the theme?

And in what part of the world would the region, if you decide to make a new region, be set?

I ACTUALLY did have a concept for a story, I had to do a bit of digging to find the post lol I'm just gonna share the screencap with the tags here

As for the region HMM I'd honestly LOVE to see one based off of Italy. We kinda got a teaser for that with Alto Mare, but seeing a whole region with that kind of theme would be so sick

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Rip & Tear!

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[wild-battlebond]

i feel like out of all three (? I think it’s just three because there’s dress-up, baking is repeated, and then quiz) different types of first-round activities for showcases, the quiz show one has to be the absolute least interesting

[evilminji]

You know what would be both Cool(tm) AND Pants Shittingly Terrifying? Eldritch Space Whale Danny!

Except NOT! Because he's not a whale! Just snoozing and Giganto-Fuck-Off HUGE!

Imagine it! Danny. Joint Custody Child of The Ancients Of Time And Space. Space is SALTY AF because their BITCH OF AN EX has used his FUCKING POWERS, AGAIN, to CHEAT. Clockwork how DARE YOU.

You knew he'd be our Son in advance!

YOU SNUCK IN AND STARTING BONDING WITH OUR CHILD BEHIND MY BACK!

YOU [REDACTED]!

Danny? Sitting off to the Side as a Sentient Everything and Nothing made of galaxies and starlight, howls expletives at their Ex, who is being... REALLY snippy back? WOW, Clockwork. I mean, JESUS, man. Danny's from "oh bless their heart" Nowhere, Midwest. And even HE thinks that last one was both backhanded and cold af.

......he should take notes. *continues to eat his popcorn*

Anyway! APPARENTLY, Space Parent has taken him in the divorce. With much huffing. Tucked under their arm Like The Football(tm). And honestly? This is kinda hilarious, so he's cool with it. Byyyyyy~ Clock Dad! See you on weekends~☆!

*Exasperated Time Noises*

It's pretty cool! He learns a lot. Learns he's probably? Gonna be SOME variation of Space Ghost. Might even take over Space's... well, EVERYTHING, should the unforeseeable occur. So obviously, gonna have to learn The Family Business, as it were!

Which?

UNSPEAKABLY HYPED, YES PLEASE.

SPACE AND STAR STUFF! HECK YEAH!

Unfortunately? Still a Halfa. Bleh, squishy need to eat and sleep. Why they get in the way of Hyperfixation? Why no more space dust? Nooooo, don't drag him away from the controls! He can still learn! Sleep is for quitters! Cowards! *whining in Give Me Back My Blorbos, You Monsters*

But, no. He apparently has to "take care of his body" and "not burn out". Eat "real food". A protein bar counts! He probably ate one of those! Give him back his STARS! He doesn't CARE if he sounds like a toddler! That's DIRECT ACCESS TO THE SECRETS OF SPACE ITSELF! He'll BITE, so HELP HIM-! *Is scruffed like a cranky infant being carried off to beddy bye*

Injustice! D:<

But, none the less, body's require sleep. He shovles down his food, washes up, and flops down in his bed. In the nice lil cozy "Safe For My Half Apprentice Who Is Also My Adopted Son" corner. He passes out in that corner. Starts to float, as he has done countless times before, when agitated before bed. Floats OUT of that corner.

That Safe Little Corner.

IN THE CENTER, THE BEATING HEART OF SPACE.

You know... the place ALL OF SPACE connects too. Where Universe Form and Die. The Grand Recycler. Dust to Dust, from the ashes of old, to the creation of new. Where PORTALS are randomly assigned. So that the Omniversal Ectoplasmic Levels may always be balanced at near to perfect levels, allowing free flow of Souls through the various Reincarnation cycles.

Space, of course, doesn't MANAGE the Ectoplasm itself. Nor the Souls! Different Ancient for THAT, but they DO manage the PORTALS. We live in a SYSTEM after all. Everyone has their "departments" as it were. So really, it's quiet... Danny? Honey? Awful quiet back there! You, uh, fallen asleep, Starlight?

*empty room*

(O.O)

*inhale* AAAAAAAAAAA-!!!!!!!

Meanwhile! He be Snoozin'! And Ghostin'! Ghost Snoozin'! Is extra comfy, cause he weightless and got not booooones~☆!

But! He? Is not a child anymore! Has learned to... for lack of a better term, Let Go. To finally ACCEPT his Death. His inhumanity. His Amortality. Death no longer holds him, can no longer let him go. He is... not immortal. He is disowned, by his own doing and his own choice, at his timeless moment of Ending.

When Life let go of his hand and Death kindly offered theirs, he did not take it.

And that's okay.

It took awhile. Talking to older ghosts. Most vague and vast, near formless. Because it's... it's scary. And it's all you know. All, really, you've EVER known. Inherent to your identity, even after you leave that part you behind.

You are "human". "Martian" or "Xy'xeruian", something else, and you never question it. Even when you've left behind everything ELSE. Your name, your eyes, your history and skin. Yet you fly around and pretend. Still alive, still human.

But is that YOU?

Or just the form you found your start in?

And like? It's okay if it IS! Sometimes, yeah, you ARE. You look down deep and find a "don't know what you were expecting, buddy" sign stapled to a mirror. But more often? It's that last hurdle. The final step in Letting Go.

Everyone mourns at their own pace.

And they are the ghosts of who they were.

It helped. Mourning for the kid he was. Who was fourteen and wanted to be an astronaut. Who died and will never have a grave. The longer he exsists, for he can't technically be called Alive, the more painfully young that child seems.

It was okay.

To cry for Danny Fenton.

Then? To let him go. Let his memory, be memory. And his Past be the grave that child rests in. Loved dearly and remembered, but no longer binding his soul.

He doesn't have to wear that face anymore.

No tributes to the Dead.

He got? Kinda... BIG. Like REALLY big. Spiraling, serpentine, cracking ice, and burning galaxies. Like a fourth dimensional dragon, of ice and stars, somehow forcing its way into a three dimensional space. Atop it all, between two vast, impossible horns? Made of glacial ice coating the warping hearts of black holes, who's shape themselves seem to shift in unknowable ways? There burns, like comet trails, with super novas, compressed to decorative gems beneath glittering morning frost, a Terrible Crown.

He? Thinks? He MIGHT have wings.

He can't tell.

Because APPARENTLY he's a fuckin tesseract! Oh, no, sorry. He might me a Zone DAMNED PENTERACT!!! Is THIS what he gets for hanging out with Clockwork all the time? He just liked the quiet! Now his "true form" is PHYSICALLY PAINFUL for most people to look at!

Clock Dad WHAT THE HELL?!

(You see, now, why Space broke up with him? An ASSHOLE)

So! Danny stays, usually at least, in his "Hi, yes, I am Normal Human Man" Ghost form. But NOW? Now it PINCHS. Because it's TOO SMALL. But hey, that's fine! It's not like he has an ingrained habit of transforming when super tired and stressed! To float sleep for Maximum Restfulness(tm).

Ha ha!

Why does that feel like foreshadowing?

BECAUSE IT IS!

Danny? Snoozing! Space? Has LOST THE BABY! Portals? Have done a Jood Gob in Portalling, something they are vaguely sure they are supposed to be doing! Yay them! They have no brain cells but still enjoy helping! They moved a thing! That's helpful right? Yay! Probably!

And on DC's planet Earth?

They? Just choked on their fuckin coffee. One moment? La dee daa~ oooh~ look! Stars! Deep space! Oh, hiiii~ Watchtower! The NEXT? *every alarm in the building starts LOSING ITS SHIT* Giant World OBLITERATING SHAPE completely takes up the screen.

From near PLUTO.

There are NO WORDS TO DISCRIBE HOW FUCK OFF BIG THIS THING IS, MR. PRESIDENT. It will eat our nukes and LAUGH. Call! EVERYBODY!!!

Obviously? Superman. I mean really, OF COURSE Superman. Frankly, all the Supers. Because we would like to KEEP having a planet, thanks. Only? The more reports that come in? The more everyone is getting "oh fuck. This is a Workd Eater" vibes.

A massive, massive, Sleeping Titan of a Planet Destroying World Eater.

That MIGHT BE MAGIC.

*highly stressed Everyone noises*

And WORSE? Superman? Can't TOUCH it! Oh sure, at FIRST he could! But then he apparently pushed too hard in just one spot! And it felt POKED AT. So now, after flicking superman HALFWAY BACK TO EARTH to make him stop? No one can physically touch it!

But! There is hope!

Because? The creature is GREEN. Bright, luminous, Lantern Green! And Earth's Lanterns have already sent for back up. Combined? The were able to move a... hand? Paw? Something. But! With the combine forces of several nearby sectors of Lanterns? They promise the power to either relocate the creature or at least hold it in orbit until FURTHER forces can be deployed!

They refuse to harm the creature until it proves actively hostile, as it could have been seeking a place to nap and chosen one inconvenient to established planetary life. Frankly? Earth doesn't CARE where you relocate the giant Eldritch Space Dragon. Just NOT IN OUR BACKYARD, PLEASE.

