#ao I'll take it

[noxianwilled]

i have to be on pc to properly comment later but: i think captain's what's his name repeated attempts to just make sure Kat doesn't get back to noxus pretty much comfirm further there's something else at play. if it's really lb, whatever she's planning doesn't seem to include katarina asking swain any questions (which makes sense tbh). kat thinking she might kill swain is funny though. baby girl doesn't know how far out of her league she is yet lmao

[asklesbianonceler]

characters I liked as a kid for better or worse that I can draw from memory. Mostly for worse.

[mizukagami-takamagahara]

Silver Swarovski rings from the BlazBlue 10th Anniversary Celebration

Sold for ¥13,000 or roughly $90 (USD)

Released in 2019. As of now, the rings are no longer being manufactured and are presumably unavailable anywhere online.

Swarovski crystals are made of a material known as lead glass, largely made of quartz sand. From what I can tell, all of the gems featured in these rings are made of the same primary material, colored differently. I'll be analyzing the colors of the gems below.

Disclaimer; I am NOT at ALL studied in gems or jewelry, so this is yet another lesson I'm learning because of BlazBlue. As a beginner relying on an online-search crash-course, I may mess up the information I'm trying to share. If anyone here knows more about gems and can offer their thoughts, I would love to hear them!

Ragna = Light Siam

Light Siam is often ascribed to particular rubies or garnets, describing their vibrant reds. The color is associated with passion, energy, and strength- some of Ragna's prominent character traits! They're also said to suggest a fiery personality, again fitting for our dear Bloodedge.

Some of the gemstone guides I read while researching this claimed that an integral note of the Siam color is the blue undertone of the gem. As one blog described, without the that blue, "they just aren't Siam the way Siam should be!" I don't think I'm well trained enough to see the difference, but I thought this was a really cool connection to Ragna's relationship with the Azure.

Hazama = Fern Green

The Fern Green we see in Hazama's crystal is also sometimes used to describe certain variant of Quartz. The color is considered quite classy, and is often paired in a piece with Light Siam gems. It's considered a nice transitional color between the Peridot we see assigned to Noel, and the Emerald assigned to Terumi.

Professionals also ascribe themes of renewal, calmness, and prosperity to the color. At first glance this seems a little too peaceful for who Hazama is under the surface, but I think it captures where he differs from Terumi well.

Hibiki = Purple Velvet

Unlike the previous two colors that are associated with particular gemstones, I can't find any instance of Purple Velvet being used to describe a well known gem. Instead, it's framed in opposition to the well known Amethyst, described as being notably darker, with a more blue undertone than the red you see in Amethyst.

The color is set to give a sense of elegance, sophistication, and poise to the pieces it features in. As with any purple shade, it's highly suggestive of nobility.

Some websites suggest pairing it specifically with Fern Green, an interesting note as we see Hibiki and Hazama framed against one another in Central Fiction.

Terumi = Emerald

Emerald is one of the four precious stones. Made of the mineral Beryl, the gem itself is considerably fragile and prone to breaking. Glass canon, anyone?

Though Terumi's gem here isn't a real emerald, but more crystal, like the others. Still, I find it interesting that out of all ten characters, only he and Nu make it into that exclusive precious gem category. It's also quite fitting that Terumi's gem is a fake passing itself off as something else, isn't it?

Like the gem that is its namesake, the color Emerald symbolizes power, intensity, and confidence.

Jin = Majestic Blue

Majestic Blue is a color sometimes likened to deep seas or raging rivers, but most often, it's described as capturing the night sky. The color chosen for our Duodecim heir is a popular choice for more formal or even luxury items. It's said to represent themes of strength, nobility, and dignity. Some reviewers suggest pairing it with Emerald.

As strange as it sounds to someone outside the jewelry community (me) this color, Majestic Blue, was actually a new invention by Swarovski in 2019, the year these anniversary rings were produced! It's the youngest color in the set! At the time of release, it was the most visually striking blue in Swarovski's entire lineup.