....YES WE ARE SURE! We don't CARE if the scientific community of our planet is begging you to set up an area for them to place an "observation satellite"! No giant Eldritch Space Dragons in our solar system! It might WAKE UP!

Naturally, about half way THROUGH this Highly Delicate Operation?

Danny Wakes Up.

@hypewinter @hdgnj @lolottes @babbling-babull @nerdpoe @the-witchhunter @mutable-manifestation

[maddiicake]

ON TWITTER   ||   ON INSTAGRAM

~✩✩✩ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ✩✩✩~

(Not late to the party this time~! lol)

First off, I just want to send a big "Congratulations~!" To @yamujiburo for reaching 550k Followers on their Twitter! They deserve it for sure <3 And, like last time, I participated in their HanaMusa DTIYS

Of course, I technically shouldn't be able to, since I don't have a style of my own--my drawing specialty being the ability to draw on model--so doing a DTIYS wouldn't necessarily make sense. So, I opted for the technicality of drawing HanaMusa in the Pokémon Art style (specifically XY anime) like I did last time.

Anyway~! Hope you enjoy ^u^

~✩✩✩ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ✩✩✩~

[narcissarina]

Darkened Desires

Prologue and Chapter 1: The sun || Chapter 2: The moon || Chapter 3: The moon || Chapter 4: The sun || Chapter 5: The sun || Chapter 6: The moon || Chapter 7: The moon || Chapter 8: The sun || Chapter 9: The sun

Pairings: Mafia!Scaramouche × Barista!Reader

Word count: 1,032

Tw: praise kink, degradation, kidnapping, tourture, dub/non-con, forced breeding, dismembering, gore, deaths, age-gap, corruption, use of force, trauma, use of drugs, stalking, mentions of human trafficking on the near chapters, slowburn.

Warning: This fanfiction may contain kidnapping, torture, dub/non-con, forced breeding, dismembering, age-gap, corruption, vigilante Scaramouche, use of force, trauma, use of drugs, stalking, and more. This fiction will continue grow darker as chapters goes by.

Your mental health matters.

CHAPTER 10:

THE OUTSIDER

He didn’t gave me a choice but to do this, I thought we were a team but I guess not. He doesn’t understand that we needed that girl, well—that was what the Tsaritsa said, and so I did what I have to do. It’s not a crime to follow someone’s order, was it?

I was pretty much delighted when she had fallen asleep, it was as easy as Scara said to hack cameras and manipulate them, so I did. Took her away from home and kept her in the basement, well—probably more of a torture room, I love to see his reaction when he marks to himself that the Tsaritsa isn’t playing games.

All he needed to do was deliver the goods and have a lovely conversation with the client, but no—he was too busy talking to his darling sunshine and saving children and women, not that it was a bad idea.

It was nice of him to use his position and power to save the poor who couldn’t protect themselves. But the Tsaritsa said that time is ticking, she doesn’t have all day now, does she?

Now here I am, stuck with his mess with his own client—not mine.

My head throbs as his client ramble to me, I could only maintain a friendly smile—showing not even a slight of irritation even though I want to put a bullet and slit his throat up.

“Yes, I understand your frustration.” I nod and folded my arms, leaning my back to the soft cushion of my seat “what about m—” I interrupt him, “No need to get concern about your… goods.” I let out a soft chuckle and rest my chin to my palm, “I’ll be sure to confiscate you and give you your goods.” I added and took a sip of my glass of red wine.

He opened his mouth but shut it again, “seems like a good deal, no? I’ll even add a discount for you.” I rest my arms wide from the back of my seat, “not only I’m doing something ‘good’ but also…” I mutter the last words, “benefitting the Tsaritsa some informations…”

“what was that?”

“It’s beneficial for the both of us.” I cover up with a lie and smiled, leaning forward and resting my elbow to my knees,

“What do you say, mister Xy?” I look at him in the eye, he’s hesitant but agreed anyway, “great!” I stood and clap my hands together and look at my men, “I’ll be sure to contact you,” I say as I turn to look at him, with his expression remains a hint of doubt.

“Report.” I mumble next to my men as he lean to whisper in my ear, I nodded as I listen to his words. “Very good,” I pat his shoulder and turn around and walk towards the exit, as if on cue—my men had followed me out. The car has been ready and I step inside, adjusting and making myself feel comfortable inside.

Crossed my legs and lean my head against the window, “Let’s go back to little miss sunshine.”

The driver nod and drove off.

As I entered in my own home, I hear voices from below—it must’ve been someone accompanying her with the door slightly open, I sigh and took off my coat and give it to my servant.

I walked down the stairs and saw one of my men arguing with the miss, I decided to eavesdrop before interrupting their fun.

“You can’t just push the remote whenever you please because you’re that hungry!” he argued, she just looks at him with her eyes squint, “why not?” she innocently asked, “because you’re eating every often, you literally asked for food three fucking times in a row!”

“because I’m hungry.”

“And we’re gonna run out of ingredients to feed to you! The fuck kind of stomach you have, woman!?”

I snicker, holding back my laugh as I let the scene play out.

“then y’all shouldn’t have left me with the remote then.” She frowns, “can’t do that. That’s against our boss’s order.” He clears his throat as he spoke, I heard him take a deep breath before continuing.

I heard a bell ring upstairs, I’m gonna burst but I can’t.

“Come on! What now?!”

“I want desserts.”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore, I burst out laughing—my arm on my stomach. I couldn’t believe this girl, it’s either this is the reason why Scara chose her or another but this is beyond hilarious.

“B-Boss!” he stammer and fixes himself in front of me, I dismiss it, trying to calm myself down. I breath in and out as I slowly got my cool back, I couldn’t hold it in anymore, I burst out laughing—my arm on my stomach. I couldn’t believe this girl, it’s either this is the reason why Scara chose her or another but this is beyond hilarious.

I look at him as I see his skin jump, “what are you waiting for? Get her desserts.”

“but sir.”

“No excuses, don’t want her get hungry now, do you? Would you like a demonstration when Scara’s little sunshine get starved?” the corner of my lips tug a small but sinister smile, “no sir.” He answered and left with his head looking at the ground.

I let myself see him out then turn to look down at her, my figure towering her down in her ground, “does this frighten you?” I asked, she shakes her head and nod a little, “only a bit.”

“Why?”

“there’s no warmth in the darkness.”

I suck my cheeks in and nodded, “but it also makes me feel safe too, sometimes.” She mumbled the word sometimes as she fidgets with her fingers.

“Will you let me go now?”

I chuckle and shakes my head, “not until your hubby give me something that I want.”

“what is it?”

“It’s classified, only belonged to his stepmother.”

Her eyes speaks curiosity and an itch to dig into it more, I smiled and shift my weight to my left, “don’t want you snooping around to his personal life now, curiosity does kill the cat.” I warned and turn around and leave her behind.

I can feel her eyes burn at the back of my neck.

It’ll be fun playing with her for a while…

Link:

Chapter 11: THE MOON

[yaut-jaknowit]

A reader with a male Yautja, and a male reader whos a dumbass, who always does dumb shit, like throw themselves off a cliff (into water of course) and often wonders off or runs off to find shiny rocks in shit. Just to offer them as a gift to the Yautja. I can imagine the Yautja being angry at first too.. please ignore this if you don't wanna write it! I just really like your work. And I think it's really cool!

Curiosity Led A Path

Pairing: Vic'tao (Male Yautja) x Reader

Word Count: 1548

Summary: "If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough," - Vic'tao.

Author Note: This is me though. I'm the dumbass who likes to run off without an care of my safety and find shiny rocks. I love gifting rocks to people.

Masterlist

Ao3

Out of a range of planets, this one was considered the safest in this system. Little to no predators waiting in the dark, dense forest that covered the majority of the land. Similar to Yautja Prime. Vic’tao has kept an eye out on this planet for some time.

It was you who begged and pleaded with the younger Yautja to have an adventure, explore! You are the first human, that you knew of, to be this far out in the universe. Of course, you would want to step off the confines of Uihoy’s ship and see what the universe offered. Just from the ships windows, you were enthralled at the sight. It never got old.

The atmosphere, to your luck, was close to the chemical make up of Earth. It did have a slightly higher content of Nitrogen, luckily for Vic’tao. Being on the ship, in their own made-up atmosphere, you’ve grown accustomed to the thinner air. This wasn’t any different to that.

With your arms spread wide, you twirled around and took in a deep breath of fresh air. It was better than the recycled air of the ship. On the way down the ship’s ramp, your sandal clipped your other shoe.

A yelp surpassed your lips. Luck was on your side. You were able to catch yourself just in time then spun around to face the approaching, unhurried pace of Vic. “See!” You threw your arms up. “I didn’t fall.”

The young blood snorted. “Don’t you oomans have a saying?” At first you furrowed both of your brows before shrugging. Now wasn’t the time to question the normal antics of one of your mates. You happily kept your path going down the ramp and stepped onto the planet.

Nothing jumped out at you. Not that you truly paid attention to. Not like Vic’tao would for your sake. No self-perseverance, at all. At times, Vic wants to put a damn leash on you. Anything to stop you from jumping off cliffs or somehow disappearing from his side. Then, he refocused on the spot you were… empty. He groaned while throwing his head back before trudging forward. The male wasn’t too terribly worried about anything harming you. He chose this place for a reason.

Through the unknown scents that littered the new area, he picked up yours easily and followed the windy path you took. From one new item to the next, you leaped around like a Xy.

By the time Vic’tao spotted your form through the thick foliage that filled the lands, you were yanking off your clothing. Concerned about this different action, he picked up his pace. Had you gotten something on your skin that was hurting you? That was the only logical reason he could come up with at the sight.

Then, you took a few steps back once you stripped down to your undergarments. A sight he was happy to soak in. With a burst of speed, you sprinted forward and jumped. “Geronimo!” you shouted with glee.

At first, he thought nothing of it until your form disappeared over a ledge. Instinct drove him to scramble forward, shoving past the plants, nearly going on all fours. Vic raced to where he last saw you. Without even any hesitation, he launched himself after you.

Finally, he took in the sight of water at the bottom of the cliff. A waterfall pouring gallons down into the lake. Your form hit the water first with a large splash. Vic landed close by and was quick to surface.

Now, in the cool water, you giggled and pumped your arms high above your head. Without your arms, you immediately sunk before your head and had to swim back up to breath. A bright smile glowed on your face.

A few feet from you treaded Vic’tao. “Oh, hey!” you greeted and swam over to him. “Didn’t know you had followed me.”

But, he kept silent. There were a swirling of emotions in his bright, yellow eyes. He reached with both of his hands and grasped the side of your head. Mindfully, he’s able to keep himself up and leaned in. “Don’t ever do that again,” he growled, each word emphasized carefully.

You immediately started to pout. “Come on, lighten up, Vicy! It was safe. It was getting hot too,” you complained and attempted to swim backwards. Vic’tao kept a steel grip on you so you couldn’t dare try to get away from his scolding. “Don’t you enjoy swimming with me?”

By Paya’s will, if you didn’t look so damn adorable pouting, he would drag you back up the cliff. He huffed instead and shifted to float on his back, letting you rest on his broad chest.

Happily, you snuggled against him. “See, told you so.” He flicked your side with a grunt. “Hey, ow. Be nice!” You splashed water at Vic in return. The male simply just rotated and dragged you under the water.

He kept you under the surface for a few short seconds before rolling back over. You sputtered and shook your head, water droplets flinging everywhere.

Now, sitting up on his abdomen, you glared down at him and crossed your arms. “You just solidified what I stated earlier.” Vic’tao chuckled and allowed you stayed there as he floated across the water for the time being. He wouldn’t let you know but this was comfortable and relaxing. His days as a hunter were usually filled with danger and death. To finally kick back with one of his mates. A dream come true.

As the day dwindled down, you climbed out of the lake by yourself. “Oh, that relaxing,” you muttered to yourself and began walking the shoreline.

Still in the water, Vic’tao kept both of his eyes on you. This may be a safe planet but you, oh you, would find something to hurt yourself on. To this day, the male doesn’t know how oomans have survived so long on their planet without just dying off from their stupidity! He grunted and observed your form.

You walked along the water, head down and scanning for anything interesting. A soft tune hummed from the back of your throat, mindlessly toeing the shoreline.

Along the way, you stopped and spotted a rock that shined brightly through the water. You sat down on your haunches and picked it up. The colors shifted between an emerald green, royal purple, and a navy blue in the sun’s light. You made a high-pitched noise quietly to yourself. This was perfect!

The path continued until you made it to the rock wall behind the gushing waterfall. An idea came to mind. The new rock was carefully pinched between your teeth. From there, you started to climb the wall, just moving to the right to under water.

A perfect ledge stuck out enough for you to sit down on. Carefully, you did so. The beauty and serenity of this place made you want to live here. Or at least visit every once in a while. Get away from the hustle and bustle that both hunters endured while staying in a mediocrely sized ship. It’s not too terribly small… but you would prefer times like this to make the whole situation better.

“Vic?” you called out, voice slightly drown out from the crashing water.

“Yes?” he answered back, floating over to the side to peak around the waterfall at your relaxing form. His voice was able to come through clearly now.

The rock fell from your mouth and into your hands. “Do you think Uihoy will let us come here more often? It’s really pretty here,” you commented and hide the rock hopefully in time. Maybe the keen predator didn’t notice it.

Vic’tao shrugged his shoulders. “Eh, probably. That Yautja has gone soft for you.” You smiled at the thought then glancing over at his relaxed form.

“And you,” you cooed. All you got in response was a huff. “It’s true. It took the two of us together wear that hardened warrior down.” Vic’tao grunted then swam over to you, partially beaching himself on the rocks below you. Enough to keep his waist and below un the water but able to reach you.

“If you say so, little hunter.” You leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead. “Now, what is it you hold?” Damn it! He had saw.

A pout overtook your features. “You weren’t supposed to see!” Then you relented and offered the rock to him. With the shroud of shadows from the cliffside, the sun wasn’t able to shine on it. Even without any direct light, it was beautiful, sparkling. “I found this for you.”

“Oh my,” he muttered and plucked from your palm with his claws. “Now, this is a unique sight. I’ve never seen something shine like this before.” The yellow and blue male brought it close to his yellow eyes to inspect it.

Pride filled your veins. This may be one of many gifts you’ve given, but you still enjoyed sharing things you’ve found.

This was part of the reason you enjoyed going planeside with them. To go on an adventure was one thing but to find things along the way and gift said items to either of your mates was another. You couldn’t wait for days this to happen.

[artofalassa]

Tiny Update - WWL/TDDU + PINS

First off - thank you SO very much to all of you leaving lovely comments in the tags on the last (and any other) part(s) of Til Death Do Us / Wolfwood Lives AU.

How's the comic doing?

I decided to favor myself enjoying the work on it instead of spitting it all out asap and having it finished for May. No more zine ready in May for Animefest happening, unfortunately. It's too much pressure and I just. I wouldn't like it. The comic would suffer - both in terms of writing and art. Not to mention I don't ever want to pressure one of my best buds and my personal editor @Squeemu.

This way I can still think of the script a bit more, add new little ideas, enjoy preparing the layout and draw each of the faces in my own time. And maybe splash some colours into some other parts as well again. 👀 I MISS COLOURING STUFF SO MUCH.

The slower pace will also let me rest from time to time, maybe play a videogame and maybe not go crazy when 7R2 is out and I'll be biting table about it, bc I SHOULD BE DRAWING THE COMIC, bc I only have xy days til the end of April. (Trust me, it did happen, I went to bed counting pages, matching them to days in my head over and over and over.... and then broke down.)

So. That said - we are progressing quite nicely now! Even with the crazy amount of storyboarding work I had in Jan/Feb. I am having fun, I LOVE drawing the part I'm working on rn.

What about the PINS?!

Good question! The data's in the manu atm. However, as China's still celebrating Lunar New Year, the factories are closed. But - the break should end on 20th. So we should get some news soon. :)

[symphonyofsilence]

Okay so what do JGY haters suggest JGY should have done about NMJ after NMJ's numerous and seemingly unstoppable attempts on his life?

Even if they say he should have done nothing and just awaited his death, he did that, too. Twice. NMJ gave up then but attempted to murder him three times after that.

he was in the middle of trying to murder JGY again when his qi deviation kicked in and finished him first. Both in the show and in the book. in the book, JGY gave him even more chances. He only started to play his remix for NMJ when NMJ offended his mother. kicked him down the stairs, and tried to murder him yet again. But the only thing that saved JGY from NMJ in the staircase encounter in the book was LXC arriving. LXC was apparently nowhere near arriving in the show, so JGY would have died there and then had it not been for NMJ's qi deviation kicking in.

and it's not like he could get a restriction order (and let's be real, even if he could, NMJ wouldn't respect the restriction order. He tried to kill the Jin heir in JILINTAI! repercussions mean nothing to him). He would definitely meet NMJ again and in one of those encounters finally LXC wouldn't have been present to interfere and JGY would have been left at the mercy of NMJ alone. even if JGY did kill Xue Yang ( which would result in JGS doing something to JGY in turn) NMJ would find another reason to attempt to kill JGY again (as he canonically did. JGY had promised NMJ that he would bring him XY's head and it had pacified NMJ for the time being. NMJ's last murder attempt happened because he overheard JGY talking behind his back since NMJ had offended JGY's mother and pushed him down a considerable number of stairs).

So what do you suggest he should have done? What would you do in his place?