Mai = Fuchsia

Swarovski's Fuschia is a pink with blue undertones, echoing Mai's genderqueer identity- she now stands proudly as a woman, but her identity as a man is still a cherished part of her at the root of who she is today.

These gems are popular in the the fashion industry, particularly for women. The hue is considered energetic and exciting, described as bright, bold, and striking. Though Mai still has her moments of doubt, I feel these words describe her true self well. For me, they really bring her playstyle to mind too.

The color is named after the Fuschia plant and its flowers- the names seen in Mai's moveset also carry a floral theme. Suggested pairs include the Light Sapphire we'll later see in Nu's gem and the Majestic Blue featured in Jin's.

Celica = Tangerine

Tangerine was probably the most difficult color for me to research. I looked through several articles, and most people had nothing to say about the color itself. The only thing people talked about was that it was being discontinued by Swarovski. I... guess that's fitting for Ms. Chrono Phantasma?

After a lot of looking, I was finally able to find some reviewers discussing the color itself. Tangerine is a color that brings warmth to the pieces it features in, and is suggested to be paired with Jin's Majestic Blue, among other colors. It was considered a gorgeous and bright color that some reviewers said had an understated depth that paired wonderfully with other stones. It was a strong pick for spring designs.

Noel = Peridot

Peridot is another example of a crystal color named after a specific gemstone. True Peridot is made of the mineral Olivine, and is distinct as one of the few gemstones that can only be found in a single color. It is sometimes mistakenly identified as the same gemstone as Emerald, though the two are entirely distinct.

The Peridot color is widely popular in design work, featured in a number of different scenes, from the typical fashion scene to being surprisingly and distinctly popular in dance costume designs.

The color is considered strongly unique. It's said to carry themes of tranquility and balance, as well as connotations of renewal and growth.

Nu-13 = Light Sapphire

Light Sapphire takes its name from the precious gem Sapphire, made of the mineral Corundum. Though most famously blue, it naturally occurs in a variety of colors, including the yellow we may associate with Lambda and the purple we may associate with Gamma. While often used in fashion and jewelry, they also feature in a lot of electronic goods, such as infrared optical components, electronic wafers, and certain integrated circuits. They have a lot of practical uses!

Of course, Nu's gem is no sapphire- it only takes inspiration from the color. It doesn't even match the gem's natural shades. As a color, Light Sapphire is considered soft and delicate, reminiscent of Nu's true state under all the violent mania that both Noel and Ragna call attention to at various points in the series. This is an interesting contrast to its namesake gem, as Sapphire is considerably hard and durable.

The light color is suggestive of clear, breezy days and sunny skies. It is often featured in jewelry alongside Aquamarine, Es's color.

Es = Aquamarine

Like Terumi's Emerald, true Aquamarine is made up of the mineral Beryl. Interestingly, it is unique in the distinction of not only being its own gem, but also being used as a descriptor for the colors of other gems; Aquamarine Emerald, Aquamarine Sapphire, and Aquamarine Chrysolite (Peridot) are all common terms to used by gemologists to reference specific variants of their distinctive gems.

As a color, Aquamarine is suggestive of deep oceans, not unlike the Boundary. It's said to be soft and delicate, like Es's appearance, but charming with a brisk sense of clarity. Some say it has a soothing effect, calming one's mind and their emotions.

[favvn]

please tell me someone has made a star trek mv featuring mcr's planetary go. please.

[danganronpusassholefactory]

DRAGOON IS GETTING A FORWARD DASH DRAGOON IS GETTING A FORWARD DASH DRAGOON IS GETTING A FORWARD DASH

[zhongrin]

sorry, i'll answer asks and mentions when i'm in a better headspace, i just can't for now. thank you for your understanding 🫶🏻

[draqonsblues]

cant believe its the last happy alchemy of souls weekends bitch (for now? there's whispers saying s3 will exist)

[marvellover264]

✨Quiet Courage✨

[canterpolr]

My entire soul and body in hours later:

I am not forcing you to avoid the upcoming anime on April 2023 out of curiosity. So take this reaction of mine with a grain of salt.