Actually, I asked that but I know that JGY antis simply don't think about NMJ's multiple attempts on JGY's life and don't think that JGY was in any danger from him in anyway. It's amazing how people choose to wilfully see the negative things done BY JGY without seeing the negative things done TO him that provoked what JGY came to do. Like he's an ungrateful snake who murdered NMJ for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON after all the good NMJ had done for him. (BTW talking about debts and gratefulness JGY saved NMJ's life from WRH. And in the show from WZL, too.) And once I read someone calling JGY a toxic boyfriend for LXC because he told LXC to die with him before he died? my dude...he told him that WHILE BLEEDING TO DEATH ON LXC's SWORD THAT WAS INSIDE HIM TO THE HILT!!! DO YOU NOT SEE THAT?! kindly allow people to be a little bit verbally toxic (while begging for a little bit of affection from their murderer seconds before their imminent death) to their murderer while being murdered before pushing the said murderer out of harm's way. when the said murderer was moments ago again accidentally suffocating them by putting a silencing spell on them while treating their SEVERED HAND and didn't even originally intend to give them a painkiller. (which I previously ranted about here). Murdering NMJ was self-defense. JGY is only considered the bad guy in that situation because it was premeditated murder since he couldn't fight NMJ head-on due to his natural disadvantages compared to NMJ which no amount of training could improve to the point of getting to NMJ's levels. So he had to do it in the area HE was best at. And lastly, he's vilified because as someone else who I can't find rn said before, his one murder attempt, unlike NMJ's many. worked.

[episodeoftv]

Prelims, Vote 8 of 8

The top 5 finales will move on to be included in the main bracket

Propaganda is under the cut, may include spoilers

Brooklyn Nine-Nine - 8.09 / 8.10 The Last Day

It just... season 8 had been so bad as a whole, it attempted to touch on the blm movement and did it in an okay at best way and in the wake of it all, i think a lot of people just weren't here for cop shows. The finale tried to bring the magic back with one last heist and it did pull out all the stops but I don't know, it just left me feeling really cold. And the ending being that even though the main character wasn't a cop anymore, that he would return to the station every year for the heist... it just never escapes the cop narrative even after he's left.

Chén Qíng Lìng/The Untamed - Episode 50

I nominate this final on grounds of CCP information control, censorship and homophobia. They were so scared of the power of wangxian that they ended up banning ao3 in china and in the show they have to inexplicably have them part ways just to hammer home the no-homo. Plus the show is just kind of objectively bad.... but it rewires your brain all the same

Community - 6.13 Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television

ok i haven’t watched it in a while but it wasn’t the episode’s fault this show had been going downhill for a while. The finale put it out of its misery mostly.

Kyle XY - 3.10 Bringing Down the House

The writers knew they were getting canceled and chose to raise more questions than answers and set up cliffhangers, rather than have a satisfying end. I'm sure it was a last ditch effort to save the show, but it didn't work and now it's just a bad finale.

Northern Exposure - 6.22 Let's Dance / 6.23 Tranquility Base

No propaganda submitted

Ozark - 4.14 A Hard Way to Go

No propaganda submitted

Soul Eater - 1.51 The Word Is Bravery!

ugh god it just gave up on any attempt at character development or the ending of the story in any meaningful way. instead of a complex universe journey exploring her bond with soul, and death the kid becoming the new god of death, maka just...wins the day by 'being brave', extremely underwhelming and borderline nonsensical

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - 7.25 / 7.26 What You Leave Behind

Man so okay like it’s not the worst worst one out there but man they really just fuckikg did that. Found family all went and spread themselves across the quadrant with the head of the show the leader, Captain Benjamin Sisko who really just wanted to live on Bajor, got turned into an incorporeal being who could no longer live a linear life while his wife and unborn child had to go on without him. They didn’t even have him saying goodbye to his actual son. His literal son did not get a goodbye, they only gave that to Kasidy, and no hate to Kasidy, she’s my girl, but she’s only been there for three year while his actual son Jake sisko was still basically a kid. He was like 19, 20 and no goodbye fork his dad he’s lost time and time again. Some characters got a satisfying ending but then Julian Bashir is left to stay on deep space nine supposedly still in love with Ezri Dax and together (but let’s be honest, it was a terrible forced decision. They made no sense, and had no chemistry) and still stuck without moving forward or changing. Like what a cop out. Not to mention the terrible cgi fire caves where literally gods got thrown into a fire pit and that was the big climax

[sinnohanvulpix]

Sawyer is neurodivergent and you can't change my mind

Last year for Autism Acceptance Day, my good friend @pikatrainer99 and I did a collab post about Goh and our headcanon of being him autistic. Here's a link to that post if you'd like to check it out:

Today, we'd like to talk about Sawyer from Pokemon XY, another character who we both headcanon as autistic, and who means the world to me.

Let's start with his special interest, Pokemon battles. In all of Sawyer's appearances, we can clearly see his desire to learn as much as he can about battling and to grow stronger. He greatly admires strong trainers like Steven Stone and Ash. I mean, just look at how excited he gets when he hears that Ash had won five badges!

And that's exactly what he does for the rest of the series. He spends so much time studying and training that he manages to catch up to Ash within a just season's worth of episodes! But we'll get to that later.

Before going into detail about his most obvious traits, let's go over some of the traits that we only see for brief moments, starting with his sensory sensitivities. In episode 73, we see him getting visibly overwhelmed when the crowd around him, Ash, and Clemont suddenly starts cheering. We also see him shielding his eyes from Spritzee's Dazzling Gleam attack during his battle with Valerie. Note that he's the only one to react this way to both situations. I don't know about you, but I have yet to meet a single autistic person without some kind of hypersensitivity to noise, bright light, smell, texture, etcetera.

We also see in the following episode that he sometimes unintentionally gets too close to people when he's excited, not noticing their discomfort. We see this after Ash wins his gym battle with Valerie, and Sawyer is so beyond amazed and eager to learn from him that he momentarily forgets how to act "socially appropriately". Ash and his friends are visibly uncomfortable, but of course, because they're all so kind and supportive, they don't judge him for this 🥺

We also see in the first episode of XYZ that he's an amazing artist. And I mean, AMAZING! He can literally draw Squishy the Zygarde Core exactly how it looks in its official artwork, despite only having seen it for the first time that day! While not every autistic person has to have a talent like this, it's definitely not uncommon. Growing up, Pika and I both used to draw a lot, and our drawing skills were one of the few things we took pride in because of how much praise we got for it.

Now let's talk about one of his most adorable traits, which is his habit of saying, "I've gained some EXP!" Clearly he's into video games and enjoys feeling like he's in one, because this is definitely not something you typically hear in real life. This kind of escapism is quite common in autistic people, Pika and I included. In a world that's not built for us, sometimes imagining ourselves in a fictional world that we love can be really comforting and even inspiring in some cases.

You've probably noticed that Sawyer is holding his notebook in all of the last three screenshots, which is also something I'd like to get into. Not only is his notebook a crucial part of his character, but it's also a security item. Pika and I both have security items of our own, namely our phones and our favourite Pokemon plushies, which helps bring us a lot of much-needed comfort. In episode 75, we see just how panicked Sawyer gets when he temporarily loses his notebook, which quickly leads to him becoming depressed.

We know that he values his notebook deeply because it contains all he's learned on his journey, as well as an autograph from Steven Stone. But if you look deeper, it becomes clear that it's even more to him than that. He holds his notebook close to his heart, both metaphorically and literally. He hugs it after receiving approval from Ash (which I'll also get to later) Heck, he even attached his Key Stone to it! He cherishes this notebook like it's his baby, and we find that so adorable and relatable!

Okay, now it's time to get into what's arguably the saddest part of his character: his constant need of approval from others. Pika and I, as well as countless other autistic people, are no strangers to self-doubt, especially in a world where we can't meet a lot of people's expectations. Sawyer likely grew up feeling this way too, which would explain why he's always seeking Ash's approval, since Ash is the one he looks up to the most. Throughout the series, Sawyer's constantly trying desperately to catch up to him. What's even more heartbreaking is that even after he beats Ash, he still needs reassurance from him that he's become strong 🥺

And to make matters worse, he's constantly masking his frustration whenever he fails to beat Ash. The autistic community is definitely no stranger to masking either.

It's not until the episode after his Kalos League battle with Ash when we finally see Sawyer breaking down. All those hours of training to catch up to Ash only led to him losing again in their most important battle yet. He was devastated, but he couldn't show that in front of Ash out of fear of being judged. Once he and Sceptile were alone, however, Sawyer was finally able to let out all the built-up frustration. And oh boy, was it emotional to watch...

But being the resilient trainer he is, Sawyer quickly dried off his tears and reaffirmed his desire to become stronger.

It takes a lot of strength to bounce back from something like this. I also went through a lot of inner turmoil around the time XYZ was airing. But seeing Sawyer bounce back like this inspired me to keep going, and make it through the rest of that year with Sawyer as my main source of comfort.

Needless to say, I see a lot of myself in Sawyer, and so does Pika. Not only is he relatable, but his story is also a great reminder that no matter how bad things feel in the moment, we can always make it out the other side. This is an important message for a lot of people, especially within the autistic community.

Even after all these years, I still find lots of comfort in Sawyer, and I know that'll last for many more years to come 💚

[adobe-outdesign]

Any thoughts design-wise on the Beldum line?

(This is the last request in the inbox right now. Send 'em if you got 'em, otherwise I might just do some randomly generated picks.)

I find it disappointing that GameFreak did a non-dragon like pseudo-legendary one (1) time and then never again. I like dragons as much as the next person, but why exactly does every pseudo-legendary have to be one nowadays? It would be like if every legendary was a psychic-type.

But part of the reason I find it disappointing is that the one time they did do a non-dragon pseudo, it absolutely slapped. Beldum hear is this bizzaro, alien-like magnetic creature with a single eye and claws on its end. I'm not even sure what it's supposed to be (I guess it's vaguely dumbbell-ish, based off its Japanese name), but it's such an interesting monster that's almost ultra-beast like in its presentation.

Visually, the body shape has this great scraggly look to it that I really like (Gen 3 has a lot of these. Solrock and Regirock are two other examples), and the red eye with a black background really pops against the blue body. I'm not sure why it has another hole by the eye, but it does give it a nice sense of visual asymmetry.

Metang makes it clear what this line's going for, and it's really cool—each stage fuses together, so two Beldums make a Metang, two Metang's make a Metagross, etc. I'm not a huge fan of evos where they just copy/paste the same Pokemon twice, so this is a good solution that's in the same spirit but actually gives us a unique design.

Also, because of this gimmick, Metang does a good job of transitioning between stages but also being its own thing. It's the only one of the line to sport only two arms, each one obviously a former Beldum, and it also sports these claw-like structures and horns that none of the rest of the line have.

Visually, it keeps most of the things I liked about Beldum, like the striking red-and-black eyes and the chiseled body shape. The only thing that I don't care for is the horns on the front and back of the body; they feel a bit tacked on, and I don't think it needed them considering it still has the claw structures on the sides of the body.

And, unsurprisingly, Metagross itself is really cool. It now has four legs, arranged less like a quadruped and more like an arachnid of some kind, which makes for a really distinct body shape and silhouette. The four limbs also help convey the combination theme, with it being made of two Metangs this time.

Another cool thing about it is that it has the intelligence of a super computer, now having four brains working in tandem. That's a nice extension of the concept and gives it a bit of personality beyond just being a cool metal thing.

Per the other stages, it also keeps the same good elements, creating a sense of consistency. The new element is a large X across the face, and while I have no idea where that came from, it really works. Just a great 'mon all around, very refreshingly abstract and plenty powerful looking.

Metagross also got a mega form. It's not terrible, but I do think it's the weakest of the line, on the grounds that it's just entirely too messy and visually busy. I get what they were going for, as the 'dex states that this is another fusion between one Metagross, one Metang, and two Beldum (why not two Metagross? that would've made more sense given the previous patterning):

This is a good idea in theory, as it gives it a meaningful theme and reason to exist, instead of just being a regular Metagross with Stuff tacked onto it. However, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense lore-wise with what we know about mega evolution (needing others from the line to mega-evolve a Metagross would actually be a cool mechanic, though a bit of a pain), and it's just way too much.

In addition to rotating the front limbs so they face forward (probably to match the X shape on the face, also because this debuted in XY), it also adds four extra limbs in the back (because of the combo thing), Metang's extra claws and horns, two holes on the face (probably Metang's eyes), and it's all just A Lot. I think the problem is that it tries to integrate too many elements; Metagross just keeps the limbs but none of Metang's accents, so the mega probably could've just had the eight limbs (maybe the four in the front are reflected in the back, to create a pattern) and dropped the extra claws and horn.

All that said, it is good conceptually, the addition of gold to the palette works nicely and makes the X really pop, and the actual arrangement of the limbs is interesting. If you can ignore the excessive details, there's a good concept here.

So overall, the main line is incredibly strong—cool design, strong concept, unique design and body shape. There's a good sense of consistency between the stages, and each stage is distinct in their own way. The only weak part is the mega, and that's just due to a bit too much detail.

(Also, final side note: the shinies for this line slap.)

[alpaca-clouds]

Medieval Food - Let's Talk

You know what? One week later and I am still fairly annoyed.

First of all: Yes, I am very much aware that technically one should not take MatPat too seriously and that for the most part if anything the “XY Theory” channels are just mild entertainment… But let’s face it: There are thousands of kids watching this, who are gonna take it seriously. And even a lot of adults, who do not know better.

So, as this is a topic near and dear to my heart and also a topic that the internet just throws around so much misinformation around on, let me talk a bit about Medieval Cuisine.

The Offense

Let me start with the thing that annoyed me so much, even though the issue is not so much about the issue at hand and more about the missing context in this one. Last week the @gametheoreoy sister channel Food Theory uploaded a video on Medieval Cuisine. While some of the information in there was good and included some important stuff that a lot of folks get wrong (like the fact that tomatoes, potatoes and maize were foods that came from the Americas and hence were not around in medieval Europe), the thing that annoyed me most about the video was… that MatPat and team absolutely ignored the fact that the place in question, medieval "Spain", was in that timeframe under under Black Muslim rule. In fact, there was technically no “Spain” at the time in question. Not as we imagine it today. Instead there was Al-Andalus (or Andalusia, how we know it today) and Leon-Castille. While the latter was Catholic, yes, the former was Muslim.

This really makes me angry, as it once again just plays into the misconception that medieval Europe was all white and Christian. Which it was not. For most of the medieval period, large chunks of the Iberian peninsula were under Muslim rule, which was also a reason that a lot of persecuted minorities – for example Jews, some Sinti and Romani people and also followers of Christian sects, that were not Catholic – fled there, as at that time Muslim rulers tended to not persecute those minorities, while the Catholic church did.

Now, it should be said that under Muslim rule, nobody who was not Muslim was forced to follow Muslim religious law, as not eating pork. But from what we know there was a lot less pork consumed on the Iberian peninsula at the time, than elsewhere in Europe. Instead, lamp, veal, dear and poultry were the more popular meats.

And I am sorry, MatPat, but talking about this part of Europe in the medieval times without speaking about Muslim rule is just a super bad look. Because it erases some important history.

While we are on it

But while we are on it, allow me to talk about Medieval cuisine, because bow, howdy, do people get this topic wrong.

For reference: No, I am no historian. But I am an autistic person, who spend a couple years hyperfixating on the history of food and henceforth getting annoyed with a lot of books, movies and the like, whenever they are depicting food in the medieval times.

Some things that I have seen in those contexts are, obviously, the tomatoes, potatoes and maize. But especially potatoes. Oh, boy, howdy, do people love depicting medieval folks eating potatoes. Maybe not surprising, given that the potato is in fact a main stay in modern day European cuisine. Also, obviously, the potato has still the reputation of a pauper’s food, which then easily combines with the common misconception of “people in medieval times were very poor and ate very poorly”. But, again, the potato would not reach Europe until probably 1519, though it would still be a while until people figured out how to eat potatoes (given that the green parts of the plants are in fact poisonous). Same goes for tomatoes, all sorts of peppers and again maize (corn, for the Americans).

Meanwhile people would go up to me and tell me seriously that “people in the medieval times did not have noodles”, which is… ridiculous, given that noodles and all sorts of pasta were around in Europe since ancient times. Even the old Greeks and Romans ate noodles, just not in those many fancy forms we know today. For the most part in medieval times people ate some sort of ribbon noodle, something we might call ravioli today, just noodles cut into square and something that was called lasagna, though it did not resemble today’s lasagna much. But noodles there were.

Another food that people do not associate with the medieval times, even though it was very much around in Southern European places, was rice. Other than the Americas, people kinda always knew about Asia and were trading with them. Even in Roman times. Which lead to the Romans actually cultivating a strain of rice, that did well enough in Europe. Now, while rice was not a common food in medieval Europe, it was certainly around.

Probably the weirdest thing, someone claimed about medieval food, was, that there was no “stew” around in medieval times, because it was “too complicated for the people back then”. You know, stew, the food where you basically just put a lot of different stuff into one pot and cook it… “Too complicated”. Honestly, I do not know what to say about that. Stew was not only around, but also very common. Especially as a lot of people did not have actual kitchens and were instead cooking their food over their fireplace, that often enough would only allow for one pot.

The thing about meat

One thing that MatPat gets mostly right – though, again not for Al-Andalus/Spain, because things were different there – is the bit about meat in the middle ages, though while he says the right thing here, he kinda misses a bit of context.

Meat was expensive in medieval times. Why? Because in a time before factory farming it was expensive to raise an animal. Some of you might’ve heard about “economy of scale”, which basically just says, that the more of a thing you produce, the cheaper it will become. And yes, this very much is true for factory farming. (Note: Factory farming is evil, simple as that. No living being should be treated the way, we treat those animals on factory farms.)

So, yes, without factory farms it was just more expensive to make the meat. Which was especially true for smaller animals like chicken. Especially as medieval chicken breeds were smaller than those chickens we see today.

Hence, for a lot of people, meat was just not a thing that they could eat more than once or twice a week. Or, more realistically, a lot of meat was eaten at once, when an animal was slaughtered, while only parts of the animal that could be conserved would then be served over a longer period of time.

It should also be noted that at least Christians tended to use all parts of the animal upon death, including blood and organs. (Muslims did not, as stuff like the blood is not halal.)

Now, one thing that should be noted, is, that most animals that were kept, were kept for multi purposes. Chicken lay eggs. Cows, sheep and goats give milk, with sheep obviously additionally providing wool, making them a very well-beloved animal in medieval times indeed. Horses you can ride. And yes, the pigs were useful, too, as they disposed of garbage, which was why in a lot of places you would just have pigs roaming the streets to take care of that.