[dessa-banks]

Send me a number 1-101 and a character (or characters) and I'll write a ficlet based on those characters and that song 👀👀👀

[upsidedownknight]

Your opinion is your own of course but respectfully I have to say I disagree with your friend about the Heartstopper show having nothing to say about mental illness. It’s absolutely touched on more in the show than it was in the early comics. Charlie’s eating disorder is implied, and his low self-esteem is explored and we see it impact his life more than in the first two volumes of the comics that the first season covers. There is one added scene in particular in episode 8 with Charlie and Tori that is far closer to Solitaire’s serious themes than anything in the first two comic volumes.

Mental health as a topic hasn’t been explored explicitly yet, but the groundwork has been set for them to fully delve into it in season 2. The story just hasn’t gotten there yet. And I think it makes sense that it was kept on the backburner in season 1, because they weren’t sure if they would get a season 2 or 3. I think they didn’t want to fully open up Charlie’s eating disorder, OCD, and self-harm storyline if they were unsure they could get to the point where he starts getting some help (though it’s definitely there and more than we got in the comics by that point in the story). Since being renewed, both Alice and Charlie’s actor have talked a lot about how a major focus of season 2 will be the mental health themes. Alice has even said that they wish they had not glossed over some of the harder parts in Charlie’s story in the comics, that they felt a bit trapped by the format, and feel the show is an opportunity to explore those parts more deeply.

So I guess my advice would be maybe check in around the time season 2 comes out and see what people are saying? I think it’s just too soon to tell where the show will be going with it. But it’s definitely not absent from the show in season 1 even. The groundwork has been laid. And as someone who struggles with a lot of the same issues as Charlie, his characterization and story in season 1 made me cry because it hit me so personally.

thank you for this detailed response to my ranty post! I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me more abt the show. obviously, I haven't watched it-- in fact, I tried my best to stay away from news about it bc it squicked me out-- so I'm glad to hear that Alice has spoken some about the fact that heartstopper (comic) glossed over the harder parts of Charlie's story. that same ''glossing over'' was why I stopped being able to read heartstopper (in 2021 sometime?)

I would really love it if season 2 does touch more on Charlie's mental illnesses! and I'm happy they have laid the groundwork for it-- from my distant perspective, the show really looked like a fluff piece, which (obviously) broke my heart. I read solitaire as a self-harming, anxious and compulsion-ridden teen and saw myself in so many parts of both Tori's and Charlie's stories. Without saying that I'm glad you've struggled, it's reassuring to know that you could relate to the show's characters (as it means that I might too, if I could get over my hesitations).

I totally get that heartstopper (show) had to make concessions for time and planning reasons: I have a whole separate rant stored in my heart about the fact that so few TV show get to plan for a multi-series story arc like they used to. in any case, you've convinced me: I'll unblock the tag when I hear s2 is out, and see if little ol' teen me will get the heartwrenching moments that I once loved Solitaire for!

[maraczeks]

bcs s4 thread pt 3

[dokyeomini]

faced my biggesst fears (germs and spiders) while cleaning the bathroom

[a-most-beloved-fool]

AOS Kirk, drunk: Hey Uhura... Spock takes good care of you, yeah? He treats you right?

Uhura, who isn't dating Spock anymore but does Not want to flirt with Jim Kirk: Yes. He does.

Kirk, wistfully: I'll bet he does. He seems like the type to really know how to treat a person. He's caring, y'know? You're lucky. Lucky. *he trails off into drunken mumbling*

Uhura, who is rapidly coming to a realization: ???

[kirain]

Sigh....Galemancers really love to move the goal post when it comes to the grooming accusations huh? You found out Gale was a fully grown MAN when Mystra slept with him so now you have to say, "Well then he was emotionally groomed and the power dynamic is too vast." Mystra is a neutral good goddess because she's Midnight, who was a neutral good human. She hates that her magic has to be used for good and evil. Ao makes her share it evenly but she'd rather not. She would never do anything to hurt Gale. The writers of the game even confirmed she's not a groomer. People like you also downplay the point of Gale's entire story arc, which is he should've listened to Mystra! The whole point of his personal quest is he needs to learn to humble himself and listen to his goddess! He has no one to blame for his downfall but himself.