Which brings me to the thing, a lot of folks do not want to hear, but… yeah, no, we have sources that tell us that medieval folks did at least also eat their dogs, when those were too old to help on the farm. We do not know how common this was, but we know that it happened. (Just as a note to the white folks getting all snooty about some Asian cultures eating dog meat.)

Of course, game was not kept but hunted. And yes, some people might go out to hunt when they were hungry for meat, but technically speaking it was illegal in many parts of Europe, based on the fact that game living in an area would belong to the nobility owning the land. Now, how those laws were enforced depended a lot on the area and how much game there was. But technically it was considered as such.

About vegetables

Having established that tomatoes, bell peppers, chilies and potatoes were not around in medieval times, this leaves the question: But what was around?

Well, two stable foods we still eat a lot today were definitely around: Carrots and peas. Especially peas were rather cheap and hence were eaten a lot. There was also at least one type of bean around in medieval Europe. Yes, only one. But horse beans were around in medieval Europe and were in fact eaten. Lentils were also quite popular.

Other than that, we also know of turnips, beets, cabbage, kohlrabi, onions and garlic being eaten. But that is not all, as there were several other types of vegetables, that are not around today that much, having been eaten. Especially a lot of root vegetables, like celeriac and parsnip for example.  

But also fennel, that tends to be rather unpopular with modern people, was very much around and eaten.

One other vegetable that had some types around in Europe, was the pumpkin. Specifically, the gourd, that originated from Africa, but was cultivated in Europe rather early on.

Also there was a lot of salads and herbs, that also might be eaten as a form of salads.

But how do we know about medieval cuisine?

Another big thing that people tend to be kinda confused about, is, how we know what medieval people ate. Because, yes, at the time books were very expensive and a lot of folks could not read or write. While I will always harp on about the point that we greatly overestimate the number of completely illiterate folks in medieval times, as a lot of people were at least able to read a bit and write down the results of the harvest. But… written language was definitely not the main method of conserving information. Hence, there are only a handful of books around, that are primary texts and are collections of recipes. Most of them originate from noble or royal households, where the chefs would write down what the lord and lady of the house favored.

Other than that, we have a couple of letters, in which people shared their recipes.

But a lot of what we know “existed” is more from mentions within letters and diaries of “today I ate this and that” and historians then trying to figure out what that could have been, based around what we know about the foods that we know were available to the people. At times we also have findings of preserved foods. Now, of course those foods did not preserve for hundreds of years, but we can do chemical testing on what remained and hence figure out what originally had been preserved.

And of course there are pictures we have, that depict foods.

What we thankfully do have, is well documented harvests and things like ledgers from the likes of butchers and farmers based on the stuff they might have sold or given off as a form of taxes (which were often paid in goods, not coin). So, we know at least the raw materials and what might have been available.

And yes, there are also those kind of food that we know where around at ancient times and that are around in some form today. So, we can gather that they have been around the entire time. A good example for this are garlic bread and a version of pizza. We know that even in ancient times people baked bread with garlic butter and bread with vegetables, meat if available and cheese on them. It does not take a genius to figure out that bread with molten cheese on it, is pretty awesome.

Something I want to note as well is, that those recipe books we do have basically all originate from France, Germany and England, with two also originating in Italy. Medieval Europe was more than those four places. Which leads to my issue that a lot of folks tend to ignore that there were cultural differences and that, yes, we kinda are forced to rely on finds and maybe letters. (Believe me, as someone who writes about medieval Wallachia for my fics, it is a pain in the butt.)

But what did medieval people eat?

So, let me overgeneralize a bit. Because again, what you would eat in those times was dependent on where you were living and how wealthy you were. Richer people and nobility would eat meat a lot more often than less wealthy folks.

Generally poor folks would most of the time have some form of porridge for breakfast. That was: Oats cooked in water. If they could afford it, those might be cooked in milk. Maybe with honey. When it was the season, there might’ve been some fruits or nuts in there, too. But most of the times just oats in water. As oats were one of the cheapest forms of corn, they were good for that. Some people might use other corn like rye or barley softened in water as well.

If you could afford it, you might have head bread as well. For most folks it was a rye bread or rye sour dough, because rye was cheaper than wheat. This bread would not be eaten in slices, but rather eaten together with whatever was available. Maybe together with cheese. Maybe dunked in stew or soup. (Which, by the way, leads me to the fact that most taverns only served stew or soup with bread. Not “nice pork grilled over a fire” as we so often see it depicted in media.)

And yes, as a main warm meal there was stew and soup – vegetable soup for the most parts, because again: Meat was expensive. When there was meat in the soup, chances were, that It was all sorts of meats and in fact it was more likely that it would be hare or sheep, rather than pork or poultry. At times the same stew would be eaten for more than a week, with just new stuff being added, whenever it was half-empty, so you might actually get a mix of meats in there. (This was, again, also quite common in taverns, where people might just bring some stuff they had lying around and add it to the so called “everything stew”.) While it might sound disgusting to us today, it actually allowed for pretty deep flavor profiles.

Again, poor folks would often not have a dedicated kitchen or stove and rather would prepare their food over the fire place that was also used to heat the house. Which would lead to a lot of “one pot meals” as we would call it these days. And if there was meat, it often would be prepared as a larger chunk, instead of small cuts being prepared in a pan.

Of course, those were things that rich people could afford more easily. Though this did not necessarily mean nobility, but also folks like tradesmen and the likes. Who not only might have a dedicated kitchen, but also some maid to cook for them.

And there was of course the thing about spices: Medieval cuisine for the most part did not use spices, but only herbs. Because spices mostly originated in North Africa and South Asia and hence had to be traded over long distances. This would make them rather expensive, so many folks were not able to afford them. (Again: the entire colonialism affair started, because everyone wanted spices, while the Ottoman Empire controlled the spice trade.) This does, however, not mean that spice heavy recipes were unknown to medieval folks. They were expensive, yes, but we have both archeological and written evidence from meals, we would today call “curry” being prepared both in England and France.

Milk, no matter what animal it came from, would often be turned into some form of cheese, because most animals would only give milk, when it was season for their young. So, making the milk into cheese was a good way of making the milk last for longer. And yes, lots of folks knew how to make cheese. So, cheese was something that was often enough served to the side. Though dairy as well was not as common as it is today.

Wheat, again, was expensive. So, bread and other food based around wheat was more expensive than rye. Often wheat would only be enjoyed by rich folks and men of the cloth (meaning church folks). And only very rich people could afford white flour based food, while everyone else was eating food based around whole grain flour.

And yes, for the observant ones it should be obvious: Poor folks were eating a lot more healthy, than rich people were. Which led to interesting stuff like the fact that poor people often did not suffer from dental problems, even though dental hygiene was not yet a thing. Simply because they were eating better and less sweet.

Oh, and also: Most people would in fact drink alcoholic beverages (though with a lot less alcohol content than what we know today) instead of just pure water. Why? Well, because chances were, it made you less sick. And yes, also it tasted a lot better than stale water you got from a well. For most folks that was beer or ale, for richer folks wine or at least thinned wine. Except, again, in areas where there was a Muslim majority, because those obviously would not drink alcohol, so there would often be fewer breweries.

Medieval people did not eat badly

Now, let me make one thing clear, because it is a thing I tend to get annoyed by a lot: No, medieval people did not eat badly. Which was the other thing that annoyed me about MatPat’s video, given that the title card was “Medieval Food SUCKS!”, which… no, it doesn’t. It didn’t. It was different, from what we eat today, yes, but it was not bad food.

See, it is something that a lot of modern first world folks (especially white folks) are just too picky eaters and with that also kinda wasteful. We will only eat certain bits of dead animals, will not eat a lot of dead animals that are gonna die either way (heck, we have laws against eating certain animals, that are not based in any other reason but people’s emotional attachment to those animals), will not eat many vegetables that would be easier to grow and so on.

And sure, the fact that there was so little spice in medieval food, that makes it kinda… meh. But herbs can be used for those purposes, too. And yes, they can make things rather tasty indeed.

And yeah, I kinda bemoan the way we consume food today. Part of it has a lot to do with capitalism, of course. With the fact that we just do not have the time and means to grow our own food and the fact that of course, that to keep food prices low (which is necessary) but also keep the profits high, food production is plagued by all sorts of inhumanities. Be it slave labor, violence again humans (just look into the history of Chiquita or Dole) and of course the inhumane ways we keep animals.

A lot of folks do not even know how to prepare their own food properly. And do not know where it comes from. And as someone who identifies with the solarpunk culture, I just wish we could change away from that.

So, yeah, Let me just say: The MatPat video was just not that good and ignored an important part of history. Also, a lot of media depicts medieval food culture wrong, leading people to have all sorts of misconceptions about it.

Currently I am writing a fanfic about medieval cooking based around the Castlevania fandom. You can find it on Ao3! Though, yeah, the characters here are rich enough to eat spices.

And if you liked this little rant essay, maybe consider leaving me a little something on Ko-Fi!

[soulofawander]

Okay so might be somewhat of a long post.

I have been tagged by @mysticbride for this , thank you so much 😊!

Sooo I'm back in the "social game" after a long time, years. I've been battling some personal issues for a while, that got worse over the last years, pandemic and all, but it's only compounded from a whole life of trauma I've been working through.

So, long story short, I've been MIA, I had closed myself off. But, I went back to therapy and I got on antidepressants and it fucking changed my life, like entirely.

The fog lifted from my brain , everything is much clearer, and it's like I found myself again. I'm a bit of a hippie, cheesy, too. I go on the street and give homemade cookies to strangers and cashiers at the corner store haha.

Just an example of what the self-Work did and does for me. If life is about "finding a purpose" mine is definitely to be of service, and help as many people as I can, and lift people up, in any way I can. So I will

I am back, and I love all of you. Genuinely. I will tag as many people as I can, mutual or not, as I like to connect, and I like to meet people. Also as an extra, below is a picture of my place of work, as a lighting technician, on showcall at a festival.

If you want to do this, I'll tag: @rileywasyes @darkestwonder @moss-wizard @lacunes @holidayhearrt @cuttlefishbones @bloodmoonsabbvth @daedradevotee @lacunes @poisonivybelladonna @tomb-mold @lord-worms-shakespeare-class @dollfacefag @allllyyyyb @brainbowunicorn @goddess-of-ghosts @disney-eyes @kalehopper @blodbranddod @xy-isjaki @xochitl-metal @xanaxaddict @wonderinghobbit @nvmendivinvm @aurademortt @regina-mortis @frozen-and-euphoric @glimpseofsanity @adorned-in-ashes @adalua @am-i-evil @my-sxe-world @ethereal-rusalka @ravensthunder @macabremusings @scarsoftheshatteredsky @chubabub

And anyone else who sees this.

I love you all. May today bring you peace.

[kazooku]

So I'm like 40 minutes late but happy birthday to Miiko!!

On December 30th, 2020 I made probably one of the best decisions of my life and started a save file on my 2nd copy of X I had gotten earlier in the month with the intention of using the save to make an OC who I would call Miiko. Then like two weeks later I mentioned to one of my friend groups I was replaying X as an OC and then suddenly a good chunk if my friends were making OCs for XY and it turned into a group playthrough. I cherish this playthrough so much and the memories made during it and after it for those of us who continued to use the OCs made.

Sooo the drawing is not of Miiko's usual appearance. I'll be completely honest I did not have time to draw something for their birthday again but to my luck I had this drawing of Miiko merged with Bill fucking Cipher completely lined and base colors done and I thought I could finish it before midnight. Honestly I probably could've if I didn't take a 30 minute break lol. So yeah Biiko for Miiko's 3rd year of existence yippee!!

Btw I'll post my usual art recap post at 11:50 something PM like I've done the past few years. Might post it a little earlier? Not sure I'll actually but kinda busy New Year's Eve this year and I don't want to post it late lol. (Lil note I forget if I've posted my art recaps here like I do Instagram but I'll try to remember to post here too this year!!)

That's all I have for now!! If all goes right this will not be my last post of 2023!!

[celestiall0tus]

Tales of Bloody Bug and Chat Noir - Chapter 23 - Guitar Villain

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            “Woah, Chloe, you’re hosting another party?” Adrien asked.

            “That’s right, Adrikins. I had some fun with that itty bitty get together, so why not do another one?” Chloe said.

            “And with it being December and the holidays around the corner, we thought it would be fun to have a big Christmas party and even host a secret Santa event for anyone interested. It’s going to be so much fun,” Sabrina cheered.

            “Plus, it gives us more time to properly plan something instead of that slapped together mess last week.”

            “And we’re going to try to get things we couldn’t really on short notice. I know we’re considering hiring Jagged Stone or XY for the entertainment.”

            “No XY. Bl-… I mean, Alix, doesn’t like XY,” Chloe remarked.

            “But, Chloe, with Jagged Stone’s newest concert kicking off in January, he may not be available,” Sabrina pointed out.

            “Fine, but still no XY.”

            “Chloe, I have a question. Are you throwing this party as an excuse to get close to Alix?” Adrien asked.

            Chloe winced and ducked her head. “That’s one of the reasons.”

            “You don’t have to throw these parties just to get near Alix. You can just talk to her. I know she looks like she’ll tear your head off, but she’s actually really chill,” Adrien explained.

            “She’s only that way if she tolerates you. Have you not been paying attention to her attitude towards everyone else this past week?” Kagami countered.

            “She’s just… not in a good place. Something happened that sent her spiraling, and now she just… doesn’t want to talk,” Adrien explained.

            “Why bother not talking? Doesn’t she know not talking is worse?” Sabrina asked.

            “She does, and she told me she just wants to feel the weight of everything she’s done. She said she doesn’t want to run from them anymore but isn’t ready to talk just yet.”

            Sabrina and Chloe exchanged glances. Chloe opened her mouth, then shut it and curled her nose. She turned as Marinette, Alya, Rose, Juleka, and Mylene approached them.

            “Ugh, I thought I smelled the poor. Let’s go, Sabrina,” Chloe hissed.

            Chloe and Sabrina left. Kagami got up and stood between Adrien and the girls.

            “What do you all want?” Kagami demanded.

            “We have an invitation for Adrien for a Christmas party we’re planning,” Marinette said.

            Kagami held out her hand. Marinette looked at the girls hesitantly before she put the invitation in Kagami’s hand. Kagami took the invitation and tore it up, letting the shreds fall to the ground.

            “Hey! Why would you do that?” Alya demanded.

            “Adrien already has prior plans for Christmas than your pitiful attempts of a party.”

            “That doesn’t mean you have to be rude about it!”

            “And you don’t have to sit here still, fighting with me like it’ll get you somewhere. He’s not going to your crummy party, end of discussion. Leave. Now.”

            Alya snarled, grabbed Marinette’s hand, and left with the girls. Kagami returned to the bench next to Adrien.

            “Thanks, Kagami, but you don’t have to be so harsh.”

            “I’ve been asked to keep the pigtail girl and the brunette away from you. Your father’s orders.”

            “I know, and I appreciate it, if not still surprised Father cared, even if a little. But you can be a little-.”

            “Would you give this speech to Alix?” Kagami interrupted.

            “Well, I did when I first met her, before I got to know her.”

            “Then stop now. Her and I are one and the same.”

            Anger struck Adrien. “No, you’re not the same. You could never be what Alix is.”

            “Adrien, I’m not blind. I can see that she and I are the same.”

            “No, you’re not. She’s her own person. Compassionate, harsh, caring, angry, considerate, rude, brave, chaotic, and so much more. She’s so much more than a mere statue that’s blindly following orders because that’s what our parents want.”

            Kagami sneered and opened her mouth but was cut off when Nino ran up to them.

            “Dude, did you see the news about Jagged Stone?” Nino asked.

            Adrien shook his head.

            Nino pulled out his phone and showed Adrien. “Jagged Stone’s concert and tour was hijacked by XY.”

            Adrien raised a brow as he read the article. Bob Roth, the agent of Jagged Stone, announced that Jagged Stone’s new tour had been cancelled for XY’s first official tour after XY’s first album knocked Jagged Stone out of the number one spot.

            “What the-? What about Jagged Stone’s concert for Bloody Bug and Chat Noir?” Adrien asked.

            Nino shrugged. “It’s been taken over by XY as well. Probably for the best.”

            “The best? Do you like XY’s stuff?”

            “Yeah, dude. It’s no insult to Jagged Stone, but XY is just better.”

            “Uh, right. Hey, have you seen Alix?”

            “She’s up in our homeroom class with her head on the desk. I don’t think she left that spot since the lunch bell.”

            Adrien ran upstairs to their homeroom class to see Alix still in the same spot. He headed inside and sat at Chloe’s desk.

            “Alix? We may have an issue.”

            Alix sighed and lifted her head, so her chin rested on the desk. “What happened?”

            “I just saw on the news that Jagged Stone’s concert for you know who has been cancelled in favor of one held by XY. And last I heard from Chloe, Jagged Stone had checked into Le Grand Paris a couple days ago.”

            “Oh, fuck us. Is XY or that idiot agent here in Paris too?”

            “I don’t know.”

            Alix sighed. “Alright. Well, keep an eye on the news in case-.”

            Adrien’s phone buzzed. He looked down to see a new message from Nino. He opened it and saw a live interview from XY, who was at the news station. He pressed play as he and Alix watched XY trash Jagged Stone calling him a has-been, Ragged Stone, and old school.

            “Fucking punk ass bitch,” Alix hissed.

            “How long do you think before Jagged is akumatized?”

            “However long, it’s going to be today.”

            “What should we do?”

            “I’ll go keep an eye out. I’ll message you when he’s been akumatized.”

            “Wait, you aren’t ditching, are you?”

            “It’s not ditching when you have a solid excuse and a dad that’ll raise hell over it. I’ll be in touch.”

            Alix stood and headed out of the classroom. Kagami stepped inside after Alix left.