There's no "post" to move, anon. The game and lore give us all the context we need. Grooming doesn't only apply to children, and people have proven right and left that Mystra is terrible at relationships. She's petty and abusive when she isn't obeyed by her partners, and that's been the case with all of her iterations. Even the narrator describes her as a "jealous goddess" when you visit her shrine. Plus, your information is wrong on many accounts; the most pertinent being that the Mystra of BG3/5E isn't technically Midnight. Cyric and Shar killed her, reducing her to her godly essence (lore-wise that means she died). The current Mystra is an amalgamation of the vestiges of Mystryl, Mystra, and Midnight, as told in the novel Elminster Enraged.

Now, this is about to get complicated, as it always does with Mystra, so from here on out I'll be referring to Mystra #1 as Mystryl, Mystra #2 as Mystra #2, Mystra #3 as Midnight, and Mystra #4 as 5E Mystra. Alright, let's get started.

Elminster had to reform the fallen goddess by giving her fragments of all three iterations of Mystra. Since all three iterations are combined, our current 5E Mystra embodies the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly. There's even a conversation with The Simbul (one of the Seven Sisters and a Chosen of Mystra) where the newly reformed 5E Mystra speaks of Elminster as her "longest lover". This puzzles The Simbul because that was something of the old Mystra (Mystra #2), not Midnight. The new 5E Mystra replies that she has become a combination of the memories of Mystryl, Mystra #2, and Midnight. This is all in chapter 25-30 of Elminster Enraged. I know it's confusing, but in short: 5E Mystra is not Midnight anymore, and the leading mind is clearly that of Mystra #2, hence her extremely poor judgement—a recurring theme with her character.

Mystryl and Mystra #2 were originally lawful neutral. The alignment changed to neutral good when Midnight took up the mantle, because Midnight herself was a neutral good person. But now it seems 5E Mystra is true neutral, because you are right, anon; Ao won't allow her to do whatever she wants. Midnight tried and was forbidden. 5E Mystra absolutely does not have the same level of humanity or kindness as Midnight, and that may be because Mystryl had no human consciousness and Mystra #2 was a mess.

Regardless of her alignment, she must embody her domain by Ao's decree, which means she needs to spread magic across all Realmspace. Since she has to maintain the balance, she approaches good, neutral, and evil mages with potential opportunities. This isn't a criticism (that's just how godhood works), but rather proof that Mystra is absolutely capable of good and bad. I don't want to hear any more of this "she's a precious little bean and Gale's victim" nonsense. Even if she wants to be, she's not. As Kikitakite said in their post, she's done some fucked up things.

Whether or not the writers intended to make Mystra a groomer, that's exactly what they did. Sometimes writers don't realise they've written an abusive character until they're criticised. Take writer of The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks, for example. He didn't realise he'd written Noah to be an abusive piece of shit until Ryan Gosling pointed it out himself. Gosling has gone on record many times to say he hates Noah, and experts have labeled him an unrealistic and emotionally abusive/manipulative character. The same can be said for Stephenie Meyer, who wrote some of the most celebrated toxic relationships in recent media—with a dash of borderline pedophilia on the side. Therapists have weighed in extensively to tell people that Bella and Edward's relationship isn't healthy and shouldn't be emulated in real life. Indeed, perhaps the best thing to come out of the entire franchise is Robert Pattinson's hatred of Edward and the series as a whole. Jacob's actor, Taylor Lautner, even argued with Meyer's on set because of how weird the "imprinting" segment was and he didn't want to come off as predatory. Meyer argued it was "romantic". 😕

Even if you don't agree Gale was groomed, Mystra is flagrantly responsible for his insecurities and she never should've put her hands on him. The power dynamic is too vast, and even god Gale (conceited as he is) realises it by the end. He only stays in a relationship with Tav if they allow him to ascend them alongside him as his equal. He recognises that anything else would be unhealthy and unacceptable. Also, I researched high and low regarding your claim, but none of the devs have dispelled the idea that Mystra is a groomer. In fact, the most I could find was one dev simply saying, "To Gale it was love, but he didn't know any better." If anything, that only confirms he was confused and didn't know what to do. Their "relationship" was a stunningly horrible idea from the start and that's not on Gale, it's on the literal cosmic being who initiated it.