            “How did your talk go?”

            “It went well. Thank you for staying outside.”

            “I have no reason to fear Alix. You’re in good hands with her.”

            “Really? I figured my father would have told you otherwise.”

            “He did.”

            “Then why-?”

            “Because I am my own person too, Adrien. I can make my own judgements that differ from my orders.”

            Adrien flinched at Kagami’s words. He opened his mouth but was cut off by the bell. They took their seats and started the second half of their day until Mr. Damocles ran in before the bell.

            “Mr. Damocles? Is everything alright?” Miss Bustier asked.

            “Everyone, get to shelter! A dragon has been spotted flying over Paris with a guitar villain riding it.”

            Adrien pursed his lips. He pulled out his phone to see a message from Alix about the dragon, Jagged Stone being akumatized, and that the dragon was hers to deal with. She also wished him luck getting away from Kagami and transforming.

            Frustration gnawed at Adrien as he puzzled over how to get away from Kagami as they were ushered from the classroom. They headed to the gym when a roar shattered the relative silence. The earth shook violently as everyone turned to see the dragon and Bloody Bug. He watched Bloody Bug remove her yo-yo from the dragon’s muzzle and ensnared its wings before she jumped down in front of it.

            Adrien stepped back to make his way to a bathroom when Kagami grabbed his arm. He cursed silently as she pulled him aside while everyone watched Bloody Bug’s fight with the dragon.

            “Where do you think you’re going?” Kagami demanded.

            “I… I was going to the bathroom.”

            “At a time like this? Do you want to die?”

            Adrien sucked in a breath and sighed. “Kagami, I can’t tell you. Not now. I don’t feel I can trust you completely. And, it’s wrong of me to ask this, but I need you to trust that I’ll be safe. I need you to trust in me.”

            “You expect me to put my full trust in you when you won’t do the same for me?”

            “Yes.”

            “And why would I do that?”

            “Because you said it yourself. You are your own person, Kagami. You are capable of making your own judgments that aren’t what our parents have demanded of you. I understand the need and want to follow their rules, to constantly have their approval, but sometimes it’s not worth it. Especially when blood means nothing more than obligation and not genuine connection.”

            “I-.”

            “Please. I want to trust you. I want to share this with you to make our lives easier, but I can’t yet. I agree with another person that I don’t know that once you know, you won’t rat me out. I know I’m asking the world for you to trust me when I don’t trust you, but if you knew, you’d understand. At least, I hope you would.”

            Kagami frowned, then sighed. “Fine. I’ll trust you. But! If I find you hurt in any way, I won’t trust you ever again.”

            “Thank you, Kagami.”

            “Just… go, before I change my mind.”

            Adrien ran to the nearest bathroom and transformed into Chat Noir. He slipped out a window, climbed up onto the roof, and jumped down onto the dragon’s head. Bloody Bug jumped back and glared at him.

            “Where’s Jagged Stone?” Chat Noir asked.

            “Last I saw Guitar Villain was on his way to find XY, wherever that little bitch is at. He’s probably still looking without his pet to help him. Isn’t that right you big scaly bastard.”

            Chat Noir nodded and looked up. He spotted Gallic Chick, Porcelet, and Carapace on the roof. “Gallic Chick, Porcelet! You two are with me! Carapace, give Bug an arena to fight in!”

            Chat Noir leapt up as Bloody Bug used her Lucky Charm. He watched from the roof as she threw up a mic to Carapace as a turtle shell dome covered over her and the dragon. Carapace took the mic and commentated her fight with the dragon. He smiled and headed off with Gallic Chick and Porcelet.

            “Gallic Chick, can you use Sublimation to track Guitar Villain or XY?” Chat Noir asked.

            Gallic Chick nodded. She used Sublimation and gained the power of tracking. A glowing trail materialized. They followed it to the News Station up to the room where XY was being interviewed. They arrived as Guitar Villain had XY and Bob Roth captured.

            “Well, it’s about time!” Bob Roth yelled.

            Guitar Villain turned and smiled. “Look who has arrived. Ready to join my fan club, heroes?”

            “Come rock our worlds, Jagged,” Chat Noir remarked.

            “The name’s Guitar Vil-.”

            Porcelet ran up to Guitar Villain and held out her arms. “Gift!”

            A pink sphere materialized in front of Guitar Villain. He slumped as he stared into the orb. Porcelet smiled, took Guitar Villain’s guitar, and trotted over to Chat Noir.

            “Well, that was anti-climactic,” Chat Noir mumbled.

            “It’s all about efficiency, Chat Noir. The faster we take down the villains, the better we can showcase our efficiency and that the people can trust and depend on us,” Porcelet explained.

            Chat Noir tilted his head, then smiled. “You and Bug have similar approaches to this. I like that.”

            Porcelet’s eyes lit up as she beamed. Chat Noir patted her head, took the guitar, and smashed it against the ground. The Akuma flew up as he used Cataclysm and destroyed it. Guitar Villain reverted to Jagged Stone as he looked around.

            “What the-? How did I end up here?” Jagged Stone asked.

            Chat Noir moved and helped Jagged Stone up. “Gallic Chick, Porcelet, you two can head back. I’ll handle things from here.”

            “If I may, could I stay a little longer. I would love to see this part,” Porcelet asked.

            Chat Noir nodded and turned to Jagged Stone. “Jagged, you were akumatized. What happened?”

            “What happened? What happened? This pompous, money hungry reaper of music and the little perfume ad want to toss me aside. They stole my concert and my tour dedicated to you and Bloody Bug!” Jagged Stone yelled.

            “You’re old news, Jagged. The heroes don’t-,” Bob Roth started.

            “I’d love to disappoint, but Bloody Bug wouldn't show up to an XY concert,” Gallic Chick butted in.

            “What?” Bob Roth and XY yelled.

            “That’s right. Bug hates XY’s music but loves Jagged’s. Well, I know she loves metal and rock,” Chat Noir added.

            “See? Now, give me back my tour and concert!” Jagged Stone demanded.

            “Why would I-?” Bob Roth began.

            “Think of the money,” Gallic Chick interrupted.

            “You have my attention.”

            “Picture it. The heroes and saviors of Paris, frontline against their dastardly enemy with rock legend, Jagged Stone. The merchandise, the photo shoots, magazine articles, interviews, everything! You already have the whole city thrilled at the prospect of anything dedicated to their heroes. Why not make a profit off this like the other business tycoons in this city? Or, you can stick to your silly, one-time at the top of the charts loser here and miss out on such a lucrative opportunity. Your choice,” Gallic Chick offered.

            Bob Roth hummed. “You’re smarter than your colleagues, rooster girl. Very well, I’ll agree, but none of you get any of the profit from sales.”

            “Fine by me. I don’t need any of your frivolous profits,” Gallic Chick remarked.

            “Same here and for Bug,” Chat Noir said.

            “Money doesn’t bring me any joy. All I need is my bestie,” Porcelet chimed.

            Gallic Chick smiled and hugged Porcelet.

            “Oh, and Carapace should be fine, but any events that need a DJ, he gets to be the DJ,” Chat Noir added.

            “Deal and deal. Alright, Jagged, you get your concert and tour back,” Bob Roth announced.

            “Awesome! Rock and roll, baby! Hey, heroes, let’s get a picture!”

            Chat Noir, Gallic Chick, and Porcelet nodded and took a few pictures with Jagged Stone before they headed out back to school. Chat Noir slipped back into the bathroom and de-transformed before he headed in search of Kagami. He looked around the school, but it was empty. He headed outside to find everyone heading out or waiting for their rides. Kagami stood near the road with both their things.

            “Kagami!” Adrien called.

            Kagami turned as Adrien approached her. “You’re in one piece. Good. I can trust you with whatever it is you’re doing.”

            “Thank you. I’m sorry to ask so much of you, but I just can’t trust this to anyone.”

            “It means that much to you?”

            “Yes. I finally get to be free. I’m not trapped in a life forced on me. I get to be out with friends and so much more. It’s the life I dreamed of, and now that I have it, I’m not letting it go. If I need to, I will fight everyone for it, even you, but I don’t want to do that.”

            “You don’t?”

            “No. I don’t like that you’re forced to babysit me. I would like us to be friends, but not like how our parents want it. I want to know you, hang out as I would with Chloe, Nino, or Alix, and all that. I just want to be able to enjoy each other’s company without the expectations of our parents. What about you?”

            “I… don’t know.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “Your culture is not mine, Adrien. I must always respect my mother. She sacrificed so much for me and the very least I can do is give her my undying loyalty. After all, she’s the reason I’m allowed to live. The only way to repay such a gift and sacrifice is to give yourself to them.”

            “Kagami, I was told something that resonated with me after my father, well, blamed me for getting assaulted. The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. Just because someone is responsible for bringing you into this world, you don’t owe them anything.”

            Kagami smiled. “It’s a nice thought, but I couldn’t. My mother is my life. My moves are also hers and that’s just the way it is.”

            Adrien sighed. He stood in silence with Kagami as his ride showed up.

            “I’ll see you tomorrow, Adrien.”

            “Yeah. See you tomorrow.”

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