Moreover, Gale was very likely 17 when Mystra revealed herself to him. This perfectly fits into the 5E Forgotten Realms timeline. If so, no, he absolutely wasn't a grown man. He was a teenager. Mystra may not have slept with him until he was in his 20's, but that still makes it a disgusting teacher-turned-lover situation. Gale even tells us he was "young" when she took him into her fold, and he was only eight years old when Elminster started their lessons. Remember, Elminster is Mystra's biggest apologist. He would've taught Gale to revere her, which means there was almost never a point in his life when Mystra wasn't the main focus. You can tell by the way he speaks about her in Act 1. He's in awe, he's excited, he's proud she chose him. That does something to a child. Something irreversible. If anything, Elminster is complicit in what happened. I've said this before, but he couldn't even be bothered to visit Gale himself. He sent a simulacrum.

As for your accusation that I'm "downplaying" Gale's story arc—you're damn right I am, because the writers made me! Most D&D players I know aren't very happy with how Mystra is portrayed in the game, and that's probably because even they know she isn't presented in a very flattering light. If you really think about it, it's obvious what the writers were going for, but they failed. For example, you said Gale should've listened to Mystra, right? Well, in Act 1 he admits his ambition was his undoing, blames himself for his downfall, and by Act 2 he's literally ready to off himself for her. In fact, he's the only one who sees her ultimatum as justified. Every other companion says she's being cruel and unreasonable. If Gale actually blows himself up at the end of Act 2, the results are catastrophic. The brain is destroyed, yes, but the tadpoles, free of the Absolute's control, complete their transformation and infect/enslave the entire Sword Coast. Anon. She. Is. Stupid. Even the Narrator is like, "You wanna ... you wanna try that again?"

The entirety of Act 2 is Gale learning he shouldn't listen to Mystra. And then she has the audacity to lecture him in Act 3? If he'd listened, it would've been the end of everything. Maybe if Mystra was as infallible as she pretends to be, she would've put her three brains together and came up with a better, less vindictive plan. Because make no mistake, she wanted Gale to blow up in Act 2, which is ridiculous. I know this is an uncomfortable topic for some people, but gods aren't perfect, especially in fiction. They're flawed. They're selfish. Some of them are straight up assholes. The real irony of Gale's arc isn't that he has no one to blame but himself, it's that Mystra should blame herself. At no point does she even consider if she's being unreasonable or unfair. There's no self reflection whatsoever. And the writers expect me to think Gale's full of himself? I wonder where he got it.

Probably from his teacher. ✋🎤

[agentoffangirling]

Another thing I'll always love Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for is how they expand the roles of minor characters

Think Gideon Malick. You ask most Marvel fans who the hell he is and they'll probably say they don't know. You ask them if they remember the guy from the first Avengers film who sent a nuke at New York, and they'll be like "oh! That bitch!"

Malick is a character everyone knows but they don't know his name, the guy the fandom pokes fun at (for good reason), and yet this guy who was so willing to blow up millions of people is never expanded upon in the movies

But AoS does. They take this minor character and create a story for him. A story that not only fits perfectly with what he wanted to do in "Avengers", but also fits with the lore they've created. It all works so so well

They do this with their own characters, too. Piper and Davis were mere background characters in s3 with a line or two, but by s6, you have an absolutely gut wrenching scene where (SPOILERS) Piper is forced to watch as Izel kills Davis

The writers are just so smart with all of this. They know how to take existing characters and expand their roles in the show (Marvel Disney+ shows could NEVER) as well as make original ones who start out small and make them into a big deal by the end

Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancheroen, my heart to you <3